Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Laughter is important, not only because it makes us happy, it also has actual health benefits. And that's because laughter completely engages the body and releases the mind. It connects us to others, and that in itself has a healing effect. For me, it's the unexpected and surprising combinations of produce that are the most exciting and lure me into the kitchen for a little bit of experimenting. Apples and sweet potatoes together? Who knew? Carrots with grapes? Okay. I may not be Julia Child, but I can do pretty well with a simple recipe and a lot of enthusiasm.

~Marlo Thomas~

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

If You Don’t Eat Sweet Potatoes Every Day, 
This Might Convince You to Start - Emily LaurenceEmily Laurence 
Reader's Digest - A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

      Sweet potatoes are just as versatile as white potatoes but pack even more of a nutritional punch. So what are the sweet, sweet benefits of sweet potatoes? There’s no veggie quite as versatile as the humble spud. Whether you love your potatoes baked, mashed, as hash browns or french fries (best air-fryer recipes for the win!), there’s no shortage of ways to put them to delicious use. Sweet potatoes can be enjoyed in all the same ways as white potatoes—and the nutritional benefits of sweet potatoes bring even more to the table.
     Even if you’re chock-full of food facts and can rattle off the benefits of bananas, the benefits of yogurt and the benefits of blueberries without consulting Google, there’s a good chance you don’t know all the benefits of sweet potatoes. If they’re not already part of your best recipes, learning about their benefits straight from dietitians just might convince you to integrate them into your diet. 
What are the benefits of eating sweet potatoes?
A healthier gut
     “One sweet potato has 15% of the daily value of fiber, making them good for gut health,” explains registered dietitian Natalie Rizzo, author of Planted Performance and the founder of Greenletes. That fiber aids digestion and helps prevent constipation.
Blood-sugar stability
     As a complex carb, a sweet potato takes more time to digest than simple carbs (ultra-processed foods with little nutritional value), notes Jessica Lehmann, a registered dietitian and associate teaching professor at Arizona State University. That means a sweet potato won’t raise your blood sugar levels as quickly, helping to keep your mood and energy levels steady. Plus, adds Rizzo, slower digestion means sweet potatoes will keep you fuller longer than other carbs.
Reduced inflammation
     You can also add sweet potatoes to your anti-inflammatory grocery list. The tuber is high in antioxidants—specifically vitamin C, carotenoids and phenylpropanoids—which reduce inflammation in the body and protect against chronic diseases, as well as certain types of cancer.
A healing boost
     Sweet potatoes have also been linked to improved vision (due to their beta carotene and vitamin A content), a better immune system (vitamin C and manganese) and strong bones (manganese again). Eating sweet potatoes regularly is even good for your skin. “Beta-carotene is an antioxidant, so it helps to reverse damage from the sun,” Lehmann explains. “It also improves wrinkling and sagging of the skin.”
Improved mental health
     According to Lehmann, sweet potatoes are good for mental health because they’re high in vitamin B6, which is needed to synthesize serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate mood. We’re in favor of any food that calms anxiety!

Do sweet potatoes help belly fat?

     If your goal is to lose weight in a healthy way, both experts see no need to cut sweet potatoes out of your diet. “One sweet potato only has a little over 100 calories, and it’s filling and full of nutrients,” says Rizzo. “People think they need to avoid carbs to lose weight, but that’s definitely not the case. Eating carbs from vegetables is part of a healthy weight-loss diet, and eating fiber is an integral part of losing weight.”
     Plus, she adds, “sweet potatoes are rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates, which help to maintain a feeling of fullness.” Sounds like eating sweet potatoes can, in fact, help you have a flatter stomach!
What are the disadvantages of sweet potatoes?
     The benefits of sweet potatoes are clear, but are there downsides? While there really are no disadvantages to eating sweet potatoes, Rizzo says that having one on its own as a meal doesn’t provide enough protein to be satiating. Combine your sweet spud with lean protein like eggs, skinless chicken, Greek yogurt, beans or chickpeas to make it more filling.
     If you have diabetes, Lehmann says, be mindful of how you eat sweet potatoes, because they’re high in carbs: “Pair a sweet potato with a protein and a little fat to avoid a blood glucose spike.” People with a history of kidney stones should also be mindful, as sweet potatoes are high in a nutrient called oxalate, which can cause kidney stones in people susceptible to them.

Marsha McMillian (Sherrod)

Your donation will be greatly appreciated by Willie. I am sure Willie would love to see you there as well

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND  by Marsha Burns
     August 3,2023: As you break through the illusions of what religious exercise will do for you, the truth of living in the Spirit will become a new and fresh reality. It will be like a new awakening to know that whatever comes from the heart is what changes you for better or for worse and not what you put on from the outside. Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N

     Happy Thursday! Life at work and at home is so much HAPPIER when you speak and act with kindness!! Share a SMILE and make it a great day:)! You're responsible for the energy of your day. Remember, when you give off positive energy, you attract it! Decide to be Happy:)! Lift your spirits by living in the vibration of LOVE & APPRECIATION then check out all the positive things and people you'll attract!
     Greet your problems and decisions with peace and calm. Use your inner wisdom to evaluate and make smart decisions for yourself! You got this ! We are responsible for peace and order in our lives! When your world is CONSTANTLY filled with chaos, then it's time to take a look at SELF! Dream BIG, live courageously, communicate honestly, be mindful, act with kindness, and SPREAD LOVE TODAY and EVERY DAY !

~Tracey Edmonds~

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   

     Jazz is all about improvisation and it's about the moment in time, doing it this way now, and you'll never do it this way twice. I've studied the masters. Why would I want to play ball after the guys who sit on a bench? I want to play like Michael Jordan. I've worked with jazz artists, country artists, classical artists, pop artists. I never wanted there to be categories, because when I was a kid there weren't. It doesn't matter the genre or type of art, if it's authentic there's an apparent beauty to it and as an artist, that's very inspiring.
     I've been a jazz artist playing pop and R&B my entire career. Most of the stuff I learned to play, I learned in high school. I had a band in high school, a jazz-fusion thing, and I was the keyboard player. I was interested in how the instruments worked and the theory behind playing with them. I wanted to put jazz on the record, all the loves of music that I had on the record, so I could show people I was ahead of my 19 years. It may have been over the heads of some people.

~Brian McKnight~

WELCOME TO 
SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 
FRIDAYS

Kenneth Davis

     Your website administrators received a request from a scheduled 1970 graduate, that we would like to honor. However, she's not listed among our class profiles, nor visible in the yearbook.  She's unknown to everyone that we've made an inquiry to. Her name is Beatrice Eggleston (Williamson-Johnson). Does anyone recognize the name and willing and able to identify her? Your assistance is greatly appreciated....thanking you in advance of information provided....

Kenneth Davis

SATURDAY MORNING

GARDENING TOOLS

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N 

     Outdoors we are confronted everywhere with wonders; we see that the miraculous is not extraordinary, but the common mode of existence. It is our daily bread. The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all. It is the healer and restorer and resurrector, by which disease passes into health, age into youth, death into life. Without proper care for it we can have no community, because without proper care for it we can have no life.
     People are fed by the food industry, which pays no attention to health, and are treated by the health industry, which pays no attention to food. The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope.

~Wendell Berry~

7 Tips for Transplanting Seedlings into the Garden
By Rita Pelczar - Better Homes & Gardens

      So you’ve started your vegetables, herbs, and/or flowers from seed sown indoors and the seedlings look happy and healthy. You might be eager to get them planted out in your garden, but wait, they're not quite ready for that. Not yet. The most critical step in successfully starting plants indoors—and one that is often overlooked by new gardeners—is gradually acclimating them to their outdoor environment, a process known as “hardening off.” It demands close attention to the rather dramatic shift in conditions your seedlings are about to experience. It requires a bit of effort, but only for a couple weeks.
     Look at it from your plants’ perspective: they’ve been growing in a comfortable, consistent environment with even temperatures, regular watering, bright (but not too intense) light, and no wind. That’s all about to change. If you want your seedlings to flourish in your garden, they need to be introduced to the vagaries of outdoor conditions incrementally.
     To adapt to natural fluctuations in temperature, light, water, and air movement without being damaged, your seedlings need to develop a tougher protective cuticle and sturdier stems; this takes a little time and some patience. If you skip this important step, your tender young plants are likely to suffer shock from which they may never recover. These tips will help you maximize your seedlings’ successful transition to your garden.
1. Know when to harden off seedlings.
     The best time to begin transitioning your seedlings from indoors to outside varies slightly with crops. For cold season vegetables, such as cabbage and broccoli and hardy annuals and herbs such as calendula, marigold, and pansy you can start the hardening off process when night temperatures are 45°F. For warm season crops (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc.) and more tender herbs and flowers, wait until night temperatures are in the upper 50s.
2. Introduce seedlings to the outdoors gradually.
     When temperatures are appropriate, take seedlings outside for a couple hours the first day and bring them in at night. The following day, increase the outdoor time by an hour or two, continuing in this manner over the course a couple weeks. Pay attention to your seedlings’ appearance. If they look stressed, slow down on their outdoor exposure. Once they seem to tolerate being outdoors all day, leave them out overnight.
3. Pick a protected spot.
     A spot in dappled shade helps seedlings to adjust to the more intense light from the sun. Over the course of the hardening off period, you can gradually expose them to more sun, but never move seedlings directly from indoors to full sun. This will cause leaves to scorch and may result in stunting or even death. Wind can also cause serious damage so place your seedlings in a location that is protected from blustery winds. A box with sides that deflect strong air currents works well. A cold frame is an excellent tool for hardening off seedlings because its sides protect plants from wind and you can use a semi-translucent row cover to shade them from direct sun.
4. Keep seedlings watered.
     Check seedlings regularly; if it’s sunny and warm check them at least twice a day. Keep them moist but not saturated and be sure their pots have drainage holes. A sudden downpour can soak the seedlings and if the growing medium doesn’t drain well, plants are likely to rot. And a hard rain can break fragile stems. It's best to bring plants indoors or into a garage or covered porch if a heavy storm is in your forecast.
5. Slowly increase exposure to garden conditions.
     Once your young plants are accustomed to being outdoors, they'll have developed a tougher cuticle that will provide them much greater protection from the elements. Now it’s time to move them to a site with more exposure to sun and wind. I like to move potted seedlings to the garden area where they will be growing and leave them a couple days to get used to the site before transplanting them into the ground or planter.
6. Transplant on a calm overcast day.
     Transplanting when bright sunshine is tempered by clouds reduces stress on your young plants. Dig holes that are larger than the pot your seedling is growing in, set your seedlings into the prepared soil and tamp them firmly into place. Water well. If the wind picks up, use plant covers or some sort of baffle to protect them. Inverted large plastic pots also can provide temporary shelter.
7. Watch the weather.
     Be mindful of sudden drops in temperature or heavy downpours for the first few weeks your plants are in the ground. Plant protective caps, inverted pots, or floating row covers will help them survive late season frosts or damaging storms.
     While the transition process from indoors to the garden may seem like a good bit of trouble, it’s very important. Not taking time to help your seedlings become accustomed to their outdoor environment will lead to serious disappointment—your plants may become stunted or even die. You’ve already put so much time and energy into caring for your seedlings indoors, and gradually hardening them off is just the next phase of this process. Then you and your plants will be ready for transplanting into your garden, where they will reward you with healthy robust growth throughout the season.

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

A Little Old School Blues

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   

     We are living in a time of uncertainty, anxiety, fear, and despair. It is essential that you become aware of the light, power, and strength within each of you, and that you learn to use those inner resources in service of your own and others' growth.
     The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.

~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross~

Kenneth Davis

     With an extensive amount of sadness, your website administrators must announce the transitioning of our beloved classmate Barbara Burks. Notification was received from her daughter Angela Nowley.  Arrangements have been completed and the following dates and times apply;

Tuesday - August 15, 2023
Visitation
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Serenity Funeral Home
1638 Sycamore View Road, Memphis, TN 38134

Wednesday August 16, 2023
Visitation and Viewing
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Jubilee Church of God in Christ
4455 Stage Rd, MEMPHIS, TN 38128

Wednesday August 16, 2023
Funeral Service
12:00 PM
Jubilee Church of God in Christ
4455 Stage Rd, MEMPHIS, TN 38128

Cemetery Details
Memphis Memory Gardens
6444 Raleigh Lagrange Rd, Memphis, TN 38134
Immediately following funeral services

     Cards of sympathy and condolences may be mailed to the family at 3380 Hocker Hedge Cove Memphis, TN 38128-3430. Please continue to keep the Burks and Nowley families uplifted in prayer and to also support the family by attending the services as listed.

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Comedians are therapists. People honestly think we're doing it for ourselves. No. If we wanted to do stand-up for ourselves, we would perform in front of a mirror and never go to a club. We are giving this away. Some people are going through so much in their lives, they want to hear something else that's going on in the world and laugh.
You're trying to make someone wet their pants and you're trying to make somebody crap in their pants. That's the motivation of a comic. Who else has that power?
     Pursuing your dreams involves you accepting where you want to go. Don't allow anybody else to talk you out of things or discourage you from doing whatever you want to do. You can hold on to your dream and never pursue it or you can start pursuing it. If you can see it, or if you can envision it... it can happen.

~J. B. Smoove~

 
IT'S TIME FOR 
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

     A poodle and a collie are walking together when the poodle suddenly unloads on his friend. “My life is a mess,” he says. “My owner is mean, my girlfriend ran away with a schnauzer and I’m as jittery as a cat.”
“Why don’t you go see a psychiatrist?” suggests the collie.
“I can’t,” says the poodle. “I’m not allowed on the couch.”

~Submitted by L.B. Weinstein~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND  by Marsha Burns

       August 8, 2023: Do not be afraid of the challenges you face. Stand in the assurance that I know everything about you, and I will give you the strength and wisdom you need to overcome every obstacle. It may not be easy, but you are equipped to do all that is necessary to get beyond this test. Luke 10:19 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     The biggest adversary in our life is ourselves. We are what we are, in a sense, because of the dominating thoughts we allow to gather in our head. All concepts of self-improvement, all actions and paths we take, relate solely to our abstract image of ourselves. Life is limited only by how we really see ourselves and feel about our being. A great deal of pure self-knowledge and inner understanding allows us to lay an all-important foundation for the structure of our life from which we can perceive and take the right avenues.
     I am happy because I am growing daily and I am honestly not knowing where the limit lies. To be certain, every day there can be a revelation or a new discovery. I treasure the memory of the past misfortunes. It has added more to my bank of fortitude.

~Bruce Lee~

Kenneth Davis

 T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     The American fast food diet and the meat eating habits of the wealthy around the world support a world food system that diverts food resources from the hungry. A diet higher in whole grains and legumes and lower in beef and other meat is not just healthier for ourselves but also contributes to changing the world system that feeds some people and leaves others hungry.
     However, it is achieved, a thorough reorganization of production, consumption and distribution will be the end result of humanity's response to the climate emergency and the broader environmental crisis.

~Walden Bello~

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

102-year-old woman shares 5 habits to live longer

Only 13.5% of people do it......
Story by Soniya Y - https://www.sportskeeda.com

     When we think about what it takes to live a longer life, we often focus on the obvious habits like going to the gym and eating a healthy diet. However, there are simple habits that are often overlooked but can have a significant impact on longevity. Dr. Gladys McGarey is a 102-year-old doctor who has not only defied the odds of age but also found true happiness and purpose in her long life. She has some incredible secrets to longevity and why only 13.5% of people practice them.
     Being a passionate advocate of "living medicine," she has dedicated decades to the field of holistic medicine. She believes in looking at diseases and pain as teachers, offering insights into the body's needs and guiding us on the path to healing. So, what are Dr. McGarey's habits to live a long life? Here are the five important habits to adopt that can transform your life.
1) Life Itself
     Dr. McGarey emphasizes the importance of paying attention to life itself. She compares life to a seed, containing all the energy of the universe within it. However, for life to change and improve, it needs to be activated by us. When we embrace life and engage with it fully, we can unlock its potential for growth and fulfillment.
2) Love
     According to Dr. McGarey, love is the activating factor that cracks the shell of life. It's an essential aspect of life, starting from the moment we take our first breath. The more we embrace love in ourselves and in others, the more joy and happiness we can find in life.
3) Laughter
     Laughter is another crucial element for a long and fulfilling life, and Dr. McGarey aptly describes it as joy and happiness. She emphasizes that when accompanied by love, laughter becomes a powerful source of positivity. It brings lightness and humor to our experiences, fostering a sense of well-being and adding a zest for life.
4) Labor
     Dr. McGarey reckons labor without love is drudgery. It becomes an obligation or a burden that drains energy and enthusiasm. However, when we align our work with love, it transforms into bliss. By paying attention to what drives us, we can lead fulfilling lives through the work we do.
5) Listening
     Listening with love is the final aspect of Dr. McGarey's five Ls. She highlights that listening without love is merely an empty sound, lacking understanding and connection. However, when we listen with love, it becomes a tool for comprehension and empathy. Finding people who understand us and support our purpose can greatly enhance our sense of fulfillment and enable us to make a positive impact on others.
     Dr. McGarey's advice may seem simple but holds profound significance. However, despite the potential benefits and wisdom offered by the five Ls, only 13.5% of people incorporate these habits in their lives. Embracing these habits requires a conscious effort and commitment to actively engaging with life, nurturing relationships, following our passions and approaching each day with love and understanding.

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Marsha McMillian (Sherrod)

In 2018 we took 3rd place in the chicken category and in 2019 we took 2nd place in the pork category. Classmates have always been supportive and we enjoyed fellowship, good food, fun and Camaraderie. Please let"s continue to represent our class and support Classmate Willie as he taken the reins to coordinate our class participation in the BTW 2023 BBQ CONTEST.

Pictures of some of our past supporters. Good memories of our fallen Warriors Darnell Harris and Robert Bouie who always supported all class events.

Donations may be sent

Bonnie Pippin Mills

1784 Tahiti Lane

Memphis TN 38117 Phone:901-649-3928

Cash App to Cherlyn (Mickey )Conner

$CherlynConner Phone:901-652-2472

Your donation will be greatly appreciated by Willie. I am sure Willie would love to see you there

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS

TO

J B BLAND

     I'm a King. Regardless of what I've been through and what I've done, I present myself as a King. And I get that respect from people, from everybody I deal with. I worked my whole life to establish that respect and make sure I get that respect. I been the same dude my whole life. I just find myself happy with the simple things. Appreciating the blessings God gave me. 

~DMX~

Kenneth Davis

    Greetings to The Class of 1970.....It's official!!! Members of the 55TH Class Reunion Committee have held their first meeting and the organizing process has commenced afresh. The members of the committee are as follows:

Linda Brown, Alice Holman Nesbitt, Joycelyn Lacy Somerville, Bonnie Pippin Mills, Felippa Fields Scales,  William Arnold Sr., Kenneth Davis, Tommie McKinney, Cloyd Nightingale, Robert Phifer and James Stone. 

     Officers were subsequently selected:
Chairman - Robert Phifer
Co-Chairman - Tommie McKinney
Secretary/Financial Secretary - Felippa Fields Scales
Treasurer - Bonnie Pippin Mills
Chaplain/SGT At Arms - William Arnold/James Stone  
     Congratulations are proclaimed, for the furtherance of all future successful meetings and planning activities. As the dedicated members strive toward achieving their goal, all classmates are welcomed to attend meetings. Presently, they will be held monthly at New Harvest Church, 2532 Warren Street, Memphis. Dates and times will be announced.

Kenneth Davis

     T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     The reward is in doing but doing without expecting anything...doing unselfishly. To reach back and help and expect neither reward nor even thanks. To reach back and help, because that is what spiritual beings do. Love is the energy from which all people and things are made. You are connected to everything in your world through love.
     Forgive the past. It is over. Learn from it and let go. People are constantly changing and growing. Do not cling to a limited, disconnected, negative image of a person in the past. See that person now. Your relationship is always alive and changing. I know that there is a reason for everything. Perhaps at the moment that an event occurs we have neither the insight or the foresight to comprehend the reason, but with time and patience it will come to light.

~Brian Weiss~

     Brian Leslie Weiss (born November 6, 1944) is an American psychiatrist, hypnotherapist, and author who specializes in past life regression. His writings include reincarnation, past life regression, future life progression, and survival of the soul after death. 

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER

CRACKER JACKS, FLI-BACKS

BALL AND JACKS

&

B B BATTS

Kenneth Davis

     The future of each of us is inter-connected and all of us should work together by following the path laid down by former leaders. Together we can face any challenges as deep as the ocean and as high as the sky.

~Sonia Gandhi~

     In conjunction with the post related to the 55th Class Reunion, I'm writing to clear up any possible confusion, that may have resulted, unexpectedly. The Picnic/BBQ Contest Committee and the Class Reunion Committee, are not in direct competition with each other. The announcement for the creation of a reunion committee has been posted on the home page of our website since April. There isn't an official alumni committee in existence, at the present time. While the Picnic and BBQ Contest are held annually, the reunion isn't. Whomever the next group of individuals is, who decides to organize our 60th Class Reunion, they will be welcomed and supported as much. 
     After the completion of the 55th reunion, the committee is scheduled to be dissolved. Whereas the picnic and BBQ committee will be ongoing, until dissolved by its chairpersons. Both activities are for the benefit of our class, with different completion dates on the horizon. 
     The only common threads between both groups are (1) The Class of 1970 and (2) Bonnie, Cloyd and I are members of both committees. Working together, the goal of each committee is to successfully bring our class together and to continue enjoying the last remaining years of our lives, as a collective. For example, Barbara Burks recently transitioned. Let us prevail by keeping her family members uplifted in prayer, or by sending cards of sympathy/condolences to the family. Arrangements have been finalized and posted on the website. It would be even more respectful to attend the services. As acknowledged by Marsha previously, "Classmates have always been supportive and we've enjoyed fellowship, good food, fun and camaraderie". Let us continue supporting one another, while we're able...."LET THERE BE PEACE"...sounds familiar????

     Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved. Keep all special thoughts and memories for lifetimes to come. Share these keepsakes with others to inspire hope and build from the past, which can bridge to the future. While we are living in the present, we must celebrate life every day, knowing that we are becoming history with every work, every action, every deed.

~Mattie Stepanek~

Kenneth Davis

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   

     Music is meant to be a beautiful thing. I write music people enjoy playing and listening to, and I have a group that loves playing the music. I am glad that I wrote something that brought joy to millions of people. I tend to not want to put labels or categories on the music, only because people come with preconceived ideas about what they're going to hear, or won't come for this reason. A studio recording is perfection, but emotion and passion come only when you turn on the machine and go for the groove. If you do that with no mistakes, it sounds beautiful.

~Chuck Mangione~

     Charles Frank Mangione is an American flugelhorn player, trumpeter and composer. He came to prominence as a member of Art Blakey's band in the 1960s, and later co-led the Jazz Brothers with his brother, Gap. He achieved international success in 1977 with his jazz-pop single "Feels So Good". 

WELCOME TO 
SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 
FRIDAYS

Kenneth Davis

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  

     Africa gives you the knowledge that man is a small creature, among other creatures, in a large landscape. We are all creatures of the stars and their forces, they make us, we make them, we are part of a dance from which we by no means and not ever may consider ourselves separate.
     The smell of manure, of sun on foliage, of evaporating water, rose to my head; two steps farther, and I could look down into the vegetable garden enclosed within its tall pale of reeds - rich chocolate earth studded emerald green, frothed with the white of cauliflowers, jeweled with the purple globes of eggplant and the scarlet wealth of tomatoes.

~Doris Lessing~
EGGPLANT GROWN IN THE GARDENS OF

JOHN T & KENNETH

 Eggplant a Fruit or a Vegetable? Chloë Nannestad  
Reader's Digest A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

     Before you whip up some eggplant parm or baba ghanoush, find out if the eggplant you’re about to use is actually a fruit or a vegetable. From eggplant parm to stir-fry, ratatouille to roasted vegetables, this delicious purple food is the star of many of our favorite dishes. We know it’s tasty, and it’s definitely one of our five a day, but there’s a little confusion about how it should be classified—namely, is eggplant a fruit or a vegetable?
     The fruit/vegetable debate is a familiar one in the world of food facts trivia. And if you already know where you stand on the “is tomato a fruit or a vegetable” discussion, and you’re pretty sure that you know which nuts are nuts and which aren’t (wait, are peanuts actually nuts? Is cucumber a fruit or a vegetable? Is avocado a fruit or a vegetable?), then you may have some assumptions about eggplants. But you know what they say about making assumptions—and the eggplant story is stranger than you might think.

How did eggplants get their name?
     Eggplants are surprisingly complex. For one thing, they’re not all purple; other types of eggplant come in shades of white, green, red, and black. For another, they have different aliases depending on where you live. The eggplant is an ancient crop, cultivated by humans all over the globe for hundreds of years, and it has as many names as you would expect of such a well-traveled plant. 
     Here in the United States, it’s called eggplant because the first eggplants to arrive on these shores were the size, shape, and color of eggs. In some parts of the South, however, it is also known as the Guinea squash, because eggplants were brought from Guinea (in West Africa) in the 18th century.
     In the U.K. and parts of Europe, the eggplant is known by its French name, aubergine, which makes sense because British food names are never quite what we expect. FYI, aubergine is a version of the eggplant’s ancient Arabic name, “al-badinjan.” In India, “al-badinjan” became “brinjal.” But whether you call it aubergine, brinjal, eggplant, or dinner, it’s nice to know what you’re dealing with, beyond its name. Which brings us to the question at hand, and the reason you’re here.
Is eggplant a fruit or a vegetable?
     So, is eggplant a fruit? As always, it comes down to technicalities, like the whole cacao vs. cocoa conversation. In this case, eggplants are considered fruits, or more specifically, berries. Yes, berries! Many fruits that come from a single flower, like eggplants, and even cucumbers and melons, are classified as berries.
     Eggplants count as vegetables only in one sense—the culinary. When we cook with eggplants, we treat them as vegetables: frying, grilling, baking, boiling, roasting, and mashing them to make tasty treats such as baba ghanoush and moussaka. The humble eggplant is just another addition to the long list of fruits that we treat as vegetables, like peppers, zucchini, and pumpkins. Also, find out if corn is a vegetable.
Why is an eggplant considered a fruit?
     Eggplants are fruits due to the way they grow. Fruits develop from the flower of a plant and contain seeds, whereas vegetables are any other part of the plant: roots, stems, or leaves. Eggplants belong to the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes and potatoes. We should all be so lucky in our relatives.
     Like all fruits and vegetables, eggplants are nutrient dense, which is another way we know they’re in that five-a-day category. Some eggplant benefits include being high in antioxidants, and high in fiber at three grams per cup, which means they’re good for your gut and they also help regulate your blood sugar. The gorgeous aubergine also has a reasonable amount of manganese, folate, potassium, and vitamins K and C, so add some to your shopping list right now for a healthy mid-week dinner.
All eggplants are beautiful
     No matter what types of eggplant you like to eat or what you choose to call it, it’s safe to assume that we’ve settled the “is eggplant a fruit” question once and for all. From the slender Japanese eggplant to the purple-and-white-striped zebra eggplant to the watermelon-colored Thai eggplant, they’re all fruits—and they’re all delicious if you prepare them right (air-fryer eggplant fries are always the answer, in our opinion). In fact, if you get the right ingredients and assemble the right dessert, it’s possible to have a meal comprised entirely of fruits and no vegetables!

Kenneth Davis

   THOUGHT FOR CONSIDERATION   

     Passion and purpose go hand in hand. When you discover your purpose, you will normally find it's something you're tremendously passionate about.      Your values are your current estimations of truth. They represent your answer to the question of how to live. Thoughts are like seeds. If you want different results in life, you have to figure out which thoughts are capable of growing those results and which aren’t. A man doesn't require the approval of others. He's willing to follow his heart wherever it leads him. When a man is following his heart-centered path, it's of little consequence if the entire world is against him. 
     Everyone you meet in your life - even total strangers - are already intimately connected to you. The idea that we are all separate and distinct beings is nothing but an illusion. We are all parts of a larger whole, like individual cells in a body. Understand that relationships are more important than contracts.  Business deals are relationships between people.  The signed piece of paper is important, but it's merely the result of the relationship, not the cause.  If the relationship crumbles, the contract won't save you, although it could be very lucrative for your lawyer. Regardless of others' reactions, do your best to stay true to yourself. Make the choices that allow you to look in the mirror and feel good about the person gazing back at you.

~Steve Pavlina~

Kenneth Davis

  THOUGHT FOR CONSIDERATION  

     As you make your way along life's tumultuous highways, it's important to note that you should always carry a map, have plenty of fuel in the tank, and take frequent rest stops. I think it's actually a misperception that I am a comedic actress. I do more drama than comedy but very little of it has been seen. When you are in big funny movies and they do well and your little part in it kind of explodes people perceive you as a comedian.
     I can only be the best version of myself and understand that the only way that we as a people can heal is to understand that the next person's journey may not be your own, but it doesn't mean that you have to marginalize them in any way.

~Octavia Spencer~

IT'S TIME FOR 
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

Cheers!
A grasshopper walks into a bar. The bartender looks at him and says, “Hey, they named a drink after you!” “Really?” replies the grasshopper. “There’s a drink named Stan?”

Beat it
Two eggs, a bagel, and a sausage walk into a bar. “Bartender, my friends and I would like a cold one,” says one of the eggs. “Sorry,” the barman replies. “We don’t serve breakfast.”

~Susan Maguire~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

vigilant - ˈvi-jə-lənt - ADJECTIVE
alertly watchful especially to avoid danger

     August 15, 2023: Beloved, it seems like there is always one more thing you have to do to accomplish what has been set before you. But you are like a seed that has been planted; you had to put down roots and struggle up through the soil to find the sunlight. You have endured the wind, been refreshed by the rain, and had to endure temperature changes in light and in darkness. I tell you the truth that all that you have been through has made you stronger and caused you to seek My face, says the Lord. And here you are! Psalm 27:8 My heart says of you, Seek his face! Your face, Lord, I will seek.

   THOUGHT FOR CONSIDERATION   

     I've trained myself to be super-vigilant... because I feel better when I am in control. The truth is that since childhood I had cultivated an existential independence. It came from perceiving the adults around me as unreliable, and without it I felt I wouldn't have survived. I cared deeply for everyone in my family, but in the end, I depended on myself. Whether born from experience or inherent physiological or cultural differences...our gender and national origins may and will make a difference in our judging.
     You always wonder whether the attacks on my capabilities came from an honest evaluation of my accomplishments or from stereotypical presumptions that we, people of color, just can't do it, for some reason. This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life. The challenges I have faced - among them material poverty, chronic illness, and being raised by a single mother - are not uncommon, but neither have they kept me from uncommon achievements.

~Sonia Sotomayor~