Sunday 1-2-11

HOLY MACKEREL: 1903 President T Roosevelt shuts down post office in Indianola MI, for refusing to accept its appointed postmistress because she was black

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MY FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

So this is 2011. Hmmm. It was cold (-10) when I got up. I hope this isn’t the trend. The snow isn’t melting, but no new snow is piling up either. The wind makes it feel pretty cold. Spent the day with watching parades and ball games.

How many Bowl Games does it take say there are too many. I grew up with 4 major Bowl Games: Rose, Cotton, Orange, and Sugar. Most of the rest were considered ‘toilet’ bowls—at least until one of my teams played.

Back then there was no National Championship so we never knew who was really #1. Then the NCAA made a rotating Championship Bowl. As I read the results of the Championship game, it seems that many believe we still don’t know which team is #1. Anyway, I am still having a problem with my old Bowls which now have Corporate Names—anyway to make a few bucks. For those interested, there are 4 major Bowl games with the Nat’l Championship rotating between the Rose, Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls. Then there are the minor bowls. There are 30 of them including: ‘Beef-o-Brady’ Bowl, Military Bowl, Poinsettia Bowl, Meineke Car Care Bowl, Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, Humanitarian Bowl, Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl, and many more. Back in my college days I thought the games were about football. In my senior year my college played in the Orange Bowl. Lots of hype, lots of excitement; it was great. Today the colleges/universities make money on bowl games. They probably did back in the day which explains why there were/are so many bowls. The payout for one of the major bowl games is $18million with each team getting about 49% and the Bowl must keep the rest. Winning or losing has nothing to do with the payout—it’s all about the prestige. The teams at the New Orleans Bowl split a meager $325K. By the end of Bowl Season the college/universities across our country will be receiving a total of $390million dollars. That is amazing. Of course, none of the players get any of that money and without the players there wouldn’t be any game. The only thing the players get is a gift bag which cannot exceed $500 in value—as per NCAA rules.

On NPR I heard that the Duke Basketball team had a 92% GSR (graduation success rate—a 6 year average of team members who graduate with a degree). This rate is very high according to the story. I guess so, because GSR for teams playing in last year’s football bowls is all over the map. Notre Dame football players have a GSR of 96% while 3 schools (Hawaii, Florida International, South Florida) were at the bottom of the list with a GSR of 46%. NCAA is talking about new rules that would keep school with low GSR’s out of Bowl games. I guess I’m an old school guy who thought that going to college was a big deal and meant that you were there for an education. While not everyone who goes to college graduates, it seems to me that schools with less than 50% of their athletes graduating needs to reevaluate what ‘winning’ and ‘losing’ really means.

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∞ JEOPARDY PUZZLE—(Super-Jeopardy Answers) from 1990 WORLD GEOGRAPHY
…answers at bottom…
→This country's deserts include the Gibson, Great Sandy & Great Victoria
→Jamestown is the capital of this British island where Napoleon died
→In population, it's the largest city in South America
→Found mostly in the Soviet Union, this belt of grassland runs 5,000 miles from Hungary to Manchuria
→Iona is part of this Scottish island group

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM--TORONTO

A Toronto Maple Leafs’ fan was ejected from a game, and then arrested, after becoming the latest to throw waffles onto the ice to protest the team's poor play. Toronto police charged Joseph Robb, 31, of Oakville with mischief after he allegedly threw several waffles and an Eggo box onto the ice during the third period of Monday night's loss to the Atlanta Thrashers, the Toronto Star reported. Robb was banned from all three Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment arenas, officials said. A man first threw a handful of waffles onto the ice after the team's Dec. 9 loss against the Philadelphia Flyers and a Twitter user who identified himself as Jack M. took responsibility and threatened to strike again. Using the handle "EGGO_BOMBER," he tweeted the Leafs "need to wake up and eat some breakfast." The Leafs (12-17-4) have lost three straight games and five of their last seven, and are in last place in the Northeast Division, 12 points behind first-place Montreal.

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION—calendars

→The early Roman calendar designated March 1 as the New Year. The calendar had just ten months, beginning with March. September through December, our ninth through twelfth months, were originally positioned as the seventh through tenth months (septem is Latin for "seven," octo is "eight," novem is "nine," and decem is "ten."

→The month of January did not even exist until around 700 B.C., when the second king of Rome, Numa Pontilius, added the months of January and February.

→The new year was moved from March to January in Rome in 153 B.C. because that was the beginning of the civil year, the month that the two newly elected Roman consuls—the highest officials in the Roman republic—began their one-year tenure.

→In 46 B.C. Julius Caesar introduced a new, solar-based calendar that was a vast improvement on the ancient Roman calendar. The Julian calendar decreed that the New Year would occur with January 1, and within the Roman world, January 1 became the consistently observed start of the new year.

→In medieval Europe, however, the celebrations accompanying the new year were considered pagan and unchristian like, and in 567 the Council of Tours abolished January 1 as the beginning of the year. At various times and in various places throughout medieval Christian Europe, the new year was celebrated on Dec. 25, the birth of Jesus; March 1; March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation; and Easter.

→In 1582, the Gregorian calendar reform restored January 1 as new year's day. Although most Catholic countries adopted the Gregorian calendar almost immediately, it was only gradually adopted among Protestant countries.

A LITTLE LAUGH

Tarzan and Jane were expecting their fourth child and were pretty strapped for cash, so Tarzan decided to go into the used-crocodile business. Monday morning he got up early, shaved, put on his best loin cloth, swung down to the river, and spent the whole day fighting, haggling over and hassling with cranky crocs.

As dusk fell, a wan Tarzan swung back to the tree house and demanded, "Quick, Jane, a martini!" Tossing it back he barked, "Another, Jane, make it a double!" Gulping it down, he held out his glass again. "One more, Jane."

"Aw, honey, don't you think you're overdoing it a bit?" she chided gently.

"You don't understand, Jane... it's a jungle out there."

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS—Unusual Skill

→Michel Lotito (aka Monsieur Mangetout) from Grenoble, France, has been eating metal and glass since 1959. Gastroenterologists have described his ability to consume 900 g (2 lb) of metal per day as "unique". Mangetout - Michel's nickname - literally translates as "eats everything". Michel says bananas and hard-boiled eggs make him sick.

→Ken Edwards of Glossop, Derbyshire, England ate 36 cockroaches in one minute on the set of The Big Breakfast, London, England on March 5, 2001.

Ken is a retired rat catcher and part-time entertainer who first took to the stage at age 18, but his talent for carrying out bizarre stage acts was unveiled on the British TV show Over The Top when he was 39. Ken's 47 rats-down-the-trouser trick caused such a stir that he became a celebrity overnight! His friends and family are now used to his freaky acts and Ken says, "If I were to actually do something normal then they would react!"

→The record for the most sheep shorn manually with scissors/handblade in 8 hours is 50 by János Marton of Hungary. Marton completed his challenge, without any breaks, on April 26, 2003 at Hódmezovásárhely Animal Husbandry Show, Hódmezovásárhely, Hungary.

→The most books typed backwards and in their original languages using a computer with four blank keyboards and without looking at the screen is 68 (3,663,324 words, 20,680,060 characters , 24,154 pages, 266,741 paragraphs, 516,498 lines) and was achieved by Michele Santelia (Italia), in Campobasso, Italia, on 16 June 2009. His last book typed backwards is the Life of Abraham Lincoln composed of 956 pages, 160,311 words, 919,124 characters, 2,810 paragraphs and 16,944 lines. Michele Santelia started typing the ‘Life of Abraham Lincoln’ backwards on 20 January 2009 and he finished it on 16 June 2009 and he is planning to honor the US President Barack Obama with his most recent work. With the addition of the Life of Abraham Lincoln the tower of books written backwards measures now 4.19 m (13 ft 9 in).

→A team sponsored by the Sunday Times has set a new record for driving a car through the narrowest gap. In a 2006 Vauxhall Astra VXR, driver Terry Grant (UK) drove on two wheels through a gap 68 cm (26.77 in) wider than the height of the car, at the Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough, UK, on 17 October 2006.

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’
Trip to Bern, the Capital City of Switzerland

♫ T O P    T V    T H E M E    S O N G S   OF ALL TIME♫
Click on Song Title to see and hear, but first try humming a few bars
♪… 26. Happy Days

Originally using Bill Haley's 1955 rock anthem "Rock Around the Clock", Happy Days instantly likened itself to an audience of teenagers and adults looking for something retro and hip. But just like Chuck Cunningham, "Rock Around the Clock" was not meant to be. What came next was a song crafted by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox, which would go on to be the theme song that everybody knows and cherishes. With a jukebox playing and a record spinning we groove to the beat of another 50's style rock song that would make everybody forget about the original

♪… 25. Dukes of Hazzard

The slow burn ballad style of this song was actually quite an amusing counterpoint to the silly antics and gratuitous T&A of the show that spawned it. The legendary Waylon Jennings performed this excellent opening credit theme that could easily exist away from the Dukes TV show as a genuine country classic

♪… 24. Beverly Hillbillies

Theme Songs just aren't made like this any longer. The Beverly Hillbillies theme song tells the whole back-story of the Clampetts, preparing you for whatever you may see in any episode, no matter how ridiculous. Plus it gives us the much needed slang for oil: Texas tea. Oh, and to cap it all off, Beverly Hillbillies even has an outgoing theme song, which thanks you for watching and invites y'all to come back…y'hear?

♪… 23. Batman

Even though the Batman films had their own themes, it was impossible to watch them and not think da-na-na-na-na-na-Batman! The Adam West show featured the amazing effort, a decidedly Sixties song that perfectly set up the campy comic capers that followed it. Easy to sing along to and impossible to forget, the Batman theme trumps all superhero theme songs, ever (sorry, Spidey). In fact, at this writing, it is difficult not to bust out with a "Batman!" that wakes the neighborhood.

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DAYBOOK INFORMATION
‡…THIS WEEK…‡
Celebration of Life Week: Diet Resolution Week: Silent Record Week: 1-7
National Lose Weight/Feel Great Week: 1-8
Someday We'll Laugh About This Week: 2-8
‡…TODAY IS…‡
Run Up the Flagpole and See if Anybody Salutes It Day
Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
National Motivation and Inspiration Day
55-MPH Speed Limit Day: 1974, set by Nixon

Western Christianity: The ninth day of Christmas (Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits (attributes) of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy , Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control)

Colombia: Blacks and Whites' Carnival (Carnaval de Negros y Blanco), celebrated until January 7. (celebrated in southern Columbia based on the need to express imagination, play, friendship and sharing the joy that around that time of the year revives.)
Haiti: Ancestors' Day

Japan: Kakizome ( the first calligraphy written at the beginning of a year, traditionally on January 2, performed using ink rubbed with the first water drawn from the well on New Year's Day. Seated facing a favourable direction, people would write Chinese poetry containing auspicious words and phrases such as long life, spring, or perennial youth. These poems were then often burned.)

Japan: Shigoto Hajime-Begin Work Day [beginning of the work year]

Spain: Granada Day (1492)

Switzerland: Berchtold's Tag, founding of Berne

US: Betsy Ross Day (1776)

US: Georgia: Ratification Day (1788)

‡…Today’s Births…‡

• AUTHORS

1920 Isaac Asimov Russian scientist/writer (I Robot, Foundation Trilogy)

1752 Philip Freneau poet of American Revolution (The American Village)

1894 Robert Nathan poet, novelist (Portrait of Jennie)

• ATHLETES

Brian Boucher, 33, hockey (Flyers, Sharks, Coyotes, Flames, Blackhawks, Blue Jackets)

• BUSINESS & EDUCATION

1857 Martha Carey Thomas educator/president (Bryn Mawr College)

1901 Robert Marshall founder (Wilderness Society)

• ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS/…)

Kate Bosworth, 27, actress (21, Superman Returns, Blue Crush)

Tia Carrere, 43, actress (Wayne’s World, True Lies)

Dabney Coleman, 79, actor (That Girl, Mary Hartman, Buffalo Bill, 9-5)

Cuba Gooding, Jr, 42, actor (Jerry Maguire, As Good as It Gets)

1936 Roger Miller country singer (King of the Road, Dang Me)

Wendy Phillips, 58, actress (“Big Love,” “Homefront”)

Ricky Van Shelton, 59, country singer (Wild-Eyed Dream)

• POLITICIANS

1861 Helen Herron Taft 1st lady

• SCIENCE & RELIGION

Jim Bakker (James Orsen), 71, former television evangelist

1822 Rudolph J E Clausius German physicist (thermodynamics)

1860 William C Mills museum curator (excavated Ohio Indian mounds)

‡…Today’s Obituaries…‡

1963 Dick Powell actor/director (Dick Powell Theater), lymphoma @ 58

1974 Tex Ritter country singer (5 Star Jubilee), heart attack @ 67 (his last song)

‡…Today’s Events…‡

• ARTS

1938 Book publisher Simon and Schuster founded

1941 The Andrews Sisters recorded Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy  on Decca Records.
1983 Garry Trudeau takes a 20-month break from writing "Doonesbury"

• ATHLETICS

1832 1st Curling club in US (Orchard Lake Curling Club) opens

1965 New York Jets sign quarterback Joe Namath

• BUSINESS & EDUCATION

1882 Because of anti-monopoly laws, Standard Oil is organized as a trust

1934 1st state liquor stores open, in Pennsylvania

1980 Officials of the Miss America Pageant announced that Bert Parks would not return as host

• INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

1838 By today's date, 3538 Chickasaws have arrived in eastern Indian Territory at Fort Coffee.

1881 According to Army reports, Major George Ilges, and a force of 300 men, and 2 pieces of artillery, encounter a group of approximately 400 Poplar Camp Sioux from Montana on the Missouri River. The Sioux flee into the woods, but a few cannon rounds induces them to surrender. Ilges will capture over 300 Sioux, 200 horses, 69 guns of various type, and a sizable quantity of supplies. Eight Sioux will be killed in the fighting, and 60 will escape.

• POLITICS (US)

1776 1st revolutionary flag displayed

1913 National Woman's Party forms

• POLITICS (International)

1757 British troops occupy Calcutta India

1776 Austria ends interrogation torture

1919 Anti-British uprising in Ireland

1947 Mahatma Gandhi begins march for peace in East-Bengali

1966 1st Jewish child born in Spain since 1492 expulsion

• SCIENCE & RELIGION

1839 1st photo of the Moon (French photographer Louis Daguerre)

1872 Brigham Young, the 71-year-old leader of the Mormon Church, was arrested on a charge of bigamy. He had 25 wives.

1929 US & Canada agree to preserve Niagara Falls

1960 John Reynolds sets age of solar system at 4,950,000,000 years

1995 Most distant galaxy yet discovered found by scientists using Keck telescope in Hawaii (estimated 15 billion light years away)

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ANSWERS

∞ JEOPARDY

→This country's deserts include the Gibson, Great Sandy & Great Victoria

What is Australia?

→Jamestown is the capital of this British island where Napoleon died

What is St. Helena?

→In population, it's the largest city in South America

What is São Paulo, Brazil?

→Found mostly in the Soviet Union, this belt of grassland runs 5,000 miles from Hungary to Manchuria

What is the Steppes?

→Iona is part of this Scottish island group

What are the Hebrides?

That's All for Today