This is THE Post...

    Ohio State University is attempting to trademark the word "THE." As in "THE Ohio State University."

     No, I am not making this up.

     True to form, University of Michigan people got wind of this silliness, and added their own twist to the subject:

What can you say but: 

GO BLUE!!!

I Am Happy to Announce...

We have a signed contract on 3700 Collins St.! 

And it was achieved by God's grace (primarily), a lot of "coincidences" that just happened to fall into place...and a little of what the Brick calls "horse trading." A last-minute problem solved - not in a fun way, but solved.

Thank God -- and I mean that. Literally.

We were pretty frustrated when the first contract fell through.

This one, though, seems a lot more solid. 

 By God's grace, we'll close on the sale Sept. 17.

We celebrated by going to see Hobbs & Shaw, then splurging on popcorn AND a drink. (Hey, we broke Hollanders know how to have a good time.) 

Another stride in the right direction!

The Heat is Back

Hot weather has returned.
    Time to sweat, drink iced tea and wait.

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Liquid Gold (or Silver)

Finally -- finally -- it's getting a bit cooler. The difference may be because we keep having these crashing, thundering, downright honking thunderstorms. Sometimes they roar over us, after an hour of grumbling. Sometimes we get a deluge. And on occasion, we get a blessed wispy rainfall that lasts overnight, soaking into the thirsty ground, . Rain is so unusual for Colorado this time of year; the landscape is usually crunchy brown by now. But since our house is still on the market -- though encouraging possibilities are developing! -- we are very grateful for the moisture. 

Meanwhile, we keep the house clean, work on some tasks, gradually clear out the garage...and wait. 
At least now it seems like we're waiting for a reason, instead of just waiting.
          The difference is wonderful.

By the way, before you go hogwild into this week's Stuff, please take a look at my Facebook page, for news about our friends Victoria and Rick Frazier. She is making amazing progress, considering the severity of her recent stroke. You go, girl!



Jeffrey Epstein's Wikipedia entry may give you more than pause. Not only did he have access to a bajillion dollars (a lot of it apparently stolen or weazled), but he'd been indulging his taste for young girls for decades -- and procuring them for others. A truly creepy guy...and it makes you wonder. How did he get away with this for so long? It's said he kept a secret diary,  with many details of his and others' activities, as 'insurance.' Where is it?
     More than a few of the rich and famous are drawing big sighs of relief, now he's dead.

Ten civilizations that may have beaten Columbus to America's shores. (From Listverse)

Vinyl records that may be worth a fortune. If you've got some, check out this 40-record slideshow.

A Holocaust survivor celebrates her 104th birthday in front of Jerusalem's Western Wall -- and her many descendants.

Sydney, Australia...and whales!  Follow this RV couple via their blog, Travel with Kevin and Ruth.

"Eighteen financial things I wish I'd done straight out of college."  (From The Simple Dollar)

Around the world with a picnic.  Great food from several countries, thanks to Under the Median.

Hugenot torte.  An elegant apple cake, said to come by way of emigrating Hugenots. (From Best American Food)

Six so-called documentaries full of ridiculousness.  (From Cracked) If you liked that:

Five 'non-fiction' memoirs that are anything but. Including the guy who wrote that he was dead! Not to mention:

Five weird discoveries that will mess up a lot of history books.

Frozen fruit slush -- cold and refreshing.  (From Thrifty Frugal Mom)

A bunch of Colorado State Fair specials -- check your local fair website. (They should have specials, too.)

Wedding DYIs that look fancier than they really are.  Good for parties, too.

Kate Singh is offering some of her kindle titles for free! I love this lady's no-nonsense approach to frugal living. (She has other books for sale, and I'm not certain how long these will be $0.00. Be sure to double-check before you click to buy.)

A homecoming king does something totally unexpected -- and wonderful.

Ten colors with decidedly (ahem) colorful histories.  Hang in there until #1, Mummy Brown. Or maybe you don't want to know. (Thanks -- we think -- Listverse)

Justice On Trial -- a review of a new book about Kavanaugh and his confirmation to the Supreme Court.

Pet-shaming. More silliness!

And finally, one of the best opening scenes ever for a movie:

2014's Guardians of the Galaxy. Try not to boogie.

Have a great week. Keep up the good work, rain!


 

The World's Oldest Sewing Needle Surfaces

...and it wasn't found in a haystack.

Guess its age:  an estimated FIFTY THOUSAND YEARS old.

More than 40,000 years more ancient than the last one found. Ironically, many have appeared in Russia, but Egypt also has its share. Viking age bone needles have been found, too.

This one's Siberian, featured in a Listverse column:

Archaeologists recently unearthed the world’s oldest sewing needle in Siberia’s Altai Mountains. The 50,000-year-old needle was discovered in Denisova Cave and was used by non-Homo sapiens. The 7-centimeter (2.8 in) needle contains a hole for thread and was made from the bone of a large, unidentified bird. Researchers had previously found needles in later cave layers, but this is the oldest and longest one yet discovered.

This needle predates the previous earliest-known specimen by 40,000 years. It was discovered in the same layer as our mysterious hominid cousins, the Denisovans, who were named after the cave. The Denisovans were more technologically advanced than Neanderthals. A precise hole in a Denisovan bracelet could only have been accomplished with a high-rotation drill similar to those used today.

photo from Siberian Times

Read more about it here. And yes, the scientists studying it say the bird bone needle is still usable.

Whoa.

The oldest U.S.-uncovered needles, so far, are about 2,000 years old, found in the American Southwest. But the cactus needles were used for tattoos, not sewing.

Come on, America, get cracking!

Sunbonnet DOW pattern, from Pinterest via bing.com

A Frightening Fact About Mass Shooters

...and it's not related to gun control, either.


Of the 27 deadliest mass shootings, TWENTY-SIX had no biological fathers active in their upbringing.

Did you realize that??

Only one was raised by a father since childhood.


From Suzanne Venker's opinion piece on this subject:

“Indeed, there is a direct correlation between boys who grow up with absent fathers and boys who drop out of school, who drink, who do drugs, who become delinquent and who wind up in prison,” she writes.  “And who kill their classmates.”


Makes you think, doesn't it.


If this isn't an argument for trying to work out problems in your marriage first, with divorce only as an absolute, tried-everything-else final option...

Bigfoot Spotted on the Road to Pikes Peak

I'm not making this up. See -- I'll prove it.

photo courtesy of the Andersons
 (who have Bigfoot show up in their native Georgia too)

Go here for more sightings -- and an explanation of why the sign is there.

Friends Ken and Holly Anderson saw Mr. Sasquatch. hanging around this sign. (Actually, that area is famous for Bigfoot sightings, so it's no surprise.) Mr. S. was almost done for the day, but graciously consented to a quickie photo. And it's even a clear one.

See...I told you he/she exists!

Update: He really was spotted on Storm Mountain in May, only about 10 miles from Estes Park. He probably regrets being around, it's been so hot.

Scott Mendenhall agrees...