This pamphlet is a godsend! My televising receiver had been giving me fits. First, it was the horizontal control--then the vertical. Had several of the neighbors over to watch Arthur Godfrey last night and couldn't get a good picture at all!

But after reading 'Zenith Television Receiver Operating Manual' with my neighbor Jerry (he's a dentist), we were able to figure out where to adjust both the horizontal and vertical controls. Turns out I may need a new LM531 tube too.

Tonight we're having folks over to watch Loretta Young Theatre with Ed Begley, Barbara Bel Geddes, and Andy Devine in 'Angel in My Pants' on channel 13.

Written in 1889, this book was the very first to use three exclamation points in the title. Prior to publication of this book, there had not even been a two exclamation point book title.

The year 1822 did see publication of 'What the Hell's Going on in New Guinea???'; the very first three question mark book; written by Lord McAlister Bainbridge (and hopefully available on Manybooks soon).

As the old saying goes; 'For want of a nail, the shoe was lost...'. This book never achieved its rightful place in the literary pantheon due to a simple typographical error...of ONE LETTER!

The original title of this book was meant to be 'The Toilets of the Field'. It is a thorough chronicling of the history of portable toilets and outhouses.

You'll learn such fascinating factoids as:

*Early American portable toilets
*Great events that have occurred in portable toilets
*Portable toilets of the rich and famous
*Portable toilet humor
*Portable toilets in the future

Seems rather strange that the publishers never corrected their spelling error in the title.

Charles Morton Aikman was a prolific writer; a man of inexhaustable energy and curiousity. 'Manures and the Principles of Manuring' became the definative work on the topic; but it was only one of a long list of vital and robust works written by Mr. Aikman. Some of his other works (hopefully soon to be available through Manybooks):

*Tetherball: Official Rules and History
*Personal Grooming Tips of the French
*Miniature Poodles: Pets or Food?
*A Natural History of Abyssinian Rodent Ticks
*Lotty Henderson and the Smugglers of Sandy Cove
*The Rhyming Bible
*Phlegm
*Down the Yellow River with I.P. Freely

The 'Boy Ranchers..' adventure series was always one of the better efforts coming out of the 1920s literature for boys. The books in this series chronicle the adventures of Jerry, Blake, and Squeaker (the Boy Ranchers) and the challenges they face raising cattle in the west.

This particular addition to the canon breaks the traditional mold found in the other 'Boy Rancher..' books. In 'The Boy Ranchers on Roaring River' we find all three of the boys addicted to 'diet pills', 'goof balls' and other drugs. Blake and Squeaker attempt to sell one of Jerry's kidneys to wealthy land owner Bryce DelaCroix, to get money to buy more goof balls and diet pills. Fortunately, the boy's housekeeper Mrs. Lundergaard again comes to the rescue, as she comes up with the money, raised from her illegal backroom abortion business.

The 'Roaring River' from the title apparently refers to Roaring River heroin; a particularly potent and addictive strain of the opiate.

An interesting history behind this work. Young George Russell Shaw (son of playwright George Bernard Shaw and actress Lillian Russell) became interested in the study of pine trees at an early age. The lad spent many happy hours walking alone through the woods while is father was writing plays and his mother performed on the stage.

When his work on the genus pinus was first published it caused a huge outcry. The book was banned as immoral, not only in Boston but all over the US and Europe (except Sweden).

It seems the public believed the title of the book was not about pine trees at all! The lay public believed the word 'Genus' and the work 'Pinus' were rhyming words...hence the outcry and confusion.

Adding further to the confusion was Chapter 6 of the book, entitled 'Notes on Wood Peckers'.

A most interesting and pragmatic companion piece to 'The Passion of Christ'. In 'The Passion of Christ' we learned about Jesus Christ's religious teachings and his efforts to '..take on the sins of world.' and provide eternal life for all '..who believeth in him'.

But in 'The Work of Christ' we learn about Jesus Christ's actual work-a-day duties. His job, if you will, as a carpenter and the skills required to actually put unleaven bread on the table and pay the bills.

In this book you'll learn Jesus's techiniques to:

*Saw wood in a straight line
*Make and use glue
*Market and sell deluxe dining room tables
*Use those scraps of wood to make stylish and functional quill holders
*Discover the key to business success:
(Location-Location-Location)

During World War II this field manual, they say, was as important as any other factor in our victory over the evil Nazis. Each American and British soldier was given a copy during basic training and was instructed to read it..'cover to cover'.

Some of the simple sabotage techniques:

*Spray cat urine into enemy vehicles
*Release crickets into enemy sleeping quarters
*Extend downward the sides of Hitler's moustache on posters and give him glasses
*Make German potato salad, leave it unrefrigerated for 2 or 3 days, then send to Nazi headquarters with a card saying 'Enjoy!'
*From Sears and Roebuck catalogue, order stylish bra and panty outfits and request delivery to 'Mr. A. Hitler'.

George W. Wingate believed only through a well-armed and highly trained citizenry could the United States possible withstand agression and invasion from Europe. Holding a strong belief in this philosophy, Wingate convinced then Secretary of Education J. Walters Eislen to allow him to bring repeating rifles, boxes of ammo, and trained instructors to several public schools in his home state of Vermont.

Wingate's report was tragically never completed however. In the second month of the experiment, a stray rifle bullet from high school sophmore Willis 'Squeeker' Barnstable penetrated the sternum of George W. Wingate, killing him. Witnesses say Wingate's last words were; 'It was that little bastard Squeeker, wasn't it.'

This bit of literature has proven to be a great comfort to me over the years. See, we atheists don't get to do a lot of the fun stuff, like you religious people do.

We just show up to work and do our jobs...Sundays are just another day to work in the yard...our prayers are usually aimed at the Lakers to make this free throw, or to sink a five foot putt...and they usually aren't answered.

When we die, nothing particularly good or bad happens.

But...and this why I'm an atheist...WE ALMOST NEVER HAVE TO GET DRESSED UP.