Cal Orey's Blog, page 58

Super Solar Storms -- How Do They Affect You?

 By Cal Orey

 

Super Solar Storms

 

Back in January, the Oracle 20/20 annual forecasts column included solar events. I wrote: “What else is in the stars” – and surprises are in store. I’m talking a major, earthshaking solar event--solar flares may be the culprit or something related. Now this could be a minor solar storm or a shutdown the Earth event. That means, blackouts, communication lines affected, to disturbance for airline flights and road travel. The solar storm may wreak havoc for a while that’ll affect the world.”

     

Indeed, my projection came to fruition, sort of. In the month of April it happened! A solar event made international news. We got forecasts just like before a thunderstorm. Then, we got lights and action! Read on to find out more about the solar event that everyone was talking about.

 

So, What Happened in April 2022?

According to one internet article headline: “NASA: Massive solar storm hits Earth, sparks VHF radio blackout in Asia, Australia.” Evidently, a huge solar flare erupting on the surface of the Sun sent a solar storm toward the Earth on April 17.

Meanwhile, the author of The Evolutionary Cosmos: Outside-In Thinking the Universe explains the solar storm: “Scientists know that our Sun had just past a solar minimum, so they were expecting to see increased sunspots and other solar activity like flares and coronal mass ejections (CME).” he explains. “Solar flares are constantly observed by the GOES spacecraft which detects the X-rays that always come with solar flares. M-level and X-level flares are of the most concern because they can be associated with large CMEs that can hit the Earth and destroy electrical systems in space and on the Earth’ s surface.” 

Furthermore, Westberg notes that between March 30th and April 30th, 2022, there was four of the strongest X-level flares which was unusual because none happened in the previous three months. He points out, “Three of the four X-level flares happened in the last half of April, which also had many M-level flares. It was like the Sun had lit up all over its surface in the last half of April. This is something that would not be surprising at or near a solar maximum, but the Sun is just coming out of a solar minimum.”

     

Westberg continues, “Based on what was happening on the sun our scientists knew that CMEs could reach Earth between 14 hours and three days after the associated flare happens. So, they let us know that there was a good chance that we could get hit-- and we were hit. In the last half of April there were three radio blackouts and disruption of phone services along with satellite systems.”

     

What’s more, blame it on the unique alignment of planets and stars with our Sun. “What was unknown to most of our scientists is this was caused by an unusual conjunction of six of our eight solar system planets with 31 nearby stars.” Adds Westberg who calls this a conjunction swarm, “This scenario may not ever happen again because it will take so long for the planet alignment to make a repeat performance, that the stars will have moved. The planets and nearby stars conjunction cluster peaked on about April 15th of 2022 and this was the cause of the unusual solar activity in the last half of April.” But solar storms and their effects have a history way, way back to the 19th century.

 

 

The Carrington Event

As the story goes, a British astronomer named Richard Carrington saw a sudden flash of intense white light from the areas of sunspots. The Carrington Event was an intense geomagnetic storm in September 1859.

During this event, as history tells it, the night sky in North America lit up like daylight. Spikes of electricity surged in the world’s telegraph system (used for transmitting messages from a distance along a wire) and nobody could communicate. It created auroral shows around the globe and caused sparking to fires in telegraph stations. The storm was the result of a CME from the Sun colliding with the Earth's magnetosphere (a strong magnetic field that surrounds our planet).

Solar storms, like the Carrington Event, can blast out huge clouds of electrified gas and dust up to two million miles an hour. If high-energy blasts of particles reach Earth, they can distort and disrupt Earth’s magnetic field. Indeed, a solar event of this magnitude in the 21st century could cause widespread changes and damage as well as visual effects that are amazing…

 

Sensational Solar Light Show

The Sun has fascinating features: solar flares, coronal mass ejections, action regions, and solar wind. Solar flares happen in areas that have active regions and will out of the blue appear as bright spots. According to NASA experts, these flares can cause high-energy particles to emit from the Sun, which can wreak havoc on astronauts and cause damage to satellites orbiting Earth. Solar flares emit bursts of electromagnetic radiation, including high-energy X-rays and gamma rays. The energy released by one flare can be more powerful than a million nuclear bombs. These particles can also damage electronic components and affect radio signals.

Next up are solar winds. The Sun is so powerful and energetic that it creates a type of wind that travels through the Solar System. The power of the solar wind varies on the activity of the surface on the Sun, whereas Earth is protected from solar wind by its strong magnetic field.

Finally, are the beautiful Northern Lights aka aurora borealis. These lights seen in the dark on a clear night are caused by the solar wind hitting Earth's atmosphere. The vibrant, moving colorful lights--green, purple, and white--are usually visible in the northern hemisphere. Northern Lights are often viewed in regions such as Alaska and Canada, in November to March. The auroras happen in a band know as the auroral zone, which happens when solar activity is high. It's bet to check out the kp index (a measurement of electromagnetic activity in the atmosphere). If a reading is of two or higher, you're more likely to view a solar light show. Note: It was reported in the news that on April 9 an airline passenger saw the light show while in flight to Anchorage, Alaska. (Sadly. in December 2019 I missed the show due to extreme cloud cover.)

            As you can see clearly now, solar storms are nothing new. While April 2022 was an intriguing month due to the storm hitting our planet Earth, this is not the first time a solar event occurred, nor will it be the last one.

 

6 Strange Universe Anomalies Linked to the Sun

So, if a geomagnetic solar event happens on Earth—how will it affect life as we know it.? Well, glitches could happen on Earth. Here is what may happen during the next solar storm in the twenty-first century:

·       A mega internet outage, which means computers at home and work can be affected causing problems for lack of communication and its effects…

·       And cell phone outages are not unusual.

·       Possible damage to satellites can occur.

·       Disabled communications by radio and TV are not impossible.

·       Blackouts can happen. (In the thriller film Trigger Effect, it shows the dire consequences of society and its chain reactions during a widespread and long power outage in Southern California.

            Excerpts from The Evolutionary Cosmos: Outside-In Thinking the Universe (Published by AuthorHouse, 2022) by Richard Westberg and Cal Orey.

A Twist on Trail Mix for Summertime

 By Cal Orey

Here comes the sun and summer. It’s a time to celebrate fun and no-cook foods. Grilling fish, poultry, and vegetables outdoors is popular but so is enjoying an abundance of fresh fruit (such as berries and melons) and vegetables (in cold pasta salads and corn  on the cob) and fun finger foods without a lot of fuss.  And that's not all. Enter trail mix and ice cream with a twist. Trail mix or “gorp” is a word not uncommon to hiking fans. This mix of nuts and dried fruit goes back to seventies. It was touted as a popular energy snack for hikers and health-conscious granola guys and gals, like me. Its wholesome ingredients can include dried fruit, nuts, and seeds. As the season is changing around the Lake, I’ve learned that by enjoying fun foods, like trail mix, can make summertime fun at work and play. One past pre-pandemic summer when I was traveling to Victoria, B.C., I’d munch on trail mix (the pricey kind you buy in a bag at the airport). Once in Canada I followed the plan to swim in the morning, savor the harbor and boating in the afternoon. When I was walking on the wharf, I took photos of a lone sea otter that made me feel welcome like I was in San Francisco. After the unique bond enjoyed by onlookers, I treated myself to an ice cream cone. Sitting down on a bench overlooking the water, I reached into my purse. A bag of trail mix fell out. I thought, “I’m going to sprinkle the nut and fruit mix on the ice cream for a nice crunch.” Not only was it a twisted treat, to this day the combination of trail mix and ice cream are two treats I like and take me back to that special day I loved. So here, go ahead and enjoy my Canada-inspired summer fun fare.

Summertime Trail Mix

¼ cup golden raisins or dried pineapple

¼ cup ginger (crystalized)

¼ cup cashews

¼ cup white chocolate chips

¼ cup banana chips

¼ cup sunflower seeds

¼ cup sweetened coconut or popped popcorn (optional)

In a plastic container, combine the dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, banana chips, and seeds. Serves 4. You can eat it by the handful as a snack or top it on granola or oatmeal for breakfast.

Trail Mix Ice Cream Cone

2 cups premium gelato or ice cream

4 ice cream cones (your choice of type, organic, preferably)

½ cup Summertime Trail Mix

Put ½ cup of ice cream into each cone. Top with trail mix. Or if you’d like, you can simply put the trail mix into the cone without ice cream. Serves 4.

This trail mix combination is ideal for warmer days. The ingredients in the mix are lighter than what I use in fall or winter. The superfoods boast a summer-ish slant. And the ice cream or gelato (chocolate chip or vanilla bean are super) are decadent and even good for you in moderation. So, as summer arrives go ahead and mix it up for the thrill of it whether you’re working or playing hard.-- Cal Orey, M.A. Is an author and journalist. Her books include the Healing Powers Series (Vinegar, Olive Oil, Chocolate, Honey, Coffee, Tea, and Superfoods) published by Kensington. (The collection has been featured by the Good Cook Book Club.) Her website is http://www.calorey.com.

INTERVIEW WITH AN AUTHOR...WHAT'S NEW PRE-SUMMER OF 2022?

 By Cal Orey

Today we're talking to Cal Orey, the author of the popular Healing Powers series and her other creative works in progress...
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I prefer to write in fall/winter when it's quiet.I was born and raised in San Jose, California. It's changed due to gentrification aka (King Kong stomped on Mother Nature and now it's a metropolis). I moved to Lake Tahoe to get back to nature. Ironically, history repeats itself. More changes, including killing healthy trees (I'm a granola girl/tree hugger) and vacation homeowner invasion like Stephen King sci-fi-ish film with creatures who are interlopers. I am a journalist-author and novelist. That's what they (my editors) call me. 
How and when did you become a writer?
I got my first poem "School Days" published when I was in third grade. My teachers told me I had a "gift" when I wrote papers. I liked to write colorful stuff. So, I ended up majoring in English (Creative Writing) in college. I hold a bachelor's and master's in these topics. But I flunked math. 
What genre do you write?
I'm known as a health author. I have had thousands of articles published on different subjects, including relationships (I flunked this topic, too, in real life), pets, Earth changes, and just about anything (even sex). However, in 2021 I fell into novels and novelettes. After all, my thesis was collection of fiction stories. And many of my tales were published in national publications throughout the years. I came full circle. 
How would you describe your writing style?
I'm candid. I like to inject heart and soul into my work. Third-person narrative is boring, I prefer talking to readers like I chat it up in real life. I do this on a regular basis. It's thrilling to channel into another person and use their voice, too. Lately, I like to write in the morning (thanks to my cup of Joe), research after swimming or rowing (the machine, not chilly Lake) in the afternoon. Late at night I brainstorm. When working on a book like now it's similar to having renters in your brain. Overall, it's cool. Think visitors that can be amusing, thought-provoking, and inspiring but pesky at times. They don't sleep! Also, it's time travel and travel to faraway places. This month I'm in Tennessee. I almost went there but still a bit covid-shy so my imagination will suffice. And decades ago, I did hitch and hike through that state.  Some things don't change.
What makes you different from other writers?
I like to put my personal paw print on each piece of work. In other words, I prefer to write in a down-to-earth narrative. Love to say things people are afraid to say, kind of like baring your soul or disrobing in front of the world. I lose the inhibitions for my best stuff.  Love to write from the heart and tell stories--all kinds--that'll make the reader laugh, cry, and move the reader. If I get the lump in my throat or wet eyes--it works.


Who inspires you?
My dog is my mentor. He gets me. I adore his energy--an Aussie at 9 (my fave number).  In grad school for my oral exams I chose my three authors: George Eliot, John Steinbeck, and Edward Albee; my professors weren't pleased with the last two--but I didn't care.  Steinbeck knew the Golden State, Tahoe, the ocean, and dogs. And, people in real life, past and present or future (in my imagination) make my works come alive.

How did you come up with the title of your series?
I fell into the Healing Powers series. It was the title of the first book back in 1999. The Healing Powers of Vinegar paved the way for books that followed into two, a trilogy but my editor corrected me and called it a "series." The rest is history. Nine books later... Psst. Essential Oils, #8, was chosen to be featured in FIRST FOR WOMEN (Mar. 2022 issue). These books seem to be timeless.
Who is your favorite character in (your book you want to talk about) and why?
July 4th I was in Victoria, B.C. to flee Tahoe tourist chaosA returning character is an elderly woman who is someone who helped me a lot when I was a struggling magazine journalist. Read: I scrubbed toilets for the well-to-do to make ends meet. She traveled abroad many times and loved Europeans. Before the pandemic I traveled to Canada. A lot. It gives me my fix of culture, diversity, England and France. I have a sense of belonging in Quebec to British Columbia.  Now? Alaska is still on my brain. I'm booked to go back in November. It depends on the variants. If there is a hurricane-force storm like last time--I'm going. An earthquake? Count me in. Read: Cabin fever. I must see the northern lights and a moose.  Snow is optional. Hopefully it will be colder than at Lake Tahoe, my home.
Bonding with a Victoria seal.  We live in divisive times. Should your religion/politics influence your writing?
As a Catholic I admit in my books this fact does come out a bit...I co-authored The Caged Bird Sings (a nun-in-training flees and I could related). I stayed clear from politics. But now... I fell into it. Between you and me? I am an Independent, former Democrat, and closet Republican. This is probably because I'm a middle child; dad a Republican, mom a Democrat. And I was the rebellious hippie chick growing up in the seventies. I finished co-authoring a romance novel (it has a lot of Asian racism in it and I love being a open-minded narrator). And this summer I'm working now on another strong relationship book which takes the reader back to the sixties' civil rights movement. It's a comfortable place for me to be and to write.

What are you working on now? 
I helped co-author a 2-in-1 contemporary romance novel.  Now, ah. I am marketing a Carl Sagan-ish science book I co-wrote. It is so artsy and amazing!   I'm time traveling back in time to many regions I've been...  I love sharing my stories from on the road with a dog or dog-less (that's tough) and linking it to the topic to make it a fun, lively read from the heart. 
Anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
Good news! I'm always crushing on the Pacific Northwest. Cabin fever has hit since the pandemic grounded me. It is almost time to flee, perhaps to somewhere warm or back to Alaska or Hawaii (again). In May I booked a trip for Alaska in the fall. As I look at the northern lights artwork on my bedroom wall I hope this journey happens. If not, I'll rebook for 2023.
Gentrification is ruining Tahoe, my home for
almost two decades. Advice for young writers? 
Live life! Your experiences will take you where you are supposed to be in the writing world. Example: The Healing Powers of Honey will be released June 28, 2022. It is chock-full of road trips I took with my dog when I was free and like a wayward honey bee. This book is close to me--it is me thriving amid nature and at my best mentally and physically alive. And now people can listen to my tales!

Slim Down with Spicy Superfoods with Flavor!

 By Cal Orey

UPDATE: Newsmax is offering The Healing Powers of Herbs and Spices as a GIFT BOOK. And it will debut in the July issue of Newsmax Magazine! Yes! It is in the issue...

Plus, The Healing Powers of  Herbs & #Spices: Timeless Treasures is on sale at BarnesandNoble website -- 2.99 for the first time!...Summer Special!

This gem made its way through the news. On April 7, an article interviewing the author Cal Orey hit Huffington Post...and the piece was picked up by New York Daily, NY Daily Post, City Buzz, and even more online mags and newspapers! 

The new and timely release (yes, McCormick recently shared its Old Bay Seasoning is "hot"). People are still home-cooking more than ever! The reader-friendly book is now in more than 87 libraries worldwide (multiple copies, checked out); Woman's World Book Club approved Feb. 1 issue; reviewed by Booklist; 100% like it on Goodreads; major media outlet is on board carrying copies; Walmart gave it a Best Seller banner for 2 weeks; Best Seller in top 100 health books on Amazon this month; featured in magazines/newspapers...and the year is young. #9 (Series) The book that'll whisk you away!

Product ImageBest SellerProduct TitleThe Healing Powers of Herbs and Spices (Walmart website)Cal OreyISBN10: 0806540486ISBN: 9780806540481Format:Paperback


The mega-popular Healing Powers series from bestselling nutrition writer Cal Orey continues with its 9th installment, The Healing Powers of Herbs and Spices, exploring the many ways fresh herbs in your fridge and dried spices in your kitchen cupboard can provide medicinal powers, home cures, weight loss benefits, beauty treatments, and adventurous flavors and textures to enhance plant-based dishes. 
And during the pandemic there is a spice surge because of the home-cooking comeback! The key to vibrant health for all generations is in your kitchen...
Anise, bay leaf, garlic, parsley, turmeric, and more (I use a lot of the McCormick classic brand) --for thousands of years, herbs and spices have been praised for preserving and flavoring food, as well as preventing and curing illnesses. The latest research reveals that the seasonings already in your pantry--or easily found fresh in your supermarket or garden--can lower your risk for cancer, heart disease, and obesity. This A-to-Z guide catalogues the most popular and versatile herbs and spices, drawn from the Mediterranean Diet but suitable for any diet plan. You will learn how to harness herbalism to heal your body and mind.

Discover how to use nature's gifts including allspice, chives, fennel, oregano, pepper, tarragon, saffron, and special blends like Herbes de Provence to:

●Bring abundant zest to your table while lowering your cholesterol, balancing your blood sugar, and revving up your metabolism--at any age!
●Ward off colds and flu, banish a hacking cough, and even ease PMS or menopause woes, by adding tasty plant therapy to your favorite food or drink.
●Lessen your anxiety and boost your mood with aromatic natural ingredients found in dried and fresh flavorings.
●Soothe aches and pains without harmful side effects--and trigger feel-good endorphins--using sweet and savory garnishes, including edible flowers.
●Create in-home spa treatments using the same herbal potions featured at luxury spa resorts.
Caraway Breadsticks, anyone? How about Cilantro Lime Slaw, Herbal Greek Bean Soup, or Roasted Paprika Cornish Hens? With over 50 taste-tempting recipes, along with personal stories and fascinating historical anecdotes on medicinal uses dating back to biblical times, The Healing Powers of Herbs and Spices is your go-to guide to embracing limitless energy and healthy longevity while feasting on memorable meals full of aroma and deliciousness!

Out in the Field with Honey Bees

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet
I didn't get to visit Tasmania or even go to Bakersfield. I passed on visiting honey shops state by state, across America, as one individual suggested I do. Nor did I fly, from bee farm to bee farm, around the world to meet beekeepers and their honey bees. Still, I did go out into the field like a forager bee, and it was my day to meet Italian and Russian honey bees face-to-face…


By 10 a.m., both Seth and Simon, my Brittanys, are dropped off at my vet's kennel for the day while I and my sibling set out on our way to Reno for a day of honey delights. My brother Bruce and I are driving from South Lake Tahoe. There aren't any beekeepers around the lake, probably due to the snow. I don't think the high altitude bothers honey bees.
Hidden Valley Honey
Like two disoriented honey bees, my sibling Bruce and I get lost in rural Reno. It is windy. My sinuses are pesky, complete with a headache and sniffles. At last, we arrive at beekeeper Chris Foster's home away from the feel of the city, and I feel a calm of country.

I am greeted by Chris Foster, one nature-friendly man who is a former director of molecular biology at a small firm. Nowadays, the scientist gone beekeeper and his wife, Karen, are busy living working with their prized possessions: honey bees. In the house, I am also welcomed by a German wirehair, a sporting dog that puts me at ease. Everywhere I look there are reminders
that I'm visiting a beekeeper. Bee books, fresh fruit, and jars of honey are all over. Chris tells me that his alfalfa from the Nevadan desert area produces a thick honey that doesn't spoil.

The beekeeper on a mission to expand his 60 colonies to more than 200 explains to me that he usually extracts honey twice a year. Fascinated by the bee-to-honey process, I cannot help but be distracted by the living room window. Outdoors I see a large backyard with bees warming freely around supers (the white boxes bees live in). A constant movement and buzzing outside in the one-acre backyard has grabbed my attention.

I see bees flying hither and thither. I thought they'd all be tucked away in a hive. Funny, though, the dog isn't bothered by the insects-and neither am I. Chris insists honey bees are gentle creatures. I believe him. I'm beginning to sense that this day is not going to be a chilling Killer Bees! Or Swarmed sci-fi film sequel. Instead, I'm feeling a sense of calm like Lily Owens, a character who finds solace in the world of beekeeping in the film The Secret Life of Bees.

The night before, I watched the movie Outbreak (Kevin Spacey's protective gear tears and he's infected with a deadly virus). So, I figure, Why wear a bee veil? A bee could crawl up my jeans and sting me if it wanted to do it. I think, I didn't wear flowery perfume or bright colors like a flower. They'll ignore me. My brother passes on going outside. (He doesn't like scary movies or honey bees.)

I follow Chris outside. I walk amid the bees. I have entered Beeworld. I secretly wish that I, too, could nurture workers and drones-and queens. That's when he asked me to come face-to-face with his 25 new queens … but hey, I think, I am doing fine. No stings yet. Why push the envelope? I do not peek inside the containers of buzzing honey bees.

Back inside the house, we chat about local beekeepers. I am given taper candles, lip balm, and a jar of fresh local honey-with promise for helping my sinuses and allergies. Chris tells me that a lot of the honey he sells at the farmers' market is to people who buy the alfalfa honey to stave off allergies. I want to believe the honey bees that didn't sting me will be my saviors.

Bruce and I pick up the Brittanys, and by six o clock we are back home in South Lake Tahoe. When I walk up to the doorstep I see a big cardboard box with the label “Magnolia Honey.” I feel like a bee entering her hive. Outside my kitchen window I admire the splash of yellow wildflowers. And like a preserving worker bee I find the perfect wildflower honey recipe to take me abroad.

UPDATE: The Healing Powers of Honey (Kensington/Tantor) will be available in audiobook format June 28 and found at your favorite online bookstore, including Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and more!

Tea and Honey for June--National Iced Tea Month

 Tea(s) with Your Honey...

By Cal Orey

For centuries, people all around the world have enjoyed the simple, soothing pleasures of a good cup of tea with a good teaspoon of honey, and nowadays there is more reason to so do. Tea(s)—all kinds--especially with honey, but together they pack a punch of nutritional and health benefits.             Medical doctors, nutritionists, scientists and beekeepers are now confirming what healers have been saying for since biblical times—teas and honeys have a variety of healing powers.

             Here are my favorite tea and honey marriages—but there are infinite combinations for both you and me to try. There is no right or wrong combination and what’s sweet to you makes honey-tea beverages a sweet sip.
1. Black Tea:  The first tea I was introduced to was basic black tea—which does contain caffeine—and I have enjoyed it plain but realized it did need a sweet flavor boost to it.  Also, Earl Grey and English breakfast teas (perfect for an Irish breakfast, complete with fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, and scones) are part of the Black Tea group.

Best Honey Matches:  Basswood has a distinct flavor that I’ve used in plain yogurt for a rich flavor and it can give black tea a kick, too. Sourwood boasts a caramel taste that can make a common black tea come to life with taste. Earl Grey teams well with avocado, blueberry, and eucalyptus honeys, too. It’s more exotic and exciting than just a simple all-purpose clover honey that comes without pleasant surprises.

2. Green Tea:  Touted for its wide array of health virtues, this Asian tea does contain caffeine, like black tea, but not as much. It’s an acquired taste and that’s where honey comes into play so you can get the best of taste and nutritional benefits. 

Best Honey Matches:  Blueberry honey has a fruity taste which can give a nice kick to green tea, not the most flavorful tea.  Sage honey is mild, a California favorite of mine that brings out the best of green tea.

3.  Fruit Tea—Welcome to lemon, orange, rose hips, and apple teas. These fruity teas are sweet and sometimes tart, which call for a honey sidekick.

Best Honey Matches:  Mild flavored honeys such as sage and alfalfa brings out the best in fruit teas because it doesn’t overpower the fruity taste but maintains the integrity of the fruit flavor.

 4. Herbal Tea—Herbal teas come from a variety of plants other than the tea plant. They are made from the leaves, berries, flowers, fruits and bark of herbs and spices.
Although most herbal teas do not contain the antioxidant properties of real tea, they do possess other good-for-you compounds that can enhance your health and well-being. There is a wide range of herbal teas, including ginseng, cinnamon, licorice, and mint.

Rooibos (roy-boss) is the “new” herbal tea on the block—that is often called “Red Tea.” Like green and black teas, this tea contains antioxidants that make it heart-healthy and immune-enhancing—and it’s caffeine free.

Best Honey Matches: Teaming earthy and warm herbal teas go well with a mild alfalfa, clover, orange blossom, and sage honeys—common honeys that complement distinct herbal flavors. 

5. Oolong Tea—This tea, popular in Asian countries, contains health perks of both black and green teas. A robust flavored-tea that can have a sweet taste lends to different honeys. 

Best Honey Matches: Oolong, not a tea familiar to me, was easy to try with a friendly California orange blossom honey with its citrusy sweet taste. Another oolong mate is tupelo honey its light amber color and herbal, fruity flavors.

6. White Tea—And last but not least welcome to this pale tea. Found in China it is believed to rank number one for its antioxidants. It’s a bit sweet and mellow. It’s the new tea on the block for tea lovers.

Best Honey Matches:  Fireweed honey is light colored and smooth, like white tea—the two complement each other. Wildflower, one of my favorite mild honeys also goes nicely with white tea.

            As a devout tea drinker, I believe your choice of honey and tea is a personal choice—like pairing dark chocolate with different fruits, herbs and spices. The selection also depends on the season to your mood. But popular and friendly honeys, such as clover and orange blossom are suitable any time, any place because they are not too strong and will not overpower teas—all types—and you can’t go wrong for yourself or if you’re serving other people.Excerpt: From The Healing Powers of Honey and Tea books by Cal Orey, published by Kensington Books, mass market format 2018. All rights reserved.UPDATE: newsmax.com/tea GIFT BOOK take a peek inside! The Healing Powers of Tea and The Healing Powers of Honey will be available in audiobook format June 28!

Berry and Walnut Scones and Tea for National Iced Tea Month

 Cal Orey

Chillax with Scones and Iced Tea

Three summers ago, I was chilling in a hot tub after swimming. A tourist and I engaged in a conversation. When I shared my recent experiences at tearooms in Canada, her interest soared. She said, “My friend wants to open up a tearoom on the South Shore. What do you think?” There was a pregnant pause as I thought, “Gee, she stole my idea!” But as time passed, I arrived at the conclusion a tearoom may attract tourists in the winter for hot tea and summer for iced tea—but during off season a tearoom would be like an empty tea cup or two. And I told her that, speaking from experience and my heart, well, sort of.  But just because a tearoom may not be in the cards for the South Shore doesn’t mean enjoying vanilla petite scones at Starbucks or munching on homemade scones aren’t something to savor. So, since I  bought fresh berries and walnuts, they were used in this tearoom chat-inspired recipe. It’s truly easy to make, will please folks of all ages—and gender (not just fussy women) because they are countrified and well, real food.
Summer Scones 2 ½ cups cake flour, sifted (a bit extra for cutting board)

¼ cup granulated white sugar

1 cup low-fat buttermilk, premium brand

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 stick European style butter, cold, cubed

½ cup walnuts, chopped 3/4 cup dried cranberries, or fresh blueberries, raspberries 2 teaspoons orange or lemon rind (optional)

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted (for sprinkling tops after removed from oven)

In a bowl combine flour and sugar. Add buttermilk and vanilla. Fold in butter, nuts, and berries.  On a floured cutting board mold the dough into a circle. Place on a plate and put into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Remove and slice the circle like a pizza into 6 triangles. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake scones in a 425 degree oven for 18 minutes or until bottom of scones are light brown. Do not overbake. Dust with sugar. Makes 6 medium scones or 12 mini sized ones.

Using cake flour makes these scones have a light texture. The fresh berries is a naturally sweet delight as we near wintertime. The powdered sugar is a nice touch and most of you hope it’s foreshadow for snowy days ahead. These scones with nature’s berries and nuts are a sweet pleasure to eat and share any time, day or night. Pair it with a cup of cocoa topped with whipped cream and a candy cane or a cup of hot ginger, peppermint, pumpkin spice or chamomile tea. Because they are rustic mountain-style food and not a perfect and dainty cookie cutter shape, you’ll enjoy them all the more whether you’re a local or tourist.

— Cal Orey, M.A., is an author and journalist. Her books include the Healing Powers Series (Vinegar, Olive Oil, Chocolate, Honey, Coffee, and Tea) published by Kensington. (The collection has been featured by the Good Cook Book Club.)  Her website is www.calorey.com 

The New Healing Powers of Tea author wrote The Healing Powers of Vinegar, 3rd edition...Today, it is #1 bestselling book on kobo/amazon--1.99 sale price!
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)#1 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Alternative Medicine > Naturopathy#1 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Alternative Medicine > Healing#1 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Cooking by Ingredient > Natural Foods

#1 Bestseller -- The Healing Powers of Honey (It's the Immune-Boosting Antioxidant)

 By Cal Orey

Did you know?... Known as Mother Nature’s “nectar of the gods,” honey was praised for its healing powers as far back as 5,000 years ago by Egyptians.Drawing on the 21st century honey buzz, health author Cal Orey reveals enlightening honey home remedies, straight from the book The Healing Powers of Honey: A Complete Guide to Nature’s Remarkable Nectar!
UPDATE: The Healing Powers of Honey: The Healthy & Green Choice to Sweeten Packed with Immune-Boosting Antioxidants... 😊
Today, it's got the banner on at Amazon! (Again!) Part of: Healing Powers (7 Books)#1 Best Seller in Antioxidants & Phytochemicals (and other categories; paperback/ebook)Here are 10 common health ailments from A to Z and amazing at-home honey cures. These are tried-and-true folk remedies based on scientific studies, real-life stories, medical doctors, researchers, and beekeepers. But caution, consult your health-care practitioner before putting to work any honey cure.

1 ALLERGIES (Stop seasonal misery): Dealing with annoying sneezing, a runny nose, and coughing is no picnic, thanks to seasonal pollen. But honey may come to your rescue.What Honey Rx to Use:  Try eating a tablespoon of locally produced honey. Proponents of honey tell me that your immune system will get used to the local pollen in it (it should be within a 50-mile radius from where you live).

Why You’ll Bee Happy:  By taking the honey cure, you may lose your allergy symptoms. It’s worth the effort and is less pricey than a visit to the doctor or an allergist. Honey may enhance the immune system to build up a better arsenal against airborne allergens—and help you breathe easier. Honeycomb may line the entire breathing tract.

2 ANXIETY (Beat the jitters monster): When anxiety hits (often worsened by stress) you know it like when an earthquake strikes. Anxiety can wreak havoc on your nervous system and up your odds of experiencing heart disease, stress eating, and other health problems.

What Honey Rx to Use: If you’re under pressure and feeling high anxiety or sense a stressful event is in the works, make a cup of chamomile tea. Put in 1 teaspoon of your favorite honey. Repeat twice a day as needed.

Why You’ll Bee Happy:  Honey—all hundreds of varietals—is touted by folk medicine healers for its calming effects. The natural superfood can help sooth your nerves rather than put you in higher anxiety mode. The relief if provides may be due to its multiple vitamin B content—anti-stress vitamins.

3  COUGH (Outfox irritating hacking):  A cough is another unwelcome visitor and can make you feel terrible. Let’s face it, cough medicine can be pricey, doesn’t taste good, and may or may not do its job.

What Honey Rx to Use:  A teaspoon of buckwheat honey is recommended before bed. Or you can make syrup of 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon honey, and 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Repeat each remedy as needed.

Why You’ll Bee Happy:  A group of Penn State College of Medicine researchers discovered that honey may be the cure. The findings showed that buckwheat honey at bedtime was more powerful for curing a cough in children than a cough suppressant found in over-the-counter medications. It is believed that honey will act as a sedative to the nervous system.

4 ENERGY DRAIN (Beat low energy): Getting your cough under control is a good thing, but then what if your energy plummets?  Liquid gold may be the answer again.

What Honey Rx to Use: Each morning include a teaspoon of bee pollen in your breakfast. Go ahead and take it solo. Or try The Honey Association’s Energy Drink recipe:  ¼ pint orange juice, ¼ pint natural yogurt, 2 tablespoons clear honey. Place all the ingredients in a liquidizer and blend until smooth. Pour into two tall glasses. Serves two people.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: Honey is a source of natural unrefined sugars and carbohydrates, which are easily absorbed by the body. That means, you’ll get a quick energy boost with long-lasting effects. Athletes include it in their daily diets. It was even used by runners at the Olympic Games in ancient Greece.

5 HEADACHE (Bye-bye, pain): Fatigue and headaches are not to be taken with a grain of salt, because it can hurt oh, so bad. There are different types of headaches, and some kinds may benefit from the honey bee’s gift.

What Honey Rx to Use:  One cup of tea with 1 teaspoon of honey (the darker the varietal the better) is the remedy. Repeat as needed. Also, drink plenty of water and relax.

Why You’ll Bee Happy:  “The way honey might work for tension headaches,” says New York Headache Center’s Alex Mauskop, M.D., “is by treating hypoglycemia, which can cause tension and migraines.” He adds that some antioxidants can help prevent headaches, as can magnesium and vitamin B. So turning to antioxidant-rich honey may be a sweet remedy.

6 INSOMNIA  (Find sweet dreams): Getting rid of a headache is a challenge, but not getting adequate shut-eye can have long-term effects, too.

What Rx to Use: Take 1 or 2 teaspoons of your favorite honey, especially before going to bed. Try sipping a cup of 2 percent low-fat milk with a dash of cinnamon. The tryptophan in milk will help to calm you.

Why You’ll Bee Happy:  It’s a magic trick, according to The Honey Revolution author Ron Fessenden, M.D., providing needed glycogen to the liver so the brain doesn’t go in search of extra fuel in the earl A.M. hours when you should be in Dreamland. “Consuming honey before bedtime also reduces the release of  adrenaline, a catecholamine that raises blood pressure and heart rate,” adds the honey guru.

7 SORE THROAT (Take the sting away): Not sleeping is miserable, but a sore throat can drag you down, too, where don’t feel like walking or talking. Honey has been used as a home for centuries to help sooth one of the symptoms associated with a common cold—namely, a killer sore throat.

What Honey Rx to Use:  For relief of symptoms, take a spoonful of your buckwheat honey, as often as you need, to relieve irritation. In between, sip a cup of tea with honey. Also, try pure honeycomb and honey sticks. Don’t forget all-natural honey-lemon lozenges, which also coat the throat for quick relief.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: One, honey will coat your sore throat, the symptom of the cause. Two, the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties will help heal the culprit causing your pain.

8 WAIST WHITTLER (Blast belly fat): Twitches to tummy bulge… if you have a bulging tummy, you’d probably consider a sore throat is easier to get rid of. But wait; there are things you can do to get a flat tummy.

What Honey Rx to Use:  Both morning and night, drink an 8-ounce glass or mug of tea (dandelion or parsley boasts diuretic effects), with a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Team this potion with grazing and watch your fat and sugar intake.

Why You’ll Bee Happy: Honey and apple cider vinegar contain the bloat-busting mineral potassium. Also, turning to honey will help you to eat fewer sugary treats and enjoy a flatter stomach.

What Kitty Knows--Earthquake Coming?

 ESP, Superior Senses, and Feline Intuition

UPDATE: 

Yesterday a wayward lion was found disoriented and alone in Pescadero, Northern California. I posted on Facebook and Twitter the sighting and noted: Earthquake? This morning a 4.1 jolt rumbled through the SF Bay Area. Yes, animals often can sense an imminent shaker and they will flee. I'm talking about birds, wildlife, and companion animals.

*News Segment Guest earthquake report by Cal Orey: Sunday June 5th, 10 pm. COAST TO COAST AM.

By Cal Orey
Did You Know?  After a disaster, animals need comforting too. Comfort your pet with kind words and lots of pats or hugs. If possible, according to the American Humane Society, provide a safe and quiet environment even if it’s not their own home.

Whether it’s ESP, superior senses, feline intuition or a change in routine, your cat may sense danger, and you should know about it.

            At noon on a stormy spring day in Austin, Texas, several household cats started acting strangely. “I was in bed watching the weather channel on TV,” recalls cat owner Janet Shon. “My cats wanted to hide underneath the covers.” The heavy rains and howling winds continued, causing panic in her house full of pets. Eventually, she put them into carriers to calm them, and took cover under the stairwell. “Usually, my cats don’t mind being in the crates during bad weather,” she says, “but this time, they were chatting nonstop and wanted to be next to me.”            Several hours later, on May 27, 1997, an extremely rare and dangerous tornado (classified as an F-5), with winds measuring over 260 mph, touched down 40 miles to the North of Shon in Jarrell, Texas. Twenty-seven people died in Jarrell. Multiple tornadoes also ripped through the Austin area, killing two people. “It took the roof off the Albertsons’ store,” says Shon with awe. She and her cats survived without a scratch.

            What made Shon’s cats react in such a way? Some say it’s ESP (extra sensory perception), or a sixth sense. Others claim cats aren’t gifted, just blessed with well-developed or heightened senses—scent, sound and sight, that are far superior to our own.

            However you see it, cats have earned their supernatural reputation throughout history. In ancient Egypt, felines were worshipped as gods, and killing a cat was a crime punishable by death. Even modern society gives credence to the idea that cats “know” things. During World War 11, “British families found that their cats were the best warning system for impending danger,” notes Dale Koppel, author of Amazing But True Cat Facts. “They showed unmistakable signs that something was about to happen even before the air sirens were sounded. Their hair would stand on end, or they’d spit or wail. Some would head straight for the nearest shelter.”

            Many people who live through terrible disasters—hurricanes, tornadoes, fires or earthquakes—believe their cats knew something before these disasters struck. But whether or not cats really predict danger is still an open debate. So, what will you do the next time Felix starts acting strange? Will you roll your eyes, or head for high ground? Read on and decide for yourself.

IS IT ESP?

  “Cats have an extraordinary ability to sense imminent earthquakes, usually ten to fifteen minutes before they occur,” explains Ed Lucaire, author of The Cat Lover’s Book of Facts: A Felicitous Look At Felines. “They exhibit nervous behavior such as pawing or scratching at doors and windows, and above-average concern with the safety of kittens.”

            In fact, California Geologist Jim Berkland has turned to lost cats and dogs to stranded whales and wayward birds to predict other big earthquakes, such as the infamous 7.1 Loma Prieta, California earthquake of October 17, 1989, which rumbled through the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 seconds and shook Candlestick Park in the middle of the World Series. Sixty-seven people died and more than 600 people were injured. He believes some cats hold mysterious psychic powers as well.  

FOUR-LEGGED WEATHER FORECASTERS

            So, what about hurricane warnings?  While scientists use wind patterns, barometric pressure, sea surface temperatures and other climate factors to predict hurricanes, fishermen watch their cats. In fact, cats have long been considered good luck on ships for their ability to ward off storms, sea monsters and ghosts. Europeans of the past centuries believed cats “knew” the way home and would reveal the direction by sleeping on the side of the ship that was closest to port.

            Gail Beecher, a veteran cat breeder from Needville, Texas, got a special warning before Tropical Storm Frances hit the Texas coast on September 9, 1998. Some of Beecher’s pregnant cats began to go into early labor. “When the barometer shifts during bad weather my cats always go into labor early,” she says. “I knew the storm was coming this way.” Wind speeds reached a maximum of 65 mph, and one person died due to the intense flooding of the Gulf Coast.

            “All cats are extraordinary sensitive to even the smallest changes in the weather,” writes Koppel who claims, “you can throw away your thermometers and stop watching weather forecasts on TV.” A resident of Kansas City, Missouri agrees, “I have noticed before a tornado (during thunder, wind, hail and lightning) animals do lie close to the ground and pant. The bigger and fatter the dog and cat, the more it seems to affect them. Also, they sometimes put their head on the floor.”

            According to Koppel, French fishermen watch their cats’ body language to get a weather report. “They watch their cats closely to predict weather changes,” he says. “Rain? Watch for your cat to pass her paw behind the ear during grooming. Windy? Your cat will clean her nose. Low tide? Wide pupils, of course. When will the bad weather end? When your cat twists and turns.”

            Sound silly? Perhaps not, says John C. Wright, PhD, certified animal behaviorist from Macon, Georgia, and author of Is Your Cat Crazy: Solutions from the Casebook of a Cat Therapist, who’s fascinated by it all. However, to be certain that this is a reliable weather source, Wright says, a group of cats and their body positions should be examined carefully in a weather study for conclusive scientific evidence. In other words, scientific studies are needed.

A CAT’S GOOD SENSE

Neil Tenzer, DVM, of Miami, Florida recalls that his five cats felt Hurricane Andrew’s fury before it arrived on August 25, 1992, with winds of up to 150 mph. Amid the chaos of his family putting shutters on the windows and gathering canned food and candles, explains Tenzer, his cats grew curious and upset about the change in their environment. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this category 4 hurricane caused 58 deaths and approximately $27 billion in damage. “It’s not that they predicted the hurricane—but they certainly sensed it was on its way,” Tenzer says.

            A former North Carolina resident agrees. She was in the path of Hugo as the hurricane headed toward Charlotte in 1989. Hurricane Hugo passed directly over Charleston, South Carolina, on September 21, as a category 5 storm with wind speeds in excess of 135 mph and a storm surge of nearly 20 feet. Hugo caused 57 deaths on the U.S. mainland (mostly in North and South Carolina) and 29 deaths in the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to NOAA records. Total damage: $9 billion. “I had indoor cats and barn cats there,” she recalls. Apparently, her cats share the same reaction to all severe storms. “Barn cats always seem to find shelter well ahead of a storm.” 

            Some argue that extrasensory perception is really just super senses. In the case of earthquakes, for example, cats may be sensitive to the earth’s vibrations and sound waves right before an earthquake hits, says geophysicist Bruce Presgrave, from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in Golden, Colorado. Other people suggest that cats are able to detect minute shifts in the earth’s magnetic field or in the earth’s magnetic field or in the earth’s static electricity, which occur before a jolt.

           

REACTING TO CHANGE                

            Most people recognize that cats (and dogs) like structure and don’t like change too much. Perhaps felines don’t “sense” danger, but are instead reacting to change in routine or environment. “It may be novelty of those particular cues, rather than the cat knows that this is danger,” says Wright. And often, it’s fear of the unknown. “Fear motivates cats to act out,” he adds. “When they can’t cope with the stimulus they go emotional on us. Sometimes these emotional responses lead cats to run over and over their escape routes or make some noise to get out.”

           Deputy Director Gary Grice of the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, relies on complex scientific theories and computers to forecast powerful twisters. However, “there is a possibility that animals react to the significant pressure changes of the atmosphere before a tornado hits,” he concedes.    The question remains, can feline barometers detect the difference between an impending hurricane or tornado? “Since there are similar weather phenomena associate with tornadoes and hurricanes, you’re likely to get the same reaction out of cats because they are reacting to the same kinds of things,” explains Wright.            “Although there’s research that’s ongoing in different areas, when your life is on the line and you have to depend on something so you get out of harm’s way, the clear answer now is to heed the warnings that are issued by the National Weather Service and do what they say,” says Grice. He goes on to say that “scientists do not have a 100 percent track record for predicting disasters.” As for cats, Grice believes that are not perfect predictors either since it’s not known if they are responding to disaster precursors or if they are behaving strangely for other reasons. “Our success rate is much, much higher than what you’re getting from animals,” he says.

            Meanwhile, Shon wonders about her cats’ behavior before the deadly Texas tornado. Did they sense the nearby funnel clouds on the day of destruction? Was there a change in smell or pressure, or did Shon’s own behavior affect the cats? We’ll never really know. But at least some disaster experts are now realizing that some cats can sense impending gloom and doom. The question of whether cats can predict a cataclysm hours or days in advance requires more research.

            But since scientists admit they aren’t able to reliably predict earthquakes, fires, hurricanes and tornadoes, is it really so far-fetched to monitor cats and dogs?            Cat experts advise cat owners to do just that. “The cat’s first instinct is survival, and cats are the best survival machines Mother Nature has ever developed,” concludes Eric Swanson, author of Hero Cats: True Stories of Daring Feline Deeds. Whether cats are gifted with some kind of sight, or not—felines continue to inspire a spiritual nature that cat-lovers respond to. What they actually see, and what we see in their eyes is impossible to say.

            Consider what the late Jeane Dixon wrote in her book Do Cats Have ESP? “In the dark, [cats’ mysterious eyes] seem to hover alone, disembodied and shining brightly on the darkest of nights. Ancient people believed the cat had captured a piece of the sun which it called up at will to see in the dark.”

Get Prepared

No matter how smart and intuitive cats are, they can only protect themselves so far, says a spokesperson for the disaster services of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). So, plan ahead. Here are some tips:

1.If you evacuate, do not leave your cat [or dog] behind.

2. Cats should wear a collar and up-to-date I.D. tag at all times.

3. Have a backup plan in case you aren’t home when disaster hits. Contact friends and family members now to ask if they would be willing to get your cat and meet you at a prearranged place.

4. Find out where you can go or board your cat for temporary housing. Most emergency shelters will not allow cats.

5. Pack a disaster kit for your cat that includes food and water, bowls, leashes, carriers, a list of phone numbers, vaccination records, required medications, cat litter and a cat box. 

Here Come the Super Solar Storms!

 By Cal Orey

 

Super Solar Storms

 

Back in January, the Oracle 20/20 annual forecasts column included solar events. I wrote: “What else is in the stars” – and surprises are in store. I’m talking a major, earthshaking solar event--solar flares may be the culprit or something related. Now this could be a minor solar storm or a shutdown the Earth event. That means, blackouts, communication lines affected, to disturbance for airline flights and road travel. The solar storm may wreak havoc for a while that’ll affect the world.”

     

Indeed, my projection came to fruition, sort of. In the month of April it happened! A solar event made international news. We got forecasts just like before a thunderstorm. Then, we got lights and action! Read on to find out more about the solar event that everyone was talking about.

 

So, What Happened in April 2022?

According to one internet article headline: “NASA: Massive solar storm hits Earth, sparks VHF radio blackout in Asia, Australia.” Evidently, a huge solar flare erupting on the surface of the Sun sent a solar storm toward the Earth on April 17.

Meanwhile, the author of The Evolutionary Cosmos: Outside-In Thinking the Universeexplains the solar storm: “Scientists know that our Sun had just past a solar minimum, so they were expecting to see increased sunspots and other solar activity like flares and coronal mass ejections (CME).” he explains. “Solar flares are constantly observed by the GOES spacecraft which detects the X-rays that always come with solar flares. M-level and X-level flares are of the most concern because they can be associated with large CMEs that can hit the Earth and destroy electrical systems in space and on the Earth’ s surface.” 

Furthermore, Westberg notes that between March 30th and April 30th, 2022, there was four of the strongest X-level flares which was unusual because none happened in the previous three months. He points out, “Three of the four X-level flares happened in the last half of April, which also had many M-level flares. It was like the Sun had lit up all over its surface in the last half of April. This is something that would not be surprising at or near a solar maximum, but the Sun is just coming out of a solar minimum.”

     

Westberg continues, “Based on what was happening on the sun our scientists knew that CMEs could reach Earth between 14 hours and three days after the associated flare happens. So, they let us know that there was a good chance that we could get hit-- and we were hit. In the last half of April there were three radio blackouts and disruption of phone services along with satellite systems.”

     

What’s more, blame it on the unique alignment of planets and stars with our Sun. “What was unknown to most of our scientists is this was caused by an unusual conjunction of six of our eight solar system planets with 31 nearby stars.” Adds Westberg who calls this a conjunction swarm, “This scenario may not ever happen again because it will take so long for the planet alignment to make a repeat performance, that the stars will have moved. The planets and nearby stars conjunction cluster peaked on about April 15th of 2022 and this was the cause of the unusual solar activity in the last half of April.” But solar storms and their effects have a history way, way back to the 19th century.

 

 

The Carrington Event

As the story goes, a British astronomer named Richard Carrington saw a sudden flash of intense white light from the areas of sunspots. The Carrington Event was an intense geomagnetic storm in September 1859.

During this event, as history tells it, the night sky in North America lit up like daylight. Spikes of electricity surged in the world’s telegraph system (used for transmitting messages from a distance along a wire) and nobody could communicate. It created auroral shows around the globe and caused sparking to fires in telegraph stations. The storm was the result of a CME from the Sun colliding with the Earth's magnetosphere (a strong magnetic field that surrounds our planet).

Solar storms, like the Carrington Event, can blast out huge clouds of electrified gas and dust up to two million miles an hour. If high-energy blasts of particles reach Earth, they can distort and disrupt Earth’s magnetic field. Indeed, a solar event of this magnitude in the 21st century could cause widespread changes and damage as well as visual effects that are amazing…

 

Sensational Solar Light Show

The Sun has fascinating features: solar flares, coronal mass ejections, action regions, and solar wind. Solar flares happen in areas that have active regions and will out of the blue appear as bright spots. According to NASA experts, these flares can cause high-energy particles to emit from the Sun, which can wreak havoc on astronauts and cause damage to satellites orbiting Earth. Solar flares emit bursts of electromagnetic radiation, including high-energy X-rays and gamma rays. The energy released by one flare can be more powerful than a million nuclear bombs. These particles can also damage electronic components and affect radio signals.

Next up are solar winds. The Sun is so powerful and energetic that it creates a type of wind that travels through the Solar System. The power of the solar wind varies on the activity of the surface on the Sun, whereas Earth is protected from solar wind by its strong magnetic field.

Finally, are the beautiful Northern Lights aka aurora borealis. These lights seen in the dark on a clear night are caused by the solar wind hitting Earth's atmosphere. The vibrant, moving colorful lights--green, purple, and white--are usually visible in the northern hemisphere. Northern Lights are often viewed in regions such as Alaska and Canada, in November to March. The auroras happen in a band know as the auroral zone, which happens when solar activity is high. It's bet to check out the kp index (a measurement of electromagnetic activity in the atmosphere). If a reading is of two or higher, you're more likely to view a solar light show. Note: It was reported in the news that on April 9 an airline passenger saw the light show while in flight to Anchorage, Alaska. (Sadly. in December 2019 I missed the show due to extreme cloud cover.)

            As you can see clearly now, solar storms are nothing new. While April 2022 was an intriguing month due to the storm hitting our planet Earth, this is not the first time a solar event occurred, nor will it be the last one.

 

6 Strange Universe Anomalies Linked to the Sun

So, if a geomagnetic solar event happens on Earth—how will it affect life as we know it.? Well, glitches could happen on Earth. Here is what may happen during the next solar storm in the twenty-first century:

·       A mega internet outage, which means computers at home and work can be affected causing problems for lack of communication and its effects…

·       And cell phone outages are not unusual.

·       Possible damage to satellites can occur.

·       Disabled communications by radio and TV are not impossible.

·       Blackouts can happen. (In the thriller film Trigger Effect, it shows the dire consequences of society and its chain reactions during a widespread and long power outage in Southern California.

            Excerpts from The Evolutionary Cosmos: Outside-In Thinking the Universe (Published by AuthorHouse, 2022) by Richard Westberg and Cal Orey.

Richard Westberg is a veteran science devotee and forward thinker. He holds a B.A, and he became interested in physics, and has perfected his self-taught passion for astronomy and space sciences.

Cal Orey, M.A., is an accomplished author-journalist and novelist. She penned the popular Healing Powers Series. Visit her website at www.calorey.com .