Happy Birthday Wilburn Roney!!!  Number 70!!!

BIRTHDAYS:  Frederick Duesenbert (American automobile manufacturer), 1876; Joyce Kilmer, 1886; Ira Gershwin, 1896; photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, 1898; Dave Brubeck, 1920; Otto Graham, 1921; Walter Perkins, 1941; Dwight Stones, 1953; Steve Bedrosian, 1957.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY:

On this date in 1534 Spaniards founded the city of Quito, Ecuador.

On this date in 1790 Congress moved from New York to Philadelphia.  They soon wore out their welcome there as well, and kept going south to Washington D.C.

On this date in 1874 Abraham Lincoln took his seat in congress as a representative from Illinois.

On this date in 1884 the Washington Monument was completed when a 3,300-pound capstone was placed atop it.

On this date in 1924 the U.S. Border Patrol was founded.

On this date in 1941 president Franklin Roosevelt made a personal appeal for peace to Japan’s emperor Hirohito.  Japan attacked Pearl Harbor the next day.

On this date in 1973 Gerald R. Ford, a longtime congressman from Michigan, was sworn in as vice president of the United States, replacing Spiro Agnew.

On this date in 1988, with his first new album in years about to be released, Roy Orbison died of a heart attack at the age of 52.

On this date in 1988 the Gorbachevs arrived in New York for his speech to the UN.

MEANINGLESS FACTS:  Humans have 206 bones... The shoulder blades, hip, and skull bones are flat... The thighbone is the longest bone and the smallest are hidden deep inside our ears.

TRIVIA:  When (in the Bible) did camels wear necklaces?

     A really nice one -- "You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down" (Mary Pickford).

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Time for the Old Wives' Tale of the day -- DON'T TOUCH POISON IVY BLISTERS, YOU'LL SPREAD THEM. Poison ivy has been tormenting people for centuries.  Contact with the plant brings an itchy, pimply, blistery, fast-spreading rash.  We are warned not to touch "three leaves on a red stem"... a description, by the way, that fits lots of greenery out there.  We have good news and bad news on the spread of poison ivy -- The good news is that you can't spread poison ivy by touching (or even breaking) the blisters -- assuming you've washed the area so there's no plant resin left on the skin.  The belief that poison ivy spreads through the bloodstream is equally false.  The bad news -- It's still not a good idea to scratch the rash, since broken skin can become infected, making things even worse.  We know that touching the rash itself (provided it has been thoroughly washed) doesn't spread the disease, but is there anything that can be done to stop the spread on a person who has contracted it?  If you're lucky enough to recognize that you have just walked through a patch of poison ivy, wash the resin off immediately with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.  This might prevent any reaction.  As soon as it is practical, strip and wash your clothing... don't forget to wipe down your shoes, too.  Even after you've started to itch, wash everything you were wearing or might have touched -- tools, steering wheels, etc.  If you do all of this (or are sure you haven't been near anything green for weeks), but still break out, try washing the dog.  Doctors recommend using calamine lotion or cool compresses of witch hazel or Burow's solution to relieve the itch.  A mild hydrocortisone cream can also be applied to a small area of the skin if the skin isn't broken.  Extremely sensitive people may need a shot of corticosteroids.  This advice also works for poison oak and poison sumac.  The wives' tale here is FALSE.

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From a friend -- I really like these things --

Worlds' Easiest Difficult Quiz (Passing requires 3 correct answers)

 1.. How long did the Hundred Years War last?

 2.. Which country makes Panama hats?

 3.. From which animal do we get catgut?

 4.. In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?

 5.. What is a camel's hair brush made of?

 6.. The Canary Islands in the Atlantic are named after what animal?

 7.. What was King George VI's first name?

 8.. What color is a purple finch?

 9.. Where are Chinese gooseberries from?

10.. How long did the Thirty Years War last?  (Answers below)

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From our Archives -- Thanks to M.A. for this one:

A blonde had just gotten a new sports car and was out for a drive when she carelessly cut off a truck driver.

He motioned her to pull over.

When she did, he got out of his truck and pulled a  piece of chalk from his pocket.  He drew a circle on the side of the road and gruffly commanded to the blonde, "Stand in that circle and DON'T MOVE!"

He then went to her car and cut up her leather seats.  When he turned around she had a slight grin on her face, so he said, "Oh you think that's funny?  Watch this!"

He got a baseball bat out of his truck and broke every window in her car. When he turned around and looked at her she had a smile on her face.

He was really getting mad.

He got his knife out and sliced all her tires. Now she was laughing.

The truck driver began to lose it.  He went back to his truck and got a can of gas, poured it all over her car and set it on fire.

He turned around and she was laughing so hard, she was about to fall down.

"What's so funny?" the truck driver demanded.

She giggled, "Every time you weren't looking, I stepped out of the circle!"

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Answers from above --

 1) How long did the Hundred Years War last? 116 years

 2) Which country makes Panama hats? Ecuador

 3) From which animal do we get catgut? Sheep or Horses

 4) In which month do Russians celebrate their October Revolution? November

 5) What is a camel's hair brush made of? Squirrel fur

 6) The Canary Islands in the Atlantic are named after what animal?  Dogs

 7) What was King George VI's first name?  Albert

 8) What color is a purple finch?  Crimson

 9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?  New Zealand

10) How long did the Thirty Years War last?  30 years..

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From ANDY CHAPPS -- "The Facts of Life"

1. At least 5 people in this world, love you so much they would die for you.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you, in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you, is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you, can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. Without you, someone may not be living.

8. You are special and unique, in your own way.

9. Someone that you don't know even exists, loves you.

10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

11. When you think the world has turned it's back on you, take a look, you most likely turned your back on the world.

12. When you think you have no chance at getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, you probably sooner or later will get it.

13. Always remember complements you received, forget about the rude remarks.

14. Always tell someone how you feel about them, you will feel much better when they know.

15. If you have great friends, take the time to let them know that they are great.

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ANSWER:  Camels wore necklaces in the days of Gideon, so says Judges 8:21, 26.

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Good Morning:  It's Friday December 7, 2001!

Today is Pearl Harbor Day, a "date that will live in infamy."

Today is also "It's OK not to be perfect day"!

BIRTHDAYS:  Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, 1542; Marie Tussaud (creator of Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in London), 1761; Willa Cather, 1873; Joyce Cary, 1888; artist Jacob Kainen, 1909; Eli Wallach, 1915; Ted Knight, 1923; Ellen Burstyn, 1932; Gregg Allmann, 1947; Johnny Bench, 1947; Tom Waits, 1949; Priscilla Barnes, 1955; Larry Bird, 1956.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY:

On this date in 1787 Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

On this date in 1842 the New York Philharmonic Society, the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States, was formed.

On this date in 1877 Thomas Edison demonstrated the first phonograph.

On this date in 1917 the U.S. declared war on Austro-Hungary.

On this date in 1941 Japanese air forces attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

On this date in 1944 the U.S. formally announced that all six Japanese aircraft carriers involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor were sunk.

On this date in 1945 Percy Le Baron Spencer patented the Microwave Oven.

On this date in 1963 the instant replay was first used in a sports broadcast during the telecast of the Army-Navy game.

On this date in 1968 a library book overdue for 145 years was returned to the University of Cincinnati Library.  The $22,646 fine was waived.

On this date in 1970 American cartoonist Rube Goldberg died.

On this date in 1988 an earthquake registering 6.9 on the Richter scale leveled the city of Spitak, Armenia.

MEANINGLESS FACTS:  Some goldfish live for 17 years... Deep-sea clams can live to be 100... Queen ants may live up to 15 years.

TRIVIA:  Where (in the Bible) is a "nest among the stars" mentioned?

     One on which to think... "The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools" (Confucius).

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Time for the Old Wives' Tale -- TURNING A LIGHT OFF FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES USES UP MORE ENERGY THAN IT SAVES.  This one is definitely NOT TRUE.  Con Ed points out that at 13.2 cents per kwh (kilowatt-hour), a 100-watt bulb costs 1.3 cents per hour of use.  When a light is turned off (by the flipping of the switch), the connection allowing electric current to power the bulb is broken.  When the light turned on the connection is merely established. It costs nothing -- so far as electricity is concerned -- to begin the flow.  Perhaps this tale came from another one we used to hear -- that if one is sitting in a vehichle for less than one minute it is better to allow the motor to idle than to shut it off and start it again because it will use more fuel to restart than to leave on...  That one is true.

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From Our Archive --

From a Friend:  Don't open your mouth when…

1.  In the heat of anger- Proverbs 14:17

2.  When you don't have all the facts - Proverbs 18:13

3.  When you haven't verified the story - Deuteronomy 17:6

4.  If your words will offend a weaker person - 1 Cor  8:11

5.  When it is time to listen - Proverbs  13:1

6.  When you are tempted to make light of holy things - Ecc 5:2

7.  When you are tempted to joke about sin - Proverbs 14:9

8.  If you would be ashamed of your words later - Proverbs 8:8

9. If your words would convey the wrong impression - Pro. 17:27

10. If the issue is none of your business - Proverbs 14:10

11. When you are tempted to tell an outright lie - Proverbs 4:24

12. If your words will damage someone else's reputation - Proverbs 16:27

13. If your words will damage a friendship - Proverbs 16:28

14. When you are feeling critical - James 3:9

15. If you can't say it without screaming it - Proverbs 25:28

16. If your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or your friends and family - I Peter 2:21-23

17. If you may have to eat your words later - Proverbs 18:21

18. If you have already said it more than one time - Pro  19:13

19. When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person -Pro 24:24

20. When you are suppose to be working instead - Proverbs 14:23

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From a friend -- A new twist on an old tale...
 
'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house,
Not a peripheral was stirring, not even a mouse;
The modem was hung by the keyboard with care
In hopes that a download soon would be there.
The pirates were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of unprotects danced in their heads
And ma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap
When up on the hard drive there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter!
Away to the monitor I flew like a flash
Sat down at the keyboard, gave the spacebar a mash.
The sight on the screen, a'flicker with snow,
Gave the luster of power surge to the menu below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but an autoexec.bat that seemed rather queer.
With a little print driver so lively and quick
I knew in a moment I had seen a new trick!
More rapid than eagles my cursor it came;
my voice box whistled, and shouted, and called me by name.
"Now format, now rename, now copy, and enter!
On num lock, on caps lock, on scroll lock and printer!
To the top of the page, to the top of the doc,
now tab it and hold it and merge it and block."
As utilities that build up the CPU speed
Clash with just the programs I need
So up to the screen top the cursor it flew
With a RAM full of memory and an extension board too.
And then, in a twinkling I heard on the speaker,
The grinding of the hard drive growing much weaker.
As I tried to reboot and turn it around
The attributes changed from blue into brown.
I hit the control, the alt, the delete.
The message it gave me, I cannot repeat.
It asked me to ignore, retry or abort.
It told me the parallel had become the comm port.
It's lights how they twinkled; it's pixels how merry.
It's prompts were all scrambled, like a bowl full of cherries.
It sounded just like it wanted to blow;
the screen was suddenly white like the snow.
It scrolled the directory before my very eyes
With programs I did not even recognize.
It wouldn't see D, It wouldn't see E.
I couldn't get out of B into C.
Norton's tried to read it;
It finally found the FAT;
But alas, the disk was faulty,
and could not reformat.
Away flew the DBase;
Away flew the DOSes;
Away flew the Wordstar;
Right out with the Windows.
The spreadsheets were spreading;
The footers were heading;
What once had been memory
Was close to forgetting.
When the grinding was over
And the smoke had all cleared,
I looked at the unit
And it was just as I'd feared.
The 40 Meg wonder had crashed in the night.
I'll never be able to block out that sight!
So tell everyone to avoid my plight....
Back up! Back up! Merry Christmas, and good night!

The End!!!
 
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ANSWER:  Obadiah -- (1:4) -- "Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord."

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