TODAY’s HOLY MACKEREL: 1875 Congress authorizes 20¢ coin, lasts only 3 years
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MY FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
My friend Martha and I went out for an Italian Dinner—late birthday party. Great conversation, and presents too. I got a 12CD set of her book Caitlin—very cooooool. And I got three shot-bottles of various Scotch. Guess I will have my own Scotch tasting party. A nice celebration all around.
Today is International Sister Cities Day. Flagstaff has 4 sister cities: 1. City of Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia, 2. Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico, 3. Barnaul, Siberia, Russia, and 4. Hsin Tien City, Taipei, Taiwan. Even though we are part of AZ, we try to remain international.
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DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Carpet Spot Cleaner. To clean spots on rugs and carpets, use window cleaner. It works as well as the spray-on carpet cleaners and if you buy the store brand (I use Wal Mart), you can get it for as little as $0.97 for a full quart bottle.
When I set mousetraps, I always bait them and put them in a brown paper lunch bag. The mice seem drawn to the small place to explore and all I have to do is close the bag and throw it away after they've been caught! No muss, no fuss!
SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION…
In Massachusetts, the holiday is still called Washington’s Birthday. However, each year the governor issues a proclamation honoring all of the presidents from Massachusetts: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge and John F. Kennedy.
Washington conceived the Badge of Military Merit, for wounded soldiers, and won three during his term. The award wasn’t used again until it was revived and renamed the Purple Heart on his 200th birthday, in 1932.
In some areas, instead of closing for one day to celebrate Lincoln and Washington’s birthdays, they close for an entire week. One such place is the New York City School District.
There was an attempt in 1968 to officially name this day Presidents Day. However, this suggestion died in committee.
Many states, however, choose to call their own celebration on this day "Presidents Day."
On February 22nd of almost every year since 1888, Washington's Farewell Address has been read in the US Senate. While this did not happen on Presidents Day, it is an annual celebration of Washington's Birthday that stems from 1862 when the Address was read as a way to boost morale during the Civil War.
Abraham Lincoln's birthday is on February 12th. Even though many states celebrate Abraham Lincoln's birthday concurrently with Washington's birthday, it is not a federally designated holiday.
PUZZLE: Trivia Quiz […answers at bottom…]
1. If you landed at Mirabel airport, where would you be?
2. What is the largest state in the USA?
3. What river flows through 8 countries and four capital cities?
4. What's the only river that flows both north and south of the equator?
5. The Mason-Dixon line separates Pennsylvania and what State?
6. If you landed at Merignac airport - where are you?
7. Caligari is the capital of what island?
8. What is France's longest river?
9. In what country is the Eucumbene Dam?
10. In which country is Zug?
UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM:
YUMA, Ariz. — A runaway dog darted into an Arizona apartment and found a cool place to hide — the bottom of the refrigerator.
A Yuma Fire Department spokesman says the family told firefighters the pooch rushed into their home when they opened the front door and kept snapping at them.
When they went to the fridge to get some food to try to lure the dog outside, the animal jumped in the appliance and refused to come out.
Firefighters found the small black terrier-type dog crouched on the bottom shelf, snapping at anyone who approached. They used protective gear to pick up the pooch and put it in a carrier.
The dog had been reported missing by someone else at the apartment complex and was returned home safely.
A LITTLE LAUGH:
A screenwriter comes home to a burned down house. His sobbing wife is standing outside. "What happened, honey?" the man asks.
"Oh, John, it was terrible," she weeps. "I was cooking when the phone rang. It was your agent. Because I was on the phone, I didn't notice the stove had caught on fire. It went up in seconds. Everything is gone. I nearly didn't make it out of the house. Poor Fluffy is gone........"
"Wait! Back up a minute," the man says. "My agent called?"
Top 10 In The World:
CLOSEUP PICTURE: Can you identify this close up picture?
FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’: Mount Rushmore National Monument
♫ 60’s Rock ♫
Click on Song Title to see and hear it.
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DAYBOOK INFORMATION
►THIS WEEK◄
2/27-3/5 ► Telecommuter Appreciation Week ♥ Peace Corps Week
1-7 National Cheerleading Week ♣ National Ghostwriters Week ♣ National Write A Letter of Appreciation Week ♣ Universal Human Beings Week ♣
►TODAY IS◄
I Want You To Be Happy Day
International Sister Cities Day
National Anthem Day
Peach Blossom Day
What If Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs? Day
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣
Arab Countries: Mohammed's Birthday
Bulgaria: Liberation from Ottoman Rule Day (1878)
Egypt: Sportsmen's day
Grenada: Partial Independence Day (1967)
Japan : Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival)
Malawi: Martyrs Day
Morocco : National Day (1961)
Sudan : Unity Day Day of Prayer
UK and Ireland: World Book Day
US: Florida: Admission Day (1845—27th state)
US: Hawaii : Japanese Girl's Day
■…AUTHORS/COMPOSERS/ARTISTS
1921 Allen Ginsberg beat generation poet (1969 Arts & Letters Award)
1793 Charles Sealsfield writer (The Making of America)
■…ATHLETES
1920 Julius Boros golfer (US Open 1952,63)
Santonio Holmes, 27, football (Stealers, Jets)
Jacqueline (Jackie) Joyner-Kersee, 49, Olympic heptathlete
Herschel Walker, 49, former football player
■…BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1909 Harry Hemsley billionaire New York landlord
Lee Radziwill, 78, socialite
■…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS)
Jessica Biel, 29, actress (The Illusionist, “7th Heaven”)
David Faustino, 37, actor (“Married . . . With Children”)
1911 Jean Harlow [Harlean Carpentier] 30s' sex goddess (Dinner at 8)
Ira Glass, 52, radio host (“This American Life”)
■…POLITICIANS
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■…SCIENCE & RELIGION
1847 Alexander Graham Bell Edinburgh Scotland, inventor (telephone)
1838 George W Hill US astronomer (Moon orbit)
1831 George M Pullman inventor (railway sleeping car)
Today’s Obits:
1966 William Frawley actor (Fred Mertz-I Love Lucy), @ 89
1987 Danny Kaye comedian (Danny Kaye Show), @ 74
Today’s Events:
■…ARTS
1915 The now-famous film, The Birth of a Nation, debuted in New York City.
1931 "Star Spangled Banner" officially becomes US national anthem
1978 Charles Chaplin's remains are stolen in Switzerland
■…ATHLETICS
1974 George Foreman KOs Ken Norton
■…BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1634 1st tavern in Boston opens (Samuel Cole)
1885 American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) incorporates
1887 Anne Sullivan begins teaching 6 year old blind-deaf Helen Keller
1939 A new craze began to sweep college campuses. Goldfish swallowing.
■…INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1819 The United States starts its Indian "civilization" program.
1885 Congress passes Indian Appropriations Act (Indians wards of federal government)
1988 The Alaska Native Claims Act is amended.
■…POLITICS (International)
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■…POLITICS (US)
1791 Congress establishes US Mint
1791 1st Internal Revenue Act (taxing distilled spirits & carriages)
1812 US Congress passes 1st foreign aid bill (aids Venezuela earthquake vicitims)
1817 Mississippi Territory is divided into Alabama Territory & Mississippi
1845 The U.S. Congress passed legislation overriding a President’s veto. It was the first time Congress had done so. President John Tyler was in office at the time.
1863 1st US wartime military conscription bill enacted
1891 Congress creates US Courts of Appeal
1933 Mount Rushmore dedicated
■…SCIENCE & RELIGION
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ANSWERS:
Quiz
1. If you landed at Mirabel airport, where would you be? Montreal
2. What is the largest state in the USA? Alaska
3. What river flows through 8 countries and four capital cities? Danube
4. What's the only river that flows both north and south of the equator? The Congo
5. The Mason-Dixon line separates Pennsylvania and what State? Maryland
6. If you landed at Merignac airport - where are you? Bordeaux
7. Caligari is the capital of what island? Sardinia
8. What is France's longest river? Loire
9. In what country is the Eucumbene Dam? Australia, New South Wales
10. In which country is Zug? Switzerland, it is the smallest Canton
Close Up Picture
Bread Maker
________AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW________
