Saturday

6 February 2010--Week 5 of 2010: 37 days this year…328 remain

» Quote Times Two «

"Ours is a world where people don`t know what they want and are willing to go through hell to get it." ~ Don Marquis, American Humorist

“Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that.” ~Michael Leunig; Cartoonist

» Free Ramblings «

It’s the weekend. So, being Flagstaff, here comes da’ snow. Just as people were getting off work, it started snowing. Not a lot yet. Time will tell if we get the 6” predicted.

As was jumping around the web I found this quote by American journalist Ellen Goodman, “In journalism, there has always been a tension between getting it first and getting it right.” That is so true, in the past. Now, with all the 24/7 ‘news channels’, I’m afraid that ‘first’ won out. Too many ‘journalists’ no longer wait to make sure the story is ‘right’. Instead they plaster the airways with stories with little or no substance and just tell us that ‘this is just in and we are attempting to verify the story.’ I don’t need to waste my time listening or watching that. The other thing that drives me crazy is ‘local news’ teasers to get me to watch the next newscast. “We have the full story on how to cut your electricity bill by 90%. More at 10pm.” When you listen, they suggest that you keep your doors and windows closed, and turn off lights you aren’t using. Hardly news, and hardly a way to save 90% of your electricity bill, unless you get up every morning, turn on all your lights, open all your windows and doors and leave them on or open until you go to bed. I sure wish we could just have real news stories…that were really news.

So I will take a break. It’s Super Bowl weekend. The Saints, The Colts. Playing in Florida. I have always been for the underdog in most sporting events. This is the first time the Saints have played in the big game. It is being touted as a way to show that New Orleans is on its way back. They are not favored, but then, strange things happen at the Super Bowl. We will hopefully see a great game. We will see lots and lots of commercials. We will eat way too much food. We will be able to escape the everyday world to hear some great stories of overcoming life’s obstacles. These stories will be about the teams, the players, and probably some of the fans. For four hours plus, football will rule. Sometimes a good escape is worth it. Go Saints.

Today melted a little more snow. We only got up to 39° and it was cloudy on and off before the snow began to fall. I may be watching the game with friends, or I may be snowed in, watching the game by myself. Time will tell.

»* Winter Olympics* «

The Vancouver Olympics open on Feb 12.

Did you know…

The Olympic flame is lit in front of the ruins of the Temple of Hera in Olympia, emphasizing the connection between the ancient Games and the modern Games. An actress playing a high priestess uses a parabolic mirror to focus the rays of the sun, igniting a flame. (In case of cloudy weather, a backup flame is lit in advance.) A long relay of runners carrying torches brings it to the site of the Games. There, the final torch is used to light a cauldron that remains lit until it is extinguished in the Closing Ceremony.

***

After the cauldron is lit, doves are released, as a symbol of peace. This was first done in the 1896 Olympics, and then in the 1920 Olympics. Since 1920, this has been an official part of the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Games. They are generally not released during the Winter Games, because it's too cold for the birds, but symbolic substitutions are sometimes used. In the 1994 Winter Games, for example, white balloons were released.

»Side Show Stories—«

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Police in Arizona said someone broke into a smoke shop and stole nearly $300 worth of fake marijuana. Flagstaff police said someone broke the glass front door January 18 at Kind Connection and made off with nearly $300 worth of "Spice" fake marijuana and a $200 incense vaporizer, The (Flagstaff) Arizona Daily Sun reported. Employees were alerted by an alarm and arrived to check on the store at about 9:45 p.m. Police said they collected possible suspect information from workers.

»Random Fact«

Only 1 person in 2 billion will live to be 116.

» 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 v _ _ lat _ _ n

2 h _ _ dw _ _ e

3 _ _ rses _ _ 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 ☼

Children's Authors & Illustrators Week: 1-7

National Patient Recognition Week: 1-7

Solo Diners Eat Out Weekend: 1-7

Women's Heart Week: 1-7

Boy Scout Anniversary Week: 3-9

International Snow Sculpting Week: 3-6

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

☼ 5 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼

Lame Duck Day

MOBIUS Awards Day—acknowledging Creative Excellence Worldwide

☼5 February Observances—by country ☼

Massachusetts : Ratification Day (1788)

New Zealand : Waitangi Day-New Zealand Day

(1840—treaty to make it a British commonwealth and give Maori Tribal rights)

International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

Finland and Scandinavia: Sami National Day

recognizing the Sami Indigenous people. The Sami, often referred to as Laplanders, find that term derogatory as it translates into something that is easily discarded.

☼ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1974 : President Nixon has urged Congress to approve a comprehensive national health insurance plan

☼ Born on this day ☼

     » The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Christopher Marlowe, in 1564 English poet/dramatist (Dr Faustus)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Natalie Cole, 60, singer

Fabian Forte, 67, singer, actor

Mike Farrell, 71, actor (“M*A*S*H,” “Providence”)

Zsa Zsa Gabor, 91, actress

Bob Marley, in 1945, Jamaican reggae vocalist

Elmore Rip Torn, 79, actor

Axl Rose [William Bailey], in 1962, rocker (Guns & Roses)

Mamie Van Doren, 77, actress

     »Athletes

George Herman (Babe) Ruth, in 1895, baseball great (Yankees)

     »Business, Education, Politics

Sarah Brady, 68, handgun control activist

Eva Braun, in 1912, mistress of Adolf Hitler

Tom Brokaw, 70, journalist

James Ewell Brown "JEB" Stuart, in 1833 Major General (Commander of Cavalry, Confederate Army)

Aaron Burr, in 1756, 3rd US Vice-President (1801-05), dueler

Ronald Reagan, in 1911, actor (Bedtime for Bonzo)/40th President

Anne Stuart, in 1665 Queen of England (1702-14)

     »Science/Religion

Mary Nicol Leakey, in 1913, paleontologist

☼Today’s Obits ☼

Charles II King of England/Scotland/Ireland, in 1685, @ 54

Jack Kirby, in 1994, cartoonist (X-Men, Spiderman, Hulk), @ 76

Guy Madison, in 1996, actor (Wild Bill Hickok), @ 74

Hugo Montenegro, in 1981, Orchestra leader, emphysema @ 56

Danny Thomas, in 1991, comedian/actor, heart attack @ 76
Carl Wilson, in 1998, rock vocalist (Beach Boy), cancer @ 51

☼What happened on this day? ☼

     » The Arts

1869...Harper's Weekly publishes 1st picture of Uncle Sam with chin whiskers

1935...Board game "Monopoly" goes on sale for the 1st time

1948...KNXT (now KCBS) TV channel 2 in Los Angeles CA (CBS) 1st broadcast

     »Athletics

1971...1st time a golf ball is hit on the Moon (by Alan Shepard)

     »Business, Education, Politics

1508...Maximilian I crowned Holy Roman Emperor

1693...Royal charter granted College of William & Mary

1820...86 free black colonists sail from New York NY to Sierra Leone, Africa

1891...1st great train robbery by Dalton Gang (Southern Pacific #17)

1911...1st old-age home opened in Prescott AZ

1933...20th Amendment goes into effect; Presidential term begins in Jan not March

1956...University of Alabama refuses admission to Autherine Lucy (because he's black)

     »Science/Religion

1832...1st appearance of cholera at Edinburgh, Scotland

1948...1st radio-controlled airplane flown

1959...US 1st successful Titan intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)

» Number One Songs in…

1949…A Little Bird Told Me - Evelyn Knight

1957…Banana Boat (Day-O) - Harry Belafonte

1965…You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’ - The Righteous Brothers

1973…Crocodile Rock - Elton John

1981…Celebration - Kool & The Gang

» ANSWERS to puzzle «

1 violation

2 hardware

3 horseshoe