Cal Orey's Blog, page 61

Spring is in the Air! 20 Tips to Freshen Your Home

By Cal Orey

Spring has sprung. It’s time to lighten up, with cleaning and feng shui--the ancient Chinese art of placement. By embracing springtime and bringing inside changes you can feel peace and harmony. Read on--you can enjoy renewal by changing things up room by room in your home for the change of seasons--and don't forget to put on a pot of tea and enjoy spring flowers.

Kitchen1 Use Earth-friendly or green cleaners. Think vinegar and olive oil. It's time to clean your kitchen from top to bottom to be clean like a clean beehive. If you keep it eco-friendly it will provide you with better health and energy.

2  Declutter your kitchen counters. Remove everything and wash down with white vinegar and water.  Getting rid of things you don't use will up your energy. You will feel lighter with less kitchen baggage.

3  Clean out the pantry. Check out the expiration dates of cereals, oils, dried and canned goods. Out with the old and replenish with new items to pair with lighter, spring dishes… Toss old dried herbs and spices and add new ones. (Their shelf life is one to a few years unlike fresh seasonings that may only last a few days to a week.) 

4 … Add fresh salads, sandwiches, and smoothies, and tea--which can help you lighten up in mind and body for the new season when we shed winter weight and wear lighter clothing.

5 Clean the refrigerator, stovetop and oven. This is a chore, but it feels clean and fresh once you tackle each job. Use vinegar and water.

Dining Room/Living Room6 Boost your mood with plants. To help wipe out pollutants in your kitchen--like beekeepers do with their colonies--fill your window sills with healthy, hardy, happy plants (i.e., cactus and philodendrons).

7 Fish, fish, fish. Goldfish can bring you good luck and prosperity. In fact, nine is the lucky number (and so are eight)…

8 Refresh the water and do a partial fish aquarium cleanup. It will provide positive energy in the room as well as keep your fish happy and healthy. Replace the filters, and add new rock.

9 Bring out the fresh fruit and vegetables. Keep healthful seasonal fruits on display and ready to use. Citrus (such as lemons and oranges) are good for the kitchen counters and artichokes for the dining room and green apples look nice in the living room.

Bedroom(s)10 Replace darker colored sheets and comforters with a lighter color and material. Fresh white or light grey cotton with a high thread count can boost your mood and help you get better sleep.

11 If there is clutter, remove it. Clean counters give a space a cleaner feel, a lighter mood.

12 Switch framed artwork and photos with more of a springtime look. Think flowers, and colors like green, white, and blue instead of darker hues or go for Mediterranean look with navy blue, dark orange, accent colors of gold and black.

Study

13 It’s the perfect time to replenish your work room with new items. That means refresh this room into a sanctuary. Add fresh paper, pencils, pens, and cartridges for your printer. Clean up your desktop on your computer…

14 Clean the desk and keep it simple. Add a vase and put branches with springtime blossoms in it for a fresh, fragrant look and scent.

Bathroom

15 Switch dark colored towels with fresh, fluffy white, blue, or green ones.

16 Also, you may want to change your bath mat to a lighter material and color, perhaps a natural, grassy texture.

17 Open the bathroom cabinets and like the kitchen pantry, toss out any old items and replenish with new shampoo, cream rinse, and soaps… Springtime makeup should also be updated to new, seasonal colors.

Outdoors

18  Hang wind chimes to hear the wonderful sounds when spring winds blow…

19  Bring out the patio furniture. Add fresh pillows or seat cushions to give your yard a new, fresh look…

20  If you have a deck, sweep, hose down, and paint to give it an update and clean feel for the new season…and get a bird feeder hanger, fill with bird food.

Most importantly, it’s the time to get rid of cob webs, do a thorough vacuuming in every room (move the furniture), dust. and wash windows inside and outside, open them to let the sunshine and fresh air indoors. Then, sit down, exhale, enjoy your clean, decluttered surroundings and renewal of springtime!

NEW Interview! The Evolutionary Cosmos--the New Book on the Shelves!

 By Cal Orey

Hollywood Book Review: Richard Westberg and Cal Orey

The Evolutionary Cosmos

HBR:  Tell us a little bit about yourselves.

RW:  I am a self-taught science enthusiast. The most schooling in science I have had is in high school. I hold an armature extra ham license and have had working experience in the radio communications field over my lifetime. I have written a computer program in visual basic for my own use as well as sold the program to some of my competitors. I have rebuilt vehicle engines three times and a maintained a color television for my parents when I was a teen. So, I have mechanical, electrical and computer experience. I’m not a specialist in any field. I have a habit of moving my efforts to whatever interests me at the time.

CO: As a veteran journalist for countless magazines, I’ve learned how to convert scientific-ese into easy to digest information. It’s a gift to be able to rework a scientific thought into pretty words and metaphors so a millennial or baby boomer (and generations in between) will get it.

HBR:  What was the inspiration behind your book, “The Evolutionary Cosmos: Outside-in Thinking The Universe”?
RW: My son and I both wanted to know how things worked. This was mostly true for those things that man had not figured out yet like dark matter and gravity. In some cases we understood the current explanation but disagreed with it. As things progressed, we came to realize we were finding new truths that needed to be exposed to the scientific community for review. The best avenue we had for this was to write a book that told our story to date.

CO:  I was intrigued by Richard’s theories about our Universe. He reminded me of the late geologist Jim Berkland. Since I wrote the biography The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes, I thought, “This book will be like that, sort of.” I asked questions, he dished out amazing answers. Sometimes I’d have to say, “Please repeat. Think of me as a five-year-old.” That way I could understand the concept. The rest is history.

HBR:  What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
RW:  The message is we think we have found some new truths about the Universe. The theme is sometimes man needs to look at things from a fresh perspective in order to fully understand their world. Specialization needs to be mixed with generalization. In order to understand the significance of a puzzle piece you need to try to look at the whole puzzle.

CO:  I feel often people think about science-related events on Earth–which is good. However, this book allows the reader to look up–which is great. After all, there is a big, big ever-changing Universe not just one planet.

HBR:  What drew you into this particular subject?
RW:  I have always enjoyed thinking about big picture questions and my son and I would often discuss such things on the long drive to our annual fishing getaway.

CO:  Since I’ve been a kid, nature and ecology have been of great interest to me. Also, events including solar storms to dust storms are simply fascinating. So, when Richard presented me his idea for a book, I was on board the spacecraft (so to speak) and ready to explore the cosmos.

HBR:  If you had to craft a recognizable, easy to understand and simplified way of describing your book’s underlying scientific theory and method concerning two-dimensional magnetic mass and it’s relation to the planets, stars, and the universe as a whole, how would you describe it?
RW:  Our Universe is made up of mostly invisible one- and two-dimensional matter that can self-assemble into visible 3-dimensional matter and take any form that is stable. So, there is a fifth form of matter that underlays all other matter which I call Shaylik.

HBR:   In your book you comment on the stagnation that exists within the scientific community. How can scientists and scholars improve and inject some new life into the community as a whole when conducting scientific research? Are there ways of improving on the scientific method as a whole in order to better understand scientific theories that cannot overcome that final hurdle to become scientific discovery?
RW:  The scientific community needs to keep an open mind when confronted with an idea the is out of their comfort zone. Give every serious effort a chance for success.

HBR:  What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors and/or aspiring scientific minds out there?
RW:  For the aspiring scientist I strongly suggest a thorough generalized education first, then specialize for a while until you are not interested anymore.

CO:  New authors with science on the brain would do well if they own their unique thoughts and theories and not worry about the naysayers. Also, it’s a must to follow your heart and write off the cuff. This is the real stuff that has true grit.

HBR:  What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
RW:  My research will continue as long as I continue finding it exciting. I already have started eleven more chapters for a sequel to The Evolutionary Cosmos.

CO:  As a worker bee author I’ll always be busy at work on articles, columns, novels, and books. The word is, the creator of this new book is eager to add more chapters to this gem! Translation: A second edition may be out in a galaxy near you in the future.

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The Evolutionary Cosmos is Available Now in Our Universe! Coffee Table Book to Love!

 By Cal Orey

If you liked the sci-fi film Interstellar or The Core--you'll love The Evolutionary Cosmos!
About the Book

DISCOVER THE NEW WAY OF THINKING ABOUT OUR UNIVERSE! Intriguing facts that’ll surprise you . . . Did you know? • Some scientists admit that they haven’t made any major progress about how our Universe works for over 50 years. • It takes a novel approach to explain gravity as a physical phenomenon. • Take the journey into one- and two-dimensional realms of magnetism that lead to our three-dimensional world. • Find out how eddy currents are the reasons behind cryovolcanoes on the minor planet Ceres to solar flares on the Sun. • Get informed about Earth-threatening coronal mass ejections to global dust storms on Mars. 

This book provides a reader-friendly understanding of Einstein’s theory of time dilation to Darwin’s theory, past and present-day. Enjoy close encounters of how these interesting topics—and more!—come from outside-in thinking using existing new science data and logical thinking. Written from the perspective of a science enthusiast and progressive thinker, flanked by a veteran Earth-changes science writer, this book is one of a kind. A fascinating read, and cutting-edge findings make this gem a page-turner. Included are insightful theories to down-to-earth interesting anecdotes, along with must-have tools for you to find out more about Outer space. A candid and witty must-read. The Evolutionary Cosmos deserves two thumbs up for dishing out fresh ideas about the ever-changing Universe. This is a timeless gift book for anyone (of any age).

About the Author

RICHARD M. WESTBERG is a science devotee and forward thinker. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Long Beach State College. After high school, he became interested in physics, and since then has perfected his self-taught passion for astronomy and space sciences. He learned how to repair TVs and have a handle on radio communication, and is a Carl Sagan enthusiast. A native of Southern California, he resides in Arizona.

CAL OREY is a best-selling author-journalist. She has a master’s degree in English from San Francisco State University. Her books include the hugely popular Healing Powers book series (containing scientific studies). She penned The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes, writes a monthly Earth Changes column for Oracle 20/20 Magazine, and is a frequent News Segment Earth-changes radio guest on “Coast to Coast AM.” She is a native Californian. www.calorey.com.

The Healing Powers of Tea and Honey Books: Recipes to Dump Pandemic Pounds by Summer! Effortlessly!

 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 by Cal Orey, published by Kensington Books, mass market format 2018. All rights reserved.

Freshen Up! Says the Author of The Healing Powers of Herbs and Spices

    By Cal Orey

UPDATE: *It's time. Yes! Purchase fresh herbs for fish, pasta, and salad. But don't ignore dried herbs and spices. Their shelf life is much longer than fresh seasonings (budget-friendly)...Mid-Springtime is a perfect time to replenish those cans and jars of your faves... Herbs and spices can last up to a few years but sometimes the aroma and flavor will be less than more. So, freshen up!
Meanwhile, Newsmax is offering The Healing Powers of Herbs and Spices as a GIFT BOOK. And it was unveiled last summer in the July issue of Newsmax Magazine! Yes! It was in the issue... The Healing Powers of  Herbs & #Spices And it was also given kudos on the Walmart website with a Best Seller banner (again)! It's the go-to guide for spring-summer 2022... Plus, Herbs and Spices has now made its way into 119 libraries worldwide (plus dozens of branches)! 'Tis the season(ing) to spice it up for heart, immune health and to slim down and healthy up year-round.

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!

Pacific Book Review: The Evolutionary Cosmos

 By Cal Orey

The Evolutionary Cosmos: Outside-in Thinking The Universe Title: The Evolutionary Cosmos: Outside-in Thinking The Universe

Author: Richard Westberg and Cal Orey
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1-6655-5471-8
Pages: 126
Genre: New Non-Fiction
Reviewed by: Jack Chambers

PACIFIC BOOK REVIEW

Read Book Review

While the events of our world and our personal lives are truly important to our understanding of the Universe, in the grand scale of what this Universe is, our world is but one tiny percentage of what reality has become over the millennia. While there is nothing wrong with placing importance on things which truly matter to us, being able to understand our place in the Universe and being able to step back and realize we are not the center of the universe itself is an important tool as we get older. As Carl Sagan once said, “Our posturing, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.”

In authors Richard Westberg and Cal Orey’s The Evolutionary Cosmos: Outside-in Thinking The Universe, the authors take readers through an exploratory and thought-provoking journey into the understanding of the Universe as a whole. An at-home yet thoroughly researched examination of the Universe, the authors set out to show how the mass of the Universe, magnetic lines of force, atoms, planets, stars, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies can be made up of two mirror image pieces of two-dimensional magnetic mass. A blend of their own research and existing data which can be corroborated online, the authors explores the concept which our modern understanding of science has stagnated, and a new approach to the subject could be what the world needs to better understand the Universe and its properties as a whole.

This scientific and thoughtful read was mesmerizing. The authors expertly crafted a book which felt both personal and educational all at once. The concepts and ideas which the authors relayed felt brand new – yet built upon some fascinating scientific concepts that already existed. The authors did a great job of crafting the tone and scientific terminology together in a way everyone would be able to understand and follow, and even included a great source of references and definitions of those scientific terms at the end of the book.

The book is absolutely the best pick for readers who are looking for non-fiction reads which delve into science, in particular non-fiction science reads that deal with space, the Universe, and the properties which make up our Universe as a whole. As a space and Universe enthusiast, it was fascinating to see the authors’ take on this subject and the exploration of new ideas and concepts in a field which has been pretty stagnant for a number of years.

Captivating, engaging, and gripping, authors Richard Westberg and Cal Orey’s The Evolutionary Cosmos: Outside-in Thinking The Universe is a must-read non-fiction science book that cannot be missed this year. The unique perspective the authors bring and the very personal approach the message takes as the lessons and educational aspects play into the authors own experiences make this a fantastic book that readers won’t be able to put down.

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The Carrington Event(s) -- Will the Past Repeat Itself? A Mega Blackout?

 CHAPTER 12 

Electrifying the Earth 

There is peace even in the storm. ―Vincent van Gogh, 

The Letters of Vincent van Gogh Imagine this scenario: A man witnessed an eventful storm. He viewed a very large solar flare “megaflare” and was the first to realize the link between activity on the Sun and geomagnetic disturbances on Earth. The storm was coined the “Carrington Event” after this man, a British astronomer named Richard Carrington. As the story goes, in the morning, he saw a sudden flash of intense white light from the areas of sunspots. Hours later, 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—think of a mega internet outage in the twenty-first century and how it affects life as we know it. 

Today, such a happening could damage satellites; disable communications by phone, radio, and TV; and cause blackouts (all the things that create heart-pounding drama in a sci-fi film). Back in the 1800s, scientists didn’t understand what caused auroras and the electrical and magnetic disturbances.   Solar storms, like this Carrington Event, can blast out huge clouds of electrified gas and dust at up to two million miles an hour. If high-energy blasts of particles reach Earth, they can distort and disrupt Earth’s magnetic field. (1) (2)

In present-day, I’ve discovered this historical phenomenon through logic and luck early on in my research. I used the Planets Today online software to first look back in time at the moment of the Carrington Event. Then I recalled where Earth and Mars were and I moved the display forward in time until I saw the same locations for both planets. The first time I did this study, I actually missed the time it happened in 1938 and found it in 2017. 

Later, I realized this is a harmonically related phenomenon and simply went back in time half the difference between 2017 and 1859, in early September. Segments 1 and 2 (“The Carrington Event”) The Carrington Event is fascinating. It consists of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. (Refer to chapter 11 to reboot your brain to the reasons they twist and short-circuit themselves.) 

Solar flares are like huge lightning bolts or electrical short circuits. What’s more, when these flares happen within the Sun’s photosphere, usually associated with an active region, some of the Sun’s surface structure can be launched off and away from our Sun. A portion of the plasma could fail in leaving our Sun and fall back down to make a huge splash and create a solar tsunami. Occasionally, CMEs strike Earth and can cause major changes to the magnetic field, which can ruin our electronic-age infrastructure by overloading it. (Think of your home when it blows a fuse. The result? A house power outage.) 

Well, when a CME hits our planet, it’s the same but on a much larger scale. Widespread blackouts to power grids occur; and travel by air or on the road can be disrupted. The direction the CMEs leave the Sun is very random. They can be blown straight up or be launched sideways, and everything in between. The proof is in the history set at the time of the Carrington Event. 

This event was when a part of our Sun hit Earth. This caused disruption of electronic communications over most of our planet. Only a telegraph was used back in the nineteenth century, and it caused telegraph pylons to spark and gave shocks to operators, as history tells it. And note, if this type of solar event were to happen today, communication systems we have now would be severely damaged, causing a great upheaval in the way we live. 

The graphic is from the online program the Planets Today, with it set at the time of the Carrington Event. This event was when a part of our Sun was blown off the Sun and hit Earth. Take a closer look and notice where Earth, Mercury, and Mars are at this time. Now compare the Earth/Mercury/Mars locations with the next graphic, dated 09/05/2017. Mars is red, and Earth is blue. 

If you explore the past happenings, when Earth and Mars appear to be in the same location and upon more detailed investigation, they are nearly exactly the same except the day of the year is three days later in the 2017 graphic. On both occasions, Earth was hit by a CME from our Sun. On both occasions, Earth was in conjunction with the star TYC 583-236-1, which is 33ly away, and the star Lambda Aquarii, which is 390ly away. Interestingly, four objects in our Solar System were in line with each other: Our Sun, Earth, TYC 583-236-1, and Lambda Aquarii on both occasions also coincided with a CME striking Earth and caused problems with electronics. 

Also, Mars is noted because a CME on the Sun requires what is called an “active region” in order to experience a solar flare in it that can launch a CME toward Earth. I suspect that Mars was in conjunction with a star or stars that created an active region on the other side of the Sun about 12 days before it came around to the Earth side and participated in the launching of a CME. So I see these two events are similar in terms of the location of Earth and Mars, and both were when a CME from our Sun hit Earth. 

There’s just one more observation I can make based on this chapter’s observations. The location of Earth during these CME events is in the same part of the sky as the Mars global dust storm period described in chapter 3. The months for these five Earth CME events are from July to October. The Mars global dust storms are from Ls 225 to Ls 310, which is equivalent to from Earth’s months of July to October (Mars Ls 214 to Ls 290).

The Evolutionary Cosmos is Available NOW in the Universe!

By Cal Orey
If you liked the sci-fi film Interstellar or The Core--you'll love The Evolutionary Cosmos!
About the Book

DISCOVER THE NEW WAY OF THINKING ABOUT OUR UNIVERSE! Intriguing facts that’ll surprise you . . . Did you know? • Some scientists admit that they haven’t made any major progress about how our Universe works for over 50 years. • It takes a novel approach to explain gravity as a physical phenomenon. • Take the journey into one- and two-dimensional realms of magnetism that lead to our three-dimensional world. • Find out how eddy currents are the reasons behind cryovolcanoes on the minor planet Ceres to solar flares on the Sun. • Get informed about Earth-threatening coronal mass ejections to global dust storms on Mars. 

This book provides a reader-friendly understanding of Einstein’s theory of time dilation to Darwin’s theory, past and present-day. Enjoy close encounters of how these interesting topics—and more!—come from outside-in thinking using existing new science data and logical thinking. Written from the perspective of a science enthusiast and progressive thinker, flanked by a veteran Earth-changes science writer, this book is one of a kind. A fascinating read, and cutting-edge findings make this gem a page-turner. Included are insightful theories to down-to-earth interesting anecdotes, along with must-have tools for you to find out more about Outer space. A candid and witty must-read. The Evolutionary Cosmos deserves two thumbs up for dishing out fresh ideas about the ever-changing Universe. This is a timeless gift book for anyone (of any age).

About the Author

RICHARD M. WESTBERG is a science devotee and forward thinker. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Long Beach State College. After high school, he became interested in physics, and since then has perfected his self-taught passion for astronomy and space sciences. He learned how to repair TVs and have a handle on radio communication, and is a Carl Sagan enthusiast. A native of Southern California, he resides in Arizona.

CAL OREY is a best-selling author-journalist. She has a master’s degree in English from San Francisco State University. Her books include the hugely popular Healing Powers book series (containing scientific studies). She penned The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes, writes a monthly Earth Changes column for Oracle 20/20 Magazine, and is a frequent News Segment Earth-changes radio guest on “Coast to Coast AM.” She is a native Californian. www.calorey.com.

Do Pets and Their People Have a Sixth Sense?

 By Cal Orey

Update: April 6th I felt a need to look inside my feline's mouth. Ah, ha! A tiny flat circle greeted me. It was above his front canine tooth. Abscess? I couldn't be seen by my vet until the next day. Sure enough. I was correct. Zen, my Siamese kitty, will be getting dental surgery soon. The appointment has been made: Dental X-rays, scaling, polish, and taking out the dead tooth. Siamese are prone to issues like this so... The upside: My beloved male cat is not in pain and doing just fine. So, was it really my sixth sense that led me to a trouble spot when Zen was napping in the sunlight? Or just a coincidence? 

Whether it’s ESP, superior senses, intuition or a change in routine, your cat or dog (or humans) may sense hurricanes and tornadoes, 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.

SO IS A STORM COMING?

            Are pets really 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 PET'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 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 hurricanes and tornadoes, is it really so far-fetched to monitor cats and dogs?

            Pet 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.

Surprise Superfoods in Easter Muffins

 By Cal Orey

Update: In 2020 our favorite baking staples, from butter, eggs, flour, and sugar were out of stock at stores. Fast forward to 2022. Due to production, supply and demand to lack of staff, once again we are facing some food shortages around the country. So, I've learned to adapt: Try different brands, shop at different stores, pay more than less--or go without and remember the good old days before the pandemic...

Meanwhile, traditional Easter for me as a kid included a baked ham, scalloped potatoes, biscuits and honey, carrots, and a coconut bunny cake. This year I decided to fast forward for health’s sake – and change things up a up a bit for the rabbit, me and you. I’m talking breakfast muffins – with some good stuff – hidden treasures in them. Muffins contain SUPERFOODS: carrots, eggs, nuts, berries
Due to 2022 challenges beyond our control, grocery shopping has become a new job. It seems like the cost has skyrocketed for flour and eggs – two staples for baking. One day when I realized my cake flour had expired. Back in 2020, I went to the supermarket. No flour. Online I was greeted with “Out of Stock” or “Delivery in May”! I was a time traveler zapped into the Great Depression. I almost sprung for my favorite gourmet flour found online until the delivery charge shot up to 25 bucks! No way. Then, I heard a knock on the front door. My sibling, now the hunter scored a bag of flour! I literally shouted, “Flour!” as though he caught a huge marlin.
 Some days I get images of the film “Soylent Green” eating scene when actors Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson dine on scarce foods -- lettuce, a pot of stew and apples. 
The good news:  Sugar? Confectioners’ granulated, and raw all have a long shelf life. And thanks to my latest book in production, I’m good with spices – and you should be too to flavor and healthy up your dishes! So, sit back, cozy up and read the recipe. Then, this week bake a batch of carrot muffins (cupcakes call for cake flour for a thinner batter, whereas muffins use any other flour) for you, yours, and the Easter Bunny! Think carrots, dried fruit, nuts, and spices... Superfoods! Pair with good for you tea or coffee.
Chunky Carrot Muffins

1 ¼ cups butter (I used European style)

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

3 brown eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

½ cup water

2 ½ cups self-rising flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon allspice

2 – 2 ½ cups carrots, shredded

½ cup golden raisins

½ cup dried pineapple, chopped (optional)

½ cup nuts, chopped (hazelnuts or walnuts)

Confectioner's or raw sugar (for topping)

Combine sugar and butter in a bowl. Add eggs, vanilla, and water. Mix well. Add dry ingredients, flour, spices. Fold in carrots, raisins, and nuts. Use a 1/3 cup ice cream scoop and drop batter into cupcake lined tin pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown and firm to touch. Cool completely. Makes 14.

Topping: Sprinkle with confectioners' or raw sugar.  Garnish with fresh mint or basil. Use carrot edible sugar decoration toppers for cakes and cupcakes are found online. Or you can make a quick fluffy cream cheese frosting: In a bowl, beat ½ cup heavy whipped cream (or store-bought ready- made whipped cream); whip until stiff peaks form. Blend in ½ cup whipped cream cheese, ½ cup confectioners’ sugar, 1 capful vanilla extract. Drop a small dollop (or pipe the frosting) on each muffin.

 

So, these carrot muffins may not be a 20th century large double layer coconut bunny cake with vanilla frosting and jelly beans.  But they’re worth the time to bake and eat.  It’s springtime – a time for renewal. Savor a 21st century muffin – with a hot cup of herbal tea and enjoy the moment. Taste and smell the fresh muffin. Some things – like carrot muffins infused with nature’s foods – are as good as gold.
— Cal Orey, M.A., is an author and journalist. Her books include the Healing Powers Series (Vinegar, Olive Oil, Chocolate, Honey, Coffee, Tea, Superfoods, Essential Oils, and Herbs & Spices published by Kensington. (The collection has been featured by the Good Cook Book Club.)