An Ounce - For Your Consideration

All the things that new technology brings us – isn’t it fun? In the past several years there has been some concern over Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs. Folks are concerned that the modifications made in plants will affect nutritional content, the human bodies allergic response, toxicity, organ damage, or even the transfer of genes into the body with an unanticipated response  I remember b...

While necessity has been deemed the mother of Invention, Curiosity is surely the father. And curiosity continues to be a prolific sire to things like discovery and learning. Curiosity manifests itself in our lives in many ways – in short - it is a desire the expose truth – excitement and anticipation to see something new. Curiosity is a shared feature of the human condition. To one extent or anoth...

In 1870 William Canby presented the story of his Grandmother, Betsy Ross to the historical society of Pennsylvania. His presentation was strong on personal remembrance, family stories, and anecdotes. Canby even bolstered his presentation with signed and notarized affidavits from family recounting the stories they had been told. But, the presentation, though powerful and persuasive, was void of any...

Here is a story about an aging King with no Heir - and how chose a successor to his throne. It is a tale I heard when I was very young. I don’t know its origins or who the author is – if you do let me know. The great Domain of the respected king was at peace and thriving. But, the King had no heir. And, he was beginning to consider how his kingdom would fair when he was gone. He loved his people,...

It was late August in the summer of 1978 in the desert southwest.  Late August was when the alfalfa was coming in for its last cuttings before the growing season ended. And, hauling and stacking that hay for the winter was a great opportunity for a young person to make a few bucks – the hard way The hay would be cut, raked into lines in the fields, and dried by the sun for a few days. Then dried v...

I’m Jim Fugate and it is my privilege to share An Ounce with you. We’ve got a great story about a true American hero  - but we're going to leave you guessing as to who it is – or maybe you can figure out who it is before I tell you. Nate was a great guy. He was a loyal, hardworking, and principled man with courage and integrity. He was born into a well-pedigreed family in Coventry, Connecticu...

There are a few different versions of this story, but as best we can reconstruct the events, it went something like this. It was the summer of 1937 when 17-year-old, High School Student, Bette Cooper left her Hackett’s Town New Jersey home to have a day of fun with friends at Bertrand Island Amusement Park. Amongst all of the activity and other attractions, Bette and her friends were amused to see...

Albert Einstein was reported to have said, “It’s important to make things a simple as possible, but never simpler”. I suppose it may have been important to share this advice with Napoleon during the planning for his retreat from Leipzig on October 19, 1813. While Napoleonian was battling with Russia his army ran into some issues while trying to advance beyond the town of Leipzig. Well, I guess mor...

Ice Cream is one of those treats that is nearly irresistible. It comes in a huge variety of flavors, one of which is probably yours. But even the smooth, creamy satisfying nature of simple vanilla ice cream has been the perfect companion to a birthday cake for a century or more. Ice cream has the power to brighten an already sunny day and has been effective when liberally used as an antidepressant...

Let’s start with this question - Does anything really ever disappear? That which we cast away, or try to hold onto, is never really hidden. In one way or another, it impacts everything around us, and it trails behind us as we move through life. But, gratefully, what remains is not always a bad thing. And, we have the power to decide if much of what we cast off is positive or negative. Our relation...

This episode is a bit of a nod to those who have had to work a night shift. Those who have performed some vital task attended to some critical detail, that could not wait for the dawning of the sun. Stan was born on September 7, 1939, near Vladivostok, Russia. His mother was a nurse during world war II and his father a fighter pilot. Surviving in Vladivostok during world war II is quite an achieve...

The New Year is a great time to start anew. To add fresh and positive things to your life. The get a new start on acquiring something or achieving something you really want for yourself. Well, I hate to throw a cold bucket on the moment, but Forbes magazine did a study on New Years Resolutions recently. They found that only 25% of people were still working on their resolution after 30 days. And, o...

About 2 centuries ago a baby was born in Bethlehem, of Judea. At the time Bethlehem was an isolated society that had fallen from an unparalleled greatness hundreds of years before, to a completely conquered backwater. His name is Jesus Christ. And, there is so much that can be said of him. But His message and gift are the most powerful of all, and only effectively given -or accepted - quietly, hum...

Christmas Greetings. The way folks seem a bit nicer, and happier at Christmas time. Reaching out to friends and family has seldom been more important than it is today.  Christmas greetings used to be sent to distant contacts in the form of a Christmas card. It was pretty much the only way. Travel was more difficult, a phone call was expensive, so the Christmas Card was a common and standard way to...

In the words of the entertainer and Storyteller Burl Ives, ‘Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, it’s the best time of the year’ – well it is, except that as a result of live Christmas trees drying out and catching fire there are 10 deaths and just over 15 million dollars in damages every year. SO – Remember to water the tree! Oh, and just for good measure you should also barware the decorating thing.  A...

Why is it that as soon as Halloween is over the Christmas displays show up at the stores? And as soon as Thanksgiving in full swing Christmas music invades the radio stations.   It’s not that I’m against these trends, Though it occasionally brings out the humbug in me a bit - I just wonder why all the hype and craziness.   Christmas seems to have such a big personality it takes over everything aro...

The Santa we have become familiar with in the US gets around with a very unique, and perhaps archaic, mode of transportation.   Santa Clause cruises in an open sleigh pulled by reindeer.  At first glance, this seeming plodding and obsolete mode of transportation may seem impractical. But, it appears there is something very high-tech or even magical about it that we don’t fully understand. An early...

There is s recent tradition that started in the south-eastern United States in the 1900s. I really can’t pin it down any more accurately than that, but I have witnessed it. Allow me to tell you the story. The Bible account of the Birth of Christ includes visits to the Babe from several folks. The shepherds for one, and then the wise men.  'Wise men come from afar'.  But, there's a l...

She was born way back in 1940. This adorable little black girl was born prematurely. She weighed in at 4 ½ pounds and was the 20th of 22 siblings. Born in the segregated south her future would not be predicted as stellar even if she did survive. But, survive she did. She grew from poverty and obscurity - to greatness. Described as gracious and soft-spoken, Skeeter blazed a trail in athletics and i...

At the Birth of Christ in Bethlehem, of Judea, the meridian of time, the event was heralded in many ways. Among them, signs in the heavens such as angelic hosts, and by a New Star.  Well, Something like it is happening again! Even now those two planets are getting closer together, and remain close through Christmas. Best time to see it. About 45 minutes after sunset in the western sky on December...

The satellite Santa Tracker we enjoy now was made possible as the result of a misprint in a newspaper in 1955.  The once dominating American retailor Sears decided to publish a phone number, in a Christmas ad, for little children to call Santa. The kids could call, with their parents listening in, to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. A much more modern version of the whole writing a lette...

The legend of the Stockings. And, by the way, if you find this one a little misogynistic it not my fault, you’ll have to take it up with the folks who perpetuated the story.  Legend has it that hundreds of years ago, a very poor man was left to himself providing for 3 daughters. Unfortunately, they lived in poverty and had no money for doweries for the girls, which was apparently a very important...

Santa Clause – Saint Nick - Has morphed quite a bit over the centuries. The fourth-century Christian bishop, Saint Nicholas, gave away his abundant inheritance to help the needy, and rescue women from servitude. OK -Generous maybe -but probably he was a pretty sober guy – not what you’d call jolly.  His name, in Dutch, was Sinter Klaus, which later morphed into Santa Claus, and over time soften in...

Did you know Chewing tobacco and Christmas trees have something in common? Stay with me now - His name was Prince Albert, who married Queen Victoria – Well known and popular royal power couple in the 1840s.  A strong precursor to the Kardashian phenomenon, the name of Prince Albert was everywhere. But, What did he have to do with the Christmas Tree? Listen and find out!

In the lyrics of the song Merry Xmas/War is over, John Lennon penned the words, “ And, so this is Christmas” – But, is it? Traditionally in our time, we celebrate it on December 25th of each year. The purpose of the celebration? To commemorate the Christ child born in a manger in Bethlehem, of Judea, in the meridian of time. An event now celebrated by Christens and non-Christians alike, as a time...