Author: Susan O.

Eye on the Spy: Happy Birthday, Ian Fleming

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Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming

Happy birthday to Ian Fleming, born May 28, 1908!

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Fleming is the author behind the James Bond series of thrillers, but did you know he also wrote the children’s classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? He also wrote several non-fiction books, some of which, like The Diamond Smugglers, arose from his background research for his stories, in this case, Diamonds are Forever.

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Fleming was not necessarily the inspiration for James Bond, but he had more than enough experience to rely on for creating his character. Educated not only at English prep schools but in Munich and Geneva as well, he was pulled into the British Naval Intelligence during World War II. He worked on several secret missions – including one code-named Operation Goldeneye, the name he would give to his home in Jamaica.

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Fleming’s 1950’s, post-war design of Bond was to have a dull, every-man character that events seemed to the-10-highest-grossing-james-bond-films-of-all-timehappen to. He stole the name James Bond from the author of an ornithology manual he owned, a name he thought was as dull and plain and ordinary as could be. It wasn’t even until the second film that he began to give Bond a nationality and sense of humor. His books have had mixed reviews over the years, yet sold more than 30 million copies before his death. Two were published posthumously – Man With the Golden Gun and Octopussy and the Living Daylights. He ranks number fourteen on the list of “50 Greatest British Authors since 1945.” Fleming was a notoriously heavy smoker and drinker, and died of a heart attack at age 56.

Although he wrote only twelve novels and 10 short stories, his stories have inspired more than 23 major films spanning fifty years. Their total adjusted gross is more than $10 billion, placing them behind only the Harry Potter series as most profitable film series in history. Fleming, however, left little family to benefit from his fortune. He had a daughter who died at birth, and his son Caspar, for whom he wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (also a classic film), died in 1975 at the age of 23. His widow, Ann, died in 1981.

 

For a dull, middle-aged nobody, James Bond continues to entertain us for more than 50 years, 25 films, and 7 actors and inspire generations of authors and fans. In addition to his original novels and films, there are several licensed tie-in series, such as Charlie Higson’s “Young Bond” children’s novels.

Who is your favorite Bond?

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May Is National Blood Pressure Education Month!

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Who cares? You should.

High blood pressure, also known as Hypertension, is known as the silent killer. High blood pressure often gives no warning signs, but can result in stroke, heart failure, kidney damage, and blindness. Occasionally, there may be subtle signs like ringing or buzzing in the ears, or a pounding heart. Next time you’re in busy place – an elevator, or mall, or even the doctor’s office – start counting. One in every four people has raised blood pressure – 25% of the population. Out of 100 people with blood pressure issues, only 68 of them are aware of their problem, and only 18 of those 68 will have it under control. Scary, isn’t it?

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Blood pressure is a measure of how hard the heart is working. You’re probably familiar with the two numbers – Systolic (the strength ofdial the heartbeat) over the Diastolic (how hard the heart squeezes at rest). Ideally, you want that number to be 120/80 millimeters of mercury (that mmHg you see on the dial). More than 130/85, and you’re getting into dangerous territory. More than 140, and you’ve got a problem.

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Sometimes high blood pressure runs in families; sometimes it’s due to diet, to being overweight, to certain medications, to certain conditions like diabetes, stress, or panic attacks. Alcohol consumption can raise blood pressure; so can salty foods (especially Ramen, or anything in a can or a box), common antihistamines and cold medications such as Sudafed, any “health” powders, supplements, or drinks containing Ephedra, illegal drugs such as cocaine, and of course, colas, Monsters, energy drinks, coffee, and tea.

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dm-wide-blood-pressure-20131115172644575592-620x349 One high reading is not a reason to panic. Blood pressure can fluctuate from day to day, even minute to minute. One false reading of high blood pressure is called “white coat hypertension” – people sometimes get nervous in a doctor’s office, or they’ve rushed on the way there and are stressed out. If your doctor takes a reading when he or she first comes into the office, ask to have it taken again just before you leave. Chances are, it will be lower the second time around. Another problem can be a blood pressure cuff that is too small – if you have big arms, whether due to fat or muscle, ask for the larger cuff. A cuff shouldn’t pop off while inflating – if it does, you’re not going to get a reliable reading. Blood pressure readings will also differ if someone is reading it by hand with a stethoscope or if a machine is doing it. Machines tend to read a higher score.

Sometimes blood pressure can be regulated by diet alone: low salt, lots of fruits and vegetables, and moderate exercise. Cut back on alcohol and caffeine (you’ll sleep better, too!). Get your stress under control. If all else fails, there are many good non-expensive medications with few side effects.

High blood pressure is one of those things you don’t want to fool around with, even if you feel perfectly fine. Someone you love is depending on you.

                       

 

Easter Pets

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They’re adorable, all fluff and big watery eyes, but if you’re thinking about getting or giving a live pet for Easter, think twice! According to the Humane Society, 30% of all Easter pets will die in the first few weeks after Easter. Another 60 to 70% will be turned in at shelters, and almost all will not live to see a single birthday. If you’re thinking about adding a pet to your family, take your time and do your research first.
        Rabbits come in all types and sizes, and they live an average of seven to ten years. Their health can be delicate, and simple diarrhea – most often from too many fresh veggies – can kill them. Inside a house, they will dig and chew at everything, so don’t feel bad when your couch gets a hole in it. If you choose a beautiful angora, with long fluffy hair, remember they need to be brushed and combed daily, or at least shaved down. Rabbits love to run and kick up their heels (which is very amusing to watch), so keeping them in a small cage all the time is just plain cruel. They are not hamsters; think of rabbits as your cat’s slow-witted little brother. You wouldn’t cage up a cat all the time, would you?


Ducks may live eight to fifteen years, and come in a huge variety of types and colors. Ducks are very social, and you may need more than one to keep your animal happy. Remember, ducks like water and are natural swimmers; keeping them in a dry environment like a dark basement does not result in a happy duck. Remember, ducks shed feathers everywhere, their water-proof feathers may leave grease on your carpets, and they will not be house-trained.


Baby chicks are one of the icons of spring, but they live five to eight years. It is their nature to hunt for bugs in the grass, and they will scratch and peck at whatever flooring is underneath them; they can crater dirt fairly quickly. Chickens (and ducks, too) may be subject to town ordinances, so check with your town first to see if you’re even allowed to keep them! Roosters can cause a ruckus; they don’t just crow at dawn, but any time they feel like it, which may not sit well with your neighbors. Both chicks and ducks have to be kept safe at all time from predators, including hawks.


If you’re not sure a live pet is right for your family, try sponsoring an animal instead. You can buy into a “share” of an animal at a zoo or refuge, and help keep it happy and healthy. You can also “donate” an animal through programs such as Heifer International, which helps people out of poverty by teaching them to raise and sell animals in developing nations.
If you do bring home that cute and fluffy new friend, check out these books to help you keep them around for a long time to come:

The Rabbit Handbook by Karen Parker

Keeping Chickens by Ashley English

Mini Encyclopedia of Chicken Breeds & Care by Frances Bassom

Barnyard in Your Backyard by Gail Damerow

 

                      

An Easter Playlist

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Every occasion needs a soundtrack. Check out this list of classical and contemporary music appropriate for Easter celebrations. Some of these you might remember from church, but not realize who actually wrote them. Others were written secularly, but adopted later as hymns. Did you know that Elvis Presley started out as a gospel singer?  He attended a Pentacostal church that encouraged modern music.
1) Cantata 147: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, by Johannes Sebastian Bach
You probably remember this one from church
2) Concerto no. 1 in E (Spring)  by Antonio Vivaldi
You’ve heard this one in the movies and on TV
3) How Great Thou Art by Elvis Presley
One of his most-requested songs
4) The Old Rugged Cross by Johnny Cash
5) The Lord’s Prayer
There are many beautiful instrumental songs on Windham Hill’s Prayer album, perfect for quiet meditation.
6) Amazing Grace  by Anne Murray
7) El Shaddai  by Amy Grant
According to Exodus 6:2, Shaddai is the name by which Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew God
8) You’ll Never Walk Alone by Elvis Presley
9) The Passions According to St. John and St. Matthew   by J. S. Bach
10) Ave Maria  by The Priests
11) Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah   by G. Handel Baroque at its finest
12) Symphony No. 9 in D minor “Choral”   by Ludwig von Beethoven
You probably know this better as the “Ode to Joy,” or Hymn # 8, “Joyful, Joyful”
13) Judas Maccabeus by G. Handel
14) Russian Easter Liturgy A whole service on one disc!

 

 

 

Aliens in Your Back Yard – The Invasion of Non-Native Plants

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You’ve seen them around, maybe even in your yard.  You may even think they look pretty. But they’re not. They are aliens, and they are taking over our world.

Oriental Bittersweet

Oriental Bittersweet

The “aliens” in this case are non-native plants, and their invasion is costing us billions – yes, billions with a B – just on golf courses alone, trying to stop them from overtaking and wiping out our natural species. They can choke out the normal wild plants of an area, wiping out the food that birds and wildlife depend on. They can wrap around your electrical wires, pulling them down and causing power outages. They can invade your vegetable gardens, growing faster than you can weed. Most of these plants were introduced as an ornamental addition to gardens, but with no natural insect enemies or animals to eat them, they quickly grew!

Kudzu in action

Kudzu in action

From Alabama to Canada, Japanese Kudzu is a fast-growing vine that forms a thick blanket over grass, trees, wires, and buildings.  It will grow over anything in its path, and it is voracious – growing up to a foot per day – the kind of thing bad science fiction movies are made of.  In Cheshire, especially on the West side near Darcey School, you’ve no doubt seen Oriental Bittersweet growing thick up telephone poles, hanging in sheets from overhead wires, and growing up trees in thick ropes faster than poison ivy. It’s a woody vine that’s almost impossible to break with your hands, and will wrap itself around wire fences until it’s easier to remove the fence than the vine. Even pulling it up doesn’t seem to stall it much.

Purple Loosestrife

Purple Loosestrife

Purple Loosestrife may trick you into thinking it’s just a pretty flower ( I once thought so), and you’re rather happy it chose your yard.  You don’t even have to water it, and it looks nice.  Until it takes over every inch of your lawn, and the more you weed, the more there seems to be. It was brought over from Japan in 1876 as a garden interest, and then spread out of control.

Garlic Mustard

Garlic Mustard sounds tasty – and it is.  It was brought over from Europe as a an herb in the 1860’s, and it quickly took off.  Garlic mustard is so determined, it can even fertilize its own seeds, which is part of the problem.  Deer won’t eat it, and thus will feast too much on other plants instead, endangering them from overgrazing.  Garlic mustard is on the Most Wanted list in more than nine states.

Different plants can require different methods of eradication. On April 7, Cheshire Public Library will be hosting a program called Root Out Non-Native Invasive Plants, where you can learn more about how to identify and eradicate non-native infiltrators without the widespread application of pesticides.. Help support your native plants – and the animals who depend on them – by helping to wipe out these alien invaders. If you don’t already have one in your neighborhood or yard, you will soon.

You can read up further on invasive plants in Invasive Plants: a guide to identification and the impacts and control of common North American species, by Sylvan Ramsey Kaufman.