A Disney Fan

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 05:56:43 GMT

I'm back after a LONg, LONG, LONG time. Don't know what else to say.

Sat, 06 Aug 2005 20:37:35 GMT

I'm finally back online. I finally have a computer again. My last one crashed.

Sat, 06 Aug 2005 20:37:05 GMT

A quote from the AARP magazine:

"Father Knows Best?

How can you look to Donald Trump for advice in a section of the magazine entitled Family Matters ("Top of the Pops")? He claims his dad taught him responsibility. But after Donald's multiple bankruptcies and multiple marriages, all I can say is "You're fired."

John Egge
Prescott Valley, Arizona"

I read this somewhere

Wed, 20 Oct 2004 15:30:09 GMT

Pain Relief

I am a nurse, and recently, I worked a shift at the local
Poison Control Center. We had a phone call from a frantic
mother that said her 4-year-old ate some really hot peppers
and was crying. She also said that the outside of her mouth
was flaming red.

The solution? Apply sour cream. Instantly, the pain goes away.
I had never heard of this. When I got home, I ate some hot
peppers and applied the sour cream. I was amazed. It worked!
Remember that pain is a warning. So see a doctor if that's
appropriate.

I like this story; it's been circulated around the net a fewt imes

Wed, 29 Sep 2004 16:45:04 GMT

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the
scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He
remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead
for years. He wondered where the road was leading them . . .

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of
the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it
was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was
standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like
Mother of Pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure
gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a
man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out,
"Excuse me, where are we?"

"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.
"Of course sir, Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought
right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the
traveler asked. "I'm sorry sir, but we don't accept pets."

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and
continued the way he had been going with his dog. After another long
walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road
which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been
closed.

There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside,
leaning against a tree and reading a book.

"Excuse me!" he called to the reader. "Do you have any water?"
"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there". The man pointed to a place
that couldn't be seen from outside the gate. "Come on in."

"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.
"There should be a bowl by the pump."

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old
fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the bowl
and took a long drink himself, and then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was
standing by the tree waiting for them.

"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.

"This is Heaven," was the answer.

"Why, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road
said that was Heaven, too."

"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates?
Nope. That's Hell."

"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"

"No. I can see how you might think so, but we're just happy that they
screen out the folks who'll leave their best friends behind."

These are funny!!!!!!!!!!

Wed, 29 Sep 2004 16:43:56 GMT

Thoughts for today

1. Birds of a feather flock together and poop on your car.

2. There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for
it. For example I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles
don't hurt.

3. When I'm feeling down, I like to whistle.. It makes the neighbor's
dog run to the end of his chain and gag himself.

4. If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

5. Don't assume malice for what stupidity can explain.

6. A penny saved is a government oversight.

7. The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at
the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting
moment.

8. The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then
your body and your fat are really good friends.

9 The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a
replacement.

10. He who hesitates is probably right.

11. If you think there is good in everybody, you haven't met everybody.

12. If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to
blame.

13. The sole purpose of a child's middle name is so he can tell when
he's really, really in trouble.

14. Did you ever notice: When you put the 2 words "The" and "IRS"
together it spells "THEIRS"?

15. Did you ever notice: The Roman Numerals for forty
(40) are "XL".

Uses for "Bounce" fabric softener; haven't tried these yet

Wed, 29 Sep 2004 16:43:21 GMT

The US Postal service sent out a message to all letter carriers to put a sheet of Bounce in their uniform pockets to keep yellow jackets away.

It is reported that the yellow jackets just veer around you. And all this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer!

It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice spread them around foundation areas, or in trailers, cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.

It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too
often.

Repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors
during mosquito season. (also quite a fashion statement)

Eliminates static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.
Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your
television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.
Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce

Freshen the air in your home. Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a
drawer or hang in the closet.

Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.

Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through sheet of Bounce
before beginning to sew.

Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside
empty luggage before storing.

Freshen the air in your car. Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.

Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill
with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent
apparently weakens the bond between the food.

Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom
of the wastebasket.

Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically
attract all the loose hairs.

Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with
a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.

Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will
collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce
at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.

Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or
sneakers overnight.

Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.

Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing
them. Keeps them smelling fresh.

Fri, 17 Sep 2004 00:47:58 GMT

Bacteria brush - Web Posted: 07/26/2004 12:00 AM CDT
Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje - San Antonio Express-News

Think rinsing your toothbrush after each use takes care of the whole cleanliness matter?

Think again. A horror lurks in your bathroom, one that seems too disgusting to even mention.

Most people don't know this, but every time you flush your toilet, whatever's in the bowl sprays out, some of which can land smack dab on your nearby toothbrush. And what's in the bowl can make you sick.

"Unfortunately this is not an urban legend. Scarily enough, the story about feces on toothbrushes is true," says Shannon Rasp, spokeswoman for the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston. "The flushing mechanism on a toilet can send aerosolized materials from the bowl as much as 20 feet in the air. So, if your toothbrush is left out in the open on the counter less than 20 feet from the toilet, chances are there is some matter on the toothbrush you wouldn't necessarily want in your mouth."

Yuck.

Rasp says closing the lid before flushing prevents this super-gross transference from occurring. But even that won't totally put you in the clear, toothbrush wise, she says. A host of yucky microorganisms that exist in the mouth can linger on your toothbrush, even if you've rinsed it well after each use.

According to a recent Harris poll, nearly 46 percent of Americans never clean their toothbrushes. Many more use the same toothbrush for months or even years on end.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that people should store their toothbrushes in an upright position so they can dry out between uses. Germs like wet, dark places to grow, so drying toothbrushes is key. Forget about soaking them in mouthwash or other cleaners, says the fact sheet — a practice that can actually lead to contamination if the same disinfectant is used over a period of time or by multiple users.

Never share toothbrushes (eeewww, like who would do that?) and don't let toothbrushes in the same holder touch each other.

"Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles appear worn or splayed," advises the fact sheet. "This recommendation of the American Dental Association is based on the expected wear of the toothbrush and its subsequent loss of mechanical effectiveness, not on its bacterial contamination."

Rasp goes the CDC one better, recommending that folks should get a new toothbrush every four to six weeks.

"And if you or someone in your family suffers from a viral infection, such as a cold or flu, all of the toothbrushes should be replaced, or people could get infected because of germ particles settling on the toothbrush," she says.

But back to that fecal matter matter. Who can remember to close the toilet lid before flushing? Dr. R. Thomas Glass, a dentist and director of the graduate program for science at Oklahoma State University's Center for Health Science, has an even more extreme solution that solves the lid-closing conundrum.

"Take your toothbrush and your floss and store it in the bedroom, not the bathroom," he says. "We've brought the outhouse into the house. But bringing it into the house didn't change its function. You would never take your toothbrush into the outhouse, yet people do it everyday."

Store the toothbrush in a bright, sunny place in the bedroom, like the window sill, so it can dry out, he advises. Buy a toothbrush will the smallest head possible, "because that's fewer places where bugs can be." Glass is the most extreme in the toothbrush replacement world — he says you should buy a new one every two weeks.

"And you should still close the lid of the toilet before you flush," he says.

As if Americans didn't have enough to worry about already. Our obsession with germs has made antibacterial soaps and the like huge sellers. But the home, a supposed sanctuary, is chock full of areas and items that pose dangers.

Dirty toothbrushes are nothing compared to what is truly the most dangerous and infectious germ-carrier in the ordinary home — kitchen sponges and scrubbers. Warm and perennially moist, kitchen sponges also soak up food particles, the biggest offenders when it comes to harmful microorganisms. Cleaning experts advise you allow sponges and rags to air dry between uses, sanitize them regularly with chlorine and water or just replace them weekly. (Expensive yes, but if you only knew what grows in them — grubby germs such as campylobacter, a food-born bug that sickens 1 million people a year.)

You should also replace vacuum cleaner bags once a month and spray the inside of your trash cans with disinfectant.

Some people invest in pricey toothbrush sterilizers to keep them clean, although the CDC says such devices are unnecessary. James Murdock, CEO of Murdock Laboratories Inc., maker of the Purebrush (www.purebrush.com) — a device that sterilizes toothbrushes via UV light — begs to differ.

"Here's my favorite analogy," he says. "After you're eating breakfast in the morning with your whole family, would you then gather up all the forks and then put them back into the drawer without washing them? Of course you wouldn't. That's disgusting. Well, a toothbrush is 100 times more lethal than a fork because you're jamming it in your mouth and those 200 bristles become injectors for organisms."

Purebrush, which began manufacturing in 1985, started out as a system designed for those with weakened immune systems, such as HIV or cancer. Now, says Murdock, just regular folk are buying them to keep their brushes squeaky clean.

Rasp argues that people shouldn't spend the money on products such as Purebrush ($79) when you can buy a good toothbrush for as little as $2.50.

"You don't want to give people a false sense of security," she says. "Really, the only truly sterile environment will be found in a laboratory or operating room."

Fri, 17 Sep 2004 00:47:22 GMT

New Overtime Rules to Take Effect Monday

By LEIGH STROPE AP Labor Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - In an unprecedented overhaul of the nation's overtime pay rules, the Bush administration is delivering to its business allies an election-year plum they've sought for decades.

The new rules take effect Monday after surviving many efforts by Democrats, labor unions and worker advocates to block them in Congress and kill them through public and political pressure.

The Labor Department says as many as 107,000 workers could lose overtime eligibility under its new rules, but about 1.3 million will gain it. The Economic Policy Institute, a liberal Washington think tank, says 6 million will lose, and only a few will get new rights to premium pay for working more than 40 hours a week.

But no one really knows. That makes the issue harder to demonize politically, a benefit - or a problem - depending on the side you take.

"I do not see any kind of rush by employers to take away overtime rights," said Bill Schurgin, a labor attorney for the Seyfarth Shaw law firm in Chicago, who represents employers preparing for Monday's change. Critics claim that 6 million workers will lose eligibility is "a red herring."

Regardless, "nobody should get their overtime pay taken away," said Karen Nussbaum, executive director of Working America, an AFL-CIO organization created for workers unable to join unions.

About 115 million workers are covered by the overtime rules in the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act.

Monday's change is the culmination of decades of lobbying by business groups representing retailers, restaurants, insurance companies, banks and others that have been hammered by workers' overtime lawsuits, many of them successful.

Wal-Mart is facing dozens of worker lawsuits claiming they were cheated out of overtime and worked off the clock. An appeals court upheld a $90 million verdict against Farmers Insurance Exchange, sued for overtime by claims adjusters. Other companies that have made multimillion-dollar payouts include Starbucks, Radio Shack, Rite Aid and Bank of America.

Labor Secretary Elaine Chao told Congress the new rules would help stop "needless litigation" because it is designed to clarify who's entitled to overtime.

She and department officials are traveling the country touting to employers, human resources officials and friendly labor unions what now is called the Fair Pay initiative.

"As the new rules become effective, people will come to see that they do exactly what we've said they will do, which is provide a stronger and clearer overtime guarantee for more working Americans," said Deputy Labor Secretary Steven Law. He noted that a judge last month ruled in favor of Geico insurance claims adjusters, citing the pending new rules.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who led the Senate fight to block the regulations, questioned the Bush administration's motives. "Let's face it, some of their major supporters in industries covered in here want this change," he said.

The rules could be politically dangerous in an election year when the weak jobs market is a big concern for voters.

"There is a risk - we are in high season," said Rich Bond, political strategist and a former Republican National Committee chairman. "Every word at this point will be parsed, for good or bad."

After an uproar from Democrats and labor leaders about the initial proposal and unsuccessful attempts in Congress, with the help of moderate Republicans, to block the final plan, the rules were revised. The Fair Pay title was added and estimates of the number of workers affected were trimmed.

"It's absolutely true that it's been much more of a political issue than it should have been," said Michael Eastman, U.S. Chamber of Commerce's labor law policy director. "It's been on the regulatory agenda since the Carter administration. It shouldn't be this controversial."

The critics were heard. Gone from the rules are estimates on workers who might lose overtime based on changes to the duties tests, which describe the tasks that entitle a worker to overtime. The draft had said 1.5 million to 2.7 million workers "will be more readily identified as exempt." The new analysis says: "It is impossible to quantitatively estimate the number of exempt workers."

Language was removed suggesting employers could avoid extra overtime costs by cutting the hourly wages of newly eligible workers and adding back the overtime to equal the original salary.

Sections were added to make clear that police, firefighters and other public safety officers are not exempt from overtime, regardless of rank or pay level. But labor officials say middle- and upper-ranking officers such as lieutenants still could lose overtime.

Union workers covered by contracts will not be affected by the change, though labor leaders argue that unions will face tougher negotiations when their contracts expire because of the new rules.

The rules address jobs that are targets of lawsuits, spelling out what duties would exempt them from overtime. They include pharmacists, funeral directors, embalmers, journalists, claims adjusters, dental hygienists and chefs.

"We wanted clarity and we wanted reduced litigation," Eastman said. "Business was willing to accept some potentially increased labor costs in order to get it."

2004-08-20 12:53:14 GMT

A few interesting things about cats

Sat, 11 Sep 2004 16:22:14 GMT

I learned a few interesting facts from the book "Wild Discovery Guide to Your Cat":

Understanding and Caring for the Tiger Within it says the secret to the cat's flexibility lies in the structure of its body. Between each of its thirty spinal vertebrae--five more than in a human--are thick discs of fibrocartilage that are as pliable as they are resilient. In addition, the cat's shoulder bones, or scapulae, are held to the sides of the body by muscle only, permitting movement in almost every direction. And unlike the motion-restricting collarbone of humans, cats have a tiny, muscle-attached "floating" clavicle. The resulting narrow chest accounts for their talent for squeezing through tight spaces.

Because it may need to break into full sprint at any time, a cat walks on its toes, reducing friction with the ground and extending the length of its limbs. The digitigrade walk, as it is known, is made possible by intricate "wrists" of the front legs--a collection of small, flexible bones called carpals--and similar bones, called tarsals, in the hocks of the rear legs. The ability afforded by these bones, combined with the cat's shoulder placement and a vestibular system in the ear that is coordinated with the cat's muscles, enables it to parade gracefully and casually over unnervingly skinny surfaces such as fence rails. The tail helps balance the cat in all situations.

Here's another fact from the book that I did not know: Although cats' claws are normally described as retractable, they aren't. The nails remain hidden until the cat's paw is extended.

A quote

Sat, 11 Sep 2004 16:21:16 GMT

"We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of effort is the same." ~Carlos Castenada

These are so funny!!

Sat, 11 Sep 2004 16:19:33 GMT

NEW DRUGS FOR WOMEN!

BUYAGRA: Stimulant to be taken prior to shopping. Increases potency and duration of spending spree.

MENICILLIN: Potent anti-boy-otic for older women. Increases resistance to such lines as, "You make me want to be a better person. Can we get naked now?"

ST. MOM'S WORT: Plant extract that treats mom's depression by rendering preschoolers unconscious for up to six hours.

EMPTY NESTROGEN: Highly effective supplement that eliminates melancholy by enhancing the memory of how awful they were as teenagers and how you couldn't wait till they moved out.

PEPTO-BIMBO: Liquid silicone for single women. Two full cups swallowed before an evening out increases breast size, decreases intelligence, and improves flirting.

DUMMEROL: When taken with Pepto-bimbo, can cause lowering of IQ, causing enjoyment of loud country music and cheap beer.

FLIPITOR: Increases life expectancy of commuters by controlling road rage and the urge to flip off other drivers.

JACKASSPIRIN: Relieves headache caused by a man who can't remember your birthday, anniversary, or phone number.

ANTI-TALKSIDENT: A spray carried in a purse or wallet to be used on anyone too eager to share their life stories with total strangers.

RAGAMET: When administered to a husband, provides the same irritation as nagging on him all weekend, saving the wife the time and trouble of doing it herself.

DAMMITOL: Take two and the rest of the world can go to hell for 8 hours

Long, but funny!

Tue, 07 Sep 2004 01:28:36 GMT

Subject: FW: QANTAS humour

After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form called a 'gripe sheet' which conveys to the mechanics problems encountered with the aircraft during the flight that need repair or correction. The engineers read and correct the problem, and then respond in writing on the lower half of the form what remedial action was taken, and the pilot reviews the gripe sheets before the next flight.

Never let it be said that ground crews and engineers lack a sense of humour.

Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints and problems as submitted by Qantas pilots and the solution recorded by maintenance engineers. By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never had an accident.

('P' is the problem as logged by the pilot while 'S' is the solution and action taken by the engineers)

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.

S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.

S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit.

S: Something tightened in cockpit

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.

S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.

S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.

S: DME volume set to more believable level

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.

S: That's what they're there for.

P: IFF inoperative.

S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.

S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.

S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.

S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.

S: Re-programmed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.

S: Cat installed.

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.

S: Took hammer away from midget.

Pet Treats (Never give onion to dogs/cats)

Sat, 04 Sep 2004 17:10:42 GMT

from: http://etips.dummies.com

Treats Can Be Tricky

An occasional treat doesn't hurt your kitten as long as she's
otherwise eating a balanced diet. Choose goodies that don't have
sugars. Licks of turkey baby food (onion-free), dried liver, or
small pieces of cooked chicken or turkey are healthy treats.
They're also inspiring rewards when training your kitten.

Treats and other foods to avoid include

* Tuna: Yes, tuna. Not only is it bad for your kitten,
it's addictive. Kittens love tuna so much that they may
actually refuse to eat a regular diet. Sadly, tuna is
the equivalent of kitty cocaine. In the wild, cats
don't catch fish. No matter whether the tuna you feed
is cooked, raw, or canned, it will cause very serious
deficiencies if fed more than occasionally.

* Dog food: Even if your kitten and your dog get along
like brother and sister, don't feed them the same food.
Kittens are meat eaters whereas dogs are omnivores;
they can eat meat or vegetables. Dog food doesn't have
enough protein and taurine (an essential amino acid)
for a kitten's needs.

* Food with onions or onion powder: These foods can cause
hemolytic anemia, which ruptures the red blood cells.
It could eventually lead to kidney failure.

* Milk: After kittens are weaned, they lose the ability
to digest milk. Milk products may make cleaning the
litter box an adventure in nasal torture for you. If
your kitten likes milk, try milk treat drinks, which
are lower in lactose. You can buy them at your local
pet supply store.

* Bones: Cooked bones can splinter and puncture your
kitten's bowels or intestines or become lodged and
create a blockage.

* Grapes or raisins: The American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison
Control doesn't recommend even letting kittens play
with grapes or raisins because the juice can cause
kidney failure.

A newsletter I received

Thu, 22 Jul 2004 20:41:09 GMT

Equine Protection Network
www.equineprotectionnetwork.com
July 20, 2004

EPN Puts Americas Horses on the Dinner Table!
Save America's Horses National Billboard Campaign Update
Wedding Bells Support the EPN!
Horse Slaughter Legislation Update -Cavel Re-opens
EPN 2004 Event Schedule
Children's Horse Books to Benefit the EPN!
EPN Merchandise
EPN Sanctuary Program- We Need Your Help!
PA Horse Cruelty Cases Outcomes
STOLEN HORSES!

ALERT!!

We need your help!

The EPN is in need of donations to help cover the costs of caring
for the four horses in our Sanctuary Program! We need to raise
$170.00 every 8 weeks to cover the cost of trimming their hooves and to cover the cost of deworming. This does not even include hay, bedding, or senior feed. Nor does it include the cost of fly sprays & fly masks, not to mention the cost for dental work & vaccinating the horses against: EEE/WEE, WNV, Tetnaus, Rabies, Rhino/Flu or PHF.

*******************************************************

Support the EPN by shopping online at Igive.com!

Over 500 of your favorite stores including State Line Tack, Jeffers
Equine & Back In The Saddle!

When new supporters use the EPN joinLink to join iGive, the EPN is
automatically pre-selected to benefit!

The EPN joinlink is listed below & is also on our website:

http://www.igive.com/EPN

Remember, shop At IGive.com!Your purchases support the EPN!

***********************************************************

EPN Puts America's Horses on the Dinner Table!

That's right, the Equine Protection Network has put America's Horses on the dinner tables in southeastern Pennsylvania during the months of July and August! The Save America's Horses National Billboard Campaign has jumped right onto the dinner tables on 100,000 placemats in several restaurants during the height of tourist season in Lancaster County, PA, the county with the highest horse population in PA according to the 2003 PA

Equine Industry Inventory, Economic & Demographic Characteristics
conducted by Penn State University. The placemats can be found in
restaurants in Blue Ball, Gap, Hershey, Intercourse, Manheim, Mount Joy, New Holland and various other locations throughout southeastern Pennsylvania!

More information on the campaign can be found at:
http://www.saveamericashorses.com

The Save America's Horses National Billboard Campaign is also
continuing to gallop into shopping malls across the United States!
The Save America's Horses posters are currently in the following
shopping malls: King of Prussia Shopping Mall in King of Prussia,
PA, the largest shopping mall on the East Coast, (5 posters) the
Meriden Square Mall in Hartford, CT, (3 posters) and the posters
will be appearing within the next few weeks in 2 Houston, TX
shopping malls (1 each), in Scranton, PA, (1 poster) and 3 posters
in Binghampton, NY. Binghampton, NY is within a few miles of a
NY "killer" buyer, the Unadilla horse auction, and is where 2
NY "killer" buyers were convicted of the illegal transport of horses
in inhumane double deck cattle trailers.

You can help us Save America's Horses!,and educate the American
public about the fate of over 4 million of America's horses! Sponsor a Shopping Mall Poster for $200.00, Placemat Sponsorship is $350.00, or sponsor a billboard for $500.00. Donations in any amount toward the campaign are appreciated! Send your tax-deductible donation to: EPN, Billboard Campaign, P.O. Box 232, Friedensburg, PA 17933

********************************************************

Wedding Bells are supporting the EPN!

Are you planning a wedding? Is it time to register for gifts? Are
you looking for something special? Why not choose the EPN as a
charity that your friends and family can donate to in your name?
Using JustGive.org, it's simple. For more information on how the
sound of wedding bells can help Save America's Horses go to Just
Give Wedding Registry:

http://www.justgive.org/weddings/index.jsp

Charity Wish List
At JustGive.org you can also create your own Charity Wish List so
your friends and family members know what charities to donate to in your name!

This is an easy way to help Save Americas Horses!
http://www.justgive.org/wishlists/index.jsp
As a non-profit all volunteer organization the EPN is dependent on
donations from the public.
**********************************************************
Horse Slaughter Legislation Update

***********************************

IL Legislation

Legislation that would make it illegal to slaughter a horse in
Illinois HB 649 - Amendment 4, failed to pass the Illinois State
House at the end of May.

The Cavel horse slaughterhouse in DeKalb, IL reopened in early June 2004 after being rebuilt after a fire in 2002 destroyed the
slaughterhouse.

The United States now has 3 horse slaughterhouses operating. As of
June 26, 2004 there were 28,492 horses slaughtered in the United
States.

Federal Legislation

HR 857 the federal bill to ban slaughter is still languishing in the 3 committees that it was assigned to in 2003. The Chairman of the House Ag Committee, Goodlate, (VA) is refusing to move the bill. The bill now has 224 co-sponsors. More information can be found at:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR00857:@@@P

A companion Senate bill was introduced and immediately referred to
the Ag Committee. SB2352 has 7 co-sponsors.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN02352:

The EPN urges members of the following groups that are listed as
members of the Horse Welfare Coalition who disagree with their
organizations' position opposing HR 857 to contact their
U.S.Congressman and inform them that these organizations do NOT
represent them on the issue of horse slaughter. More information on how to contact your elected officials can be found on our website:

http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/saveamericashorses/action.htm

American Association of Equine Veterinarians
American Quarter Horse Association
American Veterinary Medical Association
Animal Welfare Council
American Association of Equine Practitioners
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Feed Industry Association
American Meat Institute
Animal Health Institute
California Cattlemen's Association
Colorado Horse Council
Colorado Outfitters Association
Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society
Federation of Animal Science Societies
Horseman's Council of Illinois
Kentucky Quarter Horse Association
Livestock Marketing Association
Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
Masters of Foxhounds Association of North America
Michigan Horse Council
Missouri Equine Council, Inc.
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
National Chicken Council
National Grain & Feed Association
National High School Rodeo Association
National Milk Producers Federation
National Pork Producers Council
National Turkey Federation
New Jersey Horse Council, Inc.
New York State Horse Council, Inc.
North Carolina Horse Council
Ohio Horsemen's Council
Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association
Palomino Breeders of America
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
Texas & Southwest Cattle Raisers Assoc.
United Egg Producers
U.S. Animal Health Association
Utah Horse Council
Utah State Quarter Horse Association
Wisconsin Horse Council

********************
Children's Horse Books to Benefit the EPN!

The EPN appreciates the generous donation by Syncopated Press of
several copies of the children's books,"Heart, Hoof, & Soul" and "
Forelocks, Fetlocks & Horse Tales" to the EPN.

Your purchases of these books helps to support the EPN in our
efforts to improve the welfare of horses and to end horse slaughter.

http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/book.htm
Books are also available for purchase at our booths at the PA Horse
World Expo, Ft Washington Horse Expo & Schuylkill County Fair.

**********************************************************
EPN Merchandise is available at:
http://www.cafeshops.com/equineprotet6
The EPN receives on average $2.00 for each purchase.
Shopping at the EPN Online Shopping Mall Raises Funds for the EPN
including Back in the Saddle & Jeffers Equine!

http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/saveamericashorses/store.htm
*********************************
EPN 2004 Event Schedule

Schuylkill County Fair, Summit Station, PA

August 2, 2004 - August 7, 2004

Indoor Midway
The EPN is looking for corporate sponsors for our four booths a year.
Cost is $1000.00.
**********************************

EPN Sanctuary Program!

http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/saveamericashorses/sanctuary.htm

We need your help!

The EPN is in need of donations to help cover the costs of caring
for the four horses in our Sanctuary Program! We need to raise
$170.00 every 8 weeks to cover the cost of trimming their hooves and to cover the cost of deworming. This does not even include hay,
bedding, or senior feed. Nor does it include the cost of fly sprays & fly masks, not to mention the cost for dental work & vaccinating the horses against: EEE/WEE, WNV, Tetnaus, Rabies, Rhino/Flu or PHF.

The EPN has established a Sanctuary Program for unwanted, neglected, abused and slaughterbound horses. Horses in the program are not available for adoption, but are in need of people willing to make a financial commitment to help the EPN provide for these horses for the remainder of their lives. Horses accepted into the program must meet certain qualifications. The EPN focuses on horses that have been the victims of neglect and cruelty in situations where there has been an investigation by law enforcement resulting in the forfeiture of the horse due to a court order.

The EPN has set these guidelines due to our philosophy that owners
must be held accountable for their actions if we are to truly make a difference for the welfare of horses.

The EPN can only accept a limited number of horses due to financial resources and space limitations. The cost of caring and feeding for each of our horses in the program runs $250.00 a month for a total of $3000.00 a year. This includes feeding and sheltering the horses, and veterinary, farrier and dental care.

Sponsorship

Individual Sponsorships:
You can sponsor one of the EPN Sanctuary horses for as little as
1.65 a day! This is great project for riding clubs, schools, youth
groups and other organizations. Sponsorships can also be shared.

Individual sponsorship does not cover the entire cost of maintaining horses in our program, but it does help to offset the cost. One horse needs five individual sponsors at $50.00 a month to cover the entire cost of caring for one horse. Each of our horses has an important story to tell, please take the time to visit their pages, and remember your donation ensures these
horses a sanctuary for the rest of their lives.

Corporate Sponsorship:

A donation of $3000.00 covers all expenses involved to maintain an
EPN Sanctuary Horse for one year and provides a website link to your company's website.

******************************************
PA Horse Cruelty Updates

PA Anti Cruelty Statutes Title 18, Section 5511
§ 5511. Cruelty to animals (c) Cruelty to animals.--A person commits
a summary offense if he wantonly or cruelly illtreats, overloads,
beats, otherwise abuses any animal, or neglects any animal as to
which he has a duty of care, whether belonging to himself or
otherwise, or abandons any animal, or deprives any animal of
necessary sustenance, drink, shelter or veterinary care, or access
to clean and sanitary shelter which will protect the animal against
inclement weather and preserve the animal's body heat and keep it
dry. This subsection shall not apply to activity undertaken

Quarryville, PA- Ely Fisher of Christiana, PA pled guilty to one
count of cruelty to animals and was fined $167.00 in fines and court costs by District Justice Mylin. Fisher was the owner of a bay American Saddlebred type gelding that scored approximately a 1.5 on the Henneke Body Scoring Condition Chart.

At the end of May 2004 the horse, bleeding from wounds on his legs
and chest wandered into a farm still wearing a bloody workhorse
harness. The farm owner contacted the EPN for assistance due to the injured and neglected condition of the horse.

The Large Animal Protection Society, LAPS, was contacted and
immediately responded to the cruelty complaint. Four days passed
before the owner's son came looking for a missing "chestnut horse." Directed to LAPS by the farm owner, Fisher contacted LAPS leaving a message for LAPS to call him at home and leave a message. Mr. Fisher was able to describe the harness better than the horse, describing the horse as, "a brown horse with a black mane." The horse is a bay gelding with a white star. Mr. Fisher wasn't sure if he "had a harness on or just a halter because they were resting him." LAPS' investigating officer informed Mr. Fisher that they were glad to have found the owner because they were citing the horse's owner for cruelty and neglect.

LAPS interviewed Mr. Fisher at his farm regarding the care of the
horse and informing him of the PA cruelty law. Mr. Fisher stated
that he had dewormed the horse "last November", but could not
remember what he used to deworm him. The equine dentist who examined the horse for LAPS stated that his teeth were in good shape and had been maintained. LAPS's farrier described the horse's feet as "a mess." The nails were not clinched off and in the farrier's opinion whoever had been putting the shoes on this horse was in the habit of failing to clinch off the nails as evidenced by the number of scars and injuries on the inside of the horse's legs. The horse was also sore in the right front due to poor shoeing practices that failed to take into account that the horse toed out in the left front.

When Mr. Fisher was informed that he was being charged with cruelty to horses, Mr. Fisher inquired if he could have the horse back. He was informed that the horse was being held as evidence in a criminal investigation of cruelty to animals. Rather than face the possibility of the cost of restitution to LAPS during the time the horse was held as evidence and until the case went to court, Fisher chose to relinquish the horse to LAPS immediately. Fisher indicated that he did not want "the church to have to pay a lot of money". Questioned as to why the church would pay, Fisher indicated that, "we help each other out".

Mr. Fisher also stated that his wife & daughter loved driving that
horse, but that for the nine years they had owned him he was always a "hard keeper" and that was the reason he was in such a poor body condition. In the two months that he has been under LAPS' care the horse, now named "Slick", has gained weight and shows no signs of having any nutritional problems.

The EPN appreciates the quick thinking on the part of the Good
Samaritans who helped this horse. Because of their actions to
collect and preserve the evidence of the crime of cruelty to horses, and their willingness to testify in court, the person responsible for the cruelty inflicted upon this good natured horse was held accountable for his criminal actions.

****
Allen Appeal Horse Cruelty Convictions

Robert Allen & Diane Allen have appealed their cruelty convictions
to the Cumberland County Court of Appeals. A motions hearing date
has been set for August 14, 2004 in the Cumberland County
Courthouse. A date for the summary appeal has yet to be set.

Shippensburg, PA - On May 11, 2004 District Justice Harold Bender
found Robert "Red" Allen and his daughter-in-law, Diane Allen of
Lower Mifflin Township guilty of cruelty to animals, including 8
horses, goats, 2 pigs, a duck & a chicken.

The case was originally heard in Newville District Court by District Justice Helen Shulenberger on April 5, 2004 but was dismissed on atechnicality - the humane society police officer prosecuting the case could not produce evidence that she was
recorded by the Recorder of Deeds in Cumberland County as required
under PA law. The charges were refiled and the case was moved to
Shippensburg, PA.

District Justice Bender fined Robert Allen $150.00 each, plus court
costs on 14 counts of cruelty to animals for a total of $2100.00.
Diane Allen was fined a $150.00 on each count of cruelty to a duck
and a chicken, both of which were found dead in cages with no food
or water. The 14 animals were ordered forfeited and the Allen's were ordered to pay $7,620 in restitution for the cost of caring for the animals while they were in custody. The Allen's have 30 days to appeal the ruling.

*******************************

STOLEN HORSES

The EPN in partnership with Stolen Horse International, SHI,
distributes stolen horse alerts known as "Idaho Alerts" named after SHI's founder Debi and Harold Metcalfe's beloved horse Idaho, who was stolen in 1997. The Metcalfe's utilized the power of the Internet & the volunteer effort of thousands of people from around the world who helped the Metcalfe's in their desperate search for Idaho. Their efforts paid off almost a year to the day of Idaho's theft when a flyer posted in a convenience store led to the discovery of their beloved Idaho in another state.

SHI was born out of the Metcalfe's desire to help other horse owners who were also the victims of horse theft.

Today SHI is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that boasts a
recovery rate of 51% for stolen horses that have been reported
stolen to SHI within one day of being stolen.

Please join the EPN & SHI in helping to bring stolen horses home to their rightful owners!

When you receive an Idaho Alert pass the Alert on to as many of your friends, family & co-workers as you can.

Print out the Idaho Alert flyer & post it anywhere people may see it.

SHI flyers posted in convenience stores, beauty salons, grocery
stores & horse auctions have led to the recovery of stolen horses,
often several states away from the original theft.

Make sure to visit SHI's website, www.netposse.com to view more
flyers of stolen horses.

Your Horse is Missing--What Now? - Debi Metcalfe in The Horse
http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.asp?fid=4897&dpt=5
Horse Theft Education Starts Here
Horse Theft. Been There--Done That now available on site now.
Stolen Horse International
www.netposse.com

*******************************
The EPN is a proud supporter of Hoofpac. Visit Hoofpac.com for more information & visit their online store!

Keep America's Horses in the Stable & Off the Table!

For more information on the EPN's position on horse slaughter, visit our FAQ page:

http://www.equineprotectionnetwork.com/faqs.htm

###

Thank you for supporting the EPN

Equine Protection Network
www.equineprotectionnetwork.com
www.saveamericashorses.com
End the Slaughter of America's Horses!

Proud Supporter of HoofPAC
www.hoofpac.com

Equine Protection Network
www.equineprotectionnetwork.com

Let's End Horse Slaughter Now!
www.HOOFPAC.com

Net Posse
www.netposse.com
Stolen/Missing/Recovered Horses by State

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EquineProtectionNetwork/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
EquineProtectionNetwork-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Sun, 06 Jun 2004 18:06:52 GMT

Has anyone had any experience or has knowledge of how someone who has bad credit can get an apartment?

Bettas in a Vase

Fri, 21 May 2004 18:57:36 GMT

http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_in_a_vase.htm

Check this out (this applies to other fish as well). Bettas should live for years not weeks.

Dear Dogs and Cats

Tue, 24 Feb 2004 16:56:01 GMT

Dear Dogs and Cats,

When I say to move, it means go someplace else, not switch positions with each other so there are still two of you in the way.
The dishes withthe paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw-print in the middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king size bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure your comfort. Look at videos of dogs and cats sleeping. They can actually curl up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space used is nothing but sarcasm.

My compact discs are not miniature Frisbees.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob, or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. In addition, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine or feline attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog's or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough. It would be such a simple change for you.

To pacify you, I have posted the following message on our front door.....

Rules for Non-pet owners who visit and like to complain about our pets:

1. They live here. You don't.

2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.

3. I like my pet better than I like most people.

4. To you it's an animal. To me he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

5. Dogs and cats are better than kids. They eat less, don't ask for money all the time, and are easier to train. They usually come when called, never drive your car, don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't drink or smoke, don't worry about buying the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and if they get pregnant, you can sell the results.

New Rules: Telemarketers Must Display IDs (!!!!)

Mon, 09 Feb 2004 15:40:01 GMT

New Rules: Telemarketers Must Display IDs

By JONATHAN D. SALANT Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - If you have Caller ID you'll now know when a telemarketer is trying to reach you.

Federal Trade Commission regulations requiring telemarketing firms to identify themselves take effect Thursday.

Such calls had shown up on Caller ID as "out of area." Now the name displayed by Caller ID must either be the company trying to make a sale or the firm making the call. The display must also include a phone number that consumers can call during regular business hours and ask that the company no longer call them.

The change is part of the rules that set up the do-not-call registry, which consumers can use to block certain telemarketers from calling. Telemarketing companies were given additional time to install the technology needed to display their names and numbers. Some places still don't have Caller ID technology, and firms in those areas do not have to comply.

[rest of article deleted]

Mon, 09 Feb 2004 15:33:22 GMT

A small trouble is like a pebble. Hold it too close to your eye and it fills the whole world and puts everything out of focus. Hold it at a proper distance and it can be examined and properly classified. Throw it at your feet and it can be seen in its true setting, just one more tiny bump on the pathway to life."

Celia Luce

phone switchboards with VRUs (voice response units).

Mon, 09 Feb 2004 15:31:36 GMT

Saving Time

I cannot stand to wait while I listen to the list of options
on phone switchboards with VRUs (voice response units). My
husband, who used to do support work for a major bank's VRUs,
told me this trick. On almost all VRUs, if you push "0" twice,
you will get connected to an actual person. I know it works
for most banks and with my local phone and electric companies.

from: Dollar Stretcher newsletter: http://www.stretcher.com

"Healing" dealing with worries

Mon, 09 Feb 2004 15:26:47 GMT

From First Magazine:
Get a folder marked "Healing" – next time something is worrying you or you just want to get rid of a thought, jot it down on a piece of paper and stash it in the folder. The act of filing sends a signal to your brain that you are done with that thought. Now you can move on, be happy and worry-free.

This was on AOL news today re Bush

Sat, 10 Jan 2004 16:17:39 GMT

"Lofty Goals
President Bush will announce plans next week to send Americans to Mars and establish a permanent human presence on the moon. "

First Afghanistan (which I understood), then Iraq, now Mars and the moon? Is there anywhere he doesn't want to go? Sounds like a dog staking out his territory. Am I the only one who thinks this is funny?

Thu, 08 Jan 2004 15:48:45 GMT

"You won't always remember what a person had said or done, but you will
always remember how a person made you feel."

A good law (California)

Thu, 11 Dec 2003 20:34:10 GMT

AB 2957 - Employment: mass layoffs, relocations, and terminations
California's new layoff/relocation/termination law places a 60-day notice requirement on employers with 75 or more employees. Failure to give notice or make payment in compliance with the new law carries civil penalties up to $500 per day. Additionally, employers may be liable for the value of lost benefits, and medical costs incurred by employees.