Jim’s WebLetter for 7/4/09

Hi-ya friends and neighbors! Happy 4th! Post the colors. Today we celebrate our independence and in Bristol, Rhode Island, they are celebrating it for the 224th time. This town has taken the meaning of the 4th to the highest level each year since 1785 with an attitude that it’s more than just a celebration, it’s what we live for. Here’s their story …. http://www.projo.com/lifebeat/content/wk-bristol4th_07-02-09_K6EQN7B_v22.225d38a.html

Show of hands, how many know the opening words of our Declaration of Independence? “When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another …” To honor this day, wouldn’t you like to see the document that started it all? The Library of Congress has digitized it and placed it on their website …. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=rbpe&fileName=rbpe34/rbpe346/34604400/rbpe34604400page.db&recNum=0

Several things happened this week on the Web that caught my attention (other than the fact that “Michael Jackson” information was accessed more times than anything and I mean ANYTHING else). For instance, did you notice that Google has changed the way it displays search results? The Google logo is smaller, results are indented and spacing has been added above the search box. It also removed the page size indicator, which gives you a hint of how long the page might take to load. Actually, it’s looking more like Google Adsense. Here’s a story about the new “look”. http://mashable.com/2009/07/03/googles-new-layout/

This week I read a story about Web retailing and taxation with Amazon.com. As you may know, tax on the internet has been a big thing for years with our lawmakers determining that you shouldn’t have to pay some taxes on the Web that are levied on a typical retail level (brick and mortar store). Well, with the problems facing states with fallen revenue, many are pushing to have taxes added in when it comes to internet purchases. As this story reveals, it’s not setting well with some folks … http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2009-07-02-online-sales_N.htm

On recommendation by JWL reader Jennifer Wallace, I learned that Laura Walker, Director of E-Learning at a UK mixed secondary comprehensive near London with a background in language teaching, blogs about things that are useful for teachers, but are also important for all of us. In her latest blog, she writes nine great reasons why teachers should use Twitter. Whether you are an educator, or just someone wanting to be educated, this bears reading … http://mrslwalker.com/index.php/2009/03/29/nine-great-reasons-why-teachers-should-use-twitter/

I came across Glide this week. You know, transferring files, music or anything in between computers at home and work is a hassle. Especially if you’re dealing with multiple operation systems. But with Glide, a great Web-based tool, you can keep track of all of your media. The Operating System features its own word processor and spreadsheet application, media player, photo editor and a calendar. You also start off with 10 gigs of free storage space, and you can upgrade that if you want. http://www.glideos.com/

As I mentioned in last week’s JWL, Firefox 3.5 was released this week and millions have downloaded and installed it. So far, so good. Pages do seem to load faster. You might try it and let me know how it’s working for you. http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/upgrade.html

<===HuMoR===>
As the story goes, two boys are in the hospital waiting on procedures. One asks the other, “what are you having done?”
“I’m getting my tonsils out”, says the other boy.
“Oh, that’s easy”, says the first boy. “Three days with ice cream and you’re on your feet.”
He then told the other boy what he’s in for.
“I’m having a circumcision.”
“You are?!”, exclaimed the other boy. “I had that at birth and it took me a year to walk!”
(thanks, Pat)
+++++++++++++++++++++
Two golfers played together for years, allowing for mulligans and ball movement whenever it was “necessary”. One day, the first golfer insists that they play by the rules, no matter what. They both agree, but during play on the 4th hole, a ball ends up on the cart path. Insisting that they keep to the rules, no matter what, the second golfer reluctantly strides over the the golf bags and pulls out a seven iron and proceeds to take practice shots taking asphalt and dirt out of the area around the ball. Sparks flew as he swung and swung. Finally, he takes the shot and it lies up on the green. The first golfer exclaims, “see you made a great shot! What club did you use?” The second golfer replied, “YOUR seven iron”.
(thanks, Raymond)
+++++++++++++++++++++
I had just moved from an apartment to a house in the same small town. One day at the grocery store, I finally used the last of my personalized checks bearing my old address. The cashier examined the document and asked if everything on it was correct. I assured her that it was, and she started to put the check in the cash drawer. But then she inquired again if everything was accurate.
“Why do you ask?” I responded.
“Because,” she replied, “my husband and I moved to this apartment yesterday, and I don’t remember seeing you at breakfast.”
(thanks, Tim)
+++++++++++++++++++++
The Kindergarten Sunday School class was discussing prayer and the children seemed aware that the way you end a prayer was with the word “Amen.”
“Does anyone know what ‘Amen’ means?” the teacher asked.
There was a long silence. Then one little boy piped up, with appropriate, computer-age gestures, and said, “Well, I think it means, like, ‘Send’.”
(thanks, Sean)
====================
One final note … I had surgery on Thursday to remove a skin cancer from my nose. Anyone who has had a procedure knows this is no fun. I had the best care, but the end result is still the same. Planning on celebrating the 4th outside? This is a warning for anyone who likes the idea of getting out in the sun in the middle of the day without some sort of protection. Do yourself a favor. Sunblock is the only way to go. Wear a hat. Protect your kids. Doctors will tell you, it’s what you do outside in the first few years of your life that dictates what will occur later on in life, but it’s never too late to start. The phrase, “it can never happen to me” has been greatly overused in our society. No matter if you are fair skined or dark skined, you have a chance of developing skin cancer. Be smart. Be protected. It may be cool to have a tan, but it sure isn’t cool having surgery to remove the stuff that comes as a result of tanning. Have a safe and happy 4th.

Til next weekend, may God continue to bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 6/27/09

Hi-ya friends!

What a week this has been punctuated by rioting in the streets in Iran and Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett passing away the same day and Ed McMahan at the beginning of the week.

Twitter received it’s “15 minutes of fame” when western reporters were forbidden in Iran and the people used the source, along with videos posted on YouTube, to describe what was going on following the elections in their country. Meanwhile, new agencies online broke the stories of first Fawcett, then Jackson before the TV industry could bat an eye. These incidents show how the Web has proven that it is a global message center and that no one government can truly prohibit it’s ebb and flow of information (even though China is still trying). It has created hundreds of millions of reporters through it’s easy access allowing anyone to become a news source.

Closer to home, water spouts were reported in Jacksonville on the St. Johns river yesterday and before the local news could report it, there were photos and videos posted on websites. The news organizations were able to take these images and relay them onto the screen and in effect, create a news story from them. It’s not hard to imagine that one day, television will become a more immediate medium showing uploads from viewers turned reporters moderated by someone at the station when those stories happen (more than the “we interrupt this program for a special news bulliten”). That the incoming texts, videos and photos ARE the stations’ programming.

So while I was working the Web this week, I discovered a few things you should take note. Following are a few of them.

Firefox 3.5 is due for release this Tuesday and will be available for PC, Linux and Mac computers. Among the new features provided, faster searches, more security and even more applications. The Mozilla family has created so many add-ons that it would take several WebLetters just to note the best of the best. The newest version of the browser is available now as a beta, so wait until they release the final to ensure the majority of the bugs have been worked out and you can experience what BetaNews.com reported … “Firefox 3.5 beats IE8 in Microsoft’s own load times test”. http://www.betanews.com/article/Firefox-35-Beta-4-beats-IE8-in-Microsofts-own-load-times-test/1241027112

Online photo manipulation and editing has been enhanced with a site called Be Funky. This free site lets you have fun with your photos by letting you cartoonize them and turn them into works of art. Upload your image and select from several possibilities, each coming with their own customization. Then save and download. They are also planning to release a “Video Cartoonizer” soon. http://www.befunky.com/

While checking out weather patterns online this week, I saw that Texas was experiencing 100+ degree temps. Man that’s hot in anyone’s language. I also came across another hot item … The Texas Comptroller has created a brand new site dedicated to helping teens and tweens discover their dream careers by exploring their hobbies. Called “Get a Life”, it’s geared toward middle school students and focuses on helping them answer the question: What do I want to be when I grow up? The Web site has tons of information on available jobs and current trends in the market and is loaded with good advice. Looks like other states’ Comptrollers need to pay attention to what Texas is doing. http://getalife.tx.gov/

As I reported some time back, Google is getting ready to do a public release of Google Voice. What amounts to one number, six phones. Now Google has started contacting those who expressed interest in getting early access to the company’s telephony service, starting to connect up the million numbers it reserved last week. I have placed my name on the list and am waiting for my notice to come. Voice does seem to be part of Google’s long-term idea of bringing everything under one umbrella and eventually rolling out Wave to control it all. Google Voice will remain a US-only service for the foreseeable future because here, we don’t charge for local calls. Here’s the place where you can leave your name and email on a list. https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite/

<===HuMoR===>
After hearing a speech on how to motivate employees, the business owner posted signs that read “Do It Now” in every department. It was impossible for the employees not to see them all through the day.
A friend dropped by a week later. Seeing the signs, he asked if the scheme really worked.
“Well,” said the business owner, “not exactly the way I thought it would. My accountant ran off with $250,000, the office manager eloped with my secretary and the rest of the employees asked for raises.”
(thanks, Dan)
+++++++++++++++++++++
Now that I’m over 40, younger teammates have begun to tease me about my declining abilities as a softball player. During one game, I was playing third base when a batter ripped a shot over my head. I leapt as high as I could, but the ball tipped off the end of my glove and fell safely for a hit.
At the end of inning, I was heading for the dugout when our left fielder caught up with me. “That much!” he called, holding his thumb and forefinger a few inches apart.
“I know.” I replied. “I almost had it.”
“No,” he said. “I mean that’s how far you got off the ground.”
(thanks, Tony)
+++++++++++++++++++++
A man rushed to the jewelry counter in the store where I work soon after the doors opened one morning and said he needed a pair of diamond earrings. I showed him a wide selection, and quickly he picked out a pair.
When I asked him if he wanted the earrings gift-wrapped, he said, “That’d be great. But can you make it quick? I forgot today was my anniversary, and my wife thinks I’m taking out the trash.”
(thanks, Roger)
+++++++++++++++++++++
Finally, I saw a piece with Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on an old Carol Burnett program on YouTube and it made me realize that comedy shows like that will always be funny. Enjoy … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KVs7pYcQ9Y&feature=PlayList&p=193C251B6A736432&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=3
====================
And that’s this week’s highlight reel of Web stuff, WebLetter readers. Thanks to those who contributed to the jokes. If you have one worth passing on, send it to me. If I use it, you get the credit. Til next weekend, may God continue to bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 6/13/09

Hi-ya Webfriends!

Know what I did last night? I stayed up after midnight to register my own web address with Facebook. I can now proclaim my “new” address is http://www.facebook.com/jimonline … making it easier to reach my site. If you are not logged onto Facebook, you get a simple page with my picture, name and some basic facts (favorite Music, Places, some of my friends) which is true but certainly not complete. The idea is to encourage you to sign up for an account, or sign in to get more details. All in all, it’s a good idea but I think I’m becoming one of those who is becoming disenchanted with Facebook as it is largely “all about me” whether that “me” is me or my friends who leave comments, show photos and videos and try out many of the programs and features. Don’t get me wrong, social networking is important and demonstrates how the internet is a storehouse for ideas. But sometimes I think I read a little more about someone than I really wanted to know, ya know? It’s true, it’s easier to expose yourself and your personal life when you’re not talking to someone face to face, but once in a while, some comments are best kept to oneself.

What Facebook does not let you do is sign up for address for one of your groups you may have established, only a name related to your account which means if you are planning a business or organization, it is best to register a new account. To register a new address for yourself, head over to http://www.facebook.com/username/

I read this week that Microsoft has been working on a new anti-virus program it will be offering for free. Right now they’re keeping things under wrap but it is reported that the software will tackle viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans. It just makes sense that they offer it free as their competition including AVG and Alwil all have free versions. A date has not yet been released. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8095932.stm

If you’ve spent any time with Google Earth, you can discover a number of interesting sites. Google Sightseeing is a blog where visitors are invited to submit any unusual or interesting sightings they have found on Google Earth and Streetview. For example, there are shots of giant seals in the Netherlands and the megalithic monument Stonehenge. http://googlesightseeing.com

A story on InternetNews.com entitled “Internet Giving Rise to Peer-to-Peer Healthcare” was based on research from the Pew Research group which polled internet users who used the Web for advice on health issues. With the ever-increasing cost of healthcare in America, folks are looking for ways to cut their expenses. Of course, this gives rise to a lot of information being stored on the Web and what a lot of people are concerned about … electronic medical records online. Face it, it’s coming and Pew found that 41 percent of what is termed as “e-patients” have read a fellow patient’s comments about health or medical issues in forums, Websites or blogs. Makes for interesting reading … http://www.internetnews.com/webcontent/article.php/3824691

<===HuMoR===>
A very large old building was being torn down in Chicago to make room for a new skyscraper. Due to its proximity to other buildings, it could not be imploded and had to be dismantled floor by floor.
While working on the 49th floor, two construction workers found a skeleton in a small closet behind the elevator shaft. They called the police.
When the police arrived, they directed them to the closet and showed them the skeleton, fully clothed and standing upright. They said, “This could be Jimmy Hoffa or somebody really important.”
Two days went by and the construction workers couldn’t stand it any more; they had to know who they found. They called the police and said, “We are the two guys who found the skeleton in the closet and we want to know if it was Jimmy Hoffa or somebody important.”
The police said it’s not Jimmy Hoffa, but it was somebody kind of important.”
“Well, who was it?”
“The 1956 National Hide-and-Seek Champion.”
(thanks, Robert)
+++++++++++++++++++++
During a training session at an artillery unit the sergeant-major was busy describing how the sophisticated aiming device of the artillery weapon system is used:
“As you all know, there are 180 degrees in a circle.”
One of the soldiers put up his hand and said: “But there are 360 degrees in a circle, sergeant-major.”
“You idiot,” replied the sergeant-major, “I am obviously speaking about a small circle!”
(thanks, Chris)
+++++++++++++++++++++
Even with a thousand games, dolls and crafts to choose from, my customer at the toy store still couldn’t find a thing for her grandson.
“Maybe a video or something educational?” I asked.
“No, that’s not it,” she said.
We wandered the aisles until something caught her eye: a laser gun with flashing lights and 15 different high-pitched sounds.
“This is perfect,” she said, beaming. “My daughter-in-law will hate it.”
(thanks, Michael)
+++++++++++++++++++++
The irate customer calling our newspaper offices loudly demanded to know where her Sunday edition was.
“Ma’am,” I interrupted, “today is Saturday. The Sunday paper is not delivered until Sunday.”
There was a pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a ray of recognition. “So that’s why no one was in church today.”
(thanks, Deanna)
====================
And that’s a look at the Web this week, my friends. Have a great weekend. Next weekend, my wife and I will be enjoying our anniversary in the mountains of North Carolina, so I’m taking the weekend off from writing. Look for the next issue on the 27th.
Til then, may God continue to bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Hi-ya friends! It’s June and we begin the month with all sorts of things to look forward to … warmer weather, weddings, and anniversaries. Mine is coming up in two weeks, along with some much-needed R&R in the Smoky Mountains. Til then, here are a few things I discovered this week while working on the Web:

Among the Web news stories this week, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made comments to Bloomberg News that because of higher corporate taxes proposed by the Obama Administration, “a sensible thing for Microsoft to do would be to move jobs offshore”. He suggests possibly Dublin, Ireland. Can you imagine Microsoft moving to another country? The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says it (the new Obama tax) will “impede growth in the U.S. economy, (and) cause the loss of jobs.” So, has anyone said anything to the President about this? I guess it’s kinda hard doing that when he spends his time warming up to foreign Muslim leaders. http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-309097.html

Now for something absolutely new … YouTube has gone TV. Check out the new interface designed for the bigger screen … it’s black background makes the video “pop” on the screen. YouTube removed the “comments” section and just gives you the search device and video possibilities to choose from on the right side. Full screen viewing is still available, but when you do, the photo becomes more blurred from pixelization. Someday, YouTube will go all-high density and become a real competition to regular TV. Until then, this is a step in the right direction. http://www.youtube.com/xl

Speaking of new, data from monitoring service StatCounter suggests that Bing, Microsoft’s new decision engine, has overtaken Yahoo Search as the number two search service in the U.S. and worldwide in large part thanks to stealing market share from leader Google. Looking at other stats, that claim may not necessarily be true, but one thing’s a fact … Bing has arrived. Bing has a few new features to searching that make it desireable including a video search of the subject or person you are researching. Try putting in a person’s name and click the video link. Almost instantly, your page becomes full of videos that you can simply mouse over to see clips of the individual videos. As a decision making engine, you can ask questions like “where can I find the cheapest gas prices”? http://www.bing.com/

All this leads to the big story for TV watchers … June 12th the television stations are all switching to digital signals. That means anyone who hasn’t yet converted to digital reception will be unable to watch their favorite shows on their TV screens. Of course, if you use cable or satellite receivers, you are already set and have been watching digital television for some time. It’s the folks with the rabbit ears who are gonna be complaining. Procrastinators, this isn’t the time to follow your heart … you need to head to an electronics store and get a converter box and hook it up before Friday. Once completed, digital signals will begin to show us why it was important to switch. As I have been reporting since I can’t remember when, the internet will become a primary source for TV programming and the only way to see a better, clearer picture is by digital means (hence the new YouTube site “XL” and Microsoft’s “Bing” which will show pretty nice on digital screens). With TV going all digital all the time, the door to the next phase of the internet will swing wide open bringing with it more opportunities for communication then ever before. Hang in there, it’s coming!

Meanwhile, the economy is forcing more of us to tighten the belt and make some tough decisions. In these times, coupons are the “savior” for the shopper who needs a break in the checkout line. Coupons.com has been growing from the first time I reported on these guys years ago and now should be the place to hit before heading off to buy groceries. Just today, they proclaim “we have 105 Free Coupons for you today”. These are valid discounts for grocery shopping and online shopping. You can search for the coupon you need or even browse through their catalog and place a check mark by the ones you want. When you’re done just click on the button to print coupons and the savings come right out of your printer. Isn’t technology wonderful? http://coupons.com/

Finally, it was on this day in 1933 that Camden, New Jersey saw the beginning of an American tradition when the first drive-in movie opened. The younger generation, for the most part, has no clue what drive-ins were about. Incidently, the film shown that evening at the “Automobile Movie Theatre” was a British comedy called “Wives Beware” (later known as “Two White Arms”), and admission was 25 cents a head, plus another quarter for the car — $1.00 maximum. At Drive-Ins.com, you’ll find a museum, database search, and reference library. http://www.drive-ins.com/ At Drive In Theatre.com, get the nostalgic feeling of attending a theatre. http://www.driveintheater.com/

-HuMoR-

Mother: “When I was your age, my mother used to hide money around the house for me that I would find only if I performed my chores particularly well. One time when I was cleaning out the cupboards for her, I found $20 under the old shelf paper.”

Daughter: “Wow! What a cool idea! Why didn’t you ever do that with me?”

Mother: “But my dear … I have been.”

(thanks, Donna)

+++++++++++++++++++++

One Thing I Learned in Life…..

- OLD is always at least 15 years more than my current age.

- Some things never change, some things should be changed, some things can’t be changed, and sometimes after you change things, you wish you hadn’t!

- Never to let your kids find out your age.

- There’s nothing better than to be loved. …well, maybe eating chocolate!

- The older I get, the smarter my parent’s get.

- If at first you don’t succeed, look in the wastebasket for the directions.

- If you ever get in a fight with a woman, plead insanity. They will not argue with that.

(thanks, James)

+++++++++++++++++++++

Which windshield wiper blade always quits first? That’s right — the driver’s side.

This happened to me one day while driving home in the middle of a blinding storm. Unable to see, I pulled over and tried to figure out a quick fix. I found it in a yellow cotton work glove lying on the floor. I wedged the cloth hand under the wiper arm. It did a great job keeping my windshield clear.

Not only that — you’d be surprised at how many people waved back.

(thanks, Roger)

+++++++++++++++++++++

TOP 10 You Know You’re in Phoenix in July When … (drum roll, please)

10. The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

9. Hot water now comes out of both taps.

8. You can make sun tea instantly.

7. The trees are whistling for the dogs.

6. Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, “What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?”

5. Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs.

4. You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.

3. You discover that in July it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car.

2. The cows are giving evaporated milk.

and the #1 reason …

The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly.

(thanks, John)

====================

And that is this week’s look through my computer screen, WebLetter readers. Thanks for your time, and for those who contributed. If you come across something I haven’t used or reported on, send it to me. If I use it, you get the credit. So, until next weekend, may God continue to bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!

Jim

Jim’s WebLetter

Discover the best of the Web

C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 5/30/09

Hi-ya WebLetter readers and friends!

It’s the last weekend in May … Monday, June 1st begins the 2009 Hurricane season and it seems things have been busy in the Atlantic already with the low that moved over us creating four days of rain last week, and now a tropical storm that is moving north above Bermuda. The forecasters are predicting a quieter year for major storms, but so far, we’re several inches ahead of schedule. Let’s hope this isn’t a precursor of things to come. For a quick look at weather as it’s happening in the Sunshine State, click on my weather page with charts and live radar maps. http://weather.jimonline.com/

Unless you live in a cave and don’t have internet access, it’s safe to say social websites are where it’s at right now. Facebook and Twitter in the States, and sites like Bebo in Europe are the front runners with their numbers growing by the second. The typical features include the ability to post your thoughts, photos and video clips for everyone else to see. While there are a lot of portals offering a place for you to sign up and belong, no one is doing what Google will be offering in it’s new application called Wave. Imagine opening your browser and creating a shared online desktop with two or more users who can interact with instant messaging (you watch as the other types the words on the screen), share and edit documents that include text, images and graphics, then drag and drop widgets and actually work or play together. Once the project is complete, save and publish the collaborative effort to the Web. All this means faster immediate conversations and the ability to see edits and interact with extensions in real-time. Look for Wave to go public later this year. http://wave.google.com/

Speaking of Google, GOOG-411 is an easy call to get information about businesses. Now they’ve made it even easier to orient yourself without a map in front of you: call GOOG-411, ask for ‘details’, and in addition to the address and phone number of the business, GOOG-411 also points you to the nearest street intersection or adjacent streets. It’s GPS by phone. Here’s the number … 1-800-466-4411.

I haven’t tried this next site myself, but everything I am reading, this is a great idea … If you have something you want moved or shipped, but you don’t want to pay a fortune to do it, try U Ship. Instead of wasting time calling around gathering price quotes, why not let the companies contact you? Enter the service you would like, the pick up location and destination, then sit back and let the bids begin coming in. Companies will bid on your job and all you have to do is pick the best offer. Here’s the best thing of all, it costs nothing to put up your listing. Can anyone say, “bookmark”? http://www.uship.com/

This weekend, the Disney Pixar movie “UP” is in theatres. All the promotion and clips show this 3-D animation to be one fun flick. It’s rated PG. The website is loaded with features to enhance the movie experience including clips and games all done in flash animation. Have fun! http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/up/main.html

<===HuMoR===>
Su Wong marries Lee Wong. The next year, the Wongs have a new baby.
The nurse brings over a lovely, healthy, bouncy, but definitely a Caucasian, WHITE baby boy.
‘Congratulations,’ says the nurse to the new parents. ‘Well Mr. Wong, what will you and Mrs.. Wong name the baby?’
The puzzled father looks at his new baby boy and says, ‘Well, two Wong’s don’t make a white, so I think we will name him…
Are you ready for this…“Sum Ting Wong”
(thanks, Rich)
+++++++++++++++++++++
A guy finds a sheep wandering in his neighborhood and takes it to the police station. The desk sergeant says, “Why don’t you just take it to the zoo?”
The next day, the sergeant spots the same guy walking down the street—with the sheep. “I thought I told you to take that sheep to the zoo,” the sergeant says.
“I know what you told me,” the guy responds. “Yesterday I took him to the zoo. Today I’m taking him to the movies.”
(thanks, Tamara)
+++++++++++++++++++++
Looking down the stairs at a football game, a fan spots an open seat on the 50-yard line. He asks the man sitting next to it if the seat is taken.
“No,” he replies. “I used to take my wife to all the games, but ever since she passed away, I’ve gone alone.”
“Why don’t you invite a friend?”
“I can’t. They’re all at the funeral.”
(thanks, Joel)
+++++++++++++++++++++
Notice seen on the bulletin board of a Florida air base: “The following enlisted men will pick up their Good Conduct medals in the supply room this afternoon. Failure to comply with this order will result in disciplinary action.”
(thanks, Myra)
====================
Well, that’s a brief look at the Web this week. No sense of rambling on … after all, did you hear about the self-help group for compulsive talkers? It’s called On & On Anon. Have a great weekend.

May God bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 5/23/09

Hi-ya friends and neighbors!

It’s Memorial Day weekend and I can’t believe the number of stories I have read this week with people asking, “why do we recognize Memorial Day anyway”? Maybe this isn’t being taught in public school anymore, I dunno, but as a Vietnam veteran, let me remind anyone reading this who doesn’t know why. Originally called Decoration Day when it was offically proclaimed in 1868, it was designed to pay tribute to the Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War. It was amended later as a day of remembrance for all Americans who have died in war in our nation’s service. Today there isn’t a family living in our country who hasn’t been affected in some way by the loss of someone who died in war. The Bible records in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” We want to remember because freedom doesn’t come free. It comes with a price. The greatest sacrifice. The willingness to place oneself in front of the fire, so that you don’t have to. Whatever you do, don’t take that for granted. Remember. It’s the least we can do.

This weekend is car hunting weekend for me as my old Chevy S-10 finally gave out this week. I’m just looking for a second car that will be used pretty much for traveling around the island to and from work, so I don’t want to pay a lot for something … and I don’t want a gas guzzler and I’m not into motorcycles or scooters. So if you see me out, you’ll know why.

Ever wanted to know how much something costs? We don’t always have the time or patience to try and research cost for things like an Alaskan cruise, or a new pair of shoes, but did you know there is a Web site that can do that research for you? This site has laid out everything in a simple way. The home page features some of their most asked questions, and you can also browse through different topics on the left side of the screen. Whether you are looking to be entertained or are purely trying to make a make a decision about money, this site can help you do just that. http://whatitcosts.com/

Speaking of costs, the Euro is about a dollar forty cents and the British Pound is about a buck sixty now, so European travel is out this year. But with summer almost here and gas prices a couple of bucks lower than last year, you want to travel somewhere, right? What better way to get the most out this season than to plan a nice getaway for yourself, your family or even just a few friends here in the States? Discover America aims to help Americans get out of their comfort zone to explore the sites and attractions around the U.S. You’ll find interactive maps along with featured destinations, photos and personal stories. http://www.discoveramerica.com/ca

When the economy was dropping, I heard so much about how technology becomes more creative in troubled times. I mentioned in a previous WebLetter that I expected us to see better technology grow out of this. Well, it’s happening and the place to see examples of ingenuity in action is Makezine. This online magazine includes podcasts, videos projects and blogs demonstrating the latest inventions in the tech, as well as how to make your own state of the art devices. http://makezine.com/

Classic gaming is just as popular, if not more popular, than even the newest releases. So, if you want to take a step back into the past check out this site. It’s basically an entire list of links that let you download nostalgic PC computer games. From “Where in the World is Carmen San Diego” to “Mortal Kombat” this site has all the classics. http://xtcabandonware.com/

Finally, you know we’ve had a lot of rain here in Florida this week … this is called “Swimming Home” … http://pixdaus.com/single.php?id=158602&f=rs

<===HuMoR===>

During a visit to a military medical clinic, I was sent to the lab to have blood drawn.
The technician there was friendly and mentioned that his mood improved every day because he was due to leave the service in two months.
As he applied the tourniquet on my arm, he told me that taking the blood wouldn’t hurt much. Then, noticing my Air Force T-shirt he asked me what my husband did.
When I replied that he was a recruiter, the technician smiled slyly and said, “This might hurt a little more than I thought.”
(thanks, Brenda)
+++++++++++++++++++++
“Well,” snarled the tough old drill sergeant to the bewildered private. “I suppose after you get discharged from the Army, you’ll just be waiting for me to die so you can come and spit on my grave.”
“Not me, Sarge!” the private replied. “Once I get out of the Army, I’m never going to stand in line again!”
(thanks, John)
+++++++++++++++++++++
HOW TO LIE TO THE BATHROOM SCALE
1. Weigh yourself with clothes on, after dinner … as well as in the morning, without clothes, before breakfast, because it’s nice to see how much weight you’ve lost overnight.
2. Never weigh yourself with wet hair.
3. When weighing, remove everything, including glasses. In this case, blurred vision is an asset. Don’t forget the earrings, these things can weigh at least a pound.
4. Use cheap scales only, never the medical kind, because they are always five pounds off … to your advantage.
5. Always go to the bathroom first.
6. Stand with arms raised, making pressure on the scale lighter.
7. Don’t eat or drink in the morning until AFTER you’ve weighed in, completely naked, of course.
8. Weigh yourself after a haircut, this is good for at least half a pound of hair (hopefully).
9. Exhale with all your might BEFORE stepping onto the scale (air has to weigh something, right?).
10. Start out with just one foot on the scale, then holding onto the towel rack in front of you, slowly edge your other foot on and slowly let off of the rack. Admittedly, this takes time, but it’s worth it. You will weigh at least two pounds less than if you’d stepped on normally.
(thanks, Vicki)
+++++++++++++++++++++
“Last Sunday I found a wallet packed with money down by the church.”
“Did you give it back?”
“Not yet. I’m still trying to decide if it’s a temptation from the devil or the answer to a prayer.”
(thanks, Victor)
====================
And that’s this week’s look at the Web, my friends. Have a great weekend, watch to make sure those burgers don’t get too burned, and I’ll have something for you next weekend. Til then, and as always, may God continue to bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 5/16/09

Hi-ya Webfriends!

It’s Saturday morning and at this time of the morning it might be quiet in the house, but on the World Wide Web … things are busy! Let me give you some examples to follow as I discovered more of the best of the Web in today’s edition of Jim’s WebLetter …

What’s going to be the next big thing in online social networks? Video chat. OK, so many of you just said to yourself, “come on, Jim, that’s already going on in Gmail”, and you would be correct. But it really hasn’t taken off yet. Most of us are content to just text or send emails to each other. The younger demographic groups use their cellphone, the older groups use computers. But everything I am reading now suggests that video chat will soon be everywhere.

In order to cut the costs of sending sales reps and executives to meet with clients and other corporations, large companies are using boardroom style video chats, but these still come with a cost. But TokBox offers video and texting at no cost. Couple that with a Facebook account, and you have a pretty powerful combination. Just go to TokBox, and sign up for an account. The application is very easy to install. Once you load the application, and go to your Facebook account and open Facebook Chat, you’ll see a ToxBox link below next to the names of users who have the capability to chat. Click the link, the ToxBox flash application loads and you are ready to go. http://www.tokbox.com

By the way, again this week, Google’s Gmail hiccupped and failed for almost two hours. While it was reported it effected only about 14% of the total usership, it was significant enough that the reports were fast and furious. I understand that almost everyone has a gmail account and that number is weighing on the Google servers, but come on guys … this is the second time in the past few weeks. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/15/BUPE17KKIJ.DTL&type=tech

With conventional television getting ready to go into reruns (many of the programs are showing their final shows of the series this and next week), the search is on to find something to fill the void. Here’s where it gets interesting. Last year, Hulu was the big site to see filled with classic shows and hundreds of movies. This year, while they’re still the one to beat, dozens of websites have opened up with most notable, YouTube, showing reruns and movies. Googling “online movies and TV shows” revealed page after page of sites with movies available. Many come with a download you must install before watching. My favorite? For a second year, hands down … http://www.hulu.com

Finally, the World’s Smallest car was reported this week. This bloke in England set out to create the smallest car with the use of an old toy and a motor from an ATV. What he ended up with is, well … interesting. The video and story is online at Wired, but the real story is found on the English tabloid, The Sun. I’m sure it’s something I could never get into, but it’s functionality and it’s street-legal status give it something to behold. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/05/smallest/

<===HuMoR===>
A fellow was invited to the home of some old friends for dinner. His buddy preceded every request to his wife by endearing terms, calling her Honey, My Love, Darling, Sweetheart, Pumpkin, etc.
The guest was impressed since the couple had been married almost 70 years, and while the wife was off in the kitchen he said to his friend, “I think it’s wonderful that after all the years you’ve been married, you still call your wife those pet names.”
His buddy hung his head. “To tell you the truth, I forgot her name about ten years ago.”
(thanks, Gene)
+++++++++++++++++++++
“Dear,” said the wife. “What would you do if I died?”
“Why, dear, I would be extremely upset,” said the husband. “Why do you ask such a question?”
“Would you remarry?” persevered the wife.
“No, of couse not, dear,” said the husband.
“Don’t you like being married?” said the wife.
“Of course I do, dear,” he said.
“Then why wouldn’t you remarry?”
“Alright,” said the husband, “I’d remarry.”
“You would?” said the wife, looking vaguely hurt.
“Yes,” said the husband.
“Would you sleep with her in our bed?” said the wife after a long pause.
“Well yes, I suppose I would.” replied the husband.
“I see,” said the wife indignantly. ” And would you let her wear my old clothes?”
“I suppose, if she wanted to,” said the husband.
“Really,” said the wife icily. “And would you take down the pictures of me and replace them with pictures of her?”
“Yes. I think that would be the correct thing to do.”
“Is that so?” said the wife, leaping to her feet. “And I suppose you’d let her play with my golf clubs, too.”
“Of course not, dear,” said the husband. “She’s left-handed.”
(thanks, Lena)
+++++++++++++++++++++
During a magazine and newspaper subscription drive, our son Philip, a paperboy, learned about good salesmanship.
His supervisor had instructed the kids to maintain a positive attitude, even when turned down. One potential customer told Philip, “I’ve got papers and magazines strewn all over the place — I don’t need any more.”
Philip’s reply? “Well, how about a subscription to Good Housekeeping?”
(thanks, Tim)
+++++++++++++++++++++
I hate people who forward too many warnings as much as anyone, but this one is important!
Send this warning to everyone you know, friends and enemies!
If someone comes to your front door saying they are conducting a survey on deer ticks and asks you to take your clothes off and dance around, do not do it!
IT IS A SCAM; they only want to see you naked!
I wish I’d gotten this yesterday. I feel so stupid now.
(thanks, Rich… I think)
====================
And that’s a wrap on another week’s worth of Web watching, friends and neighbors. Have a great weekend and may God continue to bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 4/9/09

Hi-ya JWL readers!

I hope you’re doing well this weekend. It’s a busy one for me so before I get ready to launch into the first of several projects today, I want to dash off a few things I came across while on the Web this week.

I read just yesterday that Verizon is actively engaging in backing legislation to make unlawful texting while driving. Having attempting it a time or two, I have to say that it is difficult to do both things at the same time. Hopefully other carriers will follow suit and strongly push to have laws passed. The last thing I want is for someone to run into me because it was more important to be texting a friend than watching where that person was going. Talking on the cellphone is tricky enough, keying in text is way over the limit. Here’s a report from the NY Times … http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/verizon-to-support-driving-while-texting-bans/

Sometimes I run across some new Web site and think, “how can I apply this to what I’m doing”? The one I discovered this week is called 10 Thousand Doors. Created by the United Methodist Church, this site asks, “What if church wasn’t just a building, but thousands of doors? Each of them opening up to a different concept or experience of church – and a journey that could change our world. Would you come?” Now, if you’re not Methodist, or even a Christian, I still feel you need to see the way they present the TALK page that allows users to respond to simple questions, the FIND page that directs users to the closest churches with programs most relevant to users’ interests, the LISTEN page with audio news features and an iLike music player and its GO/DO page which uses a Google Earth plugin to get users to make connections between the online and the offline. This site is deep and carries a number of feeds from news sources, blogs, site paths and referring pages. It’s worth a few minutes … http://www.10thousanddoors.org/

One thing I noticed about popular social Web sites, the more popular, more applications are built for them. Case in point, Twitter. The online text broadcaster has more applications being made available faster than you can say, “tweet”. That’s because users are finding more reasons for accessing it. Have a question you need an answer for? Twitter it. Job listing? Ditto. Now, TwitterJobSearch.com combs through the site and pulls out the Tweets that is believes to be job listings and posts them. http://www.twitterjobsearch.com/search?q=web+content

Another in the lengthening list of Twitter programs is something I used to alert Shrimp Festival twitterers last weekend called Twibble. It’s a simple application that allowed me to send tweets on the fly using a cellphone. Sure, there are plenty of other applications available, but twibble is basic, lightweight and easy to use. http://www.twibble.com

So, while we’re on the subject, Twitter had some scheduled downtime this week. That’s not uncommon, but what follows is a humorous take on what to do while waiting for Twitter to come back up from MG Seigler of Tech Crunch. You might keep these Top 15 for future reference ….

1. Talk about Twitter being down on FriendFeed
2. Talk about Twitter being down on Facebook
3. Talk about Twitter being down over IM
4. Leave a comment on a blog post about Twitter being down
5. Talk about Twitter being down via text message
6. Talk about Twitter being down over email
7. Tip TechCrunch that Twitter is down
8. Write your own blog post about Twitter being down
9. Talk about Twitter being down on Pownce Plurk
10. Talk about Twitter being down on Identi.ca
11. Talk about Twitter being down internally on Yammer
12. Think about Twitter being down
13. Call an actual friend to talk about Twitter being down
14. Invite an actual friend over to talk about Twitter being down
15. Go outside

Changing the subject, this week I found a writeup about Gazelle.com, a website devoted to buying back older electronics. The easy to use form allows for you to find out what your older stuff is worth. And Gazelle offers free shipping, too. So if you have a camera or cellphone, laptop or desktop, don’t throw it out, recycle it using these guys. It could be worth a few bucks … Think about it … You get cash and help save the environment. http://www.gazelle.com

Finally, this weekend marks Mother’s Day and Amazing Moms has a site devoted to her. Be sure to give your mom a call this weekend. http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/holiday_mothersday.htm

<===HuMoR===>
The new bride, went crying to her mother. “Momma, I can’t get my husband to do anything. I want him to fix up the house, and he keeps putting it off.”
“Honey,” her mother replied, “after being married to your father for twenty-six years, I’ve found the only way to get him to do anything is to tell him he’s too old.”
(thanks, John)
+++++++++++++++++++++
MOTHER’S DICTIONARY

Defense: What you’d better have around de yard if you’re going to let the children play outside.

Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.

Family planning: The art of spacing your children the proper distance apart to keep you on the edge of financial disaster.

Feedback: The inevitable result when the baby doesn’t appreciate the strained carrots.

Full name: What you call your child when you’re mad at him.

Grandparents: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they’re sure you’re not raising them right.

Hearsay: What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.

Impregnable: A woman whose memory of labor is still vivid.

Independent: How we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say.

Look out: What it’s too late for your child to do by the time you scream it.

Prenatal: When your life was still somewhat your own.

Preprared childbirth: A contradiction in terms.

Puddle: A small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.

Show off: A child who is more talented than yours.

Storeroom: The distance required between the supermarket aisles so that children in shopping carts can’t quite reach anything.

Temper tantrums: What you should keep to a minimum so as to not upset the children.

Top bunk: Where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.

Two-minute warning: When the baby’s face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises.

Whoops: An exclamation that translates roughly into “get a sponge.”
(thanks, Howard)
====================
And that represents a few of the things I discovered this weekend, friends and neighbors. Have a great time and until I publish again, may God continue to bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 5/2/09

Jim’s WebLetter
(Now blogged at http://jimonline.wordpress.com)

Hi-ya Webfriends! This weekend marks the 46th annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival here on the island and I am in the middle of it with my mini HD camera and this year, my Blackberry Storm with QIK video software installed. I have placed a video window on the front page of the Shrimp Festival website so anything I shoot will come up live and once I stop shooting will automatically load for replay. Be sure to catch what I see this weekend. While you’re on the site, register to win 4 tickets to anywhere Southwest Airlines flies. It’s free. http://www.shrimpfestival.com

While I was at the stage last night I shot a piece of the Miss Shrimp Festival pageant and stopped off and purchased some shrimp and a burger (surf and turf, get it?). I can report that the shrimp was fresh and the burger was tasty.

Also this weekend, I will be using Twitter to let the ShrimpFestival group know what to be looking for while at the festival. Just text 404040 and “follow ShrimpFestival” or sign up for a Twitter account. It’s free. We have a long list of activities going on, meanwhile if you have a Facebook account, you can join the Festival group and contribute yourself. Just search for “Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival”.

<===HuMoR===>
Last night, before the Miss Shrimp Festival pageant, a boy was called to the microphone to tell a joke. It was in the form of a riddle that went like this:
If a cowboy rode into town on Friday, stayed three days and left on Friday, how was he able to do that?
The answer is, Friday is his horse.
The youngster got a round of laughter and applause.
+++++++++++++++++++++
A vacationer e-mailed a seaside hotel to ask its location.
“It’s only a stone’s throw away from the beach,” he was told.
“But how will I recognize it?” asked the man.
Back came the reply: “It’s the one with all the broken windows.”
(thanks, Lou)
+++++++++++++++++++++
One Sunday morning, when my son was about 5, we were attending a church in our community. It was common for the preacher to invite the children to the front of the church and have a small lesson before beginning the sermon. He would bring in an item they could find around the house and relate it to a teaching from the Bible.
This particular morning, the visual aid for his lesson was a smoke detector. He asked the children if anyone knew what it meant when an alarm sounded from the smoke detector.
My child immediately raised his hand and said, “It means Daddy’s cooking dinner.”
(thanks, Tony)
+++++++++++++++++++++
A dog walks into a meat store with $10 and a note saying “2lbs of steak”. Surprised the butcher reluctantly takes the money and hands him a bag with the meat. As the dog leaves, the butcher closed down the shop and decides to follow it. The dog gets to the bus stop and waits until bus 923 arrives, then pulls a ticket out of its collar, gives it to the driver and hops on. He does this for 3 more buses all the while the butcher is tagging along in disbelief. The dog got off of the last bus and began to walk still carrying the package of meat. Finally it walks up to a house and sets the meat down. He proceeds to back up and charge and slams into the door. He does this twice. A man opens the door and starts yelling at the dog calling him stupid. The butcher finds this horrible so he asks man saying, “STUPID? This dog came to my shop, paid for meat and took it on a series of buses finding his way back home. HOW IS HE STUPID??!”
The man replies, “Yes, that’s all great but he forgot his key for the 3rd time this week!”
(thanks Kevin)
====================
Well, I’m due to be interviewed this morning at 8:15 by First Coast News, so I need to get ready and head down to the Festival. Have a great weekend. If you’re on the island enjoying the weekend, look for me. I’m the tall guy wearing a yellow flowered shirt with the Festival logo on it holding a Blackberry and shooting footage for the Shrimp Festival website. Stop and say “hi-ya”.

Til next weekend, and as always, may God continue to bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com

Jim’s WebLetter for 4/24/09

Hi-ya friends and neighbors of the Net! It’s an earlier than usual edition of Jim’s WebLetter as we’re out of town this weekend for a quick visit to see the kids. But I didn’t want to leave you hanging this week with everything that’s been going on, so … here goes!

We’re one week out from the 46th annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival here on the island, and we’re making last minute preparations with a larger-than-ever Pirate Parade, live entertainment on two stages, artisans and antiques and enough food to feed everyone. On the website you will find parking directions, listings of events and artists performing, and this year, you’re chance to win four tickets to anywhere Southwest Airlines flies. Sign up to receive tweet messages from Twitter and join our Facebook group, too. http://www.shrimpfestival.com

It seems pretty clear that eventually, newspapers and magazines are all going the way of the Web. Just look at the Seattle Times, for instance. But Hewlett-Packard has a concept that is very intriguing. MagCloud is a project that HP has had in the works for about a year now and they have simplified the way magazines are created. MagCloud enables anyone to start a magazine – a real printed magazine – with no giant pile because every magazine is printed to order. Of course, there are other print-on-demand companies out there, but MagCloud is the only one designed specifically for magazines. If you can make a PDF file, you can now publish a magazine. http://magcloud.com/

My wife and I like to watch ‘Antiques Road Show’ on PBS. I am also a fan of travel shows like the ones Rick Steves and Rudy Maxa have. So it was interesting to me that Public Broadcasting as created a site called PBS Video where you can find all your favorite public television shows like ‘Nova’ or ‘Antiques Roadshow.’ And PBS also plans to make PBS Video the clearinghouse for shows from local affiliates. It’s more television migrating to the Web and that’s good for folks who are tired of paying high cable bills. But that’s another paragraph for another time. http://pbs.org/video

Firefox has a new version out, 3.0.9., which fixes several stability and security issues. Given how fast security issues are exploited, if you don’t have automatic updates enabled in Firefox you should download and install the new version. These latest vulnerabilities, Mozilla says, are serious and could allow the attacker to run arbitrary code on your computer. The 3.0.9 version brings only security fixes. If you’re looking for new features, look towards 3.5 beta 4, which, according the the Mozilla folks, should arrive any day now and bring, among other things, private browsing, speedier work, and better JavaScript handling and CSS rendering. http://www.mozilla.com/firefox

Also this week, I read that Yahoo! is closing GeoCities, one of the original web-hosting services acquired by Yahoo! in 1999 for $2.87 billion. I remember using an account in GeoCities to learn how to build websites when I first began in 1997. It was unique because you put in what you wanted on a page template and it would create the coding for it. That’s how I learned HTML. In a message on Yahoo!’s help site, the company said that it would be shuttering Geocities, the free web-hosting service, later this year and will not be accepting any new customers. Existing customers will still be able to access use GeoCities but Yahoo! is encouraging these customers to upgrade to Yahoo!’s paid Web Hosting service. http://geocities.yahoo.com/

GameJump has plenty of great games for phones free for you to download. Just select the type of game you’d like to play or select your phone model from the list, then you get a list of games that you can download. Keep in mind that not all games will work on all phones, and your provider may charge you for the download. Now go and play! http://games.gamejump.com/WhiteLabelWeb/index.htm

<===HuMoR===>
Co-workers sympathized as my mother complained that her back was really sore from moving furniture. “Why don’t you wait till your husband gets home?” someone asked. “I could,” my mother told the group, “but the couch is easier to move if he’s not on it.”
(thanks, Tammy)
+++++++++++++++++++++
My wife and her friend Karen were talking about their labor-saving devices as they pulled into our driveway. Karen said, “I love my new garage-door opener.”
“I love mine too,” my wife replied, and honked the horn three times. That was the signal for me to come out and open the garage.
(thanks, Gene)
+++++++++++++++++++++
I recently returned to work after a year abroad with the Army Reserve. On my first day back, a visitor from headquarters took me aside. “How are you?” he asked, looking concerned. “Do you feel all right?”
“I’m fine,” I replied, nonplussed.
“Great!” he said. “I heard that you were away from work for a year because you were in a wreck.” It took a minute before it dawned on me what he meant.
“Iraq,” I said finally. “I’ve just come back from Iraq.”
(thanks, Derek)
+++++++++++++++++++++
My son, Barry, came home from a three-month deployment aboard his submarine, and told us that one of the ways the sailors kept up morale was to make wooden cars out of kits and run derby races. “What do you do for a ramp?’” my husband inquired.
“Don’t need one,” Barry said. “We just put the cars on the floor and then tilt the sub.”
(thanks, Mary)
====================
And that’s what I ran into on the Web so far, JWL readers. Have a great weekend and I’ll write more next. Til then, may God continue to bless you and keep you safe.

c-ya!
Jim
Jim’s WebLetter
Discover the best of the Web
C-my-site at www.jimonline.com