Thurs Nov 4

This is Week 44 of 2010►Day 308 with 57 days left.
Flagstaff Weather: H—70°; L—45°; RH—29%; sky—clear and wind—5 mph

QUOTE FOR THE DAY—Noel Coward
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
Twenty-nine million Americans spoke and just like the 2008 elections, they want change. They also spoke in saying that they want change—right now. The people of AZ spoke, about 1.3 million, and decided that conservative was better than progressive or liberal. While I am not happy about the results, I only hope that the new Congress will bring more action for the people of the United States. As we all know, it is easy to condemn, easy to stop action. When you have the power, it is much harder to bring about change. We need leaders who will bring us out of this recession. We need jobs for people who need them. We need action. I must say many of the winners have talked about cutting the budget, improving education, fixing healthcare, but when pressed, they do not have an specific plans. Some of the cuts that will have to happen are going to hurt, and in this day and age, that is a suicide vote. I sure hope that the new congress will tell us the truth. Lay the cards on the table and vote to improve our country.

AZ has voted for Freedom in Healthcare, which seems to mean that no AZ citizen can be compelled into Obamacare. It is still not clear to me if that means individuals cannot partake in Obamacare or if it means that individuals can opt out of Obamacare. Time will tell.

Now that I can no longer say ‘our non-elected governor’ I hope that she suddenly wakes up and realizes that SB1070 is not worth the fight at the Supreme Court. She was a one issue candidate and has her work cut out in fixing the financial crisis that we are in. Some of her props did not pass, so again, big cuts are already in the works, I’m sure.

After waiting years, the new Wal-Mart Superstore opened today. I stopped by and it is going to be nice to be able to stay on this side of town for my Wal-Mart purchases. I also predict a grocery store war in Flagstaff. The new Wal-Mart has a huge grocery section, and that should get Safeway, Albertson’s and Fry’s to cut prices. All three are located within a couple of miles of the new store. We don’t have a Basha’s on this side of town, so it probably won’t change their prices. It will be interesting to see how all this plays out in the upcoming months. As I get older, I find convenience is getting more and more important. When I was working I’d come in to Flag and spend the night. Then in the morning I’d head for the far side of town and hit several department type stores, the discount stores, then hit at least two grocery stores before heading back to the Rez. Now I just want to hit the stores that are close to home.

It was hard to believe that it is November here in Flagstaff, and the warm temps are supposed to continue through the week. I’m not complaining, I like having the windows open during the day.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1846▬An artificial leg was patented by B.F. Palmer of Meredith, NH who “got a leg up” on all other competition, according to the U.S. Patent office.

JEOPARDY PUZZLE—(1984 games)(answers below) Democrats
$100- Initials in common to all members of Lyndon Johnson's family
$200- Seminarian who became California's "Guru Governor"
$300- Chrysler Corp. pres. considered by some Dems. as potential V.P. material
$400- Colorado senator who served as McGovern's campaign manager in '72
$500- Hubert Humphrey's running mate in '68

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION—Betty Boop
→Cartoon cutie Betty Boop was developed by Max Fleischer and drawn by animator Grim Natwick for Paramount Studio's Talkartoons cartoon series. She was originally created as a human-like canine character, the love interest for a dog named Bimbo.
→Betty made her debut on August 9, 1930 in Dizzy Dishes, the sixth installment in the Talkartoon series. She quickly became a fan favorite, and starred in over 100 cartoons from 1931 to 1939.
→Max Fleischer finalized Betty Boop as completely human by 1932 in the cartoon Any Rags. Her floppy poodle ears became hoop earrings, and her black poodle nose became a girl's button-like nose. Famous vocal artist Mae Questel was the voice of Betty from 1931 until her death in 1998. Questel also provided the voice of Olive Oyl in the Popeye cartoon series.
→Betty Boop is known as the first and one of the most famous sex symbols on the animated screen. She shows off her curves and cleavage with short, shapely dresses, high heels, and a garter belt.
→The censorship guidelines set by the Motion Picture Production Code in 1934 greatly affected the carefree flapper style that had made Betty famous. She transformed into a career girl with a fuller dress who no longer winked at strangers or shook her hips.

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM
Msnbc--Why would anyone slap cut beer cans around the necks of seagulls? A wildlife group made aware of the incidents in the San Francisco Bay Area isn't certain but it calls it torture and is fighting back with a $2,000 bounty. At least two birds with the collars have been spotted in Half Moon Bay, Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz Island, said WildRescue of Monterey, Calif.
The group appealed for the public to be on the watch for more.
"Instead of attempting to capture the birds, which can make them more wary and harder to catch, sightings should be reported immediately to a dedicated paging service 831-429-2323 or emailed to rescue@wildrescue.org," the group stated. WildRescue said it had alerted the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
"This is a federal crime punishable by severe fines, imprisonment, or both," said Rebecca Dmytryk, WildRescue's spokeswoman.
A $2,000 reward is also being dangled as an incentive to turn in the perpetrator or perpetrators.
"I feel pretty confident that if word gets around, we’ll be able to find the birds and help them," Dmytryk said. "I’m also hopeful that we’ll track down the perpetrator, maybe even through fingerprints. But, just that people are watching, and there’s a bounty, maybe that’s enough to get them to stop torturing animals."
So who'd do such a thing? "It's probably someone who is bored and needing to show off," said Dmytryk.

A LITTLE LAUGH
I work for a small software company with approximately fifty employees. My Boss was the company's third employee. At a meeting with a potential client, our team introduced ourselves one by one. When it was my Boss' turn, he said, "I've been with the company for it's entire 10 year history. I started as a 'lowly programmer' and now I am a senior manager."
When it was my turn, I rose and said, "I'm new with the company. I'm still a lowly programmer."

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’


GREY MATTER PICTURE
This is a close up of what object?
SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION
¤ Weekly Observances ¤
27-11/3: World Hearing Aid Awareness Week
1-7: Intimate Apparel Market Week
Give Wildlife A Break Week
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
Give Wildlife A Break Week
National Patient Accessibility Week
World Communication Week
7-13: National Nurse Practioner's Week, Pursuit of Happiness Week, National Rad Tech Week , Fraud Awareness Week, Dear Santa Letter Week, National Young Reader's Week, World Kindness Week
14-20: American Education Week, Geography Awareness Week, National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week, National Global Entrepreneurship Week
19-25:National Farm-City Week
21-28: National Bible Week, National Family Week, National Game & Puzzle Week, National Teens Don't Text and Drive Week, Better Conversation Week, Church/State Separation Week
¤ Today’s Observances ¤
Waiting For The Barbarians Day
Egypt: Day of Love (1970s)
Italy: Unity Day (1945)/Victory of Vittorio Veneto (1866) National Unity and Armed Forces Day or Giorno dell'Unità Nazionale e Festa delle Forze Armate
Panama: Flag Day
Tonga: Constitution Day (1970)
Russia: Unity Day
US-Oklahoma: Will Rogers Day (1879)
¤ Top 10 Songs of 1960 ¤
Click on Song Title to see and hear the original
¤ Today’s Births ¤
╬ THE ARTS
Will (William Penn Adair) Rogers, humorist, born in 1879
Robert Mapplethorpe, 64, photographer: known for photographs of sadomasochistic rituals, nudes, portraits, still lifes; work on exhibit: Art Institute of Chicago, New York’s Metropolitan Museum and Museum of Modern Art, Paris’ Pompidou Center, London’s Victoria and Albert Museum
♦♦Actors♦♦
Art Carney, actor (Ed Norton-Honeymooners), born in 1918
Martin (Henry) Balsam, Academy Award-winning actor: A Thousand Clowns [1965]; All the President’s Men, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Carpetbaggers, Death Wish 3, Delta Force, The Goodbye People, Harlow, Little Big Man, Marjorie Morningstar, Murder on the Orient Express, Psycho, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Twelve Angry Men, All in the Family; born in 1919
Kathy Griffin, 44, comedienne, actress (“Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List”)
Ralph Macchio, 48, actor (The Karate Kid)
Matthew McConaughey, 41, actor (Failure to Launch, Sahara, A Time to Kill)
Markie Post, 60, actress (“Night Court,” “Hearts Afire”)
Doris Roberts, 80, actress (“Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Remington Steele”)
Loretta Swit, 73, actress (“M*A*S*H”)
Gig Young, actor (They Shoot Horses Don't They), born in 1913
╬ ATHLETICS
Orlando Pace, 35, football, Rams, Bears
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
Sean “Diddy” Combs, 40, rapper, music and fashion executive, actor
Walter Cronkite, news anchor (CBS Evening News 1962-81), born in 1916
James Fraser, designed buffalo nickel, born in 1876
Alfred Heineken, beer mogul: Heineken Brewery, born in 1923
Pauline Trigere, fashion designer: produced first reversible coat; Costume Designer: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, born in 1912
╬ POLITICS
Laura Bush, 64, former First Lady, wife of George W. Bush
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
--
¤ Today’s Obituaries ¤ 2
Merie Earle, actress (Maude-Waltons), uremic poisoning at 95, in 1984
Yitzhak Rabin, IDF Chief of Staff, diplomat and the fifth Prime Minister of the State of Israel, assassinated @ 73 in 1995
Raphael Soyer, artist (Depression scenes in NYC), @ 87 in 1987
¤ Today’s Events ¤
╬ THE ARTS
1948▬T.S. Eliot (Thomas Stearns Eliot) won the Nobel Prize in Literature “for his outstanding, pioneer contribution to present-day poetry.”
╬ ATHLETICS
1904▬1st stadium built specifically for football (Harvard Stadium)
1924▬California legalizes pro boxing (illegal since 1914)
1973▬Golfing great Ben Crenshaw won his first tournament on the pro tour by capturing the Texas Open.
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1861▬University of Washington founded in Seattle
1862▬Gatling gun patented (Richard J Gatling)
1879▬James J. Ritty of Dayton, OH patented the cash register.
1939▬1st air conditioned automobile (Packard) exhibited, Chicago, Ill
╬ INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1833▬Lieutenant Rains, Disbursing Agent for the Choctaws, informs General George Gibson that since the beginning of the fall, approximately 1/5 of the 3000 Choctaws near the Choctaw Agency in Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma), have died from the climate, the flood on the Arkansas River, and no scientific medical care.
╬ POLITICS (US)
1842▬Abraham Lincoln marries Mary Todd in Springfield, Ill
1845▬1st nationally observed uniform election day in US
1924▬Nellie Tayloe Ross elected 1st US female gov (Wyoming)
1986▬Democrats gain control over the US Senate
---Presidents elected on this day
1884▬Grover Cleveland (D) beats James G Blaine (R) for 1st presidential term
1952▬America said, “I Like Ike”. The Dwight D. Eisenhower/Richard M. Nixon ticket won a sweeping (55%-44%) victory over Democrat Adlai E. Stevenson and running-mate John J. Sparkman. 1980▬Ronald Reagan (R) beats President Jimmy Carter (R) by a landslide
╬ POLITICS (International)
1576▬Spanish defeat Walloons & take Antwerp Belgium
1979▬3,000 militants overran the U.S. Embassy in Teheran, Iran.
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
1854▬Lighthouse established on Alcatraz Island
1873▬Dentist John Beers of San Francisco patents the gold crown
1922▬Howard Carter discovers tomb of Tutankhamen in Egypt
1958 - Angelo Roncalli became Pope John XXIII

GREY MATTER ANSWERS
↔ JEOPARDY
$100- Initials in common to all members of Lyndon Johnson's family
What is LBJ?
$200- Seminarian who became California's "Guru Governor"
Who is Edmund Brown, JR?
$300- Chrysler Corp. pres. considered by some Dems. as potential V.P. material:
Who is Lee Iacocca?
$400- Colorado senator who served as McGovern's campaign manager in '72:
Who is Gary Hart?
$500- Hubert Humphrey's running mate in '68
Who was Edmund Muskey?
↔ PICTURE
"Wet wipes" dispenser
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Wed. Nov. 3

This is Week 44 of 2010►Day 307 with 58 days left.
Flagstaff Weather: H—66°; L—34°; RH—25%; sky—clear and wind—15 mph with 20mph gusts

QUOTE FOR THE DAY—
Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. --Henry David Thoreau

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
It’s all over but the counting. Finally back to commercials on who has the softer toilet paper and legal drugs with a list of side effects longer than a master’s thesis. I headed for the polls about 9am and was the 246th voter at my precinct. AZ had a very long ballot and it took some time to fill in all those little bubbles. I had my list with me, on my cell phone, so I could move right through. Somebody behind me was having trouble getting the ballot as an earlier person had signed the correct name on the incorrect line. She finally was given a ballot. I proudly wore my ‘I voted’ sticker to lunch with our group and even marked on Facebook that I had voted. I realize that the FB thing is not scientific and anyone could mark they voted, but it sure has been nice to see that number climb from the 1.5 million when I marked it to over 10.5 million when I last checked. It was a new idea and I liked it. I must say I am on way too many political sites on FB, as my post count tripled today as every ‘like’ posted way too many uninformative posts. I almost turned some of them off for the day, but decided not to, just in case something interesting was posted.

Cheryl starts her pre-op diet tomorrow or as she calls it her gruel diet. It is little more than protein drinks, broth, and some kind of fiber. Anyway, this was our last lunch for a little while, but she said that she will come in next week, and have her protein drink and stare at our food as we eat. Turns out that this operation is her first since she had her tonsils out as a kid. This will be quite a surprise for her. She has a very sarcastic sense of humor and both Mary and I warned her about that with the nursing staff. Many times they don’t get the sarcasm and certainly are trained not to use any with the patients. We let her know that she wants the nursing staff to like her to get the best care. Mary and I shared some of our funnier ‘hospital’ stories while Cheryl listened attentively, probably wondering if she had made the right decision.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1964▬For the first time, residents of the District of Columbia were permitted to vote in a presidential election.

JEOPARDY PUZZLE—(1984 games)(answers below)-Colorful Geography
$100- Contrary to name, this world's largest island is primarily icecap
$200- National Park famous for faithful aquatic eruptions
$300- Only Universal Studios' special effects & Moses could part it
$400- Called the Schwarzwald, it's the deep dark woods of fairy tale fame
$500- John Denver's country roads lead to these West Virginia mountains

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION—Crazy Laws
→During the 6th Century, it was customary to congratulate people who sneezed because it was thought that they were expelling evil from their bodies. During the great plague of Europe, the Pope passed a law to say “God bless you” to one who sneezed.
→In 1313, King Edward II enacted the law that forbade folks from dying in Parliament.
→An old statute in Kentucky states that men who push their wives out of bed for inflicting their cold toes on them can be fined or jailed for a week.
→An old law in Russia allows a police officer to “beat a peeping tom soundly.” In Texas, two categories of men are exempt from peeping tom charges: men over 50 and men with only one eye.
→A pregnant woman can urinate anywhere she wishes, including a policeman’s helmet, according to a London local by-law.
→To mourn the death of Queen Mary II in 1964, judges wore black robes, and never changed back to another color.

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM
STAMFORD, CT — It is assault charges for Spider-Man and Captain America, and breach of peace for Poison Ivy.
Police in Connecticut said a man dressed as Captain America and another as Spider-Man have been arrested after getting into a fight in Stamford over the Halloween weekend.
Stamford Police Lt. Elizabeth Erickson said officers found 25-year-old Michael Sanchez, dressed as Captain America, beating the father of 21-year-old Vincent DeCarlo, sporting a Spider-Man costume, in a parking garage Sunday morning.
The Stamford Advocate reported that DeCarlo allegedly punched Sanchez of Stamford as police tried to break up the scuffle.
DeCarlo's girlfriend, 18-year-old Nicole Bitterli of Toms River, N.J., dressed as Poison Ivy, also hit Sanchez.
Sanchez and DeCarlo face assault charges. Bitterli faces a breach of peace charges.
It was unclear if any had attorneys.

A LITTLE LAUGH
Every year on their wedding anniversary my boss, Woody, and his wife celebrated by staying at the same resort hotel. On their 25th anniversary they booked their usual room. But when the hotel's bell captain escorted them upstairs, they were in for a big surprise. "There must be some mistake," Woody said. "This looks like the bridal suite."
"It's okay," the bell captain reassured him. "If I put you in the ballroom, that doesn't mean you have to dance."

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’
Harvesting Palm Oil is destroying the Orangutan habitat. WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO


GREY MATTER PICTURE
This is a close up of what object?
SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION
¤ Weekly Observances ¤
27-11/3: World Hearing Aid Awareness Week
1-7: Intimate Apparel Market Week
Give Wildlife A Break Week
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
Give Wildlife A Break Week
National Patient Accessibility Week
World Communication Week
7-13: National Nurse Practioner's Week, Pursuit of Happiness Week, National Rad Tech Week , Fraud Awareness Week, Dear Santa Letter Week, National Young Reader's Week, World Kindness Week
14-20: American Education Week, Geography Awareness Week, National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week, National Global Entrepreneurship Week
19-25:National Farm-City Week
21-28: National Bible Week, National Family Week, National Game & Puzzle Week, National Teens Don't Text and Drive Week, Better Conversation Week, Church/State Separation Week
¤ Today’s Observances ¤
Sandwich Day
Housewife's Day
Cliché Day
Dominica: Independence Day, from the United Kingdom 1978 (small island in Caribbean)
Ecuador: Cuenca's Independence Day
Federated States of Micronesia: Independence Day, from the United States 1986.
Japan: Culture Day, originally celebrated as Emperor's Birthday until the Meiji Emperor's death in 1912 , and its related observances:
-----Hakone, Kanagawa, Japan: Feudal Lord's Parade (文化の日, Hakone Daimyō Gyōretsu) to promote arts and other academic endeavors
Panama: Independence Day (1903 from Columbia)
US—in Texas: Father of Texas Day (since 1932 to honor Stephen F. Austin)
¤ Hit Songs on this date ¤
Click on Song Title to see and hear the original
1901...Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder / Harry MacDonough (original not available)
1921...All by Myself / Ted Lewis (original not available)
1951…Cold, Cold Heart / Tony Bennett ((original not available)
¤ Today’s Births ¤
╬ THE ARTS
Adam Ant, 56, singer, born Stewart Goddard in London
William Cullen Bryant, poet (Thanatopsis), born in 1794
Lulu (Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie), 62, singer/actress (To Sir With Love) in Glasgow
♦♦Actors♦♦
Ken Berry, 77, actor (“F Troop,” “Mayberry RFD,” “Mama’s Family”), singer, dancer
Charles Bronson (Buchinsky), actor (Death Wish, Dirty Dozen), born in 1922
Michael Evans, actor (Lionel-All in the Family), born in 1949
Kathy Kinney, 56, actress (“The Drew Carey Show”)
Steve Landesberg, 65, actor (“Barney Miller”)
Dolph Lundgren, 51, actor (A View to a Kill, Rocky IV), born Stockholm, Sweden
Dennis Miller, 57, comedian, actor (“Saturday Night Live,” “The Dennis Miller Show”)
Roseanne, 57, comedienne, actress (“Roseanne,” She-Devil), born Roseanne Barr
╬ ATHLETICS
Edmond Barrett, heavyweight wrestler (Olympic-bronze-1908), born in 1880
Robert William Andrew (Bob) Feller, 92, Hall of Fame baseball player, Indians 
Larry Holmes, 61, boxer: heavyweight: WBC Champ [1978-1985]
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
Karl Baedeker, German travel books, born in 1801
╬ POLITICS
Stephen Fuller, colonized Texas, born in 1793
Michael S. Dukakis, 77, former Governor of Massachusetts (D), 1988 presidential candidate
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
Kevin P Chilton, 56, major USAF/astronaut (sk: STS-49)
John Montague, 4th Earl of Sandwich, inventor (sandwich), born in 1718
¤ Today’s Obituaries ¤
Bob Kane, comic artist and Batman co-creator, @ 83 in 1998
Mary Martin actress (Peter Pan), @ 76 in 1990
Martin Meehan, Irish republican, heart attack @ 62 in 2007
Annie Oakley (Phoebe Ann Mosey), sharpshooter, exhibition shooter, anemia @ 66 in 1926
¤ Today’s Events ¤
╬ THE ARTS
1956▬"Wizard of Oz" 1st televised (CBS-TV)
╬ ATHLETICS
1953▬"Sacrifice fly" reactivated in baseball (1939)
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1885▬Tacoma vigilantes drive out Chinese, burn their homes & businesses
1892▬The first successful automatic telephone system was introduced in Laporte, IN
1900▬1st national automobile show opens at Madison Square Garden (NYC)
1952▬Clarence Birdseye markets frozen peas
╬ INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1762▬As a part of the Treaty of Fountainbleau, Spain acquires all of French Louisiana west of the Mississippi River for helping France in the "Seven Years War," also called the "French and Indian War."
╬ POLITICS (US)
1620▬Great Patent granted to Plymouth Colony
1868▬1st black elected to Congress (John W Menard, Louisiana)
1913▬The United States introduces an income tax.
1979▬Greensboro massacre: Five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot dead and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis during a "Death to the Klan" rally in Greensboro, North Carolina
╬ POLITICS (International)
1493▬Columbus lands on "Dominica."
1679▬Great panic occurs in Europe over the close approach of a comet
1762▬Spain acquires Louisiana
1997▬The United States of America imposes economic sanctions against Sudan in response to its human rights abuses of its own citizens and its material and political assistance to Islamic extremist groups across the Middle Eastand Eastern Africa.
2007▬Pervez Musharraf declares emergency rule across Pakistan. He suspends the Constitution, imposes a State of Emergency, and fires the chief justice of the Supreme Court.
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
--

GREY MATTER ANSWERS
↔ JEOPARDY
$100- Contrary to name, this world's largest island is primarily icecap:
What is Greenland?
$200- National Park famous for faithful aquatic eruptions:
What is Yellowstone?
$300- Only Universal Studios' special effects & Moses could part it:
What is the Red Sea?
$400- Called the Schwarzwald, it's the deep dark woods of fairy tale fame:
What is the Black Forest?
$500- John Denver's country roads lead to these West Virginia mountains:
What are Blue Ridge Mountains?

↔ PICTURE
A taxi
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Tues. Nov. 2

This is Week 44 of 2010►Day 306 with 59 days left.
Flagstaff Weather: H—60°; L—34°; RH—21%; sky—clear and wind— 18 mph with 25mph gusts

QUOTE FOR THE DAY—
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all. William Shakespeare Hamlet, Act 3, scene 1

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
I started off the week keeping busy. It was starting to get windy this morning, so I was out there, in the wind, taking down my Halloween decorations. It was so easy yesterday to put them up—with no wind. This morning was a little more ‘exciting’. I stood on a chair to hang some of the decorations from my porch roof. In the wind, it was a little precarious. I got it done quickly, and then had to deal with the blue spruce decorations. Again, for those who don’t know, blue spruce have very sharp needles and a lot of them. The wind was blowing the decorations which were held on to branches with small strings. Of course, they had twisted and turned due to the wind, so a pair of gloves was needed to untwist and then remove them. It took about an hour to get everything down and back inside. Then I headed for stores. Growing up in the late 50’s and 60’s I learned early that the ‘day after’ a holiday was the time to buy things for the next year. I found some new decorations at 50% off. I know they will be 75% off in a couple of days, but by then the pickins will be very slim. I did find a few things so am ready for next Halloween. When I got home, I packed up all the decorations and costume into two medium sized plastic containers and put them away. Then I got out my ‘fall’ decorations—or Thanksgiving stuff. I have a couple of wreaths, some fall flowers, and one of those honey-combed paper turkeys. I know it is time to rearrange my living room furniture for the winter, but can’t come up with a plan in my brain that I like. The problem is my TV cable. The living room is long and narrow and the cable comes out of the interior long wall. I want the TV on the short interior wall but have to figure out a way to get the cable over there. I bought one of those office hide a cord floor covers last year, but don’t think it will work really well on the carpet. I have to do something before Christmas decorations come out. Last year I just didn’t like the place I put the tree and the only way to fix it is to move the furniture. I kept hoping the wind would die down so I could take a walk, and finally gave up on it ever stopping, put on a jacket and headed out. It was a short walk, but a walk none the less. So I am ready for a quiet evening and another busy day tomorrow.

The Navajo Nation is holding its presidential and council elections tomorrow. Because of that, our county recorder has said she expects a 60% turnout for tomorrows election, since much of Coconino country is on the rez. That may be true, but… When I was on the rez the tribal elections and the state and national elections were always on the same day. Unless something has changed in the past few years, it means that Navajos have to stand in two different lines and sometimes go to two different polling places to vote in both elections. The Navajo Nation has its own election board and its own voting regulations. While non-Navajos can vote for state and national elections on the Rez, they cannot vote in the Navajo elections. In Tuba, my Navajo neighbors voted at the community center for the state and national election and at the Chapter House for the Navajo Election. These two places were only about 50 yards apart, but required standing in two lines. At the smaller precincts, like Tonalea or Kaibeto, the two elections were in the same building, but still had two lines, two sets of people checking ID, two sets of poll watchers, and two separate ballots. We’ll see on Wednesday how many people actually vote. The Navajo Nation vote will be historical. It is the first time a woman has run for President and it is the first time two New Mexicans are running for the office. Just like other elections, this campaign has been dirty with lots of mudslinging. The Navajos will be entering a new era with this election—their tribal council will now be 24 instead of the historical 88 members. I haven’t ever gotten into tribal politics and always just worked with their elected leaders. The bottom line was always that Navajos elect their leadership. They don’t need non-Navajos interfering, ever.

I am excited to see what tomorrow will bring. I am glad I live in a country where we have elections. I am happy that my one vote counts. I have visited countries that don’t have that ability. Many countries do not allow their citizens to vote of changes in law or changes in their constitution. We have a lot of differing opinions here and many get very boisterous about their opinion. But, in the end, we have the ability to vote and then people follow the vote. They may still be boisterous, but they work within the system to get change.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1929▬Newsreel Theatre opened. The newsreel films were shown at the Embassy Theatre, 1560 Broadway, between 46th and 47th Streets in New York City. This first all-newsreel theatre in the United States also holds the distinction of being the first, and we might add, only movie theater in the U.S. to have had an all-female management and staff (1925)

JEOPARDY PUZZLE—(1984 games)(answers below) TV Detectives
$200- He was Detective Lieutenant Dan August before he was Sharky
$400- He played father-in-law to Betty Jones & now is uncle to Matt Houston
$600- Name of station police work out of in series with this theme Click Here to Listen
$800- Ex-"radio receptionist" now" partner in crime" with Lynda Carter
$1000- Det. whose show was spun off from "Barney Miller", but thrown back due to small ratings

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION—Supreme Court System
→No jeans or T-shirts allowed...visitors who wish to watch the Supreme Court in action must be "properly attired" or they will not be allowed to enter the courtroom.
→From 1932 to 1970, the sitting President of the United States kept up a "tradition" to have at least one Jewish member of the Supreme Court. Starting with President Herbert Hoover's nomination of Benjamin Cardozo, the trend continued until Richard Nixon broke the streak by nominating Harry Blackmun, a Methodist.
→When arresting a suspect, police are required to read them their "Miranda rights," including the right to "remain silent" and representation by an attorney. Named after Ernesto Miranda, this police procedure came from a landmark Supreme Court decision in the case of "Miranda v. Arizona."
→While Franklin Delano Roosevelt was in office, he introduced the "Judiciary Reorganization Bill" in 1937, which would have allowed the President of the United States to appoint a new justice for every sitting member of the Supreme Court over the age of 70. However, the Senate passed an amended
version of the bill that didn't include Roosevelt's "court packing" provision.
→In 1978, a play called "First Monday in October" debuted on Broadway. A political comedy, the story deals with the nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female Justice of the Supreme Court.
→In addition to her traditional black robe, O'Connor wore a white collar, similar to the one that many female college graduates are required to wear. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second female Supreme Court Justice, kept up that tradition.

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM
THREE FORKS, MT - Authorities in Montana said at least two horse owners have called police to report the theft of hair from their animals. The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office said Sandy O'Rourke of Three Forks called Oct. 17 and reported someone had taken the tails off two of her horses and cut part of the mane from a third, The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported Thursday. The theft came a month after Bob and Connie Riley of Dillon reported the theft of the hair from their horse's tail, investigators said. The horse owners said their animals were not injured, but they are inconvenienced as they rely on their tails to swat at flies. "It takes about four to five years for the tail to grow back," Bob Riley said.

A LITTLE LAUGH
As a secret shopper for a large department store, my sister made purchases at various chains and then reported back to supervisors on the clerks' performances. After a few weeks, I asked her if she was enjoying her new job.
"I love it!" she replied. "I'm getting paid for doing two of my favorite things in life--shopping and criticizing people."

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’
An explanation of Karatsu Kunchi Festival: Click Here to View

GREY MATTER PICTURE
This is a close up of what object?
SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION
¤ Weekly Observances ¤
-11/3: World Hearing Aid Awareness Week 27-11/3: World Hearing Aid Awareness Week
1-7: Intimate Apparel Market Week
Give Wildlife A Break Week
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
Give Wildlife A Break Week
National Patient Accessibility Week
World Communication Week
7-13: National Nurse Practioner's Week, Pursuit of Happiness Week, National Rad Tech Week , Fraud Awareness Week, Dear Santa Letter Week, National Young Reader's Week, World Kindness Week
14-20: American Education Week, Geography Awareness Week, National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week, National Global Entrepreneurship Week
19-25:National Farm-City Week
21-28: National Bible Week, National Family Week, National Game & Puzzle Week, National Teens Don't Text and Drive Week, Better Conversation Week, Church/State Separation Week
¤ Today’s Observances ¤
National Deviled Egg Day
All Souls Day: Christian: to remember all ‘saved’ souls
Cookie Monster Day
Election Day
Traffic Directors’ Day
Israel: Balfour Declaration Day (1917)
His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.
Karatsu, Saga, Japan: Karatsu Kunchi (festival with lots of floats: see above)
Mauritius:Indian Arrival Day
Mexico/Portugal: Dia de Muertos/Day of the Dead—2nd day of celebration
North & South Dakota: Admission Day (1889)
Venezuela: Memorial Day
¤ Hit Songs on this date ¤
Click on Song Name to View!
1900...Because / Haydn Quartet (Original not available)
1910...Every Little Moment / Harry MacDonough & Lucy Isabelle Marsh (Original not available)
¤ Today’s Births ¤
╬ THE ARTS
k.d. lang, 49, singer, born Kathryn Dawn Lang at Consort, AB, Canada
♦♦Actors♦♦
Burt Lancaster, NYC, actor (From Here to Eternity, Elmer Gantry), born in 1913
Stefanie Powers, 68, actress (“Hart to Hart”)
Ray Walston, actor (My Favorite Martian), born in 1914
╬ ATHLETICS
David Knapp (Dave) Stockton, 69, golfer
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
Patrick Buchanan, 72, political commentator
╬ POLITICS
Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, let them eat cake, born in 1755
Warren Gamaliel Harding, 29th President (1921-23), born in 1865
James Knox Polk, 11th President (D) (1845-1849), born in 1795
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
George Boole, mathematician (Boolean algebra), born in 1815
Daniel Boone, frontiersman/explorer (US Hall of Fame-1915), born in 1734
Shere Hite, 68, researcher on sexual behavior, author (The Hite Report, Women and Love)
¤ Today’s Obituaries ¤
Edith Bunker character, dies on "All in the Family", in 1980
Jenny Lind (Johanna Maria Lind), Swedish Nightingale, soprano, cancer @ 67 in 1887
George Bernard Shaw, Irish writer, Nobel laureate @ 94 in 1950
James Thurber, humorist (The Male Animal), pneumonia @ 66 in 1961
¤ Today’s Events ¤
╬ THE ARTS
1936▬The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is established
1960▬Penguin Books is found not guilty of obscenity in the Lady Chatterley's Lover case
╬ ATHLETICS
1879▬In a 6-day footrace a Mr Weston loses to a horse, 900 to 885 km
1972▬Construction begins on the Kingdome, Seattle
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1904▬British newspaper, "The Daily Mirror," begins publishing
1920▬KDKA (Pittsburgh) goes on the air as 1st commercial radio station
1959▬Charles Van Doren confesses, TV quiz show-"21," was fixed
╬ INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1835▬2nd Seminole War begins in Osceola
1869▬Metis tribe force take over Fort Garry, Canada. This is another step in the rapidly increasing move toward rebellion.
1972▬500 Indians conclude the "Trail of Broken Treaties" march to Washington, D.C.. They seize part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building until the 8th.
╬ POLITICS (US)
1783▬Gen Washington bids farewell to his army
1917▬1st US soldiers killed in combat in WW I
1983▬President Reagan signs a bill establishing Martin L King day
╬ POLITICS (International)
1930▬Haile Selassie is crowned emperor of Ethiopia.
1942▬Montgomery (Br) defeats Rommel (Ger) in battle of Alamein (WW II)
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
1931▬The DuPont Company of Wilmington, DE announced the first synthetic rubber. It was known as DuPrene.
1947▬Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose" flies for 1st (& last) time
1988▬The Morris worm, the first internet-distributed computer worm to gain significant mainstream media attention, is launched from MIT.
╬ US Presidents elected 11/2
1824▬Popular presidential vote 1st recorded; Jackson beats J.Q. Adams
1880▬James A Garfield (R) elected President
1948▬Truman beats Dewey, confounding pollsters & newspapers
1976▬Former Georgia Gov Jimmy Carter (D) defeats incumbent Gerald R Ford (R) in race for Presidency becoming the first president from the Deep South since 1844

GREY MATTER ANSWERS
↔ JEOPARDY
$200- He was Detective Lieutenant Dan August before he was Sharky:
Who was Burt Reynolds?
$400- He played father-in-law to Betty Jones & now is uncle to Matt Houston:
Who was Buddy Ebsen?
$600- Name of station police work out of in series with this theme:
What is Hill Street Blues Station?
$800- Ex-"radio receptionist" now" partner in crime" with Lynda Carter:
Who was Loni Anderson?
$1000- Det. whose show was spun off from "Barney Miller", but thrown back due to small ratings: What was Fish?
↔ PICTURE
A caster on a chair
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Monday Nov. 1

This is Week 44 of 2010►Day 305 with 60 days left.
Flagstaff Weather: H—58°; L—27°; RH—70%; sky—clear and wind—0 mph

QUOTE FOR THE DAY— Queen Beatrix (Bilderberg Group Member)
It is difficult to re-educate people who have been brought up on nationalism to the idea of relinquishing part of their sovereignty to a supranational body.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
Here we go, the next two months will fly by and it will suddenly be 2011. The weather was good for the kids, it was a little chilly but there was no wind and it was dry. The little kids starting coming to my decorated and noisy house about 4:30. As expected, by 8:00 everything was over. The little ones really enjoy Halloween, and thanks to Act II popcorn, I got popcorn balls, individually packages this year. I had about 60 kids come by. I’m not real sure about the adults who go trick or treating and I had a few. I’m not talking teenagers, I’m talking 30 something’s. Both ladies were in costume, so I guess they never grew up. All in all, it was a good night.

No matter what happens on Tuesday, this country will survive. If the Tea Party wins big, they will have to answer to the American people. If the Republicans win, it’s the same for them. If the Dems pull off a miracle and keep both houses, they too will have to answer to the country. I am so tired of the negative ads, the lies, and the ads with no substance, I say just get it over with. We will survive and find answers to our many, many problems. Let’s just do it.

Not a good day for my football teams, but at least the poor games made it easier to decorate. Cards lost by 3, Denver should have just stayed in the locker room. Good thing I’m not a diehard fan for either team.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1950▬Two Puerto Rican nationalists attepted to assassinate President Harry S Truman at Blair House, Washington, DC (where the Truman’s were living during a three-year renovation of the White House). One of the gunman and one White House policemen were killed.

JEOPARDY PUZZLE—(1984 games)(answers below) US Geography
$200-It's "where the wind comes sweeping down the plain"
$400-State whose counties include Crockett, Zapata & Pecos
$600-One of two states ending in "T"
$800-Historic pass at junction of TN., KY., & VA., associated with Daniel Boone
$1000-Mountain range that surrounds city of Atlanta

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION—
→After attacking the meat-packing industry in his eye-witness novel 'The Jungle', Upton Sinclair ate a diet of only rice and fruit for many years.
→Although Americans eat about the same amount of calories (3,400 a day) as they did in 1910, the average weight has increased due to lack of exercise.

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM
New York--Citing cases dating back as far as 1928, a judge has ruled that a young girl accused of running down an elderly woman while racing a bicycle with training wheels on a Manhattan sidewalk two years ago can be sued for negligence.

The ruling by the judge, Justice Paul Wooten of State Supreme Court in Manhattan, did not find that the girl was liable, but merely permitted a lawsuit brought against her, another boy and their parents to move forward.

The suit that Justice Wooten allowed to proceed claims that in April 2009, Juliet Breitman and Jacob Kohn, who were both 4, were racing their bicycles, under the supervision of their mothers, Dana Breitman and Rachel Kohn, on the sidewalk of a building on East 52nd Street.

At some point in the race, they struck an 87-year-old woman named Claire Menagh, who was walking in front of the building and, according to the complaint, was “seriously and severely injured,” suffering a hip fracture that required surgery. She died three weeks later.

Her estate sued the children and their mothers, claiming they had acted negligently during the accident.

In a response, Juliet’s lawyer, James P. Tyrie, argued that the girl was not “engaged in an adult activity” at the time of the accident — “She was riding her bicycle with training wheels under the supervision of her mother” — and was too young to be held liable for negligence.

In legal papers, Mr. Tyrie added, “Courts have held that an infant under the age of 4 is conclusively presumed to be incapable of negligence.” (Rachel and Jacob Kohn did not seek to dismiss the case against them.)

But Justice Wooten declined to stretch that rule to children over 4. On Oct. 1, he rejected a motion to dismiss the case because of Juliet’s age, noting that she was three months shy of turning 5 when Ms. Menagh was struck, and thus old enough to be sued.

Mr. Tyrie “correctly notes that infants under the age of 4 are conclusively presumed incapable of negligence,” Justice Wooten wrote in his decision, referring to the 1928 case.

“Juliet Breitman, however, was over the age of 4 at the time of the subject incident. For infants above the age of 4, there is no bright-line rule.”

A LITTLE LAUGH
Students at school were asked to write about the harmful environmental effects of oil on fish. One 11-year old wrote, "When my mom opened a tin of sardines last night it was full of oil and all the sardines were dead."

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’
Jon Stewart gave an unexpected eloquent speech at the end of the rally—it is a little long, but really says a lot. CLICK HERE TO VIEW!

GREY MATTER PICTURE
This is a close up of what object?
SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION
¤ November Observances ¤
American & National Diabetes Month • American Indian Heritage Month (National Native American Heritage Month) • Aviation History Month • Diabetic Eye Disease Month • Epilepsy Awareness Month • Family Stories Month • Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month • International Drum (Percussion) Month • Lung Cancer Awareness Month • Military Family Appreciation Month • National Adoption Month • National AIDS Awareness Month • National Alzheimer's Disease Month • National Family Caregivers Month • National Georgia Pecan Month • National Home Care & Hospice Month • National Impotency Month • National Inspirational Role Models Month • National Life Writing Month • National Long-term Care Awareness Month • National Marrow Awareness Month • National Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Awareness & Appreciation Month • National Novel Writing Month • National Peanut Butter Lovers Month • National Pet Cancer Awareness Month • National Pomegranate Month • National Roasting Month • National Scholarship Month • Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month • Sweet Potato Awareness Month • NoSHAVEmber (US - Beard Month or Movember (Australia - Moustache Month ) • Prematurity Awareness Month • Vegan Month
¤ Weekly Observances ¤
27-11/3: World Hearing Aid Awareness Week
1-7: Intimate Apparel Market Week
Give Wildlife A Break Week
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
Give Wildlife A Break Week
National Patient Accessibility Week
World Communication Week
7-13: National Nurse Practioner's Week, Pursuit of Happiness Week, National Rad Tech Week , Fraud Awareness Week, Dear Santa Letter Week, National Young Reader's Week, World Kindness Week
14-20: American Education Week, Geography Awareness Week, National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week, National Global Entrepreneurship Week
19-25:National Farm-City Week
21-28: National Bible Week, National Family Week, National Game & Puzzle Week, National Teens Don't Text and Drive Week, Better Conversation Week, Church/State Separation Week
¤ Today’s Observances ¤
Plan Your Epitaph Day
All Saints' Day
Give Up Your Shoulds Da
National Authors' Day
National Family Literacy Day
World Vegan Day
Algeria : Revolution Day (1954) National day
Antigua and Barbuda: Independence Day, from the United Kingdom 1981
Antigua : State Day (1981)
Bulgaria: Day of the leaders of the Bulgarian National Revival
Celtic : Samhain; beginning of year & most important holiday
Karnataka: Karnataka Formation Day (A state in India with 57+ million residents)
Mexico: Day of the Innocents, The first day of Day of the Dead or El Dia de los Muertos celebration.
San Marino: Commemoration of the Dead
Togo: Memorial Day
Vietnam : Revolution Day (1963)
Virgin Islands : Liberty Day
¤ Hit Songs on this date ¤
1899...Curse of the Dreamer / Dan Quinn (Original not available)
1909...I've Got Rings on My Fingers / Blanche Ring CLICK HERE TO VIEW!
1919...I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles / Ben Selvin's Novelty Orchestra
1929...Tip Toe Through the Tulips / Nick Lucas CLICK HERE TO VIEW!
1939...South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) / Gene Autry CLICK HERE TO VIEW!
1949…That Lucky Old Sun / Frankie Laine CLICK HERE TO VIEW!
1959…Mack the Knife / Bobby Darin CLICK HERE TO VIEW!
1969…Suspicious Minds / Elvis Presley CLICK HERE TO VIEW!
1979…Pop Muzik / M CLICK HERE TO VIEW!
1989…Listen to Your Heart / Roxette CLICK HERE TO VIEW!
¤ Today’s Births ¤
╬ THE ARTS
Bill Anderson (James William Anderson III), 73, country singer (Still, From This Pen)
Stephen Crane US, novelist/poet (Red Badge of Courage), born in 1871
James J Kilpatrick, columnist (60 Minutes), born in 1920
Lyle Lovett, 53, singer
Barry Sadler, songwriter, singer: Ballad of the Green Berets, born in 1940
♦♦Actors♦♦
Jenny McCarthy, 38, model, actress (Scary Movie 3)
Betsy Palmer, 84, actress (“I’ve Got a Secret,” “Knots Landing,” “The Today Show”), born Patricia Bromek
╬ ATHLETICS
Gary Jim Player, 75, former golfer, born Johannesburg, South Africa
Fernando Anguamea Valenzuela, 50, former baseball player, born Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
Benvenuto Cellini, sculptor/goldsmith/writer (Perseus), born in 1500
Larry Claxton Flynt, 68, publisher
Sir Benjamin Lee Baronet Guinness, Irish brewer/Dublin mayor, credited with bringing Guinness to US, born in 1798
╬ POLITICS
Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, 70, Chief Justice of India
Carlos Saavedra Lamas, Argentine politician, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize , born in 1878
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
Crawford Williamson Long, surgeon/pioneer (use of ether), born in 1815
¤ Today’s Obituaries ¤
Noah Beery Jr, in California, actor (Rockford Files, Quest, Doc Elliot), @ 81 in 1994
James Broderick, actor (Doug-Family), cancer @ 55, in 1982
Paul Frees, animation voice (Bullwinkle), heart failure @ 66 in 1986
Norman Krasna, writer/director, heart attack @ 74 in 1984
Man O' War, race horse @ 30 in 1947
¤ Today’s Events ¤
╬ THE ARTS
1965▬1st concert at Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco
╬ ATHLETICS
1936▬Rodeo Cowboy's Association founded
1950▬1st negro player in NBA, (Celtic's Charles Cooper)
1966▬NFL awards New Orleans its 16th franchise (All Saints Day)
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1864▬Money orders were sold by the U.S. Post Office
1940▬1st US air raid shelter, Fleetwood, Pa
1945▬1st issue of Ebony magazine published by John H Johnson
1947▬1st Aloha Week Parade held in Hawaii
1971▬The first Eisenhower dollar coins were put into circulation by the U.S. Mint.
╬ INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1634▬Tensions in Massachusetts have been raised because Niantic Indians have killed a boat captain named John Stone. Rather than having a war, the Niantics, and their allies the Pequots, conclude a peace treaty with the Massachusetts government.
1770▬Spanish and Opata Indians forces, led by Bernardo de Gálvez, are on a punitive expedition directed toward the Apache. They reach the site of the village only to discover that the Apache have gone. They continue their search during the night.
╬ POLITICS (US)
1943▬Dim-out ban lifted in San Francisco Bay area
1990▬Rhetoric escalates as Bush likens Saddam to Hitler
╬ POLITICS (International)
1922▬Ottoman Empire abolished
1936▬Mussolini describes alliance between Italy & Germany as an "axis"
1993▬European Union comes into existence
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
1870▬US Weather Bureau begins operations (24 locations)
1894▬Vaccine for diphtheria announced by Dr Roux of Paris
1932▬Wernher von Braun named head of German liquid-fuel rocket program
1939▬1st animal conceived by artificial insemination (rabbit) displayed
1939▬1st jet plane, Heinkel He 178, demonstrated to German Air Ministry
1952▬Fusion occurred for the 1st time on Earth

GREY MATTER ANSWERS
↔ JEOPARDY
$200-It's "where the wind comes sweeping down the plain": What is Oklahoma?
$400-State whose counties include Crockett, Zapata & Pecos: What is Texas?
$600-One of two states ending in "T": What is Vermont or Connecticut?
$800-Historic pass at junction of TN., KY., & VA., associated with Daniel Boone:
What is Cumberland Gap?
$1000-Mountain range that surrounds city of Atlanta: What are the Blue Ridge Mountains?
↔ PICTURE
inside a clothes dryer
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Sunday October 31

This is Week 44 of 2010►Day 304 with 61 days left.

Flagstaff Weather: H—58°; L—33°; RH—35%; sky—Mostly sunny and wind—25mph with 35mph gusts

QUOTEs FOR HALLOWEEN—
Where there is no imagination there is no horror. ~Arthur Conan Doyle, Sr.
Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story. ~Mason Cooley
Nothing on Earth so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night. ~Steve Almond
Eat, drink and be scary. ~Author Unknown

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS
Happy Halloween. This is a day when I usually have a lot of fun. This year it falls on Sunday, and that might cut down on the number of youngsters out and about. Doesn’t really matter as my front area will be fully decorated. I have a fog machine, a couple of monsters, and some great music. Whoever comes will have some fun.

I got up this morning and for some reason NPR was not broadcasting. There was a religious station that had bled over. I got on line and listened to my Saturday morning shows from the computer. They mentioned that the Jon Stewart/Steven Colbert rally was starting about 9am. Of course, we all know that the NPR big wigs told their reporters not to attend the rally as it might appear that that were biased to the left. That statement, and the firing of Juan Williams, shows that some of the top people at NPR are not left leaning, and in fact are pretty far right of center. Top management seems to live on the fear that a Republican congress could cut their funding. It’s hard to tell the percentage of direct funding of NPR comes from Congress—NPR says about 3%, while many naysayers say it’s closer to 40%. The Naysayers are including money from federal grants that go through a university, the amount of listener donations that are tax deductible, and any grants from corporations that that are claimed as a tax deduction. Whatever….the face of NPR as an unbiased news source are being challenged when top management at NPR plays the political games. I disagree with what Mr. Williams said, and I disagree with his firing. I believe that he has a right to say what he wants to and that if NPR management doesn’t like it, they can call him on the carpet, give him options and act on those options.

The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear was outstanding. They did a great show, hit on some real issues that are trying to tear apart America, and did it with class and comedy. One of the better lines was ‘We are in bad times right now, but not end times.’ Another highlight was bringing out Kareem Abdul Jabbar and introduce of as a Muslim. It was a great three hours of entertainment. It also reminds all of us that America is doing lots of good stuff everyday and that the news organizations on cable—left and right and center—build their audience on fear headlines. So do the network news stations. It’s time to stop believing any of the hype. Very positive message.

I’m still old fashioned…I vote on Election Day. Always have and probably always will. While I do have my opinions on many political stories, I live in America and I vote. That lets me speak my mind. If you haven’t voted early, be sure and do it on election day. If you don’t vote, don’t talk about politics.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1941▬Mount Rushmore was ‘completed’. Actually, the money ran out. Work on the monument, honoring Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt, had begun August 10, 1927. It was dedicated March 3, 1933 although work continued. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum died in 1941 and his son, Lincoln, continued the project until funds ran out on this day. Since then , no additional carving has been done, nor is any further work (other than maintenance) on the memorial planned.

JEOPARDY PUZZLE—(1984 games)(answers below)
$100- In 1984, there were only 70 of these head servants left in England
$200- Nobody wants to hear all of this camp song about decreasing containers of brew
$300- A stew of various meats, a jar of mixed flower petals, or an old "Jeopardy" category
$400- This president is said to be related to John Kennedy, Princess Di & F. Mitterand
$500- The place you most readily find "QWERTYUIOP"; you can spell it using only these letters

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION—
→The United States once had the highest proportion of young adults with post-secondary degrees in the world. Today, the U.S. has fallen to 12th.
→Ten years ago, the United States was ranked number one in average wealth per adult. In 2010, the United States has fallen to seventh.

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM
BOULDER, CO - Police in Colorado said a 63-year-old man was apparently sleepwalking when he shot himself in the knee. Boulder police said Sanford Rothman, 63, called 911 and said he woke up to a loud bang and could not clearly recollect how he came to be shot in the left knee, The (Boulder) Daily Camera reported Thursday. Rothman was treated at Boulder Community Hospital and released. Police said it appears Rothman, who keeps his 9mm handgun next to his bed, accidentally shot himself while sleepwalking. Investigators said he was home alone at the time of the incident.

A LITTLE LAUGH
A soldier stationed on duty in the Far East was going to be discharged soon, and was planning on going home. Remembering his mother's accumulation of dishes and serving plates he decided she deserved something nicer than the cracked, mismatched array that she used at home. So he had an artisan in Japan make a special china service for him, 10 place settings, with serving pieces and ovenware and had it packaged and sent home.

The next month he was finally discharged and returned to what was to be a hero's welcome by the friends and family at a family dinner.

As they sat down to the dinner his mother had prepared, out came the old cracked, mismatched set of dishes.

"Mom," he said, "didn't you get the dishes I sent you from Japan?"

"Yes, dear, I did, and they are very nice."

"Then why aren't you using them?" he asked.

"Well," she said, "I'm saving them for a special occasion."

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’
Some Mt. Rushmore History: Click Here to View!

GREY MATTER PICTURE
This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION
¤ Weekly Observances ¤
24-31: Disarmament Week ^ Give Wildlife a Break Week ^ Pastoral Care Week ^ Peace, Friendship and Good Will Week ^ Prescription Errors Education & Awareness Week ^ International Magic Week ^ National Respiratory Care Week
27-11/3: World Hearing Aid Awareness Week
¤ Today’s Observances ¤
National Magic Day
Increase Your Psychic Powers Day
Books for Treats Day
Halloween
National Caramel Apple Day
National Knock-Knock Jokes Day
National UNICEF Day
Celts: Samhain in the Northern Hemisphere
Cornwall, United Kingdom: Allantide (for St. Arlan & now as Halloween)
Iran: Crown Prince's Birthday
MA: Youth Honor Day
NV: Admission Day (1864)
St Lucia, St Vincent: Thanksgiving Day
Slovenia: Reformation Day
¤ Hit Songs on this date ¤
1898...She Was Happy Till She Met You--Dan Quinn (original not available)
1908...Take Me Out to the Ball Game--Harry MacDonough & Haydn Quartet Click Here to View!
1918...Over There--Enrico CarusoClick Here to View!
1928...Sonny Boy--Al Jolson Click Here to View!
1938...Heart and Soul--Larry Clinton Click Here to View!
1948…Buttons and Bows--Dinah Shore Click Here to View!
1958…It's All in the Game--Tommy Edwards Click Here to View!
1968…Hey Jude--The Beatles Click Here to View!
1978…You Needed Me--Anne Murray Click Here to View!
1988…Kokomo--The Beach Boys Click Here to View!
¤ Today’s Births ¤
╬ THE ARTS
Dick Francis,Welsh jockey/novelist (Whip Hand, High Stakes), born in 1920
Peter Jackson, 49, director (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong)
John Keats, English romantic poet (Ode to a Grecian Urn), born in 1795
Tom Paxton, 73, folk singer/songwriter (Forest Lawn)
Vanilla Ice [Robert Van Winkle], 43, rapper, actor
♦♦Actors♦♦
John (Franklin) Candy, comedian, actor: Second City, The Blues Brothers…, born in 1950
Dale Evans (Frances Octavia Smith), actress, singer, cowgirl (Roy Rogers Show), born in 1912
Barbara Bel Geddes, actress (Vertigo, Miss Ellie-Dallas, Caught), born in 1922
Michael Landon (Eugene Orowitz), actor (Bonanza, Highway to Heaven), born in 1937
David Ogden Stiers, 68, actor (“M*A*S*H,” North and South
Ethel Waters, actress (Beulah)/singer (Stormy Weather), born in 1896
╬ ATHLETICS
Frank Shorter. 63, marathon runner (Olympic-gold-1972)
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
Jane Pauley, 60, TV personality
Dan Rather, 79, journalist (former anchor “CBS Evening News”)
Hicks B Waldron, CEO (Avon), born in 1923
╬ POLITICS
Chiang Kai-shek, China, pres of Nationalist China, born in 1887
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
Michael Collins, 79, former astronaut
Sir George Hubert Wilkins, polar explorer (Flying the Arctic), born in 1888
¤ Today’s Obituaries ¤
Joseph Campbell, mythologist (Mythic Image), @ 83
Indira Gandhi, PM of India, assassinated by 2 of her Sikh bodyguards @ 66 in 1984
John Houseman, actor, dies of spinal cancer @ 86
William Parson, 3rd Earl of Rosse & maker of large telescopes, @65 in 1865
Erich Weiss, better known as magician Harry Houdini, peritonitis @ 52 in 1926
¤ Today’s Events ¤
╬ THE ARTS
1587▬Leiden University Library (Netherlands) opens its doors after its founding in 1575.
╬ ATHLETICS
1908▬ 4th Olympic games end in London
1988▬ 1st Monday Night NFL game in Indianapolis, Colts beat Denver 55-23
╬ BUSINESS & EDUCATION
1846▬ The Donner party became trapped in what is now known as Donner Pass in the Sierra Mountains
1956▬ Brooklyn, NY ends streetcar service
1999▬ EgyptAir Flight 990, en route to Cairo from New York, crashed off the coast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. All 217 people on board died. Some American investigators suspected a relief co-pilot deliberately put the plane into a suicide dive, causing the crash.
╬ INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
1818▬According to the U.S.Army, today marks the end of First Seminole War
╬ POLITICS (US)
1864▬ Nevada admitted as 36th state
1868▬ Postmaster General Alexander Williams Randall approved a standard uniform for postal carriers.
1950▬ Collazo & Torresola attempt to kill Truman in Washington, DC
1968▬ President Johnson orders a halt to all bombing of North Vietnam
╬ POLITICS (International)
1922▬ Benito Mussolini (Il Duce) becomes premier of Italy
1956▬ Britain & France begin to bomb Egypt to reopen the Suez Canal
1973▬Mountjoy Prison helicopter escape. Three Provisional Irish Republican Army members escape from Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, Republic of Ireland aboard a hijacked helicopter that lands in the exercise yard.
╬ SCIENCE & RELIGION
1517▬ Luther posts 95 theses on Wittenberg church-Protestant Reformation
1815▬ Sir Humphrey Davy of London patents miner's safety lamp
1956▬ George J. Dufek of Admiral Robert Byrd’s expedition party became the first American to land by air at the South Pole.
1982▬ Pope John Paul II becomes 1st pontiff to visit Spain
GREY MATTER ANSWERS
↔ JEOPARDY
$100- In 1984, there were only 70 of these head servants left in England:
What are butlers?
$200- Nobody wants to hear all of this camp song about decreasing containers of brew:
What is ’99 bottles of beer on the wall’?
$300- A stew of various meats, a jar of mixed flower petals, or an old "Jeopardy" category:
What is potpourri?
$400- This president is said to be related to John Kennedy, Princess Di & F. Mitterand:
Who is Ronald Reagan?
$500- The place you most readily find "QWERTYUIOP"; you can spell it using only these letters: What is a typewriter?
↔ PICTURE
Ultraman, a toy action figure
Sorry, picture wouldn't load.
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Flagstaff, Arizona, United States
I retired in '06--at the ripe old age of 57. I enjoy blogging, photography, traveling, and living life to it's fullest.