Now, more than ever, the Internet must be wielded along with other media to cast bright lights on all who would destroy freedom in the world. Information is the torch of truth and its free flow is the bloodstream of democracy. -
Vinton Cerf, inventor of the Internet, September 12th, 2001
*
Credit: see old guy soldiers "editorial" below as an example of how I handle tweaked versions. It is amusing when I see my corrections (grammar, spelling or for brevity) and adaptations going around without credit - certainly not worth a tiz though. I'm the oddball who enjoys editing, even though I know most people never catch the fine points like a simple replacement of who for that when referring to a person. Hey, you can be AR too: http://www.therealmartha.com/editingetc/index.htmGo to http://www.usps.com/news/2001/press/pr01_1010tips.htm for the answers to: What constitutes a suspicious letter or parcel and what to do if received.
"SUSPICIOUS MAIL ALERT"
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18" x 24" (126kb)
Larger
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Learn more about bioterrorism, bomb threats, emergencies in federal buildings and more.
http://firstgov.gov/featured/usgresponse.html#bioterrorism
Visit the official Department of Defense site: http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/
or the Center for Disease Control:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax_g.htm
http://nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cd/wtc1hcp.html New York City Department of Health Responds to the World Trade Center (WTC) Disaster
"The battle is now joined on many fronts. We will not waver, we will not
tire, we will not falter and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail." - President George W. Bush
Loved that when I
watched him say it. TV Guide (10-20) ran "Facing the Nation" by Michael
Bechloss, "... what ... viewers will notice is a leader speaking not from cue cards,
but from his gut," finishing up with, "The most effective way to persuade the
public is simply to be real." With no apologies to Bechloss, duh! Thanks
for pointing it out though, some are still confused.
Our apologies to the Grand Canyon but surely God won't be found there, he is dwelling this moment above the ruins of the World Trade Center.
I am glad I serve a God who IS able to be in New York, the Grand Canyon ... and EVERYWHERE at the same time. This remark really diminishes the content ... sorry, but it does.Our firemen no longer need ladders, for they already stand on pedestals 10 stories high. Surely every American wished they could live in a community like that.
And I think they do. I can't help but feel most Americans would come out as troopers if given the same plight. OKC was on a smaller scale, but no less troopers. Do we want to put anyone on a pedestal? Isn't that sort of dangerous? I don't think I'm just being argumentative, but a couple things hit me wrong. And ... NYC will NEVER be the HEARTLAND!!!! Other than that, was pretty good. Analysis: What in the hell is wrong with you woman? New Yorkers can have God or anybody else they want or need, furthermore, they can call NY the top of the world if that helps too. I left the caps, don't they look stupid? Spelling and grammar OK, had to fix the ... though. (......... irritates me no end, looks like escaping brain cells. It's three dots, no more, no less.) Of course, also had to appropriately colorize. Oh yes, I do have fun.Review: The Concert
for the Heroes
By John Williamson, October 21,
2001
http://www.ucanhelp.com/rvw-concert_for_nyc.html
http://www.ucanhelp.com/main.html
Williamson is co-creator of the UCanHelp site. Obviously a man who practices what he preaches, he created the banner below after he noticed my request on a previous page. Find UCanHelp's best choice sites: Noteworthy Efforts and Links
The Longest Feelgood Sentence in the World
Neville receives readers' contributed feelgood words and phrases and adds them to his sentence. He believes words help shape emotions - think we could all expand our feelgood vocabularies.
Read something inspiring every day. When you get up in the morning, before you do anything else, spend 15 minutes reading something motivational or enlightening. Do the same thing at night for 15 minutes before you go to bed.
Find a quote that really means something to you, copy it or cut it out, and hang it where you can see it every day. A short quote can take you a million miles.
Take an honest look at the people around you. What kinds of attitudes do they bring to the table? Do they pump you up or bring you down? Everyone is entitled to a bad attitude now and again--but if the people you know are constantly angry, bitter, or scared--it might be time to find yourself a new crowd.
When you're going through a bad time, think about others who have gone through adversity and made it out the other side. Count your blessings, and recall other people who have turned bad attitudes around.
Be selective about the books and magazines you read, the shows and movies you watch, the tapes you listen to. Remember that just as inspiring movies can improve your attitude, too much negative content can have the opposite effect.
Find attitude mentors, people you can call for an infusion of excitement and enthusiasm. These are people who can teach you, often through their own accomplishments, what having a positive attitude can do for you.
Change your focus. Stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about those around you. Mark Twain once said, "If you want to cheer yourself up, cheer up everyone around you." Be of service to others. Help somebody else, with no expectations of getting anything back. Help move someone else's achievements forward, and your attitude will lift itself.
Copyright Barry Farber. Reprinted with permission from The Economics Press, Inc. Farber is president of Farber Training Systems Inc., a sales, management, and motivational training company. www.Zooba.com - Feed Your Brain, e-mail selections
From a
new reader:
We live
in Ft. Worth by way of San Antonio. We're both veterans, he was Air Force, I'm Army. I'm
also a GI Brat, which explains the different countries part. I now have two boys in the
Air Force, one state-side, the other overseas.
Also from Donna, good to copy and keep on file: Please remember to practice safe e-mailing etiquette when you wish to forward, or send a mass e-mail by copying and pasting into a new message. Remember to put your e-mail address in the TO: field and all of your recipients into the BCC: field. If they are not in the BCC field, then their identity is not protected. If you have trouble doing this go to send a blind carbon copy.
The anthrax mess has also screwed up soldier support efforts. From Sarah, AdoptSoldier:
It is with great sadness that I say that I must join the ranks in protecting our soldiers and will no longer send Any Soldier addresses. You will still receive your soldier as I get to your name on the list, however I must ask that all mail to Any Soldier must cease. The post office has said all Any Soldier APOs are being closed and mail will be returned. Please just hang in there until you get your soldier.I have learned that it is very true that Saudi and Kuwait areas will not allow religious material or pork. Also, they do not allow cards with cartoon characters or people, specially anything portraying kissing, hugging etc. They find this extremely offensive. Also, if you send magazines, there are no pictures allowed of women "dressed scantily." Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition is a HUGE no no. No alcohol or pornographic materials (not that you would send but still on the list). Someone also mentioned to me that beef is not permitted in some areas as the cow is considered sacred.
Make sure you include your return address on everything. Also, the postmark must be from the same area as the return address. Meaning I cannot put my return address (in Florida) on an envelope and then it have a Georgia postmark.Please understand it does take time for mail to get overseas. Usually about 2-3 weeks so you won't get a response right away. Our military men and women are very busy and may not be able to write back ... please do not let that discourage you!! They need to know we care.
The chat room for AOL is now open for members to use. Here is the link: Friends - AdoptSoldier.
Sarah Phelps, founder
Operation AdoptSoldierNBC has set up an arrangement with four warships in the
Indian Ocean to receive e-mails from Americans from around the nation. The ships are the
USS John Paul Jones, USS Comstock, USS Antietam and the USS Princeton. Thousands of
sailors and Marines aboard those ships say that they would love to hear from the folks
back at home. The e-mail address is:
troopsupport@nbc.com Not too sure about this one, I wrote several days ago, still no response.
Colleen of Hillbilly Cornbread is working on a special edition for military prayer requests. Crech43@aol.com subject line: Military prayer request
The Difference
By Colonel
Steven Arrington
17th Training Wing vice commander
Goodfellow AFB San Angelo, Texas
Over the years, I've talked a
lot about military spouses ... how special they are and the price they pay for
freedom too. The funny thing about it, is most military spouses don't consider themselves
different from other spouses. They do what they have to do, bound together not by
blood or merely friendship, but with a shared spirit whose origin is in the very essence
of what love truly is. Is there truly a difference? I think there is. You have to
decide for yourself.
Other spouses get married and look forward to building equity in a home and putting down
family roots. Military spouses get married and know they'll live in base housing or
rent, and their roots must be short so they can be transplanted frequently.
Other spouses decorate a home with flair and personality that will last a lifetime.
Military spouses decorate a home with flare tempered with the knowledge that no two base
houses have the same size windows or same size rooms. Curtains have to be flexible and
multiple sets are a plus. Furniture must fit like puzzle pieces.
Other spouses have living rooms that are immaculate and seldom used. Military spouses have
immaculate living room/dining room combos. The coffee table got a scratch or two moving
from Germany, but it still looks pretty good.
Other spouses say good-bye to their spouse for a business trip and know they won't see
them for a week. They are lonely, but can survive. Military spouses say good-bye to
their deploying spouse and know they won't see them for months, or for a remote, a year.
They are lonely, but will survive.
Other spouses, when a washer hose blows off, call Maytag and then write a check out for
getting the hose reconnected. Military spouses will cut the water off and fix it
themselves.
Other spouses get used to saying "hello" to friends they see all the time.
Military spouses get used to saying "good-bye" to friends made the last two
years.
Other spouses worry about whether their child will be class president next
year. Military spouses worry about whether their child will be accepted in yet
another new school next year and whether that school will be the worst in the city ...
again.
Other spouses can count on spouse participation in special events ... birthdays,
anniversaries, concerts, football games, graduation, and even the birth of a
child. Military spouses only count on each other; because they realize that the Flag
has to come first if freedom is to survive. It has to be that way.
Other spouses put up yellow ribbons when the troops are imperiled across the globe and
take them down when the troops come home. Military spouses wear yellow ribbons around
their hearts and they never go away.
Other spouses worry about being late for mom's Thanksgiving dinner. Military spouses worry
about getting back from Japan in time for dad's funeral.
And other spouses are touched by the television program showing an elderly lady putting a
card down in front of a long, black wall that has names on it. The card simply says,
"Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. You would have been 60 today." A military spouse is
the lady with the card. And the wall is the Vietnam Memorial.
I would never say military spouses are better or worse than other spouses are. But I
will say there is a difference. And I will say that our country asks more of military
spouses than is asked of other spouses. And I will say, without hesitation, that military
spouses pay just as high a price for freedom as do their active duty husbands or
wives. Perhaps the price they pay is even higher. Dying in service to our country
isn't near as hard as loving someone who has died in service to our country, and having to
live without them. God bless our military spouses for all they freely give.
And God bless America.
Source for letter above: http://www.ernieshouseofwhoopass.com/home.html newsletter. EHOWA is one of those links I warned you about above. Guys, lots of T & A there. Ladies, if you don't know what T & A means, do not go there. I have not communicated directly with Ernie yet, I do hope the man is not suffering from my neglect. Ernie, I think I'm in love ... gotta respect anyone who doesn't give a rat's what anyone thinks about what he has to say or how. Not that I'd care to witness one of the plans he has for use of a "special purchase flag" in response to something he saw being done with ours - definitely does deserve points for creative thinking.
We'll Fight till the Last 50-year-old!
By Jeff Ackerman, editor and publisher of the Nevada Appeal, October 2, 2001
(The tweaked version follows. I am
assuming this is indeed the original ... you do know what assume means ... take the word
apart: makes an ass outta u and me. Either way, it's corrected my usual way.)
A couple of weeks ago I indicated
that if I could, I'd enlist today and help my country track down those responsible for
killing thousands of innocent people in New York City and Washington, D. C. But I'm 50 now
and the Armed Forces says I'm too old to track down terrorists. You can't be older than 35
to join the Army.
They've got the whole thing backwards. Instead of sending 18-year-olds off to the fight,
they ought to take us old guys. You shouldn't be able to join until you're at least 35
years old. For starters:
Researchers say 18-year-olds think about sex every 10 seconds. Old guys think about sex
every 15 seconds, leaving us more than 28,000 additional seconds per day to concentrate on
the enemy.
Young guys haven't lived long enough to be cranky and grumpy. A cranky and grumpy soldier
is a dangerous soldier. If we can't kill the enemy we'll complain them into submission or
surrender: "My back hurts!" "I'm hungry!" "Where's the remote
control?"
An 18-year-old hasn't had a legal bottle of beer yet, and you shouldn't go to war until
you're at least old enough to legally drink beer. An average old guy, on the other hand,
has probably consumed at least 126,000 gallons of beer by the time he's 35, and a jaunt
through the desert heat with a backpack on and an M-60 over your shoulder would do wonders
for a beer belly.
An 18-year-old doesn't like to get up before 10 a.m. Old guys get up early just to show we
can (and to steal the neighbors newspaper). If old guys got captured we couldn't spill the
beans because we'd probably forget where we put them. In fact, name, rank and serial
number would be a real brainteaser.
If it wasn't for the age barrier, I'd pretty much be able to get into the Army without a
hitch. According to the Army Internet site, I'd need to pass an entrance exam (officially
called an ASVAB), but the simple questions I saw weren't exactly headache material. For
example:
A magnet will attract:
(a) water
(b) a flower
(c) a cloth rag
(d) a nail
I took a wild stab at it and guessed, "nail," knowing they'd probably stick me
in some desk job with Army Intelligence.
If 12 workers are needed to run four machines, how many workers are needed to run 20
machines?
(a) 16
(b) 18
(c) 3
(d) 60
Well, let's see now ... three workers per machine times 20 machines
... err ... 60?
Finally, they wanted to know if I had command of the English language, just in case I had
to describe an enemy camp from memory.
Now you know where the first questions come from - the "Who Wants to be A
Millionaire" game show. Boot Camp would actually be easier for old guys.
We're used to getting screamed and yelled at, and we actually like soft food. We've also
developed a deep appreciation for guns and rifles. We like them almost better than naps.
The Army could lighten up on the obstacle course, however. I've been to the desert and
didn't see a single 20-foot wall with a rope hanging over the side. I can hear the drill
sergeant now, "Get down and give me ... er ... one!"
And the running part seems to be a hell of a waste of good energy. I've never seen anyone
outrun a bullet. I'm reminded of the story of the young bull and the old bull standing on
a hill looking down at the cows. "Let's run down there and make love to one of those
cows," says the young bull. "How about we walk down there and
make love to all those cows," replies the old bull.
Patience is something most 18-year-olds simply do not have. For good reason, too. An
18-year-old has the whole world ahead of him. He's still learning to shave. To actually
carry on a conversation. To learn that a pierced tongue catches food particles. And that a
200-watt speaker in the back seat of a Honda Accord can rupture an eardrum. All great
reasons to keep our sons at home to learn a little more about life before sending them off
to a possible death.
Let us old guys track down those dirty, rotten, filthy cowards who attacked our country
three weeks ago today. The last thing they'd want to see right now would be a couple of
million old guys with attitudes!
Tweaked (some duplication, left intact for
your choice of copy): On September 11th I indicated that if I could, I'd
enlist again and help my country track down those responsible for killing thousands of
innocent people in New York City and Washington, D.C.
But I'm almost 60 now and the Armed Forces says I'm too old to track down terrorists. You
can't be older than 35 to join the Army. They've got the whole thing backwards. Instead of
sending 18-year-olds off to fight, they ought to take us old guys. You shouldn't be able
to join until you're at least 35.
For starters: Researchers say 18-year-olds think about sex every 10 seconds. Old guys only
think about sex every 15 seconds, leaving us more than 28,000 additional seconds per day
to concentrate on the enemy.
Young guys haven't lived long enough to be cranky and a cranky soldier is a dangerous soldier. If we can't kill the enemy, we'll complain them into submission. "My back hurts!" "I'm hungry!" "Where's the remote control?"
An 18-year-old hasn't had a legal beer yet and you shouldn't go to war until you're at least old enough to legally drink. An average old guy, on the other hand, has consumed 126,000 gallons of beer by the time he's 35 and a jaunt through the desert heat with a backpack and M-60 would do wonders for the beer belly.
An 18-year-old doesn't like to get up before 10 a.m. Old guys get up early just to show we can (and to steal the neighbor's newspaper).
If old guys were captured
we couldn't spill the beans because we'd probably forget where we put them. In fact, name,
rank and serial number would be a real brain teaser.
Boot camp would actually be easier for old guys. We're used to getting screamed and yelled
at and we actually like soft food. We've also developed a deep appreciation for guns and
rifles. We like them almost better than naps. The Army could lighten up on the obstacle
course, however. I've been to the desert and didn't see a single 20-foot wall with rope
hanging over the side. I can hear the drill sergeant now. "Drop down and give me ...
er ... one!" And the running part is kind of a waste of energy. I've never seen
anyone outrun a bullet.
Patience is something most 18-year-olds simply do not have. For good reason, too. An
18-year-old has the whole world ahead of him. He's still learning to shave. To actually
carry on a conversation. To wear pants without the top of the butt crack showing and the
boxer shorts sticking out. To learn that a pierced tongue catches food particles. And that
a 200-watt speaker in the back seat of a Honda Accord can rupture an eardrum.
All great reasons to keep our sons at home to learn a little more about life before
sending them off to a possible death. Let us old guys track down those dirty, rotten
cowards who attacked our hearts. The last thing they'd want to see right now is a couple
of million old guys with an attitude.
Or ...
Take
all American women who are +/-5 years of menopause. Train us for a few weeks, outfit us with automatic weapons, grenades, gas masks,
Prozac, hormones, SPAM, etc. Drop us (parachuted, preferably) across the landscape of Afghanistan, and let us do what comes naturally.
Think about it. Our anger
quotient alone, even when doing standard stuff like grocery shopping and paying bills, is formidable enough to make even men in turbans tremble. We have had our children, we would gladly die/suffer to protect them and their future.
We'd like to get away from our
husbands, if they haven't left already. And for those of us who are single, the prospect of finding a good man with whom to share life is about as likely as being struck by lightning;
therefore, we have nothing to lose. Let us go and fight.
The Taliban hates women. Imagine their terror as we crawl like ants with hot-flashes, all through their godforsaken
terrain. I'm going to write my Congresswoman. You should
too. May I add, every woman, no matter what age, suffering from PMS would be eligible to
go also. This matter would be taken care of in no time.
Hell hath no fury like a woman POed.
Emergency List
Attributed to Scott Borgioli, Chief Emergency Communication Center officer/incident commander chief radio officer, US Department of Commerce National Weather Service
(Edited
for this publication - irrelevant if Borgioli exists or not, it's usable advice.)
As an emergency manager, I have privileged information to current events and those events
that may happen in the near future. At this time, I want to take this opportunity to give
you some general advice for survival. If a terrorist act hits very close to home, it could
incapacitate you. Here are some suggestions to be prepared:
Treat the situation as if it were a major earthquake or other natural disaster.
If terrorism strikes in your state or even region, cellular phone systems will go out due
to the overloading of the system and the resultant crash of the network. Also your regular
phones may be disrupted and the state of emergency may result in 1/3 of your region's
lines being turned off for periods of time so that the system doesn't overload. This is
similar to rotating blackouts, only on the phone lines. Develop a plan for your family
members so that you can either meet or be assured they will know how to regain contact
with you.
Also consider that if family members travel or work in another city, roads may be blocked
or unsafe to travel. Arrange for diversions to a friend's house in the city they frequent.
Have them stay there until the "all clear" is given. You (and they) will be more
assured of their safety. Have backup friends too. Consider you will not be able to
communicate with them for at least four to 24 hours - again, at least.
Ensure
that you frequently refuel your vehicles and that they are always full with gasoline. Less
than a half tank may not get you home if stuck in traffic. Gas stations need electricity
to run; they may be ordered to shut down even if there is electricity available.
Always carry cash and lower dollar bills. In a situation with communications failure, no
store can process credit card/ATM transactions because these require phone lines. If you
don't usually keep cash on you, have $40 in loose bills stashed in the car you use the
most.
Keep enough freshly bottled water on hand for one week. Municipal water systems are at
risk. One week should be sufficient for trucked water to arrive - the traditional three
day supply may not be enough.
Stock enough packaged food for a week. Also, food that requires no cooking, should
electric systems fail for a few days.
Prepare a portable emergency kit in a large duffel bag containing the above items, should
you need to be evacuated. Essential items also include medicines (one week's supply),
toilet paper, toothbrushes and paste, hand sanitizer, water/food, flashlights, portable
radios with plenty of batteries, pen and paper, whistle, rope, duct tape, blankets,
general toiletries.
Make sure you have the appropriate carriers for your pets and plan for extra water and
food for them and store it with emergency duffel bag. Also store leashes/collars. Do not
leave pets unattended. In emergency situations, they may become frightened and try to run
away. Be mindful of this.
In extreme cases, the Red Cross and local governments utilize amateur radio. NYC's 9-1-1
dispatch center was on the 12th floor of one of the towers. That went down and so did
their 9-1-1 system for the whole city. If you evacuate, it is best to go to the Red Cross
and have HAM radio pass welfare traffic to your loved ones across the country.
If you are home when a situation occurs, stay there. Do not go out and
drive around or wander. Subsequent events can immobilize you away from home, creating
undue worry and you may hamper life-saving efforts. Stay off the phone and the Internet.
Tying up the phone system obstructs emergency services. Contact one party
out of state to contact everyone else to let them know you are okay.
The notion this can't happen here was proved wrong. It can happen anywhere. Report
suspicious circumstances to law enforcement immediately. Let them determine the severity
of the situation. If government says get out or to watch out for certain places, don't
take it lightly. Don't panic. Just be prepared. It is also suggested that you research
more for other items like special clothing, good walking shoes and dust masks.
This sux
Adapted from About.com notice (thanks Rod): In a press release announcing the "Yo Mama, Osama!" game, Twistedhumor.com described it as a means to raise charitable contributions for the American Red Cross September 11 Fund. What the press release doesn't describe is how that money is being raised. Presumably, since game play is free, the funds are raised through the advertising being surreptitiously slipped to the user. Officials at Twistedhumor.com did not respond to requests for information.The online game promises a free cell phone booster to players successful in "taking out" binny boy. What they don't realize is they may be "taking in" an adware Trojan that allegedly monitors Internet usage and feeds pop-up advertising to the user long after the game is over. According to complaints, uninstalling Yo Mama Osama removes the game and leaves the offensive adware.
This'll
flatten ya
Sarah was a sign language
interpreter for a hearing impaired 7-year-old boy named Travis, in a public elementary
school. Children can be cruel at times. They would make fun of his loud and often
unintelligible speech, wiggling their fingers at him as they mocked how he communicated.
Travis was obviously frustrated that he was not like the other kids and sometimes he acted
out inappropriately. He was in the principal's office a lot and he didn't have any
friends. One day, he was giving Sarah a particularly hard time during a lesson and she
told him in exasperation, "I would rather teach my friend's dog, Travis. At least
he's willing to learn."
Travis was intrigued and started throwing questions at her. "Does she really have a
dog named Travis? What kind of dog is he? How old is he? Can I play with
him?"
"He's a big black German shepherd and he's the exact same age as you," she
replied. Sarah was a little surprised at his interest, since not much appealed to
him. He asked many more questions, and Sarah was inspired.
Sarah called me that night and asked if she could teach my dog, Travis, some hand signals.
She would then arrange for us to present a humane education program to her class. Her
student, Travis, could tell my dog what to do with hand signals and it would be a
tremendous boost to his morale.
"That's a great idea!" I said.
So Sarah taught Travis, the student, during the days and Travis, the dog, at night. She
told the boy that we would be coming to school and he could help with the presentation
because the dog would understand his hand signals. He was very excited, and his behavior
and concentration improved dramatically in anticipation.
Finally the day arrived. My dog, Travis, and I were standing in front of the class,
and Sarah and her student, Travis, were sitting just off to the side. When the time came,
the little boy gave hand signal commands to my dog. The dog seemed to understand how
important this was to the boy, and his eyes never wavered from his hands. He was flawless
that day, doing everything the boy signaled him to do - come, sit, shake, down, stay, back
up, catch and so forth. Travis & Travis were a big hit!
For the first time in his life, Travis was able to dazzle his classmates. He got this
impressive big dog to do what he asked without speaking, something the other kids couldn't
do. As we left, the kids were crowded around him, eager to learn hand signals as if
they were a new secret code.
On this momentous day, a lonely boy communicated with a dog who understood his language
and did what he asked without hesitation. But much more importantly, the dog helped all
the children see the boy's difference in a way that made him special - turning his
disability into an ability to finally make friends. by Carol Munroe, found in K9WebWorld@aol.com (I highly recommend.)
E-chat tie-in: We are both "aggressive" females, knowing that without a fight, we're sitting ducks for the pacifists of the world who would probably knife us all in the back for an extra pancake on their plate. In my heart, I'm the biggest liberal pacifist there is but when reality strikes, I'm gonna protect my kids and my country with frightening intensity. My article on bullies pretty much speaks volumes about how I feel on this subject: http://www.rexanne.com.cnchost.com/rwr-29.html - Look under "Parenting & Family Topic of the Week."
Swiped (I am incorrigible) the above from http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/taylorse/booksfor.htm. "In response to this American tragedy, Books for Broken Hearts was created ... to collect new books for the children of NYC."
Some mix-up/coincidence brought a request from the Taylors School for the Libby Award, Claws and Paws on the Keyboard, reserved exclusively for critters who do their own typing; offered by Dog's Eye View hosted by Miss Liberty, M.E. (Mutt Extraordinaire). Never know where these things might lead ...
Can't imagine why you'd be interested in The Libby Award - it's for dog and cat pages :) However, you are most welcome to your choice of Awards for your book donation support. Also, I would be interested in running a report to encourage other schools to follow suit.
I have two precious dogs who many of the children have met when they made "guest" appearances.
Cool, I am ALL in favor of critters in school. One of
things I'm pushing is class "adoptions" - just as a local thing/by the class or
even whole schools sponsoring K9 teams. The work dogs do in each specialty - search and
rescue to bomb, drug detection - is nothing short of awesome. Very valuable lessons in
life respect. Most teams are happy to make special visits. If you need help finding one in
your area, I may be able to help. In fact I'm going to put out a call next page. You could
start by contacting local police K9 unit.
I feel very strongly that every kid needs a dog. If they can't have one of their own, next
best is one to dream about. Especially considering the nightmares today. I have a couple
of cool dog things for next page, including:
Reading Therapy
Reading to a dog is now
being used as a program in some schools and libraries to help children who are having
difficulty reading. This program is having notable success with children who were
floundering with reading skills and who might otherwise have been academically doomed, or
delayed, at a very early age.
Why have children read to dogs? It puts the child on a one-to-one basis with the dog.
There is no person standing over the child to correct mispronunciations, or any other
error. Instead, there is a nonjudgmental dog giving the child its rapt attention. The
child need not worry about errors of any kind. In fact, he can ad lib if he wants. The dog
won't know or care. The main thing being accomplished is that the child's confidence and
self-esteem are being elevated. Getting words letter perfect can come later.
~~~
Taking that a step further, what about your dogs doing "interviews"? The kids
could ask why they like to visit school, what their favorite treats are and so on ... If
it goes well and you publish some of the material, you would be eligible for the Libby
award. Kind of a stretch but who's counting :)
In fact, my "girls" were featured in a video made
by second graders. A wonderful parent came each week to teach French. The
children had the best time asking questions in French/English about the girls. You
did give me an idea - the third graders are doing ocean research. Callye and Bridgett, my
girls, could appear on their research page to assist with tips. Then the Libby Award
could go there.
Dig it, like I said, ya never know! Here's that "call" I mentioned above: I'd be happy to try to coordinate volunteers for school or other group visits. All it takes is a friendly dog. I'll put up a dedicated page if response justifies. Also still looking for K9 soldier info. LibbyK9@aol.com subject line: K9 volunteer info
http://www.nasar.org/
National Association for Search and Rescue http://dogsinthenews.com/issues/0110/articles/011009a.htm
SARs go home - great pics.
From The Scoop newsletter:
Tails from the Front Lines: Ricky the Smallest Dog
In all the excitement, it may have been easy to overlook this 17-inch dog squeezing through the wreckage of the WTC last month. Here's a dog who's 50 percent heart, 40 percent nose and 10 percent legs.
No effort as dedicated as the month-long canine SAR campaign can be hailed as anything less than triumphant and resoundingly successful. The mettle shown by these dogs and their human-halves has affected the world in a way that should not be underestimated. Big mutts, little mutts, German Shepherds, Black Labs, Yellow Labs, Collies, Rotties, Spaniels - and even a few reports of feisty little Dachshunds - have all reaffirmed the humble honor associated with the old WWII term "dogface".
"He was a great, big guy, and he was just bawling. He was crying like a baby. He couldn't talk, but he mouthed the words: 'Thank you. Thank you - and thank the dog.'" - Louis Wardoup, volunteer, describing how his partner Insee unearthed the hand of a firefighter in front of his FDNY comrades.
Disaster preparation suggestion: Replace your
wallet or purse photos to include recent pictures of loved ones and pets. In the event of
evacuation, it may be hours or even days before you will be able to return home. Having
photos with you will be an asset in locating lost loved ones or pets. Update your
organizer or address book phone numbers and keep it with you.
In the event of having to evacuate your home, shelters will not be able to take your pets
for health reasons, so part of family preparations should include making arrangements for
your pets to have a safe place to go to as well. Think about emergency kits, food,
information, medical supplies, and pet carriers. In the event of sudden disaster, making
sure your pets can be identified will increase your chances of safe recovery. Here in
Canada we have tattooing available through our local vet, free of charge when your pet is
spayed or neutered. If this is not available, you might want to put ID tags on
their collars. I hope no one will need to use their wallet or purse photos for this
purpose, but by doing this we will be able to keep our loved ones close and let it remind
us of what really matters. Peggy
When friends are laid-off: Having a husband who has
been out of work for several months now, I can speak from our own situation. The fact that
you don't have a lot of extra to help but are still willing to help your friends in their
time of crisis means more than you'll ever know.
Give a gift certificate to a grocery store. They can be purchased in small amounts and are
always helpful. If you can or freeze fruits and vegetables, share with your friends. When
stores have buy one, get one free deals, save the free ones and put together a mini food
pantry. Give pre-paid phone cards. A gift certificate to a restaurant would be greatly
appreciated because chances are they haven't included dinners out in their already tight
budgets (friends did this for us and we did so appreciate it). Christmas is fast
approaching. If your unemployed friends have young children, consider purchasing gifts for
the children. As a parent facing Christmas with a spouse unemployed, my only desire is
that my 16-month-old daughter has a good Christmas. That in itself is gift enough for my
husband and I. Hope these suggestions help. Don't be afraid you'll embarrass your friends.
They will simply be grateful someone cares. Regina
"United We Stand" is a feature containing recollections and
suggestions for surviving in turbulent times from Dollar Stretcher newsletter: http://www.stretcher.com -
more ideas on how to help friends and neighbors who have experienced a lay-off: http://www.stretcher.com/stories/01/011015a.cfm
http://www.dav.org/news/golden_corral.html
- Held near Veterans Day, Military Appreciation Monday is a
salute to military heroes by Golden Corral Restaurants across the nation. The
restaurants offer hundreds of thousands of veterans free meals.
Thanks Jill for spotting this! Watch for more and send any goodies you find, with details. Please make sure they're worth the trouble - chintzy deals with ridiculous low availability limits per day thoroughly frost me.
http://www.dav.org/veterans/index.html - Main Disabled American Veterans page, check links - long list.
http://www.katu.com/special/attack/ican_fly_the_flag_screen.asp
- (other sizes available) link includes links to inspiring words and more
http://alaskajoe.com/links/flags/index.htm
- Awesome collection
God Bless America - This is the one everyone kept trying to get to but too many hits shut it down - now has all the bandwidth needed.
I think (mixed 'em up again) the group of links below came from the Komando newsletter - "A free service of The Kim Komando Computer Show, one of the Top 10 Most Listened to Programs in the United States!" http://www.komando.com/ Subscribe now, you won't have to wait for me to post - always has great stuff.
If you spend a lot of time online, you may want to get news delivered to your in-box.
To sign up for N.Y. Time's e-mail updates: http://www.nytimes.com/services/email/email.html
CNN's e-mail alerts: http://www.cnn.com/EMAIL
MSNBC's breaking news updates work a bit differently. You download a free application and
as news breaks an audible and visual signal alerts you. http://www.msnbc.com/tools/newstools/d/news_alert.asp
http://www.skepdic.com - the Skeptic's
Dictionary
http://www.vmyths.com - Vmyths guide
http://www.snopes.com/ulindex.htm
- Urban Legends
http://www.sarc.com - Symantec Security
Response
Kid's Site of the Week
http://bensguide.gpo.gov - Set up with different
areas for kids of all different ages as well as parents and teachers, this site hosts a
virtual Benjamin Franklin exploring the branches of government in the United States, along
with symbols of America, citizenship, presidents and more. There are interactive games
too.
Decisions being made now by our government will affect all of us for possibly
generations to come. Domestic security, privacy and the economy are just a few of the
major issues under debate. If you feel strongly about the course of America's future, now
is the time to let your voice be heard.
To contact your Congressional representative, go to:
http://www.house.gov/writerep
To contact your State Senator, go to:
http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm
Letter from an Astronaut
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/crew/exp3/culbertsonletter.html
Get a very unique perspective on the events of September 11th. This page is a letter from
an astronaut on board the International Space Station who witnessed the destruction unfold
from space.
Did you know that you can get an American flag that has actually been flown over the
U.S. Capitol building? Flags are available in either cotton or nylon, and you can even
request that your flag be flown on a specific date - it'll even come to you with a
certificate showing when it was flown.
For details on how to get your own flag, check out: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/call/us_flag.htm
- includes other Federal Consumer Information Center links,
Protect Yourself and Your Country
Also see: What You Can Do for Victims and their Families, Victims Benefits and Assistance
FCIC has put together a list of publications to help you and your family during this difficult time. Coping with Crisis.
Display your clock in military time by going to Start>>Settings>>Control Panel and double click the Regional Settings icon. Click the Time tab under Time Style, click HH:mm:ss and select OK.
http://army-technology.com/projects/index.html
- Learn more about the firepower being used in Operation Enduring Freedom. There are
descriptions and amazing graphics of the weapons and vehicles used.
A lot of reservists and guardsmen are being called up which can create a real financial
burden for people used to higher civilian salaries. There is help. For example,
creditors, once they are notified can only charge you a maximum of 6% interest? That
goes for mortgages, car loans and credit card debt. Some employers will make up the
difference in salary, or at least let you keep benefits while you are on active duty
also. If your company doesn't have this policy, suggest it, whether you would be
affected or not. HSLDA is also starting a fund to help those struggling financial in this
situation; for more info, go to http://www.hslda.org.
For more information on benefits reservists/guardsmen are entitled to: http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/Relief_Act/
http://www.themilitaryteam.com/military_links.html - Long list of military links provided by The Military Team, a real estate relocation service
http://www.paratroopers.org/wwtgraphics.htm - Humorous/patriotic photos, graphics, cartoons, sounds, videos, links and gameshttp://www.173rdairborne.com/menu.htm - Dedicated to Sky Soldiers
http://www.texianlady.com/TexianLadys4/going_off_to_war.htm - Going off to War, includes links
http://www.ishaah.com/America0911_05.htm - Response to Attack on America, includes links
Remember yellow ribbons? Purple was suggested for two reasons:
In remembrance of not only the firefighters, police officers, and paramedics who have died, but also for all the others who have died and those whose lives have been forever changed by these tragic events.
When someone in the armed forces is injured, a Purple Heart is awarded, and, our country has been injured to its core!
Several styles available on ishaah pages.
http://www.ishaah.com/Backgrounds5.htm - Patriotics
http://geckocountry.com/milgraphics.htm - Doc's Military and Patriotic Graphics, links
http://www.rexanne.com "Parenting,
Holidays, Humor, Family, Fun!"
http://www.rexanne.com/rwr-archives.html
"Web Sites and Insights"
In reality, what it takes to get me organized is a raging case of hormones ...
Here's a newsletter Rexanne recommends: http://www.instamom.com/ Very similar idea to your cookbook basics for college kids. Check it out. Very clean style. Excellent, short, with great tips and a fantastic format.
Easy Piggers
Rub tenderloin, all over, with pepper. Place in crockpot. Pour tin of cream of celery soup over all. Cook on low for 6-7 hours (longer is no problem as it won't overcook). Since pork can be dry, don't lift the lid until you serve. You want to keep all of the moisture in. Serve with vegetables; mashed potatoes or rice are good with the gravy.
From Alice Sue who lives in Canada where cans are called tins. Or it may be because she's a Brit, can't remember ... More of her goodies and the funnies I promised two pages ago will be included as soon as possible. The one above reminded me of ye olde spuds and chops: http://members.aol.com/AltMartha/SpudswithChops.index.htmlSue also mentioned crushed pineapple for dessert. We've been piggin' on pineapple with fresh apples chunks - those two just scream for pork.
Not a LTFer (less than five ingredients - my thang) but as close as D**** is to swearing!
Chicken in a Crockpot (How I (Sue) LOVE that appliance!)
Enough chicken pieces (breasts and/or thighs work best) to feed
your family
2 chicken bouillon cubes (or two packets of powder) mixed with 1/2 cup very hot water
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
some sliced onion (or dried flakes) to taste
salt and pepper to taste
Place chicken pieces in crockpot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and top with as much onion as you like. Combine rest of ingredients in a measuring cup until bouillon dissolves and well mixed. Pour liquid over chicken and onions. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Great served with mashed potatoes or on buns like sloppy sandwiches.
LOL on the LTF note, "staples" (s & p, ketchup, butter etc.) and whatever else is usually around the house doesn't count. Good one BTW, I do close to the same thing in a baking dish for wings: Brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger and garlic (which of course is basically the same as any old teriyaki marinade). Sugar makes a gooder glaze :) These are great at parties - everybody gets a big whoopee running 'em over a teeny hibachi with Sterno flame - like in Oriental restaurants.
Tailgate recipes from TigersRecipes4U
Mexican Cream Cheese Roll Ups
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 4.25 ounce can chopped olives, drained
6 green onions, washed, trimmed, finely chopped, including green tops
several large soft flour tortillas
your favorite salsa
Mix cream cheese and mayonnaise until well blended. Stir in olives and onions. Spread a
thin layer of cream cheese mixture over each tortilla, leaving a 1/2 inch border around
the edge with no filling. Roll tortilla up and wrap in plastic wrap. Continue in same
manner until all filling has been used. Refrigerate several hours or until firm. Cut into
1 1/2 inch slices and serve with your favorite salsa, if desired. Makes 6-8 servings.
Ham Wraps
1 pound sliced ham
8 oz. cream cheese
4 oz. sour cream
1/4 cup minced onion
2 tablespoons minced chives
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Blend all ingredients together, except ham. Spread mix on ham slices and roll up, securing with toothpicks, cut in thirds for easier serving. Chill for 30 minutes or longer, if possible.
Halloween Salad
OOOpsie ... forgot where I swiped this
6 full-sized Snickers or other fave candy bars, cut into small pieces, or 18-20 snack size
(trick or treat size) mini candy bars
6 apples, cored and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 small container whipped topping
1 small box of instant vanilla pudding (do not prepare)
Mix dry pudding into whipped topping thoroughly. Add Snicker and apple pieces to whipped
topping/pudding mixture. Chill. MMMMMMMMMMMMMyummy.
Food Comfort in
Stressful Times
By Janice Krouskop
Stress often triggers eating.
Several folks have commented that since Sept. 11 they have been craving "comfort
foods." Since "comfort foods" aren't typically carrot sticks or a tall
glass of orange juice, but high-fat or high-sugar treats, a steady diet of "comfort
foods" can be a problem. If your appetite for gooey treats or fatty foods has
increased over the past few weeks, here are some ideas to help soothe yourself in a
healthier way.
Rather than reach for food; call a friend, take a walk, listen to quiet music or play with
the dog.
If you still need to munch, try eating comfort foods in smaller portions that won't bulge
your belt. buy a very small bag of Doritos, a small scoop of ice cream, a miniature
chocolate bar, or one small cookie at the bakery.
Incorporate your "comfort foods" into a meal. Many people tell me their favorite
comfort foods are mashed potatoes, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, or chicken noodle
soup. I suspect these foods bring back childhood memories of love and security. Why not
create one comfort meal this week with childhood favorites?
For chocolate cravers, try a cup of hot cocoa made with skim milk or a small package of
chocolate covered raisins. Bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies; package the cookies 2
at a time into small plas
