Monday July 19

This is Week 29 of 2010►Day 200 with 165 days left.

It is Day 91 of the BP Mess.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

I had a lazy day today. A little cleaning around the house. A little cleaning on the deck. Read the Sunday paper on the deck. It was a great day to relax. Maybe it’s the heat.

NPR had a great piece today. It was talking about how the news has changed in the last generation. It was succinct as are most NPR stories. I grew up when TV news was just starting. They were in competition with newspapers. The people we saw on the news had spent time reporting for radio or newspapers. They all knew that their job was to report the news events of the day. It was much a ‘just the facts, sir’ from Dragnet. On occasion a reporter or even a news organization would want to state an opinion. Back in those days, someone would come on the screen and there would be voice over stating that ‘this is an editorial comment on whatever, and does not necessarily express the opinions of this station, its management, or its owners’. Newspapers still do that..it’s called the editorial page. Today the word ‘news’ has taken on a new meaning. The line between ‘editorial’ and ‘news’ has become very blurred. Many of the 24/7 news stations have an editorial agenda. The problem is, most of them still use the word ‘news’ in their name, they still call their on screen people ‘reporters’. Seldom, if ever, do these stations use the word ‘editorial’ or ‘opinion’. Back in the day, we heard the news and most of the time we were given an opportunity to make our own decision about that news. We trusted the ‘news’ and talked to others about what was happening.

Sidebar: The Kent State killings were a big moment in my life. I was at the Univ. of Colorado getting my bachelors degree. If the police or National Guard could shoot people for their opinion at Kent State, they might do the same at Boulder. I had just been to a speech where S. I. Hayakawa had decided that calling the Black Student Alliance a “bunch of jungle bunnies” was the best way to get his point across. The year before I had attended a speech by Buckminster Fuller where he decided to challenge his audience. Fuller did not use any words I did not know, however he put them into a structure that was difficult to understand. Both speeches were followed by numerous seminars on what was said. Fuller had a much broader view of the world and how to make it better. Hayakawa seemed to believe that confrontation, anger, and even violence was the way of the world. Those few months following the killings taught me about ‘agendas’ and more importantly ‘hidden agendas’, about a variety of ways to view our world, about the necessity of doing what is right for mankind.

Every person has a view about just about everything. Back in the day, the view was drawn from a number of places. Today there is no reason to search. If you have the belief that Obama is not a native born citizen, there is a news source for you. If you believe that killing foreigners will make us free, there is a news source for you. If you believe that Obama can do no wrong, there is a news service for you. If you believe that nature is basically violent, there is a news source for you. If you believe that animal life holds the same values about community, love, death, and all of life that you do, there is a news source for you. The bottom line to all this seems to be that as ‘news’ has changed the American citizens no longer need to think about what is happening. There is now a national news source that will support your beliefs, show you that others hold the same beliefs, and that will try to convince you that those who don’t agree is ignorant, stupid, confused, or unaware. Way too many citizens are happy that they no longer have to think.

What is going on regarding the Tea Party. I just don’t get it. I get that the Tea Party wants to go back to the glory days of the Boston Tea Party. I get that many conservatives embrace the Tea Party stuff. What I don’t get, is how does dressing up in tri-cornered hats makes one a patriot. So many people have started seeing the ‘Tea Party’ as an actual political party. Today, someone in the Tea Party said that the leader of the Tea Party Express is no longer part of the Tea Party. This reminds me so much of school cliques. The Popular Clique somehow convinced everyone they were the Popular Clique. If someone in that clique did something that as unpopular they were suddenly banned from the Clique and soon everyone in the school learned of the banishment. The power structure of the clique mentality will always be around. The general population determines the power fo each clique. From where I stand, the Tea Party needs to realize that they are a fringe element and actually start their own Political Party. Then, and it seems only then, will this fringe realize that they are little more than fringe—sometimes nice to see on a piece of furniture or on a woman’s shawl, but not adding anything to the comfort of the piece of furniture or adding warmth to the person wearing the shawl.

Parts of Flag got rain, just not the part I live in. My deck made it to 89°. There was a little breeze every so often. There were nice thunder clouds over the mountain. We had 60% humidity so it was sticky most of the day. I sure wish the rain had fallen so being outside could have been a little nicer. Our neighborhood was quiet until the sun set. Kids were not outside, adults were not outside. There were lots of cars in the parking lot, so I guess everyone was inside, hoping that a breeze would keep them cool.

MY QUOTE FOR THE DAY

Pearl S. Buck: The secret of joy in work is contained in one word–excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.

HOLY MACKEREL: On this date in 1941 ►While Britain is at one of its lowest points in World War II Churchill one of the most motivators and speech makers of his time launches the "V for Victory" campaign across Europe by telling those in Europe under Nazi control to use the letter "V" ( for Victory ) at every chance they got in speaking, writing and urges them to write in big letter the letter V to signify V for Victory and let the Germans know they still had spirit and believed they would overcome Nazi Rule.

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION

People who became blind after birth can see images in their dreams. People who are born blind do not see any images, but have dreams equally vivid involving their other senses of sound, smell, touch and emotion.

***

A full 12% of sighted people dream exclusively in black and white. The remaining number dream in full color. Studies from 1915 through to the 1950s maintained that the majority of dreams were in black and white, but these results began to change in the 1960s. Today only 4.4% of the dreams of under-25 year-olds are in black and white. Recent research has suggested that those changing results may be linked to the switch from black-and-white film and TV to color media.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1

What does this mean? VAD ERS

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

FORT WORTH, TX- A Texas woman said her father receives so much junk mail that his house is full of letters and on a recent day he received 96 pieces of mail. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported the Fort Worth woman and her 81-year-old father, whose names were not released by the newspaper, said the man's house is littered with junk mail, including a 3 1/2-foot pile of letters on his breakfast table. The woman said her father, who received 96 pieces of junk mail Monday alone, gives about $2,500 a year to various charities and began receiving junk mail in amounts too large to fit through his mail slot about a year ago. The daughter said she has been mailing the companies to ask them to take her father off their mailing lists, but the process has been slow. "How many others is this happening to?" the daughter asked. "This isn't right. Our seniors shouldn't be treated this way."

A LITTLE LAUGH

I was in the express lane at the store quietly fuming. completely ignoring the sign, the woman ahead of me had slipped into the checkout line pushing a cart piled high with groceries.

Imagine my delight when the cashier beckoned the woman to come forward looked into the cart and asked sweetly, 'So which six items would you like to buy?'

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2

Returns tomorrow

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

Wicked Tinkers like Flagstaff. Click here to Hear!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what common object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

► Weekly Observances ◄

15-21: Rabbit Week: to raise awareness of rabbits as pets

16-19: National Ventriloquism Week

18-25: Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) Education & Awareness Week

………..Captive Nations Week

………..National Independent Retailers Week

► Today’s Observances ◄

Flitch Day: An old custom brought to America by the early settlers became the holiday we now call Flitch Day. Once a year, a slab of bacon was given to any married couple who could prove they had lived in harmony and fidelity for the past twelve months. Very few "took home the bacon".  

National Get Out of the Doghouse Day

National Hug Your Kid Day

Burma: Martyrs' Day

Laos: Independence Day (1949)

► Hit Songs on this date ◄

Peg O' My Heart: The Harmonicats in 1947

Teddy Bear: Elvis Presley in 1957 Click Here!

Windy: The Association in 1967 Click Here!

Looks Like We Made It: Barry Manilow in 1977

Alone: Heart in 1987

► Born today ◄

…The Arts

Edgar Degas (Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas), impressionist painter, born in Paris, France 1834

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Vikki Carr (Florencia Bisenta deCasilla Martinez Cardona), 69, singer: It Must be Him, With Pen in Hand, The Lesson, born in El Paso, TX

Anthony Edwards, 48, actor (“ER,” Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Top Gun), born Santa Barbara, CA

Topher Grace, 32, actor (Spider-Man 3, In Good Company, Traffic, “That ’70s Show”), born New York, NY

Pat Hingle, actor (Baby Boom, Norma Rae, Bloody Mama), born in Miami, FL 1923

Kathleen Turner, 56, actress (Accidental Tourist, Jewel of Nile), born in Springfield, MO

…Athletics

Ilie Nastase, 64, tennis champion: French Open [1973], U.S. Open [1972], born in Bucharest,Romania

…Business & Education

Lizzie Borden, murderer, born in Fall River, MA 1860

Samuel Colt, inventor (colt revolver), born in Hartford, CN 1814

…Politics

George Stanley McGovern, 88, former US Senator and 1972 Democratic presidential nominee, born Avon, SD

…Science / Religion

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► Obituaries today ◄

Joe Flynn, actor (McHale's Navy), drowned @ 59 in 1974 

Johnny Wayne, comedian (Wayne & Shuster), cancer @ 72 in 1990 

► Events ◄

…The Arts

1946 ►Marilyn Monroe acted in her first screen test.

…Athletics

1877 ►1st Wimbledon tennis championships held

1909 ►The first unassisted triple play in major-league baseball was made by Cleveland Indians shortstop Neal Ball in a game against Boston

1980 ►The Moscow Summer Olympics begins minus the United States and 64 other countries who were boycotting the games because of the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan.

1996 ►The Centennial Olympics opened in Atlanta, Georgia.

…Business & Education

1976 ►Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal is created.

…Indigenous People

1701 ►Representatives of the Iroquois Confederacy signed the Nanfan Treaty, ceding a large territory north of the Ohio River to England.

1820 ►The Kickapoo sign a treaty (7 Stat., 208.) at St. Louis. Auguste Chouteau and Benjamin Stephenson represent the United States of America. Twenty-eight Kickapoo make their marks on the document.

…Politics (US)

1848 ►1st women's rights convention (Seneca Falls, NY)

1990 ►Richard Nixon library opens in Yorba Linda, CA

1984 ►Geraldine Ferraro was nominated by the Democratic Party to become the first woman from a major political party to run for the office of U.S. Vice President.

…Politics (outside US)

1553 ►15-year-old Lady Jane Grey deposed as England's Queen after 9 days

1870 ►France declares war on Prussia; the Franco-Prussian war begins

1956 ►The United States withdraws its offer of financial aid to Egypt to help with the construction of the Aswan Dam on the Nile River . The Soviet Union stepped in with aid which made a stronger alliance with the Soviet Union and was a contributing factor to the Suez Crisis later in 1956.

…Science / Religion

1939 ►1st use of fiberglass sutures, R.P. Scholz, St Louis, Mo

1983 ►The first three-dimensional reconstruction of a human head in a CT is published.

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

…1

Space Invaders

…2

Returns tomorrow

…Photo

Door on an old trailer-home

TODAY’S PHOTO SHOT

Aswan Dam, Egypt

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