Wednesday

10 February 2010--Week 6 of 2010: 41 days this year…324 remain

» Quote Times Two «

"Now and then an innocent man is sent to the legislature." ~Frank McKinney ‘Kin’ Hubbard, (1860-1930)-American humorist, cartoonist

“Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.” ~Antoine de Sainte-Exupery (1900-1944); Aviator, Writer

» Free Ramblings «

An amazing billboard popped up on I-35 somewhere in Minnesota. Half of the board is a picture of George Bush looking down at the highway. The other half says “Miss me yet?” I guess not everyone is happy with the work our President is doing. What a shock.

The Cheyenne River Tribe, in South Dakota, has been in at least one news program for a couple of days. The last big storm hit that rez hard, cutting off most electricity and water to the entire Rez. Eagle Butte and the other 12 communities already live in poverty and this winter is making it even worse. Our local news has talked about the problems the Navajo and Hopi are experiencing during our big storm, but even that barely got recognition on National news. I continue to be amazed that so few Americans are aware of the living conditions on many of our nation’s reservations. News crews rush to Haiti and show the world the poverty. Yet, in our own country, many Natives live much like the Haitians, only in our country they don’t have tropical weather. The summers are hot, the winters are bitter cold. When a bad storm hits, life becomes much more difficult than usual. Until the plight of the tribes becomes news on all the major networks, most Americans will continue to be unaware of the problems associated with poverty, freezing weather, and the real life on the Rez.

High 35°, low 24°, snow flurries at various times during the day. Flagstaff weather is becoming so predictable and so boring.

»* Winter Olympics* «

The Vancouver Olympics open on Feb 12.

Did you know…

There are 16 categories at this Olympics:

4. Speed Skating: began in the 1200’s in Holland, with the first recorded completion in 1676. It was introduced to the Olympics in Chamonix in 1924. Originally, only men took part in competition. At the Lake Placid 1932 Games, however, women’s speed skating was a demonstration event and became a full medal event at the Squaw Valley 1960 Olympic Winter Games. Men and Women now compete in 500m, 1000m, 1500m, and 5000m races. Women have a 3000m and men also have a 10,000m race. There are also team pursuit races. Skaters can reach 60km/hr (38mph).

There are 180 athletes participating—US has 18; Great Britain has 0; Ireland has 0; and South Africa has 0.

»Side Show Stories—«

PRESTWICK, Scotland - A Scottish motorist who was ticketed for blowing his nose while his car was stopped in clogged traffic said he will take the charge to court.

Michael Mancini, 39, of Prestwick, said he was in stationary traffic with his parking brake on when he reached for a handkerchief to wipe his runny nose, leading police Constable Stuart Gray to issue him a $97 fine because he was "not in control of his vehicle" while blowing his nose, the Daily Mail reported. "It's beyond a disgrace," Mancini said. "Surely it would have been more dangerous to drive with a blocked nose?" Mancini said he will not pay the ticket and is now likely to face a criminal trial later this year, the newspaper reported. "I am really angry. I made sure it was safe to blow my nose. It's doubtful I'll get legal aid so this could potentially cost me thousands of pounds in legal fees," he told the Daily Mail. "But I won't be paying the fixed penalty." Gray previously made headlines last year when he issued an $80 littering ticket to a man who accidentally dropped a 10-pound ($16) note in the street.

»Random Fact«

Cape May, NJ is the oldest seashore resort in America.

» 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 _ _ dl _ _

2 _ _ p _ _ zard

3 h _ _ g _ _ lin

» 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 ☼

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

Celebration of Love Week: 10-16

Children of Alcoholics Week: 10-16

☼ 10 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼

Umbrella Day

☼10 February Observances—by country ☼

Italy: National Memorial Day of the Exiles and Foibe, commemorate Italian Istrian and Dalmatian exiles and Foibe massacres (especially in Trieste)

Malta: Feast of St. Paul's Shipwreck, celebrate the birth of Catholicism

UK: Plimsoll Day: to honor Samual Plimsoll who made world waterways safer

☼ Holy Mackerel: On this day in ☼ Born on this day ☼

     » The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Jerry Goldsmith, in 1929, pianist/composer (Twilight Zone)

Frances Moore Lappe, 66, author (Diet for a Small Planet, Rediscovering America’s Values)

Boris L Pasternak, in 1890, Russia, novelist/poet (Dr Zhivago, Nobel 1958)

William Allen White, in 1868, editor (Pulitzer 1942)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Dame Judith (Frances Margaret) Anderson, in 1898, actress

Lon Chaney Jr, in 1906, actor

Laura Dern, 43, actress (Blue Velvet, Rambling Rose)

Donovan P. Leitch, 64, (Scotland), singer, songwriter

Jimmy Durante, in 1893, long-nosed comedian

Roberta Flack, 71, singer

Sharon Stone, 52, actress

Robert Wagner, 80, actor (“It Takes a Thief,” “Hart to Hart”)

Don Wilson, 73, rock guitarist (Ventures-Walk Don't Run, Batman Theme)

     »Athletes

Leonard Kyle (Lenny) Dykstra, 47, baseball player (Mets; Phillies)

Gregory John (Greg) Norman, 55, (Australia), golfer

Mark Andrew Spitz, 60, Olympic gold medal swimmer

Jim Whittacker, 81, mountain climber (1st American to climb Mt Everest)

     »Business, Education, Politics

Jim Cramer, 55, financial analyst, broadcaster (“Mad Money with Jim Cramer”)

George Stephanopoulos, 49, presidential adviser (Clinton); news anchor

     »Science/Religion

Walter H Brattain, in 1902, (China), US physicist (Nobel 1956-transistor)

☼Today’s Obits ☼

Joseph Lister, in 1912, surgeon (pioneer of antiseptic), @85

Laura Ingalls Wilder, in 1957, US author (Little House on Prarie), @ 90

Alex Haley, in 1992, US writer (Autobiography of Malcolm X, Roots), @ 70

☼What happened on this day? ☼

     » The Arts

1951…"John & Marsha" by Stan Freberg peaks at #21

1956…"My Friend Flicka" premieres on CBS (later NBC) TV

1964…Bob Dylan releases "The Times They Are a-Changin"

1960…Jack Paar, the host of The Tonight Show had walked off the set on this day, in protest of censorship

     »Athletics

1961…AFL's Los Angeles Chargers move to San Diego

1968…Peggy Fleming wins Olympics figure skating gold medal, Grenoble, France

     »Business, Education, Politics

1535…12 nude Anabaptists run through Amsterdam streets

1676…Wampanoag Indians under King Philip kill all men in Lancaster MA

1824…Simon Bolívar named dictator by the Congress of Perú

1846…Beginning of Mormon march to west US

1855…US citizenship laws amended all children of US parents born abroad granted US citizenship 1870 City of Anaheim incorporates (1st time)

1890…Around 11 million acres, ceded to US by Sioux Indians opens for settlement

1897…New York Times begins using slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print"

1931…New Delhi becomes capital of India 1940 Tom & Jerry created by Hanna & Barbera debut by MGM

1954…Eisenhower warns against US intervention in Vietnam

1962…Francis Gary Powers, an American who was held by Russians after being shot down while flying over the Soviet Union, was released

1967…25th Amendment (Presidential Disability & Succession) in effect

1971…American Mensa, Ltd incorporates in New York

     »Science/Religion

1720…Edmund Halley appointed 2nd Astronomer Royal of England

» Number One Songs in…

1945…Don’t Fence Me In - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters

1953…Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes - Perry Como

1961…Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles

1969…Crimson and Clover - Tommy James & The Shondells

1977…Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

1985…I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner

» ANSWERS to puzzle «

1 peddled

2 haphazard

3 hobgoblin