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INTERESTING SITES: There should be something for everyone in this hodge-podge. Just in time for National DDay and Flag Day: This site was suggested byTom Livingston. It's a winner. Created by members of the military community, Military.com connects you for life to the people, news and information that matter most. Don't miss the feature on the Opening of the new National D-Day Museum, sponsored in part by Military.com, the New Orleans museum will spotlight all 34 of the WWII Allies' opposed amphibious landings. military.com/index/0,10934,,00.html
Another Finder: BigYellow takes its name from "Yellow Pages." This is a directory of 10 million e-mail addresses, 17 million business addresses, and nearly 300 million residential addresses. Search it by name, category, or location. bigyellow.com/
Again a great site and email. Registering is easy and cheap--$00.00. HealthSCOUT has a search feature for health-related topics. Want to know what "autism" is? Want to see the side-effects of that Claritin you're taking for allergies? Wondering what to do about your snore? This search works on keywords and lists items in order of relevance. You can limit the article type or date range to trim the results list. www.healthscout.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Af.woa
I can't believe they are 232 years old. If this site were merely an online transcription of this 232-year-old encyclopedia, it would be worth visiting. But fortunately for knowledge hungry Web-surfers everywhere, it's much, much more. Type in a keyword or two and you'll get a complete EB entry on the subject. But alongside it will be recent magazine articles, books, and related Web sites from EB's database of over 125,000 reviews. If you don't know exactly what you're looking for, start exploring subsections like Health, Science, or Philosophy. There are also detailed news sections (including financial and sports news) and weather information. And to top it off, they've thrown in a searchable version of the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. The whole thing's free, but if you absolutely love paper, you can order the hardcover edition for only $1250! www.britannica.com
"Just give me land, lots of land, under starry skies above - "Don't Fence Me In." Well here's the dope on the Starry Skies. Not just for astrology club geeks, this site is interesting (and accessible) to anyone interested in space and related topics. In any given day, you might see the Roman Coliseum as seen from satellites, an update on the hunt for earth-like planets, and a story on how Wal-Mart is considering using a satellite to spy on its competitors. Professional journalists cover space stations, the space shuttle, worldwide launches, just about anything pertaining to space. There's also a daily quiz, a stargazing guide, and a history of space exploration. This site is so extensive you might just feel like you're lost in space! www.space.com
CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP A few decades ago, these folks harnessed the power of a new medium and created the first truly educational TV show, Sesame Street. So it's no surprise that they've been quick to embrace the Internet with the same enthusiasm. Their Web site is a great resource for both parents and children. Kids will dive into all sorts of games and online activities without even realizing that they are learning. Parents can peruse interesting resources like the Sibling Rivalry Quiz, and The ABCs of Child Care: A Sesame Street Research Report. Bored of peek-a-boo? CTS has suggestions for similar but more inventive learning games. Of course, you can never underestimate the nostalgia value of a site like this. People who grew up watching Sesame Street can visit all their old friends in the Golden Grover Awards section. You can even email virtual Sesame Street greeting cards to your pals. As Snufflupagus would say, "Ohhhh, deeeeear!" www.ctw.org
The fun ones again www.justsaywow.com/overworked.htm www.justsaywow.com/gotiron.htm www.justsaywow.com/swamped.htm www.justsaywow.com/pup.htm dobhran.snap.com/humor/GRhumor147.htm
DIDJA KNOW?: Question: Why do pigeons so easily adapt to city living? One could speculate that it's because cities have the greatest concentration of automobiles and window ledges. The pigeon's mission in life is to befoul these objects, and city living gives them a clear shot at many targets--a turkey shoot, you might say. Those who study such things, though, have a more nuanced view of the matter. They point out that pigeons have a long history of domestication. Being descended from tame birds makes them used to always having people around. These experts also observe that pigeons appear to have originated in areas of North Africa characterized by cliffs. Tall buildings thus remind them of their ancestral homes. Anyway, whoever comes up with a definitive answer will have scored a real coo--uh, coup. Source: THE STRAIGHT DOPE by Cecil Adams
MARATHON LENGTH Sure, I can accept that a marathon is 26 miles; it doesn't really bother me that it is not a nice number like 25. What bugs me, however, is that a marathon is actually 26 miles, 385 yards. First some history. The marathon was added to the Olympics after 490 BC to commemorate the legendary feat of a Greek soldier. It is said that he ran from the Plain of Marathon to Athens (22 miles, 1,470 yards) to bring news of the Greek victory over the Persian army. After yelling "Rejoice, We have won!", he promptly died. (How's that for melodramatic?) The Olympics themselves died a bit later, in AD 393, after Greece lost its independence. The games were revived in 1896, and the first marathon was run in the 1908 games in London. The course started at Windsor Castle and was finished in the stadium in London. Of course, the finish line was to be in front of the royal box, which just happened to be 385 yards after mile 26. The distance was standardized at the 1924 Olympic games. So, as you're struggling to knock off those last few hundred yards, blame the Brits!
Just how quiet do monks have to be? In our clamorous world the peace and quiet of the monastery can be appealing. Some even accept paying guests who just want to get away from it all for a few days. But how do the monks who live there permanently bring it off when silence is not just a sometime thing? Amazingly they do keep the silence, a rule that generally brings only minor punishment when broken because it is almost always faithfully observed. It's not absolute silence. They can reply to superiors when addressed by them and can speak to guests. They also sing hymns and pray out loud. But they can't converse with each other. When it's necessary to communicate, they use sign language. Now go in peace. (Shhh! Don't double-click that thing.) Source: THE STRAIGHT DOPE by Cecil Adams
FAST FACTS: Most Americans misquote Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, believing for some reason that he said "Fourscore and seven years ago our forefathers brought forth . . .." He actually said "fathers," not "forefathers." What a relief! Through all my childhood years it had me so confused. Who the heck has four fathers? Source: DICTIONARY OF MISINFORMATION
HOW MUCH SILVER MUST AN ITEM CONTAIN TO BE CONSIDERED STERLING? 92.5 percent.
HOW MANY TIMES ITS OWN BODY WEIGHT CAN A WORKER ANT CARRY? Up to 50 times its weight. Worker ants are always female.
WHAT DOES THE ACRONYM DSB MEAN TO A HOSPITAL WORKER? Drug-seeking behavior. The designation is used for a patient or wannabe patient who is complaining of a bogus ailment in an attempt to get narcotics.
WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO RECORD THAT THE NUMBER OF RINGS IN THE CROSS SECTION OF A TREE TRUNK REVEALS ITS AGE? Leonardo da Vinci. He also discovered that the width between the rings indicates annual moisture?
To Ponder: From Life's Little Treasure Book, "On Things That Really Matter," by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.:
Treasure the Love you receive above all. It will survive long after gold and good health have vanished. --og mandino
Be kinder than necessary
Make a rule and pray to God to help you keep it: never, if possible, lie down at night without being able to say, "I have made one human being a little wiser or a little happier or at least a little better this day." --Charles Kingsley
Give life your best. You'll never regret it.
I've learned that... ...the person who is reallykind will never be alone or unhappy. --Age 75
...I've never regretted the nice things I've said about people. --Age 38
...if you are too busy to do a friend a favor, you're too busy. __Age 39
QUOTES: I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble. --Helen Keller
The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. --Thomas Jefferson
Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. --C.G. Jung
". . . this thing we call 'failure' is not falling down, but the staying down." --Mary Pickford
"Rosiness is not a worse windowpane than gloomy gray when viewing the world." --Grace Paley
THIS WEEK'S CUTIES: A rerun from a year ago but worth repeating: Thanks to Dr. James (James L. Vanemon) for the forward. Now that I am older, here's what I have discovered: 1. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it. 2. My wild oats have turned into prunes and All Bran. 3. I finally got my head together, now my body is falling apart. 4. Funny, I don't remember being absent minded . . . 5. All reports are in; Life is now officially unfair. 6. If all is not lost, where is it? 7. It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser. 8. Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant. 9. I wish the buck stopped here; I sure could use a few. . . 10. Kids in the back seat cause accidents 11. Accidents in the back seat - cause kids. 12. It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere. 13. Only time the world beats a path to your door is when you're in the bathroom. 14. If God wanted me to touch my toes, he would have put them on my knees. 15. When I'm finally holding all the cards, why does everyone decide to play chess? 16. It's not hard to meet expenses. . . They're everywhere. 17. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth. 18. These days I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter... I go somewhere to get something, and then wonder what I'm here after!
It's a matter of interpretation. Forwarded from Jack Frey. Two priests died at the same time and met Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter said, "I'd like to get you guys in now, but our computer's down. You'll have to go back to Earth for about a week, but you can't go back as humans. What'll it be?" The first priest says, "I've always wanted to be an eagle, soaring above the Rocky Mountains." "So be it," says St. Peter, and off flies the first priest. The second priest mulls this over for a moment and asks, "Will any of this week 'count', St. Peter?" "No, I told you the computer's down. There's no way we can keep track what you're doing. The week's a freebie." "In that case," says the second priest, "I've always wanted to be a stud." "So be it," says St. Peter, and the second priest disappears. A week goes by, the computer is fixed, and the Lord tells St. Peter to recall the two priests. "Will you have any trouble locating them?" he asks. "The first one should be easy," says St. Peter. "He's somewhere over the Rockies, flying with the eagles. But the second one could prove to bemore difficult." "Why?" asketh the Lord. St. Peter answered, "He's on a snow tire, somewhere in North Dakota."
The next excerpt belongs in the "I'll pass it along department." I'll bet we all have a distant uncle, cousin or some family member, usually on the spouses side, who could use this handy list for resolving common drinking predicaments. So, as duty requires, but with caution, pass it along.
Symptom : Drinking fails to give satisfaction and beer unusually pale and clear. Fault : Glass is empty. Solution : Find someone who will buy you another pint.
Symptom : Feet cold and wet. Fault : Glass being held at incorrect angle. Solution : Turn glass so that open end is pointing at ceiling.
Symptom : Feet warm and wet. Fault : Loss of self-control. Solution : Go and stand beside nearest dog. After a while complain to its owner about its lack of house training.
Symptom : Lap cool and wet. Fault : Drooling on yourself. Solution : Change position so that you are drooling on someone else.
Symptom : Bar blurred. Fault : You are looking through the bottom of your empty glass. Solution : Find someone who will buy you another pint.
Symptom :Bar moving. Fault : You are being carried out. Solution : Find out if you are being taken to another bar. If not complain loudly that you are being hijacked.
Sympton : Bar looks like a circus. Fault : You're at a circus. Solution : Go to a bar.
Symptom : The opposite wall is covered with ceiling tiles and has a fluorescent strip across it. Fault : You have fallen over backwards. Solution : If glass is still full, and no one is standing on your drinking arm, stay put. If not, get someone to lift you up and lash you to the bar.
Symptom : Everything has gone dim and you have a mouth full of teeth and cigarette butts. Fault : You have fallen over forwards. Solution : Same as for falling over backwards.
Symptom : Everything has gone dim. Fault : The pub is closing. Solution : PANIC!!
I hope you enjoyed this communication and can attend one or more of the sessions scheduled for this week.
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