An Ounce - For Your Consideration

This episode includes three very short stories.  One about a fish, a second about a screwdriver, and a third about coins and penny candy.

These subjects may seem random, and unrelated. However, each of these tiny tales have a few notions we could learn from. And together, they can teach a single highly valuable principle.

 https://youtu.be/m8KB25mpC7s
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An Interview with Anne Jensen, the mother of 3, who has some great insights on teaching children with a short attention span important lessons about life.

Ever been bothered by the emerging problems in society. You know, that latest stupid fad, the ridiculous clothes some choose to wear - or the way they wear them, or the behavior that was once considered rude that is now commonplace – or the once polite gesture now considered rude. Or, sometimes it’s just keeping things around town cleaned up a little. 

You might think to yourself, ‘somebody needs to do something - there ought to be a law against that’. 

Sure – who hasn’t thought that? 

In the bigger towns and cities in the US back in the mid to late 1800’s, folks noticed things were getting out of hand. Places were starting to get rough, trashy, uninviting - and dangerous. It was sometimes difficult walking about town without someone accosting you for change, or a donation; or sometimes, there were people you had to step over to get where you were going. 

Over two and a half centuries ago, when the early settlers had just begun building their lives in the wilds of Windham, Connecticut, a highly discordant event took place. It all started on a summer's night, in June 1754. 

Most of the 250 or so residents of the little hamlet had retired for the night. The worries of raising crops, keeping food on the table, and staying safe from the Indians were ever present. But life in the colonies was not for the slacker or the faint of heart. So, sweet slumber had overtaken most. And then it began. 

At first, it was a low, deep rumble. Some thought it was an earthquake. But the sound just continued, and increased in intensity. Folks were moving from curiosity to fear. Some said they could feel their bed frames shuddering. Some heard drums, or the sound of trumpets. Others were sure it was the great day of judgment. 

George Spencer Millet was a young man with promise.  This blond-haired boy with ruddy cheeks turned the girls heads, even at the tender age of 15. 

George was a bright boy, a little quiet, but active and ambitious. George was involved with his church. He had even secured employment as an office boy at the Metropolitan Life building, and was “adopted” by the young ladies in the stenography pool, who just love his smile and affable quiet demeanor. 

Unfortunately for young George, even with a seemingly limitless future, the poor kid didn’t make it past 15. 

There are a lot of reasonable things one might get angry about, even a little riled up – but, rioting over a straw hat? 

Sounds like this something that took place at a county fair someplace? Somewhere they imbibe in a bit of moon-shine perhaps? 

Nope – 

This happened in a place where they take fashion seriously. It happened in September 1922 – In one of the great centers of civilization - New York City. 

Yep – 

Ok of all the things that might cause a ruckus, ok – more than a ruckus, a full-blown multi-day riot - how could a straw hat possibly have anything at all to do with it. 

Apparently, the refined folks of New York City have always taken the statutes of style very seriously – and back in the 1920s the wearing of a straw hat – known as a ‘boating’ hat after September 15th was a faux pas of the highest order. 

 Have you ever watched one of those old Sci-Fi Movies? Like the one where the ants become gigantic because of nuclear radiation, or the one where aliens’ invade. Or how ‘bout this one – The Blob, with Steve McQueen, where a green gelatinous blob from outer space arrives and grows bigger as it devours everything – and then everything changes and the crisis passes – and life goes on in spite of the losses. 

What if something like that really happened. 

Well, believe it or not – it has. 

At first, it was just a glistening but shapeless cloud in the sky. It looked kinda’ like a huge advancing snow storm, or maybe smoke. It was so massive it blocked out the sun. 

And then, the cloud descended out of the sky. 

 Have you ever heard the name Joseph Figlock? There is an amazing story to tell here, as he was a babe magnet like no other. 

Not even Giacomo Casanova can rival the remarkable story of Joseph Figlock. 

Mr. Figlock live in Detroit, Michigan in the late 1930s. He did not seem to be especially remarkable. At the time he came to this man was noticed he was a Middle-aged man, who wore glasses, whose hairline was beginning to recede. He wasn’t famous, rich, or powerful. He was not remarkable smart, or even a beguiling conversationalist. 

He was an employee of the public works department for the city of Detroit. His job – street sweeper. Yet the man proved to be a real babe magnet – but not perhaps in the way you might think. 

 Sometimes there are things that occur in our world that just leave you – well – kind of flabbergasted. One of those happenings was the Great Kentucky Meat Shower of 1876. 

According to reports in the press at the time, this is what happened. The 3rd of March 1876 was a perfectly clear, sun filled day. Just before noon, Mrs. Crouch was outside her home, cooking up a stink. She was involved in a necessarily odoriferous enterprise. She was boiling down a big batch of lard and lye soap. This was typically accomplished with a large cast iron pot, over an open fire. 

And then - she got the shock of her life. Without warning - there were chucks of red meat cascading down all around - out of cloudless blue sky. Mrs. Crouch said, the meat, which looked like beef. “Fell like large snowflakes”. 

 Coincidence – Two or more random incidents happening in a manner that bring about a seemingly coordinated, or synchronized and connected result. 

Some folks say there are no coincidences. Nothing really ever happens by accident. They believe everything overseen by the divine, and that there is purpose and coordination to the whole. 

What do you think? 

As odd coincidences go, 1908 was an interesting year. 

In 1908, Nicola Tesla conducting experiments at his Wardenclyffe facility, in Shoreham, Long Island, New York. Tesla was working on the transmission of energy from one point to another without wires.