Bug's Bleat - - GCF: The Office Intern

Volume 11, Issue 08 Friday, February 20, 2009

Hello All,

Joe Tudor commented on our “Traffic in Lower Arkansas” post last week in his [http://parapetsafety.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/la-traffic/] blog.
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I gotta tell you, I miss living in Magnolia more than I miss my hometown. As a group, the people there were more like my family than any other place I’ve lived (aside from my actual family). And, of course, some of my best memories are there. For example, the worst traffic I’ve ever encountered. Here are my L.A. Traffic stories (note: what little tendency I have towards exaggeration, I learned from James).

When people in Baton Rouge complain about the traffic, I tell them they ain’t seen nuthin’. Once after the Christmas parade in Magnolia, we made our way through the crowds back to the car. Once we finally made it the 2 blocks to the car, we had to sit in traffic waiting to get out. This was probably the worst traffic I ever saw in Magnolia - it took us at LEAST 10 minutes to make the 3 miles back to our house.

Small town living entails a different attitude. Driving to El Dorado was an all day affair, to be saved only for weekends and emergencies. Living in “the city” now, I’ll drive that far two or three times a day without thinking about it - somehow, going to someplace that is just “on the other side of town” doesn’t seem as much trouble as driving to another town - distance isn’t the issue. Anyway, when we first moved to Magnolia (from Denver), one of the banks had a commercial announcing the opening of a new branch, “for your convenience” over by the college. What is it, 2 miles from the Main Street branch (down by the Burger Blast) over there? We thought that was hilarious -”These hicks can’t even drive 2 miles to get to the bank - they gotta have another branch around the corner.” Not so long after that I realized I had joined the ranks of “the hicks” when I pulled up to the ATM on Main Street to find it out of order, and my first thought was “Aw man, now I gotta drive all the way over to the college!”
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And, looking at the opposite of small town life, fear seems to be the primary product of recent news and commentary. I really think they’ve crossed the line between “warning” and “fear mongering.”
Many folks are no longer confident they will be able to weather the present economic storm. They’re convinced our nation will drown in a sea of red ink.
I, on the other hand, believe that we will weather this storm in spite of the actions of our government.
That’s because ... I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 NIV
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How can I be so sure you ask? Well, our last grandchild wasn't supposed to survive at birth. He was very premature when he decided to come out sideways. My daughter lived in the country outside Springhill, LA and her husband took her to the little hospital there where the doctor on call was an elderly gentleman who didn't waste time before calling for helicopter transport. Of course, helicopters don't like to carry women in labor since most medical units don't have good access to the lower abdomen while in flight. But they took her anyway. At Willis Knighton in Shreveport, the foremost expert in trans lateral deliveries "happened" to be there when the chopper landed. He took Vanessa to surgery right away and both she and our 4th grandson (Ethan Elijah) survived. But they told us the trauma of the incident had irreparably damaged his arm and he would probably lose it, if he survived. So they took him to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where he survived and his arm began to turn pink again (it was black and dead looking when he was delivered.) Then they told us he might keep the arm but it would be useless. A few days later, he started moving the arm. Well, they said, it may move but he'll need a lot of physical therapy for it to work properly. They were wrong again. Then they decided that Ethan would be retarded. Oops, another mistake, he came out of NICU after two months with almost 100% of everything working just fine, mental, physical, the works.
His only problem now is that he's so spoiled you can smell him all the way to Little Rock.
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You see, every time bad news comes our way, we respond the way Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king in Daniel 3:16 - 18 KJV; “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods...”
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No matter what the problem, someone can find something funny about it. My mother told many stories about growing up during the economic depression of the 1930s. My favorite involved a piece of salt pork.
During those hard times, meat was an expensive commodity, reserved for special occasions. And when possible, the whole neighborhood would share in any “bounty” found. In this instance, the neighbors were sharing a piece of salt pork to season their “greens” and peas. This worked pretty well until one of the ladies “ruined” the salt pork by cooking black Crowder peas with it. The pork took on the color of the peas and no one else wanted to use it after that.
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St. James Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church are preparing for the Lenten Soup Luncheons that will be held 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday from March 4 to April 1. The luncheons feature a simple menu of soup and bread. They will be held in the fellowship hall of First Presbyterian Church, 1417 N. Jackson. A $7 donation is requested. Proceeds will go toward the benevolence projects of both churches.
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My classmate and wife of my coworker Terry, Cathey Waller died Friday, February 20, 2009 at St. Vincent’s Health System in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was born September 18, 1951 in Magnolia, Arkansas to Alvin Ann (Boyd) McDaniel and the late James Russell Jenkins.
Cathey was a member of the First Baptist Church, she enjoyed working in her garden and loved being with her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father, Jack Jenkins, step-father, Conway McDaniel, sister, Janet Jenkins Saul, and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Boyd.
Survivors are her husband of 39 years, Terry Waller of Magnolia, Arkansas; sons, Scott Waller and wife Shelia of Magnolia, Arkansas, Chris Waller and wife Priscilla of Magnolia, Arkansas; mother, Alvin Ann (Boyd) McDaniel of Mt. Pleasant, Texas; brother, Boyd Jenkins and wife Leslie of Frisco, Texas; grandchildren, Braden Waller, Hannah Waller, and Ethan Waller all of Magnolia, Arkansas; brother-in-law, Charlie Saul of Tyler, Texas; sister-in-law, Elanor Holly and husband James of Magnolia, Arkansas; nephew, Stuart Saul of Tyler, Texas; niece, Sarah Saul of Tyler, Texas; special friends, Mike and Kathryn Jackson of Magnolia, Arkansas, George and Pat Lowery of El Dorado, Arkansas, Joy St. John of Warren, Arkansas, and Barbara Rotton of Magnolia, Arkansas; numerous cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 23, 2009 at Lewis Chapel with Bro. David Watkins officiating. Burial will follow at Magnolia City Cemetery under the direction of Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. of Magnolia. Visitation will be Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church or the Leukemia Foundation.
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Our Magnolia High School Class of ‘69 40th Reunion will be held June 19, 20 and 21. Fellow classmates will remember Mr. Fudge, our Junior High English teacher. Calvin Louis Fudge, 82, passed away on Feb. 16, 2009.
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Taylor High School received the Bronze Award in America's Best High Schools annual rankings. Taylor was one of 40 schools in Arkansas that were recognized for outstanding academic achievements. Taylor also ranked second in the state in 11th grade Literacy.
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The Arkansas Senate gave final approval Thursday to a bill that mirrors a federal law banning late-term abortions and sent the measure to Gov. Mike Beebe, who has said he will sign it into law.
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Have you heard of The Fresh Air Fund? [www.freshair.org] The Fresh Air Fund is now accepting applications for counselors for this coming summer of '09. We hire staff members with a wide range in some pretty amazing fields. We are looking for college-aged men and women who love to work with children. I put together this social media news release which explains it all: [http://freshairfundcounselors.smnr.us/]
The Fresh Air Fund is also looking for Fresh Air hosts for the summer to open their homes to a child, and any help would be appreciated. Thank you so much and please let me know if you have any questions.
Best, Sara Wilson, The Fresh Air Fund [sara@freshair.org]
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I've almost given up on "correcting" the stuff people send out. At first, I'd go to Snopes or other sites get the truth and then forward it to the folks who sent out the junk. But it's like trying to hold back the ocean. They continue to share this stuff. I only do it now when it's particularly egregious. Of course, sometimes I agree with the posting, even if it isn't true. :~)
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The $787 billion economic-stimulus bill offers only $29 billion for road and bridge work. U.S. chemical producers and other manufacturers had lobbied Congress for more funds, including funds for rail lines, port facilities construction and more support for the home construction industry, which is a downstream consumer of chemicals, resins and synthetic fibers. An additional federal spending plan -- aimed at stopping foreclosures -- is expected in about two weeks. ICIS news [http://www.icis.com/Articles/2009/02/14/9192791/us-senate-gives-final-approval-to-787bn-stimulus-bill.html]
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Check out our nephew Eric’s website [www.zoelifestyle.com/ericwaller] a Christian based company from Warner Robins GA.
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UPDATE TO Taylor - Voigt Family/Friends Cookbook
Our cousin, Shannon Voigt, is planning to update the Taylor-Voigt Family/Friends Cookbook this spring. If you have any great new family recipes you would like added please email them to me by the end of February and I’ll forward them to Shannon.
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Just a reminder that those looking for quality, free photo editing software should try “GIMP” [http://www.gimp.org/]. [http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/].
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Don’t forget to use GoodSearch [http://www.goodsearch.com/] when you search the Internet!
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DarynKagan.com - - 9-year-old Lim Ding Wen had a reasonable desire. He wanted a fun application for kids to go on iPhone. The amazing twist? This 9-year-old computer whiz created the program himself. Check out the story and "Doodle Kids" in the App Store. Your kids will love it. [http://darynkagan.demo.nimbussoftware.com/kids/stories/ki_090220_9yocomputerprogrammer.html]
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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/] - - Jeremy T. Lock - - Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
Awarded: Bronze Star

It’s 1 p.m., Aug. 16, 2006, on a white-hot highway 70 miles west of Baghdad. One soldier is down after being hit by a sniper, and bullets kick up dust a few yards from Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock. “Cover me!” he yells to a U.S. gunner. Adrenaline floods his body, and he runs as fast as he can, faster than he thought possible, to get even closer to the action. Armed with a Nikon digital camera, Lock starts shooting … photographs.

Lock photographed soldiers crouching behind cars as bullets whizzed in from a field. He turned his lens toward the soldiers tending to the fallen GI. Lock saw they needed a hand. He picked up the wounded soldier’s M-4 rifle and provided cover until the GI was pulled to safety. Lock then switched back to his camera. The wounded soldier survived.

It was this battle and Lock’s ability to switch from photographer to fighter in a split second without thought that earned him a Bronze Star. As a 15-year Air Force photographer that is assigned to the 1st Combat Camera Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, he routinely braves bullets and bombs to tell the military’s story through the lenses of his Nikon cameras. He has photographed U.S. service members in action during multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He has participated in more than 90 missions occurring “outside the wire” resulting in more than 2,350 of the highest quality still images that are used to record history.

Combat photographers are generally paired with military combat videographers and are embedded with units. They accompany those units as they perform their missions.

One of Lock’s most poignant photos among his award winning portfolio was taken in Iraq in August 2006. The image depicts a grimacing Iraqi citizen lying in a Ramadi street. He had been caught in the middle of a firefight between U.S. troops and insurgents, according to Lock.

“We really don’t know who shot him,” Lock recalled. “We did a traffic control stop, and right before we mounted up, one of our soldiers took a bullet to the back and we got into a gunfight. After searching houses, this guy was found lying wounded on his side.”

The Iraqi had been hit in the hip, Lock said, noting the injured man received medical treatment by U.S. medics and survived. The wounded Iraqi’s photo was intentionally taken from an angle, Lock noted. “I just tried to show the viewer something different than what the normal eye would see,” the veteran photographer explained. “A good photo will tell the whole story in a split-second of a frame,” Lock said. “It leaves a lasting impression and will be etched into your mind.”

Lock’s photos have won many awards and also appeared in major publications such as the New York Times and the LA Times.

Whenever he accompanies a unit, Lock arms himself with two Nikon D2X digital cameras and a 9 mm Beretta automatic, so that when he’s with a team, be it Army, Marines or Special Forces, he is an asset, instead of being a liability. He said he takes turns with the troops he accompanies, watching each other’s backs.

Lock recalls being shot at numerous times during his tours in war-zones. During firefights, “adrenalin starts rushing, and your training kicks in,” Lock explained. “I tend not to be scared until the night before a mission or just afterward.”

For Lock, the medal is a reminder of the inherent risks in capturing images of war, along with the difficult decisions they sometimes make. Lock summarizes it well when he says most photographers aren’t faced with the choice of shooting a photograph or a person.

Excerpts taken from article by dippold, July 17, 2007 and The Post and Courier, Charleston, SC, January 31, 2007.
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America is not at war. The military is at war. - - America is at the mall, or watching the movie stars.
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This attachment was written by David Stalnaker's son-in-law that is currently serving in Afghanistan
Please pass it on, Thanks Jay Elliott
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This is a very moving account of what soldiers are going thru. It will make us all more thankful for what they sacrifice. It’s a real letter from our friend’s son-in-law in Afghanistan . Lisa Elliott
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All,
I wish I could give a positive update to everyone but the events have not been overly positive of late. I prefer not to dwell on the negative and rarely bring up the bad when I am communicating back home, but I do want to share with you an event we call the Fallen Comrade Ceremony. It is a respectful but heart wrenching thing to be a part of. I would never wish to make a spectacle of such a ceremony, but I do wish all Americans could witness one first hand. You probably never will, so I will describe the most recent one we had here at Camp Phoenix . It was my sixth such ceremony here but I describe this one for a specific reason that I will get to later.

We have the Fallen Comrade Ceremony in what we call Patriot Square . It is outside and we all stand in formation throughout the ceremony. The ceremony includes several things and typically last about an hour. The standard agenda is the National Anthem, followed by one or two other songs, prayer, someone that personally knew the Service Members speaks, the Commander speaks, the roll call (the Service Member's name is shouted four times by the senior enlisted person present - as if calling the roll), the playing of taps, and then ends with the three volleys of gunfire (commonly referred to as a 21 gun salute even though that is technically incorrect). After the ceremony is over you have the option to pay personal respect to the Fallen Service Member by joining a line and individually saluting his/her boots, weapon and helmet that are arranged in the center of the square. I'm sure you have seen this tradition/arrangement of boots, weapon and helmet in pictures or on TV
Some of you have already mentioned that you saw in the news the two Illinois Soldiers assigned to Task Force Phoenix that were killed last Sunday. Unfortunately, they will most likely not be the only two Illinois Soldiers that make the ultimate sacrifice in the 8 months left of their deployment. But as the first two it hit the Illinois group I'm working with very hard, and rightfully so. Both Soldiers were in their late 20's. One had married right before deploying, the other was a husband and father of four.
The ceremony for the fallen Illinois Soldiers was scheduled to begin at 9:30 yesterday. At 9:00 it began to snow harder than it has snowed here all winter. A Fallen Comrade Ceremony is not something you cancel or postpone. At 9:15 we lined up in formation. By 9:30 I was completely wet. In formation you can only see the person in front of you - he was completely soaked as well. By 10:00 I was colder than I can ever remember being - but I could not have cared less. In a way, it even seemed appropriate - that several hundred of us suffer extreme discomfort while we honored two that died serving. And words cannot even describe the disparity between our discomfort and the families pain.
Now the part that struck me the most: The ceremony concluded around 10:30. As I previously stated, it is optional then to pay respect by joining the line and saluting one at a time. There were several hundred of us - all wet - all frozen to the bone - all with warmer places we could be. Not one walked away. I cannot tell you how long the line was, only that the last person in line waited another hour in the cold and snow for his turn to salute. Only rare pockets of mankind share that type of commitment.
Commitment to each other is what makes our professional military different from the rest. Commitment to freedom is what makes our country different from the rest. Commitment to Progress is why our military and our country are still in Afghanistan . I am privileged to have saluted two Illinois Soldiers that died because they were committed to all three.

I look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Erin
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Thanks to Gary Foreman for sharing this with us.
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Bug recommends . . . Kit Lange is an Air Force veteran and military writer who specializes in investigating murder cases stemming from actions in combat. Her work was used as evidence in the Lt. Ilario Pantano case, and has been quoted extensively in other news publications for other cases. In 2005, she co-wrote a 10-part series disproving war crime allegations against an elite Army unit; her blog [EuphoricReality.com] was named as one of the top 10 milblogs of the year. She is also the National Web Coordinator for Gathering of Eagles, a nationally-recognized troop support organization. Kit holds a degree in Aircraft Maintenance Technology from Spartan College of Aeronautics, and is working on a second degree in Aviation Technology Management. She resides in Tulsa , Oklahoma . This site has her comments on our current political situation [http://euphoricreality.com/2008/11/28/my-predictions-for-the-obama-presidency/comment-page-2/#comment-5632]
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The latest from Michael Yon, the foremost “milnews” blogger on the web. If you haven’t read Michael’s dispatches, I strongly urge you to do so at once. It’s important that we all know what’s happening in our world.
“Bug”
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About 10 years ago, I read a PhD. dissertation by Army psychologist Major Jeffrey Stolrow. The selection and training of special operations soldiers is difficult and expensive. Probably at no time do we have enough special operations forces in uniform, and Dr. Stolrow's study was part of an effort to more efficiently identify recruits with a high probability to complete selection courses. Ideally, 100% of those who pass screening would become special operations soldiers, but the failure rates continue to remain high. I recall Dr. Stolrow explaining over the phone that there seemed to chemical markers in the blood that could indicate higher potential for success during selection, and that these markers were related to stress and the ability to stay calm or quickly bounce back after high-stress situations.

But ultimately it would seem that selection is as much art as science. The Special Forces soldiers I have known tend to be nothing like what is portrayed in the movies. Typically, even other Special Forces, and special operations soldiers, would have difficulty picking their own brethren out of a crowd. They almost never "look the part."

Please see "Ultimate Stress Test: Special Forces Training." [http://www.newsweek.com/id/184156]
–
Very Respectfully,
Your correspondent,
Michael Yon

Http://www.michaelyon-online.com/index.php
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http://www.shelfari.com
http://www.shelfari.com/bugsbleat/shelf
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Photos on the front of this week’s “Bleat” include members of “Leadership Magnolia” participate in emergency response training by Albemarle and Office of Emergency Management personnel.
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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.bugsbleat4q08.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 Address, Be sure and keep him in your prayers.:
Pat Antoon 06669-010, Federal Prison Camp, P.O. Box 9300, Texarkana, TX 75505
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Recipe(s) of the week - - Four-Alarm Beef Steak Kabobs - - Yields 6 servings
Hot and spicy grilled sirloin and pepper kabobs.

Ingredients

1 ½ lb top sirloin steak, about 1 1/4inches thick (sirloin top butt)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tbsp hot pepper sauce (or cayenne pepper sauce )
1 medium garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp hot red pepper flakes (to taste)
1 large red bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces

Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
Calories 300
Total Carbs 1.9g
Dietary Fiber 0.6g
Sugars 1.1g
Total Fat 19.4g
Saturated Fat 6.4g
Unsaturated Fat 13g
Potassium 64.3mg
Protein 27.2g
Sodium 124.6mg

Dietary Exchanges - - 2 Fat, 4 Meat, ½ Vegetable

Directions
1 Cut meat into 1 1/4 inch cubes.
2 Combine the olive oil, cilantro, pepper sauce, garlic, and crushed red pepper (optional) in a large bowl.
3 Add beef and toss to coat.
4 Thread beef and bell pepper evenly onto six 10-inch skewers
5 If grilling: Grill, uncovered for 8 to 11 minutes for rare to medium doneness. If broiling: place kabobs on broiler pan and place broiler pan 3-4 inches from heat for 9-12 minutes.
6 Garnish with salt and/or cilantro, as desired.

Use extra cilantro and crushed red pepper for extra flavor.

Printed from dLife.com
[http://www.dlife.com/dLife/diabetic-recipes/3301/Four-Alarm-Beef-Steak-Kabobs.html]
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BreakPoint
Feeding Frenzy
By Chuck Colson
2/20/2009
Stimulating Times for Lobbyists

The feeding frenzy has started.

I was on an airplane the other day heading to the funeral of a very dear friend. Next to me was seated a man in a business suit who, I noticed, was poring over a statute printed off the Internet related to lobbying. He was, I soon realized, a local government official heading off to Washington to lobby for a piece of the pie—money from the economic stimulus bill, now known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

As he told me, “Everybody’s going to Washington.”

And with good reason. Congress has served up a buffet of $800 billion in what I can only call one of the biggest grab-bag boondoggles in American history. And the people who stand to benefit most, as Robert Frank pointed out on his blog at the Wall Street Journal, are lobbyists. “When there are big contracts,” he wrote, “there are lobbyists. K-Street is back in business!”

I can only think back to my own days as an attorney, when my firm represented companies doing business with the government. If I were still in the business, as they say, I’d be making millions.

For years on BreakPoint, I have railed against earmarking—that is, when congressmen slip expenditures into the budgeting process without debate. Now, as the Washington Times has pointed out, President Obama claimed that “the stimulus plan contains no earmarks because Congress technically did not use the earmark process for lawmakers to request and drop in specific spending items.”

Well, forget about the technicalities, there is enough pork in this stimulus package to feed the world for years. Will someone please tell me how millions of dollars to protect the habitat of a marsh mouse in San Francisco, or millions for the National Endowment for the Arts, or billions for the ACORN neighborhood organizing groups is going to stimulate the economy?

But this is what happens when legislators are in the hip pockets of lobbyists and special interests.

I applauded President Obama for his new ethics rules prohibiting lobbyists from serving in his administration. And he was right to promise transparency in government.

Sadly, however, the President has granted numerous waivers so that certain lobbyists could join his administration. And as for transparency, Mr. Obama pledged to “end the practice of writing legislation behind closed doors,” and to “expose special interest tax breaks to public scrutiny,” and to allow the public five days to review non-emergency legislation before he signs it.

What happened with the stimulus bill? The bill was written almost entirely behind closed doors. The Washington Post reported that special tax breaks were given at the last minute to, for example, Detroit automakers and to buyers of RVs and motorcycles. And of course, not only did the public not have five days to review the bill, neither did legislators!

I have said for years on BreakPoint that the biblical role of government is to preserve order and do justice. It is not to dole out favors or to make lobbyists rich. Yet that is what is happening today to an unprecedented degree, even by Washington standards.

And both parties are responsible. When the Republicans controlled the Congress, they failed to fix it, and now the Democrats are perpetuating it as well.

So I say demand that our leaders clean up their act. Public outrage may be the only thing left between us and the loss of our form of government.

For Further Reading and Information

Robert Frank, “Who Will Get Rich Off the Stimulus?,” Wall Street Journal, 12 February 2009.

“Pelosi's Mouse Slated for $30M Slice of Cheese,” Washington Times, 12 February 2009.

“Certain Firms, Industries Got Last-Minute Gifts in Stimulus,” Washington Post, 15 February 2009.

“The Peril of Disregarding the Past: Liberalism and Conservatism,” BreakPoint Commentary, 16 February 2009.

“Giving Them a Pass: Pragmatism over Principle,” BreakPoint Commentary, 28 January 2009.

Regis Nicoll, “What the World Needs Now: The Real Economic Solution,” BreakPoint Online, 16 January 2009.

© 2009 Prison Fellowship - - http://www.breakpoint.org/
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Words of the Week:
expurgate: to remove offensive parts
myopia: nearsightedness
pinchbeck: something that is counterfeit
interminable: seeming to have no end
burnish: to polish and make shiny
consternation: a sudden dread
tautological: needlessly repetitious
ellipsis: omission of word(s)
from http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/
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"Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence." - Erich Fromm

"A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities." - Herman Melville

"The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice." - Mahatma Gandhi

"The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." - Benjamin Franklin

"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence." - Aristotle

It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. - Carl Sagan

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. - Jack London
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BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
http://breakingchristiannews.com/

The Trophy of a Life Saved: Updates on Lia's LIFE Speech
Aimee Herd (February 20, 2009)
"Please join us in continuing to pray for her YouTube video to spread virally and impact countless lives."
Last week we featured a story [http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=6355] about Lia, a 12-year-old in seventh grade who was giving a speech on abortion.
Although she initially encountered resistance from her teachers to choose another topic or forfeit her opportunity to participate in a speech competition, Lia decided to stay with her topic, and eventually her teacher—moved by her presentation—relented and allowed her to compete.
Lia then gave her speech in front of the entire school, and although the principal and other teachers deemed her the "obvious winner," the judges disqualified her because of her topic and stance on abortion.
However, later that day, and after much discussion, the judges reversed their decision, making Lia the winner of the speech contest. Lia advanced to the regional competition with her message of Life.
On Tuesday night, Feb. 17th, Lia again gave her speech, and was said to have done an "outstanding job," however, she did not win. It was suspected that Lia's topic was still keeping her from advancing further.
Sometimes though, we cannot measure victories with trophies, and such is the case with Lia's speech, as you will see when you read the excerpt from her mother's email below—from the Bound4Life website:
"Lia wasn't really that upset…especially when she considered that the only difference between winning the competition and not winning was having a couple extra pictures taken and being given a small trophy. Lia has a much bigger trophy—somebody commented to us on our YouTube account that her aunt watched Lia's video and decided to NOT have an abortion because of it. Yay God! Others have commented that they either never thought of the issue before or were pro-choice—but now they have changed their opinions. So, having a life saved is the best trophy ever!"
Bound4Life adds, "We're thrilled with Lia's courage and conviction. And YES, the best trophy is a life saved. Please join us in continuing to pray for her YouTube video to spread virally and impact countless lives."
Please watch Lia's speech at the link provided, and send it to whomever God puts on your heart.
Source: Bound4Life.com

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: The Office Intern

Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Rodney) -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
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Several years ago there was an office intern who was none too swift. One day he was typing and turned to a secretary and said, "I'm almost out of typing paper. What do I do?"

"Just use the copier machine paper," she told him.

With that, the intern took his last remaining blank piece of typing paper, put it on the photocopier and proceeded to make five blank copies.
_ _______________________________ _

GCF: No Enemies

Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Chris) -Tom
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A new minister was talking to the oldest member of his congregation.

"I am 90 years old, sir, and I haven't an enemy in the world," said the aged one.

"That is a beautiful thought," said the clergyman approvingly.

"Yes sir," was the answer. "I'm thankful to say that I've outlived them all."
_ _______________________________ _

GCF: The Bar

Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Harry) -Tom
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A guy goes into a bar. He's sitting on the stool, enjoying his drink when he hears, "You look great!" He looks around - there's nobody near him. He hears the voice again, "No really, you look terrific."

The guy looks around again. Nobody. He hears, "Is that a new shirt or something? Because you are absolutely glowing!" He then realizes that the voice is coming from a dish of nuts on the bar.

"Hey," the guy calls to the bartender, "What's with the nuts?"

"Oh," the bartender answers, "They're complimentary."
_ _______________________________ _

GCF: Priests and Golf

Emailed to me another humor list (Good Clean Funnies List) -Tom To subscribe The Good Clean Funnies List, (not to be confused with this list, which is Good Clean Fun) send an email to: gcfl-request@gcfl.net with subject = add
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Taking advantage of a balmy day in New York, my brother and three other priests swapped their clerical garb for polos and khakis and time out on the golf course. After several really horrible shots, their caddy asked, "You guys wouldn't be priests by any chance?"

"Actually, yes, we are," one cleric replied. "Why?"

"Because," said the caddy, "I've never seen such bad golf and such clean language!"
_ _______________________________ _

GCF: Bed Time

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
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The father is telling his son stories to help him sleep. The only sound is the murmur of dad's voice.

Two hours pass, and there's silence in the room. The mother creeps to the door and whispers, "Is he asleep, dear?"

"Yes, Mommy" says her son.
_ _______________________________ _
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Why do fat chance and \ /
\ _/ slim chance mean the same thing? \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Be nice to your kids. \ /
\ _/ They'll choose your nursing home. \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Growing old is mandatory, \ /
\ _/ but growing up is optional. \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Some common elements: \ /
\ _/ hydrogen, oxygen, stupidity... \_ /
/ / \ \
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_|\\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / A person who is nice to you, \ /
\ _/ but rude to the waiter, \_ /
/ / is NOT a nice person. \ \
_ ____________________________ _
/ )| Thomas S. Ellsworth |( \
/ / | tellswor@slonet.org | \ \
_( (_ | http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor | _) )_
(((\ \>|_/ )___________________( \_| ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
"Here’s one that really happened. There was an old truck that an oil company used. It was rusty and didn't run very smooth. The clutch slipped and it smoked real bad. They were working around one of those old oil pits that were common in south Arkansas years ago. Well the guy driving the truck got to close to the edge of the pit and the truck rolled over in to the pit. The workers gathered around looking at the truck as it sank in the oil. One of the workers said "Well it finally got a good oil job.""

Thanks to David Childs
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Guy gets back from a weekend fishin trip.
Wife says, "How did the trip go."
Guy says, "Great, but you didn't pack me any underwear."
Wife says, " Yes I did............ I put them in your tackle box."

Thanks to David Childs
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A man lay sprawled across three entire seats in the posh theater.
When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the man, "Sorry, sir, but you're only allowed one seat."
The man groaned but didn't budge.
The usher became impatient. "Sir, if you don't get up from there I'm going to have to call the manager."
Again, the man just groaned, which infuriated the usher who turned and marched briskly back up the aisle in search of his manager. In a few moments, both the usher and the manager returned and stood over the man. Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move him, but with no success.
Finally, they summoned the police.
The cop surveyed the situation briefly then asked, "All right buddy, what's your name?"
"Sam," the man moaned.
"Where ya from, Sam?"
With pain in his voice Sam replied "... the balcony."

Thanks to David Childs
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A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, 'I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger."

Thanks to Mindy Lawrence
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YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2009 when...

1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't the #9 on this list.

Thanks to Waneta
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Kissing a Nun

A taxi cab driver got a call to pick up someone from the airport. When he got there, he was surprised to see a nun waiting for the taxi. As she climbed into the car and gave the driver the address, the driver noticed how beautiful she was. As he drove on, he kept looking into his rear-view mirror at her. The nun couldn't help but notice him looking at her. Finally, the cab driver said, "You know, Sister, I think you're really quite beautiful."

"Well, thank you," she answered.

The driver went on, "I've always had a fantasy of kissing a nun."

"Really?" she asked. "Well, then, pull over." The driver did so. Then the nun asked him a few questions. "Are you married?" she asked.

"No," said the driver.

"Are you Catholic?"

"Yes," the man nodded.

"Well, all right then," she said and stepped out of the car and gave him a big kiss on the lips.

The driver felt so ashamed that he decided to tell her the truth. "Sister, I have to tell you the truth: I AM married and I'm NOT Catholic."

"That's okay," smiled the nun. "My name's Henry and I'm going to a Halloween party!"

Received from Tara.

(-:][:-)

Bad Facts

These responses actually appeared on real science tests. All were marked wrong:

"The pistol of a flower is its only protection against insects."

"Mushrooms always grow in damp places and so they look like umbrellas."

"H20 is hot water, and CO2 is cold water."

"To collect fumes of sulfur, hold a deacon over a flame in a test tube."

"Three kinds of blood vessels are arteries, vanes and caterpillars."

"To remove dust from the eye, pull the eye down over the nose."

"The alimentary canal is located in the northern part of Indiana."

Received from Brian.

(-:][:-)

Air Force Recruiter

The chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force decided that he would personally intervene in the recruiting crisis affecting all of our armed services. So, he directed that a nearby Air Force base be opened and that all eligible young men and women be invited. As he and his staff were standing near a brand-new F-15 Fighter, a pair of twin brothers who looked as if they had just stepped off a Marine Corps recruiting poster walked up to them.

The chief of staff walked up to them, stuck out his hand, and introduced himself. He looked at the first young man and asked, "Son, what skills can you bring to the Air Force?"

The young man looked at him and said, "I'm a pilot!"

The general got all excited, turned to his aide, and said, "Get him in today, all the paperwork done, everything, do it!" The aide hustled the young man off.

The general looked at the second young man and asked, "What skills to you bring to the Air Force?"

The young man said, "I chop wood!"

"Son," the general replied, "we don't need wood choppers in the Air Force. What do you know how to do?"

"I chop wood!"

"Young man," huffed the general, "you are not listening to me. We don't need wood choppers; this is the 21st century!"

"Well," the young man said, "you hired my brother!"

"Of course we did," said the general. "He's a pilot!"

The young man rolled his eyes and said, "But I have to chop it before he can pile it!"

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

Drummond vs. the Baptists

In a small Texas town, the owner of Drummond's Bar began construction on a new building to increase his business. The local Baptist church started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and prayers. Work progressed right up till the week before opening when lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground.

The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means. The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building's demise in its reply to the court.

As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork. At the hearing he commented, "I don't know how I'm going to decide this, but as it appears from the paperwork, we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that does not."

Received from Matt.

(-:][:-)

Favorite Candy

Our phone rang late one night, and my wife Nancy picked it up. She said, "No," and slammed it down.

"Who was that?"

"Some boy for Carolyn," she said, referring to our daughter.

Then it rang again. Nancy listened, said, "KitKat," and hung up.

"What now?" I asked.

"A boy plans to ask Carolyn to the prom and wanted to know what her favorite candy is. He's going to put the invitation into a candy basket."

The next morning a basket of candy was on our porch. "But, Mom," our daughter protested when she heard the story, "KitKat isn't my favorite candy."

"I know," Nancy said. "It's mine."

Received from Thomas Ellsworth.

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
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
To print or email this funny to others, go to http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20060113
The latest GCFL funny can always be found on the web at http://www.gcfl.net/latest.php
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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - - http://www.madkane.com/madness/2008/12/03/tarp/ - - According to the GAO, TARP (the gazillion dollar Troubled Asset Relief Program) is seriously lacking in oversight. Why? Because of a single Senator’s anonymous block on the program’s IG (Inspector General) nominee.
Sen. Max Baucus, the fellow who made sure the TARP bill provided for an IG, isn’t too pleased. And that brings me to my latest limerick:

I’m never a person to carp,
But nobody oversees TARP.
One anonymous “hold”
Stopped the process out cold
Of confirming an IG who’s sharp.

© Madeleine Begun Kane. All Rights Reserved.
1st Published Bridge News
http://www.madkane.com/
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Written by a 15 yr. Old school kid in Arizona: since the pledge of allegiance and the lord's prayer are not allowed in most public schools anymore because the word 'God' is mentioned... a kid in Arizona wrote this new school prayer :
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks..
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!

~Amen~

Thanks to Gary Foreman
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Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his economics professor and says, "I don't understand this stimulus bill. Can you explain it to me?"

The professor replied, "I don't have any time to explain it at my office, but if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me with my weekend project, I'll be glad to explain it to you." The student agreed.

At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the professor's house. The professor stated that the weekend project involved his backyard pool.

They both went out back to the pool, and the professor handed the student a bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket, the professor said, "First, go over to the deep end, and fill your bucket with as much water as you can." The student did as he was instructed.

The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the shallow end, and then dump all the water from your bucket into it." The student was naturally confused, but did as he was told.

The professor then explained they were going to do this many more times, and began walking back to the deep end of the pool.

The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we doing this?"

The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to make the shallow end much deeper.

The student didn't think the economics professor was serious, but figured that he would find out the real story soon enough.

However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the deep end, the student began to become worried that his economics professor had gone mad. The student finally replied, "All we're doing is wasting valuable time and effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this process is all over, everything will be at the same level it was before, so all you'll really have accomplished is the destruction of what could have been truly productive action!"

The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile, "Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus bill."

Thanks to Waneta
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When in England, at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of 'empire building' by George Bush.
He answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return."

You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?'
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day , they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each & every day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?'

You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.' He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'

You could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~
AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE...

Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.
'You have been to France before, monsieur?' the customs officer asked sarcastically. Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.
Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.' The American said, ''The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it.
'Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France!'
The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, ''Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country , I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to.'

You could have heard a pin drop.

Thanks to Waneta
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Note: "Yesterday" refers to January 20, 2009. Inauguration Day.
The MSM haven't yet had a chance to highlight this contrast. Maybe on a slow news day. But I thought it was an interesting way of looking at things.

Yesterday
1. Outgoing President George W. Bush quietly boards his helicopter and leaves for Texas, commenting only: "Today is not about me. Today is a historical day for our nation and people."
Eight years ago yesterday:
1. Outgoing President Bill Clinton schedules two separate radio addresses to the nation, and organizes a public farewell speech/ rally in downtown Washington D.C. scheduled to directly conflict with incoming President Bush's inauguration ceremony.

Yesterday:
2. President Bush leaves office without issuing a single Presidential pardon, only granting a commutation of sentence to two former border patrol agents convicted of shooting a convicted drug smuggler. He does not grant any type of clemency to Scooter Libby or any other former political aide, ally, or business partner.
Eight years ago yesterday:
2. President Clinton issues 140 pardons and several commutations of sentence on his final day in office. Included in these are: billionaire financier, convicted tax evader, and leading Democratic campaign contributor Marc Rich; Whitewater scandal figure Susan McDougal; Congressional Post Office Scandal figure and former Democratic Congressman Dan Rostenkowski; convicted bank fraud, sexual assault and child porn perpetrator and former Democratic Congressman Melvin Reynolds; and convicted drug felon Roger Clinton, the President's half-brother.

Yesterday:
3. The Bush daughters leave gift baskets in the White House bedrooms for the Obama daughters, containing flowers, candy, stuffed animals, DVD's and CD's, and heartfelt notes of encouragement and advice for the young girls on how to prepare for their new lives in the White House.
Eight years ago Yesterday:
3. Clinton and Gore staffers rip computer wires and electrical outlets from the White House walls, stuff piles of notebook papers into the White House toilets, systematically remove the letter "W" from every computer key-pad in the entire White House, and damage several thousand dollars worth of furniture in the White House master bedroom.

Headlines On This Date 4 Years Ago:
"Republicans spending $42 million on inauguration while troops die in unarmored Humvees"
"Bush extravagance exceeds any reason during tough economic times"
"Fat cats get their $42 million inauguration party, Ordinary Americans get the shaft"
Headlines Today:
"Historic Obama Inauguration will cost only $170 million"
"Obama Spends $170 million on inauguration; America Needs A Big Party"
"Everyman Obama shows America how to celebrate"
"Citibank executives contribute $8 million to Obama Inauguration"

Thanks to Sam
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The Pump Handle. A water cooler for the public health crowd.

Friday Blog Roundup - February 20, 2009

President Obama’s visit to Canada has several bloggers thinking about tar sands:
Ian Austen at Green Inc. [http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/obama-and-canadas-controversial-oil-patch/] gives an overview of our two countries’ positions on this dirty source of oil.
Kate Sheppard at Gristmill [http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/2/19/14215/3074] explores how Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper are explaining their approach to tar sands.
Several bloggers at NRDC’s Switchboard [http://switchboard.nrdc.org/dirtyfuels.php] weigh in on the issue.

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.

Thursday, February 19, 2009
Sign on to restore the TRI program!
In December 2006, the EPA dramatically reduced the amount of information the agency collects on toxic pollution under the TRI program. Since 1987, polluting facilities have provided detailed information about which chemicals are released, in what quantity, and where they go. TRI is widely recognized as one of the most effective environmental programs ever created. For example, TRI resulted in companies reducing toxic pollution by 50 percent within the program's first ten years.

In 2006, EPA significantly raised the threshold for detailed reporting on toxic pollution. The threshold went from 500 pounds to 5,000 pounds with an additional requirement that only 2,000 pounds of that pollution be released directly to the environment. The new rules also created an unprecedented exemption for reporting low-level disposals of persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs), including lead and mercury, which have been proven to be dangerous in even the smallest quantities. The agency made these changes despite overwhelming opposition from the American people, scientists, academics, public interest groups, and many others.

Currently, New York and twelve other states are suing the EPA to restore the old reporting thresholds. OMB Watch and U.S. PIRG are gathering signatures on a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. In the letter, we urge Administrator Jackson to take the necessary steps to settle the TRI lawsuit and restore the TRI program.

With a new administration settling into the White House and a new administrator taking charge at EPA, we now have an excellent opportunity to restore and improve the TRI program. The more voices we have calling for this move, the better our chances of quickly restoring the public's right to know.

Please take a moment to add your name or your organization to the letter.

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. Staff Sgt. Marc J. Small, 29, of Collegeville, Pa., died Feb. 12 at Faramuz, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

02. Staff Sgt. Sean D. Diamond, 41, of Dublin, Calif., died Feb. 15 in As Salam, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 610th Engineer Support Company, 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.

03. Staff Sgt. Daniel L. Hansen, 24, of Tracy, Calif., died Feb. 14 while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Air Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Iwakuni, Japan.

04. Sgt. 1st Class Raymond J. Munden, 35, of Mesquite, Texas, died Feb. 16 at Forward Operating Base Tillman in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using indirect fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

05. Staff Sgt. Timothy P. Davis, 28, of Aberdeen, Wash., died Feb. 20 near Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

06. PFC Cwislyn K. Walter, 19, of Honolulu died Feb. 19 in Kuwait City, Kuwait, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 29th Special Troops Battalion, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Hawaii National Guard.
~
Soldier Missing in Action From the Korean War 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 the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

He is Sgt. Stanley E. Baylor, U.S. Army, of Webster, N.Y. His funeral will be held on Aug. 1 in Warsaw, N.Y.

Representatives from the Army’s Mortuary Office met with Baylor’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.

Baylor was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On Nov. 1, 1950, the 8th Cavalry was occupying a defensive position near Unsan, North Korea, in an area known as the “Camel’s Head,” when elements of two Chinese Communist Forces divisions struck the 1st Cavalry Division’s lines, collapsing the perimeter and forcing a withdrawal. The 3rd Battalion was surrounded and effectively ceased to exist as a fighting unit. Baylor was reported missing on Nov. 2, 1950, and was one of the more than 350 servicemen unaccounted-for from the battle at Unsan.

Between 1991-94, North Korea gave the U.S. 208 boxes of remains believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. servicemen. Accompanying North Korean documents indicated that some of the remains were exhumed near Chonsung-Ri, Unsan County. This location correlates with Baylor’s last known location.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of Baylor’s remains, which were turned over in 1993.

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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"We have nothing to fear but fear itself." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt
"There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one candle."
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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Scheduled Activities
~~~
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.
[http://www.bannernews.net/]
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"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
~~~~~
Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Again, thanks to all our contributors this week.
"Remember Pearl Harbor? Remember 9/11!" --"Bug"
God bless and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Acts 18:14-17 2 Tim 3:9-13 Num 7:5-9 Psa 50:14-15 http://www.e-min.org/
God is Good and Faithful CU 73 IC JFM CSP NREMT-I KC5HII

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