SUNDAY FUNDAY JUNE 6, 2021

 SUNDAY FUNDAY JUNE 6, 2021

IT IS JUNE!!

Here it is - the Sixth Month of the year.  The start of Logical Summer (June, July, and August), and official Summer starts on June 20th (“the longest day”).  

It is the month of Father’s Day, it may be an anniversary month for some of you as well.  

NATIONAL MONTH 

National Dairy Month

I remember the “GOT MILK” ads - complete with milk mustaches.  I was doing some reading about the downturn in milk sales - almond milk, soy milk, oatmeal milk, coconut milk and more. 

National Zoo and Aquarium Month

When I was in Houston for my surgery, on the day prior to the surgery, my friend and I went to the Houston Zoo.  I like zoos, and am amazed at the number of animals in the world.

National Men’s Health Month

Guys - do keep your check-ups going

National Candy Month

I like candy, but I don’t overdo it.  For me, ‘real’ candy involves chocolate!!  

National Camping Month

I’m not ready to go back to a tent and a sleeping bag camping experience, but I do remember my experiences.  One story, my college son and I drove the seven hours to the Black Hills to go camping for a weekend - and then not having a pump to fill out air mattresses.  I think we spent most of the night inflating them to sleep on the rocky ground!!!

National Great Outdoors Month

With the previous note, I enjoy being outside

National Homeowners Month

Summer seems to be the time to make a move.  For families with children, the kids are out of school and moves are natural.  As a professor, all of my moves were in the summer.

National Iced Tea Month

I like iced tea.  I like unsweetened, no lemon, and generally weak tea.  Most days I have three containers in my refrigerator for ice tea.  I used to make ‘sun tea’ until experts suggested that it could cause cancer.

National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month 

Yes, as summer gets here, we can get fresh fruit and vegetables.  Enjoy!!  A few times (now moving into the ‘dark ages”), we used to can tomatoes and other vegetables.

And, …

National Accordion Month!!

The story is that when a person gets to heaven, they get a harp; and when they get to hello, they get an accordion!!!  

JOKES AND RIDDLES - ANSWERS AT END

Q: What can you hold in your left hand but not in your right?

Q: What is black when it’s clean and white when it’s dirty?

Q: What gets bigger when more is taken away?

Q: I’m light as a feather, yet the strongest person can’t hold me for five minutes. What am I?

Q: I’m found in socks, scarves and mittens; and often in the paws of playful kittens. What am I?

Q: Where does today come before yesterday?

Q: What invention lets you look right through a wall?

Q: If you’ve got me, you want to share me; if you share me, you haven’t kept me. What am I?

STORY (you may have heard this, but it is worth repeating)

Many years ago, on a little island, lived a bunch of happy people. They loved their friendly little island with its beautiful trees, water, and sand. The islanders had a special tradition of trading warm fuzzies with each other. Warm fuzzies were like little balls of pure love that made everyone feel good all over. People would offer warm fuzzies freely, and if you needed one all you had to do was ask. Even people you didn’t know would reach into their pockets and pull out a warm fuzzy, and just give it to you! Every warm fuzzy was like a big hug from a friend. And there were always plenty of warm fuzzies to go around. Everyone felt safe and loved and they all helped each other to feel safe and loved. 

But one day a grouchy, grumbly, mumbly tourist came to visit the island. He didn’t understand what everyone was doing but he was sure he didn’t like it. He kept cold prickles in his pockets and warm fuzzies didn’t make any sense to him. So he decided that he would tell a lie to the islanders, to convince them to stop with all that warm fuzzy business. The grouchy tourist told the islanders that their warm fuzzies were the most precious things in the world. He told them that instead of sharing them, they should be keeping them. What if the world supply of warm fuzzies ran out? What would they do then? All of a sudden the islanders began worrying and acting selfishly, keeping their warm fuzzies to themselves. And a funny thing happened. When people stopped sharing their warm fuzzies, people stopped receiving warm fuzzies. Instead of everyone feeling warm and fuzzy inside, they started to feel cold and prickly inside. This made everyone kind of sad, everyone except for that grouchy tourist that is. 

Thank goodness something nice happened next. You see, one of the islanders had left for college. She came home to visit and brought her warm fuzzies with her. When she arrived home, she started giving warm fuzzies to everyone she saw. The islanders started to realize what they were missing and that they had made a mistake. Holding onto their warm fuzzies didn’t make them happier, it made them miserable. They figured out that giving their warm fuzzies away not only made their friends happy, it made them happy too. The good news is that we can be just like those islanders! We can give warm fuzzies, like these cute little pom-poms. 

But we can also give warm fuzzies that are sparkly, little, fluffy, imaginary balls of happy. You see, when we offer a kind word or help someone to feel better, that’s the best kind of warm fuzzy there is.

(And, a related pun.  There is a country in the South Pacific where oil was discovered, and every one is rich.  The benevolent leader bought everybody a pink Cadillac.  So, yes, it is a “PINK CAR NATION”. )

MORE DATES:

June 3rd - National Egg Day

I almost always have eggs on hand.  I can be fussy about my breakfast egg - two eggs over hard. 

When I went to college, on my first breakfast in the dorm cafeteria, the server asked how I wanted my eggs.  I didn’t have a ready answer, so I said ‘one hard and one soft’, so for four years that is how I had my breakfast.  (And, that server became a friend and would light up when I got into line)

June 4th  - National Cheese Day

I am also kind of a curmudgeon with cheese.  American cheese please!!!  (I know some people think that isn’t really cheese - but).  I’ll tolerate most cheeses.  I’ve gotten to like some feta cheese on salads, and cheddar cheese on hamburgers.  My grandfather ate (smelly) limburger cheese.  I’m not sure if he liked it - or if it was just a way to be ‘unique’!!

June 6th - D-Day

While I was in Houston, I watched “Saving Private Ryan”.  The first scenes of coming ashore and the deaths seemed so real.  In my regular blog (http::/karens2019.blogspot.com) I wrote about Memorial Day last Monday, and the concept “War is Hell”. Thank you to those that served!!!

June 7th - National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

While I love chocolate, I tend to go with vanilla ice cream (or cookies and creme).

June 10th - National Iced Tea Day - to go with National Iced Tea Month.

I think some of you are more used to sweetened tea, and to also have lemon slices.

TODAY IN HISTORY

June 1, 1942 - Deaths in Concentration Camps described

“On June 1, 1942, a Warsaw underground newspaper, the Liberty Brigade, makes public the news of the gassing of tens of thousands of Jews at Chelmno, a Nazi-operated death camp in Poland—almost seven months after extermination of prisoners began.

June 2, 1935 - Babe Ruth Retires

“On June 2, 1935, Babe Ruth, one of the greatest players in the history of baseball, ends his Major League playing career after 22 seasons, 10 World Series and 714 home runs. The following year, Ruth, a larger-than-life figure whose name became synonymous with baseball, was one of the first five players inducted into the sport’s hall of fame.

June 4, 1989 - Tiananmen Square

Chinese troops storm through Tiananmen Square in the center of Beijing, killing and arresting thousands of pro-democracy protesters. The brutal Chinese government assault on the protesters shocked the West and brought denunciations and sanctions from the United States.

June 7, 1913 - First (known) ascent of Denali Peak

On June 7, 1913, Hudson Stuck, an Alaskan missionary, led the first successful ascent of Denali (formerly known as Mt. McKinley) the highest point on the American continent at 20,320 feet.

June 9, 1973  Secretariat wins Triple Crown

With a spectacular victory at the Belmont Stakes, Secretariat became the first horse since Citation in 1948 to win America’s coveted Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.

MUSIC

Hit songs: on this date (You provide the singer/group)

1958 All I have to do is Dream Everly Brothers  

1963 It’s My Party Leslie Gore

1968 Mrs. Robinson - Simon and Garfunkel

1973 My Love - Paul McCartney and Wings

1978 Too much, too little, too late - Johnny Matthis 

How about some country songs:

1958 Same as the rock list

1963 Lonesome 7-7203 Hawkshaw Hawkins 

1968 Honey - Bobby Goldsboro

1973 Satin Sheets - Jeanne Pruett

1978 Do you know you are my sunshine - The Stadler Brothers

 

Best Picture Oscar goes to:

1958 The Bridge on the River Kwai

1963 Lawrence of Arabia

1968 In the Heat of the Night

1973 The Godfather

1978 Annie Hall

RIDDLES

Q: What can you hold in your left hand but not in your right?

A: Your right elbow

Q: What is black when it’s clean and white when it’s dirty?

A: A chalkboard

Q: What gets bigger when more is taken away?

A: A hole

Q: I’m light as a feather, yet the strongest person can’t hold me for five minutes. What am I?

Ar: Your breath

Q: I’m found in socks, scarves and mittens; and often in the paws of playful kittens. What am I?

Ar: Yarn

Q: Where does today come before yesterday?

A: The dictionary

Q: What invention lets you look right through a wall?

A: A window

Q: If you’ve got me, you want to share me; if you share me, you haven’t kept me. What am I?

A: A secret

WRAP-UP

We’d had some good rains - which means that friends who go boating (or kayaking) have water.  Likewise, our gardens and yards should be able to grow.

I’m still shifting gears into summer mode.  Time to get outside 

ANSWERS TO MUSIC

1958 All I have to do is Dream - Everly Brothers  

1963 It’s My Party - Leslie Gore

1968 Mrs. Robinson - Simon and Garfunkel

1973 My Love - Paul McCartney and Wings

1978 Too much, too little, too late - Johnny Matthis 

How about some country songs:

1958 Same as the rock list

1963 Lonesome 7-7203 Hawkshaw Hawkins 

1968 Honey - Bobby Goldsboro

1973 Satin Sheets - Jeanne Pruett

1978 Do you know you are my sunshine - The Stadler Brothers

SATURDAY JUNE 5, 2021 SATURDAY STORY CONTINUED

 SATURDAY JUNE 5, 2021 SATURDAY STORY CONTINUED

In the first two installments, we find that Ruben was an older man, almost a hermit, living in Keokuk Iowa on the Mississippi.  Although gruff, he has become a friend to a neighboring family.  He gave a daughter of that family a key for a “chimney lock”.  In the first installment, the girl and her dad find the lock and open it to see that there are boxes of things there.

In the second installment, Vladimir and Sergei are blundering old spies (in their 80s) who are intent on finding whatever treasures Ruben might have.  But, they get caught and are being interrogated. 

*****

In the Keokuk jail, at 3:30 in the morning, police interrogators are trying to get information out of Vladimir and Sergei. But, the two old spies were playing dumb.  The police took Vladimir into the interrogation room first to see if he would crack.  

Sergeant Worzinski did the honors.  His grandparents were from Poland and he knew a little Russian and might be able to establish rapport with Vladimir.  

He started “So where were you born, Vladimir?”

Vladimir answered, “In Gomel Belarus.  Do you know where that is?”

Luckily Sergeant Worzinski did know - “Isn’t that close to Ukraine and that reactor that exploded some years ago?”

Vladimir answered “Do you mean Chernobyl? Yes, I was born about 50 kilometers from there.”

He continued (didn’t he know that being quiet is better in a police interrogation?) “My father worked on the railroad in Gomel and I grew up there.  I was born when Dad was home from the War for a few days”.  

Sergeant Worzinski nodded.  The internet data said that Vladimir was born in January 1941 as World War II was getting started.  

Worzinski continued "how do you know Ruben Semenitu? "

Vladimir smiled as if remembering a great friend.

“My good friend and comrade, Ruben, and I go back years.  We both grew up in the Gomel area and were in the Young Pioneers group.  We would go hiking and help in our community.  When we were eighteen we both enlisted in the Soviet Army.  It was a glorious time to be in Mother Russian.  We were ahead in the space race, there was no want for food, Chairman Khrushchev was such a dynamic leader.  

In the army, we both picked careers in technology.  Ruben was really a mathematical genius and I was sent to electronics school.  We both were smart. So we both joined one of the defense groups of our country where we connected again.

(Sergeant Worzinski thought - yup - they joined the KGB)

Vladimir waxed eloquently about the glories of Mother Russia, and his bosom pal, Ruben.  

A knock on the interrogation door was answered by Stanislaus Worzinski.  He had a document from Mike Schmidt.  Smiling to Vladimir, he said with genuine affliction, “Where are my manners?  Would you like a sandwich, or a soda, or a cup of coffee?”

Vladimir was sure that Sergeant Wozrinski was softening up, and said: “I’d love a sandwich?”  Then he laughed, “I bet you couldn’t make me a Reuben sandwich?” 

Stan Worzinski laughed too.  “Not in Keokuk Iowa, maybe if we were in New York”.  They both laughed.  Then Stan said “How about ham and cheese on white bread.  Our chef isn’t into work yet”.  

Vladimir added, “I am really thirsty, how about a glass of vodka.”  

And, surprisingly enough, Sergeant Worzinski said, “What a great idea”.  He pressed a button on a phone in the corner and indicated a ham and cheese sandwich on white bread, vodka, and water.  

Now that they were friends, Stan asked Vladimir how he was so fluent in English?  The two chatted for a few minutes until another knock brought the food into the room.  

Generally, there wasn’t vodka at the Keokuk Police Department, and never for prisoners, but Stan Worzinski knew they had crashed an illegal importer of spirits and they had several cases of vodka in the storeroom waiting for the court case.  Missing one bottle on official business was okay.

Soon, Vladimir was on his third glass of vodka and had woofed down his sandwich.  

Now, Stan was ready to get serious.

“Say”, Sergeant Worzinski started, “how come you were in Ruben’s house at night?”

“We were just looking for our old friend, Ruben.  But, he wasn’t home.”  Vladimir took another big swig of the vodka.  Stan was thinking that was enough vodka to make most people pass out.

Stan started again.  “And, how come there were spy cameras in several locations?”  

Vladimir laughed.  “We were going to play a little joke on our friend when he came home.  We would hear him and join him for a few drinks.”

Stan laughed too.  “Yep, a great time for friends to have a party.”

Vladimir nodded.  

Then the heavy question?  “Were you and Sergei looking for something in Ruben’s house?.  I bet he had pictures of you together back home and you wanted a copy for old time’s sake.”

Vladimir again laughed.  “Sure, that was it.  But, Ruben owed Sergei some money and so Sergei was looking for money, but not me, Ruben and I are great pals.” 

Stan laughed with Vladimir (drunken, senior Russian agents did like their vodka).  

“Hey, did you know that Ruben was sick?  Did he eat something bad?”

Vladimir kept laughing “Oh that was Sergei’s plan.  He put some poison in Ruben’s salt shaker just for fun.  What a funny guy?”

Stanislaus Worzinski had more documentation that was contrary to Vladimir’s story.  Ruben had left Russia with his mother in 1955 and emigrated to Israel as the Soviet Union wanted to get rid of the Jews.  Ruben would have been about 13 or 14 years old then, and definitely wouldn’t have been Vladimir’s good comrade in the Soviet Army. 

The two were laughing as Sergeant Worzinski walked a very drunk Vladimir to his cell.  But, being a generous person (at least in this case), he let Vladimir keep the bottle of vodka!! 

*****

Stan Worzinski immediately went to the phone and called our house.  After watching the police taking the two thugs with them, Mom, and I went back to bed.  Mom checked on Ruben and he seemed to be sleeping.

The ringing of the phone did wake Mom up.  

“Hello,” she answered.

“Hi”, said Sergeant Worzinski, “This is Stan Worzinski at the Keokuk Police Department.  We suspect that Ruben has been poisoned.  I will have an ambulance at your house in about 15 minutes.  The EMTs will be able to help get you and Ruben to the hospital where he will be checked.

Mom was astonished.  That was why Ruben’s health had gone so bad so quickly.  Getting me up, the two of us went to the Pear Room upstairs and helped wake up Ruben.  He seemed very disoriented and like he didn't recognize us.  

The ambulance arrived and the EMTs took charge and took Ruben to the Keokuk General Hospital.  

*****

Within ten minutes, a toxicology report indicated a small amount of arsenic in Ruben’s blood, an IV was started to flush that out, and by noon, He was up and about.

A forensic team went back to Ruben’s house and found arsenic in the salt shaker (and also the pepper shaker), and fingerprints of the two Russians all over the shakers.

*****

But, at a level way higher than the Keokuk Police Department; higher than the Iowa Department of Public Safety!!! In some boring governmental buildings in Washington DC and in Moscow diplomatic discussions were held.  

It was that Vladimir and Sergei were retired KGB agents, and had not been on a case in years, and were no longer employees of the state.  They were operating on their own.  

(And, the head of operations in Moscow informally said to his American counterpart, “Lock them up and throw away the key.  We don’t want them back here for at least ten years).

*****

Recognizing that they would receive better treatment in an American jail than back in Russia, a Russian lawyer recommended the two take a plea bargain for eight years - which they did. 

*****

Epilogue.

My maternal grandparents lived in LaCross Wisconsin, and my paternal grandparents lived in Prairie Wisconsin.  So, I got a substitute grandpa in Ruben - and where he had been a prickly cactus before, he became a real softy and generous to me and even the neighborhood kids.

There was an amazing change in the older man.  He cleaned up, shaved daily, took showers (hurray), tended some to his yard.  I became his lawn-mowing girl!!! 

As the hermit of the neighborhood, he became quite the extrovert.  Although he did have Jewish backgrounds he became active in our Methodist Church and went to all the senior activities.  He played senior bridge, took me fishing, AND - even found a girlfriend.

As for the hidden locked room, it did have some treasures.  There were silver and gold coins, but from older regimes in Eastern Europe. And, there was no debate that he legitimately owned them.  Some were great collectibles, some were worth a huge amount for their bullion value.  The estate was valued at about 100 million U.S. Dollars.

Using a search agency, he located his daughter, now in Frankfurt Germany, and built a great relationship with her and his extended family.  He traveled to Germany, Russia, and Israel frequently, and his family visited him and traveled with him around the United States.

With his funds, he established various scholarships, endowments - some of which were in Keokuk.  

Ruben became part of our family too, with almost every Holiday and Sunday dinner at our house.  I went with him to Russia twice and he gave me a scholarship to the University of Iowa!!!

*****

And, in maybe the ultimate irony of all, Ruben, Vladimir, and Sergei became best friends.  Ruben visited them in the Fort Madison jail once or twice a week and they played cards and chess.  The two thugs got an early release for good behavior and instead of moving back to Russia, got a small apartment in Keokuk and walked with Ruben in the beautiful Memorial Gardens (which had a special section of Russian plants)

****************************************************

Well, a three-week story.  Not sure I can make a novel out of this (or if I even want to).

And, a happy ending!!!

LOVE WINS!!!

Karen

FRIDAY JUNE 5, LOVE WINS

 FRIDAY JUNE 5, LOVE WINS

Thoughts about love today.

I think I can confuse individual love with group and corporate love.  I say that I am compelled to love, that love wins, that I cannot hate.

I use the examples of “Turn the other cheek”, or “Go the extra mile”

Matthew 5:38-40 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.  If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.  If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.  Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as the true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.  If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.”

*****

So, somebody that doesn’t like me, slaps me on my cheek?  Do I turn the other cheek?  Do I let them slap me again?

When I announced my transition in one of my groups, a member of that group (paraphrased) said “Take your sorry gay ass and leave this group”.  I didn’t say anything - everybody has his or her opinion (and I for sure had a lot of opinions and judgments!!)

I’m not sure if I am good at ‘turning the other cheek’.  I think I probably like the “eye for an eye” concept (or at least in the past).  You slapped me, I’m going to slap you.  

How about the ‘extra mile” concept.  If I’m sued and I lose my shirt - do I give them my coat too?  

There is an expression “Don’t let them take you to the cleaners” - (an online dictionary says: To take someone to the cleaners is to take most or all their money or cause them to lose their money through cheating them or some other nefarious means; to “clean someone out” financially either by dishonest means or in a court battle.”

At what point do I stop and say “enough”.  Let’s say somebody asks for my car (See: Give to those who ask and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow).  If somebody wants my car - do I give it to them?  Even if they just want to borrow it for a while?  

And, then the next part:

“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as the true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”

LOVE MY ENEMIES?  Hey, my enemy just slapped me on my cheek and I let him slap me on the other cheek!!  Hey, my enemy just took my shirt, and I gave them my coat.  And, now this radical Jewish rabbi from the first century says I am to LOVE my enemies?  And, not only LOVE them but to pray for them.  

If I do so, I’ll be a ‘true child of my Father in heaven?’  NOT FAIR GOD!!!  

I’m being asked to be a slug, a snail, something that gets stepped on - the “Coward of the County”.  When do I get to slap them back?  (NEVER).  When do I get to take their shirt? (NEVER), “When do I get to stand up for myself and my rights? (NEVER).

It still isn’t fair - but that’s okay!! 

This message is part of a longer message - the “Sermon on the Mound”

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 

God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. 

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. 

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.\

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

This is pretty radical - humble, merciful,pure-hearted, doing right things, seeking justice? 

To me, I can’t do this.  It’s not fair.  

BUT, I’ve bought the concept - okay, I can do it - but only with God’s help!!!  I look at the prophet Jeremiah - he was really hated because of his announcement.  He was put into a cistern, and yet God protected him.  And, yes, the people who talked to, were taken to Babylon and kept in exile.  

Is there a lesson for me here?  Maybe?

“Don’t overthink this Karen!!!”

“Trust God”

AND … LOVE WINS!!!

HUGS!!

Karen

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 PRACTICAL TIPS

 THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 PRACTICAL TIPS

But, first, my Grammarly for last week

• Two years of writing (104 weeks)

• More productive than 96%

• More accurate than 90%

• More unique words than 97%

TONE:

• Confident - 24%

• Friendly - 24%

• Informal - 12%

• Optimistic - 9%

• Formal - 7%

*****

To my readers.  Most days I tend to write more philosophical posts.  In doing my research on National Dairy Month (Tuesday) and the decline in milk, something stirred in my brain.  So - TODAY - I am going to give you a personal practical tip, and then I am going to give a world-shaking environmental tip - that would solve many problems.

TIP 1 - ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Other than mortgages or rent payments, most households' biggest ongoing expenses are energy.  In winter, you need heat, and in summer you need air conditioning.

(Comment - this tip is mostly for homeowners, but with larger apartments ‘might’ work!!)

This summer on the hottest days of the year, take heavy-duty black garbage bags outside and fill them with the hottest air you can find.  Tie them securely.  (Second hint - if you have a big vehicle, store the full bags in your car where the temperature can reach 130 or more).  

Then take those bags filled with hot air to your attic and store them.

Round two, next winter, on the coldest days of the year, go to your attic and get a few bags of that hot air and bring them into your living spaces.  You can untie the bags a little to gradually let the heat out, or open them fully to bring the room temperature up quickly.  

Round three, then take those bags outside and fill them with frigid air (the colder the better).  Again, take these cold bags to the attic (not in the same place as the hot airbags), and store them.

Round four, next summer when it is sweltering, you grab a few bags of the cold air and release the cool air.  

Caveats:  Be careful to not tear the bags, and be careful to keep the bags separated.  Maybe you can mark off the side of your attic for the hot airbags and the north side of your attic for the cold airbags!!

Aside, yes, just trust me on this idea!!!!

*****

Now to solve the greenhouse gas situation, which may be leading to climate change.

COWS are the answer.

It seems like GREED crept into cattle production and instead of nice natural pastures, farmers planted ryegrass pastures.  The advantage is that ryegrass is cheap and grows quickly than traditional pastures of flowers and a variety of grasses. The disadvantage of ryegrass is that it causes the cows to burp and to (excuse me) pass gas - not just any gas, but methane gas that rises to the atmosphere and mixes with the CO2 (carbon dioxide) and traps more heat in the atmosphere.  

But, methane gas can be valuable.  Natural gas (which used to be used for home heating until the heating/cooling process described above) is largely methane!!!.  

But getting cows to burp and pass gas in a controlled fashion seems to be the problem.  The solution - collect that methane gas!!  With the proposed infrastructure legislative initiative, there could be funds for building domes over cattle pastures.  These domes would have methane collection units at the top (after all hot air rises) of the dome and that would be siphoned off and added to the natural gas pipelines.  

Researchers have noted:

“Ruminants, and particularly cattle, are habitually cast as climate villains, responsible for large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. According to a much-quoted United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) figure, livestock are responsible for 14.5 percent of human greenhouse gas emissions. Eighty percent of these emissions come from ruminants, half being methane, and a quarter nitrous oxide.

WOW - if we could collect the burps and natural gas coming from cows, this would decrease the greenhouse gas emissions. 

There are a couple of alternative methods as well

For smaller herds, the cattle could be in individual methane cells.

Or, we can put more nutritious materials into our pastures than this ryegrass that seems to be one of the causes of the gas.  (But at a larger expense)

*****

So, there you are.  You can’t say you never get any practical ideas from my blog now!!!  Heating and cooling; and controlling the methane released by ruminants (aka cows).

I want you to remember this when the nominations for Nobel Prizes are made!!!  It is not everybody who is a friend of a Nobel Prize recipient!!!

*****

And, just to remind you, LOVE WINS.

Karen

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2021 WAR IS HELL.

 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2021 WAR IS HELL.

I hope I’m not painting myself into a corner!! 

(And, a comment on my comment - I remember cartoons where the characters painted themselves into a corner!!  Or a cartoon character on a tree branch, cutting off the branch he is sitting on - and the tree falls over)

Monday I wrote about Memorial Day - and the horror of the Civil War.  I wrote, “War Is Hell” (from Civil War Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman).  

I found an old Chicago Tribune (2004) on this topic.  

“Hell can be defined simply as the furthest away you can get from what is good and right, the furthest away you can get from God; war is hell because whether we succeed or fail in our military objective, everybody finally loses a lot, even those who live through it.”

The article goes on with this example from the author:

“My grandfather spent three years in the trenches in France. He was one of those for whom the term shell shock was invented. He came home from the Great War without a physical scratch on him and he was a ruined human being. Those who knew him before he went off to France described him as fun-loving and kind; he returned furiously angry, unable to concentrate, and became an alcoholic, self-medicating for his psychic pain. He lived with our family and most nights he would awake in the night, screaming. He screamed for about 50 years. After the war, he lived the rest of his life, simply, in hell.”

War is hell.

(Okay, crossing into touchy areas).  1 Samuel 15:3, Samuel, the prophet of God, tells Saul (the anointed King of Israel) “Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalek nation—men, women, babies, little children, oxen, sheep, camels, and donkeys.’” 

And, likewise, Deuteronomy 20:13.“When the Lord your God hands the town over to you, use your swords to kill every man in the town.”

God seems to be telling the Israelite leaders to KILL, KILL, KILL.  DESTROY.

Is this the God I follow?  (No wonder I like the New Testament more).  Everyone is made in God’s image.  Even those (terrible) Amalek people were human and God said “KILL” - everything, even little children and babies!!!  

(Aside, a topic that I WILL NOT FOLLOW - are current Israeli forces still following this in the never-ending war with the Palestinians? And, a second aside - if God was giving the Hebrews “a land flowing with milk and honey”, why didn’t he move them to the Central California valleys!!!)

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I was never in the military.  I do recognize the accomplishments of the military.  I recognize my brother-in-law who carries painful shrapnel in his legs from his time in Vietnam; I recognize my father-in-law from so many things - loss of hearing (due to cannons and the noise), loss of his feet (trench foot from wet books), and vivid terrifying memories. 

War is hell.  

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Back to the Chicago Tribune article again:

“Those who work with victims of post-traumatic stress disorder say trauma is contagious. Just being constantly exposed to the descriptions of acts of extreme violence can give you shell shock, say the psychologists who study this phenomenon. In my terms, that means, seriously, that "hell is contagious." As we Americans view the violence of war on our TV screens, as we read about military action in the newspapers, as we hear commentary on the radio, we all are a little bit shell-shocked from it. It is common for Americans today to complain about the fact that everybody's temper is short, that we are not civil to each other, that we all are distracted and irritable. We were miserably uncivil to each other in this last presidential campaign. Shell shock.”

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I have been to Minsk, Belarus twice with my Fulbright exchange friend.  We toured some of the monuments to the Russian dead from World War II.  Their land was invaded by the Hitler forces with a great many dead.  I’m guessing that the Iraqi, Iranian, Afghanistan's also have monuments to their dead as well.  

YES - WAR IS HELL

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But, is war inevitable?  Can a country just turn the other cheek (as Jesus suggests to individuals?) 

What if we (the Union / Northern States) let the Confederate States break off?  We see that in other places, North and South Korea for example, Czechoslovakia into two countries - Czech Republic and Slovakia.

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There is a concept of “Just War”:

“The just war theory is a largely Christian philosophy that attempts to reconcile three things:

. taking human life is seriously wrong 

. states have a duty to defend their citizens, and defend justice

.protecting innocent human life and defending important moral values sometimes requires the willingness to use force and violence

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Was the North (Union) justified to have the Civil War?  Were the Allies justified to fight the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan)?   Far be it for me to say!!!

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I write LOVE WINS, but there seem to be no real winners in War.  

I think I’m painting myself in the pacifist corner.  (Is there hope for me?)

Karen