New Year's Eve 'Toons...!

How about some classic 'toons for New years eve?







Maybe just one more...



Well, that's enough for now. Everyone have a good and safe celebration today, OK?

Coffee in the kitchen again today. Cold weather really coming in later!

Another Chocolate Story...!

Actually, this article from "Did You Know" is talking about making the hot chocolate taste better just by changing the color of the cup.

Hot chocolate tastes better in an orange cup. The color of the container you’re drinking from highly influences the way you think your drink tastes or how strong it is. Studies show people prefer hot chocolate when they drink it from cups that are orange or cream colored compared to drinking out of red or white cups, and the color of your cup can also influence how strong you think your coffee is. Source

Guess I have been doing it all wrong all this time, using any mug that was handy for my hot chocolate. Oh well...still taste good to me!

Coffee in the kitchen again, but you can have some hot chocolate if you wish.

Old Chocolate Lovers Story...!

Now don't get the idea that I mean that the chocolate lovers are old, but the story about chocolate I'm referring to is pretty ancient.

You probably know that the love of chocolate has been around for a very long time, maybe even longer than we imagined. In the days of ancient trade, chocolate (or rather the cocao bean) was on the list.

Society Of Chocolate Lovers

Photo credit: Live Science

Chocolate was a sought-after drink in the ancient Americas. Plenty is known about the Maya and Aztecs’ love of the cacao bean, which was served liquid and frothy. But little evidence existed about chocolate’s influence in the American Southwest.

Recently, researchers looked at 75 clay pots from two elite sites—Pueblo Bonito, dating to around AD 900, and Los Muertos in Arizona from the 14th century. Another eight came from lower-class households.

The scientists were looking for the fingerprints of chocolate—theophylline, caffeine, and theobromine. They showed up in a big way. Two-thirds of the elite pots and all eight of the vessels that belonged to ordinary citizens tested positive.

This showed that chocolate was enjoyed by all levels of society and was imported in huge quantities. They did not let thousands of miles stop them from getting their fix, either. The trade between the two sides turned out to be extensive. The cacao was likely paid for in turquoise, which became popular in Mesoamerica (Mexico and Central America) around AD 900.


See? All of us chocolate lovers are in good company, and have been for quite a while. I found this article over on Listverse, in case you were wondering.

Coffee in the kitchen this morning. Too cold to sit on the patio.

No Post Today...

Taking today off. See ya later!

John Armstrong On Western Wednesday...!

Some of the lawmen in the wild west were tough ol' birds, without a doubt.

One prime example of this was John Armstrong. His story shows just how tenacious his type of lawman was, for sure.

John Barclay Armstrong

Photo via Wikimedia

Unlike most men on this list, John Armstrong died peacefully at home instead of in a violent gunfight. He also garnered most of his glory as a Texas Ranger before becoming a US marshal in Willacy County. He served in a special force branch of the Texas Rangers as second-in-command to Captain Leander McNelly. This earned him the nickname “McNelly’s bulldog.” When McNelly retired in 1877, the squad disbanded, and Armstrong was promoted.

While a Texas Ranger lieutenant, Armstrong hunted down one of the Wild West’s most dangerous gunmen, John Wesley Hardin. Hardin had been captured once by rangers but escaped, and Armstrong now wanted to investigate despite recovering from a gunshot wound. Armstrong found himself in a train coach in a standoff against Hardin and four of his men. Although at an obvious disadvantage, Armstrong killed one of the men, knocked Hardin unconscious, and disarmed the other three. He then safely escorted Hardin to Texas, where he received 25 years in prison.

Besides this shining moment, Armstrong also helped track down outlaw King Fisher and was part of the posse that killed notorious train robber Sam Bass.

On top of all the other good things about John Armstrong, you have to admit he had a killer 'stache!

Coffee in the kitchen again. Fresh cookies are already on the serving plate.

Iced Tea Overdose...!

Sometimes the things that we enjoy the most can cause a big problem for us.

This article from Listverse shows exactly what I mean. I can't imagine this ever happening to me, at least...I hope not!

Tea

An Arkansas man suffered kidney failure as a result of drinking too much iced tea.

The 56-year-old man drank about 16 240-milliliter (8 oz) cups of iced tea every day. In May 2014, the man was admitted to the hospital after complaining of nausea, weakness, and body aches. Doctors discovered that his kidneys were extremely clogged and irritated. They started him on dialysis, which he will probably be on for the rest of his life.

The damage to the man’s kidneys was caused by a chemical called oxalate. This chemical occurs naturally in black tea as well as other foods such as rhubarb and spinach. Too much oxalate can lead to kidney damage.[2] The man from Arkansas was consuming 3–10 times more oxalate than the average American.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, consuming up to four cups of tea per day is a safe amount. Sixteen cups per day is too many.

Seems like everything I like is turning out to be bad for me. Coffee and eggs seem to be on again and off again, so maybe tea will follow that same line. Who knows?

Coffee in the kitchen again this morning. Made some chocolate fudge if you want some.

Holiday Post...!

Just a little something for the holidays, from me to you...OK?



Merry Christmas, everybody...!

Go Easy On The Black Licorice...!

This time of the year, all kinds of candy is plentiful, and it seems to be everywhere. Not necessarily a bad thing, right?

According to this article I took from Listverse, it depends on how much you have. Read this article and see if you think reaching for more is a good idea or not.

Black Licorice

Black licorice can be dangerous, especially for people over age 40. The FDA released a report earlier this year cautioning against the effects of consuming black licorice on a regular basis or in large quantities. The warning from the FDA came after a 2016 case where someone who often consumed black licorice experienced heart problems that were attributed to the chewy candy.

Eating just 57 grams (2 oz) of black licorice, which is about three 2.5-centimeter (1 in) pieces, every day for two weeks can cause heart problems. Black licorice contains glycyrrhizin, a compound that causes potassium levels to decrease. When potassium levels fall, people are at risk of suffering from abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, and even congestive heart failure.

People with existing heart problems are at higher risk of experiencing an adverse effect from consuming black licorice.

I think I'll stick with the homemade fudge and the cookies.

Coffee inside again this morning. Nasty cold outside.

Some More Creepy Critters...!

You know, sometimes I can find the strangest things on my travels around the web. When I do, I naturally want to share them with you all.

This video is about 5 of the creepiest critters that nature can come up with, although I'm sure she has plenty more she could throw at us if she wanted.



See what I mean? Down right creepy for sure!

Coffee in the kitchen again this morning. I got a care package from Momlady and, if you behave, I'll share some with you...OK?

After Workout Surprise...!

As a rule, I like home cooked food. Occasionally I want something else, and that may not be a bad thing.

Recent studies have shown that having a burger or fries can be a good thing now and then. This article from Listverse explains it pretty much.

Grab A Burger, Not A Protein Bar

This one will come as a surprise without a doubt. For any who like to follow an athletic lifestyle, this will sound like heresy. Usually after a heavy workout or everyday exercise, people reach for energy bars, recovery drinks, and protein powders, generally because we tend to believe that dietary supplements provide a better boost than any normal food would. Well, here comes science to bring the roof down on you. When it comes to exercise recovery, supplements don’t hold a candle to fast food, a study has found.

In a heavy blow to the sports supplement industry after spending millions of dollars in campaigns showing top athletes working out and preparing clever taglines and banners to convince people to use their products, it turns out that you can just go to McDonald’s to get the recovery energy you need. Who would have thought that fries, hamburgers, and even hash browns fare better against Gatorade, PowerBar, and Cytomax?

However, this doesn’t mean that you can replace your post-workout supplements and just go on a chicken nugget binge. For the body, energy is energy, and a simple carbohydrate is just a simple carbohydrate. But the next time after working out when you face the decision between a burger or Muscle Milk, you can smile knowing that choosing the golden arches every once in a while isn’t bad for you.

Hey, I can go along with this study. I don't work out, but I figure that once in a while, eating out may brighten my day just a bit. Less dishes to wash as well, ya know?

Coffee out on the patio again this morning. Pickled eggs anyone?

A Question About Santa...!

Since I live alone and avoid crowds for the most part (crowds to me are groups of more than 3), I have a question about something that is Christmas related. Not trying to be a Scrooge or anything, but I'm just curious.

Santa’s Reindeer

Santa Claus, or so we’re told, was based on the original figure of Saint Nicholas. But flying reindeer don’t quite fit with the idea of a kindly saint. According to Sierra College professor John Rush, that’s because the reindeer weren’t added as part of a Christmas story or in relation to Saint Nicholas. Instead, they were a product of magic mushrooms.

Throughout Siberia—reindeer’s natural stomping grounds—one of the most ancient of shamanic traditions included the gathering, drying, and distribution of the Amanita muscaria mushroom. The distinctive mushroom, which grows at the base of trees, is red with white flecks (which is said to explain the traditional depiction of Santa as wearing a red suit with white lining). Rush says that the distribution of the dried shrooms led to some fanciful hallucinations, including some that involved one of the most common animals in the area—the reindeer. Tripping tribes began telling stories about flying reindeer that showed up with their presents.

Others point to a much more sobering source for the flying reindeer myth—the mind of Clement Clarke Moore, who wrote “The Night Before Christmas” in 1822. The first compilation of all things that make Santa Claus who Santa Claus is, the poem was originally titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and is considered by many to be the definitive source for Santa Claus lore.

But he had to get the idea from somewhere, right?

Like I said, I'm not trying to be a Scrooge or anything like that. My curiosity just got the best of me, ya know?

Coffee out on the patio again this morning. 75 or so predicted, but I have gingerbread to share anyway.

A Radio Version Of Paladin For Western Wednesday...

We always seem to have mostly bad guys on here for western Wednesday. Not so today.

Before Paladin became a television program, it was on the radio. Here is one of their programs for your enjoyment.



See? I even included the commercials! Check out those prices...!

Coffee outside where the temps are a lot like Spring again.

Another Bureaucratic Screw-Up...!

We would all like to think that our governing bodies (local and national) don't make stupid blunders, but they do.

What's worse, is when these mistakes are pointed out to them they take no action to correct the mistakes. That's what happened in this next article From Atlas Obscura.

Harvard Jail House

The two-cell building in Nebraska was briefly owned by a teenage boy and then a Hollywood dummy.

In 1943, the city of Harvard, Nebraska, accidentally sold its jail. To a 16-year-old boy. For $1.50.

Robert Pinckney, teenage son of the local physician, was looking for lots to lease for victory gardens when he noticed the town had accidentally included the jail in the list of properties for sale. When he told the city council about its mistake, they laughed at him. So he bought it.

Even after he was given the deed, the town of Harvard refused to admit its mistake and kept housing criminals in the small building’s two cells.

Pinckney hired a lawyer in an attempt to sue the city for owed rent. Harvard agreed to pay but added some rather superfluous requests, including removing the sidewalk from the property.

Pettiness aside, the city attempted to keep the embarrassing matter under wraps, but once Time magazine and other news outlets got wind of Pinckney’s story, Harvard’s mistake was national news. Pinckney offered to sell the jail back, but he was too young: the law said he couldn’t deed the property to anyone until he was 21 years old.

A recovering sailor in Los Angeles suggested the teen put the jail up for sale at a West Coast war bonds auction. Charlie McCarthy, ventriloquist Edgar Bergen’s famous dummy, bought the place for $10,000 in war bonds.

In the end, after the publicity died down, the dummy quietly gifted the jailhouse back to the city. It still stands in the same place today, a testament to bureaucratic error and teenage enterprise.

Guess it's a good thing that the kid tried to point out the city's error before he bought it. Made him look like the good guy for sure.

Coffee in the kitchen again. Rain is still here.

Weird Spiders For Monday Mysteries...!

We haven't done a good ol' spider post for a while, so that's what we'll do today.

These are all newly discovered spiders, but to tell the truth...I can live without any more spiders, thank you very much!



They just creep me out, ya know? Sorry about that, but they do!

Coffee inside the kitchen again this morning!

More Old Timey 'Toons...!

I can remember a time when Popeye was one of the favorites in the world of cartoons.

Then came all the others. Not nearly as good or as funny in my opinion, but what do I know? I like the old better than the new in nearly everything.







And just one more...



OK, I'll admit those were pretty bad. Not nearly as old as I wanted. I'll do better next time.

Coffee inside today 'cause it's raining out on the patio.

How About Some OTR...(Old Time Radio)?

Again today, we are doing something a bit different. Radio programs from long ago!

I used to listen to some of these programs when I was a young kid and didn't realize I could still find them on Youtube today! How cool is that?



They have some good old westerns on there as well, like gunsmoke, Paladin, and many others. Check it out, why don't cha?

Coffee in the kitchen again today.

Glenn Miller Disappears...!

It was a sad day for his many fans the world over, and even today the true fate of what happened to him is still unknown.

As of this minute, here is what we know for sure. This information comes from History.com.

1944

Legendary bandleader Glenn Miller disappears over the English Channel

General James Doolittle of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), hero of the daring “Doolittle Raid” on mainland Japan and later the unified commander of Allied air forces in Europe in World War II, offered the following high praise to one of his staff officers in 1944: “Next to a letter from home, Captain Miller, your organization is the greatest morale builder in the European Theater of Operations.” The Captain Miller in question was the trombonist and bandleader Glenn Miller, the biggest star on the American pop-music scene in the years immediately preceding World War II and a man who set aside his brilliant career right at its peak in 1942 to serve his country as leader of the USAAF dance band. It was in that capacity that Captain Glenn Miller boarded a single-engine aircraft at an airfield outside of London on December 15, 1944—an aircraft that would go missing over the English Channel en route to France for a congratulatory performance for American troops that had recently helped to liberate Paris.

It would be difficult to overstate the magnitude of Glenn Miller’s success in the years immediately proceeding America’s entry into World War II. Though he was a relatively unspectacular instrumentalist himself—he’d played the trombone in various prominent orchestras but never distinguished himself as a performer—Miller the bandleader came to dominate the latter portion of the swing era on the strength of his disciplined arrangements and an innovation in orchestration that put the high-pitched clarinet on the melody line doubled by the saxophone section an octave below. This trademark sound helped the Glenn Miller Orchestra earn an unprecedented string of popular hits from 1939 to 1942, including the iconic versions of numbers like “In The Mood” (1939), “Tuxedo Junction” (1939) and “Chattanooga Choo Choo” (1941), as well as Miller’s self-penned signature tune, “Moonlight Serenade” (1939).

The Glenn Miller Orchestra played its last-ever concert under Miller’s direction on September 27, 1942, in Passaic, New Jersey, and shortly thereafter, Miller entered the Army. After nearly two years spent stateside broadcasting a weekly radio program called I Sustain The Wings out of New York City, Miller formed a new 50-piece USAAF dance band and departed for England in the summer of 1944, giving hundreds of performances to Allied troops over the next six months before embarking on his fateful trip to France on this day in 1944.

The wreckage of Miller’s plane was never found. His official military status remains Missing in Action.

My folks loved Glenn MIller music. I am still very fond of it myself, and have several recordings of his around here somewhere.

Coffee inside once more. I'm baking bread today, so the smell is terrific!

The Legend Of Shiprock...!

The very name of this natural wonder conjures up all sorts of images in the mind, doesn't it?

As bold as the images are, the legend is even more striking. Here is a brief story of the legendary Shiprock.

Shiprock

Legends surround this jagged rock formation in the New Mexico desert.

Rising high above the surrounding desert, the rock formation known as Shiprock has long been a point of fascination.

This striking volcanic plume was formed around 30 million years ago, developing as a plug within the vent of an active volcano. Over time, the rest of the volcano eroded away, leaving the jagged outcrop all alone in a vast expanse of plain. At over 1500 feet, it’s the tallest structure for miles and miles.

The structure is an epicenter of legend within the Navajo culture. Called Tsé Bitʼaʼí or “the rock with wings,” myth says that the Shiprock was a piece of land that became a bird, carrying the ancestral people of the Navajo on its back. At sundown, the enormous creature settled in its current desert location and promptly turned back to stone. The newly-arrived people settled on the rock’s peak, leaving only to collect food and water. However, one day the outcrop was unexpectedly struck by lightning, stranding members of the tribe among its shards. Since then, the rock has been forbidden to people, who may disturb the ghostly spirits of those left behind.

Although the steep, perilous sides of the Shiprock were once considered a great prize among rockclimbers, human ascents have been expressly off-limits since 1970, in accordance with Navajo custom.

Once again Nature furnishes a beautiful scenic wonder. How can we ever get tired of all the beautiful surroundings we have here on our little planet?

Coffee inside again this morning. Chocolate chip cookies are fresh.

Joseph Walker On Western Wednesday...!

When we think of the mountain men in our history, we should not forget Joseph Walker.

Here is a bit of history about Walker you might find interesting.

1798

Joseph Walker born in Tennessee

Joseph Reddeford Walker, one of the greatest trailblazing mountain men and the first Anglo-American to see Yosemite, is born in Tennessee.

Although he had little formal education, Walker was an exceptionally intelligent explorer and leader, possessing an extraordinary ability to read and remember the geography and topography of uncharted regions. When he was 20 years old, Walker joined an illegal hunting and trapping expedition into the Mexican-controlled territory in the southern Rocky Mountains. Arrested by the Mexican authorities, Walker served a brief prison term in Santa Fe, but then turned the situation to his favor by helping the Mexicans in their war against Pawnee raiders, earning rare trading privileges as a reward.

Walker’s journeys into the relatively unexplored far western regions of the continent began in 1832 when he met Captain Benjamin Bonneville, who asked him to join his trapping and trading expedition into the West. The following year, Walker, probably at the behest of Bonneville, embarked on a daring journey west into the Mexican province of Alta California, a feat that had only been accomplished by two other Anglos, Jedediah Smith and Peter Ogden. Ignoring the trails blazed by his predecessors, Walker instead led a small group of men on a new route through the Sierras that proved far more challenging than expected, and at several points the explorers were reduced to eating their horses to stay alive. But after crossing the Continental Divide on November 13, 1833, Walker and his men were rewarded with an amazing sight that no Anglo-American had ever before seen: the mighty redwoods and majestic waterfalls of the Yosemite Valley. Later in life, every man in the troop recalled that day of discovery as among the greatest of his life.

In subsequent years, Walker continued to use his voluminous knowledge of western geography as an employee of the American Fur Company and as a guide for explorers like John C. Fremont. He also led countless emigrant parties to California. His wide-ranging travels took him all the way north to the headwaters of the Missouri in Montana and led to memorable partnerships and adventures with other famous trailblazers like Kit Carson and Jim Bridger. When he finally settled down on his California ranch in 1867, nearly blind and approaching 70 years old, the intrepid mountain man remembered a single day as the best of his life, and asked that a remembrance of it be carved on his tombstone: “Camped at Yosemite, Nov. 13, 1833.”

I can only imagine what these brave men thought when they viewed the mighty redwoods for the first time. Had to be mind blowing, to say the least.

Coffee inside the kitchen again today. Still a bit chilly outside.

The Grinch And Tony The Tiger...!

With Christmas right around the corner, I figured you might enjoy a little yuletide trivia.

This is one of those almost useless facts I have found when searching sites like Listverse, which can always be counted on to have some fun facts about all kinds of stuff.

Tony The Tiger Sang ‘You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch’

Boris Karloff famously narrated the Dr. Seuss classic, How The Grinch Stole Christmas. But the horror film veteran had a little secret—he couldn’t sing. Instead, the production team called on voice actor Thurl Ravenscroft to handle the musical numbers. Ravenscroft’s singing was unknown for years, because he did not receive a credit on the telecast, leading many to believe it was Karloff who knocked the song out of the park.

Ravenscroft might not be a famous name to you, but you surely know his voice. He voiced characters on Disney rides and shows (including Buff from the Country Bears Jamboree) but is best recalled for his TV work. He played “Tony The Tiger” for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes TV commercials. You’ll never hear “they’re grrrrrrreat!” again without thinking of the Grinch.

There are actually two versions of “Mr. Grinch”, both of which get air play today. The original TV version features sound effects of crashes and booms (as the Grinch moves through the homes and liberates Christmas gifts). If you hear the sound effects version, that’s the version lifted from the show. The clean version was intended for radio play.

Some things are best left unknown, I reckon. I never would have known if I had not found the article.

Coffee in the kitchen again. Another cold front on the way.

Dark Mysteries For Monday...!

I found some mysterious things on a video from Youtube that you might enjoy today.



Did you enjoy that? I figured you might.

Coffee inside again, but I made peanut butter fudge and fresh chocolate chip cookies to share.

Really Old 'Toons For Sunday...

When I say old, I mean some of these are even older than I am...and that's pretty old!

Not very funny by today's standards, but considering how long they have been around we'll overlook that, right?







And one more for good measure.



As you can probably guess, these old 'toons were silent and black and white. They were later set to music and colorized. Interesting, huh!

Coffee inside again. Fresh cookies to go along with the coffee!

Another Musical Saturday...!

For some unknown reason, I have western music running around my head. Theme songs from the movies mainly.

Don't worry...these are all instrumentals, no singing. There may be a little whistling now and then, but no singing. That ever happen to you, getting a tune or two roaming through you head?







And maybe just one more...



I do love the sound of the acoustic guitar. Haunting...

Coffee inside the kitchen. Snow yesterday, can you believe it?

How Old Is Pluto...?

I'm talking about the Pluto in space, not the Pluto from Disney.

The whole Pluto thing is a bit confusing. This article may explain it far better than I could.

When Will Pluto Complete Its First Orbit Since Its Discovery?

By Live Science Staff

The eighth planet from our sun was discovered on September 23, 1846. Neptune takes a very long time to orbit the sun 164.8 Earth years, in fact and today Neptune completed its first orbit of the sun since it was discovered. Congratulations!

Now, this got us wondering, when will Pluto complete its first orbit since its discovery? (Yes, yes. Our brains know that Pluto is no longer a planet, but in our hearts ... Pluto!) After all, Pluto is even farther out (most of the time ) than Neptune, and was discovered much more recently. Will we even be around to celebrate it's orbital birthday? To the mathmobile!

Pluto was discovered on February 18, 1930. It takes the dwarf planet 248.09 Earth years to complete one orbit around the sun. Plug all that info into timeanddate.com's handy calculator, and we find that Pluto will complete its first full orbit since its discovery on Monday, March 23, 2178, just a few years after Neptune turns 2.

We all clear now? I'm glad that we have that little bit of confusion straightened out. On questions like this, I have to wonder...who really cares?

Coffee in the kitchen again today. It's cold outside!

Mind Games For Thursday...!

Let's do something different for today...OK? Let's mess with your head a bit.



Well, I did tell ya it would be different, didn't I?

Coffee in the kitchen again this morning. Cold and rainy outside.

The Reno Boys Were Bad...!

As bad as some of the gunfighters and outlaws were in the Old West, the Reno brothers probably had them beat.

In their day, they made a lot of money. However, making it and living long enough to spend it are not quite the same thing.

1868

Train robbers reach the end of the line

A guard, who had been shot by brothers Frank, William, and Simeon Reno during a train robbery in May, dies of his wounds. His death so infuriated the public that a group of vigilantes yanked the three brothers from their Indiana jail cell five days later and hanged them. Although the Reno gang—which included another brother, John, as well—had a short reign of terror, they are credited with pulling off the first train robbery in American history and are believed to be the inspiration for criminal copycats like the legendary Jesse James.

On October 6, 1866, the Reno brothers committed their first heist. After stopping a train outside of Seymour, Indiana, they stole $10,000 in cash and gold. But they were unable to break into the safe; William Reno vainly shot it with his pistol before giving up.

Though fast on their feet, the Reno brothers didn’t have much luck evading the authorities, probably because they committed almost all of their crimes in the Seymour, Indiana, area. After the 1866 heist, railroad companies hired Pinkerton detectives to find the perpetrators, and at the end of 1867, John Reno was captured. In January 1868, he pled guilty to robbing a county treasury in Missouri and was sentenced to spend 25 years in prison

In his absence, the other Reno brothers continued to rob banks and trains in the area. On May 22, 1868, they stopped a train near Marshfield and beat a guard with pistols and crowbars before making off with $96,000—which was more than the James gang ever managed to score. In an attempt to lure the predictable criminals in, Pinkerton detectives floated a rumor about a big gold shipment and then nabbed the Renos when they stopped the train.

Although Frank and William went rather quietly when the vigilantes hanged them on December 11, their brother Simon put up a bitter fight. He even managed to survive the hanging itself for more than 30 minutes before finally succumbing to the rope.

All I can say is that these boys were tough...really tough! In the end, though, it didn't matter. Dead is dead, ya know?

Coffee in the kitchen this morning.

Where Is Mata Hari...?

Ever wonder just what happens to some famous folks when they pass? I mean besides being dug up by archaeologist.

Seems like sometimes they just get lost. How can you lose a dead body...especially out of a museum? I guess it's easier than we think.

Mata Hari

We’ve mentioned Margarethe Zelle, better known as Mata Hari, quite a few times on Listverse. After all, she’s one of the most famous spies of the 20th century. Originally an exotic dancer, Mata Hari was hired by the French to charm information out of German officials. She was accused of working as a double agent and executed by firing squad in 1917. Historians debate whether she was actually guilty, but there’s one fact that no one can dispute—her body is missing.

When no one claimed her cadaver, the Museum of Anatomy in Paris swooped in and added her corpse to their collection. What happened next would have made Vincent Price faint in horror. Museum curators chopped off her head, dipped her dome in wax, and mounted the new trophy in their “notorious criminals” wing.

In 2000, the French government decided to shut down the anatomy museum, so the director set about cataloging all the valuable attractions the museum had to offer. At the top of the list were the heads of the dead and infamous, but when he started inspecting the skull collection, he realized Mata Hari’s head was gone. As if that weren’t bad enough, her entire body had disappeared, along with all the paperwork related to her acquisition. Some suspect her body was lost when the museum moved buildings in the ‘50s, while more macabre minds think a creepy fan might have stolen her skull. Either way, the dancer has disappeared for good, and that’s the naked truth.

Sounds to me as though there was some "hanky-panky" going on at the museum at some point in time. Pretty gruesome folks working at that museum, if you ask me.

Coffee in the kitchen this morning again. Cold and rainy out on the patio.

Salt Men For Monday Mysteries...!

Sometimes strange things are found in the most unlikely places. Like these mummies found in a salt mine. That qualifies as strange in my book.

The Salt Men

Photo credit: Nasser-sadeghi

A functioning salt mine in Northwestern Iran has produced six naturally preserved mummies. Chehrabad Salt Mine’s “salt men” range in date from 539 BC to AD 640. Their beards, hair, and even clothing are often nearly perfectly preserved. In some cases, stomachs, colons, and last meals are intact.

The most recent discovery was made in 2007. Experts have identified this mummy as a Roman-era miner killed by falling rocks or an earthquake. The first five salt men discovered were given to scientists for research. However, the newly discovered mummy will remain underground. There is concern about the Iranian government’s lack of equipment and facilities to help preserve the salt man.

A Stanford folklorist believes the salt men might be connected with satyr legends. Their protruding jaws, snub noses, and hair bear uncanny resemblance to depictions of satyrs in ancient accounts, including St. Jerome’s tale of a satyr head on display in Antioch.

While I am all for the quest for knowledge in most cases, I can't help but wonder just what we can really hope to learn from these individual mummies. Why not let them rest in peace?

Coffee in the kitchen this morning. Raining outside.

Slightly Different Musical Sunday...!

There is a lot of beautiful music out there and some really talented folks making that music.

Here are a couple of tunes that are responsible for the sweet sounds coming from my patio this morning. I hope you like them.







And one more...



Well, there ya go. Some beautiful music on a beautiful day...brought to us by some very talented people. Enjoy it!

Coffee out on the patio today. I made chocolate chip cookies!

More Good News About Coffee...!

I found an article over at Gizmodo that says coffee is once again supposed to be beneficial for those of us that partake.

Of course, I've always felt that coffee was good for me. At least, it made me feel more alert and awake. I like the feeling, the taste, and the fact that coffee is cheaper than whisky doesn't hurt my feelings, either!

Coffee Is Officially Good For You (Again)

By Gizmodo Australia on 24 Nov 2017 at 2:30PM

The pendulum of scientific opinion swings pretty dramatically when it comes to the effect (if any) coffee has on our health.

But now a review of 200 separate studies has shown even three or four cups a day is still more likely to benefit your health than harm it. Woohoo!

The researchers concluded that drinking coffee regularly resulted in a lower risk of heart disease and even death compared with drinking no coffee at all. They also found that drinking coffee lowered the risk of some cancers (including prostate, endometrial, skin and liver cancer), type 2 diabetes, gallstones, gout, liver disease and dementia. Additionally, there seemed to be beneficial associations between coffee consumption and Parkinson’s disease, depression and Alzheimer's disease.

However, there were some exceptions, namely women who are pregnant or at risk of fracture.

There was less evidence for the effects of drinking decaffeinated coffee but it had similar benefits for a number of outcomes. Increasing consumption to above three cups a day was not associated with harm, but the beneficial effect was less pronounced.

But - it is important to note - the studies used mainly observational data, which means lower quality evidence, which means no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect. The findings do back up other recent reviews and studies of coffee intake, though.

So the official line is "coffee drinking appears safe within usual patterns of consumption, except during pregnancy and in women at increased risk of fracture", and testing in randomised trials should happen now to strengthen the evidence of benefits.

The research team was led by Dr Robin Poole, Specialist Registrar in Public Health at the University of Southampton, with collaborators from the University of Edinburgh.

Eliseo Guallar at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health says although we can be reassured that coffee intake is generally safe, doctors should not recommend drinking coffee to prevent disease - and people should not start drinking coffee for health reasons.

I don't really care if the health folks approve or not, I'm not changing or giving up my coffee habit until the government makes it illegal. Same with tobacco! As long as I can afford a smoke and a cup of coffee, I'm good to go.

Coffee out on the patio again, my friends.

Sounds Like A Good Idea...!

Every once in a great while, some cities come up with an idea that is really good! This one is really benificial for everyone, I believe.

I can only imagine what a positive result would come if we had something like this in Houston. In a city with the amount of vehicle traffic we have, the potential for an abundance of food donations is staggering.

POPULAR “FOOD FOR FINES” RETURNING TO LEXINGTON

By: Echo Gamel Submitted: 11/17/2017 - 11:08am

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – The Lexington Parking Authority is bringing back its “Food for Fines” Holiday Program

This will be the fourth year for the program that is run through LEXPARK. It starts on Monday, November 20 and goes through Friday, December 15.

Customers who bring in 10 cans of food will receive $15 off any LEXPARK or Lexington Police issued parking citation. Customers with multiple citations may bring in as many cans as they wish and receive $15 credit for every set of 10 cans. Past due citations are eligible.

The LEXPARK office is located at 122 North Broadway.

The Parking Authority says, since the program started, 24,500 cans of food has been collected, which is the equivalent of 12 tons or 16,000 meals.

All canned food donations received by LEXPARK will be donated to God’s Pantry Food Bank.

Canned vegetables donations need to be at least 14-15 oz.

Protein items such as canned meat, beans or peanut butter are suggested.

Expired, damaged or opened food donations will not be accepted.

LEXPARK says it reserves the right to revoke a customer’s participation in the program at any time.

So, what are your thoughts on this. Seems to me that a program such as this one could only help the local food bank(s) in providing food for a lot of needy folks.

Coffee out on the patio again this morning.