June Newsletter from Route53

'Rons' Newsletter - June 2004

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....~.... just Thinking out loud ....~....

    Welcome to the June edition of Ron's Newsletter.
During my research for this month, I discovered quite a few things I wasn't aware of, plus
I found a lot of information on thunderstorms and lightning. You'll find much about that below, including a true or false quiz. [grin]
    Did you know that National Lightning Safety Awareness Week is June 20-26?
Other significant dates this month include: June 6 is National Yo-Yo Day, June 13 is National Juggling Day, June 14th is Flag Day, June 18 is International Picnic Day and Happy Fathers Day June 20 is Fathers Day. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day. It originated when the daughter of Henry J. Smart thought of the idea while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Looking back as an adult, Sonora Smart Dodd wanted to recognize her father for his selflessness and the sacrifices he had made, while raising his six children as a single parent. (Sonoras' mother had died while giving her birth.)
    Why not Surprise your Dad by printing a certificate called, Greatest Dad Award.
Do you know what the most famous "Dad Quote" is? ....... (click here) Go ask your mother !

"Blessed indeed is the man who hears a gentle voice call him father!"

June is also a time for home repair. Check out these helpful tips from Lezzer Lumber.

Repair a Toilet
Replacing Toilets
How-To Build a Deck
Installing Ceiling Fans
How to Maintain a Lawn
How to Replace Faucets
Laying Resilient Floor Tile
Repairing Faucets & Valves
How to Make Painting Easier
Applying and Repairing Shingles
How to Plan and Design A Kitchen
How-To Maintain Asphalt Driveways
Planning and Designing Your Bathroom
How to Correct Common Paint Problems
How to Repair and Install Electrical Switches

As always, your ideas & suggestions are always appreciated.
To read this online, Click here.
In case you missed last month's Newsletter, It's here.

C YA nEXT mONTH,
Ron

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.... The most wasted day of all ....
this is Carl

"is one in which we have not laughed."

53*... J-O-K-E of the M-O-N-T-H

A college professor, and known Atheist, was teaching his class. He shocked several of his students when he flatly stated he was going to prove there was no God. Addressing the ceiling he shouted: "God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you 15 minutes!" The lecture room fell silent. One could have heard a pin fall. Ten minutes went by. Again he taunted God, saying, "Here I am, God. I'm still waiting." His count-down got down to the last couple of minutes when a Marine - just released from active duty and newly registered in the class - walked up to the professor, hit him full force in the face, and sent him tumbling from his lofty platform. The professor was out cold! At first, the students were shocked and babbled in confusion. The young Marine took a seat in the front row and sat silent. The class fell silent...waiting. Eventually, the professor came to, a bit shaken. He looked at the young Marine in the front row. When the professor regained his senses and could speak he asked: "What's the matter with you? Why did you do that?"
"God was busy. He sent me."

Thunderstorm season is here!
How much do you know about Lightning?

How can you tell how far away lightning is? According to National lightning safety experts, It takes five seconds for sound to travel one mile. When you see a flash, count the number of seconds between it and until you hear the thunder and then divide by five to get the number of miles between the lightning and you. Now, for your Test. How do you answer these True or False statements....pencils ready?

A few people die every year from lightning while talking on the phone.
Wait at least 30 minutes after seeing the last lightning or hearing the last thunder before resuming outside activities.
Rubber soles on shoes offer no protection from lightning.
Stop playing video games connected to your TV during thunderstorms.
It's safer to use cell phones or cordless phones during a thunderstorm.
Sinks, showers, tubs, and toilets can conduct electricity from lightning strikes from outside your home to you.
You should Unplug your home electronics before thunderstorms arrive.
Unplugging your pc is not enough, you should also disconnect your modem.
If you count 30 seconds or less from when you see lightning to when you hear thunder, it's already too late to unplug your home electronics.
People have been electrocuted while unplugging their electronics during thunderstorms.

Pencils down! According to Lightningstorm.com,
THE ANSWERS ARE........ (click here) They're all True.

Lightning is the most dangerous and frequently encountered weather hazard that most people experience each year. It is the second most frequent killer in the United States with nearly 100 deaths and 500 injuries each year. (Floods are the number one cause of weather related deaths in the US.)

For more information, check out these weather related links:

Lightning Activity Map

Facts About Lightning

Lightning Information for Kid's

Lightning Video Clips

Interactive Weather Information

Explanation of Lightning

Current Severe Storm Watch

Survivors of Lightning Strikes

Kids Survivor Stories

Drought Information Center

NOAA's Tornado Center

Tornado Questions Answered

National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Safety Guide

More Hurricane Links

Camping Safety -Thunderstorms

About Flash Floods

NOAA Storm Center Watch

Have you ever wondered? - Is marine life killed or injured when lightning strikes in an ocean? - How does lightning form? - How far can lightning travel? - What causes thunder? - Do people who are struck by lightning carry an electrical charge? - Where in the United States does the most lightning occur? - Find the answers to these and more FAQ on lightning, here.

News You May Not Have Heard:

53* news from Microsoft.. Microsoft Extends Product Support
Microsoft has announced an expanded and enhanced product support lifecycle policy, which will go into effect on June 1, 2004. The updated policy will provide customers with a minimum total of 10 years of support (5 years Mainstream and 5 years Extended) for Business and Developer products. read more.

53* and... Don't go phishing!...
A recent study indicates that online scams known as "phishing" attacks are on the rise. You've seen them - online scams aimed at getting you to divulge your credit card number or other sensitive information. They often come in the form of an e-mail message purporting to be from Citibank, PayPal, eBay or some other legitimate site that processes financial transactions. The message directs you to a URL that displays a Web page similar in appearance to those of the legitimate site, instructing you to fill in your personal information for "verification." Often the message will threaten that you won't be able to use your account until you complete this process. However, the message and Web site are really the work of "phishers" who are out to steal your account information and use it to their own benefit. Don't get caught in their 'Net'! Read more about it at Computer World.

53* from the "Did I Download That," department... Avoid IM Attacks
Most folks are aware that e-mail messages can contain dangerous code, but some attackers are now using Instant Messaging to spread their viruses and attack our computers. Although it's relatively easy to protect yourself from IM attacks because most require that you click a link or open a file, they are able to propagate because so many people aren't as cautious with IM communications due to their informal nature. Symantec reported that IM and P2P attacks increased by 400% from 2002 to 2003.One example was the Osama Found game, which circulated rapidly via AIM earlier this year. It spread by sending a link to AIM users, inviting them to download a game in which they could pretend to catch Bin Laden. Users who clicked got the game--as well as BuddyLinks, a program that grabbed all of the user's IM contacts and sent them the same message. To prevent infection, keep your IM client updated and follow these tips from PC World. For news on other threats, see antivirus.about.com.

53* Tips For Safe Online Chatting ...
Chat rooms are a great place to meet people and make friends. But at the same time they can play host to unsavory elements that you don't want your kids exposed to. Fortunately with a little bit of caution and common sense chat rooms can be a safe and rewarding experience. These ten tips for safe chatting will help you and your kids make the right decisions online. A Grown-Up's Guide to Instant Messaging, along with some commonsense advice on how to safeguard your privacy and security while you're using them, can be had at this article.

53* and from the "You've Got Gmail" department.... Never Delete Email Again ...
Google, currently the most popular search engine, and those in the industry have been raving about the new Gmail service, a free Web-based e-mail service. Its distinguishing characteristic is the large amount of storage space - a full gigabyte - that users get with their accounts. The idea is to never have to delete mail you want to keep. You can also use Google search to find your messages. The program is in beta testing now, but you can read more about it here. Gmail is free because its costs are covered by advertising. Ads appear on the right side of Gmail's viewing window and change based on the content of the e-mail being read at the time. No humans � except for the sender and recipient, of course � read the users' e-mail. The text is scanned by a computer, which finds key words and displays advertisements associated with them. However, No ads are imbedded in the e-mails you send from Gmail to others. However, there is some concern about Gmail among privacy advocates, who worry about confidentiality.

53* Latest Trojan Disables Computers on the 19th
The BAT.Sebak Trojan horse, discovered recently, attacks Windows 9x/ME computers and disables the computer if the system clock indicates that it is the 19th day of the month, 19th hour of the day, 19th minute of the hour or 19th second of the minute. Ouch! Luckily, XP machines are not affected (nor are NT and 2000 systems), but if you're still running a 9x-based OS on any of your computers, -look out for this one. More information specific to the Sebak Trojan horse can be had at Symantec Security Response. For the latest information on all the current virus threats, hoaxes, removal tools, a glossary and more...see the Symantec home page.

53* from the "Hey...Nice Car, Man! dept....a Car Club with 1 million members ... According to CarDomain.com, They have the largest online community of car and truck enthusiast homepages! From sport compacts to hot rods and from lowriders to 4x4s, they also have thousands of pictures of them all. Check em out.

Note: Web links herein were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For assistance on expired links, try Googling the subject.

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