An Irishman's Diary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPINION/Kevin Myers One of the key elements to any religion is that whereas there might be much which is difficult to defend logically, it nonetheless fits into a broader theological picture which provides a greater truth; and what holds that picture together, in the face of all the in-built illogic, is faith. Faith creates a coherence out of the incoherent and contradictory. And when religion expects us to intellectually sustain what our reasons and senses tell us is simply unsustainable, it waves a wand and calls it dogma , thereby excusing us of thought on the matter. When we say we respect another's religion, what we actually mean is we're not going to publicly ridicule the funny bits, even though in the privacy of our own minds, we chuckle away. Papal infallibility, consubstantiation, Defender of the Faith, Wailing Wall, Mecca, prayer scrolls, circumcision: we tolerate (though perhaps with quiet amusement) those we don't accept, but ardently defend those we do. We tolerate other's dogmas so long as other religions don't try to impose them on us. Even Saudi Arabia turns a blind eye to the fornication and serial copulation of the ex-pats there. But there are two exceptions: Taliban is one. Feminism is the other. Feminism is very like a religion in that it is dependent on huge leaps of faith, which cannot be explained by logic or evidence or rational argument. Feminism can only be defended by waving the magic wand and pronouncing equality between the sexes a dogma beyond discussion. Yet unlike almost all other religions, feminism wishes to impose its theology on all societies everywhere, regardless of the intellectual contradictions at its heart, and the evidence before our eyes every second of our lives. Examine the news of last week. Did anyone see a single girl or woman rioter in Ardoyne or Drumcree? The only woman who was clearly evident in all the news footage of that appalling violence was a woman constable. And what was she doing in the middle of this nearly murderous mayhem? Simply behaving like Florence Nightingale, minding a wounded colleague. Can anyone who believes in the "equality of the sexes" explain how it is that Washington is awash with female staffers whose ambition seems to be to bed important male congressmen? Clinton discovered this with many, many young women; so it seems has Congressman Gary Condit, who was not so much two-timing his wife, but eight-timing her. Congressman Condit is not a pretty boy. He's not young. He plain and he's 54 and he had eight mistresses - though apparently the figure is now down to seven, and probably falling. But consider: new feminism is nearly 40 years old, yet here we have a career woman, poor Chandra Levy, aged 24, doting on this complete and utter creep, even colour-coding his shirts during the hours he'd sit waiting in his flat before he would finally oblige her with his pelvic attentions. more... http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/opinion/2001/0717/opt4.htm#top

If all the Interns were laid end to end.........what do you mean"IF" heheheh

*grin* Precisely so! They took a poll of parents and asked if they wanted their daughters to be interns in Washington DC. Oddly enough only 67% said no. I'd have thought it much higher, but perhaps they see it as a career step.

Marcia, I'm definitely an etcetera so I thought I'd post here ..... Things are so bad at the moment I'm bowing out of everything ...have put PhD on hold for a bit to sort things out ...

Maggie!!! Will try to be online when you are up in the morning. Oh my dear! Say it isn't so!!!

Maggie, I hope that you can sort things out and that circumstances improve.

Thanks Cheryl ...sorry I've been quiet lately .. just trying to keep my head above water emotionally...still nowhere to live come Sept! Packing in anticipation .....

From Liam... Come back... We miss you! An Irishman's Diary By Kevin Myers ireland.com - The Irish Times - OPINION Astute readers of newspapers at this time of year will have noticed an increasing preponderance of stories beginning, "Scientists in Alabama believe..." or, "Evolutionary experts in Geneva are working on the theory that...." No doubt those readers read on, in the belief that what the words before them are in some way related to reality. And they certainly are - if, that is, you believe that I have consented to be Mariah Carey's toy-boy, but only on condition that I continue to share my prodigious favours with Whitney Houston. Sorry, Britney; not tonight. Perhaps Saturday; and I don't take credit cards... The only basis for these "scientists believe" stories is to be found in a small chamber, the Creativity Room, in a remote part of The Irish Times labyrinth, the entrance to which is guarded by Gurkhas whose tongues have been surgically removed. Head-hunters Most newspapers have such rooms, though they are not always guarded by soldierly Nepalese. Kerrymen are favoured as security by some, and there was a time when New Guinea head-hunters found favour, but they went out of vogue when they developed an appetite for sub-editors. Now no one begrudges a lonely exile from Port Moresby the odd snack or two, and if they had confined their nutritional adventures to the occasional individual from the books page or sports, no one would really have minded - a sub, after all, is only a sub. But when the Guardian night editor turned up to find that all that remained of his night staff was a single femur being agreebly gnawed by security, with the chief sub's head glumly sitting on the spike, something had to give. The New Guinea lads had to go, and in their place came some West Side Boys from Sierre Leone. There is a purpose to getting these rough-house lads in; for they have to mind the intellectual heart of the newspaper, the Creativity Room wherein some of the most brilliant minds in journalism are chained to the oars of a galley which roams the world of their fevered imaginations. You only see the fruits of their endeavours once August arrives, but just as the grapes of October are the product of a year's endeavour, so are the vintage stories appearing in August the product of 12 months of toil by these unsung heroes. "Scientists believe that life on earth began in outer space" is a story which surfaced in newspapers this week, using quotes from the Indian Space Agency. We are rather proud of that story in this newspaper. It was dreamt up by our Debbie last December - she was given a road-kill pigeon as a special reward for Christmas dinner. We sold the story on right round the world in the Frankfurt Silly Season Story Fair last Easter, and Debbie's royalties enabled her to buy a mousetrap to increase her protein consumption. All she needs now is another corker of a story, and she'll be able to buy some cheese for it. Hallucination It's not that this newspaper is mean: it's just that we've found than an imagination works best when aided by a touch of famine-induced hallucination. Well-fed minds are dullard minds, is our motto; and so we have a policy that seems a little stern but in reality is simply is a recognition of market forces. Occasionally we ease up on our stern regime, just so as the inmates of the Creativity Room can see our human face; and there's no way of describing the pleasure we got from seeing our Debbie tearing into her Xmas feral pigeon, then picking her teeth with its tiny talons, finally crunching them as well. Made us feel like Santa, I can tell you. Anyway, the product of this policy is a fund of stories to sustain newspapers through the long lean weeks ahead, such as one of ours the other day: "An artichoke that grows in salty water could help create a revolution in world agriculture, according to research." That appeared in the Siberian Gazette, but only because it wasn't good enough for us. Debbie thought it up. It was so poor we fined her one mousetrap. The Times had another one of ours recently: "A coffin and a mausoleum have been unearthed which may have contained leaders of the ancient Jewish monastic community that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls." Don't you just love the "may"? Our Debbie is a wizard with the "may". She knows just how to pitch it. She could have said "may" have been the place where the Virgin conceived, or "may" have been the place where Judas hanged himself. Terrible day The problem is that with really important "mays" experts start enquiring about the origins of the stories. There was that terrible day when The Irish Catholic - of all people - had to send in Little Sisters of the Poor commandos to garotte its entire CR workforce in order to conceal the origins of its "scoop" that a feather from the wing of the Archangel Gabriel had been found in a public toilet in Termonfeckin. A stupid, stupid story, for everyone knows there is no public toilet in Termonfeckin. And you believe that stuff about Code Red virus? Debbie again. It was so good she got her mousetrap back. Now I'm off to France, and for the next couple of weeks of the silly season, Debbie will be writing the Diary, under different pen-names. If she's very, very good, I've promised her a piece of cheese. If she's not, I get my mousetrap back.

Liam still hasn't been back. Maybe one day...

I miss Liam. I hope he returns. I think he knows he would be welcome! I will email him to see how he is doing and to tell him he is missed! Thanks for reminding me!

I have no idea what this entails, but it sounds interesting. Rob??? They are waiting for you! ******************************************************** Post-Doctoral Fellowships - Laser ablation geochemistry ******************************************************** From: Ian Nicholls POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN GEOCHEMISTRY USING LASER ABLATION ICP-MS TECHNIQUES SCHOOL OF GEOSCIENCES, MONASH UNIVERSITY (MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA). Expressions of interest are sought for postdoctoral research fellowships in geochemistry in the School of Geosciences at Monash University, working within the Trace Element, Isotope & Environmental Geochemistry Research Group (Drs. Ian Nicholls, Ian Cartwright and Steve Beresford; Professor Reid Keays; plus a new academic staff member expected to be appointed in the field of isotope geochemistry/geochronology in early 2002). Monash Geosciences currently operates a Finnigan-MAT "Element" high-resolution ICP-MS instrument for ppb-ppm level trace element analysis using solution and laser ablation modes (the latter with a Merchantek Nd-YAG laser), and has supporting "clean laboratory" sample preparation facilities. Monash is a member of the Victorian Institute of Earth & Planetary Sciences (VIEPS) consortium (Schools of Earth Sciences at LaTrobe, Monash and Melbourne Universities) and has access to a joint VIEPS "Nu Plasma" multicollector ICP-MS instrument, soon to be fitted with a state-of-art ablation chamber and excimer laser system. The "Element" and "Nu Plasma" will provide powerful complementary facilities for in situ trace element/isotopic analysis of single minerals, and their mineral, melt and fluid inclusions, with emphasis on studies in igneous, metamorphic and ore petrology/geochemistry/geochronology. Such research is often joint with the minerals industry. The Geochemistry group is seeking to attract post-doctoral candidates with experience in techniques and applications of laser ablation ICP-MS analysis, with continued development of these within VIEPS in mind. The Australian Research Council annually offers several categories of postdoctoral and more senior research fellowships, applications for the next round of which are due in February 2002, for 2003 awards. Since outlines for excellent research projects are required as part of applications for these awards, interested researchers are invited to begin discussions on suitable projects now. Those interested should contact Dr. Ian Nicholls at: inicholl@mail.earth.monash.edu.au. Information on The School of Geosciences at Monash University, with a link to VIEPS, is available at www.earth.monash.edu.au. Information on ARC Post-Doctoral and Research Fellowships is available at: www.monash.edu.au/resgrant/grantinfo/ARC/arcdispr.html and www.arc.gov.au/ncgp/discovery/projects/default.htm Dr. Ian Nicholls Deputy Head, School of Geosciences PO Box 28E Monash University Victoria 3800 Australia

Oddly enough, when Wolfie finds this catch-all topic we can discuss the how wonderful it is to breathe air you can chew, and why iti s called "Orange County" I discovered that the only thing about the county is the color of the smog there. I don't trust air I can see quite that well.

LA is in Orange County?

Nope, Los Angeles is its own county. I'm not all that sure anyone else wants it! I'd need to look at a current county map to see where the bakc air of LA stops and the toxic orange stuff of Orange County begina. Alas, all of the trees are now gone which were once the namesake of Orange County.

No Comment on the new title page of Geo? More changes to come as soon as I get Terry to enable me to change my own buttons, wallpaper and horizontal bars. As it stands now, stroud and yapp icons are now in charge of them. *UNHAPPY*

Deja Vu time on http://www.archives.org when you look up www.spring.com. Were we ever that young? Seems only yesterday! I love seeing it again! Never mind reading my early posts, please!

Thunder and lightning kept me from posting this yesterday on December 2nd. HAUOLI NA HANAU, LOPAKA AND KELE Tuberose / Lantern Ilima White tuberose mixed with orange ilima blossoms. Very fragrant.

Rob is officially responsible for himself (meaning he is fair game?!) and Terry is too (has been for a while, he says.) I really like that lei. It is spectacular and what I wanted to wear to my son's wedding in October. Many Happy Birthdays to come. Your Buggatis are on the way.

Tuberoses smell gently like gardenias for those of you who have not had the pleasure of their company around your neck. Of course, I have to kiss you when I put it on you. It is tradition! Hugs, too.

In re post 15 above, specifically "No Comment on the new title page of Geo?" I like much better than what was up when I first joined.

I'm still working on it. Actually, what I hope to have when I can create the right font and find the correct globe is jus to have large letters GEO with the O being the globe. Thanks for your comments!

I have found the ultimate globe. It is posted. Post holiday title will make it formal, diginified and aesthetic. I hope!

I also need to put the yellow letters back on the buttons. White is the wrong color. May I use a magic marker on your monitor? It'll only take me several lifetimes to do it... *sigh*

did you save the old buttons, marcia? if so, you can use lview to resize them and still have the yellow letters.

Yes, I did save the original buttons and I will resize them just as I did the "kill" button. I just need to do it.

*giggle* i know the feeling! curious, how long have you been a member of spring?

1997 was my first post - October I think. You have been here longer? Thank you, John, for slowing down my world. I was spinning too fast!

oh sweetie, i was asking curious anon how long they've been visiting us! i think you've been here longer than me!

I am curious, also! - about how long people have been lurking before posting. I found Spring, then I read posts to see how people were interacting, then plunged in - all in the space of one week. Nan was kind enough to welcome me and make me feel at home. I've been here ever since. I did not, however, wander out of the close-knit confines of Drool for at least a year. I thought you "down" here were all so different from me. Surprise!!!

I am hiding this post in case I am so terribly wrong that it is hopeless and I have lost a dear friend and wise man's respect. Is this the arrangement you meant? It is not as I remember our earlier conversation. What puzzles me is why I am in the middle and the sensors are each side of me. Must each be attched to me directly as in this lampstand? Independently connected so as not to interfere with each other's signals? Please be patient with me. I am just a learner as most of the rest of my readers are.

For those who celebrate: Enjoy your Holiday of Eid. Significance Of Eid 'Eid means recurring happiness or festivity. The 'Eid prayer is very important for all Muslims. It has the merits of the dory prayers, the effect of the weekly convention (Jumu'ah) and the characteristics of annual reunions between Muslims. There are two such 'Eids. The first is called 'Eid-ul-Fitr (the Festival of Fast Breaking). It falls on the first day of Shawwaal, the tenth month of the Muslim year, following the month of Ramadhaan in which the Qur�aan was revealed and which is the month of fasting. The second is called 'Eid-ul-Adh'haa (the Festival of sacrifice). It falls on the tenth day of Zil-Hijjah, the last month of the Muslim year. The Islaamic 'Eids are unique in every way. To them there can be nothing similar in any other religion or any other socio-political system. Besides their highly spiritual and moral characteristics, they have matchless qualities: Each 'Eid is a wholesome celebration of a remarkable achievement of the individual Muslim in the service of Allah. The first 'Eid comes after an entire month of "absolute" fasting during the days of the month. The second 'Eid marks the completion of Hajj to Makkah, a course in which the Muslim handsomely demonstrates his renouncement of the mundane concerns and hearkens only to the Eternal voice of Allah. more (follow links)... http://www.islaam.org/Eid/Eid-1.htm

'Tis the Season. I'll be posting traditions here. Have you any special ones you celebrate in your family? HOW MANY U.S. FAMILIES WHO PUT UP A CHRISTMAS TREE OPT FOR AN ARTIFICIAL TREE? 22% of U.S. families choose an artificial tree. WHERE DID THE TRADITION OF DECORATING A CHRISTMAS TREE BEGIN? The first recorded documentation of decorating a Christmas tree was in 1604 in Strasburg, Germany. Decorating Christmas trees appeared as a tradition in the U.S in the mid-1800's and has evolved over the subsequent 150 year period to the production and distribution system we know today. WHY WAS THE NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE NOT LIT IN 1979? The National Christmas tree was not lit except for the top ornament in 1979 in honor of the American hostages in Iran. In 1963, the National Christmas tree was not lit until December 22nd because of a national 30-day period of mourn- ing following the assassination of President Kennedy. WHAT WAS CONSIDERED THE TALLEST CHRISTMAS TREE? The tallest living Christmas tree is believed to be the 122- foot, 91-year-old Douglas fir in the town of Woodinville, Washington.

CHRISTMAS TREE The Christmas tree is a symbol of immortality, resiliency, longevity, and rebirth. Taoists once believed that if a pine's resin was allowed to flow down its trunk and onto the earth, a fu-lin or mushroom of immortality would grow from it in 1000 years. Eating the fu-lin would give a person eternal youth. Growing tall as it weathers the hardships of wind, snow, and rain, the pine tree in the forest symbolizes long-suffering, steadfast friendships, and enduring fame. The pine's strength in the face of adversity makes it symbolic of those who have become strong through suffering, or who have kept to their beliefs and promises in spite of opposition. In Scandinavia, a myth of enduring love surrounds a certain pine. It is said that this tree grew from the blood of two lovers who had been wrongfully executed in the forest. During the Christmas season, strange lights can be seen shining in its branches as a testimony of their innocence and love. One Christmas Eve in 8th century Germany, the missionary, St. Boniface, gathered newly baptized Christians together to renounce paganism by cutting down the sacred oak they once sacrificed under. As it fell, the oak split into four pieces revealing a young pine growing in its center. Boniface suggested that the people take this pine as a symbol of their new-found Christian faith because it's shape points toward Heaven, and it's evergreen foliage reminds us of eternal life. In Rome, the immortal pine was used to celebrate the spring festival of Arbor intrat. Each year on March 22, members of the cult of Cybele cut down a pine tree and carried it to the Palatine temple. There, it was bandaged, wreathed with violets, and mourned as if it were the body of Attis, son of Cybele, who, disturbed by his mother's attentions, had castrated himself and died beneath a pine tree. His soul was believed to have found refuge in the pine and his blood caused violets to spring up around it. Three days later, he was miraculously restored to life. Egyptians, on the other hand, used the palm tree as an image of resurrection and decorated their homes with its branches during the winter solstice. The vertical symbolism of the pine tree was emphasized by Christians. This tree, which forever pointed heavenward, was a reminder to seek out heavenly rather than earthly treasures. It was a symbol of the saints, their self-denial, and their patience. A meet Christmas symbol, the tree was also a symbol of communication and mediation between heaven and earth because it's roots reached into the earth and its branches soared into the heavens. Today, one can still see the Jesse-tree. Most popular during the 13th century, this nativity tree was decorated to look like the family tree of the Christ Child. Adam and Eve are displayed at the foot of the tree and Jesus rests at its top. The wicked serpent is entwined around its trunk. This tradition may have come from the Messianic prophecy: "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots." [Is 11:1] The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge from the Garden of Eden were blended together in many customs and legends about the fir tree. Adam and Eve Day was celebrated on December 24th. During the Middle Ages it was customary to perform Paradise Plays on the Church grounds on this holiday. A single fir tree strung with apples was used to symbolize both of the garden's trees. Legend states that the fir is the Tree of Life. When it was created, it had flowers, leaves, and fruit like other trees. But when Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, these shrunk into the needles and cones we see it bear today. The fir did, however blossom briefly on the night of Christ's birth. It also bears the name "Tree of Life" because it is believed to have been the tree upon which Christ died. French and German legend calls the Christmas tree the "Tree of Humanity." One Christmas Eve, Bonchevalier found a pine tree lit up with candles and having a star at its top. Some of the candles stood upright, while others hung upside down. His mother told Bonchevalier that this was the "Tree of Humanity." The upright candles represented good people, while the inverted candles stood for evil people. The star at the top was the Christ Child watching over the entire world. Such a tree reminds us to be like our Father in Heaven who sends the sun and rain to nourish both the righteous and the unrighteous. [Mt 5:45-46] Jacob Riis records that Christ sent Faith, Hope, and Love to choose the first Viking Christmas tree. They chose the Balsam fir for this honor because it was as wide as God's love, as high as the Christian's hope, and it bore the shape of the cross on every branch. The pine is one of the trees God planted in the desert to give shade to the thirsty; to prove His power over the elements; and to show His care for the needy. [Is 41:17-20] When the Holy Family was running from Herod's soldiers, a hollow old pine tree hid the exhausted family in its trunk for a night. In the morning, the Christ Child blessed the pine with His little hands. Because of this, it is said that by cutting a pine cone lengthwise, we can see the prints of the Infant's hands to this day. During the New Year holiday, the Japanese place a pine tree on each side of the entrance to their homes as shelters for the kami which they believe will bestow blessings upon their household. Perhaps these blessings include fertility, and the marital love and fidelity symbolized by pine trees in many cultures. According to Virgil, early Romans decorated pine trees with little masks of Bacchus (a fertility god). As the wind blew these trinkets around, Bacchus was believed to grant fertility to every part of the tree the masks faced. During their midwinter festivals, Romans also decorated with evergreens to shelter woodland fairies and gave small trees to their friends as New Year's gifts. Their Mithraic "Tree of Life" was a pine in which birds and creatures symbolic of the souls of the dead or unborn lived. Other ancient tree trimming customs include the Chinese sacred trees which were draped with red banners bearing prayers of thanksgiving and praise. European Druids decorated oaks and pines with apples, candles, and cakes in the form of various animals and birds as a thank offering to their gods of fertility, agriculture, and light. Greeks and Romans decorated the trees sacred to their gods and goddesses with garlands of flowers and cloth. In Finland, Lapps filled little boats with bits of food and placed them in a pine tree marked with sacred symbols. Then they killed a reindeer and placed its internal organs in another tree which they smeared with the animal's blood. Christian legend states that on the night of Christ's birth, in spite of snow and ice, all the trees of the earth blossomed for joy, and bore fruit. In addition, all earth's rivers ran happily with wine. In honor of this legend, Austrians brought boughs of cherry, hawthorn, and pear trees into their homes at the beginning of December and placed them in jars of water so they might blossom in time for Christmas. Another popular story claims that one stormy Christmas Eve, a forester and his family heard a knock at the door of their cottage. Opening the door, they discovered a little child whom they fed and bedded down in spite of their poverty. In the morning the sound of an angelic choir awakened them. Their visitor was the Christ Child! As a reward for their hospitality, He tore a branch from a nearby fir and planted it in the ground. Immediately, it grew and was covered with fruit, nuts, gold, and lights. The Christ Child promised this tree would forever provide for the forester's family in winter. With thanks: http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/xmastree.htm

~*~The Date of Christmas~*~ The idea to celebrate Christmas on December 25 originated in the 4th century. The Catholic Church wanted to eclipse the festivities of a rival pagan religion that threatened Christianity's existence. The Romans celebrated the birthday of their sun god, Mithras during this time of year. Although it was not popular, or even proper, to celebrate people's birthdays in those times, church leaders decided that in order to compete with the pagan celebration they would themselves order a festival in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Although the actual season of Jesus' birth is thought to be in the spring, the date of December 25 was chosen as the official birthday celebration as Christ's Mass so that it would compete head on with the rival pagan celebration. Christmas was slow to catch on in America. The early colonists considered it a pagan ritual. The celebration of Christmas was even banned by law in Massachusetts in colonial days. ~*~ Mistletoe and Holly~*~ Two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Druids used mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. They would gather this evergreen plant that is parasitic upon other trees and used it to decorate their homes. They believed the plant had special healing powers for everything from female infertility to poison ingestion. Scandinavians also thought of mistletoe as a plant of peace and harmony. They associated mistletoe with their goddess of love, Frigga. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe probably derived from this belief. The early church banned the use of mistletoe in Christmas celebrations because of its pagan origins. Instead, church fathers suggested the use of holly as an appropriate substitute for Christmas greenery. ~*~ Poinsettias~*~ Poinsettias are native to Mexico. They were named after America's first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett. He brought the plants to America in 1828. The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. Thus the Poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season. The actual flower of the poinsettia is small and yellow. But surrounding the flower are large, bright red leaves, often mistaken for petals. ~*~ The Christmas Tree~*~ The Christmas Tree originated in Germany in the 16th century. It was common for the Germanic people to decorate fir trees, both inside and out, with roses, apples, and colored paper. It is believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to light a Christmas tree with candles. While coming home one dark winter's night near Christmas, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor Christmas tree. The Christmas tree was not widely used in Britain until the 19th century. It was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Germans in the 1820's. ~*~ Xmas~*~ This abbreviation for Christmas is of Greek origin. The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ's name, "X" in place of the word Christ in Christmas as a shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that X stood for Christ's name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook "Xmas" as a sign of disrespect. ~*~ The Candy Cane~*~ In the late 1800's a candy maker in Indiana wanted to express the meaning of Christmas through a symbol made of candy. He came up with the idea of bending one of his white candy sticks into the shape of a Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols of Christ's love and sacrifice through the Candy Cane. First, he used a plain white peppermint stick. The color white symbolizes the purity and sinless nature of Jesus. Next, he added three small stripes to symbolize the pain inflicted upon Jesus before His death on the cross. There are three of them to represent the Holy Trinity. He added a bold stripe to represent the blood Jesus shed for mankind. When looked at with the crook on top, it looks like a shepherd's staff because Jesus is the shepherd of man. If you turn it upside down, it becomes the letter J symbolizing the first letter in Jesus' name. The candy maker made these candy canes for Christmas, so everyone would remember what Christmas is all about. ~*~ Santa Claus~*~ The original Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, was born in Turkey in the 4th century. He was very pious from an early age, devoting his life to Christianity. He became widely known for his generosity for the poor. But the Romans held him in contempt. He was imprisoned and tortured. But when Constantine became emperor of Rome, he allowed Nicholas to go free. Constantine became a Christian and convened the Council of Nicaea in 325. Nicholas was a delegate to the council. He is especially noted for his love of children and for his generosity. He is the patron saint of sailors, Sicily, Greece, and Russia. He is also, of course, the patron saint of children. The Dutch kept the legend of St. Nicholas alive. In 16th century Holland, Dutch children would place their wooden shoes by the hearth in hopes that they would be filled with a treat. The Dutch spelled St. Nicholas as Sint Nikolaas, which became corrupted to Sinterklaas, and finally, in Anglican, to Santa Claus. In 1822, Clement C. Moore composed his famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nick," which was later published as "The Night Before Christmas." Moore is credited with creating the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man in a red suit. http://wilstar.com/xmas/xmassymb.htm

~*~*~ Greek Christmas Traditions ~*~*~ By Emma Nicolozakes ~*~ The Holiday Season~*~ The Holiday Season in Greece begins on December 6th, which is the Feast of St. Nicholas, and ends on January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany. Christmas ranks as the second most important holiday of the year, superceded only by Easter. Approximately 95% of all Greeks are members of the Greek Orthodox Church, and as in the United States, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. Christmas is a religious, solemn holiday in Greece, and not as prone to commercialism as it is in the States. A number of gifts are exchanged between family members; but in lieu of large expensive gifts, many donations are made to local orphanages and charities. ~*~ Decoration~*~ Christmas trees are not usually used in Greece. The traditional Christmas season decoration is a small wooden bowl with a piece of wire suspended over the rim. A sprig of basil wrapped around a wooden cross is attached to this wire, and a small amount of water in the bowl keeps the basil fresh. Once a day, the cross is dipped in Holy Water which is sprinkled around the house to ward off the mischievous spirits, or Killantzaroi, who are said to play evil pranks on family members throughout the twelve days of Christmas. ~*~ Santa Claus~*~ St. Basil is the Santa Claus of the Greeks. St. Basil's Day is celebrated on our New Year's Day, and this is when the presents are exchanged between family members. Although in the United States we often call Santa Claus "St. Nick", St. Nicholas in Greece is the patron saint of sailors. ~*~ Carols~*~ During the Holiday season, children go from house to house singing kalanda, the Greek equivalent of Christmas carols. The children are traditionally rewarded with treats, such as dried figs, almonds, walnuts, and coins, and the kalanda they sing are said to bless the house. In fact, the word "carol" itself comes from the Greek choraulein, which is a Greek dance accompanied by flute music. ~*~ Food~*~ Food is an important part of any Greek holiday, and the Christmas season is no exception. Traditionally pigs, lambs, and goats were served; today it is common to have turkey. Christopsomo, the traditional Christmas bread, is shaped into a round loaf and decorated with a cross. Around this cross are decorations indicating the trade of the family. For example, if the main livelihood of the family is fishing, the bread will be decorated with small fish designs. There is a wide array of desserts served during the Christmas season. Some of the most popular include melomakarona; cookies dipped in honey, diples, which are fried dough cookies dipped in honey, and kourabiethes, small cookies dusted with powdered sugar. Try my recipe for kourabiethes. Kala Christouyenna! (Merry Christmas!) http://www.bellaonline.com/food_and_wine/food/greek/articles/art977072212685.htm

I'm hoping someone who knows (Ginny? John?) lets us know how correct the above Greek traditions are. Wolfie and my daughter-in-law are my German tradition sources. Maggie, will you add the English traditions I am most familiar with, please? Any and all comments and traditions are welcome. Rob? What do the Kiwis do? The Maoris? I'll supply Hawaiian traditions as best I can. We combine many nations' celebrations here. With snow falling on our mountains and cold air coming in my window, I feel very much in the spirit of the holidays. I especially like the Greek tradition of donating to charity for the holiday. That is also MY idea of the best Christmas gift of all that I can give.

some of my german traditions got fangled up with anxious waiting children and what to do about them. for example, i was told that we celebrated christmas on christmas eve (the gifts). so i grew up thinking this was why we did it that way, even through my teenage/young adult years. i learned, upon a visit by my new husband (who opens gifts christmas morning) the true origination of the christmas eve exchange was revealed--me and my brother. we would get so excited we'd make ourselves sick! so every christmas eve, the family would pack up the car to go to services and my parents always had to run back in the house. upon our return, santa magically came to our house. one thing we did celebrate with regularity was st nick's day--Dec 6. this was where we'd set a pair of shoes outside the door. in the morning, we'd find goodies in our shoes. i don't remember the origin of this tradition but have heard it called other things. in my house, we spent christmas eve driving through ritsy neighborhoods to see how stingy they were with their lights (some weren't at all and they were marvelous displays) until the kids were sleepy. then we played santa.

i meant to say, we spend christmas eve looking at lights. and we do the gifts on christmas morning followed by a big meal.

St. Nicholas, also called Nicholas of Bari, Nicholas of Myra, and Santa Claus, flourished in the 4th century in Asia Minor near the modern Turkish city of Finike. One of the most popular minor saints commemorated in the Eastern and Western churches, his feast day is December 6th. He is now traditionally associated with the festival of Christmas. I will share my memories of Christmas tomorrow. Thanks Wolfie!

More about St Nicholas http://www.umkc.edu/imc/stnick.htm

in my christmas memoirs above, i see that i forgot to mention that my parents told me it was german tradition to exchange gifts christmas eve (sorry if that was confusing)

oh, and here's something i suggest you NOT do....do not set up your video camera to capture santa because your children will need therapy when they get older *laugh* my husband did this one year and my son is convinced. but, i say let him believe as long as he can. heck, i still believe in the spirit of santa and the magic associated with him.

Oh Wolfie, how funny. It reminds me of a story about my father catching Santa. I'll post that as soon as I toast my favorite composer's birthday Thank you for providing the means by which my soul takes flight and my heart is stirred. Beethoven comforts my mind when all else has abandoned me. *Hugs* (I think the real Beethoven would have cast scorn at me and sent me packing by now if I had dared to hug him!)

well, you know how geniuses can be! (i love B too)

You're my twin - of course you love Beethoven, too. *grin* Once upon a time, when my father was very young... (I promise to post it!)

Hi all Another cool topic on Geo - anyway, just wandering around and found this topic which is why I like Geo above all topics - even radio happy pre solstice 73 de Mike AA9IL

and to you cosmo!

Way Cool Cosmo has joined the wandering minds that inhabit Geo. We're eclectic, of nothing else! What do you do to celebrate the holidays? Link your boat anchor radios in parallel or series and fire them all up at the same time? I did that once! Back before there was much music available on radio, I could at least count of a rousing rendition of "God Save The Queen" from the provinces of Canada as they sidned off. On night I managed to tune two radios (tube with huge output speakers) and my head just between them. It wasn't stereo but it sure sounded like STEREO !!! I got the blast of my lifetime listeting and I think I can still hear it rumbling around in my head soemwhere. Sounded glorious to my hungry ears. Did anyone else do anything quite that foolish? When are you getting an xfm or xam lashup for those long road trips?

Hi yall Well, Christmas will be up here in the cold climes - got the first major snow shower to lend the look. Usually, I just fire up one boatanchror rig to warm the room - either the R390A or SP600 - the Collins has been getting most of the attention as of late. Anyway the holidays are reserved for the usual family stuff prior to new years lunacy plus I need to keep hacking on these transverter projects to get them completed - the first contest of the year is January but the big one is in June. For those long trips, I do take my 2m/440 FM rig with me although I do remember working mobile HF which is alwasy lots o' fun. Need to get a mobile rig back in the truck - quite different from when I ran my Yaesu FT101E in my El Camino back during my college years - it drew so many amps that the alternator belt snapped - had to limp home on the 12v battery alone. Happy Solstice! 73 de AA9IL Mike r-c-i

doh! By xfm you mean the satellite service? I looked at the radios - kind of neat but I really want shortwave in my truck so I can listen to Radio Canada, BBC, Radio Nederland, etc while driving. For music, I have my formidable CD collection - maybe someday get the satellite service tho.... Fine biz on the eclectic minds - I at least like to think Im eclectic sometimes.... 73 de Mike

I agree with you, Mike. Those new little satellite AM and FM receivers leave much to be desired unless you want to loop Art Bell for 24/7 and become VERY strange. Get a good transceiver for you car and a whip antenna with some pulling power. You don't want to get ripped off so make it invisble. My son put the button panel in the dash and put the works under his seat. It works great and he can flip the button panel over so it is totally unappealing. In his house, I never know how to turn things on. Often the goodies are three rooms away and he can station select and tune from the kitchen. Hawaii has snow, Sunny Greece is under more than a foot of the stuff and you guys are still waiting for your share? Sant Claus comes to Hawaii on a surfboard and we leave a door open for him. With John's permission I will post an impressive amount of snow covering his car. (There is also an amazing depressed-looking palm tree with its crown flattened by the weight of the snow. It looks so forlorn... At least when it snows in Hawaii, it keeps it up on the mountains and now down where people live. I am looking at it in a little soft cotton shirt. No shovelling.

HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE

I can't wait till 31 December ! Look at what my ancestors were doing for fun while some of us will be getting hung over. I'm not sure who gets the worst headache! Allandale Tar Barrel Burning, Northumberland A version of burning out the old year, locals walk down the street with blazing tar barrels on their heads. Some of these are then thrown to light a bonfire.

what day is the solstice? is it tomorrow?? (i had heard that tomorrow will be the shortest day of the year) great pic of stonehenge!

Solsitice is when the sun appears to stand still and our ancestors didnot know if it would reappear and summer would follow, or if they would die a cold and miserable death of starvation in darkness. The lit bonfires and all sorts of other things to get the sun to come back. I'll find some to post. I suspect knocking on wood is not all that different from what they did.

Howdy Howdy Yep, tomorrow is the Solstice! Very cool picture indeed. Today while walking to the train station in Chicago, there was a perfect picture of the quarter moon visible between the office buildings - I thought to my self: "Moon in the canyon" The twilight was crisp and clear and the lights in the buildings and trees did twinkle. This was one of those 'nice winter walks' and no snow! 73 de AA9IL Mike r-c-i

too bad you didn't have a camera!!

(thanks for the info on the solstice)

Mike, you need to find Santa immediately and tell him you NEED a camera. You might be the Ansel Adams of the 21st century!

I neglected to tell WHEN the Winter Solstice is. In the northern hemisphere, the Winter solstice is day of the year (near December 22) when the Sun is farthest south. However, in the southern hemisphere, winter and summer solstices are exchanged so that the winter solstice is the day on which the Sun is farthest north. The winter solstice marks the first day of the season of winter. The declination of the Sun on the (northern) winter solstice is known as the tropic of capricorn (-23� 27'). The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, respectively, in the sense that the length of time elapsed between sunrise and sunset on this day is a minimum for the year. Of course, daylight saving time means that the first Sunday in April has 23 hours and the last Sunday in October has 25 hours, but these human meddlings with the calendar and do not correspond to the actual number of daylight hours. In Chicago, there are 9:20 hours of daylight on the winter solstice of December 22, 1999. lots more... http://www.treasure-troves.com/astro/WinterSolstice.html

so it's tomorrow then? 22 Dec and not 21 Dec....but today is the first day of winter!

It depends on your time and locality when the sun reaches its southernmost point For Hawaii it is definitely the 21st. For Greece it is the 22nd as it is for New Zealand and points east. There is a chart on that page url I posted, I think...

ok, gotta go back and find that url!

For an easy-to-understand explanation for seasons and why Rob in New Zealand is having summer while North America is having winter: http://explorezone.com/earth/seasons.htm

bookmarked that one, thanks sweetie!

I think she is too big for the title page. I need a more dignified angel there, I think. But she is so sweet; I love her innocence and tenderness.

Not YOU, Wolfie! You'd fit perfectly on the title page. I meant the angel I have installed. I will change her back to the star and look for a more stately Herald Angel that Mendelssohn wrote about.

i've not even seen the angel yet *sniff*

Mele Kalikimaka Look at Crafts title page. The little angel was there last night when I closed out. Did she fly away? *Hugs* No sniffling on Christmas for my Wolfie-Twin. Only happy smiles allowed (yes, I know!) Please feel free to go use any of my seasonal files. I will email you with the url...

JOHN!!! I really DO know how to do this. I just can't make them work and I did not have any separations between my graphics, my commands for the font or the words therein. This is tiresome, so I will not try it again until Next year!

well, i don't care about the alignment, it was done with feeling and i love it! (i didn't venture into crafts last night but i did this afternoon and she's really sweet)

*HUGS* Wolfie and Merry Christmas!! She really is sweet. We can thank John for slowing her down. When I found her she was positively frantic. Hugs to him, too for all his help with Craft and Geo-decorating

Geo's Little Angel

I'm not pretending about the snow on Mauna Kea: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanoes/maunakea/ Mauna Kea Hawai`i's Tallest Volcano Tall cinder cones atop the summit of Mauna Kea (4,205m) and lava flows that underlie its steep upper flanks have built the volcano a scant 35 m higher than nearby Mauna Loa (4,170 m). Mauna Kea, like Hawai`i's other older volcanoes, Hualalai and Kohala, has evolved beyond the shield-building stage, as indicated by (1) the very low eruption rates compared to Mauna Loa and Kilauea; (2) the absence of a summit caldera and elongated fissure vents that radiate its summit; (3) steeper and more irregular topography (for example, the upper flanks of Mauna Kea are twice as steep as those of Mauna Loa); and (4) different chemical compositions of the lava. These changes in part reflect a low rate magma supply that causes the continuously active summit reservoir and rift zones of the shield stage to give way to small isolated batches of magma that rise episodically into the volcano, erupt briefly, and soon solidify. They also reflect greater viscosity and volatile content of the lava, which result in thick flows that steepen the edifice and explosive eruptions that build large cinder cones. Glaciers on Mauna Kea? Most people don't think about snow or glaciers in Hawai`i, but geologists have long recognizd deposits formed by glaciers on Mauna Kea during recent ice ages. The latest work indicates that deposits of three glacial episodes since 150,000 to 200,000 years ago are preserved on the volcano. Glacial moraines on the volcano formed about 70,000 years ago and from approximately 40,000 to 13,000 years ago. If glacial deposits were formed on Mauna Loa, they have long since been buried by younger lava flows. Even today, snow falls on both Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Both volcanoes are so high that snow falls during winter months, perhaps accumulating to a few meters depth. The seasonal snow cover on the steep slopes of Mauna Kea is easier to see from coastal areas than on the gentle, rounded slopes of Mauna Loa, whose summit cannot be seen from sea level. more...http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanoes/maunakea/

i still can't believe it (though i know you didn't make it up) just doesn't go together--hawaii and snow (even in the mountains)......we could see the snow really good on top of a mountain range here (dunno the name of the mountain). didn't have my camera either or i could've shown you the effects of cooler air and a mountain range on smog. it hung eerily in the air with the mountains rising above it. too bad they don't make giant vacuum cleaners or hepa filters!!

(You didn't expect me to get it right, did you? How I hate disappointing you!)

Mele Kalikimaka My Christmas is slowly ending as the rest of the world is on another day. My dinner with friends included a very typical Hawaiian eclectic mix of food and people. It has been a very nice day. I hope yours was, as well. For dinner we had rice, sushi, poke (raw fish Hawaiian style), seaweed in various delicious ways, fresh fruit of all sorts, raw vegetables in and out of salads, cheeses, tofu barbecued and other ways, traditional mochi (for good luck)rice cakes, olives, "pot stickers", egg rolls, ham, teriyaki beef, chicken, crab salad Hawaiian style, and so many more I cannot remember... The people were not the students, this year. Instead, we had a wonderful mix of professors from the local University and researchers from both the University and from Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory. I caught such mentions of 45�F at the summit of Kilauea last night and carried on conversations with people I would happily spend many future hours. Discussions varied from hydroponic gardening to the ever-present Volcano, and Ah, yes, we also discussed the eating of dog in the Philippines and other curious food habits of the non-western world. Many exchanged email addresses. I have, also. Perhaps Mitchell will look here. We discussed programming and websites and digital cameras among other things. Aloha, Mitchell, if you venture here. I enjoyed meeting you - also a transplant from New York. The food was delicious; the company fascinating. I have had a wonderful Christmas. I hope yours was as pleasant. The only negative is heavy fumes in Hilo due to lack of air movement. It would not take much exercise to make my lungs hurt. Instead I will email a few people and smile in contentment. Thank you all for making my holiday so special. My special thanks to Miu and Bernie for being such good hosts and assembling so delightful a mix of people.

*SIGH*

Happy Holidays and Happy Solstice to All! Hope everyone had a nice day - neat goodies on this end but the most noteworthy for the list was the complete Sci American Amateur Scientist CD rom with plenty of projects and inpho. First great lightbulb realization was an article on building seismic detectors using accelerometer integrated circuits - very different from my idea of a balanced pendulum with a 50000 turn coil between the poles of a strong magnet but hey, it should work! Lots of neat things to build with a danger scale reading from no hazard to loss of life possible - of course, I have to try building the proton accelerator (very dangerous). 73 de AA9IL Mike r-c-i

Share your projects, Mike, Please! Seismo stuff? Oooh! Any of them buildable by normal people who solder their fingers together and burn holes in bedspreads? (My son, not I!) Delighted you had such a wonderful day! I send you best wishes and gratitude for making yourself comfortable here. You're a very special guy. I'd love to see your parts department. My Dad had his all stored in amazing large metal cans and various little parts boxes. I kept my hands behind my back when I entered his sanctum sanctorum! But, I can still smell the fragrance of rosin melting on his soldering iron...

I am a map reader of the first order. I got atlases and bound road map books this year. Plus a lovely 4 inch diameter globe made of semi-precius stone and mounted on a golden pedestal. It resides on my mantle piece now! I shall photograph it if it is possible to do so!

oh marcia, i know the globe you're speaking of (although the ones i've seen were floor models) how wonderful!!!! sounds like you guys had a lot to eat! i made a roast again and it was delicious. tried out my mom's bread dumplings but, practice makes perfect and they all fell apart during the cooking! *laugh* hope everyone had a good holiday! *HUGS*

Falling-apart home cooking can sometimes be the best. It HAS to be better than solid concrete biscuits my sister served me one year! Sounds wonderful. I'm busy trying to identify country and gemstone. This had to have been very difficult to make. I wonder how many people went blind making it. Australia is solid abalone shell. Beautiful ! I'm thinking of changing the dividers again. You'd think I'd leave well enough alone....

Space Station Christmas December 25 -- Astronaut Cathy Clarke opened her eyes and yawned. Mission Control was playing Jingle Bells over the intercom for about the two hundredth time. "OK," she barked into the microphone. "I'm awake and I know it's Christmas!" Cathy, one of the crew of the International Space Station (ISS), was feeling homesick. Back on Earth, she knew, her family was gathered around the Christmas tree, sipping eggnog and opening presents. Later they would radio from Houston, but she yearned to be with them now -- not stuck in an orbiting laboratory, 350 km above Earth, with no Christmas spirit. This is a wonderful story. Read it to your children! The rest of it is http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast21dec_1.htm

the new bars are neat! and i noticed the wreaths as well!! concrete biscuits? *yikes*

I am trying to prepare for the New Year and get back to undecking the halls. Ther is much good science going on. Saw 5 satellites and the ISS plus an iridium flare a few moments ago! The Hubble in an hour. Hi Mike! *HUGS*

ok, how do you know what you're looking at? i can tell satellites from falling stars but that's it. undeck the halls? you mean we have to take everything down? already!? but wait, we've got mardi gras season starting Jan 6th!

Perhaps you would be so kind to help with a delima our marcie i was say calling her the mistress of the east ! ? or would she be considered the Mistres of the west!? she her self while joking about this says she is in the middle ! Pa Shaw! no one can be in the middle , so to her i suggested perhaps i could place a post here and all could vote if she is a mistress of the east or west ! we thank you for your time in responding to this delima in helping to be politicaly correct!! Poubelle1

Mike! Congratulations on your maiden post! I am more than a little amazed and delighted to see you here! I'll keep a tally of the votes if there are any. Thanks for making the effort to login and all that! You've joined the HTLM programming cognescenti! Welcome. Feel free to wander around. Perhaps assistant to the Mistress of the Volcano? Wolfie, We have to bring in the new year..... and Epiphany... The decorations will stay up for 12 days of Christmas... with New Year celebrations also.

When one lives in the semi-middle of an ocean near the international date line, I can't imagine what to call me! How about the lady with far too much curiosity ? I think it fits!

Mardi Gras is definitly on the schedule. I expect Mike to help celebrate. He's an expert, I understand...

i say we call marcia the world mistress! *HUGS*

*HUGS* Wolfie. Dobn't let Mike fool you. He is a story-teller of great expertise. Editing what he writes is both a pleasure and a challenge. Pou, did you expect some sort of concensus? I think no one will bother to vote except for my twin sister, Wolfie =) In any case, the true founding genius behind Geo who convinced me I could do it (he lied!) designated me "world builder" instead of host. I am still struggling to learn HTML programming and to make this conference worthy of your time. I do rather like these bars!

It is comforting to know Greece has a few traditions predating Christianity, just as the rest of us do. From Christmas in Greece http://www.gogreece.com/learn/christmas.htm In Greek homes, Christmas trees are not commonly used, but recently have become more popular. In almost every house though- the main symbol of the season is a shallow wooden bowl with a piece of wire is suspended across the rim; from that hangs a sprig of basil wrapped around a wooden cross. A small amount of water is kept in the bowl to keep the basil alive and fresh. Once a day, a family member, usually the mother, dips the cross and basil into some holy water and uses it to sprinkle water in each room of the house. This ritual is believed to keep the 'Killantzaroi' (bad spirits) away. There are a number of beliefs connected with these spirits, which are supposed to be a species of goblins who appear only during the 12-day period from Christmas to the Epiphany (January 6). These creatures are believed to come from the center of the earth and to slip into people's house through the chimney. More mischievous than actually evil, the Killantzaroi do things like extinguish fires, ride astride people's backs, braid horses' tails, and sour the milk. To further repel the undesirable sprites, the hearth is kept burning day and night throughout the twelve days. Gifts are finally exchanged on St. Basil's Day (January 1). On this day the "renewal of waters" also takes place, a ritual in which all water jugs in the house are emptied and refilled with new "St. Basil's Water." The ceremony is often accompanied by offerings to the 'naiads', spirits of springs and fountains. All in all, Christmas is an enjoyable part of Greece today and one that should be experienced by all.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE YOUR WALLET OR PURSE A corporate attorney sent this out to the employees in his company. I pass it along, for your information. WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE YOUR PURSE OR WALLET We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed in your name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately I (the author of this piece who happens to be an attorney) have firsthand knowledge, because my wallet was stolen last month and within a week the thieve(s) 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. As everyone always advises: 1. Cancel your credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free number and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily. 2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). 3. But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never ever thought to do this) Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. 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 2 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 in their tracks. The numbers are: -Equifax: 800-525-6285 -Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742 -Trans Union: 800-680-7289 -Social Security Administration (fraud line): 800-269-0271 We pass along jokes; we pass along just about everything. Do think about passing this information along. It could really help someone. AND... why not print it up and keep it in a handy place -- not in your purse or wallet, of course!

Stress Makes People Fat, Swedish Study Shows Reuters Jan 7 2002 9:15AM STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Long-term stress could make people fat, according to a study of some 50 overweight middle-aged Swedish men published Monday. Disruptions in the human nervous system, or stress, can concentrate fat around the abdomen, raising the risk of diabetes as well as heart problems, a study by the university hospital in the Swedish city of Gothenburg found. One fifth of Westerners are estimated to suffer from diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. "The stress system has developed to deal with periods of brief stress for stone-age man preparing for battle or flight. But in today's civilized world, stress is different. One does not beat up the boss or run away from the mortgage institute," said physician Thomas Ljung, who led the study. A body under stress creates a surplus of a hormone which stimulates a fat-gathering enzyme. This enzyme is more easily taken up by the abdomen than other parts of the body, the survey found. After a long period of stress, the hormone surplus decreases but the fat remains, particularly around the bellies of modern men who need less physical exercise to survive than their forefathers. "Positive stress, a quick rush of adrenaline, is only good for the body. It is the long-term negative stress than can lead to serious health problems," Ljung told Reuters by telephone. Even though pot-bellies are often associated with middle-aged men, a surprisingly large number of women also have a disproportionate amount of fat around their waists, he said.

Now, I am stressed about getting fat. It is another case of the tail chasing the dog!

well that explains my troubles then (that and chocolate, what i eat when i'm stressed)

*sigh* We're doomed. It is a Good Thing I have long legs and do not have fat genes.