Bugs Bleat 4q 07: November 2007

Volume 9, Issue 47 Friday, November 23, 2007

Hello All,

We wish all you a wonderful "Giving Thanks Day." Annette, MaMaw and I have much to be thankful for. I guess I’m especially thankful for our family and friends. It’s easy to be thankful when you have such great kids, “In Loves” and grand kids. And our friends at church and at work have consistently lifted us up, being there for us whatever we needed.
I especially want to thank RNs Shelly Pletcher and Nancy Terry. They draw my blood and give me my “EPO” shot each week. Nancy consistently monitors my health and treats me like family.
Of course, Glenda at Dr. Murphy’s office has always treated us with kindness and concern. Dr. Murphy has shown patience with my quirks and always laughed at my jokes. Dr. Mendelssohn and Dr. Rushing have put up with a grouchy old guy who didn’t always do what they told me.
And we want to thank the people who make our life simpler and easier, like Jackie Bridges and family who take care of our vehicles and Terry at Dayton tires. Don Dumas at Brookshire’s pharmacy has gone out of his way to get us the medicine we needed. The more I think about it, the more I realize it’s impossible to thank everyone responsible for the life we live and the joy we have.
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Speaking of Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for my son-in-love’s blog. He has some great things to say. Check him out at: http://jhmalone2.wordpress.com/
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The Southern Baptist Convention, who have put out a new hymnal every 15 years or so since 1904, are preparing to update the 1991 hymnal. Sweeping changes in the forthcoming hymnal are due to a glut of new worship songs. For the first time, nearly half of the pages will be filled with songs never before published by Baptists. Not surprisingly, this move has caused a little tension.
As a Charismatic, I’m used to “Praise Songs” but I also think that the abandonment of traditional hymns has robbed us of a valuable means of sharing the gospel. To me, singing only “Praise Songs” is like eating the icing and leaving the cake.
The wealth of meaning in Hymn’s lyrics are much greater than most new songs.
So, please, give Hymns a chance. And, if you’re just singing Hymns, consider “tasting the icing.”
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CBS News had a report this week on ways parents “spy” on their kids “online” life. The report was disturbing in that these kids are involved in some hard core “partying” both on and off line.
Kids need some privacy and trust. But that doesn’t mean that they have free reign to do as they please. And, no one should ever assume that their e-mails and text messages are private.
In our youth, the discussion was whether parents should read their child’s diary. Our consensus was no that was the private property of the child.
The thing that strikes me is these “spying” programs are too late. If you haven’t taught your kids respect for themselves and you, spying on them isn’t going to help. I bet that most of us did things in adolescence that we were ashamed of and sure didn’t want our parents to know about. But if your child is involved in serious activities that threaten their life, maybe you ought to just go ahead and lock them up. Spying is too late.
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Speaking of family problems, the news this week had a story on statistics showing that child abuse is more likely in “non traditional” homes where partners aren’t married and kids don’t belong to both. In the cases studied, the alleged or convicted perpetrator had been the boyfriend of the child's mother—men thrust into father-like roles which they tragically failed to embrace.
Every case is different, every family is different. Some single mothers bring men into their lives that lovingly help raise children when the biological father is gone for good.
Nonetheless, many scholars and front-line caseworkers interviewed by The Associated Press see the abusive-boyfriend syndrome as part of a broader trend that deeply worries them. They note an ever-increasing share of America's children grow up in homes without both biological parents, and say the risk of child abuse is markedly higher in the nontraditional family structures.
"This is the dark underbelly of cohabitation," said Brad Wilcox, a sociology professor at the University of Virginia. "Cohabitation has become quite common, and most people think, 'What's the harm?' The harm is we're increasing a pattern of relationships that's not good for children."
Now the majority of stepparents and / or unmarried partners treat kids with love and respect. The problem is that a minority of these household members don’t bond with the children and are more likely to react to the kids with anger of carelessness. And the percentage of abusive stepparents and or unmarried partners who end up abusing kids is greater than the percentage of abusive parents.
So we have yet another example of how the “traditional family” is a good idea and those who choose or are forced into non traditional relationships need to be aware of the potential danger to the kids.
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This week, we read; “The Race” by Richard North Patterson, “The First Wave” by James R. Benn, a WWII murder mystery set in Algeria. And “Golf My On D__n Way” by John Daly.
Now, we’re reading; “Zero-G” By Alton Gansky and The world's greatest buildings by Henry J Cowan
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http://www.shelfari.com/BugsBleat/shelf?ec=7D790D174EFS18012
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Amazon released “Kindle”: their New Wireless Reading Device this week. I’d really like to have one, but not for $400. We’ll wait a while and see if the price comes down a little. Like about $199. Actually $400 isn’t too bad considering that it includes a lifetime of wireless broadband service. And the device will hold 200 books (more with an extra memory card installed.) New release best sellers are $10 and older books are $3. That’s not much more than I pay now for the books I order from the library. The only downside to me is that I don’t really want 200 books. I’d rather be able to borrow them, read them and erase or return them for credit.
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Would that someone could supply books like Netflix supplies video. We’re really enjoying Netflix’s library of old movies and TV shows. Recently, we’ve been watching Loretta Young as well as earlier seasons of “24". And our DVD player equipped with TV guardian keeps offensive language out, even when we rent newer shows.
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100 Most Often Mispronounced Words and Phrases in English [http://www.yourdictionary.com/library/mispron.html]
Here are the 100 words most often mispronounced English words ('mispronunciation' among them). There are spelling rules in English even if they are difficult to understand, so pronouncing a word correctly usually does help you spell it correctly. For example, bob wire instead of barbed wire or bidness instead of business
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The Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it would decide whether the Constitution grants individuals the right to keep guns in their homes for private use,
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David and I took the boys to the “Bee Movie” last Saturday. Barry B. Benson, a bee who has just graduated from college, is disillusioned at his lone career choice: making honey. On a special trip outside the hive, Barry's life is saved by Vanessa, a florist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms, he discovers humans actually eat honey, and subsequently decides to sue us. This movie is a riot. We laughed all the way through it.
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Lately, the news is full of stories of products being produced overseas in “Kid Powered Sweat Shops” as well as foreign made products containing toxic materials. This is nothing new. We had a rough time “cleaning up” our own manufacturing operations and, in some ways, we still have more to do here in the US. But the facts are that different cultures look at product safety and worker protection differently than we do.
Products made outside the US often come from a “looser” production standard than here. Of course that’s not always true, Japan and many European nations have just as strict or stricter production values than we do. But it’s the height of hypocrisy to demand that U.S. Companies comply with safety and environmental and child labor laws and then buy products from countries that have no compunction about violating all three.
I’ll never forget the photo of a Chinese ship welder, working in sandals and using a newspaper as a face shield. Or the program about a Chinese clothing shop, working young people 16 to 18 hours a day and then threatening to fire them when they demanded their wages. And guess which country is the most polluted?
But I do have a couple of solutions. Either ban products from any country found violating “OUR” laws (say for one year) or fine consumers for buying them.
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An Emboldened 'Compass'
By Tom Gilson
11/16/2007

Anti-God, Anti-Church at School

Last week, a local school counselor loaned us material from the Scholastic publishing company, promoting curriculum resources based on the upcoming movie and the already-published book, The Golden Compass. The materials were impressive—a gorgeously designed 31-by-21-inch poster of the movie, including an invitation for students to take part in an “Amazing Student Sweepstakes,” and on the back of it, a set of curriculum resources based on the book—all at completely no charge to schools or teachers. (The poster and teaching materials are on Scholastic’s website.)

If it seems somewhat unusual for a curriculum company to be promoting a movie, that’s not the strangest thing about it. The Golden Compass is the first book in Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. And what are these “dark materials”? Readers can get a very quick overview of the series through the (quite accurate) plot summaries at SparkNotes online.

There, for example, we learn about “intercision,” a plot feature of the The Golden Compass. What is this “intercision?” The answer really can’t be quoted on this page. You may go to SparkNotes to find out, but be sure no young children are looking over your shoulder. (Note that SparkNotes draws its interpretation on that point from the second book as well as the first.) Yet Scholastic wants schools to teach this material to our children.

And they surely don’t want them to stop at the first book. The second book is entitled The Subtle Knife. That happens to be the name of the one weapon that can kill God. The third book tells us that God is relieved to be killed. He’s a rather pathetic character, tired of all the responsibility, “half-crazed with age and infirmity,” in SparkNotes’ words. He had been rather mixed up about things all along, though. The Satan figure in the trilogy was the one who brought freedom to humans. God—and the dominating, violent, fearful church—fought against this freedom. Pullman cheers for their downfall. He has said so not only in his fiction, but also in interviews. The books, he says, are “about killing God.”

Pullman’s God is fictional, and we must hasten to note that the actual God is not concerned about death threats that might be made against Him. The real concern is for students who will have this dark material forced on them in schools.

Scholastic is by far the top source of reading materials for American schools. What they market, schools buy. One might wonder what they stand to gain from giving these expensive materials away.

Well, it's not really all that hard to figure out. The poster says the materials are “generously sponsored by New Line Cinema.” Generous, indeed, that they would co-opt an educational company to advertise their film for them? But it’s not entirely a co-optation—for Scholastic co-produced the film. It’s all bound to sell a lot of books, of course, and Scholastic will gladly handle that transaction for your child, too. Does this seem like a company that has students' and schools' best interests at heart?

There is word on the Web that the anti-God theme has been toned down for the movie; and that theme is expressed much more strongly in the second and third books than the first, anyway. So is there any reason to make a fuss over this first book, and the movie? Yes, because the first book in a trilogy, if it is at all interesting, is (among other things) the strongest possible advertisement for the second and third. It’s impossible to promote only the first. Who could stop reading The Lord of the Rings just when the Fellowship separated, at the close of the first book?

Moreover, the anti-Church, anti-Biblical elements of even the first book are plenty strong. The Church is presented as highly controlling and evil; and this is not some other-world, purely fantastical church with no connection to our own world. In Chapter 16 we learn of its “Vatican Council.” In Chapter 19 a character speaks of being “baptized as a Christian” in Geneva. Chapter 2 tells us the last Pope in this world was John Calvin, which in another context would be knee-slapping hilarious, but here contributes to the strength of the connection this fictional world has to our real one.

One of the prominent themes of the book is “Dust,” a mysterious “charged particle” from the sky. In the closing chapters of the book, the protagonist, Lyra, finally learns that Dust is “the physical evidence for original sin”; and Dust is what powers her “alethiometer” (the golden-colored, compass-looking device for which the book is named). From the Greek, alethiometer means “truth-measurer.” It is a device she consults, through a kind of clairvoyant process, to learn secrets and discover truths; it never lies or misleads. Dust and the alethiometer—central symbols in this book—together send the clear message that truth is measured by the power of original sin. In the closing pages, Lyra decides that Dust is a good thing after all, and she determines to go on and defend this original sin against the Church. Thus we are ushered into the second book.

This is certainly not a message we want our children to take to heart. Still, we cannot lose sight of the fact that Pullman is working on our turf when he tells his tale. I'll gladly stand up our story against his! The story of Christ has drama, it has strong characters, it has relevance, it has a truly stupendous surprise ending—in short, all the elements of great story. Best of all, it’s not fiction. It happened! So we need not respond defensively, or with anger, or by picketing the movie, or with any of the worldly methods Paul warned against in 2 Corinthians 10. This is the time—especially since the movie is coming out at Christmastime—for us to tell the true story of Jesus Christ, in love and with a positive tone.

Yet there is a limit, and Christian parents ought to stand guard on behalf of the next generation. The Golden Compass—book or movie—does not belong in our schools.

Tom Gilson is director of strategic processes in the Operational Advisory Services team for Campus Crusade for Christ. He maintains a blog at www.thinkingchristian.net..

Tom Gilson's Discussion on The Golden Compass, Thinking Christian.

Tom Gilson, “Coming Soon To Your Child's School: Hostility Toward God and Church, Heavily Promoted,” Thinking Christian, 30 October 2007.

“Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass,” Scholastic, 2 November 2007.

Gina Dalfonzo, “The Impoverished Imagination,” BreakPoint WorldView, March 2004.

Gina Dalfonzo, “Tone Matters,” The Point, 2 November 2007.

Gina Dalfonzo, “’Pied Piper of Atheism’,” The Point, 15 November 2007.

http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=7254
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Some conservative bloggers are furious about a photo showing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama without his hand on his heart during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Obama has countered that the photo was taken during the national anthem, not the Pledge of Allegiance—so he didn't have to. Is that true?

No. According to U.S. law, a civilian like Obama is supposed to stand up when the anthem is played, take off his hat, face the flag, and put his right hand over his heart. When in uniform, members of the military can keep their hats on and salute instead of placing their hands on their hearts.*

http://www.slate.com/id/2177887/?GT1=10636
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Solar panels on the roof of one of Rockefeller Center’s buildings will help power the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree this year. The tree will also feature 30,000 light-emitting diodes along five miles of wire, reducing energy consumption from 3,510 kilowatt hours to 1,297 kilowatt hours per day.
After Christmas, the tree will be “milled and treated and made into lumber to be used by Habitat for Humanity.”
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I-10 is closed at La. 415 and no traffic is allowed on the interstate between Baton Rouge and Lafayette due to a natural gas well blowout and resulting fire. Photos showed the burning well a few hundred feet north of the interstate while some news stories reported it as two miles north of the interstate. Another example of accurate reporting.
Latest news is that the Interstate will be closed until at least December 4. The Governor has ordered a moratorium on all drilling near major highways.
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Stress, depression and the holidays: 12 tips for coping - - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress/MH00030 - - Stress and depression can ruin your holidays and hurt your health. Being realistic, planning ahead and seeking support can help ward off stress and depression. Practical tips from the Mayo Clinic.
12 tips to prevent holiday stress and depression
When stress is at its peak, it's hard to stop and regroup. Try to prevent stress and depression in the first place, especially if you know the holidays have taken an emotional toll in previous years.

Tips you can try to head off holiday stress and depression:

Acknowledge your feelings. If a loved one has recently died or you aren't able to be with your loved ones, realize that it's normal to feel sadness or grief. It's OK now and then to take time just to cry or express your feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just because it's the holiday season.
Seek support. If you feel isolated or down, seek out family members and friends, or community, religious or social services. They can offer support and companionship. Consider volunteering at a community or religious function. Getting involved and helping others can lift your spirits and broaden your friendships. Also, enlist support for organizing holiday gatherings, as well as meal preparation and cleanup. You don't have to go it alone. Don't be a martyr.
Be realistic. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Hold on to those you can and want to. But accept that you may have to let go of others. For example, if your adult children and grandchildren can't all gather at your house as usual, find new ways to celebrate together from afar, such as sharing pictures, e-mails or videotapes.
Set differences aside. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don't live up to all your expectations. Practice forgiveness. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. With stress and activity levels high, the holidays might not be conducive to making quality time for relationships. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they're feeling the effects of holiday stress and depression, too.
Stick to a budget. Before you go shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend on gifts and other items. Then be sure to stick to your budget. If you don't, you could feel anxious and tense for months afterward as you struggle to pay the bills. Don't try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Donate to a charity in someone's name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.
Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make one big food-shopping trip. That'll help prevent a last-minute scramble to buy forgotten ingredients — and you'll have time to make another pie, if the first one's a flop. Expect travel delays, especially if you're flying.
Learn to say no. Believe it or not, people will understand if you can't do certain projects or activities. If you say yes only to what you really want to do, you'll avoid feeling resentful, bitter and overwhelmed. If it's really not possible to say no when your boss asks you to work overtime, try to remove something else from your agenda to make up for the lost time.
Don't abandon healthy habits. Don't let the holidays become a dietary free-for-all. Some indulgence is OK, but overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don't go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Continue to get plenty of sleep and schedule time for physical activity.
Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Steal away to a quiet place, even if it's to the bathroom for a few moments of solitude. Take a walk at night and stargaze. Listen to soothing music. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.
Rethink resolutions. Resolutions can set you up for failure if they're unrealistic. Don't resolve to change your whole life to make up for past excess. Instead, try to return to basic, healthy lifestyle routines. Set smaller, more specific goals with a reasonable time frame. Choose only those resolutions that help you feel valuable and that provide more than only fleeting moments of happiness.
Forget about perfection. Holiday TV specials are filled with happy endings. But in real life, people don't usually resolve problems within an hour or two. Something always comes up. You may get stuck late at the office and miss your daughter's school play, your sister may dredge up an old argument, your partner may burn the cookies, and your mother may criticize how you're raising the kids. All in the same day. Accept imperfections in yourself and in others.
Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for several weeks, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. You may have depression.
Take back control of holiday stress and depression
Remember, one key to minimizing holiday stress and depression is knowing that the holidays can trigger stress and depression. Accept that things aren't always going to go as planned. Then take active steps to manage stress and depression during the holidays. You may actually enjoy the holidays this year more than you thought you could.
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Greetings:

There are German translations of "Thanks and Praise" [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/thanks-and-praise-german-translation.htm] and "Al Qaeda is Defeated" [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/al-qaeda-is-defeated-german-translation.htm] available. We have also published a Slovak translation of "Al Qaeda is Defeated."[http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/al-qaeda-is-defeated-slovenic-translation.htm]

Please forward these links to your German and Slovak speaking friends.

I'm currently working on a series of dispatches from recent embeds with British and American soldiers that will be published over the next few weeks, starting with the first dispatch about British soldiers in Basra that will be published in 24 hours.

Michael Yon
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A new dispatch is published. Please click [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/men-of-valor-part-i-of-about-viii.htm] for "Men of Valor."

Michael Yon: Online Magazine http://www.michaelyon-online.com
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Each week the Defense Department highlights military personnel who have gone above and beyond in the war. [http://www.defenselink.mil/heroes/] - - Joshua ChiariniThe Story:

As enemy forces ambushed the front of his convoy, and with explosions going off on the road ahead of him, Navy Hospital Corpsman Joshua Chiarini could have remained in his vehicle and waited for the action to pass. Instead, the petty officer bolted from his truck and joined the battle. His ensuing gallantry resulted in a Silver Star and the recovery of several wounded Marines from the line of fire, saving their lives.

Many of Chiarini’s missions took place in Al Anbar province, a hotbed of violence in early 2006. The morning of February 10 started out like so many others – with a patrol for Chiarini, a combat medic spending his third tour of duty with the 1st Platoon, 2nd Marine Division. It soon became clear the day would be anything but routine. A roadside bomb hit the front Humvee in the convoy. The vehicle sped out of the kill zone and its occupants escaped and took up defensive positions against the attacking force. A second blast detonated in the area where the four Marines and one interpreter stood, which was followed by heavy small-arms fire in their direction, causing injuries. Chiarini’s Humvee, the third in the convoy, remained far behind the damaged truck and Marines. Clouds of smoke and nonexistent radio communications blocked the pinned down Marines from the rest of the convoy. Realizing his comrades lay in harm’s way, Chiarini jumped out of the truck and sprinted 100 meters to tend to the injured men, dodging insurgent fire the entire way.

One by one, Chiarini helped guide each person to safety. Chiarini led the interpreter, who had a mangled arm, to a secure Humvee. He guided the M-16 fire of a blinded Marine toward the insurgents. Chiarini then made three separate trips from the Humvee to the battlefield to treat and retrieve each of the wounded, all while braving a high volume of incoming rounds and laying down cover fire. For much of the time, Chiarini applied aid to the wounded with one arm, while providing suppressive fire with the other. After moving the team to safety, Chiarini stayed on the battlefield and unleashed M-16 fire at the enemy forces. He continued the fight as reinforcements arrived, eliminating several insurgents.

This was not the only mission that placed Chiarini in harm’s way. His team was repeatedly fired on by snipers. 30 of the convoys he rode in were struck by roadside bombs and three suicide bombers. The constant danger makes it all the more impressive that of the 100 Marines treated by Chiarini, none lost his or her life.

On October 22, 2007, Chiarini received the Silver Star medal in the Rhode Island statehouse. He presently serves at Naval Health Clinic New England in Newport, RI.
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MapQuest Gas Prices, Pretty Cool http://gasprices.mapquest.com
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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 our immediate and extended families.
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Don’t forget to check out www.mcc2000.net
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Recipe(s) of the week - - - Roast Turkey

Turkey meat is low in fat and high in flavor. The fat is in the skin, so carve the turkey in the kitchen and remove the skin (put it aside for wonderful flavor in soup). Arrange attractively on a platter garnished with fresh sprigs of herbs and serve with pride! —Suzanne Butler, culinary consultant

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 240 minutes
Serves: 12
Serving Size: 3 ounces
Ingredients
1 12-pound turkey, fresh or frozen
1 onion, yellow
1 orange, medium

Preparation
Note: Allow the turkey to thaw for 2-3 days in the refrigerator; pull the bag of giblets out the second day and thawing will go quicker.
Preheat the oven to 400̊F and place the oven rack near the bottom so there will be plenty of room for the turkey.
Wash the turkey inside and out and dry the inside with paper towels. Season with a little salt and pepper inside.
Cut the onion and orange in half and stuff them into the cavity. Put plenty of fresh herbs (sage, rosemary and/or thyme), stems and all, around the orange and onion pieces.
Place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan breast side down. (Note: Cooking breast side down allows the flavorful juices to flow into the breast to baste the white meat, which can get too dry. You aren't going to serve the skin anyway, so it doesn't matter if it doesn't get brown on top. There will be bits of browned skin on the bottom for those who just have to have a bit.)
Roast for 30 minutes at 400̊F then turn down the heat to 325̊F. Cover lightly with aluminum foil and cook until the temperature of the thickest part of the thigh reaches 175̊F on an instant-read thermometer, 3 to 3-1/2 hours more.
Pour hot water into the bottom of the pan every once in awhile if it dries and starts to scorch. This will be the source of the drippings for the gravy.
Remove from the oven, set on a cutting board breast side up, cover with foil and let cool for about 30 minutes before carving.
Tips

A usual portion is a 3-ounce serving (2 thin but good size slices of turkey breast without skin). The same amount of white meat with skin or dark meat without skin can double the fat so if you are fond of dark meat or the skin, consider one slice of that and one slice of breast meat without skin to balance the fat.

Diet Exchange
Other Carbohydrates: 0.0
Very Lean Meat: 0.0
Fat: 0.0
Milk: 0.0
Vegetable: 0.0
Fruit: 0.0
Lean Meat: 4.0
Bread/Starch: 0.0
Nutrition Information
Amount Per Serving
Calories 230
Calories from Fat 80
Total Fat 9 g
Saturated Fat 2.5 g
Cholesterol 80 mg
Sodium 65 mg
Total Carbohydrate 2 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 1 g
Protein 33 g
Vitamin C 10%
Calcium 4%
Iron 8%
Not a significant source of Vitamin A

http://lifescan.nutrio.com/content?page=414&preq=18&cat=0&week_offset=-1&redirect_type=weeklymeals&rec=15018&username=413705
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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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BreakPoint
With Chuck Colson
The Day after Thanksgiving
By Mark Earley
11/23/2007

The Power of Family Meals

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

I hope all of you have recovered from a wonderful Thanksgiving Day feast. Yesterday millions of American families gathered around the dinner table—even if some of them had to be dragged away from a football game. They did it to give thanks and to gorge on turkey and pumpkin pie. Some people—as with my family—flew or drove hundreds of miles to be together. Thanksgiving is still important enough to us that we will make every effort to gather with our loved ones around the table.

But what about the other 364 days of the year?

Sadly, for many families, the effort of gathering for a family meal on an ordinary day is just too much, it seems. Parents have to work late. Kids have soccer practice or band practice or dance practice. Sometimes they are practicing practice. In the frantic effort to juggle schedules and make sure nobody goes hungry, it is often easier to feed the kids fast food, or everybody eats on the run.

Though we know there is something wrong with this state of affairs, we don’t always realize how serious the problem is. After all, it’s just a meal, right? That’s why Miriam Weinstein’s book, The Surprising Power of Family Meals, is so valuable.

As other authors have done, Weinstein tells us fewer and fewer families are taking the time to eat dinner together. Then she delves into the reasons why we should eat with our families, looking at various studies on the benefits of family dinners. Believe it or not, researchers have carefully studied dinnertime—from the kind of conversation that goes on around the table to the lifelong effect that regular mealtimes have on children’s eating habits.

The research indicates that many young adults with eating disorders never had a regular dinnertime when they were growing up. They literally never learned how to eat a proper meal.

Weinstein tells us that when the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse studied ways to keep kids from destructive behaviors, family dinners were “more important than church attendance, more important even than grades at school.” The Center has repeated that study several times since then, “and every year, eating supper together regularly as a family tops the list of variables that are within our control.”

You see, there is a lot more to family dinners than meets the eye. They have “the power of ritual,” giving parents and kids the chance to connect, adding a sense of security to the daily routine. They are an opportunity for parents to teach about family history and traditions, so that they give kids a sense of identity. Even dysfunctional families seem to work just a little bit better when they make time to eat together.

The point is, family meals are not just about food. As Weinstein puts it, “Supper is about nourishment of all kinds.” That includes physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.

So one night this week I invite you to join me: Print this “BreakPoint” from our website, make a good pot of stew, set the table, and gather around the table for dinner and a conversation about the value and priority of family meals. Remember: Eating together can make a big difference for us and our children when this year’s Thanksgiving dinner is just a distant memory.

And around the Earley household, we put it this way: United we stand, provided we eat.
BreakPoint WorldView magazine is now available for FREE online. Sign up today!

For Further Reading and Information

Miriam Weinstein, The Surprising Power of Family Meals (Steerforth Press, 2005).
Lynn Schnurnberger, “The Truth about Family Dinners,” Parade, 11 November 2007.
Rebecca Sodergren, “Saying Grace: Plenty of People Still Give Thanks before Meals, and Not Just at the Holiday Table,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 15 November 2007.
Nancy Gibbs, “The Magic of the Family Meal,” TIME, 4 June 2006.

Jonathan Yardley, “The Ties that Bind at Mealtime,” Washington Post, 30 August 2005.

Albert Mohler, “Start a Revolution—Eat Dinner with Your Family,” AlbertMohler.com, 12 September 2005.

Karen Santorum, Everyday Graces (ISI Books, 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
~~~~~
Words of the Week:
aggrandize: to make or make appear great or greater.
restive: resisting control; stubborn.
comport: to behave (oneself) in a particular manner.
flout: to treat with contempt and disregard.
extirpate: to eradicate; to destroy.
wiseacre: a smart aleck.
deipnosophist: one skilled in table talk.
postprandial: happening or done after a meal.
from Dictionary.Com

~~~~~
"The planting of trees is the least self-centered of all that we do. It is a purer act of faith than the procreation of children." - Thornton Wilder

"When the Devil quotes Scriptures, it's not, really, to deceive, but simply that the masses are so ignorant of theology that somebody has to teach them the elementary texts before he can seduce them." - Paul Goodman

"Mankind must remember that peace is not God's gift to his creatures; peace is our gift to each other." - Elie Wiesel

"History is a vast early warning system." - Norman Cousins

"It is the soul's duty to be loyal to its own desires. It must abandon itself to its master passion." - Rebecca West

"How wonderful it would be if we could help our children and grandchildren to learn thanksgiving at an early age. Thanksgiving opens the doors. It changes a child's personality. A child is resentful, negative - or thankful. Thankful children want to give, they radiate happiness, they draw people" - Sir John Templeton

"We are all refugees of a future that never happened." - Lee Weiner
~~~~~
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

# Excerpts from President Bush's Thanksgiving Blessing at Little Known Berkeley Plantation
# A Little Thanksgiving History

# Baptist Union of Great Britain Apologizes for Slave Trade
# U.S. Olympic Marathon Trial Winner, Ryan Hall, Talks of His Faith and the Road to Victory Won this Month
# Thanksgiving Recipe: Crockpot Italian Sour-Dough Dressing

Breaking Christian News
310 2nd Ave SE
Albany, Oregon 97321
541-928-2642
E-mail
US Orders: 1-866-358-7426

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GCF: Drum Problem

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

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.
-----------------------------------

There was once a small boy who banged a drum all day and loved every moment of it. He would not be quiet, no matter what anyone else said or did. Various attempts were made to do something about the child.

One person told the boy that he would, if he continued to make so much noise, perforate his eardrums. This reasoning was too advanced for the child, who was neither a scientist nor a scholar.

A second person told him that drum beating was a sacred activity and should be carried out only on special occasions. The third person offered the neighbors plugs for their ears; a fourth gave the boy a book; a fifth gave the neighbors books that described a method of controlling anger through biofeedback; a sixth person gave the boy meditation exercises to make him placid and docile. None of these attempts worked.

Eventually, a wise person came along with an effective motivation. He looked at the situation, handed the child a hammer and chisel, and asked, "I wonder what's inside the drum?"
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Frozen Turkeys

This is a repeat from the GCF Archive. Posted there 11/24/1997.
-----------------------------------

A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but couldn't find one big enough for her family. She asked a stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?" The stock boy replied, "No ma'am, they're dead."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Thanksgiving Prayer

This is a repeat from the GCF Archive. Posted there 11/25/2005.
-----------------------------------

My family traditionally begins the evening meal with a prayer of thanks. When they were old enough, we began letting our children say the meal prayer. Of course at first they would ask for a pony, a new bike, etc. They soon learned the more important things which should be included in the prayer.

At Thanksgiving we had the whole family over. My nine year old wanted to say the prayer. It went like this:

"Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the turkey, the rolls, the mashed potatoes, the red jiggly stuff, and the bread stuff even though I don't like it. We ask that You not let us choke on this food."

(Most of us nearly choked just trying not to laugh!)
_ ____________________________ _
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ /A husband is someone who takes \ \_/ ////
\ / out the trash and gives the \ /
\ _/ impression he just cleaned \_ /
/ / the whole house. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / A cement mixer collided \ \_/ ////
\ / with a prison van. \ /
\ _/ Be on the lookout for \_ /
/ / hardened criminals. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / My children never understood \ \_/ ////
\ / my logic. Both of them failed \ /
\ _/ to see why they had to go \_ /
/ / to bed when I was tired. \ \
_ ____________________________ _
| 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/
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
College Students and Thanksgiving

The Top Ten Reasons College Students Are Looking Forward to Thanksgiving Break and Going Home for the Holidays:

10. You'll know that your turkey is a Butterball rather than a Grade E yet semi-edible fur ball.

9. Your mother will not be serving your mashed potatoes and stuffing with an ice cream scooper.

8. Pumpkin pie is a great alternative to green Jello.

7. After your eighth glass of cider, your emergency dash to the bathroom will not be delayed by having to run down a long hallway, only to find you must wait in line.

6. Clean underwear, comfortable bed, access to a car, bedroom larger than a 12x14 cell ... okay, even if it is for only four days.

5. To eat your meals, the only trek you'll have to make is from the couch to the kitchen, rather than the dorm to the dining hall in below freezing weather.

4. Instead of listening to "When I first started teaching here..." you can be entertained by "When your mother was your age..." and "During the Depression we weren't lucky enough to have Brussels sprouts. Heck, all we could afford was the sprout!"

3. You can eat your corn steamed with butter rather than popped in your microwave.

2. You'll know the hair in the shower drain is your own.

And, the number one reason college students are looking forward to Thanksgiving...

1. You won't be eating your Thanksgiving meal off a tray!

Received from Bobby.

(-:][:-)

Definitions For My Husband On Thanksgiving Day

PLAYBOOK: Also known as my cookbook, to be kept in plain sight at all times. If the book gets moved, the game could get ugly.

OFFSIDES: Silverware is to be set next to the plates -- off to the side, dear, not tossed in the middle of the table in a heap, for all to scramble for.

GAME TIME: This is when the food must all be on the table, at the same time, at the same temperature (preferably hot) so that the *teams* may meet at the arena (Table) for the coach to say the prayer.

TEAM SPIRIT: That which shall be upheld until the END of the game. When the coach (ME) has heard the fat lady sing (AUNT MARTHA saying that she's had enough to eat).

COMMERCIAL BREAKS: There will be NONE for us, until I deem them totally necessary for my sanity, when you have made me crazy!

PENALTIES: Will be given if there is no team spirit showing and the game time is DELAYED or offsides have occurred due to a certain *televised* football game engaging your attention!

HOLDING: May be necessary of several large bowls, so that I may pour gravy without staining my new silk blouse. And keep in mind dear, I am HOLDING the clicker for the T.V. for ransom ;) .

TOUCHDOWNS: Please make them gentle when bowls are being touched down on the table. Do not spike them, and do not dance when the mission is complete!

FLAG ON THE PLAY: When something is spilled, PLEASE by all means throw a towel down on it and mop it up!

RUSHING: What we will be doing a lot of!!

and last but not least...

GROOMING THE FIELD: Dear husband, if you help me through this meal, as I know you will, I promise to RECRUIT new players for the cleanup and YES... in plenty of time for you to enjoy the REAL GAME!!!

Written by Shan Kish.

Received from UGA Humor List.

(-:][:-)

Thanksgiving in the UK

A few years ago, an American and a British journalist were discussing Thanksgiving on a British radio program. The American asked if Thanksgiving was celebrated in the UK.

"Yes," the British journalist replied, "but we celebrate it on the 6th of September."

"Why then?"

"That's when you chaps left."

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

A Thanksgiving Funny

In a few days, all America will be celebrating the holiday of Thanksgiving, or as it is known outside the United States, "Thursday."

Families separated for months or years will reunite, and shortly afterwards they will remember why they separated. In a darkened gymnasium, Richard Simmons will run his revenue projections and consider buying a small Caribbean island. Throughout the nation, those wretched souls condemned to the public school system will breathe a bit easier, eager in their anticipation of four days surcease from education. (The students are pretty happy about it, too.)

Yet running through this gaiety is an undercurrent of bewilderment. In this decadent age we live in, far too many of our unlettered countrymen think Plymouth Rock a music style from the '70s, or the Mayflower a potpourri ingredient. Accordingly, in the best traditions of journalistic public service and overweening arrogance, my column this frosty morn shall be dedicated to answering your questions about Thanksgiving.

Q. Gosh, you're right. I, the average reader, am dumb as a post. What exactly are the origins of Thanksgiving?

A. Thanksgiving is, of course, a holiday invented by grocers and farmers to allow them to sell huge quantities of disgusting "traditional" foods that no one in his right mind would eat otherwise, such as squash. The average squash is a triumph of minimalism wherein Nature manages to convert mud into a plant without bothering to change its taste and texture. Attempts to improve the mud-like flavor of squash by the addition of delicate seasonings and spices have produced dishes that taste, at best, like delicately seasoned and spiced mud. A master chef, faced with the necessity of making a palatable squash dish, would throw in his funny hat and become a short-order cook at Denny's.

Q. That's quite a conspiracy theory. Where do the Black Helicopters fit in?

A. They transport the squash.

Q. I should have guessed. But seriously, what are the origins of Thanksgiving?

A. The first Thanksgiving was a celebration of gratitude by a group of early English settlers known as the Pilgrims. The Pilgrims were Separatists who had come to the New World to practice their religion without government interference, and since the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms did not exist at the time, they were allowed to do so.

Unfortunately, the Pilgrims neglected to acquire a few skills (such as elementary agronomy) before setting off on their voyage, and as a result they nearly starved. The local Indians, who at the time were practicing their ancient sustenance methods of hunting and fishing, took pity on the Pilgrims and taught them to farm the native flora. In a display of appreciation, when the first harvest was taken in, the Pilgrims held a huge feast and invited the Indians over for dinner, after which they all fell asleep on couches while watching football.

Q. OK, but when did Thanksgiving become a national holiday?

A. Thanksgiving Day was adopted as an annual holiday by New York State in 1817, marking the first official celebration of Thanksgiving as a regular event, and the last time a New Yorker said "thank you" for anything. In 1863, President Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving, and every subsequent president has followed suit.

Q. Speaking of turkeys, is it true that Ben Franklin thought the turkey should have been our national bird instead of the eagle?

A. Ben Franklin was indeed a proponent of the turkey as our national bird. Since he was a member of the Hellfire Club at the time, though, his motives were somewhat suspect.

It must be kept in mind that the modern domestic turkey bears little resemblance to its feral ancestors. The wild turkey is a cunning and elusive survivor, a challenging quarry for the most skilled of hunters. Farm turkeys, on the other hand, have been selectively inbred for generations in an attempt to improve flavor and increase breast meat production. These efforts have had numerous side effects on the birds in question, including reduced intelligence, difficulty in maintaining balance, and the creation of the Spice Girls.

Q. Is there a final message you would like to give to your readers on this Thanksgiving Day?

A. Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner. You can have my squash.

Received from Mikey's Funnies.

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
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><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
I thought I would do better but.... Snow Shoes got me along with several other answers.

*Quiz for people who know (almost) everything.... *
This is a quiz for people who know everything! I found out in a hurry that I didn't. These are not trick questions. They are straight questions with straight answers

1. Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends.
2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?
3. Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?
4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
5. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?
6. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters " dw" and they are all common words. Name two of them.
7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them?
8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.
9. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter "S."

*Answers To Quiz: **
*
1. The one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends:* Boxing**
*
2. North American landmark constantly moving backward: *Niagara Falls* (The rim is worn down about two and a half feet each year because of the millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute.)

3. Only two vegetables that can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons: *Asparagus and rhubarb*.

4. The fruit with its seeds on the outside: *Strawberry.**
*
5. How did the pear get inside the brandy bottle? It grew inside the bottle.* (The bottles are placed over pear buds when they are small, and are wired in place on the tree. The bottle is left in place for the entire growing season. When the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at the stems.) *
*
6. Three English words beginning with dw:* Dwarf, dwell and dwindle*.

7. Fourteen punctuation marks in English grammar:* Period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe, question mark, exclamation point, quotation marks, brackets, parenthesis, braces, and ellipses.**
*
8. The only vegetable or fruit never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form but fresh: *Lettuce.*

9. Six or more things you can wear on your feet beginning with "S": *Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, skates, snowshoes, stockings, stilts. **
**
PLEASE DO YOUR PART....... Today is National Mental Health Day. You can do your part by remembering to send an e-mail to at least one unstable person
*
*Well, my job's done!**
*
*LIFE IS A JOURNEY.** ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND ENJOY THE BREEZE*

Thanks to Waneta
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
"Don't strive for recognition, but work for achievement." -- Vanessa Malone
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - - http://www.madkane.com/humor_blog/2007/11/04/charge/ - -
Charge!
Charge! (Limerick)
By Madeleine Begun Kane

“A charge account’s wrong to its core,”
Said the dad, who paid cash at each store.
Then a flight was near barred
By the lack of a card,
Until “Here,” said his teen, “I have four.”

Author’s Note: This limerick is loosely based on personal experience. My now 92 year old father used to strongly disapprove of charge accounts. But one day, many years ago, he had to book an emergency plane trip over the phone and was stymied by his lack of a charge card. Fortunately, I had a charge account, even though I was an unemployed college student. So I proudly saved the day, and my father became an immediate charge card convert.
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
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
My husband and I had been happily
(most of the time)
married for five years
but hadn't been blessed with a baby.

I decided to do some serious
praying and promised God
that if he would
give us a child,
I would be a perfect mother,
love it with
all my heart
and raise it with his word
as my guide.

God answered my prayers
and blessed us with a son.
The next year God blessed us
with another son.
The following year,
he blessed us with
yet another son.
The year after that we
were blessed with a daughter.

My husband thought we'd
been blessed right into poverty.
We now had four children,
and the oldest was only
four years old.

I learned never to ask God
for anything unless I meant it.
As a minister once told me,
"If you pray for rain,
make sure
you carry an umbrella."

I began reading a few verses
of the Bible to the children
each day as they lay
in their cribs.
I was off to a good start.
God had entrusted me
with four children and
I didn't want to
disappoint him.

I tried to be patient the day
the children smashed
two dozen eggs on
the kitchen floor searching
for baby chicks.

I tried to be understanding
when they started a hotel for
homeless frogs in the
spare bedroom, although it took
me nearly two hours to catch
all twenty-three frogs.

When my daughter poured
ketchup all over herself and
rolled up in a blanket to see
how it felt to be a hot dog,
I tried to see the humor
rather than the mess.

In spite of changing over
twenty-five thousand diapers,
never eating a hot meal and
never sleeping for more
than thirty minutes at a time,
I still thank God daily
for my children.

While I couldn't keep my promise
to be a perfect mother -
I didn't even come close -
I did keep my promise
to raise them
in the Word of God.

I knew I was missing the mark
just a little when I told
my daughter we were going
to church to worship God,
and she wanted to bring
a bar of soap along to
"wash up" Jesus, too.

Something was lost
in the translation when
I explained that
God gave us everlasting life,
and my son thought it was
generous of God to give
us his "last wife."

My proudest moment came
during the children's
Christmas pageant.
My daughter was playing Mary,
two of my sons were shepherds
and my youngest son was
a wise man.
This was their moment to shine.

My five-year-old shepherd
had practiced his line,
"We found the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes."
But he was nervous and said,
"The baby was wrapped
in wrinkled clothes."
My four-year-old
"Mary" said,
"That's not 'wrinkled clothes,'
silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."

A wrestling match broke out
between Mary and the shepherd
and was
stopped by an angel,
who bent her halo and lost
her left wing.

I slouched a little lower
in my seat when Mary
dropped the doll representing
Baby Jesus, and it bounced
down the
aisle crying, "Mama-mama."

Mary grabbed the doll,
wrapped it back up
and held it tightly as
the wise men arrived.

My other son stepped forward
wearing a bathrobe and a
paper crown,
knelt at the manger and announced,
"We are the three wise men,
and we are bringing gifts
of gold, common sense and fur."
The congregation
dissolved into laughter,
and the pageant
got a standing ovation.

"I've never enjoyed a Christmas
program as much as this one,"
laughed the pastor,
wiping tears from his eyes.
"For the rest of my life,
I'll never hear the
Christmas story without
thinking of gold, common sense and fur."

"My children are my pride
and my joy and my greatest
blessing,"
I said as I dug
through my purse

for an aspirin.

Jesus had no servants,
yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree,
yet they called Him Teacher.

Had no medicines,
yet they called Him Healer.

Had no army,
yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles,
yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime,
yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb,
yet He lives today.

Feel honored
to serve such a Leader
who loves us.
If you believe in
God and in Jesus Christ His Son,
send this to all on your buddy list.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

Thanks to David Lamb
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel
guide stopped in front of the first section and said, 'This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received.'

I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.

Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.

The angel then said to me, 'This is the Packaging and Delivery Section.
Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them. 'I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.

Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. 'This is the Acknowledgment Section,' my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed 'How is it that there is no work going on here?' I asked.

'So sad,' the angel sighed. 'After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments .'

'How does one acknowledge God's blessings?' I asked.

'Simple,' the angel answered. Just say, 'Thank you, Lord.'

'What blessings should they acknowledge?' I asked.

'If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy .'

'And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity.'

'If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day .'

'If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... you are
ahead of 700 million people in the world.'

'If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world .'

'If your parents are still alive and still married ...you are very rare.'

'If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair.'

Ok, what now? How can I start?

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than
over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and if you want, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.

ATTN:

Acknowledge Dept.: 'Thank you Lord, for giving me the ability to share this message and for giving me so many wonderful people to share it with.'

I thank God for everything, especially all my family and friends!!

Blessings with love

Thanks to Tim Wooley
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TOURBUS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -:) - :)- :)
Volume 13, Number 2 --- 1 Aug 2007
Tourbus Home -- http://www.InternetTourbus.com
-----------------------------------------------------
TODAY’S TOURBUS TOPIC(S): Patrick on the iPhone

Howdy, y'all, and greetings once again from deep behind the orange curtain in beautiful Irvine, California, a town that was created by blending corn syrup and sugar and then cooking it to 245 degrees Fahrenheit.

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

In a recent post my partner in bus-driver-ey provides 10 reasons why he won't be purchasing an Apple iPhone. While I certainly hold Bob's opinion in high regard, I respectfully disagree with his conclusion. In that light, I present my 5 reasons why the iPhone *IS* my phone.

-------------------
1. It *IS* my phone
-------------------

I have an iPhone. It was a wedding gift from my wife. [Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you. I got married. On 07/07/07. In Las Vegas. I promise I'll tell you all about it in my next post. For now, let's get back to the iPhone.]

Would I actually pay US$499/$599 for an iPhone if I hadn't received one as a gift? My answer is "yes, despite its flaws." And since I was already a Cingular/AT&T subscriber with a monthly data plan, the activation process was a snap. In fact, I think I am paying AT&T *less* per month than I was with my old phone.

----------------
2. The Interface
----------------

If you've seen the iPhone commercials, you know how to use an iPhone. No, really. The interface is at once beautiful and intuitive. Launching and switching between applications is a snap. And as hard as this is to believe, the iPhone's virtual keyboard works quite well. It's even good a predicting what you meant to type if you make a mistake. Punch in "Hwlli" and the iPhone predicts, based on keyboard quadrants, that you meant to punch in "Hello" instead. Pretty slick.

--------------
3. Google Maps
--------------

I downloaded and installed Google Maps on my old phone -- a Palm Treo 650 -- but the Google Maps application that comes pre-installed on the iPhone just plain works better. In fact, it has changed the way I use my cell phone. Case in point: on Saturday, Christine [my wife] and I went on a quest to find a store that sells Red Hots cinnamon imperials candies by the bag instead of by the box. After striking out at CVS, Ralph's, and Target, I launched Google Maps, typed in "Wal-Mart", and up popped six Wal-Marts within about 10 miles of me. A quick trip to the Wal-Mart in Foothill Ranch and my Red Hots craving was satiated.

And because the iPhone's Google Maps application shows live traffic conditions, I no longer need my TrafficGuage [see http://www.trafficgauge.com/ ] to see what the freeway congestion will be like on my trips to and from work.

My only complaint about the iPhone's Google Maps tool is that the iPhone doesn't have GPS. This means you have to manually tell the iPhone where you are before you can use Google Maps to get driving directions or a list of local businesses. For example, in Apple's "Calamari" commercial [http://www.apple.com/iphone/ads/ad2/] you have to start with an already zoomed-in map of San Francisco and then search for the keyword "seafood" to see a list of San Francisco seafood restaurants. Other than that, though, Google Maps works just like it does on the commercial. The red location pins even drop in from the top of the screen.

---------------
4. Call Quality
---------------

Despite assertions from Consumer Reports [http://tinyurl.com/24kqx6] and others to the contrary, the iPhone sound quality is as good as or better than other cell phones I have owned. And it is SIGNIFICANTLY better-sounding than my old Treo 650 [motto: "Are you still there? Can you speak up? I can't hear you!"]

But don't take my word for it. The folks at Wirelessinfo.com ran the iPhone through a series of rather expensive lab tests and concluded that the iPhone scores higher on [the Sound Receive Frequency Response] test than all of the five comparison phones, and only one phone that we have tested so far (the BlackBerry Curve) scored higher

As for the Sound Send Frequency Response test, the conclusion was that

The bass response ... is perhaps a little higher than we like to see; this could make your voice sound a little bit bassier than it really is. But overall, the sound quality is very acceptable. It scored almost identically to the Treo 750, slightly higher than the Nokia N95, and much higher than the BlackBerry 8800.

I have a deep voice already so that extra bass makes me sound like Barry White. And my wife thinks Barry White is hot ... or that his tractor is sexy. I forget which. Either way, it's a win-win.

You can read Wirelessinfo's full report at
http://www.wirelessinfo.com/content/Apple-iPhone-Cell-Phone-Review.htm

---------------
5. Web Browsing
---------------

The primary reason I bought a Palm Treo 600 in 2003 and replaced it with a Palm Treo 650 a few years later is that I wanted to be able to surf the web from my cell phone. Unfortunately, using the Treo's browser on Cingular's EDGE network was a trial of patience that even Job would fail. Web pages took forever to load and didn't look right when they did load. But it was better than nothing.

And then I got an iPhone. Browsing the web on the iPhone's built-in Safari browser is an absolute joy. Check out http://www.apple.com/iphone/ads/ad3/ for a video of Safari in action. Notice that when a web page first loads the page's text is so small that it is quite difficult to read? To fix that, just double-click on a part of page to zoom in. Voila! The text is readable. And if you hold the iPhone horizontally, the page's text become's even larger. Oh, and the video doesn't show this, but by doing a "reverse pinch" you can zoom in even closer.

I've had absolutely no problems reading Digg, Fark, Slashdot, and even my campus Lotus Notes webmail messages on my iPhone. In fact, shortly after getting married, I went to the campus' human resources office to add Christine to my health insurance. The folks at HR asked me for a piece of information that could only be found on my pay stub. So I fired up my iPhone, browsed to the campus' PeopleSoft webpage, logged in, pulled up my most recent pay stub, and then showed the HR staff the information they requested.

I'm such a geek.

Now, do not read into this that marriage has turned your fearless bus driver into an Apple fanboy. I am still a true-blue Windows user. My next computer will most likely be a Lenovo T61P Thinkpad [see http://tinyurl.com/2nu7m6 ], not an Apple iBook. And as much as I love my new iPhone, there are a few things I don't like:

----------------
1. Network Speed
----------------

Bob writes that "[t]he cellular network that the iPhone uses is Slow With a Capital S." Bob is overly generous. Cingular/AT&T's EDGE network makes glaciers seem downright speedy. But AT&T has slighty bumped their EDGE network from "it's headed this way ... slowly crawl for your lives" speed to "it's headed this way ... casually saunter for your lives" speed. So, yeah, it's still slow. But as an old Cingular/AT&T subscriber, I am used to this slowness. And when I connect my cellphone to a Wi-Fi network at home or at work, the iPhone's network applications absolutely fly.

By the way, to check *your* mobile phone's internet speed, visit

http://www.dslreports.com/mspeed

in your phone's browser and select the 100k test. And to see today's mobile speed test results, fire up any browser on any device and go to

http://www.dslreports.com/mspeed?results=1

According to the data from 7/23, the iPhone's network speeds fall somewhere between a pathetic 21 kbps [worse than most dial-up connections] to a semi-decent 153 kbps [better than dial-up but well worse than DSL].

-----------------
2. Headphone Jack
-----------------

Another complaint is that the iPhone's headphone jack is so deep that you need a special, longer headphone adapter to be able to plug in your older headphones and accessories [see http://tinyurl.com/2cmj7c]. So add an extra US$10.95 to the iPhone's total cost of ownership. :(

--------------------
3. Sunny, 73 Degrees
--------------------

This is a minor gripe, but while the calendar icon automatically updates to shows you today's date [for example Saturday, July 7 or Monday, July 23] the weather icon never updates. It is always sunny and 73 degrees, even when it is raining and 85 degrees. You have to click on the icon to see the correct weather.

----------------
4. Voice Dialing
----------------

The iPhone does not have voice dialing [where you say "Call Home" and the phone automatically dials your home telephone number] which is a downright criminal omission. Since many US states now prohibit 'driving and dialing,' this may be the deal breaker for some. However, I never make calls while driving. I only answer incoming calls. And my Bluetooth headset [see http://jawbone.com/] works perfectly with my iPhone, so I can keep both hands on the steering wheel.

--------------
Final Thoughts
--------------

As I mentioned earlier, I wish the iPhone had GPS. And a Red Hots dispenser. But would I buy an iPhone again? Absolutely. And I cannot wait to see what new features are added to the next iPhone. [Hint to Apple: People like Red Hots!]

+---------------------------------------+
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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The Pump Handle. A water cooler for the public health crowd.
http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/

BP Texas City Victims Force Judge’s Recusal
Occupational Health News Roundup
FDA Advisory Committees: One Person, One Vote
Quote of the Day
New Ads Tout Safe Water and Eight-Hour Workdays
Butter Flavoring, Bumps, and Barbie Accessories
Three Workers Killed in Boiler Explosion
The Man Who Hated Work and Loved Labor
Our First Blogiversary
Friday Blog Roundup
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Activities and Events of Interest
~~~~~
SATURDAY- December 8 Calvary Missionary Baptist Church will have a live nativity scene from 5:30-9 p.m.
~~~~~
Leadership Magnolia Fundraiser Ole Feed House Fish Dinner (Drive Through Only) December 17, 4:30 - 7:30 pm $10 per plate
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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.

Two Book Endorsements

While at the APHA Conference and H&S Summit was introduced to two books.

In The Man Who Hated Work and Loved Labor: The Life and Times of Tony Mazzocchi, author and labor expert Les Leopold recounts the life of the late Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers Union leader. Mazzocchi's struggle to address the unconscionable toxic exposure of tens of thousands of workers led to the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and included work alongside nuclear whistleblower Karen Silkwood. His noble, high-profile efforts forever changed working conditions in American industry—and made him enemy number one to a powerful few.

As early as the 1950s, when the term “environment” was nowhere on the political radar, Mazzocchi learned about nuclear fallout and began integrating environmental concerns into his critique of capitalism and his union work. An early believer in global warming, he believed that the struggle of capital against nature was the irreconcilable contradiction that would force systemic change.

This profound biography should be required reading for those who believe in taking risks and making the world a better place. While Mazzocchi’s story is so full of peril and deception that it seems almost a work of fiction, Leopold proves that the most provocative and lasting stories in life are those of real people.

I can't comment too much on Leopold's book simply because it's not finished, sorry just haven't had time yet. However I would like to state that Les Leopold picked a wonderful man to document. This book is relevant to every walk of life weather you are an environmentalist, unionist, health & safety activist or just plain want the world to be a better place.

"Up until now I was reluctant to toot my own horn (simply because I believe it's not what you get but what you give that makes a person who they are) but I was honored to be presented with the Tony Mazzocchi Award and even more so after reading about him. Tony seemed passonate about changing the word and skipped from one realm to another raising hell. He had an attitude that wouldn't quit but if you were on his side of the fence; you had the Mazzocchi Armor. Tony Mazzocchi worthy or more than the few words I can offer. I just wish I could have met him but thanks to Les Leopold for his writings, Roger Cook for the book, Peter Dooley and Jordan Barab for the nomination I feel like I know him or at the very least know his spirit that lives on. What a great bunch of guys and I'm sure Tony was proud to have know them and have them on his side."

P.S. Thank you very much for signing my book I didn't get to thank you proper. Your book is an inspiration and grant us hope in our efforts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr Parker explains, "Health problems are compounded for children because they are more susceptible than adults to the types of illnesses and injuries associated with occupational hazards. For example, children develop dust-related lung diseases, from arduous work in brick factories and stone quarries, more rapidly that do adults. Child carpet weavers suffer from the development of degenerative joint disease by the age of twelve; other children contract unknown illnesses from working inside chemical-filled leather tanning drums." He also explained that many of the protections that adults have the children may not simply because equipment was not developed with them in mind.

"I didn't have much time with any one person but I spoke to Dr. David Parker for a few moments and I found that he helped develop Work Safe Work Smart (which I would love see implemented in the schools and even developed two flyer's to promote school and church) and authored Stolen Dreams which unfortunately I was unable to view the slides in it's entirety. I would have loved to view the book but the photos alone convey the exploitation of children in the work place. and you can view many on site. It would make a wonderful coffee table book and only good would come out of it's discussions "
Dr. David Parker's personal challenge is to present photographs that raise questions such as:
Under what circumstances and conditions should children work?
What is the nature of work conducted by children in different parts of the world?
How do we draw the boundaries between what we do and do not allow children to do?
What role should the nations of the world play in controlling child labor?
What alternatives to work do children have and how are these alternatives decided from nation to nation?

Don't forget the holiday's are around the corner!

Posted by Tammy at 5:55 PM 0 comments Links to this post
~
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Fallen Prospects & the Holiday's

My Rant for the holiday's, almost a year with the Toll and three with USMWF and I still hear the same old same old.

Why? when it has happened before.
Where are the rights for families?
Why wont the government stand up for us?
what can we do?
How can we go on without our loved one?
What really happened?
Will it happen again?
I can go on and on but regular readers know, families with a loss know, the companies know, and OSHA & MSHA know so why doesn't the public know? Why are so many of our officials oblivious? Why is the media so lax?

As Maya Angelou said “Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning.” and Albert Einstein said “Nothing that I can do will change the structure of the universe. But maybe, by raising my voice I can help the greatest of all causes - goodwill among men and peace on earth.”

"Voicing the families grief, concern, and truth will infuse them (the Media and Government) with shades of deeper meaning and help the greatest of all causes - goodwill."
My Voice and if you can't here it now you will!

With every child I had I gazed at them smiling and wondered what they would look like, who they would be and what would they accomplish. What would our grand children be and do. One thing that is rarely discussed are the prospects we loose after a loved one is taken.

I was told to make new memories but it sure makes it tough when you only have two people left in your family and all you can think about is how excited you used to get. I was out numbered in my family. I had three brothers and then when I married my husband who fit right in the crazy mix.

My mother and I would watch all the guys make fools of themselves. The big bonfires they tried to increase every year, shooting skeet, cooking a turkey in the deep fryer just because they could make three turkeys in the time we could do one (not that we ever ate them all). Shawn's heart stopping fried potatoes which contained two full packs of bacon with every ounce of grease, onions and a brick of velveeta (we always told him we should have mashed potatoes on thanksgiving). More than anything I miss Shawn's grin, and skinny goofy arms coming toward me saying hey sis; sometimes I still hear hey sis but it get fainter each time.

I have to spend the holidays this year barring another brother Tommy; a brother who couldn't bring himself to deal with life after the loss Shawn and our stay in Kentucky and it sucks. Sometimes I ponder the good times and it keeps me from the reality that they really are gone but ultimately no matter what we do, how hard we work, how much we want it we can't change a thing. We can't even change how much we miss and love them. We can't change the hurt because we have a lifetime of memories and we still see the face of a child regardless the age of their departure.

Once enjoyable things bring a flood of tears. Learning to ride a bike and all the spills taken, the nightly wake ups for a drink and comfort. All the jokes played on one another. Helping with potty training and booboo's. The final boobo we couldn't fix, no matter how big the kiss, how cool the band aid, how good the joke, or how big a hug; there is no fix.

So please if you know someone with a loss let them know you are thinking about them. Let them know they are not alone. Let loved ones still with you know your proud to have them in your life, they do a great job and you love them. Don't live as if it is your last day; live as if it is your loved ones last. Believe me it makes a difference.

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. Kenneth R. Booker, 25, of Vevay, Ind., died Nov. 14, in Mukhisa, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

02. Sgt. Mason L. Lewis, 26, of Gloucester, Va., died in Baghdad on Nov. 16, as a result of a non-combat related training accident. He was assigned to the 26th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

03. Sgt. Steven C. Ganczewski, 22, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., died Nov. 16, in Balad, Iraq, wounds suffered from a combat-related incident. The incident is under investigation. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.

04. Staff Sgt. Alejandro Ayala, 26, of Riverside, Calif., died Nov. 18 of injuries sustained as a result of a vehicle accident in Kuwait. He was assigned to the 90th Logistics Readiness Squadron, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.

05. 2nd Lt. Peter H. Burks, 26, of Dallas, Texas, died Nov. 14 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

The Department of Defense announced the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Nov. 18 when an improvised explosive device detonated during a mounted patrol in Baquabah, Iraq. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
Killed were:
06. Pfc. Marius L. Ferrero, 23, of Miami, Fla., who died in Baqubah, Iraq.
07. Cpl. Jason T. Lee, 26, of Fruitport, Mich., who died in Balad, Iraq.
08. Cpl. Christopher J. Nelson, 22, Rochester, Wash., who died in Baqubah, Iraq.

~~

Soldier Missing In Action From Korean War Is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified.

He is Sgt. Agostino Di Rienzo, U.S. Army, of East Boston, Mass.

Representatives from the Army met with Di Rienzo’s next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.

Di Rienzo was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division then occupying a defensive position near Unsan, North Korea, in an area known as the “Camel’s Head." On Nov. 1, 1950, parts of two Chinese Communist Forces divisions struck the 1st Cavalry Division’s lines, collapsing the perimeter and forcing a withdrawal. In the process, the 3rd Battalion was surrounded and effectively ceased to exist as a fighting unit. Di Rienzo was one of the more than 350 servicemen unaccounted-for from the battle at Unsan.

In 2002, a joint U.S.-Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), excavated a burial site south of Unsan near the nose of the “Camel’s Head” formed by the joining of the Nammyon and Kuryong rivers. The team recovered human remains.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420.
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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.
~~~
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
“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
~~~~~
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

P. S. If you'd like to be added to the distribution, just drop us E-mail at KC5HII@Magnolia-Net.Com. We offer "Da Bleat" as text, a "Blog" and as a newsletter with pictures in Word and PDF format. The latest issue is usually updated sometime Saturday. For the "Blog" version just go to one of the several addresses on the web. For the latest issue, go to http://www.bugsbleat.blogspot.com. Older issues can be found at http://www.bugsbleat_q__.blogspot.com, where _ is the quarter (1, 2, 3, or 4) and __ is the year (05, 06, or 07). We also have a site [http://bugsbleatphotos.blogspot.com/] where we post photos that I like.
Let us hear from you if we can switch you over to the "Word" or "PDF" version of "Da Bleat".
If you'd prefer to read "Da Blog" version, just drop us a note at KC5HII@Magnolia-Net.Com and we'll switch you from e:mail delivery to "Da Bleat" Blog. We appreciate your encouragement. We also appreciate your communication when you desire to be taken off our mail list. If you are on this mail list by mistake or do not wish to receive "Da Bleat," please reply back and tell us to discontinue service to you. This email was scanned by Norton AntiVirus 2007 before it was sent.
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Bugs Bleat 4q 07

Blog Archive

About Me

Friday, November 23, 2007

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Drum Problem - - Photos

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Drum Problem

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Drum Problem

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Drum Problem

Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Drum Problem