Thursday August 19

This is Week 33 of 2010►Day 231 with 134 days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

I’m a little frustrated with my blog site. I wasn’t able to post my blog last night. I tried and tired, a total of seven times last night and this morning. I do the blog on Word and then paste it into the blog. I’ve been doing that since I started this site. Last night, it pasted just fine, but wouldn’t post. Then I tried taking out the pictures. Still wouldn’t post. The only that changed in my process was the site has a new way to add pictures. Of course this site is free and therefore has no help line. If it keeps happening, I guess I will have to find another free one. I so enjoy doing this blog, for myself and for others. I really learn a lot by finding all these sites with information, and that keeps the brain cells working. Since I like to use my brain, and don’t want any cells to die off from non-use, I’ll keep the blog going.

I have a two story townhouse. I have one vacuum to clean the place. I have carpeting in all the rooms except the kitchen and bathrooms. I don’t think I am lazy, well, maybe a little. I am not very good at carrying the vacuum up and down the stairs. When I decide to use it upstairs, it just stays upstairs for a week or so, until I need to really really vacuum downstairs. I grew up in a house with a fully finished basement. My very frugal parents had two vacuums. The ‘good’ one was upstairs, and a smaller rolling canister type was downstairs. While at the local Wal-mart I found had all kinds of stuff for college student dorm rooms, and all that stuff was at good prices. Over the years, I have always made certain purchases during the ‘back to school’ days. First some items are only available at the beginning of the new school year. Second the prices on ‘essentials’ are usually pretty good. As I wandered the aisles, I found a vacuum at a good price. It is not a ‘good’ vacuum, but certainly works for the upstairs. So now my upstairs and downstairs can stay better vacuumed—at least that’s the plan.

Somehow today must have been “hard of hearing older couples day” at Wal-mart. Every couple of aisles there would be an older woman walking ahead of her husband who was dutifully pushing the cart. One might be at the beginning of the aisle, the other about half way down the aisle as they carried on their conversation. “Do you see flyswatters?”, “No, do we need one?”; “I don’t see any fly spray, either—hey ask that guy in the blue shirt where they are”; before the poor man can ask--“HEY, WHY DOESN’T WALMART HAVE ANY FLY SWATTERS?”; “They are on the next aisle, right by the bug spray, m’am.” “Well, they should be right here, that makes more sense.” I heard similar conversations on the candy aisle and the garden center. With all the sales on back to school stuff, I really expected to see lots of young people, or parents with kids. Not today, today it was us older folks trying to find stuff. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have snow white hair, since I don’t feel like I am that old.

Mark this day...it’s been a long time, but finally all the combat troops have left Iraq. I know there are still lots of troops there, but they are not ‘combat’ troops. I still recall the Friday night when the first ‘shock and awe’ bombings started. I was headed for dinner in Rapid City. At that time, we didn’t know, at least in SD, if there would be retaliation from one or more of the world powers. I remember calling my brother and then my mom to tell them what I was doing, and where I would be the next week—it was the beginning of spring break. I seldom called on a Friday, and seldom told either one exactly where I was going. I had enough concern, that, just in case something happened, they would have some idea of where I was, and I would know where they would be. I also remember feeling a little insecure, being miles from my home in Tuba. If there was going to be a war on our soil, I wanted to be home. Thankfully, America’s soil was not part of the war. The innocent people of most of Iraq have been living in a war zone all this time. They only have electricity a few hours a day, they still don’t have safe, open schools, they don’t have safe roads to travel on, they don’t have jobs. I have to wonder exactly what has been accomplished these past eight years. Many troops are still in danger in Afghanistan. These Iraq combat troops will spend a few weeks in Kuwait, then back to the American soil. Obama and Military Complex have gotten us out of fighting in Iraq. A day to celebrate.

Flagstaff was really nice today. It rained on and off last night, but was dry today. We did have clouds, but no rain. We made it to 77° this afternoon and had a nice breeze most of the afternoon. It kept the air moving and while we had 65% humidity, it wasn’t nearly as sticky as yesterday. More thunderstorms are in the forecast for the rest of the week.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

G.K. Chesterton[English philosopher]: I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1607 English settlers officially found "the other" English colony on North America. Unlike Jamestown, Popham is settled by just men and boys. Popham, northeast of modern Portland, Maine, is established on the bluffs overlooking the spot where the Kennebec River flows into the ocean. The colony lasts only a little over one year. The colony’s second leader returns to England, taking the settlers with him, when he inherits a sizeable estate in England.

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION on Politics

~In 1903, Mary Harris Jones organized the famous "March of the Mill Children" to demand an end of child labor. Mother Jones (as she came to be called) and several dozen children, some of them crippled by machinery in the textile mills, marched from Philadelphia to President Theodore Roosevelt's summer home on Long Island.

~In 1958, Mao Zedong, chairman of the central government council of the newly established People's Republic of China, announced a new economic program "The Great Leap Forward" aimed at quickly increasing industrial and agricultural production and revitalizing all sectors of the ailing Chinese economy.

~In 1928, Herbert Hoover ran for President of the United States with the campaign slogan "A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage".

~ In 2003, as part of a Republican protest against France's opposition to the war on Iraq, both french fries and french toast were officially renamed "freedom fries" and "freedom toast" in the U.S. House of Representatives' cafeteria.

~ During the Russo-Japanese War, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt offered to serve as mediator. He summoned representatives of the warring countries to Portsmouth, New Hampshire in the summer of 1905 to discuss their differences, and the war came to a close shortly thereafter. A year later, in recognition of his role as a peacemaker, Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was the first American to receive the prestigious award.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Answers

Self-luminous gaseous body, or Hollywood "celeb"

The evening or morning "star" is really this planet

Planet once thought unique, it no longer runs "rings" around its neighbors

Launched Oct. 4th, 1957, it was Earth's 1st artificial satellite

Only planet to have seasons similar to Earth's

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

LONDON (Hollywood Reporter) - A cold front passed over the BBC News channel late Tuesday as the show's weatherman flipped the bird to his news anchor.

Simon McCoy, linking to the weather, perhaps with a hint of sarcasm, told viewers the weather was coming up, and would of course be "100% accurate and provide all the detail you could possible want."

At that stage, the cameras cut to Tomasz Schafernaker and his middle-finger salute as McCoy's female co-host gasped. But it didn't stop there as the fast-acting weatherman, realizing he was on screen, swiftly pretended to rub his face in much the same way a cheeky school kid might do when caught in the act.

The camera quickly cut back to a composed McCoy, who simply stated: "Every now and then there's always one mistake, that was it."

The BBC immediately apologized. "Tomasz was not aware that he was on air, and whilst the gesture was only shown for a second, it was not acceptable," a spokesman said.

The weatherman later wrote on his website: "Prior to a live weather bulletin, I made a gesture off camera joking with my fellow presenters and without warning the camera went live to the weather studio ... I am very sorry for any offence that might have been caused by my actions."

The weatherman began presenting on BBC Southeast Today in 2001 before joining national BBC outlets in 2006. It's not the first time he's apologized. Back in 2007 he described the Western Isles and the west Highlands in Scotland as "nowheresville" during a live weather broadcast.

A LITTLE LAUGH

The letters T and G are very close to each other on a keyboard. This recently became all too apparent to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email with the phrase "Regards" again.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2--Riddle

Fred and Wanda are found dead in a pool of water with shards of glass around them. In the background lurks a cat. What happened?

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

Returns tomorrow

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

♦ Weekly Observances ♦

10-16: Elvis Week

15-21: National Aviation Week

……….Weird Contest Week

♦ Today’s Observances ♦

National Aviation Day (since 1939)

"Black Cow" Root Beer Float Day

National Medical Dosimetrist Day : operates radiation oncology treatment machines

Potato Day: to honor and enjoy a variety of potatoes

World Humanitarian Day

Afghanistan: Independence Day, commemorates the Treaty of Rawalpindi in 1919, granting independence from Britain.

Ethiopia: Buhe (Eastern Orthodox celebration of the Transfiguration of Christ

♦ Hit Songs on this date ♦

Me and My Shadow "Whispering" Jack Smith   1927

Satan Takes a Holiday Tommy Dorsey              1937

Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) Tex Williams   1947

Teddy Bear Elvis Presley                1957

All You Need Is Love The Beatles   1967

Best of My Love The Emotions       1977

Who's That Girl Madonna               1987

♦ Today’s Births ♦

• The Arts

Ginger [Peter] Baker, 71, drummer (Cream-White Room) …born Lewisham, South London

James Gould Cozzens, novelist (1949 Pulitzer-Guard of Honor) …born 1903…Chicago, IL

John Dryden, 1st poet laureate of England (Absalom & Achitophel)…born 1631… Aldwincle, Thrapston, Northamptonshire, England

John Kane, Scottish-born US primitivist painter (Self-Portrait) …born 1860… West Calder, Scotland

Ring Lardner Jr. (Ringgold Wilmer Lardner, Jr.), Academy Award-winning screenwriter: Woman of the Year [1942], MASH [1970]; A Star Is Born [1937] …born 1915…Chicago, IL

Ogden Nash , humorous poet (I'm a Stranger Here Myself) …born 1902…Rye NY

Gene Roddenberry, executive producer (Star Trek) …born 1921…El Paso, TX

~~~

Adam Arkin, 54, actor (“Chicago Hope,” “Northern Exposure”), born…Brooklyn, NY

Gerald McRaney, 62, actor (“Simon & Simon,” “Major Dad”), born…Collins, MS

Diana Muldaur, 72, actress (“Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “LA Law,” The Swimmer), born…New York, NY

Matthew Perry, 41, actor (“Friends,” Fools Rush In), born…Williamstown, MA

Jill St. John (Jill Oppenheim), 70, actress (Diamonds Are Forever)…born at Los Angeles, CA

Kyra Sedgwick, 45, actress (“The Closer,” Phenomenon, Born on the Fourth of July)…born New York, NY

John Stamos, 47, actor (“ER,” “Full House”)…born Los Angeles, CA

• Athletics

Dr Renee Richards, 76, trans-sexual tennis player…born NYC, NY

Cindy Nelson, 55, former alpine skier, born…Lutsen, MN

Bobby (Robert Clinton) Richardson, 75, baseball: NY Yankees…born Sumter, SC

Willie Shoemaker, jockey (In 1956 he won $2 million) …born 1931…Fabens, TX

• Business & Education

Coco (Gabrielle Bonheur) Chanel, fashion designer; perfume creator…born 1883…Saumur, France

Malcolm Forbes, publisher (Forbes Magazine) …born 1919… Englewood, NJ

Seth Thomas, pioneer in mass production of clocks…born 1785…Walcott, CN

• Politics

William Jefferson Clinton, 64, 42nd president of the US, born…Hope, AK

Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson Tipper Gore, 62, ex-wife of Al Gore, 45th vice president of the US, advocate for the homeless, mental health and children’s causes, born…Washington, DC

Fred Thompson, 68, former US Senator (R, Tennessee), actor (“Law & Order,” In the Line of Fire)…born Sheffield, AL

• Science/Religion

Philo T Farnsworth, inventor (electronic TV) …born 1906…Beaver, UT

Orville Wright, aviator…born 1871…Dayton, OH

♦ Today’s Obituaries ♦

Octavian [Augustus] Roman general, @ 75 in 14BC

Kerstin Hesselgren, 1st woman in Swedish parliament, @ 90 in 1962

Julius (Groucho) Marx, comedian (Marx Bros), @ 86 in 1977

♦ Today’s Events ♦

• The Arts

1964 The Beatles began their first North American concert tour. They would visit 26 cities.

• Athletics

1909 1st race at the Indianapolis 500 Speedway

1957 NY Giants vote to move their franchise to SF in 1958

• Business & Education

1848 The first report of the California gold strike was published in the New York Herald newspaper.

• Indigenous People

1854 A Miniconjou Sioux, named High Forehead, kills a sickly cow near Fort Laramie, in southeastern Wyoming. The cow's owner complains to the fort's commander. A brash Brevet Second Lieutenant John L. Grattan, and thirty volunteers leave the fort to find the Sioux involved. Grattan goes to Conquering Bear's Brule Sioux camp near Ash Hollow, and demands the Indian who shot the cow. Grattan makes numerous threats to the Sioux, but they won't hand over High Forehead. During the parlay, a shot rings out, and Grattan's artillery gunners open fire on the camp. Conquering Bear tries to get both sides to stop shooting, but he is hit by an artillery round. Eventually, all but one of Grattan's men are killed in the fighting.

• Politics (US)

1812 US warship Constitution defeats British warship Guerriere

1940 The new Civil Aeronautics Administration awarded honorary license #1 to Orville Wright 1954 Ralph J Bunche named undersecretary of UN

• Politics (International)

1099 Crusaders beat Saracens in Battle of Ascalon

1942 1,000 Canadian & British soldiers killed raiding Dieppe, France

1960 Francis Gary Powers convicted of spying by USSR (U-2 incident)

1989 Tadeusz Mazowiecki, elected 1st non-communmist president of Poland

• Science / Religion

1787 W Herschel discovers Enceladus, a moon of Saturn

1856 Gail Borden of Brooklyn, NY patented his process for condensed milk

1960 The Russians sent two dogs (Strelka (meaning "Little Arrow") , Belka (meaning "Squirrel"), into earth orbit in a satellite. They were the first to survive, and later one of Strelka’s pups, born after the flight was given to JFK

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

Self-luminous gaseous body, or Hollywood "celeb": What is a star?

The evening or morning "star" is really this planet: What is Venus?

Planet once thought unique, it no longer runs "rings" around its neighbors: What is Saturn?

Launched Oct. 4th, 1957, it was Earth's 1st artificial satellite: What is Sputnik?

Only planet to have seasons similar to Earth's: What is Mars?

↔ 2

Fred and Wanda are fish, and the cat knocked down their fish bowl.

↔ Picture

A child’s block

TODAY’S NATIONAL PARK PHOTO SHOTS

Sequoia National Park—2nd National Park as of September 25, 1890-- protects the Giant Forest, which has the world's largest tree, General Sherman, as well as four of the next nine. It also has over 240 caves, the tallest mountain in the lower 48, Mount Whitney, and the granite dome Moro Rock in California.

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