Feb 9

FYI: Click on any blue text for a link to more information!

Today’s  Historical  Highlights

1540 - The 1st recorded race meet in England (Roodee Fields, Chester)

1825 - House of Representatives elects John Quincy Adams 6th US president

1861 - Tennessee votes against secession

1889 - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is established as a Cabinet-level agency

1891 - 1st shipment of asparagus arrives in SF from Sacramento

1909 - 1st federal legislation prohibiting narcotics (opium)

1933 - -63°F (-53°C), Moran, Wyoming (state record)

1950 - Sen Joseph McCarthy charges State Dept infested with 205 communists

♪Happy Birthday To: ♪                     

 

Free Rambling Thoughts   

A nice day for a short walk. Clouds but no moisture. Then time to run errands. Sam’s Club and I had a ‘discussion’ over the use of my phone app for scanning my membership. There was a long line at each checkout. As usual they have a person running around with a scanner and they scan all your stuff and when you get to the register they simply scan your card and you pay and you are on your way. The young girl doing the scanning in line would not accept my phone app and told me she was required to check my card, my picture, and my name. Hmmm. That’s never happened. I dug out my card and told her to call a manager. She did. The manager said he had never seen anyone use a phone app to scan in a card. I showed him the app, and that Sam’s even offers special deals for those using the app. He decided I could use my phone. I told him it was the principle and he finally agreed to inform the scanner that a phone app was acceptable….Yeah, right. I have been using the phone app for over a year. Sometimes I get a funny look, but I just say ‘just scan it’, the clerk scans and everyone is happy. In fact, it was a manager that helped me do the card the first time, since the numbers are tiny and my eyes ain’t what they used to be, he gladly read me the numbers as I typed them in. Now, when my phone had to be reset, I was able to simply snap a picture of the bar code and it was in. Very cool. Glad to see the Republicans are shaking things up in their caucuses and primaries…can only be good for our President. They—the conservatives—seem to think that American public will believe just about anything. Romney said that Americans are the only people in the whole world that put their hand over their heart to show patriotism during their National Anthem…and he was the one who pulled off the Salt Lake City Olympics. I guess he didn’t watch any awards ceremonies. A great clip today…I remember getting permission to leave the Sunday Dinner early to watch the Beatles in this clip…great memories.

Game   Center   (answers at the end of post)

Brain Game

NPR Sunday Puzzle

Every answer today is a familiar two-word phrase or name with the initials "E and "S." For example: "Christian celebration of the resurrection." The answer is: "Easter Sunday."

1.     Boy who has earned at least 21 merit badges:

2.     Nickname of New York:

3.     What follows kindergarten:

4.     Middle part of algebraic equation:

5.     Venus:

6.     Someone coming from abroad for a year to pursue education: 

7.     Some makeup :

8.     Familiar name of magnesium sulfate:

9.     Cabinet  Secretary who oversees gas, utilities and electricity:

10.  It can give you a leg up:

11.  Alternative to a straight razor:

12.  Grammy award winning banjoist for ‘Foggy Mountain Breakdown’:

13.  Host of TV variety show from the 40’s to the 70’s:

Wuzzles  What concept or phrase do these suggest?

Lifestyle  Substance     

AZ Centennial – Feb 14:  Did you know?…

How did Wickenburg, AZ get its name?

Among the gold searchers was an Austrian named Henry Wickenburg. His quest for gold was rewarded by the discovery of the Vulture Mine, where over $30 million in gold has been dug from the ground. Throughout the foothills surrounding Wickenburg are relics of other mines that stand as a tribute to the pioneer miner and prospector.

How did Chandler, AZ get its name?

In 1891, Dr. Alexander John Chandler, the first veterinary surgeon in Arizona Territory, settled on a ranch south of Mesa, studying irrigation engineering. By 1900, he had acquired 18,000 acres (73 km2) of land, and began drawing up plans for a townsite on what was then known as the Chandler Ranch.

How did Yuma get its name?

While Arizona was still a part of the Territory of New Mexico, that portion which is now Yuma County was part of the vast extent of Dona Ana county. A name proposed for this section when Sylvester Mowry was making a map of Arizona in 1860 was Castle Dome County, doubtless for the famous Castle Dome mining district. However, when Yuma County was created by act of the first Arizona territorial legislature on November 8, 1864, it was decided to name the new county for its chief Indian inhabitants, the Yuma tribe.

How did AZ get its name?

The name Arizona comes from the Papago “ali-shonak” meaning “small spring.” The name became popular following the discovery of rich lodes of silver “so pure you could cut it with a knife,” some 25 miles southwest of present-day Nogales in 1736. The word was ultimately corrupted into “Arizona.”

Daffynitions: :-)

DIGNIFY — A way to make the hole you’re in look goodHANGOVER — The wrath of grapes

Found on You Tube         

Note: this is in Spanish

Iximche Guia del Viajero Misuperguia

Harper’s Index         

Amount paid at a Texas auction for the vanity license plate ‘AMERICA’: $3,000For the plate ‘’FERRARI”: $15,000

Joke-of-the-day

A very loud Texan Engineer was visiting Australia, and talking big about all of the large civil works in the USA that he was involved in. To be polite his Australian counterpart took him on a tour of some of Sydney’s larger constructions.
First he took him to Gladesville Bridge. The Texan exclaimed, "What’s that!” In reply the Australian said, "Thats the Gladesville Bridge".
"Hmmph" said the Texan, "How long and how many men did it take to build?” The Australian replied, "About 5 years with 1000 men."
The Texan replied, "Well in Texas we would've done it in 2 years with 500 men."
Next they went to the Sydney Opera House. "What's that" said the Texan. "That's the Sydney Opera House" was the reply.
"Hmmph" said the Texan, "How long and how many men did it take to build?” The Australian replied, "About 10 years with 200 men".
The Texan replied "Well in Texas we would've done it in 4 years with 200 men."
By this stage the Australian was a little put out by the Texan's attitude so he decided to get some revenge, they walked around the Sydney Opera House and as they did the Sydney Harbor Bridge came into view.
Immediately the Texan exclaimed, "Wow! What's that?"The Australian Engineer replied, "I don't know, it wasn't there yesterday."

Planet Earth

 Returns tomorrow

Rules of Thumb   

Easy shortcuts to make an ‘educated’ guess

If you walk into a bar where a lot of people wear baseball caps, it's a good place to sell lottery tickets.

Somewhat Useless Information   

Italian sailors from Genoa, whom the French called Genes, wore cotton workpants. These pants became known as "genes." Eventually, the word morphed into "jeans."

Levi Strauss arrived in California during the Gold Rush, trying to sell canvas tents to miners, but he learned what the prospectors needed most were pants. He turned his tents into pants, but some complained the rough fabric chaffed. This caused Levi to switch to a twilled cotton imported from Nimes, France.

The cloth from Nimes was known as "de Nimes" or "denim." The term blue jeans finds its roots in the Nimes cloth that the Genoese dyed blue.

In 1885, a person could buy a pair of Levi's overalls for $1.25. By 1900, the company charged $8.50 for a pair of their famous blue jeans.

In 2005, an original pair of 501 Levi's aged more than 100 years were sold to a collector for $60,000. An original pair of Levi's jeans is part of the Smithsonian Institution's permanent collection.

In Spain, blue jeans are known as "vaqueros" or "cowboys;" in Danish "cowboybukser;" and in Mandarin Chinese "niuzaiku" - both of which translate literally to "cowboy pants."

Yeah, It Really Happened                 

STOCK ISLAND, FL - Police in Florida said a man accused of attempted bank robbery wore a pair of shorts on his head during the crime, but they didn't cover his face.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said Eli Escalera, 43, was wearing the shorts like a hat Friday when he walked into the First State Bank on Stock Island near Key West at 12:30 p.m. and handed a note to a teller reading, "Give me what are 20s and 50s," KeysNet.com reported Monday.
The confused teller asked Escalera what he wanted and he responded by saying "never mind" and leaving the bank, investigators said.
The bank manager called authorities and Deputy Matt Dowling spotted Escalera on a nearby street. The suspect attempted to flee on a bicycle, but was quickly apprehended, authorities said. The sheriff's office said investigators do not know why Escalera was wearing shorts on his head.

Calendar Information        

…Happening This Week:

5-11

Boy Scout Anniversary Week

Children's Authors & Illustrators Week

Jump Your Significant Jerk Week

Freelance Writers Appreciation Week

International Coaching Week

Just Say No to PowerPoint Week

Publicity for Profit Week

World Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week

International Networking Week

International Friendship Week

National Green Week

National School Counseling Week

7-14

Have A Heart for A Chained Dog Week

Risk Awareness Week

Love Makes the World Go Round; But, Laughter Keeps Us From Getting Dizzy Week

Getting Dizzy Week

Today Is                                                                      

Extraterrestrial Visitor Day

National Stop Bullying Day

Read in the Bathtub Day

Toothache Day

Today’s Other Events                                                             

1500’s

1526 - Spaniards are living in the Cakchiquel (Kaqchikel) Maya town of Iximche’ in modern Guatemala. A few decide to desert. They set a large fire as a diversion.

1600’s

1607 - There has been a long period of fighting between the Indian tribes of the Powhatan Confederacy and the English colonists in Virginia. While leading a Paspahegh war party near Jamestown, Chief Wochinchopunck is seen by the colonists. A fight ensues, and the Chief is killed.

1690 - 300 Indians and French sneak into the stockade at Schenectady, New York during a snowstorm. After posting warriors at each building, a signal is given, and the primarily Dutch occupants are attacked. Sixty settlers are killed, and twenty-seven are captured. Mohawk Indians attempt to rescue some of the captives as they are marched off to Canada, but they meet with little success.

1800’s

1822 - American Indian Society organizes

1822 - Haiti invades the newly founded Dominican Republic

1863 - Fire extinguisher patented by Alanson Crane

1870 - US Army establishes US National Weather Service

1871 - Federal fish protection office authorized by Congress

1886 - Pres Cleveland declares a state of emergency in Seattle because of anti-Chinese violence

1895 - Volleyball invented by W G Morgan in Massachusetts

1900’s

1906 - Natal proclaims state of siege in Zulu uprising

1918 - Army chaplain school organizes at Ft Monroe Va

1932 - America enter Olympic 2-man bobsled competition for 1st time

1942 - Daylight Savings War Time goes into effect in US

1943 - FDR orders minimal 48 hour work week in war industry

1952 - "Adventures of Superman" TV series premieres in syndication

1963 - 1st flight of Boeing 727 jet

1964 - 1st appearance of Beatles on "Ed Sullivan Show" (73.7 million viewers)

1964 - 9th Winter Olympic games close at Innsbruck, Austria

1969 - Boeing 747 made its 1st commercial flight World's largest airplane

1971 - Probably 1st gay theme TV episode - All in the Family

1986 - Halley's Comet reaches 30th perihelion (closest approach to Sun)

1989 - Kevin Johnson (Phoenix) ends NBA free throw streak of 57 games

1996 - The Irish Republican Army declares the end of its 18 month ceasefire shortly followed by a large bomb in London's Canary Wharf

1997 - Fox cartoon series "Simpsons" airs 167th episode the longest-running animated series in cartoon history

2000’s

2001 - The American submarine USS Greeneville accidentally strikes and sinks the Ehime-Maru, a Japanese training vessel operated by the Uwajima Fishery High School

Today’s Birthdays                                                           

In their 80’s

Roger Mudd, news anchor (CBS Weekend News, NBC Evening News) is 84

In their 70’s

Carole King, [Klein], pianist/singer (Tapestry) is 70

In their 60’s

Mia [Maria] Farrow, actor (Rosemary's Baby, Purple Rose of Cairo) is 67

Judith Light, actor is 63

Joe Pesci, actor is 69

Danny White, quarterback (Dallas Cowboys) is 60

In their 50’s

Charles Shaughnessy, London actor (Shane-Days of our Lives, Nanny) is 57

In their 40’s

Travis Tritt, country vocalist (Country Club) is 49

Remembered for being born on this day
William Henry Harrison, Va, (Whigs) 9th Pres in 1773

Aletta [Henriette] Jacobs, 1st Dutch female physician in 1854

Gypsy Rose Lee, stripper in 1914

Dean Rusk, US Secretary of State (1961-69) in 1909

Samuel Jones Tilden, philanthropist for NY Public Library in 1814

Ernest Tubb, guitarist/singer (I'm Walking the Floor over You) in 1914

Today’s Obits                                                           

Jean François de Saint-Lambert, French poet dies at 87

Feodor M Dostoevski, Russian novelist (Crime & Punishment), dies of emphysema at 59 in 1881

Percy Faith, Canadian musician dies of cancer at 68 in 1976

[George] Gabby Hayes, actor (Albuquerque, Colorado), dies at 83 in 1969

Bill Haley, vocalist (Rock Around Clock), dies of heart attack at 55 in 1981

Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom dies of stroke at 72 in 2002

Manuel Plaza Reyes, Chilean marathoner (Oly-gold 1928), dies at 68 in 1969

David Wayne, [Wayne Mcmeekan], US actor (Dallas), dies at 81 in 1995

Answers                                                                                                                                            

Brain Game

NPR Sunday Puzzle

1.     Boy who has earned at least 21 merit badges: Eagle Scout

2.     Nickname of New York: Empire State

3.     What follows kindergarten: Elementary School

4.     Middle part of algebraic equation: equals sign

5.     Venus: evening star

6.     Someone coming from abroad for a year to pursue education:  exchange student

7.     Some makeup :Eye shadow

8.     Familiar name of magnesium sulfate: Epson salt

9.     Cabinet  Secretary who oversees gas, utilities and electricity: Energy Secretary

10.  It can give you a leg up: elevator shoes

11.  Alternative to a straight razor: electric shaver

12.  Grammy award winning banjoist for ‘Foggy Mountain Breakdown’: Earl Scruggs

13.  Host of TV variety show from the 40’s to the 70’s: Ed Sullivan

Wuzzle

Adding insult to injurySparrowsA step backwards

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] the dates may not be totally accurate.

☺    And That Is All for Now  ☺