We did a Character Connex in Garreston, South Dakota, this morning.  -Elementary School Assembly-   I almost had a large explosion.  I was blowing up a couple beach balls for the game with a electric air pumps.  Well I forgot about it - it was almost ready to explode.  That would not of been good. lol 

My heart overflows with a beautiful thought!
I will recite a lovely poem to the king,
for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.

 It's why I will go through the fire.

 It's why I will set my heart towards heaven.

Why do you do the things you do?  What is your purpose in life?

Manilla, Philippines.  The featured city for this week.

Metropolitan Manila encompasses six cities and 12 towns. Located on Manila Bay in the South China Sea.

Manila Cathedral, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines

Manila - view of manila harbor from ferry

Manilla is a very beautiful city.  I was there once and enjoyed it. 
I still have the cities that several xangans previously requested and will feature those cites in weeks to come. 
If you want your hometown featured please request it.  (I feature a city every Saturday.)

Here's a good memory for me:

Thanks jassmine 

 

Day Light Savings Time was the idea of Benjamin Franklin.  Do you like Day light savings time?

How you perceive yourself is very important because it will ultimately affect the way other people see you.  When I grew up I was like Linus off of Charlie Brown. Linus had a bad self image and an air of inferiority that stayed around him.  The Greek word for "more than conquerors" is hupernikos. It means something beyond measure.  It carries the idea of superiority.  It is more than suggested that we can live like that - we can live like that - we were created to live like that.  I'll never forget my turning point in my self image.  I was sitting in a classroom, training for the Bureau of Prisons.  The teacher wanted to break the ice with the students and asked this question:  "If you can be anyone in the world, who would it be?"  Students had many answers, Millionaires, Movie Stars etc.  Then it was my turn.  I had been thinking about the answer and said this, "I want to be me, because I like me."  I think that was the 1st time I've ever verbalized that I liked myself. Even if I'm a cartoon.. 

What color do you perceive yourself?
Green  - I don't like myself 
Blue - I'm OK, but I see too many faults 
Purple - I really like myself, faults and all.  (Purple symbolizes Royalty)

Lets test your IQ.
1.  Is there a 4th of July in England?
2. Some months have 31 days, how many have 28?
3. How many outs are there in an inning?
4. If there are 3 apples and you took 2 away, how many apples do you have?
5. A farmer has 17 sheep and all but 9 die, how many sheep are left?
6. How many animals of each sex did Moses take on the Ark?
7. How many 2 cent stamps are there in a dozen?

In light of heaven, the worst suffering earth, a life full of the most atrocious tortures earth, will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an inconvenient hotel.  Mother Teresa

Robert Todd Lincoln  A man who could of been President but didn't want the office.  He says, "It seems difficult for the average American to understand that it is possible for anyone not to desire the Presidency but I most certainly do not." 

Interesting Facts about Robert:
*Most historians suggest that Robert Lincoln was the most successful of all the presidential children. 
*The only incident that Abraham Lincoln ever lashed out in anger at his son was when young Robert lost the inaugural address on a train ride to Washington. 
*Robert attended Harvard.  
*He enrolled in the Civil War.
*As it was winding down on on the morning of April 14, 1865, Ulysses S. Grant arrived in Washington with Robert in his entourage.  The President and 1st lady invited Robert to join them for a performance at Ford's Theater, but Robert declined the invitation.  Abraham would be assassinated.
*Mary Lincoln was too bereaved to attend Abraham's funeral and Robert performed this chore.
*For several weeks Robert had his mother followed by detective agents. 
*Robert would have his mother (Mary) committed to an insane asylum. 
*Mary complained that someone was following her.  (This was used as evidence against her.)
*She won her release and fled to Europe, fearful that Robert would strike again.
*Abraham Lincoln had a dream a week before the assassination:  He saw a coffin in the East room and when he asked he was told, "It's the President."  The following day Abraham opened his bible and read the account of Jacob and his dream.  Abraham spent the next few days going through the Bible looking for dreams.
*Upon reading the account of this dream Robert couldn't shake his feeling of guilt, "If I had been at the theater, things would of been different."
*In 1881, President Garfield had a troubling dream of his own death.  He summoned Robert Lincoln because he knew the account of Abraham Lincoln and wanted some insight.  They were to depart together on the presidential train.  Robert arrived late at the station just as the assassination of President Garfield occurred.
*In 1901 President William McKinley began to experience troubling dreams.  He sought out Robert.  On September 6, 1901, Robert arrived just in time to see the president shaking hands with the crowd.  As Robert drew near to the President, an assassin fired the fatal shot. 
*Robert Lincoln died on July 25, 1926. Robert had previously chosen not to be buried with his family, but at Arlington National Cemetery.

How is the date for Easter picked? 

History of the Easter Egg:  16th century German literature depicts the Easter Bunny as delivering eggs. (Eggs were symbols of resurrection & continuing life) Colored eggs were left only for the well-behaved good children. 
For centuries, eggs were prohibited during lent, so at Easter eggs were a treat.
Easter new clothes: At one time in history, one set of clothes was worn throughout all lent, then discarded for a new outfit on Easter.

Quote:  When you tell the truth, you never have to worry about your lousy memory.

One way to tell if someone is lying:  Watch their eyes.  The initial split second reaction will tell you what you want to know.  If the eyes are roaming, it probally means they are seeking a answer other than the truth.  Usually a person can't control that moment, but they can quickly recover and put on a pocker face. (I learned this tactic while working a Federal Prison and it worked most of the time).  How do you know someone is lying to you?

Inner Impressions   We all have feelings and impressions.  How do we know what to follow?  There are several sources to where these impressions come from.  How do we know the source?  Martin Knapp in 1892 wrote his answer.  He said that if someone totally leans on every impression as coming from God, darkness will be there.  Martin went on to say that if the inner impression lines up with the entire Bible, then it could be trusted as from God.   How do you know God is speaking to you?

Married in the Catholic church.  I'm Assembly of God now. 

Why do we answer the phone "Hello"? & Cellphone secrets.
 
(Copy of the original phone)
The word "Hello" was commonly used before Bell invented the phone in 1876.  Bell wanted the word "Ahoy" as the greeting instead of "Hello" but the word hello stuck. 
Where did the word originate: 

In the late 1300's, people "greeted each other with 'hallow.

In about 1600, Shakespeare used "halloo" as a hunting shout in the play Coriolanus.

Speaking of phones: Here's another thing a cell phone will do:
Hidden Battery Power
Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your cell will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time.

How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?
To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 #
A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code.  They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.

411
Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial: (800) FREE 411, or (800) 373-3411 without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now.

And now for the strange News

 Eco-Activists Make Statement with Ringtones   (Associated Press)
Amid the cacophony of cellphone ringtones these days, add these: the clickety-click-click of a rare Central American poison arrow dart frog, the howl of a Mexican grey wolf and the bellows of an Arctic beluga whale.

Military Signal Blocks Garage Remotes   (Associated Press)
For many suburbanites, life without garage door openers is unimaginable. But neighbors of the Marine base here have been reduced to just that after a strong radio signal coming from the facility began neutralizing remote-control openers.

 China Scientists Learn to Fly Pigeons   (Reuters)
Scientists in eastern China say they have succeeded in controlling the flight of pigeons with micro electrodes planted in their brains.

Scenario #1
You just find out that your invention has made you world famous and rich.  You now have unlimited money and world renown fame.  What would your next week of life be like?

Scenario #2
You just came back from the Doctor and he told you that you have a incurable disease.  You now have only one week to live.  What would your next week of life be like?

Do you have any similarities between the two scenario? 

Otiose (Adjective)

Pronunciation: ['o-tee-os or 'o-dee-os (US)]

Definition: Serving no useful purpose; being at leisure or ease, idle, inactive, unemployed.
Example: I know a otiose mother, who refused to get a job and yesterday had her children taken from her.   
What is in your life that is Otiose? (The word is confined to animate objects)

Just so we don't get too serious:
 

Things your cell phone could do that you may not of known:
Have you locked your keys in the car?

Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. 

Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other ?remote? for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

Here are some codes that teenagers use (or really hip adults-lol) on the internet.  Try to figure them out.
ROFL
POS
P911
KPC
BRB
ASL
Do you know of other words or code letters that teen use today? Please share.

 I heard some chilling news today.  A terrorist based web site posted that they plan on capturing Prince Harry and torturing him.  How horrible would that be? 
Do you think that with Prince Harry in Iraq that it will put his fellow soldiers in jeapordy? 

The answers:

ROFL - rolling on the floor laughing; POS parents over shoulder; P911 Parent Alert; KPC Keep parents clueless; BRB Be right back; ASL - age/sex/location

I love going through old pictures.  I must of went through thousands yesterday.  Here are a few:

My Navy days. I was getting a award. 
 
My wife at her graduation.

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.  -Mother Teresa