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Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Coming Downstairs
Hello All,
Ethan is still in the neo natal ICU at Willis Knighton South. But he’s making progress every day. His right arm looks the same as his left now and almost all of the bruising from his traumatic birth is gone.
The challenge now is to get him to take some milk w/o him giving it back. So far he’s kept the “pedialite” down and we’re hoping for a bowel movement before the weekend is out.
If he continues to progress, he should be home with Vanessa in a couple of weeks.
Did I tell you about my latest “missed opportunity?” Thursday after Ethan was born, Vanessa was still pretty much “out of it” and Jimmy was struggling to handle all that was going on at the hospital so Annette and I filled out the birth certificate papers for them. It dawned on me after Annette and I had filled out the birth certificate for them that we could have named him whatever we wanted. I think Fort Anson or Claiborne Fort would have been good.
I told this to Claiborne and he reminded me of the old story about the slightly demented Uncle who had to name his twin niece and nephews. The girl - "De niece" and the boy - "de nephew"
Boo, Hiss.
Anyway . . . Speaking of confusion, Vanessa was supposed to be named "Merry Ann." A play on my mother and grandmother's names (Mary) and Annette's. But at the hospital, both of us came to the misunderstanding that the other had changed their mind and wanted to name her Vanessa.
It wasn't till three or four days later that Annette asked me why I'd decided to name our daughter Vanessa. I replied; "I didn't decide to name her Vanessa. I just went along with you when you wanted to name her Vanessa." Annette said; "Well I didn't want her named Vanessa. I thought that's what you wanted."
It seems like most of our lives have been like that. ... Mostly random chance in appearance but obviously God's hand is there. Anyway, here are Vanessa’s comments on her name;
"Mom and Dad, I have been very curious about the meaning of my name. I have heard that Vanessa's meaning is "butterfly", but I didn't believe it. I found a web site on the history and origins of names. I compared some of the definitions with Jimmy's men of the Bible book, and found it to be reliable.
This web site stated: author Jonathan Swift invented the name, Vanessa. He arrived at it by rearranging the initial syllable of the first name and surname of Esther Vanhomrigh, his close friend. Vanessa was later used as the name of a genus of butterfly. (So that's why the baby name books decided to say the name meant "butterfly".)
At Books A Million, I found a butterfly guide that listed about six different types of butterfly in the genus Vanessa. My favorite is the 'Vanessa virginiensis.' It's very colorful with soft hues of blue, yellow, pink, brown, and gray.
On a website about Jonathan Swift, I read this: Jonathan Swift met Esther Vanhomrigh in 1708. She was 22 years younger than Swift, who nicknamed her Vanessa. In the poem 'Cadenus and Vanessa' from 1713, Swift wrote about her. In the poem, Swift said that the "graces" who served the goddess Venus, created Vanessa."
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The photos on the front of this weeks “Bleat” show Ethan (Fort), Vanessa and her dad, David looking at his new nephew and another shot of Ethan (Fort) confirming that he’s the spitting image of his Papaw (and so, should rightly carry his middle name, even if only unofficially).
~~~~~
This week the Magnolia School Board rejected the Waldo School Districts request to consolidate. It was a surprise to me. I thought the whole thing was a “done deal.” Today, the Magnolia School Superintendent’s reasons for not consolidating were published. They included;
#1 Bus rides for Waldo students would be excessive. . . . Humm. Look at a map. Exactly who are they gonna consolidate with and get a sorter bus ride?
#5 The district would loose a large number of students to private schools. . . . I thought we got over all that in the sixties.
Reasons 2, 3, 4 and 6 actually made some small amount of sense. They included discussions of school facilities and funding.
Now, I’m not in favor of “Bigger is Better” schools. In the perfect “McClellan” world, schools would be neighborhood based. But that’s not the way our public education establishment is going. So, if they’re gonna consolidate, it seems to me to make more sense to do it on a countywide basis.
I’d like to see us head toward community-based elementary schools and a central High School.
But that’s not what’s really bothering me. The “Hidden” issue here seems to be racism. Waldo is a largely black school. The Magnolia district didn’t seem to want to take in those students. I’ve even heard discussion of “White Flight” another term from the sixties.
In my heart I have to agree with Mary Bounds, a friend and Waldo teacher, who wrote a poignant letter to the editor today. She finished by saying “... it is important that those who are going to be affected the most are not forgotten or ignored. They, like students in all schools in this nation, are the hope of our future.”
~~~~~
We’re continuing our "Daniel fast” the first 21 days of this year. Annette and I are both feeling better and sleeping better. She’s lost 8 pounds and I’ve shed one.
~~~~~
The Banner-News “Diary” reminded us that Banks and many government offices will be closed on Monday for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. / Robert E. Lee birthday holiday.
Did you know it was a holiday for both those men? I didn’t so I looked it up. Low and behold, in Arkansas and several other states, the third Monday in January is a state holiday in honor of both men.
I’m fifty-four years old and I either learn something new every day or I relearn something I forgot.
~~~~~
Jordan Babineaux is a former Mulerider star playing for the Seattle Seahawks. Check him out in the playoffs.
~~~~~
Charlie loaned me “Eye Of The Storm : A Civil War Odyssey” by Robert Sneden. During his time in the army, Sneden kept a detailed diary and made hundreds of sketches in the field. "What makes Sneden's history remarkable is his attention to detail... One can virtually hear the soldiers snoring and the mules braying.... Sneden wasn't so much writing a history as he was detailing his day-to-day activities and observations during his time of service. I’m really enjoying this book and heartily recommend it to anyone with any interest in our history.
~~~~~
Don’t forget to check out www.mcc2000.net Brother Terry and the staff updates it weekly. This week Brother Terry shares that we've been having some great prayer times at 6 am, noon and 6 pm, Monday thru Friday. He goes on to say;
“I know some would say, "What's all the fuss over all this prayer, anyway?"
Let me ask you a question. Does it matter if we pray? If you decide to get up thirty minutes earlier tomorrow, will it matter? Could something occur or not occur because you made this decision that might not otherwise occur? I believe that the Bible says, "Yes, it matters!"
I love the Amplified version of James 5:16b-"The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available (dynamic in its working).
From the very beginning God chose to work through man. He has not changed. He continues to work through men and women who yield themselves to His desires. As we continue to pray and intercede for those who have yet to discover the love and forgiveness of Christ, He moves upon their hearts, opening their eyes and ears to the truth, allowing them to receive the powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ!
More than ever before the church must pray! Would you join us in the last days of our 21-day fast and prayer?“
Annette and I continue to enjoy the Daniel Fast and the resultant improvement in our health.
~~~~~
Just a reminder that the National Do Not Call Registry Offers registration for consumers to stop telemarketers from calling. Just go to www.donotcall.gov/
This site enables you to register your number (and the number of your cell phone(s) on the “do not call list" to prevent those annoying meal time telemarketers calls.
I was thinking ... most people mention that telemarketers call them during mealtime.
Is this because the telemarketers call purposely during mealtime or because Americans are constantly eating and there's no way for a telemarketers to call without catching us at mealtime.
~~~~~
A few years back, the Wednesday evening,” lobby" guys at MCC were talking about the severe
weather we were having that night and the resulting traffic snarls the storm was causing (there were three or four cars stacked up at some of the traffic lights.) Ben Montgomery related an incident he saw a few years ago when traffic entering and leaving Sonic got tangled and blocked off Main Street.
He said, "While they tried to get things moving again, some "dummies" started honking their horns like that would help the situation."
That reminded me of the time, years and years and years ago when my old "B" Shift PL, Mike, was driving around the Magnolia Square, pulling a brine field "flare" trailer. When he veered left to clear the Courthouse, the trailer came off the hitch and headed south on Washington street.
Mike hit the brakes, however there was nothing he could do but watch the trailer as it traveled on south. There was a car coming north, and when they saw the trailer wobbling down the street, they stopped and started honking their horn, presumably to warn the unmanned trailer.
I don't know if the trailer didn't hear the honking or if it attracted the trailer, but in any case, the trailer rolled straight into the car.
After the impact, the driver finally stopped honking.
~~~~~
When we were still toiling away at Physiques Health Club. Merci Pierce was trying to encourage me and said; "Keep in mind that, if you continue your exercise and diet plan, one day you'll wake up with no pains in your body." To which Annette replied; "I'd just like for him to wake up without screaming."
Annette would probably appreciate anything that reduced the amount of groaning and whining she hears every morning.
Of course, part of the problem is these "anti-embolism" hose that Dr. Murphy has me wear. I'm supposed to put them on when I first wake up, before I get out of bed and walk around, allowing blood to pool in my lower extremities.
So, I have to put the hose on when I first wake up, while my bladder is straining toward an explosion, while all my joints scream as I try to get my foot up and contort into a modified pretzel shape as I pull tight hose on over my big fat toes.
Yep, that's a great idea, make an old guy do contortionist exercises when he first wakes up, before he's been to the bathroom. I wonder how long modern medicine had to struggle with their consciences before they came up with this idea.
~~~~~
Norma Kay is one of our favorite contributors. And this one really brings back memories of our youth.
~
I never had the blessing of knowing any of my grandparents because they all died before I was born or I was old enough to remember them but I do remember neighborhood mothers and my mother and their aprons. NK
Aprons
I like this. I'm sure that mama's aprons were usually made from feed sacks. She always tried to pick out sacks that matched so she could make clothes from them. I really do need to wear an apron now because I always get stuff on my clothes when I cook and when I eat.
Do you remember that dinner was always left on the table for supper. A cloth was thrown over it to keep the flies out. If something was put in the refrigerator it was not covered with foil or plastic wrap. Who had any? You could always open the refrigerator and immediately tell what was in the bowls. Most of the year there would be red eye gravy, fried ham, and baked sweet potatoes on the table.
I don't think our kids know what an apron is.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.
It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.
And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.
Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the windowsill to cool.
Her granddaughters set theirs on the windowsill to thaw.
Thanks to Norma Kay Rowe
~~~~~
On Thursday, January 19, the Albemarle Activities Committee will be holding a meeting to review and discuss upcoming events for 2006. The meeting will be held in the downstairs conference room of the Maintenance Complex and will begin at 3:00 pm.
Here's where you can help. If you would like to be a member of the ACT, you are invited to attend the meeting. You can be a part of the ACT for the whole year, or if you'd like to help with one or two activities, you are more than welcome. If you cannot attend the meeting, but would like to be a part of this, please let Genia Harrell (x 6511) or Debbie Wright (x 6275) know.
This is a great group that coordinates a lot of fun activities for all of us. So, plan on attending the meeting or contacting one of the above members to be a part of the fun.
~~~~~
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: from The Free Dictionary
Marilyn Monroe Marries Joe DiMaggio (1954) Monroe married baseball star DiMaggio after a two-year courtship that captivated America. The marriage lasted just 274 days, collapsing amid reports of her infidelity and his violence and jealousy. After Monroe's divorce from Arthur Miller, however, the two became close again. When Monroe was found dead in August, 1962, it was DiMaggio who claimed her body and arranged her funeral. For 20 years, he had a bouquet of roses delivered to her crypt three times a week.
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We’ve now got several addresses on the web for "Da Bleat." For the latest issue, go to http://bugsbleat1q.blogspot.com. Older issues can be found at bugsbleat.blogspot.com, bugsbleatnew.blogspot.com, and bugsbleat4q.blogspot.com.
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Feel free to share the "Bleat" with any and all. That's why we publish it.
~~~~~
www.aaa.com Regular
Current Avg. $ 2.32
http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/
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Recipe(s) of the week - Citrus Balsamic Glazed Salmon Recipe courtesy Sandra Lee
Show: Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee
Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
8 salmon fillets, 3/4-inch thick, about 1 ½ pounds total
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon orange juice
1-tablespoon brown sugar
1 (14-ounce) can seasoned chicken broth
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Rub salmon with salt and pepper. Place salmon in 2-quart shallow baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork. Whisk balsamic vinegar, cornstarch, orange juice and brown sugar in medium saucepan. Add chicken broth and heat to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, stirring until the mixture thickens. Arrange salmon on serving platter and serve with sauce. Serve over hot white rice, if desired.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_29546,00.html
~~~~~
BreakPoint
With Chuck Colson
Revolution to Revulsion
Ambidextrous Corruption
January 13, 2006
No sooner had the Washington establishment re-opened for business last week than word arrived about super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s guilty plea. His plea contains eleven words requiring Abramoff “to provide evidence about members of Congress.” And these words sent shock waves through Washington.
It’s not only Congress. As the Washington Post put it, the news sent “shock waves down K Street,” the nickname for the lobbyists and trade groups that are an integral part of the Washington scene. And it has political ramifications: As former congressman Vin Weber told National Public Radio: “. . . there are enough parallels to the 1993-94 cycle that Republicans ought to be very, very nervous. . . . ”
Weber’s invoking of the 1994 elections is apt. What we are seeing in Washington today is a repetition of how power and money lead not only to corruption but to a betrayal of our ideals.
If people remember the 1994 “Contract with America” at all, they remember a series of policy proposals. But the “Contract” also promised to change the way Congress, and the rest of Washington, did business. The Democrats had controlled the Washington establishment, including Congress, for a generation. So Gingrich and company promised to clean the culture up, strip down the size and scope of government, and, in turn, curtail the power of K Street.
Well, it has not happened. In eleven years, we have gone from what some people called a “revolution” to what most people today would call “revolting.”
The reason for this should not come as a surprise to any Christian: Corruption is ambidextrous—both right as well as left. The ethical and moral failures that brought Republicans to power did not happen because Democrats were in charge but because flawed people were in charge.
What’s more, unlike the activists in both parties, K Street really did not care who was in charge. In 1994, when the Republicans swept into office, it went out and found clients whose interests and concerns were more amenable to Republicans. Then it found Republicans to make the client’s cases—for a handsome fee, of course—and, soon, it was business as usual.
Actually, it was worse than usual. Christians who had helped bring the GOP to power were betrayed and even duped into supporting causes, like Indian casinos, they never would have had the Democrats been in control. It has been disillusioning for many of us.
Now, Abramoff’s plea and his cooperation with prosecutors have politicians nervous and activists, especially Christians, feeling betrayed. The obvious response to this ambidextrous venality is, “A pox on both your houses!”
If by “pox” you mean a renewed appreciation for the limitations of political alliances, I agree. But there is too much at stake to leave the fray altogether. So, instead of business as usual, Christians need to insist that meaningful reforms be made. Politicians who came to power on the promise of cleaning the place up need their feet held to the fire.
And we must do something about money in politics. Okay, I know all the misgivings about the constitutionality of campaign finance reform. But these misgivings are increasingly being trumped by corruption like we see today. Power corrupts, as Lord Acton famously said, and sadly, that applies to some of our friends as well.
For further reading and information:
Today’s BreakPoint offer: Subscribe today to BreakPoint WorldView magazine, and stay informed on today’s news and culture Christian perspective. Call 1-877-322-5527.
Jeffrey H. Bimbaum and Dan Balz, “Case Bringing New Scrutiny to a System and a Profession,” Washington Post, 4 January 2006, A01.
Mara Liasson, “GOP Control of Congress Under Threat,” NPR, 6 October 2005.
Juan Williams, “The K Street Project and Jack Abramoff,” NPR, 11 January 2006.
“Lobbyist Admits to Kickbacks, Fraud,” CNN, 3 January 2006.
Gail Russell Chaddock, “How Far Will Abramoff Scandal Reach?” Christian Science Monitor, 5 January 2006.
Brent Bozell, “‘Potentially Delicious’ Scandal Bias,” Townhall.com, 11 January 2006.
Rich Lowry, “The Abramoff Scandal,” Townhall.com, 10 January 2006.
BreakPoint Commentary No. 051212, “Should We Give Tax Breaks to Casinos?: Fighting K-Street Corruption.”
The BreakPoint Web site and BreakPoint WorldView Magazine feature Colson’s commentaries as well as feature articles by other established and up-and-coming writers to equip readers with a biblical perspective on a variety of issues and topics.
© 2004 Prison Fellowship.
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A Handy Chart
God has a positive answer:
YOU SAY GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES
You say:"It's God says: All things (Luke 18:27)
impossible" are possible
You say:” I’m God says: I will give (Matthew 11:28-30)
too tired" you rest
You say:” Nobody God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John
really loves me" 3:34)
You say:” I can't God says: My grace (II Corinthians 12:9 &
go on" is sufficient Psalm 91:15)
You say:” I can't God says: I will (Proverbs 3:5-6)
figure things out" Direct your steps
You say:” I can't God says: You (Philippians 4:13)
do it" can do all things
You say: God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
"I'm not able"
You say: "It's not God says: It will be (Roman 8:28)
worth it" worth it
You say:” I can't God says: I Forgive (I John 1:9 & Romans
forgive myself" you 8:1)
You say:” I can't God says: I will (Philippians 4:19)
manage" supply all your
needs
You say: God says: I have not (II Timothy 1:7)
"I'm afraid" given you a spirit
of fear
You say:” I’m God says: Cast all (I Peter 5:7)
always worried your cares on ME
and frustrated"
You say:” I don't God says: I've given (Romans 12:3)
have enough faith" everyone a measure
of faith
You say:” I’m not God says: I give you (I Corinthians 1:30)
smart enough" wisdom
You say:” I feel God says: I will (Hebrews 13:5)
all alone" never leave you or
forsake you
Believe God is there just for you..
Thanks to Ben Blankenship
~~~~~
Words of the Week:
diktat: an authoritative decree or order.
esurient: hungry; greedy.
ineffable: incapable of being expressed.
dubiety: the condition or quality of being doubtful; also, a matter of doubt.
pugilist: a boxer.
renascent: rising again into being; showing renewed vigor.
sesquipedalian: (of words) long; having many syllables.
from Dictionary.Com
~~~~~
"None of us is as smart as all of us." - Phil Condit
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Seneca
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." - Theodore Roosevelt
"Beware the fury of a patient man." - John Dryden
"One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman." - Simone de Beauvoir
"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." - Rudyard Kipling
"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." - Kurt Vonnegut
"The strongest principle of growth lies in the human choice." - George Eliot
A common expression in Israel is, "If you have two Jews, then you'll have three opinions." This is meant to convey that there are many passionate opinions in Israel, even among the most devout among the Jewish People.
~~~~~
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/
Pat Robertson "Writes Humble Letter of Apology to Israel" Story
Steve Shultz, Founding Editor (Jan 13, 2006) - - http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=1944
Arkansas Governor Urges Residents to Pray for Rain
Teresa Neumann Reporting (Jan 12, 2006) - - http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=1938
Scotland's Western Isles Protect Traditional Marriage
Terry Vanderheyden/Teresa Neumann Reporting (Jan 11, 2006)
"Here, politicians listen to the will of the people..."
According to The Universe Catholic News agency, a campaign from church leaders of all denominations successfully mobilized the people of Scotland's Western Isles to ban same-sex civil ceremonies. - - http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=1934
Former Congresswoman Linda Smith Will Join President Bush as He Signs the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act
Melissa Snow / Aimee Herd reporting (Jan 10, 2006)
"This is an important bill because it not only enhances our international efforts, but it also focuses on the trafficking problem in the United States." - - http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=1929
Famous Canadian Hockey star, Justin Pogge Saved from Mother's Suicide During Pregnancy by Divine Intervention
Gudrun Schultz/Teresa Neumann Reporting (Jan 6, 2006)
Justin Pogge, star goalie for the Canadian junior men's hockey team, and newly signed to the Toronto Maple Leafs, shares a life-saving story involving his mother 19 years ago. - - http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=1919
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GCF: Coming Downstairs
Emailed to me from another humor list (The Funnies) -Tom
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--------------------------------
Teddy came thundering down the stairs, much to his father's
annoyance. "Teddy," he called, "how many more times do I have I to
tell you to come downstairs quietly? Now, go back upstairs and come
down like a civilized human being."
There was a silence, and Teddy reappeared in the front room.
"That's better," said his father, "now in future will you always come
down stairs like that."
"OK," said Teddy. "I slid down the railing."
_ ____________________________ _
GCF: Head Check
Emailed to me from another humor list (You Make Me Laugh) -Tom
To subscribe to You Make Me Laugh, send a blank email to:
SUBSCRIBE-laugh@lists.crosswalk.com
--------------------------------
One weekend my friend, a nurse, was looking after her six-year-old
nephew when he fell off a playground slide and hit his head.
Worried that he might have a concussion, she checked him all night.
Every hour, she'd gently shake him and ask, "What's your name?" Soon,
he began moaning in protest each time she entered the room.
When Sally went in at 5:00 A.M., she found something white on his
forehead. Leaning close, she saw a crayon-scrawled message taped to
his forehead.
It read: "My name is Daniel."
_ ____________________________ _
GCF: Vacation Cut
Emailed to me another humor list (Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh List) -Tom
Subscribe to Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh list at the website:
--------------------------------
Before going on vacation, I decided on the spur of the moment to have
my very long, permed hair cut to a very short style shaved to the neck.
My first day back, I passed my boss in the hallway. "Did you miss
me?" I asked.
"Miss you?" he echoed. "Who are you?"
_ ____________________________ _
GCF: Excuses, Excuses
Emailed to me from another humor list (The Funnies) -Tom
To subscribe to The Funnies, send a blank email to:
andychaps_the-funnies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
--------------------------------
Philadelphia's Highway Patrol officers hear all kinds of creative
excuses that drivers give for speeding. Here are some of the
officers' favorites. By the way, none of them worked.
A man told the officer he was rushing to the hospital because had
been stung by a bee, and was allergic. "There's the bee right there,"
he said, pointing to his dashboard. The officer looked. The bee was
not only dead, but in a advanced state of decomposition.
An officer stopped a man doing 80 mph. When he asked the driver
whether he had seen the speed-limit signs, the man responded, "I went
by them so fast I probably missed them."
A man going south on I-95 was stopped near Washington Avenue doing 79
mph. "My engine misses, and I'm trying to clean out the carburetor,"
he told the officer. For good measure, he added, "If I don't go this
fast, my car won't go at all."
"I'm due in traffic court," one speeder said. "If I'm late they're
going to enforce the bench warrant."
When an officer told a speeder that the speed limit on the Schuylkill
Expressway was 50 mph, the driver responded, "Officer, where have you
been? It's 65 now."
One speeder said simply, "I'm trying to beat my wife home. Don't ask."
An elderly person was stopped after doing 73 mph. When told he was
getting a ticket, he asked the officer, "Is there a senior citizen's discount?"
_ ____________________________ _
GCF: Worker Ants
Emailed to me another humor list (Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh List) -Tom
Subscribe to Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh list at the website:
--------------------------------
The teacher was giving her class of seven-year-olds a natural history
lesson. "Worker ants," she told them, "can carry pieces of food five
times their own weight. What do you conclude from that?"
One child was ready with the answer: "They don't have a union."
_ ____________________________ _
(((\ \>|_/ )_______________________( \_|
\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / The hardness of the butter \ /
\ _/ is in direct proportion \_ /
/ / to the softness of the bread. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_______________________( \_|
\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / \ /
\ _/ Don't judge a book by its movie. \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_______________________( \_|
\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / It's hard to be nostalgic \ /
\ _/ when you can't remember anything. \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_______________________( \_|
\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Hard work never killed \ /
\ _/ anybody . . . but why \_ /
/ / take chances? \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_______________________( \_|
\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / "Quidquid latine dictum \ /
\ _/ sit, altum viditur." \_ /
/ / (Anything in Latin sounds profound.) \ \
_ ____________________________ _
/ )| Thomas S. Ellsworth |( \
/ / | tellswor@slonet.org | \ \
_( (_ | http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor | _) )_
(((\ \>|_/ )_______________________( \_|
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[GCFL.net] Empty Stomach
Little Susie, a six-year-old, came home from school whining, "Mommy, I've got a stomachache."
"That's because your stomach is empty," her mother replied.
"You'd feel better if you had something in it." She gave Susie a snack and sure enough, Susie felt better right away.
That afternoon the family's minister dropped by. While he was chatting with Susie's mom, he mentioned he'd had a bad headache all day long.
Susie perked up. "That's because it's empty," she said.
"You'd feel better if you had something in it."
Received from Murphy Hunt.
(-:][:-)
[GCFL.net] Secret Thoughts of Doctors
(With apologies to my personal physician... Of course this doesn't apply to you! :) )
What the doctor says: "This should be taken care of right away."
What the doctor is thinking: I'd planned a trip to Hawaii next month, but this is so easy and profitable that I want to fix it before it cures itself.
What the doctor says: "Welllllll, what have we here?"
What the doctor is thinking: He has no idea and is hoping you'll give him a clue.
"Let me check your medical history." -- I want to see if you've paid your last bill before spending any more time with you.
"We have some good news and some bad news." -- The good news is, I'm going to buy that new BMW. The bad news is, you're going to pay for it.
"Let's see how it develops." -- Maybe in a few days it will grow into something that can be cured.
"Why don't we make another appointment later in the week." -- I'm playing golf this afternoon, and this a waste of time. -- I need the bucks, so I'm charging you for another office visit.
"Let me schedule you for some tests." -- I have a forty percent interest in the lab.
"I'd like to prescribe a new drug." -- I'm writing a paper and would like to use you for a guinea pig.
"If it doesn't clear up in a week, give me a call." -- I
don't know what it is. Maybe it will go away by itself.
"That's quite a nasty looking wound." -- I think I'm going to throw up.
"This may hurt a little." -- Last week two patients bit off their tongues.
"Well, we're not feeling so well today, are we?" -- I'm stalling for time. Who are you and why are you here?
"This should fix you up." -- The drug company slipped me some big bucks to prescribe this stuff.
"Everything seems to be normal." -- Rats! I guess I can't buy that new beach condo after all.
"I'd like to run some more tests." -- I can't figure out
what's wrong. Maybe the kid in the lab can solve this one.
"There is a lot of that going around." -- That's the third one this week! I'd better learn something about this.
"If those symptoms persist, call for an appointment." -- I've never heard of anything so disgusting. Thankfully I'm off next week.
Received from http://www.cleanfunny.com, a GCFL recommended link.
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[GCFL.net] Several Short Ones
JUST CURIOUS
Little Johnny asked his grandma how old she was. Grandma answered, "Thirty-nine and holding."
Johnny thought for a moment and then said, "And how old would you be if you let go?"
THE TITHING
A little boy in church for the first time watched as the ushers passed around the offering plates. When they came near his pew, the boy said loudly, "Don't pay for me, Daddy.
I'm under five."
THE BLESSING
The Sunday school teacher asked, "Now, Johnny, tell me, do you say prayers before eating?"
"No sir," he replied. "We don't have to. My mom is a good cook!"
Received from Diana Morris.
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[GCFL.net] Dear Lord...
Dear Lord,
Every single evening
As I'm lying here in bed,
This tiny little prayer
Keeps running through my head.
God bless all my family
Wherever they may be,
Keep them warm and safe from harm
For they're so close to me.
And God, there is one more thing
I wish that you could do,
Hope you don't mind me asking
Please bless my computer too.
Now I know that it's unusual
To bless a motherboard,
But listen just a second
While I explain it to you, Lord.
You see that little metal box
Holds more than odds and ends,
Inside those small compartments
Rest so many of my friends.
I know so much about them
By the kindness that they give,
And this little scrap of metal
Takes me in to where they live.
By faith is how I know them
Much the same as you,
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendships grew.
Please take an extra minute
From your duties up above,
To bless those in my address book
That's filled with so much love.
Wherever else this prayer may reach
To each and every friend,
Bless each e-mail inbox
And each person who hits send.
When you update your Heavenly list
On your own CD-ROM,
Bless everyone who says this prayer
Sent up to GOD.com.
AMEN
Author unknown
Received from Anthea Williams (FMC).
(-:][:-)
-=+=-
Rate this funny at
http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20060113
Brought to you by GCFL.net: The Good, Clean Funnies List
A cheerful heart is good medicine... (Prov 17:22a)
Mail address: GCFL, Box 100, Harvest, AL 35749, USA
To print or email this funny to others, go to
http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20060113
The latest GCFL funny can always be found on the web at
http://www.gcfl.net/latest.php
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Why Math is Taught in School
I was riding to work yesterday when I observed a female driver cut right in front of a pickup truck, causing him to have to drive on to the shoulder to avoid hitting her.
This evidently angered the driver enough that he hung his arm out His window and "flipped" the woman off.
"Man, that guy is stupid," I thought to myself. I ALWAYS smile nicely and wave in a sheepish manner whenever a female does anything to me in traffic, and here's why:
I drive 48 miles each way every day to work.
That's 96 miles each day.
Of these, 16 miles each way is bumper-to-bumper.
Most of the bumper-to-bumper is on an 8-lane highway.
There are 7 cars every 40 feet for 32 miles.
That works out to be 982 cars every mile, or 31,424 cars.
I pass at least another 4000 cars.
That brings the number to something like 36,000 cars that I pass every day.
Statistically, females drive half of these.
That's 18,000 women drivers!
In any given group of females, 1 in 28 has PMS.
That's 642.
According to Cosmopolitan, 70% describe their love life as Dissatisfying or unrewarding.
That's 449.
According to the National Institutes of Health, 22% of all females have seriously considered suicide or homicide.
That's 98.
And 34% describe men as their biggest problem.
That's 33.
According to the National Rifle Association, 5% of all females carry weapons, and this number is increasing.
That means that EVERY SINGLE DAY, I drive past at least one Female that has a lousy love life, thinks men are her biggest problem, has seriously considered suicide or homicide, has PMS, and is armed.
Flip one off? ....... I think not.
Thanks to Randy Maness
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Daphne Roberts, our close friend and one of our favorite SAP computer experts, related the following that a friend told her;
"My husband refused to learn how to operate a computer. I tried to get him to realize how important it is, since all our financial records are stored on disks.
What if something happens to me? I asked him. You wouldn't know what our assets are.
Honey, he replied, If something happens to you, I wouldn't need any money.
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News of the Weird was one of my favorite websites when we first got internet access. I rediscovered it this week. (http://www.newsoftheweird.com/)
The headline categories, I think, make the stories even funnier. Here's a sampling of their stories:
Least Competent People
Robbin Doolin, 31, accidentally fell from her car while driving on U.S. 71 in Kansas City, Mo., in July when she opened the door to spit and leaned too far. (She quickly jumped up and chased her car, which left the road and ran down an embankment.)
In Amarillo, Texas, Bobby Reynolds, 74, and his son Gary, 43, were hospitalized in July after an incident in which their car got stuck on tracks at a railroad crossing. After unsuccessfully trying the move it, reported the Amarillo Globe-News, they somehow fell asleep in the car and were later hit by a train. [Kansas City Star, 7-30-05] [Amarillo Globe-News, 6-28-05]
In November, Parker Houghtaling, 23, standing on a station platform in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., was hit in the head when he leaned out too far over the tracks as a Metro-North train was arriving. The Poughkeepsie Journal reported that Houghtaling was similarly hit by a New York City subway car in 2002 when he leaned out too far. (He was hospitalized both times.) [Poughkeepsie Journal, 11-21-05]
Thanks to Joe Tudor
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Welcome to You Make Me Laugh, a free newsletter from Crosswalk.com, the world's largest Christian website.
*Baseball Doctor*
As the manager of our hospital's softball team, I was responsible for returning equipment to the proper owners at the end of the season.
When I walked into the surgery department carrying a bat that belonged to one of the surgeons, I passed several patients and their families in a waiting area.
I heard one man say to his wife, "Look, honey, here comes your anesthesiologist."
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*Lost In The Translation*
Two diners at a very swanky eatery were shocked to see on the menu a dish of "hickory-smoked possum jowls in pancake syrup." They summoned a waiter to complain.
Their waiters looked at the menu. Then he threw it down and yelled to the owner in the kitchen,
"Hey, the printers forgot to translate the menu into French again!"
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*Kid Comments*
* A kindergarten teacher asked, "What is the shape of the earth?"
One lil' girl spoke up: "According to my Daddy -- terrible!"
* Trying to come to the aid of his Father, who was stopped by an officer for speeding, the lil' tyke piped up,= "Yeah? Well, if we were speeding, so were you!"
* Two kids were trying to figure out what game to play. One said, "Let's play doctor."
"Good idea." said the other. "You operate, and I'll sue."
* I guess you can get too health conscious... The wife and I don't have a lot of "junk food" in the house. Upon eating a snack of some munchies or other my Grandson asked what vitamins they had in them. I told him I doubted there were any at all. He replied wide-eyed, "You mean these are just for fun?"
(-:][:-)
*Hiccup Cure*
A man goes into a drug store and asks the pharmacist if he can give him something to cure the hiccups. The pharmacist promptly reaches out and slaps the man's face. (Whack)
"What did you do that for?" the man asks.
"Well, you don't have the hiccups anymore, do you?"
The man says, "No, but my wife out in the car still does!"
(-:][:-)
*New Discovery*
The scene: Alexander Graham Bell's laboratory.
An exciting new discovery is about to take place. Mr. Bell and his assistant, a man named Watson, have been hard at work on Bell's new invention to transmit sound over wires.
As Mr. Watson toiled away in the room with the receiver, he suddenly hears ... ring, ring , ring .... then....
"Good evening, sir. Are you paying too much for your long distance service?"
(-:][:-)
Eye Laugh
"Wo Boy!"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=182
"Farm Closed"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=207
"Overachiever"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=208
"Mad Dog"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=209
"Cat Swat"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=212
*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh
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-=+=-
Daily devotionals are available at http://link.Crosswalk.Com/UM/T.asp?A1. 39. 17757. 1. 494611 You can access more information on Crosswalk's Fun page http://www.Crosswalk.Com/fun/! Crosswalk gives credit to the author of a joke when author is known. Feel free to send notification to admin@cybersalt.org in cases where credit has not been given to the author! -SUBSCRIPTION INFO- * Copyright2004 Crosswalk.Com, Inc. and its Content Providers. All rights reserved. Introducing www.Crossguide.Com Where Christians find Products, Services & Ministries.
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"Don't strive for recognition, but work for achievement." -- Vanessa Malone
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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - - http://www.madkane.com/millionaire.html - - Millionaire for the Masses? I've come up with a great way to impress friends, relatives, enemies, prospective dates and, most important, your mailman: Subscribe to Millionaire magazine and display it prominently at all times. Better yet, order two subscriptions and...
http://www.madkane.com
http://www.madkane.com/notable.html (Notables Weblog)
http://www.madkane.com/bush.html (Dubya's Dayly Diary)
Subscribe to MadKane Humor Newsletter (weekly) here:
http://www.madkane.com/email.html
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Orchid Hunter: Great Amateurs in Science - - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/orchid/amateurs.html - - Like the amateur orchid expert Tom Hart Dyke in "Orchid Hunter," they have no formal training. They are often ignored by those who do. In some cases they don't live to see the scientific recognition they so richly deserve. Who are they? They are the nonprofessional scientists who every now and then make their professional counterparts green with envy for the enormous contributions they make to their discipline. Here, in no particular order, meet ten amateur scientists who secured such an enviable place in the history of science.
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Picturing Women - - http://www.picturingwomen.org/home.php - - Explore the patterns and contexts that have affirmed women through history up to present day. This unique site explores historical, contemporary and self-representations of women.
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Answers.com - - http://www.answers.com/ - - This site provides instant reference answers rather than lists of search engine links.
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Science.gov - - http://www.science.gov/ - - Searches the government's vast stores of scientific and technical information across 30 databases and more than 1,700 science websites and currently accesses over 47 million pages of government science information.
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David Rumsey Map Collection - - http://www.davidrumsey.com/ - - The David Rumsey Historical Map Collection has over 11,000 maps online. The collection focuses on rare 18th and 19th century North and South America maps and other cartographic materials. Historic maps of the World, Europe, Asia and Africa are also represented. Collection categories include antique atlas, globe, school geography, maritime chart, state, county, city, pocket, wall, childrens and manuscript maps. The collection can be used to study history, genealogy and family history.
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Top 125 Questions Facing Scientists Today - - http://www.sciencemag.org/sciext/125th/ - - A special 125th Anniversary edition of Science magazine explores the top 125 questions facing scientists today.
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Guinness World Records - - http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/ - - Guinness World Records is the global authority on record-breaking achievement. It is a household name and global leader in world records. This site collects, confirms, accredits and presents world record data. Topics include arts, entertainment, business, money, fame, transport, technology, science, events, sports, and more.
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AskOxford - - http://www.askoxford.com/ - - Search the Compact Oxford English Dictionary online; get answers to questions on English, language, grammar, spelling, quotations, and usage; find out about OUP dictionaries; improve your writing skills; try our word games, crosswords, and puzzles; win books in our prize draw; learn French, German, Spanish, Russian, Greek, Japanese, and Italian.
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Photo Contest: National Wildlife Magazine - - http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?issueID=79&articleID=1158 - - This site presents the winners of 35th annual photography competition sponsored by the National Wildlife Magazine.
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|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
January 12, 2006
... driving in fog
DO:
Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits the conditions.
Make sure the full lighting system of your vehicle is turned on.
Use your low beam headlights. High beams reflect off the moisture droplets in the fog, making it harder to see.
If you have fog lights on your vehicle, use them, in addition to your low beams. They could save your life.
Be patient. Avoid passing, changing lanes and crossing traffic.
Use pavement markings to help guide you. Use the right edge of the road as a guide, rather than the centerline.
Increase your following distance. You will need extra distance to brake safely.
Look and listen for any hazards that may be ahead.
Reduce the distractions in your vehicle. For example, turn off the cell phone? your full attention is required.
Watch for any electronically operated warning signs.
Keep looking as far ahead as possible.
Keep your windows and mirrors clean. Use your defroster and wipers to maximize your vision.
If the fog is too dense to continue, pull completely off the road and try to position your vehicle in a protected area from other traffic. Turn on your emergency flashers.
DON'T:
Don't stop on the
traveled portion of the road. You could become the first link in a chain-reaction collision.
Don't speed up
suddenly, even if the fog seems to be clearing. You could find yourself suddenly back in fog.
Don't speed up to
pass a vehicle moving slowly or to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.
REMEMBER:
Watch your speed. You may be going faster than you think. If so, reduce speed gradually.
Leave a safe braking distance between you and the vehicle ahead.
Remain calm and patient. Don't pass other vehicles or speed up suddenly.
Don't stop on the road. If visibility is decreasing rapidly, pull off the road into a safe parking area and wait for the fog to lift.
When visibility is reduced, use your low beam lights.
|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
January 11, 2006
Today's Safety From the Heart message was submitted by Rick Davis.
Kids & Seat Belts
Sometimes we as parents wonder if anything that we say or attempt to teach our kids...ever really sinks home or if they even hear us when we talk.
Tomorrow, Wed., Jan 11 , 2006, my daughter Brittany will be 21 years old....I can testify to the old adage " They don't stay little very long..."
You also have a fear of many different things...two of the things I always feared the most being the father of an extremely attractive young woman was (1) She would drag home some guy that looks like me....and (2) Every parent's worst nightmare, and that's a vehicle in the hands of a teenager.
It seems you always have that dread of the phone ringing @ midnight one evening with the horrendous news that there has been an accident involving one of your kids. I was born & raised in the country...you don't call anyone after 9:00 PM, and if the phone rings anytime after that, it is usually bad news.
Wed night, Dec 28 , 2005...just 2 short weeks ago , I got that call....about 10:00 that night. Brittany's mom called me from Lexington Hospital alerting me to the news that Brittany had been involved in an accident. As with many conversations, somehow she began to tell me about the circumstances before I could find out if Brittany was OK. As it turned out, she was indeed OK....as were the occupants of the other vehicle.
She was traveling I-77 during a big downpour of rain that night...hit a sheet of water on the road, spun out of control 180 degrees...traveled backwards for some amount of distance...crossed the grass median, still backwards and into oncoming traffic and hit a Ford pick-up head-on...or tail-end to front ( you get the idea...).
The impact was enough that the doors were bound shut, and the trunk was now in the back seat...enough even to crimple up the roof of the car.
She required a couple or three stitches in the back of her head, her right ankle was swollen some...but perhaps the best testimony to her having picked up something in our lessons & conversations over the years...she had a giant bruise about 2" wide that ran all the way across her left shoulder and front.
That was from the harness of her seat belt. When you think about how much force it took for that strap to dig into her that much...it makes me cringe to think of what the outcome would have been had she not had it on. Had it actually been head-on....that's something that I try not to dwell on .
She's a good kid; I'm very proud of her...she is indeed the apple of her "daddy's" eye. She has an incredibly hard head, as does my son Daniel....there may be something genetic there somewhere.
Had she not been wearing her seatbelt 2 weeks ago...Wed, Jan 11 , 2006, would not be a celebration for us, but a time of year that would haunt me for the rest of my days.
With kids, you never know when they are watching & when they are listening....hardheaded or not, I thank God that Brittany has developed the " habit" of wearing seatbelts .
|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
January 10, 2006
Today's Message is from Robert Henley (a Houston Albemarle employee).
"Make Safety A Habit"
Safety is not a sometime thing; it's an all-time thing. You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them all the time. Make Safety a habit.
|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
January 6, 2006
Safety From the Heart
Prepared by Baton Rouge Tower Employee, George Ricks
Tire Safety - Everything Rides On It
Studies of tire safety show that maintaining proper tire pressure, observing tire and vehicle load limits, avoiding road hazards, and inspecting tires for cuts, slashes, and other irregularities are the most important things you can do to avoid tire failure, such as tread separation or blowout and flat tires. These actions, along with other care and maintenance activities, can also improve vehicle handling, help protect you and others from avoidable breakdowns and accidents, improve fuel economy, and increase the life of your tires. Given below is a link to a booklet that presents a comprehensive overview of tire safety. Use this information to make tire safety a regular part of your vehicle maintenance routine. Recognize that the time you spend is minimal compared with the inconvenience and safety consequences of a flat tire or other tire failure.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/TireSafety/ridesonit/brochure.html
|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
JANUARY 6, 2006
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Today's Message is from Mark Vranderic (a Houston Albemarle employee).
When driving, have you experienced a driver doing something "unexpected?" You know the driver. You can just tell a certain vehicle is going to cut you off, make a turn without signaling. So how do you plan for these unexpected surprises to the your normal driving? I find that when I am not in a hurry, my normal defensive driving skills are at a peak. I find myself looking ahead, anticipating these "crazy ivans." It is when I am a hurry, running late, trying to squeeze in too much that my defensive approach drops off.
Don't drop your guard. Drive safe.
|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
January 5, 2006
Today's Message is from Sandy Barclay (a Houston Albemarle employee).
This time of year lots of people are traveling. Luggage can be hazardous to your health. Have you seen the commercial where the people are hurrying through the airport and the luggage they are pulling falls apart? This happened to our daughter, but luckily, she hadn't left our house yet. The handle to her carryon-sized luggage, which was packed full and weighed about a ton, pulled right out as she started out the door. The luggage missed the cat and didn't fall on anyone's foot. We will always check our luggage now to make sure everything is in working order.
|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
January 4, 2006
Wheels
Today's Safety From the Heart message was submitted by Al Shaffer.
My safety from the heart is about tires and wheels and the importance of paying attention to warning signs.
Recently I had my vehicle in the shop because of a vibration. At 45 mph or more the steering wheel would begin to wiggle transmitting warning signs of a problem. It was diagnosed as a separating front tire. The tire had a large blister on it and would have shortly blown out.
This fact was brought home to me when I saw it happen to someone else. It indeed happened while my truck was still being worked on. I was traveling south on 301 toward Cope when a van coming toward me began drifting toward the median. Pieces of rubber were flying from the front right wheel well. It eventually stopped on the grass, nearly ending up in the separating ditch. The front tire had blown out. All that was left on the wheel rim was the inner bead of the tire. The main carcass was two hundred yards back and pieces of rubber, plastic and glass were strewn in between. The front right fender, the headlight, turn signal, trim and shroud were all badly damaged.
This possibly could have been avoided if it had given any warning sign. Careful inspection and maintenance of your vehicle can save you a lot of money and possible injury.
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Our Church, Magnolia Christian Center, has the following mission statement. Our purpose is to build a great church for the glory of God through the great commission and the great commandment. MCC' Vision - That MCC will be a place hopping with children, energized with teenagers, balanced with diversity and transformed by the power of God! We want to turn uninterested people into interested people and win the lost to make fully devoted followers of Christ.
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For all the Moms, Grandma's, Aunts...and Moms to be
Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby .....
Somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, "Normal," is history.
Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct . ..... Somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.
Somebody said being a mother is boring ..... Somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.
Somebody said if you're a "good" mother, your child will "turn out good." ..... Somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.
Somebody said "good" mothers never raise their voices . ..... Somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window.
Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother. ..... Somebody never helped a fourth grader with her math.
Somebody said you can't love the fifth child as much as you love the first. ..... Somebody doesn't have five children.
Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books ........
Somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose or in his ears.
Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery .....
Somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten. or on a plane headed for military "boot camp."
Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back ..... somebody never organized four giggling Brownies to sell cookies.
Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married ... Somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.
Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home ....
Somebody never had grandchildren.
Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her Somebody isn't a mother.
Have a Blessed Day!
Thanks to Pam Burton
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Most Arkansas Fire Departments Run by Volunteers
Many Arkansans are safe from the wildfires thanks to the efforts of brave firefighters, who are mostly volunteers. 92% of the state's fire departments are run by volunteers, although in the past 20 years the number of volunteer firefighters has decreased nationwide.
It takes a special kind of person to be a volunteer firefighter, just ask the young men at the Arch Street Fire Department in Pulaski County.
"Everyone likes to ride in trucks with their lights and sirens on all the time," said volunteer firefighter Marty Allison.
Aside from the thrill and excitement of the job, there is also a sense of public duty.
"I wanted to find some way that I could help the community, plus I was very interested in emergency medicine," said volunteer firefighter Bobby Blasingame.
If you thought these guys had a minute to stand still, you'd be guessing wrong. When he's not studying for an exam, full-time student Bobby Blasingame is suiting up at the station. So is Marty Allison, who juggles a full-time MEMS job, with a 24-7 on call schedule. It's something friends and family have had to get used to.
"They do get a little aggravated with the pager going off all the time, or me running off in the middle of things all the time," said Allison.
"You’re torn between a fire department, and do I stay home and take care of the kids, or take my wife out to eat," said Assistant Fire Chief Tom Eckelkamp.
Most of the time, if their other job permits, these guys choose the former, because that's simply what makes them different from the rest.
"If you're the type of person that likes to help out the community or be involved in something good," said Allison.
To join a volunteer fire department, you must be at least 18 years and go through several classes and training.
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War wounded treated to train & game
It started last Christmas, when Bennett and Vivian Levin were overwhelmed by sadness while listening to radio reports of injured American troops.
"We have to let them know we care," Vivian told Bennett.
So they organized a trip to bring soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital to the annual Army-Navy football game in Philly, on Dec. 3.
The cool part is, they created their own train line to do it.
Yes, there are people in this country who actually own real trains. Bennett Levin -- native Philly guy, self-made millionaire and irascible former L&I commish -- is one of them.
He has three luxury rail cars. Think mahogany paneling, plush seating and white-linen dining areas. He also has two locomotives, which he stores at his Juniata Park train yard.
One car, the elegant Pennsylvania, carried John F. Kennedy to the Army-Navy game in 1961 and '62. Later, it carried his brother Bobby's body to D.C. for burial.
"That's a lot of history for one car," says Bennett.
He and Vivian wanted to revive a tradition that endured from 1936 to 1975, during which trains carried Army-Navy spectators from around the country directly to the stadium where the annual game is played.
The Levins could think of no better passengers to reinstate the ceremonial ride than the wounded men and women recovering at Walter Reed in D.C. and Bethesda, in Maryland.
"We wanted to give them a first-class experience," says Bennett. "Gourmet meals on board, private transportation from the train to the stadium, perfect seats -- real hero treatment."
Through the Army War College Foundation, of which he is a trustee, Bennett met with Walter Reed's commanding general, who loved the idea.
But Bennett had some ground rules first, all designed to keep the focus on the troops alone:
No press on the trip, lest the soldiers' day of pampering devolve into a media circus.
No politicians either, because Bennett, "didn't want some idiot making this trip into a campaign photo op."
And no Pentagon suits on-board, otherwise the soldiers would be too busy saluting superiors to relax.
The general agreed to the conditions, and Bennett realized he had a problem on his hands.
"I had to actually make this thing happen," he laughs.
Over the next months, he recruited owners of 15 other sumptuous rail cars from around the country -- these people tend to know each other -- into lending their vehicles for the day. The name of their temporary train?: The Liberty Limited.
Amtrak volunteered to transport the cars to D.C. -- where they'd be coupled together for the round-trip ride to Philly -- then back to their owners later.
Conrail offered to service the Liberty while it was in Philly. And SEPTA drivers would bus the disabled soldiers 200 yards from the train to Lincoln Financial Field, for the game.
A benefactor from the War College ponied up 100 seats to the game - on the 50-yard line -- and lunch in a hospitality suite.
And corporate donors filled, for free and without asking for publicity, goodie bags for attendees:
From Woolrich, stadium blankets. From Wal-Mart, digital cameras. From Nikon, field glasses. From GEAR, down jackets.
There was booty not just for the soldiers, but for their guests, too, since each was allowed to bring a friend or family member.
The Marines, though, declined the offer. "They voted not to take guests with them, so they could take more Marines," says Levin, choking up at the memory.
Bennett's an emotional guy, so he was worried about how he'd react to meeting the 88 troops and guests at D.C.'s Union Station, where the trip originated. Some GIs were missing limbs. Others were wheelchair-bound or accompanied by medical personnel for the day.
"They made it easy to be with them," he says. "They were all smiles on the ride to Philly. Not an ounce of self-pity from any of them. They're so full of life and determination."
At the stadium, the troops reveled in the game, recalls Bennett. Not even Army's lopsided loss to Navy could deflate the group's rollicking mood.
Afterward, it was back to the train and yet another gourmet meal -- heroes get hungry, says Levin -- before returning to Walter Reed and Bethesda.
"The day was spectacular," says Levin. "It was all about these kids. It was awesome to be part of it."
The most poignant moment for the Levins was when 11 Marines hugged them goodbye, then sang them the Marine Hymn on the platform at Union Station.
"One of the guys was blind, but he said, 'I can't see you, but man, you must be ... beautiful!' " says Bennett. "I got a lump so big in my throat, I couldn't even answer him."
It's been three weeks, but the Levins and their guests are still feeling the day's love.
"My Christmas came early," says Levin, who is Jewish and who loves the Christmas season. "I can't describe the feeling in the air."
Maybe it was hope.
As one guest wrote in a thank-you note to Bennett and Vivian, "The fond memories generated last Saturday will sustain us all -- whatever the future may bring."
God bless the Levins.
And bless the troops, every one.
Thanks to Waneta Reardon
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Below please find your 2006 road map.
Philippians 4:13 --- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs.
But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Jesus, you will make it to a place called Success. Pass it on to ten people whom you want to see blessed. Don't forget to send it back to the one who sent it to you.
May God continue to bless you!
Thanks to Mary Breau via Don Finley, Cindy Borne and Anita McNatt
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ONE OF THE BEST STORIES I'VE EVER HEARD!!!!!!
As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on he r wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."
After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets.."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.
The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)
Warm someone's heart today. . . pass this along. I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? just "do it".
Random acts of kindness, I think they call it!
"Believe in Angels, then return the favor"
Thanks to Celia Congleton
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TOURBUS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -:) - :)- :)
Volume 11, Number 34 --- 12 January 2006
Tourbus Home - http://www.TOURBUS.com
Best of Tourbus -- http://tourbus.com/best.html
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TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPIC: Home Networking / Best & Worst Games
So you just purchased a second computer and now you want to share the printer and Internet connection between them... today's TOURBUS will show you how to set up a simple home network. Also in this issue, converting your old VHS tapes to DVD, and a rundown of the Good, Bad and the Ugly in the world of video games. Read on!
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---------------------------
Setting Up a Home Network
---------------------------
As society and technology change, it's becoming common for homes to have more than one computer. When an existing computer gets older, parents will often take advantage of today's lower prices, purchase a new computer, and pass the old one down to the kids.
Suddenly, there's a need for a home network, so all computers in the house can share an files, printers and an Internet connection. Fortunately, setting up a basic home network is not rocket science. Read my "Home Networking" article for step-by-step instructions on setting up a secure cabled or wireless home network.
http://www.askbobrankin.com/home_networking.html
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Converting VHS Tapes to DVD
-----------------------------
Let's face it... your old VHS tapes with treasured family memories won't last forever. Even if the VCR doesn't eventually jam and eat the tape, a VHS recording uses fragile magnetic tape that degrades over time -- whether you watch it or not. Don't count on those VCR tapes lasting longer than a few years, convert VHS tapes to DVD format today, and save those memories for posterity.
You have several options to convert VHS to DVD. This article looks at them one by one and will help you choose the one that's best for you, taking into account your level of tech savvy.
http://www.askbobrankin.com/convert_vhs_to_dvd.html
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Best and Worst Video Games
----------------------------
Like any good parent, you want your kids to have fun and learn to kill aliens. But you worry about all the violence and objectionable themes in today's video games. So I've got recommendations for some GOOD games, and a list of games you might want your kids to avoid.
MediaWise keeps tabs on the trends and conditions of video and technology aimed at young people. And they've recently published a 10-year assessment of the game industry. Progress not withstanding, the phrase "killer apps" (the most popular software in a given category) is still ironically apt.
In addition to their video game assessment, they also published their 2005 Video Game Report Card. In that, they identify the Good and the Bad of gaming options, using their standards about social and learning value. MediaWise recommends the following games for children and teens:
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (E 10+)
- The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer (E 10+)
- Peter Jackson's King Kong (T)
- Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (E)
- Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (T)
- Dance Dance Revolution ULTRAMIX3 (E 10+)
- Backyard Baseball 2005 (E)
Continue reading "Best and Worst Video Games" to see the GameSpot 2005 top games list, and the Mediawise "Parent Alert" list of games to avoid. The overlap in these two lists is an eye opener!
http://www.askbobrankin.com/best_and_worst_video_games.html
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That's all for now, see you next time! -- Bob Rankin
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Volume 11, Number 33 --- 10 January 2006
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TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPIC: The Best "Anti" Software / Linux
Have you ever downloaded a free program to fix a problem on your PC, only to find that things got worse... or MUCH worse? See my rundown of the best anti-spyware, anti-virus and popup blockers below. Also in this issue, help on getting started with Linux. Read on!
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Geeks Bearing Gifts?
----------------------
A few days ago, a reader asked me a question that I've been hearing more frequently. Perhaps you will identify...
"Should I regularly run SpyBot, AdAware and other freeware, or should I pay for a supposedly better program? I read so much negative about every program and I am quite confused about them.
If they really are worth the money, I am willing to try them.
Can you give me your opinion on the best anti-virus, anti-spyware and popup blockers?
I do agree that it's wise to be wary of downloading certain freeware solutions for spyware, viruses & popups. Some of the those freebies are rogue programs meant to open your computer to an invasion of spyware and viruses. Find out which ones to avoid, and which of the free alternatives really work!
http://www.askbobrankin.com/should_i_buy_anti-spyware.html
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Linux: Time to Switch?
-------------------------
Every once in a while I mention Linux -- a free alternative to the Microsoft Windows operating system. It used to be that Linux was just for geeks. But modern Linux variants are easy to install, have friendly graphical interfaces, and come with a full suite of software for word processing, spreadsheets, email, web browsing and more.
Lots of people are switching to Linux because both the operating system and all the software you'll ever need are available for free.
Others find it attractive because there are very few problems with viruses, spyware and security. If you're curious about Linux and would like to try it out, these articles will help you get started:
History of Linuxhttp://www.askbobrankin.com/history_of_linux.html
Where Can I Download Linux?
http://www.askbobrankin.com/where_can_i_download_linux.html
Help with Basic Linux Commands
http://www.askbobrankin.com/help_with_basic_linux_commands.html
---------------------------------
Feelin' Mighty Low (on Memory)?
---------------------------------
Sometimes when I try to open multiple programs at once, I'll get that dreaded message saying 'Your system is low on virtual memory.' The system will then run VERY slowly or just freeze.
When all of your computer's real physical memory (RAM) is in use, Windows will try to create virtual memory by grabbing a chunk of hard drive space and treating it like real memory. If you encounter the low virtual memory error message, you may have hit your PC's memory limit, or it could be "leaky software." Here's some advice on solving this problem:
http://www.askbobrankin.com/low_virtual_memory.html
----------------
The Top Twenty
----------------
Did you catch the Top Twenty on AskBobRankin? I went through the logs to see which articles were the most popular in 2005, and made a list of the Top Twenty, ranked by readership volume...
http://www.askbobrankin.com/the_top_twenty.html
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That's all for now. Happy New Year to all -- Patrick and I wish you a fantastic 2006!
==[ Tourbus Rider Information ]==
The Internet Tourbus - U.S. Library of Congress ISSN #1094-2238 Copyright 1995-2005, Rankin & Crispen - All rights reserved Tourbus News Service - http://tourbus.com/news.html Subscribe, Signoff, Archives, Free Stuff and More at the Tourbus Website - http://www.TOURBUS.com
========================
.~~~. ))
(\__/) .' ) )) Patrick Douglas Crispen
/o o \/ .~
{o_, \ { crispen@netsquirrel.com
/ , , ) \ http://www.netsquirrel.com/
`~ -' \ } )) AOL Instant Messenger: Squirrel2K
_( ( )_.'
---..{____} Warning: squirrels.
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Activities and Events of Interest
~~~
FBC Ladies Conference, Saturday, February 4, 2006. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
~~~
Banner - News “Ladies Night Out”, Tuesday, February 7, 2006. 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
~~~
Junior Charity League “Follies” Friday night - February 24, and Saturday night - February 25. ~~~
The Emancipation Proclamation will be on display at the Clinton Library September 22-25, 2007.
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"September 11 WDYTJWD" W. P. Florence
Justice first, then peace."
"September 11" Never forget.--Tony Moses
"ONE NATION UNDER GOD ...the only way"--Phillip Story
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Keeping my head down but face toward Heaven" - - Jody Eldred, ABC News Cameraman in Kuwait
"Remember Pearl Harbor? Remember 9/11!" --"Bug"
Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. - - George Carlin
"Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!" - - Queen E. Watson
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NEVER FORGET! We're listing the names of our soldiers killed weekly. These records can be found at http://www.defenselink. mil/releases/
The Department of Defense announced the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died in Umm Qasr, Iraq, on Jan. 7, when their HMMWV was hit by a civilian vehicle. Killed were:
01. Sgt. Nathan R. Field, 23, of Lehigh, Iowa. Field was assigned to the Army Reserve's 4249th Port Security Company, Pocahontas, Iowa.
02. Spc. Robert T. Johnson, 20, of Erwin, N.C. Johnson was assigned to the Army Reserve's 805th Military Police Company, Raleigh, N.C.
The Department of Defense announced the death of three Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
03. Sgt. Adam L. Cann, 23, of Davie, Fla.
04. Cpl. Albert P. Gettings, 27, of New Castle, Pa.
05. Lance Cpl. Ryan S. McCurdy, 20, of Baton Rouge, La.
Cann was killed in action Jan. 5 by a suicide bomb attack on an Iraqi police recruitment center in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. He was assigned to Security Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).
Gettings and McCurdy died Jan. 5 from wounds received as a result of enemy small-arms fire while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Fallujah, Iraq. Gettings was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. McCurdy was assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
The Department of Defense announced the death of eight soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died near Tal Afar, Iraq, on Jan. 7, when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed. Killed were:
06. Maj. Stuart M. Anderson, 44, of Peosta, Iowa. Anderson was assigned to the Army Reserve's 3rd Corps Support Command, Des Moines, Iowa.
07. Maj. Douglas A. La Bouff, 36, of California. Labouff was assigned to the Army's 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.
08. Maj. Michael R. Martinez, 43, of Missouri. Martinez was assigned to the Army's 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.
09. 1st Lt. Jaime L. Campbell, 25, of Ephrata, Wash. Campbell was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Anchorage, Alaska.
10. 1st Lt. Joseph D. deMoors, 36, of Jefferson, Ala. deMoors was assigned to the Army's 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.
11. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chester W. Troxel, 45, of Anchorage, Alaska. Troxel was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Anchorage, Alaska.
12. Spc. Michael I. Edwards, 26, of Fairbanks, Alaska. Edwards was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Anchorage, Alaska.
13. Spc. Jacob E. Melson, 22, of Wasilla, Alaska. Melson was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Anchorage, Alaska.
14. Spc. Clinton R. Upchurch, 31, of Garden City, Kansas, died in Samarra, Iraq, on Jan. 7, during patrol operations when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV and enemy forces attacked using small arms fire. Upchurch was assigned to the 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.
15. Sgt. Radhames Camilomatos, 24, of Carolina, Puerto Rico, died in Taji, Iraq, on Jan. 7, from non-combat related injuries. Camilomatos was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas
The Department of Defense announced the death of five Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom:
16. Lance Cpl. Kyle W. Brown, 22, of Newport News, Va.
17. Lance Cpl. Jeriad P. Jacobs, 19, of Clayton, N.C.
18. Lance Cpl. Jason T. Little, 20, of Climax, Mich.
19. Cpl. Brett L. Lundstrom, 22, of Stafford, Va.
20. Lance Cpl. Raul Mercado, 21, of Monrovia, Calif.
All five Marines died on Jan. 7.
Mercado was killed when his vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations near Al Karmah, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Little was killed when his tank was attacked with an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations near Ferris, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Brown, Jacobs and Lundstrom were killed by enemy small arms fire in separate attacks while conducting combat operations near Fallujah, Iraq. They were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
21. Sgt. Michael J. McMullen, 25, of Salisbury, Md., died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 10 of injuries sustained in Ramadi, Iraq on Dec. 24, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position. McMullen was assigned to the Army National Guard's 243rd Engineer Company, Baltimore, Md.
22. Darren D. Braswell, 36, of Riverdale, Ga., died Jan. 7 near Tal Afar, Iraq, when the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter in which he was a passenger crashed. Braswell worked for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service.
http://icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx
New Destroyer Honors Vietnam War POW and Medal of Honor Recipient
The Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer will be named in honor of Vice Adm. James Bond Stockdale (1923-2005), the legendary leader of American prisoners of war (POWs) during the Vietnam War.
Stockdale was the highest-ranking naval officer ever held as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. His plane was shot down Sept. 9, 1965, while flying combat missions over North Vietnam. In recognition of his leadership and sacrifice he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1976. Stockdale spent more than seven years in captivity at prisons in North Vietnam, including time at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” Four years of those years were spent in solitary confinement. While imprisoned, Stockdale is credited with organizing a set of rules to govern the behavior of fellow prisoners of war and for helping to develop a code for prisoners to communicate with each other that included tapping on cell walls.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Stockdale received 26 combat medals and awards, including two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Distinguished Service Medals, two Purple Hearts and four Silver Stars. He was also named to the Aircraft Carrier Hall of Fame, National Aviation Hall of Fame, and was an honorary member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
His wife, Sybil, helped lead the effort to bring attention to the suffering of American POWs and to bring them home. The Stockdales have four sons, James, Sidney, Stanford and Taylor. More information on Stockdale is available at http://www.admiralstockdale.us .
The USS Stockdale will be a Flight IIA variant of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and will incorporate a helicopter hanger facility into the original design. The ship can carry two SH-60B/R Light Airborne Multipurpose System MK III helicopters.
Guided-missile destroyers operate independently and in conjunction with carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious groups and replenishment groups. More information on the U.S. Navy’s destroyers is available at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact.asp .
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Please remember to pray for the American soldiers stationed everywhere around the globe and especially in Iraq. Times have been and are very tough and it would be nice if you would all just say a prayer for their safety and for their families.
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It’s never too early to start making your Birthday list. (Well, I didn’t expect to get everything for Christmas.)
Rechargeable Batteries for the following “Ham” radios: Kenwood TH-22-AT (9.6 volts, 600 mAh battery, 2 each (for our two radios)), Yaesu FT-50 (it takes a FNB-83 7.2V1400mAh battery), Yaesu, VX-1 (it takes a FNB-52LI 3.6V 700mAh Lithium-Ion battery).
New “Rubber Ducky” antennas for the following “Ham” radios: Kenwood TH-22-AT (two radios)
Anything from Larry Norman
Back Scratcher
Basic tools of any kind
Batteries, 9 volt
Batteries, AAA
Blankets or Quilts
book, “The Good Life: Seeking Purpose, Meaning, and Truth in Your Life” by Charles Colson
“Boot” Horn
Chair, office $49 from SAMS (5 of them)
Cheese Grater
Cordless Drill
Cordless Screwdriver
A DeLorme Earthmate GPS LT-20 device
A copy of DeLorme Street Atlas USA 2006 Plus
A copy of DeLorme Topo USA 5.0
Digital Video Recorder (Pioneer DVR-533H-S $333 at Beach Camera)
Eyeglasses, “Computer type” to use at church (and some new ones to use at home and at work.)
Floor Mats (for the truck)
Handkerchiefs
Hat (warm, for bald guys winter wear.)
Magnifying Glass.
New Showerhead
Non skid toilet rug
Refrigerator Thermometer
Small, lightweight “head light” so I can see small things on the desk or work bench.
Some Warmup Suits to wear around the house after we get that first gas bill.
Trackball for the home computer
USB Key (1 Gig )
VHS - DVD Recorder (Lite-On LVC-9006 $219 @ Buy.com)
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Scheduled Activities
~~~
Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 8 p.m. Monday - Friday. At noon on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and at 7 p.m. Sunday at 914 N. Vine
~~~
Columbia County Amateur Radio Club meets Every second Thursday @ 7:00 p.m. Union Street Station. And YOU'RE invited. Net is every Sunday at 20:30 on 147.105.
~~~
Columbia County Diabetes Support Group - Every third Monday, 7:00 p.m. room 222, Magnolia Hospital
~~~
"Focus on the Family" with Dr. James Dobson weekday afternoons at 1 PM on KVMA am 630 it's a great show!
~~~
MCC - Abraham Prayer - Sunday at 5:00 p.m and Wednesday from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
~~~
MCC - Early Morning Prayer - Monday - Friday, From 6:30 am to 8:00 am
~~~
MCC - "Beth Moore" Video Class - Thursday nights at 5:45 pm
~~~
MCC - "Faith Builders" Small group meets at 1051 Columbia 36 the second and fourth Tuesdays, 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm.
~~~
MCC - Firm Foundations Class, Sunday 9:30 to 10:15 a.m
~~~
MCC - Meadow Brook Nursing Home Ministry Tuesday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m
~~~
MCC - Mom's Day Out - Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 2.$10 for the first child, $5 for the second. Call 234-3225 for reservations.
~~~
MCC - Nursing Home Ministry - Meadowbrook Every Tuesday from 10 to 11 am. Taylor, the last Thursday each month.
~~~
MCC - Over comers: Fridays @ 7:00 p.m- Director, Traci Foster invites you to a 12 step Christian support program. For anyone with a life controlling problem. Child care is provided.
~~~
Men's Prayer Breakfast held every Tuesday morning at 6 AM in Miller's Cafeteria. If you aren't a regular participant at the Men's Prayer Breakfast, you're missing some great food, fellowship and inspired teaching of the Word. Hope to see you there.
~~~
Narcotics Anonymous 5-6 pm every Monday at 220 Pine street.
~~~
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) 5 pm every Tuesday in the Magnolia Hospital break room.
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Emergency Phone Number 911
(Fire, Police, Ambulance, Sheriff, etc. )
Central Dispatch 234-5655
(Non - Emergency Number)
Direct Numbers
Ambulance - 234-7371 (24 Hour)
Jail - 234-5331 (24 Hour)
Poison Control - 800-222-1222 (24 Hour)
http://www. aapcc. org/
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"There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one candle."
"Laugh whenever you can and cry if you need to." -- "Bug"
"I read the end of the book. We win!" -- "Bug"
"We may not be able to cure the world, but we don't have to make it sicker." -- "Bug"
"There just ain't enough fingers for all the holes in the dike." - - "Bug"
"It's no big deal doing what God tells you to do. A big deal would be NOT doing what God tells you to do. Just ask Jonah." - - Paul Troquille
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in ... and how many want out." - - Tony Blair
"Information is the currency of democracy." - Jefferson
~~~~~
Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Again, thanks to all our contributors this week.
God bless and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Psa 37:32-34 Num 32:20-23 Luke 11:52-54 1 Cor 9:16-17 1 Cor 2:12-15 http://www.e-min.org/
God is Good and Faithful CU 73 IC JFM CSP NREMT-I KC5HII
P. S. If you'd like to be added to the distribution, just drop us E-mail at KC5HII@Magnolia-Net.Com. We offer "Da Bleat" as text, a "Blog" and as a newsletter with pictures in Word and PDF format. For the "Blog" version just go to http://bugsbleat4q.blogspot.com/ to see the latest issue. This week, "Word" and "PDF" subscribers get to see photos of Me, my kids and my new grandson.
Let us hear from you if we can switch you over to the "Word" or "PDF" version of "Da Bleat".
If you'd prefer to read "Da Blog" version, just drop us a note at KC5HII@Magnolia-Net.Com and we'll switch you from e:mail delivery to "Da Bleat" Blog. Of course "Da Bleat" is now on the web. Just go to http://bugsbleat1q.blogspot.com to see the latest issue (usually updated sometime Friday evening or Saturday morning. We appreciate your encouragement. We also appreciate your communication when you desire to be taken off our mail list. If you are on this mail list by mistake or do not wish to receive "Da Bleat," please reply back and tell us to discontinue service to you. This email was scanned by Norton AntiVirus 2005 before it was sent.
posted by Bug | 12:56 PM
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