Thursday, April 9, 2009

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Family Quarrel

Volume 11, Issue 14 Friday, April 3, 2009

Hello All,

A Banner News headline today announced “Albemarle, Shaw make layoffs” The article went on to say that the chemical company will temporarily lay off about 70 employees from its three production plants in Magnolia and the Shaw Group has laid off an unspecified number of workers.
The story was picked up by AP and distributed nationally. I’d wondered when our local paper was going to address some of the layoffs in local businesses. They still didn’t mention the other industries that have been forced to lay off or furlough employees in Columbia County.
~~~~~
I’ve been struck with “Scanner mania” and, while I was off sick, didn’t do anything but scan in old photos, slides and negatives. So far, I’ve scanned in photos from as far back as the 1930s. My relatives and friends have been deluged with photos of them & their family members from long ago.
~~~~~
Besides scanning photos, my Class of 1969 Face book group has absorbed a significant amount of time. I usually have 50 to 70 Emails from them each day. Some of you are thinking; “why don’t you block these folks?” Why would I block a group of folks that I’m getting to know after 40 years? We’ve been catching up on each other as well as remembering teachers, schools, classmates, and activities of our youth. It’s bittersweet to remember the stories of my youth as well as hearing current challenges of my classmates. The stories they share of their “Chatterbox” memories are especially touching to me.
Of course, we don’t just reminisce. We’re also sharing the trials and tribulations of middle age, dealing with Jobs, Retirement, Spouses, Parents, Grand kids, etc. It’s a joy to discuss this with the group. Our friendship has grown in ways we didn’t expect.
I don’t advocate face book for everyone but our class group is enjoying it.
~~~~~
How R U Doing? Our economy reminds me of the aftermath of a championship card stacking tournament. Everyone was busy stacking cards to impossibly high levels, until one pile fell and brought them all down. Now everyone is pointing fingers at each other instead of getting some Lincoln Logs and starting another, more secure and stable, stack.
And, like the war in Iraq, many folks are agitated about the economy but few are showing support for the folks that have been injured.
The “Talking Heads” are arguing about the “Severity” of the recession. They can’t decide wither “We’ve bottomed out” or “The worst is yet to come.” In the meantime, here in South Arkansas, many folks are finding themselves out of a job. Several of our major industries (i.e. chemicals, Wood and Poultry) have severely cut back production and laid hundreds of folks off.
The news if full of folks screaming about “injustice” and “stupidity” and both are probably accurate but that won’t help get folks back to work.
We all need to be pulling together, not ripping our country apart.
Do you have a job? If so, you should be contributing to food banks, clothing pantry and shelters.
Besides giving, write your congressman and senators and tell them to quit trying to “spend” us out of debt! (The national debt is now equal to $115,000 per family!) Tell them to quit finger pointing and start working together to “Clean Up” our financial laws. We should be encouraging business as much as possible.
In the short run, I recommend that we reinstate the financial services regulations that were taken off the books over the last 25 years. We could do that instead of writing new, restrictive laws that depend on an incompetent government to run our businesses.
~~~~~
Speaking of the government running our business, (some would say ruining our business), who do you trust more (or less)? How many of you have a good feeling about the government taking care of anything? Do the following words make you more or less confident in the government’s ability to run ANY business . . . “Walter Reed”, “Interstate Bridges”, “Poisoned Peanuts”, etc.?
Now, do you want these folks making our cars or controlling our banks?
But what about the big companies that failed? What about the small companies that failed? Well, failure is a signpost on the road to success. But you’ll never get to success if you don’t let your failures teach you anything. Look at the fortune 500 companies today. How many were here 100 years ago. And, where are the fortune 500 companies from 100 years ago? Many of them failed and were replaced with “a better idea.” But you can’t get those better ideas if you continue to reward bad management and poor performance.
~~~~~
But somebody has to control these companies? Right? I mean what about AIG and giving millions in bonuses to managers when the company is past bankrupt?
The best way to “control” these companies is to let them sink or swim. I keep hearing “They are too big to fail.” Meaning that we (the nation) can’t afford for this company to fail. We hear the same sentiment about giving millions to managers whose companies fail. “If we don’t give them the bonuses, they’ll go to another company.”
How about we let the chips fall where they may? As a boss once told me that “No one is indispensable.” That applies to companies as well as employees.
~~~~~
As for how to deal with AIG? Well, if someone came to you and asked for a loan to keep them from “Going Under” and then took the money you loaned them and bought a hot tub to put on their back deck. What would you do? Would you loan them any more money? Would you try to get your money back? That’s what we need to do with AIG. Take our money back and don’t give them any more.
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Do you have a budget? Shouldn’t our nation have a balanced budget? Arkansas has a constitutional requirement to budget within state income. As a result, in tough times some services are reduced, but we’re not in the position of states that “budgeted” more than their income. Now they can’t give taxpayers their refunds, much less pay state workers. If you think the DMV is an unpleasant place, try it with workers that aren’t getting paid!
~
Our nation needs to balance the budget. We’ve got to quit spending more than we have. Unfortunately, both major parties have continued the practice of deficit spending (the Democrats indulge in “Tax and Spend” and the Republicans practice “Borrow and Spend”). Both say that “their” spending is necessary. This is stealing from future generations (and is a big part of the reason the economy is in trouble.)
I encourage you to write congress and DEMAND that they adopt a balanced budget PERIOD.
~~~~~
One more thing. We’ve got to quit listening to the “Rabble Rousing” media. They are really more actors than news people.
We probably all know someone who always has a crisis. They’ll call in tears if the coffee pot doesn’t work or the batteries die in their remote control. Brian Williams, Rush, Jon Stewart, Bill O’Riley, Chris Matthews, etc. are the same as that friend. They rarely have a “normal” story to report. Everything is a crisis. They rarely have time to get you the actual facts about a situation. Instead they give sensationalism.
Don’t get me wrong. I like to be entertained, but I’d rather be informed by the news media.
~~~~~
The Columbia County Library will reopen at 9 a.m. Monday, April 20 at the new location, 2057 N. Jackson St.
~~~~~
Our Magnolia High School Class of ‘69 40th Reunion is tentatively scheduled for June 19, and 20.
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Don’t forget to use GoodSearch [http://www.goodsearch.com/] when you search the Internet!
~~~~~
DarynKagan.com - - April 3, 2009
Today's Story: Would You Give Your Ex-Husband Your Kidney?
Bernadette Tobin did what a lot of women would not. She gave her ex-husband her kidney. Even she couldn't see the surprise that would lead to---another chance at love.
Watch Video >> [http://darynkagan.demo.nimbussoftware.com/love/stories/lv_090403_exkidney.html]
~~~~~
America is not at war. The military is at war. - - America is at the mall, or watching the movie stars.
~~~~~
Each week the Defense Department highlights military personnel who have gone above and beyond in the war. [http://www.defenselink.mil/heroes/] - - Ed Malone
Hometown: Suisun, CA
Awarded: Bronze Star (Valor)
Currently, one of the primary tasks for Army Sergeant First Class Ed Malone is mentoring young cadets who come from backgrounds where the military and its challenges are unfamiliar to them. Four years ago on June 25, 2005, he was mentoring as well – but under fire.

Malone used his tactical prowess and aggression to keep his platoon and some Iraqi Security Forces members alive despite his own injuries.

The 3rd Platoon, Grim Troop, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, was conducting a joint combat patrol with the Iraqi Army in the extremely hostile Surai district of Tal’Afar, Iraq, when Malone’s dismounted patrol came under withering enemy machine gun fire, RPG fire and hand grenades.

According to Malone, the mission was “in support of an initiative to make the Iraqi Security Forces more visible to the local populace.”

Following an attack initiated by the enemy and without immediate direct fire support from his Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Malone ordered his men to establish a defensive posture and return fire. He directed his grenadier to take out several targets firing from a rooftop, resulting in the battle’s first enemy casualties. During the firefight and without regard for his own safety, Malone repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire.

First, to retrieve a piece of equipment that was accidently dropped by one of his Soldiers in the enemy’s kill zone, then to evacuate women and children caught in the crossfire between hostile and friendly forces, and then again to drag one of his severely wounded non-commissioned officers out of the line of fire and into cover. According to the Bronze Star Medal with Valor narration, Malone’s actions resulted in the speedy medical evacuation of the wounded Soldier, which ultimately saved his life.

“Our primary objective was to ensure the Iraqi Security Forces continued to develop into a well-trained and aggressive combat ready force who would adopt a more offensive rather than defensive posture.”

Refusing to give up ground until reinforcements arrived, he and his team successfully held the position for over an hour while pinned down by heavy machine gun and enemy sniper fire. They deployed hand grenades and laid down suppressive fire to counter the insurgents’ assault.

Malone spotted automatic weapons fire coming from a house. When Iraqi Army Soldiers refused to assist, Malone led a three-man assault team toward the objective by clearing the courtyard with a grenade upon entry. The blast wounded an enemy insurgent, whom Malone immediately began administering first aid to, while his Soldiers uncovered large amounts of various explosives and munitions.

Once a foothold was established, Malone and two of his Soldiers moved to secure the rooftop to fend off enemy insurgents moving in on their location.

As Malone and his men were leaving the strike zone, Malone suffered a gunshot wound to the foot while trying to protect the wounded enemy combatant under his care.

Risking his life to save an enemy, Malone explained, “As per the laws of warfare outlined in the Geneva Conventions, once an enemy combatant is captured, it is our responsibility to provide care and protection as we would like the same treatment if the roles were reversed.”

Malone’s unmatched example of courage and selfless service inspire every Trooper in the Regiment, according to the Bronze Star citation.

Malone concluded, “One of the Soldiers who helped save my life and provide initial treatment after I got hit was Specialist Hoby F. Bradfield Jr. I’ve known him since he was first assigned to my platoon as a private. He was killed on July 9, 2005, in another heavy firefight my platoon was involved in. In never saw him again after the day I was wounded. I never had the opportunity to personally thank him for helping to save my life.
~
Jeffrey Wagner
Hometown: Jamestown, SC
Awarded: Bronze Star
A shy and reserved man with many talents who displays incredible calmness under fire --- that’s an accurate description for then-Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Wagner. When his convoy was ambushed on main supply route Michigan between Fallujah and Habbaniyah, the Air Force non-commissioned officer remained composed but acted swiftly.

“I basically did what I was trained to do,” said Wagner. Insurgents had attacked with two Improvised Explosive Device detonations within meters of his vehicle and small arms fire from nearby fields.

“I stayed on the road, accelerated through the threat, and put our vehicle in a position where my gunner Tech. Sgt. Matthew Walter could engage and eliminate the hostilities,” he continued. His citation noted that his team and he then “provided suppressive fire to allow the assault team to neutralize the secondary threat.”

This was one of several incidents that Wagner was recognized for. His unending initiative and leadership were cornerstones for the establishment of a major operational base that was designed for U.S. military forces and Iraqi Army to jointly destroy insurgent forces. Wagner was not only in charge of a Coalition Military Assistance Training Team at the Multi-National Security Transition Command in Iraq but also 220 Iraqi soldiers.

“Part of my job was to design a Base Defense Plan to protect more than 2,000 coalition personnel living on Camp Habbaniyah,” explained Wagner.

This plan included extraction of all U.S. military and Department of Defense contractor personnel in the event insurgent forces attempted to take over the base, according to Wagner. On May 6, 2006, he had an opportunity to put his plan to the test… a real test.

At 3:32 p.m. the base came under attack by enemy forces along multiple areas of the perimeter. Without concern for his own safety, he willingly placed himself in the line of fire, exposing himself to grave danger in order to assist in defending the southern perimeter of the base.

When asked about the success of the plan, he said, “Plans are only as good as the personnel performing them. I do have to say that during my time there, they [Iraqi Army] never allowed a perpetrator to penetrate the base perimeter.”

Wagner understood the Iraqi culture and boundaries; that helped him advise the Iraqi Army leadership on a security plan for the democratic elections. He also took control of an investigation that led to the recovery of 48 stolen weapons and the capture of two Iraqi Army thieves. For all of these actions, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

“I definitely don’t think I am a ‘hero.’ There are other Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines more deserving of this honor. I just did my job, what I was trained for and what I was called on to do,” Wagner insists.
~~~~~
Bug recommends . . . Kit Lange [http://www.thenextright.com/blog/200]
~~~~~
The latest from Michael Yon, the foremost “milnews” blogger on the web.
~
Am heading to Laos just now. Amazing place but haven’t been there since before I first dropped into the Iraq war. They call Laos, “The Land of a Million Elephants.” I once looked at a very old map in Venice, Italy, and Laos was depicted on the map by lots of elephants. Speaking of which, a young female elephant tried to hit me with stalks of sugarcane last week. She was angry about something. Her name was “Nungning,” which is a very funny word in Thai language. I was told that “nungning” means the flamboyant way that a lady boy acts and walks. Whatever the case, Nungning the young elephant has a great throwing-trunk and can wallop you with sugarcane. She’s a pretty good shot, too.

Two interesting stories here. One is about Rape in Afghanistan, [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wife-rape.htm] and the other discusses the black market of military gear in Pakistan [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/black-market.htm].

On weapons to Mexico, some people dispute the veracity of the FOX report which disputes the veracity of government reports. I’ll get to that soon, but there is the feeling that this discussion is not winding down. It’s just getting started. The Mexico issue reminds me of Iraq but not Afghanistan. Truth was difficult to report from Iraq because the emotional valence was so high, and political stakes were monumental. Reputations and careers were destroyed by the tsunami of emotions. Afghanistan is easier; I still catch flak for Afghan reporting and likely will catch heavy flak this year when I return, but nothing like the lightning bolts that regularly struck me while reporting Iraq. Mexico brings a madhouse of interests and the gun issue is just one. There are the aliens and drugs and on and on. Will be interesting to hit the ground there.

Please view this very disturbing video. The video indicates what many have said, that Mexican authorities are neck-deep in the drug business: Mexican Incursions into the US [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/mexican-government-in-the-drug-business.htm].

Please also keep up with the comments. Discussion is always helpful.

I’ll be in Laos for the next little bit, possibly with little communications.

Very Respectfully,
Your correspondent,
Michael Yon

Http://www.michaelyon-online.com/index.php
~~~~~
Last week we watched [Ratings are my own]:
Let's Make it Legal (1951) [8.7] Starring Claudette Colbert ... Macdonald Carey ... Zachary Scott ... Robert Wagner ... Marilyn Monroe
Swing Vote (2008) [6.7] Starring Kevin Costner ... Kelsey Grammar ... Dennis Hopper ... Nathan Lane ... Stanley Tucci ... George Lopez ... Judge Reinhold
Transporter 3 (2008) [8.7] Starring Jason Statham ... Natalya Rudakova ... François Berléand
So Proudly We Hail! (1943) [7.8] Starring Claudette Colbert ... Paulette Goddard ... Veronica Lake ... George Reeves
~~~~~
We’re currently reading; Cannibal Queen by Stephen Coonts
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http://www.shelfari.com
http://www.shelfari.com/bugsbleat/shelf
~~~~~
Photos on the front of this week’s “Bleat” include shots of Annette and the kids on Easter Sunday, 1976, David, Papaw and Vanessa in front of the Brown Duke, Annette outside Herrod Hall at Southern State College, A portrait I did of Annette in 1971 and David’s first Birthday.
~~~~~
We’ve now got several addresses on the web for "Da Bleat." For the latest issue, go to http://www.bugsbleat.blogspot.com. Last quarter’s issues can be seen at http://www.bugsbleat1q09.blogspot.com.
Our photos are posted at http://www.bugsbleatphotos.blogspot.com.
If you want to see photos of Last April’s train wreck in Magnolia, go to http://www.bugsbleattw.blogspot.com/
~~~~~
Feel free to share the "Bleat" with any and all. That's why we publish it.
~~~~~
Dr. Pat Antoon’s Address:
Pat Antoon 06669-010
Federal Prison Camp
P.O. Box 9300
Texarkana, TX 75505
Be sure and keep him in your prayers.
~~~~~
Recipe(s) of the week - - COOKING AND RECIPES THREAD FOR THE LADIES. - - Thanks to Johnette Burrow McDaniel

I cooked tonight, making up a recipe as I went. It was really good.

Johnette's Chicken Tortilla Soup

4-5 boneless Chicken Breast
1 pkg (16 oz) frozen chopped onion
1 pkg (16 oz) frozen chopped bell pepper
1 pkg (16 oz) frozen whole kernel corn
1 small can chopped green chile peppers (2.25 oz or larger if you want it spicier)
1 box (32oz) 99% fat-free chicken broth
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes
1 pkg Ranch Dressing Mix (dry powder type)
1-2 handfuls of uncooked noodles or angel hair pasta (the thinner the better)
crushed tortilla chips
sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Fill Dutch Oven half full of water. Bring to a boil and add onions, bell pepper, corn, salt and pepper . Cut chicken breast into cubes and add to boiling water. Once meat is done, add tomatoes, broth, and Ranch Dressing mix . Bring soup back to a boil and add noodles/pasta. Soup can be served when noodles/pasta are cooked and tender.

Serving tip: Sprinkle each bowl of soup with a generous helping of crushed tortilla chips and a dollop of sour cream.

Quick and easy! Enjoy!
~~~~~
BreakPoint
'Slumdog' Surprises
By Mark Earley
3/27/2009
Redemption Wins an Oscar

Note: This commentary was delivered by PFM President Mark Earley.

[Ed. Note: The following contains spoilers for the movie Slumdog Millionaire.]

Dazzling lights dance across a dark stage and land on a beardless young man sitting in the hot seat. The Who Wants to Be a Millionaire theme song revs up as the young man answers his first multiple choice question in the smash-hit movie, Slumdog Millionaire.

Last month, fans of the Indian movie cheered as Slumdog breezed its way across the red carpet of the Academy Awards ceremony, grabbing eight Oscars, including best picture.

I should tell you that the film is rated R for its gritty subject matter and its intense (but not graphic) portrayal of child abuse, forced prostitution, torture, and gang violence. And I do not recommend it for young children.

Slumdog tells the story of 18-year-old Jamal Malik, who wins India’s version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. He triumphs, not because he is a genius, but because the events of his tragic life feed him the answers to every question.

As Jamal sits in the hot seat, his mind flashes back to his childhood in the slums, the death of his mother in a Hindu raid of his Muslim compound, the months he spent as a child slave, the dozens of odd jobs he took to make ends meet, and the heartbreak of watching his brother whisked up into gang violence.

Throughout the harrowing events of Jamal’s life, his heart remains true to Latika, the girl he loves. Despite years of separation, Jamal continues to search for her, eventually appearing on Millionaire, hoping that Latika might see him on TV and try to find him. Jamal and Latika’s relationship brims with youthful purity and faithful love, which stands in stark contrast to many typical silver-screen romances defined by sexual immorality and infidelity.

But that’s not the only element that makes Slumdog’s Oscar recognition so notable. The film also confronts the typically postmodern and nihilistic themes that run through many Academy Award-winning films. Instead of bowing to an existential worldview that claims that it’s up to everyone to create his own destiny, Slumdog asserts that there is an overarching narrative that governs our lives. While calling the film “Christian” would be going way too far, the plot brims with a sense of transcendence.

Even Danny Boyle, the director, who as far as I know does not espouse Christianity, can’t deny that his films recognize the presence of something beyond the physical realm. As he told Christianity Today, “there is something out there,” which is “bigger, wider than we can accommodate at the moment.”

But maybe the most remarkable thing about Slumdog is its happy ending. Like the story of our redemption through Christ, Slumdog is filled with plenty of tragedy, but it doesn’t end on a dark note. Perhaps we’ve grown so accustomed to tragic endings, that we’ve forgotten that we’re hardwired for joyous conclusions.

But don’t take my word for it. If you didn’t get a chance to see this exquisitely artful and exceptionally optimistic film, don’t worry. It comes out on DVD March 31st.

A film as hopeful and redeeming as this one is definitely worth watching.
~
Decreasing the Surplus Population
By Chuck Colson
4/3/2009
Scrooge in Britain

The last time that Britain’s population was cut in half was the 14th century. The cause was the Black Death.

Seven centuries later, a leading British environmentalist is urging a similar decrease in what Ebenezer Scrooge famously called “the surplus population.” Only this time, he’s asking for volunteers.

In February, Jonathan Porritt, the chairman of the UK’s Sustainable Development Commission, said that couples with more than two children were placing an “‘irresponsible’ burden of the environment.”

He accused his fellow environmentalists of “betraying the interests of [their] members” by not telling people to be responsible for “their total environmental footprint.”

Not surprisingly, Porritt’s comments didn’t sit very well with a lot of Britons. But he’s convinced, as he wrote on his website, that “logic” and “sound evidence” are on his side.

So, six weeks later, he upped the ante: he declared that the UK must cut its population from its current 61 million to 30 million “if it is to build a sustainable society.”

Porritt told attendees at the annual conference of Britain’s Optimum Population Trust—yes, that’s the organization’s name—that “population growth, plus economic growth, is putting the world under terrible pressure.”

According to Porritt, “each person in Britain has far more impact on the environment than those in developing countries.” The “impact” he’s referring to is the emission of greenhouse gases believed to cause man-made global warming.

Porritt and his supporters, like Chris Rapley, the director of Britain’s Science Museum, are fuzzy when it comes to details about how to cut the population in half, and I don’t blame them: not even China’s infamous “one-child” policy will achieve Porritt’s goal.

One industrialized country that may, however, is Russia. A combination of plummeting birth rates, substance abuse, infectious disease, poor nutrition and other factors has reduced the life expectancy of Russian males to 59 years, 10 years less than at the end of the Soviet Union. As a result, Russia’s population is projected to drop by a third by 2050 and a half by 2100. A sustainable society? I think not.

Of course, a few good wars could reduce the human population, but all that ordnance, you see, would be bad for the environment.

As I said earlier, the last time Britain’s population was cut in half was during the Black Death. No book or documentary about the period is complete without a sneering reference to preachers who called the plagues God’s punishment for man’s sins. The obvious implication is that such a belief is an obscene relic from a barbaric and superstitious age.

Well, the same can be said about Porritt’s “proposal.” It is every bit as religiously-motivated as the flagellants of the 14th century. Here, too, mankind is being told to repent of its sins against a deity. Only this deity demands human sacrifice.

Actions like this are why many call environmentalism a “worldwide secular religion”. Physicist Freeman Dyson rightly calls people like Porritt “true believers.”

“True believers,” that is, who are all-too-happy to let other people pay a hefty price to create their vision of heaven on Earth.

For more information on ways you can affect the culture around you, visit us at BreakPoint.org or call us at 1-877-322-5527.

For Further Reading and Information

Hilary White, "Reduce UK Population by Half: Leading Government Green Advisor," LifeSiteNews.com, 25 March 2009.

Jonathan Leake and Brendan Montague, "UK Population Must Fall To 30m, Says Porritt," TimesOnline.com, 22 March 2009.

Margaret Ryan, "Is It Selfish To Have More Than Two Children?," BBC News, 18 February 2009.

"Coal in the Easter Basket," BreakPoint Commentary, 12 March 2009.

“Culling the Herd: Misanthropic Environmentalism,” BreakPoint Commentary, 5 February 2009.

Visit the official website of Slumdog Millionaire.

Brandon Fibbs, "Slumdog Millionaire", ChristianityToday.com, 12 November 2008.

Zoe Sandvig, "Slumdog Defies Oscar Norms", The Point, 13 March 2009.

© 2009 Prison Fellowship - - http://www.breakpoint.org/
~
Residents of Columbia CountyArkansas are represented in Congress by:
Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D- AR)
Phone 202-224-4843
FAX 202-228-1371
http://lincoln.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
~
Senator Mark Pryor (D- AR)
Phone 202-224-2353
FAX 202-228-0908
http://pryor.senate.gov/contact/
~
Representative Michael A. Ross (D - 04)
Phone 202-225-3772
FAX 202-225-1314
http://ross.house.gov/?sectionid=77§iontree=7677
Other states congresspersons can be found at: [http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/]
~~~~~
Words of the Week:
diatribe: a bitter verbal attack.
veracity: truth, truthfulness.
pithy: concise and forceful in description.
spoonerism: the transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words.
thaumaturgy: the performing of miracles or magic.
tumult: the commotion or agitation of a crowd.
propinquity: nearness.
feckless: ineffective; weak; worthless.
velleity: a slight wish or inclination.
osculation: the act of kissing; a kiss.
ludic: playful.
contretemps: something inopportune or embarrassing.
jape: a trick or practical joke.
gambol: to dance and skip about in play.
longueur: a tedious passage in a work of literature or performance art.
from http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/
~~~~~
Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes. - Oscar Wilde

America is a vast conspiracy to make you happy. - John Updike

It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it. - Upton Sinclair

The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem. - Walt Whitman

All happy families resemble one another, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. - Leo Tolstoy

We must travel in the direction of our fear. - John Berryman

"Beware the fury of a patient man." - John Dryden

"Ira furor brevis est. Anger is a short madness." - Horace

"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing." - Theodore Roosevelt

"It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation." - Herman Melville

"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." - Eleanor Roosevelt

"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them." - Galileo Galilei

"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year." - Mark Twain

"Knowledge can be communicated but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, be fortified by it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it." - Herman Hesse

"What others think of us would be of little moment did it not, when known, so deeply tinge what we think of ourselves." - Seneca
~~~~~
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

When the Going Gets Tough—Churches Get Going
Aimee Herd (April 5, 2009)
"When times are tough, the Church can be at its best—being, doing and telling the good news of the Gospel."
A recent report by the Christian Post revealed the positive attitudes and adjustments some churches have made amid challenging times.
According to a recent LifeWay survey, requests for financial assistance have increased from those outside a congregation—and churches have stepped up their spending on behalf of those who need it.
Ed Stetzer, the director of LifeWay Research noted that many fellowships have approached the challenge with excitement; some implementing specific ministries for this purpose.
"…these difficult circumstances are motivating churches to mobilize people for the work of mercy ministries," said Stetzer in the CP report.
Rising to the occasion is not just the church staff and leadership, but also those who fill the pews. The February survey showed that giving had increased by an average of 4 percent in the last year. And, while 12 percent of the 1,000 churches surveyed, did see a 10 percent decline in tithes and offerings, about 26 percent recorded an increase of 10 percent or more in 2008.
LifeWay's Associate Director, Scott McConnell explained that while troubled times can sometimes cause people and churches to hold onto and protect what money they have… "Jesus Christ told His followers that giving out of your poverty is worth far more than giving out of your surplus. Pastors are living this truth. They are choosing 5-to-1 to give more out of their own pockets, rather than less, to ministry opportunities."
Source: Audrey Barrick – Christian Post

310 2nd Ave SE
Albany, Oregon 97321
541-928-2642
E-mail editor@breakingchristiannews.com
US Orders: 1-866-358-7426
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GCF: Family Quarrel

Emailed to me a friend (Thanks, Walter) -Tom

If this was forwarded to you, please consider your own subscription to Good Clean Fun. It's free! Just send an email to: good-clean-fun-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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A young couple drove several miles down a country road, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument, and neither wanted to concede their position.

As they passed a barnyard of mules and pigs, the husband sarcastically asked, "Are they relatives of yours?"

"Yes," his wife replied. "I married into the family."
_ _______________________________ _

GCF: Last Request

Emailed to me a friend (Thanks, Walter) -Tom
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Two men, sentenced to die in the electric chair on the same day, were led down to the room in which they would meet their maker. The priest had given them last rites, the formal speech had been given by the warden, and a final prayer had been said among the participants. The Warden, turning to the first man, solemnly asked, "Son, do you have a last request?"

To which the man replied, "Yes sir, I do. I love dance music. Could you please play The Macarena for me one last time?"

"Certainly," replied the warden. He turned to the other man and asked, "Well, what about you, son? What is your final request?"

"Please," said the condemned man, "kill me first."
_ _______________________________ _

GCF: Lamaze Class

Emailed to me a friend (Thanks, Sarah) -Tom
----------------------------------

A couple just started their Lamaze class and they were given an activity requiring the husband to wear a bag of sand - to give him an idea of what it feels like to be pregnant. The husband stood up and shrugged saying, "This doesn't feel so bad."

The instructor then dropped a pen and asked the husband to pick it up.

"You want me to pick up the pen as if I were pregnant, the way my wife would do it?" the husband asked.

"Exactly," replied the instructor.

To the delight of the other husbands, he turned to his wife and said, "Honey, would you pick up that pen for me?"
_ _______________________________ _

GCF: Astronomers Declare February No Longer a Month

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

Emboldened by their success in declaring Pluto not a planet, the International Astronomical Union determined this week by a close vote that February is too short to be considered a true month. It has, however, been granted the newly-created status of "dwarf month." It shares this dubious distinction with several other calendar time spans, including Labor Day Weekend, Christmas Vacation, and the Time Between When You Were Supposed to Get Your Oil Changed and When You Actually Did.

"It only seems fair," said IAU President Ron Eckers. "February reaches a peak size of 29 days, averaging only 28 days for 75 percent of the time. Recent research has shown that other periods, such as the Time Between When You Were Supposed to Get Your Oil Changed and When You Actually Did, often exceed this meager time frame. In fact, this erratic behavior only strengthens our case that February does not belong in the same classification as the eleven 'true' months."

Eckers also warned that the crop of 30-day "so-called" months should be careful to maintain their number of days. "They're already cutting it pretty close in my book."
_ _______________________________ _

GCF: Joining the Army

Emailed to me a friend (Thanks, Conrad) -Tom
----------------------------------

As the family gathered for a big dinner together, the youngest son announced that he had just signed up at an army recruiter's office.

There were audible gasps around the table, then some laughter, as his older brothers shared their disbelief that he could handle this new situation. "Oh, come on, quit joking," snickered one. "You didn't really do that, did you?"

"You would never get through basic training," scoffed another.

The new recruit looked to his mother for help, but she was just gazing at him. When she finally spoke, she simply asked, "Do you really plan to make your own bed every morning?"
_ _______________________________ _

GCF: School Theater

Emailed to me a friend (Thanks, Marian) -Tom
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Billy's father picked him up from school to take him to a dental appointment. Knowing the acting roles for the school play were being posted that day, he asked Billy if he got a part.

Billy enthusiastically announced that he'd gotten a part. "I play a man who's been married for twenty years."

"That's great, son. Keep up the good work and before you know it they'll be giving you a speaking part."
_ _______________________________ _

GCF: The Golf Bag

Emailed to me a friend (Thanks, Patrick) -Tom
----------------------------------

About four or five years ago I was standing in a ticket line at LAX, and a fellow in a line parallel to mine had a golf bag slung over his shoulder. Since the line was long and airline ticketing is a slow process at best, we struck up a conversation. He brightened when I admired his golf bag, and he proudly stated that he was on the PGA Tour. Then he turned to me and asked the question all golfers ask: "Do you play?"

I shook my head, "I used to, but I quit because I wasn't very good. I shot consistently in the lower seventies."

There was a long, low in-take of breath, then "The lower seventies?"

"Yes," I admitted.

"Consistently?" he queried admiringly.

"Every hole," I confessed.
_ _______________________________ _

GCF: Going Out in Style

Emailed to me a friend (Thanks, Jack) -Tom
----------------------------------

Unable to attend the funeral after his father died, a son who lived far away called his brother and told him, "Do something nice for Dad and send me the bill."

Later, he got a bill for $200.00, which he paid. The next month, he got another bill for $200.00, which he also paid, figuring it was some incidental expense.

Bills for $200.00 kept arriving every month, and finally the man called his brother again to find out what was going on.

"Well," said the other brother, "you said to do something nice for Dad. So I rented him a tuxedo."
_ _______________________________ _

GCF: Geraniums

Emailed to me a friend (Thanks, Anthony) -Tom
----------------------------------

"I'm sorry," said the clerk in flower shop, "we don't have potted geraniums. Could you use African violets instead?"

Replied the customer sadly, "No, it was geraniums my wife told me to water while she was gone."
_ _______________________________ _

GCF: Supporting a Family

Emailed to me another humor list (Tickled by Tony - Clean) -Tom Subscribe to the Tickled by Tony list by sending an email to: tickledbytony_clean-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
----------------------------------

Jake had proposed to young Gina, and was being interviewed by his prospective father-in-law. "Do you think you are earning enough to support a family?" the older man asked the suitor.

"Yes, Sir," replied Jake, "I'm sure I am."

"Think carefully now," said Gina's father. "There are twelve of us..."

_ _______________________________ _
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Why is it so hard to \ /
\ _/ remember how to spell MNEMONIC? \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Why is there only ONE \ /
\ _/ Monopolies Commission? \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Why doesn't glue stick to \ /
\ _/ the inside of the bottle? \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Why does flammable and \ /
\ _/ inflammable mean the same thing? \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / I assume full responsibility \ /
\ _/ for my actions, except the ones \_ /
/ / that are someone else's fault. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / A Zen master once said to me, \ /
\ _/ "Do the opposite of whatever \_ /
/ / I tell you." So I didn't. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Fun fact: They have square \ /
\ _/ watermelons in Japan ... \_ /
/ / they stack better. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / The government cannot give to \ \_/ ////
\ / anybody anything that the \ /
\ _/ government does not first take \_ /
/ / from somebody else. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Why is it called a TV "set" \ /
\ _/ when you only get one? \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Never argue with a fool. \ /
\ _/ People might not \_ /
/ / know the difference. \ \
_ ____________________________ _
/ )| Thomas S. Ellsworth |( \
/ / | tellswor@slonet.org | \ \
_( (_ | http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor | _) )_
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_| ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
Back long ago before colleges start taking the better portion of my work check. My family as in Anita, Adam, Alex and I would take vacations. Of course the boys being so little needed to be entertained. so I would make up stories about how the states got their names.
For instance.......Arkansas.
One day way up in the hills of this state a man had a son that was every bit as big as the mountains. So one day this man took his son to remove trees from the side of a mountain that a neighbor wanted to clear. The man's son was named Ark and so he began removing all the trees and stacking them in rows of lumber. When the neighbor returned Ark had cleared, sawed and stacked all the trees in just one day.
The neighbor looked at Ark's dad and said (get this now) ...... I have never seen anything like it........ Ark-- can-- saw. So there ya have it....How Arkansas got its name.

David Childs
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A man and a friend are playing golf one day at their local golf course. One of the guys is about to chip onto the green when he sees a long funeral procession on the road next to the course. He stops in mid-swing, takes off his golf cap, closes his eyes, and bows down in prayer.

His friend says: “Wow, that is the most thoughtful and touching thing I have ever seen. You truly are a kind man.”

The man then replies: “Yeah, well we were married 35 years.”

Thanks to David Childs
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DEA Agent

A DEA officer stops at a ranch in Montana and talks with an old rancher.

He tells the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs."

The old rancher says, "Okay, but do not go in that field over there," as he points out the location.

The DEA officer verbally explodes, saying, "Mister, I have the authority of the federal government with me." Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removes his badge and proudly displays it to the farmer. "See this badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish, on any land. No questions asked or answers given. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?"

The old rancher nods politely, apologizes, and goes about his chores.

A short time later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the DEA officer running for his life, chased close behind by the rancher's prize bull. With every step, the bull is gaining ground on the officer, and it seems likely that he'll get "horned" before he reaches safety. The officer is clearly terrified.

The old rancher throws down his tools, runs to the fence, and yells at the top of his lungs, "Your badge! Show him your badge!"

Received from Troy Schwartz.

(-:][:-)

Neighbor's Barking

Chris and Pat are in their residence listening to the neighbor's dog, who has been in the backyard barking for hours and hours. Finally, Chris jumps up and says, "I've had enough of this." He rushes downstairs and out the door.

Chris finally returns and Pat says, "The dog is still barking; what have you been doing?"

Chris says, "I put the dog in our backyard. Let's see how our neighbors like it."

Dogproblems.com
Dog Training Tips Newsletter

Received from David Styer.

(-:][:-)

School Punishment

/* We normally do not do surveys, but we feel this matter is important enough to bend that rule. The Committee to Investigate Printing Sabotage (CIPS) has requested our assistance. They say, "The thousands of readers of GCFL, the worldwide range of the group, and the well-known fact that GCFL members are of much higher than average intelligence make them uniquely qualified to perform this survey." We couldn't agree more!

We've set up our branch of the survey on our web page at http://gcfl.net/cips.php . There are only six fields to fill in, so it will take only a minute or two. Please help CIPS in this effort. We will post the results from GCFL members in Monday's mailing. Thanks! */

One day a little girl came home from school and said to her mother, "Mommy, today in school I was punished for something that I didn't do."

The mother exclaimed, "But that's terrible! I'm going to have a talk with your teacher about this ... by the way, what was it that you didn't do?"

The little girl replied, "My homework."

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

Medical Advice

One day, after a man had his annual physical, the doctor came out and said, "You had a great checkup. Is there anything that you'd like to talk about or ask me?"

"Well," he said, "I was thinking about getting a vasectomy."

"That's a pretty big decision. Have you talked it over with your family?"

"Yeah, and they're in favor 15 to 2."

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

Friend's Car Wrecked

A guy sees a buddy and notices that his friend's car is total wreck. It is covered with leaves, grass, branches, dirt, and blood.

He asks his friend, "So what happened to your car?"

"Well," the friend responds, "I ran into a lawyer."

"OK," says the man, "that explains the blood, but what about the leaves, the grass, the branches, and the dirt?"

"Well, I had to chase him all through the park."

Received from Susan Cammerer.

(-:][:-)

Coin Toss Test

A statistics major was completely out of it the day of his final exam. It was a true/false test, so he decided to flip a coin for the answers. The stats professor watched the student the entire two hours as he was flipping the coin ... writing the answer... flipping the coin ... writing the answer.

At the end of the two hours, everyone else had left the final except for the one student. The professor walked up to the student's desk and interrupted him, saying, "Listen, I have seen that you did not study for this statistics test, and you didn't even open the exam. If you are just flipping a coin for your answers, what is taking you so long?"

The student replied bitterly, as he was still flipping the coin, "Shhh! I am checking my answers!"

Received from ArcaMax Jokes.

(-:][:-)

Adam and Eve's Perfect Marriage

Q: Do you know why Adam and Eve had the perfect marriage?

A: He didn't have to listen to her talk about all the other men she COULD have married, and she didn't have to put up with his mother!

Received from Becky Day.

(-:][:-)

Lottery Winner

I saw an interview on TV with an old farmer who won ten million dollars in the lottery.

Naturally he was asked what he was going do with all that money.

He scratched his head and said, "Not sure as I know right off. Guess I'll keep farmin' till it's all gone."

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

Three Convicted Felons

Three convicted felons walked into a courtroom awaiting their sentence. When the judge sat down, and the courtroom fell silent, he said, "After much deliberation, I have decided to sentence the three of you to death. However, one cannot ignore the impressive amount of volunteer work the three of you have accumulated in your community. Therefore, I have decided to allow each of you to choose the way in which you die. Mr. Ericson, you are first; how would you like to die?"

Ericson, claiming to have seen many types of death throughout his life, said, "I would like to be hanged. I feel a hanging would be the most dignified way to die, given the circumstances."

The judge replied, "Very well; I will schedule a hanging for June 23rd, three months from today. Please sit. Mr. Bonobu, in which way would you prefer to die?"

Mr. Bonobu replied, "I would like to die in front of a firing squad. I believe that would be the most effective and painless way to die."

"So be it," replied the judge. "Your death is scheduled for July the 9th. You may have a seat. And Mr. Maveric, what is your decision?"

"Well, all my life I have been poor, average looking, and generally unhappy. With this being said, and barring any unforeseen illness, I would like to die of old age, filthy rich and surrounded by beautiful women on my very own private tropical island."

Received from Nick J..

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
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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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - - http://www.madkane.com/madness/2008/12/03/tarp/ - - Who Needs Oversight, When You’re Spending Money You Don’t Have?
According to the GAO, TARP (the gazillion dollar Troubled Asset Relief Program) is seriously lacking in oversight. Why? Because of a single Senator’s anonymous block on the program’s IG (Inspector General) nominee.

Sen. Max Baucus, the fellow who made sure the TARP bill provided for an IG, isn’t too pleased. And that brings me to my latest limerick:

I’m never a person to carp,
But nobody oversees TARP.
One anonymous “hold”
Stopped the process out cold
Of confirming an IG who’s sharp.

© Madeleine Begun Kane. All Rights Reserved.
1st Published Bridge News
http://www.madkane.com/
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The Pump Handle. A water cooler for the public health crowd.

Friday Blog Roundup
April 3, 2009| by Liz Borkowski |

There’s new climate legislation in the House (Waxman-Markey), and bloggers have a lot to say about it:

David Doniger at NRDC’s Switchboard [http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ddoniger/first_read_of_the_waxmanmarkey.html] explains what’s in each of the bill’s four titles.
Also at Switchboard, Melanie Nakagawa [http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/mnakagawa/waxman_markey_bill_shows_stron.html] examines what the bill does for clean technology in developing countries.(And check the blog’s US Law and Policy page [http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/issues/us_law_and_policy/] for more NRDC analysis.)
Matthew Madia at The Fine Print [http://www.ombwatch.org/node/9833] warns that the bill will strip EPA of the power to regulate greenhouse gases as pollutants, but Andrew Leonard at How the World Works [http://www.salon.com/tech/htww/2009/04/01/waxman_marke_energy_bill/index.html] suggests that might be smart politics.
Kate Sheppard at Gristmill [http://www.grist.org/article/2009-04-01-senate-budget-cap-trade/] highlights one thing the bill doesn’t allow for: using budget reconciliation to pass it. That means it’ll take 60 votes to pass.

http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/
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Weekly Toll - - http://weeklytoll.blogspot.com/
Death In The Workplace w/News & Updates
John Donne - ...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

NATIONAL WORKER SAFETY ADVOCATES SEND RECOMMENDATIONS ON OSHA, NIOSH LEADERSHIP TO OBAMA ADMINISTRATION

The Protecting Workers Alliance sent a letter today to the Obama administration with its recommendations for candidates to fill leadership positions at OSHA, MSHA and NIOSH. The Alliance is a recently formed coalition of worker safety and health advocates that includes the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health and its 20 local affiliate organizations; the Occupational Health and Safety Section of American Public Health Association; and United in Support and Memorial for Workplace Fatalities (USMWF).

“We need a total change of direction for worker safety and health in this country and we need it fast. It is time to put in place a new leadership team that will put workers first and will take the bold steps needed to prevent workplace tragedies from happening” said Tammy Miser, Executive Director of USMWF.

The Alliance recommended that the following criteria be considered in looking to fill the leadership positions at OSHA, MSHA and NIOSH:

Strong professional qualifications in the field of occupational safety and health.
Experience with the major issues and problems the agency faces including standard setting, enforcement, education and training,
The technical as well as political experience necessary to direct a complex federal agency.
The vision to lead the agency in new ways that expands the community of stakeholders to the public and puts workers first in its approach.
The Alliance submitted to the administration a list of recommended candidates for top level positions at OSHA and NIOSH that included the following: Robert Harrison MD, MPH; Linda Rae Murray MD, MPH; David Michaels, PhD, MPH; Michael Silverstein MD, MPH; Jordan Barab; Frank Mirer PhD, CIH; and Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH .

In January of this year, the Alliance issued a platform of recommendations entitled “Protecting Workers on the Job: Seven Priorities for Federal Action in 2009.” The platform is available at www.coshnetwork.org/node/145.

“We are constantly reminded by the faces of workers who have lost their lives due to workplace negligence and criminal inaction,” said Tolle Graham, Chair of the National COSH. “With Workers Memorial Day coming up on April 28 we ask the new leadership to act quickly to bring real change to protect workers health and safety on the job.”

###

Contacts:
Tom O'Connor, Coordinator, National COSH (919) 933-6322
Tammy Miser: Executive Director, USMWF – 859-338-9144
Peter Dooley MS, CIH, CSP Program, APHA OHS Section – 734-320-5160

http://weeklytoll.blogspot.com
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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/

01. Pfc. Adam J. Hardt, 19, of Avondale, Ariz., died March 22, at Forward Operating Base Airborne in Wardak Province, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
02. Corporals Anthony L. Williams, 21, of Oxford, Pa., and
03. Michael W. Ouellette, 28, of Manchester, N.H., died March 22 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. They were assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

04. Sgt. Jose R. Escobedo Jr., 32, of Albuquerque, N.M., died March 20 in Baghdad, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident the night before at Forward Operating Base Kalsu in Iskandariyah, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment in Schweinfurt, Germany.

05. Staff Sgt. Raphael A. Futrell, 26, of Anderson, S.C., died March 25 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 13th Military Police Detachment, 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two sailors who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
06. Lt. Florence B. Choe, 35, of El Cajon, Calif., and
07. Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV, 26, of Narragansett, R.I., died March 27 when an Afghan National Army soldier opened fire on personnel assigned to Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan at Camp Shaheen, Mazar-E-Sharif, Afghanistan.

08. Lance Cpl. Nelson M. Lantigua, 20, of Miami, Fla., died March 31 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10 Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

09. Sgt. Devin C. Poche, 25, of Jacksonville, N.C., died Mar. 31 at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
~
Soldiers Missing In Action From The Korean War Are Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of four U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

They are Cpl. Samuel C. Harris Jr., of Rogersville, Tenn; Cpl. Lloyd D. Stidham, of Beattyville, Ky.; Cpl. Robert G. Schoening, of Blaine, Wash; and one serviceman whose name is being withheld pending a briefing to his family. All men were U.S. Army. Harris will be buried April 10 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., Stidham will be buried April 13 in Nicholasville, Ky., and Schoening will be buried June 19 in Arlington.

Representatives from the Army’s Mortuary Office met with these servicemembers’ next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the secretary of the Army.

These soldiers were assigned to Company C, 65th Combat Engineer Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. On Nov. 25, 1950, Company C came under intense enemy attack when it was occupying a position near Hill 222 situated south of the Kuryong River east of the “Camel’s Head” bend, North Korea. The men were reported missing in action on Nov. 27.

In 2000, a joint U.S./Democratic People’s Republic of Korea team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), excavated a site overlooking the Kuryong River in P’yongan-Pukto Province where U.S. soldiers were believed to be buried. The team recovered human remains and non-biological evidence. One soldier who was also recovered there with this group, 1st Lt. Dixie Parker, was previously identified and buried in December 2007 in Arlington.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of these soldiers’ remains. Remains that could not be individually identified will be buried as a group in Arlington on a date to be determined.

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 or (703) 699-1420.
~
Airman Missing In Action From The Vietnam War Is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. airman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

He is Lt. Col. Earl P. Hopper Jr., U.S. Air Force, of Phoenix, Ariz. He is to be buried on April 3 at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.

On Jan. 10, 1968, Hopper and Capt. Keith Hall were flying an F-4D Phantom near Hanoi, North Vietnam, as part of a four-ship MiG combat air patrol. Before they reached the target, an enemy surface-to-air missile exploded slightly below their aircraft. Hall radioed that he and Hopper were ejecting. He told Hopper to eject, but when he heard no response, he repeated “Earl get out!” Hopper replied, “I’ve pulled on it and it [the ejection seat] did not go,” followed by “you go!” Hall then pulled on his primary ejection handle but it failed to initiate, forcing him to use the alternate. Hall was captured and held as a prisoner of war until 1973, but Hopper was unable to get out of the aircraft.

Between 1993-1998, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) conducted three joint investigations and five excavations at the crash site in Son La Province, west of Hanoi. The team interviewed four informants who had knowledge of the site. The excavations recovered numerous skeletal fragments and crew-related items which were ultimately used in the forensic identification process.

Among other forensic tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists used extensive dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

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 or (703) 699-1420.
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"We have nothing to fear but fear itself." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt
"There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one candle."
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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Scheduled Activities
~~~
2009 Barksdale Air Show Defenders of Liberty Air Show, May 9-10 [http://www.barksdaleafbairshow.com/]
~~~
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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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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Interested in getting in touch with the Banner-News through e-mail?
E-mail addresses for communicating with the newspaper’s various departments are: news@bannernews.net For news and sports items, Coming Events, Diary, Church News, school and civic events.
advertising@bannernews. net For retail and classified advertising.
circulation@bannernews. net To start, stop or cancel newspaper delivery or for comments about delivery.
outfitters @bannernews.net For Office Outfitters, the office supply division of the Banner-News.
[http://www.bannernews.net/]
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"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
“Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.” Knowledge is power. - Francis Bacon
"The problem is here and now. The time for talk is past. The time for action is now."
Comments on the first Earth Day - James F. McClellan via John "Fuzzy" Thurman
~~~~~
Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Again, thanks to all our contributors this week.
"Remember Pearl Harbor? Remember 9/11!" --"Bug"
God bless and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Isa 50:7 1 Cor 14:36-38 Ezra 4:1-3 Neh 6:10-13 Neh 6:15 Luke 22:33-34 Luke 23:7-9 Luke 22:25-27 Job 3:1-6 http://www.e-min.org/
God is Good and Faithful CU 73 IC JFM CSP NREMT-I KC5HII

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