Tuesday, December 26, 2006

 

Top 50 Mystery Books 41- 50 Black Book Bingo

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41. Firewall by Henning Mankell
Seemingly unrelated acts of violence in the town of Ystad, southern Sweden are part of a conspiracy in cyber terrorism targeted to collapse the world's financial system.

42. Donnie Brasco by Joseph D. Pistone
A thrilling account of FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone working undercover in the Mafia for six years. The book reveals that nothing is honorable or glamorous in the mob. Pistone's extremely dangerous undercover work resulted in over 100 convictions. Amazing that he survived his assignment!

43. A Sight for Sore Eyes by Ruth Rendell
Teddy obsessed with Francine after meeting her at art school, equally vile Julia, Francine's stepmother, a psychologist of such immense and malevolent ineptness, and a bright red, lovingly restored Edsel, which becomes a hearse.

44. Devil's Corner by Lisa Scottoline
Inspired by a real-life drug trafficking case. While Assistant U.S. Attorney Vicki Allegretti is interviewing an informant, he and her partner are shot. Vicki's gutsy investigation of the two deaths leads her to "Devil's Corner", a drug-riddled neighborhood in Philadelphia.

45. Roseanna by Maj Sjowall / Per Wahloo
Written from a left-wing political perspective, the novel portrays the
social and political climate of Sweden in the late 1960s and 1970s. Fortunately, the political propaganda is packaged in intelligent suspense and a plot populated by authentic characters.

46. The Locked Room by Maj Sjowall / Per Wahloo
In this crime novel the police force is understaffed, incompetent and poorly motivated. Their investigation of a series of bank burglaries ends in a pathetic disaster, typical for the social condition in Sweden during the late 1960s.

47. The Bone is Pointed by Arthur W. Upfield
Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte investigates in a world defined by social and cultural tensions between white ranchers and aborigines.

48. The House of Stairs by Barbara Vine
Both Vetch and Sanger became part of the same Sixties clique of young Londoners, centered around an older, wealthy, and foolishly generous woman who was looking for lost youth (and young men). There is an ominous undertone here.

49. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
In a sardonic but gentle tone, with great humor, Death conveys the life of Liesel Meminger, a child of 9 years, living in a foster family with her sarcastic step mother and loving step father. Set in Nazi Germany Liesel is saved by the books she is stealing - and, ultimately, by the one she is writing herself.

50. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
A brutal murder and an unexpected blizzard bring in the vacationing Hercule Poirot. When he determines that the corpse was a renowned child kidnapper/killer, he begins to wonder about connections between the passengers and the victim.

 

Top 50 Mystery Books 31 - 40 Black Book Bingo

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31. Gaudy Nights by Dorothy L. Sayers
Academic life, mixed with vitriolic hate. Harriet Vane, mystery writer and alumna of the College, comes back for the annual Gaudy night, where she receives a note full of hatred. Some time later she is called back by the Dean because the unpleasant events have intensified.

32. The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson
Probably the most chilling and believable first-person story of a criminally warped mind I have ever encountered.

33. Anatomy of a Murder by Robert Traver
Army Lt. Manion has obviously killed tavern owner Barney Quil, the man who allegedly raped his wife. A cunning prosecutor and a determined defense attorney are battling out the convoluted case, with a surprising end.

34. Dark Eyes Of London by Edgar Wallace
Mr. Gordon Stuart has been found drowned in suspicious circumstances. The investigation leads Inspector Holt into a string of exciting adventures and romance.

35. The Rainmaker by John Grisham
The Rainmaker is about a rooky lawyer named Rudy Baylor who just graduated from law school. Not as fast as "The Firm", but much funnier. Grisham's cynical portrayal of big firm lawyers is an excellent look into the real world of law. Also an excellent film by Francis Ford Coppola.

36. The Last Juror by John Grisham
More than a courtroom drama, the Last Juror is the portrait of a small town in Mississippi and its people - including the renegade Padgitt family who is terrorizing the region. Willie Traynor, a long-haired college dropout, launches a crusade in the local newspaper to bring a murderer from the Padgitt family to justice.

37. The Pelican Brief by John Grisham
Two Supreme Court justices are assassinated. Darby Shaw, a second year law student, finds out why. In a brief she points out a possible suspect to her professor. As he gets killed with a car bomb that was obviously intended for her, Darby is on the run.

38. Those Who Walk Away by Patricia Highsmith
Ed, his father-in-law, blames Ray for his daughter's death and tries to kill him. But Ray survives and follows Ed to places all over Venice trying to explain his wife's suicide to the outraged father - seemingly unaware of Ed's unforgiving hate.

39. Absolute Friends by John Le Carré
LeCarré is mad about what he sees as a fraudulent and unnecessary war in Iraq. Ted Mundy is hired by a mysterious benefactor to counter the widespread propaganda on behalf of an Iraqi war. Even if you don't like LeCarré's political slant, his writing is first class.

40. The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
Jason Bourne is dragged from the sea. His identity is unknown, his body is peppered with bullets and his face altered by plastic surgery. He is running for his life, targeted by professional assassins. No other writer comes even close to Ludlum's kaleidoscope of puzzles within puzzles.

 

Top 50 Mystery Books 21- 30 Black Book Bingo

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21. A Dark-adapted Eye by Barbara Vine
A gripping tale of family madness. Vera Hillyard is a domineering and possessive woman who strives for obsessive control over a malicious older son, a youngest son who is--or isn't--illegitimate, and a daughter who is a devoted sister to her younger brother. The daughter secretly seeks to escape Vera's grasp and instead provokes a murder.

22. A Coffin for Dimitrios by Eric Ambler
Dimitrios' corpse has just been fished out of the Bosporus by the police. As the writer sets out to discover Dimitrios' past, someone is stalking him on his trail from Smyrna to Athens to Sofia.

23. Psycho by Robert Bloch
The novel, originally published in 1959, describes the events surrounding the profoundly disturbed motel proprietor Norman Bates.

24. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Philip Marlow. works a case of blackmail in the underbelly of San Francisco, populated by con men, weird ladies, mobsters, cheap sluts, pornographers, gamblers, drunks, and other despicable characters. In this tough world, Marlow is the straight and loyal guy.

25. The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon
In Condon's 1959 Cold War thriller Sgt. Raymond Shaw is brainwashed during his captivity in North Korea. He returns to America programmed to assassinate a U.S. presidential nominee.

26. The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth
Realistic spy fiction. Forsyth didn't bother with fantasy espionage (a la James Bond), but depicted a brutal and nasty world of evildoers. The plot is about an attempt to murder General DeGaulle of France.

27. The Firm by John Grisham
About a law firm controlled by the Mafia. Fast-paced, smart, with believable characters. One of the best legal thrillers on the market.

28. Before the Frost by Henning Mankell
Atmospheric thriller about a religious fanatic on a murder spree. The secret world of religious extremists in peaceful southern Sweden, who are bent on punishing the world's sinners.

29. The French Connection: A True Account of Cops, Narcotics, and International Conspiracy by Robin Moore
Detectives Edward Egan and Salvatore Grosso almost stumble into a case of heroin smuggling that ultimately leads to the seizure of the largest cache of heroin ever picked up in New York. Crime syndicate heads in Canada and France are involved. Movie won 5 Academy Awards.

30. A Judgment in Stone by Ruth Rendell
A researcher studying psychopathic personalities who doesn't recognize that his seemingly shy, harmless neighbor is a total nut job. Judgment finds a police investigator trying to discern why a housekeeper slaughters her employer's entire family on Valentine's Day.

 

Top 50 Mystery Books 11 - 20 Black Book Bingo

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11. Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales and Poems by .Edgar Alan Poe
This Collection of 73 short stories and 48 poems includes such masterpieces as The Fall of the House of Usher, The Purloined Letter, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and Murders in the Rue Morgue.

12. The Lake of Darkness by Ruth Rendell
The seemingly normal benefactors of Martin Urban's altruistic impulses are vicious nut cases. His good intentions become fatally distorted. One of Rendell's best novels.

13. The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
P.I. Philip Marlowe, tries to help war veteran Terry Lennox, whose sex-obsessed wealthy wife has been murdered. When Terry is also murdered, Marlowe becomes entangled in his friend's dirty family secrets. A gripping tale of moral corruption.

14. Ripley's Game by Patricia Highsmith
Dashing murderer Tom Ripley is playing a nasty game of manipulation on an inconspicuous man, leading to murder and revenge. A dark tale.

15. The Godfather by Mario Puzo
With Don Vito Corleone's violent struggle to control the underworld of New York we glimpse into an ancient world of honor and vendetta, Italian family tradition, friendship and loyalty were betrayal is punished with merciless vengeance.

16. The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
Ted Bundy, a most violent sociopath, murderer, and mutilator of women, is the subject of this true-crime book. Ann Rule's chilling account, from the time she unsuspectingly met and worked with the savage slayer to the moment of his death by electrocution in Florida, is one of the greatest books in the true crime genre.

17. Taxi Driver by Paul Schrader
As a taxi driver on night shift he is longing for true love and beauty, which he thinks he has found in Betsy. But their relationship is doomed. In a state of psychotic rage, Travis goes on a murdering rampage.

18. Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow
Turow's first courtroom thriller is one of the best legal fiction novels. A dark twist of events transforms prosecutor Susty Sabich from the accuser to the accused.

19. Murder Down Under by Arthur W. Upfield
Napoleon (Bony) Bonaparte investigates a murder while on vacation in the wheat town of Burracoppin of Western Australia. In the fascinating scenery of the Australian Outback quirky characters will drag you into a complex puzzle.

20. The Bachelors of Broken Hill by Arthur W. Upfield
When elderly bachelors are being poisoned one by one, Bony is sent to Broken Hill to get to the bottom of it. Upfield and Hosking keep listeners guessing until the last minute of this oddly fascinating mystery.

 

Top 50 Mystery Books 1 - 10 Black Book Bingo

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1. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
A masterpiece. Capote invented a new genre.

2. And Then There Were None: A Novel by Agatha Christie
10 strangers are trapped, where the sinister Mr. Owen is accusing them of murder. One by one is found dead, until ... (the resolution of the novel is very different from that of the movie versions).

3. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
In a process of moral decline, the impoverished intellectual robs and kills his pawnbroker. A surprisingly fast-paced story, full of moral dilemmas and psychological thrill. A masterpiece.

4. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
The story is a complex web of betrayal and deception, in which everyone tries to get the gold statuette of a falcon. Sam's masculine strength is refreshing. Also an excellent movie with Humphrey Bogart.

5. Strangers on a Train Patricia Highsmith.
A subtle, murderous, sociopath who lives unsuspected for years, the book is one of the great classics of psychological crime fiction.

6. The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
The chameleon-like Tom is sent by a rich American to retrieve his dilettante son, Dickie Greenleaf, from Italy. When Tom cannot win Dickie over, he kills him and assumes his identity. This is one of the best psycho-thrillers - ever!

7. To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee
The arrest and eventual trial of a young black man accused of raping a white woman, told through the eyes of a child. The result is a tough and tender novel of race, class, justice, and the pain of growing up.

8. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
The story of Frank, a tramp, who is attracted to Cora, the young wife of brutally violent Nick. When Frank and Cora start an affair behind her older man's back, the story is heading for disaster.

9. The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The Novels. Includes: A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle
Many illustrations, some from the novels' original appearances. A must-have for any serious mystery fan.

9. Our Man in Havana: An Entertainment Graham Greene
Mr. Wormold, a vacuum cleaner salesman in a city of power brokers becomes a spy to earn extra income. Unbearable tension, satirical parodies and absurd plot. A masterpiece!

10. The Fifth Woman by Henning Mankell
A series of seemingly unrelated, brutal killings in southern Sweden. Kurt Wallander uncovers the ties that bind these murders to killings in Algeria, many years ago.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

 

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Tangents News and Tips

SIRIUS Satellite Radio to Put Listeners in 'The Driver's Seat' With Exclusive Access to NASCAR Drivers The Driver's Seat, an exclusive daily talk show hosted by veteran broadcaster John Kernan and a roster of current and former NASCAR drivers, debuts on January 1. The Driver's Seat will feature Kernan and a different driver taking calls from listeners, interviewing special guests and discussing the latest news from the world of NASCAR.

 

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Tangents News and Tips

Computer Aided Surgery? After watching surgeons using robotic systems for a while, computer scientists at Johns Hopkins University have decided to borrow ideas from speech recognition research to build what they're calling a 'Language of Surgery'. In speech recognition, basic sounds are called phonemes. For surgery tasks, such as suturing, dissecting and joining tissue, the basic steps have been named 'surgemes.' The mathematical models used by the researchers have several goals: evaluate a surgeon's work and help doctors to improve their operating room skills. They also want to 'enable robotic surgical tools to perform with greater precision.'

 

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Queen Elizabeth II is to podcast her traditional Christmas message to the Commonwealth for the first time, Buckingham Palace said. The decision to release a podcast version, alongside the traditional television and radio broadcasts, is an apt illustration of the theme of the 80-year-old's message this Christmas. "The queen's broadcast this year focuses on the relationship between different generations, what old and young have to offer each other, how all faiths highlight the need to nurture and guide young people, and to encourage respect for elderly people," her Buckingham Palace official residence said Thursday. Despite her age, Queen Elizabeth is no stranger to modern technology -- she bought an iPod last year and her second son Prince Andrew gave her a mobile phone and taught her how to use it in 2001.

 

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See how well you would do on the current citizenship test with these sample questions. And for an added challenge, try some questions from the pilot test.

1. What are the colors of the U.S. flag?

2. What do the stars on the flag mean?

3. Independence Day celebrates independence from whom?

All the questions and answers!

 

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Win $100 Amazon.com GC Find all five Santas hiding on KPTV.com, and then enter our contest below and list where you found them. Of those who correctly find all five Santas, one winner will be selected at random to receive a $100 gift certificate to Amazon.com! through Dec. 25, 2006. click here.

Win a trip for two to Cancun, Mexico! Every day until Christmas, KOAT.com is offering clues about a specific vacation destination. During the week of Dec. 26, you can guess the destination by entering their contest. all the clues

Your recipe could win you $5,000! click here valid thru Dec 29

Win a new Zero Halliburton Luggage set and Travel Voucher!. Enter Zero Halliburton's holiday sweepstakes: looking for the worst travel story in 200 words or less! valid thru Dec. 31, 2006 here

 

Why kiss under mistletoe? Bingo Player Network

Why kiss under mistletoe? Bingo Player Network

Why we kiss under mistletoe

Kissing under the mistletoe is thought to have evolved from the Roman winter solstice festival of Saturnalia and marriage rites. The plant was said to bestow the gift of fertility. In Scandinavia mistletoe was regarded as a plant of peace that would help enemies resolve their conflict or warring spouses kiss and settle their differences. Tradition also has it that mistletoe should be burned on the twelfth night in case all the boys and girls who have kissed under it never marry. Those who want to ensure they get the etiquette correct should remember that men are meant to pluck berries when they kiss a woman under mistletoe and once the last one is gone the frolics should stop.

More Pagan roots of the winter solstice: What is a Yule Log? Why holly? Why Christmas trees?

 

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eBay Watch: Holiday Online Shopping

US Holiday Shopping Hits $20.65 Billion ComScore Networks has revealed that holiday online spending reached $20.65 billion as of Monday night, a full 25% growth Y/Y. This is up from previous estimates because this past weekend saw a surge of shopping procrastinators lured with extended shipping guarantees.

Unwanted Gifts Sold On EBay First, more than 57% of us will receive at least one unwanted gift. Second, 69% percent of us think re-gifting is socially acceptable. Third, 34% of us actually plan to rid ourselves of unwanted gifts this year. Finally, 14% of us will actually get rid of unwanted gifts on EBAY. If this survey is accurate and assuming a US population of 300 million, does this mean that 42 million additional items are coming EBAY's way in January?

 

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Elvis Piano Expected To Sell For Millions What would it take to have the King's piano on your parlor? Jelladian said he expects the instrument to fetch more than $2 million. Elvis in 1957, the year he bought a piano – now on the auction block – with an already impressive pedigree, having been played by W.C. Handy, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Cab Calloway. Presley's piano is being auctioned by FreeSell.com and the new owner will be announced on Christmas Eve. "We're getting people contacting us from all over the world," Jelladian said. "We've gotten e-mails from Japan."

Elvis Presley's Last Remaining Song to Be Auctioned on eBay Jan. 19th, 2007 Songwriter Paul Terry King (co- author of the last known song composed but never released by Elvis) is now auctioning off his copyrighted interest to the song titled, "Just Like Rollin' Up Hill" (registered under Elvis Presley's BMI work number 7600186 on BMI.com). The song will be available to the public for auction on eBay Jan. 19th, 2007. Bid opens at $10,000 at 5 PM PST. To listen to song, press inquiries, etc., go to http://www.elvissong.info/ or contact eBay powerseller Mike Waters.

Elvis' Wedding Ring up for Auction. The diamond and platinum wedding ring is set to be auctioned off to the highest bidder when it goes under the hammer in Hollywood. The wedding ring, which is decorated with eight baguette-cut diamonds within a border of 16 diamonds, is expected to fetch between $100,000 and $150,000.

Friday, December 22, 2006

 

Human Rights, Conspiracy Theory and Environmentalism articles: Casino Player Network

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Human Rights, Conspiracy Theory and Environmentalism articles:

Mysterious rings found at tomb of Chinese only empress Chinese archaeologists have found a group of huge rings at the site of the 1,300-year-old tomb of Wu Zetian, China's only empress, but they are unable to explain their existence. At least 10 rings appeared on aerial photographs

Pagan roots run deep beneath our Christmas rituals It is not clear exactly when the celebration of Advent was first introduced into the Church, but some theories suggest it is related to the feast of the winter solstice that was dear to our pagan ancestors.

Two chimpanzees return to sanctuary Two chimpanzees who have appeared on numerous movies and TV shows have been removed from a San Bernardino ranch and will be retired to Florida. The chimps named Sable and Cody should arrive in New Mexico today. A third chimp, Angel, will be directly shipped to Florida.

Too Mellow For Our Predatory World: Flight Behavior Of Marine Iguanas Marine iguanas on the Galapagos Islands live without predators - at least this was the case up until 150 years ago. Since then they have been confronted with cats and dogs on some islands of the Archipelago. For scientists, they are therefore a suitable model of study in order to discover if such generally tame animals are capable of adapting their behavior and endocrine stress response to novel predation threats.

 

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Human Rights, Conspiracy Theory and Environmentalism news:

First Ladies Will Be Golden For the first time, the U.S. Mint is dedicating a series of coins to the accomplishments of women -- the nation's first ladies.

Bomb hoax rocks Christian radio Staff at Radio Pelita Kasih, which airs religious songs and Christian teachings, received a bomb threat early Saturday morning via a text message from an unknown number. The police and bomb squad swept the station's building, located inside the Suara Pembaruan office in Jl. Dewi Sartika, East Jakarta.

Teenager jailed for killing to impress his friends Care worker Charles Anokye was knifed at a Brixton nightclub A member of a notorious street gang has been jailed for life after stabbing a care worker to death in an attempt to impress his friends. Anwar Hussain, 17, part of the Muslim Boys gang, knifed care worker Charles Anokye at a Brixton nightclub after the victim had accidentally hit another gang member with his drink bottle, the Old Bailey heard.

Trafficking in human beings US State Department data “estimated 600,000 to 800,000 men, women, and children (are) trafficked across international borders each year, approximately 80 percent are women and girls and up to 50 percent are minors. The data also illustrate that the majority of transnational victims are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation.” Due to the illegal nature of trafficking and differences in methodology, the exact extent is unknown.

 

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Too Mellow For Our Predatory World: Flight Behavior Of Marine Iguanas

Science Daily — Marine iguanas on the Galapagos Islands live without predators - at least this was the case up until 150 years ago. Since then they have been confronted with cats and dogs on some islands of the Archipelago. For scientists, they are therefore a suitable model of study in order to discover if such generally tame animals are capable of adapting their behavior and endocrine stress response to novel predation threats.

Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, the University of Ulm Tufts University and Princeton University were able to show that the stress response induced by corticosterone (CORT) is absent in predator-naïve animals but can be fully restored with experience. However, as the researchers found out, the flight distance of the reptiles does not sufficiently increase, which limits their ability to successfully escape from newly introduced predators (Proceedings of the Royal Society B, FirstCite Early Online Publishing December 2006).

Who of us has not dreamt of living on an island? Apparently, island life has certain advantages. This is also true for the marine iguanas. For millions of years they have lived without natural predators. In the course of evolution they have become excessively tame. Hundreds of reptiles doze, spread-eagled, on black lava rocks, soaking up the sun - behavior that would be unthinkable in an environment with predators, where reptiles are persistently exposed to the threat of being devoured by others.

full article

 

Two chimpanzees return to sanctuary Casino Player Network

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Two chimpanzees return to sanctuary

Two chimpanzees who have appeared on numerous movies and TV shows have been removed from a San Bernardino ranch and will be retired to Florida.

The chimps named Sable and Cody should arrive in New Mexico today. A third chimp, Angel, will be directly shipped to Florida.

The trio have appeared in numerous productions, including T-V's "That 70s Show" and "The Craig Kilborn Show" and the upcoming movie "Evan Almighty."

The chimps were raised from a young age by trainer Sid Yost, who runs Amazing Animal Productions.

Last year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund and other groups sued Yost in federal court. They allege Yost beat the chimps with sticks, used an electric shock stick on them and punched, taunted and intimidated the animals.

Yost did not acknowledge any wrongdoing in the settlement. He says he can't reveal details of the settlement, but has denied abusing the animals.

Sable and Cody will live in New Mexico, where they have relatives, for a period of adjustment.

The plan eventually is for them to rejoin Angel in a Florida sanctuary that houses dozens of primates on a series of islands.

 

Our Pagan roots run deep Casino Player Network

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Pagan roots run deep beneath our Christmas rituals

It is not clear exactly when the celebration of Advent was first introduced into the Church, but some theories suggest it is related to the feast of the winter solstice that was dear to our pagan ancestors....a remnant from our sun-worshipping past.

In fact, all the religious feasts around the winter solstice seem to combine elements of the sacred and “profane” – even Christmas itself...

Linguists agree that Karácsony comes from the Slavic word korcun, which means “passage” and refers to the passing of the winter solstice, and the beginning of a new cycle.

Ancient midwinter festivals may well have guided the choice of the December date: in the late Roman Empire, people marked Natalis Invicti or Sol Invuctus (“the Unconquered Sun”) at the winter solstice, to celebrate the fact that the darkest days were over and the hours of sunlight were again increasing.

For Romans, Dec 17 also marked the start of the great Saturnalia festival, commemorating the dedication of the temple of the god Saturn....the Yule feast celebrated at this time by Norse and German pagans.

The most important evidence of these relics from the old sun-worshipping religions is to be found nowadays in Luca’s Day. Celebrated in many cultures all over the world, Luca’s Day in Hungary is known as the most important feast of the witches, after St George’s Day.

It cannot be accidental the Church set the Day of St Lucia, or St Lucy, on Dec 13. Before the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar in 1582, it fell on Dec 21, the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year... St Lucia was a virgin martyr who, according to one legend, withstood such extremes of torture that she was suspected of being a witch, and so was ultimately burnt to death – but perished only after completing a final prayer.

HUNGARIAN FOLK CUSTOM

There is also a tradition of starting to build a so-called Luca’s Chair on Dec 13, and to add a little bit each day so that it is ready in exactly 12 days, on Dec 25. At Christmas midnight mass, the person who sits on the chair can supposedly see through disguises and reveal the witches that are hiding in the community.

Besides revealing witches – who tradition warns might “steal” the cow’s milk, the chicken’s eggs, or put a spell on people – it is very common on Luca’s Day to start trying to guess the identity of one’s future husband.

Girls make 12 cakes, with a man’s name in each, and they eat one every day – their future husband’s name will be the one contained in the last remaining cake.

Luca’s Day symbolizes the rebirth of nature: the partial end of the old world, and the beginning of the new. Very similar to the old pagan solar rituals, it is a feast that holds the promise of new life. The 12 days from Luca’s Day to Christmas can even be seen as a micro-year: from the events of these days, Hungarians forecast how the following year’s months will be.

 

Mysterious rings at tomb of Chinese empress Casino Player Network

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Mysterious rings at tomb of Chinese empress

Chinese archaeologists have found a group of huge rings at the site of the 1,300-year-old tomb of Wu Zetian, China's only empress, but they are unable to explain their existence.

At least 10 rings appeared on aerial photographs taken by experts from the Xi'an Preservation and Restoration Center of Cultural Relics and Qianling Museum in a survey of Qianling.

Most of the rings were 30 to 40 meters in diameter and were in a zone four kilometers long from east to west and two kilometers from south to north, said Qin Jianming, a researcher with the center.

The most eye-catching was the largest ring, with the diameter of 110 meters sited in fields, he said.

Qin said the foundation of the largest ring was three meters thick, and the color was distinctly darker than the fields. Three quarters of the ring were clearly visible, despite being broken by a footpath.

"At first we believed the rings were atmospheric phenomena caused by lights, but after analysis and comparison with previous aerial photos, we are sure they are historic remains," he said.

Located 80 kilometers northwest of the ancient city of Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Qianling is the joint tomb of Wu Zetian, who ruled for 50 years, and her husband, Emperor Li Zhi of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

It is the only tomb in China which contains the bodies of two rulers. Wu Zetian was buried in the tomb 22 years after her husband.

Qianling is the best preserved ancient tomb in China and has not been looted.

The researchers conducted a ground search for the rings three to five kilometers from Lianshan mountain range, which was the territory of Qianling, and they were difficult to see from the ground.

"The layout of the rings seems irregular and some are no longer intact. We are assuming there were more rings in the past, but they have eroded due to geographical conditions and human activities," said Qin.

Despite searches of historical records, the researchers still have no idea of the purpose of the rings or their relation with the tombs.

"Based on our experience, we assume they were tunnels built in ancient times," said Qin.

However, the center of the largest ring was an excavated tomb belonging to a ruler of the Yan State in the Tang Dynasty, which was a subsidiary tomb of Qianling, but it was uncertain if the ring was part of the tomb, said Fan Yingfeng, head of the Qianling Museum.

"Human activities in that area began in New Stone Age. Emperor Qin Shihuang built a palace there and rebellious forces in late Tang Dynasty occupied the area as well," he said.

Experts said the discovery indicated there might be more historic relics yet to be discovered in the Qianling area.

 

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Dress the dinner table to impress -The more gold you introduce, the more sumptuous the look will be.

10 Last Minute Decorating Ideas for Christmas

Create a glam illusion by piling on fabulously wrapped packages under the tree, on chairs against the wall or on a sideboard.

How to decorate your home Decorate to a theme.

Christmas color combinations help you create a beautiful, festive space

 

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Impressive table dressing B directory Good Time Bingo

Last Minute Decorating Ideas for Christmas

1. Grab some colored candles. Red and green are always ideal choices, but you also can never go wrong with classic ivory. Floating candles are also great for the holidays. Fill a glass bowl with water (add green food coloring for a festive effect) then simply float these special candles right on top!

2. Large bows never fail to impress.

3. Hang a wreath on the door. Making your own

4. Grab some decorative knickknacks from your local discount store. A well-chosen decorative piece or three can add an instant dash of color, personality and style.

5. Display Christmas plates/dishes. Dining has never been more festive or fun!

6. Place glass bowls or jars filled with candies around your home for a cute look and something for your guests to enjoy.

7. Make a quick table centerpiece with a chunky, tall candle wrapped with evergreen garland at the base.

8. Display Christmas cards on a shelf or even hang them on the wall as artwork.

9. Toss a seasonally themed fancy throw over the arm of a chair or sofa. A pillow with a holiday needlepoint motif lends a festive note.

10. Natural greenery, decorated bare boughs, flowers and pot plants, fruit and nuts, suitably presented, take a lot of beating.

 

Last Minute Christmas Ideas B directory Good Time Bingo

Last Minute Christmas Ideas B directory Good Time Bingo:

Last Minute Decorating Ideas for Christmas

1. Grab some colored candles. Red and green are always ideal choices, but you also can never go wrong with classic ivory. Floating candles are also great for the holidays. Fill a glass bowl with water (add green food coloring for a festive effect) then simply float these special candles right on top!

2. Large bows never fail to impress.

3. Hang a wreath on the door. Making your own

4. Grab some decorative knickknacks from your local discount store. A well-chosen decorative piece or three can add an instant dash of color, personality and style.

5. Display Christmas plates/dishes. Dining has never been more festive or fun!

6. Place glass bowls or jars filled with candies around your home for a cute look and something for your guests to enjoy.

7. Make a quick table centerpiece with a chunky, tall candle wrapped with evergreen garland at the base.

8. Display Christmas cards on a shelf or even hang them on the wall as artwork.

9. Toss a seasonally themed fancy throw over the arm of a chair or sofa. A pillow with a holiday needlepoint motif lends a festive note.

10. Natural greenery, decorated bare boughs, flowers and pot plants, fruit and nuts, suitably presented, take a lot of beating.

 

Add GLAM B directory Good Time Bingo

Add GLAM B directory Good Time Bingo

PILE ON THE GLAM

Create a glam illusion by piling on fabulously wrapped packages under the tree, on chairs against the wall or on a sideboard.

Even the simplest ideas can be carried off with a flourish. A metallic sheer embossed ribbon, snaked through a woven wicker pet basket, is a thoughtful decoration.

Dazzling materials might include a table skirt, one you might easily make yourself. Choose a sequined or glittery fabric, enough to cover a table. A no-sew option is to cut it to size (allowing for a little puddle), drape it over the tabletop and turn under the raw edges.

Check out wearable velvet or embellished scarves, which might double as runners or throws for small tables.

 

Decorate home B directory Good Time Bingo

Decorate home B directory Good Time Bingo

How to decorate your home

Decorate to a theme. Take a color or shape and build your decorations around it. Baskets can look stunning filled with seasonally flowers or fruit, hung in groups from corners, light fittings or in front of windows.

If you are short on ideas, have a look at what the department stores are doing this year. Generally, these professional displays look very expensive.

Look closer, however, and you'll probably find they have been made from inexpensive materials put together with flair.

To decorate fruit bowls cover some fruit with foil or colored tissue. If you don't have sufficient bowls, cover an old flower pot or box, with wrapping.

Candles have a festive quality, especially red and green ones. Make your own candle displays on a saucer with the candle and other decorations set in oasis.

Include sprigs of holly or pine, artificial or dried flowers and the odd ribbon, assembled round the base of the candle so both oasis and saucer are concealed. They can look professional and expensive, as well as attractive.

In all your displays, don't overlook the usefulness of pine cones, grasses, bare branches and drift wood. But do remember to be careful with lit candles.

Choose your Christmas tree with care. Natural trees are lovely but the needles will start to drop in the warmth of the home. Artificial trees last for ever and retain their built-in good looks.

 

Christmas Color Combinations B directory Good Time Bingo

Christmas Color Combinations B directory Good Time Bingo

Christmas color combinations to help you create a beautiful, festive space:

* Timeless Elegance - create a luxurious, elegant space using the warm combination of ivory and gold accents.

* Dramatic - combine black, red and silver to create a bold look. Black candles with silver accents make a dramatic statement. Use a metal cardholder to elegantly and neatly display your holiday cards.

* Handcrafted Christmas - classic holiday colors like red, green and gold mixed with vintage style characters and natural elements create a country theme.

* Whimsy - Start with a berry topiary for the table and feature snowmen and other holiday characters throughout the house. Oversized stockings add some merriment to your holiday decor.

* Mrs. Wonderland - turn your home into a winter wonderland using white and silver. Add pink accents, such as flowers and butterflies and feathered decorations.

* King's Jewels - combine burgundy and gold to create a majestic space. Add rich textures by choosing a dark tree skirt and stockings. Oversized gold tree decorations and exotic shapes, like jeweled elephants and crowns, bring the eye to your grand Christmas tree.

* Ice Fantasy - create a contemporary look using a non-traditional accent colour. Use cool blue and silver to bring the magic of Christmas into your home and add violet accents to complete the look.

* Focal point - Create a centerpiece by placing a variety of silver and purple-hued holiday decorations in a clear bowl.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

 

I directory Good Time Bingo

I directory Good Time Bingo

TWICE-BAKED POTATO CASSEROLE Makes 10 to 12 servings 8 medium baking potatoes, about 4 pounds

2006 Cookie Book features favorite recipes from books dating back to 1939 and includes helpful energy efficiency and safety tips.

 

Twice-Baked Casserole I directory Good Time Bingo

Twice-Baked Casserole I directory Good Time Bingo

TWICE-BAKED POTATO CASSEROLE
Makes 10 to 12 servings

8 medium baking potatoes, about 4 pounds
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 pint sour cream
2 cups (1/2 pound) shredded sharp cheddar cheese (divided use)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup chopped chives, for garnish
6 slices bacon, cooked crisp, drained and crumbled, for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pierce potatoes and place on baking pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until very soft.

Peel and mash potatoes in large bowl with potato masher or back of fork. Add cream cheese, butter, sour cream and 1 cup of cheddar. Stir well. Add garlic, salt and pepper, and stir again.

Spray a 13- by 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place potato mixture in dish, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate casserole until ready to bake.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees, remove plastic wrap and bake casserole for 30 to 35 minutes until hot. Sprinkle remaining 1cup cheddar over casserole and return to oven for about 5 minutes, until cheese melts. Garnish with chopped chives and crumbled bacon before serving.

Each serving contains approximately 446 calories (59 percent of calories from fat), 30 grams total fat (18 grams saturated fat), 81 milligrams cholesterol, 615 milligrams sodium, 3 grams fiber, 36 grams carbohydrates, 11 grams protein..

Paula Deen must love holidays. In her new cookbook, "Paula Deen Celebrates! Best Dishes and Best Wishes for the Best Times of Your Life", she dreams up menus for some holidays that aren't even on most official calendars.

 

Cookie Book I directory Good Time Bingo

Cookie Book I directory Good Time Bingo

2006 Cookie Book

We Energies is releasing its 2006 Cookie Book in time for the holiday season.

For nearly 80 years, the company's Cookie Book has been a holiday season tradition.

The first Cookie Book was published in 1928.

"We hear countless stories from people who have a history of collecting the Cookie Book and include the recipes in their family celebrations," said Joan Shafer, vice president of customer service for We Energies. "We are delighted to publish the Cookie Book this year so our customers will be able to continue these rich traditions."

The 2006 edition features favorite recipes from books dating back to 1939 and includes helpful energy efficiency and safety tips. Customers can pick up a free copy of the book at several distribution events throughout the area. For additional information, visit www.we-energies.com/recipes

.

 

N directory Good Time Bingo

N directory Good Time Bingo

N Directory

Fun Creative New Year's invitations Are you thinking about New Year's already?

Decorating your home with candles Insert tall, slim tapers in a window box filled with herbs or other greenery.

 

Creative New Years Invitations N directory Good Time Bingo

Creative New Years Invitations N directory Good Time Bingo

Fun Creative New Year's invitations
Are you thinking about New Year's already?

Print out strips of paper that say something clever like, "Come to our New Year's Eve party." Uncurl one of those iconic paper noisemakers and glue your message on the inside. You can put more party details on the back of the noisemaker or on a separate card.

 

Candle Creativity N directory Good Time Bingo

Candle Creativity N directory Good Time Bingo

Creative ideas for decorating your home with candles

Insert tall, slim tapers in a window box filled with herbs or other greenery. By day, the box in a sunny window is a reminder of warmer months to come. By night, the tapers add a glow for all the neighborhood to see. (Watch to make sure the candles don't burn too low.)

Create an arrangement on a table or mantel by putting candles inside unusual bottles and jars. Votives shine in canning jars, for example, while narrow-necked bottles make ideal stands for tapers. Mixing up the bottle shapes and colors adds interest.

Light a stairway by putting a pillar candle in a glass container on each stair. Use kitchen string to attach an autumn leaf or clump of bittersweet to the outside of each jar, but you could do the same thing with paper snowflakes, simple ornaments and other holiday stuff.

 

G directory Good Time Bingo

G directory Good Time Bingo

G Directory
 
Safety Tips for Cooks Preparing the Holiday Table When you're entertaining guests this holiday season, remember the two-hour rule to help prevent food-borne illnesses.

Home fires  December, January and February are the three most dangerous months for fire deaths.

 

Food Safety G directory Good Time Bingo

Food Safety G directory Good Time Bingo

Safety Tips for Cooks Preparing the Holiday Table

When you're entertaining guests this holiday season, remember the two-hour rule to help prevent food-borne illnesses.

"Two hours is really about as long as any kind of food needs to be setting out. After that, it should be refrigerated," Laura Palmer, a registered dietitian and cooperative extension service specialist in food and nutrition at Purdue University, said in a prepared statement.

"I think people make the food and then get so involved with their families that they forget to clean up and put things away," she said.

Palmer offered the following holiday food safety tips:

Be careful at buffets. Certain foods, such as deli meats, seafood, and cheeses and dips made with dairy products, need to be chilled. If you believe a food item isn't being served or stored properly, don't eat it.
When preparing food, avoid cross contamination. Wipe down countertops and other surfaces with hot water and detergent or bleach after preparing any type of raw meat. Don't chop no-cook items, such as raw vegetables or cheeses, near preparation areas for meats.
Be aware that many cutting boards have porous surfaces that can harbor germs.
Use food thermometers to cook food to proper internal temperature.
When reheating leftovers, be sure food is heated to 165 degrees F.
Wash your hands often during food preparation and when eating. Something as seemingly harmless as answering the phone can spread germs that can make people ill.

 

Home Fires G directory Good Time Bingo

Home Fires G directory Good Time Bingo

Home fires

It’s nice to keep the home fires burning during Christmas, but during the season there is an increased risk for potentially fatal fires, according to the Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Each year, holiday related fires injured nearly 2,600 people nationwide, causing more than $930 million in damage.

December, January and February are the three most dangerous months for fire deaths.

Christmas tree fires account for more than 200 fires annually, resulting in an average of six deaths, 25 injuries and $6 million in damages.

Virginia State Fire Marshal Ed Alitzer encourages the public to use caution to prevent fires caused by Christmas trees, lights, decorations and candles.

“Just cut” trees, which are less flammable, should have fresh, green needles and a trunk that is sticky to the touch. Once home, cut an additional two inches off the trunk to allow for optimal water absorption.

Trees should be kept away from fireplaces and heating vents and in tree stands filled with water.

The fire marshal also recommends inspecting lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, insulation gaps, broken or cracked sockets or excessive wear. It is unsafe to link more than three light strands together or to leave lights plugged in when leaving the house or going to bed.

Never put wrapping paper in the fireplace, the fire marshal advises, and make sure candles are placed in stable holders and set in places where they cannot easily be knocked down.

Finally, after holiday parties, it’s a good idea to check on, between and under couch cushions for smoldering cigarettes.

According to the fire marshal, December, January and February are the three most dangerous months for fire deaths.

 

O directory Good Time Bingo

O directory Good Time Bingo

O Directory

Hot Chocolate with a kick: chili for a sharp spark on your tongue, ginger for a slow burn in your throat, and even wasabi for a little tingle in your nose.

In Paula Deen's new cookbook, "Paula Deen Celebrates! Best Dishes and Best Wishes for the Best Times of Your Life", she dreams up menus for some holidays that aren't even on most official calendars.

Celebrate Christmas in Style! - Click here to Download FREE Celebrating Christmas PDF Magazine. Packed with illustrated articles on holiday recipes, crafts, home decor, party planning tips, gift ideas and family fun activities for Christmas.

 

Hot Chocolate with a kick O directory Good Time Bingo

Hot Chocolate with a kick O directory Good Time Bingo

Chocolates with a kick: chili for a sharp spark on your tongue, ginger for a slow burn in your throat, and even wasabi for a little tingle in your nose. Add to cocoa the warming effects and other health benefits of spices, and you come up with an surprisingly healthy ancient brew.

Central and South Americans began adding chiles to liquid chocolate thousands of years ago, when the so-called "food of the gods" was reserved for warriors, nobility and priests to promote vitality and wisdom, and for use as an aphrodisiac.

And recent research seems to uphold these old beliefs. Capsaicin, the chemical in chiles that makes them spicy, also acts as a pain reliever by increasing the production of endorphins and even boosts metabolism, according a July article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Ginger, which can be found in crystallized form in dark or white chocolate, is also used to get blood pumping.

The root, which is often used in herbal preparations for digestive aids and cold treatments, may also have blood-thinning and cholesterol-lowering properties, as well as antibacterial, analgesic and sedative effects.

Wasabi, hailing from Japanese horseradish, kills ulcer-causing stomach bacteria and may even prevent tooth decay, according to a South Korean study.

Chocolate for your health

Plain old cocoa, which is derived from dried and fermented cacao tree beans, is shown to boost energy and mood. It also kicks up levels of endorphins, the body's stress-relieving hormones, and the mood-regulating neurotransmitter serotonin.

In addition, some of the roughly 380 different chemicals found in chocolate even benefit the digestive system, researchers claim.

Phytosterols -- found in chocolate as well as a number of plants -- help reduce cholesterol absorption in the intestines. And according to the National Institutes of Health, other ingredients in dark chocolate can lower blood pressure in the elderly and may even reduce insulin sensitivity.

Recent studies have also showed that flavonoids (which are found in dark chocolate as well as red wine, tea, fruits and vegetables) support cardiovascular health by keeping cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels, reducing overall levels of bad cholesterol associated with hardening of the arteries; and lower the risk of blood clots that can lead to a heart attack or stroke, according to researchers at the University of California in San Francisco.

 

Paula Deen Celebrates! G directory Good Time Bingo

Paula Deen Celebrates! G directory Good Time Bingo

Paula Deen must l-o-o-o-ve holidays

In her new cookbook, "Paula Deen Celebrates! Best Dishes and Best Wishes for the Best Times of Your Life", she dreams up menus for some holidays that aren't even on most official calendars.

Take Elvis Presley's birthday, which is Jan. 8. The main dish here is Country-Fried Steak With Gravy, White Rice, Country Cabbage and Buttermilk Biscuits. Dessert is, of course, good ol' Nanner Puddin'. And as a bonus, Paula throws in a recipe for the King's fave, a Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich.

How many of us whip up a special meal for Presidents Day? Paula does, but mostly her menu featuring Oyster-Stuffed Quail is just a good excuse to celebrate her friendship with former president and fellow Southern-food fan Jimmy Carter, who has twice been a guest on her Food Network cooking show.

St. Patrick's with Paula brings us Irish Lamb Stew, Parmesan Scones and Green Grits Pie ("a taste very similar to chess pie"). This meal is served with a side dish consisting entirely of two cans of LeSueur peas, half a stick of melted butter, and salt and pepper.

Paula's Twice-Baked Potato Casserole is part of her Christmas dinner menu, which starts with a beef main course.

 

Featured Experts Beattie, Melody Bingo Personals Network

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Beattie, Melody
Codependent No More:
How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring For Yourself

Everyone can see your downward spiral - but you. For weeks, months, you've been pulling back from family and friends, lying to protect your loved one, putting on a brave face, all the while silently raging at the emotional, psychological and financial toll your partner has had on you; you've become a caretaker, a control freak, obsessive, whiny, distrusting, manipulative, bitter and implacable. You feel empty and wonder, perhaps, if you're losing your mind. It's hard to do simple things, like get out of bed. Life once held so much hope, but now it's gone. You wonder where the love went, but you're too weak, and hurt, to let go and move on. Your staying only making things worse.

Beattie says your partner may be a substance abuser, gambler, sex addict, or any other kind of troubled or needy person, it doesn't matter. There's no question their behavior is highly destructive - but so is yours. Your habits and reactions to your situation are allowing it to persist while sabotaging the most important person in your life, the only person you can change - you.

Beattie helps readers identify the characteristics of codependency. Her advice
includes, for example, how to care for yourself by redefining boundaries of respect and giving, refusing to participate in the drama your partner creates, seeking counseling and taking action to change your situation, not just talking about it.

She offers thoughtful, much-needed insight and a path to healing, to help restore faith in the power of love - which begins with self-love.

link to read excerpts

 

vWhen It Comes to a Search for a Spouse, Supply and Demand Is Only the Start Bingo Personals Network

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Author Article: Frank, Robert

When It Comes to a Search for a Spouse, Supply and Demand Is Only the Start

...A friend of his had complained about the inherent perversity of the relationship scene. “Why is it,” she wondered, “that the men I fall in love with are never interested in me, whereas I never feel attracted to the ones who fall for me?” Because my colleague knew this woman well, he felt free to respond candidly. “It’s simple,” he explained. “You’re an 8 constantly chasing after 10s and constantly being chased by 6s.” His friend later confessed that this one-sentence analysis had proved more useful than several years of expensive psychotherapy.

click here for the whole column

 

Featured Experts Frank, Robert H. Bingo Personals Network

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Frank, Robert H. “Passions Within Reason: The Strategic Role of the Emotions.”, an economist at the Johnson School at Cornell University.

Frank asks: why to people help others, and retaliate against others who harm them, even when they can expect no future personal, material gain from so doing? His answer is that there are emotional rewards to helping those who deserve our aid and hurting others who deserve our ire. Our behavior towards others is regulated by the passions: empathy, spite, shame, remorse, guilt, compassion, and the other social emotions.

link to read excerpts

 

Featured Experts: Katz, Elliott Bingo Personals Network

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Katz, Elliott Being the Strong Man A Woman Wants

This is a beautiful story of a man in a rocky marriage who seeks advice from his grandfather, a wedded man of 50 years. It may appear to subscribe to old notions of manhood and chivalry, with chapters like "Leadership," "Being manly" and "Making decisions." But, really, what man - sensitive New Age guy or not - doesn't want to be a hero to his partner?

This book offers timeless wisdom about what it means to be a real man: One who has a backbone, knows what he wants, can make decisions and take charge (without controlling), has high moral standards, is a model for his children, and someone his mate can look up to. I think it applies equally to women.

"When you believe you're entitled to being treated well, you won't accept anything less. If you wait until things are very bad, it means you've set the limit too low."

And that's true strength, the kind that leads love into the light, into a soul-affirming dance of life.

Links to read the excerpts

 

Making Friends in a New Place? Bingo Personals Network

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Making Friends in a New Place?

Try starting a "Friendly Neighbors Club"

For the past 50 years, a group of women have converged at each others' homes to visit, play games such as bingo and eat homemade sandwiches and sweets.

click here for the whole column

 

Stressed This Christmas? Bingo Personals Network

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Stressed This Christmas?
advice from www.relate.org.nz a relationship service from New Zealand

Make time to relax with those you love. That's one of the suggestions from
Relationship Services to reduce the stresses of the Christmas season...In some instances tension turns to violence. Over December and January last year the police attended nearly 11,000 instances of reported family violence in New Zealand.

click here for the whole

 

To send cards or not to send cards? Bingo Personals Network

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To send cards or not to send cards?

It's a labor of love. The pleasant little thud of holiday mail Today, the exchange of Christmas cards is an annual affirmation of important personal connections.
click here for the whole column

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

 

New pages digest on Bingo Classified Network

Bingo Classified Network Where to play online bingo!

Generous and Big-Hearted People
US businessman honors country's fallen with Christmas wreaths Every December for the past 14 years, Morrill Worcester loads a truck with thousands of Christmas wreaths and drives to Arlington National Cemetery near the US capital to honor the country's fallen. With the help of volunteers he lays some 5,000 of the ornaments decorated with a simple red bow on the headstones of war heroes buried in an older part of the cemetery that receives few visitors. "It's the least I can do because of what they've all done for us," Worcester, 56, who owns a wreaths company in the eastern state of Maine told AFP in a telephone interview. more
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Santa Claus and the nasty rumor
I hope this is a true story. I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her. On the way my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!" My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true. more
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Generous and Big-Hearted People
Retired teacher serves coffee and a smile If commuters board NJ Transit trains at Little Silver's rail station with a bit of a smile on their faces in the morning, it could be due to the work of Mary Ann Ferrara. Ferrara, a retired school teacher from Sea Bright who commuted by train daily to Hoboken, feels their pain. For the past three years, she's served up coffee, a friendly remark, trivia questions, seasonal decorations and sometimes a little therapy at Java Junction, the coffee stand she runs inside the station.
Her patrons aren't passing customers — she calls them her "commuter family" and "commuter friends." If riders here are a family, Ferrara might be their den mother. Commuters said Ferrara's shop puts some levity in their day. more
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Solstice a time to reflect on winter gardens - winter reading

Observe the winter solstice. This day marks the beginning of winter and has the shortest period of daylight. In the northeast they seem to be experiencing global warming first hand, perhaps there should be a change in our attitudes toward this fourth season and what, as gardeners, we should expect and attempt, perhaps the landscape should no longer be ignored for four months out of every year. more
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Generous and Big-Hearted People
Heir to oil fortune spreads Christian teaching via her own radio show
June Hunt talks to callers Five times a week, June Hunt goes to a Dallas broadcast studio, staying until 1 a.m., taking calls from troubled souls across America on her Christian radio program, Hope in the Night. As an heir to the Hunt Oil Co. fortune, June Hunt could be doing almost anything she wants, or nothing at all. more
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THE MOST AND THE GREATEST The most destructive habit.........Worry
The greatest joy..........Giving
The greatest loss.........Loss of respect
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Retired teacher serves coffee / smile *Bingo Classified Network

Bingo Classified Network Where to play online bingo!

Retired teacher serves coffee and a smile

If commuters board NJ Transit trains at Little Silver's rail station with a bit of a smile on their faces in the morning, it could be due to the work of Mary Ann Ferrara.

Ferrara, a retired school teacher from Sea Bright who commuted by train daily to Hoboken, feels their pain. For the past three years, she's served up coffee, a friendly remark, trivia questions, seasonal decorations and sometimes a little therapy at Java Junction, the coffee stand she runs inside the station.

Her patrons aren't passing customers — she calls them her "commuter family" and "commuter friends." If riders here are a family, Ferrara might be their den mother.

Commuters said Ferrara's shop puts some levity in their day.

"She's a little more than cheerful, she's a very upbeat person," said commuter Rey Montalvo of the Oakhurst section of Ocean Township. "It makes the day nice."

After three years, Ferrara said, she knows her customers by name and, like a trusted bartender, by the kind of coffee or tea they drink.

"You need to be pleasant, have good coffee and you have to be quick," said Ferrara, who opened her shop after successfully bidding for the concession from the borough.

No one has ever missed a train on account of her, said Ferrara, who's even managed to get a cup to a conductor or two.

Among her favorite things is planning activities to break up the daily routine for riders.

"We have a lot of fun. We celebrate the holidays. On Mardi Gras, I gave out beads. For St. Patrick's Day, we had Irish soda bread," she said. "We have an egg hunt on Easter, and we play the dreidel game on Hanukkah. There isn't a holiday we're not willing to celebrate."

She even honored one rider's a request to observe St. David's Day, in honor of the patron saint of Wales on March 1. Music and movie trivia is another activity she holds and a CD is usually playing.

"The summer solstice, the winter solstice, anything to make a commuter's day easier," Ferrara said. "People at 5 a.m. need a little levity. We serve coffee and context."

Adelaide Sousa of Newark is a reverse commuter, who arrives in Little Silver for work as most residents are traveling northbound on the train. Ferrara asks her if she's doing the cooking for Thanksgiving as she serves her coffee.

Sousa said the station has improved since Ferrara opened her shop.

"The atmosphere brightens the day; it's a nice place," Sousa said.

more

 

Santa Claus and the nasty rumor *Bingo Classified Network

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Santa Claus and the nasty rumor
I hope this is a true story……

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her. On the way my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted.... "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars.

That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it I'll wait for you in the car."

Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's. I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but I never had I shopped for anything all by myself.

The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class.

Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."

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Christmas Wreaths for fallen heros *Bingo Classified Network

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US businessman honors country's fallen with Christmas wreaths

Every December for the past 14 years, Morrill Worcester loads a truck with thousands of Christmas wreaths and drives to Arlington National Cemetery near the US capital to honor the country's fallen.

With the help of volunteers he lays some 5,000 of the ornaments decorated with a simple red bow on the headstones of war heroes buried in an older part of the cemetery that receives few visitors.

"It's the least I can do because of what they've all done for us," Worcester, 56, who owns a wreaths company in the eastern state of Maine told AFP in a telephone interview.

Several hundred people are expected to turn out for this year's wreath-laying event December 14 at Arlington, the second-largest national cemetery in the country with more than 300,000 war veterans are buried, along with two US presidents, explorers and other dignitaries.

Worcester this year is also spreading his goodwill gesture nationwide by donating six wreaths to each of the 230 state cemeteries or veterans' monuments across the United States.

He said the ritual that began in 1992 was born of a boyhood trip to Washington that left him awestruck by the majesty of the Arlington National Cemetery and overwhelmed by the thousands of white headstones lined in its neat rows.

It was also the result of an over-abundance of wreaths he had that year and that would have gone to waste.

"I had about 5,000 too many wreaths and I thought of Arlington and made arrangements to drive down there," he said.

John Metzler, the superintendent of the cemetery, said he never thought Worcester would keep coming back every December after that first year.

"I thought it would be a one-time donation and then he would go on to other things," Metzler told AFP. "But this has been taken on a life of its own and it's to the point now where he will never get away from this.

"This is a legacy now." more

 

Reflect on winter Gardern *Bingo Classified Network

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Solstice a time to reflect on winter gardens - winter reading

Observe the winter solstice. This day marks the beginning of winter and has the shortest period of daylight. In the northeast they seem to be experiencing global warming first hand, perhaps there should be a change in our attitudes toward this fourth season and what, as gardeners, we should expect and attempt, perhaps the landscape should no longer be ignored for four months out of every year.

Adrian Bloom, an English nurseryman, writer, gardener and introducer of new plant cultivars, is known to gardeners in the U.S. as a talented designer and principal of Blooms of Bressingham. One of his books, “Winter Garden Glory, How to get the Best from your Garden from Autumn through to Spring,” is a jewel! Using the plants and landscape design of “Foggy Bottom,” his home property, Bloom shows by word and picture just how foliage form and color used properly can enliven any winter scene.

Can we safely make use of all the plants he uses and recommends? No, not yet, anyway, but even if we were to incorporate 10 percent of his recommendations into our landscape, we would raise the interest of our landscapes by several hundred percent. Also look for the companion volume, “Summer Garden Glory.”

By obtaining both, you will save time later when you realize you desire more views of Foggy Bottom and more wisdom from Bloom.

A second book is “Color in the Winter Garden” by Graham Stuart Thomas. As an aside, if you value your time and your garden, spend some time this winter with Thomas. Read and enjoy “Three Gardens, The personal odyssey of a great plantsman and gardener,” then perhaps “The Manual of Shrub Roses” or “Roses as Flowering Shrubs” and on to “Treasured Perennials,” in which he discusses more than 200 perennials.

But I digress. We need to look at “Color in the Winter Garden” a book so exhaustive it has been called the most comprehensive book on the subject. To receive the greatest value from this work, do not consider it as a laundry list of plants but rather an eye-opening experience as to what a winter garden can be, if you will make the effort.
Get ready. Get set. Get reading!

 

June Hunt talks to callers *Bingo Classified Network

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Heir to oil fortune spreads Christian teaching via her own radio show
June Hunt talks to callers

Five times a week, June Hunt goes to a Dallas broadcast studio, staying until 1 a.m., taking calls from troubled souls across America on her Christian radio program, Hope in the Night.

As an heir to the Hunt Oil Co. fortune, June Hunt could be doing almost anything she wants, or nothing at all.

But five times a week, she's in a Dallas broadcast studio until 1 a.m., taking calls from troubled souls across America on her Christian radio program, Hope in the Night.

One night, not long ago, she advised a cab driver who had lost purpose, a grandmother distraught over her violent grandson, and a woman whose conversion to Christianity had rocked her marriage.

Another woman called, upset that a male colleague who dresses as a woman was allowed to use the ladies' restroom at work.

"OK, has there been a sex change? Is he a transsexual?" Hunt, 61, asked with the same earnest concern she uses for the occasional suicidal caller.

"I don't know," the woman said. "There's some hair on his chin. You can still tell it's a man."

Shake the family tree of legendary Dallas oil baron H.L. Hunt and an intriguing story is bound to fall. Few beat that of daughter June.

Deep faith and the emotional trauma of her youth (including struggles with Dad) have led her to feel others' pain and try to lessen it. For 20 years, she has devoted her time and much of her wealth to her nondenominational counseling ministry Hope for the Heart.

Through lectures, books, advice sheets, tapes, and radio programs, she pours forth "God's truth for today's problems," addressing everything from eating disorders to salvation.

Her basic message is that those who align their will with God as revealed in Jesus Christ will have not just eternal life but the power to change in this one -- and she is there to help, offering action steps and key Bible verses.

Hunt's ministry employs ordained ministers and licensed counselors, but she is neither, having majored in music at Southern Methodist University.

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THE MOST AND THE GREATEST *Bingo Classified Network

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THE MOST AND THE GREATEST
The most destructive habit.............Worry
The greatest joy.......................Giving
The greatest loss.....................Loss of respect

The most dangerous pariah.............A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer....The brain
The worst thing to be without...........Hope

The most satisfying work...............Helping others
The ugliest personality trait.........Selfishness
The most endangered species...........Dedicated leaders

The deadliest weapon.....................The tongue
The two most power-filled words.......'I Can'
The greatest asset......................Faith

Our greatest natural resource............Our youth
The greatest 'shot in the arm'.......Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome............Fear

The most worthless emotion.....................Self-pity
The most beautiful attire........................SMILE!
The most prized possession.....................Integrity

The most effective sleeping pill........Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease........Excuses
The most powerful force in life............Love

The most powerful channel of communication.......Prayer
The most contagious spirit......................Enthusiasm

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

 

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Sunday gambling ban to be lifted

The government has announced plans to allow bookmakers and bingo halls in Northern Ireland to open on Sundays. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom where these premises have to close on Sundays. The changes would allow bookmakers' offices to open between 1030 GMT and 1830 GMT and bingo clubs to open between 1400 GMT and 2300 GMT. There are also plans for new employment rights to protect staff who do not want to work on Sundays. "Some betting and bingo club workers may not wish to work on a Sunday," he said. He said any relaxation of the Sunday restrictions would be accompanied by "important new employment rights for such workers".

 

Scotland - Bingo behind bars turns jail into 'Butlins' B2kSlots

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Scotland - Bingo behind bars turns jail into 'Butlins'

BOSSES at Edinburgh's Saughton prison have sparked controversy by putting on bingo nights for prisoners. The weekend treat, which started last month in a remand hall at the jail, has proved so popular that bosses are understood to be considering spreading it out across other wings in the jail. The prison has even bought a bingo machine for warders to pull out the numbers at the Friday night events, where lucky prisoners are rewarded with chocolate, hair gel and cigarettes. However, some warders are reported to have criticized the move, which they say is turning the prison into a "fun park" for criminals. Some warders have said that the prison is "getting like Butlins", while others have argued that there should be more focus on educational programs for prisoners rather than bingo nights. The Scottish Prison Service said: "We're looking to provide a range of activities for prisoners."

 

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Online Bingo unlike Land Based Bingo

Although Bingo played at land based casinos is fair and square, fun and pleasing, its online casino versions are operated by the most advanced and trusted technologies. This way it has improved its already high reliability features. But perhaps the greatest advantage that online casino Bingo has over land based casinos, which is also a claim about the difference between the entire two industries and venues, is the prizes. New players at the online casino Bingo games can enjoy a welcome bonus and other promotions. It can only be compared to walking into a Bingo hall at a land based casino and receiving a few bills to take home just for coming to the place.

 

Odd News on BingoRater

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No holiday humor in radio pair’s jollies over degrading homeless

Any Mummers allowed?

LARGE-sized clothing should carry tags with an obesity helpline number

Elvis' porcelain crown to go on eBay

skyscraper sale for $1.8B

Fifty turkeys rescued

bomb-sniffing bees

Christmas trees from ancient nature lovers

Dickens bah humbug Christmas Letter

 

Polls on BingoRater

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Should cockfighting in New Mexico be banned?

How much of a problem is racism today?

How healthy are you?

Where will you celebrate Christmas this year?

'Do you use instant messaging?

Is Christmas an important holiday?

Merry Christmas' versus 'Happy Holidays'?

Holiday season: stressful or joyful?

How much of your holiday shopping will you do online this year, compared with last year?

 

Poll: Should cockfighting in New Mexico be banned? BingoRater

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Poll: Should cockfighting in New Mexico be banned?

The informal poll showed that 62 percent of responses supported some sort of ban on cockfighting, with the vast majority of those responses supporting making holding cockfighting a felony.

That’s despite the poll making its way onto pro-cockfighting message boards around the country.

The remaining 38 percent of responses were against a ban, and were extremely vocal about it.

“Go to a commercial poultry farm,” wrote one respondent. “There you will see far more cruelty than a few minutes at a cockfight.”

Many respondents who supported some sort of ban used the word “barbaric.”

 

Odd News: No holiday humor in radio pair’s jollies over degrading homeless BingoRater

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Odd News: No holiday humor in radio pair’s jollies over degrading homeless

Some people may have giggled at the idea of a gaggle of homeless men taking over the upscale Short Hills Mall in New Jersey, a stunt staged by radio shock jocks Opie and Anthony and heard by WBCN listeners all weekend. It was tantamount to bringing a bus filled with the bedraggled from Boston Common to sit on Santa’s lap at the Chestnut Hill Mall.

“This so-called ‘shopping spree’ is a sick and twisted exercise that degrades the most vulnerable members of our society. This is an outrage. This is wrong, and we need the public and our partners who care about the homeless and about basic human decency to stand up and tell them so,” Menino said, adding that the broadcast came on the same day that the city began counting the Hub’s homeless.

“The homeless people who will be used for this event are human beings who may have been struggling for years with the adversity and problems that come with alcoholism and addictions, or with mental illness and other disabilities,” Menino said.

“The fact that WBCN has chosen the homeless and the holidays to present this humiliating and shameful attempt at humor is inhumane and shameful.”

 

Poll: How much of a problem is racism today? BingoRater

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Poll: How much of a problem is racism today?

Most Americans see lingering racism -- in others

Most Americans, white and black, see racism as a lingering problem in the United States, and many say they know people who are racist, according to a new poll.

But few Americans of either race -- about one out of eight -- consider themselves racist.

Asked if they know someone they consider racist, 43 percent of whites and 48 percent of blacks said yes.

But just 13 percent of whites and 12 percent of blacks consider themselves racially biased.

 

Poll: How healthy are you? BingoRater

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Poll: How healthy are you?

Most Rate Their Physical & Mental Health "Good" or "Excellent"

Of those polled, included 1,004 adults, 79% rated their physical health as "excellent" or "good," while 21% said it was "only fair" or "poor."

Self-ratings for mental health were even higher: 86% said their mental health was "excellent" or "good," while 14% rated it "only fair" or "poor."

Results from the annual poll haven't changed much since 2001.

 

Odd News: Any Mummers allowed? BingoRater

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Odd News: Any Mummers allowed?

Long before Santa, Bing Crosby and toy companies stole the occasion, even before Christianity itself kidnapped it, the Winter Solstice was celebrated with seasonal ritual. One ancient solstice custom is Mummering.

The word Mummer is said to derive the from the Middle English word 'mum' which means silent; or perhaps the German 'Mummerspiel ' meaning 'masked play' or masquerade.

Mummer's plays have been performed since the Middle Ages to celebrate the triumph of life over death and resurrection.

Pre-Christian pagan rituals, like the Roman Saturnalia, celebrated the rebirth of the Sun god on the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere.

In England, the Mummer's plays follow the same basic plot. A hero returns from a distant land. The hero is challenged and killed. A doctor is called and revives the hero. All hostilities are ceased. In the Tudor period, the hero was often Saint George battling evil in the form of a dragon.

Mummers may be friends or complete strangers, and unless you can guess their identities you cannot be sure who is behind the mask. They are certain to track muddy boots across your carpet, play lively music, demand drink and perform outrageously

 

Poll: Where will you celebrate Christmas this year? BingoRater

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Poll: Where will you celebrate Christmas this year?

60% Will Celebrate Holidays at Home

The final holiday countdown is on and of all of the arrangements to be made, travel plans are not high on the list this year. Sixty percent (60%) of American adults plan to spend the holidays at home. Just 34% have out-of-town travel on their holiday agendas.

Nearly two-thirds of all Americans (63%) say that attending a religious service will be part of their holiday plans this year. Twenty-nine percent (29%) have no plans for organized religious observances.

 

Poll: Where will you celebrate Christmas this year? BingoRater

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Poll: Where will you celebrate Christmas this year?

60% Will Celebrate Holidays at Home

The final holiday countdown is on and of all of the arrangements to be made, travel plans are not high on the list this year. Sixty percent (60%) of American adults plan to spend the holidays at home. Just 34% have out-of-town travel on their holiday agendas.

Nearly two-thirds of all Americans (63%) say that attending a religious service will be part of their holiday plans this year. Twenty-nine percent (29%) have no plans for organized religious observances.

 

Odd News: 'Put obesity number on clothes' BingoRater

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Odd News: 'Put obesity number on clothes'

LARGE-sized clothing should carry tags with an obesity helpline number, a British Medical Journal report has said.

The report, compiled by a group of public health professionals, has recommended the phone numbers be placed on tags on women's garments sized 16 and above, and on those with a waist measurement of more than 100 centimeters for men.

Clothes with waist measurements of more than 92cm for boys and 79cm for girls should also have the helpline number, the report has said.

 

Poll: Do you use instant messaging? BingoRater

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Poll: Do you use instant messaging?

Nearly half of teens use instant messaging, fyi

Almost half of teens, 48 percent of those ages 13-18, use instant messaging. That's more than twice the percentage of adults who use it.

Almost three-fourths of adults who do use instant messages still communicate with e-mail more often. Almost three-fourths of teens send instant messages more than e-mail.

More than half of the teens who use instant messages send more than 25 a day, and 1 in 5 send more than 100. Three-fourths of adult users send fewer than 25 IMs a day.

Teen users (30 percent) are almost twice as likely as adults (17 percent) to say they can't imagine life without instant messaging.

When keeping up with a friend who is far away, teens are most likely to use instant messaging, while adults turn first to e-mail.

About a fifth of teen IM users have used IM to ask for or accept a date. Almost as many, 16 percent, have used it to break up with someone.

A bow to the traditional: When sharing serious or confidential news, both teens and adults prefer to use the telephone, the poll said.

 

Odd News: Elvis' porcelain crown to go on eBay BingoRater

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Odd News: Elvis' porcelain crown to go on eBay

The family of a Memphis dentist is putting the King of Rock and Roll's porcelain crown up for auction on eBay next month.

A press release from the family of Dr. Henry Weiss, who was Elvis Presley's dentist until 1971, said the model of Presley's teeth and the porcelain crown will be offered -- along with a letter of authenticity signed by Joe Esposito, Elvis' longtime road manager.

The eBay auction will begin Jan. 8, 2007, which would have been Presley's 72nd birthday.

The letter from Esposito says Weiss always kept an extra crown on the model of Elvis Presley's teeth in case he chipped or cracked his crown. In February 1971, Elvis cracked his crown on a microphone while performing in Las Vegas.

Esposito said Weiss' son, S. Lewis Weiss, flew a replacement crown to Las Vegas.

 

Poll: Is Christmas an important holiday? BingoRater

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Poll: Is Christmas an important holiday?

71% Rate Christmas Most Important Holiday

Seventy-one percent (71%) of Americans consider Christmas one of the nation's most important holidays. That figure is higher than for any other holiday (prior to this survey, the Fourth of July was on top at 61% and Thanksgiving was second at 46%.

A survey of 1,000 adults found that only 7% consider it one of the least important.

Nearly nine-out-of-ten Americans celebrate Christmas and a Christmas dinner is in most of their plans. Eighty-five percent (85%) of those who celebrate Christmas will have a special dinner with family and friends to honor the occasion.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of the celebrants open their presents on Christmas morning. Sixteen percent (16%) do so on Christmas Eve.

 

Odd News: Skyscraper sales for $1.8B BingoRater

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Odd News: Skyscraper sales for $1.8B

A New Jersey real estate family, the Kushners, will buy 666 Fifth Ave. from Tishman Speyer Properties for $1.8 billion, beating a $1.72 billion record that Tishman Speyer set in buying the MetLife Building a few streets over.

Occupying a high-profile block in midtown, the tower rubs shoulders with such Fifth Avenue landmarks as Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The family says the office tower will raise their profile in New York City. The company also owns a smaller building downtown, but the bulk of its holdings are in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Tishman Speyer broke another real estate record last month. It bought a massive Manhattan apartment complex, Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, for $5.4 billion, in the biggest real estate deal of any kind in the country.

 

Poll: 'Merry Christmas' vs 'Happy Holidays'? BingoRater

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Poll: 'Merry Christmas' vs 'Happy Holidays'?

Americans are ready to put "Merry Christmas" back into holiday shopping, a new poll shows.

An overwhelming majority of Americans surveyed - 95 percent - said they were not offended by a "Merry Christmas" in stores.

However, 32 percent of respondents said they took offense at "Happy Holidays," the religiously neutral alternative promoted over the last few years as inclusive and inoffensive.

Along partisan lines, 8 percent of the Democrats polled said they were offended at a "Merry Christmas" greeting, compared to less than 1 percent of the Republicans surveyed.

 

Odd News: Turkeys saved from Christmas chop BingoRater

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Odd News: Turkeys saved from Christmas chop

Fifty turkeys have been rescued from the chop, just weeks before they were due to reach their final end on Christmas dinner plates.

USPCA spokesman Stephen Philpott said workers at the charity were now looking after the animals.

"The conditions were absolutely appalling, animals living in their own filth," he said.

The future of the animals will now be decided by a magistrate, but the USPCA will recommend to the police that the farmer is again charged with cruelty.

 

Poll: Holiday season: stressful or joyful? ~ BingoRater

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Poll: Holiday season: stressful or joyful?

51% Say Holiday Season is Joyful

Although they've been doing battle at the shopping malls to find the perfect gifts, 51% of respondents to a Rasmussen Reports survey about holiday shopping say they find this time of the year joyful. Thirty-nine percent (39%) say it's stressful.

 

Odd News: Bees Can Find Explosives ~ BingoRater

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Odd News: Bees Can Find Explosives

Here's the latest buzz on detecting explosives: bomb-sniffing bees. Honeybees can be trained to detect explosives, even in tiny quantities. "These bees really perform," said bee biologist Timothy Haarmann, the study's leader.

Bees stick out their tongues when they smelled explosives. The bees even underwent field trials, successfully sniffing out explosives in a simulated roadside bomb, in a vehicle, and on a person rigged like a suicide bomber.

The insects have a phenomenal sense of smell, rivaling that of dogs, Haarmann said.

"The beauty of the bee is that when it has a sugar water reward, it sticks out its proboscis," the scientist said. "It's not a little tiny tongue. It's bigger than the antennae."

 

Poll: Online Shopping? ~ BingoRater

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Poll Results: How much of your holiday shopping will you do online this year, compared with last year?

More than a third of those participating in an online poll said they would be doing more holiday shopping online this year than last year, compared with a small minority who were positive about online shopping in a similar poll last year.

Of the 1,539 taking part this year, 41 percent said more, 25.7 percent said less and 33.3 percent said the same.

Of the 2,078 taking part in a similar poll on Nov. 25, 2005, only 10 percent said more, 59.7 percent said less and 30.3 percent said the same.

 

Odd News: Dickens bah humbug Christmas Letter ~ BingoRater.com

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Odd News: Dickens bah humbug Christmas Letter

A Christmas Day letter written by Charles Dickens is up for auction at a New Hampshire auction house.

But the Dec. 25, 1849, letter penned by the author of "A Christmas Carol" and other classics contains a good deal more "bah humbug" than Christmas cheer.

In the letter to William Jerdan, Dickens blasts the British journalist for reprinting a bogus biography of him in the Literary Journal. The biography, which originally appeared in the New York Herald, was written by Thomas Powell, a known forger and embezzler who once worked for one of Dickens' friends.

"Merry Christmas and Happy New Year," Dickens wrote. "As you reprint the extraordinary lies of the New York Herald, perhaps you may like to know something more of their authority. I therefore send you for your own perusal (for I must not anticipate the defense to the ingenious Mr. Powell's American actions for libel) a few small passages in the life of the distinguished 'literary gentleman from England,' who is in question."

Powell, who escaped prison in England by pleading insanity and being committed to an insane asylum, fled to New York after serving his sentence. Once there, he traded on the names of literary figures he had known in England, including Dickens. In his biography of Dickens, he wrote that the two had quarreled over losses both had incurred from railway speculation.

Dickens also sent a letter to the New York Tribune calling Powell's piece, "a complete and libelous lie." Powell later sued Dickens, who responded by drawing up a list of Powell's crimes and having them printed in a pamphlet

Monday, December 18, 2006

 

Bingo Safari - Travel news and links

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If it is exotic, it's for older travelers! London, Paris and Rome used to be popular destinations for those over the age of 50, but today's boomers have "been there, done
that." Toronto's Joanne Nisker is one of them. At age 51, she's already travelled to Thailand, South America and Hong Kong. Last year she was in East Africa, and next year she's off to Israel. A recent national survey of Canadian adults indicate that Nisker is not alone. A "sense of adventure" was rated by boomers as one of the top motivating factors for the travel choices they make. "They want something more exotic," says Dr. Jay Keystone, a travel medicine specialist and professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. "Going the distance" is part of many boomers' travel strategies as they plan safaris, explore rainforests, seek out penguins, and elephant trek in Thailand..

Web logs, or blogs, could give you the travel bug More personal than Fodor's, some travel blogs provide unique, irreverent reviews of lodging, restaurants and sights. Others are more like a diary, inviting readers to join adventures vicariously as writers post from the road. Romantically juicy or richly informative... go there

10 reasons why airline woes aren't over yet David Grossman predicts the return to profitability will be short lived for most if not all six network airlines and with good reasons: 1) Top of the cycle 2) Cost gap 3) Return of overcapacity 4) Demise of the international sweet spot 5) High-cost hubs 6) Multiple aircraft types 7) Aging fleets 8) Oil again 9) Nothing left to cut 10) Fares can only go so high. Column of David Grossman is worth the read for all travelers. He is a veteran business traveler and former airline industry executive. He writes a column every other week on topics of interest and concern to business travelers. link

Fewer available seats and higher fares are putting the squeeze on travelers. Still holding out for a bargain holiday airfare? Prices for holiday air travel are up 10 to 15 percent compared with last year, analysts say, and seats are harder to find. But depending on where you're going and how flexible you can be, you might still luck out.

 

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Human Rights, Conspiracy Theory and Environmentalism news and articles:

Scientists embark on marine census Surprising finds arise in quest to unlock oceans' mysteries Peering deep into the sea, scientists are finding creatures more mysterious than many could have imagined.

Vast African lake levels dropping fast At 27,000 square miles, the size of Ireland, Victoria is the greatest of Africa's Great Lakes — the biggest freshwater body after Lake Superior. And it has dropped fast, at least six feet in the past three years, and by as much as a half-inch a day this year before November rains stabilized things. Much of what is happening to Victoria and other lakes across the heart of Africa is attributable to years of drought and rising temperatures, conditions that starve the lakes of inflowing water and evaporate more of the water they have.

Ancient Irish Tomb Big Draw at Winter Solstice The solstice is the most sought-after time to visit the monument. So in 2000 the visitor center switched to a lottery system for tickets, deeming luck-of-the-draw fairer than a ten-year-long wait list.

Monterey Bay sanctuary New environmental rules are being considered, surfers objecting.

JFK conspiracy museum making way for sub shop The Conspiracy Museum a tourist landmark since opening in 1993 two blocks from where Kennedy was killed is temporarily shutting its doors until December 30 after 13 years. "Basically," says Tom Bowden, the museum's president, "they're putting a Quizno's here."

The Chinese Almanac is both a health guide and a unique planning tool.

Skilling reports to federal prison for 24-year stretch Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skill reported to federal prison Wednesday Dec 13 to begin serving a 24-year sentence for fraud and other crimes in the collapse of the former energy giant.



Chinese journalist declares innocence after release from jail He said after being released early for good behavior that he should never have been sent to prison. His expose about a sham irrigation project was reported in the Communist Party's main newspaper, the People's Daily, and made television news bulletins, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. But instead of the officials being held to account, Gao was jailed.

Diana's ghost finally laid to rest The BBC programme, titled 'How Diana Died - The Conspiracy Files', claims that the French authorities carried out the blood tests within the past year. They found the results similar to those of the original post-mortem conducted on driver Henri Paul, which showed he had three times more than the French legal limit of alcohol in his blood. The recent French tests also established that the blood samples examined originally and later were conclusively those of Paul.

 

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Scientists embark on marine census Surprising finds arise in quest to unlock oceans' mysteries

Peering deep into the sea, scientists are finding creatures more mysterious than many could have imagined.

At one site, nearly 2 miles deep in the Atlantic, shrimp were living around a vent that was releasing water heated to 765 degrees Fahrenheit. Water surrounding the site was a chilly 36 degrees.

An underwater peak in the Coral Sea was home to a type of shrimp thought to have gone extinct 50 million years ago.

More than 3 miles beneath the Sargasso Sea, in the Atlantic, researchers collected a dozen new species eating each other or living on organic material that drifts down from above.

“Animals seem to have found a way to make a living just about everywhere,” said Jesse Ausubel of the Sloan Foundation, discussing the findings of year six of the census of marine life.

Added Ron O’Dor, a senior scientist with the census: “We can’t find anyplace where we can’t find anything new.”

This year’s update, released Sunday, is part of a study of life in the oceans that is scheduled for final publication in 2010. The census is an international effort supported by governments, divisions of the United Nations and private conservation organizations. About 2,000 researchers from 80 countries are participating.

Ausubel said there are nearly 16,000 known species of marine fish and 70,000 kinds of marine animals of all types. A couple of thousand have been discovered during the census.

Highlights of the 2006 research

 

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Ancient Irish Tomb Big Draw at Winter Solstice

From December 19 to 23—if the weather cooperates—20 lucky people a day will crowd into an ancient Irish monument's main chamber. There, they'll bathe in 17 minutes of light put off by the rising sun on the shortest days of the year. This year about 28,000 people applied to take part in the ritual at the Newgrange monument, located in the Irish countryside in County Meath.

The Stone Age monument dates to around 3200 B.C., making it 500 years older than the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt and a thousand years older than England's Stonehenge. The 62-foot-long (19-meter-long) passage faces the winter solstice sunrise. A little window above the door allows light from the rising solstice sun to reach the depths of the burial chamber from about 8:58 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. local time.

It is very deliberately designed and constructed to capture the light of the rising sun at the winter solstice, to allow that beam of light to fall on the innermost chambers of it.

Scratch marks in the window above the door indicate that rocks were repeatedly removed and put in place to open and close the window, suggesting a regular gathering at the monument for a winter solstice ritual.

Today as many as 200,000 people a year come to view the ancient mound, making it the most visited archaeological site in Ireland.

The solstice is the most sought-after time to visit the monument. So in 2000 the visitor center switched to a lottery system for tickets, deeming luck-of-the-draw fairer than a ten-year-long wait list.

National Geographic Video

 

Monterey Bay sanctuary *Casino Player Network,

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Monterey Bay sanctuary

The sanctuary, first established in 1992 by President George H. W. Bush, bans all offshore oil drilling for 276 miles, from San Francisco to Hearst Castle.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are updating the agency's rules for the Monterey Bay sanctuary. The new plan would ban cruise ships from dumping sewage inside sanctuary boundaries, which extend roughly 30 miles offshore.

The new plan also would ban shark chumming -- the practice by some researchers, filmmakers and thrill-seekers of spreading dead fish parts in the water to attract great whites.

And it would set in motion a host of programs to reduce construction of sea walls, limit public trampling of popular tide pools and move forward with a planning process to one day create a network of ``no fishing zones'' in some parts of the sanctuary.

A steady stream of surfers argued that they can't get full access to the largest, fastest waves unless they are towed to them by personal watercraft. Representatives of several environmental groups, however, argued such ``tow-in surfing'' should be strictly regulated because of the risk it could disrupt wildlife, such as sea otters.

 

Chinese Almanac 2007 *Casino Player Network

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The Chinese Almanac 2007

Based on ancient Chinese wisdom, predictions and tactics are based on how astronomical data affects global weather patterns, and how these, in turn, impact different climate areas in the entire Northern Hemisphere.

The Chinese Almanac 2007 is both a health guide and a unique planning tool. It is based on the ancient Chinese science of long-term forecasting and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

You will find predictions for the coming year about the weather, crops, livestock, human relations, natural disasters, health and illnesses, business trends and more.

You will also find much practical information on health, nutrition and the prevention of illnesses, with short, easy-to-read articles on topics such as: How wind causes illness, The solution to hyperactivity, Benefits of spicy foods, What is balance?, Seasonal disorder, reducing dampness, and many more.

 

New pages on My Bingo Game

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Plus Size Fashion Tips What are you to do if you’re a plus-size woman who wants fashion, comfort and fit?

Battling Midlife Weight Gain When your 'fat' jeans become your everyday jeans, it's time to get serious about losing weight. But that's harder to do in your 40s than in your 20s. and ... Ages 45 to 60 may be the toughest years in terms of weight maintenance that women face during their lifetimes.

Swedish Massage Benefits Osteoarthritis Patients...after the first eight weeks of massage therapy, participants improved flexibility, less pain and improved range of motion.

Hypnotherapy in Weight control can change body image thoughts. Usually, a patient has a negative self-image. You tell them that they’re going to deal with weight control, which is something they can take responsibility for immediately.

Watching the Weight Creep Up After Menopause If you don't take measures to prevent it, you could end up with a 10- to 15-pound souvenir...hormonal changes aren't solely to blame..

Obese women can get healthier without diets: a program that focuses on health benefits rather than weight loss

In Training for a Healthier Life Having a personal trainer at the gym used to be the exclusive preserve of the rich and famous, but... and within a few weeks she had organized a walking group for local people called Stepping Out. A healthy living group for men and an arts and craft group followed.

 

Plus Size Fashion Tips ~ My Bingo Game

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Plus Size Fashion Tips

What are you to do if you’re a plus-size woman who wants fashion, comfort and fit?

Fabric counts. Stay away from crunchy fabrics. They make you look bigger. Junonia’s Nancy Mendele insists on stretch. “Cheap and clingy doesn’t work. You want a nice fabric with some give.”

Just say no to pleats. Flat-front pants are a plus-size woman’s best friend. Pleats only make you look bigger.

Don’t sweat it. Wicking fabrics are a must for larger women. And they’re not just for active wear. The sweat factor is something no one likes to mention, but it’s there.

Forget tents and floats. Larger women now know that hiding under lots of loose fabric doesn’t help. Wearing a flattering, fitted outfit is a better option.

Watch the line. If it cuts you in the middle, forget it. The eye is drawn to any aberration in line or flow. Make sure it’s drawn to your nicer assets, not your trouble spots.

 

Battling Midlife Weight Gain ~ My Bingo Game

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Battling Midlife Weight Gain

When your 'fat' jeans become your everyday jeans, it's time to get serious about losing weight. But that's harder to do in your 40s than in your 20s.

All women 45 to 60 years old are dealing with the same thing. Ages 45 to 60 may be the toughest years in terms of weight maintenance that women face during their lifetimes. While older people generally have a harder time losing weight than younger people, the WHI study found that fiftysomethings had "a much tougher time maintaining their weight" than women in their 60s and 70s.

Most 45-to-60-year-olds tend to have fairly sedentary lives, so they are not getting as much exercise as they once did. And even if your weight doesn't change, your body fat distribution is changing.

In practical terms, what does that mean? You're probably going to have to increase your physical activity. Generally, doctors advise getting 200 minutes of exercise a week to maintain weight, but for anyone going through the menopause transition, at least 300 minutes a week of exercise. That translates into walking at least 10 to 15 miles a week. You have to stop thinking of exercise as a punishment. Think about working with a trainer or taking an aerobics class several times a week.

You're now in a new phase of your life. You need to get over it, and figure out what you're going to do about it. What's best is to aim "to make every meal, every snack, healthy. This means portion control, no snacking, slow down and enjoy everything you do eat. Don't eat anything in front of the TV.

The ultimate goal is to change your lifestyle so that you're taking in fewer calories and expending more energy to keep the weight off permanently.

 

Swedish Massage Benefits Osteoarthritis Patients ~ My Bingo Game

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Swedish Massage Benefits Osteoarthritis Patients

Massage therapy is a safe and effective way to reduce pain and improve function in adults with osteoarthritis of the knee. A standard one-hour Swedish massage twice a week for four weeks, followed by Swedish massage once a week for the next four weeks, and after the first eight weeks of massage therapy, participants had improved flexibility, less pain and improved range of motion.

Massage is free of any known side effects and shows therapeutic promise. Alternative treatments like massage are most important when conventional treatments are far from ideal. Currently available non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often not well-tolerated by older adults with osteoarthritis. Cox-II inhibitors like Vioxx were developed as substitutes for traditional anti-inflammatory drugs, but pose highly-publicized toxicity problems of their own.

Massage therapy can be used in conjunction with conventional treatment for osteoarthritis. Massage may be shown to lessen a patient's reliance on medications and decrease health care costs. This treatment is not only safe and effective, but cost-effective.

 

Hypnotherapy in Weight control ~ My Bingo Game

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Hypnotherapy in Weight control

WEIGHT loss, related to overeating, is one of the most common problems that make people seek hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy can change body image thoughts. Usually, a patient has a negative self-image.

“So you change the language. You tell them that they’re going to deal with weight control, which is something they can take responsibility for immediately. You get them interested in eating healthy, nutritious food, in doing a little exercise, and in being in control of their weight so that they can have confidence and respect for themselves,” she elaborates on the post-hypnotic suggestion that can be given.

 

Weight Creeps Up After Menopause ~ My Bingo Game

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Watching the Weight Creep Up After Menopause

The weight gain that typically accompanies the menopausal transition may be a little harder to shake. If you don't take measures to prevent it, you could end up with a 10- to 15-pound souvenir.

While there's little doubt that menopausal women have a tendency to pack on extra pounds, experts believe that hormonal changes aren't solely to blame. It's likely that a number of factors contribute to the problem.

Advancing age is one of those factors. The prevalence of obesity in adult women rises significantly with each passing decade, until it begins to taper off late in life.

 

Obese women can get healthier without diets: ~ My Bingo Game

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Obese women can get healthier without diets:

A program that focuses on health benefits rather than weight loss

Obese women can improve their health without dieting by changing their eating habits and exercising more.

Lifestyle changes including exercise programs such as tai chi, aqua aerobics and circuit training, coupled with behavior modification, can improve health risks in obese women even if they do not lose significant amounts of weight.

65 women, who were aged between 24 and 55, were encouraged not to diet but were taught about healthy eating, how to read food labels and prepare nutritious meals. They also had to do four hours of exercise a week and were given social support.

 

In Training for a Healthier Life ~ MyBingoGame

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In Training for a Healthier Life

Having a personal trainer at the gym used to be the exclusive preserve of the rich and famous, but now the NHS is deploying health trainers across the region to help ordinary people turn their health around.

JOSIE is a shy, partly disabled woman who, by her own admission, has spent the last ten years of her life living a severely restricted existence. Overweight and lacking in confidence, she felt like a prisoner in her own home.

That was until NHS health trainer Elaine Glendenning knocked on her door. Elaine is one of seven health trainers who began working in some of the most deprived areas of Newcastle earlier this year.

The trainers are drawn from local communities and are given basic training in nutrition, exercise and other aspects of healthy living, such as smoking cessation. Their job is to identify individuals and groups who might benefit from support and encourage them to improve their lifestyles.

 

NASA and Google Cooperate Bingo Info Network

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NASA Takes Google on Journey into Space

NASA Ames Research Center, located in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, and Mountain View-based Google Inc. today announced plans to collaborate on a number of technology-focused research-and-development activities that will couple some of Earth’s most powerful technology resources.

NASA and Google have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines plans for cooperation on a variety of areas, including large-scale data management, massively distributed computing, bio-info-nano convergence, and encouragement of the entrepreneurial space industry. The MOU also highlights plans for Google to develop up to 1 million square feet within the NASA Research Park at Moffett Field.

“Our planned partnership presents an enormous range of potential benefits to the space program,” said NASA Ames Center Director G. Scott Hubbard. “Just a few examples are new sensors and materials from collaborations on bio-info-nano convergence, improved analysis of engineering problems, as well as Earth, life and space science discoveries from supercomputing and data mining, and bringing entrepreneurs into the space program. While our joint efforts will benefit both organizations, the real winner will be the American public,” he added.

 

Google Launches Patent Search Bingo Info Network

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Google Launches Patent Search

As mentioned in the morning reboot, Google has unveiled a beta version of its new tool for searching the full text of US patent applications.

Patent Search uses the same technology as Book Search, which means you can scroll through pages and zoom in and out on text and illustrations. So far you are limited to viewing the original documents but the Google Blog says that saving and printing features will be coming soon.

There’s also an Advanced search feature that allows for additional criteria in your searches such as specific patent numbers, inventor name and filing dates. The advanced operators can also be used from the main search by entering the appropriate keywords like ininventor: or intitle:.

Google says there are currently 7 million patents in the database and many more will be added in the future. At the moment the patents stop around the middle of 2006, but the records go back over 200 years.

 

Only one free credit report service online Bingo Info Network

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Only one free credit report service online

Are you monitoring your credit report on a yearly basis? If the answer is no, what are you waiting for? Thanks to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, which took effect nationwide in September 2005, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit-reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, Trans Union) every year.

Your credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills and whether you've had any problems with bankruptcy. Since it's used to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment or renting a home, it's smart to check it out each year to make sure nothing is inaccurate or if there's activity you aren't aware of (which could be a sign of identity theft). Most important, your credit report contains information that affects whether you can get a loan -- and at what rate.

Because of the change in law, there are dozens of advertisements on the Web and on TV urging you to use their services to get your free report. But according to the Federal Trade Commission, there is only one Web site authorized by the federal government to handle credit report requests: www.annualcreditreport.com .

The FTC warns that other unauthorized sites may require users to pay money after a free trial period or are used to collect personal information. Other sites that claim to offer free credit reports, scores or monitoring are not part of the legally mandated free annual credit report program.

If you don't want to request your report over the Web, you can call 1-877-322-8228 or complete and mail in th

 

Hitting the books at any age

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Hitting the books at any age

Who is the typical student of higher learning in America?

Nearly half of Americans ages 25 and older - 92 million people - take part in some form of continuing education. They may be mothers or grandfathers, white-collar professionals or soldiers. They may study online or attend college summer sessions. Some just want to learn how to paint a Maine coastal scene, but the majority are enrolled in work-related training, and many are earning degrees.

No matter who they are, though, their openness to lifelong learning shows that individuals have a great capacity to adapt, learn, and contribute - at any age. Adult ed reflects an American belief in reinventing one's self through education, and it contributes to the country's competitiveness.

Seniors have more choices than ever when it comes to lectures or workshops. They can enroll at a local university or simply attend a day-long seminar taught by Ivy League professors. Retirees see lifelong learning as a way to stay mentally active, make new friends, and get to those subjects they never had time for.

 

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News Digest directory:

NASA Takes Google on Journey into Space NASA Ames Research Center, located in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, and Mountain View-based Google Inc. today announced plans to collaborate on a number of technology-focused research-and-development activities that will couple some of Earth’s most powerful technology resources.
outline of plan

Google Launches Patent Search Google says there are currently 7 million patents in the database and many more will be added in the future. At the moment the patents stop around the middle of 2006, but the records go back over 200 years.
Patent Search

Only one free credit report service online According to the Federal Trade Commission, there is only one Web site authorized by the federal government to handle credit report requests
annual credit report

Seniors have more choices than ever when it comes to lectures or workshops. They can enroll at a local university or simply attend a day-long seminar taught by Ivy League professors.
ongoing education at any age

Thursday, December 14, 2006

 

Gifts to get kids hopping Circus Bingo

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Go for Gifts That Get Kids Hopping Experts are advising that Santa skip the video games and bring kids toys that exercise more than just their thumbs. "With obesity on the rise across the country, toys that get kids moving are some of the best gifts you can give," University of Indianapolis physical therapy professor Anne Mejia Downs said in a prepared statement. "Regular exercise can improve concentration, decrease anxiety, prevent and treat depression, and even help kids sleep better." see recommendations...

 

Safe toys Circus Bingo

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Safe toys More than 152,000 children under the age of 15 were treated for toy-related injuries last year and 20 children died. When selecting that special toy, make sure it is suited to the child’s age. For children younger than 6, avoid magnet building sets because if swallowed they can attach and cause intestinal blockage. Ride-on toys like skateboards and bikes should be accompanied with a helmet. Avoid toys that have sharp edges or projectile objects and children younger than 3 should not be given toys with small parts. Small parts on toys should be tightly secured and the use of batteries supervised.

 

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Anxiety grows around teen net use A real and dramatic difference is emerging in how teenagers handle personal relationships compared to adults in their late 20s, transforming the social lives of teens and often bewildering their elders.

For the younger crowd, online time is steadily supplanting personal contact with friends. A recent Nielson/NetRatings study documented a 24 percent rise in Web use in 2005 to an average 26 hours each month.

 

December Holiday Primer Circus Bingo

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December Holiday Primer Everybody knows that there are three major holidays in December; but does everybody know what all three are about? Christmas is the Christian holiday, although non-religious people also celebrate aspects of it. Chanukah is the Jewish holiday, and Kwanzaa is the African holiday. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, along with celebrating goodwill towards others, family, giving and compassion.

 

McExercise Circus Bingo

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Burger, Shake, Fries – And A McWorkout? Climbing ropes, stationary bicycles and electronic dancing games could join the menu of play options for kids at McDonald's if they prove a hit in a trial launched in several of its U.S. restaurants. The burger-and-fries company, often accused by critics of contributing to child obesity, is tinkering with the mini-gyms as a possible successor to the popular McDonald's PlayPlace, with its ball pits and crawl tubes. The stationary bikes are attached to video games, and kids shoot hoops on tiny courts that electronically cheer players. Other offerings include air hockey tables.

 

Pick good friends Circus Bingo

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Pick good friends, Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell tells 5 grade class Minors can go to adult prisons for gang-related offenses, he warns. Picking your friends is so important, doing it well might help you do well in life. Doing it poorly could lead to problems, including serving time in prison.

 

'Ice Age: The Meltdown' Circus Bingo

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'Ice Age: The Meltdown' tops DVD charts The family-oriented animated film "Ice Age: The Meltdown" debuted at No. 1 on both the national DVD sales and rental charts.

 

Driving behavior influenced by family, friends: Circus Bingo

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Driving behavior influenced by family, friends: A new study confirms that family and friends influence whether a driver speeds. Judy Fleiter, from the Queensland University of Technology's (QUT) Accident Research and Road Safety Centre, looked at the driving habits of more than 300 people in south-east Queensland aged 16-79. She says there is a distinct "social influence" on how people drive. The study results are showing us are that people can also be influenced to not speed. So it goes both ways in relation to that driving behavior and that seems particularly relevant. While friends were more important in the results of the study, family members were also a significant influence.

 

Eating Disorders - Circus Bingo

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U Of M Study: Girls Shouldn't Obsessively Weigh In Teen girls who frequently weighed themselves were more likely than others to resort to unhealthy dieting measures, and some ended up gaining close to twice as much weight, a study of Minnesota students found.

New Info on Eating Disorders in Stanford/Packard ... pre-teens with eating disorders tend to lose weight more quickly than adolescents with the condition and weigh comparatively less at diagnosis.

Teen Use of Eating Disorders Web Sites on the Rise
"People have always picked up and shared dangerous information," said one of the study's authors, "The Internet gives instant access to new and potentially dangerous information kids may not have encountered on their own."

 

www.mediafamily.org on Circus Bingo

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Advocates said they wanted to make parents and kids aware of some of the games they should avoid on store shelves this holiday season. All of the games were M-rated, intended for those aged 17 and over. The group's list of "games to avoid" is on its Web site, http://www.mediafamily.org

 

Reputations trashed - Circus Bingo

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Kids keep online threats secret from parents

The reputations of children who make a mistake can be trashed. Kids can be victimised, teased and mocked for their boy or girl friends.

 

The RIGHT choice on Circus Bingo

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4 moving stories of people making the RIGHT choices.

The student: "no matter how petty, were all forms of cheating."

The customer: "I wanted her to know that I would never be able to wear it without thinking that I had taken advantage of her mistake"

Karen went through what she calls her "I-will-sleep-better-at-night explanation."

Teenager: "I've lost my trust," my correspondent says. "I'm still kind of grounded."

 

Books on Circus Bingo

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"American Daddy--A Father’s Heart Revealed," a deeply moving and dramatic photo essay depicting the power of father-child relationships, and as a result of the successful launching of the book, has become a national spokesman for fatherhood and being what he calls “a real man” in a world that is full of difficult trials.

 

8 Tips to finding a babysitter for New Year's Eve - Circus Bingo

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Tips for finding a babysitter New Year's Eve

1. Book your sitter ahead of time. Many teenagers and college students don't make plans until the last minute. Take advantage of this. Call them a few weeks before New Year's Eve and get on their schedule. ....

 

Baby Language on Circus Bingo

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Breakthrough in Infant Care Now Available for Parents
With New Dunstan Baby Language DVD
After nearly a decade of research, Dunstan Baby has found that all newborns use specific 'words' to express basic needs, such as hunger, gas or tiredness.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

 

How to avoid Non-secure Web sites

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How to avoid Non-secure Web sites.

Risk: Non-secure Web sites. Cyveillance estimates that over 30 percent of e-commerce sites do not properly protect user transactions with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), which provides secure Internet transactions.

TIP: Ideally, consumers should be familiar with the companies they buy from and ensure that they are visiting reputable Web sites. They should look for "HTTPS" in their browser’s address bar as well as a digital certificate indicating that their personal information will be encrypted during the transaction. By clicking on the certificate, consumers can determine if the identity of the site matches the information on the certificate.

 

Password security Bingo Safe

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Password security

Risk: Convenience versus safety. Using the same username or password repeatedly can put consumers at risk for personal information and identity theft.

TIP: Don’t risk security for convenience. Consumers should make a habit of using different usernames and passwords for sites they visit frequently and keep their login information in a secure place. To eliminate the risk of having personal data in unknown databases, consumers should always decline when a Web site offers to remember credit card or other information for future visits. In addition, one time use credit cards can be used for online transactions to greatly reduce the risk of fraud.

 

How to buy Gift cards safely

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How to buy Gift cards safely

Risk: Gift cards. The National Retail Foundation recently estimated that as many as 70 percent of gift cards offered on eBay were obtained fraudulently.

TIP: To avoid the possibility of fraud, consumers should purchase gift cards directly from retailers’ Web sites rather than through third parties. This way, they will also have complete access to the retailer’s refunds and other return and safety policies that are not available through third parties.

 

How to use Public computers safely

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How to use Public computers safely

Risk: Public computers. Computers at public libraries or Internet cafes are used by hundreds of people daily. Not knowing which Web sites previous users visited or whether the computer has been infected with malware can put online shoppers at great risk.

TIP: Using an unfamiliar computer that could be infected with key loggers or other malware puts consumers at risk for credit card fraud or identity theft. In addition to installing anti-virus, spyware, firewall and pop-up blocker software to detect and protect against malicious programs, consumers shopping online should use computers they are familiar with and trust.

 

Outdated security software Bingo Safe

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How to avoid Outdated security software

Risk: Outdated security software. Purchasing and installing security software does not guarantee protection against security threats. As online risks evolve, out-of-date software can make computers vulnerable.

TIP: Before shopping online, consumers should update their computers with the latest security patches and anti-virus software. These frequent updates offer protection from constantly evolving online threats, and installing the most current versions of security software is a simple form of protection. In addition, many malicious sites may attempt to change a user’s browser settings, such as the homepage or security options, which can lead to unwanted Web sites or malicious content downloads.

 

How to avoid Phishing. Bingo Safe

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How to avoid Phishing.

Risk: Phishing. This is an attempt to fraudulently acquire sensitive or personal information, such as passwords or account numbers, through counterfeit Web sites and emails.

TIP: Consumers should never respond to email solicitations from unfamiliar entities. Understanding the email policies of companies they do business with is crucial. Most reputable companies will never ask for personal information via email. Phishing scams are no longer limited to online banking and eBay users; new attacks use more tempting offers and sophisticated tricks to lure victims. These threats often include special offers on holiday travel, exceptional deals and pricing on consumer goods, paid surveys, lottery winnings and other tactics. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

 

How to avoid Malware. - Bingo Safe

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How to avoid Malware.

Risk: Malware. This is software unknowingly installed on a user’s computer with the intent of stealing personal information or providing remote access to sensitive data.

TIP: Consumers should make sure they have the latest security updates installed on their computers. They should also be extremely cautious when responding to special offers in spam messages or when visiting unknown Web sites. Free content sites and giveaways are commonly used to lure Internet users to dangerous sites that distribute malware. Avoid clicking on links in any unsolicited email.

 

Avoid Phishing scams - Bingo Safe

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Tips to avoid getting hooked by Internet phishing scams:

~ Don’t respond to online pop-ups.
~ Check your credit card statements frequently, monitoring any suspicious purchases.
~ Keep your computer’s anti-virus software up to date.
~ Use a current version of the Web browser you’re using. (The most recent versions of the Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers notify you with a warning message when you navigate onto a potential phishing Web site.)

 

Proactive Security - Bingo Safe

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Be proactive in your fight against malware

Spyware and adware have become a very real threat for organizations, but most detection programs remove malware after it's already done the damage. In Security Solutions, Mike Mullins discusses the merits of proactive security and explains why it's better to know whether a Web site is potentially harmful before you browse.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

 

Christian News Parish Bingo s

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Christian News:

3 former Christian Peacemaker hostages urge forgiveness for Iraqi captors Three Christian peace activists held hostage in Iraq for 118 days last year said Friday they forgive their captors and don't want to see them face the death penalty.

Holy Land treasures on display in Lauderdale. The artifacts that date from the time of Christ to the seventh century. A groundbreaking exhibit of Christian and Jewish artifacts that traces the shared roots of the two faiths bringing some of the most significant archaeological discoveries in Israel.

The Grove Center for the Arts announced its plans to develop the first national retreat center offering retreats and programs to nurture the spiritual development and creative vision of artists in the Church.

A Turkish prosecutor has filed criminal charges against two converts to Christianity, accusing them of "insulting Turkishness," inciting hatred against Islam and secretly compiling data on private citizens for a local Bible correspondence course

 

Charity News/Opportunities Parish Bingo

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Charity News/Opportunities

Americans can give a Christmas gift this year of Bibles or Christian books to pastors and Christian workers in developing countries by participating in "Operation Bare Your Bookshelf" sponsored by Christian Resources International, a 50-year old ministry aimed at providing Bibles and Christian literature to people from around the world.

Operation Chillout gives essential items donated by members of parishes About six years ago, Operation Chillout was nothing more than a few guys delivering backpacks of essentials to homeless Vietnam veterans in Dover.

 

Christian Morals in New Children's Book Parish Bingo

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The Mystery of the Missing Children: Author Combines Adventure and Christian Morals in New Children's Book

Join author Clara E. Martin on a fantastic adventure through space to solve the mystery of kidnappings occurring in a small town in her new children's book, "Bill and Nell and the Mystery of the Missing Children".

The story takes place in the quiet little town of Tacoville, where a series of recent kidnappings has struck fear in every household. Parents have begun confining their children in their houses to keep them from being snatched away.

 

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AUTHOR TALKS OF PRAYER, WRITING AND LIVING CHRISTIAN LIFE
Dr. Philip Yancey spoke on the real meaning of prayer, Christians living by different principles and how classical music revived his spirituality.

Author Dr. Philip Yanceysaid he reached a spiritual crossroads when he realized he'd been lied to about God during his church upbringing.

Describing himself as a "a fellow pilgrim" more than a celebrity, Yancey has sold more than 13 million books of his observations and efforts "to figure it all out," and the factors contributing to his journey from disillusioned church attendee to author of spiritual encouragement.

His titles include "The Jesus I Never Knew," "Church: Why Bother?" "What's Amazing About Grace?" and his new release, "Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?" He is an editor-at-large for Christianity Today.

 

News, page 2 - Parish Bingo

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God touching our world

New Christmas stamp 'exemplifies family, charity' Art lovers, stamp collectors and representatives of the U.S. Postal Service gathered at the Denver Art Museum to witness the unveiling of the 2006 religious Christmas stamp. The stamp, which depicts "Madonna and Child With Bird," is a replica of an oil-on-canvas painting by Ignacio Chacon which dates from 1765.

Season of Advent a time of reflection Observance highlights traditions such as candle-lighting, prayer offerings and Bible study

The St. Andrews Cemetery was vandalized over the holiday with as many as 30 grave markers, some of them over 100 years old, toppled over. Some of the grave markers were broken into several pieces, breaking hearts along with the headstones.

Operation Christmas Child bans Christmas themed children's gifts Stories from the Bible, images of Jesus and any other Christian literature are expressly forbidden - in case Muslims are offended.

 

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Cannizzaro, Stephen, 90 was a devoted member of the Knights of Columbus, which honored him as its Man of the Year once. He was a fixture at the organization's Monday night bingo games, where he sold cards. The week he died, he postponed his surgery from Monday until Tuesday so he wouldn't miss bingo," Mrs. Moser said.

Roberts, Helen I. 80, enjoyed gardening, cooking, sports and bingo. She was a member of St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bergholz.

 

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Life: Enjoy the Ride by Lee Monday Life: enjoy the ride! Good advice? Definitely And what better title for a book that gets to the heart of how to take pleasure in each day by employing simple precepts to help navigate life's twists and turns. An illustrated tale that follows the main character, turtle, as he discovers how to make the most of his life on the river.

Virtual Vintage: The Insider's Guide to Buying and Selling Fashion Online Audrey, Jackie, Grace: Fashion trifecta In an age when the word is grossly overused, they remain, incontrovertibly, icons: Elegance embodied, high fashion at the dawn of the television era, with charmed lives and striking beauty.

Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoi nette Wore to the Revolution presents Marie Antoinette as a hapless 14-year-old whose mother, Empress Maria Theresa, warned her, "All eyes will be fixed on you." In the end, as we all know, she miscalculated. "Yet for the moment," Weber writes, "the larger society she sought out proved an avid market for her iconoclastic, elegant image. For the staunchest devotees of the modes she launched, neither printed matter nor in-store gossip could compare with a direct sighting of Marie Antoinette."

 

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"M by Madonna" women's wear collection to be launched in March.

Denzel Washington's advice for budding actors, "Do theatre."

Life: Enjoy the Ride by Lee Monday Life: enjoy the ride! Good advice? Definitely great FUN book!

Royal couple's new Christmas card has been unveiled to the public.

A major Brazilian fashion event has added a minimum-age requirement that will bar models under the age of 16 from participating.

Virtual Vintage: The Insider's Guide to Buying and Selling Fashion Online Elegance embodied, high fashion with striking beauty.

Pajamas, especially the bottoms, have become a comfort-driven fashion statement.

LOOKS FROM THE 1960s ARE BACK Don't look now mini-skirt and leggings!

Tom Ford will launch of a new menswear range and shop in New York next year.

Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution presents Marie Antoinette as a hapless 14-year-old whose mother, Empress Maria Theresa, warned her, "All eyes will be fixed on you."

 

101 ways to use your computer - That Bingo!

That Bingo! Gadgets you love and computer skills you need to use them!

Print Screen

Have you ever noticed that obscure button on your keyboard labeled Print Screen/SysRq? Did you ever wonder what it does?

In the old days before Windows, that button would output screen contents to a printer. Today, it no longer performs that function. Now, pressing Alt-PrtScr stores an image of the screen to memory; it can then be pasted into a Word document or into a graphics program such as Windows' Paint utility by pressing Control-V. It's handy to use when you want to capture a screen error message, for instance, that you can save and send to someone for assistance.

Now you know : )

 

Curious and Useful Technology news - ThatBingo

That Bingo! Gadgets you love and computer skills you need to use them!

Torbay Holdings, Inc. announced that the U.S. Patent Office has issued a patent protecting the design of its future mouse product, including the grip-less and wrist untwisted design.

 

News Section of K-Bingo Radio

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Latest articles here in the news section.

British rockers ARCTIC MONKEYS have topped the NME's Album Of 2006 poll voted for by staff at the weekly music magazine. The band's WHATEVER PEOPLE SAY I AM, THAT'S WHAT I'M NOT debut beat out stiff competition from SHOW YOUR BONES by New York rockers YEAH YEAH YEAHS, which came second, andMUSEs BLACK HOLES AND REVELATIONS, which finished third.

After more than 55 films, Oscar-winning Nicolas Cage plans to cut back on acting to pursue other interests, such as helping develop independent cinema in his new home of the Bahamas. read more

 

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News about Books
Write A Book In 30 Days? A Novel Idea
Some 80,000 People Join Project To Write 50,000 Words In A Month

Calendar of the heavens US meteorologists say their weather forecasts are useless, but the ‘Old Farmer’s Almanac’, more than 200 years old, has charmed generations of readers.

 

Before You Leap: A Frog's Eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons

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Kermit the Frog

Kermit the Frog first rose to stardom during the early days of "Sesame Street" and went on to star in big screen features such as "The Muppet Movie." Now he is releasing his memoirs in a book called "Before You Leap: A Frog's Eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons," a follow-up to his 1993 best-seller.

He also lays out some advice.

# Ask yourself important questions. Asking big questions is part of Kermit's dream identification system. He said people should ponder things like "Who am I? Where am I? How did I get here? Why is that pig approaching me with mistletoe?"

# When it comes to making friends, be flexible. "You have to be open to new things," he said.

# Get in touch with your inner tadpole. "Important stuff. It's good to stay in touch, otherwise you call up and have to dial star three to get through to him," Kermit said. "My tadpole is writing his own memoirs right now."

"My philosophy goes back to what my good friend Jim says. He said he wanted to leave the world a little better place than it was before he got here for him having been here and I think he did that," Kermit said. "That's something we can strive for. I'm trying."

To read an excerpt of "Before You Leap,"

 

Michele Pillar - news from Parish Bingo

Michele Pillar

I Hear Angels Calling

Enrich your holiday season with Michele Pillar's I Hear Angels Calling Christmas CD. Order today and get your copy in time for the holidays as a gift for the family.

Michele excels with an approach mastered long ago: elegant delivery and stellar vocals that give extra polish to this seasonal lineup.

I Hear Angels Calling features several standard and original songs written by Michele Pillar and friends exclusively for this project with the addition of instrumental interludes featuring jazz guitar legend, Larry Carlton.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

 

Contests

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Win 'Beerfest' On DVD Completely, Totally Unrated' DVD
Step up to the tap and enter for a chance to win cool movie prizes WSBTV.com Entertainment contest in conjunction with the Warner Bros. Pictures DVD release of the comedy "Beerfest." valid through Dec. 13, 2006

Christian Poetry Contest $1000 grand prize sponsored by Christian Fine Arts Society, 50 prizes in all totaling more than $4000. valid thru December 16, 2006.

Win 'Unaccompanied Minors' Movie Prizes Win a pair of 15-mile range walkie talkies with a charging base, a pair of sunglasses, a baseball cap, an aluminum luggage tag, an adult-sized T-shirt and a kid-sized T-shirt. Four runners-up will be selected at random to receive a pair of sunglasses, a baseball cap, an aluminum luggage tag, an adult-sized T-shirt and a kid-sized T-shirt.  valid thru Dec. 17.

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Bingo player robbed by man, police say

AKRON: A 60-year-old woman who won a $1,000 jackpot in bingo Monday night was slightly injured when a man grabbed her purse as she was walking to her car in the parking lot at the Ellet Amateur Athletics Association Bingo Hall on East Market Street, police said. The suspect, identified by Akron police as Raymond C. Poore, 24, was being held Tuesday night in the Summit County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond.

 

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CHARITY CALENDARS TOPS £3,700

STAFF at a Glenrothes bingo club who bared all for a special charity calendar have raised more than £3,700 ... so far. The 23 brave employees from Gala Bingo, based in the town's Flemington Road, hoped their numbers would come up after dropping everything for Breakthrough Breast Cancer earlier this year.

 

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Two get 63 months in bingo bilking

Two Madison County women were sentenced yesterday to more than five years in prison and must pay the Internal Revenue Service more than $30,000 each for bilking bingo proceeds intended for charity. Rita Tipton, 64, and her sister, Gloria Williams, 65, were convicted earlier this year by a federal jury of several counts of mail fraud and income tax invasion. Prosecutors say Tipton and Williams operated Jackpot Charity Bingo in Madison County and used a series of schemes including selling illegal pull-tab games -- which are similar to scratch off lottery tickets -- and pocketed the cash. They used that money to gamble at area river boats.

 

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Farepak victims in £100,000 win

A group of women who lost money in the Farepak collapse are celebrating after scooping a £100,000 bingo win. All except the friend who actually won the game had lost between £150 and £400 in Farepak vouchers when the Christmas savings company went bust. They had a pact if any of them won they would share the money and will now receive around £16,000 each. The women have been going to Newcastle together for the past nine years.

Wilmington Bingo Hall Robbed

Police are searching for the man who robbed a bingo hall late Friday night. They say the man came into the bingo hall off Shipyard and Carolina Beach Road and demanded money. Police say the man was armed.

Friday, December 08, 2006

 

Christmas Tree Fire Destroys Family's Home -

Christmas Tree Fire Destroys Family's Home - Yahoo! News

Christmas Tree Fire Destroys Family's Home

A family of five lost nearly everything they had when a fire sparked by their Christmas tree's lights destroyed their home this week.

Bingo Player Network reminds us to be thankful and careful!

Thursday, December 07, 2006

 

BEST BOOKS! featured on Play*girl Bingo

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*The Female Brain, by Dr Luan Brizendine Women talk three times as much as men, says study... But what the male brain may lack in conversation and emotion, they more than make up with in their ability to think about sex....


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*The Scorecard: How to Fix Your Man in One Year or Less. by Julie Bell, Donna Brown, Judith Newman The women detail their goal-oriented technique of prioritizing and then clearly articulating the changes necessary in their marriages before they would reconcile with their husbands.

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Catwalk ban on the skinny model in Italy The guidelines have been drawn up in the wake of the outcry earlier this year over ultra-thin models on the catwalk. The row was given impetus after two models died suffering from eating disorders.

text in the city: it's smart, it's sexy, and oh so necessary! Text in the City is a free daily e-mail and website. It is THE place girls get good text about dating and relationships; learn where to find good men; discover how men think and how to keep one.

skin abnormalities induced by psychological stress?? yikes

Crowds gather for Christmas fashion Trendy Wimbledon residents flocked to see new winter lines recently when department store Elys put on its very own fashion show.

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To love and to be loved - it is everything to a woman
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Women talk three times as much as men, says study Women talk almost three times as much as men, with the average woman chalking up 20,000 words in a day - 13,000 more than the average man. Women also speak more quickly, devote more brainpower to chit-chat - and actually get a buzz out of hearing their own voices, a new book suggests.

But what the male brain may lack in conversation and emotion, they more than make up with in their ability to think about sex.... Dr Brizendine says the brain's "sex processor" - the areas responsible for sexual thoughts - is twice as big as in men than in women, perhaps explaining why men are stereotyped as having sex on the mind.

Need to know ARTICLES!

 

fuel-cell-powered Christmas tree

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Schwarzenegger to light fuel-cell-powered Christmas tree

A hydrogen fuel cell will light California's Christmas tree, governor of the pro-environment US state. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced, giving the low-emissions technology a boost. "For the first time in California's history, a small hydrogen fuel-cell system will power the energy-efficient Christmas tree throughout the holiday season," said a statement from his office.

 

Holiday Movies - K Bingo

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The holidays wouldn’t be the same without your favorite movies.

Many classic films and cartoons — ones that your parents probably watched as children, too — are available on DVD. Some, including select Charlie Brown TV specials, are packaged together, and others have been re-released as special editions.

Here’s a collection of several favorites:

 

Media News from K-Bingo

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Latest articles here in the news section.

Time-Warner Plans 'Download-to-Burn' Movies, services that let consumers download movies from the Internet that can be burned onto DVDs in 2007.

Microsoft's Xbox Live service will soon let people download selected television shows and movies The idea is to add the new content--movies like Patriot Games, V for Vendetta and The Matrix, as well as TV shows such as Survivor, South Park and Friends--to existing Xbox Live games.

Timeless Holiday Movies NPR's Talk of the Nation, Murray Horwitz and listeners give their picks for the "Best Holiday Movies of All Time."

A "Holiday" chick flick with plenty of soul A holiday movie that doesn't make everyone grumpy? A romantic comedy with real sense of how romance feels, both good and bad, when caught in its throes? Such stars as Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black, who are funny, sexy, unabashedly wear emotions in plain view and can winningly play those quirky-ridiculous neuroses that light up movie screens? Pass the eggnog.

The holidays wouldn’t be the same without your favorite movies.
Many classic films and cartoons — ones that your parents probably watched as children, too — are available on DVD. Some, including select Charlie Brown TV specials, are packaged together, and others have been re released as special editions.

 

News

Book recommendations from a fellow bingo player

Clooney buying John Grisham book rights - George Clooney will produce a movie based on John Grisham's "The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town."

Books Across Africa Improving Literacy in Nakuru, Kenya - Continuing their mission to spread literacy across Africa, The Association of Maryland Africa Societies, Inc. (AMAS) organization Books Across Africa, recently returned from Nairobi, Kenya delivering books to Nakuru, which is three hours outside Nairobi. The 10-day trip saw 25,000 books delivered to area schools and libraries.

East London boy publishes book - A 10-year-old boy from east London has paved the way for young authors by publishing his first book online. Marvin Muoneke, from Beckton, was inspired by his favorite writer Dr Seuss, to pen his debut book "There Are No Such Things As Dragons".

 

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Wednesday, December 06, 2006

 

Curious Technology News

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Computers Will Enable People To Live Forever

The inventor, author, and futurist Ray Kurzweil predicts that in 15 to 30 years, nanobots will roam our blood streams fixing diseased or aging organs, computers will back up our human memories, and conference calls will be replaced by meetings in virtual resorts.

Electricity broadcast through the air may someday run your home.

The idea was conceived by Marin Soljacic, an assistant professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A metaphorical light bulb lit up over his head in the middle of the night, he says, when a beeping cell phone woke him because it needed recharging. Why, he wondered, couldn't a cell phone - or his four Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners, for that matter - be constantly recharged wirelessly?

 

the Goodbye Weapon

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Say Hello to the Goodbye Weapon

The crowd is getting ugly. Soldiers roll up in a Hummer. Suddenly, the whole right half of your body is screaming in agony. You feel like you've been dipped in molten lava. You almost faint from shock and pain, but instead you stumble backwards -- and then start running. To your surprise, everyone else is running too. In a few seconds, the street is completely empty.

 

Antikythera Mechanism

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Ancient Mechanical Device
- calculated the heavens

The Antikythera Mechanism, which dates to about 100 B.C., is believed to have been created by the Greeks to track the lunar and solar cycles.

For more than 100 years, researchers have been trying to unlock the secrets of a mysterious gadget discovered at the bottom of the sea near the Greek island of Antikythera.

With the help of Hewlett-Packard scientists — and HP’s vaunted imaging technology — more information has come to light about the so-called Antikythera Mechanism.

 

X-ray machine for travellers

Bingo Safari Travel news and links

X-ray machine for passengers set for test at Phoenix airport

Sky Harbor International Airport will test a controversial new federal screening system that takes X-rays of passenger's bodies in an effort to find concealed explosives and other weapons. One machine will be up and running at Sky Harbor's Terminal 4 by Christmas.

The technology, called backscatter, has been around for several years but has not been widely used in the U.S. as an anti-terrorism tool because of privacy concerns.

more

 

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Win 'Unaccompanied Minors' Movie Prizes Win a pair of 15-mile range walkie talkies with a charging base, a pair of sunglasses, a baseball cap, an aluminum luggage tag, an adult-sized T-shirt and a kid-sized T-shirt. Four runners-up will be selected at random to receive a pair of sunglasses, a baseball cap, an aluminum luggage tag, an adult-sized T-shirt and a kid-sized T-shirt. click here.
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Facing festive feasts!

My Bingo Game

Practical advice for facing festive feasts!

1 - Avoid pre-meal munchies: Eat a toasted whole-wheat bagel or a bowl of oatmeal. You won't show up hungry and the whole grains are complex carbohydrates that take longer to digest.

2 - Fill up and burn extra calories: Drink a tall glass of ice water along with your meal. This will leave less room for eggnog and stuffing. You'll burn a few extra calories as your body warms the water temperature.

3 - Buffet strategy: Fill up on veggies first, then stand or sit a good distance from the table.

4 - Take a post-meal walk. Research indicates that physical activity after a big holiday meal may the lower levels of fat in the blood.

 

5 Surprising Ways to Prevent Memory Loss

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5 Surprising Ways to Prevent Alzheimer's, Memory Loss

1- Continue to learn new things. Active, deliberate learning encourages growth of new brain synapses. The goal is to challenge yourself, but not to a point that it becomes stressful.

2 - Manage stress. Memory is vulnerable to long periods of extreme stress. Chronic stress prompts the release of cortisol, a fight or flight hormone. Elevated levels of cortisol can actually damage memory cells in the hippocampus of the brain.

3 - Be flexible. Research indicates that individuals who develop rigid response patterns experience sharper declines in mental abilities than people whose lifestyles remain more flexible.

4 - Get plenty of sleep. Memories are created in three stages, one of which requires sleep. Adequate rest also affects concentration, creative thinking and alertness.

5- Exercise your concentration. In today's busy, multi-tasking world, we don't take the time to focus on one thing and one thing alone. Practice blocking out other distractions and concentrating on one specific task or project.

 

Eat slowly: you will eat less

My Bingo Game

Eat slowly: you will eat less

Women consume about 70 fewer calories when they take their time eating a meal of pasta and sauce, compared to when they eat it as quickly as possible. They also say the meal as more pleasant.

More pleasure for less calories.

Eat with a small spoon, put it down after each bite, and take small bites and chew each bite 15 to 20 times.

You will feel fuller and more satisfied immediately after they eating a meal and still satisfied an hour later.

Eating slowly may indeed promote weight loss, it is possible to eat three leisurely meals might consume 210 fewer calories a day than someone who wolfed those meals down.

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

 

Almanac

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Almanac

Dec 4 Taurus Neck and Throat
Dec 5 Taurus Neck and Throat
Dec 6 Cusp Neck and Throat, Arms, Chest and Legs
Dec 7 Gemini Arms, Chest and Legs
Dec 8 Gemini Arms, Chest and Legs
Dec 9 Cancer Stomach and Breast
Dec 10 Cancer Stomach and Breast

 

Health News

My Bingo Game:

Health News

Problem gamblers have poorer health People who can't control their gambling may have higher odds of physical health problems as well, a new study shows. Researchers found that among more than 43,000 Americans in a national survey, problem gamblers had elevated rates of liver disease, high blood pressure, high heart rate and angina -- chest pain caused by blockages in the heart arteries.

Frequent Weight Change Raises Men's Gallstone Risk "Weight cycling" may increase men's risk for gallstones, a University of Kentucky Medical Center study finds. Compared to weight maintainers, light cyclers had a 21 percent increased risk of gallstones, moderate cyclers had a 38 percent increased risk, and severe cyclers had a 76 percent increased risk.

Testosterone levels declined over time A new study shows a drop in average blood levels of testosterone in middle-aged men over the last 20 years. Blood levels of testosterone were first checked in the late 1980s. The second testing was in the mid-1990s. The third testing was in 2002-2004. All of the men were 45 to 79 years old when they took the testosterone test. The key finding: Testosterone levels declined over time beyond what would be expected with age.

 

5 Easy Ways To Boost your Metabolism

My Bingo Game

5 Easy Ways To Boost your Metabolism

1 - Eat something within the first hour of waking up. This will wake up your digestive system to begin burning calories sooner in the day. Think of breakfast as the kindling that starts the fire of your metabolism.

2 - Keep your body's gas tank (your stomach) ¼ to ¾ full all day long. This is how thin people eat. They start eating at the first sign of hunger and stop eating when no longer hungry. When you skip meals or eat to the point of full, your body releases lypogenic fat-storing enzymes. Avoid the two extremes.

3 - Move your body most days of the week and use weights to strengthen your muscles. Move-ment burns calories and raises your metabolism for up to 24 hours after the completion of the exercise. Plan to move for at least 30 minutes four days of the week. To burn more calories all day long, you will want to increase the amount of muscle on your body.

4 - Add foods to your diet that have been found to raise metabolism or decrease calorie intake, such as cayenne pepper, salsa, hot peppers, mustard, green tea, apple cider vinegar, berries, soup and oatmeal.

5 - Substitute water for other beverages. Water is essential for the breakdown of body fat to be used for energy.

Source: Jill Fleming, author of "Thin People Don't Clean Their Plates: Simple Lifestyle Choices for Permanent Weight Loss"

 

Traffic-light approach for weight maintenance!

My Bingo Game

Traffic-light approach for weight maintenance!

Shed a few pounds recently? Congrats. But don't celebrate just yet. Keeping yourself at a healthy weight is more of a marathon effort than a sprint, and many people drop out of the race early. TIPS

Monday, December 04, 2006

 

'Don't Sweat' guru takes on holiday sneers

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'Don't Sweat' guru takes on holiday sneers
Richard Carlson interview:

Not long ago, I watched this guy throwing his food in front of me, being an absolute jerk. My friend the cashier started to hum. "Is that a strategy?" I asked. Absolutely, she said, and told me I should try it sometime. When you're humming, it's hard to be depressed. You do it for your own good, then something happens. When you find one person who is calm, people are drawn to that. It's very contagious.

 

Identity Theft this christmas shopping year - Bingo Safe

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Identity theft

With so much shopping going on and lots of currency being exchanged, criminals are looking for new, creative ways to target consumers, Wachovia Bank warns.

There are three distinct cons going on this year: “phishing,” charity schemes and Internet scams. Phishing involves a counterfeit e-mail or Web site that appears to be authentic and asks the consumer to enter or verify personal financial information.

 

Poll: Will you put up a Christmas tree this year? BingoRater.com

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Will you put up a Christmas tree this year?

62% of Americans will be decorating a Christmas tree this year.

Younger adults are more like than their elders to decorate.

Decorating the Christmas tree gets much higher enjoyable marks than holiday shopping.

Artificial trees are the preference for 65% while 31% opt for the real thing.

 

Polling your opinion on Christmas Parties BingoRater.com

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"How many holiday parties do you plan to attend this season?"

Tis the season to be attending Christmas parties.

87% plan to attend at least one holiday party

37% plan to go to four+ parties this year.

More than 18% said they'll attend three parties.

12% are non-attendees.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

 

You need to know! from Bingo Info Network

Bingo Info Network

Liberty Counsel Goes on the Offensive to Defend Christmas
Is your favorite store naughty (censors Christmas) or nice (recognizes Christmas)? see report card

SpaceRef's 17 news and reference web sites are designed to allow both the novice and specialist alike to explore outer space and Earth observation. RSS News Feeds · Space Wire · SpaceRef · Space Station · Mercury · Mars · Saturn

 

Video Game recommendations and News from BingoGame Network

Bingo Game Network your portal to the best bingo games online

History teacher David McDivitt wanted to find out whether video games could teach. So he asked 64 sophomores at Oak Hill High School in Converse, Ind., last spring to trade in their textbooks for a week and play a World War II simulation game instead. Another 45 stuck with the books. more

Professional video gamer Tom Taylor, aka Tsquared, is the envy of every young video game player but he wants to debunk the myth that wielding a joystick for a living is all fun and games. The self-taught player, who has been playing competitively since aged 14 and turned pro at 16, dropped out of school to concentrate on building a career in gaming. more

Will there be video games for your children under the Christmas tree this year? Before they make a list for Santa Claus, you may want to look at the latest findings from Minneapolis-based research group MediaWise. see list

 

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Drugs fund bingo habit.
A grandmother found with a trunkful of marijuana was convicted of drug running in what prosecutors said was an attempt to earn cash for a bingo habit. Villareal, 61, told jurors before they convicted her Thursday that her only regular income was a $275 monthly welfare check, but she frequently played bingo and occasionally won thousands of dollars. Villareal faces three to 12 years in state prison when she is sentenced Dec. 18.

She struggled to hold on to her purse.
The robber ripped it off her arm and ran off. A local grandmother who won at bingo then lost her winnings to a purse snatcher. The 77-year-old grandmother of two was hurt and her right arm remains severely bruised. She was on her front porch in Footedale when someone came behind her and grabbed her purse.

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