Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Say What?

Volume 10, Issue 11 Friday, March 14, 2008

Hello All,

Annette and I are looking forward to seeing “"A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor" on April 26 @ 5:00pm in Hot Springs. If you’d like to see this show, you can call 501-321-2277 or 800-772-2489 for tickets. In case you’re like most of the people I’ve told we were going to this show and don’t have any idea who Garrison Keillor is or what “A Prairie Home Companion” is, it’s the worldwide hit radio show heard by more than 4 million people weekly. You can hear it by going to http://www.redriverradio.org/ at 5pm on Saturday or noon on Sunday to listen live. Or, you can click on "Full Schedule” and then click on the Prairie Home Companion Web link to hear archived shows.
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Nancy Cook contacted me to ask if Mc Neil could use my photo of the Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985 roaring through Columbia County. They wanted to use the photo on Mc Neil Festival Commemorative Tee Shirts. Of course, I gladly gave them permission and forwarded a JPG to them. She wrote me back this week to say; “... when you see the t-shirts for our festival, you will really like them. Your train photo is on the back. It is such a clear picture that you can see the rain drops falling.”

I’ve been a “train buff” as long as I can remember. And Annette, the “wife of my youth,” has been long suffering in my pursuit of train photos. On January 24, 2004, the Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985 was traveling through Columbia County on its way to the Super bowl in Houston and I was determined to photograph it as it.
So, I rounded up Annette and our two oldest grandsons, Dusty and Zac McClellan to go and see the train. Even though it was a cold, rainy day I thought I knew a great place to see the train. We parked under the US 79 overpass on the east side of Mc Neil and were rewarded when the big engine came chugging through the pine trees on its way to a scheduled fuel and water stop in Mc Neil.
But I hadn’t gotten a real good photo of the train as it entered the Mc Neil yard and, when I realized that all the roads into town were blocked by folks like me, I became pretty agitated. How was I going to get down there and get a good photo without getting my grandsons soaked in the cold rain? And, how was I going to get a good photo with all those folks crowded around the train?
But, Annette, as usual, calmed me down and pointed out that we could probably move east down Arkansas 98 which parallels the UP tracks and catch the train at one of the rural road crossings.
So we drove to the Columbia Road 124 crossing where Annette and the boys stayed in the vehicle while I took up a vigil on the south side of the crossing, sheltered by Annette’s umbrella.
Within minutes, the area on the highway side of this crossing was also packed with cars of rail fans that had the same idea as we did. But this time I was the one in front, and none of them were congregating too close to the railroad as we expected the engine to be “flying” when it came by.
While we waited, I had the opportunity to meet some of these folks and I was mildly surprised to find that several of them had been following the train from Nebraska and intended to keep trailing it all the way to Houston. Others were from surrounding states and had driven for a couple of hundred miles to see the engine when it stopped in Mc Neil.
It wasn’t long before we heard the familiar throb of the steam engine winding up as it accelerated out of Mc Neil. Most of the people moved back when they heard the train so I had a clear view of 3985 coming around the curve to the east of us.
Man, was it “hauling the coal.” I only had time to snap three photos before it had gone by me. The first two showed the head end of the engine moving up the tracks toward me but the third was the “bread winner”. This third shot, taken with the Olympus C3040 3.3 MPG camera Annette had gotten me for our 31st wedding anniversary, was near perfect, showing the locomotive in full acceleration, steam blowing out the master cylinders, smoke billowing above the engine. The engineer had just opened the throttle after clearing the curve and that resulted in a large puff of black smoke to contrast with the grey that was already trailing over the train.
The train is visible in 3/4 view, black with its yellow cars trailing. Rain is falling heavily and can easily be seen in the shot. The dreary January day is counterpoised by the engine’s light shining off the rails and, I believe, the shot is properly complimented by the single wire phone poles in the background to the north of the engine.
I kept shooting as the train passed but it was moving so fast, I only got two other shots, one a blur of the yellow cars going by and the last, shows the tail of the consist, disappearing west down the rails.
When I got back to the car, Annette asked if I’d been successful and I told her I wasn’t sure. But when we reviewed the shots, it was apparent that we had a “winner.”

Union Pacific Challenger No. 3985 was designed by Union Pacific and built in 1943 by the American Locomotive Company. It is one of 105 Challengers built for Union Pacific between 1936 and 1943 and is the only operating engine of its class in the world today – the largest and most powerful operating steam locomotive.

No. 3985 last operated in "regular" train service in 1957. It was retired in 1962 and stored in the roundhouse in Cheyenne, Wyoming, until 1975 when it was placed on display near the Cheyenne depot. A group of Union Pacific employees volunteered their services to restore the locomotive to running condition in 1981.

The name Challenger was given to steam locomotives with a 4-6-6-4 wheel arrangement. This means that they have four wheels in the leading "pilot" truck, which helps guide the locomotive into curves; two sets of six "driving" wheels, and finally, four "trailing" wheels, which support the rear of the engine and its massive firebox. Each set of driving wheels has its own steam cylinder. In essence, the result is two engines under one boiler.

The frame of the locomotive is "articulated," or hinged, to allow it to go through curves. When watching the approaching locomotive go through a curve, you can see the boiler swing out left or right independently of the lower half of the engine, as the rear half of the locomotive remains in a straight direction until its wheels and frame are halfway through the curve.

The Challengers were designed for fast freight service, but occasionally pulled passenger trains. No. 3985 originally burned coal and pulled a tender with a 32-ton capacity. In 1990, it was converted to use No. 5 oil. The top speed of No. 3985 is about 70 miles an hour.

Additional information on the Challengers and other steam locomotives can be found in [http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/history/loco/index.shtml]
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I was sad that Larry Norman passed away before I had a chance to hear him live, one of my “Bucket List” items. But I don’t think my disappointment holds a candle to that of an astronaut who was booted off a mission less than a month before launch.
~
A South Korean woman who is a bioengineering student will become Korea’s first astronaut. She is scheduled to blast off April 8 on a trip to the International Space Station. The astronaut, Yi So-yeon, 29, was selected after the Russian space authorities accused the man who was initially chosen for the mission of breaking training rules.
The astronaut she replaced, Ko San, 30, a computer engineer, was selected for the mission after beating 36,000 contestants in a nationwide government competition in which almost any South Korean could apply. Ms. Yi, who came in second in the competition, has been training with Mr. Ko in Russia as his backup since last year.
With less than a month to go before the start of the mission, the Russian agency told South Korea last week that Mr. Ko had committed “repeated breaches of training protocol,” including taking training manuals out of the training center without permission, said Lee Sang-mok, an official at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
“The Russian space agency has stressed that a minor mistake and disobedience can cause serious consequences in space,” Mr. Lee said during a nationally televised news conference. “So the honor of becoming South Korea’s first astronaut now goes to a woman.”
Paik Hong-yul, president of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, which oversees South Korea’s space program, said Mr. Ko had made “mistakes out of his over enthusiasm in training.”
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Speaking of Technology, products from China are contaminated with more than lead or antifreeze. Some of today's hottest gadgets are landing on store shelves with pre-installed viruses that steal passwords, open doors for hackers and make computers spew spam.
Recent cases reviewed by The Associated Press include some of the most widely used tech devices: Apple iPods, digital picture frames sold by Target and Best Buy stores and TomTom navigation gear.
In most cases, Chinese factories—where many companies have turned to keep prices low—are the source. So far, the virus problem appears to come from lax quality control—perhaps a careless worker plugging an infected music player into a factory computer used for testing—rather than organized sabotage by hackers or the Chinese factories.
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So we’re supposed to feel better because it’s poor quality control that gave our financial data to thieves instead of intentional sabotage? Thanks again, China.
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Did you see the news that Former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair urged the U.S., Japan and European nations to make ``revolutionary'' cuts to greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.

``Since poorer nations will see their emissions rise as they industrialize, and since the world population may well grow from 6 to 9 billion, emissions in the richer nations will have to fall close to zero,'' Blair said
...
China, the world's second-biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, said on March 5 developed nations should provide financial support of 0.5 percent of their annual gross domestic product to help it and other developing nations remedy the effects of climate change.
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But what has not been widely reported is that Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States FELL by 1.8 percent in 2006, compared to a 0.3 percent increase in emissions in the European Union (EU), according to newly released data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The new data confirm the continuing success of market-oriented, voluntary greenhouse gas emissions programs in the U.S. versus European cap-and-trade mandates.
The stark difference occurred even though the two economies grew at a near-identical pace in 2006, roughly 3 percent for the year.
"It isn't just 2006 which saw a disparity," observed Chris Horner, senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI). "Under any relevant modern baseline, say 1997 when the Kyoto promise was made or thereafter, U.S. emissions have risen far more slowly than those of its noisiest antagonists whose model we are supposed to follow."
"For the past seven years for which we have data (2000-2006), the annual rate of increase for U.S. CO2 emissions is about a third of 1 percent, compared to more than 1 percent by the EU," Horner added.
"In what surely ought to confound the Europhiles in Congress, over the same period even the smaller EU-15 economy increased its CO2 emissions by more than 20 percent greater than the United States," Horner continued. "Why we are supposed to swoon over the prospect of paying billions to replicate their failure is beyond me."
While the European Union and environmental activist groups have frequently criticized the Bush administration for refusing to support the Kyoto Protocol, the 2006 data show the EU is failing to live up to its Kyoto promises. According to the European Environmental Agency, 13 countries of the EU-15 have increased emissions over the past 16 years.
Even in the United Kingdom, often cited as a greenhouse gas success story, recent data reveal emissions increased almost 20 percent over the past 20 years, after counting emissions from shipping, aviation, and the carbon content of imports.
"Even though global warming is nearly a religious commitment in Europe, greenhouse gas emissions are rising faster in the European Union than in the United States," noted Myron Ebell, CEI's director of energy and global warming policy.
"I think this shows that it's not easy or cheap to reduce emissions, contrary to what many proponents of cap-and-trade legislation here claim," Ebell said. "Mandatory controls are not working in the EU, so I think the rush in Congress to adopt their failing policies is foolish."
CEI Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis agreed. "As has been widely reported, EU governments allocated more emission credits than there were emissions to their large emitters so as to give domestic firms a competitive advantage vis-à-vis their counterparts in other EU countries," said Lewis. "I think the old-fashioned term for this is 'cheating.'"
Lewis continued, "One key fact that should be stressed is that gasoline prices in several EU countries exceed $7.00 a gallon due to high motor fuel taxes. Yet from 1990 to 2004, EU transport sector CO2 emissions increased by almost 26 percent.

All pain for no gain."
---------------------------------
Drew Thornley (dthornley@texaspolicy.com) is a policy analyst at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=22791
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=a_Pmm4qdlW6M&refer=japan
Tony Blair Urges `Revolutionary' Carbon Emission Cuts By Shigeru Sato and Yuji Okada
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“People want change,”
Claim presidential candidates.
I’d prefer twenties.
Madeleine Begun Kane
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Thinking about cutting employee training as a cost cutting measure, Barry Brownlee commented; "Knowledge is cheaper than failure."
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A telling statistic. The U.S. spends 33% of its health care dollar on “paperwork.” The rest of the world spends 17%.
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Last week there was quite a bit of news about Boeing's lose of a major U.S. military contract to a foreign rival, but this week, it was revealed that 70% of Boeing’s commercial Dreamliner is made overseas. Of course this hasn’t been mentioned much in the news and, as far as I know, none at all in Congress which is having a stroke over Northrop and Europe’s Airbus getting the contract.
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Congratulations to CMC Steel Arkansas has earned the top spot in steel manufacturing for operating the safest steel mill in North America. Over thirty-five steel mills across the country report to the Steel Manufacturer’s Association. Incident rates are based on injuries per 100 employees. CMC Steel Arkansas’ rate for 2007 was .80, the lowest incident rate of any reporting steel mill.
“Safety has always been a top priority for all CMC companies,” says Stephen Weaver, General Manager of CMC Steel Arkansas. “Steel manufacturing can be a dangerous business. Safety must become second nature to each and every employee on a daily basis, and not only his or her own safety, but also the safety of everyone around them.”
And that dedication to safety paid off. “We set a goal to make the incident rate for 2007 less than 1%. And with .80, we reached that goal,” says safety manager Francis Neldon. “And for that, each and every one of CMC Arkansas’ 300-plus employees was awarded a $100 cash safety bonus in January of 2008.”
Commercial Metals Company, the parent company of CMC Steel Arkansas, also controls three other steel mills under the Americasdivision that topped the safety list. CMC Steel Alabama was second in the nation with a .85 incident rate; CMC Steel South Carolina was third with a .90 incident rate; and CMC Steel Texas was fifth with a 1.0 incident rate.
Weaver feels confident that 2008 can be even safer. “We’ve set the goal for 2008 at 0 incidents. And I know we have the right attitude and the right group of people to make it happen.”
If you’d like more information, to schedule an interview or to record actualities, please contact Francis Neldon, Safety Manager, or Stephen Weaver, General Manager, at (870) 234-8703. CMC Steel Arkansas, a division of Commercial Metals Company.
~
A steel plant with an incident rate of 0.80 is OUTSTANDING. This means that they suffer less than one “OSHA Recordable” injury per 100 employees each year. The expected rate for a steel plant is 8.0. By the way, Albemarle Magnolia’s incident rate has been 0.47 for the last two years.
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There was some, to me, shocking and depressing news this week. According to a new CDC survey, at least one in four teenage American girls has a sexually transmitted disease. Not surprisingly, the study startled some adolescent-health experts. "This is pretty shocking," said Dr. Elizabeth Alderman, an adolescent medicine specialist at Montefiore Medical Center's Children's Hospital in New York.
Because some sexually transmitted infections can cause infertility and cancer, U.S. health officials called for better screening, vaccination and prevention.
The overall STD rate among the girls in the study was 26 percent, which translates to more than 3 million girls’ nationwide, researchers with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found. They released the results Tuesday at an STD prevention conference in Chicago.
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Speaking of health, Trace amounts of pharmaceutical drugs are lurking in our nation's drinking water, including one used to treat people with bipolar disorder and alcohol withdrawal, and another prescribed to combat seizures.
Swimming with them in city water supplies is a favorite pick-me-up: caffeine.

The findings are part of a nationwide investigation into pharmaceutical drugs in drinking water conducted by The Associated Press.
In the course of a five-month inquiry, the AP discovered that drugs have been detected in the drinking-water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas serving at least 41 million people -- from Southern California to Northern New Jersey, from Detroit to Louisville.
The findings came as no surprise to Judy Petersen, executive director of the Kentucky Waterways Alliance, a group that lobbies for cleaner rivers and lakes.
"There is a drug cocktail, if you will, in our nation's waters," Petersen said, adding that there's little known about how those drugs might be affecting people or the environment. "We're kind of flying in the dark."

How do the drugs get into the water?
People take pills. Their bodies absorb some of the medication, but the rest of it passes through and is flushed down toilets.
Other pharmaceuticals end up in drinking water when people flush unused pills down toilets or drugs are used on farm animals that excrete back into the water supply.
Wastewater is treated before it is discharged into reservoirs, rivers or lakes. And some of the water is cleansed again at drinking-water treatment plants, but not all the drug residue gets removed.

The concentrations of the pharmaceuticals are far below the levels of a medical dose, the AP reported.
But the presence of so many prescription drugs -- and over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen -- in so much of the nation's drinking water is heightening worries among scientists of long-term consequences to human health.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080310/NEWS01/803100394s
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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/] - - Gerald Flores
Awarded: Bronze Star

A key component to success in Iraq is enabling an expertly trained Iraqi army and police force. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Gerald M. Flores’ role as a combat advisor has been instrumental in this task.

During Flores’ second Iraq tour, from December 2006 to December 2007; he was placed with various brigades in the Iraqi Army in Ramadi, one of the most dangerous cities in Anbar province. Once considered a "lost province" because of a fervent insurgency, Anbar needed a well-trained Iraqi force. To achieve improved security and lay the foundation of a lasting peace required a cultural diplomat in a Marine uniform – Gerald Flores.

Taking charge of some 100 Iraqi troops, the hardened Marine learned how to balance the Corps’ grueling training schedule with local customs, like repeated daily prayer. His leadership helped the two cultures "meet in the middle" and he turned a mix of "old army" and green recruits into a combat-effective unit.

In one harrowing operation, Flores was brought in to advise a disorganized and fatigued Iraqi company. The company came under fire, taking many casualties and becoming combat ineffective. Flores took charge in the face of enemy machine gun, small-arms, and sniper fire and rallied the unit. He organized an effective defense, allowing the Iraqis to resist the attack and emerge from the battle with newfound skill and confidence. During later operations in the Malaab district of Ramadi, Flores reinforced an "overwhelmed" Iraqi force and aided in the "clear and hold" mission in this former insurgent enclave.

For accumulating over 250 combat patrols as an embedded advisor in Iraqi units, directly training over 300 Iraqi troops, and his able command under fire, Flores was awarded the Bronze Star.

Back in the United States "looking at the big picture," Flores considered the contribution made by his team of Marine combat advisors as "awesome." The security gains made by Iraqi and Coalition Forces due to the troop surge and "Sunni Awakening" were like "night and day" he said. Exemplifying the character of a Marine, he reflected: "We were all out there as a team… As a team, we did a whole lot."
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Michael Yon Invites you to click [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/guitar-heros.htm] to read about an amazing group of Kiowa pilots who have been killing a lot of terrorists here in Mosul. I often see or hear them on the attack. This small group of pilots have killed at least 115 terrorists over the past eight months. The pilots swoop very low and have also taken a lot of bullets inside their helicopters. This little squadron fights so low and close that 16 of their helicopters have taken direct fire hits from bullets in the past eight months. It's a wonder half of them haven't been shot down. Please read how Bob Sickler took off from Mosul and landed in Walter Reed Army Medical Center a couple weeks ago.

Great news: My book Moment of Truth in Iraq is finished and is in the publisher's hands. Release date is set for 22 April 2008. If you want to know the untold story of how the US military has been snatching a long string of victories from the pit of despair, please click [http://yhst-80051593642880.stores.yahoo.net/] and purchase a signed copy of Moment of Truth in Iraq. You will find things here that are published nowhere else: no papers, no blogs, nowhere.

I'm still in Mosul, but will be off to Baghdad, soon.
Michael Yon
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Soldier Earns Silver Star for Her Role in Defeating Ambush
By Ann Scott Tyson
Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester fought her way through an enemy ambush south of Baghdad, killing three insurgents with her M-4 rifle to save fellow soldiers' lives -- and Thursday, June 16, 2005 became the first woman since World War II to win the Silver Star medal for valor in combat.
The 23-year-old retail store manager from Bowling Green, Ky., won the award for skillfully leading her team of military police soldiers in a counterattack after about 50 insurgents ambushed a supply convoy they were guarding near Salman Pak on March 20.

Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester is the first female soldier since World War II to receive the Silver Star medal for valor in combat. (By Spec. Jeremy D. Crisp -- Defense Department Via Associated Press)

The medal, rare for any soldier, underscores the growing role in combat of U.S. female troops in Iraq's guerrilla war, where tens of thousands of American women have served, 36 have been killed and 285 wounded, according to Pentagon figures.

After insurgents hit the convoy with a barrage of fire from machine guns, AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, Hester "maneuvered her team through the kill zone into a flanking position where she assaulted a trench line with grenades and M203 rounds," according to the Army citation accompanying the Silver Star.

"She then cleared two trenches with her squad leader where she engaged and eliminated three AIF [anti-Iraqi forces] with her M4 rifle. Her actions saved the lives of numerous convoy members," the citation stated.

Hester, a varsity softball and basketball player in high school, joined the Army in 2001 and was assigned to the Kentucky National Guard's 617th Military Police Company, based in Richmond, Ky.

A female driver with the unit, Spec. Ashley J. Pullen of Danville, Ky., also won the Bronze Star for her bravery. Pullen laid down fire to suppress insurgents and then "exposed herself to heavy AIF fires in order to provide medical assistance to her critically injured comrades," saving several lives, her citation said.

Six other soldiers with Hester's unit won awards for defeating the ambush, leaving 27 insurgents dead, six wounded and one captured. They include Hester's squad leader, Staff. Sgt. Timothy F. Nein, who also won the Silver Star.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/16/AR2005061601551.html?referrer=emailarticle
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A 19-year-old medic from Texas will become the first woman in Afghanistan and only the second woman since World War II to receive the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest medal for valor.
Army Spc. Monica Lin Brown saved the lives of fellow soldiers after a roadside bomb tore through a convoy of Humvees in the eastern Paktia province in April 2007, the military said.

After the explosion, which wounded five soldiers in her unit, Brown ran through insurgent gunfire and used her body to shield wounded comrades as mortars fell less than 100 yards away, the military said.

"I did not really think about anything except for getting the guys to a safer location and getting them taken care of and getting them out of there," Brown told The Associated Press on Saturday at a U.S. base in the eastern province of Khost.

Brown, of Lake Jackson, Texas, is scheduled to receive the Silver Star later this month. She was part of a four-vehicle convoy patrolling near Jani Kheil in the eastern province of Paktia on April 25, 2007, when a bomb struck one of the Humvees.

"We stopped the convoy. I opened up my door and grabbed my aid bag," Brown said.

She started running toward the burning vehicle as insurgents opened fire. All five wounded soldiers had scrambled out.

"I assessed the patients to see how bad they were. We tried to move them to a safer location because we were still receiving incoming fire," Brown said.

Pentagon policy prohibits women from serving in frontline combat roles—in the infantry, armor or artillery, for example. But the nature of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, with no real front lines, has seen women soldiers take part in close-quarters combat more than previous conflicts.

Four Army nurses in World War II were the first women to receive the Silver Star, though three nurses serving in World War I were awarded the medal posthumously last year, according to the Army's Web site.

Brown, of the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, said ammunition going off inside the burning Humvee was sending shrapnel in all directions. She said they were sitting in a dangerous spot.

"So we dragged them for 100 or 200 meters, got them away from the Humvee a little bit," she said. "I was in a kind of a robot-mode, did not think about much but getting the guys taken care of."

For Brown, who knew all five wounded soldiers, it became a race to get them all to a safer location. Eventually, they moved the wounded some 500 yards away, treated them on site before putting them on a helicopter for evacuation.

"I did not really have time to be scared," Brown said. "Running back to the vehicle, I was nervous (since) I did not know how badly the guys were injured. That was scary."

The military said Brown's "bravery, unselfish actions and medical aid rendered under fire saved the lives of her comrades and represents the finest traditions of heroism in combat."

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=2008-03-09_D8V9VB480&show_article=1&cat=breaking
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LONDON (AP) - Britain's Royal Navy floated a wreath Saturday over the recently discovered wreck of a World War II destroyer that went down with 110 men on board in a battle with Nazi forces.
The HMS Hunter was discovered this month by a Norwegian minehunter participating in exercises with British, Dutch and other NATO warships off the Norwegian coast, Britain's Defense Ministry said.

The 2,100-ton destroyer went down on April 10, 1940, as the Royal Navy tried to keep German forces from overrunning the strategic Norwegian port.

About 1,000 British, Norwegian and Dutch military officials honored the ship's dead during a ceremony which featured ships sailing past the site of the sunken destroyer in a line and a wreath being floated above the wreck.

"Finding HMS Hunter was a poignant moment and being able to pay our respects along with our Norwegian and Dutch allies is particularly fitting to those who lost their lives," Maj. Gen. Garry Robison said.

The ship was discovered March 1 when the Norwegian minehunter's sonar detected the presence of a submerged vessel in the area. A remotely operated submersible showed that the sunken ship was the HMS Hunter, one of two British vessels lost during the first Battle of Narvik in the opening stages of the war.

Germany lost four destroyers in the battle.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=2008-03-08_D8V9IHU82&show_article=1&cat=breaking
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COMMUNICATION NOTICE: We are switching Internet Service Providers and, as of February 28, our e-mail address has changed. You can now contact us at kc5hii@suddenlink.net.
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The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) is probably the most complicated spacecraft ever built in Europe, launched and operated by the European Space Agency.
ATV, dubbed Jules Verne after the famous French author, is designed to carry over nine tonnes of experiments, fuel, water, food and other supplies from Earth to the International Space Station.
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEM2AGPR4CF_0.html
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Grace and John surprised us all by flying to Jamaica to get married on March 3rd.
We will not let this keep us from celebrating this wonderful event in their lives. Please join us For a POTLUCK / HOUSEHOLD POUNDING IN THEIR HONOR.
Bring your favorite dish and a gift for this young couple On Thursday, March 27th. 11:30 am to 1:00 pm Communication Center - Maintenance Complex/Magnolia South
Hints: Bring your favorite recipe and the ingredients for the dish. Prepare a brown bag of staple items (flour, sugar, etc) Prepare a brown bag of can goods. Prepare a basket of kitchen item
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This week we watched (from NetFlix):
**** “Love's Unending Legacy” 2007 Erin Cottrell ... Dale Midkiff ... Victor Browne ...
**** “The Holiday” 2006 Cameron Diaz ... Kate Winslet ... Jude Law ... Jack Black ...
*** “Becoming Jane” 2007 Anne Hathaway ... James McAvoy ... Julie Walters ...
* “Some Girls” 1988 Patrick Dempsey ... Jennifer Connelly ... Sheila Kelley ...
**** “24: Season 5: Disc 6" 2006 Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub
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This week we read; “Prepared for rage” / Dana Stabenow. “My grandfather's son : a memoir” / Clarence Thomas. and “Hunter's run” / George R.R. Martin, Gardner Dozois, and Daniel Abraham.
We’re currently reading; “The death trust” / David A. Rollins
We plan on reading:“A war of gifts : an Ender story” by Orson Scott Card, “Sliver of truth” by Lisa Unger and “Condi”
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http://www.shelfari.com/BugsBleat/shelf?ec=7D790D174EFS18012
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If you’d like to write Dr. Antoon, he’d like to hear from you. This is his current address, the latest of the three federal prisons’ he’s been in.
Patrick Antoon #06669-010
Federal Prison Camp-La Tuna
P. O. Box 8000
Anthony, NM/TX 88021
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The photos on the front of this week’s “Bleat”
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We’ve now got several addresses on the web for "Da Bleat." For the latest issue, go to http://www.bugsbleat.blogspot.com. Last quarter’s issues can be seen at http://www.bugsbleat4Q07.blogspot.com.
Our photos are posted at http://www.bugsbleatphotos.blogspot.com.
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Feel free to share the "Bleat" with any and all. That's why we publish it.
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Recipe(s) of the week - - - Corned Beef and Cabbage From Food Network Kitchens

1 (3-pound) corned beef brisket (uncooked), in brine
16 cups cold water
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons black peppercorns
4 whole allspice berries
2 whole cloves
½ large head green cabbage (about 2 pounds), cut into 8 thick wedges
8 small new potatoes (about 1 1/4 pounds), halved
Freshly ground black pepper

Serving suggestion: Whole-grain mustard or HORSERADISH SAUCE, recipe follows

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

Place the corned beef in a colander in the sink and rinse well under cold running water.

Place the corned beef in a large Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid; add the water, bay leaves, peppercorns, allspice, and cloves. Bring to a boil, uncovered, and skim off any scum that rises to the surface. Cover and transfer pan to the oven, and braise until very tender, about 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Transfer the corned beef to a cutting board and cover tightly with foil to keep warm. Add the cabbage and potatoes to the cooking liquid and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cabbage to a large platter. Slice the corned beef across the grain of the meat into thin slices. Lay the slices over the cabbage and surround it with the potatoes. Ladle some of the hot cooking liquid over the corned beef and season with pepper. Serve immediately with the mustard or horseradish sauce.

Cook's Note: Leftover corned beef makes great corned beef hash. In fact, most of us here in the Food Network Kitchens make it just to make our morning-time favorite, corned beef hash with poached eggs.

Horseradish Sauce:
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons jarred grated horseradish (with liquid)
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, horseradish, zest, and 2 teaspoons salt. Season generously with pepper to taste. Refrigerate the horseradish sauce for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Yield: about 1 3/4 cups

Corned Beef Hash with Poached Eggs:

Hash:
2 cups roughly chopped boiled red new potatoes, preferably leftover from Corned Beef and Cabbage
2 cups diced leftover cooked corned beef
1/4 cup corned beef cooking liquid or chicken broth
½ medium yellow medium onion, grated
½ clove garlic, mashed with a fork
1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
Pinch of nutmeg
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Eggs:
4 cups cold water
½ cup distilled white vinegar
½ teaspoon kosher salt
8 fresh large eggs

In large bowl, place 1 cup of the potatoes and mash with a fork. Add the remaining 1 cup potatoes, corned beef, cooking liquid, onion, garlic, mustard, thyme, and nutmeg. Season generously with pepper and mix well. Store in the refrigerator overnight.
Remove the hash mixture from the refrigerator and stir in the parsley.

Heat 1/4 cup butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When the foaming subsides, add the hash mixture and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Using a spatula, press the mixture down into a round cake the size of the skillet. Cook, shaking the skillet occasionally, for 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking, moving the skillet occasionally, until the underside is browned and crusty, about 6 minutes more.

To flip the hash, set a plate the size of the skillet on top of the pan. Invert the pan so the hash falls on to the plate as an intact cake. Invert the hash onto another plate, cooked-side up. Return the skillet to the heat, raise to medium-high, and heat the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. When the foaming subsides, slide the hash into the skillet cooked-side up. Cook, shaking the skillet occasionally, for 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, shaking the skillet occasionally, until the underside is browned and crispy, about 5 minutes more. Set aside covered with foil to keep warm.

While the corned beef hash is cooking, combine the water, vinegar and salt in a large skillet and bring to a simmer. Crack the eggs into separate cups. Carefully slide the eggs into the skillet and cook, turning occasionally with a spoon, until firm, about 3 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs and transfer to kitchen towel. Lightly dab the eggs with a kitchen towel to remove any excess water.

Divide the hash among plates and top with the poached eggs.

Yield: 4 servings
Difficulty: Intermediate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Yield: about 6 to 8 main course servings

Copyright © 2006 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/recipe_print/0,1946,FOOD_9936_15890_PRINT-RECIPE-FULL-PAGE,00.html
~~~~~
BreakPoint
With Chuck Colson
Deadly Trend
3/14/2008

The Infanticide Protocol

Sociologist Stefan Timmerman has observed that “Humans in every society studied to date are more likely to be murdered on the day they are born than on any other day of their lives.” Timmerman was quoted recently by bioethicist Wesley J. Smith in the online publication To the Source.

Smith rightly claims that while infanticide was commonly accepted in ancient times, only the Jews and the Christians actively opposed it. The strength of their opposition paid off “when infanticide was outlawed by Emperor Valentinian, a Christian, in the 4th century.”

So, as Western culture abandons its Christian roots, we ought not to be surprised that infanticide is making a comeback.

Take a look at what is already happening in the Netherlands. In 2004, doctors from Groningen University Medical Center admitted to killing, or “euthanizing,” to use the euphemism, dying or profoundly disabled babies. That practice came to be known as the Groningen Protocol.

Under those guidelines, not only are dying infants killed, but so are disabled infants who do not even require intensive care. The criteria for euthanizing a baby are subjective: Either the baby is judged to have no chance of survival; may survive after intensive treatment but with a grim future; or endures “suffering [that] is severe, sustained, and cannot be alleviated.” These criteria depend on the doctor’s whim.

So much for the Hippocratic Oath.

By judging which life is valuable or not, doctors are doing precisely what the Nazis did over 60 years ago. The Nazis even had a phrase for this, which translated means “life not worth living”—and not because of the individuals’ suffering, but because of their burden and cost to society.

“As the West loses some of its Biblical moral footing,” writes Smith, “there is a new effort to decriminalize infanticide.” In fact, he asserts, “the notion is ‘positively trendy’.” Most notably, of course, is Princeton Professor Peter Singer who has advocated for some time killing disabled infants. But he is not the only one. When the Groningen Protocol was revealed, others began—not condemning it—but, sadly enough, defending it.

Smith noted a New York Times feature and a New England Journal of Medicine report, both giving credence and sympathy to Dutch infanticide proponents. And now the Hastings Center Report, the most respected journal on bioethics, has published another pro-Groningen Protocol article in which the authors not only “support lethally injecting dying babies, but also those who are disabled.”

“The article assumes that guidelines will protect against abuse,” writes Smith, but, as he points out, “infanticide is by definition abuse.” And, as Smith reminds readers, Dutch euthanasia guidelines for adults and teens have been “violated for decades,” so why should we expect anything different with infanticide guidelines?

“[W]e are moving toward a medical system,” says Smith, “in which babies are put down like dogs and killing is redefined as a caring act.”

But this can happen only in a society that has forgotten that every human life is made in the image of God—and, therefore, worthy of protection.

Think worldviews do not matter? Think our Christian heritage is irrelevant? Too bad we cannot ask the infants of Groningen what they think.

For Further Reading and Information

Wesley J. Smith, “Pushing Infanticide,” Center for Bioethics and Culture Network newsletter, February 2008.

Wesley J. Smith, “Decriminalizing the Unthinkable,” To the Source, 8 March 2008.

BreakPoint Commentary No. 030123, “Humanity in the Balance: History and ‘Lives Not Worth Living’.”

Wesley J. Smith, “Pushing Infanticide: From Holland to New Jersey,” National Review Online, 22 March 2005.

Wesley J. Smith, “Killing Babies, Compassionately: The Netherlands follows in Germany’s footsteps,” Weekly Standard, 27 March 2006.

“Belgium Doctors Treating Critically Ill Infants Favour Legalising Euthanasia,” The Lancet, 6 April 2005.

Jim Holt, “Euthanasia for Babies?” New York Times Magazine, 10 June 2005.

AP, “Doctor Gets 3 Years’ Probation for Infanticide,” New York Times, 12 March 2008.

Wesley J. Smith, “Promoting Infanticide in the Hastings Center Report,” Secondhand Smoke blog, 15 February 2008.

Wesley J. Smith, “Pushing for Assisted Suicide on Demand,” Secondhand Smoke blog, 28 June 2007.

Jill Stark, “One-Third of Doctors Would Hasten Death of Ill Newborn,” The Age (Australia), 7 February 2007.

Wesley J. Smith, “Should Infanticide Be a Crime?” Secondhand Smoke blog, 14 April 2007.

“Bail Set at $1 Million for Teen Accused of Baby Murder,” ABC News Online, 13 April 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.
© 2008 Prison Fellowship - - http://www.breakpoint.org/site_hmpg.asp
~~~~~
Words of the Week:
kismet: destiny; fate.
gewgaw: a trinket; a bauble.
inchoate: partly but not fully in existence or operation.
assuage: to soften; to ease, or lessen.
diffident: bashful or unassertive.
rodomontade: pretentious, bragging speech.
bedizen: to dress or adorn in gaudy manner.
sojourn: to dwell for a time; also, a temporary stay.
from Dictionary.Com
~~~~~
"The good life, as I conceive it, is a happy life. I do not mean that if you are good you will be happy; I mean that if you are happy you will be good." - Bertrand Russell

"He who is taught to live upon little owes more to his father's wisdom than he who has a great deal left him does to his father's care." - William Penn

"Sleep: The golden chain that ties health and our bodies together." - Thomas Dekker

"Patriotism is easy to understand in America; it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country." - Calvin Coolidge

"Everyone should learn to do one thing supremely well because he likes it, and one thing supremely well because he detests it." - B. W. M. Young

"America's greatness has been the greatness of a free people who shared certain moral commitments. Freedom without moral commitment is aimless and promptly self-destructive." - John W. Gardner

"Chance makes our parents, but choice makes our friends." - Jacques Delille
~~~~~
2nd Annual Calhoun Community Garden Show
Saturday, April 5th 2008
Roses for Sale
2-gallon rose bushes from the Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham, Texas $20 each
Antique Roses from different years - select a rose from a memorable date or just for its beauty
Orders must be placed before the end of February Roses will be available the weekend of the Garden Show
A catalogue is available from Mary Alexis You may also view the website for more information: www.weareroses.com
If the rose you desire shows to be 'out of stock', don't despair They should be available by the time of the event. We will deliver any roses that come in after the Garden Show.
(Roses appear to be cheaper if ordered on-line ... until you figure in shipping)
The Magnolia area is in Planting Zone 7 If you don't want to order at this time, roses will available at the Garden Show.
Contact Barry Brownlee or Pat Hammock @ x6468 or by e-mail Let us know the name, page, and stock number of the rose(s) you want. (Don't confuse the year with the stock number!)
Also provide a phone number so we can contact you in the event of a problem Make checks payable to: Calhoun Community Garden Show Tell your Friends!
~~~~~
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

Study Reveals Most Americans are Not Morally Relative in Thinking
South Dakota Governor Signs Ultrasound Measure into Law
President Bush Pushes for Abstinence Education
Breast Cancer Breakthrough; "Profound Implications"
As Horton Releases in Theaters Today, Did God Mean it to be a Pro Life Message for Such a Time as This?
Upcoming Court Case May Restore Rights to Christians to Pray in Jesus' Name
Evangelist Carries Cross From Jerusalem to Rome to Reach People With the Gospel
In Answer to CA Ruling against Home school, Assemblyman Joel Anderson Introduces New Resolution in Legislature
President Bush Addresses the National Religious Broadcasters Convention; Warns Against the Fairness Doctrine
Atlanta Gears Up for Yearly Spectacle; the Atlanta Passion Play
"Obedience Gap" Inspires New Book on Biblical Authority
Window to the Womb Creator Puts 4D Ultrasound, Pro-Life Video Footage on YouTube
Rare Book, Instructions for Youth, Gentlemen and Noblemen by Sir Walter Raleigh, Surfaces in London
French President Sarkozy is "As Good as His Word" and "His Spirit is Extraordinary" Says Israeli President Shimon Peres
One Million Children Storytelling Website Reveals the Impact of God’s Word on Children around the Globe
Governor Schwarzenegger Vows to Protect Home schooling in California
Wisconsin Area Endorses Marketplace Ministry
Support for Continuance of the "Dipping of the Flag" Ceremony at the Naval Academy Chapel
Rural Schools across America Trying to Attract Younger People Back to Hunting after Decades of Decline
Christian Debt-Counseling Charity Wins UK Title of Best Small Company to Work for in 2008
New Internet Radio Show for Pastors Seeks to Curb Burnout While Teaching Effective Preaching Skills
New Zealand Choir moves Audiences to Tears

310 2nd Ave SE
Albany, Oregon 97321
541-928-2642
E-mail
US Orders: 1-866-358-7426
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GCF: Say What?

Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, AJ) -Tom

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

Bob was in his usual place in the morning sitting at the table, reading the paper after breakfast. He came across an article about a beautiful actress about to marry a football player who was known primarily for his lack of common knowledge and his fairly low IQ.

He turned to his wife Marlene with a look of question on his face. "I'll never understand why the biggest jerks get the most attractive wives."

Marlene replies, "Why thank you, dear!"
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Comatose

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

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

Doctor to patient's husband: "I'm sorry. We did all that was humanly possible but we just can't wake her from her coma. It doesn't look good I'm afraid,"

"But doctor, she's so young. She's only thirty-nine."

Upon which the comatose wife said weakly ... "Thirty-seven."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Missed Connection

Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Wally) -Tom
----------------------------------------------

My friend's flight from Boston to New York City was delayed, so she missed her connection home to Seattle. She joined a group of other passengers in line at the ticket counter, each hoping to book seats on the next flight to that destination.

All the travelers waited patiently except for one man, who treated the agent very rudely. "I had an aisle seat reserved, and I better get an aisle seat when we get on another plane," he demanded. A few minutes later everyone was relieved when they learned that there would be room for all.

"And, sir," the ticket agent said, turning to the obnoxious man, "I am happy to tell you that you will have an aisle seat." Still muttering, he picked up his carry-on and left for the gate. "And I'm also happy to announce," the agent continued, "that the rest of you will be seated in first class."
_ ____________________________ _
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / I want my children to have all \ /
\ _/ the things I never could afford. \_ /
/ / Then I want to move in with them. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / \ /
\ _/ My friend is on a well-known \_ /
/ / diet plan, and so far he's lost $300. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / My wife and I have a system \ \_/ ////
\ / for settling arguments. \ /
\ _/ We just talk and talk \_ /
/ / until she's right. \ \
_ ____________________________ _
| Thomas S. Ellsworth |
| tellswor@slonet.org |
| http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor |
|____________________________|
Stop for a visit, leave with a smile! To join Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-subscribe@yahoogroups.Com To leave Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.Com Or visit the Good Clean Fun web site at http://www. slonet.org/~tellswor/
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A lot of folks can't understand how we came to have an oil shortage here in our country.
~~~
Well, there's a very simple answer.
~~~
Nobody bothered to check the oil.
~~~
We just didn't know we were getting low.
~~~
The reason for that is purely geographical
~~~
Our OIL is located in
~~~
Alaska
~~~
California
~~~
Coastal Florida
~~~
Coastal Louisiana
~~~
Kansas
~~~
Oklahoma
~~~
Pennsylvania and Texas
~~~
Our DIPSTICKS are located in Washington, DC!!!
Any Questions ???

NO? I didn't Think So.

Thanks to Joe Tudor
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Two Irish brothers Mick and Paddy have made a promise to their uncle.

They had an Uncle Seamus who was a seafaring gent all his life and before he passed away, he made the boys promise to bury him at sea.

Of course he did pass away and the "boys" remembered to keep their promise. So off they set with Uncle Seamus all stitched up in a burial bag and loaded onto their rowing boat.

After a while Mick says, "Do yer tink dis is fer enuff out, Paddy?"

Without a word Paddy slips over the side only to be standing in water up to his knees. "Dis'll never do Mick, let's row some more".

After a bit more rowing Paddy slips over the side again but the water is only up to his belly, so on they row.

Again Mick asks Paddy, "Do yer tink dis is fer enuff out Paddy?" Once again Paddy slips over the side and almost immediately says, "No dis'll neva do". The water was only up to his chest.

So on they row and row and row when finally Paddy slips over the side and disappears!

Quite a bit of time goes by and poor Mick is really getting himself into a state when suddenly Paddy breaks the surface gasping for breath.

"Well is it deep enuff yet, Paddy?"

"Aye it tis! Can yer hand me da shovel."

Thanks to Waneta
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Three men - a Canadian farmer, Osama bin Laden and an American are all working together one day. They come across a lantern and a Genie pops out of it. "I will give each of you one wish, which is three wishes in total", says the Genie.

The Canadian says, "I am a farmer and my son will also farm. I want the land to be forever fertile in Canada." POOF! With the blink of the Genie's eye, the land in Canada was forever fertile for farming. Osama was amazed, so he said, "I want a wall around Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq and Iran so that no infidels, Americans or Canadians can come in our precious land."POOF! Again, with the blink of the Genie's eye, there was a huge wall around those countries.

The American says, "I am very curious. Please tell me more about this wall." The Genie explains, "Well, it's about 5,000 feet high, 500 feet thick and completely surrounds the country. Nothing can get in or out; it's virtually impenetrable." The American sits down, cracks a beer, smiles, and says, "Fill it with water."

Thanks to Waneta
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"There are two ways to get to know people well in a short time, one is to work alongside them at a hard and unpleasant job such as cleaning latrines or picking potatoes, and the other way is to tell jokes. Like the one about the grasshopper who comes into the bar and the bartender says, 'Hey, we've got a drink named after you.' And the grasshopper says, 'Why would anyone name a drink Bob?' I've heard this joke a hundred times and it's still good."
- Garrison Keillor - - http://www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/projects/joke_machine/joke_page.php
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I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.
This joke was sent in by Cynthia L., of Lake Forest, IL. Thanks Cynthia!
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Why did the tree have to go to the principal's office? Because it was a knotty pine.
Vernon Nelson, Farmerville, Louisiana
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Real Person

Manning the computer help desk for the local school district was my first job. And though I was just an intern, I took the job very seriously. But not every caller took me seriously.

"Can I talk to a real person?" a caller asked.

"I am real," I said.

"Oh, I'm sorry," the caller said. "That was rude of me. What I meant to say was, could I talk to someone who actually knows something?"

Received from "All In a Day's Work" by Sharron Jones.

(-:][:-)

Wake Up

Two mothers are having a conversation about their children one day.

"How do you get your Marvin up so early on school mornings?" asks Joan.

"Oh, that's easy," replies Marianne. "I just throw the cat on his bed."

"Why does that wake him up?"

"He sleeps with the dog!"

Received from Net 153's Smile A Day.

(-:][:-)

Angry Nuns Take On a Vampire

Two nuns are out driving when a vampire drops onto the bonnet of their car. "Quick, sister," screams one nun, "show him your cross!"

So the other nun leans out of the window and shouts, "Hey! You! Buzz off!"

Received from Barb Hesse.

(-:][:-)

British Speed Trap

Two British traffic patrol officers from North Berwick were involved in an unusual incident while checking for speeding motorists on the A-1 Great North Road. One of the officers used a hand-held radar device to check the speed of a vehicle approaching over the crest of a hill, and was surprised when the speed was recorded at over 300 mph. Their radar suddenly stopped working and the officers were not able to reset it.

Just then a deafening roar over the treetops revealed that the radar had in fact latched on to a NATO Tornado fighter jet, which was engaged in a low-flying exercise over the Border district, approaching from the North Sea.

Back at police headquarters, the chief constable fired off a stiff complaint to the RAF Liaison office. Back came the reply in true laconic RAF style:

"Thank you for your message, which allows us to complete the file on this incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Tornado had detected the presence of, and subsequently locked onto, your hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming signal back to it.

"Furthermore, an air-to-ground missile aboard the fully-armed aircraft had also automatically locked onto your equipment.

"Fortunately, the pilot flying the Tornado recognized the situation for what it was, quickly responded to the missile systems alert status, and was able to override the automated defense system before the missile was launched and your hostile radar installation was destroyed. Good Day..."

Received from Emily L. G..

(-:][:-)

A Thoughtful Teacher

After school one day, a young first-grade boy was sitting at the kitchen table, eating his afternoon snack, when he blurted out, "Mom, the teacher was asking me today if I have any brothers or sisters who will be coming to school."

The boy's mother replied, "That's nice of her to take such an interest, dear. What did she say when you told her you are an only child?"

She just said, "Thank goodness!"

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
To print or email this funny to others, go to http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20060113
The latest GCFL funny can always be found on the web at http://www.gcfl.net/latest.php
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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - - http://www.madkane.com/humor_blog/2007/09/27/television-nightmares/ - - Television Nightmares
September 27th, 2007
Do you want to lose weight? Then I recommend that you watch Gordon Ramsay’s new Fox show Kitchen Nightmares during dinner. As the good Gordon might (and often does) say, “Oh my God!”

Now my husband Mark and I are fans of Ramsay’s other show Hell’s Kitchen. But other than the presence of Ramsay himself, everything that makes Hell’s Kitchen so much fun — the competition among chefs whom you get to know and root for throughout the season — is missing from Kitchen Nightmares. What’s left (at least in episode 1) is numerous nausea-inducing scenes featuring rancid food and roughly gazillion roaches and flies.

Of course, by the end of the show Ramsay and his team of miracle workers turn the dive-of-the-week into a restaurant you wouldn’t be afraid to dine in.

What I can’t figure out is what the Manhattan restaurant featured in week 1 (Indian restaurant Dillons, reborn as Purnima) was doing in business before the makeover. Doesn’t New York City have restaurant inspectors? I sure hope so, because that’s where I live.

And now it’s time for a limerick:

Restaurant Nightmare
By Madeleine Begun Kane

I must flee this buffet. Please, let’s go.
A mouse just ran by and … oh no!
I spotted a roach
As it tried to encroach
On my sole. What’s that thing on your toe?

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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A nurse on the pediatric ward, before listening to the little ones chests, would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own hearts. Their eyes would always light up with awe, but she never got a response equal to four-year old David's comment.
Gently she tucked the stethoscope into his ears and placed the disk over his heart. "Listen", she said..........."What do you suppose that is?"
He drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap - tap - tapping deep in his chest. Then his face broke out in a wondrous grin and he asked, "Is that Jesus knocking?"

Thanks to Waneta
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Boy – do these bring back memories

45 rpm spindles
Green Stamps
Metal ice cubes trays with levers
Beanie and Cecil
Roller-skate keys
Cork pop guns
Marlin Perkins
Drive in Movies
Drive in restaurants
Car Hops
Studebakers
Topo Gigio
Washtub wringers
The Fuller Brush Man
Sky King
Reel-To-Reel tape recorders
Tinkertoys
Erector Sets
Lincoln Logs
15 cent McDonald hamburgers
5 cent packs of baseball cards
Penny candy
25 cent a gallon gasoline
Jiffy Pop popcorn
5 cent stamps
Gum wrapper chains
Chatty Cathy dolls
5 cent Cokes
Speedy Alka-Seltzer
Cigarettes for Christmas
Falstaff Beer
Burma Shave signs
Brownie camera
Flash bulbs
TV Test patterns
Old Yeller
Chef Boy-AR-dee
Fire escape tubes
Timmy and Lassie
Ding Dong Avon calling
Brylcreem
Aluminum Christmas Trees

If you can remember most or all of these, then you have lived!!

Thanks to Waneta
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"Don't strive for recognition, but work for achievement." -- Vanessa Malone
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| Safety from the Heart |
----------------------------------------------------
March 14, 2008
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Today's Safety From the Heart message is from Tonya Powell:

I was out walking my dog yesterday evening when I noticed a mini van pulling off the side of the road. It had pulled up close to the side walk in which we were walking down. I did a quick SCAN and realized there was a four foot fence on one side of me and I was fast approaching the parked van on the other side.

I immediately picked up the pace and pulled my dog back closer to my side. He walked between me and the van. Scooter is a 50+ pound lab puppy and I was sure they had no idea he would only lick them to death. We turned the corner and I stopped to see if I could get a look at the van's tag. I noted an out of state license plate.

As I was attempting to take note of the tag number, four men wearing white baseball hats, bandanas, and white shirts, jumped out of the back of the van. They ran across the street to a Ford Expedition that had pulled up. Two young girls wearing white shirts came from behind a house and got in the Expedition along with the four men. Both vehicles sped away in opposite directions. This whole event only took a couple of minutes.

I immediately returned home and contacted the police department.

My husband and I started talking about the potential of this event and realized

- I walk alone everyday (same route)
- I have never carry my cell phone
- I walk many days when I get off work and it is almost dark

Please be careful, be aware of your surroundings, and always report anything unusual!!
----------------------------------------------------
| Safety from the Heart |
----------------------------------------------------
March 7, 2008
A Deadly Prank

Today's Message is from Karen O'Connor (a Pasadena Albemarle employee).

Last Oct 2007, my daughter-in-law's father was killed in a motorcycle accident in Pasadena. He was riding his Harley coming home from his girlfriend's place and he struck debris in the middle of the road on Westside and Shaver St. There was no street light for him to avoid the accident. He was killed instantly.

Six teenagers pulled a deadly prank to see what would happen when a car drove right thru an old jet ski shell in the middle of the road. They must have thought a car would run over it, instead of a motorcycle. Six teenagers were hiding when it happened. Luckily, they were caught.

My poor daughter in law still hasn't gotten over her father's death. She is still mad for what they did to her father and wanted justice served. My poor son had to make the funeral arrangements, calling his insurance, getting a lawyer to get a will probated, plus more. It cost them a lot of money and their time off from work. Luckily, her father had life insurance to cover the expenses. Now they have to go thru all this trouble selling his Harley, house, plus other stuff he owns.

If you have pre teens or teenagers, please talk to them about how dangerous it can be pulling a prank on someone. You never know if your loved ones could get hurt or killed.
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The Pump Handle. A water cooler for the public health crowd.
http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/

Here are links to items posted on The Pump Handle over the past week:

** "New Ozone Standard Leaves Smog in the Air" by Liz Borkowski EPA has set the limit for pollution-forming ozone in the air to 75 ppb, despite the unanimous advice of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee to set it between 60-70 ppb. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/new-ozone-standard-leaves-smog-in-the-air/

** "Another Study of C8-Exposed Workers" by Celeste Monforton The Charleston Gazette's Ken Ward has found on a study on PFOA-exposed workers in the EPA TSCA 8(3) docket and reported on its findings – reminding us how valuable it is for government agencies to be required to make such material available, and for reporters to do the work of digging through it. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/another-study-of-c8-exposed-workers/

** "W.R. Grace to Pay $250 Million for Libby Cleanup" by Liz Borkowski In the largest Superfund cleanup settlement ever, W.R. Grace has agreed to pay $250 million to cover government investigation and cleanup costs associated with the asbestos-laden ore the company mined in Libby, Montana. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/wr-grace-to-pay-250-million-for-libby-cleanup/

** "Occupational Health News Roundup" by Liz Borkowski A new report on the Crandall Canyon mine disaster faults both the company and MSHA; plus, Cintas sues the Unite Here union, a new study reports on likely causes of Gulf War Syndrome, and another meatpacking worker has developed the same strange neurological illness afflicting other workers exposed to pig brains. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/occupational-health-news-roundup-56/

** "Drugs in the Water: Who Knows and Who's Telling" by Liz Borkowski Water providers and researchers often don't disclose the results of studies that find traces of pharmaceuticals in drinking water; when questioned, they cite concerns about security and consumer overreaction. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/03/11/drugs-in-the-water/

** "No new whistleblower protection for WV miners" by Celeste Monforton State Senators in West Virginia have bowed to the coal industry's wishes and voted down a bill that would have strengthened the State's laws to protect mine workers who raise concerns about unsafe working conditions. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/03/11/no-new-whistleblower-protection-for-wv-miners/

** "Senate Votes to Strengthen CPSC" by Liz Borkowski The Senate approved legislation that will boost funding for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, increase the agency's enforcement power, and effectively ban lead in all children's products. These provisions are similar to those in the House bill, but the Senate bill is also different in a few key ways. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/senate-votes-to-strengthen-cpsc/

** "AP Finds Drugs in Water Nationwide" by Liz Borkowski The Associated Press conducted a five-month investigation and found that drug residues have been detected in the drinking water of 24 major U.S. metropolitan areas, which serve roughly 41 million Americans. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/ap-finds-drugs-in-water-nationwide/

** "We could not rely on OSHA" by Celeste Monforton Georgia will impose new safety requirements to prevent combustible dust explosions – because, their Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner says, they can't rely on the federal government to adequately address the problem. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/03/08/we-could-not-rely-on-osha/

** "When the Road is Your Workplace" by Celeste Monforton OSHA's reporting regulation for fatalities does not require employers to report to OSHA a worker's death in a motor vehicle accident. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/when-the-road-is-your-workplace/

** "Friday Blog Roundup" by Liz Borkowski Bloggers look at coal-fired power plants, mass transit, health disparities, and potential FDA regulation of tobacco products. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/friday-blog-roundup-65/

http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/welcome-to-the-blogosphere/
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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.

The Latest on Combustible Dust

First I know it has been a while since I have blogged, I don't think I have ever been this long in between but I have just had a lot going on. I get more calls from family than ever and trying to balance the calls, the web site, the blog, family and my half days with the elderly have all came tumbling down on me like a ton of bricks. On top of all that I have a trip to DC. So you may want to visit The House Education and Labor Committee on Wednesday and take a peek the live broadcast or later at the taped version of the Hearing on H.R. 5522, The Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act of 2008.

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

01. Sgt. Gabriel Guzman, 25, of Hornbrook, Calif., died March 8 at Orgun E, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device in Gholam Haydar Kala, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th 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 Mar. 10 in Balad Ruz, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. Killed were:
02. Sgt. Phillip R. Anderson, 28, of Everett, Wash.
03. Spc. Donald A. Burkett, 24, of Comanche, Texas.
04. Capt. Torre R. Mallard, 27, of Oklahoma.

05. Staff Sgt. Laurent J. West, 32, of Raleigh, N.C., died March 11 near Kishkishkia, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry 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 March 12 in Tallil, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their vehicle was hit by indirect fire. Killed were:
06. Staff Sgt. Juantrea T. Bradley, 28, of Greenville, N.C., who was assigned to the 7th Special Troops Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Eustis, Va.
07. Spc. Dustin C. Jackson, 21, of Arlington, Texas, who was assigned to the 350th Adjutant General Company, Grand Prairie, Texas.
08. Pfc. Tenzin L. Samten, 33, of Prescott, Ariz., who was assigned to the 7th Special Troops Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Eustis, Va.
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Airman Lost in 1942 Crash is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. Army Air Forces airman, missing since 1942, have been identified and will soon be returned to his family for burial.

He is Aviation Cadet Ernest G. Munn, U.S. Army Air Forces, of St. Clairsville, Ohio. He will be buried in May in Colerain, Ohio.

Representatives from the Army met with Munn’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.

Munn was one of four men aboard a routine navigation training flight that departed Mather Field, Calif., on Nov. 18, 1942. Their AT-7 Navigator aircraft carried about five hours of fuel, and when the plane did not return to base, a search was initiated. It was suspended about a month later with no results.

In 1947, several hikers on Darwin Glacier in the Sierra Nevada mountain range discovered the wreckage of the AT-7 aircraft. Fragmentary, skeletal remains found at the site were buried as a group in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif.

Then in October 2005, other hikers in the Sierra Nevadas discovered frozen human remains, circumstantial evidence and personal effects of an aircrew member. Park rangers from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and a forensic anthropologist from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) recovered the remains. They were sent to the JPAC laboratory in Hawaii and identified as Cadet Leo M. Mustonen, one of the four men aboard the AT-7 aircraft.

In 2007, two other hikers found human remains near the 2005 discovery site. 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 a second individual from the 1942 crew, Cadet Ernest G. Munn.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
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Please remember to pray for the American soldiers stationed everywhere around the globe and especially in Iraq. Times have been and are very tough and it would be nice if you would all just say a prayer for their safety and for their families.
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"September 11 WDYTJWD" W. P. Florence
Justice first, then peace."
"September 11" Never forget.--Tony Moses
"ONE NATION UNDER GOD ...the only way"--Phillip Story
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Keeping my head down but face toward Heaven" - - Jody Eldred, ABC News Cameraman in Kuwait
"Remember Pearl Harbor? Remember 9/11!" --"Bug"
Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. - - George Carlin
"Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!" - - Queen E. Watson
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Activities and Events of Interest - - Coming Events

The Magnolia Hospital Relay for Life team is selling chances to win a "Steak Dinner Party for 10." Dinner includes a rib-eye steak, baked potato, salad, rolls dessert and tea. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased from any hospital Relay for Life team member or by calling Julia Whitehead at 235-3333. Drawing will be Friday, April 11 at the Relay for Life event at Panther Stadium. The winner does not need to be present to win.
~~~~~
Free Tai Chi classes will be offered beginning at 1:30 p.m. Monday’s at the Hospitality House at Magnolia Housing Authority. Men and women 60 and older are invited to participate. For more information, call 1-888-882-4464 or 234-7410.
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The Christies Chapel Cemetery Association is in need of donations for the upkeep of the cemetery and the church building. Anyone interested may send donations to Christies Chapel Cemetery Assoc, PO Box 166, Emerson, AR. 71740-0166.
2nd Annual Calhoun Community Garden Show
Saturday, April 5th 2008
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Church Briefs

FRIDAY- March 14
The Beene Family from KIngsport, Tenn., and the Men of Calvary will be in concert at 7 p.m. at Brister Baptist Church. For more information, call Pastor Eric Goble at 870-547-2411.

SUNDAY-March 16
St. Mark Baptist Church of Magnolia will have its annual pastor and wife anniversary at 3 p.m. Rev. Larry Atkins and the St. James Baptist Church of Earl, Ark., will be the guests.
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Unity AME Church will have its choir day program at 2:30 p.m. Unity choirs will be in concert.

MONDAY- March 17-21
Homes Near Baptist Church will have its spring revival at 7 p.m. nightly March 17-21. Bro. Jeffers Jefferson will be the evangelist.
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Scheduled Activities
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CQ CQ all Hams. We have restarted a 2 meter net on the Willisville repeater, 146.655, every Tuesday evening at 7 PM. Please check in and spread the word. We would like to get some renewed interest in amateur radio and the ARKLA Amateur Radio Association. Will be listening for everyone next Tuesday night.
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Columbia County Amateur Radio Club meets Every second Thursday @ 7:00 p.m. Union Street Station. And YOU'RE invited. Net is every Sunday at 20:30 on 147.105.
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MCC - Mom's Day Out - Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 2.$10 for the first child, $5 for the second. Call 234-3225 for reservations.
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MCC - Nursing Home Ministry - Meadowbrook Every Tuesday from 10 to 11 am. Taylor, the last Thursday each month.
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Men's Prayer Breakfast held every Tuesday morning at 6 AM in Miller's Cafeteria. If you aren't a regular participant at the Men's Prayer Breakfast, you're missing some great food, fellowship and inspired teaching of the Word. Hope to see you there.
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Emergency Phone Number 911
(Fire, Police, Ambulance, Sheriff, etc. )
Central Dispatch 234-5655
(Non - Emergency Number)
Direct Numbers
Ambulance - 234-7371 (24 Hour)
Jail - 234-5331 (24 Hour)
Poison Control - 800-222-1222 (24 Hour)
http://www. aapcc. org/
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Interested in getting in touch with the Banner-News through e-mail?
E-mail addresses for communicating with the newspaper’s various departments are: news@bannernews.net For news and sports items, Coming Events, Diary, Church News, school and civic events.
advertising@bannernews. net For retail and classified advertising.
circulation@bannernews. net To start, stop or cancel newspaper delivery or for comments about delivery.
outfitters @bannernews.net For Office Outfitters, the office supply division of the Banner-News.
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"There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one candle."
"Laugh whenever you can and cry if you need to." -- "Bug"
"I read the end of the book. We win!" -- "Bug"
"We may not be able to cure the world, but we don't have to make it sicker." -- "Bug"
"There just ain't enough fingers for all the holes in the dike." - - "Bug"
"It's no big deal doing what God tells you to do. A big deal would be NOT doing what God tells you to do. Just ask Jonah." - - Paul Troquille
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in ... and how many want out." - - Tony Blair
"Information is the currency of democracy." - Jefferson
“Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.” Knowledge is power. - Francis Bacon
"The problem is here and now. The time for talk is past. The time for action is now."
Comments on the first Earth Day - James F. McClellan via "Fuzzy" Thurman
~~~~~
Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Again, thanks to all our contributors this week.

God bless and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Luke 18:35-43 John 19:6,12,16 Psa 5:2-3, 7-8 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@suddenlink.net
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