Saturday, January 23, 2010

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Airline Reservation - - Photos

 
"Papaw" with his two youngest grandsons.

 
Josiah considers a career with the National Weather Service

 
Ethan with a "Patriot Rail" Engine
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Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Airline Reservation

 
Players at "Upward" Basket Ball

 
Josiah and Ethan in their "Fire" shirts

 
The Love of My Life with her favorite daughter
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http://bugsbleat.blogspot.com/

 
My DMAT Swearing In Photo

 
Zac at "Upward" Basket Ball

 
The interior of a crude tank under rebuild.

 
An abstract phone photo of a sound board
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Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Airline Reservation

Volume 12, Issue 04 Friday, January 22, 2010

Hello All,

Annette and Vanessa have gotten Annette’s new sewing machine working. She’s turning out skirts, quilts and decorations.
~~~~~
On sunny days, we’ve been cruising the area, soaking up vitamin D and seeing what’s going on in town. This week we also spent some time admiring the new construction at SAU. It warms my heart to see the new buildings reflect the architectural style of the 1950's construction on campus. All those columns tie the campus together and are a sight easier on the eye than the ugly block buildings constructed during the 60s.
~~~~~
Part of the National Disaster Medical System, Disaster Medical Assistance Teams have been deployed to Haiti to provide medical care. Arkansas’s AR-1 DMAT is deploying staff to Haiti as this is written. The full AR-1 team is standing by and leaning forward for a response. It looks like this may be a long extended mission.
NDMS DMAT members in Haiti now are overcoming very austere conditions to treat the injured and care for the sick. They are faced with overwhelming need and danger. Our hats are off to the NDMS DMAT members on the ground. Their Staff members back in the states are working long hours to support the teams on the ground, in planning and preparation, and in better preparing the next teams inbound.
~
People ask me sometimes what DMATs are about. This is what we are about. [http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/photos/photos_galleries/globe_photos_haiti_earthquake/?s_campaign=8315#/34]
Thanks to Doctor Bryan Clardy
~
mGive Mobile Donations Provider [http://www.mgive.com/]
"mGive allows nonprofits to accept mobile donations by text. Mobile Giving empowers NPOs with the ability to accept mobile microdonations via sms. mGive provides clients with nptech resources including face book applications and nonprofit widgets."
EDITOR'S NOTE: You can text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the International Federation of the Red Cross Relief Efforts on the ground in Haiti.
~~~~~
As our emergency responders bring aid to Haiti, the city of Tulsa is laying off 147 Firefighters and Paramedics. The people of Tulsa will feel the pain of not having those folks ready to respond in an emergency.
~~~~~
Oh no! How could a small South Arkansas school make US News and World Reports’ “Best High Schools in America” list? Maybe because it ain’t size that counts.
[http://www.ksla.com/global/category.asp?c=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=105761&topVideoCatNoB=105817&topVideoCatNoC=107380&topVideoCatNoD=145675&topVideoCatNoE=160161&clipId=4450493&flvUri=&partnerclipid=&topVideoCatNo=0&autoStart=true&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=flv]
~~~~~
According to the Arkansas Department of Education the Emerson-Taylor School District had no grade inflation in the results of its algebra I and geometry tests. The state report compares the grades of students taking those classes with their scores on the state’s end-of-course exams. High schools for which 20 percent or more of students made an A or B in the course but failed to score proficient or advances on the end-of-course exams are identified as having grade inflation. The state found no grade inflation among Emerson’s eight students fitting the criteria, or Taylor’s 11 students.
So what about the rest of the area? The Magnolia School District had a respectable grade-inflation rate of only 3.7 percent, or only two A-B students among 54 in grades 10-12 who were not proficient in their end-of-course exams. It was just behind El Dorado, at 3.6 percent (five of 140 students).
Stephens and Nevada were found to have grade inflation. In Stephens, six of 12 students (50 percent) graded B or higher but were found not proficient during the end-of-course exam. At Nevada County, 12 of 28 students (35.7 percent) were not proficient.
Lafayette County just made the cut (two of 11 students not proficient, 18.2 percent).
Camden Fairview had six of 111 students test not proficient, or 5.5 percent.
~
Bradley, with 16 eligible students, also had no grade inflation.
Thanks to Joe Mullins
~~~~~
This is very interesting. Once you have a score and "label", be sure to read the info about it.
So, you think you know where you stand, politically. Think again.
The result from this short test may surprise you and give you some food for thought. You'll be asked just 10 questions, and then it instantly tells you where you stand politically.
It shows your position as a red dot on a "political map" so you'll see exactly where you score. The most interesting thing about the Quiz is that it goes beyond the Democrat, Republican, and Independent.
The Quiz has gotten a lot of praise. The Washington Post said it has "gained respect as a valid measure of a person's political leanings." The Fraser Institute said it's "a fast, fun, and accurate assessment of a person's overall political views. The University of Virginia said it is the "most concise and accurate political quiz out there."

[http://www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html]

Thanks to Daphne Roberts
~~~~~
A good "Bucket List" item. If you want to watch a space shuttle takeoff, time's running out.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – This year begins a new decade, but it also will see the end of the United States' trail blazing approach to manned spaceflight: the space shuttle program.
"In just five more flights, a chapter of history will be forever closed," says Mike Mullane, a three-time NASA space shuttle astronaut and author of Riding Rockets. "It will be decades – perhaps generations – before humans will again see a winged vehicle launch into space and glide back to a runway landing."Under current plans, NASA's shuttle fleet will be retired by fall 2010. After that, there will be no more shuttle launches. But until then, travelers to Florida still have time to catch a launch.
[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/travel/thisweek/stories/DN-lastshuttle_0117tra.State.Edition1.1c82fe1.html] www.dallasnews.com
~~~~~
Would you like to have a space shuttle in your community? NASA has issued a follow-up Request for Information, or RFI, for ideas from education institutions, science museums and other appropriate organizations about the community's ability to acquire and publicly display orbiters after the conclusion of the Space Shuttle Program. (Last flight will be this year. Shuttle orbiters Endeavor and Atlantis will be available for the lucky communities in 2011.)
NASA has updated the original RFI requirements that a potential shuttle recipient would have to pay and tasks needed to make each orbiter safe for disposition. Costs include "safeing" an orbiter, preparing it for display and ferrying it to a U.S. destination airport. The agency will not ask recipients to provide the funds for this activity. In this follow-up RFI, NASA revised the estimated display preparation and ferrying costs to $28.8 million.
NASA also desires to make selections a year before receipt of the orbiters, so recipient organizations will have sufficient time to conduct any fund-raising activities necessary to support preparation and ferry costs. RFI responses are due to NASA by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010.
NASA is planning to transfer space shuttle Discovery to the National Air and Space Museum. Shuttle orbiters Endeavor and Atlantis will be available for placement no earlier than July, 2011.
For additional information and to view the RFI, visit: [http://www.nasa.gov/transition]
~
If you don’t think you can afford a Shuttle, NASA is also giving away many “Space Artifacts” for community museums. These include various Space Suits and other hardware items.
~~~~~
We noticed that my retirement check was lower this year and when I ordered a 90 day supply of “EPO” the co-pay went from $80 to $200. Turns out that the cost of retirees insurance went up, so they took that out of my check and they also raised our co-pays 160%. But it’s still a bargain compared to what it would cost us if we didn’t have insurance. Just another budget adjustment. And, incentive to get back to work somewhere.
~~~~~
We need to improve access to health care. We need to encourage improvements in our health care system. We need to do a multitude of things. But the current health care bill (either the Senate or House version) is so burdened with pork and give ins to special interests, it’s a GIANT step back for the people of America.
Let me state once again, the simple solution for much of our health care ills;
1. Require that insurance companies insure all people who apply regardless of preexisting condition.
2. Allow insurance companies to compete nationwide.
3. Implement tax credits for businesses that provide health insurance to their employees (the current bill would penalize businesses for providing insurance.)
4. Require that all citizens have health insurance.
5. Subsidize insurance payments for citizens making “poverty level” or below.
6. Give tax credits to citizens whose basic insurance costs exceed 8% of their income.
In any solution, remember that the less the government is involved, the better. It’s just fact that the feds tend to mess things up much more than they improve them. For instance, most people agree that stable, married couples contribute to society. So why does the new health care plan penalize married couples?
~
Now, does anyone think it possible for congress to actually pass a bill that isn’t full of special interest perks and pork?
~
THE WASHINGTON TIMES - - Thursday, January 14, 2010 - - EDITORIAL: Obamacare's marriage penalty

So much is so wrong with Capitol Hill's two versions of government health care that it's hard to focus on yet another poison pill in the bills. Hard, but important. It turns out that in addition to unconstitutional measures, unfair individual mandates, higher taxes, penalties for lifesaving medical devices and a potentially devastating rationing of care, Obamacare also contains several penalties on couples for getting married. Those penalties make government the enemy of both good romance and good finance.

The first sort of marriage penalties affects low- and middle-income couples who would get their insurance without employer assistance but with government subsidies. The penalties accrue through the "caps" on premiums. In the House plan, an unmarried couple living together with each earning $25,000 would pay no more than $3,076 in combined premiums each year. If the same couple got married, their annual cap would skyrocket to $5,160 - a 68 percent punishment just for saying "I do." (The penalty in the Senate bill is slightly lower, at 48 percent.)

What is even worse is that the subsidies are suddenly and completely cut off once somebody reaches 400 percent of the official poverty-level income ($63,360 in 2016). The arithmetic is complicated, but what it means is that two unmarried persons earning $32,000 each ($64,000 total) would pay a maximum combined $5,684 in premiums, but if they got married, they would pay about $15,000. That is an astonishing penalty of 164 percent. It is almost impossible to imagine a policy that could be any more anti-family than that.

Again, that was for middle-income earners receiving government subsidies in lieu of employer tax breaks for insurance. Now consider a high-earning couple. The Senate bill imposes a payroll tax increase on individuals who make more than $200,000. For married couples, though, the tax increase kicks in at $250,000. So, if you live together without matrimony, you can earn up to $400,000 combined without the higher tax - $150,000 more than you can earn together if you are married. At a maximum of $1,350, this marriage penalty through taxation isn't anywhere near as damaging as the $9,316 knockout punch via lost subsidies for the $64,000 couple described above, but it's still nothing to take lightly.

All sorts of other tax increases - and expensive "mandates," "fees" and "penalties," as the legislative lingo puts it - are hidden in both House and Senate versions of Obamacare, making a mockery of President Obama's repeated pledge not to raise taxes on anybody making less than $200,000 a year. The marriage penalties, though, are worse even than those broken promises, because they are counterproductive in terms of both financial policy and social policy. By discouraging traditional marriage, Obamacare would further undermine the single most important building block of stable communities. That's about as unhealthy as policy can get.

[http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jan/14/obamacares-marriage-penalty/print/]
~~~~~
It is possible to produce natural gas from shale rock in an "efficient and environmentally responsible manner," an ExxonMobil executive told the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee. The panel is scrutinizing the oil giant's plan to buy XTO Energy, a developer of the hydraulic-fracturing method of natural gas production. "If you remove hydraulic fracturing as one of the key enabling technologies, this resource could no longer be recovered," said CEO Rex Tillerson. Houston Chronicle (1/20) [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/6827509.html]
~~~~~
An Old Farmer's Advice

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Every path has a few puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Live a good, honorable life.. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
Don’t interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around..
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

GOOD ADVICE WORTH REMEMBERING - - Thanks to Suzi Bennett Ingram
~~~~~
"In God we trust", try it, it works. . .Quite well, I might add. - - Daryl Cox

"A crisis doesn't make the man, it exposes what is already there" ~ Epictetus, the Greek philosopher - - Thanks to Amanda Bowen Franks

"Even a small star shines in the darkness.".........Finnish proverb - - Thanks to Deena Freeman Hunter

Be the kind of person who, when their feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says "Oh no, they're up!" - - Thanks to Martha Chapman
~~~~~
"When you're tired of wasting money and time due to phone systems that require you to press 10 or more options in order to reach a real person and spending many minutes or even hours on hold, consult the Get2Human database of secret phone numbers and codes that immediately get an actual, live person on the line for customer service at nearly 1000 major companies."
[http://www.get2human.com/]
~~~~~
Becky, continues to lead me in restoring my wrist to normal function. I still can’t tie my shoes but I can buckle my seat belt and I’m starting to type with both hands. I can’t say enough about the great job the folks at Health Quest are doing with my physical therapy.
~~~~~
Raymond Robertson is running for state representative in 2010. Raymond is well known in Taylor as a fine businessman, and community leader. He would do a GREAT job for us in Little Rock.
~~~~~
You’re missing a feast for the mind and spirit if you’re not reading Jimmy’s blog [http://jhmalone2.wordpress.com/]
~~~~~
"Honk" if you love Jesus - "text while driving" if you want to see him today! ( for all of you who missed 'car talk' on Saturday) Thanks to Martha Chapman
~~~~~
DarynKagan.com - - With the heavy load of news coming out of Haiti, you might not know that there are positive stories, as well. I have updates here, as well as in my blog [http://darynkagan.demo.nimbussoftware.com/DarynsBlog.html].
Reporter Helps Find Missing Dad - My friend, CNN reporter Jason Carroll is in Haiti and helped bring the happiest of news updates to one New York City man who has desperately been seeking news about his missing father.
Watch Video >> [http://darynkagan.demo.nimbussoftware.com/heroism/2010/he_100119_reporterfindsdad.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/] - - Peter Proietto - - Awarded: The Bronze Star with ‘Valor’ - - Master Gunnery Sergeant Peter Proietto of the U.S. Marine Corps was faced with a tough decision on March 12, 2003. He could leave his position and seek cover from the enemy ambush, or he could stay in position. Though it would risk his own life, if he stayed he could continue to provide suppressive fire to protect the other Marines in the forward element of the patrol.

Proietto chose to stay in position.

The patrol had been traveling outside of the village of Bara Waze, Afghanistan that afternoon when the Taliban fighters, well armed with an array of weaponry, ambushed.

Proietto had immediately manned the machine gun on his vehicle to lay down suppressive fire on the enemy and to provide supporting fire to the lead element of the patrol, which had been pinned down by the heavy enemy fire.

As the firefight progressed, a heavy crossfire from the enemy mounted against Proietto "to a point of intensity that was amazing" states the narrative the accompanies his award citation. Proietto earned a Bronze Star with ‘Valor’ for his actions that day.

That’s when the Team Sergeant, Master Sergeant Clopp advised him to abandon his position and seek cover, since he was firing from a non-armored vehicle on an open road, and the enemy was concentrating their fire on him.

Proietto knew that if he abandoned his position the forward element would be left on their own with no supporting fire. So he ignored his own safety and refused to leave his position even though everything around him, including his vehicle, was being shot up in the enemy crossfire. He could continue to lay down a steady stream of suppressive fire on the enemy, which he did for almost an hour, and silenced two enemy machine gun positions.

Proietto held his position for almost an hour through intense fire and silenced two enemy machineguns. When his machinegun ran out of ammunition, he grabbed his M4 carbine and began to engage the enemy and spot enemy positions for the gunner.

Eventually the enemy was pushed out of their positions. A running firefight through the mountains ensued until after dark at which time the patrol broke contact and reconsolidated.

"Throughout this engagement…Proietto displayed himself in a courageous professional manner and his heroic and immediate response to enemy fire and willingness to jeopardize his own safety to provide supporting fire for the rest of the team demonstrated a level of dedication to the mission and his fellow soldiers, which is rarely surpassed," the award citation states. "His actions and selfless courage under fire was instrumental in the success of the operation and the safe return of all U.S. and Afghan militia forces."
~~~~~
Rupert Hamer was a shining example of the best of his profession By Colonel Richard Kemp 11/01/2010

It is an iron rule of the best war correspondents - as for all good journalists - that they must not themselves become the story.

In Afghanistan they report on the violent clashes with the Taliban, showing us the astonishing courage and selfless dedication to duty of our brave fighting troops. Rupert Hamer applied this rule unyieldingly to himself.

I asked him about the great offensive against the Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala in 2007 where he was present. Characteristically self-effacing, he declined to speak about his own undoubtedly hairy experiences.
...
Why is this important? We must know what our troops are doing in Afghanistan in our name, how they are doing it, and the reality of the hazards they face. We cannot rely only on official dispatches from the Ministry of Defence, commanders in the field, or political leaders. By definition these will frequently lack objectivity. Radio, TV and newspaper reporters give us a fuller understanding of the picture in Afghanistan.
...
Without them we would have much more limited insight into the incredible Rupert actions of our troops, the security they are bringing to the local population and the damage they are inflicting against the Taliban, as well as into the horrific conditions in which they live and the setbacks they face, day in, day out.
...
As a nation we could not fight wars without people such as Rupert Hamer - a shining example of the best of his profession. I salute him.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/01/11/rupert-hamer-was-a-shining-example-of-the-best-of-his-profession-115875-21958367/
~~~~~
The latest from Michael Yon, the foremost “milnews” blogger on the web.
~
Greetings

Some neat photos of some great soldiers in action [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/spitting-cobra.htm].

Your Writer,

Michael Yon
Kandahar

Please remember that this website accepts no advertisement and is dependent on your support.
Very Respectfully,

PS Please sign up for my Twitter.com updates at "Michael_Yon" [http://twitter.com/Michael_Yon] (not Michael Yon).

http://www.facebook.com/#/MichaelYonFanPage?ref=sgm

Http://www.michaelyon_online.com/index.php
~~~~~
We’ve Watched:
Campion: [7.2]
Sherlock Holmes:[7.5]
Inspector Alleyn [7.2]
The Mill on the Floss
My Life in Ruins [5.2]
Speed [7.2]
Made of Honor [7.2]
Anna and the King of Siam [7.2]
Lost in Austen [7.2]
Nothing Sacred [7.2]
The Lady Vanishes [7.2]
~~~~~
We’ve recently read:
Storm front / Jim Butcher.
Trophy hunt : a Joe Pickett novel / C.J. Box.
Winterkill / C.J. Box.
Evidence / Jonathan Kellerman.
Justice / Faye Kellerman.
~~~~~
http://www.shelfari.com
http://www.shelfari.com/bugsbleat/shelf
~~~~~
Photos on the front of this week’s “Bleat” include some of my favorites from ‘09
~~~~~
We’ve now got several addresses on the web for "Da Bleat." For the latest issue, go to http://www.bugsbleat.blogspot.com. Other 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 the April ’08 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.
~~~~~
Be sure and keep Dr. Pat Antoon and his lovely wife Mandy in your prayers.
~~~~~
Recipe(s) of the week - - Seven Soups That Trim the Tummy Soup is a great weight-loss food because it is filling and satisfying. But the superstar soups in this collection contain ingredients known to help you feel even more satisfied, eat less, avoid spikes in blood sugar and insulin, and help you burn fat. And, even better, these effects target belly fat first.

Tummy Trimming Soup #1: Classic Beef Barley
http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/diabetic-recipes/Classic-Beef-and-Barley- Soup/r6011.html
Barley is a wonderful whole grain substitute for rice or pasta, especially in soups and stews. Whole, hull-less barley has the best nutrient profile, but pearl barley (which is softer and less chewy) still has less of an impact on blood sugar than any other grain. Barley’s fiber, protein, and low glycemic index all help stave off the accumulation of visceral fat.

Tummy Trimming Soup #2: Leek & Chard Bisque
http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/diabetic-recipes/Leek-and-Chard- Bisque/r7204.html
The tummy trimming ingredients in this soup are probably not what you think. The chard and leeks are diabetes superfoods, containing more nutrients and phytochemicals than many people get in an entire day. But it's the dairy fat and the vitamin D in milk, along with the protein power of the egg, that have the proven belly-fighting punch.

Tummy Trimming Soup #3: 5Spice
Chicken Noodle Soup
http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/diabetic-recipes/5-Spice-Chicken-Noodle- Soup/r4148.html
Depending on the kind and the amount of noodle in your chicken noodle, this American favorite can be both low carb and slimming. In this recipe, the strong flavors of garlic, ginger, and 5-spice powder combine for a powerful effect that is believed to crank up metabolism. It's also thought that strong flavors like these may trick your body into feeling full sooner.

Here are some other great dLife takes on the classic:

Chicken and Ginger Noodle Soup
http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/diabetic-recipes/Chicken-and-Ginger-Noodle- Soup/r8867.html
Chicken Soup with Spinach and Wild Rice
http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/diabetic-recipes/Chicken-Soup-with-Spinach-and-
Wild-Rice/r5970.html

Tummy Trimming Soup#4: Tortilla Soup
http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/diabetic-recipes/Tortilla-Soup/r7231.html
The belly blasting ingredients in this soup are the beans, lime juice, and cayenne pepper. The beans, along with the veggies and low carb tortilla, provide fiber—the nutrient that makes you feel satiated and moderates blood sugar spikes. The lime's acid, too, acts as a spike stopper. Less spiking means less insulin means less fat storage around your middle. Finally, cayenne's active component—capsaicin—is thought to rev up your metabolism.
Here's another great Mexican soup your taste buds (and your body) will love:
Avocado Chicken Soup
http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/diabetic-recipes/Avocado-Chicken- Soup/r8555.html

Tummy Trimming Soup #5: Low Carb Chili
http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/diabetic-recipes/Low-Carb-Chili/r8983.html
You never thought of chili as a "diet" food before? Well, plenty of research has shown that a diet high in protein, including lean meat, can be a more effective approach to losing weight—particularly belly fat—than diets that are high in carbs. (There's also evidence that the saturated fat in meat may not be the dietary evil it has been thought to be.) This chili also delivers a host of health benefits from a variety of veggies and spices; plus, its low glycemic impact prevents the packing on of that abdominal fat, too.

Tummy Trimming Soup #6: Creamy Cauliflower and Garlic Soup
http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/diabetic-recipes/Cauliflower-and-Garlic- Soup/r5974.html
It's hard to go wrong with touches of butter, garlic, cream, and nutmeg. This soup combines those rich flavors with pureed cauliflower for a dish that is comforting, satisfying, and health promoting. Its tummy trimming powers come from the veggies' fiber and the cream's vitamin D and special dairy fat (conjugated linoleic acid). If you choose another vegetable and the nutmeg doesn't seem to go with it, try sage.

Tummy Trimming Soup #7: Artichoke and Hazelnut Soup
http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/diabetic-recipes/Artichoke-Hazelnut- Soup/r5690.html
Artichokes are at the top of the fiber list, providing blood sugar moderation and satiety, which are both crucial to tummy trimming. In this elegant soup, that fiber is teamed up with monounsaturated fats from olive oil and hazelnuts, along with vitamin D and dairy fat from cream, all of which may increase abdominal fat loss and insulin sensitivity.

Browse dLife's collection of more than 600 soup recipes here.
http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/diabeticrecipes/
~~~~~
BreakPoint
The Pro-Choice Paradox
Convictions in Conflict
By Regis Nicoll: January 15, 2010

Leonard Pitts was unsettled with the news of John Allen Muhammad’s execution.

Where the awesome power of life and death are concerned, ‘most’ of us are guilty of inconsistency.
Leonard Pitts

Pitts is a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist who is, by his own admission, a “staunch opponent” of capital punishment. But what unsettled him was not the execution of the DC sniper; it was his lack of remorse over it, and even satisfaction with it. Pitts confesses that he had the same feelings when Timothy McVeigh was put to death.

Reflecting on his emotions, Pitts realizes they are deeply opposed to his convictions—convictions, he admits, that are also in conflict with his pro-choice sentiments. As to how he squares his loathe for the death penalty with his approval of abortion rights, he admits, “I can’t.” His only answer is that “‘most’ of us are guilty of inconsistency” in the “gray areas of life.”

He cites conservatives who oppose abortion because of their pro-life convictions, yet support capital punishment which takes life and, at times, takes innocent life. But contradictory positions are unavoidable, Pitts allows, because life is “messy and untidy.” We all ignore truths, he continues, “that indict our deep convictions, striking bargains with conscience in the name of a good night’s sleep.”

No argument here that life is messy. But ignoring moral truths for the sake of a good night’s sleep is a poor bargain.

Willful ignorance
Pitts says that his pro-choice stance stems from his aversion to laws that would “compel a woman to bear a child, for whatever reason.” Actually, those laws would forbid the killing of her child for whatever reason, or no reason.

If Pitts finds such “pre-partum” laws distasteful, why shouldn’t laws forbidding a woman to “terminate” her post-partum child be equally distasteful—one with, say, a severe physical or mental defect? Because he chooses to think of the pre-partum child as a “potential human...an oops without a name,” as he indelicately puts it.

It is the choice of willful ignorance—the shutting of eyes, the covering of ears, the closing of minds, and the hardening of hearts to: The truth of medical science that a real, not potential, human is created at conception.

What we and, especially, mothers instinctively know. The woman who says, “I just can’t have this baby now,” acknowledges, by her own words, her decision to abort a child, not a fetus or an “oops.”

For Christians, it is the willful ignorance of: The plain teaching of Scripture. When the psalmist wrote, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me,” he was three millennia ahead of medical science in acknowledging when human life begins.

The teachings of the church. Contrary to the statements of pro-choice Christians like Nancy Pelosi, the official teaching of the church is, and has always been, that abortion is murder. In the second century alone, there are over 20 admonitions against abortion by early church fathers, like this from Tertullian: “In our case, murder being once for all forbidden, we may not destroy even the fetus in the womb...To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man - killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to the birth.”
Some comparisons
Pitts marshals three arguments to justify his censure of capital punishment: “It is far costlier than life imprisonment; it is biased by class, race and gender; it is irreversible in the event of error.”

As compelling as those arguments are, they are even more compelling in the case against abortion.

The cost of abortion is the loss of 46 million Americans, over four decades, who were denied the right to life and liberty. Pondering only the fiscal dimension, the loss of two generations of wage-earners and tax payers is a significant threat to the economic health of our country.

For example, consider the decline in the number of wage earners per retiree over the last few decades. In 1960, the number was 6.1; in 2008, it was 3.2; and by 2040, it is projected to be 2.1. Although legalized abortion is not solely to blame, it is certainly a significant contributor to the decline. If the trend continues, Social Security will go bankrupt, creating a ripple effect in the national, if not, international economy.

Abortion is also biased by race and class.

African-Americans comprise only 13 percent of the U.S. population, but they account for over 35 percent of the abortions performed. Every year over 300,000 African-Americans are aborted, a level that exceeds all other causes of death combined. As a black man, Leonard Pitts should be outraged that the most dangerous environment for an African-American is not a state prison, a Middle East battleground, or a gang-infested street of the inner city; but his mother’s womb.

The consequences of abortion are also irreversible, but at a much more horrific scale than capital punishment.

According to Amnesty International, about 1,000 people have been executed since 1973. While AI does not attempt to claim at how many innocents were executed, it reports that 135 death row inmates were released because of wrongful convictions. For that we can be thankful.

But let’s assume a high incidence of wrongful executions—say, 50 percent, as one anti-death penalty site advertises. At that appalling value, an upper limit on the number of innocent people put to death since 1973 would be 500. As tragic as that would be, it wouldn’t rise to a murmur amid the cries of 46,000,000 innocents killed over the same period.

A question of legitimacy
Leonard Pitts is comfortable that a physician and mother wield the power of life and death over the unborn. But in the case of capital punishment, he feels the power “is too awesome to be left in human hands.” He acknowledges the paradox and, with a note of irony, concludes that it is merely proof of his humanity. What it really reveals is his postmodern conditioning.

In an age when the existence of objective truth is dismissed out-of-hand, convictions are but products of personal feelings and life but a megalithic paradox that angst-weary folk must bear without serious reflection. It is sad because serious reflection on propositional truths would help unravel many of life’s paradoxes, including the one at issue here.

The legitimacy of the state’s powers does not depend on whether it exercises its powers cost-effectively, justly, or without error. Rather, it depends on the legitimacy of the authorizing entity. In the area of life and death, that would be God, who has granted the state very limited powers in that sphere.

The state’s God-given authority does not include the intentional killing of innocent persons, either in or ex utero (in fact, Scripture contains stern warnings for those who kill their children to appease the god of Self). But it does include the authority to restrain evil and execute justice up to, and including, capital punishment, as granted in the Old Testament (“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed”) and confirmed in the New (“God’s servant... does not bear the sword for nothing”).

During His earthly ministry, Jesus never abrogated that authority, nor suggested that it had been modified. Instead, He taught that citizens owe “Caesar” his due, and that they should be more concerned about Him who has power over the soul, than him whose power is limited to destroying the body.

Perhaps more telling is the fact that the New Testament writers did not register opposition to capital punishment. The silence of negative opinion by individuals who had witnessed the unjust executions of their fellow Christians, including the execution of the most innocent Person in history, is strong evidence that the state retains its authority to “bear the sword” against evil-doers, even through a flawed and corrupt criminal justice system.

Christians exercise good citizenship, while honoring their life-affirming convictions, by reminding civil servants of their calling and the limits of their office. That includes holding elected officials accountable to high standards of justice and governance, with zero-tolerance for corruption and a strong commitment to both the public good and the welfare of least and last.

On the other hand, those who remain willfully ignorant about moral truth have struck a Faustian bargain that trades paradox for “good night’s sleep”—a bargain that, in the end, is guaranteed to default on its promissory note.

Regis Nicoll is a freelance writer and a BreakPoint Centurion. His "All Things Examined" column appears on BreakPoint every other Friday. Serving as a men’s ministry leader and worldview teacher in his community, Regis publishes a free weekly commentary to stimulate thought on current issues from a Christian perspective. To be placed on this free e-mail distribution list, e-mail him at: centurion51@aol.com.
~
How to Save a Life
A Movie that Matters
By Mark Earley: January 21, 2010

There’s a new film coming out this week that could change the life of a teenager in your area. How can you and your church support it?

Tomorrow, coinciding with the 37th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, a new independent film hits theaters. It’s entitled, To Save a Life. It honestly portrays the enormous challenges facing our teens today. Written by a seasoned youth-pastor with a degree in film, this story doesn’t shy away from the real life-and-death issues our young people face.

The film tells the story of Jake Taylor, a young man who has it all: a basketball scholarship, the ideal girlfriend, and the right friends. But faced with the demands of the in-crowd, Jake has written off his childhood best-friend, Roger. Isolated and mistreated, Roger finally takes his anger to the extreme when he shows up one day on campus with a gun.

Jake’s last-ditch effort can’t stop Roger. And the events which follow rock Jake’s world. He begins to question everything. But most of all, he can’t stop asking: Could I have saved Roger?

In his search for answers, Jake finds himself looking for the next Roger. He reaches out to geeks, losers, and loners. But crossing the strict high school caste lines threatens everything Jake values. And pushes him to answer the most important question of all: What do I want my life to be about?

As I said, this film doesn’t shy away from the real struggles facing our teens.. It is rated PG-13 because it portrays some of these issues accurately: from teen sexuality, to abortion, to cutting, to drug and alcohol abuse, to suicide.

But because it does so, teens are praising this film for its realistic and relevant portrayal of their world and responding enthusiastically to its message. As teen author and speaker Zach Hunter comments: “It conveys the raw emotions of life and the ups and downs of high school…My friends who have seen the film are already talking about it and encouraging others to go see it.”

Happily, the writers and producers of this film have realized what enormous outreach potential this kind of movie has for reaching teen audiences. Outreach Films and film writer Jim Britts have created a movie-based curriculum complete with leader’s guide, movie clips, an interactive audio devotional for teens, and invitational tools. They also spell out steps people can take to bring the movie to their own community if it is not already there.

To find out how you can get a hold of the youth curriculum kit or to bring the movie to your area, visit BreakPoint dot org.

Teens today face more challenges than ever before. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control revealed that almost 15% of students in grades nine through twelve had seriously considered suicide in the previous 12 months. And four out of five teen suicide attempts have been preceded by clear warning signs.

Your teenagers may not be ones who struggle with suicidal thoughts or serious depression. But chances are they know kids who do.
And the point of this film is that by following in Jesus’ footsteps, teens can reach out to the hurting and the outcast. Their compassion may help change the course of their peers’ lives--both now and for eternity. That’s a message that could save a life.

Further Reading and Information

www.Tosavealifemovie.com
http://tosavealifeleaders.com/resources/
~
A Petition of Christian Conscience
The Manhattan Declaration
By Chuck Colson: January 22, 2010

One of my all-time favorite movies reminds me that it often takes a bold act to awaken the conscience of a nation.

It’s one of the most dramatic scenes in a really great movie. The movie is Amazing Grace. The scene is the House of Commons in the latter years of the eighteenth century. William Wilberforce stuns his parliamentary colleagues by unrolling an enormous scroll down the aisle. On the scroll were the signatures of 390,000 Englishmen, demanding that Parliament abolish the slave trade—the greatest moral issue of the day.

The signatures of nearly five percent of the country forced his reluctant, if not hostile, fellow members of Parliament to understand that the evil status quo could no longer stand.

Two hundred years later, in the spirit of Wilberforce, Christians across this country are affixing their signatures to another document as a way of saying “enough!”

Before Wilberforce presented his petition, slave traders and the economic interests that benefitted from the trade believed that they owned Parliament. That’s why it was called the rotten borough system. They literally bought seats! They believed they could ignore Wilberforce without repercussions. The petition showed them otherwise. It broke the back of their resistance.

Today, when it comes to sanctity of life, the traditional family and religious freedom, we are told that the cultural tide flows in only one direction—and that Christians should adapt.

Well, the last time I checked over 400,000 people have disagreed—loudly and clearly. They have signed the Manhattan Declaration, which, among other things, forcefully rejects the idea of Christians adapting to the cultural tide. It makes it clear that there are times when “civil disobedience is not only permitted, but sometimes required.”

While it took years for Wilberforce to gather his petitions, thanks to the internet, it has only taken us only two months to get 400,000 signatures. But our goal is one million.

Not because one million is a round and impressive number, but because that kind of response has the potential to electrify the church and make the cultural elite take notice as it did in Wilberforce’s day.

The church needs to get over this business that “we can’t get involved in politics.” That’s an excuse. It needs to understand that bearing witness about the sanctity of life, the traditional family and religious liberty isn’t political – it’s profoundly moral. It’s about who we are as a church and our relationship to the rest of the culture.

Likewise, it’s about making it clear that the cultural elite cannot silence us simply by labeling our views out-of-bounds. It’s about their having to realize that they cannot silence the church, especially when it speaks authoritatively across confessional lines.

By telling them that we will not render to Caesar what is God’s we can break the stranglehold that the abortion lobby has on Congress and the stranglehold of the gay rights movement on politicians.

But this willingness to swim against the tide can come at a price. Like Martin Luther King, whose birthday the nation honored this week, we must be clear that an unjust law does not bind the Christian conscience. And that we’ll pay the price to oppose it as he did.

The church in America must say “enough!” We must strive to overcome the reluctance and hostility we face. Whatever else the supporters of the status quo may own, they do not own our consciences.

Please, come to www.colsoncenter.org. We’ll link you over to the Manhattan Declaration. Sign it, and get others to do the same.

Copyright © 2010 Prison Fellowship. All Rights Reserved _ _ http://www.breakpoint.org/
~
Residents of Columbia County, Arkansas 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 Day:
nebbish: a weak-willed, timid, or ineffectual person.
onus: burden; also, blame; stigma.
flagitious: grossly wicked; scandalous.
torpor: lethargic indifference; apathy.
lapidary: of or pertaining to stone cutting; also, terse or refined in expression.
draconian: excessively harsh; severe.
pallid: pale; faint or deficient in color; wan.
countervail: to counteract; also, to offset.
apposite: of striking appropriateness and relevance.
accord: agreement; harmony.
perambulate: to stroll; to walk through or over.
lacuna: a blank space; a missing part.
bibelot: a trinket.
prevaricate: to depart from or evade the truth.
from http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/
~~~~~
"Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Plato

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues." - Cicero

"Where there is great love there are always miracles." - Willa Cather

"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of congress; but I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

"Love is the strongest force the world possesses, and yet it is the humblest imaginable." - Mohandas K. Gandhi

"Only when we give joyfully, without hesitation or thought of gain, can we truly know what love means." - Leo Buscaglia

"The greatest and most important problems of life are all fundamentally insoluble. They can never be solved but only outgrown." - Carl Jung

"What is now proved was once imagined." - William Blake

"All glory comes from daring to begin." - Eugene F. Ware

"When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love." - The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

"If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters." - Alan Simpson

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." - Rudyard Kipling

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
~~~~~
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

Rifqa Bary—Teen Christian Convert from Islam—Can Remain in Foster Care Till 18
Aimee Herd (January 22, 2010)

…she and her parents love and respect each other, and will "try to resolve their differences through counseling."

Rifqa BaryIn answer to the many, many prayers for Rifqa Bary's safety, the teen who converted to Christianity from Islam, then ran away from home for fear of her father's retaliation, will be able to stay with a foster family until she is eighteen.

The Columbus, Ohio 17-year-old had run away to Florida last year when she claimed her father had threatened her life since she'd become a Christian.

A court ruling meant she had to return to Ohio, but has stayed in state foster care while her parents battled to keep her in their home.

This week a settlement was reportedly reached between Rifqa and her parents, allowing her to stay in foster care until the age of 18, at which time she would be free to live where she wants.

Rifqa's attorney stated that she and her parents love and respect each other, and will "try to resolve their differences through counseling."

Source: Staff – CBN News
~
Can't Get to DC for the National March for Life? Attend the Virtual March for Life!
Aimee Herd/News Release (January 22, 2010)

"We created the Virtual March for Life to encourage people to be here… and to give voice to countless Americans who can't be in Washington, but wish they could."

virtual marchforlifeFriday, January 22nd is the annual March for Life on the mall in Washington, DC, to mark the anniversary of Roe v Wade. However, for those who cannot physically be a part of the Washington event, Americans United for Life Action has created the first ever "Virtual March for Life," for online users.

This innovative online campaign allows people to create an avatar of themselves and "march" online. The Virtual March for Life currently boasts 45,000 Americans and is growing by the minute. As part of this effort, the Virtual March for Life is featuring prominent leaders who are lending their support to the cause.

"The healthcare bill as currently written will unravel long-standing federal policy by allowing public funds to be used for abortion. Because of the magnitude of this threat, this year's national March for Life will be the most important in history. We created the Virtual March for Life to encourage people to be here… and to give voice to countless Americans who can't be in Washington, but wish they could. We are encouraging everyone to click and be heard," said Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President and CEO of Americans United for Life Action.

This list now includes:

• Governor Sarah Palin
• Governor Mike Huckabee
• Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family
• Tony Perkins, Family Research Council
• Sen. Jim DeMint
• Rep. John Boehner
• Rep. Mike Pence
• Rep. Eric Cantor
• Rep. Tom Price
• Marco Rubio, U.S. Senate candidate in Florida
• Erick Erickson, RedState.com

…and others. To sign up yourself, just click on the source link provided.

Source: Virtual March for Life [http://www.virtualmarchforlife.com/]

310 2nd Ave SE
Albany, Oregon 97321
541_928_2642
E_mail editor@breakingchristiannews.com
US Orders: 1_866_358_7426
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
GCF: Airline Reservation

Emailed to me from another humor list (Daily Humor) -Tom To subscribe to Daily Humor, send a blank email to: Daily-Humor-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

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

An airline reservation agent took a call from a man who wanted to book a flight for two but wasn't happy with the price of $59 per ticket.

"I want the $49 fare I saw advertised," he insisted, saying he would accept a flight at any time.

The agent managed to find two seats on a 6 a.m. flight.

"I'll take it," he said, then worried his wife might not like the early hour.

The agent warned there was a fee of $25 per person if he changed the reservation.

"Oh, that's no problem," he said dismissively. "What's fifty bucks?"
_ ____________________________ _
Emailed to me from another humor list (Daily Humor) -Tom To subscribe to Daily Humor, send a blank email to: Daily-Humor-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
----------------------------------------------

GCF: Airline Reservation

An airline reservation agent took a call from a man who wanted to book a flight for two but wasn't happy with the price of $59 per ticket.

"I want the $49 fare I saw advertised," he insisted, saying he would accept a flight at any time.

The agent managed to find two seats on a 6 a.m. flight.

"I'll take it," he said, then worried his wife might not like the early hour.

The agent warned there was a fee of $25 per person if he changed the reservation.

"Oh, that's no problem," he said dismissively. "What's fifty bucks?"
_ ____________________________ _
Emailed to me from another humor list (Daily Humor) -Tom To subscribe to Daily Humor, send a blank email to: Daily-Humor-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
----------------------------------------------

GCF: Small Town Emergency

The small town's sheriff was also its veterinarian. One night the phone rang and his wife answered. An agitated voice inquired, "Is your husband there?"

"Do you require his services as a sheriff or as a vet?"

"Both. We can't get our dog's mouth open, and there's a burglar in it."
_ ____________________________ _
Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Greg) -Tom
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GCF: New Secretary

The boss was very exasperated with his new secretary. She ignored the telephone when it rang.

"You must answer the telephone!" he told her irritably.

"All right," she replied, "but it seems so silly. Nine times out of ten, it's for you!"
_ ____________________________ _
Emailed to me from another humor list (Joanna's Jokes) -Tom To subscribe to Joanna's Jokes, send a blank email to: JoannasJokes-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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GCF: Travel Bargain

A travel agent said to his customer, "I can get you three days and two nights in Rome for $75"

"How come so cheap?" replied the customer.

The travel agent replied, "The days are July 11, 12 and 13. The nights are July 21 and 22."
_ ____________________________ _
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
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GCF: Magnolia

About a month or so ago, after much deliberation, I bought a magnolia tree from our local nursery. After only a few weeks I noticed that the leaves had started to shrivel and the tree appeared to be on its last legs in spite of my tender care.

So I took some leaf samples and marched back to the nursery to demand an explanation or get my money back.

"I know exactly what's wrong with your magnolia," said the manager.

"Good!" I exclaimed. "What's it suffering from?"

You can imagine how stupid I felt when he simply said, "Autumn."
_ ____________________________ _
Emailed to me another humor list (Clean Joke of the Day) -Tom Subscribe to Clean Joke of the Day by visiting the website: http://www.cleanjokeoftheday.com
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GCF: New Hat

My wife and I were visiting her 95-year-old grandfather when he asked us to take him to buy a new hat. My wife took me aside. "I'm worried that he doesn't have enough money, and he'll be very embarrassed," she said.

So I asked the salesperson to tell my wife's grandfather that whichever hat he chose cost $15. I would pay the difference. Grandpa picked out a hat and was charged $15.

After he left, I paid the other $45 of the price. Later Grandpa said, "What a bargain! The last one I bought there cost me $60."
_ ____________________________ _
Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Linda) -Tom
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GCF: Baking Secret

I finally figured out the difference between cupcakes, muffins and scones.

They're exactly the same except you have to suck the moisture out of the cupcakes to turn them into muffins.

Then you leave them sitting on the counter for about a month to turn them into scones.
_ ____________________________ _
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
----------------------------------------------

GCF: Missing Husband

A wife went to the police station with her next-door neighbor to report that her husband was missing. The policeman asked for a description.

She said, "He's 35 years old, 6 foot 4, had dark eyes, dark wavy hair, an athletic build, weighs 185 pounds, is soft-spoken, and is good to the children."

The next-door neighbor protested, "Your husband is 5 foot 4 inches, chubby, bald, has a big mouth, and is mean to your children."

The wife replied, "Yes, but who wants HIM back?"
_ ____________________________ _
Emailed to me from another humor list (Joanna's Jokes) -Tom To subscribe to Joanna's Jokes, send a blank email to: JoannasJokes-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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GCF: A Few Wrinkles

I had been thinking about coloring my hair. One day while going through a magazine, I came across an ad for a hair-coloring product featuring a beautiful young model with hair a shade that I liked. Wanting a second opinion, I asked my husband, "How do you think this color would look on a face with a few wrinkles?" He looked at the picture, crumpled it up, straightened it out and studied it again. "Just great, Honey."
_ ____________________________ _
Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Trisha) -Tom
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GCF: Customs Inspection

After an overnight flight to meet my father at his latest military assignment, my mother wearily arrived at Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany with my eight siblings and me - all under age 11. Collecting our many suitcases, the ten of us entered the cramped customs area. A young customs official watched our entourage in disbelief, "Ma'am," he said, "do all these children and this luggage belong to you?"

"Yes, sir," my mother said with a sigh. "They're all mine."

The customs agent began his interrogation: "Ma'am, do you have any weapons, contraband or illegal drugs in your possession?"

"Sir," she calmly answered, "if I had any of those items, I would have used them by now."

The official allowed us to pass without opening a single suitcase.
_ ____________________________ _
Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Jeff) -Tom
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GCF: Absent-Minded Professor

An absent-minded professor was on board a train and he was unable to find his ticket.

The conductor said, "Take it easy. You'll find it."

When the conductor returned, the professor still couldn't find the ticket.

The conductor said, "I'm sure you bought a ticket. Forget about it."

"You're very kind," the professor said, "but I must find it, otherwise I won't know where to get off."
_ ____________________________ _
Found posted at JokesClean.Com -Tom
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GCF: Engineering Phrases (what they really mean)

Customer satisfaction is believed to be assured. (We're so far behind schedule that the customer will settle for anything.)

Please see me / Let's discuss it. (I need your help. I've screwed up again.)
The project is in process. (It's so tied up in red tape that it's completely hopeless.)

We're trying a number of different approaches. (We're still guessing, at this point.)

Close project coordination. (We met together and had coffee.)

Years of development. (It finally worked.)

Energy saving. (Turn off the power to save electricity.)

We'll have to abandon the entire concept. (The only person who understood the thing just quit.)

We had a major technological breakthrough. (It's boring, but it looks high tech.)

We're preparing a report with a fresh approach. (We just hired a couple of kids out of college.)

Preliminary operational tests proved inconclusive. (It blew up when we flipped the switch.)

Test results proved extremely gratifying. (Yahoo! It actually worked.)

Tell us what you are thinking. (We'll listen, but if it disagrees with what we've already done or are planning to do, forget it.)

No maintenance. (If it breaks, we can't fix it.)

Low maintenance. (If it breaks, we're not likely able to fix it.)

All new. (None of the parts are interchangeable with the previous design.)

Rugged. (Needs major equipment to lift it.)

Robust. (More than rugged.)

Light weight. (A little less than rugged.)

Fax it to me. (I'm too lazy to write it down.)

I haven't gotten your email. (It's been days since I've checked my email.)
_ ____________________________ _
Found posted at CleanJokes4U.Com -Tom
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GCF: First Day of School

This little girl comes home from her first day at school and says, "I'm never going to school again!"

Her father asks why.

She says, "The teacher said the 5+5 = 10. Then she said the 6+4 = 10, and 7+3 = 10 and 8+2 = 10 and 9+1 = 10."

The father asks, "What's your point?"

"She needs to make up her mind!'
_ ____________________________ _
Found posted at CleanJoke.Com -Tom
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GCF: The Highest Number

One day Jimmy went up to his father and asked, "Daddy, what's the highest number?"

His father replied, "Well, I'm nut sure, but I think it's in the Stimulus Package."
_ ____________________________ _
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Conference : \ /
\ _/ The confusion of one person \_ /
/ / multiplied by the number present. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / I haven't been feeling so great.\ /
\ _/ I swallowed a door knob, \_ /
/ / and it keeps turning my stomach. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / The older you get, the tougher\ \_/ ////
\ / it is to lose weight, because \ /
\ _/ by then your body and your fat \_ /
/ / are really good friends. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / To get maximum attention, \ /
\ _/ just make a great \_ /
/ / big mistake. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / The person who knows everything \ /
\ _/ has the most to learn. \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / A secret is something \ /
\ _/ you tell to one person at a time. \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / If I enter an elevator \ \_/ ////
\ / and my floor is already pushed, \ /
\ _/ I always push it again \_ /
/ / because I know I'm a better driver. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / TOMORROW: \ /
\ _/ One of the greatest \_ /
/ / labor saving devices of today. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / If the professor on \ \_/ ////
\ / Gilligan's Island can make a \ /
\ _/ radio out of a coconut, why \_ /
/ / can't he fix a hole in a boat? \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / The most effective way \ /
\ _/ to remember your wife's birthday \_ /
/ / is to forget it once. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / \ /
\ _/Is there another word for synonym? \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / An effective way \ /
\ _/ to deal with predators \_ /
/ / is to taste terrible. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / It doesn't matter if you \ /
\ _/ win or lose, until you lose \_ /
/ / ... then it matters. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / I was laying in bed last \ \_/ ////
\ / night looking at the stars. \ /
\ _/ Then I thought, \_ /
/ / "Where the heck is the ceiling?" \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / I was laying in bed last \ \_/ ////
\ / night looking at the stars. \ /
\ _/ Then I thought, \_ /
/ / "Where the heck is the ceiling?" \ \
_ ____________________________ _
/ )| Thomas S. Ellsworth |( \
/ / | tellswor@kcbx.net | \ \
_( (_ | http://www.kcbx.net/~tellswor | _) )_
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I called the Suicide Lifeline. I got a call center in Pakistan , and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck.
Thanks to David Childs
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WHY I VOTED DEMOCRAT: I voted Democratic because I love the fact that I can now marry whatever I want. I've decided to marry my boat. I voted Democratic because I believe oil company profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene, but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 15% is not. I voted Democratic because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would.
Thanks to Chuck Jackson
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25 LESSONS MY MOTHERTAUGHT ME

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE . "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."
2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL . "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"
4. My mother taught me LOGIC. " Because I said so, that's why."
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."
7. My mother taught me IRONY "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"
15. My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home."
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING . "You are going to get it when you get home!"
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."
19. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"
20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT . "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."
22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"
24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."
25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.

Thanks to Waneta
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What I Want In A Man!

Original List: (age 22)
1. Handsome
2. Charming
3. Financially successful
4. A caring listener
5. Witty
6. In good shape
7. Dresses with style
8. Appreciates finer things
9. Full of thoughtful surprises

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 32)
1. Nice looking
2. Opens car doors, holds chairs
3. Has enough money for a nice dinner
4. Listens more than talks
5. Laughs at my jokes
6. Carries bags of groceries with ease
7. Owns at least one tie
8. Appreciates a good home-cooked meal
9. Remembers birthdays and anniversaries

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 42)
1. Not too ugly
2. Doesn't drive off until I'm in the car
3. Works steady - splurges on dinner out occasionally
4. Nods head when I'm talking
5. Usually remembers punch lines of jokes
6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange the furniture
7. Wears a shirt that covers his stomach
8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids
9. Remembers to put the toilet seat down
10. Shaves most weekends

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 52)
1. Keeps hair in nose and ears trimmed
2. Doesn't belch or scratch in public
3. Doesn't borrow money too often
4. Doesn't nod off to sleep when I'm venting
5. Doesn't re-tell the same joke too many times
6. Is in good enough shape to get off the couch on weekends
7. Usually wears matching socks and fresh underwear
8. Appreciates a good TV dinner
9. Remembers your name on occasion
10. Shaves some weekends

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 62)
1. Doesn't scare small children
2. Remembers where bathroom is
3. Doesn't require much money for upkeep
4. Only snores lightly when asleep
5.. Remembers why he's laughing
6. Is in good enough shape to stand up by himself
7. Usually wears some clothes
8. Likes soft foods
9. Remembers where he left his teeth
10. Remembers that it's the weekend

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 72)
1. Breathing.
2. Doesn't miss the toilet.

Thanks to Ron Huett
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Famous Woman Inventor

I'm a secondary school teacher at a girls' school. Last week I assigned homework to research and design a poster on a famous woman inventor.

I explained to the students that there were many good woman inventors and explained that while a man invented the car, it was a woman who invented the windshield wiper. And also that a man invented the gun and it was a woman who invented the bullet-proof vest.

A smart response came from one of the students:

"So what you are saying, sir, is that a man invented something, and a woman found a way to make it safer!"

Received from Adrian Cottle.

(_:][:_)

How to Clean the House

1. Open a new folder on your PC.

2. Name it "Housework."

3. Send it to the Recycle Bin.

4. Empty the Recycle Bin.

5. Your PC will ask you, "Are you sure you want to delete Housework permanently?"

6. Calmly answer, "Yes," and press the mouse button firmly.

7. Feel better?

Received from Doc's Daily Chuckle.

(_:][:_)

Aunt Karen

The teacher gave her fifth-grade class an assignment: get their parents to tell them a story with a moral at the end of it.

The next day the kids came back and one by one began to tell their stories.

Ashley said, "My father's a farmer, and we have a lot of egg-laying hens. One time we were taking our eggs to market in a basket on the front seat of the car when we hit a big bump in the road and all the eggs went flying and broke and made a mess."

"What's the moral of the story?" asked the teacher.

"Don't put all your eggs in one basket!"

"Very good," said the teacher.

Next little Sarah raised her hand and said, "Our family are farmers too. But we raise chickens for the meat market. We had a dozen eggs one time, but when they hatched we only got ten live chicks, and the moral to this story is, 'Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.'"

"That was a fine story, Sarah. Michael, do you have a story to share?"

"Yes, my daddy told me this story about my Aunt Karen. Aunt Karen was a flight engineer in the Gulf War and her plane was hit. She had to bail out over enemy territory, and all she had was a bottle of whiskey, a machine gun, and a machete. She drank the whiskey on the way down so it wouldn't break and then she landed right in the middle of a hundred enemy troops. She killed seventy of them with the machine gun until she ran out of bullets. Then she killed twenty more with the machete until the blade broke. Then she killed the last ten with her bare hands."

"Good heavens," said the horrified teacher, "what kind of moral did your daddy tell you from that horrible story?"

"Stay away from Aunt Karen when she's been drinking!"

Received from Scott Brooksby, Las Vegas, NV.

(_:][:_)

God and the Scientist

God is sitting in heaven when a scientist says to him, "Lord, we don't need you anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing. In other words, we can now do what you did in the beginning."

"Oh, is that so? Tell me," replies God.

"Well," says the scientist, "we can take dirt and form it into your likeness and breathe life into it, thus creating man."

"Well, that's interesting. Show me."

So the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil.

"Oh no, no, no," interrupts God. "Get your own dirt."

Received from Ralph Loudermilk.

(_:][:_)

Bilingual Barnyard

A flock of sheep are romping in a field, happily going "baa baa" to each other and discussing life as usual when suddenly they hear a "moo mooooooooooooooooooo!"

They look around and see only sheep. They carry on playing as before.

"Moooooo mooooooooooo mmmoo!"

One sheep can hear it all too clearly next to him. He shuffles away a little from his friend, a worried look on his face, and then asks, "Georgie, why are you mooing? You're a sheep. Sheep go 'baa'!"

His friend replies gladly, "I know. I thought I would learn a foreign language!"

Received from Doc's Daily Chuckle.

(_:][:_)

Fixing Dinner

This guy was watching TV as his wife was out cutting the grass during the hot summer. He finally worked up the energy to go out and ask his wife what was for supper.

Well, his missus was quite irritated about him sitting in the air-conditioned house all day while she did all the work, so she scolded him. "I can't believe you're asking me about supper right now! Imagine I'm out of town. Go inside and figure dinner out yourself."

So he went back into the house and fixed himself a big steak with potatoes, garlic bread, and a tall glass of iced tea.

The wife finally walked in about the time he was finishing up and asked him, "You fixed something to eat? So where's mine?"

He said, "Huh, I thought you were out of town."

Received from Debbie.

(_:][:_)

Memento

Friend: "I suppose you carry a memento of some sort in that locket of yours?"

Woman: "Yes, it's a lock of my husband's hair."

Friend: "But your husband is still alive."

Woman: "I know, but his hair is gone."

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(_:][:_)


I'll Have a Grilled Cheese Sandwich

The waitress comes over and recognizes the family seated at the table -- Mr. and Mrs. Smith and their little son, Jonathan. She says, "Jonathan, what would you like?"

He says, "I'll have a grilled cheese sandwich."

She says, "Jonathan, I'm sorry, we don't serve grilled cheese sandwiches."

He says, "You have a grill, don't you?"

She says, "Yes."

He says, "You have cheese, don't you?"

She says, "Yes."

He says, "You have bread, don't you?"

She says, "Yes."

He says, "Well, I'll have a grilled cheese sandwich."

This kid is four years old!

The waitress says, "Jonathan, I'll go see if the chef will fix you a grilled cheese sandwich."

She comes back in a little while and says, "Okay, Jonathan, the chef agreed to fix you a grilled cheese sandwich. I forgot to ask you, though, what you want to drink."

He says, "I'll have a milkshake."

She says, "Jonathan, your parents have probably already told you we don't serve milkshakes." (She was ready for him this time.) "Now, it is true we have milk. And it is true we have ice cream. But we don't have the syrup."

He says, "You have a car, don't you?"

Received from Ed.

(_:][:_)

Planting Potatoes

A farmer gets sent to jail, and his wife is trying to hold the farm together until her husband can get out. She's not, however, very good at farm work, so she writes a letter to him in jail: "Dear sweetheart, I want to plant the potatoes. When is the best time to do it?"

The farmer writes back: "Honey, don't go near that field. That's where all my guns are buried."

But, because he is in jail, all of the farmer's mail is censored. So when the sheriff and his deputies read this, they all run out to the farm and dig up the entire potato field looking for guns. After two full days of digging, they don't find one single weapon.

The farmer then writes to his wife: "Honey, now is when you should plant the potatoes."

Received from ArcaMax Jokes.

(_:][:_)

Mental Test

Mental institution inmates are given a test to check their state of mind.

The instructor draws a door on the wall and orders them to go out.

They start rushing to the door, but one remains sitting. The instructor goes to him and asks, "Why didn't you join the others?"

He replies, "Let them fight -- they forgot I have the keys!"

Received from Steve Sanderson.

(_:][:_)

Auto-Body Repair

One of my first assignments as a trainee in an auto-body shop was a car needing a new fender and some door repairs.

I spent hours doing a perfect job, but when the owner came to pick it up, he wasn't pleased.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Pointing to the side of the car, he complained about the paint not matching, uneven gaps between panels, and a host of other problems. He demanded an explanation.

"The repairs were to the other side," I noted.

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(_:][:_)

_=+=_
Rate this funny at http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny060113
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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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - -
Dear folks at the Fed IRS,
Your rules and your regs are a mess.
You’re unfair to the poor.
Middle class? Even more.
So beware, cuz I know your address.

© Madeleine Begun Kane. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.madkane.com/
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Life is good!
As we get older, I think most of us really start thinking about what life should REALLY be (or should have been) and try to put it in perspective.

Those smart Mexicans!!

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.
"Not very long," answered the Mexican.
"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.
The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family. The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs . I have a full life."
The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."
And after that?" asked the Mexican.
With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers.
Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant.
You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."
"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.
"And after that?"
"Afterwards? Well my Friend, That's when it gets really interesting, answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?" said the Mexican.
"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

And the moral is:

Know where you're going in life... you may already be there.

Thanks to David Lamb
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It is time for Amendment 28

“Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives, and Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States .”
---------------------------------------------
When the people fear their government there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - - Thomas Jefferson

Thanks To Jeanette Ford
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An interesting letter in the Australian Shooter Magazine this week, which I quote: "If you consider that there has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theater of operations during the past 22 months, and a total of 2112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.
The firearm death rate in Washington , DC is 80.6 per 100,000 for the same period. That means you are about 25 percent more likely to be shot and killed in the US capital, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the US , than you are in Iraq .

Conclusion: "The US should pull out of Washington ."

Thanks to Gary Foreman
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A Word In Due Season

LEARNING TO BE CONTENT

Scripture: Philippians 4:11 "For I have learned to be content with whatever I have."

It is easy to be content when you have plenty and things are going good, but it is another story to be content when nothing is going right for you and your life is falling apart. The Apostle Paul said that he had learned to be content. Learning is a process that only comes through a mentor, personal study or experience. Paul had experienced many victories as he shared the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, he had also faced many disappointments and suffered times of hardship and lack. But, regardless of the state that he found himself in, Paul had learned the virtue of contentment. He had learned to be content during the times of plenty and he had learned how to be content when he was forced to fast out of necessity.

Many times we confuse contentment with happiness, but they are not the same. Happiness is contingent upon what is happening around you and when things are going good, happiness abounds. But happiness comes to a sudden halt when adversities come and circumstances change. Contentment, on the other hand, is more stable. It is a knowing that God is in control even though your ship is being tossed about in the midst of the storm. Things may not look good, but contentment trusts God. It reports that "It is well with my soul" even though a loved one is passing through the valley of the shadow of death. And when you are facing the worst of situations, contentment allows you to say as Job said, "Though God slay me, yet will I trust Him." Contentment looks to God when weaknesses challenge and says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Verse 13). In battle contentment says, "I will not fear, for God is with me." Contentment never dwells on evil. Instead it declares, "Whatever things are honest, lovely, and of good report, I will think on these things" (Verse 8). Contentment doesn't worry when there is lack but says, "God shall supply all of my needs" (Verse 19).

The contentment that Paul had learned left no space in his heart for murmuring or complaining. He declared that God's grace was sufficient and he learned to rejoice and give thanks in all things. He knew that all things were going to work together for good in his life because he loved God and was called according to His purpose. Allow God to work in your heart in this same manner, and like Paul, fix your mind to learn how to be content with whatever you have. As you do, you will find that God will make up the difference. +++

We invite you to visit us online at www.widsonline.com
Contact by email : mpadgettministries@msn.com

Thanks to Norma Kay Rowe
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TOURBUS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _:) _ :)_ :)
Vol 15, Number 57
20 Jan 2010

My Cholesterol / Backup Software / Laptop Battery / Windows XP Repair / Geekly Update / What Is Java? In today's TOURBUS, I'm going public with the story of how I found out my Cholesterol Level is too high, and what I'm doing about it. You'll also pick up some handy tips on Backup Software and what to do when you need a new Laptop Battery.

Windows XP is still the most popular OS, used by 61% of all computers in the world. If your XP system is acting up, try my Windows XP Repair options. And as always, reading the latest Geekly Update is guaranteed to make your teeth whiter and your hair more lustrous. Read on!

My Cholesterol Level is Too High! - - After a routine physical, I fouhd out my cholesterol is too high. My diet is pretty healthy, and I'm not in bad shape for a 48-year-old guy. But clearly I need to do something about this. I realize this has nothing to do with computers or the Internet, but life is more than 1's and 0's. I hope you find this personal story interesting, useful, and even inspiring.
So here's my 4-month plan to knock 40 or 50 points off that cholesterol number, without using any prescription drugs...
MY CHOLESTEROL IS TOO HIGH! [http://askbobrankin.com/my_cholesterol_level_is_too_high.html]

Backup Software - - It takes very little time for a hard drive to fill up with your entire life: financial records, tax forms, addresses and phone numbers, irreplaceable photos and videos. Not to mention important documents that you don't want to lose. You can hope and pray that your hard drive won't crash and burn before your computer becomes obsolete, but what if you're wrong?
Here are some tips on backup software and strategies that just might save your bacon...
BACKUP SOFTWARE [http://askbobrankin.com/backup_software.html]

Laptop Battery Replacement - - IF you have a laptop, sooner or later, you will need to replace the battery. Every battery degrades with use, even rechargeable ones. When your laptop battery no longer keeps a charge or the battery life is too short, there are several things you can do.
Read on and learn about battery longevity tips, and how to buy a new laptop battery if you really need one...
LAPTOP BATTERY REPLACEMENT [http://askbobrankin.com/laptop_battery_replacement.html]

Windows XP Repair - - Sometimes, something goes wrong with your Windows XP installation. It could be due to a hardware glitch, a software error, malware, a lightning strike, or who knows what else. In the worst case, Windows XP won't boot at all. Or Windows may boot up, but you keep getting ominous errors. In other cases, everything seems okay, but you can't access the Internet.
Here are some time-tested tools and techniques to repair your Windows XP system...
WINDOWS XP REPAIR [http://askbobrankin.com/windows_xp_repair.html]

Geekly Update January 19 - - Is Conan O'Brien really selling the Tonight Show on Craigslist? Can you make a donation to the Red Cross just by sending a text message? And will Amtrak make you march through a Full-Body Scanner before getting free wifi on the Acela train?
Get answers to these burning questions and more, in the most recent installment of the Geekly Update...
GEEKLY UPDATE JANUARY 19 [http://askbobrankin.com/geekly_update_january_19.html]

What Is Java and Do I Need It? - - If you encounter a website with an embedded Java app, and you don't have Java installed (or enabled), you'll just see an empty space where all the fun should be. Many sites will provide a helpful link to where you can download the Java runtime environment from Sun Microsystems, the developer of Java. Even cell phones commonly push Java at users.
But what is Java, is it safe, and why should you install or enable it? Read on to find out...
WHAT IS JAVA? [http://askbobrankin.com/what_is_java_and_do_i_need_it.html]

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

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(\__/) .' ) )) Patrick Douglas Crispen
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___..{____} Warning: squirrels.
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The Pump Handle. A water cooler for the public health crowd.

Challenges Mount in Haiti

January 21, 2010 in Health, Infectious diseases, Water | by Liz Borkowski | Leave a comment

Of the many wrenching stories coming out of Haiti, two stories about the public-health challenges facing earthquake survivors do a particularly good job encapsulating just how daunting the weeks ahead will be.

In the Los Angeles Times, Shari Roan reports that emergency medical responders “will have to create a public health system on the fly.” Only one hospital is functioning, and the large numbers of people infected with HIV and tuberculosis will struggle to access the treatments they need. Many Haitians are already undernourished, so it’s crucial that food shortages be addressed – but, as most of us have already heard, transporting basic supplies is difficult given heavily damaged infrastructure. Roan goes on to explain how a range of illnesses can spread under current conditions:

Read the rest of this entry » [http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/challenges-mount-in-haiti/#more-7940]

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.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has closed its investigation of an incident at a Walmart Supercenter in Russellville that led to the death of one of its associates, said Elizabeth Todd, a representative for the U.S. Department of Labor.
While at work on the afternoon of Nov. 3, James R. King, 79, of Russellville, a greeter and assembler at the store, fell from the second or third step of a ladder, striking his head on the floor, according to information provided by OSHA. He was in the process of removing a box that contained a bicycle from a storage rack.
Pope County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Russellville Fire Department (RFD) arrived at the scene to find King lying on the floor of the stockroom near the ladder, according to a report from the RFD. King was stabilized, then rolled onto a board and a cot, before being transported to Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center where he later died.
“No violations were found, therefore, OSHA did not issue citations, and the investigation has been closed,” Todd said Wednesday.
Contacted Thursday regarding the matter, Michelle Bradford, a representative for Walmart’s public affairs department, expressed regret.
“James was a part of our store’s family,” she said. “He was a dedicated associate, and we will miss him dearly.”

http://weeklytoll.blogspot.com
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NEVER FORGET! We're listing the names of our soldiers killed since November 01. These records can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/
01. Sgt. 1st Class Jason O. B. Hickman, 35, of Kingsport, Tenn., died Jan. 7 at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered earlier that day at Combat Outpost Bowri Tana, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. He was assigned to Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

02. Lance Cpl. Mark D. Juarez, 23, of San Antonio, Texas, died Jan. 9 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

03. Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Meinert, 20, of Fort Atkinson, Wis., died Jan. 10 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

04. Pfc. Michael R. Jarrett, 20, of North Platte, Neb., died Jan. 6 in Balad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, Illesheim, Germany.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The following Marines died Jan. 11 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan:
05. Staff Sgt. Matthew N. Ingham, 25, of Altoona, Pa.
06. Cpl. Jamie R. Lowe, 21, of Johnsonville, Ill.
07. Cpl. Nicholas K. Uzenski, 21, of Tomball, Texas.
Ingham, Lowe and Uzenski were assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

08. Spc. Kyle J. Wright, 22, of Romeoville, Ill., died Jan. 13 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered earlier that day when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device in Kandahar province. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

09. Sgt. Lucas T. Beachnaw, 23, of Lowell, Mich., died Jan. 13 in Darya Ya, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Camp Ederle, Italy.

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Jan. 13 at Combat Outpost McClain, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. The soldiers were assigned to the 118th Military Police Company (Airborne), 503rd Military Police Battalion (Airborne), 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C. Killed were:
10. Staff Sgt. Daniel D. Merriweather, 25, of Collierville Tenn.
11. Pfc. Geoffrey A. Whitsitt, 21, of Taylors, S.C.

12. Staff Sgt. Anton R. Phillips, 31, of Inglewood, Calif., died Dec. 31, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Methar Lam, Afghanistan. He was assigned to G Forward Support Company, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Task Force Wildhorse, Forward Operating Base Methar Lam, Afghanistan.

13. Spc. Robert Donevski, 19, of Sun City, Ariz., died Jan. 16 in Abad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

14. Tech. Sgt. Adam K. Ginett, 29, of Knightdale, N.C., died Jan. 19 near Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy.

15. Sgt. 1st Class Michael P. Shannon, 52, of Canadensis, Pa., died Jan. 17, in Kabul, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to Headquarters, 7th Army and U.S. Army Europe, Heidelberg, Germany.

16. Capt. Paul Pena, 27, of San Marcos, Texas, died Jan. 19 in Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

17. Staff Sgt. Thaddeus S. Montgomery II, 29, of West Yellowstone, Mont., died Jan. 20 at Korengal Outpost, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
~
Air Force Pilot Missing In Action From Vietnam War Is Identified

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

Air Force Maj. Russell C. Goodman of Salt Lake City, Utah, will be honored this week at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., home of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird demonstration team. At the time of his loss, Goodman was assigned to the Thunderbirds and was flying with the U.S. Navy on an exchange program. He will be buried in Alaska at a date determined by his family.

On Feb. 20, 1967, Goodman and Navy Lt. Gary L. Thornton took off in their F-4B Phantom from the USS Enterprise for a bombing mission against a railroad yard in Thanh Hoa Province, North Vietnam. They were struck by enemy antiaircraft fire and their plane exploded. Thornton was able to eject at just 250 feet altitude, but Goodman did not escape. Thornton survived and was held captive until his release in 1973.

Search and rescue attempts were curtailed because of heavy anti-aircraft and automatic weapons fire in the area of the crash.

Between October 1993 and March 2008, joint U.S.-Vietnamese teams led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) investigated the crash site twice and conducted two excavations, recovering human remains and pilot equipment. The aircraft debris recovered correlates with the type of aircraft the men were flying.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA – which matched two of his maternal relatives -- in the identification of Goodman’s remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Website at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
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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
“A political class of Republicans and Democrats that look after themselves, not the Nation. A media hostile to the very precepts of this nation. A generation of Americans who see morals as vices, and are ignorant of America's Actual History.”
"The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life." - - Theodore Roosevelt
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Scheduled Activities
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.
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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!!!
1 Cor 13:4-7 , Phil 1:12-13 , Mat 13:21, 1 Cor 4:3-4 , 1 Cor 2:13-16 , Psa 107:23-24,26-28,31, Psa 107:4-6,8 , (Psa 107:17-19,21 , Psa 107:10-13,15 Psa 109:3-5 , Zec 8:14-17, Ezek 34:5-6 , Job 6:11-13 , Num 14:8-9 http://www.e_min.org/
God is Good and Faithful CU 73 IC JFM CSP NREMT_I KC5HII

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