This is Week 41 of 2010►Day 283 with 82 days left.
FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
We visited two traditional longhouses of the Iban. As many as forty relatives live in one very long house. Each house has a veranda that joins the rooms together. Private quarters are small and used for cooking, sleeping, and in some cases, watching satellite TV. Our first longhouse also had an outside veranda for hanging clothes. It was so humid I never did figure out how the clothes ever dried. We were greeted with male tribal members doing a sort of Welcoming ceremony. There were lots of colorful costumes, great music and dancing, and a prayer. After entering, we had another ceremony that asked the Gods for Health, Wealth, and Happiness. This home had a bag of skulls hanging at the entrance. At least three generations were there to greet us. The men were farmers, the women were weavers, and the kids were just kids. Farming means going into the forest and finding plants and animals to eat, use for medicine, or to sell down the river at a town. This is certainly not an easy life. The Iban use blow darts to stun and kill their prey and their enemies. The heads of enemies are smoked and then hung outside the main entrance to warn off others. The story is that this practice ended by law in 1941, just before the Japanese invasion. The government permitted it during the war on the Japanese, then banned it again after the war. I couldn’t help but wonder if there were still some traditional people out there who don’t know or follow the law. Pandaw pays the longhouse chief for our visits and programs. They also pay the locals to keep the trails clear or semi-clear for visitors. (Some plants grow as much as ½” per hour.) They also pay a rental fee for the use of the trails to the longhouse. Each season they go to different longhouses so that many can share in the bounty. This reminded me of the various tour groups who come to the rez and visit a hogan.
Usually a woman moves into the longhouse of her husband. They live in the father’s private quarters until they can add on another private room. In one of the private rooms that was open to the public, a 2 week old baby was sleeping under a mosquito netting. So hard to imagine all these extended family members living in harmony in this tiny community.
At one of the dances, the girls wear a metal ball or two hanging from their waist. In the ‘olden days’—only 60 years ago—the metal balls were the skulls of enemies. We learned about the longhouse governmental system—after all how can a bunch of relatives live in one house and not have issues. Saving face seems to be the most important thing. Losing face is a very bad thing. Most issues are settled by the Longhouse Chief—a hereditary role. If he can’t settle the dispute, it goes to the River Chief—elected by the Chiefs of the longhouses in that section of the river. If the River Chief can’t settle the dispute, the parties go to the District Chief. Eventually the dispute can be settled by the national government courts. The National government recognizes traditional law and customs for all the tribes in Borneo. They only become involved when asked. The National government also gives out subsidies to each longhouse twice a year. Sometimes this is plants, sometimes food stuffs needed that aren’t in the forest. If a longhouse suffers a disaster—such as flooding, the National government will provide emergency assistance.
A politician is a politician. At the visit to our second longhouse, the River Chief was there for a visit. If his white uniform shirt was not enough to identify him, he was busy introducing himself to all the visitors. He mentioned, more than once, that he should be at his office in the city, but was staying because “so many important people have come to this longhouse”. During our visit, some businessmen pulled up in a black car. The River Chief was out there in a flash, shaking hands, talking, and joking with these locals. It was very reminiscent of Dine’ politicians at a family gathering.
Flag was nice today, and I took a much needed long walk around. It is still chilly in the morning, so long pants and shoes and socks were in order. We didn’t have any rain, but there were high clouds. A good day.
Flag…H—64°; L—30°; RH—41%; and only a breeze of about 5mph.
QUOTE FOR THE DAY --Malay Proverb
The language you speak would tell us your race
(meaning of proverb: what you speak will show your behavioral to the persons you speak to)
HOLY MACKEREL: 1997 Jodie Williams, key organizer of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, won the Nobel Peace Prize. And what did she say was her secret weapon for organizing 1,000 different human rights and arms control groups on six continents? “E-mail.”
SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION
^Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.
^December 25 was not celebrated as the birthday of Christ until the year 440 A.D.
GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Answers—INVENTIONS
$100- He invented the Franklin stove
$200- Detection of gamma rays was 1 of the uses for this 1947 instant picture taker
$300- 2,160 people at a time could ride on this at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair
$400- Edison suggested it be used to record phone calls & make clocks talk
$500-The first patent pool was for this invention by Howe, Hunt & Singer
UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - Police in South Carolina said they arrested a man who tried to rob a bank but instead thanked the teller and left when she claimed not to have any money. North Charleston police said Melvin Jesse Blain, 31, who had recently served 46 months in prison for a bank robbery conviction, admitted to entering the Wachovia branch at 1 p.m. and handing the teller a note demanding $30,000 in $100 bills, the Charleston Post and Courier reported Thursday. The police report said Blain thanked the teller and left the bank when the teller told him she didn't have the money. Blain was arrested while walking down the street where the bank is located. He was charged with entering a bank with the intent to steal.
A LITTLE LAUGH
Before my son could start going on job interviews, he needed to dress the part. That, he decided, required a $500 suit.
"What!?" I answered, gagging at the price tag. "I've bought cars for $500!"
"That's why I want the $500 suit," he said. "So I don't have to drive $500 cars."
FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’
Iban Welcome Dance: Click Here to View
Note: This link has lots of good video of the tribe. Interested in Head Hunters, click away.
GREY MATTER PICTURE
This is a close up of what object?
SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION
¤ Weekly Observances ¤
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 ¤
International Newspaper Carrier Day
National Cake Decorating Day
Naval Academy Day: Annapolis opened in 1845
Clergy Appreciation Day
World Mental Health Day
Afghanistan: Deliverance Day
Cuba: Yara Day/Beginning of War of Independence (1868)
Fiji: Fiji Day, celebrate the independence from United Kingdom 1970
Finland: Aleksis Kivi Day (1834) The Day of Finnish literature, birthday of the National writer Aleksis Kivi.
Japan: Health-Sports Day (1964)
Namibia & South Africa: Kruger Day (1825)
North Korea: Party Foundation Day, the foundation of the Workers' Party of Korea
Oklahoma: Historical Day (1802)
South Dakota: Pioneers' Day
Taiwan: Double Tenth Day/National Day (1911) (雙十國慶), celebrate outbreak of the Wuchang Insurgence that led to founding of the Republic of China or Taiwan led by Sun Yet-Sen
Wash DC: Samuel Fraunces Day (Black Slave and steward to George Washington)
¤ Hit Songs on this date ¤
1898...She Was Happy Till She Met You / Dan Quinn
1908...Cuddle Up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine / Ada Jones & Billy Murray Click Here for Audio
1918...Rock-A-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody / Al Jolson Click Here for Audio
1928...I Can't Give You Anything But Love / Cliff Edwards ("Ukelele Ike") not original: Click Here for Audio
1938...I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams / Bing Crosby Click Here for Audio
1948…A Tree in the Meadow / Margaret Whiting
1958…It's All in the Game / Tommy Edwards Click Here for Audio
1968…Hey Jude/ The Beatles Click Here for Audio
1978…Kiss You All Over / Exile
¤ Today’s Births ¤
╬ THE ARTS
James Clavell, author (Tai Pan, Shogun), in 1920 or 1924
Johnny Green, songwriter: Coquette, Body and Soul, I’m Yours, [You Came Along From] Out of Nowhere, I Cover the Waterfront, Easy Come, Easy Go; won five Oscars for work on MGM films: Easter Parade, West Side Story, Oliver, An American in Paris, Bye Bye Birdie, High Society, Raintree County, The Great Caruso, Summer Stock, Brigadoon, in 1908
Mario Lopez, 37, actor (“Saved by the Bell,” “DWTS”, “Extra”)
Nora Roberts, 60, author (Birthright, Hidden Riches, Rising Tides) David Lee Roth, 55, singer (Van Halen)
Tanya Tucker, 52, singer (Delta Dawn)
Lin Yutang (林语堂), Chinese writer (My Country & My People) in 1895
Giuseppe Verdi, composed operas (Rigoletto, Aida, Otello) in 1813
♦♦♦♦♦♦
Helen Hayes, Wash DC, actress (C‘sar & Cleopatra, Happy Birthday) in 1900
Ben Vereen, 64, actor, singer, dancer (Tony for Pippin; Roots, All That Jazz, “Webster”)
╬ ATHLETICS
Bob Burnquist, 34, skateboarder, born Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Bruce Devlin, 73, golf: 8 PGA Tour titles
Dale Earnhardt, Jr, 36, race car driver
Brett Favre, 41, football player
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
--
╬ POLITICS
Queen Isabella II Queen of Spain (1833-68) in 1830
Paul Kruger, president: South Africa; leader of the Boers, in 1825
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
Henry Cavendish, English physicist/chemist (discovered hydrogen) in 1731
¤ Today’s Obituaries ¤
Yul Brynner, actor (King & I), cancer @ 70 in 1985
Eddie Cantor, comedian (Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater), heart attack @ 72 in 1964
Orson Welles, actor (Citizen Kane), @ heart attack @70 in 1985
¤ Today’s Events ¤
╬ THE ARTS
1935 George Gershwin's "Porgy & Bess" opens on Broadway
1965 The Red Baron made his first appearance in the Peanuts comic strip with the defender of all good, Snoopy.
╬ ATHLETICS
1964 18th modern Olympic Games open in Tokyo
1976 Greece's 98 year-old Dimitrion Yordanidis, is oldest man to compete in a marathon; he finishes in 7:33
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1865 The billiard ball was patented by John Wesley Hyatt. Mr. Hyatt won $10,000 in a contest. He was the first person to come up with a substitute for the ivory ball (in use at the time)
1886 1st dinner jacket (jacket without tails)worn to autumn ball at Tuxedo Park, NY (the tuxedo)
╬ INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1615 Champlain fights with the Onondagas (the Haudenosaunee (“People of the Long House”), an alliance of native nations united for hundreds of years by traditions, beliefs and cultural values.Also referred to as the Iroquois Confederacy or Six Nations, the Haudenosaunee consist of the Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, Onondaga Nation's and Tuscarora nations.
1802 1st non Indian settlement in Oklahoma
╬ POLITICS (US)
1957 Pres Eisenhower apologizes to finance minister of Ghana, Komla Agbeli Gbdemah, after he is refused service in a Dover, Del, restaurant
1973 VP Spiro T Agnew pleads no contest to tax evasion & resigns
╬ POLITICS (International)
1943 Chiang Kai-shek takes oath of office as president of China
1963 Treaty banning atmospheric nuclear tests signed by US, UK, USSR
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
1780 Great Hurricane of 1780 kills 20,000 to 30,000 in Caribbean
GREY MATTER ANSWERS
↔ 1
$100- He invented the Franklin stove: Who is Ben Franklin?
$200- Detection of gamma rays was 1 of the uses for this 1947 instant picture taker: What is Polaroid-Land Camera?
$300- 2,160 people at a time could ride on this at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair: What is a Ferris Wheel?
$400- Edison suggested it be used to record phone calls & make clocks talk: What is a phonograph?
$500-The first patent pool was for this invention by Howe, Hunt & Singer: What is the sewing machine?
↔ PICTURE
Green apples
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