Friday

Another work week draws to a close. For those of us retired, it means busy streets, crowded stores, and working friends who have a little time to relax. The Monsoons are to return this weekend. That will be good, as my deck hit 90° again today, and it was muggy with no breeze. Bring on the rain. The big fire is just about contained. The rain would certainly help.

I am on the fence about the release of the man convicted over the Lockerbie bombing. When I was in Scotland, we didn’t visit Lockerbie, but it did come up several times. Such a needless act of violence. Now the guy has only months to live, so he is being freed by the very compassionate Scots. He got back to his home country of Libya with cheers. Once again, it is the question of his conviction. He was sentenced to 27 years, but after an appeal, he was believed by many in the UK to be innocent. He served 8 years. He denied anything to do with the bombing, evidence was scarce. He was seen by many in Libya and the Muslim world as a simple scapegoat who is innocent. His release has done a lot to remind the Muslims of what they see as a miscarriage of justice. This world is so full of hate, and all too often looks for more reasons to hate. Too bad everyone can’t just live and let live.

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Random Facts…

A baboon called Jackie became a private in the South African army in World War I.

Crazy Stuff in the News…

BENALMADENA, Spain - A 67-year-old British matador who was ordered by his doctor to retire more than five years ago has announced he will return to the ring in Spain. Frank Evans, a grandfather-of-five from Salford, England, said he will once again don the bullfighting moniker El Ingles --The English -- and face off against a bull in Benalmadena, Spain, this month, The Daily Telegraph reported. "I am just delighted to be able to get back into that same bullring and show that I am better than ever," said Evans, who quit bullfighting in 2005 after undergoing a quadruple heart bypass and knee replacement surgery. "People should take me as an example of what can be achieved later in life. If I can do this at my age then surely that proves anything is possible," he said.

Month long events in August

Edinburgh Festival is an internationally famous arts festival that takes place during August National Immunization Awareness Month… National Psoriasis Awareness Month… Women's Small Business Month... National Back to School month…American Adventures Month…Golf Month…National Inventor’s Month…National Win with Civility Month…What will be your legacy Month

Week of Aug 17…

Weird Contest Week

22 Aug…

234 days so far this year…131 days remain in 2009
Hug Your Boss Day
Ramadan begins
Be An Angel Day



BIRTHS ON THIS DAY…

1834….. Samuel Langley pioneer in aviation: Langley Air Force Base [in Virginia] bears his name
1836….. Archibald M Willard US, artist (Spirit of '76)
1862….. Claude Debussy St Germain-en-Laye, composer
1893….. Dorothy Parker US, short story writer (1958 Marjorie Peabody Award)

1920….. Dr Denton Cooley heart surgeon (1st artificial heart transplant)
and ….. Ray Bradbury Ill, sci-fi author
1934….. Norman Schwartzkopf NJ, US General
1939….. Carl Yastrzemski NY, Boston Red Sox great
1940….. Valerie Harper Sufferin NY
1941….. Bill (Duane) Parcells football coach
1947….. Cindy Williams Van Nuys Calif, actress (Shirley-Laverne & Shirley)



Events on this day…

565….. St Columba reported seeing monster in Loch Ness

1485….. King Richard III of England is killed at the battle of Bosworth Field, the last battle of the so-called "Wars of the Roses," in which the Houses of York and Lancaster battled for the throne of England.

1762….. 1st female (Ann Franklin) US newspaper editor, Newport RI, Mercury
1770….. Captain James Cook, having landed at Australia, claimed it for the British Crown.

1846….. US annexes New Mexico

1902….. Pres Teddy Roosevelt became 1st US chief executive to ride in a car
1922….. Irish revolutionary Michael Collins, who signed the treaty with Britain that created the Irish Free State the previous year, is assassinated by Irish nationalists opposed to the treaty.
1950….. Althea Gibson becomes 1st black competetor in natl tennis competition
1968….. 1st papal visit to Latin America (Pope Paul VI arrives in Bogota)

Missing Pairs from BrainFood.com

In each of these puzzles, a proverb is written with exactly one letter of each word replaced with another.

Can you figure out what the original proverb is?

1. Wetter mate that fever.
2. Paint peart newer son pair lads.
3. I switch is dime raves mine.
4. So nets if goof mews.
5. Take hat white she sin whines.
6. Won't budge I took my ids covet.
7. Calf I load if wetter that so break.
8. Loot befort yon heap
9. Binds if I heather frock totether.
10. Won't pit oft pill gomorrow whet yon tan go toddy
* Bonus: Earls so red, earls no rose.

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Answers:
1. Better late than never.
2. Faint heart never won fair lady.
3. A stitch in time saves nine.
4. No news is good news.
5. Make hay while the sun shines.
6. Don't judge a book by its cover.
7. Half a loaf is better than no bread.
8. Look before you leap.
9. Birds of a feather flock together
10. Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
* Bonus: Early to bed, early to rise.
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