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!
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Saturday, December 30, 2017
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.
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.
Friday, December 29, 2017
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
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!
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.
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.
Monday, December 25, 2017
Holiday Post...!
Just a little something for the holidays, from me to you...OK?
Merry Christmas, everybody...!
Merry Christmas, everybody...!
Sunday, December 24, 2017
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 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.
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.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
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?
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?
Friday, December 22, 2017
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.
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?
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?
Thursday, December 21, 2017
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 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.
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.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
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.
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.
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.
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.
Monday, December 18, 2017
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!
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!
Sunday, December 17, 2017
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.
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.
Saturday, December 16, 2017
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.
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.
Friday, December 15, 2017
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.
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!
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!
Thursday, December 14, 2017
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.
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 Bitʼaʼà 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.
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 Bitʼaʼà 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.
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
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.
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.
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.
Monday, December 11, 2017
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.
Did you enjoy that? I figured you might.
Coffee inside again, but I made peanut butter fudge and fresh chocolate chip cookies to share.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
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!
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!
Saturday, December 9, 2017
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?
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?
Friday, December 8, 2017
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.
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!
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!
Thursday, December 7, 2017
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.
Well, I did tell ya it would be different, didn't I?
Coffee in the kitchen again this morning. Cold and rainy outside.
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
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.
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.
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.
Monday, December 4, 2017
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, December 3, 2017
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!
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!
Saturday, December 2, 2017
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!
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.
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.
Friday, December 1, 2017
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Here Is Another "What Is It" For Thursday...
Something like this pillar is seldom found here in the states, especially in a National Forest.
One can only wonder what the original purpose was and who exactly made them. Just gotta love these types of historical mysteries, especially from an area so close at hand.
Historian Louis Serna spied a ornate stone pillar in a hotel lobby in 2013. Intrigued by the symbols (including a Templar cross) carved on it, Serna tried to find out more about the pillar from the hotel employees. After being told that it was simply a trail marker, Serna realized he would have to get into contact with the original owner of the hotel if he was to get credible information. He was right. After he traced the original owner, the man told him that a rancher discovered the pillar in a New Mexico forest and that it had been on display at the hotel ever since.
Suspecting there was even more to this story, Serna eventually approached the US Forest Service, where he was informed that, in fact, there were two stone pillars found in Carson National Forest and that the second pillar is located among several other stones thought to be grave markers.
Serna remained skeptical about this information, believing that the pillars may have been markers used by ancient explorers during the colonization of the area. Serna also remains hopeful that archaeologists will look into his theory and come up with answers to explain the origin and purpose of the pillars.
I can't help but wonder if the other stones are really grave markers, and if they are something different, then what are they?
Coffee out on the patio this morning. Getting to be a habit, isn't it ?
One can only wonder what the original purpose was and who exactly made them. Just gotta love these types of historical mysteries, especially from an area so close at hand.
Mysterious Pillars
Photo credit: The Mountain Voice
Historian Louis Serna spied a ornate stone pillar in a hotel lobby in 2013. Intrigued by the symbols (including a Templar cross) carved on it, Serna tried to find out more about the pillar from the hotel employees. After being told that it was simply a trail marker, Serna realized he would have to get into contact with the original owner of the hotel if he was to get credible information. He was right. After he traced the original owner, the man told him that a rancher discovered the pillar in a New Mexico forest and that it had been on display at the hotel ever since.
Suspecting there was even more to this story, Serna eventually approached the US Forest Service, where he was informed that, in fact, there were two stone pillars found in Carson National Forest and that the second pillar is located among several other stones thought to be grave markers.
Serna remained skeptical about this information, believing that the pillars may have been markers used by ancient explorers during the colonization of the area. Serna also remains hopeful that archaeologists will look into his theory and come up with answers to explain the origin and purpose of the pillars.
I can't help but wonder if the other stones are really grave markers, and if they are something different, then what are they?
Coffee out on the patio this morning. Getting to be a habit, isn't it ?
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Marias River Massacre For Western Wednesday...!
Sometimes decisions made in the spur of the moment turn out to be monumental and deadly. Such was the case with the massacre at the Marias River.
The deadliest massacre of Native Americans in Montana’s history was a mistake. Colonel Eugene Baker had been sent by the government to “pacify” a rebellious band of the Blackfeet tribe.
Eventually, Baker’s men tracked the tribe to a village along the Marias River. On January 23, 1870, the men surrounded the village and prepared to attack.But a scout recognized some of the painted designs on the lodges and reported to Baker that this was the wrong band.
Baker replied, “That makes no difference, one band or another of them; they are all [Blackfeet] and we will attack them.”
Most of the Native American men were out hunting, so the majority of the 173 massacred were women, children, and the elderly. When Baker discovered that the survivors had smallpox, he abandoned them in the wilderness without food or shelter, increasing the death toll by 140.
The photo on this post is of Baker's men. I wonder if many of them had trouble sleeping at night after this engagement. Probably not.
Coffee out on the patio once again today.
Marias Massacre
Photo credit: Bozeman Daily Chronicle
The deadliest massacre of Native Americans in Montana’s history was a mistake. Colonel Eugene Baker had been sent by the government to “pacify” a rebellious band of the Blackfeet tribe.
Eventually, Baker’s men tracked the tribe to a village along the Marias River. On January 23, 1870, the men surrounded the village and prepared to attack.But a scout recognized some of the painted designs on the lodges and reported to Baker that this was the wrong band.
Baker replied, “That makes no difference, one band or another of them; they are all [Blackfeet] and we will attack them.”
Most of the Native American men were out hunting, so the majority of the 173 massacred were women, children, and the elderly. When Baker discovered that the survivors had smallpox, he abandoned them in the wilderness without food or shelter, increasing the death toll by 140.
The photo on this post is of Baker's men. I wonder if many of them had trouble sleeping at night after this engagement. Probably not.
Coffee out on the patio once again today.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
A Truly Mad Scientist...!
Many times a true , original discovery is made by scientist purely by accident. Often they are searching for something completely different.
It doesn't hurt that many of these experiments are conducted by men considered by most to be a few bricks short of a full load, if you know what I mean. Here's a good example from Listverse.
Chemistry is known today as a factual and difficult science, but its early days were filled with decidedly unscientific methods. Before the arrival of proper chemistry, it was the science of alchemy which reigned supreme. Alchemy held the belief that some substances could be transmuted into gold. In 1669, an alchemist named Hennig Brand convinced himself of the possibility of transmuting urine into gold. He quickly gathered the pee of his wife and her friends and began a process of boiling 5,700 liters (1,500 gal) of urine in his basement.
Brand didn’t discover the secret to creating gold, but the boiled urine did have the odd attribute of glowing in the dark. After utilizing an alchemical process which involved letting the cold, glowing urine sit and emit gasses, Brand finally arrived at a white substance which we know today as phosphorus.
See what I mean? Many times it was like the old saying "the porch light is on, but no one is home!" Kids...don't try this at home!
Coffee out on the patio again today. Spring type weather still around.
It doesn't hurt that many of these experiments are conducted by men considered by most to be a few bricks short of a full load, if you know what I mean. Here's a good example from Listverse.
Hennig Brand
Photo credit: Joseph Wright of Derby
Chemistry is known today as a factual and difficult science, but its early days were filled with decidedly unscientific methods. Before the arrival of proper chemistry, it was the science of alchemy which reigned supreme. Alchemy held the belief that some substances could be transmuted into gold. In 1669, an alchemist named Hennig Brand convinced himself of the possibility of transmuting urine into gold. He quickly gathered the pee of his wife and her friends and began a process of boiling 5,700 liters (1,500 gal) of urine in his basement.
Brand didn’t discover the secret to creating gold, but the boiled urine did have the odd attribute of glowing in the dark. After utilizing an alchemical process which involved letting the cold, glowing urine sit and emit gasses, Brand finally arrived at a white substance which we know today as phosphorus.
See what I mean? Many times it was like the old saying "the porch light is on, but no one is home!" Kids...don't try this at home!
Coffee out on the patio again today. Spring type weather still around.
Monday, November 27, 2017
A Different Monday Mysteries Today...!
Instead of having the same old type of mysteries all the time, I figured we would go to nature once again and borrow some of her's, ya know?
And one more...
I hope no one has a problem with me putting up videos instead of typing out the post. Sure does make it easier for me, and I can still share some neat stuff with my followers.
Coffee in the kitchen this morning. I have some fresh peach cobbler I'll share!
And one more...
I hope no one has a problem with me putting up videos instead of typing out the post. Sure does make it easier for me, and I can still share some neat stuff with my followers.
Coffee in the kitchen this morning. I have some fresh peach cobbler I'll share!
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Musical Sunday...!
Time again for something a little different. Here are some really unusual instruments and the wonderful sounds they can make. The first one is amazing!
I told ya this would be something different, didn't I?
Coffee out on the patio again today. Seems like Spring wants to return early.
I told ya this would be something different, didn't I?
Coffee out on the patio again today. Seems like Spring wants to return early.
Saturday, November 25, 2017
How About A Saturday Treasure Hunt...?
This hunt is a bit different. It's gonna be "find the animals." OK? Just something a bit different for the start of the holiday season, ya know?
Now that wasn't too bad, was it? I hope you found it entertaining.
Coffee in the kitchen again this morning!
Now that wasn't too bad, was it? I hope you found it entertaining.
Coffee in the kitchen again this morning!
Friday, November 24, 2017
What Is It...?
Sometimes the strangest things can be found totally by accident. That's what happened in this next article from Listverse.
When it was found, no one seemed to know what it really was, or where it originated from. It wasn't small either, as is usually the case when unknown objects are found.
In 2012, a walk in the forest turned strange for locals from Otradnesnky village. They found a metal object bigger than a car. It was cylindrical and U-shaped, with one end tapering into a dome with ridges. The inside was visible, but it was empty. Assuming the 200-kilogram (440 lb) artifact had fallen from space, the villagers dragged it back to Otradnesnky. Local inspectors could not identify it and called the authorities in Moscow.[8] Rumors about the “UFO fragment” thickened when, in the dead of night, unspecified powers removed the object and placed it under armed guard.
Russia’s space agency Roscosmos examined the piece. They declared it was not space technology nor radioactive and was partially made of ultra-strong titanium. NASA’s initial assessment ran along the same lines. Despite agreeing it was probably not part of a spacecraft, NASA made it clear they needed better data and images for a definite identification. Whether Roscosmos provided its American counterpart with more details is hard to say. Media releases beyond the original year and story are rare.
Pretty strange find, I'd say. What's even stranger is the way they showed up in the middle of the night and placed the thing under armed guard. I find that curious, to say the least!
Coffee in the kitchen this morning. Chilly out on the patio.
When it was found, no one seemed to know what it really was, or where it originated from. It wasn't small either, as is usually the case when unknown objects are found.
The Otradnesnky Fragment
Photo credit: RT
In 2012, a walk in the forest turned strange for locals from Otradnesnky village. They found a metal object bigger than a car. It was cylindrical and U-shaped, with one end tapering into a dome with ridges. The inside was visible, but it was empty. Assuming the 200-kilogram (440 lb) artifact had fallen from space, the villagers dragged it back to Otradnesnky. Local inspectors could not identify it and called the authorities in Moscow.[8] Rumors about the “UFO fragment” thickened when, in the dead of night, unspecified powers removed the object and placed it under armed guard.
Russia’s space agency Roscosmos examined the piece. They declared it was not space technology nor radioactive and was partially made of ultra-strong titanium. NASA’s initial assessment ran along the same lines. Despite agreeing it was probably not part of a spacecraft, NASA made it clear they needed better data and images for a definite identification. Whether Roscosmos provided its American counterpart with more details is hard to say. Media releases beyond the original year and story are rare.
Pretty strange find, I'd say. What's even stranger is the way they showed up in the middle of the night and placed the thing under armed guard. I find that curious, to say the least!
Coffee in the kitchen this morning. Chilly out on the patio.
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Need An After Turkey Nap...?
For years there has been a rumor floating around that turkey makes you sleepy. Sorry, but that's just an urban myth.
Here is a short version of the real reason you might want a nap after the Thanksgiving feast. All ot the other stuff!
Turkey doesn’t have enough tryptophan to make you drowsy. If it did, you’d get tired any time you eat a turkey sandwich. Eggs, cheese, spinach, and bacon all have more tryptophan per serving than turkey, which contains the same amount of tryptophan as chicken does.
Don't believe me? Hey, Snopes even checked out this claim and came to the same conclusion. I kid you not!
Coffee out on the chilly patio this morning. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone !!
Here is a short version of the real reason you might want a nap after the Thanksgiving feast. All ot the other stuff!
Turkey doesn’t have enough tryptophan to make you drowsy. If it did, you’d get tired any time you eat a turkey sandwich. Eggs, cheese, spinach, and bacon all have more tryptophan per serving than turkey, which contains the same amount of tryptophan as chicken does.
Don't believe me? Hey, Snopes even checked out this claim and came to the same conclusion. I kid you not!
Coffee out on the chilly patio this morning. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone !!
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Nursing Home Nightmare...!
The idea of being confined to a nursing home or an assisted living facility just doesn't do much for me...at all!
I would much rather have the freedom to wander around my own home, keeping my own counsel, and living by my own rules. I guess that this was brought to mind because yesterday was my birthday and I began to ponder my own mortality a bit. Another reason to avoid places like nursing homes are mentioned in the article from Listverse that I found.
In 2016, a 911 operator in Deltona, Florida, received an unusual call from the Sterling Court Gracious Retirement Living center, with reports of staff and elderly residents being viciously attacked. The assailant in the unprovoked rampage was soon identified as a rambunctious squirrel with a penchant for causing mayhem. After biting a woman outside the nursing home, the furry creature made his way indoors, where the assault continued. “It’s jumping on people and biting them and scratching them,” the 911 caller said. “It’s still in there and people are bleeding.”
After the animal’s thirst for blood was quenched, the suspect fled the premises, leaving two residents and a staff member with “serious squirrel bites.” In the days following the attack, the lives of the traumatized victims began to return to normalcy, only for the squirrel to come back with a vengeance. This time, however, a staffer armed with a BB gun shot and killed the squirrel, bringing an end to the chaos.
Such brutality caused by wildlife pales in comparison to what happened to a resident of Brookdale Senior Living Center in South Carolina, also in 2016. While enjoying the scenery of the local pond, 90-year-old Bonnie Walker was torn apart after being attacked by an alligator. What was left of her remains was removed from the pond after staffers had realized that Walker was missing from the facility. The alligator was removed as well.
Any wildlife around me I would want to be of my choosing. Out of control tree rats, or alligators looking to ambush helpless old folks aren't real high on my list of critters I want around, ya know?
Coffee inside again this morning. I have some cookies I'll share.
I would much rather have the freedom to wander around my own home, keeping my own counsel, and living by my own rules. I guess that this was brought to mind because yesterday was my birthday and I began to ponder my own mortality a bit. Another reason to avoid places like nursing homes are mentioned in the article from Listverse that I found.
Wildlife
In 2016, a 911 operator in Deltona, Florida, received an unusual call from the Sterling Court Gracious Retirement Living center, with reports of staff and elderly residents being viciously attacked. The assailant in the unprovoked rampage was soon identified as a rambunctious squirrel with a penchant for causing mayhem. After biting a woman outside the nursing home, the furry creature made his way indoors, where the assault continued. “It’s jumping on people and biting them and scratching them,” the 911 caller said. “It’s still in there and people are bleeding.”
After the animal’s thirst for blood was quenched, the suspect fled the premises, leaving two residents and a staff member with “serious squirrel bites.” In the days following the attack, the lives of the traumatized victims began to return to normalcy, only for the squirrel to come back with a vengeance. This time, however, a staffer armed with a BB gun shot and killed the squirrel, bringing an end to the chaos.
Such brutality caused by wildlife pales in comparison to what happened to a resident of Brookdale Senior Living Center in South Carolina, also in 2016. While enjoying the scenery of the local pond, 90-year-old Bonnie Walker was torn apart after being attacked by an alligator. What was left of her remains was removed from the pond after staffers had realized that Walker was missing from the facility. The alligator was removed as well.
Any wildlife around me I would want to be of my choosing. Out of control tree rats, or alligators looking to ambush helpless old folks aren't real high on my list of critters I want around, ya know?
Coffee inside again this morning. I have some cookies I'll share.
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
The Temple Of Reason...!
Imagine an ancient, hollowed out oak tree with a temple built inside. Wild, huh?
That's the story from Listverse about the Chapel Oak in France . Pretty amazing place, judging from the pictures.
Elsewhere in France, there is an ancient church which eschews the use of stone at all. Chene chapelle (“Chapel Oak”) is located in Allouville-Bellefosse in northern France. The whole church is built inside an enormous oak tree.
A spiral staircase surrounds the tree and leads to two separate tiny chapels. Although trees have been used for worship in many places, this tree’s holy use came about in a unique way.
The oak tree is at least 800 years old. According to local legend, however, the tree is as old as the kingdom of France itself and William the Conqueror prayed under its branches before he left for England. In the 17th century, the tree began to be used as a chapel after lightning hit it.
The lightning ignited the wood inside the tree, burning it away. This left a hollow but still-living tree. Taking this as a divine sign, the local abbot and priest had the shell of the tree converted into a chapel.
When atheist revolutionaries threatened to burn down the tree, locals rescued it by renaming it a “temple of reason” to fit with the beliefs of the French Revolution.
Pretty unique church building, I'd say. Wouldn't you?
Coffee inside the kitchen this morning.I'm baking me some birthday cookies, so it smells good!
That's the story from Listverse about the Chapel Oak in France . Pretty amazing place, judging from the pictures.
Chene Chapelle
Photo credit: Ancient Origins
Elsewhere in France, there is an ancient church which eschews the use of stone at all. Chene chapelle (“Chapel Oak”) is located in Allouville-Bellefosse in northern France. The whole church is built inside an enormous oak tree.
A spiral staircase surrounds the tree and leads to two separate tiny chapels. Although trees have been used for worship in many places, this tree’s holy use came about in a unique way.
The oak tree is at least 800 years old. According to local legend, however, the tree is as old as the kingdom of France itself and William the Conqueror prayed under its branches before he left for England. In the 17th century, the tree began to be used as a chapel after lightning hit it.
The lightning ignited the wood inside the tree, burning it away. This left a hollow but still-living tree. Taking this as a divine sign, the local abbot and priest had the shell of the tree converted into a chapel.
When atheist revolutionaries threatened to burn down the tree, locals rescued it by renaming it a “temple of reason” to fit with the beliefs of the French Revolution.
Pretty unique church building, I'd say. Wouldn't you?
Coffee inside the kitchen this morning.I'm baking me some birthday cookies, so it smells good!
Monday, November 20, 2017
Ever wonder if many of the unsolved mysteries we experience get solved? It would appear so.
According to Listverse, the oldest unsolved mystery in America has been solved. Better late than never, I reckon.
In 1607, Jamestown, Virginia, became the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. For the last two decades, it has also been at the forefront of Colonial America archaeology since the Jamestown Rediscovery Project led to the reveal of the ruins of the original James Fort. Originally slated to last only ten years, the venture has been prolonged indefinitely due to the continued discovery of new artifacts and knowledge.
Part of the findings in 1996 included the skeleton of a young man given the designation JR102C. He had been shot in the right leg, and the lead bullet was found alongside the remains. His 400-year-old death became an unsolved murder.It took over 17 years since his rediscovery, but in 2013, forensic archaeologists announced that they had identified not only the victim but also his killer.
They believe JR102C was shot in a duel, as he was hit in the side of the knee, suggesting he was positioned sideways. Based on records and other evidence, researchers named George Harrison as JR102C and a merchant named Richard Stephens as his killer.[10] The two took part in a duel in 1624, in which the latter shot the former in the leg, with Harrison subsequently dying of blood loss.
Well, that's one more unsolved mystery out of the way. Now only a million or so left to solve, right?
Coffee in the kitchen this morning. A little chilly out on the patio.
According to Listverse, the oldest unsolved mystery in America has been solved. Better late than never, I reckon.
Solving America’s Oldest Unsolved Murder
In 1607, Jamestown, Virginia, became the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. For the last two decades, it has also been at the forefront of Colonial America archaeology since the Jamestown Rediscovery Project led to the reveal of the ruins of the original James Fort. Originally slated to last only ten years, the venture has been prolonged indefinitely due to the continued discovery of new artifacts and knowledge.
Part of the findings in 1996 included the skeleton of a young man given the designation JR102C. He had been shot in the right leg, and the lead bullet was found alongside the remains. His 400-year-old death became an unsolved murder.It took over 17 years since his rediscovery, but in 2013, forensic archaeologists announced that they had identified not only the victim but also his killer.
They believe JR102C was shot in a duel, as he was hit in the side of the knee, suggesting he was positioned sideways. Based on records and other evidence, researchers named George Harrison as JR102C and a merchant named Richard Stephens as his killer.[10] The two took part in a duel in 1624, in which the latter shot the former in the leg, with Harrison subsequently dying of blood loss.
Well, that's one more unsolved mystery out of the way. Now only a million or so left to solve, right?
Coffee in the kitchen this morning. A little chilly out on the patio.
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Turkey Day 'Toons...!
Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I figured maybe some turkey 'toons would be a good thing.
One more and we are done...
Man! I have to say that these 'toons were some real TURKEYS! Worse 'toons I ever chose, I think. I should apologize to everyone, but what do ya expect for free?
Coffee in the kitchen this morning!
One more and we are done...
Man! I have to say that these 'toons were some real TURKEYS! Worse 'toons I ever chose, I think. I should apologize to everyone, but what do ya expect for free?
Coffee in the kitchen this morning!
Saturday, November 18, 2017
40 Years With No Sleep...!
Now this next story is hard for me to get my head around...maybe because I like to nap.
I found this article over on Listverse.
Vietnamese farmer Thai Ngoc suffered a fever in 1973, which seemed like nothing much at first. When the fever cleared up, he had developed a bad case of insomnia. Thinking it would go away in a week, he didn’t give it much thought. Now, over 40 years later, he hasn’t slept since the night of the fever. After over 12,000 nights of no sleep, you would think he’d be dead. However, after examinations, the only thing wrong with him were minor liver problems. The only complaint from Ngoc was that he’s a little grumpy from not experiencing sleep for over three decades. He tried countless home remedies and even tried drowning himself in alcohol. Nothing seems to work. So why is his insomnia persisting for so long?
One of the explanations could be a phenomenon called “microsleep.” Micro naps occur when a part of your brain gets tired and decides to quickly take a few seconds to nap. Most everyone has probably experienced these when tired—our brain temporarily shuts off and then goes back on again. Falling asleep while driving is a good example of microsleep. This could be how Ngoc has been getting by for so long.
Now I'm just the opposite here. I get sleepy when I read, when I watch a movie, even when I watch the occasional T.V. program. Doesn't take much to get me to nod off, ya know?
Coffee out on the patio this morning. Still waiting on the cold front.
I found this article over on Listverse.
Thai Ngoc
Photo credit: Oddy Central
Vietnamese farmer Thai Ngoc suffered a fever in 1973, which seemed like nothing much at first. When the fever cleared up, he had developed a bad case of insomnia. Thinking it would go away in a week, he didn’t give it much thought. Now, over 40 years later, he hasn’t slept since the night of the fever. After over 12,000 nights of no sleep, you would think he’d be dead. However, after examinations, the only thing wrong with him were minor liver problems. The only complaint from Ngoc was that he’s a little grumpy from not experiencing sleep for over three decades. He tried countless home remedies and even tried drowning himself in alcohol. Nothing seems to work. So why is his insomnia persisting for so long?
One of the explanations could be a phenomenon called “microsleep.” Micro naps occur when a part of your brain gets tired and decides to quickly take a few seconds to nap. Most everyone has probably experienced these when tired—our brain temporarily shuts off and then goes back on again. Falling asleep while driving is a good example of microsleep. This could be how Ngoc has been getting by for so long.
Now I'm just the opposite here. I get sleepy when I read, when I watch a movie, even when I watch the occasional T.V. program. Doesn't take much to get me to nod off, ya know?
Coffee out on the patio this morning. Still waiting on the cold front.
Friday, November 17, 2017
Ed Gein For Freaky Friday...!
If ever a person deserved to be classified as creepy, it was Ed Gein.
I won't go into a detailed account of the many ways he acted out his madness, but this article from the History channel touches a small bit of it.
Infamous killer Edward Gein murders his last victim, Bernice Worden of Plainfield, Wisconsin. His grave robbing, necrophilia, and cannibalism gained national attention, and may have provided inspiration for the characters of Norman Bates in Psycho and serial killer Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs.
Gein was a quiet farmer who lived in rural Wisconsin with an extremely domineering mother. After she died in 1945, he began studying anatomy, and started stealing women’s corpses from local cemeteries. In 1954, Gein shot and killed saloonkeeper Mary Hogan, piled the body onto a sled, and dragged it home.
On November 16, Gein robbed Worden at the local hardware store she owned and killed her. Her son, a deputy, discovered his mother’s body and became suspicious of Gein, who was believed to be somewhat odd. When authorities searched Gein’s farmhouse, they found an unimaginably grisly scene: organs were in the refrigerator, a heart sat on the stove, and heads had been made into soup bowls. Apparently, Gein had kept various organs from his grave digging and murders as keepsakes and for decoration. He had also used human skin to upholster chairs.
Though it is believed that he killed others during this time, Gein only admitted to the murders of Worden and Hogan. In 1958, Gein was declared insane and sent to the Wisconsin State Hospital in Mendota, where he remained until his death in 1984.
I' read a lt about Gein over the years and I have to admit being completely unnerved at some of the things he did. Crazy doesn't describe the man well enough.
Coffee out on the patio this morning. Cold front moving in, but right now it's nice enough.
I won't go into a detailed account of the many ways he acted out his madness, but this article from the History channel touches a small bit of it.
1957
Ed Gein kills final victim Bernice Worden
Infamous killer Edward Gein murders his last victim, Bernice Worden of Plainfield, Wisconsin. His grave robbing, necrophilia, and cannibalism gained national attention, and may have provided inspiration for the characters of Norman Bates in Psycho and serial killer Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs.
Gein was a quiet farmer who lived in rural Wisconsin with an extremely domineering mother. After she died in 1945, he began studying anatomy, and started stealing women’s corpses from local cemeteries. In 1954, Gein shot and killed saloonkeeper Mary Hogan, piled the body onto a sled, and dragged it home.
On November 16, Gein robbed Worden at the local hardware store she owned and killed her. Her son, a deputy, discovered his mother’s body and became suspicious of Gein, who was believed to be somewhat odd. When authorities searched Gein’s farmhouse, they found an unimaginably grisly scene: organs were in the refrigerator, a heart sat on the stove, and heads had been made into soup bowls. Apparently, Gein had kept various organs from his grave digging and murders as keepsakes and for decoration. He had also used human skin to upholster chairs.
Though it is believed that he killed others during this time, Gein only admitted to the murders of Worden and Hogan. In 1958, Gein was declared insane and sent to the Wisconsin State Hospital in Mendota, where he remained until his death in 1984.
I' read a lt about Gein over the years and I have to admit being completely unnerved at some of the things he did. Crazy doesn't describe the man well enough.
Coffee out on the patio this morning. Cold front moving in, but right now it's nice enough.
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Something Different Today...!
Instead of havcing another post filled with useless facts or figures, let's look at some videos of strange and unusual animals...OK?
How about one more...?
I hope you enjoyed the videos. Something different for a change never hurts, does it? Thanks to YouTube for making them possible.
Coffee out on the patio this morning. Might rain later, but let's take a chance.
How about one more...?
I hope you enjoyed the videos. Something different for a change never hurts, does it? Thanks to YouTube for making them possible.
Coffee out on the patio this morning. Might rain later, but let's take a chance.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Frances Slocum For Westen Wednesday...
What compels someone to stay with people that originally treated you as a slave? Some just didn't want to leave after a while.
Although the lifestyle might have began with rough treatment, soon many of the captives came to look to the Native Americans as their adopted family. That was the case with Francis.
In 1835, a trader named George Ewing met an elderly woman of the Miami tribe named Maconaquah. She was in her sixties and a respected woman among the tribe, a widowed grandmother whose husband had been their chief. And so you can imagine his surprise when this old woman told him she had born to white parents.
As a child, he soon found out, Maconaquah’s name had been Frances Slocum, the daughter of a Quaker family who had been stolen away from home by Seneca warriors when she was five years old. A Miami family had bought her for a few pelts, and they’d raised her as their own.
57 years had passed since her capture. She’d grown up among the Miami, gotten married, seen her husband rise to chiefdom, given him four children, and raised them until they had children of their own.
Frances’s brothers hadn’t stopped looking for her since the day she was captured. When word got out that she was still alive, her brother Isaac met with the sister he’d lost decades ago and begged her to come home.
Frances, though, had forgotten how to speak English. Communicating through an interpreter, she told him, “I do not wish to live any better, or anywhere else, and I think the Great Spirit has permitted me to live so long because I have always lived with the Indians.”
True to her word, she stayed with her captors until the day she died—and she was buried next to the man who had been her husband.
Bottom line here is that she just flat out did not want to go anywhere. She had lived with and made her home with the Indians for so long, it was the only life she knew. Can't say I blame her.
Coffee out on the patio again this morning.
Although the lifestyle might have began with rough treatment, soon many of the captives came to look to the Native Americans as their adopted family. That was the case with Francis.
Frances Slocum
Photo credit: Martha Bennett Phelps
In 1835, a trader named George Ewing met an elderly woman of the Miami tribe named Maconaquah. She was in her sixties and a respected woman among the tribe, a widowed grandmother whose husband had been their chief. And so you can imagine his surprise when this old woman told him she had born to white parents.
As a child, he soon found out, Maconaquah’s name had been Frances Slocum, the daughter of a Quaker family who had been stolen away from home by Seneca warriors when she was five years old. A Miami family had bought her for a few pelts, and they’d raised her as their own.
57 years had passed since her capture. She’d grown up among the Miami, gotten married, seen her husband rise to chiefdom, given him four children, and raised them until they had children of their own.
Frances’s brothers hadn’t stopped looking for her since the day she was captured. When word got out that she was still alive, her brother Isaac met with the sister he’d lost decades ago and begged her to come home.
Frances, though, had forgotten how to speak English. Communicating through an interpreter, she told him, “I do not wish to live any better, or anywhere else, and I think the Great Spirit has permitted me to live so long because I have always lived with the Indians.”
True to her word, she stayed with her captors until the day she died—and she was buried next to the man who had been her husband.
Bottom line here is that she just flat out did not want to go anywhere. She had lived with and made her home with the Indians for so long, it was the only life she knew. Can't say I blame her.
Coffee out on the patio again this morning.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Monday, November 13, 2017
Why Do We Yawn...?
Today for Monday Mysteries, we have another medical question. It's about yawning...
This is one of those things that we probably don't think about too much. Not only humans do it, but so does most of the animal kingdom. And another strange thing, it seems to be contagious!
Everybody yawns. It’s not even just humans who do it—most animals yawn, too. But not matter how universal yawning might be, we have absolutely no idea why we do it.
People have been trying to figure out why we yawn since the fourth century BC. Hippocrates suggested that it might be to get rid of “bad air” and take in “good air.” Today, most people think it decreases carbon dioxide and increases oxygen levels in the blood, which means the same thing but makes you sound a lot smarter.
The problem with this explanation, though, is that it doesn’t really explain why we yawn when we’re tired. The logical explanation is that it has to do with the brain, but yawning doesn’t really seem to change the oxygen levels in the brain.
So why are we doing it? Why don’t we yawn when we really need that extra oxygen? Why don’t we yawn when we exercise?It doesn’t really make any sense, and we don’t really have a clear answer yet. As it turns out, that’s the case for a lot of things. We have our theories, but the truth is that there are a lot of aspects of the universe we just don’t understand
I don't exactly know why we yawn...but I do know that a yawn is just a silent scream for coffee!
Coffee out on the warm patio again this morning!
This is one of those things that we probably don't think about too much. Not only humans do it, but so does most of the animal kingdom. And another strange thing, it seems to be contagious!
Why Do We Yawn?
Everybody yawns. It’s not even just humans who do it—most animals yawn, too. But not matter how universal yawning might be, we have absolutely no idea why we do it.
People have been trying to figure out why we yawn since the fourth century BC. Hippocrates suggested that it might be to get rid of “bad air” and take in “good air.” Today, most people think it decreases carbon dioxide and increases oxygen levels in the blood, which means the same thing but makes you sound a lot smarter.
The problem with this explanation, though, is that it doesn’t really explain why we yawn when we’re tired. The logical explanation is that it has to do with the brain, but yawning doesn’t really seem to change the oxygen levels in the brain.
So why are we doing it? Why don’t we yawn when we really need that extra oxygen? Why don’t we yawn when we exercise?It doesn’t really make any sense, and we don’t really have a clear answer yet. As it turns out, that’s the case for a lot of things. We have our theories, but the truth is that there are a lot of aspects of the universe we just don’t understand
I don't exactly know why we yawn...but I do know that a yawn is just a silent scream for coffee!
Coffee out on the warm patio again this morning!
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Slightly Cool Sunday 'Toons...
Even though it really in't cold, it is a little cooler. So, being as how it is Sunday again, let's do some cartoons to pass the time.
And maybe just one more...
OK...that's enough for this morning. Go back to the funny papers now.
Coffee out on the patio again this morning!
And maybe just one more...
OK...that's enough for this morning. Go back to the funny papers now.
Coffee out on the patio again this morning!
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Am I Going In Circles...?
Sometimes the seemingly easiest things are not easy at all.
For instance, why can't we walk in a straight line when blindfolded? We do OK when we can see, but cover our eyes and ...BAM! We go in circles. Worst part is, no one knows why.
Try this: Go out to a park, put on a blindfold, and try to walk in a straight line. When you take your blindfold off, you’ll discover something strange, other than that your wallet’s now missing. No matter how careful you were, most people will end up spinning around in circles if they don’t have a clear target to walk toward, and nobody knows why.
Scientists have done multiple experiments on this effect, watching how people walk visually and even mapping out how they move with GPS. They’ve learned a few things: We know that the darker the sky is, the more people spin in circles, but we still don’t know why it happens.
There are certainly theories. Some scientists have speculated that it’s because of brain dominance, and others think it’s due to differences in the lengths of our legs—but the only thing experiments have been able to prove for sure is that every theory we’ve ever come up with is definitely wrong.
I pretty much can't walk a straight line at the best of times, even with my eyes wide open. I tend to lean a lot and bump into things. Maybe I'm just clumsy or something...who knows?
Coffee out on the patio this morning. It's chilly, but nothing we can't handle.
For instance, why can't we walk in a straight line when blindfolded? We do OK when we can see, but cover our eyes and ...BAM! We go in circles. Worst part is, no one knows why.
Why Can’t We Walk In A Straight Line With Our Eyes Closed?
Try this: Go out to a park, put on a blindfold, and try to walk in a straight line. When you take your blindfold off, you’ll discover something strange, other than that your wallet’s now missing. No matter how careful you were, most people will end up spinning around in circles if they don’t have a clear target to walk toward, and nobody knows why.
Scientists have done multiple experiments on this effect, watching how people walk visually and even mapping out how they move with GPS. They’ve learned a few things: We know that the darker the sky is, the more people spin in circles, but we still don’t know why it happens.
There are certainly theories. Some scientists have speculated that it’s because of brain dominance, and others think it’s due to differences in the lengths of our legs—but the only thing experiments have been able to prove for sure is that every theory we’ve ever come up with is definitely wrong.
I pretty much can't walk a straight line at the best of times, even with my eyes wide open. I tend to lean a lot and bump into things. Maybe I'm just clumsy or something...who knows?
Coffee out on the patio this morning. It's chilly, but nothing we can't handle.
Friday, November 10, 2017
Surprising Good News About Coffee...!
Want to do more to help Mother Nature do her thing...like attracting bees? Furnish more coffee!
Actually, I'm referring to the coffee plant and not the finished product. I found an interesting article over on Listverse that talks about how bees are attracted to the caffeine in the coffee plant flower. I mean, who knew?
Every other coffee list on the Internet will tell you that coffee was discovered by goat herders, whose goats got a little jolly after munching on coffee berries. But why does coffee contain caffeine to begin with? Well, it’s toxic to slugs and other pests, but it turns out it also has an effect on pollinators such as bees. In fact, scientists think they get—wait for it—a buzz from the caffeine in the flowers of plants.
Scientists found that consuming caffeine helped bees to improve their long-term memories. The caffeine acts on the brain chemistry of bees in a way that makes the flowers more memorable, so the bees are more likely to return to plants of the same type. Though bees and humans are very different, some experts suggest the capacity to be affected by caffeine could be as old as the common ancestors we share, as it impacts our neurological activity on a very fundamental level.
See? Coffee drinkers and bees have more in common that you thought! How cool is that?
Coffee inside again this morning. Still a bit cool out on the patio.
Actually, I'm referring to the coffee plant and not the finished product. I found an interesting article over on Listverse that talks about how bees are attracted to the caffeine in the coffee plant flower. I mean, who knew?
Coffee Contains Caffeine To Attract Bees
Every other coffee list on the Internet will tell you that coffee was discovered by goat herders, whose goats got a little jolly after munching on coffee berries. But why does coffee contain caffeine to begin with? Well, it’s toxic to slugs and other pests, but it turns out it also has an effect on pollinators such as bees. In fact, scientists think they get—wait for it—a buzz from the caffeine in the flowers of plants.
Scientists found that consuming caffeine helped bees to improve their long-term memories. The caffeine acts on the brain chemistry of bees in a way that makes the flowers more memorable, so the bees are more likely to return to plants of the same type. Though bees and humans are very different, some experts suggest the capacity to be affected by caffeine could be as old as the common ancestors we share, as it impacts our neurological activity on a very fundamental level.
See? Coffee drinkers and bees have more in common that you thought! How cool is that?
Coffee inside again this morning. Still a bit cool out on the patio.
Thursday, November 9, 2017
A June Bug Epidemic...?
Most everyone in the South (and probably other parts as well) know what June bugs are.
Here around my house they can be seen in the Spring, climbing on the screens and generally making a pest of themselves...no pun intended. I would say that I can't remember them ever causing an epidemic, though. Here's a case where some folks thought otherwise.
Here’s an odd one. The June bug epidemic refers to an incident in summer 1962 when a worker in a textile mill in the USA claimed to have been bitten by some sort of dangerous insect. Convinced that the latest batch of fabric that the mill had received from England was infested with creepy critters, the woman refused to go back to work. She complained of headaches, dizziness, and a painful rash. Before long, more than 50 of her colleagues were also insisting that they had been bitten by the elusive “June bug.”
Understandably, the mill was closed down for inspection, and officials from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta were dispatched to deal with the outbreak. But to their surprise, they could find zero evidence that such a creature even existed. The health inspectors found only two biting insects in the entire plant, neither of which could have caused the symptoms described by the workers.
Despite this dumbfounding discovery, they decided to have the mill sprayed for insects anyway. After all, there was nothing else they could do. But the most incredible part of the story is this: After the mill had been sprayed and reopened, not a single person complained of June bug bites again. Was there really something hiding in the fabric?
Something sounds a little fishy about this story, if you ask me. I've been around June bugs all my life, playing with them, picking them up and such. Never had one bite me that I know of.
Coffee in the kitchen. Kinda cool on the patio and it's misting rain.
Here around my house they can be seen in the Spring, climbing on the screens and generally making a pest of themselves...no pun intended. I would say that I can't remember them ever causing an epidemic, though. Here's a case where some folks thought otherwise.
The June Bug Epidemic
Photo credit: Patrick Coin
Here’s an odd one. The June bug epidemic refers to an incident in summer 1962 when a worker in a textile mill in the USA claimed to have been bitten by some sort of dangerous insect. Convinced that the latest batch of fabric that the mill had received from England was infested with creepy critters, the woman refused to go back to work. She complained of headaches, dizziness, and a painful rash. Before long, more than 50 of her colleagues were also insisting that they had been bitten by the elusive “June bug.”
Understandably, the mill was closed down for inspection, and officials from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta were dispatched to deal with the outbreak. But to their surprise, they could find zero evidence that such a creature even existed. The health inspectors found only two biting insects in the entire plant, neither of which could have caused the symptoms described by the workers.
Despite this dumbfounding discovery, they decided to have the mill sprayed for insects anyway. After all, there was nothing else they could do. But the most incredible part of the story is this: After the mill had been sprayed and reopened, not a single person complained of June bug bites again. Was there really something hiding in the fabric?
Something sounds a little fishy about this story, if you ask me. I've been around June bugs all my life, playing with them, picking them up and such. Never had one bite me that I know of.
Coffee in the kitchen. Kinda cool on the patio and it's misting rain.
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