Did You Know??

Just some ramblings about different things of interest. I always like to poke around on Google and see what I can find.

1. Richest man is Carlos Slim Helu on Forbes, worth seventy four billion.
2. Richest woman is Christy Walton (inherited from husband)=worth 26.5 million.
3. The number one killer is heart disease.
4. Earth population will reach seven billion in year 2011.
5. Largest continent is Asia, and most of worlds population live there, and they say there is still plenty of room for more people.
6. Amazon River is the largest, it carries more water to the sea than any other river.
7. Nile River in Africa is the longest in the world, it is 4,184 miles long.
8. There are 600 million cars in the world.
9.The sweet potato is one of the best vegetables has vit. C, potassium and fiber.
10. I guess we have to be careful of products with high fructose corn syrup in them.
11. Daylight savings time started during WW1, in order to save energy. In 1966 Congress passed the Uniform Time Act which standerized the length of daylight saving time.
12. The name chocolate is derived from the Nahuatl language in Central Mexico, it may have been influenced by the Mayan language. The Nahuatl word xocolat meaning bitter or sweet.
13. I believe our first gardens were in the Garden of Eden? This made Adam and Eve the first ever gardeners!

If you have an interesting fact, please let us know.

Spring

Some of us has not felt the effect of Spring yet, but it is coming very slowly. After all March is a very flicked month.

Spring is a great time of the year, winter is gone and now we can cheer.
Looking forward to summer, leaving behind the past,
in a short time, glorious weather at last.
Spring brings us flowers and life anew, all sorts of animals there to bid us ado
Spring gives us budding and trees that will turn green,
Giving us a place where their welcome shade can be seen.
Winter weather rises to a pleasing temp,
Spring is truly a time that's heaven sent
Spring passes quickly in weeks but a few,
and summer burst in with all things anew.

Written by: James Cassey

The Refreshing Orange

Oranges orginate from South East Asia, but are now available in most warmer climates, with the United States being the major producer of oranges in the world. Depending on the variety, oranges are available year long, with the peak season during the winter months.

There are three main varieties of oranges:
1. Sweet=these are for eating and juicing, some have seeds and some do not. They are usually hard to peel, the three most popular sweet oranges are naval, Valencia and blood oranges.
2. Loose skinned= these tend to be a part of Mandarin orange family, they can be sweet or even tart.
3. Bitter=these oranges are bitter to eat raw. They need to be cooked to be palatable, for example orange marmalade or bigarade sauce. Bitter oranges are also used to make essential oils and to make candied peel. Two types of oranges to look for when needing a bitter orange are Seville and bergamot.

Oranges can safely be stored on the counter top for 2 to 3 days, but keep longer in the refrigerator up to 14 days. Select an orange that is heavy for its size and shows no bruising, or has any shriveled or moldy skin, pick a brilliant colored one.

Oranges have extremely high Vitamin C, which helps maintain a healthy immune system. They are also have high fiber and no fat, oranges also have a fair amount of Folic Acid, Calcium, Potassium and Thiamine. So not only are oranges good but they are definitely good for us.

No doubt oranges have many health benefits, always remember to eat in moderation. Excessive consumption of any citrus juices can leach calcium from the body system, causing decay of the bones and teeth. If drinking juice caused excessive mucus build up in your throat, you could be alergic to oranges. The name orange applies primarily to the sweet orange. Lets face it oranges are good for us, and no matter what we will not stop eating them and drinking their juice.

Alaska Wolf Slaughter

I have been receiving e-mails about Alaska Wolf Puppies being gunned down deliberately, this is a cruel and barbaric act. This was approved by state officials, they killed 14 puppies and this happened right after they had killed their mother s and fathers ,this was reported by Defenders of Wildlife. Any un-necessary killing of wildlife or any animal angers me to no end as it does every decent citizens of the world.

Alaskan state wildlife personnel illegally chased down a pack of 14 adult wolves by helicopter, shooting them from the air. They say this is to help boost caribou population which is neither sensible nor humane. Later they raided a den of 14 puppies, now orphaned with their mothers and fathers killed just hours before, these puppies were then executed. Alaskans are now moving to end the Board of Game's barbaric aerial hunting of wolves through a ballot measure.

Wealthy interest groups like the Safari Club International are using their powers to defeat this ballot measure. Alaskans for Wildlife, along with Defenders of Wildlife is desperately trying to raise $80,000 in effort to raise public awareness in order to end the hunting of these magnificent wolves.

Anchorage, Alaska residents along the Kuskwim River want State game management to allow them to kill wolf pups in their dens. During her two years as governor Sarah Palin proposed a $150.00 bounty for the severed foreleg of each killed wolf and she introduced legislation to make it easier for hunters to use aircraft to hunt wolves, and just think this woman wants to run for president of our country.

I don't know how all this is going to end, but right now it does not look good for the wolves. I pray that in the great scheme of life it works in favor for the wolves. I think these people that have something to do with the killings of these animals must get a thrill out of doing it. I could not look into the face of any animal and pull the trigger, may God have mercy on them.

Olden Day Teachers=Part 2

Not too long after the addition of the Vos children, the school came into view, a dingy white beggar sunning by the side of the road.

A number of the children, who lived in the eastern part of the district, had gathered around the door, eager to enter the building. I had walked exactly four miles. I brushed some of the dust from my clothing and asked them to remain out of doors for a few more minutes. I wanted to experience the transforming power, that a group of enthusiastic children would have on the interior of the building.

I walked into the vestibule, against the north wall was a large pile of wood and near the south wall, a pump and dipper. The floor of the schoolroom proper was made of rough wide boards, the wainscoating high with large spikes, driven in at regular intervals, about three feet above the floor, A large rusty box stove, four rows of double seats, a home made recitation bench, a cheap desk and chair for the teacher furnished the room. A small black board hung on the east wall and there were windows on the south and north sides.

After freshing up a bit, at the pump, I opened the door. I have never seen more happiness and enthusiasm in children than this crowd displayed. Hanging their pails on the big spikes, they covered them with their wraps and took their old seats, ready to began at the signal. Very early in the term we began to anticipate the need of entertainment during stormy weather, so I brought from home a strong jumping rope, bean bags and story books. The children furnished small balls, jack-stones, jack knives, marbles and doll clothes, quilt patches and carpet raags for the girls, the furniture was moved and we had quite an indoor play ground.

We had very good times, working, playing, and eating together. The girls and boys did me untold good and my prayer is that I might have helped them to become good citizens. And so another school year rolled along.
Sincerely yours, Anna O'Beck.

The school room was lighted by kerosene wall lamps with reflectors. The stove stood towards the back of the room and had a shield around it. A hand bell was used to call the children in. The school had a wood shed. Some teachers of the school would room and board at a home close to the school and go home on weekends.. In those days the school year was only eight months long. The school had no piano, so the home across the street from the school would let them use theirs for singing.

I hope you used your imagination on this trip back through time and realized how hard it was for some people. Rosy Mound school did burn twice and both times it was rebuilt on the same site, a little better and each time with much needed improvements.