ALL THE REST —  September 30 - October 1
  

Sometimes they are call 'white ants'. 
Though they can be destructive - they are useful.

Termites part 2

Termites feed primarily on wood fiber, or cellulose, which they get from dead trees, fence posts, house timbers, or furniture. Cellulose is indigestible to nearly all animals, including termites. The termite workers, however, have formed a remarkable partnership, or symbiosis, with microorganisms called protozoans. The workers harbor the protozoans in their intestines. As they chew and swallow the wood fiber, the protozoans transform it into a product that termites can digest.Termites work in large numbers as many as 4,000 have been counted in 1 cubic foot of wood.
Once a year pairs of young kings and queens depart from the parent nest, leaving the ruling king and queen behind. Each pair starts a new colony nearby. They then shed their wings. The queen develops into a huge egg-laying machine. She spends her entire life in a protected secure spot in the termite nest. There she is fed by worker termites. Once mature, the queen can lay as many as 3,000 to 5,000 a day. She can lay eggs at a rate of more than three per minute.

Both the queen termite and her consort secrete an acid that the other members of the colony can lick. This acid prevents the other termites from developing the power to reproduce. If the queen becomes sterile, the workers stop feeding her. She dies of starvation and her body is devoured by her subjects. Once the termites are deprived of the secreted acid contraceptive, a female of the correct age then will develop into the new queen.

The soldiers and workers gray-white, wingless, usually blind, and less than 0.4 inch long are the most populous members of the colony. Both male and female soldiers and workers are sterile, so they cannot reproduce. The soldiers, which have large heads and jaws, guard the nest against insect enemies, chiefly ants. The workers keep the colony supplied with food, and they actually feed the queens, soldiers, and young termites.

Sources:Strange Stories, Amazing Facts - Reader's Digest | Compton's Encyclopedia|

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

 

 Computer Dating?

A hopeful suitor dropped into a computer-dating center and registered his qualifications. He wanted someone who enjoyed water sports, liked company, favored formal attire, and was very small. The computer operated faultlessly. It sent him a penguin.

From: David A. Rinke II -- Funny Pages Mailing List

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After completing a round of golf, Tom goes to the club and was asked by his friend how his round went.

Tom replies, "It was a bad day. My partner Bill had a heart attack and died starting the 17th hole."

The friend says, "That must have been terrible."

Tom says, "Yeah, it was terrible--hit the ball, drag Bill, hit the ball, drag Bill, hit the ball..."

Source: David A. Rinke II Funny Pages Mailing List

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The little church in the suburbs suddenly stopped buying from its regular office supply dealer. So, the dealer telephoned Deacon Brown to ask why. "I'll tell you why," shouted Deacon Brown. "Our church ordered some pencils from you to be used in the pews for visitors to register."

"Well," interrupted the dealer, "didn't you receive them yet?"

"Oh, we received them all right," replied Deacon Brown.

"However, you sent us some golf pencils...each stamped with the words, `Play Golf Next Sunday.'"

Source: David A. Rinke II Funny Pages Mailing List

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A recent college graduate took a new job in a hilly Eastern city and began commuting each day to work through a tiring  array of tunnels, bridges and traffic jams.  To make the task less onerous, he invited several of his coworkers to share the ride.  He soon found, however, that the commute continued to get more stressful, especially the trips through the tunnels.  He consulted the company doctor.
    
"Doc," the frustrated commuter complained, "I'm fine on the bridges, in the traffic, in the day and at night, and even when Joe forgets to bathe all week long.   But when I get in the tunnels and I've got those four other guys crowded around me in the car, I get anxious and dizzy and feel like I'm going to explode.  What's wrong with me?"
    
Immediately the doctor announced he had identified the ailment.  "You have what is known as Carpool Tunnel Syndrome."

From : A Time to Smile zphhumor@info.harpercollins.com

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RACEHORSES THAT BOAST

Some race horses staying in a stable. One of them starts to boast about his track record. "Out of my last 15 races, I've won 8!"

Another horse breaks in, "Well out of my last 27 races, I've won 19!!"

"Oh that's good, but out of my last 36 races, I've won 28!", says another, flicking his tail.

At this point, they notice that a greyhound has been sitting nearby listening. "I don't mean to boast," says the greyhound, "but out of MY last 90 races, I've won 88!"

The horses are clearly amazed. "Wow!" says one, after a hushed silence "A talking dog."

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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

Artificial Intelligence:
Making computers act like they do in movies.

Daily Miscellany Comics

Have A Great Day !

Soul Food for September 30 & October 1

Today in History for September 30
Today in History for October 1