How much runway do you need?

This is definitely an 'interesting thing'.

You have probably seen airports with lonnnnng runways.

But, how much runway does a plane really need?

Granted, the plane taking off and landing in today's DIT is not a huge jumbo jet.

But, still, this plane shows us that the amount of runway needed is less than you might have thought.

To view the takeoff and landing in a 59 second video, HERE'S THE LINK 

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Is Evolution possible?

Is Evolution possible?  

Is Evolution really a 'fact'?

Or is evolution impossible?

The picture today says it all.

And the article with a short but wonderful video to which we are linking today explains why it is impossible. 

HERE'S THE LINK

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Are you a mosquito magnet?

Are you one of those folks who think that every mosquito in the world is looking for them?

Mosquitoes seem to be attracted to certain folks so you may not be imagining this at all.

You might really be a  'mosquito magnet' .

A friend of DIT found this very interesting article that explains why some folks are more likely to be attacked by mosquitoes than others.

To find out what attracts mosquitoes to you and why they seem to leave others alone -- HERE'S THE LINK

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Time Lapse Photography at Yosemite

The video we will view today took almost 2 years to make.

Why so long ? you ask.

Well, 7000 time lapse photos were taken during various seasons and times and then edited into this beautiful video.

If you have ever been to Yosemite, you will have fond memories when you see this.

If you have never been, then this will be a wonderful vicarious trip.

To view this award winning 4 minute 44 second video, HERE'S THE LINK

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Throwing a Strike

Today's DIT is a video produced by ICR.

What is it?

Well, according to their description:

 "Great pitchers make throwing a ball look easy,but there's a lot more to it that you might think.  How does God's design allow us to throw even one pitch for a strike?"

Sound interesting?

Yes, 

So, without further ado, to view this very interesting and informative 

1 minute 34 seconds video, HERE'S THE LINK

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150th Anniversary of the Battle of Chattanooga/Lookout Mountain

The Chattanooga Amateur Radio Ham Club in conjunction with the National Park Service will be doing a Special Event on Saturday and Sunday, July 13-14, 2013.

So, what exactly does this mean? you ask.

Well, this year is the 150th Anniversary of several battles during the Civil War including the Battle for Chattanooga,  also called "the Battle above the clouds".

Even though the actual battles (there were 3) were in October and November of 1863, the Club and the National Park Service chose this earlier time to memorialize the 150th Anniversary of the event.

The dates of the event are Saturday and Sunday July 13-14, 2013 from 0900Z-1700Z -- which is  9 am EST Saturday morning through 5 pm EST Sunday evening.

The Club will be operating from atop Lookout Mountain, at elevation of 1,850 feet, pictured here as it was in 1863. This is a view from the North Bank of the Tennessee River with the Union Army pontoon bridge on the left and Lookout Mountain in the distance as the tall mountain on the other side of the river.

All Ham Radio Operators, shortwave enthusiasts, or just 'normal' folks, will definitely want to participate either by radio or by dropping in at Point Park on top of Lookout Mountain.

There will be beautiful QSL cards for all contacts.

The Special Event Call sign will be N4C.

Hams, turn on your radios and make contacts on phone, CW and DSTAR.

Non-Hams can listen on their short wave radios.

Frequencies +- 20 khz for HF will be 3.977; 7.275; 14.260; 50.115; 
144.220; + DSTAR on 443.150+, 145.290-, and 145.67 simplex.   
Two stations will be operating on HF (SSB & CW), one station on 6 meters (50.115 Mhz) and 2 meters (144.220) and one station for DSTAR contacts.

To read about these battles, HERE'S THE LINK

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The American Morse Code

Saturday and Sunday July 13 - 14, 2013, The Chattanooga Amateur Radio Club will be having an important special event for Hams (Amateur Radio Operators).

The DIT tomorrow (Saturday) will provide more information.

But, in the meantime, one of the activities that will be part of the Special Event will be the sounds of Morse Code.

An "old timer" of the Club knows about the American Morse Code, also known as the Rail Road Code, and wrote an article about it which was posted on the Club Web Site.

To make it easier for you to read, we did a cut and paste.

It is a really interesting historical account of a sound that is long gone but still in the memory of some.

To read the brief article and hear the sound, HERE'S THE LINK

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What is a Christian?

There is a lot of confusion about ‘What is a Christian’.

Some just use the name, ‘Christian’, without understanding what a real Christian is.

Their life styles do not suggest that they are a Christian because often the person lives, acts, thinks, talks, etc. just like a non-Christian.

So what is a Christian really?

Well, a good and succinct answer to that question came in a snail mail letter that we received awhile back from Samaritan's Purse.

Going to their website I was unable to find it posted online so perhaps it is only in printed form.

Not knowing who wrote it, though it might have been Franklin Graham, the  President of Samaritan’s Purse, still, it is definitely a must read.  

So, without further ado to read this answer for yourself, HERE'S THE LINK

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Magnificent Tree Tunnels

It is vacation time and many folks are hitting the road to visit friends or go to various scenic places.

To help get you in the mood for travel, the link today consists of photographs of 14 amazing tunnels.

Obviously one can't visit them all by car due to the distant locations of some and the fact that some are for railroads only.

But, they are realllllly worth admiring.   

HERE'S THE LINK

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Massive Ant Colony

 Yesterday's DIT revealed that Ants are very skilled in Networking.

Today's DIT shows structures that they build while using this Networking knowledge.

You are not going to believe this video ! 

Doubtless you have seen ant hills and ants scurrying around in your yard or in a park or wherever -- doing their 'Networking thing' as we now know.

You also know that they build underground colonies.

And you have probably seen those cute narrow little glass 'houses', such as the one pictured here from ehow, where you can watch ants build their little paths and rooms.

Well, indeed they do build colonies and paths and rooms but the one we will see today is bigger than those cute little glass houses.

Now I understand why trying to get rid of the ants in the yard has been a loosing battle.

Scientists tell us that this networking and building all just evolved with no design or Designer in the picture.

Check out this 3 minute 16 second YouTube video. 

Then ask yourself -- is this really the result of chance development of evolution?  

Or is there a Creator God who embedded this knowledge and ability in the ant?

HERE'S THE LINK

And if you want to know more about How an Ant Colony operates, HERE'S A LINK

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What do ants know that we don't ?

Recently we posted a DIT about plants that do math.

Another article now tells us that ants do networking.

Hmmm.  Plants and Critters are pretty smart.  

Wonder how that came to be?  Another lucky result of evolution?  The article seems to think so.

Or is this more evidence of Design by A Creator?

Read this article for details of ants that know and do things that we don't in the realm of Networking.

Seems ants do almost everything in Networking except have a Facebook page.

But, who knows, perhaps in 'Ant World' they have that also. Just kidding, I think.

Anyway, HERE'S THE LINK

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Sunday Hymn

Today's Hymn is a well known favorite of many.

What is it?

It is "Pass me not, O Gentle Savior."

One of the amazing things about this hymn is that you will hear parts!

Yes, Alto, Soprano, Tenor, Bass.

Wow!  Remember those days when folks sang in harmony!

Well, today you can join in with the singers in this 2 minute 30 second video.

You will probably want to play this more than once.

HERE'S THE LINK

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How to cut a Melon

Well, we are in the midst of a fun Holiday weekend and you are probably eating a lot of yummy picnic type meals.

You probably are even enjoying Melons of various kinds including Cantelopue.

An interesting short 1 minute video gives a 'how to' demonstration of a wonderful way to cut the melon so it is beautiful and easy to eat.

HERE'S THE LINK

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Laundry Stains -- Hints on how to remove

We have ended a fun filled 4th of July (Independence Day) and it is highly likely that you have more stains than usual on your clothes.

Mustard, coffee, colas, katsup, chocolate and other stains from picnics.

Oil and gas stains from when you filled the lawn mower to cut the grass or from changing a flat tire or from looking under the car hood to see why the car just quit running.

Greasy suntan lotion stains from that day at the beach.

Dirt and grass stains from the pick up baseball game in the back yard or on the kids uniforms when they played in their little league games.

And on and on we could go.

The point is -- the holiday was a lot of fun but now you have a lot of clothes with various kinds of 'mystery stains' that have to come out.

So, what to do?

Well an interesting article on the net has some very helpful ideas and suggestions. 

HERE'S THE LINK

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Today is the 4th of July. Is your flag flying?

 July 4 is a very important day in the History of the United States of America.

Also known as Independence Day, it is observed with fireworks, cookouts, concerts, parades, and many many more festivities.

But, why is this day so important?

Years ago we didn’t have to ask that question. 

But in recent years many facts about this day and the surrounding days and years have become hazy, foggy, and even non-existent.

Bottom line answer as to why this day is important as described on Wikipedia is: 

“During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia."

"After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4.”

So, The Declaration of Independence was signed, the Revolutionary war ensued, many lives and fortunes were lost, but ultimately the signers and patriots prevailed and the United States of America was established.

Have you ever read it? 

Today, as we celebrate the 4th of July, it would be good if we all took a few minutes and read what it was that they signed.  It explains why the United States of America ‘came to be’. 

HERE'S THE LINK

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Is the Bible Silent on Geological events?

You may have wondered about this.

Or perhaps some of your friends have mentioned this.

Dr. Andrew Snelling, pictured here, a Geologist, was asked this question 

and this is his reply.

I think you will find his answer very informative and instructive.

HERE'S THE LINK

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Turtles and their shells

A recent article in the Boston Globe asked "How did the turtle get its shell?"

The article, written from an evolutionary viewpoint, then purposed that the turtle and its shell are important in evolutionary development and might even be a 'missing link.

Well, not so fast.  

As if a turtle could be fast.  : )   Har de har har.

Another article explains how this won't hold water and why.

HERE'S THE LINK

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Beautiful and Unusual Roads

It is summer vacation time and many folks will be hitting the roads as they travel here and there.

Hopefully the roads will be calm and peaceful such as the one pictured here which is on the way to Mt. St. Helens Volcano.

In keeping with the vacation theme of traveling by road, the DIT today is a series of pictures of roads.

Some are beautiful.

Some are scary.

Some are unusual.

But all are interesting.

HERE'S THE LINK

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