Tuesday

16 February 2010--Week 7 of 2010: 47 days this year…318 remain

» Quote Times Two «

"Might as well be frank, monsieur. It would take a miracle to get you out of Casablanca and the Germans have outlawed miracles." ~Casablanca (by Sydney Greenstreet as Signor Ferrari)

Those who can adapt to change are those who will continue to grow.” ~Justin Ramalho, architect

» Free Ramblings «

On this Presidents’ Day—oops, Washington’s Birthday, it was a good day to reflect. Senator Bayh of Indiana announced today that he will not seek re-election—even though he is 20 points ahead in the polls in Indiana. Why? He says the Congress is broken. I couldn’t agree more. It is real hard for me to watch Republicans vote against a bill, then, when the bill is passed, go to their home districts and talk about how great the bill is. I am beginning to believe that our political system is at a crossroads. We need political leaders that stand by their beliefs. If they honestly vote against a bill, then they should stay in the shadows when it does something good for their district. The other thing that causes concern, is the Republicans who ask for something, then get it, then say they don’t want it now. Are they really supporting the citizens?

Today had some great events. I didn’t have time to watch everything, but I must say, the Snowboard Cross was great, and not just because an American won. Four guys go down a course, in a pack, and like any track race, they pass each other, bump each other, and speed to the finish line at about 40-45mph on a friggin’ board. It’s snowboarding so there has to be elevated curves, lots of jumps, and on occasion, a wipeout.

I have two hardwired smoke detectors—one upstairs and one downstairs. I’ve been here for almost three years. Today I learned that even hard wired detectors have a battery. How did I learn this? Yep, that obnoxious beep. I climbed up to see why it was making that noise and there was the 9v battery. Of course, I have a nice box, with lots of batteries—AAA, AA, C, D and no 9v. So tomorrow morning I will be out getting a battery. The problem with hard wired systems is that you can’t just take out the battery and stop the beeping. It is in my office, so if I close the door, it won’t bother me while I sleep.

Today was a holiday for many. Turns out it wasn’t a holiday for my dentist. My new crown isn’t due until the 23rd, so I was surprised when the caller ID popped up with the dentist. Turns out it was Tanya, the dental assistant, just calling to see how my temporary was doing. Since the last one came off three times in two and a half weeks, and this one seems to be staying on, she was just checking. I knew I liked this dentist and his staff.

We had a great weather day again today. Lots of snow melted, and part of the snow banks near my front door is beginning to fall or melt or something. We just need more and more days like today before the next storm comes. According to the forecast, it will be decent weather through the entire week. Finally.

»* Winter Olympics* «

The Vancouver Olympics open on Feb 12.

According to the National Sporting Goods Association, U.S. consumers spent $309 million on snowboarding equipment in 2008. That's more than hockey and football equipment combined ($249 million).

»Side Show Stories—«

ISLANDIA, N.Y. - Deputies in New York's Suffolk County said a woman was ticketed for driving in a carpool lane alone with a mannequin disguised as a passenger. Mike Sharkey, Suffolk County Sheriff's Office chief of staff, said Deputy Robert Howard was driving Tuesday on the Long Island Expressway in Islandia when he grew suspicious of a car in the high-occupancy vehicle lane because the passenger was wearing a visor and sunglasses despite the cloudy weather, Newsday reported Thursday. Sharkey said Howard pulled over Kathleen Frascinella, 61, of Mount Sinai, N.Y., and discovered her only passenger was a mannequin dressed in clothing including a blazer and a scarf. Frascinella was issued a $135 citation for operating a vehicle in the HOV lane without a passenger. "At first glance, this may seem humorous, but it is not a joking matter when you drive off with a ticket," Sheriff Vincent DeMarco said.

»Random Fact: «

The shoreline at Wildwood, NJ grows almost 100 feet per year.

» 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 couple

2 French abbott

3 big nose bird

4 remainder

» 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 ☼

Celebration of Love Week: 10-16

Children of Alcoholics Week: 10-16

Alzheimers and Dementia Awareness Week: 14-21

Love a Mench Week: 14-21

National Condom Week: 14-21

National Engineers Week: 14-20

National Pancake Week: 14-20

☼ 16 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼

Do A Grouch A Favor Day

Fastnachts Day (Pennsylvania Dutch - Shrove Tuesday)

International Pancake Day

Mardi Gras begins

US: Paczki Day: Polish pastry similar to Bismarks

Shrove Tuesday: Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (traditionally consumption of fat, sugar, and eggs is restricted during Lent)

☼16 February Observances—by country ☼

Iceland: Bursting Day—salted mutton and pea soup for Shrove Tuesday

Lithuania : Independence Day (1918 from Russia and Germany)

☼ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1868…The Jolly Corks organization in New York City decided to change their goofy name to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE). The purpose of the fraternal group: “...practice charity, justice, brotherly love and faithfulness.”

☼ Born on this day ☼

     » The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Richard Ford, 66, author (Independence Day, The Sportswriter)

Vera Menchik, in 1906, (Moscow), 1st official women's world chess champion (1927)

Johann Strauss, in 1866, Austrian composer-Waltzes

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Hugh Beaumont, in 1909, actor (Ward Cleaver-Leave it to Beaver)

Edgar Bergen, in 1903, ventriloquist (Charlie McCarthy)

LeVar Burton, 53, (Germany), actor, host (“Roots,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Reading Rainbow”),

Robert Flaherty, in 1884, father of documentary film (Nanook of the North)

Machito "Frank Grillo", in 1912, (Florida), bandleader (created salsa music)

Ice T (Tracy Marrow), 51, rap singer, actor (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” New Jack City)

Margaux Hemingway, in 1955, actress

     »Athletes

John Patrick McEnroe, Jr, 51, former tennis player

     »Business, Education, Politics

Sonny(Salvatore) Bono, in 1935, singer, Mayor of Palm Springs CA

Kim Chong-Il, 68, President of North-Korea (1994- )

Charles Taze Russell, in 1852, founded Jehovah's Witnesses

Henry Wilson, in 1812, 18th Vice-President

     »Science/Religion

Ernst Heinrich Haeckel, in 1834, German biologist (Causes of Evolution)

Mr Jefferson, in 1998, (Virginia), 1st cloned calf

Hugo de Vries, in 1848, Dutch botanist (How species emerge)

☼Today’s Obits ☼

Angela Carter, in 1992, British novelist (Magic Toyshop), cancer @ 51

Martha Gellhorn, in 1998, war reporter (Reuthers), @ 89

George Mann MacBeth, in 1992. Scottish journalist/poet (A War Quartet), motor neurone disease @ 60

☼What happened on this day? ☼

     » The Arts

1950…What’s My Line debuted on CBS.

     »Athletics

1936…4th Winter Olympics games close at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

     »Business, Education, Politics

1659…1st known check (£400) (on display at Westminster Abbey)

1857…The National Deaf Mute College (Gallaudet College) was incorporated in Washington, DC.
1862…Ft Donelson captured by General Grant (1,400 confederates surrender)

1887…1st newspaper convention (Rochester NY)

1909…1st subway car with side doors goes into service (New York NY)

1927…US restores diplomatic relations with Turkey

1938…US Federal Crop Insurance program authorized

1961…China uses it's 1st nuclear reactor

1968…The first 911 emergency telephone system is inaugurated in Haleyville, Ala—takes 20+ years to become nation wide.
2005…The Kyoto accord, which aims to curb the air pollution blamed for global warming, has come into force seven years after it was agreed.

     »Science/Religion

600…Pope Gregory the Great decrees saying "God bless You" is the correct response to a sneeze

1840…American Charles Wilkes discovers Shackleton Ice Shelf, Antarctica

1937…Wallace H. Carothers patented nylon

» Number One Songs in…

1951…Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page

1959…Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price

1967…I’m a Believer - The Monkees

1983…Down Under - Men at Work

» ANSWERS to puzzle «

pair

abbe

ibis

rest