Good Morning:
It's Tuesday May 1, 2001!
BIRTHDAYS: Singer Kate Smith,
1909; Glenn Ford, 1916; Jack Paar, 1918; Joseph Heller, 1923; Judy Collins,
1939; Rita Coolidge, 1945; jockey Steve Cauthen, 1960.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY:
On this date in 1707 Great Britain
was formed.
On this date in 1786 Mozart's THE
MARRIAGE OF FIGARO premiered in Vienna, Austria.
On this date in 1884 construction
on the first skyscraper -- the Home Insurance Building -- began at the
corner of LaSalle and Adams Streets in Chicago, Illinois. It was
only 10 stories high.
On this date in 1931 the Empire
State Building was opened by President Hoover and Governor Smith.
MEANINGLESS FACTS: Early
film star Mary Pickford, known as "America's sweetheart", was born in Canada...
The city of Hollywood was formerly known as Paradise Valley... The first
3-D movie release was 1922's "Power of Love".
TRIVIA: Here is a real thought-provoking
question: What was the full name of Skipper on "Gilligan's Island"?
Here is
one to get us started, a quote from birthday-boy Jack Paar: "I came
from a poor family. We never had meat at our house. And whenever
I would go by a butcher's window I thought there had been a terrible accident."
On to the real material.
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Thanks to M/M Riverrats:
Trees
Dear friends
Once there
were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes
and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest.
I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated
with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."
Then the second tree said, "Someday
I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters
and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because
of the strength of my hull."
Finally the third tree said, "I
want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People
will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of
the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the
greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."
After a few years of praying that
their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees.
When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree,
I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began
cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter
would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree the woodsman
said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the
shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way
to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the
third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him
down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't
need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one," and he cut it
down.
When the first tree arrived at
the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed
in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.
The second tree was cut and made
into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying
kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and
left alone in the dark.
The years went by, and the trees
forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn.
She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that
was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a
crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel
the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure
of all time.
Years later, a group of men got
in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and
went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and
the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men
woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped.
At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its
boat.
Finally, someone came and got the
third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the
man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to
the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday
came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the
top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had
been crucified on it!
Each of the trees got what they
wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.
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From a friend: REQUEST FOR
TRANSFER
Topic: Service
Spiritual Title: Request for Transfer
TO: Commander and Chief Spiritual
armed forces Jesus Christ
SUBJECT: Transfer
Dear Lord:
I am writing this to You to request
a transfer to a desk job. I herewith present my reasons:
I began my career as a private,
but because of the intensity of the battle You have quickly moved me up
in the ranks. You have made me an officer and given me a tremendous amount
of responsibility. There are many soldiers and recruits under my charge.
I am constantly being called upon to dispense wisdom, make judgments, and
find solutions to complex problems.
You have placed me in a position
to function as an officer, when in my heart I know I have only the skills
of a private. I realize that you
have promised to supply all I would need for the battle.
But Sir, I must present You a realistic
picture of my equipment. My uniform once so crisp and starched is now stained
with tears and blood of those I have tried to assist. The souls of my boots
are cracked and worn from the miles I have walked trying to enlist and
encourage the instructed troops.
My weapons are marred, tarnished
and chipped from constant battle against the enemy. Even the Book of Regulations
I was issued has been torn and tattered from endless use. The words are
now smeared.
You have promised You would be
with me throughout, but when the noise of the battle is so loud and the
confusion is so great, I can neither see nor hear You. I feel so alone.
I'm tired. I'm discouraged. I have
Battle Fatigue.
I would never ask you for a discharge.
I love being in Your service. But I humbly request a demotion and transfer.
I'll file papers or clean latrines. Just get me out of the battle--please,
Sir.
Your Faithful, but tired soldier.
=====================================================
To: Faithful, but Tired Soldier,
Spiritual Armed Forces
Location: The Battlefield
SUBJECT: Transfer
Dear Soldier:
Your request for transfer has been
denied. I herewith present My reasons:
You are needed in this battle.
I have selected you, and I will keep My Word to supply your need. You do
not need a demotion and transfer. (You'd never cut it on latrine duty.)
You need a period of "R and R" --Renewal and Rekindling. I am setting aside
a place on the battlefield that is insulated from all sound and fully protected
from the enemy. I will meet you there and I will give you rest. I will
remove your old equipment and "make all things new."
You have been wounded in the battle,
My soldier. Your wounds are not visible, but you have received grave internal
injuries. You need to be healed. I will heal you. You have been weakened
in the battle. You need to be strengthened. I will strengthen you and be
your strength. I will instill in you confidence and ability. My Words will
rekindle within you a renewed love, zeal and enthusiasm.
Report to Me tattered and empty.
I will refill you.
Compassionately,
Your Commander-in-Chief Jesus Christ
(author unknown)
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ANSWER: His name was given,
albeit only a time or two. He was Jonas Grunby. The character
was played by Alan Hale, Jr.
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