TODAY’s HOLY MACKEREL: 1956 Medic Alert Foundation forms
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MY FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
The home show was much smaller than previous years. The demo areas were very small and there were not many of them. It was mostly vendors with their logo, a big sign and some poor person standing there trying to get your attention. One of the vendors was a hunting buddy I hadn’t seen since I left Tuba. He and another Tuba friend have opened a paint company down in Phoenix. They both have been store managers of another paint company for years and years. Now they have their own company. It was nice to spend a few minutes and catch up. That was my highlight of the entire show. The dome home show always had huge ‘garden’ type displays, but there just wasn’t the room this year. I’m sure the planners are wishing they were at the dome. Cheryl and I were made all the booths in less than an hour, went back to a couple, and then left. We went down the street for a very good Chinese lunch. While the wind wasn’t that bad, it sure had a bite. The wind chill dropped the temp by about 10°. Ahhh, spring in Flag.
Times certainly change…for the first time in my memory, the Republicans and some of the Democrats are concerned about the amount of money we are spending in Libya. The numbers are astounding. Of course no one seems to be asking about how much money we are still spending in Afghanistan and Iraq. Maybe it’s because we are not calling this a ‘war’. Maybe, though I doubt it, it’s because of our own financial crisis. I even saw the rebirth of the ‘won’t it be nice when the schools get all the money they need and the military has to hold bake sales for their money.’
Times certainly change…and Japan is now telling us that the water inside at least one of the reactors—the sea water they have been pumping in is 10,000 times higher than normal and it may be leaking out of the facility. Everyday this looks more and more like Deep Water Horizon. I’m waiting for someone to suggest dropping golf balls into the reactor to stop the spread of radiation. Ooops, that one has been used, so maybe they will suggest pouring super glue, or Stop Leak—the stuff used in cars to stop the radiator from leaking in older cars. Nobody seems to know what will be the next piece of bad news, but no one with knowledge of the situation think it will be good news.
We are running out of fossil fuel; we don’t want to spend the money necessary for solar energy; we don’t want to spend the money necessary for wind energy (which brings it own environmental issues for migratory birds and mammals); we can’t do much more natural gas drilling without fracking (using water pressure to release gas…and maybe cause earthquakes); we are learning that nuclear energy is far from a safe alternative. So, while I really like my energy sucking appliances and vehicle, I also wonder how I would survive without a computer, TV, radio, a cell phone, a furnace, stove, hot water heater, lights, and a vehicle. I guess I can practice as Saturday, beginning at 8:30pm is Earth Hour—all electricity off for one hour. If all this energy stuff doesn’t become a back breaking issue in my lifetime, certainly the next few generations will have to find quick fixes.
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DID YOU KNOW THAT…
~To reduce the strong taste of onions in a salad, dice them and put in refrigerator overnight.
~Microwave unpeeled garlic cloves at 100 percent power 10 to 20 seconds, cool, and store in a self-sealing plastic bag in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Microwaving makes garlic easier to peel and lessens the garlicky smell on your hands. Use the garlic within two weeks.
~To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION…
Also called a “seamroy,” the shamrock was sacred in Ireland, marking the rebirth of Spring. But as the English began taking over Ireland and enforcing strict language and religious laws, the shamrock became a symbol for national pride for the Irish people, who would wear it on their clothes in opposition to English rule.
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Traditional music was used by the Irish to celebrate their heritage and language during the English rule. It worked so well that Queen Elizabeth even outlawed Irish music, and put musicians and pipers in big trouble.
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The original Irish name for the leprechaun is “lobaircin,” which means “small-bodied fellow.” Today’s common representation of a cheerful, jolly leprechaun and symbol of St. Patrick’s Day is purely an American concoction,
started by a Walt Disney movie in 1959. Traditionally, they’re the small, cranky, and scheming clan of the Celtic fairies, whose job it was to repair the shoes of the other fairies.
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Traditional music was used by the Irish to celebrate their heritage and language during the English rule. It worked so well that Queen Elizabeth even outlawed Irish music, and put musicians and pipers in big trouble.
***
The original Irish name for the leprechaun is “lobaircin,” which means “small-bodied fellow.” Today’s common representation of a cheerful, jolly leprechaun and symbol of St. Patrick’s Day is purely an American concoction,
started by a Walt Disney movie in 1959. Traditionally, they’re the small, cranky, and scheming clan of the Celtic fairies, whose job it was to repair the shoes of the other fairies.
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The traditional meal of St. Patrick's Day used to be Irish bacon (otherwise known as “Canadian” or “back” bacon). Corned beef became the norm when Irish immigrants living on New York City’s Lower East Side could no longer afford the more expensive customary meat.
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Legend has it that God visited St. Patrick in a dream, telling him to flee to the coast where he would find a ship that would bring him back to Britain, which he did and became a Catholic priest upon his return. In 432, God called to him again and told him to bring his teachings to Ireland. After thirty years there, he died on March 17, 461, and remains the most admired figure in the Irish Catholic Church.
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There are approximately 36.5 million U.S. residents who claim Irish ancestry. This number is more than eight times the population of Ireland itself (4.5 million).
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Legend has it that God visited St. Patrick in a dream, telling him to flee to the coast where he would find a ship that would bring him back to Britain, which he did and became a Catholic priest upon his return. In 432, God called to him again and told him to bring his teachings to Ireland. After thirty years there, he died on March 17, 461, and remains the most admired figure in the Irish Catholic Church.
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There are approximately 36.5 million U.S. residents who claim Irish ancestry. This number is more than eight times the population of Ireland itself (4.5 million).
PUZZLE: Trivia Quiz […answers at bottom…]
1. The US had 5% world population and 70% of worlds what?
2. A JPEG is a picture file format. What does JPEG stand for?
3. What did the first issue of Playboy in 1953 not have?
4. What are formed by Orogeny?
5. In what book did we meet the Eoli and the Morlocks?
6. What is a Chuckwalla?
7. Vladamere Ashkenazy plays what musical instrument?
8. Thomas Holden was the first to top what list?
9. What animal was believed to be a cross between a camel and a leopard?
10. Whose nickname was 'Slowhand'?
2. A JPEG is a picture file format. What does JPEG stand for?
3. What did the first issue of Playboy in 1953 not have?
4. What are formed by Orogeny?
5. In what book did we meet the Eoli and the Morlocks?
6. What is a Chuckwalla?
7. Vladamere Ashkenazy plays what musical instrument?
8. Thomas Holden was the first to top what list?
9. What animal was believed to be a cross between a camel and a leopard?
10. Whose nickname was 'Slowhand'?
UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM:
HAMILTON, Mont. — A Radio Shack in Montana is offering would-be satellite television customers a bit more bang for their buck.
The Ravalli Republic reports customers who sign up for some Dish Network packages at Radio Shack in Hamilton will be rewarded with a pistol or shotgun. Those not interested in the gun offer can pick a $50 Pizza Hut gift card.
Store owner Steve Strand says it took some haggling to get Dish Network Corp. to go along with the promotion, but he says it has tripled his business since it started last October.
The sign outside the business reads: "Protect yourself with Dish Network. Sign up now, get free gun."
The promotion includes a coupon for a gun and the required background check.
Strand says he plans to start the same promotion next month with DIRECTV packages.
A LITTLE LAUGH:
Differences between men and women
1. NAMES
If Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara go out for lunch, they will call each other Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara.
If Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.
2. EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom will each throw in a $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the women get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
3. MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need, but it's on sale.
4. BATHROOMS
A man has five items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Marriott.
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.
5. ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that... is the beginning of a new argument.
1. NAMES
If Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara go out for lunch, they will call each other Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara.
If Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.
2. EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom will each throw in a $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the women get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
3. MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need, but it's on sale.
4. BATHROOMS
A man has five items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Marriott.
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.
5. ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that... is the beginning of a new argument.
Top 10 In The World:
CLOSEUP PICTURE: Can you identify this close up picture?
FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’:
♫ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ♫
2009 inductee Bobby Womack performer and song writer
Wrote “Looking for a Love” “It’s All Over Now.” “I’m a Midnight Mover” “Trust Me” and others)
Click on Song Title to see and hear it.
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DAYBOOK INFORMATION
►THIS WEEK◄
20-26► American Chocolate Week ♣ Consider Christianity Week ♣ National Agriculture Week ♣ National Animal Poison Prevention Week ♣ National Inhalant and Poisons Awareness Week ♣ National Poison Prevention Week ♣ Act Happy Week ♣
21-27► Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Week ♣ Week of Solidarity with People's Struggling Against Racism & Discrimination ♣ World Folk Tales & Fables Week ♣ ‘Wellderly’ Week (for elderly who don’t act their age) ♣ Yo-Yo and Skill Toys Week ♣
►TODAY IS◄
21-27► Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Week ♣ Week of Solidarity with People's Struggling Against Racism & Discrimination ♣ World Folk Tales & Fables Week ♣ ‘Wellderly’ Week (for elderly who don’t act their age) ♣ Yo-Yo and Skill Toys Week ♣
►TODAY IS◄
Earth Hour
Legal Assistants Day
Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Spinach Festival Day
♣ ♣ ♣ ♣
Bangladesh: Independence Day (1971 from Pakistan)
Lesotho, Spain: Arbor Day/Fiesta del Arbol (1895)
Taiwan: Birthday of Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy
US: Hawaii: Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianole Day/Regatta Day
■…AUTHORS/COMPOSERS/ARTISTS
Pierre Boulez, 86, composer, conductor
1874 Robert Frost four-time Pulitzer prize-winning poet: Birches, Mending Wall, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening; read The Gift Outright at inauguration of John F. Kennedy
Erica Jong, 69, author, poet (Fear of Flying, Becoming Light)
■…ATHLETES
■…ATHLETES
Marcus Allen, 51, former football player, sportscaster
1932 Dick Nolan football: NY Giants; coach: New Orleans Saints
John Stockton, 49, former basketball player
■…BUSINESS & EDUCATION
Bob Woodward, 68, journalist, author
■…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS)
Alan Arkin, 77, actor (Catch-22, Little Miss Sunshine), director (Little Murders)
James Caan, 71, actor (Thief, The Godfather, Mickey Blue Eyes)
Kenny Chesney, 43, country singer
Kenny Chesney, 43, country singer
Leeza Gibbons, 54, television personality (“Extra”)
Jennifer Grey, 51, actress (Dirty Dancing)
T.R. Knight, 38, actor (“Grey’s Anatomy”)
Keira Knightley, 26, actress (Atonement, Pride and Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean)
Vicki Lawrence, 62, singer, actress (“The Carol Burnett Show,” “Mama’s Family”)
Leonard Nimoy, 80, actor (“Star Trek”), director (Three Men and a Baby)
Nancy Pelosi, 71, Speaker of the US House of Representatives
Diana Ross, 67, singer, actress (Lady Sings the Blues, The Wiz)
Martin Short, 61, actor (The Three Amigos, Inner Space), comedian
Vicki Lawrence, 62, singer, actress (“The Carol Burnett Show,” “Mama’s Family”)
Leonard Nimoy, 80, actor (“Star Trek”), director (Three Men and a Baby)
Nancy Pelosi, 71, Speaker of the US House of Representatives
Diana Ross, 67, singer, actress (Lady Sings the Blues, The Wiz)
Martin Short, 61, actor (The Three Amigos, Inner Space), comedian
■…POLITICIANS
Sandra Day O’Connor, 81, former Associate Justice of the US
Sandra Day O’Connor, 81, former Associate Justice of the US
1914 William C. Westmoreland U.S. Army General: head of U.S. forces in Vietnam [1964-1968]
■…SCIENCE & RELIGION
Anthony James Leggett, 73.American physicist, Nobel laureate
1753 Benjamin Thompson, American physicist and inventor
1753 Benjamin Thompson, American physicist and inventor
Today’s Obits:
1973 Noel Coward English playwright (Private Letters), heart failure @ 73
1996 Edmund S Muskie Vice Presidential candidate/(Governor-ME), @ 81
1995 Rapper- Eazy-E (Eric Wright) AIDS @ 31
1969 B[runo] Traven writer (Sierra Madre), @ 87
1827 Ludwig van Beethoven German composer, liver damage @ 56
1892 Walt Whitman poet, TB @ 72
1649 John Winthrop Puritan & 1st Governor (Massachusetts)natural causes @ 61
Today’s Events:
■…ARTS
1926 The 1st lip-reading tournament held in America
1955 "Ballad of Davy Crockett" becomes the #1 record in US
■…ATHLETICS
1915 Stanley Cup: Vancouver Millionaires sweep Ottawa Senators in 3
1931 Leo Bentley bowls 3 consecutive perfect games in Lorain OH
1972 The LA Lakers broke a National Basketball Association record by winning 69 of 82 games
■…BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1780 1st British Sunday newspaper appears (British Gazette & Sunday Monitor)
1845 Patent awarded for adhesive medicated plaster, precursor of band-aid
1885 Eastman Film Co manufactures 1st commercial motion picture film
1943 1st woman to receive air medal (US army nurse Elsie S Ott)
■…INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1804 Congress orders removal of Indians east of Mississippi to Louisiana
1973 A Native American mass will be held in New York City at Saint John the Divine Cathedral. Almost 4,000 people will attend.
■…POLITICS (International)
1668 England takes control of Bombay India
1886 1st cremation in England
1945 Japanese resistance ends on Iwo Jima
1979 Camp David peace treaty between Israel & Egypt
■…POLITICS (US)
1790 Congress passes Naturalization Act, requires 2-year residency
1910 US forbid immigration to criminals, anarchists, paupers & the sick
■…SCIENCE & RELIGION
1147 Jewish community in Cologne fast to commemorate anti-Jewish violence
1812 Earthquake destroys 90% of Caracas; about 20,000 die
1953 Dr Jonas Salk announces new vaccine to prevent polio [myelitis]
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ANSWERS:
Quiz
1. The US had 5% world population and 70% of worlds what?
Lawyers
2. A JPEG is a picture file format. What does JPEG stand for?
2. A JPEG is a picture file format. What does JPEG stand for?
Joint Photographic Experts Group
3. What did the first issue of Playboy in 1953 not have?
3. What did the first issue of Playboy in 1953 not have?
A Date - unsure if it would continue
4. What are formed by Orogeny?
4. What are formed by Orogeny?
Mountains
5. In what book did we meet the Eoli and the Morlocks?
5. In what book did we meet the Eoli and the Morlocks?
The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells
6. What is a Chuckwalla?
6. What is a Chuckwalla?
Lizard
7. Vladamere Ashkenazy plays what musical instrument?
7. Vladamere Ashkenazy plays what musical instrument?
Piano
8. Thomas Holden was the first to top what list?
8. Thomas Holden was the first to top what list?
FBI ten most wanted
9. What animal was believed to be a cross between a camel and a leopard? Giraffe
10. Whose nickname was 'Slowhand'?
9. What animal was believed to be a cross between a camel and a leopard? Giraffe
10. Whose nickname was 'Slowhand'?
Eric Clapton
Close Up Picture
Close Up Picture
Boat Launch sign
_________AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW___________
