Monday

22 February 2010--Week 8 of 2010: 53 days this year…312 remain

» Quote Times Two «

"Make a wish, it might come true."~unknown

A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.” ~Henrik Ibsen

(1828-1906); Playwright

» Free Ramblings «

I woke up this morning to about 4” of powder and wind gusts of about 40mph. The wind was so strong that it woke me several times during the night. Flagstaff would have been a great site for the Olympics this year. We certainly have enough snow. I heard today that Vancouver is one of the larger cities to host the Winter Games. I checked it out, and Flagstaff, with a population of about 55,000, could certainly compete if population were the only criteria. Albertville, France (‘92) only has 18,000. Lillehammer, Norway (’94) only has 20,000. Nagano, Japan (’98) has 29,000. Of course the Winter Olympics have also been centered in much larger cities—like Grenoble (’68), Innsbruck (’64), Calgary (’88), Nagano (’98) and Salt Lake (’02). Sadly, like so many other things, size isn’t everything. This year, Flagstaff and the Peaks certainly have had the snow. From what I have seen of the Vancouver snow, our snow is much better for skiing. If Flagstaff got the Olympics, we could rebuild our ice rink, probably with a strong roof. I’m sure our city leaders would also impose a huge Olympic tax on everything, because we all know that taxes are what keep a city fiscally strong. The school board could sell those schools they are closing to the Olympic committee and those buildings could be used as venues. All our budget problems would be solved in no time. I really enjoy the Olympics and this fantasy is no more than that. The environmental impact on the sacred peaks would be enough to say no. Our quiet little mountain town would never be the same, and that would be horrific. So as I look out my office window and see blowing snow one minute and sunshine the next, I’m just happy to live here, without the whole world knowing about our great life here.

The weather alert on my computer says that storm one is leaving and storm two is right behind it. We already got about 4” of snow, and the new storm will bring another 4-6” of snow. Winds, they say, will only be around 15mph, but that sure hasn’t happened yet. Almost all of our storms this year have been from the west and south. That seems to mean lots of snow, lots of wind, and thankfully, no really cold spells. For all the hassles we have had from all this snow, it comes with temperatures in the 20’s and low 30’s. Seldom have daytime highs dropped into teens and that is good.

»* Winter Olympics* «

The Vancouver Olympics opened on Feb 12.

In Albertville in 1992, Toni Nieminen, at 16, led the Finnish squad to victory in the team ski K120 event, becoming the youngest man to win gold in the history of the Olympic Winter Games.

»Side Show Stories—«

LONDON - A high-end British supermarket promises its latest brand of toilet paper, made with cashmere, is "the most luxurious yet." Carla Smith, buyer for supermarket Waitrose, said the cashmere paper is the latest in a line that includes toilet paper with aloe vera and jojoba extracts, The Sun reported Thursday. "Cashmere provides that stamp of quality to any fashion garment, from a designer suit to the finest luxury knitwear," Smith said. "It's indulgent, it's stylish and it's helping provide that extra softness to our new premium bathroom tissue collection." If the cashmere toilet paper makes it to the US, it is expected to retail for $3.60 for a pack of four rolls or, for the budget-conscious shopper, $7.52 for a nine-pack.

»Random Fact: «

454 U.S. dollar bills weigh exactly one pound.

» Puzzle «

Word Boxes are like miniature crossword puzzles, except that each word is filled in across AND down the grid. That is, the answer to 1 across is the same word as the answer to 1 down; 2 across is the same as 2 down; etc. Can you solve these Word Boxes? To solve: draw a square that has four X four sections.

1 sports player group (HINT: T - - -)

2 roof overhang (singular) (HINT: - A - -)

3 affirm (HINT: - - E -)

4 boundary (HINT: - - - E)

» 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 ☼

International Friendship Week: 17-23

Build A Better Trade Show Image Week: 21-27

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week: 21-27

Read Me Week: 22-26

☼ 22 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼

Be Humble Day

Single Tasking Day

George Washington's Birthday (1732)

Girl Guides Thinking Day (1857) : to honor shared birthdays of founders Sir Robert Baden-Powell and his wife Lady Olave Baden-Powell

☼22 February Observances—by country ☼

Central African Republic : President's Birthday

Egypt, Syria : Unity Day (1958)

India : Mothers Day

México : National Mourning Day (Francisco I Madero-1913)

Qatar : Amir's Assumption of Amirship (1972)

St Lucia : Independence Day (1979 from UK)

Virgin Island : Donkey Races Day: held annually to raise money for charities

☼ Holy Mackerel: 1980…A pivotal moment for ice hockey in the United States came on this day. The ‘Miracle on Ice’U.S. victory over Russia was a dramatic, come-from-behind, 4-3, victory. The U.S. went on to defeat Finland, 4-2, two days later to win the gold medal.

☼ Born on this day ☼

     » The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Frederic Francois Chopin, in 1810, composer: of more than 200 compositions for solo piano

Edna St Vincent Millay, in 1892, poet/writer/feminist

Sean O'Faolain [John Whelan], in 1900, Irish writer
Anthony Van Dyck, in 1599, (Antwerp Belgium), painter

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Drew Barrymore, 35, actress (Charlie’s Angels; E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial)

Marguerite Clark, in 1883, voice (Snow White)

Jonathan Demme, 66, director (Silence of the Lambs)

Sheldon Leonard, in 1907, actor/director (Danny Thomas Show)

Leonard "Chico" Marx, in 1891, actor/comedian

Oliver, in 1945, singer (Good Morning Starshine)

Don [Dominic G] Pardo, in 1918, TV announcer

Robert Young, in 1907, actor (Father Knows Best, Marcus Welby MD)

     »Athletes

Amy Strum Alcott, 54, golfer

George Lee “Sparky” Anderson, 76, Hall of Fame baseball manager and player

Dick Van Arsdale, 67, NBA all-star (Knicks, Suns)

Tom Van Arsdale, 67, NBA all-star (Pistons, Suns, Royals, Kings, Hawks,76ers)

Michael Te Pei Chang, 38, former tennis player

Julius Winfield “Dr. J” Erving, 60, Hall of Fame basketball player (Nets, 76ers)

Vijay Singh, 47, (Lautoka, Fiji) golfer

     »Business, Education

Olvae Baden-Powell, in 1889, founder: Girl Guides

Robert Baden-Powell, in 1857, founder: British Boy Scout Association/ Girl Guides

     »Politics

Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy, in 1932, Senator

George Washington, in 1732, 1st American President

     »Science/Religion

Adolf Kuszmaul, in 1822, German physician (stomach pump)

Pierre Jules Cesar Janssen, in 1838, discoverer of hydrogen in Sun

☼Today’s Obits ☼

David II Bruce, in 1371, king of Scotland (1331-71), (son of Robert the Bruce)@ 46

Amerigo Vespucci, in 1512, Italian explorer (America), malaria @ 61

David Susskind, in 1987, TV host (Open End, David Susskind Show), heart attack @ 66

Andy Warhol, in 1987, pop artist, complications following gall bladder surgery @ 58

☼What happened on this day? ☼

     » The Arts

--

     »Athletics

1888…John Reid of Scotland demonstrates golf to Americans (Yonkers NY)

1998…18th Winter Olympics games close at Nagano Japan

     »Business, Education

1879…1st 5¢ & 10¢ store opened by Frank W Woolworth in Utica NY

1920…1st artificial rabbit used at a dog race track (Emeryville CA)

     »Politics

1856…1st national meeting of the Republican Party (Pittsburgh)

1561…William of Orange appointed viceroy of Burgundy/Charolai

1630…Indians introduce pilgrims to popcorn, at Thanksgiving

1924…1st presidential radio address (Calvin Coolidge)

1944…Jack C. Montgomery, a Cherokee, is a First Lieutenant with the Forty-fifth Infantry in Italy. For his solo actions against three different enemy positions, he will be awarded the Medal of Honor.

1967…The Tet offensive by communist forces of North Vietnam against South Vietnam ends

1973…Israeli fighter planes shoot down a civilian Libyan Arab Airlines Boeing 727 killing 108

     »Science/Religion

1995…Steve Fossett completes 1st air balloon over Pacific Ocean (9600 km)

1997…Scottish scientists from the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh announce they have successfully cloned an adult sheep named Dolly

» Number One Songs in…

1949…A Little Bird Told Me - Evelyn Knight

1957…Young Love - Tab Hunter

1965…This Diamond Ring - Gary Lewis & The Playboys

1973…Crocodile Rock - Elton John

1981…9 to 5 - Dolly Parton

» ANSWERS to puzzle «

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