HOLY MACKEREL: 1953 - Sixty-eight percent of all TV sets in the U.S. were tuned to CBS-TV this day, as Lucy Ricardo of I Love Lucy gave birth to a baby boy -- just as she actually did in real life -- following the script to the letter! The audience for the program was greater than that watching the inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower the following day.
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MY FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
What a great day I had yesterday. First I got to the hospital at 5:45am. Thanks to the drugs, don’t remember anything until about 11:00sm. The biopsy came back negative, so they took about ½ of my thyroid. It certainly was a relief, much more than I expected. I was up and walking about noon and continued do that on and off the rest of the day. I had a little trouble sleeping, so took a pain pill about 12:30. Slept well until about 4:30am. Ate a nice breakfast about 7:30. Doctor came in about 8:30 and released me. I do a follow up next Wednesday. I do have a nice slit on my neck, which should be covered as it is in a place where everyone seems to have a fold. I have a slight sore throat, and am a little tired, but that can be expected. I left the hospital about 10:30a, thanks to Martha who drove in to town to get me. I ate some lunch about noon and slept until about two. I’ve been up ever since. I expect to go to bed early tonight.
It is amazing how smoothly the hospital runs for most peopled and not for others. Martha sat in the waiting room and didn’t get any updates until I was in recovery (about 3 hours), while others in the waiting room were getting updates every 15 minutes. She was able to reiterate what the doctor said…no cancer. That was good to hear, again.
Martha was the only one able to visit me in the hospital as I was out of there before Mary or Cheryl or Jeannie could get over there. Mary, Cheryl and I will do our lunch on Thursday and Jeannie will stop by when she is over her cold. I watched a lot of TV and walked a lot, so the time went fairly quickly. I had some of the same staff I had seen two weeks ago, but only one of them remembered me, on my short visit back then. I am still amazed at the amount of work they do. I was in the ‘get a new body part’ of the hospital this time…a knee, a hip, etc. I was the only person on the floor who was ambulatory without assistance. All the staff talked to me, since I wasn’t in pain, doing it on my own, and not a burden to them. One guy in the room next to me was in pain and made sure the entire floor knew it on a fairly regular basis. I did feel sorry for him, but also for myself, having to listen. They finally closed his door and had someone sitting with him. I am fortunate that I have a very high pain threshold which is good most of the time, but it is hard for me to understand what that poor man was going through. I’ll find out next week if he left enough of my thyroid to produce whatever hormones I need from that gland, or if I will be adding another pill to my regiment.
I have to say, Facebook is amazing. Martha posted on her site that I was OK and cancer free. About 10 people commented, most of them I don’t even know, but their well wishes were greatly appreciated. Of course others commented on my site. It is truly a social network. People can say what they must about privacy but I feel I have enough control. Any information it has, the user gave it to them. Facebook does not add information, you have to give it to them. I did see a good Comedy Central comedian last night doing a bit on Facebook. His theory is that it is a government plot to destroy privacy without us knowing it. He made some good points. One of the funniest was posting a friend’s photo and having FB ask if you want it ‘tagged’, so you tag it “John Smith getting high with me from some good dope we got from Jeff Jones last night”. Then being surprised when they all get busted. That sort of clears up the privacy issue…if you put the information out there, it will be used. Duh…
Game Phone apps are a different story as most have a GPS code so they can tell where you are standing, sitting, laying, or whatever while playing their app. Hmmm. Does anyone really care that I was sitting in my hospital room playing US History Trivia and Bubble Drop on my droid? I guess so.
A couple of AZ legislators have been trying to pass a law for several sessions. The law would allow college faculty and students to carry weapons into class as long as they have a permit. They reintroduced the proposed law again today. It has not had enough support in years past, I hope it is shut down again.
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∞ JEOPARDY PUZZLE—(Super-Jeopardy Answers) from 1990 BEST SELLERS
…answers at bottom…
• Completes the title of Thomas Harris' 1969 book "I'm OK..."
• "My Life in Three Acts" is the latest volume of memoirs by this First Lady of the American Theatre
• His novel "The Stand" was 1st published in 1978, but an uncut version was released in 1990
• Morley Safer's "Flashbacks" describes a return visit to this country after 25 years
• "An Inconvenient Woman" by this author describes morals & murders in L.A.'s high society
UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM-- Ohio
While many law school graduates are all too aware of their accumulating pile of debt, few may realize it can prevent them from practicing law and kill any hopes of paying down their loans. Just ask recent law grad Hassan Jonathan Griffin. The highest court in Ohio denied his bar application because he didn't have a plan to pay back $170,000 in school debt.
The Ohio Supreme Court on January 11 said Griffin lacked a "feasible plan to satisfy his financial obligations." Griffin's debts include $150,000 from law school, $20,000 from his undergraduate studies and $16,500 in credit card debt.
The state's Supreme Court, which regulates admission to the practice of law in Ohio, requires that an applicant be at least 21 years old, have a bachelor's degree and law degree, and pass the Ohio bar examination.
But the state's rules specify that prior to taking the bar exam, applicants must demonstrate they possess "the requisite character, fitness, and moral qualifications for admission to the practice of law."
Griffin, 40, applied in November 2009 for the February 2010 bar exam, but his mounting financial obligations led to an investigation by the state's Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness.
According to the board's report, Griffin graduated from Arizona State University in 2004 when he was 34 and worked full-time as a stockbroker for over five years before attending The Ohio State University Mortiz College of Law.
Since completing his first year of law school, Griffin has worked 24 to 32 hours a week at the Franklin County Public Defender's Office. Though he graduated from law school in 2008, he has been unable to obtain a full-time job and still earns $12 per hour at the public defender's office.
The board recommended that the court reject Griffin but permit him to reapply for the February 2011 bar exam. Griffin confirmed he is re-applying for the February exam and his attorney said his financial matters are now in better order.
"He has taken some positive steps to address the concerns in that opinion," said Robert Beck, an attorney with Brehm & Associates who is representing Griffin pro-bono.
Beck said he is concerned about public attention from the blogosphere toward his client's case. Beck said Griffin wants to avoid the limelight on himself in order to pursue a career in public service law.
"His parents were both active in civil rights, and so he wants to work in the public defender's office," said Beck. "The work he wants to do is hard work."
"Every member of Brehm & Associates is either a former public defender or a former member of legal aid, and we applaud Jon's desire to represent those in need," wrote Eric Brehm, principal of the law firm representing Griffin. "Jon Griffin does not desire litigation or controversy. [He] merely wants to take the Ohio Bar Examination and serve as an assistant public defender."
SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION— Coffee
• The first Espresso machine was introduced in 1822 by the French, but it was the Italians who perfected and distributed it. A cup of drip brewed coffee has about 115 milligrams of caffeine, an espresso (and percolated coffee) about 80mg, while instant coffee has about 65mg of caffeine. Decaffeinated coffee is not totally caffeine free, containing about 3mg of caffeine.
• Coffee is the seed of a cherry from the tree genus Coffea, a tree yielding about two pounds of coffee per year. There are more than 25 species of coffee, the 3 main commercial types (varietals) being Robusta, Liberia and Arabica, the latter representing 70% of total production.
• Caffeine increases the power of aspirin and other painkillers, that is why it is found in some medicines. Ironically, caffeine withdrawal also is one of the most common causes of headaches.
• Caffeine is removed from coffee by treating the green beans – large seeds are commonly referred to as beans – with chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents.
• The word “cappuccino” comes from the 16th century Capuchin order of friars, whose hoods were called cappuccinos. A cappuccino is a coffee topped with steamed milk.
A LITTLE LAUGH
A little guy is sitting at the bar staring at his drink when a large, threateningly leering biker steps up next to him, grabs his drink and gulps it down in one swig.
"Well, watcha' gonna do about it?" he says menacingly, as the little guy bursts into tears.
"Aw, come on, man," the biker says, "I didn't think you'd CRY. I can`t stand to see a man crying."
"This is the worst day of my life," says the little guy.
"I`m a complete failure. I was late to a meeting, and my boss fired me.
"When I went to the parking lot, I found my car stolen and I don't have any insurance.
"I called a cab to get home, and when I got to my door, I realized I left my wallet in the cab.
"Inside, I found my wife in bed with the gardener and then my dog bit me.
"So I came to this bar to work up the courage to put an end to it all.
"I buy a drink, I drop a capsule in, and sit here watching the poison dissolve. Then a knuckle-head like you shows up and drinks the whole thing!"
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS—Plant World
• The world record for the most leaves on a clover stem (Trifolium repens L.) is 18 and was discovered by Shigeo Obara of Hanamaki City, Iwate, Japan on May 25, 2002.
• The heaviest apple weighed 1.849 kg (4 lb 1 oz) and was grown and picked by Chisato Iwasaki at his apple farm in Hirosaki City, Japan October 24, 2005.
• The world's heaviest lemon weighed 5.265 kg (11 lb 9.7 oz) on January 8, 2003 and was grown by Aharon Shemoel (Israel) on his farm in Kefar Zeitim, Israel.
• The world's largest jack o'lantern was carved by Scott Cully (USA) from the world's largest pumpkin on October 31, 2005 in Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania, USA. The pumpkin was grown by Larry Checkon (USA) and weighed 666.32 kg (1,469 lb) at the Pennsylvania Giant Pumpkin Growers Association Weigh-off, on October 1, 2005.
∞CLOSEUP PICTURE
Can you identify this close up picture
FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’
♫ T V COMMERICALS OF 1960’s♫
Click on Song Title to see and hear
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DAYBOOK INFORMATION
‡…THIS WEEK…‡
16-22 International Printing Week • Healthy Weight Week • Hunt For Happiness Week • National Activity Professionals Week
17-23 National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week
18-25 Week of Christian Unity
‡…TODAY IS…‡
National Popcorn Day
Tin Can Day
Tu B'Shvat (Jewish - begins at sundown): New Year of the Trees
Wolf Moon: First full moon of year: for hungry wolf packs that would howl outside the villages of Native Americans. This full moon is also known as the Old Moon or the Moon After Yule.
Ethiopia: Timket (Baptism of Jesus in Jordan River)
Southern US : Robert E Lee Day
US: Texas: Confederate Heroes Day
‡…Today’s Births…‡
• AUTHORS
1809 Edgar Allan Poe author (Pit & the Pendulum)
• ATHLETES
Shawn Johnson, 19, Olympic gymnast
Jeff Van Gundy, 49, coach (Knicks, Rockets); ESPN commentator
• BUSINESS / EDUCATION
1918 John H Johnson US, publisher (Negro Digest, Ebony, Jet)
• ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS/…)
Desi Arnaz, Jr, 58, singer, actor
Phil Everly, 72, singer, with brother Don (The Everly Brothers)
Shelley Fabares, 69, actress (“The Donna Reed Show,” “Coach”)
1943 - Janis Joplin singer: with Big Brother and The Holding Company
1922 Guy Madison [Robert Moseley] actor (Wild Bill Hickok)
Dolly Parton, 65, singer (“Jolene”), actress (Nine to Five)
Jean Stapleton, 88, actress (Klute; Emmy for “All in the Family”)
Shawn Wayans, 40, actor (Scary Movie, “In Living Color”)
• POLITICIANS
1807 Robert Edward Lee General-in-Chief (Confederacy)
• SCIENCE & RELIGION
1813 Sir Henry Bessemer engineer/inventor (Bessemer engine)
1200 Dogen Kigen Zen teacher, 1st patriarch of the Japanese Soto
0570 Mohammed Islamic prophet (Koran)
1736 James Watt Scottish inventor (steam engine)
1904 James Winston Watts developer (Frontal Lobotomy)
‡…Today’s Obituaries…‡
1669 Leo Allatios Greek/Italian theologist/literary, @ 82
1995 Eugene Fuller polymath/linguist, @ 80
1975 Thomas Hart Benson US artist, @ 85
1954 Sydney Greenstreet actor (Maltese Falcon), diabetes @ 74
1993 Reginald Lewis CEO (Beatrice), brain cancer @ 50
1970 Hal March actor (Atomic Kit, Outrage, Yankee Pasha), game show host, cancer @ 49
1998 Carl Perkins singer/songwriter, cancer/strokes @ 65
‡…Today’s Events…‡
• ARTS
1955 "The Millionaire" TV program premieres on CBS
1955 "Scrabble" debuts on board game market
• ATHLETICS
1903 New bicycle race "Tour de France" announced
1972 Sandy Koufax, Yogi Berra, & Early Wynn elected to Hall of Fame
• BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1871 1st Negro lodge of US Masons approved, New Jersey
• INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1847 In Don Fernandez de Taos (now just called Taos, New Mexico), recently installed Governor George Bent is trying to keep Mexican and PUEBLO Indians from revolting (an earlier revolt was prevented). A number of PUEBLO Indians demand the release of some Indians being held in jail. Words are exchanged, and a fight starts. People are killed on both sides. Governor Bent will be attacked, killed, and scalped. The Indians' plan is to kill all of the Americans they can find. Near Mora, 8 Americans are captured, robbed, and shot. Many Mexicans would join the revolt against the Americans who had captured Santa Fe de San Francisco (now just called Santa Fe, New Mexico)
• POLITICS (US)
1770 Battle of Golden Hill (Lower Manhattan)
• POLITICS (International)
1746 Bonnie Prince Charlie's troops occupy Stirling
1806 Britain occupies the Cape of Good Hope
1966 Indira Gandhi elected India's 3rd prime minister
• SCIENCE & RELIGION
1840 Antarctica discovered, Charles Wilkes expedition (US claim)
1915 Neon Tube sign patented by George Claude
1922 Geological survey says US oil supply would be depleted in 20 years
1929 Acadia National Park, Maine established
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ANSWERS
∞ JEOPARDY
•Completes the title of Thomas Harris' 1969 book "I'm OK..."
What is ‘You’re OK’?
• "My Life in Three Acts" is the latest volume of memoirs by this First Lady of the American Theatre
Who is Helen Hayes?
•His novel "The Stand" was 1st published in 1978, but an uncut version was released in 1990
Who is Stephen King?
•Morley Safer's "Flashbacks" describes a return visit to this country after 25 years
What is Vietnam?
•"An Inconvenient Woman" by this author describes morals & murders in L.A.'s high society
Who is Dominick Dunne?
∞ Close up Picture
Park sign for Restaurant
• AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW •
