6-14-11

Ø   TODAY’s “Geez”:

·        1951 - 1st commercial computer, UNIVAC 1, enters service at Census Bureau

·        1953 - Eisenhower condemns McCarthy's book burning proposal

·        1954 - Pres Eisenhower signs order adding words "under God" to the Pledge

Ø  Free Rambling Thoughts…

I got all my errands run this morning and had time to get a haircut to boot. Great way to start the week. It was a nice day outside, a little breeze and warm. The fires in AZ continue to grow. More fires a burnin’. They are all in Southern and far Eastern AZ. This is fire season, as we in AZ wait for the monsoons, still several weeks away. The difference this year is that the fires are so much bigger than usual.

An interesting poll came out today. For all the candidates on the Republican side only one candidate, Gary Johnson the former governor of NM, has a bigger percentage of his home state voters saying yes than no. All the other candidates are in single digits of approval of their run from voters in their home state. Looks like the old ‘favorite son’ candidate is way gone. When we finally get to the convention, next summer, it might be interesting to see if the candidate’s home state makes that nomination. At some point in time the candidates were popular enough to be elected to national office and now they do not have the support of their home state. These are the voters who picked them, lived through their time in office, and now don’t want them at the highest office. Very strange.

NPR ran a good story on fixing our educational system. Ever since I joined the educational work force I have heard that change is necessary because we are no longer an agrarian society that needs the kids on the farm and in the fields during the summer. A few school systems have gone to year round school, but even those districts don’t increase the time in school, only when the kids are in school. Our fair schools in Flag added extra snow days to this year’s calendar after they ran out of snow days the previous year. This year had less snowfall. So in May kids were given several three day weekends so they could use up the snow days without having to change graduations. As a former administrator and a former teacher, I know firsthand how hard it is to bring change to any school system. School staff and low level administrators are offered contracts each year. They spell out the number of days with students, the number of days for enrichment, the number of holidays and the number hours required to be on campus and lots of other stuff. Without a hook I haven’t heard in over 40 years, no legislature or congress is going to lengthen the school year or the school day without commensurate salary and benefit package changes. Public education will just continue to muddle along and complain.NPR was interviewing seniors from schools that were trying something different…longer school days—up to 9 hours every day, longer school years up to 10.5 months and required  Saturday study sessions. The students were very excited about learning, claiming in their old traditional schools, that the bar was way too low. Many of these students came from economically deprived areas while others came from middle class schools. These were not ‘last chance’ high schools but were either magnet schools or charter schools that held a lottery in the spring for incoming freshman, due to the number of students who applied.  Something needs to happen so this generation of NCLB doesn’t become an generation of students not ready for the real world.

Ø  Trivia Quiz…(answers at the end of post)

1.      What is in brackets in the title of Cher's The Shoop Shoop Song?

2.      Which American city links songs by Bruce Springsteen and Elton John?

3.      What type of creature was Michael Jackson's pet Muscles?

4.      What job did Del Shannon take on when he came out of the US Army?

5.      Which senior star released an album in 1996 called Strong Love Affair?

6.      What was Peter Cetera's first solo NO 1 single?

7.      What was Bruce Springsteen's first Top Ten Single?

8.      Spice Girl Mel C joined which artist on the hit When You're Gone?

9.      Which Michael Jackson album had the subtitle Past Present and future Book 1?

10.   Which name links Stigers and Mayfield?

11.   What was Madonna's next No 1 after Like A Virgin?

12.   In which decade was superstar Michael Bolton born?

13.   Where was John Denver born?

14.   Who had an 80’s No 1 with You Keep Me Hangin' On?

Ø  Zoom-ed in Picture…Can you Identify what this is? (Answer at end of post)

Ø  Hmmmmm…

·        Number of the four top spending congressional candidates in 2010 elections who lost: 3

Ø  Somewhat Useless Information…

·        The Australian Gippsland Earthworm grows to 12 feet long and can weigh 1-1/2 pounds.

·        There are approximately 2,700 different kinds of earthworms.

·        In one acre of land, there can be more than a million earthworms.

·        Worms tunnel deeply in the soil and bring subsoil closer to the surface mixing it with the topsoil. Slime, a secretion of earthworms, contains nitrogen. Nitrogen is an important nutrient for plants. The sticky slime helps to hold clusters of soil particles together in formations called aggregates.

·        Worms are hermaphrodites. Each worm has both male and female organs. Worms mate by joining their clitella (swollen area near the head of a mature worm) and ex-changing sperm. Then each worm forms an egg capsule in its clitellum.

·        Even though worms don't have eyes, they can sense light, especially at their anterior (front end). They move away from light and will become paralyzed if exposed to light for too long (approximately one hour).

Ø  Yeah, It Really Happened…

AMHERST, Ohio - Authorities in Ohio said a man arrested after behaving violently and growling at sheriff's deputies blamed his actions on a scratch from a wolf.

Lorain County sheriff's deputies said Thomas Stroup, 20, was arrested at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday after they received a call of a "very violent" male attacking people at the Timber Ridge Campground in Amherst, The Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, Ohio.

Deputies said a friend of Stroup who was at the scene told them the suspect had consumed a large amount of alcohol and fought with other campers, who left before deputies arrived. Stroup was found sleeping under a trailer and growled at the deputies before being placed under arrest.

The deputies said Stroup apologized for his behavior while en route to the Lorain County Jail and told them he had consumed too much vodka and his violent behavior was the result of a wolf scratch that drives him to act violently during the full moon. Stroup was charged with underage consumption.

Ø  Guffaw…or at least smile…

A man lying on his deathbed called to him, his lawyer, his doctor, and his pastor. "I am going to die tonight," and I want to prove that when you go to heaven you can take it all with you. So to my three most trusted friends, you three of course, I am leaving 50,000 dollars in these envelopes. When I die you must come to my funeral and put the envelopes in my coffin with me." The man handed the three men identical envelopes.

A day later they each received news that, that night the old man had died . So each knew they must go to his funeral and fulfill his death wish.

Standing over the coffin one week later the pastor confessed, " I can't hide what I've done. I took 10,000 dollars from the envelope because the church needed to be painted."

Then as he did so the doctor also started to fidget then finally confessed “I took 30,000 dollars from my envelope because the hospital needed a new wing."

Ten the lawyer said plainly “You bunch of crooks! I wrote him a check for the full amount!"

Ø  Searchin’ “You Tube” I found…

Old Yeller (Sing Along Songs)

Ø  Daybook Information…

…Happening This Week:

10-17

·        Superman Week

·        Nursing Assistants Week

12-18

·        National Flag Week

·        Men's Health Week

14-20

·        Universal Father's Week

·        US Open Golf Championship

Ø  TODAY IS

·        Family History Day

·        Pause for the Pledge Day

·        Pop Goes The Weasel Day

·        US: Flag Day

·        Japan: Rice Planting Festival

·        World: Blood Donor Day

Ø  Today’s Events:

…  IN ARTS

1923 - Recording of 1st country music hit (Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane)

1942 - Walt Disney's "Bambi" animated movie is released 

1967 - Steve Allen Show," premieres on CBS-TV

…  IN ATHLETICS

1933 - Lou Gehrig & Joe McCarthy thrown out of game, McCarthy suspended 3 games but Gehrig isn't, so he continues his streak at 1,249 games

1989 - Nolan Ryan becomes 2nd pitcher to defeat all 26 teams

2005 - Asafa Powell of Jamaica sets a new Men's 100 meters world record of 9.77 at the Athens Olympic Stadium

…  IN BUSINESS

1834 - Isaac Fischer Jr patents sandpaper

1881 - Player piano patented by John McTammany Jr (Cambridge, Mass)

1942 - 1st bazooka rocket gun produced Bridgeport Ct

… IN EDUCATION

1642 - 1st compulsory education law in America passed by Massachusetts

1973 - 46th National Spelling Bee: Barrie Trinkle wins spelling vouchsafe

…  FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

1671 - France claims most of America

1877 - During their forced march from their old reservation to Indian Territory, the Poncas arrive at the Otto reservation. Taking pity on the Poncas, the Ottos give them some horses to help carry their people.

…  IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

1381 - Richard II in England meets leaders of Peasants' Revolt on Blackheath. The Tower of London is stormed by rebels who enter without resistance.

1958 - Nelson Mandela weds Winnie Madikizela

1962 - The European Space Research Organisation is established in Paris - later becoming the European Space Agency.

… IN RELIGION

▬

…  IN SCIENCE

1834 - Hardhat diving suit patented by Leonard Norcross, Dixfield, Maine

1938 - Chlorophyll patented by Benjamin Grushkin

…  IN US POLITICS

1775 - US Army founded

1777 - Continental Congress adopts Stars & Stripes replacing Grand Union flag

1846 - California (Bear Flag) Republic proclaimed in Sonoma

1864 - Congress rules Black soldiers must receive equal pay

1900 - Hawaiian Territorial Government begins

 … ARTISTS:  AUTHORS:  COMPOSERS…

1811 - Harriet Beecher Stowe, author (Uncle Tom's Cabin)

1884 - John McCormack, Irish/US singer (Irish folksongs)

…ATHLETES

1984 - Lorenzo Booker, American football player turns 27

1969 - Steffi Graf, Bruhl West Germany, tennis player (Grand Slam 1988) turns 42

…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS…)

1921 - Gene Barry, actor (Bat Masterson, Name of the Game, Burke's Law)

Yasmine Bleeth actress turns 43

1895 - Cliff Edwards, "Ukulele Ike", singer (When You Wish Upon a Star)

Marla Gibbs actress turns 80

1909 - Burl Ives, folk singer/actor (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof)

1918 - Dorothy McGuire, actress (Old Yeller, Summer Magic)

1988 - Kevin Michael McHale, American singer turns 23

1961 - "Boy George" O'Dowd, androgynous vocalist & druggie (Culture Club) turns 50

… ENTREPRENEUR & EDUCATORS

Donald Trump businessman turns 65

1925 - Pierre Salinger, newsman (ABC)/press secretary (John Kennedy)

…POLITICIANS

1932 - Joe Arpaio, sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona turns 79

1928 - Ernesto "Che" Guevara Serna, Arg/Cuba revolutionary (Cuba)

1529 - Ferdinand, archduke (Austria)

1855 - Robert Marion La Follette, Wisconsin, pres candidate (Progressive)

…SCIENTISTS / THEOLOGISTS

1864 - Alois Alzheimer, Germany, psychiatrist/pathologist (Alzheimer Disease)

Ø  Today’s Obits:

1801 - Benedict Arnold, Revolutionary War general, dies of dropsy at 60

1946 - John Logie Baird, Scottish television pioneer dies of stroke at 58

2009 - Bob Bogle, founding member of The Ventures dies of lymphoma at 75

1926 - Mary Cassatt, American artist dies at 83

1986 - Alan Jay Lerner, Broadway librettist, dies of lung cancer at 67

1994 - Henry Mancini, composer (Pink Panther, Moon River), dies of pancreatic cancer at 70

1986 - Marlin Perkins, TV host (Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom), dies at 81

1977 - Alan Reed, actor (Fred Allen)/voice (Fred Flintstone), dies of heart attack at 69

2007 - Kurt Waldheim, Austrian politician and statesman dies at 89

Ø  ANSWERS:

Trivia Quiz

1.      What is in brackets in the title of Cher's The Shoop Shoop Song ?

It's In His Kiss

2.      Which American city links songs by Bruce Springsteen and Elton John?

Philadelphia

3.      What type of creature was Michael Jackson's pet Muscles?

Snake

4.      What job did Del Shannon take on when he came out of the US Army?

                      Carpet salesman

5.      Which senior star released an album in 1996 called Strong Love Affair?

Ray Charles

6.      What was Peter Cetera's first solo NO 1 single?

Glory Of Love

7.      What was Bruce Springsteen's first Top Ten Single?

Light Of My Life

8.      Spice Girl Mel C joined which artist on the hit When You're Gone?

Bryan Adams

9.      Which Michael Jackson album had the subtitle Past Present and future Book 1?

History

10.   Which name links Stigers and Mayfield?

Curtis

11.   What was Madonna's next No 1 after Like A Virgin?

Crazy For You

12.   In which decade was superstar Michael Bolton born?

1950s

13.   Where was John Denver born?

New Mexico

14.   Who had an 80sNo 1 with You Keep Me Hangin' On ?

Kim Wilde

Close Up Picture

scale

Ø  …AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW

6-13-11

Ø  TODAY’s “Geez”:

·        1789 - Mrs Alexander Hamilton serves ice cream for dessert to Washington

·        1920 - Post Office says children could not be sent by parcel post

·        1994 - A jury in Anchorage, Alaska, blames recklessness by Exxon and Captain Joseph Hazelwood for the Exxon Valdez disaster, allowing victims of the oil spill to seek $15 billion in damages

Ø  Free Rambling Thoughts…

A very cloudy afternoon. NO hope for rain. A little windy but nice. Some of the evacuees have been able to return to their unburned homes. Most are staying away a few more days because of the horrific smoke. The fire continues to burn and eat up more and more acres of forest. The firefighters have done a astounding job of saving homes. The wind is expected to pick up again tomorrow in the fire area.

I watched two excellent shows today. Both were linguistic based. The first was 60 minutes. The first story was on Huck Finn—the sanitized version. What happens when the N-word is removed and ‘slave’ placed in its place? A Black professor says it takes away the teachable moment. The publisher says it allows the banned book to be read by many more high school students. High School teachers and students on both sides of the issue discussed their opinions. The next piece was on ‘The King’s Speech’. So much history and the director had written the Queen Mother 25 years ago about the script. Her reply, “Not while I am alive, it is too painful.” So he waited and started after her death at 102. Then Dateline did a great show on bullying. Teens were placed in bullying situations and their parents discussed how they expected their teen to react, then the parents watched via hidden camera as the teens and hired actors played out the situation: Basketball practice, girls buying clothes, and several others. Very good. Amazing the power of a word. More amazing to me is how the word gains power. How society gives power to words and takes power from words. Society has tried and failed to ban words. Governments have tried and failed. Sadly it seems to be an issue we will have to deal with for a longtime.

Ø  Trivia Quiz…(answers at the end of post)

1.      Spice Girl Mel C joined which artist on the hit When You're Gone?

2.      In which decade was singer Bruce Springsteen born?

3.      Robert Velline made the charts under which name?

4.      Which Teddy sang lead vocals with Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes?

5.      Stevie Wonder was given the keys to which city in recognition of his talents in 1984?

6.      Which costume was worn by David Bowie on his Ashes to Ashes video?

7.      Let's Wait Awhile came from which Janet Jackson album?

8.      George Michael was brought up in which city?

9.      How old was Elvis Presley when he died?

10.   Which lady's only No 1 was Total Eclipse Of The Heart?

11.   Who was Dancing On The Ceiling in 1986?

12.   Who took his Part-Time Lover to No 1 in the 80s?

Ø  Zoom-ed in Picture…Can you Identify what this is? (Answer at end of post)

Ø  Hmmmmm…

·        Estimated percentage of NH’s bat population that died in 2010: 65

Ø  Somewhat Useless Information…

·        If you sneeze too hard, you can fracture a rib. If you try to suppress a sneeze, you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die.

·        You are more likely to be struck by lightning than to be eaten by a shark. You are more likely to be infected by flesh-eating bacteria than you are to be struck by lightning.

Ø  Yeah, It Really Happened…

EDINBURGH, Scotland - A Scottish world record holder with nearly 7,000 piercings, including 192 on her face, has married a man with no piercings or tattoos. Elaine Davidson, 46, married Douglas Watson, who is in his 60s, in a Wednesday ceremony at the central Register Office in Edinburgh, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday. "Elaine looked astonishing," Watson said after the wedding. "People see the piercings but I see the amazing personality underneath. We have known each other for a long time... I am always amazed by the effect her piercings have on people. She's an incredible woman. People think it’s unconventional but that is the woman she is and people love her for it." Davidson was first certified as a Guinness World Record holder in 2000, when she had only 462 piercings. That number has since grown to 6,925, she said.

Ø  Guffaw…or at least smile…

"How was your game, dear?" asked Jack's wife Tracy.

"Well, I was hitting pretty well, but my eyesight's gotten so bad I couldn't see where the ball went," he answered.

"But you're 75 years old, Jack!" admonished his wife, "Why don't you take my brother Scott along?"

"But he's 85 and doesn't play golf anymore," protested Jack.

"But he's got perfect eyesight. He would watch the ball for you," Tracy pointed out.

The next day Jack teed off with Scott looking on. Jack swung and the ball disappeared down the middle of the fairway. "Do you see it?" asked Jack.

"Yup," Scott answered.

"Well, where is it?" yelled Jack, peering off into the distance.

"I forgot."

Ø  Searchin’ “You Tube” I found…

Accurate recreation of Anne Frank's hiding place

Ø  Daybook Information…

…Happening This Week:

10-17

·        Superman Week

·        Nursing Assistants Week

12-18

·        National Flag Week

·        Men's Health Week

Ø  TODAY IS

·        National Juggling Day

·        Kitchen Klutzes Of America Day: for all those who have accidents in the kitchen

·        UK: Queen's Official Birthday

Ø  Today’s Events:

…  IN ARTS

1962 - "Bob Newhart Show," last airs on NBC-TV

…  IN ATHLETICS

1948 - Babe Ruth's final farewell at Yankee Stadium, he dies Aug 16th

1959 - 59th US Golf Open: Billy Casper shoots a 282 at Winged Foot GC NY

…  IN BUSINESS

1825 - Walter Hunt patents safety pin

1886 - Fire destroys nearly 1,000 buildings in Vancouver, BC

1930 - 1st Nudist Colony opens

… IN EDUCATION

1953 - KOAA TV channel 5 in Pueblo-Colorado Spgs, CO (NBC) 1st broadcast

1971 - NY Times began publishing "Pentagon Papers"

FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

1979 - Sioux nation receives $100 million in compensation for Black Hills SD

…  IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

1373 - Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of Alliance (world's oldest) signed in London

1828 - Simon Bolívar proclaimed dictator

1898 - Yukon Territory of Canada organized, Dawson chosen as capital

1956 - After 72 years, Britain gives up Suez Canal to Egyptian control

1986 - Pres Reagan criticizes South African state of emergency

… IN RELIGION

1837 - 1st Mormon missionaries to British Isles leave Kirtland, Ohio

…  IN SCIENCE

1889 - 2' of snow accumulates in Rawlins Wyoming

1912 - Capt Albert Berry made the 1st parachute jump from an airplane

…  IN US POLITICS

1633 - Charter for Maryland is given to Lord Cecil Baltimore

1774 - Rhode Island becomes 1st colony to prohibit importation of slaves

1866 - House passes 14th Amendment (Civil rights for blacks)

1888 - Congress creates Department of Labor

1933 - Federal Home Owners Loan Corporation authorized

1942 - The United States opens its Office of War Information

1966 - Supreme Court's Miranda decision; suspect must be informed of rights: based on AZ case

1967 - Thurgood Marshall nominated as 1st black Supreme Court justice

1996 - The Montana Freemen surrender after an 81-day standoff with FBI agents

… ARTISTS:  AUTHORS:  COMPOSERS…

1752 - Fanny Burney, England, author (Camille, Evelina)

1865 - William Butler Yeats, Irish poet (Wild Swans at Coole-Nobel 1923)

…ATHLETES

1973 - Sam Adams, NFL defensive tackle (Seattle Seahawks) turns 38

1968 - Fabio Baldato, Italian cyclist, turns 43

1962 - Hannah Storm, sports journalist (CNN, NBC) turns 49

…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS…)

Tim Allen actor, comedian turns 58

1918 - Ben Johnson, actor (Chisum, Battle Force, Dillinger)

1926 - Paul Lynde, comedian (Uncle Arthur-Bewitched/ Hollywood Squares)

Ashley Olsen actor, business mogulturns 25

Mary-Kate Olsen,  actor, business mogul turns 25

1892 - Basil Rathbone, in Johannesburg S Africa, actor (Sherlock Holmes)

Richard Thomas actor, director, turns 60

1910 - Mary Wickes, American actress (Sister Act)

… ENTREPRENEUR & EDUCATORS

1795 - Thomas Arnold, English educator/historian (History of Rome)

…POLITICIANS

▬

…SCIENTISTS / THEOLOGISTS

1831 - James Clerk Maxwell, Scottish physicist (electromagnetic theory)

Ø  Today’s Obits:

1989 - Fran Allison, actress (Kukla, Fran & Ollie), dies at 81

1977 - Tom C Clark, former Supreme Court Justice (1949-67), dies in NY at 77

1986 - Benny Goodman, clarinetist/bandleader (King of Swing), dies at 77

1784 - Henry Middleton, American president of the Continental Congress dies at 67

1987 - Geraldine Page, actress (Blue & Gray), dies of kidney failure/heart attack at 62

2008 - Tim Russert, television host, Meet the Press moderator dies of heart attack at 58

1993 - Donald "Deke" K Slayton, US major/astronaut (Apollo 18), dies of brain cancer at 69

Ø  ANSWERS:

Trivia Quiz

1.      Spice Girl Mel C joined which artist on the hit When You're Gone?

Bryan Adams

2.      In which decade was singer Bruce Springsteen born?

1940s

3.      Robert Velline made the charts under which name?

Bobby Vee

4.      Which Teddy sang lead vocals with Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes?

Pendergrass

5.      Stevie Wonder was given the keys to which city in recognition of his talents in 1984?

Detroit

6.      Which costume was worn by David Bowie on his Ashes to Ashes video?

Pierrot

7.      Let's Wait Awhile came from which Janet Jackson album?

Control

8.      George Michael was brought up in which city?

London

9.      How old was Elvis Presley when he died?

42

10.   Which lady's only No 1 was Total Eclipse Of The Heart?

Bonnie Tyler

11.   Who was Dancing On The Ceiling in 1986?

               Lionel Richie

12.   Who took his Part-Time Lover to No 1 in the 80s?

Stevie Wonder

Close Up Picture

Ø  …AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW