Bugs Bleat 1Q

The Internet Version of The Ed Sullivan Show We never let the truth stand in the way of a Good Story"

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Location: Magnolia, Arkansas, United States

Married to the "Wife of my youth." Two great kids, a fantastic daughter-in-love and a super son-in-love. Four super hero grand sons (Ethan, our "miracle" baby is the newest).

Friday, February 24, 2006

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: The Hokey Pokey (Shakespearean Style)

The Internet Version of The Ed Sullivan Show
We never let the truth stand in the way of a Good Story"
Volume 8, Issue 08 Friday, February 24, 2006

Hello ALL,

Magnolia Christian Center’s second Men’s Prayer Breakfast of 2006 will be held in the Life Center at 7:45 am on Sunday, February 26. All men and teenage sons are welcome to attend.
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Vanessa and Jimmy are moving into the Cullen AOG parsonage this weekend. Annette is keeping Ethan while Dusty and I keep Josiah.
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The photos on the front of this weeks “Bleat” include Clark Thomas, Arkansas DOL speaker who will be at Albemarle March 1&2, Bother Paul visiting with Cullen Assembly of God members, Jimmy and Vanessa being prayed for and Dusty at an “Upward” ball game.
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Shannon Voigt has completed her Taylor cookbook and shared an MSWord copy with us. It looks like a whole lot (142 pages) of good cooking.
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Speaking of cooking, we saw this in the news today: “Potato Eaters May Have Higher Diabetes Risk” - - http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ - - In a long-term study of nearly 85,000 US women, researchers at Harvard found that those with the highest potato intake had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The link was strongest among obese women, who are already at increased risk of the disease. Potatoes have a high Glycemic index, meaning they cause rapid rises in blood sugar that, over time, can damage the pancreatic cells that produce insulin.
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My favorite Winter Olympics sport is curling. And today, the U.S. men won curling bronze
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We extend our sincere sympathy to Mike and Phyllis Skinner in the recent death of her father.
Funeral services for Phillip Mitcham will be Saturday, 2/25, at 1 p.m. at New Beginnings Baptist Church in El Dorado.
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Don’t forget to check out www.mcc2000.net
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We have tickets for the "Friends For Pat Antoon Benefit" Steak Dinner and Entertainment on Friday, March 10 @ 7 pm at the Magnolia National Guard Armory. Tickets are $25 each.
There will also be a Silent Auction and Rifle Drawing Announcement at the dinner.
For more information call 234-6684 or 562-3748
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The laissez faire approach taken by the United States in developing the nation's broadband network has failed. Not only have we fallen since 2000 from number three to number 16 in the number of high-speed Internet subscribers per capita, but there's a good chance we'll fall out of the top 20 this year.

The reason is our government's failure to oversee the building of the broadband infrastructure and to provide the subsidies needed to get as many people online as possible. Unlike other developed nations, we haven't taken an approach that would reflect a belief that universal access to the high-speed Internet is a critical component of a competitive economy.

Instead, we've let private industry do all the heavy lifting, which means many rural areas are underserved and a significant percentage of U.S. households can't afford broadband. In addition, the development process threatens to be derailed by squabbling between telecom and cable providers that want to charge for use of the networks they've built and Internet companies that believe the Internet should remain open without any toll roads.

http://update.internetweek.cmp.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/eucC0GOs7F0G4X0EHRR0EK

Many of these issues are covered in today's InternetWeek feature by freelancer Christopher Heun. In the story, experts say telephone and cable companies aren't giving their customers enough for their money, in comparison to what people get in Japan, South Korea or Canada.

http://update.internetweek.cmp.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/eucC0GOs7F0G4X0EJEO0E5

And the reason has nothing to do with technology. It comes down to politics and policy, and the government's failure to do its job to protect the national interest.
Give the story a read, and then drop me an email to let me know what you think. I'll use some of the responses of people who disagree with me in a future newsletter, so please include your name and hometown.
mailto:antoneg@pacbell.net
~~~~~
Americans work more, seem to accomplish less - Study finds technology partly to blame, workers stressed out Unlike a decade ago, U.S. workers are bombarded with e-mail, computer messages, cell phone calls, voice mails and the like, research showed. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11509049
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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.
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www.aaa.com Regular
Current Avg. $ 2.24
Regular was selling for $1.88 in Conway Tuesday. Exactly how many refineries are in that area?
http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/
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Recipe(s) of the week - We’re sharing recipes from Shannon Voigt’s new Taylor Recipe Book
Fried Rice - - Annette McClellan

Ingredients:
4 cups cooked converted or parboiled rice (precooked and cooled.)
Water chestnuts
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
2 tablespoons finely grated carrot
2 eggs, beaten
½ cup diced onion
2 tablespoons soy sauce
Salt
Pepper


Method:
Cook rice following instructions on package (Bring 2 cups water to a boil, add rice and a dash of salt, reduce heat and simmer in covered saucepan for 20 minutes). Pour rice into a large bowl to let it cool in the refrigerator. Rice must be cold. Cut up chicken, pork, shrimp or ham (or all four), roll in cornstarch and stir-fry in a little oil. Add soy sauce to taste and set aside. Cut up onions and sauté in a little oil. Add cold rice and push to the side of the pan. Scramble the eggs in the pan. Then mix into rice and onions. Add peas, grated carrots, water chestnuts and whatever else you want. Add more soy sauce as desired and cook rice for 6-8 minutes over heat, stirring often.
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BreakPoint
With Chuck Colson

The Elephant in the Living Room
The New Zealand Abortion Study
February 24, 2006

Professor David Fergusson, director of the Christchurch Health and Development Study in New Zealand, is firmly pro-choice. But I suspect the good professor might understand if I point out that, lately, he’s been getting a little taste of what it’s like to be pro-life.

Fergusson and two colleagues, L. John Horwood and Elizabeth Ridder, conducted a study on abortion and mental health. And they didn’t find what they expected to find. Their report states, “Those having an abortion [under age 25] had elevated rates of subsequent mental health problems including depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviors and substance use disorders.” Their report goes on to say, “The findings suggest that abortion in young women may be associated with increased risks of mental health problems.”

Talk about irony. We’re used to hearing about the “mental health” aspects of abortion, of course—but usually, we’re being told that a woman’s mental health is in danger if she doesn’t have an abortion. At the very least, this new study forces pro-choicers to question the all-too-common assumption, an assumption that now is putting young women in danger.

Not that most pro-choicers want to hear this, of course—and particularly not now, with the Supreme Court just having agreed to hear an appeal of the partial-birth abortion ban case, where the issue turns on exceptions about the mother’s health. This is why I said that Dr. Fergusson is learning something about what it’s like to be pro-life. This well-regarded researcher and his team normally have no trouble at all getting their work published. But in this case they had to go to four different journals before they could find one that would publish their study. Fergusson has told interviewers that he knows it’s because his findings are too “controversial”—so controversial that New Zealand’s Abortion Supervisory Committee warned him against publishing his work, not for scientific reasons, but for political ones.

Well, Fergusson himself dislikes the idea that pro-lifers will use his work, and he knows that his research could have a devastating effect on the abortion movement in his country. In New Zealand, as the Herald explained, “Every abortion requires two ‘certifying consultants’ to approve it on certain grounds, usually that a woman’s mental health would be [otherwise] endangered.” You can see what the implications would be if the greater “mental health” risk turns out to be having the abortion.

My hat is off to Dr. Fergusson. Despite the controversy, and despite the fact that his results disagreed with his own beliefs, Fergusson was determined to publish them anyway. And he told the Herald, “It verges on scandalous that a surgical procedure that is performed on over one in 10 women has been so poorly researched and evaluated, given the debates about the psychological consequences of abortion.”

That, my friends, is a true professional and a true scientist speaking. It’s people like this who give science a good name. He’s not willing to ignore the elephant in the middle of the room just because no one else wants to talk about it. Instead, he insists on getting the truth out in the open. And that’s what science ought to be all about—not just in New Zealand, but here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For further reading and information:
Today’s BreakPoint offer: The Cost of ‘Choice’: Women Evaluate the Impact of Abortion by Erika Bachiochi, ed.

David M. Fergusson, Ph.D., et al., “Abortion in Young Women and Subsequent Mental Health,” Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry 47, no. 1 (2006): 16-24. Adobe Acrobat required.

Ruth Hill, “Abortion Researcher Confounded by Study,” New Zealand Herald, 5 January 2006.

Julie Robotham, “Abortion Linked to Mental Risk,” The Age, 3 January 2006.

David C. Reardon, “Abortion Causes Mental Disorders: New Zealand Study May Require Doctors to Do Fewer Abortions,” LifeIssues.net, 9 February 2005.

Ruth Pollard, “Questions Raised Over Abortion Study’s Findings,” Sydney Morning Herald, 4 January 2006.

“‘Evidence Doesn’t Matter’—APA Spokesperson Says of Abortion Complications,” press release, Elliot Institute, 17 February 2006.

Learn more about the Silent No More Awareness Campaign and Operation Outcry, two efforts dedicated to spreading the truth about abortion and offering post-abortive women hope and healing.

Gina Holland, “Supreme Court Plunges into Abortion Debate,” Forbes, 21 February 2006.

Warren Throckmorton, “Uninformed Consent: Abortion's Mental Health Consequences,” BreakPoint Online, 20 January 2006.

BreakPoint Commentary No. 041015, “Politics First, Women Second: The Illness They Won’t Talk About.”

Peter Kreeft, Three Approaches to Abortion (Ignatius Press, 2002).

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.
~~~~~
Words of the Week:
imbue: to dye; to instill profoundly.
canard: an unfounded or false report.
probity: complete and confirmed integrity.
titivate: to smarten up; to spruce.
jovial: merry; joyous; jolly.
salutary: beneficial; also, healthful.
alacrity: a cheerful readiness, willingness, or promptness.
munificent: very generous.
from Dictionary.Com
~~~~~
"If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster." - Isaac Asimov

"There will be little rubs and disappointments everywhere, and we are all apt to expect too much; but then, if one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make a second better: we find comfort somewhere..." - Jane Austen

"I am convinced that the best service a retired general can perform is to turn in his tongue along with his suit, and to mothball his opinions." - Gen Omar N Bradley

"I see the mind of the 5-year-old as a volcano with two vents: destructiveness and creativeness." - Sylvia Ashton-Warner

"To be interested in the changing seasons is, in this middling zone, a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring." - George Santayana

"Among those whom I like, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can; all of them make me laugh." - W H Auden

"Only love interests me, and I am only in contact with things that revolve around love." - Marc Chagall

"Be of love (a little) more careful than of anything." - E E Cummings
~~~~~
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

Landmark Study in UK Shows Faith Plays Significant Role in Well-being of Youth
Jonathan Wynne-Jones/Teresa Neumann Reporting (Feb 24, 2006)
Teenagers who belong to a faith community were much more likely to feel that their life had a sense of purpose.
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2167

Bill to Ban Abortion Passe s in South Dakota Senate - Historic Legislation Now Goes to Governor Rounds for Signing
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney / Aimee Herd reporting (Feb 23, 2006)
"Our hope and prayer now is that Governor Michael Rounds will sign this bill and send a clear message to the other states to affirm the dignity of life."
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2163

Black History and the Christian Faith Entwined - a NJ Church Celebrates Roots of Faith
John Vandiver / Aimee Herd reporting (Feb 22, 2006)
"Many historians, black and white, credit the Christian faith of the slaves as being the single most important factor in unifying and sustaining them as a people"
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2159

U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Take on Partial Birth Abortion Case
Matt Staver / Aimee Herd reporting (Feb 21, 2006)
"Today marks the first action of the High Court in a new direction."
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2154

Nationwide Ministry Prays for Leaders on President's Day - Political Affiliation Not an Issue
Jason Davis/Teresa Neumann Reporting (Feb 20, 2006)
"We feel that we have a biblical mandate to pray for those in authority"
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2150

Second "Friendship" Festival Planned in Morocco
Justin Camacho/Teresa Neumann Reporting (Feb 17, 2006)
Creation Fest co-founders Harry Thomas and Tim Landis are planning Friendship Fest 2006 from May 5-7 in Marrakech, Morocco.
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2144

Canada's New Conservative Government Moves to Raise Age of Consent
Chris Wiebe / Aimee Herd reporting (Feb 17, 2006)
"We want to protect young people from adult sexual predators."
As part of the "law and order" platform Canada's newly elected government ran on only a month ago, a move has been made to increase the national age of sexual consent from the current 14 to 16-years-old. The measure would include a "close-in-age exemption."
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2139
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GCF: The Hokey Pokey (Shakespearean Style)

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Emailed to me another humor list (Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh List)
Subscribe to Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh list at the website: Subscribe
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*The Hokey Pokey*
Original Lyrics

Put your left foot in,
Your left foot out,
Your left foot in,
And shake it all about.
You do the hokey pokey
And turn yourself around
That's what it's all about.


*The Hokey Pokey*
Shakespearean Style

O proud left foot, that ventures quick within
Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.
Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:
Command sinistral pedestal to writhe.
Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke.
A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.
To spin! A wilde release from heaven's yoke.
Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl.
The Hoke, the poke -- banish now thy doubt.
Verily, I say, 'tis what it's all about.

(-:][:-)

Name Spelling

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Emailed to me from another humor list (Marty's Joke of the Day)
To subscribe to Marty's Joke of the Day, send a blank email to:
martysjotd-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
-------------------------------

It was the beginning of term at a primary school in Brooklyn. The teacher asked the children their names one at a time, and for each to spell their name out loud.

When she came to a young Pakistani boy and asked his name, he replied, "Ravashanka Vankatarataam Bannerjee."

"How do you spell that?" asked the teacher.

"My mother helps me," said the little boy.

(-:][:-)

Real Estimating!

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Found at The Shark Tank (Computerworld)
http://www.computerworld.com/departments/opinions/sharktank/0,4885,108769,00.html
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Programmer at this retail chain gets an assignment to add some functionality to four reporting applications. One change request is to add passwords to one of the four applications -- but just one.

"Just doing one sounded suspicious to me," says the programmer. "So I decided to code the password logic in a separate module for easy reuse. I only had to add one line of code to the existing executable."

Fast-forward six months: The new versions are installed in a handful of stores for beta testing before they'll roll out to 1,000 stores nationwide. Programmer's boss drops by his cubicle to tell him that the users like the password function, but they wanted it on all four applications. How long would it take to add it to the other three?

He calculates: add one line of code, compile, do some testing. That's maybe a few hours' work if everything goes as planned -- which it seldom does.

"Two days," he tells his boss.

She's skeptical. "Are you sure?" she says. "Let's say one week."

Programmer shrugs. Boss continues: "Three applications, one week each, I'll tell them three weeks."

He tries to explain that he estimated two days for all three applications. She's still skeptical, but after he assures her that with code reuse he really can finish in two days, boss compromises: She'll tell them it'll be done in one week.

"I went to lunch, came back and updated all three in about an hour," says the programmer. "The module worked great. I walked over to my boss's office to tell her the news. She asked if I was sure it worked. I assured her it did.

"She had already sent the estimate to her manager and, to be safe, she told him two weeks. She asked me not to send it to QA for another week. We didn't want to look too good.

"I had a chuckle and started working on something else. A couple of hours later, she forwarded me a note from her manager to the business client. He had padded it another week. I now had three weeks to finish my already completed changes.

"I worked on other things for a week, recompiled them so the date was recent, and got a big attaboy for finishing so promptly."

(-:][:-)

Time To Go

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Emailed to me from another humor list (The Funnies)
To subscribe to The Funnies, send a blank email to:
andychaps_the-funnies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
--------------------------------

Our co-worker kept trying to get her mother to fly out for a visit. "No way am I getting on an airplane," was the inevitable answer.

"Look, Mom, when it's your time to go, it doesn't matter if you're on the ground or in the air."

"I know," said her mother. "I just don't want to be that far off the ground when it's the pilot's time to go."

(-:][:-)

Wrong Advertising

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Emailed to me from another humor list (The Funnies)
To subscribe to The Funnies, send a blank email to:
andychaps_the-funnies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
----------------------------

The little church in the suburbs suddenly stopped buying from its regular office supply dealer. So, the dealer telephoned Deacon Brown to ask why.

"I'll tell you why," said Deacon Brown. "Our church ordered some pencils from you to be used in the pews for visitors to register."

"Well," interrupted the dealer, "didn't you receive them yet?"

"Oh, we received them all right," replied Deacon Brown.

"However, you sent us some golf pencils...each stamped with the words, 'Play Golf Next Sunday'."
_ ____________________________ _
/ ) Thomas S. Ellsworth ( / / tellswor@slonet.org \ _( (_ http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor _) )_
(((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_Stop for a visit, leave with a smile! To join Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-subscribe@yahoogroups.Com To leave Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.Com Or visit the Good Clean Fun web site at http://www. slonet.org/~tellswor/
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[GCFL.net] You Know It's Time to Diet When...

- You dance and it makes the band skip.

- You are diagnosed with the flesh eating virus, and the doctor gives you 22 more years to live.

- You put mayonnaise on an aspirin.

- You go to the zoo and the elephants throw you peanuts.

- Your driver's license says, "Picture continued on other side."

- You run away, and your picture takes up all four sides of the milk carton.

- You learn you were born with a silver shovel in your mouth.

- You could sell shade.

- Your blood type is Ragu.

- You need an appointment to attend an "open house."

Received from Troy Ark.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Carpet Installers Lump

A carpet layer had just finished installing carpet for a lady. He stepped out for a smoke, only to realize he'd lost his cigarettes.

In the middle of the room, under the carpet, was a bump.

''No sense pulling up the entire floor for one pack of smokes,'' he said to himself. He proceeded to get out his hammer and flattened the hump.

As he was cleaning up, the lady came in. ''Here,'' she said, handling him his pack of cigarettes. ''I found them in the hallway.''

''Now,'' she said, ''if only I could find my parakeet.''

Received from Troy Ark.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Mommy Test

I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.

"Why?" my daughter asked.

"Because it's been laying outside, you don't know where it's been, it's dirty and probably has germs," I replied.

At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, "Wow! How do you know all this stuff?"

"Uh," I was thinking quickly, "All moms know this stuff. It's on the Mommy Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mommy." We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information.

"Oh, I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass the test, you have to be the daddy."

"Exactly," I replied back with a big smile on my face and joy in my heart.

When you're finished laughing, send this to a Mom!

Received from Jack N Walker.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Worker Ants

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."

Received from Thomas S. Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
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

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Stun gun ..... ONLY A GUY WOULD DO THIS.


Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 33rd anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized taser. The effects of the taser were suppose to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety.... WAY TOO COOL!

Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two triple-a batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time; I'd get the blue arch of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs. Awesome!!! Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to her what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.

Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two triple-a batteries,. right?!!!

There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target. I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong?

So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, taser in another. The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.

All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and loaded with two (itsy, bitsy triple-a batteries) thinking to myself, "no possible way!"

What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best.....

I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, "don't do it master," reasoning that a one-second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad.. I decided to give myself a one-second burst just for the heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION@!@$$!%!@*!!!

I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nostrils on fire, fingers nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs. The cat was standing over me making meowing sounds I had never heard before, licking my face, undoubtedly thinking to herself, "do it again, do it again!"

Note: If you ever feel compelled to "mug" yourself with a taser, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one-second burst when you zap yourself. You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative.

SON-OF-A-GUN.. that hurt like all get-out!!! A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. How did they get up get there??? My triceps, right thigh and both nostrils were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I'm still looking for my fingers?
I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return.

Still in shock,
(Name withheld for obvious reasons....)

Thanks to Steve Downey
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Welcome to You Make Me Laugh, a free newsletter from Crosswalk.com, the world's largest Christian website.

*In the Bag*

I had an offer from a large company and they offered to fly me out to the meeting on business class. During the return flight we were given gourmet brownies and cookies. Not hungry, I decided to save them for later, so I placed them in an airsickness courtesy bag.

After the plane landed I got up to leave and a stewardess approached me. She asked, "Sir, would you like for me to dispose of that for you?"

I said, "No thanks, I'm saving it for my kids."

(-:][:-)

*Dream Woman*

A young man called his mother and announced excitedly that he had just met the woman of his dreams. Now what should he do?

His mother had an idea: "Why don't you send her flowers, and on the card invite her to your apartment for a home-cooked meal?"

He thought this was a great strategy, and a week later, the woman came to dinner. His mother called the next day to see how things had gone.

"I was totally humiliated," he moaned. "She insisted on washing the dishes."

"What's wrong with that?" asked his mother.

"We hadn't started eating yet."

(-:][:-)

*Taste It*

One afternoon a waiter served a bowl of chicken soup to an elderly gentleman. As he turned away to return to the kitchen the customer stopped him, calling:......"Waiter!"

WAITER: "Yes,sir, is there something wrong?"

CUSTOMER: "The soup. Taste it."

WAITER: "I beg your pardon, Sir?"

CUSTOMER: "Taste it."

WAITER: "But, Sir, I can assure you that the soup is excellent."

CUSTOMER: "Taste it."

WAITER: "Sir, the soup was made this morning of the finest ingredients."

CUSTOMER: "Taste it!"

WAITER: exasperated, "All right, Sir, I'll taste it."

Then after a pause he said, "Where is the spoon?"

To which the customer replied triumphantly, "Ah ha!!"

(-:][:-)

*Getting Fat*

When I was six months pregnant with my third child, my three year old came into the room when I was just getting ready to get into the shower.

She said, "Mommy, you are getting fat!"

I replied, "Yes, honey, remember Mommy has a baby growing in her tummy"

"I know," she replied, "but what's growing in your butt?"

(-:][:-)

*Flight Instructions*

During a business trip to Boeing's Everett, Washington factory, I noticed several 747 and 777 airliners being assembled. Before the engines were installed, huge weights were hung from the wings to keep the planes balanced. The solid-steel weights were bright yellow and marked "14,000 lbs."

But what I found particularly interesting was some stenciling I discovered on the side of each weight. Imprinted there was the warning: "Remove before flight."


Eye Laugh

"Cat Baptism"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=214

"Love Hours"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=239

"Military Cutback"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=243

"Chamaeleon Slice"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=244

"Spot the Giraffe"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=245

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
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/bashed_attorney.html - - Diary Of A Bashed Attorney "Why did I go to law school? Work is unbearable, I have no free time, and I'm expected to "make rain" at parties. To somehow extract legal fees from revelers who sidle up, drinks in one hand, hors d'oeuvres in the other, looking for free advice. My reward? Lawyer jokes..."
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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Merck Veterinary Manual - - http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp - - The single most comprehensive electronic reference for animal care information. Includes over 12,000 indexed topics and over 1200 illustrations. Rapidly search by topic, species, specialty, disease, and keyword using advanced search.
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Traditions of the Sun - - http://www.traditionsofthesun.org/ - - Our shared interest in better understanding the mysteries of the Sun, forms a common bond between those who built the great structures of Chaco Canyon and the Yucatan, and people today. At this NASA site, you will learn about the ancestral Native Americans in New Mexico and the ancient Maya in the Yucatan and gain a better understanding of the active Sun, and its importance to them and, to us.
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Bartleby.com - - http://www.bartleby.com/ - - The preeminent Internet publisher of literature, reference, and verse providing students, researchers and the intellectually curious with unlimited access to books and information on the web, free of charge.
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Britannica Concise Encyclopedia - - http://concise.britannica.com/ - - A one-volume online encyclopedia that includes 25,000 short entries.
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National Geographic News - - http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/ - - This is a daily news service produced by the popular magazine. Its focus is on the geographic aspects of world news, and it can for example on a particular day report on earthquake studies in Tokyo, large catfish in Thailand and the salvage of a ship on the Carolina coast that may just possibly be the last ship of the pirate Blackbeard.
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Library of Congress - - http://www.loc.gov/ - - The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with more than 130 million items on approximately 530 miles of bookshelves. The collections include more than 29 million books and other printed materials, 2.7 million recordings, 12 million photographs, 4.8 million maps, and 58 million manuscripts.
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A Primer on Gasoline Prices - - http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/brochure/oil_gas/primer/primer.htm - - This Primer has been created by the Energy Information Administration with the U.S. Department of Energy. Gasoline, one of the main products refined from crude oil, accounts for just about 16 percent of the energy consumed in the United States. The primary use for gasoline is in automobiles and light trucks. Gasoline also fuels boats, recreational vehicles, and various farm and other equipment. While gasoline is produced year-round, extra volumes are made in time for the summer driving season. The cost to produce and deliver gasoline to consumers includes the cost of crude oil to refiners, refinery processing costs, marketing and distribution costs, and finally the retail station costs and taxes. The prices paid by consumers at the pump reflect these costs, as well as the profits (and sometimes losses) of refiners, marketers, distributors, and retail station owners.
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How Far Is It? - - http://www.indo.com/distance/ - - This site uses data from the US Census and a supplementary list of cities around the world to find the latitude and longitude of two places, and then calculates the distance between them (as the crow flies). It also provides a map showing the two places, using the Xerox PARC Map Server.
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------------ Safety From The Heart ----------
February 21, 2006
Today's Safety From the Heart message was submitted by Keith Black.

Special Report: Playing with Fire

It's a troubling statistic, only two out of every seven homes has a working smoke detector; and with more than half of all house fires happening at night, News 2's Brad Franko tells us in this special report; without one you're playing with fire:

It's your worst nightmare. A fire while you sleep. Your only protection is one of the most neglected pieces of equipment in your home, if you have one at all.

"That's your life right there.. That gives you a chance." - Charleston Fire Chief Rusty Thomas

The numbers show, not enough people give themselves that chance. According to the state fire marshall's office, 64 people died in structure fires across the state in 2005. 19 of those had smoke alarms; only seven of those were working. The most common reason: no battery!

To illustrate just how effective smoke detectors are, if used properly we enlisted help from the City of Charleston Fire Department. We set a couch on fire inside the departments training tower. It smoldered for a 47 seconds before the alarm, placed on the wall just below the ceiling went off.

"The smoke will get you long before the fire will." - Chief Rusty Thomas

I stayed inside with an infrared camera. For me, it takes all of a minute and 45 seconds before I need the assistance of my airpack. After the door was closed, the thick black smoke continues to build and the temperature rises above 1000 degrees.

Obviously in here we have one couch that's burning... In a regular house you're going to have all kinds of stuff that's going to go up... Now we've lost all visibility and it's real hot. And three minutes into the burn; anyone inside would have very little chance of getting out alive.

Sharon Walker knows first hand how quickly things can go bad in a fire; her daughter and two grand-daughters were killed in a mobile home fire in Whitesville on January 27th.

"There was smoke around the door, and the windows were blacked out." - Sharon Walker

Fire officials they didn't have a smoke detector; but if they did, the outcome may have been different.

Our fire at the training tower is now 3:30 minutes old and the smoke detector has melted and stopped working. Upstairs is a different story, up there still no signs of the inferno on the first floor.

It's not until that downstairs door is opened that smoke triggers the alarm, making escape through the first floor all but impossible.

It was a good three to five minutes that the fire was burning before the second floor alarm went off... And that's a problem don't you think...

Isn't that the catch 22 you sleep with your doors closed avoiding the smoke, but you can't hear the detector unless it's in the right place (Brad asking Chief Rusty Thomas).

"That's exactly right you got to have them in the right place" - Chief Rusty Thomas

In a one story home: the chief recommends putting that detector near the bedrooms.

In a two story home: you're going to need more than one. Ideally in a two story two bedroom home; six smoke detectors would provide widespread coverage. One on the first floor. One in the living room, the hallway, and kitchen. And on the second floor one in each bedroom and one at the top of the stairwell.

"I'm glad you did this story because this is exactly what happens; we had a regular couch fire and in 15-45 seconds that first alarm went off." - Chief Rusty Thomas

15-45 seconds that could have saved Sharon Walkers family.

"I urge everyone to get a smoke detector and make sure it's working... Maybe we wouldn't be going through this if that was the case." - Sharon Walker

"If we can save one life then that detector has done it's job... Give yourself a chance by having a working detector." Chief Rusty Thomas

They're not that expensive.

"Well we give them away for free." - Chief Rusty Thomas

Bottom line; without one you're playing with fire!

If you have a smoke detector but want to improve your fire protection; here are some tips:
1. There's safety in numbers; put at least one on each floor.
2. For further protection; have them hard wired, with a battery back-up.
3. Test them at least once a month.
4. Make sure you keep your detectors free of dust..
5. Replace the batteries twice per year and replace the detector every ten years.
6. And remember a smoke detector is useless if you don't know how to get out. Develop escape plans and practice them at least twice per year.

Thank you to the City of Charleston Fire Department for their assistance with this story.

Brad Franko
Count on 2 News
Thursday, February 9, 2006
------------ Safety From The Heart ----------
February 20, 2006
God's Way

Today's Safety From the Heart message was submitted by Dale Mann.

A preacher and his wife from NY were visiting my parents (old friends of theirs from childhood). I stopped by and we discussed things from philosophy to affairs of the world today.

The preacher told his story. A teacher was in front of the class disputing the existence of God. This was an evening class where mature people attended, including a soldier just back from Iraq. The teacher said "If there is a God, I am begging to see proof of this. If there is a God, for proof He needs to knock me out of this chair I am sitting in right now." Five minutes passed and nothing happened. The teacher felt he had proved his point but then said " If there is a God, He must knock me out of this chair within 10 minutes." Two minutes passed and nothing happened, everyone kind of looking around. Then the soldier back from Iraq walked up to the teacher's desk and hit him right between the eyes, knocking him completely out of the chair and his senses.

The teacher woke up after being knocked out and asked the soldier," What did you do that for?" The Soldier replied, " God sent me to help you see the light, but for His mercy in sending me instead of coming Himself, you would now be dead."

Thought about morals of this story and want to share them below:

God does work in mysterious ways.
What you beg for, you may get - make sure you beg and pray for what you really, really want.
All negative thoughts you may have, at home, play, or work, need to be carefully examined and dealt with. There is a silver lining in every cloud. Just look at the Nightly News; you are likely better off than you think.
------------ Safety From The Heart ----------
February 15, 2006
Heart Attacks

Today's Safety From the Heart message was submitted by Keith Black.

Women (and men) should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.

Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.

Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...
------------ Safety From The Heart ----------
February 14, 2006
It's As Easy As ABC

ABCs of Preventing Heart Disease, Stroke and Heart Attack

Sounds simple doesn't it? So why are coronary heart disease and stroke the No. 1 and No. 3 killers of Americans? One reason is undeniably a lack of commitment to a heart-healthy lifestyle. Your lifestyle is not only your best defense against heart disease and stroke, it's also your responsibility.
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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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A kid asked Jesus... how much do u love me? Jesus replied," I love you this much." and he stretched his arms to the cross and died for us.
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Rural firefighters stood by and watched a fire destroy a garage and a vehicle because the property owner had not paid membership dues.

Bibaldo Rueda - who was injured battling the flames Monday - offered to pay the dues as the fire blazed away, but the Monett Rural Fire Department does not have a policy for on-the-spot billing, Sheriff's Detective Robert Evenson said.

Fire Chief Ronnie Myers defended the no-pay, no-aid policy, saying the membership-based organization could not survive if people thought the department would respond for free. The department said it will fight a fire without question if a life is believed to be in danger.

Rueda used a garden hose and buckets to fight the flames while firefighters stood by on the road, watching in case the blaze spread to neighboring properties owned by members. The fire eventually burned itself out.

Rueda said no one told him about the dues policy when he moved in 1 1/2 years ago.
~
What do you think?
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The Little Red Hen (Modern Version)

Once upon a time, on a farm in Texas, there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered quite a few grains of wheat.

She called all of her neighbors together and said, "If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?"

"Not I," said the cow.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Not I," said the pig.

"Not I," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen. And so she did; The wheat grew very tall and ripened into golden grain.

"Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Out of my classification," said the pig.

"I'd lose my seniority," said the cow.

"I'd lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she did. At last it came time to bake the bread.

"Who will help me bake the bread! ?" asked the little red hen.

"That would be overtime for me," said the cow.

"I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck.

"I'm a dropout and never learned how," said the pig.

"If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination," said the goose.

"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen. She baked five
loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see. They wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No, I shall eat all five loaves"

"Excess profits!" cried the cow.

"Capitalist leech!" screamed the duck.

"I demand equal rights!" yelled the goose.

The pig just grunted in disdain.

And they all painted "Unfair!" picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.

Then a government agent came, he said to the little red hen, "You must not be so greedy."

"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.

"Exactly," said the agent "That is what makes our free enterprise system so wonderful Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle,"

And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful, for now I truly understand,"

But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again baked bread because she joined the "party" and got her bread free.

And all the Democrats smiled. 'Fairness' had been established. Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; perhaps no one cared.....as long as there was free bread that "the rich" were paying for.

Thanks to Daphne Roberts
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Bill Clinton is getting $12 million for his memoirs.

Hillary got $8 million for hers.

That's $20 million for memories from two people, who for eight years, repeatedly testified, under oath, that they couldn't remember anything.

IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY, OR WHAT?
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Row boat competition

Unfortunately this is how most American companies do things..........

A Japanese company and an American company decided to have a canoe race on the Ohio River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race. On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.
The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A Management Team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action. Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and one person rowing.
So American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion. They advised that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.
To prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager. They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the 'Rowing Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners, and free pens for the rower.
There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practice and bonuses.
The next year the Japanese won by two miles.
Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year's racing team was outsourced to India.
And that is the way it is.

Thanks to Daphne Roberts
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TOURBUS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -:) - :)- :)
Volume 11, Number 41 --- 23 February 2006
Tourbus Home - http://www.TOURBUS.com
Best of Tourbus --
+---------------------------------------+

TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPICS: Rockets, Badgers and Bananaphones

Howdy, y'all, and greetings once again from deep behind the orange curtain in beautiful Irvine, California, the clog dance capital of north central Paraguay. :P
+---------------------------------------+

--------------
Riding Rockets
--------------

Most of my brushes with greatness happened while I was working at Space Camp. There I met both George Bush [41] and Ted Kennedy. I drank a beer with "Rocket Boys" author and NASA engineer Homer Hickam and I hung out in the ward room with Richard M. Nixon, the world- famous Space Camp counselor who happened to share his name with the 37th President of the United States. I even met a few astronauts, including my favorite astronaut of all time: Mike Mullane.

Mike's son Pat, along with his future son-in-law Steve "Rooster" Wade, and I shared a counselor's room in Bay 8 of the "The Bubble," Space Camp's dormitory. Between Bays 7 and 8 was an upstairs storeroom where we stored the freeze dried astronaut dinners we would occasionally inflict upon the unsuspecting campers. While the campers did not particularly care for this arid astro-delicacy, the field mice around The Bubble couldn't get enough of the stuff. Soon, every mouse critter within 100 miles was making a beeline to The Bubble with a requisite pit stop in Bay 8. The morning that Steve Wade awoke to see a mouse on chest -- a mouse that Pat and I lovingly named "Throdor, King of the Mutant Rats" -- was a particularly vivid [and humorous] episode in my life.

Of course, Space Camp management -- as management anywhere is wont to do -- downplayed the incident and refused to do anything to dis-invite our furry Bubblemates. Astronaut Mike Mullane came to our rescue. A few weeks after hearing about Steve's mouse encounter, Mike sent the three of us his astronaut photograph with the following inscription:

"To Throdor, King of the Mutant Rats,
Here's hoping all your dreams come true in upstairs bay 8.
-- Mike Mullane, Astronaut"

Of course, Pat, Steve, and I immediately posted the photograph on our door. A few days later, while on a tour of The Bubble with the Director of the Space and Rocket Center, the Chairman of Nippon Steel saw the photograph, turned to the Director, and asked "Who's Throdor?"

Problem solved.

Not only is Mike Mullane my favorite astronaut, he's also one heck of an exterminator.

What does all of this have to do with today's Tourbus post. Well, Mike Mullane has written a new book titled "Riding Rockets : The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut" [US$26.00 hardcover / ISBN 0743276825.] I know we don't do book reviews that often, but I highly recommend that you buy multiple copies of "Riding Rockets." This book is THAT good. Mike holds no punches, giving you an inside peek at the thrills, fears, inside jokes, and unimaginable frustrations of the United States astronauts corps.

The publisher Simon & Schuster posted an excerpt from chapter one:
http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?sid=33&pid=514931&agid=2

and you can read an exceptional, in-depth review of the book at:

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1090

The review sums up this book much better than I can. And I am not just saying that because of Throdor.

-------------------------------------
Meme Review: Badgers and Bananaphones
-------------------------------------

Speaking of badgers [huh?], I want to spend some time over the next couple of months re-introducing to different internet phenomena, the stuff that was once really, really popular and then quickly fell out of favor. Think of this as an internet pop culture history tour. Our first stop is Jonti Picking's "Badger Badger Badger" Flash video at

http://weebls-stuff.com/toons/badgers/

As with most internet phenomena, don't bother looking for a point. It's just badgers, mushrooms, and snakes. Over and over again. Study this video carefully. It's important, especially if you want to fully experience the joy that is

http://www.lemonizer.com/banana/
+---------------------------------------+
Volume 11, Number 38 --- 07 February 2006
Tourbus Home - http://www.TOURBUS.com
Best of Tourbus -- http://tourbus.com/best.html
+---------------------------------------+

In today's TOURBUS, a supercool tool that lets you zoom in on your house from cyberspace and view the price tag. Also in this issue, cookies demystified, the Click of Doom, and solutions for other annoying problems. Read on!

+---------------------------------------+

--------------------------
What's Your House Worth?
--------------------------

Ever wonder what your house (or one that's for sale) is really worth? Getting a property valuation from a realtor or appraiser can be a hassle, and might cost several hundred dollars. Now in just a few clicks, you can learn the estimated value of almost any house in the United States, and it won't cost you a nickel.

http://askbobrankin.com/house_values.html

------------------
Eat Your Cookies
------------------

I often get email from people who misunderstand or fear browser cookies. Today someone asked me about the "Google cookie is spyware" rumor, which is total rubbish. Others ask how to turn off cookies because their anti-virus or anti-spyware program falsely identifies them as security threats.

Should you really worry about cookies? I've written a a guide that tells you everything need to know about these tasty little critters. Read on for a closer look at the good, the bad, and the crumbly aspects of web browser cookies.

http://askbobrankin.com/eat_your_cookies.html

-------------------
The Click of Doom
-------------------

Is your hard drive making a clicking sound? Do you sometimes hear a repeated click-whir sound and then the computer locks up? Beware... it could be the Click of Doom!

Generally a clicking sound coming from your hard drive is a Bad Omen. It could be a harbinger of horrific hardware happenings, but it might also be something you can fix in a few seconds. If you've got "the click" read this article to find out what you should be doing ASAP!

http://askbobrankin.com/hard_drive_makes_a_clicking_sound.html

----------------------------
Computer Keeps Restarting?
----------------------------

Today a reader asked me this question about a misbehaving PC:

"My PC running on Windows XP frequently restarts it self for no apparent reason. Any files or internet pages I have been working on are lost. The PC reboots to the desktop and I have to redo all my work. Any ideas please?"

There are several possible reasons why this might happen, including overheating, faulty memory, and hardware or software glitches. If this has ever happened to you, learn how to determine the cause and prevent this annoying problem.
http://askbobrankin.com/computer_restarts_itself.html

---------------------------------
Directory Information Overload?
---------------------------------

Sure, there are lots of online yellow pages websites. But all too often, I find it frustrating to get the phone number or address for a business or public facility. Point, click, search, wade through multiple pages of search results, drill down into confusing category headings, and MAYBE you can find that phone number. Here's good news... it just got easier to do what should be a simple task.
http://askbobrankin.com/directory_information_overload.html

+---------------------------------------+

That's all for now, see you next time! -- Bob Rankin

Have a safe and happy weekend, and we'll talk again soon.
+---------------------------------------+
==[ 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
~~~
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 eight Marines and two airmen who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. All 10 died Feb. 17, when two CH-53 helicopters crashed into the Gulf of Aden in the vicinity of Ras Siyyan, northern Djibouti, while flying a training mission in the Godoria Range area. The Marines and airmen were deployed to Djibouti as part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
The Marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464, Marine Air Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, New River, N.C.
01. 1st Lt. Brandon R. Dronet, 33, of Erath, La.
02. Sgt. James F. Fordyce, 22, of Newton Square, Pa.
03. Lance Cpl. Samuel W. Large, Jr., 21, of Villa Rica, Ga.
04. Sgt. Donnie Leo F. Levens, 25, of Long Beach, Miss.
05. Cpl. Matthieu Marcellus, 31, of Gainesville, Fla.
06. Sgt. Jonathan E. McColley, 23, of Gettysburg, Pa.
07. Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Sovie, 20, of Ogdensburg, N.Y.
08. Capt. Bryan D. Willard, 33, of Hummelstown, Pa.
The airmen were:
09. SrA. Alecia S. Good, 23, of Broadview Heights, Ohio. Good was assigned to the 92nd Communications Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base,Wash.
10. Staff Sgt. Luis M. Melendez Sanchez, 33, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Sanchez was assigned to the 1st Communications Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.

11. Sgt. 1st Class Amos C. Edwards, Jr., 41, of Savannah, Ga., died in Ar Rutbah, Iraq, on Feb. 17, from a non-combat related cause. Edwards was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment, 48th Brigade Combat Team, Savannah, Ga.

12. Cpt. Anthony R. Garcia, 48, of Fort Worth, Texas, died in Tikrit, Iraq, on Feb. 17, from a gun shot wound. Garcia was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

13. Sgt. Charles E. Matheny, IV, 23 of Stanwood, Wash., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Feb. 18, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV. Matheny was assigned to the Army's 704th Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

14. Cpl. Matthew D. Conley, 21, of Killen, Ala., died Feb. 18, when his vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

15. Daniel J. Kuhlmeier, 30, of Omaha, Neb., died Feb. 20 in Baghdad, Iraq when the convoy he was traveling in was struck by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to Detachment 204, 2nd Field Investigations Region, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

16. Staff Sgt. Jay T. Collado, 31, of Columbia, S.C., died Feb. 20 from an improvised explosive device near Baghdad, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron-267, Marine Aircraft Group-39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, he was attached to the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division.

17. 2nd Lt. Almar L. Fitzgerald, 23, of Lexington, S.C., died Feb. 21 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany from wounds received Feb. 18 as a result of an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

http://icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx
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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.
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
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)
A new “Gitter”
Handkerchiefs
Hasselblad H2D-39 Digital Professional Camera
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
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!!!
Rom 1:16-17 Ezek 43:25-27 Neh 8:18-9:1-2 Luke 9:18-20 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://bugsbleat1q.blogspot.com/ to see the latest issue. This week, "Word" and "PDF" subscribers get to see photos of Clark Thomas, Arkansas DOL speaker who will be at Albemarle March 1&2, Bother Paul visiting with Cullen Assembly of God members, Jimmy and Vanessa being prayed for and Dusty at an “Upward” ball game.
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. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Miracle Cure?

The Internet Version of The Ed Sullivan Show
We never let the truth stand in the way of a Good Story"
Volume 8, Issue 07 Friday, February 17, 2006
Hello All,

Ethan is home! And Toni (Dr. Mary Taylor) sewed the rest of Vanessa’s incision up this week. Josiah likes to help Vanessa by getting diapers for the baby, etc.
Annette has been to Springhill every day (big surprise.)
Thanks to everyone who prayed for this little Miracle Guy to make it.
~~~~~
The photos on the front of this weeks “Bleat” include Zac and Dusty (in white) sparing at last Saturday’s Taekwondo Testing and Jimmy being installed as Pastor of Cullen Assembly of God.
~~~~~
Wednesday, Our friend Terry Stockdale posted an article titled; "US Unprepared for Katrina" - Gee, this is news?" It's a good reply to the current capital hill hearings. Check it out at:
http://www.thenextwindow.com/index.php?/archives/215-US-Unprepared-for-Katrina-Gee,-this-is-news.html
~~~~~
Our sincere sympathy is extended to Marjie Blair in the death of her brother, Dwayne McLaughlin, who passed away early this week.
~~~~~
Don’t forget to check out www.mcc2000.net
~~~~~
Skype Use May Make Eavesdropping Passe

Feb 16, 8:43 PM (ET)
By PETER SVENSSON

NEW YORK (AP) - Even as the U.S. government is embroiled in a debate over the legality of wiretapping, the fastest-growing technology for Internet calls appears to have the potential to make eavesdropping a thing of the past.
Skype, the Internet calling service recently acquired by eBay Inc. (EBAY), provides free voice calls and instant messaging between users. Unlike other Internet voice services, Skype calls are encrypted - encoded using complex mathematical operations. That apparently makes them impossible to snoop on, though the company leaves the issue somewhat open to question.
URL: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060217/D8FQIKS80.html
~~~~~
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.
~~~~~
Feel free to share the "Bleat" with any and all. That's why we publish it.
~~~~~
www.aaa.com Regular
Current Avg. $ 2.12
http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/
~~~~~
Recipe(s) of the week - Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
Show: Everyday Italian - Episode: Holiday Side Dishes

Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts, trimmed
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 ounces paper-thin slices pancetta, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup low-salt chicken broth

Partially cook the Brussels sprouts in a large pot of boiling salted water, about 4 minutes. Drain.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and sauté until beginning to crisp, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Add the Brussels sprouts to the same skillet and sauté until heated through and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the broth and simmer until the broth reduces just enough to coat the Brussels sprouts, about 3 minutes. Serve.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_24942,00.html
~~~~~
BreakPoint
With Chuck Colson

A Fighting Chance
The Second Chance Act
February 17, 2006

Four years ago, a man I’ll call “David” looked like just another depressing statistic. After his first stint in prison, he was released only to be re-arrested and re-incarcerated. Absent something out-of-the-ordinary, “David” seemed destined to keep re-offending until he wound up in prison for life—or worse.

Well, something out-of-the-ordinary did happen. And, what’s more we have a chance to let it happen to other “Davids.”

You see, the “ordinary” for offenders like “David” are attempts at “rehabilitation” in prison that fail to address their underlying moral and spiritual problems. As a result, instead of being a transformative experience, prison, as “David” puts it, does little more than teach them “how to do crime a little better so [they won’t] get caught.” As I saw happen to dozens of inmates while I was in prison, upon release, they’re given a bus ticket, some “gate money,” and sent back to their old environment. And soon enough, most of them turn up back inside.

It happened to “David” once, but the second time around he went through Prison Fellowship’s InnerChange program and got the help he needed. In prison, he learned about the consequences of his actions both for himself and for his victims. He also learned that forgiveness and personal transformation are possible through faith in Christ.

And almost as important, he learned that the he wasn’t expected to live his transformed life alone. Outside the prison, a community of believers was waiting for him. They provided him with the external support system he needed to overcome the obstacles and temptations. And now, four years later, “David” is out working and helping to give other ex-offenders the second chance he was given.

This crucial need for an external support system is recognized in a bill that’s currently pending in Congress. It’s called the “Second Chance Act.”

While the government can’t replicate Prison Fellowship’s efforts to bring the transforming power of the Gospel to inmates, there are things it can do. Specifically, it can help ex-offenders make the transition to life outside prison with things like housing, jobs, and substance abuse. This bill does that.

And the government can assist families harmed by the incarceration of one of their members. We know that if the family can be reunited, they can serve as a positive influence on the ex-offender. And so the bill advocates creating family-based treatment centers.

Finally, the bill, which we have worked on since the beginning, seeks to offer inmates what proved so vital to “David’s” rehabilitation: that is, connecting them with mentors from local churches and community groups. We’re doing this today with thousands of mentors across the country, and it’s working. It dramatically cuts recidivism.

The goal of the “Second Chance Act” is to help thousands of others get help when they are released. Obviously, this is important to those inmates getting out, but think also what it means to society. Six hundred thousand inmates are being released this year, three times the size of the United States Marine Corps. For the sake of our own peace and security, it is imperative that we help these men and women get their lives straightened out.

That’s why the “Second Chance Act” deserves our whole-hearted support. It is built on what Prison Fellowship has proven so successful over these years and will keep thousands of “Davids” from becoming costly statistics—giving them a chance instead to make it on the outside.

For further reading and information:

Today’s BreakPoint offer: When Prisoners Return: Why We Should Care and How You and Your Church Can Help by Pat Nolan.

Learn more about the Second Chance Act and Justice Fellowship.

Read Pat Nolan’s testimony on the Second Chance Act before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism & Homeland Security on November 3, 2005.

Learn more about InnerChange Freedom Initiative™.

Pat Nolan, “Road to Redemption,” BreakPoint WorldView, May 2004.

Pat Nolan, “Breaking the Cycle of Crime,” BreakPoint WorldView, September 2003.

BreakPoint Commentary No. 050131, “Fixing a Broken System: Prisons in the Balance.”

BreakPoint Commentary No. 040721, “Second Chances: Helping Prisoners.” (This is about the previous bill of 2004.)

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.
~~~~~

Words of the Week:
stertorous: characterized by a heavy snoring or gasping sound.
eleemosynary: relating to charity; charitable.
concupiscence: lust.
spoony: foolishly or sentimentally in love.
desideratum: something desired.
malaise: a condition of uneasiness or ill being.
imbue: to dye; to instill profoundly.
from Dictionary.Com

~~~~~
"There will be little rubs and disappointments everywhere, and we are all apt to expect too much; but then, if one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make a second better: we find comfort somewhere..." - Jane Austen

"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future." - Paul Boese

"Nay, be a Columbus to whole new continents and worlds within you, opening new channels, not of trade, but of thought." - Henry David Thoreau

"In the fields of observation chance favors only those minds which are prepared." - Louis Pasteur
"There is only one situation I can think of in which men and women make an effort to read better than they usually do. [It is] when they are in love and reading a love letter." - Mortimer Adler

"He who loves the world as his body may be entrusted with the empire." - Lao Tzu

"Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live." - Oscar Wilde
~~~~~
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

Critically Injured Boy See s Jesus Before His Recovery Surprises Doctors
Cassondra Kirby/Teresa Neumann Reporting (Feb 17, 2006)

"I feel like God shut one eye but opened the other," says brother who lost eye in same accident. "This all happened for a reason. To be honest, I have not been living my life like I should."
http://www.christian-worship-music.com/redirect.php?code=0602171852BH1&dest=http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2134

-=+=-

Prayer Alert: Mudslide in Philippines Buries Hundreds of Houses and Elementary School
AP Staff / Aimee Herd reporting (Feb 17, 2006)
More than 1,000 people still missing in the mud.

-=+=-

Italy's Highest Court Says Crucifixes Will Remain in Public Schools
News Staff / Teresa Neumann Reporting (Feb 16, 2006)
Crucifix a symbol of values that had origins in Christianity.
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2133

-=+=-

Indiana House Opposes Ban on Saying "Jesus" by Vote of 83-0
Michele McNeil/Teresa Neumann Reporting (Feb 15, 2006)
The Indianapolis Star reports that the Indiana House sent a message Monday to the federal court judge who banned the word "Jesus" from official prayer by voting 83-0 to oppose the decision.
http://www.christian-worship-music.com/redirect.php?code=0602151911BH1&dest=http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2124

-=+=-

Survey Shows Most Americans Are Sympathetic Towards Israel
Hillel Fendel / Aimee Herd (Feb 14, 2006)
Study revealed increasing favor for Israel as news-awareness increased.
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2120

-=+=-

Another Avenue to the "Big E?" - Bugs Assist Scientists Developing Ethanol, an Alternative Fuel Paul Elias / Aimee Herd reporting (Feb 13, 2006)
Termites, jungle bugs and other microbes may be key in easing America's "oil addiction."
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=2117
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GCF: Miracle Cure?

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

If this was forwarded to you, please consider your own subscription to Good Clean Fun. It's free! A smile will enhance the quality of your life. Just send an email to: good-clean-fun-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit the Good Clean Fun web site http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor/ UNSUBSCRIBE INFO for Good Clean Fun is at the end of this email. This email was scanned by Norton AntiVirus 2005 before it was sent.
-----------------------------------------

Doctor Bloomfield, who was known for extraordinary treatment of arthritis, had a waiting room full of people when a little old lady, almost bent over in half, shuffled in slowly, leaning on her cane. When her turn came, she went into the doctor's office, and, amazingly, emerged within 5 minutes walking completely erect with her head held high. A woman in the waiting room who had seen all this rushed up to the little old lady and said, "It's a miracle! You walked in bent in half and now you're walking erect. What did that doctor do?"

"Gave me a longer cane."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Buy Me a Mink?

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
-----------------------------------------

Kurt was going out with a nice girl and finally popped the question. "Will you marry me, darling?" he asked.

Lisa smiled coyly and said, "Yes, if you'll buy me a mink."

Kurt thought for a moment and then replied, "Okay, it's a deal, on one condition."

"What is that?" Lisa asked.

"You'll have to clean the cage," Kurt replied.
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Big White Circles

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
-----------------------------------------

Before going on vacation, I went to a tanning salon. I was under the lights a bit long and the protective shades I wore left a big white circle around each eye.

Gazing at myself in the mirror the next day, I thought, "Man, I look like a clown."

I had almost convinced myself that I was overreacting until I got in line at the grocery store. I felt a tug and looked down to see a toddler staring up at me. He asked, "Are you giving out balloons?"
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Jack's Will

Emailed to me another humor list (Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh List) -Tom Subscribe to Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh list at the website: Subscribe
-----------------------------------------

Jack has died. His lawyer is standing before the family and reads Jack's last will and testament:

"To my dear wife Esther, I leave the house, 50 acres of land, and one million dollars. To my son Barry, I leave my big Lexus and the Jaguar. To my daughter Suzy, I leave my yacht and $250,000. And to my brother-in-law Jeff, who always insisted that health is better than wealth, I leave my sun lamp."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: What NOT To Give Her For Valentines Day

Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Evelyn) -Tom
-----------------------------------------

1. A box of chocolates, clumsily rearranged in an attempt to hide the fact you ate all the caramel ones.

2. Any food item with the words "diet", "light", or "high fiber" on the label.

3. Any video starring Sylvester Stallone or Jim Carrey.

4. Flowers from a hospital's gift shop--or worse, a mortuary's.

5. Any household appliance, power tool or other item from the harder side of Sears.

6. A gift certificate.

7. Cash.

8. Anything you could have bought at the gas station mini-mart on the way over, even if you didn't.

9. An apologetic look and the words "That was today?"
_ ____________________________ _
(((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / If a cow laughed, \ /
\ _/ would milk come out her nose? \_ /
/ / \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Light travels faster than sound.\ /
\ _/ This is why some people appear \_ /
/ / bright until you hear them speak. \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / If the shoe fits, \ /
\ _/ buy another one just like it. \_ /
/ / \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / A synonym is a word you use \ /
\ _/ in place of one you can't spell. \_ /
/ / \ (((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_ \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / All computers wait \ /
\ _/ at the same speed. \_ /
/ / \ _ ____________________________ _
/ ) Thomas S. Ellsworth ( / / tellswor@slonet.org \ _( (_ http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor _) )_
(((\ \>_/ )_______________________( \_Stop for a visit, leave with a smile! To join Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-subscribe@yahoogroups.Com To leave Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.Com Or visit the Good Clean Fun web site at http://www. slonet.org/~tellswor/
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
[GCFL.net] Arrangements

It was a difficult subject to bring before his aged mother, but Bert felt that he must: "Mom, you're no longer a spring chicken and you do need to think ahead of what'll happen in the future. Why don't we make arrangements about when...you know...when...you pass on?"

The mother didn't say anything, just sat there staring ahead.

"I mean, Mom, like...how do you want to finally go? Do you want to be buried? Cremated?"

There was yet another long pause. Then the mother looked up and said, "Son, why don't you surprise me?"

Received from Steve Sanderson.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Army Training

I was a new Army basic trainee at Fort McClellan, and one requirement was a demanding 12-mile march. We got started at 6 a.m. and were pumped up for the trek.

An hour later, feeling the heavy load of our packs, we wondered if the end would ever come. "Men," our sergeant yelled, "you're doing a fine job. We've already covered four miles!"

Revitalized, we picked up the pace. "And," continued Sarge, "we should reach the starting point any minute now."

Received from The Cybersalt Digest.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] 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?"

Received from You Make Me Laugh.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Valentine Funnies

A young woman was taking an afternoon nap. After she woke up, she told her husband, "I just dreamed that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine's day. What do you think it means?"

"You'll know tonight." he said.

That evening, the man came home with a small package and gave it to his wife.

Delighted, she opened it-only to find a book entitled "The meaning of dreams."

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Study Time

/* Reminder: Tomorrow is Valentine's Day! Don't forget! :)
*/

What men don't get.

Valentine's day is a test.

Women have been studying for years. We even have study groups.

Men should study. . .

1. Listen when the significant other mentions that her friends got flowers at work . . . did she look wishful?

2. She is watching TV . . . a jewelry ad comes on . . . did she look wishful--did she say she liked whatever they were selling?

3. When the catalogs came in, did she happen to mention something she liked? Did you actually show interest to see what it was?

4. Does she like chocolate and gushy cards? Does she get teary-eyed at Hallmark commercials?

The majority of women will give you the answers to the test if you study. Hint: Pay attention!

But guys, don't worry if you fail; you have all year to take the make-up test!

Received from Janet Crews.

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
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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I think I apply to almost everyone of these.....hehehe

TEXANOSITY

Only a Texan knows the difference between a hissy fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them.

Only a Texan knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."

Only a Texan can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."

Only a Texan knows exactly how long "directly" is --as in: "Going to town, be back directly."

Even Texan babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.

All Texans know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.

Only a Texan knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin.

Only Texans grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece."

They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20. Only a Texan both knows and understands the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po'

No true Texan would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.

A Texan knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.

Only Texans make friends while standing in lines. We don't do "queues," we do "lines"; and when we're "in line," we talk to everybody.

Put 100 Texans in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage.

Texans never refer to one person as "ya'll."

Texans know grits come from corn and how to eat them.

Every Texan knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.

When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Texan.

Only true Texans say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.

And a true Texan knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say, "Bless her heart" and go your own way.

To those of you who're still a little embarrassed by your Texaness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your heart.

And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Texan stuff, bless your hearts, I hear they are fixin' to have classes on Texan as a second language!

Thanks to John Chadsey
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Brian invited his mother over for dinner. During the course of the meal, Brian's mother couldn't help but keep noticing how beautiful Brian's roommate, Stephanie, was. Brian's Mom had long been suspicious of a relationship between Brian and Stephanie, and this had only made her more curious.

Over the course of the evening, while watching the two react, she started to wonder if there was more between Brian and Stephanie than met the eye.

Reading his mom's thoughts, Brian volunteered, "I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you Stephanie and I are just roommates."

About a week later, Stephanie came to Brian saying, "Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy ladle. You don't suppose she took it, do you ?"

Brian said, "Well, I doubt it, but I'll send her an e-mail just to be sure. So he sat down and wrote:

"Dear Mom: I'm not saying that you "did" take the gravy ladle from the house, I'm not saying that you "did not" take the gravy ladle. But the fact remains that one has been missing ever since you were here for dinner. Love, Brian"

Several days later, Brian received an email back from his mother that read:

"Dear Son: I'm not saying that you "do" sleep with Stephanie, I'm not saying that you "do not" sleep with Stephanie. But the fact remains that if Stephanie is sleeping in her own bed, she would have found the gravy ladle by now. Love, Mom"

LESSON OF THE DAY . . . NEVER LIE TO YOUR MOTHER!

Thanks to David Lamb
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Welcome to You Make Me Laugh, a free newsletter from Crosswalk.com, the world's largest Christian website.

*Ironic Call*

One day an employee came into work with both of his ears bandaged. His boss asked him what happened to his ears.

"Yesterday I was ironing a shirt when the phone rang and I accidentally answered the iron instead of the phone!"

"Well," the boss said, "that explains one ear, but what about the other?"

"They called back!"

(-:][:-)

*Birthday Surprise*

A husband went to buy a birthday gift for his wife. Some friends had been invited over that night to celebrate her fortieth, and he wanted to get something special. At the store he spotted some cute little music boxes. One blue one was playing "Happy Birthday." Thinking they were all the same, he chose a red one and had it gift-wrapped.

Later, at dinner, he gave it to his wife and asked her to open it. When she lifted the lid, out came the tune to "The Old Gray Mare, She Ain't What She Used to Be!"

(-:][:-)

*Running Away*

A man scolded his son for being so unruly and the child rebelled against his father. He got some of his clothes, his teddy bear and his piggy bank and proudly announced, "I'm running away from home!"

The father calmly decided to look at the matter logically. "What if you get hungry?," he said.

"Then I'll come home and eat!," bravely declared the child.

"And what if you run out of money?"

(-:][:-)

"I will come home and get some!," readily replied the child.

The man then made a final attempt, "What if your clothes get dirty?"

"Then I'll come home and let mommy wash them," was the reply.

The man shook his head and exclaimed, "This kid is not running away from home; he's going off to college."

(-:][:-)

*Good Morning*

A mother and a daughter are shopping in the mall, when the mother eyes an expensive fur coat. "This year," she says, "I think that I will buy my present instead of making you and dad shop for me." The daughter nods in agreement. "And I think this fur coat would be perfect too."

The daughter protests, "But mom, some helpless, poor creature has to suffer so that you can have this."

"Don't worry honey," says the mother, "your father won't get the bill for a couple of weeks."

(-:][:-)

*Good Morning*

When I first started college, the Dean came in and said "Good Morning" to all of us. When we echoed back to him, he responded "Ah, you're Freshmen."

He explained. "When you walk in and say good morning, and they say good morning back, it's Freshmen. When they put their newspapers down and open their books, it's Sophomores. When they look up so they can see the instructor over the tops of the newspapers, it's juniors. When they put their feet up on the desks and keep reading, it's seniors."

"When you walk in and say good morning, and they write it down, it's graduate students."

Eye Laugh

"Dog Trick"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=210

"A-Team in Town"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=234

"Cat Washer"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=236

"Vanpool"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=237

"Shopping Map"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=238

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
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/secret_shopper.html - - Secret Shopper "'I'm not going in there. No way. Forget it.' My seventy-something mother's stance was as rigid as her words; arms folded across her chest, unyielding legs pointed away from the shop I'd just suggested..."
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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Traditions of the Sun - - http://www.traditionsofthesun.org/ - - Our shared interest in better understanding the mysteries of the Sun, forms a common bond between those who built the great structures of Chaco Canyon and the Yucatan, and people today. At this NASA site, you will learn about the ancestral Native Americans in New Mexico and the ancient Maya in the Yucatan and gain a better understanding of the active Sun, and its importance to them and, to us.
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Mayo Clinic: Building a Better Diet - - http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=357FAABB-312F-414A-A8D6401C15EE66B4 - - Perhaps you've noticed that the days of the four basic food groups - dairy, meat and protein, fruits and vegetables, and breads and cereals - are long gone. Today, healthy-eating plans - including the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPyramid -encompass a far wider range of options. Such options include legumes, whole grains, seeds and nuts, fish, and even plant oils, such as olive oil. Add in ethnic, religious, cultural and personal preferences, and you have more options than ever when planning healthy meals and snacks. Healthy eating can be presented in a variety of plans, but eating healthfully doesn't have to be complicated. This Mayo Clinic site provides some basic principles common to all healthy-eating plans to help you stay on the path to good health.
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RootsWeb.com - - http://searches.rootsweb.com/share.html - - The primary purpose and function of RootsWeb.com is to connect people so that they can help each other and share genealogical research. Most resources on RootsWeb.com are designed to facilitate such connections. "But where do I begin?" That question is often asked by new users when faced with all the options available at RootsWeb.com. The best ways for you to connect to others on RootsWeb.com are to make it easy for others to find you, ask for help, and give others help. This page will give you a brief overview of the many resources available at RootsWeb.com; and areas where you will want to contribute as your own research progresses.
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National Geographic Photography - - http://www.nationalgeographic.com/media/photography/ - - This National Geographic site features a photo of the day, galleries, photographer bios, news, FAQs, and more.
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How Valentine's Day Works - - http://people.howstuffworks.com/valentine.htm - - When did the Valentine's Day frenzy begin? As is true of much of history, scholars tell slightly different versions of the history of this popular holiday. This HowStuffWorks ariticle looks at that history, with its Roman and Christian roots, as well as holiday traditions that have developed over the years. The site also checks out some old valentines and some new ones.
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Terrorism Knowledge Base - - http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp - - This site is the one-stop resource for comprehensive research and analysis on global terrorist incidents, terrorism-related court cases, and terrorist groups and leaders. The Terrorism Knowledge Base illuminates the current status of terrorism today. It takes users through the history, affiliations, locations, and tactics of the terrorism entities operating across the world at this moment. The database features interactive maps, biographies on key terrorist personalities, dynamic graphs, and succinct summaries on who is who and what is what inside the shadowy world of terrorism today.
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How Much is That? - - http://eh.net/hmit/ - - Have you ever wondered what the value of a dollar was in 1895? Or what the GDP was in 1929? Here is a place where you can ask questions of comparative value covering purchasing power, exchange rates, and other variables between the past and today. Related site: Time Capsule - - http://dmarie.com/timecap/.
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------------ Safety From The Heart ----------
February 15, 2006
Heart Attacks
Today's Safety From the Heart message was submitted by Keith Black.
_______________________

Women (and men) should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.

Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.

Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...

------------ Safety From The Heart ----------
February 14, 2006
It's As Easy As ABC
ABCs of Preventing Heart Disease, Stroke and Heart Attack

Sounds simple doesn't it? So why are coronary heart disease and stroke the No. 1 and No. 3 killers of Americans? One reason is undeniably a lack of commitment to a heart-healthy lifestyle. Your lifestyle is not only your best defense against heart disease and stroke, it's also your responsibility. By following these three simple steps you can reduce all of the modifiable risk factors for heart disease, heart attack and stroke including:

Stop smoking. If you smoke, quit. If someone in your household smokes, encourage them to quit. We know it's tough. But it's tougher to recover from a heart attack or stroke or to live with chronic heart disease. Commit to quit.

Reduce blood cholesterol. Fat lodged in your arteries is a disaster waiting to happen. Sooner or later it could trigger a heart attack or stroke. You've got to reduce your intake of saturated and trans fat and get moving. If diet and exercise alone don't get those numbers down, then medication is the key. Take it just like the doctor orders. Here's the lowdown on where those numbers need to be:

Total Cholesterol ? Less than 200 mg/dL
LDL (bad) Cholesterol ? LDL cholesterol goals vary.
Low risk for heart disease ? Less than 160 mg/dL
Intermediate risk for heart disease ? Less than 130 mg/dL
High risk for heart disease including those with heart disease or diabetes ? Less than 100mg/dL

HDL (good) Cholesterol ? 40 mg/dL or higher for men and 50 mg/dL or higher for women Triglycerides ? Less than 150 mg/dL

Lower high blood pressure. It's the single largest risk factor for stroke. Stroke is the No. 3 killer and one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. Stroke recovery is difficult at best and you could be disabled for life. Shake that salt habit, take any medication the doctor recommends exactly as prescribed and get moving. Those numbers need to get down and stay down. Your goal is less than 120/80 mmHg.

Be physically active every day. Research has shown that getting 30?60 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week can help lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and keep your weight at a healthy level. But something IS better than nothing. If you're doing nothing now, start out slow. Studies show that people who have achieved even a moderate level of fitness are much less likely to die early than those with a low fitness level.

Aim for a healthy weight. Obesity is an epidemic in America, not only for adults but also for children. Fad diets and supplements are not the answer. Good nutrition and physical activity are the only way to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity places you at risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and insulin resistance, a precursor of type 2 diabetes ? the very factors that heighten your risk of cardiovascular disease. Your Body Mass Index (BMI) will tell you if your weight is healthy.

Manage diabetes. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related death. People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease due to a variety of risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and lack of physical activity.

Reduce stress. Some scientists have noted a relationship between coronary heart disease risk and stress in a person's life that may affect the risk factors for heart disease and stroke. For example, people under stress may overeat, start smoking or smoke more than they otherwise would. Research has even shown that stress reaction in young adults predicts middle-age blood pressure risk.

Limit alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, cause heart failure and lead to stroke. It can contribute to high triglycerides, produce irregular heartbeats and affect cancer and other diseases. It contributes to obesity, alcoholism, suicide and accidents. The risk of heart disease in people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol (an average of one drink for women or two drinks for men per day) is lower than in non-drinkers. However, it's not recommended that non-drinkers start using alcohol or that drinkers increase the amount they drink.
http://www.americanheart.org

------------ Safety From The Heart ----------
February 13, 2006
Safety in the Parking Lot
Today's Message is from Stuart Turnbull (a Houston Albemarle employee).

I have noticed more and more near misses in the main parking lot. People are in a hurry to get to work. People are in a hurry to get to their vehicles. People are in a hurry to get out of the parking lot. People are in a hurry.

We need to slow down, just a little, so that we can all reach our respective destinations in a safe and timely manner.

------------ Safety From The Heart ----------
February 10, 2006
Today's Message is from Ann Oxford (a Baton Rouge Tower employee).

I had an old hair dryer (blow dryer) that I used for many years and didn't think too much about it. Then one day sparks and smoke came out of the outlet. That caught my attention. The cord was very hot. It didn't look frayed or cracked, but it must have been damaged from all the plugging and unplugging. I replaced the hair dryer with a new one that had an additional safety feature: An immersion protection device. So the old hair dryer was a fire hazard and could have shocked someone if dropped in water. Check those home appliance cords. Below is some information from the U.S. Fire Administration web site.

Home Electrical Fire Prevention
Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure 2,305 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures and appliance defects, but many more are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances, incorrectly installed wiring, and overloaded circuits and extension cords.

THE FACTS
December is the most dangerous month for electrical fires. Fire deaths are highest in winter months which call for more indoor activities and increase in lighting, heating, and appliance use. Most electrical wiring fires start in the bedroom.

THE CAUSE
Electrical Wiring
 Most electrical fires result from problems with "fixed wiring" such as faulty electrical outlets and old wiring. Problems with cords and plugs, such as extension and appliance cords, also cause many home electrical fires.
 In urban areas, faulty wiring accounts for 33% of residential electrical fires.
 Many avoidable electrical fires can be traced to misuse of electric cords, such as overloading circuits, poor maintenance and running the cords under rugs or in high traffic areas.
Home Appliances
 The home appliances most often involved in electrical fires are electric stoves and ovens, dryers, central heating units, televisions, radios and record players.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
 Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring.
 Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately.
 Use electrical extension cords wisely and don't overload them.
 Keep electrical appliances away from wet floors and counters; pay special care to electrical appliances in the bathroom and kitchen.
 When buying electrical appliances look for products which meet the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) standard for safety.
 Don't allow children to play with or around electrical appliances like space heaters, irons and hair dryers.
 Keep clothes, curtains and other potentially combustible items at least three feet from all heaters.
 If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
 Never overload extension cords or wall sockets. Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker. Use safety closures to "child-proof" electrical outlets.
 Check your electrical tools regularly for signs of wear. If the cords are frayed or cracked, replace them. Replace any tool if it causes even small electrical shocks, overheats, shorts out or gives off smoke or sparks.
Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.
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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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A young university student was home for the summer.

She had gone to visit some friends one evening and time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year.
She ended up staying longer than planned, and had to walk home alone.
She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away.
As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked "God" to keep her safe from harm and danger.
When she reached the alley, which was a shortcut to her house, she decided to take it.
However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he were waiting for her.
She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for "God's" protection.
Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her, she felt as though someone was walking with her.
When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.
The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she had been there.
Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep.
Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station.
She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story.
The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him.
She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before.
When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed.
The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her.
She asked if they would ask the man one question?
Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her.
When the policeman asked him, he answered,
"Because she wasn't alone.
She had two tall men walking on either side of her."
Moral of the story: Don't underestimate the power of Prayer!

Gives ya goose bumps, doesn't it!

Thanks to John Chadsey
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This is taken from "The Purpose Driven Life Devotional" I received today from a friend. Thought I would pass it on! Good stuff!

God's Valentine

The two most universal symbols of Valentine's Day for children are still the little single-sheet cutout cards you can buy in bulk for all your classmates (and one for the teacher), and those pastel-colored, heart-shaped candies carrying two-word sayings like "LOVE YOU" and "BE MINE."

Well, thinking like a child -- as those who enter heaven always think -- God wants us to be His Valentine, and He has put a big "BE MINE" on His Valentine to us. Remember, He has set us aside to be His Bride. In Christ's miraculous death and resurrection, God has offered us His heart. He has communicated a simple message to the whole human race: "BE MINE," and it is now up to us to decide whether or not we want to be.

Of course that's the amazing thing about it. It's an offer. It's His desire expressed to us. It's an invitation. We're being courted. It's the desire of His heart to have a love relationship with us, but a relationship, in order to be a relationship, has to go both ways. That is precisely why we were created: to have the opportunity to respond to Him. To miss this is the miss the point of our existence.

God wanted a relationship with someone like Him, so He made us in His image. And then He sent us this very big heart with an empty cross on it and the message "BE MINE."

My wife asked me this last weekend why there weren't more big red hearts strung all over town. I answered that it was probably because the weather is so nice here that Valentine's Day is not as compelling as it would be in a colder climate entrenched in the middle of a long, cold, grey winter. In many parts of the country, people are looking for an excuse to celebrate right about now, and Valentine's Day provides just that.

Well God wants us to celebrate, too. When He established the nation of Israel in the Old Testament He commissioned a number of annual feasts and celebrations. Celebrations have always been important to Him. So if you're fortunate to have a special person in your life, celebrate that love today, but also realize that the best human relationship is only a picture of the greater love we all have with the Father. And today, every time you see one of those red hearts, think of it as God's special message to you and enjoy a quiet celebration in your heart.

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love" (John 15:9) …or in other words: "BE MINE."

Thanks to Trina Montgomery
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Activities and Events of Interest
~~~
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 Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
01. Pfc. Javier Chavez Jr., 19, of Cutler, Calif., died Feb. 9 from wounds received as a result of an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations near Fallujah, Iraq.
02. Cpl. Ross A. Smith, 21, of Wyoming, Mich., died Feb. 9 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Fallujah, Iraq.
Both Marines were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. During OIF their unit is attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

03. Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Wilson, 25, of Newark Valley, N.Y., died Feb. 12 as a result of an improvised explosive device in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Three, based in San Diego, Calif.

04. Spc. Felipe J. Garcia Villareal, 26, of Burke, Va., died at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12, of injuries sustained in Ramadi, Iraq on Feb. 9, when his tent caught fire. Garcia Villareal was assigned to the 54th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, Warner Barracks, Bamberg, Germany

05. Cpl. Andrew J. Kemple, 23, of Cambridge, Minn., died in Tikrit, Iraq on Feb. 12, when his HMMWV came under small arms fire during combat operations. Kemple was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

06. Lance Cpl. Michael S. Probst, 26, of Irvine, Calif., died Feb. 14 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations near Abu Ghraib, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).


The Department of Defense announced the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Killed were:
07. Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Barnes, 20, of West Monroe, La.
08. Cpl. Rusty L. Washam, 21, of Huntsville, Tenn.
Both Marines died Feb. 14, when a suicide car bomber attacked their vehicle near Al Qa’im, Iraq. They were assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division; II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The Department of Defense announced the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died north of Deh Rawod, Afghanistan, on Feb. 13, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV during combat operations. Killed were:
09. Sgt. 1st Class Chad A. Gonsalves, 31, of Turlock, Calif. Gonsalves was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.
10. Staff Sgt. Edwin H. Dazachacon, 38, of Belleville, Ill. Dazachacon was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.
11. Staff Sgt. Clinton T. Newman, 26, of San Antonio, Texas. Newman was assigned to the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade, San Antonio, Texas
12. Sgt. Alberto D. Montrond, 27, of Suffolk, Mass. Montrond was assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Army MIA Soldiers from Vietnam War Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of four U.S. servicemen, missing in action since the Vietnam War, have been identified. They will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
They are: Maj. Jack L. Barker of Waycross, Ga.; Capt. John F. Dugan of Roselle, N.J.; Sgt. William E. Dillender of Naples, Fla.; and Pfc. John J. Chubb of Gardena, Calif. All were from the Army’s 101st Airborne Division. Chubb will be buried in Inglewood, Calif., on Feb. 18. Barker, Dugan and Dillender will be buried on April 12 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington. D.C.
On March 20, 1971, Barker and Dugan were piloting a UH-1H Huey helicopter with Dillender and Chubb on board. The aircraft was participating in a troop extraction mission in the Savannakhet Province of Laos. As the helicopter approached the landing zone, it was hit by heavy enemy ground fire. It exploded in the air and there were no survivors. Continued enemy activity in the area prevented any recovery attempts.
A refugee in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, showed an identification tag of Pfc. Chubb and a medallion to a U.S. interviewer in 1986. The medallion was reportedly recovered near the same general location from an F-105 crash site. However, the location and the aircraft type did not correlate with the missing aircraft and soldiers.
Between 1988 and 2001, joint U.S.-Lao People’s Democratic Republic teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted four investigations and three excavations for these soldiers without positive results. An investigation team surveyed three crash sites in 2002 after interviewing local villagers from the province. The team recovered a fragment of human tooth and some crew-related artifacts from one of the crash sites.
In October and November 2004, another joint investigation team excavated the crash site and recovered additional human remains and crew-related evidence. The wreckage was of a UH-1H helicopter, and contained insignia worn by members of the 101st Airborne Division. -
The remains included nine fragments of teeth that the forensic anthropologists at JPAC were able to match with detailed information from medical and dental records.
From the Vietnam War, 1,807 Americans are still unaccounted-for with 364 of those from Laos. Another 839 have been accounted-for in Southeast Asia with 208 of those from losses in Laos. For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.

http://icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx
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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)
A new “Gitter”
Handkerchiefs
Hasselblad H2D-39 Digital Professional Camera
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
VHS - DVD Recorder (Lite-On LVC-9006 $219 @ Buy.com)
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Scheduled Activities
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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
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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.
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Columbia County Diabetes Support Group - Every third Monday, 7:00 p.m. room 222, Magnolia Hospital
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"Focus on the Family" with Dr. James Dobson weekday afternoons at 1 PM on KVMA am 630 it's a great show!
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MCC - Abraham Prayer - Sunday at 5:00 p.m and Wednesday from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
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MCC - Early Morning Prayer - Monday - Friday, From 6:30 am to 8:00 am
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MCC - "Beth Moore" Video Class - Thursday nights at 5:45 pm
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MCC - "Faith Builders" Small group meets at 1051 Columbia 36 the second and fourth Tuesdays, 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm.
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MCC - Firm Foundations Class, Sunday 9:30 to 10:15 a.m
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MCC - Meadow Brook Nursing Home Ministry Tuesday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m
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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.
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MCC - Nursing Home Ministry - Meadowbrook Every Tuesday from 10 to 11 am. Taylor, the last Thursday each month.
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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.
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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.
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Narcotics Anonymous 5-6 pm every Monday at 220 Pine street.
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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
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Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Again, thanks to all our contributors this week.

God bless and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Mat 26:40-41 Mat 13:13-15 2 Pet 1:5-10 1 Tim 6:20-21 Psa 118:5-6 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://bugsbleat1q.blogspot.com/ to see the latest issue. This week, "Word" and "PDF" subscribers get to see photos of Zac and Dusty (in white) sparing at last Saturday’s TaKwonDo Testing and Jimmy being installed as Pastor of Cullen Assembly of God.
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. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>