Friday August 27

This is Week 34 of 2010►Day 239 with 126 days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

It’s time to start getting serious about my Borneo Adventure. It is only 12 days away. I need to get up to date on current events in the areas we are visiting. Malaysia, it turns out has over a dozen on line newspapers. Cool. I enjoy learning from the local papers, and also see how the papers view international issues. The most educational part of this endeavor is finding that every paper has its own bias. It takes about a week to figure out where the paper’s leanings are. Malaysia is a very diverse country with indigenous tribes, Malay, Chinese, and a few Brits and Dutch. While most see it as a Muslim Nation, it has religious freedom and has Buddhists, Christians, and traditional Chinese religions. Tourism is their 3rd largest economic industry. It will be interesting to see how that plays out on our visit. In Scotland, Egypt and South Africa tourism is much more important to their economies. I have my new camera, I have a new battery for my net book. I don’t have an international phone and am not getting one. I can easily live without text messages or phone calls for the trip.

We had our weekly lunch today. It was nice to just relax and talk politics, family, and how glad we all are that we live here in Northern Arizona. We all have our issues, but when we talk about people we know from afar, our issues become very small. One thing we all agree on is that it is embarrassing to tell people we are living in Arizona. Our non-elected governor and some of the far-right politicians have certainly sent out the word that we seem to have more than our share of crazies. The bright spot for us is that many of these people turned out to be all words with no following. The exceptions—Brewer and Quayle—will remain in the headlines until November. Quayle is running for Congress in the Scottsdale and Mesa area, so not much we can do about his campaign. Brewer is another story, and we can only hope and work hard that when it comes to the general election, the Tucson and Flagstaff area will be able to defeat her. We still have no official results for a couple of state wide offices. Sadly, on about 25% of the voters actually voted in our county. It was not a record low, but very close. I really think that all the negative ads had many in our county just throwing up their hands in disgust. I’m hoping they are more interested in November. The ads for November have already started, and I will be happy to miss all of them in September.

Flagstaff had another very nice weather day. We were 81° with 40% humidity and a nice cooling breeze. My neighbor’s hot tub construction has come to a halt since Sunday. She must be using people who can only work on weekends. That made my time on my deck quite nice. They are building a nice lattice work area, which is not the brightest thing to have with all the snow we got last winter. I sure help it survives the winter.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

David Sarnoff, Former CEO of RCA: Nobody can be successful unless he loves his work.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1961 Francis the Talking Mule is the mystery guest on "What's My Line" Click Here to See Francis

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION

§It is commonly believed that the 4 suits in a deck of playing cards -- spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs, derive from French decks of cards. In French decks, the suits represent the four classes: Spades represent nobility, hearts stand for the clergy, diamonds represent merchants, and clubs are peasants.

§The standard deck of cards had a fifth suit added to it in 1937 but was eventually discarded since not enough people were willing to buy whole new decks. The new suit, Royals, used a crown and was usually green.

§Ex-President Richard Nixon won $6000 during his first two months in the U.S. Navy in World War II, playing poker. His winnings were used to fund his first (and successful) campaign for Congress.

§When Columbus landed in 1492 in North America, his men plucked wide leaves from trees, drew pictures on them and played cards.

§The earliest known game of Texas Hold’em was played in Robstown, Texas, in the early 1900s. The game was brought to Las Vegas by a group of Texan gamblers and card players, including Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson, Crandell Addington, and Amarillo Slim.

§Groucho Marx got his nickname because he used to carry all of his poker money in a Grouch Bag-- a bag that hangs around your neck to keep your possessions in.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Answers: Begins with ‘J’

The first Mrs. Bonaparte

A puzzle people go to pieces over

The police say "fine" for crossing the street this way

The only "J" in the Pledge of Allegiance

Event an Olympian throws

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Lovers of the world's most expensive coffee, found half-digested in the dung of the wild civet, fear that its unique taste may be spoiled by planned farming of the animals.

Collectors hunt for the coffee cherries in the droppings of civets in Indonesian plantations to make a brew enriched by the bushy-tailed, cat-like animal's stomach that sells for as much as $770 a kg in London.

But as demand rises, producers have spotted an opportunity to increase supply by breeding the civets in cages and feeding them the coffee cherries. Production has started on a small scale.

Experts say the flavor relies on the civet's finicky feeding habits and varied diet to create the enzymes that enrich fermentation of the beans, so caged animals would produce a different coffee.

"I think wild civets offer more variants to the taste," said specialty coffee expert Edi Sumadi. "Inside the cage, the civets' diet is regulated, they're not free to pick following their instincts, so the enzyme inside their digestive system is monotonous."

Perkebunan Nusantara XII sells the civet coffee for $130 a kg from factories or $250 a kg in cafes on Indonesia's main island of Java, though the price multiplies as exports reach countries such as Korea, Japan, Italy and the United States.

"It's far tastier than any other coffee," said the firm's Danu Rianto. "To maintain high standards we have a standard operating procedure."

The coffee does not appeal to everyone. Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono took some as a gift on a visit to former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, only to find local media dubb it "crappucino".

But now that Indonesia's highest Islamic authority has certified the brew as no longer "haram", or banned for Muslims, in the world's most populous Muslim nation — so long as the beans are well washed — producers, including Perkebunan Nusantara XII, are eyeing a bigger market.

In Jakarta's cafes, a cup of civet coffee, known as "kopi luwak", sells for around $9 to $11, and is attracting more interest.

"The taste is very smooth, the smell nice, and hey, it's not entirely haram after you wash it," said Andrea Guna, a first-time taster.

"The price is double that of Starbucks, but the taste is way more than double."

A LITTLE LAUGH

A teenager was always asking his father if he could borrow the family car. Pushed to the limit, the father asked his son why he thought "The Almighty" had given him two feet.

Without hesitation, the son replied, "That's easy, one for the clutch and one for the accelerator."

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2--Riddle

if one teRrIble day all the autumn leaves are on the Vine and the nExt day the leaves have fallen of and aRe nowhere to be seen where could they have gone? Look at the question closely, it might help you.

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

Jay Leno is hilarious with his Jaywalking segment:Click Here to See It!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

♦ Weekly Observances ♦

23-27: National Safe at Home Week

25-31: Be Kind To Humankind Week

♦ Today’s Observances ♦

Global Forgiveness Day

Oil and Gas Industry Appreciation Day also Petroleum Day

Moldova: Independence Day, independence from the USSR in 1991

Texas: Lyndon Baines Johnson Day

♦ Hit Songs on this date ♦

1895 ...The Band Played On…Dan Quinn Click Here to Hear It!

1925 ...If You Knew Susie…Eddie Cantor Click Here to Hear It!

1945 …On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe…Johnny Mercer

1955…Rock Around the Clock…Bill Haley & His Comets Click Here to Hear It!

1965…I Got You Babe…Sonny & Cher Click Here to Hear It!

1975…Get Down Tonight…K.C. & the Sunshine Band Click Here to Hear It!

♦ Today’s Births ♦

• The Arts

Daryl Dragon, 68, musician (Captain and Tennille), songwriter, born Studio City, CA

C.S. Forester (Cecil Louis Troughton Smith), historical novelist, created Horatio Hornblower…born 1899… Cairo, Egypt

Ira Levin, writer: Rosemary’s Baby, The Stepford Wives, The Boys from Brazil, A Kiss Before Dying…born 1929…Bronx, NY

Tommy Sands, 73, singer, born Chicago, IL

~~~

Paul Reubens, 58, actor, writer (Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure), born Peekskill, NY

Martha Raye [Margaret Reed], , actress (Martha Raye Show) …born 1908…Butte MT

Tuesday Weld (Susan Kerr), 67, actress (The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Looking for Mr Goodbar), born at New York, NY

• Athletics

Carlos Moya, 34, tennis player, born Palma, Majorca, Spain

• Business & Education

Walter W Heller, economist (Old Myths & New Realities) …born1915 …Seattle, WA

• Politics

Charles Gates Dawes (R) 30th VP (1925-29, Nobel 1925) …born 1865… Marietta, OH

Hannibal Hamlin, (R) 15th VP (1861-65) …born 1809…Paris, ME

Lyndon B Johnson, (D) 36th Pres (1963-1969) …born 1908…Stonewall, TX

• Science/Religion

Confucius (K’ung Fu-tzu), philosopher…born 551 BC … Qufu, Zhou Dynasty

Mother Teresa [Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu], Yugoslavia (Nobel 1979) …born 1910… Üsküb, Ottoman Empire (today's Skopje, Republic of Macedonia)

♦ Today’s Obituaries ♦

Bennett Cerf, (Random House)/panelist (What's My Line), @ 73 in 1971

W E B Du Bois, scholar/founder (NAACP), @ 95 in 1963

Brian Epstein, Beatles' manager, OD @ 33 in 1967

Sir Rowland Hill, introduced postage stamps, @ 84 in 1879

Dr Ernest O Lawrence, inventor (Cyclotron-Nobel 1939), colitis @ 57 in 1958

Earl Mountbatten, British adm of the Fleet, assassinated by IRA @ 79 in 1979

Haile Selassie, depossed Ethiopian emperor, @ 83 in 1975

Stevie Ray Vaughan, blues guitarist, helicopter crash @ 35 in 1990

♦ Today’s Events ♦

• The Arts

1660 John Milton’s books were burned in London, because of the author’s attacks on King Charles II.

1889 Charles G. Conn of Elkhart, IN patented the metal clarinet

1912 Edgar Rice Burroughs' publishes Tarzan

• Athletics

1889 Boxer Jack Dempsey was defeated for the first time in his career as George LaBlanche used the pivot punch to knock Dempsey into nighty-night land. The punch was later banned from boxing.

1975 Veronica & Colin Scargill (England) complete tandem bicycle ride, a record 18,020 miles around the world

• Business & Education

1859 1st successful oil well drilled, near Titusville, Penn

• Indigenous People

1878 Captain James Egan, and Troop K, Second Cavalry, are following a group of Bannocks, who have been stealing livestock along the Madison River.

• Politics (US)

1776 British defeat Americans in Battle of Long Island

• Politics (International)

1896 Zanzibar loses to England in a 38 minute war (9:02 AM-9:40 AM)

1928 Kellogg-Briand Pact, where 60 nations agree to outlaw war

• Science / Religion

1984 President Reagan announces the Teacher in Space project

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

The first Mrs. Bonaparte: Who was Josephine?

A puzzle people go to pieces over: What is a jigsaw?

The police say "fine" for crossing the street this way: What is Jaywalking?

The only "J" in the Pledge of Allegiance: What is justice?

Event an Olympian throws: What is the javelin?

↔ 2

Did I mention the vine was next to a river? Also if you read the question you might notice the code. You might have found that the capital letters spell out river!The 'R' from terrible, the 'I' from terrible, the 'V' from vine, the 'E' from next and the 'R' from are spell out 'RIVER'. The leaves fell in the river and were swept away by the river's current.

↔ Picture

Brass Y-adapter for a water spigot

TODAY’S NATIONAL PARK PHOTO SHOTS

Rocky Mountain National Park, 11th National Park since January 26, 1915: This section of the Rocky Mountains has ecosystems varying in elevation from the over 150 riparian lakes to Montane and subalpine forests to the alpine tundra. Large wildlife including mule deer, bighorn sheep, black bears, and cougars inhabit these igneous mountains and glacier valleys. The fourteener Longs Peak and Bear Lake are popular destinations

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Thursday August 26

This is Week 34 of 2010►Day 238 with 137 days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

Ah, the AZ primary season is over, well almost anyway. Several elections are still in question. AZ has early voting and it has ‘provisional’ voting—voting when not on the list and you have five days to prove who you are. The machines don’t count the early voting ballots and the ‘provisional’ ballots until the day after the election. This is a real pain in close elections as the official results don’t come out for five days after the election. We waited almost two weeks in our close Mayoral election earlier this year. With all this technology, I sometimes wonder if my vote is even counted. There is no way to find out. If my ballot is ‘invalid’ because I didn’t fill in the bubbles correctly or the ballot is misread and becomes ‘invalid’ I will never know. Anyway, AZ history was made last night. The November ballot will have a Navajo from LeChee on the ballot for Secretary of State—the second highest office in the state. This is the first time any tribal Native has run for this office. Good luck Chris…he may just win.

I am pleased that McCain will be on the ballot, since JD, his primary opponent, is so conservative he would have caused havoc in DC, with both his party and everyone else. I heard about some other interesting election results for congress. On a conservatives website it said “I will shut down the Dept of Education” but now that she will be on the November ballot her website now says “Education will be one of my priorities.” She hasn’t changed her view, just the way she presents it. Another race winner changed his website from “end social security” to “revamp social security”. It’s all about how you say something so that everyone can believe in you and therefore vote for you.

Flag was really nice today. We got to 79° with 52% humidity and a slight breeze. There were no clouds most of the day, and when they came in they didn’t bring me any moisture. My morning walk was very nice…sunflowers everywhere along the trail. So nice to live in the mountains of Flag.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

William Shakespeare: We know what we are, but know not what we may be.

HOLY MACKEREL:1920 The 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was certified by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby 

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION on lots of stuff

§Chicago's Lincoln Park was created in 1864. The original 120 acre cemetery had most of its graves removed and was expanded to more than 1,000 acres for recreational use.

§Captain Cook lost 41 of his 98 crew to scurvy (a lack of vitamin C) on his first voyage to the South Pacific in 1768. By 1795 the importance of eating citrus was realized, and lemon juice was issued on all British Navy ships.

§Former President Cleveland defeated incumbent Benjamin Harrison in 1892, becoming the first (and, to date, only) chief executive to win non-consecutive terms to the White House.

§Martha Washington, Pocahontas, and Susan B. Anthony are the only three women to have been represented on U.S. currency. Martha was on the front of the $1 silver certificate of 1886 and 1891.

§From the Middle Ages up until the end of the 19th century, barbers performed a number of medical duties including bloodletting, wound treatment, dentistry, minor operations and bone-setting. The barber's striped red pole originated in the Middle Ages, when it was a staff the patient would grip while the barber bled the patient.

§Armored knights raised their visors to identify themselves when they rode past their king. This custom has become the modern military salute.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Answers—Trios

--D'Artagnan's best buddies

--With them under foot, Uncle Donald's life wasn't duck soup

--"Candy Man" who began with the Will Mastin Trio

--Classic TV puppet show which also featured Beulah Witch & Delores Dragon

--Apollo II trio; while Collins circled Moon, these 2 landed

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

HADDONFIELD, N.J. — For anyone who's ever entered the wrong number on a tax return and been denied a refund, or accidentally over tipped, here's some consolation: A silly error on New Jersey's application for the highly competitive Race to the Top education grants might have cost the state $400 million.

On Tuesday, the federal government announced that nine states and the District of Columbia had won the coveted grants. New Jersey was the top runner-up.

A panel judged the lengthy applications on a 500-point scale. New Jersey finished just three points behind Ohio, which received the grant — and was only barely ahead of Arizona and Louisiana, which didn't.

But New Jersey lost all five points on one section in which officials were asked to show that the state gives a consistent percentage of its revenue to education. The application called for using data from 2008 and 2009 to make the case. New Jersey used figures from the 2010 and 2011 state budgets.

It's not certain that the state would have aced the section if the right numbers had been used — but it certainly would have done better.

The gaffe was first reported by the Star-Ledger of Newark. It appears that the governor's administration made the error just before it submitted the application on June 1, according to differences between a draft of the application and the form that was submitted.

State Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, a Democrat, called it "a stunning mistake that is going to hurt New Jersey's children."

Republican Gov. Chris Christie said in a news conference Tuesday that it was one error in a document that ran hundreds of pages, and that it was more significant for the state's score that the state's main teachers union didn't endorse his plan.

Before the deadline, Education Commissioner Bret Schundler worked out some compromises with the union, the New Jersey Education Association, to get the union's support.

Dawn Hiltner, a union spokeswoman who was on the committee, provided a draft of the application that included the budget data from the right years. But before that application was submitted, Christie said he wouldn't abide by the compromises — most of which dealt with how merit pay for teachers would work.

The reworked application used numbers from the wrong years.

A LITTLE LAUGH

My father was extremely nervous about his first funeral service as a Navy chaplain, but the undertaker assured him that he would prompt him. All went well until, at the close, the undertaker whispered to him to instruct the family to come up and view the body. "Will the family now come forward and pass around the bier," said my father.

He cringed inwardly when he heard his own words. Later, as my father was leaving, he overheard two of the cemetery workers talking. "I didn't get any beer," one said. "Did you?"

"You heard the chaplain," the other replied. "It was just for the family."

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2--Riddle

A woman is sitting in her bed reading a book. She then closes the book, turns off the light, and goes to sleep. The next morning, the woman reads the daily newspaper and discovers a boat had crashed and sunk the night before, and all of its passengers had died as well. The woman then kills herself.

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

Namibia National Anthem:Click Here to Hear It!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

♦ Weekly Observances ♦

23-27: National Safe at Home Week

25-31: Be Kind To Humankind Week

♦ Today’s Observances ♦

National Dog Day

Susan B Anthony Day from 1920-1973: now Women's Equality Day

Namibia: Heroes' Day for those who fought against South Africa domination

Zanzibar : Sultan's Birthday

♦ Hit Songs on this date ♦

1914 ... By the Beautiful Sea...Heidelberg Quintet

1934 ...Love in Bloom...Bing Crosby

1944 ...Swinging on a Star...Bing Crosby Hear It Here!

1954... Sh-Boom...The Crew-Cuts Hear It Here!

1964... Where Did Our Love Go...The Supremes Hear It Here!

1974... (You're) Having My Baby...Paul Anka with Odia Coates Hear It Here!

1984... What's Love Got to Do with It...Tina Turner Hear It Here!

♦ Today’s Births ♦

• The Arts

Earl Biggers, author ("Charlie Chan" detective series) …born 1884…Warren, OH

Bob Cowsill, 61, singer: group: The Cowsills: The Rain, the Park and Other Things

Hear It Here! …born Newport, RI

Vic Dana, 68, singer: Red Roses for a Blue Lady Hear It Here! …born Buffalo,NY

Branford Marsalis, 50, musician…born Beaux Bridge, LA

~~~

Macaulay Culkin, 30, actor (Home Alone, My Girl)…born New York, NY

Chris Pine, 30, actor (Star Trek)…born Los Angeles, CA

• Athletics

Alex (Alejandro Castro) Trevino, 53, baseball: catcher: Mets, Reds, Braves, Giants, Dodgers, Astros…born Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico

• Business & Education

Irving R. Levine, broadcast journalist; author…born 1922… Pawtucket, RI

• Politics

Geraldine Ferraro, 75, first woman vice-presidential candidate…born Newburgh, NY

• Science/Religion

Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier, father of modern chemistry (Oxygen)…born 1743…Paris, France

Lee De Forest, inventor (Audion vacuum (radio) tube) …born 1873… Council Bluffs, IA

Dr Albert B Sabin, polio vaccine discoverer…born 1906… Białystok, Russia (now Poland)

♦ Today’s Obituaries ♦

Roger Nash Baldwin, founder of the ACLU, @ 97 in 1981

Charles Boyer, actor (The Rogues), @ 78 in 1978

Ted Knight, actor (Mary Tyler Moore Show), cancer @ 62 in 1986

Charles Lindbergh, aviator, @ 72 in 1974

♦ Today’s Events ♦

• The Arts

1498 The master artist, Michelangelo, was commissioned to make the Pieta

1907 Houdini escapes from chains underwater at Aquatic Park in 57 sec

• Athletics

1939 Red Barber announced the first televised baseball games

1947 1st black baseball pitcher Don Bankhead (Hit a HR on 1st at bat)

1972 Summer Olympics open in Munich, West Germany

• Business & Education

1957 The Ford Motor Company rolled out the first Edsel automobile

• Indigenous People

1842 The Caddoes sign a treaty in Texas. They agree to visit other tribes and try to convince them to also sign treaties with Texas.

• Politics (US)

1842 The U.S. Congress established the fiscal year, which begins on July 1st

1987 President Ronald Reagan proclaims September 11, 1987 as 9-1-1 Emergency Number Day.

• Politics (International)

55BC Roman forces under Julius Caesar invade Britain

1992 A no-fly zone was imposed on southern Iraq.

• Science / Religion

1883 Krakatau erupts with increasingly large explosions kills 36,000

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

D'Artagnan's best buddies: Who were the three musketeers?

With them under foot, Uncle Donald's life wasn't duck soup: Who are Huey, Dewey, and Louie?

"Candy Man" who began with the Will Mastin Trio: Who was Sammy Davis, Jr.?

Classic TV puppet show which also featured Beulah Witch & Delores Dragon: Who were Kukla, Fran,and Ollie?

Apollo II trio; while Collins circled Moon, these 2 landed: Who were Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin?

↔ 2

The woman is a lighthouse keeper. When she had turned off the light the night before, the boat had no light to see through the darkness, so it crashed and sank. The woman killed herself out of guilt of causing the deaths of all those passengers.

↔ Picture

A turkey neck

TODAY’S NATIONAL PARK PHOTO SHOTS

Glacier National Park, 10th Park since May 11, 1910, Montana: Part of Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, this park has 26 remaining glaciers and 130 named lakes under the tall Rocky Mountain peaks. There are historic hotels and a landmark road in this region of rapidly receding glaciers. These mountains, formed by an overthrust, have the world's best sedimentary fossils from the Proterozoic era

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Wednesday August 25

This is Week 34 of 2010►Day 237 with 138 days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

Some in Arizona are suggesting that AZ have non-partisan primary election. That would mean that every registered voter would be eligible to vote in any primary election. The top two candidates would then move on to the general election. The idea is that the two best candidates would be running against each other. It might be two Republicans, two Democrats, two Libertarians, or any combination. Our state already has this non-partisan system for Mayoral elections throughout the state—party affiliations are not listed on the ballot. We currently have what is called an open primary which means that registered Democrats vote for Democrats, registered Republicans vote for Republicans and registered Independents can vote with either a Democrat or Republican ballot. Somehow, Libertarians do not allow Independents vote with their Primary ballot. It is certainly an interesting concept. If the system were to work like the Mayoral elections, the party affiliation would never be on the ballot. While this system seems to be working well in local Mayoral and city council elections, for some strange and unknown reason, the legislature is not embracing this system. It would mean that legislatures would not be running with a party platform and probably wouldn’t be running with party money. The Party is very careful now when two or more candidates from their party are running for an office. Careful about supporting one of their own against another of their own. This would get very interesting when it comes to National Office primaries—House and Senate. This cycle, if this system were in place, could easily have all Arizonans choosing between McCain and Hayworth in November—we are a heavily dominated Republican state. I’ll try an follow this concept to see how it plays out.

This has been one of the dirtiest campaigns in years for Arizona. The Tea Party has been very vocal about who they want as the Republican candidate in just about every primary in the state. Commercials, robo-calls, mailings that fill mailbox daily started back in late July and have only increased. Today I got 11 political mailings—I had already voted by the time they arrived. Interestingly, I voted about 9am this morning and I was voter number 26. The news in Phoenix is no better, one polling place, at 5pm today had been overwhelmed by the 9 voters who had been to the polling place since it opened early this morning. One lesson hopefully learned is that all that money spent on getting the word out just didn’t get voters to the polls. The money spent on the robo-calls, the TV and radio commercials and the mailings could have just been tossed in the trash bin.

One last thing I learned today. While I was on my morning walk, I discovered that the church about a block from my house is a polling place. I have to drive about three miles to my polling place. I did know that a friend who lives about 3 blocks from my polling place also has to go about 3 miles to his polling place. One would think that a polling place would be in the middle of the polling district. I had always envisioned the county recorder pulling out a map of the city, pulling out their trusty compass and drawing circles with the polling place being at the center of the circle. Then she would draw lines, using the streets to make the polling districts. Certainly a few people would find that they were 3 miles from their polling place while there is another polling place only 2.94 miles from their home. The difference would never allow a polling place 3 miles away, when another was 1 block away…unless there was a huge canyon or an interstate highway blocking the closer polling place. I realize that population plays a role in this and a highly populated area will need either bigger or more polling places. I guess my idea makes too much sense for government.

Votes are slow in coming in, but McCain beat the crazy JD easily.

Flag had another dry day, with some high clouds. We made it to 83°, had 30% humidity, and a slight breeze. I am used to these 80°+ days and it really didn’t seem very hot.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

George Washington: I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1902 The first Arabic daily newspaper in the U.S., Al-Hoda, began publication in New York City.

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION about Pets

§The United States Humane Society estimates that between 2,500 and 3,000 cats and dogs are born every hour in this country. By comparison, about 450 humans are born every hour in America, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

§The Labrador retriever has been America’s most popular purebred dog breed for 19 years, according to the American Kennel Club.

§According to the American Kennel Club, German Shepherds, which came in second place in 2009 registration statistics, were the most popular dog in America in the 1920s.

§American consumers spent about $45.5 billion on products and services for their pets in 2009, according to the American Pet Products Association. This was a 5.4 percent increase over 2008 numbers.

§The average cost paid per veterinarian visit by American pet owners in 2009 was $203, according to the American Pet Products Association.

§The Cat Fanciers’ Association, the feline counterpart to the American Kennel Club, has registered more than 2 million pedigreed cats since its inception in 1906.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Answers: American Lit

--Melville's white whale tale

--Lincoln called it "the book that caused the big war"

--Steinbeck novel dubbed "the Uncle Tom's Cabin of the Depression"

--He gave Hester a scarlet "A"

--Great-grand nephew of Francis Scott Key, he was the voice of the Jazz Age

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

MANHATTAN, KS— A 56-year-old chimpanzee has surprised officials at a zoo in northeast Kansas by giving birth.

Officials at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan announced Monday that Suzie the chimp gave birth to a female on Aug. 18 and that the mother and baby are in good health.

Zoo director Scott Shoemaker says Suzie was taken off birth control because of medical concerns — and because zoo officials didn't think she would get pregnant at her age.

Zoo curator Mark Ryan says he hasn't heard of any older chimpanzee who has given birth anywhere in the country. The Manhattan Mercury says Suzie is the third oldest chimpanzee among zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

Chimpanzees in captivity usually live to about 60 years of age.

A LITTLE LAUGH

The world is full of willing people: some willing to work and some willing to let them.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2--Riddle

Name three animals that can travel far and wide fast and maybe slow but NEVER not even a little inch, get far away from their home. What are those three animals?

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

Cute Cartoon for Pets: Click Here!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

♦ Weekly Observances ♦

23-27: National Safe at Home Week

25-31: Be Kind To Humankind Week

♦ Today’s Observances ♦

Kiss and Make Up Day

National Second-hand Wardrobe Day

France: Liberation Day (1944)

Paraguay: Constitution Day (1967)

Uruguay: Independence Day (1825 from Brazil)

♦ Hit Songs on this date ♦

1913 ... When Irish Eyes Are Smiling ...Chauncey Olcott

1923 ... Swingin' Down the Lane...Isham Jones

1933 ... Love Is the Sweetest Thing...Ray Noble

1943... In the Blue of Evening...Tommy Dorsey

1953... Vaya con Dios (May God Be with You) ... Les Paul & Mary Ford Hear it Here!

1963... My Boyfriend's Back...The Angels

1973... Stories... Brother Louie Hear it Here!

1983…Every Breath You Take...The Police

♦ Today’s Births ♦

• The Arts

Martin Amis, 61, author (The Information, London Fields), critic, born Oxford, England

Leonard Bernstein, conductor: New York Philharmonic Orchestra; composer: West Side Story, On the Town, My Sister Eileen, On the Waterfront, Jeremiah, The Age of Anxiety, Kaddish, Chichester Psalms, Mass, Songfest…born 1918… Lawrence, MA

Tim Burton, 52, director (Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas), born Burbank, CA

Elvis Costello (Declan McManus), 56, singer, songwriter, born London, England

Billy Ray Cyrus, 49, country singer (Achy Breaky Heart), actor (Hannah Montana), born Flatwoods, KY

Frederick Forsyth, 72, author (The Day of the Jackal), born Ashford, Kent, England

Monty Hall, 87, former game-show host (Let’s Make a Deal), born Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Walter Clifford ‘Walt’ Kelly, cartoonist, creator of Pogo…born 1913…Philadelphia, PA

Regis Philbin, 77, television personality (Live with Regis & Kelly, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?), born New York, NY

Rachael Ray, 42, chef, cookbook author, television personality (30 Minute Meals, $40 a Day), born Cape Cod, MA

Gene Simmons (Chaim Witz), 61, cofounder of KISS, actor, born Haifa, Israel

~~~

Clara Bow, silent movie actress…born 1905…Brooklyn, NY

Sean Connery, 80, actor (James Bond movies; The Man Who Would Be King), born Edinburgh, Scotland

Mel Ferrer, actor (Longest Day, Eaten Alive, 5th Floor) …born 1917… Elberon NJ

Michael Rennie, actor (The Robe, Klatuu-Day the Earth Stood Still) …born 1909… Bradford, Yorkshire, England

• Athletics

Rollie (Roland Glen) Fingers, 64, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher: Athletics, Padres, Brewers /CY Young Award…born Steubenville, OH

Althea Gibson, 1st black tennis champion in a major event…born 1927… Clarendon County, SC

• Business & Education

Allan Pinkerton, founded Chicago detective agency…born 1819… Glasgow, Scotland

• Politics

William J Brennan, US Supreme Court justice…born 1906…Newark NJ

Ivan IV (the Terrible), 1st tsar of Russia…born 1530… Kolomenskoye, near Moscow

George C Wallace, (Gov-Ala) pres candidate…born 1919…Clio, AL

• Science/Religion

--

♦ Today’s Obituaries ♦

Truman Capote, author (In Cold Blood), liver disease @ 59 in 1984

William Herschel, discovered Uranus, dies at 85 in 1822

Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher, stroke @ 56 in 1900

George Lincoln Rockwell, head of American Nazi Party, assassinated @ 49 in 1967

♦ Today’s Events ♦

• The Arts

--

• Athletics

1875 Matthew Webb becomes 1st to swim English Channel (21h 45m)

1920 1st US woman to win in Olympics (Ethelda Bleibtrey)

1960 17th summer olympics opens in Rome

• Business & Education

1925 Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters organizes (Harlem NY)

1984 Transformers replace The Cabbage Patch Kids and Trivial Pursuit as latest fad toys

• Indigenous People

1868 Acting Governor Hall of Colorado telegraphs to the military that 200 Indians are "devastating southern Colorado." The military also receives a report of Indians killing an animal herder near Fort Dodge, in southwestern Kansas.

• Politics (US)

1718 Hundreds of French colonists arrive in Louisiana; New Orleans, founded

1916 National Park Service established in the Dept of the Interior

• Politics (International)

1830 Belgium revolts against Netherlands

• Science / Religion

1609 Galileo demonstrates his 1st telescope to Venetian lawmakers

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

Melville's white whale tale: Who was Moby Dick?

Lincoln called it "the book that caused the big war": What is Uncle Tom’s Cabin?

Steinbeck novel dubbed "the Uncle Tom's Cabin of the Depression": What is The Grapes of Wrath?

He gave Hester a scarlet "A": Who was Nathanial Hawthorne?

Great-grand nephew of Francis Scott Key, he was the voice of the Jazz Age: Who was F. Scott Fitzgerald?

↔ 2

They are, a turtle, a snail, and a fish. A turtle's house is a shell which is on top of its back so it takes it everywhere, so does the snail and the fish's house is the water which can be everywhere in water.

↔ Picture

A pepper shaker or maybe a salt shaker

TODAY’S NATIONAL PARK PHOTO SHOTS

Mesa Verde, 8th Park, Colorado, since June 29, 1906: This area has over 4,000 archaeological sites of the Ancestral Pueblo, who lived here for 700 years. Cliff dwellings built in the 12th and 13th centuries include Cliff Palace, which has 150 rooms and 23 kivas, and the Balcony House, with passages and tunnels

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Tuesday August 24

This is Week 34 of 2010►Day 236 with 129 days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

I had a nice lunch with a former co-worker from TC and Kaibeto. Annie is retired and is looking over her diary from her youth and turning it into a manuscript. She is still very political and had some good observations about the upcoming Navajo elections. She is always an interesting conversationalist. I always have to spend a few days thinking about what she has said to let in sink in and work itself into my understanding of reality.

I learned something interesting today; I did not know who was the first US President to add the Qur’an to the White House Library right next to the Bible. I did not know which President honored Muslim World Leaders with not one, but five iftars—the Muslim dinner held during Ramadan after sunset—in the White House. It is very sad that the crazies against the Mosque in NY and the crazies who are spreading lies about Obama’s faith and the crazies who are scaring Americans with lies don’t remember that President George Bush—after the 9-11 bombings spent the rest of his administration telling the American people and world leaders that Islam is not bad. I was never a fan of Bush; I enjoyed collecting ‘Bushisms’ that were so easy to find; I did not want us to invade Iraq; I didn’t want him leading our country. One thing he did, and quite well, was to not allow the American people or any sector of the press to persecute innocent Muslims or Islam. He stated over and over that Muslim was not a synonym of terrorism. The War on Terror was exactly what he said—a war on terror and not a war on Islam or Muslims.

Obama is in a very difficult situation. He is seen as a Black President. He has never denied that his father was a Muslim. He has always stated that he is Christian. He tells all who ask that his faith is important to him, that he prays daily, that he gets a morning devotion on his Blackberry every morning. The crazies out there are scared. Many are anti-Black, anti-anything not their form of Christianity. We are a free country and people can say just about anything they want to. As a free country we don’t have to listen to the crazies, anymore than we listen to those who wear tinfoil hats to keep out the space aliens brainwave signals.

It was a good day in Flagstaff. Our high of 80° with 70% humidity was not as bad as it sounds, we had a nice breeze to keep that sticky air moving. My back yard neighbor continues to have workers adding a hot tub and a small redwood patio. The guys start about 8am every work day and finish about 4pm. I know these times because the building has been going on for about a week—the power saw, the air hammer, and the banging of boards has greatly reduced my bird population’s feeding habits. It is going to be very nice when it’s finished and that day can’t come any too soon. I’m sure the lady having it built feels the same way.

QUOTES FOR THE DAY

President George W. Bush—all quotes were AFTER 9-11.

Here in the United States our Muslim citizens are making many contributions in business, science and law, medicine and education, and in other fields. Muslim members of our Armed Forces and of my administration are serving their fellow Americans with distinction, upholding our nation's ideals of liberty and justice in a world at peace.

Over the past month, Muslims have fasted, taking no food or water during daylight hours, in order to refocus their minds on faith and redirect their hearts to charity. Muslims worldwide have stretched out a hand of mercy to those in need. Charity tables at which the poor can break their fast line the streets of cities and towns. And gifts of food and clothing and money are distributed to ensure that all share in God's abundance. Muslims often invite members of other families to their evening iftar meals, demonstrating a spirit of tolerance"

America treasures the relationship we have with our many Muslim friends, and we respect the vibrant faith of Islam which inspires countless individuals to lead lives of honesty, integrity, and morality. This year, may Eid also be a time in which we recognize the values of progress, pluralism, and acceptance that bind us together as a Nation and a global community. By working together to advance mutual understanding, we point the way to a brighter future for all.

Islam brings hope and comfort to millions of people in my country, and to more than a billion people worldwide. Ramadan is also an occasion to remember that Islam gave birth to a rich civilization of learning that has benefited mankind.

Ours is a war not against a religion, not against the Muslim faith. But ours is a war against individuals who absolutely hate what America stands for, and hate the freedom of the Czech Republic. And therefore, we must work together to defend ourselves. And by remaining strong and united and tough, we'll prevail.

Some of the comments that have been uttered about Islam do not reflect the sentiments of my government or the sentiments of most Americans. Islam, as practiced by the vast majority of people, is a peaceful religion, a religion that respects others. Ours is a country based upon tolerance and we welcome people of all faiths in America.

We see in Islam a religion that traces its origins back to God's call on Abraham. We share your belief in God's justice, and your insistence on man's moral responsibility. We thank the many Muslim nations who stand with us against terror. Nations that are often victims of terror themselves.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1912 NYC ticker tape parade for Jim Thorpe & victorious US Olympians

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION about the Christian Bible

§There are 66 books in the standard Bible: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.

§The Israelites were forbidden to eat rabbits and camels.

§The Israelites were required to free their servants in the seventh year of service.

§Matthias was chosen to replace Judas as the twelfth apostle.

§With 150 chapters, Psalms is the longest book in the Bible.

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Answers: Trivia

In 1983 Americans used over 1¼ million gallons of this beach product

When it was rung for Chief Justice John Marshall's funeral, it cracked

"Kingdom" that Khrushchev couldn't visit in 1959 U.S. trip

Dr. Seuss' egg-hatching elephant who was "faithful, 100%"

It spent the night in a discount-house parking lot before heading to L.A. Coliseum

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

NEW YORK — A copper casting of the tip of the Statue of Liberty's nose is among a collection of iconic items that will be auctioned off next month in New York City.

Guernsey's auction house President Arlan Ettinger says the casting of Lady Liberty's nose is one of four that was made during a restoration effort in the 1980s. One of the four was used on the statue, one was destroyed, and another is in a private collection.

He says the piece is about 2 feet wide, consisting of the tip and the area around the nostrils. He says it's "actually quite good-looking."

The sale also includes a motorcycle from John F. Kennedy's Dallas motorcade and James Dean's sunglasses. The auction is scheduled for Sept. 24.

A LITTLE LAUGH

'Writing: For the Sell of It' was the theme of our community college's annual writers' conference. When I called a widely published author and asked him to be our keynote speaker, my request was met with a long silence. He finally said, "I don't know what I would say to that audience."

"You're just being modest," I replied. "I'm sure you're extremely qualified to speak on that subject."

He suddenly broke into laughter. "I thought you said, 'Writing for the Celibate!'"

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2--Riddle

There is a boy who lives in a hotel on the 15th floor, when he goes to school he presses button number 1 to the ground floor however when he comes back from school he presses number 10 and walks to the 15th floor, why does he walk all the way to the 15th floor instead of using the lift?

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

Obama White House Dinner/Iftar 2009: Click Here!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

♦ Weekly Observances ♦

23-27: National Safe at Home Week

♦ Today’s Observances ♦

Knife Day

Vesuvius Day: Remembering 79AD eruption

National Waffle Day

Liberia: Flag Day (1847)

Sierra Leone: President's Birthday

Ukraine: National Day or Den' Nezalezhnosti, independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

♦ Hit Songs on this date ♦

1892 ... The Old Folks at Home…Len Spencer Hear a version here!

1902 ... Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home…Arthur Collins (Della Reese sings) Hear a version here!

1912 ... Ragtime Cowboy Joe…Bob Roberts (Ann Gibson sings) Hear a version here!

1942… Jingle Jangle Jingle…Kay Kyser (Fallout sings) Hear a version here!

1952… Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart…Vera Lynn Hear it Here!

1962… The Loco-Motion…Little Eva

1972… Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)…Looking Glass

1982… Eye of the Tiger…Survivor

♦ Today’s Births ♦

• The Arts

Orla Fallon, 36, Irish Vocalist for Celtic Woman…born Knockananna, County Wicklow,Ireland

Oscar Hijuelos, 59, author (Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love)…born New York, NY

Louis Teicher, pianist: duo: Ferrante & Teicher: Exodus, Tonight, Theme from "The Apartment", Midnight Cowboy…born 1924… Wilkes-Barre, PA

~~~

Rupert Grint, 22, actor (Harry Potter films)…born Hertfordshire, England

Steve Guttenberg, 52, actor (“Billy,” Three Men and a Baby)…born Brooklyn, NY

Craig Kilborn, 48, late night TV personality…born Hastings, MN

Marlee Matlin, 45, actress (Oscar for Children of a Lesser God; Walker, “Reasonable Doubts”)…born Morton Grove, IL

Durward Kirby, TV announcer (Garry Moore Show) …born 1912… Indianapolis IN

• Athletics

Gerry Cooney, 54, heavyweight boxer, born New York, NY

Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku, 100m swimmer (Olympic-gold-1912, 20) …born 1890… Waikiki, HI

• Business & Education

Betty Dodson, 81, American feminist and sex educator…born NYC, NY

Hideo Kojima, 47, Japanese video game director…born Tokyo, Japan

• Politics

Mike Huckabee, 55, former Governor of Arkansas…born Hope, AR

Geoffrey Plantagenet, conquered Normandy…born 1113…France

Wilbur Wilberforce, crusaded against slavery…born 1759… Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, England

• Science/Religion

Gregory Jarvis, aircraft engineer: astronaut; killed Jan 28, 1986 in Challenger space shuttle explosion…born 1944…Detroit, MI

♦ Today’s Obituaries ♦

Bernard Castro, patented convertible couch, @t 87 in 1991

E.G. Marshall, actor - "The Defenders", "Nixon", "Absolute Power", @ 88 in 1998

♦ Today’s Events ♦

• The Arts

1902 A statue of Joan of Arc is unveiled in Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier.

• Athletics

1989 Pete Rose, baseball's all-time hits leader, was out - of baseball (banned for life).

• Business & Education

1456 The printing of the Gutenberg Bible was completed.

1853 1st potato chips prepared by Chef George Crum (Saratoga Springs, NY)

1869 Waffle iron invented

• Indigenous People

1818 The Quapaw Indians sign a treaty (7 stat. 176) at St. Louis covering lands along the Arkansas and Red Rivers.

1835 The United States signs a treaty (7 Stat., 474.) with the Choctaw, Comanche,Creek (Muscogee), Cherokee, Osage, Quapaw, Seneca and Witchita at Camp Holmes "on the eastern border of the Grand Prairie, near the Canadian River."

• Politics (US)

1814 British sack Washington, DC, White House burned

1909 Workers start pouring concrete for Panama Canal

1912 Territory of Alaska organized

1912 The U.S. Post Office got heavy -- by abolishing its rule that only parcels up to four pounds could be sent through the system.

• Politics (International)

1949 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) established

• Science / Religion

    79 Mt Vesuvius erupts, buries Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae

1662 Act of Uniformity requires English to accept book of Common Prayer

1932 1st transcontinental non-stop flight by a woman, Amelia Earhart

1987 Announcement of possible Martian tornado

2006 The International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefines the term "planet" such that Pluto is considered a Dwarf Planet.

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

In 1983 Americans used over 1¼ million gallons of this beach product: What is suntan lotion?

When it was rung for Chief Justice John Marshall's funeral, it cracked: What is the Liberty Bell

"Kingdom" that Khrushchev couldn't visit in 1959 U.S. trip: What is Disneyland—the Magic Kingdom?

Dr. Seuss' egg-hatching elephant who was "faithful, 100%": Who is Horton?

It spent the night in a discount-house parking lot before heading to L.A. Coliseum: What is the Olympic torch?

↔ 2

He can't reach the 15th floor button.

↔ Picture

Vending machine coin slots

TODAY’S NATIONAL PARK PHOTO SHOTS

Wind Cave National Park is 7th National Park since January 9, 1903: Wind Cave in South Dakota is distinctive for its calcite fin formations called boxwork and needle-like growths called frostwork. The cave, which was discovered by the sound of wind coming from a hole in the ground, is the world's densest cave system. Above ground is a mixed-grass prairie with animals such as bison, black-footed ferrets, and prairie dogs. Photo of Boxwork.

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Monday August 23

This is Week 34 of 2010►Day 235 with 130 days left.

FREE RAMBLING THOUGHTS

My Broncos aren’t starting off very well; they are 0-2 in the pre-season. I still enjoy watching them and our local cable company has picked up the NFL station in HD. Last night I watched the Saints/Texans game on the NFL station. It is much different than a game on ESPN or one of the alphabet stations. The NFL station does have good camera angles, but the commentators are unsuccessfully trying to clone the other stations. They also don’t have the graphics we are all so used to watching. I’m sure they are giving us all the pre-season games for free, and then suddenly, when the season starts, they will want a bundle of bucks to watch all the games. They won’t be getting any more of my money. HD is really, really nice, and is especially cool for sports. However, even I have my limits. It’s tough to try and stay up on technology and then not be willing to pay the price for it.

I decided today to spend some time studying the candidates running for office in our Tuesday primary. I am very confused now, even more than before. The Clean Elections group puts out a book with all the candidates statements. One really has to be able to read between the lines to understand what they are saying. So often they just say what we want to hear. After my retirement, I learned that the more you know about a candidate, the less you know about them. One candidate, who made ‘education’ the main topic, stated she had been in Education for 25 years. She is going to fight for the kids in AZ. Good for her. When I went to her campaign site, I learned that she had been a private mentor to students and has never spent anytime inside a public school, a private school, or any school that teaches kids. Nothing wrong with that, but I find that she is going to probably have a very steep learning curve when it comes to public education. Another candidate, running for Sec of State, touted his vast experience in the legislature as his best qualification for the job. He would become Governor, if for some reason, the governor doesn’t complete that term. His vast experience includes one two-year term in the legislature. Strangely, he is not the pick of the Democratic Party for the job. Before one goes into politics, there must be a mandatory training in personal ego development. I already know that it is very difficult to get any democrat elected in a state-wide office in AZ. It is not impossible, just very difficult. Here in Northern AZ, it is a little easier. This year’s campaign ads have been downright dirty. These are all ads that cut down their opponents—from the same party. McCain talks about building the ‘dang fence.’ JD has an ad that has a bunch of McCain quotes, followed by ‘he chose to lie.’ The worst, IMHO, is Ben Quayle—the former VP’s son. This is first run for public office—not in my district. His ad starts out with a close up facial shot, stating the “Barack Obama is the worst president our country has ever had.” I’ll vote on Tuesday and find out which candidates make it to the November election. I’m glad I will be out of AZ most of September and will miss lots of the dirty campaigning.

QUOTES FOR THE DAY--Elections

~Author Unknown: There are always too many Democratic congressmen, too many Republican congressmen, and never enough U.S. congressmen.

…If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

~Carl Sandburg: A politician should have three hats. One for throwing into the ring, one for talking through, and one for pulling rabbits out of if elected

~Charles Krauthammer: Every two years the American politics industry fills the airwaves with the most virulent, scurrilous, wall-to-wall character assassination of nearly every political practitioner in the country - and then declares itself puzzled that America has lost trust in its politicians.

HOLY MACKEREL: 1833 Britain abolishes slavery in colonies; 700,000 slaves freed

SOMEWHAT USELESS INFORMATION about Football

§Baseball's Philadelphia Athletics, managed by Connie Mack, and the Philadelphia Phillies formed professional football teams in 1902, joining the Pittsburgh Stars in the first attempt at a pro football league, named the National Football League. The Athletics won the first night football game ever played, 39-0 over the Kanaweola Athletic Club at Elmira, New York, November 21, 1902.

§New York's original AFL team was called the Titans. When Sonny Werblin took over the franchise in 1963, he changed the team name to the New York Jets to reflect the modern approach of his team and the star-studded performances he hoped his team would produce.

§The Dallas Cowboys were the only team in the 1990s to win three Super Bowls, claiming Super Bowl XXVII (1993), XXVIII (1994), and XXX (1996). The Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers each won two Super Bowls during the 1990s.

§Beattie Feathers, of the Chicago Bears, rushed for 1004 yards in 1934, the first player ever to rush 1000 yards. Remarkably, he did it in only 119 carries, giving him an amazing 8.4 yards per carry average!

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 1—Jeopardy Answers: Anatomy

Mark Anthony borrowed them, then bent them

Over ½ of these are in your hands & feet

Number of chambers in a judge's heart

The body has over 60,000 miles of them

Prominent zygomatic bones, considered an attractive facial feature

UNUSUAL NEWS ITEM

SKANE, Sweden - Emergency responders were called to a Swedish graveyard when a woman's leg sank into soil that had been softened by recent heavy rains. Witnesses said the woman was leaving flowers at a family grave about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Bragarps church in Skane when her leg sank into the muddy terrain and became stuck, The Local reported Thursday. Emergency responders were called to free the woman and she required no medical attention, witnesses said. "I have been working here for 11 years and I have never seen anything like this," the Rev. Jonas Kristiansson said. Kristiansson said recent rains caused subsidence in several areas of the graveyard. He said workers plan to repair the grave Thursday.

A LITTLE LAUGH

Our cat, Figaro, comes home between 10 or 11 at night to eat. If he's late, I turn on the carport light and call him until he appears.

One day my daughter was explaining to a friend where we live, and her friend said, "Is that anywhere near the house where the woman stands on her steps late at night and sings opera?"

GREY MATTER PUZZLE 2--Riddle

What did the carpet say to the wall?

FOUND ON ‘YOU TUBE’

Green Acres Theme: Click Here!

GREY MATTER PICTURE

This is a close up of what object?

SOME CALENDAR INFORMATION

♦ Weekly Observances ♦

23-27: National Safe at Home Week

♦ Today’s Observances ♦

National Sponge cake Day

Valentino Day

Day for The Remembrance of The Slave Trade & Its Abolition

European Union: European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism

Romania: Liberation Day (1944 from Nazis)

Swaziland: Umhlanga Day: Reed Dance ceremony, is an annual Swazi and Zulu tradition

♦ Hit Songs on this date ♦

1891 ... The Mocking Bird…John Yorke Atlee Click Here to Hear It

1911 ... Mother Machree…John McCormack Click Hre to Hear It

1941 … Daddy…Sammy Kaye

1951 …Come On-a My House…Rosemary Clooney

1961 …Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn)…Joe Dowell

1971…How Can You Mend a Broken Heart…The Bee Gees

1981 …Endless Love…Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

♦ Today’s Births ♦

• The Arts

Gene Kelly, dancer/actor (An American in Paris, Going My Way) …born 1912…Pittsburg, PA

William Primrose, violist (Method for Violin & Viola)…born 1903… Glasgow Scotland

Mark Russell (Mark Ruslander), 78, political comedian…born Buffalo, NY

~~~

Barbara Eden (Barbara Huffman), 76, actress (“I Dream of Jeannie,” Harper Valley P.T.A.)…born Tucson, AZ

Shelley Long, 61, actress (“Cheers,” Irreconcilable Differences)…born Fort Wayne, IN

Vera Miles, 80, actress (The Wrong Man, Psycho)…born Boise City, OK

Richard Sanders, 70, actor (Les-“WKRP in Cincinnati”)…born Harrisburg, PA

• Athletics

Kobe Bryant, 32, basketball player, born Philadelphia, PA

Christian Adolph 'Sonny' Jurgensen, 76, Hall of Fame football player (Eagles, Redskins)…born Wilmington, NC

• Business & Education

--

• Politics

Lisa Najeeb Halaby, Queen Noor of Jordan, 51…born Washington, DC

Oliver Hazard Perry, American naval officer: Battle of Lake Erie: “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.” …born 1785…South Kingstown, RI

• Science/Religion

Andreas Floer, Geometry mathematician..born in 1956 in Germany

♦ Today’s Obituaries ♦

Hoot Gibson, silent screen cowboy actor, @ 70 in 1962

Oscar Hammerstein II, Broadway librettist, cancer @ 65 in 1960

Hank Patterson, actor (Fred Ziffel-Green Acres), @ 87 in 1975

Oliver Hazard Perry, naval hero, on 34th birthday in 1819

Rodolpho Alfonzo Rafaello Pietro Filiberto Guglieimi Di Valentina D'Antonguolla (Rudolph Valentino), silent movie idol, peritonitis @ 31 in 1926

Nicola Sacco@ 36 & Bartolomeo Vanzetti @ 39 executed in MA after 3 trials and lots of media, for murder in 1927

♦ Today’s Events ♦

• The Arts

1919 "Gasoline Alley" cartoon strip premiers in Chicago Tribune

• Athletics

1982 Gaylord Perry, Mariner, was tossed out of a game for throwing an illegal spitball.

1985 Paul Hornung awarded $1,160,000 by a Louisville court against NCAA who barred him as a college football analyst for betting on games

• Business & Education

1838 Mt Holyoke Female Seminary (South Hadley, Mass) 1st graduating class

1872 1st Japanese commercial ship visits SF, carrying tea

1892 John H. Stedman of Rochester, NY patented the printed streetcar transfer.

1902 Fannie Merrit Farmer opened her cooking school, Miss Farmer’s School of Cookery, in Boston, MA.

1904 Automobile tire chain patented

• Indigenous People

1732 Today marks the beginning of a peace conference held in Philadelphia with the local Indians. Attending the meeting are several Iroquois Chiefs, including OnondagaChief Shikellamy.

1876 "Treaty 6 Between Her Majesty The Queen and The Plain and Wood CreeIndians and Other Tribes of Indians at Fort Carlton, Fort Pitt and Battle River with Adhesions" is signed in Canada.

• Politics (US)

1917 Race riot in Houston Texas (2 blacks & 11 whites killed)

• Politics (International)

1617 1st one-way streets established (London)

1914 Japan declares war on Germany in World War I

• Science / Religion

1960 World's largest frog (3.3 kg—7.3 lbs) caught (Equatorial Guinea)

GREY MATTER ANSWERS

↔ 1

Mark Anthony borrowed them, then bent them: What are ears?

Over ½ of these are in your hands & feet: What are bones?

Number of chambers in a judge's heart: What is four?

The body has over 60,000 miles of them: What are blood vessels?

Prominent zygomatic bones, considered an attractive facial feature: What are cheek bones?

↔ 2

What did the carpet say to the wall?

↔ Picture

A "sippy cup" lid

TODAY’S NATIONAL PARK PHOTO SHOTS

Crater Lake, 6th National Park as of May 22, 1902: Crater Lake lies in the caldera of Mount Mazama formed 7,700 years ago after an eruption. It is the deepest lake in the United States and is known for its blue color and water clarity. There are two islands in the lake, and, with no inlets or outlets, all water comes through precipitation.

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