sandrewn

"While the word is yet unspoken, you are the master of it; when once it is spoken, it is the master of you. " (Arabic proverb) sandrewn (oh so true)

I want to keep this thread going. I have always been interested / fascinated / scared of snakes and did not even know what a Caecilian was, let alone how to spell it. I think everyone who has ever heard a snakes' rattle, has wondered how they do it? This father and son had the same question and this is what they found out. sandrewn (the sound of a rattle always got my full attention)

So, just how strong is Oobleck? (My question is, what the hell is Oobleck?) sandrewn (I did not know any of this)

Two Christmases have past since this chapter was posted. Time has stood still for me and I enjoyed it as much if not more so than I would have all that time ago. I just knew that (as is your habit) we would loose another midshipman. Sorry as I am for it, your choice of who, was a an appropriate one. I do hope one was enough and that Mister Eastwyck will recover, I like him. I liked the way you inserted Donegal into their table talk as more background filler. I wonder if the claws will come out when the two Ladies meet. Wondering how the Granger/Nelson talk will go reference Lady Hamilton. I know how real history played out, but that has never really stopped you before. I look forward to the next chapter. Thank you sandrewn

On some of my wanderings around parts of the world I noticed the following. In Europe, chess seemed the most popular. In the Middle East, it was backgammon and chess. Though many people every where I went had heard of or played monopoly at some point in their lives. 80 enterprising facts you may not know about Monopoly http://mashable.com/2015/01/21/monopoly-facts/#6X.cAMbQ7gqK sandrewn (I found this very interesting)

Life isn't always what it appears to be. Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, he turned into a butterfly.

You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it. -Margaret Thatcher

Just an update!!! Mark, you have just announced the beginning of the end oh so casually, by stating that the last one and a half chapters are in editing. Holy Crap!!!!! Okay, I have calmed down somewhat and my breathing is almost back to normal. The mature me knows that it was coming. The zombie follower me just wanted more, more and more. All good things come to an end, sadly even our beloved Grangers' latest adventure. You are a master story teller Mark and from somewhere out there, HMS Valiant will yet sail back into our lives. Bring on the end Sir, so that we may sing, dance and make merry until sleep takes us. Then when comes the morning after, I and my mates will climb to the lookout on the highest of hills and patiently await for a glimpse of your next offering(book 8, fingers crossed). Fair Winds and Following Seas sandrewn

The Longest Hiccup Fit It was Charles Osborne of Iowa and it lasted for 68 years. http://thelongestlistofthelongeststuffatthelongestdomainnameatlonglast.com/long44.html As for Pope Pius XII, in this video I found of his last years, the hiccups are mentioned(8:23 min). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3PR1_vb4To sandrewn (learning something knew every day)

You are a man of few words (and posts). I hope we get to hear more from you from now on. That first post was the hardest. If not, that's okay too. I join with the others in wishing that you... Kichaku have a really Happy Birthday!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbt974GsXBs sandrewn

On this your special day, I would add my hope that today be a great one for you. Wishing that you... JayT have a Very Happy Birthday!!! sandrewn

The truth about Niagara Falls freezing over. I, like droughtquake assumed frozen over completely and not frozen completely solid, an entirely different situation. The points Valkyrie made were also true. The 1848 event referred to was that the river flow was stopped, due to an ice jam. I choose to think of the trickle as with any dam that leaks a bit(not a lot!!!). The following are articles I found on the subject. http://www.brighthubeducation.com/help-with-geography/89334-niagara-falls-great-freeze/ http://www.alearned.com/niagara-falls/ http://www.answers.com/Q/Why_did_Niagara_Falls_freeze_in_1932_and_1911 https://www.reference.com/history/cold-niagara-falls-froze-1932-8809daab51b532a8 sandrewn

If you want someone who will listen to you every time, do everything you tell them to do and always be there for you for better or for worse, get a dog. -Anonymous sandrewn (a fact of life)

Let me repeat myself. Click on the following to see the answer to your question. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadezhda_(cockroach) If droughtquake is your actual name, you have my sympathies. Mine is a combination of all of my names. Everything in my stats is true. Your assumption was wrong. Have a nice day sandrewn

I have seen and heard of some mighty strange things in my life, but this one might take the cake. There are over Seven Billion People on this World of Ours!! To Know That a Named Cockroach has its own Wikipedia Page Simply Bloody Amazing!!!! I present to you Nadezhda https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadezhda_(cockroach) Now it seems that she has founded a Dynasty Spaceroach Birthdays A "pet project" of Russian space scientists has recently experienced the joys of motherhood. Born in space, 30 cockroaches (dubbed spaceroaches) spent 12 days in orbit before returning to earth. The roach babies are descendants of grandmother cockroach Nadezhda (meaning "hope, and is actually the original derivative of my name, Nadia. Guess I should be flattered.). The first in history to be conceived in space, in an orbiting laboratory named Foton-M, Nadezhda's children, despite maturing at a faster rate than normal, created spaceroaches that show no "freak" characteristics. Obviously being stuck in orbit must be romantic, experiencing weightlessness as you slightly escape the pull of earth's gravity, constantly falling around the earth, and the earth tugging down at your spacecraft. Read the rest of the post . . . sandrewn who needs Ripley's Believe it or not)

Probably as much(if not more) as those who thought the election was a slam dunk.

How do Whales and Dolphins sleep without drowning? Baby Under Tow Napping https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-whales-and-dolphin/ sandrewn (important life lessons)

Up close and personal Photographer Muhammad Roem has some really amazing image captures. A penny for your thoughts http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38388182?intlink_from_url=http://www.bbc.com/news/topics/14745d1f-885d-4b9f-b28a-24540e7beb15/animals&link_location=live-reporting-story Fascinating sandrewn

"When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the right things a chance to catch you." -Lolly Daskal sandrewn

Sumo - a Traditional Japanese Martial Art http://www.japanesesearch.com/sumo-traditional-japanese-martial-art/ I really think that if they(Japan) had attended all the games(5) from 1900 to 1920. Participated in all the Tug-of-Wars. That they would have swept the field and won all the medals for that event, each time. That's what I believe, anyways. sandrewn

Some of this stuff is just plain scary. http://www.thoughtpursuits.com/20-practical-uses-coca-cola-proof-coke-belong-human-body/ sandrewn (I still drink it)

All those before me have said it in so many ways. My wish to you is the same, times ten. A member, then author and finally administrator, as you step down, know that you made a difference here at GA and a better place. All those that matter, know and wish you the best, they like you are the life, blood and spirit that makes GA what it is. The ever silent thousands of others, just fill in the site numbers total. I hope that on your page you put back up for your group title Author. For you will always be a GA Author, now and forever more. Lastly, I hope and pray that you find what you are looking for, as you step forward, looking forward to what ever may come your way. Carpe diem sandrewn

I think that if we had too pay extra to see the original Star Trek, that the Trek world as we know it would not now exist. It was the ability for anyone(everyone) with a TV to see it that made it what is was and still is. I for one will not pay extra to see this latest adventure. sandrewn (beam me up, Scotty)

Vending Machines, the untold story. Will You Win Powerball? A Vending Machine Death Is More LikelyBy Sara G. Miller, Staff Writer | January 12, 2016 12:56pm ET Updated January 13th at 10:00 am. The winner of this Wednesday's Powerball drawing is poised to collect a staggering $1.5 billion (before taxes). But with the discouraging odds of 1 in 292.2 million, it's extremely unlikely that you'll find yourself with the winning ticket. In fact, you're more likely to die from a vending-machine-related accident than to draw the lucky number. (The odds of dying from a vending-machine-related accident are 1 in 112 million, according to "The Book of Odds" by Amram Shapiro. Here's a roundup of scenarios that statistics predict are more likely than winning this Wednesday's Powerball: droughtquake - even I think this one is going to far: http://time.com/62027/marijuana-vending-machine-unveiled-in-colorado/ SolarMaxx & Zarek - shaking and tilting is the main culprit: Vending Machine AccidentsMost of us have relied on a vending machine for a snack or a drink at one point in our lives. The convenience and relative cost-effectiveness of vending machines make them a valuable addition to most school, offices, and public areas. However, despite the convenience of these machines, they are notorious for some of the problems they exhibit—especially in dispensing, or not dispensing, a person’s chosen snack. Many people, moved to frustration by this, will attempt to shake their snack free by either reaching an arm up into the machine or by rocking the machine itself. Actions like these, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, have caused at least 37 deaths and 113 injuries since 1978. Vending machines are not secured to a wall or to the floor, and as such, they have a high chance of falling over when rocked or tilted by a patron. Nevertheless, despite growing awareness of some of the dangers posed by vending machines, vending machines have not been changed in terms of their design in an attempt to make them any safer or any less likely to tip over. However, since 1995, it has become standard for all vending machines to have a safety label on them warning customers of the dangers of lifting, tilting, or rocking the machine. http://cmuems.com/2013/a/kristina/09/05/fatalities-caused-by-vending-machines-take-heed/ Soda Pop Vending Machine Injuries Michael Q. Cosio, MD Author Affiliations JAMA. 1988;260(18):2697-2699. doi:10.1001/jama.1988.03410180105039 Fifteen male patients, 15 to 24 years of age, sustained injuries after rocking soda machines. The machines fell onto the victims, resulting in a variety of injuries. Three were killed. The remaining 12 required hospitalization for their injuries. Unless changes are made to safeguard these machines, people will continue to suffer severe and possibly fatal injuries from what are largely preventable accidents. This last one is my favorite one. Some of the facts given could liven up (smiles) a fading party or dull diner table. https://healthebay.org/vending-machines-more-hazardous-than-sharks/ sandrewn

From today's status update, giraffes can't swim. One comment was, but they could wade. Yes they do cross rivers, but with reluctance. If they fall over, they must get up as quickly as possible. If not, death is almost certain. Being so tall in the animal world is not all it is cracked up to be. sandrewn (but their long blue tongue is way cool) I added this fantasy thanks to Williams quick searching for a bit of humor, thanks. sandrewn (Phelps take note)