This is Week 46 of 2010►Day 323 with 42 days left.
Flagstaff Weather: H—58°; L—18°; RH—22%; —clear sky and wind—6 mph
QUOTE FOR THE DAY—Sam Ewing
Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all.
FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
I went to the doctor today and found that whatever he was looking for in my latest blood test has returned to the normal range. One would think that would make everyone happy. Not my doctor, he says we need to know why you had the problem. He thinks I need to see an ear, nose, throat guy to see if I have some physical problem. OK then, I’ll make an appointment but he said that I needed to explain that he doesn’t want a sleep apnea test, just a look a the physiology of my breathing tract. Of course, the doctors in Flagstaff don’t talk to each other, so I have to explain all this to the new doctor. Oh well, wonder what will happen.
I called Cheryl today and she is doing very well. She said she didn’t sleep all that well last night but was catching up with cat naps today. She had visitors on and off all day, so I told her I would wait till she got home. So glad that she is doing well and is in such good spirits. I also talked to Jeannie and her lens replacement surgery also went very well. She said that she can ‘see again.’
Due to our ‘good’ weather, we have had controlled burns near here. That means that while our sky is clear, there is little wind, we have a lot of smoke. When I went out this morning I thought that it was just a lot of fireplaces and wood stoves in the area. Later in the day, when I went to the doctor, I found that it was all over city. They shut down the burn this afternoon as a big weather system is headed our way. Tomorrow will be windy and by Saturday we should see some snow here in town. I don’t look forward to the windy days, but the snow will be a nice change. It is mid-November and we haven’t seen any real snow yet. I don’t want the amount we had last year, but some would be nice. There is nothing like taking a brisk walk in a couple of inches of snow after a nice snowfall—before the snow plows and the traffic mess.
I ran a few errands and must say, much to my disappointment, every store I’ve been to this week is decked for Christmas. Thanksgiving stuff is also available, and while I am not a great designer, the fall colors of Thanksgiving and the Christmas colors of red, green, white, and blue do not make for a pleasant visual experience. It’s like the people who are paid big bucks to make a store appealing have all gone on vacation. It is really disturbing. Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations match the fall colors. Then some bean counter says start putting Christmas decorations out before Halloween. Even big box stores only have so much space, so the displays are right next to each other. At least the in-store music hasn’t turned to non-secular Christmas music. Very few things could be worse than trying to buy a Halloween costume while listening to Jingle Bells. It’s time for stores to stop pushing all the fall holidays together, it is making your customers visually bipolar.
I am ready for Thanksgiving. It’s a great day to be with friends, eat way too much food, and usually meet a few new people. Everyone puts in a little—or a lot—of extra work to fix all the food, but it is always appreciated. While there will be snow in Flagstaff next week, we are told to expect no travel problems—for those driving. That is good for many of my friends. It’s still early to start making pies—my donation to the dinner, however, I was happy to see fresh blueberries on sale this week. I have decided that I will make some cranberry sauce soon, just for me. Another friend always brings a really fine cranberry and jalapeño relish which is always devoured. I made a mistake when shopping yesterday. I really like Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte, which is usually only around this time of year. I found a small bag of pumpkin-spice coffee that wasn’t Starbucks, and a can boil and froth some milk. I made a cup today, and I couldn’t taste anything that was even vaguely pumpkin or vaguely spice. Starbucks just can’t be copied. I do know NOW that Starbucks uses espresso in its mix and I am not into coffee enough to get an espresso maker. So Starbucks wins.
Thinking about all I learned about China this week and then hearing Senator Kyl yesterday, I realized that the Chinese have us figured out. We simply like to argue/discuss and do nothing. Kyl is suddenly against a new START treaty with Russia—the treaty the Regan first go signed. Hmmm. Kyl claims to be a conservative and claims that Ron was one of the best Presidents we ever had. Kyl is one of the Senators who wants nothing that Obama wants
HOLY MACKEREL: 1903»Carrie Nation attempts to address the Senate
JEOPARDY PUZZLE—(SuperJeopardy Answers) 1990—Golden Oldies
$100-Title city of 1967 Scott McKenzie hit subtitled "Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair"
$200-In Bobbie Gentry's hit song "Ode To Billie Joe", Billie Joe jumped off this bridge
$300-"There's a crazy little house beyond the tracks, & ev'rybody calls it" this
$400-Of this car, Ronny & The Daytonas sang, "You're really looking fine, 3 deuces & a 4-speed, & a 389"
$500- 1861 song that was the basis of the following Elvis Presley hit:
"Love me tender, love me sweet, never let me go /
You have made my life complete..." Listen Here!
SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION—
»Studies show that people who flirt have higher white blood-cell counts, which boost both immunity and health. Scientists say there are 52 “flirting signals” used by humans. Of these, the hair-flip technique is the most common.
»In Little Rock, AR, an antiquated law is still on the books warning that engaging in playful banter may result in a 30-day jail term. In New York City, another outdated law mandates that men may be fined $25 for gazing lasciviously at a female; a second conviction stipulates the offender wear a pair of blinders whenever he goes out for a walk.
»A full 62 percent of drivers have flirted with someone in a different vehicle while on the go, and 31 percent of those flirtations resulted in a date!
UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM
Manhattan, NY-Police demonstrated their staunch commitment to enforcing the law when they arrested seven men in an Inwood Hill playground — for playing chess.
A swarm of bulletproof vest-clad police descended on the group of men last month and issued them tickets for playing chess in an area reserved for adults who have children with them.
Yes, it's a crime to be in there unaccompanied by minors, even if there are no kids in the playground at the time, which was the case with the men who got busted.
After reviewing the tickets, Jose Navarro, captain of the 34th Precinct, told DNAInfo he backed his officers.
"Under my direction, uniformed officers routinely enter the parks to enforce closing times and other regulations; all designed to protect the community," Navarro wrote in an e-mail to the website. "The NYPD allows for officers to issue summonses in lieu of affecting an arrest for appropriate offenses."
At least one area resident thinks these guys got rooked.
"This incident is an embarrassment to the officers from the 34th Precinct who felt that it was necessary to use their badge and authority to issue such a random summons," Joanne Johnson, a mother who lives in the area, wrote in a letter to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City Council after the bust, according to The New York Post. "Is chess really something that should be considered a threat to the neighborhood?"
The official charge levied against the men, each of whom received a desk-appearance summons, was "failure to comply with signs." They were playing chess in an area demarcated with a fence and dotted with signs that read, "Adults allowed in playground areas only when accompanied by a child under the age of 12."
As one Inwood Hill resident put it to DNAInfo, "Couldn't they just move the tables?"
The "hooligans" are due back in court Dec. 28.
A LITTLE LAUGH
Before I could enroll in my company's medical insurance plan, I needed to fill out a questionnaire. As expected, the form was very thorough, leaving nothing to chance.
One question asked, "Do you think you may need to go to the emergency room within the next three months?"
FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’
GREY MATTER PICTURE
This is a close up of what object?
SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION
¤ Weekly Observances ¤
14-20: American Education Week, Geography Awareness Week, National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week, National Global Entrepreneurship Week
19-25:National Farm-City Week
21-28: National Bible Week, National Family Week, National Game & Puzzle Week, National Teens Don't Text and Drive Week, Better Conversation Week, Church/State Separation Week
¤ Today’s Observances ¤
Have A Bad Day Day
World Toilet Day
International Men's Day (recognized in : Australia, Canada, Ghana, Hungary, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States)
Brazil: Flag DayMali : Liberation Day (1968 bloodless coup that gave true independence)
Monaco : Monegasque National Day (1861 Independence from France)
Puerto Rico : Discovery Day (1493)
United Arab Emirates : Pilgrimage
¤ Top 10 Country songs of 20th Century ¤
According to KKBQ in Houston—not sure I agree with this list, but some good songs are here
Click on Song Title to see and hear the original
¤ Today’s Births ¤
╬ THE ARTS
Dick Cavett, 74, television pundit
Tommy Dorsey, orchestra leader (Stage Show, Mahogany)—in 1905
Larry King, 77, talk show host
Hank Medress, singer: group: The Tokens: The Lion Sleeps Tonight—in 1938
Allen Tate, American poet (Mr Pope & Other Poems)—in 1899
♦♦Actors♦♦
Jodie Foster, 48, actress (Oscars for The Accused, The Silence of the Lambs; Taxi Driver)
Allison Janney, 50, actress (Juno, American Beauty, “The West Wing”)
Meg Ryan, 49, actress (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, Proof of Life)
Alan Young, English actor (Time Machine, Wilbur Post-Mr Ed)—in 1919
╬ ATHLETICS
Jose Raul Capablanca, Cuban world chess champion (1921-27)—in 1888
Roy Campanella, Brooklyn Dodger catcher (NL MVP 1951/53/55)—in 1921
Patrick Kane, 22, hockey (Blackhawks)
Ahmad Rashad (Robert Earl ‘Bobby’ Moore), 61, sportscaster, football (Cardinals, Bills, Seahawks, Vikings)
Kerri Strug, 33, Olympic gymnast
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
George Rogers Clark, American frontiersman, field commander: founded Louisville KY; brother of General William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition—in 1752
Calvin Klein, 68, fashion designer
Ted Turner, 72, baseball, basketball and television executive
╬ POLITICS
Charles I, king of England (1625-49); executed by Parliament—in 1600
Indira Gandhi, Indian PM (1966-77, 1980-84)
James Garfield, 20th U.S. President [1881], first left-handed president; assassinated—in 1831
Jeane J Kirkpatrick, US ambassador to UN—in 1926
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
Eileen Collins, 54, first female space shuttle commander, Lieutenant Colonel USAF retired
Ferdinand de Lesseps, French diplomat (built Suez Canal)—in 1805
¤ Today’s Obituaries ¤
Franz Schubert, Austrian composer, typhoid fever or syphilis @ 31 in 1828 Ave Maria
Emma Lazarus, US poet ("Give us your tired & poor"), Hodgkin’s @ 38 in 1887
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,With conquering limbs astride from land to land;Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall standA mighty woman with a torch, whose flameIs the imprisoned lightning, and her nameMother of Exiles. From her beacon-handGlows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes commandThe air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame."Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries sheWith silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"Emma Lazarus, 1883
Joe Hill, Labor leader, executed for murder @ 36 in 1915 Joe Hill Song--Paul Robeson
¤ Today’s Events ¤
╬ THE ARTS
1954»Sammy Davis, Jr. was involved in a serious auto accident in San Bernardino, CA. Three days later, Davis lost the sight in his left eye
1979»Chuck Berry released from prison on income tax evasion
╬ ATHLETICS
1951»Roy Campanella named NL MVP on his 30th birthday
1966»Six weeks before his 31st birthday, LA Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax, plagued by arthritis, announced his retirement from baseball
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1928»After five years of publication, TIME magazine presented a cover portrait for the first time. Japanese Emperor Hirohito was the magazine’s first cover subject
1954»Two automatic toll collectors were placed in service on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey
1959»Ford cancels the Edsel
╬ INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1794»According to the Jay Treaty and Northwest Territory Treaty, Indians can cross borders.
1870»On the Wichita River in Texas, Private James Anderson, Company M, Sixth Cavalry, will "earn" a Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in the pursuit and subsequent fight with a group of "hostile Indians
╬ POLITICS (US)
1863»Lincoln delivers his address in Gettysburg; "4 score & 7 years..."
1919»US Senate rejects (55-39) Treaty of Versailles & League of Nations
╬ POLITICS (International)
1794»Jay Treaty, 1st US extradition treaty, signed with Great Britain
1977»Egyptian President Anwar Sadat arrives in Israel
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
1644»1st Protestant ministry society in New England
1895»Frederick E. Blaisdell of Philadelphia, PA patented what he called the paper pencil -- a paper-wrapped pencil with a string for revealing more lead
1947»200" mirror arrives at Mt Palomar
GREY MATTER ANSWERS
↔ JEOPARDY
$100-Title city of 1967 Scott McKenzie hit subtitled "Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair"
What is San Francisco?
$200-In Bobbie Gentry's hit song "Ode To Billie Joe", Billie Joe jumped off this bridge
What is the Tallachatie Bridge? Note: Don’t know why, but always thought it was the Tallahassee.
$300-"There's a crazy little house beyond the tracks, & ev'rybody calls it" this
What is the Sugar Shack?
$400-Of this car, Ronny & The Daytonas sang, "You're really looking fine, 3 deuces & a 4-speed, & a 389"
What is my Little GTO?
$500- 1861 song that was the basis of the following Elvis Presley hit
What is Aura Lee?
↔ PICTURE
Nosepiece on eyeglasses
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