Tuesday 3-15

♣ 16 March 2010~~Week 11 of 2010: 75 days this year…290 remain ♣

♣ Two Quotes to think about…Today ♣

"He is truly wise who gains wisdom from another`s mishap."

~unknown

"The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself."

~Henry Miller

♣ Free Ramblings ♣

I learned today a tiny bit more about the Federal Health Care System. I guess I will have to start reading all those incomprehensible booklets they send out. I learned today that my deductible is $300/calendar year. I had called because one section of the EOB said that I could be billed by my doctor $97. Another part of the exact same EOB I did not owe my physician any charges. Well, after dealing with the lady, I learned I had not met my deductible, and even though it said I didn’t owe my doctor, I really did, because the I had not met my deductible. Talk about double talk. I learned that my co-pay is not part of that deductible nor are any dental procedures. I also learned that the $20 co-pay is for my Primary Care Physician, and it’s $30 for any specialist. It all seems so absurd. The co-pay goes up, the deductible goes up, and the monthly payments go up— all at a rate that is faster than the CPI. The average income rose 20% in the last decade, the health insurance premiums rose 155%.

Those Representatives and Senators, sitting in DC, who think the Health Care system in our country is working just fine need to listen to their districts. It is now time to try something different.

I made a dumb phone mistake the other day. I usually don’t answer my phone without checking the Caller ID. Well I forgot to look, and it was one of those polls. I then didn’t hang up, but answered a few questions about my stand on the economy. That simple thing has come more calls each day than I can count. Today I answered the phone to tell the guy to take me off his list. He asked me if I was for or against a National Health Care plan. I answered yes, and he just hung up…no comment, no thank you, just a hang up. And I didn’t get a chance to tell them to delete my number. No wonder we can’t trust polls. A real fair poll would have asked me more questions.

Since I was about 15 I have shaved almost every day. My father used an electric shaver, and so that’s how I stated. It just didn’t do the job. I switched to a razor and foam at about 16. Back in those days, it was a single blade. Over the years, technology has increased the number of blades. I am now up to a Fusion 5 blade system. I really thought it was no better or worse than the old one blade system of my youth. Well, somehow I ran out of blades and had a couple of two blade disposable razors I sometimes use on trips. I must say, technology has certainly won out. I used one of the two blade shavers for three days. Never got a clean shave. I was also reminded of the days when I got nicks, something I had forgotten all about. Next time I run out of Fusion blades I will head for the store before attempting a shave, and I threw away the two remaining disposable razors, rather than continue to use up a ton of toilet paper on the nicks.

Flagstaff had a real nice outdoor day, and I took some advantage of that. We made it to 44°, and there was very little wind. Lots of snow melted. A nice day, reminding us all that Spring is just around the corner. And none too sooe.

♣Random Fact: ♣

In 21 states, Wal-Mart is the single largest employer.

♣Side Show Stories—♣

Greenwood, SC: At first, Rev. Fred Armfield's arrest for patronizing a prostitute in Greenwood, S.C., in January looked uncontroversial, with Armfield allegedly confessing that he had bargained Melinda "Truck Stop" Robinson down from $10 to $5 for oral sex. Several days later, however, Armfield formally disputed the arrest, calling himself a "descendant of the original Moro-Pithecus Disoch, Kenyapithecus and Afro Pithecus," a "living flesh and blood being with sovereign status," and someone who, based on his character and community standing, should not be prosecuted. Also, he claimed that any payment to "Truck Stop" with Federal Reserve Notes did not legally constitute a purchase since such notes are not lawful money.

♣ 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 5 X 5 sections.

1 instrument (HINT: P - - - -)

2 metal mass (HINT: - N - - -)

3 spy (HINT: - - E - -)

4 present occasion (HINT: - - - C -)

5 waterlogged mammal (HINT: - - - - R)

♣ Calendar Information ♣

• March’s Month Long Observances •

BIRTHSTONE: aquamarine and bloodstone (courage) FLOWER: Narcissus [daffodil, jonquil] (vanity)

National Cheerleading Safety Month • National Clean Up Your IRS Act Month • National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month • National Craft Month • National Ethics Awareness Month •National Eye Donor Month • National Frozen Food Month • National Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month •National Kidney Month• National Nutrition Month • National Social Work Month • National Umbrella Month • National Women's History Month • Optimism Month • Play The Recorder Month • Poison Prevention Awareness Month • Red Cross Month • Save Your Vision Month • Sing With Your Child Month • Small Press Month •Spiritual Wellness Month • Women's History Month • Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month • Youth Art Month

• Observance Weeks in March•

6-21

   •Iditarod Race

14-20

   •Campfire USA Birthday Week •National Poison Prevention Week •Nat’l Agriculture Week •Nat’l Animal Poison Prevention Week

14-21

   •National Toad Hollow Week

15-19

   •Wildlife Week

15-21

   •Act Happy Week •American Chocolate Week •International Brain Awareness Week •Wellderly Week: To recognize Senior Citizens who don’t act their age

16-22

   •National Inhalant and Poisons Awareness Week

• 16 March Observances—US/UN/World •

Curlew Day

• Long-billed Curlew arrives at the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon, to partake in courtship rituals, mating, nesting, and raising young.

Freedom of Information Day

• the birthday of James Madison, who is widely regarded as the Father of the Constitution and as the foremost advocate for openness in government

Lips Appreciation Day

• to honor all lips, no matter the size, shape, or color--Pucker up.

St. Urho's Day

• •Fictional Finnish Saint of the Grasshopper. Actually a holiday stared in 1956 by a Minnesota Finnish store owner to take the spotlight away from the Irish. St. Urho was the man who chased grasshoppers into the sea with a pitchfork to save the grape harvest of Finland. People dress in green (for the grasshopper), and purple (for the wine). After waving pitchforks around everyone enjoys lots of wine.

•16 March Observances—by country •

Latvia: Latvian Legion Day from 1990-2000 to remember a group that are now believed to be part of the Nazi SS. Celebration was dropped as an official holiday in 1998.

Surinam : Holi Phagwah (Festival of Colors) Today believers cover themselves with colored powders and water.

♣ Number One Songs in…

1947•The Anniversary Song - Dinah Shore

1955•The Ballad of Davy Crockett - Bill Hayes

1963•Walk like a Man - The 4 Seasons

1971•Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin

1979•I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor

• Holy Mackerel: 1915•The Federal Trade Commission began operation. The U.S. government appointed five commissioners to receive $10,000 each year to regulate commerce and prohibit unlawful trade.

• Born on this day •

     …The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Alice Hoffman, 58, writer (Practical Magic, Aquamarine)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Bernardo Bertolucci, 69, filmmaker (Oscar for The Last Emperor; Last Tango in Paris)

Erik Estrada, 61, actor (“CHiPS”)

Jerry Lewis (Joseph Levitch), 84, comedian, actor (My Friend Irma), director (The Bellboy), fund raiser.

Jerry Jeff Walker (Paul Crosby), 68, country singer, guitarist: Mr. Bojangles

Chuck Woolery, 68, game show host (“Love Connection,” “Scrabble”)

Henny Youngman, 1906, (London England), comedian

     …Athletes

Levi Brown, 26, football player (Cardnials)

     …Business, Education

Andrew S Hallidie, 1836, inventor (cable car)

Norbert Rillieux, 1806, inventor (sugar refiner)

     …Politics

James Madison, 1751, 4th US President (1809-17)

Daniel Patrick Moynihan, 1927, U.S. Senator from New York

Patricia Nixon [Thelma Catherine], 1912, 1st lady

     …Science/Religion

Caroline Lucretia Herchel, 1750, (Germany), 1st modern woman astronomer

Georg Simon Ohm, 1787, physicist (discovered Ohm's Law)

•Today’s Obits •

Charles R Darwin, 1882, English naturalist (Origin of species), heart attack @ 73

Tammi Terrell, 1970, singer (Ain't No Mountain High Enough, You're All I Need), brain tumor @ 23

T-Bone Walker, 1975, blues guitarist (Funky Town, Well Done), pneumonia @ 64

Arthur Godfrey, 1983, TV host (Arthur Godrey Show), @ 79

Lord Lovat, Clan Fraser of Lovat, 1995, soldier/Landowner, @ 83

•What Happened on this Day •

     …The Arts

1827•1st US black newspaper, "Freedom's Journal" (New York NY), begins publishing

1850•The novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, was published

1950•1st annual National Book Awards

     …Athletics

2007•The first three-way tie occurs on Jeopardy!—a mental sport!!!

     …Business, Education.

1968•General Motors produces its 100 millionth automobile, the Oldsmobile Toronado.

     …Politics

1190•Jews of York England commit mass suicide rather than submit to baptism

1322•The Battle of Boroughbridge takes place in the First War of Scottish Independence.

1802•Law signed to establish US Military Academy (West Point NY)

1830•London's re-organized police force (Scotland Yard) forms

1861•Arizona Territory votes to leave the Union

1934•Congress passes Migratory Bird Conservation Act

1935•Adolf Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles by introducing compulsory military conscription in Germany
1968•My Lai massacre occurs (Vietnam War); 450 die

1985•Terry Anderson the Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press is is kidnapped in Beirut, Lebanon, by Islamic militants

     …Science/Religion

1802•US army Corps of Engineers established (2nd time)

1912•Mrs William Howard Taft plants 1st cherry tree in Washington DC

1926•Robert Goddard launches 1st liquid fuel rocket, goes 184' (56 meter)

♣ANSWERS to puzzle ♣

PIANO

INGOT

AGENT

NONCE

OTTER

♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣