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Today an old friend gave a heartfelt and genuine thank you to me for teaching him to juggle so many years ago. His words renewed my spirit and reminded me that I have made a difference in people’s lives.

This is a reprint of my comment under Glen Reynolds’ post on No Silence today.

It’s the New Madrid Fault Zone in Memphis that Knoxville (and everyone else) should be watching. In 1811, a major earthquake caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards and created Reelfoot Lake and rang church bells in Richmond, Virginia.

“The probability for an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or greater is significant in the near future, with a 50% chance by the year 2000 and a 90% chance by the year 2040. A quake with a magnitude equal to that of the 1811- 1812 quakes could result in great loss of life and property damage in the billions of dollars.”

With 10,000 New Orleans refugees in Memphis, it would not be without irony if Mother Nature decided now was the time.

“The next time the New Madrid Fault produces such a quake, it is estimated 60 percent of Memphis will be devastated, leaving $50 Billion in damage and thousands of dead in its wake.”

Knoxvillians should find this image of quakes between 1800 and 1983 intersesting. A Californian that I worked with once commented how lovely our brick structures were and what a shame it will be if an earthquake ever hits here implying that our fair city will be flattened.

It should be noted that good things come of bad. Reelfoot Lake is now habit to many bald eagles and a bird’s paradise.

Student: What is the most valuable knowledge you have gained?
Master: Speak only when spoken to.

Student: Sadness is contagious.
Master: So is happiness.

I read something today that really puts things into prespective. Katrina’s devastation is the size of Great Britain.

This Flash overview of Katrina by the New York Times is excellent!

I had the last of my Zipfizz today. I want to thank Shae for introducing me to the product. Yes, it gave me an energy boost without the lack of concentration that other products induce. I liked knowing I was getting vitamins back into my diet.

Unfortunately, I am just far too broke right now to be a regular customer. I could easily go through 60 tubes a month. Once finances have become more stable I’m sure Zipfizz will be a regular item at my desk.

I really like this picture!

Busy Mom points out that you can donate spare change to the American Red Cross at the Coinstar machines in the grocery store.

Approximately 130 million Americans live within 2 miles of a Coinstar machine. If even half of those American donated just $1 in spare change to the Red Cross, it would raise more than $65 million to support American Red Cross lifesaving services in communities nationwide!

There is a caveat:

note that some Coinstar machines are not yet equipped with the donation option. To confirm that your grocery store can accept donations to the American Red Cross, please call 1-800-928-CASH.

Find the Coinstar machine nearest you.

Ugh, I’m plagiarizing the ARC page but the information is just too good.

How Can $1 Make a Difference?

66 pennies: Allows us to give a child any one of 11 "after the disaster" coloring books and a box of crayons.
$1: Buys one family expert safety information.
$3: Buys a comfort kit with toiletries for one disaster victim.
$6: Buys one blanket for a disaster shelter.
Quarters: Add up to dollars and $ 30 buys a pair of shoes for a disaster victim.
Dimes: Add up to dollars $ 65 buys a winter coat for a disaster victim.
$10: Buys one day of groceries for a family affected by a disaster.
$20: Buys a home clean-up kit for a family affected by a disaster.

I’m so impressed by my wife. She has worked very hard to help a family from New Orleans. She does this frequently making a call to someone she knows, writing an anonymous letter here or there, or pulling off some small miracle and always without seeking credit, thanks or reward. She is a really good person! I’m lucky and honored to have her for my wife.

What would you do if you were faced with running out of food for your family with no source of replacement food around? Sounds like a New Orleans question but it happens in other places. What would you do as you got in the tub and realized that there was no more shampoo. Then as you soaked you thought about your phones being shutdown. You pondered the refrigerator dwindling down to its last scrap and the dog’s bowl becoming empty. You realized that when the gas tank hit empty your travel would end. At sometime electricity would drop and you would be without means of recovery.

Yesterday, or the day before–they all blend now–someone even said this is a weekend and that its got 3 days in it–who would know, Amy sits in my lap and has these words:

Amy climbing into my lap: I’m going to disappeared your computer.
Amy extends those cute little arms and holds her fingers up so that her hand is 90 degrees to her arms and palms are parallel to the monitor. She then using her whole arm moves her hands in concentric circles: woo woo woo wooo.
Amy: There, I disappeared your computer. It’s gone.

With a laugh and a tear in my eye I wrapped up what I was doing and spent some time with Amy.

Student: Why can’t I get help?
Master: Have you asked?

The end is near.

From WhiteHouse.org

Wow! That’s a really BIG fan. Why’s that elephant standing in front of it?