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WITandWISDOM(tm) - October 22, 2003 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Brains, like hearts, go where they are appreciated. - Robert S. McNamara, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Source: Reader's Digest, Copyright (c) October 2000, http://www.readersdigest.com/ ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: There is a small tree that grows in Texas, New Mexico, and in old Mexico that is very hardy. When the temperature soars well above 100 degrees the Mexican buckeye flourishes. In winter, when the temperature drops below zero, most of the tree freezes, and in spring the Mexican buckeye comes back strong. One of the most beautiful flowering trees of its range, this hardy tree holds many a hillside in place by keeping the heavy rains from washing away the soil. It grows in profusion in many areas, and its springtime blossoms turn the streamsides and hillsides into a cloud of pink that can last for three or four weeks. The tree is named for its seed, a bean that is round, very dark, and as shiny as glass, giving it the appearance of the eyeball of a deer. A seed is about the size of a marble and makes wonderful ammunition for sling shots. Because of a favorite child's prank, the seeds are also called "hot beans." When the Mexican buckeye seed is rubbed quickly back and forth on the sidewalk, the bean becomes very hot. The bean is then tossed to any unsuspecting newcomer to the neighborhood, who catches it and immediately yelps with pain. No lasting damage is done, however, and the recipient of the prank usually looks for someone else to try it on. Because of its many favorable qualities and because it is a favorite of kids, a Texas botanist has called the Mexican buckeye a "fun" tree; it can take all of the extremes of weather, only to come back healthy and beautiful, ready to provide fun and enjoyment for everyone. Christians are like the Mexican buckeye. No matter what Satan and this world presents in the way of adversity, Christians come back strong - as beautiful people who are fun to be around. Source: Glimpses of God's Love by James A. Tucker and Priscilla Tucker, Copyright (c) 1983 by Review and Herald Publishing Association, http://isbn.nu/0828002169 Submitted by Nancy Simpson ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: During the second Gulf War, I was an Air Force colonel. I routinely flew on different aircraft to familiarize myself with their capabilities. One day I was aboard an intelligence aircraft where each crew member was surrounded by complex gear. A young major showed me his computer screen. "That's a chat screen, Sir," the soldier said. "We use it to relay enemy information to the crew -- like instant messaging." Nodding, I moved down the line. Flashing on an airman's screen several feet away was this warning: "Heads up! The colonel's on the way!" Source: Clean Laffs, http://www.shagmail.com/sub/sub-jokes.html ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: When I was a kid, we walked 10 miles to school every day, sometimes in the rain or snow. Man, did we feel foolish when we found out there was a bus. Source: Absolute Humor, http://absoluterobeo.com ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: 75 - Weight, in pounds, of the book G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time). A Tribute to Muhammad Ali, which includes 3,000 photos and hundreds of essays and reflections on Ali. $3,545 - Retail price of G.O.A.T. For more information visit: http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/excerpts/photography/show/1/62.htm Source: Sports Illustrated, October 20, 2003, http://www.si.com |