Beanie Books

Twas the night before crisis, and all through the house, Not a program was working, not even a browse. The programmers were wrung out, too mindless to care, Knowing chances of shipping hadn't a prayer. The users were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of inquiries danced in their heads. When out in the lobby there arose such a clatter, That I sprang from my cube to see what was the matter. And what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a SUPER PROGRAMMER, oblivious to fear. More rapid than eagles, his programs they came, And he whistled and shouted and called them by name: On Update! On Add! On Inquiry! On Delete! On Batch Jobs! On Closing! On Functions Complete! His eyes were glazed over, his fingers were lean, From weekends and nights in front of the screen. A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, Turning specs into code, then he...

Christmas is for Love - Classic Tale Christmas is for love. It is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for reuniting with family and friends, for tinsel and brightly covered packages. But, mostly Christmas is for love. I had not believed this until a small elfin like pupil with wide innocent eyes and soft rosy cheeks gave me a wondrous gift one Christmas. Matthew was a 10 year old orphan who lived with his aunt, a bitter, middle aged woman greatly annoyed with the burden of caring for her dead sister's son. She never failed to remind young Matthew, if it hadn't been for her generosity, he would be a vagrant, homeless waif. Still, with all the scolding and chilliness at home, he was a sweet and gentle child. I had not noticed Matthew particularly until he began staying after class each day [at the risk of arousing his aunt's anger so I learned later] to help me straighten up the room. We did this quietly and comfortably, not speaking much, but enjoying the ...

Christmas Thoughts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  It’s sharing your gifts, not purchasing gifts. It’s not wrapping presents, its being present and wrapping your arms around the ones you love. It’s not getting Christmas cards out on time, It’s sending any card, anytime, at the right time. It’s not having the biggest and best Christmas light display, It’s displaying the Christ light that comes from your heart.  It’s not Santa coming down the chimney,  It’s Jesus coming down from heaven, and giving us the gift of eternal life.  Anonymous Click here to read another tale about Christmas .

Click here to see a snake eating a fish.

The folly of clinging The little boy walked slowly into the room where his mother was sitting at her desk writing. She glanced down at him and saw that he was carrying a very precious vase that her grandmother had given her. Almost absentmindedly she said to him, “Robert, go put the vase down before you drop it and break it.” “I can’t,” he replied, “I can’t get my hand out.” “Of course you can,” she said, “you got it down there.” He said, “I know, mom, but it won’t come out.” The neck of the vase was very narrow and his hand had fit it neatly inside and it was now up to his wrist. He continued to insist that he could not get it out. Growing a little concerned, his mother called out to his dad. Dad calmly took control and began gently pulling the arm trying to extract the hand from the vase. He tried loosening it up with soapy water. Still nothing. He then got some vegetable oil from the kitchen and poured it around the wrist and let it seep into the vase. He wi...

How Old Is Grandpa? Stay with this -- the answer is at the end.  It may blow you away.  One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events.  The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general.  The Grandfather replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born before :  television  penicillin  polio shots  frozen foods  Xerox  contact lenses  Frisbees the pill There were also no : credit cards  laser beams ball-point pens Man had not yet invented : pantyhose  air conditioners  dishwashers  clothes dryers  Oh, and ... the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and space travel was only in Flash Gordon books. Your Grandmother and I got married first,... and then lived together..  Every family had a father and a mother. Until I was 25, I called every w...

The Advent Virus Anonymous via email WARNING……WARNING: ADVENT VIRUS Be on the alert for symptoms of inner  Hope, Peace, Joy and Love . The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world. Some signs and symptoms of  The Advent Virus: A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment. A loss of interest in judging other people. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others. A loss of interest in conflict. A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.) Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation. Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature. Frequent attacks of smiling. An increasing tendency to let things h...