Thought for the day:"If I only believe in about 12.5% of the Bible does that make me an 8theist"
Went to Cardigan last night - no snow .. Had a nice meeting of the Knight's Templar Priests (in which I am in the Chair at the moment) and a presentation to the outgoing Grand Superintendent which seemed to go down quite well ....
Sadly - forgot to take a photograph....
Ho Hum ...
Burns Night tonight - have to go and get some candles from somewhere. May have to see if my Bookers Card still works.
My Grandfather told me that he saw the Titanic, and from the beginning he told people that it would sink, but nobody listened to him. He was a brave man. He did not give up! He warned them again and again - until they threw him out of the cinema...
A host of Children's Books have been put onto an archive - here
In other fantasy - as we leave January 2019 - I saw this recap on Politics of the day - it is long - but worth dipping into - particularly like the start - but it just gets better - the Recap of Politics today ...
Thought for the day: "My business selling sculptures of head and shoulders just went bust"
The sun is shining here - which is a little sad as the rest of the country is apparently covered in snow..
But we will try to get up through Wales this evening for the Knight's Templar Priests - no ceremony this time due to change of date but a lecture/talk from the Grand Superintendent who stands down in March..
And our Daily Trump ...
And our Daily Theresa - Arlene
Some people have far too much time on their hands...
Found some history of Llanelli in the 1960's ...
THE WORLD AND LLANELLI, 1960's
1960 - While the rest of the world was aghast at Elvis returning to the States after his military service in Germany, all of Llanelli was holding their breath as the Duke of Edinburgh was piloting his helicopter for a visit to the Boys Grammar School. It was OK though, he didn't crash!
1961 - Ireland submitted an application to join the EEC but back here we awaited the result of the referendum of whether the pubs would open on Sundays or not. The result? To open 14,031, to stay closed 22,430!
1962 - The first Walmart store opened in Arkansaw but this paled into insignificance as the Police Station was opened in Waunlanyrafon and Fisher & Ludlow started production in Felinfoel.
1963 - As Lamborghini is founded in Italy R.O.F. Pembrey is put up for sale.
1964 - Richard Burton marries Elizabeth Taylor for the first time but we are more concerned over the retirement of Dr. T.R.Davies who has retired after44 years service at Avenue Villa Surgery.
1965 - The Beatles film 'Help' is released and at the Glen the local teenagers flock to see 'The Who'.
1966 - England won the FIFA World Cup, as they keep reminding us, but who gives a damn, Phil Bennett made his first appearance for the Scarlets!
1967 - Riddick Bowe who was destined to become the Heavyweight boxing champion of the world was born while Llanelli legend Gypsy Daniels departed this life.
1968 - Europes first human heart transplant is performed in Paris and back home the F.W.A. explode a bomb at R.A.F. Pembrey.
1969 - The Boeing 747 (Jumbo Jet) made its first passenger flight and in Llanelli the Regal burnt down. These two are not connected, mind!
In other history - Photos found in the Greenfield! This is a church trip to Haverfordwest 1922. Outside the Castle Hotel in Haverfordwest...
Photo David Jones - Llanelli
Castle Buildings Llanelli showing the Greenfield Baptist Church
Thought for the day:"Double negatives are a no-no!"
Address to the Haggis - updated
Address to a Haggis (with an all-new English translation)
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the pudding-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o’a grace As lang’s my arm.
[Fair and full is your honest plump face Master of all non-specific sub-premium meat products! No other non-specific sub-premium meat product compares to your tastiness Regardless of which part of the digestive system it has been harvested from, Therefore you are most worthy of this poem Which is quite ridiculously long (given the subject matter).]
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill In time o’need,
While thro’ your pores the dews distil Like amber bead.
[You fill the serving-dish to the brim And your arse looks like a hilltop in the distance, That little wooden stick could be used for major structural repairs If I were hallucinating and there was nothing else to hand, While unidentifiable liquids ooze about you Resembling the whisky that I’ve already drunk half a bottle of.]
His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An’ cut you up wi’ ready sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright, Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight, Warm-reekin’, rich!
[Watch and marvel as a man, so drunk he can barely stand up, attempts to clean a knife And stabs at you wildly with the least of precision Eventually making a gash in your nondescript innards Like a makeshift latrine in the woods, And then, O! what a glorious sight, The only thing in this godforsaken country that isn’t absolutely baltic!]
Then, horn for horn, they stretch an’ strive:
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, “Bethankit!” hums.
[Then, gobful after gobful, they scoff it down, Brawl over seconds, and continue scoffing, Until all their clinically obese bellies Become a gluttonous parody of human flesh, Then the fattest of the lot, on the verge of puking Mutters “Jesus fucking Christ that was good.”]
Is there that owre his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad make her spew Wi’ perfect sconner,
Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ view On sic a dinner?
[Are there any people who, over their fine French food, Or Italian cooking that would make a pig wretch Or haute cuisine that would surely make it physically sick In total and utter disgust, Look down with a sneering and scornful attitude On a dinner like this?]
Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as wither’d rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash; His nieve a nit;
Thro’ bloody flood or field to dash, O how unfit!
[Poor healthy and cultured unfortunates! See them eating real food! They are as feeble as withered stalks, Their skinny legs as thin as rope, Their hands are tiny and effeminate, When it comes to travelling through peaty bogs and Bathgate They’ve got no chance!]
But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his walie nieve a blade, He’ll mak it whissle;
An’ legs an’ arms, an’ heads will sned, Like taps o’ thrissle.
[But look at the haggis-eating Scots, So great that the earth literally shakes beneath them as they walk. Give them knives, They’ll stab pretty much anyone! They’ll chop off legs, arms, and heads, Like the tops of the thistles they bizarrely revere.]
Ye Pow’rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o’ fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu’ prayer Gie her a haggis!
[O Gods, who watch over all humanity, And determine its fates and appetites, Give to Old Scotland no healthy and nutritious stuff That resembles something genuinely edible! But remember, we are proudly the ‘sick man of Europe’
Thought for the day:"If I had a Delorean – I would only use it from time to time .."
So, Band Camp went well and the CD is up on line for anyone to stream or download
However we seem to be having problems with the main streaming options. I am using a company called Amuse as they are happy to do everything free and provide maximum royalties - which seems a reasonable offer when you are not expecting to make much money out of your streaming - I get the impression I am never going to be rich and famous with my music !!
However - we get to the bit where the music is being uploaded and a few hours later we seem to be in the same place. Not helped maybe by using an Android Emulator upon my desktop to help me use an App that really only wants to be on a phone or tablet - but it should work...
Ho Hum ..
Tried again this morning and got as far as uploading the artwork - but the tack upload is still stuck and there is nothing to show progress - so you cannot see if it is stuck half way, really slow, or not doing anything at all !!
Think I will go for breakfast and see if there is any progress...
Seems there was a little tick box that I had not seen - seems to be working properly now
Seems I have a UPC Code whatever that is - 0650728859840
I have one cover version of Heather Dale's song "One of Us" and they ask for a licence details which is awkward as she does not seem to have any licensing requirements. I have sent an email to her to see what she wants to do - we will see whether we get a response.
So we are set to have it streaming by the 11th February if nothing goes wrong.
It is all so technical.
Meanwhile - the Greenfield has started doing open mic evenings and did a couple of songs last night. Seems to be a nice evening where people actually listen to what is being sung - so managed to do "Drinking with Rosie" dedicated to Debby - who was running the evening with husband Denis (the singing Decorator) , Agna's Lament and Tanja's Song, followed by a secind session with "Do Virgins taste better" and the "Green One" ... still surprised how popular that remains...
So - awaiting email from Amuse to say that they can't do my songs - or heather dale telling me to not license - or maybe we can go ahead - we shall see.
Thought for the day :"I used to hate Frozen Meals – I cook them first now"
So - I did a thing.... Band Camp it seems ...
Which apparently does this ..
In other news - I saw this great design - I have been looking at similar things for a while and mainly with a view to the future.. a Tavern design thing... Folding Table -
Wall mounted table
Of similar Design
I like this one as well
Other design options include this coat hook on the walls
So...
A day in Carmarthen today and the Provincial Grand Senatus of the Masonic Order of the Scarlet Cord has a new Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies - I am sure that will grow into the job in due course..
A good day all round - with representations from 7 different Provinces and the Past Deputy Grand Summus in attendance.
Burns Night last night...
Nice little video taken of the address - hoping to get a copy to post ...
Watch the Piper's face as the sword swings - a good night out ...
Thought for the day:"Those who are here for the yodeling lesson, please form an orderly-orderly-orderly queue!"
"After their 11th child, a Kentucky couple decided that was enough, as they could not afford a larger bed. So, the husband went to his veterinarian and told him that he and his cousin didn't want to have any more children.
The doctor told him that there was a procedure called a vasectomy that could fix the problem but that it was expensive. 'A less costly alternative,' said the doctor, 'is to go home, get a cherry bomb, (fireworks are legal in Kentucky) light it, put it in a beer can, then hold the can up to your ear and count to 10.
The Kentuckian said to the doctor, 'I may not be the smartest tool in the shed, but I don't see how putting a cherry bomb in a beer can next to my ear is going to help me. ''Trust me,' said the doctor.
So, the man went home, lit a cherry bomb and put it in a beer can. He held the can up to his ear and began to count! "1" "2" "3" “4” "5," at which point he paused, placed the beer can between his legs and continued counting on his other hand.
This procedure also works in Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Parts of Georgia, Missouri, West Virginia, and all of Washington DC."
In other News - Luxembourg goes for free public travel (TAZ)
"Use the bus, train or tram without a ticket?? - this will be possible in Luxembourg from 1 March 2020. Then the small state will be the first country with free public transport. This was announced by the Minister for Mobility François Bausch on Monday.
In the future, only one ticket will need who wants to use the first class of trains. In the remaining part, as well as in buses and trams, passengers only need to be able to identify themselves. For this purpose, the Luxembourgish state is investing around 2.5 billion euros in the transport network by 2023. "The introduction of free public transport is an important social activity. You could call it the social icing, "said Bausch.
The free means of transport should not only benefit the people of Luxembourg in the country, but also the approximately 200,000 commuters who travel daily from neighboring countries to work in Luxembourg. Especially in the capital, the traffic is a problem: According to a study from 2016 motorists here are stuck on average 33 hours per year in a traffic jam.
Whether car drivers actually switch with the free offer, experts are disagreeing. According to a study by the TU Dortmund, free public transport alone does not make people stop their cars. It makes more sense to use more public transport and to increase its frequency. Also driving a car should be more expensive, for example through higher parking fees and more Tempo-30 zones. Bike paths would have to be expanded.
Although today more and more people use public transport and bicycles, the car traffic has not decreased - the citizens would cover a total of more kilometers. Thus, the car remains the most widely used means of transport in Germany - 55 percent of the distances are covered according to TU study.
It remains questionable whether more car drivers will transfer to bus and rail in Luxembourg from March 2020 onwards. Cheap was the local traffic there for a long time. A one-way ticket, which is valid for two hours for the whole country, costs there only two euros, a day ticket just four euros. The state has so far financed urban transport by 90 percent.
Free transport has been offered in different European cities and towns in the past. But many projects have been discontinued for financial reasons. In the Estonian capital Tallinn, however, registered residents have been able to travel for free by train, bus and tram since 2013.
The Federal Government last discussed in February 2018 about free public transport. The reason for this was the high emissions in many German inner cities and the associated diesel driving bans. The environment minister Barbara Hendricks (SPD) wanted to start pilot projects in five cities. The project silted up, federal, state and local authorities could not agree on a financing. Only in some cities there is a free offer today: Since December in Aschaffenburg for a period of two years buses and the tram on a day in the week are free. In Tübingen this will be the case from February."
In other news I changed my profiles as it was another week into the year ...
Interestingly I got an unsolicited "Face Reading" from a stranger..
Of course my profile is Public and the pictures are there to see but still quite nice to have...
Thought for the day :"Shout out to all the self aware people out there.. You know who you are!"
On Royal News...
A big day yesterday in Aberystwyth with the installation of the Grand Marshal as Master of Hywel Dda (Athelstan). A Road trip but back before midnight. Managed to survive the worst blizzards of 2019 so far and saw a sprinkling of white on the mountain tops...
Now to look at the minutes for Royal Ark Mariners from Monday and start preparing for the Provincial Grand Senatus for Saturday... Seems to be a busy time..
Cooker finally repaired today - so we can expect a return to full menus - once the current spate of dietary requirements passes.
Found this little gem while searching around on the net...
Did you hear that right in French??? One of my favourite songs explained...
I have no regrets...
So, time to put the battery back into the Clio and see if she will run properly.
Errands today - post office, embroidery shop for a commemorative Crimson Moon Patch.
Minutes and attendance registers for RAM and banking.
Finalise the Burns night table plans...
Which reminds me ..
Then Provincial Senatus - and learn the address to the Haggis before Friday ...
Thought for the day :"As I watch this generation try to re-write history, one thing I am sure of is that it will be misspelled and have no punctuation"
In Royal News..
So, in Brexit I saw this rather fine parody of the Dragon's Lair ... Selling the EU concept...
In other News... On Prostrate Health..
FULL TEXT OF PROSTATE HEALTH AWARENESS LECTURE
MEN MUST READ
Gentlemen,
I am here to speak with you on Prostate. The topic is misleading. Is prostate strictly for men? Yes, ONLY men have prostate and ONLY men over 40 years but the healthcare enlightenment is for everyone. There is no woman who does not know a man 40 years and above, father, uncle, brother, son, friend, neighbour, colleague...
Essentially what I will be doing today is health promotion. Responsible health promotion must provide three things:
1. Information
2. Reassurance
3. A plan of action.
Let me start with a background on prostate health.
Everyone has a pair of kidneys. The job of the kidney is to remove waste. It is the LAWMA (waste management company) of your body. Everyday your blood passes through the kidney several times to be filtered. As the blood is filtered, urine is formed and stored in a temporary storage tank called the urinary bladder.
If there were to be no urinary bladder, as a man walks on the road, urine will be dropping.
Now think of the plumbing work in your house. Think of the urinary bladder as the overhead storage tank. From the storage tank, a good plumber will run pipes to other parts of the house, including the kitchen. God in His wisdom ran pipes from our urinary bladder to the tip of the penis. The pipe is called the urethra. Just below the bladder and surrounding the urethra is a little organ called the prostate gland.
The prostate gland is the size of a walnut and weighs about 20grams. Its job is to make the seminal fluid which is stored in the seminal vesicle. During sexual intercourse, seminal fluid comes down the urethra and mixes with the sperms produced in the testicles to form the semen. So semen technically is not sperm. It is sperm + seminal fluid. The seminal fluid lubricates the sperm.
After age 40, for reasons that may be hormonal, the prostate gland begins to enlarge. From 20 grams it may grow to almost 100 grams. As it enlarges, it squeezes the urethra and the man begins to notice changes in the way he urinates.
If you have a son under 10, if he has a little mischief like we all did at that age, when he comes out to urinate, he can target the ceiling and the jet will hit target. Call his father to do same, wahala dey. His urine stream is weak, cannot travel a long distance and sometimes may come straight down on his legs. So he may need to stand in awkward position to urinate.
Not many men will be worried their urine stream cannot hit the ceiling. Toilets are on the floor and not on the ceiling. But other symptoms begin to show.
TERMINAL DRIPPLING:
The man begins to notice that after urinating and repacking, urine still drops on his pants. This is the reason why after an older man urinates, he has to ring bell. A younger man simply delivers to the last drop and walks away. Just see an older man coming from the bathroom. Sometimes he may clutch the newspaper closely to hide the urine stains, particularly on plain colored trousers.
HESISTANCY
At this point you wait longer for the urine flow to start. There are 2 valves that must open for you to urinate – the internal and external sphincters. Both open but because of obstructions in the urethra, you wait longer for the flow to start.
INCOMPLETE EMPTYING
You have this feeling immediately after urinating that there is still something left.
As all these things happen, the bladder begins to work harder to compensate for the obstruction in the urethra. The frequency of urination goes up. Urgency sets in. Sometimes you have to practically run into the toilet. Nocturia also becomes common. You wake up more than 2 times at night to urinate. Your wife begins to complain.
Men being men may not talk to anyone even at this point. Then the more serious complications start.
Stored urine gets infected and there may be burning sensation when urinating.
Stored urine forms crystals. Crystals come together to form stone either in the bladder or in the kidney. Stones may block the urethra.
Chronic urinary retention sets in. The bladder stores more and more urine. The size of the bladder is 40 - 60cl. A bottle of coke is 50cl. As the bladder stores more urine it can enlarge up to 300cl. An overfilled bladder may leak and this leads to wetting / urinary incontinence. Also the volume may put pressure on the kidney and may lead to kidney damage.
What may likely bring the man to hospital is acute urinary retention. He wakes up one day and he is not able to pass urine.
Everything I have described above is associated with prostate enlargement, technically called benign prostate hyperplasia.
There are other diseases of the prostate like:
1. Prostatitis – inflammation of the prostate
2. Prostate cancer – cancer of the prostate.
This discussion is on prostate enlargement.
I have bad news and good news.
The bad news is that everyman will have prostate enlargement if he lives long enough.
The good news is that there are life style changes that can help the man after 40 to maintain optimum prostate health.
NUTRITION
Look at what you eat. 33% of all cancers, according to the US National Cancer Institute is related to what we eat.
Red meat everyday triples your chances of prostate disease. Milk everyday doubles your risk. Not taking fruits / vegetables daily quadruples your risk.
Tomatoes are very good for men. If that is the only thing your wife can present in the evening, eat it with joy. It has loads of lycopene. Lycopene is the most potent natural antioxidant.
Foods that are rich in zinc are also good for men. We recommend pumpkin seeds (ugbogulu).
Zinc is about the most essential element for male sexuality and fertility.
Men need more zinc than women. Every time a man ejaculates he loses 15mg of zinc. Zinc is also important for alcohol metabolism. Your liver needs zinc to metabolize alcohol.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
As men begin to have urinary symptoms associated with prostate enlargement, it is important they look at alcohol consumption. More fluid in means more fluid out.
Drink less. Drink slowly.
EXERCISE
Exercise helps build the muscle tone. Every man should exercise. Men over 40 should avoid high impact exercise like jogging. It puts pressure on the knees. Cycling is bad news for the prostate. We recommend brisk walking.
SITTING
When we sit, two-third of our weight rests on the pelvic bones. Men who sit longer are more prone to prostate symptoms. Do not sit for long hours. Walk around as often as you can. Sit on comfortable chairs. We recommend a divided saddle chair if you must sit long hours.
DRESSING
Men should avoid tight underwear. It impacts circulation around the groin and heats it up a bit. While the physiological temperature is 37 degrees, the groin has an optimal temperature of about 33 degrees. Pant is a no - no for men. Wear boxers. Wear breathable clothing.
SMOKING
Avoid smoking. It affects blood vessels and impact circulation around the groin.
SEX
Regular sex is good for the prostate.
Celibates are more pronenn to prostate illness. While celibacy is a moral decision, it is not a biological adaptation. Your prostate gland is designed to empty its contents regularly.
__________
Thought: when someone shared something of value with you and benefit from it. You have a moral obligation to share it with others because someone in your friends list might be saved.
Forwarded as received💪�
The subject is very important Please post the message on the largest number of your acquaintances:
"Pieces of lemon in a glass of hot water can save you for the rest of your life," says Professor Chen Horin, chief executive of the Beijing Military Hospital.
Even if you are busy, you should look at this message and pass it on to others!
Hot lemons can kill cancer cells!
Cut the lemon into three pieces and place it in a cup, then pour hot water, it will become (alkaline water), drink it every day will certainly benefit everyone ..
Hot lemons can once again release an anti-cancer drug.
Hot lemon juice has an effect on cancerous tumors and
has shown treatment for all types of cancer.
Treatment with this extract will only destroy the malignant cells and will not affect healthy cells.
Second: The acids and mono-carboxylic acid in lemon juice can regulate hypertension and protect narrow arteries, adjust blood circulation and reduce blood clotting.
After reading, tell someone else and pass it on to someone you love and take care of your personal health.
Advice:
Professor Chen Horin points out that anyone who has received this letter is at least guaranteed to save someone's life ... I have done my part, I hope you will help me to spread it too.
Meanwhile in Scotland ...
The Joys of Voice Activation - if you are Scottish
Athelstan in Aberystwyth today - Installation - hoping it will not snow !!
Thought for the day :"If your eyes hurt after drinking coffee – take the spoon out of the mug…"
Never too old to be scammed.
Now I like a bargain the same as everyone and subscribe to the old adage that if it looks too good to be true then it is too good to be true - but I have had a number of small items from china over the months that have been ridiculously cheap by comparison, cables, radio converters, speakers, headphones. So when I saw some LED lights reduce 80% which would provide good lighting for the Bothy it seemed that I would not worry if it took a couple of months to arrive from China or Korea or somewhere unknown. Postage free - well it happens that way with most stuff that comes by shipping - and bulk buys seemed legitimate..
A clue should have been that there was no Paypal link. I find that annoying these days but still happens on sites - but is going to be a guide for me in the future. Paypal seems to have really made its way in maintaining security on on -line transactions.
Anyway - went to check out and checked the £1.48 and free postage and hit the button with the Tesco Card details thereon .... and sat back... Two minutes later Tesco Fraud algorithms must have flagged - as I get a text message saying "Have you authorised a payment to AGlkljlj!! for £73.30?
Um - no I answer - is this coincidence or is it a scam ?
I text N for no I do not recognise this transaction and five minutes later I have a phone call from a real Fraud type person...
Well it is not my card - but Susie's so we have to go through the can I give you my wife for security - which sounds worse than it means!! and we discuss.
Now - apparently - as I have actually made a purchase under normal circumstances I would have to take it up with the supplier, wait 30 days to see what arrived, (looking back on the site they have now placed 17 items on order rather than my LED light) and then take it to dispute... Because it is a foreign transaction - the cost difference can be changes in currency conversion - but we both agree that this would be a little excessive - even for Brexit Times. So it seems I am to be lucky and they will pass to dispute straight away and refund my money....
We discuss a number of other transactions that are a little dodgy - like why I spent £6 for diesel last Friday, and then another £13 for more diesel - and then £75 for more diesel in the space of two hours... Seem suspicious - but I will tell you the story of the fuel pipe that came off the fuel pump and caused me to call the RAC for the CashQuai, and how they changed the battery on warranty "just in case".. but that is how I missed the Executive Dinner last Friday and nothing to do with the scam...
And so - they cancel the cards - which is reasonable. Apparently I will have to contact all the standing order people - but that is a task for next week when the new cards arrive...
So - back to the company - a check ( a little late I agree) on Scam Check shows..
Domain only 4 days old - oops
Registered in USA - but coming from China - well I expected that
Ho Hum ...
In other news... Blood Red Moon last night
I got up and was totally unimpressed - My wife reminded me that I did not put my glasses on and I was not wearing contact lenses so the blur I saw in the distance was not what was there - she took some photos but they did not come out as well as she had hoped...
I found this one though...
Apparently we do not see again until 2021 - so I will leave that there ...
