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January 2026
A Different Kind of Driver’s Ed
Learning to Drive the Farm Way
January is Teen Driving Awareness Month, making it a fitting time to reflect on how we all learned to drive. Most kids these days take driver’s ed, practice in parking lots, and start driving regularly after their 16th birthday. My experience was … not that. Let’s just say the farm didn’t exactly observe the usual age restrictions. I grew up in a rural farm community, and if you work in agriculture, there are some legal exceptions in place. Child labor laws aren’t exactly followed, and you can actually get your license a year early if it’s for farming activities. Not many people know that. They don’t offer that deal for aspiring accountants or young law clerks, by the way. Just farm kids. My first “vehicle” was a riding lawnmower. I had a big yard to mow, and I started sometime around fourth grade. It wasn’t just about riding in circles. That lawnmower taught me how to steer, brake, use a throttle, check tire pressure, and even mess with a choke. It had gears and required basic knowledge of engines. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was a pretty solid foundation for everything that came later.
By middle school, I was driving a John Deere tractor, pulling wagons of straw or hay around the property. That’s just how it was. Plowing came later, once I had the skill, but even the basics required learning clutches, gears, and brakes. It was second nature by the time I ever sat behind the wheel of a real car. Somewhere around the age of 13 or 14, I graduated to driving the old farm trucks. As long as you stayed off public roads, no one minded. It wasn’t about freedom or fun; it was just necessary. You had to get hay moved or feed delivered, and the trucks weren’t going to drive themselves. Every one of them had a stick shift, which meant I had to learn to shift gears properly, use a clutch, and figure it all out without burning up the engine. To this day, I still prefer a manual transmission. Unfortunately, you can’t really find them anymore. A few years ago, I asked a dealer if they had a stick shift version of a car I liked. He just stared at me like I asked for a cassette player. No one buys them anymore, so they stopped making them. It’s a loss if you ask me. Stick shifts make you feel connected to the vehicle. And, let’s be honest, they used to knock a good $1,500 off the sticker price. The first car I ever owned was a green 1969 Chevy Impala. It was big, boxy, and made of steel. An actual boat on wheels. My dad bought it for $600 and told me, “Every teenage boy is going to get in a car accident, so there’s no point buying you something expensive.” He figured that car would “win” in a crash just based on size alone. Luckily, I proved him wrong. I made it all the way through high school and college without a single accident, unless you count a few snowy ditch landings, which I don’t. Looking back, I credit those long farm days for making me a better driver. And if you ask me, learning on a tractor isn’t a bad place to start.
Call00.com | 1 –Samuel Harms
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DITCH THE QUICK FIX Energize Naturally With Simple Daily Habits
It’s 3 p.m., and you’ve hit the dreaded midday slump. For many Americans, coffee or an energy drink may fuel their second wind. When tired, we tend to turn to external sources for a boost, but it’s a temporary fix; we’ll encounter the same issue the next day. Instead, we need to look internally and make changes to improve overall well-being for the long term. A healthier, more consistent way to increase energy is possible!
away at least an hour before bed. If this is difficult, practice meditation whenever you feel tempted to grab your phone. Your diet may also need adjustments. If you skip meals, eat junk food, or snack right before bed, you’ll feel it later. During the day, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and
nutrient-rich foods instead. Make time for every meal, stepping away from your work while you eat. If you do not get enough nutrients, supplement your diet with vitamins.
Do you stay up late every night? Do you use your phone right before you fall asleep? Do you have trouble waking up in the morning? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to give your sleep a facelift. Try to go to bed at the same time every night, ideally around 9 or 10 p.m. Put your phone
Consider your daily movement as well. It might sound counterproductive, but exercise can substantially boost our energy. Exercise improves oxygen and nutrient circulation while allowing us to get better sleep. You don’t have to go through life lacking energy. Make adjustments today for a more energized tomorrow.
The Medieval Cat-astrophe That Invited the Plague OR DID IT?
While we often imagine war between rival nations fighting over an ideological difference or disputed borders, this is not always the case. Throughout history, wars have started for strange reasons, but one example that stands out occurred in the 13th century. Pope Gregory IX was the highest-ranking official in the Catholic Church from 1227 until 1241. During this period, the church had a group of agents called papal inquisitors who would “investigate” and prosecute instances of heresy. Conrad of Marburg was an inquisitor under Pope Gregory IX who strongly believed cats had ties to Satan. Many of the confessions he presented to the Pope contained evidence that cats were evil, which led the Pope to declare war on cats. As you can imagine, this was completely one-sided. The cats couldn’t possibly fight back, and between 1233 and 1234, those loyal to the church and the Pope committed a mass extermination of cats. While this likely sends shivers down any cat-lover’s spine, it also had unfortunate unintended effects.
In the medieval age, cats were primarily responsible for hunting and killing the local rat population. Without cats, rat populations grew unchecked, which could have helped spread the
plague throughout Europe and started the Black Death in 1346.
However, take this story with a grain of salt. Documents from that time show
the Pope never ordered anyone to kill cats or even that cats were satanic. There is no evidence of mass cat exterminations; if it did happen, we have no proof they played any role in the Black Death. It’s another story where the fictitious elements are simply more exciting than the truth.
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TAKE A BREAK
What’s your favorite type of chocolate? Some prefer dark or bitter dark chocolate, while others prefer the deliciously sweet milk chocolate variety. However, another type of chocolate is usually greeted with raised eyebrows from chocolate aficionados. White chocolate is a creamy, milder treat that many argue is not actually chocolate. Here are the facts: Not all chocolate is created equal, especially regarding different types and brands of white chocolate. The Food and Drug Administration states that for something to be considered white chocolate, it must have a cocoa solids content of at least 20% and a milk content of at least 14%. People get confused over the classification of white chocolate because it doesn’t contain any pure liquid derived from cocoa beans. Instead, it must contain at least 20% cocoa butter. Cocoa butter is a fat extracted from cocoa beans by a high-pressure press. This is a timely and expensive process, which is why so many brands skip it and replace the cocoa butter with sugar and other filler ingredients. If you’re curious whether you’re buying real white chocolate, look for a couple of things. If you see white chocolate as white as snow, understand that the cocoa butter has been deodorized and bleached to give it that appearance. This removes the flavor and some of the health benefits. Furthermore, look at the ingredient list for the amount of cocoa butter. If it doesn’t have 20%, it’s not real. The next time someone tells you white chocolate isn’t really chocolate, hit them with the facts! The Truth About White Chocolate Is It Chocolate or a Sweet Impostor?
Boots Candles Carnation Furnace Garnet Hockey Insulate Janus Opposite Resolution
Skating Sweater
Slow Cooker Birria Tacos
• 3 dried guajillo chiles • 2 dried ancho chiles • 1 medium onion, chopped • 4 garlic cloves • 1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes • 3 lbs beef chuck roast • 2 cups beef broth • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 1 tbsp dried oregano Ingredients
• 2 tsp ground cumin • 2 bay leaves • 1 tsp salt • Pepper, to taste
• Corn tortillas • Fresh cilantro
and diced onion for garnish
Directions 1. Soak dried chiles in hot water for 15 minutes. 2. Process chiles, onion, garlic, and tomatoes in a blender until smooth. 3. Place beef in a slow cooker and pour the chili mixture over it. 4. Add beef broth, vinegar, oregano, cumin, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. 5. Cook on low for 8–10 hours or until the beef is tender. 6. Shred the beef using forks, then mix back into the sauce. 7. Fry tortillas in oil until crispy, then assemble tacos as desired.
Inspired by SimpleWhisk.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
My First Driving Lessons
1 2
The Healthy Cure for Your 3 p.m. Crash
When the Church Declared War on Cats … or Not
Slow Cooker Birria Tacos
3
How to Spot Real White Chocolate
Health Care Has Gone Remote
4
The pandemic helped bring the concept of telehealth into the public eye. Many doctors’ offices urged their patients to book video or telephone appointments if they needed help refilling medications, receiving a prescription for an illness, or getting answers about their symptoms or conditions. Although we’re now a few years removed from the pandemic, telehealth is still going strong, offering patients a wide range of services. While telehealth can benefit people of all ages, it is an invaluable tool for those in their senior years. For starters, it is one of the most convenient ways to get help with your health care needs. Instead of getting in the car when you don’t feel well, you can boot up your computer or hop on the phone from the comfort of your home. One of the greatest benefits of telehealth is how easy it is to reach someone when you have a need or concern. How often have you called a doctor’s office to book an appointment when you feel ill, only to hear their soonest available appointment is not for another month or several months? Telehealth services often have openings at all times of the day to meet your scheduling needs. No Commute, No Germs, No Hassle The Telehealth Trend That’s Sticking Around
Telehealth services can be a game-changer when managing specific conditions and your overall health. Doctors and nurses can help manage medication, monitor chronic conditions to determine whether intervention is required, and provide preventive care to keep you in the best shape possible. While telehealth can’t and won’t replace the doctor’s office entirely, it’s an excellent option for a quick fix or questions!
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