Tuesday 3-15

♣ 16 March 2010~~Week 11 of 2010: 75 days this year…290 remain ♣

♣ Two Quotes to think about…Today ♣

"He is truly wise who gains wisdom from another`s mishap."

~unknown

"The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself."

~Henry Miller

♣ Free Ramblings ♣

I learned today a tiny bit more about the Federal Health Care System. I guess I will have to start reading all those incomprehensible booklets they send out. I learned today that my deductible is $300/calendar year. I had called because one section of the EOB said that I could be billed by my doctor $97. Another part of the exact same EOB I did not owe my physician any charges. Well, after dealing with the lady, I learned I had not met my deductible, and even though it said I didn’t owe my doctor, I really did, because the I had not met my deductible. Talk about double talk. I learned that my co-pay is not part of that deductible nor are any dental procedures. I also learned that the $20 co-pay is for my Primary Care Physician, and it’s $30 for any specialist. It all seems so absurd. The co-pay goes up, the deductible goes up, and the monthly payments go up— all at a rate that is faster than the CPI. The average income rose 20% in the last decade, the health insurance premiums rose 155%.

Those Representatives and Senators, sitting in DC, who think the Health Care system in our country is working just fine need to listen to their districts. It is now time to try something different.

I made a dumb phone mistake the other day. I usually don’t answer my phone without checking the Caller ID. Well I forgot to look, and it was one of those polls. I then didn’t hang up, but answered a few questions about my stand on the economy. That simple thing has come more calls each day than I can count. Today I answered the phone to tell the guy to take me off his list. He asked me if I was for or against a National Health Care plan. I answered yes, and he just hung up…no comment, no thank you, just a hang up. And I didn’t get a chance to tell them to delete my number. No wonder we can’t trust polls. A real fair poll would have asked me more questions.

Since I was about 15 I have shaved almost every day. My father used an electric shaver, and so that’s how I stated. It just didn’t do the job. I switched to a razor and foam at about 16. Back in those days, it was a single blade. Over the years, technology has increased the number of blades. I am now up to a Fusion 5 blade system. I really thought it was no better or worse than the old one blade system of my youth. Well, somehow I ran out of blades and had a couple of two blade disposable razors I sometimes use on trips. I must say, technology has certainly won out. I used one of the two blade shavers for three days. Never got a clean shave. I was also reminded of the days when I got nicks, something I had forgotten all about. Next time I run out of Fusion blades I will head for the store before attempting a shave, and I threw away the two remaining disposable razors, rather than continue to use up a ton of toilet paper on the nicks.

Flagstaff had a real nice outdoor day, and I took some advantage of that. We made it to 44°, and there was very little wind. Lots of snow melted. A nice day, reminding us all that Spring is just around the corner. And none too sooe.

♣Random Fact: ♣

In 21 states, Wal-Mart is the single largest employer.

♣Side Show Stories—♣

Greenwood, SC: At first, Rev. Fred Armfield's arrest for patronizing a prostitute in Greenwood, S.C., in January looked uncontroversial, with Armfield allegedly confessing that he had bargained Melinda "Truck Stop" Robinson down from $10 to $5 for oral sex. Several days later, however, Armfield formally disputed the arrest, calling himself a "descendant of the original Moro-Pithecus Disoch, Kenyapithecus and Afro Pithecus," a "living flesh and blood being with sovereign status," and someone who, based on his character and community standing, should not be prosecuted. Also, he claimed that any payment to "Truck Stop" with Federal Reserve Notes did not legally constitute a purchase since such notes are not lawful money.

♣ Puzzle ♣

Word Boxes are like miniature crossword puzzles, except that each word is filled in across AND down the grid. That is, the answer to 1 across is the same word as the answer to 1 down; 2 across is the same as 2 down; etc. Can you solve these Word Boxes? To solve: draw a square that has 5 X 5 sections.

1 instrument (HINT: P - - - -)

2 metal mass (HINT: - N - - -)

3 spy (HINT: - - E - -)

4 present occasion (HINT: - - - C -)

5 waterlogged mammal (HINT: - - - - R)

♣ Calendar Information ♣

• March’s Month Long Observances •

BIRTHSTONE: aquamarine and bloodstone (courage) FLOWER: Narcissus [daffodil, jonquil] (vanity)

National Cheerleading Safety Month • National Clean Up Your IRS Act Month • National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month • National Craft Month • National Ethics Awareness Month •National Eye Donor Month • National Frozen Food Month • National Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month •National Kidney Month• National Nutrition Month • National Social Work Month • National Umbrella Month • National Women's History Month • Optimism Month • Play The Recorder Month • Poison Prevention Awareness Month • Red Cross Month • Save Your Vision Month • Sing With Your Child Month • Small Press Month •Spiritual Wellness Month • Women's History Month • Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month • Youth Art Month

• Observance Weeks in March•

6-21

   •Iditarod Race

14-20

   •Campfire USA Birthday Week •National Poison Prevention Week •Nat’l Agriculture Week •Nat’l Animal Poison Prevention Week

14-21

   •National Toad Hollow Week

15-19

   •Wildlife Week

15-21

   •Act Happy Week •American Chocolate Week •International Brain Awareness Week •Wellderly Week: To recognize Senior Citizens who don’t act their age

16-22

   •National Inhalant and Poisons Awareness Week

• 16 March Observances—US/UN/World •

Curlew Day

• Long-billed Curlew arrives at the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon, to partake in courtship rituals, mating, nesting, and raising young.

Freedom of Information Day

• the birthday of James Madison, who is widely regarded as the Father of the Constitution and as the foremost advocate for openness in government

Lips Appreciation Day

• to honor all lips, no matter the size, shape, or color--Pucker up.

St. Urho's Day

• •Fictional Finnish Saint of the Grasshopper. Actually a holiday stared in 1956 by a Minnesota Finnish store owner to take the spotlight away from the Irish. St. Urho was the man who chased grasshoppers into the sea with a pitchfork to save the grape harvest of Finland. People dress in green (for the grasshopper), and purple (for the wine). After waving pitchforks around everyone enjoys lots of wine.

•16 March Observances—by country •

Latvia: Latvian Legion Day from 1990-2000 to remember a group that are now believed to be part of the Nazi SS. Celebration was dropped as an official holiday in 1998.

Surinam : Holi Phagwah (Festival of Colors) Today believers cover themselves with colored powders and water.

♣ Number One Songs in…

1947•The Anniversary Song - Dinah Shore

1955•The Ballad of Davy Crockett - Bill Hayes

1963•Walk like a Man - The 4 Seasons

1971•Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin

1979•I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor

• Holy Mackerel: 1915•The Federal Trade Commission began operation. The U.S. government appointed five commissioners to receive $10,000 each year to regulate commerce and prohibit unlawful trade.

• Born on this day •

     …The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Alice Hoffman, 58, writer (Practical Magic, Aquamarine)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Bernardo Bertolucci, 69, filmmaker (Oscar for The Last Emperor; Last Tango in Paris)

Erik Estrada, 61, actor (“CHiPS”)

Jerry Lewis (Joseph Levitch), 84, comedian, actor (My Friend Irma), director (The Bellboy), fund raiser.

Jerry Jeff Walker (Paul Crosby), 68, country singer, guitarist: Mr. Bojangles

Chuck Woolery, 68, game show host (“Love Connection,” “Scrabble”)

Henny Youngman, 1906, (London England), comedian

     …Athletes

Levi Brown, 26, football player (Cardnials)

     …Business, Education

Andrew S Hallidie, 1836, inventor (cable car)

Norbert Rillieux, 1806, inventor (sugar refiner)

     …Politics

James Madison, 1751, 4th US President (1809-17)

Daniel Patrick Moynihan, 1927, U.S. Senator from New York

Patricia Nixon [Thelma Catherine], 1912, 1st lady

     …Science/Religion

Caroline Lucretia Herchel, 1750, (Germany), 1st modern woman astronomer

Georg Simon Ohm, 1787, physicist (discovered Ohm's Law)

•Today’s Obits •

Charles R Darwin, 1882, English naturalist (Origin of species), heart attack @ 73

Tammi Terrell, 1970, singer (Ain't No Mountain High Enough, You're All I Need), brain tumor @ 23

T-Bone Walker, 1975, blues guitarist (Funky Town, Well Done), pneumonia @ 64

Arthur Godfrey, 1983, TV host (Arthur Godrey Show), @ 79

Lord Lovat, Clan Fraser of Lovat, 1995, soldier/Landowner, @ 83

•What Happened on this Day •

     …The Arts

1827•1st US black newspaper, "Freedom's Journal" (New York NY), begins publishing

1850•The novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, was published

1950•1st annual National Book Awards

     …Athletics

2007•The first three-way tie occurs on Jeopardy!—a mental sport!!!

     …Business, Education.

1968•General Motors produces its 100 millionth automobile, the Oldsmobile Toronado.

     …Politics

1190•Jews of York England commit mass suicide rather than submit to baptism

1322•The Battle of Boroughbridge takes place in the First War of Scottish Independence.

1802•Law signed to establish US Military Academy (West Point NY)

1830•London's re-organized police force (Scotland Yard) forms

1861•Arizona Territory votes to leave the Union

1934•Congress passes Migratory Bird Conservation Act

1935•Adolf Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles by introducing compulsory military conscription in Germany
1968•My Lai massacre occurs (Vietnam War); 450 die

1985•Terry Anderson the Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press is is kidnapped in Beirut, Lebanon, by Islamic militants

     …Science/Religion

1802•US army Corps of Engineers established (2nd time)

1912•Mrs William Howard Taft plants 1st cherry tree in Washington DC

1926•Robert Goddard launches 1st liquid fuel rocket, goes 184' (56 meter)

♣ANSWERS to puzzle ♣

PIANO

INGOT

AGENT

NONCE

OTTER

♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣

Monday 3-15

♣ 15 March 2010--Week 11 of 2010: 74 days this year…291 remain ♣

♣ Two Quotes to think about…Today ♣

"He walks as if balancing the family tree on his nose."

~Raymond Moley

"The bed is a bundle of paradoxes: we go to it with reluctance, yet we quit it with regret; we make up our minds every night to leave it early, but we make up our bodies every morning to keep it late."

~Charles Caleb Colton.

♣ Free Ramblings ♣

I have never been a big follower of archeology. I have always been much more interested in the peoples of today. I realize that those that came before us helped shape what and who we are today. I live the study of those ancients to others. Oddly, I do enjoy the folklore of today’s people. Today, I did become interested, at least for a while, in archeology. In Tasmania today’s people are trying to build a highway. The highway crosses an aboriginal site and understandably there are protests. The latest plan of appeasement is to build the highway and have a bridge cross over the aboriginal site. Turns out that some of the artifacts found at this site show that man was making tools there at least 40,000 years ago—the oldest artifacts found this far south. This opened up a whole new train of thought for me. I recalled that in school I learned that Australia was used as a penal colony and that most of the current inhabitants of Australia are related to these criminals. I never remember studying about the aboriginals that were there when the convicts arrived. Now we are learning that the aboriginals were fairly advanced. I have so much to learn. Anyway, the bridge across the aboriginal site reminded me of the Flagstaff issue of our ski lodge. A bridge across the aboriginal site will change forever what happened there. The placing of man-made snow on the sacred peaks will also change forever what happened there. I will continue to follow the highway and bridge issue and will now try to learn more about the aboriginal people who were in that part of the world so long ago. I think I am most curious to find what the aboriginals of today in Tasmania have to say about this land. Will they be like the Natives in the US who are knowledgeable of their ancestor’s beliefs and stories and follow many of them today or will they be like the Egyptians who don’t seem to be aware of any connection to the ancient culture that flourished on their land so long ago.

March Madness is just around the corner. The brackets have been set, the teams are getting ready. The next three weeks will have many great basketball games. This year, no team from AZ or CO made the bracket. While this takes a little excitement out of the tourney, I will still be watching. I wonder how far one of the Cinderella teams will go this year. As the tourney progresses I will find a team or two to get behind. Right now, I need to just enjoy some great basketball.

The wind was really blowing most of the night and much of the day. I was awakened several times during the night by the gusts—my guess is that they were probably about 45-50mph. I expected to wake to a blanket of snow, as predicted. Alas, the wind just blew and dried everything out. We made it to about 45°, and while the wind wasn’t blowing, it was nice outside. There isn’t any snow fall predicted in the near future, so we will see if we can have a nice weather week during the kid’s spring break.

♣Random Fact: ♣

BMW originally made airplane engines.

♣Side Show Stories—♣

LONDON - A British TV host drove 210 miles from London to Manchester, England, in a coffee-powered car as part of a major science fair. Jem Stansfield, one of the hosts of science-themed TV show "Bang Goes the Theory," arrived in Manchester Thursday for this weekend's Big Bang Science Fair at Manchester Central, the BBC reported. Stansfield said before his journey that he was planning to stop at several schools on the road from London to his destination.

"It's important for kids to understand that power is not something that is simply there at the flick of a switch," he said. "With the energy challenge facing the world, the more we encourage children to think about alternative fuels, where energy is stored and how it can be released, the better!" The host said his journey would use enough coffee for 10,000 espressos, and required hourly stops for filter cleanings.

♣ Puzzle ♣

Word Boxes are like miniature crossword puzzles, except that each word is filled in across AND down the grid. That is, the answer to 1 across is the same word as the answer to 1 down; 2 across is the same as 2 down; etc. Can you solve these Word Boxes? To solve: draw a square that has 5 X 5 sections.

1 enclosure, plural (HINT: S - - - -)

2 volatile liquid (HINT: - T - - -)

3 communications device (HINT: - - O - -)

4 wood projection (HINT: - - - O -)

5 ring (HINT: - - - - A)

♣ Calendar Information ♣

• March’s Month Long Observances •

BIRTHSTONE: aquamarine and bloodstone (courage) FLOWER: Narcissus [daffodil, jonquil] (vanity)

National Cheerleading Safety Month • National Clean Up Your IRS Act Month • National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month • National Craft Month • National Ethics Awareness Month •National Eye Donor Month • National Frozen Food Month • National Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month •National Kidney Month• National Nutrition Month • National Social Work Month • National Umbrella Month • National Women's History Month • Optimism Month • Play The Recorder Month • Poison Prevention Awareness Month • Red Cross Month • Save Your Vision Month • Sing With Your Child Month • Small Press Month •Spiritual Wellness Month • Women's History Month • Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month • Youth Art Month

• Observance Weeks in March•

6-21 •Iditarod Race

14-20•Campfire USA Birthday Week

        •National Poison Prevention Week

        •National Agriculture Week

        •National Animal Poison Prevention Week

14-21•National Toad Hollow Week

15-19•Wildlife Week

15-21•Act Happy Week

        •American Chocolate Week

        •International Brain Awareness Week

        •Wellderly Week: To recognize Senior Citizens who don’t act their age

• 14 March Observances—US/UN/World •

Buzzard Day: Since 1957, in Hinkley, OH to welcome Turkey Vultures back for the summer

Everything You Think Is Wrong Day

Brutus Day: To remind all that back stabbers are still around

Ides of March: Julius Caesar murdered, warning from seer told it would happen this day

International Day Against Police Brutality: since 1997

Maine : Admission Day (1820)

Napping Day (Monday after daylight savings times)

Tennessee : Andrew Jackson's Birthday (1767)
True Confessions Day: A day to tell all, all. (Remember it’s also Brutus Day)

World Consumer Rights Day: since 1983, this year to remember “Our Money, Our Rights”

•14 March Observances—by country •

Belarus: Constitution Day since 1994

Honduras : Thanksgiving Day

Hungary : National Day 1848 revolution

India, Mauritius, Nepál : Holi (Festival of Colors) for Hindi, Sikhs

Iran : Armed Forces Day/Labor Day

Liberia : JJ Roberts’ Birthday (1809): first president of Liberia, from Norfolk, VA

♣ Number One Songs in…

1946•Let It Snow - Vaughn Monroe

1954•Make Love to Me! - Jo Stafford

1962•Don’t Break the Heart that Loves You - Connie Francis

1970•Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel

1978•Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys - Waylon & Willie

• Holy Mackerel: 1916•President Woodrow Wilson sent thousands of American soldiers into Mexico today hoping to capture Pancho Villa, the Mexican revolutionary

• Born on this day •

     …The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Lady Augusta Gregory, 1852, Irish playwright/poet/Yates mistress

Lionel Pigot Johnson, 1867, (England) poet/critic (Ireland & Other Poems)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Roy Clark, 77, country singer

Fabio (Lanzoni), 49, model

Harry James, 1916, trumpeter

Judd Hirsch, 75, actor (Emmy for “Taxi”; “Numb3rs,” Ordinary People)

Eva Longoria, 35, actress (“Desperate Housewives”)

Mike Love, 69, singer, musician (The Beach Boys)

Park Overall, 53, actress (“Empty Nest,” Mississippi Burning)

Joe E Ross, 1905, comedian (Gunther Toody-Car 54)

Sly (Sylvester Stewart) Stone, 66, singer, musician

     …Athletes

Cornell Brown, 35, linebacker (Ravens)

     …Business, Education

--

…Politics

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 77, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court

Hadrian, 0076, Roman Emperor (builder of Hadrian's Wall)

Andrew Jackson, 1767, 7th U.S. President

     …Science/Religion

Liberty Hyde Bailey, 1858, US botanist (Plant breeding)

Alan Bean, 78, former astronaut

Jimmy Lee Swaggart, 76, evangelist

•Today’s Obits •

Aristotle S Onassis, 1975, Greek shipping magnate, @ myasthenia gravis 69

Tom Harmon, 1990, NFL tail back (Heisman Trophy), @ 70

Gail Davis (Annie Oakley on TV), 1997, @ 72

•What Happened on this Day •

     …The Arts

1994•8th Soul Train Music Awards: Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston win

     …Athletics

1912•Pitcher Cy Young retires from baseball with 511 wins

1988•NFL's St Louis Cardinals officially move to Phoenix

     …Business, Education.

1892•1st escalator patented by inventor Jesse W Reno

     …Politics

1812•1st Russian settlement in California

1867•Michigan becomes 1st state to tax property to support a university

1907•Finland is 1st European country to give women the right to vote

1913•U.S. President Woodrow Wilson held the first open presidential news conference just 11 days after his inauguration

1934•US Information Service opens

1957•3rd nation to explode a nuclear bomb (Britain)

1961•South Africa withdraws from British Commonwealth

1966•Racial riots erupt in the Watts section of Los Angeles

1989•Department of Veterans Affairs officially established as a Cabinet position

     …Science/Religion

1937•1st state contraceptive clinic opens (Raleigh NC)

1960•Key Largo Coral Reef Preserve established (1st underwater park)

♣ANSWERS to puzzle ♣

SEPTA

ETHER

PHONE

TENON

ARENA

♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣

Sunday 3-14

♣ 14 March 2010--Week 11 of 2010: 73 days this year…292 remain ♣

♣ Two Quotes to think about…Today ♣

“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."

~Thomas Jefferson

"To stand in silence when they should be protesting makes cowards out of men."

~ Abraham Lincoln

♣ Free Ramblings ♣

Spring Break is here. A much needed break for students, teachers, and administrators alike. Today, four little kids, around 6 or 7 decided that the snow banks in front of my main window and the snow banks in front of all the adjoining snow banks were there for their enjoyment. Even though I have been around kids all my life, and know that they are just having fun, I was concerned that one or more of them might slip and come slamming though my window. It didn’t happen, and I must say, their playfulness did help pack down the snow bank quite a bit. Their ‘fun’ only lasted about 30 minutes between the five or six snow banks in the row. Either they got wet and cold or a mom came out and stopped it. I didn’t see the end, since they were constantly climbing, jumping, sliding from one bank to another. Suddenly, they were there, than they just never returned. They had fun and I can see a little better out the window. Good for all of us.

I got a call from Cheryl this afternoon. She is on her way to Salt Lake and was stuck in traffic just before crossing Hoover Dam. She called to tell me she had already not moved her vehicle for 2 hours, that she had a great view of the dam from where she was sitting, and wondered if there was anything on the news about why she had to wait so long. There had been a couple of cop cars, a couple of ambulances, and a fire truck rush past the vehicles that were stopped. She had also seen a helicopter land somewhere in front of her. I had to tell her I hadn’t heard anything, then I checked the internet, and again nothing. She said it was OK cause she had her Kindle, the weather was nice, and she had planned to spend the night in Vegas anyway. Sure hope she made it. Every time I have driven across the dam, there is always a wait—not usually that long. After 911 for quite a few months every SUV, big rig, and station wagon was stopped and searched before going onto the dam. There is always a bypass to miss the dam, but you have to take it early, and you add about 50 miles to the trip. Cheryl probably wishes she had taken that bypass.

Most of the country is switching to Daylight time tonight. Here in Flagstaff we don’t change our clocks. The Navajo Rez does. That means many will spend the next 6 months wondering what time it is when they need to know the time. It means that my out of state friends on the east coast are now three hours different in time. My West coast friends are now on the same time I am. My biggest complaint about all this is that some, but not all TV program times change. If I am watching a Phoenix station, the shows still come on at the same time they always have. However, if I watch a cable show, it is one hour earlier each day. The cable networks are all in states that honor DST, so for most of the nation, programming doesn’t change with the change of the clock, but for those few places that don’t change their clocks, we have to adjust our watching times. The only good thing out of all this is that The Daly Show will be coming on at 11pm, instead of midnight, and I can watch it then, rather than having to watch it the next day in the afternoon. For some reason I enjoy Jon more at night than the afternoon.

Public Service Announcement: Reminder to all, batteries don’t last forever. If you change your batteries on your smoke alarm, remotes, and clocks when you switch to or from DST, you will never have to go searching for a battery when the item no longer works properly because the battery went dead. For those of us who use rechargeable batteries, this is still a good time to switch them out and recharge the ones you have been using. While thinking about safety, you should also check your cell phone address book and make sure the ICE number you are using is still correct. ICE (In Case of Emergency) is the number you program into your cell phone that is the number of your emergency contact. Instead of putting the person’s name, you type in ICE. EMT’s and Emergency Room workers will check your cell phone if you are unable to communicate with them. The first number they look for is the ICE number. If it isn’t there, they may call other numbers, wasting valuable time to find someone who can give them vital information. This ends the Public Service Announcement.

It was a great day to be outside, except for the wind. We melted a lot of snow with our 48°. Gusts were up to 36mph, and that did drop the temp about 10°, but luckily the wind didn’t start until about noon and stopped about 4pm. It was supposed to blow in another, wait for it…snowstorm. This storm is to drop about 2” of snow, but the wind has stopped and the sky is clear. Maybe we will dodge the bullet on this one.

♣Random Fact: ♣

Ginger is a plant native to Asia. The warm, pungent, fragrant rhizome (enlarged underground stem) of this plant is used as a spice, either fresh or dried and powdered. Research has shown that ginger is more effective than Dramamine in combating motion sickness.

♣Side Show Stories—♣

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Police in Florida said a man who was angry about the size of his water bills found a way to stop the bills entirely -- he blew up his mobile home.

Investigators quoted witnesses as saying Johnny Dossey, 43, coated his Fort Lauderdale mobile home in gasoline Wednesday and the residence exploded only moments after he ignited the flames, the Miami Herald reported Thursday. Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue spokesman Matt Little said firefighters arrived at about 12:30 p.m. and found the home engulfed in flames. He said Dossey's home was destroyed but no neighboring structures were damaged.

Dossey was arrested and charged with arson of a structure. Police said he may have been intoxicated at the time of the incident. Neighbor Luis Alvarez, 43, said Dossey was arguing with his father about the size of his $70 water bill prior to setting fire to the home. "I guess he got fed up with it," Alvarez said, "and that's the only way he saw out of it."

♣ Puzzle ♣

Word Boxes are like miniature crossword puzzles, except that each word is filled in across AND down the grid. That is, the answer to 1 across is the same word as the answer to 1 down; 2 across is the same as 2 down; etc. Can you solve these Word Boxes? To solve: draw a square that has 5 X 5 sections.

1 declare by oath (HINT: S - - - -)

2 product of inefficiency (HINT: - A - - -)

3 obstruct (HINT: - - T - -)

4 redeem oneself (HINT: - - - N -)

5 drive away (HINT: - - - - L)

♣ Calendar Information ♣

• March’s Month Long Observances •

BIRTHSTONE: aquamarine and bloodstone (courage) FLOWER: Narcissus [daffodil, jonquil] (vanity)

National Cheerleading Safety Month • National Clean Up Your IRS Act Month • National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month • National Craft Month • National Ethics Awareness Month •National Eye Donor Month • National Frozen Food Month • National Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month •National Kidney Month• National Nutrition Month • National Social Work Month • National Umbrella Month • National Women's History Month • Optimism Month • Play The Recorder Month • Poison Prevention Awareness Month • Red Cross Month • Save Your Vision Month • Sing With Your Child Month • Small Press Month •Spiritual Wellness Month • Women's History Month • Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month • Youth Art Month

• Observance Weeks in March•

6-21 •Iditarod Race

8-14•Universal Women's Week

14-20•Campfire USA Birthday Week

       •National Poison Prevention Week

       •National Agriculture Week

       •National Animal Poison Prevention Week

14-21•National Toad Hollow Week:

• 14 March Observances—US/UN/World •

Pi Day..3.1415...

National Potato Chip Day

Check Your Batteries Day

Daylight Saving Time Begins

International Ask A Question Day

•14 March Observances—by country •

Albania – Spring Day

Andorra – Constitution Day

Japan and Korea – White Day, similar to Valentine's Day (men give gifts to women)

Estonia – Estonian language day, based on birth of Kristjan Jaak Peterson

Grenadines – Heroes' Day

♣ Number One Songs in…

1945•Accentuate the Positive - Johnny Mercer

1953•Doggie in the Window - Patti Page

1961•Where the Boys Are - Connie Francis

1969•Everyday People - Sly & The Family Stone

1977•Fly like an Eagle - Steve Miller

1985•Material Girl - Madonna

• Holy Mackerel: 1968•After two seasons on television, ABC-TV showed the last episode of Batman, starring Adam West and Burt Ward as Robin. Through the two seasons, the ‘Dynamic Duo’ welcomed these stars to the cast: Art Carney (The Archer), Tallulah Bankhead (Black Widow), Eartha Kitt (Catwoman), Julie Newmar (Catwoman), Lee Meriwether (Catwoman), Liberace (Chandell), Vincent Price (Egghead), Cesar Romero (The Joker), Rudy Vallee (Lord Phogg), Milton Berle (Louie the Lilac), Shelley Winters (Ma Parker), David Wayne (The Mad Hatter), Zsa Zsa Gabor (Minerva), Van Johnson (The Minstrel), Otto Preminger (Mr. Freeze), Burgess Meredith (The Penguin), John Astin (The Riddler), Frank Gorshin (The Riddler), Cliff Robertson (Shame), Joan Collins (The Siren) and Anne Baxter (Zelda the Great). Finally, a partial list of official Bat-Noises: Aargh!, Clash!, Crunch!, Klonk!, Pow!, Splat!, Clunk! Eee-Yow! Ooof!, Powie! Swoosh!, Biff!, Conck! Ouch!, Qunkk!, Thunk! Boff! Crash!, Uggh!, Zam!, Zap! and others. Wow!

• Born on this day •

     …The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Quincy Jones, 77, composer, producer

Hank Ketcham, 1920, cartoonist (Dennis the Menace)

John P Strijbos, 1891, Dutch writer (Wandering through South-Africa)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Michael Caine (Maurice Micklewhite), 77, actor (Oscars for The Cider House Rules and Hannah and Her Sisters)

Billy Crystal, 63, actor (“Soap,” When Harry Met Sally …, City Slickers)

J Fred Muggs, 1952, chimp (Today show)

     …Athletes

William Clay Ford, Sr., 85, American owner of the Detroit Lions

Lee Petty, 1914, American race car driver

     …Business, Education

(John Luther) Casey Jones, 1864, railroad engineer

     …Politics

Thomas Riley Marshall, 1854, 28th Vice President

     …Science/Religion

James Bogardus, 1800, US inventor/builder (made cast-iron buildings)

Frank Borman, 82, former astronaut, airline executive

Paul Ehrlich, 1854, 1908 Nobel Prize in Medicine; founded chemotherapy, discovered Salvarsan - a remedy for syphilis, developed antitoxin for diphtheria

Albert Einstein, 1879, (Germany), (E=mc²/Theory of Relativity, Nobel 1921)

Peter Musschenbroek, 1692, Dutch physician/physicist (Leyden jar)

Lucy Hobbs Taylor, 1833, 1st US woman dentist (1866)

•Today’s Obits •

Edward Abbey, 1989, environmental author, after surgery at 62

Walter Camp, 1925, father of American football, @ 65

George Eastman, 1932, US industrialist (Kodak-camera), suicide @ 77

Susan Hayward (Edythe Marrenner), 1975, actress (Young & Willing), brain cancer @ 56

Karl Marx, 1883, German philosopher (Communist Manifesto), @ 64

Marlin Perkins, 1986, TV host (Wild Kingdom) @ 80

•What Happened on this Day •

     …The Arts

1931•1st theater built for rear movie projection (New York NY)

     …Athletics

1954•Braves Henry Aaron homers in his 1st exhibition game

     …Business, Education.

1913•John D Rockefeller gives $100 million to Rockefeller Foundation

     …Politics

1493•Columbus writes a letter today describing the generous nature of the Indians he has encountered. He will describe them as "men of great deference and kindness."

1689•Scotland dismisses Willem III & Mary Stuart as king & queen

1743•1st American town meeting (Boston's Faneuil Hall)

1812•War Bonds were authorized by the United States government for the first time

1833•The Secretary of War has the Indian Department issue orders, again, to U.S. Marshals to remove whites from CREEK lands.

1950•FBI's "10 Most Wanted Fugitives" program begins

1984•The Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams (Gearóid Mac Ádhaimh), is shot in a street attack in central Belfast, and was hit in the neck, shoulder and arm as several gunmen riddled his car with bullets by UFF (Ulster Freedom Fighters).

     …Science/Religion

1794•Eli Whitney patents the cotton gin

♣ANSWERS to puzzle ♣

SWEAR

WASTE

ESTOP

ATONE

REPEL

♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣

Saturday 3-13

♣ 13 March 2010--Week 10 of 2010: 72 days this year…293 remain ♣

♣ Two Quotes to think about…Today ♣

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“There is no act too small, no act too bold. The history of social change is the history of millions of actions, small and large, coming together at points in history and creating a power that [nothing] cannot suppress."

~Howard Zinn (historian)

♣ Free Ramblings ♣

I had a great lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant today. Great conversation and great food—can’t beat that. Cheryl is heading for Salt Lake with Elder Hostel tomorrow. She will be doing a week of supervised genealogy searches at the Mormon Church. She should return with some great stories. Mary will be back from Hawaii soon. Those Elder Hostel planners are quite astute—tomorrow is National Genealogy Day.

We had another great day weather-wise today. A high of 52°, very little wind, blue sky, everything one could ask for. It took some time to get to that 52° since we started the day at 9°. Our town brags an average of 288 days of sunshine each year. Most of us here don’t react well to even several days in a row of no sunshine. After too many cloudy days lately, we are all celebrating our second straight day of all day sunshine.

I checked out a page on the internet about Flagstaff. Here is what they told travelers: January – April. Refreshing days and crisp nights! Nights are cold, with temperatures warming up during the day. Layering is key and snow is possible. Bring warm pants, winter coat, gloves, boots and heavy socks. Hmmm. I’ll remember that when I read other town’s weather synopsis before traveling.

Give them enough rope and they will hang themselves. That is one way to deal with the crazies of the world. I’m just wondering how much rope some need? First this week ol’ Rush made all the news programs when he said he was moving to Costa Rica if Health Care passed. That might even muster some votes for health care by legislators. Rush tried to backpedal when real news outlets pointed out that Costa Rica has free health care for the entire population and has been doing so for many many years. Yesterday, Glenn Beck told his listeners that if their church leaders talked about of ‘social justice’ the parishioners should leave that church and report those church leaders to the authorities. His warped view is that both the Nazi’s and the Communists believed in ‘social justice.’ I guess I don’t know a lot about Glenn, since I never listen to him. Turns out he is a practicing member of LDS. Their leaders along with leaders from many denominations stated that their followers should know that Glenn was not speaking for the church, and that the Bible has over 2000 passages that show Jesus preached Social Justice. Uhh, how do guys like Glenn and Rush keep their high paying jobs? It’s beyond me.

Facebook wins a great on-line campaign. I have enjoyed Betty White for decades. She was great on Password, better on Mary Tyler Moore, and the best on Golden Girls. Now, after her Super Bowl Snickers ad and the Facebook Fan Page with over ½ million members Ms White, now 88, will be a host on SNL on the Mother’s Day Show May 8th. All is good with the world.

♣Random Fact: ♣

The "natural alarm clock" which enables some people to wake up more or less when they want to is caused by a burst of the stress hormone adrenocorticotropin. Researchers say this reflects an unconscious anticipation of the stress of waking up.

♣Side Show Stories—♣

AMES, Iowa - Second-degree burglary charges have been filed against an Ames man who broke into a church where he allegedly used the institution's electronic equipment to watch pornography. Police allege the 55-year-old man broke into the First Christian Church on Thursday. After gathering items from around the building, he is believed to have gone to the basement to spend the night. Police summoned to the church Friday by staff, found the man trying to haul away a garbage can filled with food, kitchen utensils, clothes, electronic equipment and a 26-inch flat-screen television. Police Cmdr. Mike Brennan said the man used the electronic equipment to watch pornographic movies that were found on him when he was arrested. He is being held on $10,000 bond.

♣ Puzzle ♣

Word Boxes are like miniature crossword puzzles, except that each word is filled in across AND down the grid. That is, the answer to 1 across is the same word as the answer to 1 down; 2 across is the same as 2 down; etc. Can you solve these Word Boxes? To solve: draw a square that has 5 X 5 sections.

1 gun action (HINT: S - - - -)

2 divide in two (HINT: - A - - -)

3 back in ... days (HINT: - - D - -)

4 observable (HINT: - - - R -)

5 in the alphabet, "J" (HINT: - - - - H)

♣ Calendar Information ♣

• March’s Month Long Observances •

BIRTHSTONE: aquamarine and bloodstone (courage) FLOWER: Narcissus [daffodil, jonquil] (vanity)

National Cheerleading Safety Month • National Clean Up Your IRS Act Month • National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month • National Craft Month • National Ethics Awareness Month •National Eye Donor Month • National Frozen Food Month • National Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month •National Kidney Month• National Nutrition Month • National Social Work Month • National Umbrella Month • National Women's History Month • Optimism Month • Play The Recorder Month • Poison Prevention Awareness Month • Red Cross Month • Save Your Vision Month • Sing With Your Child Month • Small Press Month •Spiritual Wellness Month • Women's History Month • Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month • Youth Art Month

• Observance Weeks in March•

6-21 •Iditarod Race

7-13 •Celebrate Your Name Week:

       •National Consumer Protection Week

       •National Words Matter Week

       •Save Your Vision Week

       •Telecommuter Appreciation Week

       •National Professional Pet Sitters Week

       •Read an E-Book Week

       •Teen Tech Week

8-14•Universal Women's Week

• 13 March Observances—US/UN/World •

Donald Duck Day: Clarence Nash, his voice, born today 1936

Earmuffs Day: 1st patented today in 1877

Genealogy Day

Good Samaritan Involvement Day: since 1964 to remember Queen’s murder

International Fanny Pack Day

Jewel Day

K-9 Veterans Day

National Open An Umbrella Indoors Day

•13 March Observances—by country •

Cuba : Attack on the Presidential Palace (1959)

Japan: Kasuga Matsuri (Kasuga Grand Shrine in Nara): Shinto “Monkey Festival”

Liberia : Decoration Day

♣ Number One Songs in…

1944•Mairzy Doats - The Merry Macs

1952•Please, Mr. Sun - Johnnie Ray

1960•The Theme from "A Summer Place" - Percy Faith

1968•Love is Blue - Paul Mauriat

1976•December 1963 (Oh, What a Night) - The Four Seasons

1984•Jump - Van Halen

• Holy Mackerel: 1948•According to an article dated this date, unregistered firearms were no longer in Bingham Canyon, Utah. This mountain mining camp town was the last town of the “Old West” to make it illegal to carry a firearm without a license.

• Born on this day •

     …The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

David Allan, 1744, Scottish painter

L[aFayette] Ron Hubbard ,1911, sci-fi writer/Scientologist (Dianetics)

Allan Jaffee, 1921, comic strip cartoonist/illustrator (MAD Magazine)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Charo (Maria Martinez)—meaning gaudy or tawdry, 59, singer, actress (“Chico and the Man”)

Dana Delany, 54, actress (“China Beach”)

Paul Fix, 1901, Dobbs Ferry NY, actor (Micah on Rifleman)

William H. Macy, 60, actor (Fargo, Boogie Nights, “ER”)

Clarence Nash, 1936, animation voice (Donald Duck)

Neil Sedaka, 71, singer, songwriter (Breaking Up is Hard to Do)

     …Athletes

Thomas Andrew (Andy) Bean, 57, golfer

Vance Johnson, 1963, NFL wide receiver (Broncos)

     …Business, Education

Walter Annenberg, 1908, American publisher and philanthropist (TV Guide, 17)

     …Politics

Abigail Fillmore (Powers), 1798, wife of 13th President Millard Fillmore; instituted the White House library

     …Science/Religion

Joseph Priestly, 1733, (England) clergyman/scientist (discovered oxygen)

Percival "Percy" Lowell,1855, US astronomer (predicted discovery of Pluto) *

^^^

*Percilval Lowell built an observatory in Flagstaff, in 1894, because of its clear, almost cloudless, and dark nights. The observatory was successful and led to many other observatories around the world to be built in high altitude areas with dark sky nights. This observatory also led Flagstaff, years later, to become the first International Dark Sky City—controlling the number of lights and the brightness of those lights at night. Much of his work was studying the Mars ‘canals’ which he believed showed a previous civilization could have thrived. This part of this work led many sci-fi writers of the time to write stories of Martian Aliens invading Earth to save their civilization. Finally, he predicted Planet X that controlled the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. Years after his death, his Planet X was discovered, in Flagstaff and named Pluto—his initials being the first two letters of the new planet.

•Today’s Obits •

Benjamin Harrison, 1901, 23rd President, influenza @ 67

Susan B[rownell] Anthony, 1906, American suffragist, @ 85

Clarence S Darrow, 1938, Scopes Monkey Trial attorney, @ 80

Stephen Vincent Benét, 1943, American author heart attack @ 44

Bruno Bettelheim, 1990, American psychiatrist @ 87

Maureen Stapleton, 2006,American actress @81

•What Happened on this Day •

     …The Arts

1938•Louis Armstrong and his orchestra record “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

     …Athletics

1943•Baseball approves official ball (with cork & balata)

     …Business, Education.

1634•Académie Française opens

1639•Cambridge College renamed Harvard for clergyman John Harvard

     …Politics

1852•Uncle Sam cartoon figure made its debut in the New York Lantern weekly

1864•The first group of NAVAJOs finish the "Long Walk" to Fort Sumner on the Bosque Redondo Reservation

1884•US adopts Standard Time

1921•Mongolia (formerly Outer Mongolia) declares independence from China

     …Science/Religion

1781•Sir William Herschel sees "comet" (really discovered Uranus)

♣ANSWERS to puzzle ♣

SHOOT

HALVE

OLDEN

OVERT

TENTH

♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣

Friday 3-12

♣ 12 March 2010--Week 10 of 2010: 71 days this year…294 remain ♣

♣ Two Quotes to think about…Today ♣

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

~Mark Twain, American Author, Humorist

“There is not a truth existing which I fear or would wish unknown to the whole world.”

~Thomas Jefferson

♣ Free Ramblings ♣

Flagstaff has had 94 consecutive days with at least an inch of snow on the ground. As of today, that is the third longest time since records were started back in the early 1900’s. I must say, today was such a nice sunny day, no clouds, little wind, and a 42° high that gave me spring fever. The two snow banks at my front door are still over five feet high with huge icebergs inside. A few more feet away from the house there’s only a couple of inches of snow on the ground. The back deck still has about 3” and I haven’t gone out there yet. Strangely the birds are not coming by very often. I think it is the wind that rushes off the mountain. I know they will be back as soon as they get hungry. The day was so nice, I almost forgot that when I got up at 6 this morning, it was 5°. Certainly that was one of the coldest mornings we have had in a long time.

I’ve been putting the Number One songs from various years in this blog for some time. Most of the time, I see the title and the tune pops into my head, then I put another song down, and another tune pops in. Then I forget about it until the next day. Yesterday I put up “I Love Rock and Roll” and that tune kept popping into my head all day long. It doesn’t happen that often, and this song doesn’t have any odd or unusual or good memories associated with it, but it was a hard hitting song. Maybe that’s why it won’t leave my poor old brain. I hope other readers also are reminded of the tunes listed, maybe a good experience associated with that tune, and even maybe a couple of lines of the song. I hope no one has the song stick in some corner of the brain to pop out throughout the day. I can be very annoying.

Spring break is next week for Flagstaff and NAU. People will be heading out to warmer climates for the sun or to colder climates for skiing or just hangin’ out here in town. Lots of kids will be running around the neighborhood. It also means that for the next week we won’t be getting any local news or weather from NAU. It still amazes me that our little town has to rely on the University to get our local news. It is a good broadcast, and I can’t complain about the broadcast. I just wish it was on every day.

♣Random Fact: ♣

In 1893, Colorado was the first state to adopt an amendment granting women the right to vote. Utah and Idaho followed suit in 1896, Washington State in 1910, California in 1911, Oregon, Kansas, and Arizona in 1912, Alaska and Illinois in 1913, Montana and Nevada in 1914, New York in 1917; Michigan, South Dakota, and Oklahoma in 1918.

♣Side Show Stories—♣

OWENSBORO, Ky. - Police in Kentucky said a woman arrested for public intoxication faces an additional charge for squirting breast milk on a deputy at the jail. Daviess County sheriff's deputies said Toni Tramel, 31, of Owensboro, was arrested Thursday on a misdemeanor count of public intoxication and while changing into a jail uniform she allegedly sprayed a stream of breast milk into the face of a female deputy, WYMT-TV, Hazard, Ky., reported. The sheriff's office said the deputy went through a biohazard decontamination process and Tramel was booked on an additional charge of third degree assault on a police officer, a felony. She was being held in lieu of $10,000 bail.

♣ Puzzle ♣

Word Boxes are like miniature crossword puzzles, except that each word is filled in across AND down the grid. That is, the answer to 1 across is the same word as the answer to 1 down; 2 across is the same as 2 down; etc. Can you solve these Word Boxes? To solve: draw a square that has 5 X 5 sections.

1 fumble (HINT: F - - - -)

2 of the moon (HINT: - U - - -)

3 all-American Sam (HINT: - - C - -)

4 lie descriptor (HINT: - - - S -)

5 released (HINT: - - - - D)

♣ Calendar Information ♣

• March’s Month Long Observances •

BIRTHSTONE: aquamarine and bloodstone (courage) FLOWER: Narcissus [daffodil, jonquil] (vanity)

National Cheerleading Safety Month • National Clean Up Your IRS Act Month • National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month • National Craft Month • National Ethics Awareness Month •National Eye Donor Month • National Frozen Food Month • National Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month •National Kidney Month• National Nutrition Month • National Social Work Month • National Umbrella Month • National Women's History Month • Optimism Month • Play The Recorder Month • Poison Prevention Awareness Month • Red Cross Month • Save Your Vision Month • Sing With Your Child Month • Small Press Month •Spiritual Wellness Month • Women's History Month • Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month • Youth Art Month

• Observance Weeks in March•

6-21 •Iditarod Race

7-13 •Celebrate Your Name Week:

       •National Consumer Protection Week

       •National Words Matter Week

       •Save Your Vision Week

       •Telecommuter Appreciation Week

       •National Professional Pet Sitters Week

       •Read an E-Book Week

       •Teen Tech Week

8-12•Make A Referral Week

      •National Sleep Awareness Week

      •National School Breakfast Week

8-14•Universal Women's Week

• 10 March Observances—US/UN/World •

Alfred Hitchcock Day

Girl Scout Day

Middle Name Pride Day

New Mexico : Arbor Day

•10 March Observances—by country •

Taiwan: Arbor Day

China: Arbor Day

♣ Number One Songs in…

1951•There’s Been a Change in Me - Eddy Arnold

1959•Charlie Brown - The Coasters

1967•Baby I Need Your Lovin’ - Johnny Rivers

1975•My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli

1983•Billy Jean - Michael Jackson

• Holy Mackerel: 1930•Mahatma Gandhi and his followers begin a 200 mile march to the salt beds of Jalalpur to campaign against British tax on salt

• Born on this day •

     …The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

Edward Albee, 82, playwright, born Washington, DC

Jack Kerouac, 1922, Beat writer (Dharma Bums, On the Road, Mexico Blues)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Barbara Feldon, 69, actress (“Get Smart,” Smile)

Al (Alwin) Jarreau, 70, singer, songwriter

Paul Kantner, 68, , rock singer/guitarist (Jefferson Airplane)

Gordon MacRae, 1921, singer/actor (Oklahoma, Carousel)

Liza Minnelli, 64, singer, actress (Oscar for Cabaret; The Sterile Cuckoo, Arthur)

Jon Provost, 60, actor (Timmy-Lassie)

James Taylor, 62, singer, musician (“You’ve Got a Friend,” “Handy Man”)

William "Buckwheat" Thomas, 1931, actor (Little Rascals)

     …Athletes

Darryl Strawberry, 48, former baseball player (Mets, Yankees, Dodgers)

     …Business, Education

Charles Boycott, 1832, real estate agent: refused to lower rents, served eviction notices instead [1880]; tenants refused to deal with him; in other words, they boycotted Boycott making his name a part of the English language from then on

     …Politics

Jane Means Appleton Pierce, 1806, 1st lady-Franklin Pierce

James McKay, 1912, lord provost of Edinburgh

Mitt Romney, 63, former Governor of Massachusetts (R)

Andrew Young, 78, civil rights leader, former mayor of Atlanta

     …Science/Religion

Jane Delano, 1862, (US), nurse/teacher/founder (Red Cross)

William Perkin, 1838, inventor (1st artificial dye)

Capt. Walter ‘Wally’ M. Shirra Jr., 1923, astronaut

•Today’s Obits •

Annelies Marie Anne Frank, estimated day-1945, diarist (Diary of Anne Frank), typhus in Belsen Camp @ 16

George Westinghouse, 1914, US engineer (Westinghouse Electric), heart disease @ 67

Sun Yat-Sen,1925, Chinese revolutionary president, liver cancer @ 58

•What Happened on this Day •

     …The Arts

1951•“Mr. Wiiiiillllssssson!” The comic strip, Dennis the Menace, appeared for the first time in 16 newspapers

     …Athletics

1978•Eric Heiden skates world record 1000 meter (1:14.99)

     …Business, Education.

1789•US Post Office established

1884•The State of Mississippi authorized the first state-supported college for women.

1912•Girl Guides (Girl Scouts) founded in Savannah, by Juliette Gordon Low

     …Politics

1664•New Jersey becomes a British colony

1689•Former English King James II lands in Ireland

1850•1st US $20 gold piece issued

1933•FDR conducts his 1st "fireside chat"

1945•New York is 1st to prohibit discrimination by race & creed in employment

     …Science/Religion

1912•Captain Albert Berry performs 1st parachute jump from an airplane

♣ANSWERS to puzzle ♣

FLUFF

LUNAR

UNCLE

FALSE

FREED

♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣

Thursday

♣ 11 March 2010--Week 10 of 2010: 70 days this year…295 remain ♣
♣ Two Quotes to think about…Today ♣
“A general dissolution of the principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy.”
~Samuel Adams
“Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies.”
~John Donne
♣ Free Ramblings ♣
Old man winter will just not give it up. I am beginning to sound like a broken record. It snowed most of the day. My deck has a good 6” of snow that didn’t melt. The wind gusts of 30mph gave of several ‘white-out’ conditions throughout the day. Amazing. Nothing like looking out your window and seeing nothing but white. It wasn’t snowing that hard, but the wind just picked up the newly fallen snow and made life miserable.

I sure guess I don’t get Flagstaff politics. The two women candidates seem to have split the center and left vote, letting the right wing guy have a huge margin in the Primary…scary. I’m hoping that the losing candidate quickly supports our Mayor, who came in second. I really wanted the loser to make the general election but that didn’t happen. She did thank all her supporters today, but hasn’t thrown her support yet. Now, the center and the left have to unite, to keep the conservative wing out of office. I also have some learnin’ to do about the council seats. Our little mountain town may have more problems in the future if somehow we get a conservative mayor and conservative council.

The School District Override passed, so we will see if they can clean up their house a little, with the additional money. Arizona has been in the national news lately. If it isn’t the fights between the non-elected governor and the legislature, then it’s how little we pay for educating our children. Somehow way too many believe that education funding is not that important. I don’t have a lot of hope that this will change anytime soon.
♣Random Fact: ♣
Hugh Hefner served as circulation manager of Children's Activities magazine while he was raising money to launch Playboy.
♣Side Show Stories—♣
ALTON, England - A British man who raised money for charity by taking a roller coaster ride in the nude said it was his 298th thrill ride in the buff. Richard Jones, 27, of Churchdown, England, a lifelong roller coaster fan, said his recent nude ride on the Nemesis coaster at England's Alton Towers marked the 298th time he has taken off his clothes and gone for a roller coaster ride for charity, The Sun reported. Jones said his rides have included coasters across Europe and North America, including his favorite, the Top Thrill Dragster at Ohio's Cedar Point amusement park. "Ever since I was 4 I have been hooked on roller coasters. It's an escape from time because it takes you somewhere you don't normally go," Jones said. "Hurtling along at 80 mph also gets the adrenaline going. Doing it naked is a lot more difficult because it does get very cold." Jones said he participated in the Mary 2004 Guinness World Record for largest naked roller coaster ride with 112 fellow nude riders on the Nemesis coaster.
♣ Puzzle ♣
Word Boxes are like miniature crossword puzzles, except that each word is filled in across AND down the grid. That is, the answer to 1 across is the same word as the answer to 1 down; 2 across is the same as 2 down; etc. Can you solve these Word Boxes? To solve: draw a square that has 5 X 5 sections.
1 happiness (HINT: B - - - -)
2 solar emission (HINT: - I - - -)
3 dome home (HINT: - - L - -)
4 assemble (HINT: - - - A -)
5 took possession illegally (HINT: - - - - E)
♣ Calendar Information ♣
• March’s Month Long Observances •
BIRTHSTONE: aquamarine and bloodstone (courage) FLOWER: Narcissus [daffodil, jonquil] (vanity)
National Cheerleading Safety Month • National Clean Up Your IRS Act Month • National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month • National Craft Month • National Ethics Awareness Month •National Eye Donor Month • National Frozen Food Month • National Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month •National Kidney Month• National Nutrition Month • National Social Work Month • National Umbrella Month • National Women's History Month • Optimism Month • Play The Recorder Month • Poison Prevention Awareness Month • Red Cross Month • Save Your Vision Month • Sing With Your Child Month • Small Press Month •Spiritual Wellness Month • Women's History Month • Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month • Youth Art Month
• Observance Weeks in March•
6-21 •Iditarod Race
7-13 •Celebrate Your Name Week:
       •National Consumer Protection Week
       •National Words Matter Week
       •Save Your Vision Week
       •Telecommuter Appreciation Week
       •National Professional Pet Sitters Week
       •Read an E-Book Week
       •Teen Tech Week
8-12•Make A Referral Week
      •National Sleep Awareness Week
      •National School Breakfast Week
8-14•Universal Women's Week
• 11 March Observances—US/UN/World •
Johnny Appleseed Day
Worship of Tools Day
Dream 2010 Day: To focus attention on making the world a safer and better place.
World Kidney Day
•11 March Observances—by country •
Mauritius : Maha Shivaratree (Hindi Celebration)
Lithuania: Reestablishment of Lithuania's Independence from the Soviet Union in 1990
Zambia: Youth Day
♣ Number One Songs in…
1950•Dear Hearts and Gentle People - Bing Crosby
1958•Lollipop - The Chordettes
1966•The Ballad of the Green Berets - SSgt Barry Sadler
1974•Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks
1982•I Love Rock ’N Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
• Holy Mackerel: 1824•John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, creates the Bureau of Indian Affairs, within the War Department. Thomas McKenney is appointed its' first head.
• Born on this day •
     …The Arts
Authors, Artists and Composers
Douglas Adams, 1952, author: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Dr. Who
Sam Donaldson, 76, journalist
Dorothy Schiff, 1903, publisher (New York Post)
Jerry Zucker, 60, writer, (Naked Gun movies with brother David), producer (Airplane!)
Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV
Jimmy Fortune, 55, tenor: group: Statler Brothers
Ric Rothwell, 66, drummer (Mindbenders-Games of Love)
Lawrence Welk, 1903, bandleader
     …Athletes
Steve Reed, 45, pitcher (Rockies and many more)
     …Business, Education
Henry Marking, 1920, CEO (British Airways)
Rupert Murdoch, 79, media executive
      …Politics
Ralph Abernathy, 1926, civil rights leader (Southern Christian Leadership)
Antonin Scalia, 74, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court
Sir [James] Harold Wilson, 1916, British Prime Minister
      …Science/Religion
Vannevar Bush, 1890, developed 1st electronic analog computer
Robert H G Havemann, 1910, German chemist
Urbain Jean Joseph le Verrier, 1811, co-discovered Neptune
•Today’s Obits •
Richard Brooks, 1992, director (Blackboard Jungle, Key Largo), @ 79
Richard E Byrd, 1957, US explorer (Antarctica), @ 68
John Chapman [Johnny Appleseed], 1845, @ 71
Vince Edwards, 1996, actor (Ben Casey), cancer @ 67
Alexander Fleming, 1955, English bacteriologist (penicillin), @ 73
Erle Stanley Gardner, 1970, US writer (Perry Mason), @ 80
[Wayne] Woody Hayes, 1987, football coach (Ohio State), @ 74
Charles Sumner, 1874, a white civil rights leader, @ 63 (My grandfather, father and I named after him)
•What Happened on this Day •
     …The Arts
1302•Romeo & Juliet's wedding day, according to Shakespeare
1927•Samuel Roxy Rothafel opened the famous Roxy Theatre in New York City
1959•"Raisin in the Sun", 1st Broadway play by a black woman, opens
1985•We Are the World airing first on this day as a single
     …Athletics
1927•1st golden gloves tournament
     …Business, Education.
1823•1st normal school in US opens, Concord Academy, Concord VT
1918•Save the Redwoods League founded
1969•Levi Jeans add the latest craze of jeans, bell bottoms, to their line of Jeans
     …Politics
1779•US army Corps of Engineers established (1st time)
1917•British troops occupy Baghdad
1977•130 hostages held in Washington, D.C., by Hanafi Muslims are freed when ambassadors from three Islamic nations joined negotiations.
1988•£ note ceases to be legal tender, replaced by £ coin
1995•Sinn Fein party leader, Gerry Adams, arrives in US
1997•Beatle Paul McCartney knighted Sir Paul by Queen Elizabeth II
     …Science/Religion
1665•New York approves new code guaranteeing Protestants religious rights
1669•Volcano Etna in Italy erupts killing 15,000
1918•The first cases of one of the worst influenza pandemic ( FLU )in history are reported at Fort Riley, Kansas
1953•1st woman army doctor commissioned (FM Adams)
♣ANSWERS to puzzle ♣
BLISS
LIGHT
IGLOO
SHOAL
STOLE
♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣

Wednesday

♣ 10 March 2010--Week 10 of 2010: 69 days this year…296 remain ♣

♣ Two Quotes to think about…Today ♣

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"Powerlessness and silence go together. We...should use our privileged positions not as a shelter from the world's reality, but as a platform from which to speak. A voice is a gift. It should be cherished and used."

~Margaret Atwood

♣ Free Ramblings ♣

Old man winter will just not give it up. We had snow again today. Sometimes it snowed while the sky was grey. Sometimes it snowed as the sky was clearing. Sometimes it snowed while the sun was shining. Most of all, it just snowed. Most of it melted as it fell, but the magical weatherman says we got 6” of snow since last night. The wind almost constant gusts off 36mph kept our high temperature down to about 33°. We have had 133” of snow this year…the highest snowfall in ten years. We still have lots of snow to come before the snow season ends. Another storm is due late tomorrow.

Every year my doctor orders routine blood tests to see what is happening in various places in my body. Today was the day I decided to have the blood drawn. I have to fast for 14 hours before it is drawn. Since I am a great late night snacker, I have to prepare for the day. It means nothing to eat after 7pm. So this morning, during the snowstorm I headed across town to the lab. Roads weren’t bad, traffic was light, and things looked good until I got to the parking lot. There I was greeted with no parking spaces anywhere close to the lab. I guess lots of people decided that today would be a good day to give up some blood. The waiting room had three people waiting and it took about 30 minutes to get called. My blood came out slowly, but I finally filled the four vials. The hematologist told me to drink a lot of water before coming in again, and said that would make it easier to get the blood out. I will certainly do that, even if I am not thirsty. Anything to speed up the process. My next doctor visit isn’t until May, so then he will hand me a bunch of papers with lots of numbers and he will explain that everything is OK. Today’s Random Fact (below) makes me wonder how many blood cells were removed from my body in those four vials.

Our healthcare insurance system has to be fixed. I can’t believe how many lobbyists are hired by the insurance companies to stop reform. Again I heard today how the companies have raised rates, raised co-pays, cut coverage, and raised deductibles in preparation for some kind of reform. Again I am reminded that healthcare should be a moral issue, not a financial issue.

♣Random Fact: ♣

The human body is creating and killing 15 million red blood cells per second!

♣Side Show Stories—♣

EVESHAM, N.J. - Police in New Jersey said they charged a restaurant cook with aggravated assault for concealing a "body hair" in food prepared for an officer. Authorities said Ryan Burke, 26, of Stratford, was working Feb. 21 at Good Foods to Go in Evesham when he concealed the "body hair" on a bagel sandwich made for a police officer, whose name was not released, The Courier Post, Cherry Hill, N.J., reported Thursday. Burke was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, food tampering and retaliation for a past official action. Burke, who denies the accusation, said he was arrested by the officer in March 2009 for failing to pull over during a traffic stop. However, he said the officer is a regular at the restaurant and there had been no previous incidents. "I think that this is absurd," said Burke, who was fired from the restaurant following the incident. "They decided to ruin my life."

♣ Puzzle ♣

Word Boxes are like miniature crossword puzzles, except that each word is filled in across AND down the grid. That is, the answer to 1 across is the same word as the answer to 1 down; 2 across is the same as 2 down; etc. Can you solve these Word Boxes? To solve: draw a square that has 5 X 5 sections.

1 wanderer (HINT: N - - - -)

2 big (HINT: - B - - -)

3 deserve (HINT: - - R - -)

4 Shakespearean remark to audience (HINT: - - - D -)

5 redirect (HINT: - - - - R)

♣ Calendar Information ♣

• March’s Month Long Observances •

BIRTHSTONE: aquamarine and bloodstone (courage) FLOWER: Narcissus [daffodil, jonquil] (vanity)

National Cheerleading Safety Month • National Clean Up Your IRS Act Month • National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month • National Craft Month • National Ethics Awareness Month •National Eye Donor Month • National Frozen Food Month • National Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month •National Kidney Month• National Nutrition Month • National Social Work Month • National Umbrella Month • National Women's History Month • Optimism Month • Play The Recorder Month • Poison Prevention Awareness Month • Red Cross Month • Save Your Vision Month • Sing With Your Child Month • Small Press Month •Spiritual Wellness Month • Women's History Month • Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month • Youth Art Month

• Observance Weeks in March•

6-21 •Iditarod Race

7-13 •Celebrate Your Name Week:

       •National Consumer Protection Week

       •National Words Matter Week

       •Save Your Vision Week

       •Telecommuter Appreciation Week

       •National Professional Pet Sitters Week

       •Read an E-Book Week

       •Teen Tech Week

8-12•Make A Referral Week

      •National Sleep Awareness Week

      •National School Breakfast Week

8-14• Universal Women's Week

• 10 March Observances—US/UN/World •

Festival Of Life In The Cracks Day: Hmmm

Learn What Your Name Means Day

International Day of Awesomeness

Mario Day—for all those named Mario, no one in particular

Registered Dietician Day

Salvation Army Day

World Culture Day

•10 March Observances—by country •

Laos : Teachers' Day

Tibetan Uprising Day (Tibetan independence supporters) since 1959

♣ Number One Songs in…

1949•Far Away Places - Margaret Whiting

1957•Young Love - Tab Hunter

1965•The Jolly Green Giant - The Kingsmen

1973•Killing Me Softly with His Song - Roberta Flack

1981•I Love a Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt

1989•Lost in Your Eyes - Debbie Gibson

• Holy Mackerel: 1893•New Mexico State University cancels its 1st graduation ceremony, its only graduate Sam Steele was robbed & killed the night before

• Born on this day •

     …The Arts

Authors, Artists and Composers

James Herriot, 1916, (Scotland), writer (All Creatures Great & Small)

Entertainers in Cinema, Music, Theater, and TV

Barry Fitzgerald, 1888, (Dublin Ireland), actor (Academy Award-Going My Way)

Jasmine Guy, 46, singer, actress (“A Different World”)

Jon Hamm, 39, actor (“Mad Men”)

Sam Jaffe, 1891, actor (on Ben Casey)

Gary Owens, 74, announcer (Laugh-in)

Sharon Stone, 52, actress (Basic Instinct, The Specialist, Casino)

Dean Torrence, 70, surf music singer (Jan & Dean)

Carrie Underwood, 27, singer (“American Idol”)

     …Athletes

Shannon Miller, 33, Olympic gymnast

     …Business, Education

Wayne Dyer, 70, psychologist (Universe Within You)

Chuck [Carlos Ray] Norris, 70, martial arts, fitness guru, actor (Missing in Action, “Walker, Texas Ranger”)

     …Politics

Kim Campbell, 63, first woman prime minister of Canada (for five months in 1993)

Prince Edward (Edward Antony Richard Louis) Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn, 46, son of Queen Elizabeth II

James Earl Ray, 1928, assassin (Martin Luther King Jr)

     …Science/Religion

John Playfair, 1748, (Scotland), clergyman/geologist/mathematician

•Today’s Obits •

Harriet Tubman, 1913, abolitionist, conductor on Underground RR, @ 92 or 93

Charles Gordon Curtis, 1953, inventor of (Curtis-steam turbine), @ 92

Herman Tarnower, 1980, doctor (Scarsdale Diet), killed by Jean Harris @ 70

Ray Milland, 1986, actor (Lost Weekend-Academy Award 1945), @ 81

Glenn Cunningham, 1988, US world record miler, @ 78

•What Happened on this Day •

      …The Arts

1940•1st US opera telecast, W2XBS, New York NY, I Pagliacci

1978•"The Incredible Hulk" premiers on TV

     …Athletics

1951•FBI director J Edgar Hoover declines post of baseball commissioner

     …Business, Education

1791•John Stone, Concord MA, patents a pile driver

1847•1st money minted in Hawaii

1903•Harry C. Gammeter of Cleveland, OH patented the multigraph duplicating machine.

     …Politics

0418•Jews are excluded from public office in the Roman Empire

1624•England declares war on Spain

1910•China ends slavery

1945•Japan declares Vietnam Independence

1959•After the Chinese invasion and control of Tibet, Tibetan rebels revolt against the chinese control by surrounding the summer palace of the Dalai Lama to protect the Dalai Lama but he is forced to flee to India who granted him political asylum.

     …Science/Religion

1933•Major earthquake in Long Beach CA, over 100 die

1977•Rings of Uranus discovered
1987•Vatican formal opposition to test-tube fertilization & embryo transfer

♣ANSWERS to puzzle ♣

NOMAD

OBESE

MERIT

ASIDE

DETER

♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣