Oct 1

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Oct  1, 2018 Week: 40 \ Day: 274

86004 Today: H 77° \ L 42° \ Average Sky Cover: 60% 

Wind:   14mph\Gusts:  -mph Visibility: 10 mi

Record High: 85°[1980]   Record Low: 20°[2009]

Oct Averages: 63°\31°

Today’s Quote

     Life without liberty is like a body without spirit.

     Khalil Gibran

Harper’s Index

            29

            Number of states offering pro-life license plates

            3

            That offer pro-choice license plates

Observances This Month

     Adopt A Dog Month Link   Link
     Adopt A Shelter Dog Month 
     AIDS Awareness Month (President Reagan)  Link 
     American Cheese Month
     American Pharmacists Month Link
     Antidepressant Death Awareness Month
     Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month Link
     Apple Month Link

Observances This Week

  1-5

     Customer Service Week Link
     Drive Safely Work Week Link 
     Financial Planning Week
     Kids' Goal Setting Week

  1-7

     National Chimney Safety Week

     National Health Care Food Service  Link 
     National Heimlich Heroes Week
     National Primary Care Physicians Week Link
     National Walk Your Dog Week Link   Link
     National Work From Home Week
     Spinning & Weaving Week Link
     Trichotillomania, Skin Picking & Related BFRB Awareness Week Link
      Universal Children's Week

Observances for Today

   Ashura
   Blue Shirt Day/World Day of Bullying Prevention
   CD Player Day
   Child Health Day
   Day of Unity  Link
   Fire Pup Day
   International Coffee Day  Link
   International Day of Older Persons
   International Music Day Link
   Model T Day
   National Book It! Day
   National Consignment Day  Link
   National Hair Day  Link
   National Homemade Cookies Day

   National Lace Day Link
   National Walk Your Dog Day Link  Link
   Vegan Baking Day
   Willy Wonka Day  Link
   World Day of Architecture Link 
   World Habitat Day
   World Vegetarian Day

Today’s Significant US Historical Events

Today’s Significant International Historical Events 

1800’s                                         

1800 Spain cedes Louisiana to France in a secret treaty

1829 South African College is founded in Cape Town, South Africa; later to separate into the University of Cape Town and the South African College Schools.

1837 Treaty with Winnebago Indians

1847 Maria Mitchell discovers a non-naked-eye comet

1851 1st Hawaiian stamps issued

1854 The watch company founded in 1850 in Roxbury by Aaron Lufkin Dennison relocates to Waltham, Massachusetts, to become the Waltham Watch Company, a pioneer in the American System of Watch Manufacturing.

1868 "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott is published in America by Roberts Brothers of Boston

1890 Congress creates Weather Bureau

1900’s                                         

1908 Henry Ford introduces the Model T car (costs $825)

1939 Winston Churchill calls Russia a "riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma"

1949 People's Republic of China proclaimed by Mao Zedong (National Day)

1949 Republic of China (Taiwan) forms on island of Formosa

1960 Nigeria becomes the 99th member of the United Nations

1964 Free Speech Movement launched at University of California, Berkley

1977 US Department of Energy established

1982 EPCOT Center opens in Orlando, Florida

2000’s                                         

2000 An all-African podium for the men's marathon at the Sydney Olympics as Gezahegne Abera of Ethiopia runs 2:10:11 for the gold medal, 0.20s ahead of Kenyan Erick Wainaina with bronze to Ethiopian Tesfaye Tola

2002 Free agent center Wang Zhizhi, the first ever Chinese-born player in the NBA, signs a 3-year offer sheet with the Los Angeles Clippers; waived in 2003 and moves to Miami Heat

2012 California becomes the first US state to ban conversion therapy for minors

2017 Amid a deepening constitutional crisis, Catalonia holds an independence referendum on seceding from Spain

2017 Stephen Paddock shoots dead 58 people, injuring 489, at a concert in Las Vegas in the deadliest mass shooting in American history

My Rambling Thoughts

It’s been a busy few days. Surgery on Friday went great. The Dr. asked me if he could send my no longer needed plate could be sent to Haiti to help those in need. A big yes from me. The surgery took about 15 minutes with about 2 hours in recovery because the block also stopped ½ my diaphragm from working properly so I needed oxygen, as I could not take any really deep breaths. It all worked out fine, just took longer than I had hoped for. The recovery room staff was awesome. The guy next to me developed an embolism on his carotid artery. The staff got him prepped for more surgery and I think I was the only patient in recovery who knew anything was going on. They were so professional, quiet, and quick. Before leaving the hospital, I was told the surgery stopped the bleeding and he should recover. I’ve only taken one pain pill each night to ensure a good night’s rest. During the day, only slight pain and no need to take a pill.

On Thursday Mary and I had lunch and I got to see some great pics of her Italy trip. Very cool.

Last night our discussion group had a very good discussion on the changes happening around the world. Democracy is going through a very difficult time in the world. One of the articles, written about 8 months ago, clearly showed the current administration’s policy regarding the world. Scary.

I watched most of the disgraceful hearings. While I was on the Rez I had to deal with a few hardcore alcoholics, their families, and their kids. It was never a pleasant experience. I have to say that his attitude certainly fit the profile I have of angry alcoholics. She was very convincing. The highlight came late in the day when Jeff Flake of AZ demanded an FBI investigation. It was a very nice surprise and certainly in order.

Cards are playing a decent game, up to halftime.  And I get to watch the Broncos tomorrow night.

Birthdays Today

@-  indicates age at death

90’s

94►Jimmy Carter, American politician, 39th US President (D) (1977-81), born in Plains, Georgia

80’s

83►Julie Andrews, actress, singer

@80►William Rehnquist, Ws, Supreme Court (1972-86)/chief justice (d. 2005 )

70’s

@79►Yip Man, Martial Arts Master ( d. 1972) throat cancer

@74►William Edward Boeing, founded aircraft co (Boeing) (d. 1956)

@72►Richard Harris, actor, Hodgkin’s lymphoma

60’s

62►Theresa May, British Prime Minister (Conservative: 2016-), born in Eastbourne, England

40’s

48►Zach Galifianakis, actor

30’s

@31►James Lawrence, American naval hero (War of 1812-"Don't give up the ship!"), born in Burlington, New Jersey (d. 1813) killed in battle

Historical Obits Today

90’s

@93►2017 Arthur "Art" Janov, American psychologist and psychotherapist notable for creating primal therapy (The Primal Scream)

80’s

@89►2017 Samuel I Newhouse Jr., American magazine publisher (Parade, Vogue, Vanity Fair)

@86►1985 E. B. White, American author (New Yorker, Charlotte's Web)

@83►1990 Curtis E LeMay, USAF General/VP candidate,

60’s

@69►1972 Louis Leakey, British paleoanthropologist and archaeologist (Olduvai Gorge), heart attack

@66►2013 Tom Clancy, American author (Rainbow Six, The Hunt for Red October), heart issues

Sep 27

FYI: Any blue text is a link. Click to check it out!

Sept 27, 2018 Week: 39 \ Day: 270

86004 Today: H 75° \ L 42° \ Average Sky Cover: 10% 

Wind:   2mph\Gusts:  -mph Visibility: 10 mi

Record High: 83°[2009]   Record Low: 23°[1900]

Sep Averages: 74°\42°

Today’s Quote

The past always looks better than it was.

It's only pleasant because it isn't here.

Finley Peter Dunne

Harper’s Index

            3.4

            Factor by which the gender pay gap in the

            White House has INCRREASED under 45

Observances This Week

21-30 National Ballroom Dance Week  Link

23-29  Banned Books Week

Child Passenger Safety Week Link

Deaf Dog Awareness Week

International Interpreters and Translators Week

National Dog Week Link and  Link

National Keep Kids Creative Week

Remember to Register to Vote Week

Sea Otter Awareness Week Link

World Hearing Aid Awareness Week Link   

World Reflexology Week

24-28 Ally Week Link

International Week of the Deaf  Link   

International Women's E-Commerce Days

Observances for Today

Ancestor Appreciation Day
Crush a Can Day Link
Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Link
Google's Birthday
Remember Me Thursday 
World Maritime Day  
World Tourism Day

Today’s Significant US Historical Events

Today’s Significant International Historical Events 

1500’s                                         

1540 Society of Jesus (Jesuits) founded by Ignatius Loyola confirmed by Pope Paul III in Rome

1864 Jesse James' gang surprise attack train: 150 killed

1900’s                                         

1909 US President Taft sets aside some 3 million acres of oil-rich public land (including Teapot Dome, Wyoming) for conservation purposes

1916 1st Native American Day celebrated, honoring American Indians

1937 1st Santa Claus Training School opens (Albion NY)

1945 US General and head of the Allied occupation of Japan, Douglas MacArthur, meets Emperor Hirohito in Tokyo for the first time

1954 1st African American Supreme Court page is CV Bush

1962 Rachel Carson publishes 'Silent Spring' about the deleterious impacts of pesticide use in the US on the environment

1988 The National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi is founded in Burma (Myanmar)

1989 Sony purchases Columbia Pictures for $3.4 billion cash

1990 Senate Judiciary committee approves Souter's Supreme Court

1996 The Julie N. tanker skip crashes into the Million Dollar Bridge in Portland, Maine spilling thousands of gallons of oil.

2000’s                                         

2012 The Mars Curiosity rover discovers what evidence of a fast-moving streambed-in Mars

2017 Researchers confirm existence of giant tree rat "Vika" in the Solomon Islands that can crack open coconuts

My Rambling Thoughts

Getting older seems to mean more time with doctors. Cheryl just had to get crowns on her front teeth, Mary had a pre-cancerous thing frozen on her face, and I get to have my plate removed. We all had decades of only annual checkups.

One argument from the Kavanaugh side has been: ‘but where are the collaborators?”. Now every day we get new names added to the list of women. Hard to see how there can’t be an investigation outside the senate.

Yesterday,  45 stood at the UN and the delegates laughed as he listed his inflated accomplishments. At the time he said he wasn’t expecting that reaction. Then after the speech, he said he was joking. Hmmm. Then the US Ambassador to the UN says the laughing was in respect of 45’s honesty. Really?!?

Mary and I are having lunch tomorrow, Friday is my surgery, and Saturday I have a discussion group with lots of reading beforehand. Looks like no more posts until Sunday.

45’s first press conference in forever is very frightening. He is showing everyone how delusional he really is. So many people are believing this horsepucky. I have been hoping for a real press conference…I was wrong.

Birthdays Today

@-  indicates age at death

80’s

@85►William T. Orr, American television producer (d. 2002)

85►Kathleen Nolan, American actress (Real McCoys, Janie, Broadside), born in St Louis, Missouri

@81►Samuel Adams, US revolutionary and politician (Lt Gov-Mass, 1789-94), born in Boston,(d. 1803)

70’s

@74►Cosimo de Medici, Italian banker and de facto ruler of Florence and patron of the arts, born in Florence (d. 1464)

@73►William Conrad [John Cann], American actor (The Killers, Bullwinkle Show, Cannon), born in Louisville, Kentucky (d. 1994) heart failure

@73►Hiram R. Revels, 1st African American US Senator, born in Fayetteville, North Carolina (d. 1901)

71►Meat Loaf, [Marvin Lee Aday], Dallas, rocker (Bat Out of Hell)

71►Liz Torres, actress (Mahalia Sanchez-John Larroquette Show), born in The Bronx, New York

70►A Martinez (Adolfo Larrue Martínez III), American actor (L.A. Law, Santa Barbara), born in Glendale, California

60’s

60►Shaun Cassidy, American actor/singer (Hardy Boys, Breaking Away), born in Los Angeles

50’s

@53►Will Sampson, Creek tribe actor (d. 1987) scleroderma

40’s

46►Gwyneth Paltrow, American actress (Pallbearer, Emma, Hard Eight), born in Los Angeles, California

30’s

36Lil Wayne (Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.), rapper

34►Avril Lavigne, Canadian singer-songwriter (Complicated, Sk8er Boi), born in Belleville, Ontario

Historical Obits Today

90’s

@96►1993 James Doolittle, US air force general (Tokyo 1942)

@94►2017 Anne Jeffreys [Annie Carmichael], American singer and actress (Dick Tracy, Topper, General Hospital)

80’s

@83►1917 Edgar H G Degas, French impressionist artist (ballerina)

70’s

@79►2009 William Safire, American Columnist, pancreatic cancer

50’s

@50►1870 Henry TP Comstock, Canadian silver prospector, suicide

40’s

@45►1956 Babe Didrikson Zaharias, American all-round athlete (10 LPGA majors, Olympic gold medals 80m hurdles, javelin 1932), colon cancer