On Clergy couple: Pair work great together at Faith Lutheran

Posted on November 23 at 7:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

God bless 'em!

On Cheerleading for Christ in public schools

Posted on November 23 at 12:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Earthworms or night crawlers are so familiar that little description is needed. Although there are many species which range from 2.5 to 15 cm or more in length when fully grown, all earthworms have the typical earthworm appearance. They are composed of many similar looking segments with a glandular organ, called the clitellum, near the middle of the body.
Distribution -- Earthworms occur throughout the United States in almost any moist soil that is loose enough to burrow through and with sufficient organic matter on which to feed. They seek levels in the soil that best suit their needs. As soil dries out they move deeper, but when the soil becomes water-logged, earthworms emerge from the soil to escape drowning. Some species emerge from the soil on moist evenings and feed on the surface near or partly in their burrows.
Damage -- Earthworms do not feed on living plants and generally are considered beneficial for their tilling of the soil. However, earthworm tilling in newly seeded lawns may kill some of the grass seedlings. In established lawns the worms provide a food source for moles whose burrowing damages lawns (see moles). Earthworms that surface leave castings of soil that blemish golf green surfaces. Such castings may harden in lawns during dry weather making the lawn lumpy and crunchy. Walking on such heavily infested lawns is like walking across a field of ping pong balls.
Life History -- The life history of earthworms is peculiar. Not only are they hermaphroditic, they are also homosexual. Although the worms are capable of functioning both as males and as females, only one sex is functional at a time. At the time of mating, both individuals of a pair are males, and they exchange sperm. At a later time the worm becomes a female containing mature eggs. The clitellum then swells into a girdle and secretes a nutritive liquid band. By muscular action this band of nutritive material is pushed slowly forward on the body. As it passes over the female opening, it picks up the eggs and continues to migrate forward to the place where the sperm from the other worm is stored. Sperm is added to the band and the band continues migrating forward until it is sloughed off over the head-end of the worm. The band immediately becomes a closed cocoon which gradually hardens. It is within the cocoon that the sperm finally unite with the eggs. On hatching, the young earthworms feed for a time on the contents of the cocoon before emerging as tiny replicas of their parents. In favorable environments such as those maintained by commercial earthworm growers, the cycle is repeated about once a month.

On UPDATE: Janesville hunter died of suspected gunshot wound

Posted on November 23 at 9:04 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

God bless the Kealy family at their time of loss. I had the honor of working with Chris for several years and was blessed with some great memories.

On Cheerleading for Christ in public schools

Posted on November 22 at 11:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Alaska is fortunate to have some of the best wing shooting in all of North America, and we at Alaska Wildfowl Adventures are privileged to be able to assist you in experiencing this state’s great bounty!
Here in Alaska we have the largest populations of some of the most unique and most highly sought after trophy birds, surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery!
Hunt for species such as Pacific Eider, Eurasian Wigeon and Aleutian Greenwing Teal in the shadows of majestic dormant volcanoes on the Aleutian chain. Or pursue Harlequin, Scoter and Barrow's Goldeneye in the beautiful glacial fjords of south-central Alaska. Whatever species you’re targeting, you’re assured a scene that’ll forever be etched in your memory.
At Alaska Wildfowl Adventures, we are Alaska's Premier Wildfowl Guide Service specializing in high quality, safe hunts with a low guide to client ratio. We strive to provide an enjoyable and unique hunting experience. Whether we’re in layout blinds on a glacial moraine pursuing Dusky Canada Geese, or loaded up into layout boats stealthily hunting Harlequin, you’re guaranteed an exciting hunt! Hunt with us on the water and bag upwards of sixteen species of ducks and geese, or join us on an upland hunt to nab up to three species of ptarmigan. Perhaps a cast & blast is more your style? We have many options to choose from!
Alaska duck hunting is something every waterfowl hunter needs to experience at lease once in their lifetime.

On Cheerleading for Christ in public schools

Posted on November 22 at 9:06 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a bear native largely within the Arctic circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest carnivore species found on land. It is also the largest bear, together with the omnivore Kodiak bear which is approximately the same size.[3] An adult male weighs around 350–680 kg (770–1,500 lb),[4] while an adult female is about half that size. Although it is closely related to the brown bear, it has evolved to occupy a narrow ecological niche, with many body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice, and open water, and for hunting the seals which make up most of its diet.[5] Although most polar bears are born on land, it spends most of its time at sea, hence its name meaning "maritime bear", and can hunt consistently only from sea ice, spending much of the year on the frozen sea.

The polar bear is classified as a vulnerable species, with 5 of the 19 polar bear subpopulations in decline.[6][7] For decades, unrestricted hunting raised international concern for the future of the species; populations have rebounded after controls and quotas began to take effect. For thousands of years, the polar bear has been a key figure in the material, spiritual, and cultural life of Arctic indigenous peoples, and the hunting of polar bears remains important in their cultures.

The IUCN now lists global warming as the most significant threat to the polar bear, primarily because the melting of its sea ice habitat reduces its ability to find sufficient food. The IUCN states, "If climatic trends continue polar bears may become extirpated from most of their range within 100 years."[1] On May 14, 2008, the United States Department of the Interior listed the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

On Cheerleading for Christ in public schools

Posted on November 22 at 5:16 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Yes. Blowing with the strength of a hurricane at 118+ miles/hour, the Jet Stream blasts the rocky, icy summit of Everest nearly all year long. The Jet Stream is a constant wind force at 4 - 6 miles above the earth. Observers can tell when the Jet Stream is blowing on the summit of Everest from the long while stream of ice crystals extending out from the tip of the mountain. Those wishing to actually stand on the summit have to choose their moment carefully: the mountain is most inviting in early May, when the Jet Stream is pushed northward over Tibet by the arrival of the monsoon. There is also a window of opportunity in the Fall when the Jet Stream is again pushed northward.
Is the air very thin on Everest?
As the altitude increases, the oxygen content of the air decreases dramatically. At 9,800 feet, for example, there's about 2/3 of the oxygen in the air than at sea level. At 20,000 ft, there is roughly half the oxygen content in the air. At 29,035ft, the summit of Everest, there is only a third of the oxygen in the air.
How does your body get used to the altitude?
Mountaineers climbing Everest establish a camp at the base of the mountain, and four higher camps before reaching the summit. For the next 30 days or so, they will move up, then down again, allowing their bodies to get used to the reduced oxygen content of the air. This process is called acclimatization.

On Cheerleading for Christ in public schools

Posted on November 22 at 11 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

From National Public Radio to pierced teenagers in the yarn store, everyone knows that knitting is suddenly cool. It's the "new yoga," says one magazine article; it's part of a post-Sept. 11 trend toward cocooning, say psychologists.
In the basement of Harvard's Loeb House, seven women surrounded by plump skeins of yarn and half-finished sweaters shake their heads in disbelief. "I'm amazed to find myself part of something that's hot," says Diana Stewart, who recently returned to knitting after a 60-year hiatus.
Stewart, former co-master of Lowell House, and her fellow knitters are members of Harvard Neighbors' newly formed knitting group. While no one admits that they were drawn to the group by knitting's newfound hipness, they're not surprised that the centuries-old craft is gaining in popularity.
"Other people take Prozac, then there are those of us who just knit," says Jennifer Kotilaine, associate secretary to the University and leader of the knitting group. Between bites of her lunch, Kotilaine surveys a bear-sized pullover she's knitting for her husband. He's so tall, she says, that she needs to purchase more heathery gray wool to lengthen the sweater's arms. At the other end of the spectrum, Lillian DeBacker and Carolina Carbó show off small yellow squares; both are new knitters practicing their stitches before graduating to a real project. Ina Luch pieces together a tiny cardigan she knit from yarn scraps donated to the group; in turn, she plans to give the sweater away, possibly to a local children's hospital.
From teaching newcomers to sharing yarn and swapping patterns, a spirit of generosity runs through knitters. The group plans to take on a charitable project - perhaps knitting newborn hats for a hospital - once all members master the basics of knit and purl.

On Cheerleading for Christ in public schools

Posted on November 22 at 10:59 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

From National Public Radio to pierced teenagers in the yarn store, everyone knows that knitting is suddenly cool. It's the "new yoga," says one magazine article; it's part of a post-Sept. 11 trend toward cocooning, say psychologists.
In the basement of Harvard's Loeb House, seven women surrounded by plump skeins of yarn and half-finished sweaters shake their heads in disbelief. "I'm amazed to find myself part of something that's hot," says Diana Stewart, who recently returned to knitting after a 60-year hiatus.
Stewart, former co-master of Lowell House, and her fellow knitters are members of Harvard Neighbors' newly formed knitting group. While no one admits that they were drawn to the group by knitting's newfound hipness, they're not surprised that the centuries-old craft is gaining in popularity.
"Other people take Prozac, then there are those of us who just knit," says Jennifer Kotilaine, associate secretary to the University and leader of the knitting group. Between bites of her lunch, Kotilaine surveys a bear-sized pullover she's knitting for her husband. He's so tall, she says, that she needs to purchase more heathery gray wool to lengthen the sweater's arms.
At the other end of the spectrum, Lillian DeBacker and Carolina Carbó show off small yellow squares; both are new knitters practicing their stitches before graduating to a real project. Ina Luch pieces together a tiny cardigan she knit from yarn scraps donated to the group; in turn, she plans to give the sweater away, possibly to a local children's hospital.
From teaching newcomers to sharing yarn and swapping patterns, a spirit of generosity runs through knitters. The group plans to take on a charitable project - perhaps knitting newborn hats for a hospital - once all members master the basics of knit and purl.

On Cheerleading for Christ in public schools

Posted on November 21 at 2:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

The Battle of the Bulge started on December 16th 1944. Hitler had convinced himself that the alliance between Britain, France and America in the western sector of Europe was not strong and that a major attack and defeat would break up the alliance. Therefore, he ordered a massive attack against what were primarily American forces. The attack is strictly known as the Ardennes Offensive but because the initial attack by the Germans created a bulge in the Allied front line, it has become more commonly known as the Battle of the Bulge.
Hitler’s plan was to launch a massive attack using three armies on the Allies which would, in his mind, destabilise their accord and also take the huge port of Antwerp through which a great deal of supplies was reaching the Allies.

Hitler believed that his forces would be able to surround and cut off Canada’s First Army, America’s First and Ninth Armies and Britain’s Second Army. On paper, it was a seemingly absurd plan – especially as Germany had been in retreat since D-Day, her military was depleted of supplies and was facing the awesome might of the Allies. However, Hitler, as commander-in-chief of the military, decreed that the attack should take place.
The battle started with a two hour bombardment of the Allies lines that was followed by a huge armoured attack with the majority of the German armoured might based at the Schnee Eifel. The Germans experienced great success to start with.

On Cheerleading for Christ in public schools

Posted on November 19 at 9:13 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

gazettefan, why have my youtube link removed? What's wrong, the heat getting to you?! You gotta be kidding me! Let me get you a tissue!