Good Morning:  It's Thursday March 22, 2001!
BIRTHDAYS:  Chico Marx, 1891; Karl Malden, 1913; Marcel Marceau, 1923; Stephen Sondheim, 1930; William Shatner, 1931; May Britt, 1936; Andrew Lloyd Webber, 1948; Robert Quinlan (Bob Costas), 1952.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY:
On this date in 1621 Governor John Carver of the Plymouth colony and Native American Chief Massasiot entered into the first American non-aggression treaty.  As such agreements go, this one worked pretty well -- it lasted c. 50 years.
On this date in 1733 Joseph Priestly was credited with the invention of carbonated water.
On this date in 1882 the Edwards Act, which outlawed polygamy, was adopted.
On this date in 1945 Islamic nations in the Near and Middle East formally united as the Arab League.
On this date in 1967 Muhammad Ale was stripped of his heavyweight title by the World Boxing Association for refusing military induction.
MEANINGLESS FACTS:  Gene Conlen is the only athlete to play on world championship teams in both major league baseball and in pro basketball... Transsexual Renee Richards (nee Richard Raskind) is the only tennis player to compete in both the men's and women's singles at the U.S. Open... Tom Brown was the only person ever to play in both the Super Bowl and a major league baseball game.
TRIVIA:  What is the birthday of "Star Trek's" Captain James T. Kirk?
     Here is a real inspirational quote:  "Life is wonderful.  Without it you'd be dead" (Anonymous).  On to the professional material...
*******************************************************
Thanks to LBS:  JUST A SIMPLE SOLDIER  (Author Unknown)
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast
And he sat around the Legion telling stories of the past,
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, everyone.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, for old Bob has passed away
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

No, he won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary very quiet sort of life,
He held a job and raised a family, quietly going on his way;
And the world won't note his passing; 'tho a solder died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great,
Papers tell of their life stories from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
Some jerk who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who in time of war and strife
Goes off to serve his country and offers up his life?

The politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the services he gives,
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal, and perhaps a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them, for it was so long ago
That our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys
Who won for us the freedom that our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger with your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out with his ever-waffling stand?
Or would you want a soldier who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin, and country, and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin
But his presence should remind us, we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY"
*******************************************************
Thanks to AB:  7 little laughs
There was a gracious lady mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country.  "Is there anything breakable in here?"  asked the postal clerk.  "Only the Ten Commandments," answered the Lady.
.......................................................
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible... Psalm 23.  She gave the youngsters a month to learn the verse.  Little Bobby was excited about the task, but he just couldn't remember the Psalm.  After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.  On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Bobby was so nervous.  When it was his turn, He stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my shepherd...and that's all I need to know!"
.......................................................
A 4-year-old boy who was asked to give thanks before Christmas dinner. The family members bowed their heads in expectation.  He began his prayer, thanking God for all his friends, naming them one by one.  Then he thanked God for Mommy, Daddy, brother, sister, Grandma, Grandpa, and all his aunts and uncles.  Then he began to thank God for the food.  He gave thanks for the turkey, the dressing, the fruit salad, the cranberry sauce, the pies, the cakes, even the Cool Whip.  Then he paused, and everyone waited--and waited. After a long silence, the young fellow looked up at his mother and asked, "If I thank God for the broccoli, won't he know that I'm lying?"
.......................................................
When a mother saw a thunderstorm forming in mid-afternoon, she worried about her seven-year-old daughter who would be walking the three blocks from school to home.  Deciding to meet her, the mother saw her walking nonchalantly along, stopping to smile whenever lightning flashed.  Seeing her mother, the little girl ran to her, explaining happily, "All the way home, God's been taking my picture!"
.......................................................
Somebody once figured out that we have 35 million laws trying to enforce 10 commandments.
.......................................................
A little boy walked down the beach, and as he did, he spied a matronly woman sitting under a beach umbrella on the sand. He walked up to her and asked,  "Are you a Christian?" "Yes," "Do you read your Bible every day?"  She nodded her head, "Yes." "Do you pray often?" the boy asked next, and again she answered, "Yes." With that he asked his final question, "Will you hold my quarter while I go swimming?"
.......................................................
A little boy was saying his bedtime prayers with his mother: "Lord, bless Mommy and Daddy, and God, GIVE ME A NEW BICYCLE!!!" Mom: "God's not deaf, son." Boy: "I know, Mom, but Grandma's in the next room, and she's hard of hearing!
*******************************************************
ANSWER:  Kirk's birthday is March 21, but according to the storyline he isn't born until the year 2228.  Riverside, Iowa claims to be his future birthplace.
*******************************************************
 

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1