The StarLink-IRC NEWSLETTER
July 2004
STARTING OUR EIGHTH YEAR ONLINE !!

Vol 7, Issue 7
 StarLink-IRC Newsletter
Published Occasionally
July 2004  
StarLink-IRC Network - Your family friendly cybertown!
IN THIS ISSUE
Amazing and Lesser Things by Amazing
New Channels by treecat
Fogweb Follies by Itsy
Way With Words by Scorp
The Library Interesting things said and read

COLUMNS
Movies  Movie Reviews by Zadi
Book Nook  Book Reviews by Lorellei  NEW
Cooking Recipes by Wildchild
Pets and Pests by Momma
Mabel Gossip ..er unattributed news

READER CONTRIBUTIONS
Channel Chatter Channel News
Who's Doing What Personal events
Travel Interesting websites
Tips Tips and Useful Information
TechTalk Tech tips
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief - NOLady
Web Version / Layout - Itsy
Network Info and Notices News
General Information General
Reader Commentary Letters
Editor Emeritus - Lois of #OldRadio

Subscribe / Change of Address
And get your own copy by mail!
Articles Wanted!  Deadline - 15th of the month
The Meeting Room Channel & Net Events
In Memoriam Those no longer with us

Back Issues

This is YOUR newsletter - Send news items to newsletter@starlink-irc.org
Send any gossip or other dirt to the same place!
Contributors: Please eliminate the forwarding marks (>>>) from submissions!!

SL-IRC LOGO STUFF SHAMELESS PLUG
We have made available some items (mugs, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats) with our logo at Cafepress - http://www.cafeshops.com/slirc   Cafepress sets the item base cost and handles all sales, production,  shipping, and warranty. StarLink-IRC gets no money from sales of these items.

General Information
Logo Stuff: SL-IRC logo items www.cafeshops.com/slirc
Security: TriStar and security: www.starlink-irc.org/security/
Webring: For your webpages check www.starlink-irc.org/webring.html
Guestbook: Visit or Sign our www.starlink-irc.org/guestbook to enter your comments.
Ombudspersons: See www.starlink-irc.org/slirc-org.html#Ombudsman
Why We Are Here: A #Townhall Special Presentation

Email Updates: To all channel owners: If you have changed internet service providers please let cservice know if you have a new email address. We need the information to be able to contact you in case of problems with your channel or in case you have forgotten to authenticate in your channel and need a reminder to do so. Email addresses ARE kept confidential- send updates toslirc-register@starlink-irc.org

Word Games:  Live trivia at various times and places throughout the week.

#International: We hope to bring together folks from all nations and languages .. come join us for chat, good friends, and if you can volunteer to translate, all the better. Even a smattering of another language is welcome!

DISCLAIMER - Web sites shown or linked here may contain executable files or programs. Be advised that StarLink-IRC has no knowledge of the suitability or effects these may have on your system. We advise everyone to make a carefully informed decision prior to running any new software.


FROM THE EDITOR

What a happy day for StarLink-IRC folks when our Editor Emeritus, Lois, returned to us after being away for a while due to illness and recuperation.  WELCOME HOME, LOIS!!

Are you an avid reader?  Would you like to write a book review column for our newsletter?  Maybe you have another idea for a monthly column.  Please submit your ideas!!

CELEBRATIONS AND CALENDAR
Your BIRTHDAY TREE

July's gemstone is Ruby, the symbol of Generosity, flower is the Morning Glory
August's gemstone is Peridot, the symbol of Friendship, flower is the Gailliarda

EVENTS

JULY Birthdays
AUGUST Birthdays
Jul  5  beahive of #40Something
Jul  8  jb` of #Trivia_Dreams
Jul  8  mad_cow of #Trivia_Dreams
Jul 10  IRC Op wildchild
Jul 13  TBW of #Trivia_Dreams
Jul 25  Patrick`
Aug  4  Aymee of #40Something
Aug  7  Gene of #40Something
Aug  9  Wagon of #Cops
Aug 17  Arthur of #Heartwork
Aug 18  Mongoose of #40Something
Aug 20  Trouble of #40Something
Aug 29  Whatatime of #40Something
We wish the rest of you Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary except that we DON'T KNOW your special dates!  Please ask your chatters for their birthdays and anniversaries and submit them for publication!
Amazing
AMAZING AND LESSER THINGS!
by Amazing


Congratulations to Makk of #fibrochat on becoming the newest member of CService on StarLink-IRC!!


I Wish You Enough

<>Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said "I love you. I wish you enough".<>The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom". They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry.

<><><>I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking "Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?".
<>
<>"Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever goodbye?"'
<>
<><>"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral" she said.
"When you were saying goodbye, I heard you say 'I wish you enough'. May I ask what that means?". She began to smile.
"That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone". She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more.
"When we said 'I wish you enough' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them".

Then turning toward me she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory ---
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye
She then began to sob and walked away.

<>They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
<>
TAKE TIME TO LIVE.....
My friends and loved ones, I WISH YOU ENOUGH!!!.


Thanks to everyone for making StarLink-IRC the wonderful cybertown that it is!  As some of you might know, there are other nets out there with the word 'starlink' in them. When telling your friends about what net you chat on -- PLEASE make sure you say StarLink-IRC.Org.  And don't forget There is a quicklist at http://www.starlink-irc.org/serverlist.html
treecat NEW CHANNELS AND CHANGES
by treecat
A warm welcome to this month's new channels and their owners. If you have a chance, do stop in and give these folks a friendly Hi!
NEW CHANNELS

#Drgns_nest   Elfshadow
#whodunit          Harriet
#Stonecold^s    stonecold
#Flirt_Chat         ShaneO
#SpiritWorks     Angelv
#PTOchat            ice
#50+OldGang&more     jakii^
#winecellar         StefanW

CHANGES
# none 

CHANNEL CHATTER    What's happening in the channels ...

#HandsAroundTheWorld
#HandsAroundTheWorld is pleased to announce that Tisket has won 40 ribbons at the Maxville Fair 2004 for her crafts and baked goods. We are proud of you, Tisket. Much of what she creates is for sale, so check out her site www.geocities.com/gcpcrafts/.
Sorry, Mr. Itsy, sire, all the baked goods are gone! <g>
1st Place Ribbons  Blueberry Muffins, Unbaked Squares, Boxers, Ladies Vest, Favorite unfinished project (Rabbit), Parcel Wrapped, Unfinished Project (Sewn Tea Cozy), Door Decoration  Halloween Theme, Kitchen Apron  Christmas Theme, Christmas Angel, Christmas Vest, 4 Scenic Photos, Homemade Candy (Chocolates), Photo  pre 1950, Floral Arrangement in Cup & Saucer, Baby Set  knitted
2nd Place Ribbons - Date Squares, Peanut Butter Cookies, Exhibitors handiwork  3 food items on fancy plate, Machine Quilting  any article  oven mitt, Quilted Table Runner, Any other quilted article  pot holder, Childs nightwear, Fancy Cushion, Beaded article, 2 Placemats, Christmas Table Runner, Christmas Bottle Bag, Christmas Wreath, Candle 3rd Place Ribbons  Tea Biscuits, Bran Muffins, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Tote Bag, Hat, Fleece Jacket, Decorative clay pot, Christmas Tree Ornaments  3, Slippers, Tree Skirt


(continued)
Laughter is surely good medicine!
A favorite in #handsaroundtheworld is our one and only Jeanette aka flyawaynet. There is not a day when she will not have you thinking and get your mind working.
Then there is the day, Jeanette did a research on laughter. It is good for the body and mind and actually more effective than some exercises. She encouraged everyone to get get funny videos and watch them on a regular basis. Jeanette challenged anyone that came in the channel to laugh for three minutes! And she was good to time you so you didn't overdo. Well, all  but one time. Radek took her up on the challenge and Jeanette began the  countdown. But she forgot to finish and Radek had to quit after 10 minutes! <g>
Ever have a day where you have nothing to do and just can't seem to get the  mind in gear, come pay Jeanette a visit. She is there weekdays.
Let us know what's happening in YOUR channel at newsletter@starlink-irc.org

WHO'S DOING WHAT    Here and there around the net ..
contributed by everyone
In an attempt to get more of our chatters involved in our newsletter and to make it more interesting, we are adding several new columns.  The recipe column has been very popular!  I hear tell there is a movie critic's corner starting soon.  That's exciting!!  I'd love to see a gardening column if that's an area of expertice for any of you.  Maybe even a book review column would be nice?  Please get together with me if you have other ideas or if you're willing to do a column!
COOKING ON THE WILD SIDE Recipes and more    ...by Wildchild.
 No recipes this month.

Watch this Space

--


Watch this Space

--
.
MAYBE MABLE KNOWS?     Gossip
Suggestions and comments .. submit them to the newsletter with Mable in the subject line.

Mable didn't know anything this month.

MOVIES                 Movie Reviews - by Zadi of #Lupuschat
Suggestions and comments .. submit them to the newsletter with Movies  in the subject line.

Spider-Man 2 - "This summer a man will face his destiny. A hero will be revealed." Starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, and Joan Allen.
This movie is all it's hyped up to be. An action-packed thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. (Was that over the legal limit of hype?) Spider-Man faces an identity crisis of sorts while the world needs saving and the words of the day are "sacrifice" and "choice." NOT a movie for small children. Many of the special effects and action scenes are downright frightening, even for older children and adults. It may have been a comic book, but this movie is not for the faint of heart. Spider-Man 2 rises to the challenge of sequelhood and surpasses the first film.
The animations are seamless and give "eye-candy" it's name.
The choices and dependent morals illustrated are valuable, along with resulting consequences from errant decisions.
I highly recommend Spider-Man 2 for mature audiences.

The Notebook - "Behind Every Great Love is a Great Story." Starring Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner, Gena Rowlands, James Marsden, Sam Shephard. The Notebook follows a young couple's first great love which develops during the time of World War II. The couple is separated by the girl's parents, who believe the boy is not good enough for their daughter.

The story reintroduces the two years later, by which time the girl is engaged to a soldier who loves her, and she is torn by her feelings. What will she do? It reads like every other young-love story, but this one takes you much further than the others and will have you very emotionally invested in the welfare of all the players very quickly.

The Notebook is written by Nicholas Sparks, who also wrote "Message in a Bottle" and "A Walk to Remember." Both Britney Spears and Ashley Judd were considered for the lead role of the character Allie, but Rachel McAdams was chosen to play the young girl. This movie was filmed in South Carolina, and the landscape and scenery is breathtaking. There is a bit of nudity and pre/post-sexual scenes. Again, I recommend this movie for mature audiences.

THE BOOK NOOK         Book Nook by Lorellei
Suggestions and comments .. submit them to the newsletter with Book Nook in the subject line.

Sleeping with the Devil
by Robert Baer
A New York Times Best Seller  ISBN 1-4000-5021-9 (pub. 2003)
<>
There's a lot of news revolving around Saudi Arabia these days. Saudi Arabia is at the center of many news reports in one way or the other. I turned on the TV this morning to see Colin Powell discussing the latest political data on Saudi Arabia and terrorism, which turns out to be incorrect and misleading but "it will be fixed." An American in Saudi Arabia has been kidnapped; terrorism keeps leading back to the Kingdom. These things aren't so great and Robert Baer tells us why.  Baer was an operative with the C.I.A. from 1976 to 1997. Speaking fluent Arabic, Farsi, French and German, he had assignments in many Arab areas, as well as other parts of the world. His contacts and research have resulted in prolific reports and books that any concerned American should read. His candid revelations will help you to understand, a little, what is going on in our world. It is not Baer's intention to write an anti-Saudi or an anti-Arab book. His intention was and is to attempt to explain why relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia have reached a low point, threatening to get worse. He discusses the outrageous excesses of the ruling Saud family.

The royal family, once in touch with its people, seems to have lost touch. This has resulted in more than a few groups interested in overthrowing the Saud family. Baer's journey takes us to the Wahhabis, an extremely powerful sect that basically rules the Saudi streets. He takes us to the Taliban and to Al Qaeda, both of which Saudi Arabia has helped to underwrite. Baer brings to light the Muslim Brotherhood, probably the most powerful, active and effective terrorism group in existence. He pulls it all together, to show how the U.S. addiction to cheap oil and Saudi petrodollars has caused our ruling politicians to turn a blind eye to the Saudi excesses, the Al' Saud culture of bribery, disregard of human rights and its financial support of groups such as the Taliban, Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood. If you are familiar with Saudi culture and America's international policies, you'll find the book disturbing but revealing. If you have no knowledge of these things, this book will be a real eye opener.

I lived and worked as a journalist in Saudi Arabia for several years in the 1980's. I had frequent contact with political journalists and, of course, we discussed these matters over coffee frequently.

That inside view of American/Saudi relations enabled me to understand more clearly what goes on between our leaders and Saudi leaders. When Baer's book came out, (his first one on this subject was See No Evil, also a New York Times best seller), I read it immediately. It only confirmed and filled in blanks in what I already knew. Our relationship with Saudi Arabia is coming to an end. As an expat in that country, I enjoyed the people I met, learning how much difference there can be between cultures, and I'm sure I joined many, many others in trying to get a grasp on the Arabic way of thinking. Baer has provided yet a few more answers and if there is anyone on the planet who can understand the Saudi mind, the American/Saudi relationship over the years and what is to come, it is Robert Baer.

This book is compelling, accurate and disturbing.

<>Since 9-11, we in the U.S. have become more aware of the outside world. Things will never be the same and anything we can do to understand what is going on should be, I believe, done. 
Read this book.

PETS AND PESTS         Critters   by Momma
If you have questions, interesting facts or suggestions, other notable news concerning pets and pests, please submit them to the newsletter with Pets and Pests in the subject line.

Before I get to the promised kitten information, I would like to mention a summer hazard for your family pet! The backyard POOL!
We all think of the worse case scenerio when it comes to our children and the pool, and in doing so we take precautions. But do we consider our pets?
The reason I mention this is, today I had a scary experience involving my above ground "bubble pool" and my 12 week old Pug puppy DeeOhGee.
Our 3 1/2 ft. deep pool is surrounded by a fence, with a wooden gate. Due to bad weather with high winds the gate blew open. I let the dogs run in
the yard as usual, knowing that they had their child's pool to splash in to cool down. I noticed the open gate, but as I was busy with housework I
didn't think it was too big of a deal, and figured I would close it when I did the chemical checks later.

When I heard Randi (terri-pug female) barking I just knew something was wrong. So I ran out to check on her, and noticed that DeeOhGee was not jumping up at me as usual. I heard a faint bark from the pool area.
When I arrived at the pool I found DeeOhGee struggling to break the surface of the water. I have NO idea how she even got into the pool! But I managed to grab her by the scruff of the neck and pull her out just in time!
DeeOhGee suffered "shock", and gulped a lot of water. Her lungs are clear now and she seems no worse for her experience. But I am now more aware of how quickly I could lose a valued family member, all because I was too busy to ensure the safty of my pets.

Kittens, like infants, are born totally helpless. During their first weeks of life they depend not just on their mother's care, but also on their owner. With care and patience, you can ensure that your kitten will mature into a healthy, contented adult.
At birth, kittens must be kept warm and away from drafts. They spend most of their time nursing or sleeping. In the second week, their eyes will open
and begin to focus clearly. During the third and fourth weeks kittens cut their baby teeth, they will start to play and toddle around on wobbly legs.

At eight weeks they need attention from people to develop good social behavior, they should be picked up, spoken softly, should be weaned and have a healthy appetite for solid food.

At this critical time, kittens lose the antibodies provided by the mother's milk; they are very susceptible to colds or digestive upsets and should be vaccinated promptly. It is essential to take your kitten for a complete veterinary examination within a few days of purchasing, the kitten must be immunized against such illness as rabies, parvovirus, and distemper, and also be checked for heartworms.

Kittens require high-protein, high-calorie food two or three times daily.

However, do not overfeed. As they grow into adulthood, you can decrease the number of meals per day. Serve food at room temperature and always provide clean, fresh water. Ask your veterinarian for the best-recommended diet for your cat. Attach a personal identification tag with your name, address, and telephone number on its collar.  Mother cats usually teach kittens to use the litter box, but you can reinforce this training by placing the kitten in the box after feeding or playing. Repeat this several times until the kitten catches on.  Females should be spayed before their first heat cycle to reduce population and the risk of breast cancer and uterine infection.
Males should be neutered at around six months to reduce population, territorialism and aggression, as well as the risk of testicular cancer and prostate disease.

 
TRAVEL                 Places to go.. things to see

Hey !  Try this one-   http://www.starlink-irc.org  -  believe it or not, there are a LOT of good links and information on the site. If you haven't browsed the links lately, give it a try!  Some stuf for kids too!

TIPS                   The odd idea here and there

No new tips this month.
Send in your handy hints, tips and tricks for just about anything from sailing to tiddlywinks. We're always pathetically desperate welcome to ideas for just about anything to put here !!  At least this section isn't groveling as bad as whoever does the Mable thing.  Personally, I'm waiting for Mable to figure out her name is spelled Mabel.
Itsy
TECH TALK              Technical Tips and Hints.

mIRC tips and tricks
No tips this month.

THE MEETING ROOM       Special Events and Things
 If you have any subjects that would be good for on of our weekly #townhall block parties, let someone know and we'll see what we can do. Please submit them to the newsletter with #TownHall in the subject line.

NO SPECIAL MEETINGS



 

RESERVE TOWNHALL FOR YOUR MEETING!  #Townhall can be reserved for parties or meetings. Send an email to slirc-register@starlink-irc.org if you are interested in reserving the channel for an event..

foo! FOGWEB FOLLIES   
A short column of made-up facts and non-information
...brought to you by your friendly neighborhood arachnid

FOLLIES DU PUDDYTAT

Last of the girl months and your intrepid blue orb has two announcements ..

First is the passing of Weasel, the little cat with a 'tude - long time 15 year resident of the household who went to join her brother Chuck .. and is somewhere up there nibbling at God's feet.

On a brighter note - your ever diligent (and very tired) spider has adopted a new family member... shes 12 weeks old, grey, black, white, and cream and is addicted to deli ham and Star Kist solid white tuna in water. (I have NO idea how that happened. Must have been born with a genetic defect).

Her name is Nim (aka Nimmy, Nimlet, Fuzzyworm, and Dammitstopthat) and shes going to be trouble. Shes adorable and a cutie pie .. which means theres going to be trouble.
Watch this space!


THE LIBRARY
Laughter Is Good Medicine!

Amazing submitted this and I am so grateful that she did. 
It's a must read!  Thanks, Amazing!!
This Pastor has guts!!
Thought you might enjoy this interesting prayer given in Kansas at the opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer still upsets some people.

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas
Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who
call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our
spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We confess that we have
ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and call it Pluralism.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of Your will and to openly ask these things in the name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!"
The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest..
In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively.
The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea.
Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, "The Rest of the Story," and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.
With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called "one nation under God."


Laughter Is Good Medicine! 

Thank you to ItsyDad for this one!

These are actual bloopers from church bulletins...
Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10.
All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the
congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning.
The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, "Break Forth Into Joy."
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.
The eighth graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the church basement Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
Thursday night Potluck Supper. Prayer and medication to follow.
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.
Please use large double door at the side entrance.
Tuesday at 4 PM there will be an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk will please come early.
The Lutheran Men's group will meet at 6 PM. Steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread and dessert will be served for a nominal feel.
Don't let worry kill you, let the church help.
This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.
Thursday at 500 pm there will be a meeting of the Little Mothers Club. All wishing to become little mothers, please see the minister in his study.
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church.
So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa will be speaking tonight at Calvary
Memorial Church in Racine. Come tonight and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind and they may be seen in the church basement Friday.
Announcement in the church bulletin for a National PRAYER & FASTING Conference "The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer conference includes meals."
Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again"giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
Next Sunday is the family hay ride and bonfire at the Fowlers'. Bring your own hot dogs and guns. Friends are welcome! Everyone come for a fun time.
During the absence of our Pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J.F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit.
The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility.
This evening at 7 P.M. there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
"Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to Makk for submitting this one!
The horror of blimps, by Scylla
Last week while travelling I stopped at a Zany Brainy store and saw that they had a blimp for sale. It's called Airship Earth, and it's a great big balloon with a map of the Earth on it, and two propellers hanging from the bottom. You blow up the balloon with helium put batteries in it, and you have a radio controlled indoor blimp. I'd seen these things for sale in Sharper Image catalogs for $60-$75. At Zany Brainy it was on clearance for $15. What a deal! Last night my wife was playing tennis and it was just my daughter and I at home. I bought a small helium tank from a party store, and last night we put the blimp together.
Let me tell you, it's quite a blimp. It's huge. The balloon has like a 3 ft diameter.

We blew it up with the tank attached the gondola with the propellers, and put in batteries.
Then we balanced the blimp for neutral buoyancy with this putty that came with it, so it  hangs in the air by itself neither rising nor falling.
It was easy and fun, and then I blew up another balloon and made Mickey Mouse helium voices for my daughter. My three year old girl loved it. We flew the blimp all over the house, terrorized the dog, attacked the fish tank, and the controls were so easy my daughter could fly. Let's face it, blimps are fun.

Alas, the fun had to end and my daughter had to go to sleep. I left the blimp floating in my office downstairs, my wife came home, and we went to bed, and slept the sleep of the righteous. At this point it is important to know that my house has central heating. I have it configured to blow hot air out on the ground floor and take it in at the second floor to take advantage of the fact that heat rises.

The blimp which was up until this moment a fun toy here embarked on a career of evil. Using the artificial convection of my central heating, the blimp stealthily departed my office. It moved silently through the living and drifted to the staircase. Gliding wraithlike over the staircase it then entered the bedroom where my wife and I lay sleeping peacefully.
Running silently, and gliding six feet or so above the ground on invisible and tiny air currents it approached the bed.

In spite of it's noiseless passage, or perhaps because of it, I awoke. That doesn't really say it properly. Let me try again. I awoke, the way you awake at 200 AM when your sleeping senses suddenly tell you without reason that the forces of evil on converging on you.

That still doesn't do it. Let me try one more time.

I awoke the way you awake when you suddenly know that there is a large levitating sinister presence hovering towards you with menacing intent through the malignant darkness.
Now sometimes I do wake up in the middle of the night thinking that there are large sinister and menacing things floating out of the darkness to do me and mine evil. Usually I open my eyes, look and listen carefully, decide it was a false alarm, and go back to sleep.
So, the fact that I awoke in such a manner was not all that unusual.

On this occasion I awoke to the sense that there was a large menacing presence approaching me silently out of the gloom, so I opened my eyes, and there it was! A LARGE SILENT MENACING PRESENCE WAS APPROACHING ME OUT OF THE GLOOM, AND IT COULD FLY!!!

Somewhere in the control room of my mind a fat little dwarf in a security outfit was paging through a Penthouse while smoking a cigar with his feet up on the table, watching the security monitors of my brain with his peripheral vision. Suddenly he saw the LARGE SILENT SINISITER MENACING FLOATING PRESENCE coming at me, and he pulled every panic switch and hit every alarm that my body has. A full decade's allotment of adrenaline was dumped into my bloodstream all at once. My metabolism went from "restful sleep mode" to HOLY ****! FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE OR DIE!!!! mode" in a nanosecond. My heart went from twenty something beats per minute to about 240 even faster.

I always knew this was going to happen. I always knew that skepticism and science were mere psychological decorations and vanities. Deep in our alligator brains we all know that the world is just chock full of evil and monsters and sinister forces aligned against us, and it is only a matter of time until they show up. Evolution know this, too. It knows what to do when the silent terror comes at you from out of the dark. When 50 million years worth of evolutionary survival instinct hits you all at once flat in the gut at 200 mph it is not a pleasant sensation.

Without volition I screamed my battle cry (which is indistinguishable to the sound a little girl makes when you drop a spider down her dress (not that I'd know what that sounds like,) and leapt out of bed in my underwear.

I struck the approaching menace with all my strength and almost fell over at the total lack of resistance that a helium balloon offers when you punch the living **** out of it with all the strength that sudden middle of the night terror produces. It's trajectory took it straight into the ceiling fan which whipped it about the room at terrifying velocity.
Seeking a weapon, I ripped the alarm clock out of its plug and hurled it at the now High Velocity Menacing presence (breaking the clock and putting a nice hole in the wall.)
Somehow at this moment I suddenly realized that I was fighting the blimp, and not a monster. It might have been funny if I didn't truly and actually feel like I was having a legitimate heart-attack.

On quivering legs I went to the bathroom and literally gagged into the toilet while shaking uncontrollably with the shock of the reaction I'd had. Unbelievably, both my wife and daughter had completely slept through the incident. When I decided that I wasn't having a heart attack after all I went back into the bedroom and found the blimp which had somehow survived the incident.

I took it to the walk in closet and released it inside where it floated around with the air currents released from the vents in there. I closed the door, this sealing it in, and went back to bed. About 500 years later I fell asleep.

At about 7 am my wife awoke. She had been playing tennis and wasn't aware that we have assembled the blimp the previous evening, and that is was now floating around the walk-in closet that she approached. The dynamic between the existing air currents of the closet and the suction caused by opening the door was just enough to give the blimp the appearance of an Evil Sinister Menace flying straight towards her.

This time the blimp did not survive the encounter, nor almost, did I, as I had to explain to my very angry spouse what motivated me to hide an evil lurking presence in the closet for her to find at 7 am.

I can order replacement balloons on the internet but I don't think I will.

Some blimps are better off dead!

  WWW - WAY WITH WORDS            by Scorp

Good-Bye Card
Good-Bye  Name--

Wherever you go, you will NEVER
find anyone quite like us!

Inside Verse

Which is probably why
you're going there.

Good-Bye!
Best of Luck!
    From -- Names
Have you tried to find the perfect verse, greeting or message when sending a card, and your mind draws a blank? If you have some favorites, send them to Pat@pobox.co
Thanks once again to those who sent in articles for the newsletter.  Please encourage your channel owners and other guests to send in their important dates for the month, channel chatter, and general noteworthy news!  It really gives our network a stronger sense of continuity when we can share these events with those outside the channels we normally visit.  One of the things I have always cherished about our network is the way channels support and visit and encourage other channels rather than stooping to the pettiness of competition and exclusion and such.  That's just another testament to the character of our community!  If you are as busy as I am, you don't always have the time to get out and visit other channels.  Our Sunday evening #Townhall meetings are an excellent opportunity to come and meet other folks that we would not normally chat with or get to know.  Come join us for these meetings which are often informative and always fun.  We usually have refreshments, too!  But you all know how that  goes with Itsy around.... not even the platters are left by the time everyone gets there!.

IN MEMORIAM.
Those who have moved on
  Weasel
born Mom Maam, or "dirty face"
Our little feline ball of love,
Nibbling now the toes of God
Forever now happy and free of pain.
Those Lost

And candle Still  
 Remembered


In Loving Memory
Amazing reminds us that there may be other folks hurting, so take the time to think of them

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION AND CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS
Last month's BACK ISSUE



Channel Event Schedule
Drop by and join in .. everyone is always welcome!

Note: All times are Eastern US
DAY
TIME
WHERE
EVENT
SUN
9:30 PM
#Townhall

MON
--:--


TUE
10:00 PM
#WTGO
Live Trivia and Games
WED
--:--


THU
8:00 PM
10:00 PM
10:00 PM
#OldRadio
#Moonshadow
#WTGO
Fans of Old Time Radio - 8th year online!!
Trivia! Every thursday
Live Trivia and Games
FRI
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
#Islander
#Just4Fun
Live Trivia!
Now and then. Outburst games! Fun for  All
SAT
10:00 PM


ANY
All Day
#TriviaDreams
Trivia





Copyright 2004 StarLink-IRC.org All Rights Reserved
Be notified of page updates
powered by ChangeDetection it's private


Valid HTML 4.01!