Faint praise is better than no praise at all dept.
“Dinner at the Huntercombes possessed only two dramatic features. The wine was a farce and the food a tragedy.” Anthony Powell
Those clever high school students!
Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of actual similes and metaphors found in high school essays.
These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country.
Here are last year's winners…..
1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.
2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.
3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.
4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.
5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.
6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.
7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.
8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife's infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.
9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.
10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.
11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30.
12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.
13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.
14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m., at a speed of 35 mph.
15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth.
16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.
17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.
18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.
19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.
20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.
21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.
22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.
23. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.
24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.
25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.
Things you never see in the news Department:
Butte, Montana November 5, 2007
Two illegal aliens, Raphael Resides, 23, and Enrico Garza, 26, probably believed they would easily overpower home-alone 11 year old Patricia Harrington after her father had left their two-story home.
It seems the two crooks never learned two things: they were in Montana and Patricia had been a clay shooting champion since she was nine.
Patricia was in her upstairs room when the two men broke through the front door of the house. She quickly ran to her father's room and grabbed his 12 gauge Mossberg 500 shotgun.
Resides was the first to get up to the second floor only to be the first to catch a near point blank blast of buckshot from the 11-year-old's knee crouch aim. He suffered fatal wounds to his abdomen and genitals.
When Garza ran to the foot of the stairs, he took a blast to the left shoulder and staggered out into the street where he bled to death before medical help could arrive.
It was found out later that Resides was armed with a stolen 45 caliber handgun he took from another home invasion robbery. That victim, 50-year-old David Burien, was not so lucky. He died from stab wounds to the chest.
Ever wonder why good stuff never makes NBC, CBS, PBS, MSNBC, CNN, or ABC news……..an 11 year old girl, properly trained, defended her home, and herself……against two murderous, illegal immigrants…….and she wins, she is still alive.
You won’t see this either.
A new study in 830 workplaces of how effective mandatory diversity training was indicates that sensitivity seminars led to 12% declines of women and minorities in management.
Makes makes me realize just how sheltered my life has been.
A New York stockbroker sued a Manhattan Gentleman’s club claiming he was injured by a stripper during a lap dance. The married man in his 30’s said he was relaxing at the Hot Lap Dance Club when the dancer struck him in the eye with the heel of her shoe. For the life of me, I can’t figure out where the rest of her was if the heel of her shoe was in his eye.
Where lying is legal.
The Italian Supreme Court has ruled that Italians cannot be punished for lying about their love affairs. The case was about a woman who lent her cell phone to her lover so he could make harassing calls to her husband. During the police interrogation she told police she didn’t know who the caller was and she was indicted for obstructing justice. The court ruled that lying in cases like this is a matter of self-protection.
I have led a sheltered life.
Beware of who your organ donor is.
An English woman who had a kidney transplant acquired the donor’s highbrow tastes. The former nightclub bouncer used to read thrillers and movie magazines. Now she reads Austen and Dostoyevsky. She used to watch the soaps but now she prefers documentaries on the Egyptian pyramids. She says she can’t get enough of them and its weird.
George Orwell said:
“On the whole human beings want to be good, but not too good and not quite all the time.”
George Carlin said:
“It’s never just a game when you’re winning.”
The real estate crisis is real!
In Kingman Arizona you can buy a three-bedroom adobe home with skylights, a patio, a pool table and a three-car garage overlooking the 16th hole of a golf course for $369,000.00.
Must have jet ski
It can roll 360 degrees, plunge underwater and leap to the surface and mimic dolphins swimming. You can get yourself a 250-hp Innespace Seabreacher for a mere $70,000.00.
Be yourself.
French essayist Ls Rochefoucauld said disguising your true personality is counterproductive and could damage your health. He says that keeping up the act is inefficient and uses extra energy. It’s better to be yourself than try to be what you think your family, friends, your co-workers and your boss expects you to be. “Just be yourself,” is his advice.
I like some people better when they are not being themselves. You probably know a few of them too.
Newark NJ
Newark averages two murders per week. In February they had a 33-day stretch without a killing. The last time they went that long was in 1963.
Robert Orben on illegal immigration
“Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian.”
Samuel Butler
“Humans are the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victim he intends to eat.”
Sign of the times
Man to his pregnant wife, “Honey, it’s the ob-gyn. Do we want to know if it’s mine or not?”
Drunk Poet
Li Po, the most imaginative of the 8th century Chinese poets was a notorious lush. He was once called to the emperor’s palace when he was too drunk to walk and had to be carried in on a chair. The emperor ordered him to compose on the spot a poem to the emperor’s favorite concubine, the plump and devious Lady Yang. Li dashed off the following verses on the spot. They were set to music and sung by the emperor playing a jade lute.
To drown the ancient sorrows, we drank a hundred jugs of wine there in the beautiful night. We couldn't go to bed with the moon so bright.
The finally the wine overcame us and we lay down on the empty mountain– the earth for a pillow, and a blanket made of heaven. Lovely now together, his lady and his flowers. Lighten forever the Emperor’s eye.
Topsail Island, NC - Captain Otway Burns, among many occupations during his lifetime serving the state of North Carolina, was a War of 1812 Privateer. Raised in Swansboro and often spending time upon Topsail Island, he was known to take a crew of over one hundred onto his small vessel, the Snap Dragon, when he went to sea to capture British merchant ships or to engage the British fleet in a tall sail ship battle. The normal compliment of crew required for a vessel similar to the Snap Dragon was between ten and fifteen. Due to a recent collaboration between the author and two of England’s leading historians known for their in-depth knowledge of specific areas of the War of 1812, new information has unfolded that may be a tale worth mentioning, dealing with Captain Burns and his crew.
Starting in the late summer of 1812, on behalf of the United States Navy, Captain Burns served as a Privateer for nearly twenty months. During his time of service he was credited for capturing not less than thirty-five vessels—the largest with a value of one-half million dollars. He also received a “bounty” for each enemy crewmember and slave captured. He brought his “prizes” to various ports along the East Coast but, primarily kept to Wilmington, Top Sail Island, Beaufort and New Bern, N.C, if at all possible.
During the war on the high seas, when an enemy ship was captured, there was a practice of placing your own crew onto the captured vessels and bring them into an American or neutral port. This would allow a Privateer to remain at sea to capture more enemy vessels, hence, the need for a large number of crewmembers. Captain Burns did not initiate this process but, he did master it. Some of his personally appointed crew, however, who were set aboard the captured enemy vessels never finished their assigned duties—loosing captured bounty, vessel, and their own freedoms.
When Captains of British vessels captured American ships and their crew, on occasion, shot those who they felt were traitors for not supporting the efforts of Her Majesty Queen of England. On the open sea, captains often “exchanged” prisoners, for example, while in neutral ports or upon arrival to England or Nova Scotia, a British stronghold port during the war.
The most common act committed upon American prisoners was to send them to England to be held, in chains, upon Prison Barges or, one of the many prisons within England’s various ports—one of the most feared was Dartmoor Prison. A story has been told about Captain Burns that while being chased, to avoid a battle between the Snap Dragon and a much larger, more armored British war ship, many of the crew of the Snap Dragon were in their quarters packing their belongings. They were certain that at any minute they would be run down, captured and sent to Dartmoor Prison.
Captain Burns turned over his captured vessels to selected crewmembers. After he gave precise orders to sail a route towards southern Florida then to follow the coast toward their home port, the prize and her American crew headed west on the open seas. The Snap Dragon then went in search of other ships to battle and hopefully capture. When Captain Burns returned home after his tours of four to six month at sea, jumping off of his vessel, the first place he would have gone was the customs office, to stake his claim on his prizes and receive his full payment due.
One can easily imagine what mannarism and explosive language spoken by Burns when he was told that some of his prizes never arrived to port but, instead were recaptured and her crew taken as Prisoners of War (P.O.W.). With local sympathizers for British victory in the war, living within Burns’ homeport of New Bern, N.C., word of where his men were taken was often known. Most went to Dartmoor. As the war was ending, interestingly, when the Snap Dragon was finally captured under the command of another Captain, her entire crew was immediately exchanged.
Above right: The Dartmoor Cemetary gate
It is the incarcerated crewmembers of the Snap Dragon, who faced the horrid conditions of prison barges or within England’s Dartmoor Prison we wish to address. All served with honor. The proof of such heroics is as follows: when the only thing an American prisoner had to do, which in most all cases would provide an instant dismissal of all charges and provide instant freedom, was to denounce America’s way of life and take an oath to Her Majesty. An American P.O.W. preserved his strongest of will and remained Americans, which immediately caste them into the sub-levels of Dartmoor Prison among the vermin, dampness and disease. Many of Captain Burns’ crew never made it out of Dartmoor Prison—to come home to their country, to feel the freedom they so well fought to gain, for all Americans.
Barbie Thompson, a noted and respected Historian and lecturer, living in England contacted me pertaining to my previous research paper in which I wrote an article for Topsail Info Internet site dealing with a local captured civilian, who had been placed upon a British Prison Barge. In turn, as any good Historian, I asked her if she was acquainted with the Snap Dragon or knew of any files, in England’s various archives or museums, that might shed light on the captured crewmembers of Captain Burns’ vessel. Over a short period of time Ms. Thompson provided images and a point of contact.
I was informed by Ms. Thompson that a Mr. Ron Roy, former Director and Historian of Dartmoor Prison Museum, now retired, has intimate details of what occurred within Dartmoor Prison during the American Revolution and events that took place during the War of 1812. He toured the United States on numerous occasions, lecturing on the topic. Barbie Thompson then wrote and told me an interesting aspect of war and, how as time went by, feelings changed from a period of hatred toward defiant Americans to a time where old battle wounds healed and brotherhood became common placed.
I found out, through the greatest of assistance of Barbie Thompson, that Dartmoor Prison has a P.O.W. cemetery just within the gates of the prison. Within this now honored site is a section of graves of American Prisoners who now lay at rest, in peace. In addition, nearby, there is a large statue honoring those Americans who died within the prison grounds. In the early twentieth century the museum placed a plaque upon its main door in memory of American prisoners.
Left: The American Prisoner's Monument
Within the list of names that were compiled by Ron Joy and his associates are late crewmembers of the Snap Dragon. Upon reviewing the provided list of names, however, I discovered additional North Carolinians that appeared on the death roster. As in other wars or conflicts Americans have fought, some veterans never come home. I am proud, along with the staff of the TopSail Island Info, to present a list of sailors who fought and died for their country’s freedoms, freedoms that they themselves never obtained.
As I end this article, I ponder on how Captain Burns may have acted or thought while he was alone, at a table in a darken part of a room, drinking his ale. Maybe at the helm of his ship as she sailed gracefully through the waters. Secluded from his friends, associates, and crewmembers what did Captain Burns think about the members of his crew that were being held in Dartmoor Prison? By himself near the end of his life, walking alone along the shoreline, listening only to his private thoughts, some of these men may have been on his mind and how their sacrifices did not go unnoticed, at least not by him.
The following list of names, being presented as compiled for the first time, are of Captain Burns’ crewmembers and other North Carolinians who served in battle and died for their country as American Prisoners of War between 1812-1815:
Name: P.O.W.#: Position: Vessel: Date Died: Home Port:
Clark, Simon 4202367 Seaman Snapdragon 24 Jan 1815 N.C.
Fulford, {Frilford} Joseph 4202354 Seaman Snapdragon 27 Jan 1815 N.C.
Hopson, John 4202337 Seaman Snapdragon 14 Mar 1815 N.C.
Meads, William 4303271 Seaman Snapdragon 24 Jul 1815 N.C.
Miller, Richard 4202351 Seaman Snapdragon 20 Nov 1814 Penn **
** No official explanation can be located to explain how R. Miller enlisted onto the Snap Dragon.
With its curved teak scroll arms and gently arched woven frame, the Symphony armchairs and matching round dining table look at home in the garden. (http://www.gloster.com/)
Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-"Good design is all about attention to detail," says Michael Glassman, award-winning landscape designer and co-host on the Discovery Home Channel. "When creating an outdoor room, the final elements are the outdoor furniture and accessories." Here is a list of helpful design tips when selecting outdoor furniture:
1. Comfort-In a recent national telephone survey of 1,000+ households commissioned by the American Home Furnishings Alliance, most Americans stated that comfort was the most important characteristic in selecting furniture. Whether it is a chair used while eating, a chaise lounge with an accent table for relaxing, or a sofa and loveseat used while engaging in conversation, furniture must be comfortable. Always test-drive the furniture before you buy it. Sit in it, lie on it and envision it in your personal space.
Right: This 48-inch-square umbrella table features a sleek, modern look with an iron woven mesh top and matching dining chairs. (www.woodard-furniture.com)
2. Scale-Know your outdoor space. Make sure that your furniture fits the scale of your project. Measure the size of your entertainment space, draw the area to scale and lay out your furniture design. (Also visit AHFA's Web site at www.findyourfurniture.com and try out the Room Planner feature to create blueprints of your space and move the furniture around to create a variety of different arrangements.)
3. Style-Make sure that the style of your furniture is compatible with the style of your outdoor space. Whether you use wood, wrought iron, wicker, aluminum or mixed materials, the style of your furniture must fit the overall ambiance of your setting. Furniture in all of these materials can be found in rustic, casual, formal and modern styles, making it a breeze to find pieces that complement your outdoor design.
4. Sustainable-Think quality. A good piece of furniture can give you years of function, comfort and enjoyment. You may pay more for good quality, but in the long run it will last for many years and save you money by not having to be replaced. This is a fundamental principle of sustainability.
5. Design Solution-Your choice of specific furniture pieces could be a problem solver or provide a solution to a challenging space. For example, a teak storage bench can double as a table, seat, ice chest or storage for cushions when it rains. A baker's rack can be used to accent potted plants, provide storage for place mats or dishes, or display art pieces, as well as create interest on a blank wall. A daybed can serve as additional seating as well as act as a sleeping bed in the evening.
6. Focal Point-Shop for a focal point that personalizes your outdoor space. An interesting piece of art, an unusual fountain, a vibrant sofa, a stylish chair, an artistic coffee table or a warm firepit could serve as the key element that transforms your outdoor space into a stylish oasis.
The St. Lucia rocker is full of cottage charm. The powder-coated aluminum frame and handwoven resin wicker are well suited for coastal climates. (www.telescope casual.com)
Upgrading your beauty routine can help you get your hair, skin and nails back into shape after months of summer fun.
Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-Fun in the sun may add to your summer glow, but the sun, beach and pool can all have a negative impact on your beauty routine. The effects of the great outdoors and less time spent on your beauty routine can cause a new set of issues for hair, skin and nails.
After months of neglect, how do we repair the damage and prepare for fall? Ernie McCraw, director of beauty education for Sally Beauty Supply, has some great tips to get us ready for fall.
¥ Battling the effects of chlorine, salt and sun. If your hair has suffered too much chlorine, salt and sun exposure, schedule an appointment with your stylist to trim off dead and damaged ends. A simple trim will do wonders for the look and feel of your hair. After your trim, bring it back to its former glory with Purifying Solutions by Ion(r) Anti-Chlorine Swimmer's Shampoo, Conditioner and Leave-In Conditioner. These products remove any "swimmer's green" and deeply condition to help repair damage caused by summer activities.
¥ Continuing your summer glow. Bring your skin back to beautiful and even out a fading tan by stepping up your use of exfoliating products like Tanwise Body Polish. To extend your tan throughout the year, try Tanwise Self Tanning Cloths. Wipes are quick and easy, dry quickly, and add just a hint of color.
¥ Getting your feet back into shape. Walking in sand is a great exfoliant but not everyone is lucky enough to live by the beach, and a summer spent strutting around the pool can really run your feet ragged. Smooth out those rough edges by slathering on Heel to Toe(tm) Spa Pedicure Collection Cucumber Heel Treatment to soften and moisturize. To complete the look, trade in your summer pinks and coral nail polishes for this fall's earthy and metallic tones. Try China Glaze Nail Polish in Long Kiss or Finger Paints in Fool's Gold.
Ernie McCraw is a licensed cosmetologist and director of beauty education for Sally Beauty Supply, the world's largest distributor of professional beauty products. With more than 25 years in the beauty industry, Ernie has expertise in all phases of cosmetology.
If you have a beauty question, please e-mail Ernie at asksally@sallybeauty. com. To find a Sally store near you, call (800) ASK-SALLY or go to www.sallybeauty.com.
It's easy to add a touch of personal style to your bathroom with a few accent pieces.
Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-Every year, Americans spend millions of dollars remodeling their bathrooms, replacing fixtures and vanities and purchasing high-end accessories. But there's a lot you can do to transform the look of your bathroom from the past owner's color palette into a modern and clean style of your own-even when your budget is tight. All you need is some paint and a little imagination. Here are a few ideas from the experts at Rust-Oleum:
Don't replace. Refinish. Replacing bathroom fixtures is one of the most expensive projects associated with a bathroom remodel and replacing bathroom tiles often requires the services of a contractor. But now, thanks to advances in paint technology, you can change the color of your bathtub, sink, toilet and tile or simply give them a "like new" finish without busting your budget. Products like Rust-Oleum Specialty Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit feature a self-leveling epoxy acrylic formula that acts and looks like porcelain and ceramic. Available in the most popular colors for bathtubs and tiles-White, Almond and Biscuit-the kit makes it easy for even inexperienced do-it-yourselfers to get professional results on ceramic, porcelain and fiberglass fixtures.
Create a custom vanity. You don't have to replace your vanity to give it a custom look.
Transforming your old vanity is easy and fun thanks to products like Rust-Oleum Countertop Coating. It's available in 16 custom colors to match any bathroom decor. Want to soothe your soul and create a relaxing space? Cool colors, like blues and greens, create a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere. So try Meadow or Palest Blue. Or for a cozy and casual feel, choose neutral colors like Canvas or Cobblestone.
Don't forget the walls. A fresh coat of paint is one of the simplest ways to update the look of your bathroom. In bathrooms and other high-humidity areas, try a paint that offers protection against the growth of mold and mildew, like Perma-White Mold & Mildew-Proof Interior Paint, for a paint job that will stay looking beautiful for years.
Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. It's easy to add a touch of personal style to your bathroom with a few accent pieces. Why not paint your old toothbrush holder, towel racks and soap dispensers with Painter's Touch spray paint in a soothing color like Natural Denim or Key Lime? Or create custom picture frames, shelves and even plastic tissue covers or trash cans by painting them with Rust-Oleum's new Universal Silver Hammered spray paint. Universal is great for any surface-wood, metal, plastic and more. And just one coat will unify mismatched pieces and give them a trendy finish.
Limiting household chemical use might help keep children safe.
Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-Pound for pound, kids eat, drink and breathe much more than adults and are therefore exposed proportionately to more contaminants that food, beverages or the air might contain. Children also live and play at ground level where many pollutants tend to settle, making them more vulnerable to common household hazards.
That's the discomforting news. The good news is that creating a safe, healthy home environment doesn't have to be a challenge. Try these tips for a kid-healthy home:
¥ Use cleaning products made from natural, nontoxic, plant-derived, biodegradable ingredients and essential oils. They won't leave behind harmful chemical residues or pollute indoor air.
¥ Choose natural baby and personal care products. Choices like Seventh Generation's Free & Clear line of products and chlorine-free diapers and wipes don't expose your children to toxins.
¥ Don't use pesticides or chemical flea and tick preparations for pets, including flea collars, shampoos and treatments.
¥ Be wary of soft, flexible plastic and vinyl toys, and polymer clay products. These sometimes contain toxic chemicals called phthalates, which can leak out of items that contain them. ¥ Let fresh air into your home regularly. A good healthy air exchange is the best way to rinse out indoor air pollution.
¥ Store food and pack lunches in No. 1, No. 2, No. 4 or No. 5 plastic containers, which are less likely to leak chemicals.
¥ Become an educated shopper. Look for products that clearly list all of their ingredients and explain claims like "safe for the environment." Be aware of terms like "natural" and "environmentally friendly," which are unregulated and can mean anything.
One company that consistently educates consumers about maintaining a healthy, living home for children is Vermont-based Seventh Generation, which is committed to becoming the world's most trusted brand of authentic, safe and environmentally responsible products, including a line for babies.
For 20 years, Seventh Generation has been at the forefront of a cultural change in consumer behavior and business ethics. Its founder and president, Jeffrey Hollender, is a business leader dedicated to safe and healthy products.
"Our products touch families, literally, every day. So we bring children's well-being and environmental health to the forefront in all we do," said Hollender.
For more information on cleaning tips for a healthy home, environmentally responsible baby products and details on joining the "Seventh Generation Nation" community, visit the Web site www.seventhgeneration.com.
We have been hearing a lot about the energy crisis lately. Not a lack of energy, but it’s cost. Every politician, every news media person and every environmentalist has their own unique and politically correct solution if the general public was only smart enough to get it.
When I worked at the telephone company, occasionally somebody in public relations, or human resources, or marketing, or accounting would come up with some technological idea that sounded good but, from a technical, cost or managerial perspective was impractical, impossible or silly. Sometimes they were all three. If the person who suggested it was of a high rank, we spent, or rather, wasted, time “studying” the feasibility of their whim.
Public comments about what to do about the energy crisis make me feel like I’m living my life all over again.
Indulge me while I go over some basics. Newton’s law of motion states that it would require a fixed amount of energy to propel, say a 3000 pound vehicle, from zero to sixty in 3.5 seconds. Or to travel 500 miles. The amount energy used is the same whether its electricity, gravity, wind, gasoline, jet fuel, diesel or political hot air.
T Boone Pickens’ idea about using wind power to produce electricity is the most wildly impractical I have heard. His 4000KW windmill farm will occupy 8600 acres and it will produce 4000KW only 20% of the time! As any weather forecaster knows, the wind is a fickle thing. Let’s say you’re buying your household electricity from T. Boone Pickens and the wind chooses to blow it’s daily 20% at the required velocity for five hours today between midnight and five a.m. The rest of that day you have to pump your own water, cook in a wood cook stove and fan yourself to keep cool in the hot Texas midday. There is no reason to believe enough wind would blow every day, or even every month. That 20% might come during the week you went to the beach.
Although it’s a boon to corn farmers, it takes almost as much energy to extract usable energy from corn as the energy you get.
But the silliest, most airhead, solution is the electrical automobile. Let’s say they invent a battery with enough electrical storage to propel a 3000 pound car 500 miles at normal highway speeds on one charge. (The GM test model is already all the way up to 40 miles.) This will take the same equivalent amount of energy as it would using gasoline. How many people do you know who have free electricity? Let’s say you arrive at your destination, check in at the local Holiday Inn and ask to charge your car’s batteries.
Folks, they are not going to just give you that energy. As a matter of fact, I bet it would cost more to “fill up” your batteries than to buy a tank of gas. Plus it would probably take all night. You’d have to hire a taxi to take you to dinner. And when you get back home, think how much your electric bill will go up with a $50.00 battery recharge twice a week. But, you say, at least we won’t be funding Arab terrorism when we buy Arab oil at exorbitant prices.
True. I’m with you there. But, how will we generate all that electricity? Nuclear power? Environmentalists oppose nuclear power. Obama has said he opposes nuclear power. Coal power? The environmentalists and the Democrats get apoplectic when you mention coal power plants. How about hydro-electric power? We don’t have enough waterways that we can reasonably dam. Plus, the environmentalists are pressing the government to stop using hydroelectric power and we have already demolished existing hydroelectric dams.
We could use ocean currents and tidal power but that would injure fish, change ocean currents and affect the climate.
Where will the energy come from?
Not to mention all the taxes from motor fuel sales that build and maintain the nation’s highways. If you had an electric car, they would add a meter at your house to measure how much current you use to charge your car batteries and tax you for it.
It’s time to get real and drill for more of our own oil. Or continue to buy oil from our enemies. Or buy a mule, a water pump with a handle, a wood cook stove and a fan.
Members of the community are cordially invited to a very special celebration. On Friday, September 12th at 5PM, the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust and members of the Foy family dedicate Abbey Nature Preserve to the citizens and visitors of Pender County.
Located adjacent to historic Poplar Grove Plantation, the Abbey Nature Preserve is a passive nature park. It includes hiking trails, a beautiful boardwalk overlooking the historic millpond, and other tranquil recreation opportunities.
This beautiful, pristine environment will be forever protected by the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust and the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The large, 67 acre site, has been set aside for the enjoyment of present and future generations, through the thoughtful, generosity of the Foy family. Dedicated memory of Margaret Abbey Foy Moore, it truly is a precious gift to the community.
Please come and join the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust and members of the Foy family, on Friday, September 12th at 5 pm for the official opening and dedication. Parking will be in Historic Poplar Grove Plantation’s north parking lot. From there you may walk or board a shuttle to the ceremony at the turnaround. All are invited to take a self-guided walking tour afterward.
Dedication of the Abbey Nature Preserve Poplar Grove Plantation 10200 US Highway 17 N., Wilmington Friday, September 12, 2008 5:00 pm - Dedication at Abbey Nature Preserve turnaround 5:30-6:30 pm - Self-guided walking tours
Topsail Island by Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre announced today that the Maple Hill VFD has received $191,700 to purchase a new fire truck.
Congressman McIntyre stated, “Our VFDs’ are on the front lines of safety, and these federal funds will help Maple Hill in meeting the challenges of protecting their community. Congratulations to all who have worked to secure these funds. It is good to see efforts being made to enhance public safety and improve our citizens’ lives.”
The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development has awarded Maple Hill a loan of $160,000 and a grant of $31,700 to purchase a new 1250 GPM pumper/fire truck. This new vehicle will replace an older model that has become obsolete. The new fire vehicle will allow the fire department to improve their response time, their efficiency, and possibly their insurance rating. An improvement in insurance rating would mean an insurance premium reduction for each of the 2263 residents in the fire district.
Congressman McIntyre is Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development.
Family-friendly ice shows featuring favorite characters such as Tinker Bell can be a great way to spend time together.
Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-Looking for ways to spend quality time with children is often the highest priority for parents and the Feld family. Kenneth and his daughters, Nicole and Alana, have made the search easier with their many kid-friendly live productions.
Kenneth Feld and Nicole Feld have worked together to produce Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour-and the two recently helped to reinvent what has been billed as The Greatest Show On Earth,(r) Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey(r) circus, for the iPod generation and their families.
"Our goal was to make families-and even the most media-savvy preteens-sit up and take notice," says Nicole Feld.
Before pairing with his daughters, Kenneth Feld produced over 30 family-friendly shows, including a number of productions currently touring the globe. They include Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey and a Disneyland Adventure.
But now, in addition to the circus and High School Musical: The Ice Tour, he and Nicole Feld have put their famous touches on this year's Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy. The show includes the Disney Fairies from the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures Tinker Bell release, lovable characters such as Lightning McQueen and Mater from Disney/Pixar's Cars, and favorites from Disney's The Lion King and The Little Mermaid.
The show is accompanied by a Disney Princess Preshow that lets children and parents enjoy an exclusive collection of enchanting Disney Princess gowns and mementos.
Kenneth Feld and his daughter Alana Feld produced and marketed the successful Doodlebops Live! tour. The two are also presenting Playhouse Disney Live!, a stage show featuring a compilation of favorite characters from the Disney Channel that's touring more than 75 U.S. cities, as well as Disney Live! Winnie the Pooh.
Other Feld family shows bring the magic of Disney to fans as well. They include:
¥ Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, all the beloved Disney Princesses and others. There are also exciting moments from Disney/Pixar's Toy Story, Finding Nemo and more.
¥ A Disneyland Adventure with Mickey and Minnie featuring a Jungle Cruise with Baloo, a blast with Buzz Lightyear on Space Mountain and a spin on the Mad Tea Party with Alice and the Mad Hatter.
¥ Children and parents can also join Mickey and Minnie on a journey into the magical worlds of Disney's The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Lilo & Stitch and more. Fans are captivated by the music, beauty and laughter in Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey.
