Thurs 6-3

»Week 22 of 2010: 154 days this year…211 days remain Day 45 of BP oil spill

» Something To Think About  

The three best things: to be humble amidst the vicissitudes of fortune; to pardon when powerful; to be generous with no strings attached.

~Attributed to the Prophet Muhammad

» Random Fact    

The world’s smallest island country is Nauru
[South Pacific, pop: 14,000, Language: Nauruan (official; a distinct Pacific Island language)]

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1961 ►Clarence Gideon is arrested and charged with breaking into a poolroom in Florida. In Gideon v. Wainwright, in the Supreme Court it was ruled that a fair trial "cannot be realized if the poor man charged with [the] crime has to face his accusers without a lawyer to assist him." Due to Clarence Gideon's perseverance, every criminal suspect is entitled to representation by a lawyer.

» Free Ramblings    

During one of our many snow storms and cold temps my front windshield developed a crack on the passenger side. Last week it started to grow, so today I got it replaced. Amazing, the four years of wind, snow, rain, road chemical, and who knows what else had really done a number on the window. While they said it would take 2+ hours to do it, I was in and out in about an hour. With a window that isn’t pitted, I can really see much better.

I added a count of the days of the oil spill in the Gulf. I will stop it as soon as the thing is stopped. Living in the desert for so long, I never really understood what ‘wetlands’ was all about. Now that we may be losing millions of acres of wetlands, the news stations are starting to visit the wetlands of the Gulf and showing us what is happening. It is frightening to hear experts tell us the worst case scenario. Even the best case scenario is depressing—less wetlands will increase flooding in hurricane area towns’ less wetlands will hurt many fishermen; less wetlands will mean the cost of shrimp and other aquatic foods will skyrocket. To top of this mess, BP is now saying that the oil leak has increased by about 20% as they try to saw off some thing-a-ma-jig to put a top hat on it and that December, not August, is now a timeline for the other two drill holes to reach the spewing well and stop its spewing. As hurricane season arrives in the Gulf, another fear surfaces—the marshes are being killed by oil, when a storm hits, this oil will simply move farther inland, killing more wetlands. CNN went back to the marsh where Obama and the governor were a few days ago. At the time of the visit, lots of people were cleaning up, lots of booms were out in the ocean…today, no people, no booms, and just more oil—so far over 34 million gallons have been put into the Gulf.

My deck made it to 78° this afternoon. What a great day. So nice to be outside after the long, long winter.

» Puzzle 1  

"Welcome back to the show. Before the break, Mr Ixolite here made it to our grand finale! How do you feel Mr.Ix?"

"Nervous."

"Okay, now to win the star prize of one million pounds all you have to do is answer the following question in 90 seconds."

"Okay, I'm ready."

"Right. In 90 seconds name 100 words that do NOT contain the letter 'A'. Start the clock!"

Can you help?

HINT: He’s counting on your help.

» A Quick Smile…    

One of our projects at military leadership school called for us to speak in front of the class on a topic picked by our instructor. A classmate gave an impassioned speech on the benefits of drinking liquor. Alcohol, he insisted, warded off colds, kept you alert, and even made you steadier on your feet.

"Good job," said our instructor when he finished. "Only one thing: Your topic was the benefits of drinking liquids, not liquor."

» Side Show Stories    

Saskatchewan - We've all seen the television programs about how to survive in the wild. Making fire with sticks and killing wild game with a shoe and a belt, etc. But one Canadian man had a much more practical approach. The man reported he had been boating on a lake when bad weather hit and he was stranded. With no way to communicate with the outside world he took matters and an axe into his own hands.

He chopping down four power poles — knocking out electricity to surrounding communities and waited for the power company to come out and repair the damage. "Essentially it was mission accomplished, because we got the call, we chartered a helicopter...and on Friday around noon we discovered him," a SaskPower spokesperson said. They said, considering the circumstances, they are not going to try to recoup damages from the stranded man.

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

I'm light as a feather, yet the strongest man can't hold me for much more than a minute. What am I?

» Something you might enjoy…  

In 2005, YouTube changed the internet forever. It is now available in 22 languages. Check out this one…

A bunch of dogs, some sand, some water, and some music…Thanks Peter for finding this!

Click HERE!

» Calendar Information    

¤ 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.

1941 My Sister and I Jimmy Dorsey

1951 How High the Moon Les Paul & Mary Ford

1961 Running Scared Roy Orbison

1971 Brown Sugar The Rolling Stones

1981 Bette Davis Eyes Kim Carnes

¤ Observance Weeks in June

thru 5th Black Singles Parent Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World

Repeat Day: doing things of joy over and over again

Confederate Memorial Day: KY, LA, TN : (since 1868)

Chimborazo Day:

celebrates Mount Chimborazo, a volcanic peak (6268 meters/ 20,564 feet tall) in Ecuador that pokes farther into space than any other point on Earth, even Mount Everest. That's due to the fact that the planet isn't a perfect sphere, but bulges at the equator. So Jacksonville, for instance, is closer to the center of the Earth than Miami, but farther than Milwaukee.

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Australia: Mabo Day (since 1992— Eddie Koiki Sambo Mabo helped indigenous people of Australia gain back land rights)

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

(Irwin) Allen Ginsberg, Beat Generation poet, born in 1926 Newark, New Jersey

Charles Hart, 49, lyricist, composer, born London, England

Larry McMurtry, 74, author (Terms of Endearment, Lonesome Dove, The Last Picture Show), born Wichita Falls, TX

Athletes

Hale S. Irwin, 65, golfer, born Joplin, MO

Entertainers

Chuck Barris, 81, television producer (“Dating Game,” “Newlywed Game,” “Gong Show”), born Philadelphia, PA

Anderson Cooper, 43, television journalist, personality (“Anderson Cooper 360,” “The Mole”), born New York, NY

Tony Curtis (Bernard Schwartz), 85, actor (Some Like It Hot, The Boston Strangler, The Defiant Ones), born in New York, NY

Curtis Mayfield singer (Freddie's Dead, Superfly), born in 1942 Chicago, Illinois 

Business, Education Persons

Ransom Eli Olds auto (Oldsmobile) & truck (REO) manufacturer, born in 1864 Geneva, Ohio

Political Persons

Raúl Castro, 79, President of Cuba, born Holguín, Cuba

Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, born in 1808 Philadelphia, PA

Rafael Nadal, 24, tennis player, born Manacor, Spain

Scientists /Religious Persons

Dr Charles Drew Washington DC, pioneer of blood plasma preservation/first director of the Red Cross blood bank, born in 1904 Washington, DC

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

1968 ►Andy Warhol the American artist and a major driving force in the movement known as Pop art is shot and wounded in his New York film studio

In Athletics

1932 ►Lou Gehrig hits 4 consecutive HRs; Yanks beat A's 20-13

In Business or Education

1921 ►A sudden cloudburst kills 120 near Pikes Peak, Colorado

1949 ►1st negro to graduate from US Naval Academy (Wesley Anthony Brown)

In Politics

1539 ►Hernando De Soto claims Florida for Spain

1621 ►Dutch West India Company receives charter for "New Netherlands"

1833 ►Today, Secretary of War Lewis Cass gives orders directly to the United States Marshal's office to remove white settlers, and trespassers, from CREEK lands in Alabama

1861 ►1st Civil War land battle-Union defeats Confederacy at Philippi, WV

1918 ►Supreme Court rules child labor laws unconstitutional

1937 ►Duke of Windsor (Edward 8) weds Mrs Wallis Warfield Simpson in France

1959 ►The first class to graduate from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO

In Science/ Religion

1098 ►Christian Crusaders seize Antioch, Turkey

¤ Today’s Obits

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli Pope John XXIII-261st Pope @ 81 in 1963

Harry Glicken volcanologist, killed by Mt Unzen Volcano in Japan @ 33 in 1991

Ruhollah Mousavi Ayatollah Khomeini, Iranian Religious Leader and Politician, @ 89 in 1989

Ozzie Nelson actor (Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet), liver cancer @69 in 1975

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

One, Two, Three, Four, Five......One Hundred!

He just counted from 1 to 100 in ninety seconds (it is possible).

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

Breath

» PIC of the Day  

I have always been fascinated with ‘sky’ pictures. While traveling I always try to take pictures of clouds, sunrise, sunset, panoramas with mostly sky. These pics are not mine, but it’s nice to learn that others are also fascinated by the sky. During the month of June I’ll be doing ‘sun rays’.

Click HERE!

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Wednesday 6-1

»Week 22 of 2010: 153 days this year… 212 days remain≈

» Something To Think About  

You must rouse into people's consciousness their own prudence and strength, if you want to raise their character.

--Marquis De Vauvenargues, French essayist

» Random Fact    

Efforts to protect our skin from the sun go all the way back to ancient times. Ancient Egyptians considered light skin more attractive than dark skin, but found it difficult to maintain in Egypt's hot and sunny environment. Recently translated papyri and tomb walls reveal the ingredients of potions used to ward off a tan and heal damaged skin.

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 2000 ►The government of Zimbabwe has issued the latest list of 800 plus farms earmarked for forcible seizure by the government who will devide them up between landless peasants.

» Free Ramblings    

I still have problems adjusting to 3 day weekends—even after almost 4 years of retirement. Today, Tuesday, has really felt like Monday all day. As I was checking my ‘schedule’ I still felt that this was Monday. I hope I catch up with the day before Friday. If I don’t figures this out, I may miss some appointments, car repair tomorrow, Dr. check-ups and lunch on Thursday.

Tonight is the City Council meeting. The Council is addressing a secret internal memo that questions our Mayor’s ethics in a trip to DC last year. It was leaked by a councilman who just happened to be running for mayor. The council heard about the memo a few weeks before the election, but the city attorney said to wait until after the election to discuss it, as it was obviously politically motivated. So tonight we hear from lots of people. Before that starts, at the last meeting the Council voted to sue AZ for SB 1070. An hour into the meeting people are only giving their opinions of the plan—the pro-1070 people are warning of Armageddon, the anti-1070 people are just repeating what they said last time. I hope they get to the ‘memo issue’ soon. Again I am glad that these meetings are streamed live, so I can see government in action without having to be sitting in a hot crowded room. Non-elected Gov Brewer has been making the news and political rounds in DC and made it to CNN today. She has been asking to meet with Obama for several weeks, and is getting a meeting sometime this week. She has said that no matter what Obama suggests regarding 1070, she will not back down. No wonder the President is having trouble finding time to meet with her. Again, Obama is proving that he believes in dialogue with anyone. I wish our President lots of luck. I don’t think this will be a meeting with a couple of bottles of beer.

I am paying close attention to Gaza Strip drama. More so than I would have, had I not visited several Muslim nations. I am reminded that Egypt has one of the main border entry sites into the Gaza. Tension is high there and with other parts of the world. Words and actions are often reported with bias. To add to that even a report that is almost free of bias is going to be interpreted by many individuals with bias. The Muslims of the world will be watching the US response, especially by the President. I can only hope that the US comments on this issue will ease the tensions and not make our working relation with the Muslims throughout the world more difficult. When an ancient homeland is at stake, there is seldom a win-win situation. One only needs to look at the problems the US has and continues to have with the many Native populations.

We had a decent weather day, and with clean office windows, I could see it when I wasn’t outside. We made it to 75° and only had a little wind storm late this afternoon. I spent part of the day checking for plants, but a new supply hadn’t arrived and many others had picked through them during the holiday. So later in the week, new plants will arrive to our little mountain town and I will be there ready to buy. Flagstaff is enjoying a nice early summer, even without moisture falling from the sky. Bring on the monsoon a little early this year.

» Puzzle 1  

I am feared by many people; but scramble my letters and I become hated.

What am I?

» A Quick Smile…    

When hiring new staff at the public library, I always ask applicants what sort of supervision they'd be most comfortable with.

One genius answered, "I've always thought Superman's X-ray vision would be cool."

» Side Show Stories    

Daily Telegraph: The local government of Bolton, England, responding in March to a citizen's report of a discarded mattress on the side of a road, sent an official to assess the scene. He wrote a work order for four men (a driver, an assistant and two supervisors) and a 1.7-ton construction vehicle, and the pickup was scheduled for the following week, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph. (When a Bolton councilman saw the schedule, he, with the help of a friend, drove a council van to the scene and hauled the mattress to a dump site.

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

I never was, am always to be,

No one ever saw me, nor ever will,

And yet I am the confidence of all

To live and breathe on this terrestrial ball.

What am I?

» Something you might enjoy…  

In 2005, YouTube changed the internet forever. It is now available in 22 languages. Check out this one…

These bloopers have been around for a while, but still bring a laugh. Click HERE!

» Calendar Information    

¤ 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.

1939: Beer Barrel Polka; Will Glahe

1949: Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend); Vaughn Monroe

1959: The Battle of New Orleans; Johnny Horton

1969: Get Back; The Beatles

1979: Hot Stuff; Donna Summer

1999: Livin' La Vida Loca; Ricky Martin

¤ Observance Weeks in June

thru 5th Black Singles Parent Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World

Leave the Office Early Day

National ‘Bubba’ Day

National Running Day

National Rocky Road Day

National Tailors Day

Yell "Fudge" at the Cobras in North America Day

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Bhutan: Coronation Day

Iceland: Seaman's Day

Isabel Province, Solomon Islands: Isabel Province Day

Italy: Festa della Repubblica, commemorates the birth of the Repubblica Italiana and the end of the monarchy (since 1946)

Tunisia: Youth Day

North Korea: Children's Day

West Germany : Republic (Constitution) Day

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Thomas Hardy England, poet/novelist (Mayor of Casterbridge), born in 1840 Dorset, England

Marvin Hamlisch, 66, composer (Oscars for The Sting, The Way We Were; Tony for A Chorus Line), born New York, NY

Athletes

John Weissmuller (Johann Peter Weißmüller) actor (Tarzan)/100m swimmer (Olympic-gold-1924, 28), born in 1904 Banat region of, Austria-Hungary

Entertainers

Dana Carvey, 55, comedian, actor (Wayne’s World, “Saturday Night Live”), born Missoula, MT

Hedda Hopper (Elda Furry) gossip columnist (From Under My Hat), born in 1890 Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania

Stacy Keach, Jr, 69, actor (Conduct Unbecoming, “Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer”), born Savannah, GA

Sally Kellerman, 74, actress (M*A*S*H, Back to School), born Long Beach, CA

Jerry Mathers, 62, actor (“Leave It to Beaver”), born Sioux City, IA

Milo O’Shea, 84, actor (The Purple Rose of Cairo), born Dublin, Ireland

Business, Education Persons

--

Political Persons

Henry VIII King of England, born in 1491 Greenwich Palace

Marquis de Sade (Comte Donatien Alphonse Francois de Sade),1st known sadist, writer (Justine), born in 1740 Condé palace, Paris

Scientists /Religious Persons

Charles ‘Pete’ Conrad Jr., NASA astronaut, born in 1930 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

1981 ►Barbara Walters asks Katharine Hepburn what kind of tree she would be

In Athletics

1935 ►Babe Ruth, retires ending his Major League playing career after 22 seasons, 10 World Series and 714 home runs.

In Business or Education

1835 ►P.T. Barnum & his circus begin 1st tour of US

1931 ►Ten people were killed in France during the testing of a new suspension bridge that was built

In Politics

1851 ►1st US alcohol prohibition law enacted (Maine)

1886 ►Grover Cleveland is 1st to wed during presidency (Frances Folsom)

1899 ►Black Americans observed day of fasting to protest lynchings

1924 ►US citizenship granted to all American Indians

1933 ►President Franklin D. Roosevelt accepted the first swimming pool to bebuilt inside the White House.

1953 ►The coronation of 27-year-old Queen Elizabeth II was broadcast.

In Science/ Religion

1910 ►Pygmies discovered in Dutch New Guinea

¤ Today’s Obits

Lou Gehrig Yankee great, ALS @37 in 1941

Rex Harrison actor (My Fair Lady), cancer @ 82 in 1990

Jim Hutton actor (Ellery Queen), liver cancer @ 45 in 1979

Sammy Kaye orch leader (Sammy Kaye Show), @ 77 in 1987

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

Death

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

Tomorrow

» PIC of the Day  

I have always been fascinated with ‘sky’ pictures. While traveling I always try to take pictures of clouds, sunrise, sunset, panoramas with mostly sky. These pics are not mine, but it’s nice to learn that others are also fascinated by the sky. During the month of June I’ll be doing ‘sun rays’.

Click HERE!
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Monday 6-1

»Week 22 of 2010: 152 days this year… 213 days remain≈

» June Trivia  

June is named after Roman Goddess ‘Juno’, wife of Jupiter; the summer equinox will happen this month, the pearl, the moonstone, and the alexandrite are the birthstones (longevity), the rose or honeysuckle are this month’s flowers.

» Some things To Think About  

In these divine pleasures permitted to me of walks in the June night under moon and stars, I can put my life as a fact before me and stand aloof from its honor and shame.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June.

- Al Bernstein

» Random Wedding Facts    

~The Old English word for the wedding ceremony was ‘bridelope’, which literally met “bridal run.” The word “wed” derives from the Proto-Indo European base ‘wadh’, meaning to pledge or redeem.

~Before the 1500s, couples in Europe were free to marry themselves. It wasn’t until 1564 when the Council of Trent declared marriage was a sacrament that weddings became the province of priests and churches.

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1868 ►After the "long walk" to the Bosque Redondo Reservation in New Mexico, General Sherman visited the NAVAJO. They again asked to go back to their old lands. They promised the keep the peace and the old treaties. Sherman talked with them, and he listened to them. With a new treaty in hand, Sherman says he will let them go, if they sign, and obey, the new treaty. The NAVAJOs agree, even though they will lose some of their land as a part of the new agreement. On this date, Barboncito, Armijo, Delgadito, Herrero Grande, Manuelito, and others sign the new treaty.

» Free Ramblings    

I’ve had a busy holiday weekend. Sunday was a BBQ with some of our discussion group and a few new people. I expected a few hours, but it quickly turned into almost 6 hours of good conversation, good food, and a little wine. I met the Episcopalian Chaplin from NAU. She is new to Flagstaff, only been here since August. So refreshing to meet someone who is religious and open minded. Another couple is in real estate here in Flagstaff. Again a surprising degree of open-mindedness. I do know that every profession/calling has open minded people. I don’t meet a lot of clergy or real estate people here in Flagstaff, and only read their column or when they are in a news story. That is hardly a good sampling. So we are able to discuss politics, education, travel, and religion and have lots of input from everyone. The hostess repeated a workshop she recently attended in CA, sort of. The workshop was at a winery and each table blended wine, then all the participants did a blind taste and selected the ‘best blended wine’ for their pallet. The winner got a $1000 bottle of wine. We were able to hear about how it was done, then enjoyed tasting several winery blended wines. Must say they were much different, and I now think better, than a merlot or other single wine type.

Today I decided to wash my upstairs windows. I am not a DIY type guy. I spent many hours learning about egress from buildings and Federal requirements for egress. When I first washed the windows after a few months of living here, I tried to figure out how the sliding window came out of the track for emergency exit. All the Federal buildings that have sliding windows have a trip latch on the window. Pull that trip latch and the window easily comes out of the track and can be brought inside. I decided way back then that these windows didn’t meet those specs. But, alas yesterday, one of my neighbors in another building was moving out. They popped out both the sliding window and the stationary one and started lowering things out the new open space. So, this morning, knowing that the window does come out, I played around a little and figured it out. For the first time in almost four years, I have really clean second story windows, and it was even easy to do. I feel so dumb that I didn’t spend a little more time years ago to figure it out. Live and Learn.

Last night it was pointed out that Flag has gone from winter to wind to summer and completely leaving out spring. Today we were a wonderful 75° with blue sky and no wind. I am pretty sure this is going to continue and this week I can start putting some color in my planters. I already have a plan and need to pick up a couple more planters and potting soil, but that should be easy—Home Depot is just down the street.

» Puzzle 1  

A spoonerism is a pair of words that can have the initial sounds switched to form new words. For example, "churning bear" is a spoonerism for "burning chair" (note that the pairs do not have to be spelled the same - only sound the same). From the definitions below, can you figure out these 5 spoonerism pairs?

1. Thumper's cellphone...mis-named nerve.

2. Where to buy a mallard...jammed portal.

3. Grizzly relative...two pin-lovers.

4. Sad iguana...Merlin slam-dunking.

5. Wasp accelerates...Half a six-pack.

» A Quick Smile…    

"For sale," read the ad in our hospital's weekly newsletter, "sleeveless wedding gown, white, size 8, veil included. Worn once, by mistake."

» Side Show Stories    

LONGVIEW, WA - A Washington state man who heard someone stealing his truck from outside his home said he followed the sound of the muffler to pursue the thieves. Alex Hansen, 27, said he heard the 1996 Toyota T-100 starting at 5 a.m. Tuesday outside of his Longview home and quickly gave chase, The (Longview) Daily News reported. "I grabbed my girlfriend's keys. My truck's loud enough I could hear where it was going," Hansen said. He said he spotted the Toyota traveling together with another vehicle. "I caught up about the time they got to Alabama Ave," he said. "I chased them 8 minutes or so down alleyways and streets... He just locked the truck up, jumped out and took off running."

Hansen described the suspect who exited the truck as a white man with a black hoodie, shorts and a backwards cap. He said the culprits took tools, a camera, his wallet and other valuables from the vehicle.

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

You use a knife to slice my head and weep beside me when I am dead. What am I?

» Something you might enjoy…  

In 2005, YouTube changed the internet forever. It is now available in 22 languages. Check out this one…

June is International Surf Music Month. See if you remember this: Click HERE!

» Calendar Information    

¤ June Monthly Observances

~Medical: Cancer From The Sun Month * Celibacy Awareness Month * Child Vision Awareness Month * Dairy Alternative Month * Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome Awareness Month * International Childhood Cancer Campaign Month * National Aphasia Awareness Month * Pharmacists Declare War on Alcoholism Month * Professional Wellness Month * Rebuild Your Life Month * Vision Research Month * World Infertility Month

~Outdoors: Fireworks Safety Month * Great Outdoors Month * International Surf Music Month * Lane Courtesy Month * Perennial Gardening Month * National Rivers Month * National Rose Month * National Safety Month * Skyscraper Month * Sports America Kids Month * Student Safety Month * Women's Golf Month * World Cup (soccer) Month (Games in South Africa)

~Foods: Dairy Month * National Candy Month * National Ice Tea Month * National Soul Food Month * National Steakhouse Month

~Social Awareness: Gay & Lesbian Pride Month * National GLBT (Gay,Lesbian,Bisexual & Transgender) Awareness Month * National GLBT Book Month

~Misc: Effective Communications Month * Entrepreneurs "Do It Yourself" Marketing Month * International Men's Month * Turkey Lovers Month * National Accordion Awareness Month * National Bathroom Reading Month * National Smile Month * Potty Training Awareness Month

¤ 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.

1938: Cathedral in the Pines; Shep Fields

1948: Nature Boy; King Cole

1958: All I Have to Do Is Dream; The Everly Brothers

1968: Mrs. Robinson; Simon & Garfunkel

1978: Too Much, Too Little, Too Late; Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams

1988: One More Try; George Michael

¤ Observance Weeks in June  

thru 5th Black Singles Parent Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World    

Dare Day * Heimlich Maneuver Day * National Go Barefoot Day * Say Something Nice Day * Stand For Children Day * Kentucky-1792, Tennessee-1796 : Statehood Day * Philadelphia: Elfreth's Alley Day-celebrates oldest US street

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Canada: National Day Against Homophobia (since 2005 when PM Trudeau repealed all ‘anti-gay’ clauses from the Criminal Code of Canada)

Cambodia: National Tree Planting Day

People’s Republic of China, Mongolia : Children's Festival Day

Kenya : Madaraka Day, since 1963 for internal self-rule

Palau: President's Day

Samoa: Independence Day (1962 from New Zealand)

Thailand: Visakha Puja: the Buddha was born, and 35 years later awoke to the unexcelled right self-awakening, and another 45 years later passed away into total nibbana

Vancouver: Fei Fei Day: for Hong Kong comedienne Lydia “ Fei-fei” Sum since 2008

Western Samoa: National Day

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Nelson Riddle musical conductor, born in 1921 Oradell NJ

John W Van Duren playwright (I Remember Mama), born in 1901 New York City, NY

Athletes

Justine Henin, 28, tennis player, born Liege, Belgium

Entertainers

Pat Boone, 76, singer, actor (State Fair), author, born Jacksonville, FL

Ronnie Dunn, 57, country singer: duo: Brooks & Dunn, born in Coleman, Texas

Morgan Freeman, 73, stage and film actor (Oscar for Million Dollar Baby; The Shawshank Redemption, Driving Miss Daisy), born Memphis, TN

Andy Griffith, 84, actor (“Matlock,” “The Andy Griffith Show”), born Mount Airy, NC

Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jean Baker Mortenson) actress: Gentleman Prefer Blondes, The Seven-Year Itch, Some Like It Hot, Bus Stop, The Asphalt Jungle, Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend, The Misfits, Scudda-Hoo! Scudda-Hay!; famous centerfold:Playboy [1952], born in 1926 Los Angeles, CA

Ron Wood, 63, musician (guitarist with the Rolling Stones), born London, England

Edward Woodward, 80, actor, singer (“The Equalizer,” Wicker Man, Breaker Morant), born Croydon, England

Business, Education Persons

Dilia Elena Díaz Cisneros, 85, founder of Public schools throughout Venezuela, born in El Hatillo town of theMiranda state, Veneauela

Political Persons

Tony Snow, News Anchor, Former White House Press Secretary for George W. Bush, born in 1955 Berea, Kentucky

Scientists /Religious Persons

James Hadley Billington, 81, Librarian of Congress, born Bryn Mawr, PA

Brigham Young religious leader (Mormon church)/polygamist, blacksmith, born in 1801 Whitingham, Vermont

Sadi Nicolas Léonard Carnot physicist: pioneer in thermodynamics: discovered the 2nd law of thermodynamics, born in 1796 Paris, France

Frank Whittle inventor (jet engine), born in 1907 Earlsdon, Coventry, England

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

1938 ►Superman Comics launched

1959 ►Celebrating a solid year at the top of the album charts was Johnny’s Greatest Hits (Johnny Mathis) on Columbia Records. The LP stayed for several more years at or near the top of the album charts. It became the all-time album leader at 490 weeks.

In Athletics

1984 ►Weightlifter Alexander Gunyashev of USSR snatches a record 211 kg (464.2 lbs)

In Business or Education

1495 ►1st written record of Scotch Whiskey appears in Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. Friar John Cor is the distiller

1949 ►1st magazine on microfilm offered to subscribers (Newsweek), $15/yr

1980 ►Ted Turner's Cable News Network begins broadcasting (CNN)

1990 ►The Cowboy Channel on cable TV begins transmitting

In Politics

1808 ►1st US land-grant university founded-Ohio Univ, Athens, Ohio

1813 ►Capt John Lawrence utters Navy motto "Don't give up the ship", his final order after being shot

1855 ►US adventurer Wm Walker conquers Nicaragua, reestablishes slavery

1866 ►Renegade Irish Fenians invade Fort Erie Ontario from US

1877 ►US troops authorized to pursue bandits into Mexico

1966 ►2,400 persons attend White House Conference on Civil Rights

In Science/ Religion

1638 ►1st earthquake recorded in US, at Plymouth, Mass

1869 Voting Machine patented by Thomas Edison

1888 ►California gets its 1st seismograph

1985 ►500 'Hippy' travellers clash with police on their way to the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge in Wiltshire for an illegal festival, the police set up a roadblock seven miles from Stonehenge. The day is known as "The Battle of the Beanfield" and was the first major test of an English Heritage ban on midsummer festivals at Stonehenge.

¤ Today’s Obits    

Helen Keller blind & deaf, @ 87 in 1968

Richard Greene actor (Adv of Robin Hood), cardiac arrest @ 67 in 1985

Rashid Karami Lebanon, 10 time PM of Lebanon, assassinated @ 65 in 1987

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

1. Bunny phone...funny bone.

2. Duck store...stuck door.

3. Polar bear...bowler pair.

4. Weeping lizard...leaping wizard.

5. Bee throttles...three bottles.

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

An onion

» PIC of the Day   NEW

I have always been fascinated with ‘sky’ pictures. While traveling I always try to take pictures of clouds, sunrise, sunset, panoramas with mostly sky. These pics are not mine, but it’s nice to learn that others are also fascinated by the sky. During the month of June I’ll be doing ‘sun rays’.

Three Great Sun Ray Pics: Click HERE!

   «»«»«»«»«»«»«»  

Mon 5-31 Memorial Day

Take a moment or two today to remember all the brave men and women who gave their lives for our country.

Click Here for Memorial Day Song with photos!

Click Here for Amazing Grace with military photos!

Sun 5-30

≈Week 22 of 2010: 150 days this year…215 days remain≈

≈ Something To Think About  

Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it.

~Albert Einstein

≈ Random Sports Facts    

Denver Nuggets — This name was chosen by team officials to pay tribute to the 19th century mining boom in Colorado.

Detroit Pistons — Fred Zollner, who owned a piston-making plant in Fort Wayne, Ind., was the team's first owner. The Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons were renamed the Pistons when they moved to Detroit in 1957.

Indiana Pacers — Chosen by investors, the name is said to reflect the area's rich harness racing history and the pace car at the country's most famous auto race-the Indianapolis 500.

• Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1650 ►An ordinance is passed against the making of counterfeit, or "fake," wampum by the Directors of the Council of the New Netherlands. European manufacturers are producing the fakes, which are being used to pay Indians.

≈ Free Ramblings    

Sadly, the BP mud-into-the-hole plan was abandoned today. BP is flying by the seat of its collective pants. I find it so hard to believe that BP is so poorly prepared and that they are doing such a terrible spin operation. For two days they have been telling us that the plume coming from the well is mostly mud. The CEO of BP made a statement today about how they are now using aerial photographs—some from planes and some from US satellites—to find the tiny (his word) plumes of surface oil. Some of these plumes are 3 miles wide by 10 miles long and several hundred feet deep. Agreed these would be hard to find in the vast Gulf, but any spin guy would know not use the word ‘tiny’. The animals that run into these plumes would not see them as tiny. When these plumes hit the marsh land or the beaches, they will not be seen as tiny. On the LA coast, a team is building a barrier to keep the oil off the beach. It is basically a huge soft rubber pipe filled with water. They are used during hurricanes. They are building a seven mile barrier. It takes a team 24 hours for them to put in a one mile section of this pipe. I wonder if BP sees this as a tiny effort of protection.

It is certainly the Memorial Day weekend. All one has to do is attempt to drive down Rt 66. Starting yesterday afternoon and continuing today, the road is loaded with campers, huge RV’s, and the like. I stopped for gas at my local station. They have two islands with about 10 pumps. All pumps were busy and there was a line to get in. The gas was the same price as always, and the place across the street was just as busy. I guess that is a good sign of the times. People are traveling. I had to pick up some dessert for my BBQ tomorrow afternoon at Safeway. Big mistake…parking lot filled, all registers open and three baskets in each line. I remember those days when I worked in a grocery store. No matter how fast you check people out, more just keep coming. Good for business, hard on employees. As usual I was able to observe one of my pet peeves. Most customers unload their groceries onto the belt, then move down to the register and watch the machine make its little beeps. When the harried cashier tells the customer the final total, the customer reaches into her purse/his wallet and tried to decide if they are using cash/credit/debit or whatever. They then find the correct card and swipe it. Then the cashier leads them through the multitude of screens to pay. I’m retired and have lots of time, if needed. I just wish these people would be a little more prepared.

I really enjoy music, and music of most genres. While I am doing this blog, a visitor has arrived in the parking lot. A twenty something girl parks and gets out of her car in high heels. When she opens the door to the car there is a booming of rap music coming from inside the small vehicle. She chooses not to full close the door, knowing that the entire complex likes good music. She goes to her destination and about 5 minutes later comes back out to get something from the car. Again she doesn’t fully close the door and returns to her friends. Another 10 minutes and she returns and leaves. She then drives off, smiling, knowing that she has provided all of us all with a nice musical interlude while she conducted her business. The strange thing about our little encounter, when she closed the door to the vehicle, the music could not be heard. There was none of the infamous bass shaking the vehicle and sharing that bass with all within a 100 yard radius. How did she do dat?

We had some breeze today, and we made it to 75°. A nice day to spend outside. I took a lengthy walk and found a couple of houses that were having garage sales. Not anything I needed or wanted, but interesting none the less. Certainly nothing I was going to carry on my walk and nothing I would drive to get. A couple of TC people stopped by this afternoon. Good to see them. I have a few friends in TC who are really friends, and not just job acquaintances. We are able to talk about things that have little or nothing to do with our work days. That is always cool. Schools on the rez are out, weather has really warmed up. Could summer really be here? I’m still holding out for another snow storm. Each day of 70°+ weather is making that less and less probable.

≈ A Quick Smile…    

Since he runs a pawnshop, I decided to ask a friend of mine to appraise my grandfather's violin. "Old fiddles aren't worth much, I'm afraid," he explained.

"What makes it a fiddle and not a violin?" I asked.

"If you're buying it from me, it's a violin. If I'm buying it from you, it's a fiddle."

≈ Puzzle 1    

What do these 6 sets of words have in common?
1. Man true, hairy

2. Son nick, yard rich

3. Son will, row wood

4. Grant, us list you

5. More fill, lard mill

6. Ding hard, wren war

≈ Side Show Stories    

PITTSBURGH - A nun who serves as principal of a Pittsburgh school said she stopped a thief with a single sentence: "You need to give me what you have."

Sister Lynn Rettinger, principal of Sacred Heart Elementary School in the Shadyside neighborhood, said preschool teacher Donna Caligiuri called to her at about 2:05 p.m. Tuesday and said a man had taken a wallet out of a purse in an unlocked car, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Thursday. Rettinger, who was wearing white slacks and a blue jacket with her Sisters of Charity pin, said she walked out the front door and spoke to the man from the top of the steps. "I said to him, 'You need to give me what you have.' That's what I say to children if I know they have something they shouldn't. I say, 'You need to give me what's in your pocket,'" Rettinger said. "He gave it to me, and then he apologized," she said. She said the man walked away calmly. "He didn't even run," she said.

≈ Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

I am weightless, but you can see me. Put me in a bucket, and I'll make it lighter. What am I?

≈ Calendar Information    

• Observance Weeks in May•

25-31

Week of Solidarity With The People of Non-Self-Governing Territories

26-30

International Whistler's Week

5/27–6/6

Largest annual festival of literature takes place: Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales.

5/30-6/5

Black Single Parents Week

• Today’s Observances—US/UN/World •

Hug Your Cat Day: And yes your cat knows it

Loomis Day: Pays tribute to the inventor of wireless telegraphy, Mahlom Loomis, a Washington DC dentist, who received his patent for wire-free telegraphing on May 30, 1872

My Bucket's Got A Hole In It Day: Not be to confused with the Dear Liza song. To Hear Hank Sr’s version Click HERE!

Lincoln City IN : Nancy Hanks Lincoln (Abe’s mother) Memorial Day

• Today’s Observances—by country •

Anguilla (Caribbean Islands): Anguilla Day, commemorates the beginning of the Anguillian Revolution in 1967.

Canary Islands: Canary Islands Day

Trinidad and Tobago: (East) Indian Arrival Day

Channel Is, England, N Ireland, Wales: Spring Holiday
Croatia: Parliament Day
Nicaragua: Mother's Day
Puerto Rico: Lod Massacre Remembrance Day (1972: 17 Puerto Rican’s killed by Japanese Terrorists (hired by PFLP) in Lod Airport, Tel Aviv

US: The REAL Memorial Day (Decoration Day) (1868)

• 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.

1947 ►Heartaches; Ted Weems

1957 ►Love Letters in the Sand; Pat Boone

1967 ►Respect; Aretha Franklin

1977 ►Sir Duke; Stevie Wonder

1987 ►With or Without You; U2

• Today’s Happenings•

In The Arts

1783 ►The Pennsylvania Evening Post, first published by Benjamin Towne in Philadelphia, PA this day, was the first daily paper in the U.S.

1933 ►Sally Rand made a name for herself as she introduced her exotic and erotic fan dance to audiences at Chicago’s Century of Progress Exposition.

In Athletics

1967 ►Robert "Evel" Knievel's motorcycle jumps 16 automobiles

In Business or Education

1848 ►William G Young patents ice cream freezer

1889 ►The brassiere is invented

In Politics

1842 ►John Francis attempts to assassinate Queen Victoria

1848 ►México ratifies treaty giving US; New Mexico, California & parts of Nevada, Utah, Arizona & Colorado in return for $15 million

1896 ►1st car accident occurs, Henry Wells hit a bicyclist (NYC)

1908 ►1st federal workmen's compensation law approved

1922 ►Lincoln Memorial dedicated

1967 ►Biafra proclaims its independence from Nigeria

In Science/ Religion

1539 ►Spanish explorer Fernando de Soto discovers Florida

1959 ►World's 1st hovercraft (SR-N1) tested at Cowes England

1975 ►European Space Agency (ESA) forms

1980 ►1st papal visit to France since 1814

• Today’s Births •

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Alfred Austin, poet laureate of England (Garden), born in 1835 Leeds England

Peter Carl Fabergé, goldsmith/jeweler/egg maker, born in 1846 Saint Petersburg, Russia

Trey Parker, 38, director, creator (“South Park”), born Auburn, AL

Athletes

Manny Ramirez (Manuel "Manny" Aristides Ramírez Onelcida), 38, baseball player(Indians, Red Sox, Dodgers) born Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Gale Eugene Sayers, 67, Hall of Fame football player( Bears), born Wichita, KS

Entertainers

Mel[vin Jerome] Blanc, voice (Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd & Porky Pig), born in 1908 San Francisco CA

Benny Goodman, clarinetist/bandleader (King of Swing), born in 1909 Chicago IL

Howard Hawks producer, director: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Monkey Business, Hatari, Rio Bravo, Rio Lobo, Sergeant York, A Song is Born, The Thing, born in 1896 Goshen, Indiana

Wynonna Judd, 46, singer, born Ashland, KY

Meredith MacRae actress, born in 1944 Houston, TX

Michael J. Pollard, 71, actor (Bonnie and Clyde, “Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills”), born Passaic, NJ

Norman Eugene "Clint" Walker, 83, actor (The Dirty Dozen, “Cheyenne”), born Hartford, IL

Business, Education Persons

Christine Jorgensen pioneer transsexual, born in 1926 Bronx, NY

Political Persons

Peter the Great (Piotr Alekseevich Romanov) Peter I: Russian Czar, born in 1672 Moscow, Russia

Scientists /Religious Persons

Dr Joseph W Kennedy scientist (1 of 4 discoverers of plutonium), born in 1916 Nacogdoches, TX

• Today’s Obits •

Joan of Arc burned as a witch by the English at Rouen, in 1431 @ 19

Christopher Marlowe British dramatist (Tamburlaine the Great), murdered in 1593 @ 29

Peter Paul Rubens Flemish painter, in 1640 gout @ 62

Alexander Pope English poet (Eloisa to Abelard), in 1744 @ 56

Claude Rains actor (Invisible Man), in 1967 @ 77

Audie Murphy WWII hero/actor (Sierra), in 1971 plane crash @ 46

≈ ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

All are Presidents
1. Harry Tru-man

2. Rich-ard Nix-on

3. Wood-row Wil-son

4. U-lyss-es Grant

5. Mil-lard Fill-more

6. War-ren Har-ding

≈ ANSWERS to Brain Food  

A hole

≈ Something you might enjoy…  

In 2005, YouTube changed the internet forever. It is now available in 22 languages. Check out this one…

Here’s Pat Boones #1 song from 1957: Click HERE!

And since I oops’ed and didn’t post any links yesterday—Here is Areatha’s Repect. Click HERE!

   ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  

Sat 5-29

≈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…

   ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  

Fri 5-28

≈Week 21 of 2010: 148 days this year… 217 days remain≈

≈ Something To Think About  

Four little words sum up what has lifted most successful individuals over the crowd: a little bit more. They did all that was expected of them and a little bit more.

~A. Lou Vickery

≈ Random Sports Facts    

§ Los Angeles Clippers - Determined by a contest in 1984, this team name is said to pay tribute to the great sailing ships that passed through San Diego Bay.

§ Utah Jazz — An ideal name for this NBA franchise when it was set in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz music, in 1974. Five years later the Jazz moved to Salt Lake City and the name went with them.

§ Los Angeles Lakers — Originally based in Minneapolis, Minn., the name was based on the state motto "The Land of 10,000 Lakes." Despite the lack of lakes in Los Angeles, the team kept the name when it relocated in 1960.

• Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1990 ►Longest wheelie (David Robilliard with 5 hours 12 minutes 33 seconds (Channel Islands)

≈ Free Ramblings    

The Flagstaff schools are still in session. They are usually out by now, but there were so many snow days, they have to keep on truckin’. Kids are outside until dark now. They have all the energy of summer, but still have to sit in class. I’m sure the teachers and staff are as ready for summer as the kids.

It was a good day here. We made it to 75° and the breeze of about 10mph was nice. I was able to be on the deck and enjoy the spring weather. I think it is safe to start putting some plants in my planters. I’m sure it will get done during this upcoming long weekend. Not that a long weekend means that much to me, but it still ‘feels’ like a long weekend.

≈ A Quick Smile…    

My daughter Marina worked in my law office while she attended graduate school. One morning a call came in for her. I said she wasn't in yet and offered to take a message. The caller said she'd phone back later.

At 11:00 a.m., the caller tried again, and I reported that Marina had gone to lunch.

The last call came in at 3:30 p.m. "I'm sorry," I said, "she's left for the day. May I take a message?"

"Yes," the caller replied. "How can I get a job with you?"

≈ Puzzle 1    

Take the given words, and by moving a single letter from one word to the other, make a pair of synonyms, or near synonyms. For example, given: Boast - Hip, move the 's' from 'Boast' to 'Hip' creating two synonyms: Boat - Ship.

1. Burn – Bead

                    … HINT: Food

2. Rid – Tripe

                    …HINT: Journey

3. Grove – Rout

                    …HINT: Indentation

4. Charm – Rush

                    …HINT: Damage

5. Cream – Sweep

                    …HINT: Outcry

≈ Side Show Stories    

ALBUQUERQUE - An Albuquerque man said police sent a bomb squad to his house after he discovered an item given to him by a friend years ago was likely an 1800s cannonball.

Kenny Honeycutt said he was describing the object to a friend Friday and was told it sounded like a cannonball from the Civil War era, leading him to call police to ask whether it might be dangerous, KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, reported. "My grandkids come over here and play all the time. I thought, if this thing is dangerous I want to get it out of there," Honeycutt said. "I had used it for a doorstop for a while. I thought I would set it up on the entertainment center." Police said the item was determined to be an explosive device from the 1800s, but there was no gunpowder inside the object so it was not considered dangerous. Honeycutt said he does not know what he will do with the cannonball. "It might be valuable to somebody. Maybe I should put it on the Internet," said Honeycutt.

≈ Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

I'm the part of the bird that's not in the sky. I can swim in the ocean and yet remain dry. 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 •

National Hamburger Day

Sierra Club Day

Slugs Return From Capistrano Day

• Today’s Observances—by country •

Azerbaijan and Armenia: Republic Day, celebrates the declaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of Armenia and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic from the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic in 1918.

Ethiopia: Downfall of the Derg Day, a National Day.

Nepal: Republic Day

Philippines: Flag Day

• 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.

1945 ►Sentimental Journey; Les Brown

1955 ►Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White; Perez Prado

1965 ►Help Me Rhonda; The Beach Boys

1975 ►Before the Next Teardrop Falls; Freddy Fender

• Today’s Happenings•

In The Arts

1953 ►Premier of 1st animated 3-D cartoon in Technicolor-"Melody"

1974 ►Emmy 1st Daytime Award presentation

In Athletics

--

In Business or Education

1742 ►1st indoor swimming pool opens (Goodman's Fields, London)

1961 ►Amnesty International is founded (Nobel Peace Prize 1977)

In Politics

1774 ►1st Continental Congress convenes (Virginia)

1851 ►Sojourner Truth attends Women's Rights Convention

1926 ►US Customs Court created by congress

1968 ►Senator Eugene McCarthy wins Democratic primary in Oregon

1972 ►White House "plumbers" break into Democratic National HQ at Watergate

In Science/ Religion

1664 ►1st Baptist Church is organized (Boston)

1892 ►Sierra Club forms by John Muir in San Fransisco, for conservation of nature

1982 ►Pope John Paul II is 1st pope to visit Great Britain

1959 ►Able and Baker were two monkeys who survived a trip into space from a launch at Cape Canaveral, FL.

• Today’s Births •

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Ian Fleming author: creator of Bond ... James Bond, born in 1908 London

Thomas Moore poet, lyricist: The Last Rose of Summer, born in 1779 Dublin, Ireland

Athletes

Kirk Harold Gibson, 53, former baseball player (Tigers, Royals, Dodgers), born Pontiac, MI

Jerry West Basketball Hall of Famer: Olympic gold medalist [1960]; Lakers, born in1938 Cheylan, WVa

Entertainers

Carroll Baker, 79, actress (Baby Doll, Harlow), born Johnstown, PA

Gladys Knight, 66, singer, born Atlanta, GA

John McGeoch, Scottish guitarist (Siouxsie and the Banshees) born in 1955, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland

T-Bone Walker Linden TX, blues guitarist, born in 1910 Linden, Texas

Business, Education Persons

Dionne Quintuplets (Annette (76) Cécile (76), Émilie, Marie, Yvonne), born in 1934 Ontario Canada

Elisabeth Hasselbeck, 33, American television panelist (The View), born in Cranston, Rhode Island

Political Persons

Rudolph Giuliani, 66, former mayor of New York City, born Brooklyn, NY

Mark Sanford, 50, Governor of South Carolina (R), born Fort Lauderdale, FL,

Scientists /Religious Persons

Zahi Hawass, 63, Egyptian Egyptologist, born in Damietta, Egypt

Stanley B. Prusiner, 68 American scientist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology born in Des Moines, Iowa

• Today’s Obits •

Anne Bronté novelist in 1849, influenza @ 29

Sidney Greenbaum grammarian, in 1996 heart failure @ 66

Phil[ip Edward] Hartman actor/comedian (NewsRadio, Saturday Night Live), in 1998 shot to death while asleep in his bed by his wife @ 49

≈ ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

1. Bun - Bread

2. Ride - Trip

3. Groove - Rut

4. Harm - Crush

5. Scream - Weep

≈ ANSWERS to Brain Food  

A shadow

≈ Something you might enjoy…

In 2005, YouTube changed the internet forever. It is now available in 22 languages. Check out this one…

John Muir, founder of Sierra Club, would be amazed at what it is doing today.

Sierra Club video

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