With the end of the year here, it will soon be time for me to renew my membership with BookShare.org. It is a good resource to find all of your favorite books and regional newspapers. Since they got a huge grant from the government, I don’t have to pay the annual fee of $50!
Bookshare.orrg has loads of books. They have almost every book that I can think of. You should try it out–it’s easy to apply. Just go to www.bookshare.org. Once you’re a member, you can download unlimited books for free!
Archive | December, 2008
Simple Tips
27 DecIf you’re short of time, here’s how to make a quick-and-easy graham cracker pie crust: Crush cinnamon graham crackers instead of plain ones. Since the cinnamon and sugar are already on the crackers, there’s no need to add anything but melted butter. The resulting crust tastes good, too.
Most recipes only call for a clove or two from a bulb of garlic. To keep the rest fresh and tasty for up to six weeks, peel the cloves and place them in a sealed container with enough olive oil to cover; refrigerate. Bonus: When you’ve used up all the cloves, you’ll have delicious garlic-flavored oil!
To rid your refrigerator of odor, pour a little vanilla extract on a cotton ball and place it in the fridge. The odor will disappear.
Ouija Board – A Game?
14 DecOuija Board – The History of the Ouija Board
What is a Ouija board? Ouija boards came into existence as a parlor game in the mid-1800′s, when spiritism and channeling were at the height of fashion.
The word “Ouija” is a blend of the French and German words for “yes.” Adolphus Theodore Wagner first patented Ouija boards, sometimes referred to as “talking
boards,” in London, England on January 23, 1854. In the patent, Wagner called his invention a “psychograph” and its purpose was to read the minds of people
with “nervous energy.” By 1861, Frenchman, Allan Kardac, was describing the Ouija board as instruments with which to open communications with the spirit
world. In seven short years, the Ouija board had evolved from a mind-reader to portal of communication with the dead.
Modern Ouija boards were developed by inventor William Huld. Huld sold his patent to Parker Brothers in 1966. Ouija boards, as we recognize them today,
look nothing like the original prototypes. The 20-25 million Ouija boards sold by Parker Brothers consist of a rectangular game board that is covered with
a woodcut-style alphabet, the words yes, no, and good-bye, and the numbers 0-9. Also included with the “game” is a heart-shaped plastic planchette. The
planchette is the ‘pointer’ that is supposed to glide over the board under the direction of supernatural forces and form comments and questions by pointing
out questions and comments. Parker Brothers has marketed Ouija Boards under the tagline, “It’s only a game – isn’t it?”
Ouija Board – The Deception
Satan and his demons can use the Ouija board to give advice, or even to guide a person in a certain direction. This guidance will even seem to be true,
good, and helpful. Satan and his demons pretend to be caring. They try to appear as something that appears harmless. The Bible says, “And no wonder, for
Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be
what their actions deserve” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
Satan and his demons will do this in order to get a person even more deeply involved in spiritist practices. Things like the Ouija board appear to be innocent
at first, but soon a person finds themselves addicted to guidance from the spirit world – thereby allowing Satan to control and destroy their life. 1 Peter
5:8 warns us, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” The Ouija Board may
be advertised as just as game, and that is exactly what Satan wants us to believe.
Ouija Board – The Truth: Are they Evil?
Sadly, many people are deceived into believing that Ouija Boards are just a game. The truth of the matter is that God views channeling, or consulting spirits
or the dead, to be a serious sin. Deuteronomy 18:11-12 says that anyone engaged in these practices is “detestable to God.” According Old Testament Law,
the Israelites were supposed to stone (execute) anyone who was a medium or a channeler (Leviticus 20:27).
Why does God take such a hard line on things like Ouija Boards – something that many people view as a game? In Isaiah 8:19-20, God says this: “When men
tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
…If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light…” God points out that we need to come to Him for answers. Because God is omniscient and
omnipresent He knows everything and He is in control of everything. Asking charlatans and unknown entities for advice can be worse than fruitless; it can
be dangerous. God wants us to trust Him!
NFB Newsline
8 DecAre you blind or visually impaired and have little or no access to your local newspaper? Sure youcan listen to the news on TV and on the radio, but you can always use another source rather than just relying on your television, radio or internet.
NFB Newsline can help! By signing up, you will have access to tons of newspapers, some of which include the New York Times, The New Yorker, AARP Magazine, the L.A. Times, and USA Today. These are updated all the time. Just call (866) 504-7300. You will also have access to local TV listings.
I use Newsline and find it useful. It’s easy to get use to. Call and sign up!
Tips
7 DecIs your sink already full of bubbles after handwashing your favorite blouse? Sprinkle the suds with talcum powder to make them disappear.
Keep food from sticking to the grill by spraying the grill with non-stick cooking spray before firing it up.
A problem when making lemon meringue pie is that the hot lemon filling pushes water droplets upward, creating a slick surface that makes it difficult for the airy topping to stick. To ensure a gorgeous pie, soak up the droplets by sprinkling 1 tsp. of cronstarch over the filling. The powder will absorb excess moisture without affecting flavor.
