. . . And That"s How The Fight Got Started

My wife and I were watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire while we were in bed.
I turned to her and said, 'Do you want to have Sex?'
'No,' she answered.
I then said, 'Is that your final answer?'

... She didn't even look at me this time, simply saying, 'Yes..'
So I said, "Then I'd like to phone a friend."

And that's when the fight started...

________________________________

I took my wife to a restaurant.

The waiter, for some reason, took my order first.

"I'll have the rump steak, rare, please."
He said, "Aren't you worried about the mad cow?"
"Nah, she can order for herself."

And that's when the fight started.....

_____________________________

My wife and I were sitting at a table at her high school reunion, and she kept staring at a drunken man swigging his drink as he sat alone at a nearby table.

I asked her, "Do you know him?"
"Yes", she sighed,
"He's my old boyfriend. I understand he took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear he hasn't been sober since."

"My Gosh!" I said, "Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?"

And then the fight started...

________________________________

When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed.
But, somehow I always had something else to take care of first, the shed, the boat,making beer . . . Always something more important to me.

Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point.
When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again I handed her a toothbrush.

I said, "When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway."

The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.

_____________________________

My wife sat down next to me as I was flipping channels.
She asked, "What's on TV?"
I said, "Dust."

And then the fight started...

________________________________

Saturday morning I got up early, quietly dressed, made my lunch, and slipped quietly into the garage. I hooked up the boat up to the van and proceeded to back out into a torrential  downpour. The wind was blowing 50 mph, so I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad all day.

I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed. I cuddled up to my wife's back; now with a different anticipation, and whispered, "The weather out there is terrible."

My loving wife of 5 years replied, "And, can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?"

And that's how the fight started...

_______________________________

My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary.
She said, "I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds."

I bought her a bathroom scale.

And then the fight started......

______________________________

After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to apply for Social Security. The woman behind the counter asked me for my driver's License to verify my age. I looked in my pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home. I told the woman that I was very sorry, but I would have to go home and come back later.  The woman said, 'Unbutton your shirt'.  So I opened my shirt revealing my curly silver hair.  She said, 'That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me' and she processed my Social Security application.

When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the Social Security office.

She said, 'You should have dropped your pants. You might have gotten disability too.'

And then the fight started...

________________________________

My wife was standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror.

She was not happy with what she saw and said to me,  "I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment.'

I replied, "Your eyesight's damn near perfect."

And then the fight started........

________________________________

I rear-ended a car this morning...the start of a REALLY bad day!

The driver got out of the other car, and he was a DWARF!!
He looked up at me and said 'I am NOT Happy!'
So I said, 'Well, which one ARE you then?'

That's how the fight started.

________________________________

One year, I decided to buy my mother-in-law a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift...

The next year, I didn't buy her a gift.
When she asked me why, I replied,
"Well, you still haven't used the gift I bought you last year!"

And that's how the fight started.

OH YEAH - PACKAGE STEALING THIEF GLITTER/FART BOMB!!!!

Former NASA Engineer 

Builds Impressive Glitter Bomb 

to Make Life Hell for Package Thieves

If you'd like to read the article click HERE

The Message On The Penny

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.

He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment..

Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.

He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.

A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?

'Look at it.' He said. 'Read what it says.' She read the words ' United States of America '

'No, not that; read further.'

'One cent?' 'No, keep reading.'

'In God we Trust?' 'Yes!' 'And?'

'And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin, I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, 'In God We Trust,' and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message.

It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient..

George HW Letter to New President Bill Clinton on Jan 20, 1993

Bill Clinton: George H.W. Bush’s Oval Office note to me revealed the heart of who he was
December 1, 2018

Original Article HERE
By Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton was the 42nd president of the United States.

On Jan. 20, 1993, I entered the Oval Office for the first time as president. As is the tradition, waiting for me was a note from my predecessor, George Herbert Walker Bush. It read:

Dear Bill,

When I walked into this office just now I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt four years ago. I know you will feel that, too.

I wish you great happiness here. I never felt the loneliness some Presidents have described.

There will be very tough times, made even more difficult by criticism you may not think is fair. I’m not a very good one to give advice; but just don’t let the critics discourage you or push you off course.

You will be our President when you read this note. I wish you well. I wish your family well.

Your success now is our country’s success. I am rooting hard for you.

Good Luck — George

The Oval Office note that George H.W. Bush left for Bill Clinton. (Courtesy of Bill Clinton)

No words of mine or others can better reveal the heart of who he was than those he wrote himself. He was an honorable, gracious and decent man who believed in the United States, our Constitution, our institutions and our shared future. And he believed in his duty to defend and strengthen them, in victory and defeat. He also had a natural humanity, always hoping with all his heart that others’ journeys would include some of the joy that his family, his service and his adventures gave him.

His friendship has been one of the great gifts of my life. From Indonesia to Houston, from the Katrina-ravaged Gulf Coast to Kennebunkport, Maine — where just a few months ago we shared our last visit, as he was surrounded by his family but clearly missing Barbara — I cherished every opportunity I had to learn and laugh with him. I just loved him.

Many people were surprised at our relationship, considering we were once political adversaries. Despite our considerable differences, I had admired many of his accomplishments as president, especially his foreign policy decisions in managing America’s response to the end of the Cold War and his willingness to work with governors of both parties to establish national education goals. Even more important, though he could be tough in a political fight, he was in it for the right reasons: People always came before politics, patriotism before partisanship. To the end, we knew we would never agree on everything, and we agreed that was okay. Honest debate strengthens democracy.

While we maintained a respectful, friendly relationship throughout my presidency, it was only when President George W. Bush asked us to jointly spearhead American relief efforts in the wake of the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 and again after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 that we got to really know each other. When we met with children who lost their parents in the tsunami, he was moved almost to tears when they gave us drawings they’d made to capture their pain and slow recovery in grief counseling. When we were asked to speak together at Tulane’s graduation in 2006, I saw his genuine feeling for the students, many of whom had suffered in the flooding of New Orleans, and others who had shown heroism and love in caring for their neighbors. “Each of you here has inspired me,” he told them. “When I look at our world, the good I see far outweighs the bad, which maybe explains why I am a real optimist about the future that you all will be facing.”

Growing old did not rob him of his optimism or his love of competition and adventure. In his book of letters, there’s a wonderful one to his family about getting older, in which he crows about driving his speedboat off the Maine coast. “Still want to compete. I still drive Fidelity II fast — very fast. My best so far — 63 mph in a slight chop with one [Secret Service] agent on board.” I took more than one ride in that boat with him over the years. It was fun but not an experience for the faint of heart. It was the same driving spirit, coupled with heartfelt patriotism, which led him to volunteer for the Navy on his 18th birthday instead of attending Yale, becoming one of the youngest American pilots to get his wings. Even when he was later shot out of the sky, the sole survivor of his close-knit crew, he never feared to go up again — famously learning to skydive at 75.

After the war, he took a leap of faith by staking his and his family’s future in the Texas oil business and eventually got into politics. Fifty years ago this spring, as a congressman representing Houston, he voted for the Fair Housing Act of 1968, going against his nearly perfect record of conservative votes in Washington. When he returned to Houston, he held a town hall to explain his vote to a hostile crowd who thought he’d lost his mind. He believed that he could convince them it was the right thing to do, as long as they would hear him out. That evening, at least, he was right. When he was finished talking he got a standing ovation.

Given what politics looks like in America and around the world today, it’s easy to sigh and say George H.W. Bush belonged to an era that is gone and never coming back — where our opponents are not our enemies, where we are open to different ideas and changing our minds, where facts matter and where our devotion to our children’s future leads to honest compromise and shared progress. I know what he would say: “Nonsense. It’s your duty to get that America back.”

We should all give thanks for George H.W. Bush’s long, good life and honor it by searching, as he always did, for the most American way forward.

I Jumped Off The Golden Gate Bridge

Kevin is using his story to spread suicide prevention awareness with his film, 

Suicide: The Ripple Effect

found at suicidetherippleeffect.com.

The Dark Secret of the Golden Gate Bridge
https://forwardsfun.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-dark-secret-of-golden-gate-bridge.html

Five Myths About Turkeys

Americans will eat more than 40 million turkeys for Thanksgiving this year. Most will be roasted, some deep-fried, a few spatchcocked and nearly all turned into sandwiches the day after. At least one lucky bird will receive a presidential pardon. But between the iconic 1621 meal that we honor and Thursday’s dinner table, the turkey has earned its place in our nation’s mythology.

MYTH NO. 1
Ben Franklin almost made the turkey the national bird.

In “The Egg,” a song from the Tony-winning 1969 musical “1776,” adapted for the big screen in 1972, Benjamin Franklin whimsically makes the case that the turkey should be the fledgling republic’s national emblem, because it is “the truly noble bird: native American, source of sustenance of our original settlers, an incredibly brave fellow who will not flinch at attacking a regiment of Englishmen, single-handedly.” In 2009, the Houston Chronicle published an article headlined “The turkey was almost our national bird,” attributing the near miss to Franklin.

Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson made up the first committee charged with designing the national seal, Harvard’s Declaration Resources Project confirms, but Franklin’s suggestion had nothing to do with turkeys — it was a proposal to depict Moses parting the Red Sea. Eventually, after several design committees had been assembled and disbanded, America got the bald eagle in 1782.

Franklin’s turkey remarks came later. In a 1784 satirical letter to his daughter, he maligned the eagle’s “bad moral character”: He’s “too lazy to fish for himself” and instead waits for other, more industrious birds to do the work, then steals the catch. The turkey is a “more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America,” Franklin wrote.

MYTH NO. 2
Stuffing turkey is a recipe for food poisoning.

Two years ago, Self magazine ran the article “Cooking Stuffing Inside a Turkey Is Actually Dangerous,” urging readers to “cook your stuffing separately!” The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website, EatRight.org, warns, “For maximum safety, cook stuffing in a casserole” dish.

Yes, it’s important to take precautions when cooking poultry, but you can safely stuff a turkey — generations of Americans wouldn’t have risked dying for the sake of a more flavorful side dish. The key is proper temperature. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, your turkey, and what’s inside it, must be cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees.

To achieve this: (1) Stuff your raw turkey just after you’ve cooked your stuffing and it’s still hot. Don’t make your stuffing ahead of time and refrigerate it. That way, it takes less time for the stuffing to reach 165. (2) Don’t overstuff. A loosely stuffed bird heats more quickly. Leftover stuffing can go in a separate casserole that your guests will raid for seconds. (3) Measure the temperature. Make sure your culinary thermometer reaches the interior of the stuffing, either through the meat or through the cavity entrance. And don’t trust the pop-up thermometer that comes with the turkey you buy. When Consumer Reports tested them, it found some popped up at temperatures over 165 (making for an overcooked, dry bird) and some popped up at well under 165 (increasing the risk of food poisoning).

MYTH NO. 3
Basting is better.

Basting “adds flavor and helps create a golden crust,” wrote Bon Appétit’s Rochelle Bilow in 2015. Baste “with a mixture of butter and wine for an unconventional, buttery gobbler with a tangy kick,” recommends TV chef Rachael Ray.

Not so fast, says Meathead Goldwyn, the force behind AmazingRibs.com and the author of “Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling.” The problem is that basting prolongs cooking times. “Think of it like sweat after a long workout,” Goldwyn told me via email, “it cools you off.” If a long cooking time is what you’re after (as with pork shoulder, which has lots of connective tissue that has to break down), that’s a good thing. But not with a lean turkey. And basting may moisten the bird, “but not a lot,” says Goldwyn. The reason turkey dries out in the first place is that the moisture evaporates out of the meat as it cooks. But if you baste, the liquid doesn’t penetrate the flesh.

When Cook’s Illustrated put the competing methods to the test, it found that basting improved moisture a tiny bit, but it “prolongs the cooking time and requires more hands-on work.” The verdict: Not worth it.

MYTH NO. 4
Thanksgiving turkey makes you sleepy.

Urban Dictionary’s first entry for “turkey coma” defines it as “the inevitable and unavoidable nap that occurs about 45 minutes after gorging one’s self on a Thanksgiving Day turkey feast.” In one famous “Seinfeld” episode, Jerry’s girlfriend asks over a turkey dinner, “What is that stuff in turkey that makes you sleepy?” Jerry and George answer in unison: “Tryptophan,” the amino acid that’s plentiful in turkey meat. A few scenes later, she’s asleep at the table.

But tryptophan doesn’t necessarily induce sleep, and it’s doubtful that turkey’s the culprit for your post-Thanksgiving-dinner nap.

The human body uses tryptophan to make serotonin and melatonin, both of which play a role in sleep, and there’s some evidence that tryptophan intake is associated with sleep duration. But to make you drowsy, it has to cross the blood-brain barrier. And to do that, it competes with other amino acids vying to do the same. Since turkey contains different amino acids, very little tryptophan is likely to get through. Also, as HowStuffWorks put it, “nutritionists and other experts say that the tryptophan in turkey probably won’t trigger the body to produce more serotonin because tryptophan works best on an empty stomach.” Popular Science notes that “free-flowing booze combined with a load of carbohydrates followed by plenty more booze” is a likelier cause of sleepiness.

Besides, the USDA’s National Nutrient Database says turkey doesn’t have any more tryptophan than other things you’re likely to eat for dinner. It’s got 0.31 grams per 100 grams of meat, while chicken has 0.34 grams and a beef filet has 0.35.

MYTH NO. 5
Turkey was Thanksgiving's first entree.

Any grade-schooler will tell you: Turkey was the centerpiece at the first Thanksgiving. It’s a detail perpetuated in pop-culture holiday retellings, including a 1968 televised special, “The Mouse on the Mayflower,” wherein the narrator exclaims, “Oh, there was turkey!” The cover of one children’s book, “The Story of the First Thanksgiving,” depicts settlers and Native Americans gathered around a table, preparing to eat, with a golden-brown turkey in the middle as the main dish.

In 2011, though, Smithsonian magazine’s Megan Gambino reported that turkey wasn’t necessarily the main course in 1621. Kathleen Wall, a culinarian at Plimouth Plantation , a history museum that re-creates the original Plymouth colony, told Smithsonian, “Wildfowl was there . . . venison was there,” water birds like goose or duck were likely candidates, and passenger pigeons were plentiful game at the time. But turkey probably wasn’t the featured dish.

Turkey was popularized as the go-to entree by Sarah Josepha Hale , editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, a women’s magazine published in the mid-1800s. She advocated for Thanksgiving to be made a national holiday (President Abraham Lincoln obliged in 1863), describing the ideal dinner in 1827’s “Northwood: Or Life North and South, Showing the True Character of Both ”: “The roasted turkey took precedence on this occasion, being placed at the head of the table.”





Tamar HaspelTamar Haspel writes Unearthed, a monthly commentary in pursuit of a more constructive conversation on divisive food-policy issues. She farms oysters on Cape Cod. Find out more about her at www.tamarhaspel.com. Follow

The History of 'APRONS'

I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids..

And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER:

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.

I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron - but love

****WARNING TO ALL PARENTS****

IMMEDIATELY!!!

STOP  FEEDING YOUR KIDS RICE KRISPIES.  IT IS NOT ABSORBED IN YOUR BODY IN A HEALTHY MANNER.  IT IS STORIED IN YOUR BODY FOR YEARS, AND THE EFFECTS BECOME VISIBLE WHEN YOU ARE OLDER.

I USED TO EAT RICE KRISPIES AND NOW THAT I AM OLDER, I CAN TESTIFY TO THE EFFECTS OF THIS.

EVERY MORNING WHEN I WAKE UP AND GET OUT OF BED, EVERYTHING IN MY BODY SNAPS, CRACKLE AND POPS!

PASS THIS MESSAGE ONTO EVERYONE - TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO YOUR CHILDREN SOMEDAY WHEN THEY GET OLD!!!

SOME HALLOWEEN FUN!!

Crazy Cat Lady!

 Too much or just right?

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Info

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or the Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument dedicated to U.S. service members who have died without their remains being identified. It is located in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, United States of America. The World War I "Unknown" is a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the Victoria Cross, and several other foreign nations' highest service awards. The U.S. Unknowns who were interred are also recipients of the Medal of Honor, presented by U.S. Presidents who presided over their funerals.[1][2][3] The monument has no officially designated name.

The Tomb has a flat-faced form and is relieved at the corners and along the sides by neo-classical pilasters set into the surface with objects and inscription carved into the sides. The 1931 symbolism[9] of the objects on the north, south and east sides changed over time.[4][7]

North and South panel with 3 wreaths on each side represent (in 1931) "a world of memories" but later the six major battles engaged in by American forces in France: Ardennes, Belleau Wood, Château-Thierry, Meusse-Argonne, Oisiu-Eiseu, and Somme. Each wreath has 38 leaves and 12 berries.

East panel that faces Washington, DC, are three Greek figures representing Peace, Victory, and "American Manhood" – but later "Valor" instead of "American Manhood"

Western panel is inscribed with (centered on the panel):

HERE RESTS IN
HONORED GLORY
AN AMERICAN
SOLDIER
KNOWN BUT TO GOD



Walking the mat
There is a meticulous routine that the guard follows when watching over the graves.[21] The tomb guard:
Marches 21 steps south down the 63' long black mat laid across the Tomb.
Turns and faces east, toward the Tomb, for 21 seconds.
Turns and faces north, changes weapon to outside shoulder, and waits 21 seconds.
Marches 21 steps down the mat.
Turns and faces east for 21 seconds.
Turns and faces south, changes weapon to outside shoulder, and waits 21 seconds.
Repeats the routine until the soldier is relieved of duty at the Changing of the Guard.

After each turn, the guard executes a sharp "shoulder-arms" movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the guard stands between the Tomb and any possible threat.

Out of respect for the interred, the sentinels command silence at the tombs. If the guard walking the mat must vocally confront a disturbance from spectators, or a threat, the routine is interrupted, and remains so until the disturbance is under control. The sentinel will exit the mat, place the weapon in port arms position, and confront the disturbance. Once under control, the sentinel then walks on the pavement to the other side of the mat, turns to shoulder arms, and continues the routine.

Twenty-one was chosen because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed—the 21-gun salute.

The mat is usually replaced twice per year: before Memorial Day and before Veterans Day. This is required because of the wear on the rubber mat by the special shoes worn by tomb guards. The sentinels have metal plates built into the soles and inner parts of their shoes to allow for a more rugged sole and to give the signature click of the heel during maneuvers. The sentinels wear sunglasses because of the bright reflection from the marble surrounding the Tomb and the Memorial Amphitheater.

On the ground not covered by the mat, a rust pattern in the tile can be seen that corresponds to the precise steps taken during the changing of the guard. The metal from the guards' boots causes the brown rust markings on the stone. On the mat itself, footprints caused by standing guard are also visible.


Changing of the Guard

Changing of the Guard, 2005.

While Arlington National Cemetery is open, during the day in summer months from April 1 to September 30, the guard is changed every half hour. During the winter months, from October 1 to March 31, the guard is changed every hour. After the cemetery closes to the public (7 p.m. to 8 a.m. April through September, and 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. October through March), the guard is changed every 2 hours. The ceremony can be witnessed by the public whenever Arlington National Cemetery is open.[22][23]

The guard change is very symbolic, but also conducted in accordance with Army regulations. The relief commander or assistant relief commander, along with the oncoming guard, are both required for a guard change to take place. The relief commander orders the guard being relieved to "pass on your orders" to the oncoming guard. The guard being relieved will say to the oncoming guard, "Post and orders remain as directed." The oncoming guard's response is always, "Orders acknowledged." During changes when the public is witnessing the ceremony, the commander will inform the public that the ceremony is about to take place and that those in attendance should remain "silent and standing" throughout the entire event.


The info above is correct - Not so sure about the below info -

On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was, How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the Tomb of the Unknowns? ------ All three missed it ---

This is really an awesome sight to watch if you've never had the chance Very fascinating.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

1. How many steps does the guard take during his
walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why?

21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the
highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin
hisreturn walk and why?

21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1

3. Why are his gloves wet?

His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.

4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and if not, why not?

He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb.
After his march across the path, he executes an about face
and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.

5. How often are the guards changed?

Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?

For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5' 10' and 6' 2' tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30.' Other requirements of the Guard:
They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives.
They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn.
The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin.

The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.
There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform.
Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror.
The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV.
All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred.

Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame.

Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington , DC , our US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment.
They respectfully declined the offer, 'No way, Sir!' Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can
be afforded to a serviceperson.
The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

God Bless and Keep Them

I don't usually suggest that many emails be forwarded, but I'd be very proud if this one reached as many people as possible.
We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.
Duty - Honor - Country
IN GOD WE TRUST

The Reason Why You Must Not Postpone Travel Plans Till Retirement

Kitten Brings The Whole Family . . .

"My parents started feeding a stray kitten a couple 

weeks ago. This was their front porch today."

How Much Do You Know About The Constitution?

Constitution Day is set aside to commemorate the development, drafting and signing of the country’s most important document. For more than 230 years, our constitution has stood as both the plan for the American system of government and, through its 27 Amendments, a summary of the political principles of generations of Americans.

The reason we celebrate our constitution on Sept. 17 is because it is generally regarded as the day, in 1787, that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed it.


This quiz, from the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio, provides an opportunity for you to test your knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and those who drafted it.

1. Which of the following provisions in the Bill of Rights fueled the most discussion during the debates in the First Congress?
A. Freedom of speech clause
B. Freedom of religion clause
C. Equal protection clause
D. Right to bear arms clause

2. Which of the following are stated goals in the Preamble to the Constitution?
A. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
B. Equal protection of the law
C. Liberty and justice
D. States’ rights

3. Which is the only state delegation to have a perfect attendance record at the Constitutional Convention?
A. New York
B. New Jersey
C. North Carolina
D. South Carolina

4. Which of the following two delegates at the Constitutional Convention were directly related to each other?
A. Alexander Martin and Luther Martin
B. Charles Pinckney and C.C. Pinckney
C. Robert Morris and Gouverneur Morris
D. William Pierce and Pierce Butler

5. According to The Federalist Papers, in a representative democracy the people should “indulge all their jealousy and exhaust all their precautions” against which branch of government?
A. The legislative branch
B. The executive branch
C. The judicial branch
D. All three branches

6. James Madison, in The Federalist Papers, identifies which of the following as the most common and durable source of faction?
A. Religion
B. Property
C. Race
D. Political party

7. In which city was the Constitution signed on September 17, 1787?
A. Baltimore
B. Philadelphia
C. Boston
D. New York

8. What was the average age of the 39 delegates who signed the Constitution?
A. 44
B. 51
C. 56
D. 62

9. The Northwest Ordinance, passed in July 1787 by the second Continental Congress, specifically banned which of the following from the Northwest Territories?
A. Alcohol
B. Witchcraft
C. Religion
D. Slavery

10. Which of the following events had a direct influence on the call for a Constitutional Convention?
A. Russian Revolution
B. Whiskey Rebellion
C. Shays’ Rebellion
D. French Revolution

ANSWERS

1-B

2-C

3-D

4-B

5-A

6-B

7-B

8-A

9-D

10-C

BY GORDON LLOYD
Gordon Lloyd is a senior fellow at the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University and author of the Ashbrook Center’s compendium “The Constitutional Convention: Core Documents.” He wrote this for InsideSources.com .

Some of Buster Keaton’s Most Amazing Stunts

Joseph Frank “Buster” Keaton 

October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966

was an American actor, comedian, film director, producer, screenwriter, and stunt performer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname “The Great Stone Face. Keaton performed all of his stunts, he never refused a stunt, however dangerous; in fact, he frequently doubled for other actors when they needed to take a fall. That’s because he was a pro, who had learned to land soft and withstand a few knocks. Some stunts require agility, others an inner strength. The crowning glory of Steamboat Bill Jr, possibly Keaton’s greatest gag of all time, was a stunt as beautiful as it was potentially lethal but it required him simply to stand still. And he didn’t get a scratch on him. The celebrated moment in Steamboat Bill Jr when the facade of a house drops to the ground with a two-ton thwack, leaving Keaton serene amid the debris, relied on precise mathematics and nerves of steel. Keaton’s position on the ground had to line up exactly with an open window in the top of the house; thankfully for him, it did. More importantly, he had to be sturdy enough to trust the sums, and not flinch.

The Meaning of the FLAG-Draped Coffin

All Americans should be given this lesson.

Our founding fathers used GOD's word and teachings to establish our Great Nation and I think it's high time Americans get re-educated about this Nation's history.

Here is how to understand the flag that laid upon it and is surrendered to so many widows and widowers: Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776?

Have you ever noticed that the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times? You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day!

The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life.

The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.

The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.

The 4th fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

The 5th fold is a tribute to the country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, 'Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.'

The 6th fold is for where people's hearts lie. It is with their heart that they pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America , and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect their country and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic..

The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.

The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first born.

The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.

The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding them of their Nations motto, 'In God We Trust.'

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy today.

There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning.

In the future, you'll see flags folded and now you will know why.

Please share this with the children you love and all others who love what is referred to as the symbol of 'Liberty and Freedom.'

MAYBE THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD READ THIS EXPLANATION BEFORE THEY RENDER THEIR DECISION ON THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

MAY GOD PROTECT US ALWAYS.
ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

Significance
Flags draped over coffins honor the memory of military members who serve the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Qualifications
Most veterans and active-service members of the military qualify for flag-draped coffins at their funerals. The Department of Veterans Affairs states that veterans with dishonorable discharges are not eligible for an official burial flag.

Obtaining Flags
Those seeking a burial flag must complete an application and submit the veteran's discharge papers along with the form. The application--Form 21-2008 or the Veterans Affairs Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes--can be found at regional VA offices and most post offices (or see Resources). The form should be submitted to the funeral director or representative of the veterans group in charge of the service member's funeral.

Protocol
Burial flags should never touch the ground, and when being used to drape a coffin, should never be lowered into the grave. The flag should be removed from the casket and folded into a triangle with only the union, or the blue field, showing. It will then be given to the deceased's next of kin, friend or specified associate, according to the Maine Military Funerals Honor Program. Qualified veterans may receive only one burial flag.

On Display
American flags that draped the coffins of the unknown soldiers of World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War are on display in the Memorial Display Room of the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery.

Street Art Is A Happy Accident!

Warrnambool's wombat 

street art is a happy accident

Imagine you were practicing your street art and decided to do a temp drawing as practice, only to find it had been made permanent by the guy who used to get rid of graffiti. This is the story of how the Victorian town of Warrnambool, Australia wound up with its distinctive new art.

How much do you really know about Fourth of July?

Independence Day is filled with parades and picnics, fireworks, fairs and other festivities. Amid these celebrations, however, it’s important to remember that the Fourth of July commemorates a very important historical event: our nation’s declaration of its independence from Great Britain.

The quiz below, from the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio, provides an opportunity for you to test your knowledge of the Fourth of July and the Declaration of Independence.


1. Nearly 15 months prior to the Declarationof Independence, fighting between British Redcoats and colonial militiamen began at:

A. Bunker Hill
B. Fort Ticonderoga
C. Lexington and Concord
D. Long Island

2. Congress temporarily set aside this man’s June 7, 1776, resolution that “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States”:

A. Light-Horse Harry Lee
B. Robert E. Lee
C. Francis Lightfoot Lee
D. Richard Henry Lee

3. In Jefferson’s original rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, he wrote “We hold these truths to be” not “self-evident” but:

A. “common sense”
B. “sacred &undeniable”
C. “obvious & atrocious”
D. “proved by Britannic blood & plunder”

4. The draft of the Declaration of Independence presented to Congress blamed England’s King George III for the slave trade, which Jefferson described as “a cruel war against human nature itself.” Delegates from these two states insisted this passage be removed:

A. Georgia and South Carolina
B. South Carolina and North Carolina
C. North Carolina and Virginia
D. Virginia and Maryland

5. As delegates signed their names to the Declaration of Independence, which man supposedly said, “We must all hang together or, most assuredly, we will all hang separately”?

A. Benjamin Franklin
B. Benjamin Rush
C. Edward Rutledge
D. George Wythe

6. Which two future U.S. presidents crossed the Delaware and fought at the 1776 Battle of Trenton?

A. John Adams and John Quincy Adams
B. John Adams and George Washington
C. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson
D. George Washington and James Monroe

7. When told that George Washington would return to private life and not remain in power if the United States won the American Revolution, this man reportedly said, “Then truly he is the world’s greatest man”:

A. John Adams
B. Marquis de Lafayette
C. George III
D. Lord Cornwallis

8. In addition to the Declaration of Independence, what other famous document emerged from the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House?
A. The Stamp Act Resolves
B. The U.S. Constitution
C. George Washington’s Farewell Address
D. The Treaty of Ghent


9. Founded by Thomas Jefferson, which institution of higher learning officially commenced operations on July 4,1802:

A. University of Virginia
B. College of William and Mary
C. United States Military Academy
D. United States Naval Academy


10. Both these men died on July 4, 1826 — the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence:

A. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams
B. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington
C. John Adams and James Monroe
D. James Monroe and John Quincy Adams

Answers: 

1-C

2-D

3-B

4-A

5-A

6-D

7-C

8-B

9-C

10-A

BY ROBERT M.S. MCDONALD   insidesources.com

Robert M.S. McDonald is a professor of history at the U.S. Military Academy, author of “Confounding Father: Thomas Jefferson’s Image in His Own Time” and editor of the Ashbrook Center’s compendium “The American Revolution: Core Documents.” He wrote this for InsideSources.com .

Unbelievable "WOW" Pictures! YES,UNBELIEVABLE!

Some of these are really fascinating pictures. 

Never have seen such pictures!!!!!!!

QUITE INCREDIBLE!!

ENJOY!!

This is a PDF - so I am not able to post the pictures here - 
BUT PLEASE DO CHECK THE LINK OUT!
http://static.uglyhedgehog.com/upload/2017/1/18/h1-456416-doc_20170113_wa0013.pdf

Message of the Eclipse

As we were watching the eclipse, I read a few facts I had found about it to my family.

They are quite interesting-

1- The last time a total solar eclipse was seen ONLY within the area of the United States was in 1776 - the year of the BEGINNING of our nation!

2- The eclipse happened on the 9th (29th) of the Hebrew month of Av. (One website I found said it was the 9th and another said it was the 29th). Anyway, they reported that it was the very same day that the Children of Israel built the Golden Calf and were destroyed because of it.

3- The eclipse crossed over 3 major earthquake areas of the U.S. - the Cascadia (Oregon Coast), Yellowstone, and New Madrid (near the Mississippi River) Zones. There is only one other major earthquake zone in the U.S., which is the San Andreas, but it can be triggered by the Cascade.

4- The path of the eclipse divides the nation in half.

 

5- During totality 4 planets can be seen, Mercury, Venus, Mars, & Jupiter. (We only saw one, most likely Venus, but seeing the totality was well worth the drive to witness it!)

 

6- The temperature during totality can drop as much as 25 degrees. (It was very interesting to see the light and temperature changes).

 

7- A total solar eclipse can ONLY be seen from earth because of the exact dimensions and space between the moon & earth that Heavenly Father set in place when His Son created the Earth!

 

8- The path of totality passed over 9 LDS Temples.

 

9- There was a total solar eclipse over Europe on 8-21-1914, which was just 2 months into WW1 in Europe.

 

10- The very MINUTE the 2017 eclipse started in the U.S. was the EXACT minute of sunset in Jerusalem. (7:16 in Israel).

 

11- We are now in the Hebrew year of 5777, a symbol for "Year of Completion".

 

12- Our Sun is 5778 Kelvin. Could it just be a coincidence that the Hebrew year of 5778 is a month away?

 

13- Another total solar eclipse will occur in 7 years (2024) in which the path of totality will CROSS over the path of this eclipse making an X. This will happen on 4-8-2024, where the Ohio & Mississippi Rivers join and DIVIDE THE LAND. Read Isaiah 18:7 & Revelations 16: 17-20.

 

14- The path of totality crosses over 7 cities named Salem (shortened form of Jerusalem) -

Salem OR, ID, WY, NE, MO, KY, & SC. 

 

15- Genesis 1:14 - The Lord tells us that the sun, moon, & stars are placed in the heaven for light, AND TO BE SIGNS for us. (The word Seasons in Hebrew refers to God's Holy Days, not Fall, Spring, etc.)

 

16- Read the heading for Luke 21. Christ is telling us that there will be more signs in the heavens before His Second Coming.

 

17- It is exactly 33 days between this eclipse and the fulfillment of the prophecy in Revelations 12. A significant number, as Christ lived for 33 years on this earth.

The following link has more details on this and the eclipse.