Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Law School

Volume 10, Issue 45 Friday, November 07, 2008

Hello All,

It’s an election, not the end of the world. - One thing this presidential election did was pull off the scab of racial prejudice in the United States. A wound that hasn’t healed as completely as I’d thought.
I’ve heard more “Racist Rhetoric” in the last week than in the last 20 years. I feel like apologizing to every person of color I know.
When will we wake up and learn to see people for who they are and not what they look like?
I voted for Senator McCain because I believed he was the best equipped to guide our country and I agreed with his stand on most of the issues facing us today. However, Mr. Obama is our President Elect and I trust God and this nation’s institutions to bring us together and to smooth the left leaning edges off of our President Elect.
And, Senator McCain’s concession speech was all I hoped for, conciliatory and encouraging us to come together as a nation and support the new President.
If we’re going to “weather” this economic crisis (which is really a crisis of faith) we’re going to have to quit throwing stones at one another and cooperate wherever and whenever we can.
I’ll admit that my “flesh” would like to see Mr. Obama fail to show those who voted for him how wrong they were. But my spirit tells me “I know whom I have believed in and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him...”
We all need to pray for and support our new President. If he fails, our country will not be better for it.
~~~~~
Woo Pig Soouie - My South Louisiana Grandsons showed up wearing LSU purple and gold. The jokes on their dad. It’s only taken me a few days to have them “callin the hogs.” Earlier this week, Josiah told one of our friends that a “Woo Pig Soouie” could eat a Tiger. And yesterday, both boys put on the Razorback “tattoos” I’d bought them. I didn’t waste any time in sending a photo of those “hog equipped” kids to their dad.
~~~~~
The Greatest Job In The World - I work with some of the finest folks on earth. To say that the “Gang” in my office are competent, skilled and hard working doesn’t begin to describe their dedication to the job and each other. They not only do their job, but they also pull my feet out of the fire on a regular basis.
My other “team”, the Albemarle Emergency Response Team, is also made up of men and women who are a “cut above.” This week they really went the extra mile to make our annual fire fighter mutual aid training a success. Mary Alexis ensured that everything was organized and we had a great meal both nights from Mules. Mary even arranged for the door prizes. And, our Albemarle Fire Brigade Captains and members all worked hard to ensure that our guests had a great training experience. Special thanks to David Pry, Pat Hammock, David Kirkpatrick and John Kennedy who picked up where I’d forgotten or failed to arrange for vital training activities.
~~~~~
Praise God! The Department of Defense only reported two Casualties this week.
~~~~~
I had the privilege of speaking to the Springhill First Assembly Of God Choir and Musicians Appreciation Dinner, at The Rails. The food and fellowship was great and they laughed at most of my jokes.
~~~~~
The New Post-Election Narrative: ‘Blame Palin!’ - The moderate Republicans who have destroyed the GOP brand are preparing to deflect the blame if McCain loses.
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-new-post-election-narrative-blame-palin/
~~~~~
Dooley says natural gas must be part of federal energy plan - Cal Dooley, CEO of the American Chemistry Council, writes that natural gas is key to the U.S. chemical and manufacturing industries, and he calls for a federal energy plan that encourages natural gas production. "Chemistry is used in 96% of U.S. manufactured goods, and our industry is developing the innovations and technology that are empowering our families to live more sustainable lifestyles," he writes. National Journal [http://energy.nationaljournal.com/2008/10/climate-change-efforts.php#1166404] (11/4), ICIS news [http://www.icis.com/Articles/2008/11/06/9169739/us-acc-to-press-obama-on-energy.html] (11/6)
~~~~~
Don’t forget to use GoodSearch [http://www.goodsearch.com/] when you search the Internet!
~~~~~
DarynKagan.com - - I can't believe we are looking at the second anniversary of DarynKagan.com. It's coming up next week on November 13th. In honor of the occasion, I decided to get all of you a big gift. The big reveal won't happen until Thursday. Meanwhile, you can get some clues on my blog [http://darynkagan.demo.nimbussoftware.com/DarynsBlog.html].
Today's Story: Truly Friendly Skies
Delta flight attendant Jewel Van Valin needed a way to relax her passengers following 9/11. She came up with crayons. More than 3,000 drawings later, Jewel has created an art gallery in the sky. [http://darynkagan.demo.nimbussoftware.com/artists/stories/ar_081107_friendlyskies.html]
~~~~~
Pretty Interesting if you have time to look at. WORLDMag.com [http://www.worldmag.com]/

Read WORLD's post-election issue right now!

Visit WORLDmag.com, where you can read the online edition of WORLD's post-election issue right now. If you're a print subscriber, your magazine is on its way to your mailbox, but why not get a head start on reading news and views from a Christian perspective?

Here are some highlights from the November 15, 2008, issue:

WORLD Magazine, November 15, 2008COVER STORY America spoke: The election of the nation's first African-American president marks for Democrats a historic milestone and for Republicans a time to begin again.
MILITARY Ground realities: As female soldiers die in Iraq, the push for women in direct combat gains momentum. [http://www.worldmag.com/articles/14642]
ENTERTAINMENT Cinematic stunner: Although cinematically breathtaking, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas leaves no room for butterflies and sunsets. [http://www.worldmag.com/articles/14627]
JOEL BELZ Get real: It's time for conservatives to learn what it's like to be a minority. [http://www.worldmag.com/articles/14655]
Click here to start reading now! [http://www.worldmag.com/archives/2008-11-15]
Thanks to David Lamb
~~~~~
We extend our sincere sympathy to Audrey Bossier in the loss of her father. Funeral services for Mr. Reynold Borne, were held Thursday at Millet Funeral Home in Reserve, LA.
~~~~~
November is Warrior Care Month

The Secretary of Defense Robert F. Gates announced that November is Warrior Care Month today. Warrior Care Month is a DoD wide effort aimed at increasing awareness of programs and resources available to wounded, ill, and injured service members, their families, and those who care about them.

“I am pleased we have made significant strides to improve treatment for our service members. But frankly, much work remains to be done. We need to make it easier for our troops and their families to take advantage of all the assistance now available to them,” said Gates.

The department offers myriad resources to service members and their families, from prevention to injury-specific treatments, to ensure military well-being.

In addition, each military service has instituted programs to provide personalized medical and non-medical assistance to wounded, ill and injured service members and their families. These include:

 U.S. Army Warrior Care and Transition Program and the Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2)
 U.S. Navy Safe Harbor
 U.S. Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment
 U.S. Air Force Wounded Warrior

To simplify access to care the department has created http://www.WarriorCare.mil to serve as a portal to all warrior care resources. This site describes available resources and links users to the correct sources for additional information. Through it, service members, their families, and those who care about them can easily identify and access care.

Throughout November numerous events and educational activities will focus on educating the military community about the different aspects of the continuum of care provided to service members during the recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration process.
~~~~~
Each week the Defense Department highlights military personnel who have gone above and beyond in the war. [http://www.defenselink.mil/heroes/] - - Christopher J. Frost - - Hometown: Campbell, CA - - Awarded: Bronze Star

On May 18, 2008, while conducting a counter-improvised explosive device mission in Iraq, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christopher J. Frost was seriously wounded when the vehicle in which he was riding struck a large, buried IED.

“The explosion severely injured three personnel and killed one,” Frost said. “I lost my right leg below the knee, sustained severe injuries to my left foot and ankle and broke the orbit of my right eye. Other than losing my right leg, the physical therapy I need for my left foot, and learning to use a prosthetic, I do not feel that my injury has changed me. I did not suffer a brain injury, nor do I suffer from any [post-traumatic stress disorder].”

As Weapons Intelligence Flight team leader for Weapons Intelligence Team 1, Multi-National Division – North Weapons Intelligence Section, in Joint Task Force Troy at Forward at Operating Base Brassfield-Mora, Iraq, from Dec. 9, 2007, to May 20, 2008, Frost is described as providing “flawless” support to the 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, and associated units.

When he first arrived in Iraq, Frost was directly responsible for the acquisition, distribution and maintenance of more than $2 million worth of technical exploitation and force protection equipment. His efforts resulted in the overwhelming success of more than 400 combat missions conducted in the most lethal area of Iraq’s Salahuddin province.

Despite his injuries, Frost plans to remain in the Air Force for seven more years until retirement. He also plans on keeping his Air Force specialty code of 3E871, explosive ordnance disposal.

Frost is in the process of moving from the Royal Air Force base at Lakenheath, England, to his next assignment at the 316th Civil Engineer Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and plans to re-enlist in December. “I strongly believe in the mission that the Air Force and the other services are performing in assisting Iraqi government, military and civilian forces in bringing peace, stability and eventually renewed prosperity to Iraq,” he said.

Frost currently is an outpatient staying at the Mologne House at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., recovering from his injuries.
~~~~~
The latest from Michael Yon, the foremost “milnews” blogger on the web.
~
Greetings,

A surprising new Presidential candidate is sweeping the streets. This was published on National Review Online on Friday. Now see its source. [http://www.michaelyon-online.com/advertisement-and-the-virtue-of-audacity.htm]

Please VOTE! for William Gurley.

V/R, Your correspondent,
Michael
Http://www.michaelyon-online.com/index.php
~~~~~
America is not at war. The military is at war. - - America is at the mall, or watching the movie stars.
~~~~~
Last week we watched [Ratings are my own]:
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954) [8.6] Starring Howard Keel ... Russ Tamblyn ... Jane Powell ... Julie Newmar
Spencer's Mountain (1963) [8.6] Starring Henry Fonda ... Maureen O'Hara ... James MacArthur ... Wally Cox
Ratatouille (2007) [8.2] Starring Brian Dennehy ... Peter O'Toole ... Janeane Garofalo ... John Ratzenberger
Cinderelmo: Sesame Street (1999) [6.7] Starring Keri Russell ... French Stewart ... Paul Cruz Frank Oz
I Heart Huckabees (200) [3.6] Starring Dustin Hoffman ... Lily Tomlin ... Mark Wahlberg ... Naomi Watts
~~~~~
Last week we read; They marched into sunlight : war and peace, Vietnam and America, October 1967 / David Maraniss. - - The Faith: Chuck Colson
We’re currently reading; They marched into sunlight : war and peace, Vietnam and America, October 1967 / David Maraniss. - - The Faith: Chuck Colson
We intend to read; - - The shadow of Reichenbach Falls / John R. King. - - In a strange city / Laura Lippman. - - Foreign body / Robin Cook. - - The faithful spy : a novel / Alex Berenson. - - Breathing the Fire by Kimberly Dozier
We recommend: The Faith: Chuck Colson
~~~~~
http://www.shelfari.
com/BugsBleat/shelf?ec=7D790D174EFS18012
~~~~~
Photos on the front of this week’s “Bleat” include; Sarah Shepherd teaching a refresher CPR class for our local Hospice Nurses, County Fire Fighters at our annual Mutual Aid Training, Ethan and Josiah visit the Magnolia Fire Department and Josiah shows off his new “Hog Tat”.
~~~~~
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.bugsbleat3q08.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/
~~~~~
Feel free to share the "Bleat" with any and all. That's why we publish it.
~~~~~
Dr. Pat Antoon’s Address:
Pat Antoon 06669-010
Federal Prison Camp
P.O. Box 9300
Texarkana, TX 75505
Be sure and keep him in your prayers.
~~~~~
Recipe(s) of the week - - - Chicken Hash on Pecan Waffles
CHICKEN HASH

4 Cups diced, cooked chicken
½ Cup diced celery
1 Cup chicken broth or stock
2 Cups Supreme sauce (See below)
2 Tbsp Escoffier sauce
2 egg yolks
1 Tbsp cream
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
¼ tsp paprika
½ Cup Madeira/port


Heat the diced chicken and celery in ¾ cup of the chicken broth. In a separate skillet, heat Supreme sauce and Escoffier sauce. Blend egg yolks and cream into the pan, whisking/stirring constantly and briskly. Add wine and seasonings. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the remaining broth. Blend chicken and sauce together.

SUPREME SAUCE

½ Cup butter
4 Tbsp flour
1 tsp onion juice
2 Cups broth
½ tsp salt

Melt butter, stir in the flour. Add broth, salt and onion juice, stirring constantly until sauce thickens.

PECAN WAFFLES - Depending on waffle iron... makes four waffles

2 Cups sifted flour
3 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¾ Cup chopped pecans
2 eggs, separated
1-½ Cups milk
6 Tbsp salted shortening

Sift dry ingredients together, stir in pecans. Combine beaten egg yolks, milk and shortening. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Bake on greased waffle iron until done.

Serve Chicken Hash over waffles, hot of course.

http://www.mychefsfavorites.com/recipes/arkansas/chicken-hash-on-pecan-waffles.html
~~~~~
BreakPoint
Election Results
By Chuck Colson
11/7/2008
Opportunity Unlimited

Over the last few days, I have been besieged with calls from Christian friends in deep despair over the election. I understand the feeling. The President-elect, along with his newly strengthened allies in Congress, opposes almost every pro-life and pro-family position conservative Evangelicals and conservative Catholics have fought for so hard.

The election was tough in another way, as well. We lost some good friends in Congress. I think particularly of Robin Hayes, an outstanding Christian Congressman from North Carolina. And Marilyn Musgrove from Colorado, who courageously led the initiative for the marriage amendment and was targeted by gay activists, who spent $14 million dollars to defeat her.

But as I told the hand-wringers who called me, we must never despair. It is a sin to deny the sovereignty of God. We just have to learn how to live differently. But I’ll talk more about that in the future.

First, this is the new President’s hour. And we should be praying for him. Major decisions which affect the welfare of us all are in his hands.

Second, we ought to take pleasure in the joy expressed by African Americans over Obama’s election. They have fought hard for civil rights, and now one of their own is President. I was moved to tears myself election night watching Jesse Jackson standing in the crowd, alone, tears flowing down his face. This can be a good thing for the United States of America.

We should also be pleased at the jubilation around the world at the election of America’s first black president, which has smashed the stereotype of America as an oppressive white superpower throwing its weight around. This could build unprecedented good will for us among many other nations—nations with whom we must cooperate on many important issues.

Third, this may be a teachable moment for all of us. Ever since the 1960s, liberal political leaders have built their power bases by telling minorities that they are the exploited victims of racism.

Tragically, many African-Americans feel, rightly or wrongly, that there is nothing they can do to help themselves except to elect politicians who promise to pour money into their communities. All these politicians have done is feed the grievance mentality and stay in power; the poor remain as poor as ever.

Obama’s election shatters that delusion. How could any young African-American any longer believe that he is destined to a life of crime and poverty simply because he was born black? Obama’s election demonstrates that America truly is the land of opportunity for every citizen regardless of the color of his skin, the circumstances of his birth, or the community from which he comes. If this new attitude takes hold, I could see us rebuilding the pits of despair and depression that many inner cities neighborhoods have become.

Having said that—I have my differences with the incoming President and the majorities in Congress—and I, for one, will continue for one to fight hard for the unborn and for traditional marriage, among other issues.

So don’t give up, or retreat into your sanctuaries, as some are suggesting. Stay tuned to BreakPoint. I’ll be back in due course with some strong ideas for us on how the church ought to now live.

For Further Reading and Information

“The Day After: Pray for Our President and Our Nation,” BreakPoint Commentary, 5 November 2008.

“The Solzhenitsyn Challenge: Restoring Public Courage,” BreakPoint Commentary, 4 November 2008.

© 2008 Prison Fellowship - - http://www.breakpoint.org/
~~~~~
Words of the Week:
abate: become less in amount
addle: mix up or confuse
aquiline: curved like eagle's beak
epicure: devotee to food, drink
footless: lacking substance
mot juste: appropriate expression
olfactory: pertaining to smell
from Dictionary.Com
~~~~~
"What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god - the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals!" - William Shakespeare

"If you are able to state a problem, it can be solved." - Edwin H. Land

"I know nothing grander, better exercise, better digestion, more positive proof of the past, the triumphant result of faith in human kind, than a well-contested American national election." - Walt Whitman

"The most important political office is that of the private citizen." - Louis Brandeis

"Advice is like snow --- the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind." - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

"The heart of a fool is his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is his heart." - Benjamin Franklin

"The poker player learns that sometimes both science and common sense are wrong; that the bumblebee can fly; that, perhaps, one should never trust an expert; that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of by those with an academic bent." - David Mamet
~~~~~
BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

New Prayerline for British Troops and their Families Debuts on Armed Forces Day of Prayer
Teresa Neumann (November 7, 2008)
"Through prayer we may be able to reach people before the crisis breaks, bringing hope to those in despair, encouragement to those who are dispirited and comfort to those who are suffering."
(United Kingdom)—United Christian Broadcasters launched a new prayer line this week in London, to support members of the British Armed Forces and their families. The opening of the "Forces Prayerline" coincided with the Armed Forces Day of Prayer on Thursday, November 6.
Colonel Paul Eaton, who led the planning committee said, "The Forces welfare services are brilliant when there's a crisis...but through prayer we may be able to reach people before the crisis breaks, bringing hope to those in despair, encouragement to those who are dispirited and comfort to those who are suffering. Of course, if the Prayerline saves lives or marriages, that's brilliant. But it's not just for those in dire straits; it's for everyday situations too, when we're concerned about work, the kids, our mates, our family, our next posting. So even for those everyday issues, I believe the Prayerline will be a tremendous help for those that use it."
According to the report, on the Armed Forces Day of Prayer Christians were asked to pray specifically for God's protection over Britain from enemies, that He will "turn their hearts to peace and justice for men and women."
Source: Anne Thomas - Christian Today [http://www.christiantoday.com/article/ucb.to.launch.prayer.line.for.armed.forces/21813.htm]

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: Law School

Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Harry) -Tom
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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
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One day in Contract Law class, Professor Jepson asked one of his better students, "Now if you were to give someone an orange, how would you go about it?"

The student replied, "Here's an orange."

The professor was livid.

"No! No! Think like a lawyer!" the Professor instructed.

The student then recited, "Okay, I'd tell him, I hereby give and convey to you all and singular, my estate and interests, rights, claim, title, claim and advantages of and in, said orange, together with all its rind, juice, pulp, and seeds, and all rights and advantages with full power to bite, cut, freeze and otherwise eat, the same, or give the same away with and without the pulp, juice, rind and seeds, anything herein before or hereinafter or in any deed, or deeds, instruments of whatever nature or kind whatsoever to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding..."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Jury Selection

Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Wyatt) -Tom
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An important and very well publicized murder trial was soon to begin. In preparation for the trial, the tiresome jury selection process took place, each side hotly contesting and dismissing potential jurors.

One prospective juror, Dan, was called for his question session.

He was asked, "Property holder?"

Dan replied, "Yes, I am, Your Honor."

Then he was asked, "Married or single?"

Dan responded, "Married for twenty years, Your Honor."

Then the judge asked, "Formed or expressed an opinion?"

Dan stated with certainty, "Not in twenty years, Your Honor."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Beats Shopping

Emailed to me from another humor list (Humor_G) -Tom To subscribe to Humor_G, send a blank email to: Humor_G-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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Last summer my wife and I met a couple who were friends of my wife at a restaurant. After lunch, the women decided to go shopping, and I invited the man to go sailing. While we were out on the water, a storm blew up. The tide had gone out, and we were down wind trying to work our way back through a narrow channel. At one point the boat grounded and we had to climb overboard and shove with all our might to get it back in deep water.

As my new friend stood there, ankle deep in muck, the wind blowing his hair wildly, rain streaming down his face, he grinned at me, and with unmistakable sincerity said, "Sure beats shopping."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: The Birthday Gift

Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Andrew) -Tom
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When my three-year-old son opened the birthday gift from his grandmother, he discovered a water pistol. He squealed with delight and headed for the nearest sink. I was not so pleased. I turned to Mom and said, "I'm surprised at you. Don't you remember how we used to drive you crazy with water guns?"

Mom smiled and then replied....."I remember."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Ship Movie

Emailed to me another humor list (Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh List) -Tom Subscribe to Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh list at the website: Subscribe
----------------------------------------------

On many U.S. Navy ships the movie screen is suspended amid-ship so that it can be viewed from both sides. This procedure makes it available to larger crowds at popular movies, but usually the junior officers get a reverse image from "the wrong side of the screen."

One evening at dinnertime an enterprising young ensign passed the following word over the officer's IMC circuit: "The movie to be shown in the wardroom tonight for the senior officers is on the right side of the screen - The Right-Handed Gun, starring Paul Newman."

"For the junior officers on the wrong side of the screen - The Left-Handed Gun, starring Namwen Luap."
_ _________________________________ _
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / "Warning: Dates in Calendar \ /
\ _/ are closer than they appear." \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / There is a thin person \ /
\ _/ inside me screaming to get out. \_ /
/ / Fortunately I keep him sedated \ \
with chocolate.
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Repetition is always \ /
\ _/ better the second time. \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ /The word "aerobics" came about \ \_/ ////
\ / when the gym instructors got \ /
\ _/ together and said: If we're going \_ /
/ / to charge $10 an hour, we can't \ \
call it Jumping Up and Down.
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / "Always remember you're unique; \ /
\ _/ just like everyone else." \_ /
/ / \ \
_ ____________________________ _
| 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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NO NURSING HOME FOR US !!!

No nursing home for us. We are checking into the Holiday Inn!
With the average cost for a nursing home care costing $188.00 per day, there is a better way when we get old & feeble.
We have already checked on reservations at the Holiday Inn. For a combined long term stay discount and senior discount, it's $49.23 per night. That leaves $138.77 a day for: Breakfast, lunch and dinner in any restaurant we want, or room service, laundry, gratuities and special TV movies. Plus, they provide a swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and washer-dryer , etc. Most have free toothpaste and razors, and all have free shampoo and soap.

$5 worth of tips a day will have the entire staff scrambling to help you. They treat you like a customer, not a patient.
There is a city bus stop out front, and seniors ride free. The handicap bus will also pick you up (if you fake a decent limp).

To meet other nice people, call a church bus on Sundays.

For a change of scenery, take the airport shuttle bus and eat at one of the nice restaurants there. While you're at the airport, fly somewhere. Otherwise, the cash keeps building up.

It takes months to get into decent nursing homes. Holiday Inn will take your reservation today. And you are not stuck in one place forever, you can move from Inn to Inn, or even from city to city. Want to see Hawaii ? They have a Holiday Inn there too.
TV broken? Light bulbs need changing? Need a mattress replaced? No problem. They fix everything, and apologize for the inconvenience.

The Inn has a night security person and daily room service. The maid checks to see if you are ok. If not, they will call the undertaker or an ambulance. If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, and Holiday Inn will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.

And no worries about visits from family. They will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a few days mini-vacation.

The grand kids can use the pool. What more can you ask for?

So, when we reach that golden age, We'll face it with a grin. Just forward all our email.

Is this what they mean by you get smarter by staying at a HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS?

Thanks to Waneta
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Any Telephone employee should be able to relate to these. HELLO OPERATOR Actual call center conversations!

Customer: 'I've been calling 700-1000 for two days and can't get through; can you help?'
Operator: 'Where did you get that number, sir?'
Customer: 'It's on the door of your business.'
Operator: 'Sir, those are the hours that we are open.'
+++
Samsung Electronics
Caller: 'Can you give me the telephone number for Jack?'
Operator: 'I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand who you are talking about.'
Caller: 'On page 1, section 5, of the user guide it clearly states that I need to unplug the fax machine from the AC wall socket and telephone Jack before cleaning. Now, can you give me the number for Jack?'
Operator: 'I think it means the telephone plug on the wall.'
+++
RAC Motoring Services
Caller: 'Does your European Breakdown Policy cover me when I am traveling in Australia?'
Operator: 'Does the product name give you a clue?'
+++
Caller (enquiring about legal requirements while traveling in Europe) 'If I register my car in France, and then take it to England, do I have to change the steering wheel to the other side of the car?'
+++
Directory Enquiries
Caller: 'I'd like the number of the Argo Fish Bar, please'
Operator: 'I'm sorry, there's no listing. Are you sure that the spelling is correct?' Caller: 'Well, it used to be called the Bargo Fish Bar but the 'B' fell off.'
+++
Then there was the caller who asked for a knitwear company in Woven.
Operator: 'Woven? Are you sure?'
Caller: 'Yes. That's what it says on the label -- Woven in Scotland.'
+++
On another occasion, a man making heavy breathing sounds from a phonebox told a worried operator: 'I haven't got a pen, so I'm steaming up the window to write the number on.'
+++
Tech Support: 'I need you to right-click on the Open Desktop.'
Customer: 'OK.'
Tech Support: 'Did you get a pop-up menu?'
Customer: 'No.'
Tech Support: 'OK. Right-Click again. Do you see a pop-up menu?'
Customer: 'No.'
Tech Support: 'OK, sir. Can you tell me what you have done up until this point?'
Customer: 'Sure. You told me to write 'click' and I wrote 'click'.'
+++
Tech Support: 'OK. At the bottom left hand side of your screen, can you see the 'OK' button displayed?'
Customer: 'Wow! How can you see my screen from there?'
+++
Caller: 'I deleted a file from my PC last week and I just realized that I need it. So, if I turn my system clock back two weeks will I get my file back again?'
+++
This has to be one of the funniest things in a long time. I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired. This is a true story from the WordPerfect Helpline, which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say the Help Desk employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the WordPerfect organization for 'Termination without Cause.' Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee. (Now I know why they record these conversations! ):
Operator: 'Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?'
Caller: 'Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect. '
Operator: 'What sort of trouble??'
Caller: 'Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.'
Operator: 'Went away?'
Caller: 'They disappeared'
Operator: 'Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?'
Caller: 'Nothing.'
Operator: 'Nothing??'
Caller: 'It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type.'
Operator: 'Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out?'
Caller: 'How do I tell?'
Operator: 'Can you see the 'C: prompt' on the screen?'
Caller: 'What's a sea-prompt?'
Operator: 'Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?'
Caller: 'There isn't any cursor; I told you, it won't accept anything I type.' Operator: 'Does your monitor have a power indicator??'
Caller: 'What's a monitor?'
Operator: 'It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on?'
Caller: 'I don't know.'
Operator: 'Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??'
Caller: 'Yes, I think so.'
Operator: 'Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall.
Caller: 'Yes, it is.'
Operator: 'When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one? '
Caller: 'No.'
Operator: 'Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable.'
Caller: 'Okay, here it is.'
Operator: 'Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer.'
Caller: 'I can't reach.'
Operator: 'OK. Well, can you see if it is?'
Caller: 'No.'
Operator: 'Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over?' Caller: 'Well, it's not because I don't have the right angle -- it's because it's dark.'
Operator: 'Dark?'
Caller: 'Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window.'
Operator: 'Well, turn on the office light then.'
Caller: 'I can't.'
Operator: 'No? Why not?'
Caller: 'Because there's a power failure.'
Operator: 'A power .... A power failure? Aha. Okay, we've got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff that your computer came in?'
Caller: 'Well, yes, I keep them in the closet.'
Operator: 'Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from.' Caller: 'Really? Is it that bad?'
Operator: 'Yes, I'm afraid it is.'
Caller: 'Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them?'
Operator: 'Tell them you're too stupid to own a computer!'

Thanks to Anne Oldham
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AAADD
KNOW THE SYMPTOMS.....PLEASE READ!

Thank goodness, there is a name for this disorder.
Somehow, I feel better even though I have it!!

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. -
Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden.
As I turned on the hose in the driveway. I looked over at my car and decide it needs washing.

As I start toward the garage,
I notice mail on the porch table that
I brought up from the mailbox earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys on the table,
Put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table,
and notice that the can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back
on the table and take out the garbage first.

Then I think, since I am going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my checkbook off the table,
and see that there is only one check left.

My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Pepsi I had been drinking.

I am going to look for my checks,
first, I need to push the Pepsi aside
So that I do not accidentally knock it over.

The Pepsi is getting warm, and I decide to put it in the refrigerator or to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the Pepsi, a vase of flowers on the counter
catches my eye--they need water.

I put the Pepsi on the counter and
discover my reading glasses that
I have been searching for all morning.

I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I am going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.
Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote,
but I will not remember that it is on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I will water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers,
but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.
So, I set the remote back on the table,
get some towels and wipe up the spill.
Then, I head down the hall trying to
remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:
the car is not washed
the bills aren't paid
there is a warm can of Pepsi sitting on the counter
the flowers don't have enough water,
there is still only 1 check in my checkbook,
I can't find the remote,
I can't find my glasses,
and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.
Then, when I try to figure out why nothing was done today,
I'm baffled because I know I was busy all day, and I'm tired.

I realize this is a serious problem,
and I'll try to get some help for it,
but first I'll check my e-mail....

Thanks To Waneta
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Two brooms were hanging in the closet and after a while they got to know each other so well, they decided to get married.

One broom was, of course, the bride broom, the other the groom broom.

The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress. The groom broom was handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding was lovely.

After the wedding, at the wedding dinner, the bride-broom leaned over and said to the groom-broom, 'I think I am going to have a little whisk broom!'

'IMPOSSIBLE !' said the groom broom.

'WE HAVEN'T EVEN SWEPT TOGETHER!'
............ ..........................
Oh for goodness sake... Laugh, or at least groan.

Sounds to me like she's .......
......been sweeping around!!!

Thanks to David Lamb
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Bragging

At the company water cooler, I bragged about my children's world travels: one son was teaching in Bolivia, another was working in southern Italy, and my daughter was completing a year-long research project in India.

One co-worker's quip, however, stopped me short. "What is it about you," he asked, "that makes your kids want to get so far away?"

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

Case Closed

Several women appeared in court, each accusing the others of causing the trouble they were having in the apartment building where they lived.

The women were arguing noisily even in the court.

The judge, banging his gavel to quiet them, said, "We are going to do this in an orderly manner. I can't listen to all of you at once. I'll hear the oldest first."

The case was dismissed for lack of testimony.

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

How to Attend a Meeting

How to Attend a Meeting
by Dave Barry

To really succeed in a business or organization, it is sometimes helpful to know what your job is, and whether it involves any duties. Ask among your coworkers. "Hi," you should say. "I'm a new employee. What is the name of my job?" If they answer "long-range planner" or "lieutenant governor," you are pretty much free to lounge around and do crossword puzzles until retirement. Most jobs, however, will require some work.

There are two major kinds of work in modern organizations:

1. Taking phone messages for people who are in meetings, and
2. Going to meetings.

Your ultimate career strategy will be to get a job involving primarily No. 2, going to meetings, as soon as possible, because that's where the real prestige is. It is all very well and good to be able to take phone messages, but you are never going to get a position of power, a position where you can cost thousands of people their jobs with a single bonehead decision, unless you learn how to attend meetings.

The first meeting ever was held back in the Mezzanine Era. In those days, Man's job was to slay his prey and bring it home for Woman, who had to figure out how to cook it. The problem was, Man was slow and basically naked, whereas the prey had warm fur and could run like an antelope. (In fact it was an antelope, only nobody knew this).

At last someone said, "Maybe if we just sat down and did some brainstorming, we could come up with a better way to hunt our prey!" It went extremely well, plus it was much warmer sitting in a circle, so they agreed to meet again the next day, and the next.

But the women pointed out that, prey-wise, the men had not produced anything, and the human race was pretty much starving. The men agreed that was serious and said they would put it right near the top of their "agenda." At this point, the women, who were primitive but not stupid, started eating plants, and thus modern agriculture was born. It never would have happened without meetings.

The modern business meeting, however, might better be compared with a funeral, in the sense that you have a gathering of people who are wearing uncomfortable clothing and would rather be somewhere else. The major difference is that most funerals have a definite purpose. Also, nothing is really ever buried in a meeting.

An idea may look dead, but it will always reappear at another meeting later on. If you have ever seen the movie, "Night of the Living Dead," you have a rough idea of how modern meetings operate, with projects and proposals that everyone thought were killed rising up constantly from their graves to stagger back into meetings and eat the brains of the living.

There are two major kinds of meetings:

1. Meetings that are held for basically the same reason that Arbor Day is observed - namely, tradition. For example, a lot of managerial people like to meet on Monday, because it's Monday. You'll get used to it. You'd better, because this kind accounts for 83% of all meetings (based on a study in which I wrote down numbers until one of them looked about right). This type of meeting operates the way "Show and Tell" does in nursery school, with everyone getting to say something, the difference being that in nursery school, the kids actually have something to say.

When it's your turn, you should say that you're still working on whatever it is you're supposed to be working on. This may seem pretty dumb, since obviously you'd be working on whatever you're supposed to be working on, and even if you weren't, you'd claim you were, but that's the traditional thing for everyone to say. It would be a lot faster if the person running the meeting would just say, "Everyone who is still working on what he or she is supposed to be working on, raise your hand." You'd be out of there in five minutes, even allowing for jokes. But this is not how we do it in America. My guess is, it's how they do it in Japan.

2. Meetings where there is some alleged purpose. These are trickier, because what you do depends on what the purpose is. Sometimes the purpose is harmless, like someone wants to show slides of pie charts and give everyone a big, fat report. All you have to do in this kind of meeting is sit there and have elaborate fantasies, then take the report back to your office and throw it away, unless, of course, you're a vice president, in which case you write the name of a subordinate in the upper right hand corner, followed by a question mark, like this: "Norm?" Then you send it to Norm and forget all about it (although it will plague Norm for the rest of his career).

But sometimes you go to meetings where the purpose is to get your "input" on something. This is very serious because what it means is, they want to make sure that in case whatever it is turns out to be stupid or fatal, you'll get some of the blame, so you have to escape from the meeting before they get around to asking you anything. One way is to set fire to your tie.

Another is to have an accomplice interrupt the meeting and announce that you have a phone call from someone very important, such as the president of the company or the Pope. It should be one or the other. It would a sound fishy if the accomplice said, "You have a call from the president of the company, or the Pope."

You should know how to take notes at a meeting. Use a yellow legal pad. At the top, write the date and underline it twice. Now wait until an important person, such as your boss, starts talking; when he does, look at him with an expression of enraptured interest, as though he is revealing the secrets of life itself. Then write interlocking rectangles like this: (picture of doodled rectangles).

If it is an especially lengthy meeting, you can try something like this (Picture of more elaborate doodles and a caricature of the boss).

If somebody falls asleep in a meeting, have everyone else leave the room. Then collect a group of total strangers, right off the street, and have them sit around the sleeping person until he wakes up. Then have one of them say to him, "Bob, your plan is very, very risky. However, you've given us no choice but to try it. I only hope, for your sake, that you know what you're getting yourself into." Then they should file quietly out of the room.

Received from Colton R.

(-:][:-)

Railroad Woes

Two drunk farmers are helping each other home late one night, staggering down the railroad tracks. After about half a mile, Vern declares with some annoyance, "Shoot, this sure is a long staircase!"

At that Chet slurs back, "Well, it isn’t the stairs that're botherin' me so much as these stink'in low handrails."

Received from Charity A Miller.

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - -
Dear Obama, congrats on your win.
You have done it. You’ve won it. You’re in!
Now your job will be tough.
(Please don’t take any guff.)
Let the national healing begin!
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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| Safety from the Heart |
----------------------------------------------
November 5, 2008
Today's Safety From the Heart Message was submitted by Keith Black.
Space Heater Safety
The Proper Use of Space Heaters in the Work Place

The use of space heaters in offices is quite common in the winter. Even in warmer climates, winter mornings can bring a chill. And while these seemingly harmless devices may be an efficient way to heat a cold or drafty space, they can pose certain safety hazards when used incorrectly.

Even though a space heater does not have an open flame, the heating elements of some are hot enough to cause nearby combustibles to ignite. Additionally, fires can be caused by improper use, and burns by contact with the heating element or a hot surface.

Therefore, taking appropriate safety measures is vital in preventing an accident. It is also important to review space heater policies with building management.

Space Heater Safety Precautions:

Choose a space heater with a guard around the heating element.
Carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions on how far the heater should be placed from other objects.
Use a heater certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
Buy a heater that is the correct size for the area you want to heat.
Never leave an unattended heater turned on.
Ensure proper ventilation.
Never use or store flammable liquids around a space heater.
Never use heaters to dry clothes or equipment or thaw pipes.
Do not place a heater where objects could fall on it.
Follow the instructions and safety precautions for operation and maintenance.
Never use a portable heater in a bathroom or near a sink.
Do not run the heater's cord under carpeting or where someone could trip over it.
Never touch an electric heater if you are wet.
Never operate a defective or broken heater.
Install and maintain a smoke detector in the area where the heater will be used.

For more information on space heater safety:

AlliedBarton Security Services at 1.866.825.5433 or AlliedBarton.com Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov The US Department of Energy at www.eere.energy.gov
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TOURBUS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -:) - :)- :)
Vol 14, Number 6 - - 03 Nov 2008

The Hard Drive Issue Today's TOURBUS is all about the hard drive. Learn how to reformat your hard drive, clean up space hogging files, or fix a failing drive. Get the scoop on repartitioning your hard drive, recover deleted files, or add a second drive to your computer. Find out how to share your drive online, and the benefits of defragging your drive. Optimize a new drive or revive an older one. Get the facts on buying, using and maintaining your hard drive without the geeky jargon... Read on!

REFORMAT YOUR HARD DRIVE - - A reader disappointed in his system performance asked me this: "I have Windows XP and the system has gotten very slow and flaky. I would like to learn how to reformat the drive. Can you teach me in simple English how to completely format the drive and then re-install the operating system?" Read this article to find out how to do exactly that, and why you might NOT want to reformat... [http://askbobrankin.com/reformat_hard_drive_under_xp.html]

CLEAN UP YOUR HARD DRIVE - - Do you have a clean hard drive? If you're selling a computer or discarding a hard drive, you'll want to clean off your personal files first. Or maybe you're getting that annoying "low disk space" message. Don't ignore it, or your computer could soon begin to malfunction. Here's how to clean your hard drive and make sure your computer is running smoothly. [http://askbobrankin.com/clean_hard_drive.html]

HARD DRIVE RECOVERY - - Picture this... you're working away on an important project and the computer freezes. You reboot, but instead of the familiar startup screen, you see a black screen with one of these ominous messages: DISK BOOT FAILURE... ERROR READING FIXED DISK... or HARD DRIVE FAILURE. Don't panic just yet, there may be hope for recovery of that damaged hard drive. [http://askbobrankin.com/hard_drive_recovery.html]

RECOVER DELETED FILES - - It's happened to all of us at some point. One stray mouse click, and poof! You've deleted an important file. But is it gone forever? Maybe not. Here are my tips and recommended tools to recover deleted files from the nether regions of a hard drive... [http://askbobrankin.com/recover_deleted_files.html]


FIX YOUR MASTER BOOT RECORD - - Sounds like a country music song, but a messed up Master Boot Record can prevent your computer from booting up. If you try to start Windows and get 'MBR Corrupt' or 'Error loading operating system' here's what to do... [http://askbobrankin.com/fix_mbr.html]

ADD A SECOND HARD DRIVE - - Adding a second hard drive to a computer system is an easy way to alleviate storage problems without buying a whole new computer. But what kind of drive? And are they easy to install? Read on for my hard drive buying tips and installation help... [http://askbobrankin.com/add_a_second_hard_drive.html]

PARTITIONING YOUR DRIVE - - If you just got a shiny new hard drive with several hundred megabytes of storage, you may be wondering about partitioning strategies. Is it best to go with one large partition, or many partitions for various types of data. Read these articles for my advice on partitioning, the Three Partitioning Myths, and what tools to use when (re)partitioning your drive.
PARTITIONING STRATEGIES [http://askbobrankin.com/partitioning_your_hard_drive.html]
PARTITIONING TOOLS [http://askbobrankin.com/changing_disk_partitions.html]

DEFRAG YOUR HARD DRIVE - - Have you noticed your computer running a bit slow lately? It might be time to defragment your hard drive. Your hard drive does need to be cleaned out regularly and defragmented in order to keep everything working better. Here's the why and how of defragging... [http://askbobrankin.com/defrag_your_hard_drive.html]

SHARING A HARD DRIVE ONLINE - - Did you know that you can share all or part of your hard drive online, and control which people can access your files? Learn how to securely share your hard drive on the Internet, and explore web-based file storage options... [http://askbobrankin.com/sharing_a_hard_drive_online.html]

POPULAR ARTICLES

# Send a Free Fax - - [http://askbobrankin.com/send_a_free_fax.html]
Learn how to send and receive faxes for free, using online fax services.

# Make Windows Run Faster - - [http://askbobrankin.com/make_windows_xp_run_faster.html]
Here's my special recipe to clean that icky goo out of your computer's pipes, so Windows will start quicker, run more reliably, and go faster on the info-superhighway.

# Free Calls With Skype - - [http://askbobrankin.com/free_calls_with_skype.html]
Skype is a software package that lets you make free calls to almost anyone, anywhere in the world. Here's how to get started...

# Free Internet Security Software - - [http://askbobrankin.com/should_i_buy_antispyware_or_antivirus_software.html] Staying safe on the Internet doesn't have to cost big bucks. Here are my recommendations for the best FREE anti-virus, anti-spyware, and popup blocker software.

+ ------------------------------------- +
That's all for now, see you next time! -- Bob Rankin
+ ------------------------------------- +
==[ Tourbus Rider Information ]==
The Internet Tourbus - U.S. Library of Congress ISSN #1094-2238 Copyright 1995-2008, Rankin & Crispen - All rights reserved Be Smarter & Better Looking Than [-99.386605-] Percent of Users The Best of Everything - http://www.InternetTourbus.com/best.html Subscribe, Signoff, Archives, Free Stuff and More at the Tourbus Home - http://www.InternetTourbus.com
========================
.~~~. ))
(\__/) .' ) )) Patrick Douglas Crispen
/o o \/ .~
{o_, \ { crispen@netsquirrel.com
/ , , ) \ http://www.netsquirrel.com/
`~ -' \ } )) AOL Instant Messenger: Squirrel2K
_( ( )_.'
---..{____} Warning: squirrels.
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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: ** "High C8 Levels in DuPont's Chinese Workers' Blood" by Celeste Monforton Ken Ward of the Charleston Gazette writes that workers at DuPont's Changshu, China plant had high blood concentrations of an agent used to make the non-stick compound Teflon, despite company promises to greatly reduce exposures and emissions. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/high-c8-levels-in-duponts-chinese-workers-blood/

** "Occupational Health News Roundup" by Liz Borkowski Milwaukee overwhelmingly passes a referendum requiring paid sick leave; a crane accident in China's Sichuan province kills 11; and NIOSH has initiated several programs aimed at identifying and eliminating safety and health hazards experienced by immigrant workers. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/occupational-health-news-roundup-88/

** "Obama Day 1: Unshackle FOIA at Labor Department" by Celeste Monforton If Mr. Obama wants to restore the public's trust in government, it would be wise for him to instruct senior officials on Day 1 that his Administration is going back to first principles of FOIA—full agency disclosure, sooner rather than later, and when in doubt, disclose. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/obama-day-1-unshackle-foia-at-labor-department/

** "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by Celeste Monforton Reflections on a historic election. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/lift-every-voice-and-sing/

** "Feeding a Family on Food Stamps" by Liz Borkowski As the new president and Congress consider economic stimulus, they should realize that food stamps deliver a great amount of economic benefit per dollar spent, and that current benefits aren't enough to support nutritious diets. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/11/04/feeding-a-family-on-food-stamps/

** "Worker Involvement: Critical to Health and Safety" by Celeste Monforton Only 14 days after Gloria McInnis died in an explosion at a Goodyear plan in Houston, her husband Raymond McInnis testified before a subcommittee of the House Committee on Homeland Security. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/worker-involvement-critical-to-health-and-safety/

** "The Supreme Court's Influence on Public Health" by Liz Borkowski In a reminder about the importance of the Supreme Court justices the next president will select, contributors to The Nation explain how the Court has shaped the legal landscape on workers' rights, healthcare, and consumer safety. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/the-supreme-courts-influence-on-public-health/

** "Bush Administration's Final Deregulatory Push" by Liz Borkowski A front-page story in today's Washington Post confirms that the Bush administration is racing to enact several new regulations that will weaken consumer and environmental protections. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/bush-administrations-final-deregulatory-push/

** "Friday Blog Roundup" by Liz Borkowski Bloggers weigh in on the Supreme Court preemption case Wyeth v. Levine; tell the story of insulin's discovery; and highlight New York subway ads encouraging caloric awareness. http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/friday-blog-roundup-98/

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.

- “Reform” of Penalty Structure: Cal/OSHA has proposed eliminating the regulatory classification and removal of “severity,” “extent” and “likelihood” factors in penalty calculations; eliminating penalties entirely in certain situations; and reducing base penalty amounts for both general and serious violations, all of which will further diminish the limited effectiveness of existing penalties.
- Standards Setting and the Health Expert Advisory Committee (HEAC): HEAC is a volunteer committee that is responsible for evaluating the risks to workers from toxic substances in their work environments; it has made little or no progress in setting standards (Permissible Exposure Limits or “PELs”) that will adequately protect workers from chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects, reproductive harm, and other serious health problems. While a handful of dedicated worker advocates work hard to move the process along, the painfully slow PEL-setting process is dominated by representatives of the chemical industry, which benefits from the delay.
- Multi-Employer Liability: Although we are in the middle of multi-employer litigation (Harris) in State Court, Len Welsh has proposed holding a stakeholder meeting in December, which could lead to a weakening of California’s strong multi-employer regulations.
- Appeals on Abatement of Serious Violations: Len Welsh has stated that he believes that 90% of employers who file appeals abate the cited hazard and that revising the Policies and Procedures on inspections and issuing citations that call for more dialogue between inspectors and employers is the answer to abating hazards. We believe this to be an unrealistic approach, which will not be adequate to ensure abatement by employers.
~~~
Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace

Another death at BP Texas City - - OCT 9, TEXAS CITY, TX -- A contractor was killed this morning while working at the Texas City land farm, which is located one mile south of the BP Texas City refinery. Authorities say he died from injuries sustained after he was pinned by a backhoe against a fence. An employee of Gai Environmental, he was the 4th to die in accidents at the facility since the tragic 2005 explosion that killed 15.

Worker dies trapped in manhole - - OCT 9, BROOKLYN, NY --An employee off Consolidated Edison was splicing cable this afternoon in Brooklyn's East New York section when heat and smoke began pouring out of the manhoole. George Dillman, 26, was trapped inside the manhole. His partner, Craig Penney, 28, tried to lower a ladder into the manhole to help Mr. Dillman, but the ladder burned. Said an observer who was trying to get Mr. Penney away from the whole when an explosion occurred, “He fell to his knees crying.” Mr. Dillman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Worker killed in bulldozer rollover - - OCT 8, BENSON, NC -- A construction worker making repairs to railroad tracks died this afternoon when the bulldozer he was riding slipped over an embankment and overturned, pinning him beneath. Chris Smith, 33, an employee of Mideast Railroad Services, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Construction worker crushed - - Quarry worker killed - - OCT 7, PERRY COUNTY, PA -- Friends and family are mourning the death of Larry "Ric" Trimmer, 56, a welder who had been working at Pennsy Supply since 1990. Mr. Trimmer was working on a conveyer belt this morning when a collapse occurred and he was pinned under rocks. Despite efforts of his coworkers to save him, Mr. Trimmer did not survive. His wife of 25 years, Tracy Trimmer, remembered kissing him goodbye that morning and telling him that she loved him. "We did that every day," she said. "We got along so well that people called us Ken and Barbie. He was my sweetheart, an awesome husband. We always worked so good together. Our honeymoon never ended."

Channahon man falls to his death, Accident occurs at ExxonMobil - - Oct 7 JOLIET, IL - An autopsy was to be performed today, Wednesday, on the body of a Channahon construction worker who died Tuesday when he fell at the ExxonMobil refinery in Channahon Township. Will County Coroner Pat-rick O'Neil reported Ralph Lowdermilk, 63, of Chan-nahon, was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. Tuesday in the emergency room at Provena Saint Joseph Med-ical Center. The Will County Sheriff's Department said Lowder-milk fell about 45 feet while inspecting stacks at the refinery. The sheriff's department indicated there were safety lines on the stacks and Lowdermilk had a utility belt. According to the coroner's office, exactly what occurred to cause Lowdermilk to fall is under investigation.

Blast Victim Welded Near Tank Before Explosion, Officials Say Exploded Tank Held Used Fuel Oil - - Oct 7 HONOLULU, HI - The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office on Wednesday released the identity of the worker killed in an explosion at a Campbell Industrial Park business Tuesday. Sean Miguel Norva, 23, of Waipahu, died in the blast. Norva died from multiple internal injuries, the medical examiner said. Investigators were on the scene of the explosion Wednesday at Philip Services Corp. in Campbell Industrial Park.

Worker dies after fall from heights - - CHANNAHON TOWNSHIP - A 63-year-old construction worker from Channahon died Tuesday after "a fall from heights" at the ExxonMobil refinery, according to the Will County coroner. Ralph W. Lowdermilk was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, the coroner's office said. Lowdermilk was inspecting some stacks at the refinery when he "fell about 44 feet," sheriff's spokesman Pat Barry said. Lowdermilk had a utility belt, and the stacks had safety lines, Barry said, but it's unknown at this time what went wrong. "That part is still under investigation," Barry said. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also looking into the incident.

Construction worker killed when beam falls from crane - - Oct. 7 Columbus, OH - Westerville police say a construction worker died today at a site along Polaris Parkway after a large metal beam fell from a crane. The name of the man has not been released. Police say someone called 911 at 11:40 a.m. and said there had been an accident at 460 Polaris Parkway. The man was trapped under the beam. He was taken to Mount Caramel St. Ann's hospital and pronounced dead, police say. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.

Pittsburgh construction worker dies in roof fall - - Oct. 7 Wilkes Barre,PA - A construction worker fell 20 stories from the roof of a downtown building to his death Tuesday, apparently while he was trying to get to an adjacent building that is being renovated, police said. Police Cmdr. Thomas Stangrecki said there were no immediate signs of foul play, but investigators were trying to determine why the worker fell at about 10:15 a.m. The name of the 33-year-old worker was not immediately released, pending notification of his family. The worker was part of a crew that is renovating the former Union National Bank building. He was last seen getting off an elevator on the 20th floor and heading toward stairs that lead to the roof, Stangrecki said.

Man fatally crushed at Muncie auto salvage yard - - Oct. 7 MUNCIE, Ind. - A Muncie auto salvage yard worker was killed when a sport-utility vehicle fell from a winch, crushing him underneath. The Delaware County coroner says 30-year-old Michael L. "Tiny" Bodenhofer probably died instantly when the SUV fell Monday. Coroner James Clevenger calls the death "a very unfortunate accident." Clevenger says Bodenhofer had used a flatbed wrecker and a winch cable to lift the 1,200-pound SUV by the bumper, so he could climb beneath it and remove some parts. The coroner says the bumper gave way, dropping the vehicle on Bodenhofer's chest. Co-workers at Northwest Auto and Truck parts found his body about 10 a.m., but Clevenger says the accident occurred earlier in the morning.

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. Pfc. Bradley S. Coleman, 24, of Martinsville, Va., died Oct. 29 at Qayyarah Airfield, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 51st Transportation Company, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Mannheim, Germany.

02. Sgt. Daniel W. Wallace, 27, of Dry Ridge, Ky., died Oct. 31 in Badin Kheyl, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 201st Engineer Battalion, Kentucky Army National Guard in Cynthiana, Ky.
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Airman Missing In Action From WW ll is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

He is Staff Sgt. Martin F. Troy, U.S. Army Air Forces, of Norwalk, Conn. He will be buried on Nov. 20 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

Representatives from the Army’s Mortuary Office met with Troy’s next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.

On June 30, 1944, Troy was on a B-24H Liberator participating in a mission to bomb an oil refinery in Blechammer, Germany. The plane was shot down by German aircraft and crashed into a swampy area near Nemesvita, Hungary beside Lake Balaton. Seven of the crewmembers parachuted to safety where they were captured by enemy forces and subsequently released. Three crewmen died in the crash and the remains for two of them were eventually recovered and identified. Troy’s remains were not recovered.

In 1999 and 2003, Hungarian citizens turned over to U.S. officials human remains supposedly recovered from Troy’s crash site. In 2003 and 2005, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) teams surveyed the site.

In 2007, another JPAC team excavated the site and recovered human remains and non-biological evidence.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of Troy’s remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
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Marines Missing From Vietnam War Are Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of four U.S. servicemen, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

They are Lance Cpl. Kurt E. La Plant, of Lenexa, Kan., and Lance Cpl. Luis F. Palacios, of Los Angeles, Calif. Remains that could not be individually identified are included in a group. Among the group remains are Lance Cpl. Ralph L. Harper, of Indianapolis, Ind., and Pfc. Jose R. Sanchez, of Brooklyn, N.Y. All men were U.S. Marine Corps. Palacios will be buried Friday in Bellflower, Calif., and the other Marines will be buried as a group in the spring in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

On June 6, 1968, these men were aboard a CH-46A Sea Knight helicopter that was attempting an emergency extraction of elements of the 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment, 3rd Marine Division then engaged against hostile forces in the mountains southwest of Khe Sanh, Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. The helicopter was struck by enemy ground fire and crashed, killing 12 of the 23 crewmen and passengers on board. All but four of the men who died were subsequently recovered and identified.

Between 1993 and 2005, joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), investigated the incident in Quang Tri Province, interviewed witnesses and surveyed the crash site three times. The team found a U.S. military boot fragment and wreckage consistent with that of a CH-46 helicopter.

In 2006, a team began excavating the site and recovered human remains and non-biological material evidence including La Plant’s identification tag. While at the site, a Vietnamese citizen turned over to the team human remains the he claimed to have found amid the wreckage. In 2007, another team completed the excavation and recovered additional human remains, life support material and aircraft wreckage.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/ or call (703) 699-1420.
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Please remember to pray for the American soldiers stationed everywhere around the globe and especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. 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
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Scheduled Activities
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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.
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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.
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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
“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 John "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!!!
Eccl 1:3-9 Jer 17:7-8 Jonah 1:15-2:2 Col 2:20-3:2 Col 2:6-7 http://www.e-min.org/
God is Good and Faithful CU 73 IC JFM CSP NREMT-I KC5HII

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