Butternut squash and apples recipe

Recipe is from the November 2015 issue of Illinois Country Living.

Recent research on cranberries

For about 50 years I hardly used this handy piece that came with my Revere Ware set.  Things cook quickly and you don’t get water logged, tough vegetables.

I’ve been making a bowl of steamed carrots with a handful of cranberries and a touch of honey for breakfast.  Then the remaining water also makes a good hot drink, or is good for cooking brown rice.

• Recent research has shown that it's not the acidity of the cranberries, but the unusual nature of their proanthocyanidins (PACs) that is related to prevention of UTIs.
• recent research has shown that the anthocyanin content of cranberries (the phytonutrients that give the berries their amazing red color) is increased in direct proportion to the amount of natural sunlight striking the berry. If berries floating on top of water get exposed to increased amounts of natural sunlight
• whole cranberries consumed in dietary form—in comparison with purified cranberry extracts consumed in either liquid or dried supplement form—do a better job of protecting our cardiovascular system and our liver.
• The cancer-preventive benefits of cranberries are now known to extend to cancers of the breast, colon, lung, and prostate.

From the Whole Foods newsletter, November 16, 2015

Is it too early to think about Christmas cookies?

In 1993 I made a family recipe book for a reunion.  This page has cookies.  None of these are family secrets, to my knowledge, and Neno’s cookies never tasted quite as good when I made them, but were a real favorite with my husband’s family.

This isn’t my mother’s—I just thought it was funny.

A clever poster making a statement about The University of Missouri protesters

http://www.wsj.com/video/opinion-journal-the-roots-of-campus-illiberalism/C1628A58-0177-489C-98BE-0115EBAE2C2E.html

The threat of climate change

Still plan to accept more Syrian refugees

By 2017, the U.S. could accept as many as 100,000 refugees from Syria, up from its current annual total of 85,000, according to the Wall Street Journal.  Common sense would seem to dictate caution and more planning on the part of Congress and the President who want more non-vetted immigrants, but then that is in short supply in DC. I don't see this group harvesting crops or writing software for Google and Amazon to satisfy Big Ag or Big Tech lobbyists.

http://www.investing.com/news/world-news/obama-moves-to-accelerate-syrian-refugee-plan-in-wake-of-paris-attacks-371265

Write a note this Advent

North America, PBS

I was watching a PBS program on. . . possibly fossils, but it was all over the map on topics (I googled it an I think it is called Making North America).  Anyway, they were examining marine fossils in Kansas, so the narrator who had been deep sea diving looking at bacteria in an earlier segment was describing with nice graphics how oceans and seas came and went, rose and receded over millions of years across North America.  In the next program he'll probably be telling us that humans, especially American capitalists with global investments, are to blame for climate change.

Governor Jindal writes to President Obama

My letter to President Obama: In light of Paris terrorist attacks, time to pause process of refugees coming to the US.

Dear President Obama,

In the wake of another round of appalling terrorist attacks, I write to express great sadness at the events in Paris, as well as my grave concern about the unreported diffusion of Syrian refugees in the United States.

Last week, the city of New Orleans began receiving its first wave of Syrian refugees. As with former immigration crises and federal relocation policy, Louisiana has been kept in the dark about those seeking refuge in the state. It is irresponsible and severely disconcerting to place individuals, who may have ties to ISIS, in a state without the state’s knowledge or involvement.

As Governor of Louisiana, I demand information about the Syrian refugees being placed in Louisiana in hopes that the night of horror in Paris is not duplicated here. In the wake of these atrocities, I also ask for details on the below:

1) What level of background screening was conducted prior to entry in the United States?
2) In light of the fact that some of those responsible for last night’s attacks held Syrian passports, what additional protections and screenings will be put in place?
3) Will all Syrian refugees seeking relocation in the United States now be cleared by the Terrorist Screening Center?
4) What degree of monitoring will be sustained after initial placement in Louisiana?

As Americans, we embolden freedom and opportunity to the rest of the world, but by opening up our borders and refusing to collaborate or share information with states, you are threatening that reality.

Mr. President, in light of these attacks on Paris and reports that one of the attackers was a refugee from Syria, it would be prudent to pause the process of refugees coming to the United States. Authorities need to investigate what happened in Europe before this problem comes to the United States.

Sincerely,

Governor Bobby Jindal

Cc: The Honorable Sylvia Burwell, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
Cc: The Honorable Jeh Johnson, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security
Cc: The Honorable James Comey, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigations

Trump Tabby

Probably the last time he’ll say that

College snowflakes demand their safe space

I wonder if the college kids demanding safe spaces would defend a little girl's right to have a toilet room safe from little boys who think they are little girls?

Black journalist claims first amendment not such a good idea.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/how-campus-activists-are-weaponizing-the-safe-space/415080/

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/426911/university-missouri-student-protests-safe-spaces

Because Perry has male anatomy, many students simply see her as a boy in a wig changing in the girls' locker room -- and that makes them uncomfortable. They whispered about her in hallways, complained to faculty and told their parents, who brought it up at the school board meeting on August 27.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/03/living/missouri-transgender-teen-feat/

Where is the United States in prophecy

I'm not a dispensationalist, but I'm familiar with their writings. About every 10-20 years someone finds a new phrase in the Bible that pin points exactly when Jesus comes back. I've always wondered why the United States never figures in those prophecies. Now I know.

We've got a very smart, pathological liar criminal on the left, and a very dumb, bombastic real estate mogul on the right running for president. The fringes are on fire for them and the middle is running in circles looking for the extinguishers. Which ever one wins, we all lose. There will be no U.S.A. when Jesus comes back.

BTW, both the Quran and the Hadith refer to Jesus' 2nd coming. But like Christians, Muslims don't agree on future events.

The ISIS Threat in Paris and here

When GW Bush left office, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were essentially over; only security and mop up of dangerous elements plus training of local government forces remained. But "ending the war" was Obama's campaign promise in 2008 and it had been taken from him. Never mind. We lost more military in his first term than 2 of Bush. He continued with that theme, ignored the fragility of the wars' end, and foolishly let ISIL (IS) rise to the power it is today. The whole world will pay for his hungry pride. The terrorists of yesterday's French attack put us on notice by saying they thirst for America's blood.

Watching a British news source last night I notice they referred to this as "the situation," and "the event." Now that's the worst PC-isms I've ever heard. Perhaps we need to return to plain English, Mr. President.

The daughter of Geraldo Rivera of Fox News was at the Paris soccer stadium where one of the attacks took place. There was a very moving first hand account from her, after her rescue by family friends when all the public and private transportation shut down. Rivera has represented the liberal view on the Fox show,The Five, since pundit Bickel went to rehab. But last night he sounded like Donald Trump. That's what fear looks and sounds like, and that is the purpose of terrorism.

Urban farming

Currently, estimates are that 15 percent of all food in the United States is produced in a metropolitan area, said Mike Hogan, educator with Ohio State University Extension in Franklin County, Ohio. That includes food grown in home and community gardens, urban farms, and even urban aquaculture facilities.

Hogan will be speaking Monday, November 16, at Ohio State at 109 Physical Activity and Education Services – PAES

PAES was completed in 2006 and replaced Larkins Hall which was built in 1931.  According to the contractor’s website (Gilbane) it was estimated at $152 million, and has 650,000 sq. ft. The complex which I believe includes RPAC  includes a seven pool aquatic center, basketball, volleyball, badminton, racquetball and squash courts, more than 27,500 SF fitness and conditioning space, student wellness center, synthetic turf gymnasium, as well as a climbing wall and outdoor adventure center.

If you’ve ever wondered why college costs are so much higher than when you attended, even accounting for inflation, PAES type buildings are part of the reason, along with expanding faculty and administration staff.

How to get out of college debt free

This young man’s father doesn’t make $6 million a year like the Mizzou hunger striker.

Steroid Shots No Long-Term Help in Knee OA

“In the study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, there were no significant differences between patients who received injections of triamcinolone hexacetonide every 12 weeks and those given placebo in change in pain on the Western Ontario and McMaster University Arthritis Index (WOMAC), with differences of -2.2 in the steroid group and -2.8 in the placebo group (P=0.3), reported Timothy E. McAlindon, MD, of Tufts University in Boston.”

Read here.

"I think we can conclude that intra-articular corticosteroids used at the dose of 40 mg for 2 years has no major effect on structure in the joint -- either deleterious or beneficial -- and that over the long-term we don't see an overall effect on patient-reported outcomes or physical function," he said [Timothy McAlindon].

Add "slave" to the word list

Tiger Woods' former caddy (obviously bad blood there) used the word "slave" in describing his working conditions in his book. That's pretty silly on the surface, considering his pay, but to claim that whites can't use the word? Do these rabble rousers know there is more slavery today than in the 18th century? Instead of making up trouble, do something about the new term, "trafficking in persons." Probably would help to go back to the old term.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/11/tiger-woods-ex-caddie-explains-why-he-used-the-word-slave-to-describe-his-work

Three Word Wednesday, venom, wiggle, distracted

Venom, noun: a poisonous substance;  extreme malice and bitterness shown in someone's attitudes, speech, or actions.

Wiggle, verb: move with small rapid movements, (wiggle out of) avoid (something)

Distracted, adjective: unable to concentrate because one's mind is preoccupied.

See web site for clues and how to participate.

A noun, verb and adjective.  Hmm.  This almost screams for a poem about today’s college campuses of the United States, doesn’t it? For the internationals who contribute to this website, it refers to current college protests in the U.S. led by wealthy students, a massacre in Kenya in April of college students, and looks back the the 1960s when protests were common.  The term “snowflake” is American slang for young, coddled adults who melt under criticism.

Fifty years later.

“Don’t trust anyone over 30!” was the cry of the sixties.
Can’t be too critical of the venom spewing from
From Mizzou, from Yale, from Ithaca,  
Solidarity walk outs, sit ins,  protests and marches.
Except, they want the opposite of free speech.
No investigation of rumors, just
Fire the president! Remove the faculty!
Especially that creep that gave me a D.
(Don’t be distracted by the cry from Kenya, 
Kill the Christians!
Almost 150 killed on campus for that crime.
No wiggle room for these young revolutionaries.)
Our snowflakes at home, deceived who
Shout, raise their fists, then go off 
to have a beer with their trust fund money,
Ignoring the blood spilled on the other side
Of the university world.

Bill O’Reilly on the current witch hunt on campuses

I don’t care much for Bill O’Reilly—he constantly interrupts his guests and experts.  However, the witch hunt piece is spot on.  A black female professor  at Vanderbilt is currently a victim of such a witch hunt—her crime?  She’s a conservative Christian, and has suspicious thoughts. Accusing a fellow student or professor of a racial slur is an easy way to get rid of someone you don’t like. Social media has exacerbated the problem.  No evidence is needed; just the charge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV0JtMwU1yU

University of Missouri protests spread, while delicate snowflakes melt under scrutiny

So the protests are spreading. Remember, "Don't trust anyone over 30." Jack Weinburg was my age, he came up with it, and this was a popular slogan in the 1960s. I can't believe the ignorance of the students being interviewed. Now it's gone from snowflake hurt feelings to demanding no tuition.

Neil Cavuto on Fox interviewed the most naïve student organizer yesterday.  She’s read the posters from the leftists, but apparently has never had to fill out an income tax form.  He was very polite and kind and let her hang herself with the rope of ignorance and youth.

"The Million Student March is a movement for an equitable and fair system of education," Mullen told Cavuto. "The three core demands of the National Day Of Action are free public college, cancellation of student debt, and a fifteen dollar minimum wage for people who work on the campus."

Kelley Mullen and her organization seem pretty good at making demands. Explaining how it'll all be paid for? Not so much.

"So how's that going to be paid?" Cavuto casually asked.

"Ummm...great question...I mean...so...," Mullen stammered.

Cavuto proceeded to demolish Mullen's claims that "the 1%" would be footing the bill for her organization's demands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zmji36q8E4o

One student I listened to being interviewed said 50% of the U.S. budget went for military (not); another said 50% of Americans were poverty level (not). They seem to be stuck on 50 percent.  Maybe it’s Common Core Math?

Defense is 19%; Medicare Medicaid 23%; Social Security 20% of the budget. About 14% of Americans are at or below poverty level although it has increased some under this administration, with $22,000 per poor person going to anti-poverty programs each year. Student loans are high and climbing because of the government tweaking which simply allows universities and colleges to raise tuition. Some students seem to think education is a right, not a privilege. We've raised a generation of numbskulls.

I haven't checked the details, but apparently the student body president of Mizzou, black and gay and homecoming king/queen, is from a wealthy Chicago family, interned with Rahm Emanuel as a community organizer, has met with President Obama, and lied about the KKK threat which has caused some of the uproar. Well, liberal college faculty and administrations are getting what they asked for the last 20-30 years. Now the movement is spreading and other college presidents are being asked to step down from colleges that have no diversity of thought.

Really funny parody by Matt Walsh. “Someone insulted me,” fire the CEO.

http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/dear-walmart-someone-insulted-me-in-one-of-your-stores-your-ceo-must-now-resign/

Perhaps the poor melting snowflakes on the Mizzou campus could view footage of the carnage on another campus, this one in Nairobi earlier this year, of 147 students, mostly Christians who couldn't recite verses from the Koran to their Islamic killers. Mizzou protesters are apparently confused about terrorism and threats to their personal space.

 http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/03/africa/kenya-garissa-university-attack-witnesses/index.html

I saw this comment about the gay black student at Mizzou who spread the KKK rumors  (later admitted it wasn’t true) which helped get the president "fired," then had to apologize.

"Clearly, a Duke LaCrosse playing KKK member from a fraternity at UVA grabbed some U Delaware light hanging nooses and drew the poopsticka. Then dated Lena Dunham, hard. It's the only explanation that makes sense. Heads must keep rolling."

Come let us eat

I heard this lovely call and response hymn on Sing for Joy today. But it was a choral arrangement (Schola Cantorum) which I can’t find on YouTube and I didn’t care for the drums and organ samples, so just a small item about the Liberian composer. I is a very popular communion hymn.

KWILLIA, Billema. b. ca. 1925. Kwillia is a literacy teacher and evangelist from Liberia in West Africa. He is best known for the hymn ‘Come, Let Us Eat’ (‘A va de laa mioo’), which has been included in several hymnals and ecumenical collections. Kwillia composed the hymn in the 1960s and it employs a characteristic call-response pattern. Margaret D. Miller (b. 1927) transcribed the hymn from a recording in a church service in 1969. This hymn, in the original Loma language and in Miller’s versification, appeared first in Laudamus, a hymnal for the international gathering of the Lutheran World Federation in Evian, France in 1970. (Dictionary of hymnology)

My Luther bookmark

I was pretty sure I’d found this in Luther’s writings and then designed the bookmark, but couldn’t figure out which, so I googled, “if you were able and did not” and sure enough found it was LW 51,9.  It was on a page for sex and gender diversity at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Inbreeding among Muslims for 1400 years?

I am not at all familiar with Pickerington Post blog. So I haven’t confirmed this “research.”

Massive inbreeding among Muslims has been going on since their prophet allowed first-cousin marriages more than 50 generations (1,400 years) ago. For many Muslims, therefore, intermarriage is regarded as being part of their religion. . .

The BBC’s research also discovered that while British Pakistanis accounted for just 3.4% of all births in Britain, they accounted for 30% of all British children with recessive disorders and a higher rate of infant mortality.

It is estimated that one third of all handicapped people in Copenhagen have a foreign background and 64% of school children in Denmark with Arabic parents are illiterate after 10 years in the Danish school system.

The research appears to be only at right wing website and all cite the same Danish psychologist, Nicholai Sennels .

http://joemiller.us/2015/09/muslim-inbreeding-has-corrupted-islams-psyche-and-the-results-are-alarming/

http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-problem-of-inbreeding-in-islam/

The dissenters: http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/robert-spencer

Dear Mr. Reno, editor of First Things

I don't know about the progressive because I'm a conservative, former liberal, humanist and Democrat. But I do know how disappointed I was in the December issue, "Crisis of our Time." If I could have found your e-mail, I would have said,

"What are you thinking? Capitalism is more dangerous than powers of government and you're leaning to Francis' view?"

Really? Name any global capitalist cabal that has murdered 100 million of its customers as the USSR and China did in the 20th century! What about the kings, monarchs, tsars, caliphates, Imans, and tribal leaders of past eras? Who do you think was at the foundation of 18th c slavery if not the petty tribal and Islamic leaders of that era who sold souls to slavers? Do you think capitalists have killed more of their citizens than they did? Only mosquitoes have killed more people than governments. /And statist governments are the worst.

Indirectly I suppose you could say the abortion industry is capitalism, but in the United States it is the plank of the Democrat Party, and it has destroyed millions of lives and caused American families to decay at the roots.

I've eagerly read your columns with each issue; now I could cry. I'm a Lutheran so technically have no skin in your game, but I do know the Roman Catholic church is the greatest defender of social and political rights in the world, the only entity strong enough to stand up to powerful government interests, especially Marxists. Once you weaken that with this drivel that Francis is promoting, the 40,000 Protestant groups and denominations might as well fold their tents and let the culture die.

Coloring books for adults

Have you seen those coloring books for adults at the book stores? Yesterday I bought some colored pencils and I picked up two Sunday school children's bulletins with b & w drawings at church. It's all good.

Jesus probably didn't wear purple on earth--too expensive, but he is King of King and Lord of Lords, so I took some artistic license for heaven.

http://time.com/4106154/crayola-coloring-book-adults-color-escapes/

http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/why-adults-are-buying-coloring-books-for-themselves

There’s a gremlin in your diet plan

Ghrelin, a hunger inducing hormone, sounds like the word “gremlin,” at least to me. After weight loss, regardless of the diet employed, there are changes in circulating hormones involved in the regulation of body weight. Ghrelin levels tend to increase so that makes you more hungry and levels of the nine appetite-suppressing hormones decrease, so they aren‘t doing their job. The word gremlin became popularized in the early 20th century, originally used as a creature that sabotaged aircraft, but the word works for diets, too. Even after 3 years, your body still responds to diets this way. 

http://www.webmd.com/diet/your-hunger-hormones

Report insults and slights to Police—it’s not illegal, but do it anyway

"While cases of hateful and hurtful speech are not crimes, if the individual(s) identified are students, MU’s Office of Student Conduct can take disciplinary action.”  Police at University of Missouri ask students to report speech to the police that hurts their feelings.  Would that be "fatty fatty two by four," or "you're ugly, bitch," or "you're a retard," or "You've got man boobs," or "No, I won't buy you a beer, chink" or accusing a male of "white privilege" when he's 1/16th native American and on campus as a minority scholarship despite blonde hair and blue eyes? Is it OK for a gay guy to use a homosexual insult?  Can a black guy use the N-word? How far will police take this? Really, this hate speech stuff is out of control. Shame, shame on all academe. It's much worse than the "in loco parentis" of the 40s and 50s.

A lesson in good manners

I thought I was done with this, but in case you’ve forgotten how to be polite and cheerful, here it is.

Ben Carson asks for money because media are unfair. Well, duh!

"The media have paid far more attention to Ben Carson's speculation about what the Pyramids were built for, thousands of years ago, than to outright lies that Hillary Clinton told about tragic American deaths in Benghazi, within days after she knew the truth, as her own e-mails now reveal." Thomas Sowell.

That said, if Dr. Carson doesn't stop using the stupidity of the media as a reason to support his campaign, I won't send him any money. GW Bush ignored the terrible way they treated him. Looks darn good in retrospect.

Do we share this problem?

What Pelosi said about Obamacare

Keep Christ in Christmas this year

History of money

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6NRC9aofKU

Lecture series at Hillsdale College.

“Money has been used as a medium of exchange since ancient times. It affects not only economics, but also history, politics, and culture. This second CCA of the 2015-2016 academic year, co-sponsored by the Ludwig von Mises Lecture Series, will examine the history of money, as well as money-related controversies.”

Sunday, November 8:

4:00 p.m. EST
“The History of Money: An Overview”
Kenneth R. Calvert
Headmaster, Hillsdale Academy
Associate Professor of History, Hillsdale College

8:00 p.m. EST
“How the Destruction of the Dollar Threatens the Global Economy”
Steve Forbes
Chairman, Forbes Media
Author, Money: How the Destruction of the Dollar Threatens the Global Economy

Monday, November 9:

4:00 p.m. EST
“Milton Friedman and Monetarism”
Robert Barro
Harvard University

8:00 p.m. EST
“Money in American History”
John Steele Gordon
Author, Empire of Wealth: The Epic History of American Economic Power

Tuesday, November 10:

4:00 p.m. EST
“How to Think About the Federal Reserve”
Peter Schiff
President and CEO, Euro Pacific Capital
Author, The Real Crash

8:00 p.m. EST
“The Problem of Crony Capitalism Today”
William Walton
Founder, Rappahannock Ventures

Dreams, visions and prophecies

Great sermon today by Gemechis Buba, Mission Director of the North American Lutheran Church, at Mill Run, UALC on dreams, visions and prophecies. He reminded us that the culture is pushing the church to the fringes and we need to regain our vision. He reflected that the great churches of Sweden, Norway, Germany, England and Holland sent missionaries to Africa, but neglected their own countries and their children and grandchildren lost the faith established centuries ago. Pastor Buba, who was raised in Ethiopia, noted that a German missionary had baptized him. Now Africa is sending missionaries to Europe to fill their empty pulpits. I crossed the river to hear him and my husband came over after ushering at our Lytham campus. He has a powerful message; will probably be at ualc.org sermon site by Tuesday.

If we solved poverty, too many people would be out of work

It's not easy being poor, and especially homeless. You have to support so many good middle class jobs. I was looking through the 2014-15 annual report of the Ohio Housing Trust Fund yesterday. It began as a group of concerned citizens in 1990 cobbling together resources to help the homeless and now has a budget of about $60 million. It doles out grants to various non-profits who assist with low income housing and programs for the homeless. I looked at one of the larger grants, Integrated Services of Appalachian Ohio (that's the geographic area that Obama promised to destroy in 2008--coal country). This ISAO has a budget of about $7 million. CEO makes $134,522 (2013), and about 60% of that $7 million goes to salaries. Poverty is big business.

http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2008/11/affordable-housing-in-ohio-and-your.html

http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-is-ocdca-not-obsessive-compulsive.html

Testimony on climate change

Dr. Don Easterbrook, geologist, Professor Emeritus of Geology at Western Washington University. Easterbrook was educated at the University of Washington, where he received the BSc in 1958, the MSc in 1959, and the PhD (Geology) in 1962.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LkMweOVOOI

Republicans could elect another Clinton

For those of you who think the Fox Channel is spawn of the devil because it isn't a mouth piece of the Democrat Party, you're missing a great analysis of the new book by the former President George H.W. Bush. I do wonder why it was released during Jeb's campaign--the left will snip and slice and pull out juicy parts to hurt Jeb and destroy George W. But for Republicans who will see it, it's a good reminder that YOU elected Bill Clinton by chasing after Perot. I didn't, because I was a Democrat then and of course voted for Clinton--never thought anything through in those days except do what the party says. Let's not make the same mistake and elect Hillary by pouting that our candidate didn't make the cut in a field that's the best in our history as a country.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/05/politics/bush-biography-nyt/

ttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/11/05/george-h-w-bush-slams-iron-ass-cheney-arrogant-rumsfeld-in-new-biography-also-faults-bush-41/

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/05/us/politics/elder-bush-says-his-son-was-served-badly-by-aides.html?_r=0

Episode 3: Hormones and Hunger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo3TRbkIrow

Why it isn’t just eat less move more.

“Metabolic endocrinology appears to be only slightly more complicated than a nuclear reactor and brain surgery combined. No single hormone controls body composition, appetite, and hunger — and your individual hormonal profile may be relatively unique.

What’s also notable is that dieters who lost more weight on the diet had more significant changes in their appetite. They were probably hungrier while losing that weight.”

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/leptin-ghrelin-weight-loss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOCPyheVesM  Robert Lustig on sugar at Google

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmC4Rm5cpOI  Robert Lustig at Ted Talk on sugar

Jenean Hampton, Tea Party Republican

Republicans also made history in another way. Bevin’s lieutenant governor running-mate, Jenean Hampton, is now the first African American elected to statewide office ever in the state’s history.

Born in Detroit, the 57-year-old Hampton and her three sisters were raised by a single mom who lacked a high school education and couldn’t afford a television or a car. But Hampton was determined to better herself. She graduated with a degree in industrial engineering and worked for five years in the automobile industry to pay off her college loans. She then joined the Air Force, retiring as a Captain. She earned an MBA from the University of Rochester, moved to Kentucky and became a plant manager in a corrugated packaging plant. Then she lost her job in 2012. She used her free time to start a career in politics and becoming active in the Tea Party.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/426555/kentuckys-new-gop-lt-gov-black-tea-party-activist-john-fund

Too much sex at OSU

The Women's Place (Ohio State University) produces a comprehensive report on the status of women at Ohio State. The purpose of the report is to synthesize and disseminate comparative data to evaluate progress towards increasing diversity and promoting equality for women at Ohio State. In doing so the report identifies successful areas and areas where more work is needed."

I read it; mostly about implicit bias and why there aren't more women in top positions. So I wrote them: "I've read the 2015 report. I think I see the problem. Your organization focuses too much on sex (babies, assault, relationships) and not enough on skills, leadership, intelligence and accomplishments."

http://womensplace.osu.edu/assets/files/Status_Report_2014-15.pdf

Thomas Sowell on slavery

Why is there such a euro-centric view of slavery? Why more concern for slaves long dead than those living today? Because there are ideological gains to be had.

                   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao7FKReHYKY

http://townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/2015/07/07/a-legacy-of-cliches-n2021930/page/full

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/417899/it-isnt-legacy-slavery-caused-social-breakdown-ghetto-communities-thomas-sowell

Big Oops

As part of Clinton’s criminal justice reforms, she supports “banning the box,” meaning the box former criminals have to check on a job application acknowledging they committed a misdemeanor or felony. But as she was articulating that stance to her audience [Charleston NAACP] Friday, she made a verbal slip-up.

“Earlier today, I announced that as president, I will take steps to ban the box, so former presidents won’t have to declare their criminal history at the very start of the hiring process,” she said. “That way, they’ll have a chance to be seen as more than just someone who’s done time.”

She's now a much bigger criminal than any president, she just isn't a former president.

Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

Cupcakes

• 15 oz can pumpkin puree
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¾ cup Half and half (Or you can try evaporated milk0I used half/half)
• ⅔ cup flour
• ½ teaspoon or 1 teaspoon cinnamon (depending on your preference-can also add 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice but we do not like that)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• whipped cream

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease 12 cup muffin tin.
3. Mix the pumpkin and sugar in mixer with whisk.
4. Add eggs, vanilla and half & half.
5. Add all dry ingredients.
6. Fill each muffin cup with ⅓ cup of the mixture.
7. Bake for twenty minutes.
8. Cool 20 mins then pop in fridge until cold.
9. Remove and top with whipped cream

Cream Cheese Whipped Cream

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1½ cups heavy cream

Instructions

1. In a bowl whip the cream until stiff peaks form.
2. In another bowl, beat together the cream cheese with sugar and vanilla until smooth.
3. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.

http://hugsandcookiesxoxo.com/2015/08/pumpkin-pie-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese-whipped-cream.html

The homeless woman—Three Word Wednesday

This week (no. 452) the words are:

Ragged, adjective: (of cloth or clothes) old and torn,

Threatening, adjective: having a hostile or deliberately frightening quality or manner,

Unsightly, adjective; unpleasant to look at; ugly.

The homeless woman in July

She’s not threatening
as she daily rides her bike
through the neighborhood
of suburban  McMansions.
Dressed in heavy pilled sweaters ,
a ragged hand knit hat blue
from the church missionary barrel,
and unsightly galoshes with treads.
Perhaps she knows that
Cold winds will blow soon.

Build a better salad

“Want to maximize the health benefits of your salads? Start with romaine lettuce for a salad guaranteed to be packed with nutrients. The vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and fiber found in romaine lettuce are especially good for the prevention or alleviation of many common health complaints. . . an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin K, folate, and molybdenum. Romaine lettuce also is . . . a very good source of dietary fiber, four minerals (manganese, potassium, copper, and iron), and three vitamins (biotin, vitamin B1, and vitamin C). “

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=61

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrientprofile&dbid=42

Ben Carson has no political experience

“You are absolutely right — I have no political experience. The current Members of Congress have a combined 8,700 years of political experience. Are we sure political experience is what we need. Every signer of the Declaration of Independence had no elected office experience. What they had was a deep belief that freedom is a gift from God. They had a determination to rise up against a tyrannical King. They were willing to risk all they had, even their lives, to be free. Today we find ourselves with an entire class of politicians. No one in Philadelphia, during that summer our nation was born, dreamed that service was a career with a pension. America was the land of the Citizen Statesmen. They were merchants, lawyers, farmers — and yes, even doctors. They were willing to stand for freedom. . .

“My experience is very different than what we have come to expect. I grew up poor. I know what it is like to be homeless and hungry. I know the pain of poverty. I also know that education and a mother’s love can be the path out of dire poverty. I know what it is like to see water fountains you are not allowed to drink out of because of your skin color. I also know that once you peel back the skin, the brain is the same no matter what your skin color or continent you live on. I know that victimhood is a trap. I know that it is our Christian responsibility to offer those less fortunate a hand up. I know my faith is strong and my ego is small. . .

”I didn’t go to embassy cocktail parties or beg lobbyists for money. I spent night after night in a quiet, sterile room trying to save the life of a small child. That was my life’s service. This is my life’s experience. What I have is a lifetime of caring, integrity and honesty. I have experienced the American Dream. No where in the world, other than America, could a man whose ancestors were slaves, rise to become a leading brain surgeon and one day seek the Office of President.” Ben Carson Facebook page, Nov. 5, 2015

Democrats, party of socialists

Data mining our medical records

There wasn't a shred of research or evidence that electronic medical records included in the Obamacare pre-package would improve health or reduce costs, but the benefits to IT companies and researchers had them salivating. I just noticed this on a recent story. Did we give anyone the right to use your records for research? Probably signed away our rights to privacy without reading the small print.

"Researchers from Houston Methodist and Stanford University used computer algorithms to scour some 16 million records from nearly 3 million patients to find which of them had taken medications for gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, and how many of them had heart attacks."

South Side Roots Café and Market, Columbus, Ohio

Is your lunch bunch looking for a terrific place to meet? Try the South Side Roots Cafe & Market on Reeb, south of Parsons in Columbus, in an old restored elementary school. It's intended for low income who have limited resources, they pay what they can, and get delicious, chef inspired meals. It is part of the Mid-Ohio Food Bank and has a grocery store with locally grown foods. Eat well, do good.

From Columbus Business First, "The cafe will operate on a pay-what-you-can model serving lunch Monday through Friday, and brunch on Saturday. Customers with the resources can pay-it-foward and donate meals to a hungry neighbor. Additionally, the cafe will host a free community meal every Tuesday evening and provide snacks to Reeb’s on-site child-care center and the Boys & Girls Club." Hours are M-F 11-3, and Saturday brunch 9-2.

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/08/04/mid-ohio-foodbank-opening-southside-market-and.html

https://www.facebook.com/#!/South-Side-Roots-Cafe-Market-108575456144715/?pnref=story

Lie upon lie—Obamacare

If you know any Obama supporters who don't yet see the intention was not better or cheaper or more fair health insurance, but single payer so the government could control our lives, smack them. There might still be a brain cell or two working you could activate. http://townhall.com/columnists/halscherz/2015/11/04/the-human-toll-of-the-bureaucratic-state-in-healthcare-n2075710

One of the untold stories regarding the negative effects of Obamacare on our healthcare system, is the irreparable harm being done to our rural healthcare network. iVantage Health Analytics reported that since 2010, there have been 56 rural hospitals that have closed their doors- the latest, Mercy Hospital in Independence, Kansas. There are an additional 283 rural hospitals across America on the brink of closure. 35% of rural hospitals are operating at a financial loss, but this was not always the case. Obamacare is a big part of the problem.

The plan is that it will get so bad and so expensive, the voters will beg for single payer.  Marx was definitely wrong.  You don’t need impoverished workers to revolt; only dumb, non-thinking well-off voters.

Obama is turning the country into Republicans

With the election of Matt Bevin in Kentucky, 64% of governors are now Republican and Kentucky has its first female, Black statewide official, a Tea Party Republican. This will be Obama's legacy--he has lost the Democrat party hundreds of state legislatures, plus many seats in the house and senate of the U.S. Congress. He has overseen the slowest economic recovery in our history by trying to micromanage it from Washington. He has let Russia and Iran lead him by the nose. Democrat candidates’ issues are sex, drugs and guns. Republicans agenda items are jobs, security, borders, Obamacare, debt/deficit, and military. Democrats are running an elderly socialist and a woman who should be in jail. Republicans are offering an amazingly diverse group, including two Hispanics, a black, a woman, a few governors and no socialists.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/11/04/meet-jenean-hampton-the-first-black-person-to-be-elected-to-statewide-office-in-kentucky/

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/04/us/republican-wins-governors-race-in-kentucky.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/04/us/republican-wins-governors-race-in-kentucky.html

A little child will lead them

Occasionally I read something very profound on FaceBook--and the one posting doesn't even realize it. An atheist FB "friend" (we've never met) was born and raised in the former USSR, and is now an American author and professor. He was walking his dog when he encountered a small child, about 5, sweet and innocent, who asked about the dog, and then about God. "Does God ever get sick?" he asked the professor. A very wise and gentle man was he, and could honestly say, "No," reasoning that if God doesn't exist (he said to himself to justify his answer) he couldn't get sick. I read that exchange and thought to myself that here was a 5 year old who had never seen an ultrasound of a baby, or the aurora borealis, or a fossil, or a spider's delicate web, or the billions of galaxies, and yet he knew more about God and cared for his well-being in his child-like way than my friend, the all wise and jaded professor did. Yes, it was an inspiring post.

Being with the dying

There was a catch in her voice.  “Do you know any Scripture I could read to the dying, you know, for comfort?” I told her I would check with the pastor, and get back to her, although I knew I could Google it.  Google tells all.  All except how to sit by the side of your dying daughter and think about life without her.  All except how to live one’s few remaining years without her who used to be your future, the one who would have told sweet stories at your funeral,  settled your estate and gone to the cemetery to leave flowers.

http://www.holyredeemerhealth.com/hospice-support/being-with-the-dying/

The Youth vote has much better choices with the Republican slate this coming year, but . . .

It is said that liberals become conservatives as they age (has something to do with raising a family and paying debts), but there's pretty good research to show that how you vote when you start is how you'll end up. In 2008, the youth vote went for Obama. They were sucker punched in my opinion, but with the help of older Christians who sat out 2012, they also reelected him. Now those 18-25 year olds will be 26-33 when Hillary asks for their obedience, and they won't even give it a thought and will pull the lever/press the screen for the big D. They've finished college (although not their government induced debt), married or living with, might even have a child or two. Their happy clappy rock star religion is probably boring now and not much has replaced it. They are probably too busy to look around and think or notice how things have changed since Obama gave them hope and Kool-aid.

Millennials, born between 1981 and 1999, consist of 80 million Americans who are the largest generation in 100 years. Accounting for roughly one-fourth of the total voters today—a larger voting block than seniors citizens—they are predicted to make up as much as 40 percent of the electorate by 2020. Most are too young to remember 9/11, and the recession was just a hiccup because they could move back home with mom and dad. and still pay for their car and i-phone and pot. Many really do want someone to take care of them, and even though the gov't takes from their own wallet and future, they'd rather believe the lies than do the tough stuff of analysis and thinking. Marx was really wrong--he thought you'd need a revolt of the workers when all that was necessary was materialistic college grads.

According to Pew Research, young voters continue to identify with the Democrat Party at relatively high levels and express significantly more liberal attitudes on a range of issues, from gay marriage, abortion, the environment, and the role of the federal government. The kids who were left at day care to be raised by others, are perfectly comfortable with having the federal government take over their decisions and life’s direction.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/5/jp-moran-2016-gop-youth-vote-problem-and-how-deal-/?page=all

http://www.conservativebookclub.com/10576/featured-article/can-conservatives-win-back-the-youth-vote

October was Respect Life Month

At least for Catholics.  We didn’t hear that at our Lutheran church.

Jesus said, “I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)  Today there are Christians who don’t see that statement of Jesus extended to the unborn.

• Defenders of life are vilified in our culture; we’re troublemakers who don’t want the best for women (even though over half of the aborted are female).
• Defenders of life are called anti-science for not wanting embryos used in medical labs, or body parts of fetuses sold for medical research.
• Defenders of life are called haters and homophobes for defending marriage.
• Defenders of life are out of step with the culture because casual fluid relationships are not acceptable to us.
• Defenders of life are hassled by the pro-euthanasia crowd because assisting the sick and dying is just too hard for people.
• Defenders of life are called stingy if we don’t want our tax dollars supporting Planned Parenthood’s slaughter houses.
• Defenders of life are told, even by our President, that “black lives matter,” but not that “all lives matter,” even the weakest who cannot speak for themselves.

Defenders of life are called by Christ to be the counter-culture.

(HT David Garick, editor, Catholic Times, Diocese of Columbus)

“Our worth is based not on our skills or levels of productivity. Rather, we discover our worth when we discover our true identity found in the unchangeable, permanent fact that we are created in God’s image and likeness and called to an eternal destiny with him.” http://catholicherald.com/