Saturday October 9

This is Week 40 of 2010►Day 282 with 83 days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

The nine day cruise down the Kanowit and Rajong Rivers had many exciting and interesting stops. The ship was amazing, with great food, adequate accommodations, and really nice sun deck. Those who don’t believe that the internet and wi-fi have changed the world need only to head for Borneo. We had wi-fi access throughout the cruise. On the river, we had to wait for a small town, but seldom were out of contact more than a couple of hours. As we travel into some fairly isolated areas, I am still amazed to see fishermen using cell phones, satellite dishes on long houses, and kids greeting our ship and taking cell phone pics of us. On the cruise we had Brits, Aussies, and Canadians. Lord and Lady Geddes were quite the couple. When I learned that he was from Scotland—Glasgow—[McDonald Clan] we had a nice discussion of the town and the beauty of the islands. When I learned he was the main speaker in the House of Lords I understood his rather boisterous personality. Celts are everywhere! The Canadian couple had been active in the Vancouver Olympics. One of the guys worked at the Alumni Center of the University and his partner was a free lance trainer. Both were bike riders and skaters. Wolfgang and his wife and her sister were now living in California and had some great stories. The crew was amazing. It turns out that English is their third or fourth language, yet many times, they have difficulty communicating with each other. Our guides on this ship were Louie and Henry. Louie has been doing this for years, while Henry is just getting started. Both of them offered great insights.

Pandaw River Cruises began in 1995 when it revived the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company to run a river cruise in Burma. The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company is a Scottish Merchant Ship line that was founded in 1865. At its height in the 1920’s it was running 650+ ships in Burma. Thanks to the Celts, we could see Borneo in luxury. All their ships were built in Scotland. In 1942 the Japanese invaded Burma and the Flotilla Company was closed. Then in 1995 a Burmese historian revived the flotilla and decided to restart the company. He restored the Pandaw and in an unusual move had 4 identical Pandaw ships built. They are filled with Teak and Brass and show the luxury of that bygone era. This is only the second year that a Pandaw ship has cruised in Borneo. They had to stop running the Burma cruise, due to the Myanmar government. They also run a cruise in Vietnam. We were on the Orient Pandaw. The crew of 28 kept everything running smoothly. While most of the crew only knew beginning English, communication was possible and all were happy to practice their English skills. Since most of their communication in English was with either Brits or Aussies, they certainly had interesting accents. This was a very happy family crew. Everyone pitched in to help everyone else. Wherever help was needed one of the crew would step right in. Docking was always an experience. The constant rise and fall of the river meant that sometimes we left the ship on the main deck, and sometimes on the upper deck. We had at least 4 different gang planks that were used at various times. Several times the docking procedure was exciting, with four or five guys jumping ship to be on shore and several still on the ship. When the first lowering of the gang plank didn’t work as well as expected, there were many chiefs and not a lot of Indians suggesting ways to improve the deboarding process. Since they all spoke different languages, chaos was present, and hand language and laughter always ensued. Never, and I mean never, was a harsh word spoken or did any of the sailors get upset. For them, it was fun, even if no one was listening to them. Steve, one of the sailors and a trekker on our excursions wants to be on some Alaskan Cruise Line. James, another sailor and trekker, wants to become a Pilot on a river ship. Nigel, the Burmese Purser, somehow keeps the crew happy and keeps the ship running smoothly. On our final departure all the 28 crew members left the ship, lined up and waved good bye, much like a family waves good bye to a family member leaving on a trip. That gesture was so much more than simply wishing us well. Nigel’s job can’t be easy with so many nationalities, the cruise lines mission of a luxury experience, and the many changes in the itinerary due to river conditions. Every change had a Plan B in place and the crew was able to make a seamless transition—including moving a beach cookout to a school park area because the river was too high. I think that Louie and Nigel were very good at keeping the passengers informed and always introduced any change in a positive way that showed the crew wanted us to have a great holiday.

No real rain in Flag today. Our non-elected governor finally made it to Bellmont to view the damage of the tornadoes. She sure blew a good photo op by waiting so long to come up North. Even the Phoenix news stations were questioning her delay. She is also running a campaign ad that talks about how hard the job of governor really is. She seems to be letting us know that the job is much more than she expected, but we should still vote for her. Flag had decent fall weather, and I think I am just getting used to it.

Flag…H—64°; L—27°; RH—61%; and not even a breeze. My flower pots are starting to show their inability to deal with the cold. Summer is gone, and soon so will the flowers.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY –MALAY PROVERBS

>>Drink water while you swim

(meaning of proverb: do two or more jobs at the same time)

>>Don't try teach a duck how to swim

(meaning of proverb: don't try to teach a clever person)

HOLY MACKEREL: 1980 1st consumer use of home banking by computer (Knoxville TN)

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION--dreams

Our mind is not inventing faces. In our dreams we see real faces of real people that we have seen during our life but may not know or remember.

If you dream about some particular subject it is not often that the dream is about that. Dreams speak in a deeply symbolic language.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Answers—World Capitals

$100-Costa Rican capital people might know the way to

$200-It's divided into the Kanda, Marunoucki, Asakusa & Ginza districts

$300-Home to NATO & little green sprouts

$400-This capital's street signs are in English, Arabic & Hebrew

$500-If the other twin had founded it, it might have been called "Reme"

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

AUSTIN, Texas - Guinness World Records officials said accomplishments recorded in the 2011 edition, out Thursday, include a Texas dog's 4.5-inch tongue. Guinness officials said Puggy, a 10-year-old Pekingese, made it into the record book with a tongue nearly as long as his body, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday. Becky Stanford, Puggy's current owner, said the canine was abandoned by its original owners. "People who meet Puggy for the first time do a lot of double takes; they are in total disbelief and are amused by his unique appearance," Stanford said.

"It means a great deal to us that he has accomplished what he has. From being a stray dog, being dumped, to being a Guinness World Record Holder is just phenomenal. I just can't believe it." Other new records in the 2011 edition of the book include world's largest collection of "Smurfs" memorabilia, belonging to Stephen Parkes, 44, of Nottingham, England, and the world's smallest cow, a Rishworth, England, bovine measuring 33 inches from hind to foot.

A LITTLE LAUGH

A crab and a lobster are secretly dating. Pretty soon, the lobster tires of the lying and tells her father, who then forbids her to see the crab anymore.

"It'll never work, honey." he says to her. "Crabs walk side-ways and we walk straight."

"Please," she begs her father. "Just meet him once. I know you'll like him."

Her father finally relents and agrees to a one-time meeting, and she runs off to share the good news with her crab sweetie.

The crab is so excited he decides to surprise his beloved's family. He practices and practices until he can finally walk straight!

On the BIG day, he walks the entire way to the lobster's house as straight as he can.

Standing on the porch, and seeing the crab walking towards him, the lobster dad yells to his daughter.....

"I knew it! Here comes that crab and he's drunk!"

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

Pandaw Burmese River Cruise…no longer available: Click Here to View!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

¤ Weekly Observances ¤

2-9: No Salt Week

3-9: National Newspaper Week ^ National Work From Home Week ^ Fire Prevention Week ^ Mental Illness Awareness Week ^ Mystery Series Week ^ National Carry A Tune Week ^ Nuclear Medicine Week

4-10: Customer Service Week ^ Financial Planning Week ^ Spinning & Weaving Week ^ World Space Week

5-10:Great Books Week

6-12: Physicians Assistant Week

8-12: Kids' Goal Setting Week

8-10: New York Comic Con Week

10-16: Build Your Business with Business Cards Week ^ Emergency Nurses Week ^ Home-based Business Week ^ National Chestnut Week ^ National Food Bank Week ^ National Metric Week ^ Take Your Medicine Americans Week ^ World Rainforest Week

11-17: Fall Astronomy Week ^ National School Lunch Week

17-23: Food and Drug Interaction Education and Awareness Week ^ Getting The World To Beat A Path To Your Door Week ^ International Credit Union Week ^ Teen Read Week ^ National Chemistry Week ^ National Hospital and Health-System Pharmacy Week ^ YWCA Week without Violence ^ National Character Counts Week ^ National Forest Products Week ^ National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week ^ National School Bus Safety Week

18-24: Freedom From Bullies Week ^ Freedom of Speech Week ^ Medical Assistants Recognition Week ^ National Food Bank Week ^ National Infertility Awareness Week ^ National Massage Therapy Week ^ National Businesswomen's Week

24-31: Disarmament Week ^ Give Wildlife a Break Week ^ Pastoral Care Week ^ Peace, Friendship and Good Will Week ^ Prescription Errors Education & Awareness Week ^ International Magic Week ^ National Respiratory Care Week

27-11/3: World Hearing Aid Awareness Week

¤ Today’s Observances ¤

Leif Erikson Day

National Pro-Life Cupcake Day

Universal Music Day

World Post Day: Thanks to all our Postal Workers

Ecuador: Guayaquil's Independence Day (1820 from Spain)

Hong Kong : Confucius' Birthday

Khmer Republic: Republic Day (1970) (Cambodia)

Minnesota: Leif Ericsson Day (c 1000)

Peru: Day of National Dignity (1968)

Romania: National Day of Commemorating the Holocaust

South Korea : Hangual Day/Korean Alphabet Day (1446)

Tanganyika: independence day (1961 from UK)

Uganda: independence day (1962 from UK)

¤ Hit Songs on this date ¤

1897...There's a Little Star Shining for You / Dan Quinn

1907...Harrigan / Billy Murray not the original Click Here to Listen!

1917...Over There / American Quartet Click Here to Listen!

1927...Charmaine! / Guy Lombardo

1947…Near You / Francis Craig

1957…Wake Up Little Susie / The Everly Brothers Click Here to Listen!

1967…The Letter / The Box Tops

1977…You Light Up My Life / Debby Boone Click Here to Listen!

¤ Today’s Births ¤

╬ THE ARTS

Jackson Browne, 60, singer, songwriter

Miguel de Cervantes, novelist (Don Quixote) in 1547

John Lennon, rocker/Beatle (Imagine) in 1940

Sean Ono Lennon, 35, John's son

Russell Myers, 72, cartoonist (“Broom Hilda”)

Peter Tosh, reggae musician (Mystic Man, Mama Africa)

♦♦♦♦♦♦

Robert Shaw, actor (From Russia with Love, Man for All Seasons) in 1927

Scott Bakula, 56, actor (“Enterprise,” “Quantum Leap”)

Zachery Ty Bryan, 29, actor (“Home Improvement”)

Tony Shalhoub, 57, actor (“Monk,” “Wings,” Big Night)

Robert Wuhl, 59, writer, actor (Bull Durham, Cobb)

╬ ATHLETICS

Joseph Anthony (Joe) Pepitone, 70, former baseball player

Michael (Mike) Singletary, 52, Hall of Fame football player

Annika Sorenstam, 40, former golfer

╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION

Otto Schnering, candy bar mogul: founded Curtiss Candy Co.: Kandy Kake, Baby Ruth, Butterfinger in 1891

╬ POLITICS

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╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION

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¤ Today’s Obituaries ¤

Millie & Christine, Siamese twins, @ 61 in 1912

Che Guevara, executed in Bolivia @ 39 in 1967

¤ Today’s Events ¤

╬ THE ARTS

--

╬ ATHLETICS

1960 Cowboy QB Eddie LeBaron throws shortest touchdown pass (2")

1989 1st NFL game coached by a black man (Art Shell), his LA Raiders beat NY Jets 14-7 on Monday Night Football

╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION

1446 Korean Hangual alphabet devised

1855 Joshua Stoddard of Worcester, Mass patents 1st calliope

1855 The sewing machine motor was patented by Isaac Singer

1872 The first mail order catalog was delivered—from Montgomery Ward

1946 1st electric blanket manufactured; sold for $39.50 [$468.68 in today’s money]

1947 1st telephone conversation between a moving car & a plane

╬ INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

1804 Lewis & Clark council with RICARA chiefs.

╬ POLITICS (US)

1776 The Mission at San Francisco is started today

1877 American Humane Association organized in Cleveland

1915 Woodrow Wilson becomes 1st pres to attend a world series game (World Series #12)

╬ POLITICS (International)

1000 Leif Ericson discovers "Vinland" (possibly New England)

╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION

 680 Husain ibn 'Ali, Shi'i religious leader, enters martyrdom

1635 Religious dissident Roger Williams banished from Mass Bay Colony

1936 Hoover Dam begins transmitting electricity to LA

1984 Kathy Sullivan becomes 1st US woman to walk in space

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

$100-Costa Rican capital people might know the way to: What is San Jose?

$200-It's divided into the Kanda, Marunoucki, Asakusa & Ginza districts: What is Tokyo?

$300-Home to NATO & little green sprouts: What is Brussels?

$400-This capital's street signs are in English, Arabic & Hebrew: What is Jerusalem?

$500-If the other twin had founded it, it might have been called "Reme": What is Rome?

↔ PICTURE

Styrofoam

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