In this episode, we will talk about the life and background of a famous, or infamous character you’ve probably heard of. His unlikely story is rather remarkable. 

Can you guess who it is before I tell you?

Tim was born centuries ago into a society of violence and scarcity. Frankly, he had about as rough a start as one can. The tribes in the region were constantly battling with each other, and stealing each other resources.

Who was he?

We might know his name, but who really knows story?

Hearing such a legend will make one pause a little when betting against the underdog.

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The carpenter grew older, and tired, and decided it was time for him to retire. The hammer was beginning to grow heavy, the saw less sharp, and the markings on the boards were a little harder to see. The quality of his work continued at the highest level, but he did not want to stop after his work was not as fine – before his reputation was diminished. 

He would be missed. But it was time, now he could rest and enjoy his grandchildren.

A few days passed and the contractor showed up at the modest home of the carpenter. The contractor plead for the carpenter to come back and build just one more home. A home for a valued friend of his. A home of lasting beauty and quality. The carpenter politely declined. The Contractor pressed a little – and the carpenter agreed. He would build one more home.

The day came that the home was complete. It looked grand. A home anyone would love to inhabit. And, as he was ready to return home, His good friend, the Contractor smiled. Shook his hand, and gave him the key to the home the carpenter had just built.

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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 back in the day we just planted the seeds took care of their growing and enjoyed the fruits of our labors without fear.

But, hold on just a second. Did you know engineering GMO foods is not the first time that humans have messed around with plants? 

IT’s not. 

Humans have been playing with the genetic makeup of plants for eons. Hybrids, cross-breeding, and all kinds of other fooling around with nature to increase yield and nutrition have been going on pretty much forever in one way or another.

Here is an example you’ll be hard-pressed to believe really happened.

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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 another we all want to know what makes things ‘Tic’, what’s behind the curtain, how the magician made the ‘Magic’.

It is a natural and very powerful drive that has taken us, quite literally to the moon, and beyond. Curiosity has inspired us to look into our world, and ourselves, and we have grown because of it.

But, as powerful as it is – curiosity can ignorantly show us things, though true, we might wish we didn’t know. 

Guest: Alan Peacock

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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 anything that could be considered evidence or firsthand accounts. Just the remembrances of stories told within the family about their remarkable matriarch Betsy Ross.

This fabled account of Betsy Ross became the ‘version of events’ that became accepted and celebrated by the public, but the truth – well most of it cannot be proven, and historians tend to discount much of what you think you know about the Patriot Flag Maker as unsubstantiated romanticized stories.

Does this mean it was all a lie?

Listen and find out!

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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, and, he wanted them to continue in peace and plenty after he passed. But, with no child, there was no one to teach, train, and prepare to lead.

The people also began to wonder and question the future. The king’s counselors began to carefully make suggestions. The rich and the powerful, the movers and the shakers imagined themselves taking his place and attempted to gain favor with the king. 

The wise king declared an event would take place. Those who traveled from the capital city to the King's public gardens the best would be declared his heir.

However, no one knew how those who would make this little excursion would be judged – And, The King wasn’t talking.

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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 vegetation was compressed into bales, as feed for the farm animals. The dimensions varied, but generally, a bale was rectangular - about 3 ½ feet long, 12 inches tall, and about 18 inches wide – and held tightly together by wire or thin twine rope. 

Their wight – well that varied too. Every farmer had his own idea – Unfortunately most of the time I hired myself out who like to pack them tight and heavy - 100 to 120 lbs. each – efficiency – compacted more to take up less space in the barnyard. And, when your talking thousands of bails – space mattered more than weight.

During one of my stints hauling hay, I was privileged to be able to perform Tractor Ballet. I was lucky I lived through it. Allow me to share the story with you.

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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, Connecticut, 1775 to his mother Elizabeth and his father, Richard - a deacon in the church.

At the tender age of 14, Nate was sent by his 16-year-old brother Enoch, to Yale University.

But, this brilliant and principled young man got himself in too he wasn't prepared for, and it cost him his life. 

When you are looking to get a job done, you’re not always going to be looking for the best person – you may need to be looking for the right person.

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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 a beauty contest advertised, happening that day, and the organizers were still recruiting participants. 

Bette, looking for something to do with the day decided, ‘why not – should be fun’. And, on a whim, she entered the contest.

Though completely unfamiliar with the beauty pageant scene Bette surprised everyone, including herself, by winning the competition. 

Well, the whole thing was ‘just for laughs’, and she hadn’t taken the competition seriously. Bette had no idea what she had gotten herself into. 

To her shock, beyond bragging rights (and the challenge of having to confess to her parents what she’d been up to because it was going to be in the newspapers), she had also committed herself to move up to the next level of competition. In Atlantic City. At the Miss America contest.

What happens next is a little hard to believe.

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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 more accurately stated -the battle in Leipzig had been going on for 4 days and Napoleon and his allies were having trouble moving forward. They were in fact taking serious losses, and it appeared to be an untenable situation. 

So, a brilliant plan to pull back out of Leipzig and preserve his army was devised.

The plan was discussed, detailed assignments were given, and everyone went to do their part. Unfortunately, not everyone knew what their part was - exactly - and it went downhill from there.

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