ALL THE REST —  October 4
  

The world's most destructive insect is hard to control. If you can't beat them – eat them.

The Locust

The order Orthoptera includes the grasshopper, katydids, crickets, cockroaches, mantids, and walkingsticks. The word orthoptera means: straight winged. The grasshoppers are divided into two groups based on the length of their antennae. The long-horned grasshoppers include the katydids. The short-horned grasshoppers include those grasshoppers known as locusts.

The locust has a large head, similar to that of a be or a hornet. They have two pairs of wings. The first pair is straight, flat and leathery; the second pair is thin, membranous and folded like a fan beneath the outer pair when not in use. Like all insects, the locust has 6 legs. The first two pair of legs are in proportion to the body of the locust. The third pair is much larger and has bulging muscular thighs. This third pair of legs are used for jumping and can carry the insect for many times more than their own length.

Locusts are found everywhere. Locust plagues are among the first events in recorded history. They have occurred on all continents except Antarctica. Thus far all control measures have been only partially successful.

The most destructive insect in the world is the desert locust. This short-horn grasshopper (Schistocera gregaria), is the locust of the Bible. Its habitat ranges from the dry and semi-arid regions of Africa and the Middle East, through Pakistan and northern India. This pest can eat its own weight in food each day. During long migratory flights a large swarm can consume 20,000 tons of grain and vegetation each day.

Locusts as food?

"His clothes were woven from camel hair, and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey."

Mark 1:6(NLT)

We are told that the food of John the Baptist included locusts. Did he really eat these destructive insects? The Orientals were accustomed to feeding upon locusts, either raw or roasted and seasoned with salt (or prepared in other ways), and the Israelites also were permitted to eat them. The law in Leviticus 11:22 gave the Israelites permission to eat these insects. We know that insects are a very good source of protein. Today many scientists suggest that insects be used as a food source. Their bodies could be dehydrated, crushed into a meal, and used to fortify breads. The nutritional value of the insects would exceed that of the meager crops that survive the ravages of insect pests. The cost and danger of pesticides on crops are prohibitive. The idea is "if you can't beat them - eat them."*

Although locusts were acceptable as food, perhaps they were not the regular food of John the Baptist. Locusts were rather seasonal. They generally appeared in Spring or early Summer. Since John had to eat daily, it is likely that his food was locust beans. These beans are carob pods. They are sweet and sticky. The prodigal son also ate locust pods. (Luke 15:16)

*Dr. Charles King

Sources: |The Handy Science Answer Book - Visible Press | Audubon Nature Encyclopedia | Manners and Customs of Bible Times

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

 

TRUE AND HILARIOUS

NEWS HARARE, Zimbabwe (04-04) - After 20 mental patients disappeared from his bus, the driver replaced them with sane citizens and delivered them to a mental hospital.

The unidentified bus driver was transporting 20 mental patients from the capital city of Harare to Bulawayo Mental Hospital when he decided to stop for a few drinks at an illegal roadside liquor store. Upon his return he was shocked to discovered that all the mental patients have escaped. Desperate for a solution, the driver stopped at the next bus stop and offered free bus rides to several people. He then delivered them to the mental hospital and informing the staff they were easily excitable.

It took the medical personnel three days to uncover the foul play. The real mental patients are still at large.

Source: Gary Tooze

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The Gift

Two alledged gentleman were talking and one said to the other, "You're having an anniversary soon, right?"

The other replied, "Yup, a big one... 20 years."

"Wow," said the other, "what are you going to get your wife for your anniversary?"

The other replied, "We're going on a trip to Australia."

"Wow, Australia, that's some gift!" said the other man. "That's going to be hard to beat.

What are you going to do for your 25th anniversary?"

"Go back and get her."

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Actual quotes from Federal employee performance evaluations:

"Since my last report, he has reached rock bottom and has started to dig."

"His men would follow him anywhere, but only out of morbid curiosity."

"I would not allow this employee to breed."

"This employee is really not so much of a has-been, but more of a definitely won't be."

"Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap."

"When she opens her mouth, it seems that this is only to change whichever foot was previously in there."

"He would be out of his depth in a parking lot puddle."

"This young lady has delusions of adequacy."

"She sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them."

"This employee should go far - and the sooner he starts, the better."

"This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot."
.

From: Gary Tooze.

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You know you live in a small town when.....

Third Street is on the edge of town.

You don't use your turn signals because everyone knows where you're going.

A baby born on June 14 receives gifts from local merchants as the first baby of the year.

You speak to each dog you pass by name and he wags his tail at you.

You dial a wrong number and talk for 15 minutes anyway.

You can't walk for exercise because every car that passes you offers you a ride.

In order to paint traffic lines, the road has to be widened.

The Mayor is also the Sheriff, Town Council and street sweeper.

There is no town idiot -- everybody has to take turns.

You can name everyone you graduated with.

You have to drive an hour to buy a pair of socks.

You get a whiff of manure and think of home.

You fix yourself up to go buy groceries lest anyone starts the rumor that you have gained weight or quit taking care of yourself.

Friday nights fun consisted of standing in line for the one-screen theater and when it is sold out, watching truckers and drinking coffee at the truck stop (the only place open after 10).

Someone asks you how you feel and listens to what you say.

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Weather Predictions

An old Indian chief was famous for predicting what the weather would do. A group of people went up to the chief and asked him, "What will the
weather be like tomorrow?"

The chief replied, "Much rain. Very wet."

The next day, it did rain and it was very wet.

Some more people went up to the chief and asked, "What will the weather be like tomorrow?"

"Much snow. Very cold." Sure enough, it snowed and it was very cold.

The next day, people were so impressed with this, they asked him another time. Chief," they asked, "what will the weather do tomorrow?"

The chief replied, "I dunno. Radio broken."

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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

I am in shape. Round is a shape.

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Have A Great Day !

Phillip Bower

Soul Food October 4

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