7-4-11 Independence Day

Ø  TODAY’s “Geez”:

·        1776 - Declaration of Independence-US gains independence from Britain

·        1796 - 1st Independence Day celebration is held

·        1876 - Batholdi visits Bedloe Island, future home of his Statue of Liberty

·        1884 - Statue of Liberty presented to US in Paris

·        1944 - 1st Japanese kamikaze attack, US fleet near Iwo Jima

·        1987 - Nazi Klaus Barbie, "Butcher of Lyon" sentenced to life in France

Ø  Free Rambling Thoughts…

Happy 4^th to all.

I had the first monsoon rain at my place today. It was cloudy much of the day, then this early this afternoon, the clouds opened up and the rain came. It wasn’t a lot, here, but any is appreciated. Sadly this meant flooding for those downstream from the burn area. My friends out in that area were OK today. Of course with rain, comes lightning during the Monsoon, and a few small fires started up on the mountain. It sounds like everyone is on top of these small fires. Then, in the early evening, another monsoon, this one with a lot more rain. Both really cooled us off. And hours after the rain stopped, the smell of rain is still filling the air. Outstanding!!!!!

It’s the fourth of July—Independence Day and with that comes a price. We all hear that. However; here in Flag it means more. The Chamber of Commerce sponsors the parade every year. As business people, the ones who are told are going to get us out of the budget mess, charge a $50 entry fee for those in the parade. For many groups, that fee is waived. A least that’s the way it used to be. Last year and this year they refused to offer the VFW, American Legion, and the Marine Charities did not get a waiver. WTF? All three groups said they could not afford the entry fee. The Chamber relented, but too late for the organizations to get an entry together. Not to get too patriotic, but these are the men and women who made it possible for us to celebrate Independence Day. Now that this is in the paper, I hope that people unite against the Chamber’s money grabbing philosophy. I certainly plan to contact the Chamber on Tuesday to let them know how wrong this is. It is discouraging that there is such a dark underside to a community event like this. I’m sure that most of the flag wavers and cheering people at the parade will not even know why there are no floats from these groups. I understand there will be some military groups in the parade, those who caved to the outrageous fee. These are tough economic times and the Chamber is going to make sure they don’t suffer.

I talked to Bob this afternoon. He will arrive here on the 11^th. That is one day earlier than expected. We will have a day to get ready before we attend the meeting on the 12^th. He is driving in from ABQ and if he came in on the 12^th, it would be a tight schedule for him. This way he will also get to see a little of Flag before we take off.

Ø  Trivia Quiz…(answers at the end of post)

1.      Which 90s Bond girl appeared in the sitcom Sunday Dinner?

2.      In which decade was M*A*S*H set?

3.      In which show did Laverne and Shirley first appear?

4.      In which Florida resort was The Golden Girls set?

5.      Which sitcom, premiered in 1988, featured Dr. Harry Weston?

6.      Which spin-off from The Cosby Show premiered in 1987?

7.      Who was head of the Addams family?

8.      In Cheers, Sam was a former pitcher for which team?

9.      In The Cosby Show which insect was the name of Theo's friend?

10.   Which rock classic was the original theme music for Happy Days?

11.   What was the setting for It's Gary Shandling's Show?

12.   What was the most-watched TV show in history when it was screened in May 1993?

13.   Where did Frasier live in the spin-off from Cheers?

Ø  Zoom-ed in Picture…Can you Identify what this is? (Answer at end of post)

Ø  Hmmmmm…

·        Estimated number of ‘behavior detection officers’ employed in US airports to spot potentially dangerous travelers: 3,000

·        Percentage of the officers’ 266,000 referrals since 2006 that led to arrests: 0.7 (1,861 people)

Ø  Somewhat Useless Information…

·        An ice cube in a glass of water will not raise the water level when it melts. The amount of space it displaces as a cube is equal to the amount it takes up when liquefied.

·        A ball of glass will bounce higher than a ball made of rubber. A ball of solid steel will bounce higher than one made entirely of glass. Huh?

Ø  Yeah, It Really Happened…

NEW CASTLE, Pa. - Police in Pennsylvania said two women were unable to stop a purse snatcher but they were able to use a cane to dent his getaway vehicle.

Investigators said Jerry Lee Brown Jr., 27, allegedly grabbed a purse from a woman in a parking lot at Neshannock Village in New Castle June 24 and a woman with the victim attempted to strike him with a cane, the New Castle News reported Thursday. Brown escaped in a car with a dark-haired woman and two small children, police said, but the woman accompanying the alleged victim was able to dent the vehicle with her cane.

Police said they received a tip the suspects they were seeking may have been Brown and Tatiana Marie Vargas, 21, who were suspects in a similar incident. The pair, and a silver Dodge Stratus with dents police believed to be from the woman's cane, were located Sunday. Brown was charged with two felony counts of robbery, misdemeanor counts of theft and receiving stolen property and a summary count of harassment. Vargas was charged with two felony counts of conspiracy/robbery, misdemeanor counts of conspiracy/theft and conspiracy/receiving stolen property and a summary count of conspiracy/

harassment.

Ø  Guffaw…or at least smile…

A man moved to a mountain top to get rid of the hustle and be alone. One day he heard a knock at the door and no one was there but then he looked down and there sat a snail and it said "it is quite cold out here can I come in?"

The man shouted "NO why don’t you all understand I want to be alone!" and he kicked the snail down the mountain.

One year later there was a knock at the door and no one was there and then he looked down and there again sat a snail and it said, "What did you do that for?"

Ø  Searchin’ “You Tube” I found…

Medley of Patriotic Songs

God Bless America, Kate Smith, 1st time

America the Beautiful

Ballad of Green Beret--Sgt Barry Sadler

Star Spangled Banner-Whitney Houston

US Armed Forces Medley

Ø  Daybook Information…

…Happening This Week:

·        1-4  International Chicken Wing Week

·        1-7  National Unassisted Homebirth Week

·        3-9  Be Nice To New Jersey Week

·        4-10 Freedom Week

  Nude Recreation Weekend

Ø  TODAY IS

·        Earth at Aphelion

·        Independence From Meat Day

·        Indivisible Day

·        National Country Music Day

·        National Country Music Day

·        Caribbean--Caricom Day (since 1973; Single economic community for Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago)

·        Philippines--Filipino-American Friendship Day

·        US--Fourth of July or Independence Day

o   1959 Alaska becomes 49^th state

o   1960 Hawaii become 50^th state

·        Zambia--Heroes Day  

Ø  Today’s Events:

…  IN ARTS

1831 - "America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)" is 1st sung in Boston

1845 - Henry David Thoreau moves into his shack on Walden Pond

1855 - In Brooklyn, New York, the first edition of Walt Whitman's book of poems, titled Leaves of Grass, is published.

1862 - Lewis Carroll creates Alice in Wonderland for Alice P Liddell

1895 - Katherine Lee Bates publishes "America the Beautiful"

…  IN ATHLETICS

1884 - 1st US bullfight held (Dodge City Ks)

1888 - 1st organized rodeo competition held, Prescott, AZ

1911 - Ty Cobb goes 0 for 4 & ends a 40 game hit streak

1914 - 1st US motorcycle race (300 miles, Dodge City Ks)

1980 - Nolan Ryan is 4th to strikeout 3,000

…  IN BUSINESS

1837 - Grand Junction Railway, the world's first long-distance railway, opens between Birmingham and Liverpool

1876 - 1st public exhibition of electric light in SF

1883 - Buffalo Bill Cody presents 1st wild west show, North Platte, Nebraska

1933 - Work begins on Oakland Bay Bridge

1996 - Hot Mail, a free internet E-mail service begins

2009 - The Statue of Liberty's crown reopens to the public after 8 years, due to security reasons following the World Trade Center attacks

… IN EDUCATION

1881 - Booker T Washington establishes Tuskegee Institute (Alabama)

…  FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

1636 - Boston’s "Standing Committee" gives orders to John Withrop, Jr. to give to the Pequots. They must turn over two murder suspects, as required by the treaty of 1634, or face a war.

1777 - The Shawnees attack Boonesborough, again. Similar to their last incursion on April 15th, the town's fortification prove to be too substantial for them to breech.

…  IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

1950 - The first broadcast by Radio Free Europe.

… IN RELIGION

1453 - 41 Jewish martyrs burned at stake at Breslau

1918 - Altar dedicated at full-scale replica of Stonehenge at Maryhill, WA

…  IN SCIENCE

1819 - William Herschel makes last telescopic observation of 1819 comet

…  IN US POLITICS

1636 - City of Providence, Rhode Island form

1802 - US Military Academy officially opens (West Point, NY)

1803 - The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people

1845 - Texas Congress votes for annexation to US

1863 - Boise, Idaho founded (now capital of Idaho)

1863 - Vicksburg, Mississippi surrenders to Union forces

1898 - US flag hoisted over Wake Island (Spanish-American War)

1944 - 1,100 US guns fire 4th of July salute at German lines in Normandy

1966 - LBJ signs Freedom of Information Act

… ARTISTS:  AUTHORS:  COMPOSERS

1804 - Nathaniel Hawthorne, author (House of 7 Gables, Scarlet Letter) 

1882 - Louis B. Mayer, American film producer 

Neil Simon, playwright (Odd Couple, Plaza Suite, Biloxi Blues) turns 84

1909 - Alec Templeton, Cardiff Wales, pianist/composer (Concertino Lirico)

…ATHLETES

Pam Shriver, tennis star (1991 US Open doubles/Oly-gold-88) turns 49

…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS…)

1931- Stephen Boyd actor

1826 - Stephen Foster, composer (Oh! Susanna, Swanee River and  other songs )

1912 - Virginia Graham, TV personality (Girl Talk, Where Was I)

1898 - Johnny Lee, actor (Calhoun-Amos 'n' Andy)

Gina Lollobrigida, actress (Trapeze, Falcon Crest) turns 84

1911 - Mitch Miller, sing along with Mitch (Yellow Rose of Texas)

Eva Marie Saint, Newark NJ, actress (On the Waterfront) turns 87

… ENTREPRENEUR & EDUCATORS

1847 - James Anthony Bailey, circus impresario (Barnum & Bailey)

1918 - Ann Landers, twin sister/advice columnist

1920 - Leona Helmsley, (wife of Harry), real estate billionaire/tax cheat

Abigail Van Buren, [Mrs Morton Phillips], Sioux City Iowa, columnist turns 93

1816 - Hiram Walker, American grocer and distiller (d. 1899)

…POLITICIANS

1872 - Calvin Coolidge, [Silent Cal], 30th pres (1923-29)

…SCIENTISTS / THEOLOGISTS

▬

Ø  Today’s Obits:

1826 - John Adams, 2nd president (1797-1801), dies at 90

1826 - Thomas Jefferson, 3rd president (1801-09), dies at 83

1831 - James Monroe, 5th president (1817-25), dies of heart failure/TB at 73

>> 

1934 - "Madame" Marie Curie-Sklodovska, Polish/French chemist, dies of aplastic anemia from radiation exposure at 66

1995 - Eva Gabor, actress (Green Acres), dies of repertory failure after bath tub fall at 74

1995 - Richard "Pancho" Gonzalez, tennis great, dies of stomach cancer at 67

1891 - Hannibal Hamlin, U.S. Vice President dies at 82

1997 - Charles Kuralt, news anchor (CBS Sunday Morning), dies of lupus at 62

1957 - Judy Tyler, actress (Princess Summerfall Winterspring- Howdy Doody), dies at 24 in car crash

2003 - Barry White, American singer dies of kidney failure/stroke at 59

Ø  ANSWERS:

Ø  Trivia Quiz

1.      Which 90s Bond girl appeared in the sitcom Sunday Dinner?

a.      Teri Hatcher

2.      In which decade was M*A*S*H set?

a.      1950s

3.      In which show did Laverne and Shirley first appear?

a.      Happy Days                       

4.      In which Florida resort was The Golden Girls set?

a.      Miami

5.      Which sitcom, premiered in 1988, featured Dr. Harry Weston?

a.      Empty Nest

6.      Which spin-off from The Cosby Show premiered in 1987?

a.      A Different World

7.      Who was head of the Addams family?

a.      Gomez

8.      In Cheers, Sam was a former pitcher for which team?

a.      Boston Red Sox

9.      In The Cosby Show which insect was the name of Theo's friend?

a.      Cockroach

10.   Which rock classic was the original theme music for Happy Days?

a.      Bill Haley's Rock Around The Clock

11.   What was the setting for It's Gary Shandling's Show?

a.      His sitting room

12.   What was the most-watched TV show in history when it was screened in May 1993?

a.      Final episode of Cheers

13.   Where did Frasier live in the spin-off from Cheers?

a.      Seattle

Ø  Close Up Picture

Tattoo Sticker Machine

Ø  …AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW

7-3-11

Ø  TODAY’s “Geez”:

·        1913 - Common tern banded in Maine; found dead in 1919 in Africa (1st bird known to have crossed the Atlantic)

·        1938 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates the Eternal Light Peace Memorial and lights the eternal flame at Gettysburg Battlefield.

·        1976 - Israel launches rescue of 103 Air France crew & passengers being held at Entebbe Airport in Uganda by pro-Palestinian hijackers

·        1996 - Stone of Scone returned to Scotland.

Ø  Free Rambling Thoughts…

Another hot day. It got cloudy this afternoon, but alas, no rain in this part of town. Others around town are saying they got a few sprinkles. Maybe tomorrow will bring some relief. I had basically no wind or breeze, so a fan helped keep the air moving. Gotta keep my body ready for the river trip, so no cooler.

I had a lazy day, catching up on some cleaning and some of my favorite shows I had on the DVR. It did feel strange not having the horse races this weekend. It was always a way to catch up with people I don’t see very often, although I never made a lot of bucks, it was good for a couple of afternoons each year. Sign of these poor economic times.

I read an article about the fire in NM. The Pueblo tribes are losing a huge part of the forest, but even worse, their sacred lands are being decimated. Some ruins have been destroyed, and the end to the damage is nowhere in sight.  So sad for the tribes affected, and sad to say it is not in the news that much. Many tribes are suffering from loss of land, loss of forest, and loss of sacred areas.

Ø  Trivia Quiz…(answers at the end of post)

1.      Where was Thirty Something set?

2.      Which actress Ellen was the star of Ellen?

3.      In what type of institution was The Acts Of Life set?

4.      Which series was about a lawyer called Ally?

5.      Who was Butt-Head's comedy partner?

6.      Which British comic Benny created Fred Scuttle and Professor Marvel?

7.      How many friends are there in Friends?

8.      Who was the neighborhood police officer in Top Cat?

9.      Who created the characters Clem Kadiddlehopper and The Mean Widdle Kid?

10.   What was Carol Burnett's 1990s comedy series called?

11.   In the 70s, how were Mike, Carol, Greg, Marcia, Jan, Peter, Cindy and Bobby known?

12.   What was the name of the father in All In The Family?

Ø  Zoom-ed in Picture…Can you Identify what this is? (Answer at end of post)

Ø  Hmmmmm…

·        Number of times in which The New York Times characterized the practice of waterboarding as torture before 2004: 44

·        Number of times it has since 2004: 2

Ø  Somewhat Useless Information…

·        In the early 1900s, aspirin maker Bayer also commercially developed and sold heroin for medicinal uses.

·        According to the Institute of Medicine, 1.5 million patients suffer each year because of mistakes made with medicine they are given by hospitals.

Ø  Yeah, It Really Happened…

BRADENTON, Fla. - Florida police said a man who stole a bag of what he apparently believed to be cash from a Popeye's Chicken manager instead got a bag full of worthless papers. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said the robber, who was dressed in a black jacket and motorcycle helmet, approached the manager as he was leaving the Bradenton business at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and displayed a handgun, The (Sarasota, Fla.) Herald-Tribune reported Thursday. The man demanded the manager give him the bag and deputies said the suspect fled on a scooter. Investigators said there was no cash in the bag, which contained only work-related documents.

Ø  Guffaw…or at least smile…

Man: He must be so happy!

 Woman: Who?

 Man: Your father.

 Woman: Why?

 Man: Because he gets to see an angel every day.

Ø  Searchin’ “You Tube” I found…

Pete Fountain - Closer Walk With Thee/Amazing Grace

Ø  Daybook Information…

…Happening This Week:

·        1-4  International Chicken Wing Week

·        1-7  National Unassisted Homebirth Week

·        3-9  Be Nice To New Jersey Week

Ø  TODAY IS

·        Air Conditioning Appreciation Days  [thru Aug 15]

·        Compliment Your Mirror Day

·        Dog Days (07/03-08/11)

·        Stay Out Of The Sun Day

·        Idaho--Admission Day (43^rd state--1890) 

·        Belarus--Independence Day (1990 from USSR)

Ø  Today’s Events:

…  IN ARTS

▬

…  IN ATHLETICS

1939 - Lou Gehrig day; Gehrig makes "luckiest man" speech

1983 - Calvin Smith of US becomes fastest man alive (9.93 for 100m)

…  IN BUSINESS

1767 - Norway's oldest newspaper still in print, Adresseavisen, is founded 

1861 - Pony Express arrives in SF with overland letters from NY

1884 - Dow Jones published it's 1st stock avg

1886 - 1st NY Tribune printing using 1st commercial linotype machine

1934 - FDIC pays off 1st insured depositors, Fon du Lac Bank, East Peoria IL

… IN EDUCATION

1839 - 1st state normal school in US opens, Lexington, Mass, with 3 students

…  FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

1 724 - Frenchman Etienne Veniard deBourgmont leaves Fort Orleans en route to the "land of the Padoucas." He is going there to try to establish peace and trade with them. He is traveling with "a hundred Missouris, commanded by their Grand Chief, and eight other Chiefs of war, and by sixty-four Osages, commanded by four Chiefs of war, besides a few Frenchmen."

1761 - According to some sources, the Northwest Confederacy is created at a council near Detroit. Its members include the Delaware, Miami, Ojibwa, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Shawnee and the Wyandot.

…  IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

1608 - Samuel de Champlain founded city of Quebec

1767 - Pitcairn Island is discovered by Midshipman Robert Pitcairn on an expeditionary voyage commanded by Philip Carteret.

1848 - Slaves freed in Danish West Indies (now US Virgin Islands)

2005 - The national law legalizing same-sex marriage takes effect in Spain.

… IN RELIGION

▬

…  IN SCIENCE

1806 - Michael Keens exhibits 1st cultivated strawberry

1929 - Dunlop Latex Development Laboratories made foam rubber

…  IN US POLITICS

1863 - Battle of Gettysburg Pa ends, major victory for North

1864 - Harpers Ferry, WV - Federals evacuate in face of Early's advance

1930 - Veterans Administration created

1952 - Puerto Rico's constitution approved by US Congress

1984 - Supreme Court rules Jaycees may be forced to admit women as members

… ARTISTS:  AUTHORS:  COMPOSERS

Dave Barry, American humorist and author turns 64

1738 - John Singleton Copley, Mass, finest colonial American artist

1860 - Charlotte Perkins Gilman, economist/lecturer/author/feminist

…ATHLETES

Orel Hershiser, pitcher (LA Dodgers, Cleveland Indians) turns 53

Terry Irving, NFL outside linebacker (Arizona Cardinals) turns 40

Lance Larson, US, 100m freestyle swimmer (Olympic-silver-1960) turns 71

…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS…)

1878 - George M Cohan, actor/singer (Phantom Pres,  Give My Regards to Broadway,  Over There)

Tom Cruise, actor turns 49

Deborah Duchene actor turns 49

Tommy Flanagan actor turns 46

Pete Fountain, New Orleans, jazz clarinetist (Lawrence Welk 1957-59) turns 81

Thomas Gibson TV actor turns 49

Geraldo Rivera, [Gerry Rivers], NYC, news personality (20/20, Geraldo) turns 68

1906 - George Sanders, Russia, actor (All About Eve-Academy Award 1950)

Montel Williams, TV talk show host (Montel) turns 54

… ENTREPRENEUR & EDUCATORS

Gloria Allred, feminist attorney turns 70

…POLITICIANS

1909 - Earl L Butz, US Secretary of Agriculture (1971-76)

…SCIENTISTS / THEOLOGISTS

1567 - Samuel de Champlain, explorer (Lake Champlain)

Ø  Today’s Obits:

1989 - Jim Backus, actor (Magoo, Gilligan's Island), dies of pneumonia at 76

1863 - Little Crow, [Ta-oya-te-duta], Santee Sioux indian chief, killed at 53

1993 - "Curly" Joe DeRita, last of Three Stooges, dies of pneumonia at 83

1971 - Jim Morrison, rock singer (Doors), dies of heart failure at 27

1778 - Jean-Jacques Rousseau, French writer/composer (Pygmalion), dies at 66

1965 - Trigger, horse (Roy Rogers), dies at 25

Ø  ANSWERS:

Ø  Trivia Quiz

1.      Where was Thirty Something set?

a.      Philadelphia

2.      Which actress Ellen was the star of Ellen?

a.      Ellen DeGeneres

3.      In what type of institution was The Acts Of Life set?

a.      Girls' boarding school

4.      Which series was about a lawyer called Ally?

a.      Ally McBeal

5.      Who was Butt-Head's comedy partner?

a.      Beavis

6.      Which British comic Benny created Fred Scuttle and Professor Marvel?

a.      Hill

7.      How many friends are there in Friends?

a.      Six [Jennifer Aniston portrays Rachel Green; Courteney Cox portrays Monica Geller; Lisa Kudrow portrays Phoebe Buffay; Matt Le Blanc portrays Joey Tribbiani; Matthew Perry portrays Chandler Bing; David Schwimmer portrays Ross Geller ]

8.      Who was the neighborhood police officer in Top Cat?

a.      Officer Dibble

9.      Who created the characters Clem Kadiddlehopper and The Mean Widdle Kid?

a.      Red Skelton

10.   What was Carol Burnett's 1990s comedy series called?

a.      Carol and Company

11.   In the 70s, how were Mike, Carol, Greg, Marcia, Jan, Peter, Cindy and Bobby known?

a.      The Brady Bunch

12.   What was the name of the father in All In The Family?

a.      Archie Bunker

 Close Up Picture

Ø  …AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW

7-2-11

Ø  TODAY’s “Geez”:

·        1776 - NJ gave all adults who show a net worth of 50 pounds right to vote

·        1862 - Lincoln signs act granting land for state agricultural colleges

·        1979 - Susan B Anthony dollar is issued, 1st US coin to honor a woman

Ø  Free Rambling Thoughts…

Another very warm day with very low humidity. Thankfully no fires. Traffic is here. I was in and out today and every time I went out there was more traffic. Not being the brightest firework in the package, I went to Sam’s Club this afternoon about three. I was going to get gas, but gave up, as it looked like the 1970’s gas lines. Going inside Sam’s wasn’t too bright either. Every register was open, every register had a line. I did get what I needed. They even had two people, with lines, checking our purchases as we left. What a mess.

I had lunch with Cheryl and two of her grandkids—an 8^th grader and a sophomore. She will be taking them Michigan in a week or so. They are typical teenagers, with cell phones in hand, texting all the time. They are polite and did carry on a conversation. We ate at La Fonda, and it too was really crowded, being the first of the month. Still had really good food and good service. Also, good conversations.

Much of our complex has headed out for the long weekend. People were packing up early this morning, and now that everyone is off work, more are packing up. I have never been a big traveler over the fourth. I used to come to Flag and spend a couple of nights, then head back to the Rez. Now that I’m here, no need to head anywhere. I’ve never been big on crowds and certainly never liked being on the highway when traffic is heavy. So, I’ll hang around Flag and have a great time.

I have been watching an unusual trend in state government. Many of the conservative legislatures and governors do not want government regulation. AZ wants to ignore EPA rules. Many of these states are in financial difficulty or are already broke. Yet they have also made two kinds of laws that are more restrictive on their populations. One is on abortion and the other on voter registration. States are making it harder and harder for women to have the right to choose. That is a social issue, not a fiscal issue. States are also requiring more and more paperwork to register to vote. Another social issue. While their states are broke, they aren’t answering any of the tough fiscal problems. Minnesota actually shut down all government operations..because the legislature couldn’t agree on a budget that was filled with social change issues. This action closed all the state parks over the Independence Day weekend. Prisoners in their state prisons can no longer visit the library; have church services, weight rooms or TV. There will be no family visits during the shutdown of the state government. The zoos are closed, although someone will stay on to feed the animals. If the shutdown continues until after the long weekend, the people of MN will quickly see what it is like to have no state government services. They had closed down back in 05 when Presidential candidate Pawlenty was governor. Today he said that the 05 shutdown was only 9 days and now he wished they hadn’t caved in so quickly and that he hopes this shutdown will last longer. This is total insanity.

Ø  Trivia Quiz…(answers at the end of post)

1.      In football, where do the 1990s Titans come from?

2.      Who was younger when they became President, Clinton or Kennedy?

3.      The novel Airport was a best seller for which author?

4.      Which female sang the Bond theme to Goldeneye?

5.      Golfer Bernhard Langer comes from which country?

6.      The D Day landings took place in which country?

7.      Who was the first man to fly in space?

8.      In which decade of the 20th century was Chevy Chase born?

9.      What is the postal abbreviation for Missouri?

10.   Who was Bill Clinton's first Vice President?

11.   Which Box gave Mariah Carey a multi-million album success?

12.   Which Bruce declared he was Born In The USA?

13.   Oakland international airport is in which state?

Ø  Zoom-ed in Picture…Can you Identify what this is? (Answer at end of post)

Ø  Hmmmmm…

·        Minimum number of people prosecuted so far by the Obama Administration for leaking classified document”: 4

·        Number prosecuted under the Bush Administration: 0

Ø  Somewhat Useless Information…

·        The rose family of plants, in addition to flowers, gives us apples, pears, plums, cherries, almonds, peaches and apricots.

·        84% of a raw apple and 96% of a raw cucumber is water

Ø  Yeah, It Really Happened…

JACKSON, N.J. — Police remain on the lookout for a baboon after fielding calls reporting the animal was seen roaming a New Jersey neighborhood.

Authorities say it may have escaped from the nearby Six Flags Great Adventure's Monkey Jungle, which is home to 150 baboons.

"To our knowledge, none of our animals have left the premises, but it is not impossible," Six Flags spokesperson Kristin Siebeneicher told msnbc.com.

The baboons sleep outdoors at night and as a result, they are not rounded up every morning and evening, which is typically when park staff would take count. “There is breeding happening since we let them live as naturally as possible,” Siebeneicher said.

She did not know when the park last counted the baboon population. She also said they did not notice any “tampering” with the fences.

The baboon has not been identified, though the animals in the Monkey Jungle are microchipped. Siebeneicher said the animal would need to be very close to be identified by a chip reader. “It could be be identified if you had a chip reader, but  you’d need to have the [the baboon] in your possession.”

The first baboon sighting came Thursday, when a driver said the animal was near Interstate 195, and later that day a woman said a baboon was sitting on her back porch in Jackson. On Friday morning, two residents in developments not far from the park reported a baboon was in their neighborhoods.

Ø  Guffaw…or at least smile…

Teacher: Now, you must not say, “I ain’t goin’.” You should say, “I am not going, he is not going; we are not going; they are not going.”

 Student: Wow! Ain’t nobody goin’ then?

Ø  Searchin’ “You Tube” I found…

Ken (Festus) Curtis

Ø  Daybook Information…

…Happening This Week:

·        1-4  International Chicken Wing Week

·        1-7  National Unassisted Homebirth Week

Ø  TODAY IS

·        I  Forgot Day

·        International Cherry Pit Spitting Day

·        International Day of Cooperatives

·        Visitation Of The Virgin Mary Day

Ø  Today’s Events:

…  IN ARTS

1955 - "Lawrence Welk Show" premieres on ABC

…  IN ATHLETICS

1902 - John J McGraw becomes manager of NY Giants (stays for 30 years)

1943 - Indians score 12 runs in 4th inning & beat Yankees 12-0

1963 - Giant Willie Mays' HR in 16th inning gives them a 1-0 win over Braves

…  IN BUSINESS

1867 - 1st US elevated railroad begins service, NYC

1901 - Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid rob train of $40,000 at Wagner Montana

1937 - Amelia Earhart & Fred Noonan disappear over Pacific Ocean

… IN EDUCATION

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…  FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

  695 - Maya Smoke Imix, king of Copán, Honduras is buried, according to some sources

1754 - According to some reports, a peace agreement is reached by representatives of the British in Massachusetts and the Norridgewock Indians.

…  IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

1561 - Menas, Emperor of Ethiopia, defeats a revolt in Emfraz

1928 - British parliament accept female suffrage

1972 - India & Pakistan sign peace accord

1976 - Formal reunification of North and South Vietnam

… IN RELIGION

1865 - William Booth founds Salvation Army (Army of the Salvation)

2008 - Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other FARC hostages are rescued by the Colombian armed forces

…  IN SCIENCE

1843 - An alligator falls from sky during a Charleston SC thunderstorm

2002 - Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly solo around the world nonstop in a balloon

…  IN US POLITICS

1613 - The first English expedition from Massachusetts against Acadia led by Samuel Argall

1679 - Europeans first visit Minnesota and see headwaters of Mississippi in an expedition led by Daniel Greysolon de Du Luth

1777 - Vermont becomes 1st American colony to abolish slavery

1881 - Pres Garfield shot by Charles J Guiteau a disappointed office-seeker

1890 - Congress passes Sherman Antitrust Act

1964 - Pres Johnson signs Civil Rights Act ; Voting Rights Act into law

… ARTISTS:  AUTHORS:  COMPOSERS

▬

…ATHLETES

Jose Canseco, Havana Cuba, outfielder (Oak A's, Red Sox, 1988 AL MVP) turns 47

Johnny Weir, American figure skater turns 27

…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS…)

1894 - Walter Brennan, actor, singer (Real McCoys, At Gun Point; Old Rivers )

Yancy Butler actor, turns 41

1916 - Ken Curtis, [Curtis Gates], actor (Ripcord, Festus-Gunsmoke)

Larry David actor, director turns 64

Polly Holliday actor turns  74

Lindsay Lohan actor turns 25

Ashley Tisdale singer, actor turns 26

… ENTREPRENEUR & EDUCATORS

1893 - Ralph Hancock, Welsh garden designer (Rockefeller Center) (d. 1950)

1932 - Dave Thomas, founder (Wendy's Restaurants)

…POLITICIANS

1820 - George Law Curry, Newspaper publisher and Governor of Oregon (d. 1878)

Vicente Fox, Former Mexican president turns 69

Imelda Marcos, politician/shoe collector/1st lady of Philippines turns 80

1908 - Thurgood Marshall, 1st black Supreme Court justice (1967-91)

John H Sununu, US Secretary of State (R, 1989-91) turns 72

…SCIENTISTS / THEOLOGISTS

▬

Ø  Today’s Obits:

1993 - Don Drysdale, pitcher (Dodgers), dies of a heart attack at 56

1994 - Andres Escobar, Colombia world cup soccer star, shot for losing to US at 27

1973 - Betty Grable, US actress (How to Marry a Millionaire), dies of lung cancer at 56

1995 - Gail Gordon, actor (Our Miss Brooks, Lucy Show), dies of cancer at 89

1993 - Fred Gwynne, actor (Herman-Munsters), dies of pancreatic cancer at 66

1961 - Ernest Hemingway, writer, commits suicide at 61

2006 - Jan Murray, American comedian dies at 90

1566 - Nostradamus, [Michel de Nostre-Dam], French astrologist, dies of dropsy at 62

1999 - Mario Puzo, American author dies at 79

1991 - Lee Remick, actress (Days of Wine & Roses), dies of cancer at 55

2007 - Beverly Sills, American operatic soprano dies at 78

1997 - Jimmy Stewart, actor (It's a Wonderful Life), dies at 89

Ø  ANSWERS:

Ø  Trivia Quiz

1.      In football, where do the 1990s Titans come from?

a.      Tennessee

2.      Who was younger when they became President, Clinton or Kennedy?

a.      Kennedy

3.      The novel Airport was a best seller for which author?

a.      Arthur Haily

4.      Which female sang the Bond theme to Goldeneye?

a.      Tina Turner

5.      Golfer Bernhard Langer comes from which country?

a.      Germany

6.      The D Day landings took place in which country?

a.      France

7.      Who was the first man to fly in space?

a.      Yuri Gagarin

8.      In which decade of the 20th century was Chevy Chase born?

a.      1940s

9.      What is the postal abbreviation for Missouri?

a.      MO

10.   Who was Bill Clinton's first Vice President?

a.      Al Gore

11.   Which Box gave Mariah Carey a multi-million album success?

a.      Music

12.   Which Bruce declared he was Born In The USA?

a.      Springsteen

13.   Oakland international airport is in which state?

a.      California

Close Up Picture

Ø  …AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW