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MY FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
I had a great lunch with Cheryl and Mary today. Cheryl needed to come in for an eye exam so we met up for lunch. They agree that my voice doesn’t sound any different. Cheryl continues to lose weight after her surgery. I now understand what she means about food…my taste buds still aren’t back to normal. I eating well, but just not tasting well. Mary and I talked about her surgery for thyroid. Not looking forward to a long scar on my neck, but as Mary said, it gets smaller and is harder to see if one has several chins. Guess I fit that category. She said that I shouldn’t plan on any facelifts, since that will accentuate the scar. Anytime one goes under the knife, it is a little disconcerting. The doc says it is textbook stuff. Easy for him to say. Actually my biggest concern is having to lay on that moving bed for several days. That alone will be enough to get me out of the hospital. If the abnormal cells are just that, I will be in 1-3 days and if they are cancerous, I will be in longer. I’m not looking forward to Mary’s description of the ‘radiation room’ where they put you if they take the whole thyroid. You are basically sealed in a room, the TV, Phone, etc are covered in some kind of plastic that won’t absorb the radiation. Friends, visitors and nurses ‘observe’ you thought the window. Food is brought to your door, they knock, they stand back to block the hallway and you come out and get your food, take it inside, and when finished put it back outside the door. When the Geiger counter stops beeping enough, you put your clothes, books, and everything else into a ‘safe’ bag and go home. I prefer my vacations in far off lands.
The shock of the shootings has settled in. NPR ran a great piece today on ‘compassion’. Thus today’s quote above. I continue to hope that politicians, news analysts, and everyday Americans can search their own lives to find compassion for all individuals. Every major religion of the world has a form of the Golden Rule. Our country needs to return to an era of compassion. I realize that it is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to deal with the mentally disturbed. Many of those that are disturbed or on the edge of being disturbed do not need to hear anyone talking about killing, injuring, or destroying those who don’t agree with them. The news carried a few of the shock jocks comments today, and some still don’t get it. Rush is still saying that the Pima County sheriff is out of touch when he said that words helped lead to this tragedy. The hero stories keep coming out from all points of Tucson. Our governor gave her required State of the State speech this afternoon. So disappointing. She was unable to pull the state together. She only talked about the tragedy and not about our budget. She said that would come later. Listening to her, she just didn’t have the words. It sounded like someone had told her the key points to talk about, but they just didn’t inspire. She is just not a good public speaker. Somehow she seemed removed from the whole speech, as though she was watching from afar. Maybe she is still in shock. The injured congresswoman is Jewish, and Jan made several references to Scripture. The Old Testament references were appropriate, but the New Testament references seemed out of place. Many in Arizona are not Christian and her words certainly were not directed to them. I understand that Jan is Christian, but as Governor she needs to realize that not every Arizonan believes as she does. This is a very difficult time for all. One last thing that amazed me—Congresswoman Gifford’s husband posted some thoughts on Facebook. He thanked everyone for their concern, their prayers, and their outpouring of support. Then he said that Gabby would be delighted if people donated to the American Red Cross or the Tucson Food Bank. Here is a man who has just has his entire world shattered, and he is still thinking about the less fortunate. Amazing.
I got up about 6am to an overcast sky that looked a lot like snow on the horizon. Our little Mount Elden was completely covered with fog…couldn’t even tell there was a mountain there. The fog stayed till almost noon before we saw the sun. Once the fog was gone, it was a clear blue sky. No snow, no rain, just fog. Fog is always eerie to me, as I am never sure what is hiding in it. I was glad to see it gone.
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∞ JEOPARDY PUZZLE—(Super-Jeopardy Answers) from 1990 LAKES & RIVERS
…answers at bottom…
•3 of the 5 largest lakes in North America are part of this group
•This country's longest river is the Tay, but the Clyde carries more traffic
•New York state actually has 11, not 10, of them
•Lake Eyre, the largest on this continent, covers 3600 square miles but is only about 4 feet deep
•The name of this river which joins the Ganges means “the son of Brahma, the creator of the universe”
UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM-- GREAT FALLS, MT
Authorities in Montana say a man who had three outstanding warrants for his arrest gave officers a false name during a traffic stop — but ended up in custody anyway because that man was also wanted.
Court records say that during a traffic stop Monday in Great Falls, Jonothan Ray Gonsalez, of Box Elder, told police that his name was Timothy Michael Koop Jr.
The officer learned a man by that name was wanted in Hill County and arrested him.
Police say a search of Gonsalez after his arrest turned up half a gram of methamphetamine in his jacket pocket and he was charged with criminal possession of dangerous drugs.
The Great Falls Tribune reports Gonsalez gave his real name on Tuesday, so a charge of issuing a false report to law enforcement was added.
SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION—
• The live-action movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas features more than 52,000 Christmas lights, about 8,200 Christmas ornaments, and nearly 2,000 candy canes.
• The original Grinch was not green—like everything else in the book, he was black and white with some red and pink splotches.
• It has been said that the conflict between the Whos and the Grinch was inspired by how German immigrants in Dr. Seuss's native Springfield, Massachusetts, were mistreated by the owners of the factories where they worked.
• The TV movie director Chuck Jones decided to make the Grinch green, a color inspired by several ugly rental cars he had driven. Although the character of Max the dog was minor in the book, Jones made him a major character.
• For many years the line "You're a rotter, Mr. Grinch" was censored because it was considered too vulgar for television.
• Boris Karloff, the original movie Frankenstein, was the voice of the Grinch and the narrator. Thurl Ravenscroft, who sang such numbers as "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," was also the voice of Tony the Tiger.
A LITTLE LAUGH
There was a farmer who had many pigs. One day someone came to the farm and asked the farmer, "What do you use to feed your pigs?"
"Well, I give them acorn, corn, and things like that. Why?"
"Because I am from the Animals Protection Association and I think you don't feed them like you should, they shouldn't eat wastes." Then he fined the farmer.
Some days later, another person arrived and asked the same question. The farmer answered, "Well, I feed them very well. I give them fish, whole grains, hot corn mash and as much fresh fruit and vegetables as I can get my hands on. Why?"
"Because I am from the United Nations Organization and I think it's unfair that you feed your pigs like that when there are people dying with nothing to eat." And he fined the farmer.
Finally, another man came in and asked the same question. The hesitant farmer answered after a minute of careful thought: "Well, I give five dollars to each pig so they can buy whatever it is they want."
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS—Early Starters
•The youngest radio presenter is Kimberley Perez (b. 20 February 1998) (USA) who hosts a show every Saturday 3-7pm, on KLAX 97.9 La Raza FM, in Los Angeles, California, USA, which started when she was 5 years old.
•The record for the youngest professional artist was achieved by Arushi Bhatnagar (India, b. 1 June 2002). She had her first solo exhibition at the Kalidasa Akademi in Ujjain, India, on 11 May 2003 when she was 344 days (or 11 months) old.
•Daniel Sanchez-Ruiz (UK) was given a full set of dentures on 25 February 2005 at the age of 3 years and 301 days due to a condition called Hypohydrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia.
•The youngest person to ski on all seven continents is Victoria Rae White (USA, b. 25 December 1997) beginning at the age of 9 years 88 days in Zermatt, Switzerland and ending aged 10 years 79 days in Winter Park, Colorado, USA, 16 March 2008.
•The youngest man to complete a marathon on all seven continents is Raj Patel (United Kingdom) (b.4 March 1986) who was 22 years 40 days when he completed the Canberra Marathon, Canberra, Australia, on 13 April 2008. His first marathon was run when he was 18 years 10 days old.
• Adám Lörincz (Hungary, b. 1 June 1988) was aged 14 years 76 days when his 92-minute musical, Star of the King was performed on August 16, 2002 in Szekesfehervar, Hungary.
∞CLOSEUP PICTURE
Can you identify this close up picture
FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’
♫ T V COMMERICALS OF 1950’s♫
Click on Title to see and hear the old commercial
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DAYBOOK INFORMATION
‡…THIS WEEK…‡
Universal Letter Writing Week: 8-14
Home Office Safety and Security Week: 9-15
International Snowmobile Safety and Awareness Week: 9-15
‡…TODAY IS…‡
National Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day
Cigarettes Are Hazardous To Your Health Day
Albania: Republic Day (1946)
Chad: Independence Day (1960 from France)
Japan: Kagami Biraki (Traditional celebration: "Opening the Mirror" (from an abstinence) )
Morocco: Independence Resistance Day
Nepal: National Unity Day (paying homage to King Prithvinarayan Shah (1723–75), founder of the present house of rulers of Nepal and creator of the unified Nepal
US: Puerto Rico: De Hostos' Birthday (1839 "El Ciudadano de América" (meaning: The Citizen of the Americas): educator, philosopher, intellectual, lawyer, sociologist and independence advocate.)
‡…Today’s Births…‡
• AUTHORS/PAINTERS
Jim Hightower, 67, radio host, author (Eat Your Heart Out, There’s Nothing in the Middle of the Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos)
1503 Francesco Parmigianino Italian artist (Madonna with the Long Neck)
1903 Alan Paton South African writer (Cry, the Beloved Country)
• ATHLETES
Ben Daniel Crenshaw, 58, golfer
• BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1807 Ezra Cornell founder (Western Union Telegraph, Cornell University)
Grant Tinker, 84, television executive
• ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS/…)
Mary J. Blige, 39, pop singer
Naomi Judd, 64, country singer (The Judds)
Amanda Peet, 38, actress (Melinda and Melinda, Something’s Gotta Give)
Rod Taylor, 80, actor (The Birds, “Masquerade”), born Sydney, Australia
Stanley Tucci, 50, actor (Big Night, “Murder One”)
• POLITICIANS
1757 Alexander Hamilton West Indies, 1st US Secretary of Treasury ($10 face)
1885 Alice Paul women’s rights activist; founder of National Women’s Party [1913]
• SCIENCE & RELIGION
1746 William Curtis English botanist/publisher (Botanical Magazine)
1906 Albert Hofmann Swiss chemist (discovered LSD)
1814 James Paget English surgeon (disease of Paget)
‡…Today’s Obituaries…‡
1994 John Bradley raised US flag at Iwo Jima, @ 70
1988 Gregory (Pappy) Boyington ace WWII pilot, cancer @ 75
1928 Thomas Hardy novelist (Far From the Madding Crowd), @ 87
1984 Jack La Rue TV narrator (Lights Out), @ 84
1997 Sheldon Leonard producer/director (Dick Van Dyke), @ 89
1929 Julio Antonio Mella Cuban revolutionary, murdered @ 28
1988 Isidor Isaac Rabi nuclear physicist (Nobel Prize-1944), @ 89
1843 Francis Scott Key composer (Star Spangled Banner), pleurisy @ 63
1753 Hans Sloane English physician (British Museum), @ 92
1979 Jack Soo actor (Nick Yemana-Barney Miller, Green Berets), esophageal cancer @ 63
‡…Today’s Events…‡
• ARTS
1892 Hawaiian Historical Society founded
1892 Paul Gauguin marries a 13-year-old Tahitian girl
1963 1st discotheque opens, The Whiskey-a-go-go in Los Angeles CA
1966 "Daktari" African adventure series premieres on CBS TV
• ATHLETICS
1976 Dorothy Hamill wins her 3rd consecutive national figure skating championship
1984 Denver Nuggets 163, San Antonio Spurs 155-highest-scoring NBA game
1990 Bobby Knight becomes basketball's Big 10 winningest coach (229)
• BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1770 The first shipment of rhubarb was sent to the United States from London.
1813 1st pineapples planted in Hawaii
1873 1st livestock market newspaper published, Drover's Journal, Chicago
1878 For the first time, milk was delivered in glass bottles -- by one Alexander Campbell, in New York
1913 1st sedan-type car (Hudson) goes on display at 13th Auto Show (New York City NY)
• INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1698 Four French missionaries have been staying with the Quapaw Indians, on the Mississippi River. They travel downstream, and reach a Tunica Indian village today. Missionary Davion will decide to stay with the Tunica to preach to them.
1886 The 1st infantry has engaged Apaches in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico. For his actions today against "hostiles" under Geronimo and Natchez, First Lt. Marion Maus will be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
• POLITICS (US)
1991 Congress empowers Bush to order attack on Iraq
• POLITICS (International)
1861 Mexico City captured by Juárez (Liberal) in War of the Reform
1942 Japan conquers Kuala Lumpur, Malaya
1989 140 nations agree to ban chemical weapons (poison gas, etc)
1994 Irish government announces end of a 20-year broadcasting ban on IRA
• SCIENCE & RELIGION
1787 Titania & Oberon, moons of Uranus, discovered by William Herschel
1902 Popular Mechanics magazine was published for the first time.
1922 Insulin 1st used to treat diabetes (Leonard Thompson, 14, of Canada)
1935 Amelia Earhart flies from Honolulu HI to Oakland CA (non-stop, of course)
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ANSWERS
∞ JEOPARDY
•3 of the 5 largest lakes in North America are part of this group
What are the Great Lakes?
•This country's longest river is the Tay, but the Clyde carries more traffic
What is Scotland?
•New York state actually has 11, not 10, of them
What are Finger Lakes?
•Lake Eyre, the largest on this continent, covers 3600 square miles but is only about 4 feet deep
What is Australia?
•The name of this river which joins the Ganges means “the son of Brahma, the creator of the universe”
What is the Brahmaputra?
∞ Close up Picture
A swing
• AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW •
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