Saturday

20 February 2010--Week 7 of 2010: 50 days this year…315 remain

» Quote Times Two «

" Man`s horizons are bounded by his vision. " ~unknown

“Those who can adapt to change are those who will continue to grow.” ~Justin Ramalho

» Free Ramblings «

The Olympics had some great events again today. In all the commentary I learned that one of the Great Britain’s Women’s Curling Team is a Scot. The interesting information says she also is a top golfer in Scotland, and plays the bagpipes. I am such a multi-tasker I missed her name. It was mentioned during the announcer banter when nothing is really happening. I was busy reading a magazine and by the time I re-focused they never said which lady it was. If they keep playing the way they are, I’m sure I will hear it again. The Lady Brits are doing well in Curling.

My newspaper is always in the snow when I go out to get it about 6:30a every morning. It is easy to spot in the snow—as it always wrapped in a blue bag. This morning I was out there to find there was no paper. At 10a there was no paper. I was busy today doing a variety of house things and didn’t go back outside until about 4p to continue my daily task of breaking up the ice on the sidewalk. At 4p, there was the paper, right where it always is every morning. This is strange because I usually call when I don’t get the paper, but today I didn’t call. It just showed up all by itself, about ten hours late. I have to wonder where it spent the day. It hadn’t been read by someone else, so, whatever it did all day, it found its way home before dark.

I did catch Tiger’s mea culpa today. I caught it live and saw the whole thing. All the news stations are playing sound bites, but the not repeating the whole thing. I admitted that he had been in therapy and still had more ahead. His speech had all sound of therapy. He has taken a big step. I now realize that all I have ever heard from Tiger in the media are sound bites. He is not a great speaker. He had obviously written the words himself. He apologized to his fans, his sponsors, his friends and family, and the sport of golf. He looked tired, he appeared sincere, and he knows he needs more help. He has said he strayed from his Buddhist beliefs and is hoping to return to those basic beliefs. Fine, we know him as a golfer, a very rich golfer. I say, let him deal with his own devils, leave him alone. When he plays golf, let us enjoy his skill on the course.

This was a windy, windy day. Clouds blew in, clouds blew out, trees bent, snow became crustier than it already was. The birds have not been eating as much during our good weather this past week. Today they returned to prepare for whatever is in store for us. We made it to 42° but the 30+mph winds made the wind chill about 10° cooler than the thermometer. The ol’ weather people say we will get 3-4” of snow tomorrow with winds about ½ of what they were today. When, oh when, will this end? May?, June? Later?

»* Winter Olympics* «

The Vancouver Olympics open on Feb 12.

The Shea Family of Lake Placid, New York, is the first to produce three generations of Olympians. Father Jack, 91, was a double-gold medalist in speed skating, son Jim, Sr., was a U.S. ski team member at the 1964 Innsbruck Games, and in 2002 grandson Jim, Jr., won a gold medal in skeleton.

»Side Show Stories—Salt«

If the world's oceans evaporated, enough salt would be crystallized to cover Britain to a depth of 50 miles.

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Being hygroscopic, salt spread on dusty floors in equestrian centers and indoor arenas retains moisture and keeps down dust.

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Until recently, salt bars were the standard currency of Ethiopia.

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In ancient Greece, slaves were traded for salt, hence the expression "not worth his salt".

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In his painting The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci put an over turned salt cellar in front of the ill-fated Judas.

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In old Japanese theaters, salt was sprinkled on the stage before performances to prevent evil spirits from casting a spell on the actors and ruining the play.

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In Arab countries salt was used to seal a bargain, and also as a sign of friendship.

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The Druids used salt in their rituals at Stonehenge. It is thought that this was as a symbol of the life-giving fruits of the earth.

»Random Fact: «

Refrigerating apples can help them last up to 10 times longer than those left at room temperature.

» Puzzle «

Word Boxes are like miniature crossword puzzles, except that each word is filled in across AND down the grid. That is, the answer to 1 across is the same word as the answer to 1 down; 2 across is the same as 2 down; etc. Can you solve these Word Boxes? To solve: draw a square that has four X four sections.

1 congealed blood (HINT: C - - -)

2 disabled by wounds or soreness (HINT: - A - -)

3 leave out (HINT: - - I -)

4 head (French) (HINT: - - - E)

» Calendar Information «

☼ February’s Month Long Observances ☼

Birthstone: Amethyst …Flower: Violet and Primrose

Adopt A Rescued Rabbit Month^AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month^American Heart Month^Bake for Family Fun Month^Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month^Grapefruit Month^International Boost Self-Esteem Month^International Expect Success Month^Jobs in Golf Month^Library Lovers Month^Marijuana Awareness Month^National African American History Month^National Bird Feeding Month^National Black History Month^National Care About Your Indoor Air Month^National Cherry Month^National Condom Month^National Children's Dental Health Month^National Laugh-Friendly Month^National Mend A Broken Heart Month^National Parent Leadership Month^National Pet Dental Health Month^National Senior Independence Month^National Time Management Month^Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month^Pull Your Sofa Off The Wall Month^Relationship Wellness Month^Responsible Pet Owner's Month^Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month^Spiritual Teachers Month^Spunky Old Broads Month^ Sweet Potato Month^Wise Health Care Consumer Month^ Youth Leadership Month^

☼ Observance Weeks in February ☼

Alzheimers and Dementia Awareness Week: 14-21

Love a Mench Week: 14-21

National Condom Week: 14-21

National Engineers Week: 14-20

National Pancake Week: 14-20

International Friendship Week: 17-23

☼ 20 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼

Hoodie Hoo Day: people go out at noon, wave their hands over their heads and chant "Hoodie-Hoo", a day to chase away winter and bring in spring.

John Glenn Day ( for 1st orbit in space:1962)

Love Your Pet Day

☼20 February Observances—by country ☼

World Day for Social Justice: since 2006

☼ Holy Mackerel: 1893…A Congressional Act modifies the White Mountain-San Carlos-Camp Apache Reserve, in western Arizona Territory. It is amended further on June 10, 1896. At its' largest, it comprises 2,866 square miles, and be occupied by Arivaipa, Chillion, Chiricahua,Coyotero, Membreno, Mogollon, Mohave, Pinal, San Carlos, Tonto, and Yuma-Apache tribes.

☼ Born on this day ☼

     » The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Ansel Adams, in 1902, photographer

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Amanda Blake [Beverly Louise Neill], in 1929, actress (Miss Kitty-Gunsmoke)

Cindy Crawford, 44, model, actress

Kurt Cobain, in 1967, rock vocalist (Nirvana)

John Daly, in 1914, (South Africa) newscaster/TV game show host (What's My Line)

Sandy Duncan, 64, actress (Funny Face, “The Hogan Family,” Peter Pan)

Mary Garden, 1874, (Aberdeen Scotland) opera star

Kelsey Grammer, in 1955, (Virgin Islands) actor

Sidney Poitier, 83, actor (In the Heat of the Night; Oscar for Lilies of the Field)

Buffy Sainte-Marie, 69, (SK, Canada) folksinger

Gloria Vanderbilt, 86, fashion designer, artist

Nancy Wilson, 73, singer

     »Athletes

Charles Barkley, 47, basketball

Stephon Marbury, 33, basketball

Bob Richards, 84, 'Vaulting Vicar': Olympic pole-vaulter

Roger Penske, 73, race car driver, team owner

Robert William (Bobby) Unser, 76, auto racer

     »Business, Education, Politics

Adam Black, in 1784, (Edinburgh Scotland) politician/publisher

Gordon Brown, 59, (Glasgow, Scotland) Prime Minister of Great Britain

Cecil H King, in 1901, Irish/British daily newspaper publisher (Daily Mirror)

Patty Hearst Shaw, 56, newspaper heiress kidnapped by Symbionese Liberation Army; actress

William Prescott, in 1726, soldier: American Revolutionary War: “Don’t fire until you see the white’s of their eyes.”

     »Science/Religion

Ludwig Eduard Boltzmann, in 1844, Austrian physicist (statistical mechanics)
☼Today’s Obits ☼

Frederick Douglass, in 1895, escaped slave, anti-slavery leader, @ 78

Clarence Nash, in 1985, voice of Donald Duck, leukemia @ 80

Walter Winchell, in 1972, writer@ 74 
Dick York, in 1992, actor (Bewitched), emphysema @ 63
☼What happened on this day? ☼

     » The Arts

1950…Dylan Thomas arrives in New York NY for his 1st US poetry reading tour

     »Athletics

1927…Golfers in South Carolina arrested for violating Sabbath

     »Business, Education, Politics

1673…1st recorded wine auction held (London)

1745…Bonnie Prince Charlie's troops occupy Fort August, Scotland

1746…Bonnie Prince Charlie occupies Castle of Inverness

1872…Hydraulic electric elevator patented by Cyrus Baldwin

1872…Luther Crowell patents a machine that manufactures paper bags

1895…Congress authorizes a US mint at Denver CO

1929…American Samoa organized as a territory of US

1944…Batman & Robin comic strip premieres in newspapers

1947…Chemical mixing error causes explosion that destroys 42 blocks in Los Angeles CA

1985…Ireland a predominantly Catholic country after much debate allows contraceptives to be sold.

     »Science/Religion

1962…John Glenn is 1st American to orbit Earth (Friendship 7)

1989…Total eclipse of the Moon

» Number One Songs in…

1947…For Sentimental Reasons - Nat King Cole

1955…Sincerely - McGuire Sisters

1963…Hey Paula - Paul & Paula

1971…If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot

1979…Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? - Rod Stewart

» ANSWERS to puzzle «

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