Wanna Play?

Board games date back to ancient times with forms of chess and checker numbering among the oldest games played from the ancient world until today.

Checkers dates to the 12th century. The game evolved from the English game 'Draughts' and the French game 'Alquerque'.

Benefits of board games 

• Provide a leisure activity for adults, children or mixed age pairing or groups
• Provide competitive play
• Require hand-eye coordination 
• Require strategy 
• Provide a venue to develop and improve social skills 
• Improves memory 

Synopsis 

Checkers basic rules set opposing the pieces on the same color board squares in two rows. Alternating turns, players move pieces forward on similarly open spaces. A player must jump and take a piece when an open spot exists beyond the opponents piece. Pieces move in one direction. Reaching the far side, a piece is crowned creating a two piece stack. The 'king' may then move forward or backward on the board. Last player with pieces on the board wins. 

Average game time: 10 - 30 minutes 

For more information: 

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draughts

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alquerque

My Half Century Birthday

If you're a regular reader of When Kate Blogs, you know that this isn't much of a personal blog as it is a location for writing samples and tidbits of information that I think are interesting enough to share.

This December has been a bit different in that while traditions and history have been mentioned, I've included more about my personal life than usual, and I've wondered why?

I just celebrated fiftieth birthday this month. As a child, a 50th birthday didn't occur to me. As a teen, my lifestyle and bad choices did give very good odds on making 25, forget 50. But things profoundly changed for me in 1984.

The more days that pass, the more amazed I am that I'm still here. All things considered, I am beating some serious odds. But then aren't we all.

I'm grateful that you have taken some time to read When Kate Blogs. I do so appreciate the clicks and comments. Some comments have become conversations which have turned into long-distance friendships via the internet. I consider myself blessed.

If you like what you read here, and you'd like to connect, here's how:

https://www.facebook.com/kathleenomara

https://www.facebook.com/kathleenomarawrites

https://twitter.com/SolidHappiness

I'm looking forward to it. ;)

May you have an excellent 2013!

Queen Mary and the Ghosts

In 1967, the City of Long Beach bought the Queen Mary, a recently decommissioned luxury cruise ship. What the city counsel didn't know was they weren't just inviting the ship to port. They also invited the ghosts who are trapped mid-way through their passage between this world and ours.

The Queen Mary was named for Queen Mary also known as Mary of Teck. She was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom and wife of George V.

The ship was built by John Brown and company. The Queen Mary set sail from England to the United States on her first voyage in 1936. The largest luxury liner during the era, the ship was also the fastest way to cross the ocean.

During World War II, the Queen Mary was renamed the Grey Ghost serving as a troop ship. The Grey Ghost's expediency was so well known that Adolf Hitler offered a large bounty to any U-Boat captain who could sink the ship. Luckily for the Allies none of the U-boats could catch the fast-moving ship.

Today the Queen Mary serves the area as a hotel, restaurant and tourist attraction. The tours includes a self-guided tour from one end of the ship to the other. Exhibits present the most interesting information and displays at each point of interest, such as: the bridge, the captain's and officer's quarters, communications, engine room, infirmary and deck areas.

The ghost tour moves through the bowels of the ship at a quick pace telling the sad tales that ended on board the ship. A vortex in the pool area has been determined as one of the main areas of paranormal activity by more than one set of ghost hunters.

Lists of the dead include former passengers, crew and stow-a-ways which seem long considering the medical advances available at the time. Probably the most horrible story involves the companion ship that was hit and sunk within five minutes during a WWII mission. There were no survivors.

The Queen Mary needs some work as the barnicles are visible from the dock and some of the lesser used areas are in need of repair. The main shopping and dining areas are excellent examples of the Art Deco period reminiscent of a grander time in World History.

A Better Plan

Within a block of the coffee shop the world changed. Outside the scope of the security company and police surveillance the realness of the world, the sadness of the world, the harsh life revealing the meanness living within humans became a reality.

Buildings looking like bombed out a war zone with refugees resting within the remnant shadows along the causeway. It could be a post-apocalyptic set of the next billion dollar movie.

If the scenes in the four square blocks of hopeless homeless people doesn't touch your heart, you may need to check your humanity. But what can be done with countless families being crushed down into lower status, there is less from the middle to help the lower class? With the country in crisis there are fewer resources to help those in poverty.

For the long term planning, these issues, these areas, these people must be a point of focus. The focus determines the reality for not only the homeless people but for the whole area. A plan to bring compassion to the areas of greatest need would change the world and the balance sheet.

The dilemma remains the amount of resource placed in areas to bring the greatest good to the whole of the system. Long term community planning can rehabilitate the area, the people and provide greater income to the source of the reconstruction.

I noticed within the four block area there were all the resources to sustain an economic system with the exception of the first investment. What I recognized from this was the speed with which recovery could turn the economic downturn into a boom practically overnight. The ability to see the resources within the remnants of the last generation makes the difference between boom or bust. It needs only a spark.

The credit for the vision of course will go the investors willing to look at the long term goal rather than the short term. The spread sheet over the last 12 years is dismal when the consideration of investment in the future or lack thereof becomes apparent in the current statistics. Understanding the long term balance is the difference between the rain and a hurricane, long term prosperity with greater portions all around versus the devastation of an overindulgent blast.

Loyalty from the population helped by the investment will be unanimous with the love and the short profits over the long term yielding more than could be calculated by the short-sighted will be the boon for the few visionaries.

Direct plans available.

Billy & Miss Sally

“Would you like a glass of Sassafras?” The barmaid offered her suggestion to the rugged cowhand. She liked Billy. She also knew that Billy had a problem with whiskey. It seemed the strong stuff led him one of two places into jail or into a gun-fight.

“Why, yes, ma’am, I’d love me some of your Sassafras,” he smiled his charming smile at Miss Sally. “I never liked it before, but your recipe is the best in the west.”

Miss Sally’s recipe changed every time she made it based on available ingredients. She was thrilled that Billy liked hers best. The base ingredient was the Sassafras root but she could use Licorice or Sarsaparilla too. Spicing the root for a zing flavor, she often added chocolate, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, hops, mint or anise.

“I’m so pleased you like it Billy, but you know it’s different every time,” Sally smiled.

“This one is the very best Miss Sally, I hope you wrote down what went into this here, Root Beer,” he said with some foam dripping from his upper lip.

“This time I did,” she waved a small piece of paper with the ingredients back & forth like a flag.

Billy sighed, “Sally, I think I’m in love.”

Save the Farmers! Save the Humans!

Driving up I-5 in California, travelers watch swirling dust as it moves along the ground by the roadside on what was once fertile farmland.

For the traveler the several hundred mile stretch of highway is dull and brown with barren land and the remains of orchards. The dead dark branches reach for the sky.

For the farm families the current situation is devastating. A broken economy, broken industry and even broken families are the result of broken promises as the water that once fed this land was turned off.

Signs along the road state 'Congress created a Dust Bowl' and 'No Water = No Jobs'.

What's the story? Why would Congress devastate a region and an industry?

It's all about a small fish in the Sacramento Delta that isn't breeding fast enough. The Smelt became endangered. Rather than seeking to relocate the fish or help it find additional breeding grounds, Congress upheld the decision to stop all irrigation to Central California Farms.

Is this bothering anyone? An even bigger story is that there is little to no coverage of this issue in over a year. Why is there no media coverage since the water has been turned off?

The farmers unnecessarily join the ranks of the unemployed. Fewer farm, transportation and food service workers are needed in an already struggling economy.

What are the numbers?

Estimated impact of stopping food production on thousands of acres is difficult to calculate. Of course all the consumers are paying higher food prices. Additionally, direct adverse economic impact adds more than 5,000 to unemployment lines with a calculable ripple effect of close to 20,000.

I'm not anti-fish. I'm not anti-environment. I'm also not anti-farmer nor anti-food for humans. In the larger picture do we as a society value a small inedible fish more than thousands upon thousands of people?

Save the fish but not at the expense of the farms and farmers. Humans need food too!

Save the Farmers! Save the Humans!

More information:

http://goodsensepolitics.blogspot.com/2010/12/fish-study-that-turned-california-into.html

http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/2012/02/house-can-prevent-big-green%E2%80%99s-california-dust-bowl/321401

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/20/its-farmers-vs-fish-for-california-water/

Stone Soup

Once upon a time there were travelers who brought happiness and good times everywhere they went.

When they arrived in a new town, they would invite their neighbors over for Stone Soup.

"Stone Soup?" the neighbors' exclaimed. "Why would anyone want to eat Stone Soup?"

"Well," said Johnny. "It's a magical soup. It's different every time. Everyone always loves it!" Come by as I'm making it and I'll share the secret with you."

So Johnny started cooking his grandmother's recipe. He filled the pot with water and placed it on the stove.

Mrs. Jones was the first to visit first thing in the morning. "Can I see the soup?" she asked.

"No, but I can let you taste it." Johnny dipped the spoon in the pot & offered it to Mrs. Jones.

"It's a bit plain," she said.

"Is it? Well, what do you suggest?" he asked.

"I have just the thing, I"ll be right back."

Mrs. Jones dashed down the street and was back in a few minutes time. "Chop this and add it."

"Okay" smiled Johnny. Dinner will be ready at seven.

"I'll be here." Mrs. Jones smiled as she returned home.

Not three minutes passed when Mr. Singh came by. He tried the soup but he too thought the soup was somewhat plain. He had just the thing that would help flavor the soup. Mr. Singh returned with the ingredient.

Johnny thanked him and said dinner is at seven.

Just then Miss Chang arrived at the door.

The stream of visiting neighbors continued until everyone in the neighborhood had visited Johnny. It was noon by the time the last neighbor visited Johnny and his soup.

The soup simmered the rest of the day. The aroma wafted through the neighborhood. By seven o'clock, everyone was very hungry.

At seven, all the neighbors gathered together to share in the soup they had created. A good time (and dinner) was had by all.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Ingredients

1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, drained and thaw
1 (14 ounce) jar artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 teaspoon chopped basil
salt and pepper to taste

In a glass bowl, mix all the ingredients together. Grease a baking dish. Spoon mixture into baking dish. Sprinkle some mozzarella or Parmesan on top. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips or bread.

Caught Smiling

It happened again today, I was caught smiling.

I was talking with a woman with whom I'm acquainted. She commented, "You're smiling."

"Am I?"I asked.

"Yes," she said, "and you're talking about your 3 teenagers."

I thought a moment, "Oh, well, that's because I like them."

Thankful for Toddler Days

Toddlers are wonderful wow little people. There are few things as delightful, or tiring as a day with an energetic toddler.

Toddler To-Do List:

Chasing a ball
Blowing bubbles
Running with the dogs
Playing at the park
Going to the zoo
Drawing with sidewalk chalk
Digging in the dirt
Walking a nature trail
Running in the yard
Batting
Pulling a wagon
Climbing up the slide
Sliding down the slide
Running through the sprinklers
Swinging
Riding the merry-go-round
Jumping in a puddle
Pushing the stroller
Climbing the jungle-gym
Singing and marching to “We’ve off to see the Wizard.”
Drumming
Walking in the museum
Running to feed the ducks

This is only a partial list of a typical toddler day. What wonderful things are on your toddler to-do list?

My toddlers were capable of going, and going, and going, then falling asleep in an instant, >snap<, then awake for more! I had thought I was going to fall over exhausted when they were 1, 3 & 5. We all made it. Now, when I see toddlers I think of all the fun energy of running, running, running.

A Precious Little Boy

Once upon a time, there was a little boy who was very precocious. Rarely, did he sit still, he was very curious indeed. He loved to learn new things. He laughed at the way the water bounced on the sidewalk. He danced with the butterflies and bees. He talked to his dog about the beautiful sky. And sometimes, he brought flowers home to his grandmamma.

At the age of three, he started writing. He learned to write his name. He wrote his name everywhere, even on the wall which wasn’t a good thing, but he did spell it correctly. He read everything with words: junk mail, signs and cereal boxes.

One day he discovered there was a place where he could learn more. He could learn about math and writing and the wonders of the world. He was very excited about this new place of wonder. It was a place called school.

Finally, the day came, the little boy was very excited about learning even more things about the world; he was excited to go to school.

When he arrived, he was told to sit in a chair and not to move until the bell rang. Luckily, he sat near a window so he looked out to the world. When the teacher noticed he was gazing out the window, the little boy was given a note for his parents that said he wasn’t paying attention.

The next day, he was given a new seat away from the window near the hamster cages. He watched the hamster run on the wheel and he talked to the hamster about how much he liked running. When the teacher noticed he was talking to the hamster, he was given a note that he was disruptive.

The next day, he was given a new seat in the middle of the class. By now the other children noticed he was a problem child, so they teased him and pushed him and pulled on his hair. He yelled at the mean kids and hit them back. When the teacher noticed, he was given a note that said he didn’t know how to get along with others.

The next day, he thought he would bring flowers to his teacher. He didn’t understand why he was the only child given a note each day, but he sensed it wasn’t good. As he walked to school he saw a variety of flowers, so he gathered one of each kind. There was a daisy and an iris, a lily and a rose.

He waited by the door for the teacher to show him to his seat, it had changed so many times he wasn’t sure where to sit. When the teacher approached, he held out the flowers. The teacher took them and placed the flowers on her desk. The teacher placed him in a chair in the corner facing the wall.

That afternoon, the teacher gave her a note that said he destroyed property and was not welcome at school until he learned how to behave.

That night, the little boy’s mother and father discussed what they should do with their little boy. They decided perhaps he wasn’t ready to behave like the other children. They liked him better laughing at the water bouncing, dancing with the butterflies and bringing flowers to his grandmamma.

Sheperd's Pie / Cottage Pie

Recently, I’ve been privileged to write not one but two articles about Shepherd’s Pie. Rarely, do I track the location of ghosted articles, so I decided to stick with the theme and write the true story about real Shepherd's Pie, as it appears and is eaten, in our house.

The history of Shepherd’s Pie begins in Ireland with sheep herders and potato farmers teaming up to make Meat Pie. This protein rich pie was filling and as history records: Potatoes were definitely in the daily diet of most Irish people. This dish dates to the pre-famine era.

The British enjoyed the Meat Pie but renamed it Cottage Pie.

In the 1870s, Shepherd’s Pie was printed in an American cookbook. As with all things American the pie not only grew in size but also in the number of ingredients. Today, cooks can find any number of regional “Traditional” Shepherd’s Pie with few calling for the original ingredient, Lamb.

In my vegetarian kosher kitchen, you’ll find neither meat, nor gluten in this incredibly yummy and filling dish. So what do I put in my Cottage Pie?

Ingredients

8 - Potatoes
2-slices of Butter
Dash of Kosher Salt
Splash of Milk
Cook 'em. Mash ’em. Set them aside.

In the skillet over medium heat:
Olive Oil
Large Onion
5-6 cloves of minced garlic
12 oz Bag of Meatless Sausage or Meatless Balls

Turn the heat to low and add the veggies:
10 oz Bag of Organic Peas & Carrots
10 oz Bag of Organic french beans/spinach
4- Diced Tomatoes
½ cup Vegetable Broth
½ cup Tomato Sauce

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

My Cottage Pie bakes in a Quiche dish because it’s larger than a regular pie pan.

First, coat the bottom of the pan with butter or non-stick spray. Then place a thin layer of potatoes on the bottom of the pan and bake it for 5 minutes or so, until it seems firm. If I don’t do this the bottom of the pie can be squishy when served.

Pulling the pie pan from the oven, I pour everything form the skillet into the pie shell, and then cover with the mashed potatoes. I like to sprinkle cheese and wheat germ on top.

Bake 45 minutes. If you prefer you may bake @ 375 F for 30 minutes.

Cottage Pie is incredibly filling. Don’t let the kiddos eat it too fast because it expands.

Warning: Cottage Pie uses many pans and the baking dish in the preparation which in my house is a determining factor in menu selection. But everyone loves it so much I do serve it as a winter savory.

Gerenuk

Watching Gerenuk (genus: Litocranius) eat is a calming experience. The East African antelope also known as the giraffe-necked antelope have a beautifully muscular, yet slender body. Their movement is delightfully graceful.

Indigenous to the African continent, it may be surprising that the Gerenuk are picky eaters. They tend to select the juiciest leaves available, leaving the rest behind.

Nature has uniquely situated these elegant animals at just the right height for the best food selection: fruit, flowers and leaves. Taller than the most gazelles, their selection is greater and higher on the bush or tree than their smaller food competitors. Since they average 4-5 feet in length, they are far smaller than giraffes that graze further up the tree.

Male Gerenuk have horns, females do not. They are otherwise very similar in size, shape and coloring. Both the male and the female stand on their hind legs to feed.

A well-cared for Gerenuk can live up to 13 years in captivity, while the average lifespan in the wild is only 8 years.

Watch and learn more about Gerenuk: http://www.lazoo.org/animals/mammals/gerenuk/

If You Have Teens, You Should Be Laughing

Delightful teens are a product of years of dedicated, thoughtful parenting. It matters not what background you come from, the parenting you have done with your own children should be progressively better. If not, you may be experiencing rebellious, difficult kids.

The fruit is the proof of the tree’s goodness. Are they sweet, inquisitive, and fun? Are they sour, dull and a drag?

Decisions start early:

How to handle a crying baby? Pick baby up, love baby, care for baby or let baby cry itself to sleep?

How to handle an energetic toddler? Direct toddler, involve toddler, play with toddler or restrict toddler or worse, punish toddler?

How to handle the endless questions? Answer them, Explore, Learn or Refuse to answer, verbally or physically snap?

How to handle teenagers? As any parent of teens knows you’re done handling kids and gentle guidance into adulthood should be the order of the day.

By the teen years the good or the bad parenting you’ve done has made its mark. Parents are either saying: Can’t wait until they leave or Gosh, they really challenge me to be a better parent in the most fun ways.

If you’ve got teens and you’re not laughing at the funny things they say, the silly mistakes they make and inspiringly naïve ways they look at the world, don’t reject them, there is still time to do better.

Joy of the County Faire

Moving to a place where the county faire is a big deal can be as fun as quaint.

Fair Rides for the little ones whirl and twist, screams of joy, of fear, of nearly tossin' their cookies echo through the air.

Smells of cattle, cows, sheep, goats, rabbits surpise the senses of city and country folks alike.

The Bull Ring brings it's own version of entertainment. Will he or won't he get tossed this time? Who wins man or beast?

Talent Show kids throughout the county present themselves to the judges, guests and fair goers alike. WOW! That girl can sing!

But the best part of the fair, the part that few noticed or will remember came in the form of a little old lady, sitting in the corner. Each and every day she was just sitting there, smiling her little old lady smile as the men and women and children passed by... she served on the committee for the fair since the 1930s when she was "old enough to help". Some 70 years later, she's still helpin'. The things she's seen and the people that have come and gone, she mentioned and sighed. Things have changed. Things have stayed the same. The best part about her was she was as enthusiastic about every entry as if it were the only entry, the best entry and she encouraged every person that took time to talk with her to share their talents at the faire, to show the county what it has within it, and remember, she added, "do more for next year".

Women's Crafts are fewer each year. Who has time to knit? Crotchet? Who, in the next generation, will even know how? Who has time to bake for the faire? Who bakes for their family? Who can paint a portrait? Who can pose Photographs? Digital or Film? Who can make a Quilt? Who Gardens? Who carves? Who creates? Who has time? Who knows?

Examining the exhibits, the precious exhibits makes the county faire a one time event. Never again will this particular collection of items, crafts, art be exhibited again. It is a unique experience to be appreciated for the unique event that it is...

What will you show next year?

Rain Rain

Plus and Minus to any situation, the yin yang as the Chinese refer to it, manages confirm itself in all things. It is for mere humans to recognize it.

Case in point: Rain

One requirement for life is water. Fresh water for mammals and plants is essential, we need it. Too much water, then, we drown. Storms and floods destroy much, kill many. Some curse the very thing that we need to survive because it came in abundance.

Children sing:
Rain Rain Go Away
Come Again Some Other Day

Or this one:

It's raining
It's pouring
The old man is snoring
Went to bed
Bumped his head
Couldn't get up in the morning

Adults speak of the Rainmakers and Flood breakers…

The Weather Channel fills your head with fear and dread of storms and floods that don’t materialize, after you’ve completed your storm proofing purchases for the day. Yet, there are those victims of storms who Weathermen declare are caught unaware because no one can really predict the weather.

Beatles:
When the rain comes
They run and hide their heads
They might as well be dead
When the rain comes

Makes ya think, don’t it??

Amazing Crawdads

Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound... a standard and a song that can bring tears to my eyes... for two reasons... it's sung well and it's sung badly...

As I sat on a friend's sofa last night, several people decided to sing a few songs. Amazing Grace was requested and happily, this time it was sung Amazingly Well. I was pleased to listen.

Not to give the wrong impression, the next song was "You Get A Line" which is a childhood favourite and one of the first songs I learned to play on guitar.

you get a line and I'll get a pole, honey
you get a line and I'll get a pole, babe
you get a line and I'll get a pole,
we'll go down to the crawdad hole
honey sugar baby mine...

As a child, crawdads were not on the menu... so I sang that song for years with no idea about what I sang.

Having moved to the Southern United States, I've seen folks fishing for crawdads, catching crawdads, and I'm left wondering... who was the first person who pulled a crawdad out of the water and thought, "geez, that looks like good eatin'..."

My Daddy used to say, "To each his own, said Mary, as she kissed the cow" which didn't make an sense to me but it made me laugh... Now, I completely understand especially when it comes to crawdads, and it still makes me laugh.

Family First

In the best interest of important priorities, Kate will return to blog after a short break.

Life is a Garden

There are days, weeks, even months that seem to revolve around a common theme. Is it intentional? The thoughtful person will wonder, is this a natural occurring or outside of self theme or is this an issue that needs to be addressed within. In the end the journey is what we perceive, therefore, it may just matter that the issue is addressed.

Contemplation in a busy world is something to be designed and obtained as often as possible. Contemplation provides the time to see the forest for the trees. If it is only the blossom that is focused upon, much of life will pass by without the notice, care and nurturing it requires. Without nurturing the whole, the blossom will whither on the vine and the beauty that could comfort and uplift will be lost for future generations. In time, the old ones will say, there was a blossom, it looked like this… and the children having never seen a blossom won’t believe them.

In the Great United States of America of the past, opportunity was available for people who worked hard. Quality work was rewarded. People were fed, clothed. The economy of the Great United States was built in the shape of a diamond, with the greatest number of honest, hard working Americans the following life style:

A typical American family had one parent working and the other parent at home to care for the family (which really is a full time job).

The family had a home, 2 cars, cupboards full, clothes for everyone, shoes that fit, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, investment, savings, 2 weeks + vacation paid, 40 hour work week, time for recreation, money to pay for services such as: gardening, pool service, plumbers, contractors for additions, handymen for maintenance. The kids enjoyed extra classes, music lessons and more.

In our upside down world today, most families are in varying stages of stress, and financial ruin. Two parents working three jobs, and a myriad of tasks left undone because there is little time and less money.

Basic essentials are disregarded because the hard working American has to choose between bad situation or bad situation.

For one family the choice was between health insurance for the family and tires, an essential part of a car, the car that carries the family from place to place.

The mom was saying how she couldn’t imagine life without health insurance and therefore the dad had taken a job for less money that offered health insurance to the family. In the meantime, someone noticed that the tires on this family’s the car were bald. They couldn’t afford new tires or even used tires.

Guess they’ll be covered for injuries when the tire blows out on the highway.

They could make other choices, what would you choose:

Should they not put gas in the car?

Should they not buy groceries?

Should they not pay their utility bills?

Should they not pay the house payment?

There is no other money. They squeeze out what they can with coupons, buying on sale. They kids wear cast-offs, they shop at resale stores. They are average Americans.

Why are these the choices for most American in the 21st Century? Choices of what would have been considered substandard in the 1950s. Is there no one of influence who knows America’s great history? Is there no one of influence who understands how an economy works?

If the average citizen doesn’t have enough for a decent standard of living, you’ll find banks going under, businesses closing, sales down, health care crisis, homelessness, hunger, substandard work to match substandard wages, filth in the street, foreclosure of homes, stock-market losses, surge in prison population, alcoholism, drug addiction, bridges and streets in disrepair, freedom lost for security measures… oh… we’re already there. Isn’t it time for someone of influence to speak the truth and make the change?

When the Owner looks out from his place, he scans the views of his garden to see what his wealth, knowledge and work has created. The owner hired a Master Gardener, who hires Gardeners, who train apprentices. The lowly apprentice works hard to learn from the Gardeners, they are paid as they train with the promise of better work and living wages.

The Gardener works hard to train the apprentice who eases the laborious tasks. The gardener is responsible to the Master and responsible for the apprentice. There are many levels of gardeners who specialize in particular plants. Then there is the Master Gardener who being in the honor place of providing for the owner the garden of their desire and the responsibility of all the gardeners and apprentice. Each individual being fairly compensated for their efforts by working hard, working well and produces a quality product with little or no waste. They recognize their responsibility at home with their family and at work. The economy of the world is the economy of the garden. All work together for harmony. The harmony produces the bounty. The owner reaps the benefits of the garden but also has the greatest responsibility to see that all have good work, good food and a good life.

The greatest lessons can be learned in the garden. If you wish it to grow, you will nurture it. If not you’ll end up with weeds, rocks and sand.

No Such Thing as Adolescence

This subject really caught my eye. It all started with the email mentioning the latest report

"RE: Have you read the latest? The adolescence years go up to age 25 now."

Historically, there was no such thing as adolescence. You were a child or an adult. Teenage years or adolescence was a phenomena of the 20th Century with the increased ability of families to keep offspring immature and not responsible.

The natural progression of life includes spiritual rites such as bar-mitzvah or confirmation into adulthood at 13 -15 years old. As full members of the the church young men were able to start working to pick a wife and create families.

In more societies than not, the process of accumulating enough assets to provide a home and a living with learned trade or mercantile would take the average young man five to seven years before they were able to start courting, or arrange for a marriage. So about somewhere late teens or early 20s, many young people were selecting the mates. We see this in historical documents throughout Western Civilization, until the late 20th century after WWII, when marriage age increased and first time mother's age increased.

Ultimately, it's cruel to delay adulthood in society when both historically and physically adulthood occurs with the hormonal changes makes us ready for reproduction.