The United States of America is a nation of 50 states. The United States achieved independence in 1776. It is the world's most productive industrial nation and has played a major role in international affairs for the last 60 years. Geographically, the United States consists of the Rocky Mountains in the west, the Great Plains in the center, the Appalachians in the east, deserts in the southwest, and coastal lowlands and swamps in the southeast.

The United States is the Land of Opporuntiy!

Why English Is One of

the Most Difficult Languages to Learn…

We polish Polish furniture.

He could lead if he got the lead out.

A farm can produce produce.

The dump was so full, it had to refuse refuse.

The soldier decided to desert in the desert.

The present is a good time to present the present.

At the Army base, a bass was painted on a bass drum.

A dove dove into the bushes.

I didn’t object to the object.

The insurance for the invalid was invalid.

The bandage was wound around the wound.

There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

The two were too close to the door to close it.

The buck does funny things when does are present.

They sent a sewer down to stitch a tear in the sewer line.

To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

After a number of Novocain injections, my lips got number.

I shed a tear over a tear in my shirt.

I had to subject the subject to a number of tests.

How can I intimate this to my most intimate friends?

I spent last evening evening out a pile of dirt.

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, "Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"

I replied: I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four-letter word. I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad's fields. I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

God bless the parents who drugged us.

Did you Know?

Alabama (AL, Ala) introduced the Mardi Gras (French for Fat Tuesday) festival to North America. In 1703, 124 years before the New Orleans festivities began, the tine town of Mobile celebrated Boeuf Gras (French for Fat Beef) at the start of Lent.

Birmingham is the largest city by population, Huntsville is the largest by total land and Mobile is the oldest city.

Alabama is known as the "Heart of Dixie".

Capital City: Montgomery

State Area: 52,423 square miles

State Population: 4.6 million (2006)

Admission to Statehood: December 14, 1819, 22nd state

State Environments: Coast, Plains

State Bird: Yellowhammer

State Tree: Long-leaf Pine

State Flower: Camellia

Elevation: Highest Point - Mount Cheaha 2,405 feet
Lowest Point - Gulf of Mexico 0 ft

Time Zone: Central

I read an interesting article this weekend and decided that I would like to speak-out.

Do you think body armor should be regulated? I say yes...

In April, here in the United States, 16 people, including three police officers, were murdered in separate incidents in Binghamton, NY and Pittsburgh. In both cases the killers wore bulletproof vests.

Even though Federal laws ban violent felons from owning body armor, I think there should be regulations for the purchase of body armor...the same as there is with gun purchases. I realize that criminals would find sources to purchase them, but the average Joe would have to jump through hoops to purchase body armor.

Today, here in the United States there are NO background checks, NO federal regulations unless you are a violent offender - and even then you can buy them at gun shows or online without any background checks!

My question is "why do you need it if you're not going to commit a crime?"

I also realize that not only does our law enforcements need body armor, but I believe that body armor provides potentially lifesaving protection for civilians too - everyone from judges to journalists. I am sure that those civilians would not have a problem with background checks.

I have family members that are in law enforcement and it really scares me to think that everyday they are out protecting us, they are faced with hardcore criminals who are wearing body armor!

Did you Know?

Alaska (AK, US-AK) is the largest state. It is just over twice the size of Texas. Alaska was bought from the Russians in 1867 for two cents an acre! Parts of Alaska were occupied by Japanese troops during World War II.

Approximately half of Alaska's residents reside in Anchorage. Alaska remains the least densely populated state.

Alaska has more coastlines than anyother U.S. states combined. Alaska has over 3 million lakes, marshlands and wetland permafrost.

Alaska Motto: "North to the Future."

Alaska is known as "The Last Frontier", "Land of the Midnight Sun" or "Seward's Icebox".

Capital City: Juneau

State Area: 663,268 square miles

State Population: 686,293 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: January 3, 1959, 49th state

State Environments: Coast, Mountains

State Bird: Willow Ptarmigan

State Tree: Silka Spruce

State Flower: Forget-Me-Not

State Song: Alaska's Flag 

Elevation: Highest Point - Mount McKinley 20,320 feet
Lowest Point - Pacific Ocean 0 ft

Time Zone: East of 169 degrees 30' Alaska UTC-9, DST-8
West of 169 degree 30' Aleutian UTC-10, DST-9

Did you Know?

Arkansas (AR, Ark. US-AR) is the only state where diamonds have been found and mined. If you visit the Crater of Diamonds State Park, you can search for diamonds, amethyst, garnet, jasper, agate, and quartz – just like the prospectors.

Arkansasis one of the several U.S. states formed from the territory purchased from Napoleon Bonaparte in the Louisiana Purchase.

Arkansas played a key role in aiding Texas in its war for independence from Mexico; it sent troops and materials to Texas to help fight the war.

Arkansas is home to several global companies including Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt and Tyson Foods. Sam Walton founded his Wal-Mart stores in Bentonville.

Arkansas has a larger percentage of tobacco smokers than the national average, with 24% of adults smoking!

Arkansas like most other southern states is part of the Bible Belt and is predominantly Protestant.

Kingsland, Arkansaswas the birth place for the legendary singer Johnny Cash.

Arkansas Motto: "Regnat Populus" (The people rule)

Arkansas Nickname: The Natural State

Arkansas is home of Hot Springs National Park, its springs produces more than a million gallons of water a day, with an average temperature of 143°F (62°C), flow from 47 springs.

Capital City: Little Rock

State Area: 53,182 square miles

State Population: 2,855,390 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: June 15, 1836, 25th state

Major Industries: Food processing, bromine and vanadium

Major Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, soybeans, sorghum, cattle, cotton, rice, hogs, and milk. Its industrial outputs are food processing, electric equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, paper products, bromine, and vanadium.

State Environments: Prairies, Rivers

State Bird: Mockingbird

State Tree: Pine Tree

State Flower: Apple Blossom

State Mammal: White-tailed Deer

State Gem: Diamond

State Song: “Arkansas” by Wayland Holyfield and “Oh Arkansas by Terry Rose and Gary Klaff

Elevation: Highest Point – Mount Magazine 2,753 feet
Lowest Point – Ouachita River 55 ft

Time Zone: Central UTC-6/DST-5

Average Rainfall: 48.52 inches

Did you Know?

California (CA, Calif. US-CA) One out of every 8 Americans lives in California. California was the first state to produce goods and services worth over a trillion dollars. In fact, if California was a country, it would be the seventh largest economy in the world.

San Francisco Bay is considered the world’s largest landlocked harbor.

It is estimated there are approximately 500,000 detectable seismic tremors in California annually.

California’s Proposition 215 (1996) was the first statewide medical marijuana initiative to pass in the USA.

California Motto: “Eureka” (I have found it)

California Nickname:  The Golden State

Capital City: Sacramento

State Area: 163,707 square miles

State Population: 36,756,666 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: September 9, 1850, 31^st state

Major Industries: Agriculture, Oil, Mining, Movie Making, Entertainment, Tourism, Manufacturing, Biotechnology, Aerospace-defense

State Environments: Coast, Desert, Mountains

State Bird: California Valley Quail

State Tree:  Redwood – the Redwood is the tallest tree, growing up to 370 feet tall and living for over a thousand years. One redwood in California is 2,220 years old. The roods of this giant conifer are shallow, but spread sideways up to 250 feet from the trunk.

State Flower: California Poppy

State Mammal: Grizzly Bear

State Gem: Benitoite

State Song: “I Love You, California”

Elevation: Highest Point – Mount Whitney 14,495 feet
Lowest Point – Death Valley 282 ft below sea level, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere

Time Zone: Pacific UTC-8/-7

Average Rainfall: 17.28 inches

Theodore Roosevelt
26^th President of the U.S. and
winner of 1906 Nobel Peace Prize

In the battle of life, it is not the critic who counts; nor the one who points out how the strong person stumbled, or where the doer of a deed could have done better.

The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually strive to do deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends oneself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he or she fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those timid spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

Andrew Hund
1993 

Ode to Finals Week!

Twas the night before finals, and all through the college,
The students were praying for last minute knowledge.
Most were quite sleepy, but none touched their beds,
While visions of essays danced in their heads.

Out in the taverns, a few were still drinking,
And hoping that liquor would loosen up their thinking.
In my own apartment, I had been pacing,
And dreading exams I soon would be facing.

My roommate was speechless, his nose in his books,
And my comments to him drew unfriendly looks.
I drained all the coffee, and brewed a new pot,
No longer caring that my nerves were shot.

I stared at my notes, but my thoughts were muddy,
My eyes went a blur, I just couldn't study.
"Some pizza might help," I said with a shiver,
But each place I called refused to deliver.

I'd nearly concluded that life was too cruel,
With futures depending on grades had in school.
When all of a sudden, our door opened wide,
And Patron Saint Put-It-Off ambled inside.

His spirit was careless, his manner was mellow,
When all of a sudden, he started to bellow:
"On Cliff Notes! On Crib Notes! On last year's exams!
On Wingit and Slingit, and last minute crams!"

His message delivered, he vanished from sight,
But we heard him laughing outside in the night.
"Your teachers have pegged you, so just do your best.
Happy Finals to all, and to all, a Good Test!"

Did you Know?

Colorado (CO, Colo. US-CO) The tallest sand dunes in America are Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Monument. The dunes were started over 12,000 years ago and heavy winds continue to move the sand. The dunes are located outside of Alamosa in south central Colorado.

The U.S. obtained eastern Colorado as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the central portion in 1845 with the admission of Texas as a state, and the western part in 1848 as a result of the Mexican War.

Colorado has the highest mean elevation of any state, with more than 1,000 Rocky Mountain peaks over 10,000 feet high and 54 towering above 14, 000 feet. Pikes Peak the most famous of these mountains was discovered by U.S. Army lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike in 1806.

“Grand Mesa”, the world’s largest flat-top plateau is also found in Colorado.

Colorado has more microbreweries per capita than any other state.

The Dwight Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel between Clear Creek and Summit counties is the highest auto tunnel in the world. Bored at an elevation of 11,000 feet under the Continental Divide, it is 8,960 feet long.

Colorado is the home of the highest suspension bridge in the world is over the Royal Gorge near Canon City. The Royal Gorge Bridge spans the Arkansas River at a height of 1,053 feet.

A golf ball flies on average ten percent farther in Colorado than other states because of the altitude. It flies even farther at higher altitudes about 7,000 feet.

The thirteenth step of the state capital building in Denver is one mile above sea level.

Colfax Avenue in Denver is the longest continuous street in America.

Colorado Motto: “Nil sine Numine” (nothing without Providence)

Colorado Nickname:  Centennial State, Colorful Colorado

Capital City: Denver

State Area: 104,100 square miles

State Population:  4,939,456 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: August 1, 1876, 38^th state

Major Industries: Cattle, wheat, dairy products, corn and hay, tourism (especially skiers), mining (gold, silver), oil, finance and manufacturing.

State Environments: Mountains

State Bird: Lark Bunting

State Tree:  Colorado Blue Spruce

State Flower: Rocky Mountain Columbine

State Mammal: Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

State Gem: Aquamarine

State Song: “Where the Columbines Grow”

Elevation: Highest Point – Mount Elbert 14,440 feet
Lowest Point – Arkansas River 3,315 ft

Time Zone: Mountain MST= UTC-7, MDT=UTC-6

Average Rainfall: 12 to 18 inches

It's no wonder Colorado is one of the top destinations for summer travel, it has endless sights of beauty.

One of my favorite all-time memories was when my parents had a campsite just on the outskirts of Gunnison, next to the Gunnison River and the Airport. They would stay there all summer long with all their RV buddies from around the states. They had approximately 3 acres and each of their friends had their own specific spot they like to park their RV for the summer - it was like they had their own little community. My family and I would travel to Gunnison every summer and spend a week with them, each day we would take mini-off road trips through all the mountain passes...oh what beauty, mountains, trees, lakes, animals!

Those were some of my fondest memories of Colorado!

Did you Know?

Connecticut (CT, Conn. US-CT) The term “pumpkin head” comes from Connecticut and refers to a law, which requires men to have haircuts that fit a certain shaped cap. Pumpkin shells were sometimes used instead.

Connecticut played a prominent role in the Revolutionary War, serving as the Continental Army's major supplier. Sometimes called the “Arsenal of the Nation,” the state became one of the most industrialized in the nation.

Connecticutalso has a very active bicycling community, with one of the highest rates of bicycling ownership and use in the United States.

Connecticut is well known as the home of  Yale University (701), which maintains a consistent ranking as one of the world's most renowned universities and has one of the most selective undergraduate programs of any university in the United States (a 7.5% acceptance rate in 2009). Yale is one of the largest employers in the state, and its research activity has recently spun off dozens of growing biotechnology companies.

Connecticut Origin of Name: From an Indian word (Quinnehtukqut) meaning “beside the long tidal river”

Connecticut Motto: “Qui transtulit sustinet” (He who transplanted still sustains)

Connecticut Nickname:  Constitution State, The Nutmeg State

Capital City: Hartford

State Area: 5,544 square miles

State Population:  3,501,252 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: January 9, 1788 5^th state

Major Industries: agriculture, industry (especially insurance), tourism
Connecticut factories produce weapons, sewing machines, jet engines, helicopters, motors, hardware and tools, cutlery, clocks, locks, silverware, and submarines. Hartford has the oldest U.S. newspaper still being published—the Hartford Courant, established 1764—and is the insurance capital of the nation.

State Environments: Coast, Rolling Mountains

State Bird:  American Robin

State Tree:  White Oak

State Flower: Mountain Laurel

State Mammal: Sperm Whale

State Gem: Garnet

State Song: “Yankee Doodle”

Elevation: Highest Point – Mount Frissell 2,380 feet
Lowest Point – Long Island Sound 0 ft  

Time Zone: Eastern UTC-5/-4

Average Annual Rainfall: 44.39 inches

via The Prairie Rambler, February 1998

1. Life is not fair. Get used to it. The average teenager uses the phrase "It's not fair" 86 times a day.

    

2. The real world won't care as much about your self-esteem as your school does. This may come as a shock.

    

3. Sorry, but you won't make $40,000 a year right out of high school. And you won't be a vice president or have a car phone, either. You may even have to wear a uniform that doesn't have a designer label.

    

4. If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss.

    

5. Flipping burgers is not beneath dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity.

    

6. It's not your parents fault if you mess up. You're responsible! This is the flip side of "It's my life" and "You're not my boss."

    

7. Before you were born your parents were not boring. They got that way paying your bills and listening to you.

    

8. Life is not divided into semesters. And you don't get summers off. Not even spring break. You are expected to show up every day for eight hours; and you don't get a new life every 10 weeks.

    

9. Smoking does not make you look cool. Watch an 11-year-old with a butt in his mouth. That's what you look like to anyone over 20.

    

10. Your school may be "outcome-based," but life is not. In some schools, you're given as many as times as you want to get the answer right. Standards are set low enough so everyone can meet them. This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life—as you will find out.

Good luck! You are going to need it—
and the harder you work, the luckier you will get.

Did you Know?

Delaware (DE, US-DE) Every May, the Delaware coast is visited by one of the oldest animals in the world. The horseshoe crab has been around for 250 million years, since before the dinosaurs.

The nation’s first scheduled steam railroad began in New Castle, Delaware in 1831.

The United States battleship Delaware was commissioned in 1910.

Delaware is the only state without any National Park System units such as national parks, seashores, historic sites, battlefields, memorials, and monuments.

The most historic site in Frederica is Barratt’s Chapel, built in 1780, east of town. The chapel is where the Methodist Church of America was organized in 1784.

Thomas Garret, a Quaker merchant, lost his entire fortune in his battle against slavery. He was sued by a Maryland slave owner and fined for aiding a black family in flight. Over his lifetime, Garrett reportedly helped more than 2,000 fugitive slaves move through Delaware, an important stop on the Underground Railroad.

The 87-foot Fenwick Island Lighthouse was painted in 1880 for a total cost of about $5.00.

Delaware Origin of Name:  Delaware was named to honor the early Virginia governor, Lord De La Warr.

Delaware Motto:  “Liberty and Independence”

Delaware Nickname:  First State, Diamond State, Blue Hen State, Small Wonder

Capital City:  Dover

State Area:  2,489 square miles

State Population:  873,092 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  December 7, 1787 1^st state

Major Industries:  Business, agriculture and tourism

State Environments:  Coast, River

State Bird:  Blue Hen Chicken

State Tree:  American Holly

State Flower:  Peach Blossom

State Gem:  Sillimanite

State Song:  “Our Delaware”

Elevation:  Highest Point – Ebright Road (near Pennsylvania state line) 442 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Atlantic Ocean 0 ft  

Time Zone:  Eastern UTC-5/-4

Average Annual Rainfall:  41.38 inches

Did you Know?

Florida (FL, Fla. US-FL) Florida’s Everglades is America’s greatest wildlife habitat. The vegetation acts like a massive filter, cleaning water for the thousands of species that live there. The Everglades may be a swamp, but it prevents flooding by slowing the flow of rainwater.

Cape Canaveral is America’s launch pad for space flights.

Florida is not the southernmost state in the United States. Hawaii is farther south.

Gatorade was named for the University of Florida Gators where the drink was first developed.

Miami installed the first bank automated teller machine especially for rollerblades.

Key Largo is known as the Dive Capital of the World.

Florida Origin of Name:  From the Spanish Pascua Florida, meaning “feast of flowers”

Florida Motto: “In God we Trust”

Florida Nickname:  The Sunshine State

Capital City: Tallahassee

State Area: 65,758 square miles

State Population:  18,328,340 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: March 3, 1845 27^th state

Major Industries: agriculture (oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes), tourism, electronics

State Environments: Coast

State Bird:  Mockingbird

State Tree:  Palmetto Palm

State Flower: Orange Blossom

State Mammal: Florida Panther

State Gem: Moonstone

State Song: “Suwannee River”

Elevation: Highest Point – Britton Hill in Walton County 345 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Atlantic Ocean 0 ft 

Time Zone: Eastern UTC-5/-4
            Central: UTC-6/DST-5

Average Annual Rainfall: 49.91 inches

Did you Know?

Georgia (GA, US-GA) Atlanta, Georgiais the birthplace of Coca-Cola. The sweet drink was invented in May 1886 by Dr. John S. Pemberton, but the name was suggested by Pemberton’s bookkeeper, Frank Robinson.

In Gainesville, the Chicken Capital of the World it is illegal to eat chicken with a fork.

Georgia is the nation’s number one producer of the three P’s – peanuts, pecans, and peaches.

Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River.

The annual Masters Golf Tournament is played at the Augusta National in Augusta every first week of April.

Fort Benning, Georgia is the home of the world’s largest Infantry training center.

Georgia Origin of Name:  Georgia was named to honor King George II of England

Georgia Motto: “Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation”

Georgia Nickname:  Empire State of the South, Peach State

Capital City:  Atlanta

State Area: 59,441 square miles

State Population:  9,685,744 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: January 2, 1788, 4^th state

Major Industries:  textiles, timber (especially pine), agriculture (cotton, corn, peanuts, soybeans, poultry)

State Environments: Coast, Mountains, Plains

State Bird:  Brown Thrasher

State Tree:  Live Oak

State Flower:  Cherokee Rose

State Mammal:  Right Whale

State Gem:  Quartz

State Song: “Georgia on My Mind”

Elevation: Highest Point – Brasstown Bald 4,784 feet
Lowest Point – Atlantic Ocean 0 ft 

Time Zone: Eastern UTC-5/-4

Average Annual Rainfall: 48.61 inches

Did you Know?

Hawaii (HI, US-HI) Hawaii is made up of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Hawaii. Undersea volcanoes created the islands. Hawaiiis very isolated. It is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.

Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee.

The 44^th U.S. President Barack Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on August 4, 1961.

There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet. Vowels: A, E, I, O, U. Consonants: H, K, L, M, N, P, W.

Island of Niihau: A privately owned island, with livestock raising as its principal industry. Legend says Niihau was the original home of the goddess Pele.

Island of Kauai: The fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands. The Waialua River is one of five navigable rivers in Hawaii. It drains off Waialeale Mountain, which averages 488 inches of rain per year and is considered the wettest spot on earth.

Island of Oahu: Honolulu is the largest city in the world – at least it has the longest borders. Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United States. The world’s largest wind generator is on the island of Oahu. The windmill has two blades 400 feet long on the top of a tower twenty stories high.

Island of Maui: The island is home to many famous attractions including Haleakala Crater (is the world’s largest dormant volcano), the old whaling town of Lahaina, the road to Hana, and Kaanapali Beach.

Island of Molokai: Molokai is known as the most Hawaiian Isle. This island contains the world’s highest sea cliffs, Hawaii’s longest waterfall, and the largest white sand beach in the state.

Island of Lanai: Is considered Hawaii’s most secluded. The island was once the home of the world’s largest pineapple plantations.

Island of Kahoolawe: Once used as a target by the U.S. Navy and Air Force the services are cleaning up unexploded shells. No one is allowed to go ashore without permission. The island consists of an uninhabited area of 45 square miles.

The Big Island of Hawaii: Kilauea Iki is the world’s most active and largest volcano. Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world. The island houses the world’s biggest telescope and more scientific observations in one place than anywhere else in the world. The island is the worldwide leader in harvesting macadamia nuts and orchids.

Hawaii Origin of Name:  Uncertain. Hawaii may been named for the traditional home of the Polynesians, Hawaii or Hawaiki, called “Owhyhee”.

Hawaii Motto: “Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono” (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness)

Hawaii Nickname:  The Aloha State

Capital City: Honolulu

State Area: 10,932 square miles

State Population:  1,288,198 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood: August 21, 1959 50^th state

Major Industries: agriculture, industry (especially insurance), tourism

State Environments: Coast, Mountains

State Bird:  Hawaiian Goose - Nene

State Tree:  Candlenut - Kukui

State Flower: Yellow Hibiscus

State Mammal: Humpback Whale

State Gem: Black Coral

State Song: “Hawaii Ponoi”

Elevation: Highest Point – Mauna Kea 13,796 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Pacific Ocean 0 ft 

Time Zone: Hawaii UTC-10. Hawaii has its own time zone (Hawaiian Standard Time.) There is no daylight savings time. The time runs two hours behind Pacific Standard Time.

Average Annual Rainfall: 23.47 inches

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Voicings Publ.

Business students at a large university were assigned the task of interviewing a cross-section of the local community and submit a report on the experience.

One student was less than enthusiastic about the assignment. "I considered it to be a complete waste of time," he said, "until I asked a farmer in his late 70s, ‘How much education have you had?’ He answered, ‘Well, I had six years of schoolin` and seventy-two years of learnin`.’"

Schoolin`and learnin` (acquiring knowledge and acquiring wisdom) are not the same. In our present day society, we seem to have little or no time in our busy schedules for practicing the pursuit of wisdom through serious, uninterrupted, quiet reflection on the mystery of life: who we are and what we ought to be doing with our lives. We are crippled in our search for wisdom by a society which insists on describing success as the ability to acquire knowledge and to skillfully apply that knowledge to the pursuit of personal gain.

…As we acquire knowledge at breakneck speed, are we wise enough to realize the need to slow down, and seriously reflect on how to handle it? Are we wise enough to know what to do with it? Are we wise enough to use it to uplift the human spirit and to better our human relationships? Are we wise enough to apply our learnin` to our schoolin`?

Did you Know?

Idaho (ID, US-ID) Idaho’s Hell’s Canyon is the deepest river gorge in America – even deeper than the Grand Canyon. Carved by the great Snake River, Hell’s Canyon plunges more than 8,000 feet.

Humans may have been present in the Idaho area as long as 14,500 years ago. Excavations at Wilson Butte Cave near Twin Falls in 1959 revealed evidence of human activity, including arrowheads that rank among the oldest dated artifacts in North America.

The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness is the largest wilderness area in the 48 contiguous states – 2.3 million acres of rugged, unspoiled back country.

Five of history’s pioneer trails, including the Oregon Trail and the California Trail, cross Southern Idaho Wagon ruts are still visible all along the rugged terrain.

In the late 1800s, there were several sightings of strange creatures in Bear Lake (on the Idaho/Utah border). The Bear Lake Monster causes residents and visitors to Idaho to question whether they are in Idaho or Scotland.  The serpent-like monsters were up to 90 feet in length, could move faster than running horses, and were witnessed by several different people. To this day, there are still those who refuse to night fish on the lake.

The world's first alpine skiing chairlift was (and still is) located in Sun Valley. Built by Union Pacific Railroad engineers, it was designed after a banana-boat loading device. The 1936 fee: 25 cents per ride.

A person may not be seen in public without a smile on their face in Pocatello, Idaho.

In Idaho, it’s against the law for anyone over the age of 88 to ride a motorcycle.

In Idaho, riding a merry-go-round on Sundays is considered a crime!

Shoshone Falls (212 feet), near Twin Falls, Idaho, drops 52 feet further than Niagara Falls.

Appropriately named the “Gem State,” Idaho produces 72 types of precious and semi-precious stones, some of which can be found nowhere else in the world.

Did you know that Idaho has a seaport? The Port of Lewiston allows the exportation of millions of bushels of grain down the Snake and Columbia Rivers for overseas shipment.

One of the largest diamonds ever found in the United States, nearly 20 carats, was discovered near McCall, Idaho.

Idahois the only state that was possibly named as the result of a hoax (the so-called "Idahoax") although this is disputed. The exact origin of the name remains a mystery

Idaho Origin of Name:   An invented name whose meaning is unknown.

Idaho Motto:  Esto perpetua (Let it be perpetual) May it Endure Forever

Idaho Nickname:  Gem State

Capital City: Boise

State Area:   83,574 square miles

State Population:    1,523,816 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:   July 3, 1890, 43^rd state

Major Industries:  Food processing, lumber and wood product, machinery, chemical products, paper products, silver and other mining, tourism.

Agriculture: Cattle, potatoes, dairy products, wheat, sugar beets, barley.

State Environments:  Mountains, Plains

State Bird:   Mountain Bluebird

State Tree:   Western White Pine

State Flower:    Syringa

State Horse:   Appaloosa

State Gem:   Idaho Star Garnet

State Song:   "Here We Have Idaho"

Elevation: Highest Point – Borah Peak 12,662 feet
Lowest Point – Snake River 710 ft 

Time Zone: North of Salmon River Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Remainder Mountain: UTC-7/-6

Average Annual Rainfall: 11.71 inches

It takes time to build a corporate work of art. It takes time to build a life. And it takes time to develop and grow. So give yourself, your enterprise, and your family the time they deserve and the time they require.

Americans are incredibly impatient. Someone once said that the shortest period of time in America is the time between when the light turns green and when you hear the first horn honk.

The twin killers of success are impatience and greed.

How long should you try? Until.

Some people plant in the spring and leave in the summer. If you've signed up for a season, see it through. You don't have to stay forever, but at least stay until you see it through.

 written by Jim Rohn

Illinois (IL, Ill, US-IL) Illinois claims it is the birthplace of the ice cream sundae. In the 1890s, it was illegal to sell ice cream sodas on Sunday. Drug stores started to sell ice cream with syrup instead, calling them sundaes.

The first Aquarium opened in Chicago, in 1893.

The world’s first Skyscraper was built in Chicago, in 1885.

The first Mormon Temple in Illinois was constructed in Nauvoo.

The Sears Tower in Chicago is the tallest building on the North American continent.

Metropolis the home of Superman really exists in Southern Illinois.

Des Plaines is home to the first McDonald's.

Dixon is the boyhood home of President Ronald Reagan.

The round Silo for farm storage of silage was first constructed on a farm in Spring Grove.

In Mount Pulaski, Illinois, it is illegal for boys (and only boys) to hurl snowballs at trees. Girls are allowed to do that however.

The world's largest cookie and cracker factory, where Nabisco made 16 billion Oreo cookies in 1995, is located in Chicago.

Illinois Origin of Name:  Illinois comes from the word Illini, a confederation of the Cahokia, Kaskaskia, Michigamea, Moingwena, Peoria and Tamaroa Indian tribes. Algonquin for “tribe of superior men”.

Illinois Motto:   State Sovereignty, National Union

Illinois Nickname:   Prairie State

Capital City:   Springfield

State Area:   57,918 square miles

State Population:   12,901,563 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  December 3, 1818, 21^st state

Major Industries:   Agriculture (corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, barley, rye, sorghum), cattle, manufacturing, mining.

State Environments:  Plains, Prairies

State Bird:   Cardinal

State Tree:   White Oak

State Flower:   Illinois Native (purple) Violet

State Mammal:   White-tailed Deer

State Song:   “Illinois”

Elevation: Highest Point – Charles Mound 1,235 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Mississippi River 279 feet above sea level 

Time Zone: Central UTC-6/-5

Average Annual Rainfall: 33.34 inches

Did you Know?

Indiana

Did you Know?

Indiana (IN, Ind., US-IN) There were a lot of firsts in Indiana. The first professional baseball game in 1871 and the first long-distance automobile race, Indianapolis 500, was in 1911, with a car that went 75 mph. The latest winner averages 167 mph.

During WWII the P-47 fighter-plane was manufactured in Evansville at Republic Aviation.

Marcella Gruelle of Indianapolis created the Raggedy Ann doll in 1914.

Santa Claus, Indiana receives over one half million letters and requests at Christmas time.

Historic Parke County has 32 covered bridges and is the Covered Bridge Capital of the world.

More than 100 species of trees are native to Indiana. Before the pioneer's arrive more than 80% of Indiana was covered with forest. Now only 17% of the state is considered forested.

Although Indiana means, "Land of the Indians" there are fewer than 8,000 Native Americans living in the state today.

Many Mennonite and Amish live on the farmland of Northeastern Indiana. One of the United States largest Mennonite congregations is in Bern. According to Amish ordnung (rules) they are forbidden to drive cars, use electricity, or go to public places of entertainment.

Indianapolis grocer Gilbert Van Camp discovered his customers enjoyed an old family recipe for pork and beans in tomato sauce. He opened up a canning company and Van Camp's Pork and Beans became an American staple.

Before public schools families pitched in to build log schoolhouse and each student's family paid a few dollars toward the teacher’s salaries.

Indiana Origin of Name:   Indiana is a word that refers to the local Indians. Meaning “land of Indians”

Indiana Motto:   “The Crossroads of America”

Indiana Nickname:   Hoosier State

Capital City:   Indianapolis

State Area:   36,420 square miles

State Population:   6,376,792 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  December 11, 1816, 19^th state

Major Industries:  Agriculture (corn, soybeans, wheat), manufacturing, mining (coal, limestone), steel-making

State Environments:  Plains

State Bird:   Cardinal

State Tree:   Tulip Tree

State Flower:   Peony

State Stone:  Limestone

State Song:   “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away”, by Paul Dresser

Elevation: Highest Point – Hoosier Hill, Wayne County 1,257 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Ohio River and mouth of Wabash River, Posey County 320 feet above sea level 

Time Zone: 80 counties Eastern UTC-5/-4
12 counties in Evansville and Gary Metro Areas Central UTC-6/-5

Average Annual Rainfall: 33.34 inches

Did you Know?

Iowa (IA, Ind., US-IA)  Dubbed by Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Iowa is home to the most crooked street in the world. Snake Alley in the city of Burlington is a winding hillside street that manages to pack five half-curves and two quarter-curves in a switchback design into just 275 feet.

If you like corn, you’ll love Iowa. About one-fifth of the country’s corn comes from Iowa’s rich farm lands.

Iowa has the highest literacy rate in the United States. More than 99 percent of Iowa’s citizens can read.

Iowa gets more tornadoes than any other state. A tornado is a mighty twisting windstorm. At the center of the storm, the wind can travel as fast as 300 miles per hour.

Strawberry Point is the home of the world’s largest strawberry.

Can’t decide between a chocolate bar and ice cream? Get both! The “Eskimo Pie” – a chocolate-covered ice cream bar was invented in Iowa by Onawa native Chris Nelson.

Elk Horn is the largest Danish settlement in the United States.

Kalona is the largest Amish community west of the Mississippi River.

Fenlon Place Elevator in Dubuque is the world’s steepest and shortest railway.

Wright County has the highest percentage of grade-A topsoil in the nation.

Quaker Oats, in Cedar Rapids, is the largest cereal company in the world.

Cornell College is the only school in the nation to have its entire campus listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Born Marion Robert Morrison (aka John Wayne) in Winterset on May 26, 1907 was the son of a pharmacist and grew up to become one of Hollywood’s most popular movie stars.

The town of Fort Atkinson was the site of the only fort ever built by the U.S. government to protect one Indian tribe from another.

Campers and motor homes are manufactured in Winnebago County. They’re called Winnebago’s.

Iowa is the only state whose east and west borders are 100% formed by water. Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Iowa is the only state that starts with two vowels.

Iowa Origin of Name:  From the Iowa River which was named after the Ioway, French word for the Bah-kho-je Indian tribe that lived in the area.

Iowa Motto:  Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.

Iowa Nickname:   Hawkeye State

Capital City:   Des Moines

State Area:   56,276 square miles

State Population:   3,002,555 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  December 28, 1846, 29^th state

Major Industries:  agriculture (corn, soybeans, hogs, pigs), food manufacturing, insurance

State Environments:  Plains, Prairie

State Bird:   Eastern Goldfinch (aka Wild Canary)

State Tree:   Oak

State Flower:   Wild Rose

State Stone:  Geode

State Song:   “Song of Iowa”

Elevation: Highest Point – Hawkeye Point in Osceola County in northwestern Iowa 1,670 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Where the Mississippi River and Des Moines River meet; 480 feet above sea level 

Time Zone: Central UTC-6/DST-5

Average Annual Rainfall:   34.71 inches

by Denis Waitley

By re-energizing and renewing yourself frequently, you will avoid burnout and become much more motivated and productive. Don’t keep your nose to the grindstone for years and wait for retirement to travel. Balance and consistency are the keys. Enjoy the process, not just the result. Don’t fight the passing of time. Don’t fear it, squander it, or try to hide from it under a superficial cosmetic veil of fads and indulgences. Life and time go together. Do enjoy each phase of life. Do make the most of each day, and draw maximum joy from each moment.

Many people today are concerned with quality time – time generally defined in part as that spent on recreation, personal pursuits, time with children, spouses and friends. While I certainly believe quality time is important, I believe two other aspects of time are equally important.

First, one must also spend quantity time. The average father spends less than 30 minutes each week in direct one-on-one communication with each of his children. How can we possibly expect good family relationships with so little communication?

Second, one must spend regular time. Many supervisors and company presidents go for weeks, even months, without seeing many of their employees. There’s no substitute for regular meetings and open forums in which managers and team members can share ideas.

Time has a dual structure. On one hand, we live our daily routines meeting present contingencies as they arise. On the other hand, our most ambitious goals and desires need time so that they can be assembled and cemented. A long-term goal connects pieces of time into one block. These blocks can be imagined and projected into the future as we do when we set goals for ourselves. Or, these blocks of time can be created in retrospect as we do when we look back at what we’ve accomplished.

It’s not in the image of our big dreams that we run the risk of losing our focus and motivation. It’s the drudgery and routine of our daily lives that present the greatest danger to our hopes for achievement. Good time management means that you maximize the daily return on the energy and mental effort you expend.

Ways to maximize your time productivity:

• Write down in one place all the important contacts you have and all of your goals and priorities. Make a back up copy, preferably on CD, DVD or Zip disc. Write down every commitment you make at the time you make it.

• Stop wasting the first hour of your workday. Having the chat and first cup of coffee, reading the paper, and socializing are the three costliest opening exercises that lower productivity.

• Do one thing well at a time. It takes time to start and stop work on each activity. Stay with a task until it is completed.

• Don’t open unimportant mail. More than a fourth of the mail you receive can be tossed before you open or read it, and that includes e-mail.

• Handle each piece of paper only once and never more than twice. Don’t set aside anything without taking action. Carry work, reading material, audiotapes and your laptop computer with you everywhere you go. Convert down time into uplink time.

• Spend twenty minutes at the beginning of each week and ten minutes at the beginning of each day planning your to do list.

• Set aside personal relaxation time during the day. Don’t work during lunch. It’s neither noble nor nutritional to skip important energy input and stress-relieving time. Throughout the day, ask yourself, “What’s the best use of my time right now?” As the day grows short, focus on projects you can least afford to leave undone.

• And as we said at the beginning of this message, take vacations often, mini-vacations of two or three days, and leave your work at home. The harder you work, the more you need to balance your exercise and leisure time.

Action Idea: Plan a relaxing 3-day vacation within the next three months without taking any business work with you. Reserve it on your calendar this week.

-- Denis Waitley

A Young Psychology Student serving in the Army decided to test a theory. Drawing kitchen duty, he was given the job of passing out apricots at the end of the chow line.

He asked the first new soliders that came by, "You don't want any apricots, do you?" Ninety percent said, "No."

Then he tried the positive approach: "You do want apricots, don't you?" About half answered, "Uh, yeah, I'll take some."

Then he tried a third test, based on the fundamental either/or selling technique. This time he asked, "One dish of apricots or two?" And in spite of the fact that soldiers don't like Army apricots, 40 percent took two dishes and 50 percent took one!

Quote:

"As long as you're going to think anyway - you might as well think BIG!" ~Donald Trump

Did you Know?

Kansas(KS, Kans., US-KS)  Kansas is famous for its prairies and wheat. In 1997, Kansas wheat farmers produced a record 506 million bushels of wheat. That’s enough to make 35.9 billion loaves of bread, or six for each person on Earth!

At Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine waterbeds for horses are used in surgery.

Dodge City is the windiest city in the United States.

At one time it was against the law to serve ice cream on cherry pie in Kansas.

The first black woman to win an Academy Award was Kansan Hattie McDaniel. She won the award for her role in “Gone with the Wind.”

Kansas inventors include Almon Stowger of El Dorado who invented the dial telephone in 1889; William Purvis and Charles Wilson of Goodland who invented the helicopter in 1909; and Omar Knedlik of Coffeyville who invented the first frozen carbonated drink machine in 1961.

Smith County is the geographical center of the 48 contiguous states.

Hutchinson is nicknamed the Salt City because it was built above some of the richest salt deposits in the world. Salt is still actively mined, processed and shipped from Hutchinson.

The Hugoton Gas Field is the largest natural gas field in the United States. It underlies all or parts of 10 southwestern Kansas counties as well as parts of Oklahoma and Texas. The gas field underlies almost 8,500 square miles, an area nearly 5 times as large as the state of Rhode Island.

Kansas has the largest population of wild grouse in North America. The grouse is commonly called the prairie chicken.

Holy Cross Shrine in Pfeifer, was known as the 2 Cent Church because the building was built using a 2 cent donation on each bushel of wheat sold by members of the church.

The graham cracker was named after the Reverend Sylvester Graham (1794-1851). He was a Presbyterian minister who strongly believed in eating whole wheat flour products.

The First United Methodist Church in Hutchinson was built in 1874 during the time of the grasshopper plagues. The grasshoppers came during the construction of the churches foundation but the pastor continued with the work. As a result, thousands of grasshoppers are mixed into the mortar of the original building’s foundation.

A hailstone weighing more than one and a half pounds once fell on Coffeyville.

The world famous fast-food chain of Pizza Hut restaurants opened its first store in Wichita.

Kansas Origin of Name:  From a Sioux word meaning “people of the south wind”.

Kansas Motto:  Ad astra per aspera (To the stars through difficulties)

Kansas Nickname:   Sunflower State, Jayhawk State

Capital City:   Topeka

State Area:   82,282 square miles

State Population:   2,802,134 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  January 29, 1861, 34^th state

Major Industries:  Agriculture (wheat and other grains), aircraft manufacturing, automobile manufacturing

State Environments:  Plains, Prairie

State Bird:   Western Meadowlark

State Tree:   Cottonwood

State Flower:   Sunflower

State Animal:  Buffalo

State Song:   “Home on the Range”

Elevation: Highest Point – Mount Sunflower 4,039 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Verdigris River 680 feet above sea level 

Time Zone: Central GMT-6
Some 4 counties in the far west portion of the State (Sherman, Wallace, Greeley and Hamilton) are in the Mountain Time Zone.

Average Annual Rainfall:   28.61 inches

What are You Listening For? . . . . Sunday Sermon Masterpiece Collection, Vol. I

It was high noon in midtown Manhattan. The streets were buzzing with activity—crowds of people scurrying to lunch, car horns honking, brakes screeching, a siren wailing. Two men were making their way through the throng of noon-time lunch-goers. One was a native New Yorker, the other a Kansas farmer on his first visit to see his city cousin. Suddenly, the farmer stopped and said to the city dweller, "Hold on! I hear a cricket!"

His cousin replied, "Are you kidding? Even if there was a cricket around here, which isn’t likely, you would never be able to hear it over all this noise."

The farmer remained quiet for a few moments, then walked several paces to the corner where a shrub was struggling to grow in a large cement planter. He turned over several leaves and found the cricket. The city dweller was flabbergasted. "What great ears you have," he said.

"Not at all," the farmer replied. "Your ears are as good as mine. It’s a matter of what you’ve been conditioned to listen for. Here, I’ll show you." Whereupon, he pulled a handful of coins from his pocket and let them clink to the sidewalk. As if on signal, every head on the block turned. "You see," said the farmer, "you hear what you are tuned in to listen for."

Plant these "seeds" well and water often. Enjoy!

by Ron White

His name was Jason Dunham and he was a corporal in the United States Marines. The story picks up with Jason as he was talking with the men in his unit. They wondered whether a person could jump on a grenade and survive by putting it under his helmet. Deep down they all knew that it most likely wouldn't work, yet on the streets of Baghdad all topics of conversation can soon become quickly exhausted and hypothetical solutions to real-life problems can pass the time.

Unfortunately for Jason Dunham, the circumstance that he had hypothesized about arrived just a few weeks later. However, fortunately for his unit, Corporal Jason Dunham was there. In this life and death scenario, there is no time to think. There is only time for fight or flight. Jason chose fight and performed above and beyond the call of duty. He threw his helmet and body over a grenade and gave his life for his friends. Jason was nominated for The Congressional Medal of Honor. He was 20 years old.

Your stance on political matters or world issues is irrelevant in this scenario. Jason did not do this for you. He did not do it for the people of Baghdad. He didn't do it for the U.S. government or a politician. He did it for the men beside him, period.

To give your life for your friends is perhaps the greatest thing one person can do for another. It is also one of the rarest acts of civilization.

In 1981, shots rang out and bullets screamed through the air to pierce the flesh of the 40th President of the United States. No sooner had the gun powder been ignited than secret service agent Tim McCarthy stood up as straight as a board and extended his arms to make himself a large barrier between would-be assassin John Hinckley and President Reagan. While others ran for cover, Agent McCarthy stood looking directly at his potential death with firm resolve. Tim was shot square in the chest and, believe it or not, that was exactly his goal. As he positioned himself spread eagle to take a bullet for a man, an office and a nation, others cowered in trembling fear. Because of amazing grace, agent McCarthy survived.

What causes men and women to lay down their lives for another? It takes a lot. First and foremost, it takes a realization that life isn't about you. It is about making a difference, about making an impact and about giving.

Jason Dunham and Tim McCarthy were able to respond the way they did because:

• They decided how they were going to respond long before the event occurred.
• They were not selfish people – the farthest you could be from selfish, as a matter of fact.
• They realized that life was not about them; it was about making a difference – it was about others.

I hope with all my heart you are never placed in a situation where you have to choose between your life and those around you. Yet, every day you are in situations where you have to make choices. You must decide right now how you will respond.

The lesson to extract from the lives of Corporal Dunham and Agent McCarthy is that of an overall attitude on life. That attitude, simply put, is that it is better to give than receive. It is honorable to view the lives and well-being of others above yourself. If we can take any pearl of wisdom from the extraordinary lives and attitudes of these two men, it is that making an impact on the world is not always about recognition, power, money or personal gain. Sometimes the greatest success is one who gives himself up so others can succeed. That is the mark of the ultimate high achiever.

Decide today how you will respond in your moments of crisis - whether it is financial, personal or life and death. As you plan your actions, remember the selfless lessons of Corporal Dunham and Agent McCarthy.

-- Ron White

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." ~The Declaration of Independence

"Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Did you Know?

Kentucky  (KY, Ken., US-KY)  Approximately $6 billion worth gold is kept at the Fort Knox Gold Depository in Kentucky. The building is made of granite, steel, and concrete. The vault door weighs 20 tons. No visitors are permitted in the building.

The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuously held horse race in the country. It is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville on the first Saturday in May.

Kentucky was a popular hunting ground for the Shawnee and Cherokee Indian nations prior to being settled by white settlers.

Cheeseburgers were first served in 1934 at Kaolin's restaurant in Louisville.

Chevrolet Corvettes are manufactured in Bowling Green.

Mammoth Cave is the world's longest cave and was first promoted in 1816, making it the second oldest tourist attraction in the United States. Niagara Falls, New York is first.

The first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant owned and operated by Colonel Sanders is located in Corbin.

Fleming County is recognized as the Covered Bridge Capital of Kentucky.

Thunder Over Louisville is the opening ceremony for the Kentucky Derby Festival and is the world's largest fireworks display.

The song "Happy Birthday to You" was the creation of two Louisville sisters in 1893.

Teacher Mary S. Wilson held the first observance of Mother's Day in Henderson in 1887. It was made a national holiday in 1916.

Post-It Notes are manufactured exclusively in Cynthiana. The exact number made annually of these popular notes is a trade secret.

The public saw an electric light for the first time in Louisville. Thomas Edison introduced his incandescent light bulb to crowds at the Southern Exposition in 1883.

The world's largest free-swinging bell known as the World Peace Bell is on permanent display in Newport.

Kentucky Origin of Name:  Kentucky is from the Iroquois Indian word “Ken-tah-ten,” which means “land of tomorrow.”

Kentucky Motto:  “United we stand, divided we fall”

Kentucky Nickname:   Bluegrass State

Capital City:   Frankfort

State Area:   40,411 square miles

State Population:   4,269,245 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  June 1, 1792, 15^th state

Major Industries:  Agriculture (tobacco, corn, peanuts, wheat), mining (anthracite coal), horse-raising, whiskey manufacturing, automobile and truck manufacturing, chemical manufacturing

State Environments:  Mountains

State Bird:   Cardinal

State Tree:   Tulip Tree

State Flower:   Goldenrod

State Gemstone:  Freshwater Pearl

State Horse:  Thoroughbred

State Song:   My Old Kentucky Home, by Stephen Foster

Elevation: Highest Point – Black Mountain 4,145 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Mississippi River 257 feet above sea level 

Time Zone:  Easter half: Eastern UTC -5/DST-4
The Western half of Kentucky: Central UTC-6/DST-5

Average Annual Rainfall:   43.56 inches

This Week's Jumpstart

An early Happy 4th of July wish to all of my U.S. readers! And for those around the world, I wish you freedom. When you look up the word freedom in the dictionary, you'll find many definitions, but the one I like best says: The capacity to exercise choice; free will.

What's your definition of freedom? Time freedom, financial freedom? Isn't it interesting, though, that in order for you to experience or gain freedom you must sacrifice something? Perhaps I should frame it another way, with other words -- discipline or choice. Jim Rohn says discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. So let me ask you... What results have you accomplished and are you satisfied with your results?

If so, congratulations! If not, what simple disciplines or "choices" can you make that will make a world of difference in your accomplishments?

That's something to think about this week. But don't just stop at thinking! Act! You have the ability and the skills to create more freedom for whatever it is you want in your life!

-- Denis Waitley

All mankind is divided into three classes:

• those that are immoveable
• those that are moveable
• and those that move

~Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Which one are you?

Here it is, another Fourth of July. Traditionally, this is a day to gather with friends, maybe fire up the barbeque and play with kids until the sun sets and the fireworks start. But in thinking back on the meaning behind this day, we must never forget that our nation was baptized in the blaze of a very different kind of "fireworks." Yes, this is a day of rest and relaxation, as well it should be, but this year…I'd like to ask you a favor. At some point during the day, I hope you'll take time to think and reflect on what it is we're truly celebrating on the 4^th of July -- our Independence Day. Of course the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4^th, 1776 but it's so much more than that. On this day, 233 short years ago, a small group of men dedicated themselves to a higher purpose, an ideal they believed in so greatly, they signed their name to its expression and in doing so put their very lives at risk.

Never has a simple act of signing one's name carried such weight, such a profound commitment. By signing the Declaration of Independence, 56 men stood in direct defiance of the British government. They became marked men, and willingly so. As I was doing some research on the significance of July 4^th, I came across some interesting facts about these men. Today as we all enjoy the freedom our forefathers guaranteed us; join me in honoring the extraordinary sacrifice of 56 extraordinary Americans.

Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence:

Five were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes burned to the ground. Two lost sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, and two more had sons captured. Nine fought and died in the Revolutionary War.

If you ever feel like your lone voice can never be heard, that the political system isn't set up for "regular" Americans to change the course of history, remember: The signers were flesh and blood, mortal men with a divinely-inspired aim.
 
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, eleven were merchants, and nine were farmers and large plantation owners. They were well educated, smart enough to know that by signing the Declaration of Independence, they were signing their own death warrants. They did it anyway, and God bless them for it.
 
As we enjoy our liberty on this 4^th of July, or any day of any month, we must never take that liberty for granted. Too many have given too much. In the words of the Signers themselves, "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
 
Their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor -- I think that's a price paid worth a few minutes of reflection, don't you? But let's not be solemn in that reflection. I say rejoice and share this information with your friends and family, especially your kids. The Signers asked for nothing in return for their pledge, but I say that we show our thanks with a pledge of our own:  To remember, to be grateful, and to carry on in their spirit. America is the greatest country this world has ever and will ever know, and it will stay that way so long as "we the people" remember that just like in 1776.
 
It's US that surrounds them, and we'll never back down.
 
Happy Independence Day, and God bless America.

Glenn Beck

Some may think that The American Dream is gone.  I have been part of discussions on this very subject and I actually agreed that the dream is no longer within reach.

Then I laid in bed this morning and I had to correct my own thinking.  Yes, with the demise of GM, Chrysler, and other big names in addition to corporate takeovers and downsizing it is getting pretty rough to go out and find a job.  I am a personal witness to having my job cut as well as seeing first hand how friends around this country have lost jobs, lost homes as well as have to struggle for food.

Lets take a look at our basic freedom as Americans.  We have the right to start a business and we don't even have to go get permission first.  That said, once you get the right mindset and plan of action there is no real excuse for not being able to live The American Dream.  I just happen to be building a business and the only tools I use are a $300.00 computer and a business plan I found online.

Sometimes you have to rely on faith to get past a bad situation and I am no exception.  I lost a nice paying job that I had for 18 years.  I lost a home I purchased for cash because the cost of the homeowners insurance got out of hand in relation to my debt ratio.  I have had the cars and the toys.  I have seen my father who is a retired bank president loose all his savings because of the recent drop of the stock market due to the financial industries mismanagement.

You can take a bow and live a lower level of life and adjust or rise above it and do something to start reliving The American Dream.  I was doing the latter and I never really even took the time to acknowledge what I was doing.  I was fighting to run a successfull small business with a mindset this is so hard to make work.  Until this morning when i realized that I have more then what so many people do not have in this country.  I have the security of a job where I am in control and I have no one but myself to blame if I end up without a job. 

Take the time to look at who you are and why you are in this world.  Look at your future and see how bright it looks.  If you do not like what you see then its time to make a change and do what it takes to provide for yourself and those you love.  I am part of a group of people who are in the business of sharing ideas.  These ideas are to help others succeed.  I invite you to look at this system and be part of this group who has not only helped me on a personal level of success, but also on a level of thinking as those who succeed think.

May God bless you in all you do.  Now go live The American Dream.

http://www.crackingthecashflowcode.com/1957

Did you Know?

Louisiana Facts: (LA, US-LA)  Louisiana is the only state with a large population of Cajuns, descendants of French-speaking Canadians who were sent into exile in the 1700’s. The Spanish, who ruled Louisiana at the time, welcomed the Cajuns as frontier settlers.

The world famous "Mardi Gras" is celebrated in New Orleans. Mardi Gras is an ancient custom that originated in southern Europe. It celebrates food and fun just before the 40 days of Lent: a Catholic time of prayer and sacrifice.

The Battle of New Orleans, which made Andrew Jackson a national hero, was fought two weeks after the War of 1812 had ended and more than a month before the news of the war's end had reached Louisiana.

Louisiana has the tallest state capitol building in the United States; the building is 450 feet tall with 34 floors.

Louisiana is the only state in the union that does not have counties. Its political subdivisions are called parishes.

The Superdome in New Orleans is the worlds largest steel-constructed room unobstructed by posts.
Height: 273 feet (82.3 meters), Diameter of Dome: 680 feet (210 meters), Area of Roof: 9.7 acres, Interior Space: 125,000,000 cubic feet, Total floor footage: 269,000 sq. ft. (82,342 sq. meters), Electrical Wiring: 400 miles (640 kilometers)

Breaux Bridge is known as the "Crawfish Capital of the World".

Rayne is known as the "The Frog Capital of the World".

Gueydan is known as the "Duck Capital of America" in recognition of its abundance of waterfowl.

Church Point boasts the designation "The Buggy Capital of the World". A festival celebrates this designation annually on the first weekend in June.

The first American army to have African American officers was the confederate Louisiana Native Guards. The Corps d'Afrique at Port Hudson was sworn into service on September 27, 1862.

In Louisiana, biting someone with your natural teeth is considered a simple assault, but biting someone with your false teeth is considered an aggravated assault.

Jennings is called the "Garden Spot of Louisiana" for it's rich and productive farmland. Jennings sobriquet {nickname} became a "Northern Town on Southern Soil".

Money Magazine has rated Terrebonne Parish, in the heart of Cajun Country the best place to live in Louisiana for 3 years in a row.

Winnsboro, the "Stars and Stripes Capital of Louisiana", is one of the most patriotic cities in America. On Memorial Day, July 4th, Veteran's Day, Labor Day, and other special occasions, approximately 350 American flags fly proudly along highway 15.

Louisiana Origin of Name:  Louisiana was named by the French explorer Sieur de La Salle in 1682 to honor King Louis XIV of France.

Louisiana Motto:  “Union, Justice, and Confidence”

Louisiana Nickname:   Sportsman’s Paradise, Pelican State

Capital City:   Baton Rouge 

State Area:   51,843 square miles

State Population:   4,410,796 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  April 30, 1812, 18^th state

Major Industries:  Agriculture (rice, cotton, soybeans), salt production, oil and natural gas, fishing (especially shellfish)

State Environments:  Coast, Plains, Rivers

State Bird:   Eastern Brown Pelican

State Tree:   Bald Cypress

State Flower:   Magnolia Blossom

State Wildflower:  Louisanna Iris

State Gemstone:  Agate

State Song:   “Give Me Louisanna” and “You Are My Sunshine”

Elevation: Highest Point – Driskill Mountain, 535 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – New Orleans, 8 feet below sea level 

Time Zone:  GMT-5

Average Annual Rainfall:   59.74 inches

"We can have no "50-50" allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all. " ~Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States

Maine

   Maine's official flag was adopted in 1909. The flag has a deep blue field with the state coat of arms in the center. The coat of arms pictures a farmer and a seaman (representing agricultural and maritime industries). A shield is between them, upon which is a pine tree, a moose (the state animal of Maine), green grass, a blue sky, and deep blue water. Above this is a yellow star (representing the North Star - Maine was the northernmost state when it entered the Union) and a red ribbon that reads, "DIRIGO," which means "I direct" in Latin.

Did you Know?

Maine (ME, US-ME) Eastport, Maine is the most eastern city in the U.S. West Quoddy Head lighthouse is the most easternly point. It is the first place to raise the flag at sunrise, 4:45 a.m. every morning.

What is now the state of Maine used to be the District of Maine and belonged to Massachusetts.

Maine is the only state in the United States whose name has one syllable.

In 1641 America's first chartered city was York.

Maine has in excess of 60 lighthouses dotting the 5,550 miles of coastline including Portland Head Light commissioned by George Washington.  It has about 2000 islands off the coast.

Approximately 40 millions pounds (nearly 90 percent) of the nation's lobster supply is caught off the coast of Maine.

Maine produces 99% of all the blueberries in the country making it the single largest producer of blueberries in the United States.

90% of the country's toothpick supply is produced in Maine.

  Author Stephen King (1947 - ) is a resident of Bangor.

 Freeport is the home to the L.L. Bean Company, founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean (1872-1967). 

Patrick Dempsey (1966 - ), known as an Actor, Philanthropist is a Lewiston native. He is the founder of The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing.

Moose-vehicle crashes occur every year in every Maine county – in any setting, on any type of road: about 700 crashes annually; 150 of these crashes result in human injury; average of 2 to 3 fatalities a year; 90% of the crashes occur between dusk and dawn; moose crashes represent 14% of Maine’s large animal crashes, but lead to 80 of the resulting fatalities; peak crash season May through July, but can happen anytime of the year.

Maine Origin of Name:  First used to distinguish the mainland from the offshore islands. It has been considered a compliment to Henrietta Maria, queen of Charles I of England. She was said to have owned the province of Mayne in France.

Maine Motto:  “Dirigo” – I direct or I lead.

Maine Nickname:   Pine Tree State

Capital City:   Augusta

State Area:   35,387 square miles

State Population:   1,316,456 (est. 2008)

Admission to Statehood:  March 15, 1820, 23^rd state

Major Industries:  Agriculture (potatoes), shipbuilding, fishing (lobster), footwear, machinery, electronic, tourism

State Environments:  Coast, Mountains

State Bird:   Black-capped Chickadee

State Tree:   Eastern White Pine

State Flower:   White Pine Cone and Tassel 

State Gemstone:  Tourmaline

State Cat:  Maine Coon Cat

State Song:   “State of Maine Song”  (Words and Music)

Elevation: Highest Point – Mount Katahdin, 5,268 feet above sea level
Lowest Point – Atlantic Ocean, 0 feet above sea level 

Time Zone:  Eastern: GMT (GreenwichMeanTime) GMT – 4

 Average Annual Rainfall:   59.74 inches

Did you Know?

Maryland (MD, US-MD) In 1813, Maryland found out that the British were planning an attack on the coast. The people hung lanterns from ship masts and trees. The British cannons aimed for the lights and overshot Maryland’s coastal towns completely.

The United States Naval Academy was founded on October 10, 1845 at Annapolis.

During revolutionary times Rockville was known as Hungerford's Tavern the name of its most familiar landmark. One of the first calls to freedom from British rule was heard at the tavern in 1774.

The Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is considered a masterpiece and one of the finest 19th century buildings in the world. The basilica is the first cathedral in the United States. Baltimore represents the first Roman Catholic diocese.

King Williams School opened in 1696 it was the first school in the United States.

St. Francis Academy, the first dental school in the United States opened at the University of Maryland.

Babe Ruth, the Sultan of Swat, was born in Baltimore and attended Saint Mary's Industrial School.

Tilghman Island is home to the Skipjacks, the only commercial sailing fleet in North America.

America's national anthem was written by Francis Scott Key  a Maryland lawyer. It is believed Key wrote the anthem on September 14, 1814 while watching the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor.

The 1,200 foot Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is the second longest continuous truss bridge in the nation.

Samuel F.B. Morse reportedly received the first telegraph message in Bladensburg, in 1844, before his famous "What Hath God Wrought" message between Baltimore and Washington. His telegraph wire had been strung along the railroad right of way. Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University, lived in Bladensburg and is said to have invented the telegraph pole.

Maryland was first to enact Workmen's compensation laws in 1902.

Friendship International Airport - now Baltimore/Washington International Airport - began operations on June 24. 1950.

The Concord Point Lighthouse in Havre de Grace is the oldest continuously operated lighthouse in the State of Maryland.

The Methodist Church of America was formally organized in 1784 at Perry Hall.

William Goddard inaugurated the first Post Office system in the United States in Baltimore in 1774. Baltimore is A City of Firsts.

Maryland is a prominent producer and processor of seafood and a national leader in the production of blue crabs and soft clams.

Sixteen of the 23 Maryland counties border on tidal water. The combined length of tidal shoreline, including islands, is 4,431 miles.

The Bollman Truss Railroad Bridge in Savage is made of both cast iron and wrought iron. It is the only open railroad bridge of its type anywhere in the world.

Clara Barton National Historic Site commemorates the life of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. The house in Glen Echo served as her home and headquarters for the American Red Cross and a warehouse for disaster relief supplies.

The Community Bridge mural project in Frederick transformed a plain concrete bridge into the stunning illusion of an old stone bridge. The entire structure was painted by hand by an artist and his assistants, using advanced trompe l'oeil ("deceive the eye") techniques.

Maryland Origin of Name:  Maryland was named to honor the Queen concort Henrietta Maria (1609-1669), the wife of King Charles I of England

Maryland Motto:  “Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine” Manly Deeds, Womanly Words

Maryland Nickname:   Old Line State, Free State

Capital City:   Annapolis

State Area:   12,407 square miles

State Population:  5,633,597 (est. 2008 U.S. Census Bureau) 

Admission to Statehood:  April 28, 1788, 7^th state

Major Industries:  Farming (corn, soybeans, tobacco, poultry and dairy products), Mining (coal), steel products, communications equipment, fishing (crabs and oysters), government services.

State Environments:  Coast, Plains

State Bird:   Baltimore Oriole

State Tree:   White Oak. The Wye Oak (a huge, 460-year-old white oak is the official state tree)

State Flower:   Blacked-eyed Susan

State Boat:  Skipjack

State Song:   Maryland, My Maryland

Elevation: Highest Point – Backbone Mountain in Garrett County. 3,360 feet above sea level 
Lowest Point – Bloody Point Hole, the area is located approximately 1 mile west-southwest of the southern tip of Kent Island in Queen Anne's County.  174 feet below sea level.

Time Zone:  Eastern: GMT (GreenwichMeanTime) GMT – 4

Average Annual Rainfall:   59.74 inches

I think by Dennis Schnathorst.

I think that our forefathers were genius!  To have the forethought to see the future of America and to create and author a document capable of lasting over 233 years.  We are currently unable to agree on issues to last from 1 legislative/congressional session to the next.

I think that athletes and coaches deserve the money that they make!  The athletes draw the fans and the fans idolize them.  That makes the owners investment in the athlete's salary a wise decision.

I think that ALL people, every one of them, should be responsible for their own actions!  If you can't do the time......don't do the crime!  Why is it that almost 100% of the criminals caught for serious crimes in this country plead not guilty?  I understand and respect the 5th amendment, but geesh, are the police that bad that they NEVER get the right guy?  I don't think so!!!

I think that not all politicians are bad!  Not much different than any other profession.

I think that not all politicians are good!  Not much different than any other profession.

I think that abortion is wrong!!!  Unless it's incest or rape, then I think that it should be the woman's choice.  See the "responsible for their own actions" entry!  And the responsible part goes for the woman AND the man!  It takes 2!

I think that the death penalty is too good for the criminal!  I could get very opinionated here, but I'll leave it at that!!

I think that legal immigration is good!

I think that 9-11 was a horrible day for the USA that was comparable to 12-7-41, the attacks on Pearl Harbor!

I think that Pete Rose should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame (he has taken responsibility for his actions)!

I think that the coincidences between the deaths of Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy are incredible!

I think that I am lucky for having grown up in the 70's & having only 4 channels and "Pong" was my 1st video game!

I think that I should have worked harder at my baseball skills!

I think that the United States Military and their families are heroes!

I think that it's time to go to bed!

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be.

Here are some facts about the1500s:

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, don’t throw the baby out with the Bath water.

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof when it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof.

Hence the saying. It's raining cats and dogs.

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a thresh hold.

(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that
always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes Stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would
sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of
places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift...) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a ...dead ringer.

And that's the truth. Now, whoever said History was boring!!!

Educate someone. Share these facts with a friend.

(My nephew is in dress whites with a mustache...)

It's been an exciting week, my nephew has returned home from deployment after 6 months at sea. This was his last deployment before he retires from the US Navy, after 20 years of service. (unless he chooses to continue on...)

He and his family will be traveling back to Oklahoma today to visit family and friends. I wish I was in Oklahoma to personally tell him "thank you and I'm glad he's home and safe" .

US Military News Story Number: NNS090820-08
Release Date: 8/20/2009 3:31:00 PM

By Kevin Copeland, Commander, Submarine Force Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 756) returned home Aug. 20 after concluding a regularly scheduled six-month deployment as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Strike Group.

"Scranton's highly trained crew, in keeping with its unbroken tradition of uncommon professionalism, tenacity, and pride, met or exceeded every expectation in accomplishing all tasks assigned," said Cmdr. Wesley Guinn, commanding officer. "We travelled more than 30,000 miles in some of the most treacherous underwater environments, and because of the impressive skill and enthusiasm of her crew, the submarine was underway on time every time and never missed any mission obligations."

While living up to its motto, "On Time, On Track, On Target," Scranton conducted operations in support of national security interests and maritime security operations. In executing the maritime strategy, Scranton further demonstrated the submarine force's great capability in providing global presence.

Although the deployment was a great success, the crew is happy to be home and glad to reunite with their families.

"As stressful as the separation during deployment can be, it does teach us to never take our precious families for granted," said Guinn. "The crew is uniformly excited and anxious to spend some quality time rediscovering our families again. After all, a strong family relationship at home makes a better Sailor on the ship."

During the deployment Scranton conducted port visits in Souda Bay, Crete; Bahrain and Diego Garcia.

Fast-attack submarines like Scranton have multifaceted missions. They use their stealth, persistence, agility and firepower to deploy and support special force operations, disrupt and destroy an adversary's military and economic operations at sea, provide early strike from close proximity and ensure undersea superiority.

Built by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Scranton was commissioned Jan. 26, 1991. It is 360 feet long, displaces 6,900 tons of water and can travel in excess of 20 knots while submerged.