A Thursday Thought from a famous Russian author and philosopher:
“Compassion is the chief law of human existence.”– Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Archive for April 30, 2015
Hoarding Drugs
Stop accumulating those drugs! There are National Drug Take-Back Days throughout the year, but today is as good as any day to take care of this important chore. Gather all your left-over prescriptions, drugs that you don’t need, and ones that are outdated. Take them to a near-by collection site to be disposed of properly. Call your local police department to find a location or ask at your favorite pharmacy.
Medications don’t have to be in their original containers. Also, you just drop them off–no questions about who you are or where you got them.
This cleans out your medicine cabinet, safeguards young children in your family, and prevents the drugs from polluting the earth and poisoning wuildlife, which happens when drugs are flushed down the toilet or tossed into the garbage.
Do this as soon as you read this, so you don’t forget.
How Water-Efficient are You?
If you’re struggling with drought conditions and water restrictions, go to http://www.save20gallons.org/ to help determine how much water your household uses per day and how water-efficient your usage is.
[For more easy, money-saving, earth-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-book seller.]
ISIS Militants Turning Capitalists
Another cold-hearted action: ISIS militants recently killed a group of Ethiopian Christians in Libya for being Christian. They did it, of course, in the name of their vision of Allah. It was a terrible case of man’s inhumanity to man.
There’s an irony to their actions, though. These “true-belivers” gave the Christians a chance to live, if they’d convert to Islam. I understand that, sort of. What I don’t understand, though, is the victims’ other option, which was to pay a tax to remain Christian. These people would still be Christian, wouldn’t they, and an affront to the militants’ vision of Allah?
I guess even those who fight for all that’s holy can be bought off. Is Western capitalism taking hold within ISIS?
Breakthrough on Alzheimer’s Disease
Wonderful news! A study by Duke University may have found a new cause of Alzheimer’s Disease: problems with the immune system. The study suggests that cells in the immune system gobble up an important nutrient, arginine, while trying to protect the brain. Researchers were able to block this process in mice.
Read more about this study and note at the bottom this statement: This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (AG031124, AG031845, T32-GM007171), the Alzheimer’s Association (IIRG-07-59802), and the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. In other words, a whole bunch of experts in the field believe that Duke researchers are onto something. To any of us who have a friend or loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease, this means new hope.
Proposed New Saying for the Post Office
There needs to be an addition to the inscription on the General Post Office on 8th Ave. and 33rd St. in New York City (no, it isn’t the Postal Service’s motto–they don’t have one). Keep what’s there but add four words so that it would read, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night nor White House security stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” It’s the least we can do to honor the spirit of 61-year-old Florida mailman and gyro-copter pilot Douglas Mark Hughes.
Truth or Lie–Doesn’t Matter
On this Earth Day, the debate continues: Is global warming a lie? Common sense says that the ever-increasing numbers of humans sharing our planet means quicker depletion of its resources, especially if we waste them.
Even if I assume that earth’s ruin still lies years ahead, it makes sense to try to prevent it, or at least put it off even farther. I can start with small steps. I can’t afford a hybrid car, but I can avoid Styrofoam, disposable diapers, incandescent bulbs, and toxic garden chemicals. I can adjust my thermostat to more efficient levels and do a better job at recycling, especially flashlight batteries and engine oil. I can air-dry at least some of my laundry. Why, I could go vegetarian once a week! I could even go to www.Smashwords.com and download a free copy of Jackie’s Green Riches: Help the Earth and Your Budget so I can get ideas on easy steps I can take. None of this is hard. But it IS a start.
This Law is Weird but Necessary
Who would think that a law would have to be on the books against putting a video camera into a public restroom? You’d think it was common sense and reasonable respect not to do so. Guess not. It happened twice in a Walnut Creek, CA, Starbucks–the same Starbucks. There is a suspect, Jacob Turner. However, embarrassed, mortified victims must come forward to make the case against him strong. I’m not sure I’d admit to being a victim.
Anyway, this is, on the surface, a silly law, and it may be hard to enforce; but, unfortunately, people being people, it’s needed.
No Bad Souls
Today’s Thursday Thought may cause us to look at people differently:
“Every soul is special. They’re all beautiful. They’re all far more significant than anyone on this rock realizes. I think when people are at their best, they’re acting in accordance with their soul. The ones who have gone bad don’t have bad souls. They’ve just given up on keeping in touch with them.” (Jim Butcher, Vignette)
Have These Girls Been Abandoned?
Yesterday marks a year when hundreds of children were ripped from their families. Their only crime was being females trying to get an education. Those Nigerian teens (aged 16-18) ended their school day by being kidnapped by Boko Haram militants, who believe that Western education, especially of girls, is an offense against God. Ultimately, the girls were forced to convert to Islam–the perverted kind practiced by Boko Haram and ISIS–and made to marry the soldiers who kidnapped them.
What kind of person would do that to children? What kind of God would approve?
Children are to be protected and nurtured, not used and abused.
But rescue attempts have fallen off to almost nothing, and parents continue to grieve. Where is the world’s indignation?!