Bank of Dave is on my to-watch list. I am a sucker for underdog-wins-in-the-end films. That ukulele player is phenomenal, isn't she? She is getting every penny's worth out of that instrument. And so beautiful to watch. I never knew a ukulele could make those sounds. I always associate ukuleles with Tiptoe Through the Tulips or Over the Rainbow! We will all expect a show of your progress, Heather. Start making that video, girl.
1. Insects of note. For me, it's putsi flies and chungalolos. When we moved first moved to Africa, I marveled at the luxury of ironed socks, underwear, Levis, and t-shirts. Then I found learned that it was not about luxury, it was about killing putsi fly eggs deposited on your solar dried laundry. unexpectedly, I developed what I thought was a zit on my waist. TG;DR (Too Gross; Don't Read) version? I witness from a front row seat as the guest of honor the birth of a maggot. Warning: if the mental image lasts longer than 4 weeks, please seek professional assistance.
Chungalolos are 6"ish millipede things the color of rootbeer, and if stepped upon barefooted at night, feels like crushing a cross between a Cheeto and a Twinkie. I watched in stunned, unblinking horror as a toddler picked one up and ate it in front of me, smiling angelically the whole time, as she sat on the dirt floor at my feet in a little village church. See warning information above.
2. Dave's Bank. In my trade, we call a Dave's Bank a micro-credit bank. Of all the program sectors I worked on during my tediously long career, the most sustainable and life changing programs of all were well run micro-credit banks. Poor people aren't often poor because they are stupid, they are poor because they don't have access to resources, including education and credit, some of us take for granted. I stopped at Trader Joe's last night and took out an $11 loan with no hassle. It's not that easy in most parts of the world. Micro-credit is there to change that bias. There are many different approaches to poverty lending, but the method I'm most familiar with involves people forming small groups to jointly secure a loan for one of the group members. When that loan is repaid, the next group member is eligible for a loan. In addition to going a group, a borrower must show what the loan proceeds will be used for and how they plan to repay the loan. Defaulted loans are almost nonexistent.
I watched small businesses start and flourish because of small loans. I know of small scale farms that increased their productivity and profitability. I know of small loans used to pay for family emergencies or necessities, including school fees, for money that otherwise would be borrowed from local loan sharks at exorbitant rates. I know there are a few micro-credit programs in the US, based on variations of the model I described above, because with all the bank consolidations, the local hometown banks where the banker knew the people in his community are a thing of the past. The new banking model of high profitability over community access pushes too many people toward title loans and payday loans.
Hurray for Dave. He understands how to make his wealth a blessing to many people. In an ideal world, there would be a lot of Daves.
Chongalolos must be a good source of protein? I just looked them up - definitely gross looking and something that would go 'squish' if stepped on. Sorry about you having to be the surrogate for the maggot birth...kinda reminds me of the movie Alien.
I love your comments about micro-lending. I've read about what you describe and have, in the past, purchased products from people who have has micro-loans. It's such a beautiful concept - the best version of kindness.
3. Ukeleles. Don't forget the little girl on America's got talent who played a ukulele and won a million bucks who started in the competition with her self-written song "I Don't Know My Name."
4. "Whenever I come to a fork in the road, I take it."
The documentary about Yogi was really interesting. It was his partly his Yogi-isms that were responsible for some of the issues he had. I didn't know any of this until I watched the movie.
Well, hello fellow Arizonan. Welcome to the Land of Scorpions and Snakes. LOL I live with my parents in Laveen and before they started building more homes across the road from their subdivision, it was a cotton field. Yes, they have black light flashlights. I think it should be a requirement here. When a new house is built, the realtor should give you a black light flashlight as a housewarming gift. LOL "They call me The Flashlight Cowgirl." <snort-laugh>
Hey there! We're practically neighbors....well maybe a couple of hours apart. So you have a black flashlight too! When I'm down Phoenix way we'll have to meet up!
Bank of Dave is on my to-watch list. I am a sucker for underdog-wins-in-the-end films. That ukulele player is phenomenal, isn't she? She is getting every penny's worth out of that instrument. And so beautiful to watch. I never knew a ukulele could make those sounds. I always associate ukuleles with Tiptoe Through the Tulips or Over the Rainbow! We will all expect a show of your progress, Heather. Start making that video, girl.
Eeeeps.
1. Insects of note. For me, it's putsi flies and chungalolos. When we moved first moved to Africa, I marveled at the luxury of ironed socks, underwear, Levis, and t-shirts. Then I found learned that it was not about luxury, it was about killing putsi fly eggs deposited on your solar dried laundry. unexpectedly, I developed what I thought was a zit on my waist. TG;DR (Too Gross; Don't Read) version? I witness from a front row seat as the guest of honor the birth of a maggot. Warning: if the mental image lasts longer than 4 weeks, please seek professional assistance.
Chungalolos are 6"ish millipede things the color of rootbeer, and if stepped upon barefooted at night, feels like crushing a cross between a Cheeto and a Twinkie. I watched in stunned, unblinking horror as a toddler picked one up and ate it in front of me, smiling angelically the whole time, as she sat on the dirt floor at my feet in a little village church. See warning information above.
2. Dave's Bank. In my trade, we call a Dave's Bank a micro-credit bank. Of all the program sectors I worked on during my tediously long career, the most sustainable and life changing programs of all were well run micro-credit banks. Poor people aren't often poor because they are stupid, they are poor because they don't have access to resources, including education and credit, some of us take for granted. I stopped at Trader Joe's last night and took out an $11 loan with no hassle. It's not that easy in most parts of the world. Micro-credit is there to change that bias. There are many different approaches to poverty lending, but the method I'm most familiar with involves people forming small groups to jointly secure a loan for one of the group members. When that loan is repaid, the next group member is eligible for a loan. In addition to going a group, a borrower must show what the loan proceeds will be used for and how they plan to repay the loan. Defaulted loans are almost nonexistent.
I watched small businesses start and flourish because of small loans. I know of small scale farms that increased their productivity and profitability. I know of small loans used to pay for family emergencies or necessities, including school fees, for money that otherwise would be borrowed from local loan sharks at exorbitant rates. I know there are a few micro-credit programs in the US, based on variations of the model I described above, because with all the bank consolidations, the local hometown banks where the banker knew the people in his community are a thing of the past. The new banking model of high profitability over community access pushes too many people toward title loans and payday loans.
Hurray for Dave. He understands how to make his wealth a blessing to many people. In an ideal world, there would be a lot of Daves.
Chongalolos must be a good source of protein? I just looked them up - definitely gross looking and something that would go 'squish' if stepped on. Sorry about you having to be the surrogate for the maggot birth...kinda reminds me of the movie Alien.
I love your comments about micro-lending. I've read about what you describe and have, in the past, purchased products from people who have has micro-loans. It's such a beautiful concept - the best version of kindness.
Crunch, squish (the Twinkie part that’s full of juice.) I didn’t think of the Alien, but definitely a lot similarities with a putsi fly.
Micro-credit is what happens when we decide people can be trusted, regardless of their circumstances. It brings out the best in all of us.
There’s a verse in an ancient book full of wisdom that tells us to. . .”be generous and lend them whatever they need.” *
* Deuteronomy 15:8
I believe they told me it’s okay to be disgusting about true things. Is that what they told you, too?
ha ha. Pretty sure....
3. Ukeleles. Don't forget the little girl on America's got talent who played a ukulele and won a million bucks who started in the competition with her self-written song "I Don't Know My Name."
4. "Whenever I come to a fork in the road, I take it."
Grace Vanderwaal - I hadn't heard of her, but just looked her up and listened. Awesome! Thanks for telling me about her.
4. - Another of my Yogi favorites!
Ok, you've added two more movies to my watchlist. I think I'm rapidly falling behind but when I watch, I'll have some very good picks.
Thank God, as I write this, I have no critter stories to share. I'm hoping it stays that way, but if I do, I will circle back and let you know.
I'm so impressed that you're taking up the ukelele. I used to play guitar and my fingers did need to grow some callouses. I no longer play.
Happy 2024 and thanks for the great suggestions on movie picks.
Happy 2024 to you too, Jill. I'm looking forward to hearing more about Lucy in the coming year!
Thank you. Coming soon!
We quite enjoyed The Bank of Dave movie. Good pick, a feel gooder! Yogi Berra is one of my favorite philosophers.
So glad you liked Bank of Dave!
The documentary about Yogi was really interesting. It was his partly his Yogi-isms that were responsible for some of the issues he had. I didn't know any of this until I watched the movie.
Well, hello fellow Arizonan. Welcome to the Land of Scorpions and Snakes. LOL I live with my parents in Laveen and before they started building more homes across the road from their subdivision, it was a cotton field. Yes, they have black light flashlights. I think it should be a requirement here. When a new house is built, the realtor should give you a black light flashlight as a housewarming gift. LOL "They call me The Flashlight Cowgirl." <snort-laugh>
Hey there! We're practically neighbors....well maybe a couple of hours apart. So you have a black flashlight too! When I'm down Phoenix way we'll have to meet up!
I'd like that!