Best Before...

Do you freak out when you see the words “use by” followed by a date, and that date was two years ago?

I must confess that I’m not alarmed by these statements. I have my own methods of checking for safe consumption. In the case of spices, I take a pinch between thumb and forefinger, mash and rub. If the green leaves release a strong odor of sage, then it’s okay to use in the stuffing. In the case of milk or left-over meat-loaf, I also trust my nose. If the condition of an egg is doubtful, I break it into a bowl. If the yolk stands upright, self-contained and a healthy yellow, then I use it.

Once I found a foil-wrapped slice of pizza in the back of the fridge. The pepperoni looked dry and brown, so I took a tiny bite. It tasted just fine, so I had it for dinner will no ill effects. Remember, food poisoning comes from contamination, not spoilage.

The actual words used as advice on products are “use by”, “sell by”, “best before”, or in the case of quinoa, “won’t be trendy after.” It’s a suggestion, not an ultimatum. A problem arises when people mentally insert the word “expiration” in place of the printed words before the date.

As to pharmaceuticals, I’m a bit more cautious. I once retrieved a half-empty tube of expensive eye ointment from the medicine cabinet that was more than one year past its date. I tossed it in the trash rather than take a chance, although my Scots blood screamed in protest. A veteran of the Vietnam War told me the Army gave him a perfectly effective aspirin that was left over from the Korean War. I was more than slightly skeptical. While I believe the aspirin was safe to swallow, I question its potential to affect a headache.

A new National Resources Defense Council and Harvard Law School study recommends eliminating sell-by dates because they are misleading. The dates were created by local and state organizations in the1970s. (I had successfully cared for mine and my family’s culinary needs for many years before that time.) They were established for the sole purpose of helping people know when the products are freshest – not safest, and it’s only a guess.

Because I know nothing about the National Resources Defense Council, I don’t take their word for anything.

But I do have a lot of faith in Harvard Law School students. If they say ignore the “sell by” dates, then let’s do it!

Thread with Brains

Do you want clothes that make a fashion statement or clothes that can save your life? 

Companies are weaving sensors right into the fabric of “smart clothes” to monitor a variety of personal vital signs. The business is expected to boom because of the convenience. Customers do not want another gadget to keep track of and these clothes are machine washable. What smart clothes can do for you:

• Monitor your baby – A company created by MIT grads is selling a $200 organic baby romper that monitors for warning signs of sudden death syndrome, sending an alert over wi-fi to parents’ phones.
• Track your workout – Sensoria’s $89 sports bra for women, or T-shirt for men, monitors calories burned, heart rate and respiration. Data is beamed to a smart phone as you exercise. In 2014, a $199 pair of socks will be available that tracks running statistics like weight distribution and pace, then suggests via an iPhone app how to improve performance.
• Detect breast cancer – one firm is testing a sports bra that screens breast tissue for cancer. If cancer is detected, a visit with your doctor and a mammogram would still be necessary, but early detection is a major plus.
• Prevent injuries – Reebok is offering a $150 skull cap aimed at preventing concussions by monitoring athletes’ head injuries in activities including football, boxing and skiing. 

However, obstacles and reservations do exist. Some researchers doubt the accuracy and utility of some smart clothes. Some consumers are deterred by the high costs. I personally buy five pairs of ankle socks for $10. I might not be persuaded to pay $199 for one pair no matter how smart they are.

“Smart clothes” is a recent concept that is growing and gaining acceptance. 

When they are comfortable, usable, intuitive and affordable, these garments will make peoples’ lives easier.

Bless the Little Children

When I was eight years old, I learned that my new school offered a wonderful activity – an Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by the P.T.A. I’d never been on an Easter Egg Hunt. The note I carried home to my mother said each child should bring an Easter basket to hold their eggs. (Oh Happy Day, we would be allowed to keep the eggs we found!) We were all to meet Saturday at 2:00 PM at the city park.

The note also said that other siblings in the home were welcome to attend. Obviously, this meant that since I had no siblings at home, my three year old niece could participate. She had never been to an Easter Egg Hunt either.

During the afternoon, I caught a glimpse of her from time to time searching under trees and among the grass. I wondered if I should help her, then decided I needed to concentrate on finding eggs myself. After all, if she didn’t find many, I would share my bounty with her.

I passed up a few decorated boiled eggs. I could have a boiled egg anytime. My focus was on the pretty candy eggs of red, green, yellow and pink. We’d been told that there were some special chocolate eggs wrapped in foil. But I never found one of those.

Soon the P.T.A. ladies walked among us saying the hunt was over. All the eggs had been found.
I saw my niece standing beside my mother at the edge of the park, wearing a big smile and holding tightly to her basket. I was pleased to see her so happy. I joined them and began to count the eggs in both baskets.

Imagine my dismay when I realized my niece had twice as many eggs as I did – plus she had found two foil-wrapped chocolate eggs!

Irony

Definition: A combination of circumstances or a result that is the opposite of what is or might be expected or considered appropriate. 

Some ironic statements are funny – they make us smile. Others “hit the nail on the head” in ways that are upsetting or frightening. Some reveal that there are behavior and policies in our nation that defy logic and common sense.

Read the two following examples of irony and see if you smile in tolerance, or if you respond with fear or anger.

• Irony 1. We are told not to judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics. On the other hand, we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics.
• Irony 2. The Food Stamp Program, administered by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, is proud to be distributing the greatest amount of free meals and food stamps ever to 47 million people in 2013. Meanwhile, the National Park Service, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior asks us, “Please do not feed the animals.” Their stated reason for this policy is because, “The animals will grow dependent on handouts and will not learn to take care of themselves.”

Think about this, folks.

Quote for the day:
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

These Boots Are Made For Walking

A journey of one thousand miles begins with a single step. – Lau-tzu

When a new baby arrives in our family, the first thing I want to do is inspect the feet. There are two distinctly different foot categories in our gene pool. One is short, wide, with a high, thick instep and abbreviated toes. For these owners, we could throw away the shoes and let them wear the boxes. Strong and stable, these feet provide a solid, secure base for the athletes they belong to. They are at their happiest when barefoot. The other foot category, aristocratic and elegant, is often found on dancers and dreamers. Slender and flexible with toes that look a lot like fingers, these feet are often crammed into inappropriate sizes. This type may develop bunions, corns, hammer toes, etc. If shoes of the proper style and size are available, these feet do not like to be unshod.

Among our immediate family, we find five of the “fat-feet” shape and ten of the “skinny feet.” The two new great-grandchildren born last month have “skinny feet.” Neither category is “better” – just “different.” Special care must be exercised when buying shoes for either of these extremes.

At this point we stop and say a prayer of thanksgiving for Kepner-Scott Shoe Company in Orwigsburg, PA. Established in 1888 on the premise that all children deserved footwear that was flexible, breathable and comfortable, the company has distinguished itself for 125 years keeping tiny feet safe while walking, running and skipping. We have all worn shoes made by Kepner-Scott.

This company continues to produce leather shoes for toddlers and tykes, including babies’ first walking shoes, kid saddle oxfords, and black lace-up ankle boots for Amish children. Workers produce 200 pairs of shoes daily which retail for about $50.00 per pair. Made in sizes 0 to 3 for newborns to age 8, and in widths from B to EEE, the shoes’ uppers and lining are supple leather which provides support and comfort for tender young feet and toes. The owner of Sammi’s Shoe Box in Philadelphia has sold Kepner-Scott shoes since 1937 because of the beautiful workmanship. “The shoes are practically hand-made”, he says. “The company is a jewel.”

My family sends Kepner-Scott our sincere thanks and appreciation!

And The Earth Shook

As a cold, icy rain hit my area overnight, so did another earthquake.

Between November 1 and November 27, 15 quakes have hit North Texas and 14 of those have been in my home county. They ranged in magnitude from 2.6 to 3.6. Nineteen people reported to the U. S. Geological Survey that they felt “weak” to “light” shaking. A few reported that pictures fell from walls, windows rattled, and one reported cracks in the sheetrock. Most of the shaking has been in the early morning hours, and many complained of interrupted sleep. Geophysicists have said that it takes a 4.5 to 5.0 magnitude earthquake to cause damage.

Luckily for my home town, we have felt nothing. All the seismic activity has been in the northeastern part of the county, some 20 or so miles away from our home.

In barber shops, coffee houses and beauty salons, all the patrons say they know the cause of these quakes – it’s the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of the oil and gas wells in the vicinity.

Fact 1. There is extensive fracking in the area.

Fact 2. No definitive data exists to prove the claim.

In the interim, owners removed cherished pictures from the walls to the backs of closets, packed Granny’s priceless china and crystal from the china cabinet into sturdy boxes, and got on with the business of life. Folks here are far too busy to be concerned about a few minor earthquakes.

But there’s a whole lot of shakin’ going on!

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Thought for the day:
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. - Thomas Jefferson

An Afternoon with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

Last Sunday, some Methodist ladies were on the move again searching for cultural enlightenment. At 2:00 pm, we were in our seats at Bass Hall awaiting the performance of Adam Golka, a touring concert pianist based in New York. We sensed a different aura and audience today than the one we shared on our last visit when we saw Menopause The Musical. Not one person laughed.

Golka is a young man (26) but he is an old friend to the area. He earned his artist diploma from TCU and played his first concerto with FWSO at age thirteen. His rendition of Brahams Piano Concerto No. 2 lifted the listeners up from their seats to a melody-filled place of grace and beauty. From the moment guest conductor Joshua Weilerstein lifted his baton, and Golka lifted his hands, the audience made no sound – no movement, no cough, no whispering. After about one hour, I noticed some masculine heads resting on chests, or their neighbors, but even then, they slept silently. The attendees wanted to savor every note.

In the powder room at intermission, I heard some interesting remarks: ​

“Marge, did you notice there were 34 fiddles on that stage, but they sounded like just one?”

​“I don’t know much about Brahams, but I do like his lullaby.” ​

“I didn’t want to come. My mom made me. But that Golka guy plays a rad piano!”

We absorbed the unique culture afforded by classical music and brought it home with us. The beautiful, soaring notes remain in my head and heart. I’m so glad that Adam Golka returned to Fort Worth and shared his musical talent with the city where it all began.

* * * * * * * * * *
Thought for the day: 

A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she is in hot water. – Eleanor Roosevelt. 

And the Methodist ladies said, “Amen!”

Come to Texas!

If you own a business – small, medium or large – consider moving it to Texas. 

Since 2000, some 5.2 million people voted with their feet by moving to Texas. – Gov. Rick Perry

Perry also says a combination of low taxes and moderate regulation has created the environment that allowed 1.6 million jobs to be created while he has been in office. But we need more jobs and more workers. All those people must have goods and services. Every Texan can attest to the massive population explosion. We are building additional roads and freeways as fast as we can. Our just-completed schools are too small. Temporary class rooms sit on their playgrounds. A Texas town I considered moderate-sized now has sixteen high schools.

We’ve lived in North Central Texas for six years and have seen no indication of a recession. Residential and commercial construction (especially medically related) has continued unabated. Streets, highways and loops have mushroomed at all entrances to our town. We now have three shopping malls where none existed ten years ago.

Parts of Texas have not one home for lease or purchase. If you want to live in the Permian Basin of West Texas, your only choice is to get on a contractor’s list to build a dwelling. The arrival of every type of oil and gas recovery operation has caused a giant boom.

Your business would be in good company in Texas. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, known as “the other Lockheed” to distinguish it from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, is making its mark by taping global markets for armored cars, robots and missiles. Old Timers say it is “blowin’ and goin’”.
All across the state, progressive banks are installing high-tech ATMs that do much more than dispense cash. The machines will accept deposits of up to 50 checks at a time and issue receipts, allow transfer of funds between accounts and give you cash in denominations according to your needs. Skilled employees are necessary for their installation and accurate function.

If your business offers special skills and training, we NEED you: Especially if your expertise is water or trash. We have a shortage of the former and an overabundance of the later.

So come to Texas. Work hard and you will prosper – so will Texas.

Friends in High Places

Recently Bell Helicopter landed a 407 model on the grounds of a high school near my home to unveil the company’s partnership with the high school.

A Senior Technical Training Instructor and Course Developer will work as a bridge between the school and Bell as the partnership gets underway. In the fall students will be able to start taking a one-semester, introductory class titled Concepts in Engineering. After completing the intro class and a subsequent year-long course, students will have hands-on experience with Bell instructors. The intro classes will feature guest speakers from Bell and other local engineering companies as well as potential field trips to various work sites.

Bell professionals spoke to the students and teachers about career paths that could result from participating in the program. Students would have the option to pursue a technical route, moving into helicopter assembly after post-high school graduate technical training, with possible internships and a continued connection with Bell through a four-year aero-space degree. This is a win-win situation. Students may discover an interest in assembling helicopters, or the field of engineering, and receive a head-start on a satisfying career. Bell Helicopter will be building a potential work-force pool for the future.

This concept would work equally well for many other fields of study in the medical arena, oil and gas production, and the food industry, just to name a few. High schools willing to join in this type of advanced education are plentiful. The possibilities are endless.

Surely many other professions can see the advantages in establishing such a partnership.

A Super Duper Garden Design

My husband loves his birthday gift. It is an agricultural marvel.

Our children and grands pooled their resources and purchased a VegTrug for him. This structure, installed in the backyard, allows him to conduct the entire gardening experience with comfort and efficiency.

It arrived with a book of instructions and 200# of organic garden soil. After assembly it measures 30” high, 30” wide and 72” long and has six sturdy, plastic-capped legs. Absolutely no bending, stooping, kneeling or sitting on the ground is required from sowing the seeds through harvesting the produce. Side benefits are the up close and personal view of the tiny green sprouts emerging from the rich, black dirt and the satisfaction of providing fresh, healthy vegetables with almost no effort for the family to enjoy. Every chore, including weeding, can be done at waist level. Its greenhouse frame and cover insure protection for seedlings and delicate plants. The design is perfect for gardeners with artificial knees and chronic back pain.

The delivery truck arrived on a Friday and the VegTrug was ready to receive plants before nightfall. Saturday morning found us on a quest for purple-top turnip and cabbage seeds. I have no intention of actually eating a turnip, but my husband said they grow well in winter, and he wanted something that will grow now. Hopefully, I’ll acquire a taste for turnips. A systemic search of every feed and seed store, as well as all garden centers, proved that no turnip or cabbage seeds were available in our area. We then turned to the internet and found seeds in North Carolina.

Today the seeds are in the ground at the proper depth and are receiving adequate water and sunshine for germination. They are assured of tender, loving care and constant supervision.

The VegTrug is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

Human Life

I’m passionate about several issues. Among them are Texas, education and the right to life. Many of today’s “enlightened women” have an emotional, tenacious commitment to the availability of abortion. I believe one reason for this attitude is that some women have been brainwashed to believe that what is growing in their womb is not human life.

Yet science tells us that human life begins at the time of conception. From the moment fertilization occurs, the child’s genetic makeup is complete. Its gender, its height, hair and skin color are already determined. The only thing the embryo needs to become a full functioning being is the time to grow and develop.

Recently at a political rally, a young woman said, “It’s my right to have an abortion if I do not want a baby. I should have control of my own body.” Who speaks for the baby – for its rights? Of course, in drastic situations abortion is advisable. If the pregnancy directly threatens the life of the mother, the physician may recommend aborting the fetus. The same is true if a proven defect will prevent survival of the child. If the pregnancy is a result of rape, the mother and her family must make a difficult decision.

Scientists tell us that human embryos are human organisms, living individuals of the human race at the earliest developmental state. Development facts include:

• Eighteen days – a baby’s heart begins to beat
• Forty-three days – brain coordinates movement
• Seven weeks – a baby can hiccup
• Eight weeks – organs can function
• Nine weeks – baby has permanent fingerprints

Regardless of the biological maturity of the fetus, it is a member of the human species. And with that comes an inherent dignity and right to life.

Celebrate Soup!

We awoke this morning to a diamond-sparkle world of heavy frost and a nip in the air. It’s a day to celebrate soup – tortilla soup. 

There’s alchemy in soup-making from the moment the onion and garlic begin to soften in the hot oil. Immediately your nose tells you something wonderful is happening.

The key to making soup is to take your time. Never dump everything into the pot at once. A soup’s flavor must be coaxed out. Add a vegetable or two at a time, let them heat, then add some more.

Soup is all about the details. It has a built-in wait time. The tortilla soup I’m making this morning is to be served for dinner. And it will be even better for lunch tomorrow.

Soups are great anytime of the year, but for me, fall is the official kickoff of soup season. Winter finds me searching out all my tried and true recipes plus trying a few new ones. I freeze the excess and can grab a container from the freezer and heat it at a moment’s notice.

One of my favorites is French potato-leek soup, but my husband is not enthusiastic. He prefers a robust soup with character – one whose flavors reach out and grab the taste buds.

If you like, you can dress up your soup when it is served. Just sprinkle some crushed, toasted pistachios on top, add a spoon of grated cheese, a cooked, crumbled bacon slice, or a few chive sprigs. Chopped fresh herbs add flavor and visual appeal. In our family, we prefer our soup naked.

Soups are by nature comfort food. On this diamond-studded day, tortilla soup will be just right.

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TORTILLA SOUP
 
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained & rinsed
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 boneless chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1-1/4 cups water

1 (10.5 ounce) can chicken broth

1 can of corn, drained,

1 can of hominy, drained

Tortilla chips

Shredded Monterey cheese
Sliced avocado
Few green onions

In medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic until soft. Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, broth and water. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in corn, hominy, chiles, beans, cilantro and chicken. Simmer 10 minutes.

Soup can be ladled into individual bowls and topped with crushed tortilla chips, avocado slices, cheese and chopped green onion. We prefer to serve tortilla chips in a basket, with the avocado, cheese and whole green onions served on a platter.

Enjoy!

Life Without Bees

If the bee disappears from the surface of the globe, man will have no more than four years to live. – attributed to Albert Einstein. 

The Western honeybee is responsible for one in every three mouthfuls of food you and I will eat today. And something is killing them.

From the almond orchards of California to the blueberry bogs of Maine, billions of honeybees are needed to pollinate multibillion-dollar crops. Without bees, these two foods, as well as 235 others, will vanish. Included in these are three of my favorites – apples, lemons and squash.

My family has a personal knowledge of the scarcity of bees. This past summer, not one bee visited our vegetable garden. My husband manually pollinated the squash, zucchini, cucumber, cantaloupe and watermelon blooms using homemade swabs.

Beginning in 2006, beekeepers across America opened their hives, found them full of wax and honeycomb and even honey, but devoid of actual bees. The beekeepers sought other employment. We might someday replace the bees, but can we replace keepers with 40 years of experience? Among the causes of bee extermination are agricultural pesticides, a parasitic mite and bacterial and viral diseases. Yet there is no clear cut culprit.

But American ingenuity is stepping in. In 2007 Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Science successfully developed a life-size robotic fly. The school was awarded a $10 million grant to build a network of autonomous artificial bees.

Can we afford to pay $100 for a watermelon?

Compete Globally

In 1865, Horace Greenley, writing for the New York Tribune, said, “Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country.”

Living in 2013, Greenley would say, “Go West, young man, and East and South and North around the world and become a global contender.”

Modern educators are urging parents to teach their children a foreign language – or two or three. Then send them to college abroad to perfect the language and understand the cultural diversity. Some corporate executives are recommending two years of service in the Peace Corps in a foreign land prior to employment.

A few years ago, there was a push to learn Russian. Today someone fluent in Chinese has special marketable skills.

For our economy to experience long-term growth, our young people need to learn other languages and to develop sensitivity to various ways of life.

The world is your oyster – find the pearl.

All About Green

Everyday lately, I’ve thought about the color green. 

I don’t know why. I think the reason is that winter is fast approaching, and we will see no more green in our neighborhood until next spring. The homes on our street are made of brick. None are trimmed with green. There are no evergreens on the lawns. No neighbor drives a green vehicle. Soon the Blue Northers will sail down across the Red River and freeze all the leaves, grass, flowers and shrubs to an ugly, drab brown. Then I’ll miss green.

Green is the fourth color in the spectrum: red, orange, yellow, GREEN, blue, violet. Why is it more talked about than the other colors?

The Metroplex phone directories list hundreds of Greens – and a few Greenes. Yet there has never been a President Green in the White House.

Do you wear green jeans? Why do some kids dye their hair green? Why does Santa wear red instead of green? Do you eat green eggs and ham?

Green trees fight pollution. Green veggies are good for you.

Green features prominently in our descriptive vocabulary: green eyed monster, green with envy, greenhorn, greenbacks, green beans, green lights, Green Bay, Green River, Green Mountains, greenhouse, green pepper, green apples, green grapes, green hills.

We have green alligators, green snakes, green grasshoppers and green lizards, but no animal with green fur. I have a bright red dress and a pair of red shoes.

I think I’ll put them on and try to overcome this green mindset.

GEDs Online

“Here’s your test. You passed. You failed. You’re on your own.”

That was the attitude of the old GED Testing Service. Now there is a whole program developed around the test takers.

In late November the My GED web portal will be available for people to take an updated, computerized GED test aligned with more rigorous academic standards that start in 2014.

The overhaul to the 70-year old test is an attempt to meet the call for more skilled workers. In our nation where about two-thirds of all jobs require more than a high school education, 39 million adults did not finish high school. These drops outs need a second chance.

The non-profit American Council on Education, which administered the old test, partnered with Pearson, the world’s largest education and testing company, to finance and engineer what has become a $30 million, three-year endeavor to overhaul the exam.

If you need a GED, stop delaying. Get it online in November.

Choose Happiness

It’s official – lots of folks in Texas are unhappy. Who knew?

The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network has just published the 2013 World Happiness Report. Researchers analyzed data on happiness from people living in more than 150 countries. (Nobody asked me. Did they ask you?)

The five happiest countries are Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The United States ranked as No. 17. If more Texans were happy, the ranking might have improved. We are slightly happier than Ireland (No. 18) and a little less happy than Mexico (No. 16).

Apparently a lot of people never got the word that happiness is a state of mind – not a condition.
The happiest person I know is a 92 year-old widow, totally blind, living in a nursing home. She also lives with a multitude of ailments and pain. She never had siblings or children. A retired school teacher, she tells me her students were her children. On one of my regular visits, I asked her why she is always smiling and cheerful.

“It’s a choice I make,” she said. “Every morning when I wake up, I choose to be happy. Then I count my blessings. My neat, comfortable room is arranged so that I know exactly where everything is. And I love my window. I can’t see anything out of it, but I feel the glass panes – warm in summer and cold in winter, and I imagine the view. I hear birds singing and children playing in the near-by park. I’m served good food daily and my medications are furnished on time.

“Can you imagine the kindness shown in assigning a blind person a room with a window? Of course I’m happy!”

Yes, some people in Texas are unhappy – but not all.

Space City, Texas

Unless you have a compelling reason, such as to watch an Astro game or accept a lucrative job offer, don’t go to H-Town (Houston). 

I just returned from a four-day visit to Houston for another compelling reason: to visit grandchildren. On the road home, I stopped the car, got out and hugged the Weatherford city limit sign. Then thanked God for my safe delivery.

Founded in 1836 and named after Old Sam, President of the Republic of Texas, Houston has the world’s largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions. A global city, it has a broad base in energy, manufacturing, aeronautics and transportation.

It is the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the USA. The 2010 Census reported a population of over 2.1 million. Every one of those people timed their trips out and about on the streets and highways to coincide with mine.

If you crave daring and danger, just play Russian roulette – it’s safer than driving in Houston.

Freshly Minted

Have you visited the Bureau of Engraving and Printing facility in Fort Worth? You can go there and watch people make money.

Currently they are printing new $100 bills for prompt circulation. The C-Note has undergone a major makeover that includes a color-changing ink well, a 3-D security ribbon and more texture on Ben Franklin’s collar. I’m told it is a work of art.

At the Fort Worth Bureau of E&P, 32-bill sheets of money paper are printed, stamped with individual serial numbers and sliced into individual notes. The notes are sorted into piles 100 deep, banded together and eventually stacked into 4,000-note bricks worth $400,000. Those bricks will be shipped to Federal Reserve banks for distribution. Soon the bills will be in the hands of John Q. Public.

I must schedule a tour ASAP. It’s the only way I’ll ever see thirty-two $100 bills.

Fact or Fiction?

Publishers producing high school biology text books to be used in classrooms across Texas have been pressured to water down lessons on evolution and climate change.

The State Board of Education has considered new science books that could be used in Texas public schools for ten years. But board members rely on citizen review committees that can raise objections before the approval process begins.

Some reviewers had objections that were ideological in nature. One reviewer said, “As an educator, parent and grand-parent, I firmly feel that “creation science” based on Biblical principles should be incorporated in every Biology book being considered.” Others questioned if global warming is based on scientific fact.

Kathy Miller, president of Texas Freedom Network, a nonprofit agency that monitors the State Board of Education said, “What our kids learn in public schools should be based on mainstream, established science, not the personal views of ideologues, especially those who are grossly unqualified to evaluate a Biology textbook in the first place.” Watch out, Kathy, in Texas “ideologues” and “unqualified” are fightin’ words.

Texas has more than 1,000 school districts so publishers often make suggested changes in textbooks. These changes sometimes affect classroom materials sold in other states.

In 2011, the Texas Legislature approved a law that allows school districts to purchase any instructional materials they choose. Many districts, however, won’t consider materials not approved by the board for fear they may not meet state curriculum standards.

Miller commented, “Once again, culture warriors on the state board are putting Texas at risk of becoming a national laughingstock on science education.”

That’s strong words from a person of authority. Are they fact or fiction?

Student Loans……continued again

Student loan debt has reached all-time highs. More than $105 billion in federal loans were extended in the last fiscal year and more than $1 trillion in loans are outstanding.

Some colleges are recording student loan default rates as high as 22.9 percent. If more than 30 percent of an institution’s loans default in one year, the school is put under review by the federal Department of Education. If the problem isn’t fixed in three years, the school can lose Title IV funding.

Educational institutions, concerned about their continued eligibility for federal aid, are acting aggressively to see that students graduate in a timely manner and meet the terms of their loan repayment plans.

America’s student-loan crisis can’t be fixed simply by focusing on borrowers. Colleges must also focus on borrower education.

1. Some schools offer courses that include in-person counseling and instruction in financial literacy.
2. Some are enlisting faculty to help them determine which students may need assistance with their loans.
3. Some are offering career services that help alums advance within their chosen fields.
4. Some students may benefit from alternative payment plans such as “Pay as you Earn.”

To student loan recipients:
Your debt is a moral, as well as financial, obligation. Please pursue every possible avenue of repayment. Get those loans repaid.

Menopause The Musical

Does the crazy weather stress you out? Are you worried about Obamacare? Or the high cost of groceries? Then go to a stage near you and see this delightful production.

Last Friday evening 24 Methodist ladies (and 2 brave gentlemen) boarded church buses and headed for the city. We all needed a night of fine dining (Furr’s Cafeteria) and Broadway entertainment (Bass Performance Hall). And we got more than we bargained for.

First we dined with the entire football team from Abilene Christian University on their way to a game on Saturday. About 100 clean, well-dressed, friendly and polite (and HUGE) young men filled the room with testosterone.

Next we entered an auditorium ruled by estrogen and the hilarity began. From the opening number of “Change, Change, Change” on to “I’m Having a Hot Flash” to a rousing finale celebrating women and their ability to overcome anything, we were entertained beyond expectation. My sides still ache from laughing.

Set on various floors of Bloomingdale’s, four extremely talented and perfectly cast women swept us along with no intermission through their deepest anxieties and frustrations, which just happened to be our own.

This highly personal and often taboo subject was explored without vulgarity or coarseness, but with acceptance, humor and the attitude of “It is what it is! Deal with it.”

Italian Pride

Did you happen to see the TV coverage of the righting of the Costa Concordia from its watery Tuscan graveyard? It was spectacular!

The remarkable event of ocean recovery was an international effort. The chief salvage master was from South Africa and his 500-men crew hailed from 26 different nations. They used a process called parbuckling (and almost $800 million) to raise the vessel. According to Florida-based Titan Salvage, the 952 foot ship will be removed and scrapped.

In January 2012, the Italian captain in charge of the cruise ship, took it off course, crashed it and abandoned ship before everyone was evacuated. Of the 4,000 passengers on board, 32 died and two are still missing. Italy suffered a certain amount of embarrassment and shame. Search teams vow to locate the two missing bodies. Every effort is being made to return recovered belongings to their owners.

This unprecedented feat of engineering has given Italy a much needed boost of pride. After two years of recession and extreme political instability, Italians cheered the rising of the beautiful ship as the world watched on live television.

How sad that the knowledge and equipment required to right a sunken vessel was not available when the Titanic went down.

Above the Law

The headline Congress Gets Insurance Deal aroused my interest. The rest of the article aroused my resentment. While the vast American public must fend for itself, Congress and their staff are to be excluded from the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The article correctly stated that an amendment to ACA did INCLUDE Congress and staff, but now another administration decision will IGNORE the law and EXCLUDE the lawmakers and their staffs. The supposed reason is that “the best and brightest might flee Capitol Hill.”

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said her staff told her “there could be a problem with brain drain.” Maybe Pelosi should have read the bill before she passed it.

Perhaps the ACA is not a law at all but just a menu of items to be laid on the public at the whim of the administration.

How can we trust the administration and Congress when their primary objective is to “take care” of themselves rather than to “take care” of the people they represent?

All things considered, perhaps a “brain drain” is needed to get our government back to representing ALL the people instead of protecting their own power and benefits.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Awash in Squash!

As summer begins a slow fade into fall, our yellow crook-neck and zucchini have shifted into high gear. They produce faster than we can gather.

Friends and family, who were thrilled to have it delivered free to their doorsteps, now close their doors and draw the blinds. They even lock the car doors. The bright green and yellow veggies, whose glow cheered me in early summer, now mock me with their abundance.

Squash is super low in calories, at just 17 per three ounces; a great source of vitamins A and C and potassium; and a terrific antioxidant. It’s one of the easiest and quickest veggies to prepare. Plus the color is cheerful and the flavor is delicate and slightly sweet. What’s not to love? We do love it, but we’ve reached the saturation point.

Just when I couldn’t face another helping of squash soufflé, or another slice of zucchini bread, the Cowgirl Chef, writing for an area newspaper, furnished enticing new recipes. I’ve learned to make Spanish tortilla with zucchini, squash and black bean tacos, and zucchini and baby spinach beignets.

Don’t be alarmed if you see a short, white-haired lady coming toward your front door carrying a casserole.

I promise it will be good for you!

Made in America

Continuing the principles of founder Sam Walton, Walmart Inc. hosted a two-day conference urging retailers, suppliers and government officials to commit to increasing manufacturing jobs in America. The event attracted representatives from 500 manufacturers, eight governors, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and officials from 36 states. All of them expressed interest in creating more jobs in the USA.

The movement could help stem the tide of jobs flowing to China and elsewhere that occurred over the last two decades. But the real impetus is pure economics: Labor costs are rising in Asia, and oil and transportation costs are high and unpredictable.

Let’s all vow to help Wally World put more Americans to work. All together now:

We pledge to check every label for the country of origin. If it doesn’t say “made in America,” we’ll put it back on the shelf.

Presidential Whiskers

Rutherford B. Hayes

I enjoy biographies and consider them an important staple of my annual reading requirements. Among my favorites are the ones written by or about American presidents. One fascinating aspect is the gentleman’s facial hair – who sported whiskers, who did not?

Four presidents had a notable mustache: Theodore Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, Chester K. Arthur and William Howard Taft. Arthur also had impressive sideburns.

Four presidents had full beards, including lip whiskers: Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield and Benjamin Harrison. After 1913 our presidents have been clean shaven.

Facial hair can hide a multitude of flaws. I believe two past-presidents would have benefited from a lush growth of whiskers: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. A full beard and mustache might have helped George disguise his ill-fitting false teeth. Abe could have used them to hide his prominent moles and deep wrinkles.

Mustaches (handle-bar or trimmed), as well as Vandykes, full-face, goatees and mutton chops made our early executive officers look wise and distinguished.

Why have whiskers been ignored and unfashionable for one hundred years?

Student Loans ….continued

Three cheers for President Obama – at least one cheer! He has pledged to make college more affordable by reshaping the way Americans pay for higher education.

The average tuition at four-year colleges has tripled over the past three decades. Mr. Obama estimates that students who take out loans are left, on average, with $26,000. of debt. Students of my personal acquaintance incurred an average of $40,000. One brand-new attorney reports $100,000. owed on college loans.

Obama proposes a new government rating system for colleges that would judge schools on their affordability and might be used to allocate financial aid. The proposal causes worry among college leaders who fear that the rankings could cost their institutions millions of dollars. Ya think?

Some congressmen are wary of deepening the government’s role in higher education. But the President argues that with the economy shaky and students facing global competition, making college affordable is “an economic imperative.”

“Higher education cannot be a luxury”, Obama said.

Wow! Did he read my blog?

Feds Sue Texas

In addition to big boots, big hair and big hearts, Texas has a new distinction – defendant in a law suit filed by the Justice Department.

Texas plans to implement a strict voter law that requires adults to present government-issued identification before voting. We have millions of foreign visitors to our state. We question their right to help determine our policies.

We know that the Constitution guarantees people the right to vote. But an ID is required to buy a car, board a plane, get a credit card or receive a driver’s license – surely voting is of greater importance than these transactions.

The Voting Right Acts, which still exists in a weakened form, requires Justice Department approval for nine states, including Texas, to receive pre-clearance before they can change any voting practice. It can cover anything from buying new voter machines to shifting district boundaries. Is this discrimination?

Attorney General Eric Holder says, “We will keep fighting aggressively to prevent voter disenfranchisement.”

Governor Rick Perry dismisses the federal action as “endless litigation in an effort to obstruct the will of the people of Texas.”

The Feds view the Texas voter law as discriminatory. Texans see it as good common sense.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac

My friend, Betty, and I are eager to receive our copies of the Old Farmer’s Almanac 2013 issue. We want to know if the winter will be severe or mild. Will we need heavy coats and long johns, or just light jackets for the Super Bowl?

The Almanac, released in September of every year since 1792, is a reference book that contains weather forecasts, tide tables, planting charts, astronomical data, recipes and articles on gardening, sports, and farming. The book features anecdotes and predicts trends in fashion, food, home décor, technology and living for the coming year. It is the oldest continuously published periodical in North America.

As children of farm families, we are accustomed to consulting the Almanac to learn when to plant crops and various garden vegetables. (Root vegetables should not be planted in conjunction with those produced above ground.) This book told our parents and grandparents when to butcher hogs, plan a trip or set a date for a wedding. They consulted the moon signs to see when to pull a tooth or have surgery.

Never discount the value of the Old Farmer’s Almanac. In World War II, a German spy was apprehended with a copy of the 1942 Almanac in his pocket. He believed the USA would stockpile munitions and schedule military movements according to the Almanac’s advice. He hoped to break the code.

Abiding by the references of the Almanac can save us from big mistakes and costly disasters. In 220 years it has seldom been wrong.

Every home should have a copy.

Madame President

Hillary Clinton recently described what it would mean for America to elect its first female president and her hope to see this happen. She stopped short of recommending anyone.

I, too, would like to see this happen but I’m not optimistic. Any qualified woman from either party would be met with strong criticism.

Other countries in the world have had outstanding women leaders, i.e. Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi. But in our country there is a strong bias against women in leadership positions. This is true in religion and the private sector as well as government.

A church I recently attended was assigned a lady minister. One quarter of its members immediately moved to another church. Female associate pastors seem to have greater acceptance in this supportive role.

Currently there are only eight U.S. women governors. The number of lady mayors has risen in recent years, but you won’t find many female bank presidents.

Women seem to fare better in education. A lot of female principals, superintendants and school board presidents are in place.

But the trend may be changing. The Federal Reserve Board, that august bastion of maleness, currently has a woman in the number two position – Janet Yellen. She and Larry Summers are the two most likely candidates to succeed Ben Bernanke as leader of the Fed when his second four-year term expires January 31. An economist, Summers has held several important positions, but he has never worked in the Fed. Many in the banking community believe Yellen has the edge. If she is chosen, we will have a female in the second most important job in the nation.

Perhaps now Americans can get past the attitude that “the little woman should stay in the kitchen and the nursery” and choose candidates based on qualifications not gender.

Book Review: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot 

This book destroyed my complacency and kept me up nights. It’s not a warm-fuzzy, feel-good book. For three years I refused to read it even though it’s prominently recommended on a reading program that I participate in. Finally I gave in to curiosity. From intro to end I waffled between approval and scorn; compassion and resentment; sympathy and impatience, with anger at the injustice of Henrietta’s life being the primary emotion. I was furious at her husband and various extended relatives, but she loved them all.

It opens in the 1940s when racial segregation ruled, even in Baltimore. I cheered John Hopkins Hospital for treating her advanced cancer, knowing she had no money or insurance. Yet many medical facilities and personnel became wealthy from the study and research of her healthy cells as well as the cancerous ones. Fame and fortune was made from her living cells, but she never even knew they had been harvested. No one sought her permission. Through their study inestimable benefits blessed the world. Millions of her cells, known as HeLa, still flourish in labs all over the world.

I felt appreciation for the skill and intelligence of the doctors and researchers whose dedication helped stop polio. Their vaccine protected my own children. Henrietta gave scientists a lifetime of work toward preventing and curing cancer, of understanding viruses and wiping out many diseases. Her cells led to discoveries in the fields of in vitro fertilization, cloning, human genetics and a multi-billion dollar industry selling human biology materials. Yet none of the proceeds were shared with Henrietta or her family.

The book raises important issues regarding science, ethics, race and class. You cannot read it and remain untouched. But if you are intrigued with both scientific and human interest elements, this book is for you.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely!

Find it in Amazon!

Will you sue?

We have become a litigious society. A lady spills hot coffee in her lap and sues McDonald’s. A teenager is arrested for DUI and his parents sue the club where he purchased the alcohol. Your neighbor trips on your steps and sues you for negligence. A new twist is, “If your kid gives my kid measles, I’ll sue.”

There’s a hypothetical case study in the Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics that explores whether there’s a case for holding people legally accountable for the damage they cause by not vaccinating their children.

A large number of people, called anti-vaxxers, refuse to vaccinate their children based on rumors that the vaccine causes autism. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that fear is unfounded.

But what if a mother decides not to vaccinate her four-year old for measles, the child contacts the disease and passes it to a one-year old, who is too young for the vaccine? And what if the baby dies?

My own opinion, unsolicited and offered at no charge, is that parents can make a legitimate and state-sanctioned choice not to vaccinate because they fear for their children’s safety. However, they should understand that their decisions are putting other children at risk.

To sue or not to sue – that is the question.

Student Loan Rates Reduced

Grab a chair and hold on to your hat!! Good news just came out of DC!! An area newspaper reports in bold headlines: Obama signs bill to restore lower interest rates on student loans.

Democratic and Republican lawmakers set aside their bitter partisanship and passed a bill which is a first step in reining in college costs. Obama praised them for “a sensible approach to student loans.”

House Speaker John Boehner called the law part of the “Republican jobs plan.” House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said it “stands in stark contrast to the House Republicans’ plan to saddle families with billions more in student debt.”

Folks in Texas just said, “Yippee!  It’s a step in the right direction.”

Influence of the Famous

Time Magazine has named its 2013 list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. Of  the 100 named, I’m personally influenced by about 25. The list ranges from Barrack Hussein Obama, President of the United States, to Bassem Youssef, the John Stewart of Egypt. Scattered between them are Pope Francis, Kim Jong Un, Stephen Spielberg, Kate Middleton and Gabrielle Giffords.

In sports there is Lebron James; in entertainment Lady Gaga and Beyonce.

Rand Paul, a rebel GOP voice of reason, is listed first in the leaders category that also lists Joe Biden, Elena Kagan and Chris Christie.

Repeat dignitaries of influence and power are Bill Gates, Oprah and Hillary Clinton.

The influence of Barrack Hussein Obama is felt and will be felt by every resident alien and America citizen, including me, for decades. I am grateful for Stephen Spielberg‘s talent. My interest is piqued by both Kate Middleton and Gabrielle Giffords but for very different reasons.

Lebron James, Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Oprah influence me not at all. Nor do Joe Biden, Elena Kagan and Chris Christie at this time.

I’m interested in Rand Paul and may feel his influence in the future. To date, I’ve experienced no direct influence from Hillary Clinton, although I do have opinions.

Every time I sit at my computer, I’m gratefully influenced by Bill Gates. And I admire his philanthropic work.

Who influences you most in 2013?

Life Skills 101- Essential or Luxury?

Sitting in the darkened auditorium, I watched the graduates walk proudly across the bright stage. I looked at their radiant faces and thought: That mind will work in a lab.  That mind will teach children. The third one will design buildings; the fourth will fight fires. That mind will fly airplanes; the next one will sell real estate. That mind will study the sea. That one will nurse the sick. The one approaching will help the environment; the next will plan cities. That mind will fix jet engines. That one will write a novel. 

On they came striding purposefully, each with potential and promise; each one able to contribute to the good of mankind. But they need training to develop their skills. Will that be available? Will the rising cost of tuition and student loans crush their dreams? 

The waste of a good mind is a terrible thing. Somehow, someway, we much make sure our students receive the instruction and training they need. Any suggestions?