Sunday 6-6

»Week 23 of 2010: 157 days this year…208 days remain: Day 48 of the BP oil spill≈

» Something To Think About     

You know the difference between a rich genius and a broke genius? ...a broke genius is two years ahead of his time, a rich genius is six months ahead of his time.

-- Clayton P. Knowles, Jr.

» Random Fact       

The largest bell in the world is the Emperor Bell in Moscow, Russia. It is 20 ft tall.

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1868 ► Captain D.Monahan, and troops from Troops G and I, 3rd Cavalry, leave Fort Sumner, chasing a group of NAVAJO Indians, who have been accused of killing 4 settlers

» Free Ramblings       

Summer planting is started. I filled three planters today with color. Due to the blue spruce, I am really the only one who can enjoy them, but visitors will also know they are welcome. Next task is to trim the spruce and the other shrub. Both have decided to try and take over the sidewalk. I could call the HOA and have them do it, but exercise can’t hurt me.

AZ is back in the news, for more idiotic behavior. This time it is the old territorial capital, Prescott. I was there a few months ago, and was very impressed with the numerous murals that were on the library property. The murals told the history of Prescott, with lots of minority groups in the murals. Earlier this week a local Prescott elementary school unveiled a mural of ‘kids going green.’ The mural was done for the fully integrated school to show that kids would be inspired to save the environment. While the mural was being painted, turns out many who drove by shouted racial slurs at the artist. The largest child in the mural is either Black or Hispanic. The mural does depict other children with varying skin tones. The local councilman/radio host suggested that making the skin tones lighter would make the child appear happier. His comments both as an elected official and as a talk show host riled up many. The principal received complaints and asked the artist to lighten the child’s face. He refused. Today the school superintendent apologized to the artist and said it will not be changed. Now Prescott police are protecting the mural 24/7 from vandals. There is still a little sanity in Prescott. I’m sure the racists will not let this stand until the mural is gone or changed. The mural has raised racial questions—can Prescott accept that it is a semi-racial area, and does the artist have freedom of expression to do a mural approved by the school. Unfortunately the racial slurs seem to suggest that skin tone is important in Prescott and an artist’s expression is not even considered. From the interviews and pictures, the artist appears to be white. I mention this because I don’t believe the artist had any race agenda but just wanted to show kids doing green things. All this is such a sad commentary on what our state and nation stand for. Living in a lightning rod is far from pleasant.

My deck thermometer showed 92° as the high, certainly a time to increase my fluid intake. Amazing how quickly it has gotten hot. Flagstaff has been hot politically for a few months, now the temperature, even in the north, is trying to match our political heat. I did enjoy some time on the deck, and the time I spent planting, but sure didn’t feel like walking around very much. Kids were out early this morning, and are now coming out as the temperature is slowly dropping. According to the NWS (National Weather Service) Flagstaff normally has four days above 90° during the summer season. Summer hasn’t officially arrived and already, one day. Wonder what is on the horizon?

» Puzzle 1    

Can you uncover what each group of three has in common?

1. Doughnut, notebook, golf course

2. Turtle, peanut, oyster

3. Brown, polar, Kodiak

4. Rain, cough, tear

5. Soap, granola, candy

» A Quick Smile…    

I was having some chest pains, but my cardiologist assured me nothing was wrong. Then I told him I was planning a cruise to Alaska and asked if he had any suggestions for avoiding the discomfort. "Have fun," he said with a straight face, "but don't go overboard."

» Side Show Stories    

NEW YORK - A New York woman's lawsuit against Citigroup says she was fired because bosses deemed her feminine beauty to be a distraction for male colleagues. Debrahlee Lorenzana, 33, said in her city Supreme Court lawsuit that she was ordered not to wear turtlenecks, pencil skirts, fitted suits or heels in the workplace because the tight clothing made her body "too distracting" for male coworkers. "Never did I ever show cleavage," Lorenzana said. "I can't help it that I have curves." The woman's attorney said bosses at Citi's Rockefeller Center branch moved Lorenzana to a secluded part of the office as retaliation for her sexual harassment complaints and fired her one month later.

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

I'm where yesterday follows today, and tomorrow's in the middle. What am I?

» Something you might enjoy…  

In 2005, YouTube changed the internet forever. It is now available in 22 languages. Check out this one…

Ever been to Queensland? Here is a short video to peak your interest.

Click HERE!

» Calendar Information    

¤ Today’s Number One Songs in…

For anyone interested, all these songs are available on iTunes.

"Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies." ~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton.

1944: I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You); Harry James

1954: Little Things Mean a Lot; Kitty Kallen

1964: Chapel of Love; The Dixie Cups

1974: Band on the Run; Paul McCartney & Wings

1984: Time After Time; Cyndi Lauper

¤ Observance Weeks in June

6-12: National Headache Awareness Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World

Children's Awareness Memorial Day

D-Day: since 1944, Americans and Allies landing at Normandy, France: the term marks the beginning day of a military engagement

Drive-in Movie Day—a great summer escape, if you can find one

National Applesauce Cake Day

National Cancer Survivors Day

National Huntington's Disease Awareness Day

Massachusetts : Teachers' Day

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Malaysia: King's Birthday

South Korea: Memorial Day

Sweden: Constitution Day/Flag Day/National Day (1523, 1809)

Queensland: Queensland Day (separation in 1859 from New South Wales)

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

John Trumbull, artist: painter of the Revolution, born in 1756 Lebanon, Connecticut

Athletes

Bjorn Borg, 54, former tennis player, born Sodertalje, Sweden

Bill (William Malcolm) Dickey, Baseball Hall of Famer: catcher: NY Yankees catcher, born in 1907 Bastrop, LA

Entertainers

Sandra Bernhard, 55, actress, born Flint, MI

Gary U.S. Bonds, 71, singer (“Quarter to Three”), songwriter, born Gary Anderson at Jacksonville, FL

Richard Crane, actor (Surfside 6), born in 1918 Newcastle IN

Robert Englund, 63, actor (Freddy Kreuger-Nightmare on Elm St, V) , born in 1947 Glendale, California

Paul Giamatti, 43, actor (“John Adams,” Sideways, American Splendor), born New York, NY

Nathan Hale, hanged patriot, had but one life to give for his country, born in 1755 Coventry, Connecticut

Tom Ryan, 84, cartoonist: Tumbleweeds, born in Muncie, IN

Business, Education Persons

Marian Wright Edelman, 71, president of Children’s Defense Fund, civil rights activist, born Bennettsville, SC

Political Persons

Albert II, King of Belgium, 76, born in Stuyvenberg Castle,Brussels

Scientists /Religious Persons

Robert Falcon Scott leader of ill-fated south polar expedition, born in 1868 Devonport, Devon, England

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

--

In Athletics

1987 ►Steffi Graf beat Martina Navratilova and won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open

1987 ►NY Yankees play their 13,000th game

In Business or Education

1844 ►Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) founded in London

1933 ►1st drive-in theatre opens (Camden NJ)

In Politics

1813 ►US invasion of Canada halted at Stoney Creek (Ontario)

1833 ►The first U.S. President to ride in a railroad car was Andrew Jackson

1885 ►Sitting Bull signs contract today to work in Buffalo Bill"s Wild West Show.

1932 ►US Federal gas tax enacted- one cent per gallon

1966 ►Activist James Meredith shot in Mississippi

1967 ►6 day war between Israel & Arab neighbors begin

In Science/ Religion

1816 ►10" snowfall in New England, the "year without a summer" (Krakatoa)

1914 ►1st air flight out of the sight of land (Scotland to Norway)

¤ Today’s Obits

Dr Carl Gustav Jung Swiss psychiatrist, @ 85 in 1961

J Paul Getty oil magnate @ 83 in 1976

Stan Getz (Stanley Gayetzky) jazz saxophonist (Girl from Impanima), liver cancer @ 64 in 1991

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

1. They all have holes

2. They all have shells

3. They are all kinds of bears

4. They are all kinds of drops

5. They are all kinds of bars

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

A dictionary

» PIC of the Day  

I have always been fascinated with ‘sky’ pictures. While traveling I always try to take pictures of clouds, sunrise, sunset, panoramas with mostly sky. These pics are not mine, but it’s nice to learn that others are also fascinated by the sky. During the month of June I’ll be doing ‘sun rays’.

Click HERE!

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Sat 6-05

»Week 22 of 2010: 156 days this year… 209 days remain:

Day 47 of the BP oil spill: 36,000,000 gallons to date≈

» Something To Think About  

I think the environmental impact of this disaster is likely to have been very, very modest."

"The oil is on the surface." "There aren't any plumes."

"We're sorry for the massive disruption it's caused to their lives." "There's no one who wants this thing over more than I do, I'd like my life back.”

~Tony Hayward, BP CEO

» Random Fact    

Mount Rushmore is perhaps the most impressive rock formation carved by men. It was made by Gutzon Borglum and took just 14 years to carve it.

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1968 ►Senator Robert Kennedy is assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles

» Free Ramblings    

OMG, the oil spill news just gets more frightening. A colleague who retired to Florida has now been vanquished from ‘her’ beach. She says the tar balls are pretty gross, but the smell is what is really bad. Her house is ‘on the beach’ and she has huge decking around the house that is raised up when a hurricane comes to protect the windows. Cool technology, but doesn’t help with the smell. Today I heard that the ship that is over the well hole, collecting about 10% of the oil will have to head for shore during big tropical storms and hurricanes. The BP line is that soon the top hat will be pumping 80% of the flow to the ship, but it takes time. This is the beginning of hurricane season, so when the bad weather arrives, the oil will just be shooting into the Gulf, again. To add to this, the Admiral in charge has said that August will be the ‘first try’ to shut off the flow. Back when the 1979 shallow spill occurred, it took 8 relief wells to stop that much shallower and much smaller flow. Right now there are only two relief wells even being attempted. If neither of the relief wells stops the flow, it will be another 90-120 days to drill more. Each day more and more oil is making to more and more wetlands, beaches, and fishing areas. Even if the spill suddenly stopped today, it would still be hitting the shore another 47 or more days.

We had a very warm day…at 10am it was already 70° and made it up to 84° by this afternoon. Now that the sun is setting the afternoon breezes have picked up a little and keeping my house cool. It is still dropping to the low 40’s at night, so it’s not quite time to keep the windows open 24/7. That day will be here soon, and since I don’t live on the Gulf Coast, I won’t have to worry about any bad smells wafting though my house.

» Puzzle 1  

Take the given words, and by moving a single letter from one word to the other, make a pair of synonyms, or near synonyms. For example, given: Boast - Hip, move the 's' from 'Boast' to 'Hip' creating two synonyms: Boat - Ship.

1. Open - Cop

2. Cave - Curt

3. Cares - Pest

4. Salve - Savage

5. Whiled - Spurn

» A Quick Smile…    

My wife, a real estate agent, wrote an ad for a house she was listing. The house had a second-floor suite that could be accessed using a lift chair that slid along the staircase.

Quickly describing this feature, she inadvertently made it sound even more attractive: "Mother-in-law suite comes with an electric chair."

» Side Show Stories    

Register-Star: Officials in Hudson, N.Y., proudly unveiled their state-of-the-art water fountain for the disabled in the county courthouse, a fixture whose installation was agreed to in a 2003 settlement with federal officials enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, the fountain was installed on the courthouse's second floor, which is accessible only by stairway. In defense, county officials said the fountain had several features for handicapped people other than those in wheelchairs. [

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

At night they come without being fetched, and by day they are lost without being stolen. What are they?

» Something you might enjoy…  

In 2005, YouTube changed the internet forever. It is now available in 22 languages. Check out this one…

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an amazing event. I too have followed the mass band exit from the grounds…when I did it, it was a real downpour, but the view of the storefronts brings back wet and wonderful memories. click HERE!

» Calendar Information    

¤ Today’s Number One Songs in…

For anyone interested, all these songs are available on iTunes.

"Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies." ~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton.

1942: Tangerine; Jimmy Dorsey

1952: Blue Tango; Leroy Anderson

1962: I Can't Stop Loving You; Ray Charles

1972: Candy Man; Sammy Davis, Jr.

1982: Ebony and Ivory; Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder

¤ Observance Weeks in June

thru 5th Black Singles Parent Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World

Apple II Day—1977 goes on sale for first time

World Environment Day

Doughnut Day or Donut Day yep again today...must have a good lobby group somewhere!

Drawing Day or Pencil Day

Belmont Stakes

Festival Of Popular Delusions Day

National Trails Day

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Columbia : Thanksgiving Day

Denmark : Constitution Day (1849, 1953)

Equatorial Guinea: President's Day

Iran: Khordad Movement Anniversary

New Zealand: Arbor Day

Seychelles: Liberation Day

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Christy Brown, novelist (My Left Foot, Down All the Days) , born in 1932 Dublin

Margaret Drabble, 71, British novelist (The Gates of Ivory), born Sheffield, Yorkshire, England

Ken Follett, 61, British novelist (The Eye of the Needle), born Wales, UK

Bill Moyers, 76, journalist (“Bill Moyers’ Journal”), born Hugo, OK

Athletes

John Carlos, 65, track star (Olympic bronze 1968); gave black power salute , born in Harlem, New York

Tommie Smith, 66, US sprinter (Olympic-gold-1968); gave black power salute , born in Lemoore, California

Entertainers

William Boyd, cowboy (Hopalong Cassidy) , born in 1895 Hendrysburg, Ohio

Waylon Jennings, country singer (Dukes of Hazzard), born in 1937 Littlefield Tx

Kenny G (Kenneth Bruce Gorelick), 54, saxophonist , born in Seattle, Washington

Bill Hayes, 85, singer, entertainer: The Ballad of Davy Crockett, Wringle, Wrangle, born in Harvey, Illinois

Mark Wahlberg, 39, actor (Boogie Nights, The Departed), born Dorchester, MA

Business, Education Persons

Thomas Chippendale, England, furniture maker , born in 1718 City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England

John Maynard Keynes, economist/math/journalist , born in 1883 Cambridge England

Adam Smith, economist , born in 1723 Kirkcaldy Scotland

Political Persons

George Thorndike Angell Mass, lawyer (ASPCA) , born in 1823 Southbridge, Massachusetts

Jill Biden, 59, Second Lady, wife of US vice president Joseph H. Biden, Jr, born Hammonton, NJ

(José Doroteo Arango Arámbula) Francisco (Pancho) Villa Mexico, revolutionary/guerrilla leader , born in 1878 Rancho de la Loyotada Durango, Mexico

Scientists /Religious Persons

John Couch Adams co-discover (Neptune) , born in 1819 Launceston, Cornwall

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

1865 ►Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould’s Onward Christian Soldiers, was presented for the first time in Horbury, England.

In Athletics

1957 ►NY narcotics investigator, Dr Herbert Berger, urges AMA to investigate use of stimulating drugs by athletes

In Business or Education

--

In Politics

1794 ►Congress prohibits citizens from serving in foreign armed forces

1728 ►DELAWARE Chief Sassoonan will address the Pennsylvania Provincial Council. He will complain of German immigrants settling on Indian lands in Tulpehocken valley. The complaint would not be resolved until 1732, when the lands were purchased from the Indians with trading goods.

1922 ►The Supreme Court decides that Union organizations are liable for damage or injury caused during strikes.

1968 ►Senator Robert Kennedy is assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles

1967 ►The Six-Day War begins

1989 ►The Unknown Rebel halts the progress of a column of advancing tanks for over half an hour after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.

In Science/ Religion

1661 ►Isaac Newton admitted as a student to Trinity College, Cambridge

1981 ►The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report announcing that cases of rare pneumonia were found among five homosexual men in Los Angeles, California which was later identified as the Aids Virus

¤ Today’s Obits

Stephen Crane, American author @ lung problems @ 29 in 1900

O. Henry (William Sydney Porter), American author cirrhosis @ 48 in 1910

Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States @ 93 in 2004

Mel Tormé, American singer, composer, and actor @ 74 in 1999

Conway Twitty (Harold Lloyd Jenkins), American musician, aortic aneurysm @ 60 in 1993

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

1. Pen - Coop

2. Carve - Cut

3. Caress - Pet

4. Save - Salvage

5. Whirled - Spun

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

Dreams or Stars

» PIC of the Day  

I have always been fascinated with ‘sky’ pictures. While traveling I always try to take pictures of clouds, sunrise, sunset, panoramas with mostly sky. These pics are not mine, but it’s nice to learn that others are also fascinated by the sky. During the month of June I’ll be doing ‘sun rays’.

click HERE!

   «»«»«»«»«»«»«»  

Fri 6-04

»Week 22 of 2010: 155 days this year…210 days remain:
Day 46 of the BP oil spill, 35,000,000+ gallons≈

» Something To Think About  

You cannot help but learn more as you take the world into your hands. Take it up reverently, for it is an old piece of clay, with millions of thumbprints on it.

~ John Updike

» Random Fact    

The state of Maine has 62 lighthouses.

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1989 ►Chinese troops with tanks and armored cars stormed Tiananmen Square killing hundreds of protesters

» Free Ramblings    

Summer has arrived. Not officially for a couple of weeks, but unofficially--judging from the great days and the increased traffic on 66.

After living through our long snowy winter, it is so nice to look at San Francisco Peaks and still see a small amount of snow on the very top. Flagstaff is ‘greening up’. Not too many people can afford to have huge lawns, but almost everyone has plants and flowers. The non-evergreens are green. Flagstaff is really beautiful throughout the year, but right now it is outdoing its own beauty.

Our retirement group met today for lunch. We were supposed to be meeting a still working teacher. Faith didn’t make it but we still had a good lunch. She is working at a tiny school, Jones Ranch/Chichiltah and they are broke. She and the administration is trying to get a grant to get some more money for the school. I’ve been there at several small schools. Every school has basic costs for transportation, supplies, janitorial services, telephones, 2 way radios, etc. The Bureau has never really fixed the problem for small schools. Many years back, there was a small school where the Principal’s salary was greater than the entire school budget. Anyway, Faith will get together with us later this summer. Mary will be at her family beach house for a couple of weeks in July and Cheryl will be on an Alaskan cruise with her oldest grandkids during July. Maybe I’ll find somewhere to go in July too. A retired friend from BIA-Alb is currently on a month trip to Italy with her hubby. She is keeping us all up-to-date on her adventure. My trip to Malaysia and Borneo is still a while away. Each time I read about someone else’s adventure, I get more excited about my own. It really isn’t jealousy, but just reminds me that there is a huge world out there and lots of places to visit.

My visit to the dermatologist was successful. My basal cell surgery of 6 months ago had healed with no scar. That’s cool. The visual body search found no new growth. His parting words were to wear sunscreen when outside, and see you in a year—sooner if anything strange appears.

Last night’s Tiger’s game will go down in history. A very bad call and no instant replay for the umpire made it worse. Then the ump apologized to the pitcher for the bad call. The young Venezuelan pitcher did pitch a perfect game, but the ump called the 27th hitter safe. Amazingly, the pitcher said he harbors no hard feelings. A lesson for all of us, baseball fan or not.

Flag made it to 76° today, while my deck surpassed 80° by a degree. The great thing about living at the foot of Mt. Elden, we had a nice cool breeze during the hottest part of the day. Last summer I used my portable swamp cooler only about three days, when the outside temp surpassed 90°. The rest of the summer, open windows was all that was needed to keep everything nice. Looks like it will be the same this year.

» Puzzle 1  

(Thing 1)

I, at the start, am old / Many centuries I've been told / Used by the Greeks / For counting techniques /After things were bought and sold
Later is when I became known / As an infinite figure, when shown / You've counted my spaces / Over two billion places / And still, my amount is unknown

(Thing 2)

I, too, am not young / I'm almost as old as Thing 1 / I'm just a frog / On the natural log /

But I can make counting fun

(Thing 1 and Thing 2)

When you combine us two / In the order of Thing 1 and Thing 2 / We'll be a baked treat /

That's painful to beat / Whether cherry, peach, or aloo

» A Quick Smile…    

The first day at my new health club I asked the girl at the front desk, "I like to exercise after work. What are your hours?"

"Our club is open 24/7," she told me excitedly, "Monday through Saturday."

» Side Show Stories    

NEW YORK - Workers and patrons at a New York restaurant say a mysterious couple have been picking up the checks for other customers. Spigolo employees said the couple, whom they refused to identify, come by for dinner often and pick other tables seemingly at random to pay for. "There's no rhyme or reason to whom they pick," bartender Paula Lukas said. "The tabs will vary. They also take care of the tip, but most people leave a tip, too." Manager Abby Merz said the couple is also unpredictable when it comes to when they are likely to come in for dinner. "I have no idea how they choose people," she said. "It's an anonymous, random act of kindness."

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

I am the black child of a white father, a wingless bird, flying even to the clouds of heaven. I give birth to tears of mourning in pupils that meet me, even though there is no cause for grief, and at once on my birth I am dissolved into air. What am I?

» Something you might enjoy…  

In 2005, YouTube changed the internet forever. It is now available in 22 languages. Check out this one…

The Discovery Channel has video of the top 5 volcanoes…with webcam links. Click HERE!

» Calendar Information    

¤ Today’s Number One Songs in…

For anyone interested, all these songs are available on iTunes.

"Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies." ~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton.

1942: Tangerine; Jimmy Dorsey

1952: Blue Tango; Leroy Anderson

1962: I Can't Stop Loving You; Ray Charles

1972: Candy Man; Sammy Davis, Jr.

1982: Ebony and Ivory; Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder

¤ Observance Weeks in June

thru 5th Black Singles Parent Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World

Old Maid's Day--archaic

Audacity To Hope Day

Doughnut Day or Donut Day—a two day observance each year

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Botswana : Commonwealth Day

Finland : Flag Day (1867)

International : Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

Tonga : Independence Day

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Robert Fulghum, 73, author: It Was on Fire When I Lay Down on It, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, born in Waco, Texas

Robert Merrill (Moishe Miller), baritone (NY Metropolitan Opera), born in 1917 Brooklyn NY

Athletes

Andrea Jaeger, 45, former tennis player, born Chicago, IL

Entertainers

Bruce Dern, 74, actor (Coming Home, The Burbs), born Chicago, IL

Freddie Fender (Baldemar Garza Huerta) Mexico, country singer, born in 1937 San Benito, Texas

Angelina Jolie, 35, actress (Oscar for Girl, Interrupted), born Los Angeles, CA

Michelle Phillips, 65, singer (The Mamas and the Papas), actress (“Knots Landing”), born Long Beach, CA

Rosalind Russell, actress, born in 1908 Waterbury, Connecticut

Parker Stevenson, 57, actor (“Falcon Crest,” “Baywatch,” Hardy Boys), born Philadelphia, PA

Gordon Trueman Riviere Waller, singer (Peter & Gordon) , born in 1945 Braemar, Scotland

William Dennis Weaver, actor (Chester-Gunsmoke, McCloud), born in 1924 Joplin Mo

Noah Wyle, 39, actor (A Few Good Men, “ER”), born Hollywood, CA

Business, Education Persons

Charles Collingwood journalist: CBS news correspondent from WWII thru Viet Nam, born in 1917 Three Rivers, MI

Political Persons

King George III English king during American Revolution, born in 1738 Norfolk House, London

Linda Lingle, 57, Governor of Hawaii (R), born St. Louis, MO

Scientists /Religious Persons

Sir Christopher Cockerell inventor: the Hovercraft, born in 1910 Cambridge, United Kingdom

Russell Train, 90, environmentalist: US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, head of World Wildlife Fund, born in Jamestown, RI

Dr. Ruth Westheimer (Karola Ruth Siegel), 81, television, radio host for shows on sexual relationships, born Frankfurt, Germany

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

1917 ►The first Pulitzer Prizes are awarded: Laura E. Richards, Maude H. Elliott, and Florence Hall receive the first Pulitzer for biography (for Julia Ward Howe). Jean Jules Jusserand receives the first Pulitzer for history for his work With Americans of Past and Present Days. Herbert B. Swope receives the first Pulitzer for journalism for his work for the New York World.

In Athletics

1987 ►Edwin Moses, who had won a total of 122 consecutive victories in the 400-meter hurdles, was defeated by Danny Harris in Madrid, Spain

In Business or Education

1070 ►Roquefort cheese created in a cave near Roquefort, France

1939 ►Sylvan Goldman introduced the first grocery-store shopping cart, a folding chair mounted on wheels, in Oklahoma City, OK.

1990 ►Greyhound Bus files bankruptcy

In Politics

1674 ►Horse racing in Plymouth, MA was prohibited
1919 ►Senate passes Women's Suffrage bill

1940 ►The evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk ends as German forces capture the beach.

1942 ►The Battle of Midway began when the Japanese navy attacked Midway

1989 ►Largest parade in Bronx history honors 350th anniversary

In Science/ Religion

780 -BC ►1st total solar eclipse reliably recorded by Chinese

¤ Today’s Obits

Chief Canonicus, Chief of the NARRAGANSETSs when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, @ 88 in 1647

Hank Ketcham, American cartoonist (Dennis the Menace) @ 81 in 2001  Yves Saint Laurent, French fashion designer @ 72 in 2008

Murray Wilson father of Beach Boys Brian, Carl & Dennis, hear attack @ 55 in 1973

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

Thing 1 is "Pi."

Thing 2 is "e," the base of the natural logarithm.

Thing 1 and 2 are, together, "Pie."

* (an aloo pie is a potato pie)

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

Smoke

» PIC of the Day  

I have always been fascinated with ‘sky’ pictures. While traveling I always try to take pictures of clouds, sunrise, sunset, panoramas with mostly sky. These pics are not mine, but it’s nice to learn that others are also fascinated by the sky. During the month of June I’ll be doing ‘sun rays’.

Click HERE!

   «»«»«»«»«»«»«»  

Thurs 6-3

»Week 22 of 2010: 154 days this year…211 days remain Day 45 of BP oil spill

» Something To Think About  

The three best things: to be humble amidst the vicissitudes of fortune; to pardon when powerful; to be generous with no strings attached.

~Attributed to the Prophet Muhammad

» Random Fact    

The world’s smallest island country is Nauru
[South Pacific, pop: 14,000, Language: Nauruan (official; a distinct Pacific Island language)]

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1961 ►Clarence Gideon is arrested and charged with breaking into a poolroom in Florida. In Gideon v. Wainwright, in the Supreme Court it was ruled that a fair trial "cannot be realized if the poor man charged with [the] crime has to face his accusers without a lawyer to assist him." Due to Clarence Gideon's perseverance, every criminal suspect is entitled to representation by a lawyer.

» Free Ramblings    

During one of our many snow storms and cold temps my front windshield developed a crack on the passenger side. Last week it started to grow, so today I got it replaced. Amazing, the four years of wind, snow, rain, road chemical, and who knows what else had really done a number on the window. While they said it would take 2+ hours to do it, I was in and out in about an hour. With a window that isn’t pitted, I can really see much better.

I added a count of the days of the oil spill in the Gulf. I will stop it as soon as the thing is stopped. Living in the desert for so long, I never really understood what ‘wetlands’ was all about. Now that we may be losing millions of acres of wetlands, the news stations are starting to visit the wetlands of the Gulf and showing us what is happening. It is frightening to hear experts tell us the worst case scenario. Even the best case scenario is depressing—less wetlands will increase flooding in hurricane area towns’ less wetlands will hurt many fishermen; less wetlands will mean the cost of shrimp and other aquatic foods will skyrocket. To top of this mess, BP is now saying that the oil leak has increased by about 20% as they try to saw off some thing-a-ma-jig to put a top hat on it and that December, not August, is now a timeline for the other two drill holes to reach the spewing well and stop its spewing. As hurricane season arrives in the Gulf, another fear surfaces—the marshes are being killed by oil, when a storm hits, this oil will simply move farther inland, killing more wetlands. CNN went back to the marsh where Obama and the governor were a few days ago. At the time of the visit, lots of people were cleaning up, lots of booms were out in the ocean…today, no people, no booms, and just more oil—so far over 34 million gallons have been put into the Gulf.

My deck made it to 78° this afternoon. What a great day. So nice to be outside after the long, long winter.

» Puzzle 1  

"Welcome back to the show. Before the break, Mr Ixolite here made it to our grand finale! How do you feel Mr.Ix?"

"Nervous."

"Okay, now to win the star prize of one million pounds all you have to do is answer the following question in 90 seconds."

"Okay, I'm ready."

"Right. In 90 seconds name 100 words that do NOT contain the letter 'A'. Start the clock!"

Can you help?

HINT: He’s counting on your help.

» A Quick Smile…    

One of our projects at military leadership school called for us to speak in front of the class on a topic picked by our instructor. A classmate gave an impassioned speech on the benefits of drinking liquor. Alcohol, he insisted, warded off colds, kept you alert, and even made you steadier on your feet.

"Good job," said our instructor when he finished. "Only one thing: Your topic was the benefits of drinking liquids, not liquor."

» Side Show Stories    

Saskatchewan - We've all seen the television programs about how to survive in the wild. Making fire with sticks and killing wild game with a shoe and a belt, etc. But one Canadian man had a much more practical approach. The man reported he had been boating on a lake when bad weather hit and he was stranded. With no way to communicate with the outside world he took matters and an axe into his own hands.

He chopping down four power poles — knocking out electricity to surrounding communities and waited for the power company to come out and repair the damage. "Essentially it was mission accomplished, because we got the call, we chartered a helicopter...and on Friday around noon we discovered him," a SaskPower spokesperson said. They said, considering the circumstances, they are not going to try to recoup damages from the stranded man.

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

I'm light as a feather, yet the strongest man can't hold me for much more than a minute. What am I?

» Something you might enjoy…  

In 2005, YouTube changed the internet forever. It is now available in 22 languages. Check out this one…

A bunch of dogs, some sand, some water, and some music…Thanks Peter for finding this!

Click HERE!

» Calendar Information    

¤ Today’s Number One Songs in…

For anyone interested, all these songs are available on iTunes.

"Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies." ~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton.

1941 My Sister and I Jimmy Dorsey

1951 How High the Moon Les Paul & Mary Ford

1961 Running Scared Roy Orbison

1971 Brown Sugar The Rolling Stones

1981 Bette Davis Eyes Kim Carnes

¤ Observance Weeks in June

thru 5th Black Singles Parent Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World

Repeat Day: doing things of joy over and over again

Confederate Memorial Day: KY, LA, TN : (since 1868)

Chimborazo Day:

celebrates Mount Chimborazo, a volcanic peak (6268 meters/ 20,564 feet tall) in Ecuador that pokes farther into space than any other point on Earth, even Mount Everest. That's due to the fact that the planet isn't a perfect sphere, but bulges at the equator. So Jacksonville, for instance, is closer to the center of the Earth than Miami, but farther than Milwaukee.

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Australia: Mabo Day (since 1992— Eddie Koiki Sambo Mabo helped indigenous people of Australia gain back land rights)

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

(Irwin) Allen Ginsberg, Beat Generation poet, born in 1926 Newark, New Jersey

Charles Hart, 49, lyricist, composer, born London, England

Larry McMurtry, 74, author (Terms of Endearment, Lonesome Dove, The Last Picture Show), born Wichita Falls, TX

Athletes

Hale S. Irwin, 65, golfer, born Joplin, MO

Entertainers

Chuck Barris, 81, television producer (“Dating Game,” “Newlywed Game,” “Gong Show”), born Philadelphia, PA

Anderson Cooper, 43, television journalist, personality (“Anderson Cooper 360,” “The Mole”), born New York, NY

Tony Curtis (Bernard Schwartz), 85, actor (Some Like It Hot, The Boston Strangler, The Defiant Ones), born in New York, NY

Curtis Mayfield singer (Freddie's Dead, Superfly), born in 1942 Chicago, Illinois 

Business, Education Persons

Ransom Eli Olds auto (Oldsmobile) & truck (REO) manufacturer, born in 1864 Geneva, Ohio

Political Persons

Raúl Castro, 79, President of Cuba, born Holguín, Cuba

Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, born in 1808 Philadelphia, PA

Rafael Nadal, 24, tennis player, born Manacor, Spain

Scientists /Religious Persons

Dr Charles Drew Washington DC, pioneer of blood plasma preservation/first director of the Red Cross blood bank, born in 1904 Washington, DC

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

1968 ►Andy Warhol the American artist and a major driving force in the movement known as Pop art is shot and wounded in his New York film studio

In Athletics

1932 ►Lou Gehrig hits 4 consecutive HRs; Yanks beat A's 20-13

In Business or Education

1921 ►A sudden cloudburst kills 120 near Pikes Peak, Colorado

1949 ►1st negro to graduate from US Naval Academy (Wesley Anthony Brown)

In Politics

1539 ►Hernando De Soto claims Florida for Spain

1621 ►Dutch West India Company receives charter for "New Netherlands"

1833 ►Today, Secretary of War Lewis Cass gives orders directly to the United States Marshal's office to remove white settlers, and trespassers, from CREEK lands in Alabama

1861 ►1st Civil War land battle-Union defeats Confederacy at Philippi, WV

1918 ►Supreme Court rules child labor laws unconstitutional

1937 ►Duke of Windsor (Edward 8) weds Mrs Wallis Warfield Simpson in France

1959 ►The first class to graduate from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO

In Science/ Religion

1098 ►Christian Crusaders seize Antioch, Turkey

¤ Today’s Obits

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli Pope John XXIII-261st Pope @ 81 in 1963

Harry Glicken volcanologist, killed by Mt Unzen Volcano in Japan @ 33 in 1991

Ruhollah Mousavi Ayatollah Khomeini, Iranian Religious Leader and Politician, @ 89 in 1989

Ozzie Nelson actor (Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet), liver cancer @69 in 1975

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

One, Two, Three, Four, Five......One Hundred!

He just counted from 1 to 100 in ninety seconds (it is possible).

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

Breath

» PIC of the Day  

I have always been fascinated with ‘sky’ pictures. While traveling I always try to take pictures of clouds, sunrise, sunset, panoramas with mostly sky. These pics are not mine, but it’s nice to learn that others are also fascinated by the sky. During the month of June I’ll be doing ‘sun rays’.

Click HERE!

   «»«»«»«»«»«»«»  

Wednesday 6-1

»Week 22 of 2010: 153 days this year… 212 days remain≈

» Something To Think About  

You must rouse into people's consciousness their own prudence and strength, if you want to raise their character.

--Marquis De Vauvenargues, French essayist

» Random Fact    

Efforts to protect our skin from the sun go all the way back to ancient times. Ancient Egyptians considered light skin more attractive than dark skin, but found it difficult to maintain in Egypt's hot and sunny environment. Recently translated papyri and tomb walls reveal the ingredients of potions used to ward off a tan and heal damaged skin.

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 2000 ►The government of Zimbabwe has issued the latest list of 800 plus farms earmarked for forcible seizure by the government who will devide them up between landless peasants.

» Free Ramblings    

I still have problems adjusting to 3 day weekends—even after almost 4 years of retirement. Today, Tuesday, has really felt like Monday all day. As I was checking my ‘schedule’ I still felt that this was Monday. I hope I catch up with the day before Friday. If I don’t figures this out, I may miss some appointments, car repair tomorrow, Dr. check-ups and lunch on Thursday.

Tonight is the City Council meeting. The Council is addressing a secret internal memo that questions our Mayor’s ethics in a trip to DC last year. It was leaked by a councilman who just happened to be running for mayor. The council heard about the memo a few weeks before the election, but the city attorney said to wait until after the election to discuss it, as it was obviously politically motivated. So tonight we hear from lots of people. Before that starts, at the last meeting the Council voted to sue AZ for SB 1070. An hour into the meeting people are only giving their opinions of the plan—the pro-1070 people are warning of Armageddon, the anti-1070 people are just repeating what they said last time. I hope they get to the ‘memo issue’ soon. Again I am glad that these meetings are streamed live, so I can see government in action without having to be sitting in a hot crowded room. Non-elected Gov Brewer has been making the news and political rounds in DC and made it to CNN today. She has been asking to meet with Obama for several weeks, and is getting a meeting sometime this week. She has said that no matter what Obama suggests regarding 1070, she will not back down. No wonder the President is having trouble finding time to meet with her. Again, Obama is proving that he believes in dialogue with anyone. I wish our President lots of luck. I don’t think this will be a meeting with a couple of bottles of beer.

I am paying close attention to Gaza Strip drama. More so than I would have, had I not visited several Muslim nations. I am reminded that Egypt has one of the main border entry sites into the Gaza. Tension is high there and with other parts of the world. Words and actions are often reported with bias. To add to that even a report that is almost free of bias is going to be interpreted by many individuals with bias. The Muslims of the world will be watching the US response, especially by the President. I can only hope that the US comments on this issue will ease the tensions and not make our working relation with the Muslims throughout the world more difficult. When an ancient homeland is at stake, there is seldom a win-win situation. One only needs to look at the problems the US has and continues to have with the many Native populations.

We had a decent weather day, and with clean office windows, I could see it when I wasn’t outside. We made it to 75° and only had a little wind storm late this afternoon. I spent part of the day checking for plants, but a new supply hadn’t arrived and many others had picked through them during the holiday. So later in the week, new plants will arrive to our little mountain town and I will be there ready to buy. Flagstaff is enjoying a nice early summer, even without moisture falling from the sky. Bring on the monsoon a little early this year.

» Puzzle 1  

I am feared by many people; but scramble my letters and I become hated.

What am I?

» A Quick Smile…    

When hiring new staff at the public library, I always ask applicants what sort of supervision they'd be most comfortable with.

One genius answered, "I've always thought Superman's X-ray vision would be cool."

» Side Show Stories    

Daily Telegraph: The local government of Bolton, England, responding in March to a citizen's report of a discarded mattress on the side of a road, sent an official to assess the scene. He wrote a work order for four men (a driver, an assistant and two supervisors) and a 1.7-ton construction vehicle, and the pickup was scheduled for the following week, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph. (When a Bolton councilman saw the schedule, he, with the help of a friend, drove a council van to the scene and hauled the mattress to a dump site.

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

I never was, am always to be,

No one ever saw me, nor ever will,

And yet I am the confidence of all

To live and breathe on this terrestrial ball.

What am I?

» Something you might enjoy…  

In 2005, YouTube changed the internet forever. It is now available in 22 languages. Check out this one…

These bloopers have been around for a while, but still bring a laugh. Click HERE!

» Calendar Information    

¤ Today’s Number One Songs in…

For anyone interested, all these songs are available on iTunes.

"Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies." ~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton.

1939: Beer Barrel Polka; Will Glahe

1949: Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend); Vaughn Monroe

1959: The Battle of New Orleans; Johnny Horton

1969: Get Back; The Beatles

1979: Hot Stuff; Donna Summer

1999: Livin' La Vida Loca; Ricky Martin

¤ Observance Weeks in June

thru 5th Black Singles Parent Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World

Leave the Office Early Day

National ‘Bubba’ Day

National Running Day

National Rocky Road Day

National Tailors Day

Yell "Fudge" at the Cobras in North America Day

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Bhutan: Coronation Day

Iceland: Seaman's Day

Isabel Province, Solomon Islands: Isabel Province Day

Italy: Festa della Repubblica, commemorates the birth of the Repubblica Italiana and the end of the monarchy (since 1946)

Tunisia: Youth Day

North Korea: Children's Day

West Germany : Republic (Constitution) Day

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Thomas Hardy England, poet/novelist (Mayor of Casterbridge), born in 1840 Dorset, England

Marvin Hamlisch, 66, composer (Oscars for The Sting, The Way We Were; Tony for A Chorus Line), born New York, NY

Athletes

John Weissmuller (Johann Peter Weißmüller) actor (Tarzan)/100m swimmer (Olympic-gold-1924, 28), born in 1904 Banat region of, Austria-Hungary

Entertainers

Dana Carvey, 55, comedian, actor (Wayne’s World, “Saturday Night Live”), born Missoula, MT

Hedda Hopper (Elda Furry) gossip columnist (From Under My Hat), born in 1890 Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania

Stacy Keach, Jr, 69, actor (Conduct Unbecoming, “Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer”), born Savannah, GA

Sally Kellerman, 74, actress (M*A*S*H, Back to School), born Long Beach, CA

Jerry Mathers, 62, actor (“Leave It to Beaver”), born Sioux City, IA

Milo O’Shea, 84, actor (The Purple Rose of Cairo), born Dublin, Ireland

Business, Education Persons

--

Political Persons

Henry VIII King of England, born in 1491 Greenwich Palace

Marquis de Sade (Comte Donatien Alphonse Francois de Sade),1st known sadist, writer (Justine), born in 1740 Condé palace, Paris

Scientists /Religious Persons

Charles ‘Pete’ Conrad Jr., NASA astronaut, born in 1930 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

1981 ►Barbara Walters asks Katharine Hepburn what kind of tree she would be

In Athletics

1935 ►Babe Ruth, retires ending his Major League playing career after 22 seasons, 10 World Series and 714 home runs.

In Business or Education

1835 ►P.T. Barnum & his circus begin 1st tour of US

1931 ►Ten people were killed in France during the testing of a new suspension bridge that was built

In Politics

1851 ►1st US alcohol prohibition law enacted (Maine)

1886 ►Grover Cleveland is 1st to wed during presidency (Frances Folsom)

1899 ►Black Americans observed day of fasting to protest lynchings

1924 ►US citizenship granted to all American Indians

1933 ►President Franklin D. Roosevelt accepted the first swimming pool to bebuilt inside the White House.

1953 ►The coronation of 27-year-old Queen Elizabeth II was broadcast.

In Science/ Religion

1910 ►Pygmies discovered in Dutch New Guinea

¤ Today’s Obits

Lou Gehrig Yankee great, ALS @37 in 1941

Rex Harrison actor (My Fair Lady), cancer @ 82 in 1990

Jim Hutton actor (Ellery Queen), liver cancer @ 45 in 1979

Sammy Kaye orch leader (Sammy Kaye Show), @ 77 in 1987

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

Death

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

Tomorrow

» PIC of the Day  

I have always been fascinated with ‘sky’ pictures. While traveling I always try to take pictures of clouds, sunrise, sunset, panoramas with mostly sky. These pics are not mine, but it’s nice to learn that others are also fascinated by the sky. During the month of June I’ll be doing ‘sun rays’.

Click HERE!
   «»«»«»«»«»«»«»  

Monday 6-1

»Week 22 of 2010: 152 days this year… 213 days remain≈

» June Trivia  

June is named after Roman Goddess ‘Juno’, wife of Jupiter; the summer equinox will happen this month, the pearl, the moonstone, and the alexandrite are the birthstones (longevity), the rose or honeysuckle are this month’s flowers.

» Some things To Think About  

In these divine pleasures permitted to me of walks in the June night under moon and stars, I can put my life as a fact before me and stand aloof from its honor and shame.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June.

- Al Bernstein

» Random Wedding Facts    

~The Old English word for the wedding ceremony was ‘bridelope’, which literally met “bridal run.” The word “wed” derives from the Proto-Indo European base ‘wadh’, meaning to pledge or redeem.

~Before the 1500s, couples in Europe were free to marry themselves. It wasn’t until 1564 when the Council of Trent declared marriage was a sacrament that weddings became the province of priests and churches.

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1868 ►After the "long walk" to the Bosque Redondo Reservation in New Mexico, General Sherman visited the NAVAJO. They again asked to go back to their old lands. They promised the keep the peace and the old treaties. Sherman talked with them, and he listened to them. With a new treaty in hand, Sherman says he will let them go, if they sign, and obey, the new treaty. The NAVAJOs agree, even though they will lose some of their land as a part of the new agreement. On this date, Barboncito, Armijo, Delgadito, Herrero Grande, Manuelito, and others sign the new treaty.

» Free Ramblings    

I’ve had a busy holiday weekend. Sunday was a BBQ with some of our discussion group and a few new people. I expected a few hours, but it quickly turned into almost 6 hours of good conversation, good food, and a little wine. I met the Episcopalian Chaplin from NAU. She is new to Flagstaff, only been here since August. So refreshing to meet someone who is religious and open minded. Another couple is in real estate here in Flagstaff. Again a surprising degree of open-mindedness. I do know that every profession/calling has open minded people. I don’t meet a lot of clergy or real estate people here in Flagstaff, and only read their column or when they are in a news story. That is hardly a good sampling. So we are able to discuss politics, education, travel, and religion and have lots of input from everyone. The hostess repeated a workshop she recently attended in CA, sort of. The workshop was at a winery and each table blended wine, then all the participants did a blind taste and selected the ‘best blended wine’ for their pallet. The winner got a $1000 bottle of wine. We were able to hear about how it was done, then enjoyed tasting several winery blended wines. Must say they were much different, and I now think better, than a merlot or other single wine type.

Today I decided to wash my upstairs windows. I am not a DIY type guy. I spent many hours learning about egress from buildings and Federal requirements for egress. When I first washed the windows after a few months of living here, I tried to figure out how the sliding window came out of the track for emergency exit. All the Federal buildings that have sliding windows have a trip latch on the window. Pull that trip latch and the window easily comes out of the track and can be brought inside. I decided way back then that these windows didn’t meet those specs. But, alas yesterday, one of my neighbors in another building was moving out. They popped out both the sliding window and the stationary one and started lowering things out the new open space. So, this morning, knowing that the window does come out, I played around a little and figured it out. For the first time in almost four years, I have really clean second story windows, and it was even easy to do. I feel so dumb that I didn’t spend a little more time years ago to figure it out. Live and Learn.

Last night it was pointed out that Flag has gone from winter to wind to summer and completely leaving out spring. Today we were a wonderful 75° with blue sky and no wind. I am pretty sure this is going to continue and this week I can start putting some color in my planters. I already have a plan and need to pick up a couple more planters and potting soil, but that should be easy—Home Depot is just down the street.

» Puzzle 1  

A spoonerism is a pair of words that can have the initial sounds switched to form new words. For example, "churning bear" is a spoonerism for "burning chair" (note that the pairs do not have to be spelled the same - only sound the same). From the definitions below, can you figure out these 5 spoonerism pairs?

1. Thumper's cellphone...mis-named nerve.

2. Where to buy a mallard...jammed portal.

3. Grizzly relative...two pin-lovers.

4. Sad iguana...Merlin slam-dunking.

5. Wasp accelerates...Half a six-pack.

» A Quick Smile…    

"For sale," read the ad in our hospital's weekly newsletter, "sleeveless wedding gown, white, size 8, veil included. Worn once, by mistake."

» Side Show Stories    

LONGVIEW, WA - A Washington state man who heard someone stealing his truck from outside his home said he followed the sound of the muffler to pursue the thieves. Alex Hansen, 27, said he heard the 1996 Toyota T-100 starting at 5 a.m. Tuesday outside of his Longview home and quickly gave chase, The (Longview) Daily News reported. "I grabbed my girlfriend's keys. My truck's loud enough I could hear where it was going," Hansen said. He said he spotted the Toyota traveling together with another vehicle. "I caught up about the time they got to Alabama Ave," he said. "I chased them 8 minutes or so down alleyways and streets... He just locked the truck up, jumped out and took off running."

Hansen described the suspect who exited the truck as a white man with a black hoodie, shorts and a backwards cap. He said the culprits took tools, a camera, his wallet and other valuables from the vehicle.

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

You use a knife to slice my head and weep beside me when I am dead. What am I?

» Something you might enjoy…  

In 2005, YouTube changed the internet forever. It is now available in 22 languages. Check out this one…

June is International Surf Music Month. See if you remember this: Click HERE!

» Calendar Information    

¤ June Monthly Observances

~Medical: Cancer From The Sun Month * Celibacy Awareness Month * Child Vision Awareness Month * Dairy Alternative Month * Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome Awareness Month * International Childhood Cancer Campaign Month * National Aphasia Awareness Month * Pharmacists Declare War on Alcoholism Month * Professional Wellness Month * Rebuild Your Life Month * Vision Research Month * World Infertility Month

~Outdoors: Fireworks Safety Month * Great Outdoors Month * International Surf Music Month * Lane Courtesy Month * Perennial Gardening Month * National Rivers Month * National Rose Month * National Safety Month * Skyscraper Month * Sports America Kids Month * Student Safety Month * Women's Golf Month * World Cup (soccer) Month (Games in South Africa)

~Foods: Dairy Month * National Candy Month * National Ice Tea Month * National Soul Food Month * National Steakhouse Month

~Social Awareness: Gay & Lesbian Pride Month * National GLBT (Gay,Lesbian,Bisexual & Transgender) Awareness Month * National GLBT Book Month

~Misc: Effective Communications Month * Entrepreneurs "Do It Yourself" Marketing Month * International Men's Month * Turkey Lovers Month * National Accordion Awareness Month * National Bathroom Reading Month * National Smile Month * Potty Training Awareness Month

¤ Today’s Number One Songs in…  

For anyone interested, all these songs are available on iTunes.

"Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies." ~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton.

1938: Cathedral in the Pines; Shep Fields

1948: Nature Boy; King Cole

1958: All I Have to Do Is Dream; The Everly Brothers

1968: Mrs. Robinson; Simon & Garfunkel

1978: Too Much, Too Little, Too Late; Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams

1988: One More Try; George Michael

¤ Observance Weeks in June  

thru 5th Black Singles Parent Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World    

Dare Day * Heimlich Maneuver Day * National Go Barefoot Day * Say Something Nice Day * Stand For Children Day * Kentucky-1792, Tennessee-1796 : Statehood Day * Philadelphia: Elfreth's Alley Day-celebrates oldest US street

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Canada: National Day Against Homophobia (since 2005 when PM Trudeau repealed all ‘anti-gay’ clauses from the Criminal Code of Canada)

Cambodia: National Tree Planting Day

People’s Republic of China, Mongolia : Children's Festival Day

Kenya : Madaraka Day, since 1963 for internal self-rule

Palau: President's Day

Samoa: Independence Day (1962 from New Zealand)

Thailand: Visakha Puja: the Buddha was born, and 35 years later awoke to the unexcelled right self-awakening, and another 45 years later passed away into total nibbana

Vancouver: Fei Fei Day: for Hong Kong comedienne Lydia “ Fei-fei” Sum since 2008

Western Samoa: National Day

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Nelson Riddle musical conductor, born in 1921 Oradell NJ

John W Van Duren playwright (I Remember Mama), born in 1901 New York City, NY

Athletes

Justine Henin, 28, tennis player, born Liege, Belgium

Entertainers

Pat Boone, 76, singer, actor (State Fair), author, born Jacksonville, FL

Ronnie Dunn, 57, country singer: duo: Brooks & Dunn, born in Coleman, Texas

Morgan Freeman, 73, stage and film actor (Oscar for Million Dollar Baby; The Shawshank Redemption, Driving Miss Daisy), born Memphis, TN

Andy Griffith, 84, actor (“Matlock,” “The Andy Griffith Show”), born Mount Airy, NC

Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jean Baker Mortenson) actress: Gentleman Prefer Blondes, The Seven-Year Itch, Some Like It Hot, Bus Stop, The Asphalt Jungle, Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend, The Misfits, Scudda-Hoo! Scudda-Hay!; famous centerfold:Playboy [1952], born in 1926 Los Angeles, CA

Ron Wood, 63, musician (guitarist with the Rolling Stones), born London, England

Edward Woodward, 80, actor, singer (“The Equalizer,” Wicker Man, Breaker Morant), born Croydon, England

Business, Education Persons

Dilia Elena Díaz Cisneros, 85, founder of Public schools throughout Venezuela, born in El Hatillo town of theMiranda state, Veneauela

Political Persons

Tony Snow, News Anchor, Former White House Press Secretary for George W. Bush, born in 1955 Berea, Kentucky

Scientists /Religious Persons

James Hadley Billington, 81, Librarian of Congress, born Bryn Mawr, PA

Brigham Young religious leader (Mormon church)/polygamist, blacksmith, born in 1801 Whitingham, Vermont

Sadi Nicolas Léonard Carnot physicist: pioneer in thermodynamics: discovered the 2nd law of thermodynamics, born in 1796 Paris, France

Frank Whittle inventor (jet engine), born in 1907 Earlsdon, Coventry, England

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

1938 ►Superman Comics launched

1959 ►Celebrating a solid year at the top of the album charts was Johnny’s Greatest Hits (Johnny Mathis) on Columbia Records. The LP stayed for several more years at or near the top of the album charts. It became the all-time album leader at 490 weeks.

In Athletics

1984 ►Weightlifter Alexander Gunyashev of USSR snatches a record 211 kg (464.2 lbs)

In Business or Education

1495 ►1st written record of Scotch Whiskey appears in Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. Friar John Cor is the distiller

1949 ►1st magazine on microfilm offered to subscribers (Newsweek), $15/yr

1980 ►Ted Turner's Cable News Network begins broadcasting (CNN)

1990 ►The Cowboy Channel on cable TV begins transmitting

In Politics

1808 ►1st US land-grant university founded-Ohio Univ, Athens, Ohio

1813 ►Capt John Lawrence utters Navy motto "Don't give up the ship", his final order after being shot

1855 ►US adventurer Wm Walker conquers Nicaragua, reestablishes slavery

1866 ►Renegade Irish Fenians invade Fort Erie Ontario from US

1877 ►US troops authorized to pursue bandits into Mexico

1966 ►2,400 persons attend White House Conference on Civil Rights

In Science/ Religion

1638 ►1st earthquake recorded in US, at Plymouth, Mass

1869 Voting Machine patented by Thomas Edison

1888 ►California gets its 1st seismograph

1985 ►500 'Hippy' travellers clash with police on their way to the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge in Wiltshire for an illegal festival, the police set up a roadblock seven miles from Stonehenge. The day is known as "The Battle of the Beanfield" and was the first major test of an English Heritage ban on midsummer festivals at Stonehenge.

¤ Today’s Obits    

Helen Keller blind & deaf, @ 87 in 1968

Richard Greene actor (Adv of Robin Hood), cardiac arrest @ 67 in 1985

Rashid Karami Lebanon, 10 time PM of Lebanon, assassinated @ 65 in 1987

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

1. Bunny phone...funny bone.

2. Duck store...stuck door.

3. Polar bear...bowler pair.

4. Weeping lizard...leaping wizard.

5. Bee throttles...three bottles.

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

An onion

» PIC of the Day   NEW

I have always been fascinated with ‘sky’ pictures. While traveling I always try to take pictures of clouds, sunrise, sunset, panoramas with mostly sky. These pics are not mine, but it’s nice to learn that others are also fascinated by the sky. During the month of June I’ll be doing ‘sun rays’.

Three Great Sun Ray Pics: Click HERE!

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Mon 5-31 Memorial Day

Take a moment or two today to remember all the brave men and women who gave their lives for our country.

Click Here for Memorial Day Song with photos!

Click Here for Amazing Grace with military photos!