GLOBAL EXPRESS

In this issue ...

Click on any of the following to be taken to that section of the newsletter. If you can come up with any icons for the sections below I would sure appreciate you sending them to me. Please notify me of any broken links.

• Adventures of Dabthoms
• Argentina Report
• Australian Report
• Baby Photo Contest
  VOTING CLOSES FEB. 9
• Beauty Tips
• Beef & Bouquets
• Bragging Rights
• Canadian 'Eh
• Char's World
• Coffee & Chat
• Computers 101
• Common Expressions
• Crafts
• Featured Sites
• Featured Story of the Week
• For Your Information
• Fun
• Gardening
• News from Georgia
• Google Groups
• Health Watch
• Dear Heather
• Kitchen Tips
• Let's Do Lunch
• Member of the Month
• Messages from Members
• Movie Reviews
• Music Survey
• Mystery Member
• Nature's Water Features Photo Contest
  Daphne has not been getting any photos for the Nature contest "Nature's Water Features". She is sure it is quite an ample subject.... streams, lakes, rivers, sunsets over water, waterfalls, cascades etc, snow, icicles whatever.
• New Members
• Pet of the Week
• Prayer Requests
• Pursuit of Excellence
• Questions & Answers
• Random Acts of Kindness
• Recipes
• Reunion 2008
• Tests & Quizzes
• Valter's Brazil
• Walmart
• Weather Updates
• Welshgog

We would love to have you join us on Saturday, February 9, around 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Windows Live (old MSN Messenger). If you do not have me on your contact lists please add me using my hotmail address with is sharongreene32@shaw.ca. If you do not have Windows Live you can download it here.

Lots of fun once again. Maxine, from Ontario, Canada said her stitches will be coming out on Monday (4th), Bigsis Pat from Ontario, Canada is now working two days (Mondays and Fridays) at the Thrift Store despite the bitterly cold weather and she has bought a new suede hat. Hope we see a picture soon. Charla, from Florida, USA and John will likely be heading off for a well deserved rest with John's brother and his wife -- a week away. Rumour has it that they might be goiong to St. Augusine and I can't wait to hear all about it when she returns. Jami from Maryland, USA is still hard at work at setting up that Lets Do Lunch in Florida at the end of February.

Love's Grace
by Merrie from Ontario Canada

In love we find
both the lover and the loved,
human or object,
sentiment or deed,
finite or timeless,
depending on our need.

Love is always changing,
or ever the same,
if we choose;
sometimes cheap,
sometimes priceless,
sometimes unknown,
sometimes most cherished.

Love's many faces
are never far from us,
though at times
seemingly unattainable
depending on our place,
which is to say
depending on our state of mind.

Love's pure face will never hide
from the self seeking it's place
in time and space,
for love is where we need it
when we know it least,
and love is where we find it
no matter it's name or place,
for love is always willing
to reflect upon the lover,
or the loved
its immortal grace.

RESPECT
You can't get it without giving it.
You can't keep it without sharing it.
It has to be earned.
It's not a one shot deal.

R = reasonable
E = enjoyable
S = stimulating
P = persevering
E = earned
C = caring
T = trustworthy

Have a great day everyone. Irene, aka Scotty, from Washington, USA

Short and very sweet:

• There are more than twenty angels in this world.
• Ten are peacefully sleeping on clouds.
• Nine are playing.
• And one is reading her Google Express at this moment.

Have you started playing our Trivia Quiz Game yet which is hosted by Aussie Jeanette. Go on try it ... it is fun!

Did you know that Jeanette also has a Garden Room site on MSN where you will be able to see such lovely pictures as this one of the gazebo that Graham built for her.

The Wal-Mart Invasion

A few years ago here in the UK, Wal-Mart bought out a very large chain of food stores - formerly known as ASDA. They have retained the ASDA name and logo but he store bill-boards and much of their advertising now carry the sub heading --- 'now part of the Wal-Mart group'.

ASDA were a very successful chain before the Wal-Mart takeover. The chain started originally as a 'farmers co-operative', selling fresh from the farm produce in the N of England; offering such good value that they were an instant success. ASDA have been the cheapest 'general grocery' store chain in the UK for about 10yrs running (this by public poll): Wal-Mart seem to be maintaining this trend - however the produce range seems to reduce regularly, while the range of household and electrical goods is increasing at the same rate! By the way, Mr. Fenton appears to have missed a few tricks, e.g.:

• 1 trip an alarm in one aisle of the electrical goods, then while an assistant re-sets it trip an alarm in the next - properly timed this can go on for quite a while!
• 2 tune a tv on the display onto one of the satellite 'adult' channels - if you catch the right tv all the others on the display will change with it.
• 3 go down on one knee behind your partner and exclaim in a loud voice "I didn't mean to pick up the wrong brand - please don't stop my allowance"! alternatively " for 30 yrs I've been a loving, obedient partner - you PLEASE marry me know"!
• 4 select a large item of self assembly furniture and ask an assistant to demonstrate how to assemble it - because you can't read.

Baby Photo Contest

Voting is underway and you can view the pictures at the You Must of Been a Beautiful Baby website. Check it out and see just how good you are at matching them up.

Voting will continue until February 9th, 2008 and results will be published in the Feb 15th issue of the Global Express. Have fun!

Bigsis Pat from Ontario, Canada

NATURE'S WATER FEATURES PHOTO CONTEST

This time the Theme is "Nature's Water Features"

That, of course includes water in all the forms nature brings it in.

The rules are simple:

• Pictures must be 'Members own' - or close friends and family of members - we are not looking for photos taken from the internet or other sources
• Photos must be identified in where/when they were taken and who took the picture
• They can be sent to Daphne or to Sharon, or posted on the Circle Group Google board where I will pick them up
• They can be in any size or format (but not too small) I can adjust the size as needed
• Contest closes Easter, which this year is 21st-24th March, which also coincides roughly with the Circle's anniversary. Voting will start the following week.
• This contest is open to all members of any age anywhere on Planet Earth

Recipe Corner

Members Favourites

Easy Devilled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

• 2 Cup Original Bisquick mix
• 3/4 Cup quick-cooking oats
• 2/3 Cup sugar
• 1 Cup mashed very ripe bananas (2-medium)
• 1/4 Cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 Cup fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) blueberries

• 3 Cup sliced Chinese greens (Bok Choy)
• 3/4 Cup raw pork sliced in thin slivers
• 1/2 Cup sliced Chinese water chestnuts-optional
• 1/2 Cup sliced bamboo shoots-optional
• 1/4 Tsp MSG
• 1/2 Tsp sugar
• 2 Tsp oil or fat
• 6 Cup stock - salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tsp. soy sauce

Kitchen Tips

Cooking is an art. The best way to win the heart of a friend is through their stomach. Family love grows stronger for you as they live on your good cooking and especially when the cooking is varied. Try and serve them a Chinese meal once in a while and watch the result.

Introduction:
Chinese chefs rely on judgment for their measurements. They have no thermometer to tell degrees of heat, no cup or spoon to measure quantity by, no clock to tell time. Their directions, translated as accurately as possible are herein set down simply for anybody to follow, it is hoped.
It is not necessary to have a great assortment of Chinese spices to cook Chinese dishes. Soy sauce is considered the most important item. The second important item is gourmet flavouring powder (MSG - monosodium glutamate) made of wheat and other vegetables.

As for Chinese groceries and vegetables, it is well to use them if you can get them. In Chinese cooking, there are three methods most commonly used -- steaming, frying and boiling.

In steaming, all the liquid should be drained from the food and just enough stock added to cover the ingredients. Steam, as in a double boiler, until just soft, for at the point the food is most delicious. Before eating all the broth and oil sold be removed, and the food steamed again for a few minutes. A hot heat should be used in steaming.

In boiling, the heat should be sufficient to keep the food at the boiling point, but at no time should it boil vigorously.

Frying should be done over a very hot heat, and the foot should be turned constantly so that every particle will become evenly browned.

To obtain the best results in Chinese cooking, the food must be fresh, the flavoring must be right and the cutting of the meat and vegetables must be properly done. The tenderness, crispness or softness of the food is, of course, dependent upon the matter of timing and adjusting the heat of the flames. Also important are the consistency of the gravy, the proper size of the utensil, so that there will be ample room to stir the ingredients. Cooking in Chinese manner insures, to a great extent, that the vegetables are not over-cooked.

Most of the Chinese dishes are created by the combination of meats and vegetables, each borrowing the flavour from the other and lending back its own in return. Chinese dishes are not only economical and simple to cook, but also are time saving, delicious and nutritious.

Left-over Suggestions

In Chinese cooking, left-overs come handy. Do not throw them away. Use them to create Chinese dishes. Cooked meat of any kind is good to make fried rice, egg foo yung and chop suey dishes. For instance, a cup of left-over meat of any kind will make enough fried rice or egg foo yung for two or three dishes.

Note: You can always create some kind of Chinese meal with whatever cooking materials you have at home. If skillet is not large enough to do your cooking, use a large pot instead.

Chinese Sauces and Gourmet Powder (MSG):

The most popular Chinese Sauces are:
Duck Sauce (a Chinese Chutney), Hot Mustard (use hot dried mustard, mix with water until smooth before using); Oyster Sauce; and Soya Sauce.

Many Chinese recipes call for the gourmet powder (Mono Sodium Glutamate). When added to a variety of meat and vegetable dishes, it has the remarkable property of blending together and bringing out the natural food flavours.

Sent in by Sharon from Paradise Island, aka Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

Please send us your favourite tips or food facts!
Comments and suggestions! For now I will leave you wishing you all a VERY HAPPY Week. Would love to hear from you all. Daphne from Argentina

Questions & Answers

FEATURED SITES

HEALTH WATCH

Science has proven without a doubt that we are bombarded daily with a low level radiation called electromagnetic field radiation. We now have the tools available and have collected the irrefutable evidence in independent laboratories all around the world showing the negative effect this radiation has on the body. And just as with cigarettes (which at one point we thought were good for us!), the effects are accumulative and will manifest over time into some sort of disease or worse.

Let's focus specifically with cell phones as they are one of the worst sources of electro pollution, as our body is subjected to the technology in such close proximity.

Our children are up to 7 times more susceptible to the radiation being emitted from a cell phone (home cordless phones are also very damaging), as their skulls aren't as hard or brains completely developed.

We know now that with at least 10 yrs of cell phone use of 500 minutes a month there is a very big jump in the development of specific cancers that can be directly related to the use of cell phones. Of course for years there has been a debate between the cell phone industry, stating the phones are safe, and the rest of the scientific world that state they are not safe, and are causing all sorts of health issues and worse.

The reality is that cell phones are a great tool for very many reasons and for kids to have one in case of an emergency is a good idea on many levels. However the technology is actually slowly causing long-term damage. The dilemma is what can we do.
Cedar Vicki from British Columbia, Canada

WWWCOF Members

Susan, aka Susie Q, from Smith Falls, Ontario recently fell on the ice and broke her left ankle. Surgery was required as the bone pierced through the skin and she was hospitalized for 4 days. She will be in a cast for 6 - 8 weeks. Her cast will have to be taken off on February 15 to have the stitches removed and then re-casted.

Update (Jan. 29) - how are ya'll this mornin? I am so tired that i can't see straight. I will be heading for a nap before long. Spent the day with my daughter yesterday because she had to take me to the doctor. I missed my usual naps because everytime I went to close my eyes, my four year old grandson Joshua would either tell me to open them or ask a question. I wound up be awake from 3:30 yesterday morning until 11 last night. I told the doctor that i was still having balance issues, but don't want to take any new meds. I also told him that I can live with it. He said ok, but if I start getting worse again to come in and he will tweek my meds. I have to go back in three months. not much else new around here. I'm off to bed. have a great day!

Kim: Prayer request please. My daughter in law Libby has a friend from high school in much need of prayer. Let's help her as God's workers. Her name is Kim and she is in her second pregnancy. She has what's called: "Hyperemesis Gravidarum" Please pray that God heals this condition and the baby and Kim will be fine. Also please lift Jason, Kim's husband, up for faith and strength.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR THOSE IN THE MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES

• Jamie Landon: ( FlMaries Grand Daughter) Home from Iraq
• Bea's Step Grandson: (Jesse Kutnsen ) In Iraq
• Geoffery Landon: ( FlMaries Grandson) Home from Iraq
• Robert Fleming: (Peachy Marie's Grandson.) In Africa
• Stephen Johnson: (Christine Mills Pastors Son) In Iraq
• Robin Smith: (Christine Mills requests) In Iraq

Please email Charla, from Florida, USA with any Praises, Requests and/or UPDATES Thank you. May God Bless Each One and Have a Great Week!

REUNION ARGENTINA OCTOBER 2008

Daphne from Argentina

To hold a Reunion we need people, this is the only thing we are lacking. The organization is already well underway as shown in our 2008 Reunion Website; now we need the cooporation and participation of members everywhere. Look forward to seeing many of you here.

LA PAMPA Province

La Pampa tourist offer is aimed at nature lovers, adventure enthusiasts and those in search for a wide sight with clear skies. The peace characteristic of Rural Tourism, the source of life thermal springs offer, together with its amazing therapeutic powers, and the thrill of witnessing wild animals in their natural habitat are unique ways of discovering the province, preparing to experience always more. Contrasts between cities and open fields, entertainment and contemplation, urban and folk clothes. All this involves "La Pampa invites you to enjoy life". For devotees of our country, the province sets forth as an unrivalled gateway to authentic Argentine identity.

Tradition

This section is associated with the discovery and return to Argentine origins and tradition, the need of meeting primitive roots and custom, Argentine view and identity. The "Gaucho" archetype (South American Cowboy), the undeveloped world, the return to forgotten virtues: respect, commitment, credibility, values transmitted generation after generation, craftwork. Cultural space hunters, interested in the historical interpretation of local spaces, the peculiar different ways of living and working of people from towns and cultures related to Argentinean Identity - a mixture of native, creole and immigrant origins.

Popular festivities are the result of great summons which remain in people's memory and, consequently, unfold their culture. They are interpreted as the celebration of people's identity; they enrich cultural heritage, and are worthy of being included in any tourist schedule.

La Pampa offers a wide and rich tourist calendar, which comprises all sorts of cultural events, namely Dressage & Folklore National Festival, Provincial Salt Festival, art exhibitions, concerts and plays, among others. Thus, tourists will have at their disposal a calendar to suit all tastes.

Crafts

Crafts are products, totally or partially handmade, elaborated with raw materials as well as home-produced or local consumables. Generally, they illustrate designs inspired by cultural or regional issues. In La Pampa Province, craftsmanship is developed by individual producers or at crafts workshops, distributed throughout the vast Pampean soil. The local crafts are not only worthy of competing within the region, they are also placed at the top of foreign demand.

More information on La Pampa
Photos of La Pampa

Random Acts of Kindness

Last weekend, we were volunteers part of the time to help load a truck with donations of food, clothing, mineral water etc for the latest flood victims of Salta Province, where Leo is from (and neighbouring Bolivia too, is also suffering severe flooding). The truck was filled, and even as they were closing its doors people arrived with more things. Two days after the truck had left, people were still phoning for stuff to be picked up. Unfortunately the Salta residents in this city do not have somewhere permanent to store donations of that kind. Daphne from Argentina

BEAUTY TIPS
according to Audrey Hepburn

• For attractive lips speak words of kindness.
• For lovely eyes seek out the good in people.
• For a slim figure share your food with the hungry.
• For beautiful hair let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
• For poise walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.
• Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
• As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.

Lets Do Lunch

Member of the Month Nominations

Jami from Maryland, USA sends us the following message.

If ever I have felt more love and friendship by this group in the past, I assure you all it exceeds those feelings today! I was in total shock when I opened the newsletter and found that you my dear friends picked me to be honored as this months Member of the Month! The kind words that went along with my award are so very appreciated. It brought tears to my eyes. Especially because I do not feel worthy. To know I have friends here that do feel as though I am , means so very much to me. I want you all to know this has made what has been a very stressful unbearable week much worth living. it has lightened my heart and brought a much needed smile to my face. So my dear friends please accept this picture of the Cherubs my kiss to you and a great big hug to go along with it. Thank you from the bottom of my Heart.

Nominations for Member of the Month for March close February 29 so be sure to cast your ballot here today! Do be sure to add your comments as to why you have selected the member you are nominating.

Movie Reviews

International Weather Station

Music Survey

• Heartbreak Hotel- Elvis Presley
• I Fall to Pieces - Patsy Cline
• Jessie's Girl - Bruce Springfield
• Elvira - Oak Ridge Boys
• Ain't No Sunshine- Bill Withers
• (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction- Rolling Stones
• In The Ghetto- Elvis Presley
• Bad Moon Rising- CCR
• Hit Me With Your Best Shot- Pat Benatar
• The Gambler- Kenny Rogers

Here's my picks for favorite top 10 songs.

• 1) Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
• 2) The Loco-Motion - Little Eva
• 3) The Twist - Chubby Checker
• 4) Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
• 5) When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge
• 6) I Just Called to Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
• 7) Mony Mony - Tommy James & The Shondells
• 8) Slow Hand - Conway Twitty
• 9) Do Wah Diddy - Manfred Mann
• 10) Old Time Rock N Roll - Bob Seger

Gardening

Being a gardener, I get lots of ideas, and have many books. I just love to work in the yard, but again this year is out for me again doing that BUT I always have JB of course to do it for me. I just have to watch him when he mows, so he won't cut the flowers down; he doesn't know a flower from a weed, lol. So being that, my son is giving me lots and lots of flat rock to make a border, so JB will know the flower beds. See my son owns 3 acres and I can get all the rocks I need.

Pursuit of Excellence Programme

Monday morning we (that's me and the visitors) went to an exercise class, free of charge to participants, for older people at another church hall in town. I had been waiting for it to restart as I planned on going this year.There were about 40 people there, 6 of them men. There were chairs set out in a large circle round the room, and we started off with some slow movements to warm up, turn your head to right and look over your shoulder if you can, then left, then shoulders etc. Next the music was on and we walked, marched or bent knees with various arm movements, round the room. All the time people were making comments and laughing, it was so lighthearted and good fun. Then we sat on our chairs and did some light hand weights, and the joke was if you hit the chair with your weight, you did the washing up for the cuppa afterwards. Then we used some sort of stretchy band with our feet. All the time the instructor said "only do what you can" and most people could manage everything easily. Barry is coming along next week too. Hugs, Aussie Jan

Have you started with your Pursuit of Excellence Programme?

Our Furry Friends in the Spotlight

This weeks feature is about a travelling puppy's experiences. Poor Bebe, who will be two years old on 7th March has never been away from her homeland before, and not only did she have to do some major travelling, but she also had to deal with all the familys' other dogs. Bebe is visiting Daphne & Leo and has her own real passport with her picture and details and details of her owners, Romina and German. Please read on for her tales and woes.

That apart, as soon as German started to greet his family dogs, Bebe went sniff and snarled at them, as if saying "German is MINE" she then spent the evening chasing them or being chased around. After the supper, each of the travellers decided to sleep at their own parents house, and Agos came back here with us, Romi and Bebe. Skippy soon detected the presence of an unknown dog in OUR car and started growling and refused to accept Romina even when Agos took Bebe inside out of his sight. He had been bathed, his hutch cleaned in out and around, and a fresh piece of matress put down for him. He thanked me by deciding to have diarrrea, lay down in it, then dragged it everywhere. Next morning I was able to clean things up a bit, and when Romi got up he accepted her back this time, but refused to accept Bebe. Bebe soon discovered the tortoise in the garden and both inmediately declared war on the other. As you can see, from a pet point of view it is going to be fun!! So who says animals don't have sentiments!!!

This morning, Agos and Romi went off the see what had changed in the city, leaving Bebe with me. She immediately started yelling as if I was murdering her, but already knowing she does that I ignored her. She cried until I took a piece of cooked chicken and started cutting it up to make a chicken pie for lunch, then she shut up and was veeery interested in what I was doing!!! Saturday a whole gang of German's friends are going camping with Ruben and Agos and I don't know who else just for the weekend. I don't know if they are taking Bebe but if they don't I just have to make sure I have something interesting to cut up to distract her.

Today we were visited by Romi's local cousin with her kids, so we were 8 for dinner, only crumbs left of the delicious chicken pie and salad. Romi and Bebe have gone to her in-laws now. Let you know what else happens later love from Daphne from Argentina

Daphne thanks so very much for sending this wonderful story to entertain and also educate others who want to bring their family pet with them on vacation. We must remember they are sensitive and scared as well as us humans. Sometimes it may not be in the pets best interest. I think Bebe can attest to this; dont you? Remember to hug you pet today, for they give us more love and dedication than any one else. Jami from Maryland, USA who reminds us that

Just for Fun

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth?
A. Ruthless.

Q. What do they call pastors in Germany?
A. German Shepherds.

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
A. Noah He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord.

Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson. He brought the house down.

Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden ?
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.

Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?
A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once.

Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing.

Q. Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible?
A. David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep.

Q. Which Bible character had no parents?
A. Joshua, son of Nun.

Q. Why didn't they play cards on the Ark?
A. Because Noah was standing on the deck.

PS. Did you know it's a sin for a woman to make coffee? Yup, it's in the Bible. It says "He-brews".

KEEP SMILING! GOD LOVES YOU BUNCHES AND BUNCHES!
Friends are God's way of taking care of us.

• Now that food has replaced sex in my life, I can't even get into my own pants.
• I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it. So I said "Implants?" She hit me.
• How come we choose from just two people to run for president and over fifty for Miss America?
• A good friend will come and bail you out of jail ... but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Wow...that was fun!"
• I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!
• When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping," now I just "chunky dunk."
• Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.
• Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press 'Ctrl Alt Delete' and start all over? AMEN, AMEN !!
• Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in prison?
• Wouldn't you know it ... Brain cells come and brain cells go, but FAT cells live forever.
• Why do I have to swear on the Bible in court when the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed outside?
• And remember: life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

• '1' Blaming your farts on me..... Not funny... Not funny at all !!!
• '2' Yelling at me for barking. I'M A FRIGGIN' DOG
• '3' Taking me for a walk, then Not letting me check stuff out. Exactly whose walk is this anyway?
• '4' Any trick that involves balancing Food on my nose. Stop it!
• '5' Any haircut that involves bows or ribbons. Now you know why we chew your stuff Up when you're not home.
• '6' The sleight of hand, fake fetch throw. You fooled a dog! Whoooo Hoooooooo, what A proud moment for the top of the food chain. '
• 7' Taking me to the vet for "the big snip", Then acting surprised when I freak Out every time we go back!
• '8' Getting upset when I sniff the crotches of your guests. Sorry, but I haven't quite mastered that handshake thing yet.
• '9' Dog sweaters. Hello ??? Haven't you noticed the fur?
• '10' How you act disgusted when I lick myself. Look, we both know the truth. You're just jealous.

A DOG ALWAYS OFFERS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
CATS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT!

Now time for the answer to our question from last week.

Tests & Quizzes

Common Expressions - Origin & Meaning

Meaning - Without any knowledge or understanding.

Origin

This little phrase, which is often given as 'I don't have a clue', doesn't at first sight appear to be idiomatic at all and hardly deserving of investigation. After all, a clue is an insight or idea that points us towards a solution. To be without a clue is simply to be ignorant. However, a clue (also spelled clew) previously had a different meaning - a globular ball formed from coiling worms or the like or, more specifically, a ball of thread. Clew has been used with that meaning for at least a thousand years and citations of it in Old English date back to 897AD, when no less an author than Aelfred, King of Wessex used it in his West-Saxon translation of Gregory's Pastoral Care. Shakespeare also used the word with the 'thread' meaning, for example, in All's Well that Ends Well, 1601:

"If it be so, you have wound a goodly clewe."

That seems a long way from crossword clues or Sherlock Holmes' stories. How did we get from a ball of thread to the current meaning of clue?

Go back to Greek myth and recall the tale of Theseus and the Minotaur. Theseus entered the labyrinth to kill the half-man, half-bull Minotaur. He did so but was only able to find his way out by retracing his path, marked by the string given to him by Ariadne. So, Theseus 'had a clew' about the safe route out of the maze and was able to escape.

Geoffrey Chaucer recorded this story in The Legend of Ariadne, Part VI of The Legend of Good Women, 1385:

Therto have I a remedie in my thoght,
By a clewe of twyn as he hath gon,
The same weye he may returne a-non,
ffolwynge alwey the thred as he hath come.

So, don't be clueless - all you need is some string. London Chrissie

Computers 101

• Unplug your keyboard and holdit upside down over the trash can and shake it gently.
• Vacuum the keyboard using a soft brush attachment.
• Using a soft, lint-free cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol, wipe off keys and board.
• Rub the keyboard with a dry, lint-free cloth.
• For more intense cleaning, use a screwdriver to flip off each key and clean individually using a soft, lint-free cloth dampened with rubbin alcohol.

I had virus problems in my laptop recently some like 1 week ago. I had to make a strong effort to fix it because there are some viruses around lately that you can't perceive and neither to recognize but the virus is already installed and causes many damages in our files and programs. Now I am using the Macfee program like firewall, and even so I confess that I am afraid sometimes. I've avoided to open some mails and attached files, even when the sender being known. You know that I've used my laptop also to work beyond to keep friendship's contacts. I've done important file backups surely, but if I lose my work's pc I'll be in serious problems. It is distressing seeing people that waste their time to make virus or damage programs to harm other people for nothing. You know, the much more I know the human being, the more I've admired my dog! Hugs Valter from Brazil

Bea from the Catskills would like us to check out this free project; Best Friends T-Shirt from The Vintage Workshop.

Be sure to check out all the wonderful craft ideas in the WWWCOF Craft Site and lets get this group active and crafting. Any ideas, please send them my way. Add your own favourites or email me, Sharon from Paradise Island, aka Vancouver Island, BC, Canada and I will be happy to add them to our ever growing collection.

Join WWWCOF KRAFT CORNER      MSN Groups

Mystery Member

Last week's mystery member has been correctly identified as Carol from Nanaimo BC Canada. Do take a moment to email Carol to say hello and nice to meet you!

Now just who do you think this week's mystery member is?

• My middle name is Jean.
• I do not smoke.
• My eyes are brown.
• I have one sister and four brothers.
• My favourite thing to do is to cross-stitch.
• My favourite colour is red.
• My favourite type of music is Gospel.
• I am outgoing.
• I usually follow the rules.
• I don't think I have any special talents.
• I have three children.
• I drive a Ford Focus.
• I am 55.
• My favourite food is salmon.
• If you and I were stranded on a deserted island; I would a small shovel.

Beefs & Bouquets
Evidence that what you send in is so appreciated by all!

Another super Global Express. Thank you seems very inadequate but I really mean THANK YOU Irene, aka Scotty, from Washington, USA

I'm Rich ......

This morning I searched my wallet.
It was empty .

Then, I checked my pockets.
I found a few coins.

I then searched my heart and found you.
Then, I realized how rich I really am.

Thanks for being my friend and e-mail buddy!

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace".
Jimi Hendrix