50 Life Hacks
On a lighter side, considering the time of the “Mexican Beer Virus”…
M e x i c a n Beer Virus Update
- What the CDC and state health departments is doing with Covid-19 is “flying by the seat of their pants.” A word about the CDC. They are the biggest disappointment in this whole ugly affair. While they should have been studying epidemiology and infectious diseases, they were studying gun “violence,” racism and other irrelevant wastes of time. This caught them by surprise. They failed to see the effects of having America’s supply of pharmaceuticals rely almost exclusively on the very cause of this epidemic, China. They acted too late to control it in America, they failed to ensure that there were enough medical supplies nation-wide (such as face masks) for an epidemic, and they’re simply holding on for the rough ride now, along with the rest of us.
- A controlled study had been conducted in France using the therapeutic drug Hydrochloroquine. 40 out of 40 patients with Covid-19 underwent a full and complete recovery.(This drug is normally used to treat Malaria.) It is cheap and effective for Covid-19.
- There is also promise with the drug Remdesivir.
- Now the question is this. Has the FedGov stepped up production of this drug in America, or are we relying on China to sell it to us? Ponder that question for a moment. You are about to get the best witness and indication you’ve ever had in your lifetime whether the FedGov really cares about the health and safety of its citizens. The mortality rate can be much lower than with the common flu, if only America’s resources are put to good use, and immediately so.
- A word about root causes is in order. I was taught in “Management Oversight and Risk Tree” analysis (MORT), that there is never one root cause. China is one root cause. Their failure to supply good information quickly was a problem from the beginning. Their involvement in virtually everything that is manufactured and used in America is also a corollary to this. Globalism is one large reason we are where we are with Covid-19. The failure of the CDC to think proactively is another problem.
E d e l w e i s s, The Legendary Flower!!!
“Edelweiss, The Legendary Flower or Courage, Strength, & True Love”!!!
The favorite flower of Kings and Emperors. Edelweiss is an important symbol for much of the German Speaking world, a symbol of National Pride.
So, what is Edelweiss really? And how did it achieve mythical status?
What is Edelweiss
I’m going to shatter a few myths here, starting with a biggie…”Edelweiss” is NOT the National Song of Austria. In fact, the song was written in 1959 by Rogers and Hammerstein for the play (and 1965 movie) “The Sound of Music”. Which means… Maria and the Captain never sang it at that concert before slipping away over the Alps… (great story though…)
Also, the white “petals” aren’t really petals. The Edelweiss Flowers are quite teensy! It takes over 50 small flowers to create one head that is surrounded by fuzzy white leaves. Yes, the bit we see as flowers are just leaves. Sigh. On the plus side, the fuzzy stuff protects the flowers from cold and ultraviolet rays.
Originally known as Wollblume (wool flower), the plant was first identified by Konrad Gissner, a 16th century Naturalist. It was also called Klein Löwenfuss (Little Lionfoot), which explains it’s Latin name, Leontopodium Alpinum (Alpine Lion Paws), as well as Immortelli des Alpus (Immortal Alpine). Edelweiss belongs to the same family as Sunflowers and Daisies… but those high altitudes and cold winters kept the plant small, and the flowers even smaller. In 1785, it was given the name Edelweiss or Noble White… and that’s the name that stuck.
For years, Edelweiss has been used for its medicinal properties. Tea made from the flower is said to aid digestion, and to aid the healing from respiratory illnesses. Swiss farmers would burn the flowers, because they believed that the smoke would treat problems in their cow’s udders.
So how did this fuzzy little flower that Mark Twain compared to “cigar ash” come to have such importance? It dates back to the 19th century when Alpinism (climbing the Alps) became a symbol for strength and courage.
Edelweiss Legends
In 1861, the book “Edelweiss” by Berthold Auerbach captured everyone’s attention. A young man risks his life to collect rare Edelweiss flowers for his girlfriend as proof of his daring and bravery. Legends about brave men who went into the Alps and died while picking flowers spread. Edelweiss flowers came to symbolize True and Eternal Love. A love that men and women would DIE for. Mountain climbers furthered this belief with tales of collecting flowers from sheer steep rocks and cliffs of ice.
The problem with Legends like this is that they cause people to behave irrationally. Edelweiss wasn’t really that hard to find in the Alps, and tourists began to pick so much of it that there was a danger of the plant vanishing altogether! In 1878, the Obwalden Canton in Switzerland fought back with the world’s first environmental law that banned people from digging up the flower’s roots! Today the plant is no longer endangered, but it is given protective status (so don’t go around picking it!), especially in Austria where it is illegal!
Edelweiss Today
The magic and mystique of Edelweiss lives on today. It’s a symbol of national pride in Austria and Switzerland. You see it on coins, on military insignia in Austria and among certain Bavarian mountain troops. It’s in jewelry and on clothing. There’s even an Edelweiss Airline in Switzerland! And although you can grow it at home in your garden… this sweet snowflake shaped flower is still a flower of legend, a flower symbolizing courage, strength and a symbol of true love.
NORSE DEFENSE 