I Jumped Off The Golden Gate Bridge

Kevin is using his story to spread suicide prevention awareness with his film, 

Suicide: The Ripple Effect

found at suicidetherippleeffect.com.

The Dark Secret of the Golden Gate Bridge
https://forwardsfun.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-dark-secret-of-golden-gate-bridge.html

Five Myths About Turkeys

Americans will eat more than 40 million turkeys for Thanksgiving this year. Most will be roasted, some deep-fried, a few spatchcocked and nearly all turned into sandwiches the day after. At least one lucky bird will receive a presidential pardon. But between the iconic 1621 meal that we honor and Thursday’s dinner table, the turkey has earned its place in our nation’s mythology.

MYTH NO. 1
Ben Franklin almost made the turkey the national bird.

In “The Egg,” a song from the Tony-winning 1969 musical “1776,” adapted for the big screen in 1972, Benjamin Franklin whimsically makes the case that the turkey should be the fledgling republic’s national emblem, because it is “the truly noble bird: native American, source of sustenance of our original settlers, an incredibly brave fellow who will not flinch at attacking a regiment of Englishmen, single-handedly.” In 2009, the Houston Chronicle published an article headlined “The turkey was almost our national bird,” attributing the near miss to Franklin.

Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson made up the first committee charged with designing the national seal, Harvard’s Declaration Resources Project confirms, but Franklin’s suggestion had nothing to do with turkeys — it was a proposal to depict Moses parting the Red Sea. Eventually, after several design committees had been assembled and disbanded, America got the bald eagle in 1782.

Franklin’s turkey remarks came later. In a 1784 satirical letter to his daughter, he maligned the eagle’s “bad moral character”: He’s “too lazy to fish for himself” and instead waits for other, more industrious birds to do the work, then steals the catch. The turkey is a “more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America,” Franklin wrote.

MYTH NO. 2
Stuffing turkey is a recipe for food poisoning.

Two years ago, Self magazine ran the article “Cooking Stuffing Inside a Turkey Is Actually Dangerous,” urging readers to “cook your stuffing separately!” The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website, EatRight.org, warns, “For maximum safety, cook stuffing in a casserole” dish.

Yes, it’s important to take precautions when cooking poultry, but you can safely stuff a turkey — generations of Americans wouldn’t have risked dying for the sake of a more flavorful side dish. The key is proper temperature. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, your turkey, and what’s inside it, must be cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees.

To achieve this: (1) Stuff your raw turkey just after you’ve cooked your stuffing and it’s still hot. Don’t make your stuffing ahead of time and refrigerate it. That way, it takes less time for the stuffing to reach 165. (2) Don’t overstuff. A loosely stuffed bird heats more quickly. Leftover stuffing can go in a separate casserole that your guests will raid for seconds. (3) Measure the temperature. Make sure your culinary thermometer reaches the interior of the stuffing, either through the meat or through the cavity entrance. And don’t trust the pop-up thermometer that comes with the turkey you buy. When Consumer Reports tested them, it found some popped up at temperatures over 165 (making for an overcooked, dry bird) and some popped up at well under 165 (increasing the risk of food poisoning).

MYTH NO. 3
Basting is better.

Basting “adds flavor and helps create a golden crust,” wrote Bon Appétit’s Rochelle Bilow in 2015. Baste “with a mixture of butter and wine for an unconventional, buttery gobbler with a tangy kick,” recommends TV chef Rachael Ray.

Not so fast, says Meathead Goldwyn, the force behind AmazingRibs.com and the author of “Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling.” The problem is that basting prolongs cooking times. “Think of it like sweat after a long workout,” Goldwyn told me via email, “it cools you off.” If a long cooking time is what you’re after (as with pork shoulder, which has lots of connective tissue that has to break down), that’s a good thing. But not with a lean turkey. And basting may moisten the bird, “but not a lot,” says Goldwyn. The reason turkey dries out in the first place is that the moisture evaporates out of the meat as it cooks. But if you baste, the liquid doesn’t penetrate the flesh.

When Cook’s Illustrated put the competing methods to the test, it found that basting improved moisture a tiny bit, but it “prolongs the cooking time and requires more hands-on work.” The verdict: Not worth it.

MYTH NO. 4
Thanksgiving turkey makes you sleepy.

Urban Dictionary’s first entry for “turkey coma” defines it as “the inevitable and unavoidable nap that occurs about 45 minutes after gorging one’s self on a Thanksgiving Day turkey feast.” In one famous “Seinfeld” episode, Jerry’s girlfriend asks over a turkey dinner, “What is that stuff in turkey that makes you sleepy?” Jerry and George answer in unison: “Tryptophan,” the amino acid that’s plentiful in turkey meat. A few scenes later, she’s asleep at the table.

But tryptophan doesn’t necessarily induce sleep, and it’s doubtful that turkey’s the culprit for your post-Thanksgiving-dinner nap.

The human body uses tryptophan to make serotonin and melatonin, both of which play a role in sleep, and there’s some evidence that tryptophan intake is associated with sleep duration. But to make you drowsy, it has to cross the blood-brain barrier. And to do that, it competes with other amino acids vying to do the same. Since turkey contains different amino acids, very little tryptophan is likely to get through. Also, as HowStuffWorks put it, “nutritionists and other experts say that the tryptophan in turkey probably won’t trigger the body to produce more serotonin because tryptophan works best on an empty stomach.” Popular Science notes that “free-flowing booze combined with a load of carbohydrates followed by plenty more booze” is a likelier cause of sleepiness.

Besides, the USDA’s National Nutrient Database says turkey doesn’t have any more tryptophan than other things you’re likely to eat for dinner. It’s got 0.31 grams per 100 grams of meat, while chicken has 0.34 grams and a beef filet has 0.35.

MYTH NO. 5
Turkey was Thanksgiving's first entree.

Any grade-schooler will tell you: Turkey was the centerpiece at the first Thanksgiving. It’s a detail perpetuated in pop-culture holiday retellings, including a 1968 televised special, “The Mouse on the Mayflower,” wherein the narrator exclaims, “Oh, there was turkey!” The cover of one children’s book, “The Story of the First Thanksgiving,” depicts settlers and Native Americans gathered around a table, preparing to eat, with a golden-brown turkey in the middle as the main dish.

In 2011, though, Smithsonian magazine’s Megan Gambino reported that turkey wasn’t necessarily the main course in 1621. Kathleen Wall, a culinarian at Plimouth Plantation , a history museum that re-creates the original Plymouth colony, told Smithsonian, “Wildfowl was there . . . venison was there,” water birds like goose or duck were likely candidates, and passenger pigeons were plentiful game at the time. But turkey probably wasn’t the featured dish.

Turkey was popularized as the go-to entree by Sarah Josepha Hale , editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, a women’s magazine published in the mid-1800s. She advocated for Thanksgiving to be made a national holiday (President Abraham Lincoln obliged in 1863), describing the ideal dinner in 1827’s “Northwood: Or Life North and South, Showing the True Character of Both ”: “The roasted turkey took precedence on this occasion, being placed at the head of the table.”





Tamar HaspelTamar Haspel writes Unearthed, a monthly commentary in pursuit of a more constructive conversation on divisive food-policy issues. She farms oysters on Cape Cod. Find out more about her at www.tamarhaspel.com. Follow

The History of 'APRONS'

I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids..

And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER:

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.

I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron - but love

****WARNING TO ALL PARENTS****

IMMEDIATELY!!!

STOP  FEEDING YOUR KIDS RICE KRISPIES.  IT IS NOT ABSORBED IN YOUR BODY IN A HEALTHY MANNER.  IT IS STORIED IN YOUR BODY FOR YEARS, AND THE EFFECTS BECOME VISIBLE WHEN YOU ARE OLDER.

I USED TO EAT RICE KRISPIES AND NOW THAT I AM OLDER, I CAN TESTIFY TO THE EFFECTS OF THIS.

EVERY MORNING WHEN I WAKE UP AND GET OUT OF BED, EVERYTHING IN MY BODY SNAPS, CRACKLE AND POPS!

PASS THIS MESSAGE ONTO EVERYONE - TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO YOUR CHILDREN SOMEDAY WHEN THEY GET OLD!!!

SOME HALLOWEEN FUN!!

Crazy Cat Lady!

 Too much or just right?

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Info

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or the Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument dedicated to U.S. service members who have died without their remains being identified. It is located in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, United States of America. The World War I "Unknown" is a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the Victoria Cross, and several other foreign nations' highest service awards. The U.S. Unknowns who were interred are also recipients of the Medal of Honor, presented by U.S. Presidents who presided over their funerals.[1][2][3] The monument has no officially designated name.

The Tomb has a flat-faced form and is relieved at the corners and along the sides by neo-classical pilasters set into the surface with objects and inscription carved into the sides. The 1931 symbolism[9] of the objects on the north, south and east sides changed over time.[4][7]

North and South panel with 3 wreaths on each side represent (in 1931) "a world of memories" but later the six major battles engaged in by American forces in France: Ardennes, Belleau Wood, Château-Thierry, Meusse-Argonne, Oisiu-Eiseu, and Somme. Each wreath has 38 leaves and 12 berries.

East panel that faces Washington, DC, are three Greek figures representing Peace, Victory, and "American Manhood" – but later "Valor" instead of "American Manhood"

Western panel is inscribed with (centered on the panel):

HERE RESTS IN
HONORED GLORY
AN AMERICAN
SOLDIER
KNOWN BUT TO GOD



Walking the mat
There is a meticulous routine that the guard follows when watching over the graves.[21] The tomb guard:
Marches 21 steps south down the 63' long black mat laid across the Tomb.
Turns and faces east, toward the Tomb, for 21 seconds.
Turns and faces north, changes weapon to outside shoulder, and waits 21 seconds.
Marches 21 steps down the mat.
Turns and faces east for 21 seconds.
Turns and faces south, changes weapon to outside shoulder, and waits 21 seconds.
Repeats the routine until the soldier is relieved of duty at the Changing of the Guard.

After each turn, the guard executes a sharp "shoulder-arms" movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the guard stands between the Tomb and any possible threat.

Out of respect for the interred, the sentinels command silence at the tombs. If the guard walking the mat must vocally confront a disturbance from spectators, or a threat, the routine is interrupted, and remains so until the disturbance is under control. The sentinel will exit the mat, place the weapon in port arms position, and confront the disturbance. Once under control, the sentinel then walks on the pavement to the other side of the mat, turns to shoulder arms, and continues the routine.

Twenty-one was chosen because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed—the 21-gun salute.

The mat is usually replaced twice per year: before Memorial Day and before Veterans Day. This is required because of the wear on the rubber mat by the special shoes worn by tomb guards. The sentinels have metal plates built into the soles and inner parts of their shoes to allow for a more rugged sole and to give the signature click of the heel during maneuvers. The sentinels wear sunglasses because of the bright reflection from the marble surrounding the Tomb and the Memorial Amphitheater.

On the ground not covered by the mat, a rust pattern in the tile can be seen that corresponds to the precise steps taken during the changing of the guard. The metal from the guards' boots causes the brown rust markings on the stone. On the mat itself, footprints caused by standing guard are also visible.


Changing of the Guard

Changing of the Guard, 2005.

While Arlington National Cemetery is open, during the day in summer months from April 1 to September 30, the guard is changed every half hour. During the winter months, from October 1 to March 31, the guard is changed every hour. After the cemetery closes to the public (7 p.m. to 8 a.m. April through September, and 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. October through March), the guard is changed every 2 hours. The ceremony can be witnessed by the public whenever Arlington National Cemetery is open.[22][23]

The guard change is very symbolic, but also conducted in accordance with Army regulations. The relief commander or assistant relief commander, along with the oncoming guard, are both required for a guard change to take place. The relief commander orders the guard being relieved to "pass on your orders" to the oncoming guard. The guard being relieved will say to the oncoming guard, "Post and orders remain as directed." The oncoming guard's response is always, "Orders acknowledged." During changes when the public is witnessing the ceremony, the commander will inform the public that the ceremony is about to take place and that those in attendance should remain "silent and standing" throughout the entire event.


The info above is correct - Not so sure about the below info -

On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was, How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the Tomb of the Unknowns? ------ All three missed it ---

This is really an awesome sight to watch if you've never had the chance Very fascinating.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

1. How many steps does the guard take during his
walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why?

21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the
highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin
hisreturn walk and why?

21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1

3. Why are his gloves wet?

His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.

4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and if not, why not?

He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb.
After his march across the path, he executes an about face
and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.

5. How often are the guards changed?

Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?

For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5' 10' and 6' 2' tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30.' Other requirements of the Guard:
They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives.
They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn.
The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin.

The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.
There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform.
Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror.
The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV.
All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred.

Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame.

Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington , DC , our US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment.
They respectfully declined the offer, 'No way, Sir!' Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can
be afforded to a serviceperson.
The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

God Bless and Keep Them

I don't usually suggest that many emails be forwarded, but I'd be very proud if this one reached as many people as possible.
We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.
Duty - Honor - Country
IN GOD WE TRUST

The Reason Why You Must Not Postpone Travel Plans Till Retirement

Kitten Brings The Whole Family . . .

"My parents started feeding a stray kitten a couple 

weeks ago. This was their front porch today."

How Much Do You Know About The Constitution?

Constitution Day is set aside to commemorate the development, drafting and signing of the country’s most important document. For more than 230 years, our constitution has stood as both the plan for the American system of government and, through its 27 Amendments, a summary of the political principles of generations of Americans.

The reason we celebrate our constitution on Sept. 17 is because it is generally regarded as the day, in 1787, that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed it.


This quiz, from the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio, provides an opportunity for you to test your knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and those who drafted it.

1. Which of the following provisions in the Bill of Rights fueled the most discussion during the debates in the First Congress?
A. Freedom of speech clause
B. Freedom of religion clause
C. Equal protection clause
D. Right to bear arms clause

2. Which of the following are stated goals in the Preamble to the Constitution?
A. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
B. Equal protection of the law
C. Liberty and justice
D. States’ rights

3. Which is the only state delegation to have a perfect attendance record at the Constitutional Convention?
A. New York
B. New Jersey
C. North Carolina
D. South Carolina

4. Which of the following two delegates at the Constitutional Convention were directly related to each other?
A. Alexander Martin and Luther Martin
B. Charles Pinckney and C.C. Pinckney
C. Robert Morris and Gouverneur Morris
D. William Pierce and Pierce Butler

5. According to The Federalist Papers, in a representative democracy the people should “indulge all their jealousy and exhaust all their precautions” against which branch of government?
A. The legislative branch
B. The executive branch
C. The judicial branch
D. All three branches

6. James Madison, in The Federalist Papers, identifies which of the following as the most common and durable source of faction?
A. Religion
B. Property
C. Race
D. Political party

7. In which city was the Constitution signed on September 17, 1787?
A. Baltimore
B. Philadelphia
C. Boston
D. New York

8. What was the average age of the 39 delegates who signed the Constitution?
A. 44
B. 51
C. 56
D. 62

9. The Northwest Ordinance, passed in July 1787 by the second Continental Congress, specifically banned which of the following from the Northwest Territories?
A. Alcohol
B. Witchcraft
C. Religion
D. Slavery

10. Which of the following events had a direct influence on the call for a Constitutional Convention?
A. Russian Revolution
B. Whiskey Rebellion
C. Shays’ Rebellion
D. French Revolution

ANSWERS

1-B

2-C

3-D

4-B

5-A

6-B

7-B

8-A

9-D

10-C

BY GORDON LLOYD
Gordon Lloyd is a senior fellow at the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University and author of the Ashbrook Center’s compendium “The Constitutional Convention: Core Documents.” He wrote this for InsideSources.com .

Some of Buster Keaton’s Most Amazing Stunts

Joseph Frank “Buster” Keaton 

October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966

was an American actor, comedian, film director, producer, screenwriter, and stunt performer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname “The Great Stone Face. Keaton performed all of his stunts, he never refused a stunt, however dangerous; in fact, he frequently doubled for other actors when they needed to take a fall. That’s because he was a pro, who had learned to land soft and withstand a few knocks. Some stunts require agility, others an inner strength. The crowning glory of Steamboat Bill Jr, possibly Keaton’s greatest gag of all time, was a stunt as beautiful as it was potentially lethal but it required him simply to stand still. And he didn’t get a scratch on him. The celebrated moment in Steamboat Bill Jr when the facade of a house drops to the ground with a two-ton thwack, leaving Keaton serene amid the debris, relied on precise mathematics and nerves of steel. Keaton’s position on the ground had to line up exactly with an open window in the top of the house; thankfully for him, it did. More importantly, he had to be sturdy enough to trust the sums, and not flinch.