≈Week 19 of 2010: 124 days this year… 241 days remain≈
≈ Something To Think About
True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.
~ Clarence Darrow
≈ Random Fact
The word "queue" is the only word in the English language that is still pronounced the same way when the last four letters are removed.
• Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1919 ►May Fourth Movement: Student demonstrations take place in Tiananmen Square inBeijing, China, protesting the Treaty of Versailles, which transferred Chinese territory to Japan.
≈ Free Ramblings
Wednesday is Cinco de Mayo. It should be noted that this is a bigger celebration in the US than in Mexico. It is not Mexico’s 4th of July. Actually it is to commemorate a battle between the French Army and local Mexicans in the state of Puebla. In 1861 Benito Juarez had stopped paying interest money on loans from France. In 1862 France invaded. Puebla was the first battle and the French lost badly. The French continued pressing forward and captured Mexico City. Mexico was now under French control. Juarez was deposed, Maximilian I took over. Five years after Puebla, Juarez reclaimed power and had Max executed. The French invasion was the last time a North American country was invaded by a Non-North American country. The town of Puebla celebrates the battle victory. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day—it is commemorating a battle where the locals beat a much stronger and larger invader.
Americans, over the years, have made Cinco de Mayo a day to recognize Mexican ancestry within our borders. Many believe it is similar to the American celebrations on St. Patrick’s Day, Oktoberfest, or the Chinese New Year. Did you know there is an air guitar completion in the Cayman Islands on Cinco de Mayo or that Malta celebrates with Mexican Beer Drink Specials or that there is a sky-diving competition in Vancouver? Looks like everybody enjoys finding a reason to celebrate and what better to celebrate than the victory of the underdog? ¡SALUD!
Arizonans finally got some good news today. Over the past few weeks Sheriff Joe has been hinting that he will run for governor. He currently has $2+million in is campaign pockets. He is very right wing. He is a tough sheriff and has been for years. He makes inmates in his jails wear pink underwear. The prisoners live in a tent city—even during the hottest months in Phoenix. He runs ‘sweeps’ in parts of the county where illegals are believed to be staying. In these community sweeps, legals and illegals are arrested and detained, many times without charges being filed. He is currently being investigated by the Feds for racial profiling and other violations. It is interesting that in his announcement today he said that he knew if he ran, he would win the governorship, but felt that he had an obligation to the people who elected him to remain sheriff. He said he may run for governor in 2014. He is currently 77 years old. He is arrogant, if nothing else. His wife of 50+ years was encouraging him to run saying that his life would have been much less stressful.
Flagstaff had a great spring day. We had a clear sky and made it to 65°. I was able to be outside much of the day. Tomorrow is scheduled to be even better. When we have a nice day, we go all out or should I say we all go out. So nice. I think I’ll just take this week one day at a time.
≈ A Quick Smile…
At the beginning of the school year, one seventh grader was reflecting on his chance at being the 8th grade valedictorian. He said his dad was valedictorian, his mom was valedictorian, and his sister was also valedictorian.
He paused, leaned back in his chair and said, "Looks like the end of an era!"
≈ Puzzle
The number next to the acronym helps solve what the acronym means... e.g. 365 DIAY = 365 days in a year, and 366 DIALY = 366 days in a leap year.
1. 1760 Y i a M
2. 26 L i t A
3. 1066 B o H
≈ Side Show Stories
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho - A SkyWest Airlines flight from Helena, Mont., to Salt Lake City was diverted to Idaho Falls after a passenger began banging on the cockpit door, saying he was a space alien and wanted to fly the plane.
Idaho Falls Police Sgt. Phil Grimes says other passengers on the Sunday evening flight helped restrain 32-year-old Matthew Kleindorfer of Las Vegas. The plane landed just before 6 p.m.
Kleindorfer faces misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace and resisting arrest and a felony count of battery of an officer.
≈ Calendar Information
• Observance Weeks in May•
1-7
Bread Pudding Recipe Exchange Week
2-8
Be Kind To Animals Week
National Correctional Officer's Week
Children's Mental Health Week
Drinking Water Week
Flexible Work Arrangement Week
Kids Win Week
3-9
Dating and Life Coach Recognition Week
Intimate Apparel Market Week
Work At Home Moms Week
• Today’s Observances—US/UN/World •
Bird Day
National Candied Orange Peel Day
Childhood Depression Awareness Day
National Teacher Day: Remember a teacher who helped make your life a little better
Respect for Chickens Day
Rhode Island: Independence Day, commemorates state's independence from Great Britain in 1776
Star Wars Day
Student Memorial Day (1970—Kent State) 4 unarmed students die, 9 injured
• Today’s Observances—by country •
Afghanistan: Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled
Japan: Greenery Day
Namibia: Cassinga Day—since 1978 to commemorate the massacre of 600 by South African Defense Force
People's Republic of China: Youth Day 青年节
Republic of China: Literary Day 文藝節
Tonga : Crown Prince's Birthday
International Firefighters' Day
Netherlands: Remembrance of the Dead
• Today’s Number One Songs in…
For anyone interested, all these songs are available on iTunes.
1942 ►Tangerine; Jimmy Dorsey
1952 ►Wheel of Fortune; Kay Starr
1962 ►Soldier Boy; The Shirelles
1972 ►The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face; Roberta Flack
1982 ►Chariots of Fire; Vangelis
• Today’s Happenings•
In The Arts
1780 ►American Academy of Arts & Science founded
1927 ►Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences forms
1933 ►Pulitzer prize awarded to Archibald Macleish (Conquistador)
1953 ►Pulitzer Prize awarded to Ernest Hemingway (The Old Man and the Sea)
1970 ►Pulitzer prize awarded to Erik H Erikson (Gandhi's Truth)
In Athletics
1893 ►Cowboy Bob Pickett invents bulldogging
1924 ►8th modern Olympic games open in Paris France
In Business or Education
1932 ►Al Capone begins life as convict 40886 in Atlanta Federal Penitentiary serving 11 years for Income Tax Evasion
In Politics
1626 ►Indians sell Manhattan Island for $24 in cloth & buttons
1846 ►US state of Michigan ends death penalty
1863 ►After the Minnesota uprising of the Santee Sioux, and their subsequent defeat, their lands are forfeited.
1864 ►Ulysses S Grant crosses Rapidan & begins his duel with Robert E Lee
1886 ►Haymarket riot in Chicago; bomb kills 7 policemen
In Science/ Religion
1415 ►Religious reformers John Wycliffe and Jan Hus are condemned as heretics at the Council of Constance.
• Today’s Births •
Artists, Writers, and Composers
David Guterson, 54, author (Snow Falling on Cedars)
Athletes
Betsy Rawls, 82, LPGA golfer
Fred (Frederic) Stanfield, 66, hockey: NHL (Blackhawks, Bruins, North Stars, Sabres)
Entertainers
Lance Bass, 31, singer: group: ’N Sync
Audrey Hepburn (Edda Kathleen Hepburn van Heemstra), 1929, actress
Roberta Peters, 80, opera singer (retired)
Randy Travis [Randy Bruce Traywick], 51, country and western musician (“Forever and Ever, Amen”)
Dennis Weaver, 1924, actor (Gunsmoke, McCloud)
Pia Zadora, 54, actress, singer, dancer
Business, Education Leaders
Horace Mann, 1796, educator: the father of public education in the U.S.
George F. Will, 69, editor, columnist, baseball executive
Political Leaders
Julia Gardiner Tyler, 1820, 2nd wife of President John Tyler
Scientists /Religious Leaders
Francis J Spellman, 1889, US Cardinal
• Today’s Obits •
Sherlock Holmes, 1891, "dies" at Reichenbach Falls
Moe Howard [Moses Horowitz], 1975, comedian (3 Stooges), @ 77
Josip Broz Tito, 1980, leader of Yugoslavia @ 87
Bobby Sands, 1981, Irish IRA-terrorist, hunger strike @ 27
Paul Butterfield, 1987, singer/harmonica player, drug abuse @ 44
≈ ANSWERS to puzzle
1. 1760 Y i a M = 1760 Yards in a Mile
2. 26 L i t A = 26 Letters in the Alphabet
3. 1066 B o H = 1066 Battle of Hastings
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
