This is Week 34 of 2010►Day 237 with 138 days left.
FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
Some in Arizona are suggesting that AZ have non-partisan primary election. That would mean that every registered voter would be eligible to vote in any primary election. The top two candidates would then move on to the general election. The idea is that the two best candidates would be running against each other. It might be two Republicans, two Democrats, two Libertarians, or any combination. Our state already has this non-partisan system for Mayoral elections throughout the state—party affiliations are not listed on the ballot. We currently have what is called an open primary which means that registered Democrats vote for Democrats, registered Republicans vote for Republicans and registered Independents can vote with either a Democrat or Republican ballot. Somehow, Libertarians do not allow Independents vote with their Primary ballot. It is certainly an interesting concept. If the system were to work like the Mayoral elections, the party affiliation would never be on the ballot. While this system seems to be working well in local Mayoral and city council elections, for some strange and unknown reason, the legislature is not embracing this system. It would mean that legislatures would not be running with a party platform and probably wouldn’t be running with party money. The Party is very careful now when two or more candidates from their party are running for an office. Careful about supporting one of their own against another of their own. This would get very interesting when it comes to National Office primaries—House and Senate. This cycle, if this system were in place, could easily have all Arizonans choosing between McCain and Hayworth in November—we are a heavily dominated Republican state. I’ll try an follow this concept to see how it plays out.
This has been one of the dirtiest campaigns in years for Arizona. The Tea Party has been very vocal about who they want as the Republican candidate in just about every primary in the state. Commercials, robo-calls, mailings that fill mailbox daily started back in late July and have only increased. Today I got 11 political mailings—I had already voted by the time they arrived. Interestingly, I voted about 9am this morning and I was voter number 26. The news in Phoenix is no better, one polling place, at 5pm today had been overwhelmed by the 9 voters who had been to the polling place since it opened early this morning. One lesson hopefully learned is that all that money spent on getting the word out just didn’t get voters to the polls. The money spent on the robo-calls, the TV and radio commercials and the mailings could have just been tossed in the trash bin.
One last thing I learned today. While I was on my morning walk, I discovered that the church about a block from my house is a polling place. I have to drive about three miles to my polling place. I did know that a friend who lives about 3 blocks from my polling place also has to go about 3 miles to his polling place. One would think that a polling place would be in the middle of the polling district. I had always envisioned the county recorder pulling out a map of the city, pulling out their trusty compass and drawing circles with the polling place being at the center of the circle. Then she would draw lines, using the streets to make the polling districts. Certainly a few people would find that they were 3 miles from their polling place while there is another polling place only 2.94 miles from their home. The difference would never allow a polling place 3 miles away, when another was 1 block away…unless there was a huge canyon or an interstate highway blocking the closer polling place. I realize that population plays a role in this and a highly populated area will need either bigger or more polling places. I guess my idea makes too much sense for government.
Votes are slow in coming in, but McCain beat the crazy JD easily.
Flag had another dry day, with some high clouds. We made it to 83°, had 30% humidity, and a slight breeze. I am used to these 80°+ days and it really didn’t seem very hot.
QUOTE FOR THE DAY
George Washington: I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.
HOLY MACKEREL: 1902 The first Arabic daily newspaper in the U.S., Al-Hoda, began publication in New York City.
SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION about Pets
§The United States Humane Society estimates that between 2,500 and 3,000 cats and dogs are born every hour in this country. By comparison, about 450 humans are born every hour in America, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
§The Labrador retriever has been America’s most popular purebred dog breed for 19 years, according to the American Kennel Club.
§According to the American Kennel Club, German Shepherds, which came in second place in 2009 registration statistics, were the most popular dog in America in the 1920s.
§American consumers spent about $45.5 billion on products and services for their pets in 2009, according to the American Pet Products Association. This was a 5.4 percent increase over 2008 numbers.
§The average cost paid per veterinarian visit by American pet owners in 2009 was $203, according to the American Pet Products Association.
§The Cat Fanciers’ Association, the feline counterpart to the American Kennel Club, has registered more than 2 million pedigreed cats since its inception in 1906.
GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Answers: American Lit
--Melville's white whale tale
--Lincoln called it "the book that caused the big war"
--Steinbeck novel dubbed "the Uncle Tom's Cabin of the Depression"
--He gave Hester a scarlet "A"
--Great-grand nephew of Francis Scott Key, he was the voice of the Jazz Age
UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM
MANHATTAN, KS— A 56-year-old chimpanzee has surprised officials at a zoo in northeast Kansas by giving birth.
Officials at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan announced Monday that Suzie the chimp gave birth to a female on Aug. 18 and that the mother and baby are in good health.
Zoo director Scott Shoemaker says Suzie was taken off birth control because of medical concerns — and because zoo officials didn't think she would get pregnant at her age.
Zoo curator Mark Ryan says he hasn't heard of any older chimpanzee who has given birth anywhere in the country. The Manhattan Mercury says Suzie is the third oldest chimpanzee among zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.
Chimpanzees in captivity usually live to about 60 years of age.
A LITTLE LAUGH
The world is full of willing people: some willing to work and some willing to let them.
GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2--Riddle
Name three animals that can travel far and wide fast and maybe slow but NEVER not even a little inch, get far away from their home. What are those three animals?
FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’
Cute Cartoon for Pets: Click Here!
GREY MATTER PICTURE
This is a close up of what object?
SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION
♦ Weekly Observances ♦
23-27: National Safe at Home Week
25-31: Be Kind To Humankind Week
♦ Today’s Observances ♦
Kiss and Make Up Day
National Second-hand Wardrobe Day
France: Liberation Day (1944)
Paraguay: Constitution Day (1967)
Uruguay: Independence Day (1825 from Brazil)
♦ Hit Songs on this date ♦
1913 ... When Irish Eyes Are Smiling ...Chauncey Olcott
1923 ... Swingin' Down the Lane...Isham Jones
1933 ... Love Is the Sweetest Thing...Ray Noble
1943... In the Blue of Evening...Tommy Dorsey
1953... Vaya con Dios (May God Be with You) ... Les Paul & Mary Ford Hear it Here!
1963... My Boyfriend's Back...The Angels
1973... Stories... Brother Louie Hear it Here!
1983…Every Breath You Take...The Police
♦ Today’s Births ♦
• The Arts
Martin Amis, 61, author (The Information, London Fields), critic, born Oxford, England
Leonard Bernstein, conductor: New York Philharmonic Orchestra; composer: West Side Story, On the Town, My Sister Eileen, On the Waterfront, Jeremiah, The Age of Anxiety, Kaddish, Chichester Psalms, Mass, Songfest…born 1918… Lawrence, MA
Tim Burton, 52, director (Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas), born Burbank, CA
Elvis Costello (Declan McManus), 56, singer, songwriter, born London, England
Billy Ray Cyrus, 49, country singer (Achy Breaky Heart), actor (Hannah Montana), born Flatwoods, KY
Frederick Forsyth, 72, author (The Day of the Jackal), born Ashford, Kent, England
Monty Hall, 87, former game-show host (Let’s Make a Deal), born Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Walter Clifford ‘Walt’ Kelly, cartoonist, creator of Pogo…born 1913…Philadelphia, PA
Regis Philbin, 77, television personality (Live with Regis & Kelly, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?), born New York, NY
Rachael Ray, 42, chef, cookbook author, television personality (30 Minute Meals, $40 a Day), born Cape Cod, MA
Gene Simmons (Chaim Witz), 61, cofounder of KISS, actor, born Haifa, Israel
~~~
Clara Bow, silent movie actress…born 1905…Brooklyn, NY
Sean Connery, 80, actor (James Bond movies; The Man Who Would Be King), born Edinburgh, Scotland
Mel Ferrer, actor (Longest Day, Eaten Alive, 5th Floor) …born 1917… Elberon NJ
Michael Rennie, actor (The Robe, Klatuu-Day the Earth Stood Still) …born 1909… Bradford, Yorkshire, England
• Athletics
Rollie (Roland Glen) Fingers, 64, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher: Athletics, Padres, Brewers /CY Young Award…born Steubenville, OH
Althea Gibson, 1st black tennis champion in a major event…born 1927… Clarendon County, SC
• Business & Education
Allan Pinkerton, founded Chicago detective agency…born 1819… Glasgow, Scotland
• Politics
William J Brennan, US Supreme Court justice…born 1906…Newark NJ
Ivan IV (the Terrible), 1st tsar of Russia…born 1530… Kolomenskoye, near Moscow
George C Wallace, (Gov-Ala) pres candidate…born 1919…Clio, AL
• Science/Religion
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♦ Today’s Obituaries ♦
Truman Capote, author (In Cold Blood), liver disease @ 59 in 1984
William Herschel, discovered Uranus, dies at 85 in 1822
Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher, stroke @ 56 in 1900
George Lincoln Rockwell, head of American Nazi Party, assassinated @ 49 in 1967
♦ Today’s Events ♦
• The Arts
--
• Athletics
1875 Matthew Webb becomes 1st to swim English Channel (21h 45m)
1920 1st US woman to win in Olympics (Ethelda Bleibtrey)
1960 17th summer olympics opens in Rome
• Business & Education
1925 Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters organizes (Harlem NY)
1984 Transformers replace The Cabbage Patch Kids and Trivial Pursuit as latest fad toys
• Indigenous People
1868 Acting Governor Hall of Colorado telegraphs to the military that 200 Indians are "devastating southern Colorado." The military also receives a report of Indians killing an animal herder near Fort Dodge, in southwestern Kansas.
• Politics (US)
1718 Hundreds of French colonists arrive in Louisiana; New Orleans, founded
1916 National Park Service established in the Dept of the Interior
• Politics (International)
1830 Belgium revolts against Netherlands
• Science / Religion
1609 Galileo demonstrates his 1st telescope to Venetian lawmakers
GREY MATTER ANSWERS
↔ 1
Melville's white whale tale: Who was Moby Dick?
Lincoln called it "the book that caused the big war": What is Uncle Tom’s Cabin?
Steinbeck novel dubbed "the Uncle Tom's Cabin of the Depression": What is The Grapes of Wrath?
He gave Hester a scarlet "A": Who was Nathanial Hawthorne?
Great-grand nephew of Francis Scott Key, he was the voice of the Jazz Age: Who was F. Scott Fitzgerald?
↔ 2
They are, a turtle, a snail, and a fish. A turtle's house is a shell which is on top of its back so it takes it everywhere, so does the snail and the fish's house is the water which can be everywhere in water.
↔ Picture
A pepper shaker or maybe a salt shaker
TODAY’S NATIONAL PARK PHOTO SHOTS
Mesa Verde, 8th Park, Colorado, since June 29, 1906: This area has over 4,000 archaeological sites of the Ancestral Pueblo, who lived here for 700 years. Cliff dwellings built in the 12th and 13th centuries include Cliff Palace, which has 150 rooms and 23 kivas, and the Balcony House, with passages and tunnels
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