I love to travel internationally although I haven't been able to do much of that lately. Still, I enjoy learning about other places and other cultures. Knowing about other countries we share the planet with not only can be fascinating, but it can help us understand world news better. It can help us be more empathetic to the plights of others. We, as inhabitants of Mother Earth, are less likely to be sympathetic toward others that live in a country we've either never heard of or can't find on a map. Once we know a little bit of simple geography, it becomes much easier to identify with those who live there.
Today's blog isn't so much about geography, although I will cover, it is about the proper pronunciation of the names of those countries. Many, I'm willing to bet, you've mispronounced your entire life. Even news people often don't say them correctly.
let's begin by saying that there are 195 countries in the world. Most humans, as well as many frogs can rattle off the names of the major countries from memory. Some, of course, are less well-known while others remain unknown to most of us who don't live in those countries. 
1.  The first country whose name you've probably been mispronouncing is Iraq. It's located in the Middle East and is frequently in the news. Do the news folks pronounce it correctly? Most do not. The two most common pronunciations are eh-rock and ee-rack. The correct way is a combination of the two...ee-rock.
2.  The next country up is Antigua. This island is a popular tourist paradise located in the Caribbean. This island is known for its 365 beaches which means you can visit a different beach every day for an entire year! No wonder its a popular place for travelers. But are you pronouncing the name correctly? If you're like me, you pronounce the name an-tee-gwa. And we'd both be wrong. The correct pronunciation is an-tee-guh.
3.  Brunei is a small state located in South-East Asia and boasts one of the highest standards of living anywhere. At first glance, you might be tempted to pronounce the name of this oil-rich country as broo-neye. The correct pronunciation is broo-nay.
4.  Next on the list of mispronounced countries is Pakistan. What? I know! I thought for sure I was saying this one correctly. Pakistan sits in the middle of a  political "hot spot" between India, Afghanistan, and Iran. The name Pakistan translates into "Land of Peace." The name is a little ironic since it has rarely seen peace in its long and tumultuous history. I've always pronounced the name pack-uh-stan. I've been wrong. The correct way to say the name of this country is pack-ee-stan.
How are you doing so far?
5.  The next country is one of those that many humans (and frogs, too) have never heard of. And if you have heard of it, you probably can't find it on a map. Djibouti is a small country in East Africa. However, Djibouti plays a significant role in international shipping because this country is situated along the Suez Canal. The name is often mistakenly pronounced di-bout-ti or di-ji-boo-ti. But both ways are incorrect. it's time to set the record straight. Djibouti is pronounced, jee-boo-ti. The "D" is silent.
6.  This country is officially known as the Kyrgyz Republic but is more commonly known as Kyrgyzstan. it's hard to know how to pronounce the name with so many consonants strung together in a row. The Kyrgyz Republic gained its independence in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. This country is focusing its economy on tourism. Lonely Planet says Kyrgyzstan is a "great gateway to Central Asia with its unspoiled natural beauty and friendly locals. So how is this complicated name pronounced? kur-gist-ann, with a hard, "g" sound.
7.  And finally, on my list of most-often mispronounced countries, is Qatar. Lately, the news people have pronouncing this correctly after years of mispronouncing it. So you may already know how to say it. Qatar is a rags to riches story. it used to be the poorest country in the Middle East. But thanks to a rich supply of oil located within its borders, Qatar's luck as changed significantly.  Qatar now enjoys the highest per capita income of any country in the world. Several of the common mispronunciations are kay-tar and ku-tar, the emphasis on the first syllable in each instance. The correct way to say the name of this very wealthy country is kut-ahr (cutter).
So that's our geography and phonetics lesson for today. I hope you learned a few things. I know I always feel smarter when I know that I am pronouncing words correctly. And feeling smarter is always a good thing.
Please join me back here tomorrow when my wise teacher and very dear friend, The Dharma Frog will be here with another very important life lesson. So, until then,
                                                                      PEACE.

https://www.traveltrivia.com/country-names-mispronouncing/

For writers, it can be very frustrating when there are multiple things of interest to write about. Deciding which one to choose can be difficult. Do you go with the one that interests you most or write about the one you think might interest your readers more? Today is one of those days where there are several important things or events that I could focus on. After some deliberation, I made my decision and I think it's the right one. See if you agree.
The first Monday of October each year is designated at National Child Health Day. The observance aims to raise awareness about how they can protect and develop children's health. This is a very important subject and one that can cover a wide range of sub-topics. To do justice to this special day, I've decided to narrow my focus and look at only one area of concern; how environmental challenges have a huge impact on children's health. As a children's book author and someone who is a lifelong advocate for environmental stewardship, it made sense for me to look at how these two areas intersect and impact one another.
1.  More than one in four childhood deaths can be prevented by cleaning up the environment. Every year, environmental risks such as indoor and outdoor pollution, second-hand smoke, and unsafe water and sanitation, takes the lives of 1,7 million children under five years of age. That's 26% of all child deaths.
2.  Asthma prevalence in children is increasing worldwide.  Worldwide 11-14% of children age five and older currently report asthma symptoms.  Many of these symptoms are related to indoor and outdoor air pollution, secondhand smoke, pollens, and indoor mold and dampness.
3.  Air pollution is the greatest risk to children's health.  Every year, more than 57,000 children under five years old die from respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, which is linked to indoor and outdoor air pollution.
4.  Access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene could prevent 361,000 childhood deaths worldwide caused by diarrhea. These preventable deaths could be stopped with access to clean water and improved hygiene practices.
5.  Acute childhood poisoning from pesticides can be life-threatening. Chemical pesticides are commonly used to protect crops and to control certain disease vectors such as mosquitoes, to remove vegetation from public places, and to control pests in the home. Unsafe use, storage, and disposal of these pesticides are the main cause of acute poisoning in children.
6.  Malaria caused more than 300,000 deaths, worldwide, of children under five years of age in 2015 alone. Malaria, the most important vector-borne disease globally, is transmitted by the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes, which prefer clean, standing, or slowly moving freshwater. Better environmental management of these water bodies could help prevent 300,000 deaths of children under five years of age.
7.  Lead is one of the most harmful chemicals, especially for young children. Young children are more vulnerable to the toxic effect of lead and can suffer profound and permanent health effects, particularly on the development of the brain and nervous system. Since young children spend most of their time on the ground and frequently put their fingers and other objects into their mouths they have an increased risk of exposure to lead. 
8.  Unintentional poisonings cause an estimated 23,000 deaths globally in children under five years of age every year. Because of their smaller size and less developed physiology, they often come into contact with poisons such as cleaning products, weed, and insect killers, medicines, petroleum products, solvents, seeds, berries, mushrooms, and venomous snakes and spiders.
9.  early exposure to environmental risks contribute to childhood cancers. there's still a lot unknown about the causes of childhood cancers but environmental risks such as solar and ionizing radiation, second-hand tobacco smoke, aflatoxins (agricultural toxins found in crops like peanuts, corn, tree nuts, etc.), and some pesticides can lead to cancer in children or lead to an increased cancer risk later on in life.
10. Climate change increases the risk of disease, especially children in developing countries. Climate change is one of the greatest new threats to children's environmental health. Higher temperatures and higher levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide favoring pollen growth are associated with an increase in childhood asthma. Disruption to
freshwater and food crop harvests will exacerbate malnutrition and stunting of growth. More frequent heat waves also put children at risk of heat stress, renal disease, and respiratory problems.
Not all of these problems are found in every country, but every country has environmental issues that are affecting their children. All I can say is, Humans....PLEASE clean up your act! The health of your children, the planet, and we critters depend on each of you doing all you can to combat climate change, clean up drinking water, and to stop using harmful chemicals and pesticides. Please do your part. And encourage others to do the same.
If you are a frequent traveler or even an armchair traveler, I think you'll enjoy tomorrow's blog. That's all I'm gonna say for now. Enjoy your Monday and have a fabulous week!
                                                                      PEACE.

https://www.who.int/features/factfiles/children_environmental_health/en/

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you already know that I like to do something fun on Fridays. I either write about plans that I have for the weekend or, as is the case today, offer up something fun and worthwhile that you might want to do over the weekend. The 5th of October is Do Something Nice Day. This observance is very similar to Random Acts of Kindness Day which is celebrated in February. Twice a year, at least, we have the opportunity to do something nice for somebody else. This not only will make the recipient's day but will also make the doing of the deed feel pretty incredible, too.
These little things that we can do for somebody else don't have to be elaborate or even cost any money. The only requirement is that the act comes from the heart.
Kindness should never be sacrificed to get ahead in the world. So no matter whether we're rich or poor or somewhere in between, doing kind things for others can (and should) become part of our daily routine.  To help you get started on becoming a better, kinder human (or frog, as the case may be) I have assembled a list of some small acts of kindness that you and your family or friends can do this weekend.
1.  Pay for the coffee of the person behind you in line. 2.  Pick up something someone near you may have dropped. 3.  Hold the door for someone. 4.  Lend a hand to someone who looks like their struggling. 5.  Offer to do a little yardwork for an elderly neighbor. 6.  Visit a nursing home and talk to someone who is lonely. Or call and find out who's celebrating a birthday (and will be alone) then drop by with a card and a flower or two. 7.  Got coupons that you can't or won't use? Share them. They're like free money! 8.  Donate clothes that you no longer wear. Fall is here which means that winter isn't far off, so donating warm clothes can help someone keep warm. 9.  Say "thank you" more. 10. Smile at everyone you see. 11. Listen to someone's story. 12. Donate food to a homeless shelter. 13. Volunteer at an animal shelter. 14. carry someone's groceries or help them load them into their car. 15. bake cookies (or buy some donuts) for your local police station and/or fire station. 16. Give a homemade treat to your trash and/or recycling collector (they're never appreciated nearly enough). 17. Compliment a stranger. 18. make cards for cancer patients. 19. Read to children. 20. Offer to take some's shift, if you can, so they can spend time with extra time with their children.
There are a zillion other small, simple, yet powerful ways that you can use to celebrate Do Something Nice Day. Can you think of a better way to spend the weekend? And what a great opportunity to show your children or grandchildren how wonderful being kind is!
That does it for me this week. I hope you've enjoyed the blogs I've written. I strive to write on various topics so that there's always something for everyone. If you can think of a blog you'd like for me to write, all you have to do is email me or leave your suggestion in the comments spot.  I do always aim to please.
Have a great weekend, whatever you do. Thanks for reading and I'll see you again on Monday!
                                                                     PEACE.

https://thoughtcatalog.com/becca-martin/2016/02/75-tiny-but-nice-things-you-can-do-to-brighten-someones-day/

Atlantis was a fictional island that appeared in an least two of Plato's works over 2,000 years ago. But almost since the beginning, humans have wondered whether or not Atlantis existed twenty centuries ago? If it did, what became of it? Is it a lost continent hidden under the sea? "His tale has inspired plenty of nonsense in the centuries since, but now it seems that Plato was onto something. New research shows that lost continents are a real thing, and they have had a big impact on human life — though not in the way Plato imagined."
Douwe van Hinsbergen, a geologist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, has been exploring one of the most dramatic of these lost continents — known as Greater Adria. In a paper published in early September in the journal Gondwana Research, he and his colleagues studied rocks around and beneath the Mediterranean Sea to reveal the full extent of Greater Adria for the first time. “It’s enormous! About the size and rough shape as Greenland,” he says. You've never heard of Greater Adria? You're not alone.
​The reason you've never seen it on a map or met anyone who's ever vacationed there is because it completely buried. And I don't mean under the sea. No, I mean Greater Adria is buried beneath southern Europe! A land under a land. How did that happen? Read on.
"About 140 million years ago, the two continents began to collide. Greater Adria got bulldozed and buried in the process and mostly sank beneath what is now Italy, Greece and the Baltics." And Greater Adria isn't unique, either.
Emerging studies of the Earth's mantle show likely traces of past lost continents. "Analysis of ancient rocks suggest that almost all of Earth’s earliest continents might have disappeared, taking with them much of the history of life on this planet. The evidence of how life first appeared may be lost somewhere down there in the depths."
The good news, however, is that lost continents are not entirely lost. They leave traces behind, if you know how to look for them. And just as Sherlock Holmes followed clues that others missed to solve the case, so do some of the world's greatest "sleuthing" geologists follow clues to help us better understand the world we live on. "Van Hinsbergen notes that rocks from Greater Adria got scraped off and incorporated onto the Alps, while whole chunks got embedded in southern Italy and Croatia. Even the parts of Greater Adria that got shoved dozens of miles down into the mantle, the layer below the crust, continue to influence modern Europe."
Under tremendous heat and pressure and over tens of millions of years, limestone rocks from Greater Adria turned into marble. Friction between Greater Adria and Europe then pulled the sunken rocks back to the surface, where people found them and mined them. “That’s where the marble came from that the Romans and the Greeks used for their temples,” van Hinsbergen says. As it turns out, Plato was standing on a real Atlantis, only he never knew it!
Greater Adria long remained unknown because it has been almost completely obliterated and obscured. But at least one other lost continent has been hiding in plain sight. "Maps of the ocean floor show a vast elevated region surrounding the islands of New Zealand, a formation known as Zealandia. Two years ago, a team led by geologists Nick Mortimer of GNS Science, a geological research company, and Rupert Sutherland of Victoria University Wellington, both in New Zealand, combined those maps with measurements of surface gravity and analysis of seafloor samples to show that Zealandia is much more than a bump in the ocean: It’s a single, continuous continent, the eighth in the world (or the seventh, if you lump together Europe and Asia as Eurasia), about two-thirds the size of Australia and more than twice as large as Greater Adria."
Scientists and researchers believe that a few million years ago, during the time of the dinosaurs, it made up a large part of the supercontinent called Gondwana. I don't know about you, but that is a name I'm not familiar with. "“Then it got separated 85 million to 100 million years ago,” says Rupert Sutherland, a New Zealand geological researcher. “It got stretched and thinned, resulting in a lower elevation, and it was also affected by the development of the 'Pacific Ring of Fire,' a zone of volcanic activity that rims the Pacific Ocean." If we were able to look at maps of the ocean floor, we'd see that Zealandia is much more than a bump on the ocean floor: It’s a single, continuous continent, the eighth in the world (or the seventh, if you lump together Europe and Asia as Eurasia), about two-thirds the size of Australia and more than twice as large as Greater Adria.
According to geophysicist Derrick Hasterok of the University of Adelaide, it now seems that Zealandia and Greater Adria are just two recent examples of what was once a regular Atlantis-like process. Continents were not always stable fixtures of our planet. So what caused all this instability? It is believed to be the result of radioactivity. The Earth was born with a lot more radioactive elements than it has now and much of them have since decayed away. The only way we know they ever existed is by the curious lack of high-radioactivity rocks in the modern continents. Those rocks don’t exist, because the continents in which they lived are long gone. Isn't science amazing?
Nobody will ever know what kinds of events took place on these lost continents. But it's important to learn as much as we can about the lost continents and to find out if there are more than these two that we're not currently aware of. Finding our past could help improve our future. "Just as Greater Adria pulled marble up to the surface in Europe, other continental collisions have excavated precious ores and minerals." It is hoped that this exploration will lead to the discovery of new deposits. “The world needs more copper and rare-earth elements for the green revolution. This could help us find them.”
I know this was a long blog today but I found it so fascinating that I wanted to share all the relevant details with you. It's extraordinary that after millions of years, we're still learning so much about the planet that we all call home.
Please join me back here tomorrow for what will be a far shorter blog, I promise! And for those of you who stuck those one out to the end, you have my deepest gratitude. I hope that you found it worthy of your time.
                                                                       PEACE.

https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/real-life-atlantis-lost-continent-found-under-europe-revealing-earth-ncna1055856

With fall officially here, I now find that on most days I am up well before the sun. This morning was no exception. If you're new here, Wednesday is the day that my beloved and wise teacher, The Dharma Frog, arrives for my weekly lesson on living a better life. It's a wonderful experience. We eat a nice breakfast, share a pot of tea, and then Dharma shares a little of his froggy wisdom with me. Today is no exception. Dharma arrived at his usual time. I had our morning repast prepared and in the table for him as soon as he sat down. He poured our tea and we exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes.
I'd been saving a question for my wise teacher and decided that this was a good time to ask. "Dharma, why is it that I feel calmer and even smarter when I am out in nature?" Dharma gave me one of his famous all-knowing smiles. "Tadpole, that's because a frog's best and shortest road towards knowledge of truth is nature. Nature has everything under control and we can learn many valuable life lessons from her if we choose to pay attention." "So it's not just me? Everybody feels calmer and wiser when they spend time with Mother Nature?" "Yes, my boy, I find that to be a true statement. Nature can be if we allow her to, become one of the best mentors we'll ever have. She gives freely of her time and is available to us whenever we need her. All we need to is stop and listen to her answers." I thought about this and wanted to know more so I asked Dharma a two-part question. The first part was what lessons we frogs can learn from spending time outdoors? And the second part was can my human friends could benefit from these lessons, as well? His answer to the second part was a resounding, "Yes! Of course, humans can learn from nature." But his answer to the first half of my question was a little more complex. What follows is a summary of Dharma's lesson on nature.
1.  Naturalist intelligence. "On the most basic level, nature will teach you about the actual physical environment that sustains all life on this planet. There’s a huge difference between learning about nature from a book, versus having our own real-life experiences with birds, plants, trees, and forests. But naturalist intelligence is not just about knowing things related to plants, trees, and birds. It’s also about our larger capacity to observe patterns and tune into the physical surroundings in all areas of life. You see, my boy, humans are biologically designed to be surrounded by nature. With naturalist intelligence, humans gain the skills to care for our shared environment and make life better for everyone in the process...including we critters."
​2.  Presence and awareness. "Nature is possibly the world’s best teacher of how to be truly present and have awareness in daily life. All we have to do is sit quietly and observe your surroundings. Many modern people lead lives that are almost entirely driven by a lack of presence and awareness. They get stuck in a loop of painful memories from the past or worrying and planning for the future. Humans seldom allow themselves space to simply sit in the present moment and observe our experience without judgment. Being immersed in nature is like the exact opposite of being driven by technology. It’s filled with so much timeless beauty that it pulls you out of the internal world of thoughts & ideas. As nature calls our senses outwards, we find ourselves being less absorbed with what’s happening in our heads and more tuned in with the daily experience of life." And that is truly a beautiful thing!
3.  Using our senses. One of the biggest lessons any of us can learn from nature is that it’s possible to increase the capacity of a frog's or human's sensory awareness. Most of us dramatically underestimate the importance of basic seeing, hearing, feeling & observation skills. Try consciously practicing sensory awareness skills outside by looking at plants, trees, and listening to distant bird sounds. It will open up a whole new world of discovery that can dramatically transform your mental clarity and capacity to learn faster by watching and listening carefully.
4.  Authenticity. Authenticity is one of the big secrets to success in life. Nature teaches authenticity by giving us opportunities to be alone with ourselves in a truly non-judgemental environment. Nature helps us build authentic self-awareness because it doesn’t try to change who we are or influence our decisions. Instead, it removes all the outside influences of the media, as well as the opinions of others while at the same time amplifying the quiet voice of truth that so often gets ignored. Nature doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. There’s no judgment. Just the pure freedom to be ourselves just as we are. 
And finally,
5.  Awe and wonder.  "Many adult humans these days feel like there isn't any magic in the world; that they've lost the excitement that inspires true creativity and progress. But immersing themselves in nature can offer the opportunity to regain those magical feelings of amazement and wonder. Nature is filled with so many mysteries and beautiful moments that inspire the mind. It’s also filled with the unfiltered realities of both life and death in the forest. If we spend lots of time in nature, eventually we encounter both the gift of new life, and also the realities of death. These moments of awe and wonder can help to put things into perspective. They also help to clear out the cobwebs of negativity from our minds."
"Irwin, there are many more lessons that we can learn from nature but I think that this is a good place to stop for this week. Maybe we can pick it up from here at another time." I was kind of sad to see the lesson end, but I was looking forward to learning more about the lessons that we can each learn from spending time in nature.
Dharma stayed a little longer to help me tidy up my kitchen before hopping off to see his next student. It's always a bit sad for me to see him go but I am always filled with a sense of deep gratitude for his wonderful and insightful lessons. Dharma is truly one of a kind mentor and I am so lucky to have him in my life.
If you like ancient history and archeology, I know you won't want to miss tomorrow's blog when I'll be looking at a newly discovered lost continent. Could it be, perhaps, Atlantis? Stop by tomorrow and find out! Until then, stay well and please stay safe.
                                                                     PEACE.

https://nature-mentor.com/nature-lessons/

There are all kinds of working dogs. I've read where all breeds were, at some point, used to help humans with their various tasks. Even the tiny Pomeranian was, in a former life, a larger and far more powerful sled dog. But one of the most common and most beloved of all work dogs is the Dalmatian. Dalmatians have been employed by fire departments all over the globe for quite some time. Often, they're more mascot than anything but Dalmatians have been successfully used to help firefighters to save saves. Today is National Fire Pup Day and to honor these brave dogs, I thought I'd write a brief history about how these spotted beauties came to used and loved by firemen.
​The image of a polka-dotted dalmatian riding shotgun in a fire truck is indelible in American pop culture and lore, but the story of how they got there is lesser-known. In honor of National Fire Pup Day, I've delved into the history, evolution, and enduring legacy of the dogs who keep firefighters company. Early fire dogs were employed as far back as the 17th century where they dutifully rode with carriages. From that time on, fire dogs have served as a heroic symbol for their brave humans. Occasionally, however, fire dogs are asked to get in on the action.  Well-over a hundred years ago, dogs were trained to trot alongside of horse-drawn carriages to protect both the human occupants as well as the horses that pulled them. Although there weren't any specific breeds used to guard the carriages, they did have to possess a few general characteristics; long legs, good temperament, motivation, energy, and endurance. "Enter the dalmatian. According to the American Kennel Club’s Complete Dog Book, quoted on the Dalmatian Club of America website, dalmatians were the perfect carriage dog because they have the “strength, vitality, fortitude and size to keep going gaily till the journey’s end.' Dalmatians also happened to have a reputation for getting along great with horses, and it wasn’t long before they became the favored carriage dog among wealthy citizens of England and America." In the late 1700s, carriage dogs became fire pups. "Dalmatians were perfectly suited for the job, not only because of their carriage-trailing abilities but their grace under fire. Dalmatians were known to have a calming effect on horses, so while firefighters battled the blaze, the fire dog could stay with the horses ease their stress. Back at the station, the fire dog would typically bunk in the stable alongside their equine charges."
But once motorized vehicles came along, it seemed that the graceful dalmatian was out of a job. Or were they? By that point, the public was used to seeing dalmatians alongside firefighters. Firedogs needed a new job description to suit the modern age of gas-powered fire trucks. In the 20th century and beyond, fire stations across England and America kept dalmatians on-site as firehouse residents and mascots. The tasks of a modern firehouse dog can include 1. Serving as companions to the firefighters; 2. guarding belongings in the firehouse and hunting vermin; 3. Riding along to fires and standing guard over the truck; 4. Acting as the fire company mascot.
During the 20th century, dalmatians and other fire pups also made an important move into education, helping firefighters demonstrate fire safety and emergency preparedness for school and community groups. But dalmatians are the only fire dogs around. It’s become common for firefighters (and sometimes entire fire teams) to adopt dogs rescued from fires. These lucky pups, whatever their breed, become symbols of the resiliency, bravery, and fortitude of firefighters and the individuals they help.
Moving ahead to the 21st century, fire dogs have taken on additional duties. "Other dogs take on important fire safety jobs outside the firehouse, such as accelerant-sniffing “arson dogs.” According to the State Farm Arson Dog Program, arson dogs are specially trained to “sniff out minute traces of accelerants (gasoline, lighter fluid, etc.) that may have been used to start a fire.” These super-sniffers are trained and work alongside individual firefighters or law enforcement officers to investigate the scene of a fire after the blaze has been extinguished."
Firedogs have come along way from their origins as carriage dogs running alongside wagons and buggies. These days, a fire dog can be any size, shape, or breed. Of course, dalmatians remain the most popular firehouse mascots thanks to their centuries-old reputation as the perfect fire dog. But whatever they look like, firehouse dogs are a reminder of the advances in firefighting technology, the lifesaving work of firefighters, and the loyalty of man’s best friend.
Tomorrow is, of course, Wednesday so that means my wise teacher and dear friend, The Dharma Frog will be here with my weekly life lesson. Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be interesting and offer a powerful message. They always do. So please join me here tomorrow and see what Dharma has to teach us all. Until then, take care and stay safe.
                                                                     PEACE.

https://www.rover.com/blog/fire-dog-history/

It's hard to imagine that October will be here tomorrow. For me, it feels as if we were celebrating New Years only yesterday. But fall is upon us and that means glorious days and cooler, shorter evening. There are so many reasons to love October beyond just halloween. So let's get right to it with the calendar of special days.
OCTOBER, 2019
1.  National Black Dog Day, National Hair Day, Fire Pup Day, National Homemade Cookies Day, National Eat Fruit At Work Day.
2.  National Produce Misting Day, National Custodial Workers Recognition Day, National Name Your Car Day, National Walk To School Day, National Pumpkin Seed Day, National Coffee With A Cop Day.
3.  National Techies Day, National Boyfriend Day.
4.  National Taco Day, National Golf Lover's Day, National Manufacturing Day, National Body Language Day.
5.  National Get Funky Day, National Do Something Nice Day, National Apple Betty Day (If you're not familiar with this, it's a baked treat; also known as Apple Brown Betty or simply Brown Betty).
6.  National Coaches Day, National Plus Size Appreciation Day, National Mad Hatter Day, National German-American Day, National Noodle Day.
7.  National Chocolate Covered Pretzel Day, National LED Light Day, National Frappe Day, National Inner Beauty Day, National Consignment Day, National Child Health Day.
8.  National Fluffernutter Day, National Pierogi Day, American Touch Tag Day, 
9.  National Leif Erikson Day, National Moldy Cheese Day, National Emergency Nurses Day, National Bring Your Teddy Bear (or frog) To Work Day, National Stop Bullying Day.
10. National Curves Day, National Angel Food Cake Day, National Cake Decorating Day, National Handbag Day (that's also a purse), World Mental Health Day.
11. International Day Of the Girl Child, National Sausage Pizza Day, National Coming Out Day, General Pulaski Memorial day.
12. National Savings Day, National Freethought Day. National Farmer's Day, National Gumbo Day, National Chess Day, National Costume Swap Day, National Motorcycle Ride Day, I love Yarn Day.
13. National Train Your Brain Day, National Yorkshire Pudding Day, Clergy Appreciation Day, National No Bra Day.
14. Be Bald And Be Free Day, National Kick Butt Day, Native American Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day (Canada), National Online Bank Day.
15. National Aesthetician Day, National Cheese Curd Day, National I Love Lucy Day, National Grouch Day, National White Cane Safety Day, National Pharmacy Technician Day
16. National Dictionary Day, Global Cat Day, Department Store Day (remember them?), Hagfish Day,  Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day, National Fossil Day,National Take Your Parents To Lunch Day, Boss's Day.
​17. National Edge Day, National Mulligan Day, National Pasta Day, Black Poetry Day, National Get Smart About Credit Day, Get To Know Your Customers Day.
18. National Chocolate Cupcake Day, National No Beard Day, National Mammography Day.
19. National Seafood Bisque Day, National Sweetest Day.
20. National Youth Confidence Day.
21. National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day, National Reptile Awareness Day, National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day.
22. National Make A Dog's Day Day, National Nut Day, National Color Day.
23. National Boston Cream Pie Day (even if it's really a cake), National Mole Day, National TV Talk Show Host Day (Johnny Carson's Birthday). Swallows Depart From San Juan Capistrano Day, iPod Day.
24. National Food Day, National Bologna Day, United Nations Day.
​25. National Greasy Food Day, Sourest Day, National Frankenstein Friday, National Breadstick Day, Chucky, The Notorious Killer Doll Day.
26. National Financial Crime Fighter Day, National Day Of The Deployed, National Mule Day, National Pumpkin Day, National Make A Difference Day.
27. National Black Cat Day, National Mother-In-Law Day.
28. National Chocolate Day (With this to celebrate, we don't need anything else!).
29. National Cat Day, National Hermit Day, National Oatmeal Day, National Stroke Day.
30. National Speak Up For Service Day, National Publicist Day, National Candy Corn Day.
31. National Doorbell Day, National Caramel Apple Day, National Knock-Knock Jokes Day, National Magic Day, Girl Scout Founder's Day and, of course, HALLOWEEN!
Can you believe all this cool stuff we have to celebrate in October? There's everything from (pumpkin) soup to nuts. How will I ever decide which ones are my favorites? It'll be tough but once I get my list down to a reasonable number, then I'll hop off to the Lily Pad Party Store and my local food market for all my ingredients and supplies.
Tomorrow is National Fire Pup Day and for fun, I thought we'd look at how the delightful Dalmatian became the most common and popular of all fire dogs. Until then, save a super Monday and a very cool week!
                                                                       PEACE

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/october/

This has felt like an unusually long week. But Friday is finally here and that means I have an interesting and kind of fun blog for you. Today, I am mentioning unmentionables. But not just ANY unmentionables. No. Today we will take a look at what type of underwear was worn in the Medieval Period. Or did they wear any at all? 
Underwear has been around for a long time. it isn't some new-fangled invention. As far back as Ancient Rome, men and women were known to wear simply wrapped loin-cloths, probably made from linen, under their outer garments. There was, of course, no universal rule in undergarments; people wore what was comfortable, available, or necessary for modesty—or nothing at all.
In Medieval times, humans still wore loincloths but other undergarments became available, as well. "In addition to loincloths, medieval men wore an entirely different type of underpants called braies. Women of the period might have worn a breast band called a strophium or mamillare made from linen or leather. Just like today, those competing in sports could benefit from wearing confining garments that correspond with modern sports bras, dance belts, or jockstraps."
Not much is known about Medieval underwear because it wasn't written about much, if at all and natural fabrics don't survive for more than a few hundred years, at most. Therefore, most of what historians know about medieval undergarments has been pieced together from period artwork and the occasional archaeological find. 
"One such archaeological find took place in an Austrian castle in 2012. A cache of feminine delicates was preserved in a sealed-off vault, and the items included garments very similar to modern-day brassieres and underpants. This exciting find in medieval underwear revealed that such garments were in use as far back as the 15th century. The question remains as to whether they were used in earlier centuries, and whether only the privileged few could afford them." Medieval men's underpants were fairly loose drawers known as braies, breies, breeks, or breeches. Varying in length from upper-thigh to below the knee, braies could be closed with a drawstring at the waist or cinched with a separate belt around which the top of the garment would be tucked. Braies were usually made of linen, most likely in its natural off-white color, but they could also be sewn from finely woven wool, especially in colder climes. I don't know about you, but woolen underwear does not appeal to me at all! But, I suppose, you get used it...especially if you're living in a cold clime and it helps keep in some warmth. But braies were not only used as underwear, they were also frequently worn by laborers with little else when doing hot work. These could be worn well below the knees and tied to the wearer's waist to keep them out of the way. No one knows for certain whether or not medieval women wore underpants before the 15th century. Since the dresses medieval women wore were so long, it could be very inconvenient to remove underwear when answering nature's call. Since there is no evidence one way or the other, it's entirely possible that, at times, medieval women wore loincloths or short braies. 
What about hose or socks, you ask? Both men and women would often keep their legs covered with hose, or hosen. These might be stockings with complete feet, or they might be merely tubes that stopped at the ankle. The tubes could also have straps underneath to secure them to the feet without completely covering them. Styles varied according to necessity and personal preference. Hose was not ordinarily knitted. Instead, each one was sewn from two pieces of woven fabric, most commonly wool but sometimes linen, cut against the bias to give it some stretch. Stockings with feet had an additional piece of fabric for the sole. Hose varied in length from thigh-high to just below the knee. Given their limitations in flexibility, they weren't particularly well-fitted, but in the later Middle Ages, when more luxurious fabrics became available, they could look very good indeed.
Men were known to attach their hose to the bottoms of their braies. A laborer might tie up his outer garments to keep them out of the way, with hose stretching up to his braies. Armored knights were likely to secure their hose this way because their sturdy stockings, known as chausses, provided some cushioning against the metal armor. Alternatively, hose could be kept in place with garters, which is how women secured them. A garter could be nothing fancier than a short cord that the wearer tied around her leg, but for more well-off folk, especially women, it could be rather more elaborate, with ribbon, velvet, or lace. It is thought that women's hose only went to the knee.
This probably a lot more than you ever wanted to know about Medieval underwear but, still, you have to admit it's fascinating. Or maybe I'm just weird.
I'm off for the weekend and heading out to spend a little time with my family, enjoying some of this beautiful early fall weather. Quigley, Jr. wants to take a picnic and go for hop through the nearby woods. Sounds perfect to me! Whatever your plans are, have a great time and I hope you get to spend a little time enjoying all of the gifts that Mother Nature has to offer. See you again on Monday. Until then, stay safe and be happy.
                                                                       PEACE.

​Snell, Melissa. "Underwear in the Medieval Period." ThoughtCo, Aug. 4, 2019, thoughtco.com/medieval-underwear-1788621.

You are what you eat. You've heard this phrase a million times. And it does make sense that the human body run better when you eat fruits, vegetables, and lean protein rather than stuffing your mouth with a donut, or two.  But what about your brain? Does what you eat figure into your mental health as well as your physical health? 
When deciding whether to eat at McDonald's or try out the new vegan restaurant that everyone's raving about, most humans take into account their physical health (the ol' you are what you eat line of thinking) and/or their appearance (I want to fit into my favorite jeans). But rarely does anyone ever think about their mental health. Let's face it, a donut can you feel pretty great while you're eating it. Even I know that! And the sugar rush gives you a bit of temporary energy. But then what? After the high wears off, don't you often feel worse? You fall into a slump and may even be consumed with guilt for eating that donut in the first place. "A growing body of research is discovering that food doesn’t just affect your waistline but also your moods, emotions, and even longer-term conditions like depression. Which makes sense, after all. Our brains are physical entities, running on the energy that you put into our bodies, affected by shifts in our hormones, blood sugar levels, and many other biological processes." It's a fact that one-third of all Americans eat fast food on any given day. And who among us, and I mean humans and frogs alike, hasn't eaten french fries or a big slice of chocolate cake just to make ourselves feel better after a bad day? 
"A paper published this year in Psychosomatic Medicine offers one of the most up-to-date snapshots of diet and mental health—specifically, how diet might play a role in depression." In sixteen studies done in the US, Australia, and Europe, with participants ranging in age from 21 to 85, it was discovered that those who ate the healthier diets had reduced levels of depression, less hopelessness, better sleep, and better social interactions than those who ate more junk food. The healthier diets included less processed foods, and more whole foods, like fruits and vegetables. This makes sense, right? But what was most interesting about these studies was found when the researchers dug deep into the details.
1. The healthy diet tended to work best for women. Why? Besides differences in hormones and metabolism, Firth conjectured, women seem to be in a better position to benefit. They’re more likely to be depressed and they might have more discipline at following diets than men.
2.  The diet program worked best when administered by a dietary professional, like a dietician. This is probably because the recommendations were sounder and the participants (believing in the dietitian’s authority) were more apt to follow them. An earlier review of diet studies came to a similar conclusion.
3.  Those participants who were experiencing a major depressive disorder seemed to be helped the most. After twelve weeks on the healthier diet, the depressed participants had reduced their depression and anxiety more—and they were about four times more likely to experience a remission from their depression. The more they improved their diet, the more their depression lifted, 
​So can what you eat make you happier?  It’s one thing to say that your diet might protect you from depression and other mental health issues. But could the foods you eat move the needle toward more positive emotions and happiness? Recent studies weren't conclusive. It does make sense, however, that if you feel better you will be happier.
Should your wellbeing affect your shopping list? Absolutely! In my teaser yesterday about today's blog, I said that this wasn't a diet. It isn't. It's about making healthy lifestyle decisions. Everyone will cheat now and again, eating that donut instead of the apple. The real point here is to eat as healthy as you can as often as you can. These are the facts backed up by sixteen studies; people who were eating a typical Western diet of fast food, salty snacks, desserts, and soft drinks became more depressed over time. But eating a classic healthy diet high in fruit and vegetables, seafood, and whole grains or a more Mediterranean diet—which includes lots of olive oil and more legumes, meat, dairy, and alcohol—both seemed to protect against depression.
While eating a donut or slice of cake here and there isn't going to kill you, it can help you keep you in line with your healthy eating goals. No one wants to feel deprived when it comes to eating and is the big reason why diets fail. Believing that you can't ever eat something you love is a surefire way to lose your incentive to eat well. Allowing yourself  the occasional treat can keep you more motivated. The key is moderation.  If you suffer from depression it will always benefit you to reach for the apple or a few almonds when you need a pick-me-up.
As you may know, I like to do something more entertaining on my Friday blog. Tomorrow is no exception. when I'll be mentioning unmentionables. Until then, stay safe and stay well.
                                                                         PEACE.

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_is_the_best_diet_for_mental_health?

When I woke up this morning, I had a text message from Dharma saying he was hopping late but that he'd arrive as soon as he was able. Knowing this allowed me to have a more leisurely morning than I usually do on Wednesdays. After my morning swim, I headed to my kitchen to prepare breakfast. As the tea was brewing, I set the table. It wasn't long after the timer went off on my oven that Dharma hopped onto my lily pad. "Perfect timing, Sir," I greeted him. Dharma smiled. "Good. I don't like holding up your wonderful meal, my boy. And I must admit that I am rather hungry this morning. Whatever it is that you've made, it smells delicious!"
As soon as we sat down, Dharma reached for tea. After pouring us each a cup and helping himself to a slice of the cinnamon tea cake I'd prepared, Dharma began my lesson for the week. "Tadpole, a wise frog has the patience to wait until his mud settles and the swamp is clear. What does this mean to you?" "I dunno, Dharma, I'm a little confused. For a swamp, Lily pad has especially clean water and there is rarely any mud....except maybe right after a storm." "That's it exactly, Irwin. But the storm isn't weather-related and neither is the mud. I'm talking about what happens when a personal storm comes sweeping over the tranquility of our daily life. These storms tend to cloud our judgment. Our thinking becomes muddy. Now, do you understand?" I nodded a yes. My question to him was this, "What are we supposed to do when we feel overwhelmed by a situation?" "Son, sometimes the best thing we can in these situations is to do nothing at all." ​I wanted to know how doing nothing was actually doing something and here is what Dharma had to say on the subject.
My wise teacher explained that doing nothing, at least initially, is often our best course of action during troubling or difficult times. Know how much I rely on scientific fact, he said that new research shows that some of the worst decisions we make in our lifetimes are those made in haste. Perhaps you know this from personal experience. I know I sure do!
As Dharma explained it, it takes mastery of your self-control to simply sit and do nothing in the face of difficulty. And yet, inaction is often our best course of action. If it's possible, and Dharma knows it isn't in every circumstance, let things (the mud) sit for a day or two. Perhaps as long as a week or a month. The point is to wait until the hurt, wound, or obstacle isn't quite as fresh and difficult for our brains to process. As times passes, the human brain (and the frog's too) has more time to better assess what the right outcome is. Our fears lessen and our thinking becomes clearer. The swamp in our brain is no longer as cloudy as it was.
Dharma closed my lesson for the week with this piece of sage advice, "We shouldn’t make any decisions immediately after something profound happens in our lives. We have this mechanism of self where we want to mediate our feelings and do whatever will make us feel better initially. But that doesn’t always mean something that we’ll be happy with in the long-run. Giving ourselves a little time to process whatever has happened takes self-control but is very useful. On a grander scale, this means learning to to just be.  When we stop the pursuit of always trying to immediately fix every situation so that we feel better, instead it is wiser to simply go with the flow  More often than not, as our situation improves, we lose that sense of urgency to impulsively act. And should the situation require action, then looking at it from a distance and with fresh eyes gives us a new perspective and often far better solutions."
I enjoyed Dharma's lesson today and it was a good reminder for all us to let a little time pass before acting on our first impulses. He is one wise frog!
Please stop by tomorrow when I'll be looking at the best diet to improve our mental health. It may be easier to do than you think and isn't actually a diet at all! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Until then, Dharma and I wish you a wonderful Wednesday.
                                                                   PEACE.

https://thoughtcatalog.com/brianna-wiest/2013/07/sometimes-the-best-thing-to-do-is-nothing/