Some Tips for Getting through the Day

Simple Chemistry Life Hacks from About.com Chemistry Solving Everyday Problems With Science By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. . Chemistry offers simple solutions to life's everyday little problems. Here are some easy tips to help get you through the day. 1. Spray Gum Away Use WD-40 to get gum off your shoe.1 Got gum stuck on your shoe or in your hair? There are a few chemistry life hacks to get you out of this one. Freezing the gum with an ice cube will make it brittle, so it's less sticky and easier to remove. If it's gum stuck on your shoe, spritz the gooey mess with WD-40. The lubricant will counter the stickiness of the glue, so you can slide it right off. While you might not want to spray WD-40 on your hair, if you get gum stuck in it, rub peanut butter onto the affected area to loosen the gum, comb it out, and wash it off. 2. Refrigerate Onions Use a chemistry life hack to keep from crying when cutting onions. Do you get all teary-eyed when cutting onions5? Every slice of the knife breaks open onion cells, releasing volatile chemicals that irritate your eyes and make you cry. Do you want to save the waterworks for your favorite tearjerker movie? Refrigerate onions before cutting them. The cooler temperature slows down the rate of chemical reactions, so it takes longer for the acidic compound to form and less likely to waft up toward your eyes. Cutting onions underwater is another option, since the compound is released into water and not air. Pro Tip: Did you forget to refrigerate your onions? You can chill them in the freezer 15 minutes. Just remember to take them out before they freeze. Freezing bursts cells, which could make your eyes tear up even more, plus it changes the texture of the onions. 3. Test Eggs in Water Bad eggs float. Here's a life hack to keep you from cracking open a bad raw egg. Place the egg in a cup of water. If it sinks, it's fresh. If it floats, you can use it for a stinky prank, but you won't want to eat it. A decaying egg produces hydrogen sulfide8. This is the chemical responsible for the foul 'rotten egg' stench. The gas also makes the bad egg buoyant in water. Got a floating egg? Here's one thing to do with it9. 4. Alcohol To Remove Stickers Alcohol can remove stickers or temporary tattoos from skin. When you buy something new, one of the first things you'll do it take off the sticker. Sometimes it peels right off, while other times you just can't get it to budge. Spray the label with perfume or dampen it with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol. The adhesive dissolves in alcohol, so the sticker peels right off. Just keep in mind alcohol dissolves other chemicals, too! This trick is great for glass and skin, but could mar the surface of varnished wood or certain plastics. Pro Tip: If you don't want to smell like perfume, try using hand sanitizer gel to remove a sticker, label, or temporary tattoo. The active ingredient in most hand sanitizer products is alcohol. 5. Make Better Ice Cubes Use chemistry to make better ice! If your ice cubes aren't clear, try boiling the water and then freezing it. Boiling water drives off dissolved gases that can make ice cubes appear cloudy. More Tips To Get Clear Ice14 Another tip is to make ice cubes from the liquid you are drinking. Don't dilute lemonade or iced coffee with frozen water. Drop frozen lemonade or frozen coffee cubes into the drinks. Although you can't freeze hard alcohol15, you can make ice cubes using wine. 6. Use Chemistry To Polish Silver silver reacts with air to form a black oxide termed tarnish. If you use or wear silver, this layer gets worn away so the metal stays fairly bright. However, if you keep your silver for special occasions, it can blacken. Polishing silver by hand may be good exercise, but it's not fun. You can use chemistry to prevent most of the tarnish from forming and to remove it without polishing. Prevent tarnish by wrapping your silver before you store it. Plastic wrap or a plastic bag prevents air from circulating around the metal. Squeeze out as much air as possible before tucking the silver away. Keep silver away from humidity and products high in sulfur. To remove tarnish electrochemically18 from fine silver or sterling silver, line a dish with aluminum foil, set the silver on the foil, pour on hot water, and sprinkle the silver with salt and baking soda. Wait 15 minutes, then rinse the silver with water, dry it, and marvel at the shine. 7. Threading the Needle Apply candle wax or nail polish to make thread slide through a needle. There are tools that can make it easier to thread a needle, but if you don't have one, you can make the process easier by binding together the fibers of the thread. Lightly run the thread through a bit of candle wax or paint the end with nail polish. This binds the stray fibers and stiffens the thread so it won't bend away from the needle. If you have trouble seeing the thread, bright polish can make it easier to spot the end. Of course, the easiest solution to this problem is to find a youthful helper to thread the needle for you. 8. Ripen Bananas Quickly Ripen bananas using apples or tomatoes. You found the perfect bunch of bananas, except for one little problem. They are still green. You can wait around a couple of days for the fruit to ripen on its own or you can speed up the process using chemistry. Simply close your bananas in a paper bag, along with an apple or ripe tomato. The apple or tomato gives off ethylene, which is a natural fruit ripening chemical. On the flip side, if you want to keep your bananas from getting overly ripe, don't put them in the fruit bowl with other ripe fruit. 9. Add Salt To Make Coffee Taste Better Did you order a cup of coffee, only to find it tastes like battery acid? Reach for the salt shaker and sprinkle a few grains into your cup of joe. Salt dissolves in coffee to release sodium ions. The coffee won't be any better, but it will taste better because the sodium blocks taste receptors25 from detecting the bitter notes. If you are brewing your own coffee, you can add salt during the brewing process. Another tip to reduce bitterness is to avoid brewing coffee with super-hot water or letting it sit on a hot plate until the end of time. Too much heat during brewing increases extraction of the molecules that taste bitter, while holding coffee on a hot plate eventually burns it. This About.com page has been optimized for print. 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Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: My Collision with Inside Edition, Freeing the Tale...

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: My Collision with Inside Edition, Freeing the Tale...: There I was Friday, about to go to lunch, and begin a short day at work. A good friend was holding an estate sale, and there was a large bea...

SUPERB CANADIAN IRIDESCENT AMMONITE - by I.M. Chait

SUPERB CANADIAN IRIDESCENT AMMONITE - by I.M. Chait



Just magnificent; truly a remarkable creature

Worth going to this Site for New Fall Plants

New Plant Introductions for Fall 2014 Keyword: Logees! Greetings! Logee's Fall 2014 catalog will be arriving in your mailbox the first week of August. We are introducing 47 exciting new plants. Here's a preview of the new introductions. Cape Primrose 'Yellow with Pink Cap' (Streptocarpus hybrid) This beautiful two-tone cape primrose has pink on the upper petals and yellow on the lower petals with pink stripes in the throat of the blossoms. The frilly edges add even more appeal. 2.5" pot. T5105-2 New Introduction $9.95 Order Now Desert Rose 'Elegance' (Adenium hybrid) Large, fully double blooms have layers of overlapping petals in dappled shades of white and pink making 'Elegance' an eye-catching floral specimen. This is a ready-to-bloom, two-year-old plant with a thickened caudex. 4" pot. S7858-4G New Introduction $29.95 Order Now Calathea 'Royal Standard' (Calathea hybrid) The spectacular foliage has light mint green centers and feathered dark green leaf edges. Bubble-gum pink flowers bloom for most of the year once the plant is mature in a 6-10" pot. The backs of the leaves and petioles are purple. 6" pot. R2841-6 New Introduction $24.95 Order Now Phyllanthus Bonsai (Phyllanthus mirabilis) Here's an unusual caudiciform plant that makes an attractive bonsai. The green leaves have a reddish tint and in the evening the leaves fold up, similar to a Prayer Plant, and reopen in the morning. 4" pot. R2821-4 New Introduction $24.95 Order Now Potinara Orchid Coral Gold 'Pacific Rainbow' CR/HOS (Potinara hybrid) The tri-colored, splash flowers have white and yellow petals edged in pink with contrasting red lips and yellow highlights. The 4" flowers have a light cattleya fragrance and usually bloom in both spring and fall if grown in good light. 4" pot. A2604-4 New Introduction $24.95 Order Now Wercklea (Wercklea ferox) A large and stunning species from Costa Rica, Wercklea has leaves that can reach up to 2' across with pronounced red veins. Clear yellow flowers form along the trunk. Wercklea is a rare plant for collectors who value the exotic. 4" pot. R2845-4 New Introduction $24.95 Order Now Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) Well known for its relaxing, anti-anxiety properties, this tropical herb is revered in the South Pacific. The growth is upright with broad, deep green leaves. It is the root that contains the medicinal properties. 2.5" pot. R2198-2 New Introduction $14.95 Order Now Potinara Orchid Flaming Orange 'Carmela' (Potinara hybrid) Bright orange flowers are accented by sunny yellow throats and have a light cattleya fragrance. Immature plants have 5-6 flowers per spike; mature plants have 12 or more! Flaming Orange blooms in both fall and spring when grown in good light. 4" pot. A2605-4 New Introduction $24.95 Order Now Dracaena 'Song of India' (Dracaena reflexa) Stunning as a houseplant or landscape specimen, 'Song of India' has 4-6" long, variegated leaves with pale yellow margins and striped green leaf centers. The upright and well-branched growth habit creates a nice full plant. 6" pot. R2839-6 New Introduction $19.95 Order Now Shingle Plant (Monstera dubia) Rare and highly sought after, Shingle Plant has velvety green leaves with silver veining. The 2" leaves plaster themselves against the vertical surface that they're climbing on creating a beautiful plant specimen that tolerates lower light. This plant is sold in a long pot with the leaves climbing on a 12" stake. R2833-4 New Introduction $39.95 Order Now Desert Rose 'Double Fantasy' (Adenium hybrid) 'Double Fantasy' is a visual delight with fully double flowers that have a large cup of upright petals as a central accent. The blossoms are pink with deep burgundy-purple and white highlights. This plant is a ready-to-bloom, two-year-old specimen with a thickened caudex. 4" pot. S7859-4G New Introduction $29.95 Order Now Philodendron 'Xanadu' (Philodendron hybrid) One of the easiest plants to grow in the indoor garden, Philodendron 'Xanadu' has narrow, highly serrated leaves that reach about 18" long. It acts as a natural air purifier to remove toxins from indoor air. Grow in bright, indirect light. 6" pot. R2837-6 New Introduction $24.95 Order Now Orchid Cactus 'San Miguel' (Epiphyllum hybrid) Huge, 7-8" flowers have vibrant red sepals and hot pink frosted petals striped in reddish-orange with a touch of white. It's magnificent when in full bloom during the spring season. Grow in a cool, dry place during the winter months to promote spring flowering. 2.5" pot. S7862-2 New Introduction $11.95 Order Now Anthurium 'Crystallinum' (Anthurium species) Anthurium 'Crystallinum' is a fancy foliage anthurium with large, heart-shaped, deep green, velvety leaves and pronounced white veins. Leaves can measure up to 2' across. Small crystals in the veins cause the leaves to sparkle. Flowers appear intermittently throughout the year. 6" pot. R2245-6 New Introduction $29.95 Order Now Fuzzy-Flowered Hoya (Hoya boutii) Clusters of fuzzy, cream-colored flowers marked with maroon centers adorn this vining plant from the Philippines. The solid green leaves and vine are thinner than most hoyas but it's a vigorous grower. Blooming occurs from spring into summer. This rare hoya is a must-have for any collector. 2.5" pot. R2834-2 New Introduction $14.95 Order Now Small-Leafed Vibrunum Bonsai (Viburnum obovatum) Clusters of white flowers appear on the terminal ends of the branches creating a beautiful bonsai for your home or garden. Shipped in a 6" glazed stoneware bonsai pot with decorative rocks and dried moss as soil adornments. Plants are 5-7 years old. L6564-6 New Introduction $29.95 Order Now Red-Heart Porcelain Flower (Clusia lanceolata) An attractive addition to any container garden, Red-Heart Porcelain Flower has white china petals accented by a bright red center. It blooms intermittently throughout the year and can be maintained under 2' tall. 2.5" pot. R2836-2 New Introduction $12.95 Order Now Cape Primrose 'Yellow with Purple Cap' (Streptocarpus hybrid) Lovely two-tone flowers have deep purple upper petals and yellow lower petals with frilly edges. It creates a beautiful blooming plant for a windowsill or light garden. This is a new introduction in the world of cape primroses. 2.5" pot. T5110- New Introduction $9.95 Order Now Make sure you like us on Facebook, our Logee's Tropical Plants Page shares gardening tips, sales and our popular Bloom of the Week Photo. Happy Planting, Logee's email: info@logees.net phone: 888-330-8038 web: http://www.logees.com

Diets and Fast Food

Some ideas from a colleague at About.com: Fast Food on a Diet By Lisa Lillien, a.k.a. Hungry Girl Updated July 24, 2014 . Healthy Fast-Food Salad Courtesy of Hungry-Girl.com There are times when you're on the go and hungry, and fast food is unavoidable. The good news is that you CAN make smart choices at a fast-food restaurant without taking in an obscene number of calories. Just follow these Hungry Girl tips 'n tricks... BREAKFAST Pick: Look for morning sandwiches made with English muffins, egg whites, and naturally lean Canadian bacon. If there aren't any egg-white options, go with a regular egg patty (no cheese). Fruit parfaits are also good! Skip: Sandwiches on bagels, biscuits, and croissants are drastically higher in calories than English-muffin versions. And those multi-item platters are generally a bad way to start your morning. Carb-y pancakes paired with fatty sausage and sugary syrup? No, thank you! Consider: Oatmeal is now super popular at fast-food restaurants. The calorie counts are usually pretty reasonable, but the portion sizes aren't always impressive. (I prefer to make giant low-calorie versions at home using my "growing oatmeal" technique!) Also, coffee is virtually calorie-free before anything is added to it. Make sure it comes unsweetened without milk or cream. Then add no-calorie sweetener and a splash of fat-free milk. BURGERS AND MORE Don't miss the special-requests section down below! Burgers: Not all burgers are bad choices -- a simple hamburger can be a decent pick. HG trick: Order a junior burger! And always avoid multiple patties and fancy buns. Turkey Burgers: Warning... Some of these have even more fat and calories than beef burgers! Check the nutritional info online to see how the restaurant's version stacks up. Chicken Breast: Grilled chicken = good. Crispy chicken, a.k.a. fried = bad! 'Nuf said. Double Tacos: One of my favorite orders at a Mexican chain is two grilled chicken soft tacos -- I take the contents of one taco and stuff 'em into the other, ditching the extra tortilla. The result is a giant, protein-packed taco! Much smarter than a burrito... Those tortillas are almost always MASSIVE and loaded with calories. (That's why I make burritos at home with low-calorie tortillas.) SPECIAL REQUESTS Apply these to the above picks... Hold the Mayo: Mayonnaise is a sandwich and burger staple, adding unnecessary fat and calories to otherwise decent choices. A lot of times it isn't mentioned on the menu, so always ask. Better safe than sorry. Skip the Cheese: Cheese is another source of fatty calories. Ditch it to slim down any meal. Lettuce Bun: Wrapping your burger or chicken breast in lettuce leaves will save you tons of carb-y calories. If the place doesn't do lettuce buns, just ask for your sandwich goodies over a bed of lettuce. Not ready to go bread-free? Just nix the top half of the bun. No Sour Cream: At Mexican chains, skip the heavy sour cream and any other creamy sauces. Stick with salsa or pico de gallo -- plenty of flavor and so low in calories. SALADS Don't assume these are the best things on the menu! The wrong toppings can result in a meal with more calories than a triple-patty cheeseburger. What to look for: A smart fast-food salad features grilled chicken and lots of veggies (even fresh fruit!). Get light dressing on the side. Then dip; don't pour! What to watch out for: Crispy chicken is a salad fail. Same goes for cheese, candied nuts, bacon, and tortilla strips. Dressing PSA: The dressing stats are often not included in the nutritional information for the salad. The good news? The packets come on the side, so you can review the calorie counts and use it sparingly. If there are no good options, see if they have salsa, and use that instead! A WORD ABOUT DESSERT Avoid oversized shakes and gooey cinnamon buns! But a small soft-serve ice cream cone can be a reasonable way to satisfy a sweet tooth. And a fruit parfait off the sides menu might do the trick! For guilt-free recipes, food finds, tips 'n tricks, and more, sign up for free daily emails at hungry-girl.com! Dining Out Advice •Surprisingly Fattening Foods •What to Order When Dining Out: Best & Worst Restaurant Choices for Dieters •Frozen Yogurt Guide for Dieters Lisa Lillien, a.k.a. Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien, a.k.a. Hungry Girl About.com Diet Advice Headlines .... Advertisement . Ads: Salad Calories Breakfast Nutrition Breakfast Sandwich Fat Calories Fast Food Franchises Explore Diet Advice Must Reads •Fast Food on a Diet •How to Make Healthy Low-Fat French Fries •Frozen Yogurt Guide for Dieters •How to Make Healthy "Fried" Food •Low-Carb Ways to Satisfy a Pizza Craving Most Popular •Low-Carb Ways to Satisfy a Pizza Craving •How to Make Healthy Low-Fat French Fries •How to Make Healthy "Fried" Food •Low-Calorie Smoothie Ideas •The Best and Worst Restaurant Choices for Dieters By Category •Recipe Ideas •Food Finds and Shopping Tips •Dining Out Advice .. About.com Diet Advice. About.com Health Diet Advice Dining Out Advice Fast Food on a Diet

I was Almost Killed Yesterday; A Parable

I was almost killed yesterday, no, really. I was getting off a ramp onto an interstate, signaling left. It was my turn to go. Behind me, I caught a brief glimpse of a motorcyclist, no helmet, on a little black, yellow and green number. Zoom-Zoom. By rights, you wait your turn, first I signal and get on the Interstate, then it's his turn. Instead, I heard a horn, saw nothing because he was in my blind spot. I slowed when I heard the horn, and nearly ended up skidding any way on the shoulder of road. I caught a flash of green and yellow. Yup; he passé me! On the wrong side. Speeding. Then, he wove and wove in and out of the cars on both lane, this dangerous braid of 2-wheeled oomph. Then he disappeared. Any crash would have taken him out as well, and for all the speed cameras and patrol cars we have preying on motorists around here, no none caught him. Once again, I was almost killed yesterday. No one knows except this blog and whoever reads it. I didn't tell anyone. In a flash, I would have been no more. One little second of flash. Once before I had that feeling, years ago. I blacked out. Just went out, and to this day, no one knows why. I remember nothing. Just waking up, still lying on the couch, with my little dog trying to jump on me, our neighbor standing next to the couch, and my mother crying over and over, "I thought you were dead!!" I saw no white light, didn't see my grandmother. Nothing. Just, I wasn't there, and then I was. Life is truly too short. Too fleeting, and maybe, it comes to nothing. Forgive me; this has been a terrible week; wars, plane crashes, planes missing, children dying, many feared loss, natural disasters. These things should never happen, but especially not in summer. Yet, were the world to end tomorrow, I would have to say I would leave it frustrated and disappointed, as would many. For example, the nastiest of my sisters - in - law. Part of her excuse involves mental illness that runs in her family, and her attempts to self-medicate with Zima and anything else, and I do mean, anything else, alcoholic. And, of course, she has her men. You can't blame her entirely. She is very unhappy. The difference between her and me is this; I can acknowledge disappointment and frustration. They are my friends, those cousins you have to accept, but you still wish they wouldn't show up at holidays. She cant admit that's what's wrong with her, so she puts on heirs, keeps up appearances. She acts with superiority to hide her inferiority. Often, I feel sorry with her. It's about coping and self-restraint. She should read "Heart of Darkness." As for me, I look at the sky. Anyone sinking into the most dangerous despair should just look up at the sky. It's so blue sometimes, so infinite. It will make you want to go on. And, never look a gift horse in the mouth, either. It could turn out to be one of the steeds of the Four Horsemen.

Memoir; Writing your Life Story: http://www.cozy-mystery.com/Free-and-Cheap-Kindle-...

Memoir; Writing your Life Story: http://www.cozy-mystery.com/Free-and-Cheap-Kindle-...: http://www.cozy-mystery.com/Free-and-Cheap-Kindle-Mystery-Books.html See above for Free and Cheap Mystery Books on Kindle and Nook, also,...

Justice be Damned; 5th and 6th Amendment Rights Violated because this Dying Man was not allowed to Assert his Defense

Please see below; I have never smoked anything, and I am neutral on the medical marijuana issues, but this is a travesty. Medical Marijuana is now legal in Iowa, and became legal during this case. The defendant was allowed to travel to Oregon where such treatment is legal. He was not, however, allowed to assert a defense. His hands were tied, and while there was not motive proved, he was convicted. Where is his right to confrontation? I suggest we read Catherine Crier's, The Trouble with Lawyers. From the Des Moines Register: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2014/07/09/dying-iowan-facing-prison-after-drug-conviction/12416687/ DAVENPORT, Ia. — A dying Iowan who claims he grew marijuana to treat a painful cancer faces a possible prison sentence after a conviction on drug charges Wednesday — a prospect he views as a "death sentence." Scott County jurors delivered a guilty verdict on four felony drug charges facing Benton Mackenzie, 48, whose wife and son were also convicted alongside him. Mackenzie says he used the plants to extract cannabis oil to treat a painful grapefruit-sized tumor on his buttock caused by angiosarcoma, a rare, aggressive cancer. Mackenzie's case has drawn national attention at a time of increased debate over whether to legalize marijuana for medical use. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia allow use of marijuana to treat different diseases. This year, Iowa legislators passed a narrow medical marijuana bill allowing parents with epileptic children to use cannabis oil as treatment. Because Iowa law does not allow use of marijuana to treat Mackenzie's condition, Judge Henry Latham barred defense attorneys from saying he used marijuana out of medical necessity. That ruling further infuriated many Iowans who have reached out to support Mackenzie since his arrest. A "Free Benton Mackenzie" Facebook page had 1,797 "likes" on Wednesday afternoon. Mackenzie believes the judge's ruling sealed his fate with jurors who might have been more sympathetic had they learned about his condition. "I'm still flabbergasted about how a judge can court-order me to not tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth," he said outside the courthouse after the verdict. "It's an abomination of justice." Much about Mackenzie's future will now be decided at an Aug. 28 sentencing hearing. Because of two earlier felony drug convictions, in 2000 and 2011, Mackenzie can be labeled a "habitual offender." That label would carry a three-year mandatory minimum sentence if Mackenzie is sentenced to prison, although probation could also be an option, said Scott County Attorney Mike Walton. Walton declined to talk about what sentence his office would recommend, but said prosecutors will take both Mackenzie's failing health and his past crimes into consideration. Lawmaker: This is why change is needed The guilty verdict against Mackenzie highlights ongoing tension between advocates of expanded medical marijuana use and law enforcement officers who say they're duty-bound to enforce current law. Mackenzie's legal battles should be a sign to Iowans angered by the verdict that more work should be done to change laws, said state Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City. Bolkcom has previously introduced legislation to allow medical marijuana and called the prosecution of Mackenzie and his family a "waste of taxpayer money." "This verdict really shows that we have work to do," he said in a phone interview Wednesday. "There are many Iowans I'm guessing that are illegally using cannabis to address their medical conditions who could find themselves in the same predicament as Mr. Mackenzie for simply trying to improve their quality of life and treat a debilitating condition." Walton, however, said his office could not turn a blind eye to Mackenzie's actions, especially given Mackenzie's past drug-related convictions. Mackenzie and his wife, Loretta, 43, had previously been prosecuted for growing marijuana used for treatment. In 2011, they both pleaded guilty in Scott County to drug charges and were put on probation. Benton Mackenzie also had a drug conviction in 2000. Though it's unfortunate that Mackenzie's health is deteriorating, Walton said Mackenzie knew he was breaking the law by growing marijuana. "The laws are not written in Scott County," he said. "I don't write the laws. I'm supposed to enforce them, and if people want the law to change, the law needs to change at the Statehouse for everybody, not at the courthouse on a case-by-case basis." Doctor: Do research on his treatment Mackenzie said he first noticed the tumor on his buttock approximately six years ago, but it wasn't until 2011 that he was diagnosed with angiosarcoma, his wife said. The cancer affects the lining of blood vessels. Mackenzie chose to treat himself with cannabis oil and by drinking fresh juice from marijuana plants instead of seeking chemotherapy. Mackenzie said he worried that a traditional chemotherapy treatment would damage his heart. The tumor, which was the size of a golf ball, reduced to a "bump" within two months after he began treating it with cannabis, he said. Mackenzie has continued treatment using oil he gets in Oregon since his June 2013 arrest, but the oil is available only sporadically, and the tumor is now the size of a grapefruit. Mackenzie and his family live with his parents on their property in Eldridge, just north of Davenport. Mackenzie admits he grew marijuana in a trailer and RV on the property. Law enforcement found 71 plants during a raid last year. Mackenzie and his wife were charged with felony drug crimes. Their son, Cody, 22, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Marijuana and pipes were found in Cody Mackenzie's bedroom, Walton said. Benton Mackenzie's parents, Charles and Dorothy Mackenzie, both in their 70s, were charged with felonies for allowing marijuana to grow on their property. They await trial later this month. On Wednesday, however, Mackenzie said his family was not involved in helping grow the marijuana he used for treatment. "I'm deeply concerned my whole family is in this position just for not deserting me while I'm dying, and this is how they're repaid for their compassion." In prison, Mackenzie would not be able to get the cannabis oil he believes held his cancer at bay for a time. Benton Mackenzie said he is receiving hospice care and has come to grips with dying, just not behind bars. "Being held down to die like this, that's infuriating to me in a country where I supposedly have a right to my life," he said. Dr. Charles Goldman, a surgical oncologist at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, laments that Mackenzie's self-treatment ended with prosecution instead of scientific research. Although Mackenzie's claims that cannabis successfully reduced his tumor have not been scientifically verified, other research indicates that it's reasonable the marijuana helped, he said. "To me, it's a shame that we're not seeing his situation as a research opportunity to learn on an actual human being," he said. "The fact of the matter is he's alive four years after his diagnosis, and he was not treated with any chemotherapy."

More Herb Links

Some more fun sites about herbs: Herb History Blog. http://www.ourherbgarden.com/herb-history.html Sacred Plants in Folklore. http://www.anniesremedy.com/folklore.php Herbal Remedies for Allergies. http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_uses_index.php

Herbal Folklore Research Center

Some ideas I stumbled on while researching a project: PARTICIPANTS HFRC Herbal Folklore Research Centre, Tirupati, India The Herbal Folklore Research Centre (HFRC) has developed the Raincoat Package, a kit that provides for all kinds of uses for the Neem plant. One Raincoat Package contains all five parts of the Neem tree, i. e. bark, root, fruit, flower and leaves. All that is required are expanded and innovative ways to use the plant parts for particular conditions. The Raincoat Package uses the Neem seeds to combat insects and other pests, and Neem leaves to protect grain in storage, while the residual material is used as a biofertilizer (compost) for crops. Focal Point IDEASS: Dr. Vedavathy vedavathy@hotmail.com B – 23, Vaikuntapuram, Tirupati 517502, India Tel: (+ 91) 0877 224 2695 / (+ 91) 0877 225 8860

Palko v. Connecticut

Palko v. Connecticut

From The Notebooks on Leonardo Da Vinci; The Connection among all Things on the Earth

My in-laws claim to trace their ancestry to Leonardo. I like to call him Cousin Leo, and he has fascinated me since I was a little girl, and first saw Mona Lisa in a book. Read on, in his own words: If man has in himself bones, the supports and armature for the flesh, the world has the rocks, the supports of the earth; if man has in himself the lake of blood, in which the lungs increase and decrease in breathing, the body of the earth has its oceanic sea, which likewise increases and decreases every six hours with the breathing of the world; if from the said lake veins arise, which proceed to ramify throughout the human body, the oceanic sea fills the body of the earth with infinite veins of water.

Thomas Acquinas; Remember one of our Earliest Green Tips involved Spriituatlity

READING 6.1 Thomas Aquinas, from Summa Theologica Is there a God? REPLY: There are five ways in which one can prove there is a God. The FIRST . . . is based on change. Some things . . . are certainly in the process of change: this we plainly see. Now anything in the process of change is being changed by something else. . . . Hence one is bound to arrive at some first cause of change not itself being 183184changed by anything, and this is what everybody understands by God. The SECOND is based on the nature of causation. In the observable world causes are found to be ordered in series. . . . Such a series must however stop somewhere. . . . One is therefore forced to suppose some first cause, to which everyone gives the name “God.” The THIRD way is based on what need not be and on what must be. . . . Some . . . things can be, but need not be for we find them springing up and dying away. . . . Now everything cannot be like this [for then we must conclude that] once upon a time there was nothing. But if that were true there would be nothing even now, because something that does not exist can only be brought into being by something already existing. . . . One is forced therefore to suppose something which must be . . . [and] is itself the cause that other things must be. The FOURTH way is based on the gradation observed in things. Some things are found to be more good, more true, more noble. . . and other things less [so]. But such comparative terms describe varying degrees of approximation to a superlative . . . [something that is] the truest and best and most noble of things. . . . There is something, therefore, which causes in all other things their being, their goodness, and whatever other perfection they have. And this we call “God.” The FIFTH way is based on the guidedness of nature. An orderedness of actions to an end is observed in all bodies obeying natural laws. . . ; they truly tend to a goal and do not merely hit it by accident. . . . Everything in nature, therefore, is directed to its goal by someone with intelligence, and this we call “God.” .

From Tortula, who wrote a definitive test on women's diseases during the 11th c

Below, from one of my textbooks: At Salerno, in southern Italy, the chair of medicine was held by Trotula (d. 1097), one of the most famous physicians of her time, although some scholars debate whether she was actually a woman, and convincing evidence suggests that her works are actually compendiums of works by three different authors. Concerned chiefly with alleviating the suffering of women, the major work attributed to her is On the Diseases of Women, commonly known throughout the Middle Ages as the Trotula. As the author says at the beginning of the treatise: Because women are by nature weaker than men and because they are most frequently afflicted in childbirth, diseases very often abound in them. . . . Women, from the condition of their fragility, out of shame and embarrassment do not dare reveal their anguish over their diseases (which happen in such a private place) to a physician. Therefore, their misfortune, which ought to be pitied, and especially the influence of a certain woman stirring my heart, have impelled me to give a clear explanation regarding their diseases in caring for their health. In 63 chapters, the book addresses issues surrounding menstruation, conception, pregnancy, and childbirth, along with general ailments and diseases. The book champions good diet, warns of the dangers of emotional stress, and prescribes the use of opiates during childbirth, a practice otherwise condemned for centuries to come. It even explains how an experienced woman might pretend to be a virgin. The standard reference work in gynecology and obstetrics for midwives and physicians throughout the Middle Ages, the Trotula was translated from Latin into almost all vernacular languages and was widely disseminated. T

Some Reusable Tips

This is from the About.com Site on reusing household items, Frugal Living: great ideas! Don't Throw That Out 15 Useful Things You've Been Throwing Away By Erin Huffstetler . Soap Recipes Soap Making Water Clean Recycling Projects Handmade Soap Turn a creative eye on the things that you're throwing away, and you may just discover that they're worth hanging on to: Old Baking Soda baking soda mixture in a bowl Use old boxes of baking soda to make homemade cleaners with loads of scrubbing power: •Baking Soda Cleaner Recipes Stale Bread Use stale bread to make croutons, stuffing, French toast or another recipe where dry bread works well: •Leftover Bread Recipes Soap Slivers Soap Slivers Round up all of your soap slivers. Then, melt them in the microwave, and form them into a new bar of soap. Tip: Use a coffee mug as a soap mold, and you'll end up with a fancy, round bar. Mesh Produce Bags Save the mesh bags that oranges, onions, potatoes and other produce come in. Then, use them as pot scrubbers when you're washing dishes. Newspaper Sleeves Use newspaper sleeves as disposable work gloves, pooper scooper bags or as yarn for your next crochet project: •More Uses for Plastic Newspaper Sleeves Old Spices Spice Jars Simmer a pot of old herbs to freshen your house or use them to fragrance your homemade cleaners. Uses for Old Herbs Crystallized Honey Honey Overtime honey tends to get thick and cloudy, but that doesn't mean that you need to toss it. Learn how to restore honey to it's original consistency, and enjoy every bit of what you paid for. Extra Ice Cube Trays Use extra ice cube trays to freeze leftover broth; to store homemade baby food; or to organize your jewelry collection. •More Uses for Ice Cube Trays Dinner Scraps Start a container in your freezer for meal scraps – a couple bites of of meat, a few spoonfuls of vegetables. Then, cook up a big pot of soup every time you fill it to the top. •How to Make Scrap Soup Use What You've Got •Uses for Vinegar •Uses for Baking Soda •Uses for Borax Do-It-Yourself •How to Clean and Maintain a Dishwasher •How to Maintain Your Refrigerator •How to Clean a Washing Machine Related Articles •Creative Recycling Books •Reusing and Recycling Ideas for Paintings •How To Get Your First Creative Job in Advertising •Read, Learn, and Think Your Way to Success With Creative Thinking •How To Give A Good Creative Presentation Erin Huffstetler Erin Huffstetler About.com Frugal Living Sign up for My Newsletter

This World is not Conclusion by Emily Dickinson : The Poetry Foundation

See below by Emily Dickinson, for my mother









This World is not Conclusion by Emily Dickinson : The Poetry Foundation

A Quote by Mark Twain

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: See below from a local news report; I love yard s...

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: See below from a local news report; I love yard s...: See below from a local news report; I love yard sales, and find many dolls there, despite the admonition from the author of "Haunted ...

Happy 4th of July: The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics By Francis Scott Key 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country should leave us no more! Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust." And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Upcoming Auctions - Theriault's Antique Doll Auctions

Upcoming Auctions - Theriault's Antique Doll Auctions

Memoir; Writing your Life Story: Storms and a Good Sentiment and a Reader Challenge...

Memoir; Writing your Life Story: Storms and a Good Sentiment and a Reader Challenge...: We've just survived a barrage of storms, and have been without power; just restored. I suffered real anxiety, an inheritance from my mo...