Nov 20, 2012

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Flagstaff Almanac:  Week: 47/ Day: 325   

Today: H   54°…L 23° Averages: H  ° L °

Records: H   69°(1949)…L -6°(1985)

Wind: ave:   6mph; Gusts:  22mph Today’s ave. humidity:  70%

Quote of the Day:

Today’s Historical Highlights:

"Indians of all tribes" are declared on Alcatraz Island—1969

"Meet the Press" makes network TV debut on NBC—1947

1st documented anti-semitic remarks over US radio (by Father Coughlin) —1938

1st municipally owned airport in US opens (Tucson Az) —1919

1st Seminole War begins in Florida—1817

24 Nazi leaders put on trial at Nuremberg, Germany—1945

Arabs attribute shortage of water in Jerusalem to Jews making wine—1521

Dow Jones Industrial Average reaches its lowest level since 1997 after critical

      failures in the US financial system began to build up after mid-September —2008

Howard University founded (Washington DC) —1866

Jewish population of Israel reaches 1,000,000—1949

McDonald's made its 50 billionth hamburger—1984

Microsoft Windows 1.0 is released—1985

Salvador Dali's 1st one-man show—1929

UN's WHO announces 1st global effort to combat AIDS—1986

US State Department starts requiring photographs for passports—1914

♪  ♪   Happy Birthday To: ♪. ♪   

How many can you identify?…answers in Today’s Birthdays

Free Rambling Thoughts:   

A nice day.

 

Words have been flying around for decades, if not longer, between the Palestinian’s and the Israeli’s politicians. Now it is rockets. I just can’t buy Israel’s answer that ‘we drop leaflets, warning the civilians of Gaza that rockets are targeted for their area.’ This is a very densely populated area and just because a few Hamas leaders live in the area doesn’t make it OK to bomb. For those civilians who live in Gaza, just where are they supposed to go and for how long? I kinda remember the US dropping leaflets in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the days before the atomic bombs dropped. That didn’t really prevent the deaths of many civilians. The rockets are killing innocents.

 

Just saw on FB’s local newspaper post that Thursday’s paper will have 400 pages of Black Friday ads. Really?!? May have to get a fork lift to bring the paper into the house. Our paper is usually about 25 pages each day. Even Sunday is nowhere near that big.

 

Continuing the Black Friday train of thought: When I was in High School and College I worked at a local grocery store making money for school. I worked every Sunday (time and a half) and 4^th of July, Christmas Eve day (double time). It worked out great for me. I would always volunteer so the career grocery people could be with their families all day. We closed about 5pm on holidays so I didn’t miss out on much. I don’t think it is necessary for the box stores to be open Thanksgiving night for their kick-off of Black Friday. I am not understanding the worker’s revolt that they will not work on that holiday night. They are being paid holiday wages and this seems to add some extra money to the pocketbook. It seems to me if they don’t want to work on the holiday, they shouldn’t have to. A good management team should be able to work out schedules that will work. If it is a choice of working or losing your job, then that is wrong. These big box stores hire lots of people just for the holidays and I can’t believe there aren’t enough people to work during holiday hours. Guess we’ll all find out how it works out on Black Thursday evening and Black Friday.

Game  Center: (answers at the end of post)

Duplicate Letter Puzzles

Find common words with certain letters duplicated in the given positions.  L stands for any duplicated letter, and _ stands for any letter

L L _ _ L

Lifestyle  Substance:     

Unusual Uses for Everyday Things: Olive Oil

• Shave. Olive oil can provide a closer shave when used in place of shaving cream.
• Shine stainless steel. Many cleaning standbys, such as ammonia, can dull and even corrode chrome and stainless steel. Olive oil, however, is a safe and effective shining agent.
• Prevent wax from sticking to a candle holder. Rub a thin coat on the base of the holder before inserting a candle. Dripped wax should peel away easily.
• Care for your pet. Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon to your cat’s food to help prevent hair balls.
• Treat dry skin. Rub a thin layer over the skin after a shower or a waxing.
• Unstick a zipper. Using a Q-tip, apply a drop to lubricate the teeth. (Avoid touching the fabric.) The zipper should move up and down freely.
• Dust wooden furniture. Apply a bit of oil to a cloth and wipe.
• Silence squeaky doors. Lubricate hinges by applying a small dab to a cloth, then wiping the top of the hinges so that the oil runs down the sides.

Old Saying Explained:

EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY…This old saying is from Ecclesiastes 8:15 'a man has no better thing under the sun than to eat and to drink and be merry'.

Ok, then?

TV Theme Songs you may remember:

Square Pegs - The Waitresses

Read This Headline Carefully!!

Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim

America’s Historical Buildings:

Prairie Home Companion:

A Prairie Home Companion - My Minnesota Home

Harper’s Index:         

• Percentage of Americans who believe that anti-American sppech should be protected by the Constitution: 45

• Number of people stopped and frisked by the NYPD last year for ‘furtive movements’: 381,739

Ruminations:

I don’t care how much you liked the soap—NEVER be caught smelling you fingers while walking out of a public restroom.

Unusual Fact of the Day:

The male satin bower bird, found on the east coast of Australia, builds its bower (ground nest) with twigs and then decorates the nest with blue (sometimes yellow or shiny) objects it finds to attract a mate. Many people who live nearby have found long lost objects in the bowers such as car keys, toys, clothes pegs etc.

Found on You Tube: 

• Alistair Cooke on America

• Allan Sherman - Hello Muddah

Joke-of-the-day:

Sign on company bulletin board: “This firm requires no physical-fitness program. Everyone gets enough exercise jumping to conclusions, flying of the handle, running down the boss, flogging dead horses, knifing friend in the back, dodging responsibility, and pushing their luck.”  

Rules of Thumb:   

Easy shortcuts to make an ‘educated’ guess

RACING A BOBSLED…In bobsled competition, every second lost at the start costs three seconds at the finish. On a luge run, the time lost at the start is multiplied by four times at the finish.    

Yeah, It Really Happened

A man in Saginaw says he spent nearly 4 hours at a gas station after getting one of his fingers trapped in his sport utility vehicle's gas tank.

Victor Harris said he was attempting to remove a piece of paper from his Lincoln Navigator's gas tank Friday, when he found he was unable to extract his finger from his vehicle.

"A piece of paper was around the little hole, so I just tried to put my little finger in there, rub it off," Harris said. "My finger just slipped in there. It was like, 'Dang, it won't come out!'"

He tried unsuccessfully for nearly 2 hours to remove his finger, before fire crews and emergency personnel were called to the scene. The emergency workers ultimately cut the vehicle's gas tank out to allow Harris to be taken to a nearby hospital with his finger still trapped.

Finally, after 4 1/2 hours, Harris' finger was freed and the Saginaw resident had a lesson to share.

"Don't stick my finger back in the gas tank."  

Somewhat Useless Information   

• On November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a military cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln delivers one of the most memorable speeches in American history. In just 272 words, Lincoln brilliantly and movingly reminded a war-weary public why the Union had to fight, and win, the Civil War.
• Also on this date; for the first time in eight years, the leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States hold a summit conference. Meeting in Geneva, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev produced no earth-shattering agreements. However, the meeting boded well for the future, as the two men engaged in long, personal talks and seemed to develop a sincere and close relationship.

Calendar Information        

Happening This Week:

16-22

National Farm-City Week

18-24

National Bible Week►National Family Week►National Game & Puzzle Week ►Better Conversation Week

Today Is                                                                      

Absurdity Day

African Industrialization Day

Children's Day

Globally Organized Hug A Runner Day aka G.O.H.A.R.D.

Name Your PC Day

National Peanut Butter Fudge Day 

Universal Children's Day

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

Mexico: Revolution Day (1910)
Germany: Totensonntag ("general celebration in memorial of the deceased" for Lutherns)

Today’s Events through History  

1st meeting of Order of Guilder Flies—1431

Court in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan declares accused terrorist Osama bin Laden "a man without a sin" in regard to the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania—1998

Egyptian Pres Sadat became 1st Arab leader to address Israeli Knesset—1977

Garrett Morgan invents & patents traffic signal—1923

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to US president W Wilson—1920

Queen Elizabeth's home Windsor Castle catches fire—1992

UN adopts Universal Declaration of Children's Rights—1959

US files antitrust suit to break-up AT&T—1974

While looking for rumored "lost silver mines" in Texas near the old San Sabá 

     Mission, Jim Bowie, and ten companions, encounter almost 150 Caddo 

     and Waco Indians—1831 

William Bundy patents timecard clock—1888

Zumbi, the last of the leaders of Quilombo dos Palmares in early Brazil 

     and ex-slave, is executed—1695

Today’s Birthdays                                                           

In their 80’s

Kaye Ballard, Cleve Ohio, actress/comedienne (Kaye-Mothers-in-Law) is 86

Estelle Parsons, Lynn Mass, actress (Rachel Rachel, Bonnie & Clyde) is 85

Rex Reason, Berlin Germany, actor (Man Without a Gun, Roaring 20s) is 84

In their 70’s

Joseph R Biden Jr, (Sen-VP )is 70

Dick Smothers, NYC, comedian (Smother Brothers' Show) is 73

In their 60’s

Veronica Hamel , actress (Joyce-Hill St Blues, 79 Park Ave )is 69

Joe Walsh, Wichita Ks, guitarist/rocker (Eagles-Take it Easy) is 65

In their 50’s

Bo Derek, actress (10, Tarzan the Ape Man) is 56

Remembered for being born today

Fran Allison, LaPorte City Iowa, actress (Kukla, Fran & Ollie) (1907-1980)

Robert C Byrd, (Sen-D-WV)/majority leader (1917-2010)

Judy Canova, American actress (d. 1983) , comedienne/actress (Cannonball) (1913-1983)

Dick Clark, Mt Vernon NY, TV host (American Bandstand), (1929-2012)

Alistair Cooke, Manchester England, TV host (Masterpiece Theatre) (1908-2004)

Richard Dawson, Hampshire England, actor (Hogan's Heroes, Family Feud), (1932-2012)

Jim Garrison, American district attorney and judge (1921-1992)

Robert Francis Kennedy, Brookline, Mass (D-Sen-NY) AG; assassinated (1925-1968)

Selma Lagerlöf, author and Nobel laureate (The Wonderful Adventures of Nils), 

     (1858-1940)

Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi, Pakistani historian and educationist (1903-1981)

Gene Tierney, actress (Laura, Razor's Edge, Ghost & Mrs Muir) (1920-1991)

Today’s Historical Obits                                                           

Robert Altman, American film director (MASH)—2006—at 81  

Wendelmoet "Weyntjen" Claesdochter, 1st Dutch woman burned as heretic—1527

Bill Scott, cartoon voice (Mr Peabody, Bullwinkle)— heart attack—1985—at 65

Allan Sherman (Allan Copelon), parodist (Camp Granada)— emphysema—1973—at 48

Leo Tolstoy (Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy), Russian earl/writer (War & Peace)—1910—at 82

Answer: Duplicate Letter Puzzles

L L _ _ L is eerie

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  §