Ponderizations of a Crazy Calvinist

Saturday, May 08, 2004

Dr Pepper's English connection!

Well, we never had this drink here till within the last ten years it seems to me. But are not good at time, but somewhere around that. And yet, it was invented by an Englishman! Personally, I'm none too keen on it, you can't beat coca cola! Tho have been known to break out into the Dr Pepper song in public...! And in the good tradition of the peanuts! A few facts about Dr Pepper! And should also say too, the only time previously I've even heard of waco was when that whacko from Waco David Koresh, hit the news.

Dr Pepper History
DrPepper.com

Dr Pepper is the oldest major soft drink in the United States. It is a "native Texan" originating at Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in the town of Waco in 1885. Like its flavor, the origin of Dr Pepper is out-of-the-ordinary.

Charles Alderton, a young pharmacist educated in England, worked at Wade Morrison's store, where he also served carbonated soft drinks at the soda fountain. He had noted that customers soon tired of drinking the same old fruit flavors. The inventive Alderton decided to make something new by blending several fruit-based flavors. After numerous experiments, he finally created one he liked.

To test his new drink, Alderton first offered it to store owner Morrison, who also found it to his liking. After repeated sample testing by the two, Alderton was ready to offer his new drink to fountain customers. They liked it as well. Other patrons at Morrison's soda fountain soon learned of Alderton's new drink and began ordering it. Dr Pepper was born.

Dr Pepper gained such widespread consumer favor that other soda fountain operators in Waco began buying the syrup from Morrison. This soon presented a problem for Alderton and Morrison, as they could no longer produce enough syrup at their fountain to supply the demand.

Soon other soda fountains were buying the syrup from Morrison and serving it. People loved the new unnamed drink and would order it by simply calling out �shoot me a Waco!� But Morrison named it Dr Pepper, after the father of a girl he had loved back in his home state of Virginia.

Since then Dr Pepper�s popularity has grown consistently over the years to become one of the top 3 soft drinks in the United States and the No. 1 non-cola.

What is the meaning of "10-2-4"?
An early study on human fatigue showed that human energy dropped to its lowest levels during the day at 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM, and 4:30 PM daily. Therefore, drinking Dr Pepper at 10 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM would boost energy. Thus the "10-2-4" symbol!

I have heard of a museum of Dr Pepper memorabilia somewhere in Texas. Could you tell me where it is?
I know of two Dr Pepper museums in Texas. One is at 300 South 5th Street in Waco, and the other is at 221 South Patrick in Dublin. Be sure to visit both of them.

I've heard of people drinking hot Dr Pepper. How do you fix it?
According to an old advertising card that I have seen, you heat the Dr Pepper to near boiling, then put a quarter inch thick slice of a lemon in the bottom of a cup and pour the heated Dr Pepper over it. Sounds good to me, but I'm in the middle of Texas in the hot summertime, and right now I prefer it ice cold.

Now, I bet no one thought Dr Pepper had such a colourful history and was soo interesting!

5/08/2004 11:40:00 pm ::

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Would you employ.....?

5/08/2004 10:40:00 am ::

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Friday, May 07, 2004

Anyone else hate spiders?

I don't have a phobia about these insects no more than most other folks I don't think. (except decidedly "odd" folks who actually seem to like them and will keep them as "pets" ewwww) Flying, buzzing insects, especially the stinging variety are my waterloo as far as the insect world goes. But still don't like spiders very much at all. And don't' like to go to sleep in a room where one has escaped and have been unable to find him. I have woken up before now when this has happened with the thing actually crawling on me! Ewww. So, I try to find out my Sammy the Spiders before bedtime if they are around.

Tonite I slept early, somewhat unusual. Woke about three am, and made coffee and answered emails and read a little. And suddenly, spotted something not too big, kinda small really, scurrying across the wall at the back of my desk. So, having John Calvin's institutes in my hand, did what any reasonable person would do, and used the book to send Sammy to his last spiders web! Then went back to reading. And an hour or more later, spotted something else. This was a huge, great, massive, dirty great thing. But still had the institutes in my hand and at the ready. Ah, so ole Deejay can have the rest of a peaceful, spider infested free nite now.

5/07/2004 06:26:00 am ::

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Kitties need playmates too!

5/07/2004 04:48:00 am ::

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Wednesday, May 05, 2004

The Nut House! (America's love affair with Peanuts)

As far as I know, Peanut butter did not become very big in Merry Ole England till the last 20 years. I had my first peanut butter and Jam sandwich just a few months ago. And tho I am a lover of nuts, (that goes without saying! ;-)) wasn't over-ly keen on it, but didn't not like it either.

Anyhow, I know peanuts has been big in America for years and years. Even apart from Charlie Brown! So have been finding some info out.

Americans Eat the Most
"Prized mainly as a source of high-quality cooking oil elsewhere in the world, the peanut rises above the level of condiment in the United States. Every year, Americans eat more peanuts than any other people in the world � about 12 pounds per person, including five pounds of peanut butter."

No Less than 90%!
"In the United States, any product labeled "peanut butter" must by law be at least 90 percent peanuts"

Benefits of the nut:

May help prevent colon cancer

Keep your heart healthy

Lose weight: Control appeitite   (and I always thought they were fattening!)

How Peanuts became popular:

Peas! Peas! Peas! Peas! eating goober peas! Goodness how delicious, eating goober peas!
                             � Traditional song

How Peanuts Became Popular
During the Civil War, Confederate soldiers sometimes had nothing to eat but peanuts, or "goober peas," a name that may have come from "nguba," the word for peanut in the Bantu language. Union troops found themselves eating � and enjoying � these unfamiliar vegetables.

The Peanut Gallery
Street vendors in northern cities, some of them soldiers who could find no other work, began selling roasted peanuts, and around 1870, P. T. Barnum introduced them to the crowds at his circuses. The cheap seats in theaters and public entertainments became known as the "peanut gallery."

Peanut Butter Debut
Peanuts made the leap from snack food to health food in the 1890s when a St. Louis doctor ground them into a smooth paste to feed his older patients. Peanut butter made a nutritious, easily digested and tasty food � perfect for invalids.

Peanut Genius
By the 1920s, when George Washington Carver showed all that the humble legume could do, Americans were more than willing to sing in his choir of praise for the miraculous nut.

George Washington Carver

The Plant Doctor

Even as a child, George Washington Carver was known as the "plant doctor." Born into slavery in Missouri in the early 1860s, he supported himself from the age of 10, moving from place to place in search of whatever education was available to a black orphan in the early days of Emancipation.

Eventually, he earned bachelor's (1894) and master's (1896) degrees from the State Agricultural College in Ames, Iowa. He then accepted Booker T. Washington's invitation to head a department at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

Helping Peanut Farmers
His search for ways to enrich soils depleted by years of one-crop farming led him to legumes. He began a campaign urging local farmers to plant peanuts, a crop he knew Southerners were familiar with.

Discovering Peanut Uses
When growers complained that there wasn't a large enough market for peanuts, Carver went to work. In his laboratory, which the devout scientist called "God's Little Workshop," Carver discovered more than 300 uses for peanuts, from foods of all types to inks, dyes, soap, face cream and powder, creosote (a wood preservative), wood stains, plastics, linoleum, metal polish and synthetic rubber.

His efforts altered the economy of the South, and the peanut, not even recognized as a crop in 1896, became one of the top six in the United States by 1940.

Famed Throughout the World
Carver's wide-ranging agricultural research made him renown throughout the world. He worked with Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, testified before congressional committees and spoke with presidents. He published 43 books and pamphlets and was awarded medals and honorary degrees, as well as membership in the British Royal Society of the Arts.

Little known facts:

A Familiar Face
Mr. Peanut, the Planters Peanut Company mascot, originated in a contest for schoolchildren in 1916.

Over 100 Years Old
Peanut butter was created by a St. Louis physician in 1890 as a high-protein, easily digestible food for his elderly patients. In 1904, it was promoted as a health food at the St. Louis World's Fair.

Where's the Jelly?
How to make a peanut butter sandwich was described in an Atlanta cookbook in 1898. The recipe concluded, "Tie with brown ribbon having the same tint as the paste."

Fear of What?
"Arachibutyrophobia" is the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth

Look What I Found!
Columbus discovered peanuts on the island of Haiti when he landed in 1492.

And I bet that's all more info than you ever wanted to know about Peanuts!

5/05/2004 11:07:00 pm ::

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Ever feel as tired as this? I do! Today has been proof of this fact!

Click the play button on the console to see just how tired the poor little kitty really is!

5/05/2004 05:56:00 pm ::

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Quick! He's getting away!

5/05/2004 05:48:00 am ::

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This Green and Pleasant land: Repost.

Sorry I deleted the whole post to cut the sound out, and only need to put a link instead of the movie in:

This Green and Pleasant Land!

Just for the record, Saddam wanted stopping, of that there is little doubt. But I still don't agree with any govt leader lying to their country to achieve their aim. Tony Blair is a Liar

5/05/2004 04:36:00 am ::

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Ouched by haloscan:

I was just testing the pinging facility on trackback at haloscan, to see if I could see how you did it. And you know how it is, you click something once, and its not quick enough to do it, so you impatiently click again. Right? Well, haloscan was sooo rude! And gave me this message. Please note the highlighted text! Sheesh! Got at by a computer!

Send Trackback Pings

Pinging http://haloscan.com/tb/deejay2038/108218114566340623... HTTP/1.1 200 OK Date: Wed, 05 May 2004 02:35:43 GMT Server: Apache/1.3.29 (Unix) mod_auth_passthrough/1.8 mod_log_bytes/1.2 mod_bwlimited/1.4 PHP/4.3.3 FrontPage/5.0.2.2634 mod_ssl/2.8.16 OpenSSL/0.9.7a X-Powered-By: PHP/4.3.3 Pragma: no-cache Connection: close Transfer-Encoding: chunked Content-Type: text/xml d1 5A little obsessive, aren't we? You've already pinged about that post with that URL... once is enough, I think. 0 5. A little obsessive, aren't we? You've already pinged about that post with that URL... once is enough, I think.haloscan.com /tb/deejay2038/108218114566340623

5/05/2004 03:41:00 am ::

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Tears of a "Fool

Smokey Robinson said it this way:

Now there's some sad things known to man
but ain't too much sadder than
the tears of a clown
when there's no one around

Now if I appear to be carefree
it's only to camouflage my sadness
In order to keep my pride I try
to cover the hurt with a show of gladness

A clownish foolish demeanour can hide a broken spirit and shattered life. I remember doing this for half my childhood. And covered it with crazy. Smokey said it well. I hear people sometimes complain about being too, tall, too short, too fat, too thin, and have to hold back, from telling them in God's eyes they are lovely, and have to hold back from quoting 1 Sam 1:16 as realizing how clicheish and useless it must sound to them, but also know how true. How from under ten, people saw this crazy, foolish kid, with only half a brain to call their own, yet rivers ran deep. And most of the time, the "crazy" was my camaflauge.

Have you ever heard folks say, they can be in the midst of a party, surrounded by people, yet they felt alone? A hurting minor feeling that way, will make their own world. Small children who are the only child in the family, often have invisble playmates. What kind of pain, can drive a seventeen year old to. Its not aloneness. Its cos the reality of real people, real life, cuts like a razor. So, an invisible dog, a stuffed monkey at 20 takes precedence over reality. As they are mute, actionless safe, and something, to call ones own. And people continue to think you're a fool and perhaps as older even more foolish than before.

So, if I don't automatically condemn Michael Jackson for simply being weird, leaving any current allegations out of it, till they have been proved, then maybe its cos I have known people who have been where he is at. I've seen the fantasy, seem better than anything reality could offer. And know that as he stages his appearances, and his performances, only in the fantasy of that world, does he feel alive. The whole setup, is something he can control and it belongs to him, and him alone. He's not part of someone elses orchestrations in that world. And centre stage of that world, his smile, his songs, his moves, are his camaflouage for a shattered life, and broken spirit. And if not but for God, could any of us walk a similar path and say we would be different to him? He's on his parallel universe because his real existence is so sore, so raw, so painful, he can't quite step back fully into it. But behind the face-masks, the dark glasses and I'm as sure as nite and day, that his soul feels tortured beyond endurance. And people look at his money, his lfestyle, and think he has or had it all. Yet he probably has very little that is real, outside of his public persona. And unless called by God, he never will.

Sometimes, when suffering physically now, people are pretty much stuck for words, and will at times say they dont' know what to say. And I crack some joke, about my situation, which eases their discomfort, and lightens the moment. And some people say at least you still have your sense of humour, and others in a world of unbelief say they would stick there head in the oven so how can I laugh? And yet, the jokes no longer make people see crazy. But know that reflex reaction to laugh during the worst of times is somehow a remnant for the fascade fo those years, yet as far from it in manifestation as east is west.

People often ask if Jesus laughed. Cos we read in Scripture that Jesus wept. Well, I believe with my whole heart our savour had a great sense of humour and he endowed us with one to use to His glory too. And whenever everything else seems to be failing, the reflex reaction to laugh is always there. And not sure without it it would be so easy to get through these days. And I know it has its roots in the crazy persona. And the distancing from reality. And given the pain that caused that persona, when I see how the remanants of it make these days doable, can't help but think of Gen 50:20

But never judge a book by its cover. As a minute of laughter can often be a veil for a river of tears. And I know at least my rivers in years gone by, were at least in part caused by the fool saying in there heart, there is no God. But a even the most crazy, foolish person on the outside, has feelings and emotions that run deeper than mountains, inside. So, whether it be Michael Jackson, or any other Tom, Dick or Harriet, we should never be so despising of them, for the outward view we see of them, when unlike God, we don't know what's held in their heart.

This is one song, that tho by a British comedien of many years ago, speak poignantly to the point. That the fool just isn't to be laughed at, derided and mocked, (isn't that in essense what foolish people did to Jesus) but they are real people, with real feelings, and prick them they bleed. And often, are stareved of human affection, because of how we view them. I think the term fool can be used as a metaphor for outside the norm. And the first time I heard this song, in adolescence, even the crazy persona was caught off guard, and wept for the loss of the real person. There but for the grace of God, go I.

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5/05/2004 01:56:00 am :: ::

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What colour brain are you?

Tuesday, May 04, 2004

What Color is Your Brain?
brought to you by Quizilla

Mine was blue! What shade is yours?
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5/04/2004 05:45:00 am :: ::

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UnBiblical Christianity.

DJ: And sorry if this is rude, or coarse, but it all seems like a lot of Papal Bull!

The vast majority of the doctrines and beliefs of the Church of Rome have no basis whatsoever in the Bible. They were added at a later date, contrary to the clear warning of the Bible in Revelation 22:18. Here is a list of the main unscriptural doctrines and the dates on which they were made official. All Roman Catholics are forced to accept them without question

The daily mass, 394 A.D.
The doctrine of purgatory (Pope Gregory), 593 A.D.
Prayers to the Virgin, Queen of Heaven, 600 A.D.
The first Pope (Boniface III), 610 A.D.
Kissing the Pope's foot began in 709 A.D.   (ewwwwww)
Temporal power of the Pope declared in 750 A.D.
Worship of images, relics and cross, 788 A.D.
Holy water, blessed by a priest, 850 A.D.
Veneration of St. Joseph, 890 A.D.
Canonisation of dead saints (Pope John XV), 995 A.D.
Lent and Good Friday began in 998 A.D.   (Pagan Holidays. origin's of the Easter "Holy" Day )
The mass declared to be a sacrifice of Christ, 1050 A.D.
Celibacy of the priesthood and nuns, 1079 A.D.
The rosary introduced by Peter the Hermit, 1090 A.D.
Selling indulgences began in 1190 A.D.
Doctrine of transubstantiation adopted in 1215 A.D.
Confession of sins to human priest, 1215 A.D.
Adoration of the water (Pope Honorius), 1220 A.D.
Interpretation of Bible forbidden to laity, 1229 A.D.
Scapular declared a charm against dangers, 1287 A.D.
Communion under one kind, 1414 A.D.
Seven sacraments declared, 1439 A.D.
Superstitions of the Ave Maria (Pope Sextus V), 1508 A.D.
Tradition established as infallible authority, 1545 A.D.
Apocryphal books added to the Bible, 1546 A.D.
Immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, 1854 A.D.
Infallibility of the Popes, 1870 A.D.   (infallibly wrong!)
Mary declared to be the Mother of God, 1931 A.D.
Assumption (translation) of the Virgin Mary, 1950 A.D.
This is only a partial list of the false doctrines that the Roman hierarchy has added to the Bible. All of them are without a shred of divine authority

If time permitted we could show that three-quarters of these traditions and dogmas accepted by the Roman Catholic Church are of pagan origin. This has even been admitted by prominent Roman Catholics themselves.

Cardinal Newman, one of the authorities most respected by Rome itself, writes on page 359 of his book The Development of the Christian Religion: "Temples, incense, candles, votive offerings, holy water, holidays, and seasons of devotions, processions, blessing of fields, sacerdotal vestments, priests, monks and nuns, images [...] etc. [...], are all of pagan origin."

Excerpts from. EIPS
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Monday, May 03, 2004

More Political Faux Paws!

Well, most of these are American, but are not specifically picking on yankee doodle politicans. Many of ours are twice as duh! Tho I may be picking on Charles De Gaulle, not being a fan of the French very much!

"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."
- Dan Quayle, U.S. Vice President

"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."
- Marion Barry, Washing, D.C. Mayor

"I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law."
- David Dinkins, Former New York City Mayor answering accusations that he failed to pay his taxes.

"China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese."
- Charles De Gaulle, former French President
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5/03/2004 04:51:00 pm :: ::

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Which Little House character are you?

You are Almanzo Wilder. A self-starter, unafraid of
a challenge, and a lover of good food, lots of
it. You are courageous and will always be the
first to volunteer for a dangerous undertaking.
YOu are optimistic and always expect the best
from the future.

Which Little House Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Okay, I'm afraid I "fibbed" about the food. But only cos most of the stuff I never heard of or tasted at least. And I know what ham is. I did think it may not work when it said "I simply love to eat" lol. I'm not sure I remember this Alamzo person.
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Sunday, May 02, 2004

Uri Geller... friend or foe?

I had BBC radio five on tonite. (tis British you know!) Anyway, they were talking about Michael Jackson and the current allegations and court case etc. And his very good buddy, who I do recall years ago, it was proved his bending of spoons was a fix,   was saying that he over-stepped his ethical boundaries a few years ago, when Jackson asked him to help with a minor health problem with hypnotism. And he said, unbeknown to Jackson, while MJ was in a deeply hyptnotic state, he questioned him about the first allegaations, with the boy Jordan Chandler. And he was concinved that the singer did nothing wrong.

Well, I came across my Michael Jackson Thriller CD a day or two ago. I remember quite liking him. Tho wasn't overly-keen on his music, but felt a sadness for him. A sadness of what he lost as a child. And have no idea if these allegations are true or not.   But haven't felt the sadness for him for a long time.   Mr Geller, said he was concerned for his friends health. He was so "thin and pale" lol.. well he's only ever be thin, and dying ones skin an unnatural shade of "white" could give one an appearance of paleness. (sheesh!)

He said he was also worried about his friends faith. Well, have thought for a long time, that faith, is the only hope Michael Jackson (or anyone) has of ever finding some kind of peace in this life. But not sure what spoon-bending Uri was on about by "faith"

Even if Uri Geller was being frank (rather than Uri!) about the hypnosis episode. I think hypnosis leaves room for doubt in many spheres.   How many allegations of abuse has been made in childhood and "repressed memories" were released during hypnosis, and later these "repressed memories" were found to be phantom memories. So would think it could work either way.

I don't know if Michael Jackson is guilty or not. I do know many people resent his type of super-stardom and will go to any lengths to see the "mighty" fall.   Especially if money can be gotten out of someone in this way. And in his position ten years ago, it could well have seemed the easy answer to pay them off, not because of guilt but to end it.

But, the guy is weird, of that there is little doubt. And I haven't been following the case at all really. As I dont' watch news much.

But if he's innocent, he's incredibly stupid. As after the last time, he should never have been allowed to reget in this position again. If he's guilty, well, I have a cure for all pedophiles as to what I think should happen to them, but is not publishable on this blog.

But even if he's found innocent, which looks unlikely from what I was hearing,   there will be plenty of folks who think no smoke without fire. Myself included. And if he's found guilty, his loyal die-hard fans, will be saying miscarriage of justice.     Funny tho, how people pervert the law, as in its findings,   because of who is on trial,   rather than what the facts say.
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5/02/2004 01:51:00 am :: ::

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Drunk In Charge!

Silly Puppy!
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5/02/2004 01:24:00 am :: ::

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On the Move!

Well, I had kind of a move a couple of days ago. (But maybe not what it sounds like!)And I ain't big on change of any kind! And this is a bit what it feels/felt like. I hated this song, way back when!

So pack your toys away
your pretty boys away
your fortyfives away
your alibis away
your silly lies away
your old tiedyes away
your one more tries away.
Youre moving out today.

Pack up your rubber duck.
I'd like to wish you luck.
Your funny cigarettes your sixtyone cassettes
pack all your clothes away
your rubber hose away
your old day glows away.
Youre movin out today.

Pack up you dirty looks
your songs that have no hooks
your stacks of Modern Screen
your portrait of the queen
your mangy cat away
your baby fat away.
You're headed that away.
You're moving out today.

Full lyrics here

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5/02/2004 01:02:00 am :: ::

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