Friday

331 days so far this year…34 days remain in 2009


***Provocative Quote***
"No man can serve two masters, yes-men can serve hundreds." ~unknown

***Free Ramblings***
What a great Thanksgiving! Eight of us got together at a log cabin just outside Flagstaff. Martha always brings unique people to her meals. Today, was no different. I met a Pakistani student. She and I had a great conversation about her Muslim life here in the US. About half way through our conversation, I told her it was the first time I had spoken, at length, to a Muslim woman. She admitted that this would not have happened in Islamabad since usually single women don’t talk to single men like this. She is here to learn and said that cultures are different. She follows Halal, much like Kosher. The hardest parts of being in Flagstaff are that no Halal food is available, and there is only one other International Muslim female at NAU. She has been here about 4 months and will be here for a total of two years. She won’t be able to go home, partly because of funding and partly because she doesn’t want to go through the home-sick thing all over again. Technology is making her stay much easier as she can see and talk to her family daily over the internet. She enjoyed our ‘Thanksgiving’ celebration. She tasted all the food that didn’t contain meat and met Halal restrictions, and seemed to enjoy everything. She didn’t understand the ‘eat until you can’t eat anymore and then have dessert’ concept of Thanksgiving. I’m sure the feast provided her with lots of stories for her family.

While all the food was exceptional, the pumpkin cheesecake was amazing. I never would have thought of it, but it was almost better than pumpkin pie. Almost!

Now that I am full, I guess I won’t eat again until next week sometime.

It was a great weather day. We made it to 52° and there was no breeze. I actually drove over and back with the windows rolled down. I haven’t been able to do that since I got back from my trip.

Check out some of the new features in the rest of this blog. Some things are new, some have moved. Enjoy.
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± Good New from Values.com
After tragically losing his wife to breast cancer and struggling to raise three young children on his own, Terry Hitchcock, of St. Paul Minnesota, seized on an idea. He wanted to accomplish the impossible: run 75 consecutive marathons in 75 consecutive days to bring attention to the incredibly difficult lives of single-parent families. Terry completed his task in 1996 at the age of 57. Then he wrote a book, made a movie, and became an inspirational speaker.

± Unusual News
LONDON - Transport for London's lost property office, which turns 75 this year, has dealt with unusual items including breast implants and bull sperm. The office, which attempts to reconnect property owners with items left on buses, trains and trams, said some of the oddest items to pass its doors include a jar of bull sperm, a theatrical coffin, breast implants and a 14-foot-long boat, The Times of London reported Thursday. The items, revealed in "The Book of Lists: London," also include a vasectomy kit, a garden slide, an urn of ashes and two human skulls. Lost property office officials said they collected 170,000 items in 2008, including 36,852 books, 28,550 bags and 27,174 articles of clothing.

± Random Fact
The average cat sleeps about 2/3 of the day
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§ November Month Long Observances
Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month ~ American Diabetes Month ~ American Indian Heritage Month ~ Lung Cancer Awareness Month ~ Military Family Appreciation Month ~ National Adoption Month ~ National Homeless Youth Awareness Month ~ National Inspirational Role Models Month ~ National Novel Writing Month ~ Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month ~ Transgender Awareness Month ~ Vegan Month

§ Week of 24 November
Church / State Separation Week

§ 26 NOV Observances
Black Friday Day
Buy Nothing Day
Flossing Day
National Day of Listening

-Burma: National Day
-Cuba: Martyrs' Day
-Israel: Weizmann Day
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~ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1924 New York City's Macy's department store held its first Thanksgiving Day parade 

BIRTHS ON THIS DAY
~ The Arts
James Agee in 1909-- American writer (The African Queen)
Jimi Hendrix in 1942--rock guitarist
Bruce Lee(Lee Jun Fan) in 1940--karate star/actor
David Merrick in 1912--Broadway producer (Hello Dolly)
Eddie Rabbitt in 1944--country singer
"Buffalo" Bob Smith in 1917--TV host (Howdy Doody)
Jaleel White in 1976--actor (Steve Urkel-Family Matters)

~Athletics
Johnny Blood aka John McNally, in 1903--early NFL halfback (Green Bay)

~Business / Education / Politics
Charles A Beard in 1874--American historian
Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg in 1957--JFK's daughter
Chaim Weizmann in 1874--Israeli statesman (1st President)

~Science / Religion
Anders Celsius in 1701--scientist, inventor (centigrade temp scale)
Joseph Mack in 1870--inventor: passenger bus; builder of gasoline-powered delivery wagons; founder [w/brothers] of Mack Truck Company

In Remembrance~
Alexandre Dumas French author @ 71
Horace poet & satirist @57
Ross McWhirter Guinness Book of Records keeper (murdered for political views by IRA @ 50)
Harvey Milk American politician (assassinated @ 48)
George Moscone Mayor of San Francisco (assassinated @ 49)
Baby Face Nelson American gangster (shot by FBI @ 26)
Eugene O'Neill playwright, @ 65
Clement Studebaker American automobile manufacturer @ 70

Historical Events on this day
1815…Cracow (Poland) declared a free republic
1817…US soldiers attack Florida Indian village, beginning Seminole War
1870…NY Times dubs baseball "The National Game"
1895…Alfred Nobel establishes Nobel Prize

1915…Private Albert Mountain Horse is buried in Fort Macleod, Alberta. He is the only Blood Indian to go to the front lines in World War One. He dies due to exposure to poison gas on the battlefield.
1924…New York City's Macy's department store held its first Thanksgiving Day parade
1937…Pro-labor musical revue "Pins & Needles" opens, produced by ILGWU
1951…1st rocket to intercept an airplane, White Sands, NM
1966…In highest-scoring NFL game, Wash Redskins defeat NY Giants 72-41
1970…Pope Paul VI wounded in chest during a visit to Philippines
1973…The US Senate approved Gerald R. Ford as the nation's 40th vice president, following the resignation of Spiro T. Agnew after pleading guilty to income tax evasion.
1975…The government of Britain decided to grant partial self-rule to both Scotland and Wales.
1985…Republic of Ireland gains consultative role in Northern Ireland

2006…The Québécois nation motion ( "That this House recognize that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada." ) is approved by the House of Commons in the Parliament of Canada.
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§ Blue by You
Complete the following expressions featuring the color 'blue'.

1. unforeseen; at an unexpected time:
2. American League baseball team:
3. scurrility:
4. regulation designed to prohibit Sunday shopping:
5. hardly ever:
6. skin flick:
7. an award given for excellence:
8. a rapid stream of words:
9. faithful:
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ANSWERS
1. unforeseen; at an unexpected time: out of the blue
2. American League baseball team: Toronto Blue Jays
3. scurrility: blue language
4. regulation designed to prohibit Sunday shopping: blue laws
5. hardly ever: once in a blue moon
6. skin flick: blue movie
7. an award given for excellence: blue ribbon
8. a rapid stream of words: blue streak
9. faithful: true blue