Saturday August 14

This is Week 32 of 2010►Day 226 with 139 days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

I am quickly getting to the TMI place about SB1070. (TMI=too much information). Today we learned that the senator who introduced the bill has accepted thousands from two different private prison lobbies. Let’s see, he first introduced a bill in 2003 to allow some prisons in AZ to be privatized. That bill passed, he sponsored and passed a few more, then last week he introduced a bill to privatize all prisons in AZ. He introduced SB1070 that puts illegals in AZ prisons until the Feds take over. That could be thousands of new inmates and lots of new private prisons.

Side Note: The three escapees who are on a killing spree around the US were in one of the privatized prisons here. The girlfriend/1st cousin of one of the guys parked her car at the fence of the prison…in the dirt…and threw a pair of wire cutters over to the group. When they actually escaped, they went through an unlocked door that should have been locked; when they cut the fence and alarm sounded but no one at the prison checked to see why…the guards just turned it off. The guards didn’t know the 3 inmates were missing for seven hours, and then didn’t notify the local sheriff for another two hours. Two have been recaptured but the lovers seem to be nowhere to be found, only their bloody trail remains. Somehow I don’t think I want convicted criminals in a private prison.

Our political system in AZ is badly broken. We need a whole bunch of people in the legislature who have a vision to improve AZ. Everyone we have now seems to be interested in getting reelected and cutting spending in education, privatizing prisons, cutting taxes for the rich, blaming illegals for all our woes, and helping any group that provides them with money.

I ran a few errands today, and it was really nice. Before taking off I took a nice walk. I left the house about 6:30 and got back about 8:00. It was really nice. I walked though our part of the urban trail system. Not a lot of people out but it was cool—like not hot, and the grasses, weeds, and sunflowers were also enjoying the morning sun. At 7:30 I saw one dedicated city employee out weed-whacking away. Somehow my ipod was only playing great walking music and the time flew by. We had a dry day and made it to 83°. As I left the house it was about 55°. Great day.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Sometimes we fail to hear or heed these voices of freedom because to us the privilege of our freedom is such an old, old story.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1935 Social Security Act became law

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION about the number 13

~Many Christians have long believed that Friday was unlucky because it was the day of the week when Jesus was crucified. The number 13 was believed to bring bad luck because there were 13 people at The Last Supper.

~Thirteen was also a sinister number in Norse mythology. Loki, one of the most evil of the Norse gods, went uninvited to a party for 12 at Valhalla, a banquet hall of the gods. As a result, he caused the death of Balder, the god of light, joy, and reconciliation.

~On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrests of Jaques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templars and sixty of his senior knights in Paris. Thousands of others were arrested around the country. Most of the Templars were eventually executed and their sympathizers condemned Friday the 13th as an evil day.

~In the 18th century, the HMS Friday was launched on Friday the 13th. It was never heard from again. Since then, ships are not usually launched on that date

~It is considered especially unlucky to have 13 people at the table during a meal, such as in Agatha Christie's mystery novel, Thirteen at Dinner. During the 1880s, a men's group that felt superstition was an unhealthy influence on public life held Thirteen Club dinners.

~President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal. Napoleon and President Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic, with an abnormal fear of the number 13.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Questions: 3 letter words

A fedora, homburg or derby

Quixote or Drysdale

Opposite of flow, tides do it

Where things are nipped in, or Lou's partner

Some people have a quick one, which beats a ½ one

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A crate of Scotch whisky that was trapped in Antarctic ice for a century was finally opened Friday — but the heritage dram won't be tasted by whisky lovers because it's being preserved for its historical significance.

The crate, recovered from the Antarctic hut of renowned explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton after it was found there in 2006, has been thawed very slowly in recent weeks at the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island.

The crate was painstakingly opened to reveal 11 bottles of Mackinlay's Scotch whisky, wrapped in paper and straw to protect them from the rigors of a rough trip to Antarctica for Shackleton's 1907 Nimrod expedition.

Though the crate was frozen solid when it was retrieved earlier this year, the whisky inside could be heard sloshing around in the bottles. Antarctica's minus 22 Fahrenheit (-30 Celsius) temperature was not enough to freeze the liquor, dating from 1896 or 1897 and described as being in remarkably good condition.

This Scotch is unlikely ever to be tasted, but master blenders will examine samples of it to see if they can replicate the brew. The original recipe for the Scotch no longer exists.

Once samples have been extracted and sent to Scottish distiller Whyte and Mackay, which took over Mackinlay's distillery many years ago, the 11 bottles will be returned to their home — under the floorboards of Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds on Ross Island, near Antarctica's McMurdo Sound.

A LITTLE LAUGH

A man goes to consult a specialist about his medical problem. After the visit the man asks, "How much do I owe you?"

"My fee is five hundred dollars," replies the physician.

"Five hundred dollars? That's impossible. No one charges that much!"

"In your case," the doctor replies, "I suppose I could adjust my fee to three hundred."

"Three hundred dollars? For one visit? Ridiculous."

"Well, then, could you afford two hundred?"

"Who has that kind of money?"

"Look, replies the doctor," growing irritated, "Just give me a hundred and get out of my office, okay?"

"I can give you fifty," says the man. "Take it or leave it."

"I don't understand you," says the doctor. "Why did you come to the most expensive doctor in New York if you have no money?"

"Listen, Doctor," says the patient, "When it comes to my health, nothing is too expensive!"

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2--Riddle

I am so fragile that even the sound of your voice can break me. What am I?

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

VJ Day: in German: Click Here!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

♦ Weekly Observances ♦

8-14: Assistance Dog Week

…Feeding Pets of the Homeless Week

…National Resurrect Romance Week

10-16: Elvis Week

♦ Today’s Observances ♦

National Creamsicle Day

National Navajo Code Talkers Day

National Garage Sale Day

Sandcastle & Sculpture Day

V-J Day: Victory in Japan

Arkansas: World War II Memorial Day (1945)

Bahrain: Independence Day (1971)

Chicago: Bud Billiken Day-honors children (1923)

Indonesia: Pramuka Day: to honor the largest scouting program in the world (means ‘young people willing to walk’)

Liechtenstein: Prince Franz-Joseph Day

Massachusetts: Liberty Tree Day (1765)

Pakistan-1947 and Bahrain-1971 : Independence Day

Portugal: Independence Day (1385)

Rhode Island and Michigan: V-J Day (1945)

US: Atlantic Charter Day; US & UK agree on war aims (1941)

♦ Hit Songs on this date ♦

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling Chauncey Olcott 1913

Love Is the Sweetest Thing Ray Noble 1933

You'll Never Know Dick Haymes 1943

Vaya con Dios (May God Be with You) Les Paul & Mary Ford 1953

Fingertips (Part II) Little Stevie Wonder 1963

The Morning After Maureen McGovern 1973

Every Breath You Take The Police 1983

♦ Today’s Births ♦

• The Arts

Russell Baker, 85, journalist, author, television host (“Masterpiece Theatre”), born Loudoun County, VA

David Crosby, 69, singer (Crosby, Stills & Nash), songwriter, born Los Angeles, CA

John Galsworthy, Nobel Prize-winning author [1932]; The Forsyte Saga…born in 1867… Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England

Gary Larson, 60, cartoonist (“The Far Side”), born Tacoma, WA

Danielle Steel, 63, author (Vanished, Wanderlust), born New York, NY

Ernest Thayer, writer: Casey at the Bat…born in 1868…Lawrence, MA

~~~

Catherine Bell, 42, actress (“JAG”), born London, England

Halle Berry, 42, actress (Die Another Day, X-Men, Oscar for Monster’s Ball), born Cleveland, OH

Antonio Fargas, 64, actor (Shaft, Hugggy Bear on Starsky and Hutch), born the Bronx, NY

Alice Ghostly, actress (Ezmerelda,Bewitched: Bernice, Designing Women) …born in 1926…Eve, MO

Steve Martin, 65, comedian, actor (Shopgirl, LA Story, Roxanne, Parenthood), novelist, born Waco, TX

Susan Saint James(Susan Jane Miller), 64, actress (“MacMillan and Wife,” “Kate and Allie”), born Long Beach, CA

• Athletics

Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jr, 51, Hall of Fame basketball player, born Lansing, MI

Joyce Kazmierski, 65, golf: LPGA Tour pro…born in Michigan

• Business & Education

John Ringling North, circus director…born in 1903…Baraboo, WI

Sir (Issac) James Pitman, educator/publisher(Pitman Publishing/phonetic speller(Pitman Shorthand, ITA)…born in 1901…Bath, England

• Politics

Lynne Cheney, 69, wife of Dick Cheney, 46th vice president of the US, born Casper, WY

• Science/Religion

Meriwether Lewis, capt of Lewis & Clark Expedition…born in 1774… Charlottsville VA

♦ Today’s Obituaries ♦

Mary Ritter, Beard American historian, @ 82 in 1958

David Farragut, American officer of the United States Navy, stroke @ 69

Enzo Ferrari, sportscar manufacturer (Ferrari), @ 90 in 1988

Pee Wee Reese, American baseball player @ 81 in 1991

William Randolph Hearst, newspaper publisher @ 88 in 1951

♦ Today’s Events ♦

• The Arts

1846 Henry David Thoreau jailed for tax resistance

• Athletics

1932 10th Olympic Games at Los Angeles closes

• Business & Education

1873 The first issue of Field and Stream magazine was published

• Indigenous People

1559 Tristan de Luna y Arellano has been appointed to establish Spanish settlements on Pensacola Bay by the Spanish Viceroy in Mexico. His expedition of thirteen ships, several priests, 500 soldiers, and 1000 settlers arrive in Pensacola Bay, in Florida. Much of the expedition is killed or starves because of a hurricane which strikes the area a few days later.

1842 Seminole War ends; Indians removed from Florida to Oklahoma

• Politics (US)

1848 Oregon Territory created

1908 Race riot in Springfield Illinois

1912 2,500 US marines invade Nicaragua; US remains until

• Politics (International)

1947 India granted independence within British Commonwealth

1973 US bombs Cambodia

• Science / Religion

1806 Lewis and Clark first reach a Minnetaree and Mandan village.

1888 Oliver B. Shallenberger of Rochester, PA received a patent (#388,003) for the electric meter

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

A fedora, homburg or derby: what is a hat?

Quixote or Drysdale: who is Don?

Opposite of flow, tides do it: What is ebb?

Where things are nipped in, or Lou's partner: What is bud?

Some people have a quick one, which beats a ½ one: What is a wit?

↔ 2

Silence

↔ Picture

A pinwheel toy

TODAY’S PHOTO SHOT

Circus Poster

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Friday August 13

This is Week 32 of 2010►Day 225 with 140 days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

I went to the mural signing this morning. It was a small group, but very cool. Our mayor must have been too busy, hmmm. Native American Mural, mayor doesn’t come, but she has time to tell us where she eats every time she goes out. I’m a little upset that she didn’t show. Still it was nice. The guy in charge of selecting Redwing’s design was there from some committee, and he did a great job of explaining all the parts of the mural and had the audience mesmerized. I had trouble understanding why it was part of a centennial thing in Flagstaff. Well, the centennial thing comes from the date that AZ became a state, in 1912. Flagstaff was founded July 4, 1876. We in Flagstaff like to start the state’s centennial celebration early.

After the signing our retirement group walked to a nearby new restaurant. It is the old Flagstaff sawmill, right next to the train station. Great food, fascinating building, and good service. Downtown Flag is full of nice small restaurants and is starting to look and feel like LoDo—the lower downtown historic district of Denver. The biggest difference—LoDo made cheap, easy parking a must. Parking is still a problem downtown and our city council doesn’t seem to be able to have a vision to improve it. Flag wants tourists to spend lots of money, but only makes it easy for those who travel by train. The airport is out of town, the bus station is not near downtown, and there is no parking for RV’s. We do have a good bus system, but it doesn’t go to the airport, and I doubt that tourists would expect that when they come to our town. Anyway, downtown Flag is a great place to visit, with lots to do, and now there is a beautiful mural for all to enjoy.

After I got home, my doorbell rang. A 20-something guy was trying to sell something. He was looking for parents with newborns to teenagers. He spoke with a heavy Scottish accent. He said he was from Edinburgh and was studying at Glasgow University. I never did figure out why he was in Flagstaff. He asked me if I could understand him, as a few people had told him he was hard to understand. I told him I could understand him fine, and that I had been in Scotland a few years ago. We talked for about ten minutes about his great country. I couldn’t help him with his sales thing, but did enjoy the conversation.

Flagstaff was really nice—a common thing recently. Still no rain. It’s looking like the monsoons are over. It was very warm today, 83° with no breeze, and only a few clouds. We did have a huge billowy cloud near the peaks that sure looked like it would bring rain, but it didn’t.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

Andy Rooney: Nothing in fine print is ever good news.

HOLY MACKEREL:1948 Satchel Paige at 42 pitches his 1st major league complete game 

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION

More than 50% of the people in the world have never made or received a telephone call.

Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Questions: Wild West

One of its newspapers was appropriately called "The Epitaph"

She once shot a cigarette from the mouth of the German crown prince

In 650,000 miles the mail was lost only once

Brothers Virgil & Morgan were shot here, but Wyatt Earp emerged unscathed

It ran 2,000 miles, from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

BELLEVUE, WA — Paying bills usually stinks, but gas bills from a utility in Washington state will include something truly odorous this month: the stench of rotten eggs.

As part of a safety campaign, Puget Sound Energy is including a scratch-and-sniff pamphlet with its billing statements to remind customers of what leaking gas smells like.

Natural gas is odorless, but providers add a chemical to the gas that has a distinctive, sulfur-like aroma similar to rotten eggs so leaks can be detected.

Bellevue, WA-based PSE serves nearly 750,000 natural gas customers in 11 counties.

A LITTLE LAUGH

A woman, her husband, and their three rambunctious young sons were in their car waiting at a traffic. The woman glanced over at the car next them, noticing a blissfully happy mother with her baby daughter.

Looking at her husband she said, "As soon as I lose my weight from the last baby, I want to try for a daughter."

The husband reached up to the dash, grabbed an open box of snacks, and said, "Here, have a cookie."

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2--Riddle

I have a ring but no finger what am I?

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

Some believe that Left Handers received brain damage going through the birth canal, others believe that left handers should be forced to become right handers, some cultures believe left handers are evil, others believe it is dirty to eat with your left hand. We are a minority, for sure, here are some famous left handers…if you are really into this, it has three parts, just click away: Click Here!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

♦ Weekly Observances ♦

8-14: Assistance Dog Week

…Feeding Pets of the Homeless Week

…National Resurrect Romance Week

10-16: Elvis Week

♦ Today’s Observances ♦

Blame Someone Else Day

Friday the 13th- (Only one in 2010!)

International Left Hander's Day

Kool-Aid Day

Tunisia: Women's Day commemorates the enacting of Tunisian Code of Personal Status in 1956

Laos: Lao Issara (Day of the Free Laos)

♦ Hit Songs on this date ♦

Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home Arthur Collins 1902

In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town Ted Lewis 1932

Jingle Jangle Jingle Kay Kyser 1942

Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart Vera Lynn 1952

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do Neil Sedaka 1962

Alone Again (Naturally) Gilbert O'Sullivan 1972

Eye of the Tiger Survivor 1982

♦ Today’s Births ♦

• The Arts

Johann Christoph Denner inventor (clarinet)…born in 1655… Leipzig, Germany

Dan Fogelberg, singer Run for the Roses…born in 1951…Peoria, IL

Alfred Hitchcock, director (Psycho, Birds, Rear Window) …born in 1899…London, England

Don Ho (Donald Tai Loy Ho; 何大來 ), singer: Tiny Bubbles; Waikiki entertainer …born in 1930…Honolulu, Hawaii

~~~

Danny Bonaduce, 51, radio personality, actor (“The Partridge Family”)…born Broomall, PA

Neville Brand, actor (Cahill, US Marshal) …born in 1921… Griswold, IA

Pat Harrington, Jr, 81, actor, comedian (“The Jack Paar Show,” “One Day at a Time”)…born Newark, NY

Bert Lahr (Irving Lahrheim), actor: The Wizard of Oz…born in 1895…Manhattan, NYC

Kevin Tighe, 66, actor (“Emergency,”)…born Los Angeles, CA

• Athletics

Bobby Clarke, 61, Hockey Hall of Famer: Philadelphia Flyers…born Flin Flon, Manitoba, CAN

Ben Hogan, golf champion: Masters [1951, 1953], U.S. Open [1948, 1950, 1951, 1953], British Open [1953], PGA [1946, 1948] …born in 1912… Stephenville, TX

• Business & Education

Annie Oakley(Phoebe Anne Oakley Mozee), frontierswoman (Buffalo Bill's Wild West) …born in 1860… Woodland (now Willowdell), OH, or Drake OH

• Politics

Fidel Castro, 83, former president of Cuba (1959–2008)…born Mayari, Oriente Province, Cuba

Lucy Stone, pioneered women's rights…born in 1818… West Brookfield, MA

• Science/Religion

John Logie Baird, inventor (father of TV) …born in 1888… Dunbartonshire, Scotland

Rex Humbard, television evangelist …born in 1919…Little Rock, AR

♦ Today’s Obituaries ♦

Joe E Ross, comedian (Toody-Car 54, Phil Silvers Show), @ 77 in 1982

Jack Ryan, inventor (Barbie Doll, Hot Wheels) and designer of the Sparrow and Hawk missiles, ex of Zsa Zsa Gabor, stroke @ 65 in 1991

♦ Today’s Events ♦

• The Arts

1924 The first country music record to sell one million copies reached that point on this day. It was The Prisoner’s Song, recorded by Vernon Dalhart (Click Here to Hear the Original)

• Athletics

1934 Cartoonist Al Capp began his famous comic strip, Li’l Abner

1990 Soul singer/songwriter Curtis Mayfield (Superfly, Freddie’s Dead) was paralyzed from the neck down after a lighting tower fell on him at a concert in Brooklyn

2008 Michael Phelps sets the Olympic record for most the gold medals won by an individual in Olympic history with his win in the men's 200m butterfly.

• Business & Education

1889 William Gray of Hartford, CT patented the coin-operated telephone

1907 1st taxicab (NYC)

• Indigenous People

1521 Spanish conquerors captured Mexico City from Aztecs

1645 For several years, the Dutch, and the local Indian tribes near New Amsterdam and Pavonia, have been fighting. Hackensack Chief Oratamin negotiates a peace between the warring parties. It is another ten years before another major conflict erupted.

• Politics (US)

1784 The Continental Congress met for the final time in Annapolis, Maryland.

1961 Construction on Berlin Wall begins in East Germany (Dark day)

• Politics (International)

1536 Buddhist monks from Kyōto'sEnryaku Temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in the Tenbun Hokke Disturbance

1954 Radio Pakistan broadcasts the National Anthem of Pakistan for the first time.

1978 150 Palestinians in Beirut are killed in a terrorist attack during the Second Phase of the Lebanese Civil War.

2004 156 Congolese Tutsi refugees massacred at the Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi.

• Science / Religion

3114 BC According to the Lounsbury correlation, the start of the Maya calendar.

1642 Christiaan Huygens discovers Martian south polar cap

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

One of its newspapers was appropriately called "The Epitaph": What is Tombstone?

She once shot a cigarette from the mouth of the German crown prince: Who is Annie Oakley?

In 650,000 miles the mail was lost only once: What is the Pony Express?

Brothers Virgil & Morgan were shot here, but Wyatt Earp emerged unscathed: What is the OK Corral?

It ran 2,000 miles, from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon: What is the Oregon Trail?

↔ 2

A Bell—and I thought it was my bathtub.

↔ Picture

Head of a bug.

TODAY’S PHOTO SHOT

Signing of the Mural, Flagstaff, AZ 8-12-10

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Thursdy August 11

This is Week 32 of 2010►Day 224 with 141 days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

We have a very strange political ad campaign going on here in AZ. Most people in the US have heard of Sheriff Joe. He’s the sheriff of Maricopa County (Phoenix) who runs raids at various times to find illegals. He makes the inmates wear pink. He has an outdoor tent jail for the hot summer months. He proudly stands for enforcing the law against all illegals. Sheriff Joe is in his mid 70’s, and plans to run again. He gladly appears on conservative radio and Fox News. He is up for reelection in 2012. He has several Federal investigations regarding his enforcement of the law. He has put a couple of different ads on TV about how certain candidates in the 2010 elections are against his policy enforcement. The ad ends with reelect Sheriff Joe in 2012. Somehow these are campaign ads for him and not campaign ads for those he wants to see elected. His ads are certainly naming names of his political enemies who are running now. Opponents took him to court saying that it is too early to run campaign ads for 2012. A local judge has ruled that it is OK to run ads now for an election that is over two years away. As if we don’t already have too many ads, too many robocalls, too many flyers in the mail during campaign season, this judge has said that it’s OK to openly campaign years before the election. This will have nationwide consequences if it holds. I’m not ready for that. I was taken aback by the first ad, thinking that I had missed something—that Sheriff Joe was up for reelection. I can’t vote for or against him, but all our TV stations come from Phoenix, so we get to see ads but can’t vote. Modern technology does have a down side.

Flag was really nice today. I did my errands to a beautiful 80°with only a nice breeze. We do need to have a little moisture soon, as this heat is certainly drying things out. After our recent much needed rain and the unwanted flooding along with the big fires, everyone here in Flagstaff keeps an eye on the sky most of the time. This certainly has been a very newsworthy summer to remember for years to come.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

Abdurrahman Wahid, Indonesian statesman: All too many Muslims fail to grasp Islam, which teaches one to be lenient towards others and to understand their value systems, knowing that these are tolerated by Islam as a religion.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1099 First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon – Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid forces under Al-Afdal Shahanshah. This is considered the last engagement of the First Crusade.

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION about the human brain

>Your brain is about 2% of your total body weight but uses 20% of your body's energy. The energy used by the brain is enough to light a 25 watt bulb.

>At birth our brains weigh an average of four to five pounds, as adults the brain averages about three pounds.

>The brain can stay alive for 4 to 6 minutes without oxygen. After that cells begin die.

>Results from cognitive tests show 30% of 80-year-olds perform as well as young adults.

>It is estimated that the human brain produces 70,000 thoughts on an average day.

>More electrical impulses are generated in one day by a single human brain than by all the telephones in the world.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Questions

He was the doubter among the Apostles

Continent with the largest Jewish population

Color of smoke signifying election of new Pope

This Buddhist sect seeks truth through concepts like "the sound of one hand clapping"

This word for the Mohammedan religion means "submission to the will of God"

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

Chicago-AP-- Four sisters from one family have each given birth within four days. That's four sisters, four babies, four days.

The same obstetrician delivered the babies of three of the sisters — 27-year-old Lilian Sepulveda, 29-year-old Saby Pazos and 24-year-old Leslie Pazos — in the same suburban Chicago hospital on Friday and Saturday.

A fourth sister, Heidi Lopez, gave birth on Monday in California.

Family members say the women didn't plan the timing. Obstetrician Dr. Jean Alexandre, who delivered the three babies in suburban Chicago, calls the births "very unusual but wonderful at the same time."

Molly Gaus, a spokeswoman for Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park, Ill., said Saby Pazos and Leslie Pazos both delivered their babies naturally on Friday. Saby gave birth to a 7-pound, 8-ounce boy named Abel Brian, and a couple of hours later Leslie had a 7-pound, 1-ounce girl, Ashley Mishell.

Sepulveda had a scheduled Caesarean section on Saturday morning. She gave birth to an 8-pound, 3-ounce daughter named Emily Marie.

Lopez, who had to have an emergency C-section on Monday in California, delivered a baby boy named Jonathan. "It was unplanned that it would happen that early," Gaus said.

A LITTLE LAUGH

No one is more cautious than a first-time parent. After our daughter was big enough to ride on the back of my bicycle, I bought a special carrier with a seat belt and got her a little helmet.

The day of the first ride I put her in the seat, double-checked all the equipment, wheeled the bike to the end of the driveway, carefully looked both ways and, swinging my leg up over the crossbar, accidentally kicked her right in the chin.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2--Riddle

I have a head, but no body. I have leaves but no branches. I have veins but no blood. What am I?

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

Cantinflas was a great comedian: Click Here!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

♦ Weekly Observances ♦

8-14: Assistance Dog Week

…Feeding Pets of the Homeless Week

…National Resurrect Romance Week

10-16: Elvis Week

♦ Today’s Observances ♦

Middle Child's Day

IBM PC Day

International Youth Day

Ponce de Leon Day (1508)

Sewing Machine Day

Vinyl Record Day

Cuba: People's Victory Against Machado Tyranny

Massachusetts & Oklahoma: Indian Day

Texas: Pioneer' Day

Thailand: HM the Queen's Birthday and National Mother's Day

United Kingdom: Glorious Twelfth (opening day for the grouse hunting season)

♦ Hit Songs on this date ♦

Mother Machree John McCormack 1911

Daddy Sammy Kaye 1941

Come On-a My House Rosemary Clooney 1951

Tossin' and Turnin' Bobby Lewis 1961

How Can You Mend a Broken Heart The Bee Gees 1971

Endless Love Diana Ross & Lionel Richie 1981

(Everything I Do) I Do It for You Bryan Adams 1991

♦ Today’s Births ♦

• The Arts

Cecil B deMille, directed God (10 Commandments) …born 1881…Ashfield, MA

William Goldman, 79, writer (The Princess Bride, Marathon Man), born Chicago, IL

Ann M. Martin, 55, author (The Baby-Sitter’s Club series), born Princeton, NJ

Buck Owens, country singer (Hee Haw) …born 1929…Sherman, TX

Abbott Thayer, artist: created camouflage pattern for military …born 1849…Boston, MA

Porter Wagoner, country singer, discovered Dolly Parton (Y'All Come) …born 1932…West Plains, MO

~~~

Cantinflas (Mario Moreno Reyes), comic actor: Around the World in 80 Days, Pepe; Mexico’s vaudeville…born 1911…Mexico City, Mexico

George Hamilton, 71, actor (Love at First Bite, Act One, “The Survivors”), born Memphis, TN

Peter Krause, 45, actor (“Dirty Sexy Money,” “Six Feet Under,”), born Minneapolis, MI

Jane Wyatt , actress (Father Knows Best, Star Trek) …born 1912…Campgaw, NJ

• Athletics

Parnelli (Rufus) Jones, 77, auto racer: Indianapolis 500 winner…born … Texarkana, AK

Pete Sampras, 39, tennis player, born Washington, DC

• Business & Education

Robert Mills, architect (Washington Monument)…born 1781…Charleston, SC

Ross McWhirter, author (Guinness Book of World Records) …born 1925… Winchmore Hill, London,

• Politics

Richard Reid, 37, Islamist terrorist (the "Shoe Bomber")…London, England

• Science/Religion

--

♦ Today’s Obituaries ♦

William Blake, English poet and artist @ 70 in 1827

Cleopatra @ 39 in 30 BC

Ian Fleming, English novelist (James Bond and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), heart attack @ 56 in 1964

Henry Fonda, actor (On Golden Pond), heart disease @ 77 in 1982

Merv Griffin, American television host and game show creator @ 82 in 2007

Loretta Young, American actress @ 87 in 2000

♦ Today’s Events ♦

• The Arts

1915 Of Human Bondage, by William Somerset Maugham, published

• Athletics

1879 1st National Archery Association tournament (Chicago)

1928 9th Olympic Games close in Amsterdam

1935 Babe Ruth's final game at Fenway Park, 41,766 on hand

1973 Golfer Jack Nicklaus won his 14th major golf title, breaking a record held for nearly 50 years by Bobby Jones.

• Business & Education

1851 Isaac Singer granted patent for his sewing machine

• Indigenous People

1676 King Philip's War (vs Wampanoag Indians) ends in New England

1769 Kumeyaay Indians fight with the Spaniards who have established the Mission San Diego de Alcala in what becomes San Diego, California.

• Politics (US)

1972 Last American combat ground troops leave Vietnam

1978 ICE is launched

• Politics (International)

1332 Battle of Dupplin Moor; Scottish dynastic battle

1508 Ponce de Leon arrives in Puerto Rico

1988 Nelson Mandela is treated for tuberculosis at the hospital

• Science / Religion

1553 Pope Julius III orders confiscation & burning of the Talmud (Jewish Holy Book)

1865 Joseph Lister became the first doctor to use disinfectant during surgery.

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

He was the doubter among the Apostles: Who was St. Thomas?

Continent with the largest Jewish population: What is North America?

Color of smoke signifying election of new Pope: What is white?

This Buddhist sect seeks truth through concepts like "the sound of one hand clapping": What is Zen?

This word for the Mohammedan religion means "submission to the will of God": What is Islam?

↔ 2

A head of cabbage.

↔ Picture

Brakes of a car

TODAY’S PHOTO SHOT

Kumeyaay today

To find out more about the tribe: Click Here!

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Wednesday August 11

This is Week 32 of 2010►Day 223 with 142 days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

I had a 'walk down memory lane' type lunch today. Redwing called and wanted to meet me at Grand Canyon Café. It’s a greasy spoon right on Route 66. I went there often when I was in grad school and haven’t been there in years. It hasn’t changed. It has the Formica tables in the vinyl booths. (I’m sure they have upgraded as nothing had holes…LOL) It still has the long lunch counter from the 1950’s. Its food is still good, lots of stereotypical Navajos still eating there. Redwing is getting ready for the signing of his mural across the street on Thursday. I’ll be there to celebrate the event. His middle son was recently sent off to Afghanistan. His ex has moved to Dennehotso, his oldest is living there until his job starts in Farmington. His youngest is off to Diné College. I’m still a little stunned as how walking into a restaurant can take you back almost 40 years instantly. Finding parking in downtown Flagstaff is always a challenge, and finding it during the noon hour is almost impossible. I found a place about a block away—not bad. As I was walking down 66 a car that was waiting for the light honked. It was a teacher I had worked with at Kaibeto. She said she and her grandson were headed to Phx. I’m sure she was wondering why I was walking down the sidewalk of 66. Probably just my memories as 66 used to be little more than ‘Indian bars’. There is only one bar on 66 and it was two blocks from where I was. Now it is lots of touristy arts and crafts, curio shops, and restaurants. Memories.

I finally sat down and got my tickets to LA for my trip to Malaysia and Borneo. I knew I would eventually find a good deal. I’m almost set. I leave on the 8th and come back on the 30th. I have so much to see, so much to learn.

Our neighborhood was back to normal today. Kids were out playing all day. I was out and about much of the day, but I haven’t seen any cops around today. It’s nice to be back to normal. There wasn’t a lot in the paper but the info I had matched what was in the paper. Hopefully we won’t need cops again. Only time will tell.

Flag had a nice day. We had a warm day—80°on the deck, with no rain, no breeze, and very few clouds.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

Winston Churchill: Please excuse the length of this letter, I did not have time to write a shorter one.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1998 British Petroleum announced it was buying, er, merging with Amoco Corp. of the U.S. in a $53-billion deal. BP was already the world’s third-largest oil company, and the deal made it a bigger rival to No. 1 Royal Dutch/Shell and No. 2 Exxon.

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION on UFO’s

>The earliest known report of a UFO sighting was by Julius Obsequens, a Roman writer, in 100 B.C.. He claimed to have seen "things like ships" in the sky over Italy. Some people also believe that the Old Testament book of Ezekiel (EZEKIEL 1:4-5) contains a reference to a UFO sighting. The Book of Ezekiel chronicles the period from about 593 B.C. to about 573 B.C., so if this is actually a UFO reference, it would pre-date the sighting by Obsequens.

>AREA 51, sometimes referred to as "Dreamland" or "Groom Lake", is a secret military facility located about 90 miles north of Las Vegas, Nevada where Spy planes such as the U-2, SR-71, YF-12A, and F-117A were developed there, as well as the technology associated with the Strategic Defense Initiative (aka "Star Wars").

>In July, 1947, a rancher named Mac Brazel discovered some unusual debris strewn across his land in Roswell, New Mexico. The debris had created a shallow gouge several hundred feet long. Finding that some of the debris seemed to have strange physical properties, Brazel contacted military authorities who sent two intelligence officers to investigate. Brazel's ranch was soon cordoned off, and soldiers arrived to remove the debris. The rest is history

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Questions: By the Numbers

The 2 digits that give James Bond license to kill

Three Dog Night called this the loneliest number

Number of red stripes on current U.S. flag

Total of Disney's Dalmatians and dwarfs

Broadway hit that takes Fellini film a ½ step further

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

NEW YORK - New York education officials said a teacher who allegedly faked a fall down the stairs to avoid a performance review is no longer eligible to teach in the city. Officials said Ilene Feldman, 33, a first-year teacher at the High School for Innovation in Advertising and Media, was caught on camera faking a fall down the stairs in an apparent attempt to get out of a scheduled classroom observation by her supervisor, the New York Post reported.

The observation was scheduled after Feldman received a poor performance review, a report from the Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation said. Feldman, who denied faking the December 2008 fall, resigned from the school system and officials said she has since been classified ineligible to teach in the city's school system.

A LITTLE LAUGH

Unexpected guests were on the way, and my mother, an impeccable housekeeper, rushed around straightening up. She put my father and brother to work cleaning the guest bathroom. Later, when she went to inspect it, she was surprised that the once-cluttered room had been tidied up so quickly.

Then she saw the note on the closed shower curtains. It read, "Thank you for not looking in the bathtub."

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2--Riddle

Look at me one way and I weigh a whole lot; turn me around and you’ll see that I am not. What am I?

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

Cheech and Chong: Dave’s Not Here—classic Click Here!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

♦ Weekly Observances ♦

8-14: Assistance Dog Week

…Feeding Pets of the Homeless Week

…National Resurrect Romance Week

10-16: Elvis Week

♦ Today’s Observances ♦

Presidential Joke Day

Ramadan begins for Muslims, ends on Sep 9

Central African Republic,  & Chad: Independence Day (1960 from France)

Jordan: Coronation Day/Accession of King Hussein

♦ Hit Songs on this date ♦

Casey Jones  Billy Murray & American Quartet 1910

I'll Never Smile Again Tommy Dorsey 1940

Mona Lisa Nat "King" Cole 1950

It's Now or Never Elvis Presley 1960

(They Long to Be) Close to You The Carpenters 1970

Magic Olivia Newton-John 1980

Vision of Love Mariah Carey 1990

♦ Today’s Births ♦

• The Arts

Joanna Coles, 66, children’s author…born Newark, NJ

Alex Haley, US, author (Roots) …born in 1921… Ithaca, NY

Robert Green Ingersoll, NY, author/politician/agnostic (Golden Age of Freethought)…born in 1833…Dresden, NY

Joe Jackson, 55, musician, songwriter…born Burton-on-Trent, England

Hugh MacDiarmid (Pen name of Christopher Murray Grieve), writer (Scots Unbound) …born in 1892… Langholm, Scotland

~~~

Mike Douglas, talk show host…born in 1925…Chicago

• Athletics

Hulk Hogan, 57, wrestler, actor…born Terry Gene Bollea at Augusta, GA

William Alan ‘Bill’ Munson, football: Rams, Seahawks, Chargers, Lions; Asst. G.M.: Bills…born in 1943…Sacramento, CA

• Business & Education

Claus Von Bulow, business mogul, accused of murdering his wife…born in 1926… Copenhagen, Denmark

Marilyn vos Savant, 64, columnist (“Ask Marilyn”), claims world’s highest IQ…born St. Louis, MO

Stephen Wozniak, 60, Apple computer cofounder…born Sunnyvale, CA

• Politics

David Atchison, politician: organizer of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad; president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, president of U .S. for one day [March 4, 1849], the Sunday before Zachary Taylor (refused to be inaugurated on a Sunday) was sworn in…born in 1807… Frogtown (later Kirklevington), now Lexington, KY

• Science/Religion

Jerry Falwell, televangelist, Moral Majority head…born in 1933…Lynchburg, VA

♦ Today’s Obituaries ♦

Peggy Castle, actress (Lily Merrill-Lawman), cirrhosis @ 46 in 1973

Jackson Pollock, abstract artist, auto accident @ 44 in 1956

Thaddeus Stevens, architect of Radical Reconstruction, @ 76 in 1868

♦ Today’s Events ♦

• The Arts

1963 The Kingston Trio are the mystery guest on "What's My Line?"

1972 "Cheech & Chong Day" in San Antonio Texas

• Athletics

1919 Green Bay Packers football club founded

1948 Summer Olympics opens in London

1974 Lee Trevino wins PGA championship

1984 Carl Lewis duplicates Jesse Owens' 1936 feat, wins 4 Olympic track golds

• Business & Education

1860 Nation's 1st successful silver mill (Virginia City, Nev)

1866 World's 1st roller rink opens (Newport, RI)

1992 The Mall of America opened in Bloomington, Minnesota

• Indigenous People

3114 B.C. According to some Maya sources, the present creation takes place. Other sources say this happens on August 12th or 13th. It will end on December 21, 23 or December 24, 2012.

1802 Tecumseh has predicted an earthquake. It happen and becomes known as the "New Madrid Earthquake."

• Politics (US)

1909 SOS 1st used by an American ship, Arapahoe, off Cape Hatteras, NC

1934 1st federal prisoners arrive at Alcatraz in SF Bay

1965 Thirty-four people died, more than 3,000 were arrested and there was over $40 million in damage to property in the Watts area of Los Angeles

• Politics (International)

1991 Shite Muslims release US hostage Edward Tracy

• Science / Religion

1772 Explosive eruption blows 4,000' off Papandayan Java, kills 3,000

1896 Harvey Hubbell of Bridgeport, CT received a patent for the pull-chain, electric-light socket!

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

The 2 digits that give James Bond license to kill: What are zero and seven. Double oh seven is wrong.

Three Dog Night called this the loneliest number: what is ONE?

Number of red stripes on current U.S. flag: What is 7?

Total of Disney's Dalmatians and dwarfs: What is 108? (101 + 7)

Broadway hit that takes Fellini film a ½ step further: What is 9? (8 ½ + ½ )

↔ 2

A ton

↔ Picture

A 3-ring binder with page flipper

TODAY’S PHOTO SHOT

Papandayan, Java, Indonesia

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Tuesday August 10

This is Week 32 of 2010►Day 222 with 143 days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

The week started out very strangely here on ol’ St. Nicholas Drive. Some background: I live in one of about 33 units in our complex. My living room and one of the bedrooms (my office) look out onto the U-shaped compound. I am in one of the sides of the ‘U’. My master bedroom and my deck are on the back—quiet side—of the apartment. So this morning I got up about 6:30. After my normal tasks—you know those—I went to the office to turn on the computer. As I enter the office, I hear a voice yelling, “This is the police, raise your hands and slowly walk down the stairs.” I look out the window to find several things. The cops are at a unit in the bottom part of the ‘U’. There is one cop at the door, pounding and yelling. Another is standing on a retaining wall looking into the stairwell inside the unit. Three more cops are standing on the sidewalk, hands on guns standing in a very aggressive position. I look around the parking lot to discover that the entire parking lot and commons area has yellow tape around it. No one can leave the parking lot. Several cars are sitting at the yellow tape, trying to get to work. After a couple of minutes a young man comes out, is handcuffed, and sat on the sidewalk. A few more minutes and a young girl comes out and is handcuffed and moved down to another spot on the sidewalk. Both of the people handcuffed are in their late teens or early 20’s. The yelling by the cops stops, they put up crime tape in front of the house. Those trying to get to work are let out. Cops and detectives walk though the commons area; tape some of it off; walk around some more. I decided not to take a walk this morning. About 30 minutes later the man is taken away in an ambulance, but does not seem hurt as he walks to the stretcher. Later the girl is un-cuffed and walked to a police car and the car leaves with her. Part of the commons area remains taped all day, as does the unit door. Usually there are lots of kids outside, riding bikes and playing. Not today. The detectives keep looking around. Around about 10am everyone is gone, but the tape remains. Each time I went outside; there was a marked police car sitting in the parking lot taking up several spaces in front of the unit; his motor running; and he sitting behind the wheel.

At noon I decided I need to detail my vehicle. It was a nice day. I had been planning on doing it for several days, the sky was clear, and yeah, by being outside I could see if anything was happening. I figured the cop sitting in his car could radio back to his superiors “No action on St. Nicholas except for old man who seems to be detailing his vehicle.” During my 3 hours outside, several residents did approach the cop but only stayed a minute or so. Not long enough to find out what was going on. My vehicle looks very nice. I went inside about 3:30 and decided to call the HOA to find out what the hell was going on. She hadn’t heard anything, but said she would make some calls. I told her I thought about calling the cops, but she told me, “they won’t tell you anything.” I was sure that was true, especially if they were waiting for some perp to return. I was surprised when she called me back about 30 minutes later to tell me that there had been a ‘domestic disturbance’ and that a male had been stabbed by a female, and he was OK. This stabbing took place in the early hours near the trees in the commons area. All the pieces fit, I felt better. Just as the workers were beginning to return home after a hard day’s work, the yellow tape disappeared, the parked police car disappeared. Only the toddlers have been outside with their moms since the cops left. I just signed a new one year lease—with no rent increase, but I think I am going to start looking for another neighborhood. Moving is such a hassle. I like the place I live. I don’t like having cops with guns around. This is twice in the last month that a large number of cops have entered our quiet neighborhood. Nothing like this has happened in the four years I have lived here. It’s probably the economy—hard to find renters. I am also real glad I don’t own this place, as selling right now would be stupid. Time will tell what happens.

It really was a nice day as we were a very comfortable 75° with no breeze. A great day to be outside. There were a few clouds and they actually were helpful while I was waxing my vehicle. Just as I was ready to start on the sunny side of the vehicle, it went behind a cloud and stayed behind the cloud until I finished. I didn’t have to move the vehicle. Good, but strange day.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

Isaac Asimov: The human brain, then, is the most complicated organization of matter that we know.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1966 Daylight meteor seen from Utah to Canada. Only known case of a meteor entering the Earth's atmosphere & leaving it again

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION

>More than 50% of the people in the world have never made or received a telephone call.

>Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Answers: State Capitals

Until 1875 its dual capitals were New Haven & Hartford

This N.M. town is the oldest city that's a state capital

Crossing the Delaware on Xmas, 1776, Washington defeated the Hessians at this N.J. capital

It actually is 5,280 feet above sea level

The name shows its founder, Roger Williams, believed God led him there.

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

AP--Police say a JetBlue flight attendant who got into an altercation with a passenger on a plane arriving in New York City and deployed an emergency exit slide so he could flee has been arrested.

They say Steven Slater was arrested on charges including criminal mischief and reckless endangerment following Monday's incident at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Slater faces up to 7 years in prison if convicted, according to WNBC.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police say Slater was working on a JetBlue Airways Corp. flight from Pittsburgh when he got into a heated argument with the passenger about baggage. They say as the plane was landing Slater used the public-address system to berate the passenger. They say he then activated the slide, slid down and went to his car.

The New York Daily News reported that he took over the intercom and called the passenger a 12-letter epithet beginning with 'm' and then told everyone, "I've been in the business 28 years. I've had it. That's it."

A LITTLE LAUGH

The summer after college graduation, I was living at home, fishing in the daytime, spending nights with my friends—generally just hanging out. One afternoon my grandfather, who never went to college, stopped by. Concerned with how I was spending my time, he asked about my future plans. I told him I was in no hurry to tie myself down to a career.

"Well," he replied, "you better start thinking about it. You'll be thirty before you know it."

"But I'm closer to twenty than to thirty," I protested.

"I won't be thirty for eight more years."

"I see," he said, smiling. "And when will you be twenty again?"

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2--Riddle

I can only move forward, but always moving backward. What am I?

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

Smithsonian National Museum of American History—one of the many museums: Click Here!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

♦ Weekly Observances ♦

8-14: Assistance Dog Week

…Feeding Pets of the Homeless Week

…National Resurrect Romance Week

10-16: Elvis Week

♦ Today’s Observances ♦

Lazy Day

National Duran Duran Appreciation Day

Perigean Spring Tides

Smithsonian Day

S'mores Day

Ecuador: Independence Day (1809 from Spain)

Missouri: Admission Day (1821 as 24th state)

♦ Hit Songs on this date ♦

My Wild Irish Rose Albert Campbell 1899

Singin' in the Rain Cliff Edwards ('Ukelele Ike') 1929

Some Enchanted Evening Perry Como 1949

A Big Hunk O' Love Elvis Presley 1959

In the Year 2525 Zager & Evans 1969

Bad Girls Donna Summer 1979

♦ Today’s Births ♦

• The Arts

Ian Anderson, 63, musician, lead singer (Jethro Tull)…born Black-pool, England

Eddie Fisher, 82, singer (Oh My Papa, Lady of Spain) …born Philadelphia, PA

Rachel Simmons, 36, American feminist and author: Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls…born in Rockville, MD

~~~

Rosanna Arquette, 51, actress (Desperately Seeking Susan, New York Stories)…born New York, NY

Antonio Banderas, 50, actor (Spy Kids, The Mask of Zorro, Desperado)…born Malaga, Spain

Noah Beery Jr, actor (Rockford Files, Quest, Doc Elliot) …born in 1913…NYC, NY

Jack (John Joseph) Haley, actor: The Wizard of Oz…born in 1898…Boston, MA

• Athletics

Riddick Bowe, 43, boxer…born Brooklyn, NY

James (Tod) Sloan jockey, created monkey crouch riding style…born in 1874…Bunker Hill, IN

• Business & Education

Jimmy Dean, actor/singer (Jimmy Dean Show, Diamonds are Forever), sausage king …born in 1928…Plainview, TX

• Politics

Viscount Dunrossil, Gov Gen of Australia (1959-61) …born in 1893… Torinturk, Argyllshire, Scotland

Herbert Clark Hoover, (R) 31st Pres…born in 1874…West Branch, Iowa

Anwar Ibrahim, 63, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia…born in Cherok Tok Kun, Penang,Malayan Union

Laura Spurr, Tribal Chair, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi…born in 1945…Battle Creek, MI

• Science/Religion

Gaudencio Rosales, 78, Filipino cardinal and Archbishop of Manila…born in Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines

♦ Today’s Obituaries ♦

Robert Goddard, father of American rocketry, [“Every vision is a joke until the first man accomplishes it; once realized, it becomes commonplace.”] cancer @ 63 in 1945

Ray "Crash" Corrigan, cowboy (Crash Corrigan's Ranch), @74 in 1976

Clara Peller, actress (Where's the Beef), @ 86 in 1987

♦ Today’s Events ♦

• The Arts

1948 Allen Funt's "Candid Camera" TV debut on ABC

• Athletics

1743 Earliest recorded prize fighting rules formulated

1984 Mary Decker (US) and Zola Budd (Great Britian) collide in the 3,000-meter run @ LA Summer Olympics

• Business & Education

1985 Michael Jackson buys ATV Music (every Beatle songs) for $47 million

• Indigenous People

1680 The Pueblo Rebellion takes place in New Mexico under the leadership of a Tewa named Popé.

• Politics (US)

1827 Race riots in Cincinnati (1,000 blacks leave for Canada)

1831 Former slave Nat Turner led violent insurrection against slavery

1833 Chicago incorporates as a village of about 200

1846 Congress charters the "nation's attic," the Smithsonian Institution

1893 Chinese deported from SF under Exclusion Act

1995 Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were indicted (11 counts each) for bombing the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City

2000 The California State Legislature approved a bill to make March 31, the birthday of the late labor leader Cesar Chavez (he died in 1993), a holiday for state workers.

• Politics (International)

1792 Mobs in Paris attack the palace of Louis XVI

1911 Parliament Act reduces power of House of Lords

1961 England applies for membership in the European Common Market

• Science / Religion

1869 O.B. Brown of Malden, MA patented the motion-picture projector

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

Until 1875 its dual capitals were New Haven & Hartford: What is Connecticut?

This N.M. town is the oldest city that's a state capital: What is Santa Fe?

Crossing the Delaware on Xmas, 1776, Washington defeated the Hessians at this N.J. capital: What is Trenton?

It actually is 5,280 feet above sea level: What is Denver?

The name shows its founder, Roger Williams, believed God led him there. What is Providence?

↔ 2

An antlion—an insect.

↔ Picture

The trigger of a gun

TODAY’S PHOTO SHOT

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Monday August 9

This is Week 32 of 2010►Day 221 with 144 days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

It was a very nice day here in Flagstaff. It was 72° on my deck with little breeze. We didn’t get any rain and I should have worked on cleaning my vehicle, but, it was Sunday—the day of rest. I can always do that tomorrow. I did take a nice walk this morning, before reading the Sunday paper. The neighborhood was quiet, guess everyone was out doing something somewhere. It was a great day for that.

The news says that tonight or tomorrow BP will do the final kill of the Gulf well. This is much anticipated, long overdue, and much needed. Like everything with BP, nobody knows if this will really happen. I continue to hope.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

William Carlos Williams (American Poet): In summer, the song sings itself.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1842 US-Canada border defined by Webster-Ashburton Treaty

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION about Disney

> Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) was the first full-length animated feature film to come out of the United States (the first ever was Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed (1926), which clocks in at 65 minutes, and was animated entirely in silhouette).

> Some scenes of woodland creatures and the forest fire in Bambi (1942) are unused footage from Pinocchio (1940).

> The Doorknob was the only character in Disney's Alice in Wonderland that did not appear in Lewis Carroll's books..

>Ricky Martin provided the voice of Hercules in the Spanish language version of the Disney film.

> Dumbo is the only Disney animated feature film that has a title character who doesn't speak.

> The soundtrack for Lilo & Stitch features seven Elvis Presley songs (five sung by Presley, two covered). This is more than any other movie, including ones that Elvis Presley was in.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Questions: Historical Landmarks

She came from France to harbor America's freedom

When he was home, George Washington slept here

The cornerstone of Massachusetts, it bears the date 1620

Site where John Hancock signed his "John Hancock"

D.C. building shaken by November '83 bomb blast

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

WATERLOO, IA - An Iowa man who used an air horn to protest his neighbor's loud "hippie tunes" was arrested for disorderly conduct, police said. Carl Herold, 62, of Waterloo, said he "started blasting" the air horn Wednesday because he was tired of calling police to complain about the loud "hippie tunes" from his across-the-street neighbor, the (Waterloo) WCF Courier, reported.

Police said they could hear the air horn from five blocks away when they responded to complaints about the noise at about 1 p.m. Wednesday. Herold was arrested when he refused an order from officers to stop sounding the horn. He was charged with disorderly conduct.

A LITTLE LAUGH

An influential Londoner wound up a business trip to the Orient with a visit to Taipei. At a luncheon he was asked to say a few words. Since he spoke not a word of Chinese, his address was to be translated by an interpreter sentence by sentence.

"I want you to know," he began, "I'm tickled to death to be asked here today."

A look of panicked confusion appeared on the interpreter's face. "This poor man," he said in Chinese, "Scratches himself until he dies, only to be with you today."

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2--Riddle

Tall when sitting, short when standing. What am I?

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

Walden Pond: Click Here!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

♦ Weekly Observances ♦

6-9: Hobo Week

8-14: Assistance Dog Week

…Feeding Pets of the Homeless Week

…National Resurrect Romance Week

♦ Today’s Observances ♦

International Day of The World's Indigenous People

Veep Day: Commemorates the US succession of power

National Polka Festival

Baltimore, MD: Frank Zappa Day

Canada: National Peacekeepers' Day apan : Nagasaki Memorial Day (1945)

Libya: Sanusi Army Day

Rhode Island: Victory Day

Singapore: National Day (1965, separation from Malaysia)

South Africa: National Women's Day (since 1956 when South African women demonstrated against pass laws )

♦ Hit Songs on this date ♦

A-Tisket, A-Tasket Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb 1938

You Call Everybody Darlin' Al Trace 1948

Poor Little Fool Ricky Nelson 1958

Hello, I Love You The Doors 1968

Three Times a Lady The Commodores 1978

♦ Today’s Births ♦

• The Arts

Merle Kilgore, Songwriter Hall of Famer: Ring of Fire, More and More, Johnny Reb, Wolverton Mountain, Dear Mama, Love Has Made You Beautiful, Fast Talking Louisiana Man…born in 1934…Chickasha,OK

~~~

Gillian Anderson, 42, actress (“The X-Files,” “Bleak House,” The House of Mirth), born Chicago, IL

Sam Elliott, 66, actor (“Mission Impossible,” Gettysburg), born Sacramento, CA

Melanie Griffith, 53, actress (Working Girl, Something Wild, Milk Money), born New York, NY

Whitney Houston, 47, singer, actress (Waiting to Exhale), born Newark, NJ

• Athletics

Robert Joseph (Bob) Cousy, 82, Hall of Fame basketball player, former coach, born New York, NY

Brett Hull, 46, hockey player, born Belleville, ON, Canada

Rodney George (Rod) Laver, 72, former tennis player, born Rock-hampton, Australia

• Business & Education

--

• Politics

--

• Science/Religion

Jean Piaget, pioneer developmental psychologist/zoologist …born in 1896… Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Marvin Minsky, 83, Artifical intelligence computer scientist (MIT) …born in New York City, NY

Ralph Wyckoff, American pioneer in x-ray crystallography…born in 1897…Geneva, NY

♦ Today’s Obituaries ♦

Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead, heart attack @ 53 

Alan Napier, (Alfred the Butler on Batman), @ 85 in 1988

Sharon Tate, actress, killed by Charles Manson's gang @ 26 in 1969

♦ Today’s Events ♦

• The Arts

1854 Henry David Thoreau publishes "Walden"

1930 Betty Boop debutes in Max Fleischer's animated cartoon Dizzy Dishes

• Athletics

1936 Jesse Owens wins 4th gold medal of Berlin Olympics

1992 25th Olympic Summer games close in Barcelona, Spain

• Business & Education

1638 Jonas Bronck of Holland becomes 1st European settler in the Bronx

1803 1st horses arrive in Hawaii

1859 Nathan Ames of Saugus, MA patented the escalator.

1910 Alva J. Fisher of Chicago, IL received a patent for an invention that moms, grandmas and single guys certainly came to appreciate: the electric washing machine.

• Indigenous People

1814 The Treaty of Fort Jackson (7 stat.120) officially ends the Creek War. The Creeks, including those who fought with Andrew Jackson, are forced to cede 22,000,000 acres, almost half their lands, to the United States

• Politics (US)

1842 US-Canada border defined by Webster-Ashburton Treaty

1969 Manson family commits Tate-LaBianca murders

1974 At noon on this day, U.S. President Richard Nixon’s resignation was official.

• Politics (International)

1673 Dutch recapture NY from English; regained by English in 1674

1902 Edward VII of England crowned after death of his mother Victoria

1942 British arrests Indian nationalist Mohandas K Gandhi

1945 US drops 2nd atomic bomb "Fat Man" on Japan destroys part of Nagasaki

• Science / Religion

--

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

She came from France to harbor America's freedom: What is the Statue of Liberty?

When he was home, George Washington slept here: What is Mount Vernon?

The cornerstone of Massachusetts, it bears the date 1620: What is Plymouth Rock?

Site where John Hancock signed his "John Hancock": What is Independence Hall?

D.C. building shaken by November '83 bomb blast: What is the Capitol Building?

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A dog

↔ Picture

A toy train

TODAY’S PHOTO SHOT

Betty Boob

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