A Little Knowledge Can Be A Powerful Thing

At age 14, William Kamkwamba of Malawi, Africa, having grown-up without the benefit of electricity read a book about windmills and decided to try building one. He did so with scrap material and figured out how to generate electricity with it. Find out what he's doing now.
To follow his story go to: www.williamkamkwamba.com

Caught On Security Camera in Parking Lot

I got this in an email.
"No sound, just watch. You will be flabbergasted. Okay, I think both men and women should be aware of this. It could have happened to anyone of us. If you notice he got away with her car, purse, and keys without touching her and worst of all, she couldn't even give a description of the person to the police.(Thankfully there wasn't a child in the car.) I hate to admit it, but I could see myself doing exactly what she did. I'm glad I saw this video. Please watch and pass it on. Moral: turn off the car & take the key."

Mapping Worlds

Go to the Website:
http://show.mappingworlds.com/world/?lang=EN

Then pick a subject from the top menu and watch the countries on the map change their size to represent the data for that subject --both its share of the total and absolute value.

Shade Tree Greetings

Do you have some cool old photos that would make a neat greeting card?

Shade Tree Greetings will pay $50.00 for each photograph chosen to be used on a greeting card!
What they are looking for: Photographs taken between 1940 and 1975 for use in their line of "Actual Pictures". They are looking for unique photos depicting the "times" as they were. "Actual Pictures" cards strive for nostaglia with humor!
What to do: Make a simple black & white copy of your photographs (The more pictures you send, the better your chances are for having one published.) Write your name, address, and telephone number on separate piece of paper and lay it below your photo on the copier glass as you copy your photos. This will save you the time of writing your name and address on every copy. (Please copy only one photo per 8 1/2 x 11 inch page.)

Send your copies to them at the following address:

Shade Tree Greetings
ATTN: "Actual Pictures" Photo Department
704 S. Clinton Avenue Suite 400
Rochester, NY 14620

If you have any questions, call them at 1-800-836-4206 or you can email them at photos@shadetreegreetings.com
Check out their website at: http://www.shadetreegreetings.com/default.htm

Happy Valentine's Day

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/35-Little-Acts-of-Kindness

Quilter Husband's Lament

I've always learned that life was full of obstacles and woes.
I've learned to live with sickness, death, taxes, heaven knows.
I've taken all these things in stride, the problems and strife,
But one I didn't count on was a Quilter for a wife.

Come home from work, the stove is cold, the dirty clothes still there,
The suit I wanted cleaned today, still laying on the chair.
"Where's Mama, son?" I asked my boy, "This house is such a mess.
Why, all the sheets are missing, we've been burglarized I guess."

"No, Mama stripped down all the beds and took the sheets away.
She cut them into little strips and pieced two quilts today."
"Why every pair of pants I own is cut in little squares."
"I'm demonstrating applique", my lovely wife declares.

I show up in the office in my boxer shorts and tie.
My secretary giggles and the clerks give me the eye.
It's freezing cold, I'm shaking and my knees are turning blue.
My boss considered firing me, but his wife's a quilter too.

I told him what happened and he said he could believe.
I noticed that the coat he wore had only half a sleeve.
A husband needs a loving wife to help him when he's ill.
To soothe and comfort, mop his brow and help him take his pills.

Should influenza strike you, your life's not worth a dime,
Particularly if it hits at Quilt Convention time.
You'll lay there in an empty house in pain and deep despair,
While the workshops and the lectures keep your wife's attention there.

You learn to ask no questions when she smiles and drives away,
Rushing to the Fabric Shop for a big sale there today.
She's gone for hours, then drags back home all bleary eyed and down,
Now who'd believe a lie like that? She must be running round.

But I'll get by, I always do, some days are fine, some not.
When your wife's a Quilter you tolerate a lot.
I know that when my life is through and I have passed away
They'll have to set my funeral so it's not a Quilting Day.

-Author Unknown-

(Thanks Helen for finding this and passing it along.)

St.Luke's Makes Little Dresses and Britches

Count Up to Disney's 50th Animated Motion Picture