Thurs. 5-6

≈Week 19 of 2010: 126 days this year… 239 days remain≈

≈ Something To Think About  

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

~ Emma Lazarus

≈ Random Fact   

Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a "Friday the 13th."

• Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1935 ►The Works Progress Administration (WPA), opens allowing thousands of unemployed Americans decent-paying jobs on a wide range of public works projects including parks, playgrounds, major infrastructure projects, schools and post-offices.

≈ Free Ramblings    

Update: about 15 minutes after I posted yesterday’s blog, the Flagstaff City Council unanimously passed a resolution to sue the state over SB 1070 and to work with other cities doing the same thing. This really is a human rights issue.

I remember sitting in Elementary School, in the last 1950’s, learning Emma Lazarus’ poem. We were performing in the school gym at a PTA meeting. Cindy Lou was dressed as a quite striking Statue of Liberty while the rest of us stood behind her as the class recited the poem. Each of the 4th grade classes did a short skit on some part of American History. Parents sat on metal chairs with their Brownie and a flash bulb in hand to get a picture or two. Most of the parents cared less about the PTA business, but wouldn’t miss their child’s performance. We all sat in a nearby classroom practicing and waiting our turn. Then we waited in the same classroom for our parents to come to class and pick us up after the performance.

I was reminded of this event today as I listened to a couple of National Politicians who never learned the poem, and probably never studied American History. John McCain said he hoped the latest terrorist was not read is Miranda rights. Then ol’ Joe Lieberman wants to present a bill that will strip a terrorist of their American citizenship upon arrest for a terrorist crime…note: not after conviction in our great American justice system, but upon arrest. He was unclear so far if this applies only to naturalized citizens or native born citizens. Those who conspire with a terrorist will have the same penalty.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want anyone killing anyone else. Doesn’t matter if it’s over a policy, a lover, a former lover, or just a plain old jerk. Killing is wrong. I still believe in the American judicial system. It moves way too slowly for my taste, but it works. Way too many politicians don’t seem to believe it works. This, for me, is more frightening that the terrorists. Our American system seems to be destroyed by ourselves. The idea that a person can lose their citizenship because they know a suspected terrorist scares me. I know lots of people. I socialize with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds. I know many who are not happy about what is happening in our America. The climate in this country is at the beginning of another McCarthy era. I do not want to live in an America where I am fearful that my association with somebody might lead to me losing my citizenship. An overreaction? Maybe. But listening to the ‘acquaintance’ interviews of the latest two terrorists, or many of the mass murders—few seemed to suspect anything violent from the person.

More 70° made it to Flagstaff today. It is so great to be able to open the windows, walk around outside in short sleeves, and just enjoy our little mountain community. Everyone I talked to today is excited about our spring…and all usually say something to the effect that ‘but…the wind starts tomorrow.’ I interrupt them after the ‘but’ and say ‘just enjoy one day at a time.’ It has kept the wind away for three days so far, and I can only assume it will keep working. If you don’t say it, it won’t happen. Yeah, like that works.

≈ A Quick Smile…    

When I was a 20-something college student, I became quite friendly with my study partner, a 64-year-old man, who had returned to school to finish his degree. He confessed, with a wink, that he had once thought more than friendship might be a possibility between us.

"So what changed your mind?" I asked him.

"I went to my doctor and asked if he thought a 40-year age difference between a man and woman was insurmountable. He looked at my chart and said, 'You're interested in someone who's 104?!'"

≈ Puzzle    

The number next to the acronym helps solve what the acronym means... e.g. 365 DIAY = 365 days in a year, and 366 DIALY = 366 days in a leap year.

1. 64 S o a C B

2. 54 C i a P (W J)

3. 76 T L t B P

≈ Side Show Stories    

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Missouri teenager said he took his 90-year-old great-grandmother to his school prom to help her fulfill a lifelong wish. Hasselteen Rumba, 90, said she was encouraged to make a bucket list of new experiences she wanted to try by Independence Care Center Manor activities director Tracy Bunch, who was inspired by the movie "The Bucket List," WDAF-TV, Kansas City, Mo., reported Monday. Great-grandson Ron Blalock said he decided to help Rumba after learning that attending a dance was on her list. "She never went to a prom and I figured I'm having a prom so she should come with me and enjoy herself," Blalock said. Rumba said she wasn't allowed to attend dances as a teenager. "Well about 60 years ago my folks was real strict," Rumba said. "They said oh no you're not going to a dance. I couldn't do that." Rumba and Blalock attended the Fort Osage Prom together Saturday in Kansas City. The 90-year-old, who already crossed off attending a concert and meeting Reba McEntire, said she has not yet decided what will be next on her bucket list.

≈ Calendar Information    

• Observance Weeks in May•

1-7

Bread Pudding Recipe Exchange Week

2-8

Be Kind To Animals Week

National Correctional Officer's Week

Children's Mental Health Week

Drinking Water Week

Flexible Work Arrangement Week

Kids Win Week

3-9

Dating and Life Coach Recognition Week

Intimate Apparel Market Week

Work At Home Moms Week

6-12

National Nurses Day and Week

• Today’s Observances—US/UN/World •

Beverage Day: a day of pleasure and relaxation with your favorite beverage

Joseph Brackett Day: Day honoring the Shaker religious leader

National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

No Diet Day

No Homework Day

Nurses Day

National Day of Prayer

National Day of Reason

• Today’s Observances—by country •

Bulgaria: Day of Bravery, also known as Gergyovden

Bulgaria : Shepherd's & Herdsman's Day

Denmark : Prayer Day

Lebanon : Martyrs' Day

Syria: Martyrs’ Day

• Today’s Number One Songs in…

For anyone interested, all these songs are available on iTunes.

1945 ►My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time; Les Brown

1955 ►Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White; Perez Prado

1965 ►Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter; Herman's Hermits

1975 ►He Don't Love You (Like I Love You); Tony Orlando & Dawn

1985 ►Crazy for You; Madonna

• Today’s Happenings•

In The Arts

1957 ►Pulitzer prize awarded to John F Kennedy (Profiles in Courage)

In Athletics

1733 ►1st international boxing match: Bob Whittaker beats Tito di Carni

1954 ►Roger Bannister becomes the first man to run a mile in less than 4 minutes, making the new record in 3mins 59.4 seconds

In Business or Education

1833 ►John Deere makes 1st steel plow

In Politics

1527 ►Spanish & German Imperial troops sack Rome; ending the Renaissance

1822 ►As of today, all nonprofit government trading houses are closed on or near Indian lands. All future trading posts are commercial enterprises.

1935 ►British King George & Queen Mary celebrates silver jubilee

1960 ►President Eisenhower signs Civil Rights Act of 1960

1967 ►Zakir Hussain elected 1st Moslem President of India

1994 ►Nelson Mandela & his ANC, finally confirmed winners in South Africa

In Science/ Religion

1986 ►Donald E Pelotte becomes 1st native American bishop (Abenaki tribe—a non-Federally Recognized tribe from NE US, now in Canada)

1937 ►The German airship Hindenberg the largest dirigible ever built burst into flames and collapsed to the ground while attempting to moor at Lakehurst, New Jersey

1979 ►Over 65,000 anti-nuclear power demonstrators marched on the capitol in protest against more nuclear power plants

• Today’s Births •

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Bob Seger, 65, singer, musician Night Moves, Travelin’ Man

Theodore H White, 1915, historian/writer (Making of the President)

Athletes

Weeb Ewbank, 1907, NFL coach (Colts, Jets)

Willie Mays, 79, Hall of Fame baseball player

Entertainers

Tom Bergeron, 55, television personality and host (“Hollywood Squares,” “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “Dancing with the Stars”)

George Clooney, 49, actor

Roma Downey, 46, actress (“Touched by an Angel”), born Derry, Northern Ireland

Stewart Granger[James Stewart], 1913, London, actor

Rudolph Valentino (Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina), 1895, actor

Orson Welles, 1915, actor

Business, Education Leaders

Sigmund Freud, 1856, Freiberg Moravia, cigar smoker, father of psycho-analysis

Political Leaders

Tony Blair, 57, former British prime minister (1997–2007), born Edinburgh, Scotland

Maximilien Robespierre, 1758 ,Arras Fr, French revolutionary

Scientists /Religious Leaders

Chapin Aaron Harris, 1806, founded America Society of Dental Surgeons

Robert Edwin Peary, 1856, arctic explorer

• Today’s Obits •

Henry David Thoreau, 1862, US writer/pacifist (Walden Pond), complications from TB @ 44

William J Casey, 1987, director of CIA, brain cancer @ 73

Guy Williams (Armand Joseph Catalano), 1989, actor (Zorro, Lost in Space), aneurysm @ 65

Charles Farrell, 1990, actor (Vern-My Little Margie), @ 89

Marlene Dietrich [Maria Losch], 1992, actress, @ 90

≈ ANSWERS to puzzle    

1. 64 S o a C B = 64 Squares on a Chess (Checker) Board

2. 54 C i a P (W J) = 54 Cards in a Pack (With Jokers)

3. 76 T L t B P = 76 Trombones Led the Big Parade

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