Monday

8 February 2010--Week 6 of 2010: 39 days this year…326 remain

» Quote Times Two «

“Nothing truly valuable arises from ambition or from a mere sense of duty; it stems rather from love and devotion towards men and towards objective things.” ~Albert Einstein (1875-1955); theoretical Physicist, Philosopher, Nobel Prize Winner

"One family builds a wall, two families enjoy it." ~Chinese saying

» Free Ramblings «

Super Bowl Sunday…Here’s hoping the Saints can win and if not win, at least put on a good game.

It must have snowed much of the night, as I awoke to about 5” on light fluffy snow this morning. It sure made a beautiful site. It was sunny, then cloudy, then snowing, then sunny again, then snowing again. Not a lot more accumulation, but a post card picture day. It only dropped to 27° last night and reached an amazing high of 32°. Snow is much nicer when it isn’t really cold outside.

Turns out it was one of the better Super Bowl Games. And those Saints just kept marchin’ down to the goal line. I must say that Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey were not able to re-produce their classics. Sometimes being over 60 means you have to say “We’re retired.” The Who were the first rockers to destroy their instruments, the first to do a ‘rock opera’. Two original members have passed away. The two remaining were unable to perform at their previous level. I’m sure there are many youngsters wondering why they were such a hit.

»* Winter Olympics* «

The Vancouver Olympics open on Feb 12.

Did you know…

There are 16 categories at this Olympics:

2. Skeleton: Was in the Olympics in 1928 and 1948, then returned in 2002. The ‘sled’ resembles a human skeleton, the one rider runs with the sled for about 50 yards, then belly flops onto it to go down the course, much like a bobsled or luge course. It has men’s and women’s races—each taking 4 runs, with the lowest combined time the winner. This year there are 50 entrants with 5 Americans, 4 Brits, and 1 Irishman.

»Side Show Stories—«

BELLEVILLE, Ill. - An Illinois man who was awakened in the night by a ruckus in his home said he walked into his kitchen and was shocked to find a 10-to-12-point buck.

Mark Page of Belleville said he and his wife, Cassia, woke up early Saturday morning to the sound of glass breaking in their kitchen and he walked down the steps to find his dining room window shattered and the large deer standing in his kitchen, KSDK-TV, St. Louis, reported. "He was standing right here, with his head in the sink," Page said. "I looked at him for seriously not even a fraction of a second," he said, "and I ran back upstairs because I don't mess with deers." Page said the deer found its own way out by crashing through another window, leaving a trail of blood through the house as his signature. The homeowner, who said there are no wooded areas near his home, said police told him they used dogs to try to track the buck, but they never found the animal.

»Random Fact«

In 1999, the IOC adopted Agenda 21: Sport for Sustainable Development, which includes the objective to “strengthen the inclusion of women, youth and Indigenous peoples in the Games.”

» Puzzle «

In each of these puzzles, there are two double blanks. Fill in the blanks with the same pair of letters to complete an English word. For example, use the letter-pair ac in b_ _ckp_ _k to make the word backpack.

1 p _ _ sev _ _ e

2 tr _ _ bad _ _ r

3  _ _ da _ _ ted

» Calendar Information «

☼ February’s Month Long Observances ☼

Birthstone: Amethyst …Flower: Violet and Primrose

Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month^AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month^American Heart Month^Bake for Family Fun Month^Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month^Grapefruit Month^International Boost Self-Esteem Month^International Expect Success Month^Jobs in Golf Month^Library Lovers Month^Marijuana Awareness Month^National African American History Month^National Bird Feeding Month^National Black History Month^National Care About Your Indoor Air Month^National Cherry Month^National Condom Month^National Children's Dental Health Month^National Laugh-Friendly Month^National Mend A Broken Heart Month^National Parent Leadership Month^National Pet Dental Health Month^National Senior Independence Month^National Time Management Month^Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month^Pull Your Sofa Off The Wall Month^Relationship Wellness Month^Responsible Pet Owner's Month^Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month^Spiritual Teachers Month^Spunky Old Broads Month^ Sweet Potato Month^Wise Health Care Consumer Month^ Youth Leadership Month^

☼ Observance Weeks in February ☼

Boy Scout Anniversary Week: 3-9

Dump Your Significant Jerk Week: 6-12—It takes a full week?

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week: 7-14

International Coaching Week: 7-13

Jell-O Week: 7-13

Just Say No to Powerpoints Week: 7-13

Publicity for Profit Week: 7-13

Rejection Risk Awareness Week: 7-14—for those who get rejected by someone

Freelance Writers Appreciation Week: 8-13

Love Makes the World Go Round; But, Laughter Keeps Us From Getting Dizzy Week: 8-14

World Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week: 8-14

International Flirting Week: 8-14

☼ 8 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼

Boy Scout Anniversary Day—founded in 1910

Laugh and Get Rich Day

☼8 February Observances—by country ☼

Iraq : Ramadan Revolution since 1963 coup

Norway : Narvik Sun Pageant Day: Vinterfestuka is held annually in northern Norway on this date to honor the Sun Goddess, Sunna and her return to Norway

Slovenia: Prešeren Day, the cultural holiday honoring the death of Poet France Preseren in 1849.

☼ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1969…The last issue of the Saturday Evening Post was published, ending a magazine tradition that began in 1821.

☼ Born on this day ☼

     » The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Elizabeth Bishop, in 1911, US poet (North & South)/Pulitzer Prize (1956)

Samuel Butler, in 1612, (England) poet/satirist (Hudibras)

John Grisham, 55, author (The Firm, The Client)

John Ruskin, in 1819, writer/critic/artist/Gothic Revivalist

John Williams, 78, pianist, conductor (formerly with Boston Pops), composer (scores for Jaws, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List)

Jules Verne, in 1828, (France) pioneered sci-fi (From the Earth to the Moon)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Gary Coleman, 42, actor (“Diff’rent Strokes”)

Seth Green, 36, actor (“Family Guy,” “Greg the Bunny,” Austin Powers)

Robert Klein, 68, comedian, actor

Ted Koppel, 70, journalist, (England)

Nick Nolte, 69, actor (Affliction, Prince of Tides, “Rich Man, Poor Man”)

Mary Steenburgen, 57, actress

     »Athletes

Alonzo Mourning, 40, basketball (Heat)

»Business, Education, Politics

William Tecumseh Sherman, in 1820, Major General (Union Army), “War is hell”

     »Science/Religion

Chester F Carlson, in 1906, inventor (xerography)

☼Today’s Obits ☼

Mary Stuart Queen of Scots, in 1587, beheaded @ 44

Peter I "the Great" Romanov, in 1725, czar of Russia @ gangrene @52

Connie Mack, in 1956, baseball manager (Philadelphia A's), @ 93

Marvin Miller, in 1985, actor (Michael Anthony of "The Millionaire") @ 71

Del Shannon, in 1990, rock vocalist (Runaway), shoots self @ 55

☼What happened on this day? ☼

     » The Arts

1926…Walt Disney Studios is formed

     »Athletics

1983…Shergar is stolen from a stud farm owned by the Aga Khan in County Kildare, Ireland. The five-year-old thoroughbred stallion was worth $13.5 million and commanded stud fees of approximately $100,000. Shergar was never seen again and no ransom was paid and the case was never solved.

1992…The XVIth Winter Olympic Games opened in Albertville, France

2002…The opening ceremonies for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah lasting until February 24

     »Business, Education, Politics

1837…1st Vice President chosen by the Senate, Richard Johnson (Van Buren administration)

1887..Dawes Act passed (Indians living apart from tribe granted citizenship)

1918…The Stars and Stripes, the weekly newspaper of the American Expeditionary Forces, was published for the first time.

1944…1st black reporter accredited to the White House, Harry McAlpin

1957…San Francisco Public Library's bookmobile initiated in front of City Hall

     »Science/Religion

1922…Radio arrives in the White House

1929…KOY-AM in Phoenix AZ begins radio transmissions

» Number One Songs in…

1951…Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page

1959…Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - The Platters

1967…I’m a Believer - The Monkees

1975…Fire - Ohio Players

» ANSWERS to puzzle «

1 persevere

2 troubadour

3 undaunted