Loose Leaf Notes

1. Forty-one million IQ points. That’s what a paper published by the National Institutes of Health determined Americans have collectively forfeited as a result of exposure to lead, mercury, and organophosphate pesticides.  “Our very great concern,” researchers wrote, “is that children worldwide are being exposed to unrecognized toxic chemicals that are silently eroding intelligence, disrupting behaviors, truncating future achievements and damaging societies.” Child exposure “can cause permanent brain injury at low levels that would have little or no adverse effect in an adult.”  More HERE.

2. I think some people claim to read the Bible like they claim to wash their hands after using the toilet but don’t.

3. One of the latest most interesting country names, recently found in the obituaries of the local paper, was for a man whose first name was Bibley.

4. “In order for a thing to be interesting, one has only to look at it for a long time.” – Gustave Flaubert

5. Me to my 3 year-old grandson: “Liam, look at those big clouds moving fast in the wind. Where do you think they are going?”  Liam: “Maybe to America.”

6. In the name of patriotism and / the flag, how much of our beloved / land are you willing to desecrate? / List in the following spaces / the mountains, rivers, towns, farms / you could most readily do without. – From Questionnaire by Wendell Berry

7. I wanted to write about the crowbar I used to get us out dancing at Dogtown on a Thursday night but I was so busy dancing to Wild Life that I forgot to take pictures. The only one I got was of the drummer’s young son (above) dancing onstage to Michael Jackson’s Beat It. Watch his moves HERE.

8. I recently saw a quote online that suggested we think before we speak, and ask ourselves, “Is it true, helpful, inspiring, necessary or kind.” Doing that has about as much appeal to me as balancing my checkbook, and I thought to myself, ‘If I followed that philosophy, I might never open my mouth. The next day, while driving, I saw a bumper sticker that said “Respond with Love.” “In other words be a good little girl,” I said to myself out loud in the car, while realizing that many of the new age formulas for enlightenment can make me feel as oppressed as good vs. evil religiosity.  – More from What’s Love Got to Do with It HERE.

9. Sometimes it really does rain cats and frogs. See HERE.   

10. I think of my new eye wear as the gourmet of glasses.

11. THIS smashing chandelier draws my attention like a house on fire. 

12. Some of the Stars of Floyd, all familiar faces are HERE.

13.  Have you ever noticed / When you’re feeling really good / There’s always a pigeon / That’ll come shit on your hood / Or you’re feeling your freedom / And the world’s off your back / Some cowboy from Texas / Starts his own war in Iraq. – Words of John Prine who will be honored in a Pure Prine tribute concert at the Floyd Country Store Saturday night.  Read Prine’s first review by Roger Ebert in 1970 HERE. ___________Thirteen Thursday