6-17-11



Ø  TODAY’s “Geez”:
·        1894 - 1st US poliomyelitis epidemic breaks out, Rutland, Vermont
·        1967 - 1st Chinese hydrogen bomb explodes
·        1994 - OJ Simpson doesn't turn himself in on murder charges, LA cops chase his Ford Bronco for 1½ hours, eventually gives up (seen live on TV)

Ø  Free Rambling Thoughts…
A very interesting day. When I got on line, FB was abuzz with Flagstaff news. Six people had chained themselves to equipment that was putting a pipeline on the Peaks. Some of the protesters are Native—it is a scared mountain—and others were environmentalists. This has hit all the Indian press and to some degree the main stream local press. This is the first time in a long time that there has been a protest of this magnitude about the peaks. The mayor of Flagstaff asked for comments and it seems that many are upset that the City is selling treated waste water to make snow. Many non-natives don’t get the ‘sacred’ part of the peaks. Thirteen tribes traditionally believe that various deities live on the peaks. The issue is placing waste water—even treated—on the peaks for the purpose of making money. The tribes, for the most part, are against any snow making. The environmentalists say the water is not safe and will place prescription drugs and human waste on the mountain. Again I say, Flagstaff will never become a ski town like Aspen or Vail. Even with machine made snow, there are not enough runs or enough mountain. The six protesters who were arrested were given a chance to unchain themselves and not face charges. They all refused saying they were ready for prosecution. As I was driving home from lunch I drove through downtown Flag. The non arrested protesters and the huge banner had made their way to the tourist building. This is not going to go quietly into the night.

The trial of the guy who had a non-Native sweat lodge where people died is about to go to the jury. The jury seems to have decide if the guy brainwashed the people to stay inside, even when their bodies told them to leave or if the people had the free will to leave and just didn’t. I don’t think the trial’s verdict will be the end of anything either. Appeals will draw this out for even more years.

Black Bears!!!! This is the latest from those who were evacuated from that huge fire. They were all told today not to use waste containers on the street or in dumpsters but to take it directly to the landfill. It seems that the destroyed forest has many surviving and very hungry black bears who are expected to be searching for rotting food within the city limits. Since the people were gone for almost two weeks and their homes were without electricity, there is a lot of rotten food. The residents are also dealing with lots of deer wandering the towns. The joy of living in a forest devastated by fire. So sad.

Ø  Trivia Quiz…(answers at the end of post)
4th Grade Questions
1. What are the three most important reasons that the United States fought in the First World War on the side of France and Great Britain?

2. Which area became part of the United States last?
A) Hawaii B) Texas C) Oregon D) Alaska

3. The document that contains the basic rules used to run the United States government is:
A) the Declaration of Independence B) the Magna Carta C) the Mayflower Compact D) the Constitution

4. Sojourner Truth said these words in 1852: "I hear talk about the Constitution and rights of man. I come up and I takes hold of this Constitution. It looks might big. And I feels for my rights, but they not there." What did Sojourner Truth want to communicate with her words?
A) Poor people did not know what was written in the Constitution B) African-Americans were not allowed to read the Constitution C) The Constitution did not talk about the rights of African-Americans D) The Constitution needed to talk about the rights of Native Americans

Ø  Zoom-ed in Picture…Can you Identify what this is? (Answer at end of post)

Ø  Hmmmmm…
·        Rank, in 2010, of the term ‘austerty’ among the most commonly requested definitions in Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary: 5
·        Of ‘pragmatic’: 4

Ø  Somewhat Useless Information…
·        Prior to the 1950's the color of the graduation gown was gray. This was practiced only in the U.S. Colors in European countries were used as far back as the 1800s to signify the area of study. Sometime during the 1950's students began to ask for cap and gowns that represented their school colors.
·        During the 12th and 13th centuries the academic dress for graduation was born. At that time the standard dress for faculty or students was clerical dress. It wasn't until 1321 that the University of Coimbra decided that all Doctors, Bachelors, and Licentiates would be required to wear gowns.
·        The graduation ceremony is a cultural tradition that is considered a rite of passage that marks the transition from one stage in a student's life to another. The Baccalaureate Ceremony is considered the beginning of "Rite of passage." Some schools include the Baccalaureate Ceremony with the actual Graduation Ceremony, while others celebrate the two in separate events altogether.

Ø  Yeah, It Really Happened…
SCHLUSSER, Pa. - Police in Pennsylvania said a couple, ages 83 and 89, are accused of threatening to kill a neighbor after discovering cat droppings on their property. Investigators said Harold Rought, 83, and his wife, Ruth, 89, of North Middleton Township, called police after discovering the cat feces on their property, The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa., reported Monday. The couple told police they had been feeding stray cats in the neighborhood and they believed their neighbor had placed the droppings on their property in retaliation. The Roughts told police they were planning to shoot the neighbor. The couple were both arrested and charged with terroristic threats and harassment.

Ø  Guffaw…or at least smile…
A Sunday school teacher asked the children in her class, "If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would I get into Heaven?"
"No!" the children all answered.
"If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would I get into Heaven?"
 Again the answer was "No!"
 "Well", she continued, "then how can I get into Heaven?"
 A five-year-old boy shouted out, "You gotta be dead!"

Ø  Searchin’ “You Tube” I found…

Peter Lupus 2007 world record


Mission Impossible TV Series Opening


Ø  Daybook Information…
…Happening This Week:
10-17
·        Superman Week
·        Nursing Assistants Week
12-18
·        National Flag Week
·        Men's Health Week
14-20
·        Universal Father's Week
·        US Open Golf Championship

Ø  TODAY IS
Eat Your Vegetables Day
Dump The Pump Day: Save money and ride public transit
National Flip Flop Day
Stewarts Root Beer Day
World Day To Combat Desertification and Drought
Watergate Day
Work@Home Father's Day
Iceland: Independence Day [Þjóðhátíðardagurinn], from Denmark since 1944  

Ø  Today’s Events:
  IN ARTS
1919 - "Barney Google" cartoon strip, by Billy De Beck, premieres
1968 - Ohio Express'  "Yummy Yummy Yummy" goes gold
  IN ATHLETICS
1953 - Most runs scored in 1 inning (17 by Red Sox)
1976 - ABA (Nets, Pacers, Nuggets & Spurs) merges into NBA
1992 - Philadelphia 76ers trade Charles Barkley to Phoenix Suns
  IN BUSINESS
1864 - 640m long pontoon bridge over James River Virginia finished
1947 - Pan Am Airways chartered as 1st worldwide passenger airline
… IN EDUCATION
  FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1579: Sir Francis Drake lands north of San Francisco, probably, at what is called today, Drake's Bay, in California. He reports the Indians to be "people of a tractable, free and loving nature, without guile or treachery."
1654: Today in a meeting between the Swedes and the Delawares in Tinicum (New Sweden, Pennsylvania). Delaware Chief Naaman praises the Swedes for their righteous treatment of the native inhabitants.
1876 - Battle of Rosebud/Battle Where Girl Saved Her Brother
1877 -  Battle of White Bird Canyon - the Nez Perce defeat the US Cavalry at White Bird Canyon in the Idaho Territory
  IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
1462 - Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II (The Night Attack) forcing him to retreat from Wallachia
1579 - Anti-English uprising in Ireland
1956 - Golda Meir begins her term as Israel's foreign minister
1963 - British House of Commons debates Profumo-Christine Keeler affair
1972 - Chile president Allende forms new government
1991 - South Africa abolishes last of its apartheid laws
… IN RELIGION
1631 - Mumtaz Mahal dies during childbirth. Her husband, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I, then spends more than 20 years building her tomb, the Taj Mahal
1839 - In the Kingdom of Hawaii, Kamehameha III issues the Edict of toleration which gives Roman Catholics the freedom to worship in the Hawaiian Islands. 
  IN SCIENCE
1950 - 1st kidney transplant (Chicago)
  IN US POLITICS
1824 - Bureau of Indian Affairs established
1957 - Tuskegee boycott begins (Blacks boycotted city stores)
1982 - Pres Reagan 1st UN Gen Assembly address ("evil empire" speech)
1991 - Pres Zachary Taylors body is exhumed to test how he died

… ARTISTS:  AUTHORS:  COMPOSERS…
George S. Clinton, American composer and musician turns 64
Steven Martini, writer, actor, composer will be 33
…ATHLETES
Bobby Bell, NFL linebacker (KC Chiefs) turns 70
Venus Williams, tennis player will be 31
…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS…)
1915 - Stringbean, [David Akeman], Ky, banjoist/comedian (Hee Haw)
1928 - James Brown, soul singer 
1910 – Clyde ‘Red’ Foley, American musician
Greg Kinnear, late night comedian will be 48
Peter Lupus, actor (Mission Impossible) turns 74
Barry Manilow, American musician turns 68
Diane Murphy, actress (Tabitha Stevens-Bewitched) turns 47
Craig Parker, actor (Lord of the Rings) will be 38
Jason Patric, actor  will be 45
Joe Piscopo, comedian, actor will be 60
… ENTREPRENEUR & EDUCATORS
Harry Browne, American free-market libertarian writer, politician, and investment analyst turns 78
1870 - George Cormack, cereal inventor (Wheaties)
…POLITICIANS

…SCIENTISTS / THEOLOGISTS
1703 - John B Wesley, England, religion co-founder (Methodists)

Ø  Today’s Obits:
1719 - Joseph Addison, English poet/writer/secretary of state, dies of poor health at 47
2008 - Cyd Charisse, American dancer and actress dies at 86
1979 - Lou Frizzel, actor (Dusty Rhoades-Bonanza), dies after lengthy illness at 58
1858 - Rani Lakshmibai, queen of Jhansi in North India, one of the leading figures of the Indian rebellion of 1857 died in battle but body never recovered at 22
1986 - Kate Smith, singer (God Bless America), dies at 78

Ø  ANSWERS:
Trivia Quiz
1. What are the three most important reasons that the United States fought in the First World War on the side of France and Great Britain?
The U.S. entered World War 1 because of these three main reasons: German attacks on American ships threatened safety and trade, France and Britain were democracies and the U.S. believed it should help them and the U.S. had a closer historical relationship with France and Britain than with Germany.

2. Which area became part of the United States last?
A) Hawaii

3. The document that contains the basic rules used to run the United States government is:
D) the Constitution

4. Sojourner Truth said these words in 1852: "I hear talk about the Constitution and rights of man. I come up and I takes hold of this Constitution. It looks might big. And I feels for my rights, but they not there." What did Sojourner Truth want to communicate with her words?
C) The Constitution did not talk about the rights of African-Americans

Close Up Picture
Drinking Fountain

Ø  …AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW

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Flagstaff, Arizona, United States
I retired in '06--at the ripe old age of 57. I enjoy blogging, photography, traveling, and living life to it's fullest.