TODAY’s HOLY MACKEREL: 1902 1st motion picture theater opens (Los Angeles CA)
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MY FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
I took my taxes in today. I figured April Fool’s Day was a good day to do it. I met with him for about 20 minutes, and left the pile. He will call me sometime next week or the following week to let me know they are done. I gave up on getting excited a long time ago.
Flag had a great day—with a high of 75°. Spring fever continues to build. I went to Home Depot to see what they have for spring. Then I decided it was still way too early to get any color. Even the seeds for flowers say to wait until the last frost or to bring the pots inside every night. I know I won’t be doing that. So I’ll just hold off.
Thinking about what I will do tomorrow…certainly won’t be an inside activity. I’m checking the Flag calendar to find something. Nothing has popped out as a must do yet, but will check again tomorrow.
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DID YOU KNOW THAT…
~Gardening is proven to lower anxiety, reduce stress and increase intuition. And it makes sens: Reveling in nature's bright blooms encourages clever thinking.
~Keeps your trash can neat...Before you put in the bag, fold several sheets of newspaper and lay them in the bottom of the trash can. They'll absorb any spills, get rid of odors and can be tossed when they become stained.~Sugar's disinfectant properties banish pimple-causing bacteria and heal blemishes. Mix sugar with water until it's paste-like; massage onto your face then rinse.SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION…
Ancient cultures, including those of the Romans and Hindus, celebrated New Year's Day on or around April 1. It closely follows the vernal equinox (March 20th or March 21st.) In medieval times, much of Europe celebrated March 25, the Feast of Annunciation, as the beginning of the new year.
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In 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII ordered for the new Gregorian calendar to replace the old Julian calendar, New Year's Day was shifted to Jan 1. According to a popular explanation, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1. Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on "fool's errands" or trying to trick them into believing something false.
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Another explanation of the origins of April Fools' Day was provided by Joseph Boskin, a professor of history at Boston University. He explained that the practice began during the reign of Constantine, when a group of court jesters and fools told the Roman emperor that they could do a better job of running the empire. Constantine, amused, allowed a jester named Kugel to be king for one day. Kugel passed an edict calling for absurdity on that day, and the custom became an annual event.
***
In 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII ordered for the new Gregorian calendar to replace the old Julian calendar, New Year's Day was shifted to Jan 1. According to a popular explanation, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1. Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on "fool's errands" or trying to trick them into believing something false.
***
Another explanation of the origins of April Fools' Day was provided by Joseph Boskin, a professor of history at Boston University. He explained that the practice began during the reign of Constantine, when a group of court jesters and fools told the Roman emperor that they could do a better job of running the empire. Constantine, amused, allowed a jester named Kugel to be king for one day. Kugel passed an edict calling for absurdity on that day, and the custom became an annual event.
PUZZLE: Trivia Quiz […answers at bottom…] Literature
1. In the novel Animal Farm, Benjamin was what type of creature?
2. What bird is the symbol of Penguin books?
3. Who is Charlie Brown's favourite baseball player?
4. We know who wrote 'Little Women' but who wrote 'Little Men'?
5. What play contains the line; 'Shall there be no more cakes and ale'?
6. Who wrote 'Les Miserable'?
7. Inspector Bucket appears in which Dickens novel?
8. Who wrote the play, Waiting for Godot in 1954?
9. What was the name of Sancho Panza's donkey?
10. Who wrote the novel 'Brave New World'?
2. What bird is the symbol of Penguin books?
3. Who is Charlie Brown's favourite baseball player?
4. We know who wrote 'Little Women' but who wrote 'Little Men'?
5. What play contains the line; 'Shall there be no more cakes and ale'?
6. Who wrote 'Les Miserable'?
7. Inspector Bucket appears in which Dickens novel?
8. Who wrote the play, Waiting for Godot in 1954?
9. What was the name of Sancho Panza's donkey?
10. Who wrote the novel 'Brave New World'?
UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM:
Freddie Mac (the government sponsored but privately owned home mortgage financier—whose massive debts have been assumed in a federal ‘bailout’ administered by the Treasury Dept) filed a claim in Tax Court against the Internal Revenue Service, denying IRS’s claim that it owes $3 billion in back taxes from 1998-2005. Should taxpayers care? If Freddie Mac wins (which is also housed in the Treasury Dept) loses out on the $3 billion in alleged back taxes. If IRS wins it gets its $3 billion, which will undoubtedly be paid with taxpaiyer bailout money. Lawyers from both sides seem to think that pursuing the lawsuit is important.
A LITTLE LAUGH:
A young couple honeymooning in Las Vegas was down to their last two dollars. The groom told the bride that he had a feeling that he could turn the two bucks into a fortune if he went down to the casino alone.
Once in the casino, he put one dollar each into two slot machines and won Jackpots on both totaling $10,000. He then played blackjack for an hour until he had $50,000 in chips. Next, he played poker and upped his winnings to $100,000.
He was about to cash in his chips when he got a hunch that his luck hadn't run out. So he took all his money and placed it on Black at the roulette table, hoping to double his money. But the ball came up Red. He returned to his hotel room.
"How did you do?" asked the bride.
The groom shrugged and said, "I lost two dollars."
Once in the casino, he put one dollar each into two slot machines and won Jackpots on both totaling $10,000. He then played blackjack for an hour until he had $50,000 in chips. Next, he played poker and upped his winnings to $100,000.
He was about to cash in his chips when he got a hunch that his luck hadn't run out. So he took all his money and placed it on Black at the roulette table, hoping to double his money. But the ball came up Red. He returned to his hotel room.
"How did you do?" asked the bride.
The groom shrugged and said, "I lost two dollars."
Top 10 IN THE World:
10. Operation 5. Cluedo (British version of Clue)
9. Snakes and Ladders 4. Battleships
8. Scrabble 3. Chess
7. Scene It? 2. Trivial Pursuit
6. Go For Broke 1. Monopoly
CLOSEUP PICTURE: Can you identify this close up picture?
FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’:
♫ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ♫
2009 Inductee: John Cougar Mellencamp
Click on Song Title to see and hear it.
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DAYBOOK INFORMATION
►THIS WEEK◄
1-7
International Pooper-Scooper Week
Laugh at Work Week
Golden Rule Week
Medication Safety Week
2-7 Testicular Cancer Awareness Week
Laugh at Work Week
Golden Rule Week
Medication Safety Week
2-7 Testicular Cancer Awareness Week
►TODAY IS◄
International Children's Book Day
International Pillow Fight Day
National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
National Love Our Children Day
Tangible Karma Day
World Autism Day
§ § § §
Chad: Creation of Union of Central African States (1968)
Iran: Nawroz 13
Liberia: National Day of Prayer & Fast
Iran: Nawroz 13
Liberia: National Day of Prayer & Fast
Thailand: Thai Heritage Conservation Day
■…AUTHORS/COMPOSERS/ARTISTS
1805 Hans Christian Andersen Danish author of 150 fairy tales
1918 Charles White WPA murals
■…ATHLETES
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■…BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1875 Walter Chrysler founded Chrysler car company
Camille Paglia, 64, literature professor and literary and cultural critic
■…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS)
1908 Buddy Ebsen actor (Beverly Hillbillies, Barnaby Jones)
1914 Sir Alec Guinness [de Cuffe] London England, thespian
Emmylou Harris, 64, singer
Linda Hunt, 66, actress (“NCIS: Los Angeles,” “The Practice”; Oscar for The Year of Living Dangerously)
Christopher Meloni, 50, actor (Runaway Bride, “Law & Order: SVU,” “Oz”)
Leon Russell, 70, musician
Christopher Meloni, 50, actor (Runaway Bride, “Law & Order: SVU,” “Oz”)
Leon Russell, 70, musician
1920 Jack (John Randolph) Webb director, actor: Dragnet
■…POLITICIANS
0742 Charlemagne 1st Holy Roman emperor (800-14)
0742 Charlemagne 1st Holy Roman emperor (800-14)
■…SCIENCE & RELIGION
1905 Kurt Adler therapist/writer
Today’s Obits:
1872 Samuel F B Morse developer of electric telegraph, @ 80
1987 Buddy Rich drummer/orchestra leader (Away We Go), @ 69
1997 Tomoyuki Tanaka producer (Godzilla), stroke @ 86
1976 Ray Teal actor (Sheriff Roy Coffee-Bonanza), @ 74
Today’s Events:
■…ARTS
1971 Sci-fi soap opera "Dark Shadows" concludes an almost 5 year run
1972 Actor Burt Reynolds appeared naked in Cosmopolitan Magazine
1978 TV show "Dallas" premieres on CBS (as a 5 week mini-series)
■…ATHLETICS
1969 The Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association signed Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabar)for a reported $1,400,000 five-year contract
1987 Doc Gooden undergoes cocaine rehabilitation
■…BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1819 1st successful agricultural journal ("The American Farmer") begins
1896 Madison Square Garden in New York City hosted the season premiere of the Barnum and Bailey Circus
1978 Velcro was 1st put on the market
■…INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1885 An incident in the Second Riel Rebellion takes place today.
1975 A 3 day National Conference on Indian Water Rights is convened today in Washington, D.C. Representatives from almost 200 tribes will attend the meeting.
■…POLITICS (International)
1513 Explorer Juan Ponce de León claims Florida for Spain
■…POLITICS (US)
1792 Congress establishes Philadelphia mint
1870 Victoria Woodhull is 1st woman to be nominated for US President
1877 1st Easter egg roll held on White House lawn
■…SCIENCE & RELIGION
1889 Charles Hall patented aluminum
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ANSWERS:
Quiz
1. In the novel Animal Farm, Benjamin was what type of creature?
Donkey
2. What bird is the symbol of Penguin books?
Puffin
3. Who is Charlie Brown's favorite baseball player?
Joe Shlabotnik
4. We know who wrote 'Little Women' but who wrote 'Little Men'?
Lousia May Alcott
5. What play contains the line; 'Shall there be no more cakes and ale'?
Twelfth Night
6. Who wrote 'Les Miserable'?
Victor Hugo
7. Inspector Bucket appears in which Dickens novel?
Bleak House
8. Who wrote the play, Waiting for Godot in 1954?
Samuel Beckett
9. What was the name of Sancho Panza's donkey?
Dapple
10. Who wrote the novel 'Brave New World'?
Aldus Huxley
Close Up Picture
Donkey
2. What bird is the symbol of Penguin books?
Puffin
3. Who is Charlie Brown's favorite baseball player?
Joe Shlabotnik
4. We know who wrote 'Little Women' but who wrote 'Little Men'?
Lousia May Alcott
5. What play contains the line; 'Shall there be no more cakes and ale'?
Twelfth Night
6. Who wrote 'Les Miserable'?
Victor Hugo
7. Inspector Bucket appears in which Dickens novel?
Bleak House
8. Who wrote the play, Waiting for Godot in 1954?
Samuel Beckett
9. What was the name of Sancho Panza's donkey?
Dapple
10. Who wrote the novel 'Brave New World'?
Aldus Huxley
Close Up Picture
Football
________AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW________
