≈Week 21 of 2010: 149 days this year… 216 days remain≈
≈ Something To Think About
"I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center."
~Kurt Vonnegut, author
≈ Random June Bride Facts
§ Early Roman brides carried a bunch of herbs, such as garlic and rosemary, under their veils to symbolize fidelity and fertility and to ward off evil. These herbs served as a precursor to the modern bridal bouquet.
§ In many cultures, the groom historically often kidnapped the bride, and the groom’s friends would help him, leading to the modern-day groomsmen. At the alter, the groom always stood on the bride’s right side so his right hand—or his sword hand—would be free to fight/defend a jealous rival.
§ A bride is traditionally carried over the threshold either to symbolize her reluctance to leave her father’s home or because evil spirits hovered over the threshold of a house—so she was lifted over the entrance to protect her from the spirits.
• Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1912 ►15 young women fired by Curtis Publishing for dancing the "Turkey Trot" during their lunch break
≈ Free Ramblings
It was another very windy day, just in time for the Memorial Day Weekend. I spent some time learning, rather than being blown away.
What I read, really almost blew me away. Everyone knows about AZ and the immigration problem and building THE FENCE. Today I discovered the fence is going to do more than stop the people. It turns out that there are three herds of Big Horn Sheep that live in the area. They migrate yearly, just like all other Big Horn Sheep. Problem: they cross the border without papers. The fence will stop them from migrating and that is expected to lead to inbreeding that will eventually destroy all three herds. A few years back, there was a problem when I-17, the interstate from Flagstaff to Phoenix happened to go though areas where elk lived. After many many accidents where vehicles lost along with the elk, the wise government built a series of under the highway crossing areas. It has greatly reduced the damage to the elk population. The other threatened migraters are the pygmy owl. They don’t have papers either. These little owls do fly, but only about 10-15 feet above the ground, and only for short distances of a few hundred yards. They can’t fly over the fence, and soon won’t be able to get to their nesting areas. Both these animals are part of the ecosystem, and their demise will lead to many more problems. I am not happy that criminals are coming across our border. Someone must be able to find a way to keep the criminals out and let the animals migrate. Some may say that stopping the criminals is more important than destroying migration patterns. If the animals can’t adapt, that is their problem. In many ways, our government has learned little over the last 200+ years.
To further that thought, this is day 39 of the Gulf Oil Spill. I also listened to BP, The Prez, the local politicians, the local people on various news channels today. It appears to me that the oil companies really never considered a disaster. The oil guys are trying to be really good ‘spinners’ on what is happening. They simply don’t have a silver bullet, or a wooden cross, or contact with Superman. They don’t now, or ever had a real disaster plan. As a Federal employee and a school administrator I am quite familiar with disaster plans. I am very aware that there has to be a strong infrastructure if any plan is expected to work. We had plans for fires, takeovers, snipers, bombings, lock downs, disease and infection outbreaks, bomb scares, loss of electricity, loss of water, loss of communication and every other possible problem. Many times these plans were very elaborate and all were written down. During my acting days, part of my responsibility was to inform the new principal of all these plans. More than once I felt a little stupid having to go through the location and reason for the plans. However, each time I did, I felt that it was important to show the newbie that our most important mission was to protect the students and staff. The school plans were far from perfect, but they did provide for the safety of the students and the staff. I just don’t get why the private sector doesn’t have the same mission.
It was warm today, making it to 75°. We were also under a high wind advisory since late last night. The 50mph winds made it miserable outside. It also prevented me from opening windows most of the day. I could have opened them, but I would have had a nice wind tunnel effect through the whole residence. The wind is scheduled to stop after sunset. Yeah, I’ve heard that before and it is usually wrong.
≈ A Quick Smile…
Q: Where can men over the age of 60 find younger, sexy women who are interested in them? A: Try a bookstore under fiction.
Q: How can you avoid that terrible curse of the elderly wrinkles? A: Take off your glasses.
≈ Puzzle 1
Two men went deep into the Dutch Forest: one, a small, meek man; the other, a monster.
They walked for days, until, out of food, they got desperate. The monster murdered the meek man, and ate him for dinner!
He left no remains, whatsoever, and was seen by no one. On his return to civilisation he told no one.
Who was the murdering, canniballistic monster?
≈ Side Show Stories
Livingston, La. (AP) --Two women have been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle crystal methamphetamine inside a Bible to a Walker man jailed in the Livingston Parish Detention Center. Sheriff's deputies told The Advocate that a 28-year-old woman allegedly delivered a Bible containing methamphetamine to the detention center on May 12. They said a 35-year-old woman allegedly gave the drug-containing Bible to the jailed man.
The intended recipient, a 30-year-old man, has been in jail since October on a variety of drug-related arrests.
The jailed man was booked with entering contraband into a penal institution, and the 35-year-old woman was booked with being a principal to entering contraband into a penal institution.
≈ Puzzle 2: Brain Food
I am mother and father, but never birth or nurse. I'm rarely still, but I never wander. What am I?
≈ Calendar Information
• Observance Weeks in May•
22-29
Cover the Uninsured Week
National Safe Boating Week
25-31
Week of Solidarity With The People of Non-Self-Governing Territories
26-30
International Whistler's Week
May 27–June 6
Largest annual festival of literature takes place: Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales.
• Today’s Observances—US/UN/World •
Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day (ARMAD)
International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
International Jazz Day
Julia Pierpont Day: founder in 1866 of “Decoration Day”, now “Memorial Day”
Rhode Island : Ratification Day (1790-last of original 13 to do so)
Wisconsin : Admission Day (1848)
• Today’s Observances—by country •
England: Oak Apple Day/Nettle Day (1660)
Nepal: Republic Day (since 2008)
Nigeria: Democracy Day (since 1999 with election of 1st election of civilian Head of State)
• Today’s Number One Songs in…
For anyone interested, all these songs are available on iTunes.
"Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies." ~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton.
1936 ►The Glory of Love; Benny Goodman
1946 ►The Gypsy; The Ink Spots
1956 ►Heartbreak Hotel; Elvis Presley
1966 ►When a Man Loves a Woman; Percy Sledge
1976 ►Love Hangover; Diana Ross
1986 ►Greatest Love of All; Whitney Housto
• Today’s Happenings•
In The Arts
1942 ►Bing Crosby records "White Christmas"
In Athletics
1922 ►US Supreme Court rules organized baseball is a sport and not a business and thus not subject to antitrust laws
1980 ►Larry Bird beats out Magic Johnson for NBA rookie of year
In Business or Education
1968 ►The ( TILA ) Truth In Lending Act passes into law with regulations designed to protect consumers in credit transactions requiring clear disclosure of key terms of the lending arrangement and all costs. It is part of the "Consumer Credit Protection Act".
1989 ►Student protesters in Tiananmen Square China construct a replica of the Statue of Liberty
In Politics
1453 ►Constantinople falls to Muhammad II (Turks); ends Byzantine Empire
1630 ►Governor John Winthrop begins "History of New England"
1677 ►Pamunkey, Roanoke, Nottaway and Nansemond Tribes of the Powhatan Confederacy sign a treaty with the English in Virginia.
1765 ►Patrick Henry historic speech against the Stamp Act, answering a cry of "Treason!" with, "If this be treason, make the most of it!"
1876 ►The Interior Department is told to cooperate with the War Department so the military can round up the "hostiles" whenever they may appear on a reservation or an agency.
1916 ►Official flag of President of US adopted
1974 ►Northern Ireland is brought under direct rule from Westminster
In Science/ Religion
1953 ►Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal become the first explorers to reach the top of Mount Everest.
• Today’s Births •
Artists, Writers, and Composers
Közi, 38. Japanese visual kei artist born in Niigata, Japan
Athletes
Francis Thomas (Fay) Vincent, Jr, 72, former commissioner of baseball, born Waterbury, CT
Alfred (Al) Unser, Sr, 71, former auto racer, born Albuquerque, NM
Entertainers
Annette Bening, 52, actress (Being Julia, American Beauty, The Grifters), born Topeka, KS
Paul Ehrlich, 78, population biologist, 1968 book The Population Bomb, born Philadelphia, PA
Melissa Etheridge, 49, singer, guitarist, born Leavenworth, KS
Bob Hope [Leslie Townes], entertainer/comedian, born in 1903 Kent England
Adrian Paul, 51, actor (“Highlander” series), born London, England
Business, Education Persons
Sut Jhally,55, Kenyan-born American educator of media at UMass
Political Persons
Patrick Henry US, patriot "Give me liberty or give me death", born in 1736 Studley, Hanover County, Virginia
John Hinckley Jr, 55, shot & wounded President Reagan in 1981, born in Ardmore, Oklahoma
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Senator, 35th President, born in 1917 Brookline MA
Scientists /Religious Persons
George L Funke botanist (Flower Physiology), born in 1896
• Today’s Obits •
Fanny Brice Ziegfeld Girl (Baby Snooks Show), in 1951 cerebral hemorrhage @ 59
Robert Edward Bob Crane actor (Donna Reed Show, Hogan-Hogan's Heroes), in 1978 murdered in Phx, AZ @ 49
William Schwenck Gilbert England, writer (Gilbert & Sullivan), in 1911 @ 74
Joséphine empress of France, 1st wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, in 1814, pneumonia @ 51
≈ ANSWERS to Puzzle 1
Me! I told no one, therefore no one else could know about the incident. Only the murderer could tell the story!
≈ ANSWERS to Brain Food
A tree
≈ Something you might enjoy…
In 2005, YouTube changed the internet forever. It is now available in 22 languages. Check out this one…
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