Three Trees

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, 'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.'

Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.' Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the Hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching.

I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.' After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said,

'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter, 'and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.'

The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon t he third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the Woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down. When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay.

This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree.

The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe.

The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said 'Peace' and the Storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat. Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His> ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best. Please keep this moving... pass it on, so God may inspire more people on the way. May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may God cradle you in the palm of His hand.

Tampa Man call 911 after told he had to leave, then arrested

TAMPA - Roberto Benigno Campos thought there ought to be a law for kicking a man out of a bar at closing time, police said.
When the staff at the ShangriLa Gentleman's Oasis scooped up his drink about 3:15 a.m. today to shut down for the night, Campos called 911 to say he'd been robbed, an affidavit states.
Tampa police were not amused.
Officers arrived at the bikini bar at 2310 N. Dale Mabry Highway, sized up the situation and told Campos no crime had been committed.
Campos, 33, was undeterred and called 911 three more times to report a drink robbery, an affidavit states.
The St. Petersburg man also advised authorities that police did not help him because he was a supporter of President Barack Obama, the affidavit states.
At that point, police were glad to help Campos to jail.
Police charged him with misdemeanor misuse of the 911 system for calling the emergency number "for a purpose other than obtaining public safety assistance," the affidavit states.
Campos was released this morning on $500 bail, jail records show.

America tradition must live on!!!

America has a rich tradition putting our most honored leaders on its currencies.
George Washington, our nation's first president and leader of the American Revolution.











Abe Lincoln, our most honorable leader pull our nation through its darkest time.











Alexander Hamilton, founding father, first secretary of the treasury and leader of the constitutional convention.










Andrew Jackson, "Old Hickory " fought the British in New Orleans .











Ulysses Grant, Union army general, lead the North through the Civil War.










Ben Franklin, Genius inventor, political theorist and leading author of the constitution.











Finally, we have someone to put on the food stamp!!!!!!!

The 2008 Worse Drivers Award:

Women Drivers

10th Place Goes to:

9th Place Goes To:

8th Place Goes To:

7th Place Goes To:

6th Place Goes To:

5th Place Goes To:

4th Place Goes To:

The Bronze Medal Winner:

The Silver Medal Winner:


Her helmet is
being worn backwards

...and
finally, here is our 2008 Women Drivers Awards

*** Gold Medal Winner ***

WOW ! ! How the...?!?
Oh never mind... CONGRATULATIONS ! !

This concludes the 2008 Women Drivers Awards Ceremony.

Thanks to all our contestants for giving us all a reason to laugh & smile.

Dear GOD

We pray for optimum health, mental clarity and political prosperity for Barack Obama. We pray that what he lacks in political 'experience' you make up for with supernatural wisdom and power. We also pray that when his enemies come upon him they will stumble and fall; and that your love will fill his heart to the end that 'Your will' will be done through him. We pray mightily for his protection. As we plead the Blood of Jesus over him and his family, we ask you to dispatch legions of angels to protect them from all hurt, harm, danger, and from all accidents and incidents as he begins his journey as our President of these United States. We thank and praise you for answering the sincere prayers of the righteous. In Jesus' Name, AMEN All you are asked to do is keep this circulating.

Do you have your ICE numbers?

Apparently this is a standard procedure all paramedics follow at the scene of an accident when they come across your cell phone.

ICE - 'In Case of Emergency' We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence the 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Campaign. The concept of 'ICE' is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell(mobile) phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE' ( In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call.. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as 'ICE.'

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference!

Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our Mobile phones today! Please forward this. It won't take too many 'forwards' before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest. ICE will speak for you when you are not able to.

Attorney's Advice - No Charge

I printed this and put it in my desk drawer
ATTORNEY'S ADVICE - NO CHARGE
Not A Joke!! Even If you dislike attorneys..... You will love them for these tips.
Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company:

1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address.Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.

4. Place the contents of y our wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.
I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.
Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.
But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name.
The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything.
If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about.

A Point in Your life

There comes a point in your life when you realizewho matters,who never did,who won't anymore...and who always will.So, don't worry about people from your past,there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.Give this heart to everyone you don't want to lose in 2009,including me, if you care..

Try to collect 12; it's not easy! '

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.'

Something more to consider

* In 1954, Jimmy Denny, the manager of th Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis Presley after one performance. He told Presley..."you ain't goin nowhere...son. You ought to go back to drivin a truck."

* When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, it did not ring off the hook with potential backers. After making a demonstration call, President Rutherford Hayes said, That is an amazing invention, but who would ever want to use one of them?"

* Thomas Edison was probably the greatest inventor in American history. When he first attend school in Port Huron, Michigan, his teachers complained that he was "to slow" and hard to handle. As a result, his mother decided to take him out of school and teach him at home. The young Edison was fascinated by science. At the age of ten he had already set up his first chemistry laboratory. Edison"s inexaustable energy and genius ( which he reportedly defined as ("1 percent inspirition and 99 percent perspiration') eventionaly produced omre than 1300 inventions in his life time.

Consider this:

History has demostrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heart breaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.......B.C.Forbes


* Malcom Forbes, the late editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine, one of the most successful business publications in the world, failed to make the staff of the school newspaper when he was an under-graduate at Princeton University.

* In 1962, four nervous young musicians played for their first audition for the executives of the Decca Recording Company. The executives were not impressed. While turning down this British rock group called the Beatles,one executive said," We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on thier way out."

* Paul Cohen, Nashville " Artist and Repertoire Man" for Decca Records, while firing Buddy Holly from the Decca label in 1956, called Holly " the biggest no talent I have ever worked with." Twenty years later Rolling Stone called Holly, along with Chuch Berry, "the major influence on the rock music of the sixties."

NINE WORDS WOMEN USE, and what they mean

(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)

(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

(7) Thanks : A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' . that will bring on a 'whatever').

(8) Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying Forget YOU! I don't give a shit.....Lol

(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

DIAL *77 TO VERIFY IF POLICE CAR TRIES TO STOP YOU

*Everyone needs to know about*77 *


I knew about the red light on cars, but not the *77. It was about 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his lights on. *Lauren's parents have always told them never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road , but rather to wait until they get to a gas station, etc. * Lauren had actually listened to her parents advice, and promptly called * 77 on her cell phone to tell the police dispatcher that she would not pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the dispatcher that there was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her The dispatcher checked to see if there were police cars near where she was and there weren't, and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back up already on the way. Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her al ong with the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground. The man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes, including previous Impersonating an Officer charges. I never knew about the*77 Cell Phone feature, but especially for a woman alone in a car, you should not pull over for an unmarked car. Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a safe &quiet place. You obviously need to make some signals that you acknowledge them (i.e. put on your hazard lights) or call *77 like Lauren did. Too bad the cell phone compani es don't gen erally give you th is little bit of wonderful information. *Speaking to a service representative at BellSouth Mobility confirmed that *77 was a direct link to state trooper info in all states.

So, now it's your turn to let your friends know about *77.

BREAKING NEWS

::: In 2009 the government will start deporting all the mentally ill people. I started crying when I thought of you. Run my little nut-case friend, run!

Well, what can I say. Someone sent it to me and I'm not going alone.

A Special Occasion

A man opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:'This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package.'He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.'She got this the first time we went to New York , 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on , was saving it for a special occasion.
Well, I guess this is it.
He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral home...his wife had just died.
He thought:'Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion'.So:read more and clean less.sit on the porch without worrying about anything.spend more time with family, and less at work.
use your crystal glasses every day... wear your new clothes to go to the supermarket, if you feel like it.Each day, each hour, each minute, is special. Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one.If you got this, it's because someone cares for you...
and probably because there's someone you care about.Remember that 'One day' is far away... or might never come...

Knock Knock

Knock, Knock I knocked at heaven's door this morning. God asked me...'My child, what can I do for you?' And I said, 'Father, please protect and bless the person reading this message.' God smiled and answered...'Request granted'.
If you believe, send this to seven people and the one who sent it to you. By doing this, you have succeeded in praying for eight people today. 'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.'

I am one of the 7%

Actually I sincerely believe that more than 7% will forward this.



A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.




The first thing the first man prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren.
After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that his wife and he could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.


"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us.

Hot water & heart and save your heart!.

This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about Heart Attacks< . The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating


For those who like to drink cold article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer! . It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

Common Symptoms Of Heart Attack...

A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be car eful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this & Send to a friend. It could save a life. So, please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.
I JUST DID - -

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND ...usually not this quick, but it comes back just the same!

One day a man saw a old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help.

So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.

Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help f or the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you. He said, 'I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.' Well, all she had was a flat tire,but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped.

Bryan never thought twice about being paid.This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, sh e could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, 'And think of me..' ;He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her.

The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase.
The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger.

Then she remembered Bryan .After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: 'You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you.' Under the napkin were four more $100 bills. Well, there were tables to c lear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day.

That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard.... She knew how worried her husband was, a nd as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, 'Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.' There is an old saying 'What goes around comes around.' Today I sent you this story, and I'm asking you to pass it on. Let this light shine. Don't delete it, don't return it. Simply, pass this on to a friend Good friends are like stars....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND ~GOD BLESS!~

Patient at Bremerton Hospital was arrested for throwing a fit because she wanted a Smoke Really Bad

Police arrested a 26-year-old Olympia woman at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton after she allegedly became aggressive toward hospital staff.
Police were called to the hospital at 4:27 a.m. Thursday by a hospital employee, who asked that the woman be arrested for assault. When police arrived they were told the woman had been brought into the hospital because of "seizure activity," but she hadn't had a seizure, according to reports.
The woman asked staff if she could have a cigarette and was told no, which made her mad. She started kicking, spitting, scratching and biting staff, according to reports.
Police arrested her on suspicion of third-degree assault. As they took her through the hospital to the police car she started screaming "stop assaulting me," and caused a commotion, the report said.
While in the police car on the way to the Kitsap County jail, the woman continued to yell and hit her head against the partition between the rear and front seats of the police car. She was booked into jail and held on $75,000 bail.

Texas death row inmate pulls out eye, eats it

A Texas death row inmate with a history of mental problems pulled out his only good eye and told authorities he ate it. Andre Thomas, 25, was arrested for the fatal stabbings of his estranged wife, their young son and her 13-month-old daughter in March 2004. Their hearts also had been ripped out. He was convicted and condemned for the infant's death.

While in the Grayson County Jail in Sherman, Thomas plucked out his right eye before his trial later in 2004. A judge subsequently ruled he was competent to stand trial.
A death-row officer at the Polunsky Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice found Thomas in his cell with blood on his face and took him to the infirmary.
"Thomas said he pulled out his eye and subsequently ingested it," agency spokesman Jason Clark said Friday.
Thomas was treated at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler after the Dec. 9 incident. Then he was transferred and remains at the Jester Unit, a prison psychiatric facility near Richmond southwest of Houston.
"He will finally be able to receive the mental health care that we had wanted and begged for from day 1," Bobbie Peterson-Cate, Thomas' trial attorney, told the Sherman Herald Democrat. "He is insane and mentally ill. It is exactly the same reason he pulled out the last one."
At his trial, defense lawyers also argued he suffered from alcohol and drug abuse.
Thomas does not have an execution date.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in October upheld his conviction and death sentence for the death of 13-month-old Leyha Marie Hughes. Also killed March 27, 2004, were his wife, Laura Christine Boren, 20, and their son, 4-year-old Andre Lee. more

Bush Admits Mistakes In Final News Conference

WASHINGTON (AP) ―President George W. Bush holds a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House January 12, 2009 in Washington, DC.

In a nostalgic final news conference, President George W. Bush defended his record vigorously and at times sentimentally Monday. He also admitted many mistakes, from the "Mission Accomplished" banner during a 2003 Iraq speech to the discovery that the alleged Iraqi weapons of mass destruction that he used to justify war didn't exist. After starting what he called "the ultimate exit interview" with a lengthy and personalized thank-you to the reporters in the room who have covered him over the eight years of his presidency, Bush showed anger at times when presented with some of the main criticisms of his time in office. He particularly became indignant when asked about America's bruised image overseas. "I disagree with this assessment that, you know, that people view America in a dim light," he said. Bush said he realizes that some issues such as the prison for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have created controversy at home and around the world. But he defended his actions after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including approving tough interrogation methods for suspected terrorists and information-gathering efforts at home in the name of protecting the country. With the Iraq war in its sixth year, he most aggressively defended his decisions on that issue, which will define his presidency like no other. There have been over 4,000 U.S. deaths since the invasion and toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003. He said that "not finding weapons of mass destruction was a significant disappointment." The accusation that Saddam had and was pursuing weapons of mass destruction was Bush's main initial justification for going to war. Bush admitted another miscalculation: Eager to report quick progress after U.S. troops ousted Saddam's government, he claimed less than two months after the war started that "in the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed," a claim made under a "Mission Accomplished" banner that turned out to be wildly optimistic. "Clearly, putting `Mission Accomplished' on an aircraft carrier was a mistake," he said Monday. He also defended his decision in 2007 to send an additional 30,000 American troops to Iraq to knock down violence levels and stabilize life there. more

Madoff Dodges Jail, Still Free On Bail

NEW YORK (AP) ― Bernard Madoff, center, walks out from Federal Court after a bail hearing in Manhattan on Jan. 5, 2009 in New York City.
A judge allowed disgraced money manager Bernard Madoff to remain free on bail Monday, rejecting an attempt by prosecutors to send him to jail for mailing more than $1 million in jewelry to family and friends over the holidays.The decision is sure to outrage investors who have been clamoring for Madoff to be sent to jail for allegedly carrying out the largest financial fraud in history - a scheme authorities say he has described as a Ponzi scheme.If bail had been revoked, Madoff would have been forced from the comfort of his $7 million penthouse where he has been under house arrest and await trial living in a jail cell with nothing but bunkbeds, a sink and toilet.Prosecutors said the gifts were grounds to have his bail revoked because what's left of Madoff's assets will have to be returned to burned investors.But the judge was not swayed by the their arguments that Madoff represents an economic danger to the community because of the size of the fraud and his action in mailing the gifts.Judges in bail decisions normally consider two main factors: whether the defendant is a flight risk or a danger to the community."The government fails to provide sufficient evidence that any potential future dissemination of Madoff's assets would rise to the level of an economic harm," Magistrate Judge Ronald L. Ellis wrote.The decision means Madoff will be spared having spend his days and nights in a dreary Manhattan lockup that has been home to terrorists, mobsters like John Gotti and range of other criminals who have gone through the Manhattan system over the years.The anxiously awaited bail decision does put additional restrictions on Madoff, including forcing him to come up with a list of items at his apartment and allowing a security firm to check on the items. The security company will also be allowed to search all outgoing mail from Madoff to ensure that no property has been transferred."It is highly suspect that a man as sophisticated as Madoff appears to be did not pause to consider the possible ramifications of this proposed course of action on his release conditions," the judge said. "Given Madoff's failing in this regard, it is appropriate that his ability to transfer property be restricted as completely as possible."Ellis also acknowledged the widespread public interest in Madoff's bail and the case, but said that proper legal considerations must take priority."The issue at this stage of the criminal proceedings is not whether Madoff has been charged in perhaps the largest Ponzi scheme ever, not whether Madoff's alleged actions should result in his widespread disapprobation by the public, nor even what is appropriate punishment after conviction," the judge wrote. more

Motorist With 16 Guns, arrested at LAX

A driver of a grey Chevy Silverado was detained after officials recovered 16 guns from his truck during a routine checkpoint at LAX.
A motorist with more than a dozen guns -- two of them loaded -- and nearly 1,000 rounds of ammunition in his pickup truck was arrested Friday at a vehicle checkpoint as he entered Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said. Phillip Dominguez of Orange was booked on suspicion of felony transportation of an assault rifle, but airport police said it appears he did not intend any harm and was there to pick up someone. "He just made a very bad decision, and should not have been carrying those weapons," said airport police Sgt. Jim Holcomb. The weapons -- which included 10 handguns, five rifles and an antique black-powder musket -- were in containers in the back of the 47-year-old man's truck, which was stopped by airport police officers at a major entrance to the passenger terminals area, said airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles. Two of the weapons, a revolver and the musket, were loaded. more

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6-year-old Expelled After Bringing Loaded Gun to School

VICTORVILLE -- A first grader has been expelled after bringing a loaded gun to school.

The 6-year-old boy had been sent to the principal's office at the Discovery Schools of Arts Wednesday afternoon because his pants were sagging and he had no belt, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff's spokesperson Arden Wiltshire.

As a school administrator was helping the boy pull up his pants, the loaded weapon slid out of his pants and onto the floor, Wiltshire said.

The boy said he found the gun in the trunk of his father's car and decided to show it to his friends.

Investigators determined that the .45 caliber gun had been stolen during a November 2008 robbery, according to detectives at the Sheriff's Victorville station.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for the boy's home and found additional stolen property from several home burglaries including jewelry, a camera and a television, according to sheriff's officials.

They boy's father, 34 year old Michael Lewis, was arrested for receiving stolen property and possession of a firearm by a felon. more

Parents upset after Merced elementary teacher asks students to shave his face

A teacher at Peterson Elementary School had three 8-year-old girls shave off his beard in front of the classroom, then made them pledge not to tell their parents about the incident, parents of the girls said.

He has returned to teach at the school after winter break. The incident occurred the week before Thanksgiving.

Michael McLane, a third-grade teacher who has worked for the district for several years, described the event as a "story starter" for a writing activity, according to a letter from the school's principal.

But several parents viewed his actions as questionable. "I was like: 'What?' You know," said one mother, whose daughter was holding the clippers during the incident. "It alarmed me."

Calls made to McLane's cell phone on Tuesday weren't returned and his voice mail was full. After school Tuesday, he hung up after a reporter identified herself as being from the Sun-Star. Several other calls and messages left at the same number during the past month were similarly not returned.

The parents involved in the incident asked that their names not be published to protect their children.

According to the woman's daughter, McLane had the students gather around the classroom just before recess one day. He took out an electric razor and started shaving his beard. Then he asked which of his students wanted to give it a try.

McLane called each student by name, the parent said.

There were few volunteers: just three girls.more

Man lost in his maze of trash

AN eccentric loner hoarded so much rubbish he had to BURROW through it to get around his home — then got lost in the maze of tunnels and died of thirst.

Human mole Gordon Stewart, 74, had filled his rooms up to the ceiling with ten years’ worth of garbage and clutter, making it impossible to walk around.


Neighbours raised the alarm after failing to see him leave his house in Broughton, Bucks, for several days.


When cops arrived, the stench from the rubbish was so foul they brought in a police diving team equipped with breathing apparatus.


It is believed they crawled around the tunnel network until they uncovered Mr Stewart’s body.




Piles ... bags up against window
A neighbour revealed: “A police officer said the interior was piled up with huge mounds of rotting rubbish and there was an elaborate network of tunnels to move around.


“They think Mr Stewart may have got lost and died from dehydration.”


The pony-tailed loner was often seen riding his bike around the streets — bringing back cardboard boxes and bags full of rubbish.


Another neighbour said: “He was slightly eccentric, but very clever. He lived in his own world.”


Yesterday, full plastic bags could be seen piled in the front window. more

Shoe Bomb is no joking matter

ST. LOUIS -- A St. Louis man finds out the hard way that jokes about shoe bombs on planes will not be tolerated.
Michael Shafermeyer spent more than three days in jail after making what he says was a joke at Lambert Airport on Saturday. He tells KMOV-TV that he was flying to Maryland to get married and had a few drinks.
When a flight attendant asked him to close his laptop after boarding, Shafermeyer says he jokingly asked her, "Are you the one who checks for shoe bombs?"

Within minutes, federal agents removed him from the plane. He spent much of his time in the St. Louis County jail in solitary confinement.
Shafermeyer says he's charged with making a false bomb report.
He still plans to get married in Maryland. But he's taking the train to get there.

135,000 lottery winner was a big looser

Ontario gaming officials spent much of yesterday apologizing after acknowledging a printing error created 1,100 false winning lottery tickets.
It is estimated that 50 to 150 of the defective $3 Fruit Smash scratch tickets were purchased, said Rula Sharkawi, executive director of communications at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.

Near the end of a print run, there was a small batch of tickets that were misaligned at the printer," she said.
In Fruit Smash, players try to match fruit symbols on two sections of the scratch ticket. The printing misalignment meant that some of the tickets had mismatched symbols underneath the latex surface that game players scratch away, said OLG spokesperson Don Pister.
"The indicator of whether the ticket is a winner or not is the actual ticket, not the latex," she said, adding that the only way to determine a winning ticket is to scan the barcode at a retail outlet.
Gaming officials were alerted to the error Friday after a customer contacted the service hotline. Within hours, officials had traced the ticket to a specific batch and were able to pinpoint which stores the misprinted cards had been shipped to.
Eight retailers, all in southern Ontario, were affected.
So far, 15 unlucky "winners" have contacted OLG offices.
Brampton resident Thomas Noftall was one of them. He purchased four cards on New Year's Eve. In total, the 27-year-old father thought he had won $135,000.
By the time he realized gaming officials weren't likely to give him a penny, he had already made plans to move his family out of their basement apartment, send his children to college and live the life he had always dreamed about.
Ontario policy states that misprinted tickets are void, although the company will refund or replace them. more

300,000 pennies was stolen, man cannot figure out how because how much they weighed

(CHESTERTON, Ind.) After 30 years of collecting 300,000 pennies, Craig Stueber discovered Monday someone had stolen all of them, according to a police report.Stueber told the Chesterton (Ind.) Police Department he had spent the past three decades collecting the pennies in a cast iron milk jug, which few people knew about, according to the report. Stueber had to use a dolly the last time he moved the jug, according to the report.Whoever took it likely would have needed help to move it in one batch. According to the MegaPenny Project Web site, which tells the size and weights of various large amounts of pennies, 300,000 pennies would weigh about 1,842 pounds - slightly less than a ton.Stueber reported that he found the pennies missing when he returned to his home in the northern Indiana town at about 4:30 p.m. Monday. According to the report, Stueber doesn't normally check the jar but saw the lid was sitting on his entertainment center.Nothing else was missing from the house.The jar was not clear, so no one would know it held thousands of pennies without looking inside or if someone had told them about. Stueber said no one other than family members knew about the jug.

84-year-old pensioner has been banned from driving for the next 1000 years

AN 84-year-old pensioner has been banned from driving for the next 1000 years.

Luba Relic, who in her early 80s clashed with her neighbours in court 78 times, has hit her mid 80s with an appearance for negligent driving, driving without a licence and failing to give particulars.

The Warriewood pensioner was already banned from driving until 2999 when she fronted Manly Court but a magistrate added a year for her latest misdemeanours.

Her licence had been suspended by the RTA for "medical reasons," the court heard. But she crashed into a Honda Civic outside a St Vincent De Paul shop in Oxford Rd, Brookvale in September.

"I saw the cars coming very close together and heard a crunching noise," witness James Pollet said.

Defending herself, she pleaded not guilty but a magistrate fined her $1000, ordered her to pay costs and added a year to her licence ban.

Fayette furlough request would have to be unanimous

Fayette County school officials insisted Tuesday that any talk of asking employees to voluntarily give back their raises is just that.

And any such plan would have to get unanimous approval from all the county’s employees, not just teachers, in a survey to soon be distributed.

In these economic times, would you be willing to return a raise to keep your employer afloat?
Yes, sacrifices are called for.
No, I'm struggling too.

Georgia teachers taken aback by Fayette proposal
Fayette: All would have to agree on raise give-backs
• Fayette County news “In order for it to be even considered, we would have to have 100 percent of all of our employees agree on the survey,” said school spokeswoman Melinda Berry-Dreisbach. “We feel like we owe it to our employees to let them tell us. If we don’t get 100 percent, it wouldn’t be fair to look at it.”

The county’s roughly 1,800 teachers were abuzz with talk during Tuesday’s first teaching day of the new year.

Several felt blindsided by the news, but declined to be interviewed for this story.

On Monday night, school board members discussed asking teachers to give back the 2.5 percent pay raises they would receive for the second half of this school year. That giveback, members said, would help the cash-strapped school system stay solvent through the current 2008-09 school year and avoid layoffs.

The raises totaled $4 million from school coffers. The state had been scheduled to pay for half, but reneged after slashing state education budgets.

The voluntary contributions would not be retroactive to the start of the school year, Berry-Dreisbach said.

If county employees choose to donate their pending raise money, the county would recoup $2 million. Current projections estimate Fayette County schools are en route to a budget deficit of roughly $1.8 million. State law requires each school system to have a balanced budget.

In return for giving up their raises, employees would take furloughed days. No employee would pony up any cash.

The request highlights the severe difficulties facing the Fayette County school system in the wake of unexpected state budget cuts and diminished property tax revenues in a struggling economy. more

Garbage Dump Searched for Baby's Remains

Police are searching garbage dumps in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the body of a baby that was apparently thrown out with the trash at Jersey City's Christ Hospital.

Watch VideoInvestigators are saying a dead baby's remains were accidently tossed in the trash in New Jersey.

Dead Baby's Remains Thrown in Hospital Trash

Hospital spokeswoman Barbara Davy said the baby was stillborn on Dec. 21 and the body was placed in the hospital morgue. The body was gone when a funeral home employee came to pick it up on Jan. 2.

The baby's mother said he was born alive and died after doctors worked to stabilize him for 20 minutes.

Kalynn Moore's attorney, Michael Anise, said a nurse cleaned up the baby, dressed him in a hat and blanket and gave the baby to the mom to hold.

Moore named her son Bashere Davon Moyd Jr.

Whether the child was born is important because Hudson County's prosecutor said a stillborn is not considered a person under New Jersey law.

240,000 dollars awarded to man forced to cover Arab T-shirt

An airline passenger forced to cover his T-shirt because it displayed Arabic script has been awarded 240,000 dollars in compensation, campaigners said Monday.
Raed Jarrar received the pay out on Friday from two US Transportation Security Authority officials and from JetBlue Airways following the August 2006 incident at New York's JFK Airport, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced.
"The outcome of this case is a victory for free speech and a blow to the discriminatory practice of racial profiling," said Aden Fine, a lawyer with ACLU.
Jarrar, a US resident, was apprehended as he waited to board a JetBlue flight from New York to Oakland, California, and told to remove his shirt, which had written on it in Arabic: "We will not be silent."
He was told other passengers felt uncomfortable because an Arabic-inscribed T-shirt in an airport was like "wearing a T-shirt at a bank stating, I am a robber,'" the ACLU said.
Jarrar eventually agreed to cover his shirt with another provided by JetBlue. He was allowed aboard but his seat was changed from the front to the back of the aircraft.
Last week, nine Muslims, including three children, were ordered off a domestic US flight after passengers heard what they believed were suspicious remarks about security.
Although the passengers, eight of them US citizens, were cleared by the FBI, they were reportedly still barred from the AirTran flight.
Security has been at a high level in US airports since the September 11, 2001 hijacked airliner attacks against the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.
However, rights groups and representatives of the Muslim community say the security measures have led to frequent discrimination and harassment.

Angry 4 year old shoots babysitter

JACKSON, Ohio (AP) - Police say an angry 4-year-old Ohio boy grabbed a gun from a closet and shot his baby sitter.
Eighteen-year-old Nathan Beavers was hospitalized Sunday with minor wounds to his arm and side after the shotgun attack. Police say another teen was also injured.
Witnesses told police the child was angry because Beavers accidentally stepped on his foot. Beavers was watching the child at a mobile home in Jackson with several other teenagers and several other children.
Jackson County Sheriff John Shashteen says authorities are investigating. The child has not been charged.

Student Dressed as German Soldier Shot to Death by Police

SEATTLE — A college student dressed in a vintage German military uniform who was fatally shot by police on New Year's Day was a harmless, eccentric history buff, his family and friends said Friday.

Miles Murphy, a University of Washington senior, was shot several times at his apartment early Thursday after police said he pointed a rifle affixed with a bayonet at officers and refused orders to drop the weapon.

Seattle police had converged on Murphy's apartment after receiving complaints that several men were firing rifle and shotgun rounds into the air. Murphy emerged from inside and pointed what was later identified as a World War II Kar 98 German infantry rifle at the officers, police said.

When he refused several orders to drop the weapon, two officers fired seven shots, police Officer Jeff Kappel said. Murphy was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where he died.

A witness told some officers at the scene that Murphy had been firing blanks that night.

Police searching the house found alcohol, live ammunition and a large collection of German, Russian and Nazi memorabilia including photographs and uniforms, Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said.

But Murphy "wasn't a Nazi," Hattie Taylor, a friend, told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "He was just fascinated with the past... He liked to dress up and have fun." more

Miami police arrested a Fidel Castro on license violation

MIAMI, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Miami police say they have arrested a Fidel Castro on an alleged license violation, but are quick to clarify it is not the Cuban dictator in their custody.

Police Cmdr. Delrish Moss said if police had actually arrested the infamous Castro and not Fidel Christian Castro for allegedly driving with a revoked driver's license, there likely would be a major public reaction in Miami, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel said Friday.

''If this guy was wearing a beard and a jogging suit and was the dictator of Cuba, people here would be glad he's going to jail,'' Moss said. "But this guy probably won't make a blip on the radar screen.''

The 32-year-old Castro appeared in Miami-Dade County bond court on Friday regarding his early morning arrest.

The Sun-Sentinel said, according to jail records, at least 33 individuals named Fidel Castro but with different birth dates have been arrested in the Florida county during recent decades.

A 17-year-old girl called police and told them she was drunk

BISMARCK, N.D. — Police get calls about drunken drivers all the time, but rarely do they come from the alleged offender.
A 17-year-old girl in Bismarck called 911 on New Year's Eve "to report herself driving under the influence," police Lt. Randy Ziegler said. "I've never heard of such a thing happening, and neither has anyone here."
The girl told authorities her location shortly before midnight Wednesday and officers found her in a parked car near downtown, Ziegler said. She failed a sobriety test and was arrested for failing to have control of her vehicle while intoxicated.
The girl, whose name was not released because of her age, was not cited for drunken driving, Ziegler said.
"Her keys were in her purse and she was parked," Ziegler said. "She did tell us that she had been driving around for hours."
The call probably was a plea for help, he said.
"She told us her life was spiraling out of control, and she had spent the majority of time drinking over the past two weeks," Ziegler said.

The girl was released to her parents Thursday.

Mom still brest feeding her 6 year old

Robyn Paul, her husband and their three children look like the classic American family -- until you find out that Tiernan, their kindergartner, is still breast-feeding.

Women talk about their decision to breastfeed their children past infancy.
Many people are shocked by the idea of nursing a child who is nearly 6 years old, but Paul remains determined to do what she says is best for her child. "In this culture, breasts are viewed as sexual," Paul said. "We use breasts to sell everything from beer to motorcycles, then a toddler is in mom's arms nursing for what they're supposed to be used for and everybody freaks out."
No one is sure how many women in the United States are breast-feeding older children, but Paul said she suspects the number is higher than you might think. Most won't admit it, she said, because of the stigma.
"There are those women that do nurse that keep it under wraps because they're afraid of what others are going to say about it," she said. more

Ambulance drivers ‘decided dying man was not worth saving’

Two ambulancemen have been arrested by police after they were heard allegedly discussing whether they should bother to resuscitate a disabled man who had collapsed at home and subsequently died.
Barry Baker, 59, who lived alone, had dialled 999 saying that he thought he was having a heart attack. An ambulance was sent to his house while a controller kept him talking on the line.
By the time the ambulancemen arrived at the house in Patcham, Brighton, Mr Baker had collapsed, but the telephone line was still open and was being recorded.
It is alleged that staff in the control centre heard the two medics making disparaging comments about the state of the house.
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A police source, who asked not to be named, said that the ambulancemen were then heard discussing Mr Baker and saying “words to the effect that he was not worth saving”.
The source said that the two men were allegedly first heard commenting on the untidy state of the house and then saying that it was not worth bothering to resuscitate Mr Baker.
They are said to have discussed what to tell ambulance control and decided to say that Mr Baker was already dead when they got there.
The controllers were said to be so shocked by what had allegedly been said that they contacted senior managers, who called the police.
“Obviously the crew did not realise that the phone was still connected and, of course, the 999 call was recorded on tape,” the source said.
“The tape recording of what the paramedics allegedly said has been handed over to the Sussex Police Major Crime Team as evidence.”
Sussex Police confirmed that two men had been arrested and that a full-scale investigation into the incident was being carried out by the major crime team. more

Angry man convicted of traffic ticket order to spend time in jail for spitting on floor

SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) - A northern Idaho man convicted of a traffic violation in Bonner County was ordered to spend two days in jail after he spit on the courthouse floor in anger. First District Court Judge Justin Julian found 59-year-old Daniel Malone in contempt on Wednesday.
Julian said the man glared before "maliciously expelling a large amount of saliva" onto a carpet in the courthouse hallway. Earlier in the day, the judge found Malone guilty of failing to obey a stop sign in September.
He was ordered to pay a $75 fine.
Malone said he is innocent of the traffic violation and suggested the judge should show mercy because it was Christmas Eve. Julian told Malone there was no excuse for his behavior.
Malone was released from jail on Friday.

Bank apologizes for Billion dollar overdraft error

IRVINE, Scotland, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A Scottish man said his bank has apologized after his online statement showed his account was overdrawn by $145 billion.
Donald Moffat, 38, a full-time student and part-time care worker, said his account with bank Barclay's showed two withdrawals Tuesday morning of about $72 billion each, the BBC reported Tuesday.
"We knew we still had quite a bit left in the account as we checked last night before we went out," Moffat said Tuesday. "This morning I went out to get a few things, then, when I came back, my account was overdrawn by that amount."
Moffat said the bank apologized, blaming a "technical error" for the mistaken statement. He said the bank offered him $14 in compensation for the phone calls he made to resolve the matter.
Barclay's said the problem was not limited to Moffat's account.
"Earlier today a technical error caused some customer accounts to be incorrectly debited," the bank said in a statement. "The problem was immediately identified and corrected within less than an hour, and all affected customer accounts are now showing correct balances."