Thursday

Today was immunization day. An interesting experience to say the least. I had to go to the County Health Dept. I needed Yellow Fever and Tetanus booster for my trip to Africa and the annual flu shot. First for the flu shot—all the newspaper ads and phone calls told me the shot was $25 and since I had Federal BCBS I would have to pay up front and I have to file with BCBS for reimbursement. What upsets me is that they accept AZBCBS and bill the insurance. When I got there, they took my card and billed BCBS for me. A case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing. In this case it worked to my advantage. I was also told that there was a $65 processing fee each of the travel immunizations to cover their costs of getting the vaccines. Another surprise was that the $65 fee was for all immunizations given at one time. Again, good for me. The final surprise came when a thirty something guy came in behind me. He needed to update his Tentaus—the same shot I was getting. He was on AHCCCS—low income AZ Health Insurance. His processing fee was $5. He was given the exact same speech about the charge. I guess AHCCCS picks up the rest.

I just don’t understand our health care system. My insurance will not pay for the travel immunizations—not even part of it. Yet, if I, God forbid, get Yellow Fever or Tetanus, they do pay my medical costs. This would cost maybe 100 times as much as the shot that prevents it. The insurance does pay for a flu vaccine. Most cases of flu don’t require hospitalization and millions get the flu vaccine. Strange indeed.

So for the next few days I will have two sore arms. A small price to pay so that I don’t get sick while I am traveling. All I have left is to get my malaria pills.

Flag was cloudy and only got to 63° today. We did have some rain on my side of town—only about 0.06”. Our total for the year is about 1/3 the normal we need. More importantly, at least for me, is that it is now getting dark much earlier and the overnight lows are in the high 30’s. Jack Frost is getting ready to pounce.

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Random Facts…

Three Mile Island is only 2 1/2 miles long.
More people have a phobia of frogs than rats.

Old Crazy Stuff …

Lee Graber of Tallmadge, Ohio, USA, endured the weight of the heaviest bed of nails on his body. He was sandwiched between two beds of nails, with a weight of 752.5 kg (1,659 lb) placed on top for a total of 10 seconds on June 24, 2000. The weight was loaded on top of him using a crane.
England’s John Evans achieved the world record for heaviest car balanced on head after he balanced a 159.6 kg (352 lb) Mini on his head for 33 seconds at The London Studios, England, on May 24, 1999.

September Month Long Observances

Apple Month…Be Kind to Editors & Writers Month…Children’s Good Manners Month…International People Skills Month…International Strategic Thinking Month…National Honey Month…National Preparedness Month…Pleasure Your Mate Month…Healthy Aging Month…National Hispanic Heritage Month…

Before They Were Famous…

Madeleine Albright (Bill Clinton's Secretary of State) once worked at Joslin's Department Store in Denver selling bras.

At age thirteen, Jessica Alba starred in two 1994 commercials - one for Nintendo and one for J.C. Penney.

Clay Aiken worked as a YMCA counselor in North Carolina before American Idol propelled him to pop stardom.

As a child, Christina Aguilera sang The Star-Spangled Banner at Pittsburgh sporting events including the Penguins, Steelers and Pirates.

Paula Abdul was once a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers. As a nineteen year old, she was selected from more than 700 other applicants.

Week of 17 Sep…

National Constitution Week


17 Sep Observances…

260 days so far this year…106 days remain in 2009
Citizenship Day [[formerly--Constitution Day]
VFW Ladies Auxiliary Day
*Angola – National Heroes' Day
*Netherlands – Operation Market Garden is still remembered with parachuting and dedications on this day.



BIRTHS ON THIS DAY…

…ARTS…
1743….. Marquis de Condorcet France, enlightenment philosopher
1774….. Joseph Caspar Mezzofanti Cardinal/linguist (understood 70 languages)

1928….. Roddy McDowall actor (Planet of the Apes
1931….. Anne Bancroft AKA Mrs Mel Brooks, Bronx, actress (Graduate)
1935….. Ken Kesey author (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test)
1948….. John Ritter Burbank Calif, actor
1949….. Cassandra Peterson ‘Elvira, Mistress of the Dark’: TV hostess
1955….. Rita Rudner comedienne

…ATHLETICS…
1934….. Orlando Cepeda Giants player (NL MVP 1967)

…POLITICS/Business…
879….. Charles III [The Simple], king of France (893-923)

1730….. Baron Frederick von Steuben Germany, made Continental Army winners

1900….. J.W. (John Willard) Marriott hotel magnate
1907….. Warren (Earl) Burger Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
1939….. David Souter Weir NH, Supreme Court Justice (1990-2009)

…SCIENCE/Religion…
1857….. Konstantin Tsiolkovsky pioneer in rocket & space research

1930….. Thomas P Stafford Weatherford Ok, USAF/astronaut (Gem 6 9, Ap 10 18)

Events on this day…
1787….. US constitution adopted by Philadelphia convention

1862….. Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)-bloodiest day of the Civil War

1920….. National Football League organized in Canton Ohio
1952….. "I am an American Day" & "Constituion Day" renamed "Citizenship Day"
1956….. Egypt has celebrated its first day running the Suez Canal by Egyptian Technicians
1964….. "Bewitched" premiers on ABC TV
1965….. The Smothers Brothers Show, a sitcom, debuted on CBS-TV
1967….. "Mission Impossible" premieres on CBS-TV
1972….. "M*A*S*H," premiers on TV
1976….. NASA publicly unveils its first space shuttle, the Enterprise
1978..... Begin, Sadat & Carter sign the Camp David accord
1983..... Vanessa Williams of NY became 1st black Miss America

Holy Mackerel…
1934….. 1st 33 1/3 rpm recording released (Beethoven's 5th)


Name that Artist and Name That Year
All of these songs were #1 hits this week in the 1960’s.
First: Name the Artist who recorded the #1song and
Then put the songs in order—1960-1969.
1. The Twist
2. You Can't Hurry Love Sherry
3. The House of the Rising Sun
4. Take Good Care of My Baby
5. Blue Velvet
6. Help!
7. Harper Valley P.T.A.
8. Sugar, Sugar
9. Sherry
10. The Letter
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Need some help?
Here are the artists
The Four Seasons Bobby Vinton The Animals The Beatles The Supremes
The Box Tops Jeannie C. Riley The Archies Bobby Vee Chubby Checker
Scroll down for answers
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Answers:
1960 The Twist Chubby Checker
1961Take Good Care of My Baby Bobby Vee
1962 Sherry The Four Seasons
1963 Blue Velvet Bobby Vinton
1964 The House of the Rising Sun The Animals
1965 Help! The Beatles
1966 You Can't Hurry Love The Supremes
1967 The Letter The Box Tops
1968 Harper Valley P.T.A. Jeannie C. Riley
1969 Sugar, Sugar The Archies
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