All Blue text is a link…be sure and click on it for more information!
‡ TODAY’s “Geez”:
¬ 1173 - Construction of the Tower of Pisa begins, and it takes two centuries to complete
¬ 1655 - Lord Protector Cromwell divides England into 11 districts
¬ 1803 - 1st horses arrive in Hawaii
¬ 1848 - Barnburners (anti-slavery) Party merges with Free Soil Party nominating Martin Van Buren for president
¬ 1905 - Mistaking her husband for a burglar, Ty Cobb's mother kills him
¬1942 - Mahatma Gandhi & 50 others arrested in Bombay after passing of a "quit India" campaign by the All-India Congress
¬ 1944 - Smokey Bear debuts as spokeman for fire prevention
‡ Free Rambling Thoughts…
I got a lot done, for a Monday. I ran some errands, found some great grocery buys, got a haircut—again, and finally got my travel blog and pictures posted on the ol’ Internets. I’m not complaining about having hair—at my age, I just hate getting it cut. I don’t like it long and bushy and while I am a little thinner on the top, the sides and back grow like the plants in the rain forest. Thankfully my cutter was working today and was able to get me in this afternoon. If you are interested…here are the links.
: Pictures
: Blog
I’m neither a world class photographer nor a very good writer, but I have found that these two tasks let me remember my trips better than my ol’ brain. I can always go back and re-live the adventures and really get back into the moment.
The shoe sure dropped today on the Stock Market. I really hope it was the ‘other shoe’. The House played its financial card and lost, not just for them, but for the whole country. Those Tea Party members knew they were grandstanding, and they seem to be so naive that they didn’t think anyone was watching their theatrics. Even the old guard of the Republicans told them to tread lightly. But like a five year old, they didn’t listen. Our Rep just posted photos of a campaign family BBQ he had in Prescott over the weekend. He may or may not be a good dentist, but he sure is a naïve Representative. He took care to get photos of himself with our governor and with a conservative radio host. His smile was devastating. With the boundary changes from the latest census, it is hard to tell if he will remain MY representative. One can only hope he isn’t. His promise of more jobs, a better economy, and border help seem quite empty right now.
I finally got around to opening the mailing from Canyoneers, the boat company I traveled with. They sent me a certificate for completing the trip—alive—I guess. They had also promised email addresses of everyone. They sent a paper copy so I had to type in all the addresses. The trip leader doesn’t have an email…no real surprise. I was surprised the two ballroom dancers didn’t list any either. Maybe the Internet is not available in rural Tennessee…LOL. Their loss. Everyone else had one, and I sent of emails to all of them, with the links I just posted. I’ll be interested in their comments, if any.
While shopping I ran into two people from Tuba I haven’t seen in years. Both have retired and living the good life. Marty has a son heading to Africa this year, so we may share some info. Marty has done lots of hiking and a few river trips. He really wanted to know all about the latest adventure. Sue is the mom of a kid I knew really well while in TC. He passed away in a hiking accident years ago, but when I saw her, she acted like I still lived next door. She hugged me, got my address and promised to stop by with pictures from way back of Lawrence when he was hangin out with Julius’ son. She and her husband are planning a trip to Hawaii this fall. She is so energetic and outgoing I know they will have a great time.
‡ Trivia Quiz…(answers at the end of post)
1. Which state along with Florida celebrated its centenary of joining the Union in 1945?
2. Where was horse racing's Breeders" Cup held in 1985?
3. In the 60s, in which American city were you supposed to wear flowers in your hair?
4. In basketball, where do the Kings come from?
5. In 1957 an air service was set up between London and which city?
6. In 1999 who was the most downloaded woman on the Internet?
7. Where was Dame Kiri Te Kanawa born?
8. The hit ‘Into The Groove’ came from which movie starring Madonna?
9. Which movie producer was born on exactly the same day as actor Jason Robards?
10. Who wrote the novel The Detached Retina?
11. A worldwide ban on what was introduced in 1990 to try and save the elephant population?
12. Who wrote the novel Dr. Zhivago?
13. Which director's first Hollywood movie was Sweet Smell of Success?
‡ Zoom-ed in Picture…Can you Identify what this is? (Answer at end of post)
‡ Hmmmmm…
¬ Minimum cost of the ‘pleasure palace’ being built by Vladimir Putin: $1,000,000,000
‡ Somewhat Useless Information… ‘Wheel of Fortune’
¬ Before Flesh came on board, Wheel of Fortune was known as "Shoppers Bazaar," and included a much bigger wheel and carnival-style decor. Flesh came up with a horizontal, rather than vertical wheel.
¬ Since the show hit the airwaves in 1983, "Wheel of Fortune" has awarded over $190 million in cash and prizes to its contestants. It has been the number 1 syndicated show ever since.
¬ In 1992, the "Guinness Book of World Records" honored letter-turner and co-host Vanna White as the world's most frequent clapper. According to Guinness, Vanna applauds 28,080 times in a given season, or an average of 720 times per episode.
¬ The show's biggest winner of all-time is Michelle Loewenstein. On October 14, 2008, Loewenstein took home $1 million in winnings.
¬ The show's original letter board was retired in 1997, making Vanna White a letter-tapper rather than a letter-turner.
¬ The Wheel itself is 2,400 pound hulk made of steel tubing and Plexiglas. The device uses over 200 specialized, computerized lighting instruments, which can produce up to 2 million different color choices. Its unique sound comes from 72 stainless steel pins, which fly past three hard rubber "flippers."
‡ Yeah, It Really Happened…
CHARLEVILLE, Australia - Australian police said they used pepper spray to ward off a kangaroo after it attacked a 94-year-old woman in southwest Queensland. Police said they responded Sunday to the Charleville home of Phyllis Johnson, 94, on a report of the woman being knocked to the ground and repeatedly kicked by a red kangaroo, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Tuesday.
Senior Sgt. Stephen Perkins said the responding officers had to use pepper spray on the animal to avoid being attacked. "Once the kangaroo was sprayed, it left the immediate area," he said.
"Quite often dogs do attack police officers and we are forced to use capsicum spray on the dog to stop being bitten, but never on a kangaroo."
The kangaroo was captured and the Department of Environment said a decision on the fate of the animal will be made after it has been assessed by a veterinarian.
Johnson's son, Rob, said his mother is recovering in a hospital. "She's got scratches and cuts on her arms and there is a piece taken out of her leg that might have to have a skin graft on it," he said.
"But other than that she's bouncing around fairly well now."
He said his mother "can see the funny side of it now though."
‡ Guffaw…or at least smile…
Two men were walking through the woods and came upon a big black, deep hole. One man picked up a rock and tossed it into the hole and stood listening for the rock to hit bottom. There was no sound.
He turned to the other guy and said "that must be a deep hole...let's throw a bigger rock in there and listen for it to hit bottom." The men found a bigger rock and both picked it up and lugged it to the hole and dropped it in.
They listened for some time and never heard a sound. Again, they agreed that this must be one deep hole and maybe they should throw something even bigger into it.
One man spotted a rail-road tie nearby. They picked up the tie, grunting and groaning, and lugged it to the hole. They tossed it in. No sound. All of a sudden, a goat came flying out of the woods, running like the wind, and flew past the men and jumped straight into the hole. The men were amazed.
About that time, an old hayseed farmer came out of the woods and asked the men if they had seen a goat. One man told the farmer of the incredible incident they had just witnessed...they had just seen this goat fly out of the woods and run and leap into the big hole. The man asked the farmer if this could have been his goat.
The old farmer said "naw, that can't be my goat...he was chained to a railroad tie."
‡ Searchin’ “You Tube” I found…
‡ Daybook Information…
…Happening This Week:
7-13: International Clown Week / National Farmers' Market Week / Assistance Dog Week /
Feeding Pets of the Homeless Week / Knights of Columbus Family Week
8-14: Exercise With Your Child Week / Sturgis Rally
‡ TODAY IS
¬ Book Lover's Day
¬ International Day of The World's Indigenous People
¬ Nagasaki Day—since 1945 when ‘Fat Man’ atomic bomb dropped
¬ National Polka Festival
¬ Perseid Meteor Showers
¬ Veep Day: Commemorates the Presidential Succession in 1974 of Gerald Ford
~*~
¬ Japan: Moment of Silence
¬ Singapore: National Day (Independence from Malaysia—1965)
¬ South Africa: National Women's Day
‡ Today’s Events:
· IN ARTS
1854 - Henry David Thoreau publishes "Walden"
1930 - Betty Boop debuts in Max Fleischer's animated cartoon Dizzy Dishes
· IN ATHLETICS
1936 - Jesse Owens wins 4th gold medal at Berlin Olympics
1984 - Daley Thomas of Britain sets decathalon record (8,847) in LA Olympics
1992 - 25th Olympic Summer games closes in Barcelona, Spain
· IN BUSINESS
1831 - 1st US steam engine train run (Albany to Schenectady, NY)
1910 - Alva Fisher patents electric washing machine
· IN EDUCATION
1956 - 1st state-wide, state-supported educational TV network, Alabama
· FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1814 - The Treaty of Fort Jackson (7 stat.120) officially ends the Creek War. The Creeks, including those who fought with Andrew Jackson, are forced to cede 22,000,000 acres, almost half their lands, to the United States.
1823 - In June Arikara warriors attack an American expedition. A force of 500 Sioux warriors finds the Arikaras and a battle takes place. Colonel Henry Leavenworth soon arrives with his force of 200 soldiers. He reports his men kill fifty Arikaras and the Siouxs kill fifteen. The Sioux lose two warriors
· IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
681 - Bulgaria is founded as a Khanate on the south bank of the Danube, after defeating the Byzantine armies of Emperor Constantine IV south of the Danube delta
1902 - Edward VII of England crowned after death of his mother Victoria
1956 - South African women demonstrate against pass laws
· IN RELIGION
1483 - Opening of the Sistine Chapel
1969 - Manson 'family' commits Tate-LaBianca murders
· IN SCIENCE
1790 - Columbia returns to Boston after 3 year journey, 1st ship to carry US flag around the world
· IN US POLITICS
1638 - Jonas Bronck of Holland becomes 1st European settler in Bronx
1757 - English Ft William Henry, NY, surrenders to French & Indians troops
· ARTISTS: AUTHORS: COMPOSERS
1899 - Pamela Lyndon Travers, writer (Mary Poppins)
· ATHLETES
1883 - George Hoyt, NBA hall of fame referee (elected 1961)
Rod Laver, Australia, tennis ace (1962, 1969 Grand Slam) turns 73
Ken Norton, heavyweight boxing champ/TV panelist turns 66
Doug Williams, NFL QB (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Wash Redskins) turns 56
John ‘Hot Rod’ Williams, NBA center/forward (Phoenix Suns) turns 49
· ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS…)
1918 - Robert Aldrich, US director/producer (Dirty Dozen)
Gillian Anderson, actor (X-Files) turns 43
Eric Bana, actor, turns 43
Sam Elliott, actor turns 67
1901 - Charles Farrell, actor (Vern-My Little Margie)
Melanie Griffith, actor turns 54
Whitney Houston, singer (One Moment in Time, Bodyguard) turns 48
1927 - Robert Shaw, actor
David Steinberg, Winnipeg Canada, comedian/director turns 69
· ENTREPRENEUR & EDUCATORS
--
· POLITICIANS
1905 - Elizabeth Lane, 1st female British supreme court justice
· SCIENTISTS / THEOLOGISTS
1819 - William Thomas Green Morton, dentist, used ether
1897 - Ralph Wyckoff, American pioneer in x-ray crystallography
‡ Today’s Obits:
1969 - Abigail Folger, US, coffee magnate (Folgers), murdered by Manson’s gang at 25
1995 - Jerry Garcia, rock vocalist (Grateful Dead), dies of heart attack at Rehab Center at 53
2008 - Bernie Mac, American comedian, actor, dies of pneumonia at 54
1988 - Alan Napier, (Alfred the Butler-Batman), dies at 85
1979 - Walter O'Malley, CEO (Dodgers), dies at 75
2010 - Ted Stevens, American politician (Senator-Alaska) dies in plane crash at 87
1969 - Sharon Tate, actress (Valley of Dolls), killed by Manson's gang at 26
1979 - Raymond Washington, founder of LA gang, the Crips in drive by shooting at 25
‡ ANSWERS:
Trivia Quiz
1. Which state along with Florida celebrated its centenary of joining the Union in 1945?
a. Texas
2. Where was horse racing's Breeders" Cup held in 1985?
a. Aqueduct, New York
3. In the 60s, in which American city were you supposed to wear flowers in your hair?
a. San Francisco
4. In basketball, where do the Kings come from?
a. Sacramento
5. In 1957 an air service was set up between London and which city?
a. Moscow
6. In 1999 who was the most downloaded woman on the Internet?
a. Cindy Margolis, model, actress
7. Where was Dame Kiri Te Kanawa born?
a. New Zealand—she’s a classical opera singer
a. Desperately Seeking Susan
9. Which movie producer was born on exactly the same day as actor Jason Robards?
a. Blake Edwards
10. Who wrote the novel The Detached Retina?
a. Brian Aldiss
11. A worldwide ban on what was introduced in 1990 to try and save the elephant population?
a. Ivory trading
12. Who wrote the novel Dr. Zhivago?
a. Boris Pasternak
13. Which director's first Hollywood movie was Sweet Smell of Success?
a. Alexander Mackendrick
Close Up Picture
Disclaimer: All opinions are mine…feel free to agree or disagree. All ‘data’ info is from the internet sites and is usually checked with at least one other source, but I have learned that every site has mistakes and sadly once out the information is out there, many sites simply copy it and is therefore difficult to verify. Also for events occurring before the Gregorian calendar was adopted [1582] may not be totally accurate.
‡ AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW ‡
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