For Jake.....

Future of Confederate White House Unknown
By DIONNE WALKER, Associated Press Writer
Sat Jul 23, 4:29 AM ET



RICHMOND, Va. - In the 1800s, the idea of a separate Southern nation seemed real enough to warrant a grand executive office — a Confederate answer to the White House that would symbolize the lasting Dixie empire. Officials chose a hilltop mansion in the Shockoe Hill section, a former doctor's home that dominated the then-sparse landscape. But what was once a Civil War centerpiece is now an afterthought.

Curators of the Museum and White House of the Confederacy say runaway development from nearby Virginia Commonwealth University has all but erased the site, cutting into attendance and threatening to elbow the landmark right out of the city.

A group of state lawmakers met Friday to discuss ways to save the 187-year-old site, including moving the entire complex.

"We are simply in their way and their expansion is simply in our way," executive director Waite Rawls III said during the first of four scheduled public meetings.

Rawls told the 11-member panel of the challenges facing the complex, including limited parking, incessant construction noise and looming buildings that leave the historical site lost in the mix.

All have contributed to shrinking museum attendance — from a peak of 91,000 in the early 1990s to just 54,000 visitors this past year.

Raised in 1818, the building was scheduled for demolition by the 1890s. Members of the Confederate Memorial Literary Society saved the home, converting it into a museum. Society members later restored it as a home in the 1980s; a separate museum housing artifacts such as Confederate flags and period paintings now stands next door.

The committee will review such solutions as relocating the museum or even the entire complex. The state-convened panel can only make recommendations for the privately owned site; the literary society has the final word, offficials said.

___

On the Net:

http://www.moc.org/

You know... I think I love this idea... haha... wow, now if Americans would get some backbone.....

rk_cr wrote to mention an Israeli technology firm which has set up a system to allow harried email users the right to reply in force. The system "batters spam websites with thousands of complaints. The plan is to fill order forms on spam websites offering pills, porn and penile health tonics with complaints about the products advertised for sale in junk messages. The plan has been criticised by other anti-spam workers who say it amounts to vigilantism."

From Uncle Ivan and Aunt Freda..... Rules from God!

Rules from God

1. Wake Up !!
Decide to have a good day.
"Today is the day the Lord hath made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up !!
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at outward appearance;
but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!!
Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have
meant
for us to do twice as much listening as talking.
"He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3


4. Stand Up!!...
For what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for anything..
"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the
proper time,
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do
good..."
Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up !!...
To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens
me."
Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up !!...
For something higher.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up !!...
Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything;
instead PRAY ABOUT
EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6



Send this to the people you care about.
I thought this was mighty special, just like you.
Pass this on and brighten someone's day, and
remember:

God answers Knee-Mail.

Solar racing "overshadowed" by clouds.....

Solar racing bogged down by clouds... kind a cool photos of the solar cars racing cross country...

This photo is an accident.. and I think most of the time... they are the best, haha!! Ok....now I I am done... 

The business end of the livestock business.... and for all future generations, this is the Bar M Ranch brand, it's an electric iron that heats up super hot.. and applied to the animal. It's quick and hurts them for about a minute.. and the smell of burning hair is something you never forget.. haha.... Ann and I registered the Bar M Ranch brand with the Oklahoma Cattlemen Association in 1972 and is brand number 8031. One evening, about three years later, Ann and I were eating dinner and the phone rang and it was a man from Pawnee who wanted to know why I sold calves in OKC that day with his brand on them... Well, that didn't set to well with me, so I asked him his brand number and it was a lot higher.. ahaha... so he had to cool his jets as ours was registered first ! He called back one more time, trying to claim my calves, and I hung up on him and never heard from him again till I saw in the paper where he died!! Ok.. enough remembering for a day.. haha... enjoy the day... 

Here you can better see the trough.... This was about 1958, when it was made. Another neat thing..haha.. is the water heater is made of galvanized metal, and is very toxic to cut with a torch.. and I cut many of them in my youth... we were told to drink milk to help rid our lungs of the posion.. you would get deathly ill for the fumes of the metal. and usually very quick...  

"So, what you going to do today?" askes the black heifer of the red steer...... While this is not an overly GREAT photo..haha... it does show a family heirloom... the feed trough was made by my Uncle Mervil Moffat who dairyed at El Reno. He made this when we moved to Yukon, and he made it in his shop on his farm, which was always very neat and orderly, and always had the latest neat tools in it, and Grandpa Moffat and I were watching him weld and cut and make it. It is an old hot water heater that was cut in two and legs welded to it. It was the latest NEAT idea in troughs for farmers who didn't have a lot of money to buy the store bought ones. We also have a square bale hay feeder at mom's that he built. He as a great man, and an awesome welder and could fix about anything. The two calves are going to be hamburger some day... and are on full feed! 

2 doves on a wire.. waiting on me to feed the calves so they can sneak up and eat the spilled grain.... 

Sorry.. got carried away with the Lilac leaves... 

The Lilac leaf waits on the sun.... 

The Lilac plant is getting ready for a second blooming, I think.. but don't know for sure.  

The beautiful Trumpet plant in full bloom. They are beautiful, but they are a "bad weed" in your yard, with sprouts that pop up everywhere... and the bees love them... but it covers our well house... 

closer... 

Here he is at a longer shot... still waiting.. haha .... 

I heard the loudest "sheak"... real long and loud... and looked to the top of the Elm Tree on the west side of our drive... and this is what I saw. I wonder if he is waiting for some of the racing pigeons that we used to race to "train" in the am... haha.. well, he won't get one of them... 

The old railroad tie just sets and enjoys the view too.... looking sw of our home.... 

Here, the sun was peaking through the trees east of our home... I was on the way to feed the fattening calves... wow... 

The morning photos.... the moon was still at it this am.... what a beautiful morning... 

for phillip....

Scrubbing Bubbles Hit the Streets Associated Press
Story location: http://www.wired.com/news/planet/0,2782,68282,00.html

02:00 AM Jul. 22, 2005 PT

From catalytic converters to alternative fuels, the fight against big-city smog has for years been fought inside combustion engines and exhaust pipes.

Now, scientists are taking the fight to the streets by developing "smart" building materials designed to clean the air with a little help from the elements.

Using technology already available for self-cleaning windows and bathroom tiles, scientists hope to paint cities with materials that dissolve and wash away pollutants when exposed to sun and rain.

"Among other things, we want to construct concrete walls that break down vehicle exhausts in road tunnels," said Karin Pettersson, a spokeswoman for Swedish construction giant Skanska. "It is also possible to make pavings that clean the air in cities."

The Stockholm-based company is part of a $1.7 million Swedish-Finnish project to develop catalytic cement and concrete products coated with titanium dioxide, a compound often used in white paint and toothpaste that can become highly reactive when exposed to ultraviolet light.

This is the idea: UV rays hitting the titanium dioxide trigger a catalytic reaction that destroys the molecules of pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, which are emitted in the burning of fossil fuels and create smog when combined with volatile organic compounds.

Exposure to high levels of nitrogen oxides can trigger serious respiratory problems, including lung damage.

The catalytic reaction also prevents bacteria and dirt from sticking to a surface, making them easily removed by a splash of water or rain.

Bo-Erik Eriksson, head of research at Cementa, another company participating in the Swedish-Finnish project, said the byproducts of the reaction, called photocatalysis, are benign, though it depends on what substances are involved: Organic compounds are broken down into carbon dioxide and water, while the nitrogen oxides yield nitrate salts.

Research in the field has been made possible by the revolution in nanotechnology -- science dedicated to building materials from the molecular level. The catalytic properties of titanium dioxide become active when it is applied in a very thin layer, or in microscopic particles.

A range of self-cleaning products coated with titanium dioxide, including windows and ceramic tiles, are already on the market, but the focus has mostly been on their practical value rather than the environmental impact.

In Rome, the Dives in Misericordia church, designed by U.S.-based architect Richard Meier, is made of self-cleaning concrete that helps keep the surface shiny white. In Japan, several modern buildings, including the Marunouchi Building in downtown Tokyo, are covered with photocatalytic tiles to reduce discoloring from pollution.

"Now we have to change and think of the product not just for architectural purposes, but also for environmental purposes," said Francesco Galimberti, spokesman for Italcementi, maker of the concrete for the church in Rome.

In a test in 2003, the company coated 75,000 square feet of road surface on the outskirts of Milan with photocatalytic cement. It found nitrogen oxide levels were reduced by up to 60 percent, depending on weather conditions.

A similar experiment in France found nitrogen oxide levels were 20 percent to 80 percent lower in a wall plastered with photocatalytic cement than one with regular cement.

Encouraged by such results, the European Union last year earmarked $2.27 billion for a project to develop "smart" construction materials that would break down nitrogen oxides and other toxic substances, such as benzene.

However, researchers admit they're still not sure how much of an impact the technology could have on air pollution outside of controlled test environments.

"Now we want to find out if it works optimally and economically and make sure it has a long-lived effect that does not disappear after a couple of years," said Eriksson of Cementa.

Cost is another issue. Galimberti said Italcementi's products are 30 percent to 40 percent more expensive than regular concrete, and using the external air quality as a selling point doesn't necessarily appeal to builders with tight budgets. The company's sales pitch is that self-cleaning materials will save money in the long run.

However, some scientists caution it's too soon to declare a titanium dioxide-fueled war on pollution.

"Trying to clean up air pollution seems to me to be a stretch," said Reynaldo Barreto, a chemistry professor at Purdue University in Indiana. "It doesn't mean it can't be done. But there's an awful lot of air and not a whole lot of surface."

Bears Wander Into Motels in New Mexico

Bears Wander Into Motels in New Mexico
By The Associated Press
Thu Jul 21,10:10 PM ET



Maybe it's an early hibernation thing. A bear wandered into a Raton motel on Monday and a second bear broke into a Taos Ski Valley motel a day later. The bear that walked through the front doors of the Raton motel possibly was lured by the enticing smell of fresh popcorn, officials said.

ADVERTISEMENT

"He walked in, went to the pay phones, then straight toward the pool," said desk clerk Kimbra Pacheco.

Lodgers with newspapers chased the bear through an enclosed pool area until game officers arrived. A Department of Game and Fish officer shot the animal with a tranquilizer dart.

Department officers later killed the bear, saying it had been trapped and moved from Raton a few weeks earlier and had lost its fear of humans.

The second bear forced its way through a window screen Tuesday at a Taos Ski Valley motel. The desk clerk called 911, but the bear fled before the town marshal and game officers arrived.

Officers have set a trap to try to capture the animal, which officials believe was attracted by the smell of food being cooked by lodgers on a grill outside their room.

The recent hot, dry weather in northern New Mexico may have forced some bears to search for food in different places, the department said.

The agency said people who live in bear country should keep anything that would attract them away from living areas and keep all doors and windows closed at night.

___

On the Net:

Game and Fish publications: http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us

Here is the second one that's kinda cool.. the trees below the moon are southeast of the barn.. ...  

You have to look close but this New Moon shot is through some tree branches... surrounding the moon.. took about 80, this was one of the best I think.. There is one more that might be good... haha.. 

Phil has one cool photo collage on his page...

Phil took some pics of Austyn swimming on his last day .... and has one great collage on his site.. be sure and check it out!!! Congrats to Austyn on finishing up his swimming lessons and doing so great...! We are proud of you Austyn!

And Phil, if Gary England can come to Harland's backyard, he could sure find his way to yours - next summer??? or want to try for this summer???

So you think you know the news... haha.... unbelievable link has all the frontpages of newspapers everywhere on every topic!!!

One has to see this, and play with it to believe it!!

Warning: by clicking on this link, you will be able to see the front pages of newspapers around the world and all over the USA. The searches can be broken down many ways on many topics... cool huh???

http://www.newseum.org/ is really cool!! and the papers are uptodate, too!!

Last Code Talker Dies in Tulsa Oklahoma

Charles Chibitty receives the Knowlton Award during a ceremony Nov. 30, 1999, at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes in Washington. Chibitty, one of 20 Comanche Indians who used their native language as a code to transmit messages for the Allies during World War II, has died. He was 83. Chibitty, the last living code talker, had been residing at a Tulsa, Okla. nursing home but had not been hospitalized, said Cathy Flynn, administrative assistant in the tribal chairman's office. The Comanche Nation's chairman received a call about 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, 2005, stating that Chibitty had died, Flynn said. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)

Last of WWII Comanche Code Talkers Dies


OKLAHOMA CITY - Charles Chibitty, the last survivor of the Comanche code talkers who used their native language to transmit messages for the Allies in Europe during World War II, has died. He was 83.

Chibitty, who had been residing at a Tulsa nursing home, died Wednesday, said Cathy Flynn, administrative assistant in the Comanche Nation tribal chairman's office.

The group of Comanche Indians from the Lawton area were selected for special duty in the U.S. Army to provide the Allies with a language that the Germans could not decipher. Like the larger group of Navajo Indians who performed a similar service in the Pacific theater, the Comanches were dubbed "code talkers."

"It's strange, but growing up as a child I was forbidden to speak my native language at school," Chibitty said in 2002. "Later my country asked me to. My language helped win the war and that makes me very proud. Very proud. "

In a 1998 story for The Oklahoman, Chibitty recalled being at Normandy on D-Day, and said someone once asked him what he was afraid of most and if he feared dying.

"No. That was something we had already accepted," he said.

"But we landed in deeper water than anticipated. A lot of boys drowned. That's what I was afraid of."

"I wonder what the hell Hitler thought when he heard those strange voices," he once told a gathering.

Chibitty was born Nov. 20, 1921, near Medicine Park and attended high school at Haskell Indian School in Lawrence, Kan. He enlisted in 1941.

In 1999, Chibitty received the Knowlton Award, which recognizes individuals for outstanding intelligence work, during a ceremony at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes.

"We could never do it again," Chibitty told Oklahoma Today. "It's all electronic and video in war now."

Lance and hi tech...

Lance Armstrong and High Tech bicycles...

From Uncle Ivan comes this tidbit.. thanks Uncle Ivan....

Mistaken Identity

An honest man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on
a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him.

He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman hit the roof, and the horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed, and placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. "I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday-School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk.

Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car."

Isn't this priceless?

Some photos from London...

Some pics from London this am....

From Melanie Shaklee.... this neat tidbit... thanks Mel..

Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe
and tried to light it?

Did you know his trial is over?
Did you know he was sentenced?
Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV/Radio?

Didn't think so

Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.
Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.

Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say.

His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record,
Reid also admitted his "allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah," defiantly stated "I think I will not apologize for my actions," and told the court "I am at war with your country."

Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:

January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid. Judge Young:
"Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.

On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutive with the other.
That's 80 years. On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years consecutive to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 for the aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines. The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment.
The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further. This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.

Let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is all too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.

You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether it is the officers of government who do it or your attorney who does it, or if you think you are a soldier. You are not----- you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've know warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and where the TV crews were, and he said: "You're no big deal."


What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today?

I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing. And I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.

It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf and have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.

We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bare any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. Day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure. Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.

Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.


So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets?
We need more judges like Judge Young, but that's another subject. Pass this around. Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say.
Powerful words that strike home.

God bless America.

Ann and I called Andrew to wish him happy 4th birthday.. last night..

It was kind'a cool. We were waiting for about 10pm to call... We tried earlier several times and didn't get an answer so we thought maybe they had slipped out, or were resting... so we waited.. and then at 10pm we called and wished Andrew Paul HAPPY 4th Birthday!! First thing he reports is... "I'm 4 now Grandpa!". Wow.. yelp, Andrew you are now FOUR... and Austyn will be SIX on his next birthday!!! And Kaitlyn will be 9 months old on the 23rd... and Madison will be 3 months old on the 4th of August!! Wow... time marchs on... And I am still 18... haha.. yeah... right!!!
Talked with Jon... Think they are coming up Saturday .. Cool. I wonder if I will know who Kaitlyn is.. Ms Potter with glasses.. Cool pic by the way!! Seems like we have some special days this month to celebrate.. Andrew, Paul, and Jon and Randi's Anni... wow, guess we need to be fasting for this... haha yeah, right... Not sure what the plans for weekend are...
Grandma Moffat came over for dinner last night with Ann and I. We had a great visit and I was helping her with some photos she has of her mother teaching school at Mt. Pisgah School west of Okarche, OK. There are three of them and they were taken in Feb and March of 1913. Her and Grandpa Siegrist were married on May 21, 1913... It's kind'a an old western story... the young man new in town falls for the school teacher... haha.... Heard the baler is ready, but it will have to wait till next week... too much going on that I need to finish up before getting into the hay... but looks like from next Monday on... busy busy with hay, etc..
Stay cool, drink lots of liquids.... and remember, the heat can get you before you know it!!!

OH my Goodness....

3 London Underground Stations Evacuated

LONDON - Three London Underground stations were evacuated at midday Thursday following reports of incidents, British Transport Police said. The Fire Brigade was investigating a report of smoke at one station.

Emergency services also were responding to a report of an incident on a bus in east London, police said.

This has nothing to do with much, and yet everything... haha... JC Penney always said two things....

JC Penney had two sayings... One. There is not a dime made till the last shoe is sold. If you have 12 pair, you have to sell the 12th pair to realize any profit, and the second was: The customer is always right!! So with that in mind.. here is a neat post I found on this subject this am.... I post this for my four kiddos.. who grew up somewhat in a retail business and heard Dad say this many times......

Why the customer is always right

You're hearing from a customer who isn't happy with the service or product. Either the customer is right or the customer is wrong. You have to decide which it is. Suppose you decide the customer is wrong, but the customer is actually right. You've now taken a serious chance of losing the customer, and it's possible that the former customer will tell other customers or potential customers that you suck, not only do you give bad service, but when you do, you don't make it right.

Now, suppose you assume the customer is right and you give them a new one of whatever was wrong, and apologize for the screwup, and thank them for their continued patronage. Having been given what he or she asked for, and having been vindicated, and received gratitude, the customer is glowing with a magnanimity that is greater than it would have been had you never made the mistake. You win, big.

Okay, now flip it around. Suppose the customer is wrong. They're just human, it could happen. Suppose you assume the customer is right and give them a freebie and an apology and a thank you. It's likely that the freebie didn't really cost you anything, or not very much. Cost of goods ain't what it used to be. Most of the cost is in time, and you'd spend as much time arguing with them, as you would by giving them what they want. And I don't care what you say, and apology and a thanks costs nothing. You can always be sorry and thankful. Always, no matter what, even if you're being scammed and know it. You can be thankful that this person is leaving your place of business sooner than if you argued with him.

The final case is the customer is wrong and you say they're wrong. In this case you're the most screwed. This is one angry mofo and you don't want to hear what they're going to say about you. You don't even want to think about it. Everyone in your store is going to wonder why you don't just give them what they want so they will leave and they can all get on with what they came to do -- spend money.

Can you imagine.. we can see the view as Dave did on his way to work this am.... in Vermont!

If you were in Vermont and drove to work this am... these are photos of the drive Dave Winer, internet friend.. music lover, etc.. took this am...

Some pics from last night.. enjoy the day!

I didn't want to put the one of Andrew sitting in the bed with Madison Ann... so her Mom would not get upset...hahah..... but... he was... and then he just played with her before they went to sleep last night... This was the last night with Grandma and Grandpa and tonight they will be with Mom and Dad... or at least that is the plan.. haha... right now.  

The little princess last night about bedtime.. Madison Ann had her bath and was waiting on Grandma Ann to put her to bed with a warm bottle of milk... .... 

Andrew Paul skate boarding across Grandma Ann's kitchen last night.. from one side to the other.. he can really ride it and make it go fast.... 

Marvin decided he was too fat.. so he went to the spa where he went "under the hood" and here I caught him reading the advertisments, etc... with his hood on... he did all this himself...  

50th Anni. poem a friend shared with me... kind a neat...

Flowers On Highway Twelve

Memories are made up of magic,
they're made up of all tinsel and lace,
a memory here of a wonderful time,
a memory there of a wonderful place.

And that's how we remember our childhood,
such a great place and such a great time.
So please sit back, and let us look back,
and I hope you enjoy this wonderful rhyme.

We grew up in Middleton, Wisconsin,
where the winters can take your breath away,
but memories of eight foot snowmen,
soon melt on the breeze of a Summers day.

The 'lady with the flowers on Highway Twelve',
gardened well and her time was wisely spent,
thousands got to know her beautiful displays,
can you smell again that Heavenly Scent ?

I remember our softball games,
we played while Mom had a deserved nap,
you encouraged us from our early years,
we'd hit the ball, you'd cheer and clap.

We've always loved our animals,
some were hand reared and bottle fed,
they say that you can lead a horse to water,
but Boy ! Princess wasn't that easily led !

I remember the canned tomatoes,
and making jam by the pound,
you've always grown the best strawberries,
and Mom, you make the best apple pie around.

Dad milked his cows in his early years,
bent over on a cold concrete floor,
I guess there were too many early mornings,
because his knees and back said 'no more' !

You can take the man off the farm,
but you can't take the farm out of the man,
and Dad is happiest when he's combining,
and loves it when Jerry's harvest is to plan !

We've discovered the power of prayer,
and the wonder of working so very hard,
there have been times it has been a battle,
and at times we've fought for every yard.

But you've always been there for us,
to lend a shoulder, a hand or to give advice,
I've never met anybody so honorable,
so adored and even as half as nice.

Because we had such a very, very good childhood,
I think that as parents you've been the best,
we have been surrounded by your love,
and with that love we've been truly blessed.

You've helped us to build our houses,
and like all of the greatest ever teams,
you've cemented those homes with your love,
and shared your excitement for our dreams.

You two possess a very deep love,
for one another and for all of us seven,
a love that was born in the Cosmos,
a love that could only be made in Heaven.

You've put your faith in the Lord,
and you've passed that faith rightly on,
you've shown us the Lord's light,
and for us all it has brightly shone.

And your love and your wonderful care,
will always keep the winter chills away,
we are rich beyond our wildest dreams,
what more can there be left to say ?

We love you both so very much,
today, tomorrow and for evermore,
we just wanted to say THANK YOU,
and that's what these words are for.

Because the seven flowers on Highway Twelve,
have grown up now and sown their seed,
because they were tended with so much love,
and that's all that they will ever, ever need.

Copyright Allen Jesson :) 2001

A band from Stillwater OK... lead singer is from Harrah OK.

Jason and Jake are friends... this is Jason Boland and the Stragglers. They are a band from Stillwater, OK. He is the Waylon Jennings of his generation... he has done nothing but get better since the first time I heard him....

Jake has played with Jason, and he and Jason and the Stragglers were in a wedding where Jake sang... a couple of years back.

I know this is not a music site... But I am proud when folks are having success with their talents.. too.. enjoy.

'I Hope You Dance... sent to us from Ward and Melanie Shaklee.... enjoy, it's so true~!

This was written by an 83-year-old woman to her friend. *The last line says it all. *

Dear Bertha,

I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the

garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time working.

Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.

I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom.

I wear my good blazer to the market. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.

"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now

I'm not sure what others would've done had they known they wouldn't be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think they would have called family members and a few close friends. They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever their favorite food was.

I'm guessing; I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, tell myself that it is special.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"People say true friends must always hold hands, but true friends don't need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always be there."

"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance"

Enjoy the day!

They are home.. Paul and Heather..

or at least their MSN Messenger became active... so they must be home.... Praise the Lord.... Welcome home guys... welcome home....!!!

Thanks Phil for the comments on photos..

It's easy to take good photos when you have good things to photograph!! Your home is awesome again this year.. the yard, garden, etc. It shows your love and devotion to the cause! I am proud of you and your efforts! Thanks for the comments...

Heather called.. and they are "headed home"!

Heather and Paul called from their car on the way home from the hospital this morning... Jake talked with Sis and she reported she was feeling much better. Ann is going to meet Paul at the kids doctors offices this afternoon, both have Doctor's appointments.. and she will help Paul with that and then bring them here for the evening... and night.

Heather loves Oklahoma music aritst/singer/songwriter Brandon Jenkins, as do I, and he has a new cd out... but .. as she was leaving the hospital, they ran into Stoney Larue's, another oklahoma music artist who has written several
songs and co wrote several with Branden, ... brother, Bo. So she reported they talked and had a good visit... He must be trying to branch out on his own too, His brother Stoney Larue has enjoyed a great deal of success and is really one of the top artist from Stillwater in the last few years! Anyway.. point here, it's a small world sometimes.. haha..

She is very excited about heading home...

Their home phone number is 405 372 1149.

Their mailing address is :

Paul and Heather Blankinship
Andrew Paul and Madison Ann
11414 E 19th Ave
Stillwater, OK 74074

Here is note from Ann I just received...

Heather just called and they are on their way home. Got her staples out,
going by the drug store and then home to rest for a while. Joan is going
to bring them some supper tonight. Paul will go by and get the kids for
their doctors appointments and I will meet them at the warren clinic to
help go two places at once and then the kids will stay one more night
with us. Then go home tomorrow. Anyway, that is the plan for the moment.


later.. S

For Jonathan....

The Mozilla Foundation is expecting to see a surge in interest in the Firefox browser from enterprise users once Microsoft launches Internet Explorer 7 next year.

IE 7, which will be available in beta this summer, will not be available to users of Windows 2000.

Asa Dotzler, the community coordinator at the Mozilla Foundation, said Tuesday that he hopes to attract many corporate Windows 2000 users to the Firefox browser, since they will be unable to take advantage of the improvements in IE 7.

"We have high hopes that we'll do better and better in (the enterprise) space with Windows 2000 users," Dotzler said. "We're excited about Microsoft launching IE 7--it will remind a lot of people that if they want better features they have to spend hundreds of dollars upgrading" to Windows XP.

Nearly half of all Windows-based business desktops are still using Windows 2000, according to a recent survey by AssetMetrix, meaning that there is a big market for the Mozilla Foundation to tap into.

Firefox 1.1, which is due for release this month, will include a range of features to encourage companies to migrate to the open-source browser, including an auto-update and preference locking feature.

Previous Next The auto-update system, which Dotzler described as a "world-class update system," will allow users to automatically install patches and updates, rather than needing to re-install Firefox each time an update is released. Version 1.1 will also include improved tools to lock down browser preferences, he said.

Improvements in Firefox, along with IE 7, could lead to a dramatic increase in the open-source browser's market share, according to Dotzler. "As we improve our tools for corporate deployments and people feel they're being left behind on Windows 2000, hopefully we'll see a real domino effect," he said.

ZDNet UK also spoke to Dotzler about the history of Firefox and Mozilla, the rise of Firefox in the enterprise, future marketing campaigns and how the Mozilla Foundation plans to target less tech-savvy consumers. Read his view of Firefox's and Mozilla's history here, and read the full interview with Dotzler here.

Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer, a native of Mendon, N.Y. was shot and then captured the enmey and treated them...

Photo of soldier in video....... being shot... below

BAGHDAD -- Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer, a native of Mendon, N.Y., and a medic
with E Troop, 101st “Saber” Cavalry Division, attached to 3rd Battalion, 156th
Infantry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was shot
in the chest by an enemy sniper, during a routine patrol in west Baghdad.

 

Warning.. you need to be ready to see someone being shot to watch this......

Soldier survives attack; captures, medically treats sniper (Video)




Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer is a native of Mendon, N.Y. —

During a routine patrol in Baghdad June 2, Army Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer, a medic, was shot in the chest by an enemy sniper, hiding in a van just 75 yards away. The incident was filmed by the insurgents.
Tschiderer, with E Troop, 101st “Saber” Cavalry Division, attached to 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was knocked to the ground from the impact, but he popped right back up, took cover and located the enemy’s position.

After tracking down the now-wounded sniper with a team from B Company, 4th Battalion, 1st Iraqi Army Brigade, Tschiderer secured the terrorist with a pair of handcuffs and gave medical aid to the terrorist who’d tried to kill him just minutes before.

here is the link to the short movie of the incident....

Here is official press release...

Media Release
256th Brigade Combat Team
Camp Tigerland
Baghdad, Iraq
APO, AE 09326
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 5, 2005
RELEASE 20050705-01
256th BCT Soldier survives sniper attack
Spc. Chris Foster
256th Brigade Combat Team PAO
BAGHDAD -- Being able to react to and maintain control of a situation in a
combat environment can be a difficult task for Soldiers. They must be able to
quickly react and assess a situation, in order to ensure their survival and the
safety of those around them.
“Stay alert, stay alive” is the reminder that is driven into the minds of
Soldiers since the first day of basic training and echoes throughout their military
careers.
This axiom was driven home for at least one Soldier on June 2.
Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer, a native of Mendon, N.Y., and a medic with E
Troop, 101st “Saber” Cavalry Division, attached to 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry
Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was shot in the
chest by an enemy sniper, during a routine patrol in west Baghdad.
While Tschiderer was relaying information to the truck commander of his
M114 Humvee, an enemy sniper team prepared to engage him from inside of a
cushioned silver van being used as a mobile sniper’s nest. This nest was lined
with numerous bed mattresses to muffle the sound of a Dragonoff sniper rifle
fired through a hole just big enough for the shooter to engage his target of
choice.
Tschiderer was knocked to the ground from the sudden impact of the
sniper’s bullet. The bullet only seemed to have fazed this Soldier as, adrenaline
pumping, he sprang right back up in order to take cover and locate the enemy’s
position.
The sniper was unsuccessful in his mission, due to the stopping force of
the Tschiderer’s daily wardrobe, his protective body armor, which saved his life.
“I knew I was hit, but was uncertain of the damage or location from the
hit,” Tschiderer said. “The only thing that was going through my mind was to take
cover and locate the sniper’s position.”
“The shot came from my 12 o’clock position from a silver van parked
across an intersection about 75 meters from my location.” said Tschiderer.
After Tschiderer alerted his fellow Soldiers of the enemy location, they
immediately began to pursue the terrorists.
Due to his heroic actions and quick decisions, Tschiderer located the
enemy while he took cover and alerted the rest of his team on patrol. As the
Saber team engaged and disabled the sniper’s position, two terrorists fled on
foot, leaving a blood trail that came from the wounds of the enemy sniper.
A cordon and search was immediately set up and Tschiderer assisted his
team in the search of the two terrorists. The driver of the silver vehicle was
detained by a team from B Co. 3-156th Inf. Bn. while Tschiderer and a team from
B Company, 4th Battalion, 1st Iraqi Army Brigade, continued to follow the blood
trail which led them to the yard where the wounded sniper lay in pain.
As Tschiderer secured the terrorist with a pair of handcuffs, he gave
medical aid to the wounded terrorist—the same one who’d tried to take his life.
-30-
BAGHDAD -- Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer, a native of Mendon, N.Y., and a medic
with E Troop, 101st “Saber” Cavalry Division, attached to 3rd Battalion, 156th
Infantry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was shot
in the chest by an enemy sniper, during a routine patrol in west Baghdad.

You just gotta love the government....

If our government is helping storm victims, or earthquake victims... like they help farmers.. haha..

Yes, I wondered why the hurricane victims in Florida still had not done much after the damage last year and there was a lot of clean up that had not taken place. I am beginning to understand... slowly.

As a farmer, the government helps us in times of natural disaster, too. In our county in Oklahoma, we encountered severe drought in the year 2003. We started buying hay in August of that year, which is three months earlier than usual. We spent almost 11,000 on hay that winter.


About 5 months ago, ... in the year 2005, we got to sign up for help.... and we waited and waited and waited.. .. and now .. been told it might be first of August or later.. but it's on it's way...

To make a long story shorter... with the amount of cattle we run, and the land we own and rent, we will receive about 1500. first figures were 1900.... Now that seems like a lot ... but let me tell you... it's not. But we are glad to get anything that helps us continue on with our farming...


My point is this... I just wonder if the nice folks who suffered all the losses in Florida and other places along the gulf, are still waiting on help too??? Geeze, I hope not.... our loss was two years ago.. if they are.. can you imagine..???

Just wanting to share... haha...

From Uncle Ivan.. Mars and Jupiter on August 27th..... need to watch..

The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2,287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can be certain only that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification

Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10:00 p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3:00 a.m.

By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30 a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.

Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN !!!

for Philliip.. and Paul.... Organic farming uses less energy than regular farming

July 19, 2005 9:55 AM PDT
Organic farming uses less energy than regular farming
Organic farming produces the same yields of corn and soybeans as conventional farming, but consumes 30 percent less energy, less water and no pesticides, according to a study that reviewed 22-years of farming results.

"Organic farming offers real advantages for such crops as corn and soybeans," said David Pimentel, a Cornell University professor of ecology and agriculture, in a prepared statement. Pimentel studied the results from the Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial, the longest running comparison of organic vs. conventional farming in the United States.

The study compared a conventional farm that used recommended fertilizers and pesticides with an organic animal-based farm (where manure was applied) and an organic legume-based farm (that used a three-year rotation of hairy vetch/corn and rye/soybeans and wheat). The two organic systems received no chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

You have to see this to believe it...

What is our world coming too..... ????

Paul, Heather, Andrew and Madison...... again....

Yes..

Heard from the lady herself this am she is heading home hopefully today. The Doctors did find a 7cm bloodclot behind her bladder causing her discomfort she reported. They think it will dissolve on it's own, but it is a big one. She will stay on meds for about 10 days to 2 weeks.
Ann and I kept the kiddos last night... OK, for all you doubting thomas's in the world.. haha.... ANN kept the kiddos... and they did great. We will do this again tonight, according to Heather so her and Paul can get ONE night of rest before the storm.. haha.. and we don't mind. So guess this is what will be.

Will try to keep you informed on what else happens today. I am running water again.. 15 on and 15 off, trying to clear up our well...

Have a great day.... and here's a photo of Andrew and Madison near bedtime last evening...

Enjoy the day....

Today's Quote

If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you’ll never enjoy the sunshine.

-Morris West

from Uncle Ivan.. thanks.. haha...

A couple had been debating the purchase of a new auto for weeks. He wanted a new truck. She wanted a fast little sports-like car so she could zip through traffic around town.

He would probably have settled on any beat up old truck, but everything she seemed to like was way out of their price range. "Look!" she said. I want something that goes from 0 to 200 in 4 seconds or less. "And my birthday is coming up. You could surprise me."

For her birthday, he bought her a brand new bathroom scale.

Services will be at Downing funeral home on Monday the 12th. Due to the condition of the body; this will be a closed casket service. Please send your donations to the 'Think before you say things to your wife foundation', Dallas, Texas.

Heather.. etc..

Well, another day gone by... haha..

Heather is getting better. They were to do an ultrasound of her kidneys this afternoon. She is having a lot of discomfort, and the Drs. can not understand why in that area. Hopefully, they will figure it out soon.
Ann is going to pick up the two kiddos and take them by to see MOM this evening on her way home. I have been baby sitting our water well this afternoon. The well man and I are not sure but the new pump has not cured all the problems yet. I have to turn on the water for 15 mins and off for 15 mins in hopes of getting it to clear up, especially since the kids are coming to spend the night.
I was headed to the hospital today since I didn't get there yesterday, watching Madison Ann yesterday afternoon and evening so Ann could go in and spell Paul and let him and Andrew have some Father/Son time together... Paul mentioned they are having some health problems with their goats too and I think Dr. Dawson was to give them some medication for them and Paul and his folks were going to Dr. them this evening.
Not sure what else is going on. I know our baler is to be ready tomorrow evening maybe.. and I am to see about the John Deere tractor too, but just don't have time right now.. maybe later this evening... but I will not have time to put any hay up till next week anyway, with all of the other stuff going on, and believe it or not, haha... I have some work too... haha...
I think Jon and family are planning on coming up this weekend for Andrew's birthday.. which really is Wednesday, the 20th.

All I know for now... enjoy the day.. Got to go check on the well... S

First Live Cattle from Canada come in to USA today...

First Live Cattle Cross Border from Canada to U.S. - Canadian Cattlemen's Association Reacts to Historic Event
Monday July 18, 3:13 pm ET


CALGARY, July 18 /CNW/ - The Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA) is very pleased that today the first live Canadian cattle crossed into the U.S. since BSE was diagnosed in Canada in May 2003.
"This is an historic day for the Canadian beef cattle industry," says Stan Eby, President of the CCA. "I want to thank Minister of Agriculture Andy Mitchell and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and their senior staff for all their efforts on this issue and for directing their agencies to quickly get the processes in place to get the cattle moving. I also commend staff of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the United States Department of Agriculture for the extraordinary effort they put in over the weekend working to ensure that all was in order to enable exports to quickly resume. It was only on Thursday that the preliminary injunction preventing the export of live Canadian cattle was overturned on appeal, and here we are on Monday with cattle actually moving. This is exemplary service on the part of regulators on both sides of the border."

Beef from the cattle exported today will join the 632,000 tonnes of Canadian beef that has been exported to the U.S. since the border re-opened to boneless Canadian beef from cattle under 30 months in August, 2003. Canadian processors are now also permitted to export bone-in beef from these younger animals. A fully competitive market with rational trade in both beef and live cattle will benefit both the Canadian and U.S. beef industries.

A hearing into R-CALF's request for a permanent injunction against Canadian live cattle and beef must still be heard in U.S. District Court, Montana Division on July 27.

"We look forward to the correct decisions being made in any future court actions," adds Eby. "We will continue working to ensure that adequate slaughter capacity is maintained in Canada to make us less vulnerable to border disruptions. However we all benefit from a North American marketplace that is permitted to operate according to marketplace signals."

Brown's Water Well Service replacing our water pump....

Here is what I been doing today... haha.. replacing our water pump. Got it done about 1:30pm. Ran to get a gallon of clorex to put in it and we are to let it run full blast this afternoon and all night.. but probably won't run that long, since Andrew and Madison are spending the night with us. Anyway, one of those joys of having your own well... nothing $700.00 dollars won't fix, haha...

Have a great afternoon, and enjoy the day!!!

 

Perkins Chamber of Commerce is busy......

The Perkins Chamber of Commerce is hosting the bridge dedication of the Highway 33 bridge on the east side of Coyle. This will take place at 10:30 this Thursday, prior to the chamber meeting. The Highway 33 improvements from Guthrie moving east toward Perkins are significant to our community and you’re welcomed to come support the efforts.



Also, the back to school business fair is coming up on August 15. See the attached flier for more information. This is always a great audience to showcase your business to.



Have a super week! We’re very glad to have Faith in Action cater one more meal for us (YUM!), so don’t forget to RSVP to Pat B. if you plant to attend this week’s chamber meeting. J



-Kendra