Tuesday

23 February 2010--Week 8 of 2010: 54 days this year…311 remain

» Quote Times Two «

"Love is sentimental measles." ~Charles Kingsley

“A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.” ~Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906); Playwright

» Free Ramblings «

Another day of snow here in Flag. We’ve gotten a total of about 8” during this storm. It was also a little colder than I like. Our high was at midnight last night—30°, with the high during the day a very cool 24°. Did I mention the steady winds of around 22 mph. Well they helped make it feel like 6° outside. Here I was just talking about how we had snow with no cold temperatures. Our next storm isn’t due till Saturday, so maybe it will warm up.

I have always been a fan of rice. Brown rice, white rice, fried rice, whatever. Cooking rice, not so much. My mother always used a pressure cooker to get her fluffy rice. I did the same for many years, until one day when I forgot I had it cooking. Luckily, it didn’t blow, but instead burned. It was a very foul smell, and never all came off the bottom of the pressure cooker, not matter how many times it was scrubbed. So, after that, I still liked rice, but moved to ‘instant’ rice. I never really liked it and cut my rice consumption by about 90%. Then I heard about rice cookers/steamers. Perfect rice, every time was the promise. Hmm. I bought one about 2 weeks ago. It is amazing. It works on brown rice, white rice, and even vegetables. I am now a rice lover again. Steaming veggies is also easier. Too bad I didn’t find one years ago. Oh, they weren’t that good years ago, but now they are great.

Tomorrow I get my permanent crown. Of course, when I was brushing my teeth after dinner, the temporary came off. Since I won’t be eating anymore tonight, I guess it will be OK. While this temporary didn’t keep coming off, it was a real hassle. It seems to have had a real magnet for food to get between it and the teeth next to it. I’m a flosser, but not every time I eat. For the past two and a half weeks, I carried floss with me. It will be nice to have a permanent one that fits. I sure hope I never have to deal with partials or full dentures. I’m sure they would drive me crazy.

»* Winter Olympics* «

The Vancouver Olympics opened on Feb 12.

Only two countries south of the equator have ever won medals at the Olympic Winter Games—Australia and New Zealand.

»Side Show Stories—«

CHARDON, Ohio - An Ohio man said he is putting the finishing touches on his winter project: a 625-square-foot snow castle built in the front yard of his family's home. Jimmy Grey, 25, of the Chardon area in Geauga County, said the 25-foot-by-25-foot structure, which boasts four rooms, a flat-screen TV, a surround-sound system, strobe lights and beer that never goes warm, was a project born out of a desire to keep busy after losing his job last spring, The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland reported Monday. Grey said he started the project after an early January snowstorm using snow collected from his neighborhood and soon found himself enlisting friends to help truck snow in from around the area. The man said the luxury igloo, which uses electricity from his garage and cable TV from his house, hosts get-togethers a few nights a week and will likely remain a monument to his winter well into the warm months.

"To be honest," Grey's father, Jim Sr., said, "I'll be surprised if it's gone by the Fourth of July."

»Random Fact: «

In November 1582, Shakespeare applied for a license to marry Anne Whateley. “Anne Whateley” could be a scribal error for Anne Hathaway, whom he married on or about November 30. She was three months pregnant at the time. William and Anne Shakespeare had three children. Susanna was christened in May 1583, and the twins Judith and Hamnet in February 1585.

» 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 knife (HINT: S - - -)

2 rabbit (HINT: - A - -)

3 flower (HINT: - - I -)

4 sleeveless torso garment (HINT: - - - T)

» 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 ☼

International Friendship Week: 17-23

Build A Better Trade Show Image Week: 21-27

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week: 21-27

Read Me Week: 22-26

☼ 23 February Observances—US/UN/World ☼

International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day

Curling is Cool Day: yeah, the sport

Iwo Jima Day (flag raised) since 1945 (Iwo Jima means ‘sulfur island’) (flag raised on 5th day of the 44 day battle)

Spay Day: to save unwanted future cats and dogs

☼23 February Observances—by country ☼

Brunei : National Day

Guyana : Mashramani - Republic Day (1970) : meaning job well done

Former Soviet Union: Red Army Day or Day of Soviet Army and Navy Now:

     Russia: Defender of the Fatherland Day

     Belarus: Fatherland Defenders and Armed Forces Day

     Tajikistan: National Army Day

☼ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1896…Tootsie Roll introduced by Leo Hirshfield
☼ Born on this day ☼ 

     » The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

John Blow, in 1649, composer of 1st English opera (Venus & Adonis)

William E B Du Bois, in 1868, civil rights writer (Souls of Black Folk)

George Frideric Händel, in 1685, (Germany) organist/Baroque composer (Messiah)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Emily Blunt, 27, actress (The Devil Wears Prada, “Gideon’s Daughter”)

Victor Fleming, in 1883, director (Wizard of Oz, Gone With Wind)

Peter Fonda, 71, actor (Easy Rider, Ulee’s Gold)

Howard Jones, 55, singer--synthpop

Patricia Richardson, 59, actress (“Home Improvement”)

Kenneth Tobey, in 1917, actor (Chuck-Whirlybirds)

Johnny Winter (John Dawson III), 66, singer, musician

     »Athletes

Fred Biletnikoff, 67, NFL wide receiver (Raiders)

Roberto Martin Antonio (Bobby) Bonilla, 47, former baseball player (Pirates, Mets, Braves, Cardinals)

Edward Lee “Too Tall” Jones, 59, football (Cowboys) and boxer

     »Business, Education

Sylvia Chase, 72, newscaster

     »Politics

Naruhito, 50, crown prince of Japan

     »Science/Religion

Agnes Arber, in 1879, English biologist/philosopher

☼Today’s Obits ☼

John Keats, in 1821, Romantic poet, tuberculosis @ 25

Thomas Woodrow Wilson, in 1924, 28th US President @ 68

Stan Laurel, in 1965, comedian (Laurel & Hardy), heart attack @ 74

Edna Ferber, in 1968, US author (Giant, Showboat), @ 80

James Herriot, in 1995, Scot author (All Creatures Great & Small), @ 78

☼What Happened on this Day ☼

     » The Arts

1910…1st radio contest held (Philadelphia)

1940…Walt Disney's animated movie "Pinocchio", released

     »Athletics

1874…Major Walter Winfield patents game called "sphairistike" (lawn tennis)

1980…13th Winter Olympics games close at Lake Placid NY

1988…15th Winter Olympics games opens in Calgary, Alberta

1992…16th Winter Olympics games close in Albertville, France

     »Business, Education

1821…The Philadelphia College of Apothecaries established: first pharmacy U.S. college

1892…1st college student government established, Bryn Mawr

     »Politics

1455…Johannes Gutenberg prints 1st book, the Bible (estimated date)

1792…Humane Society of Massachusetts incorporated (erected life-saving stations for distressed mariners)

1836…Alamo besieged by Santa Anna; entire garrison eventually killed

1903…Cuban state of Guantanamo leased to USA

1927…President Coolidge creates Federal Radio Commission (FCC predecessor)

     »Science/Religion

1886…Aluminum manufacturing process developed
1954…1st mass inoculation with Salk vaccine

1987…Supernova 1987A in LMC 1st seen; 1st naked-eye supernova since 1604

» Number One Songs in…

1950…Dear Hearts and Gentle People - Bing Crosby

1958…Short Shorts - The Royal Teens

1966…Lightnin’ Strikes - Lou Christie

1974…The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand

1982…Centerfold - The J. Geils Band

» ANSWERS to puzzle «

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