I was settled down for another episode of "Undercover Boss" and started noticing a trend on this show, which was, how much people speak of their Fathers. Some of these men were moved to tears just thinking of dear old Dad. Then I started to think about other reality based shows, where people can speak from their hearts. Guess what they speak of? Yup, their Fathers.
What was really amazing is that it doesn't seem to matter how dastardly their Father was, or how admirable...These men's lives were directly influenced by the actions of their Fathers. They all seemed to want to prove something to their Fathers, although most of them had lost their Fathers years ago. Their Father's influence on their lives had not diminished at all! It also seemed that the older the men were, the more they reflected on their Fathers, They finally got to see life from their Father's eyes.
I have often cringed with how Fathers are represented on television, usually stupid, inept, far inferior to their wives. They need molded and changed by women to prevent them from a life of their own stupidity. I have known all along it was not the case, but can't help but wonder if part of the problem in this country is the fact that we present Fathers in such a terrible light on television.
We really need to repaint our picture of Fatherhood. A Father's love, and work ethic and attitude on life will impact a child throughout their lives. My generation did not get to see their "Dad" much. He was expected to go to work, and not get involved in the trivial family matters. Mom took care of the day to day things. He wasn't encouraged to show emotions, but rather "take care of things." Maybe it was this absence that caused us to miss how very important he was.
I lost my Father when I was only 16. I never lost his impact on my life.
It is funny how that works out.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
My Aluminum Can Project
I have been creating things from Aluminum Cans for decades. (Yes I am old.) I thought I would share some pictures. Most of my work can be purchased at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyPA
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Great detective work Lou!
Here is a report of a new species of lizard being discovered.
No, it wasn't found on a remote island. It is heavily populated and largely deforested Luzon Island of Northern Philippines.
It isn't small and obscure. It was a 6 foot, 6 inch freaking long monitor lizard.
It wasn't heavily camouflaged, as it is brightly colored.
It was even unknown. The locals regularly eat them!
But yet, the discovery of the monitor lizard was described as an 'unprecedented surprise' by scientists.
Great detective work there Lou!
No, it wasn't found on a remote island. It is heavily populated and largely deforested Luzon Island of Northern Philippines.
It isn't small and obscure. It was a 6 foot, 6 inch freaking long monitor lizard.
It wasn't heavily camouflaged, as it is brightly colored.
It was even unknown. The locals regularly eat them!
But yet, the discovery of the monitor lizard was described as an 'unprecedented surprise' by scientists.
Great detective work there Lou!
Coronary Disease in the Heartland
Recently, I was scanning through the radio stations, and came upon a station touting that they were in the "Heartland of Pennsylvania". I never really thought of our area as that, but geographically it could be true. If that is the case, I think Pennsylvania might have coronary disease.
I have always been aware of the low pay scale in our area. The medium income is about $37,000. That means half of the folks here earn less. Most that I know earn much less.
I have always been told that the cost of living is so low, that the low wages is all relative. I never could figure that out, as I pay the same for fuel, cars, medical tests, clothes and household goods as the city folks. We probably pay more for food, as our options are limited, and it has to be trucked in. The only thing I can see is our houses cost less. But it costs the same to repair and build those houses...but we get less for it. I pay more for my water and sewage as the small communities are socked with the state mandates, and have less of a customer base to pay for the upgrades. I pay mightily for taxes for our schools, as the salaries of the teachers are negotiated using national average scale. I don't see the lower costs.
What I see are fewer options. Instead of cultural events that are offered, I can go to the mountains. Instead of museums and live performances, I can go to the mountains. Instead of vacations in warmer climates, I can tent in the mountains. I wouldn't think of taking my laundry to the cleaners, or having someone else cut my hair, or fix my house, or car. People who live here do it themselves, not because they can, but because they can't afford to pay someone else to do it. Whenever I see live performances, or cultural events, they are all funded heavily by grants and subsidies of the government. The people in the cities are paying to keep the masses in the center entertained.
What I am amazed at, is even though we live in an area with such low pay scales, is that we are still losing jobs. Companies don't to move here, because there are even lower paying areas out there, for example in the south. They don't even have to pay the higher taxes, nor the energy costs that they do to be in Pennsylvania. So the cycle will continue.
Don't get me wrong, I love my mountains. I chose to raise my family here. I also chose to encourage them all to get a good education and get the hell out of here. If you stay, you will be trying to raise a family in an area that lives on 12 hour shifts...a couple of day on, a couple of days off. The drop out rate at the local school is 30%. Every year, it is those 30% that stay, locked in by poverty and lack of education. The population is declining. The smart move on. I once was told by a friend who went off and got a law degree, and came back to practice. He said "You know what people think a good lawyer is? Any lawyer from outside of the area." Even the native perception is, if you are smart, what are you doing here?
It is sad, but I guess it is the way of all rural areas. But is is like a disease. The area is getting poorer, less opportunities for making good wages, the smart ones are leaving. How many generations until the old heart just gives out. Just like coronary disease. The extremities of the body may function and look good for awhile, but eventually...
I have always been aware of the low pay scale in our area. The medium income is about $37,000. That means half of the folks here earn less. Most that I know earn much less.
I have always been told that the cost of living is so low, that the low wages is all relative. I never could figure that out, as I pay the same for fuel, cars, medical tests, clothes and household goods as the city folks. We probably pay more for food, as our options are limited, and it has to be trucked in. The only thing I can see is our houses cost less. But it costs the same to repair and build those houses...but we get less for it. I pay more for my water and sewage as the small communities are socked with the state mandates, and have less of a customer base to pay for the upgrades. I pay mightily for taxes for our schools, as the salaries of the teachers are negotiated using national average scale. I don't see the lower costs.
What I see are fewer options. Instead of cultural events that are offered, I can go to the mountains. Instead of museums and live performances, I can go to the mountains. Instead of vacations in warmer climates, I can tent in the mountains. I wouldn't think of taking my laundry to the cleaners, or having someone else cut my hair, or fix my house, or car. People who live here do it themselves, not because they can, but because they can't afford to pay someone else to do it. Whenever I see live performances, or cultural events, they are all funded heavily by grants and subsidies of the government. The people in the cities are paying to keep the masses in the center entertained.
What I am amazed at, is even though we live in an area with such low pay scales, is that we are still losing jobs. Companies don't to move here, because there are even lower paying areas out there, for example in the south. They don't even have to pay the higher taxes, nor the energy costs that they do to be in Pennsylvania. So the cycle will continue.
Don't get me wrong, I love my mountains. I chose to raise my family here. I also chose to encourage them all to get a good education and get the hell out of here. If you stay, you will be trying to raise a family in an area that lives on 12 hour shifts...a couple of day on, a couple of days off. The drop out rate at the local school is 30%. Every year, it is those 30% that stay, locked in by poverty and lack of education. The population is declining. The smart move on. I once was told by a friend who went off and got a law degree, and came back to practice. He said "You know what people think a good lawyer is? Any lawyer from outside of the area." Even the native perception is, if you are smart, what are you doing here?
It is sad, but I guess it is the way of all rural areas. But is is like a disease. The area is getting poorer, less opportunities for making good wages, the smart ones are leaving. How many generations until the old heart just gives out. Just like coronary disease. The extremities of the body may function and look good for awhile, but eventually...
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Science News Today
Today is science day.
The Hedron Collider managed to successfully smash two atoms together, and the earth didn't get sucked into a black hole. My daughter claims she feels like she has, but I assured her that is was only Tuesday.
Secondly, Toyota has called in NASA Engineers to study the sudden acceleration problem. So who knew it was rocket science all along?
Third, The courts have ruled that sections of DNA cannot be patented. The judge says it is commendable that companies have managed to identify certain sections that indicate cancers, or such but essentially those sections can be found in nature anywhere, therefore, not patentable. I guess I will have to remove my application for the fresh air I discovered when I stood on my porch today.
The Hedron Collider managed to successfully smash two atoms together, and the earth didn't get sucked into a black hole. My daughter claims she feels like she has, but I assured her that is was only Tuesday.
Secondly, Toyota has called in NASA Engineers to study the sudden acceleration problem. So who knew it was rocket science all along?
Third, The courts have ruled that sections of DNA cannot be patented. The judge says it is commendable that companies have managed to identify certain sections that indicate cancers, or such but essentially those sections can be found in nature anywhere, therefore, not patentable. I guess I will have to remove my application for the fresh air I discovered when I stood on my porch today.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
What Country? Gift Shop
I recently stopped at a local "Country Gift Shop" that was new to the area that I live. It is an area that has gotten thousands of taxpayer money to create a rails to trails bicycle pathway through beautiful scenic mountains. An Area that is promoting itself as "Pennsylvania Wilds."
Since I make a variety of homemade items, that are rather unique. I have been making the rounds of the local gift shops to see if I can place a few of theses items in their shops.
What is amazing, is not one of the local shops sell local arts and crafts! They all look like cookie cutters of each other, and exactly like what you can find in any mall across America. They all have cookie cutter patchworks done in shades of browns and greens, created in the Philippines, or China. Nothing produced locally. They are are scented with candles made in another country.
What Country are we decorating from? I will be truthful...most of the stuff in these places neither look artistic, nor real. If you place them in a home, it doesn't say, I love my country, and it's rich history, it says "Look, I can get hoodwinked by local merchandisers!"
Seek out your local artisans. Support the shops that support local craft people. Put down that punched tin ornament made in China, and go find the real thing! It is worth the effort.
Oh, and if you are curious, here is where my Central Pennsylvanian crafts can be found. It certainly isn't here in Central Pennsylvania. http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyPA
Since I make a variety of homemade items, that are rather unique. I have been making the rounds of the local gift shops to see if I can place a few of theses items in their shops.
What is amazing, is not one of the local shops sell local arts and crafts! They all look like cookie cutters of each other, and exactly like what you can find in any mall across America. They all have cookie cutter patchworks done in shades of browns and greens, created in the Philippines, or China. Nothing produced locally. They are are scented with candles made in another country.
What Country are we decorating from? I will be truthful...most of the stuff in these places neither look artistic, nor real. If you place them in a home, it doesn't say, I love my country, and it's rich history, it says "Look, I can get hoodwinked by local merchandisers!"
Seek out your local artisans. Support the shops that support local craft people. Put down that punched tin ornament made in China, and go find the real thing! It is worth the effort.
Oh, and if you are curious, here is where my Central Pennsylvanian crafts can be found. It certainly isn't here in Central Pennsylvania. http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyPA
Friday, March 19, 2010
How to make a garden fence out of sticks
I needed a fence because my dogs have a habit of running without looking where they are heading. So, I didn't really need it to be strong, rather to have a visual impact to the dogs, so they stay out. I am also an organic gardener, so I wanted something that looked natural. The only cost to this fence is for cotton string to bind the intersections.
This is how I did it. I use 4 main pieces, about 2 1/2 feet long as the legs to go into the ground.
Next, I use two smaller pieces of study twigs between each of the 4 longer ones. Then I took long sticks (these are the sucker branches that we trimmed off our apple trees this winter) and threaded them over and under these sticks. I would start and stop wherever there seemed to need bracing. I only would do about 4-5 sticks in each intersection. Then I tied each intersection. Here is the first row done.
I would loop around each side an then knot it at the bigger sticks, as they are the main supports, but just criss-cross tied the intersections of the smaller sticks. Here is an example of the knots.
I added two more rows of sticks, making sure each intersection is tied. I tried to keep them straight as possible, but wasn't too upset if it varied, as I liked the look of a "natural fence"
Here is the finished fence, I used a hammer and pounded the longer sticks into the ground to make it secure.
I hope this gives you ideas on how to use natural materials to help around the garden.
This is how I did it. I use 4 main pieces, about 2 1/2 feet long as the legs to go into the ground.
Next, I use two smaller pieces of study twigs between each of the 4 longer ones. Then I took long sticks (these are the sucker branches that we trimmed off our apple trees this winter) and threaded them over and under these sticks. I would start and stop wherever there seemed to need bracing. I only would do about 4-5 sticks in each intersection. Then I tied each intersection. Here is the first row done.
I would loop around each side an then knot it at the bigger sticks, as they are the main supports, but just criss-cross tied the intersections of the smaller sticks. Here is an example of the knots.
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