IMHO--In My Humble Opinion

Monday

January 25, 2010--Week 4 of 2010: 25 days this year…340 remain

►Provocative Quote .

"While forbidden fruit may be sweeter, it spoils faster."

~ unknown

►Free Ramblings .

Flag is cleaning up after our third worst storm in history. I heard today that the Shonto Prep Gym roof collapsed. I spent many hours in that gym as a teacher--assemblies, movies, graduations, volleyball and basketball games, wrestling matches. The gym had two beautiful murals on the side walls. I was acting principal one time when the local artist had finally received a contract to repair the murals. They were painted in the late 60’s and when I returned there in the late 80’s they needed some repair.

There has been very little news from the Rez about this huge storm…nothing new, seldom does AZ or Flagstaff news cover much. The Gallup Independent does a much better job of Rez news, but they only update their website on weekdays.

Another interesting story in the local paper: The paper will now post ‘breaking news’ on their web site, as soon as it is verified. Since we have no local TV station, and mostly non-existent local radio news, this is amazing. This sure is a step in the right direction for a local print paper. This storm was the first time they started this, and I found it very good and very informative. I hope this helps their print circulation too. I’m hoping that the local news program will start up again on the NAU channel. Since it is run by students, they only broadcast when school is in session. It hasn’t been on since mid-December and usually takes a couple of weeks of classes before the program returns to the airways. The students in the classes need to get some basic training every semester before they are ready for broadcast.

I am very happy that my parking area is cleared and that I don’t need ice climbing gear to get to my vehicle. A friend is still snow bound in Doney Park, just outside Flagstaff. I’m trying to find someone with a blade that can open up her road. Her closest neighbor on the road had the road cleared up to their gate, but refused to give my friend information so the plow guy could do the road to her house. I guess there are crappy neighbors everywhere.

We got up to 35° today, so there was some melting. The kids around here are having a lot of fun in the ten foot snow banks. We now have our own sledding area. Schools here have been closed since early last week, so the kids have lots of energy and I’m sure parents are happy that schools will be open Monday, and that the kids can now play outside much of the day. All in all, this storm was the 3rd worst in the city’s history and was only ½” short of being second. It will take weeks before we see earth again.

►Quotes from Values.com—TEACHING BY EXAMPLE .

“Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.”

~Dr. Karl Augustus Menninger; Psychiatrist

►Side Show Stories—Darwin Awards 2010 .

The Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool... by removing themselves from it.

A cigarette lighter may have triggered a fatal explosion in Dunkirk, IN. A Jay County man, using a cigarette lighter to check the barrel of a muzzle loader, was killed Monday night when the weapon discharged in his face, sheriff’s investigators said. Gregory David Pryor, 19, died in his parents' rural Dunkirk home at about 11:30 PM. Investigators said Pryor was cleaning a 54-caliber muzzle-loader that had not been firing properly. He was using the lighter to look into the barrel when the gunpowder ignited.

►Random Fact .

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, of the Cosby Show, is named after Malcolm X and Jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal.

§ Interesting Statistics

*Note: I realize that statistics can be made to say just about anything.

~ The city of Flagstaff is 63.7 square miles.

~ in 2004 the largest employer in Flagstaff was NAU (4400), followed by the Flagstaff School District (1700).

§ January Month Long Observances

Birthstone: Garnet …Flower: Carnation

Book Blitz Month * Bath Safety Month * Birth Defects Month * California Dried Plum Digestive Month * Celebration of Life Month * Cervical Cancer Screening Month * Financial Wellness Month * High Tech Month * International Creativity Month * International Quality of Life Month * International Wayfinding Month * International Wealth Mentality Month * National Be On-Purpose Month * National Bird Feeding Month * National Clean Up Your Computer Month * National Get Organized Month * National Glaucoma Awareness Month * National Hot Tea Month * National Mail Order Gardening Month * National Mentoring Month * National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month * National Poverty in America Awareness Month * National Radon Action Month * National Skating Month * National Soup Month * National Volunteer Blood Donor Month * Oatmeal Month * Rising Star Month * Self-help Group Awareness Month * Senior Women’s Travel Month * Shape Up US Month * Thyroid Awareness Month

§ Observance Weeks in January

Sundance Film Festival: 21-31

National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Week: 23-30

World Leprosy Week: 23-29

National Nurse Anesthetists Week: 24-30

National Medical Group Practice Week: 25-29

§ 25 January Observances—US/UN/World

Opposite Day

Better Business Communication Day

Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day

Macintosh Computer Day

A Room of One's Own Day

§25 January Observances—by country

International: Burns Night—Burns suppers are held in many parts of the world around this date. (Originated in Scotland) Flagstaff Burns Dinner Feb 6.

International: Criminon Day: commemorates the 1970 founding of Criminon, a program which seeks to rehabilitate prisoners by disseminating free copies of Scientology-related materials such as The Way to Happiness. Highly controversial in CA, FL, dropped in NM.

Russia: Tatiana Day, celebrated as the Day of Russian Students since 1755, when Moscow University is founded.

Uganda: 2nd Republic Day—since 1971 when Idi Amin took power

Wales: St. Dwynwen's Day – celebration of love Diwrnod Santes Dwynwen: Like Valentines Day

§ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1877…Congress determines presidential election between Hayes- Tilden

§Born on this day

~ The Arts

Robert Burns in 1759 (Alloway Scotland) - poet

Dean Jones (79) - actor (Tea and Sympathy, The Love Bug, Beethoven)

Alicia Keys (29) - musician, singer

Dinah Manoff (52) - actress (“Soap,” “Empty Nest,” Tony Award for I Ought to Be in Pictures)

W. (William) Somerset Maugham in 1874 - author: Of Human Bondage

Edwin Newman (91) - journalist, author (“Comet,” A Civil Tongue)

Ana Ortiz (39) actress (“Ugly Betty” sister)

~Athletics

Vince Carter (33) - basketball player (Magic)

Steve Prefontaine in 1951 - 5K distance runner

Rodney Young in 1973 NFL safety (Giants)

~Business, Education, Politics

Benedict Arnold in 1741 - General /traitor

~Science/Religion

Robert Boyle in 1627 (Ireland) - physicist/chemist/author (experiments with color)

§Obits for this day

Al Capone in 1947 Chicago gangster, syphilis @ 48

Jeanne Dixon in 1997 psychic (Gift of Prophecy), heart attack @ 79
Tango Duke in 1978 @ 42; oldest known thoroughbred horse

Ava Gardner in 1990 actress, pneumonia @ 67

§What happened on this day?

~ The Arts

1858…Mendelssohn’s Wedding March was presented for the first time, as the daughter of Queen Victoria married the Crown Prince of Prussia.

1964…The Beatles get their first number one with "I Want To Hold Your Hand" on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

1985…"We are the World" is recorded

~Athletics

1924…1st Winter Olympic games open in Chamonix, France

1989…Michael Jordan scores his 10,000th NBA point in his 5th season

1998…Super Bowl XXXII Denver Broncos beat Green Bay Packers 31-24

~Business, Education, Politics

1533…England's King Henry VIII marries Anne Boleyn

1721…Czar Peter the Great ends Russian-orthodox patriarchy

1851…Sojourner Truth addresses 1st Black Women's Rights Convention (Akron)

1877…Congress determines presidential election between Hayes- Tilden

1993…Puerto Rico adds English as its 2nd official language

~Science/Religion

1799…1st US patent for a seeding machine, Eliakim Spooner, Vermont

1910…Children initiate idea of planting trees in Jerusalem

1955…Columbia University scientists develop an atomic clock accurate to within one second in 300 years

1974…South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard transplanted the first human heart without removal of the old one

~ Number One Songs in…
1945…Don’t Fence Me In - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
1953…Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes - Perry Como
1961…Exodus - Ferrante & Teicher

1969…I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye

► Puzzle .

A list of words is given. To solve the puzzle, think of a single word that goes with each to form a compound word or word pair that functions as a compound word. For example, if the given words are volley, field, and bearing, the the answer would be ball, because the word ball can be added to each of the other words to form volleyball, ball field, and ball bearing.

1. drop, off, stand

2. car, top, ice

3. key, wall, precious

Scroll down for answers

ANSWERS

1. KICK: drop kick, kick off, kickstand

2. BOX: box car, box top, ice box

3. STONE: keystone, stone wall, precious stone

Sunday

January 24, 2010--Week 3 of 2010: 24 days this year…341 remain

►Provocative Quote .

"Nothing beats reading a good book when there is work to do."

~ unknown

►Free Ramblings .

Owning a home must have advantages…just not for me. Flagstaff has got almost 5 feet of snow. Officially Flagstaff received 54” of snow. On the East side, where I live, it is closer to five feet. Much of it is powder, but after almost a week of snow and not so cool temperatures, some of it is getting slushy and heavy. This afternoon my doorbell rang and the nice lady at the door asked me to move my vehicle so the parking area could be cleared of snow. Everyone in our section complied quite quickly. After about an hour, we returned. We now had clear parking. However, the guy used a pick-‘em-up truck with a blade. So he just piled the snow, out of the driveway and into a pile about 5 feet high. It was hard packed ice with no entry left for our townhouses. I saw the lady standing in another area, and reminded her that our side of the complex gets very little sun shine in the winter, and that the pile won’t melt until May. She said she was aware of that and that tomorrow a front end loader would be here to remove that snow. Then about 6:00 tonight, the bell rang again, and the front end loader was here to do as much as possible in the dark. Those of us on this side also are getting concerned about the snow on the pitched roof. The icicles are about 2” wide and hang down a good two to three feet. It is windy, so the icicles are not straight, but curve in toward the house. Really quite beautiful. The snow pile on the roof also extends out from the roof about three feet, so from my upstairs office window, I look out to what looks a lot like an ice cave. Again, very impressive, since I don’t own the house, and don’t have to worry about the damage that may or may not occur.

The nice lady told me that they are concerned about the roof snow and are scouring the town for some company that can remove it. It seems that yesterday the City of Flagstaff issued a mandatory closure of any flat roofed businesses that have not cleared the snow. So all the snow removal companies are busy doing commerce buildings. Our mayor’s order came a tad late. The city run ice rink’s flat roof collapsed sometime Thursday night. Since the city does not have any alarm systems, the damage was not discovered until would-be skaters showed up about noon to find knee deep water rushing out the main entrance.

We live in a quiet little mountain town and seldom make state or national news. Once I got used to that, I have found many other ways to get local news. They usually work. Even the PBS station is helping out. They have two feeds—one that is news and talk, one that is classical music with news and a few other programs. The other is news and informational talk shows. The second feed has been disrupted by the storm, so they are broadcasting the news feed on the classical station. The local newspaper also updated their website and is doing a lot of breaking news.

We only got to 28° today, so no snow melt. Tonight will be 16°, so we will have more ice and less slush tomorrow.

►Quotes from Values.com—TEACHING BY EXAMPLE .

It is not so much the example of others we imitate as the reflection of ourselves in their eyes and the echo of ourselves in their words.”

~Eric Hoffer; Philosopher

►Side Show Stories—Darwin Awards 2010 .

The Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool... by removing themselves from it.

(The News of the Weird): Michael Anderson Godwin made News of the Weird posthumously. He had spent several years awaiting South Carolina 's electric chair on a murder conviction before having his sentence reduced to life in prison. While sitting on a metal toilet in his cell attempting to fix his small TV set, he bit into a wire and was electrocuted.

►Random Fact .

Pearls dissolve in vinegar.

§ Interesting Statistics

*Note: I realize that statistics can be made to say just about anything.

~ in 1997 almost 16% of electrical power in AZ was from renewable resources.

~ in 2007 about 7% of electrical power in AZ was from renewable resources.

§ January Month Long Observances

Birthstone: Garnet …Flower: Carnation

§ Observance Weeks in January

No Name Calling Week: 20-24

Sundance Film Festival: 21-31

National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Week: 23-30

World Leprosy Week: 23-29

National Nurse Anesthetists Week: 24-30

§ 24 January Observances—US/UN/World

Eskimo Pie Patent Day

Belly Laugh Day

National Compliment Day

§24 January Observances—by country

Aymara Indians, Bolivia : Alacitis Fair: Prayers to God of Prosperity

§ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1902…Denmark sells Virgin Islands to USA

§Born on this day

~ The Arts

John Belushi in 1949 - comedian/actor

Ernest Borgnine (93) - actor (“McHale’s Navy,” Marty)

Neil Diamond (69) - singer, composer

Mark Goodson in 1913 - TV game-show producer (Goodson-Toddman)

Ed Helms (36) - writer, comedian (“The Daily Show”)

Doug Kershaw (74) -electric fiddle player

Aaron Neville (69) singer, songwriter

Yakov Smirnoff (59) (Ukraine), - comedian

Ray Stevens (Harold Ray Ragsdale) (71) - singer (Ahab the Arab, The Streak)

Maria Tallchief (85) - ballet dancer, Osage and Scots-Irish

Edith Wharton[-Jones] in 1862 - US, novelist (Ethan Frome, Age of Innocence, House of Mirth)

~Athletics

Mary Lou Retton (42) Olympic gold medal gymnast

~Business, Education, Politics

Shaun Donovan (44) - US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

~Science/Religion

Oral Roberts in 1918 – evangelist

§Obits for this day

Caligula [G C Germanicus] in 41, Roman emperor, assassinated @ 28

Winston Churchill in 1965 - PM of Britain @ 90

Larry Fine in 1975- actor (3 Stooges), @ 72

Gordon MacRae in 1986 -singer (Oklahoma, Carousel), cancer @ 64

L[aFayette] Ron[ald] Hubbard in 1986 author/founder of Scientology @ 74

George Gobel in 1991 comedian, heart attack @ 71

Thurgood Marshall in 1993 1st black supreme court justice @ 84

§What happened on this day?

~ The Arts

1986…43rd Golden Globes Whoopi Goldberg, Color Purple win

~Athletics

1999…The International Olympic Committee voted to expel six IOC members after charges that they had accepted money and other compensation from officials from cities bidding to host the Olympics. The cities included Sydney, Australia (2000 summer games) and Salt Lake City, Utah (2002 winter games).

~Business, Education, Politics

1639…Connecticut colony organizes under Fundamental Orders

1847…1,500 New Mexican Indians & Mexicans defeated by US Colonel Price

1848…James Marshall finds gold in Sutter's Mill in Coloma CA

1899…Rubber heel patented by Irishman Humphrey O'Sullivan

1902…Denmark sells Virgin Islands to USA

1923…Aztec Ruins National Monument, New Mexico established

1935…Krueger Brewing Company placed the first canned beer on sale

1945…Scottish 52nd Lowland division occupies Heinsberg

1980..In reaction to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, the United States had announced plans to sell military equipment to China.

2003…United States Department of Homeland Security officially began operating

~Science/Religion

1656…1st Jewish doctor in US, Jacob Lumbrozo, arrives in Maryland

1839…Charles Darwin elected member of Royal Society

~ Number One Songs in…

1952…Slowpoke - Pee Wee King

1960…Running Bear - Johnny Preston

1968…Judy in Disguise (With Glasses) - John Fred & His Playboy Band

1976…Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To) – Diana Ross

1984…Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes

► Puzzle .

1. light, hot, check

2. light, hot, back

3. wood, liquor, luck

Scroll down for answers

ANSWERS

1. SPOT: spotlight, hot spot, spot check

2. FLASH: flashlight, hot flash, flash back

3. HARD: hardwood, hard liquor, hard luck

Saturday

January 23, 2010--Week 3 of 2010: 23 days this year…342 remain

►Provocative Quote .

"Beware the man who can't be bothered with details."

~ unknown

►Free Ramblings .

Officially they are saying we have 45” of snow so far, with more still coming. They must be under a tree. We have close to five feet over here. The winter wonderland took a strange turn last night with a rain storm in much of the city. Rain melts snow, so that was good. We only got minimal rain here, didn’t melt anything, just made a layer of slush on top of the powder. It has snowed on and off all day, mostly on. Our non-elected governor did declare the entire state a disaster area. Lots of scary flooding down south.

Our little mountain town is still shut down. We are dependent on tourists, and both interstates are still closed. Winter means skiing up here for many…but the ski area has been closed for two days. Whoever heard of a ski area closing because of too much snow? Well it is because the ‘tourist town’ that offers skiing as a major winter draw, doesn’t have adequate roads to get to the ski area.

Another draw for Flagstaff has always been stores. Being a border town to the Rez, many living on the Rez come to Flag to do basic shopping. Builders have always wanted to build at the least possible cost. This mountain town is not very forward thinking. Many of our stores were built with flat roofs. In a mountain town that gets snow. Yes it is cheaper, in the short run. In 2008, during a snow storm, nothing like this one, collapsed a roof on a huge bookstore. They moved across town for a year while it was fixed. Then last night, in the same shopping strip, the roof on two other stores collapsed. Several other flat roofed stores had to close as water leaks and ‘bulging ceilings’ suggested they too would collapse. My pharmacy closed, WalMart closed. Dillards closed. And the list goes on.

While everyone is hearing how ‘building codes’ were absent in Haiti, causing horrendous damage from an unpredictable earthquake, Flagstaff is losing buildings from a very predictable event—snow in winter. Builders who have come to Flagstaff have convinced the ‘building code’ people that a flat roof is safe and cuts construction costs. Some builders have been so brazen as to say that requiring a pitched roof will place prohibitive costs and that future businesses who will rent the buildings simply won’t come. With another possible foot of snow due tonight and tomorrow, I wonder, how many more roofs will collapse? Building owners are scrambling to find day workers to shovel the flat roofs. These cheap laborers are the only hope of saving the building’s roof.

While I look around at the snow piling up, bitchin’ about the lack of planning, getting cabin fever, I have to say we have running water, heat, electricity (99% of the time), food, and transportation if necessary. I am watching ‘Hope for Haiti Now’ as I type this. Our huge winter storm will pass, the snow will melt, and things will get back to normal within a week or so. Not so lucky down in Haiti. And yet, so many down there hold out hope for a better life.

►Quotes from Values.com—TEACHING BY EXAMPLE .

“Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.”

Mark Twain [Samuel Clemens]: Author, Humorist

►Side Show Stories—Darwin Awards 2010 .

The Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool... by removing themselves from it.

(UPI, Toronto ): Police said a lawyer demonstrating the safety of windows in a downtown Toronto skyscraper crashed through a pane with his shoulder and plunged 24 floors to his death. A police spokesman said Garry Hoy, 39, fell into the courtyard of the Toronto Dominion Bank Tower early Friday evening as he was explaining the strength of the buildings' windows to visiting law students.. Hoy previously has conducted demonstrations of window strength according to police reports. Peter Lawson, managing partner of the firm Holden Day Wilson, told the Toronto Sun newspaper that Hoy was "one of the best and brightest" (ed note:????) members of the 200-man association.

►Random Fact .

Pennsylvania is misspelled on the Liberty Bell.

§ Interesting Statistics

*Note: I realize that statistics can be made to say just about anything.

~ 45% of Arizonians say the regularly attend a self-defined cultural event.

§ January Month Long Observances

Birthstone: Garnet …Flower: Carnation

§ Observance Weeks in January

National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week: 18-23

International Printing Week: 17-23

National Handwriting Analysis Week: 17-23

Healthy Weight Week: 17-23

Hunt For Happiness Week: 17-23

National Activity Professional Week: 17-23 to recognize all those gym people.

No Name Calling Week: 20-24

Sundance Film Festival: 21-31

National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Week: 23-30

World Leprosy Week: 23-29

§ 22 January Observances—US/UN/World

National Handwriting Day

National Pie Day

Measure Your Feet Day

Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day

§22 January Observances—by country

Luxembourg : Grand Duchess' Birthday

Pitcairn Island: Bounty Day, celebrating the burning of the Bounty in 1790,

§ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1907 - Charles Curtis of Kansas began serving in the United States Senate. He was the first American Indian to become a U.S. Senator and later Vice President

§Born on this day

~ The Arts

Richard Dean Anderson (60) - actor (“MacGyver”),

John Barclay in 1582 - Scottish satirist/Latin poet (Argenis)

Gil Gerard (67) - actor (“Buck Rogers,”

Mariska Hargitay (46) - actress (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”)

Rutger Hauer (66) (Netherlands)- actor (Blade Runner)

Edouard Manet in 1832 - artist: leader of the impressionist movement

Chita Rivera (Conchita del Rivero) (77) singer, actress

Randolph Scott in 1898 - actor (Last of the Mohicans, Western Union)

Tiffani-Amber Thiessen (36) actress

~Athletics

Eric Metcalf (42) - NFL receiver/running back (Falcons, Chargers)

~Business, Education, Politics

Princess Caroline (53) (Monte Carlo, Monaco)

John Hancock in 1737 - statesman and patriot

~Science/Religion

Gertrude Belle Elion in 1918 biochemist/drug researcher (Nobel 1988)

§Obits for this day

Paul Robeson in 1976 athlete/lawyer/singer, @ 77

Salvador Dalí in 1989 Spanish Surrealist painter, @ 84

Richard Berry in 1997 lyricist (Louie Louie), @ 61

§What happened on this day?

~ The Arts

1793…Humane Society of Philadelphia (first aid society) organized

1965…"The King Family Show" (musical variety) premieres on ABC TV

1977…Miniseries "Roots" premieres on ABC

1986…1st induction of Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame (Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Domino, Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis & Elvis Presley)

~Athletics

1879…National Archery Association formed, Crawfordsville IN

~Business, Education, Politics

1570…Earl of Moray, regent of Scotland, assassinated; civil war breaks out

1647…Scottish Presbyterians sell captured Charles I to English parliament

1933…20th amendment changes date of Presidential Inaugurations to 1/20

1964…24th Amendment ratified, barring poll tax in federal elections

1968…The U.S. ship Pueblo is seized by North Korean naval vessels and charged with spying

1973…US president, Richard Nixon, appears on national television to announce "peace with honour" in Vietnam.

2001…Five protesters set themselves on fire by pouring gasoline on themselves and setting light to themselves in Tiananmen Square

~Science/Religion

0638…Start of Islamic calendar

1789…Georgetown, 1st US Catholic college, founded

1930…Clyde Tombaugh photographs planet Pluto

~ Number One Songs in…

1951…Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page

1959…Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - The Platters

1967…I’m a Believer - The Monkees

1975…Mandy - Barry Manilow

1983…Down Under - Men at Work

► Puzzle .

1. Big soil table

2. Made cuff left

3. Motion poke down

Scroll down for answers

ANSWERS

1. TOP: big top topsoil tabletop

2. HAND: handmade handcuff left-hand

3. SLOW: slow motion slowpoke slowdown

Friday

January 22, 2010--Week 3 of 2010: 22 days this year…343 remain

►Provocative Quote .

"Early to rise and ditto to bed, make a man healthy, but socially dead."

~ unknown

►Free Ramblings .

It snowed all night and all day. We are in a winter wonderland. No, not like the song. This winter wonderland has both interstates closed, the airport closed, all city and county offices closed, all schools closed, the ski area closed, most stores and malls closed. A friend just outside of town has lost her internet connection; another friend in town has lost her electricity. This storm has easily dropped two feet on top of the 10” we already had. It stopped snowing about 6pm and at about 6:05 the wind started. Gusts must be up to about 40mph at my place. I am as prepared as one can be. I did dig my vehicle out twice today, after the snowplow cleared the drive and left a nice pile behind my vehicle. I learned during the last big storm that this is necessary, or have to work much too hard to move ice. It is becoming difficult to find a place to put the snow that accumulates on the sidewalks. Both sides of the walk have snow piles that are about five feet high. Luckily the snow is powder, and not too difficult to throw over my head. As we are expecting another two to three feet before it is over, I guess I’ll be learning how to throw snow from a ladder. As you listen to the news and hear how much rain is falling and flooding in Phoenix, remember, Northern Arizona is getting a lot of snow, we just aren’t big enough to make the news.

While we are being buried in snow, the Supreme Court has been busy. For a really long time, under certain circumstances, a corporation is seen as an individual under the law. Now for the first time, a corporation can act as an individual when contributing to political candidates. Ouch. Somehow that doesn’t sit right. We all know that money interests are an important part of this country. However letting corporations give money to campaigns directly will change our country forever. What politician is going to fight against dependence on oil, knowing that the oil corps can pour millions into the opponent’s campaign? What candidate can fight for environmental issues, for education, for the people knowing that a big corporation can derail them in the next election? A pivotal day for America.

►Quotes from Values.com—TEACHING BY EXAMPLE .

“You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.”

Naguib Mahfouz: Egyptian Writer/ Nobel Prize winner

►Side Show Stories—Darwin Awards 2010 .

The Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool... by removing themselves from it.

(Hickory Daily Record, NC): Ken Charles Barger, 47, accidentally shot himself to death in December in Newton , NC . Awakening to the sound of a ringing telephone beside his bed, he reached for the phone but grabbed instead a Smith & Wesson 38 Special, which discharged when he drew it to his ear.

►Random Fact .

The Capitol building in Washington, D.C. has 365 steps to represent every day of the year. (I wonder if they add a step for leap year?)

§ Interesting Statistics

*Note: I realize that statistics can be made to say just about anything.

~ Coconino County Graduation Rate in 2000: 74.6% [AZ rate: 71%]

~ Coconino County Graduation Rate in 2007: 71.2% [AZ rate: 73.4%]

§ January Month Long Observances

Birthstone: Garnet …Flower: Carnation

§ Observance Weeks in January

National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week: 18-23

International Printing Week: 17-23

National Handwriting Analysis Week: 17-23

Healthy Weight Week: 17-23

Hunt For Happiness Week: 17-23

National Activity Professional Week: 17-23 to recognize all those gym people.

No Name Calling Week: 20-24

Sundance Film Festival: 21-31

§ 22 January Observances—US/UN/World

National Answer Your Cat's Question Day

Celebration of Life Day

Roe vs. Wade Day since 1973

§22 January Observances—by country

Ukraine : Ukrainian Day (since 1918)

§ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1881…Ancient Egyptian obelisk "Cleopatra's Needle" erected in Central Park

§Born on this day

~ The Arts

Bill (Wilfred Bailey) Bixby 1934 - actor (My Favorite Martian, Incredible Hulk)

Linda Blair (51) - actress (The Exorcist, Airport)

Lord [George Gordon Noel] Byron in 1788 - English romantic poet (Don Juan)

Sam Cooke in 1931 - gospel & blues singer

D[avid] W Griffith in 1875 - movie producer/director (Birth of a Nation)

Diane Lane (45) - actress (Unfaithful, A Walk on the Moon, A Little Romance)

Piper Laurie (Rosetta Jacobs) (78) - actress (Fighting for My Daughter, “Twin Peaks”)

Christopher Masterson (30) - actor (“Malcolm in the Middle”)

Steve Perry (61) -singer (Journey)

Ann Sothern [Harriette Lake] in 1909 - actress

Joseph Wambaugh (73) former police officer, author (The Onion Field, The Choir Boys)

~Athletics

Greg Oden (22) Basketball (Trailblazers)

~Business, Education, Politics

Francis Bacon in 1561 - English statesman/essayist

[Sithu] U Thant in 1909 (Burma) - 3rd UN Secretary-General

Graham Kerr (76) Scotish chef (Galloping Gourmet)

~Science/Religion

Thomas David Jones (55) - NASA astronaut

Lev Landau in 1908 – Soviet physicist, Nobel laureate

§Obits for this day

Judy Garland in 1969 - singer/actress (Wizard of Oz), overdose @ 48

Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1995 - Kennedy Matriarch, @ 104

Irving B Kahn in 1994-inventor (teleprompter), @ 76

Lyndon B Johnson in 1973 – 36th President @ 64

Telly Savalas in 1994 - actor (Kojak), prostate cancer @ 70

Queen Victoria in 1901 -64 year reign as Queen @ 82

§What happened on this day?

~ The Arts

1968…"Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" premieres on NBC

1972…"Emergency" with Robert Fuller premieres on NBC TV

~Athletics

1989…Super Bowl XXIII San Francisco 49ers beat Cincinnati Bengals, 20-16 in Miami; Super Bowl MVP Jerry Rice, San Francisco, Wide Receiver

~Business, Education, Politics

1599…The Spanish attack the ACOMA PUEBLO.

1673…Postal service between New York & Boston inaugurated

1690…Iroquois tribes renew allegiance to British against French

1881…Ancient Egyptian obelisk "Cleopatra's Needle" erected in Central Park

1946…The Central Intelligence Group, which later became the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), was established

1984…A new Apple Computer was introduced . The ad for the new Macintosh computer was first displayed during the Super Bowl.

1985…Cold wave damages 90% of Florida's citrus crop

1998…“The Unabomber’s career is over,” Theodore Kaczynski pleaded guilty

~Science/Religion

1939..Uranium atom 1st split, Columbia University

~ Number One Songs in…

1950 Dear Hearts and Gentle People - Dinah Shore

1958 At the Hop - Danny & The Juniors

1966 The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel

1974 Smokin’ in the Boys Room - Brownsville Station

1982 Physical - Olivia Newton-John

► Puzzle .

1 back, short, watch

2 blue cake cottage

3. stool, powder, ball

Scroll down for answers

ANSWERS

1. STOP: backstop, shortstop, stopwatch

2. CHEESE: blue cheese, cheesecake, cottage cheese

3. FOOT: footstool, foot powder, football

Thursday

January 21, 2010--Week 3 of 2010: 21 days this year…344 remain

►Provocative Quote .

“To know a little less and to understand a little more: that, it seems to me, is our greatest need.”

~ James Ramsey Ullman, US author

►Free Ramblings .

Everyone in Flagstaff is waiting for the ‘big un’. The first two storms have dropped some snow, as expected. My place probably got 10” total from the two storms. They predicted about 24” from those two. Now they are saying the big one is coming and will slowly move through our area on Thursday night through Saturday morning. The third one is expected to bring two to four feet. Think I’ll just wait and see. A couple of good things about all the hype—the HOA has been keeping the parking lot and the main sidewalks fairly clear and the city has kept the streets clear. Our high was only 33° with a low of 27°. The 30mph winds made it no fun to be outside.

OK, so the Senate doesn’t have a filibuster proof majority. Lots can still be done. Every other president has done it and Obama is no different. This ‘NO’ idea for just about everything from the Republicans will have to stop. Our elected representatives are there to help us. If a particular senator or representative does not want to vote for a bill, that is fine…just propose something better. Those who say NO to everything coming from the group in power are able to slow things down, but eventually, they are seen more as part of the problem and will get replaced. Play nice or go home.

►Quotes from Values.com—TEACHING BY EXAMPLE .

An understanding heart is everything in a teacher, and cannot be esteemed highly enough. One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.”

~Carl Gustav Jung; Founder of Analytical Psychology

►Side Show Stories—Darwin Awards 2010 .

The Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool... by removing themselves from it.

(Kalamazoo Gazette): James Burns, 34, (a mechanic) of Alamo, MI, was killed in March as he was trying to repair what police describe as a "farm-type truck." Burns got a friend to drive the truck on a highway while Burns hung underneath so that he could ascertain the source of a troubling noise. Burns clothes caught on something, however, and the other man found Burns "wrapped in the drive shaft.”

►Random Fact .

There are more French restaurants in New York City than in Paris.

§ Interesting Statistics

*Note: I realize that statistics can be made to say just about anything.

~ 73% of Arizonians are over 18 years old.

~15% of Arizonians are foreign born.

§ January Month Long Observances

Birthstone: Garnet …Flower: Carnation

§ Observance Weeks in January

National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week: 18-23

International Printing Week: 17-23

National Handwriting Analysis Week: 17-23

Healthy Weight Week: 17-23

Hunt For Happiness Week: 17-23

National Activity Professional Week: 17-23 to recognize all those gym people.

No Name Calling Week: 20-24

§ 21 January Observances—US/UN/World

National Hug Day

Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day

Squirrel Appreciation Day

§21 January Observances—by country

Dominican Republic : Nuestra Senora de Altagracia Day: Patron Saint

Quebec: Flag Day

New Zealand: Wellington Anniversary—first settlers landed in 1839

§ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1949...1st televised inaugural parade (Harry Truman)

§Who was born on this day?

~ The Arts

Robby Benson (Robin Segal), (54) - actor

Geena Davis (53) - actress

Mac Davis (68) - actor, songwriter

Placido Domingo (69) (Madrid) - opera singer, one of the “Three Tenors,”

Jill Eikenberry 63, actress (“LA Law”)

Benny Hill in 1924 (England) - comedian (Benny Hill Show)

Richie Havens (69) - folk singer (Here Comes the Sun)

Billy Ocean (Leslie Charles), 60, (Trinidad, West Indies) musician, songwriter

Telly [Aristotle] Savalas in 1924 - actor (Kojak)

Wolfman Jack [Bob Smith] in 1939 – DJ

~Athletics

Jack William Nicklaus (70), golfer

Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (47) (Lagos, Nigeria) former basketball player

~Business, Education, Politics

Roger Nash Baldwin in 1884 - founder (American Civil Liberties Union)

John M Browning in 1855 - weapons manufacturer

Christian Dior in 1905 - fashion designer

John C Frémont in 1813 - [Pathfinder], map maker/explorer (western US), Governor (AZ)

Eric H. Holder, Jr (59) US Attorney General

Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson in 1824 - Military

Gary Locke (60) US Secretary of Commerce

~Science/Religion

Barney Clark in 1921 - 1st to receive a permanent artificial heart

John Fitch in 1743 - inventor (had a working steamboat years before Fulton)

§Who Died on this day?

Louis XVI in 1793 French king, beheaded @ 38

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov Lenin in 1924 Russian leader, stroke @ 54

George Orwell [Eric Arthur Blair] in 1950 author (Animal Farm, 1984), tuberculosis @ 46

Cecil B[lount] de Mille in 1959 producer (10 Commandments), @ 77

Howard "Red" Grange in 1991 football's galloping ghost, @ 87

Colonel Tom Parker in 1997 manager (Elvis Presley), @ 87

§What happened on this day?

~ The Arts

1789...1st American novel, WH Brown's "The Power of Sympathy", is published

1959...The Kingston Trio (Bob Shane, Nick Reynolds and Dave Guard) received a gold record for Tom Dooley.

~Athletics

1990...John McEnroe becomes the 1st ever expelled from the Australian Open for throwing a tantrum & swearing at an official

~Business, Education, Politics

1880...1st US sewage disposal system separate from storm drains, Memphis TN

1915...Kiwanis International founded in Detroit

1919...Sinn Fein proclaims parliament of Free Ireland

1991...CBS News correspondent Bob Simon captured by Iraqis in Persian Gulf

1977...President Carter granted a complete and unconditional pardon today to all Vietnam draft dodgers

~Science/Religion

1674...Father Pierre Millet, Jesuit missonary, "foretells" the coming of today's lunar eclipse, using an almanac. Challenging IROQUOIS shamen to predict the time or date of the eclipse, which they don't, Millet will make religious inroads among the IROQUOIS by his successful prediction.

1677...1st medical publication in America (pamphlet on smallpox), Boston

1908...Smoking by women became illegal.

1935...The Wilderness Society is founded

~ N E W "Number One Songs in…"

1949...Buttons and Bows - Dinah Shore

1957...Singing the Blues - Marty Robbins

1965...Come See About Me - The Supremes

1973...You’re So Vain - Carly Simon

1981...(Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon

► Puzzle .

What do these words have in common?

example: apple, banana, orange, kiwi

answer: all are fruits

1 Chasm, rhythm, sarcasm

2 COUSCOUS, COWS, CUSS, VOWS, WOOS, ZOOS.

Scroll down for answers

ANSWERS

1 Chasm, rhythm, sarcasm: have more syllables than pronounced vowels.

2 COUSCOUS, COWS, CUSS, VOWS, WOOS, ZOOS: cannot tell visually if it's been written in all upper case or all lower case letters.

Wednesday

January 20, 2010--Week 3 of 2010: 20 days this year…345 remain

►Provocative Quote .

"Home to a young boy is merely a filling station."

“Home is a place teenagers stay while the car is repaired.”

~unknown

►Free Ramblings .

Trijicon is a company I had never heard of until yesterday. Now it is big news. They are the Michigan company that has a huge contract with the Dept. of Defense to provide guns, binoculars, and other military paraphernalia to our troops fighting around the world. It turns out that back in 2003 and continuing now, the serial numbers on their products contain a reference to a variety of bible quotations. It has taken seven years to figure this out, but now everyone knows and the company ain’t apologizing. In fact they claim that their founder, who died several years ago, started the practice and they are just carrying on his legacy. One gun sight has a serial number: AC00CQGN32JN8:12. JN8:12 refers to John 8:12, that reads, "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." All references appear to be from the New Testament.

Many in the military are rightly not amused. However, they are not sure there is anything illegal about this. Some Soldier Rights groups are outraged. Illegal or not, what kind of message is, and has been, this sending to our allies and our enemies. Many have said that the wars we are involved in are against Islam. This certainly gives the enemy some propaganda. Hello, not all our soldiers are Christians, and not all those who are Christian see this as a Holy War. Does this company think that by putting religious messages on their weapons somehow makes the war justified? Do they think that if the enemy gets some of these weapons that they will read the serial number and convert? Do they believe that the weapon will only function correctly when in the hands of a Christian? Do they think that the weapon will operate correctly in the hands of an American soldier who is not Christian? This whole thing is outrageous.

Our weatherman was a little off. The first storm brought only about 4” of snow where I live. It was sunny almost all day. The second storm is coming in now. It dropped to 28° last night and only warmed up to 38° today. There were some hefty winds (30mph) at various times today. Just waitin’ to see what tomorrow will bring.

►Quotes from Values.com—TEACHING BY EXAMPLE .

“Personal example carries more weight than preaching.”

~Chinese Proverb

►Side Show Stories—Darwin Awards 2010 .

The Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool... by removing themselves from it.

( San Jose Mercury News): An unidentified man, using a shotgun like a club to break a former girlfriend’s windshield, accidentally shot himself to death when the gun discharged, blowing a hole in his gut.

►Random Fact .

The watermelon seed-spitting world record is about 70 feet.

§ Interesting Statistics

*Note: I realize that statistics can be made to say just about anything.

~ In the first decade of this century it is estimated that Arizona’s population grew by 30.3%, Coconino County grew by 17.6% [11th of 15 counties], and Flagstaff grew by 23.9% [43rd of 90 cities]

§ January Month Long Observances

Birthstone: Garnet …Flower: Carnation

§ Observance Weeks in January

National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week: 18-23

International Printing Week: 17-23

National Handwriting Analysis Week: 17-23

Healthy Weight Week: 17-23

Hunt For Happiness Week: 17-23

National Activity Professional Week: 17-23 to recognize all those gym people.

No Name Calling Week: 20-24

§ 20 January Observances—US/UN/World

Inauguration Day: every four years in US

National Buttercrunch Day: enjoy ice cream, toffee, or some other butter crunch recipe

Camcorder Day

National Disc Jockey Day

§20 January Observances—by country

Astrology: First day of sun sign Aquarius.

Bulgaria : Grandmother's Day/Babin Den

Mali : National Army Day

§ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1949…J Edgar Hoover gives Shirley Temple a tear gas fountain pen--she was 20 at the time.

§Who was born on this day? .

~ The Arts

George Burns [Nathan Birnbaum] in 1896-comedian, actor

Finlay Currie in 1878 (Scotland) - actor (Quo Vadis, Ivanhoe, Avengers)

Federico Fellini in 1920- director

Harold L Gray in 1894 - creator (Little Orphan Annie)

DeForest Kelley in 1920-Actor: Star Trek

Arte Johnson (81), comedian, actor

Lorenzo Lamas (52) -actor

Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter in 1889 - blues: 12 string guitarist

David Lynch (64): avant-garde filmmaker, Twin Peaks

Bill Maher (54): pundit and talk-show host

Dorothy Provine (73) -actor

Rainn Wilson (44) – actor

~Athletics

Nick Anderson (42) - NBA guard/forward (Magic)

~Business, Education, Politics

Joe Doherty (55) (Ireland) - IRA activist

Ivana Trump (61) – Donald’s wife

~Science/Religion

Joy Adamson in 1910 - naturalist/author (Born Free)

Edwin E "Buzz" Aldrin Jr (80) - USAF/astronaut

Andre-Marie Ampere in 1775 - discovered electromagnetism

§Who Died on this day?

Richard D Blackmore in 1900 English novelist (Lorna Doone), @ 74

John Burman in 1779 Dutch botanist/director (botanical gardens), @ 71

Alan Freed in 1965 Payoloa DJ (Big Beat), cirrhosis @ 42

Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 India's pacifist, assassinated @ 79

Audrey Hepburn in 1993 - actress (Breakfast at Tiffany's), cancer in @ 63

David Kalakahua in 1891 emperor of Hawaii, natural causes @ 55

John Linnell in 1882 British painter/miniaturist/engraver, @ 90

Barbara Stanwyck [Ruby Stevens] in 1990 actress (Big Valley), @ 82

Carl Switzer in 1959 actor (Alfalfa-Our Gang), shot @ 31

Peter John [Johnny] Weissmuller in 1984 actor (Tarzan), stroke @ 79

§What happened on this day? .

1265…1st English Parliament called into session by Earl of Leicester

1356…Scottish king Edward Baliol resigns

1778…1st American military court martial trial begins, Cambridge MA

1785…Samuel Ellis advertises to sell Oyster Island (Ellis Island), no takers

1809…1st US geology book published by William Maclure

1885…The roller coaster was patented by La Marcus Thompson of Coney Island, NY

1887…US Senate approves the naval base lease of Pearl Harbor

1920…Prohibition takes effect stopping the sale and consumption of alcohol

1929…1st feature talking motion picture taken outdoors, "In Old Arizona"

1945…FDR sworn-in for an unprecedented 4th term as President

1961…Robert Frost recites "The Gift Outright" at JFK's inauguration

1981…52 Americans held hostage in Iran for 444 days freed just after Reagan’s swearing in

1986…Chunnel announced (railroad tunnel under English Channel)

1987…Terry Waite a special envoy of the archbishop of Canterbury while attempting to win freedom for Western hostages is kidnapped by Shiite Muslims held in Lebanon. He was and released 4 years later.

1988…Arizona committee opens hearing on impeachment of Governor Evan Mecham

1997…Comet Hale-Bopp crosses Mars' orbit

► Puzzle .

What do these words have in common?

example: apple, banana, orange, kiwi

answer: all are fruits

1 Dermatoglyphics, misconjugatedly, uncopyrightable

2 anticipant, entertainment, ingesting, restores underground.

Scroll down for answers

ANSWERS

1 Dermatoglyphics, misconjugatedly, and uncopyrightable, each fifteen letters long, are the longest English words in which no letter appears more than once.

2 Only a few words (not counting three letter words) start with the same three letters they end with. They include anticipant, entertainment, ingesting, restores underground.

Tuesday

Week 3 of 2010: 18 days so far this year…346 days remain

►Provocative Quote .

"There is as much greatness in acknowledging a good turn, as there is in doing it."

~unknown

►Free Ramblings .

I woke up about 3am this morning, to find that my temporary dental cap had come off. A very strange feeling. I guess I will know what my mouth was doing, so early in the morning, while I was sleeping. A quick trip to the dentist, and two tries to get it reattached and I was back to waiting for the new cap. I so hate temporary caps…I have had three and two have come off during the wait for the real cap. I must be jinxed.

After the dentist, I did make a stop and get gas, just in case it gets really bad here.

The wind blew hard all night, and woke me up, sort of, several times. The wind died down at sunrise. It has been snowing all day. Not too much is sticking…yet. The sun has gone down, the temp has dropped, and I’m sure I’ll wake up in the morning to a blanket of snow. This is the first of three storms coming through and is expected to drop about 10”. I keep up my mantra: The forest needs the snow. We only went down to 26° last night, and got up to 33° today. One good thing about this first storm, it is not a winter blast of Arctic air…it’s coming to us from California—another state that needs the moisture.

►Quotes from Values.com—TEACHING BY EXAMPLE .

“We learn by example and by direct experience because there are real limits to the adequacy of verbal instruction.”

~Malcolm Gladwell - Author

►Side Show Stories .

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Officials at a Denmark airport said a 3-year-old boy rode the entirety of the baggage belt system, including an X-ray machine. Copenhagen Airport workers said the young boy hoisted himself onto an unattended baggage belt while he and his mother were checking in for an early Thursday flight, The Copenhagen Post reported Monday. The X-ray directed the boy to an area for bags that needed to be handled manually because an identification tag was not detected. An airport worker heard the boy calling out from the area and he was rescued and reunited with his mother. Officials said the boy seemed shaken but nharmed. He was believed to have boarded the plane with his mother as planned.

►Random Fact .

Things I hope don’t return in the new decade: Janet Jackson’s Breast on TV, Carrot Top (The comedian), Tainted Chinese Products, Paris Hilton, Glenn Beck, Excessive Facial Piercings, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears, Car Ribbon Magnets, High Fructose Corn Syrup.

§ Interesting Statistics

*Note: I realize that statistics can be made to say just about anything.

~ An estimated 130 million bicycles were produced worldwide in 2007 (more than twice the 52 million cars produced).

~ A bicycle speed record was attained by American Olympic Cyclist and Ironman triathlon competitor John Howard, when he reached 152.2 mph in 1985.

§ January Month Long Observances

Birthstone: Garnet …Flower: Carnation

§ Observance Weeks in January

National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week: 18-23

International Printing Week: 17-23

National Handwriting Analysis Week: 17-23

Healthy Weight Week: 17-23

Hunt For Happiness Week: 17-23

National Activity Professional Week: 17-23 to recognize all those gym people.

§ 19 January Observances—US/UN/World

Baltimore: The Poe Toaster commemorates the birthday of Edgar Allan Poe at his grave.

Rid The World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day

National Popcorn Day

Southern US : Robert E Lee Day

Texas : Confederate Heroes' Day

§19 January Observances—by country

Bahá'í Faith:Feast of Sultán (Sovereignty) — First day of the 17th month of the Bahá'í calendar.

§ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1903 New bicycle race "Tour de France" announce.d

§Who was born on this day?

~ The Arts

Ursula Andress in 1936 - actress

Paul Cézanne in 1839 - painter

Phil Everly (71) singer (Everly Brothers)

Paula Deen (63)- TV chef

Shelley Fabares (66) actor

Tippi Hedren (80), actor

Patricia Highsmith in 1921 author(Strangers on a Train)

Janis Joplin in 1943 - singer

Guy Madison [Robert Moseley] in 1922 - actor (Wild Bill Hickok)

Robert Palmer in 1949 rocker (Addicted to Love)

Dolly Rebecca Parton (64): country music writer/ singer

Edgar Allan Poe in 1809 - writer of macabre short stories

Katey Sagal (56), actor

Jean Stapleton (87): Edith Bunker on All in the Family

Alexander Woollcott in 1887- author

Shawn Wayans (40), actor, commedian

~Athletics

Sky Christopherson in 1976 (Tucson AZ) - cyclist (Olympics-96)

Dan Reeves in 1944 -NFL Coach

~Business, Education, Politics

Robert E. Lee in 1807 - Confederate commander in the Civil War

~Science/Religion

Mohammed in 570 - Islamic prophet (Koran)

Henry Bessemer in 1813 - inventor

Alice Eastwood in 1859 - botanist (Handbook of Trees of California)

James Watt in 1736 (Scotland)- scientist and inventor of an improved steam engine;

James Winston Watts in 1904 developer (Frontal Lobotomy)

§Who Died on this day?

Adriana Caseloti in 1997 - voice (Snow White), @ 70

James Dickey in 1997 poet/novelist, @ 84

Carl Perkins in 1998 singer/songwriter, @ 65

§What happened on this day?

1746...Bonnie Prince Charlie's troops occupy Stirling

1806...Britain occupies the Cape of Good Hope

1825...Ezra Daggett and Thomas Kensett of New York City patented a canning process to preserve salmon, oysters and lobsters.

1840...Antarctica discovered, Charles Wilkes expedition (US claim)

1871...1st Negro lodge of US Masons approved, New Jersey

1915...Neon Tube sign patented by George Claude

1920...US Senate votes against membership in League of Nations

1929...Acadia National Park, Maine established

1937...Millionaire Howard Hughes breaks the existing transcontinental air record by flying his monoplane from Los Angeles to Newark, N.J., in seven hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.

1955..."The Millionaire" TV program premieres on CBS--Michael Anthony gave away a million dollars, from John Beresford Tipton, to total strangers.

1955..."Scrabble" debuts on board game market

1966...Indira Gandhi elected India's 3rd prime minister

1983...Klaus Barbie ( the Butcher of Lyon ) is arrested in Bolivia

►New Puzzle .

What do these words have in common?

example: apple, banana, orange, kiwi

answer: all are fruits

1. acceded,baggage, bedface, cabbage, defaced, and effaced.

2. billowy, abhors, accent, almost, biopsy, bijoux, chintz, and ghosty.

Scroll down for answers

ANSWERS

1. Seven letter words that can be played on a musical instrument

2. Words that have the letters in their spelling in alphabetical order.

IMHO--In My Humble Opinion

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