Wanted, Poop Miners

US researchers are investigating ways to extract the gold and precious metals from human feces. The group identified gold in waste from American sewage treatment plants at levels which if found in rock could be worth mining.  Details were outlined at the 249th national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in Denver. In addition to gold and silver, human waste also contains amounts of rare earth metals such as palladium and vanadium."We're interested in collecting valuable metals that could be sold, including some of the more technologically important metals, such as vanadium and copper.  Imagine explaining our career choice o he family -- off to the poop mines

Underweight models could go to prison under French proposals

Italy, Israel and Spain have all passed bills banning the use of ultra-thin models, with France expected to follow suit. The French National Assembly is considering a health reform bill that includes measures to ban designers and labels from using models deemed "too thin" by healthcare standards. They would be subjected to periodic weigh-ins. Models who come in under weight would face fines of up to 75,000 euros, (£55,000) or even prison sentences.

Paul Lynde

Peter Marshall: Eddie Fisher recently said, "I am sorry. I am sorry for them both." Who was he referring to?
Paul Lynde: His fans.

Wisdom of Irish Sayings

Say little, and the little you say, say well.

Dry soles won't catch fish.

Honor cannot be patched.

Ignorance is a heavy burden.

People live in one another's shelter.

A Mysterious Tribute.

A woman who spent her life caring for stray dogs received an unexpected -- and surprising -- tribute from the animals when she died.  At the funeral for Margarita Suárez in Cuernavaca Mexico a pack of stray dogs came inside the funeral home to stand guard.  The dogs sat quietly around the casket all day and through the night.  All but one left in the morning, but the gang returned and stood by through the cremation.  Curiously, none of the dogs had anything to do with Mrs. Suarez previously , as she was buried 850 miles from her home.

zubbles

 Zubbles are like high-def versions of the classic soap bubbles. They contain a special dye that makes them vibrant pink or blue. The dye is nontoxic and non-staining, so if the bubbles pop on your shirt, the color will evaporate.

From the movies

“In a world where a carpenter can come back to life anything is possible.”
Spoken by Kathryn Hepburn in the film, The Lion in Winter.

Today's Inspiration

The demand for certainty is one which is natural to mankind, but is nevertheless an intellectual vice.

But so long as men are not trained to withhold judgement in the absence of evidence, they will be led astray…

….To endure uncertainty is difficult, but so are most of the other great virtues

-Bertrand Russell

Sabbatum Sanctum

Holy Saturday before Easter Sunday

In Roman Catholic churches, the sanctuary remains stripped completely bare (following the Mass on Holy Thursday) while the administration of the sacraments is severely limited. Holy Communion after the Good Friday service is given only as Viaticum to the dying. Baptism, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick may be administered because they, like Viaticum, are helpful to ensuring salvation for the dying.

All Masses are severely limited. No Mass at all appears in the normal liturgy for this day, although Mass can be said on Good Friday and on Holy Saturday for an extremely grave or solemn situation with a dispensation from the Vatican or the local bishop.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fUBIu0Sb4lQ

hips don't lie...but statistics, that's another matter

West Virginia is one of the poorest states yet it has the highest rate of home ownership.  I love WV as much as anyone could but when I worked social services in the hills and hollows, I saw what they owned.  I saw a family living under a large rock overhang;  I saw many living in an old bus; trailers of course, some with no floor.  Shacks and outbuildings. Some were unlucky enough to find a shady contractor who would build a shitty house in exchange for a lifetime of payments.  Not to say that there aren't beautiful homes in the state, many in fact, but statistics lie.

A rose

The Rose

The lily has a smooth stalk,
  Will never hurt your hand;
But the rose upon her brier
  Is lady of the land.

There's sweetness in an apple tree,
  And profit in the corn;
But lady of all beauty
  Is a rose upon a thorn.

When with moss and honey
  She tips her bending brier,
And half unfolds her glowing heart,
  She sets the world on fire.

~Christina Rossetti

Jpr:  the woman was the best ever!

foxes

foxes are feral creatures.  even if raised from a kit they will still be basically wild, with all the behaviors of such.  however a few years ago in Scandinavia (can't remember the precise country) a team of animal behaviorists bred domesticated foxes, which were as attentive, affectionate, and tame as the family dog.  it took them only 3 or 4 generations, selectively breeding the foxes which seemed "tamer" until they came up with a pet.
i think it was Finland but I'm not sure.

The Radioactive Man Who Returned To Fukushima To Feed The Animals That Everyone Else Left Behind

The Magic Rabbit

The Ili Pika is a rarel long haired, short limbed Chinese rabbit native to high rocky mountains.   Near extinction because of habitat loss, it was recently spotted by researchers for the first time in 20 years. Cute huh?

Growing In The Vale

Growing in the vale 
By the uplands hilly, 
Growing straight and frail, 
Lady Daffadowndilly. 
In a golden crown, 
And a scant green gown 
While the spring blows chilly, 
Lady Daffadown, 
Sweet Daffadowndilly.

by Christina Rossetti

Celtibillies

Celtibiles be Hill folk what play Celtic and bluegrass and a mix of the two. I wish I could post their Celtic version of "racoon lullaby " .

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae1Vly_0Gc4

Jpr: when wee, Me grandma would role back the rug with daughter Agnes at the piano and uncle Tam on the fiddle while grandpa would do the stepping. These folks be the hill Irish of long ago, at least  as close one can come today.

A Prayer in Spring

OH, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends he will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.
-- Robert Frost


jpr comment ......soon!

Iwo Jima Remembered

The Battle for the island of Iwo Jima is perhaps the most famous of the WW2 Pacific campaign.  It was the first American victory on Japanese soil.   On its 70th anniversary a handful  of American vets and one Japanese, all put one in their 90's, visited the site, probably the last to do so.  Among them was Woody Williams, a flamethrower during the battle and a Medal of Honor awardee, and Tsuruji Akikusa, an 18 year old Japanese Navy radio operator stationed on the Island and one of the few survivors.  Adam Izzo, RIP,  the father of our childhood friends, was part of the unit that raised the flag in the famous photo.  He bore the physical scars. A large portion of his upper left arm was missing and badly scarred. Thank you gentlemen for your service and your sacrifice.

spring in new england

My son, Kaelan noticed the fox asleep on his archery stop this morning. Must be nice to be able to take a break.

The Great Beaver Mystery

The English hunted their native beavers to extinction several hundred years ago. None have been seen since.  A few weeks ago 2 mating pairs and some  young were spotted on the Otter river.  Fearing someone introduced American beavers illegally, creating an environmental risk, they were captured. DNA test revealed they were actually native English beavers back from the dead.  NONE KNOWS FROM WHENCE THEY CAME. 

More Dumb answers

"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country." -- Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, D.C.

"We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees." -- Jason Kidd, upon his drafting to the Dallas Mavericks

hail poetry

Hail, Poetry, thou heaven-born maid!
Thou gildest e'en the pirate's trade:
Hail, flowing fount of sentiment!
All hail, Divine Emollient!


William Schwenck Gilbert

This song is a turning point in the operetta, 'Pirates of Penzance.'

unusual facts

Baby robins eat 14 feet of earthworms every day.

Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.

Julius Ceasar

When kidnapped by a band of pirates in his 20's, he quibbled with them over his ransom price. They were asking for 20 talents of gold, a sizable sum, he insisted that they ask for 50.

He was also the first Roman leader to print his own bust on a Roman minted coin and when he reformed the Roman calendar to contain 365 days with 12 months, he included his own name among them, July.

Plastic Money

Great Britain, following Canada, has begun converting its currency  to plastic notes.  Paper money will be withdrawn from circulation.  The bills last longer than their paper counter parts but will melt under high temperatures.  So don't leave your cash lying out on a hot day.  Drying it in a dryer is not such a 'hot' idea either.

Celebrate World Poetry Day

Romance

“A man can be happy with any woman as long as he does not love her. “
-- Oscar Wilde

spring

New life!

Real philosophy

"I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes."

~Author Unknown

Do not stand at my grave and weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

~~Mary Fry

Joy by Carl Sandburg

Let a joy keep you.
Reach out your hands
And take it when it runs by,
As the Apache dancer
Clutches his woman.
I have seen them
Live long and laugh loud,

Sent on singing, singing,
Smashed to the heart
Under the ribs
With a terrible love.
Joy always,
Joy everywhere--
Let joy kill you!
Keep away from the little deaths.

The Celtic worm god

Crom Cruaich was the most ancient and venerated god of all the various tribes of Ireland. The God was worshipped in idol form. Such idols were extremely ancient even in the time of Patrick the christian bishop of the 5th century A.D.

The principal of Crom’s idol is described as having been once covered in gold and it was surrounded by twelve plain stones in a circle. The stone idol is described by classical Roman writers as being rectangular in shape and unadorned by any carvings or inscriptions.

replica of  Killycluggin stone

 The Killycluggin stone  now in the County Cavan Museum in Ballyjamesduff, is believed to be the idol known as Cenn Crúaich or Crom Crúaich

More advice

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.
~~Anais Nin

being Irish

In the Gaelic "Dul chun mais!"

jpr: It's transformational to body and soul!

Latest Fad---3d Tattoos

God help us.

Flowers

There is joy and hope in their beauty.

India's Anti Poo Campaign

Villages in the Nadia district in West Bengal, India are setting up "walls of shame" featuring the names and photos of people caught defecating in public,  Local authorities want villagers to form committees to monitor people who continue to defecate outdoors.  Anyone "shamed" on the walls will have some government benefits suspended, although these would be restored when they change their habits  A 2011 census showed that nearly half of the Indian population had no access to a latrine, meaning more than 500 million people were defecating in the open.  That's a lot 'poo.'

Richard A Gabriel, phd

Professor of military science and author.

It is known that in close combat 80% of an army will not fire their weapons. Use of chemicals in ancient  history  by warriors reduced the repulsion of killing their fellow human beings. The professor believes the advance in combat will in biochemistry.

Fred and Adele Astaire

In 1905 the pair of performers were making $150 a week when the average worker made less than $9 a week. Fred was 6 years old Adele 8.

true ancient roman joke

A barber, a bald man and an absent-minded professor are taking a journey together. They have to camp overnight, so decide to take turns watching the luggage. When it's the barber's turn, he gets bored, so amuses himself by shaving the head of the professor. When the professor is woken up for his shift, he feels his head, and says "How stupid is that barber? He's woken up the bald man instead of me."

Personal Hero.

I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly.  Winston Churchill

Once, while leading a protection detail for Churchill's life long friend Sir Harold Wilson, one of my men had to carry a briefcase and be constantly within's arms reach of Wilson.  Secret papers, medication, speech notes?  Nope----a. bottle of Teachers Scotch.  While standing at a urinal telling Churchill stories, Wilson mentioned that during the war Winston drank 2 quarts of brandy  a day. He preferred Armenian.

More Strange Traditions

Scottish Blackening is an ancient, fairly rough pre-wedding ceremony in which the groom-and bride to-be  are waylaid by their  friends, bound and "blackened" using a messy mixture of  treacle, flour , rotting food, cow pies, feathers and any disgusting thing. The groom is then paraded around on the back of a truck, while his comrades make as much noise as possible by blowing whistles, shouting, beating sticks, banging drums and generally creating a din to ward away the fairies.  The bride is tied to a tree or statue to remind her of her life to come.

Talking about dogs......

A miniature dachshund from Ohio has lost more than 75% of his body weight after being put on a diet-and-fitness.  Dennis is now 12lb down from 56lb - almost five time the size of a normal dog of his breed.  Man that's one fat dog.

poisonous freshwater fish?

There are none!

gar fish

The worst you have to worry about in the US is the catfish or bullhead. They have barbs on either side of their fins that are sort of poisionous. If you get stuck by one it will cause pain and some redness and swelling but you are in not much more danger than a little discomfort.

Other freshwater dangerous fish would be musky, northern pike, alligator gar...they all have pretty impressive sets of teeth and have been known to clamp on to a fishermen or two once in the boat. You do not want to eat alligator gar eggs/roe as it is poisonous.

Other dangerous freshwater critters would be poisonous snakes (water moccasin/cottonmouth)...snapping turtles.

Cautionary Irish Sayings

She never sells her hen on a wet day.

On an unknown path every foot is slow.

Good luck comes in tricklets; ill luck comes in torrents.

Let every man praise the bridge he goes over.

He who waits long enough at the ferry will get over at last.

Do not go between the tree and the bark.

Medical uses of Coca Cola

Coke has a plethora of beauty and health uses. Lather on Coke when sun bathing and you will have the most glorious tan that lasts longer than the usual tan and leaves your skin feeling soft and supple. Mix coke with unscented lotion and apply to dry skin. You'll be amazed at the baby soft skin it leaves behind, even getting rid of calloused patches. Drink hot Coke to relieve congestion, mix with castor oil to aid in constipation and drink it to relieve the hiccups.

extreme plumbing

a poem

Reluctance

Out through the fields and the woods
And over the walls I have wended;
I have climbed the hills of view
And looked at the world and descended;
I have come by the highway home,
And lo, it is ended.

The leaves are all dead on the ground,
Save those that the oak is keeping
To ravel them one by one
And let them go scraping and creeping
Out over the crusted snow,
When others are sleeping.

.......

Ah, when to the heart of man
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end
Of a love or a season?


Robert Frost

5 to 1 rule in marriage

It’s not how much you fight, but how you fight and how you resolve your differences. Lasting marriages aren’t marriages where nobody ever fights, but marriages where couples have agreed to resolve their conflicts in specific ways.

The Magic Ratio of 5 to 1. Gottman discovered he could predicate marital success based on the ratio of good to bad interactions between a couple. Successful marriages needed at least 5 positive interactions for each negative one. The more volatile the marriage, the more positive interactions were needed. And when the negative emotions outweighed the positive, the marriage was headed for failure.

What are the negative emotions? Criticism and contempt, defensiveness and withdrawal, loneliness and isolation. You’ll notice “anger” is not listed. This is because only when anger accompanies the negative emotions above, is it destructive.

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Health benefits of snow...fun