5-14-11

TODAY’s “Geez”: 1904 - The first Olympic games to be held in the United States opened in St. Louis.

Free Rambling Thoughts…

What a great graduation day here in FLG. I didn’t go to that side of town, knowing that traffic would be bad, but I’m sure they had a good tent graduation.  Graduation at the small university is so much different than my undergraduate graduation in Boulder. In Boulder, everyone filed into the football field, for all receiving any degree. Each school stood in mass and had their degree bestowed. The only grads to walk the stage were the doctoral candidates.  At NAU, every student walks onto the stage to get their diploma. The University actually holds five separate ceremonies over two days. Every graduate gets their moment in the spotlight. I chose not to walk at my Master’s ceremony, partially because I was working on graduation day and partially because I earned my degree over a series of summers and didn’t really know that many members of my graduating class. So, for today and tomorrow, many of us will not be heading to the other side of town for any reason. I did attend one NAU graduation when a friend received his doctorate. It is a nice ceremony and he had been at NAU for his last year, while raising his two sons on campus. They went home to San Carlos every weekend, and he let me use his married student housing apartment on weekends. He also used TCBS as one of several schools he studied on the use of technology in the schools. He went on to become a School superintendent and is now Vice President of the San Carlos Tribe.

I have seen several cartoons regarding bin Laden’s arrival at the pearly gates. One shows him being greeted by the 72 virgins…all Catholic Nuns from parochial school. Another shows him being beaten up by Washington and many founding fathers. In the last panel, God speaks to the bruised Bin Laden and says, I think you misunderstood, I said 72 Virginians. Well, I’m expecting more after it was reported today that some of the confiscated material from his bedroom was a large amount of porn. I doubt we will ever know what kind of porn and the US definition is a little hazy, to say the least. [Just look at the books that were once banned in the US because they were considered pornography is some conservative areans.]However, even the most soft core pictures of naked women’s breasts doesn’t seem to fit is Muslim image. Whatever it is, I’m sure it will be fodder for the press.  

Trivia Quiz…(answers at the end of post)

In which Ian Fleming novel did the dog Edison appear?

Whose autobiography was called Bound for Glory?"

Which writer did Sean O' Casey describe as English Literature's performing flea?

Ten Days That Shook the World is about what?

Who completed his novel Omerta shortly before his death?

In Peter Pan, what are Hook's last words?

What was Ian Fleming's first novel?

Who wrote A Hard Road to Glory: The History of the African American Athlete?

What was the combined ages of Sarah and Elizabeth Delaney when they published their book of Everyday Wisdom in 1994?

Of the trio of female US novelists who have sold over 30 million books, who was the second to be published?

Which actress wrote the children's book Nibbles & Me?

What was William Golding's follow up to The Lord of the Flies?

Zoom-ed in Picture…Can you Identify what this is? (Answer at end of post)

Hmmmmm…

>Odds in NYC in 1900 of dying in a horse accident: 1 in 19,000

>Odds today of dying there in an automobile accident: 1 in 26,000

The First Time…

1879 --- 1st female lawyer to plead a case before the US Supreme Court: Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood

1879 --- 1st African American woman to study and work as a professionally trained nurse: Mary Mahoney

1884 --- 1st African American baseball player in the major leagues: Moses Fleetwood Walker

1886 --- 1st President married inside the White House: Grover Cleveland

Somewhat Useless Information…

***The average Pixar film makes twice the money invested into it domestically and five times that amount on a global scale! None of their movies has garnered less than $150 million in the U.S.

*** Walt Disney only attended one year of high school

Yeah, It Really Happened…

HOUSTON — Authorities say four people were indicted in a Houston bank robbery after bragging about it on Facebook.

Federal prosecutors say two former tellers at the International Bank of Commerce recruited a boyfriend and a brother to steal more than $62,000 on March 23.

Prosecutors say former tellers 18-year-old Estefany Danelia Martinez and 19-year-old Anna Margarita Rivera; Martinez's boyfriend, 19-year-old Ricky Gonzalez; and Rivera's brother, 22-year-old Arturo Solano were indicted Wednesday on charges of bank robbery and embezzlement.

Authorities say an anonymous tip led investigators to Facebook posts. In one Martinez wrote, "IM RICH." Another post said: "WIPE MY TEETH WITH HUNDEREDS."

Gonzalez's attorney, Lance Hamm, says his client is "extremely remorseful for what he's accused of doing."

Attorneys for the others did not immediately return messages Wednesday night.

Guffaw…or at least smile…

Sitting through fire safety and prevention programs can make anyone nod off. So the instructor tried to lighten the mood by going around the room asking where all the guests were from.

"Burnt Mattress, Arkansas," called out the friend sitting next to me.

"Burnt Mattress!" said the instructor, suppressing a laugh. "I've heard some unusual town names before, but never that one. Where's it located?"

My friend shot back, "Right above Hot Springs."

Searchin’ “You Tube” I found…

 Leave It to Beaver - "Eddie's Girl"

Daybook Information

…Happening This Week:

6-12 National Nurses Day and Week

7-15National Tourism Week:

8-14

 National Hospital Week * National Nursing Home Week * Reading is Fun Week * Salute to Moms 35+ Week

9-15

National Return To Work Week * National Women's Health Week * National Etiquette Week * National Stuttering Awareness Week * Universal Family Week

«TODAY IS

International Migratory Bird Day

Jamestown Founding Day

Letter Carrier's Food Drive Day

National Dance Like A Chicken Day

National Train Day

‘The Stars and Stripes Forever‘ Day

Stay Up All Night

Underground America Day

Netherlands: National Windmill Day  

Paraguay: National Day (independence from Spain-1811)

Today’s Events:

…  IN ARTS

1925 - Virginia Woolf's novel Mrs Dalloway is published.

1951 - Ernie Kovacs Show, TV Variety debut on NBC

1973 - Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, last airs on NBC-TV

1998 - Last episode of Seinfeld on NBC (commercials are $2M for 30 seconds)

…  IN ATHLETICS

1874 - 1st admission charge at a football game, Harvard beats McGill 3-0

1918 - Sunday baseball is made legal in Wash DC

1977 - Stanley Cup: Montreal Canadiens sweep Boston Bruins in 4 games

1981 - 35th NBA Championship: Boston Celtics beat Houston Rockets, 4 games to 2

…  IN BUSINESS & EDUCATION

1842 - 1st edition of London Illustrated News

1853 - Gail Borden patents her process for condensed milk

1878 - Vaseline is 1st sold (registered trademark for petroleum jelly)

…  FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

1741 - According to some sources, a land cession agreement is reached by representatives of the British in New York and the Senecas.

1880 - Lemhi Chief Tendoy and several others sign an agreement to leave the Lemhi Reservation in Idaho. They agree to go to Fort Hall. It will be nine years before Congress approves the agreement. The Lemhi will not actually move until 1909

…  IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

1643 - Louis XIV became King of France at age 4 on the death of his father, Louis XIII

1767 - British government disbands Americans import duty on tea

1948 - Israel declares independence from under British administration

…  IN SCIENCE & RELIGION

1796 - 1st smallpox inoculation administered, by Edward Jenner

1804 - Lewis & Clark set out from St Louis for Pacific Coast

1896 - Lowest US temperature in May recorded (-10°F-Climax, Colo)

1960 - USSR launch 1st (unmanned) space capsule

1973 - Skylab launched, 1st Space Station

…  IN US POLITICS

1921 - Florence Allen is 1st woman judge to sentence a man to death

1961 - Bus with 1st group of Freedom Riders bombed & burned in Alabama

1980 - Dept of Health & Human Services begins operation

… ARTISTS:  AUTHORS:  COMPOSERS…

1727 - Thomas Gainsborough, English painter (Blue Boy), baptized

…ATHLETES

Tony Perez, Baseball Hall of Famer, turns 69

…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS…)

Miranda Cosgrove, Actress ("iCarly," "Drake and Josh"), turns 18

Jack Bruce, Rock musician (Cream), turns 68

1928 - Will "Dub Jones, American singer (The Coasters)

George Lucas, Director, producer ("Star Wars" movies), turns 67

… ENTREPRENEUR & EDUCATORS

Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Facebook, turns 27

…POLITICIANS

1852 - Alton Parker American politician; opposed Theodore Roosevelt in 1904

…SCIENTISTS / THEOLOGISTS

1686 - Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, Prussia, inventor (thermometer)

Today’s Obits:

1992 - Lyle Alzado, NFL defense linesman (Raiders), dies of cancer at 43

1982 - Hugh Beaumont, actor (Ward-Leave it to Beaver), dies at 73

1997 - Harry Blackstone Jr, magician, dies of cancer at 62

1987 - Rita Hayworth, actress (Gilda), dies of Alzheimer's disease at 68

1919 - Henry John Heinz, founder of the H. J. Heinz Company dies at 75

1943 - Henri La Fontaine, Belgian Nobel Peace Prize laureate dies at 89

1993 - William Randolph Hearst, US newspaper magnate (Pulitzer), dies at 85

1998 - Frank Sinatra, American singer and actor dies at 83

2003 - Robert Stack, American actor dies at 84

1878 - Ookubo Toshimichi, Japanese statesman, samurai, and one of the three great nobles who led the Meiji Restoration assassinated at 47

ANSWERS:

Trivia Quiz

In which Ian Fleming novel did the dog Edison appear?

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Whose autobiography was called Bound For Glory?"

Woody Guthrie

Which writer did Sean O' Casey describe as English Literature's performing flea?

PG Wodehouse

Ten Days That Shook the World is about what?

Russian Revolution

Who completed his novel Omerta shortly before his death?

Mario Puzo

In Peter Pan, what are Hook's last words?

Floreat Etona

What was Ian Fleming's first novel?

Casino Royale

Who wrote A Hard Road to Glory: The History of the African American Athlete?

Arthur Ash

What was the combined ages of Sarah and Elizabeth Delaney when they published their book of Everyday Wisdom in 1994?

 208

Of the trio of female US novelists who have sold over 30 million books, who was the second to be published?

Harper Lee (To Kill A Mockingbird).

Which actress wrote the children's book Nibbles & Me?

Elizabeth Taylor

What was William Golding's follow up to The Lord of the Flies?

The Inheritors

Close Up Picture

…AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW

5-13-11

TODAY’s “Geez”: 1958 - Rioters attack US VP Nixon in Venezuela

Free Rambling Thoughts…

We met for our weekly lunch today. Greek. Good. Cheryl is getting ready for her Santa Fe Grant Writer workshop. Very cool. She is going to figure out if she wants a website. She has the name, I think, from a few years back. She never paid more than the first year fee for the actual website. Technology has really changed since back then. I think what she really needs are some You Tube presentations that potential customers can go to. Grant Writing is really not a profession that needs lots of on-line presence, but does need somewhere for potential clients to go to learn what she does. She’s going to check around with the other participants. She is excited about the whole idea. The hardest job will be to find paying clients. Mary had a great time on her balloon ride at Sedona. The ride was advertised as a 4 hour experience…and that it was. Many would read that as a 4 hour balloon ride, which it wasn’t. The four hours included the prep, the one hour ride, and the champagne breakfast at the end. She did have some great pics including a large elk herd. Very nice.

So about a week ago John Ensign resigned from the Senate. He’s the guy who last year was involved in having an affair with one of his staffers. Turns out that both the husband and wife worked for the then Senator, and she believed that she had to do it to keep the affair going in order to live the lifestyle they lived. The then Senator was paying for their children’s private school tuition, lending them money for house payments, paying them big salaries, and paying for the family vacations. Today we found out that Mr. Ensign’s parents lied about the money they ‘gave’ to the couple, that the Senator and the husband had a foot chase in an airport parking lot when the husband found out that the affair was continuing even after both had said it ended. Watch for criminal charges against Ensign and his parents for lying to a Senate committee. How embarrassing for everyone involved.

Trivia Quiz…(answers at the end of post)

Who was elected senator for New York in 1964?

For how long were Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorced before she died?

Which Olympic athlete was born on the same day as Princess Diana?

What relation was China's Jiang Zemin to LI Xiannian?

Who did the first black heavyweight champion boxer lose his world heavyweight title to?

Who did Gary Kasparov take the world title from in 1985?

Who set up the Securities and exchange Commission for President Franklin D Roosevelt?

Who did Colonel Gaddafi succeed in 1969?

Who became leader of the Khmer Rouge in 1985?

Who succeeded Khrushchev as Soviet premier?

In which movie did Alan Ladd have his first lead role?

Har Gobind Khorana won the 1968 Nobel Prize for Medicine for research into what?

How was William Henry Pratt better known?

Zoom-ed in Picture…Can you Identify what this is? (Answer at end of post)

Hmmmmm…

>Percentage change since 2008 in the number of confirmed gonorrhea cases in Alaska: +71

>Chance that a mammal species declared extinct 1500 was later re-discovered: 1 in 3

The First Time…

Herbert Hoover 1874 --- 1st US President born west of the Mississippi.

Louis De Geer  1874 --- 1st US Prime Minister of Sweden

Matthew Webb  1875 --- 1st known person to swim across the English Channel. (He drowned in 1883 after unsuccessfully trying to swim across the whirlpools and rapids beneath Niagara Falls.)

Mary Baker Eddy  1879 --- 1st and only American woman to found a lasting American-based religion- The Church of Christ (Scientist)

Somewhat Useless Information…

***The word CIRCUS comes from the Latin meaning ring or circle. It referred to the circuit made by horses and chariots as they raced.

*** The beginning of our modern circus was staged in London in 1770. It was called "Astley's British Riding School" andwas an exhibit of spectacular horsemanship.

*** The first circus menagerie was started by Hackaliah Bailey in 1815 when he purchased Old Bet, an Indian Elephant. He later contracted with various ship captains to bring in assorted monkeys, bears, zebras, etc. He exhibited the animals in barns throughout New England.

*** P.T. Barnum started his show business career by claiming to have on display a 150 year slave woman who was George Washington's nurse. He followed this up with the celebrated smallest man in the world, general Tom Thumb, and a number of other big names including internationally-famous singer Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale.

*** The largest elephant ever taken into captivity was a bull African Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) measuring 13 feet, 2 inches at the shoulder and weighing 12 tons. Though taken in the Guando River region of Angola, the remains of the now-stuffed animal are on display at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

*** The most famous tightrope walker of all time was the Frenchman Jean Francoise Gravelet, also known as Charles Blondi (1824-1897). He is credited with making the earliest crossing of Niagara Falls on July 30, 1855. He covered the distance of 1,100 feet on a 3 inch rope, 160 feet above the Falls.

Yeah, It Really Happened…

HILLSBORO, Ore. — A man practicing a quick draw at a life-size poster of Don Michael Corleone accidentally fired a shot that hit the "Godfather" movie mob boss in the shoulder, and the slug went through the wall of his apartment, striking his neighbor's flat-screen television, police say.

Travis Hood, 27, was taken to the Washington County Jail and accused of recklessly endangering, said Washington County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. David Thompson.

He has also been charged with first-degree criminal mischief and unlawful use of a weapon, according to the sheriff's office website.

The shooting took place at 8150 SW Barnes Road, Unit C202 about 2:50 p.m. Wednesday. Hood reportedly used a .357 Magnum.

There were no injuries. Except to the 40-inch high-def TV.

Guffaw…or at least smile…

A man went into the pet shop, "I am playing Long John Silver in the local amateur dramatic society’s version of Treasure Island and need a parrot to sit on my shoulder," he said.

"I don't have any parrots at the moment, but you wouldn't want a real parrot for that. It would squawk in all the wrong places, poop on your shoulder and generally be a nuisance. What you need is a stuffed parrot. Just as realistic and easily controlled."

"I'm not sure a stuffed parrot would be okay," said the customer. "I do want this performance to be as realistic as possible."

"I am sure a stuffed parrot would be fine," said the pet shop owner. "I have one at home. I'll bring it in and if you come back on Thursday you can have it."

"Sorry," said the customer, "I can't make it on Thursday. That's the day I'm having my leg cut off."

Searchin’ “You Tube” I found…

The Secret life of Daphne Du Maurier http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqqLCXkVLS8

Daybook Information

…Happening This Week:

6-12 National Nurses Day and Week

7-15National Tourism Week:

8-14

 National Hospital Week * National Nursing Home Week * Reading is Fun Week * Salute to Moms 35+ Week

9-15

National Return To Work Week * National Women's Health Week * National Etiquette Week * National Stuttering Awareness Week * Universal Family Week

«TODAY IS

Blame Someone Else Day
Friday the 13th
Frog Jumping Day: traced back to Missouri author Mark Twain, and his first short story, “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog.” If you’d like to read this story today, it’s also known as “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” as well as “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.”

Leprechaun Day dedicated to the elves of Ireland

Today’s Events:

…  IN ARTS

--

…  IN ATHLETICS

1911 - NY Giant Fred Merkle is 1st to get 6 RBIs in an inning 

1955 - Mickey Mantle hits 3 consecutive HRs of at least 463'

…  IN BUSINESS & EDUCATION

1918 - 1st US airmail stamps issued (24 cents)

1934 - Great dustbowl storm

1950 - Diner's Club issues its 1st credit cards

1958 - The trade mark Velcro is registered

1966 - Federal education funding is denied to 12 school districts in the South because of violations of the 1964 Civil Rights Act

…  FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

1916 - 1st observance of Indian (Native American) Day

…  IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

1787 - Arthur Phillip sets sails with 11 ships of criminals to Botany Bay

1830 - Republic of Ecuador is founded, with Juan Jose Flores as president

1846 - US declares war on Mexico, 2 months after fighting begins

1969 - Race riots, later known as the May 13 Incident, take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1979 - Shah & family sentenced to death in Teheran

…  IN SCIENCE & RELIGION

1637 - Cardinal Richelieu of France creates the table knife

1917 - 1st appearance of Mary to 3 shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal

1975 - Hail stones as large as tennis balls hit Wernerville TN

1981 - Pope John Paul II shot, wounded by assailant in St Peter's Square

…  IN US POLITICS

1607 - English colonists (John Smith) lands near James River in VA

1947 - Senate approved the Taft-Hartley Act limiting the power of unions

1985 - Philadelphia police dropped an explosive onto the headquarters of the radical group MOVE; 11 people died in the resulting fire.

2003 - The government unveiled a new version of the $20 bill - the first to be colorized in an effort to thwart counterfeiters.

… ARTISTS:  AUTHORS:  COMPOSERS…

1907 - Daphne du Maurier, English writer (Rebecca, Parasites)

1856 - Peter Henry Emerson, 1st to promote photography as an independent art

1842 - Arthur Seymour Sullivan, London England, composer (Gilbert & Sullivan)

…ATHLETES

1914 - Joe Louis, world heavyweight boxing champion (1937-49)

1928 - Jim Shoulders, Champion rodeo cowboy 

Barry Zito, Baseball player, turns 33

…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS…)

Stephen Colbert, TV host ("The Colbert Report"), turns 47

Harvey Keitel, Actor turns 72 

Robert Pattinson ("Twilight" movies) turns 25 

Stevie Wonder, Singer, musician, turns 61

… ENTREPRENEUR & EDUCATORS

1729 - Henry William Stiegel German-born American ironmaster and glassmaker

…POLITICIANS
--

…SCIENTISTS / THEOLOGISTS

1822 - Francis of Assisi of Bourbon, King Consort of Spain 

1883 - Georgios Papanikolaou, Greek doctor, inventor of the Pap smear 

1931 - Jim Jones, American cult leader

Today’s Obits:

1916 - Sholem Aleichem, yiddish writer (Fiddler on the Roof), dies at 57

1972 - Dan Blocker, American actor (Hoss-Bonanza), dies of pulmonary embolism at 43

1961 - Gary Cooper, 2 time Acad award winning actor (High Noon), dies of cancer at 60

1985 - Selma Diamond, comedienne (Selma-Night Court), dies of cancer at 64

1967 - Frank McGrath, actor (Wagon Train), dies of heart attack at 64

1835 - John Nash, British town planner/architect (Regent's Park), dies at 83

1975 - Bob Wills, American musician dies of pneumonia at 70

ANSWERS:

Trivia Quiz

Who was elected senator for New York in 1964?

Bobby Kennedy

For how long were Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorced before she died?

One Year

Which Olympic athlete was born on the same day as Princess Diana?

Carl Lewis

What relation was China's Jiang Zemin to LI Xiannian?

Son in Law

Who did the first black heavyweight champion boxer lose his world heavyweight title to?

Jess Willard beat Jack Johnson

Who did Gary Kasparov take the world title from in 1985?

Anatoly Karpov

Who set up the Securities and exchange Commission for President Franklin D Roosevelt?

Joseph Kennedy

Who did Colonel Gaddafi succeed in 1969?

King Idris

Who became leader of the Khmer Rouge in 1985?

Khieu Samphan

Who succeeded Khrushchev as Soviet premier?

Kosygin

In which movie did Alan Ladd have his first lead role?

This Gun For HIre

Har Gobind Khorana won the 1968 Nobel Prize for Medicine for research into what?

Genetics

How was William Henry Pratt better known?

Boris Karloff

Close Up Picture

…AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW