Small Things Count

I remember reading a story about a woman and her just-born infant who were in serious danger in a small Peruvian town. If they didn’t get medical attention immediately, one or both would die. The owner of a Cessna quickly offered to fly them to a hospital, then realized he couldn’t, because the tiny airport’s runways were unlighted, and it was a dark night. Word got to a local radio station, which broadcast the situation. Within half an hour, that dark runway was brilliantly lighted by hundreds of people in 300 taxis and motorbikes. The plane was able to take off, carrying its precious cargo of mother and new life. Mom and child were saved. Strangers had rushed to meet an emergency. To me this is not only coming together as a community but a fine example of the profound concept of Pro-Life.

Spruce up your yard by planting a tree. Trees absorb 13% (net) of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions (says the EPA).  In urban spaces they give free shade, suppress noise, decrease wind speeds, and add beauty.

[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/700]

I’m important! Got this email threat from “Anonymous” about my book: THE WOMEN IN ME WILL BE ON PIRATEBAY AND PLAGIARISED WITH AI SOON! PLUS YOUR PERSONAL INFO GIVEN TO LOCAL THUGS IN YOUR AREA! YES WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU LIVE. STOP YOUR GOODREADS AND SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONS IF YOU DON’T WANT IT TO HAPPEN! WE DON’T LIVE IN YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR LAWS CAN DO NOTHING TO US!

I’m soooooooooooooo scared!

Today’s Thursday Thought quote points out a common fallacy, a misdirection where respect should come from.

“Destroy the idea that men should respect women because we are their daughters, mothers, & sisters. Reinforce the idea that men should respect women because we are people.” (unknown)

Visit my page.

Happy Juneteenth to us all. To descendants of slaves, who have a rich, if tragic, history. And to the rest of us who benefit daily from their contributions to our country and presence in our lives.

Saturday, in Round Rock, TX, 16 people were shot. Two of them died. This was US mass shooting #220 for the year, and the year isn’t even half over. We MUST address the cause of these–easy access to guns, mental health, prejudice, politicians’ violent speech, or a combination. And we must do it NOW!

You don’t need harsh chemicals to defeat mold. Use detergent and water to scrub it from hard surfaces. Or spray with 3% hydrogen peroxide, let stand for 10 minutes, then scrub. Either way, wipe thoroughly afterwards to remove residue and stains.

[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. For a description of the book go to My Free Books).

Today I offer an Irish proverb for our Thursday Thought. It struck me because it reminded me that each of us is affected by all those who cross our path. It’s worth thinking about.

THE SIMPLEST WAY, OF COURSE, IS JUST TO AVOID THE TOPIC.  BUT this will become harder and harder as we brawl through the November elections. These tips from care2.com are worth remembering.

1. Be choosy: Pick your battles—the Golden Rule of interpersonal relationships—is especially valuable advice when discussing politics. If your husband is yelling at the television during a candidate’s speech, is that really affecting you? Probably not. So don’t bother starting an argument over it.

2. Seek shelter on common ground: Instead of focusing on how you and your conversational partner disagree, look for areas where your opinions harmonize. Begin a conversation by highlighting the values and goals you both share.

3. Don’t get personal: Because politics are based largely on personal values and beliefs, there is no such thing a “right” or “wrong” way of interpreting the issues. If you’re having trouble seeing things from your partner’s point of view, try asking yourself why a rational person would come to such a conclusion. You may still not agree with them—you don’t have to—but it’s important to admit that their perspective is valid.

4. Check your facts: Don’t waste time debating factual information you can just look up on the Internet. Before you engage in a lengthy debate over the exact amount of money that the President’s plan for reducing the deficit is allegedly supposed to save, make sure you both know what that number is.

5. Let a sleeping argument lie: Once a political discussion has reached a natural stopping point, make sure it doesn’t start back up again. Quell your desire to have the last word in an argument and stay way from the phrase, “I just have one more thing to say about…”

6. Learn how to apologize: So many people don’t know how (or refuse) to apologize after they’ve said something wrong. Here are three guidelines for effective apologies: embellish the wrong (“I made a really big mistake when…”), say why you’re sorry, and tell the person how you’re going to avoid making the same mistake in the future.

I was surprised to learn that the NFL hasn’t paid taxes since 1966, when “professional football leagues” were added to the IRS code as non-profit organizations.  That put them into the same category as tax-exempt charities, such as the Cancer Society, homeless shelters, and churches.  At the same time, they were granted an exemption in the anti-trust regulations, giving them a monopoly in terms of negotiating TV rights, thus saving them even more money. It makes me wonder why the items we buy–tickets, hot dogs, beer, team clothing, etc.—are astronomically high.  And why we put up with it.