Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Local Crime

Volume 9, Issue 13 Friday, March 30, 2007

Hello All,

Annette and I had the pleasure of helping build a 100' ice cream Sunday at Dream Center last week. It was messy but fun.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q This is a Utube video that will probably shake you up.
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The 38th Annual GMA Music Awards, also known as the Dove Awards, April 25, 2007 at the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, TN.
Ryan Riggins band, "Pocket Full Of Rocks" [http://www.myspace.com/pocketfullofrocks] has been nominated for 2 Doves;
New Artist of the year
Worship Album of the year
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If you’d like to write Dr. Antoon, he’d like to hear from you. This is his current address, the latest of the three federal prison’s he’s been in.
Patrick Antoon #06669-010
Federal Prison Camp-La Tuna
P. O. Box 8000
Anthony, NM/TX 88021
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LOOK OVER THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FOLLOWING TWO HOUSES AND SEE IF YOU CAN TELL WHICH BELONGS TO AN ENVIRONMENTALIST.

HOUSE # 1:

A 20-room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house all heated by gas. In ONE MONTH ALONE this mansion consumes more energy than the average American household in an ENTIRE YEAR. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over $2,400.00 per month. In natural gas alone (which last time we checked was a fossil fuel), this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not in a northern or Midwestern "snow belt," either. It's in the South.

HOUSE # 2:

Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university, this house incorporates every "green" feature current home construction can provide. The house contains only 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on arid high prairie in the American southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat pumps drawing ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67 degrees F.) heats the house in winter and cools it in summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas, and it consumes 25% of the electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system. Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000 gallon underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and then into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Flowers and shrubs native to the area blend the property into the surrounding rural landscape.

HOUSE # 1 (20 room energy guzzling mansion) is outside of Nashville, Tennessee. It is the abode of that renowned environmentalist (and filmmaker) Al Gore.

HOUSE # 2 (model eco-friendly house) is on a ranch near Crawford, Texas. Also known as "the Texas White House," it is the private residence of the President of the United States, George W. Bush.
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Hey, He’s my grandson.
Just wanted to let you guys know Josiah's latest funny sayings. Last night, Courtney was showing him how to conduct a fire drill, but Josiah didn't understand the concept. He said, "Daddy, I have a fire drill. It's right here. And I have a spare. I have two fire drills. I'm the man, Daddy."
Love from,
Vanessa
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Greetings from Michael Yon,

General Petraeus and his people seem to be making progress here. I can actually see hope in the areas I go. Please click [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/rubs-2.htm] for the latest RUBS dispatch.

General Barry McCaffrey (Ret) has just released a report of his Iraq trip [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/after-action-report-general-barry-r-mccaffrey-ret.htm] and it is also published on the website. All his trip reports are excellent resources for helping one understand the true situation here in Iraq. The man is blunt, and knows his business.

I greatly appreciate the reader support [http://gallery.michaelyon-online.com/] that comes in. Without it, my own mission of observing and reporting on the events unfolding in Iraq would fail. I cannot adequately express my gratitude, other than by sticking it out here.

Very Respectfully,

Michael Yon
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/
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Norma Kay Rowe is in need or our prayers. “Here I am again a little over a year later asking for prayer for myself. I had an appt. yesterday with my oncologist, Dr. Engstrom. My lab work revealed an increased elavation in my alkaline phosphase levels in my liver. It has not been normal since Oct. of 2005, which is when I began taking chemo. Dr. Engstrom did not mention this to me until 3 months ago when I saw him then.I am scheduled for a Pet Scan on Friday at 12 noon.
I asked him if he thought I had liver cancer and his answer was I hope not. He is also concerned about my bones and I asked him if he thought I had bone cancer and his answer was I hope not. I realize he can't and doesn't know anything certain at this point but I was really looking for some kind of encouragement from him about it. So, please pray that this scan reveals something treatable and/or curable. Also pray for my family. They are not taking this well. I know God will do what is best for me and that is all I can ask for.”
04/03/07 - - Dr, Engstrom called me late yesterday afternoon and this is what he had to say.
There is some abnormal activity in my abdomen. It is in the mid to lower area in
the back of the abdomen in the vertabral bodies of the spine. He said the "hot spot"
is just over the margin to be abnormal. He said it does not look suspicious to him
but due to my bout with cancer, he does not want to ignore it. Neither do I. He said it could be arthritis, inflammation of the spine etc. but we will not know until we run tests. He will
set up a Cat Scan and MRI of my abdomen and pelvic and will call me today and
let me know when that will take place. The blessing from this so far is the fact that there
was no cancer in any of my vital organs and I thank God for that. Now once we get past this I should know that I am cancer free!!! Please continue to pray for my family and me. God already knows the outcome of this and it is in his hands.NK
04/18/07 - - Dr. Engstrom called me after lunch today and this is what he said.
The Cat Scan showed nothing. The MRI showed a 10x6 millimeter mass on the T-10
thoratic vertabrae of the spine. The origin is unknown. The lymph nodes and tissue around
it are clear. He recommends another MRI in 6 to 8 weeks and if it has grown then we do
something. I suggested a biopsy and he said that was certainly justifed if I wanted to do that. He called a surgeon to set it up. The surgeon thinks it is too small to biopsy and does not know if he can get enough of it to test. The surgeon is looking at my MRI today and will call me tomorrow and let me know for sure if he thinks he can biopsy it. A spot also showed up on my lumbar vertabrae (L-2). He said this spot was smaller than the other one and has no characteristics of malignancy. So that was good to hear.
If it does turn out to be malignant he said I am looking at chemo and radiation or just radiation.That will all hinge on the biopsy findings. A second opinion is also in the works.
Will let you all know when I know more. Keep praying!!! NK
04/30/07 - - Much has happened since I last emailed all of you. My family and I decided I should get a second opinion of the lesion Dr. Engstrom found on the T-10 of the spine.I went to Little Rock and met with Marianne Harrington, who is also a hematology oncologist. Her radiologist thought there was a 70% chance it was not malignant but we would retest it in May to see if there have been any changes. Because of it's location it is hard to get a true reading from a biopsy. I was okay with that.
The following day I received a call from Dr. Engstrom saying that his radiologist had reviewed my Pet Scan again and thought the lesion was not on my spine but at the duct of the pancreas. He wanted to wait 3 months and test it again. Needless to say, I could not wait 3 months.
I immediately called Dr. Harrington and she set up an MRI of the pancreas and of the uncinate process of the pancreas(this is located near the head of the pancreas) on Wednesday.
Today I got my results.
I have a 9 millimeter lesion on the uncinate process of the pancreas that is suspicious of a malignancy. The duct is clear. I will be having a biopsy of this area on Friday at 9:00am in Little Rock to determine if it is malignant and if this is isolated to the pancreas or if it is a matastisis from my breast cancer.
Because it is small, less than a centimeter, should it be malignant, I will have chemo and radiation again.
Again, I ask for your prayers not only for me but also my family. This is so hard on them. I keep telling them we have a great God and I am fully trusting him as I did the first time.
Norma Kay
05/08/07 - - I still have not heard the results from my biopsy last Friday. I know I should hear something tomorrow! I was told today by my family physician that the stains they make from the biopsy they took takes several days. I was not told that, but it makes sense. The main concern other than it being malignant is that it is a metastisis from the breast cancer or a whole new cancer somewhere else.
The radiologist did say that he had never seen a pancreatic cancer caught this early, if that is what it is. It would be the earliest detection he had ever seen in career. He also said it would be curable and treatable but would require a long difficult surgery,chemo and radiation.
BUT he said I had many positive things going for me and only one negative and that of course is that the lesion is there. He said had I never had cancer before and this spot showed up they would not even be doing anything about it! How weird is that!!!
Anyway, I just wanted to fill you in and I will let you all know something as soon as I know.
Again I can't thank you enough for your prayers and words of encouragement.Keep lifting my family up too! NK
05/09/07 - - I just found out that my biopsy was positive. I have a low grade malignancy. I am waiting for a call from my doctor to ask a few questions. Thank you again for your prayers. Please keep praying.NK
05/09/07 - 10:30 pm - - Dr. Harrington's phone call was great!!! This is what she said:
The cancer is NOT a metastisis from my breast cancer!!! It is a isolated pancreatic cancer.
Had it been from the breast cancer she said it would have been a stage 4, treatable but never curable!!
The spot they originally thought was on my back was this place on my pancreas so my back is clear!!!
The pathologist told Dr. Harrington if a person had to have pancreatic cancer, the uncinate
process of the pancreas is the best place to have it because of the successful cure rate.
The surgeon, Dr. John Jones, who she is referring me to, his specialty is liver and pancreatic surgeries. Depending on the pathology report after my surgery, I may or may not have to have chemo and radiation.
Dr. Harrington said of all the tissue taken(on the biopsy) only a few showed the malignancy.
I have an appt. with Dr. Jones next Wednesday May 16th at 2:00 pm and his office is in the same building I had my biopsy. She is not sure if he will just remove the mass and extensive tissue around it or if he will remove the entire uncinate process.
I have to tell all of you, I asked God that if it was malignant please just let it not be the matastisis from my breast cancer. He answered that prayer and so much more. I cannot
be anything but thankful. I am so blessed!!Even if I have to take chemo I am okay with that. My blessings far outweigh the bad. Can you tell that I am happy!!! God is so good! Will keep you informed as I learn new things.
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Rules from God for 2007

1. Wake Up !! Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" Psalms 118:24

2 Dress Up !! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10

5 Look Up !!... To the Lord. "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up !!... For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6

7 Lift Up !!... Your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; Instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6

God answers Knee-Mail.

Thanks to Jeanette Ford
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The following message is from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, Washington DC

Testifying before House Committee on Education and Labor, Chairman Carolyn W. Merritt Calls for Increasing Oversight of Refining Industry by OSHA

Washington, DC, March 22, 2007 - Carolyn W. Merritt, Chairman of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB), told a congressional committee today there should be increased oversight of the oil refining industry by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in order to prevent accidents such as the one that occurred at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas, in 2005. She spoke before the House Committee on Education and Labor, chaired by U.S. Rep. George Miller of California who convened the hearing 'to examine what we can learn from the missteps that preceded this disaster in order to help prevent future ones.'

Chairman Merritt said the CSB's exhaustive investigation into the BP accident, the results of which were released two days ago in Texas City, showed the company had not followed OSHA process safety regulations, and that OSHA had not adequately inspected the facility to see if BP was complying with those regulations. As a result, she said, cuts in training, staffing, maintenance, equipment modernization, and safety, which the investigation found were a result of significant budget cuts ordered by BP, left the Texas City facility vulnerable to catastrophe.

Ms. Merritt said, 'The CSB found that regulatory oversight of this refinery was ineffective. In recent years, OSHA has focused its inspections on workplaces with high injury rates, but these rates do not predict the likelihood of a catastrophic process accident at a facility.'

Ms. Merritt noted that the BP facility, like thousands of other petrochemical plants, is regulated under OSHA's Process Safety Management standard, issued in 1992. 'Rigorous application and enforcement of this rule - including its preventative maintenance and incident investigation requirements - would almost certainly have prevented this tragedy,' she said. She noted the BP refinery had a long history of deadly accidents and dangerous hydrocarbon releases from the same equipment that was involved in the Texas City accident.

The work of the CSB received bipartisan praise from committee members for the CSB's investigation of the BP tragedy and other accidents. Several expressed concern about the paucity of regulatory inspections in the petrochemical industry.

Chairman Miller said, 'Protecting the safety of refinery and chemical workers is reason enough to get this right. But the safety of our refineries and chemical facilities also has broader implications for the communities surrounding these plants. The disaster at BP Texas testifies to the steep price we pay as Americans for not enforcing the nation's laws that are supposed to protect working men and women in this country.' He said further hearings may be convened.

Following Chairman Merritt's testimony, other panelists addressed the committee, including Eva Rowe, who lost both parents in the explosion. They were among the 15 contract workers meeting in work trailers at the time of the blast. The CSB found the trailers were sited in a hazardous location at the plant, near a blowdown drum which spewed highly flammable hydrocarbons that were ignited by an idling pickup truck. The agency has recommended to the American Petroleum Institute (API) that trailer siting guidelines be revised.

Other panelists included Kim Nibarger, health and safety specialist for the United Steelworkers (USW), Frank L. 'Skip' Bowman, retired admiral and member of the BP Refineries Independent Safety Review Panel, which was instituted on the recommendation of the CSB and headed by former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker III, and Red Cavaney, American Petroleum Institute president and CEO.

The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.

The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. Please visit our website, www.csb.gov.

For more information, contact Sandy Gilmour at (202) 261-7614 / (202) 251-5496 cell.
~~~~~
A year of childcare 'disrupts'
Stephen Lunn, Social affairs writer
March 27, 2007

SPENDING a year or more in a long-daycare centre increases the likelihood that a child will be disruptive at school.
And the effect could last until he or she is 11 or 12.
The warning is made in a new US study, which says the child's gender, family's income level and quality of childcare made no difference to its conclusions.

The latest findings from the Study of Early Childcare and Youth Development, a $US200million ($248.6 million) longitudinal research project undertaken by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, were reported in The New York Times yesterday, and noted that time spent in high-quality daycare centres led to a better vocabulary in primary school.

It also found the disruptive effect to be slight and within the normal range for healthy children, with parents and a child's genes remaining stronger influences on behaviour.

But the relationship between time in childcare and social disruption in later years was a concern, one of the principal authors, Jay Belsky, said.

"This study makes it clear that it is not just quality (of childcare) that matters," Professor Belsky, now at the University of London, said. "What happens in classrooms, schools, playgrounds and communities when more and more children, at younger and younger ages, spend more and more time in centres, many that are indisputably of limited quality?"

Australian childcare experts warned yesterday childcare here was governed by stronger quality assurance systems than the US. Childcare Associations Australia president Anne Clark said she viewed the report with "a fair amount of scepticism".

"Australian children who have experienced time in long daycare have greater social skills, independence and are often more advanced in their developmental levels than other children," she said.

Barbara Pocock, director of the University of South Australia's Centre for Work and Life, said the message for Australian parents was "to watch out for quality of care".
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The photos on the front of this weeks “Bleat” include MCC’s Dream Center “100'” Bananna Split.
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Don’t forget to check out www.mcc2000.net
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We’ve now got several addresses on the web for "Da Bleat." For the latest issue, go to http://www.bugsbleat.blogspot.com
Our photos are posted at http://www.bugsbleatphotos.blogspot.com.
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Feel free to share the "Bleat" with any and all. That's why we publish it.
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www.aaa.com Regular
Current Avg. $ 2.45
http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/
Albemarle Employee’s pump $2.28
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Recipe(s) of the week - We’re sharing recipes from Shannon Voigt’s Taylor Recipe Book
Chocolate Meringues Recipe courtesy Lynn Kearney of Food Network Kitchens

3 egg whites, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup granulated, superfine sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch process cocoa, sifted

Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and granulated sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat until the egg whites are stiff and shiny and the sugar granules cannot be felt in the whites. Beat in the vanilla, reduce speed to low and add cocoa until combined. With a spatula put the egg white mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe 2-inch meringue "kisses" on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart. Bake in the middle of oven for 2 hours. Turn off oven and leave the meringues in it for at least 2 more hours or until meringues are completely dry.

Nutrition Information
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving Calories 15
Total fat 0g Saturated fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 3mg
Carbohydrates 3g Protein 0g
Fiber 0g

Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 2 hours
Yield: approximately 50 meringues

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_6914,00.html
~~~~~
BreakPoint
With Chuck Colson

The Teflon Naturalist
3/30/2007
Giving Darwin a Pass

Since its publication in 1859, tens, if not hundreds, of millions of people have been killed in the name of ideologies that cited Darwin’s Origin of Species as justification for their actions.

Yet, despite this bloody history, Darwinism, and especially Darwin himself, have benefited from a Teflon coating that would have made Ronald Reagan jealous. Darwinists have characterized any connection between Darwinism and these ideologies as aberrations and distortions. And they have been particularly keen to absolve Darwin himself of any responsibility.

But a recent article in the liberal religious journal Commonweal gives us ample reasons to question that absolution.

In it, writer Peter Quinn describes the attempt by Darwin’s defenders to “[insulate Darwin] from any unpleasantries associated with his ideas or their consequences.” Instead of presenting the historical Darwin, they create what Quinn calls this “gentle Darwin”—a “benevolent naturalist fighting against entrenched ignorance.”

Thus, “Social Darwinism,” which justified the oppression of the poor and the weak, is nearly always portrayed as an after-the-fact corruption of Darwin’s thoughts. Yet, Darwin’s own notebooks make it plain that “Darwinism was invented to explain human society.” They anticipate Darwinism’s influence on “competition, free trade, imperialism, racial extermination, and sexual inequality.”

Then there’s eugenics, the attempt to improve “human hereditary traits through direct intervention.” The attempts to “improve the race” produced unimaginable human suffering: Mandatory sterilization laws in the United States left countless women unable to have children. And then there was Nazi Germany and its “racial hygiene” laws.

Nobody can deny the connection between eugenics and Darwinism—not only because its principles were derived from Darwin’s work, but also because the father of eugenics, Francis Galton, was Darwin’s cousin.

Yet, pointing out this connection is regarded as unfair and outrageous. We are told that Darwin was, in fact, one of the “greatest exponents and examples” of humanism. Far from being the worldview of bloody tyrants, Darwinism, we are told, is “humanism in flight” and “roomy enough for ordinary love to breathe in.” Oh, my.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, the real Charles Darwin, in the second edition of The Descent of Man, endorsed Galton’s eugenic theories. He called them “remarkable” and labeled the higher birth rates among the poor “a most important obstacle in civilized countries.”

To be fair, by all accounts, Charles Darwin was an honorable and kind man. But he also knew and even approved of some of the horrible uses to which his theories could be put. While that does not make him necessarily responsible for the Nazis, for example, it makes the whole “humanism in flight” notion laughable.

Ironically, one species of Darwinism was directly linked with care for the poor and the alleviation of suffering: that of Darwin’s wife, Emma. Her “kindness was legendary.” She fed the village poor, ministered to their sick, and even provided pensions for their elderly.

As Darwin’s biographers put it, Emma “understood human suffering.” Not surprisingly, Emma was “a practicing Christian” who remained “true to her Anglican faith.” That’s why, as Quinn says, “She was the one and true gentle Darwinian.”

Moral Darwinism: How We Became Hedonists by Benjamin Wiker.

For Further Reading and Information

Peter Quinn, “The Gentle Darwinians: What Darwin’s Champions Won’t Mention,” Commonweal, 9 March 2007.

BreakPoint Commentary No. 060406, “Better for All the World?: Apple-Pie Eugenics.”

BreakPoint Commentary No. 060407, “Deadly Exports: Better for All the World?”

BreakPoint Commentary No. 031002, “Apple-Pie Eugenics: War against the Weak.”

BreakPoint Commentary No. 050830, “A Matter of Life and Death: From Darwin to Hitler.”

Nigel M. de S. Cameron, “Unfinished Business: How the United States Manufactured Eugenics for the Nazis,” BreakPoint Online, 17 October 2003.

The BreakPoint Web site and BreakPoint WorldView Magazine feature Colson’s commentaries as well as feature articles by other established and up-and-coming writers to equip readers with a biblical perspective on a variety of issues and topics.
© 2004-2006 Prison Fellowship
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Words of the Week:
dour: stern or unyielding or gloomy.
expunge: to strike out or erase; to obliterate.
autochthonous: indigenous; native.
roborant: restoring strength or vigor; also, a restorative.
presentiment: a premonition.
excursus: a digression.
undulant: resembling waves in form, motion, or occurrence.
from Dictionary.Com
~~~~~
"Self-esteem equals Success over Pretensions." - William James

"When it is not necessary to change, it is necessary not to change." - Lucius Cary

"Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character." - Henry Clay

"Don't say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The lack of objectivity, as far as foreign nations are concerned, is notorious. From one day to another, another nation is made out to be utterly depraved and fiendish, while one's own nation stands for everything that is good and noble. Every action of the enemy is judged by one standard - every action of oneself by another. Even good deeds by the enemy are considered a sign of particular devilishness, meant to deceive us and the world, while our bad deeds are necessary and justified by our noble goals which they serve." - Erich Fromm

"Youth is not a time of life - it is a state of mind. It is not a matter of red cheeks, red lips and supple knees. It is a temper of the will; a quality of the imagination; a vigor of the emotions; it is a freshness of the deep springs of life. Youth means a tempermental predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over a life of ease. This often exists in a man of fifty, more than in a boy of twenty. Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years; people grow old by deserting their ideals." - Samuel Ullman

"The most conservative persons I ever met are college undergraduates. The radicals are the men past middle life." - Woodrow Wilson
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BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

# Thousands Rally Against Abortion in Poland
# International Experts Agree Male Circumcision Must be Implemented Quickly to Combat HIV
# Stephen Bennett Extends Ministry to Christian Parents of Homosexuals
# Cal Thomas on Tony Snow: Truly a Man of Faith

# Priceless Russian Church Bells, Saved by an American and Donated to Harvard, to be Returned to Original Monastery
# EU Unveils New Berlin Declaration—Germany and Italy Protest Omission of Christianity
# Poll Shows Majority of Americans Support Israel
# Songwriter Brian Doerksen Shares on Leading Worship, Communicating God's Heart and on Going Deeper with a Holy God

# Wounded Warrior Project Helps Bring Comfort, and Eases Transition from War for Injured Servicemen and Women
# Which State Knows the Most About the Bible? Alabama
# An Answer to Prayer: Aviation Missionary Creates the Ideal Missionary Aircraft
# Alternative Jamestown Celebration to Dedicate Christian Monument Paid for by America's Children

# An "Unprecedented" and "Very Positive" Day in Northern Ireland
# Resolution of Apology to Native Americans Introduced into Both Chambers of Congress
# Prayer Alert: Ethical Outrage as Scientists Create "Human-Sheep"
# A Promise from God Fulfilled—a BCN Exclusive Interview with the Mother of Amillia Taylor, World's Smallest Surviving Preemie

# Texas Senator Proposes Legislation to Pay Women Not to Abort Their Babies
# Hollywood Prayer Network Seeking Christians to Start Praying, Stop Boycotting
# New Christian Video Website to Rival YouTube—It's GodTube.com

# Latest Update on Mozambique and Iris Ministries
# New Images of the Sun Amazes Astronomers
# Vote Life, Canada! Launches on March 25, International Day of the Unborn Child—Aims to Assist Church Leaders in Defending the Unborn
# Billionaire Opens Mansions to Homeless

Breaking Christian News
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GCF: Local Crime

Found on the internet at The Tribe of Woolgatherers -Tom http://www.woolgatherers.org/ They are a collection of strange, talented, twisted, and funny individuals who come together in the most holiest of devotions: to laugh.

If this was forwarded to you, please consider your own subscription to Good Clean Fun. It's free! A smile will enhance the quality of your life. SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE INFO for Good Clean Fun is at the end of this email. This email was scanned by Norton AntiVirus before it was sent.
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Special warning: this is a "groaner!"

A thief broke into the local police station and stole all the lavatory equipment.

A spokesperson was quoted as saying, "We have absolutely nothing to go on."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Fairest Tax?

Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Mark) -Tom
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At a business conference in Montpelier, Vermont, the state tax commissioner asked the audience which sort of taxation they found fairest. There was a pause, and then a white-haired man in the back raised his hand. "The poll tax," he said.

"But the poll tax was repealed," replied the commissioner. "Ay-ah," declared the man, "that's what I like about it."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Change is Good?

Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Dwayne) -Tom
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Bill and Moe had started with only five hundred dollars between them, but they had built up a computer business with sales in the millions. Their company employed over two hundred people, and the two executives lived like princes.

Almost overnight, things changed. Sales dropped sharply, former customers disappeared, the business failed, and personal debts forced both into bankruptcy. Bill and Moe blamed each other for the troubles, and they parted on unfriendly terms.

Five years later, Bill drove up to a decrepit diner and stopped for a cup of coffee. As he was discreetly wiping some crumbs from the table, a waiter approached. Bill looked up and gasped.

"Moe!" he said, shaking his head. "It's a terrible thing, seeing you working in a place as bad as this."

"Yeah," Moe said with a smirk. "But at least I don't eat here."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: The Caddy

Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Bill) -Tom
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After a long day on the course, the exasperated golfer turned to his caddy and said, "You must be the absolute worst caddy in the world!"

"No, I don't think so," said the caddy. "That would be too much of a coincidence."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Clue-Challenged

Found at The Shark Tank (Computerworld) -Tom http://www.computerworld.com/blogs/node/5245?source=NLT_SHARK&nlid=6
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The server had to be taken offline on an emergency basis to fix a major problem and restore corrupted data. The group responsible did a wonderful job of minimizing downtime and keeping everyone informed about the progress, reports a technician there.

But once it's all over, one particularly clue-challenged middle manager sends along a request for handling the next crisis. "Any chance we can conduct these activities over the weekends? This was not a good thing to have happen during the standard workweek."
_ ____________________________ _
(((\ \>|_/ )______________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / The earth is like a \ /
\ _/ tiny grain of sand, \_ /
/ / only much, much heavier. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )______________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / If Wal-Mart is lowering \ \_/ ////
\ / prices every day, \ /
\ _/ how come nothing in \_ /
/ / the store is free yet? \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )______________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Tact is the art of making \ /
\ _/ guests feel at home \_ /
/ / when that's where you wish they were. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )______________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / I'm addicted to placebos. \ \_/ ////
\ / I'd give them up, but \ /
\ _/ it wouldn't make any difference. \_ /
/ / --Steven Wright \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )______________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Treat each day as your last. \ /
\ _/ One day you will be right. \_ /
/ / \ \
_ ____________________________ _
| Thomas S. Ellsworth |
| tellswor@slonet.org |
| http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor |
|___________________________|
Stop for a visit, leave with a smile! To join Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-subscribe@yahoogroups.Com To leave Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.Com Or visit the Good Clean Fun web site at http://www. slonet.org/~tellswor/
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[GCFL.net] What Is Marketing?

You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say, "I am very rich. Marry me!" That's Direct Marketing.

You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl. One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says, "He's very rich. Marry him." That's Advertising.

You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and get her telephone number. The next day you call and say, "Hi, I'm very rich. Marry me." That's Telemarketing.

You're at a party and see a gorgeous girl. You get up and straighten your tie; you walk up to her and compliment her hair. You open the door for her, pick up her bag after she drops it, offer her a ride, and then say, "By the way, I'm very rich. Will you marry me?" That's Public Relations.

You're at a party and see a gorgeous girl. She walks up to you and says, "You are very rich..." That's Brand Recognition.

You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say, "I'm rich. Marry me." She gives you a nice hard slap on your face.
That's Customer Feedback.

Received from Pastor Tim.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Newspaper Ad

The following is an ad that appeared four days in a row in a real-life newspaper -- the last three hopelessly trying to correct the first day's mistake.

MONDAY: For sale: R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Phone 948-0707 after 7 PM and ask for Mrs. Kelly who lives with him cheap.

TUESDAY Notice: We regret having erred in R.D. Jones' ad yesterday. It should have read "One sewing machine for sale cheap. Phone 948-0707 and ask for Mrs. Kelly, who lives with him after 7 PM."

WEDNESDAY Notice: R.D. Jones has informed us that he has received several annoying telephone calls because of the error we made in the classified ad yesterday. The ad stands correct as follows: "For sale: R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Cheap. Phone 948-0707 after 7 PM and ask for Mrs. Kelly who loves with him."

THURSDAY Notice: I, R.D. Jones, have no sewing machine for sale. I smashed it. Don't call 948-0707 as I have had the phone disconnected. I have not been carrying on with Mrs. Kelly. Until yesterday she was my housekeeper but she quit!

Received from Thomas S. Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

A contestant on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" had reached the final plateau. If she answered the next question correctly, she would win $1,000,000. If she answered incorrectly, she would pocket only the $32,000 milestone money.

As she suspected it would be, the million-dollar question was no pushover: Which of the following species of birds does not build its own nest, but instead lays its eggs in the nests of other birds?

Is it:

A) the condor;
B) the buzzard;
C) the cuckoo; or
D) the vulture?

The woman was on the spot. She did not know the answer. And she was doubly on the spot because she had used up her 50/50 Lifeline and her Audience Poll Lifeline. All that remained was her Phone-a-Friend Lifeline, and the woman had hoped against hope that she would not have to use it because the only friend that she knew would be home happened to be a blonde. But the contestant had no alternative.

She called her friend and gave her the question and the four choices.

The blonde responded unhesitatingly: "That's easy. The answer is C: The cuckoo."

The contestant had to make a decision and make it fast. She considered employing a reverse strategy and giving Regis any answer except the one that her friend had given her. And considering that her friend was a blonde, it would seem to be the logical thing to do. On the other hand, the blonde had responded with such confidence, such certitude, that the contestant could not help but be persuaded. "I need an answer," said Regis.

"C: The cuckoo."

"Is that your final answer?" asked Regis.

"Yes, that is my final answer."

Two seconds later, Regis said, "I regret to inform you that the answer is ... absolutely correct. You are now a millionaire!"

A few days later, the contestant hosted a party for her family and friends, including the blonde who had helped her win the million dollars. "Jenny, I just do not know how to thank you," said the contestant. "Because of your knowing the answer to that final question, I am now a millionaire. And do you want to know something? It was the assuredness with which you answered the question that convinced me to go with your choice. By the way, how did you happen to know the right answer?"

"Oh, come on!" said the blonde. "Everybody knows that cuckoos don't build nests. They live in clocks."

Received from Gene.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Meeting Dad

/* We only received a handful of complaints about the April Fools joke last week. That's not too bad considering about 1,055 people filled it out! :) Thanks to all of you good sports out there! Hope you have a great Tuesday! */

A good friend of mine warned me that, as my three daughters became old enough to date, I'd disapprove of every young man who took them out.

But when the time came, I was pleased that my friend's prediction was wrong. Each boy was pleasant and well mannered.

Talking to my daughter Joanna one day, I said that I liked all the young men she and her sisters brought home.

"You know, Dad," she replied, "we don't show you everybody."

Received from Steve Sanderson.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Donkey in a Well

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, so it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw.

With every shovel full of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.

The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.

We can get out of the deepest wells by not stopping, never giving up! Shake the dirt off and take a step up! Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Received from Bob Seegmiller.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Murphy's Laws on Computers

- As soon as you delete a worthless file, you'll need it.

- Installing a new program will always mess up at least one old one.

- You can't win them all, but you sure can lose them all.

- The likelihood of a hard disk crash is in direct proportion to the value of the material that hasn't been backed up.

- There are only two kinds of computer users: Those whose hard disks have crashed, and those whose hard disks haven't crashed - yet.

- Anything can be made to work if you fiddle with it. If you fiddle with something long enough, you'll break it.

Received from Cathy Gilstrap.

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
Rate this funny at http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20060113
Brought to you by GCFL.net: The Good, Clean Funnies List A cheerful heart is good medicine... (Prov 17:22a) Mail address: GCFL, Box 100, Harvest, AL 35749, USA
To print or email this funny to others, go to http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20060113
The latest GCFL funny can always be found on the web at http://www.gcfl.net/latest.php
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
Rules for the phone.

How ALL business phones SHOULD be answered!

GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA .

Press "1" for English.

Press "2" to disconnect until you learn to speak English
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Welcome to You Make Me Laugh, a free newsletter from Crosswalk.com, the world's largest Christian website.

*60's Fans*

Fans of '60's music, my 14-year-old daughter and her best friend got front-row tickets to a Peter, Paul, and Mary concert.

When they returned home, my daughter said, "During the show, we looked back an saw hundreds of little lights swaying to the music. At first we thought people were holding up cigarette lighters. Then we realized that the lights were the reflections off all the eyeglasses in the audience.

(-:][:-)

*Office Answering Message*

"Hello, you have reached an office that thought it was so smart getting all it's employees cordless phones. The person you are trying to reach is here right now, staring at me as I answer this call and searching desperately for their cordless phone in the mess on their desk.

"It won't matter if they find it since they didn't leave it on the charger last night and the battery is dead. So you might as well leave a message with me and I'll have them call you after the 4 hour handset recharge period is completed."

(-:][:-)

*Radiator Cap Repair*

I remember an old car I used to own. You know the kind, ratty and raggedy, driven when I was a poor college student. I was having trouble with something I couldn't readily identify myself, so I took it into the shop.

The mechanic looked at it a couple of minutes and said, "What you really need is the radiator cap solution."

"Oh," I said, trying not to sound too confused. "Do you mean the radiator cap isn't holding enough pressure?"

"That's part of the problem" he said. "What you really need to do is lift the radiator cap and drive another car under it. Then the next day you can replace the radiator cap, and it should solve your problem."

(-:][:-)

*ESP Banking*

Tired of having to balance his wife Cindy's checkbook, Mike made a deal with her; he would only look at it after she had spent a few hours trying to wrestle it into shape. Only then would he lend his expertise.

The following night, after spending hours poring over stubs and figures, Cindy said proudly, "There! I've done it! I made it balance!"

Impressed, Mike came over to take a look.

"Let's see...mortgage 550.00, electricity 70.50, phone 35.00." His brow wrinkled as he read the last entry. "It says here ESP, 615.00. What is that?"

"Oh," she said, "That means, Error Some Place!!!"

(-:][:-)

*Missing Church*

Two men were fishing on a lake, feeling guilty that it was a Sunday morning, that they were not attending church, and the fish were not biting.

The first guy eventually says: "I should have stayed home and gone to church."

To which the other angler replied: "I couldn't have gone to church, anyhow. My wife is sick in bed."

(-:][:-)

Eye Laugh

"Take a Number"
http://www.cybersalt.org/go.php?id=cw370

"Convertible Maker"
http://www.cybersalt.org/go.php?id=cw368

"Thanks for the Warning"
http://www.cybersalt.org/go.php?id=cw366

"Extreme Prosthetics"
http://www.cybersalt.org/g06.php?id=162

"Farm Pollution"
http://www.cybersalt.org/go.php?id=cw363

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
Daily devotionals are available at http://link.Crosswalk.Com/UM/T.asp?A1. 39. 17757. 1. 494611 You can access more information on Crosswalk's Fun page http://www.Crosswalk.Com/fun/! Crosswalk gives credit to the author of a joke when author is known. Feel free to send notification to admin@cybersalt.org in cases where credit has not been given to the author! -SUBSCRIPTION INFO- * Copyright2004 Crosswalk.Com, Inc. and its Content Providers. All rights reserved. Introducing www.Crossguide.Com Where Christians find Products, Services & Ministries.
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"Don't strive for recognition, but work for achievement." -- Vanessa Malone
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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - - http://www.madkane.com/musical.html - - Musical Accord (Spoof Contract)

Monday, September 18th, 2006
One afternoon your ten-year old daughter comes home from school, enthused about learning to play an instrument. Your eyeballs start to throb. Your head begins to pulsate. You ask yourself whether tin ears are passed down from parents to their children. How do you resolve this dissonant dilemma?

AGREEMENT entered into on ___________, 20__ , by noise-averse Parents and instrument wielding Child.

WHEREAS, Child has expressed an interest in studying the sax;

WHEREAS, Parents hate the sax and don't even consider it a real instrument;

WHEREAS, Child argues that playing the sax may lead to the Presidency or at least to a shot on Arsenio Hall;

WHEREAS, Parents concede the worthiness of such goals, but remind Child that after three years of piano lessons she didn't even master Chopsticks and, anyway, shouldn't Child play something feminine like the flute?

WHEREAS, Child's best friend's mother is letting her take up the sax, and if Parents let Child do this one little thing, she promises she will never again crush her cousin's accordion.

NOW, THEREFORE, Parents and Child agree to the following terms:

1. In lieu of studying the sax or the flute, Child shall play the clarinet which is sort of like the sax but much less annoying. The parties further agree that if Child complies with this contract for a year, she may, if she deems it appropriate, switch to the sax. Parents feel safe in making this concession because Child has never complied with anything for longer than a nanosecond.

2. Parents shall pay all clarinet rental bills. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Child doesn't practice at least one-half hour per day, the obligation to pay such bills shall revert to Child who shall pay them out of her allowance, even if it takes the rest of her life. However, Child's duty to practice shall be void when her body temperature exceeds 101 degrees and when Parents are entertaining guests.

3. Practice sessions shall take place in Child's bedroom with the door tightly shut at all times. In the event a Parent is ill or had a bad day at the office, such session shall at Parents' option be canceled or be conducted in the basement tool closet. Child hereby waives any right she may have to claim that closet clarinet practice constitutes child abuse.

4. Phrases like "But I don't wanna practice" are hereby be banned. Any utterance of same by Child shall increase her practice time, except in the event of a Parental headache.

5. Child shall not be required to regale relatives with clarinet renditions of "Doe A Deer," "Jingle Bells," or "Mary Had A Little Lamb". Nor shall Child inflict same on guests without the mutual written agreement of all interested parties. If Child does in fact perform, phrases such as "she's such a cute little talent" shall be strictly prohibited, especially when accompanied by head patting or cheek pinching.

6. Child acknowledges that she will have to carry the clarinet to school twice a week for lessons and band practice. The weight of such instrument shall not entitle Child to a ride to or from school. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Child carries more than four school books on any given day, she shall be given a lift by a Parent to be selected in rotation, provided that Child establishes to said Parent's satisfaction that Child used said books within fifteen hours of said ride. Parents concede that Child's arithmetic book is unusually heavy and that it should count as two books in making the aforesaid textbook calculation.

7. Child acknowledges that clarinet reeds are expensive and delicate and agrees to use them only for the purpose of emitting clarinet type sounds. In return for Parents' agreement to supply her with reeds, Child agrees not to chew them, bend them, or feed them to the dog.

8. Parents shall attend Child's band concerts and shall abstain from all embarrassing auditorium activity including but not limited to taking flash photos, jumping up and down in their seats and waving, or yelling "That's my kid. Isn't she great?" Parents further agree to applaud with enthusiasm no matter how much their ears hurt.

9. Child promises that if she ever becomes a famous musician she will give Parents complete credit, especially when she accepts her first Grammy.

WHEREFORE, we affix our signatures.

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

© 1993 Madeleine Begun Kane. All Rights Reserved.
1st Published Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine

http://www.madkane.com
http://www.madkane.com/notable.html (Notables Weblog)
http://www.madkane.com/bush.html (Dubya's Dayly Diary)
Subscribe to MadKane Humor Newsletter (weekly) here:
http://www.madkane.com/email.html
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| Safety from the Heart |
-----------------------------------------------------
March 29, 2007
Prepared by Niomi Krzystowczyk

Department of Transportation Offers Advice on the Safe Transportation of Batteries and Battery-Powered Devices by Airline Passengers and Crew

Air travelers flying with the kinds of batteries used in many cell phones, laptops, cameras and other portable electronic devices should take precautions to reduce the risk of fires on aircraft, according to a new safety advisory released by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

"We're determined to keep America's airlines the safest in the world," said PHMSA Chief Safety Officer and Assistant Administrator Stacey L. Gerard. "Airline passengers can help us do that by following simple precautions in packing and handling their batteries and battery-powered equipment."

Passengers should, according to the advisory, keep spare batteries in their original retail packaging; keep loose batteries covered with insulating tape to protect them from contact with metal objects; place each battery in its own protective case, plastic bag, or package; and pack spare batteries in carry-on baggage, rather than checked baggage. Also, passengers should use only chargers designed for the battery type and take steps to prevent crushing, puncturing or dropping batteries.

The agency said it was concerned by two recent incidents on board commercial aircraft. On February 10, a fire broke out in the overhead baggage compartment on a JetBlue flight. Preliminary investigation results indicate one or more loose batteries may have been the source of the fire. On March 18, PHMSA received reports that a battery had overheated or ignited on board an American Airlines aircraft flying from Argentina. In each case, airline employees responded quickly, extinguishing the fire and safely landing the aircraft.

The agency noted that current regulations provide for the safe transportation of batteries and that it is moving forward with proposals to enhance the safety requirements, particularly with respect to testing, labeling, and packaging standards. The agency is working with the Air Line Pilots Association, in conjunction with the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations, to send a similar Safety Alert to their 60,000 member pilots. The agency is working with manufacturers to improve design and packaging for all batteries. It added that it also is working with the Federal Aviation Administration on the safe transportation of batteries on aircraft, and with consumer device manufacturers, testing laboratories, and other federal and state safety officials to help improve battery safety.
_________________________________
| Safety from the Heart |
-----------------------------------------------------
March 30, 2007

Tips To Prevent Baseball Injuries

Each year, almost 500,000 baseball-related injuries are treated in hospitals, doctors' offices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and hospital emergency rooms.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers the following tips to prevent baseball injuries:

Always take time to warm up and stretch. Research studies have shown that cold muscles are more prone to injury. Warm up with jumping jacks, stationary cycling or running or walking in place for 3 to 5 minutes. Then slowly and gently stretch, holding each stretch for 30 seconds.

Your equipment should fit properly and be worn correctly.

Wear a batting helmet at the plate, when waiting a turn at bat, and when running bases.

Facial protection devices that are attached to batting helmets are available in some leagues. These devices can help reduce the risk of a serious facial injury if you get hit by a ball.

Follow the guidelines about the number of innings pitched as specified by your baseball league (usually four to 10 innings a week) not by the number of teams played on.

While there is no concrete guideline for the number of pitches allowed, a reasonable approach is to count the number of pitches thrown and use 80 to 100 pitches as a maximum in a game, and 30 to 40 pitches in a practice.

Wear the appropriate mitt for your position. Catchers should always use a catcher's mitt.

Catchers should always wear a helmet, face mask, throat guard, long-model chest protector, protective supporter, and shin guards.

Wear molded, cleated baseball shoes that fit properly.

Inspect the playing field for holes, glass, and other debris.

Be knowledgeable about first aid and be able to administer it for minor injuries, such as facial cuts, bruises, or minor tendinitis, strains, or sprains.

Be prepared for emergency situations and have a plan to reach medical personnel to treat injuries such as concussions, dislocations, elbow contusions, wrist or finger sprains, and fractures.

For more information on "Prevent Injuries America!®," call the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' public service telephone number 1-800-824-BONES (2663).

February 2002

Source: U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's 1999 NEISS data and estimates, based on injuries treated in hospitals, doctors' offices, ambulatory care facilities, clinics and hospital emergency
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Our Church, Magnolia Christian Center, has the following mission statement. Our purpose is to build a great church for the glory of God through the great commission and the great commandment. MCC' Vision - That MCC will be a place hopping with children, energized with teenagers, balanced with diversity and transformed by the power of God! We want to turn uninterested people into interested people and win the lost to make fully devoted followers of Christ. www.mcc2000.net
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TOURBUS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -:) - :)- :)
Volume 12, Number 32 --- 28 Mar 2007
Tourbus Home -- http://www.InternetTourbus.com

TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPICS: Switch From Win to Mac / Adding RAM

In today's TOURBUS, you'll find help switching from Windows to a Mac. Blasphemy? Nah... you can run Windows right on your Mac desktop if you like. I've also got an illustrated guide to adding RAM to your computer, and quick guides to buying a cell phone, tricking out your Firefox browser, and adding nifty gadgets to your website. Read on!

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

Switching From Windows to Mac?
--------------------------------

It's been said that operating systems are like religions, except that people feel more strongly about their operating system. Devoted fans of Macs and PCs have been in heated debate for years, even before the
"I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" commercials ever appeared on TV.

Let's set aside the question of which camp is "right" and focus on the reasons why some people choose a Mac over a PC, the major differences between the two operating systems, and the learning curve you will face, for the benefit of those who are considering a switch from Windows to a Mac...


http://askbobrankin.com/switching_from_windows_to_mac.html

--------------------------------------------
OR... Why Switch? Run Windows On Your Mac!
--------------------------------------------

One would think from all the media buzz, that computer users fall into two distinct categories: right-brain dominant, latte-slurping Macintosh users and left-brain dominant, number-crunching Windows users. The reality is there's both a sterotypical Mac and Windows user in all of us. Depending on the task at hand, sometimes a Mac is just right for the job, and sometimes a Windows app is what you need.

So what's a computer user who wants the best of both worlds to do? Buy two systems? Sure, that's an option. But recent developments make it easy to run BOTH Mac OS X and Windows side-by-side on ONE computer. You can even cut and paste between the two! Here's the scoop on how to run Windows on your Mac...


http://askbobrankin.com/run_windows_on_mac.html

------------------------------
Gimme Just A Little More RAM
------------------------------

If your computer seems to stagger under the burden of your commands, responding slowly, freezing or timing you out; if working at your system feels like bicycling uphill, consider adding extra memory.

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the temporary working memory that the operating system, programs and documents use when your computer is running. (Don't confuse RAM with hard drive storage, which is where your files are stashed.) For years, processors and software have been growing increasingly RAM-hungry. A decade ago, 64MB of RAM was considered more than enough, but today that's laughably inadequate.

Adding memory to your computer isn't so hard -- here's a step-by-step guide to figuring out if you need more RAM, learning what kind to buy and installing it yourself...


http://askbobrankin.com/adding_memory.html

-------------------------------
What Cell Phone Should I Buy?
-------------------------------

With hundreds of cell phones on the market you can narrow down your choices by first deciding what features you need or want. Consider first how and how often you're going to use your phone. Will it be for business and travel, everyday home use, or for emergencies only?

Do you want your mobile phone to take snapshots, play music, gut fish drive a nail and double as a spare tire? You may want a phone that's JUST A PHONE -- a basic model without all the features that make cell phones more complicated and more costly -- or you may want a gadget that can phone home, film a documentary and sling spreadsheets. Read on for a handy guide to buying the cell phone that's right for you...


http://askbobrankin.com/best_cell_phone.html

-------------------------
Is Your Website Boring?
-------------------------

Personal websites are great for sharing your pictures, videos, poetry and ideas. Maybe you have a blog, online store or a website for your club or association. Whatever the case, if you're looking for ideas to jazz up your pages, I have some good news for you.

If you can copy and paste, there are plenty of cool things you can do to spiff up your website, blog or online store, without knowing a thing about programming or script writing. And even cooler, most of them won't cost you a thing. Here's my guide to the best sources for website gadgets:


http://askbobrankin.com/website_gadgets.html

----------------------
Tricking Out Firefox
----------------------

Firefox is an alternative web browser that is rapidly growing in popularity -- approaching 100 million users worldwide and grabbing 15 percent of the browser market from Internet Explorer. A casual user might not even notice the difference between the two browsers, but TOURBUS readers, widely recognized by experts as smarter and better looking than the average Internet user, will know better.

Under the covers, Firefox's focus on privacy and security has won it many converts from Internet Explorer. But Firefox's attention to flexibility and usability is what turns many users into rabid fans. Let's focus on the flexibility factor and see how easy it is to customize your Firefox browser...


http://askbobrankin.com/tricking_out_firefox.html

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

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

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

==[ Tourbus Rider Information ]==
The Internet Tourbus - U.S. Library of Congress ISSN #1094-2238 Copyright 1995-2005, Rankin & Crispen - All rights reserved Tourbus News Service - http://tourbus.com/news.html Subscribe, Signoff, Archives, Free Stuff and More at the Tourbus Website - http://www.TOURBUS.com
========================
.~~~. ))
(\__/) .' ) )) Patrick Douglas Crispen
/o o \/ .~
{o_, \ { crispen@netsquirrel.com
/ , , ) \ http://www.netsquirrel.com/
`~ -' \ } )) AOL Instant Messenger: Squirrel2K
_( ( )_.'
---..{____} Warning: squirrels.
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Activities and Events of Interest

19th Annual Magnolia Blossom Festival & World Championship Steak Cook-Off
May 18 - May 19, 2007
~~~
The Emancipation Proclamation will be on display at the Clinton Library September 22-25, 2007.
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"September 11 WDYTJWD" W. P. Florence
Justice first, then peace."
"September 11" Never forget.--Tony Moses
"ONE NATION UNDER GOD ...the only way"--Phillip Story
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Keeping my head down but face toward Heaven" - - Jody Eldred, ABC News Cameraman in Kuwait
"Remember Pearl Harbor? Remember 9/11!" --"Bug"
Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. - - George Carlin
"Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!" - - Queen E. Watson
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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.
A partial list of workplace fatalities.

Construction accident kills worker in West Philly

Philadelphia, PA -- A 47-year-old construction worker was killed this morning when a front-end loader fell on him at a West Philadelphia work site, police said.

The worker, not immediately identified, was pronounced dead at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania ay 10:07 a.m., about a half-hour after the accident at the site on the 400 block of North 62nd Street in Carroll Park.


Freak accident kills flagpole worker in St. Paul;

St. Paul, MN -- A flagpole repairman was killed Wednesday in St. Paul when a heavy metal ball fell off the pole he was working on and hit him in the head.

"It shouldn't have fallen off, and of all the areas to hit, it shouldn't have hit him," said Joan White, the victim's wife. Her 63-year-old husband, Gene White, who owned Twin Cities Flag Source in Anoka, was hit outside a Perkins restaurant about 1:30 p.m. He was pronounced dead later at Regions Hospital.

The metal ball that hit her husband weighed more than 10 pounds and is bigger than a bowling ball. It screwed into the top of the 70-foot flagpole. James Honerman, a spokesman for Minnesota OSHA, said Wednesday afternoon that his agency is investigating. He said that objects falling on workers have resulted in 15 deaths in Minnesota in the past five years. The agency also has investigated nine injuries resulting from falling objects at work in that time, he said.


Cab Driver Dies in Long Island Crash

CENTRAL ISLIP, Long Island -- A Long Island cabbie was killed when he crashed his taxi into two telephone poles and a fire hydrant in Central Islip. Suffolk County police said Preston Lawrence, 51, of Brentwood was driving a Comfort Ride Taxi at 2:15 Wednesday morning when he may have suffered a heart attack and lost control of the wheel. Lawrence was transported to Southside Hospital where he was pronounced dead.


Volunteer fireman killed fighting house fire in Hamilton Co.

CHATTANOOGA Tenn. -- A volunteer fireman honored as his department's firefighter of the year for 2006 was killed battling a house blaze in northern Hamilton County early Friday, emergency officials said.

Shane Daughetee, 24, was involved in a search and rescue operation inside the burning house in the Harrison area when he fell through the floor into the basement, Hamilton County Emergency Services spokeswoman Amy Maxwell said in a statement.
Authorities said Daughetee was married.


Trooper killed

East Quogue, NY -- An 18-year veteran state trooper was killed yesterday in a car accident after hitting a patch of black ice while on patrol in East Quogue, state police said. Jose Rosado, 45, of Deer Park, is the first state trooper stationed on Long Island to die in the line of duty in 10 years.

Rosado arrived at the barracks at 7 a.m. for a 12-hour shift, Heesch said. He was traveling south on County Road 104 south of Sunrise Highway about 9 a.m. when he hit black ice on a curve and lost control of his patrol vehicle, a 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe. It spun around into the northbound lane and struck a 2005 Chevrolet Suburban.


MAN DIES IN PLANT ACCIDENT

Chicago, IL -- A 20-year-old man died this week after his head got entangled in a hydraulic compressor at a southwest suburban distribution plant. Shawn Menzie, of Harvey, was operating a cardboard compressor Monday at Sertoma Centre at 4100 W. 127th St. in Alsip when he got caught, Alsip Police Chief Robert Troy said. Menzie was feeding pieces of cardboard into the machine and apparently stuck his head into the apparatus, Troy said. It was not clear why Menzie stuck his head into the machine, Troy said. Menzie died from blunt trauma to his head and neck.

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NEVER FORGET! We're listing the names of our soldiers killed weekly. These records can be found at http://www.defenselink. mil/releases/

01. Sgt. Freeman L. Gardner Jr., 26, of Little Rock, Ark., died Mar. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on combat patrol. He was assigned to the 18th Engineer Company, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

02. Spc. Lance C. Springer II, 23, of Fort Worth, Texas, died Mar. 23 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on combat patrol. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

03. Sgt. Adrian J. Lewis, 30, of Mauldin, S.C., died Mar. 21 in Ramadi, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

04. Sgt. Greg N. Riewer, 30, of Frazee, Minn., died Mar. 23 in Habbaniyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive devise detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Bemidji, Minn.

The Department of Defense announced the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
05. Cpl. Henry W. Bogrette, 21, of Richville, N.Y.
06. Lance Cpl. Trevor A. Roberts, 21, of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Roberts died March 24 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Oklahoma City, Okla.

The Department of Defense announced the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Mar. 25 in Baqubah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations. They were assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Killed were:
07. Sgt. Jason W. Swiger, 24, of South Portland, Maine.
08. Cpl. Jason Nunez, 22, of Naranjito, Puerto Rico.
09. Pfc. Orlando E. Gonzalez, 21, of New Freedom, Pa.
10. Pfc. Anthony J. White, 21, of Columbia, S.C.

11. Sgt. Curtis J. Forshey, 22, of Hollidaysburg, Pa., died Mar. 27 in Homburg, Germany, of a non-combat related illness. Forshey was assigned to the 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

12. Spc. Sean K. McDonald, 21, of Rosemount, Minn., died Mar 25 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. McDonald was assigned to the 9th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Wiesbaden, Germany.

13. Staff Sgt. Marcus A. Golczynski, 30, of Lewisburg, Tenn., died March 27 from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Golczynski was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Nashville, Tenn.

14. Master Sgt. Sean M. Thomas, 33, of Harrisburg, Pa., died March 27 in Baghdad, Iraq, when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using indirect fire during combat operations. Thomas was assigned to the 28th Division Support Command, Harrisburg, Pa.

http://icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx
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Please remember to pray for the American soldiers stationed everywhere around the globe and especially in Iraq. Times have been and are very tough and it would be nice if you would all just say a prayer for their safety and for their families.
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Scheduled Activities
~~~
Columbia County Amateur Radio Club meets Every second Thursday @ 7:00 p.m. Union Street Station. And YOU'RE invited. Net is every Sunday at 20:30 on 147.105.
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MCC - "Faith Builders" Small group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays, 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm.
~~~
MCC - Mom's Day Out - Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 2.$10 for the first child, $5 for the second. Call 234-3225 for reservations.
~~~
MCC - Nursing Home Ministry - Meadowbrook Every Tuesday from 10 to 11 am. Taylor, the last Thursday each month.
~~~
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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"There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one candle."
"Laugh whenever you can and cry if you need to." -- "Bug"
"I read the end of the book. We win!" -- "Bug"
"We may not be able to cure the world, but we don't have to make it sicker." -- "Bug"
"There just ain't enough fingers for all the holes in the dike." - - "Bug"
"It's no big deal doing what God tells you to do. A big deal would be NOT doing what God tells you to do. Just ask Jonah." - - Paul Troquille
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in ... and how many want out." - - Tony Blair
"Information is the currency of democracy." - Jefferson
~~~~~
Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Again, thanks to all our contributors this week.

God bless and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
http://www.e-min.org/
God is Good and Faithful CU 73 IC JFM CSP NREMT-I KC5HII

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