Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Real Products - Real Labels

Volume 10, Issue 31 Friday, August 01, 2008

Hello All,

It’s hot! The National Weather Service in Shreveport put out a “Heat Advisory” today. “A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT ... .
HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD INTO THE REGION THIS WEEKEND
WHICH WILL HELP USHER IN SOME OF THE HOTTEST TEMPERATURES THIS
SUMMER ... . HEAT INDEX VALUES ACROSS THE REGION WILL RANGE BETWEEN 105 AND 110 DEGREES EACH AFTERNOON ...”
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We received the following notice from the Department of Health and Human Services Thursday; “Dear Mr. McClellan: This is to confirm our offer of intermittent employment to you as a Safety Officer, GS-301-12, Step 01... the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, National Disaster Medical System effective August 17, 2008.”
I received my HHS / NDMS / AR-1 DMAT I.D. badge last Saturday. Once I complete another 3 or 4 inches of paperwork, I’ll be eligible to “deploy” as a Safety Officer with AR-1 to such vacation spots as the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.
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We’re faced with some serious challenges this year. The economy is not as robust as in previous years (no, I didn’t say it was “tanking” or “in recession” but it is facing serious hurdles.) The rising cost of energy and the “Mortgage Melt Down” have resulted in fewer dollars for discretionary spending and more expansive prices for basics such as food and fuel.
So, what is Uncle Sam doing about it. . . . Not much.
They gave us all (or most all of us) $600 to spend. Annette and I spent ours (and then some) going to South Louisiana to see Vanessa, Jimmy, Josiah and Ethan. Of course, that little “gift” drove the federal deficit even higher, causing prices to climb even more, resulting in our “gift” buying less.
And, Congress is arguing about what to do about high oil prices. The Democrats want to regulate markets (reference, the Nixon price controls from the ‘70s to see how well that will work) and tax the oil companies more (again, refer to the windfall profits tax of the ‘70s to see that the oil companies just passed the increased taxes along to us consumers.) The Republicans want to drill more oil wells. Not much else from the Republicans. So far they’ve held each other off from doing any real damage.
But my faith in either or both parties coming up with anything that will really provide a “path forward” is weak. Just this week, the House voted overwhelming to ban lead and other dangerous chemicals from items such as jewelry and rubber ducks that could end up in kids' mouths. That ought to be a “no brainer.” But they fell victim to “Junk Science” and this bill would also ban children's products — either permanently or pending further study — containing six types of phthalates, which are chemicals that are found in plastics and “suspected” of posing health risks.
While there is no conclusive evidence that the chemical causes health problems in humans,
Phthalates, said Sharon Kneiss of the American Chemistry Council, "are an important part of our everyday lives. There is no scientific basis for Congress to restrict phthalates from toys and children's products."
However, why should we listen to scientists or consult the facts. Let’s ban these substances now. The problem is that these chemicals aren’t just used on a whim. They are inherent in the manufacturing process and, if they were hazardous, I’d support a ban. But there is no real evidence of such and banning them on such flimsy data could lead to their replacement by something that is really hazardous.
But sense and scientific fact is not the way the tide is rolling. Last week, a group of doctors recommended that we forbid the use of cell phones by kids because they might cause brain problems. No, there’s no data indicating that they are harmful. But what if they might turn out to be harmful? So now we’re all supposed to run screaming into the night because something “might” be dangerous?
Now that we’ve established Congress as “no brainers,” do we want them messing with laws that could help or hurt our energy future?
The “Gang of 10," A bipartisan group of senators Friday unveiled a compromise energy plan that would open new areas in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Atlantic to oil and gas drilling, while raising taxes on the major oil companies. Opening new areas will probably drive oil prices down, at least marginally. However, they’re still flailing around, managing to take two steps back for every one step forward.

So I’m offering the definitive “McClellan Plan” for energy independence and afford ability.

First - Restore the tax incentives for installing energy saving appliances in homes and businesses. Energy prices are skyrocketing and this January, our “no brainer” Congress failed to renew these statutes that provide tax breaks for installing tankless water heaters, insulation, high efficiency windows, energy saver appliances and high efficiency heating and cooling.

Second - Allow all states to permit drilling outside 50 miles off the shore. At present, offshore drilling is limited to Louisiana and Texas. There is much more oil along the seacoasts of other states. And it won’t take 10 years to get that oil. Most authorities estimate 3 to 5 years to make these fields productive. And even if it was 10 years, we need to start before we’re completely out of oil.

Third - Require all gasoline powered vehicles sold in the US to be “Flex Fuel”. This would cost about $150 per vehicle and enable the alcohol fuels (not just corn methanol) market to get rolling. Alcohol fuels can be made from almost any organic material, including kudzu, wood chips and garbage. The price per gallon of alcohol fuel should be in the range of $1.50 per gallon. Even with a lower BTU value, alcohol fuels are a much better value than petroleum based fuels. And we have plenty of non-food resources to use in producing this cheaper fuel. Again, we’d get cheaper, cleaner fuel and jumpstart a new American industry.

Fourth - Institute tax rebates for purchasing hi-mileage vehicles. Even at $4.00 a gallon, there is no cost incentive to trade in my Yukon for a Prius. However, add a Tax Rebate to partially offset the higher cost of hybrids and their sales should soar. This would have a double kick of saving on oil usage as well as helping new car sales.

Fifth - provide tax incentives for co-generation (using waste steam to produce energy), and construction of hydro, thermal, wind and solar energy production facilities. Extend these incentives to the homeowner. Cheap electricity will not only save us on lights, heating and cooling, but will encourage the use of electric cars for local commuting. Another nail in the foreign oil coffin.

Sixth - Establish a standard nuclear energy plant design (as Canada, France and other countries have done) and begin building these cookie cutter plants NOW. We shouldn’t be wasting natural gas and fuel oil making electricity when it can be made cheaper and easier using nuclear power.

Seven - Encourage construction of “Clean Coal” energy plants. These aren’t the answer long term but they will sure help us for the next 50 years.

There’s one more thing that you, the voter, can do. Do NOT allow politicians to make the problem worse. We knew this crisis was coming for the last 35 years and our politicians did less than nothing to prepare for it. Now they’re making speeches and demanding “punishment” for the evil companies and oil speculators that did this to us. As Pogo said; “We have seen the enemy and they is us.” We did this to ourselves by failing to see the writing on the wall.
We’ve got to use our brains and quit acting like lemmings, following the latest fad or trend or worse yet, sticking our heads in the sand. If your representatives don’t take positive steps to improve our energy independence, vote ‘em out! Or, better yet, recall them before the next election.
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CSB Chairman John Bresland Calls on OSHA to Adopt CSB Recommendation on Comprehensive Combustible Dust Standard, Says Imperial Sugar Explosion Shows 'Urgency for Action Is Greater than Ever'
Washington, DC, July 29, 2008 - At a Senate hearing today, John Bresland, chairman and CEO of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB), called on OSHA to act on a November 2006 CSB recommendation to adopt a comprehensive standard regulating combustible dust in the workplace.
Speaking before the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Chairman Bresland said this year's tragedy which killed 13 workers at Imperial Sugar's Georgia refinery - caused when sugar dust was ignited and exploded - demonstrates the need for a new OSHA standard that would cover a range of industries exposed to this hazard. Such industries include food, chemicals, plastics, automotive parts, pharmaceuticals, electrical power (where generated by coal) and others.
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101 Finds Joy on the Golf Course - - DarynKagan.com [http://darynkagan.demo.nimbussoftware.com/over60/index.html]
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Pattie Stephenson’s Tanzanian Mission Report
~
Hello from Tanzania!

It is wintertime here. Yes, I am freezing at nighttime. I thank God for the thick quilts I shipped here when I moved. I go to sleep under a sheet, comforter, and quilt IN AFRICA! It's amazing! It has been colder this year than last. Some mornings, I am actually blowing smoke from the cold. I love it. I know all of my friends and family in the south in the US are suffering from a heat wave, so I will not complain.

I just returned from a village called MKWAJUNI. It is in the southern part of Tanzania in the region of Mbeya. It was a two day drive to get there. The first day and a half was like a dream, on nice roads. But the last several hours were gruesome on a horrible rocky and dirt road. When we arrived, I just sat in the van until my body stopped shaking. Ha-ha!

In every crusade this year, we have been welcomed with open arms; and it seemed the entire areas would show up for each mass crusade. This was not so in Mkwajuni. We were told that we were paving a new path for the Gospel and it was so true. Mkwajuni was full of unreligious people, many alcoholics, prostitutes, etc. The village was full of bars. We were not so wanted this time. When we arrived at our guesthouse, the ladies said in Swahili, "these are religious people." We knew that we needed to simply represent Jesus and His love for these people.

Many times in the Bible when you see signs, wonders, and miracles, these do not happen only for the person healed. These amazing miracles happen to also draw people to the Gospel of Jesus. Each night of the crusade, many people were saved and touched by the power of God and their testimonies were evidence that God is real. Seeing the people's faces as they were amazed by God's power was priceless. God never fails to surprise me.

One little girl came to the mic to testify. She looked to be about 8 years of age. When she began to speak, she had the voice of a child but the boldness of someone much older. Bro. Egon asked her age and she said, "22". Everyone was amazed. She was born with this condition that made her unable to grow. I asked the interpreter what she was saying, as the people were celebrating everywhere. He said she was saying, "I can feel my body growing." I don't know if we will ever see her again, but I believe God touched her that night. There is so much doubt in the church today about the validity of miracles. I understand, as we have had so much fakeness come around. But, we must believe God, because He loves to do what is humanly impossible. Like the blind man in the Bible who said, "All I know is I was blind, but now I can see."

As always, each night I would go out on the field with all of the children during the altar call. We would sing and then I would speak to them through an interpreter for a few minutes. Thank you to Lars and Naomi from Norway, who sent me a megaphone with their pastor last week. It was a great blessing! The kids could actually hear me!

One night after I finished ministering to the kids on the field, I saw some teenagers playing basketball. We do not see very much basketball here. The whole country is obsessed with soccer, their "FOOTBALL". So, I went over and began to talk to these guys. I told them my daddy played basketball in America. They asked me to shoot the ball. No net, no backboard, and for me, no talent. But, I shot about 4 times, and then I made it in. They laughed at me, the American mzungu in a dress playing with them. I used my little Swahili and told them that Jesus loved them so much. I walked away, hoping they wouldn't just remember the crazy lady, but the Jesus she was talking about.

One of the first nights, my eyes fell on a beautiful little girl. I hope that you will be able to see her face in the attached picture. She appeared to be about 7-8 years old. But, on her back was her little baby sister. Every night I saw her and every night she was carrying her sister on her back. I took an interest and hugged her every night. She was quiet but I could tell she was listening carefully to my words when I ministered. I pray she will remember them.

Another child impressed me in Mkwajuni. He is about 3 years old and a stinker. He would sneak through the multitude of kids, grab me on the leg, get my attention and then take off running from me. With my hand, I would ask him to come, in the African way. He would look at me with his mischievous eyes and hold his hand out asking me to come. So, I started chasing him. And he would run much faster than me. A few times that week, I caught that little guy and hugged and hugged him.

Children are the same all over the world. I still catch myself looking at a child and thinking I know his face from Magnolia, Arkansas. Just little ones who need to know their Father. Children have great faith, and they come so boldly to Jesus to receive.

One morning at our seminar, Bro. Egon asked me to sing. I do not sing very much here, as I know little Swahili. But, I took a few accompaniment CDS to the crusade, after Bro. Egon urged me. I sang a song that says, "I worship you because of who You are." After I sang I went to sit down and I knew immediately that the presence of God had filled the place. I began to cry. I looked around and people were on their knees, people were crying and worshiping. The seminar speaker, a pastor from Norway, asked me to come and sing again. I did and I knew then that God can move even through an unknown language. It was humbling. The Bible says, "He inhabits the praises of His people."

This crusade we were blessed to have a couple from Magnolia with us. Mark and Crystal Penick attend Immanuel Baptist Church in Magnolia. I met Crystal in 2005 when she wanted to come to Africa with me on a trip. The trip was cancelled but she never forgot it. She and her husband came for three weeks, and what a blessing they were! They put windows and doors in my kids' church in Magnolia. Then they traveled with our team to Mkwajuni. Mark was a blessing on all of the 4 flats we had on the way. On the way home, I was driving and the engine overheated and the fan (some kind of fan) broke. Mark was there to help. Crystal wore clown outfits and my gorilla outfit and even portrayed Potipher's wife, as Mark acted as Joseph from the Bible. They were great servants and simply did whatever needed. They left us feeling blessed to have met them.

To see their faces after the first crusade was wonderful. I knew that no matter how many times I told them the stories, they would only understand when they saw it for themselves. In Mkwajuni, over a thousand people were saved. It was a sight to see. I can tell you about it, but I would love for you to see it for yourself. You are welcome. Your life will be changed and you can be an encouragement to me and to the nation. Pray about coming!

We are home for one week and then we travel again to the south. Our bodies are tired, but we feel full of purpose. Pray for our next crusade which is in the Mbeya region as well. Regions in Tanzania are like states in America. We will only be about 20 miles from Mkwajuni. Pray for our vehicles, which have given us a struggle this year. Pray for our team. Pray for Egon and Hannah Falk. We need strength to give our best to this ministry.

Thank you all again for your giving and encouragement.

God Bless You!

Pattie Stephenson
New Life Outreach
Tanzania, Africa

Financial support can be sent to Magnolia Christian Center - P.O. Box 827 - Magnolia AR 71754 (memo: Pattie/Tanzania)

P.S. The following is a note from my leaders concerning our new kids' church in Tanzania.
~
Our Children’s Church!

Saturday morning we had our first happening in our new Children’s Church and we had a wonderful time.
200 children and some parents showed up and even after we were finished children kept coming.
We were happily surprised to see all these children because we hadn’t done a lot of announcement, we just opened the doors.

Our building was full and will soon be too small. Of course this is a positive problem but we will have to do something about this very soon. We want to put up a big roof and continue with the Children’s Church under this roof.

We know that the children are “the door” into many families and we believe many parents will come to believe in Jesus through this work. We are convinced that we will be able to change this local area where we live through this Children’s Church.

Please pray for the church and for financial support towards this important work. When we touch the children we are touching the heart of God!

Yours in Tanzania
Hannah og Egon Falk

Earmark donation “Children’s Church” and write a check out to:
Word of Life Center
P.O. Box 18862
Shreveport, LA 71138
Phone: 318 688 4411
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The Lighthouse Church Report:

Love
Thursday, July 24, 2008 - jimmy Malone
John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

This is our standard. We show we love God by doing the right things. If we are not careful, this turns into well-meaning religion. But we are incapable of doing the deeds of love toward God until we learn to receive love from God.
I John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.

Have you learned to receive love from the Father? Take time to be still in His presence. Then go show the world what love means.

http://thelighthousechurch.publishpath.com/
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We extend our sincere sympathy to Shane Mayfield in the loss of his father. Gary is also the father of Doug Mayfield who works for Shaw.
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We extend our sincere sympathy to Derol Mayo in the loss of his brother.
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We extend our sympathy to Richard Lewis in the loss of his father.
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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/] - - Ezequiel R. Mora
Hometown: DeKalb, IL - - Awarded: Bronze Star with Valor
One of the Baghdad neighborhoods covered by Sergeant Ezequiel Mora’s patrol in May of 2007 was Hurriyah, a hotbed of militia activity. While passing through Hurriyah, Mora’s four Humvee convoy was attacked. An explosively formed penetrator, the most lethal type of roadside bomb, went off just as insurgents fired on the convoy with small arms.

The EFP had caused catastrophic damage to the vehicle in the rear of the column, which had the platoon medic and convoy commander in it. He directed his vehicle to be turned around to the disabled and burning Humvee. Ignoring the heavy volume of hostile fire, he leapt out to assist the trapped soldiers. He bravely attempted to rescue the gunner of the Humvee, though temporarily overcome by smoke inhalation he recovered and joined another soldier in continuing the rescue. While doing so, he noticed the platoon’s medic on the ground, badly wounded and Mora immediately began administering first aid. Once another soldier relieved him, Mora moved to the other side of the Humvee to cover his fellow soldiers.

It was then that he noticed that the gunner from the Humvee was finally free, but was bleeding heavily from his left leg. Mora swiftly applied a tourniquet to the leg to stop the bleeding. Realizing that they were in an exposed position, Mora and another sergeant took turns carrying the wounded gunner to safety, all while under fire from the insurgents. When reinforcements arrived, Mora helped to successfully evacuate the gunner to the Green Zone for medical care.

Because of his courageous actions and steadfast determination, Sergeant Ezequiel Mora helped save the lives of several of his fellow soldiers and as a result, was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor.
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The latest from Michael Yon, the foremost “milnews” blogger on the web.
~
01 August 2008

More than two years ago, I reported from the ground that we were losing the war in Afghanistan, a conclusion that was met with widespread ridicule and criticism. Now, more than two years after those reports, the situation there has only gotten worse.

Our next President will have to make some painful decisions regarding Afghanistan. If those decisions are unwise, we will lose the Afghan front of this war.

On the upside, however, our military has proven that it can take a war that looks unwinnable and turn it around. During those very dark days in 2006 and early 2007, the Iraq war seemed lost to many "experts." Many "experts" were ready to cut and run. But we won in Iraq. Against heavy odds. Our very experienced and capable military -- who truly rescued victory from the jaws of defeat in Iraq -- are my only hopes for Afghanistan.

Michael

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

Commentary: A top general says more troops aren't the answer in Afghanistan

By Joseph L. Galloway
McClatchy Newspapers

There's military slang that seemingly applies to the situation on the ground in Afghanistan today. The operative acronym is FUBAR - Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition. That first letter doesn't really stand for "Fouled," and the R sometimes stands for Repair.

One of the sharper military analysts I know has just returned from a tour of that sorrowful nation, which has been at war continuously since the Soviet Army invaded it in late 1979.

Gen. Barry McCaffrey, who retired from the U.S. Army with four stars and a chest full of combat medals including two Distinguished Service Crosses, says we can't shoot our way out of Afghanistan, and the two or three or more American combat brigades proposed by the two putative nominees for president are irrelevant.

McCaffrey predicts that 2009 will be the year of decision as the Taliban and a greatly enhanced presence of "foreign fighters" try to sever roads and halt road construction to strangle and isolate the capital, Kabul and attack NATO units that are hamstrung by restrictions and rules of engagement dictated by their home governments.

More ominously, the general says, we can expect a Taliban drive to erase Afghanistan's border with Pakistan in the wild frontier provinces of Pakistan that have provided sanctuary for Taliban and al Qaida leaders and fighters since Osama bin Laden escaped there in 2001.

The general says that despite the two presidential candidates' sound bites, a few more combat brigades from "our rapidly unraveling Army" won't make much difference in Afghanistan.

Military means, he writes, won't be enough to counter terror created by resurgent Taliban forces; we can't win with a war of attrition; and the economic and political support from the international community is inadequate.

"This is a struggle for the hearts of the people, and good governance, and the creation of Afghan security forces," McCaffrey writes. He says the main theater of war is in frontier regions pf Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the combatants are tribes, religious groups, criminals and drug lords.

It'll take a quarter-century of nation-building, road and bridge building, the building of a better-trained and better-armed Afghan National Police and National Army and the eradication of a huge opium farming industry to achieve a good outcome in Afghanistan, McCaffrey wrote in his report to leaders at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

We can't afford to fail in Afghanistan, the general says, but he doesn't address the question of whether we can afford to succeed there, either.

McCaffrey writes that the situation in Afghanistan is dire, and is going to get a lot worse in the 24 months ahead. The country is in abject misery - 68 percent of the population has never known peace; average life expectancy is 44 years; maternal mortality is the second-highest in the world; terrorist violence and attacks are up 34 percent this year; 2.8 million Afghans are refugees in their own country; unemployment is 40 percent and rising; some 41 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty; the only agricultural success story is a $4 billion opium crop producing a huge amount of heroin, and the government at province and district level is largely dysfunctional and corrupt.

The battle will only be won, McCaffrey says, when there's a real Afghan police presence in all of the country's 34 provinces and 398 districts; when the Afghan National Army is expanded from 80,000 troops today to 200,000 troops; when we deploy five U.S. combat engineer battalions with a brigade of Army Stryker forces for security to begin a five-year road building program that also trains Afghan Army engineer units and employs Afghan contractors and workers.

Without NATO, we're lost in Afghanistan, he writes. But NATO's level of commitment and engagement in Afghanistan is woefully inadequate - European troops are restricted by their political leaders at home, risk-averse in a dangerous environment and almost totally unequipped with the tools needed for an effective counter-insurgency campaign - helicopters, intelligence, logistics, engineers, civil affairs and special operations units, precision munitions, medical support and cash to prime local economic efforts.

As for neighboring Pakistan and bellicose American threats to cross the border and mount more attacks on insurgents there, McCaffrey says this would be a "political disaster" that would imperil any Pakistan support for our campaign and likely result in Pakistan's weak civilian government shutting off American supply routes into Afghanistan.

Our efforts in Afghanistan, inadequate though they may be, now cost $34 billion each year and clearly this would have to be substantially increased if the fixes McCaffrey prescribes are to be implemented.

As good as the American ground troops operating in Afghanistan are - many are on their third or fourth combat deployments there or in Iraq - McCaffrey says our military is under-resourced and too small for the national strategy we've been pursuing.

The general concludes his report by writing: "This is a generational war to build an Afghan state and prevent the creation of a lawless, extremist region which will host and sustain enduring threats to the vital national security interests of the United States and our key allies."

This ought to be a wake-up call for all Americans, and for John McCain and Barack Obama. Now there's a sound bite for them.

Your correspondent,
Michael

Http://www.michaelyon-online.com/index.php
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This week we watched [Ratings are my own]:
Across the Pacific (1942) [7.5] Humphrey Bogart ... Mary Astor ... Sydney Greenstreet
Murder Most Foul (1964) [6.5] Margaret Rutherford ... Ron Moody ... Charles 'Bud' Tingwell
Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) [6.5] Dennis Price ... Valerie Hobson ... Joan Greenwood ... Alec Guinness
It Happened One Night (1934) [9] Clark Gable ... Claudette Colbert ... Walter Connolly
The Awful Truth (1937) [6.5] Irene Dunne ... Cary Grant ... Ralph Bellamy
I Was A Male War Bride (1949) [7.5] Cary Grant ... Ann Sheridan
Spencer's Mountain (1963) [9] Henry Fonda ... Maureen O'Hara ... James MacArthur ... Wally Cox
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This week we read; “The steel wave : a novel of World War II” / Jeff Shaara.
We’re currently reading; ““Persuader : a Jack Reacher novel” / Lee Child.
We intend to read; TERMINAL CHAOS: Why U.S. Air Travel Is Broken and How to Fix It (Library of Flight Series) (Hardcover) by George L., Ph.D. Donohue (Author), Russell D., III, Ph.D. Shaver (Author), Eric Edwards (Contributor), Fighting words : how liberals created neo-conservatism : a political autobiography / Ben J. Wattenberg, “Judgment day” / by Sheldon Siegel, “Extraordinary circumstances : the journey of a corporate whistleblower” / Cynthia Cooper, “Bad luck and trouble : a Jack Reacher novel” / Lee Child.
We recommend: “Honor Bound: Inside the Guantanamo Trials” by Kyndra miller Rotunda,
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http://www.shelfari.com/BugsBleat/shelf?ec=7D790D174EFS18012
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The photos on the front of this week’s “Bleat” include new AR-1 Disaster Medical Team Members, Fingerprinting (again) for updated federal I.D.s, an old railroad bridge in Monroe, LA, DMAT members helping each other with the endless federal paperwork requirements and our DMAT team lining up for lunch.
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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.bugsbleat2q08.blogspot.com.
Our photos are posted at http://www.bugsbleatphotos.blogspot.com.
If you want to see more photos of April’s train wreck in Magnolia, go to http://www.bugsbleattw.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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Dr. Pat Antoon’s New Address:
Pat Antoon 06669-010
Federal Prison Camp
P.O. Box 9300
Texarkana, TX 75505
Be sure and keep him in your prayers.
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Recipe(s) of the week - - - Rocky Mountain Benedict Recipe courtesy The Kneadery


4 English muffins
8 eggs
16 ounces smoked Idaho trout or salmon
Hollandaise Sauce, recipe follows
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves or dill, for garnish
Paprika, for garnish


Split the English muffins in half and then toast or grill them; set them aside. Fill a large shallow pan with 2 to 3 inches of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and gently break the eggs into the boiling water. Cook the eggs until the yolks are set to the desired doneness, about 3 minutes. Remove the eggs from the heat. Warm the smoked trout in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 30 seconds or until heated through. Arrange the toasted English muffins on plates and top with the trout. Using a slotted spoon, place 1 poached egg on top of each English muffin. Spoon warm Hollandaise Sauce over the eggs and sprinkle with parsley and a dash of paprika, to garnish. Serve immediately.
This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.


Hollandaise Sauce:
1 pound butter
1 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon hot sauce
6 egg yolks


Melt the butter over medium heat in a heavy saucepan. While butter is melting, whisk together white wine, lemon juice, and hot sauce in a large metal bowl. Whisk in the egg yolks. Place the bowl over a skillet of simmering water and continue whisking over medium heat until a custard consistency develops. Slowly whisk in the melted butter. Continue whisking until the sauce is rich and smooth.


Difficulty: Intermediate
Prep Time: 15
CookTime: 20
Yield: 4 servings



Episode#: RY0309
Copyright © 2006 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/recipe_print/0,1946,FOOD_9936_193161_PRINT-RECIPE-FULL-PAGE,00.html
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BreakPoint
Sleepless in America
By Mark Earley
8/1/2008
And That's No (Red) Bull

Note: This commentary was delivered by PFM President Mark Earley.

From Starbucks, to Red Bull, to No-Doz, Americans are showing signs of addiction to caffeine. Sixty percent of us drink a cup of coffee a day. On average we will drink 52 gallons of soda this year. And Starbucks—they get a whopping $5.3 billion of our collective dough.

Whether we are chemically stimulating because we do not get enough sleep, or whether the caffeine itself is depriving us of precious rest, we are also sleeping less than ever before. Americans get an average of six and a half hours of sleep a night, a 25 percent drop since the early 1900s. No wonder we are stressed. And as if we needed any more help depriving ourselves of rest, scientists may have found a drug that will eliminate sleepiness.

According to a recent article in Wired Magazine, “A nasal spray containing a naturally occurring brain hormone called ‘orexin A’ reversed the effects of sleep deprivation in monkeys, allowing them to perform like well-rested monkeys on cognitive tests.”

Personally, I would rather not take a chemical that helps me perform like a well-rested monkey. But the prospect of a chemical that could reduce sleepiness without the side effects other stimulants are known for could have far-reaching repercussions.

While the drug is still many years away from reaching pharmacies, it reminds me how important it is to examine the trends facing society from a biblical rather than a purely cultural perspective. We live in a culture today that spurns rest.

Whether it is working later hours to have more spending power or commuting longer distances to live “the good life,” or just staying up too late to watch more TV, the truth is people are ready to skip rest to do it all. For most people, the only thing that makes this choice a dangerous one would be the potential health risks and the side effects we feel the next day. Eliminate the health risks and side effects, and ta-da!, no problem.

But what about for Christians? God built rest into the very rhythm of creation. Keeping a day of rest made His top-10 list. And believe it or not, rest serves a purpose—a divine purpose. It reminds us that God is in control. What happens when you cannot finish everything that you think you need to get done and your body is telling you, “you have to go to sleep”? You are thrown into a situation in which you must depend on God.

Rest reminds us that there is Someone we can rest in. And our need for rest is a daily reminder that we are finite creatures and must trust in an infinite God.

We cannot do it alone. And in this way rest is also a picture of the great work of salvation we are offered. We can work all we want, and we will never earn salvation. Jesus did the work for us. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest . . .” (4:9-11a).

So here’s a question for you: How are you doing at resting? It may say more than you realize about how you are doing in trusting God.

This commentary first aired on January 16, 2008.

Please help support the Christian worldview ministry of BreakPoint and the prison ministry of PFM and help us continue strong. Donate online today! Or call 1-877-322-5527.

Mark Earley, “No-Doz America,” The Point Radio, 14 January 2008.

Alexis Madrigal, “Snorting a Brain Chemical Could Replace Sleep,” Wired, 28 December 2007.

BreakPoint Commentary No. 070710, “Time Peace: A New Perspective on Time.”

BreakPoint Commentary No. 070711, “How Big Is Your God?: Thoughts on Time and Light.”

© 2008 Prison Fellowship - - http://www.breakpoint.org/site_hmpg.asp
~~~~~

Words of the Week:
sempiternal: everlasting; eternal.
diadem: a crown.
extol: to praise.
quondam: former; sometime.
pusillanimous: cowardly.
sesquipedalian: (of words) long; having many syllables.
egress: the act of going out or leaving; exit.
panoply: a splendid or impressive array.
from Dictionary.Com

~~~~~
"When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest." - William Hazlitt

"He who would acquire fame must not show himself afraid of censure. The dread of censure is the death of genius." - William Gillmore Simms

"There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much he is capable of doing and becoming." - Soren Kierkegaard

"What the mass media offers is not popular art, but entertainment which is intended to be consumed like food, forgotten, and replaced by a new dish." - W. H. Auden

"There is nothing that people bear more impatiently, or forgive less, than contempt: and an injury is much sooner forgotten than an insult." - Philip Dormer Stanhope

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few." - Shunryu Suzuki

"Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know." - Andre Maurois
~~~~~
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

Victory for Mt. Soledad--Federal Judge Rules that Cross can Stay
US House Passes Olympics Related Measure Calling on China to End Human Rights Abuses
First Joint Appearance for McCain and Obama to be Held at Rick Warren's Church
Iraq's Prime Minister Encourages Christians to Return to Iraq
Colorado's Personhood Effort Garners Endorsements of Over 70 Physicians

310 2nd Ave SE
Albany, Oregon 97321
541-928-2642
E-mail editor@breakingchristiannews.com
US Orders: 1-866-358-7426

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GCF: Real Products - Real Labels (1)

Emailed to me by a combination of friends (Thanks to all) -Tom

If this was forwarded to you, please consider your own subscription to Good Clean Fun. It's free! Just send an email to: good-clean-fun-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
---------------------------------------------

On Tesco's Tirimisu Dessert
"Do not turn upside down." (Printed on the bottom of the box.)

On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding
"Product will be hot after heating."

On packaging for a Rowenta Iron
:Do not Iron clothes on body."

On Boots Children's cough Medicine
"Do not drive car or operate machinery."

On Nytol (a sleep aid)
"Warning: may cause drowsiness."

On a Korean kitchen knife
"Warning: keep out of children."

On a string of Chinese-made Christmas lights
"For indoor or outdoor use only."

On a Japanese food processor
"Not to be used for the other use."

On Sainsbury's Peanuts
"Warning: contains nuts."

On an American Airlines packer of nuts
"Instructions: open packet, eat nuts."

On a Swedish chainsaw
"Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands."

On the instruction manual for a Canon camera (circa 1966)
"Do not rattle playfully at the shutter button."

On a packet of Sunmaid Raisins
"Why not try tossing over your favorite breakfast cereal?"

On a hairdryer
"Do not use while sleeping."

On a bag of Fritos
"You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside."

On a bar of Dial soap
"Directions: Use like regular soap."

On a frozen dinner
"Serving suggestion: Defrost."

On a hotel-provided shower cap in a box
"fits one head."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Real Products - Real Labels (2)

Emailed to me by a combination of friends (Thanks to all) -Tom
---------------------------------------------

On the "CycleAware" helmet-mounted mirror:
"Remember: Objects in the mirror are actually behind you."

On a large folding cardboard sunshade for car windscreens:
"Do not attempt to operate vehicle with sunshade in place."

On a car lock which loops around both the clutch pedal and the steering wheel:
"Warning - Remove lock before driving."

On a packet of juggling balls:
"This product contains small granules under 3 millimeters. Not
suitable for children under the age of 14 years in Europe or 8 years
in the USA."

Seen on a camera:
"This camera only works when there is film inside."

On a bottle of flavored milk drink:
"After opening, keep upright."

On a can of windscreen de-icing spray:
"Spray works in sub-zero temperatures."

On a can of insect spray:
"Kills all kinds of insects! Warning: this spray is harmful to bees."

A different brand of insect spray:
"Kills flies, wasps, mosquitoes, midges, and other flying
insects. Not tested on animals."

On an ocean buoy for determining the position of submarines:
"Protect from seawater."

On a Halloween Batman costume:
"This cape does not give the wearer the ability to fly."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Real Products - Real Labels (3)

Emailed to me by a combination of friends (Thanks to all) -Tom

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

On a lawnmower:
"Warning: When motor is running - the blade is turning!"

Seen on the bottom of a Coca-Cola bottle:
"Do not open here."

On a bottle of spray paint:
"Do not spray in your face."

On a bottle of bathtub cleaner:
"For best results, start with a clean bathtub before use."

On a can of powdered infant formula:
"Mix with water before serving."

Found on a can of Woolite carpet cleaner:
"Safe for carpets, too!"

Warning on a curling iron:
"Do Not Insert Curling Iron Into Any Bodily Orifice."

On a plastic orange juice can:
"100% pure all-natural fresh-squeezed orange juice from concentrate."

On the label of a Sterno candle fuel:
"Do not use near fire or flame."

Seen on a container of salt:
"Warning: High in sodium

On a baby stroller:
"Remove child before folding."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Bug Spray

Emailed to me another humor list (Tickled by Tony - Clean) -Tom Subscribe to the Tickled by Tony list by sending an email to: tickledbytony_clean-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
---------------------------------------------

One day, finding a wasp had entered the house, a wife shouted to her husband, "There's a wasp in here. Do we have any spray?"

He told her there was a can under the sink.

"Honey," she called. "This is ant and roach spray."

"Well," her husband replied, "don't show him the label."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: What My Mother Taught Me

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

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.'

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.'
'You better pray that will come out of the carpet.'

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!'

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
'Because I said so, that's why.'

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going
to the store with me.'

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'

7. My mother taught me IRONY.
'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!'

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
'If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!'

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
'Stop acting like your father!'

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who
don't have wonderful parents like you do.'

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
'Just wait until we get home.'

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
'You're going to get it when you get home!'

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.'

19. My mother taught me ESP.
'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?'

20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
'When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me.'

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
'You're just like your father.'

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?'

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!'
_ ____________________________ _
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Power corrupts. \ /
\ _/ Absolute power is \_ /
/ / sorta neat, though. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / 186,000 miles/sec: \ /
\ _/ Not just a good idea, \_ /
/ / it's the LAW. \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Okay, I pulled the pin. \ /
\ _/ Now what? Wait! \_ /
/ / Where are you going? \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Nothing is so smiple \ /
\ _/ that it can't be screwed up. \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / The reward for a job \ /
\ _/ well done is more work. \_ /
/ / \ \
_ ____________________________ _
| Thomas S. Ellsworth |
| tellswor@kcbx.net |
| http://www.kcbx.net/~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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WARNING!!

This morning, from a cave somewhere in Pakistan , Taliban Minister of Migration, Mohammed Omar, warned the United States that if military action against Iraq continues, Taliban authorities will cut off America 's supply of convenience store managers and possible candidates for President of the United States . If this action does not yield sufficient results, cab drivers will be next, followed by Dell and AOL customer service reps., and then Motel 6 managers.

It's getting ugly folks.

Thanks to Mary Alexis
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Arthur is 90-years-old. He's played golf every day since his retirement 25 years ago. One day, he arrives home looking downcast.
"That's it," he tells his wife. "I'm giving up golf. My eyesight has gotten so bad that once I hit the ball, I can't even see where it goes."
His wife sympathizes and makes him a cup of tea. As they sit down, she says, "Why don't you take my brother with you and give it one more try?"
"That's no good," sighs Arthur. "Your brother's a hundred and three. He can't help."
"He may be a hundred and three," says his wife, "but his eyesight is perfect."
So, the next day, Arthur heads off to the golf course with his brother-in-law. He tees up, takes an almighty swing and squints down the fairway.
He turns to the brother-in-law and asks, "Did you see the ball?"
"Of course I did!" replied the brother-in-law. "I have perfect eyesight!"
"Where did it go?" says Arthur.
"I don't remember."

Thanks to Waneta
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I think you'll enjoy this too-funny compilation of Obama scenes, especially from his recent travels. Perhaps I should say you'll be blessed! If this phenomenon can just last another 100 days, he's in for four years.
Obama: The Messiah Who Ventured Forth To Bring Light To The World By Gerald Baker
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/video/video072808.php3
Thanks to Sam
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Art vs Science

A scientist and a poet were traveling in the same compartment on a train. They had never met before, so naturally there wasn't much conversation between the two. The poet was minding his own business, looking out the window at the beauty of the passing terrain. The scientist was very uptight, trying to think of things he didn't know so he could try to figure them out. Finally, the scientist was so bored that he said to the poet, "Hey, do you want to play a game?" The poet, being content with what he was doing, ignored him and continued looking out the window, humming quietly to himself. This infuriated the scientist, who irritably asked again, "Hey, you, do you want to play a game? I'll ask you a question, and if you get it wrong, you give me $5. Then, YOU ask ME a question, and if I can't answer it, I'll give YOU $5."

The poet thought about this for a moment, but he decided against it, seeing that the scientist was obviously a very bright man. He politely turned down the scientist's offer. The scientist, who by this time was going mad, tried a final time. "Look, I'll ask you a question, and if you can't answer it, you give me $5. Then you ask ME a question, and if I can't answer it, I'll give you $50!"

Now, the poet was not that smart academically, but he wasn't totally stupid. He readily accepted the offer. "Okay," the scientist said, "what is the EXACT distance between the Earth and the Moon?" The poet, obviously not knowing the answer, didn't stop to think about the scientist's question. He took a $5 bill out of his pocket and handed it to the scientist. The scientist happily accepted the bill and promptly said, "Okay, now it's your turn." The poet thought about this for a few minutes and then asked, "All right, what goes up a mountain on three legs, but comes down on four?"

The bright glow quickly vanished from the scientist's face. He thought about this for a long time, taking out his notepad and making numerous calculations. He finally gave up on his notepad and took out his laptop, using his Multimedia Encyclopedia. After about an hour of this, the poet quietly watching the mountains of Colorado go by the whole time, the scientist FINALLY gave up. He reluctantly handed the poet a $50 bill. The poet accepted it graciously, turning back to the window.

"Wait!" the scientist shouted. "You can't do this to me! What's the answer?" The poet looked at the scientist and calmly put a $5 bill into his hand.

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

Math Symbols

While reviewing math symbols with my second-grade pupils, I drew a greater-than ( > ) and a less-than sign ( < ) on the chalkboard and asked, "Does anyone remember what these mean?"

A few moments passed, and then a boy confidently raised his hand. "One means fast-forward," he exclaimed, "and the other means rewind!"

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

Drought Affects Churches

Severe drought affects churches in northern Alabama, Tennessee, and northwest Georgia.

Did you know that because of the drought in these areas, church budgets are greatly affected?

Baptist churches are having to sprinkle for baptisms, the Methodists are using wet wipes for their baptisms, and the Catholics are praying that God will turn the wine back into water.

Received from Tim McNulty.

(-:][:-)

Kids Are Funny

One Sunday we sat in the front pew of our church. Our three-year-old son was playing with a stuffed animal and accidentally dropped it on the floor. Just as he was about to pick it up, the priest walked over and stood in front of us. Our son looked up with a look of awe on his face and whispered, "God?"

It was all the priest could do to continue with his sermon, especially with us laughing so hard.

(-:][:-)

Liars

A Sunday school teacher was giving her class the assignment for the next week.

"Next Sunday," she said, "we are going to talk about liars, and in preparation for our lesson I want you all to read the Seventeenth Chapter of Mark."

The following week, at the beginning of the class meeting, the teacher said, "Now then, all of you who have prepared for the lesson by reading the Seventeenth Chapter of Mark, please step to the front of the room."

About half the class rose and came forward.

"The rest of you may leave," said the teacher. "These students are the ones I want to talk to. There is no Seventeenth Chapter in the Book of Mark."

Received from Becky Day.

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
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
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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - - http://www.madkane.com/humor_blog/2007/08/01/the-five-second-what/ - - The Five-Second What???

I guess I must have led a very sheltered existence. Why do I say that? Because I’d never heard the phrase “five-second rule” until my husband Mark used it as an excuse to eat some treat he’d just dropped on the floor. (And yes, we’re still married.)

I naively assumed that Mark was the only person crazy enough to think germs politely wait five seconds before they attach themselves to goodies. But apparently lots of people (mostly men, I’m assuming) believe that if you drop food on the floor and pick it up really, really fast, it’s safe to eat.

In fact, the belief’s so widespread that some scientists (who apparently didn’t have anything better to do with their time) actually studied the issue. And yes, they concluded that the rule isn’t valid. (Did you really need me — or the scientists — to tell you that?)

This leads to my latest limerick, in which I use the word date instead of husband to protect the guilty … and because husband has too many damned syllables:

The Five-Second What???
By Madeleine Begun Kane

My date dropped dessert on the dirt.
“Please don’t eat it,” I managed to blurt,
As he started to chew
On his now blackened goo,
Saying “5-second rule — it won’t hurt.”

And now it’s time for another poll:
Should spousal use of the five-second rule be grounds for divorce?

* Absolutely yes!
* Yes, but only if he does it in front of guests.
* No! If she's going to be that fussy, she should clean the floor more often.
* What the heck is the five-second rule?
* Only if said spouse then feeds it to you
http://www.madkane.com
Subscribe to MadKane Humor Newsletter (weekly) here:
http://www.madkane.com/email.html
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"Don't strive for recognition, but work for achievement." -- Vanessa Malone
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The Pump Handle. A water cooler for the public health crowd.

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

** "Picking Energy Winners: Don't Ignore the Past" by Liz Borkowski In a commentary on Marketplace, the Cato Institute's Will Wilkinson critiqued T. Boone Pickens' new energy plan – and in doing so, painted a misleading picture of the government's role our energy usage. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/picking-energy-winners/

** "Stopping Chao's Secret Rule" by Celeste Monforton Congressman George Miller (D-CA) and 11 co-sponsors introduced a bill (H.R. 6660) to prohibit Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao from issuing her proposed rule mandating new requirements for health risk assessments prepared by MSHA and OSHA. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/stopping-chaos-secret-rule/

** "Occupational Health News Roundup" by Liz Borkowski An explosion at the Packaging Corp of America in Bradley, Wisconsin killed three workers; another crane collapse has killed another construction worker; and a House committee examines medical certification for truck drivers. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/occupational-health-news-roundup-75/

** "A plate of tomato and pepper stew a la FDA, hold the credibility" by revere The FDA is saying that a Mexico-grown jalapeño peppers are responsible for more than 1200 Salmonella stpaul cases, but there are many questions the agency still isn't answering. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/a-plate-of-tomato-and-pepper-stew-a-la-fda-hold-the-credibility/

** "Chao's 'secret rule' and your favorite workers" by Celeste Monforton The Washington Post has reported on the details of the proposed Department of Labor risk-assessment rule; now, the challenge for worker health advocates is to articulate why it's so important. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/chaos-secret-rule-and-your-favorite-workers/

** "EPA Staff Told Not to Answer Questions from Congress and IG" by Liz Borkowski A senior EPA official has told managers that they shouldn't answer questions from reporters, congressional investigators, or the agency's inspector general - instead, they should direct them to a press officer. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/epa-staff-told-not-to-answer-questions-from-congress-and-ig/

** "Dust to dust" by revere OSHA has proposed the third-largest fine in its history for Imperial Sugar, whose Port Wentworth, Georgia facility was the site of a combustible-dust explosion that killed 13 workers. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/07/28/dust-to-dust/

http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/
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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.

Will They Choose Life?

Will our government choose life? I am hopeful and have been at the same time it is hard to ignore that there are those who would rather bury their heads and ignore the humanistic side. I for one will hold a pit in my stomach until tomorrow shows a result not only because I lost a loved one in an dust explosion but because I know the Imperial sugar families could have been spared this agony and we are once again faced with the possibility that nothing will change. I have went over this material in detail and it is heart braking. I really don't know how anyone can dismiss this let alone the NFPA and CSB findings.

My heart and prayers are with all the families and all those working so hard for the greater good!
Hear Our Battle Cries!

Bread & Roses

As we come marching, marching in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: "Bread and roses! Bread and roses!"
As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women's children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses!
As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for -- but we fight for roses, too!
As we come marching, marching, we bring the greater days.
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler -- ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses! Bread and roses!

Below are a few things about Imperial Sugar and this is just one incident. Don't let it happen again.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1407952534?bctid=1480982219
http://savannahnow.com/node/539199
http://savannahnow.com/node/444690

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. Spc. Seteria L. Brown, 22, of Orlando, Fla., died July 25 in Sharana, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood Texas.

02. Staff Sgt. Faoa L. Apineru, 31, of Yorba Linda, Calif., died July 2, 2007, from wounds sustained while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve.
Staff Sgt. Apineru was wounded on May 15, 2005. After his death on July 2, 2007, the initial medical examiner concluded that Apineru did not die from injuries sustained during his deployment, but a subsequent opinion by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology indicated that his death was a result of his injuries sustained in Iraq.

03. Sgt. James A. McHale, 31, of Fairfield, Mont., died July 30 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., of wounds suffered July 22 in Taji, Iraq, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 40th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.
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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
~~~~~
Albemarle Employees Steak and Bingo Supper (Aug 16 @ 6:00 PM in Jr High Cafeteria)
~~~~~
Special Alert: Only Weeks Away from TheCall DC on 8.16.08!
~~~~~
Albemarle Fall Golf Tournament is Scheduled for Sept 20th.
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Scheduled Activities
~~~
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.
~~~
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.
~~~
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
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Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Again, thanks to all our contributors this week.

God bless and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Exo 8:29-32 1 Tim 1:15-16 John 16:24-27 Mark 6:23-28 Exo 8:15-19 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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