According to the Fast Food Facts Web page, the fast food item that contains the most calories in the form served to the public is the Schlotzsky's Deluxe Original at 2,638 calories.  Oh, I'll bet that is soooo good.

We have all heard the haunting melody of "Taps." It's the song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. But do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be pleased to find out about its humble beginnings. 

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing,Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. 

During the night, Captain Ellisombe heard the moans of a soldier who was severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward the encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. 

The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army. 

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was denied since the soldier was a Confederate. But out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him one musician. 

The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted. The haunting melody, which we now know as "Taps" used at military funerals, was born.                 

Day is done                Gone the sun
From the lakes           From the hills
  From the sky
All is well,                     safely rest.
  God is nigh. 
Fading light                  Dims the sight 
And a star                    Gems the sky,
        Gleaning bright 
From afar,                     Drawing nigh,
        Falls the night. 
Thanks and praise,        For our days,
                            Neath the sun,                     
Neath the stars,              Neath the sky,
As we go,                       This we know,
      God is nigh. 

In 1982, in the first operation of its kind, doctors at the University of Utah Medical Center implanted a permanent artificial heart in the chest of retired dentist Dr. Barney Clark, who lived 112 days with the device.

A lump of pure gold the size of a matchbox can be flattened into a sheet the size of a tennis court.

Boredom can lead to madness in parrots.   When caged by themselves and neglected for long periods of time, these intelligent, sociable birds can easily become mentally ill. Many inflict wounds upon themselves, develop strange tics, and rip out their own feathers. The birds need constant interaction, affection, and mental stimulation; some bird authorities have determined that some parrot breeds have the mental abilities of a 5-year-old human child. Should a neglected parrot go mad, there is little that can be done to restore it to normalcy. In England, there are "mental institutions" for such unfortunate creatures.