Beech Tree News Network

Are apps the way of the future? Let me clarify, I’m talking about applications for your phone and not appetizers you order at a restaurant.  When I went to research for this column, I came upon some pretty funny stuff.  This first headline was so obvious it was hilarious.  It was: Watch out: Cell phones can be addictive.  You don’t say!

Are apps the way of the future? Let me clarify, I’m talking about applications for your phone and not appetizers you order at a restaurant.  When I went to research for this column, I came upon some pretty funny stuff.  This first headline was so obvious it was hilarious.  It was: Watch out: Cell phones can be addictive.  You don’t say!

A few days ago our home air conditioner went bonkers- no cool air. The man came and installed a new capacitor. The bill was $72.00: fifteen dollars for the house call and $57.00 for the capacitor, a silicon chip if you will…. Used in the manufacture of transistors, solar cells, computers, rectifiers, etc. Silicon is a part of the chemical element SILICIUM, one of the most abundant chemical elements in nature. Abundant should equal-cheaper. Not ($57.00). Remember? 

A few weeks ago, Garey was approaching another birthday.  When our granddaughter, Sabria, found out I had no plans to decorate for the occasion, she decided to offer her services as the party planner.  Sabria is a big fan of celebration.

The Japanese Journal of Geriatrics polled some 4,152 Japanese people who were 100 years old and older and asked them what they thought contributed to their old age. The following are the results:

•    Eat lots of protein
•    Keep calories down
•    Get enough sleep
•    Live in an area with very, very good medical care facilities.

    What do you think of these reasons for long life? Personally, I think the fourth contributing factor would go far in offsetting any deficiencies the people may have had in the first three factors! What do you think?

Oh, how I love me some old barns. This is another from our trip to Nashville. Anyone that knows me well, knows I have such a love, and also such respect, for old barns. The stories they hold, the hard work they perform as shelter for so much farm equipment, hay and cattle and the stability they provide to the farmer.

The next time  you run up on an old barn, just say a quick prayer for the farmers! Their hard work and dedication sometimes goes unnoticed and taken for granted.

HATE WINS ?  A while back, the youngest member of our clan had a part to play  in a Shakespearean tragedy. He and some of his classmates performed their version of the play known as -Hamlet. Technically the full name is -The Tragedy of Hamlet; Prince of Denmark. It is known as a tragedy because it has a noble protagonist who is usually flawed in some way or another and places them in a highly stressful situation. Shakespearean tragedies almost always focus on the reversal of fortune of the main character, which leads to to their ruin and ultimate demise.

In 2004, the term bucket list was used-perhaps for the first time-in the context of things to do before one kicks the bucket(a phrase in use since 1785) in the book Unfair & Unbalanced: The Lunatic Magniloquence of Henry E. Panky, by Patrick M. Carlisle.  Another thing I think about is the 2007 movie with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson.  I just prefer to focus more on the “things I want to do” part rather than the dying part.

In August, Governor Bevin intends to make tax changes. Along with many Kentuckians living on a fixed income from Social Security, food is where I squeeze blood from my turnip. Forthcoming changes in Social Security and Medicare Medicaid looks to be a disaster coming as my established immutable expenses will likely be more than my income.

The English language includes many short sayings. Some of those sayings are descriptive, but some are not as clearly understood. I heard someone mention “the dog days of summer” and decided to do a little research about that saying and four others. The information I found is below.

•The dog days of summer: