The Large Hadron Collider – Watch Out – Are you crazy?!?

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Today’s Blog Post

The Large Hadron Collider – Watch Out – Are you crazy?!?

I would like to Whiz you back between 51 to 52 years to my very first Physics Class in Central Collegiate in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Chemistry Teacher was drawing something on the board that fascinated me. It was my first Atom. I was following him by drawing what he drew in my note book.

Then he said, “Everything that exists is made up of this Atom… you, me, your desk, your pen, this school, the earth, the sky…everything. And the Atom is made up of different pieces, one is the nucleus, one is the electron. Some Atoms have many electrons… others have few. The Atoms are joined together to make Molecules. Each Molecule is uniquely different from all the rest. Each unique Molecule makes up the elements that exist around us…”

I trail off his lecture at this point or I will lose you… the way that he lost most of the class that day 50+ years ago.

But then he said something that made the whole class groan. Pointing to the Elements Chart that he pulled down over the Black Board he said, “Before this class is ended you will know all of these Elements.” There from the top left side of the chart to the bottom right were 100+ squares with many numbers in them and Letters in them, H, He, Li, Be, all the way to the U-s…

The challenge was great…but we did what he suggested we could do. We were the future scientists and designers of the future.

Men and women before us had created unbelievable things like the Atomic Bomb that had helped end the war when we were little.

We also went into the Lab and did experiments with these Elements. We learned what happened when you put certain elements together and the reaction that took place… poof… sizzle… pop…. BANG! The smoke and sparks that flew were positively exciting. I couldn’t wait for the Chem Lab happenings.

One day one of my class mates was mixing two chemicals together when the teacher approached his desk. The Teacher asked what he had in the crucible. The student stumbled a little and offered a weak answer. To which the Teacher then erupted in displeasure… “You have to watch out! Are you crazy? Don’t you know what happens when you put dangerous things together and then add the final chemical!? You could kill us all!”

The teacher pushed the student aside as we all watched… and then he applied a tiny drop of acid and jumped backwards. The purple coloured mixed chemical in the crucible was only about the amount that would fill a half teaspoon.

The chemical suddenly burst into flames that rose to a height of three feet and filled the room with white smoke. He quickly opened the windows and let the smoke out.

(Note: This happened 50+ years ago before smoke alarms, high insurance costs, and law suits.)

Within a day or so after that the police came one morning. One of our fellow student’s desk was empty that day. It was the boy that had mixed the chemicals that had exploded in the ball of fire. The night before he had died at home while mixing more chemicals. Everything had exploded and killed him instantly. Apparently he had been making rocket fuel with the small amount of stolen chemicals from the School Chem Lab.

He didn’t quite consider all the possible side effects of what he was doing.

That was long ago…but I have never forgotten what could happen when something went terribly wrong.

(However it didn’t stop us from making homemade bombs – but that is another story.)

Whiz forward to now…
This morning I read more about the LHC that the wizards are testing near Geneva, Switzerland at this very moment.

The LHC is the “Large Hadron Collider” that is 27 kilometers in length – actually a circle… built underground… and operated under tight controls.

(You can read the link below referring to an article written by Matt Hart from The Star.)

The LHC and these dear folk under ground are about to create a small version of the “Big Bang” that some folk say actually started the creation that we know… and others in the theological world have added this as a possible method that God used to make us all… with a million other theories following all of this.

As I read the story and explanation of this new LHC and the firing up of this 27 Km Monster below ground… the words of my Old Chemistry Teacher came back suddenly…
“You have to watch out! Are you crazy? Don’t you know what happens when you put dangerous things together and then add the final chemical!? You could kill us all!”

The LHC will drive Protons against each other at just a little less than the speed of light… to cause an explosion inside the large LHC…

The scientists admit that they DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN when the Protons collide.

With my vivid 50+ year memory in place… I can see a divided Switzerland when some one throws the switch… or could they be dividing the entire world?

Knowing what our class was like… that one big ball of fire in that Chem Lab the fateful day… was enough to encourage the rest of us to try something a little bigger and better – even though a friend had died.

Now at 65 years old… I see things a little different. I don’t want to Blow up the Chem Lab… or my neighborhood. I have had enough of Big Bangs around me. I can’t hear properly today – because of what I did back then.

It just seems proper to stand up and shout loudly… “Watch Out! Are you crazy!?! You are going to kill all of us.”

Theologically… we have always talked about a “Rapture” taking place… where people on earth will be taken up to meet their maker in the air.

The LHC may give the word “Rapture” a whole different meaning and possibility… we will no just go up to meet our Maker… the LHC will Blow US Up to meet him… BANG!

Yikes… that wasn’t the way that I was looking for it to happen!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/science/largehadroncollider/article/731994--a-big-bang-heard-around-the-globe?bn=1#article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Periodic_table.svg

Ah Nuts… It is Easier to be a 2009 Christian

Misty Hollow Carving
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Today’s Blog Post
Ah Nuts… It is Easier to be a 2009 Christian
The Hadza People of Tanzania
My world and the world of the Hadza People could not be any further apart.

In the last few days I have been reading further into this unique culture that is still alive in the remote region of Africa, and Tanzania specifically.

From what I have found they are possibly are related to the Pygmy Groups of Africa like the Mbuti and Baka people with a Bantu admixture (see reference below). They live near Lake Eyasi in a part of the Rift Valley that runs across Africa from south to north.

One of the writer’s material that I read stated that these people lived as if they are one huge camping trip all of their lives.

The unique part of reading about them is the remoteness of their existence in a world that is quickly becoming modernized.

The area that they live has Cell Phone capabilities. If you have a Cell Phone you can call anywhere. Yet the Hadza do not know what a Cell Phone nor do they have any use for it.

The Hadza have no medical help nor any need for a hospital. From what I read there were two methods of dealing with medical emergencies – You Lived or You Died. And when the person dies they simply bury the body and move on with daily life. There is no great emotional separation from that one… death is a fact of life. In fact none of the Western Ways of doing anything is their way.

Strip away everything that you do during the day except gathering food, eating food, sleeping(whenever you want to), and the most basic body functions – and you could be a Hadza.

Now there are some parents that will swear that their teenage son is a Hadza at this stage… and their main task is to civilize the teenager.

Because the Hadza is so remote and unattractive to be with few Westerners make this a tourist place.

One of articles written stated that the Hadza deal with body odor in their own way. The men feel that if their woman baths as few times as possible – maybe only two times a year – they are more desirable.

You will not find clean freak tourist pushing into a Hadza camp to buy trinkets. But then Hadza people don’t make trinkets nor meet tourists. Hadza people have no desire for material things at all. They own nothing except the killing implements that are needed to get their meal.

As I read this amazing story I could help but think that this may well have been how our own Aboriginal People might have been before the then civilized world made contact with them and moved in to be neighbors – bringing them beads and trinkets and all kinds of stuff that they could learn to hoard… the same as we do.

Christmas and gift giving that we know as part of our culture could not be more remote from the Hadza.

I am not promoting that we all start living like the Hadza people. But a readjustment of priorities might be a startling revelation for most of my world.

I mean if I stripped away all the “stuff” that I have… got rid of all of it… would I be less of a person? I certainly would have less “stuff” but I would still be a person. Wouldn’t I?

If I didn’t buy any gifts this for Christmas – would I be less of a person?

If my life was stripped of the building I live in and the buildings that I seem to need so desperately to feel good… or orientated… would my personhood be jeopardized?

If I didn’t walk through the Mall this year at least one time to buy some “stuff” – would my life be threatened?

If I couldn’t get into a church building this Christmas time – would my life turn upside down?

One simple thought that grabbed me as we walked through the new Mall in our city lately… Jesus and his disciples never gave Christmas Gifts… they never had a Christmas Tree… never ate a Turkey Dinner… and for the most part never did any of the stuff that my world does.

Yet we celebrate Jesus’ Birthday with the December 25th… and do all kinds of weird things in the Celebration that even Jesus would know about if he was here.

Our Christmas Celebration and all that we do are as remote from the original story and reason for it as… MY World and Culture is from the Hadza People.

Some of the words that Jesus spoke to a Rich Young Ruler that was asking about membership in the newly formed “Christ Following Activity Club”… were simple… “Here’s what you need to do to follow me… take everything you have a sell it… give half of the sales to the poor... then come and follow me….”

Can you imagine the struggle that the Rich Young Ruler had at that moment of realization that his possible new faith or life change would cost him everything?

This morning I will be attending our church to worship Jesus. We will sing songs about Jesus and talk to him. We will shake hands with each other because we are given sometime to do that… some will smile at each other. It is Christianity at Northview Pentecostal Church.

The building was erected in 1980 to help people worship God better. It cost $1,350,000. People didn’t have all the money at that time so they borrowed it – lots of it… in fact that was the amount that they borrowed… and owed in 1980.

When I joined the congregation in 1998 they still owed $1,350,000 – after 18 years of paying and paying and paying and paying. In fact with the 20% Interest rates of the 1980s they paid $1,000,000 in the first four years. Then they paid $1,000,000 more Interest in the next five years. Then from what I could glean from all that I read they paid at least another $1,000,000 in Interest in the next nine years… and the Mortgage money owed was the same after 18 years.

Now after 27 years the church owes around $749,000. In my period of leading and pastoring the church we paid down a big chunk.

I was delighted to hear last Sunday that a new plan has been launched to pay down and off the Mortgage and it will only take 18 more years to get rid of it.

All told that is only 45 years to pay off the Mortgage in the end.

I am a retired pastor of this church I attend. I accepted the debt load when I arrived and addressed it faithfully for 10 years. Now I will add more of my own money to help the debt disappear some day soon.

I write of the church debt to point out how complicated my Christianity has become from what Jesus first told his followers.

I am bugged by one thought that comes back often… it is a nagging one… “the debt of the church was not paid off because of your leadership…” I cringe when that thought comes by…

But then God whispers… “there are other reasons that I am dealing with… and it was there before you came… I will take care fo it…”.

Some how I would like to become a little more like a Hadza… all except the smell, the bugs, the food, the no furniture, no Mortgage… and no Payments… and no Interest…, the lack of a car, the lack of a Cell Phone, the lack of a Mall, and I do love the Christmas Tree… and Christmas Presents… and…

Ah nuts… it is easier to be a 2009 Christian!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

PS - This is My 500th Posting to this Blog.  Wahoooo!

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadza_people
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/12/hadza/finkel-text

Royal Gardens – WOW!!

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

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Today’s Blog Post
Royal Gardens – WOW!!
Today I am off to “Royal Gardens” which is situated on Clonsilla Avenue in Peterborough, just up the way from where I live.

What a gorgeous place it is! Its name tells it all. It is truly Royal and even Regal. If no other reason it is worth the trip to just go inside and take a look. And everyone is Welcome!

I am again attempting a Craft Sale. If you follow this Blog you may remember that I made a grand total of “One Hundred Cents” last Saturday at the School Craft Sale. What will happen today?

Last week I brought in over $500 in Sales and Orders – between the Saturdays. I can’t wait to see what happens next week.

I invite you to come take a look at this Sale. The other Crafters and Artists that come are simply amazing. I have spoken with at least four of them and they are looking forward to today.

I pause here and will give the up date later…..

5:33 PM Later... Home again! Whew!  What a day.

How does a 40,000% increase over the LAST SATURDAY'S Sales and Orders. Wahooooooooo!  Yes that is correct!  That is quite a difference in sales and orders for two contrasting sales.

I am very thankful for the response.

Then... opening my emails I find...
"Hi there! I was at the royal gardens craft show today and wish I'd come home with a bear. I would like to know if you are doing any craft shows in the peterborough area in the future? Thanks so much ~ 'C' ".

For you that care - thank you so much!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

The Most Dangerous Viral Infection

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Today’s Blog Post
The Most Dangerous Viral Infection
I am absolutely sure that I have a “viral infection” of some sort racing through my system! With each passing day this week it has become more evident that it will likely take most of my life away by Mid December.

No it is not the H1N1 Flu.

In September I was perfectly fine… even on into October I was still okay. It wasn’t until this past week that it became a growing threat. Yes I am worried – very worried about what may happen.

Let me explain.

I was reading the following paragraph when it hit me… Quote…
"As a professional restorer of antique and classic watches for major museums, I recently reviewed the movement and individual parts of the Stauer Flyboy 1916 timepiece. The assembly and the precision of the movement are a mix of history and accuracy rarely seen."-George Thomas - Towson Watch Company

We turned to World War I aviation history for a timepiece that truly captures the thrill of the cockpit.

We can't really speak for the top German air ace of World War I, but it's likely he wasn't crazy about chronographs. For the British, French and Yanks who fought ferociously in the skies over Europe, new multi-function wristwatches proved invaluable. These stopwatches helped time complicated maneuvers like barrel rolls in their Sopwith Camel bi-planes. During dogfights in the smoke and flak-filled skies, any advantage was welcome. Stauer honors the early chronographs with a historic masterpiece, the Flyboy 1916 timepiece.

Honoring the "Millionaire Unit."
The air during the Great War was filled with heroes, but one group of flyboys in particular caught our attention. In 1916, a group of students from Yale University, driven by patriotic sentiment and daredevil attitude, formed their own "Air Force" to get airborne for the Allied powers. Using their well connected families' resources, these Bulldogs purchased their own planes and hired flight instructors. These Elis were from well known American families: Taft, Morgan, Roosevelt, Harriman, and Baruch. The press dubbed them "The Millionaire Unit," but years of distinguished service proved that their commitment was no joke.

Aviation history comes alive.
Our designers felt compelled to pay tribute to these pioneering pilots with an updated version of an early cockpit classic. To honor these adventurers of New Haven, we went back to our own history books and studied the early aviator's timepieces. The Stauer Flyboy 1916 is fused in rose gold and has three tachymeters and a moveable bezel to measure speed and ascent. The chronograph function allows you to measure elapsed time and stop on a dime. The interior complications measure elapsed minutes and hours as well as display a military 24-hour clock.Other watch manufacturers believe that when it comes to price, the sky's the limit; not at Stauer. This is a limited edition of 1,916 pieces, so please don't wait, our last 3 limited editions are completely sold out.
~ end Quote…

I know it is a lot to digest – the few paragraphs above… but did you get it?

They only have 1,916 watches left If I want one I have to order it NOW – or else it will be gone. And I will not be able to act out the part of a “1916 Fly Boy” with the fancy watch on my arm.

And to top it off it is only $145 USD (originally it was $195)

The “1916 Fly Boy” is in a catalogue that we received… from Stauer. Along with the watches that were shown I could get my wife some diamonds and emeralds and all kinds of stuff – CHEAP!

In Sept and Oct we didn’t have the catalogue… but after it arrived and I read all that it has promised me – I want EVERYTHING in it!

The Viral Infection is “Shopperitis” and the Christmas season is thoroughly a hold on me with one month less one day left until I can get the things I WANT! – Not what I NEED – but Rather WANT.

Take a look at these bargains shown here… I mean WOW – would my wife ever love me for getting these things! The text below each item has promised me that she would love me even more than now! WOW!

Okay… Okay… I know that it is not going to happen that fast. I doubt they can get it to me before Christmas anyway.

Think of it. With the tons of advertisements that have flooded our homes in the last weeks, the flyers, the letters and all the GREAT STUFF that they promise – no wonder we feel weird and like a viral infection has hit us. I cannot escape it!

Now I know that you are way more spiritual than I am. You are going to sell everything that you have and give it away to the poor… right? You probably won’t do that until after the December 25 – so you will have more to give away – right?

Hmmm?

Now if I have caused you to start scratching your personal itch… your own viral infection area…I do apologize. But my guess is that you have already made that decision to buy more!

Hey – have a GREAT SHOPPING TRIP…!!!!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.stauer.com/item/Flyboy-1916-Watch/17479/3
http://www.stauer.com/itemd.asp?ItemNo=19158&ad=31856
http://www.stauer.com/itemd.asp?ItemNo=19138&ad=31856
http://www.stauer.com/itemd.asp?ItemNo=17185&ad=31856

And the Winner is… Emma Lindsay – and the Kinsmen Minor Football League!!!!

Misty Hollow Carving
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And the Winner is… Emma Lindsay – and the Kinsmen Minor Football League!!!!
The Back Row in the Thomas A. Stewart High School erupted in Cheers as the Master of Ceremonies announced the winner of the Most Valuable Special Teams Player, among the Junior Teams, receiving the Sussex Engineering Trophy.

“And the winner is Emma Lindsay!”

Wahoooooooo! YAAAAAAAH! Alrighttttttttt!

I have to admit that it was all her family and close friends that exploded as the ONLY GIRL among all the boys in the almost 200 strong Kinsmen Minor Football League of Peterborough – WON THE AWARD!

Emma was a little embarrassed with her supporters coming apart at the seams… but hey… it may be the only time that this will ever happen.

One of the Fans cheering her on was her 88 year old Great Grandma, Marion Nellie Lincoln! What an honor for Great Grandma Lincoln to feel the excitement too. Without a doubt Great Grandma was the OLDEST PERSON in that Football Crowd – and she clapped just as loud as the rest.

The photo below shows Coach Joey, Coach Lloyd and Coach John. These guys are the heart of the “Steelers” and are behind the believing in the kids. They give their time and energy to help little guys and one girl do their best. What an amazing group of guys that give 100% of everything they have got to make 10 weeks in the Fall Season a complete success.

For the Lindsay and Lincoln Families it was absolutely the greatest thing that has every happened in 2009.

Next Sunday in Canada they CFL will hold the Grey Cup Game in Calgary. Even now there is great hoopla taking place with the Professional Football Players and their coaches flooding the city. But it is nothing beside the Kinsmen Minor Football League 2009 of Peterborough, Ontario.

Even the NFL of the USA falls short of what happened last night for the People of the Back Row of TASS!

To put a balance to what I have written… dozens of awards were given to many players. They all deserved them. The parents of each kid yelled along with us too. We all cheered everyone.

I want to thank all the organizers and supporters of the KMFL. These guys are amazing… simply amazing. We as Parents and Grandparents and Great Grandparents thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

Christmas Alert!

isty Hollow Carving
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Today’s Blog Post

Christmas Alert!
It seems like it was just yesterday that we were getting into the Christmas Spirit of 2008. Now we are rushing again toward the next one – 2009. In fact as you can see – only One Month until we celebrate that one day of the year again.

I was thinking of the magic of the season in our family and how it has changed over the years for me.

From the days of being the boy that was excited about it all… not being able to wait for the Christmas Morning gift opening times… to the Grandpa now watching my Grandsons almost vibrate with anticipation of what they will get One month from now. What a difference a few years make.

What is the one thing that you are reminded of this year – as you approach this Holiday Season? What is a memory that you will keep? Who will you share this memory with?

My thoughts are often of family and the ‘big people’ that were there in my life as a boy. Then they shift to the times when I became a ‘big people’ to the kids. The days when our own family started to grow and the kids caught the excitement. Now we are at the next stage with our kids and grandkids carrying the excitement.

Last night another man that had returned from Prison messed up and is now back in Prison… for a while anyway. His actions and lack of ability to cope with the community around him, point to a need that I have again been reminded of. The Ex-offender has a hard time coping with the Christmas feelings.

For the most part these men have known what I have known as a boy. They have the warm and fuzzy feelings too – from the past.
The problem is that the events in their lives kind of destroyed the warm and fuzzy stuff from the past… and the relationship with their family. Christmas often stopped dead when the crime, charges and conviction came down. From that moment on there was little good about Christmas for these guys. In fact if the story could be told – a prison cell inside on Christmas Morning is just about the worst place on earth…lonely… memory flooded… and with tons of regret wrapping the mind of the many in the cells.

It is also the most lonely place when he comes out of prison. The fact that everyone else is celebrating and he has no one… is worse again. Inside of prison he became used to the 27 or so years of the ‘Inside Christmas Season” everyone he knew was in the same boat… now outside he doesn’t even have the guys that he knew ‘Inside’.

My Christmas wish this year is that each guy living in the community after serving his time in Prison – would have one family invite him to share with them.

“How in the world could you do that? I don’t know any body from Prison?” someone asks.

My response is, “They are closer to you than you think.”

Call a community Chaplain and ask how you might help out. He will know someone that has no one. There is one of these guys in every community across Canada… and they would love to have that kind of support.

A few years ago when things were somewhat simpler I spent my Christmas day playing board games with some of these fellows in a local provincial jail. It was the best afternoon that I had in my entire life and ministry. I became one of them… and they were welcome into my life.

Stopping to think about it… that was what Christmas was all about originally… God allowed his Son to be born as a human… to become one of us… and share our world with him… in fact to enter our world completely.

What if we were able to do the same with those in need around us? What if… I was really a Christ Follower in all that I did? What if I got involved – completely and really cared enough to give myself away this Christmas time? What if?

This is my Christmas alert. I am alerting myself to the need that is real and that is in front of me. I think that we will have company this year again… someone that is alone and lonely… some one that that is regretting the time that they are facing. Hmmm?

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

Deer Alert! Deer Alert! – Hunter Alert! Hunter Alert!

Misty Hollow Carving
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Today’s Blog Post

Deer Alert! Deer Alert! – Hunter Alert! Hunter Alert!
Sometime on Tuesday Morning, November 24, 2009 (today) a White Tailed Doe was discovered in the heart of Toronto’s downtown area. First it was spotted near the Union Train Station – which is where the Go Train brings in the commuters from all over. (Some guessed the Deer came on a train)

Within a short while it made its way up to the Bay and Dundas area and hunkered down in a small bush. Doing what every deer does when it is trying to avoid the people – hide.

As you read the story it is kind of funny really.

We are just through the Hunting Season when red blooded, grunting and scratching Canadian Hunter have fled the city dwellings to go kill a deer.

This is one smart deer. She came to city to avoid the Hunters from the City that were stalking her in the country. Very smart.

Well the deer wasn’t that lucky. The vet came from the Toronto Zoo with a tranquillizer gun… and shot the deer. But it takes time for a tranquillizer to take affect… and the deer said “I am out of here!” – up she bolted and away from the scene… likely to drop soon.

BUT this is TORONTO. And a good old Metro Cop pulled his handy Tazer and blam… the deer came down. City cops use the Tazer usually when the person they are pursuing is about to pull out their weapon and do the Cop some damage.

Hey – Dummy – it is a Doe – a White Tailed Deer… it doesn’t have a gun!

It is about now that my Saskatchewan Hunting Friends are rolling over and nearly killing themselves with the humor out of Toronto.

But it may open a new problem for the Wildlife Officers that nab poachers and bad dudes that hunt illegally.

Who would have thought that a Tazer could be used to do a deer in? This is amazing.

In the future should the deer be on “Posted Land”… a Tazer job could make the deer “come along” off the property… so that it could die a proper and legal death on another piece of property.

Who would have thought?

Can you imagine what P.E.T.A. is doing right now? I am sure they will speak before the day is up… or within the week.

But the story isn’t over yet. The tranquillized and Tazered deer is sleeping his city adventure off for a few days – being watched for side affects to what they nailed her with.

Then they will kindly and carefully take her to the country where she will be released to start her run again from the nasty, good old boys that are waiting for her… to Kerblam!

Seems like a huge waste of money this morning. Many police cruisers, a number of cops, people late for work as they stopped to gawk, and then one vet that was called in….

I know at least three good old boys in our area that would have been their in a heart beat to take Bambi’s mommy home with them. Why didn’t they call?

Hey! It is Toronto. Deer Alert! Hunter Alert! Go figure!!!!!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

The Liberation Treatment of MS – WOW!

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This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

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Today’s Blog Post

The Liberation Treatment of MS – WOW!
The TV Program last evening was amazing. It was all about a treatment that is being used by Dr. Paolo Zamboni. Dr. Zamboni has found a treatment that appears to be working on every one of his MS Patients. With it their MS conditions are being reversed and they are virtually cured!

No kidding! If the MS is caught in the early stages it can be “cured”!

If this is true then millions of people world wide will be set free or a death sentence. I know dozens or people that have MS. It is very common in my world and in Canada.

A quote from the W5 Web Site states the following…
“Dr. Paolo Zamboni, a former vascular surgeon and professor at the University of Ferrara in northern Italy, began asking questions about the debilitating condition a decade ago, when his wife Elena, now 51, was diagnosed with MS.

Watching his wife Elena struggle with the fatigue, muscle weakness and visual problems of MS led Zamboni to begin an intense personal search for the cause of her disease. He found that scientists who had studied the brains of MS patients had noticed higher levels of iron in their brain, not accounted for by age. The iron deposits had a unique pattern, often forming in the core of the brain, clustered around the veins that normally drain blood from the head. No one had ever fully explained this phenomenon, considering the excess iron a toxic byproduct of the MS itself.

Dr. Zamboni wondered if the iron came from blood improperly collecting in the brain. Using Doppler ultrasound, he began examining the necks of MS patients and made an extraordinary finding. Almost 100 per cent of the patients had a narrowing, twisting or outright blockage of the veins that are supposed to flush blood from the brain. He then checked these veins in healthy people, and found none of these malformations. Nor did he find these blockages in those with other neurological conditions.” End quote.

The W5 Program is a credible presentation. Its investigation is thorough and will expose a fraud – and has done that well over the years. No doubt here that the W5 crew were trying hard to point out the potential fraud here also. I mean HOW CAN ONE MAN DISCOVER THE CURE THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS FOUND TO DATE?

It appears that the results of what Dr. Paolo Zamboni has found is very real.

What is the answer…? It is a Plumbing Problem in the person’s neck… a vein returning the blood to the rest of the body from the head is restricted… and when opened by an angioplasty procedure… the improvement is immediate. People are given their lives back again.

I listened to the program over and over again – on my computer.

What it doesn’t say is that advanced stages of MS, where much damage has been done, are not necessarily reversible. The damage done by the build up of the iron in the brain may not be able to be changed.

But who knows? In today’s advancements in all the areas they have gone, there may well be an answer for the reverse of the conditions that each person has.

I can only hope that there will be a real answer soon.

Be sure to look at the Link posted below. The report is very powerful.

Next week there is a more scientific report that will be published and released for the medical world and the rest of us to read.

Today many people are waking up to a possible new hope, no more of the horrible tingling in their hands and feet, their strength could come back again and tiredness will evaporate, they will not face the loss of vision and all the visual difficulties that will possibly come their way, plus the early loss of life.

There is a new hope. And I hold my breath along with you – hoping that this is true!

This is a good day!

Do you think maybe that Dr. Paolo Zamboni might receive the Nobel Peace Prize in medicine for this one? I do.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091120/W5_liberation_091121/20091121?s_name=W5

The Recession Santa - With AddenDUM - Heavy on the "DUM"!

Misty Hollow Carving

This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Today I am off to the Christmas Treasures Craft Show at Rhema Christian School. If you are in Peterborough - I would love for you to drop by.  The school is at Parkhill Road East and Televisions Road.
 
The Santa featured here is my new "Recession Santa" - as you can see he has lost his belly.
 
I look forward to hearing from you!
 
AddenDUM - 845 PM…
The first part was posted early in the day... here is the rest of the story... DUM!

As my wife and I drove home from the sale at about 4 PM - we began to laugh... We had just spent the last SIX hours at the Christmas Treasures Craft Sale at the Rhema Christian School. Add to that I spent one hour there on Friday PM setting up.

I said to her... "Let's see. I spent One Hour Friday PM and then adding to that Six Hours today... that makes 7 hours total. We paid $25.00 for the Table Privilege. And we made how much? $26.00? For Seven Hours work at the sale. We made $1.00! That is 14 Cents an Hour for SEVEN hours.”

Then we laughed again. We have never had such a disastrous sale ever! Too Funny!

Hundreds of people came – and just looked.

I checked with other crafters and the same was true. The lady at the table next to ours packed up and left 2 hours early. Other people just shook their heads and vowed they wouldn’t come back again.
Alida and I just laughed.

At home…
We pulled into the driveway and parked the van. I began to unload the goods.

I pulled the heavy carvings from the van one by one. Three of them were full logs that were re-created as Snow Men… really heavy Snow Men! I placed them on my front porch to become our own ornaments.

I turned and at that moment a neighbour walked up to me and asked if the Snow Men were for sale. She asked the price and I told her “$50 each for neighbors.”

She responded, “I’ll take these TWO! I love them. I will be back in a second with the money.”

My mouth dropped open wide. I three minutes I had made $100. Now at that rate I was making $2000 in one hour! I have never had that good of sale in my life! Imagine! From the Worst Sale to the Best Sale in less than an hour.

It appears that the other Snow Man may go quickly too.

I know now that Rhema Christian School is a not a cool place to sell stuff that I make. Everyone loves it… everyone wants to talk about it… but nobody buys anything. I think many are stinking rich… so they don’t need to buy anything… or their houses are already too full of stuff.

But then I heard from the Fellow Crafter today that they had been at the Northview Church’s Craft Sale last weekend… and few of the folks that they had spoken to had sold much of anything. Lots of people came and looked and talked – but few bought.

HEY – guess what – this is a Recession… and people are being VERY CAREFUL – VERY, VERY careful.

Now if you need a Great Christmas Gift… have I got a deal for you… in fact I have a WHOLE LOT OF DEALS FOR YOU. Would you please BUY SOMETHING???!

Murray Lincoln
www.murraylincoln.com/

The Homework Virus

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
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Today’s Blog Post

The Homework Virus
Last Sunday Evening I arrived back in Peterborough at about 8 PM. We had been in Ottawa for a few days. And while we were there I had received a call from my Granddaughter – she needed help with her homework… and Grandpa is the one that she wanted to help her draw a certain picture.

When I arrived at her home it was almost 9 PM. The Homework project was laid out of the front room floor. All the pieces of her homework were ready. She had already prepared a ton of work that had to be glued into place for the final presentation on Monday morning.

This project took Mom, Dad, Emma and Grandpa Lincoln to get it all done – late Sunday evening. I had messed up the process by being away all weekend. The piece that I was doing for her wasn’t ready until just before the assembly.

THIS IS the HOMEWORK NIGHTMARE… or HN.

Right now Canada and other places in the world are suffering from the Flu entitled H1N1.

Families across the world are suffering from a greater problem called the HN – the Homework Nightmare.

In Calgary, Tom Milley and his wife Shelli are lawyers. With some creativity they have brokered a deal/contract with their children’s School Board that now means their kids will have little or no Homework.

From the Star Phoenix in Saskatoon, Sask. it is reported their kids…
“Spencer, 11, and sister Brittany, 10, could spend up to three hours a night completing math problems and word lists with the help of their parents.” End quote.

Tom and Shelli both were getting their Grade 6 & 7 all over again working along side their kids doing the homework with them.

I am convinced that the HN Virus is an affliction given to Parents so that they will now re-learn their own homework that THEY DIDN’T DO when they were young.

BUT it seems silly to have a kid doing 3 hours of homework while in Grade 6.

In my granddaughter’s case – it was the whole weekend… and needed three adults to help her.

Incidentally – WE – as a team of Homework Doers got a very high A+ when Emma presented her project on “Wilfrid Laurier” in French to here Social Studies Class. Wilfrid Laurier is the dude on our Blue Five Dollar Bills.

I never ever got A+ in any subject when I was in Grade 6… But I did this time! Wahoo. And now I know about Wilfrid Laurier!

BTW I love doing Homework with the kids…. It seems to prevent the early stages of Dementia that my other friends are suffering from.

There is lots of discussion on the issue of HN… and how it is affecting families and their quality of life.

This past week I taught an art class in a public school for two mornings. The first morning I assigned the kids Homework to draw their own hand. Groan… “We all ready have Homework!” was their reply.

My response was, “But this is fun!” About two thirds of the kids did the project… and they were good!

As I drove from my granddaughter’s home… I thought long and hard about Homework. I asked my self what I was now doing in this area of HN.

This past week I have been doing HN each night to better myself. As I looked at it – I have tons of work to get done. I will be marked on it this weekend… and the next… and this Christmas as I do the Wood Carvings.

One wood carving has to be done today. It is for Hunter Smith and it is Hunter Smith. Hunter is dieing because of cancer and the wood carving is planned to be a blessing to him and his wife this Christmas. My neighbor has ordered this one. It has to be done today – because Hunter may not be here at Christmas time.

There are another six Teddy Bears that MUST BE ready this next week. Ordered a while ago… now need to be delivered to England and all parts of Canada! Oh boy!

So THREE CHEERS for Tom and Shelli… I think. But Homework is Fun!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/alberta/2009/11/20/11826376-sun.html
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/life/Calgary+family+signs+homework+deal/2241272/story.html

“The Dam” – either by Stephen Tvedten or Ryan DeVries

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
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Today’s Blog Post
I am reprinting the contents of a great email that two of my friends sent my way. It is hilarious and apparently true…however there is debate over where it happened. Checking it out you will see that it happened in Michigan rather than Pennsylvania – to a Stephen Tvedten – rather than Ryan.

But the story is just too good not to give it to you in this blog. Ryan and Stephen – both of you are great writers as well as whoever creatively sent to all of us. It has lightened my load today. Enjoy!
(Thanks Marion and Terry)


“The Dam” – either by Stephen Tvedten or Ryan DeVries
This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries regarding a pond on his property. It was sent by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Quality, State of Pennsylvania . This guy's response is hilarious, but read The State's letter before you get to the response letter.

State of Pennsylvania 's letter to Mr. DeVries:

SUBJECT: DEQ
File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. DeVries:

It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity: Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.

A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.

The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially fail ed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2007.

Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action..

We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
David L. Price
District Representative and Water Management Division.

Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries:

Re: DEQ File
No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. Price,

Your certified letter dated 12/17/06 has been handed to me to respond to. I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane , Trout Run, Pennsylvania.

A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood 'debris' dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials 'debris.'

I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.

These are the beavers/contractors you are seeking. As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.

My first dam question to you is:
(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or
(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?

If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. (Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.)

I have several dam concerns. My first dam concern is, aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer.

The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names.

If you want the dammed stream 'restored' to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams).

So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2007? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice by then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality, health, problem in the area It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your dam step! The bears are not careful where they dump!

Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.

THANK YOU,

RYAN DEVRIES
& THE DAM BEAVERS

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/b/beaverdam.htm
http://www.snopes.com/humor/letters/dammed.asp

Photos of the Dam and The Dam Builders

Spatchcock – Huh?

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
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Today’s Blog Post

Spatchcock – Huh?
The word doesn’t make any sense. When I read it and then pronounced it – it made even less sense.

English is like that for some of us. I can only imagine what happens to my friends that are trying to learn English and its many weird words.

Okay the Word for Today is “Spatchcock”.

Now apparently I knew this word before I ever read this word – which was this week at 65 years of age!

The word is so odd that it simply invites one to dig deeper.

To put it in its simplest definition means to cut the turkey or chicken down the backbone, remove the back bone, and break the bird until it is flat. The bird is then cooked in this flat position very fast compared to the regular way of the whole bird. A twelve pound turkey can be done in a little over One Hour!

I started wondering if the guys that pick up road kill might have used this word to describe the birds they pick up from the road. It sounds like “SPLAT” when the vehicle hits the bird.

Nope that wasn’t it.

It seems to have come from old Ireland. The “Languagehat” folk state that… quote…
"abbreviation of a dispatch cock, an Irish dish upon any sudden occasion. It is a hen just killed from the roost, or yard, and immediately skinned, split, and broiled." End quote.

“Spatchcock” is shortened from a “dispatched cock” – or a murdered bird. The addition of the words “upon any sudden occasion”. That is kind of like Road Kill – isn’t it?

The reason that I stated earlier that I know the word before reading the word… is simple. I watched my Grandma Kirk, Emma was her name, dispatch more than one cock when we arrived from the city.

That moment was something that I will never forget.

Grandma would ask us if we would like to go along with her. Then she would pick up her large butcher knife… which was just under the size of a machete used in many parts of the world. She then would wipe the large butcher knife on her apron and start toward the door looking back to see who would follow her.

Every grandkid would drop what they were doing and follow closely. Wherever the chickens were – was our destination.

The stupid birds were quietly eating – pecking away at the ground for seeds. If they were not where she wanted them Grandma Kirk would simply take a handful of grain with her and throw it out so the chickens would come.

In among the chickens were the proud roosters that took charge of the grain eating.

As the chickens were busy eating their new find of grain Grandma would quickly swoop down and trap one busy rooster to the ground. A loud squawk followed as the rooster flapped his wings furiously to get free. Her other hand grabbed is legs and then she dropped the body so he was hanging upside down – head struggling to see where she was taking him.

It was about 20 feet away to the wood pile… and the wood chopping block.

The rooster hung in her left hand… he large butcher knife in her right. Then Grandma looked around at us… and grinned. She placed the roosters head on the block and as she did he flared his wings… given a warning squawk…. The large knife went up above her shoulder and swish through the air to meet the top of the chopping block….Thump!

There was a burst of air from the flapping wings… and then she did the next thing we knew she would do… she tossed the headless rooster toward whoever was standing nearest… bravest… silliest and the headless rooster came rushing toward me… with blood spurting profusely.

Dispatched Cock – now Spatchcock.

At the end of the Grandma’s murdering episode… we all enjoyed the roast rooster.

I hope you can use this one in scrabble!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spatchcock
http://www.languagehat.com/archives/003406.php
http://hubpages.com/hub/Spatchcocked-Turkey-The-newest-trend-for-Thanksgiving-Dinner
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/13/AR2007111300406.html
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:421132

I have switched from Dumb TV to Radio

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

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Today’s Blog Post

I have switched from Dumb TV to Radio
Oh my goodness – the world tipped upside down last evening for some folks in Ontario. Their favorite program broadcast on Rogers Cable was blacked out for almost the entire time. Then because of that it was rebroadcast in the next hour. It was all about “Battle of the Blades” – there was a black screen… nothing!

Talk about a fiasco. People were cut off the source of their lives – TV.

I imagine that heads will role some where on this problem today.

However, in Canada, the TV Wars are now taking place in Gatineau, Quebec and the CRTC listens to the two sides – TV Stations(Local TV) and Cable Companies duke it out over charging more – or something – for their services. You can pick up the Link below… that describes the details of what is happenings.

The fact that the Local TV is not paid anything by the Cable Guys – for using their programming is one of the issues. If fees are set higher or at all – the only person that will pay is the local user – the Cable Guys will pass it on down the line if Local TV is allowed to charge.

Then there is a suggestion that a new service could be offered to us all… something called “Skinny TV”…where the monthly cost will be less and so is the content.

In Peterborough, the very center to the Universe (at least people here believe that), we are offered one local station that has the name CHEX. TV and at times it is SKINNY.

Then limping up from somewhere south of us is a very weak TVO – public TV kind of TV… that is the thinking kind of TV for adults at certain times and a whole bunch of cartoons for kids forever…

Further we have some kind of pathetic Global TV that is pumped into a repeater station south of us in rolling hills and dales – with super rotten reception… some days… and some days the sound is so bad that it is easier by far to turn it all off.

So we have three English speaking TV presentations… and one French station… that is also fuzzy… and poor.

In recent times the local CHEX station presented CBC news through the morning… then switched over to the “Begging TV” or “Sell You Something TV”. Now they have dropped the NEWS and simply move right into Beg and Sell TV from 8 AM on…

That Beg and Sell TV also includes Guilt TV with the different religious TV programs… usually someone from south of our Canadian Border pumping “Praise the Lord Stuff” our way and looking for more money from us.

At 9 AM the other station starts pumping more religion and then switches to Guilt TV with soft music and stories about dieing kids around the world… that need your donations.

Hey – as a minister I can handle Religion on TV… I just don’t need another flaky Bible Study that usually ends in an appeal for money… acting as if the “world” will be converted – if I give. IT IS NOT happening friends. The WORLD doesn’t watch Religion TV.

So what am I getting at? Well I have found that it is very easy to grab the TV remote and simply turn it all off. I have it down to the minute. At 8 AM I zap off the CHEX TV… and go to CBC Radio – which is so interesting! I mean you can only buy so many TV Vacuums, exercise machines, or the TV Religion. When you have a vacuum, and exercise machine (or go for walks) and you are full of Religion… why would you watch it any more?

I have looked at getting cable… but it is way too much money for nothing. For the most part you can simply buy more vacuums, exercise and religion machines… Cable lets you do it in French and English… and more often.

Now the suggestion is that you will have to pay more.

I find none of it interesting now. It is sad but true.
At 5:30 PM to about 6:30 PM we catch the news locally… but then drop it again.

If you are older… do you remember the old radio shows – or radio dramas – like maybe The Shadow? Or Bob Hope? Check out the Links below…

Have you read a good book lately? There are millions of them ready for you.

Have you tried your hand at an art or craft form that will thrill your soul – and some one else’s too?

I wish that our area were able to get good old TV the way that it used to be. You know what I mean… clean stories and comedy that was real…not smutty and making me want to walk away.

Good Lord – I am old.

But maybe not… maybe I am new… or renewed… and the TV is not keeping up with what my world is.

I have turned off four more hours a day now… down to a bare minimum… and it feels good.

I want to thank the local CHEX TV for weaning me off the morning stuff completely… it hurt a little and I shook for a while… but now I am free of Dumb TV for the whole morning… wahoo!

I did watch the “Battle of the Blades”… old hockey players trying to act like men in tights… and with girls that were good… Two programs were enough… back to Radio.

I have read two new books that have blown my mind. I have created two new lines of wood carving for the sales coming up.

I am free… whoah! It feels good.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2009/11/17/blades-rogers.html
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/726395--local-programming-dying-ctv-tells-crtc-hearing?bn=1

Old Radio Dramas
http://www.oldtimeradiofans.com/cat_template.php?category=Drama
http://www.radiolovers.com/

Life Line – A Wonderful Happening in Canada

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
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Today’s Blog Post

Life Line – A Wonderful Happening in Canada
The man that sat with me yesterday afternoon is a “Lifer” – meaning he has taken someone’s life. He explained how he is presently helping one young man that is also a “Lifer” make it through his prison sentence. My new friend’s name is ‘John’.

‘John’ explained after he personally received a Life Sentence and entered prison, he had met a man that was also a Lifer. This man had helped him integrate to Prison Life. Then through a strange set of circumstances the new friend that had helped him escaped from prison (the details I leave out here).

‘John’ now lives on the outside of prison successfully and goes back in to help other Lifers adjust and cope with their Life Sentence. One of the “Lifers” that ‘John’ is helping is the son of the first man to help ‘John’. The father produced a son that had become a Lifer as well.

This story shared with me by my new friend had an impact on my life. A man in trouble that found help from help from another man in trouble, now helping the son of the man that helped him. Through the tragic loss of life(actually at least three lives) the power of Relationships in changing society from inside out.

WOW! This is everything that I believe in.

We are just completing a very interesting conference in Ottawa entitled “Creating Better Relations” – Community Relations National Conference. I can say I have never been to something like this before. The power and effect on my life and the people that I work with in my community back home will be far reaching to say the least.

I should explain that at home, in Peterborough, I am involved with men coming from Prison. Sometime the involvement is direct and other times it is with programs that help men coming from Prison.

The conference was designed for people like myself that are doing similar work in their respective communities. It has brought us together to share what each of us are doing and in that way we perhaps glean new ideas from each other and the communities that we come from.

Right now I have so many new ideas that I will need to stay alive for another 35 years to try them all. And I have another day to walk through more new ideas – which could add another 35 years to the list….Yikes I will be 135 years before I can die!

Back to Life Line…
As I read the Web Site that more fully explains the Life Line program it states…
“Lifers helping Lifers
A partnership of motivated offenders, involved staff and supportive citizens

LifeLine is a partnership between the Correctional Service of Canada, the National Parole Board and voluntary, community-based agencies.

LifeLine is a correctional concept involving convicted, but paroled, men and women serving life sentences who have been successfully reintegrated into the community for at least five years. They return to an institution where they help develop programs for lifers; help motivate offenders; help offenders reintegrate; and contribute to public safety.”

In 1964 Canada we took a radical stance and abandoned Capital Punishment. We don’t take the life of someone that has taken a life. The Web Site explains…
“Canada abandoned capital punishment in 1964 and commuted all death sentences to life imprisonment. In 1976 the death penalty was removed from the Criminal Code of Canada and replaced by life imprisonment with no consideration of parole for 10 to 25 years. Thus, Canada was faced with a growing number of lifers being incarcerated for much longer periods.”

“Today, about 4300 offenders are serving life sentences. Of this number, one-third are under parole supervision in the community for the rest of their lives, while the remaining two-thirds are serving their sentence in an institution.

The inmate population of life sentenced and indeterminate male offenders has increased by 38% since 1990. These offenders make up 21% of all inmates.”

With about 1000 Lifers living in the many different communities across Canada they are now having an impact in a new way.

As I listened to the different accounts and programs I heartily agree. It is about Relations we have with our community.

In Peterborough we have men that have been in prison helping men that have been in prison. Some are Lifers and some are not. All of them understand each other.

A powerful but quiet group in Peterborough that facilitates and guides this “relation building” in the Peterborough Community Chaplaincy (see Web Site listed below for more info).

Double WOW! I can’t wait to get home. I am about to explode with new ideas.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
All about Lifers
http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/prgrm/lifeline/w6-eng.shtml
Peterborough Community Chaplaincy
http://www.ptbochaplaincy.org/

Zak’s Diner and my Beautiful Date on Friday Night

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
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Today’s Blog Post

Zak’s Diner and my Beautiful Date on Friday Night
Okay, Okay, I finally am coming to grip with some of my aging process… at least I think I am.

The setting is a romantic evening with my wife of 42 years. We were on a simple date – away from everything and in a city we love – Ottawa. The conference that I am attending is not starting until the next day. We had the night alone.

We found a delightful “old diner” that is so much like what we once knew when we began dating 47 years ago. At the end of the table in the small booth is a machine that you plug money into and play your favorite oldies. There on the menu was Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and dozens of other old guys that once played their Top Hit Parade singles.

Imagine the setting if you can.. you feel like you are just finished a long week of school, this is Friday night and you are with the most beautiful girl the world! It is a flash back moment that is hard to believe.

We were seated by a cute young thing dressed in jeans, rolled up the way the girls used to wear them. The waitress that walked by had her hair kind of pinned up, a tight yellow top, blue jeans with a pink belt, and two different coloured socks. And she was chewing gum. She looked like she was from my high school – 50 years ago! Yikes what a flash back.

Then the real shock started taking place.

I looked at the next booth, and the next and the next… Every booth had teenagers sitting in them… just like it was 50 years ago… they were eating French Fries and drinking Coke… just like 50 years ago… but all the teens were 50 YEARS YOUNGER THAN WE ARE. There was no one over 18 in the restaurant when we sat down.

The booth across from us had 9 girls sitting in it – where normally only four adults would sit. They were giggling, talking and apparently doing homework together… Everyone could have been my granddaughters!

When the waitress came for our orders of drinks… and brought the menu – I asked hesitantly… “Is it okay if grandparents eat here..?” She smiled and said, “SURE – we love you!”

After our orders came another "older couple" walked in and past our table.. the lady looked at us and grinned. We now had a cohort – someone that has been there before but could cope with the giggles and laughter that was YOUNG!

What a rush!

I looked at my date… then we laughed. We both looked at the mirror beside our table. I said to my date, “I think that this light blue shirt makes my hair look even whiter!” She giggled.

We look the same but there are more wrinkles – mainly because we both have had 50 years to grow more skin… on the same sized bodies. We laugh a lot – something like the teens in the next booth – but for different reasons.

I only wish that these kids will know the joy that we have had over these 47 years of having Coke and French Fries together. Today it is Diet Coke and sweet Potato Fries… and not so much.

Three Cheers for Zak’s Diner. Check out the link below… this is a great place to feel young again!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.zaksdiner.com/

David Blackmore needs your prayer

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
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Today’s Blog Post

David Blackmore needs your prayer
This post is very simple today.

Pastor David Blackmore in Kingston needs your prayer as does his family. He is the pastor of the Kingston Gospel Temple.

Last weekend he was preaching and making announcements – and plans for this next week. His son is getting married this coming Saturday.

Today he is on a ventilator now and cannot breath on his own. The situation is very grave.

David has asthma and the Flu that he has caught has taken the tole.

He and his family truly need your prayers today.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

So are you getting the Flu Shot in this Present Pandemic?

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/
* * * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post

So are you getting the Flu Shot in this Present Pandemic?
So are you getting the Shot? It seems like a silly question as hundreds of people in our community have panicked after hearing the reports that they have in the media. Who wouldn’t get the Shot?

Personally I am not sure that I qualify yet. I am a healthy 65 year old. I have no hidden secret why I can get it first… no under lying reason… other than I am human and could get sick.

As I have checked around with some folks that are in the know… it seems that not as many people are dieing from this H1N1 Flu as do from the regular kind of Flu. At least that is what we have been told by medical professionals.

In our area when the vaccine was ready and being provided in local Malls as well as some other public clinics, people flocked by the hundreds – if not thousands to stand in line for hours to get the shot.

As the news media filled our thoughts with the reports from the sickness front, we heard how a young teen died, another lady that we knew of died, and a baby over here died… We were frightened to not get it. What if…? Will we be next…?

Then the media started picking up stories about certain people in the community – like Professional Athletes and CEOs of Hospitals – getting the shot before others. Cue Jumping – UNFAIR! How could these people be before anyone else!?!? The media lapped it up for almost a week. And people went nuts.

The truth is always “almost there” when the media reports anything. They tell whatever sells their product. WE ALL KNOW THAT! But yet we believe that what is said is the absolute truth.

This morning the one report that I read stated that Canada has already spent $1.5 Billion on this drug manufactured in a chicken egg… and this amount will likely reach $2 Billion or higher before this present crisis is over.

The Globe and Mail’s writers, Paul Wadie and Caroline Alphonso, state…
“Vaccinating Canadians against H1N1 is costing the country nearly twice as much as health officials expected and the tally could easily climb above $2-billion before the pandemic has subsided.

The national inoculation program is only a few weeks in, but $1.51-billion is already being spent, according to a review of estimates from federal, provincial and territorial governments. The actual figure is likely much higher because many provinces are still revising their costs while others have yet to release total estimates.

Even at $1.51-billion, the vaccination effort is proving far more expensive than health officials estimated. In September, provincial and territorial health ministers predicted the cost of buying the vaccine and delivering it at around $16 a dose, or $806-million in total based on the 50.4 million doses ordered. The total cost is currently running at about $30 a shot and climbing.” – End quote

Down the road the Opposition Parties will love this one in our Canadian Government. “IT IS THE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT’S FAULT THAT THIS HAS PLACED OUR COUNTRY IN FURTHER DEBT!” Can’t you just hear the rants that will go on?

But the news media will be able to use that screaming from Opposition Parties to sell more of their stuff. The Flu Season will be over – but the reporter season is never over!

Did you catch that? $30 a shot! If I get this shot – it is costing me $30. No I don’t mean that I will have to pay that out of my pocket when I get it… but some day I will… in taxes… and that is just from this fall’s outbreak… not the next and the next…

Drug Companies are loving this. They are having a Bumper Year to say the least!

With the Hype that has been created by the news media and the millions of reports generated – by whoever – I am guilty for not getting the shot… and I am guilty if I get the shot without a VERY GOOD REASON. I cannot win! Then I am guilty if I get the shot and it costs $30 to be pricked… but if I don’t get the shot, the shot for me will go to waste. I really cannot win.

Though I will admit that I am at a high risk to get sick!

Take this weekend for example. I am off to visit in a Prison, then visit with a group of other ministers who have all been with sick people, then some personal visits with people that don’t qualify for getting a shot…. THEN I go to Ottawa… where the Politicians Live – and they come from all over the country where a lot of their people are sick and cough on them all the time!

I am attending a National Conference where a group of people from all over Canada will join me to share their ideas with each other… and they will carry in their germs to let me sample them. And none of the Conference Attendees will be eligible for the Flu Shots…

So are you getting the Flu Shot in this pandemic?

But then if was 91 years ago that the First Great World War was over. They had stopped the war with the signing of the Armistice on November 11. It was then that the germs uncovered and brought back by returning soldiers from that War… infected huge sections of the world’s population… and thousands upon thousands died – everywhere.

After this weekend… I think I will stay in my garage by myself… with only my carvings. I won’t buy a newspaper, turn on my TV or Radio and when I come out the Flu Season will be over… Everyone will either be dead or nothing will have happened…

Wikipedia relates about the Flu Pandemic of 1918…
“The pandemic lasted from March 1918 to June 1920, spreading even to the Arctic and remote Pacific islands. It is estimated that anywhere from 50 to 100 million people were killed worldwide which is from three to seven times the casualties of the First World War (15 million). An estimated 50 million people, about 3% of the world's population (approximately 1.6 billion at the time), died of the disease. An estimated 500 million, or 1/3 were infected.” End quote.

Sorry… I have to run now… gotta take my temperature… my throat feels like it has a tickle in it… I looked awful in the mirror when I looked a while ago… sheesh!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/h1n1-swine-flu/cost-of-vaccinating-the-nation-hits-15-billion-and-climbing/article1360311/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flu_epidemic_of_1918