Did you contribute to WWII at Home?If you were involved in World War II, but did your service at home, there is now a Web site set up to make note of your contribution.The American Battle Monuments Commission has organized the web-based list in an effort to extend recognition to as many as 16 million Americans who served in and out uniform during the Second World War.As well as those who contributed through the Military, the Web site is set up to recognize those who contributed on the home front.How’s your SPAMSpam: Unsolicited e-mail, often of a commercial nature, sent indiscriminately to multiple mailing lists, individuals, or newsgroups; junk e-mail.It’s also a lunchmeat made famous during World War II by the Hormel Corporation, but that’s not the spam we’re talking about.As congress starts to look at ways of solving the computer version of the spam problem, a recent article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune showed what most of the span you receive really is.* Products:(25%) An offer of advertised general goods or services * Financial:(20%). Lately home mortgages seem to be the most common feature in this category.* Adult:(19%) Contains or intended for persons above the age of 18, but in reality they go to everyone. These ads usually want to increase the size of something.* Scams:(9%) Recognized as fraudulent, intentionally misguiding or known to result in fraudulent activity by the sender. At least twice a week I am offered about $35 million if I will let someone from the middle east transfer twice that amount into my checking account, because they need to get it into the county.* Internet:(7%) Specifically offer of advertise Internetor computer related goods or services.* Health:(7%) Offering or advertise health related products and services.* Leisure(6%) Offer or advertise prizes, awards or discounted leisure activities.* Spiritual(4%) Containing information about religious or spiritual evangelization or services.* Other(3%)Spammer don’t know who you are or if they are hitting someone that might be interested in the particular product they are selling.Spammers use software called spiders or robots that search the internet for anything that uses an @ address symbol.One spammer profiled by CBS news said he sends out an average of 180 million spam e-mails each day.If a tiny fraction of those are responded to he get paid.A recent article in the Washington Post reported 40% of e-mail is unwanted spam and that number is expected to grow to more than 50% by the end of the yearAnd if you think you are getting rid of them by responding, forget about it. Any response only confirms that they have hit a valid e-mail address.Know your treesIf you don’t know your trees, now is a good time to learn.The National Arbor Day Society has put together the book, "What Tree Is That?"The 72-page guide will help you identify 135 different trees found in the eastern and central U.S.Well-known trees, such as oaks, maples, spruces, and pines are featured along with less known species such as horse chestnut and mocker nut hickory, sassafras and shadbush persimmon and paw paw and pagoda tree and pecan.The book also has dozens of drawings and illustrations of the tree’s leaves or needles and their acorns, berries, seedpods and other identifying features.To obtain the $3 book contact the National Arbor Day Foundation at Nebraska City, NE 68410, or go online to www.arborday.org.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com
