Bug's Bleat - - GCF: An Extra Wife

Volume 10, Issue 15 Friday, April 11, 2008

Hello All,

Even darker sides of rising fossil fuel prices - Recently, over thirty countries have been hit with riots or violent protests due to the rising cost of food, leading a top U.N. official to predict a "new era of hunger." The World Food Program blames soaring food prices on a convergence of rising energy costs, natural disasters linked to climate change, and competition for grain used to make bio-fuels like ethanol (which, again are being produced due to the rising cost of fossil fuel energy.) Program spokesperson Benita Luescher said “What we're seeing is a perfect storm."
So, as we continue to blindly believe that there will always be enough oil to meet our needs, the world as a whole has more problems than how much it costs to fuel up the SUV. Gas and Diesel are used to power the machines that harvest the crops on mega farms that feed us. And fossil fuels are used to manufacture the fertilizers and other crop enhancement products that allow us to produce so much food.
Now . . . what happens to food production here and across the world as fossil fuel prices rise? The answer is simple, 8th grade economics ... supply and demand determine prices. As fuel prices increase, food prices will also increase. As fuel supplies get tight ... food supplies will decrease also.
Those of you, who know me, know that I care about food. But it’s likely that an inconvenience to us will be a disaster in other parts of the world. Were’ spending billions on defense against terrorism. What effect do you think starvation will have on terrorist groups recruiting? Poverty has long been recognized as a powerful incentive to attack those who “have.”
As usual, there is no simple solution. We need to increase food aid to starving nations and we need to work harder to wean ourselves off fossil fuels. I encourage you to support alternative energy research and education. The fuel you save may help feed your kids and grandkids.
As of December, 37 countries faced food crises, and 20 had imposed some sort of food-price controls. The U.N.'s World Food Program says it's facing a $500 million shortfall in funding this year to feed 89 million needy people.
[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/12/world/main4011253.shtml]
~~~~~
Another news story this week that also ties back into rising fuel prices as well as unethical business prices. American Airlines predicts end to flight disruptions Sunday. AA canceled hundreds of flights while it rushed to complete inspections that grounded its MD-80 jetliners.
When you dig down a little into the stories of so many US Air Carriers having to scramble to get their fleets inspections up to date, you find that most carriers have been teetering on the edge of bankruptcy since 911. They had almost recovered when rising fuel costs kicked them down again. And what happens when you’re short of money? You cut back on maintenance.
So, with the help of FAA inspectors (who may have been “paid off.”) many airlines skipped or delayed required safety inspections. Until some persistent FAA “Whistle Blowers” brought the issue to the public.
American Airlines said it expected to resume a normal schedule Sunday , ending a series ...By Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
[http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-american13apr13,0,4001453.story]
~~~~~
Speaking of doing the “Right Thing” a recent news article reveals that progress is being made in defeating African AIDS due to President Bush’s AIDs initiatives.
“Five years after PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) first began, the efficacy and importance of promoting abstinence and ‘be faithful’ initiatives have been demonstrated. The evidence is compelling.”
PEPFAR … relies on the ABC model, which stands for “Abstain, Be faithful, use Condoms.” … The ABC model “is now recognized as the most effective strategy to prevent HIV in generalized epidemics. … The legislation’s emphasis on ‘AB’ activities has been an important factor in the fundamental and needed shift in USG prevention strategy from a primarily ‘C’ approach prior to PEPFAR to the balanced ABC strategy.”
… No generalized HIV epidemic has ever been rolled back by a prevention strategy primarily based on condoms.
… Serara Selelo-Mogwe, a public health expert and retired nursing professor at the University of Botswana … said (to the Washington Post in March 2007), “If you just say use the condom … we will never see the daylight of the virus leaving us.”
Good news for Africans who may be spared from this disease. And, good news for those of us who have been fighting the tide of opinion that says if we just give out condoms everyone will be fine.
The current president has done more than any other to combat the spread of AIDS in Africa. Why haven't the media noticed? by Tom Blumer
[http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/african-aids-defeatable-thanks-to-bush/]
~~~~~
Speaking of the “politically correct” movement check out “College Mind Police Live to Brainwash Another Day” by Candace de Russy
University of Delaware freshmen are made to undergo a "treatment" of political and cultural indoctrination. This is designed to ensure that they think and speak in a “politically correct” manner. A scandal? You bet. Too bad nothing's being done about it. [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/college-mind-police-live-to-brainwash-another-day/]
~~~~~
And, just when you thought it was safe to go back into the grocery store. ... Cereal Link to Food Poisoning Is Probed - MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - At least 23 people in 14 states have been sickened by the same strain of salmonella found in two breakfast cereals recalled by Malt-O-Meal, the federal Food and Drug Administration said Saturday.
[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5in6PCfea6cvEmKNmekssm4sH_T5gD900J9100]
~~~~~
First Baptist Church Stamps will begin their revival Sunday night April 13th at 6:30pm thru Wednesday night. Dr. Bill Saye will be the evangelist. He has lived a life none of us would ever want to live much less survive it. Thru God he has overcome a life of drugs, prostitution, murder betrayal. He lives his life now for the Lord and is sharing his story with all who will listen.
Sunday night he will be giving his personal testimony, you will not want to miss this. I am inviting you to come hear him.
We would love to see you there. Also you don't have to dress up, some people think you do. Jeans are fine.
Thanks to Norma Kay Rowe
~~~~~
Moto Art’s “Wing Nuts” program was one of David and my favorites.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRyn0ZvBEKg]
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTDVIawywgA&NR=1]
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQCl4BQw5Dg]
http://motoart.com/
~~~~~
The Magnolia Blossom Festival and World Championship Steak Cookoff is coming - MAY 17TH
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Mark Your Calendars!!!! Albemarle Kids' Fishing Tournament - May 31
~~~~~
Ann's Insights on Barak Hussein Obama
As always, a bit hyperbolic in her own style, but still some good information, clearly not something the MSM would provide.
Here's the most recent Ann Coulter commentary, which describes the less-pretty side (dark) of Obama: [http://www.anncoulter.com/]
And here is her April 3 commentary on Obama's autobiography (it might be worth reading):
[http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter040308.php3]
My personal theory is that the Dems will realize they've got two deeply flawed candidates, and coming out of the Dem convention in Denver will be Al Gore to face John McCain. Of course at DNC flaws don't matter, but unelectable does matter.
Thanks to Sam
~~~~~
In Reference to "Virus named, "Postcard," if opened, will burn out all of your c-disc."
With so many real viruses afoot these days bearing names almost identical to the nonexistent threats warned of in hoax messages, it is crucial to be able to distinguish between the real threats and the bogus ones.
Keep the following points in mind:
1. There are real viruses, trojans, and other forms of malware currently being distributed by means of spoofed (phony) e-card notices.
This means all users must be very careful when dealing with e-card notices, no matter what the apparent source. Before clicking on any links or attachments, check to see if you can verify that the notice came from a legitimate source -- it's not always easy. If you can't verify, don't click.
DON'T click on links or attachments in e-card notices that arrive anonymously, or from senders whose names you don't recognize.
DON'T click on attachments or links that seem suspicious in any other way.
2. In general, forwarded warnings such as the 'POSTCARD' alert above cannot be trusted to provide accurate information.
READ CAREFULLY! Don't confuse hoaxes with the real thing. Bogus virus warnings often contain links to websites which, at first glance, may seem to confirm the authenticity of the message, but which in fact discuss a completely different matter.
This is a case in point. Despite the fact that there are real e-card viruses, the "POSTCARD" warning above is, in fact, a hoax. It is simply the newest of many variants of a hoax message circulating for the past several years (compare the texts and you'll see what I mean). Don't depend on this type of warning for protection, and avoid forwarding such messages to others unless you can confirm with some certainty that the threat they describe is real.
3. Protecting yourself from real virus and Trojan threats entails a few simple but critical measures. Follow them religiously:
Always be very careful concerning which attachments you open and which files you download. If you can't be reasonably sure they are safe, don't open or download them.
Maintain up-to-date antivirus software on your computer, configure it to detect trojan horses and other malware automatically, and scan for viruses and other threats regularly.
Always be careful concerning which links you click on, especially in messages from anonymous or unfamiliar sources. Clicking on these links can instantly download malicious software onto your computer. Again, if you can't be reasonably sure a link is safe, don't click on it.
~~~~~
Each week the Defense Department highlights military personnel who have gone above and beyond in the war. [http://www.defenselink.mil/heroes/] - - Daniel Burkhart
Hometown: West Springfield, MA
Awarded: Bronze Star
More than a quarter century of war and discontent has left Afghanistan’s once well-established villages and cities derelict, dilapidated and in need of brave humanitarians. Army Captain Daniel Burkhart, on his second tour supporting the war on terror, went above and beyond his role in the Combined Security Transition Command and gave his free time to the Voluntary Community Relations Project (VCR) with an open heart and helping hand.
Burkhart always believed it was a privilege to serve as a conduit through which the goodwill and generosity of the American people was able to flow to Afghanistan, improving the lives of these war-ravaged citizens. Started by an Army Chaplain, the VCR project distributes clothes and other goods to displaced refugees in and around Kabul – all donated by the American people.
Burkhart considered the time away from his loving wife and infant to be daunting. Seeing the face of his young daughter in that of every needy Afghani youngster, he knew he could not ignore them. As a part of VCR, he has helped facilitate the delivery and distribution of thousands of items to this war-torn country. These tokens of support by the American public are one of the many ways Burkhart and his fellow soldiers help the Afghan people resist the pressures of the poppy industry, or worse, acquiesce to the Taliban’s insurgency.
When asked about his experience in Afghanistan, he does not tell tales of the fanatical Taliban fighters or the despicable acts of al Qaeda terrorists, but instead the hospitality and work ethic of the local populous. He reflects on the many cups of chai he has shared with refugees and villagers alike, and the many games of soccer he has played with energetic children.
While Burkhart will always remember the brown sand and desolate landscapes of Afghanistan, it is the appreciative children and the hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives he has touched with the VCR project that will always have the most prominent place in his memory.
For his year-long service in Afghanistan, Burkhart received the Bronze Star, the NATO Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal and the Outstanding Service Medal.
~~~~~
The latest from Michael Yon, the foremost “milnews” blogger on the web.
~
Important days for America: General Petraeus will be testifying before the Senate about Iraq. I've spent a great deal of time in Iraq and have found that General Petraeus tells the good, bad and ugly. I do not expect his testimony will deliver "on message" news. But I have learned that General Petraeus delivers the real deal.
I've made it out of Iraq and am in Germany waiting for flight to Texas, and soon back to the war. It will be great to touch feet on American soil, and breathe American air and be able to turn around and see nothing but America and know that it's all worth it.
Please click [http://yhst-80051593642880.stores.yahoo.net/] for your copy of "Moment of Truth in Iraq." The book is not yet available in stores, but you can get it here, now.
~
Greetings,
I have just landed in El Paso after my latest long trip in Iraq. (This time it was only two months.)
The Wall Street Journal published my op-ed article regarding the Petraeus-Crocker testimony. [Please click to read it.]
I will be very busy with travel and meetings over next few weeks, but will continue to publish when possible. There are more than 800 unanswered emails in my inbox, so please forgive me on that front.
Signed copies of Moment of Truth in Iraq are nearly sold out. They can only be purchased on this site. Unsigned copies will hit bookstores on 23 April. Please buy a copy today. Your support is greatly appreciated, and absolutely essential.
V/r,
Michael
El Paso
~~~~~
The Dash
In July 2006, a short 3-minute movie was launched on the Internet called The Dash. Since then, over 40 million people from around the world have watched it; and over 20,000 a day continue to watch it as a result of people passing it along.
The movie has been more successful than we could have ever imagined. More importantly, however, it has inspired many, many people to reflect on their lives and ask that all important question, 'Are my priorities where they should be?'
Click This Link to View: [http://www.dashpoemmovie.com/]
Thanks to David Lamb
~~~~~
News from Tanzania Africa

Hello Everyone!

I returned to Tanzania on February 26th, my sister's birthday. Two days later I celebrated my 38th birthday. Hallelujah! It was so good to get back here. I have begun my second year on the mission field.
So much was learned last year, some through mistakes and some through successes. I love the people of Tanzania so much and still am at awe in how so many of them do not know the loving power of Jesus. Jesus is believed to be only a good prophet to many of them and we Christians are simply deceived and weak people. I want them to know the Truth. That's why I'm here.
For the last month, most all of the missionaries that work with us have been gone out of the country, including the ministry's office manager. Therefore, I have been in charge of the office and staff. Employees have been coming to me to tell me they have a doctor's appt. or need something for ministry. I have to pay them their posho, which is salary for the Tanzanian staff. These types of responsibilities have never been my strong point, but you have to do what is needed.
We are preparing for the new Bible college students to arrive at the beginning of May. I grew so close to the students last year. This year will be no different, I'm sure. From what we hear, we will have over 70 students this year from all over Tanzania. Because of the lack of space, we have moved the school to our conference center, which can host meetings with thousands of people. I am organizing the Bible college library this week in the conference center. There is a lot to do before the students arrive.
At the end of May, we travel to Matai in Sumbawanga for our first mass crusade. As most of you know, the crusades have been the heart of New Life Outreach and our leaders, Egon and Hannah Falk for 30 years in Tanzania. Thousands upon thousands have been saved through these crusades. This year all of the crusades will be located in the southern part of Tanzania. That means we will travel 2 long days there and 2 long days back home. So, I will be gone on crusade for at least 12 days a month every month this year until around November.
I am excited about the kids' crusades I will host this year during our mass crusades. I will be utilizing new ideas and exciting ways to draw young people to hear the Gospel. Then the Holy Spirit will do the rest. I have a group of guys who will be performing Christian raps during my services. They are going to write words that children can understand and receive from. I brought a huge green gorilla costume back with me, and I know he will be a hit wherever I go. I still haven't named him. Got any ideas? I believe that when people attend the kids' crusades, we will get their attention. My goal is to get their attention, so God can get to their hearts. Pray for me.
At each crusade, I am hosting a one-day children's workers seminar. I will be paying to feed these workers lunch, so they do not have to worry about walking home mid-day. I want to see teachers get excited about training up children in the Word.
The Dream Center? On June 7th, I begin our new kids' church in Arusha. Because I will be gone so much, I am beginning by having a Saturday morning kids' celebration once a month. After I train up the workers, we will allow them to continue even when I am not here. The Bible college students will be required to be involved. Our ministry's new pastor, a 2004 Bible College graduate, started New Life City Church, in our conference center. I will be working with him to reach the parents and plug the families into his church on Sundays. We have a big vision, and we know God will help us.
I have a building for the Kids' Church, but it needs a floor and so much more. Bro. Egon is helping with this. I also need to buy equipment to be used on these Saturdays. We will begin in May visiting children in the village around my building. Bible college students and members of the church will help me visit. I believe in visitation and saw its benefits in ministry in America, and am so excited about making relationships with families here in Arusha.
There is so much more I could tell you.............but, let me stop here. I need your prayers. Yesterday I came around my house and my guard was carrying a stick with a dead snake on it. I hate snakes. I thank God I can scream to the guards when I see something scary. But, just as the guard has to be watchful for the snakes in the yard, we have to be watchful in our lives. If we are doing anything that can benefit the kingdom of God and human lives, there will be temptations and trials to try to get us off course. I don't want to miss out on what God has for me. I want to finish my course, but not just finish it. I want to finish it with joy.
So, keep praying for me. And, thank you so much for giving. I will do my best to make a difference in the lives of people here, with God's help.

Prayer Requests:

My brother was killed when he was 25 and I was 19. He had a son, J.C., who was 10 months old at the time of his father's death. J.C. joined the Marines and left a couple of weeks ago for Iraq. He specializes in combat. Pray for him.
My niece, Candice, who had a kidney transplant when she was 16, has been struggling in her health. The one healthy kidney is trying to fail. She is 23 and recently was engaged to a sweetie named Adam. Pray for her.
Thank you for your support and love. It was so amazing to see so many of you while I was home. However, it was not enough, as the time flew by. I was in 13 different churches and was so amazed at people's kindness.
I miss all of you. I miss my family. As I always say, if I could just transplant all of you here, there would be no sacrifice, because I love Africa.

God Bless You! Come see me! It will change your life!

Pattie Stephenson
psmcc2000@hotmail.com
~~~~~
We extend our sincere sympathy to Eric Mackey whose mother, Dorothy Helen Wiley, passed away last weekend.
~~~~~
We extend our sympathy to the family of Tobey Taylor (Dow/Ethyl employee) who passed away on Sunday.
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COMMUNICATION NOTICE: We have switched Internet Service Providers and our e-mail address is now kc5hii@suddenlink.net.
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Last week we watched (from NetFlix) [Ratings are my own]:
By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953) [7] Starring Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Mary Wickes, and Billy Gray
Mon oncle (1958) [5] a French Comedy that I liked and Annette said she didn't understand.
Veronica Mars: Season 3: Disc 1(2006) [7.5] Starring Kristen Bell and Enrico Colantoni
Veronica Mars: Season 3: Disc 2(2006) [7.5] Starring Kristen Bell and Enrico Colantoni
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Last week we read; The shell game / by Steve Alten. And Silent partner : a memoir of my marriage / Dina Matos McGreevey.
We’re currently reading; The translator : a tribesman's memoir of Darfur / Daoud Hari.
We plan on reading:“A war of gifts : an Ender story” by Orson Scott Card.
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http://www.shelfari.com/BugsBleat/shelf?ec=7D790D174EFS18012
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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 prisons’ 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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The photos on the front of this week’s “Bleat” include photos of this year’s “Relay for Life” rally and some railcars on the L&NW.
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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. Last quarter’s issues can be seen at http://www.bugsbleat4Q07.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.
~~~~~
Recipe(s) of the week - - - Baked Polenta with Eggplant and Red Bell Peppers
Adapted from The Buffet Book by Carole Peck with Carolyn Hart Bryant
(makes 12 servings)

1 medium eggplant, 10 ounces (300 g), cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes
1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt
2 large red bell peppers, 8 ounces (240 g) each
olive oil cooking spray
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves picked
2 quarts (2 l) fat-free low-sodium canned chicken broth
2 cups (280 g) quick-cooking polenta
4 ounces (120 g) part-skim mozzarella, cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes

Place the eggplant cubes in a colander, sprinkle with salt, toss, and let rest for at least 30 minutes to drain excess moisture.
Preheat oven to 450̊F (230̊C, Gas Mark 8). Spray the peppers with cooking spray and place in an ovenproof skillet or roasting pan. Roast about 8 minutes to blister and blacken the skins. Using tongs, turn the peppers over and roast 7 minutes more. Do not over roast. When cool enough to handle, pull out the top stem and remove the seeds and skin. Pat dry. Cut into 1-inch dice and set aside.
Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add the drained eggplant and cook for 2 minutes, stirring. Add the garlic and thyme. Cook 2 minutes more, until the eggplant is soft. Remove from the heat and add the roasted peppers.
Fill a 3-quart (3 l) pot with chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Add the polenta in a steady stream, whisking until smooth. Cook over medium low heat for 15 minutes, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon or spatula. Pour into a large baking dish or casserole. Spread the eggplant-pepper mixture evenly over the polenta, pressing it down with a wooden spoon. Top with the mozzarella cubes, pressing lightly. (Dish can be assembled to this point, covered, and refrigerated 1 day ahead. Increase the baking time by about 20 to 25 minutes if the unbaked casserole is cold.)
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375̊F (190̊C, Gas Mark 5). Bake the casserole for about 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Per serving: 119 calories (17% calories from fat), 6 g protein, 2 g total fat (1.1 g saturated fat), 20 g carbohydrate, 3 g dietary fiber, 6 mg cholesterol, 126 mg sodium
Exchanges: 1 carbohydrate (1 bread/starch), 1 vegetable

http://www.diabetic-recipes.com/recipes/MAR98_5.2.htm
©1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Diabetic-Lifestyle Online Magazine. All rights reserved.
~~~~~
BreakPoint
With Chuck Colson
Myths about 'Expelled'
By Chuck Colson
4/11/2008

Don't Believe Everything You Hear

If you have heard of the new documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, opening April 18, chances are you have heard all kinds of distortions and myths about it. So let me set the record straight about some of the most common myths.

Myth #1: Darwinists interviewed for this film were tricked into participating.

Not so. Each scientist interviewed for Expelled, on both sides of the evolution debate, knew who would do the interview and what it was for. Each of them signed a release, allowing the producers to use the footage of their interviews.

Myth #2: The film is anti-science.

Wrong again. Many distinguished scientists were interviewed for this film and given the chance to express their views. Just like their Darwinist counterparts, the advocates of intelligent design and their supporters who are interviewed are there to talk about science, not to dismiss it. These are people like Cambridge physicist John Polkinghorne; Oxford mathematician and philosopher John Lennox; journalist Pamela Winnick, who has received hate mail for covering the issue; and biologist Caroline Crocker, who was fired from George Mason University for discussing intelligent design in the classroom. Some of them are religious believers; some are not. But what they share is a commitment to science and the unfettered pursuit of truth. Expelled is not anti-science; it is anti-censorship.

Myth #3: Ben Stein, the actor and writer who hosts the movie, has lost his mind.

Bringing up this very issue in a conference call, Stein quipped that he probably has, “but it was a long time ago . . . probably sometime around 1958.” Well, I have known Stein well for years, and he is as bright as a button and anything but out of his mind. On a serious note, Stein and his film’s producers explained that the mud that people are flinging at him is just one small example of what happens to people who question Darwinian orthodoxy. The original idea for Expelled, said co-producer and software engineer Walt Ruloff, came to him when he was working on a project with a group of biotechnologists and learned “that there was a whole series of questions that could not be asked.”

The prevailing ideology among many scientists—it turned out—he concluded, was keep your mouth shut, take the research money, and publish only the data that fits with “the party line.” The issue that concerns Ruloff and the others behind Expelled is whether the scientific establishment in this country is going to allow genuine “freedom of inquiry,” or simply shut up—and slander—those who do not toe the line.

Given all this, Ben Stein states, “As long as the cause is right, I’m happy to be in an uphill struggle.”

Myth #4: Popular author and atheist Richard Dawkins tells Ben Stein in this film that there could have been a designer of life on earth, but it would have had to have been “a higher intelligence” that had itself evolved “to a very high level . . . and seeded some form of life on this planet.”

Well, actually . . . that one is not a myth. He really did say it—striking admission, though it is.

So, I urge you to go see Expelled when it opens at a theater near you. Believe me, in this case the truth really is stranger—and more compelling—than any fiction the film’s detractors could possibly dream up.

For Further Reading and Information

For more information on Expelled: The Movie.

Jeff Peck, “Stein’s ‘Expelled’: See It. Believe It.” The Point, 5 March 2008.

Gina Dalfonzo, “You’ll Never Look at Ben Stein the Same Way Again,” The Point, 5 October 2007.

Gina Dalfonzo, “Those Darwinists Know How to Party,” The Point, 28 March 2008.

J. Clinton, “How Not to Attack Evolution,” The Point, 12 March 2008.

Gina Dalfonzo, “Striking Back at Darwin Day,” The Point, 11 February 2008.

Jason Bruce, “More on Ben Stein’s Documentary on Intelligent Design,” The Point, 30 January 2008.

Kim Moreland, “The Stirring Pot,” The Point, 9 November 2007.

Jeffery Overstreet, “Did Richard Dawkins Just Crash the Party at a Screening of ‘Expelled’?” Looking Closer, 20 March 2008.

Shankar Vedantam, “Eden and Evolution,” Washington Post, 5 February 2006.
~~~~~
Words of the Week:
camarilla: a group of secret and often scheming advisers.
importunate: troublesomely urgent.
woebegone: woeful; also, run-down.
voluble: characterized by a ready flow of speech.
afflatus: a divine inspiration.
pugnacious: combative; quarrelsome.
caesura: a break or pause in a line of verse; also, any break or pause.
salubrious: healthful.
from Dictionary.Com
~~~~~
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive!" - Sir Walter Scott

"Remember: One lie does not cost you one truth but the truth." - Christian Hebbel

"The things we know best are the things we haven't been taught." - Luc Marquis de Vauvenargues

"Striving to better, oft we mar what's well." - William Shakespeare

"Where is the Life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?" - T. S. Eliot

"Man is the only animal who causes pain to others with no other object than wanting to do so." - Arthur Schopenhauer

"I cling to my imperfection, as the very essence of my being." - Anatole France
~~~~~
Featured Links:
eHow: How To Do Just About Everything! [http://www.ehow.com/]
The eHow database of over 100,000 articles can help you. It's the world's most popular place to find clear instructions on how to do just about everything.
NATIONAL DEBT: [http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np]
U.S. Debt & Historical Data
~~~~~
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

Science Forced to Confront Creation, Asking; Do Heart Transplants Also Transport Part of the Donor's Soul?
ProChrist: Crowds Flock to Evangelistic Event in Poland
President Bush Signs Second Chance Act; Calls on "Members of the Armies of Compassion" to Use their "Healing Touch so Lost Souls can Rediscover their Dignity and Sense of Purpose"
Reports of Revival Breaking Out in Lakeland, Florida
Proof that God can Use Anything, Even a Show Called "American Idol”
Supreme Court Justice Scalia Tells Law Students the Right to an Abortion is Nowhere in the Constitution
Christian Teacher Facing the Giant of Government Censorship Asks for Prayer, Refuses to Surrender His God-Given Call
Shotgun Slug goes through Wall of Home Narrowly Missing Toddler and Mother, and is stopped by Children's Bible in Closet
Harris Poll Shows Bible is Still Favorite Book of both Men and Women in America
Pastors From Around the Country Meet in Washington to Discuss How to Best to Preach the Good News in Our Culture
Franklin Graham's First Festival in Northern Ireland is Area's Largest Evangelistic Event in Nearly 50 Years; Brings Unity to Over 300 Churches
Bishop E.W. Jackson Declares "Unity & Patriotism" Day this Sunday as Counter-Balance to Jeremiah Wright's Speech at Norfolk Church
Rick Warren meets with Kenyan government leaders on day of cabinet restructure and challenges Church and Business Leaders to unity and renewal in wake of recent election
Nearly 3,000 Rally in Support of Oklahoma Legislator Threatened for Her Support of Traditional Marriage
Horse that Wayne Newton Gave Little Girl Battling Cancer Inspired Her to Start Ministry of Her Own after She was Healed
Arab Town in Galilee Paints Dome of Mosque Blue and White to Show Solidarity with Israel; Mayor of Town Embraces Jews as Cousins
Hope Report: Woman Celebrates 5-Years Cancer Free after Being in Vaccine Trial Study for Advanced Ovarian Cancer
"Major Breakthrough" Study Shows Omega-3's Combat Alzheimer’s
Tennessee Attorney General Rules Public School Students May Learn the Bible, as Long as Lessons "Aren't Sermons"

The Internet could Possibly Become Obsolete in Light of New "Grid" - - Aimee Herd (April 7, 2008)
"With this kind of computing power, future generations will have the ability to collaborate and communicate in ways older people like me cannot even imagine."
EDITOR'S NOTE: The book of Daniel in the Bible contains a lot of prophecy dealing with the last days. One of those Scriptures says "…many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase." Certainly the internet could aptly be described as a "back and forth" motion, and this new development is even further evidence of an amazing increase of knowledge. Just a thought. –Aimee Herd, BCN.
Just when you thought your computer was finally up-to-date—you've bought and installed all the latest software, and your mastery of the internet was in view at last—comes word of a new development which might soon cause the World Wide Web to become obsolete.
Enter: The Grid. Developed by the same ultra-techies who brought us the internet (not Al Gore by the way), the grid is purported to be 10,000 times faster than a typical broadband connection—with the ability to download entire films within seconds—according to the report on FOXNews.
One of the leaders working on the grid, David Britton, professor of physics at Glasgow University, remarked, "With this kind of computing power, future generations will have the ability to collaborate and communicate in ways older people like me cannot even imagine."

The idea and development of the grid reportedly began about seven years-ago, when the Geneva area-based particle physics center, CERN (inventors of the web), realized the only way to receive and contain the immense amount of data from a new probe—without crashing the entire Internet—would be to build a newer, faster, completely fiber-optic web.
Just science fiction you say? No…the grid is already in place, with 55,000 servers already installed—expected to increase to 200,000 in just the next couple of years. The probe, by the way, is known as the "Large Hadron Collider" (LHC), which is a new particle accelerator "built to probe the origin of the universe."
Source: News Staff – FOXNews, The Times

Binyamin Netanyahu Declares Israel Has "No Better Friends in the World" Than Christians Who Support Israel
Sculptor Spends Sixteen Years Recreating Statue of Jesus as Portrayed During a Dream
Doctors Develop Soap Treatment in Response to New Theory that the Cause of Many Skin Problems May be Parasites
Amateur Pilot Relates His Miraculous Escape from Plane Crash
Experts Discover, Develop Formulaic Ratio of How Many Positive Words it Takes to Offset a Negative Word
Champion Russian Free Diver Takes a Spin with Beluga Whale in Freezing Water

310 2nd Ave SE
Albany, Oregon 97321
541-928-2642
E-mail
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GCF: An Extra Wife

Found posted in a humor newsgroup (rec.humor.funny) -Tom

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

When our second child was on the way, my wife and I attended a pre-birth class aimed at couples who had already had at least one child. The instructor raised the issue of breaking the news to the older child. It went like this:

"Some parents," she said, "tell the older child, 'We love you so much we decided to bring another child into this family.' But think about that. Ladies, what if your husband came home one day and said, 'Honey, I love you so much I decided to bring home another wife.'"

One of the women spoke up immediately. "Does she cook???"
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Wal-Mart Greeter

Emailed to me another humor list (Good Clean Funnies List) -Tom To subscribe The Good Clean Funnies List, (not to be confused with this list, which is Good Clean Fun) send an email to: gcfl-request@gcfl.net with subject = add
---------------------------------------------

Charley, a new retiree greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10, sometimes 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean shaven, sharp minded and a real credit to the company and obviously demonstrating their "Older Person Friendly" policies.

One day the boss was in a real quandary about how to deal with it. Finally, he called him into the office for a talk. "Charley, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a bang on job, but your being late so often is quite bothersome."

"Yes, I know boss, and I am working on it."

"Well good, you are a team player. That's what I like to hear. It's odd though, your coming in late. I know you're retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say if you came in late there?"

"They said, 'Good morning, General. Tea or coffee this morning, sir?'"
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Long Marriage

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

I met a man who had been married for 66 years.

"Amazing. 66 years!" I said. "What's the secret to such a long, happy marriage?"

"Well," he replied, "It's like this. The man makes all the big decisions and the woman just makes the little decisions."

"Really?" I responded. "Does that really work?"

"Oh, yes," he said proudly. "66 years, and so far, not one big decision!"
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Mom's Phone

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

Because my mother had a habit of losing her cordless phone, I bought her a phone with a clip on it so she could attach it directly to her belt. A few days later, I walked into my mother's home and found her standing in the middle of the living room, halfway dressed. That didn't strike me as odd so much as the fact that she was holding her pants to the side of her head and speaking into them.

"Don't look at me that way," she yelled. "The phone started ringing and I couldn't figure out how to undo this stupid clip!"
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: New Offices

Emailed to me another humor list (Good Clean Funnies List) -Tom To subscribe The Good Clean Funnies List, (not to be confused with this list, which is Good Clean Fun) send an email to: gcfl-request@gcfl.net with subject = add
---------------------------------------------

My husband works in a former supermarket that has been remodeled to accommodate professional offices.

One day he overheard his receptionist giving directions over the phone. "Remember the old grocery store?" she asked the caller. "Well, you'll find us in the meat department."
_ ____________________________ _
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / I try to take one day at a time,\ /
\ _/ but sometimes several days \_ /
/ / attack me at once. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / I wondered why the baseball \ /
\ _/ was getting bigger. \_ /
/ / Then it hit me. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / I have to exercise early \ \_/ ////
\ / in the morning before my \ /
\ _/ brain figures out what I'm doing \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / All of us could take a lesson \ \_/ ////
\ / from the weather. It pays no \ /
\ _/ attention to criticism. \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / "For all the advances in \ /
\ _/ medicine, there is still no cure \_ /
/ / for the common birthday." \ \
- Senator John Glenn
_ ____________________________ _
| Thomas S. Ellsworth |
| tellswor@kcbx.net |
| http://www.kcbx.net/~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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It was fun being a baby boomer... until now. Some of the artists of the 60's are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate aging baby boomers. They include:

Herman's Hermits --- Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker.
Ringo Starr --- I Get By With a Little Help From Depends.
The Bee Gees --- How Can You Mend a Broken Hip.
Bobby Darin --- Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash.
Roberta Flack--- The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face.
Johnny Nash --- I Can't See Clearly Now.
Paul Simon--- Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver.
The Commodores --- Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom.
Marvin Gaye --- Heard It Through the Grape Nuts.
Leo Sayer --- You Make Me Feel Like Napping.
The Temptations --- Papa's Got a Kidney Stone.
Abba--- Denture Queen.
Tony Orlando --- Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall.
Helen Reddy --- I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore.
Leslie Gore--- It's My Procedure, and I'll Cry If I Want To.

And my favorite:

Willie Nelson --- On the Commode again!

Thanks to Gary Foreman
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The latest online poll taken by the Texas Governor's office, asked whether
people who live in Texas think illegal immigration is a serious problem:

29% of respondents answered: "Yes, it is a serious problem."

71% of respondents answered: "No es una problema seriosa."

Thanks to Daphne Roberts
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1 in 360

During a field exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., my squad was on a night patrol through some thick brush. Halfway through, we realized we'd lost our map. The patrol navigator informed us, "Our odds are 1 in 360 that we'll get out of here."

"How did you come up with that?" someone asked.

"Well," he replied, "one of the degrees on the compass has to be right."

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

At the Border

Flying home after visiting her daughter in England, a woman arranged to have her husband meet her plane at the Vancouver, B.C., airport. This meant a stop at the border crossing between the United States and Canada, where her husband was asked, "What is your reason for entering the country?" and "How long are you planning to stay?"

He replied that he was picking his wife up at the airport after her trip to England.

Without missing a beat, the guard asked two more questions in the same business-like tone: "Is the house clean?" and "Are there fresh flowers on the table?"

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

Bumpers

Most people hate to parallel park. The other day, I saw this woman trying to get out of a tight parking space. She bumped the car in front, then backed up and hit the car behind her. This went on about two minutes.

I walked over to see if I could somehow help. My offer was declined. She said, "Why have bumpers if you're not going to use them once in a while?"

Received from AcraMax Jokes.

(-:][:-)

Men Are Good For Only One Thing

Upset over a newlywed squabble with my husband, I went to my mother to complain. Trying to console me, my dad said that men are not all like this all the time.

"Nonsense," I said. "Men are good for only one thing!"

"Yes," my mother interjected, "but how often do you have to parallel park?"

Received from Docs Daily Chuckle.

(-:][:-)

Young Patients

A pediatrician in town always plays a game with some of his young patients to put them at ease and test their knowledge of body parts.

One day, while pointing to a little boy's ear, the doctor asked him, "Is this your nose?"

Immediately the little boy turned to his mother and said, "Mom, I think we'd better find a new doctor!"

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
Rate this funny at http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20060113
Brought to you by GCFL.net: The Good, Clean Funnies List A cheerful heart is good medicine... (Prov 17:22a) Mail address: GCFL, Box 100, Harvest, AL 35749, USA
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The latest GCFL funny can always be found on the web at http://www.gcfl.net/latest.php
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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - - http://www.madkane.com/driversed.html - - THIS DRIVER'S ED
In a Just Shoot Me sitcom episode, Dennis Finch (played by David Spade) moonlights as a driver’s ed classroom teacher whose students have been court-ordered to take his class. Spade depicts Finch as a dedicated, MV law-savvy teacher with a dark secret: He doesn't know how to drive.

This amusing take on the maxim "Those who can't, teach," reminds me of my own humiliating start in the driving arena. I was one of the very few students in my high school class to graduate without so much as a learner's permit. I hasten to add that I now actually know how to drive.

I did pursue the standard high school try-to-learn-to-drive route: I signed up for drivers ed and coaxed my parents to take me out to practice. But things didn't go well. After one aborted lesson my mom said, "From now on you'd better do this with your father. Unfortunately, my dad's lessons mostly featured my father yelling "You're killing the clutch!" To make matters even worse, the school's car was clutch-free -- unless you count what the teacher was doing with his controls.

So, can a techno-challenged person with nervous parents learn to drive while practicing on standard shift and automatic transmission cars? This person couldn't, and I soon gave up trying to learn to drive.

Fast forward four years to my senior year of college in Los Angeles, California (also known as the "What, Me Walk?" state).

Now I don't know what LA's like these days, but back when I was in college the principle governing its public buses apparently was "Let Them Take Cabs." One experience with LA's alleged transit system was all it took to persuade me to try once again to learn to drive.

This time I opted for private lessons, suspecting that my talents (or lack thereof) required a personal touch. Fortunately, things went much more smoothly the second time around. In fact, my lessons were completely uneventful except for the time my teacher accused me of being psychic.

It happened during my first attempt to navigate one of LA's infamous freeways. Suddenly I found myself exiting, in direct contravention of my teacher's order to stay the course. And just as suddenly I found myself parked in the middle of the exit ramp.

As you can imagine, my instructor wasn't pleased. But when I announced the car wouldn't budge, he stopped yelling long enough to check out the car. He soon discovered that the fuel gauge was faulty and the car was out of gas. "How did you know," he asked, as he left me stranded mid-ramp to trudge off in search of a service station.

I don't know what possessed me to get off the freeway at precisely the right moment. Nor do I know how I managed to pass my California driver's test the first time after only eight lessons. Trust me -- that says a lot more about California's standards than it does about my driving skills.

You may be wondering why someone with my checkered history would write car humor. Perhaps it's because my life often feels like a sitcom. And because I'm almost always Driven Mad.

http://www.madkane.com
Subscribe to MadKane Humor Newsletter (weekly) here:
http://www.madkane.com/email.html
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'The Pledge of Allegiance' - by Senator John McCain

'As you may know, I spent five and one half years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. In the early years of our imprisonment, the NVA kept us in solitary confinement or two or three to a cell. In 1971 the NVA moved us from these conditions of isolation into large rooms with as many as 30 to 40 men to a room.

This was, as you can imagine, a wonderful change and was a direct result of the efforts of millions of Americans on behalf of a few hundred POWs 10,000 miles from home.

One of the men who moved into my room was a young man named Mike Christian.

Mike came from a small town near Selma , Alabama . He didn't wear a pair of shoes until he was 13 years old. At 17, he enlisted in the US Navy. He later earned a commission by going to Officer Training School Then he became a Naval Flight Officer and was shot down and captured in 1967. Mike had a keen and deep appreciation of the opportunities this country and our military provide for people who want to work and want to succeed.

As part of the change in treatment, the Vietnamese allowed some prisoners to receive packages from home. In some of these packages were handkerchiefs, scarves and other items of clothing.

Mike got himself a bamboo needle. Over a period of a couple of months, he created an American flag and sewed on the inside of his shirt.

Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang Mike's shirt on the wall of the cell and say the Pledge of Allegiance.

I know the Pledge of Allegiance may not seem the most important part of our day now, but I can assure you that in that stark cell it was indeed the most important and meaningful event.

One day the Vietnamese searched our cell, as they did periodically, and discovered Mike's shirt with the flag sewn inside, and removed it.

That evening they returned, opened the door of the cell, and for the benefit of all of us, beat Mike Christian severely for the next couple of hours. Then, they opened the door of the cell and threw him in. We cleaned him up as well as we could.

The cell in which we lived had a concrete slab in the middle on which we slept Four naked light bulbs hung in each corner of the room.

As I said, we tried to clean up Mike as well as we could. After the excitement died down, I looked in the corner of the room, and sitting there beneath that dim light bulb with a piece of red cloth, another shirt and his bamboo needle, was my friend, Mike Christian. He was sitting there with his eyes almost shut from the beating he had received, making another American flag. He was not making the flag because it made Mike Christian feel better. He was making that flag because he knew how important it was to us to be able to Pledge our allegiance to our flag and country.

So the next time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you must never forget the sacrifice and courage that thousands of Americans have made to build our nation and promote freedom around the world. You must remember our duty, our honor, and our country.'

'I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.'

The above text appears to be an abbreviated version of a speech given by Senator John McCain, a Vietnam veteran and former POW, before the Republican National Convention in 1988. McCain has told the story of fellow POW Mike Christian, who was beaten by the North Vietnamese for sewing an American flag on the inside of his shirt, on more than one occasion and was clearly inspired by his friend's irrepressible sense of duty, honor and patriotism.

Thanks to Gary Foreman

P.S. [http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/anthem.asp]
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[http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/oct/25/griego-mexican-visitors-lament-our-best-hands/]

Interesting Statistics. Here are 14 reasons illegal aliens should vacate America, and I hope they are forwarded over and over again until they are read so many times that the reader gets sick of reading them [URLs provided for source verification]:

1. $11 billion to $22 billion dollars are spent each year on welfare to illegal aliens. - -
http://tinyurl.com/zob77
2. $2.2 billion dollars are spent each year on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens. - - http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html
3. $2.5 billion dollars are spent each year on Medicaid for illegal aliens. - - http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html
4. $12 billion dollars are spent each year on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English! - - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01html
5. $17 billion dollars are spent each year for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies. - - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01html
6. $3 Million Dollars PER DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens. - - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01html
7. 30% percent of all federal prison inmates are illegal aliens. - - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01html
8. $90 billion dollars are spent each year on illegal aliens for welfare & social services by the American taxpayers. - - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0610/29/ldt.01.html
9. $200 billion dollars per year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens. - - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html
10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that's two and a half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the US. - - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/12/ldt.01.html
11. During the year 2005, there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our southern border with as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from terrorist countries. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine, meth, heroine, and marijuana crossed into the U.S. from the southern border. - - http://tinyurl.com/t9sht
12. The National Policy Institute, estimates that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion, or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period. - - http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/publications.php?b=deportation
13. In 2006, illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances back to their countries of origin. - - http://www.rense.com/general75/niht.htm
14. The dark side of illegal immigration: Nearly one million sex crimes are committed by illegal immigrants in the United States!" - - http://www.drdsk.com/articles.html

The total cost is a whopping $338.3 BILLION

DOLLARS A YEAR!!!

Thanks to John Burge
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DADDY'S EMPTY CHAIR ~
A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father.
When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows.
An empty chair sat beside his bed.
The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit "I guess you were expecting me, he said.
'No, who are you?" said the father.
The minister told him his name And then remarked, "I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up," "Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man.
"Would you mind closing the door?"
Puzzled, the minister shut the door.
"I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man.
"But all of my life I have never known how to pray.
At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head."
I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued, "until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, "Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus.
Here is what I suggest."
"Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair.
It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always'.
"Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now."
"So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day.
I'm careful though If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm."
The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey.
Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church.
Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon.
Did he die in peace?" he asked.
Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek.
When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead.
But there was something strange about his death.
Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed.
What do you make of that?"
The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go like that."

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.
I asked God for water,
*
He gave me an ocean.
*
I asked God for a flower,
*
He gave me a garden.
*
I asked God for a friend,
He gave me YOU...
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

Thanks to Anne Oldham
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"Don't strive for recognition, but work for achievement." -- Vanessa Malone
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| Safety from the Heart |
----------------------------------------------------
April 10, 2008
Kids Do Not Hear Smoke Alarms

Today's Message is from Bill Flanagan (a Pasadena Albemarle employee).
.....................................................................

Here is a link to a website that sells Kidsmart smoke alarms. There is a very interesting video about smoke alarms on this website. If you have small children or grandchildren, it is worth the 7 minutes to watch this.

[http://www.redi-exit.com/talking-smoke-alarms.html]
----------------------------------------------------
| Safety from the Heart |
----------------------------------------------------
April 8, 2008
Today's Safety From the Heart message is from Keith Black.
Backpack Straps Can Decrease Blood Flow, Increase Fatigue
More than 92 percent of the children in the U.S. carry backpacks. Typically the backpacks are loaded with almost one-fourth of the child’s body weight (22 percent) and worn with only one strap. Last year, a team of physician researchers examined the effect heavy-loaded backpack straps can have on children. They found the straps can significantly increase pressure when the load is ten percent or more. They also found that strap pressures with loads as small as ten percent of body weight can obstruct localized blood flow and contribute to shoulder fatigue.
This year the team has examined pack straps and adults. In some professions, such as the military, firefighting and mountain rescue, the packs may equal as much as 60 percent of adult body weight. The findings of the most recent study indicate that even light loads of 26 pounds can decrease upper extremity blood flow, and may result in a loss of fine motor control and increased fatigue.
The studies were conducted by Timothy Neuschwander, Brandon Macias and Alan Hargens, all of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California-San Diego.
Backpack straps typically rest on an area of the body where they may compress the axillary vein which causes abnormally high blood pressure inside the veins and a subsequent decrease of blood flow in the shoulders and arms. The researchers speculated that blood flow of the large and small vessels of the upper extremity area would decrease in an individual while wearing a backpack.
To test their theory, they examined eight healthy volunteers, six men and two women between the ages of 18-30. The right brachial artery was measured using ultrasound and the index finger pulp microvascular flow was measured using the photoplethysmography method. Baseline flows were measured immediately before and ten minutes after donning a 26 pound backpack. A ten minute testing period was chosen because people typically wear a backpack for at least ten minutes. This amount of time is also sufficient to measure flood flow.
The researchers concluded that backpack loads of just 26 pounds decrease upper extremity macrovascular and microvascular blood flows, and may result in a loss of fine motor control and increased fatigue. According to Neuschwander, “We surmise that the mechanism of diminished blood flow is likely due to strap compression of the axillary vein. We think that backpack straps may benefit from a redesign that skirts the vein leading from the upper extremity to the heart.”
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The Pump Handle. A water cooler for the public health crowd.
http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/
Here are links to items posted on The Pump Handle over the past week:
** "What Do You Get for an Ounce of Prevention?" by Liz Borkowski Healthcare reform advocates should be wary of arguing that more preventive care will reduce overall healthcare expenditures. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/what-do-you-get-for-an-ounce-of-prevention/
** "Vanity, Vanity" by Liz Borkowski In addition to a great article on Monsanto, the latest Vanity Fair Green Issue highlights David Michaels's new book, Doubt is Their Product. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/04/09/vanity-vanity/
** "Occupational Health News Roundup" by Liz Borkowski A new UK law should make it easier to prosecute companies accused of causing death because of negligence; also, there's news about multiple Iraq tours' effects on soldiers, uninsured government-facility workers, and mine safety. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/04/09/occupational-health-news-roundup-60/
** "Overheated and Undernourished" by Liz Borkowski Malnutrition will increase as the global climate changes – and we're already seeing signs of the hunger problems to come. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/overheated-and-undernourished/
** "Veteran-Care and Product-Safety Reporting Win Pulitzers" by Liz Borkowski The winners of the 92nd annual Pulitzer Prizes have been announced, and reporting on veterans' care and on drug and product safety scored top honors in the journalism category. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/pulitzer-winners/
** "New Resource from OMB Watch" by Liz Borkowski The watchdog group OMB Watch has launched a Regulatory Resource Center to help users understand and get involved in the regulatory process. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/new-resource-from-omb-watch/
** "How'd that C8 get into your blood?" by Celeste Monforton Residents near DuPont's Parkersburg, WV plant, have high levels of C8, a chemical used in producing Teflon, in their blood. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/howd-that-c8-get-in-your-blood/
** "Friday Blog Roundup" by Liz Borkowski Bloggers address occupational health and safety issues, water neutrality, and a new malaria strategy. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/friday-blog-roundup-69/
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.
A partial list of workplace fatalities.
House Labor Committee Approves Bill to Help Prevent Dust
House Labor Committee Approves Bill to Help Prevent Dust Explosions after Georgia Disaster Claims 13 Lives
Well we made it over the first hurdle, only three more to go the House vote, Senate Vote and the President to get past. It can be done and thanks for all the prayers and hard work you all have given. I know it is a long process but that's how it's done.
Take a look at a few comments from the press release and by the way if your in the CA area Charmian Miller will be speaking at one of the workers memorial day events. Stop in and introduce yourself.
“We owe it to the families of the workers who have needlessly lost their lives to pass this legislation,” said Miller, chairman of the Education and Labor Committee. “It’s unfortunate that OSHA didn’t heed warnings from 2006 about the dangers of combustible dusts, but it’s downright stunning that OSHA still has no sense of urgency in dealing with these deadly hazards, even after the Imperial Sugar tragedy. Unlike OSHA, this Congress is not complacent about the safety of American workers.”
“The combustible dust explosion at the Imperial Sugar Company last February in Port Wentworth, Georgia was a senseless tragedy. Unfortunately, this explosion, like so many other recent incidents, could have been prevented,” said Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. “That is why immediately after the explosion, Chairman Miller and I sent a letter to OSHA demanding that the agency begin work on a standard for combustible dust. Our goal is to make a permanent change that will protect workers from preventable hazards like the combustible dust explosion at Imperial Sugar.”
“This is an important step toward getting this bill signed into law. I applaud Chairman Miller for making this a priority for the Education and Labor Committee, and I hope that we’ll see it on the House floor real soon,” said Barrow. “We owe it to the victims of the Imperial Sugar tragedy – and to all the other victims before that – to do what we can to prevent that sort of thing from ever happening again.”
Also take a look at the letters sent to Chairman George Miller and Ranking Member Buck McKeon in opposition to this bill sent by United States Chamber of Commerce and OSHA Fairness Coaltion Letters Sent:
United States Chamber of Commerce Letter on HR 5522
OSHA Fairness Coaltion Letter on HR 5522
I had a few words about the US Chamber of Commerce and their policies A Workers Agenda By The US Chamber of Commerce
But what are they opposing:
Opposing paid leave or sick time,
Workplace safety measures,
Expansion of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Longer lead time for plant closing warnings and stiffen fines for non-compliance
Limit the definition of "supervisor,"
OSHA reform, with
Increase fines
Increased regulations
Revive the previous administration's ergonomics standard (Got You there)
Eliminating the statute of limitations for filing claims of discrimination,
Remove caps on damages
Eliminating binding arbitration in employment law
Donohue calls this and others a "straightjacket approach to labor regulations."

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

01. Sgt. Nicholas A. Robertson, 27, of Old Town, Maine, died April 3 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds suffered April 2 while conducting dismounted combat operations in the Zahn Khan District, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

02. Pfc. Shane D. Penley, 19, of Sauk Village, Ill., died April 6 at Patrol Base Copper, Iraq, from wounds suffered while on duty at a guard post. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

The Department of Defense announced the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died April 6 in Balad, Iraq, when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Killed were:
03. Capt Ulises Burgos-Cruz, 29, of Puerto Rico, who was assigned to a Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
04. Spc. Matthew T. Morris, 23, of Cedar Park, Texas, who was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

05. Staff Sgt. Emanuel Pickett, 34, of Teachey, N.C., died April 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked with indirect fire. He was assigned to the 1132nd Military Police Company, North Carolina Army National Guard, Rocky Mount, N.C.

The Department of Defense announced the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died April 6 in Baghdad, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with indirect fire. Killed were:
06. Col. Stephen K. Scott, 54, of New Market, Ala. He was assigned to the 356th Quartermaster Battalion, Laurel, Miss., and
07. Maj. Stuart A. Wolfer, 36, of Coral Springs, Fla. He was assigned to the 11th Battalion, 104th Division, Boise, Idaho.

08. Sgt. Richard A. Vaughn, 22, of San Diego, Calif., died April 7 in Baghdad, Iraq from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked using a rocket propelled grenade, improvised explosive device and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

09. Staff Sgt. Jeremiah E. McNeal, 23, of Norfolk, Va., died April 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 237th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 91st Troop Command, Virginia Army National Guard, West Point, Va.

The Department of Defense announced the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died April 7 in Sadr City, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked using a rocket propelled grenade. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. Killed were:
10. Spc. Jason C. Kazarick, 30, of Oakmont, Pa.
11. Sgt. Michael T. Lilly, 23, of Boise, Idaho.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
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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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"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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Activities and Events of Interest - - Coming Events

Free Tai Chi classes will be offered beginning at 1:30 p.m. Monday’s at the Hospitality House at Magnolia Housing Authority. Men and women 60 and older are invited to participate. For more information, call 1-888-882-4464 or 234-7410.
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Scheduled Activities
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CQ CQ all Hams. We have restarted a 2 meter net on the Willisville repeater, 146.655, every Tuesday evening at 7 PM. Please check in and spread the word. We would like to get some renewed interest in amateur radio and the ARKLA Amateur Radio Association. Will be listening for everyone next Tuesday night.
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Columbia County Amateur Radio Club meets Every second Thursday @ 7:00 p.m. Union Street Station. And YOU'RE invited. Net is every Sunday at 20:30 on 147.105.
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MCC - Mom's Day Out - Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 2.$10 for the first child, $5 for the second. Call 234-3225 for reservations.
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MCC - Nursing Home Ministry - Meadowbrook Every Tuesday from 10 to 11 am. Taylor, the last Thursday each month.
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Men's Prayer Breakfast held every Tuesday morning at 6 AM in Miller's Cafeteria. If you aren't a regular participant at the Men's Prayer Breakfast, you're missing some great food, fellowship and inspired teaching of the Word. Hope to see you there.
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Emergency Phone Number 911
(Fire, Police, Ambulance, Sheriff, etc. )
Central Dispatch 234-5655
(Non - Emergency Number)
Direct Numbers
Ambulance - 234-7371 (24 Hour)
Jail - 234-5331 (24 Hour)
Poison Control - 800-222-1222 (24 Hour)
http://www. aapcc. org/
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Interested in getting in touch with the Banner-News through e-mail?
E-mail addresses for communicating with the newspaper’s various departments are: news@bannernews.net For news and sports items, Coming Events, Diary, Church News, school and civic events.
advertising@bannernews. net For retail and classified advertising.
circulation@bannernews. net To start, stop or cancel newspaper delivery or for comments about delivery.
outfitters @bannernews.net For Office Outfitters, the office supply division of the Banner-News.
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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
“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 "Fuzzy" Thurman
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Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Again, thanks to all our contributors this week.

God bless and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Col 1:9-10 Eccl 3:1-8 1 Th 5:15-18 Psa 138:8 3 John 1:3-4 http://www.e-min.org/
God is Good and Faithful CU 73 IC JFM CSP NREMT-I KC5HII

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