Friday, December 31, 2010

Freak Fun Friday~!!

Freaky & Fun

Did you know it was illegal to view a Moose from an airplane in Alaska??


I kid you not...when flying in any vehicle you are not permitted to view a Moose...nor is it legal to push a Moose out of a plane...not sure why anyone would want to do such...but Alaska felt the need to put laws in place to protect the Moose!



It seems the majority of the information I have been able to find state its to protect the Moose from hunters...although Bears are free game...poor bears~!!  And in Fairbanks, it's also illegal to feed alcohol to a Moose...wouldn't want a bunch of drunk Moose on the Loose...that wouldn't be a pretty sight!!


 My brain is trying to figure out how they would enforce such a thing...does the plane's captain come on the radio asking everyone to please close their shutters??  Do they have Moose police in Alaska going around asking everyone at the airport if they saw a Moose on their way to their destination??  It just seems to hilarious to fathom...

If your planning on ever flying to Alaska...I suggest asking for an aisle seat or maybe your the type who likes to live dangerously and quietly sit in your seat counting all the Moose, knowing that your breaking the law...just remember not to tell anyone until you get home tho'!!



The next time you fly to Alaska...remember...DON'T LOOK DOWN~!!!


 
 

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

What Does One Do With Expired Canned Food??

Expired Food and What To Do?

Last night after my dude decided we're going to revamp our basement...I started wondering...what do people do with all their expired canned food?  We have loads of it...and have come up with a new system of rotating it but we haven't a clue what one is to do with the stockpile we have...



Canned food has a shelf life which the manufacturer is supposed to put on each label...you are still able to eat this food even after expiration of up to two years, tho' in some instances flavour and colour will be lacking...and NEVER eat canned goods that are dented, or swollen in size...botulism comes on like a cold and before you know it some severe results can occur!!



My dude and I thought on this...if only there were some way we could convert the food in the cans to either bio-degradable fuel or fertilizer...but we know of no facilities who incorporate this...seriously, why isn't anyone thinking about this??  Canned goods take up a huge portion of our landfills and there is no excuse for it...the cans can be recycled so now we need to think of a viable way to recycle the goods inside...


Do any of you have any ideas on what we can do as a society to combat this problem??  Please leave your thoughts...for my dude and I are most curious to hear them!!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Hatrack River Review

Hatrack River
by Orson Scott Card

Synopsis:

There are three books contained in this one book...the first three tales of Alvin Miller.  They include Seventh Son, Red Prophet and Prentice Alvin...this is a great series of books for adults tho' mature young adults would appreciate its depth also.  There are vague references to sex through out the book and the violence is quite graphic...I would suggest tissues for some parts of the book, the read is most thought-provoking and the story draws you in completely~!!  Hatrack River is loaded with colonial American history (both real and fictional), magic, fantasy and science fiction...this read WILL give you a full range of emotions while perusing its covers. 

Plot:

The story sets out with Alvin's birth, during 19th century Colonial America...born while his oldest brother was drowning in a raging river and his family fights to save each other from the swift currents,  Alvin Miller is the seventh son of a seventh son...his oldest brother perishes moments after Alvin's birth and their mother is left wondering if it was normal for a mother to loathe her own son.  You soon realize that Alvin isn't like normal children...he has a "knack" which enables him to "make" things.  Water is his enemy and it is continually trying to kill him through out the book.   However, water isn't Alvin's only enemy...he has to battle good and evil with The Unmaker, who manipulates those around Alvin to do his bidding...Alvin's father at times feels urges to kill his son and doesn't understand why and decides to set Alvin out on a journey to learn the trade of Blacksmith.

Using the lore and folk magic of the northwest at the time the book describes the various "knacks" of the folks in Hatrack River.  Alvin is able to "make" things but a maker hasn't been born in a very long time and no one is quite sure what a Maker can do. In book two we learn more about the powers of Alvin...the green magic of the Native Americans...here he meets Lolly-Wassiky who comes from his own troubled past until he meets Alvin...and the black noise leaves him to be replaced by the green music.  

Ta-Kumsah, Lolly-Wassiky's older brother...is a proud Shawnee warrior who begins to band all the native tribes into one collective unit and has conflict with William Henry Harrison, who is called White Murderer...both are racing against time to end the conflict...one with peace and the other with murder.  Lolly and Ta-Kumsah meet up with Alvin and see in him a gift that no other white man has had before him and they help him with his journey.  This part of the tale brings to life an America to fulfill the dreams we all grew up with, a strong and growing land of heroism and magic.

In the third portion of the book we come to see how slavery has been abolished in the north and how the people of the time are in a frenzy...Alvin is now a teenager and still hasn't any idea how his "knack" works...through out the tale there is Peggy...she can "see" things and as a young child was present at Alvin's birth  and even then, she knew he was different and so she takes his "cowl" and puts it in a box and whenever she needs to "view" Alvin she removes a pinch of it and works her magic...often times she is found saving Alvin's life, tho' no one knows she is doing this.  Alvin is on his own and the Unmaker is close-at-hand!


My Views:

I would recommend this book to ANYONE who loves fantasy, folk magic and history...my husband just finished reading it and it made him cry...LOL  However, I cannot tell you how the book ends...for I have not finished it yet...to me, this book is SO powerful that I cannot finish the read for I feel when I do...then the tale will be over and I cannot, for the life of me, do that to this GREAT read...honestly, if you have a chance to read this book...you MUST!  You truly won't regret it...

For more information on Hatrack River and Orson Scott Card please stop by their homepage... Hatrack River - The Official Web Site of Orson Scott Card 

**I was not paid in any way what-so-ever in the writing of this review...all ideas expressed here-in are my own and are they no way influenced by anyone or anything else!** 

Saturday, December 11, 2010

SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

What is SIDS?

From a scientific perspective, the term Sudden Infant Death Syndrome refers to the sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant, one whose death remains unexplained even after a complete post mortem investigation that includes a full autopsy, an examination of the circumstances of the death, and a review of the case history.

In reality, SIDS is not a diagnosis. It simply refers to a group of infants who, although they looked healthy, died suddenly and for no apparent reason. In other words, the cause of death cannot be established.


What Causes SIDS?

No one knows why a seemingly well baby dies so suddenly, so unexpectedly. Each year new theories arise as to what causes SIDS. But as yet, no single theory has yielded the answer that will enable us to prevent these tragic deaths. Ongoing research continues to shed new light on the processes involved. We need to remember, however, that all findings must be scrutinized to ensure that all factors have been taken into consideration. Many theories, highly plausible at first glance, have been rejected after more detailed studies.

FACTS you should know:

SIDS cannot be predicted or prevented at this time.
SIDS is not caused by neglect or child abuse.
SIDS does not appear to cause a baby suffering.
SIDS is not contagious or infectious.
SIDS is not considered hereditary.
SIDS is not caused by vaccinations or by toxic gases.
SIDS is not a new medical problem.
SIDS occurs rapidly and silently, usually during periods of sleep.
SIDS probably has more that one cause, although the final death mechanisms appear to be similar.
SIDS is not anyone's fault. 

Kyler Kristopher James ~ Oct. 15th - Dec. 25th, 1988

I lost my son on Christmas Day, 1988...I put him to bed as normal and in the morning when we were about to open our presents...we found him still and lifeless in his crib.  He was 2 1/2 months old and was a beautiful little boy...


Big sister, December-Dawn holding her brother for the first time...
October 15th, 1988

December-Dawn, me and Kyler

December-Dawn and Kyler on Christmas Eve

I still have no answers as to what happened that day...


 

Never use these items in your baby's crib

Comforters   Pillows Wedges
Positioners  Duvets Bumper Pads
Bedding Rolls  Quilts Heating Pads
Electric Blankets  Toys Loose Bedding