Thursday, February 27, 2020
Saturday, February 22, 2020
House coal and wet wood to be phased out by 2023 to cut pollution
"The sale of the most polluting fuels burned in household stoves and open fires will be PHASED OUT from next year to CLEAN UP the air, the government has said.
Plans to phase out the sale of HOUSE COAL and wet wood have been confirmed as part of efforts to tackle TINY PARTICLE POLLUTANTS known as PM2.5, which can penetrate deep into lungs and the blood and cause serious health problems.
Wood burning stoves and coal fires are THE SINGLE LARGEST SOURCE of PM2.5, contributing THREE TIMES AS MUCH OF THE POLLUTION AS road transport, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.
Sales of two of the most polluting fuels, wet wood and house coal, will be phased out from 2021 to 2023, to give householders and suppliers time to move to cleaner alternatives such as dry wood and MANUFACTURED SOLID FUELS.
These produce less smoke and pollution, and are cheaper and more efficient to burn, officials said.
The environment secretary, George Eustice, said: “Cosy open fires and wood-burning stoves are at the heart of many homes UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY, but the use of certain fuels means that they are also the biggest source of the most harmful pollutant that is affecting people in the UK.
“By moving towards the use of cleaner fuels such as dry wood we can all play a part in improving the health of millions of people. This is THE LATEST STEP IN DELIVERING ON THE CHALLENGE WE SET OURSELVES In our world-leading clean air strategy.
“We will continue to be ambitious and innovative in tackling air pollution from all sources as we work towards our goal to halve the harm to human health from air pollution by 2030.”
Sales of wet wood in units of under two cubic metres will be restricted from February 2021, to allow for existing STOCKS to be used up.
Wet wood sold in LARGER VOLUMES will need to be sold with advice on how to dry it before burning from this date, the government said.
Manufacturers of solid fuels will also need to show they have a very low SULPHUR content and only EMIT a small amount of smoke.
Prof Stephen Holgate, special adviser on air quality at the Royal College of Physicians, said: “We know that air pollution causes significant health issues across the life course. It is key that the government does everything it can to improve the air we all breathe. Today’s announcement on domestic burning is a welcome step forward, and will in time, play a role in reducing the pollution associated with PM2.5.
“Inhaling COMBUSTION PARTICLES from any source is harmful, but more so than ever when it’s directly within your home. Burning coal for heat and power has to stop and strong guidance is needed to insist that if wood is burnt in approved stoves, it is non-contaminated and dry.”
John Maingay of the British Heart Foundation said: “Wood and coal burning accounts for 40% of harmful levels of BACKGROUND PM2.5 in the UK, and our research has shown that toxic PM2.5 can enter the BLOODSTREAM and damage our heart and circulatory system.
“Phasing out sales of coal and wet wood is a vital first step towards protecting the nation’s health from toxic air … however, we must not stop there. Air pollution is a major public health challenge, and it requires an urgent and bold response.”
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Keto diet: what it is, what to eat and not to eat, recipes , and more
"Keto diet: what it is, what to eat and not to eat, recipes , and more
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto
"1. What is a keto diet?
The keto diet is a very LOW-CARB and higher-fat diet. It’s similar in many ways to other low-carb diets.
While you eat far fewer CARBOHYDRATES on a keto diet, you maintain moderate levels of PROTEIN INTAKE and may increase your intake of fat. The reduction in carb intake puts your body in a metabolic state called KETOSIS, where fat, from your diet and from your body, is burned for energy.
You can quickly learn more about the basic ideas behind the keto diet in this video course:
Watch the entire 8-part video course
What “keto” means
The “keto” in a KETOGENIC diet comes from the fact that it allows the body to produce small fuel molecules called “KETONES.”
There are three different ketones, or “ketone bodies” used as fuel by the body. They are: ACETONE ACETOACETATE BETA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE
Learn far more than you’ll ever need about ketones here:.
Dr. Peter Attia: Ketosis – advantaged or misunderstood state? (Part I)
This is an alternative fuel source for the body, used when blood sugar (glucose) is in short supply.
When you eat very few carbs or very few calories, the liver produces ketones from fat. These ketones then serve as a fuel source throughout the body, especially for the brain.
It’s a common misconception that all of the body only runs on ketones when on a keto diet. The truth is that most of the body – including the muscles – can burn fat directly. It would be a waste to have the liver first convert them into ketones. This is mostly necessary for the brain."
The brain is a hungry organ that consumes lots of energy every day, and it can’t run on fat directly. It can only run on glucose – or ketones.
The brain consumes about 20% of the body’s required energy every day, despite only representing 2% of the body’s mass.
This could be a good bonus for weight loss, if your hungry brain burns fat for you.
Another note: ketosis is why the old idea that “the brain needs carbohydrates” is wrong – the brain requires limited amounts of glucose even in ketosis, but the body can create that glucose from protein and fat in a process called GLUCONEOGENESIS.
Learn more:
Food for thought: Does the brain need carbs?
Critical Care 2011: Clinical review: ketones and brain injury [overview article; ungraded]
On a ketogenic diet, your entire body switches its fuel supply to run mostly on fat, burning fat 24-7. When INSULIN levels become very low, fat burning can increase dramatically. It becomes easier to access your fat stores to burn them off.
Low-carb diets have been demonstrated to result in more weight loss than other diets:
PLOS ONE 2015: Dietary intervention for overweight and obese adults: comparison of low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets. A meta-analysis [strong evidence]
Low-carb diets might even increase METABOLISM – potentially increasing fat burning – by between 200 and 500 calories per day:
British Medical Journal 2018: Effects of a low carbohydrate diet on energy expenditure during weight loss maintenance: randomized trial [moderate evidence] Analysis
As a SIDENOTE, the increased fat burning can use either body fat, or dietary fat, or (usually) both. This means that eating more fat than you need to stay satisfied can slow down the burning of body fat stores. If you’re aiming to lose weight, only eat when you’re hungry. Learn more
This is great if you’re trying to lose weight, but there can also be other, less obvious benefits, such as less hunger and a steady supply of energy (without the SUGAR PEAKS AND VALLEYS we can get from high carb meals). This may help KEEP YOU ALERT AND FOCUSED.
This is something that is often reported by people on a keto diet [very weak evidence].
The scientific support is not strong. Here are references showing minor signs of improvements:
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2013: Ketosis and appetite-mediating nutrients and hormones after weight loss [randomized trial; moderate evidence] Neurobiology of Aging 2012: Dietary ketosis enhances memory in mild COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT [moderate evidence for verbal memory improvement in people with early Alzheimer’s] Epilepsy Research 2012: The effects of the ketogenic diet on behavior and cognition [overview article; ungraded]
Journal of the Association of Nurses for AIDS Care 2019: Cognitive Effects of a Ketogenic Diet on Neurocognitive Impairment in Adults Aging With HIV: A Pilot Study. [randomized trial; moderate evidence]
When the body produces ketones, it enters a metabolic state called ketosis. The fastest way to get there is by FASTING – not eating anything – but nobody can consistently FAST forever.
The ketosis experienced after a longer period of fasting is called STARVATION KETOSIS. But since starvation is not sustainable, we focus more on NUTRITIONAL KETOSIS. However, INTERMITTENT fasting may have a role as an ADJUNCT to diet for HEALTH GAINS AND WEIGHT LOSS. Read more in our guides on intermittent fasting and time restricted eating."
A keto diet, on the other hand, also results in ketosis and can be eaten indefinitely. It has many of the benefits of fasting – including weight loss – without having to fast long-term.
The ketosis experienced on a ketogenic diet is often called nutritional ketosis. This seems to be sustainable long term.
Studies have demonstrated that ketosis can be maintained for years, e.g. in children treated with a ketogenic diet for epilepsy, and for at least a year or two when treating obesity or type 2 diabetes.
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 2006: Long-term use of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of epilepsy [non-controlled study; weak evidence]
FRONTIERS in Endocrinology 2019: Long-term effects of a NOVEL continuous remote care intervention including nutritional ketosis for the management of type 2 diabetes: A 2-year non-randomized clinical trial [weak evidence]
It may even be possible to stay on a ketogenic diet indefinitely. There is no obvious or proven UPPER LIMIT for how long nutritional ketosis can be maintained. This is based on clinical experience of low-carb practitioners and was unanimously agreed upon by our low-carb expert panel. You can learn more about our panel here [weak evidence].
Learn more about ketosis
Who should NOT do a ketogenic diet?
There are controversies and myths about a keto diet, but for most people it appears to be very safe.
The main fear about lower-carb and higher-fat diets has always been an increase in the risk of heart disease. However, interventional studies so far indicate that IF ANYTHING the risk appears to decrease: British Journal of Nutrition 2016: Effects of low-carbohydrate diets v. low-fat diets on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. [strong evidence for improved risk factors] PLOS ONE 2015: Dietary intervention for OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE ADULTS: comparison of low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets. A meta-analysis. [strong evidence for improved risk factors] Obesity reviews 2012: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of clinical trials of the effects of low carbohydrate diets on cardiovascular risk factors [strong evidence for improved risk factors] Circulation 2010: Dietary intervention TO REVERSE CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS [moderate evidence for a reduction in atherosclerosis]
However, three groups often require special consideration: Do you take medication for diabetes, e.g. insulin? More Do you take medication for high blood pressure? More Do you breastfeed? More
For more details about pros and cons in different situations, check out our full guide: Is a keto diet right for you?
Are you a doctor or do you need your doctor to help you with medications on a keto diet? Have a look at our low carb for doctors guide.
Disclaimer:
While the ketogenic diet has many proven benefits, it’s still controversial. The main potential danger regards MEDICATIONS, e.g. for diabetes, where doses may need to be adapted (see above). Discuss any changes in medication and relevant lifestyle changes with your doctor. Full disclaimer
This guide is written for adults with health issues, including obesity, that could benefit from a ketogenic diet.
Controversial topics related to a keto diet, and OUR TAKE ON THEM, include SATURATED FATS, cholesterol, whole grains, red meat, whether the brain needs carbohydrates and restricting calories for weight loss."
Keto recipes on Facebook:
- In Bulgarian: Кето рецептите на Мая;
- Low carb and keto recipes by Irena
Monday, February 17, 2020
Black Walnut Fights Parasites, Heart Disease, Fungi and More
Black Walnut Fights Parasites, Heart Disease, Fungi and More
We know that legumes, nuts and seeds can be some of the healthiest superfoods around when consumed in moderation, and one of the better nuts for health is the walnut. Walnuts nutrition has been shown to help fight depression, improve brain health, boost heart health and more. But did you know there’s a type of walnut in particular, the black walnut, that provides some remarkable benefits of its own?
The black walnut has been a nutritious addition to the diets of individuals since ancient times, from the Native American to Asian cultures. Studies have focused on the CONSTITUENTS, FLAVONOIDS, QUINONES AND POLYPHENOLS found in the KERNELS, which are known for their ANTINEOPLASTIC, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, ANTIATHEROGENIC and neuroprotective properties.
Given that, black walnuts are a popular superfood, and modern research is only just scratching the surface when it comes to uncovering the powerful nutritional components these unique nuts contain, as I describe below. (1)
What Is Black Walnut?
Black walnut (Juglans nigra), also known as American walnut, is a large HARDWOOD species in the JUGLANDACEA family and native to eastern North America before spreading westward toward California. With heights reaching up to 100 feet and deep roots as long as 10 feet, it adds to the stability and support for the black walnut tree but makes it difficult to soak up water.
This is the reason why black walnuts can be found growing in regions with occasional rainfall or near creek beds. The leaves are spear-shaped, light-green and several inches in length. The bark is black, DEEPLY FURROWED, thick and reveals a dark-covered subsurface when scraped.
The tree is native to the Himalayas, Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia and was cultivated in Europe as early as 100 B.C. The black walnut tree also has been historically used to get rid of a fever and treat kidney ailments, GASTROINTESTINAL CONCERNS, ULCERS, toothache, snake bites and syphilis.
Recent studies have shown that the HUSKS of the black walnut contain chemicals that inhibit bacterial and fungal growth and may be valuable in controlling dermal, mucosal and oral infections in humans.
How to Use and Cook
The vast majority of walnuts purchased in stores are English walnuts, which are easier to crack and larger than black walnuts. In some places, black walnuts can be purchased in stores or at a REPUTABLE online store.
The meat ENCASED in the black walnut is much smaller and more difficult to PICK OUT OF THE SHELL compared to other walnuts. For this reason, black walnuts are CHOPPED. One reason people would LEAVE BLACK WALNUT ALONE is that it’s literally a tough nut to break. Aside from using a HULLER, people find other ways to crack the shell, such as a hammer or a rock. (13)
Once THE NUTS ARE HULLED, they need to dry for a few weeks before CRACKING. A RULE OF THUMB is to leave them until you can hear the nuts RATTLE when you shake it.
If living in one of the states where black walnuts grow, these can be purchased at the local farmer’s market. These nuts can keep for a year in refrigeration and up to two years in the freezer.
If living in an area LACKING IN black walnut trees, it’s easy enough during the fall season to find black walnuts under the Hammons label at supermarket chains. At other times of year, black walnuts can be found under stores’ private labels or other national brand names. Either way, the nuts most likely came from Hammons. Black walnuts can also be purchased at a reputable online store, already shelled. (14)
Predominantly green hulls in black walnut are more effective than hulls that were darker in color when harvesting or reading the supplement label. Black walnuts can be taken as a fresh plant liquid extract, one to 10 drops, one to three times per day in a little water. (15)
Interesting Facts
Black walnuts have a LONG HISTORY IN MEDICINAL USE and are one of the most VERSATILE nuts in the world. The hulls are used to make a natural plant dye, with SHADES OF deep brown, light brown or cream. The wood is very attractive, heavy and hard, making it the easiest type of wood to work with.
The major use for black walnut today is for the home to make INTERIOR FINISHING, cabinets, furniture and VENEERS. Black walnut also was the preferred choice wood for GUNSTOCKS, popular among the GUNSMITHS in Pennsylvania using it for long RIFLES. (16)
Cleaned and processed, black walnut shells were used as abrasives in filter materials. Researchers at Columbia University reported that extracts from THE GREEN HULL IN BLACK WALNUT are capable of paralyzing mice, fish, rabbits and rats, which is currently illegal.
A Roman naturalist named Pliny the Elder discovered the healing power of black walnuts in the first century A.D. Herbalist Nicholas Culpeper prescribed walnut to draw poisonous venom from snake and spider bites in the 17th century.
Native Americans used the bark, leaves, husk and nuts from black walnut trees medicinally, particularly as a mosquito repellant and to treat skin conditions and psychological disorders. They were also the first to use hulls as a natural LAXATIVE and for eliminating parasites in the intestine, which is the most commonly implemented today.
Black walnut continues to be a versatile and popular functional food as it was thousands of years ago. These walnuts are a delicious and favored addition in many culinary creations. CRACK OPEN the nuts, save the meat for cooking and eating, and CRUSH the hulls into a powder to use them. You can also try black walnuts in soups, sprinkled on top of salads and baked into CASSEROLES to experience a whole new flair in cooking.
Risks and Side Effects
When it comes to the topical application for skin conditions, potential side effects of black walnut are few. Due to the ASTRINGENT action of the tannins, black walnut causes the top layer of the skin to become dehydrated and forms a thick layer of dense tissue similar to a CALLUS.
For patients with nut allergies, an allergic reaction to black walnut may result in RASHES, itchy and swollen skin, HIVES, chest pain, or problems with breathing.
When taking any medications, herbs or supplements, it’s recommended to wait at least two hours after the consumption of black walnut because it may BIND TO other medications when taken at the same time. Caution is advised in patients who take blood pressure measure medication because black walnut may alter the drug.
Black walnut may have additive effects with antimicrobials and LAXATIVES. Caution is also advised when taking herbs, medications or supplements used for NAUSEA, gastrointestinal issues, inflammation, cancer, along with herbs, supplements and medication that harm the kidney or liver or herbs and supplements that contain tannins.
Black walnut is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or for extended periods of time.
The fresh green husk can cause irritation and BLISTERING when applied to the skin in excessive quantities. Taken internally in large doses, it’s a sedative to the circulation system and heart. (17)
Final Thoughts
- Black walnuts were introduced to Europe in the mid-1600s and are now cultivated across North America in tree plantations for their PRIZED dark-colored wood. They’re also a popular delicacy in North America and Europe and can be found in everything from casseroles to pasta and salads.
- Black walnut has been shown to destroy certain cancer cells and treat colic, regulate digestion, and improve immunity, FLATULENCE and respiratory conditions.
- Specifically, this herb has been proven to beat malaria, improve cardiovascular health, get rid of parasites, contain antimicrobial and antifungal abilities, and treat skin conditions.
- Black walnut is commercially available at health stores and online as a liquid extract and in capsule form.
- Black walnut should only be taken under the supervision of a health care professional. It should always be taken in small doses as directed and not for an extended period of time.
Купи фиданка онлайн:
FB: Clay Pot Heaters: A Simple Emergency Heat Source
Candles for Your Clay Pot Heater
Candles do work to provide some heat, but if they have a paraffin base you’ll get smoke and soot. Along with the chemicals from the production fragrances.
A better choice is soy-based or beeswax-based candles that use essential oils.[1] These candles produce almost no smoke making them perfect for a clay pot heater. You can make them yourself and have them UNSCENTED if you wish. The size of the candle depends on how large of an area you want to heat. Generally, you can heat a small room with a single VOTIVE candle, but larger candles with multiple WICKS provide more heat.
Tip: we recommend beeswax candles because they’re easier to find, especially since most soy candles are made from GMO soy. Find beeswax candles here. Find soy candles here.
Other Things You’ll Need
In addition to the candle, you’ll need a few other things.
- 2-4 bricks taller than your candle
- Clay or TERRA COTTA pot as wide as your candle, larger if you wish (like a clay planter pot)
- A screen if you need to keep pets or children away
- An old cookie sheet or something to place the candle on
- MATCHES or a lighter
To make your clay pot heater place the cookie sheet on a table. Place the candle in the center. Place the bricks on two sides of the candle. If you use 4 bricks, they can be placed in a square, but leave space between each one. This will allow airflow to the candle. Turn the clay pot over and place upside down on the bricks, over the candle. Light the candle. Place the screen around the cookie sheet if you need to.
The heat from the candle will PERMEATE the pot and DISSIPATE into the surrounding air, warming the room. A single 6-8 INCH clay pot heater can heat an entire room. If you use VOTIVE CANDLES, you’ll need to replace them after a while. If you use a JARRED candle, it will last much longer.
Clay Pot Heater Precautions
As with any candle, don’t leave them unattended. Using the screen can help with keeping pets and kids away from the flames, but be sure to keep an eye on them. Candles can create a liquid wax flow, so the cookie sheet will help to keep that in check. Look in on your candle often to be sure the wax isn’t getting out of hand. Candles burned for a long time can use oxygen. If your house is AIRTIGHT, open a window slightly or open the door occasionally. The smoke from natural candles will be minimal, but you’ll want some airflow if it gets to be a long time. Do not go to bed and leave your candle lit. Use any precaution you would when using candles.
This meant as an emergency heat source. If you expect your heat to be out for a long time, seek emergency shelter. For a few hours at a time, this device can help keep you from freezing. LAYERING your clothing and SNUGGLING under blankets can help hold heat close to your body.
Have you ever used a clay pot heater or other emergency heat source? How did it work?
*******
Sources
- Are Candles Bad For the Air Quality in Your Home? Blue Ox Heating & Air. Accessed Jan 2020
Sunday, February 16, 2020
In This NYC Apartment, a Little Boy and Incredible Collectibles Happily Coexist
A STONEWARE CHAIR-PLANTER by Chris Wolston and a white LIMESTONE sculpture by Barbara Gross PERCHED on a PLEXI PLINTH add an artsy VIBE to Kinder Modern founder Lora Appleton's dining area.
"Ugh, are you gonna sell this?" It's a popular refrain at Kinder Modern founder Lora Appleton's house. The AGGRIEVED party? Appleton's nine-year-old son, Willem, who has picked up on one of the few downsides to being the kid of New York's best-known children's furniture dealer: Your stuff, at times, is the INVENTORY.
"We have an Eero Aarnio dog in his room that they don't make anymore," Lora explains of the cartoonish canine-shaped TOY-SLASH-SEAT. "He really likes it, so we've had to get creative with how to use it. Right now it's his desk chair."
Lora and Willem in Willem's room.
Photo: Max Burkhalter
After all, this is a two-bedroom apartment in Tribeca. And while Lora jokingly calls herself a HOARDER ("of nice things"), at the end of the day, many of the things she's "hoarding" will, sooner or later, be sold.

Collections of every variety abound in Willem's room, with floors covered in Kinder Modern's modular, geometric rugs.
Photo: Max Burkhalter

Colorful touches include an ECLIPSE chair designed by Kinder Modern and a SCONCE by Chad Phillips from 99 Cent Plus gallery.
Photo: Max Burkhalter
Lora, also founder of the Female Design Council, got her start as an art director for restaurants and nightclubs, SPEARHEADING branding and graphic design for hospitality clients. But at some point a NAGGING feeling SET IN: "I wanted the design or the art to be about what was meaningful to me." So, having TROLLED flea markets and estate sales since she could walk, Appleton did what felt natural—she started buying design. Seeing as she was pregnant with Willem, she ZEROED IN on a very particular niche: vintage and antique children's furniture.
"Once I started digging in, finding incredible pieces, I was like, this is cool," she remembers, LISTING OFF some of her first big scores: A 1970s red, white, and blue Plexiglas floor lamp, a 1920s FOLK-ARTSY NOAH'S ARC, a futuristic 1970s INJECTION-MOLDED plastic Hadi Jr. desk by Ernst Igl. "I really didn't expect it to take off so quickly."

In the dining area, a George Nelson lamp from Design Within Reach crowns a custom Uhuru walnut SLAB TABLE surrounded by 1960s Swedish chairs covered in Maharam fabric. A painting by Barbara Gross hangs on the back wall.
Photo: Max Burkhalter
In no time she'd joined forces with friend Bachman Brown Clem and the two launched a business—Kinder Modern—at Collective Design's INAUGURAL 2013 fair. At that point, they were focused on designs from the last century and TOSSING AROUND questions about what great design meant when you applied it to young people.
"It's not just about the size of the chair," she explains, a concept she recently ELABORATED ON for an essay in Phaidon's new book, Design for Children. "Kids don’t use furniture the same way we do. If you put a chair in a room they will never just go over and sit on it. They’re gonna crawl over it, under it, they’re going to KNOCK IT OVER."

In the eclectic living room, a Cody Hoyt for Kinder Modern Banner rug pops on the floor. Lora LAID A SLAB OF MARBLE on top of Matthew Stevens Pan stools for Kinder Modern to make a coffee table. Above, a mix of artworks forms a colorful gallery wall.
Photo: Max Burkhalter
She's experienced all of that first-hand, raising her boy who, at nine, serves as something of a measuring stick for her company. In nearly a decade, Kinder has evolved into a gallery and design firm that MOUNTS SHOWS, ORCHESTRATES DESIGNER COLLABORATIONS, designs furniture for children, and devises RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS. All the while, her own homes have served as a lab for living both elegantly and with a kid.

A pair of Jonathan Nesci mirrors add a jolt of color to the entryway.
Photo: Max Burkhalter
Friday, February 14, 2020
v Hundreds Of Farmers Keep Quiet During Auction So Family Can Buy Farm Back
"After decades in farming, one of David’s relatives sold the family’s 80-ACRE Nebraska farm. He wanted to buy it back with his father, so they saved up and when it went up for sale through an auction, they were there. With over 200 men there, David and his dad were afraid there was no way they’d have enough money to OUTBID all of them, but then the other farmers did something surprising.
After David and his father PLACED THEIR BID, no one else did. The auctioneer tried to get another bid, but no one spoke up. The auctioneer CALLED FOR A BREAK, EVENTUALLY TAKING THREE BREAKS during the sale, but everyone STAYED SILENT THE ENTIRE TIME. And the reason everyone there STAYED QUIET? The other farmers WANTED TO MAKE SURE the family got their farm back. And it worked, the auctioneer EVENTUALLY GAVE David and his dad THE WINNING BID.
"I've had two PROFOUNDLY HUMBLING days in my life," David says. "The first was the day my son was born. The second was that unforgettable day at the auction house."
Source:Sunny Skyz"
COMMENTS:
... According to two of them, it was a common practice during the Big Depression, but nowadays police exercises force in such cases.
xxx
Did 200 Nebraska Farmers Remain Silent at Auction So a Man Could Get His Farm Back?
A story circulating online since at least 2018 has murky origins.
- PUBLISHED 2 OCTOBER 2019
- https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/200-nebraska-farmers/
"Despite the fact this story has been circulated widely by people who undoubtedly want to believe it represents the good in humanity, it is too vague to verify. It doesn’t contain the purported farmer’s full name. And although some versions maintain the event happened in 2011, none gives specific dates or locations.
Because the details surrounding this story are vague, we are unable to trace the origins of this story at this time and therefore rate it “Unproven,” pending further information."
Monday, February 10, 2020
History or Fable of the Praying Hands Masterpiece
A Story of Familial Love
The following account is not attributed to an author. However, there is a copyright filed in 1933 by J. Greenwald called "The Legend of the Praying Hands by Albrecht Durer."
Back in the 16th century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with 18 children. In order to keep food on the table for his BROOD, Albrecht Durer the Elder, the father and head of the household, was a goldsmith by profession and worked almost 18 hours a day at his trade and any other paying CHORE he could find in the neighborhood
Despite the family STRAIN, two of Durer's male children, Albrecht the Younger and Albert, had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the academy there.
After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally WORKED OUT A PACT. They would TOSS A COIN. The loser would go to work in the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, in four years, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines.
They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht the Younger won the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht's ETCHINGS, his WOODCUTS and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works.
When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, PUNCTUATED WITH MUSIC and laughter, Albrecht ROSE FROM HIS HONORED POSITION to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you."
All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, TEARS STREAMING DOWN HIS PALE FACE, SHAKING HIS LOWERED HEAD FROM SIDE TO SIDE while he SOBBED and repeated, over and over, "No."
Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He GLANCED DOWN THE LONG TABLE at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, "No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on PARCHMENT or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother, for me it is too late."
More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits, PEN AND SILVER-POINT SKETCHES, watercolors, charcoals, WOODCUTS, and COPPER ENGRAVINGS hang in every great museum in the world, but THE ODDS ARE GREAT THAT you, like most people, are familiar with Albrecht Durer's most famous work, "Praying Hands."
Some believe that Albrecht Durer PAINSTAKINGLY drew his brother's ABUSED HANDS with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward in honor of his brother Albert. He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands," but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his TRIBUTE OF LOVE, "Praying Hands."
Let this work be your reminder, that no one ever makes it alone!