For the Birds
Bird's Eye View

Most birds have extremely good vision. A pair of bird's eyes may combine both telescopic and microscopic ability. Birds of prey are able to site their food from great distances. Good eyesight combined with rapid focusing are helpful to a bird persuing their prey. The bird also has an extra, transparent eyelid. This eyelid is called a nictating membrane. It serves as goggles to keep the eye clean and reduce glare. Rapid passage of a bird through the air would cause a bird's eye to water excessively but the nictitating membrane prevents this from happening. This extra eyelid also protects the eyes of diving birds and those that swim under water.

One reason for the keen vision of a bird is due to its relatively large size. A bird's eye is often as large as the bird's brain. It is said that if a human's eye was proportionately as large as a bird's eye each eye would weigh five pounds. Again I must bore you with the fact that most, if not all, birds also have color vision. Color vision is rare among mammals.
 

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable."

Joseph Addison

 

 

 

An elderly couple were experiencing declining memories, so they decided to take a power memory class, where they teach you to remember things by association. Later, the man was talking to a neighbor about how much the class helped him.

"Who was the instructor?" asked the neighbor.

"Oh, let's see," pondered the man. "Umm...what's that flower, you know, that smells real nice, but it has those thorns...?"

"A rose?" offered the neighbor.

"Oh, yeah," said the man. He turned toward his house and shouted, "Hey, Rose, what's the name of the guy we took that memory class from?" 

From Zondervan - A Time To Laugh

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A father was discussing geography with his two year old daughter: "Where do you live?," he asked her.

"Minneapolis," she said.

"Where does grandma live?"

"Baltimore."

"Where does uncle Joe live?"
"Chicago."

"And where does daddy live?"

"At work!"

Needless to say, he took the morning off the next day.."

From Zondervan - A Time To Laugh

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What do you do when you discover an endangered animal that eats only endangered plants?

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"THOUGHT FOR THE DAY"

Here are some new concerns for the "Boomer generation":

Then: Long hair
Now: Longing for hair

Then: Acid rock
Now: Acid reflux

Then: Moving to California because it's cool
Now: Moving to California because it's hot

Then: Watching John Glenn's historic flight with your parents
Now: Watching John Glenn's historic flight with your kids

Then: Trying to look like Marlon Brando or Elizabeth Taylor
Now: Trying not to look like Marlon Brando or Elizabeth Taylor

Then: The President's struggle with Fidel
Now: The President's struggle with fidelity

Then: Paar
Now: AARP

Then: Hoping for a BMW
Now: Hoping for a BM

Then: The Grateful Dead
Now: Dr. Kevorkian

Then: Getting out to a new, hip joint
Now: Getting a new hip joint

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John and Nancy were married for 40 years and decided they wanted to renew their vows and planned a second wedding. They were discussing the details with their friends. Nancy wasn't going to wear a traditional bridal gown and she started describing the dress she was planning to wear. One of her friends asked what color shoes she had to go with the dress. Nancy replied, "Silver." 

At that point, John chimed in, "Yep silver - - to match her hair." 

Shooting a glaring look at John's bald spot, Nancy's friend said, "So John, I guess you are going barefoot." 

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TRUE FACT ...

Humans begin laughing at two to three months of age. Six year olds laugh about 300 times per day, while adults laugh from 15 to 100 times per day.

SOURCE: NYT, Dr. William F. Fry, Stanford University

When the going gets tough, find someone to blame.

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~ The Beacon ~

God is like Bayer aspirin - He works wonders
God is like Hallmark cards - He cared enough to send the very best
God is like Coca-Cola - He's the real thing
God is like God is like Pan Am - He makes the going great
God is like General Electric - He lights your path
God is like Tide detergent - He gets stains out that others leave behind
God is like VO5 hair spray - He holds through all kinds of weather
God is like Dial soap - aren't you glad you know him? Don't you wish everyone did?
God is like Sears - He has everything
God is like Alka-Seltzer - Oh what a relief He is
God is like Scotch tape - you can't see Him, but you know He's there
God is like the American Express card - Don't leave home without Him!