Tuesday

342 days so far this year…23 days remain in 2009
17 shopping days remain until Christmas
***Provocative Quote***
"He who laughs last probably doesn`t understand the joke." ~unknown
***Free Ramblings***
As promised, our blizzard has arrived. We got about an inch last night, then about 9am it really started snowing. We now have about a foot and a half and it is still coming down hard. Schools are closed. NAU cancelled classes today and tomorrow—and it’s final’s week. The poor students have two choices: Take the grade you had before the final or take the final two weeks into the next semester—mid-January. Sure glad I’m not a student. I always had at least one class per semester where I needed to do well on the final to get that A or B. I-17, the road to Phoenix, is closed. The wind is blowing with gust to 50mph. A Winter Storm has officially arrived in Flagstaff. It sure is great to be retired. I don’t have to go any place this week. I did clean the walk a couple of times and brushed off the car, just so I could see it. It isn’t that cold—only 28°--but the wind sure makes it feel colder than that.

It’s amazing how technology keeps us up to the minute on what is happening. Facebook has been great. Text messages let us stay in contact with out of town friends at no cost. Sure enjoy all this stuff. I’m sure I will get cabin fever soon, but right now, I had time to put up decorations and start getting ready for Christmas.

So I am hunkered down, ready for whatever this storm brings. The only problem may be getting the trash out of the house. Right now, the dumpster is pretty well buried. Small problem, compared to all my neighbors who still have to go to work.
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± Quotes from Values.com—Common Ground
“Mere human beings can't afford to be fanatical about anything. Not even about justice or loyalty...If we are to survive on this planet, there must be compromises.” ~Storm [Margaret Storm Jameson] Novelist, Critic

± Unusual News
On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., my brother-in-law overheard a patriotic father pointing out a well-known building to his son. "You see that triangular-shaped octagon over there? That's the Pentagon." Source unknown.

± Random Facts
Starfish don't have brains. They feel their way through life just using the senses of touch and taste and smell.
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§ December Month Long Observances
Birthstone: Blue Topaz…Flower of the Month: Narcissus
Colorectal Cancer Education and Awareness Month + Hi Neighbor Month + National Write A Business Plan Month + National Tie Month + Rising Star Month + Safe Toys and Gifts Month + Spiritual Literacy Month + Stress Free Family Holiday Month + Universal Human Rights Month + Read A New Book Month+ World Aids Month

§ Week of 6 December
Operation Santa Paws Week (Donations for Shelter Animals Care) ~ National Hand washing Awareness Week ~ Clerc-Gallaudet Week (Honored for work in the Deaf Community)

§ 8 December Observances
Take it in the Ear Day
-Guam : Lady of Camarin Day—Patron Saint of Guam
-Japan : Enlightenment of the Buddha
-Spain, Panamá, Canal Zone : Mother's Day
-Spain : School Reunion Day
-Uruguay : Beaches Day/Family Day
- Uzbekistan – Constitution Day( since 1992.)
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~ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1829…In his first "State of the Union Address," President Andrew Jackson will state his goal to remove all Indians in the southeastern part of the United States to lands west of the Mississippi.

BIRTHS ON THIS DAY
~ The Arts
Kim Basinger in 1953 actress
David Carradine in 1936 actor (Kung Fu)
Sammy Davis Jr. in 1925 entertainer
Horace in 65 -BC lyric poet/satirist
Richard Llewellyn in 1906 Welsh novelist (How Green Was My Valley)
Jim (James Douglas) Morrison in 1943 singer: The Doors
Siñead O'Connor in 1966 Irish singer
Elzie Segar in 1894 cartoonist: creator of Popeye
James (Grover) Thurber in 1894 humorist
Flip [Clerow] Wilson in 1933 comedian (Flip Wilson Show)

~Athletics
Garvin Alston in 1971 pitcher (Colorado Rockies)
Joe Staysniak in 1966 NFL guard (Indianapolis Colts)

~Business / Education / Politics
William Crapo Durant in 1861 founded General Motors

~Science / Religion
John B (Jack) McKay in 1922 US test pilot (X-15)
Eli Whitney in 1765 inventor (Cotton Gin)

In Remembrance~
Bob Bell 1st Bozo the clown @ 75
John Lennon assassinated @ 40
Mary Queen of Scots executed @ 45
Golda Meir Israel's PM @ 80
Omar I 2nd Kalief of Islam, murdered
Slim Pickins actor (Blazing Saddles), @ 64

Historical Events on this day
1854…Pope Pius IX proclaims Immaculate Conception, makes Mary, free of Original Sin
1863…Abraham Lincoln announces plan for Reconstruction of South
1876…Suriname in South America begins compulsory education for 7-12 year olds

1931…Coaxial cable patented
1941…Following the unprovoked Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor yesterday the United States entered World War II as Congress declared war against Japan
1962…114-day newspaper strike begins in New York NY
1963…Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped in Lake Tahoe, Nevada
1974…Irish Republican Socialist Party forms
1982…Suriname army leader Bouterse murders 15 opponents
1987…The First Intifada (1987 - 1993) a mass uprising against Israeli military occupation, begins in Jabalia refugee camp and spread to Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem
1993…The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ( United States, Canada, and Mexico ) is signed into law by US President Bill Clinton.
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§ Double Play
In order to make sense of the letters below, you need to add a letter at the start of the expression, divide the string of letters, and insert the same letter again. The result will be an alliterative familiar phrase of two words.
Take "eachall" an example, add a 'b' before the 'e', divide the expression between the 'h' and 'a' and add the 'b' again. The result is BEACH BALL.

1. obinedbreast
2. eavyitter
3. ndeliblenk
4. Sthmattack
5. udiomplifier
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Hint: 1-r, 2-h, 3-i, 4-a, 5-a
Scroll down for answers
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ANSWERS
1. robin redbreast
2. heavy hitter
3. indelible ink
4. asthma attack
5. audio amplifier