A PATRIOTIC LOOK AT THE ODD BITS OF DEMOCRACY AND OUR FOUNDING FATHERS FOLLIES

Is it Monday again….but it’s a short week so take heart as you will have 3 days to play.

Since it’s Independence week ending in our Independence from work on Friday I thought we’d look at odd and hopefully I’ll find some bizarre facts on Lady Liberty and the men who courted her.

Benjamin Franklin is noted for being a great statesman, politician and whit who discovered electricity but did you know that he also invented bifocals and the rocking chair? https://www.franklinbusybody.com/facts.asp He also wanted to make the turkey, not the bald eagle the national bird. http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/blog/2013/09/13/fun-fact-friday-benjamin-franklin/

George Washington called the father of the country, Revolutionary General and first president he didn’t really chop down that tree, but it is a great part of his legend. Not only first but one of the biggest presidents at 6’2″ tall and 200 lbs. http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/7-fun-facts-about-george-washington He established the two-term tradition for the Presidency and wrote 20,000+ letters again a presidential record and despite common beliefs today he did not wear a wig. http://www.gwashington.net/GWWashington-facts.html

Thomas Jefferson 3rd president of the US (the second was John Adams), a brilliant aristocrat and very influential in forming the new country. His tombstone has no mention of his presidency but rather: “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom and Father of the University of Virginia.”

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were the only two founding Fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence and later went on to become President http://www.fun-facts.org.uk/american-presidents/thomas-jefferson.htm

John Hancock know for his huge signature on the Declaration of Independence was one of the riches men in the country at the time. Although the son of a poor minister, he had inherited a fortune from his uncle…Hancock was one of two men who signed the finished draft version of the Declaration on July 4th 1776. (others signed the parchment version later.)

GOOGLE’S TAKE ON THE FOUNDING FATHERS:

Ron Paul 2008 Election Founding Fathers Political Button $14

Figurines of Franklin $45-49/Washington $45 and bobble heads of both and multiple other founding fathers $19 And the highest price is $70 for nesting (5) dolls of the founding fathers

2006 Franklin Dollar Founding Fathers NGC MS7S $85-$100

FINALLY PRICEST: I THINK THIS IS A GOOD COMMENT ON OUR SOCIETY: Iggy Pop New Values Founding Father of Punk Rock Concert Tour T $278

Ignorance leads Men into a Party, and Shame keeps them from getting out again.
Benjamin Franklin

America be Beautiful

A LEGAL BATTLE OVER THE GUILT OR INNOCENCE OF A MAN ACCUSED OF MURDER

FRIDAY BOOK DROP IS BACK AND SO IS FRIDAY—it’s a good day JUST TAKE MY HEART (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3609537-just-take-my-heart) by Mary Higgins Clark (http://www.maryhigginsclark.com/)
is the story of Emily Wallace a widow with a history of a heart transplant who as assistant district attorney prosecutes Gregg Aldrich a successful theatrical agent for the murder of his famous Broadway star wife Natalie Raines from whom he is seperated. The case is weak and hinges on a convicted criminal who testifies that Aldrich tried to get him to kill his wife and hinges on a squeaky drawer in Aldrich’s apartment. As the trial progress Emily’s convection on his guilt falters, but if he didn’t kill her who did and then there is the disquieting neighbor who seems to be always watching her. Finally there’s her boss who’s counting on the conviction for political advancement. This is a very good court drama with a lot of loose ends that don’t come together till the climax. I recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery.

And to keep that bod great you might want to consider

Fish Oil for high blood pressure

According to the Journal of Hypertension
Researchers found that the blood pressure-lowering effects of fish oil “could prevent an individual from requiring medication to control their hypertension or could help maintain an individual in a lower state of progressive hypertension. According to Deliciousliving.com recommended dosage is 2-3.8 grams combined of EPA and DHA *found in fish oil, algae oil and fish oil supplements)

GREEN COFFEE FOR WEIGHT LOSS:

According to Nutural Medicine Journal a recent study shows that Green Coffee Extract helps overweight people shed pounds–however it did not help those at normal weight loose.

COLLECTIBLE HINTS:

Wrist watches with large faces are back in style to wear as bracelets They don’t even have to work.

Broken silver or gold pieces have a high meltdown dollar value and can be sold for unexpected money.

1930s quilt with patterns such as “Sunbonnet Sue”and embroidered”red work” quilts sell for the low hundreds of dollars at shows.

BAD NEWS : Prior research that Chewing Gum helped curve hunger has not been supported by additional studies. Eating Behaviors says it does not change any eating patterns (except ate less fruits).

I was in Kashmir last weekend. Went to visit one of my sweaters.
Albert Brooks

Have a really great weekend and see you again on Monday’s Blog

YOU’VE DONE THE REST NOW HAIR’S THE CROWNING ADORNMENT

SAMSON cut his and lost his strength; Rupenzal dropped hers down to meet a prince; and Medusa’s was snakey. Navajo Indians believed “that thoughts originated in the head emerge along with the hair…new thoughts are close to the scalp and the old ones at the end of the longest strands. The longer are the hairs, more thoughts they have.” http://thehistoryofthehairsworld.com/hair_mythology.html#medusa All in all hair appears to play a great part in our mythology and our looks as well: When you’re having a bad hair day you are just basically admitting your look wasn’t working for the day. Hair is important to our lives and takes a lot of time (cutting, washing, coloring, styling etc.). So what can we do for our hair to avoid loss of strength, and snakes and encourage princes into our lives?

WHAT HURTS YOUR HAIR?
Illness
Poor nutrition
Lack of sleep
Stress
These can all leave you with dull, limp and brittle hair.

So how can you help:

1. Nourish from The Outside
Eat a balanced diet. L-cysteine, an amino acid and the B vitamin biotin are needed for hair growth
Essential fatty acids (flaxseeds, chia seeds, evening primrose oil and avocado) help prevent dry, brittle hair and dry scalp.
Antioxidants (Vitamins E and C) protect the hair and scalp from sun exposure and pollutant damage.

2. Nourish on The Outside
Regular cleansing to unclog follicles so that protective oils can create a natural shine
Use natural shampoos & conditioners (with botanical protein and vitamin ingredients) to add body and shine.
A natural conditioner to help replace protective oils and repair damage done by atmosphere, chlorinated water, blow-drying, dying etc.

What does Google do for hair:

Neil Diamond 70s Photo With Big Hair $10

1962 Hairy Armpits – Bikini Girl Portrait $15 (same price for one with hairy legs)

1986 “harry Von Werewolf” Hallmark Boo Buddies $25

Eugene O’Neill 1929 Theatre Des Arts Hairy Ape Program $40

1982 Ben Cooper Hairy Scary Rooted Hair Mask W Box …$49 (without box $15)

Franco Nero Sexy Hairy Chest ’68 Publicity Picture … $50 (similar photo Burt Reynolds same price. Hundreds of others range from $10 up–this is about top price)

Comb French Jet Embellished $120

“To celebrate President Barack Obama‘s visit to China, Huang Xin…created a small sculpture of the U.S. head of state, from human hair. The Chinese hairdresser spent seven days and seven nights..and used four kilos of human hair.” http://www.oddee.com/item_98142.aspx

Women love hairy men. Cavemen were the sexiest men in history.
Leslie Mann

THE EYES HAVE IT AND THE FRAME IS FINE BUT WITHOUT THIS IT’S A SCARY VIEW

So you see better, your bones are being strong—but it’s the skin the dermis what ever you want to call it that holds it all together and gives you the chance for that second look. So what have you done for yours lately?

UV DAMAGE If you live here in Florida (or a lot of other places this time of year)you’ve probably spend a lot (or too much) time in the sun. Try Algae (two best type red and single-cell chlorella–but there are 68,000 others to try from it they don’t work for you) Red eases irritation and inflammation and green increases cell renewal, replacing unhealthy cells with healthy ones.

WRINKLES Uses Coenzyme Q10 for both wrinkle reduction and UV damage correction (it also is good for rough skin) I use this Orally and nobody ever accuses me of pushing 70.

SKIN BRIGHTENING/LIGHTENING Liorice has been found to reduce hyper-pigmentation and give your skin a glow and get rid of age spots.

SAGGY SKIN: Get rid of lax skin with plant stem cells. These are usually extracted from fruits (think apples and grapes) and have been shown in studies to reverse signs of aging–now that’s what I’m talking about.

All the above can be purchased in skin creams, you just need to look around at the better shops or health food stores or search for them on the web. Thanks to Deliciousliving.com March 2014 for the basic info.

Eat to a healthy skin with “Broccoli This…veggie is high in antioxidants…The vitamin C…aids in collagen production…keeps …skin healthy and supple, while vitamin E protects…against UV radiation damage.” http://www.joybauer.com/photo-gallery/8-foods-for-gorgeous-skin.aspx

AND GOOGLE HAS SOMETHING FOR SKIN TOO:

Avon Collectibles Skin-so-soft Milk Cornucopia Bath Oil …$11

Lamp Shade Country Rawhide Leather $45

Suitcase Snake Skin Print Old Chic & Shabby Decor $89

Moroccan Handmade Skin Goat Leather Shoulder Bag …$300

Large Dermatology Teaching Model Hair Skin Pores …$345

Harley Davidson Fatboy Star Snake Skin Belt …$395

1935 Crocodile Skin Jewellery Box $775

Christofle – Rare- French Sterling Silver Flatware Set – Lion Skin – 6 $17,100

And do I have good news for you: “Cocoa hydrates your skin, making it firmer and more supple…For maximum flavonol content, eat chocolate that’s at least 70 percent cacao. A couple of squares a day…(and)”When applied topically, the caffeine in chocolate may temporarily reduce skin puffiness,” says Jessica Wu, MD, a dermatologist…” http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/healthy-eating/superfoods/best-foods-for-good-skin/

Beauty is only skin deep. I think what’s really important is finding a balance of mind, body and spirit.
Jennifer Lopez

ngozi

AND NOW THAT YOU’RE ALL EYES IT’S TIME TO MAKE YOUR BONES

Yesterday we dealt with eyes and how to protect them. But what’s a great bod with out a good foundation and that starts with the framework. So what do you do to have a strong skeleton?

First try calcium. It’s important to bone strength but no more than 600 mg/at one time as that’s the maximum dosage the body can absorb. And if you’re taking Calcium you should probably include magnesium as it is not only thought to be important for preventing osteoporosis but it also aids in the absorption of calcium. (that ACCORDING TO THE BONE-BUILDING SOLUTION by Carolyn DeMarco, MD http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Bone_Building_Solution.html?id=c7sds6Eqe5EC). (other essentials include Vitamin D (especially 3) and Vitamin K2 with keeps calcium from calcifying tissues other than the bones (i.e. heart and arteries) which is available in MenaQ7.

Natural sources of Calcium include: Milk and various dairy products
White beans
Canned Salmon
Sardines
Dried figs
Bok Choy
Black Strap Molasses
Kale (It’s back–thought we left it yesterday)
Black eyed peas
Almonds
Oranges
Turnip Greens
Sesame Seeds
Seaweed

There are also products such as cereals, soy milk and firm tofu that are fortified with calcium. (http://greatist.com/health/18-surprising-dairy-free-sources-calcium).

But there’s more you can do for your bones

“…two types of exercises that are important for building and maintaining bone density:

1. “Weight-bearing Exercises
These exercises include activities that make you move against gravity while staying upright.
High-impact weight-bearing exercises help build bones and keep them strong.
Examples:
Dancing
Doing high-impact aerobics
Hiking
Jogging/running
Jumping Rope
Stair climbing
Tennis

“Low-impact weight-bearing exercises…
Using elliptical training machines
Doing low-impact aerobics
Using stair-step machines
Fast walking

2. “Muscle-Strengthening Exercises
These exercises include activities where you move your body, a weight or some other resistance against gravity. They are also known as resistance exercises and include:
Lifting weights
Using elastic exercise bands
Using weight machines”
http://nof.org/articles/238

SO DOES GOOGLE HAVE GOOD BONES

Etched Bone Kayak Scrimshaw Style Key Ring $8

Old Bone In-layed Wood Wooden Jewelry $35

Bone China Japan Terrier Dogs Porcelain Set $44

Skull & Cross Bones Crucifix Cross $59

Bone Fitted Woman With Deer Design Wooden …$69

“The average adult skeleton has a total of 208 bones ( we are actually born with around 270 bones, however with age some bones fuse together). Each foot contains 26 bones, along with 33 joints and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments.” http://www.spike.com/articles/lynymc/the-top-10-strangest-things-you-didn-t-know-about-the-human-body

Sticks and stones will break our bones, but words will break our hearts.
Robert Fulghum

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER
Mr. Spock Enterprise

STARTING A GREAT BOD WEEK: TODAY THE EYES (but not the carrots) HAVE IT

I WAS UP AT 6 IT MUST BE MONDAY. This week I thought we’d do some healthy stuff–sorry but ya gotta take care of that bod if you expect to live forever–they haven’t got the replacement models on line yet.

All my life I’ve heard that carrots were good for your eyes, but no–it’s carotenoids and they are best obtained through dark leafy greens (i.e. cooked spinach and kale–does anyone actually eat Kale???)

According to the American Optometric Association most Americans need more carotnoids to protect their eyes against age related diseases. To do this we need Lutein (a carotenoid) which coats the eye and absorbs damaging light. Unfortunately you don’t make this on your own so you have to eat that kale (or try an over-the-counter supplement). The recommended dosage is 10 mg daily (1/2 a cup of kale).

And while we’re on the subject of eating for your eyes: “Studies have shown that nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids…zinc, and vitamins C and E may help ward off age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Regularly eating these foods can help lead to good eye health:
Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish
Eggs, nuts, beans, and other non-meat protein sources
Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices”
And eating a good diet: “makes you less likely to get obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults.” http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/good-eyesight

“but when you’re out and about during the day, be sure to pop your sunglasses on. UV rays can deteriorate your sight and you need to ensure that when you are out shopping for new sunnies that they block at out as much radiation as possible — category 3 or 4 are ideal. Despite popular belief, darker lenses do not necessarily offer more protection. You should always check the category number …Clouds are only vaporised water, and water is UV-transparent.” http://health.ninemsn.com.au/family/familyhealth/694771/ten-simple-ways-to-keep-your-eyes-healthy.

And I must remember that this blog is also for pointing out what collectibles you might have that could enrich your pocketbook.

Ceramic Dog Head Mask Figurine Eye Glasses Holder $12

Carved Banded Agate Heavenly Dzi Eye Amulet $30

Flying Eye Metal Sign Garage 35 X 10 Steel $36

Eye Wash Clear Glass Eyewash Mark Argentina Cristaleria …$69

Bonnet Girl Chalkware String Holder With Googly Eyes $90

Rayban B&l 50’s 60’s Cat Eye Ballet Solette Sunglasses …$397

Wax Mannequin Head ,museum Quality,glass Eyes $949

EYE SEE YOU AND EYE HOPE YOU HAVE A VISIONARY DAY

THEIR SIMPLE GOAL IS TO FIND THE “TRUTH” BEHIND THEIR COUNTRY’S ACTIONS

Yes it’s Friday again….can I get a big AMEN? As it is it’s also my Book Drop Day: Today the book is David Baldacci’s (http://davidbaldacci.com/) CAMEL CLUB (the #1 book in the Camel Club Series https://www.goodreads.com/series/43037-camel-club). In it you’re introduced to the group of four eccentric and downtrodden members “whom society forgot”). The leader and chief character is a man who goes by the name “Oliver Stone” He works as a custodian for a church and lives in a tent, but he has been something (or one) more in the past–in this premier novel the club witnesses a murder and becomes part of a “high-stakes intrigue and global gamesmanship rocketing to the Oval Office and beyond.” If you like adenture, conspiracies and lots of action this one is for you.

50 years ago I was in my teens and reading avidly when I wasn’t following the Beatles. I hadn’t gotten into James Bond yet (You Only Live Twice/Ian Fleming was the #8 book that year) and one of my favorite books was This Rough Magic (this novel by Mary Stewart was the #9 best seller that year). In it British actress Lucy Waring believes there is no finer place…than the sun-drenched isle of Corfu, the alleged locale for Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Even the suspicious actions of the handsome, arrogant son of a famous actor cannot dampen her enthusiasm for this wonderland in the Ionian Sea. Then a human corpse is carried ashore on the incoming tide (I hate it when that happens).

The top five novels for 1964 were
1. THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD (LeCarre)
2. CANDY (Southern and Hoffenberg) Southern Doris Day’s son
3. Herzog (Bellow)
4. Armagedon (Uris)
5. THE MAN (Wallace)

Some collectible pointers

Musical instruments like unusual guitars are used for wall hangings and sell well.

A rug with untrimmed good fringe could be worth $1,500; without the original fringe border, the same rug could be worth only $100.

Printed children’s handkerchiefs (1950’s to 1970’s) are going up in price.

I am behind schedule—but am doing my best to get caught up and to be selling on line by July

DON’T FORGET TO CELEBRATE GIRAFFE DAY TOMORROW 6/21 Celebrate the longest-necked animal on the longest day or night (depending on which hemisphere you live!) of the year!

IN DORCHESTER UK: Celebrate World Giraffe Day at the Franklin Park Zoo
10:00 AM
Como Park Zoo in St. Paul, Mn 10 am – 6 pm
Check your area for celebrations available.

IT’S THE FIRST TIME EVER TO CELEBRATE TALL TAILS

This Saturday (6/21) is the first ever World Giraffe Day. It was established by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (http://www.giraffeconservation.org/) to raise awareness and promote the conservation of all nine subspecies of giraffe.

“At an average height of around 5 m (16-18 ft.), the giraffe is the tallest land animal in the world. Characterized by its long legs, long neck, and distinctive spotted pattern, many people first believed the giraffe was a cross between a leopard and a camel, which is reflected in its scientific name, Giraffa camelopardalis. Giraffes live primarily in savanna areas in the sub-Saharan region of Africa.” http://www.animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/giraffe/#sthash.EpEYuDgE.dpuf

“The gentle, iconic Giraffe indicates the health of African savanna ecosystems, home to the most spectacular displays of wildlife in the world. But savanna ecosystems are in serious trouble. Habitat loss, illegal hunting, and disease are decimating savanna wildlife. Giraffe numbers have declined drastically to only 80,000. Africa-wide, elephants outnumber giraffe 5 to 1.” http://www.wildnatureinstitute.org/giraffe.html?gclid=CjkKEQjwlIqdBRDy6JSK4Lmn1akBEiQAVa9dPaR-l_dm3mXQxBjmeQBfavmn30aU8OhGnDAc-wwTWeXw_wcB

“Giraffes are hunted for their meat, coat and tails. The tail is prized for good luck bracelets, fly whisks and string for sewing beads. The coat is used for shield coverings.” For good luck bracelets and string for beads REALLY? http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/giraffe.html

In the Orlando area there will be a celebration at the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford (north of Orlando) who recently acquired two of the lovely creatures. (www.centralfloridazoo.org)

Others I found:

Brooklyn Zoo http://www.bcrnews.com/2014/06/12/brookfield-zoo-celebrates-world-giraffe-day/ak3ddt5/

African Wild Life Park, Port Clinton, Ohio http://www.limaohio.com/news/local_features/1442505/African-Safari-Wildlife-Park-show-support-for-World-Giraffe-Day

Blank Park Zoo, De Moines, Iowa http://www.blankparkzoo.com/index.cfm?nodeID=74392&audienceID=1

Check out your local zoos to see what they’re having as it appears most are celebrating. Celebrate these beautiful giants with the kids and/or grandkids.

“What can you do to help giraffes and other wild animals? Don’t buy products made from their body parts, and encourage others not to buy them either.” http://www.stlzoo.org/animals/abouttheanimals/mammals/hoofedmammals/reticulatedgiraffe/

There’s no shortage of giraffes on Google:

Kruger National Park Africa Souvenir Collector Spoon Giraffe $7

Giraffe figurines range from $10 (small brass) to $200 for a Danish teak one

1985 Precious Moments Birthday Train Giraffe Keep Looking Up $21

Giraffe Kruger National Park Wedgwood Collectors Plate $40

Jan McPherson Mom & Baby Giraffe Painting Signed Wooden Framed $59

You can’t buy giraffes in most states but according to my research there are locations–especially in Texas where they are sometimes available. This is one of those site: http://www.yoranch.com/YORanch.swf

Did you see that the world’s largest elephant was killed by poachers? Will our grandchildren have any animals left except in zoos? (read more at http://www.people.com/article/worlds-largest-elephant-satao-killed)

kuokoa wanyama

TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE MAY MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR FUTURE

Happy Huuuummmppp Day. Sorry but the camel defected somewhere.

I get daily news from the Scottish Parliament (don’t ask) and one of their topics today was “The Parliament will (18 June) become a hive of activity when it welcomes its newest arrivals on site – honey bees.” http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/newsandmediacentre/78454.aspx#sthash.hXvFmzbY.dpuf
And they’re not kidding, they say they will be the first UK parliament to have their own honeybee hives on site. “The project was born out of people’s concerns about the dramatic decline in the area’s honey bee population in recent years and the negative impact this has on crop, wildlife and certain woodland trees pollination.”

So what’s all the issue about Honeybees you say–I can hear some of you saying “So what, they’re just a bother when I actually do wander about the outside.”

“…according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these…pollinate 80 percent of our flowering crops which constitute 1/3 of everything we eat. Losing…dietary staples such as apples, broccoli, strawberries, nuts, asparagus, blueberries and cucumbers,(and)…may threaten our beef and dairy industries if alfalfa is not available for feed.

One Cornell University study estimated that honeybees annually pollinate $14 billion worth of seeds and crops in the U.S. Essentially, if honeybees disappear (could)…potentially reducing mankind to little more than a water diet. http://www.mnn.com/local-reports/pennsylvania/local-blog/the-importance-of-honeybees#ixzz34zqbeWFY

Though honeybees are not a native to this country (http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/will-we-all-die-if-honey-bees-disappear/)
“…they have become a basic in our multi-million dollar crop system. If all honey bees disappeared, it would be catastrophic for agriculture, as we know it, and we would certainly suffer grievously, but we would survive.” However given our track record I would anticipate that it wouldn’t bee the easiest of transformations and that there might bee severe issues of survival with the change over.

One ray of hope the Univ of Maryland and US Depart Agriculture testing has shown that the bees ate pollen contaminated with fungicide which previously were thought to bee harmless to bees so regulations on these are being investigated. (see more at www.qz.com)

On to business: collectible GOOGLES EXTINCT ITEMS

Extinction is Forever – Busch Gardens Tampa – Souvenir Plate $5

Paleozoic Trilobite flexicalymene fossil extinct marine anthropod $11

Capulin, Extinct Volcano Raton, NM Postcard $12

Las Vegas Extinct Torn Down Casinos Souvenir Coffee …$18

Massive Stegodon Molar Fossil Teeth Organic …
Borneo artifact $312

Did you see the stamp that sold for $9.5 million–what’s in your closet? (http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/rare-stamp-set-record-nyc-auction-24169833) original purchase price 1 cent.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR THE PLANET? WE’VE NO WHERE ELSE TO GO!

INVOLVED DADS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

I know, I know I haven’t said Hi or Happy Dad’s Day or anything like that.  So here goes….Gelukkige vadersdag to all of you out there.  —God needed help in heaven so he made my dad an angel.

Late Father’s Day Greetings:

“Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.” —Bill Cosby

We all know and can account stories of what our pops did for us.  A dad in a child’s life is well accepted as (in most cases) being a positive influence on their development economically &  numerically–2 parents more security than one etc.    But is there more to it than that?

“Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.” —Anne Geddes

There have been (of course) studies that show that children with fathers present have higher IQs *especially nonverbal or spatial.

“I just sit there and make up songs and sing to [my son] in gibberish. I’m very good at gibberish now.” —Elton John

A study of Chinese parents:  That a father that showed warmth to his children contributed to a child’s academic success.

“I’ve never been part of anything so great as those three kids.” —Al Roker

A Canadian study showed that girls with live-in fathers from ages 6-10 years demonstrated less sadness, worry and shyness as preteens   NATURAL AWAKENINGS   June 2014

“He has always provided me a safe place to land and a hard place from which to launch.” —Chelsea Clinton

Another…found that even when they didn’t live in that father-child contact was associated with better socio-emotional and academic functioning. The results indicated that children… experienced fewer behavioral problems and scored higher on reading achievement.   J. E., Borkowski, J.G., & Whitman , T. L. (2006). Fathers’ influence in the lives of children with adolescent mothers. Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 468- 476.   

NO-SURPRISE.

“I decided in my life that I would do nothing that did not reflect positively on my father’s life.” Sidney Poitier

Google dad worst gifts:

3.  Darth Vader T-shirt that says world’s best dad.  

2. ” Stinky”  feet socks

1.  Fatherhood for Dummies book

 “Understand that there’s nothing that’s going to be more precious in your life.”  Barack Obama:

Thanks to the dads out there , whether they live in or father from elsewhere.  We really don’t need studies or famous people to understand why we love you.  Keep being there for all of us—we really do need you, daddy.