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. '