August 27


FYI: Click on any blue text for a link to more information!

Flagstaff Almanac…  
Week: 35 / Day:  Today: High   75°Low 51°
Records: High   88°(1974,1944)Low 37°(1989)
Averages: High  78°…Low 48°
Afternoon Rain--Wind:   3mph;  Gusts: 25mph
Average humidity:  63%

Quote of the Day…

Today’s  Historical  Highlights…
2008 - Barack Obama becomes the first African-American to be nominated by a 
            major political party for President of the United States
1984 - President Reagan announces Teacher in Space project
1965 - Beatles spend an evening with Elvis Presley
1955 - "Guinness Book of World Records" 1st published
1932 - 200,000 English textile workers strike
1912 - Edgar Rice Burroughs' publishes "Tarzan of the Apes"
1883 - Krakatoa, west of Java, explodes with a force of 1,300 megatons and 
            kills approximately 40,000 people
1859 - 1st successful oil well drilled in US, near Titusville, Penn by Edwin Drake
1667 - Earliest recorded hurricane in US (Jamestown Virginia)
1601 - Olivier van Noort completes 1st Dutch exploration of new world

   Happy Birthday To: ♪...
How many can you identify…answers in Today’s Birthdays
 
Free Rambling Thoughts…
I went to a great b-day party for one of our discussion group members…a big b-day—70. Great finger food, amazing guests, and a cool cake…with 2 pictures—one as a baby, one from recently. Her husband gave a very touching toast that showed true love. Their daughter, from California, was there and got to meet many of her mom’s and dad’s friends. Very nice.

This week will be the Republican Convention…and I’ll be watching and listening. I am not happy about the lack of discussion from both parties on the War. It’s like ‘if we don’t talk about it, it isn’t happening’. I heard an interesting reason for this lack of discussion…both parties are too similar in their views for any discussion. Hmmm. I find that disturbing as no one on either side seems to be able to explain why we are still at war, still allowing our youth to die—many times recently at the hands of their military/police. Sometimes, one has to just pack up and move on.


Fareed Zakaria returned to the airways today. So glad to have him back on my Sunday news show list. He is a ‘centrist’ with whom I don’t always agree, but am always intellectually stimulated by his take. He apologized for his recent mistake that led to his suspension from the airways. Thankfully after a huge review of his various writings and broadcasts over the past decades, everyone involved determined that the charge of plagiarism was a one-time mistake and he freely admitted he had published an article without giving proper footnotes. An honorable man who deserves a second chance.

Game   Center: (answers at the end of post)
What is the answer?
Answer the following clue in two rhyming words (e.g. an obese feline is a fat cat) If only one number is given, the answer is a word featuring internal rhyme (e.g. voodoo)
Ph.D. seeks employment… (4,2)
Rebus…
Can you figure out what this means?

Lifestyle  Substance…     
Do you remember this?

Read Carefully!!
 Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
Do you know what this word means?
What is this not so common name of a common object?
 Dewclaw
Scottish Castles—…

60’s music…:
  • Paul Mariat…Love is Blue (1968) L’amour est blue, or Love is Blue, is a song composed by Andre Popp, a French composer and arranger. The lyrics were written by Pierre Cour in 1967, but the most popular cover (at least in the US) was recorded by Paul Mauriat, in 1968. There were English lyrics written for Love is Blue by Brian Blackburn, and they were included in at least one cover of the song recorded by Greek singer Vicky (Vicky Leandros). The song itself describes love in terms of colors and elements. Paul Mauriat’s version of Love is Blue sold over a million copies and was awarded a gold disc, in 1968. The song has become one of the most covered tracks in musical history, but Mauriat’s versions continues to be used in television and motion pictures to this day.
  • Dick Dale…Misirlou (1962) Misirlou is an internationally famous and popular Greek song that has been around for at least 80 years in recorded history. The first performance of Misirlou took place in Athens in the traditional and urban Greek folk style, Rebetiko. By 1962, when Dick Dale rearranged the song into the guitar classic so well known today, Misirlou had international recognition already, but the change in tempo that Dale was so successful in accomplishing (on a bet no less) helped make it an instant classic. When Dale’s version of Misirlou was used in 1994′s Pulp Fiction, a new young audience was introduced to the song once again for a new generation to enjoy and help make even more well known.

Harper’s Index…
Number of US Churches sold out of foreclosure in 2011: 138Rank of this number among the highest on record: 1
Unusal Fact of the Day…
Hysteria was a once common medical diagnosis made when female patients complained of anxiety, insomnia, and a host of other symptoms. Remedies included the use of electric vibrators, or before they became available, vaginal massage (often by a male physician).
Found on You Tube…
WEB Du Bois Documentary
 Joke-of-the-day…
A man went to visit a friend and was amazed to find him playing chess with his dog. He watched the game in astonishment for a while. "I can hardly believe my eyes!" he exclaimed. "That's the smartest dog I've ever seen." "Nah, he's not so smart," the friend replied. "I've beaten him three games out of five."
Rules of Thumb…
Easy shortcuts to make an ‘educated’ guess
ILLUSTRATING YOUR DATA --If your data include fewer than 20 pieces of information, a graphic presentation is unnecessary.
Yeah, It Really Happened…
OCEANSIDE, Calif. - Authorities in California said they were trying to determine who attached a box turtle to several balloons and sent it aloft. Residents of the Oceanside neighborhood said they called police and the Humane Society when they saw the turtle, which was taped to some balloons, stuck in a tree, KGTV, San Diego, reported Thursday. The fire department attempted a rescue about an hour later, but a gust of wind blew the turtle and its balloons back down to the ground. The box turtle was freed by a Humane Society worker. The Humane Society said the turtle was being cared for and officials were working to identify the owner, who they said could face animal abuse charges.
 Somewhat Useless Information…
  • The main court used for Wimbledon is called Centre Court. It seats 15,000 spectators and is used exclusively for Wimbledon tennis matches
  • A thoroughly unique championship trophy is presented to the women's singles winners at Wimbledon. Known as the Venus Rosewater Dish, it resembles a salver and is covered in decoration related to Greek mythology. The trophy is made from sterling silver and is 18 3/4 inches in diameter. 
  • Five 500-pound bombs struck Centre Court during WWII and destroyed 1,200 seats in the stadium. The damage was not fully repaired until 1949. 
  • Each year, approximately 250 ball boys and ball girls are used at Wimbledon to ensure a smooth operation of the tournament. Each court is manned by crew of six ball boys and ball girls. Two work the nets and four work each corner.
  • Before 2007, Wimbledon awarded greater prize money to the men's event winners than the women's event winners. Venus Williams and other notable players protested this policy and Wimbledon finally changed it in 2007 so that both men's and women's champions were awarded the same amount of prize money at the end of the tournament. 
  • One unusual quirk is that Wimbledon takes a breather during the tournament on the middle Sunday. Play begins on a Monday and lasts for a period of 13 days. The middle Sunday is a designated rest day.


Calendar Information…
Happening This Week:
25-31
Be Kind To Humankind Week
National Safe at Home Week

Today Is…
The Duchess Who Wasn't Day celebrates novelist Margaret Wolfe 
     Hungerford who used the pseudonym "The Duchess" whenever she'd author a 
    book. She is most well known for the line "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder..." 
    which comes from her book, Molly Bawn.
Petroleum Day spend the day figuring out how we can get away
     from petroleum use
Moldova: Independence Day (1991 from Soviet Union)

Today’s Events Through History…
2000’s
2003 - Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, 
            passing 34,646,418 miles (55,758,005 km) distant
1900’s
 1979 - 18 British militia die in ambush/bomb attack in Northern Ireland
1976 - Transsexual Renee Richards barred from competing in US Tennis Open
1966 - Race riot in Waukegan Illinois
1952 - Emil Zatopek wins 12th Olympics marathon (2:23:03.2)
1950 - General Foods blacklists Jean Muir of Aldrich Family as a communist
1942 - Cuba declares war on Germany, Japan & Italy
1941 - Shah of Iran abdicates throne to his son Reza Pahlawi
1927 - Parks College, America's oldest aviation school, opens
1921 - J E Clair of Acme Packing Co of Green Bay granted an NFL franchise
1913 - Lt Peter Nestrov, of Imperial Russian Air Service, performs a loop in a 
            monoplane at Kiev (1st aerobatic maneuver in an airplane)
1800’s
 1892 - NYC Metropolitan Opera House catches fire
1878 - Captain James Egan, and Troop K, Second Cavalry, are following a group of 
            Bannocks, who have been stealing livestock along the Madison River. Near 
            Henry's Lake, Captain Egan's forces skirmish with the Bannocks, and recover 
            fifty-six head of livestock. The escaping Bannocks are starting to follow the trail 
            taken by the Nez Perce, last year
1868 - According to a report filed by Captain Henry C. Bankhead, commander Fort 
           Wallace, in western Kansas, several citizens have been killed by Indians in the
           last few days near Sheridan (near modern Winona) and Lake Station, Colorado.
1832 - Black Hawk, leader of Sauk-indians, gives himself up
1700’s
1789 - French Natl Assembly issues "Declaration of Rights of Man & Citizen"
1783 - 1st hydrogen balloon flight (unmanned); reaches 900 m altitude
1600’s
1610 - Polish King Wladyslaw crowned king of Russia

Today’s Birthdays…
In their 50’s
 "Downtown" Julie Brown, TV host (Club MTV, Inside Edition) is 53
In their 60’s
Barbara Bach, [Goldbach], Queens NY, American actress (Spy Who Loved Me) is 65
G.W. Bailey, actor (Dr Beale-St Elsewhere, The Closer) is 68
Paul Reubens [Pee-wee Herman], NY, actor (Pee-wee's Big Adventure) is 60
[Susan] Tuesday Weld, NYC, actress (Dobie Gillis, Wild in Country) is 69
In their 70’s
Daryl Dragon, Pasadena California, keyboardist (Capt & Tennille) is 70
Tommy Sands, Chicago IL, singer/actor (Teenage Rock, Dream With Me) is 75

Remembered for being born today
Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore, Governor of the Province of Maryland b. 1637
Charles Gates Dawes, (R) 30th VP; Nobel 1925 (Peace) b. 1865
C. S. Forester, British author (12-book Horatio Hornblower series) b. 1899
Samuel Goldwyn, [Gelbfisch], film magnate (MGM) b. 1879
Hannibal Hamlin, (R) 15th VP b. 1809
Walter W Heller, economist (Old Myths & New Realities) b. 1915
Lyndon B Johnson, Stonewall Tx, (D) 36th Pres b. 1908
Katharine McCormick, American women's rights activist b. 1875
Herman Muntinghe, Dutch theologist (History of Mankind) b. 1752
Martha Raye, [Margaret Reed], Butte Mont, actress (Martha Raye Show) b. 1916

Today’s Historical Obits…
Gracie Allen, actress (Burns & Allen), dies of heart attack at 69
Dr. Edwin Louis Cole, "Father of the Modern Day Men's Movement," 
     Founder of the Christian Men's Network (CMN) dies of cancer in 2002 at 78
W E B Du Bois, scholar/founder (NAACP), dies in 1963 at 95
Brian Epstein, rock manager (Beatles), dies of drug overdose in 1967 at 32
Frank Harris, Irish author and editor dies of heart attack in 1931 at 75 
Greg Morris, actor (Mission Impossible), dies of brain cancer in 1996 at 62
Louis Mountbatten, British adm of the Fleet, assassinated by IRA in 1979 at 79
Stevie Ray Vaughan, blues guitarist, dies in a helicopter crash in 1990 at 35
John Weiss, German New Testament, dies in 1914

Answers…
Do you know what this word means?
The tiny fifth claw on the inner part of a dog's leg above the other toes, so called, rather romantically, because it brushes the dew from the grass. Dogs almost always have these tiny talons on the inside of their front legs and sometimes also on their hind legs.Some people say that dewclaws are useless and should be removed, because they can get torn or cause damage (to clothes, furniture and the like). Others claim that this odd appendage is very useful to a dog, for example, to help pick up bones and sticks. 
What is the answer?
Grad ad
Rebus
 Tickled pink

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.