Science VS Dogma

Isn't it wonderful to live in an enlightened society?  I mean, look how much we know about our world, our universe, our bodies, and so on.  I can Google just about anything and have an answer in seconds.  If I want to know how far it is to Alpha Centauri, I can just hit a few keys and presto!

But, when I stop to really think about it, I begin to realize that maybe we ain't so smart after all.

I mean, it was only about 500 years ago that the "experts" knew that the earth was flat.  After all, they reasoned, if it were round, we would fall off.  (Now, before you go thinking that 500 years is a very long time, stop to ponder the fact that 500 years is today's approximate life span for 7 people).

It was only yesterday that antibiotics were discovered.  We still have no cure for cancer, or heart disease, or ALS, or even the common cold.  I can practically assure you that in 100 years, people will look back on the way we treat such afflictions as cancer and marvel at our backwardness and lack of understanding.

We have many problems in this world, from energy to health care to education to overpopulation to pollution.  Many of these problems cannot be discussed in a rational manner because of a dogma that occurs in these fields.

For example, for centuries the Roman Catholic church maintained that the earth was the center of the universe.  To say otherwise, even in the face of overwhelming fact, would be heresy.

In the United States and other countries it is maintained that "diversity", the mixture of different cultures, languages, beliefs, etc, is the strongest possible society.  To think otherwise is to be politically incorrect.

Many "experts" say that global warming is occurring and the reason for it is humanity's dependence on fossil fuels.  It is politically incorrect for many other scientists to speak out in opposition to this belief.

I could go on and on---and so could you.  But the point I would like to make is this:  we are no smarter than previous generations, and when it comes to finding truth, we suffer from the same dogmatic thinking they did.  We haven't really learned much over the centuries.

Your thoughts?

Nursery Rhymes and the Meaning of Life.......

When I was a little boy, my mom used to read to me at bedtime.  I can't tell you what a wonderful learning experience that was!  She would read all of the old fairy tales.  She would sometimes read biblical stories that she knew would be of interest to a youngster.  Sometimes she would sing simple songs that I could participate in singing with her.  And quite often, she would recite nursery rhymes.

I was thinking about that last night as I tried to go to sleep.  Some of those nursery rhymes came flooding back to me.......

Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go.......

Little miss Muffet sat on a tuffet
Eating her curds and whey;
Along came a spider and sat down beside her;
And frightened miss Muffet away.

Hickory dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck one, the mouse ran down;
Hickory dickory dock.......

The itsy bitsy spider ran up the water spout;
Down came the rain and washed the spider out;
Up came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.

Oh, the noble Duke of York, he had ten thousand men;
He led them up to the top of the hill and led them down again.
When they were up, they were up; when they were down they were down;
And when they were only half way up they were neither up nor down.

A dillar a dollar, a ten o'clock scholar;
What makes you come so soon?
You used to come at ten O'Clock,
But now you come at noon.

A tisket, a tasket,
A brown and yellow basket;
I sent a letter to my love,
And on the way, I dropped it!......

The owl and the pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat;
They took some honey and plenty of money
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.......

We went to the animal fair;
The birds and the beasts were there;
A big baboon by the light of the moon
Was combing his auburn hair.
You ought to have seen the monk;
It jumped on the elephant's trunk;
The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees,
But what became of the monk, the monk, the monk?

Kookaburra sits in an old gum tree;
Merry, merry king of the bush is he;
Laugh, kookaburra! laugh, kookaburra!
Gay your life must be.

Many nursery rhymes were based in fact. One of the most famous of these is:

Ring around the rosies,
A pocketful of posies,
Ashes! Ashes! 
We all fall down.

This rhyme originated in England during the great bubonic plague of 1665.  A symptom of the plague, which had a death rate of over 60%, was a ring shaped rosy red rash on the skin.  The "ashes" refers to the fact that most bodies were cremated.  The plague ended in 1666 when the great fire of London killed most of the rats that carried the disease.

What nursery rhymes to you most remember?

Scents, Smells and Reminiscences......

When I was a boy, I would awaken in May and June to the incredibly sweet scent of cape jasmine blooms.  My mom had planted five of the shrubs just outside my window, and that wonderful scent has stayed with me all my life.  Every now and then, I will again inhale that bouquet, and a flood of memories engulfs me.

Cape Jasmine, Or Gardenia Blooms, Produce A Scent That is Straight From Heaven

And then there is honeysuckle.  There is nothing so summery and invoking of childhood than the sweetness of that smell. 

Is There a More Summery Scent Than Honeysuckle?

How about the scent of mom's fresh wash, just in off of the clothesline?  Or the stomach-rumbling, drooling sensation of grandma's fried chicken on a Sunday afternoon?

Back Before We Began Spending Money on Electric Clothes Dryers, We Dried Our Clothes on Clotheslines, and the Fresh, Natural Smell of Nature Was a ByProduct

Or the smell of an approaching thunderstorm.....the unmistakeable smell of the ocean.....the perfume of the one you love.....that doggie smell of your pet pooch.....the combination of hot dogs, mustard, tobacco and humanity of a baseball stadium.....onions, garlic and licorice............

The Ballpark Possessed the Unique Mixed Odors of Humanity, Onions, Hot Dogs, Tobacco and More

What are some unforgettable smells from your life?

This 'N That......

Our trip to Knoxville began Saturday, March 26 and ended yesterday afternoon, Sunday, April 3---Nine days.  We spent nights in Atlanta with my mom and the rest of the time in hotels in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and  Jackson, Mississippi.  In all, we drove 2,000 miles.

We were successful in negotiating a contract on a new home in Knoxville after spending over two days with our realtor.  We spent time visiting with Cindy's mom, who, sadly, has Alzheimer's. 

We had a wonderful dinner one evening with Cindy's sister Patti and her significant other, Kevin; and her daughter, Lucinda and son-in-law, Tracy and grandson, Canyon.

We ate too much during our trip.  We didn't get enough physical exercise.  And the last day (yesterday) driving home was tortuous.  But, we made it. 

And then, Cindy got sick last night and is still in bed.  I think it is a combination of possible food poisoning and stress. 

I was up early this morning after a thunder and lightning filled night.  Amid the flashes of lightning and claps of booming thunder, I tried to catch up on the blogs I follow.  It was really relaxing to get back to my blog friends and read their thoughts.

Now, it's time to go wash the dishes and clean things up while Cindy hopefully is able to sleep and awaken later feeling better.

Blessings to all who take the time to read my ramblings.

You Need His Chicken

We had a Sunday school picnic. They said, "Be at the park at 4:30 Saturday. Bring your supper and we'll furnish the tea."



Well, I came home at the last minute, and when I got ready to pack my lunch, all I could find in the refrigerator was one dried up piece of bologna and just enough mustard in the bottom of the jar so that I got it all over my knuckles when I tried to get it out.

And there were just two stale pieces of bread. So.......I made my bologna sandwich and wrapped it in a brown paper bag and took off for the picnic.


When it came time to eat, I sat at the end of the table and took out my sandwich. But the people next to me, well---the lady was a good cook. And she had cooked all day and she had fried chicken and potato salad and baked beans and home made rolls and sliced tomatoes and stuffed celery and deviled eggs and pickles and olives---and to top it off, two great big homemade chocolate pies.


And they spread it all out beside me, and there I was---with my bologna sandwich.


But they said to me, "Why don't we just put it all together?"


"Oh, no---I couldn't do that---I couldn't even think of it"---and I was embarrassed.


"Oh, come on.......there's plenty of chicken and pie---plenty of everything---and we just LOVE bologna sandwiches. Let's just put it all together."


So I did. And there I sat. Eating like a king when I came like a pauper.


And I get to thinking. I think of ME---sharing in the very being of God. When I think of how little I bring, and how much He brings---and that He invites me to share.


I know I should be shouting from the house tops, but I'm so filled with awe and wonder that I can hardly be heard.


I know I don't have enough love or faith or grace or mercy or wisdom---but He has.


He has all those things in abundance, and He says, "Let's just put it all together. Everything that I possess is available to you. Everything that I am and can be to a person, I will be to you."


And, when I think about it like that, it really amuses me---to see somebody running around through life hanging on to their dumb bag and their stale bologna sandwich---saying "God's not gonna get MY sandwich, no siree---not mine!"


Did you ever see anybody like that? Just so needy and about half starved to death, hanging on for dear life?


It's not that He needs your sandwich.


You need His chicken.

Somebody Stepped On My Hand......

I personally don't drink, but Cindy Needed Support

The Cinderoo suggested Mexican food for tonight's repast, so we strolled down about a hundred yards from our hotel to the Hacienda Degollado for dinner.

Ummm Ummm Ummmph!

It's been a frantic week, and we were ready to unwind.  Cindy, who never drinks spiritous liquors, broke with her personal tradition and began draining margaritas.  Of course, my being a gentleman and all, I could not bear to see her drink alone.

Cindy was a Bad Influence On Me

About 80 ounces later, we were ready for dinner.  Let's see---my memory is not what it used to be a few hours ago---there were tacos, chile rellenos, beans, salsa, rice, chips, and oh...did I mention margaritas?  Of course, I would not have had anything to drink that had alcohol in it, except for the fact that mi esposa was hell bent to have a blow-it-out evening.  And, of course, I have never been one to kill a good time, so I followed her lead.  In other words, it's all her fault.

The Restaurant Was Colorful and the Food Was Muy Bueno

My goodness, the food was good.  And, except for the fact that someone stepped on my hand in the hotel lobby, a wonderful time was had by all.......I think.

I Love Tacos

I wish y'all had been there.


As We Walked Back To Our Hotel From The Restaurant, The Clouds Were Beautiful

Hoarding Bloggers?

About a year ago, I was introduced to the cable TV show, "Hoarders".  This weekly series quickly achieved success, probably because most people can in some way identify with the phenomenon of hoarding.

Hoarding is defined as "the collection of a large number of items, along with the inability to discard them".

The television show is a documentary series in which each week different individuals are followed in their homes.  Most of these pathological personalities have acquired so much "stuff" in their homes that they are unable to even move around in their own living quarters.

Their kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, garages, etc are all crammed with "stuff", none of which is of any worth or use to the hoarder.

All of us, in one way or another, have an innate tendency to keep things we feel may have value, even if we know that object will never be of use to us.  Most of us have that tendency under control, and we are able to discard those things that we know are of no use to us.

Which brings me to the subject at hand---on-line bloggers that hoard.

This is a condition that I have noticed in my blogging over the past year.  There are individuals who have begun---and continued---to acquire apps, widgets, do-dads, cutsies on their blog site until the site is completely loaded with "junk".  It is like walking into the house of a hoarder---you cannot get around or navigate.

It is time consuming to open the blog because all the widgets and what-not take forever to load.  It is tiresome to try to leave a comment because the comment form takes forever to load.  Navigating around the blog is tedious for the same reason---there is just too much "stuff" on there.

I personally like to comment on the blogs of my friends, even if it is just to let them know I was a visitor; but it is not easy when you have many blogs to view and there are a few that hold you up as you wait for loading to occur.

Shouldn't a blog be loadable withing a few seconds---or, at least, a timely manner? 

Your thoughts?