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Volume 9, Issue 49 Friday, December 07, 2007
Hello All,
Guys will never understand gals. Take the “biscuit incident”. Why would a biscuit get Annette so angry with me? She called me at 8 am last Tuesday and said; “I’m in line at McDonald’s and there’s no money in my purse to pay for the biscuit I’ve ordered.” I explained that I always check my funds before getting in the drive through, like I’d done that morning and, discovering I was short of funds, got the money in Annette’s purse to buy my sausage Mac Muffin. For some reason, she didn’t see the logic in that and started going on about people who take money out of others purses without telling them, much less asking them.
I’ll never figure out what “ticks off” women.
~~~~~
And since we can’t understand them, it would seem that they wouldn’t be able to understand us. But most women have our number. Annette sure has mine.
The week after Thanksgiving, we had lunch together and, as we were leaving, Annette mentioned that we had a wedding to attend that coming Saturday, December 1.
I “launched.” For the previous 8 weeks I’d been reminding her that we had an AR-1 DMAT meeting / Christmas Pot Luck in Little Rock on December 1.
“We can’t go to that wedding!” I stormed. “How could you plan on attending a wedding on the day I’ve been telling you that we were going to be in Little Rock?” Annette said that she’d forgotten about the DMAT meeting and, since the wedding wasn’t till 7:00 pm, we could probably do both. I wasn’t having any of that. “This meeting is important to me and I don’t want you standing at the door ready to go so we can rush back to Magnolia for this wedding. You’ll have to call and tell them we aren’t coming to the wedding.” With that said I got in my truck and drove back to work, where I found an e: Mail waiting. The DMAT meeting had been canceled.
So, I picked up the phone and called Annette. “Sweetheart.” I said “I’m sorry. You were right. That wedding is important and our friends are important. How could I have even considered not being at the wedding for them?” Annette was a little taken aback and replied; “You’d rather go to the wedding than your DMAT meeting?” “Yes dear.” I gushed; “I want to go to the wedding with you.”
Annette paused a moment and then said; “They canceled the DMAT meeting didn’t they.” I had to admit that they had. “No Credit!” she stated and then hung up.
~~~~~
Speaking of clueless guys, I had a coworker once who announced that he was going to ask his girlfriend to marry him. This announcement was made at lunch one Friday and we all met him at the door Monday morning and asked how the proposal went. He surprised us when he said; “She got married this weekend.” And not to him. This sets the standard for guy’s cluelessness.
~~~~~
Clueless guys don’t have to be human. Our (Annette’s) dog has been darting out the front door every chance he gets and roaming through the neighborhood barking at the big dogs penned up in the area. Well today, when he darted out, one of the big dogs was loose also. Sugar attacked the much larger dog just like there was a fence between them. However, there wasn’t a fence and the larger dog didn’t put up with the little one. Sugar received a cut lip and was moping around the house when I got home. So far, he no longer seems interested in going out the front door.
~~~~~
MamMaw Dorothy continues to become feebler. Her time is mostly spent sleeping or cleaning (she insists on washing dishes and folding clothes.) Monday - Thursday, she travels to “Inspirations” in Springhill for some limited activity.
But she’s still got her wit. Sometimes she hears things and the other night she thought she heard Annette pounding on the door begging to be let in the house. (This is a common thing anytime Annette is not home. MamMaw will go to the door over and over to let Annette in.)
On this particular evening, I was changing clothes and MamMaw knocked on our bedroom door to get me to open the front door for Annette. When Annette opened the bedroom door and asked her what was wrong, MamMaw told her that she thought that Annette was outside wanting in. Annette said; “No mama. I’m here in the house.” To which MamMaw replied; “Well, you ought to get a key so you don’t have to pound on the front door when you come home.”
~~~~~
Jimmy and Vanessa’s new work in Covington, La is “The Lighthouse Church” [http://thelighthousechurch.publishpath.com/] Jimmy’s blog [http://thelighthousechurch.publishpath.com/church-for-people-who-don’t-like-church] describes it as “The Church For People Who Don't Like Church”
~
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 - How do you start a church for people who do not go to church? This is the dilemma we face as church planters. The temptation is to cater to church goers by doing a bunch of cool Christian ads about how we do church better than their old church. But that kind of church plant is not building God's kingdom or adding to the number of believers in our community...it's just sort of shuffling the deck. There are still the same number of church folk in town, just dealt as a new hand. (Of course, it seems like I always get the same old cards...)
Where the challenge comes in is when we go after lost people. Then we are tempted to be so un-churchy that we may actually become a social club. We advertise self-help, self-fulfillment, self-actualization, self-paced learning--until we are beside ourselves trying to accommodate seekers. Of course, it's all about Jesus. Except that Jesus is all about you and your needs. And we promise not to believe in anything that cannot be scientifically explained...
So what is a pastor to do?
Well, first of all, I will just be myself. I'm lousy at faking it anyway! The Apostle Paul said that the Good News of Jesus was offensive to religious people and ridiculous to intellectuals...but it is the power of God to those who believe. The religious could not accept that their goodness was not enough, that the sin in their hearts that was rotten enough that they deserved to be thrown out by God. They also hated that this same Jesus loved nasty old sinners. Religion is about measuring up, about being "better than" the world. Jesus mocked their self-righteousness and exposed their cold hearts. He still does. The intellectual rails against the Gospel as being too simplistic. A folk tale. A superstition. What does a man dying two thousand years ago have to do with me? Little did they know that they are a figment of His imagination, rather than Him being a figment of ours. So all I can do is stick to this: I was blind, but now I see.
How could I not speak of the Jesus I have touched, heard, and loved for myself?
Jimmy H. Malone Jr.
http://thelighthousechurch.publishpath.com/pastors-blog
~~~~~
Speaking of light, David Lamb sent the following to us. I hope it pricks your heart like it did mine.
~
Letter from Jesus about Christmas --
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS
Thanks to David Lamb
~~~~~
We’ve become Mike Huckabee fans. I wasn’t a champion of everything he did as governor, but he did do some things that made me feel that he was better than the average politician. One of my favorite things he did and also one of the most embarrassing things he did as governor was to move his family into a mobile home while the governor’s mansion was restored. At once, I thought “Oh no! Now the whole world knows that the governor of Arkansas lives in a triple wide!” But, after a few moments, I had to applaud him for coming up with a money saving solution to where he could live while his home was renovated. He put the trailer on the back of the mansion grounds, beside the south gate and this enabled the State Police to continue their protection of the governor without having to move their operations.
Anyway, here’s the video that clinched our respect for him. Thanks to Robert Lyons - - Mike Huckabee video clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-BFEhkIujA
~~~~~
We’re MP3 Player Rich. Annette bought some to give to “Angel Tree” kids and I appropriated one. I’ve wanted an MP3 player for some time but was far too cheap to buy one for myself. It took a while to learn how to use it but now I can listen to Vanessa sing or Classical Gas or Chuck Colson speak any time I so choose.
~~~~~
CHRISTMAS HAMS -- Thursday, December 13 We will be distributing Christmas hams for all Albemarle employees.
~~~~~
Speaking of Food, Joe Ward passed this along to us. If you hated chemistry, you might want to skip it. But, on the other hand, if you like puzzles, it's worth the time.
Engineering Recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies:
I was cleaning up some old files and ran across this funny from 2004 and thought I would share it with you, especially the Newbie’s who may not have seen it the first time around. Why Engineers Don't Write Recipe Book
1.) 532.35 cm3 gluten
2.) 4.9 cm3 NaHCO3
3.) 4.9 cm3 refined halite
4.) 236.6 cm3 partially hydrogenated tallow triglyceride
5.) 177.45 cm3 crystalline C12H22O11
6.) 177.45 cm3 unrefined C12H22O11
7.) 4.9 cm3 methyl ether of protocatechuic aldehyde
8.) Two calcium carbonate-encapsulated avian albumen-coate protein
9.) 473.2 cm3 theobroma cacao
10.) 236.6 cm3 de-encapsulated legume meats (sieve size #10)
1 To a 2-L jacketed round reactor vessel (reactor #1) with an overall heat transfer coefficient of about 100 Btu/F-ft2-hr, add ingredients one, two and three with constant agitation. In a second 2-L reactor vessel with a radial flow impeller operating at 100 rpm, add ingredients four, five, six, and seven until the mixture is homogenous. To reactor #2, add ingredient eight, followed by three equal volumes of the homogenous mixture in reactor #1. Additionally, add ingredient nine and ten slowly, with constant agitation. Care must be taken at this point in the reaction to control any temperature rise that may be the result of an exothermic reaction.
2 Using a screw extrude attached to a #4 nodulizer, place the mixture piece-meal on a 316SS sheet (300 x 600 mm). Heat in a 460K oven for a period of time that is in agreement with Frank & Johnston's first order rate expression (see JACOS, 21, 55), or until golden brown. Once the reaction is complete, place the sheet on a 25C heat-transfer table, allowing the product to come to equilibrium.
3 I wonder if the Engineers among you could write such a detailed recipe for a pork butt or spatchcocked chicken or even a T-Rex steak?
Recipe Source
Source: BGE Forum, Spring Chicken, 01/26/07, Spring Texas USA
http://www.eggheadforum.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.shtml
~~~~~
Whether you’re offering a simple compliment or mentoring someone who needs you, there’s a lot you can do to make a difference this December. Click below to get your daily dose of inspiring ways to pay it forward, both big and small.
1 Give blood - - One pint of blood can save up to three lives. Go to www.redcross.org to donate locally.
2 Give Life - - Sign up to be an organ donor. Each organ and tissue donated can save or improve the lives of up to 50 people. Go to organdonor.gov to register with your state registry.
3 Give companionship - - Call an elderly person you know to brighten their day.
http://www.carepages.com/31days/31_days.jsp?cid=nl120307
~~~~~
We recommend; Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter - - www.terryscomputertips.com - - A GREAT computer tips site and newsletters for PC users.
~~~~~
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Mindy Lawrence
MPL Creative Resources
614 Wal-Mart Drive #114
Farmington, MO 63640
573-366-1038 (cell)
mplcreative1@aol.com
Elemental Musings to Feature Conway, Arkansas Author, Dan Skelton
Conway, Arkansas (12-01-07) -- Bev Walton-Porter of Elemental Musings Podcast will conduct an on-air interview with Conway, Arkansas author, director and actor, Dr. Dan Skelton, December 23, 2007 on BlogTalkRadio – http://www.blogtalkradio.com/scribequill. Skelton will discuss writing, theater and his upcoming novel, Renascence, a Christian fantasy told through the eyes of a teenage drug addict.
He has written three previous books -- Boojum, Out Of Innocence and The Human Element -- as well as a series of middle-grade stories and a book for teen readers titled Queen Mab.
The interview with Skelton at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/scribequill will be on December 23 from 9:00 PM until 10 PM Mountain Time (10 PM to 11 PM Central Time). Listeners may call (646) 595-4704 to ask him a question while he is on the air.
Skelton holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and an EdD from the University of Mississippi, Oxford. He taught at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas from 1967 to 2000 then part time until 2002, splitting his duties between English and theater. Then he returned to his roots in Conway where he is now an adjunct professor at the University of Central Arkansas and Arkansas State University at Beebe, Arkansas. He is also play director at the Conway Community Arts Association.
Elemental Musings Podcast on BlogTalkRadio is hosted by multi-published author Bev Walton~Porter. Bev is author of Sun Signs for Writers (Writer's Digest Books), Mending Fences (Whiskey Creek Press) and co-author of The Complete Writer: A Guide to Tapping Your Full Potential (Red Engine Press). She is also co-founder of the International Order of Horror Professionals (www.horrorprofessionals.org).
For more information about the show, or to schedule Dan Skelton for a book signing or presentation, contact Mindy Lawrence at mplcreative1@aol.com or call 573-366-1038. More information is available on Skelton at www.freewebs.com/drdanskelton. Photos, book cover art and a full media kit are available electronically or by post upon request.
~~~~~
This week, we’re reading; “Battles Lost & Won” by Hanson W. Baldwin
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http://www.shelfari.com/BugsBleat/shelf?ec=7D790D174EFS18012
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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/] - - Clarence Ketterer - - Hometown: Warren, MI - - Awarded: Bronze Star:
One of the creeds of the U.S. armed forces is that they will never leave a comrade behind. In the last several years, coalition forces have also risked their lives to protect Iraqi Security Forces. Army Cadet Clarence Ketterer is one of these soldiers: He successfully rescued numerous Iraqis following a deadly attack two years ago.
Ketterer served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from June 2005 to June 2006, with the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment of the Michigan Army National Guard. While stationed in Habbaniyah, Iraq, he was a Squad Leader responsible for conducting raids, patrols, searches, counter-intelligence and counterinsurgency operations.
On October 10, 2005, then-Staff Sgt. Ketterer’s platoon encountered a dangerous situation. A suicide bomber had hit an Iraqi patrol in Kalidiyah. Ketterer’s platoon arrived to assess the scene, and it became clear that the Iraqi element needed immediate help.
Ketterer ordered his vehicle between the bombed Iraqi vehicle and enemy fire, to protect several wounded Iraqis. Disregarding the danger around him, Ketterer left safety to assist a medic on the ground evacuating Iraqi soldiers from the kill zone.
Still needing to buy time before an ambulance arrived, Ketterer took the fight to the enemy. He organized the soldiers into a defensive position where they could better target the hostile forces. As the ambulance arrived, Ketterer simultaneously assisted in loading the wounded while laying down suppressive fire against the insurgents. Ketterer also successfully guided the ambulance from the battlefield.
For saving the lives of coalition forces, Ketterer received the Bronze Star Medal with Valor. He has also been awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal.
A native of Warren, Michigan, Ketterer began his military career in 1999 as a member of the ROTC of Central Michigan University. Ketterer sought out a career in the armed forces at an early age, and he credits his grandfather’s service in the Korean War as an inspiration. In 2004, he participated in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Siani, where he oversaw treaty agreements between Egypt and Israel. The Central Michigan University senior currently serves as a Company Executive Officer on campus, and is a double major in sociology and history.
~~~~~
Greetings:
The new MRAP vehicles are far too tall to drive in many of the places soldiers need to go. After roughly 20 months in Iraq, this writer thinks MRAPs might end up being big, expensive headaches. Please read:
Infrastructure to MRAPs. [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/infrastructure-to-mraps.htm]
For some humorous photos I shot near the Syrian border last week, please read: Sheik Twitty al Ameriki. [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/sheik-twitty-al-ameriki.htm]
~~
I'll again be on CNN "This Week at War" this Sunday. "This Week at War" has been doing an excellent job with balanced reporting. I'm honored to do this show again.
For the latest on our British friends, please click [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/men-of-valor-part-iv.htm].
A German translation of Come Home is available [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/come-home-german-translation.htm].
Am working on revamping the site and translating to 16 other languages. This takes much time and work, but will be worth it.
2007 has seen tremendous progress in Iraq and many Iraqis seem confident that 2008 will be better still. I've never seen Iraqis so optimistic.
Thank you for the support and well wishes.
Michael
Michael Yon
PO Box 5553
Winter Haven, FL 33880-5553
~~~~~
Recipe(s) of the week - - - Meal Plan for People with Diabetes
Breakfast
1 small bran muffin
1 teaspoon canola oil margarine
½ cup blueberries sprinkled with ½ teaspoon lemon zest
1 cup fat-free milk
Lunch
Pizza Muffin: 1 small whole wheat English muffin topped with ½ cup marinara sauce, 1/4 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, 1 ounce reduced-fat turkey pepperoni and 2 slices zucchini, broiled until cheese melts
1 cup tossed salad with 2 tablespoons low-calorie Italian dressing
2 tangerines
Dinner
Grilled Tuna Steaks with Black Sesame Seeds
½ cup cooked udon or soba noodles
½ cup stir-fried snow peas
½ cup mango sorbet
Snacks
6 ounces tomato juice
1 small whole wheat pita bread with 2 tablespoons humus
Today's Takeaway Tip: Tuna, with its meaty texture and steak-like quality, is ideal as a substitute for red meats. Tuna contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which are known to lower high blood cholesterol, a risk factor for people with diabetes.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/lf_hl_diabetic_planner/article/0,3151,FOOD_29017_5422631,00.html
~~~~~
We extend our sincere sympathy to Marshall and Charles Keener in the loss of their mother.
~~~~~
MapQuest Gas Prices, Pretty Cool http://gasprices.mapquest.com
~~~~~
If you’d like to write Dr. Antoon, he’d like to hear from you. This is his current address, the latest of the three federal prison’s he’s been in.
Patrick Antoon #06669-010
Federal Prison Camp-La Tuna
P. O. Box 8000
Anthony, NM/TX 88021
~~~~~
The photos on the front of this week’s “Bleat” include photos of Scotty McWilliams and Ricky Shepherd Fire Training, Sopie Ellington, Keith Burton cooking pancakes for Dream Center, Verna Carter, Kelley Couture, Royce Prince, Annette and Sim Bailey at a recent “Faith Builders’ Supper.
~~~~~
Don’t forget to check out www.mcc2000.net
~~~~~
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.
~~~~~
Feel free to share the "Bleat" with any and all. That's why we publish it.
~~~~~
BreakPoint
With Chuck Colson
Forgiving Our Enemies
12/7/2007
Pearl Harbor, Hiroshima—and Calvary
Sixty-six years ago today, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor—an action that dramatically altered the course of history. Jacob DeShazer was on KP duty in California when he first heard the news. Furious at what the Japanese had done, he resolved to retaliate personally. And in April 1942, he got his chance—as a B-25 bombardier when Doolittle’s Raiders attacked Tokyo.
During that fateful run, DeShazer’s plane ran out of fuel, and the crew bailed out over enemy territory. DeShazer was captured and spent the next forty months as a POW—including thirty-four months in solitary confinement. Three of his buddies were executed, and another died of slow starvation.
With plenty of time to think, Jake wondered: What makes people hate each other? And he also wondered: Doesn’t the Bible say something about loving our enemies?
He asked his jailers for a Bible and eventually got one. He read it with fascination, re-reading some parts six or more times. Then, ten days into his study, he asked Christ to forgive his sins. He remembers, “suddenly . . . when I looked at the enemy officers and guards . . ., I realized that … if Christ is not in a heart, it is natural to be cruel. . . . [M]y bitter hatred . . . changed to loving pity.” Remembering Christ’s words from the cross—“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”—he asked God to forgive those who tortured him, as well.
Fourteen months later, in August 1945, paratroopers liberated DeShazer from his prison cell. After the war, a chaplain on General MacArthur’s staff wanted something to help heal the animosity between the United States and Japan. He approached Don Falkenberg of Bible Literature International, who had read DeShazer’s testimony shortly after his release. And soon the story was being circulated as a booklet called, “I Was a Prisoner of Japan.”
But here’s where the story gets interesting. Japanese Navy pilot Mitsuo Fuchida was Chief Commander of the historic December 7 raid on Pearl Harbor. He had advised against attacking the American base, but when given orders to proceed, Fuchida led the assault.
Eventually Fuchida logged more than ten thousand combat hours. But his closest brush with death was on the ground in Japan. He was in Hiroshima the day before the atom bomb was dropped. His life was spared because orders had come to go to Tokyo.
When the war ended, Captain Fuchida returned to his family farm near Osaka. Later, stepping off a train in Tokyo, he was given a copy of Jacob DeShazer’s booklet. Intrigued, he began reading the Bible. And despite his Shinto heritage, he accepted Christ as his Savior.
How marvelous are God’s ways? An American airman is taken prisoner, is converted, and his testimony leads his captors’ ace pilot to Christ. Over a thirty-year span, Captain Fuchida and Sergeant DeShazer traveled together throughout Japan. Together and separately, they saw tens of thousands of Japanese converted.
Learning to love our enemies is so important, something every Christian must strive for. But when we’re fighting deadly enemies, as our nation is today at war, doing so is a miracle—a miracle of restoration and healing that can come only through faith in Christ.
This commentary first aired on December 7, 2004.
Please give a generous donation today to help Prison Fellowship and BreakPoint continue strong in the new year. Donate online or call 1-877-322-5527. Thank you!
Gordon William Prange, God's Samurai: Lead Pilot at Pearl Harbor (Brassey's, 2003).
Jacob DeShazer, "I Was a Prisoner of Japan," 1950.
"I Am the Praying Mother of Jacob DeShazer," Missionary Tidings, April 1957.
Learn more about Jacob DeShazer.
Mitsuo Fuchida, "From Pearl Harbor to Calvary," Christian History (first published as "From Pearl Harbor to Golgotha," 1953).
Tech. Sgt. Mark Kinkade, "Tokyo Raiders," Airman, August 2001.
David Seamands, "The Kamikaze of God," Christianity Today, 3 December 2001.
BreakPoint Commentary No. 010709, “From Pearl Harbor to Calvary: Forgiving Our Enemies.”
Roberto Rivera, “The Karma of Grace,” The Point, 15 November 2007.
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:
cavalcade: a procession.
vicissitude: a change in condition or fortune.
soporific: causing sleep; also, something that causes sleep.
profuse: plentiful; copious.
tarradiddle: a fib; also, pretentious nonsense.
deracinate: to uproot.
surly: ill-humored; sullen and gruff.
from Dictionary.Com
~~~~~
"Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings." - Elie Wiesel
"We do not choose the day of our birth nor may we choose the day of our death, yet choice is the sovereign faculty of the mind." - Thornton Wilder
"There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way." - Christopher Morley
"All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness." - Tennessee Williams
"It is only in appearance that time is a river. It is rather a vast landscape and it is the eye of the beholder that moves." - Thornton Wilder
"Because of indifference, one dies before one actually dies." - Elie Wiesel
"What is youth except a man or woman before it is ready or fit to be seen?" - Evelyn Waugh
~~~~~
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/
* Joel Osteen Lives Simply; Refuses to Bad-Mouth Other Christians
* Pat Robertson hands over Christian Broadcasting Network to his son Gordon Robertson, who will become CEO of the network
* Iraq Veteran and Bank Vice-President Sees "Tremendous Progress" in War on Terror
* Famous Last Words that Encapsulated a Life
# A Little History, and the Prophetic Aspects of Hanukkah
# Prayer Alert: Winter Rain and Wind Storm Causes Severe Flooding in Washington State
# According to Harris Poll, More Americans Believe there is a devil than in Darwin's Theory of Evolution
# Famous Last Words that Encapsulated a Life
# Storeowner's Wedding Ring Deflects Robber's Bullet, Saving His Life
# British Teddy row teacher freed from jail in Sudan after successful appeal by two UK members of the House of Lords
# Jewish Temple Institute Completes Crown for High Priest
# Ancient Christian Cemetery Discovered Near Islamic Monument in Iran
# With Support from His Church and Local Hospital, Prosthetics Maker Blesses an Amputee from Mexico
# Friend of Rosa Parks, and Unsung Civil Rights Hero, Points to her Faith as the Source of her Courage
# Ministry Team Believes the Bahamas can be Changed "One Couple at a Time"
Breaking Christian News
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GCF: Retiring to England
Emailed to me from another humor list (Daily Humor) -Tom To subscribe to Daily Humor, send a blank email to: Daily-Humor-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
If this was forwarded to you, please consider your own subscription to Good Clean Fun. It's free! 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.
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(Warning! Pun Zone ahead!)
An American couple was fond of England and of all things richly historic and aged. They decided to retire to London, where they hoped to buy a castle. Though that proved out of their price range, they did find a wonderful house, quite ancient, with a long and noble history.
They found this house during their July vacation. They sold their house in Chicago and in November they crossed 'the pond' to retire.
To their horror, they found that their new home was abysmally cold.
They immediately set about trying to get a central heating system installed. Sadly, they were told by contractor after contractor that, in a house that old, it simply wasn't feasible.
"I was afraid it would come down to this," the husband finally said.
"What, honey?" the wife asked.
"We can't have archaic and heat it, too."
_ ____________________________ _
GCF: Burglar and Vicar
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
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A burglar broke into a minister's house and told the pastor, "One move and you're dead. I'm looking for money."
The vicar replied, "Hang on, let me get a light and I'll help you."
_ ____________________________ _
GCF: The Census Taker
Emailed to me from another humor list (Joanna's Jokes) -Tom To subscribe to Joanna's Jokes, send a blank email to: JoannasJokes-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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Five year old Becky answered the door when the Census Taker came by. She told the Census Taker that her daddy was a doctor and wasn't home, because he was performing an appendectomy.
"My," said the census taker, "that sure is a big word for such a little girl. Do you know what it means?"
"Sure! Fifteen hundred bucks, and that doesn't even include the anesthesiologist!"
_ ____________________________ _
GCF: Pilot and Navigator
Emailed to me another humor list (Tickled by Tony - Clean) -Tom Subscribe to the Tickled by Tony list by sending an email to: tickledbytony_clean-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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The pilot was sitting in his seat and pulled out a .38 revolver. He placed it on top of the instrument panel, then asked the navigator, "Do you know what I use this for?"
The navigator replied timidly, "No, what's it for?"
The pilot responded, "I use this on navigators who get me lost!"
The navigator proceeded to pull out a .45 and placed it on his chart table.
The pilot asked, "What's that for?"
"To be honest sir," the navigator replied, "I'll know we're lost before you will."
_ ____________________________ _
GCF: Gasoline Tank
Emailed to me from another humor list (Daily Humor) -Tom To subscribe to Daily Humor, send a blank email to: Daily-Humor-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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On my first day working at the gas station, I watched a senior co-worker measure the level of gasoline in the underground tanks by lowering a giant measuring stick down into them.
"What would happen if I threw a lit match into the hole?" I joked.
"It would go out," he replied in a very factual manner.
"Really?" I asked, surprised to hear that. "Is there a lack of oxygen down there or some safety device that would extinguish it before the fumes ignited?"
"No, the force from the explosion would blow out the match."
_ ____________________________ _
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / I've changed my mind \ /
\ _/ a dozen times. \_ /
/ / It seems to work better now. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / The sole purpose of a \ \_/ ////
\ / child's middle name is so \ /
\ _/ he can tell when \_ /
/ / he's really in trouble. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / Winter is the season in which \ \_/ ////
\ / people try to keep the house \ /
\ _/ as warm as it was in the summer, \_ /
/ / when they complained about the heat.\ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Why doesn't "onomatopoeia" \ /
\ _/ sound like what it is? \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ /If your dog doesn't like someone,\ /
\ _/ you probably shouldn't either. \_ /
/ / \ \
_ ____________________________ _
| Thomas S. Ellsworth |
| tellswor@slonet.org |
| http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor |
|___________________________|
Stop for a visit, leave with a smile! To join Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-subscribe@yahoogroups.Com To leave Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.Com Or visit the Good Clean Fun web site at http://www. slonet.org/~tellswor/
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With the recent dispute here in Columbia County, this seems timely.
Bug
~
In a small mid western conservative town, a new bar/tavern started a building to open up their business.
The local Baptist church started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and prayers.
Work progressed, however right, up till the week before opening, when a lightning strike hit the bar and it burned to the ground.
The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means.
The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building's demise in its reply to the court.
As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork at the hearing and commented, "I don't know how I'm going to decide this, but as it appears from the paper work, we have a bar owner that believes in the power of prayer and an entire church congregation that doesn't.
Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly
Thanks to Jeanette Ford
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A minister has just died and is standing in line waiting to be judged and admitted to Heaven. While waiting he asks the man in front of him about himself. The man says, "I am a taxi driver from New York City."
The angel standing at the gate calls out next, and the taxi driver steps up. The angel hands him a golden staff and a cornucopia of fruits, cheeses, and wine and lets him pass. The taxi driver is quite pleased, and proceeds through the gates.
Next, the minister steps up to the angel who hands him a wooden staff and some bread and water.
The minister is very concerned and asks the angel, "That guy is a taxi driver and gets a golden staff and a cornucopia! I spend my entire life as a minister and get nothing! How can that be?"
The angel replies, "Up here we judge on results all of your people sleep through your sermons in his taxi, they pray."
Thanks to Jeanette Ford
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A Montana cowboy was overseeing his herd in a remote mountainous pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban Sunglasses and Yves St Laurent tie, leans out the window and asks the cowboy, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, Will you give me a calf?'
The cowboy looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, 'Sure, why not?' The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, Connects it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cell phone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation system to get an exact fix on his location, which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.
The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within seconds, he receives an e-mail on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored.
He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel Spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response.
Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the cowboy and says, 'You have exactly 1,586 cows and calves.'
'That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves,' says the cowboy.
He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.
Then the cowboy says to the young man, 'Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?'
The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, 'Okay, why not?'
You're a Congressman for the U.S. Government', says the cowboy.
'Wow! That's correct,' says the yuppie, 'but how did you guess that?'
'No guessing was required!' answered the cowboy. 'You showed up here even though nobody called you and you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than me you are; and you don't know a thing about cows...this is a herd of sheep. Now, give me back my dog!'
Thanks to Jeanette Ford
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50th Wedding Anniversary
On their 50th wedding anniversary, a couple summed up the reason for their long and happy marriage.
The husband said, "I have tried never to be selfish. After all, there is no 'I' in the word 'marriage.'"
The wife said, "For my part, I have never corrected my husband's spelling."
Received from Thomas Ellsworth.
(-:][:-)
189 Pieces
A grandfather bought a hobby horse by mail order as a birthday present for his granddaughter. The toy arrived in 189 pieces. The instructions said that it could be put together in an hour. However, it took the old man two days to assemble the toy.
Finally, when it was all put together, he wrote a check, cut it into 189 pieces, and mailed it off to the company.
Received from Thomas Ellsworth.
(-:][:-)
Stewardess Announcement
A few years ago, I landed at the Honolulu airport and the stewardess made the following announcement:
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have landed at Honolulu and in a few minutes we will be at the gate. In order to prevent any injuries, please remain seated and keep your seat belt on until we stop at the gate. Captain Phillips is an excellent pilot, but he's a lousy driver."
Received from Joe Hahn.
(-:][:-)
Playing House
A little girl and a little boy were at day care. The girl approaches the boy and says, "Hey Tommy, wanna play house?"
He says, "Sure! What do you want me to do?"
The girl replies, "I want you to communicate your thoughts."
"Communicate my thoughts?" said a bewildered Tommy. "I have no idea what that means."
The little girl smirks and says, "Perfect. You can be the husband."
Received from AcraMax Jokes.
(-:][:-)
Car Alarms
I was with a friend in a cafe when a noisy car alarm interrupted our conversation.
"What good are car alarms when no one pays any attention to them?" I wondered aloud.
"Some are quite effective," my friend corrected me. "Last summer, my teenager spent a lot of time over at the neighbor's house. Whenever I wanted him home, I'd go out to the driveway and jostle his car."
Received from Thomas Ellsworth.
(-:][:-)
-=+=-
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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According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male And female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer Drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to Mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers until after they Give birth in the spring.
Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's Reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a Girl.
We should've known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a Red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.
Thanks to Jeanette Ford
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"Don't strive for recognition, but work for achievement." -- Vanessa Malone
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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - - http://www.madkane.com/redcars.html - - DRIVERS WHO MAKE ME SEE RED
I probably shouldn't admit this, but I'm prejudiced against people who drive red cars. Yes, I know -- bias is bad, and I'm very ashamed. But in my defense, let me add that RED CAR DRIVERS ARE LUNATICS.
Oops, did I say that? Sorry! I promise that from now on I'll stop maligning those CERTIFIABLE MANIACS CAREENING AROUND IN BRIGHT RED AUTOMOBILES.
This is going to be harder than I thought. Let me give it another try:
Some of my best friends drive red... Nope ... that's not true.
I was cut off by 15 drivers last week, and only 13 were driving red...
This is definitely not working. But then my prejudice is deeply entrenched, dating back to my late 1970s dates with my now-husband Mark.
"Watch out for that loon driving the red Audi, " I used to say while double-checking my seatbelts and clutching the door handle.
"What are you talking about? My car is the only red Audi on the road."
"Exactly."
Now I'm no scientist or statistician. I have no idea whether the color red inspires insanity in drivers, or if bad drivers are genetically attracted to it. All I know is that whenever I see a driver doing something spectacularly stupid, he's doing it in a flaming red automobile.
Being a trained professional humor journalist, I know I shouldn't rely solely on personal, empirical evidence. I owe it to my readers to do the kind of research you've come to expect of me. So I phoned my car insurance agent for some insurance industry statistical dirt. Unfortunately, she was at lunch and never returned my call. But I feel certain that had I heard from her, this is what she would have said:
"Some 150 percent of all accidents are caused by red cars and/or their drivers. We'd prefer not to insure them, but since we have no choice, we make them sign this Red Car Rider:
WHEREAS, you are a terrible driver and will almost certainly engage in highway mayhem:
NOW THEREFORE, you are hereby required to take whatever liability insurance premium is set forth on page one of this policy and multiply it by five. No, six. Make that seven."
This morning, right after I invented the Red Car Rider, the driver of a red car motioned me to proceed ahead of him at a four-way stop. I hesitated at first. Was this some sort of trick? Would there be a surprise attack?
But I managed to drive through the intersection without incident ... or accident. So am I all wrong about red-car drivers? Do I owe them an apology?
Naaaaah. The polite driver was probably driving a loaner.
http://www.madkane.com
http://www.madkane.com/notable.html (Notables Weblog)
http://www.madkane.com/bush.html (Dubya's Dayly Diary)
Subscribe to MadKane Humor Newsletter (weekly) here:
http://www.madkane.com/email.html
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Lee Roy Blanks. Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."1
I don't know if the following story is true or not. Either way, it has in it a very valuable lesson. "One day, there was a blind man sitting on the step of a building with a hat by his feet and sign that read 'I am blind, please help.'
"A creative publicist was walking by and stopped to observe. He saw that the blind man had only a few coins in his hat. He dropped in a few more coins and, without asking for permission, took the sign and rewrote it.
"That afternoon the publicist returned to the blind man and noticed that his hat was full of bills and coins. He paused awhile and the blind man asked him if he was the person who had rewritten his sign and, if so, what did he write?
"The publicist responded: 'Nothing that wasn't true. I just wrote the message a little differently.' He smiled and went his way.
"The new sign read: 'Today is spring and I can't see it.'
"Sometimes we need to change our strategy. If we always do what we've always done, we will always get what we've always got."2
Jeanette Ford
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How many legs are there on the bus?
They are looking for a number not words! It's not a trick question...
Can you figure this one out...
- There are 7 girls on a bus
- Each girl has 7 backpacks
- In each backpack, there are 7 big cats
- For every big cat there are 7 little cats
How many leg s are there in the bus?
Whitney Steele
Martin Marietta Materials
Arkansas District Office
Thanks to David Lamb
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"An Air Flight"
Right before the jet way door closed, I scrambled aboard the plane going from LA to Chicago, lugging my laptop and overstuffed briefcase. It was the first leg of an important business trip a few weeks before Christmas, and I was running late. I had a ton of work to catch up on. Half wishing, half praying I muttered, "Please God, do me a favor; let there be an empty seat next to mine, I don't need any distractions."
I was on the aisle in a two seat row. Across sat a businesswoman with her nose buried in a newspaper. No problem. But in the seat beside mine, next to the window, was a young boy wearing a big red tag around his neck: "Minor -- Traveling Unattended."
The kid sat perfectly still, hands in his lap, eyes straight ahead. He'd probably been told never to talk to strangers. "Good," I thought.
Then the flight attendant came by. "Michael, I have to sit down because we're about to take off," she said to the little boy. "This nice man will answer any of your questions, okay?"
Did I have a choice? I offered my hand, and Michael shook it twice, straight up and down.
"Hi, I'm Jerry," I said. "You must be about seven years old."
"I'll bet you don't have any kids," he responded.
"Why do you think that? Sure I do." I took out my wallet to show him pictures.
"Because I'm six."
"I was way off, huh?"
The captains' voice came over the speakers, "Flight attendants, prepare for takeoff."
Michael pulled his seat belt tighter and gripped the armrests as the jet engines roared.
I leaned over, "Right about now, I usually say a prayer. I asked God to keep the plane safe and to send angels to protect us."
"Amen," he said, then added, "But I'm not afraid of dying. I'm not afraid because my mama's already in Heaven."
"I'm sorry." I said.
"Why are you sorry?" he asked, peering out the window as the plane lifted off.
"I'm sorry you don't have your mama here."
My briefcase jostled at my feet, reminding me of all the work I needed to do.
"Look at those boats down there!" Michael said as the plane banked over the Pacific. "Where are they going?"
"Just going sailing, having a good time. And there's probably a fishing boat full of guys like you and me."
"Doing what?" He asked.
"Just fishing, maybe for bass or tuna. Does your dad ever take you fishing?"
"I don't have a dad," Michael sadly responded.
Only six years old and he didn't have a dad, and his Mom had died, and here he was flying halfway across the country all by himself. The least I could do was make sure he had a good flight. With my foot I pushed my briefcase under my seat.
"Do they have a bathroom here?" he asked, squirming a little.
"Sure," I said, "Let me take you there."
I showed him how to work the "Occupied" sign, and what buttons to push on the sink, then he closed the door. When he emerged, he wore a wet shirt and a huge smile.
"That sink shoots water everywhere!"
The attendants smiled.
Michael got the VIP treatment from the crew during snack time. I took out my laptop and tried to work on a talk I had to give, but my mind kept going to Michael. I couldn't stop looking at the crumpled grocery bag on the floor by his seat. He'd told me that everything he owned was in that bag. Poor kid.
While Michael was getting a tour of the cockpit the flight attendant told me his grandmother would pick him up in Chicago. In the seat pocket a large manila envelope held all the paperwork regarding his custody. He came back explaining, "I got wings! I got cards! I got more peanuts. I saw the pilot and he said I could come back anytime!"
For a while he stared at the manila envelope.
"What are you thinking?" I asked Michael.
He didn't answer. He buried his face in his hands and started sobbing. It had been years since I'd heard a little one cry like that. My kids were grown -- still I don't think they'd ever cried so hard. I rubbed his back and wondered where the flight attendant was.
"What's the matter buddy?" I asked.
All I got were the muffled words, "I don't know my grandma. Mama didn't want her to come visit and see her sick. What if Grandma doesn't want me? Where will I go?"
"Michael, do you remember the Christmas story? Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus? Remember how they came to Bethlehem just before Jesus was born? It was late and cold, and they didn't have anywhere to stay, no family, no hotels, not even hospitals where babies could be born. Well, God was watching out for them. He found them a place to stay; a stable with animals."
"Wait, wait," Michael tugged on my sleeve.. "I know Jesus. I remember now." Then he closed his eyes, lifted his head and began to sing. His voice rang out with a strength that rocked his tiny frame. "Jeeesus looooves me--thiiiiiis I knowwwwwww. For the Biiiiiible tells meeeeee sooooo...."
Passengers turned or stood up to see the little boy who made the large sound. Michael didn't notice his audience. With his eyes shut tight and voice lifted high, he was in a good place.
"You've got a great voice," I told him when he was done.. "I've never heard anyone sing like that."
"Mama said God gave me good pipes just like my grandma's," he said. "My grandma loves to sing, she sings in her church choir."
"Well, I'll bet you can sing there, too. The two of you will be running that choir."
The seat belt sign came on as we approached O'Hare. The flight attendant came by and said, "We just have a few minutes now." But she told Michael that it was important that he put his seat belt on. People started stirring in their seats, like the kids before the final school bell. By the time the seat belt sign went off, passengers were rushing down the aisle. Michael and I stayed seated.
"Are you gonna go with me?" he asked.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world, buddy!" I assured him.
Clutching his bag and the manila envelope in one hand, he grabbed my hand with the other. The two of us followed the flight attendant down the jetway. All the noises of the airport seemed to fill the corridor.
Michael stopped, slipping his hand from mine, he dropped to his knees. His mouth quivered. His eyes brimmed with tears.
"What's wrong Michael? I'll carry you if you want."
He opened his mouth and moved his lips, but it was as if his words were stuck in his throat. When I knelt next to him, he grabbed my neck. I felt his warm, wet face as he whispered in my ear, "I want my mama!"
I tried to stand, but Michael squeezed my neck even harder. Then I heard a rattle of footsteps on the corridor's metal floor.
"Is that you, baby?"
I couldn't see the woman behind me, but I heard the warmth in her voice.
"Oh baby," she cried. "Come here. Grandma loves you so much. I need a hug, baby. Let go of that nice man." She knelt beside Michael and me.
Michael's grandma stroked his arm. I smelled a hint of orange blossoms.
"You've got folks waiting for you out there, Michael.. Do you know that you've got aunts, and uncles and cousins?"
She patted his skinny shoulders and started humming. Then she lifted her head and sang. I wondered if the flight attendant told her what to sing, or maybe she just knew what was right. Her strong, clear voice filled the passageway, "Jesus loves me -- this I know..."
Michael's gasps quieted. Still holding him, I rose, nodded "hello" to his grandma and watched her pick up the grocery bag. Right before we got to the doorway to the terminal, Michael loosened his grip around my neck and reached for his grandma.
As soon as she walked across the threshold with him, cheers erupted. From the size of the crowd, I figured family, friends, pastors, elders, deacons, choir members and most of the neighbors had come to meet Michael. A tall man tugged on Michael's ear and pulled off the red sign around his neck. It no longer applied.
As I made my way to the gate for my connecting flight, I barely noticed the weight of my overstuffed briefcase and laptop. I started to wonder who would be in the seat next to mine this time. .... And I smiled.
~By Jerry Seiden~
Thanks to Jeanette Ford
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A Different Christmas Poem
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my Child.
'What are you doing?', I asked without fear, 'Come in this moment, it's freezing out here.
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve.
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light. Then he sighed and he said 'Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.' 'It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times. No one had to ask or beg or implore me.'
'I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,'
Then he sighed, 'That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.'
'My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.'
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
'I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home.'
'I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.'
Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.'
'So go back inside,' he said, 'harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.'
'But isn't there something I can do, at the least, 'Give you money,' I asked, 'or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son'
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, 'Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how long.'
'For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.'
PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can?
Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S.service men and women for our
being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe.
Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.
LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment OIC,
Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum , Iraq.
Thanks to Jeanette Ford
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| Safety from the Heart |
----------------------------------------------------
December 6, 2007
From Mary Alexis |Albemarle Corporation – Mfg. Services Department | Magnolia Plants
’Tis the season – for cargo theft!
It’s the busy season for shippers, receivers, and transportation providers. Retail establishments, anticipating anxious shoppers, are stocking their shelves the weeks before and up to the holidays. Unlike your employees, criminal elements do not take off for the holidays. It’s their busy season.
Be sure to practice security protocols even during hurried delivery schedules, rushed warehouse personnel, and crazy work schedules. Consider the following points:
The load and count should always be verified at point of origin and at the final destination.
While en route, drivers should be aware of suspicious activity.
Cargo thieves can be clever and will look for the opportune moment.
Drivers should not let a cold, damp late autumn/early winter deter them from conducting security checks around the vehicle, including proper locking and sealing procedures.
This time of year requires additional workers ranging from drivers to mechanics to dock workers. Many employees will ask off during the next month or so leaving an even larger whole in your staffing needs. Occasional, temporary, or seasonal employees who are utilized should be trained in your security policies and be expected to follow your company’s security protocols.
Driver giveaways happen all year round, but someone who is stretched for cash for the holidays may be tempted to take money in exchange for a load.
Are your load counts just a few shy? Could this be employee theft? Any employee who has access to product may be tempted to take a few items as their “Christmas bonus” to either sell or “regift.”
In the same respect, if your commodity could be used by terrorists, you need to remain vigil.
Even though you want your employees to enjoy the season, a casual work environment should never result in losses or a homeland security incident.
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| Safety from the Heart |
----------------------------------------------------
From Mary Alexis |Albemarle Corporation – Mfg. Services Department | Magnolia Plants
The hazards of night driving
As time changes and winter settles in, the days are getting shorter and the nights are growing longer. This means that drivers will be expected to do more night driving. Night driving comes with a considerable list of hazards, the main one being limited visibility.
Difficulty seeing hazards
Due to the limited range of headlights, drivers lose the ability to see to the horizon. Because of this drivers, need to be extra alert and make sure their speed matches their visibility.
Low beam headlights provide a driver with roughly 250 to 350 feet of visibility. Of course, dirty headlights will cause this to be reduced. At 55 miles per hour (a slow highway speed by modern standards) the driver will cover 250 feet in a little over three seconds and 350 feet in a little over four seconds. At best, this means the driver has four seconds of visibility.
The other problem is that it will take roughly 300 to 360 feet to safely stop the truck at that speed. To sum it up, the driver will need to be on the brakes immediately if a hazard appears at the edge of the low-beam visibility range.
This leads to a key point about night driving. If the driver is driving with low-beam headlights on at night, and there is no other light available, the driver is “overdriving” his/her headlights.
To try to improve this, drivers need to drive with their high-beam headlights on as much as possible. High beams can give the driver as much as 400 to 500 feet of visibility. While this is still not ideal, it is a significant improvement!
Take care of all those lights!
On top of not seeing hazards well, it could get more difficult for others to see the driver’s truck. At night is when all the extra lights on the truck become important. The conspicuity tape, clearance lights, and other marker lights are on the vehicle to assist other motorists in recognizing the size and outline of the vehicle.
The clearance lights (the ones on the “corners” of the truck) alert others to the overall size of the vehicle. The identification markers (the set of three lights on the front and rear) alert other traffic to the fact that the vehicle is a large vehicle (over 80 inches wide). The side markers provide traffic the ability to recognize the length of the vehicle when looking at it from the side.
If any of these lights are not functioning or dirty, other traffic will not be able to recognize the full dimensions of the vehicle. This could lead to another driver running into the truck believing that they were going to miss it.
A long night equals tired eyes
Fatigue can become an issue during night driving for two main reasons. First, the driver has to remain extra alert for hazards, concentrating on what is coming and going around the vehicle. Trying to concentrate on traffic with the constantly changing light situation can lead to eye strain and fatigue. Second, the driver is trying to drive at a time when the human body was designed to rest.
Being successful at night driving
To be successful at night driving a driver will need to have adequate rest in advance, be willing to take “stretch breaks” to avoid the onset of fatigue, keep lights clean and working, and operate the vehicle at a speed that visibility can be maintained and accidents avoided!
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Our Church, Magnolia Christian Center, has the following mission statement. Our purpose is to build a great church for the glory of God through the great commission and the great commandment. MCC' Vision - That MCC will be a place hopping with children, energized with teenagers, balanced with diversity and transformed by the power of God! We want to turn uninterested people into interested people and win the lost to make fully devoted followers of Christ. www.mcc2000.net
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TOURBUS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -:) - :)- :)
Volume 13, Number 14 -- 05 Dec 2007
Tourbus Home -- http://www.InternetTourbus.com
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TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPICS: New Zune / Free HDTV / Skype / Second Life
In today's TOURBUS, you'll find out how the new Zune 80 stacks up against the iPod Classic, and I'll hook you up with some free HDTV on your computer. But wait, there's more, and it's even better than a set of steak knives. Get the scoop on advanced Skype features, and how to make real money in a virtual world. Oh, yes, and there's that bit about total world domination through effective Gmail usage. Read on!
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The New Zune vs. iPod Classic
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The Zune media player launched with much fanfare as an "iPod killer" about a year ago, but people must be afraid to show them in public, because I've never glimpsed one in the wild. And now there's a new improved Zune on the scene. It does have some nifty features, so I decided to have a look at the latest model, and see how it compares to the iPod Classic.
The new Zune and it's direct competitor, Apple's iPod Classic, both offer 80GB of storage and retail for $249. But the second coming of the Zune does have the potential to lure some consumers of portable digital music away from the Apple fold. Here's why...
ZUNE - http://askbobrankin.com/the_new_zune.html
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Free HDTV on Your PC
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Regular television has a screen resolution of about 480x330 pixels. That's lower than the old VGA computer screens we tossed out 15 years ago! But HDTV broadcasts can be viewed at up to 1920x1080 pixels, so the picture is astonishingly clear by comparison.
So here's some good news... you DON'T need to have cable or satellite service to get HDTV broadcasts. And even if you don't have a fancy new big-screen HD television set, you can still get free HDTV on your PC. Here's how...
HDTV - http://askbobrankin.com/free_hdtv_on_your_pc.html
On a related note, have you seen those ads that offer "Free Satellite TV on Your PC" for a one-time fee of $50? Here's the scoop on that scam...
SAT/TV - http://askbobrankin.com/free_satellite_tv_on_pc.html
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Skype: Beyond the Basics
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You probably already know that Skype allows you to use VoIP technology to make free phone calls over the Internet, do instant messaging, and video chats. But Skype also has some very cool advanced features, such as making outbound calls to a landline or mobile phone, voicemail, call forwarding, and the ability to send text messages to cell phones.
If VoIP is a new term for you, here's a little background, a look at some of these advanced Skype features, and how to incorporate them into your work or social life:
VOIP - http://askbobrankin.com/what_is_internet_telephony.html
SKYPE - http://askbobrankin.com/skype_beyond_the_basics.html
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Making Money In Second Life
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Perhaps you've spent some time exploring the amazing 3D Second Life metaverse, and now you're ready to quit your day job, and get filthy rich by creating and selling virtual products. Currently the virtual item market is worth about $1.5 billion a year worldwide, and it's true that some people are making big money by selling avatars, clothing, bling and pets on Second Life.
But Second Life has its own economy, and you need to understand it before you start buying and selling virtual items. Read the articles below to learn more about Second Life, Linden Dollars, how currency exchanges work, which virtual services are in high demand, and how how virtual items are created:
SL - http://askbobrankin.com/what_is_second_life.html
$L - http://askbobrankin.com/making_money_in_second_life.html
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Gmail: Beyond the Basics
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I love my Gmail. In fact, I've been using Google's web-based email service for over two years now, and there's NOTHING about traditional desktop email software that I miss. If you've been hesitating about moving your email online, read my tips and tricks for the Gmail user who wants to advance beyond the basics of the inbox.
I cover advanced searching in Gmail, how to use labels and filters, keyboard shortcuts, and how to tweak your Gmail settings to win friends, influence people and become better looking. ;-)
GMAIL - http://askbobrankin.com/gmail_beyond_the_basics.html
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That's all for now, see you next time! -- Bob Rankin
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==[ 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
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.~~~. ))
(\__/) .' ) )) 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/
December 7, 2007 Here are links to items posted on The Pump Handle over the past week:
** "100 Years Ago Today: Deadliest US Coal Mine Disaster" by Celeste Monforton On Dec 6, 1907, a violent explosion of methane gas and coal dust killed hundreds of workers at two adjacent underground coal mines in Monongah, WV owned by Consolidated Coal Company. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/100-years-ago-today-deadliest-us-coal-mine-disaster/
** "Journal Scan: Speed Kills. So Does Piece Work" by David Michaels An Australian study finds that paying truck drivers by the job (instead of by the hour or week) leads to increased driver use of amphetamines and other stimulants, which is associated with increased risk for highway crashes. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/journal-scan-speed-kills-so-does-piece-work/
** "More Lead in Toys (But You Didn't Hear it From CPSC)" by Liz Borkowski Once again, toys are turning up with high lead levels – and, once again, it was an advocacy group, rather than the Consumer Product Safety Commission, that did the tests and broke the news. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/more-lead-in-toys/
** "Occupational Health News Roundup" by Liz Borkowski NIOSH has a new blog; U.S. nuclear facilities have a troubling record of accidents; and shift work is being added to an international list of probably carcinogens. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/occupational-health-news-roundup-43/
** "Straight from the horse's mouth: "FDA Science and Mission at Risk" by Susan F. Wood It's not often, if ever, that an FDA sponsored report calls out for more resources, more direct action and organizational change for FDA. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/12/04/straight-from-the-horses-mouth-fda-science-and-mission-at-risk/
** "Crandall Canyon Disaster: Four Months Later" by Celeste Monforton Four months after the deadly Crandall Canyon mining disaster, MSHA still hasn't interviewed mine owner Robert Murray. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/12/04/crandall-canyon-disaster-four-months-later/
** "On Not Regulating Thrill Rides" by David Michaels Thrill rides in amusement parks are poorly regulated, despite occurrences of serious injuries. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/12/04/on-not-regulating-thrill-rides/
** "New Weekly Toll Posted" by Liz Borkowski The Weekly Toll blog provides writeups on 88 workers who've died on the job recently. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/new-weekly-toll-posted-8/
** "Journal Scan: A Little Lead is Too Much" by David Michaels A new study adds to the evidence that even fairly low blood lead levels in children – below the level previously thought to be safe – are associated with decreased performance on intelligence tests. Why hasn't CDC lowered the threshold level? http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/journal-scan-a-little-lead-is-too-much/
** "Introducing 'Journal Scan'" by David Michaels The Pump Handle is launching a new feature, Journal Scan, to report on articles in the scientific literature that inform, or should inform, public policy aimed at protecting our health and environment. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/introducing-journal-scan/
** "World AIDS Day: Educational Breakthrough" by Aman An animation-based tutorial is proving successful at educating youth about HIV/AIDS transmission in India and other developing countries. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/world-aids-day-educational-breakthrough/
** "Friday Blog Roundup" by Liz Borkowski Bloggers tackle nanotechnology, the pharmaceutical potential of grapefruit juice, an Appalachian nurses' strike, and conflict between public health and religious beliefs. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/friday-blog-roundup-52/
** "OSHA's Reg Agenda Coming Soon" by Celeste Monforton It's almost time for the Secretary of Labor to issue her semi-annual regulatory agenda. What will it say about diacetyl, beryllium, silica, and various construction hazards? http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/oshas-reg-agenda-coming-soon/
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Activities and Events of Interest
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SATURDAY- December 8 Calvary Missionary Baptist Church will have a live nativity scene from 5:30-9 p.m.
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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.
Friday, December 07, 2007
80 YEARS?
Pan American Airlines incorporates
1st automatic record changer introduced by His Master's Voice
Pulitzer prize awarded to Louis Bromfield
Supreme Court ruled bootleggers must pay income tax
Henry Ford stops producing Model T car
Chicago Cubs beat Boston Braves, 4-3, in 22 innings YES! Dang I will never see a winning season.
What does this list have to do with NY? The NY fire code was last updated the same year as these events were recorded. Now that's old school! Believe it or not there were no required fire plans for big restaurants, theaters, and department stores and no sets rules for hazard chemical storage. Heck Toco Bell has it's own for both.
While tragic events like the WTC attack and the famous Rhode Island nightclub fire had it's role in the fire code revision announced by New York's Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta
I firmly believe that the involvement of the CSB got the job done.
An explosion Kaltech Industries Group, Inc., (were 31 people were injured, including 14 who were not employees) was caused by the mixture of lacquer thinner and nitric acid and ripped through to the fifth floor of the building.
The investigation found that:
The Company management did not provide workers with sufficient information about the hazardous chemicals stored and used there.
The company was not in compliance with several important waste disposal requirements.
With contributing factors being:
Lack of sufficient chemical safety precautions in the New York City fire code
The failure of government inspections to detect unsafe practices.
CSB Past Chairman Carolyn Merritt stated: "Hazardous materials need to be identified, labeled, and managed under an approved plan. Incompatible materials need to be separated. Finally, workers need to be trained in their own language and provided with material safety data sheets that indicate known hazards. These measures, most of which are already part of model fire codes, will go a long way toward preventing future chemical accidents in New York City."
If your not familiar with the CSB's work you really have to view just one of their comprehensive final reports they leave no stone unturned. The final Kaltech Industries Group, Inc. report includes:
Background
Investigative Process
Building Description
Kaltech Industries Group, Inc.
Pre-Incident Events
The Incident
Incident Aftermath
Explosion Origin
Explosion Cause
Workplace Practices
FDNY Regulations
New York City Fire Prevention Code
Model Fire Codes
NYSDEC Regulations
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RCRA Subtitle C Requirements
NYSDEC Region 2 RCRA Subtitle C Inspections
NYCDEP Regulations
OSHA Regulations
HAZCOM Requirements
Flammable and Combustible Liquids Requirements
OSHA Citations
OSHA Enforcement Policy
Root Causes
Contributing Causes
CSB Recommendations
Logic Diagram
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/
1. Spc. Matthew K. Reece, 24, of Harrison, Ark., died Dec. 1, in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
2. Sgt. Blair W. Emery, 24, of Lee, Maine, died Nov. 30 in Baqubah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.
3. Sgt. Kyle Dayton, 22, of El Dorado Hills, Calif., died Dec. 3 in Ashwah, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
The Department of Defense announced the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device in Bayji, Iraq. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. Killed were:
4. Sgt. Eric J. Hernandez, 26, of Waldwick, N.J., who died Dec. 4 in Bayji, Iraq.
5. Pvt. Dewayne L. White, 27, of Country Club Hills, Ill., who died Dec. 4 in Bayji, Iraq.
6. Capt. Adam P. Snyder, 26, of Fort Pierce, Fla., who died Dec. 5 in Balad, Iraq.
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Marine Missing From Korean War is Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
He is Pfc. Donald M. Walker, U.S. Marine Corps, of Springfield, Ky. He will be buried Dec. 7 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.
Walker was assigned to the Service Company, 1st Service Battalion, of the 1st Marine Division deployed near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. On Nov. 27, 1950, three Communist Chinese divisions launched an attack on the Marine positions. Over the next several days, U.S. forces staged a fighting withdrawal to the south, first to Hagaru-ri, then Koto-ri, and eventually to defensive positions at Hungnam. Walker died on Dec. 7, 1950, as a result of enemy action near Koto-ri. He was buried by fellow Marines in a temporary United Nations military cemetery in Hungnam, which fell to the North Koreans in December 1950. His identity was later verified from a fingerprint taken at the time of the burial.
During Operation Glory in 1954, the North Korean government repatriated the remains of 2,944 U.S. soldiers and Marines. Included in this repatriation were remains associated with Walker’s burial. The staff at the U.S. Army Mortuary in Kokura, Japan, however, cited suspected discrepancies between the biological profile from the remains and Walker’s physical characteristics. The remains were among 416 from Operation Glory subsequently buried as “unknowns” in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (The Punchbowl) in Hawaii.
In April 2007, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command exhumed remains from The Punchbowl believed to be those of Walker. Although the remains did not yield usable DNA data, a reevaluation of the skeletal and dental remains led to Walker’s identification.
~~
Soldier Missing 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 and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
He is 1st Lt. Dixie S. Parker, U.S. Army, of Green Pond, Ala. He will be buried Dec. 6 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.
Representatives from the Army met with Parker’s next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the secretary of the Army.
Parker was assigned to Battery B, 8th Field Artillery Battalion, 25th Infantry Division then occupying a defensive position overlooking the Kuryong River in P’yongan-Pukto Province, North Korea. On Nov. 27, 1950, Parker was killed in his foxhole while serving as a forward artillery observer. His body was not recovered.
In 2000, a joint U.S./Democratic People’s Republic of Korea team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), excavated a site overlooking the Kuryong River in P’yongan-Pukto Province where U.S. soldiers were believed to be buried. The team recovered human remains and non-biological evidence including Parker’s identification tags and first lieutenant rank insignia.
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 Parker’s remains.
~~
Army Soldier MIA From Vietnam War is Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
He is Staff Sgt. Maurice H. Moore, of Baltimore, Md., U.S. Army. He will be buried in Baltimore on Dec. 4.
Representatives from the Army met with Moore’s next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the secretary of the Army.
On May 12, 1968, North Vietnamese forces overran the Kham Duc Special Forces camp and its surrounding observation posts in Quang Nam-Da Nang Province (formerly Quang Tin Province), South Vietnam. Moore was one of the 17 U.S. servicemen unaccounted-for after the survivors evacuated the camp. Search and recovery efforts at the site in 1970 succeeded in recovering remains of five of the 17 men. A sixth man was returned alive during Operation Homecoming in 1973 after having been held prisoner of war by the North Vietnamese.
Between 1993 and 2006, joint U.S./Vietnam teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted eight investigations and four excavations in the vicinity of the camp site. The team interviewed former North Vietnamese officers and soldiers who participated in the battle. Some recalled seeing the bodies of U.S. servicemen near one of the observation posts, and U.S. eyewitness accounts placed Moore near the post.
During an excavation conducted in 1998, two U.S. servicemen who survived the battle accompanied JPAC to help locate the observation posts, but found no evidence of human remains. Later excavations conducted in the area yielded human remains, identification media and personal effects for Moore and several other Army soldiers, including Maj. Frederick J. Ransbottom and Staff Sgt. William E. Skivington Jr., who were identified in 2006.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of the remains.
For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/ or call (703) 699-1169.
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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
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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.
~~~
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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"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!!!
Judg 20:46-47 Deu 25:13-16 Deu 24:19,21-22 Lev 4:16-20 2 Sam 21:19-21 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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