7-1 Thursday

This is Week 26 of 2010, Day 182 with 183 days left. It is Day 73 of the BP Mess.
JULY STUFF

July is the seventh month with 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere it is usually the warmest month of the year. July honors Julius Caesar. The ruby is the birthstone. The sunflower is the flower.

Observations this month: Air-Conditioning Appreciation Days ◙ Bereaved Parents Month ◙

Bioterrorism/Disaster Education & Awareness Month ◙ Blueberries Month ◙ Cell Phone Courtesy Month ◙ Dog Days ◙ Family Reunion Month ◙ Family Golf Month ◙ Freedom From Fear of Speaking Month ◙ Herbal/Prescription Awareness Month ◙ International Blondie and Deborah Harry Month ◙ International Women with Alopecia Month ◙ International Zine Month ◙ National Black Family Month ◙ National Child-Centered Divorce Month ◙ National "Doghouse Repairs" Month ◙ National Grilling Month ◙ National Ice Cream Month ◙ National Horseradish Month ◙ National Hot Dog Month ◙ National Make A Difference to Children Month ◙ National Recreation & Parks Month ◙ National Share A Sunset With Your Lover Month ◙ National Wheelchair Beautification Month ◙ Sandwich Generation Month ◙ Smart Irrigation Month ◙ Social Wellness Month ◙ Tour de France Month ◙ Women's Motorcycle Month

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

2010 is now half over. Whoever said that time flies was sure right. Seems like just a little while ago I was watching snow fall. It was a cloudy day, though we got no rain. I was outside working on my Spruce Tree and its interference with my sidewalk. I did some trimming and can now see the entire sidewalk. I also learned that sunlight has something to do with making the blue spruce blue. All the underlying branches were green, while the ones that get sunlight are blue. Hmm. Now that I have started trimming, I need to work on the bush under the window again. I got rid of the winter kill last week, but now have to attack the part that also covers part of the sidewalk. I guess it’s good that a gardeners work is never done.

I checked with my brother today and his place in Mexico is not expected to be harmed by Hurricane Alex. The neighbors say they are just expecting heavy rain. While some senator says that the economic crisis response by Obama was like hitting an ant with an atomic bomb, he hasn’t talked to my brother or others in the high end business market in NYC. Things are not going very well financially for them. My brother quit his job just before the crisis to become the CEO of the business. He is now looking for another job but the market just isn’t there, and being 58, he is finding that age does play a role in job seeking. I have never understood their lifestyle in Manhattan. Even as a small fish in a very big ocean, you have to live that style. Clients don’t want to do lunch at a fast food place. You can’t hold a business meeting in jeans and a T-shirt. Your office has to be in a rather high end building in a good location. All this costs bucks, and when you get a good client, you do fine. When you don’t have clients beating down the door, it is tough. Laura is an artist extraordinaire. Artists I know live on the edge most of the time, it helps their art. I’m sure they will pull through, but I feel badly that they have to go through all this. My brother is also very talented and I know that others see it and he will find a great job.

We had a nice day in Flag today. It was 83° on the deck, a slight breeze, and lots of clouds. The humidity was 34%--monsoon coming. That made it feel a little hotter than it was, but the thought of rain made it OK. Come on rain, we are waiting your arrival.

HOLY MACKEREL: On this date in 2008 ►Nelson Mandela, the first post-apartheid president elected in South Africa, was no long on the United States terror watch list after then president George W. Bush signed the bill that officially removed him from the list. Mandela, considered by many to be a great leader, had originally been put on the list when South Africa’s apartheid government listed the African National Congress as a terrorist organization.

MY QUOTE FOR THE DAY

Benjamin Elijah Mays, American educator: Not failure, but low aim is sin.

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION

It takes glass one million years to decompose, which means it can be recycled practically an infinite amount of times.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1

In each equation below, part of a common name has been replaced with a definition for a word that is contained within that name. By answering the definition and completing the equation, you will find the name.

(Ric + difficult = ric + hard = Richard) Hint: Each is a male name

1. Put on clothes + ald

2. Fishing pole + ney

3. P+ make a mistake + y

4. Be in debt + n

5. That girl + r + adult guy

6. D + eager

7. B + lease an apartment

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

YPSILANTI, MI - Police in Michigan said they arrested a couple spotted pushing a stroller containing two young boys, open containers of alcohol and a bayonet. Ypsilanti police said the 30-year-old woman and 52-year-old man, who were described as highly intoxicated, were confronted by officers about 1:30 a.m. Friday after the woman allegedly tried to take a bicycle from a porch, AnnArbor.com reported Monday. Investigators said the woman's sons, ages 1 and 4, were inside the stroller along with the alcoholic beverages and a "double-edged bayonet." The couple, who police said were a "long way" from home, were taken into custody and the children were turned over to a relative who lives nearby.

A LITTLE LAUGH

The top 10 things not to say to a cop when he pulls you over.

10. Is it true that people become cops because they are too dumb to work at McDonalds?

9. I pay your salary

8. So uh, you on the take or what?

7. Gee officer, that's terrific. The last officer only gave me a warning.

6. Do you know why you pulled me over? Okay, just so one of us does.

5. I was trying to keep up with traffic. Yes, I know there is no other cars around, that's how far they are ahead of me.

4. What do you mean have I been drinking? You are the trained specialist.

3. Well, when I reached down to pick up my bag of crack, my gun fell off of my lap and got lodged between the brake and the gas pedal, forcing me to speed out of control.

2. Hey, is that a 9mm? That's nothing compared to this 44 magnum.

1. Hey, can you give me another one of those full cavity searches?

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2

My thunder comes before the lightning; My lightning comes before the clouds; My rain dries all the land it touches.

What am I?

FOUND ON YOU TUBE

Wolfman Jack Tribute: Click HERE!

Michael Landon Tribute: Click HERE!

Marlan Brando Tribute: Click HERE!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what common object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

► Weekly Observances ◄

28 -7/5: Fish Are Friends, Not Food! Week AND National Prevention of Eye Injuries Awareness

1-6 National Unassisted Homebirth Week

► Today’s Observances ◄

Canada Day since 1862 when Canada unified

Second Half of The Year Day

U.S. Postage Stamp Day

Zip Code Day

Bangladesh, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Iraq, Taiwan: Bank Holiday

British Virgin Islands: Territory Day

Ireland: Pilgrimage to Shrine of Blessed Oliver Plunkett

Somalia: Union Day/Foundation Day (1960)

Surinam: Freedom Day/Labor Day

Turkey : Navy & Merchant Marine Day

► Hit Songs on this date ◄

Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend): Vaughn Monroe in 1949

The Battle of New Orleans: Johnny Horton in 1959

Love Theme from 'Romeo and Juliet': Henry Mancini in 1969

Ring My Bell: Anita Ward in 1979

Baby Don't Forget My Number: Milli Vanilli in 1989

► Born today ◄

…The Arts

James M Cain, 1892, , novelist (Postman Always Rings Twice), , born in Minneapolis MN

Thomas A. (Andrew) Dorsey, 1899, ‘Father of Gospel Music’: musician: pianist; blues composer; gospel music composer: composed over 1,000 gospel songs, born in Villa Rica, Georgia

Sydney Pollack, 1934, director (Tootsie, Presumed Innocent) , born in Lafayette, IN

+++

Pamela Anderson, 43, model, actress (“V.I.P.,” “Baywatch”), born Ladysmith, BC, Canada

Dan Aykroyd, 58, actor (The House of Mirth, Ghostbusters, Trading Places, The Blues Brothers), born Ottawa, ON, Canada

Karen Black, 68, actress (Five Easy Pieces, Nashville), born Park Ridge, IL

Leslie Caron Boulogne, 79, actor (Lili, Father Goose) , born in Biliancourt France

Olivia de Havilland, 94, actress (Oscars for To Each His Own, The Heiress ;Gone with the Wind), born Tokyo, Japan

Jamie Farr, 76, actor (“M*A*S*H,” The Blackboard Jungle), born Jameel Farah at Toledo, OH

Debbie Harry, 65, lead singer (Blondie, “The Tide Is High”), born Miami, FL

…Athletics

Frederick Carlton "Carl" Lewis, 49, Olympic track & field star (Gold-1984, 1988) , born in Birmingham, AL, I saw him eating pizza at Santa Monica restaurant during Olympics.

…Business & Education

Wally Amos Jr., 74, entrepreneur: originated Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies, born in Tallahassee, FL

Josephine Esther Mentzer “Estee Lauder”, 1908, CEO (Estee Lauder's cosmetics) , born in Queens, NY

…Politics

Lady Diane Spencer (Princess Di), 1961, consort of England, born in Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk

…Science / Religion

David Brower, 1912, environmentalist/president Sierra Club, born in Berkeley, CA

► Obituaries today ◄

Marlon Brando, American actor (b. 1924) @ 80 in 2004

Dr Harry Nicholls Holmes, crystallized vitamin A, @78 in 1958

Michael Landon, actor (Bonanza, Little House), cancer @ 54 in 1991

Karl Malden, American actor @ 97 in 2009

Walter Matthau, American actor @ 80 in 2000

Robert Weston Smith “Wolfman Jack”, American radio personality heart attack @ 57 in 1995

► Events ◄

…The Arts

---

…Athletics

1904 ►3rd modern Olympic games opens in St Louis

…Business & Education

1847 ►1st US postage stamps go on sale, 5¢ Franklin & 10¢ Washington, NYC

1870 ►James W Smith of SC is 1st black to enter West Point

1875 ►Universal Postal Union established

1931 ►Ice vending machines introduced in LA 25 lbs, 15¢

…Politics (US)

1862 ►Congress outlaws polygamy (1st time)

1862 ►Internal Revenue Law imposes 1st federal taxes on inheritance, tobacco & on incomes over $600 (progressive rate)

1863 ►Battle of Gettysburg, Pa; Lee's northward advance halted

1916 ►Eisenhower marries Mary`Mamie' Geneva Doud in Denver CO

1941 ►Bulova Watch Co. pays $9 for 1st ever network TV commercial

1963 ►The US Post Office instituted the Zip Code [zone improvement plan]

1966 ►Medicare goes into effect
…Politics (outside US)

1690 ►Army of England's Protestant King William III defeats Roman Catholic King James II in Battle of the Boyne in Ireland (Now celebrated on July 12 as "The Battle of the Orange")

1898 ►Teddy Roosevelt & his Rough Riders charge up San Juan Hill

1999 ►The new Scottish Parliament is opened by the queen, this is the first time Scotland has had its own parliament for nearly 300 years.

…Science / Religion

1874 ►The first zoo in the United States opened in Philadelphia, PA. Over 3,000 visitors paid 25 ¢ (adults) or 10 ¢(children) to see the 1,000 animals
1899 ►Gideon Society established to place bibles in hotels

1982 ►2,100 Unification church couples wed in NYC

2004 ►The international mission to Saturn, known as Cassini-Huygens, reaches Saturn after six years and has successfully sent back the first close-up photographs of the Saturn's rings.

…Indigenous People

1520 ►According to many sources, Hernán Cortés and his followers will attempt to escape from Tenochtitlán (modern Mexico City) by way of one of the causeways. They have to fight their way through large numbers of Aztec warriors. Thousands of people are killed on both sides. Many of the Spanish soldiers carried so much looted gold that when they fell in the lake, they drowned. This event is often called "Noche Triste" (Night of Tears or Sorrows).

1675 ►The first scalps are taken by whites in "King Philip's War." Lieutenant Oakes is en route from Reheboth to Swansea, when his men encounter some "hostiles". After the battle, Lieutenant Oakes scalps the Indians, and sends his prizes to Boston for display.

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

…1

1. Don + ald = Donald

2. Rod + ney = Rodney

3. P + err + y = Perry

4. Owe + n = Owen

5. She + r + man = Sherman

6. D + avid = David

7. B + rent = Brent

…2

A volcano

…Photo

Cap of a dry erase marker

TODAY’S PHOTO SHOT

Translation: French Canadian Sign: Watch for our children / They could be your own

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Wednesday 6-30

This is Week 26 of 2010, Day 181 with 184 days left. It is Day 72 of the BP Mess.
Free Rambling Thoughts
Cheryl is busy getting ready for her cruise to Alaska with her grandkids. Mary and I got together for lunch as she is heading to Portland later this week. I had a Greek Gyro at the Greek-run restaurant downtown. For $5 + change I got a huge wrap that I couldn’t even finish. Mary is having a 50 yr reunion with her Elementary class. There were 50 in the class, and so far they will have about 50 people—including some spouses—at the thing. What a hoot. She said they were discouraging spouses for the get-together, saying that they want to see old friends and not bore the spouses. I’m not a reunion type guy. The friends I had back then are not people I have kept up with. I live more in the day or decade I’m in. I’m sure that she will have a great time.

I’m a little panicked today. I was scheduled to see my PCP next week. Today I got a call that he was cancelling my appointment. Huh? I asked if he was OK, and the receptionist said “yes”. I asked if he was taking a long deserved vacation. “No.” So I asked what was up. Winnie then told me that his medical license had expired and that he couldn’t see any patients or issue any prescriptions until he got renewed. What? My PCP does everything on a computer. He spends much of our hour long visits taking about new medical breakthroughs, his problems with ‘specialists’, and how a GP doesn’t make tons of money. He has taken good care of me for about 4 years, and once I understood he was a gatekeeper of my few medical issues. How can a man like this let his license expire? Winnie said everything should be back to normal by the 12th and she would call me. First I know about ‘certification’ issues in education in AZ. If a certification expires you have to meet the current standards to renew, there is no ‘grandfathering’. If you keep your certification up-to-date, you can renew forever. Teachers are warned many times if a course is required before you can renew. Secondly, I went to the AZ Medical Board site and looked up my doctor. Sure enough, he renewed his certificate in 1980 and it expired in June, 2010. That was a little scary—a 30 year certificate. I checked to see if he had any ‘actions’ taken by the board. Nothing showed up, so that is good. I really don’t want to start with a new PCP. First, there aren’t that many GP’s in Flagstaff and ‘new patients’ have to see the doctor every three months for a couple of years so they can ‘get to know you.’ All doctors are very good at running tests—blood tests, MRI’s, stool samples, pee samples, more MRI’s. A new doctor, to protect the practice, doesn’t seem to be able to rely on previous results. I get that they want accurate information, what I don’t get is why physicians don’t really share test results with a new GP. It took over a year for my cardiologist to get the stent information to my GP. I talked to others and found that this is common when you are not a ‘regular’ patient with the specialist. ‘Regular’ seems to mean to see the specialist every three months. I remember when my mother’s physician retired unexpectedly. I went to the office, filled out a form, promising to keep the records for at least 8 years. Then I was handed a two foot high stack of folders. I took that pile to her new doctor. They didn’t want them. I sorta understood. My mother at that time was in a care facility and the records were from the 1970’s on. It was way too much stuff for anyone to read. So here now I am in the same mess. I want that commercial to come true—a national registry so when I see a new doctor, my files are readily available, informative, and useful. The commercial has a guy sitting on stage in a huge auditorium. The Dr. asks if he has ever had some weird long Latin name. A doctor in the audience pipes up yes, in 1991 at St. Mary’s hospital, results negative. Another one pipes up found to have some other similar thing in 2003. The time for Health Care reform is yesterday.

The monsoons are trying real hard to get to Flagstaff. A nice set of rain clouds blew in this afternoon and kept things cool—85° with a nice breeze. No rain here, but it sure was close. I could smell it.

Holy Mackerel: On this date in 1937 ►999 emergency service is started in London When 999 was dialed, a buzzer sounded and a red light flashed in the exchange to attract an operator's attention.
AND
1982 ►Federal Equal Rights Amendment fails 3 states short of ratification
My Quote For The Day
Khalil Gibran: Love is the offspring of spiritual affinity.

Somewhat Useless Information
Diet Coke was invented in 1982
Grey Matter Puzzle 1
Can you decipher this phrase:
friends
standing
miss
friends
Unusual News Item
SAN JOSE, CA— An unseemly sentence that compares a kiss to the union of a thirsty gerbil and a giant water bottle has won the top prize in an annual bad writing contest. San Jose State University said Tuesday that Molly Ringle of Seattle was the grand prize winner of the 2010 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, which the university has sponsored since 1982.

In her winning entry, Ringle wrote: "For the first month of Ricardo and Felicity's affair, they greeted one another at every stolen rendezvous with a kiss — a lengthy, ravenous kiss, Ricardo lapping and sucking at Felicity's mouth as if she were a giant cage-mounted water bottle and he were the world's thirstiest gerbil."

A Little Laff
A cowboy and a biker are on death row, and are to be executed on the same day. The day comes, and they are brought to the gas chamber. The warden asks the cowboy if he has a last request, to which the cowboy replies, "Ah shore do, wardn. Ahd be mighty grateful ifn yood play Achy Breaky Heart fur me bahfore ah hafta go.""Sure enough, cowboy, we can do that," says the warden. He turns to the biker, "And you, biker, what’s your last request?""That you kill me first."

Grey Matter Puzzle 2
My tines be long, My tines be short, My tines end ere, My first report.
What am I?

My You Tube Site of the Day
Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon: Click Here!

Grey Matter Picture--This is a close up of what common object?
returns tomorrow

Some Calendar Info
► Weekly Observances ◄
28 -7/5: Fish Are Friends, Not Food! Week AND National Prevention of Eye Injuries Awareness
► Today’s Observances ◄
Meteor Day
Leap Second Time Adjustment Day
Guatemala: Revolution Day (1871)
Lybia: Troop Withdrawal Day
Mongolia: Constitution Day
Rwanda & Burundi: Independence Day (1962 from Belguim): Rwanda is Bantu for Land of a Thousand Hills
Surinam: Lebaran, official holiday
Zaire: Independence Day (1960 from Belgium): Zaire is Bantu for ‘the river that swallows all rivers’

► Hit Songs on this date ◄
A-Tisket, A-Tasket: Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb in 1938
Woody Wood-Pecker: Kay Kyser in 1948
Purple People Eater: Sheb Wooley in 1958
This Guy's in Love with You: Herb Alpert in 1968
Shadow Dancing: Andy Gibb in 1978
Dirty Diana: Michael Jackson in 1988
► Born today ◄
…The Arts
Buddy Rich, 1917, , drummer/orch leader, born in Brooklyn NY
Harry Blackstone Jr, 1934, magician, born in Three Rivers, MI
Florence Ballard, 1943, singer (Supremes), born in Detroit, MI
Lena Horne, 1917, singer: Love Me or Leave Me, Stormy Weather; actress: The Wiz, born in Brooklyn, NY
…Athletics
Billy Mills, 72, Lakota, 10K runner (Olympic-gold-1964), born in Pine Ridge, SD
…Business & Education
--
…Politics
Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, 1768, 1st lady, born in NYC, NY
…Science / Religion
--
► Obituaries today ◄
Lillian Hellman, American playwright @ 79 in 1984
Mrs Martin Luther King Sr (Alberta) shot in church, by a black man @ 69 in 1974
James Oglethorpe, English general and founder of the state of Georgia @ 89 in 1785
► Events ◄
…The Arts
1936 ►"Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell, published
…Athletics
1859 ►Charles Blondin is 1st to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope
…Business & Education
1906 ►Pure Food & Drug Act & Meat Inspection Act adopted
1953 ►The first all-fiberglass-bodied American sports car, the Corvette was produced
…Politics (US)
1834 ►Congress creates Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)
1950 ►Pres Truman orders US troops into Korea
…Politics (outside US)
1894 ►Korea declares independence from China, asks for Japanese aid
1914 ►Mahatma Gandhi's 1st arrest, campaigning for Indian rights in S Africa
1934 ►"Night of the Long Knives," Hitler stages bloody purge of Nazi party
1997 ►The Colonial flag of Hong Kong is lowered for the last time prior to hand over to China
2007 ►A green Jeep Cherokee filled with gas cylinders and fuel is crashed through the check in entrance at Glasgow Airport in Scotland where it burst into flames
…Science / Religion
1940 ►US Fish & Wildlife Service established
Grey Matter Answers
…1
Misunderstanding between friends
…2
Lightning
Grey Matter Photo
Returns tomorrow
Today’s Photo Shot
Billy Mills                            Then                          Now

     ~~~~~     ~~~~~    

Tuesday 6-29

This is Week 26 of 2010, Day 180 with 185 days left. It is Day 71 of the BP Mess.

Free Rambling Thoughts

Fire Update: The firefighters are in the ‘mop up’ stage. This is a great thing. Final figures show that 15,075 acres have been destroyed—that is almost 24 square miles. There were clouds over the fire area today…the high clouds with very flat bottoms. Sadly no rain fell. Two big portable water tanks were taken by air into the most isolated area of the fire for clean up. Sure would have liked to see that. We used to be able to enter the forest on a semi-maintained trail about two blocks from my place. That access, like all other access to the forest is now barricaded. Interestingly a game and fish ranger lives right next to the trailhead. Sure hope that keeps kids and others from going a few hundred yards into the forest. I walked up that way last week, and I was hoping to see a security camera on the ranger’s property. Either it is well hidden or doesn’t exist. A few years ago I was totally against cameras like that, but after this fire, I can sure see the advantage. Back in my camping days, I was always a little freaked out when a ranger showed up at our camp, gave his lecture, and copied our vehicle license number. We always camped in approved areas, but they were usually pretty isolated into the forest. Rangers hardly would sneak up on us, as their vehicle noise gave them away. I always thought it was a bit over the top. It still may be over the top, but we might have the idiot that started the fire by now. Two big fires in Flagstaff in 30 years may seem like it isn’t a big problem. After seeing both of them, it is two too many. For all who like to go camping, be very careful, know the forest rules and conditions, and remember that fire and a dry forest never mix—even if you are careful.

For those who don’t think that our non-elected governor isn’t completely bonkers, think again. John McCain has a tough primary ahead. He is running against another conservative who is much farther to the right than McCain is. Over the weekend, ol’ John made it clear that he knows Jan is misinformed when she babbled about most illegals crossing the AZ border were working for the drug cartels. I sure hope his conservative base listens to his words and figure out he is right. John McCain has been talking about ‘building the dang fence.’ I heard today that building an 18’ fence simply means the illegals simply will have to carry a 19’ ladder. Most seem to agree that the ‘dang fence’ will simply slow down the border crossers, not stop them. Today I got an email from a Navajo lady I worked with on the rez. Basically it compared the illegals to someone breaking into your home, eating your food, living in your house, agreeing to keep the house clean, bringing their family to live with them and just having you pay for everything. Well that isn’t the problem. It seems to me that illegals were not a big concern until our economy tanked. Many who lost their homes, their jobs, and their status need someone to blame. The Feds claim that illegal numbers are down, crime is down. Fear is driving the illegals issue as the numbers of non-white population grows legally. In my Master’s degree studies I learned that the white population would not be the majority in America during my lifetime. As that time approaches, fear is a driving force. We need to realize that not being in the majority does not have to be a bad thing. The whites have not been the majority on this earth for quite a long while. We all have to learn to work side by side.

Flag was warm today. We made it to 89° today, and with 24% humidity, it felt warm. Clouds rolled in, and rolled out, then back in again. Maybe the overcast sky of this evening will bring us some much needed moisture. If not, the clouds have cooled things off and the current breeze is very nice.

Holy Mackerel: On this date in 1854 ►Gadsden Purchase (parts of Az, NM) from Mexico for $10 million

My Quote For The Day

David Frost: Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.

Somewhat Useless Food Information

In 1995, KFC sold 11 pieces of chicken for every man, woman and child in the US.

***

In the United States, a pound of potato chips costs two hundred times more than a pound of potatoes.

***

Laws forbidding the sale of sodas on Sunday prompted William Garwood to invent the ice cream sundae in Evanston, IL, in 1875.

Grey Matter Puzzle 1

What three letters fit into the following five combinations to form 5 words?

_ _ _ E F

F A _ _ _ C

D E _ _ _ S

H Y _ _ _ D

L U _ _ _ C A N T

Unusual News Item

Roswell UFO Festival — July 1/4, Roswell, N.M.

From promoting extraterrestrial education through expert speakers and workshops, to an alien pet costume contest and a July 4fireworks show, festival goers are sure to experience a healthy dose of paranormal activity.

A Little Laff

The aspiring psychiatrists were attending their first class on emotional extremes. "Just to establish some parameters," said the professor to the student from Arkansas, "What is the opposite of joy?"

"Sadness," said the student.

And the opposite of depression?" he asked of the young lady from Oklahoma.

"Elation," said she.

"And you sir," he said to the young man from Texas, "how about the opposite of woe?"

The Texan replied, "Sir, I believe that would be giddy-up."

Grey Matter Puzzle 2

You can have me but cannot hold me; gain me and quickly lose me.

If treated with care I can be great, and if betrayed I will break.

What am I?

My You Tube Site of the Day

A different view of Afghanistan: Click Here!
Grey Matter Picture--This is a close up of what common object?

This thing can really grind.

Some Calendar Info

► Weekly Observances ◄

28 -7/5: Fish Are Friends, Not Food! Week AND National Prevention of Eye Injuries Awareness

► Today’s Observances ◄

Camera Day

Library Advocacy Day

Netherlands: Veterans Day

Haro, La Rioja, Spain: Haro Wine Festival

► Hit Songs on this date ◄

The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down Russ Morgan in 1937

Chi-Baba Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go to Sleep) Perry Como in 1947

Love Letters in the Sand Pat Boone in 1957

Windy The Association in 1967

Gonna Fly Now (Theme from 'Rocky') Bill Conti in 1977

► Born today ◄

…The Arts

John Toland, 1912, Pulitzer Prize-winning author: The Rising Sun [1970] , born in Ardagh on the Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal, Ire

+++

Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, 1933, actor (Keystone Comedies, Mabel & Fatty) , born in Smith Center, KS

‘Little’ Eva Boyd, 1943, singer: The Loco-motion, born in Brooklyn, NY

Gary Busey, 66, actor (Under Siege, The Buddy Holly Story), musician, born Goose Creek, TX

Nelson Eddy, 1901, actor/baritone (Great Duets with Jeanette MacDonald) , born in Providence, RI

Slim Pickens(Louis Bert Lindley Jr.), 1919, rodeo athlete, actor (Dr Strangelove, Blazing Saddles) , born in Kingsburg, CA

…Athletics

Harmon Clayton Killebrew, 74, Hall of Fame baseball (Senators, Twins, Royas), born Payette, ID

…Business & Education

Samantha Smith, 1972, American student who wrote letter to USSR, born in Manchester, ME

…Politics

Kwame Toure (Stokley Carmichael), 1941, civil rights leader, born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

…Science / Religion

George Washington Goethals, 1858, engineer (built Panama Canal) , born in Brooklyn, NY

William James Mayo, 1861, surgeon/co-founder Mayo clinic, born in Le Sueur, MN

► Obituaries today ◄

Henry Clay, the great compromiser, @ 75 in 1852

Bob Crane, actor (Hogan's Heroes), murdered in Phx @ 59 in 1978

Jayne Mansfield, actress, car crash @ 34 in 1967

Irving Wallace, author (Book of Lists, Peoples Almanac), @ 74 1990

► Events ◄

…The Arts

1613 ►Shakespeare's Globe Theater burns down

1987 ►Vincent Van Gogh’s Le Pont de Trinquetaille brought in $20.6 million at an auction in London, England.

…Athletics

1897 ►The Chicago Cubs scored 36 runs in a ball game against Louisville, setting a record for runs scored by a team in a single game

…Business & Education

1937 ►Joseph-Armand Bombardier of Canada receives patent for sprocket and track traction system used in snow vehicles.

…Politics (US)

1704 ►The same force of 50 South Carolinians and 1,000 CREEKs which attacked the Mission of San Pedro y San Pable in Patale on June 23rd, attack the Spanish San Damian de Cupahica Mission, near modern day Tallahassee, Florida, today. The mission will be destroyed. Many of the local Indians will be taken as slaves.

1767 ►British passes Townshend Revenue Act levying taxes on America

1972 ►Supreme Court-death penalty usually was "cruel & unusual punishment"

…Politics (outside US)

1949 ►South Africa begins implementing apartheid; no mixed marriages

1974 ►President Isabela Peron often called affectionately ( Evita ), Juan Peron's third wife, was the Western Hemisphere's first female head of government after becoming President when her husband died.

…Science / Religion

1850 ►Autocephaly officially granted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to the Church of Greece.

1954 ►Atomic Energy Comm voted against reinstating Dr J Robert Oppenheimer

Grey Matter Answers

…1

BRI. BRIEF FABRIC DEBRIS HYBRID LUBRICANT

…2

Trust

Grey Matter Photo

Circular Sander

Today’s Photo Shot

Now What?
     ~~~~~     ~~~~~    

Monday 6-28

This is Week 26 of 2010, Day 178 with 186 days left. It is Day 70 of the BP Mess.

Free Rambling Thoughts

Fire Update: Low winds increased the containment to 55% today. Still burning. We are not getting the massive smoke anymore.

I made the final payment for my trip today. Now just have to get a flight to LAX and wait for September. I know it’s going to be a great trip. So excited. Guess I’ll start looking for local English papers on line to the places I’m going.

I did watch the Mexico/Argentina Soccer match. Argentina was amazing. Alas, Mexico lost badly, just like four years ago. USA lost to Ghana four years ago too. I haven’t figured out why all the teams in each bracket always play the same teams every four years in the World Cup but getting to the World Cup is almost as complicated as the game itself.

I set up my hummingbird feeders today and am hoping some will find their new food source. I know there are hummingbirds in Flagstaff, but they just never seem to find my deck. My deck is so nice as a place to relax. It always has a slight breeze. I spent much of the afternoon out there, just enjoying a nice Flagstaff summer. I enjoy days like this once in a while, where I have no cares, and can just enjoy the day.

We made it to 88°, but only had 11% humidity. The NWS says we had 22mph gusts, but I sure didn’t see or feel them.

Holy Mackerel: On this date in 1952 ►Police struck at the heart of the resistance to segregation by jailing the leaders of the movement for crossing forbidden race barriers the leaders included Nelson Mandela

My Quote For The Day

Joseph Campbell: “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”

Somewhat Useless Information

Chase Field in Phoenix opened on March 31, 1998. Architects eliminated the threat of having fans sit for over three hours in Arizona's hot summer sun by designing a retractable roof over the entire stadium. The roof weighs over nine million pounds and takes just over four minutes to open or close.

Grey Matter Puzzle 1

Can you decipher the following common phrase? L8AAAAPORVERYTANTD8

Unusual News Item

EVERETT, WA - Washington State authorities said a man who claimed car thieves stole his $33,000 silk necktie collection has been charged with insurance fraud. The Washington Insurance Commissioner's office said Carlton Wopperer, 49, is facing two counts of insurance fraud in Snohomish County Superior Court after he allegedly claimed three times a collection of 212 ties had been stolen from his vehicle, the Seattle Times reported Thursday. Wopperer received $16,900 from his insurance company in 2000 when he reported the theft of 212 ties, and received $33,370 in January 2009 when he claimed a collection of the same size had been taken from his vehicle. However, after submitting a claim six months later claiming the ties he purchased as replacements were stolen, investigators determined he had been buying ties and immediately returning them so he would have receipts to back up his theft claims. Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler described the case as classic insurance fraud.

A Little Laff

While shopping in a food store, two nuns happened to pass by the beer cooler. One nun said to the other, "Wouldn't a nice cool beer or two taste wonderful on a hot summer evening?"

The second nun answered "Indeed it would Sister, but I wouldn't feel comfortable buying beer as I am certain that it would cause a scene at the check-out counter."

"I can handle that without a problem" she replied as she picked up a six-pack and headed for the check-out.

The cashier had a surprised look on his face when the two nuns arrived with a six-pack of beer. "We use beer for washing our hair" the nun said, "A shampoo, of sorts, if you will."

Without blinking an eye, the cashier reached under the counter, pulled out a package of pretzel sticks and placed them in the bag with the beer. He then looked the nun straight in the eye, smiled and said, "The curlers are on the house.."

Grey Matter Puzzle 2

I have hands that wave at you, though I never say goodbye.

It's cool for you to be with me, especially when I say, "HI."

What am I?

My You Tube Site of the Day

Quick view of Rubens’ paintings: Click Here!

Grey Matter Picture--This is a close up of what common object?

Get a grip.

Some Calendar Info

► Weekly Observances ◄

28 -7/5: Fish Are Friends, Not Food! Week AND National Prevention of Eye Injuries Awareness

► Today’s Observances ◄

Paul Bunyan Day

Please Take My Children To Work Day

Malta : Mnarja Day-recreate customs of Middle Ages

► Hit Songs on this date ◄

The Gypsy The Ink Spots in 1946

The Wayward Wind Gogi Grant in 1956

Strangers in the Night Frank Sinatra in 1966

Silly Love Songs Paul McCartney & Wings in 1976

► Born today ◄

…The Arts

Peter Paul Rubens, 1577, Siegen, Flemish Baroque painter, born in Siegen, Westphalia region of Germany

Richard Rodgers, 1902, composer (Rodgers & Hammerstein) , born in Hammels Station NY

+++

Kathy Bates, 62, actress (Oscar for Misery; Failure to Launch, Fried Green Tomatoes), born Memphis, TN

Mel Brooks, 82, actor, director (The Producers, Blazing Saddles), born Melvyn Kaminsky at New York, NY

John Cusack, 44, actor (High Fidelity, Say Anything, The Grifters, Bullets over Broadway), born Chicago, IL

Carl Levin, 76, US Senator (D, Michigan), born Detroit, MI

Gilda Radner, 1946, comedienne (SNL-Baba Wawa) , born in Detroit, MI

…Athletics

John Albert Elway, 50, Bronco Quarterback, born Port Angeles, WA

…Business & Education

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1712, French philosopher, born in Geneva, Switzerland

…Politics

Henry VIII, King of England, 1491, born in Greenwich Palace

…Science / Religion

Maria Goeppert Mayer, 1906, US atomic physicist (Nobel 1963) , born in Kattowitz, Upper Silesia (now Germany)

John Wesley ,1703, religious leader: founder of ‘Methodism’, born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England

► Obituaries today ◄

James Madison 4th US pres, @ 85 in 1836

Maria Mitchell 1st US woman astronomer, @ 71 in 1889

Archduke Ferdinand @ 51 & wife Sofia @ 46 of Austria assassinated (starts WW I) in 1914

Frank Sutton actor (Sgt Carter-Gomer Pyle USMC), heart attack @ 55 in 1974

Rod Serling writer/host (Twilight Zone, Night Gallery), heart attack during open heart surgery @ 60 in 1975

► Events ◄

…The Arts

1940 ►"Quiz Kids?" premiers on radio

1951 ►"Amos 'n' Andy" premiers on CBS TV

…Athletics

1971 Supreme Court overturns draft evasion conviction of Muhammad Ali

1997 ►Mike Tyson was disqualified after biting off part of Evander Holyfield's ear

…Business & Education

1770 ►Quakers open a school for blacks in Philadelphia

1918 ►1st flight between Hawaiian Islands

…Politics (US)

1894 ►Labor Day established as a federal employees holiday

1976 ►Women entered the Air Force Academy for the first time on this day

…Politics (outside US)

1919 ►Germany signs the Treaty of Versailles with the Allies, officially ending World War I.

…Science / Religion

1820 ►Tomato is proven nonpoisonous

Grey Matter Answers

…1

Late for a very important date! L8 A A A A VERY IN PORTANT D8

…2

An electric fan

Grey Matter Photo

door handle
Today’s Photo Shot

Borneo:

     ~~~~~     ~~~~~    

Sunday 6-27

This is Week 26 of 2010, Day 178 with 187 days left. It is Day 69 of the BP Mess.

Free Rambling Thoughts

Fire Update: Over 900 firefighters are still at our fire. It has destroyed 15,000 acres of forest land. It continues to creep—their word—around the sacred peaks. Humidity rose to 28% in that area—though Flagstaff proper is 12%. The fire did get some moisture—only 0.007”, but every little bit helps. Right now the fire is in very rough terrain from 7000’-10050’. The Forest Service expects full containment on 2Jul. That is almost 2 weeks after hundreds had to be evacuated. The cost of the fire has risen to almost $6mil. There are at least 12 agencies fighting this fire—including the BIA. I know the Bureau has hot-shot teams around the country and I’m sure that’s who is there. All of this because of one unattended campfire in the forest. I sure hope they find those campers. One local brewery stepped up the reward by offering ‘free beer for life*’ to the person who identifies the idiot(s) that did this. [* They say restrictions apply. Several people are complaining that this is not an appropriate reward, no matter what the restrictions. Probably not, but if this finds the jerk(s), I’m fine with it.] The smoke in my area is almost gone. Our next big concern will be the 4th. Our non-elected Governor signed a bill that allows sparklers in AZ. Of course, with the forest closed, the forest is safer, but our bone dry area does not need sparklers or any fireworks to enjoy our country’s birthday. My area is full of kids, full of dry pine trees, and has a nice layer of dried pine needles throughout the complex. In my youth, in suburban Denver, we always had a 4th of July picnic in our backyard and we had sparklers, worms, and other fireworks after dark. Our area was green, with no dry trees. We stopped doing it when the American Legion did a huge fireworks display and program on a nearby college football field. We still did worms during the day and a few sparklers when we got home. Again, we were in a suburban area that was NOT dry. Dear Governor, we don’t need any more forest fires in our state. Too many people in our state—residents or visitors—are not very careful with fire. Why would you make it legal to burn down forests or towns to celebrate?

Our non-elected Governor was in the news with her ‘facts’ about immigration again today. According to her, most of the illegals coming to AZ are coming here to traffic drugs. She seems to be the only one on the planet that has the statistics she quoted, and she isn’t giving up her source. She belongs on FauxNews or a BP spokesman. Today a ‘reporter’ hired by BP did a one hour documentary of the Gulf. He flew over the area in a helicopter and never mentioned the devastation of the spill on the animals, the fishermen, the water life, or the shoreline. He babbled about how the oil industry is good for the Gulf and good for America.
The World Cup is over for the USA, falling to Ghana--just like four years ago. That doesn't mean the Cup is over. Lots of good games remain. The more I watch soccer, the more I wish America would get into the game. It is complicated, you need to be a good athlete to participate at this level, and it has fan support that surpasses any American sport. From what I have seen, that's our loss.

Great weather day today: 82° on the deck, a little breeze to keep the air moving, lots of birds stopped by for a few bites and a quick bath. They seem to have settled down a little since the fire began.

Holy Mackerel: On this date in 1990 ►Salman Rushdie, condemned to death by Iran, contributes $8600 to help their earthquake victims

My Quote For The Day

Sophocles: Wisdom is the supreme part of happiness

Somewhat Useless Information

The largest toy distributor in the world is McDonald's.

Grey Matter Puzzle 1

Take the given words, and by moving a single letter from one word to the other, make a pair of synonyms, or near synonyms. For example, given: Boast - Hip, move the 's' from 'Boast' to 'Hip' creating two synonyms: Boat - Ship.

1. Flat - Pump

2. Feather - Crate

3. Bet - Stop

4. Ear - Trip

5. Lopes – Shills

HINT: 1. Overweight; 2. Produce; 3. Ranking; 4. Pull apart; 5. Mounds

Unusual News Item

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL - A Florida woman accused of starting an office fire to get sent home early with pay pleaded guilty to criminal mischief. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office said Michelle Perrino, 40, drew suspicion during a meeting of Bayonet Point Oxygen employees when she mentioned the May 12, 2009, fire had started in a filing cabinet before workers had been informed of the fire's origins, the St. Petersburg Times reported Thursday. Investigators said a friend of Perrino told them she had admitted to tripping the main circuit breaker and adjusting phones to block incoming calls in bids to go home early without sacrificing the day's pay. Perrino was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of probation. She was also ordered to pay Bayonet Point Oxygen $4,800 in restitution and banned from contacting the company or its employees.

A Little Laff

A cowboy and his wife had just got married and found a nice hotel for their wedding night. The man approached the front desk and asked for a room.

He said, 'We're on our honeymoon and we need a nice room with a good strong bed. The clerk winked, 'You want the 'Bridal'?'

The cowboy reflected on this for a moment and then replied, “Nope, I reckon not. I'll just hold onto her hair and ears until she gets used to it.”

Grey Matter Puzzle 2

What is it that, after you take away the whole, some still remains?

My You Tube Site of the Day

A choir sounding like rain...interesting
Click Here!
Grey Matter Picture--This is a close up of what common object?

It is rugged.

Some Calendar Info

► Weekly Observances ◄

24-27: Watermelon Seed Spitting Week

► Today’s Observances ◄

National Columnists Day

Decide To Be Married Day

"Happy Birthday To You" Day

National HIV Testing Day

America's Kids Day

Descendants Day

Brazil: Mixed Race Day

Germany: Seven Sleepers Day or Siebenschläfertag: If it rains today, the next seven weeks or the rest of summer is supposedly going to be rainy.

► Hit Songs on this date ◄

"El Capitan March": Sousa's Band in 1895 Click Here to Hear It!

"A Little Bit of Heaven ('Shure, They Call It Ireland')": George MacFarlane in 1915
Click Here to Hear It!

Sentimental Journey: Les Brown in 1945

Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White: Perez Prado in 1955

I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch): The Four Tops in 1965

Love Will Keep Us Together: The Captain & Tennille in 1975

► Born today ◄

…The Arts

J.J. Abrams, 44, television executive (“Lost”), film director (Star Trek, Mission Impossible III), born New York, NY

Mildred J. Hill, 1859, teacher, musician, composer [lyrics by her younger sister Patty Smith Hill]: Happy Birthday to You, originally: Good Morning to All, born in Louisville, KY

+++

Julia Duffy, 59, actress (“Newhart,” “Designing Women”), born St. Paul, MN

Bob Keeshan, 1927, aka Capt Kangaroo/Clarabelle (Good Morning Captain), born in Lynbrook, NY

May Irwin, 1862, US comedienne/singer (A Hot Time in the Old Town) , born in Whitby, Ontario, Canada

Tobey Maguire, 35, actor (Spider-Man films, Seabiscuit, The Cider House Rules), born Santa Monica, CA

John McIntire, 1907, actor (Naked City, Wagon Train, Virginian) , born in Spokane WA

…Athletics

Svetlana Kuznetsova, 25, tennis player, born Leningrad, USSR

Willie Mosconi, 1913, world champion pool player, born in Haddon Heights, NJ

…Business & Education

Charles Bronfman, 79, billionaire industrialist: Seagrams, Montreal Expos, born in Montreal

Helen Keller, 1880, blind-deaf author/lecturer, born in Tuscumbia, AL

…Politics

Bruce Edward Babbitt, 72, Gov. and AG-AZ, Sec of Interior, born in Los Angeles, CA

Emma Goldman, 1869, anarchist/publisher (Mother Earth) , born in Kaunas, Lithuania

Charles Stewart Parnell, 1846, Irish Protestant nationalist, born in County Wicklow, Ireland

H. Ross Perot, 80, philanthropist, businessman, former presidential candidate, born Texarkana, TX

…Science / Religion

Manikkavacakar, 862AD, Hindu saint, born in Vadhavoor, India

Ted Haggard, 54, disgraced American evangelical preacher, born in Yorktown, IN

► Obituaries today ◄

James Smithson, his will established Smithsonian Institute @ 65 in 1829

Joseph Smith, Mormon leader killed by a mob in Carthage IL @ 39, in 1844

► Events ◄

…The Arts

1966 ►1st sci-fi soap opera, "Dark Shadows," premiers

…Athletics

1988 ►Mike Tyson KOs Michael Spink in 91 seconds

…Business & Education

1693 ►1st woman's magazine "The Ladies' Mercury" published (London)

1833 ►Prudence Crandall, a white woman, arrested for conducting an academy for black females at Canterbury, CN

1922 ►Newberry Medal 1st presented for kids literature (Hendrik Van Loon)
2003 ►Registration begins for the Do Not Call List

…Politics (US)

1955 ►1st automobile seat belt legislation enacted (IL)

1969 ►Police raid the Stonewall Gay Bar in Greenwich Village, NY, about 400 to 1,000 patrons riot against the police, it lasts 3 days

Politics (outside US)

1980 ►O Canada Canada's becomes national anthem

…Science / Religion

1915 ►100ø F (38ø C), Fort Yukon, Alaska (state record)

1954 ►1st atomic power station opens (Obninsk, near Moscow, Russia)

1976 ►The world’s first recorded Ebola virus epidemic begins in Sudan

Grey Matter Answers

…1

1. Fat - Plump

2. Father - Create

3. Best - Top

4. Tear - Rip

5. Slopes - Hills

…2

The word "wholesome."

Grey Matter Photo

hand sander

Today’s Photo Shot

Sandpainting

     ~~~~~     ~~~~~    

Saturday 6-26

This is Week 25 of 2010, Day 177 with 188 days left. It is Day 68 of the BP Mess.

Free Rambling Thoughts

I had a very interesting lunch today. One of my former bosses—Beverly, and the Business Manager—Shirlene were in town and we met at Wildflower. I hadn’t seen Beverly since two years before I retired, and hadn’t seen Shirlene since I retired. Beverly has retired, unretired, retired, and unretired. She is just finishing a 8 month job at Flag Dorm. Shirlene says she’ll retire “next year.” I couldn’t believe that Shirlene now has 5 grandkids in Phx. Beverly has three great-grandkids. Both were doing fine. They still talk ‘work’talk. We didn’t talk about work, but almost everything is about scheduling stuff around work. It’s hard to explain to those who still work, but for all you retirees, understand what I mean. I must say both piled praises on my work for the work I did with them. For all the various details I had, Shirlene must have mentioned at least four times my short detail as ELO—Superintendent—about two years before I retired. For that short time, I was her boss, but she and Beverly were both very instrumental in all my details. I must say, I was very careful about what I said about everything. Not really sure why, but it was the way of BIA. So cool that Beverly tracked me down through some emails from a mutual e-mailer. I did learn that a former Sped coordinator, Cheryl Sparks, had passed last week. She had been in the Bureau for years, and retired a few years ago. She had many health problems even back when she was working. I also learned that Kevin is retiring ‘next year.’ He was my neighbor in TC and before that I worked with him for many, many years when he was the Principal at Richfield Dorm. He began his ‘climb’ when he was in TC. Now he is a big wig and oversees all the Bureau schools west of the Mississippi except Navajo. He’s a good guy who always put students first in every decision he made. From what I could tell, he still does. Both Beverly and Shirlene were pumping for information on what I do now that I am retired. Both seem to have a little trepidation about staying busy or something. Beverly attended an indigenous conference in Malaysia a few years ago. One of her friends is indigenous from Canada so the two of them did a presentation on indigenous life in North America today. She gave me some great information for my trip. I always get more excited when talking to someone who has been where I am going. Shirlene’s husband went to summer school in Scotland—St. Andrew’s—a few years back. He liked it as much as I did. They are planning to go, when Shirlene retires.

Fire Update: We made it through another day with no new fire. Fire now at almost 15,000 acres, red-flag warning was in effect, but does not seem to have worsened the fire. Navajo Medicine Men are having a prayer service in a couple of weeks at Tusayan. I hope to be able to make it. The sacred mountain has been violated and this will be the time to put things back in harmony.

Flagstaff was a little cooler today, only 86°. I awakened to a grey sky and feared the worst. Fortunately it was rain clouds and not more smoke. We had a breeze and the 31mph gusts were scary for the fire. The firefighters expected bigger winds and seem to have been very prepared for this day. Thanks again. Our humidity hit 26% today and we had very light rain for about 2 minutes. It was the kind with tiny raindrops that do little but spot your vehicle windows. I’m not complaining, any moisture is needed and appreciated.

Holy Mackerel: On this date in 2000 ►At a press conference in London Scientists from the Sanger Centre hand over the gift of the human genome partially funded by the Wellcome Trust to the world with 85% of the code written in DNA accurately sequenced and put in its proper order

My Quote For The Day

Harold Evans (British Journalist): Propaganda is persuading people to make up their minds while withholding some of the facts from them.

Somewhat Useless Information

In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.

Grey Matter Puzzle 1

Every nation do I know, / But so rarely do I go

Anywhere, / Sometimes people / Come and stare,

Touch me here, /And poke me there, / Spin me round,

Then leave me alone / When what they sought, / They have found.

What am I?

Unusual News Item

VICTORVILLE, CA — Two women have been arrested following a parents' brawl that interrupted a Southern California kindergarten graduation ceremony, authorities said.

School officials placed Puesta del Sol Elementary in the desert town of Victorville on lockdown Wednesday morning after a fight broke out among a group of parents.

The San Bernardino County sheriff's department says witnesses told deputies several mothers were involved in an argument and it got physical in a field near the ceremony. Several men then jumped into the fray and the incident turned into a brawl.

A deputy later arrested two people on suspicion of being a disruptive presence at a school. Witnesses said they were the main instigators. In all, 20 adults were identified in the brawl. A school district official said there could be more arrests. No injuries were reported.

Side note: This used to be the home of the Roy Rogers/Dale Evans Museum. It recently closed after moving to Branson, MO six years ago. Happy Trails, Roy and Dale.

The lyrics: Click Here!

The song: Click Here!

A Little Laff

A college teacher reminds her class of tomorrow's final exam. 'Now class, I won't tolerate any excuses for you not being here tomorrow. I might consider a nuclear attack or a serious personal injury, illness, or a death in your immediate family, but that's it, no other excuses whatsoever!' A smart-ass student in the back of the room raised his hand and asked, 'What would you say if tomorrow I said I was suffering from complete and utter sexual exhaustion?' The entire class is reduced to laughter and snickering. When silence was restored, the teacher smiled knowingly at the student, shook her head and sweetly said, 'Well, I guess you'd have to write the exam with your other hand.'

Grey Matter Puzzle 2

I fly, yet I have no wings. I cry, yet I have no eyes. Darkness follows me; lower light I never see.

My You Tube Site of the Day

The London Science Museum: Click Here!

Grey Matter Picture--This is a close up of what common object?

Left Over

Some Calendar Info

► Weekly Observances ◄

20-26: Carpenter Ant Awareness Week and National Mosquito Control Awareness Week

24-27: Watermelon Seed Spitting Week

► Today’s Observances ◄

National Chocolate Pudding Day

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

ARRL (American Radio Relay League) Field Day—Ham Radio

Malagasy Republic & British Somaliland : Independence Day (1960)

Romania: Flag Day

Thailand: Sunthorn Phu Day (for poet born in 1736)

United Kingdom: Armed Forces Day, formerly Veterans' Day

► Hit Songs on this date ◄

I'll Be Seeing You: Bing Crosby in 1944

The Wayward Wind: Gogi Grant in 1956

A World Without Love: Peter & Gordon in 1964 Here it--Click Here!

Sundown: Gordon Lightfoot in 1974 Hear It, Click Here!

The Reflex: Duran Duran in 1984

► Born today ◄

The Arts

Pearl S Buck, 1892, author (Good Earth-Nobel 1938) , born in Hillsboro, West Virginia

Sidney (Coe) Howard, 1891, playwright: screen play: Gone with the Wind, born in Oakland, CA

Charlotte Zolotow, 95, author (The Moon Was the Best, Peter and the Pigeons), born Norfolk, VA

+++

Sean P. Hayes, 40, actor (“Will & Grace”), born Glen Ellyn, IL

Chris Isaak, 54, singer, musician, actor (“The Chris Isaak Show”), born Stockton, CA

Peter Lorre, 1904, actor (M, Casablanca, Beast with 5 Fingers) , born in Rózsahegy, Hungary

Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, 1933, Calif, actor (Happy Days, Karate Kid) , born in Isleton, California, had polio and lived in Internment camp during WWII

Chris O’Donnell, 40, actor (Scent of a Woman), born Winnetka, IL

…Athletics

Abner Doubleday, 1819, credited with inventing American baseball, born in Ballston Spa, NY

Derek Jeter, 36, baseball player, born Pequannock, NJ

Greg LeMond, 49, former cyclist, born Lakewood, CA

Babe (Mildred) Didrikson Zaharias, 1911,“The outstanding female athlete of the first half-century.” , born in Port Arthur, TX

…Business & Education

Colonel Tom Parker (Andreas van Kuijk), 1909, carnival barker, show business promoter: manager of Elvis Presley, born in Breda, Noord-Brabant,Netherlands

…Politics

Richard Neustadt, 1919, American political historian, born in Philadelphia

Violette Szabo, 1921, French WWII secret agent, born in Paris, France

…Science / Religion

Roy Plunkett, 1910, scientist: discovered polytetrafluoroethylene, better known as Teflon, born in New Carlisle, Ohio

► Obituaries today ◄

Roy Campanella, American baseball player @ 72 in 1993

Liz Claiborne, Belgian-born American fashion designer @ 78 in 2007

Strom Thurmond, U.S. Senator @ 101 in 2003

► Events ◄

…The Arts

1909 ►The Science Museum in London comes into existence as an independent entity.

…Athletics

1979 ►Muhammad Ali, one of the most famous fighters in history, retired from boxing

…Business & Education

1797 ►Charles Newbold patents 1st cast-iron plow

…Politics (US)

1827►After hearing of the false rumor of the release of 2 WINNEBAGO murder suspects to the CHIPPEWAs by whites, WINNEBAGO Chief Red Bird is ordered to fight by the tribal elders.

1919 ►1st issue of NY Daily News published

1934 ►W E B Du Bois resigns position at NAACP

1945 ►Delegates from 50 nations sign the United Nations Charter

1956 ►Congress passes the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act for the construction of 41,000 miles of Interstate Highways over a 20-year period

1975 ►Two FBI agents and a member of the American Indian Movement are killed in a shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota; Leonard Peltier is later convicted of the murders in a controversial trial.

…Politics (outside US)

1284 ►The Pied Piper exacted his revenge upon the German town of Hamelin

1848 ►1st pure food law enacted in US

1959 ►Queen Elizabeth & Pres Eisenhower open the St Lawrence Seaway

1963 ►Kennedy visits W Berlin "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a Berliner)

1978 ►Brittany separatists bomb Palace of Versailles in France

…Science / Religion

1900 ►Dr Walter Reed begins research that beats Yellow Fever

1990 ►The Arizona Republic reported it was 122 degrees in Phoenix, hot enough to cancel some flights at the airport

Grey Matter Answers

…1

A globe

…2

A cloud

Grey Matter Photo

wood chips

Today’s Photo Shot

Richard Garnet Millar, one of the guides in South Africa posted this picture of a dung beetle. Great Photographer.

   ~~~~~     ~~~~~    

Friday 6-25

This is Week 25 of 2010, Day 176 with 189 days left. It is Day 67 of the BP Mess.

Free Rambling Thoughts

Fire Update: I was eating lunch with our retirement group when I noticed a new huge plume of smoke coming from our fire. Checked on my phone and quickly found it was a planned back burn. Sure glad the internet is always there. The fire is now at 14,300 acres of old forest, it is 40% contained, and the cost of fighting the fire is approaching $3 million. That doesn’t include the cost of lost tourism, lost business, or residents who moved to motels during the evacuation. I talked to my evacuated friends and they are home and doing fine. They stayed at a local motel, since it gave them handicapped access and a big bed. Maggie is doing well from her heart surgery but the handicapped access made it easier for her to get to the room, and to shower. Turns out that this was not their first evacuation from their various homes. They had to evacuate when in OK when it was feared a dam would break, again in CA for a fire, and once in Canada following a big rainstorm. I have never had to evacuate myself, but did have to evacuate a dorm one night when a flood was possible in Tuba. Evacuations are not a walk in the park—even with a plan. I’m glad everything has gone so well.

Cheryl is busy getting ready for her Alaskan cruise. So cool to take her two oldest grandkids on their first cruise. Sure hope she has a great time. Mary is heading for a memorial service for one of her husband’s closest friends. Then they are off to the Oregon coast for a family reunion. Mary went to catholic school K-12 with a close knit group of friends. They will also be having a 50 year reunion for graduation from one of the schools—Jr. High, I think. She has tracked down a bunch of the people, which is no easy task, and the reunion should be interesting to say the least.

A reminder about Obama’s moratorium on oil drilling in the Gulf. There are 3600 wells in the Gulf that are currently supplying oil to our country. The moratorium is only for 32 deep water drilling operations in the gulf. These are the home of future oil wells. Right now, they are just being drilled. The disaster has to do with drilling, not pumping oil. All the current drilling is being done by various companies. These drillers admitted to congress that the entire industry does have a boiler plate plan to deal with a drilling disaster. All the plans talk about how to deal with the walrus. Obama is not against oil wells. In fact, he isn’t even against drilling for oil. He simply is stopping all deep water drilling at only 32 sites until their safety procedures can be reviewed and problems fixed, a six month process. This is why the cost of gasoline hasn’t skyrocketed since the spill. Nothing has happened to the producing wells. So the judge that stopped the moratorium, the politicians who are cheering that the moratorium has ended, the media that shows all the stories of empty docks, stalled rigs, and workers are talking about 32 drilling operations. All those drilling operations use basically the same safety procedures. What will happen if the drilling continues and a couple more fail like the one everyone is dealing with right now?

We had a scorcher today. My deck showed 93° this afternoon. The NWS says we are at 10% humidity. Like they say, “It’s a dry heat.” The sky would have been a deep blue all day, had it not been for the huge plume of smoke on the NW quadrant of the sky. We sure need the monsoon.

Holy Mackerel: On this date in 1938 ►Problems with Native American Indian Businesses using The Swastika which is an Indian symbol of good luck and predates the modern world including the use of the swastika buy the Nazi Party in Germany is causing those Indian businesses to stop displaying the sign due to people believing it stands for the Nazis.

My Quote For The Day

Lord Chesterfield: Arbitrary power has seldom...been introduced in any country at once. It must be introduced by slow degrees, and as it were step by step.

Somewhat Useless Information

A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.

Grey Matter Puzzle 1

What is unusual about this following long sentence?

Dennis, Nell, Edna, Leon, Nedra, Anita, Rolf, Nora, Alice, Carol, Leo, Jane, Reed, Dena, Dale, Basil, Rae, Penny, Lana, Dave, Denny, Lena, Ida, Bernadette, Ben, Ray, Lila, Nina, Jo, Ira, Mara, Sara, Mario, Jan, Ina, Lily, Arne, Bette, Dan, Reba, Diane, Lynn, Ed, Eva, Dana, Lynne, Pearl, Isabel, Ada, Ned, Dee, Rena, Joel, Lora, Cecil, Aaron, Flora, Tina, Arden, Noel and Ellen sinned.

Unusual News Item

CHARLESTON, S.C. - A South Carolina town is considering a measure that would add singing, whistling and hollering to a law banning annoying sounds on public streets.

The Sullivan Island Town Council's proposed law, which may be ratified in July, would make it illegal to sing, yell, shout, whistle, hoot or holler on public streets if it is annoying nearby people, particularly between the hours of 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C., reported. Town Administrator Andy Benke said the wording of the proposed law came from an ordinance in North Charleston, S.C. The town code already bans crying, calling, shouting and using musical instruments if they are deemed annoying by people nearby.

A Little Laff

As we get older we sometimes begin to doubt our ability to "make a difference" in the world. It is at these times that our hopes are boosted by the remarkable achievements of other "seniors" who have found the courage to take on challenges that would make many many of us wither.

Harold Schlumberg is such a person, read his story: I've often been asked, "What do you old folks do now that you're retired? Well...I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background, and one of the things I enjoy most is turning beer, wine, and margaritas into urine."

Grey Matter Puzzle 2

As a whole, I am both safe and secure.

Behead me, and I become a place of meeting.

Behead me again, and I am the partner of ready.

Restore me, and I become the domain of beasts.

What am I?

My You Tube Site of the Day

It’s Log Cabin Day. Here are some authentic old cabins Click Here!

Grey Matter Picture--This is a close up of what common object?

Use this to make things smooth.

Some Calendar Info

► Weekly Observances ◄

20-26: Carpenter Ant Awareness Week and National Mosquito Control Awareness Week

24-27: Watermelon Seed Spitting Week

► Today’s Observances ◄

Log Cabin Day

National Catfish Day

Take Your Dog To Work Day

Gibraltar : Spring Bank Holiday

Mozambique : Independence Day (1975 from Portugal)

Virginia : Ratification Day (1788)

Philippines: Arbor Day

► Hit Songs on this date ◄

Taking a Chance on Love Benny Goodman in 1943

The Song from Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart) Percy Faith in 1953

Sukiyaki Kyu Sakamoto in 1963

Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) George Harrison in 1973

Flashdance ... What a Feeling Irene Cara in 1983

► Born today ◄

…The Arts

Robert Henri (Robert Henry Cozad ), 1865, US painter, leader of the Ashcan school (realistic portraits of poor NY neighborhoods), born in Cincinnati, OH

Rose O’Neill, 1874, illustrator, author, doll designer [Kewpie doll] , born in Wilkes-Barre, PA

George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair), 1903, satirist/author (Animal Farm, 1984), born in Motihari, Bihar, Bengal Presidency, British India

+++

Ricky Gervais, 49, actor, comedian (“The Office” [UK version]), born Reading, Berkshire, England

June Lockhart, 85, actress (“Lassie,” “Lost in Space”), born New York, NY

Sidney Lumet, 86, director (12 Angry Men, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Network), born Philadelphia, PA

George Michael, 47, singer (Wham!), born Radlett, England

Carly Simon, 65, singer (“You’re So Vain,” “Nobody Does It Better”), songwriter, born New York, NY

Jimmie Walker, 62, actor, comedian (“Good Times”), born New York, NY

…Athletics

Dikembe Mutombo, 44, basketball player, Nuggets, Hawks, 76ers, Nets, Knicks, Rockets born Kinshasa, Zaire

…Business & Education

Lauren Bush, 26, American model & designer, born in Houston, TX

…Politics

Sonia Sotomayor, 56, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court, born the Bronx, NY

…Science / Religion

J. Hans D. Jensen, 1907, German physicist, Nobel laureate, born in Hamburg Germany

► Obituaries today ◄

George Armstrong Custer, U.S. Army officer battlefield death @ 37 in 1876

Farrah Fawcett, American actress, cancer @ 62 in 2009

Michael Jackson, American singer, pop icon and humanitarian, OD @ 51 in 2009

Lester Maddox, American businessman, one-time segregationist and Governor of Georgia @ 88 in 2003

Stanford White, Architect, shot dead atop Madison Square Garden which he designed by Harry Thaw jealous husband of Evelyn Nesbit @ 53 in 1906

► Events ◄

…The Arts

1951 ►The first commercial color television show was transmitted by the Columbia Broadcasting System CBS

…Athletics

1983 ►Udo Beyer of East Germany sets record for shot put, 22.22 m

…Business & Education

1929 ►Pres Hoover authorizes building of Boulder Dam (Hoover Dam)

1947 ►The Diary of Anne Frank is published.

…Politics (US)

1844 ►John Tyler took Julia Gardiner as his bride, thus becoming the first U.S. President to marry while in office.

1876 ►Custer & 7th Cavalry wiped out by Sioux & Cheyenne at Little Big Horn

One side of the story: Click Here!

Another side of the story: Click Here!

1981 ►Supreme Court upholds male-only draft registration, constitutional

1989 ►1st US postmark dedicated to Lesbian & Gay Pride (Stonewall, NYC)

…Politics (outside US)

1943 ►Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower takes command as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe

…Science / Religion

1672 ►1st recorded monthly Quaker meeting in US held, Sandwich, Mass 1868 FL, AL, LA, GA, NC & SC readmitted to US

1953 ►86° F in Anchorage Alaska

1990 ►120° F in Phoenix Arizona

Grey Matter Answers

…1

It is one long palindrome! A palindrome is something that can be read the same backwards and forwards.

…2

A stable

Grey Matter Photo

a sander

Today’s Photo Shot

The Shultz fire is plaguing Flagstaff. Here is a quick timelapse of what happened.

Click Here!

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