Neat philosophy to start a week

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of
a pole which she carried across her neck.



One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and
always delivered a full portion of water.



At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked
pot arrived only half full.



For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home
only one and a half pots of water.



Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.



But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and
miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.



After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to
the woman one day by the stream.



'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to
leak out all the way back to your house.'



The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your
side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?'



'That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted
flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk
back, you water them.'



For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to
decorate the table.



Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty
to grace the house.'



Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we
each have that make our lives together so very interesting and
rewarding.



You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the
good in them.



SO, to all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to
smell the flowers on your side of the path!

Some Interesting California History

TRUCKEE, Calif. — 

Western stagecoach companies were big business in the latter half of the 19th century. In addition to passengers and freight, stages hauled gold and silver bullion as well as mining company payrolls. 

Stage robbery was a constant danger and bandits employed many strategies to ambush a stagecoach. Thieves rarely met with much resistance from stage drivers, since they had passenger safety foremost in mind. The gang was usually after the Wells Fargo money box with its valuable contents. Passengers were seldom hurt, but they were certainly relieved of their cash, watches and jewelry. 

Before the completion of the transcontinental railroad over Donner Pass in 1868, the only transportation through the Sierra was by stage. Rugged teamsters held rein over six wild-eyed horses as they tore along the precipitous mountain trails. The stagecoaches were driven by skilled and fearless men who pushed themselves and their spirited horses to the limit.

One of the most famous drivers was Charles Darkey Parkhurst, who had come west from New England in 1852 seeking his fortune in the Gold Rush. He spent 15 years running stages, sometimes partnering with Hank Monk, the celebrated driver from Carson City. Over the years, Pankhurst’s reputation as an expert whip grew.

From 20 feet away he could slice open the end of an envelope or cut a cigar out of a man’s mouth. Parkhurst smoked cigars, chewed wads of tobacco, drank with the best of them, and exuded supreme confidence behind the reins. His judgment was sound and pleasant manners won him many friends.

One afternoon as Charley drove down from Carson Pass the lead horses veered off the road and a wrenching jolt threw him from the rig. He hung on to the reins as the horses dragged him along on his stomach.

Amazingly, Parkhurst managed to steer the frightened horses back onto the road and save all his grateful passengers.

NO PATIENCE FOR CROOKS

During the 1850s, bands of surly highwaymen stalked the roads. These outlaws would level their shotguns at stage drivers and shout, “Throw down the gold box!” Charley Parkhurst had no patience for the crooks despite their demands and threatening gestures.

The most notorious road agent was nicknamed “Sugarfoot.” When he and his gang accosted Charley’s stage, it was the last robbery the thief ever attempted.

Charley cracked his whip defiantly, and when his horses bolted, he turned around and fired his revolver at the crooks. Sugarfoot was later found dead with a fatal bullet wound in his stomach.

In appreciation of his bravery, Wells Fargo presented Parkhurst with a large watch and chain made of solid gold. In 1865, Parkhurst grew tired of the demanding job of driving and he opened his own stage station. He later sold the business and retired to a ranch near Soquel, Calif. The years slipped by and Charley died on Dec. 29, 1879, at the age of 67.

A few days later, the Sacramento Daily Bee published his obituary. It read; “On Sunday last, there died a person known as Charley Parkhurst, aged 67, who was well-known to old residents as a stage driver. He was in early days accounted one of the most expert manipulators of the reins who ever sat on the box of a coach. It was discovered when friendly hands were preparing him for his final rest, that Charley Parkhurst was unmistakably a well-developed woman!”

NOT LIKE OTHER MEN, ER, WOMEN?

Once it was discovered that Charley was a woman, there were plenty of people to say they had always thought he wasn’t like other men. Even though he wore leather gloves summer and winter, many noticed that his hands were small and smooth. He slept in the stables with his beloved horses and was never known to have had a girlfriend.

Charley never volunteered clues to her past. Loose fitting clothing hid her femininity and after a horse kicked her, an eye patch over one eye helped conceal her face. She weighed 175 pounds, could handle herself in a fistfight and drank whiskey like one of the boys.

It turns out that Charley’s real name was Charlotte Parkhurst. Abandoned as a child, she was raised in a New Hampshire orphanage unloved and surrounded by poverty. Charlotte ran away when she was 15 years old and soon discovered that life in the working world was easier for men. So she decided to masquerade as one for the rest of her life.

The rest is history. Well, almost. There is one last thing. On November 3, 1868, Charlotte Parkhurst cast her vote in the national election, dressed as a man.

She became the first woman to vote in the United States, 52 years before Congress passed the 19th amendment giving American women the right to vote.

HOW SMART IS YOUR RIGHT FOOT ?

This is hysterical. You have to try this. It is absolutely true. 

I guess there are some things that the brain cannot handle.

You have to try this please, it takes 2 seconds. I could not believe this!!! 

It is from an orthopedic surgeon................This will boggle your mind and it will keep you trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but, you can't. It's pre-programmed in your brain!


1). Without anyone watching you (they will think you are GOOFY) and while sitting at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2). Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand.

Your foot will change direction. And there's nothing you can do about it! 

You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so. 


Send it to your friends to frustrate them too.

10 Animals That Mate for Life

Adult beavers can weigh 40 pounds or more, and they mate for life during their third year. Their babies are called kits, and typically 1 to 4 are born in the spring. Both parents care for their kits, who stay with them for about two years. The yearlings typically help care for the next litter.A beaver colony can consist of six or more individuals, including parents, yearlings, and kits.

Gibbons are the nearest relatives to humans that mate for life. They live in small, stable family groups with a monogamous mated pair and offspring under the age of 7. Gibbon families are territorial and defend their territory with morning songs sung by the breeding pair.Gibbons reach sexual maturity between 6 and 8 years of age. Females give birth to one baby at a time, and mating pairs produce an average of 5 to 6 offspring over their reproductive lifetimes.

Wolves live in packs that are typically family groups including a male and female breeding pair and their offspring of varying ages. Only the breeding pair mates, and has one litter a year.Wolves reach sexual maturity between 2 and 3 years of age, and once the youngsters are ready to mate, most leave their birth pack to start their own pack or join an existing pack.

French angelfish mate for life and fight to defend their territory against other angelfish pairs.

The shingleback skink is a heavily armored, blue-tongued lizard that inhabits western and southern Australia. It is mostly monogamous and has known to pair with the same mate for up to 20 years.Shingleback lizards live alone for most of the year, but get together with their partners during breeding season in September and November. In western New South Wales, shinglebacks are often seen crossing roads in pairs, the male following the female.

The Mute Swan typically mates for life, though once in awhile, mates change partners, and swans will find another mate if their partner dies.If a male swan loses his mate and finds a new, younger female, she joins him on his territory. However, if the male mates with an older female, they join up on her territory. If a female swan loses her mate, she typically finds a new, younger mate rather quickly.

Albatrosses mate for life and if one partner dies, the surviving bird may search for years for a new mate. The albatross can live to be 50 years old, however, today they are severely threatened by Albatrosses spend time on the ground only to breed, typically in large colonies on remote islands. Mating pairs produce just one egg and take turns caring for it. Young albatrosses learn to fly at from 3 to 10 months, depending on the species. Once aloft, it will be 5 to 10 years before they reach sexual maturity and return to the ground to breed.

Penguins are primarily monogamous, however, some species like the Emperor Penguin are serially monogamous, meaning they partner with one mate for a season rather than for life.Monogamous species include African and Magellanic, Gentoo, and Royal penguins. Both male and female penguins prepare the nest and take care of the chicks.

Barn owls are usually monogamous and mate for life. After the pair forms, the male keeps the female supplied with food beginning about a month before she starts laying eggs.Female barn owls build simple nests of their own regurgitated pellets. Unlike most birds, owls may use their nest sites for roosting throughout the year and nest sites are often reused from year to year, often by different owls.

Though bald eagles spend winters and migrations alone, they remain monogamous throughout life with their chosen mate. Bald eagle pairs build platform nests on the tops of trees and produce offspring each year. If one of the pair dies, the surviving eagle will find a new mate for the next breeding season.Bald eagles typically lay 2 or 3 eggs, which are incubated for about 35 days.

The Australian Priest

An old Australian priest lay dying. He sent a message for an Australian Tax Office Supervisor and his Lawyer to come to the hospital.   When they arrived, they were ushered up to his room. 

As they entered the room the priest held out his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed.

The priest grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling.

For a time, no one said anything.   Both the Australian Tax Office Supervisor and the lawyer were touched and flattered that the old man would ask them to be with him during his final moments. 

 They were also puzzled because the priest had never given any indication that he particularly liked either one of them.


Finally, the Lawyer asked, " Father, why did you ask the two of us to come here? "


The old priest mustered all his strength, and then said weakly, "Jesus died between two thieves, and that's how I'd like to go."

Priceless!

God has given us so many creatures to enjoy!

( Unusual Creatures continued)

21 – Rare Albino Alligator

22 – One of the few albino whales on earth

23 – Stunning Albino Bengal Tiger

24 – Incredibly rare albino giraffe

29 – Albino Lion

30 – Friendly Albino Gorilla

25 – Pink fairy armadillo!

26 – Tube-nosed fruit bat

This creature was found just a few years ago, and doesn’t even have an official name yet. 

Supposedly well-known for being the animal that most looks like Yoda…

27 – King of Saxony bird of paradise

28 – Indian Bull Frog

Found in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan and of course India.The Indian bullfrog is renowned for its large size (some can be up to 15cm in length!) and dramatic coloring.

31 – Theridion grallator – the happy faced spider.

32 – Red-Lipped Batfish!

Stunning Photos of Animals you've probably never seen before

Mother nature sure has some surprises up her sleeve.  

What beautiful creatures and colors. 

Enjoy

1 – Frilled shark

This is a frilled shark. Frilled sharks are found throughout deep waters in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is often described as a “living fossil” because of its resemblance to extinct, Paleozoic sharks. They’re rarely seen alive because of their preference for deep water. A dying one was captured near the surface in Japan in 2007

2 – Red cap goldfish

A red cap goldfish, or “oranda”. 

These are characterized by a prominent hood that covers the head – 

which let’s face it, look like their brains are on show.

Originally from China, they are popular aquarium pets today.

3 – Promachoteuthis sulcus

Meet Promachoteuthis sulcus, a bizarre creature straight out of your nightmares. As you can see, this thing looks like it has freakishly human looking teeth. They’re actually just flaps of skin, but they’re still pretty unnerving! It’s a species of promachoteuthid squid and only one specimen has been found to date. It was captured in the Southern Atlantic Ocean at a depth of 2,000m in 2007.

4 – Crocodile Fish

This is a white-blooded ice fish, or “crocodile fish” (Chaenocephalus aceratus). They lack both red blood cells and hemoglobin, and so have white blood. They have translucent bodies, and absorb oxygen directly from the water around them.

5 – Amber phantom butterfly

The amber phantom butterfly (Haetera piera), found in the Guianas, 

Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela.

6 – The Pistol Shrimp

The pistol shrimp is the NOISIEST creature in the ocean. Colonies of them make a distinct snapping noise that overshadows nearly all other sounds throughout the world’s oceans, including the calls of some whales. In fact, they are so loud, their snapping sounds interfere with military and scientific sonar (so much so, that hostile submarines have used large colonies of pistol shrimps to hide!).

7 – Lion’s Mane Jellyfish

The Lions Mane Jellyfish is the largest jellyfish in the world. They have been swimming in arctic waters since before the dinosaurs (over 650 million years ago) and are among some of the oldest surviving species in the world.The bell can grow up to 8 feet in diameter with hundreds of tentacles up to 120 feet long. Remarkably, only 6% of the jellyfish is solid matter; the rest is water.

8 – Blue footed booby

Meet the blue footed booby, found from the Gulf of California down along the western coasts of Central and South America to Peru. Their bright blue feet are a sexually selected trait. The brighter a males feet, the more attractive he is to a female. To attract a female, they have an elaborate dancing ritual to display their feet, first lifting one foot and then the other.

9 – The Cardinal Gynandromorph

No, this isn’t photoshopped. This is a cardinal “gynandromorph” – an animal that exhibits both female and male sexual characteristics. As different sexes are differently coloured, each half of the bird is a different shade.

10 – The Mexican walking fish.

“Walking fish” is a pretty general term used to describe any fish that is able to travel over land. Ironically, the Mexican walking fish isn’t a fish at all, but an amphibian. It’s official name is axolotl and as the name suggests, it’s found in Mexico.

11 – Amazon milk frog

The Amazon milk frog, 

a large species of arboreal frog native to the Amazon Rainforest in South America.

12 – Glass frogs

Glass frogs, a group of South and Central American frogs with translucent skin. Their internal viscera, including the heart, liver, and gastrointestinal tract are all completely visible.

13 – Yeti crab

This is the yeti crab (Kiwa hirsuta). Only discovered in 2005, the yeti crab lives in the South Pacific Ocean and grows to around 15cm long. Discovered at a depth of 2,200 metres (7,200 ft), it lives on hydrothermal vents. Based on both morphology and molecular data, the organism was deemed to form a new biological family, which was named Kiwaidae. A second species in the family was described in 2011. The “hairy” claws of the yeti crab contain filamentous bacteria, which the creature may use to convert carbon molecules emitted by the hydrothermal vents into nutrients. This is a process known as chemosynthesis. It may also consume bacteria.

14 – Alarm jellyfish

This is the alarm jellyfish (Atolla Wyvillei) – and it has a rather unique defence mechanism. When the alarm jellyfish is attacked, it flashes brightly using bioluminescence in an attempt to attract other animals. The idea is to encourage confusion and fights between predators, while the jellyfish can swim away.

15 – Nembrotha cristata

This is Nembrotha cristata, a colourful sea-slug found in the tropical Indo-West Pacific Ocean. They grow to about 50mm in length and have black bodies with a strange luminous green “trim”. Like most nudibranchs, they deliver a painful sting. They do not produce the stinging cells themselves but incorporate them into their own tissues from their prey, stinging jellyfish.

16 – Leatherback Sea Turtle

The Leatherback Sea Turtle is the largest turtle in the world, weighing approximately 900kg. Contrary to appearance, the leatherback doesn’t actually have a shell. What looks like a shell is in fact a leathery skin supported by small bones. This gives it a flexibility that a solid shell would not provide, allowing it to dive to astonishing depths.

17 -Pink Bottlenose Dolphin

18 – Hermit Crab

19 – Purple frogs

20 – Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko

States as Bar Patrons

It’s humorous, but kind of sad when you stoop to comparing the 50 great states of our nation to patrons in a bar. Maybe that is what we have become since the Progressives took control. Time to sober up then. I don’t know about you, but I think most of America is waking up from their drunken stupor and they are about to tar and feather the bartender. Just sayin’. This is definitely worth a read and a chuckle… maybe worth pondering over as well. Cheers!

http://patriotupdate.com/man-depicts-all-50-states-as-if-they-were-actually-people-in-a-bar/

BLIND COWBOY

"An old, blind cowboy wanders into an all-girl biker bar by mistake... 

He finds his way to a bar stool and orders a shot of Jack Daniels. 

 After sitting there for a while, he yells to the bartender, 'Hey, you wanna hear a blonde joke?' 

The bar immediately falls absolutely silent.  In a very deep, husky voice, the woman next to him says, 'Before you tell that joke, Cowboy, I think it is only fair, given that you are blind, that you should know five things: 

              
1. The bartender is a blonde girl with a baseball bat. 

                
2. The bouncer is a blonde girl with a 'Billy-Club'. 

                      
3. I'm a 6-foot tall, 135-pound blonde woman with a black belt in karate. 

                      
4. The woman sitting next to me is blonde and a professional weight lifter. 

    
5. The lady to your right is blonde and a professional wrestler. 

'Now, think about it  seriously, Cowboy ... do you still wanna tell that blonde joke?' 

              
The blind cowboy thinks for a second, shakes his head and mutters, 

                  
'No ... not if I'm  gonna have to explain it five times"... 

Seniors

A lady decided to give herself a big treat for her 90th birthday by staying overnight in a really nice luxurious hotel..

When she checked out the next morning, the desk clerk handed her a bill for $250.00.

 She demanded to know why the charge was so high "I agree it's a nice hotel, but the rooms aren't worth $250..00 for just an overnight stay - I didn't even have breakfast!” 

The clerk told her that $250.00 is the 'standard rate,' and breakfast had been included had she wanted it. 

She insisted on speaking to the Manager. 

The Manager appeared and, forewarned by the desk clerk, announced: "This hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference center which are available for use." 

"But I didn't use them.” she said

 ''Well, they are here, and you could have.” 

He went on to explain that she could also have seen one of the in-hotel shows for which they were so famous.

"We have the best entertainers from all over the world performing here.” 

"But I didn't go to any of those shows.." She Pleaded.

"Well, we have them, and you could have." was the reply.

No matter what amenity the Manager mentioned, she replied, 

"But I didn't use it!" and the Manager countered with his 

standard response. 

After several minutes discussion, and with the Manager still unmoved, she decided to pay,     

wrote a check and gave it to him. 

The Manager was surprised when he looked at the check. 

"But Madam, this check is for only $50.00”

 "That's correct" she replied "I charged you $200.00 for sleeping with me.” 

"But I didn't sleep with you madam!" said the manager

"Well, too bad, I was here, and you could have."!!

Social Anxiety

Men have better friends

Friendship among Women: A woman didn't come home one night. The next morning she told her husband that she had slept over at a friend's house. The man called his wife's 10 best friends. None of them knew anything about it. Friendship among Men: A man didn't come home one night.  The next morning he told his wife that he had slept over at a friend's house.  The woman called her husband's 10 best friends.  Eight confirmed that he had slept over, and two said he was still there.