Tuesday

We are reformers in spring and summer; in autumn and winter we stand by the old -- reformers in the morning, conservatives at night. Reform is affirmative, conservatism is negative; conservatism goes for comfort, reform for truth. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882)

I received the above quote from my friend Martha. Now that I have reached the ripe of age of 60, I kinda figured I was starting the autumn of my life. I have no plans to live to 100. I still enjoy reform. For the most part, I still adapt to change fairly well. But I certainly understand what Ralph was talking about. There are so many people, no matter what their age, that are ‘anti-change‘ in their lives. When I was working in education, every year, about now, a few parents would come in and want to change teachers. Ms X is not like the teacher from last year. We would start a new program and teachers would not want the change. As I work with computers now I get the latest browsers out there. I get the latest major programs. Each has a learning curve—sometimes a very steep one. Once I learn it, I wonder how I ever did without it. As much as I enjoy Mr. Emerson, I think, for me, it is more about attitude than chronological age. It matters little what season your chronological life is in, it is a lot about what season your actions are in. I hope that I will continue to embrace reform and truth.

We were scheduled for 80° today, with the possibility of showers in the afternoon. We only made it to 71° and when the rain hit this afternoon, we dropped quite quickly to 55°. This was a real shocker. I actually had to close the windows downstairs. After the rain stopped, we crawled back up to 66°. That was nice. They say it may get down to 34° tonight. Fall in the air and this is little early for me. I’m not ready for the leaves to turn, for there to be no more flower gardens. I want summer to last at least until mid-September.

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Random Facts…

Dolphins sleep with one eye open.
The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.

Crazy Stuff in the News…

POOLE, England - British scientists said they have discovered a plant in the Philippines that feeds by luring and consuming rats. Botanists Stewart McPherson and Alastair Robinson said the plant, dubbed Nepenthes attenboroughii after legendary wildlife broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, consumes "whole rats" by luring them into its mouth and dissolving them with acid-like enzymes.
"The plant produces spectacular traps which catch not only insects, but also rodents," McPherson told The Sun in an exclusive interview. "It is remarkable that it remained undiscovered until the 21st century." McPherson and Robinson said their team found the plant on Mount Victoria after hearing accounts of the shrub's eating habits from missionaries. "My team and I named it in honor of Sir David whose work has inspired generations toward a better understanding of the beauty and diversity of the natural world," McPherson 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 25…

Be Kind to Humankind Week

26 Aug…

238 days so far this year…127 days remain in 2009
Women’s Equality Day
National Dog Day
*Namibia – Heroes' Day—began in 1988—after a 20 year war for Independence
*Philippines – National Heroes' Day.

BIRTHS ON THIS DAY…

…SCIENCE…
1743….. Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier Paris, father of mod chemistry
1850….. Charles Richet French physiologist (anaphylaxis-Nobel 1913)
1873….. Lee De Forest Council Bluffs, inventor (Audion vacuum (radio) tube)
1906….. Dr Albert B Sabin polio vaccine discoverer
…POLITICS…
1875….. Sir John Buchan Scotland, Gov-Gen of Canada/writer
1935….. Geraldine Ferraro (Rep-D-NY) 1st female major-party VP candidate
…ARTS…
1838….. John Wilkes Booth actor, assassin
1884….. Earl Biggers author ("Charlie Chan" detective series)
1904….. Christopher Isherwood England, novelist/playwright (I Am a Camera)
1927….. Francois Leydet author (Last Redwoods)
1942….. Vic Dana singer: Red Roses for a Blue Lady

Events on this day…

55 -BC …..Roman forces under Julius Ceasar invade Britain
1498 ….. The master artist, Michelangelo, was commissioned to make the Pieta
1858….. In what is called "The Battle of Four Lakes," force under Colonel George Wright fight for about three hours with Coeur d’Alene, Columbia River, Colville, Kalispel, and Spokane Indians. The army defeats the Indians.
1907 ….. Houdini escapes from chains underwater at Aquatic Park in 57 sec
1920 ….. 19th amendment passes-women's suffrage granted
1955 ….. 1st color telecast (NBC) of a tennis match (Davis Cup)
1957 ….. The Ford Motor Company rolled out the first Edsel automobile.
1972 ….. Summer Olympics open in Munich, West Germany
1977….. The province of Québec, under the leadership of premier René Lévesque, passes a law extending the requirements for the use of French as the province's official language.

2002 ….. 60,000 delegates and politicians from 174 countries around the world have gathered for the latest Earth Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa


Riddles from BrainFood.com

Can you guess what each of these riddles is describing?

1. What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps?
2. No sooner spoken than broken. What is it? [2 answers]
3. A certain crime is punishable if attempted but not punishable if committed. What is it? [2 answers]
4. You use a knife to slice my head and weep beside me when I am dead. What am I?
5. I'm the part of the bird that's not in the sky. I can swim in the ocean and yet remain dry. What am I?
*Bonus: I am mother and father, but never birth or nurse. I'm rarely still, but I never wander. What am I?
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Answers:
1. A river.
2. Silence. A secret.
3. Suicide. Coup d'etat.
4. An onion.
5. A shadow.
*Bonus: A tree..
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