Sep 22. 2012

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

Flagstaff Almanac…  

Week: 38 / Day 266 : Today: High   77°…Low 41°

Records: High  84 °(1943)…Low 23°(1955)

Averages: High  71°…Low 40°

Wind: average:   2mph;  Gusts:  22mph

Today’s average humidity:  44%

Quote of the Day…

Today’s  Historical  Highlights…

2011 - CERN scientists announce their discovery of neutrinos breaking the 

            speed of light

1997 - Elton John releases Diana tribute "Candle in the Wind 1997"

1981 - Sandra Day O'Connor appointed to Supreme Court

1973 - Henry Kissinger, sworn in as America's 1st Jewish Secretary of State

1958 - KTVK TV channel 3 in Phoenix, AZ (ABC) begins broadcasting

1950 - Nobel peace prize awarded to Ralph J Bunche (1st black winner)

1817 - John Quincy Adams becomes Secretary of State

1745 - Bonnie Prince Charlie’s army returns to Edinburgh

1656 - All female jury hears case of woman who killed her child (acquit her)

♪   Happy Birthday To: ♪.. 

How many can you identify?…answers in Today’s Birthdays

Free Rambling Thoughts…   

I rearranged my bedroom today, moving the bed away from the window, in preparation for colder temperatures. That also meant moving all the bedroom furniture.  Located some dust bunnies that have been enjoying their existence under the bed…they are no more. What a shock. Both the Dems and the GOP have been scammed. Turns out there are many ‘look alike’ sites on the internet machine that are taking donor’s money. Scammers have bought up site names and made them look just like a Dem or GOP fundraising site. The guy may get off since there is tiny tiny print at the bottom of the website that says none of the money goes to Federal candidates. The old saying ‘buyer beware’ has now changed to ‘contributor watch out’. LOL…Paul Ryan sent to talk to AARP convention…not a bright move.

Game  Center: (answers at the end of post)

What is the rhyming 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)

indubitable (7,5)

Rebus…

Can you figure out what this means?

Lifestyle  Substance…     

Do you remember this?

Read This Headline Carefully!!

Quarter of a million Chinese Live On Water

Do you know what this word means?

What is this not so common name of a common object?

 Zuchetto  (pronounced zoo-ket-oh)

Gorilla:

Great Scenes in Musical Movie History…:

The Babbitt and the Bromide…Ziegfeld Follies (1945)

Harper’s Index…         

Number of discrimination complaints received for the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) commission in 2011: 99,947

Unusal Fact of the Day…

The 1980 movie Chariots of Fire was the first movie in nearly fifty years to win an Oscar for Best Picture without winning any of the five other "major" awards (Best Actor, Actress, Director, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress).

Found on You Tube… 

The Rhino is my favorite animal in Africa. Mesmerizing is all I can say.

THIS VIDEO IS VERY GRAPHIC AND MAY BE DISTRUBING TO MANY.  The Problem of Poaching is REAL.

Rhino Poaching: An African Tragedy. A Global Responsibility!

Joke-of-the-day…

A young girl came home from a date looking sad. She told her mother, “Charles proposed to me a few minutes ago.” “Then why are you so sad?” her mother asked. “Because he also mentioned he was an atheist. Mom, he doesn’t believe there’s hell!” Her mother replied, “Marry him anyway. Between the two of us, we’ll show him how wrong he is.”

Rules of Thumb…   

Easy shortcuts to make an ‘educated’ guess

GETTING PAID…When dealing with notorious non-payers, always charge twice as much as the job will actualy cost, then get half the money up front.    

Yeah, It Really Happened…

• Mark Lucas Thompson of Alum Creek, West Virginia was charged with animal cruelty and petit larceny in an incident involving his neighbor's pygmy goat. 

• Police arrested Thompson in May of last year after neighbors found him in his room standing next to the dead goat and dressed in women's clothing. It was determined that he was high on bath salts when he 'kid' napped the goat and allegedly sexually assaulted it. 

• However Circuit Court Judge James Stucky recently ruled that Thompson will not be held criminally responsible for the incident. The decision came after several mental evaluations. Thompson will instead get six months of treatment at a mental hospital.  

Somewhat Useless Information…   

 The first consumer protection law ever written was enacted over beer by Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria in 1516. It was a purity law limiting the ingredients of beer to barley, hops and water.

American beer is made partially by rice, unlike the beers of other countries. This was invented to give American beer a lighter taste and tap into the market of women buyers.

Calendar Information…        

Happening This Week:

15-22: National Singles Week / Pollution Prevention Week / Build A Better Image Week / Deaf Awareness Week / National Clean Hands Week  / National Farm & Ranch Safety and Health Week / Prostate Cancer Awareness Week / Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week / Tolkien Week / Turn Off Week / Balance Awareness Week / Constitution Week / National Love Your Files Week 
22-29: Banned Books Week / National Dog Week / National Keep Kids Creative Week / Remember to Register to Vote Week / International Women's E-Commerce Days

Today Is…                                                                      

AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day

American Business Women's Day

Car Free Day

Dear Diary Day

Elephant Appreciation Day

Hobbit Day

Kids Day (Kiwanis Clubs)

Ice Cream Cone Day

International Day of Radiant Peace: International Day of Peace

National Centenarian's Day

National Hunting and Fishing Day: Fish Amnesty Day

National White Chocolate Day

R.E.A.D. in America Day

World Rhino Day—stop the poaching!

~Mali: Independence Day (1960 from France)

Today’s Events Through History…  

2000’s

2003 - David Hempleman-Adams becomes the first person to cross the 

            Atlantic Ocean in an open-air, wicker-basket hot air balloon

1900’s

1993 - Nolan Ryan, 46, pitches his last game

1990 - Saudi Arabia expels many Jordanian & Yemeni envoys

1975 - Sara Jane Moore tries to assassinate President Ford in SF

1964 - "Man from U.N.C.L.E," premieres on NBC-TV 

1957 - "Maverick" premieres

1915 - Xavier University, 1st Black Catholic College in US, opens in NO LA

1915 - Southern Methodist University (Dallas Texas) holds its 1st class

1908 - Bulgaria declares independence from Ottoman Empire (Turkey)

1800’s

1861 - Fort Fauntleroy (Wingate), rapes Navaho Indians

1851 - The city of Des Moines, Iowa was incorporated as Fort Des Moines

1700’s

1711 - French troops occupy Rio de Janeiro

1711 - The Tuscarora Indians, under Chief Hencock, join the Coree, Pamlico, 

             Machapunga, and Bear River Indians in an attack on the white settlements 

             on the Trent and Pamlico Rivers in North Carolina.

1600’s

1692 - Last (8) person hanged for witchcraft in US (Salem Mass)

1500’s

1528 - Having completed five boats, two days ago, Panfilo de Narvaez loads the 

            remaining 242 men of his expedition and leave to search for his sailing ships. 

            They have been pursued by Apalachee Indians for some time. Most of 

            Narvaez' force is lost at sea. Cabeza de Vaca lands on Galveston Island, in 

            Texas, on November 6, 1528.

1400’s

1499 - Switzerland became an independent state

Today’s Birthdays…                                                           

In their 50’s

Scott Baio, actor [Chachi -- Happy Days ]and television director is 52

Debby Boone, Hackensack NJ, singer (You Light Up My Life) is 56

Bonnie Hunt, actress, comedian, writer, director is 51

Joan Jett , singer (Blackhearts-I Love Rock 'n Roll) is 52

In their 60’s

 Mark A P Phillips, British ex of princess Anne is 64

In their 70’s

Lute Olson, University of AZ basketball coach is 78

In their 80’s

 Tommy Lasorda, baseball manager (LA Dodgers) is 85

Remembered for being born today

Babette Deutsch, US poet (Animal vegetable mineral) b.1895

Anna van Kleef, queen of England/4th wife of Henry VIII b.1515

Allan "Rocky" Lane, Mishawaka Ind, actor (voice of Mr Ed, Red Ryder) b.1901

Gilbert E. Patterson, American minister and presiding bishop of the 

       Church of God in Christ b.1939

Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, letter writer; introduced

       Gregorian calendar b.1694

Joseph Valachi, American gangster; 1^st to publically announce Mafia exists b.1903

Today’s Historical Obits…                                                           

Irving Berlin, composer (God Bless America)—1989--at 101

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, Spanish explorer-- an infectious disease—

      1554—at 44

Eddie Fisher, American singer (Debbie Reynolds and Liz Taylor)—2010—at 82

Nathan Hale, US captain/patriot/spy, hanged by British—1776--at 21

Gordon Jump, actor [WRKP]-- pulmonary fibrosis—2003—at 71

Dorothy Lamour, actress (Road to Bali, Road to Rio)—1996--at 81

Marcel Marceau, French mime artist—2007—at 84

Shaka kaSenzangakhona, South African Zulu king—assisinated—1828—at 41

Dan Rowan, actor (Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in) lymphoma—1987--at 65

George C. Scott, American actor [Patton]-- aortic aneurysm—1999—at 71

Answers…                                                                                                                                            

Do you know what this word means?

The skullcap worn by Roman Catholic clergy. The color of the zucchetto (which means pumpkin in Italian) denotes rank. Cardinals traditionally wear red, bishops and abbots wear violet, priests black and the Pope has a white one

What is the answer?

Without doubt

Rebus

Oversees travel

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  ☺

Sep 21, 2012

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

Flagstaff Almanac…  

Week: 38 / Day: Today: High   79°…Low 43°

Records: High   83°(2000, 1949, 1943)…Low 23°(1971)

Averages: High  72°…Low 41°

Wind: average:   3mph;  Gusts:  23mph

Today’s average humidity:  44%

Quote of the Day…

Today’s  Historical  Highlights…

2008 - Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, the two last remaining independent 

            investment banks on Wall Street, become bank holding companies as a result

            of the subprime mortgage crisis

1985 - Michael Spinks beats Larry Holmes in 15 to become Heavyweight Boxing 

           Champion

1970 - "Monday Night Football" premieres on ABC - Browns 31, Jets 21

1955 - Rocky Marciano KOs Archie Moore in 9 for heavyweight boxing title

1937 - J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" is published

1928 - "My Weekly Reader" magazine made its debut

1922 - Pres Warren G Harding signs a joint resolution of approval to establish a 

           Jewish homeland in Palestine

1837 - Charles Tiffany founded his jewelry & china stores

1827 - According to Joseph Smith, Jr., the angel Moroni gave him a record of gold 

            plates, one-third of which Joseph translated into The Book of Mormon

1621 - King James of England gives Canada to Sir Alexander Sterling

♪   Happy Birthday To: ♪.. 

How many can you identify?…answers in Today’s Birthdays

Free Rambling Thoughts…   

I finally got through the photos from our Kenya trip photo contest. Lots of cool pictures. Now it’s time to get them up on the Focus and HLO travel pages.  I have no control over when that happens, but hopefully soon. If you want to see them, click here

As the days get shorter and the night temps get cooler, I realize that it is just a little while till we have our first snow. I think tomorrow I will start preparing by fixing up the deck for winter, and dealing with the potted plants out front. In past years I’ve just let the annuals die off, but they did very well this year and I think I will try to keep them inside during the winter. I’ll deal with the ‘bulbs’ after everything else dies off.

Many have forgotten about the ‘Blind Sheik’ who is serving a life sentence in a US prison for masterminding the parking lot bombing of the World Trade Center that killed 6 Americans. As the Republicans scramble for position in the November elections, now several current Representatives are concerned that the Obama Administration is going to release him. Various Administration officials have come out calling this idea ‘utter garbage’. So tired of this kind of politics.

Game  Center: (answers at the end of post)

What is the rhyming 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)

distribute Kleenex (5,6)

Rebus…

Can you figure out what this means?

Lifestyle  Substance…     

Do you remember this?

Read This Headline Carefully!!

Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers

Do you know what this word means?

What is this not so common name of a common object?

 Zarf

Gorilla:

Great Scenes in Musical Movie History…:

The Cell Block Tango…Chicago (2002)

Harper’s Index…         

Portion of Black Americans households that have no assets other than a car: 1/4

Unusal Fact of the Day…

In 1981, Deborah Ann Fountain (Miss New York) became the first Miss America pageant participant disqualified for "illegal use of padding" during the swimsuit competition.

Found on You Tube… 

• The Texaco Star Theater Intro

• How Joseph Smith Wrote the Book of Mormon

Joke-of-the-day…

A guy coming out of the gym tells his friend; “I just lost 10 pounds!” His friend says; “Turn around; I think I found them!”

Rules of Thumb…   

Easy shortcuts to make an ‘educated’ guess

WINNING AT CHESS…Play the French Defense against an elderly opponent. You will baffle his cut-and-slash method of play.    

Yeah, It Really Happened…

CANTON, Ohio - A 102-year-old woman who brought her 1930 Packard 740 Roadster to an Ohio car show said she still changes her own oil and spark plugs. Margaret Dunning of Plymouth, Mich., said at the 18th annual Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles at Glenmoor Country Club in Canton the car was in rough shape when she bought it in 1949 but it has since been restored with four upholstery jobs and 22 coats of hand-rubbed lacquer, the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal reported Monday. Dunning said she still often finds herself crawling under the car, which was the first vehicle to ever receive a 100-point score by the Classic Car Club of America, with a funnel and an oil pan. "I love the old cars," she said. "I love the smell of gasoline. It runs in my veins." "The lines of a Packard car are very artistic as far as I'm concerned. My family drove Packards, and I was very proud of the fact. I guess I got indoctrinated," she said. Dunning, who has been driving since she was 8 years old and was about 20 when her Packard rolled off the assembly line, said motoring in her everyday car, a 2003 Cadillac, sometimes gets her in trouble for speeding. "I have lead in my feet," she quipped. "It disturbs the policemen very badly, but it doesn't bother me at all."  

Somewhat Useless Information…   

• Stanley Kunitz, Billy Collins, Louise Gluck, Ted Kooser, and Donald Hall are the men and women who have held the position of U.S. Poet Laureate since the year 2000.

• While the title of the Lydia Child poem "The Boy's Thanksgiving Day" might not ring a bell, it's very likely the work's opening line will: "Over the river and through the woods/to grandmother's house we go..."

• Nipsey Russell was referred to as "The Poet Laureate of Television." The game show regular was known for his witty four-line verses. He said writing them was easy; he began with the punch line and went backward from there.

• The Book of Counted Sorrows is a poetry collection that Dean Koontz regularly refers to in his novels. This book didn't exist until 2003 when, after thousands of requests from readers, he published it in a limited edition.

• Haiku is old, but not as ancient as you might think. While much of Japan's culture and tradition can be traced back as much as 2,500 years, five/seven/five-syllable haiku poetry only dates back to the fifteenth century. 

• Oddly, syphilis got its name from a poem. In 1530, physician Girolamo Fracastoro wrote a poem titled "Syphilis" about a young shepherd who was the first person afflicted with the disease, and the title became the common name for the STD.

Calendar Information…        

Happening This Week:

15-22: National Singles Week / Pollution Prevention Week / Build A Better Image Week / Deaf Awareness Week / National Clean Hands Week  / National Farm & Ranch Safety and Health Week / Prostate Cancer Awareness Week / Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week / Tolkien Week / Turn Off Week / Balance Awareness Week / Constitution Week / National Love Your Files Week 

Today Is…                                                                      

International Banana Festival

National POW/MIA Recognition Day

World's Alzheimer's Day

World Gratitude Day

UN International Day of Peace

~Armenia: Independence Day (1991 from USSR)
~Belize: Independence Day (1981 from UK)
~Malta: Independence Day (1964 from UK)

Today’s Events Through History…  

2000’s

2004 - Construction of the Burj Dubai starts

2003 - Galileo mission terminated by sending the probe into Jupiter's atmosphere, 

            where it is crushed by the pressure at the lower altitudes

1900’s

1973 - Jackson Pollocks painting "Blue Poles" sold for $2,000,000

1965 - Singapore admitted as a part of the United Nations

1957 - "Perry Mason" with Raymond Burr premieres on CBS-TV

1949 - Chinese Communist leaders proclaims People's Republic of China

1949 - Federal Republic of [West] Germany created under 3-power occupation

1948 - "Texaco Star Theater" with Milton Berle premieres on NBC-TV

1930 - Johann Ostermeyer patents flashbulb

1903 - 1st cowboy film "Kit Carson," premieres in US

1800’s

1897 - NY Sun runs famous "Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus," editorial

1895 - 1st auto manufacturer opens-Duryea Motor Wagon Company

1814 - "Star Spangled Banner" published as a poem

1700’s

1792 - 1st French Republic forms

1776 - 5 days after British take NY, a ¼ of city burns down

1600’s

1677 - John & Nicolaas van der Heyden patents fire extinguisher

1638 - The Treaty of Hartford is signed. After losing their battle with the English, and

             their Indians allies, the Pequots surrender. The surviving members of the tribe

             are given as servants to the Indian allies of the English.

1300’s

1348 - Jews in Zurich Switzerland are accused of poisoning wells

  

Today’s Birthdays…                                                           

In their 30’s

 Nicole Richie, fashion designer, author, actress, singer and TV personality will be 31

In their 40’s

Faith Hill. country singer will be 45

Ricki Lake , actress (Hairspray)/talk show host (Ricki) will be 44

Luke Wilson, American actor is 41

In their 50’s

 David James Elliott, Toronto, actor (Seinfeld, Lt Harmon Rabb-Jag) is 52

Rob Morrow, actor (Dr Fleishman-Northern Exposure) will be 50

In their 60’s

Fannie Flagg, Birmingham Ala, actress/comediene (Candid Camera) is 68

Stephen King, Portland, Maine, sci-fi/horror author (Carrie, Shining, Kujo) is 65

Bill Murray, actor/comedian (Saturday Night Live, Ghostbusters)  will be 62

In their 80’s

 Larry Hagman, Fort Worth Tx, TV actor (I Dream of Jeannie, JR-Dallas) is 81

Remembered for being born today

Dawn Addams, Felixstown Engl, actress (Alan Young Show, Star Maidens) b. 1930

Maurice Barrymore, Indian-born patriarch of the Barrymore family b. 1849

Henry Gibson, Germantown Pa, comedian (Nashville, Laugh-In's poet) b. 1935

Allen Lane, English publisher/founder (Penguin Books) b. 1902

Chuck Jones, animator (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck) b. 1912

John Loudon McAdam, created macadam road surface (asphalt) b. 1756

H. G. Wells, Bromley, Kent, English writer (War of the Worlds, Kipps) b. 1866

Today’s Historical Obits…                                                           

Walter Brennan, actor (Real McCoys) emphysema—1974--at 80

Beryl L. Frazier, my mom—2008—at 89

Alice Ghostley, American actress—2007—at 83

Rex Humbard, American television evangelist—2007—at 88

Chief Joseph (Hinmaton-yalatkit or Hein-mot too-ya-la-kekt)—in exile—1904—at 64 

Walter Scott, Scottish attorney/poet/writer (Ivanhoe)—failing health—1932—at 61

Jacqueline Susann, author (Valley of the Dolls)--breast cancer—1974--at 53

Answers…                                                                                                                                            

Do you know what this word means?

The cardboard holder for a coffee cup that has no handle. The word comes from the Arabic for container or envelope, because the device (originally a metal holder for a handle-less glass) originated in the Middle East.

 What is the answer?

Issue tissue

Rebus

Look both ways before crossing the street 

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  ☺