HEAVEN AND EARTH

The Scriptural expression, "heaven and earth" means all that exists, creation in its entirety. It also indicates the bond, deep within creation, that both unites heaven and earth and distinguishes the one from the other: "the earth" is the world of men, while "heaven" or "the heavens" can designate both the firmament and God's own "place" - "our Father in heaven" and consequently the "heaven" too which is eschatological glory. Finally, "heaven" refers to the saints and the "place" of the spiritual creatures, the angels, who surround God.

QUIET REFLECTION

"Follow effective action with quiet reflection.
From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action".

Peter Drucker

GUILTY - NOT GUILTY

"Ignorance of the law excuseth no one!"

Here are some legally-defined charges --

The homicide charges can be only broadly defined, since they vary in meaning from one jurisdiction to the next. Furthermore, the dividing line between one charge and another sometimes requires fine distinctions that are really a question of sophisticated legal interpretation. Following, then, are the general categories:

Murder in the first degree. This refers primarily to the malicious and premeditated killing of another human being, or to a homicide that occurs in the process of some other crime, such as burglary or rape. In some states, this designation is reserved for the killing of police officers, prison guards, etc., in which case this category would be defined as murder in the second degree.

Murder in the second degree. Frequently referred to as a "crime of passion," second-degree murder is not premeditated, but nevertheless results from an intend to physically harm the victim.

Voluntary manslaughter. Very similar in most respects to second-degree murder. In voluntary manslaughter, however, there is either intent to do bodily harm but not cause death or the victim is considered to have given the defendant good cause for anger (though, of course, no sufficient grounds for murder). The classic example is the man who kills his wife's lover upon surprising them in bed together.

Involuntary manslaughter. Usually, the accidental killing of another person in the process of committing an unlawful act of a lesser nature--for instance, killing a pedestrian while driving at 50 mph in a 30 mph speed zone. This charge can also apply to the commission of a lawful but reckless act that nevertheless results in a death of an unlawful nature.

STRENUOUS TRAINING

A word of caution!

Some forms of strength training may be harmful if you have osteoporosis (the loss of bone that can accompany aging). Even slight lifting or pushing can increase your risk of fractures, particularly in the bones of your back.

Women at or past the age of menopause may be at special risk of osteoporosis.

VANITY IN DAILY LIFE

Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity for those who do not love Him, or refuse to follow His commandments. Nothing is permanent under the sun. When you love anything for its own sake, you are a victim of vanity.

It is vanity to strive too intently for perishable riches and to fix your homes on them. It is vanity also to be over-eager for honors, or to consider yourself better than others. It is vanity to follow blindly the desires of the flesh and to want things which will bring a great penalty later on.

It is vanity to wish for a long life while caring little about living a good life. It is vanity to give your entire attention to the present life without thinking of the life which will come later. It is vanity to love only what is speedily passing away, instead of fixing your heart on Heaven--the home of endless joy.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -

"Forget past mistakes, forget failures,
forget about everything except what you're going to do now--and do it."

William Durant

FINNY FRIENDS

This one is for Ting and my buddy, Dong!
Both want something fishy in their lives!

You guys should be ready to answer the following questions if you wish to have a nice, cozy looking aquarium: What kind of fish would you like to put in your tank? How many fish would you have? What is the ideal tank size? What basic equipment do you need? How about the water? The finishing touches?

Get the biggest tank you can afford and have room for. For a stable environment, a 20-30 gallon tank provides good viewing, offers flexibility in fish selection. A long, low tank provides fish with more oxygen than a short, high one.

A combination under-gravel and outside power filter helps maintain a clean tank environment. Spread two to three inches of gravel on the bottom. To complete your accessories, you will also need a heater, a thermometer, an air pump, and tubing. Tanks over 20 gallons need a dual valve pump. A fluorescent tank lights provide better quality light. A hood reduces water evaporation while keeping the fish in the tank. If you have a cat, it keeps it out of it.

Live or plastic plants add touchy colors. Real plants require more maintenance but they retard algae growth. Fish need something to swim around and for hiding.

The rule of thumb is “no more than one inch of fish per gallon of water.” Tropical fish range from one-half to two inches long, so a 20-gallon tank holds up to 20 fish. It’s better to have fewer fish than to overcrowd—and kill—them. Good starter fish include platys, swordtails, tiger barbs, zebra, goldfish, and tetras. Aggressive fish shouldn’t be mixed up with gentle ones.

The water environment for your tank can come straight from the tap. If your water is chlorinated, remove the chemical with dechlorination tablets. To avoid the stress on your fish caused by toxic buildup, change 25 percent of the water every two weeks.

After first setting up your tank and stocking it, wait at least three weeks before adding other fish. This will give helpful bacteria time to become established. Before adding new fish to your aquarium, keep them isolated in a five- or 1—gallon quarantine tank for at least two weeks, watching for white spots (ich), or other signs of disease. Place the open, water-filled bag in which you bought fish in the tank for 15-30 minutes until the two water temperatures have equalized. Then transfer fish to the new water with a net. To avoid polluting your tank, stick to items purchased from a store, such as treasure chess, sunken ships, and mermaids. Choose toys, which will be safe for your fish.

New Tank Syndrome takes two forms, gray cloudiness caused by bacteria or green cloudiness caused by algae. For a bacterial problem, change half of the water daily until the syndrome dissipates. With an algae bloom, check to see if your water is too high in nitrates, which algae feed off. If so, reduce the concentration by cycling the fresh water. Also, reduce the amount of light.

Reference: Pets by Bradford Swift

A SAFE HAVEN

Today, hospitals are thought of as places involved with medical and surgical care and cure. In the Middle Ages, "hospital" meant a place of shelter and rest for travelers, and, later, a charitable institution providing for orphans, the aged, and the infirm--a "hospitable" place. This early meaning survives in our words "hostel" and "hotel."

HIGH NOON

This is the story of two men

One, an ex-convict

The other, a man of honour

The ex-convict vowed while in prison

To kill the man of honour,

"I can't be a coward"

He says, to his fair-haired beauty!

Do not forsake me, oh, my darlin',

On this, our wedding day.

Do not forsake me, oh, my darlin',

Wait; wait alone.

I do not know what fate awaits me.

I only know I must be brave.

For I must face a man who hates me,

Or lie a coward, a craven coward;

Or lie a coward in my grave.

Excerpts from the song, High Noon,

and theme song from the movie of the same title,

starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly.

The word noon comes from the Latin nonus, which means "nine." Originally, it referred to the ninth hour of the day counting from sunrise, which, on the year-average, is at 6:00 a.m. This put nonus at 3:00 p.m., or halfway between midday and sunset. What was originally the middle of the afternoon has come to mean the middle of the day itself.

TRIVIA - OZONE

The word "ozone" got its name from the Greek ozo, which means "I smell." Ozone is the most reactive form of oxygen. It is an unstable, pale bluish gas with a penetrating odor.

LEGAL TERM

Did you know that one legal term for having s...x with someone else's spouse--i.e., adultery--is "criminal conversation."

“knowledge is power”

BUMBLE BEES

Bees have been known to cure rheumatism. A number of sufferers have been given relief through controlled stinging. Several bees are placed in an inverted glass over the aching limbs; they soon sting, irritated by their captivity.

CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH

One group of people, and only one, has been found to be totally free of cancer in any of its forms. They are the Hunza in northwest Kashmir, who also are known for their longevity.

LOVING IS GIVING

Who taught us a dramatic lesson in giving with love?

Love doesn't calculate; it spends lavishly! But how can someone in poverty give more than someone who has ample means? The answer is very simple: love is more precious than gold! Real giving must come from the heart. A gift that is given with a grudge or for display loses most of its value, but a gift given out of love, with a spirit of generosity and sacrifice, is invaluable. The amount or size of the gift doesn't matter as much as the cost to the giver.

What we have to offer may look very small and not worth much, but if we put all we have at the His disposal, no matter how insignificant it may seem, then He can do with it and with us what is beyond our reckoning.

Do you know the joy and freedom of giving liberally to God and to neighbor with gratitude and love?

"You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving".

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - COMMITMENT

The quality of a person's life is
in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence,
regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.

Vincent Lombardi