12-18-11



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Todays Geez
  • 1271 - Kublai Khan renames his empire "Yuan" ( yuán), officially marking the start of the Yuan Dynasty of China
  • 1796 - 1st US newspaper to appear on Sunday (Baltimore Monitor)
  • 1865 - 1st US cattle importation law passed
  • 1888 - Richard Wetherill and his brother in-law discover the ancient Indian ruins of Mesa Verde
  • 1892 - "Nutcracker Suite" Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet, premieres


♪♪ Happy Birthday To:♪♪                        
 
Free Rambling Thoughts   
A non-windy day…NICE! I got an alert on my phone that Eddie Bauer was having everything in the store at 40% off. Couldn’t resist. The mall lot was full, but finally got a space. The stores were busy. I had lost my head covering in Ethiopia…well I didn’t lose it, I took it off while waiting for our bus and laid it on a table. Walked off without it. Any way I had checked back at Peace Surplus when I got back, but they only had ones for winter…I got a good deal them at Eddie’s today…the regular price was better than Peace, and with 40% off I got two. My white hair attracts sunlight and easily burns my head. I hate hats. This is a stretchy fabric that is formed into a tube. You do some fancy twists and can wear it a number of ways…including my favorite: pirate. I haven’t had a burned head since I got it…and that includes the time on the Colorado River and several boat rides in Ethiopia. Now I’m a happy camper, again.

I’m getting antsy about Christmas…excited to see my brother and sister-in-law. Not excited about the overnight plane rides…just wishing it would happen soon. Thinking about it, thinking about packing and getting all the presents in a carry on, it’s driving me crazy. I could check the bag to Chicago, but if I am stalled somewhere, I am just asking for a lost bag. The problem with the carry on is keeping it with me while a wait for three different flights. Time will tell what I do.

NPR Sunday Puzzle (answers at the end of post)
Every answer is a familiar proverb or saying that contains a word that starts with the letter T. You are given the T word and must guess the saying. For some words, there are multiple answers. For example, given the word "try," the answer could be, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."
1.     Thousand
2.     Throw:
3.     Turn:
4.     Tread:
5.     Tales:
6.     Twice:
7.     Time:  
8.     Think:

Wuzzles  What concept or phrase do these suggest?
   
Rules of Thumb   
Easy shortcuts to make an ‘educated’ guess
  • Figure on 18 square feet of surface area for each adult camper.
  • Hmmmmm           
  • Percentage of private-sector workers with pension plans in 1979 whose plans were defined benefit: 62
  • In 2011: 7


Somewhat Useless Information   
  • The UN has six official languages; Spanish, Russian, French, English, Chinese and Arabic.
  • The Dalmatian is thought to be one of the first breeds of dogs that was deliberately bred for certain characteristics. These dogs have been in paintings running next to chariots, and have been used throughout history as hunters and bird dogs.
  • During World War II Queen Elizabeth served in the military as a member of the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service. Her main duty was driving military trucks, and her rank was No. 230873 Subaltern Elizabeth Windsor.
  • The name koala comes from the aboriginal language Dharuk and translates to mean 'doesn't drink'. The koala have opposable thumbs and like humans have actual fingerprints.

Yeah, It Really Happened                 
PORTLAND, OR - Police in Oregon said they arrested a man accused of assaulting fellow Toys R Us customers with a toy light saber.
Portland police said officers responded to the store at 9:51 p.m. Wednesday on a report of a man attacking customers with the "Star Wars" toy, and they arrived to find the man swinging the light saber around in the parking lot and shouting incoherent statements.
An officer used a Taser on the man, but he was able to use the light saber to break one of the wires, police said. They said the man was tackled to the ground and continued to struggle while being taken into custody.
The man, identified as David Allen Canterbury, 33, was taken to a local hospital for a mental evaluation. Police said he is being charged with three counts of assault in the fourth degree, one count of disorderly conduct in the second degree, one count of theft in the third degree, one count of resisting arrest and one count of interfering with a police officer.

A Laff or at least smile     
Grandpa: Boy, how many miles do you walk to school?
 Boy: about a half mile.
Grandpa: when I was your age I walked eight miles to school every day. Boy, what are your grades like?
Boy: they are mostly B's.
Grandpa: when I was your age I got all A's. Boy, have you ever gotten into a fight?
Boy: only two times and the boy beat me up.
Grandpa: When I was your age I was in a fight every day. Boy, how old are you?
Boy: 9 years old.
Grandpa: when I was your age I was 11

Found on YouTube          

Daybook Information        
Happening This Week:
15-29
Halcyon Days 
16-24
Posadas 
17-23
Saturnalia 
18-24 
Christmas Bird Count Week 
Gluten-free Baking Week: 
Today Is                                                                       
  • Bake Cookies Day
  • International Migrants Day
  • National Roast Suckling Pig Day
  • Snowflake Appreciation Day
  • Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day
  •  Niger: Republic Day (1958)


 Today’s Events                                                              
Arts
1719 - Thomas Fleet publishes "Mother Goose's Melodies For Children"
1956 -  "To Tell the Truth" debuts on CBS-TV
1966 - Dr Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" airs for 1st time on CBS
1976 - "A Star is Born" with Barbra Streisand, premieres
1976 - "Wonder Woman" debuts on ABC
Athletics
1932 - Chicago Bears beat Portsmouth Spartans 9-0 in 1st NFL playoff game
1961 - For 2nd consecutive year, AP names Wilma Rudolph female athlete of year
1963 - Clarke runs world record 10k (28:15.6)
1994 - Darryl Strawberry pleads not guilty on tax evasion charges
Business
1898 - Automobile speed record set-63 kph (39 mph)—current record: 763mph--1997
1920 - 1st US postage stamps printed without the words United States or US: a green 1 cent stamp honoring the Pilgrim Tercentenary with the Mayflower
Education
--
Indigenous People
1812 - After successfully attacking, and burning, 2 peaceful Miami and Delaware villages, and fighting to a draw in another village, yesterday. Col. John Campbell, and almost 600 American volunteers have camped for the night near on of the destroyed villages on the Mississinewa River. They are there to prevent the hitherto peaceful tribes from joining Tecumseh's Rebellion, and attacking William Henry Harrison's rear flank as he engages Detroit. The Miami consider yesterday's attacks on villages who had pledged not to support Tecumseh's "Rebellion" as nothing more than an unprovoked massacre. The Miami mount a retaliatory raid against Campbell's camp before dawn. They will kill 10 soldiers, and wound 48 more, before they withdraw. Campbell will give up his expedition along the river after this attack.
1835 - Near Micanopy, Florida, a military baggage caravan has separated from its main force while marching from Jacksonville to Wetumpka. A group of Seminole, led by Osceola, will attack the soldiers, killing most of them. This battle will be called the "Battle of Black Point"; and, according to some historians, will be the first battle of the Second Seminoe War.
Politics [International]
1980 - IRA's Sean McKenna becomes critically ill, ends hunger strike
Politics [US]
1777 - 1st national Thanksgiving Day, commemorating Burgoyne's surrender
1787 - New Jersey becomes 3rd state to ratify constitution
1799 - George Washington's body interred at Mount Vernon
1958 - 1st voice from space: recorded Christmas message by Eisenhower
Religion
--
Science
1849 - William Bond obtains 1st photograph of Moon through a telescope
1936 - 1st giant panda imported into US Su-Lin

Today’s Birthdays                                                           
Artists: [Authors, Composers]
1870 - Saki, [Hector Hugo Munro], Burma, author (Reginald, When William Came)
Athletes
Aaron Craver, NFL running back (Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers) is 43
1886 - Ty Cobb, Colo, batted .367, stole 892 bases (Det Tigers)
Entertainers [Actors, Singers…]
Christina Aguilera, American singer (Beautiful) is 31
1917 - Ossie Davis, actor/playwright (Hot Stuff, Man Called Adam)
1916 - Betty Grable, great legs/actress (Gay Divorcee)
Katie Holmes, actor is 33
Ray Liotta, actor (Goodfellas) is 56
Brad Pitt, actor, producer is 48
Keith Richards, rock guitarist (Rolling Stones-Brown Sugar) is 68
Roger Smith, actor (77 Sunset Strip) is 79
Steven Spielberg, director (ET, Close Encounters, Jaws) is 65
Casper Van Dien, actor is 43
Entrepreneurs & Educators
Leonard Maltin, movie critic (Entertainment Tonight) is 61
1888 - Robert Moses, power broker (built Long Island & NYC parks & roads)
Political Figures
1913 - Willy Brandt, [Herbert Frahm], German chancellor (1969-74, Nobel 1971)
Ramsey Clark, US attorney General, lawyer is 84 
1662 - James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry, Scottish politician
Scientists & Theologians
1707 - Charles Wesley, co-founder (Methodist movement)
Today’s Obits                                                           
- Dana Andrews, actor (Best Years of Our Lifes), dies at 83 in 1992 
- John T "Legs" Diamond, US gangster, murdered at 35 in 1931 
- Chris Farley, comedian (SNL, Tommy Boy), dies of drug overdose at 33 in 1997 
- Mark Felt, the infamous Deep Throat, American FBI official and whistle blower during the Watergate Scandal dies at 76 in 2008
- Mark Goodson, TV game show producer (Goodson-Toddman), dies at 77 in 1992
- Mother Clare Hale, cared for NYC AIDS babies (Hale House), dies at 87 in 1992
- Jack Linkletter, American television host, son of Art dies of lymphoma at 70 in 2007
Answers                                                                                                                                            
NPR Sunday Puzzle
1.     Thousand:
a.     a picture is worth a thousand words
b.     a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step
2.     Throw:
a.     People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones
b.     Don't throw away your old shoes until you have new ones
3.     Turn:
a.     one good turn deserves another
b.     turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.
4.     Tread:
a.     fools rush in where angels fear to tread
5.     Tales:
a.     dead men tell no tales
6.     Twice:
a.     Measure twice cut once
b.     fool me once shame on you; fool me twice, shame on you
c.      once bitten twice shy
7.     Time:
a.     a stitch in time saves nine
b.     time will tell
c.      time heals all wounds
8.     Think:
a.     Great minds think alike

Wuzzle
  • Long ago
  • Repeatedly
  • Slim chance


Disclaimer: All opinions are mine…feel free to agree or disagree.
All ‘data’ info is from the internet sites and is usually checked with at least one other source, but I have learned that every site has mistakes and sadly once out the information is out there, many sites simply copy it and is therefore difficult to verify. Also for events occurring before the Gregorian calendar was adopted [1582] the dates may not be totally accurate.
§     And That Is 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.