Sunday

340 days so far this year…25 days remain in 2009
19 shopping days remain until Christmas
***Provocative Quote***
"Clean mind, clean body: take your pick."~unknown
***Free Ramblings***
Winter is certainly trying to hit Flagstaff. I got up this morning to 13° and the high only made it to 33°. The sky sure looks like snow is coming. The 30mph gusts made the temperature feel a whole lot colder. I didn’t spend much time outside today, but the time I did was not that enjoyable. The weather bureau issued a severe winter watch for Monday and Tuesday. They are saying we can expect 12-18” of snow here in Flagstaff and the Peaks will get about 24”. They also say that it may start snowing on Sunday. Well, I love snow. The forest needs the moisture, so I guess it’s time to batten down the hatches, be sure the fridge has milk, eggs, and other essentials. This is another time that I am so glad that I’m retired and don’t have to be out and about.

I was channel surfing and found a story on CNN of young inner city blacks from NY who are in a program to travel to the shanty towns of South Africa to volunteer and too learn about other cultures. “Journey for Change” sure opened some eyes. While I did visit Sowerto, I was in a van. We ate lunch there, in an outdoor restaurant that was nice, but was not up to the American standard of sanitation. The 30 Black kids volunteered time and energy in the shanty town, meeting people who have so little. They spent two weeks there and did get to go on a safari. More importantly these kids now have to do volunteer work for a year here in the states. Not all the kids have been able to raise their grades or do better in school. But they all have had a chance to do better. Those who want to see the program can click here


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± Quotes from Values.com—Common Ground
“If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island cut off from other lands, but a continent that joins to them.” ~Sir Frances Bacon Philosopher, Essayist, Statesman

± Unusual News
LONDON - A British fan of Monster Munch potato chips has undergone a legal name change to share the same moniker as his favorite brand of snack food. Monster Munch, 26, said he changed his name from Chris Hunt by deed poll because he has always loved the brand and his friends did not believe he would go through with the name change when he first started talking about it, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday. "They looked at me like I was nuts and dared me to change my name," Munch said. "I don't think they thought I would go through with it, but now I demand to be called either 'Monster' or 'Mr. Munch.'"

± Random Facts
In 1939, the View-Master was the brainchild of William Gruber, a organ maker and piano tuner from Portland, OR. For more than 70 years people, including GIs during World War II, have been peering at 3D images of everything from cartoon characters to famous tourist spots.
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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 Handwashing Awareness Week ~ Clerc-Gallaudet Week (Honored for work in the Deaf Community)

§ 6 December Observances
Coats & Toys for Kids Day
National Gazpacho Day
Mitten Tree Day
International Miners' Day—to honor miners past, present, & future
National Pawnbrokers Day
St. Nicholas Day—honoring Turkish Bishop who gave coins to children

-Botswana: Independence Day (from South Africa- 1977)
-Canada – National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
-Ecuador : Day of Quito ( since 1534)
-Finland : Independence Day (from Russia 1917)
-Ireland: Irish Free State Constitution Day (1922)
-Spain – Constitution Day (since 1978)
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~ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1933…Ban on James Joyce' "Ulysses" in US, lifted.

BIRTHS ON THIS DAY
~ The Arts
Dave Brubeck in 1920 jazz pianist/composer
Wally Cox in 1924 actor (Mr. Peepers)
Alfred Eisenstaedt in 1898 photographer: 86 LIFE magazine cover photos: most famous: end of WWII Times Square photo of nurse kissing sailor
Joyce Kilmer in 1886 US poet (Trees)
Ira Gershwin in 1896 lyricist ('S Wonderful, I Got Rhythm)
Agnes Moorehead in 1906 actress (Endora-Bewitched)

~Athletics
‘Poosh ’Em Up’ Tony (Anthony Michael) Lazzeri in 1903 Baseball Hall of Famer
Elmore Spencer in 1969 NBA center (Portland Trail Blazers)

~Business / Education / Politics
Abraham J van de Aa in 1792 lexicographer (Biographic Dictionary)
John Eberhard in 1822 built 1st large-scale pencil factory in US
Don King in 1932 boxing promoter

~Science / Religion
Kenneth Copeland in 1936 – , American televangelist
Satoru Iwata in 1959 Japanese developer and CEO of Nintendo

In Remembrance~
Don Ameche actor (Cocoon), @ 85
Frances Bavier actress (Aunt Bee-Andy Griffith Show) @ 86
Joseph Black Scottish medical/chemist/physicist, @ 71
Jefferson Davis President of Confederate States of America @ 81
Leadbelly [Huddie William Ledbetter] blues singer, @ 64
Claude [Oscar] Monet French painter (impressionist), @ 86
Roy Orbison US Rock singer (Pretty Woman, Only the Lonely), heart attack @ 52
Burr Tillstrom puppeteer (Kukla Fran & Ollie), @ 68

Historical Events on this day
1732…1st play in American colonies acted by professional players, New York NY
1745…Bonnie Prince Charlies army retreats to Scotland
1768…1st edition of "Encyclopedia Brittanica" published (Scotland)
1862…President Lincoln orders hanging of 39 Santee Sioux Indians
1865…13th Amendment is ratified, abolishing slavery
1876…City of Anaheim incorporated for 2nd time
1877…Washington Post publishes 1st edition

1912…China votes for universal human rights
1929…Turkey introduces female suffrage
1947…Everglades National Park dedicated by Truman
1955…Dr. Joyce Brothers wins "$64,000 Question"
1956…Nelson Mandela & 156 others arrested for political activities in South Africa
1957…AFL-CIO votes to expel Teamsters (readmitted in 1987)
1973…Gerald Ford sworn-in as 1st unelected Vice-President
1988…Nelson Mandela is transferred From Robben Island to Victor Verster Prison, Capetown
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§ Port Authority
Not just any port* word in a storm! The following clues will help you to navigate to the best port* word.
1. luggage handler (6)
2. euphemism for fat (6)
3. heiress in 'A Merchant of Venice', or satellite of Uranus (6)
4. grand entryway, or small vein supplying the liver (6)
5. overland trek between navigable waterways (7)
6. sign of something about to happen (7)
7. roofed walkway leading to an entrance (7)
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ANSWERS
1. luggage handler PORTER
2. euphemism for fat PORTLY
3. heiress in 'A Merchant of Venice', or satellite of Uranus PORTIA
4. grand entryway, or small vein supplying the liver PORTAL
5. overland trek between navigable waterways PORTAGE
6. sign of something about to happen PORTEND
7. roofed walkway leading to an entrance PORTICO