Texas church shooter identified!

The house on a hill.

Somewhere in the US - It was 1:45 AM, an insane time for anyone to be awake, much less an aged man. But, I was shivering, even as I was deep under the covers. 'Did the power fail', I wondered as I opened sleep filled eyes and attempted to concentrate.  A glance at my La Crosse thermometer, next to my bed, read 69.4 degrees. I groaned at seeing that while realizing that a small night lite was functioning in a cherry fashion across the room.  Two small space heaters, one an oil filled radiator looking affair and the other a blower type were putting out heat, but it was woefully short of what was required. Outside, an uncaring wind blew through the crack and crannies of a home that was almost as old as I was.

Getting out of bed, I reflected back to the days, many years ago, when I happened across it at an auction. I was looking for a place and to rent, but sometimes fate steps in and changes ones life course. Sometimes for the better, other times for worse. On that fateful day, a small group of people were standing around an auctioneer who was well into his chant. It looked to be a very old house he was selling. I walked closer and could hear him clearly. 'Forty-forty-forty, can someone give me forty'? His high pitched voice a rapid jabbering that was a bit hard to understand and yet understandable at the same time. No one standing there really seemed interested, rather, they stared hopefully at the man as though expecting he might perhaps burst out into either song or tears. Either way, they seemed to want to stick around to the bitter end. It was at that precise moment that fate, the auctioneer and me collided in chaotic fashion.

Clearly exasperated, the auctioneer (whose name was Stan, I was to learn later on), shouted out 'Someone please just make me an offer!'

Never one to be caught off guard, I half jokingly raised my arm and said. 'I'll go ten thousand, sir'.

In the space of perhaps a few seconds, he looked at me. Swiveled around to take in the small gathering. Turned back to me and yelled, 'SOLD to the gentleman in the grey overcoat!' And just like that, I became a home owner. My days of renting now in life's rear view mirror. Only, I wondered what kind of home could one actually buy for ten thousand dollars... [to be continued]...

Jesus pre-trial rough idea...

The audio track was from an old movie, Jesus Christ Superstar. I had the thought to storyboard a comparison of the 'trumped up' (pun intended) trial that Jesus endured and what is happening today. Evil and good, have fought for human souls since time began. Two millennia ago, we managed to crucify and put do death an innocent man. My question, in 2019.. Are we repeating that act yet again? And yes, I know that Trump is no angel, but then again what are we?

Branson Missouri

I might take this effort a bit further, in 2020....

Wind, rain and cold. What's not to like?

Flu report for Week 47 will show an increase in flu cases!

Nationally, flu markers that the CDC uses to track activity are still below their baselines, but for two regions, the percentage of clinic visits for flu like illness have reached their baselines. One is in the southwest in a region that includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The other is in the central part of the country in a region that includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.

[Note the baseline is developed by calculating the mean percentage of patient visits for ILI (Influenza Like Illness) during non-influenza weeks for the previous three seasons and adding two standard deviations.]

In addition, the CDC said the influenza B Victoria lineage virus is currently predominant, which is unusual for this early in the flu season. Usually, influenza B activity rises late in the Northern Hemisphere’s season. However, there was little activity from the sub type in the latter part of the 2018-2019 season.

However, the agency added that all three strains are circulating, with patterns that vary by region and patient age. At public health laboratories last week, 59% of specimens that tested positive for flu were influenza B and 41% were influenza A. And of the sub typed influenza A viruses, 61.5% were 2009 H1N1 and 38.5% were H3N2.
Influenza B was most common in people younger than 24 years old and H3N2 was most common in seniors. In adults ages 24 to 64, equal proportions of all three strains have been reported.
Regional patterns show that influenza B is more common in the south and southeast, 2009 H1N1 is more frequently detected in the central states, and H3N2 is more common in the northeast.

The CDC report for Week 47 is due out ant time now.

Sewer fish a la mode!

On rare occasions, I manage to come up with a recipe that is a tad strange, even for me. This creation was made using a stargazer fish that was raised in a fish pond in central China. It is cleaned then cooked in a briny soup composed of lentils, bok choi, onions, mushroom pieces and tomato paste mixed with water. After about two hours or until the meat is falling off the bones, it is then served in a shallow bowl. I once prepared this and served to a women on a first date at a dinner party for two at my home. The expression on her face, when I placed the dish in front of her, was absolutely priceless! Sadly, the evening did not work out. Bon Appetite!

Lover!

As we all blast our way into yet another new decade, please take time to reflect and to love those nearest to your heart! One woman in this video was dying of cancer, the other not. Please cherish the moments you have....And so it was, on a rainy February day, I found myself sitting next to God. Normally, He is just a part of me, as He is all of humanity. But, on this day, He was sitting right next to me. His hand moved forward and  struck me on the side of my head! I recoiled and stared at Him and said. '

Oh boy... More Trump impeachment drama...

After finding the mass new media still obsessed with Trumps impeachment, I got disgusted and so moved onto other channels. The ads on CNN suck! Way too many ads that focus on stuff I'll never buy. So, I went back to something that was way more fun... Hitting my big toe with a hammer! https://forsythkid.blogspot.com/2019/07/pink-floyd-time-and-pansporial.html

The freedom of choice! Do we still enjoy that right?

On a street, where I have lived exists a road and a gate. The gate allows or restricts access to a public area park that is run by the Army Corps of Engineers or 'The Government' for short. Most of the time, that gate is open and travel over the road is permitted, but at other times it's been closed. This is usually because the Corps had determined that potential hazards might exist. But take note, it's the government and not the the People who are making that decision and that's precisely why I have a problem with it in the first place!

Here in America, where we all enjoy a representative form of Republic where we are granted certain rights among which are basic individual freedoms; 'Individual freedom is a complex of values. In its most basic form, individual freedom is the freedom to live as you choose as long as you harm no one else. Each nation, each epoch in history, perhaps each individual, may define this ideal of individual freedom in different terms. In its noblest of expressions, individual freedom is enshrined in our Bill of Rights. It is freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, economic freedom, and freedom to choose your unique life style.'

In the United States, you see millions of individuals who make many choices every day. Some are good and others not so good. The point being is that we do get to choose... Excepting when a gate controlled by the government happens to block your way forward...

Now I know what many are thinking right now, 'Hey dummy, They close that road to protect you from harm!' To which I would replay, 'Oh, yeah? Why? Because I'm to slow to figure things out for myself?' In point of fact, there didn't used to be a gate there in the past at all! And, drivers made up their own minds if it was safe to proceed or not and few if any ever got hurt. Why exactly could they do this, back then? Because most everyone had a measure of common sense! Now, let me switch gears...

One of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, expressed his fears of giving too much power to the government thusly - ' In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.'

Concentrated political power frightened the Founders.  They believed that only by limiting government could liberty survive the natural tendency of man to dictate the habits of other men.  The balanced separation of power with checks was designed to prevent tyranny.  Each branch was given delineated powers, and then each of these powers was limited and checked by another branch or entity.  The system was purposely designed to slow governmental actions enough to allow due deliberation.  This frustrates those who want the government to always “do something” about every problem (rules and restrictions), but it also hampers the government from doing something grievous that affects our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

I close by stating this... 'Tear down that fucking gate!'

An old man eating soup.

While sitting in a cafeteria at a care center, recently, I heard an old man state: 'Good living is like a bowl of homemade vegetable beef soup. It's a crazy mix of assorted veggies with some meat tossed in to make the whole thing work. It takes effort to prepare correctly, quite a while to cook, but in the end it's an awesome experience.'

I told him that didn't make much sense to me. He responded to my by asking, 'Do you even like making soup?' He asked with a concerned face.

I said no, not particularly. Too much work. Me, I like the canned stuff. You know, it's quick and cheap. He smiled, took a spoonful close to his mouth, blew on it and then gulped it down. 'There you go', he said with a smile. You just made a Democratic Party case for me.... That which is good comes at a cost to build. That which is cheap also comes at an even higher cost'.

Cold weather and warm meals!

As winter had seemed to arrived in southwest Missouri a bit early, I turned to hot foods for meals as a matter of course. 

For my breakfasts, I tend to swing towards oatmeal for my morning repast when cold winds are blowing outdoors. (That's when I'm not going out to eat)!

Lunch becomes a lot of chili and spaghetti dishes that warm the belly and offer up the needed extra calories we all burn in colder weather.

Finally, many of my dinners have turned towards the various frozen entrees put out by companies like Health Choice.

The 2019-20 Flu season!

Taney County Missouri - Week 42 of the flu season for 2019-20 was Oct 13 to Oct 19. Still very early in the going as the flu normally peaks in late January. That said, some states including Missouri have seen a definite uptick in the number of cases.

Above is a graphic taken from the CDC report. It indicates that the number of individuals reporting showing up with symptoms of the flu at state clinics is above the 'baseline' or what is normally observed for the time of year.

The message here is very clear - please consider getting a flu shot!

Tommy James and Crimson and Clover!

A song for those who were there, at the time and who survived! This is the long version, by the way.

Ore-Ida Golden Hash Brown Patties!

For some strange reason, I had developed a hankering for some hash browns for my breakfast, and after a bit of searching at the local grocery store, I was able to locate a package of Ore-Ida hash brown patties in the frozen food section. 

When combined with a side of scrambled egg and some jellied toast, I had made myself what amounted to a pretty decent repast. (And yes, that brown stuff on the hash browns is A1 sauce - Something I'd encourage everyone to try at least once).

The hash browns can be prepared in a number of ways, but I chose doing them in my toaster oven set to 425 degrees for 15 minutes. The end result was very tasty.

Next week I plan to prepare fried applesauce on the grill! Do stay tuned!

Our Presidential choices are coming more into focus..

Another slapped together work by me - I did want to draw some attention to candidate Warren as she's probably the best the Democrats currently have to offer... Sadly, she's only slightly less insane than those she's running against on that ticket.... [Background song credit to Veela and that Mic Jagger guy.]

Have you gotten your flu shot?

It's only mid October and already clinics are bracing for flu troubles as cases are already on the march upwards! A recent article, I read, cited - 'It is officially flu season and doctors said one strain of the flu is expected to be especially severe this year. That strain is called the H3N2 strain. This year, flu season is expected to last from October until May.

Doctors recommend getting the flu shot as early as possible. Anyone who is older than six months old can get a flu shot. It is scientifically proven to help protect you. The vaccine has an inactive virus that helps your body build up immunity to the flu.

Fatigue, coughing, a runny nose and nausea are signs of the flu. Doctors said the best way to avoid getting sick is to get a flu shot.

"I would say it's not only protective for yourself, but also protective for other people who might have chronic illnesses who might be at risk to get the flu," said Ben Moss, a physician assistant at Grants Pass Clinic.' - Excerpted from KDRV.COM.

-----------------------------------

Some background on the H2N2 virus: 'Influenza viruses that normally circulate in pigs are called “variant” viruses when they are found in people. Influenza A H3N2 variant viruses (also known as “H3N2v” viruses) with the matrix (M) gene from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus were first detected in people in July 2011. The viruses were first identified in U.S. pigs in 2010. During 2011, 12 human infections with H3N2v were detected. During 2012, there were multiple outbreaks of H3N2v resulting in 309 reported cases.'

This is a tough little swine virus, in my opinion, and I'd urge everyone to consider getting a shot this fall. Remember it takes about two weeks for a person's immune levels to ramp up, so the earlier you get a shot, the better!

Sonic still a pretty good deal in Forsyth MO!

When compared to some other fast food joints (McD's comes to mind), Sonics located in Forsyth MO is still a pretty good deal!

I stopped there on Thursday, October the 10^th and ordered an All American Dog along with a medium order of fries. I like this location, not only for the fair prices (my meal cost only $4.75 with tax), but also for the fast and efficient service.

Improv Wall-e mix!

Wham Bam thank you God. Another day fades, one in a million such days of my life. All the while, me trying to sort out my place in a shifting and insane existence. So, this number is really about us and how the coming generation of AI robots will view us.... Thanks again to Veela who put this track out there. I plan to do a few video post reiterations... And yes. I do like my shit!@

Another interstellar visitor has arrived!

C/2019 Q4 (Borisov)

We could get an up-close look at our solar system's latest interstellar interloper a quarter century from now if we so desired, a new study suggests.

Late last month, Russian amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov spotted a comet that appears to be visiting from very far away. The odd trajectory and tremendous speed of the object, known as Comet C/2019 Q4 (Borisov), strongly suggest that it was born around another star rather than our own sun, scientists say.

This comet is the third potential interstellar visitor we know about — and all of them were spotted in just the past two years. Is this then a possible alien invasion force?

Blueberry muffins!

Somewhere! Somehow! While I was on the road to a great diet, my path became diverted. I made up a batch of blueberry muffins, and then, there was no turning back!

A freshly baked muffin is like a good woman, only with none of the drawbacks! Sure there's a 130 calories per muffin, but then again, who's counting!

Notes: I used a package of Martha White blueberry muffin mix and 1/2 cup of milk. The mix was stirred until moistened and then placed in a six cup muffin pan with each cup filled about two thirds of the way to the top. For baking, I used a Breville convection countertop oven, preheated to 380° and baked for 13 minutes.

Could this be the last day for life on earth?

'This weekend you can see live telescope views of an asteroid hurtling past Earth, thanks to astronomy broadcaster Slooh.

An asteroid known as 2000 QW7 is expected to pass by Earth closely, but safely, at 3.3 million miles (5.3 million kilometers) from Earth, or about 14 times the average distance between Earth and the moon. (NASA sent out a statement reassuring people that this happens all the time, and there's no need to panic.) The asteroid's closest approach will be at 7:54 p.m. EDT (2354 GMT) on Saturday (Sept. 14).'

------------------------------------

My take on this article that appeared on Space.com was to say that anytime a scientist or politician tells us not to panic, then it's definitely time to panic!

Send Me an Angel!

The Gospel according to Dan (tic). Three important facts to know going forward; 1) God is not a He, She or It. Let's just call the entity the Creator. 2) And yes, the Creator did send down an only Son to this earthly plane as a witness of a very real fight between elements of good and evil. (If you don't know what evil is, you are already likely very very lost). 3) Neither of those two (the Creator or the son Jesus) have ever left us. EVER! Part of the Creator's eye IS the sun shining above us, each day! It sees all and can blind if you stare at it for very long! And, the Creator's Son is with us, always. Shakespeare once wrote in a play called Macbeth of how each of us strut and fret - 'Life is but a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard NO more: Tis a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. 'Well said Sire. Yes, this existence IS chaotic, unfair and full of contradictions.

 Each and every soul arriving from the birth canal, of their mothers womb, did and do arrive on an absolutely insane world stage. We are all innocent and pure at birth, but then, we become tested and even hardened in the trials of each unique life.

The very young, who have died and are dying this moment are given a free pass. [Why? Ask the Creator. I don't know for sure.] As for the rest of the children.. The truth. Our moral metal will be quickly tested (some harshly), measured and then perhaps some (maybe a few) will one day pass through yet another sort of heavenly birth canal (death and a new rebirth) that will make it all clear. Like someone who has been blind all their lives and now can see in color!.... I hope to see you all on the other side, assuming I make it! Oh, and yes! Angels do exist, and they are totally awesome! Well... most are. Mine happens to have some issues....

Döf Codo!

Tic Tac Toe - Lästern

Too much heaven on our minds!

Judas was not a traitor of Christ. He was by far, the strongest disciple of the chosen twelve. And I believe that Jesus knew that fact and then used this poor man as an anvil in the forge of the union of mankind between this world and the next one to come. 

A reggae video number about us men being f'ing weak!

Radiohead - Creep

The Bull Shoals monster!

Rare picture of what??

Some people say that Bull Shoals Lake in southwestern Missouri may not be the safest place to venture about, especially in its more desolate reaches. 

Bull Shoals is a large body of water that forms the tertiary branch of three reservoirs near my town of Forsyth Missouri. I've lived in the area for quite some time and I think it was along about 1998 that I was out walking along the shoreline when I spied a strange sort of creature off in the distance. The light wasn't very good, yet I could see well enough to tell that the creature was easily over twelve feet long. At first, I thought it had to be a trick of the lighting or maybe even some form of a mirage. But, I snapped a picture anyway with my trusty Canon camera. As soon as I clicked the shutter, however, the thing was gone in the blink of an eye. It moved so darn fast, I'd almost convinced myself I had wasted some film and wouldn't see anything at all once it was developed...

A week later, the film came back and boy was I amazed! What sort creature from hell was this, I asked myself? It looked all twisted up and even deformed in places! I remember that a shiver ran briefly down my spine as I contemplated showing it to my friends. No. I decided. Why face the potential ridicule. So, I stuffed the picture into a photo album, where it then languished for decades. Then, in the early fall of 2021, the killings began....

Chili with Habanero peppers!

Perhaps the title was a bit misleading. I actually only added just a bit of one Habanero pepper that I had grown myself. I figured that it might add just a touch of heat....

As far as I'm concerned, a really good chili is actually a simple chili comprised of just the following ingredients: hamburger meat, Williams chili seasoning, kidney beans and diced tomatoes! And, oh yeah, an added bit of heat in the form of the aforementioned diced hot pepper.

The above ingredients were tossed into a slow cooker set on high for two hours, after I had browned and drained the meat. Prep time was about 15 minutes. Now, as to the resulting chili... It was pretty dad burn hot! (I actually broke out into a sweat and ran to the fridge for a glass of milk). That said, it was also a very good meal!

Note: For those with any interest. There were about 1.31 calories in a gram, per my calculations. So, as I generally have about a cup of chili per serving, that equates to about 170 calories. Not all that bad for anyone on a diet.

Washing machine blues!

One morning, I decided to do a load of laundry in my 'almost new' General Electric stacked washer dryer combo unit. I started the machine up and then went on to other chores. About 40 minutes later, I went to throw the clothes into the dryer only to find that the machine was completely dead with a tub full of water and not much else happening! Hmm.

After checking all the dials and then hitting the start button, numerous times, I thought that perhaps something was wrong with the electronic control board. I grabbed a Philips head screw driver and removed an access panel. What I observed puzzled me a lot. The entire board was soaking wet! How it got that way was a mystery until I was able to successfully dry and restart the circuitry. When the unit came back on, water gushed out of a slot near the board. Wow! I quickly determined that there might be something wrong with the washer fill tube, and not being handy with that sort of machine I called The Mr. Appliance company in Springfield to set up an appointment. Yes, I did check the water inlet fairly carefully and could not see anything wrong with it!

Tech Chris Penberthy

Two days later, a technician arrived at my door step to hopefully fix my troubled machine. His name was Chris Penberthy (a tech at Mr. Appliance) and he quickly found the source of the problem. It was a clogged fill outlet! Wow. It seemed that the micro holes had gotten clogged with calcium. As a semi-permanent fix, I elected to drill a 1/4 inch hole in the unit. This seemed to correct the problem, for now anyways. I found Mr. Penberthy to be courteous, prompt and professional. I would definitely recommend him for this type of repair work. Also, one take away, from the whole experience, was a promise to myself never to buy another product like this made in China!

Still, so not in love! Fuck you Biden!

Yes. I do like this old song. A poor rendition.. Whatever.... And do not ever trust the Deep State government. Trust Trump, and I'll see you all on the other side... and to anyone who asked me, at a bar, and who had no clue. Well, you will be clueless, all your life. And, yep, this video ends with another blank screen. So sue me!

Sitting in the dark!

It was about 8PM, or so, on Friday July the 19th when I noticed that the cable had died. No internet and no TV. Then, about five minutes later the power went also. So, there I was sitting in the dark on one of the hottest evening of the summer....

Apparently, something blew at the Powersite substation above the Powersite Dam (which was also not working at the time). And so, I went on to bed and lay there in the dark wondering when things would get back to 'normal'. About two hours later, the power did come back on as did my air conditioner, so I was able to get some sleep. But as I fell to sleep, my mind pondered the question of out power infrastructure and what sort of shape it was in. Were the problems sporadic and local or were they more widespread? Following is the response I received from Liberty Utilities after I inquired as to the cause of the outage;

From: Doreen Maynard
Sent: Saturday, July 20, 2019 10:20 AM

Subject: Outage

Unfortunately we cannot promise service 24/7 but when we do experience an outage we respond as quickly and safely as possible.   We did have and issue with a substation,  we can’t predict when this might happen however with the extremely high heat index we have experienced that may cause extra load on our equipment. With our lineman responding quickly and our customers conserving usage we will do our best to make sure outages are as infrequent as possible.

Thank you

Doreen Maynard | Liberty Utilities  (Missouri) | Customer Service Rep-Contact Center-Sr
P:  E: Doreen.Maynard@libertyutilities.com
3400 S Kodiak Road, Joplin, MO 64804
VAT#123456
While I greatly appreciated the prompt response, I still could not help but be a little troubled. Was the power grid getting a bit old? Was it not able to keep up with the increased loads placed on it by a society that craves electrical devices? It was my sincere hope that Liberty Utilities, a Canadian owned power company, would stay on top of these questions.

Time for some Crockpot chili!

What was that old saying? Chili today, hot tamale! Not wanting to go against such a tome, I decided to make up a batch of my favorite chili via the slow cooker.

Yes, I know. I've posted about a million-jillion (Definition of jillion - an extremely large number) chili recipes, in the past, with most all of them sounding about the same! But, on this day I was planning to add something really new! First off, here's my tried and true recipe:

1 lb ground beef (80% - 20% mix)

1 onion, chopped (for use as a topping,when you eat the stuff)

1 can petite diced tomatoes, 8 oz

1 can red kidney beans, drained

14 grams of Williams chili mix (per lb ground beef)

1 tsp Olive oil

1 tsp brown sugar (optional) per lb ground beef

Dash of cayenne pepper

dash salt and pepper

and now for the new stuff!

2 banana peppers, minced (adds a little more heat)

½ bell pepper, minced

See! Who said you couldn't teach an old dog like me a few new tricks? Seriously, though, I was slowly zeroing in on the ultimate simple chili! That, you see, is my life's ambition.

Now if you add in some pasta and a few more toppings you get this!

The Gross Reason You Should Never Pepper Your Food in Restaurants!

Chances are, you’ve already heard that the menu is the dirtiest item in a restaurant—harboring about 185,000 bacteria, which is just one of the many everyday items that are dirtier than a toilet seat. Surprisingly, the second dirtiest item in a restaurant isn’t in the bathroom. In fact, it’s right on your table.

Before you reach for the pepper shaker, think about how many people have touched it before you. Does it look clean? Is it sticky? Unfortunately, it’s not unusual for restaurants to overlook the cleanliness—or lack thereof—of each individual shaker. (This goes for salt, sugar, cheese, and other shakers, too—pepper just happens to beat them in the germ-harboring surface contest.) According to a study conducted by ABC News, on average, a pepper shaker’s bacteria count is 11,600.

“Most salt and pepper shakers are only wiped down if they appear dirty, and even then, only with a damp cloth that people who bus tables keep in their pockets,” Jonas Sickler, Director of Operations at ConsumerSafety.org, told Reader’s Digest. “While some restaurants collect, refill, and wipe down shakers, they are rarely properly emptied and sanitized.” - from an article by Brittany Gibson
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 When I read this article, I was a bit shocked. After all, who really even thinks about germs when you're getting ready to sit down to a meal at some restaurant. I wondered what are you supposed to do, bring a can of Lysol to every meal eaten out? Well, in my case, the solution was to simply skip adding anything in a shaker. I was on a low salt diet, anyways and restaurants never seem to offer a salt substitute.

Cockroaches becoming invincible?

Rumors have circulated that cockroaches could survive a nuclear bomb. (That could be sort of true, but then again, mankind would have larger issues to be concerned with in the vent of a nuclear war). What is concerning to the average homeowner, however, is what may have newly acquired resistance to commonly used insecticides!

=======================

While it's not yet scientifically proven, scientists at Purdue University discovered German cockroaches are becoming resistant to insecticides. Even more horrifying: They can become cross-resistant to chemicals to which they haven’t even been exposed.

They can then pass those resistant genes onto their offspring, creating whole new generations of evolved super-roaches. Researchers worry this will some day make it difficult - or impossible - to control the bugs with chemicals alone.

Proper sanitation in combination with physical traps and sticky tapes are still good viable options. And don't forget, they don't fare well when stepped on by a human shoe....[ripped from CNN article]

Pink Floyd - Time and Pansporial tranmission!

Racial and gender diversification, like the pure light of the sun, split through a prism are actually very good things. Just as the differing frequencies and harmonics resulting from the sun’s light going through a simple prism, do result in a revealing of light’s intrinsic basic structures. So then, did the Creator’s creation of mankind evolve over many eons of time. Self awareness is a very precious commodity in all the universe. It was and still is the gold standard. The Creator, I do believe, made humankind, like that light in a prism, to be split into various shades and colors. Not to divide us, but to make us stronger. Likewise, He also challenged us with various tongues.Asshole!

None of the events that happened during all those times. The wars, the famines or the suffering of so many were ever done in an offhanded manner. The time each soul spends from birth to death is short for some and longer for others. Yet, in all cases, each soul's time on this earth was a proving ground designed by God. Some have and will prove worthy, while others will not. (But fear not, I have faith that the Lord’s house is pretty large and will accommodate all His children).

Here on earth. It is only our inherent diversity, as a species, that has insured that we could survive, both as a self aware traveler from our individual births to yet another to awakening on passing.

In the end, both time and humanity will march forward under the Lord’s watchful gaze.. Next up. Life really is a disease... https://forsythkid.blogspot.com/2014/08/pm-today-this-disease.html

A pasta diet platter!

By whatever name they go by, the various forms of pasta are a popular mealtime treat here in America and elsewhere. Numbering at about 350 types, I personally like to prepare and eat just a few; Spaghetti, Penne Rigate and shell are three of my favorites!

When combined with a good red sauce, (like the ones that come in a can from Hunt's), I cannot think of many other meals that I enjoy more! The only downside being the carbs. The recommended serving of regular spaghetti on the package is 56 grams of noodles which is also about 56 noodles. A bundle measures about ½ inch across which is about the same diameter as a penny (see below), so it might not look like a lot. But whoa, if you look at the nutritional panel here, you can see that you'll be

consuming 41 fat causing carbs. [Note: While the dry amount does look kinda small(ish), those noodles actually do increase quite a bit in size after cooking!] However, I've found that by

eating just half a serving at meal time, that I could make a serious dent in the number of carbohydrates! Then continuing on that culinary theme, I often like to cook up a hamburger patty and then eat only half of that... Throw in a simple
oil & vinegar salad and you're all set!

I've found this to be a filling meal that comes in at only 320 calories, and when combined with the low carbs (30g), this 'pasta-styled' meal can be very diet friendly!

Notes: The picture at left shows a bundle of 56 grams worth of spaghetti noodles aka one serving. The better way to measure would be by using a scale and by getting used to the gram weight measurements rather than going by ounces. OK for those who don't like that idea, there are 29.3 grams in an ounce, so this would be about 2 ounces of pasta....

One added bonus to eating this way is you only have to cook stuff up one times for two meals. That's assuming your single, of course.

The 2020 election. My early predictions!

While the 2020 Presidential Election was still quite some time off into the future, I thought I'd make a prediction or two as to who the winner will be...

As June 2019 drew to a close, there were 24 candidates who had just finished the first of many such debates to be held on national TV. That process was designed to winnow down the field to one finalist that would be picked by the DNC as the party's candidate of choice to run against the incumbent Donald J. Trump. After watching the first two, I'd have to say that their combined efforts were just a tad short of mediocre. This was more of a meet and greet affair which showcased each candidates personal agenda rather than getting into the nuts and bolts of just how their plans could actually work. That said, there were a few standouts, in my opinion;

Warren, Harris and Castro did very well and picked up a ton of followers on Twitter. (They had definitely inched upwards and would likely do well in the coming debate battles). The rest of the field did not fare as well, with front runner Joe Biden losing quite a bit of ground even as he had a double digit lead over the rest of the field. The next two debates will occur on July 30 and 31 and promise to add perhaps a little more detail into how each candidates grandiose plans might be realized. By the time that the third debate swings around in September, it's hoped that some of the lower rung individuals (DeBlaseo comes to mind) will have dropped out. Then, as the field gets smaller and smaller via dropouts, there will be more time for each candidate to speak (or to hang themselves) during the two hour allotted amount of time. While some have argued that the size of the Democratic field somehow makes it harder to win the general election, there is no historic correlation between the number of contenders for a nomination and whether the eventual nominee won the general election. The far more important dynamic of such a large field is how difficult it is for any of those in the bottom half or even two-thirds of the field to have any chance of punching through.

Meanwhile the Republican contender, Donald Trump, will just sit back and watch the whole boring process grind on through the balance of the year as the Democrats will have six debates by December 2019. Then, at some point in time in 2020, the DNC will announce their pick at their convention and the real fun will start! Right now the safe bet would be Joe Biden, as he is by far the most moderate of that group of March Hares. That said, I would bet the farm that some of those running will make incredible sharp turns to the Right in order to stay afloat. That also will make for some great viewing....

When it rains it pours! Luke Combs.

A rough storyboard idea for this popular number by Luke Combs. Storyboards are always the precursor process to a finished video, don't you know?

Forsythkid: Come 2020. we all need to pull together!

Forsythkid: Come 2020. we all need to pull together!: As good or bad as everyone's life experience might have been, these last many years. Things can get worse. Is Donald Trump the savior...

Come 2020. we all need to pull together!

As good or bad as everyone's life experience might have been, these last many years. Things can get worse. Is Donald Trump the savior of a Nation? I'm not sure. A Representative Republic is very difficult to endure, over time. The Founding Fathers knew that all too well. Still, all things considered, I've had a pretty good ride. But, all good things will end... Me? I'm more than happy to fight to the death for the generations that follow me....  https://youtu.be/zLqqHGy0pc8

A rainy day at the Frosted Mug!

Honda Clarity noise on battery power!

Not a bad car! I always did like the Honda brand! This excerpted video was from a short rest drive.

Lines lines lines, everywhere lines!

My thoughts on our society and our moral obligation to maintain those liberties gained from the Constitution and enforced by our men and women in blue.

Too many individuals currently suffer from a form insidious moral turpitude, (a legal concept in the United States and some other countries that refers to "an act or behavior that gravely violates the sentiment or accepted standards of our communities"). Many toe the line, but only just barely, and then lose all sense of decently once the sun goes down...

US poised to turn to Socialism?

'Vote for me, I am totally serial'

According to recent pole, well know socialist Bernie Sanders would defeat Trump if an election were held today!

Wow! That's got to be a big shot in the arm for the millions of recent college grads who are desperate to unload crushing student loan debt. Bernie would do away with those, he says. Who would get the bill? Why Corporate America of course! OK, so what about other advantages of a Democratic Socialist Nation? Well, let's see...

One, an estimated 20 million illegal aliens would be granted citizenship along with preferred status for housing, food, education and healthcare as they would be instantly dropped below the former group of poor US citizens! And, who would pay for that... those filthy rich corporations! No entiendo ingles? No problem, Congress could make Spanish the other American language.

Two, as a Socialist country, the US would be granted instant acceptance from countries like China, Russia and Iran. Think of the advantages, as we partner on up with these fine commie folks to plumber the rest of the world with crappy trade deals. Sweet!

Three, work will be optional! This is one of my personal favs as Bernie promises a fair wage to everyone no matter what their skill set might be. And, if you prefer not to work, YOU STILL GET A PAYCHECK! What's not to like.

Finally, other than a very small controlling central government authority, EVERYONE WOULD BE EQUAL! Yes, the millions of citizens here would all become the same shade of grey. You know, like you see in Venezuela....

So, to summarize. Once Bernie gets elected, things would change pretty damn fast here in the United States. Each citizen would be treated exactly the same by the new government, would get pretty much the same access to food and healthcare and would have a wide choice of government offered work. Yes, a life of leisure with no real need to own guns or go to church, as the government will be there for you, (like almost instantly it problems crop up in an otherwise ideal life).
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One very small caveat (noun: a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations). Under socialism, it really pays if you are a close member of the POWER ELITEaka the CGA! Yep, that 1% of power mongers who will live the life of Riley with no limits! And, I can make that happen for you, if you act fast!

A happy sort of breakfast!

As I was currently beginning the 16th day of a semi Adkins diet (semi, as I was still eating what I wanted, but applied the name Adkins to it anyway), I thought to throw together a low carb breakfast that could at least smile up to me!

German ban on burkini lifted. Is America next?

BERLIN – A German court has lifted a city's ban on the burkini, an all-encompassing swimsuit used by some Muslim women.

Wearing the garments in municipal pools in the western city of Koblenz was forbidden at the beginning of this year after the local council narrowly approved a ban. Officials argued that the suite makes it impossible to check whether wearers have open wounds or diseases.

The rules were challenged by a Syrian asylum-seeker, a pious Muslim who said doctors had recommended that she use a swimming pool to tackle pain caused by a back problem.

Rhineland-Palatinate state's top administrative court said Friday it has issued an injunction lifting the burkini ban pending fuller consideration of the case. It found the rules violated the German constitution's call for people to be treated equally. [Source: Fox News]

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Me: Just in time for the start of summer! I'm so glad that this city in Germany has finally seen the Islamic light! Proper attire will likely be a topic for us as here in America, as it's no secret that the Muslim population is exploding! And, proper Islamic swim attire, such as this will come into the domestic Media spotlight in the near future. (Seriously, I'm concerned that MSNBC has not yet covered this developing story). I'm totally serial!

Unlike the American bikini (which lets it all hang out), the burkini covers up 98% of the female body from prying male eyes. And that's a no-no, as under Sharia law, as a man's property is a man's property.

A related topic that needs some consideration is just how the Islamic LGBT community here in the US will react? Should there be a 'Manburkini' developed for the devout transvestites female partner? What about either sex that may identify as the other sex on a moments notice? Perhaps a kind of window blind version could be sold that would allow the user a peak-no peak option. It's all very confusing to me, and as a result, I'm planning on staying away from all beaches this summer...

Gordon Lightfoot. If you could read my mind!

Times now gone by. Songs remembered and people I do miss! SIU campus circa 1970. A chaotic time, where as a young SDS member, an activist I sought with others to bring down a societal construct of which I had no real knowledge. This day, I look back on a fucking good country that will never happen again. 'The living soul is truly immortal. It's only the clay that is weak...'

A great Adkins styled breakfast!

A simple omelet stuffed with a cut up slice of Cotto salami, a cup of milk and two bacon strips is about as Akinish a breakfast as you can get!

Note the super low carbs and high protein levels. I like to start out with a meal like this and then switch over to a combo of meat and fruit for my lunch. Dinners are generally on the meager side with a focus on nuts and a little fruit!

Forsyth and local area lawn care service!

Forsyth MO - Need your grass cut? Perhaps RLC Services could help you out at affordable pricing!

The infamous French dip! A nutritional quagmire!

As a man who has often found himself on a perennial diet, I have had to make sacrifices especially when it comes to dining out! One of my personal favorite lunch combos has always been a French Dip with a side of fries! (And, yes, while I still order this meal from time to time, I do so while cringing a bit inside). Following are some dietary notes concerning just the sandwich (Note: The fries are a complete nutritional nightmare which I simply ignore).

Very High in Fat

A plain, commercially available French dip sandwich, like you might get from a bar or restaurant, may contain over 481 calories, (with more than half of these calories coming from fat). One popular fast food French dip sandwich has 33 grams of total fat and 25 grams of saturated fat. For a healthy adult following a 2,000-calorie diet, this amount of saturated fat is more than the 15 grams recommended as the daily limit. A French dip sandwich also contains approximately 60 milligrams of cholesterol, or 20 percent of the total cholesterol an adult should have each day.

Rich in Protein

A typical French dip sandwich provides about 18 grams of protein. For a woman between 19 and 70 years old, this amount is 39 percent of her daily protein requirement; for a man of the same age, it is 32 percent. (If you happen to be following some version of the Adkins or Paleo diet plan, protein is a good thing)!

Low in Sugar and Fiber

French dip sandwiches are rich in starch, but not in simple sugars or dietary fiber. A single sandwich may contain 50 grams of total carbohydrates, with only 2 grams contributed by sugars and 1 gram from dietary fiber.(Argh! Taubes and other low-carb enthusiasts say when we eat more carbohydrates than we burn for energy, our body ends up storing them as fat, and that this is the primary cause of weight gain and other related ills. ... Your body then produces extra insulin to bring your blood sugar down).

Dangerously High in Sodium

Commercial French dip sandwiches provide essential minerals such as iron and calcium but also contain a high concentration of sodium, with a single serving supplying more than 1,000 milligrams of sodium. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that healthy adults should not consume more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium each day. The CDC also advises that the elderly, African-Americans and people who suffer from hypertension, kidney disease or diabetes should not consume more than 1,500 milligrams daily.

Good Source of B Vitamins

The roast beef in a French dip sandwich is a good source of a number of B vitamins, including niacin, vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, riboflavin, Thiamin and pantothenic acid. These nutrients play a vital role in energy metabolism and in the production of red blood cells. French dip sandwiches are also high in vitamin A, which is required for proper cell reproduction, immune system health and the synthesis of the rhodopsin needed for your eyes to absorb light.

So, the bottom line for me becomes a question of frequency... as long as I order this meal very infrequently, I harbor a slim hope of dietary survival....

Glen Campbell with Rhinestone Cowboy!

Pure talent. Pure entertainer and a great individual!

Egg sandwich!

Once to you give up tracking your cholesterol levels, a whole new world of egg based recipes opens up! Today I decided to make a very simplistic egg sandwich for lunch.

Making a good tasting egg sandwich means using a good bread such as Sara Lee's Honey Wheat along with a single large egg and some mustard.  Add in a little fruit side and you're all set!

Iranian students protest mandatory headscarf rule!

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency says university students have held a campus protest against authorities' increasing pressure on women to wear mandatory headscarves in public.

The report says the students — both men and women — briefly scuffled with another group of Tehran University students who support the country's conservative dress code.

The headscarf, or hijab, is required in public for all women in Iran. Those who violate the rules are usually sentenced to two months in prison or less and fined around $25.

ISNA reported in May that a prominent human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, was sentenced to seven years in prison after defending anti-hijab protesters.

Iranian authorities have adopted a tougher approach toward such protests since 2017, after dozens of women publicly took off their headscarves. Fox News
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My opinion: As a well known far far Left supporter of all things tolerant, I would have to go with the societal morays, of what is in reality a rather Medieval philosophy, when it comes to addressing gender responsibilities. I'm just surprised that the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has not gone back to the days of the burka as the standard mode of dress for otherwise brazen women on the streets. I mean, you only need to look as far as the streets of Dearborn Michigan in order to not only observe Islamic dress codes, but also the adoption by the City Council of Shariah Law.

Enceladus attacks!

Who knew that when the Cassini probe crashed into Saturn last year that the event would be taken by the inhabitants of the small moon Enceladus as a declaration of all out war!

But, that's apparently what happened after NASA scientists received a burst radio message that read '

Cryptologists quickly translated that into 'Hey Bro! WTF? We are a coming to pay you a visit fool!' They also sent a pic of themselves......................

Initially, the US military was very concerned, until that is, they learned that the size of the average Enceladian was only about 4 to 5 microns! (That's about the size of a large virus)! Much laughter then ensued after realizing that a million of them would fit into a small thimble....

That laughter was quickly extinguished, however, when it was also established that humankind would be easily killed en mass, if large numbers of of us became infected by this 'bug'! There was no built-in immunity and no cure to handle this novel invader! (In addition, the invader's ships would be very hard to spot on radar as even the largest battle-cruiser was only about the size of a golf ball)!

On Capitol Hill, the issue quickly became intensely political as the Democrats and the Republicans quickly took opposite sides, with one side wanting to welcome and then quarantine the armada, while the other side wanted to develop new rules to allow for open and free immigration of these 'friends from afar'. And, of course, nothing got done from that point on.....