Thanks For Your Encouragements
I truly appreciate the many complimentary comments I have received relative to my co-hosting of the Wake-Up Call on WFTW-AM, 1260 on the dial each morning Monday through Friday from 6 to 9. The station management has been impressed with the publicity Ken and I received in the Daily News and over WEAR-TV. I owe those two organizations a big "Thank You" for letting the information out. Even the Florida Times Union in Jacksonville picked up the story as did the The Sun. Remember each of you can call in any morning and ask questions or make comments on any subject. I can assure you that we will respond and we do not mind speaking our minds. The phone number is 664-1260 or #1260 on the Alltel Cellular. I would appreciate any feedback you want to give me to make the program even better. Let me know what you like, what you do not like, and what you suggest.

A GREAT LESSON CAN BE TAUGHT
How would you have reacted had you been the teacher in this class?

A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present "Seven Wonders of the World." Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:
1. Egypt's Great Pyramids:
2. Taj Mahal:
3. Grand Canyon:
4. Panama Canal:
5. Empire State Building:
6. St. Peter's Basilica: and
7. China's Great Wall.

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.

The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."

The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help"

The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the "Seven Wonders of the World are:
1. to see:
2. to hear:
3. to touch:
4. to taste:
5. to feel:
6. to laugh: and
7. to love.

The room was so quite you could have heard a pin drop. The things we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wondrous!

A gentle reminder - that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.

I really like this one and hope you will pass it along to others.

Something To Think About
Former Reagan Press Secretary Lyn Nofziger is quoted as saying: "There are those who think (Alabama) Judge Moore is an extremist and he may be but it should be pointed out that moderates never accomplish anything; it is the extremists on either end of the spectrum who change the world. The American Revolution was won by extremists. Extremism, as Barry Goldwater pointed out, is no vice when it is exercised in defense of liberty. Judge Moore apparently agrees with that assertion. He may lose this battle but in the process he may rally enough troops, persons who ordinarily sit on their hands, to win the war. It wouldn't be the first time." (What do you think of this one?)

What About This?
A plan for a computerized screening program that would allocate every airline passenger a terrorist-threat rating (CAPPS 11) is the subject of a congressional inquiry - and will not be funded unless it passes muster.Critics claim it would violate travelers' privacy and Fourth Amendment rights.

It's becoming increasingly apparent," said David Keene of the American Conservative Union, "that (Homeland Security Secretary Tom) Ridge and his colleagues are behaving like any other bureaucrats, trying to expand their responsibilities and their power over citizens as far as they can.

Conservative activist Grover Norquist concurred, calling CAPPS 11 "a bad idea which will collapse into bigger, worse ideas." Former Rep. Bob Barr, Georgia Republican, said the plan will do "irreversible damage to the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches."

Hispanics Becoming More Militant In California A bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers' licenses, an issue that worked its way into the debate surrounding the recall of Gov. Gray Davis in California, passed the California state Assembly and is now law in that state. In a debate in English and Spanish, Republicans and Democrats argued about whether the bill would harm or help public safety before approving it by a 44-30 vote.

The legislation, by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, will help undocumented immigrants get drivers' licenses by allowing them to submit a federal taxpayer identification number or some other state-approved form of identification to the Department of Motor Vehicles instead of a Social Security number. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service issues taxpayer identification numbers to tax filers who cannot qualify for Social Security numbers, which authorize a person to work legally in the United States.

Governor Davis vetoed two similar bills since he became governor, citing law enforcement's concerns about the legislation. After he vetoed the bill last year, the Legislature's Latino caucus refused to endorse him for re-election. 'Nuff said!

I Like It
At the moment, I'm sitting on the patio of my daughter's home in Ft. Lauderdale. I'm here with my wife, Pat, attending her Miniature Show this weekend.

We spent last weekend in Chicago for a show and will be back home Monday night. I'll be back on the Wake-Up call Tuesday morning at 6, so listen and call in. These miniature shows are truly something. Everything you see around you in normal size someone has reproduced in miniature (1" scale, ½" scale and even ¼" scale). These folks are truly artisans.

Please Do Me A Favor
As Pat and I have traveled over the past few days, it's come to me more than ever that we in America should be spending more time in prayer for this great country of ours and for our country's leaders at all stages. I'm asking that each of you compose a prayer of 100 words or less and email to me. I'm going to put them together and, hope to get them printed. We'll call it, "Our Prayers for America and its Leaders". Or maybe you could come up with a more appropriate title suggestion.

Quote Of The Week
"In California, the fabulously rich support the poor with government jobs, paid for by the middle class - which is now living in Arizona." Ann Coulter

Question Of The Week
Is America on the right track in its present War on Terrorism?

Comments should be sent to:  jmelvin@gulf1.com