Mullet Over
A six minute total eclipse on July 22

By James K. White | May 13, 2009

As early as 1000 B.C. some metal pieces were apparently welded together by heating and hammering. Resistance (electric) welding was developed by an American named Elihu Thompson in 1877. Later, new welding concepts made it possible to construct larger and safer ships, but not right away.

A cable is actually sometimes used as a unit of length – 720 feet, to be precise. Perhaps one could use some cables to measure out a township. A township is comprised of exactly 36 square miles.

In 1815 there was an exploding volcano on Mount Tambor (Indonesia) and the initial blast killed approximately 10,000 people. However, the worst was to follow, as an estimated 82,000 died of starvation and disease subsequent to the eruption.

Do you like to run in underwater tunnels? If so, then the reader might enjoy a visit to New York City. That is where one would find The Brooklyn Battery which is the longest such tunnel in North America. The passageway measures an impressive 1.727 miles (9117 feet).

Mark your calendars so that you can observe a six minute total eclipse on July 22, 2009. To witness the total effect, one would require a location at certain points in Asia or the Pacific Ocean. Perhaps that would indicate a lot of traveling effort for a six minute thrill of partial darkness. I am certain that the news media will feature the event in some capacity. If you somehow miss the experience, there will be another chance (lasting only 4 minutes) on April 8 of 2024 visible from parts of Mexico.

The category of world’s busiest airport has a different champion almost every year. The most recent data available to this writer indicates that Heathrow (London) has been rated as last year’s leader. Tokyo International was ranked as a close number two.

The hottest weather temperature ever recorded in North America occurred at Fairbanks, Alaska. Just kidding. The reading was a blistering 134 degrees Fahrenheit and was endured in Death Valley, California.

The Republic of China has a standing army of approximately 3,000,000 soldiers which makes it the largest active army in the world.

Did you laugh at the antics of Jacob Cohen in the movie Caddy Shack? Jacob Cohen is the real name of Rodney Dangerfield.

There are about 700,000 new businesses formed during a normal economic year in the United States. This year “experts” anticipate that the number will be closer to 300,000 due to the downturn in the economy. Another interesting stat is that about half of all new jobs in America each year are with businesses that are less than five years old.

Well, use extra caution should you decide to visit Mount Tambor and … please have a safe week.

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They're back! Those wonderful Church Bulletins!


These sentences appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services ...

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5 p.m. – Prayer and medication to follow.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7 p.m. there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10:20 a.m. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. Please use the back door.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use the large double doors at the side entrance.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge ... Up Yours'