tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311909922024-03-17T22:01:41.821-05:00MagnoliaSouthRandom thoughts from a southern woman.Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-8092076127062937402018-10-10T14:48:00.001-05:002018-10-10T14:48:29.623-05:00Scientists and the new habit of conjecture.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
More and more I am reading about scientists who make preposterous claims that have no fact in evidence. Most recently is the discovery of a child who had a Denisovan father and a Neanderthal mother. The child's bone was found in a known Denisovan cave. Fine. I can believe that!<br />
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What I can't believe is what I'm hearing them say about it. For example Svante Pääbo, the lead author in the study said to <i><a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180822131002.htm">Science Daily</a></i> that, "Neanderthals and Denisovans may not have had many opportunities to meet. But when they did, they must have mated frequently -- much more so than we previously thought." Pääbo goes further when speaking to <i><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/aug/22/offspring-of-neanderthal-and-denisovan-identified-for-first-time">The Guardian</a></i> and said, "I’m beginning to think that when these groups met, they were quite happy to mix with each other." Why? Because you found one instance? Even if you found one hundred instances, what makes you think they were happy?<br />
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If we're going to make suppositions, then it sounds even more to me like the Neanderthal was taken by force. I mean, this was a Western Neanderthal not found in the region she was from! Who is to say that these were not warring beings and that the Neanderthal wasn't a slave?<br />
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The father, though obviously Denisovan, did carry some of his own Neanderthal DNA. That doesn't mean that his ancestor wasn't taken, raped or something else just as violent.<br />
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Scientists unfortunately look at the past with rose colored glasses. The past was a brutal hateful place! Murder was acceptable in many instances and the death penalty was very well appreciated. There were no human rights and suffering was rampant.<br />
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It's too bad then that we can't seem to get the real truth from scientists, today. I do apologize to Mr. Pääbo for picking on him because it's not just him. I see it all the time now. I would prefer that they stick to the evidence and don't try to coat it with sugar. Let's hear the real science and leave it at that.</div>
Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-61240344564161824172018-09-10T12:23:00.002-05:002018-09-10T12:23:57.606-05:00BEWARE of Chinese Mobile Apps<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There are a number of conspiracy theorists out there who make false claims that are really nothing to be concerned about. Fake news is loaded with it and so are those who believe the government is hiding alien information and so on.<br />
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Then comes along something that is a bit uncomfortable. China has been known <b><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=china+hacks+into+defense+systems">to hack into United States government computer systems</a></b>. China is a communist nation. Many millennials (even people in their 30's and I know because I've met them) do not really understand what that means.<br />
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A quick lesson is (Wikipedia is pretty useless these days when trying to read something that should be easy) a basic Karl Marx teaching. That is that the government makes the decisions for you. They decide where you work, how much you make, etc. They take most of your money and put it in a pile. They pass that pile out to others. The only rich people are government workers and you have no chance for advancement, ever. They take a large portion of your money and keep it for themselves. They give you <b><a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMhpr051133">health care with a mortality rate</a></b> (the noted article says, "China faces huge health care problems that make those of the United States seem almost trivial by comparison") that is very high and is call socialized health care for everyone, even if it's killing them. Karl Marx is the founder of communism <b><a href="https://www.wnd.com/2017/08/fascisms-karl-marx-man-the-left-doesnt-want-you-to-meet/">as well as fascism</a></b>. We all know how evil the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany was and so China, who follows this same philosophy is truly an enemy.<br />
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Democrats hate China because <b><a href="https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/chinas-forced-labor-problem/">they use slave labor</a></b> in manufacturing products many of which are traded to America. Conservatives hate China because there is <b><a href="https://www.thebalance.com/u-s-china-trade-deficit-causes-effects-and-solutions-3306277">a massive trade deficit</a></b> (to explain that to newbs, in a quick and easy example: America trades sends one cow to China to be sold there, China in turn sends two cows to be sold in America; it is not an even trade, so Americans lose jobs due to that, while they take all our money). <b><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/6962703/Why-Made-in-China-is-a-mark-of-shame.html">Consumers hate China</a></b> because <b><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/made-in-china-piece-of-junk/">their products fall apart quickly</a></b>. Even <b><a href="https://company.justfoodfordogs.com/10-years-later-the-pet-food-industry-a-decade-after-the-melamine-recall-of-2007/">veterinarians hate China</a></b> because they use poison in dog foods! I could go on and on. The end result is that no one in America should like — nor support — China, EVER!<br />
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Now! I told you all of that to tell you this.<br />
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My phone is an awesome Samsung Note 8, which I love! It has pretty good security system and even if I have given permission for access to some feature on my phone, it still lets me know when an app accesses that feature.<br />
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At first, I found that security warning annoying. I mean, I gave the app permission, so "Why is it telling me it's using my camera when I said it could?" I'd breathe in frustration! Until the day I got the notice that the a match three game app was using my camera.<br />
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You see, I had installed an app one day that was a Chinese game. I was quite impressed by it but unfortunately I cannot name it because I simply don't remember the name. It was a game, in any case, and was disappointingly fun. I say disappointing because I really would have loved to have kept it.<br />
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I stupidly assumed the warning about that app using my camera was a mistake and so ignored it, at first. Then I got another notice a day later. I ran a virus scan, thinking that something odd had happened but it had a clean bill of health. I then Googled the company of the app and I took note that it was based in China. Hmmmm.<br />
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I could hear an alarm bell ringing in my head. I uninstalled the app and the warning notifications stopped. A match three game should never be using my camera. Imagine the possibilities here! Millions of non-techy people could have that same app installed and the Chinese could be taking pictures or simply watching you, where you are or whatever.<br />
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This is something that I never imagined could be really possible. I'm a Cold War girl and I was deathly afraid of the Soviets, but this! This is a layer of paranoia that is truly unimaginable. Think of the possibilities. What if military families have pictures taken when they're looking at a fighter jet? What if a security guard at a prison is holding his phone when he keys a code into something?<br />
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Yes, we can get paranoid and shake our heads believing that it's preposterous but explain to me why that simple match three game was using my camera?<br />
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Then today, I found something rather alarming. I have since learned that I want to know WHO makes these cool apps. I'm talking specifically about News Break. News Break has flowering reviews. In fact, at the time of this writing Google says it is the #1 News or News Magazine app. I kid you not. Now here's the scary part.<br />
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I visited the app's website and when to the About section. It says that Jeff Zheng is the co-founder. I Googled Jeff Zheng and found a young man who is a developer at Apple. The photo did not match. I then Googled the umbrella company, Particle Media.<br />
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Now, I found that his real name isn't Jeff. It's actually Zhaohui Zheng. Why Jeff? If he just wants a one-syllable nickname, then choose Zha or Hui. Right? Now, it's all well and good to pick an American nickname but why? What's wrong with your own culture? That told me he probably wasn't born here, but for that, I have no proof and it's simply supposition.<br />
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What I do have some proof about is that he graduated with a computer engineering degree in Buffalo, New York. Specifically it's from the famous University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. Yes, that's the name. He then went on to start his Particle Media company in San Jose, California.<br />
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It all sounds like he's an American doing business in America. Right?<br />
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WRONG!<br />
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There isn't a single degree listed from University at Buffalo. I'm not even sure why he attended that, since all his degrees actually come from China. <b><a href="https://engineering.buffalo.edu/computer-science-engineering/people/industrial-advisory-board/zhaohui-zheng.html">This article</a></b> (<b><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180910164410/https://engineering.buffalo.edu/computer-science-engineering/people/industrial-advisory-board/zhaohui-zheng.html">archive here</a>,</b> in case it disappears also use it for its original unchanged text) says, "He received his bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees from Tsinghua, Institute of Automation Chinese Academy of Sciences." It goes on to say that he even worked for the Chinese government! We'll take that even further, but before I do let me first remind you that <b><a href="https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/media-censorship-china">the Chinese government controls the news media</a></b>. Now that you understand that, would you be alarmed to find that he designed and ran a Chinese news company? What does that tell you?<br />
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Wouldn't China want to keep a man like that? Why would China let him leave? If he was born an American then they cannot make him stay, but if he were born in China, then they will have control over him.<br />
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Now it could be very innocent and I want to offer an alternative view. Perhaps he did manage to get out of China. Perhaps his running of news companies and his government appointment provided him the rare opportunity of seeing through the facade of censorship. Perhaps, just perhaps, he was so enamored by the freedom of speech, enjoyed by Americans, that when he was able to come to America he decided to spread that freedom via his news app.<br />
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Perhaps.<br />
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The point here is to not take any app with face value. Do your research and see if it is legitimate. If you are unsure, then skip it and go to something else. You need to form your own opinion.<br />
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In this instance, once I used the app I came to the conclusion that it was loaded with fake news. Actual fake news. That is pretty suspicious though fake news manages to make itself look legitimate sometimes. Still, someone with degrees such as his should know to test his algorithms and one test will reveal these items so he loses anyway.<br />
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It is truly tragic that we must worry about something like this. Truly. Unfortunately, many do not seem to care. They naively believe something like, "Well, if they're not doing anything wrong then why worry?"<br />
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You should worry because the more China learns about us, the more they can manipulate what we think and once they do that, then our government will eventually turn into one like theirs. Remember that millennials will be our future government and if they don't remember or understand, then where will our country be?<br />
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Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-53851047343122079512018-08-29T11:47:00.003-05:002018-08-29T12:57:29.567-05:00What Christians can tell atheists and other non-believers. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The problem with non-believers is that they don't understand God nor the Bible. The ONLY verse they seem to remember is <b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A39&version=NIV">Matthew 5:39</a></b>. That's the most often quoted verse that any non-Christian seems to know.<br />
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There are 31,102 verses in the Bible. How do this "specialists" know what the other verses say? They don't! They know Adam and Eve but somehow miss the "fall of man" and its significance, which clearly means that we ALL are sinners, even Christians. I will never understand why this is confusing to them.<br />
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Anyway, along these same lines are people that are blessed in the Bible that leave us scratching our heads, wondering why on earth they are blessed. Anyone who knows anything about the Bible, knows that every single person in the Bible sins, EXCEPT Jesus.<br />
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King David himself "murdered" a woman's husband so he could have her to himself, this after he had an extra-marital affair. This after he was a peeping Tom! He watched the woman when she was naked and desired her so much, that he sent her husband to the front line in a war, and ordered his men to leave him there so he would be killed. Then, as you read everything about King David, God repeatedly calls him "blessed". This story is found in <b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+11&version=NIV">2 Samuel 11</a></b>.<br />
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The story of Lot is also very well known. He's the one who's wife turned into a pillar of salt because she turned around to see the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. It's pretty clear though that non-believers have never actually read the story, or else they would know that Lot was an awful person himself!<br />
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Lot told a crowd of rapists that they could have his virgin daughters to do with as they please. Yes! He was willing to allow a crowd of men to rape his daughters, violently too, I might add. Then after Lot is saved and his wife is salt, he gets drunk and has sex with his daughters too and even knocks them up. Granted, the daughters conspired against him but he willingly tipped the alcohol up. Lot was blessed too and considered "righteous" by God. The story can be found in <b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+19&version=NIV">Genesis 19</a></b>.<br />
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If you're a little concerned about his behavior, there is a fantastic mini-essay on Lot's behavior at <b><a href="https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Lot-give-his-daughters-to-the-crowd-of-men">Quora</a></b>. That message is absolutely amazing and is a great perspective.<br />
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In any case, I think I've made my point here. Christians are not perfect and we should not be expected to be perfect. It is repeatedly said in the Bible that man are sinners and will forever be that way. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1%3A8-10&version=NIV" style="font-weight: bold;">1 John 1:8-10</a>, <b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+7%3A20&version=NIV">Ecclesiastes 7:20</a></b> and <b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah+64%3A6&version=NIV">Isaiah 64:6</a></b>. Those are just a few of verses out of many. An entire list can be found <a href="https://biblereasons.com/nobody-is-perfect/" style="font-weight: bold;">here</a> (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180829164425/https://biblereasons.com/nobody-is-perfect/">alt</a>).<br />
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It is our responsibility, as Christians, to instruct them of this. We are supposed to <b><a href="https://billygraham.org/answer/how-can-i-witness-for-christ/">witness</a></b> (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180829164320/https://billygraham.org/answer/how-can-i-witness-for-christ/">alt</a>) to others and the first step is to let them all know that we are sinners and will be forever. Perhaps this will strike a chord with them and they will become interested in more. It's a first step. It's also good to defend ourselves from nasty online bullies who stupidly quote Matthew 5:39 without any other knowledge of the Bible and for those who know absolutely nothing about it.<br />
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May God be with you all. Remember, we sin, but are forgiven through Christ.<br />
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Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-49889970846755317182018-08-20T12:27:00.000-05:002018-08-20T12:27:40.414-05:00How You can Kill a Church with Lilies and How You can Help to Avoid It<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Every day we live for God. God created us and God can destroy us. It's that simple. We can sugar coat it all we want, but God is the Alpha and the Omega and there is no way to argue that.<br />
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Atheism is spreading at an alarming rate. They are, themselves, a religion. I'm not going to get into why I say that because only Christians would understand what I mean and since you do, I can skip it. Suffice it to say, they preach much more loudly than Christians do.<br />
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For that reason, I'm here to admonish Christians around the world, to include Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama. Why aren't you doing what it says in the Bible? We'll come back to that part.<br />
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You see, churches are dying. My own church did. The church I've known all my life. It was my foundation. It was where I learned about Jesus and his sacrifice for us all. Yes, yes, my family taught me too but that's off subject. The point I'm making is that this church was my life and family. It shut its doors and do you know why? Stupidity. That's why.<br />
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Yes, it's harsh, but there it is. We allowed the older generation and believe me when I say how much I respect that generation, to rule with an iron fist. They didn't like giving to charity "in lieu of flowers" at Easter. I remember sitting in on that meeting when a kind woman gently suggested it.<br />
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You see every year the church would exchange a lily for a donation in someone's name. It was a memorial for Easter. The problem was, that the church had to pay for said lilies (at Easter no less which is pricey enough) and so the church was only getting a small percentage. Not to mention, guess what happened after Easter? All those lilies were thrown out! In the end, the church got their tiny percentage and a charity got nothing.<br />
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In fact, the church could have made more money, even without the said charity. But no! They insisted that this was a time honored tradition and must be followed. I was disappointed. They wanted me to become a high committee member because of my age and that everyone knew my family (my children brought us into a 4th generation membership, we were the only ones in that church that could claim that).<br />
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I was so disgusted with the blind faith that the older members were steadfastly holding onto. The kind woman, who I will only call C, said that kids are leaving left and right. In order to keep the church, we must make changes but they became hostile in their refusals.<br />
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I said I would never become a committee member and I never did. Now the church is gone. Admittedly, I was not in attendance when I heard. I too left, but for geographic purposes. We moved to Mobile, Alabama and my church was in Atlanta. Still, my membership was unchanged.<br />
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Today churches are dying and my church is only one of many. It is time that Christians wake up and see what is happening. In today's toxic climate of political correctness, the fundamental rule of Christianity is forgotten. Remember what is said in Ezekiel!<br />
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+3%3A17-19&version=NIV">Ezekiel 3:17-19 New International Version (NIV)</a>
17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ <span style="background-color: orange;">and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.</span> 19 But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself. -- Courtesy <b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/">BibleGateway.com</a></b></blockquote>
This clearly states that we're supposed to be evangelizing. We're not supposed to be sitting around arguing over lilies. We need to make God's word heard and it needs to be heard loudly and clearly!<br />
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There have been steps. There are Bible apps that encourage reading and will offer notifications and reminders. We need devotionals to be offered in apps too. Basically, we need an open source Biblical app that will offer devotions, set up prayers, maybe even tag friends that we're praying on their behalf or that we need prayers. We need an app that offers achievements, that helps us learn verses and on and on. We need some great apps that kids will enjoy, that adults can use and so on.<br />
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It is time that the Bible and learning from it should be free. Subscriptions are only going to cause a slow death. Ads would be perfectly acceptable provided that they are from Christian content. Maybe it's time for all the churches to come together and create our own seal of approval so that those ads are acceptable. They could be Christian movies, games, books, etc. It shouldn't be limited to non-fiction, though I can certainly understand how it could, but Christian non-fiction is on the rise so strike while the iron is hot!<br />
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We need to be in the streets with our own church rally's. We need to have our own demonstrations with banners that clearly proclaim "Walking with Jesus!" Local churches should work together to make community walks such as this to proclaim God's word! Do not let our tiny differences segregate us. Let Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterian, Lutheran, other Anglican and even Catholic churches walk together as one. It's time to unite outside of our congregations and show the world that in the end we are of one mind. Jesus is our savior and though we are fallen men, we are strong in our faith.<br />
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That's another thing. We need to preach about the fall of man. Atheists use human sin as a weapon against Christianity but said Atheists know nothing of how the fall of man causes our sin. We are born that way and it is a battle for us and that faith helps us get through it, but not always. That's why we sin all the time! God does not expect us to be like Jesus, despite what Atheists believe and they need to learn this! Maybe then they may become Christians themselves.<br />
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We need to target them! We need to have a voice louder than them, but instead we sit by. We choose to instead remember Matthew 5:5 where He says "blessed are the meek". We forget that he listed a number of them. He wasn't saying that we have to be meek, he just is letting them know that they are loved. "Blessed are the poor", he also says and we know we don't have to be poor to be Christians.<br />
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Let us come together. Anyone interested should share in the comments. Perhaps we can rebuild Christianity and spread God's word the new way. </div>
Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-87230584317043571022018-08-14T19:51:00.001-05:002018-08-14T19:51:32.810-05:00CNN's is disgusting!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today I was reading about the current FBI most wanted list. Just bored, wanted to do something online.<br />
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They captured one Eduardo Ravelo. Curious about the circumstances, I Googled a couple of articles. Now check this out!</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/03/14/mexico.violence/index.html">This was posted on the 14th of March</a></b>. Notice that headline. They are headlining that a Mexican killed Americans with ties to the US Consulate. The Americans are of Mexican ancestry but who cares? They are Americans and at least one of them works for the US Consulate so that makes it even worse. This is a serious allegation now. We have a man killing protected Americans with access to the US consulate. Hello? You would think that CNN would hop all over that. It's a sensational story. Right? Wrong. Instead, they did nothing.</div>
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The only thing that they did was <b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/03/16/mexico.victims.profile/index.html">the very next day</a></b>. Instead of taking this where they should have, they change the entire headline and downplay the political implications to ZERO. They simply call the consulate "busy". Get that? Busy?! As in "The consulate is a busy place." This is something you would read in your first grader reader books. No, please don't die of shock and disbelief. It is incredible but true!<br />
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They now, in this "updated" story, paint the sob story of how an innocent couple was gunned down. It was just like the story you read about last week when someone was shot while being robbed. Same kind of thing. Yes, the story really is sad but it should be much more frightening. </div>
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Why isn't it? Why isn't it more frightening?</div>
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Let's see, do you think that maybe CNN didn't want people to connect the dots there? Or maybe CNN doesn't want you thinking anything bad about Mexicans killing Mexicans? If that's the case, then maybe American Mexicans may start getting nervous about this whole thing and may agree a wall is a good idea to keep out the garbage, like Cartel (I love how they're labeled as gangs, instead) executioners? Do you THINK?!</div>
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How blatant is this article? I even took screen caps to prove it. The only alteration is where I clipped it for privacy purposes (multiple tabs open, etc.). </div>
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It's interesting to note which one was shared on Facebook. Isn't it?</div>
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What do you think? Why would they do this?</div>
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Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-73515974724799570592018-04-16T09:58:00.000-05:002018-04-16T09:58:43.902-05:00Android for Seniors: Chomp and Textra compared, again.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I wrote a blog post several years ago on a comparison between the two. Since then, a lot has changed. I decided it was time to write another one. The one thing to remember is that it does everything the stock Android messaging app plus what is listed here. I may list features already present in the Android stock app but you get the idea.<br />
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I am a visual learner. Also, I'm often in a hurry. Most of the time, I simply want a comparison chart. That will tell me what I need to know. If you're like me, then skip on down to the chart, which by the way, is a 3rd grade type of table I'm not sure if you can see it right but lets hope so. ;) <br />
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The features I list are the most basic and necessary ones. At least, to me but I'm pretty sure others feel the same. Usually the biggest questions are answered by my chart. Usually.<br />
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Now about ads, ads are the new way of doing things to keep apps free. I am divided on the issue. I find them annoying and they give me a headache. You can usually pay for messaging apps to stop the ads. Chomp used to charge for ad removal but I don't remember how much I paid. That will likely be the only information that may be incorrect. If anyone knows, please let me know so I can update it.<br />
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You may wish to know which I'm using. I have used Chomp for years, but the one feature I really need isn't available, even though I've requested it for all those years. Textra offers it and so bye-bye Chomp. You may not need that one feature. For me, it is scheduling MMS and group chat messages.<br />
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You see, I am a night owl. This arises, for example, when I wish to send a picture I took of a dog (I have 5 dogs now) after everyone went to bed. The problem is that I'll forget to send it to them the next day. Maybe it's an article instead and in Chomp, links are considered MMS. Either way, you can see my problem. Group chat in Chomp is also MMS so I had to toss it in favor of Textra.<br />
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I'm new to Textra which is what prompted me to write this blog post. In any case, the list of features may grow so check for updates if you're interested. </div>
<table bgcolor="#ff6600" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="width: 100%;">
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<th align="left" width="60%"><span style="color: #e69138;">Feature(s)</span></th>
<th align="left" width="20%"><span style="color: #e69138;">Chomp<br />Ver. 7.18 ($)</span></th>
<th align="left" width="20%"><span style="color: #e69138;">Textra<br />Ver. 3.44 (ads)</span></th>
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<tr bgcolor="#000000" colspan="3">
<th colspan="3"></th>
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<tr bgcolor="#000000" valign="top">
<th align="left" colspan="3"><span style="color: #e69138;">Basics</span></th>
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<tr bgcolor="#000000" colspan="3">
<th colspan="3"></th>
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<tr bgcolor="#000000" valign="top">
<td>Cost</td>
<td>Free (ads), (?$) (ad free).</td>
<td>Free (ads), $2.99 (ad free)</td>
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<tr bgcolor="#000000" valign="top">
<td>Group chat/conversations</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#000000" valign="top">
<td>Pins conversations to top</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Yes</td>
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<td>Customize notification tones with system and mp3 sounds</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>System only<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=31190992#1"><sup>1</sup></a></td>
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<tr bgcolor="#000000" valign="top">
<td>Customize notification vibrations</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Yes</td>
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<td>Tone or vibrate when sent, setting.</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Tone only</td>
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<th colspan="3"></th>
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<th align="left" colspan="3"><span style="color: #e69138;">Scheduling messages</span></th>
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<td>Schedules SMS</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Yes</td>
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<td>Schedules group chat/conversations</td>
<td><b><span style="color: #ff6600;">No</span></b></td>
<td>Yes</td>
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<tr bgcolor="#000000" valign="top">
<td>Schedules recurring SMS</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td><b><span style="color: #ff6600;">No</span></b></td>
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<td>Schedules MMS</td>
<td><b><span style="color: #ff6600;">No</span></b></td>
<td>Yes</td>
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<th colspan="3"></th>
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<th align="left" colspan="3"><span style="color: #e69138;">Visual Customization</span></th>
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<th colspan="3"></th>
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<td>Change background to photo</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Color change only.</td>
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<td>Allows increase/decrease of text size and color.</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Yes</td>
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<td>Has themes</td>
<td>Yes,<br />
free and ($)</td>
<td>Yes, basic only</td>
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<tr bgcolor="#000000" valign="top">
<td>Can customize colors</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Yes</td>
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<td>Can customize contact colors</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Yes</td>
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<td></td>
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<b>Notes (most is common sense but, you know how it is):</b><br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Prices are current until 16 Apr 2018, after that prices may be different.</li>
<li><i>These are not all the features</i>, it's best to check their websites for a list of features and by the time you read this some features may not even be available. </li>
</ul>
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Request #1: If this table formatting looks odd, please let me know in the comments.<br />
Request #2: If you wish to know about a feature, please also let me know in the comments. At least, for the version(s) listed above.
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<h5>
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" id="1"></a>1. You are able to copy your music or customized tones over to the system, so that they will become available in Textra. I recommend downloading <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop" target="_blank">ES File Explorer</a> (free) and then follow the <a href="https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=314821&p=3221290&viewfull=1#post3221290" target="_blank">instructions posted by BOAC</a>.</h5>
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Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-1128719344204705112018-04-06T15:29:00.000-05:002018-04-06T15:29:03.005-05:00Is Yoga okay for Christians? It depends on who you ask.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Before I get to the question of Yoga, I must share some personal explanation as to why I even wanted to try Yoga. This desire led to my quest on whether or not it's really okay for a Christian to participate, even though I know it's beneficial health wise.<a name='more'></a></div>
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I suffer from a number of ailments, but lately my health has spiraled downward with great velocity. I'm a nurse but unable to work due to back issues that my 23 years of nursing caused. I'm not sure why my back is so bad, since I followed strict body mechanics, but I have come to believe it's genetic. </div>
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I also have an apparent genetic heart problem. I have PVC's and some are so bad, that it nearly killed me. Now that means that I am very limited on pain medications I can take. This is not to say that I don't take many medications. I do. I take far many than I would wish, but they are designed for 3 of my ailments and my heart, one of them, requires five different medications alone.</div>
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All that said, exercise is always a problem. I am either in severe pain, because I am restricted on pain medications or my heart begins to race. </div>
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For this reason, finding the right exercise has been difficult. I'm now 50 and if I want to live to see 60, something simply has to give. Diet isn't enough!</div>
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To listen to the mainstream media (MSM), Yoga is a perfect solution. Naturally, the MSM is the last person to trust when they say anything. Raise your hand if you ever even believe them? You won't see my hand! That's for certain.</div>
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As with anything I decide to do, I research it myself. I'm not talking about reading some blog of a person who claims to be an expert. "I've done (insert whatever it is your researching) for X number of years and so I know what I'm talking about." Really? How exactly do we know? I've read tons of blogs, for example, speaking triumphantly about how good a raw diet is for dogs. Well, my daughter works for a veterinarian and being the nurse that I am, I read actual studies done. A lot of those dogs, despite looking healthy, aren't. They have shorter lives and often suffer from organ failure in mid-life. Not towards the end as one would expect. </div>
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I do not take what anyone says as the final word, unless I have opposing opinions and facts to back them up. I am intelligent enough to decide for myself, after that. I would say, sadly, that a large number of Americans are more weak minded than that. I do not mean that as an insult. It is just that they do tend to believe what they read. I mean, listen to liberals. They sound totally insane when they speak. They preach religious tolerance but then insult Christians in a very hostile tone. I can't tell you how many times I've made a comment about that then I'm told how I should be more tolerant with liberals because Jesus demands it. I turn around and remind them that they know nothing of Christianity. I tell them to Google "the fall of man". Just because I'm Christian, doesn't make me perfect. No one can be as good as Jesus.</div>
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The point is that I am a steadfast Christian. My faith is like platinum and cannot be destroyed. I am a sinner and always will be, but I recognize that and His forgiveness rescues me. I am not even a blip in the grand scheme of things, but He loves me and that's what matters. I do not have to be great.</div>
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Now, I told you all of that to tell you this.</div>
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After hearing all this praise, and I don't mean Chrisitan praise, I did some research on Yoga studies and health. There is evidence that health improves by its use. Still, despite the Yogaites claims that there is really no Eastern influence, I have read about its mind, body and spirit and in fact, there is. However, I had to remember for myself, that there are other anti-Christian influences that I experience every day. Has that even swayed me? No. </div>
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I then decided it was time, after having read the basics of Yoga and its oneness stance, to read Christian views. Truly the experts from reputable sources. The first of which I read an article from<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.todayschristianwoman.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Today's Christian Woman</i></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>titled, "<a href="https://www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2005/march/truth-about-yoga.html" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Truth About Yoga</a>" by<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://hollyvicenterobaina.blogspot.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Holly Vincente Robaina</a>. It's not so much an article about the truth, as it is one woman's experience about Yoga. That's a big difference, to me anyway. The woman it's about is the founder of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.praisemoves.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box;">PraiseMoves</a>, a Christian alternative to Yoga, which sounded interesting. However, reading the article made it much less interesting for me.</div>
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In a short overview, the founder, Laurette Willis was raise by a Yoga instructor who called herself a Christian who eventually began a New Age lifestyle that Willis says destroyed her life. She broke away, became a born-again Christian and an aerobics instructor. She eventually designed PraiseMoves so that Christians could enjoy a more Christian like atmosphere with Yoga benefits.</div>
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It sounds great, but then it went on about her story. I began to hear something that made me question her account. I'm sure it's true for her, but I have a psych nurse background. What I was hearing was a mother who was not a Christian at all. Her faith seemed to be thin from the beginning. Those types are very easily influenced by other experiences, trying to search for something themselves. For this reason, she did not raise Willis with the love that Willis needed, since she was too busy searching for meaning in her life.</div>
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I think, and I'm not expert (remember my warning on experts, this here is simply an opinion and not fact, by any means), Willis is projecting her mother's failure onto Yoga. For this reason, her motives are called into question. I fully understand that she truly feels this way, but her hate for Yoga is unsubstantiated, in my personal opinion.</div>
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I then moved on to another article which comes from<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Christianity Today</a></i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>titled "<a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/mayweb-only/42.0b.html" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Yes to Yoga</a>" by <a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/opinion/columnists/taste-and-see/" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Agnieszka Tennant</a>. Here she writes of her own personal experience. In a nutshell, she expresses that when the subject of Eastern belief was used, she used God instead. At least, that is the impression I got from reading her article and that made a lot of sense to me. God is an all powerful being and the oneness that Hindus practice is equal to that of Christian's oneness with God and instead of using their example, use a Christian example. </div>
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It was an interesting point, for sure.</div>
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However, I saw that Robaina wrote a response to Tennant's article and curious, I read it. It is posted at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.praisemoves.com/ctarticle.htm" style="box-sizing: border-box;">PraiseMoves.com</a>. She points out almost exactly my belief in the seduction of Yoga for weak minded people. As I mentioned earlier, I believe that Willis' mother suffered from that very fate. </div>
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Oh and there's one more thing. Remember that MSM trust thing I mentioned above. It may interest you to know that Tennant no longer works for<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Christianity Today</i>. I'm not sure what she is presently doing in her life, but she wrote<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-easter-bunnys-seedy-u_b_92959.html" style="box-sizing: border-box;">an article</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>for Huffington Post. It looks to be only one and is not related to faith nor politics at all. Still, I see HP as an enemy and would never want to get paid but such a thing. </div>
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To me, this is in line with what Robaina asks in the article, "How can I support a practice that is targeting the young and the weak?" Huffington Post is doing the exact same. It appears that Tennant is not worried about that kind of thing.</div>
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Many Christians will likely be swayed by that and then may call Tennant's view into question. I feel she shouldn't have written for HP but she did and that's that. At least her article there was neutral, not that I agree with her acceptance of a paycheck from them, but we must live after all.</div>
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Flipping the coin however, Robaina mentions her past experience with New Age, which also tilts the scale on why she wants to avoid Yoga. She was a weak minded person and that's the answer to her question.</div>
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In the end, I am seeing arguments between Christians about this whole practice. That makes Yoga look evil since it appears to be dividing Christians, at least, it's understandable if one sees it that way. </div>
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In the end, the decision to follow one, over the other, is a personal one. The problem here is that in the end, Yoga can be looked upon as a test of true faith. Even Jesus went through such a thing and we all know His result. We all are tested daily on our faith. Do we resist temptation? Often, we do not. </div>
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For those of us who know very well, our faith is solid, I see no reason to avoid Yoga. For those who doubt Yoga or won't feel comfortable, then PraiseMoves is an excellent alternative. The end decision is something you must feel comfortable with. I suggest reading the articles yourself and making your own opinion.</div>
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For me, I will read about it and then move on from there. I will come back and share my experience but only when I am able to do that. As you have learned, I have medical issues and though I've not posted here in sometime, I am ready now to begin posting again, so long as I don't have any medical setbacks again.</div>
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Please share your feelings in the comments but please do so respectfully as always. I will not tolerate non-Christians coming to insult us. Freedom of speech is a right I staunchly support, but this is my journal and I won't have someone writing in it to insult others. Go write in your own. </div>
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I pray the way King Solomon prayed. Only for wisdom and the right direction. I do not ask God for selfish grants. Before Yoga, pray for wisdom and strength against outside influences. </div>
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My prayers for you, dear reader, are the same. </div>
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Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-38137377777072845812017-06-13T16:57:00.001-05:002017-06-13T16:57:19.637-05:00Fixing minor Windows issues: NEVER download "tools" from anyone! EVER!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When your computer starts acting up, it can be confusing on how to solve it. Doing a search will reveal a lot of websites that tell you "First, download this tool..." NOPE! Skip to the next answer. If it requires a tool, then prepare to make it worse. Trust me. <a name='more'></a><div>
There are some legitimate ones out there, but if you print the proper steps and sit down with someone else next to you with a little knowledge of computers, the two of you can probably walk through some pretty complicated fixes. Before you do anything though, take the following steps:</div>
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<li>Back up <b><a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/322756/how-to-back-up-and-restore-the-registry-in-windows" target="_blank">your registry</a></b>.</li>
<li>Backup <b><a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17127/windows-back-up-restore" target="_blank">the computer</a></b>.</li>
<li>Create a <b><a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/instantanswers/e6bbddb0-9db4-4d88-9063-42c52c79a96e/create-a-system-restore-point" target="_blank">restore point</a></b>. </li>
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Some of these do the same as others, but that's fine. That'll be several copies of different things you can try if something goes wrong. Just, do it, as Nike would say. </div>
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You'll need to backup your items onto another hard drive or computer. Personally, I own a <b><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TKFEEBW/" target="_blank">Seagate hard drive</a></b> that I back everything up to. Get what you want, but you need to make sure you have enough space on the external device as you do for the computer itself. In other words, if you have a pot of soup, and you want to put it in a single bowl, you need to make sure you have a bowl as big, if not bigger than your pot. Same principle here.</div>
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Once you've backed everything up, which you should do on a regular basis anyway, then you can search for a fix. Do not go to any site that has a name such as IneedWindowsHelp.com or some other ridiculous site. Go for something official from a well accepted website, such as Microsoft's official site. Microsoft has learned how to make searching more helpful, but try using Google to figure it out. If you want to search the entire Microsoft website for something type in the Google search box, site:microsoft.com and notice that there are no spaces there. Then make a space and type what you're looking for. Let's use this one as an example. </div>
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<a href="https://www.google.com/search?num=100&newwindow=1&q=site%3Amicrosoft.com+how+to+create+a+restore+point" target="_blank"><b>site:microsoft.com how to create a restore point</b></a></div>
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Go ahead and click the link above. You'll see the results. Scroll down the page and you'll see that all results are from Micrsoft.com ONLY. </div>
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You can use Google to search any website like that. You'd be amazed at what you can find at websites through Google vs. their native search. </div>
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So if you're experiencing a slow down on the computer, then you'd use something like <b><a href="https://www.google.com/search?num=100&newwindow=1&q=site%3Amicrosoft.com+computer+slow+down" target="_blank">site:microsoft.com computer slow down</a></b> and you can scroll down to see what best fits your situation. </div>
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If you're a McAfee user you can try searching their site too, and McAfee is considered a reliable source but on a personal level I cannot stand them. If you're happy with it then that's what matters.</div>
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Just remember that simply because someone is giving you instructions on how to fix something, and they sound sympathetic and other users have come behind them and said "Wow that really worked!" be skeptical. Be more than skeptical. Check Microsoft to see what they say and above all else, do not download any tool except from trusted and reliable websites. </div>
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If you cannot find the answer at a trusted and reliable website, then may I suggest <b><a href="http://ask.metafilter.com/">ask.MetaFilter.com</a></b>? Now here I am contradicting myself because I'm telling you to go to a site that may have unreliable users, but it's very unlikely and I come back to that in a moment. </div>
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As you can see, I've been <b><a href="http://www.metafilter.com/user/63653" target="_blank">a user there</a></b> for eons. If you can view my profile stats, it says I've asked 42 questions. Now here's the rub, it costs you a <a href="http://faq.metafilter.com/#1" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">one-time only membership fee</a> ($5, at the time of this writing). I have personally found it invaluable and when I cannot find an answer anywhere, about anything, I use them. </div>
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All that said, it is still not a 100%. It's just that most users who really don't know anything would not be willing to pay even a measly one-time only five bucks to answer a question. Could you get bad advice? Well anything is possible but more than likely it will be sound advice. It is your choice and your decision. I am not saying that you should do it, I am only making a suggestion. The ultimate decision is yours and if you are unhappy with the result then there is nothing I can do about that. Consider this an official disclaimer because you probably know how people are. </div>
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All in all, the point is that you really should do all you can to get official advice from a reliable source. When all else fails, have a backup of a place you can ask that you personally trust. If they suggest tools, find another answer. Never download tools unless they belong to Microsoft or McAfee. </div>
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Good luck! I hope you all have a pleasant day and may the Lord keep you and shine upon you. </div>
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Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-88651075944955842332017-06-12T04:24:00.002-05:002017-06-12T04:24:45.052-05:00Killers go free and the innocent go to prison. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is the story of two victims, both in Texas. One is of Lisa Stone and the other, Frances Hall. One had a spouse, the other had a partner. Both were betrayed by their loved one and both have suffered the consequences for it. Only one of these victims, though, has been murdered. The other, sits in prison.<br />
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Lisa Stone grew up in Texas and went to high school like all kids do. She lived a life that had a lot of loss and pain. She lost her parents, her sister and her brother but all under different circumstances. Lisa fell in love with an attractive woman by the name of Sherry Henry, whose eyes resemble Susan Sarandon and like Susan's, they're evil, only more so.<br />
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They lived together for 15 years and for all intents and purposes it was a marriage at heart. Well, it was for Lisa anyway. She was a forgiving person and we know this because Sherry forged a check on Lisa's father's account for over $7,000.00 and was even convicted of the crime. Lisa's forgiving nature was unfortunate, in the end. Sherry would betray her once again. First, with another woman and second, she would take Lisa's life.<br />
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On the morning of June 5th, 2010, Lisa was expected to go to a disabled neighbor's house to do a chore for her, as she always kindly did. The neighbor received a phone call instead, from Sherry, saying that Lisa was sick and she wouldn't be able to go, but Sherry would do it for her instead. The neighbor later said in an interview that in the fifteen years Lisa and Sherry lived next door, Sherry had only come over once.<br />
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Lisa had reignited friendships with her high school friends at a reunion. They became very close and were in touch daily. When Lisa suddenly disappeared, they became concerned. They reached out to Sherry, who said she was out of town. A few days passed and still, no Lisa. They asked Sherry why she wasn't concerned. Maybe there's a reason' they thought to themselves, but Sherry said she had been in touch with Lisa and Lisa had been here, and there and so many places. The only problem with the only problem with what Sherry had been saying is that Sherry had been the only one to ever even see her.<br />
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She told them that she had done gardening for a neighbor too, but the neighbor told interviewers that she was in Florida at the time. She is certain of that.<br />
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Her Facebook friends began to follow her and they collected evidence and the list goes on. Sherry was seen throwing stuff into a dumpster at a gas station and out of curiosity, the witness looked in the bin to find Lisa's personal items like her birth certificate, her Bible and things that one doesn't just let another person throw away.<br />
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Oh and there is so much more. For example, a neighbor called her Facebook friends and said that Sherry had placed all of Lisa's furniture in the driveway and left it. Her Facebook friends took photos to show police. When interviewed, Sherry told them that Lisa had donated the items to the Salvation Army and that they had required her photo ID for the pick up, but 48 Hours asked them about the pick-up and they said it was definitely not Lisa because there was no one there when they got there. It was just sitting outside.<br />
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Sherry told 48 Hours that the police sent a SWAT team to issue a warrant to search her home. The police got a laugh out of that, I am quite sure. They said that there was no SWAT team on the premises and they did it like they always do.<br />
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Now we have Sherry, who is caught lying twice on 48 Hours, trying desperately to make people believe she did not kill Lisa. She gets downright angry when she defends herself. She is asked what happened? Where is Lisa? She refuses to comment on it. She refuses to help the Facebook friends. She says she didn't throw any of Lisa's personal items in the dumpster, even though there was a witness.<br />
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Then of course there was Lisa's house. After Sherry moved out, Lisa's Facebook friends visited the home. They looked around and everything was empty, but there was something strange. There was cat hair all over the carpets and evidently, there were, or had been, a large number of cats that were confiscated by police. Nothing was cleaned. The kitchen was dirty, the bedrooms, etc., but for one room. Her bathroom was spotless. Why had Sherry only cleaned the bathroom in that house?<br />
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I have been married for only ten years. I can tell you one thing, I would be all over the television, looking for my spouse. I would be devastated. I would be actively trying to find him and I would look to the ends of the earth, if I had to.<br />
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If Lisa was the love of Sherry's life, then why isn't she doing anything? Why is she more worried about defending herself, rather than simply helping to find Lisa?<br />
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Now Frances' story is quite different. She is a kind woman with two beautiful children and at least one granddaughter. She married the love of her life when they were both only eighteen. Now, she is in her fifties and until October 10, 2013 had been married to him all those years.<br />
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Frances was married to Bill and the only problem with Bill was that he was a philanderer. Frances was also a very forgiving person and like Lisa, perhaps if she hadn't been, this whole thing wouldn't have happened but she loved him and wanted to forgive. Bill always came back to her and they would be happy, once more.<br />
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Bill unfortunately met a money hungry psycho of a child in a woman's body. Psycho actually, is putting it incredibly mildly. Bonnie Contreras was impressed by Bill's wealth and wanted to get what she could. Nothing at all was going to stop her from attaining her goal. Nothing.<br />
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Bill lavished her with a home, cars and gifts, but that was not enough. She wanted it all. She pressed Bill to leave his wife and marry her. Bill resisted and so much so, he broke it off with Bonnie. Bonnie was not going to take this lying down, as she had been so far.<br />
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She began taking her wrath out on Frances, instead of Bill. She began showing up at the house and calling Frances names. She sent Frances texts calling her a "fat bitch" and texting her photos of herself having sex with Bill and photos of the two of them together. There were over 4,000 photos that she had collected in order to terrorize Frances in the event of a breakup. She texted Frances calling her obscene names. Telling her that Bill no longer loved her and so on. I cannot even begin to tell you the things that this psycho did to Frances. It is simply beyond comprehension.<br />
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Then comes the day that everything changed. One day on the highway, Frances sees Bonnie in a car and Bill is behind her on his Harley-Davidson. Frances pulls off the road and talks to her daughter, who told her about some obscene messages Bonnie left for Frances. Frances tells her daughter this has to stop. I'm going to confront her about this and does a U-turn. She races to catch up to the two. Someone calls 911 about that time and says that two SUVs are racing and driving in other lanes.<br />
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The next thing anyone else knows about, Bill has tumbled off the highway and was in critical condition. He was in such shape that he could not even speak to police or EMS.<br />
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The women go racing down and somehow, no one know really how, but they both end up back at the scene and police are there. Bonnie tells police that Frances was hitting her car (a fact that photos prove was untrue and a collision professional confirmed it was untrue) over and over and over again. She said that Bill somehow ended up between them and Frances moved forward to hit Bonnie's car again and hit Bill who went flying off the highway.<br />
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The one thing that is unclear to me is how Frances hit Bonnie's car so many times to begin with if Bill was in the way. It seems like the first time she did it Bill would crash, not after she had done it as many times as Bonnie claimed.<br />
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The collision expert said that if Frances had hit Bill when he was between them, there would have been damage on the hood by his motorcycle, but there was none. There was however two very large scratches on the right rear of Frances' vehicle and that rear right window was shattered. Clearly, something scraped the right rear of her vehicle.<br />
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Frances did confirm that Bill had been riding between them but then he moved off to the right and she passed him. She said that she saw him pass off to the right. She had no explanation though of the damage to the right side of her vehicle, in the back. It would have been in a blind spot, for her. Frances even admitted that she didn't even hear the window shatter. She said she was so focused on Bonnie and trying to get her to pull over, that she didn't hear anything.<br />
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I can attest to this. I've seen a number of people not hear something very loud when they're focused on something. Imagine when you're reading a very compelling book. If you are anything like me, I cease to hear what is going on around me. I am so engrossed that I don't hear anything. As for not feeling the scrape on the side, that seems a bit odd but I can feel her rage and when I get really angry, I have a buzzing in my ears. Whether she is being truthful or not about hearing anything, it doesn't really matter because the fact is that the proof was she was passing him.<br />
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Because of all this it makes it an accident, plain and simple. It was definitely reckless driving. It was definitely manslaughter, as any accident is, but it was not intentional, it was not planned, nothing. For this reason, it is not murder. Unfortunately, she was convicted of just that.<br />
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The one who needed an absolute conviction was Bonnie. Bonnie also participated in reckless driving but that's not all. She stalked and harassed Frances into that rage. Stalking and harassing is illegal and Bonnie should too be lawfully punished.<br />
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To add insult to injury, Bonnie has the nerve to sue Frances. Yes, you read that right. She is suing Frances for mental distress and for over 2 million dollars. Perhaps that is the two million she never managed to get off of Bill.<br />
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I am not a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure when you get deposed for a lawsuit that you have to answer any questions the other lawyer wants to ask. This would mean that Bonnie would have to answer to all those texts and photos. I find it hard to believe that anyone can win a mental distress lawsuit when the evidence shows it the other way around. Frances should sue her. She has the evidence, that Bonnie lacks.<br />
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Meanwhile, Sherry Henry is sitting in her home, doing whatever she wants because the police have not been able to make an arrest, yet. Sherry will have to constantly look over her shoulder and come up with more lies to stay free.<br />
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If you know anything about the disappearance of Lisa Henry, please contact the number below.<br />
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Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-59963595328627268122017-04-22T06:59:00.002-05:002017-04-22T06:59:33.083-05:00Welch's Grape Juice: What's the difference between Heart Healthy and regular?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am lucky in that our local Walmart Market allows online shopping and all I have to do is go pick up my groceries. I love that! It has its drawbacks but it does make large shopping trips easier.<div>
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The problem is their lack of information on products. Day before yesterday I did my online shopping. What I really like about it is that I can add things to the "list" throughout the week and then buy it all at once at the end of the week. Circling back around to day before yesterday....</div>
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I wanted some grape juice. I had been buying the smaller single serving bottles but I quickly realized that we were drinking more than usual since we changed our lifestyle to healthier eating. For this reason, I decided to go with a 64-oz bottle. I buy Welch's grape juice. Originally I tried the Great Value brand but it tasted to me like watered down grape Kool-aid. The ingredients lists juice but it just didn't taste like it to me. Welch's has that nice tart grape flavor we like.<a name='more'></a></div>
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As a quick side note, my adult children and I were having a conversation about my grape juice dilemma, which I'll outline in a moment, but the kids reminisced about how when they were kids, and heck, even now as adults, when they take communion they always wanted more than that little cup of grape juice. "It just tastes so good!" They're right.</div>
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As I online shopped, I thought I could just type in Welch's grape juice and easily find grape juice. I was wrong. My Walmart Market doesn't carry plain Welch's grape juice. I had a choice between a Heart Healthy or Calcium version. Hmmm. I wondered if that meant the Calcium version wasn't heart healthy? What about the plain juice I had been buying in the single serving bottles? </div>
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I went to their website and was greeted with no information with their varieties of grape juices. That was disappointing. They did say that they use Concord grapes and they lecture about how studies have shown that Concord grapes help the heart and so on. So does that mean <i>all </i>their juices are heart healthy? If so, why didn't they label them all that way? </div>
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Well, I bought both types. I brought them home and compared them as you can see in the photos, below.</div>
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Now it's interesting to note the differences. It looks like both are basically the same, ingredient wise. The only difference is the one with Calcium has, obviously added Calcium, but notice the nutritional change? The nutrition values of some important aspects drop and it's a rather large drop too.</div>
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It makes sense though. Let's see, what's a good analogy? Let's say you have a 1/2 cup of milk in a glass. If you add 1/4 cup of water, you will now have less milk only because the total volume is 3/4 cup. The nutritional value of what is in the cup is now different. You can pour some of it into a small glass but the values will remain the same. </div>
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The addition of Calcium here caused a change in the volume vs. nutritional value. <b><a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/calcium-supplements/art-20047097" target="_blank">The Mayo Clinic</a></b> says that roughly we need 1000 mg of Calcium a day. What a lot of people know is that if you don't get Vitamin D, your Calcium intake is useless. You must have Vitamin D in order for Calcium to do its job.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You don't necessarily have to drink milk to get your Calcium (but milk does make the world go around in my house) but green leafy vegetables are high in Calcium as are sardines and canned salmon. Vitamin D can be had by simple sun exposure (though many will warn of how bad the sun is for our skin, even though our ancestors for thousands of years have had exposure without sunscreen), egg yolks and also sardines and canned salmon. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Personally, I would prefer to get my Calcium the nutritional way and simply enjoy the other benefits natural grape juice has. My local market doesn't have any "not from concentrate" grape juice, so I take what I can get here and I'm not convinced that concentrate is a bad thing. It's still juice. Fruit is always better but sometimes I want a refreshing fruity drink. I bet the same people who tell you not to drink juice order Margaritas, which is made from the juice of a fruit. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Have a great weekend everyone! </div>
</div>
Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-76846380888133380782017-04-11T17:15:00.000-05:002018-04-06T15:34:41.689-05:00Things to do when you're sick... and bored... and you're a woman.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I write, I am feeling like death. Today, I have the flu. My stomach is queasy, my nose is running, I'm coughing, my eyes feel like they're on fire and I'm feeling general misery overall, and I have a general feeling wishing that I was dead.<br />
<br />
With tissues stuck in my nose, I Googled "how to pass the time when you're sick" and there were a number of articles that popped up. I read them and wished I could take a marker and mark out nearly everything they said. For example, one said watch a chick flick. Um, what? The last thing I want to do is cry and turn my nose up from jogging to running in full blast mode.<br />
<br />
I think it's pretty clear that the people who wrote these well intended articles, probably weren't sick when they wrote it. Since I am, let's see what works.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
First off, I had to find something funny. I'm not talking hilariously funny like <i>My Cousin Vinny</i> or <i>Liar Liar</i> where your laughing fit will turn into a cough that'll send you running to the toilet for another nauseating round with the john. No. I had to find something mildly amusing. You know, something clever and something that wouldn't make me cry. My eyes are swollen enough, I don't need tears to make them the size of a colossal squid's. Well, okay, that's actually the eyes, not the swollen surrounding tissue, but you get the point.<br />
<br />
I finally selected <i>Gilmore Girls </i>(Netflix). I've heard what a great show it was and how funny and clever it was. SCORE! That is a great binge watching show, sick or well. It did however have a few teary eyed moments but it's okay. It's not like <i>Terms of Endearment</i>. <i>Gilmore Girls</i> is definitely for women but it's a wonderful thing to watch when you're sick.<br />
<br />
Actually, clean mysteries that don't move too fast are good. Normally I would recommend the BBC series <i>Poirot</i> (Netflix) or the other one <i>Miss Marple</i>, but the problem with those is that your head is awfully cloudy and so you may miss clues. Maybe. Heck, that may happen with <i>Murder She Wrote</i> but it would never happen with <i>Columbo</i>.<br />
<br />
Really though, the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark's Mysteries and Movies channel are a safe bet for pretty much anything on those channels.<br />
<br />
Another alternative is to read. Your choice of books is up to you. If you don't feel like going to the bookstore, you can always use your phone as an eReader if you don't have one. Again, I'd stay away from complicated books like anything Tom Clancy to tearjerkers like <i>The Lovely Bones</i>. Two chicklit books that are not tearjerkers are <span id="goog_1422609355"></span><span id="goog_1422609356"></span><i><b><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Before-I-Go-Sleep-Novel-ebook/dp/B004GUSG4M" target="_blank">Before I Go to Sleep</a></b></i> by SJ Watson and <i><b><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Silent-Wife-Novel-S-Harrison-ebook/dp/B00AEDDSZW" target="_blank">The Silent Wife</a></b></i> by ASA Harrison. Neither are comedic but they are not overly complicated and are page turners. If I had to say which was less complicated, it would be the latter rather than the former.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, when I let my head drop to read comfortably, my nose runs. Well, there's a fix for that. It's called Audible! You can get a free trial membership while you're sick and download a couple of books. Both of my suggestions are available but you can pick anything you wish. Oddly, I often like to have children's books read to me. Maybe it makes me feel like my father reading to me when I'm sick, but one good book is <a href="http://www.audible.com/search?ie=UTF8&searchRank=relevancerank&selectedValueId=2239696011&field_format-bin=9178158011&field_subjectbin=2239696011&advsearchKeywords=pollyanna&ref_=a_search_l2_1_1_srchBin&selectedNodeId=1268224011&qid=1491948574&searchSize=20&sr=1-1" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Pollyanna</a> (there are several voices to choose from and one more I'll mention below). I love that book! How about <i><b><a href="http://www.audible.com/search?ie=UTF8&searchRank=relevancerank&selectedValueId=2239696011&field_format-bin=9178158011&field_subjectbin=2239696011&advsearchKeywords=peter%20pan&ref_=a_search_l2_1_1_srchBin&selectedNodeId=1268224011&qid=1491948689&searchSize=20&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Peter Pan</a></b></i> or <i><b><a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Kids/Charlie-and-the-Chocolate-Factory-Audiobook/B00D8J5IMU/" target="_blank">Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</a></b></i>. The classic book ideas can be endless such as <i><b><a href="http://www.audible.com/search?ie=UTF8&searchRank=relevancerank&selectedValueId=2226649011&field_format-bin=9178158011&field_subjectbin=2226649011&advsearchKeywords=three%20musketeers&ref_=a_search_l2_1_1_srchBin&selectedNodeId=1268224011&qid=1491948772&searchSize=20&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Three Musketeers</a></b></i>.<br />
<br />
Again, your phone can run Audible so you can literally lay back in bed, all comfy, and listen to books. No commercials, no having to sit up in bed, no trying to hold a book that feels 20 pounds today, just the comfort of your bed and someone else's voice. Of all the suggestions, this is my favorite and what I've been doing.<br />
<br />
For those of you on a strict budget, there is <a href="http://librivox.org/">LibriVox.org</a>. You can download mp3s of books that are in the public domain. Books like <i>Pollyanna </i>and <i>Peter Pan</i> are amongst those. <b><a href="https://librivox.org/pollyanna-by-eleanor-h-porter/" target="_blank">Mary Anderson's reading of <i>Pollyanna</i></a></b> is amazing! I listened to <i>Pollyanna </i>when I had the flu another time. It was a salvation for me for two reasons. One, the book changed my life, two, it just made me feel better.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
Now, before signing off, the nurse in me wants to make a few remarks on how to take care of yourself to help you get well. As mentioned, I'm a nurse and anyone who knows me knows this. I have discovered that I (and my patients) recover faster if we eat a high quality protein (I eat scrambled eggs) and get more than the usual amount of Vitamin C. I don't mean supplements. I'm talking about fruit, or 100% fruit juice with no sugar added. I prefer oranges and grapes as both fruit or fruit juice.<br />
<br />
I also want to mention over the counter drugs, but first I have to use the usual disclaimer that you should talk to your doctor first. That said, I have also found that most patients get relief from simple medications rather than a bunch of mixed medications on the market. Morning and night, I follow package directions for acetaminophen and dextromethorphan. However, I also need an antihistamine. Not the ones for strictly allergies. Two mostly safe (again, your doctor needs approval) ones I take, that work for colds and flu, and following package directions, are guaifenesin during the day and chlorpheniramine at night. Each of these can be bought in separate bottles at both CVS and Walgreens.<br />
<br />
Add to this a good decaffeinated tea. Honey and lemon can be added for flavor and it will also help the throat. The natural kinds are much more helpful than products claiming to have them already in the package. Some are true honey and lemon, but you have no control over how much, nor is it fresh.<br />
<br />
If desired, you can add a little bit of liquor to your tea. Usually a smooth liquor is soothing to the body but it's all about moderation, in the end. Let your tea cool just a bit, then pour in a shot. It's relaxing and again, can be soothing.<br />
<br />
A lot of people tell you to drink a lot of water. It's ironic because the point of an antihistamine, in this case, is to dry you out. If you replace it with a lot of water, then you're defeating its purpose. However, you may get a bad taste in your mouth or it may feel very dry. Keep your mouth moist with water or a minty tea, and use a lip moisturizer on lips and even under the nose, which tends to get raw.<br />
<br />
If you're vomiting or you have diarrhea, then definitely increase your water intake and you may wish to even drink a form of electrolyte replacement like a sports drink, but without caffeine. If you're sending fluids out (such as the vomiting and diarrhea), then you simply must replace them.<br />
<br />
Try to avoid milk or cream. It sometimes increases mucus production. This is a time when you don't want that.<br />
<br />
Here's hoping you get well and find ways to help yourself get well. I'm now going to bed, to listen to the book, <i>Double Indemnity</i> by James M. Cain. If I finish that, up next is <i>The Galton Case</i>, by Ross MacDonald.<br />
<br />
What do you like to do when you're sick?</div>
Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-58236776530616599582017-02-24T13:53:00.003-06:002017-02-24T13:53:44.743-06:00Tara Grinstead: Finally an arrest!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As some of you know, I've written about this woman before. Her case has baffled me from the beginning. It reads like a whodunnit but in fact, it turned out not to really be like that. The killer was not at the table. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It took over ten years but at last, someone has finally spoken up and and an arrest has been made. Not because of any evidence but because thankfully, a heroic witness came forward with information. I call them heroic because had they not, this case would still be mysterious and unsolved.<a name='more'></a><div>
Surprisingly, all previous suspects were <b><i>not </i></b>the killer. Why the boyfriend lawyered up right away is beyond me but he is not the killer after all. Good for him! I know he's relieved since he has lived under a cloud of suspicion since this horrible thing happened to Tara. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As it turned out, a student who had attended the school where she taught was the culprit and there are hints that there may be others involved. There is not a lot of information being released yet, but it sounds like the killer, one Ryan Alexander Duke, had graduated from the school three years prior. Police have said that he was never a suspect.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Believe me when I say that his high school yearbook photo makes this Ryan look rather handsome, but not so today, I can assure you. He had a vagrant, unkempt look, about him as he showed up in court. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Well, my prayers have been answered for the Grinstead family. There will never be any closure for them, I know that. However, there will be some relief knowing what happened and hopefully soon, they will be able to find the body this woman left behind and lay her to rest. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My previous thoughts I've posted about her:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><a href="http://magnoliasouthc.blogspot.com/2011/02/tara-grinstead-and-jennifer-kesse-cases.html" target="_blank">The Tara Grinstead and Jennifer Kesse cases.</a></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><a href="http://magnoliasouthc.blogspot.com/2011/02/tara-grinstead-blood-evidence-and-more.html" target="_blank">Tara Grinstead: Blood evidence and more.</a></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><a href="http://magnoliasouthc.blogspot.com/2011/02/another-thought-on-tara-grinstead.html" target="_blank">Another thought on Tara Grinstead.</a></b> </div>
</div>
Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-42977769156128414012017-01-26T02:12:00.002-06:002017-01-26T02:14:25.247-06:00How to easily remove a black or white solid background in PSP x8x<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is an easy trick that many of you novice users may not know about. When I say novice, I do not mean newbies, but those who do not use it for professional reasons.<br />
<br />
There is no need to use this for gradient backgrounds because the background remover does a rather fine job of that and this not so much in that instance. This is best used on a black or white solid background.<br />
<a name='more'></a>It's actually really a simple thing. Let's use this as an example:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Single_jersey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Single_jersey.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now the above is from Wikipedia but I just took a screencap and am using that. The original was simply too large and I didn't feel like downloading it so I just screencapped and cropped, but you'll get the idea here. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Also, before we move on, know that if you cannot see the caps, don't worry you're not alone. You can click on them if you can't tell what they are and they will be the normal size. </div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<style type="text/css">
.tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;margin:0px auto;}
.tg td{font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;padding:20px 20px;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;overflow:hidden;word-break:normal;}
.tg th{font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;padding:20px 20px;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;overflow:hidden;word-break:normal;}
.tg .tg-baqh{text-align:center;vertical-align:top}
.tg .tg-yw4l{vertical-align:top}
</style>
<br />
<table class="tg">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th class="tg-yw4l">Instructions</th>
<th class="tg-baqh">Sreen Captures</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tg-yw4l">Right click on the background.</td>
<td class="tg-baqh"><a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.34.15.png"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.34.15.png" width="400" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tg-yw4l">Select <i>Promote Background Layer.</i></td>
<td class="tg-baqh"><a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.34.34.png"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.34.34.png" width="400" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tg-yw4l">It will look like this and say:<br />
Raster 1.</td>
<td class="tg-baqh"><a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.34.43.png"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.34.43.png" width="400" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tg-yw4l">Hover over the mask icon at the bottom and it should say:<br />
<i>New mask layer.</i></td>
<td class="tg-baqh"><a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.35.07.png"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.35.07.png" width="400" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tg-yw4l">Hit the down arrow and select:<br />
<i>From image</i></td>
<td class="tg-baqh"><a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.35.18.png"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.35.18.png" width="400" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tg-yw4l">Select:<br />
<i>Source luminance</i><br />
and<br />
<i>Invert mask data.</i><br />
Then click:<br />
<i>OK</i></td>
<td class="tg-baqh"><a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.48.57.png"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.48.57.png" width="400" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tg-yw4l">It will look like this now. Even though the white is gone in the image, we're not yet finished.</td>
<td class="tg-baqh"><a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.49.06.png"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.49.06.png" width="400" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tg-yw4l">Right click and select:<br />
<i>Merge</i><br />
then:<br />
<i>Merge group</i></td>
<td class="tg-baqh"><a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.49.58.png"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.49.58.png" width="400" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tg-yw4l">Tada! This is now what you have and you're finished.</td>
<td class="tg-baqh"><a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.50.19.png"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.50.19.png" width="400" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tg-yw4l">But wait! What about black? Remember when you selected:<i>Invert mask data</i>?<br />
Well de-select it to remove black. Here you can see that the black drawings are gone.</td>
<td class="tg-baqh"><a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.51.14.png"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84805/Background%20Erase%20Tut%201/Screenshot%202017-01-25%2019.51.14.png" width="400" /></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Did this help you? I love this trick and use it quite often. I actually have x9 sitting on my desk but I've been too lazy to install it. If you have it, then it will still work and honestly, it seems like if you go way back before Corel even bought PSP when it was actually PSP v. 7 I believe it worked then too.<br />
<br />
What other tricks do you know?</div>
Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-88256056980573059372017-01-13T14:47:00.001-06:002017-01-13T14:47:25.659-06:00eMeals: Update of Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been using eMeals for a few weeks now relying completely on it. I wrote up <b><a href="http://magnoliasouthc.blogspot.com/2017/01/emealscom-full-review.html" target="_blank">a full review here</a></b>, but there were a few things I did not address, that I felt like needed to be added.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I use the Quick and Healthy plan. I will say that if I buy the ingredients that they call for, it is indeed quick and definitely healthy, but my grocery bill was over $350 one week which is unacceptable. I had to rethink how I did "quick". </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The main cost problem comes in two parts. One, the quick ingredients are pre-prepared items that you're paying someone else to do and that gets expensive fast; and two, the produce ingredients can be pricey. Let's look at a couple of things to explain.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Nearly every week it calls for 1 or 2 dinners with packages of pre-cooked rice. While convenient because it's already cooked, it gets expensive very quickly. Walmart sells <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Uncle-Bens-Ready-Rice-Spanish-Style/10420826" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">a single package</a> (all cost the same, but this example is the Spanish rice), at the time of this writing, for $2.74. I have the family plan so I need two packages of it so that will cost me $5.48. Each package yields 2 cups of rice, so that's $5.48 for 4 cups of rice. Now for Spanish rice, that's probably okay. If I had to make homemade Spanish rice it would likely cost about the same, but what about brown rice, or basmati or jasmine? Absolutely not! That is very expensive for just plain rice. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You can buy one 32-oz bag of Mathama brown rice for $2.16. A 32-oz bag yields 16 cups of cooked rice. You see the price difference there, right? Now imagine having to buy 4 of the pre-cooked a week. That's a huge money loss by the end of the year. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Next it's the produce. This past week it called for 6 bok choy. Each bok choy was 96 cents each, so that's roughly 6 dollars. Six dollars for only the side dish! We're not talking the main dish. That is very expensive. I ultimately went with plain 'ol cabbage, which was 46 cents, total. That saved me 5 dollars. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I went through my list for this past week and had to substitute a number of items. I bought a bag of jasmine rice instead of pre-cooked, cabbage instead of bok choy, fresh bell peppers and onions than pre-cut frozen, etc. My food bill dropped to an amazing $147. Well, I did spend $75 at the Asian market buying sauces and such it called for, but only part of that was for this past week. Some was for my son's Japanese cooking and some were for the week before. I had skipped one recipe from the week before that I'd use this past week instead. Either way, that's still way less than the $350 it was week before last. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Oh and I almost forgot about the tenderloins! Last week the list called for chicken tenderloins, which would mean that I wouldn't have to do much with it. However it was 4 times more costly to buy them and then I was incensed when I opened the package. Each package had 6 and of those 6, 6 had tendons from the breast. Basically, I had to spend time slicing the tendon out and by the time it was all said and done, it would have been cheaper and just as fast if I had just bought breasts in the first place. I felt like hitting Walmart's butcher with those so-called "tenderloins". What a rip off! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the end, you have a choice. You can either spend a lot of time in the kitchen or save money. You cannot have both. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I decided to compromise. I shop on Wednesdays (which is one reason I wish the list would come out earlier in the week, I have to plan their plan and that irritates me to no end) so I spend more time in the kitchen on Thursday than I do the rest of the week. I slice vegetables that they told me to get frozen. I slice up breasts that they told me to get as tenderloins, or whatever. I cook up rice and freeze them in bags. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then the rest of the week, dinner is pretty easy. I get the convenience of a fast meal without that fast cost. I looked at the plain healthy menu to see if it would be more economical, but it really isn't. It still calls for things like bok choy and other expensive produce or ingredients. Sadly, eating cheap is what it is. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm a little saddened because I had looked forward to a variety of foods and not having to eat the same thing over and over again. However if I do it their way, I'll be homeless when I retire. I can't stand liberals who say "Well you'll just die young then if you don't spend the money on good health now." My retort to that is "Well good, because I'd rather be dead than eating out of trash cans because I'll have to live on the street." Liberals don't understand simple economics, but I digress. </div>
<div>
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We'll see how long I continue to use eMeals. Perhaps the company will read this and offer a solution, but for now I don't see one. If I have to constantly edit, make changes, buy cheaper and on and on, then what am I paying them for? </div>
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I want to give them a fair shake though and see how this plays out. </div>
</div>
Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-73114122474358587662017-01-10T16:34:00.000-06:002017-01-10T16:34:51.209-06:00Discussion Part 2: Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have completed the first 6 episodes of Leah's documentary and I understand that there are only 7 and next week 7 (or will it be 8?) will be airing.<br />
<br />
Now that I've seen the shows and read the letters, I am convinced that David Miscavige (whom I will now refer to as #PsychoDave from here on out) is a psychopath. His is an abusive, self-serving, egotistical rat bastard of a psychopath. He brainwashes his followers and pockets millions of dollars by ripping them off. This is no religion, it's at best, a self-help group, but in reality a self-destruction group.<br />
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I doubt very much any Scientologist will ever read what I have to say. They're not allowed to read it. They are censored something fierce, and is an abomination. If you know a Scientologist print out the St. Petersburg articles and give it to them. Know first, that you will likely never be spoken to by them again, but know that what you did was the right thing.<br />
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Post these articles in public. Some will be curious, some may actually read them and if only ONE person reads them and changes their mind, then you've likely saved their life.<br />
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If you can't watch the A&E documentary because you've gone off of cable/satellite TV, then the articles are the way to go. Hell, if you even watched the documentary, I still recommend the articles. They outline the same things really, but the article has more information. Watching them on TV though brings you closer to the humans that they are. You really need both, but one or the other is absolutely required.<br />
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Where do I even begin to discuss the atrocities that #PsychoDave has committed? They are so numerous that a single blog post couldn't possibly cover them all. Except for the master race business and the mass executions, #PsychoDave is exactly like Hitler. He has established labor camps. He imprisons his followers. He beats his executives into submission. He makes his followers take lie detector tests, has them interrogated then charges them money for it. His own father had to plan his escape six months in advance. His own father! When your father has to escape, you know there is a problem.<br />
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Go <b><a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology-the-truth-rundown-part-1-of-3-in-a-special-report-on-the/1012148" target="_blank">here and read this 3-part article</a></b>, then come back and finish my post. Read it slowly and carefully.<br />
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We must do something about this. We must! Tweet about it. Blog about it. Complain to the FBI, the White House, your elected official about it. Do something! Do not sit by and let #PsychoDave continue his abuse.<br />
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So why am I calling him #PsychoDave? Well, I think the psycho part is self-explanatory, but the Dave part is a personal insult to him and anyone who saw the show, may remember in episode five "A Leader Emerges" Ron Miscavige (#PsychoDave's father) recounts a moment when he tried to congratulate his son by saying "Good job, Dave!" He called him Dave and Ron says #PsychoDave turned around and gave him a look that said Ron had no right to even address him at all, much less by his first name and even worse, a nickname. What kind of a monster treats his father like that? I mean, the man was congratulating him for goodness' sake!<br />
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So it is for his father, that I use this name, along with his appropriate adjective.<br />
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I will not repeat everything the article and documentary has said. The article is free to read and is worth every word in reading it. All I can say is that it is time to bring down this cult (I will not call it a "church" because that is not what it is) and especially, its leader, #PsychoDave.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Further online reading:</h3>
For us po' folks, we cannot afford books. Nearly everyone who is anyone in the cult has written a book, so you can simply Google that for books and they all detail their experiences in the church and how they defected, but sadly I cannot afford to buy a lot of books at a time. Also, because I have a 24-hour care mother with dementia, I do not have the time to read them all. It would take me years to read them and I love my fiction too, because my life is such that I need a good fictional take-me-away break... OFTEN. That said, here is some you-can-read-what-they-have-to-say-in-a-few-minutes-things.<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b><a href="http://www.mikerindersblog.org/" target="_blank">Mike Rinder's blog</a></b>. The Aftermath Letters is what Mike's job originally was. His job was to discredit and defame anyone who publicly criticized #PsychoDave and his cult. The shock that he has defected is so tremendous that I cannot express it here. His defection alone is just cause to believe every word he has to say. </li>
<li><b><a href="http://tonyortega.org/" target="_blank">Tony Ortega's blog</a></b>. He is a journalist who has been writing, critically, about Scientology for over 20 years. He is not a former Scientologist, but is like me. One who discovered its abuses and wants the world to know.</li>
<li><b><a href="http://blownforgood.com/" target="_blank">Marc Headley's (kind of) blog</a></b>. Most of his site is related to his book, but that's okay. Normally I hate self-serving ads for their tell-all books, but his story is going to be worth it. What is amazing to me is that he was responsible for producing promotional and public events videos, that brainwash followers. He made copies of all his videos that were not for public eyes and now we can see their lies with our own eyes, thanks to him. I must also note that in my search for his blog/book, I found another site that starts with "Marc Headley is a sick pathological liar who was kicked out of the Church after he was caught selling stolen equipment on eBay." That tells me everything I need to know. Marc Headley is telling the truth, else they wouldn't go to such lengths to create a blog just to denounce him. Besides, this BS is mentioned in The Aftermath Letters, so who freaking cares?</li>
<li>When I hear <i>The Hollywood Reporter</i> I think rag magazine, however <b><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tom-cruise-katie-holmes-divorce-scientology-344687" target="_blank">this article</a></b> is in line with everything I've read and heard so far and sums it all up very well in a shorter version. The subject is supposed to be about Katie Holmes' surprise move on filing for divorce from Tom Cruise, but many of the people mentioned here is mentioned in the article. </li>
</ul>
<div>
Again, do research. Fight these people and take this cult down. If you're a Christian, think of it as a mission from God only because it really is; He hates false prophets and #PsychoDave is definitely that, if you're an Atheist then treat them like you do Christians (oh and stop treating Christians badly and have some respect for a change), if you're Agnostic do it because you know deep down it is simply wrong, if you're a real Muslim (and not some psycho Islamic bastard) then do it knowing that Allah wants peace and not violence, if you're Jewish never forget the atrocities of Germany (I mean no disrespect in comparing these, after all, as I've mentioned already, #PsychoDave isn't nearly as bad as Hitler but I think if #PsychoDave thought he could get away with eliminating those of us who dissent, he would) and know that like Christians, God hates false prophets. If you're anything else, do it because it's the right thing to do.</div>
</div>
Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-33907485321017512792017-01-09T14:41:00.000-06:002017-01-09T14:41:35.300-06:00Discussion: Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I knew Leah Remini had produced an 8-part series that detailed the abuses of the so-called "Church" of Scientology, which is the last time you'll see it written that way in any more of my posts. Merriam-Webster defines Church as a place of Christian worship. Scientology is not a Christian entity; not in the least. Christianity is about forgiveness and the belief that Christ is our Savior. They preach none of that. In fact, they preach that you alone are responsible for well-being. That is an anti-Christ teaching.<br />
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Let's put the nit-picky part aside though. Let's instead look at the one thing that is proof it is anything but a church. Let's look at their own words.<br />
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All churches experience dissenters who lodge complaints. Look at the Catholic church and its stigma of pedophilia. Maybe there were cover-ups, maybe there weren't, but how did the church react publicly? Did they personally attack those who accused them of said acts? Of course they didn't! They remained largely silent. There were no personal insults, there were no vicious statements.<br />
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When any entity personally attacks anyone, those are the most serious of red flags. Especially when such an organization claims to be such a great one. If the cult of Scientology were really interested in helping people, then statements about Leah Remini like, "A program about our religion... by a has-been actress..." Are they serious here? Let us forget for a moment that they lie calling it a religion when it's clearly a cult, but listen to that attack. A more articulate letter writer would instead point out the reasons why the cult is a success. If they truly believe Remini is as petty a person as they claim, then why lower themselves to personal attacks?<br />
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Let's look at other personal attacks because they don't just attack Leah, they attack EVERYONE.<br />
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"Mike Render has been a liar his whole life." That's just the beginning.<br />
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"Mike Render has abused.. harassed...staged...attacked" Need I go on here? There are pages and pages of them insulting him. What a supportive "church" wink-wink, right? Again, proof there's no church here.<br />
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Marc Headley and Ron Miscaviage "beat... slammed... punched...hit... lunged... threw..." All of those were described in less than a half of a page, total. I kid you not! Would you believe someone who made that many accusations? In another letter Ron Miscaviage is a "racist... Nazi... rapist" They even want to point out that Disney's CEO is Jewish, 'so watch out'.<br />
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Tom DeVocht, Mike Rinder and Amy Scobee "are self-professed liars."<br />
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Tom DeVocht is a "bigot... liar... perjurer... thief" Like all the other men they list, he beats women, that one gets old fast. Further they say about him "he squandered money... abused his sister..." and the typical accusations they use for everyone else.<br />
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Jeff Hawkins is also a "liar... pervert... sexual deviant... peeping Tom... bitter... bigot..." They even take it further accusing him of being part of Anonymous (a hacker group) and say that he made "bomb threats... assassination threats... arson threats... death threats" but of course they offer no proof whatsoever.<br />
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Jeff isn't the only one that they accuse being part of Anonymous. They also say that Marc Hedley was part of it and claim he exposed himself in Germany. They accuse Marc and his wife Claire of lying to police. They say Marc "[was] spreading lies... is a disgraced member... confessed to a crime... is a scammer... attended hate rallies..."<br />
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They try to defend shunning and list a number of world religions (as well as other cults), saying that they do the same. No one shuns like they do except perhaps the Amish/Mennonites. If their beliefs are so good, then why do they say, "The Scientology practice of disconnection is not only consistent with other world religions..." Why do they need to compare themselves to others? Are they saying that others are just as good, if not better than, their own?<br />
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Angry that the cult wasn't informed that they were "going to use Aaron Smith-Levin as a source" they turned their attack on him. Now he, like the others is described as "violent... abusive... attacked... bully... joined a hate group..." It's getting old, isn't it?<br />
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Do you see a pattern here? Rather than address the accusations made about them, they attack those making said accusations on a personal level. It sounds so very childish that I literally laugh as I read these litters. All of their past members are violent, which is interesting because this proves to us that their clientele (yes, they're clients) are all apparently violent. That is one very violent, hateful, abusive and lying cult, isn't it? What does this tell you?<br />
<br />
They threatened A&E and accused them of having no "credible reason" why they can't be in control of interviews of their members. This means A&E addressed their concern, but they dismissed it as not credible. They say that producers are "playing a shell game." They want to supervise the production saying they "want to ensure it's fair and balanced". They sound so irrational and I think it's pretty clear that they are scared to death of this exposé. They say to A&E, "You cannot hide from the truth and pretend that your film is anything but a one-sided exercise in religious bigotry that relies on lies." Now they're calling A&E bigots! Anyone who disagrees with them is a bigot, is violent, is hateful and is a liar.<br />
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You can read all of this yourself here: <a href="http://www.aetv.com/shows/leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/exclusives/aftermath-letters">http://www.aetv.com/shows/leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath/exclusives/aftermath-letters</a><br />
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Their letters speak to us loud and clear. This is an irrational cult that lies to its members and if that doesn't work or a member decides to leave, they launch a personal attack campaign. Were I any of them, I'd file a lawsuit of defamation. It's time to take down this organization.<br />
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Oh and let's talk about Anonymous for a moment. It's anything but a "hate group" as they call it. Have they done illegal things? Yes. However they stand for freedom and yes, they did protest this cult. Remember that America's founding father's did illegal things too. I know it sounds like I'm defending illegal activity, but everyone does something illegal. If you've ever broken the speed limit in your life then congratulations, you are now a participant in illegal activity.<br />
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This cult is well aware that everything these people are saying is true and they have no other way to prove otherwise. They cannot prove that those things Remini accuses them of are lies. Personally, I don't see how what they're doing is legal and I call on authorities to investigate these allegations. In part 7, it is proven that they are constructing empty buildings in order to keep their charitable organization status for taxes. Is this not tax evasion?<br />
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It's time for them to be exposed. It's time for laws to be enacted to prevent this kind of abuse from organizations that hide under the veil of "religion" when in fact it's a self-help cult. I wholeheartedly believe in the separation of church and state, but this is no church. It is simply a cult club.<br />
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Bring it on Miscavige, you dirty punk.</div>
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Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-76130273487748363692017-01-01T15:40:00.000-06:002017-01-13T14:48:14.644-06:00eMeals.com: A Full Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have a love/hate relationship with <a href="http://emeals.com/"><b>eMeals.com</b></a>. To begin with, I love the service they provide. They plan the meals, they look at what's in season so it's cheapest and they give you recipes to make. A lot of meal planning books and websites give you the main dish but never any sides. Thankfully, eMeals.com includes sides! There is no more spending time trying to plan what your family will eat.<br />
<br />
They also have several different plans. Eating cheaply, paleo diet, low carbs, quick meals, quick and healthy, etc. They have different sized meals. They have cooking for two and family size meals for 4-6. The possibilities are endless and you can switch meal plans if you want to anytime.<br />
<br />
Then there's the grocery list they have for you. You can print it, or open the app on your Google Play Android phone or iPhone, you cannot open it in a Kindle without hacking your Kindle. It has it's problems, granted. You need to not be in a hurry the first time you use it else you may buy three times as much parsley like I did, which I'll explain in a bit.<br />
<a name='more'></a>As you can see, there are a number of problems with it too. I went by the grocery list and only picked up a few extra things not on the list. I spent over $300 (not including the extra stuff) to feed 4 adults in this house. I am using the quick and healthy family plan. The part is that I didn't even get 7 days, I only went with 6. I selected meals from last week and this week, so there is no actual week number (they assign numbers for each week).<br />
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Let me also be clear here. I went to Walmart and I only bought one or two organic items. Most of the time I purchased the cheapest things they had. For example: for <b><a href="http://emeals.com/recipes/recipe-26956-175244" target="_blank">this recipe</a>,</b> I bought Great Value ziti pasta, instead of a healthier version due to cost. Also, I didn't buy some items that were pre-prepped like what <b><a href="http://emeals.com/recipes/recipe-26957-175246" target="_blank">this recipe</a></b> called for. I just bought an onion (I mean, it takes me 1 minute to mince/chop an onion).<br />
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As you can clearly see, that is a LOT of money. I remember back in the day when I made that much in two weeks and I'm a nurse, by gosh!<br />
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So let's lay this out with pros and cons.<br />
<br />
Pros (in no particular order):<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Has a number of meal plans to choose from.</li>
<li>Servings are plentiful, there are usually leftovers, so there is enough for lunch the next day for at least one person.</li>
<li>I don't have to spend time meal planning and creating a shopping list.</li>
<li>If you have a quick meal plan, they are usually very quick. Some have been gourmet and I have them ready in 20 minutes! <b><a href="http://emeals.com/recipes/recipe-26818-174339" target="_blank">This recipe</a></b> is amazingly fast and delicious. Even with my modifications it was quick and easy. I used Rotel's Chili Fixin's instead of tomatoes, subbed zucchini for olives (I hate olives) and used cilantro instead of parsley and WOW!!! It was so good! </li>
<li>Pricing is fair; it's not overly expensive if you use the yearly plan. If you pay every month or every 3 months, then it's value is very much diminished.</li>
<li>You have a different meal every single day.</li>
<li>Most everything you can get, you can get at Walmart. That's a plus for many of us dollar challenged families, but as mentioned already, it can still be very expensive, even when you're using Walmart.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Cons (also in no particular order)</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>There is no Kindle app, only Android at Google Play. There is no reason not to give us an app on Kindle. I cannot fathom the reason behind it. It would make my life so much easier as you will see.</li>
<li>There is no cheap, healthy and fast. After all, isn't that what we all want? We want to eat as cheaply as possible but eating healthy without a lot of time in the kitchen. </li>
<li>There are no URLs to each recipe under My Account. I'll explain this more fully in a bit, but this is a very serious con for me. It wouldn't be either if I could get an app on my Kindle.</li>
<li>Sales at stores are not included in most plans.</li>
<li>Coupons may expire before being used.</li>
<li>It can be very expensive, depending on the plan you choose.</li>
<li>Grocery lists have several of the same ingredients separated (in the app, I don't use the paper one so I haven't paid much attention to that one) so I find myself going back to the carrots (for example) 3 different times. For example: I'll have a list that says 1 bell pepper then 4 carrots then 1 onion then 3 carrots then 4 tomatoes then 2 carrots. It would be nice if they grouped same items into one entry because if not, then I have another problem....</li>
<li>The second one is that they round items up and tell you buy several of the same item. For example, one list carried 3 entries that said "1 bunch of parsley". That's 3 bunches of parsley. However, 3 different meals only called for about 2 tablespoons of parsley. The list rounded each parsley up to a full bunch when a full bunch wasn't really needed for the entire week. One would have been plenty! I ended up with a ton of fresh parsley wasted because this was the first week I ever used the app. I was not happy.</li>
<li>If I could edit entries, then all would be much easier. Better still, if I could view them online and edit the list then sync it to my phone, that would be best! You cannot edit items it provides you, but you can add items you want. That said, you cannot place them where you want and in the order you prefer. </li>
<li>Speaking of order, and this is a minor con, but a con none-the-less. I would prefer to arrange my list in the order that my favorite store is laid out. For example, it starts with Canned Goods. Well in my store (and pretty much every store) the first thing you shop for is produce. I would prefer Produce be first. However, if you scroll down to the category you need and you turn your phone off, when you turn it on, it'll still be where you left it, which is why this is minor. It still needs fixing, but would probably be last on my list. </li>
<li>For military folks, it's not really very small commissary friendly. If you're lucky enough to be Army most of your commissaries are large. However if you're Navy, they tend to be very small with not a lot of variety. It makes it hard to shop for the list and you may find yourself having to substitute. </li>
</ul>
In case you're wondering, my first husband was Army. I was an Army wife his entire career; we were married before and after his 15 years in the Army. He got a medical discharge and then things went downhill after that. I raised my children in the Army culture so they're military brats. The commissaries for Army are SO much better than for the Navy.</div>
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<br /></div>
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My second husband is Navy, retired. They have a whole different language that I'm still trying to learn. Their culture is so very different than Navy. </div>
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Okay, we have that out of the way. Moving along...</div>
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Each week they show a page like the one below. Go ahead and click on it to see in full screen. You'll see my current subscription and two download links that say this week's plan and last week's plan. Those are pdf documents where you can view the whole thing at once. The menu and the shopping list. Well, what if I am on my Kindle, viewing the website since there is no app for Kindle, and I want to view the recipe in my kitchen while I cook? Kindle doesn't like pdf documents. It wants to read it like a book, which isn't the way I want to view them sometimes.</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmH0WBEqTLZfRcQFBLFMV2jeh3YRc-udKMINB5KOXKUBlY_NVH7-j_g8q-B82lNv2527G3IFZWagkcTWZx3045GqcKLRMGvyIOcwF0wtV9tCySAOUKg3My_ONVrqW9xdIUAG6/s1600/Screenshot+2017-01-01+13.41.04.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmH0WBEqTLZfRcQFBLFMV2jeh3YRc-udKMINB5KOXKUBlY_NVH7-j_g8q-B82lNv2527G3IFZWagkcTWZx3045GqcKLRMGvyIOcwF0wtV9tCySAOUKg3My_ONVrqW9xdIUAG6/s200/Screenshot+2017-01-01+13.41.04.png" width="148" /></a></div>
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Now if I could use the website to view a recipe, it would look much better and be easier to follow. The problem is that there are no links to view the recipes online, without downloading the pdf. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
For example, I shared two recipes above. Those are links to actual recipes on my plan. I cannot get those links anywhere on the website. Yet, how do I have those links? Well, let me explain.</div>
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I have to go into the app on my phone (because I can't use Kindle) and take the following steps:</div>
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First, using my phone, I open the app and see this:</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/EbVvHw4T8jJbYdsCFBqILkDhntLF_GNRwo6gQAl9XbDiafGnaXAaF_Kk-BhEq8aofKay8QLDQbBv_S7QzpPaDFYnolQ=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/EbVvHw4T8jJbYdsCFBqILkDhntLF_GNRwo6gQAl9XbDiafGnaXAaF_Kk-BhEq8aofKay8QLDQbBv_S7QzpPaDFYnolQ=s400" width="112" /></a></div>
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Then I select the week (in this instance, it's last week) and see this:</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/F97xTHsMPXdSFYa8wLUYJFNW3fr_oEEFykiZF_d9F056JUmOfgsLxtaCkw_gz-u5Z00uHxXjN9K5vcDqKe9SWbTKZsI=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/F97xTHsMPXdSFYa8wLUYJFNW3fr_oEEFykiZF_d9F056JUmOfgsLxtaCkw_gz-u5Z00uHxXjN9K5vcDqKe9SWbTKZsI=s400" width="112" /></a></div>
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Then I select the recipe and see this:</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/jq45KtekkK5pamedLm0bBDnIpKzf-4aRAf-1sfqQfxIcwpzXc91Eq8NEurVaGriDI9ntziUDWXw-K9mi1DZuI-Zstwg=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/jq45KtekkK5pamedLm0bBDnIpKzf-4aRAf-1sfqQfxIcwpzXc91Eq8NEurVaGriDI9ntziUDWXw-K9mi1DZuI-Zstwg=s400" width="112" /></a></div>
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Then I tap the share button and see this: </div>
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Then I email myself the link.</div>
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Then I turn on my Kindle.</div>
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Then I tap on the Web.</div>
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Then I sign into my email (I have to use my web mail because Kindle's email client stinks.</div>
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Then I have to find the email I just sent myself.</div>
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Then I tap on the link. </div>
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Phew! That's a lot of trouble for a single link, wouldn't you say? Why can't they just make them available to me via My Account? Then I just have to log in and view them. It's much easier than all of that. </div>
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As you can see, it's clearly not without its problems, but sometimes the benefits outweigh the problems. It's convenient and creative. Naturally not every recipe is a hit. We made <a href="http://emeals.com/recipes/recipe-26956-175245" target="_blank"><b>these</b></a> night before last and the family hated them. It sounds delicious but for whatever reason, the flavor was just not that good. In fact, I couldn't stand it. I ate them, but was disappointed. Hey, that's life. We don't always love what we make. The next night was the ziti which was delicious. </div>
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In the end, you can <b><a href="https://emeals.com/account/trial.php?" target="_blank">try it free</a></b> (as of this writing) for two weeks. Yes, it says Paleo but you can switch it after you sign up. If you don't like it, you can cancel it. Just be sure to cancel. That's the key to free.</div>
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I personally find it very helpful and on a scale of 1 to 10 I'd give this service a good 7. I'd give them an 8 if they would fix the app/link/Kindle issue; a 9 if they would allow full online/sync editing and a 10 if they would give us cheap, healthy and fast meals. </div>
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You may be interested in my updated review, <b><a href="http://magnoliasouthc.blogspot.com/2017/01/emeals-update-of-review.html" target="_blank">located here</a></b>. </div>
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Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-61266974445315823192016-11-13T15:11:00.001-06:002016-11-13T15:11:42.419-06:00The Sherri Holland and Sherri Vanessa Holland murder cases.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is very unusual to have two women murdered who lived in the same state (in fact, in the same region of the state) with the same names a few years apart. I'm sure this is not the first instance, but I don't recall another time.<div>
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Tomorrow, a man is to (rightly) be executed for one of the murders. The killer of the other is still at large, but it seems probable that it was one of two people. </div>
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Let's look at the similarities of the cases:</div>
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Both women were named Sherri Holland.</li>
<li>Both women were from NW Georgia.</li>
<li>Both women had recently broken up with their lovers.</li>
<li>Both women were murdered within 5 years of each other.</li>
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There, the similarities end. We do not know who killed Sherri Vanessa, or even that she's actually dead since her body has never been found, but we definitely know who killed the other Sherri. Steven Spears, her former boyfriend, even confessed and did so without remorse stating he'd do it again. She was his and his alone and he'd not share her. He stuck to his word. </div>
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It is very suspicious that Sherri Vanessa's lover was a married man who could not let her go too. That said, her business partner had a lot to gain from her death and it's been noted by police how said business partner spoke of her in the past tense, which is unusual for close family and friends to do when someone is only missing.</div>
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Sure, on the surface it <i>seems</i> plausible that Sherri Vanessa staged her own disappearance but leaving her dogs behind? Especially abandoned? <b><i>Doubtful!</i></b> That's like leaving your children abandoned. Dog owners do not do that. Ever. Well, good dog owners and we know that Sherri Vanessa was a good one.</div>
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This means there is definite foul play here. </div>
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Justice for Sherri is about to be handed down. Unfortunately for the other, Sherri Vanessa, justice still remains. If you can help, please contact the <a href="https://gbi.georgia.gov/" target="_blank"><b>GBI</b></a> at (404) 244-2600.</div>
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Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-19625967892229708192016-09-25T11:52:00.002-05:002016-09-25T11:52:36.983-05:00Finding my Christian faith.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was raised in the Methodist church. It wasn't until I was nearly an adult that I experienced other churches such as Baptist or Catholic and even Mormon. I was shocked at the difference in behavior and practice. Baptists screamed at me that I was a sinner and Catholics did a lot kneeling and some odd thing with water. I began to question not my faith, but how to worship in the right Christian manner. What was the truth?<br />
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Truth is different for many of us. What I say here is not meant to be insulting, but describes my journey which has led to my own personal belief system. It may not agree with yours, but that is not to be debated here. I will not debate what I believe, why and whether it's right or not. I'm just going to share how I came to be who I am.<br />
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I have never doubted that Jesus is my savior. That is fact to me and no so-called science is going to change that. Just as one believes that a parent loves you, without any absolute proof except that they say so (they could be lying), I believe in Jesus' love.<br />
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What I doubted was the right way to worship Him. There are so many variants. The first thing I had to decide for myself was how to know. You can't come to a conclusion of worship unless you have a guide of some kind.<br />
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We all played the telephone game as children. Remember? You whisper a sentence to the person sitting next to you and that person leans to the person on his opposite side and whispers the same sentence and you go around to a bunch of people until there is no one else, then the last person says aloud what he heard. It's <i>never</i> the same as when it started.<br />
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This was proof for me that I cannot rely on what someone tells me. Traditional and verbal hand-me-down doctrine will be tainted. It also meant that one pastor's interpretation of something may not coincide with another's. The proof of this is historical fact. Cults have been borne out of these kinds of things. I learned early on that you have to educate yourself, rather than rely on someone else to educate you.<br />
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For this reason, Catholicism and Orthodoxy was discarded, for me. Its reliance on tradition and on decisions made in a hierarchy is simply, for me, too political for a religious establishment. Yes, I believe in church leaders but not in religious laws made by man.<br />
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The only answer for my problem was <i>sola scriptura</i>, or that the scriptures are the sole authority in all matters of doctrine (or belief) and practice. This cannot be doubted. It is written right there in black and white and has everything one needs to know right there.<br />
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In order to believe this, however, this means you have to believe it's inspired by God. That seemed like the most logical conclusion. If I don't believe in man-made tradition, then God would need to speak to me in another way. The Word had to be the right way. It is only logical.<br />
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Already, I have narrowed down my belief system and it didn't take long to figure that out.<br />
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Next I had to look at various non-Catholic/Orthodox beliefs. Baptist is huge and comes in so many varieties it'll make your head spin. What separates them from others is the belief that you must be dunked for baptism.<br />
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Here's my problem with that. Already I have shunned transubstantiation. Why? The Bible says "my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed". Jesus didn't slice off his skin and hand it out to eat nor did he drain his blood and hand it out to drink. For me, it is simply symbolic. It means that I am to remember Him always for communion and take wine and bread in His name.<br />
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Now, if I believe that, then that means that full dunking for baptism is also merely a symbol in practice. Water does not wash away your sin. It does not ward off evil spirits. It is an element created by God and the dunking in water is another symbol of the washing away of sins. It helps us understand what that means to us. If I believe that, then I can say goodbye to the Baptist belief system as well.<br />
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One simple verse in Revelation helps relieve me of Mormonism: For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book -- Revelation 22:18 (KJV)<br />
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Well, I'm not wanting those plagues so I'm not taking any chances here. Mormons counter that verse by saying John only meant the book of Revelation, not the Bible as a whole book, but that's not what John says. Sorry, no-can-do there. It sounds pretty clear to me and again, this is my belief. You are welcome to follow your own heart.<br />
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Don't get me wrong. I have family that is near and dear to me who are devout Mormons. I fully respect their beliefs. I just may not agree, but I also disagree with those who love Obama. It doesn't make me love my family any less.<br />
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Moving along.<br />
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Jehovah's Witnesses and other similar beliefs are not going to be discussed here except to say this: anyone who says I cannot get medical treatments (or even certain medical treatments) is automatically out. God has made it clear that we have a responsibility to ourselves and to Him. He will not help the lazy nor those who do not want to take care of themselves. This goes hand in hand with medical treatment. I'm not saying you have to receive medical treatment, I'm saying a church should not tell you that you cannot.<br />
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Then of course there is shunning. It is true that there is scripture which says to shun those who do not live Christians lives, but then Jesus also taught us that we are not to judge, we are to forgive and shunning is judging without forgiveness. I have come to the conclusion that when the Bible speaks of shunning people, that the meaning isn't the actual person, but the ways of that person because after all, it's the ways that make that person wrong. That leaves out any sect that shuns anyone whatsoever.<br />
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Thus far, I have narrowed down my own personal belief system to 2 or 3 sects. We are left with Methodists, some Lutheran churches and Presbyterian. Of course, there are many non-denominational churches that I'm aligned with so far as well, but of the big churches, it is the 2 or 3.<br />
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Lately, homosexuality has become an issue in churches regarding membership and even leadership. The Bible makes it clear: homosexuality is a sin, plain and simple. This means zero leadership in the church. Who am I to judge? No one. Therefore I don't judge. I sin, everyone sins. However, a total disregard for the scripture is bad leadership and by practicing homosexuality, one is making it clear they have a total disregard for the scripture.<br />
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I'm not holding only homosexuals accountable here. I'm also holding those unmarried couples living together (I even did it, but I'm accountable for it and I am married now), having sex, etc. Leaders of the church need to be living a path that is a good example. Members should be good examples and by becoming a member of the church, you are making an oath that you will try to live a righteous life.<br />
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As you can see, homosexuality is just one wrong of many and is not to be held higher above others, nor dismissed. It is a problem and any church who allows it or condones it and even performs marriages for homosexuals is an abomination since said church is encouraging sin.<br />
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Moving along...<br />
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When it comes to Saints and Mary and all those things I see nowhere in the Bible that says this is allowed. Man is man and God is God. Mary was selected by God to have the Christ but she is still woman and not God.<br />
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However, I do understand the need to recognize those who have made special contributions, in the name of Christianity, to the world in their lifetime. Mother Teresa has been in the news time and again lately for her special contributions. I'm not convinced of these special miracles that are required to elevate her status, but she clearly left her mark on the world in her fervor to feed the hungry.<br />
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Francis of Assisi's love of animals is enough for me to appreciate his work. I do not mind my dogs wearing a medallion with a prayer and so forth. Again, I fully respect their work but I do not believe them to be elevated above mankind.<br />
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Also, you cannot put a number on prayers. A rosary is all well and good, but a prayer for every bead is like a quota. It is unfair to believe that God believes we should maintain a quota for prayers. I see nothing wrong with its use, provided the prayers are from the heart, but I see nothing wrong in not using it. I won't.<br />
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Probably in comparing Catholics to Christianity as a whole, the biggest problem I have with them is forgiveness. Only God can forgive you of your sins. Catholics believe that Jesus gave the keys to Peter thus making Peter the first pope with ability to pass that "power" on to whomever he wished. If he really gave him those keys, where are they? No matter how hard I look, I don't see any keys anywhere. Why is that? It's because it was symbolic and the true meaning was that he had taught Peter all he needed to know. That was the "power" he gave him. No where in that scripture does it say Peter has the power to forgive sins.<br />
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To me, that is an abomination. Granted, confessing your sins to anyone is cleansing to the soul and I believe you should do just that. However the priest cannot tell you whether or not you are forgiven and furthermore, you cannot buy forgiveness through good works. That reeks of corruption.<br />
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NO. The only one who can forgive is God. I should want to do good works and even if I don't, God will forgive me.<br />
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I believe the best prayer is to pray like Solomon by asking only for wisdom for myself and mercy for others. He is not Santa Claus and I cannot pray for the dead. They are already where they belong when dead and that was up to them. I can however pray for those living that they make their way to the right side prior to death.<br />
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All of this I have come to believe by reading the Bible. Also, reading the entire context of the Bible and not just a verse and twisting it to suit my own desires and what I think I need. This is why <i>Sola Scriptura</i> is so important. The corruption of churches and their trying to validate their wrongdoings make way for much misinformation. The Bible is the only thing I need. I don't need a church, though it is great food for the Christian soul. The Bible is what will teach you what you need to know. It teaches us what Jesus taught early Christians and it answers questions the early church had.<br />
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I think that over the years, churches have become to self-interested and have lost their paths. For now, I am a Methodist as my family has been for hundreds of years (since the church was founded). The irony is that I do not much care for how the "method" is carried out. It is simply the beliefs that it practices that I agree with.<br />
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However, there are plenty of non-denominational churches out there that are aligned with my beliefs, but finding those can be difficult. I encourage everyone to do the research yourself to find your true belief system. Do not allow any one church tell you what they think you should believe. Decide for yourself and once you do, you'll find that you're much more peaceful when it comes to your belief.<br />
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For me, it has made me a stronger Christian. It has made me realize that even if I sin, God loves me and there should be no guilt. I should try and live the best way possible but when I slip and fall, he is okay with that. I just need to get up, brush myself off and try again.<br />
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May God bless you all and be my brothers and sisters in Christ. </div>
Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-180965755805014532016-09-25T10:16:00.001-05:002016-09-25T10:16:20.641-05:00Feast of St. Francis of Assisi wasn't a vegan nor was he a vegetarian!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Let's get something straight. I've decided that vegans and vegetarians have a little less brains than meat eaters. Just because St. Francis is the patron saint of animals, doesn't mean he didn't eat meat. In fact, he did eat meat. He even encouraged others to eat meat!<br />
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You can love animals and still eat meat. Any real Christian knows this since it is very clearly written in the Bible.<br />
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Do not be fooled by all these blogs who blithely say that St. Francis was vegan, would want you to eat vegan and all that other nonsense. It is a bald faced LIE. Show me. Prove it.<br />
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Guess what? They can't because it isn't true.<br />
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<a href="https://keepingthefeast.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/what-would-st-francis-eat/">Lois Rogers</a> even notes this on her blog in the comments. She writes:<br />
<blockquote>
Franciscans aren’t vegan. In fact, St. Francis is known to encouraged the friars to consume lots of meat at Christmas in celebration. But mostly they ate very simple food that was heavy on vegetables.</blockquote>
She is absolutely and steadfastly correct in this. Do the research people and don't let some vegan nut job tell you a false history that doesn't exist. They need to get their act together and become more trustworthy if they want to have people join their "cause". Their way of eating isn't for health, it's for a frame of mind which is totally different.<br />
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So eat meat and enjoy people! </div>
Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-56984445246727302482016-06-13T11:01:00.002-05:002016-06-13T11:01:44.308-05:00Christian Today, gone tomorrow.Let me first say that I am truly saddened by the tragedy of Orlando. It just makes me sick. I can't imagine what the survivors are going through and what the victims' friends and families are going through. Can you imagine the nightmares that survivors are going to suffer from here on out?<br />
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That said, I am disgusted by the response to this tragic event. Obama and the media politicizing it! My mouth gaped open when I heard Obama call it an act of terror and hate. Seriously? I couldn't believe he said that!<br />
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EVERY act of terror is an act of hate. EVERY SINGLE ONE!!!! You cannot tell me 9/11 was an act of love, or an act of charity. What would you call it then? When you kill someone simply because they exist, it is called hate. Every single act of terror is a hate crime. I cannot fathom how the families of 9/11, San Bernardino et al feel hearing that Orlando is the only one that is an act of hate. How can these people sleep at night?<br />
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Further, I'm already hearing about gun control. That is the most insane thing I've just about ever heard in my life! You'll see how I address that below.<br />
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I read this <b><a href="http://www.christiantoday.com/article/orlando.shooting.why.christians.must.not.stay.quiet/88192.htm" target="_blank">very disgusting article</a></b> in utter shock and disbelief. I mean, I still am reeling at its absurdity. Saunders is so far off base here that I can't even begin to describe it. I have been a fan of <i>Christian Today</i> until now. I can't believe that made it to print and I surely will look for an apology and if there isn't one, then I can no longer support that site as a legitimate Christian website.<br />
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I could not remain quiet because that is what I'm about. I'm very much an American. I believe in free speech and the right to worship without government interference and the right to bear arms (to keep government in check so I can continue my other rights). I had to tell them what I thought. Here is exactly what I said. Note too that I didn't use paragraphs because their little text box only allowed you to see two lines at a time. UGH!<br />
<blockquote>
I am personally insulted by the words of Martin Saunders. Normally, I do not abide political correctness but this article is beyond that. He first insinuates that America is asking for this shooting since we we have a Constitutional right to bear arms. He is no judge and should not have a political view on that. Besides, the Boston bombers managed an act of terror without guns so it's pretty clear that guns are not the problem. The problem is Islam and I am disgusted that Saunders' liberal attitude shines through his words. Second, his preaching about Trump's "segregation and fear" is an abomination. He would do well to consider the alternatives: a Jew who hates Jews or a law breaking woman who prefers power over morals. Again, Saunders' liberal attitude shines through his words. Third, he has the audacity to label this act of terror an act of hate rather than terror. Isn't all acts of terror acts of hate? Islam hates Americans, they hate Christianity. The fact that these are gay patrons of a particular bar makes this act no less about hate than any other act of terror. I could not be more insulted! By his way of thinking, 9/11 was about what then? Love? Ideological disagreements? What? Does he not realize that THOUSDANDS of my people were slaughtered that day because they were a free people? If that is not hate, I don't know what is. Shame on Saunders! How can he sleep at night saying the things he is saying? I'll agree with him that mourning and prayer is at hand, but not gun control. I would remind Saunders that it is a sin to be gay. I can quote many verses that he already is well aware of. Welcome gays in the church? Yes. Accept the lifestyle? No. Never. It is not for us to judge, but to instead encourage a Christ like life. Saunders is using the deaths of victims of terror to push a political agenda. Does he really believe for a second that God is proud of this? Saunders is no Christian. A real Christian would never think his way. I will pray for guidance for him, but I believe he owes the world a great apology.</blockquote>
I stand by everything I said there. I always will!Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-59020890777270068532016-04-24T15:32:00.000-05:002016-04-24T15:32:02.251-05:00Homemade adult skin protectant cream.I'm a retired nurse with about 25 years under my belt. Most of my career was spent doing home health. Let's get one thing straight though before we move on. Please do not confuse home health with private duty sitting. I'm sure you've heard of doctors who make house calls. They come to the home, do an assessment, treat whatever is wrong and leave. That's what home health is, but it's nurses. We come in, do an assessment, see what the patient needs are such as teaching about medication, IV fluids, wound care and so on and then leave. A private duty sitter, on the other hand, comes in and stays the day, like a babysitter would.<br />
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I've worked with dying patients (such as cancer, AIDS), patients who have had accidents (like a hockey player who hit the ice and became paralyzed or a man whose house caught fire which killed his family but he survived with 1st degree burns over 80% of his body), the elderly (people who need a little direction in the home, or the family needs to learn how to care for them) and even the homeless (who are seen for a variety of reasons, I've visited people in their cars). As you can see, I've had a large number and wide variety of people that I've seen over time.<br />
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Now before I go further, while my experience is extensive, I'm not a doctor. Here comes the disclaimer part that any lawyer would tell me to say, so I'm saying it. You should always talk to your doctor first and what I'm telling you may not only not work, but may cause skin problems. After all, I don't know what allergies or skin conditions your "patient" has. For example, someone with psoriasis should definitely avoid this, but not just those people, anyone perhaps because again, I've no idea what problems you or your person has. Use caution and remember, talk to your doctor first.<br />
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That said, now my mother is ill. She has advanced dementia, anemia and is rather frail. She had to move in with me and she is incontinent most of the time. She also was in a car accident (she was hit by a drunk driver) that left her coccyx broken (her tailbone) and instead of pointing downward which is the norm, her's sticks outward to a point. Whenever she loses just a little bit of weight, that tailbone pops right through her skin.<br />
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Couple that problem with incontinence and you have quite a skin problem. Because I have to stay at home and care for her, money is very tight too. The best creams that I've used for years and years are the following two.<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Calmoseptine-Ointment-Tube-Oz-Pack/dp/B00BCN4K5K" target="_blank">Calmoseptine</a></li>
<li><a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Remedy-Calazime-Protectant-Paste-Oxide/dp/B00G97DGYK" target="_blank">Calazime</a></li>
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As you can see, these are rather pricey. Calmoseptine has been around for eons and is what the hospitals, rehabs and nursing homes use. Calazyme is new to me, but I found it very close to Calmoseptine and I have no doubt it would work.</div>
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What makes these special are the ingredients. In both, the active ingredients are menthol and zinc oxide along with what is considered and inactive ingredient (though I would probably disagree on that) calamine. Before we get to what those are, let's compare the "recipes" for them.</div>
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Calmoseptine has 0.44% menthol, zinc oxide 20.6% and the top five inactive ingredients (these are always in order of amounts, so the first one has more in the product than the second one, this makes the top 5 the most helpful) are calamine, chlorothymol, glycerin, lanolin and phenol. </div>
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Calazime has only 0.2% menthol, 20% zinc oxide and calamine is lower down on the list of inactive ingredients at #5. Aloe, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), ascorbyl palmitate, beeswax and calamine.</div>
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Okay, so what the heck are all of these things and what do they do? Let's go over them!</div>
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Menthol has a cooling effect and is listed as an analgesic. When your bum hurts or when you're wet, a cooling effect is very helpful and soothing. </div>
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Zinc oxide is an amazing compound that is used in a ton of different things. It is the most effective ingredient in diaper rash ointments and skin barrier creams. It is not a natural organic compound but is a chemical element. </div>
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Calamine is also zinc oxide but it's mixed with some iron. Iron is great for oxygenating the blood and when you have skin that can potentially break down into sores, rashes or even bee stings, it is helpful to have as much oxygenation to the skin as possible for healing. </div>
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Chlorothymol is often seen in mouthwashes and is an antiseptic. It's also a compound consisting of several chemicals. Recent medical studies have shown that it's just as effective, if not more, than iodine based scrubs used in surgeries, but that's with a mix of alcohol that is also highly antiseptic. Either way, still considered a good thing.</div>
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Glycerin is a natural chemical and is a skin conditioner. It is actually already found in the skin. Animals have it as do plants. It's what provides moisture to the skin as well and prevents the skin from drying out. In skin protectants, it's useful because zinc oxide has a drying effect and glycerin replaces that moisture.</div>
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Lanolin is also a natural thing in animals. This one is the oil coming from animals with wool, such as sheep. It is a dense moisturizer and helps in preventing itchy, flaky skin.</div>
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Phenol is actually an anesthetic and so an analgesic. That is, it helps block pain. It's often used by prescription as a spray for things such as episiotomies in women or the like. </div>
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Aloe is probably the most recognizable of all the ingredients here, outside of maybe calamine. This is a thick natural moisturizer coming from the famed succulent plant. It is highly effective in aiding the healing process in things such as burns, insect bites and minor rashes. </div>
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Ascorbic acid sounds like a scary chemical, but it really isn't. It's strictly Vitamin C which is necessary for skin healing, or healing of just about anything. Vitamin C is one of the best vitamins you can use because it is closely associated with the skin and fighting of viruses. It's found in all citrus plants.</div>
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Ascorbyl palmitate is the oil based form of ascorbic acid. This means that it is also a moisturizer in addition to an antioxidant.</div>
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Beeswax is something I probably don't need to explain exactly what it is. I'm not familiar with actual medical studies but herbalists insist that it is a skin protectant, an anti-inflammatory agent and is soothing. </div>
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As you can now see, both of them use both chemicals and natural ingredients for their products, they're just a little different. That said, there are other things that do these tasks, well, for a good number of them. There really is no substitute for zinc oxide and calamine, but there are plenty of other easily found products that do the same tasks as the ones listed above. On the other hand, aloe and ascorbic acid are relatively cheap as they are.</div>
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Now some of these are more organic substitutes and I can only say what herbalists claim about them. I've not ready any scientific studies on the reliability of these claims, however that doesn't mean that they don't work. It's just that it also doesn't mean that they do.<br />
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Clearly, zinc oxide is necessary. That is the best protectant that you can get and it's used in just about all of the really good diaper rash ointments. You can buy it by the pound in powder form, which is exactly what you would want, online. Amazon carries several brands at a fair price. One pound will last you a very long time, saving you money right away. </div>
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Eucalyptus essential oil provides a cooling effect and would be a great substitute for menthol. What I'm not sure of is its concentration. You may need more eucalyptus for that cooling effect than you would menthol. However, claims made about eucalyptus include antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Those are definitely needed in a skin protectant.<br />
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A quick man's recipe to make a Calmoseptine type ointment could be some cheap vapor-rub, mixed with some zinc oxide and calamine lotion, which really isn't a lotion it's more like a suspension. The math needs doing though, doesn't it?<br />
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Let's say you have 1/4 cup of vapor-rub. If my math is correct, and believe me, you should double check behind me because I'm mathematically challenged, then 20.6% of 1/4 cup = about 2 1/2 teaspoons, so you'd mix 2 1/2 teaspoons of the zinc oxide with 1/4 cup of vapor rub and then use just enough of the calamine lotion to make it creamy again.<br />
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You can also buy glycerin at any drug store. I bought some at CVS. Using that same ratio, you can mix the glycerin (substituted for the vapor rub) and zinc oxide and add the calamine lotion then put in a few drops of menthol or eucalyptus essential oil.<br />
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Now, I'm not telling you to run out and start using this. I haven't even tried them (yet). What I'm saying is that there are alternatives to expensive ointments and protectants. I will be testing them on my mother and I'll be journaling about the experience, here.<br />
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Do you all have any concoctions that you swear by? Let me know! Stay tuned on my experiments. It may take time because while I've ordered menthol, it won't be here until June. It's coming from overseas. In the meantime, I'm going to play with eucalyptus products in the mean time.<br />
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Remember....<br />
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<i>Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals your diseases.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: right;">
-- Psalm 103:2-3</blockquote>
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Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-42600467111689578402016-04-24T15:06:00.000-05:002016-04-24T15:06:02.722-05:00Thoughts on the the murders of John Marmo Jr. and Ilan Nissim.I watched two episodes of, I think it was, Dateline last night. I was bothered by them too. There are things about each case that makes me mad, or confuses me. I guess the first thing is to refresh your memory on these totally unrelated cases.<br />
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First I want to talk about the murder of Ilan Nissim, but it involves the murder of yet another man. Orlando Mesa was a family man. He was married to Janepsy "Cindy" Carballo and had a son, Noah, that was about 20 months old. Mesa was outside with his son playing with him one day.<br />
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Their house had a security camera and you can see him walk down the sidewalk and just as he passed out of view of the security camera, a white car pulled up. Two people jumped out, all dressed in black with guns. You cannot see what happened, but you see them return to the car, they back up, turn around then fire at Orlando again as they drive away.<br />
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The bastards that shot him had no qualms with shooting the kid too. A baby! The boy was not even two yet! Thank the good Lord above for the fact that the boy had injuries that were not at the center of the body. I think he was shot in the arm and the leg and the injuries weren't life threatening.<br />
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A few months later, his wife calls 911 and says she killed Nissim, Mesa's real estate business partner. She said he entered her home, uninvited, while she was moving. She said he was threatening her and so she pulled out a gun that she says the police told her to get, and shot him 5 times.<br />
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She went to the police station who seemed satisfied with her explanation. The police released a statement to the press, saying it was self-defense and the whole incident was dropped. That was that.<br />
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She restarted her life and opened a pain clinic, which was probably a bad idea anyway because it is not a good business to get into. A lot of pain clinics are simply drug dealers and they just pass out pain pills without batting an eye. The DEA said that they had received "complaints" about her clinic in particular, so they sent in a wired undercover informant who was a computer technician. He was there to install her computer system.<br />
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I had to wonder something though. How did she run a pain clinic long enough to get noticed by the DEA without a computer system? They never explained that part of it. Maybe the computers were upgrades but that's not what they said.<br />
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One day, they somehow fell into a conversation about how she was angry that the police had not arrested Nissim for the murder of her husband and the shooting of her son. She said she finally decided to take care of it herself and so she lured him to her home and shot him. She did say however that she had to protect herself and that she was afraid of him.<br />
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At first glance, her revelation on that tape sounds like a real confession. It seems cut and dried, except that when I heard what the prosecution said about another matter, my reaction was a suspension of disbelief. The prosecutor, Abbe Rifkin, at Cindy's trial said that Cindy's whole "I'm so scared" act was just that, an act. Ms. Rifkin said that Cindy was calling and texting Nissim and that Cindy even had a miscarriage, which resulted in an emergency room visit, where Cindy even texted him while she was there. Ms. Rifkin claimed that the two were having an affair.<br />
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Cindy says however that police told her to not let Nissim know that he was a suspect and to stay in touch with him, which was what she was doing. That sounds reasonable but the judge did not allow the defense to present a large number of evidence too, which included those police statements. These things that may have made a difference. I won't get into that now though because the part that bothers me even more, and the reason for my post, is what I'm about to say.<br />
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Now, if Cindy was having an affair and sleeping with Nissim, then why did she kill him? Let's think about this. You're attracted enough to be actively having sex with him, but then you kill him because he killed your husband? How could you be attracted to him by having sex with him if you're so angry you want to kill him?<br />
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Ms. Rifkin did not bother to try and explain how she felt this was possible. Was she trying to say that the whole lover thing was an act? If so, then why didn't Cindy claim he was raping her when she killed him? That would have been believable! At least, I would find that believable.<br />
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Obviously the trial took a long time and Dateline only had 40 minutes to explain the entire story. It's just that this was never addressed with the information that they provided and it should have been. For now, I cannot believe what Ms. Rifkin claims. What Cindy said was plausible.<br />
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Also, that tape doesn't mean anything. Everyone tells tall tales. I've been a nurse for 25 years and I can say that many people will design a story to avoid guilt. It very well could be that Cindy made this story up, so that it makes her feel better about what had happened. It's easier to be angry, than to feel guilt. Those that aren't familiar with it, may want to read up on rationalizing, what it means and how it manifests itself.<br />
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Cindy may very well have planned it, but from what I heard on Dateline I have to say that it doesn't look like she had a fair trial. I'm not the least bit convinced that she did do it and I'm saddened to hear that she lost the case.<br />
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Next is John Marmo Jr., which is a totally different situation. John Marmo wanted to make the Navy his career. He was stationed in Italy when he met Rebecca Braswell, who was also in the Navy. They fell into a relationship, she became pregnant and they married. It wasn't long before the tensions between them set in.<br />
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They argued a lot and one thing Braswell did consistently was tell Marmo that he needed to take care of their daughter. She was tired, she had worked hard, she had a million reasons why she didn't need to be the one doing it and he did.<br />
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The military was shrinking and becoming more restrictive. Marmo needed to get a promotion to stay in the Navy and unfortunately didn't get the promotion he needed. Braswell however did. She was accepted into the Seabee program and was restationed at Port Hueneme (pronounced why-nee-mee) in California. It's located between Malibu and Ventura and is in Ventura County. I'm very familiar with the place since I go there about once or twice per year.<br />
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Marmo got out of the Navy and became Mr. Mom. Braswell raged on about his not having a job, he doesn't take good enough care of the child, Heather. She worked all day and she was so tired and when he wanted a break, which all parents do when they take care of a small child all day, she would rant and rave saying he didn't deserve it.<br />
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Eventually their relationship deteriorated and they divorced. Braswell defied the custody agreement, not allowing Marmo to see the child when it was his right. Then she started saying that he beat her so she needed a restraining order. She invited him over then called the police saying he violated that order. Then her lover, Shannon, lied to their friends saying she was beat up at a bar by friends of Marmo.<br />
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Braswell's friends and co-workers were asked if they knew anyone that would kill her husband, or if they had a gun so she could kill him. Of all of them, only one reported that to their superior who actually said "Well... people often say things they don't mean."<br />
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Meanwhile, Marmo had his car looked at, though I'm not sure why he did, but the mechanic found an amateurish bomb that was so bad that it didn't go off. Marmo went to the police who said he needed to report it to the Navy and he did but nothing ever came of it. He told both he was sure Braswell was behind it but they let it go.<br />
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Then a second bomb was discovered and the same thing happened, no one did anything. We're talking the sheriff's office, the local police, NCIS and the DA's office. None of them looked into anything at all.<br />
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Then poor Marmo was shot to death about a month after the last bomb was found. When questioned by the press on why none of the Navy leadership, NCIS, the local police and the sheriff's office investigated any of the evidence that Braswell was clearly trying to kill him, they all blamed each other. The leadership couldn't be commented on, of course, but NCIS said that since the bombs were off base, that was a local police issue. The police and sheriff's office said that since the perpetrator was in the Navy, it was a Naval issue and the DA said the same thing. Even then Governor Schwarzenegger even said it was a federal issue!<br />
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Seriously? How many people were aware of what Braswell was doing and did nothing? The number is incredible. Were I a federal senator or representative, I would have called for an investigation into dereliction of duty on all fronts. Were I the family, I would sue the pants off them all.<br />
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I am a staunch conservative and I don't believe in frivolous lawsuits but this one takes the cake and would be absolutely warranted. He is dead, because not one single person did their job. NOT A SINGLE ONE!<br />
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I'm furious about this entire situation. I want to reach out to his family and tell them how sorry I am and if I had money, I would do everything I could to help them.<br />
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<a href="http://www.vcstar.com/news/crime/warning-signs-ignored-in-marmo-killing-ep-375701553-352898441.html" target="_blank">This article</a> outlines the dereliction of the agencies involved... or rather, not involved. <br />
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Any thoughts by my fine readers?Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-56072991391158389142016-04-21T12:48:00.000-05:002016-04-21T12:48:41.062-05:00The Missy Bevers case.Every now and then a crime will happen that interests me. Apparently I'm not alone. It's interesting how certain cases become big and memorable while others are sadly forgotten. The murder of Missy Bevers is in the news right now, but only time will tell if this is one that will go down in history alongside the murders of Lacy and Stacey Peterson (which were two different cases, oddly), Travis Alexander and Caylee Anthony.<br />
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The thing about Mrs. Bevers' case is how odd it is. This was an elaborately planned murder and it's clear that Mrs. Bevers was the intended victim. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that this is murder one. The question though of course is, like any murder, who did it?<br />
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The suspect list isn't one that the police rightfully do not want to share. By all means, just because everyone is curious doesn't mean we have the right to know. I'm glad that they're keeping it hushed, there is no reason to give the killer an edge up by knowing whether he (or she, but we'll call the suspect 'he' due to <a href="http://grammar.about.com/od/fh/g/genpronounterm.htm" target="_blank">grammar rules</a>; I don't give a crap about sexism so...) is a suspect or not.<br />
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That said, the general public has zeroed in on the husband. There is certainly a number of reasons to do so, as well. Let's look at some statements made either by him or about him and kind of discuss this.<br />
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Early on, Mr. Bevers said something very strange. I've not been able to find the exact quote, but <i><a href="http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2016/04/police-investigating-after-woman-is-found-dead-at-midlothian-church.html" target="_blank">The </a><a href="http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2016/04/police-investigating-after-woman-is-found-dead-at-midlothian-church.html" target="_blank">Dallas Morning News</a></i> (DMN) reported that Mr. Bevers said that Mrs. Bevers did not know her killer. Isn't that odd? I mean, how on earth could he possibly have known something like that?<br />
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In that same article, Mr. Bevers points out the mannerisms of the suspect in the security videos and says that he hopes someone will recognize them. Granted, the police may have asked Mr. Bevers if he recognized the suspect's mannerisms which may have sparked the idea in his asking the public too, but he could also be aware that the mannerisms are fake and so he is trying to cover the killer's tracks.<br />
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Another odd thing is that Mr. Bevers came right out and explained why he hasn't been seen emotional at all, <a href="http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Husband-of-Slain-Fitness-Instructor-Speaks-Publicly-376270351.html" target="_blank">KXAS </a>(known as Dallas' NBC 5) reported. Mr. Bevers says it was because he had been focusing on the immediate needs of his children, which sounds plausible to a point, but no emotion at all is a mystery and his explanation seems questionable, at best. To lose a spouse in such a violent way is traumatizing, but evidently it was not to him.<br />
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The video on that page of his interview is an interesting watch. He also said in that interview that he was not involved in anything that she ever did and so was unaware of how she affected so many lives. The thing that strikes me with that statement is 'why not'? Okay, my husband isn't involved in everything I do, but we're a married couple. We talk, we share, we're best friends. To not even know about all her friends is an astounding thing to say. This sounds like a marriage in trouble already.<br />
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Then of course there is his statement saying that he doesn't believe his wife was targeted, according to the <a href="http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2016/04/feds-texas-rangers-join-investigation-into-fitness-instructors-slaying-in-midlothian.html/" target="_blank">DMN</a>. This is an unbelievable statement to make. I mean, everyone has seen the video and it is a 99.9% sure bet that she was definitely the target. To deny that is either insane, which he clearly is not, or a very lame attempt to be misleading. I cannot fathom how he could possibly have said this with a straight face.<br />
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As parents will do, Mr. Bevers' mother, Marsha Tucker, chimed in. Now I am sure she does not believe her son capable of such a crime and I am also sure her intention was to help his public image, but her statement only made things sound worse for him. She told <a href="http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/04/20/husband-of-murdered-midlothian-mother-was-worried-about-her-safety" target="_blank">KTVT</a> (the Dallas CBS affiliate) “The morning before we knew anything had happened, he said ‘I’ve told her, I’ve told her she’s got to be careful.’ He was just so afraid something would happen.” <br />
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What an extraordinary coincidence! The day before Mrs. Bevers is murdered, her husband actually said that? It is almost like he is clairvoyant!<br />
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I sat down and thought about all of this. I tried to think of how he could get away with this. Obviously Mrs. Bevers was up very early and he would have had to leave before her. I didn't know what his job was, but I doubted his job required such early hours. The only way he could leave that early, without her knowing about it, is that he wasn't home. The first thing that popped into my head was a fishing trip.<br />
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Seeing his pictures, he seemed like the kind of man who liked fishing and when taking a fishing trip you leave in the middle of the night but you do not usually get home until dawn. Many men go alone and that would be the perfect so-called alibi.<br />
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Imagine my surprise, or lack thereof, when the <a href="http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2016/04/feds-texas-rangers-join-investigation-into-fitness-instructors-slaying-in-midlothian.html" target="_blank">DMN</a> reported that this was exactly what he said he was doing! In his defense, the police say that it was checked out and verified, but in the midst of a high profile investigation (or a low one for that matter), they are not going to say "Well, we checked it out and there are some holes in the alibi." They'll only say that when they're ready to accuse him.<br />
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He said he was in my neck of the woods, in Biloxi fishing. To begin with, that's not somewhere people go for a "fishing" trip. Biloxi is a casino town, not a fishing village. However, it's just far enough that would make one wonder if he could drive to and from Dallas without becoming suspicious.<br />
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It is an 8 1/2 hour drive, non-stop, from Biloxi to Midlothian and another 8 1/2, obviously, back. That's a long day. A little too long, but if you were a killer, wouldn't you want it to seem too long? That only strengthens your alibi. It's not impossible. You leave the evening before, say 6:00 p.m., drive to Dallas, kill her, turn around, drive back and you're home by 1:00 p.m. the next day.<br />
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Looking at the suspect's video we see how well this was planned. Tactical gear to make her trust you, that you're a police officer and she'll get close so she can't run away. There is no reason I see that further planning would make this easy. Some adult diapers and gas cans make the trip non-stop. It's the perfect day out fishing!<br />
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Last night's news from <a href="http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/04/20/creekside-churchs-exterior-cameras-off-day-of-midlothian-murder/" target="_blank">KTVT</a> is that the church confirmed that the outdoor cameras "were not functioning". Were they not functioning because they were broken? Or were they not functioning because someone turned them off and took the tape? The answer to that question is definitely an important thing to know. If it's the latter rather than the former, then this demonstrates even more planning.<br />
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This would mean that the suspect wanted the police to see him and his mannerisms, but not the important parts that may identify him such as his car. This is a fairly intelligent person who understands investigative techniques, which anyone can learn by watching either the <a href="http://www.investigationdiscovery.com/" target="_blank">ID</a> or <a href="http://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/" target="_blank">CI</a> channel.<br />
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If the husband didn't do it, he could have paid someone or it could be his lover who did it, or even her lover. They don't appear to be high money makers, but maybe. There could be money involved too.<br />
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Either way, I think the husband deserves a very close look. Nearly every time I read something new it seems clear he's involved in some way. Sometimes though I don't think he's as smart as maybe the killer is, but you never know.<br />
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Naturally, it could be someone else entirely. I just can't get over all the things being said and how very guilty it makes Mr. Bevers look, when it appears that the suspect in the video thought things through pretty well. That makes the husband very different from the suspect in the video.<br />
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It's baffling! That much is for certain.<br />
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Either way, the one thing I am certain of is my heartfelt sympathy for her family and her children. It sounds like Mrs. Bevers was an amazing woman who touched a lot of lives. My prayers are for them and for the police in solving this horrible crime.<br />
<br />Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31190992.post-52683435202280288092016-04-07T10:29:00.002-05:002016-04-07T10:29:29.946-05:00Decider's Kill Stan StanceI'm always amused when the media has such an inflated ego that they really believe what they think is original and matters. <div>
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Take <a href="http://decider.com/2016/04/06/stan-must-die-on-the-americans/" target="_blank">this article</a> about The Americans. Lea Palmieri proudly states that Stan must die. She basically says it'll shake it up a little. She lists why she doesn't think he's necessary and how the show has never taken any character and made them more important than any other character and on and on. Lea basically believes herself oh-so-clever and thinks she can probably write better than the writers of The Americans. </div>
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However, only hours after her anti-Stan rant was posted, there was an enormous and surprising twist. Someone died, yes, but it wasn't Stan. Stan is integral to the story. He is the Jennings' nemesis. He is absolutely necessary to the story until close to the end. To ax him now would be an asinine mistake and anyone who really gets the show would know this.</div>
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All the points that Lea made on why Stan needed to go were directly answered in this episode and pretty much proven that he didn't need to go after all. It honestly cracked me up. Poor Lea. Maybe she'll learn next time to really think things through before parading around in a Once Upon a Time story. </div>
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I'm reminded of one of the pre-season teaser trailers. There was an article that declared Stan figured out who Philip really was. Yes, they actually said that! I have tried to find that article but sadly I cannot. Right now, I have the flu. Maybe you can. I posted a comment using the same username here. I always post under that name. </div>
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Anyway, they backed up their claim by using the part in the trailer where Stan through Philip up against the wall and yelled at Philip to stop lying to him. I pointed out that this was way out of line and it was a more likely scenario that Stan found out about the friendship between Philip and Sharon. Who was right? lol! I wonder if the writer took it down? I can't find it anywhere.</div>
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By the way, the flu sucks. I hurt all over and in the middle of it all, my mother has hospice coming in too, so please pray for me or send happy thoughts my way.</div>
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Love to you all!</div>
Magnolia Southhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027695915193365483noreply@blogger.com0