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DO IT NOW WHEN IT'S FRESH IN YOUR MIND

The Saga Of Pinehill Book II
Money, Marriage And The Way
is now published and available.
Buy direct from:

http://www.publishamerica.com
(enter the name Saga of Pinehill in
the search box)

If you enjoyed the first book, you
won't be able to put
this one down until you've finished
it. Enjoy.

DO IT NOW WHEN IT'S FRESH IN YOUR MIND

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TODAY'S TRIVIA - - -
-----------------------

How did life arise on Earth?

Does this mean the scientists created life from the
chemicals?

How did scientists recreate the harsh conditions of deep
space?

--------------
ANSWERS TO LAST TRIVIA - - - -
--------------

What about phantom sight and hearing? Are these possible?

Yes. People whose vision has been impaired, such as by
cataracts, sometimes report highly detailed visual
experiences. One woman looked out her window and saw a tall
building where she KNEW only a wooded field existed. The
image was so vivid that she could count its steps. Often,
those with phantom seeing have a limited amount of normal
vision and can differentiate between the real vision and the
phantom vision. Common phantom images include people and
buildings. Rarely, phantom seeing involves images of
miniature people. These images are not mere memories. Often,
they contain people or sights that have never before been
encountered. Phantom hearing is also common. People may hear
whistling, screeching, clanging, or even music and voices. 

Can people BORN without limbs feel phantom sensations?

Yes. New research shows that even those born without limbs
can experience phantom sensations. What's more: when those
born without limbs said they were "moving" phantom limbs,
magnetic resonance imaging detected neuronal activity in the
brain. But the activity was NOT in the motor cortex where we
execute movement. Rather, it was in the premotor and
parietal cortex, where we prepare or visualize movement.

 
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I'LL SEE IT WHEN I BELIEVE IT!

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There are a lot of ways to become a failure,
but never taking a chance is the most successful.

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thePEBBLE CONTENTS:

1. STRANGE BITS AND PIECES!

------------------
2. COVER STORY . . .
------------------------------------

TIPS AND TIDBITS . . .

-------------------
3. MEDICAL COLUMN with Karin Henderson

Body Parts: Hands and Feet
PART 6 of 7

-------------------
4. PERCEPTIONS by Ken Darby

Death And Destruction All Over - Can Anyone Tell Me Why?

-------------------
5. WHY DO WE SAY IT?

-------------------
6. THINK ABOUT THIS TODAY!
7. HA! HA!HA!
8. CONTACT INFO
9. THE LAST LINE - - - - -


DO IT NOW WHEN IT'S FRESH IN YOUR MIND

The Saga Of Pinehill Book II
Money, Marriage And The Way
is now published and available. Buy direct from:

http://www.publishamerica.com
(enter the name Saga of Pinehill in the search box)

If you enjoyed the first book, you won't be able to put
this one down until you're finished it. Enjoy.

DO IT NOW WHEN IT'S FRESH IN YOUR MIND

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<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

STRANGE BITS AND PIECES!


Strawberries are a member of the rose family.

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COVER STORY . . .
------------------------------------

TIPS AND TIDBITS . . .

Afghanistan Opium Crop Sets Record
U.S.-Backed Efforts At Eradication Fail
By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, December 2, 2006; Page A01

Opium production in Afghanistan, which provides more than 90
percent of the world's heroin, broke all records in 2006,
reaching a historic high despite ongoing U.S.-sponsored
eradication efforts, the Bush administration reported
yesterday.

In addition to a 26 percent production increase over past
year -- for a total of 5,644 metric tons -- the amount of
land under cultivation in opium poppies grew by 61 percent.
Cultivation in the two main production provinces, Helmand in
the southwest and Oruzgan in central Afghanistan, was up by
132 percent.

White House drug policy chief John Walters called the news
"disappointing."

The administration has cited resurgent Taliban forces as the
main impediment to stabilization and reconstruction efforts
in Afghanistan, and the U.S. military investment has far
exceeded anti-narcotic and development programs. But U.S.
military and intelligence officials have increasingly
described the drug trade as a problem that rivals and in
some ways exceeds the Taliban, threatening to derail other
aspects of U.S. policy.

"It is truly the Achilles' heel of Afghanistan," Gen. James
L. Jones, the supreme allied commander for NATO, said in a
recent speech at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Afghanistan is NATO's biggest operation, with more than
30,000 troops. Drug cartels with their own armies engage in
regular combat with NATO forces deployed in Afghanistan, he
said. "It would be wrong to say that this is just the
Taliban. I think I need to set that record straight," he
added.

"They have their own capability to inflict damage, to make
sure that the roads and the passages stay open and they get
to where they want to go, whether it's through Pakistan,
Iran, up through Russia and all the known trade routes. So
this is a very violent cartel," Jones said. "They are buying
their protection by funding other organizations, from
criminal gangs to tribes, to inciting any kind of resistance
to keep the government off of their back."

Any disruption of the drug trade has enormous implications
for Afghanistan's economic and political stability. Although
its relative strength in the overall economy has diminished
as other sectors have expanded in recent years, narcotics is
a $2.6 billion-a-year industry that this year provided more
than a third of the country's gross domestic product.
Farmers who cultivate opium poppies receive only a small
percentage of the profits, but U.S. officials estimate the
crop provides up to 12 times as much income per acre as
conventional farming, and there is violent local resistance
to eradication.

"It's almost the devil's own problem," CIA Director Michael
V. Hayden told Congress last month. "Right now the issue is
stability. . . . Going in there in itself and attacking the
drug trade actually feeds the instability that you want to
overcome."

"Attacking the problem directly in terms of the drug trade .
. . would undermine the attempt to gain popular support in
the region," agreed Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples, director of
the Defense Intelligence Agency. "There's a real conflict, I
think."

The Afghan government has prohibited the aerial herbicide
spraying used by U.S. anti-narcotic programs in Latin
America. Instead, opium poppy plants in Afghanistan are
destroyed by tractors dragging heavy bars. But only 38,500
of nearly 430,000 acres under cultivation were eradicated
this year.

Because of security concerns and local sensibilities, all
eradication is done by Afghan police, and corruption is a
major problem at every level from cultivation to
international trafficking. Although the drug trade is
believed to provide some financing to the Taliban, most
experts believe it is largely an organized criminal
enterprise. According to a major report on the Afghan drug
industry jointly released last week by the World Bank and
the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, key narcotics
traffickers "work closely with sponsors in top government
and political positions."

The report drew specific attention to the Afghan Interior
Ministry, saying its officials were increasingly involved in
providing protection for and facilitating consolidation of
the drug industry in the hands of leading traffickers. "At
the lower levels," the report said, "payments to police to
avoid eradication or arrest reportedly are very widespread.
At higher levels, provincial and district police chief
appointments appear to be a tool for key traffickers and
sponsors to exercise control and favor their proteges at
middle levels in the drug industry."

Opium cultivation was outlawed during Taliban rule in the
late 1990s and was nearly eliminated by 2001. After the
overthrow of the Taliban government by U.S. forces in the
fall of that year, the Bush administration said that keeping
a lid on production was among its highest priorities. But
corruption and alliances formed by Washington and the Afghan
government with anti-Taliban tribal chieftains, some of whom
are believed to be deeply involved in the trade, undercut
the effort.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai recently noted that "once we
thought terrorism was Afghanistan's biggest enemy" but said
that now "poppy, its cultivation and drugs are Afghanistan's
major enemy."

Eradication and alternative development programs have made
little discernible headway. Cultivation -- measured annually
with high-resolution satellite imagery that is then parsed
by analysts using specialized computer software -- is nearly
double its highest pre-Karzai level.

"There is supposed to be a tremendous energy associated with
this," Jones said of the counter-narcotics programs, "but it
needs a fresh look because . . . we're losing ground.

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Nothing in earth is more important
than - - - Seeking the kingdom . .
---- Ken Darby

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MEDICAL COLUMN - - - - with Karin Henderson


Body Parts: Hands and Feet
PART 6 of 7

Obviously fractures (breaks) are relatively easy to acquire.
They can be set most commonly by pulling the muscles and the
bone back into alignment. Then a cast of a flexible and quickly
drying material is added to keep the form of the newly reset
bone in place while healing occurs.

This works best for "clean" fractures in long bones, including
some finger and toe fractures. If it's a "crush" injury, or one
where the bone edges are not easily put back into alignment, a
"pin" or "plate" or a plate and screw might be used, depending
on the surgeon's "preference". And yes, those pins, plates, and
screws are just like to ones you see on home repair
shows.different material: the same concept.

(Healing)
Healing of bone "tissue" takes much longer than soft tissue. To
check the progress, x-rays are taken at different intervals to
see how much "callus" has grown at the break site. Callus is the
substance that surrounds the break during its healing.and it
might take up to six months to be able to use the toes or
fingers as before. If you can feel a lump in the break area.it
will be your callus. Your specialist will decide when it is safe
to remove the supporting cast and a strong bandage might be
applied for added protection. And the hardware? There are two
points of view.one says to leave it alone if there are no
problems. And the second point of view says to remove it when
the healing is complete and once the limb is stable. And this
does not refer to the "implants " for fractured hips where a
ball and socket have to be inserted. They are left in place.

Nails
Both fingers and toes have nails at the end. They are there for
protection. Most nail problems relate to the cuticle area.the
spot where the nail and the skin join. You can also cause major
headaches for yourself if you clip your toenail too close to the
skin. That can get infected very easily. It's an inviting place
for bacteria to grow, especially on toes. You have a warm, moist
(perspiration) dark, (socks/shoes) food laden area. Hands are
not quite as susceptible, but they are also very common sites
for infections. So a major effort in personal hygiene is
required. A daily bath with special attention to drying your
toes is encouraged. Early footcare is extremely helpful in
preventing other problems in later life, especially in diabetes.
I want to say a word here about nails and nail polish.
Nailpolish with formaldehyde or formalin is one of the most
common "triggers" of intolerances or allergies. (If you have
any sort of skin problems or wear false or acrylic nails, please
really pay attention to any unusual symptoms. The chemicals are
directly absorbed into your body through the cuticle.
Formaldehyde is found in many household goods and you may be
becoming sensitive. Often an itchy ear is an advance sign of
possible trouble. Before you run to a doctor with an allergy
problem, check your nails.)

-------------------------------------------
Karin Henderson is a registered nurse and is thePEBBLE's
columnist for our MEDICAL COLUMN.
We appreciate her input very much. Thanks Karin.
You can send Karin questions at
mailto:kflh@shaw.ca

Health Information Newsletter.
http://www.prescotts-inc.com

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Any Acne problems in your house?
Teens find skin irritations embarrassing?
Try this link and have a look

Click here! This is worth a try

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PERCEPTIONS . . . by Ken Darby

-----------------------DISCLAIMER

Some around me think I am an opinionated old goat.
Whether that be true or not I will sometimes, in this column,
talk about things people don't like to talk about - or don't want
out in the open. Take it all with a grain of salt.

Do your own thinking, and don't accept the things I say as
gospel. They are only mental meanderings from a simple soul.

-----------------------END DISCLAIMER

Death And Destruction All Over - Can Anyone Tell Me Why?

So what do you think about our Cover Story today?

Here the world is involved in taking over the government of
a country, ostensibly to make life better for the indigents
and all we have is war. One of the side things we were going
to do was put a stop to growing opium poppies to begin
curbing the drug trade.

Now we find the drug trade has flourished under the US and
it’s allies rule. Not only has it flourished but it has
increased production by a substantial 26 per cent growth
this year.

One would begin to think that the world did not want to curb
the drug trade, but instead they appear to be more
interested in having power, control and money. And it
appears as if they don’t much care about how many of their
young men and women have to die in the process.

I cannot fathom why we, in the western world, think we can
go into another country and as if by magic wand, change that
country into another one of us. It cannot be done and it
never will be done. The entire process serves only death and
destruction.

In the Middle Ages we had the righteous “Crusades” who were
supposed to impose christendom on the ignorant. It failed
then. It has been tried several times since and it has
always failed. It will always fail. It cannot be done.

I have no idea when the world will wake up to that fact. I
have no idea why people of any land or government support
their government’s attempts at doing that.

If you place yourself in the stratosphere and look down at
the world and all the actions of man you would be appalled
at the total amount of war, unrest, death, destruction,
greed, fighting and terror.

Can any of you tell me why?

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Marriage doesn't have to be a battleground. This
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WHY DO WE SAY IT?


Xmas: why is Christmas so often written "Xmas"?

The "X" in this case is the Greek letter Chi - written X -
and chi is the initial letter of the Greek word for "Christ"

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DO IT NOW WHEN IT'S FRESH IN YOUR MIND

The Saga Of Pinehill Book II
Money, Marriage And The Way
is now published and available. Buy direct from:

http://www.publishamerica.com
(enter the name Saga of Pinehill in the search box)

If you enjoyed the first book, you won't be able to put
this one down until you've finished it. Enjoy.

DO IT NOW WHEN IT'S FRESH IN YOUR MIND

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Are you a stay-at-home Mom? Here is a product in which you might
be interested. This is an ebook written by a stay-at-home Mom. She
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point that these are real jobs she can do from the house and that they
are available to anyone. She says no money has to be paid to do these
jobs, for example, they are not internet sales promotion type jobs, but
instead real jobs. Click on this link and see for yourself.

This looks real interesting and worth a click

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THINK ABOUT THIS TODAY!


"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my
imagination. Imagination is more important than
knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles
the world." -- Albert Einstein

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HA! HA! HA!


One evening after work, a man drove his secretary home after
she had a little too much to drink at a party. Although
nothing happened, he decided not to mention it to his wife.

Later that night, the man and his wife were driving to a
movie when he spotted a high-heeled shoe hidden under the
passenger seat. Pointing to something out the passenger
window to distract his wife, he picked up the shoe and
tossed it out of his window.

They arrived at the theater a short time later and were
about to get out of the car when his wife asked, "Honey,have
you seen my other shoe?"

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CONTACT INFORMATION:

Complete Contact info on web site
http://www.the-pebble.com

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http://www.spiritual-underground.com
http://www.thenewsshop.com
http://www.thenewsshop.com/oursalespeople.html

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THE LAST LINE - - - - -

"One of the greatest assets you have is your
imagination." -– Mark Victor Hansen

 
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REMEMBER! - IF YOU SEE IT IN thePEBBLE - IT IS SO!


Happiness is a matter of choice, having nothing
to do with circumstances.
---- Ken Darby