Saturday on the Farm

We've had so much rain this week that we hear squish squash when we walk across the yard. Thankfully, though, all the storms that we had were mild compared to what others had, especially south of here. Although Western Kentucky had tornados, too.

Here's what I saw on my walk today.

The Chives are blooming in the herb garden behind the house. I should find out if I'm supposed to let them bloom or not.

But the flowers are so pretty!

To the left of the Chives, is the Echinacea. They are getting big.

To the left of that are some wild strawberries. They have small berries on them!

This is Lamb's Ear in the Bible Garden.

The Lily of the Valley in the Bible Garden are so pretty. The flowers are starting to fade, and I'm sure they'll be gone by next week.

I found itty bitty apples on the apple trees by the driveway!

The Iris's in the a/c garden are blooming! There are two open. I don't know what kind these are, as we transplanted them here, but these yellow ones smell like lemonade!

So pretty!

The tomato seedlings are getting big. On sunny days, I put them outside on the porch.

This is a Wild Rose Bush behind the house by the clothesline. I always love it when these are blooming. It's just heavenly to smell them while I"m  hanging clothes on the line.

I found buds on the Blackberries!

Hope you enjoyed this weeks tour! Link up below so I can visit you, too!

Here are some links:

Best Planting Dates for Seeds - You put in your zip code, and get the dates for your area.
Medicinal Uses for Horehound
Must Have Herbs - 5 Culinary Herbs to Grow in Your Garden





Grab The Saturday on the Farm Button!

<a href="http://lindaslunacy.blogspot.com/search/label/Saturday%20on%20the%20Farm"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1001/4608457251_49ba7771a6_o.jpg" alt="Saturday on the Farm at Linda's Lunacy" width="125" height="125" /></a>


Saturday on the Farm is a blog carnival that lets us share links to our blog post. It's fun to visit each others farms.

To participate in Saturday on the Farm, just write a post about your homestead, farm, farmette, or the tomato plant on your deck. Your cows, goats, chicken, or your favorite kitty cat. Add the link to your post (not your main page) below. Please link back to me so others can join the fun, too.










For more Farm & Garden posts, please visit:
Homestead Barn Hop
Bloomin' Tuesday
Frugal Gardening 101
Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers

Sunny Saturday

Welcome to Linda's Lunacy Sunny Saturday!

Sunny Saturday is a fun way to find new friends and followers for your blog, Facebook page, Twitter, and Networked Blog.

Joining Sunny Saturday is as easy as 1, 2, 3!


1. Follow me, Linda's Lunacy, your hostess.

2. Leave a comment, letting me know your a new follower, and I will follow you back.

3. Include the Sunny Saturday button in a post, and link that post in the linky below. Also link up your blog's Facebook page, Twitter and Networked Blog in the linkys below.


Have fun, and please help spread the word about Linda's Lunacy Sunny Saturday!



<a href="http://www.lindaslunacy.blogspot.com"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1439/5126502703_612659c4a5_m.jpg" alt="Linda's Lunacy" width="150" height="150" /></a>




























Saturday Hops I'm participating in:

 


Sunday Blog Hops I'm participating in:

Our Homeschool Week in Review

The kids have been very busy this week. They have cousins visiting from out of state. They even started their school work on Sunday night, so they would have more play time on Monday! The rest of the days, they have been getting up early to get their work done. Their cousins are homeschooled, so most days they had work to do in the mornings also.

Game time!

 The kids have been spending lots and lots of time playing outside. They even played out in the rain.

I found this picture on the sd card. They are training the kitten to walk through a hoop. There are other pictures before and after this one, and the kitten really walks through on its own. Too funny.

They have all spent a lot of time playing the story game together. This is a great game for groups to play, as all ages can play equally. One person starts and says one word. Then they go around the circle with everyone saying one word. You end up with some really funny stories! It's nice to have someone who writes fast write down the story as it's told. Great memories! My oldest daughter used to play this when she was younger on instant messenger with a cousin who lived in another state. They would take turns typing the next word. It's a really fun game that all ages love to play.

We also worked on The Curiosity Files e-book Dung Beetles. We really liked the format and tons of information included. I learned a lot about dung beetles, also. Did you know that Dung Beetles were depicted in womens jewelry? Ever heard of a Scarab? It makes me wonder why they would choose the Dung Beetle for jewelry! lol You can go here to read my review of  The Curiosity Files e-book Dung Beetles.

Next Friday is Abby & Zachs State Bible Drill Competition. So next week will find them studying hard!





Please visit:
Weekly Wrap Up at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
Wrapping Up The Week
Weekly Homeschool Highlights

This Weeks Favorites

The 'Other' Sweetener That's Made From Sugar, But is Closer to DDT

LED Bulbs No Better Than  CFLs

Easy Homeopathic Remedy for Headaches, Menstrual Cramps & Insomnia

Crocheted Ankle Socks

Topsy Turvy Planter



How to ID Genetically Modified Food

Homemade Apple Pie Poptarts

No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake

Snickerdoodle Bundt Cake

Raw Carrot Cake Cookies - made in the dehydrator

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins -  wheat free, egg free, vegan

Funnel Cakes


Hope you find some new favorites, too!





Please visit:
Saturday's Stumbles
Share Your Faves.

Environmental Scientist Salary

They are compensated well for the work they undertake, with annual salaries that average at around $60,000. If you're planning to become an environmental scientist you need to at least have a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science degree. Some employers however, prefer candidates who have a Master’s degree in environmental science. The course work for these programs consist of topics like geochemistry, biology, soil science, environmental measurements, etc.

Average Salary

The recent economic downturn has made an impact on the pay packets of several professions and the environmental scientist is no exception. If you're wondering how much do environmental scientists make, well for entry level jobs the estimated environmental scientist salary is around $45,000 per year. However, reports indicate that individuals with experience can get packages that cross the $80,000 mark. The educational qualification of candidates also play a factor in these salary figures, with employers preferring candidates with a higher degree.

Like most professions the job location also influences the salary figures of environmental scientists. Statistics for states like California indicate that the average salary range is $62,000 to $65,000 per year. One of the highest paying locations for environmental scientists is Washington D.C with reports indicating annual salary figures ranging $55,000 to $90,000. Even in a state like Alaska the wages range from $50,000 to $75,000 per year. Unconfirmed reports for the state of New Mexico indicate that environmental scientists earn packages that go as high as $110,000.

Employer type and the work profile are some of the other deciding factors when it comes to environmental scientist salary. Individuals working with engineering consulting firms can expect to earn wages from $45,000 to $70,000. Scientists working in the environmental health and safety sector can expect $42,000 to $75,000. Government and private companies also hire environmental scientists with a Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science degree for research projects. Research jobs tend to pay high salaries and candidates with experience can expect to earn wages that touch the $90,000 mark per year.

Job Description

They generally specialize in one aspect of the environment, such as dealing with toxic waste, marine ecosystems, forest conservation, soil, groundwater contamination, etc. Environmental scientists spend a lot of time studying samples under laboratory conditions. They generate reports regarding their findings and give presentation regarding environmental issues. Most of them also spend considerable time in the field collecting samples of soil, water, plants, etc. Traveling and staying in remote locations is also a part of their job profile.

Vertical Wind Generator

Vertical Wind Generator

Basically, a vertical wind generator - or vertical-axis wind turbine, is a type of wind generator in which the main rotor shaft is fixed vertically, while the generator and other components which produce electricity using the mechanical energy are located at the base. As a result of this, these generators are either erected on the ground or on the roof of a building (with the experts suggesting that a chimney is an ideal place for the same). This is in stark contrast of horizontal wind generators, wherein the main rotor shaft and electrical generator are housed on a top of the tower. Vertical wind generators have come a long way from the crude models of past - with an efficiency of 5-10 percent, to the latest variants which promise an efficiency of around 30 percent. Do these wind generators really have an edge over horizontal wind generators? Now that is something which can be only determined by evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of vertical wind generators.

Vertical Wind Generators Advantages

By far the biggest advantage of vertical wind generator is the fact that it is not mandatory for this device to face the direction of wind. Irrespective of which direction the wind is blowing from, these turbines can harness its kinetic energy and use it for generation of electricity. More of such advantages of this device are given below:

• These wind generators can adapt to change in wind direction very well.
• They can be installed on the chimney or some other tall structure with ease.
• Maintenance is not a major issue as the device is generally within the reach.
• As the generator is within your reach, even repair work doesn't require much efforts.
• There is no stress on the supporting structure as in case of horizontal wind generator.
• As they require limited space, these devices can be spaced close to each other in a wind farm.
• Manufacturers also claim that these wind generators do not cause noise pollution.

Vertical Wind Generators Disadvantages

Even though these advantages may make vertical wind generators seem quite promising, there also exist some disadvantages of these devices which you can't afford to turn a blind eye to. Given below are some disadvantages of vertical wind generators that you need to take into consideration when you evaluate their efficiency.

• The low installation height of these generators makes them dependent on low level winds.
• The additional drag that they are subjected to as they rotate into the wind further lowers their efficiency.
• Even though the manufacturers boast of amazing efficiency, at 30 percent they are no better than HAWTs.
• The chances of these wind generators stalling when subjected to gusty winds cannot be ruled out.
• The modern vertical wind generators are efficient to their predecessors, but again they are quite expensive as well.

Wind Energy Uses

Uses of Wind Energy

Inherently, everything in this Universe is a form of energy. Even the moving wind has sufficient kinetic energy that can be channelized to run a generator. The phenomena of energy conservation governs the working of the Universe. Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed but it can be transferred from one body to the other - this is the key to all processes in this world. Winds are generated when our atmosphere is heated unevenly and lighter air rises to be replaced by other patches of air (that's why it is a type of solar power!). This gives us the feeling of moving wind! Uses of wind energy in this age of advanced technology are specifically focused on generating electricity. Mostly, it is the city outskirts, ranches and coastal areas that are using energy of the wind for primary purposes like irrigation and electricity generation.

Wind Energy Uses: Brief History
The earliest account of uses of wind energy is cited in the Chinese, Babylonians, Persian and Middle East civilizations. Wind energy propelled boats or sailboats were used as means of transport while windmills in China pumped waters for farms and ranches. Extensive use of wind energy became popular in European countries and the Dutch started using windmills for irrigation and production of electricity in the late 19th century. In the US, wind power was harnessed in the ranches, farms and far flung areas to meet energy requirements, grind cereals and pump water. As increase in electricity supplies became popular in the US in the 20th century, wind mills disappeared from the scene. The past couple of decades have seen a tremendous rise in the number of windmills all across the US, owing to the concerns of the global warming. Now wind energy is an economical alternative energy source in most of the countries. It is said that the US is attempting to meet 30% of its electricity requirements through wind energy by the end of 2030.

Most Common Wind Energy Use in This Era: Electricity Production
Understanding the simple use of wind energy is interesting. Electricity production is said to be one of the biggest uses of windmills. In this technology dominated era, traditional windmills have been replaced by specially designed wind turbines to enhance the productivity of electricity generation. The blades of wind turbine capture the wind speed, thereby capturing its kinetic energy. The movement of these blades sets the shafts connected to them in motion, leading to power in a generator that produces electricity. A typical wind turbine consists of blades, shafts, gears, generators and cable. Here's a step by step procedure on how wind power works to produce electricity.

• Wind blades are installed on top of the towers. The wind blows the blades and makes them spin.
• Low-speed drive shafts are connected to the wind turbine blades. These low speed shafts are connected to the gearbox that increases the speed of wind blades by making them spin faster.
• The spinning motion of wind blades results due to the presence of high speed wind shaft in the gearbox that are further connected to the generator. The turning of shaft inside the generator leads to electricity production.
• The produced electricity is made available to people through transmission lines and cable.

The electricity produced by a wind turbine is dependent on the size of the wind turbine. Small ones provide electricity for one home while very big turbines can help to produce electricity for nearly 500 to 1,000 homes. In many coastal areas, where wind flow is common in most of the seasons, wind plants (clusters of wind turbines) are established to provide electricity to villages and communities. Read the Buzzle article on how is wind energy produced to understand the concept of wind production in depth.

First Cell Phone Brand

What Brand was the First Mobile Phone?
Back in the 1970s, a war was waged between the two major companies - Motorola and Bell Labs (a research and development subsidiary of AT&T back then), to come up with the first portable mobile phone or cell phone. At the end of the day, Motorola emerged as the winner with the introduction of Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, which made it the first cell phone brand of the world. This mobile handset was also the first handset to receive US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) acceptance. It was widely popularized by the teen sitcom 'Saved by the Bell' in the late 80s and early 90s.

The first phone DynaTAC 8000X was a simple handset which only facilitated conversation. The noteworthy features of this bulky handset were a one line display, a numeric keypad and a battery life of half an hour. While many people may feel that this model doesn't even deserve to be called a cell phone, one has to take into consideration the fact that the year was 1983 (it was made commercially available only in 1985 though) - a period when the concept of smartphone was not even heard of. Though scores of people were keen on buying this device back then, the exorbitant price tag of $3,995 put it beyond the reach of most of these people.

Motorola hastened its efforts of introducing a portable cell phone in December 1972, as the Federal Communications Commission was contemplating the idea of allowing AT&T to set up wireless network and AT&T itself was contemplating the idea of introducing a wireless cell phone. Even though the efforts were hastened, it was only in 1983 that the first mobile phone was invented in the form of DynaTAC 8000X. A large part of the credit of making Motorola the world's first brand of cell phone goes to the inventor of Motorola DynaTAC 8000X - Martin Cooper (see who invented cell phone), along with the lead designer for this model - Rudy Krolopp and the communications' division head for Motorola - John Mitchell.

While the first cell phone was named DynaTAC 8000X, Motorola launched a series of cell phones under the name DynaTAC - which was an abbreviation of Dynamic Adaptive Total Area Coverage, between 1984 and 1994. The DynaTAC series became the first line of cell phones to be produced on a commercial scale by Motorola. Over the course of time, the company achieved several other milestones in wireless technology.

How Does Biomass Energy Work

What is Biomass Energy and How It Works

As the name suggests, biomass energy is indeed energy or fuel that is acquired by processing biological mass of matter that is still alive or was recently alive. The energy that is extracted from these living biological matters is either in the form of biological by-products produced by them or by processing the biological mass of recently living matter, such that the resultant product is a usable form of energy or fuel. There are five different sources from which biomass energy is usually generated. These are waste materials, wood, alcohol fuel, trash or garbage, and landfill gases that are produced when the garbage and waste that are dumped at a single landfill site undergo various chemical reactions and putrefaction (the latter is a result of microbial action which breaks down biodegradable waste on a molecular level). That basically means that biomass energy sources are all around us! The use of wood and plant material as a fuel is a well known phenomenon, as most of us have seen how dried wood and parched plant material is burned to produce heat for a lot of domestic as well as industrial purposes.

So how does biomass energy work? Well, coming to the functional part, biomass energy works in a lot of different ways, depending upon the source from which it is generated, and the form in which it is produced and used. A noteworthy point that I must mention at this stage is that biomass energy can occur in solid, liquid as well as gaseous forms. In its solid form, we can see biomass energy in the form of firewood and combustible waste. An example of biomass fuel in liquid form can be seen by way of ethanol, which is derived by processing and fermenting the leftover portions of sugarcane and corn crops. The methane gas that is released by decomposing waste at landfills is a gaseous form of biomass energy. While most solid forms of biomass fuel is used to generate heat and fertilize soil, liquid forms such as ethanol can be used directly as a fuel (biodiesel, for instance) to power mechanical applications, or can be used as an additive to other conventional liquid fuels such as gasoline. The gaseous forms can be used for domestic purposes (biogas, for instance) as well as for industrial purposes for powering large plants and applications, as well as for generating heat.

The most prominent among all biomass energy advantages is that the sources are renewable as opposed to fossil fuel sources. However, the amount of air pollution caused by carbon emissions from biomass fuels is more or less the same as that from fossil fuels. Since biomass energy is derived from carbon based matter (all terrestrial life forms are carbon based… remember?), emission of carbon on combustion is inevitable. However, since the raw material that gives off the energy are still within the present carbon cycle (unlike fossil fuel sources that have gone out of the present carbon cycle ages ago), they also absorb some amount of atmospheric carbon, which kind of restores the balance.

Best GPS Systems

Best GPS System Manufacturers

There are a few companies that top the list of GPS system brands, and these companies are Garmin, TomTom, Magellan and Navigon. Their GPS receivers are very popular amongst vehicle manufacturers, and they even provide handheld GPS systems for people who go camping and trekking and need directions. Smartphone manufacturers also provide GPS receivers in their handsets, and these receivers can be turned on or off with the touch of a button. Combining this system with the awesome Google Maps has given the common man access to unlimited features and assured productivity.

If you are looking for a standalone GPS system though, then Garmin should be the brand of your choice. Garmin is a Swiss company that was founded in 1989, and since then it has been providing buyers with the latest in cutting edge technology that fulfills their navigational needs. They have a long list of GPS systems that can be used in a variety of positions (underwater and even on a laptop, for instance) and they are to go-to name when OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) wish to incorporate GPS systems in their products as well.

Best GPS Systems Reviews

Finding the best GPS for the money is not a difficult task, thanks to the countless reviews that can be found online. Technology websites and forums regularly update their reviews sections when new GPS systems are released, and they always belong to the brands that are mentioned above. Here are some of the best GPS systems for various categories that are available in the market today.

Best GPS for Automobiles
The Garmin Nuvi 255W is universally accepted as the best vehicle GPS system that you can buy today, and this will cost you $299. The large 4.3" touchscreen makes the device a joy to use and very easy to understand. The standard features of text-to-speech and points of interest are available, and creating routes and getting information about one's current location is as simple and effective as it gets. A SD card slot is also available, so storing information and past directions is not a problem either. The cradle for the GPS is rather large though, so it is best suited for use in an automobile only. The maps that are provided are updated as often as possible, and this is easily the GPS system that offers the most value for money in the market.

Best GPS for Smartphones
Top of the line smartphones like the Apple iPhone 4, the Samsung Nexus S and the Motorola Atrix offer GPS functionality as well. These are ideal for people who would like to get directions and maps no matter where they are, and the GPS receivers just take a few seconds to latch onto the correct position. Maps are either provided by Google or other third party providers. Brands like Garmin also have GPS apps that are provided on these platforms and can be used by smartphone users from all around the world. The prices for such devices will solely depend on the nature of the smartphone itself, and the range for these prices is very large.

Happy Bikini Birthday! Jessica Alba Shows Off Her Birthday Suit In Bikinis

One of the hottest stars in Hollywood, Jessica Alba, is celebrating the big three-oh on Thursday, so what better way celebrate her big day than to honor her sizzling hot bikini body?

PHOTOS: Jessica Alba Shows Off Her Birthday Suit In Bikinis

From Miami Beach to Malibu, Jessica is famous for showing off her perfect 10 curves in the skimpiest of string bikinis.

PHOTOS: Bikini Brides-To-Be! Engaged Stars Strip Down

After giving birth to her first child, Honor Marie, Jessica bounced back like the bikini bombshell that she is, hitting the beach once again with her flawless figure.

PHOTOS: The Best Booty’s On The Beach

Due in early summer with her second baby, the bigscreen babe will surely be back on the beach by Labor Day, looking better than ever.

Will Obama Birth-Certificate Release Kill Birther Movement?

COMMENTARY | The issue of President Obama's birth certificate has lingered in the scandal sheets for over two years now.The constant questions over his birth certificate, or lack thereof, have haunted Obama while triggering heated debate across the country. To the likes of Donald Trump, the lack of more concrete proof that the president was born here suggests a grave conspiracy. To others, it reflects the racism and hatred of Republicans and the Tea Party. But now that the White House has finally complied by releasing a long-form certificate at last, will it end the issue, or send it into new directions?

At long last, the demands of Trump and the Tea Party were met Wednesday morning, when the White House released Obama's much debated, and much doubted, long-form certificate of birth. Now the "birthers" will race to the White House website to see it, although time will tell how many of them are really satisfied.

Trump himself took credit for the release, telling ABC News en route to New Hampshire that he was "really honored" to play a role in the debate. Even if this kills the biggest issue that Trump had in his possible presidential run, he can still brag that he did what no other birther had done - intimidate the president into releasing it.

But the birther movement could still continue. After all these years of doubting the president's citizenship, the movement may have too much momentum to dissolve so quickly. Members can say that the document was forged and Obama is still hiding something that proves he is Kenyan.

With an election year coming up, any form of mud-slinging will be used to prevent the president's re-election. However, mainstream GOP candidates may be more relieved than anyone over the document release, since they know birthers may be more of a hindrance in a general election.

Massive storms kill at least 178 in South

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The death toll from severe storms that punished five Southern U.S. states jumped to a staggering 178 Thursday after Alabama canvassed its hard-hit counties for a new tally of lives lost.

Alabama's state emergency management agency said it had confirmed 128 deaths, up from at least 61 earlier.

"We expect that toll, unfortunately, to rise," Gov. Robert Bentley told ABC's "Good Morning America."

Mississippi officials reported 32 dead in that state and Tennessee raised its report to six from one. Another 11 have been killed in Georgia and one in Virginia.

The fierce storms Wednesday spawned tornadoes and winds that wiped out homes and businesses, forced a nuclear power plant to use backup generators and prompted the evacuation of a National Weather Service office.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said it received 137 tornado reports around the regions, including 66 in Alabama and 38 in Mississippi.

One of the hardest-hit areas was Tuscaloosa, a city of more than 83,000 and home to the University of Alabama. The city's police and other emergency services were devastated, the mayor said, and at least 15 people were killed and about 100 were in a single hospital.

A massive tornado, caught on video by a news camera on a tower, barreled through the city late Wednesday afternoon, leveling it.

By nightfall, the city was dark. Roads were impassable. Signs were blown down in front of restaurants, businesses were unrecognizable and sirens wailed off and on. Debris littered the streets and sidewalks.

College students in a commercial district near campus used flashlights to check out the damage.

At Stephanie's Flowers, owner Bronson Englebert used the headlights from two delivery vans to see what valuables he could remove. He had closed early, which was a good thing. The storm blew out the front of his store, pulled down the ceiling and shattered the windows, leaving only the curtains flapping in the breeze.

"It even blew out the back wall, and I've got bricks on top of two delivery vans now," Englebert said.

A group of students stopped to help Englebert, carrying out items like computers and printers and putting them in his van.

"They've been awfully good to me so far," Englebert said.

The storm system spread destruction from Texas to New York, where dozens of roads were flooded or washed out.

The governors in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia each issued emergency declarations for parts of their states.

President Barack Obama said he had spoken with Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and approved his request for emergency federal assistance, including search and rescue assets. About 1,400 National Guard soldiers were being deployed around the state.

"Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by this devastation, and we commend the heroic efforts of those who have been working tirelessly to respond to this disaster," Obama said in a statement.

Around Tuscaloosa, traffic was snarled by downed trees and power lines, and some drivers abandoned their cars in medians.

"What we faced today was massive damage on a scale we have not seen in Tuscaloosa in quite some time," Mayor Walter Maddox said.

University officials said there didn't appear to be significant damage on campus, and dozens of students and locals were staying at a 125-bed shelter in the campus recreation center.

Volunteers and staff were providing food and water to people like 29-year-old civil engineering graduate student Kenyona Pierce.

"I really don't know if I have a home to go to," she said.

Storms also struck Birmingham, felling numerous trees that impeded emergency responders and those trying to leave hard-hit areas.

The Browns Ferry nuclear power plant about 30 miles west of Huntsville lost offsite power. The Tennessee Valley Authority-owned plant had to use seven diesel generators to power the plant's three units. The safety systems operated as needed and the emergency event was classified as the lowest of four levels, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said.

In Huntsville, meteorologists found themselves in the path of severe storms and had to take shelter in a reinforced steel room, turning over monitoring duties to a sister office in Jackson, Miss. Meteorologists saw multiple wall clouds, which sometimes spawn tornadoes, and decided to take cover, but the building wasn't damaged.

"We have to take shelter just like the rest of the people," said meteorologist Chelly Amin, who wasn't at the office at the time but spoke with colleagues about the situation.

In Kemper County, Miss., in the east-central part of the state, sisters Florrie Green and Maxine McDonald, and their sister-in-law Johnnie Green, all died in a mobile home that was destroyed by a storm.

"It's hard. It's been very difficult," said Mary Green, Johnnie Green's daughter-in-law. "They were thrown into those pines over there," she said, pointing to a wooded area. "They had to go look for their bodies."

In Choctaw County, Miss., a Louisiana police officer was killed Wednesday morning when a towering sweetgum tree fell onto his tent as he shielded his young daughter with his body, said Kim Korthuis, a supervisory ranger with the National Park Service. The girl wasn't hurt.

The 9-year-old girl was brought to a motor home about 100 feet away where campsite volunteer Greg Maier was staying with his wife. He went back to check on the father and found him dead.

"She wasn't hurt, just scared and soaking wet," Maier said.

Her father, Lt. Wade Sharp, had been with the Covington Police Department for 19 years.

"He was a hell of an investigator," said Capt. Jack West, his colleague in Louisiana.

In a neighborhood south of Birmingham, Austin Ransdell and a friend had to hike out after the house where he was living was crushed by four trees. No one was hurt.

As he walked away from the wreckage, trees and power lines crisscrossed residential streets, and police cars and utility trucks blocked a main highway.

"The house was destroyed. We couldn't stay in it. Water pipes broke; it was flooding the basement," he said. "We had people coming in telling us another storm was coming in about four or five hours, so we just packed up."

Hunt begins for Mona Lisa model

FLORENCE: A team of researchers in Italy has begun a search for the tomb of a woman who may have been the model for Leonardo Da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa.

The team is using a special radar device at the convent in the city of Florence where it thinks the body of the woman, Lisa Gherardini, is buried.

It hopes to find skull fragments and to try to create a facial reconstruction.

Heart attacks more serious in morning: study

PARIS: Heart attacks that occur in the morning are likely to be more serious than attacks at other times of the day, a specialist journal reported on Wednesday.

Spanish researchers looked at data from 811 patients who had been admitted to a Madrid clinic with a myocardial infarction between 2003 and 2009.

They used levels of an enzyme in the blood to measure the extent of dead tissue, known as an infarct, which is caused by blocked blood supply to heart muscle.

Those who had had a heart attack between 6:00 am and noon, during the transition from darkness to light, had a 21-percent larger infarct compared with patients whose attack occurred between 6:00 pm and midnight.

The study, published in the British journal Heart, builds on previous evidence that circadian rhythm -- the famous "body clock" -- influences the heart in many ways such as blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output and the function of cells that line cardiac blood vessels.

Of the 811 patients, 269 had their heart attacks in the period from 6:00 am to noon. More than three-quarters of the patients admitted to the clinic were men. Their average age was 62.

Earnestness of `Prom' grows on you

It's not just prom, it's Disney's "Prom." And so no one smokes, no one sneaks in peach schnapps in a flask and no one - that's right, no one - gets lucky in the back of a limo.

This is all about that magical night when everyone gets together, regardless of the social hierarchy that had been firmly in place for the past four years, and dreams come true. Wholesome, earnest dreams for wholesome, earnest kids - except for the resident bad boy, that is. But naturally, he'll turn out to have a heart of gold.

Yes, director Joe Nussbaum's film, from a script by first-timer Katie Wech, is chock full of high-school movie clichés - sometimes knowingly and amusingly so. There's a tall, misfit character named Lloyd (Nicholas Braun) who resembles "Say Anything ..."-era John Cusack - a tall, misfit character named Lloyd. His awkward attempts at landing a prom date represent the film's most consistent source of laughs.

Of course, straight-arrow good girl Nova (Aimee Teegarden) will get stuck working with motorcycle-riding rebel Jesse (Thomas McDonell), and they will see through their respective prejudices to not only get along but fall for each other. Various other couples will suffer through missed opportunities and miscommunication and come out better for them in the end.

"Prom" is so steadfastly family friendly, even the dude who's clearly stoned the whole time - his nickname is Rolo, like the candy - never even comes close to taking any sort of drugs. He's just laid-back and wisecracking. You're welcome to draw your own conclusions.

There is a plot, sort of. Members of the Brookside High School senior class are getting ready for prom. Along the way, the shed where the decorations are being stored burns down. Nova, the prom coordinator and Molly Ringwald figure here, must reconstruct the whole extravaganza with the help of Jesse, the Judd Nelson figure in the equation who's been thrust upon her because he's a delinquent. Making papier-mâchÃ(c) moons and stars will straighten him out, the principal figures.

Essentially, this feels like a Disney Channel TV show stretched out to fit the big screen. No one pops out as a major star quite like the actors did in the "High School Musical" series, but they're all harmless and good-looking and the school is sufficiently multicultural to make everyone feel comfortable and included.

Still, the sweetness and guilelessness of "Prom" is actually strangely charming, and for its target audience - girls who are several years away from having to pick out that perfect dress - this will be a safe, enjoyable and validating little diversion. The fact that it's not snarky and too-hip is unexpectedly refreshing.

Nabbed bookies 'threatened' Zulqarnain

SIALKOT: Police said Wednesday that arrested bookmakers had confessed to being behind death threats to former national wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider.

The 25-year-old abandoned the team in Dubai last November and fled to London, saying he had received death threats from bookies who wanted him to fix a match.

Haider said he was retiring from international cricket and applied for political asylum in Britain, but returned home on Monday after the government gave assurances about his safety and that of his family.

"We have arrested eight bookies and some of them have revealed they were behind threats to Haider," police official Nasir Qureshi said from Sialkot.

"We have confiscated their data which has a number of international contacts and the investigation is still on."

Qureshi said an official press conference could be called on Thursday.

"We have found a number of satellite telephones and diaries which have international contacts and we hope to get further details in the next 24 hours," he added.

Haider last week announced that he was prepared to revoke his application for asylum and return to resume his career after meeting Interior Minister Rehman Malik in London.

On his return Haider said he had not yet decided on his future.

"I am happy to return and have got the kind of security promised to me. They have given me superb accommodation," said Haider.

"There were some reasons when I left the team and went to Britain. I will spend some time with my family and haven't decided on my playing future."

On Monday, Malik said Haider had revealed some important details but refused to share them with the media.