Lundy Says-Amusing Info from Lundy Wilder

ASHINGTON (AP) - The parasitic dodder plant doesn't have a nose, but it knows how to sniff out its prey. The dodder attacks such plants as tomatoes, carrots, onions, citrus trees, cranberries, alfalfa and even flowers, and is a problem for farmers. So discovering how it finds its prey might help lead to a way to block the weed, or for crops to defend themselves, say researchers at Pennsylvania State University. Many thought it simply grew in a random direction, with discovery of a plant to attack being a chance encounter. But the researchers found that if they placed tomato plants near a germinating dodder, the parasite headed for the tomato 80 percent of the time. And when they put scent chemicals from a tomato on rubber, 73 percent of the dodder seedlings headed that way. Co-author Mark C. Mescher added, "One of the interesting things we found was that the plants make choices." When they gave the dodder seedlings a choice between a tomato plant and a wheat plant, they ...

From Slashdot: " A traveler frustrated with recent changes to airport security procedures found himself detained in Milwaukee after writing a message critical of the TSA's leader on a plastic bag presented for screening. The message, which read "Kip Hawley is an Idiot," resulted in a confrontation with law enforcement, the traveler being told that his right to freedom of speech applied only "out there (pointing past the id checkers) not while in here [the checkpoint]." The story, which is detailed in a rapidly-growing thread on a discussion forum catering to frequent flyers, has attracted the interest of the ACLU, an AP reporter, and many others. The incident raises a number of interesting questions and concerns regarding just where our rights end."

I drove to Memphis on Sunday. Made it in 7 and one half hours. I arrived to some lovely weather and it is a good thingh since the A/C for the upstairs in my parents house is out. I opened the windows and it has been cool enuf outside for a perfect temp upstairs. I think the A/C is out in the guesthouse too. I have been keeping the doors open in there and it is musty and needs some fresh air anyway. I am on dial-up here and it is so slow. Plus, the phone jacks are in odd places, so I am having to sit on the floor in the upstairs hall w/ my itty bitty laptop perched on an empty box beteween my legs and the mini-mouse on the rug beside it. Not too comfortible, so mostly I justy ck email and do minimum computer time. I am rather slow going thru these packed put boxes of Miller's belongings. I have found all sortsd of electronic stuff. Some I can't figure out whast it is or does. I have one Uniden device that has a screen and clips on a belt loop it looks like and has a speaker....s...

BOSTON (Reuters) - Graduate business students in the United States and Canada are more likely to cheat on their work than their counterparts in other academic fields, the author of a research paper said on Wednesday. The study of 5,300 graduate students in the United States and Canada found that 56 percent of graduate business students admitted to cheating in the past year, with many saying they cheated because they believed it was an accepted practice in business.

Ethiopian scientists unveiled on Wednesday a 3.3 million-year-old fossil of a girl, which they believe is the most complete hominid skeleton ever found. The fossil including an entire skull, torso, shoulder blade and various limbs was discovered at Dikaka, some 400 kms northeast of the capital Addis Ababa near the Awash river in the Rift Valley. The scientists think the fossil was older than the 3.2 million year old remains of "Lucy" discovered in 1974, and described by scientists as one of the world's greatest archaeological finds. More photos

Very busy day today. Had a meeting with the new owners of Baby Beach Rentals. One day last week, they emailed me and said they were thinking about buying an additional domain and have it re-direct to their main domain. They mentioned maybe registering it with GoDaddy. I told them that the domain they had in mind was be a good idea since it is an easy 'type-in' domain but I told them I'd recommend that they not use GoDaddy. Too late. I get an email a day or two later that said they had used the GoDaddy site to check to see if the domain they wanted was available (it was) and went back a day or two later and low-and-behold some offshore domain holding co had scarfed it up immediately and it was registered thru a Belgium registrar. This is a domain that is a combo of 3 words and unlikely to be registered by anyone except people watching at GoDaddy to see what other people search for. Second time this has happened to people I know. First time was last year to a doctor I know w...

Ever wondered where the last 20 or so Lundy Says visitors come from. See the map, from about 9 p.m. Wed night.

A misplaced comma in the list of ingredients gives diners a totally different dish -- and gives British writer Lynne Truss new ammunition in her campaign for the proper use of punctuation. "Goats Cheese Salad ... tomatoes, onions, goats, cheese." The author, who was totally stunned when her book on punctuation "Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation" became a British and U.S. hit, has set up a Web site ( www.lynnetruss.com ) that is collecting funny examples of wrongly used commas and apostrophes such as the above example. Whole article

Porcelain is strong. I remember going into Robert Crump's Hancock House in Memphis, w/ Momma before I married, looking at china. Robert Crump picked up a piece of Haviland and began banging the edge of the dinner plate on the counter to show us how strong it was. We were impressed as I recall. Now the Wm. Ashley store is making the same point. This display features a bright green Lamborghini Gallardo balanced atop four teacups in front of the William Ashley store in Toronto to promote a contest for a set of fine China - the very same China supporting the 3,153-lb. vehicle.

From a rocker's at Japan's FujiFest blog and the official site: "The Grand Speigeltent is truly awesome and has to be seen to be believed. There are only a few of these left in the world. All-wood interior and a bar called "Black Velvet," named after one of its signature drinks: a cocktail of champagne and Guiness. Her spacious dance-floor, vast stage and comfortable bar, surrounded by romantic booths, suit her perfectly for a wide range of activities. The lustrous style and atmosphere of the Grand Spiegeltent stand for a true, nostalgic experience." 3 days to construct / 2 days to take down. 10 men. Arrives in 2 containers that weight aprox 30 tons each. I think its home is the Netherlands.

One and a half pounds get a 'citation' ???? In other areas that would get you an 'intent to sell' or something. Guess they figure W.N. doesn't need the money so no intent to sell. LAFAYETTE, Louisiana (AP) -- Willie Nelson and four others were issued misdemeanor citations for possession of narcotic mushrooms and marijuana after a traffic stop Monday morning on a Louisiana highway, state police said. The citations were issued after a commercial vehicle inspection of the country music star's tour bus, state police said in a news release. "When the door was opened and the trooper began to speak to the driver, he smelled the strong odor of marijuana," the news release said. A search of the bus produced 1 1/2 pounds of marijuana and 0.2 pounds of narcotic mushrooms, according to state police.

About last Thursday I mailed 2 heavy-ish scrapbooking idea books to a lady in England who had emailed me to report copyright infringement info about my graphics on a commercial CD for sale there. T he lady at the post office here kept arguing w/ me about surely I didn't want to send them surface, it would take 2 months to get there. I told her over and over, yes I did , as the other options cost about 20 times as much and there was no rush. I had told the lady in the UK that they would arrive surface 'one of these days'. But it appears that the USPS delivered them by air ANYWAY ! I just got a 'thank you' email from the reciepent. What a bargain for me !

For video telecasting and web conferences.....for talking heads The Businessbib allows you to look perfectly put-together in a fraction of the time it takes to boot your computer. You can work from home in your underwear while presenting a polished appearance to the people that matter most. Using a simple abbreviated design of the traditional business suit eliminates the time and effort that goes into primping for more formal meetings. It frees your time and allows you to continue uninterrupted with your casual lifestyle. Split down the back w/ Velcro.

When moviemakers told Gallatin, Tennessee, (near Nashville) Mayor Don Wright they wanted to use his office to film a scene with a superheroine, he kindly obliged. But Wright was startled when the movie's title, "Thong Girl 3," and his role in its making was splashed across the front page of Friday's editions of the Nashville Tennessean newspaper. "I had no idea what the movie was about," Wright said on Friday. "They told me it was about a superhero woman and there was no nudity or offensive stuff in it. Other than that, I really didn't have a clue." According to the Thong Girl Web site , heroine Lana Layonme wears a red thong under a cape as she flies over Nashville repelling a villain who is trying to turn country music performers into rappers. The movie is the third in a series released only on DVD. Sounds like a MUST SEE ! Watch the Thong Girl II Trailer on YouTube. (harmless & nutty)

I am sure you have gotten numerous versions of the Nigerian scam letter. Well, now you too can get in on the action. you can quickly generate scam letter's with your victim's last name in the critical parts. I remember way back in the early days of the Internet, a writer for one of the techie magazines actually replied and corresponded with the sender of a similar letter. He went so far as to fly into some island country and arrange a meeting. As I recall, the adventure took several twists and turns in different countries, but in the end, the reporter did not ever actually get to give the scam artists his money.

There are few blogs that I read every post, but Shoemoney is one that I do. Jeremy Shoemaker lives in Nebraska and spells like Miller did. (And is about Miller's age) He is an extremely successful web money-making guy. Schoemaker has embraced the mantra, “prioritize potentially profitable projects.” He is constantly generating new ideas for sites, programs and marketing, channeling energy into those that truly have the potential for long-term traffic and revenue. Anyway--I was just reading his list of 10 big flop ideas, some he spent time and money on. I think this one is so funny it is worth repeating: 1. - SchoeMoney Petroleum Company - (I cant believe im actually telling these in public) Ok Follow me here -I want to purchase a Gas Station and Give away Free Gas The catch is like the gas would come out really slow and also you would be limited as to how much you could get per week. (Like max 50 gallons a week). How do I make money ? EASY - I would setup paintball guns around the...

After reading this today: BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- A series of bomb blasts ripped through three department stores Saturday night in Thailand's restive south, killing four and wounding dozens more, a local television station said. The attacks came just hours after the military staged a peace rally in the south, the site of a Muslim insurgency, where it expressed hope that people would work with authorities to end the violence. I am wondering if we could make a list of Muslim-free countries.

Just eat a 3 inch long live Madagascar cockroach. During the first weekend of its annual Halloween festival, Six Flags Over Texas will let guests skip to the front of the Titan roller coaster line if they eat a live cockroach. A live, wingless, 3-inch long Madagascar hissing cockroach that can run at 3 mph. Chew and swallow one of these crunchy, wiggling critters and Six Flags will also give you a Flash Pass for the evening that will let you bypass the line on many thrill rides.

Heather has done a great job of the free printable 2007 calendar we just added to Tom Stanton's site. We will be adding text to the page and some photos of assembly. All the photos are ones I took of areas in and around Gulf Shores.

An ancient slab of green stone inscribed with insects, ears of corn, fish and other symbols is indecipherable so far, but one message is clear: It is the earliest known writing in the Western Hemisphere. The ancient Olmec civilization probably produced the faintly etched symbols around 900 B.C., or roughly three centuries before what previously had been proposed as the earliest examples of writing in the Americas. The text contains 28 distinct glyphs or symbols, some of which are repeated three and four times. The writing system does not appear to be linked to any known later scripts and may represent a dead end, according to the study.

The cable company from hell. I have probably spent 30 hours either on hold or talking to the tech support guys in Gulf Breeze since August 2nd. My televesion is unwatchable and my internet access goes on and off (mostly off) repeatedly all day and night. I have had repair work scheduled something like 8 times and all have been no-shows. I wish I had documented every phone call, etc...and I could go before the Alabama Public Service Commission. I realize tha the hurricanes have given them a hard way to go. But, it is a year past Katrina, 2 years past Ivan for goodness sakes. I was very sympathetic post hurricane, the clean up all up and down the shore resulted in repeated cuts in the lines, but what I can't understand is the scheduled appointments and being stood up with no explaination. I have DSL in addition to cable Internet, so I am not paralyzed, but I have things set up in a way that certain computers are on cable and others on DSL. If I don't continue to insist that they ...

Play. Create your own abstract painting. Mr. Picasso Head

Incredible website ...ck it out....move the cursor around everything. In an incredible twist of fate, a Scottish doctor (James McAvoy) on a Ugandan medical mission becomes irreversibly entangled with one of the world's most barbaric figures: Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker). Impressed by Dr. Garrigan's brazen attitude in a moment of crisis, the newly self-appointed Ugandan President Amin hand picks him as his personal physician and closest confidante. Though Garrigan is at first flattered and fascinated by his new position, he soon awakens to Amin's savagery - and his own complicity in it. Horror and betrayal ensue as Garrigan tries to right his wrongs and escape Uganda alive.

Kenyan followers of a U.S.-based religious sect which predicted the world would end after a September 12 outbreak of nuclear war moved into bunkers on Wednesday despite the failure of their prediction. Dozens of members of the House of Yahweh -- dressed in gas masks, gloves and long overcoats -- have built a network of underground hideouts in the small highland village of Mauche. They have stocked the bunkers with dried fermented flour meant to feed them for a year, by which time sinners would have been wiped off the Earth, according to their beliefs. "We shall stay in the bunkers for a period of one year." According to Sang, a nuclear war between the United States and North Korea only failed to kick off Tuesday as expected due to difference in international time zones. "Members of our sect who are in the U.S. will not be affected as they are protected by Yahweh," Sang added. According to its web site www.yahweh.com, the group was founded in Abilene, Texas. Read...

Really cute SHORT video. Monkey protecting a kitten.

How to Dissuade Yourself from Becoming a Blogger Example text : Find five completely random blogs, and read them daily for a month. After thirty days, you will absolutely dread your self-imposed requirement to read all that dreck. Any blog you create will most likely be on par with what you've been reading. Don't put anyone through that.

1979 Frederic changed the Gulf Coast forever .... 27 years ago today. Hurricane Rag Composer/Lyricist: by Frederic k G. Johnson. Publication: Chicago : Harold Rossiter Music Co., c1911.

In fact, after swallowing a pregnant sheep, it couldn't move at all. Firemen in the Malaysian village of Kampung Jabor, about 190km east of Kuala Lumpur, easily caught it after it was spotted on a road. Conservationists were yesterday still deciding whether to keep the 90kg snake in a zoo or release it back into the wild. Pythons eat no more than once a week but when they open their incredible hinged jaws, anything is fair game. This 5.5m python found its eyes were definitely bigger than its belly. In July surgeons were forced to operate on a 4m Burmese python after it inadvertently swallowed a queen-size electric blanket. Humans also have become victims. In 1972 a python in Burma swallowed an eight-year-old boy. But sometimes their food really doesn't agree with them. In October last year, a 3.6m python came off second best in Everglades National Park in Florida. The snake, which tried to swallow a 1.8m alligator whole, exploded, said scientists who found the gory remains.

Some REAL talent....a Japanese fellow won. Gotta see it and have your speakers on.

* * * Unbelievable--- The world is a wicked place. Watch this Video

The $55m estate of Timothy Olufemi Akanni came to the attention of the authorities after his two widows rowed about who should inherit it. Akanni's fortune only came to light after his death in a plane crash. Nigeria's anti-corruption body has made its largest single seizure of illegally acquired assets belonging to a dead electoral official and pastor. It was only after his death in a plane crash last October that it was discovered he had a secret second wife. The ex-electoral commission director's assets now pass to the state. The BBC's Sola Odunfa in Lagos says the forfeited assets include 23 bank accounts in various names; shares in leading Nigerian banks; houses and land in the most sought-after parts of Lagos and Abuja; schools in Abuja and a variety of motor vehicles. Mr Akanni, who was a Pentecostal Church pastor in Abuja, was eulogised at his death for being a patriotic and selfless Nigerian. Read More

Not a Joke ! Wine made from Army Worms ....aka Caterpillers. Ray Reigstad, a 36 year old Northlander living in Duluth Minnesota, got the idea for Army Worm Wine from a co-worker whose grandfather used to make it back in the day. Four local wine connoisseurs invited to taste the wine described it as dry, pale and crisp. They compared it to a pinot grigio or white bordeaux. The comparison came before they were told exactly what went into the wine. Afterward, they joked that it was the best insect wine they've ever tasted.

For twenty years, Robert Shields of Dayton, Washington , has kept a written record of absolutely everything that has happened to him, day and night.

A typical Capsule Hotel is composed of two major sections; a public lounge space including bathing, and the other is a private space where the sleeping rooms (capsules) are arranged. The actual sleeping room is a capsule unit made of reinforced plastic and designed in the image of a jet airplane's cockpit. In the capsule unit, all the required amenities are provided; TV, radio, alarm clock, adjustable lighting... almost everything is provided! Every device is within your reach and you can control everything in a sleeping position. See a Capsule Hotel in Tokyo Obviously not for honeymoon trips.

Arthur Schiff Dies - Copywriter Behind Ginsu Knives Direct Magazine comments: "If there is an afterlife and any cosmic justice, the first words Arthur Schiff heard when he died were: 'But Wait! There's More!'"

Just found a great streamlined free ad-supported site that will let me upload large files that they will store for 7 days to allow someone else to download it. This was perfect timing as I have a bunch of large (graphics in bitmap) zip files to get to someone in Moscow, Russia. They will store files as large as 100 MB and you can opt for notification when the files are downloaded. You can review the history of your account too. www.DropLoad.com Also Get 1GB of free space on eSnips.com

Look who also drives a VW Thing. Allan L. sent me this YouTube link. Allen writes: Look who's driving a Thing. The name of the song is "Fruitcakes" about people being different and crazy. YOU have a Thing. Coincidence? I think not. WELLLLLLL.......

I photographed this small weeping shrub in Pensacola in a front yard. The purple flowers and orange berries were present at the same time on this georgous plant. The same yard had some of the same species but with white flowers that were not nearly as vibrant. It looked great in spite of a very dry summer and it is planted close to salt water. I have been doing online searches trying to identify this plant to no avail. Click to see big photo

Martin Choate sent me this great YouTube video about the Mayor of Memphis. If you are unfamiliar w/ this man and crooked Memphis politics, just think: Marion Berry I notice that Paul Shanklin is part of the team that made this video. Paul lives in Memphis and is the world famous voice and songwriter from the Rush Limbaugh radio parody songs. Paul is very talented. I used to live across the street from his brother. For reference, Mike Flemming (mentioned in the song) is a popular talk radio show host in Memphis.

Check your local produce dept for the fabulous, big commercially grown muscadines from Georgia. They are so sweet and HUGE. Ours are about 4 or 5 bucks a big clear plastic box. Eat them skin and all, but remove the seeds w/ your tongue...they are bitter. Throw them in your yard near a fence or tree, maybe you'll get your own muscadine vine.

Oil lamp casts interesting shadows, many different themes. UNICA

My sister Cary reports that when she puts scotch tape on her fresh mosquito bites that they disappear almost immediately. Mine disappear almost immediately anyway, with no treatment of any kind, so I can't test this. Maybe you can. Cary says that ordinarily "my bites last about 3 days at least usually- itching all the way" Try this yourself and post comments please. We may be 'onto something'

Soles for Souls Soles4Souls.org has a simple mission: To impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes.

Is YouTube eating up too much of your day ? Try One Minute Films from around the world , vote on your favorites.

Through a fabulous fluke in 1958, 16 year old Jeffrey Metzner was hired by a big time ad agency while he was still in high school. Here he learned the many skills of the commercial artist from some of the most talented studio artists of the time. This idea came about when Jeffrey and his grandson Orion were spending the afternoon together on the front porch. Orion said, “Gramps, did you know that I am taking art classes and that I like art a lot...and I know a lot about art, too?!” Metzner responded by quickly drawing a stick figure image and asked, “OK, wise guy, what’s this?” “Gramps, that’s too easy,” Orion said, “That’s the Mona Lisa!” Metzner tested Orion with a few more and Orion tried a couple of his own, and before long the family got involved and everyone was hooked. STICK: GREAT MOMENTS IN ART, HISTORY, FILM, AND MORE is a book for art lovers, film buffs, and anyone who appreciates the irony of art in its simplest form: stick.

The 2 photos were taken at Volkswagen's new storage facility in Wolfsburg, Germany. The actual space that the facility occupies is approximately only 20% of a comparable facility with the traditional design that is used primarily in the US. Not only is the German structure less expensive to build, but vehicles are also "retrieved" in less time and without the potential of being damaged by an attendant. Collecting your new car is an event in itself. "In a fully automated procedure, your new car is brought down to you from one of the 20-story Car Towers. Large signboards in the Customer Center show you when your turn has come. Then, you're handed the keys, your picture is taken, the glass doors open and your brand-new car appears. You're all set to go".

eBay Promotion Technique

Sturdy stools made by folding one sheet of cardboard. One could sit on these stools while sturdying for school.

Certain HP digital cameras now subtract 10 lbs or more off your photo's subjects. You'll become everyone's favorite photographer ! Read More.

Peace Fleece A yarn company committed to helping historic enemies cooperate and prosper through trade. Peace Fleece offers knitting yarn made from a blend of Romanian/American, Israeli and Palestinian wools as well as felting supplies, batts for quilters, handpainted knitting needles and wooden buttons, patterns, knitting and felting kits and roving for hand spinners.

Mahar Drygoods Interesting stuff for kids made by designers and craftsmen

Cut and sewn from two layers of industrial wool felt made from factory excess in the San Francisco area. CONPHORM

http://www.shirtsandladders.com

Always wanted a tattoo but afraid of what your boss will say? Thanks to a fascinating new technique you can cover yourself in body art and no one will be the wiser – unless they see you in the dark, which is the only time these tattoos are visible. The new technique uses blacklight reactive ink, which is reactive to UV light. It’s kinda freaky but imagine the fun you could have after dark. Really how safe is Chameleon Blacklight Tattoo Ink? Given its extensive testing of FDA approval, with absolutely no adverse reactions to it in over ten years, it is all in the proof, this ink is most likely the safest ink on the market. Hmmmm........

I had a very pleasant birthday and thanks all out-of-towners for the cheerful cards & emails. My birthday was low-key. Not many people down here knew it was my birthday, as in one. He figured it out on his own, Skip C. who took me sailing and made me a great custom B'day CD. He keeps his boat over in P'cola. It has living quarters and a great music system. Then on my actual B'day I went out to dinner & watched a movie with Glenn P., but he didn't know it was my B'day till later and I told him. Now I am officially a year older--yipee. Right . It is still bone dry here. We have had the driest year most people can remember. The pop-up showers sometimes drench downtown Gulf Shores and miss us totally. That has pretty much been the case all year. My great Hardwood Drive neighbor, Charles C. mowed all (both houses) my grass again for me and even edged as he always does. What a sweetie. Not a whole lot of news down here. I am still doing things to get ready for t...

Bathtub and Shower TV.

Get it all in PURPLE.

Call your PetPhone and it dumps down the food for your pet while you are out.

Have you ever wondered what you might look like as a beautiful model or magazine cover girl? Now you can! HeTurnedShe combines fantasy with reality to create results that just can’t be found other places. HeTurnedShe uses a process that is "virtual" which means no physical changes are actually made. Years have been spent studying feminine facial features and characteristics to create a high-quality makeover technique, turning he into she! HeTurnedShe makeovers are carefully crafted using a proven hands-on digital technique that works specifically with your facial features. Is this some kind of joke? No! This service is very real and is carried out by a professional graphic designer. Only serious individuals should apply. Looks like some transformations are more successful than others.

GulfTel Bandwidth SpeedTest Results Curious about your connection speed? Click 'Run Speed Test Again' on the above page. FYI., I am getting 6,920 Kbps on Gulftel DSL and 4,739 on MediaCom cable

My Momma and Daddy have made the decision to buy a home in The Village at Germantown, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) . My sister Cary, and her husband, Herbert drove to Memphis from Knoxville to spend a few days and help Momma clean out a big closet. While they were there, I think I have this straight, Herbert and Momma went back over to the retirement complex to reconsider that option. A while back, Cary, Lisa and I all got Momma to go look at the model house that they had on display while this brand new facility was under construction. It is really suppose to be a first class operation. Momma and Daddy will have a 3 BdRm free-standing home (one of 28) in the complex that has multiple restaurants, apartments, a beauty parlor, a movie theater, a health care clinic and an Alzheimers unit amongst many other amenities. Before they make this move, Momma wants hardwood floors added in the bedrooms and built-in bookcases built. They are also going to convert a ...