FIRE!!! October 6, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Mindfulness, People.comments closed
Residents of rural Obion County, Tennessee must pay $75 annually for fire protection services from the nearby city of South Fulton.
If they don’t pay the fee and their home catches fire, they’re on their own.
A recent house fire started by the homeowner’s grandson has sparked debate.
Should firefighters have doused the flames despite the fact that the homeowner had not subscribed to the annual fire-fighting service?
The debate has grown heated:
Because of Unpaid Fees, Firefighters Let House Burn
Rural Tennessee Fire Sparks Debate
For a $75annual contribution, this devastated home owner could have protected himself, his home, and his possessions. He didn’t send in the $75 fee to subscribe to the firefighting service.
He claims he forgot. That it slipped his mind. Maybe he’s telling the truth.
But, maybe, he “gambled” that he wouldn’t need their services by choosing not to submit the requested fee. If so, he lost that gamble.
Our actions and omissions (even unintentional) have consequences. Mr. Cranick learned that lesson the hard way.
Here’s a gamble that’s probably a safe bet . . . homeowners in that county will remember to support their local Fire Department in the future by sending in the $75 subscription fee.
Related Post: Rural Tennessee Fire (booksphotograpshand artwork)
Nine Bean Soup October 6, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Food & Drink, Vegetarian Recipes.comments closed
With the Holidays around the corner, here’s a recipe that’s made for giving!
Nine Bean Soup
2 cups bean soup mix (recipe below)
2 quarts water
1 large onion chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 16 oz. can tomatoes, undrained
1 10 oz. can tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
1. Sort and wash 2 cups bean soup mix. Place in large soup pot. Cover with water at least 2 inches above the beans. Soak overnight.
2. Drain beans. Return to pot. Add 2 qts. water, onion, and garlic. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours until beans are tender.
3. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Makes 8 cups. Delicious served over rice or pasta.
Slow Cooker Version: Cook soup for 4-6 hours on High setting, adding the tomatoes during the last 1-2 hours.
Variations: 1. Add chopped celery, diced carrot, and/or green pepper with the onion. 2. Stir in a package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained, during the last 20 minutes of cooking. 3. Add 1/2 cup of uncooked pasta (ditalini, elbows, pasta shells, or other small pasta) with the tomatoes.
Bean Soup Mix
1 lb. barley pearls
1 lb. dried black beans
1 lb. dried red beans
1 lb. dried pinto beans
1 lb. dried navy beans
1 lb. dried great Northern beans
1 lb. dried lentils
1 lb. dried split peas, any color
1 lb. dried black-eyed peas
1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.
2. Divide into 10 2-cup portions for gift giving using decorative bags, canning jars, or clear plastic bags tied with ribbon.
3. Include the recipe for Nine Bean Soup with each jar or bag of mix.
Note: If you use canning jars, consider layering the different color beans rather than mixing them all together.
Look At ME!!! October 6, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Books & Movies, Humor, People.comments closed
My BFF brought home a fascinating book from the library today: Living in the Age of Entitlement ~ The Narcissism Epidemic.
According to the authors, narcissists are:
* Materialistic and status conscious
* Arrogant, self-centered, vain
* Aggressive when insulted
* Manipulative and exploitive
* Willing to cheat and lie to get ahead
* Uninterested in emotional closeness
* Attention seeking and desirous of fame
And, if the authors are correct, the number of narcissists among us are growing by leaps and bounds.
Why the surge? Twenge and Campbell see the epidemic being fueled by four primary factors:
(1) parents who are raising royalty;
(2) our fascination with celebrities and fame;
(3) the quest for attention fed by internet social networking sites (if you’ve got it, flaunt it; if you don’t got it, flaunt it anyway); and
(4) easy credit which allows people to pretend they’re better off than they really are (even if they are in debt up to their eyeballs).
The authors provide ample evidence of the growth in both narcissistic entitlement and cultural narcissism:
* A girl planning her 16th birthday party wanted a major road blocked off for a marching band and a red carpet.
* Paris Hilton
* People hiring fake paparazzi to follow them around town, snapping photos, in order to appear to be celebrities.
* Lindsay Lohan
* The increasing reliance on plastic surgery (a five-fold increase) to maintain or attain a desired look.
* Increasing exhibitionism on Reality TV, YouTube, and Social Networking Sites.
* Spending more than we earn to live in over-sized houses filled with stuff we don’t need or use.
* A growing desire to be famous, no matter what . . . talent optional.
Bottom line, if you see narcissists everywhere you go these days, you’re not alone.
Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D., and W. Keith Campbell, Ph.D., see them too!
Spirit Lights The Way 