Strange or Why Not?

I am sure you, as I have seen many service dogs as we travel about the country. I am always fascinated by the patience and attentiveness of these well disciplined animals. Along a similar animal discipline is the therapy dog. One of our granddaughters had a trained therapy dog that she frequently took to nursing homes and hospitals. People, especially the elderly were excited to engage with the pup. Of course, I'm partial to dogs due to a lifetime of ownership of mixed-breeds and purebreds.

Another granddaughter recently moved into a college dormitory, which accommodates four female individuals. One of her roommates has reason to have a therapy animal. The animal is NOT a Dog, not a Cat, not a Parakeet but a Porcupine...that's right a Porcupine!

Gives a new attitude about 'cuddling,' eh?

(Touch)
Strange Things

The Man Knows Mental Illness

President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that the main problem behind the plethora of America's gun violence is 'mental illness,' in-spite of research indicating that only 22% of America's mass shootings are at the hands of the mentally ill.

I should think Americans should listen to Trump for he has told us that he never had to ask for forgiveness of sin, he is the King of Israel and The Chosen One.

You got that?!

Why The Empty Sandlots?

A recent study findings concluded that sport participation amongst youngsters 6-to-12 years of age is down from 45%-to-38%. A quick answer to the question, 'why' would likely point a finger at youth's addiction to the Internet and electronic games. There is little doubt that such youthful fascination with electronics contributes significantly to the growing 'couch-potato-gang' but it's no longer the greatest single factor.

We must consider the old adage, 'follow the money.'  Before we do that let's agree that several factors have caused a decline in informal 'sandlot' sports engagement by young kids. Parents feel their children are unsafe outdoors when unsupervised, which leads to staying indoors and grabbing 'Game Boy.' Secondly, there has been a decline in community supported youth sports' offerings due to taxation financing and the rise of parent-driven and supported club/travel teams.

The travel/club teams is a fertile ground for parents not only to be more hands on as coaches but also offers a widely embraced social-engagement of parents as the team travels regionally for weekend tournaments. These parents will spend huge sums of money for equipment, uniforms, hotels, gas and Foods. Suddenly, the travel/club team becomes unaffordable for many families.

These teams may have most of the better players in a given community but NOT always. Parents are now willing to shell out big bucks to hire trainers, personal instructors and send their kids to expensive sports' camps and elite Showcases. Why the willingness to spend large amounts of money?
Make the team and get a college scholarship.

Is the State Of Youth Sports better today? I'm not sure. I do believe it's excluding some kids.

Whata You Done For Us Lately?!

Preface Disclaimer: I am a life-long St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. That said, please know that the following comments and opinions are NOT intended as 'pointing a finger' at the Chicago Cubs or their baseball fans. Recent Facebook postings and comments from Cubs' fans motivate today's blog.

It seems many Cubs' fans are wanting management to get rid of relief pitcher Pedro Strop and fire Manager Joe Maddon even though the Cubs are currently tied for first place with the Cardinals in the National League Central.

If you please, before the Cubs won the 2016 World Series, they had gone 108-years without winning the Fall Classic. It was during that long dry spell that the Chicago Cubs were embraced by their fans as "the lovable losers" and we all heard the season ending familiar cry, "wait 'till next year." Well, lo' and behold three years after the Cubbies' incredible season of 2016, a first place division tie heading down ain't good enough! I get it, believe me, I get it. Can you image how we Cardinals fans feel when our team flounders considering the reality of eleven(11) World Championship Banners blowing over our stadium.

If I may, please let me clarify something for you angry Cubs' fans who wish to trade one player and fire the manager or fire the high school coach. The pro manager or high school coach is NEVER as good as you really think he is and never at fault as often as you think. Talent compared to competition becomes a huge factor as does good fortune, which together forms that 'perfect storm' yielding a Championship. Meanwhile,  remember that winning begets expectations and expectations in the heart of a fan is volatile.

Finally, if Pedro Strop was leading the league in 'save' opportunities his cocked-ball cap would not anger Cubs' fans.

The Omnipotent One

Omnipotent: >>all powerful, almighty, supreme, most high, preeminent, despotic, totalitarian, autocratic, invincible, unconquerable and "an omnipotent deity," i.e. Jesus Christ.

There you have it; a dictionary definition and the only once-in-flesh example: Christ Jesus

However, many of my brothers and sisters' in faith,' who support President Donald Trump to the extent he is given a pass on any and all transgressions, make the argument that Trump is ordained by God to be Leader of the Free World as he functions as America's President.

And it's fair to state that Trump operates as an 'omnipotent deity.' First, from his own lips he declares that he has never needed to ask God for forgiveness. (This means he has never sinned).

He has never needed to apologize. He states that his Presidency has likely been the best in American history. The economy has never been as good under any other leader. He shows disdain for some religions as evident in his Muslim Ban. He refers to brown-skin people from Central America as invaders as he characterizes Mexicans as thugs, murderers, rapist and drug dealers.

Now, the Omnipotent Leader of the Free World struts his power over Israel as he tells them to 'Ban Entry' of two United States elected officials. (I wonder if Israel might some day not accept  American dollars coming into to their country?)

An American Truth

Set aside all the immigration debates, all the political pontificating poppycock and embrace this fact:

                                                      "US" was once "THEM."

Let's Be Honest

The serious negative health effects from smoking cigarettes is well documented. The studies and research is so irrefutable that smoke free laws have been enacted in 27-states in restaurants, casinos, bars, etc. We have become a nation very much aware of the dangers in smoking and the dangers in 'second-hand' smoke. All tobacco products sold in America carry printed warnings on packages. We ain't playin' when it comes to this war on tobacco.'

The aforementioned all sounds proper and good to me notwithstanding the fact if we didn't have tobacco users our economy would collapse without the taxes. However, we should be interested in warning our fellow countrymen about those things that could harm their health. This brings me to my rant.

Have you readers noticed the physical largeness of folks in the checkout lines? Well, it's a fact obesity is on the rise in the US of A. This week at the Iowa State Fair folks are excited about some popular menu treats. The two that certainly caught my attention are the deep fried funnel cake and the deep fried Oreo Cookie. One deep fried State Fair funnel cake carries 760 calories, 44 fat grams and 80 carbs. Of course the deep fried Oreo Cookie has far less calories and carbs, only 98 and 11 respectively....but then who can eat only one Oreo Cookie?

Here's my questions: Should we not place warning labels on food packaging about health dangers and should we not insist making buyers of such products eat those 'obese-producing-foods' behind closed doors to avoid 'second-hand temptation?'
Big Folks in Health Danger