ALL THE REST –    May 14
  

 

Today's Quotations –  Insults to US Presidents 

 

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Prepare yourself for some bad news: Ronald Reagan's library just burned down. Both books were destroyed. But the real horror: he hadn't finished coloring either one of them.

–   Gore Vidal

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He was ignorant of the commonest accomplishments of youth. He could not even lie.

Mark Twain on
George Washington

 

 
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Taft meant well, but he meant well feebly.

Theodore Roosevelt on
William Howard Taft

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He had about as much backbone as a chocolate eclair.

–  Theodore Roosevelt on
William McKinley

 

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Harry Truman proves the old adage that any man can become president of the United States.

–  Norman Thomas

 

Today's Short Words of  Wisdom



If I have seen farther than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.

Isaac Newton

 

word puzzle
  Today's Word – DENIGRATE 
   

 


den·i·grate verb.  1. To attack the character or reputation of; speak ill of; defame. 2. To disparage; belittle: The critics have denigrated our efforts.

I know that many people all over the world have theories, and I do not wish to denigrate any one of them, the people or their ideas.

Left Behind
Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

Definitions from American Heritage Dictionary

 

Today's Fact

 May is frog Month on the Daily Miscellany - I hope you enjoy these facts about amphibians. God is a marvelous architect and his sense of humor and creativity is expressed in these interesting creations.

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Amphibians and FROGS

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Frogs

Frog Skin (part 2)

Frogs do not have ribs. Lacking ribs diminishes the function of the lungs. Frogs therefore supplement their respirations with passive exchange of gases through their skin. Mucous secretions keep the skin of the frog moist to provide the proper surface for exchange of the gases.


In addition to mucous the skin of frogs (like all amphibians) also secretes poisons. The potency and concentrations of the poisons secreted will vary considerably from species to species. The parotid glands of many toads is located behind the eyes. These glands secrete toxins that are a deterrent against enemies.

Some toads are "moveable drugstores," states Scientist Robert DeGraaf. Their secretions contain hallucinogens, anesthetics and chemicals that affect the heart and nervous system. If a toad is taken into an animal's mouth, adrenal hormone-like substances in its secretions are quickly absorbed by membranes in the mouth and throat. These substances will paralyze the respiratory system and over stimulate the heart, causing a lethal heart flutter. If the frog is digested and absorbed into the victim's blood stream, however, other chemically active components trigger a reaction that slows down the heart rate and causes heart failure and death.

The hallucinogenic agents in some toad venom are well known. Today there are "toad smokers"' those who smoke dried venom, and "toad lickers'" those who ingest the venom (some by actually licking the live toad). The highs are described by the users as ranging from a "slight buzz" to a "rocket trip into the void." The consumption of hallucinogenic alkaloids in the secretions of 'toads' is nothing new. The practice probably dates back thousands of years. Physicians, healers and shamans from all parts of the world have long ascribed medicinal value to powdered toad, toad ashes, toad pellets, toad grease and tincture of toad. These 'toad' products were prescribed for all manner of maladies including: toothache, dropsy, rheumatism, bubonic plague, epilepsy and tumors (not to mention religious and recreational use).


Sources for the Amphibian - Frog series include:

Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians - Editors: Dr. Harold G. Cogger, Dr. Richard G,.Zweifel, Academid Press
Frogs - Text: David Badger, Photography: JohnNetherton; Voyageur Press

Groliers Encyclopedia
Microsoft(R) Encarta(R)
Encyclopedia Britanica

Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,
for he issued his command, and they came into being.
Psalm 148:5 (NLT)

 

clown
Today's SMILE

 

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

 

A FEW SMILES   


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Visiting an old Friend

Jimmy Green and Sam Frank were lifelong friends, but, whereas Jimmy led a virtuous life, Sam did not, enjoying wine, women and song. When they died, Jimmy went to Heaven but was dismayed to find his friend had been sent to the other place, and after a while, he asked St. Peter if he might visit Sam.

Well Peter reluctantly agreed, but said that, like Cinderella, he must be back before midnight.

Jimmy took his harp and went down to Hell. There, he was told that Sam ran a disco down the road. He soon found his friend and they proceeded to have a great time swopping memories, until Jimmy, like Cinderella, suddenly realized it was five to twelve.

He dashed back up to Heaven where St. Peter checked him in, but asked where his harp was. Jimmy slapped his forehead and groaned "Gosh, I left my harp in Sam Frank's disco."


The minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to, after the worship service, ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play. "Here's a copy of the service," he said impatiently. "But you'll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances." During the service, the minister paused and said, "Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected, and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up." At that moment, the substitute organist played "The Star-Spangled Banner." And that is how the substitute became the regular organist!


It's Ingenuity

A guy from up North (Canada) goes into a classy bar in the South (States). This bar has a dress code, and the maitre d' demands he wear a tie.

Discouraged, the guy goes to his car to sulk when inspiration strikes: He's got jumper cables in the trunk! So he wraps them around his neck, sort of like a string tie (a bulky string tie to be sure) and returns to the bar. The maitre d' is reluctant, but says to the guy, "Okay, you're a pretty resourceful fellow, you can come in... but just don't start anything"!.'

Best of: Humor  thayer@netusa1.net

 


Come Quick It's Disgusting

 

It was three o'clock in the morning, and the receptionist at a posh hotel was just dozing off, when a little old lady came running towards her, screaming.

"Please come quickly!" she yelled, "I just saw a naked man outside my window!" 

The receptionist immediately rushed up to the old lady's room. 

"Where is he?" asked the receptionist. 

"He's over there," replied the little old lady, pointing to an apartment building opposite the hotel. 

The receptionist looked over and could see a man with no shirt on, moving around his apartment. 

"It's probably a man who's getting ready to go to bed," she said reassuringly. "And how do you know he's naked, you can only see him from the waist up?" 

"The dresser!" screamed the old lady. "Try standing on the dresser!" 




The severity of the itch is proportional to the reach.

 


Daily Miscellany Comics

 

Have A Great Day

Phillip Bower

 

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Send Mail to pbower@neo.rr.com


Copyright Information: Phillip Bower is not the author of the humor, and does not claim to own any copyright privileges to the jokes. Sources of jokes are listed when known. Birthday's and Happenings for the date, and quotations are public knowledge and collected from numerous sources. Quotations are public knowledge and sources are listed when known. Weekendspirations are written by Tim Knappenberger who has copyright privileges. Cathy Vinson authors Whispers from the Wilderness and owns copyright privileges. Weekendspirations and Whispers from the Wilderness are used with permission by the respective authors. Other devotions are written by Phillip Bower unless otherwise stated. In all cases credit is given when known. The Daily Miscellany is nonprofit. Submissions by readers is welcome.