What’s in a name?

By MIKE WILSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 19, 2001

From the Web sites www.georgewashington.com, www.georgewashington.net, www.abelincoln.org, www.honestabe.com, www.honestabe.net and www.honestabe.org.

Today is Washington's Birthday, a federal holiday. It is popularly known as Presidents' Day in honor of Washington and Lincoln.

http://www.georgewashington.net

We are now accepting submissions for GeorgeWashington.net, the internet's new home for political cartoons and editorial satire. If you are a cartoonist or writer, please send us your material. Everything will be considered, but not everything will be included on the website. If you need us to scan your material, please contact us for our mailing address. GeorgeWashington.net will launch some time in 2001, so until that time, you can sign up for a free email account:

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http://www.georgewashington.com

(The site was created by the Texas-based WallBuilders, whose own Web site says it is "dedicated to the restoration of the moral and religious foundation on which America was built -- a foundation which, in recent years, has been seriously attacked and undermined.")

George Washington said of the Bible:

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

He was right.

http://www.abelincoln.org

(The site promotes Lincoln impersonator Lee Williams of Wiota, Iowa. He is a member of the Association of Lincoln Presenters.)

Get a glimpse of our past and gain hope for the future.

Lee Williams brings these qualities to life as he portrays Abraham Lincoln for your organization. . . .

What does Lee actually do in his presentations?

Lee becomes Abraham Lincoln. Each program is tailored to your specific audience -- be it young, middle-aged, older, or mixed ages. You will get a glimpse of Mr. Lincoln's childhood, young manhood, career as a lawyer and statesman, and his presidency. Lee brings Abraham Lincoln to life, emphasizing his character, humility, determination, humor and compassion. To see Lee in action, be sure to check out the photo gallery.

http://www.honestabe.com

The true heart and soul of log home living comes from the homes themselves. When you walk into an Honest Abe log home, the artistry, tradition and quality craftsmanship is readily visible.

Welcome to Honest Abe Log Homes. . . .

At our Moss, Tennessee, headquarters, a fully-staffed drafting department uses state-of-the-art equipment to design custom plans for our many customers.

Everything from a simple one-room cabin to an exquisite 5,000-plus-square-foot mansion is carefully and distinctively conceptualized. . . .

Because the actual manufacturing of every home takes place right here, Honest Abe is in complete control at all times. This close supervision assures a top-quality product that will provide a lifetime of comfort and satisfaction. . . .

From concept and design to delivery and construction, Honest Abe is the one company that will always be by your side. We take great pride in knowing that thousands of people every day are coming home to an Honest Abe.

http://www.honestabe.net

(The personal site of Abraham A. Ingersoll, an amateur photographer.)

Hi. I like to take pictures.

For a few years now I've pursued this hobby much more than the others. Besides a community college photography program, I'm a student of many different books and websites. The original interest comes from my penchant towards mass media, and my dad, who to this day is still playing around with a darkroom in his basement and numerous old Pentax K1000's.

http://www.honestabe.org

(The site does not say who is responsible for it.)

If the IRS taxes a high income citizen more than a low income citizen thus attempting to make the high income person more equal to the person who DID NOT get a higher education, DID NOT work longer hours, DID NOT go after the better job; Isn't that downright COMMUNIST!? Or is it just a greedy, prejudiced government? FLAT TAX is the only FAIR TAX!!! So please inform your local congressman if you agree.

If you are in the habit of throwing cigarette butts out of your car window you are nothing but a FIRE-HAZARDOUS LITTERBUG who will probably DIE A SLOW DEATH from some kind of cancer or a heart or lung disease, not to mention ruining the health of the people around you. You also stand a good chance of burning your house down along with the people in it. If you want to know how the rest of us feel try sucking on the other end of your CANCER STICK!! By the way, you don't smoke; the cigarette smokes, you're just the sucker!

GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE, PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE! If Parents would teach their children the differences between right and wrong, demonstrate some responsibility, exercise some discipline, and limit their kids' exposure to sex, drugs, and violence there would be far fewer problems in todays society. A parent's greatest battle is probably the media's hype of all things violent. Everything from Pokemon to those Wildest/Shocking/Real TV/Caught on Video shows to Professional Wrestling (What a Joke!) to the Evening News is predominantly based on some kind of violence. I couldn't even buy a Bugs Bunny action figure without a "rocket carrot launcher." Movies, Television, Radio, they all, in order to boost their ratings, have become far more sexually explicit, foul-mouthed and violent over the last few years. Obviously I believe in free speech in America, but things can be said and done without being lewd, rude, crass, or shocking. Since the FCC isn't doing any thing I guess it is up the American Voter to elect individuals with honor and dignity that will do the right thing for the good of the people and not trade political favors or get caught with their pants down! I can honestly say that I have not and will NEVER do drugs, drink alcohol, smoke a cigarette, cheat on my wife or rip off my fellow man. All it takes is a decision, a little courage, and little confidence and the power is yours! There are no GOOD excuses.

If you don't like the USA, you are FREE to LEAVE!!!

- Word for Word is an occasional feature excerpting passages of interest from books, magazines, Web sites and other sources.

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