A New Stimulus Plan

From the St. Petersburg Times-Sunday edition, Business Section. They asked their readers for ideas to fix the economy. Here's one that I like the best:

Dear Mr. President:
re: Patriotic Retirement

There are 40 million people over the age of 50 in the work force. Pay them $1 million apiece severance with three stipulations:

1. They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings - unemployment fixed
2. They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered - the automobile industry fixed
3. They either buy a new home or pay off their mortgage - the housing crisis fixed

All national problems fixed!

Sincerely,
A Fellow American

So, what do you think?

Test Your Memory

How well do you remember your youth? Take the quiz and find out. The answers are located at the end of the quiz - but no peeking!

1. After The Lone Ranger saved the day and rode off into the sunset, the grateful citizens would ask, "Who was that masked man?" Invariably, someone would answer, "I don't know but he left this behind." What was it he left behind?
2. When the Beatles first came to U.S. in early 1964, we all watched them on The _______ Show.
3. "Get your kicks _________."
   
4. "The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to _____________.
5. "In the jungle, the mighty jungle ___________.
6. After the Twist, the Mashed Potato, and the Watusi, we "danced" under a stick that was lowered as low as we could go in a dance called the "_________."
7. N-E-S-T-L-E-S, Nestles makes the very best __________.
8. Satchmo was America's "Ambassador of Goodwill." Our parents shared this great jazz trumpet player with us. His name was _________.
9. What takes a licking and keeps on ticking?
10. Red Skelton's hobo character was named __________, and Red always ended his television show by saying, "Good night and _______________."
11. Some Americans protested the Vietnam War by burning their _________.
12. The cute little car with the engine in the back and the trunk in the front was called the VW. It also went by _________ and ___________.
13. In 1971, singe Don MacLean sang a song about "the day the music died." This was a tribute to ___________.
14. The first satellite placed in orbit was called _________. Who did it?
15. One of the big fad of the '50s and '60s was a large plastic ring that we twirled around out waist. It was called the ___________.

Answers

1. A silver bullet
2. The Ed Sullivan Show
3. On Route 66
4. To protect the innocent
5. the Lion sleeps tonight
6. the Limbo
7. chocolate
8. Louis Armstrong
9. Timex watch
10. Freddy the Freeloader and "Good night and God bless."
11. Draft cards (and bras but not the Flag as some have guessed)
12. Beetle or Bug
13. Buddy Holly
14. Sputnik and the Russians
15. Hoola-hoop
    

I Love This Picture!!

Photo by Andy Thomas

And then I said, 'Barrack, I know Abe Lincoln and you ain't him.'

The Shamrock

A more popular symbol of St. Patrick's Day is the shamrock. From The History Channel web site, here's some interesting notes on the Shamrock:

The shamrock, which was also called the "seamroy" by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

It's a custom among those of Irish descent that on St. Patrick's day to have a traditional meal comprised of corned beef and cabbage. Now, as one who is "mostly" Irish this meal is highly recommended. Here's a quick recipe from The History Channel:

5 pounds corned brisket of beef
6 peppercorns, or packaged pickling spices
3 carrots, peeled and quartered
3 onions, peeled and quartered
1 medium-sized green cabbage, quartered or cut in wedges
Melted butter (about 4 tablespoons)

Place the corned beef in water to cover with the peppercorns or mixed pickling spices (in supermarkets, these often come packaged with the corned beef). Cover the pot or kettle, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 5 hours or until tender, skimming occasionally. During the last hour, add the carrots and onions and cover again. During the last 15 minutes, add the cabbage. Transfer meat and vegetables to a platter and brush the vegetables with the melted butter. Serve with boiled parsley potatoes, cooked separately. (The stock can be saved to add to a pot roast or stew instead of other liquid.)

Antenna Fundraiser Update

We serve a mighty God and His people have truly blessed the ministry of WRAF-FM. This past Tuesday, we approached our listener to help us out in our time of need. We needed to raise between $70,000 to $80,000 to purchase and install a new antenna. The phones were ringing off the hook throughout the day.

Not only did we hear from our listeners but we also heard from many of our ministry partners. We heard from Wayne Shepherd, who is the announcer for Dr. James McDonald and Walk in the Word. Wayne was such a blessing.

We also heard from our friends in Puerto Rico, Janet Lutrell and Steve Dendrinos. They run WBMJ-FM and The Rock Radio Nework. Plus we heard from muscial artist Steve Amerson and Mary Welchel of Today's Christian Working Woman. What a day!!

I happy to report that we heard from over 475 of our listeners and over $65,000 has been committed to our new antenna. We have a mailing going out today that will reach those who are in the fringe areas of the WRAF that are unable to receive a clear signal.

Continue to pray for the management of WRAF has we work toward the replacement of the antenna.

Global Food Crisis

The 6 Most Important Things You Need to Know
About the Global Food Crisis

1. FACT: Over 300 million children in the world will go to bed hungry tonight and one child dies every 7 seconds
2. This Crisis is REAL! Due to rising food prices, fluctuating fuel costs and natural disasters, the United Nations World Food Program calls the Global Food Crisis a phenomenon, a "silent tsunami" that is affecting every continent.
3. Jesus said, " I was hungry nad you fed me... and I tell you when tou have done it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you have done it unto me." -- Matthew 25:35, 40
4. $13 helps feed a child for an entire MONTH!
5. For more information or to help call 877-506-5900 or visit the Compassion Website.
6. We, as the body of Christ, can prove to the world that we CAN make a difference. If you don't help, who will?
   

Fund Raiser for New Antenna

This Tuesday, March the 10th, WRAF will conduct a special on-air fund-raiser to help with the costs of purchasing and installing a new antenna. We will be setting aside all programming from 6am until 12 midnight. Please be in prayer for this event and how you might be able to take part.

If you would like to make a donation on line, please click here. Your generosity is gratefully apprecitated

Urgent Prayer Request for WRAF

I just got word from our station manager Bryan Race regarding a need the station has now. Below is an email from our station engineer Marty Lee:

Bryan,

As you know, Bob Kinder was able to climb the WRAF tower today to troubleshoot the problem that we have been experiencing. Bob located damage to our WRAF antenna. We contacted the antenna manufacturer and will be receiving a quote on replacement parts. There is a possibility that, due to the age of the antenna, a new antenna would be a better solution.

Due to the damage that Bob found, it was necessary for us to reduce WRAF’s power to 20 percent. We will need to maintain the 20 percent power output until the antenna situation has been resolved. We certainly do not want to cause any additional damage that could cause us to go off-the-air completely.

At this point, we do not know how long we will be on the reduced power level. That depends on whether we are able to repair the current antenna, or if we purchase a new one.

I’ll keep you up to date as information develops.

Marty

Please keep the station management team in your prayers and we hope to be back to full-power shortly. Remember you can always listen on-line at Toccoa Falls Radio's website.

Morning Show Top 10

Top 10 for week of March 2

1. Jeremy Camo - There Will Be A Day
2. Avalon - Still My God
3. Carmen d'Arcy - We Adore Thee
4. Mercy Me - Finally Home
5. Justin Unger - Behold
6. The Katinas - Praying for You
7. Shannon Wexelberg - Hail to the King
8. Manidisa - Voice Of A Savior
   
9. Israel Houghton - My Tribute
10. Sara Groves - Love Is Still A Worthy Cause
    

Snowing in Georgia

We got a treat this afternoon - a snow storm! Here are the kids in our backyard

Pioneer Radio Broadcaster Passes Away

From Yahoo! News story by Associated Press reporter Rupa Shenoy

CHICAGO – Paul Harvey, the news commentator and talk-radio pioneer whose staccato style made him one of the nation's most familiar voices, died Saturday in Arizona, according to ABC Radio Networks. He was 90.

Harvey died surrounded by family at a hospital in Phoenix, where he had a winter home, said Louis Adams, a spokesman for ABC Radio Networks, where Harvey worked for more than 50 years. No cause of death was immediately available.

Harvey had been forced off the air for several months in 2001 because of a virus that weakened a vocal cord. But he returned to work in Chicago and was still active as he passed his 90th birthday. His death comes less than a year after that of his wife and longtime producer, Lynne.

"My father and mother created from thin air what one day became radio and television news," Paul Harvey Jr. said in a statement. "So in the past year, an industry has lost its godparents and today millions have lost a friend."

Known for his resonant voice and trademark delivery of "The Rest of the Story," Harvey had been heard nationally since 1951, when he began his "News and Comment" for ABC Radio Networks.