Author: Fee Writes

Fee Writes

Random

Back To Tauranga

Yeeeha! I’m back in Tauranga and do you know what that means to me?

Instead of traveling for 30 to 45 minutes battling traffic at Te Puna and Bethlehem now that school is back……I’m only 7 minutes from work. In fact, I can walk to work!!!

Ha! it also means that I’m not forking out to the oil industry for gasoline, my Trev does take a bit, but he’s such a good Rav, old, like me, but still “got it”. Plus, yes there’s a plus for Trev, there’s not the wear and tear….the service won’t be so frequent either – save more!

The only downside is that I had to leave those beautiful chickens that I’ve really got to love. They are just soooooooo cool.

As for my friends who I’ve been living, what can I say but a HUGE thank you. They took in a waif and stray right when I needed it….beautiful.

So I put my life in the back of Trev, and off I went to my new home. God it felt so good to have actually achieved the first of my goals…..be in Tauranga before school went back. O.k. o.k. I know, I left it until the very last day. They went back today and I got here yesterday – that’s cutting it fine, but, hey – I did it….bodes well for my other goals.

So, where am I? I’ve now found digs with a super lady in her home with the most outstanding view. Damn, if I manage to get any work done here then it will be a miracle. Check it out!!!

Trust me, the photos do not do these views justice at all.

So I’m all settled in, going to work this morning was delightfully refreshing not having to travel.

Just a heads up to you, dear reader, in the next little bit most of my blogs will now concentrate more on what’s happening in this situation we find ourselves in that we call “life”. So beware, you will be assailed by my ranting, humourous, I hope, but the topics will be totally random.

Fee Writes

Dairy Farmer Tries To Take Calf

Some cows do fight back!

Way to go Mumma!!!!

Fee Writes

Animals | Food | WTF

Milk Companies Are Just Getting Desperate

In the last post Messing with DNA, I talked about cows being messed about with in order to drop their temperature. Well, it appears that the poor cow is going to be subjected to more tampering.

This time it’s about the milk and I really don’t know quite where to start. There are so many dairy products out there, that I’m just glad I don’t have it because I wouldn’t know where to begin choosing which milk would be right for me.

However, I recently learned about a new product that’s been launched that has me shaking my head with scepticism…. which meant, I felt the need to blog.

Currently, there has been quite a dramatic drop in the consumer purchase of dairy which is effectively creating a downturn in the dairy industry. This appears to be happening worldwide.

So dairy companies are trying to come up with ways to increase market share and this latest thing just cracked me up!
“Sleep-boosting dark milk” coming from a New Zealand company. Something that’s not too new as scientists in Finland have been working on this and it’s also now available in Britain.

It appears that if you milk the cows after sunset and before sunrise, the milk produces a higher level of the hormone melatonin which is known to help regulate sleep.
Oh, the shed has to be dark as well.

This melatonin found in the milk after dark can be upwards of 10 times higher than that found in day time milk.

So let’s see. Our choice of different kinds of milk here in New Zealand are:

Fat-free
Added calcium
Added protein
Lactose-free
Help you to sleep
Organic
Full cream

That covers a vast array of consumers, doesn’t it?

My feeling is that milk is no longer “straight from the cow”. It is bastardised until it’s pretty much unrecognisable, all for the health of the consumers … well, that’s what they want you to think. What I think is that it’s all for the profit.

And, one last thing ….. what about the poor cows having to be milked in the dark? Spare a thought for them!

Fee Writes

Animals | WTF

Now This Is Just Being Silly!

Today I read the most disturbing thing.

The Smithsonian Magazine reported that scientists are now messing about with the DNA of cows. Reason?

To combat climate change and the rise in global temperatures.

So, let’s step back a minute. The first thing is that these particular scientists have declared their belief in global warming … which is a good thing.

Now that they’ve done that – they have realized that, in order for the meat and dairy industries to continue, the cows are going to have to change. (We’re talking for both meat and dairy). So, they’re busy at trying to change the DNA so that the cows can “beat the heat”.

“…Scientists and ranchers have an idea of traits that can contribute to heat tolerance – metabolic rates, ability to shed their coats, hair color – but there is no silver bullet. ….Several independent studies, however, have managed to link heat tolerance – at least in part – to the color of a cow’s hair.…”

What does that mean? A bit of GM will be going on.

The stupid part is … Livestock (and the majority are cattle), is the largest source of methane gas emissions worldwide, contributing over 28% of total emissions. So let’s think about reducing the intake of meat and dairy ???? Right! As if that’s going to happen while it’s such a big industry.

And, talking about genetically changing animals – In Australia, pigs are being bred to have more ribs than normal!

At the moment, it’s so they can have more piglets. You see, the more ribs, the longer the pig, the more nipples, the more piglets. But it does make you wonder if they will bring this idea into the pork eating side of things.

Fee Writes

Environment | Random

My Take On Pope Francis and His Encyclical

Pope Francis has published his encyclical

and the 192 page document holds a lot of good stuff, that, hopefully, is going to be taken on board and will begin the change that is needed in this world we live in.

I’m not about to summarize the encyclical … that would be a lengthy blog post. Instead I just want to say that he has covered a lot of topics from global warming to the issue of water, (even covering the pollution of the oceans), and the effects on the poor and developing countries.

It’s pretty obvious he has done his homework and presents both the scientific as well as the biblical and theology side. And he also addresses the varying opinions about global warming that are out there. He also has not been soft in his criticism of the way wealthy countries/corporations use and abuse poorer countries who sit on goldmines such as fossil fuels, but do not have the means to protect their environments from the ravages of the greedy.

All in all, this is a powerful document. But one that gives hope. He points out things that are working now as examples of what can be done.

One sentence that I was impressed with

“…Politics must not be subject to the economy, nor should the economy be subject to the dictates of an efficiency-driven paradigm of technocracy….”

Oh now wouldn’t that be an ideal world!

Right at the beginning he opens with the words of St Francis …

“Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs”….

and in the very next paragraph he boldly states

“…This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life. This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she “groans in travail” (Rom 8:22). We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters….”

It kind of sets the tone for the rest of the document.

Regardless if you are a devout Catholic, of other Christian faith, Muslim or other religion, Agnostic or Atheist, you can take out the religious part if you want and you will still find this is a powerful document. This man packs a heap of a punch and has a fair amount of influence. I’m hoping that it pays off.

Author: Fee Writes

Back To Tauranga

Yeeeha! I’m back in Tauranga and do you know what that means to me?

Dairy Farmer Tries To Take Calf

Some cows do fight back!

Milk Companies Are Just Getting Desperate

Now This Is Just Being Silly!

Today I read the most disturbing thing.

My Take On Pope Francis and His Encyclical

Pope Francis has published his encyclical

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