This is Week 25 of 2010, Day 171 with 194 days left. It is Day 62 of the BP Mess.

Free Rambling Thoughts

H A P P Y      F A T H E R ‘ S      D A Y to all the dads out there.

Our nice summer day turned to fear for many when a wildfire blew up within the city limits. Little America, one of the city’s largest motels had to be evacuated. Those living in Country Club are possibly going to be evacuated. A smaller subdivision and one of the local animal shelters have also been evacuated. I can see and smell the smoke from my place. They haven’t listed a cause yet, but with a clear blue sky, my guess would be man caused. The fire is in Ponderosa Pine. For those not familiar, the ponderosa is an amazing tall evergreen. When it burns, it simply explodes. The planes and firefighters have to deal with 30mph winds. It started at about 1pm and at 5:00 was 400 acres and now the media from Phoenix is reporting 600 acres. While it started within the city limits, there are many elk in the area. Both Little America visitors and Country Club residents are always spotting them, sometimes right in their yards. A wildfire moves so fast and is so unpredictable; the loss of animal life is always a concern. The other fire, near Williams continues to burn too. It is now 3400 acres and only 40% contained. One of the firefighters at that fire told me he was there for 13½ hours yesterday. Thankfully there are many who are willing to do this vital and very dangerous work. This is going to be quite the fire season for our forest. The monsoon can’t come soon enough. We have been barely over 10% humidity for about a week and no break seems to be ahead for a while. The winds seem to always be around, drying out the forest even more.

I spent much of the afternoon on my deck. It was nice, only reached 79°, with just a tiny breeze most of the time. I didn’t know about the fire until about 4pm. My deck doesn’t have a view of that part of the horizon, and the wind was blowing so that I didn’t smell the fire. I moved to the front of the house, the wind shifted, and now my front view shows lots of smoke and I can really smell it. Our local paper had a great front page article about bird feeding in Flagstaff this week. I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn’t doing anything wrong, and got a few ideas to improve my bird feeding. I was very glad to hear that year-round feeding in Flagstaff is not a bad thing. I have heard that it is not good to feed birds in the warm months, because they lose their ability to search for food. Just an urban legend. The other thing I already knew was that bird baths work better for the birds if the water is moving. That can be a challenge. I did find a battery thing last year that sits in the bird bath and keeps the water moving. At first I had it in a bird bath that hangs on a branch. Due to our wind, this didn’t prove very successful as after one strong wind storm, the thing fell about 20’ to the ground and broke. I was able to fix it, and now it is in the regular bird bath and working just fine. It does seem attract more birds for a quick drink. The article didn’t give me any new ideas to attract hummingbirds, but did say they are around.

My Quote For The Day

T. S. Eliot: Those who trust us educate us.

Somewhat Useless Information

Nike is named after the Greek goddess of strength, speed, and victory. The Swoosh logo was designed by Carolyn Davidson for $35. It represents Nike’s wings. Since 1928, the Olympic medal has the Goddess Nike on the obverse side. Nike, the company, is located in an unincorporated area near Beaverton, OR.

Grey Matter Puzzle 1

My first three letters are a term in golf,

While my second, third, and fourth are drawings.

My first four are less than a whole,

And all of me is a celebration.

What am I?

Unusual News Item

     Two Montanans repeatedly take marriage vows without the benefit of divorce, but they aren't polygamists; they are proxies for absent brides and grooms.

     Montana is the only state that allows a double-proxy wedding, meaning both sides can be no-shows. Kalispell, Mont., began taking advantage of this quirk about five years ago, when a native son serving in Iraq wanted to marry his pregnant girlfriend.

     Some research by lawyer Dean Knapton and -- viola! -- Friday afternoon nuptials were born.

     The law had been on Montana's books for several decades, perhaps to accommodate soldiers during World War II.

     The cost to the real, albeit absent, bride and groom: $900, of which $50 apiece goes to the proxies, $100 to the judge, $150 to the lawyer-witness; $53 for court fees; $14 for two certified copies of the marriage certificate. The rest, $483, goes to a Pennsylvania couple who run a business facilitating proxy marriages.

A Little Laff

Two golden-agers were discussing their husbands over tea.

"I do wish that my Elmer would stop biting his nails. He makes me terribly nervous."

"My Billy used to do the same thing," the older woman replied. "But I broke him of the habit."

"How?"

"I hid his teeth."

Grey Matter Puzzle 2

There is not wind enough to twirl

That one red leaf, nearest of its clan,

Which dances as often as dance it can.-- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

What am I?

My You Tube Site of the Day

The beauty of a fishing trip in Baltimore, Cork County, Ireland Click Here!

Grey Matter Picture--This is a close up of what common object?

Something you use every day.

Some Calendar Info

► Weekly Observances ◄

14-20: Men's Health Week and Universal Father's Week and Meet A Mate Week

20-26: Carpenter Ant Awareness Week and National Mosquito Control Awareness Week

► Today’s Observances ◄

Ice Cream Soda Day

American Eagle Day since 1782, National Symbol

Husband Caregiver Day

Family Awareness Day

Father's Day

World Refugee Day

Argentina : Flag Day since 1938 honoring designer on the date of his death

Senegal : Independence Day (1960 from France)

West Virginia : Admission Day (1863 after VA cessation)

► Hit Songs on this date ◄

Nature Boy-- Nat King Cole in 1948

Purple People Eater-- Sheb Wooley in 1958
This Guy's in Love with You-- Herb Alpert in 1968

Shadow Dancing-- Andy Gibb in 1978

► Born today ◄

…The Arts

Chet (Chester Burton) Atkins, 1924, guitarist (Me & My Guitar) , born in Luttrell TN

Errol Flynn, 1909, actor (Captain Blood, Robin Hood, Against All Flags), born in Hobart, Tasmania

John Goodman, 58, actor (“Roseanne,” The Babe, The Flintstones), born Affton, MO

Lillian Hellman, 1907, playwright (Toys in the Attic, Little Foxes), born in New Orleans,LA

DeForest Kelley, 1920, actor (Dr Leonard McCoy-Star Trek), born in Atlanta Ga

Nicole Kidman, 43, actress (Oscar for The Hours; The Golden Compass, Cold Mountain, Moulin Rouge), born Honolulu, HI

Martin Landau, 79, actor (Tucker: The Man and His Dream; Crimes and Misdemeanors; Oscar for Ed Wood), born Brooklyn, NY

Cyndi Lauper, 57, singer (“Girls Just Want to Have Fun”), born Brooklyn, N

John Mahoney, 70, actor (“Frasier”), born Manchester, England

Audie Murphy, 1924, Kingston Tx, WWII hero/actor (Destry, Joe Butterfly), born in Kingston, TX

Anne Murray, 65, singer (Country, “Snowbird,” “Could I Have This Dance”), born Springhill, NS, Canada

Lionel Richie, 61, singer, songwriter, born Tuskegee, AL

Brian Wilson, 68, singer (The Beach Boys), songwriter, born Hawthorne, CA

…Athletics

Dickie (Richard William) Thon, 52, baseball: California Angels, Houston Astros, born in South Bend, IN

Doug (Douglas Wayne) Gwosdz, 1960, ‘Eye Chart’: baseball: catcher: SD Padres

…Business & Education

Bob Vila, 64, handyman, television show host, born Miami, FL

…Politics

Jean Moulin, 1899, hero of the French Resistance during WW II, born in Béziers, France

…Science / Religion

Ulf Merbold, 69, German physicist and astronaut

Ilan Ramon, 1954, Israeli combat pilot and astronaut

► Obituaries today ◄

Benjamin `Bugsy' Siegel, gangster, shot @ 41 in 1947

Georges LemaŒtre, originator of "big bang" theory, @ 71 in 1966

Bob Stump, AZ politician, blood disorder @ 76 in 2003

► Events ◄

…The Arts

1937 ►W2XBS (later WCBS-TV) televised the first TV operetta: "Pirates of Penzance" by Gilbert and Sullivan.

1948 ►"Toast of the Town" hosted by Ed Sullivan premieres on CBS-TV

1975 ►The summer blockbuster movie "Jaws" is released

…Athletics

--

…Business & Education

1793 ►Eli Whitney applies for a cotton gin patent

…Politics (US)

1675 ►Today marks the start of "King Philip's war” [Wampanoag, Nipmuck, Podunk, Narragansett, Nashaway VS English colonists, Mohegan, Pequot]. One of Bloodiest in North American History

1863 ►1st bank chartered in US (National Bank of Davenport Iowa)

1893 ►Lizzie Borden found innocent in New Bedford Mass

1944 ►Congress charters Central Intelligence Agency

1990 ►Nelson Mandela lands in NYC to begin a tour of the US

…Politics (outside US)

1567 ►Jews are expelled from Brazil by order of regent Don Henrique

1631 ►The sack of Baltimore: the Irish village of Baltimore, County Cork, Ireland is attacked by Algerian pirates.

1837 ►Princess Victoria became Queen Victoria

…Science / Religion

1959 ►A rare June hurricane struck Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence killing 35.

1990 ►Asteroid Eureka is discovered

Grey Matter Answers

…1

Party: Par is the maximum number of strokes you should need to hit the ball in the hole. Art can be drawings, sculptures, or anything of the sort. Part is not a whole thing, so it is not a whole. A party is a celebration.

…2

The sun

Grey Matter Photo

garbage can

Today’s Photo Shot

Bald Eagle in flight Click Here!

Saturday 6-19

»Week 24 of 2010:170 days this year…195 days remain:

Day 61 of the BP oil spill≈

» Something To Think About  

You live on earth only for a few short years which you call an incarnation, and then you leave your body as an outworn dress and go for refreshment to your true home in the spirit.

~White Eagle, Ponca Chief

» Random Fact    

Most of our dreams last anywhere from five to 20 minutes.

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1917 ►As sentiment against Germany by the British People worsened King George V ordered the British royal family to end using the German-sounding surname, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and to take on the name Royal House of Windsor.

» Free Ramblings    

An interesting summer day. Last night I watched the Lakers win. It was a good game and actually a surprise that they repeated. It was exciting. I don’t get how people get so involved in a GAME that they break the law, destroy things, or start things on fire. It is only a GAME. Last night, just like last year, fans exited the Staples Center and began throwing bottles at cops, trying to tip over cars, and finally setting a car on fire. Last year the cops were there, but were unable to prevent many cars from being burned. This year they had 5 times as many cops, and from what I heard, only one car was burned. One of the fans said that since the cops expected problems, the fans just gave it to them. What? Rioting is not new to sports, rioting after winning a championship is not new. It just seems that its time has passed. If the teams and players had come forth, before the game, to tell fans not to riot in celebration, it never would have become so common. If the first American Championship riot had lead to big fines and some jail time, it never would have become common. Such a sad commentary on American sports. Then, I turned on the TV at 6am to watch Team USA play Slovenia at the world cup. We came back from 2-0 to tie the game. Almost unheard of in soccer. Then Team USA scored. The ref called the goal back. No one knows why. It is making headlines around the soccer world. Most have the word ‘robbed’ in their headline. Team USA is still in play, but must win the next game to stay in play. While many players would be upset by the bad call, turns out Team USA says that they should never have been in the 2-0 deficit to begin with. That’s the kind of sportsmanship I like to see. It is a game. The call can’t be undone. I’m sure FIFA is reviewing the whole thing and ensuring that the ref’s abilities are being questioned and doing what they can to be sure such a bad call doesn’t happen again.

It was a really, really nice day here in Flagstaff. A nice breeze kept my deck to a nice 80°. I did run a few errands, but found the deck much more inviting than the air conditioned stores. I had seen those new stop barking of your dog things. My back neighbors have three dogs that rally together whenever someone in on any of the decks of our complex. Amazingly the $10 little box actually works. I was able to sit on the deck and the dogs just walked around. No one was bothered.

Speaking of technology, some very cool geek figured out a way to block those horns at the World Cup from the TV broadcast. It works great on video replays of the games and hopefully will be able to do it on live games. It now sounds so simple: the horns are putting out their buzzing at one frequency—basically a B-flat. By knowing that, the geeky sound techs can simply block that frequency. It is easy on a video—even I can do that. I guess doing it on live TV is a little more complicated. I really applaud the geek who figured this out, and will be much happier when they do it during a live game. I have to applaud FIFA for not banning the horns for cultural reasons. He stated that the South Africans have been using these horns at soccer games for decades before FIFA brought the games to South Africa. The horns will continue long after the World Cup ends. FIFA has no reason to stop this cultural tradition.

» Puzzle 1  

What comes next in this series:

Meno Vowt Eeerht Mruof Jevif Sxis Uneves Nthgie _____?

» A Quick Smile…    

I halve a spelling checker,

It came with my pea see.

It plainly marks four my revue

Mistakes I dew knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word

And weight four it two say

Weather eye am wrong oar write

It shows me strait aweigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid

It nose bee fore two long

And eye can put the era rite

Its rarely ever wrong.

I've scent this massage threw it,

And I'm shore your pleased too no

Its letter prefect in every weigh;

My checker tolled me sew.

» Side Show Stories    

Buffalo, N.Y. (AP) --Her chicks have left the nest, but a peregrine falcon nesting on a Buffalo tower is proving to be an overprotective mother. Antoine Lanier said he saw the falcon recently chase a teenage boy across a street near the University of Buffalo's South Campus, where a falcon nesting platform is perched on McKay Tower.

Minutes later, Lanier said the falcon swooped in and attacked his dog, leaving the pooch with bloodied paws and ears.

State wildlife biologist Connie Adams said the falcon chicks hatched on the UB tower have left the nest, but the mother remains defensive of her territory.

She said the falcon attacked a pair of bird watchers and a man working on the roof of a Buffalo hospital.Adams said the mother falcon should become less aggressive in about two weeks.

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

Whoever makes it, tells it not. Whoever takes it, knows it not. Whoever knows it, wants it not. What is it?

» Something you might enjoy…  

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

Great Juggler: 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.

1947: Peg O' My Heart; The Harmonicats

1957: Love Letters in the Sand; Pat Boone

1967: Groovin'; The Young Rascals

1977: Got to Give It Up Pt. 1; Marvin Gaye

¤ Observance Weeks in June

13-19: National Flag Week

14-20: Men's Health Week and Universal Father's Week and Meet A Mate Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World

Garfield the Cat Day—since 1978—started in 41 newspapers: now in 2500 newspapers worldwide

Juneteenth: Emancipation Day for announcement of abolishment of slaves in TX-1865

--Juneteenth is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth. Other common portmanteaus are smog from smoke and fog; Wikipedia from ‘wiki’ (a computer term for easily edited) and encyclopedia.

World Juggling Day

World Sauntering Day

Oklahoma: Senior Citizens Day

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Algeria: Anniversary of the Revolution (1965)

Kuwait: Independence Day (1961 from Britain)

Trinidad and Tobago: Labor Day

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Elbert Hubbard, 1856, author: A Message to Garcia, Little Journeys; founder: Roycroft Press, born in Bloomington, Illinois

Guy (Gaetano) Lombardo, 1902, orchresta leader (Auld Lang Syne) , born in London, Ontario

Salman Rushdie, 63, author (Satanic Verses, Midnight’s Children), born Bombay, India

Athletes

Lou (Henry Louis) Gehrig, 1903, ‘The Iron Horse’: Baseball Hall of Fame first baseman: NY Yankees, born in Manhatten: @ 16lbs.

Entertainers

Paula Abdul, 48, singer, dancer, choreographer, television personality (“American Idol”), born Los Angeles, CA

Kathleen Turner, 56, actress (Body Heat, Peggy Sue Got Married, Romancing the Stone), born Springfield, MO

Moe Howard (Harry Moses Horwitz), 1897, comedian (3 Stooges), born in Brooklyn, NY

Business, Education Persons

Earl W. Bascom, 1906, rodeo showman and inventor: first side-delivery rodeo chute, first hornless bronc saddle, first one-handed bareback rigging, born in Vernal, Utah

Political Persons

Abe Fortas, 1910, U.S. Supreme Court Justice, born in Memphis, Tennessee

Scientists /Religious Persons

Sir John Barrow, 1764, founded Royal Geographical Society, born in Lancashire , now in Cumbria, England

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

1905 ►The world's first nickelodeon opened showing a silent film called The Great Train Robbery for 5¢

1911 ►The first motion-picture censorship board was established -- in Pennsylvania

1940 ►"Brenda Starr," 1st cartoon strip by a woman, appears in Chicago

1952 ►"I've Got A Secret" debuted on CBS TV Garry Moore as host

1999 ►Horror king/author Stephen King was was run down from behind by a van while walking on the shoulder of a road near his house in Maine

In Athletics

1867 ►1st Belmont Stakes, Ruthless wins

In Business or Education

1910 ►Father's Day celebrated for 1st time (Spokane, Wash)

In Politics

1767 ►The Governor of Louisiana recognizes the CHITIMACHA Indians, and instructs the commander at Manchac tribe to treat them with proper deference.

1879 ►Addressing the graduating class at Michigan Military Academy, General William Tecumseh Sherman uttered his famous words on war—more than a decade after the Civil War had ended. He said, “War is at best barbarism.… Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.”

1912 ►The United States government established an 8-hour work day

1934 ►Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created

1961 ►US Supreme Court struck down a provision in Md's constitution requiring state office holders to believe in God

In Science/ Religion

1923 ►Walls of lava one mile wide are descending Mount Etna towards the town of Lingauglossa in Italy

1981 ►Heaviest known orange (2.5 kg-5.5 lbs) exhibited, Nelspruit, S Africa

2003 ►More than 100 People are killed when an explosion on a vandalized pipeline is ignited by a spark from a passing motorcycle in the village of Amaokwe Oghughe, Nigeria.

¤ Today’s Obits

Len Bias, 1st pick of Celtics, suffers fatal cocaine-induced seizure @ 23 in 1986
Hy Gardner, newspaper columnist, @ 80 in 1989

Maximilian, Mexican emperor, executed, Mexican republic restored @ 35 in 1867

Rosenbergs executed at Sing Sing, Julius takes 3 tries (@35), Ethel 5 (@38) in 1953

Ed Wynn, comedian (Ed Wynn Show), @ 86 in 1966

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

Penin. Each word starts with the first letter of a planet, in order from the sun, and has the rank of distance from the sun spelled backwards added on.

For example, Jevif = Jupiter, five. So the answer is Penin, which stands for Pluto, nine. Hey, I’m an old guy, Pluto is still a planet.

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

Counterfeit money

» 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!

   «»«»«»«»«»«»«»  

Friday 6-18

»Week 24 of 2010:169 days this year… 196 days remain:

Day 60 of the BP oil spill≈  

» Something To Think About  

Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.

--John Wooden

» Random Fact    

American Indians used to quench their thirsts by chewing the gum-like resin that forms on spruce trees when the bark is cut. Spruce became the first commercial chewing gum. The use of spruce continued until the 1850s when paraffin wax became the new popular base for chewing gum.

***

During WW2, US military personnel spread the popularity of chewing gum by trading it and giving it as gifts to people from Europe, Africa, Asia and around the world.

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1730 ►7 CHEROKEE representatives will meet with King George II of England at Windsor Castle in London. They will acknowledge him as the sovereign of the CHEROKEE people.

» Free Ramblings    

A busy day. Our retirement group had seven today. A little to big to have any good conversation, but Sue came up from Phx to see Jeannie and John and Mary joined us. Good to see all the non-regulars. Sue is going back to work next fall, she got her right-of-way issues fixed in Colorado so is saving again for her summer treat in the Rockies. Jeannie’s son wants to go to school in Phx, so thankfully, Jeannie is talking about going back to Tuba. That will be good for her. John and Maree are headed for a week in CA, and then Maree is off to a seminar in Anaheim. Amazingly the school is adding Spalding as a supplemental program. A few years back the entire staff was trained with the very expensive Spalding. Many teachers decided not to embrace it, and as pro-people left, so did Spalding. Revenge is a dish best served cold. While Spalding is not perfect, it sure makes sure that students learn a phonetic approach to learning new words. I always thought that Spalding failed at our school was because teachers had to learn phonics and many had never been seen phonics—actually phonemics for all the linguists--as a way to introduce language. I agree it is one of many ways, but it is an important tool. Good for the new administrators. Maree, still teaching is excited, Sue, Cheryl, and I held back our glee and snarky remarks as best we could. We all know that Education Policy is circular. I’m sure glad I’m out of that loop. The most difficult part of my job was listening to new administrators who had found a program that threw out everything we had done and had us start anew. Students can’t read if they don’t know how to spell so correct all spelling errors. Students should write, write, write, and spelling will come along. Students need to read orally all the time. Students do not need to read orally, but need to engage in conversation at every opportunity. Sorry book publishers, sorry program writers, good teachers need to incorporate a multitude of skills so that a child can draw from their knowledge in order to learn.

As soon as I got home, a friend from Tuba dropped by. Julius is headed for St. Louis next week. He needed to borrow a suit bag with all the pockets. He didn’t want a suitcase—well maybe he did, but didn’t want one with wheels. He seldom flies when he travels, and as a good boarding school graduate, uses a plastic bag when he travels by vehicle. Somehow he knew that a big sealed plastic bag probably wouldn’t make it through the airline system. LOL. He says that wheeled luggage is for the weak, infirmed, old people. Guess he has never had to trek a big international airport carrying everything after a long trip to get to the next plane. Turns out the hotel the BIE selected does not have a shuttle service and is two subway changes from the airport. Or it is a $75 taxi ride. So he will be renting a car on his dime. He will do fine.

The wind calmed down today so the 25mph gusts weren’t that bad for us. My deck made it to 83°. Sadly the fire near Williams grew to 3400 acres due to the wind. This area has always been filled with wildlife. Seldom can one drive around this area without seeing elk and deer in abundance. One can’t walk through the area without hearing and seeing hundreds of birds. It will be a long time before we find out how much wildlife has been lost. The Forest Service will have the figures, but they seldom make any news story. Sixty homes have been evacuated, and thankfully only a couple of out buildings have been lost. The cause has not yet been determined. We can still see the smoke from Flagstaff.

Eagle Rock Fire, Wms, AZ

» Puzzle 1  

When you behead a word, you remove the first letter and still have a valid word. You will be given clues for the two words, longer word first.

Example: Begin -> Sour, acidic Answer: The words are Start and Tart.

1. Time past -> Leave

2. Street -> Event location

3. Ends "Our Father" -> Fathers

4. Shared an opinion -> Excessive desire for something

5. Misuses; harms -> Multi-passenger vehicles

6. Pursue lofty goal -> Pointed tower top

7. Sum total -> Climb on

8. Stay away from -> A gap; empty

» A Quick Smile…    

An elderly woman was walking home from the supermarket. Her bag of groceries was especially heavy that day. When she saw Nathan Hale's Used Cars, she decided to stop and look at cars. As it happened, the owner himself approached her. He asked her what kind of car she wanted.

"Well," she said, "I can't remember the name exactly, but it has something to do with hate or anger." The owner was quick to reply, "Oh yes, you want a Plymouth Fury! We have a few. What color would you like?"

The woman reached into her shopping bag and pulled out an ear of corn. She striped down the shucks and said, "I want this color." Nathan replied, "Ma'am I'm sorry, but we don't have any in that color. How about a nice blue one?" "No son," she said, "I want this color."

"But ma'am, they didn't make that color! Maybe a cherry red one?" By this time, the old woman was mad and started throwing things at the owner. Another salesman noticed the disruption and asked the secretary what was going on. The secretary replied, "Apparently, Hale hath no Fury like the woman's corn!"

» Side Show Stories    

HIGGANUM, Conn. - Connecticut State Police said a man they believe was on drugs mistook a home for a bed and breakfast and went to sleep in a bedroom. Police said a Higganum couple told them they were spending time with relatives in their home when a family member went inside and found a credit card on the stairs, The Hartford (Conn.) Courant reported. Investigators said they found Walker Bruce, 45, asleep in a bedroom. Bruce told them he had mistaken the house for a bed and breakfast and left his credit card on the stairs as payment. Police said Bruce appeared disoriented and is believed to have been under the influence of drugs. Bruce was charged with third-degree burglary and taken to Middlesex Clinic in Essex for examination.

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

I give you a group of three. One is sitting down and will never get up. The second eats as much as is given to him, yet is always hungry. The third goes away and never returns. What are they?

» Something you might enjoy…  

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

Making Sushi looks easy: 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.

1946: The Gypsy; The Ink Spots

1956: The Wayward Wind; Gogi Grant Click HERE!

1966: Paint It Black; The Rolling Stones

1976: Silly Love Songs; Paul McCartney & Wings

1986: On My Own; Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald

¤ Observance Weeks in June

13-19: National Flag Week

14-20: Men's Health Week and Universal Father's Week and Meet A Mate Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World

Autistic Pride Day

International Panic Day

International Sushi Day

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Egypt: Evacuation Day (1956 as Brits leave Suez)

United Kingdom: Waterloo Day (1815)

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Sammy Cahn, 1913, lyricist (3 Coins in a Fountain), born in NYC

Roger Ebert, 68, Pulitzer Prize–winning film critic, born Urbana, IL

Donald Keene, 88, literary critic, translator, educator, born New York, NY

Paul McCartney, 68, singer, songwriter (The Beatles, Wings), born Liverpool, England

Athletes

Lou Brock, 71, Hall of Fame baseball player (Cardinals outfielder), born El Dorado, AR

Entertainers

Bud (Clayton Johnson Heermance, Jr.) Collyer, 1908, radio: Superman; TV host: To Tell the Truth, Beat the Clock, Masquerade Party, born in NYC

Jeanette MacDonald, 1901, actress/singer, born in Philadelphia, PA

Kay Kyser, 1906, orchestra leader, born in Rocky Mount NC

E.G. (Edda/Everett Gunnar) Marshall, 1910, actor (Defenders), born in Owatonna, MN

Business, Education Persons

Red Adair, 1915, American oil well firefighter, born in Houston, TX

Political Persons

James Montgomery Flagg, 1877, illustrator "I want you" recruiting poster, born in Pelham Manor, New York

Scientists /Religious Persons

Jerome Karle, 1918, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate, born in NYC

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

1948 ►Columbia Records publicly unveiled its new long-playing phonograph record, the 33 1/3

In Athletics

1985 ►The Wimbledon tennis seeding-committee, unable to decide on a favorite, made Chris Evert Lloyd and Martina Navratilova co-number one seeds

In Business or Education

1892 ►Macadamia nuts 1st planted in Hawaii

1963 ►3,000 blacks boycott Boston public school

In Politics

1822 ►Part of US-Canadian boundary determined

1873 ►Susan B Anthony fined $100 for attempting to vote for President

In Science/ Religion

1983 ►Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space

¤ Today’s Obits

Ethel Barrymore, actress, @ 79 in 1959

Samuel Butler, English poet @ 68 in 1680

John Cheever, American author @ 70 in 1982

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1   1. Ago -> Go

2. Avenue -> Venue

3. Amen -> Men

4. Agreed -> Greed

5. Abuses -> Buses

6. Aspire -> Spire

7. Amount -> Mount

8. Avoid -> Void

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

A stove, fire, and smoke

» 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!

   «»«»«»«»«»«»«»  

Thursdy 6-17

»Week 24 of 2010: 168 days this year…197 days remain:

Day 59 of the BP oil spill≈

» Something To Think About    You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one.

--John Wooden

» 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.

***

Some of the ingredients used by the Egyptians included rice bran extracts, jasmine, and lupine extract - ingredients that are still found today in our sunscreens. Gamma oryzanol extracted from rice bran has UV-absorbing properties, jasmine helps mend skin damage, and lupine extract lightens the skin.

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1579 ►Sir Francis Drake lands on the coast of CA, near SF. He writes "people of a tractable, free and loving nature, without guile or treachery."

» Free Ramblings    

Red Flag Warning was needed. A small fire started this morning north of Williams—about 30 miles from Flagstaff. By tonight it was 900 acres of tall, heavy pine trees on fairly steep terrain. A few ranchers are being evacuated. Getting to the fire has been difficult. The wind has prevented flyovers. The wind might stop tonight. Two friends from Williams are volunteer firefighters and they are out on the front line. I am so glad there are so many who find a way to do this dangerous and essential work.

My brother is doing well. Tomorrow they fly back to NYC. The more I think about it, the more surprised I am. They don’t live near any big city, and to find a facility that does very modern surgery was amazing.

I ran some errands today, and what a great day it was. We were a pleasant 75° and strong winds were even bearable. After the errands I did a little cleaning in the front and back. The back seems to always have a carpet of pine needles. The front area, with all the wind, seems to attract pine needles, and the occasional sales slip, kids picture, or something. My plants are doing well, since the little boy next door moved away. He really liked jumping, or trying to jump over the planters. At times he was not successful. Without him around, planters are doing fine.

» Puzzle 1  

What word does not belong to the group below? Why?

Earth CD's Clock Venus DVD's Watch

» A Quick Smile…    

Recently launched into the "real world" and shocked by the expenses that came with it, my brother was complaining about the high cost of auto insurance.

"If you got married," teased my dad, "the premium would be much lower."

My brother smiled and said, "Dad, that would be like buying an airline just to get free peanuts."

» Side Show Stories    

BEDFORD, Va. - Authorities in Virginia said they found a goat bound in the trunk of a car stopped at a drunken-driving checkpoint. The Bedford County Sheriff's Office said a deputy heard knocking sounds coming from the trunk of a car being driven by Fiona Ann Enderdy, 32, of Washington at the Bedford County-Campbell County line checkpoint, the Lynchburg (Va.) News Advance reported Tuesday. Deputies said Enderdy told deputies the sounds were coming from a goat and the animal was found panting heavily in the trunk. The sheriff's office said an animal control officer working at the checkpoint measured the temperature in the trunk at 94 degrees after it had already been open for 10 minutes. The goat was given water and taken to the Bedford County pound, deputies said. Enderdy, who was charged with cruelty to an animal and released, told deputies she purchased the goat from a farmer for the passengers in her car, four Lynchburg residents originally from Kenya.

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

To unravel me You need a key.

No key that was made by locksmith's hand, But a key that only I will understand.
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 quick tour of the Statue of Liberty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6xb5MbHzsI

» 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.

1935: When I Grow Too Old to Dream; Glen Gray

1945: Sentimental Journey; Les Brown

1955: Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White; Perez Prado

1965: I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch); The Four Tops

1975: Love Will Keep Us Together; The Captain & Tennille

1985: Heaven; Bryan Adams

¤ Observance Weeks in June

10-17: Superman Week and Nursing Assistants Week

13-19: National Flag Week

14-20: Men's Health Week and Universal Father's Week and Meet A Mate Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World

Stewart’s Root Beer Day—Cold Glass Mugs, Root Beer and Popcorn. Hmmm

World Day To Combat Desertification (loss of vegetation in arid land) and Drought

Recess At Work Day

MA: Bunker Hill Day (1775): The battle actually started on Breed’s Hill, then moved to Bunker Hill

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Iceland : Republic Day (1944—from Denmark)

Japan : Lily Festival

El Salvador and Guatemala: Father's Day

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Igor (Fedorovich) Stravinsky, 1882, composer: The Firebird, born in Oranienbaum (renamed Lomonosov in 1948), Russia

Athletes

Dave (David Ismael Benitez) Concepcion, 62, baseball: Reds shortstop, born in Ocumare de la Costa, Aragua State, Venezuela

Dan Jansen, 45, former Olympic speed skater, sportscaster, born West Allis, WI

Venus Williams, 30, tennis player, born Lynwood, CA

Entertainers

Ralph Bellamy, 1904, actor, born in Chicago

Thomas Haden Church, 50, actor (Sideways, “Wings”), born Thomas McMillen, El Paso, TX

Red Foley, 1910, country singer, born in Blue Lick KY

Peter Lupus, 78, actor: Mission: Impossible, born in Indianapolis, Indiana

Barry Manilow, 64, singer (“Mandy,” “I Write the Songs”), song-writer, born Brooklyn, NY

Joe Piscopo, 59, comedian (“Saturday Night Live”), born Passaic, NJ

Phylicia Allen Ayers Rashad, 62, , actress (Cosby), born in Houston TX

Jon Sigurdsson, 1811, leader/collects Icelandic legends, born in Hrafnseyri, Iceland

Business, Education Persons

George Cormack, 1870, created "Wheaties" cereal, born in Washburn, MI

John Robert Gregg, 1867, inventor (shorthand) , born in Rockcorry, Co. Monaghan, Ireland

Political Persons

Vern Harper, 74, Canadian First Nations Cree Elder and Korean War veteran

Scientists /Religious Persons

Sir William Crookes, 1832, chemist/physicist; discovered thallium, born in London

John Wesley, 1703, cofounded Methodist movement/author, born in Lincoln, England

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

1919 ►"Barney Google" cartoon strip, by Billy De Beck, premiers

In Athletics

1976 ►ABA (Nets, Pacers, Nuggets & Spurs) merges into the NBA

1994 ►1994 World Cup soccer match begins

In Business or Education

1837 ►Charles Goodyear obtains his 1st rubber patent

1942 ►The Army weekly newspaper, Yank, coined the term “G.I. Joe” in a comic strip drawn by Dave Breger.

In Politics

1885 ►The French gift to the United States "The Statue of Liberty" arrives in New York City

1974 ►The IRA has planted A bomb in the British Houses of Parliament, injuring 11 people.

In Science/ Religion

1928 ►Amelia Earhart, first woman to successfully fly across the Atlantic Ocean
1950 ►1st kidney transplant (Chicago)

¤ Today’s Obits

Jeff Chandler actor, malpractice following surgery @ 42 in 1961

Kate Smith singer (God Bless America), @ 78 in 1986

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

Earth: The rest of the words all involve something that spins clockwise.

CD's/DVD's spin clockwise in machine; Clock/Watch have hands moving clockwise; Venus rotates clockwise on its axis

Earth is not unique. All of the planets in our solar system, except for Venus, rotate anti-clockwise on their axes.

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

A cipher

» 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!

   «»«»«»«»«»«»«»  

Wednesday 6-16

»Week 24 of 2010:167 days this year…198 days remain:

Day 58 of the BP oil spill≈

» Something To Think About  

Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

--John Wooden

» Random Fact    

The first pop video was Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, released in 1975.

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1967 ►The Monterey International Pop Music Festival opens in Monterey, California, which will run for three days. Over 200,000 people attended, and it is often regarded as the precursor to Woodstock.

Performers at the festival included some truly great pop music legends including: Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Ravi Shankar, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, The Steve Miller Band, The Blues Project, The Mamas and the Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, The Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead

» Free Ramblings    

So much happening today, all at the same time. Obama made his speech, City of Flagstaff Council Meeting and the GOP is holding a debate of candidates. I may have become cynical over any president’s speech regarding a shocking disaster. Since 9-11 we hear the words but don’t seem to be rallying change. The speed limit was lowered to 55mph by a president. We haven’t moved away from oil, but the speed in back up, wasting more gasoline. We are supposed to keep our houses and offices at 68° but many don’t. Politician’s words have been degraded so that there no action follows. Sadly, Obama gave a good speech, but doesn’t really have a plan to stop and clean up the Gulf mess. Rally the people and we will get through this economic and environmental disaster. Sounds good, but by doing what? I really want to be gung ho to stop the devastation but have no idea what to do.

We have our new city council. They were all very cordial during the meeting. They approved several spending issues, for money we may or may not have. Faces change, but the council just muddles through. Have to wonder what will happen. A few years back a bond was passed to set up parks—something like 220 acres. To date the money is gone and the city bought about 90 acres. One new councilman reminded the council that the property market has declined in Flagstaff and that’s why we didn’t get all the land. No one objected, so I guess that explains it.

Guess it’s a good thing that the council is going to take a break until August.

I did a little camera hunting today, to no avail. Time is on my side, I think.

Today I got the final itinerary for my September trip. It’s going to be busy, and some great places to visit. I need to start studying—soon. I can’t forget to get my malaria pills for our river cruise in Borneo. It should be in the 80’s and 90’s while we are there, and only a little rain during that time. This is going to be another great trip. On the same day I get a preliminary agenda for a trip to Ethiopia. It isn’t until Sept. 2011, so I have some time to think about it, but it too sure looks exciting. Such planning is required for these trips.

78° and breezy made it a nice day to be outside. Summer is such a great time. Yesterday I forgot sunscreen when I went to the mural. Wasn’t expecting to spend 2+ hours outside there. I’m a little red today, so guess it’s time to just put sunscreen on whenever I go outside. .

» Puzzle 1  

Find the names of ten fish by adding one of the given letters to each word and rearranging the letters. Each letter will be used only once.

A A E H L N N P T T

1. Nut + ? =          2. Tour + ? =

3. Prickle + ? =      4. Floured + ? =

5. Mason + ? =      6. Ringer + ? =

7. Papers + ? =      8. Gyro + ? =

9. Apron + ? =       10. Pompon + ? =

» A Quick Smile…    

While I was dining out with my children, a friend of my neighbor, who recognized us, came over to our table, and we started talking.

He asked where my kids go to school. I told him we home-schooled them.

With a raised eyebrow, he asked if my husband is the sole breadwinner for our family.

I said, "No, I also work... but out of our home."

Then, noticing our two-month-old son, he mentioned that his daughter had just had a baby, and he wondered what hospital our son was born in.

"He was born at home," I answered.

The man looked at me and said, "You don't get out much, do you?"

» Side Show Stories    

Boise, Idaho (AP) --Police in Idaho think they might have solved a yearlong condiment crime spree. Authorities said a 74-year-old Boise woman arrested after pouring mayonnaise in the Ada County library's book drop box is a person of interest in at least 10 other condiment-related crimes.

Joy L. Cassidy was picked up Sunday at the library, moments after police say she pulled through the outside drive-through and dumped a jar of mayo in the box designated for reading materials.

Cassidy was released from jail and faces a misdemeanor charge of malicious injury to property.

Boise police say Cassidy is under investigation for other cases of vandalism that started in May 2009. Library employees have reported finding books in the drop box covered in corn syrup and ketchup.

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

Lighter than what I'm made of, More of me is hidden than is seen.

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…

Comments on James Joyce. 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.

1944: I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You); Harry James

1954: Little Things Mean a Lot; Kitty Kallen

1964: Chapel of Love; The Dixie Cups

1974: Billy, Don't Be a Hero; Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods

1984: Time After Time; Cyndi Lauper

¤ Observance Weeks in June

10-17: Superman Week and Nursing Assistants Week

13-19: National Flag Week

14-20: Men's Health Week and Universal Father's Week and Meet A Mate Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World

National Hollerin' Contest Day began in Spiveys Corner, NC,

Fudge Day

Ladies' Day (Baseball) since 1883 when escorted and unescorted ladies could attend games

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Ireland: Bloomsday: honoring James Joyce.

Organisation of African Unity: International Day of the African Child

South Africa: Youth Day

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Joyce Carol Oates, 72, writer (Triumph of the Spider Monkey, The Time Traveler), born Lockport, NY

Erich Segal, 73, author (Acts of Faith, Love Story), born Brooklyn, NY

Athletes

Roberto Duran, 59, former boxer, born Chorillo, Panama, trained in Flagstaff, AZ

John Howard Griffin, 1920, photographer/author (Black Like Me)—born in Dallas,, TX

Entertainers

Jack Albertson, 1907, actor (Thin Man, Chico & the Man)—born in Malden Mass

Stan Laurel (Arthur Stanley Jefferson), 1895, comedian (Laurel & Hardy)—born in Lancashire, England

E.G. Marshall, 1910, actor (Lawrence-Defenders)—born in Owatonna MN

Laurie Metcalf, 55, actress (Emmy for “Roseanne”; “The Norm Show”), born Edwardsville, IL

Business, Education Persons

Nelson Doubleday, 1899, publisher (Doubleday)—born in Long Island, NY

Katharine Graham, 1917, newspaper publisher (Wash Post)—born in New York City

Political Persons

Aldrich Ames, 69, American Soviet spy—born in River Falls, WI

Geronimo, (Goyaałé, "one who yawns"), 1829, Chiricahua Apache leader in Turkey Creek, Mexico (Now NM)

Scientists /Religious Persons

George Gaylord Simpson, 1902, American paleontologist—born in Chicago

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

1961 ►Rudolf Nureyev , the world renowned dancer from the Soviet Union's Kirov Opera Ballet Company, defects during a stopover in Paris. 1976 : Violence has erupted in a number of South African townships including Soweto

In Athletics

1989 ►4 golfers shoot a hole-in-one on the same hole at the US Open are made all on the 6th hole (Weaver, Wiebe, Pate & Price)

In Business or Education

1903 ►Ford Motors incorporates

1941 ►1st US federally owned airport opened Wash DC

In Politics

1567 ►Mary Queen of Scots thrown into Lochleven Castle prison

1858 ►Abraham Lincoln says "A house divided against itself cannot stand"

In Science/ Religion

1805 ►Sacajawea drinks mineral water today to treat an illness.

¤ Today’s Obits

Hammurabi the Great @ 42 in Babylon in 1686 -BC

George Reeves actor (Superman, Gone With the Wind), shoots himself @ 45 in 1959

Wernher von Braun cancer @ 65 from in 1977

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

1. Tuna 2. Trout 3. Pickerel 4. Flounder 5. Salmon

6. Herring 7. Snapper 8. Porgy 9. Tarpon 10. Pompano

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

An iceberg

» 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’.

The Kabhre Palanchok Mahabharat range in Nepal Click HERE!

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Tuesday 6-15

»Week 24 of 2010: 166 days this year…199 days remain:

Day 57 of the BP oil spill≈

» Something To Think About  

Happiness is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.

--Helen Keller

» Random Fact    

Butterflies taste with their feet.

¤ Holy Mackerel: On this day in 1920 ►A mob of 5,000 people lynched three African-American men in Duluth, Minnesota

» Free Ramblings    

I was out and about for most of the day. Redwing, the artist, called and said he had just finished the mural and wanted me to see it. It is amazing. He will be sealing it tomorrow during the cool morning hours. A great piece of art. I was there about two hours and there were lots of interruptions from tourists who really liked it. Quite an accomplishment for the artist and for the city.

After our visit, I started looking for a new digital camera. I want one with more zoom and a panoramic mode. I don’t want a tiny one, but I don’t want a full size one either. Everywhere I have looked has some of what I want, none, so far, have everything I want. I had a film Minolta with a couple of lenses. It was great, but much too bulky to take on an adventure. My current digital does still have a viewfinder along with a screen. I always have used a viewfinder. Today’s small cameras no longer have a viewfinder. The screens, they claim, have been improved enough that they work well in sunlight. My current digital uses AA batteries, which I have liked, because they are easy to replace on the go. Well that is not easy to find either, now they all have rechargeable batteries. Good for the environment, not so much for travel. That means you have to always have a back-up charged. A real pain when traveling. I sure hope I will find the one I want somewhere.

My brother and his wife went to Mexico last Thursday for a three day visit to renew their Visas. They planned to fly out Sunday. Saturday night, after a lobster dinner at a friend’s house, he had a stomach pain. About 4am, with no sleep, and in internet search, they decided to go to the ER. After a few sonograms, blood tests, and other stuff, it was determined that his appendix must come out. Sunday morning the doctor did laparoscopic. He has a couple of pin holes and went back to their place this afternoon. He can’t fly out until Thursday, but is doing fine. The airline won’t give them a break, so the trip home is costing $2K more than the original round trip. The airline only gave them a break by not charging them the $150 rebooking fee. What a racket.

I must have fallen asleep during all of the US Constitution classes when I was in school. More embarrassing than that, is that over the weekend, I ended up watching part of one Glenn Beck show. On top of that, I learned something. Prior to the 17th amendment, passed in 1913, all the US Senators were selected by the state legislature, not the populous (Art 3 of the US Constitution). I don’t agree with anything that Beck said about this fact—something about just another destruction of democracy and a move to socialism, communism, or Nazism—I must admit I can’t follow his thought process. However; I always knew the founding fathers did not have complete trust in the general populous. I knew that is why the Senate was set up with 2 per state, no matter the size of the state. It just didn’t stick in my brain that the legislature used to select the Senators. What I don’t understand is why we changed it. Living in AZ I certainly don’t want our current legislature picking our Senators, but it makes some sense for other, more sane places. With the recent Supreme Court decision that a corporation is an individual and with all the millions spent by people, and now corporations, wanting to be Senators, maybe everyone would be better off if the legislature sent the Senator to Washington. I certainly need to do some research on why, in 1913, it was decided to change the system. My first quick research found that the Tea Party Movement is backing the repeal of the 17th Amendment, claiming that it took power away from the states. Hmmm. More research is certainly needed. Wanting to go back to the good ol’ days—in this case, prior to 1913--is always frightening, as our memories of the good ol’ days are probably not very accurate. We tend to remember the good, and block out the bad. Back in 1913, neither women nor Native Americans could vote and many Blacks couldn’t either.

It was a great day to be outside. I was at the mural for two hours and the weather was great. We made it to 72° and with just a breeze, I could leave the windows open, have a slight breeze keep the house nice. When I turned on the computer this afternoon I was greeted with a Red Flag warning—low humidity, erratic winds, dry conditions lead to greater possibility of wildfires. This one is in effect until tomorrow night. Sure hope people are careful in the forest.

» Puzzle 1  

Can you figure out the rule used to develop the list? Once you do, have fun creating your own list!

mount, right, left, roll, mote, lick, lass, over, rate, aunt, rill, arch, oral, ever, pine, rice, tip, each, team, rash, sage, ouch, edge, ray, earn, any

Hint: There are 26 clues.

» A Quick Smile…    

Staring at an empty cage, a zoo visitor asks, "Where are all the monkeys?"

"It's mating season," the keeper replies. "They're inside."

"Do you think they'd come out for peanuts?"

"Probably not," answers the keeper.

"Why not?" persists the visitor.

"Would you?"

» Side Show Stories    

Yuma, AZ --An Arizona man who bluntly expressed his displeasure about being called to jury duty has landed himself in legal hot water. Timothy Michael Jones was ordered to appear Tuesday in court to explain why he sent back a jury questionnaire with obscenities written in black marker.

He failed to show and Yuma County Superior Court Judge Andrew Gould issued a bench warrant. Jones now faces a charge of indirect criminal contempt, which carries possible penalties of six months in jail and a fine of up to $300.

Court records show Jones was sent a jury summons last month telling him he had been randomly selected as a prospective juror along with the questionnaire.

» Puzzle 2: Brain Food  

My life can be measured in hours; I serve by being devoured.

Thin, I am quick; fat, I am slow. Wind is my foe.

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…

Butterflies 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.

1943: Taking a Chance on Love; Benny Goodman

1953: The Song from Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart); Percy Faith

1963: Sukiyaki; Kyu Sakamoto Click Here!

1973: My Love; Paul McCartney & Wings

1983: Flashdance ... What a Feeling; Irene Cara

¤ Observance Weeks in June

10-17: Superman Week and Nursing Assistants Week

13-19: National Flag Week

14-20: Men's Health Week and Universal Father's Week and Meet A Mate Week

¤ Today’s Observances—US/UN/World

Native American Citizenship Day

Nature Photography Day

Arkansas : Admission Day (1836)

Idaho : Pioneer Day (1910)

Oregon : Treaty Day (1846)

¤ Today’s Observances—by country

Denmark : Flag Day/Valdemar Day (1219: Victory over Estonia)

Korea : Farmer's Day-day to transplant rice seeds

Azerbaijan: National Salvation Day

¤ Today’s Births

Artists, Writers, and Composers

Edvard Grieg, 1843, composer: Peer Gynt Suite

Xaveria Hollander [DeVries], 67, call girl, madame, author (Happy Hooker), born in Surabaya Indonesia

Athletes

Wade Boggs, 58, Nebraska, Red Sox 3rd baseman, born in Omaha, Nebraska

Justin Leonard, 38, golfer, born Dallas, TX

Entertainers

Courteney Cox Arquette, 46, actress (“Friends,” Scream), born Birmingham, AL

Jim Belushi, 56, actor (“Saturday Night Live,” “According to Jim”), born Chicago, IL

Neil Patrick Harris, 37, actor (“Doogie Howser, MD,” “How I Met Your Mother,” Clara’s Heart), born Albuquerque, NM

Helen Hunt, 47, actress (Then She Found Me, Cast Away, Oscar for As Good as It Gets ; “Mad About You”), born Los Angeles, CA

Waylon Jennings, 1937, singer of innumerable country songs (Ramblin' Man), born in Littlefield, Texas Click Here!

Harry (Edward) Nilsson III, 1941, singer: Everybody’s Talkin born in Brooklyn, NY

Jim Varney, 1946, "Hey Vern", actor (Ernest Goes to Jail), born in Lexington KY

Business, Education Persons

Daniel Vosovic, 29, American fashion designer, born in Grand Rapids, MI

Political Persons

Edward, 1330, the black prince, prince of Wales, born in Woodstock Palace in Oxfordshire, England

Mario Cuomo, 78, politician: governor: state of New York, born in Queens, NY

Rachel Donelson Robards Jackson, 1767, 1st lady, Andrew Jackson, born in Chatham, Virginia

Morris K Udall, 1922, Representative-AZ, born in St. Johns, AZ

Scientists /Religious Persons

Erik H Erikson, 1902, psychologist (Existentionalist), born in Frankfurt, Germany

¤ Today’s Happenings

In The Arts

1985 ►Rembrandt's painting Danaë is attacked by a man (later judged insane) who throws sulfuric acid on the canvas and cuts it twice with a knife.

In Athletics

1909 ►Benjamin Shibe patented the cork-center baseball

1938 ►John Vander Meer of Cincinnati became the first pitcher in the major leagues to toss two, consecutive, no-hit, no-run games.

In Business or Education

1844 ►Goodyear patents vulcanization of rubber

1992 ►The US Vice President Dan Quayle instructed a Trenton, N.J., elementary school student to spell ( US Spelling ) potato as ( UK Spelling ) "potatoe" during a spelling bee

2002 ►The accounting firm Arthur Andersen is convicted of obstruction of justice for shredding documents related to its audit of Enron.

In Politics

1215 ►King John signs Magna Carta

1864 ►Arlington National Cemetery is established

1871 ►Phoebe Couzins is 1st woman graduate of a US collegiate law school

1877 ►Henry O Flipper becomes 1st black graduate at West Point

1989 ►Ronald Reagan is knighted by Queen Elizabeth

1996 ►The IRA detonates a massive bomb outside the Arndale shopping centre at lunch time injuring 200

In Science/ Religion

1869 ►Celluloid patented by John Wesley Hyatt, Albany, NY

1934 ►Great Smokey Mountains National Park dedicated

1991 ►Long-dormant Mount Pinatubo erupted with a vengeance in the Philippines

¤ Today’s Obits

Victor French actor (Highway to Heaven), cancer @ 54 in 1989

James Knox Polk the 11th US Pres, dies cholera @ 54 in 1849

» ANSWERS to Puzzle 1    

Each 3 to 5 letter word, when preceded by sequential letters of the alphabet, will form new words:

amount, bright, cleft, droll, emote, flick, glass, hover, irate, jaunt, krill, larch, moral, never, opine, price, q-tip, reach, steam, trash, usage, vouch, wedge, x-ray, yearn, zany

» ANSWERS to Brain Food  

A candle

» 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’.

20 minutes after sunset in Albany Missouri Click Here!

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