The Good, the Bad & the Ugly is a Council Chronicle series that offers a glimpse at unusual stories in the news around the world. They are intended to provoke thought, inform and elicit a range of emotions from joy, outrage, amusement, hope or anger. These are a summary of stories worth knowing. Each month we will feature a story of the Good, the Bad & the Ugly around the globe. If you come across a news item that falls into any of these categories, please email it to me for possible inclusion in the monthly e-newsletter.
THE UGLY
Photo from surveillance footage of the robbery
Las Vegas Bartender Edward Parker was robbed at gunpoint in the wee hours of the morning while finishing up his shift at the restaurant and bar where he worked. The robber stole about $4,000. Parker did everything he had been told to do in the event of a robbery. He complied with the gunman's demands and gave him all the money in the cash register and then called the police to report the robbery after the gunman left. The entire hold up was caught on surveillance tape by the restaurant security cameras.
Hours later, a still-traumatized Parker was called into the office by the bar and restaurant owner and his supervisor and told that he would be required to repay the stolen money or be terminated. Not wanting to lose his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, Parker agreed and eventually reimbursed the business through regular $300 paycheck deductions over a 6-month period. After the full amount was reimbursed to the bar, he was demoted and then fired.
It's worth noting that the local police arrested two suspects about a week after the robbery and there is no evidence of a connection between Parker and them.
Parker was victimized three times as a result of this robbery. The trauma of being held up at gunpoint, his employer holding him financially responsible for the $4,000 loss and then firing him after he repays the money.
The bartender is now suing his former employer for coercing him into reimbursing the $4,000 and wrongful termination. I hope Edward Parker is awarded so much money in his lawsuit that he never has to work for anyone ever again.
EDWIN ERNEST MARCH 7TH
PAT MULVIHILL MARCH 16TH
CALEB HOWARD MARCH 20TH
KETURAH MORROW MARCH 23RD
CHRIS LEWIS MARCH 27TH
Guppy, after finding his forever home.
Before & After Rescue Dog Transformation
Who can resist a heartwarming makeover, especially when it involves a sweet dog? Whether they were abandoned, lost or mistreated, these down-on-their luck dogs were in dire need of a loving presence in their lives. That's where caring animal shelters, pet rescues and foster parents come into the picture. With a little love and much-needed TLC, these rescue dogs started thriving — inside and out. These before-and-after transformation pictures speak for themselves. Hopefully, it will inspire you to adopt a rescue pup of your own.
Guppy
This sweet fur baby's name is Guppy. He is blind and was found aimlessly wandering the streets of a city in Florida. He was believed to be about 15 years old at the time he was found. Due to his advanced age and special needs, the shelter was going to euthanize poor Guppy before a rescue organization stepped in to saved him.
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Guppy was adopted by a loving couple who refused to give up on him. Slowly but surely, he started making progress. These days Guppy can eat on his own and loves relaxing in his mom's arms as she sings and rocks him back and forth. His rescuers want to stress the importance of caring for older animals who are often overlooked for adoption.
Please consider adopting a pet from the animal shelter or a local rescue if you have room in your home and heart for a new furry family member. Trust me, you'll be so glad that you did. 🐾❤️
Porsha Williams is serving up some serious side eye.
Side-Eye Pics are a series of photographs of people or animals behaving strangely or annoyingly. They are doing things that make one pause and take a second look. Their actions are perplexing enough to those observing them to earn them the side eye.
CAT IN THE HAT
Well, actually it's Cat Is The Hat! Perhaps this lady's cat has severe separation anxiety and can't bear to be away from her, so she hitches a ride with her mom whenever she leaves the house. This kitty obviously has trust issues from the look it's giving the other passengers. These two are quite the pair, aren't they?
Also, the animal print coat coordinates very nicely with the hat cat on her head.
1. The Barbie doll's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, from Willows, Wisconsin. Her birthday is March 9, 1959, when she was first displayed at the New York Toy Fair.
2. The oldest person ever to have lived (whose age could be authenticated), a French woman named Jeanne Louise Calment, was 122 years old when she died in 1997.
3. Monarch Butterflies have 12,000 eyes. They are known for having the widest visual range of all wildlife. They have slow clapping wings and are poisonous to predators. The Monarch travels 3,000 miles every year in a migration from the north east U.S. and Canada to southwest Mexico. The migration takes place over four generations of butterflies.
Monarch Butterfly
4. Boiling water freezes faster than cold water. This phenomenon is called the Mpemba effect.
5. Your nose can remember 50,000 different scents.
6. There actually aren't "57 varieties" of Heinz ketchup, and never were. Company founder H.J. Heinz thought his product should have a number and he liked 57. Helpful Hint: Hit the glass bottle on the "57", not the bottom, to get the ketchup to flow.
7. Watermelon improves metabolism, is a rich source of anti-oxidants, and helps with weight loss. It is good for the heart & eyes and helps reduce stress and hypertension.
Watermelon crop
8. The tallest man ever recorded was American giant Robert Wadlow (1918–1940), who stood 8 feet 11 inches. Wadlow’s size was the result of an abnormally enlarged pituitary gland.
9. The Four Corners is the only spot in the US where you can stand in four states at once: Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.
10. Experiments in universities have actually been carried out to figure out how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, both with machine and human lickers (because this is important scientific knowledge!). The results ranged from 252 to 411.
Green Tootsie Pops
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH
MARDI GRAS 3/1
ASH WEDNESDAY 3/2
WORLD WILDLIFE DAY 3/3
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 3/8
WORLD KIDNEY DAY 3/10
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS 3/13
ST. PATRICK’S DAY 3/17
SPRING BEGINS 3/20
WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY 3/21
NATIONAL PUPPY DAY 3/23
WORLD TUBERCULOSIS DAY 3/24
WORLD BIPOLAR DAY 3/30
In honor of St. Patrick's Day this month, here's a Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe with a twist. It's oven-roasted and not boiled as it is traditionally prepared. The vegetables are tossed in horseradish butter to further amp up the flavor.
ROASTED CORNED BEEF & CABBAGE WITH CARROTS, POTATOES & HORSERADISH CREAM SAUCE
INGREDIENTS
CORNED BEEF AND VEGETABLES
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1 (4-lb) flat-cut corned beef with seasoning packet (do not trim the fat)
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4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
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2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
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1-1/2 teaspoons salt
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1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
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6 medium carrots, cut into 2-in chunks
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1-1/4 lb. small gold potatoes (about 2.5" in diameter), halved
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1 very small green cabbage, cored and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices (see note)
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2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley, for garnish (optional)
HORSERADISH CREAM SAUCE
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1 cup sour cream
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2 tablespoons prepared horseradish, plus more to taste
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1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
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1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
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1/4 teaspoon sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven the 325°F. Set one oven rack in the middle position and another in the bottom position.
2. Rinse the corned beef several times under running cold water. (No need to dry it.
3. Place the corned beef fat side up in a large roasting pan (you'll trim the fat after the meat is cooked). Pour about 1/8 inch water around the meat. Sprinkle the contents of the seasoning packet into the water around the corned beef. Cover the pan tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil and roast on the middle rack for 3 hours.
4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, horseradish, salt and pepper.
5. Place the carrots, potatoes and cabbage side by side on a rimmed baking sheet (do not line the pan with foil; the potatoes will stick). Drizzle the horseradish-butter mixture over the veggies and toss with a spatula to coat all of the vegetables evenly, keeping the vegetables separate. Turn the potatoes so that they are cut side down (they'll get crispier that way).
6. After the corned beef has roasted for 1 hour and 30 minutes, place the pan of vegetables on the bottom rack of the oven. Roast the vegetables and continue cooking the corned beef for 1 hour and 30 minutes more, until both the meat and vegetables are tender. Check on the veggies occasionally to be sure they are browning evenly. (The cabbage will brown first, so give it a toss when the bottom pieces look golden. The potatoes and carrots may need to be turned, but only if they are nicely browned on the bottom before the cook time is up.)
7. Transfer the corned beef to a cutting board and let sit until cool enough to handle, about 5 minutes. Cut off the layer of fat on top of the corned beef and discard. Slice the meat against (or perpendicular to) the grain into 1/4-inch slices. Arrange the meat on a platter with the roasted vegetables and sprinkle with parsley, if desired. Serve with the horseradish cream sauce. Enjoy.
THE HORSERADISH CREAM SAUCE
Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more horseradish to taste, if desired.
Note: You won't use the whole head of cabbage; just use enough to cover 1/3 of the sheet pan.
1. The real St. Patrick was born in Britain. Historians generally believe that St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Britain (not Ireland) near the end of the 4th century. At age 16 he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and sold as a slave to a Celtic priest in Northern Ireland. After toiling for six years as a shepherd, he escaped back to Britain. He eventually returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary.
2. There Were No Snakes Around for St. Patrick to Banish from Ireland. Among the legends associated with St. Patrick is that he stood atop an Irish hillside and banished snakes from Ireland—prompting all serpents to slither away into the sea. In fact, research suggests snakes never occupied the Emerald Isle in the first place. There are no signs of snakes in the country’s fossil record. And water has surrounded Ireland since the last glacial period. Before that, the region was covered in ice and would have been too cold for the reptiles.
3. Leprechauns Are Likely Based on Celtic Fairies. The red-haired, green-clothed Leprechaun is commonly associated with St. Patrick’s Day. The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is “lobaircin,” meaning “small-bodied fellow.” Belief in leprechauns likely stems from Celtic belief in fairies— tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil.
4. The First St. Patrick’s Day Parade Was Held in America. While people in Ireland had celebrated St. Patrick since the 1600s, the tradition of a St. Patrick’s Day parade began in America and actually predates the founding of the United States.
5. The Shamrock Was Considered a Sacred Plant. The shamrock, a three-leaf clover, has been associated with Ireland for centuries. It was called the “seamroy” by the Celts and was considered a sacred plant that symbolized the arrival of spring. According to legend, St. Patrick used the plant as a visual guide when explaining the Holy Trinity.
6. The Irish Were Once Scorned in America. While Irish Americans are now proud to showcase their heritage, the Irish were not always celebrated by fellow Americans. Beginning in 1845, a devastating potato blight caused widespread hunger throughout Ireland. While approximately 1 million perished, another 2 million abandoned their land in the largest-single population movement of the 19th century. Most of the exiles—nearly a quarter of the Irish nation—came to the shores of the United States. Once they arrived, the Irish refugees were looked down upon by some as disease-ridden, unskilled and a drain on welfare budgets.
7. Corned Beef and Cabbage Was an American Innovation. The meal that became a St. Patrick’s Day staple across the country—corned beef and cabbage—was an American innovation. While ham and cabbage were eaten in Ireland, corned beef offered a cheaper substitute for impoverished immigrants. Irish Americans living in the slums of lower Manhattan in the late 19th century and early 20th, purchased leftover corned beef from ships returning from the tea trade in China. The Irish would boil the beef three times—the last time with cabbage—to remove some of the brine.
Seth Phillips protesting annoying things in life
TRUTH BOMBS are described in the urban dictionary as surprising but true statements. A fact or piece of knowledge that, when told to a listener, is devastating to the listener's argument or world view.
New Yorker Seth Phillips has gained a cult following for his truth bombs that protest anything from loud engines, phones that shatter easily, “x” in espresso, and other very specific, small things that add up to our daily lives. He has a whopping 7.5 million followers on social media. Phillips has gone mainstream enough that the fast fashion giant Zara has capitalized on his popularity by selling "Dude With Sign" shirts in their summer collection.
And, of course, there’s always something new to protest against. Such as, hot coffee in summer or verifying you’re not a robot online. The Council Chronicle will now feature these truth bombs in each edition. Those of us who have had enough of everything will get a chuckle out of this series.
I'm noticing a pattern here...
DONNA PURVIS MARCH 20TH
RACHEL ROARX MARCH 25TH
SARA FELTNER MARCH 28TH
BRIAN POWELL MARCH 28TH
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
'WOULD YOU RATHER' QUESTIONS ARE GREAT CONVERSATION STARTERS AND JUST PLAIN FUN.
1. Would you rather someone see all the photos in your phone or read all your text messages?
2. Would you rather have a pause or rewind button in your life?
3. Would you rather make a resolution to give up Netflix for the coming year or Facebook?
4. Would you rather get away with lying every time or always know when someone is lying?
5. Would you rather have free Wifi wherever you go or free coffee wherever you go?
6. Would you rather fly to space or swim to the bottom of the ocean?
7. Would you rather be trapped in a room with a friendly tiger or 100 bumblebees?
8. Would you rather win $50,000 or let your best friend win $500,000?
9. Would you rather live at Hogwarts or Cinderella's castle?
10. Would you rather ride in a car with super speed or go bungee jumping off the highest peak?
Saint Patrick depicted in a stained-glass window at St. Benin's Church in Ireland
Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, lit. 'the Day of the Festival of Patrick'), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. 385 - c. 461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland.
Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks. Christians who belong to liturgical denominations also attend church services and historically the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol were lifted for the day, which has encouraged and propagated the holiday's tradition of alcohol consumption.
The Irish holiday was generally celebrated with Irish blessings, green beer, rainbows, leprechauns, and decorations of clovers. Here are some Irish blessings and quotes to share with friends and family this St. Patrick's Day.
On a personal note, I am 12.5 % Irish on the maternal side of my family. My Grandmother Ruby's birth mother was 100% Irish. Her name was Mary and she was the daughter of a Mississippi riverboat captain. Because she was adopted and didn't know a lot about her birth family, my Grandmother celebrated every aspect of her heritage and that included celebrating St. Patrick's Day and Cinco de Mayo.
Rubyline Juanita Bell, early 1920's.
Happy St. Patrick's Day in Heaven, Grandmother Ruby!
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Joyous St Patricks Day Quotes
“For each petal on the shamrock, this brings a wish your way: Good health, good luck, and happiness for today and every day.” – Irish Blessing
"May you always have a clean shirt, a clear conscience, and enough coins in your pocket to buy a pint!” – Irish Toast
“As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.” – Irish Blessing
“May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back.” – Irish Blessing
“May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow. And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.” – Irish Blessing
Funny St. Patrick’s Day Quotes
“Here’s to you and here’s to me, I pray that friends we’ll always be, but if by chance we disagree, the heck with you and here’s to me.” – Irish Toast
“For the whole world is Irish on the seventeenth o’ March!” – Thomas Augustine Daly
“Yeah, it’s St. Paddy’s Day. Everyone’s Irish tonight.” – Norman Reedus, The Boondock Saints
“There are only two kinds of people in the world: the Irish and those who wish they were.” – Irish Saying
“May God bless and keep in good health your enemies’ enemies.” – Irish Saying
“The one thing us Irish have is the ability to laugh at ourselves. God bless us all.” – Ann Kennedy
Happy St Patrick’s Day Messages
-The green gnomes are searching for you. You will regret not wearing green today. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, party pooper.
- Hoping that the greens of our dresses bring good luck and success to all of us. Let’s try to find a pot of gold together!
- Let’s wear our best green costumes and befriend a leprechaun today!
- Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you and your family! May the symbol of shamrock strengthen the spirit of Irish unity and brotherhood!
- We know how special St. Patrick's Day is for all Irish people. So here’s to hoping that leprechauns gift you gold, good luck and happiness today!
Amusing Quotes for St Patrick's Day
“Top of the morning to ye!”
“May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.”
“Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you.”
“Here’s to good Irish friends—never above you, never below you, always beside you.”
“There are only two classes of people—the Irish and those who wish they were Irish.” —Therese Duffy
PRAYER FOR EQUALITY, PEACE & UNITY
I pray for equality, unity and peace in every city in our country. Equality for all people in every country. I pray for justice for all those who have lost their lives needlessly and unjustly. I pray that all people, regardless of race, religion or socioeconomic status be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. I pray for change so that healing can begin in this country and around the world.
Amen.
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