TODAY’s HOLY MACKEREL: 1903 The Martha Washington Hotel opened for business in New York City. The hotel featured 416 rooms and was the first hotel exclusively for women.
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MY FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
I guess March came in like a lamb…so we have lots to look forward too. We had a nice, snow-melting day with a few clouds and warm temps.
I ran some errands this morning and picked up some cool stuff at World Market, using my gift certificate that they gave me for my birthday. This program worked as I spent an additional $15. I got some great snacks and a small rainbow colored wind hanger that should be of help with my spring/summer desire to attract some hummingbirds. I have talked to the people at a couple of garden shops and they all say that there are hummingbirds in Flagstaff every summer. They also say that dangling colorful ribbons near the feeder will attract them. So that’s what I got; now I will see if that works. Tuba is about 2K feet lower than Flag, and Tuba is a lot drier and hotter. In Tuba I had two feeders—one near each bedroom window. It was only the windiest days that didn’t have good sized colorful charm of hummingbirds around most of the day. Haven’t had that joy in Flagstaff.
Our governor made headlines soon after she took office when our elected governor became the head of Homeland Security. Her headlines were talking about ‘decapitated bodies’ being strewn throughout southern AZ because of the illegals and drug cartels. It took a few years to say that no decapitated bodies have been found on the AZ side of the border, but she believes it could happen soon. At about the same time Phoenix made the FBI’s capital of kidnapping. Again, these stats were used to raise our fear of illegals, drug cartels, and the need to ‘build the dang fence’. Some of my friends who live in the Phoenix area lived in fear, added a second or third deadbolt to their doors, had alarm systems installed and other precautionary measures. At the time I wondered why the Phx stations didn’t seem to be carrying a lot of kidnapping stories on their news shows. I don’t recall hearing of any outrageous kidnapper demands on the news—in fact I don’t remember hearing any kidnapper demands. No pics of kidnapped victims or their families. Well today, the PHX police department admitted that the ‘kidnapping stats’ for that period were ‘exaggerated’. To make matters worse it has been shown through an FBI investigation that the police department knew at the time that the stats were erroneous. At the time they were applying for a Federal Grant for more $$$ to stop kidnappings. Kidnappings, it turns out were never happening. Right now it looks like the cops will be paying back that grant…several million. For those not living in this circus, Phoenix police are not the same as Sheriff Apario’s county cops. His time is still to come, and it will--following all the Federal investigations that are ongoing. I’m sure these erroneous stats have cost the people of Phoenix millions in higher insurance rates for homes, cars, and businesses. Wonder who will pay them back?
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DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Tin pie pans often get rusty with regular use. To restore shine, sprinkle a little salt or baking soda on a cut potato and rub it over the spot. The oxalic acid in the potato helps dissolve the rust. Bonus: This trick also works on knives and cookware.
Spreading rock salt on outdoor steps to melt ice is effective, but salt can damage nearby plants when it washes into the soil. A better alternative? Spread sand or kitty litter over the ice -- it'll provide traction without jeopardizing your garden.
SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION…Hippos Part II
The ears and nostrils – located at the top of the head – close automatically when the animal is under water. It has practically no hair, and its smooth skin is quite delicate.
There is a myth that a hippo sweats blood, but actually it is an oily, red liquid that the hippo's skin exudes to keep it moist and protected when not in the water.
One young is born at a time, after a gestation of around 230 days. Births usually occur in months of heavy rainfall, but can occur year-round. Young hippos will also bask on their mother’s back. A group of hippos is called a “bloat.”
PUZZLE: Trivia Quiz […answers at bottom…]
1. What capital city began as the village of Edo?
2. Which country do Sinologists study?
3. Lucknow is a city in India, and what other country?
4. If you landed at Schipol airport where are you?
5. What countries national anthem is the Bayambo song?
6. What capitol city stands on the Tagus River?
7. Which city is the closest to Copacabana Beach?
8. What place is called Rapa-nui by it's native inhabitants?
9. Suomi is the name the natives give to what country?
10. If someone said they were from the city Hellas, what country are they from?
UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM:
WEBSTER, Mass. — The health board in a Massachusetts town has approved a plan to shame owners of rundown buildings into fixing and securing their properties.
The plan approved Monday by the Webster board allows the town to place 4-by-8-foot signs on the sides of dilapidated buildings with the owner's names, address and telephone number.
Selectman Mark Dowgiewicz says it costs up to $9,000 per year for police responses and other expenses to deal with squatters, vandals and other problems.
Building Inspector Theodore Tetreault tells The Telegram & Gazette of Worcester (WUH'-stur) that building owners have ignored requests from the town to secure vacant properties.
Webster is a town of about 16,000 nearly 60 miles southwest of Boston.
A LITTLE LAUGH:
A fellow is getting ready to tee-off on the first hole when a second fellow approaches and asks if he can join him. The first says that he usually plays alone but agrees to let the second guy join him.
Both are even after the first couple of holes. The second guy says, "Say, we're about evenly matched, how about we play for five bucks a hole?"
The first fellow says that he usually plays alone and doesn't like to bet but agrees to the terms. Well, the second guy wins the rest of the holes and as they're walking off of the eighteenth hole, and while counting his $80.00, he confesses that he's the pro at a neighboring course and likes to pick on suckers.
The first fellow reveals that he's the Parish Priest at the local Catholic Church to which the second fellow gets all flustered and apologetic and offers to give the Priest back his money. The Priest says, "No, no. You won fair and square and I was foolish to bet with you. You keep your winnings."
The pro says, "Well, is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
The Priest says, "Well, you could come to Mass on Sunday and make a donation. Then, if you bring your mother and father by after Mass, I'll marry them for you."
Top 10 In The World:
CLOSEUP PICTURE: Can you identify this close up picture?
FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’: Navajo Code Talkers And check out some of the other videos listed on the right.
♫ 60’s Rock ♫
Click on Song Title to see and hear it.
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DAYBOOK INFORMATION
►THIS WEEK◄
2/27-3/5 ► Telecommuter Appreciation Week ♥ Peace Corps Week
1-7 National Cheerleading Week ♣ National Ghostwriters Week ♣ National Write A Letter of Appreciation Week ♣ Universal Human Beings Week ♣
►TODAY IS◄
Old Stuff Day
Dr. Seuss Day
Namesake Day
NEA's Read Across America Day
Burma: Peasant's Day
Ethiopia: Battle of Aduwa Day (1896)
Japan: Omizu-okuri ("Water Carrying") Festival
Morocco: Independence Day (1956 from France)
US: Texas Independence Day (1836 from Mexico)
■…AUTHORS/COMPOSERS/ARTISTS
1862 John Jay Chapman US advocate/poet/writer (Learning & Other Essays)
1904 Dr Seuss [Theodor Geisel] children's book author (Green Eggs and Ham, Horton Hears a Who!)
John Irving, 69, author (Cider House Rules, The World According to Garp)
Tom Wolfe, 80, author, journalist (The Bonfire of the Vanities, The Right Stuff)
■…ATHLETES
Reggie Bush, 26, football (Saints)
Tuff Hedeman, 48, American bull rider champ
■…BUSINESS & EDUCATION
Jeffrey Chodorow, 61, American restaurateur (China Grill) and financier
■…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS)
1917 Desi Arnaz singer/actor in Santiago Cuba
1950 Karen Carpenter drummer, singer: Grammy Award-winning group: The Carpenters
Jon Bon Jovi, 49, singer, songwriter, actor
Daniel Craig, 43, actor (Casino Royale, The Golden Compass, Munich)
John Cullum, 81, stage and screen actor (Shenandoah, On the Twentieth Century, “Northern Exposure”)
Chris Martin, 34, singer, songwriter (Coldplay)
Eddie Money, 62, musician
Doc Watson, 88, singer, musician (Riding the Midnight Train, Then and Now)
1935 Al Waxman (Albert Samuel Waxman) actor: Cagney & Lacey, The Victors, Wild Horse Hank
■…POLITICIANS
Russell D. Feingold, 58, US Senator (D, Wisconsin)
Mikhail Sergeyvich Gorbachev, 80, former Soviet political leader
1793 Sam[uel] Houston 1st president of Texas (1836-38, 1841-44)
1316 Robert II the Steward, King of Scotland (1371-90)
Ken Salazar, 56, US Secretary of the Interior, former US Senator
■…SCIENCE & RELIGION
1810 Pope Leo XIII Giocchino Vincenzo Pecci) (256th pope of the Roman Catholic Church [1878-1903] 1876 Pius XII [Euhenio MGG Pacelli], 260th Pope (1939-58)
Today’s Obits:
1992 Sandy Dennis actress (Up the Down Staircase), cancer @ 54
1930 David H Lawrence poet/writer (Lady Chatterley's Lover), TB @ 44
1985 Sir Michael Redgrave actor/writer, Parkinson's disease @ 77
1987 Randolph Scott actor (Fort Worth, Gung Ho, Jesse James), @89
1957 Harry E Soref inventor (padlock—Master Lock), @ 70
1999 Dusty Springfield singer, cancer @59
Today’s Events:
■…ARTS
1950 Silly Putty invented
■…ATHLETICS
1962 Wilt Chamberlain scores incredible 100 points in an NBA game
■…BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1866 The Excelsior Needle Company of Wolcottville, Connecticut began making sewing machine needles
1867 US Congress creates the Department of Education
1923 Time magazine debuts
1949 1st automatic street light (New Milford CT)
1983 Compact Disc recordings developed by Phillips & Sony introduced
■…INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1867 An act is passed today which will purchase a reserve for SAUK and FOX of 4.5 square miles.
1876 The Secretary of War is impeached for taking bribes to make political appointments.
1989 The NAVAJO Code Talker Monument is erected.
■…POLITICS (International)
1946 Ho Chi Minh elected President of North Vietnam
1977 Libya amends constitution
■…POLITICS (US)
1789 Pennsylvania ends prohibition of theatrical performances
1799 Congress standardizes US weights & measures
1819 US passed its 1st immigration law—requiring a count of all immigrants arriving by ship
1861 US Congress creates Dakota & Nevada Territories out of the Nebraska & Utah territories
1877 Rutherford B Hayes (R) declared President despite Samuel J Tilden (D) winning the popular vote, but is 1 electoral vote shy of victor
■…SCIENCE & RELIGION
1498 Vasco da Gama's fleet visits Mozambique Island
1899 President McKinley signs bill creating Mount Rainier National Park (5th in US)
1969 1st test flight of the supersonic Concorde
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ANSWERS:
Quiz
1. What capital city began as the village of Edo? Tokyo
2. Which country do Sinologists study? China
3. Lucknow is a city in India, and what other country? Canada
4. If you landed at Schipol airport where are you? Amsterdam
5. What countries national anthem is the Bayambo song? Cuba
6. What capitol city stands on the Tagus River? Lisbon
7. Which city is the closest to Copacabana Beach? Rio de Janeiro
8. What place is called Rapa-nui by it's native inhabitants? Easter Island
9. Suomi is the name the natives give to what country? Finland
10. If someone said they were from the city Hellas, what country are they from? Greece
Close Up Picture
Check Writing Machine
________AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW________
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