I don’t know who said this, but I really like the take on life that this quote expresses.
Life is an echo.
What you send out—comes back.
What you sow—you reap.
What you give–you get.
What you see in others—exists in you.
Remember life is an echo
It always gets back to you
So give goodness.
………………..and that’s my Thursday Thought……………..
If Ryan Ferguson had been in Texas or some other states, would he have been executed before he could have been exonerated and released? As the judge pointed out, he is definitely and obviously innocent of the murder of sports editor Kent Heitholt.
I keep thinking that executions are far too permanent and irrevocable to use in such an imperfect legal system.
I want to help those poor people in the Philippines who have suffered so much devastation, loss, and heartache because of earthquakes and typhoons. I bet you do, too. But WAIT! Don’t give to the next organization who calls or person who shows up on your doorstep. As usual when there’s a disaster, thieves jump into an emotional situation that enriches them and does nothing or very little to those affected.
There are reputable groups we can donate to, ones that will make sure our donations get to the victims who need it: Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, Red Cross, for example. Before you donate through a group other than these, do your homework. Look up the other organization online and see how much overhead-vs-help they actually have. Some seem to exist only to line the pockets of highly paid executives; others are so shady that they don’t dare list such numbers.
Personally, I think it’s sub-human to take advantage of other people’s misery rather than rolling up our sleeves and doing what we can to help our fellow travelers on this Earth. Such people exist, however, and we need to guard against them–not by avoiding giving but just by being careful.
Dust off those old canning jars you know you won’t ever use for actual canning. They’re an excellent choice as reusable containers. They come in various sizes to meet your left-overs needs and are safe to use in the freezer. They’re nice because you can see inside (in case you forget to label them), and their shape means that they take up less room than plastic bowls. Toss them into the dishwasher for cleaning (thorough and won’t melt like plastic). They’re sturdy so they’ll last far longer than plastic containers. Plus, they’re people-friendly (contain no no BPA).
So, don’t feel guilty about your FTC syndrome*. Feel good about helping the Earth by reusing something that will last and is not made from petroleum products.
*Failure To Can
[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/ view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. Or download a free copy from your favorite e-tailer.]
A long-overdue family reunion is taking place in our home this week. I am reminded of an Alex Haley quote that’s perfect for today’s Thursday Thought:
“In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.”
Hold the coke but lay the booze on me! Apparently people in Toronto (and elsewhere?) feel doing stupid things under the influence of drugs is bad but it’s fine if done during a drunken stupor. Especially if you smoked crack cocaine during one of those stupors.
Their mayor, Rob Ford, excused his drug use because he was drunk at the time. And the people bought it. His approval rating actually went UP five points when information was released about the incident. And they’re quite happy, thank you, to have him continue as their mayor.
I guess I’m old fashioned. I can’t help thinking that a person who is run over by someone under the influence of alcohol is just as dead as if the driver were high on drugs. Further, I’m not sure I’d trust the judgment of someone who has admitted to what seems to be frequent drunken episodes, and, looking at his excuse for smoking crack, I don’t trust his logic. But, then, I won’t get a chance to not vote for him.
A news broadcast taught me something I didn’t know: steroid use, fistfights, illegal tackles, semi-nude cheerleaders and dancing girls gyrating provocatively are all considered “wholesome” by the NFL. So is teammates giving the finger to each other on the sidelines. How did I come to this conclusion? Easy. The NFL never complains or does anything to curtail most of these activities (well, maybe a half-hearted attempt with steroids…when some player gets caught). But they’re suing rapper MIA for $1.5 million for giving the finger in 2012 during her half-time show, saying that it was an “offensive gesture … in flagrant disregard for the values that form the cornerstone of the NFL brand and the Super Bowl” and not in keeping with their “reputation for wholesomeness.” It seems to bother them only with her, telling me that all the other stuff is okay and within the values of the “wholesome” NFL.
An imaginative Harbor Master at Moss Landing solved a problem without bloodshed. The sea lions there, although fun for us to watch and to bark back at, are destructive to the boats. They damage boats when they climb up on them to sun themselves, and their weight can actually sink a boat.
Too often, a problem like that is dealt with by killing off animals. Instead, this Harbor Master installed nine of those tall balloon-figures with blowers in their bases that cause them to “dance.” The movement scares the sea lions away from the boats but doesn’t harm them or destroy their habitat.
Proof that, with imagination, critters and humans can share what Nature offers us.
As America struggles to pull itself out of a devastating economic slump, 48 million of us have just had their chances of survival pushed even farther down. The average food-stamp cut of $36 a month (for a family of four) doesn’t seem like much to some of us. But how many of us could adequately feed our family on $632 a month? (If you think you spend less, save your receipts for a month and add them up.)
SNAP—the largest anti-hunger program in our country—affects many people. Those receiving food stamps can provide food for themselves and their families, nourishment that helps children learn in school, parents to keep up strength for jobs, and bodies to remain healthier. These people also shop at dollar stores, discount grocery stores, and the like; spending less hits those businesses hard. Other businesses are hurt, as well, because food comes first and “extras” like clothing and household goods come second.
SNAP was raised in 2009 to help meet the needs of vulnerable Americans who lost their jobs and were otherwise caught in the terrible recession. That was the humane action to take. Yes, the recession is over, but our recovery is not. If we are to recover fully we should not reduce SNAP. We need to give all of our citizens a chance to fight their way from the economic edge. Now is NOT the time to pull the rug out from under their feet. Besides, feeding the poor is the moral thing to do.