Sunday

7 February 2010--Week 6 of 2010: 38 days this year…327 remain

» Quote Times Two «

"One man tells a falsehood, a hundred repeat it as true." ~unknown

“Love consists in this, that its own should be another's; to feel the joy of another as joy in oneself, that is loving.” ~Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772); Philosopher, Scientist, Theologian

» Free Ramblings «

Today started out with nice weather, even if a little cloudy. I had to go find some more ice melt for my sidewalk. The daily dripping has made a nice hard hump about three inches high, and it has nowhere to go, so it just stays frozen. I really don’t like to go shopping on the weekend. But I didn’t find any on my last errand trip. It’s Flagstaff, how can no one have ice melt? Anyway, good ol Home Depot had a whole pallet. So I am set.

Just as I figured we had missed any snow, it started really coming down. So maybe the 6” predicted will actually get here. Guess I shouldn’t complain with the mud slides in LA and the mess on the east coast.

Last night Flag’s Mayor Sara used Facebook to invite everyone to a “photostrip contest” in downtown Flagstaff. Any ideas as to what we were all invited to? Well, I never would have guessed either. Turns out, people went into one of those portable photo booths, like at the mall or at a fair. You get four or five shots that are printed out on a strip of photo paper. I had no plans of attending after I found out what it was. She never told us who won, or what the requirements of the contest were. Life in a small mountain community can be made to sound very interesting, until all the facts are in.

»* Winter Olympics* «

The Vancouver Olympics open on Feb 12.

Did you know…

There are 16 categories at this Olympics:

1. Alpine Skiing has the Downhill, Super G, Slalom, Giant Slalom, and Super Combined for both men and women. Downhill is the fastest, Super Combined is really two races (downhill and slalom with times combined). 325 athletes will compete in this category, with 22 Americans, 4 Brits, and 2 Irish.

»Side Show Stories—«

Pittsburg, PA: A western Pennsylvania man has been ordered to stand trial on charges he burglarized a home after getting a ride to the crime scene from his mom. That woman, 50-year-old Judith Martin, still faces a preliminary hearing on conspiracy and other charges she faces in the break-in allegedly committed by her son, 20-year-old Robert Martin.

Police said Robert Martin took knives, jewelry, a telephone answering machine and other items from the home in Liberty Township, about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Police said a neighbor recognized Martin and police said they later found some of the stolen items at his mother's house.

»Random Fact«

It's illegal to own a red car in Shanghai, China.

» Puzzle «

In each of these puzzles, there are two double blanks. Fill in the blanks with the same pair of letters to complete an English word. For example, use the letter-pair ac in b_ _ckp_ _k to make the word backpack.

1 a _ _ a _ _ a

2 s _ _ tim _ _ t

3 who _ _ sa _ _

» Calendar Information «

☼ February’s Month Long Observances ☼

Birthstone: Amethyst …Flower: Violet and Primrose

Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month^AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month^American Heart Month^Bake for Family Fun Month^Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month^Grapefruit Month^International Boost Self-Esteem Month^International Expect Success Month^Jobs in Golf Month^Library Lovers Month^Marijuana Awareness Month^National African American History Month^National Bird Feeding Month^National Black History Month^National Care About Your Indoor Air Month^National Cherry Month^National Condom Month^National Children's Dental Health Month^National Laugh-Friendly Month^National Mend A Broken Heart Month^National Parent Leadership Month^National Pet Dental Health Month^National Senior Independence Month^National Time Management Month^Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month^Pull Your Sofa Off The Wall Month^Relationship Wellness Month^Responsible Pet Owner's Month^Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month^Spiritual Teachers Month^Spunky Old Broads Month^ Sweet Potato Month^Wise Health Care Consumer Month^ Youth Leadership Month^

☼ Observance Weeks in February ☼

Children's Authors & Illustrators Week: 1-7

National Patient Recognition Week: 1-7

Solo Diners Eat Out Weekend: 1-7

Women's Heart Week: 1-7

Boy Scout Anniversary Week: 3-9

Dump Your Significant Jerk Week: 6-12—It takes a full week?

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week: 7-14

International Coaching Week: 7-13

Jell-O Week: 7-13

Just Say No to Powerpoints Week: 7-13

Publicity for Profit Week: 7-13

Rejection Risk Awareness Week: 7-14—for those who get rejected by someone

☼ 5 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼

Charles Dickens Day

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, creating awareness on AIDS in the African American Community

☼5 February Observances—by country ☼

Grenada : Independence Day (from UK in 1974)

☼ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1943…Shoe rationing begins in US

☼ Born on this day ☼

     » The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Charles Dickens, in 1812, (England), novelist (Oliver Twist, Tale of 2 Cities)

Sinclair Lewis, in 1885, novelist/social critic (Main Street, Nobel 1930)

Laura Ingalls Wilder, in 1867, writer: Little House series

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

(James Hubert) ‘Eubie’ Blake, in 1883, ragtime composer/pianist (I'm Just Wild About Harry)

Garth Brooks, 48, country singer

Miguel Ferrer, 56, actor (“Crossing Jordan,” “Twin Peaks,” RoboCop)

Jimmy Greenspoon, 62, rock organist (3 Dog Night)

Ashton Kutcher, 32, actor (“That 70s Show,” Dude, Where’s My Car?)

Jock Mahoney (Jacques O'Mahoney), in 1919, actor (Tarzan, Yancy Derringer)

Chris Rock, 44, actor, comedian

James Spader, 50, actor (“Boston Legal,” Secretary, Stargate)

     »Athletes

Marilyn Cochran, in 1950, skier: first American to win a World Cup title

Clarence Linden "Buster" Crabbe, in 1908, swimmer (Olympics-gold-1932)/actor (Tarzan the Fearless, Flash Gordon)

Steve Nash, 36, (Johannesburg, South Africa), basketball player (Suns)

     »Business, Education, Politics

Frederick Douglass, in 1817, 1st high ranking black in US government

Sir Thomas More, in 1478, statesman, author; found guilty of treason: beheaded July 6, 1535; sainted in 1935

     »Science/Religion

John Deere, in 1804, pioneer manufacturer of agricultural implements

Godfrey H Hardy, in 1877, England, number theorist

☼Today’s Obits ☼

Nick [Aloysius Adamschock] Adams, in 1968, actor (Johnny Yuma-The Rebel), ODs @ 36

Arthur Ashe, in 1993, tennis star (Wimbledon 1975), AIDS @ 49

Richard Bissell, in 1994, US under director of CIA (Bay of Pigs), @ 84

Lillian Copeland, in 1964, US discus thrower (Olympics-gold-32), lengthy illness @ 59

Hermann A J Kees, in 1964 German Egyptologist, @ 77

Josef Mengele, in 1979, concentration camp doctor, drowns @ 68

☼What happened on this day? ☼

     » The Arts

1940…Walt Disney's 2nd feature-length movie, "Pinocchio", premieres

     »Athletics

1882 - The last bareknuckle fight for the heavyweight boxing championshiptook place in Mississippi City.

1998 - The XVIIIth Winter Olympic games opened at Nagano, Japan.

     »Business, Education, Politics

1301…Edward of Caernarion (later Edward II) becomes 1st prince of Wales

1795…11th Amendment to US Constitution ratified, affirms power of states

1839…Henry Clay declares in Senate "I had rather be right than president"

1861…Convinced that they will get better treatment from a southern government than from the one in Washington, D. C., Today, the CHOCTAWs will announce their support of the Confederacy.
1905…Dominican Republic signs treaty turning over customs collection to US 1905…Oklahoma admitted to statehood

1936…A flag is authorized for the Vice President

1962…President Kennedy begins blockade of Cuba

1964 : The Beatles arrive on their first visit to the United States

     »Science/Religion

1964…Cassius Clay becomes a Muslim & adopts the name Muhammad Ali

1976…World's largest telescope (600 cm) begins operation (USSR)

» Number One Songs in…

1950…Dear Hearts and Gentle People - Dinah Shore

1958…Get a Job - The Silhouettes

1966…Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys

1974…The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand

1982…Centerfold - The J. Geils Band

» ANSWERS to puzzle «

1 alfalfa

2 sentiment

3 wholesale

Saturday

6 February 2010--Week 5 of 2010: 37 days this year…328 remain

» Quote Times Two «

"Ours is a world where people don`t know what they want and are willing to go through hell to get it." ~ Don Marquis, American Humorist

“Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that.” ~Michael Leunig; Cartoonist

» Free Ramblings «

It’s the weekend. So, being Flagstaff, here comes da’ snow. Just as people were getting off work, it started snowing. Not a lot yet. Time will tell if we get the 6” predicted.

As was jumping around the web I found this quote by American journalist Ellen Goodman, “In journalism, there has always been a tension between getting it first and getting it right.” That is so true, in the past. Now, with all the 24/7 ‘news channels’, I’m afraid that ‘first’ won out. Too many ‘journalists’ no longer wait to make sure the story is ‘right’. Instead they plaster the airways with stories with little or no substance and just tell us that ‘this is just in and we are attempting to verify the story.’ I don’t need to waste my time listening or watching that. The other thing that drives me crazy is ‘local news’ teasers to get me to watch the next newscast. “We have the full story on how to cut your electricity bill by 90%. More at 10pm.” When you listen, they suggest that you keep your doors and windows closed, and turn off lights you aren’t using. Hardly news, and hardly a way to save 90% of your electricity bill, unless you get up every morning, turn on all your lights, open all your windows and doors and leave them on or open until you go to bed. I sure wish we could just have real news stories…that were really news.

So I will take a break. It’s Super Bowl weekend. The Saints, The Colts. Playing in Florida. I have always been for the underdog in most sporting events. This is the first time the Saints have played in the big game. It is being touted as a way to show that New Orleans is on its way back. They are not favored, but then, strange things happen at the Super Bowl. We will hopefully see a great game. We will see lots and lots of commercials. We will eat way too much food. We will be able to escape the everyday world to hear some great stories of overcoming life’s obstacles. These stories will be about the teams, the players, and probably some of the fans. For four hours plus, football will rule. Sometimes a good escape is worth it. Go Saints.

Today melted a little more snow. We only got up to 39° and it was cloudy on and off before the snow began to fall. I may be watching the game with friends, or I may be snowed in, watching the game by myself. Time will tell.

»* Winter Olympics* «

The Vancouver Olympics open on Feb 12.

Did you know…

The Olympic flame is lit in front of the ruins of the Temple of Hera in Olympia, emphasizing the connection between the ancient Games and the modern Games. An actress playing a high priestess uses a parabolic mirror to focus the rays of the sun, igniting a flame. (In case of cloudy weather, a backup flame is lit in advance.) A long relay of runners carrying torches brings it to the site of the Games. There, the final torch is used to light a cauldron that remains lit until it is extinguished in the Closing Ceremony.

***

After the cauldron is lit, doves are released, as a symbol of peace. This was first done in the 1896 Olympics, and then in the 1920 Olympics. Since 1920, this has been an official part of the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Games. They are generally not released during the Winter Games, because it's too cold for the birds, but symbolic substitutions are sometimes used. In the 1994 Winter Games, for example, white balloons were released.

»Side Show Stories—«

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Police in Arizona said someone broke into a smoke shop and stole nearly $300 worth of fake marijuana. Flagstaff police said someone broke the glass front door January 18 at Kind Connection and made off with nearly $300 worth of "Spice" fake marijuana and a $200 incense vaporizer, The (Flagstaff) Arizona Daily Sun reported. Employees were alerted by an alarm and arrived to check on the store at about 9:45 p.m. Police said they collected possible suspect information from workers.

»Random Fact«

Only 1 person in 2 billion will live to be 116.

» Puzzle «

In each of these puzzles, there are two double blanks. Fill in the blanks with the same pair of letters to complete an English word. For example, use the letter-pair ac in b_ _ckp_ _k to make the word backpack.

1 v _ _ lat _ _ n

2 h _ _ dw _ _ e

3 _ _ rses _ _ e

» Calendar Information «

☼ February’s Month Long Observances ☼

Birthstone: Amethyst …Flower: Violet and Primrose

Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month^AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month^American Heart Month^Bake for Family Fun Month^Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month^Grapefruit Month^International Boost Self-Esteem Month^International Expect Success Month^Jobs in Golf Month^Library Lovers Month^Marijuana Awareness Month^National African American History Month^National Bird Feeding Month^National Black History Month^National Care About Your Indoor Air Month^National Cherry Month^National Condom Month^National Children's Dental Health Month^National Laugh-Friendly Month^National Mend A Broken Heart Month^National Parent Leadership Month^National Pet Dental Health Month^National Senior Independence Month^National Time Management Month^Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month^Pull Your Sofa Off The Wall Month^Relationship Wellness Month^Responsible Pet Owner's Month^Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month^Spiritual Teachers Month^Spunky Old Broads Month^ Sweet Potato Month^Wise Health Care Consumer Month^ Youth Leadership Month^

☼ Observance Weeks in February ☼

Children's Authors & Illustrators Week: 1-7

National Patient Recognition Week: 1-7

Solo Diners Eat Out Weekend: 1-7

Women's Heart Week: 1-7

Boy Scout Anniversary Week: 3-9

International Snow Sculpting Week: 3-6

Dump Your Significant Jerk Week: 6-12—It takes a full week?

☼ 5 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼

Lame Duck Day

MOBIUS Awards Day—acknowledging Creative Excellence Worldwide

☼5 February Observances—by country ☼

Massachusetts : Ratification Day (1788)

New Zealand : Waitangi Day-New Zealand Day

(1840—treaty to make it a British commonwealth and give Maori Tribal rights)

International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

Finland and Scandinavia: Sami National Day

recognizing the Sami Indigenous people. The Sami, often referred to as Laplanders, find that term derogatory as it translates into something that is easily discarded.

☼ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1974 : President Nixon has urged Congress to approve a comprehensive national health insurance plan

☼ Born on this day ☼

     » The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Christopher Marlowe, in 1564 English poet/dramatist (Dr Faustus)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Natalie Cole, 60, singer

Fabian Forte, 67, singer, actor

Mike Farrell, 71, actor (“M*A*S*H,” “Providence”)

Zsa Zsa Gabor, 91, actress

Bob Marley, in 1945, Jamaican reggae vocalist

Elmore Rip Torn, 79, actor

Axl Rose [William Bailey], in 1962, rocker (Guns & Roses)

Mamie Van Doren, 77, actress

     »Athletes

George Herman (Babe) Ruth, in 1895, baseball great (Yankees)

     »Business, Education, Politics

Sarah Brady, 68, handgun control activist

Eva Braun, in 1912, mistress of Adolf Hitler

Tom Brokaw, 70, journalist

James Ewell Brown "JEB" Stuart, in 1833 Major General (Commander of Cavalry, Confederate Army)

Aaron Burr, in 1756, 3rd US Vice-President (1801-05), dueler

Ronald Reagan, in 1911, actor (Bedtime for Bonzo)/40th President

Anne Stuart, in 1665 Queen of England (1702-14)

     »Science/Religion

Mary Nicol Leakey, in 1913, paleontologist

☼Today’s Obits ☼

Charles II King of England/Scotland/Ireland, in 1685, @ 54

Jack Kirby, in 1994, cartoonist (X-Men, Spiderman, Hulk), @ 76

Guy Madison, in 1996, actor (Wild Bill Hickok), @ 74

Hugo Montenegro, in 1981, Orchestra leader, emphysema @ 56

Danny Thomas, in 1991, comedian/actor, heart attack @ 76
Carl Wilson, in 1998, rock vocalist (Beach Boy), cancer @ 51

☼What happened on this day? ☼

     » The Arts

1869...Harper's Weekly publishes 1st picture of Uncle Sam with chin whiskers

1935...Board game "Monopoly" goes on sale for the 1st time

1948...KNXT (now KCBS) TV channel 2 in Los Angeles CA (CBS) 1st broadcast

     »Athletics

1971...1st time a golf ball is hit on the Moon (by Alan Shepard)

     »Business, Education, Politics

1508...Maximilian I crowned Holy Roman Emperor

1693...Royal charter granted College of William & Mary

1820...86 free black colonists sail from New York NY to Sierra Leone, Africa

1891...1st great train robbery by Dalton Gang (Southern Pacific #17)

1911...1st old-age home opened in Prescott AZ

1933...20th Amendment goes into effect; Presidential term begins in Jan not March

1956...University of Alabama refuses admission to Autherine Lucy (because he's black)

     »Science/Religion

1832...1st appearance of cholera at Edinburgh, Scotland

1948...1st radio-controlled airplane flown

1959...US 1st successful Titan intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)

» Number One Songs in…

1949…A Little Bird Told Me - Evelyn Knight

1957…Banana Boat (Day-O) - Harry Belafonte

1965…You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’ - The Righteous Brothers

1973…Crocodile Rock - Elton John

1981…Celebration - Kool & The Gang

» ANSWERS to puzzle «

1 violation

2 hardware

3 horseshoe

Friday

5 February 2010--Week 5 of 2010: 36 days this year…329 remain

» Quote Times Two «

"People will buy anything that`s one to a customer." ~Sinclair Lewis; writer

“No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be true.” ~Nathaniel Hawthorne; writer

» Free Ramblings «

Ninety one year old Nelson Mandela was at a celebration today. He was celebrating his release from prison twenty years ago. Even his ex showed up. What a man.

James Ray, the sweat lodge guy, was arrested yesterday. Today he had to walk from the Yavapai jail to the courthouse. Not a long walk but made harder as he was shackled at the ankles and on his wrists—for the media, I’m sure. He is being held on a $5million bond on three manslaughter counts. While he charged $15K or more to attend his workshop, he claims he can’t make that bail, which is actually only about ½ million if he shows up for trial. Looks like the self-professed guru of positive thinking didn’t work out well for him. His web site promises “mentoring individuals to create wealth in all areas of their lives: financially, relationally, mentally, physically and spiritually.”

A couple of days ago I talked about JD Hayworth running against McCain. Now it seems that John really is concerned. Several news articles today say that John’s “Don’t Ask” stance is more for the conservatives in AZ than his leadership ability. He doesn’t want JD to have ammunition in the upcoming Republican primary. Politics sure sucks sometimes.

The dusting of snow never arrived. It was a fairly good day today. The 42° helped melt more snow; however it will still be a long time until we see grass, dirt, or any small bushes. It used to be….that after a snow fall; it only took a couple of days to melt all the snow, ice, and leftovers of the storm. Those days seem to be gone. This slow melt is probably very good for the forest, the water table, and Flagstaff in general. So we will enjoy the now dirty snow as long as it lasts.

»* Winter Olympics* «

The Vancouver Olympics open on Feb 12.

Did you know…

The Olympic Anthem was written for the first modern Games in 1896, composed by Spyros Samaras to lyrics written by Kostis Palamas. Each subsequent Olympics through 1956 had its own musical composition, played as the Olympic flag was raised during the Opening Ceremony. From the 1960 Games onward, the Samaras/Palamas work has been the official anthem played at every Olympics. It is usually sung in the hosting country’s official language.

»Side Show Stories—«

LONDON, Ontario - A Canadian man was sentenced to two years in prison for three home burglaries in London, Ontario, in which he left DNA behind each time. Kevin St. Germain, 43, was convicted of the 2006 and 2009 burglaries in which a total of $72,000 worth of loot was taken, the London Free Press reported Thursday. He was sentenced Wednesday after court heard an empty soda can with two straws in it was found at one break-in site, which yielded his DNA. At another site, an open bottle of peach juice had St. Germain's fingerprints on it, and at the third site, a cigarette butt that had his DNA on it, the report said. His fingerprints and DNA were on file based on burglary convictions in 2000, the newspaper said. None of the stolen items were recovered.

»Random Fact«

When Scott Paper Company first started manufacturing toilet paper they did not put their name on the product because of embarrassment.

» Puzzle «

A list of words is given. To solve the puzzle, think of a single word that goes with each to form a compound word or word pair that functions as a compound word. For example, if the given words are volley, field, and bearing, the answer would be ball, because the word ball can be added to each of the other words to form volleyball, ball field, and ball bearing. Answers are at the end of blog.

1 oil, rattle, eyes

2 rocket, night, lark

3 neck, snapping, dove

*note: tomorrow will have a new puzzle format

» Calendar Information «

☼ February’s Month Long Observances ☼

Birthstone: Amethyst …Flower: Violet and Primrose

Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month^AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month^American Heart Month^Bake for Family Fun Month^Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month^Grapefruit Month^International Boost Self-Esteem Month^International Expect Success Month^Jobs in Golf Month^Library Lovers Month^Marijuana Awareness Month^National African American History Month^National Bird Feeding Month^National Black History Month^National Care About Your Indoor Air Month^National Cherry Month^National Condom Month^National Children's Dental Health Month^National Laugh-Friendly Month^National Mend A Broken Heart Month^National Parent Leadership Month^National Pet Dental Health Month^National Senior Independence Month^National Time Management Month^Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month^Pull Your Sofa Off The Wall Month^Relationship Wellness Month^Responsible Pet Owner's Month^Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month^Spiritual Teachers Month^Spunky Old Broads Month^ Sweet Potato Month^Wise Health Care Consumer Month^ Youth Leadership Month^

☼ Observance Weeks in February ☼

Children's Authors & Illustrators Week: 1-7

National Patient Recognition Week: 1-7

National School Counseling Week: 1-5

Solo Diners Eat Out Weekend: 1-7

Women's Heart Week: 1-7

International Networking Week: 1-5

International Hoof Care Week: 2-5

Boy Scout Anniversary Week: 3-9

International Snow Sculpting Week: 3-6

☼ 5 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼

Weatherman's [Weatherperson's] Day

Wear Red Day: Awareness of Women’s Heart Disease

World Nutella Day since 2006 to honor the chocolaty hazelnut spread

Bubble Gum Day: a day for schools to raise money by having students donate money to chew gum.

☼5 February Observances—by country ☼

Finland : Runeberg Day (1804) to honor National Poet

Japan : Japanese Martyrs Day (26 Christians become martyrs-1597)

México : Constitution Day (1857 & 1917)

San Marino : Liberation Day (1739) against Cardinal Alberoni of Spain

Tanzania : Afro Shirazi Party formed in 1964 to oust Arabs from Zanzibar

☼ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1989…The last Russian troops withdraw from the capital city of Kabul. In 1979 in attempts to destroy Afghan rebels, who had been armed by U.S. hundreds of thousands of Soviet troops are sent to Afghanistan where the fighting is bloody, costly, and ultimately 13,000 Russian soldiers are left dead and over 22,000 wounded. Less than two weeks later, all Soviet troops depart Afghanistan entirely, ending what many observers referred to as Russia's "Vietnam."

☼ Born on this day ☼

     » The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

John Guare, 76, US writer (6º of Separation)

John Watkinson, in 1833, founder of British Chess Magazine (oldest chess magazine)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Red Buttons [Aaron Chwatt], in 1919, comedian/actor

     »Athletes

(Henry Louis) Hank Aaron, 76, baseball player (record 755 home runs, 1957 NL MVP)

Craig Morton, 67, NFL quarterback (Dallas, Denver)

Roger Staubach, 68, NFL quarterback (Cowboys); Heisman Trophy

     »Business, Education, Politics

Robert Peel, in 1788, English statesman, ‘bobbies’ are nicknamed for him

Adlai E Stevenson, in 1900, (Governor-D-IL), presidential candidate (D)

Norton Simon, in 1907, business executive (Simon & Schuster)

     »Science/Religion

John Boyd Dunlop, in 1840 (Scotland), developer (pneumatic rubber tire)

John Jeffries, in 1744, physician and one of America’s first weather forecasters

Arthur Keith, in 1866, Scottish anthropologist

John Lindley, in 1799, English botanist (Elements of Botany)

John Witherspoon, in 1723, clergyman/signed Declaration of Independence

☼Today’s Obits ☼

Thomas Carlyle, in 1881, historian/essayist, @ 85

Robert E Park, in 1944, sociologist (human ecology, marginal man), @ 79

Anthony G de Rothschild, in 1961, British philanthropist, @ 73

Dean Jagger, in 1991, US actor (Mr Novak, Rawhide, Oscar), @ 87

Doug McClure, in 1995, US rodeo rider/actor (Trampas-Virginian), cancer @ 59

☼What happened on this day? ☼

     » The Arts

1870...1st motion picture shown to a theater audience, Philadelphia

1922...DeWitt Wallace and his wife Lila Wallace publish the first Reader's Digest magazine designed to provide abridged articles on a wide variety of subjects, for easy reading

1967..."The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" premieres on CBS

     »Athletics

1956...7th Winter Olympics games close at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

1972...Bob Douglas became the first black man elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame

     »Business, Education, Politics

1644...1st US livestock branding law passed, by Connecticut

1778...Articles of Confederation ratified by 1st state, South Carolina

1817...1st US gas company incorporated, Baltimore (coal gas for street lights)

1881...Phoenix AZ incorporates

1917...Congress passes the Immigration Act which required a literacy test for immigrants and barred Asiatic laborers, except for those from countries with special treaties or agreements with the United States, such as the Philippines

1918...1st US pilot to down an enemy airplane, Stephen W Thompson

1931...Maxine Dunlap became the first woman licensed as a glider pilot
1952...The first “Don’t Walk” sign was installed in New York City
1958...Gamel Abdel Nasser nominated 1st President of United Arab Republic

1969...US population reaches 200 million

1988...Arizona House of Representatives vote to impeach Republican Governor Evan Mecham

     »Science/Religion

1631...Rhode Island, founder, Roger Williams arrives in Boston from England

1736...Methodists John & Charles Wesley arrive in Savannah GA

1936...National Wildlife Federation forms

1974...US Mariner 10 returns 1st close-up photos of Venus' cloud structure

» Number One Songs in…

1948…Golden Earrings - Peggy Lee

1956…See You Later, Alligator - Bill Haley & His Comets

1964…I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles

1972…American Pie - Don McLean

1980…Do that to Me One More Time - The Captain & Tennille

» ANSWERS to puzzle «

1 SNAKE: snake oil, rattlesnake, snake eyes

2 SKY: skyrocket, night sky, skylark

3 TURTLE: turtleneck, snapping turtle, turtledove

Thursday

4 February 2010--Week 5 of 2010: 35 days this year…330 remain

» Quote Times Two «

"Put your brain in gear before starting your mouth." ~unknown

“We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.” ~Anonymous

» Free Ramblings «

My trip to the dentist was successful. My temporary is now permanent and work on the last crown started. I’ve been going to this office for over fifteen years, and while the dentists have changed a couple of times, the receptionist was always the same. My first dentist there got a weird cancer and had to quit his practice, but miraculously recovered and returned to practice. Then he realized life was more than work and retired to enjoy his life. A dentist from California bought the practice. I think he is Hawaiian or Samoan, and is a good dentist. Felicia was always there with a nice greeting and knew each patient by name, and recently always asked about my latest travel. Today I was told she had ‘retired’. She is a single mom in her late forties or early fifties. Anyway, while I don’t buy the retirement story, she is gone. She will be hard to replace. They have a temp in there right now, and the dental assistant is helping with the front office. Not a good plan. They don’t really know how to bill. They don’t really know how to send forms to insurance companies. So I pay a little, and wait to see what happens.

Our expected storm hasn’t arrived yet, but the weatherman says ‘maybe tonight’ with a dusting of snow—that’s down from 1-3” yesterday. It was a nice day, as we got up to 40° and it was only 19° night. Little breeze made it OK to be either inside or outside. About ½ of the ‘snice’ on my neighbor’s roof found its way down with a small crash. Luckily no one was outside at the time and it all fell onto the huge snow pile, so didn’t mean anybody had to shovel.

»* Winter Olympics* «

The Vancouver Olympics open on Feb 12.

Did you know…

The Olympic rings and flag were designed by de Coubertin after the 1912 Games in Stockholm. Those Games were the first to include athletes from all five continents. The rings were going to be used in the 1916 Games, but those games were cancelled because of World War I, so the rings made their debut in the 1920 Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

»Side Show Stories—«

BROWNSBORO, Texas - A Texas woman said she bit into a Milky Way candy bar and found a tooth with a silver filling in the candy. Sue Calhoun of Brownsboro said she brought the candy bar and a Coca-Cola along for the ride to Dallas with her husband to pick up a new tractor on New Year's Day and she noticed something strange about the chocolate bar, KLTV, Tyler, Texas, reported. "I took one bite and it was fine, so I took another bite and bit down on something and thought, 'Well, it may be a peanut,'"

Calhoun said. "I thought, 'Well, Milky bars don't have peanut or any kind of nuts in it," she said. "I looked at it and I thought, 'Oh, gosh! Gross! How terrible! (It's a) tooth!'" Calhoun said she called Mars Candy, manufacturers Milky Way, about the find. "She (a Mars representative) said, 'I'm going to send you a package to send the tooth and the candy back in.' But, I'm not real sure I'm going to send it back to them or not because they could keep the evidence and I'm not sure if I would ever see it again," she said. Calhoun said she is planning to have her local dentist examine the tooth.

»Random Fact«

Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison were all 27 years old when they died.

» Puzzle «

A list of words is given. To solve the puzzle, think of a single word that goes with each to form a compound word or word pair that functions as a compound word. For example, if the given words are volley, field, and bearing, the answer would be ball, because the word ball can be added to each of the other words to form volleyball, ball field, and ball bearing. Answers are at the end of blog.

1 video, board, waiting

2 cheese, guitar, along

3 master, wedding, side

» Calendar Information «

☼ February’s Month Long Observances ☼

Birthstone: Amethyst …Flower: Violet and Primrose

Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month^AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month^American Heart Month^Bake for Family Fun Month^Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month^Grapefruit Month^International Boost Self-Esteem Month^International Expect Success Month^Jobs in Golf Month^Library Lovers Month^Marijuana Awareness Month^National African American History Month^National Bird Feeding Month^National Black History Month^National Care About Your Indoor Air Month^National Cherry Month^National Condom Month^National Children's Dental Health Month^National Laugh-Friendly Month^National Mend A Broken Heart Month^National Parent Leadership Month^National Pet Dental Health Month^National Senior Independence Month^National Time Management Month^Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month^Pull Your Sofa Off The Wall Month^Relationship Wellness Month^Responsible Pet Owner's Month^Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month^Spiritual Teachers Month^Spunky Old Broads Month^ Sweet Potato Month^Wise Health Care Consumer Month^ Youth Leadership Month^

☼ Observance Weeks in February ☼

Children's Authors & Illustrators Week: 1-7

National Patient Recognition Week: 1-7

National School Counseling Week: 1-5

Solo Diners Eat Out Weekend: 1-7

Women's Heart Week: 1-7

International Networking Week: 1-5

Intimate Apparel Market Week: 1-4

International Hoof Care Week: 2-5

Boy Scout Anniversary Week: 3-9

International Snow Sculpting Week: 3-6

☼ 4 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼

Create A Vacuum Day—remember the old egg into a milk bottle experiment?

Liberace Day

Quacker Day: Commercial advertising day for the selling of their ‘stuff’ on QVC. Those who wear Quacker Factory Clothes are to greet fellow wearers with “Quack Quack.”

USO Day—United Servicemen’s Organization since 1941

World Cancer Day: by WHO (World Health Organization) since 2005 to educate

US : Kosciuszko Day for General Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Lithuanian, served as George Washington’s aide

“Across the Universe” Day: in 2008 NASA beamed this Beatles Song out into the universe toward the North Star on the 40th anniversary of the song, and the 50th anniversary of NASA

☼4 February Observances—by country ☼

Angola : Outbreak of Fighting Against Portuguese in 1961—continues until independence in 1975

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) : Independence Day (1948 from Britain)

☼ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1968 : The continued persecution of Asians in Kenya is forcing many thousands to leave the country and many are choosing Britain for their future . Kenya has introduced new tough immigration laws which only allow work permits to Kenyan Citizens.

☼ Born on this day ☼

     » The Arts

 Authors, Artists and Composers

Betty Friedan, in 1921, feminist writer (Feminine Mystique)

 Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Clint Black, 48, country singer, songwriter

David Brenner, 65, comedian

Gary Conway, 74, actor (“Burke’s Law”)

Alice Cooper (Vincent Damon Furnier), 62, singer, songwriter

Eddie Foy Jr, in 1905, actor

Ida Lupino, in 1914, English actress

John Schuck, 70, actor (“McMillan and Wife”)

     »Athletes

Oscar De La Hoya, 37, champion boxer

Woody Hayes [Wayne], in 1913, college football coach (Ohio)

Lawrence Taylor [LT], 51, NFL's greatest linebacker (New York Giants)

»Business, Education, Politics

Constance Gore-booth Markiewicy, in 1868, Irish patriot/playwright/MP

Rosa Lee Parks, in 1913, civil rights activist (bus protester)

J. Danforth (Dan) Quayle, 63, 44th vice president of US

     »Science/Religion

Raymond Dart, in 1893, Australian paleoanthropologist (Australopithecus)

Charles A Lindbergh, in 1902, pilot (1st fly solo across Atlantic)

Clyde William Tombaugh, in 1906, astronomer (discovered Pluto)

☼Today’s Obits ☼

Robert Blair, in 1746, Scottish poet (Grave), @ 46

Joseph Hardaway, in 1957, creator of Bugs Bunny, heart attack @ 66

Thelma Ritter, in 1969, actress (All About Eve, Pillow Talk), heart attack @63

Karen Carpenter, in 1983, singer/drummer (Carpenters), anorexia @ 32

Wladziu Valentino Liberace, in 1987, pianist, AIDS @ 67

☼What happened on this day? ☼

     » The Arts

1938…The animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released and had major success in the box-office

1959…Today was the first day of the invention of the Barbie Doll. This doll was created by Ruth Handler, who was one of the founders of the Mattel Company. Barbie was named after Ruth’s daughter. Later on, when the Ken doll was made, it was named after Ruth’s son.

1977…Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" released

2004…Facebook, a mainstream online social network is founded by Mark Zuckerberg.

     »Athletics

1932…The first Winter Olympics was held in the United States--Lake Placid, New York

1939…Glenn Cunningham (top miler) says 4-minute mile beyond human effort

1971…Baseball announces a special hall of fame wing for blacks

     »Business, Education, Politics

1789…1st electoral college chooses Washington & Adams as President & Vice President

1822…Free American Blacks settle Liberia, West Africa

1854…Alvan Bovay proposes the name "Republican Party"

1861…Confederate constitutional convention meets for 1st time, Montgomery AL, GA, FL, LA, MS & SC elect Jefferson Davis President of Confederacy

1865…Hawaiian Board of Education formed

1895…1st rolling lift bridge opens, Chicago

1899…Revolt against US occupation of Philippines

1945…FDR, Churchill & Stalin meet at Yalta

1957…1st electric portable typewriter (Smith-Corona) placed on sale (Syracuse NY)

1964…24th Amendment abolishes Poll tax

1969…Yassar Arafat takes over as chairman of PLO

1974…Patricia Hearst (19), daughter of publisher Randolph Hearst kidnapped by Symbionese Liberation Army

1985…20 countries (but not US) sign UN treaty outlawing torture.

1993…The “Family and Medical Leave Act” was passed by the U.S. Congress this day

2004…The Massachusetts high court declare that gays are entitled to get married.

     »Science/Religion

1846…Mormons leave Nauvoo MO for settlement in the west

» Number One Songs in…

1947…For Sentimental Reasons - Nat King Cole

1955…Sincerely - McGuire Sisters

1963…Walk Right In - The Rooftop Singers

1971…Knock Three Times - Dawn

1979…Y.M.C.A. - Village People

» ANSWERS to puzzle «

1 GAME: video game, board game, waiting game

2 STRING: string cheese, string guitar, string along

3 RING: ringmaster, wedding ring, ringside

Wednesday

3 February 2010--Week 5 of 2010: 34 days this year…331 remain

» Quote Times Two «

"She`s learned to say things with her eyes that others waste time trying to put into words." ~unknown

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Bible Matthew 22:39

» Free Ramblings «

The Adoption Drama continues in Haiti. A good lesson to all to give the story time to come out, and it is still coming out. These Americans were denied their goal of taking 100 ‘orphans’ from at least three Port-au-Prince orphanages because they did not meet minimum approval paperwork. This group then moved into the hills about 35 miles from the Capital and away from the quake zone to a remote village. They used flyers showing American homes to have people send their children to the US. That’s where they got the so-called orphans. Today some parents of these children said they wanted their children to go to the US. If these missionaries had never lived without electricity, running water, in a shack I am sure they saw these conditions as deplorable and believed that anything could be better. A little arrogant from my view. If their goal was to help these children, they should have gone into this isolated village, asked the people what they wanted/needed for their village. Then they should have taken the time, money, and whatever else to give the village what they want. Removing children from the village will not help the village and will most likely place scars on these children that will last for life.

The underwear bomber is talking again—without torture. The government, under President Obama, sent non-military people to his family in Nigeria. The family came to the US and talked to the guy. Remember, it was the father who first told the US Embassy in Nigeria that he was worried about his son’s behavior. The underwear bombmer agreed to start talking. No waterboarding, no torture, just family. Our system of laws seems to work.

After our huge snow fall, the local weatherman is saying another storm in on the way. He says we’re expecting “light snow fall of 1-3 inches.” Amazing, for most of the last ten years that would have been considered a big storm. So here’s to more moisture that won’t trap us in our homes, but will help the forest. One of the worst things about our drought is the infestation of the bark beetle. Now NAU may have an answer. Turns out that these tiny ½” beetles have decent hearing. The male makes sounds and calls the females in for breeding. In the NAU lab, loud heavy metal music confuses both the male and female during breeding season. The females head for the music, the males head for the music. Both are trying to find a ‘super-male’ to either breed with, or to destroy. Hmm. Our quiet forest might only survive with the blasting of heavy metal music. Of course, no work has been done on what this will do to the larger residents of the forest. Maybe NAU will develop an iPod type player that will play the music into the infested trees without bothering any other animals. Until then, the only thing that may save the forest will be more moisture, a lot more. So here’s to more moisture—in the form of RAIN.

»* Winter Olympics* «

The Vancouver Olympics open on Feb 12.

Did you know…

Each of the five Olympic rings is a different color. Together, they represent the five inhabited continents, although no particular ring is meant to represent any specific continent. (The Americas are treated as one continent.) The rings are interlaced to represent the idea that the Olympics are universal, bringing athletes from the entire world together.

»Side Show Stories—«

GEORGIA Laws

It is illegal to use profanity in front of a dead body which lies in a funeral home or in a coroner’s office.

You have the right to commit simple battery if provoked by "fightin'" words.

In Kennesaw, every head of household must possess a firearm of some kind. The city, a suburb of Atlanta, pop 31,000, put this on the books in 1982. In 2007, Family Circle named it one of the 10 best towns to raise a family””

In Atlanta, one man may not be on another man's back.

Signs are required to be written in English.

No one may carry an ice cream cone in their back pocket if it is Sunday.

In Quitman, population 4600, it is illegal for a chicken to cross the road.

»Random Fact«

An average adult produces about half a liter of flatulent gas per day, resulting in an average of about fourteen occurrences of flatulence a day.

» Puzzle «

A list of words is given. To solve the puzzle, think of a single word that goes with each to form a compound word or word pair that functions as a compound word. For example, if the given words are volley, field, and bearing, the the answer would be ball, because the word ball can be added to each of the other words to form volleyball, ball field, and ball bearing. Answers are at the end of blog.

1. theme, trailer, ball

2. thumb, ever, onion

3. hog, board, mouth

» Calendar Information «

☼ February’s Month Long Observances ☼

Birthstone: Amethyst …Flower: Violet and Primrose

Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month^AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month^American Heart Month^Bake for Family Fun Month^Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month^Grapefruit Month^International Boost Self-Esteem Month^International Expect Success Month^Jobs in Golf Month^Library Lovers Month^Marijuana Awareness Month^National African American History Month^National Bird Feeding Month^National Black History Month^National Care About Your Indoor Air Month^National Cherry Month^National Condom Month^National Children's Dental Health Month^National Laugh-Friendly Month^National Mend A Broken Heart Month^National Parent Leadership Month^National Pet Dental Health Month^National Senior Independence Month^National Time Management Month^Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month^Pull Your Sofa Off The Wall Month^Relationship Wellness Month^Responsible Pet Owner's Month^Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month^Spiritual Teachers Month^Spunky Old Broads Month^ Sweet Potato Month^Wise Health Care Consumer Month^ Youth Leadership Month^

☼ Observance Weeks in February ☼

Children's Authors & Illustrators Week: 1-7

National Patient Recognition Week: 1-7

National School Counseling Week: 1-5

Solo Diners Eat Out Weekend: 1-7

Women's Heart Week: 1-7

International Networking Week: 1-5

Intimate Apparel Market Week: 1-4

International Hoof Care Week: 2-5

Boy Scout Anniversary Week: 3-9

International Snow Sculpting Week: 3-6

☼ 2 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼

Alaska: Cordova Ice Worm Day—1898 story much like that of the jackalope or snipes

National Girls & Women in Sports Day

Four Chaplains Memorial Day: Sinking of the Dorchester in 1944 men gave up life jackets to save others

☼2 February Observances—by country ☼

Japan : Bean throwing Festival/Setsubun (last day of lunar calendar winter)

Mozambique: Heroes' Day

Paraguay : Patron's Day/San Blas, patrón

Puerto Rico : Fiesta de San Blas, protector of harvest

☼ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1990…Jockey Willie Shoemaker raced for the 40,352nd and last time. That is like one race a day for 110+ years.

☼ Born on this day ☼

     » The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Horace Greeley, in 1811, editor ("Go west, young man")

Sidney Clopton Lanier, in 1842 US, composer/poet (Hall of Fame)

Felix Mendelssohn (Bartholdy), in 1809, composer: Wedding March

James A Michener, in 1907, writer (Hawaii, Centennial, …)

Norman Rockwell , in 1894, artist/illustrator (Sat Evening Post covers)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Shelley Berman, 84, comedian (“Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman”)

Joey Bishop [Gottlieb], in 1918, comedian/talk show host

Blythe Danner, 67, actress (Butterflies Are Free, Brighton Beach Memoirs

Morgan Fairchild (Patsy McClenny), 60, actress (“Dallas,” “Falcon Crest,” “Flamingo Road”)

Nathan Lane, 54, actor (Tony for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Producers; The Birdcage)

     »Athletes

Robert Allen (Bob) Griese, 65, sportscaster, Hall of Fame football player (Dolphins)

Francis Asbury (Fran) Tarkenton, 70, Hall of Fame football player(Giants, Vikings)

     »Business, Education, Politics

Charlie "Pretty Boy" Floyd, in 1904, FBI Most Wanted criminal

     »Science/Religion

Arthur Arfons, in 1926, auto racer/designer (Green Monster 1964-536.71 MPH)

Elizabeth Blackwell, in 1821 (England), 1st woman physician

☼Today’s Obits ☼

Belle Starr, in 1889, US female gangster, murdered @ 40

Woodrow Wilson, in 1924, 28th President @ 67

The Day the Music Died in plane crash, in 1959 : The Big Bopper [Jiles Perry Richardson] @ 28, Buddy Holly (Charles Hardin Holly) @ 22, Richie Valens (Richard Valenzuela) @ 17

Nancy Kulp, in 1991, actress (Jane Hathaway-Beverly Hillbillies), @ 69

Audrey Meadows, in 1996, actress (Alice-Honeymooners), @ 69

☼What happened on this day? ☼

     » The Arts

1953…J Fred Muggs, a chimp, becomes a regular on NBC's Today Show

     »Athletics

1876…Albert Spalding with $800 starts sporting goods company, manufacturing 1st official baseball, tennis ball, basketball, golf ball, & football

1948…Dick Button becomes 1st world figure skating champion from US

     »Business, Education, Politics

1690…1st paper money in America issued (colony of Massachusetts)

1740…Charles de Bourbon, King of Naples, invites Jews to return to Sicily 1783 Spain recognizes US independence

1847…General Sterling Price reaches the fortified TAOS Pueblo. Cannonade proves unfruitful, so Price retreats to the city of Taos.

1864…Sherman's march through Georgia

1870…15th Amendment (Black suffrage) passed

1882…Circus owner PT Barnum buys his world famous elephant Jumbo

1913…16th Amendment, federal income tax, ratified

1930…Vietnamese Communist Party forms

1947…1st black reporter in Congressional press gallery (Percival Prattis)

1962…President Kennedy bans all trade with Cuba except for food & medicine

1966…1st soft landing on the Moon (Soviet Luna 9)

1973…President Nixon signs Endangered Species Act into law

     »Science/Religion

1815…World's 1st commercial cheese factory established, in Switzerland

1918…Twin Peaks Tunnel longest (11,920') streetcar tunnel begins service

1947…Snag, Yukon records the lowest temperature for North America of −63 °C (−81.4 °F).

1953…The well known oceanographer Jacques Cousteau’s last and most famous book The Silent World is published.

1984…1st baby conceived by embryo transplant born in Long Beach CA

1986…The Pope meets Mother Teresa, and visited her refuge for the sick and dying

» Number One Songs in…

1946…Let It Snow - Vaughn Monroe

1954…Oh! My Pa-Pa - Eddie Fisher

1962…Peppermint Twist - Joey Dee & The Starliters

1970…Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin

1978…Stayin’ Alive - Bee Gees

» ANSWERS to puzzle «

1. PARK: theme park, trailer park, ballpark

2. GREEN: green thumb, evergreen, green onion

3. WASH: hogwash, washboard, mouthwash

Tuesday

2 February 2010--Week 5 of 2010: 33 days this year…332 remain

» Quote Times Two « 

"Share your happiness with others today." ~unknown

“Love never says: I have done enough!” ~Saint Marie-Eugenie de Jesus; Catholic Sister

» Free Ramblings «

It’s Groundhog day. Some might know the groundhog as a woodchuck. What are the origins of this celebration? Germans say it has to do with ‘Candlemas’ (when baby Jesus was taken to Temple), and that the groundhog awakens and comes out of his winter home to predict spring’s arrival. In Scotland it is said to come from this poem:

As the light grows longer/The cold grows stronger/If Candlemas be fair and bright/Winter will have another flight/If Candlemas be cloud and snow/Winter will be gone and not come again/A farmer should on Candlemas day/Have half his corn and half his hay/On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop/You can be sure of a good pea crop

Another origin comes from the problems when part of the world was using the Julian calendar and part was using the Gregorian calendar which treated the first day of spring differently. Groundhog Day is about six weeks before the vernal equinox. Hibernation seems to be the key to knowing when Spring will arrive. Some European legends talk of the groundhog, others the badger, and some even have the bear announcing the arrival of spring. The most renowned groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. However, other groundhogs of note include General Beauregard Lee, Staten Island Chuck, Jimmy and Wiarton Willie. Phil is in the news today, because PETA has sent a letter to the City Council asking them to use a robot, instead of Phil. Groundhog Day has become a media event, and hopefully tourist dollars, for many areas that have actual groundhogs living nearby. While many groups claim an accuracy of this ground squirrel rodent, actual statistics show about 39% accuracy. So this morning, the people of the world, tired of winter will turn their cameras on a groundhog to give them relief. Neither the groundhog nor any of its species relatives live in Arizona, and that is where I want to know when spring will arrive. So I guess I will just have to wait and see. If it snows after the equinox, it will be called a spring snowstorm and then I will know that no matter what happened on Feb. 2, we had six more weeks of winter.

Our retirement group got together today to share our massive snowstorm stories. We all had stories that topped each other. The winner was probably Mary’s story about putting on her snow shoes, going into her back yard to clear the snow off the roof of her shed. While standing on top of the snow, thanks to the snow shoes, she didn’t have to reach very high to clear off the shed’s roof, until she turned to get a better angle. One, and only one of her snow shoes did not remain flat during the turn, and the show shoe and her foot went down to the ground through about 3½ feet of snow. The snow shoe stayed on. Turns out it isn’t that easy to pull a big, wide, flat snow shoe back up to the top of the snow.

»* Winter Olympics* «

The Vancouver Olympics open on Feb 12.

Did you know…

The Olympic motto is Citius—Altius—Fortius, which is Latin for "faster, higher, stronger." The intended meaning is that one's focus should be on bettering one's achievements, rather than on coming in first. The motto was proposed by the father of the modern Olympic Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who got it from a speech given by a friend of his, Henri Didon, a Dominican priest and principal of an academy that used sports as part of its educational program.

»Side Show Stories—«

TARANTO, Italy - Police in an Italian city said a 4-year-old boy who considered himself too old for his pacifiers called authorities to surrender the baby toys. Taranto police said the boy called the emergency line a few days before his birthday and explained that he thought the police should have his old pacifiers, ANSA reported. "I'm old enough now so you can have my dummies," the boy told the operator. Police said two officers visited the boy's birthday party and traded him a souvenir hat in exchange for his four old pacifiers.

»Random Fact«

Only two in one thousand diamonds are considered truly colorless.

» Puzzle «

A list of words is given. To solve the puzzle, think of a single word that goes with each to form a compound word or word pair that functions as a compound word. For example, if the given words are volley, field, and bearing, the the answer would be ball, because the word ball can be added to each of the other words to form volleyball, ball field, and ball bearing. Answers are at the end of blog.

1. gum, kick, tear

2. house, star, street

3. cart, fifth, chair

» Calendar Information «

☼ February’s Month Long Observances ☼

Birthstone: Amethyst …Flower: Violet and Primrose

Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month^AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month^American Heart Month^Bake for Family Fun Month^Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month^Grapefruit Month^International Boost Self-Esteem Month^International Expect Success Month^Jobs in Golf Month^Library Lovers Month^Marijuana Awareness Month^National African American History Month^National Bird Feeding Month^National Black History Month^National Care About Your Indoor Air Month^National Cherry Month^National Condom Month^National Children's Dental Health Month^National Laugh-Friendly Month^National Mend A Broken Heart Month^National Parent Leadership Month^National Pet Dental Health Month^National Senior Independence Month^National Time Management Month^Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month^Pull Your Sofa Off The Wall Month^Relationship Wellness Month^Responsible Pet Owner's Month^Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month^Spiritual Teachers Month^Spunky Old Broads Month^ Sweet Potato Month^Wise Health Care Consumer Month^ Youth Leadership Month^

☼ Observance Weeks in February ☼

Children's Authors & Illustrators Week: 1-7

National Patient Recognition Week: 1-7

National School Counseling Week: 1-5

Solo Diners Eat Out Weekend: 1-7

Women's Heart Week: 1-7

International Networking Week: 1-5

Intimate Apparel Market Week: 1-4

International Hoof Care Week: 2-5

☼ 2 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼

Candelmas

Groundhog Day

Sled Dog Day

African American Coaches Day

World Wetlands Day

☼2 February Observances—by country ☼

Scotland: Imbolic—quarter day

Tenerife (Spain): Day of the Virgin of Candelaria (Saint Patron of the Canary Islands)

☼ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1887… A US law is passed which will prohibit the use of Indian languages in schools

☼ Born on this day ☼

   » The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

James (Lafayette) Dickey, in 1923, poet: The Firebombing; novelist: Deliverance

James Joyce, in 1882 (Ireland), novelist/poet (Dubliners, Ulysses, Finnigan's Wake)

Ayn Rand in 1905, writer (Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead)

James Stephens, in 1882, Irish poet (Crock of Gold)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

[Clyde] Skip Batten, 76, rocker (Byrds-Turn Turn Turn)

Christie Brinkley, 57, model

Charles Correll, in 1890, creator with Freeman Gosden of: Amos ’n’ Andy; voice of Andy (Brown) on radio

Mary Farrah Leni Fawcett, in 1947, actress (Charlie's Angels, Burning Bed)

Pebbles Flintstone, in 1963, fictional character on "The Flintstones"

Ina Garten, 62, chef, cookbook author, television celebrity (“The Barefoot Contessa)

Stan Getz, in 1927, jazz tenor saxophonist

Gale Gordon, (Charles Aldrich), in 1906, actor: The Lucy Show

Holly Hunter, 52, actress

Frank Lloyd, in 1888 (Scotland)), actor/director (Mutiny on Bounty, Oliver Twist)

Graham Nash, 68, musician, singer

Tom Smothers, 73, comedian, folksinger (“The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour”)

Elaine Stritch, 85, singer, actress (Company, Elaine Stritch at Liberty)

   »Athletes

Lance Brown, 32, NFL defensive back (Cardinals)

   »Business, Education, Politics

Solomon R Guggenheim, 1861, philanthropist (died aboard the Titanic)

Liz Smith, 87, journalist, author

   »Science/Religion

John Glover, in 1817, English chemist (sulfuric acid)

Dr An Wang in 1920, founder (Wang Labs, Wang Computers)

☼Today’s Obits ☼

Gene Kelly, in 1996, actor/dancer (Singing in the Rain), @ 83

Boris Karloff [Pratt], in 1969, British actor (Frankenstein), @ 81

Bert Parks [Jacobson], in 1992, TV host (Miss America Pageant), @ 77 a

Bertrand Russell, in 1970, philosopher, British MP, @ 97

John L Sullivan in 1918, heavyweight boxing champion, overindulgence @ 59

☼What happened on this day? ☼

   » The Arts

1863…Samuel Langhorne Clemens decided to use a pseudonym for the first time on this very day. Now he is better remembered by the name, Mark Twain.

1950…1st broadcast of "What's My Line" on CBS-TV

   »Athletics

1970..Pete Maravich becomes 1st to score 3,000 college basketball points

   »Business, Education, Politics

1536…Pedro de Mendoza finds the Argentine city of Buenos Aires

1653…New Amsterdam becomes a city (later New York NY)

1848…Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends Mexican War; US acquires Texas, California, New Mexico & Arizona for $15 million

1852…1st British public men's toilet opens (Fleet St London)

1882…Knights of Columbus forms in New Haven CT

1901…Female Army Nurse Corps established as a permanent organization

1916…German zeppelins drop close to 400 bombs over the West Midlands the crew of a British fishing trawler later comes across the crashed remains of one of the giant airships floating in the North Sea.
1923…Ethyl gasoline 1st marketed, Dayton OH

1924…International Ski Federation (FIS) founded

1925…Sears opens it's first retail store in the Merchandise building
1931…1st use of a rocket to deliver mail (Austria)

1935…Lie detector 1st used in court (Portage WI)

1937…The White House roof was leaking, and that further rain and snow was expected to fall. Believe it or not, while this was going on Congress was still debating whether or not to spend $400 to fix it.
1964…Following the success of the Barbie doll for girls Hasbro launch G.I. Joe an action figure for boys.
1971…Idi Amin ousts Milton Obote to become dictator of Uganda

1972…The British embassy in Dublin is destroyed by crowds throwing fire bombs as retaliation over the shooting dead of 13 people in Londonderry.
1986…Dalai Lama meets Pope John Paul II in India .

   »Science/Religion

1802…1st leopard exhibited in US, Boston (admission 25¢)

1962…8 of 9 planets align for 1st time in 400 years

» Number One Songs in…

1945…Don’t Fence Me In - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters

1953…Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes - Perry Como

1961…Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles

1969…Crimson and Clover - Tommy James & The Shondells

1977…Car Wash - Rose Royce

» ANSWERS to puzzle «

1. DROP: gumdrop, drop kick, teardrop

2. LIGHT: lighthouse, starlight, street light

3. WHEEL: cartwheel, fifth wheel, wheelchair

Monday

1 February 2010--Week 5 of 2010: 32 days this year…333 remain
» Quote Times Two « .
“Teachers: two kinds: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move and the kind that just give you a little prod from behind and you jump to the skies.” ~Robert Frost; Poet
"Mistakes are oft the stepping stones to failure." ~Slovenian Proverb
» Free Ramblings « .
First some information on This month:
February is from Latin for ‘purification’. Since 770BC it was used as the month to fix the calendar, today the Gregorian calendar still uses February to make the calendar work. It is known as the ‘mud month’, the ‘month of the pearl’ (Finnish when the snow melts on branches and then refreezes forming ice pearls), and the month of ‘hard frost’.
My background in sociology and linguistics certainly influences my life. The detainment of missionaries in Haiti is just another example of people not really understanding either. Missionaries were stopped at the Haitian border with ‘orphans’ from the earthquake.
The Haitian government is functioning and stopped all adoptions until it can be determined that the little ones are really orphans. It reminds me of the time the US government came to the Navajo Rez, soon after the 1868 treaty and were in Tuba. While the Navajo knew that there were Ute living in the area—less than 2 miles from Tuba, they were asked if any other tribes were in the area. They denied the existence of any Ute in the area. It took many lawsuits and over 120 years for the Ute to get their land back. The missionaries today believe that they are doing the right thing. They have no understanding of the devastation they are causing. Haitian parents, being very poor, have for years been putting their children in orphanages because they can’t care for them. Many return to their families when they are grown. Raising a child today, anywhere, is difficult. Adopting a child of a different background is very hard on the child and the adoptive family. Maybe it’s because I’m adopted, maybe it’s something else, but I just can’t understand foreign adoptions. It seems to me that the children should be cared for by their own. The families that want to help a child should send money or donate time to help them. They shouldn’t just take them away.
The US has stopped bringing the seriously injured to US Hospitals, because the hospital bureaucrats want to know who is going to pay for their care. Not a lot of humanity being shown. The doctors and other personnel at these hospitals want to help. Many have gone to Haiti to help; others are willing to assist them here. Like so many other things in this country, money takes over. So sad.
The sky was clear, then cloudy, then overcast, then clear again. There was a slight breeze, but overall the 42° was nice. I guess the 18° last night was OK too. Not a lot of snow mounds melted today, but as we get ready for February, we will survive.
»New* Winter Olympics* «                                        .
The Vancouver Olympics open on Feb 12.
Did you know…
Ireland has 6 athletes, Scotland has at least 6 athletes competing under Great Britain.
The first winter games were held in 1924 in Chamnix, France.
»Side Show Stories—«                                            .
OXFORD, England - Police in England said a group of officers caught on camera using a riot shield as a sled on a snow slope were reprimanded by a superior. Superintendent Andrew Murray, Oxford City commander with Thames Valley Police, said a bystander captured video of a group of officers arriving at the slope and encouraging a colleague to sled down the hill while clinging to the straps for steering, the Daily mail reported. The video was later uploaded to YouTube. "The snow has a habit of bringing out the child in all of us," Murray said. "I have spoken to the officers concerned and reminded them in no uncertain terms that tobogganing on duty, on police equipment and at taxpayers' expense is a very bad idea should they wish to progress under my command."
»Random Fact«                                                    .
The 1986 tax act was aimed at simplification. It ended up amending 2,000 sections of the code and creating more than 100 new forms.
» Puzzle «                                                            .
A list of words is given. To solve the puzzle, think of a single word that goes with each to form a compound word or word pair that functions as a compound word. For example, if the given words are volley, field, and bearing, the the answer would be ball, because the word ball can be added to each of the other words to form volleyball, ball field, and ball bearing. Answers are at the end of blog.
1. hard, under, up
2. fitting, land, free
3. salt, melon, white
» Calendar Information «                                             .
☼ February’s Month Long Observances ☼
Birthstone: Amethyst …Flower: Violet and Primrose
Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month^AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month^American Heart Month^Bake for Family Fun Month^Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month^Grapefruit Month^International Boost Self-Esteem Month^International Expect Success Month^Jobs in Golf Month^Library Lovers Month^Marijuana Awareness Month^National African American History Month^National Bird Feeding Month^National Black History Month^National Care About Your Indoor Air Month^National Cherry Month^National Condom Month^National Children's Dental Health Month^National Laugh-Friendly Month^National Mend A Broken Heart Month^National Parent Leadership Month^National Pet Dental Health Month^National Senior Independence Month^National Time Management Month^Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month^Pull Your Sofa Off The Wall Month^Relationship Wellness Month^Responsible Pet Owner's Month^Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month^Spiritual Teachers Month^Spunky Old Broads Month^ Sweet Potato Month^Wise Health Care Consumer Month^ Youth Leadership Month^
☼ Observance Weeks in February ☼
Children's Authors & Illustrators Week: 1-7
National Patient Recognition Week: 1-7
National School Counseling Week: 1-5
Solo Diners Eat Out Weekend: 1-7
Women's Heart Week: 1-7
International Networking Week: 1-5
Intimate Apparel Market Week: 1-4
☼ 1 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼
Freedom Day
G.I. Joe Day
Give Kids A Smile Day
Hula in The Coola Day
Robinson Crusoe Day
Spunky Old Broads Day
Working Naked Day
☼1 February Observances—by country ☼
Ireland: St. Brigid, patron saint day
Malaysia : Federal Territory Holiday (1974)
Nicaragua : Air Force Day
☼ Holy Mackerel: On this day in
☼ Born on this day ☼
     » The Arts
Authors, Artists and Composers
Thomas Cole, in 1801, romantic landscape painter (Hudson River School)
Victor August Herbert, in 1859 (Ireland), composer (Babes in Toyland)
Langston Hughes, in 1902, poet/translator
Muriel Spark, in 1918, (Scotland), novelist (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie)
Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV
(William) Clark Gable, in 1901, actor (Gone With the Wind)
John Ford, in 1895, director (Stagecoach, Air Mail, Quiet Man)
Michael C. Hall, 39, actor (“Six Feet Under,” “Dexter”)
Sherman Hemsley, 72, actor (“The Jeffersons,” “Amen”)
Rick James [James Johnson], in 1952, rock/soul/funk vocalist (Super Freak)
Terry Jones, 68, Welsh actor, director (“Monty Python’s Flying Circus”)
Anthony LaPaglia, 51, (Australia), actor
Lisa Marie Presley, 42, singer
Bob Shane, 76, vocalist (Kingston Trio)
Pauly Shore, 40, comedian, actor
     »Athletes
     »Business, Education, Politics
Boris Yeltsin, in 1931, president of Russian SSR
     »Science/Religion
Jacob Roggeveen, in 1659, Dutch Swiss lawyer/navigator (Easter Island)
Thomas Campbell, in 1763, founder (Church of Disciples in America)
Eduard Adolf Strasburger, in 1844, German botanist (Angiospermen)
☼Today’s Obits ☼
Carlos I King of Portugal in 1908, assassinated @ 44
Buster Keaton [Joseph Francis], in 1966, US comic @ 69
Hedda Hopper [Elda Furry], in 1966, US gossip columnist, @ 75
Langston Hughes, in 1967, poet/translator, on 65th birthday
Jack Bailey, in 1980, TV host (Queen for a Day), @ 72
James G MacDonald, in 1991, cartoon voice (Mickey Mouse), @ 84
☼What happened on this day? ☼
     » The Arts
1935…1st "March of Time" newsreel premieres at the Capitol
1949…RCA releases 1st single record ever (45 rpm)
1982…"Late Night With David Letterman" debuts on NBC-TV
1999…Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky gives deposition
    »Athletics
    »Business, Education, Politics
1587…English queen Elizabeth I signs Mary Stuart's death sentence
1790…Supreme Court convenes for the 1st time (New York NY)
1862…The Battle Hymn of the Republic was first published in Atlantic Monthly
1884…1st volume of the Oxford English Dictionary, A-Ant, published
1906…1st federal penitentiary building completed, Leavenworth KS
1917…By Executive Order, today, the PAPAGO Indian Reservation in established in Arizona.
1920…1st commercial armored car introduced (St Paul MN)
1951…1st telecast of atomic explosion - US nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1957…1st black pilot (PH Young) on a US scheduled passenger airline
1960…4 students stage 1st civil rights sit-in, at Greensboro NC Woolworth
1965…Martin Luther King Jr & 700 demonstrators arrested in Selma AL
1978…Harriet Tubman is 1st black woman honored on a US postage stamp
     »Science/Religion
2003…The Space Shuttle Columbia breaks up on re-entry into the Earth's atmospher
2004…During the annual Hajj pilgrimage to the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia 251 people are trampled to death during a stampede
» Number One Songs in…
1944…Besame Mucho - The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Bob Eberly & Kitty Kallen
1952…Slowpoke - Pee Wee King
1960…Running Bear - Johnny Preston
1968…Judy in Disguise (With Glasses) - John Fred & His Playboy Band
1976…Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players
1984…Karma Chameleon - Culture Club Factory
» ANSWERS to puzzle «
1. COVER: hardcover, undercover, cover up
2. FORM: form-fitting, landform, freeform
3.WATER: salt water, watermelon, white water