6-19-11

Ø  Free Rambling Thoughts…

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers. My own dad did some pretty amazing things during his 80 years. He’s been gone since 1994, but his impact on my brother and I lives on.

This will be short today. Our discussion group meets tonight and I have spent the day outside, so don’t have much time. We are discussion Multilateralism. An interesting discussion on various topics like Nuclear Nonproliferation, the world economy, etc. It is so easy for the ‘haves’ to tell the ‘have nots’ what they should do. Hopefully our discussion will spend time of how to listen to the ‘have nots’ before doing what the ‘haves’ think should be done. We all know that force never works. We are slowly learning that nothing works until the receivers want it.

We did have another Red Flag Day. Hopefully there are no fires. Amazing that the local fire fighters are still finding idiots who start campfires. They just don’t get it. Thankfully those campfires, on a Red Flag day were quickly extinguished by our alert fire fighters.

Ø  Daybook Information…

…Happening This Week:

14-20

·        Universal Father's Week

·        US Open Golf Championship

19-25

·        Meet A Mate Week

·        Carpenter Ant Awareness Week

Ø  TODAY IS

·        Emancipation Day or Juneteenth: end of slavery in TX in 1865

·        Family Awareness Day

·        Father's Day

·        Garfield the Cat Day

·        Husband Caregiver Day

·        "War is Hell" Day

·        World Sickle Cell Day

·        World Sauntering Day

Ø  …AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW

6-18-11

Ø  TODAY’s “Geez”:

·       1892 - Macademia nuts 1st planted in Hawaii

·       1928 - Amelia Earhart becomes 1st female to fly across Atlantic Ocean

·  1981 - The AIDS epidemic is formally recognized by medical professionals in San Francisco

·        1986 - 52 die in plane/helicopter collision over Grand Canyon

Ø  Free Rambling Thoughts…

Another Red Flag day. Lots of wind. No moisture. Clear most of the day, then late in the afternoon some clouds came in. I was able to run some errands around town and enjoy the day.

Good news for the citizens of Tucson, their representative, Gabby Giffords, is returning to her home. She still has a long road to be back into politics, but I’m sure Tucson will welcome her back. She will not be making any public appearances but will be in her home for Father’s Day. Very cool.

The news media seems confused. The Marine who was arrested in DC as a possible terrorist is a naturalized citizen. To become naturalized, one must give up prior citizenships and declare your allegiance to the US. There is nothing that says you can’t go crazy after becoming naturalized. The press keeps saying he is a former Ethiopian. He is now and appears to always been Muslim. He has not been charged and the CIA says he doesn’t seem to have any connections to terrorist groups. He has a string of larceny cases pending in the DC area. Yet he is in the Marines. Too bad the press won’t just let him be a crazy.

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

·        Which photographer have Catherine Deneuve and Marie Hevlin married?

·        Who founded the Coca Cola company?

·        Who or what was Deep Blue, Gary Kasparov's famous chess opponent?

·        Who was piloting the U-2 aircraft shot down over the USSR in 1960?

·        Who retired as world Heavyweight champion in March 1949 aged 34?

·        Which bandleader has the first names Edward Kennedy?

·        Who went to the electric chair for the murder of Charles Lindbergh junior?

·        Who was the sole survivor of the car crash in which Princess Dianna died?

·        Where was Bessie Smith born?

·        Who wrote the novel On The Road?

·        Which President offered military aid to Korea in 1950?

·        Who was the Bronx Bull who Sugar Ray Robinson defeated in 1951?

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

Ø  Hmmmmm…

·        Term with the largest percentage gain in number of searches between 2009 and 2010: ‘shellacking’

Ø  Somewhat Useless Information…

·        The top of the tower of the Empire State Building was originally intended (though never used) as a mooring place for dirigibles.

·        The name of the first airplane flown at Kitty Hawk by the Wright Brothers was Bird of Prey. The maiden flight of the Bird of Prey was less than a flight - the plane stayed in the air only long enough to sail 59 feet.

·        Charles Lindbergh was not the first man to fly the Atlantic. He was the sixty-seventh. The first sixty-six made the crossing in dirigibles and twin-engine mail planes. Lindbergh was the first to make the flight alone.

·        Castor oil is used as a lubricant in jet planes.

·        An airplane uses more fuel flying at 25,000 feet than at 30,000 feet. The higher it flies, the thinner the atmosphere and the less atmospheric resistance it must buck.

·        Houdini was the first man to fly an airplane solo in Australia.

Ø  Yeah, It Really Happened…

A New Jersey man received an unpleasant surprise after trying to save a snake.

On Thursday, around 6:30 p.m., the 24-year-old man was driving on Route 679 near West Stage Road in Tuckerton, when he spotted a rattlesnake crossing the road. Officials say that the man got out of his car to prevent the snake from being hit by oncoming vehicles.

The man then tried to pin the rattlesnake down with a stick — and the snake bit his hand.

The man quickly drove himself to Bass River State Park, where emergency personnel called paramedics. He was then airlifted to Atlanticare Medical Center Mainland for treatment.

Officials don’t believe that the man’s injuries are life-threatening, though a snakebite can cause severe illness. Officials also say that the area is known for having rattlesnakes.

Ø  Guffaw…or at least smile…

The manager of a large office noticed a new man one day and told him to come into his office. "What is your name?" was the first thing the manager asked the new guy.

 "John," the new guy replied.

The manager scowled, "Look, I don't know what kind of a namby-pamby place you worked at before, but I don't call anyone by his first name. It breeds familiarity and that leads to a breakdown in authority. I refer to my employees by their last name only - Smith, Jones, Baker - that's all. I am to be referred to only as Mr. Robertson. Now that we got that straight, what is your last name?"

 The new guy sighed and said, "Darling. My name is John Darling."

 "Okay, John, the next thing I want to tell you is..."

Ø  Searchin’ “You Tube” I found…

Joseph William Turner, painter

Ø  Daybook Information…

…Happening This Week:

12-18

·        National Flag Week

·        Men's Health Week

14-20

·        Universal Father's Week

·        US Open Golf Championship

Ø  TODAY IS

International Panic Day

International Sushi Day

World Juggling Day

Egypt: Evacuation Day ((Eid el-Galaa)) Celebrates the evacuation of foreign troops in 1954

Ø  Today’s Events:

…  IN ARTS

1976 - A Joseph William Turner watercolor auctioned for £340,000

1961 - CBS radio cancels Gunsmoke

1967 - Monterey International Pop Festival rocks Southern California

…  IN ATHLETICS

1916 - Yanks score in every inning but 8th to beat Indians 19-3 in baseball

1972 - West Germany wins soccer world championship

1973 - NCAA makes urine testing mandatory for participants

1988 - Jeff Hamilton, hits 8,000th Dodger home run

2000 - 100th US Golf Open: at Pebble Beach Golf Links

…  IN BUSINESS

1767 - Samuel Wallis, an English sea captain, sights Tahiti and is considered the first European to reach the island

1898 - 1st amusement pier opens in Atlantic City, NJ

… IN EDUCATION

1909 - Nannie Burroughs forms national training School for Women

…  FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

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. Leading the Cherokees are Cheif Oukah-ulah and Attakullaculla (Little Carpenter)

1763 - As part of Pontiac's Rebellion, Senacas will attack Fort Le Boeuf, at present day Waterford, in northwestern Pennsylvania. Half of the garrison of a little more than a dozen men will be killed when the Indians attack, and burn, the fort. The rest of the soldiers will escape

…  IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

1264 - The Parliament of Ireland meets at Castledermot in County Kildare, the first definitively known meeting of this Irish legislature

1900 - Empress Douairiere orders I-Ho-Chuan (Boxers) to kill all foreigners

1940 - Winston Churchill urges perseverance so that future generations would remember that "this was their finest hour"

1948 - UN Commission on Human Rights adopts Intl Declaration of Human Rights

1953 - Egypt proclaimed a republic, General Neguib becomes president

1979 - US Pres Carter & Soviet Pres Leonid Brezhnev sign SALT II treaty

… IN RELIGION

▬

…  IN SCIENCE

1178 - Proposed time of origin of lunar crater Giordano Bruno

1983 - 7th Shuttle Mission-Challenger 2 launched-Sally Ride 1st US woman

…  IN US POLITICS

1682 - William Penn founds Philadelphia, US

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

1968 - Supreme Court bans racial discrimination in sale & rental of housing

1996 - Ted Kaczynski, suspected of being the Unabomber, is indicted on ten criminal counts.

  

… ARTISTS:  AUTHORS:  COMPOSERS…

1901 - Jimmy Dale, orch leader (Sonny & Cher)

1906 - Kay Kyser, orch leader 

…ATHLETES

Lou Brock, one-time baseball stolen base leader (St Louis Cards) turns 72

1912 - Glen Morris, Olympic champion/actor (Tarzan)

Rayna Stewart, safety/cornerback (Tennessee Oilers)turns 38

…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS…)

1917 - Richard Boone, actor (Paladin-Have Gun Will Travel)

Eddie Cibrian, actor will be 38

Carol Kane, actress (Dog Day Afternoon, Simka-Taxi) turns 59

1901 - Jeanette MacDonald, actress/singer (When I'm Calling You)

1910 - E G Marshall, actor (Playhouse 90, Chicago Hope)

Paul McCartney, rocker (Beatles), writes silly love songs turns 69

… ENTREPRENEUR & EDUCATORS

1915 - Red Adair, oilman (fought oil fires in Kuwait)

Roger Ebert, film critic (Siskel & Ebert at the Movies) turns 69

…POLITICIANS

1964 - Uday Hussein, Iraqi leader 

…SCIENTISTS / THEOLOGISTS

1799 - William Lassell, discoverer (satellites of Uranus & Neptune)

1886 - George Mallory, mountain climber ("because it is there")

Today’s Obits:

1928 - Roald E G Amundsen, Norwegian pole explorer, declared dead at 55, missing plane

1959 - Ethel Barrymore, [Blythe], actress (None but the lonely), dies at 79

1788 - Adam Gib, Scottish religious leader dies at 74

2000 - Nancy Marchand, American actress (Sopranos) dies of lung cancer at 71

Ø  ANSWERS:

Trivia Quiz

1.      Which photographer have Catherine Deneuve and Marie Hevlin married?

David Bailey

2.      Who founded the Coca Cola company?

Asa Chandler

3.      Who or what was Deep Blue, Gary Kasparov's famous chess opponent?

Computer

4.      Who was piloting the U-2 aircraft shot down over the USSR in 1960?

Francis Gary Powers

5.      Who retired as world Heavyweight champion in March 1949 aged 34?

Joe Louis

6.      Which bandleader has the first names Edward Kennedy?

Duke Ellington

7.      Who went to the electric chair for the murder of Charles Lindbergh junior?

Bruno Hauptmann

8.      Who was the sole survivor of the car crash in which Princess Dianna died?

Trevor Rees-Jones

9.      Where was Bessie Smith born?

Chattanooga, Tennessee

10.   Who wrote the novel On The Road?

Jack Kerouac

11.   Which President offered military aid to Korea in 1950?

Truman

12.   Who was the Bronx Bull who Sugar Ray Robinson defeated in 1951?

Jake La Motta

Close Up Picture

Fountain

Ø  …AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW

6-17-11

Ø  TODAY’s “Geez”:

·        1894 - 1st US poliomyelitis epidemic breaks out, Rutland, Vermont

·        1967 - 1st Chinese hydrogen bomb explodes

·        1994 - OJ Simpson doesn't turn himself in on murder charges, LA cops chase his Ford Bronco for 1½ hours, eventually gives up (seen live on TV)

Ø  Free Rambling Thoughts…

A very interesting day. When I got on line, FB was abuzz with Flagstaff news. Six people had chained themselves to equipment that was putting a pipeline on the Peaks. Some of the protesters are Native—it is a scared mountain—and others were environmentalists. This has hit all the Indian press and to some degree the main stream local press. This is the first time in a long time that there has been a protest of this magnitude about the peaks. The mayor of Flagstaff asked for comments and it seems that many are upset that the City is selling treated waste water to make snow. Many non-natives don’t get the ‘sacred’ part of the peaks. Thirteen tribes traditionally believe that various deities live on the peaks. The issue is placing waste water—even treated—on the peaks for the purpose of making money. The tribes, for the most part, are against any snow making. The environmentalists say the water is not safe and will place prescription drugs and human waste on the mountain. Again I say, Flagstaff will never become a ski town like Aspen or Vail. Even with machine made snow, there are not enough runs or enough mountain. The six protesters who were arrested were given a chance to unchain themselves and not face charges. They all refused saying they were ready for prosecution. As I was driving home from lunch I drove through downtown Flag. The non arrested protesters and the huge banner had made their way to the tourist building. This is not going to go quietly into the night.

The trial of the guy who had a non-Native sweat lodge where people died is about to go to the jury. The jury seems to have decide if the guy brainwashed the people to stay inside, even when their bodies told them to leave or if the people had the free will to leave and just didn’t. I don’t think the trial’s verdict will be the end of anything either. Appeals will draw this out for even more years.

Black Bears!!!! This is the latest from those who were evacuated from that huge fire. They were all told today not to use waste containers on the street or in dumpsters but to take it directly to the landfill. It seems that the destroyed forest has many surviving and very hungry black bears who are expected to be searching for rotting food within the city limits. Since the people were gone for almost two weeks and their homes were without electricity, there is a lot of rotten food. The residents are also dealing with lots of deer wandering the towns. The joy of living in a forest devastated by fire. So sad.

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

4^th Grade Questions

1. What are the three most important reasons that the United States fought in the First World War on the side of France and Great Britain?

2. Which area became part of the United States last?

A) Hawaii B) Texas C) Oregon D) Alaska

3. The document that contains the basic rules used to run the United States government is:

A) the Declaration of Independence B) the Magna Carta C) the Mayflower Compact D) the Constitution

4. Sojourner Truth said these words in 1852: "I hear talk about the Constitution and rights of man. I come up and I takes hold of this Constitution. It looks might big. And I feels for my rights, but they not there." What did Sojourner Truth want to communicate with her words?

A) Poor people did not know what was written in the Constitution B) African-Americans were not allowed to read the Constitution C) The Constitution did not talk about the rights of African-Americans D) The Constitution needed to talk about the rights of Native Americans

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

Ø  Hmmmmm…

·        Rank, in 2010, of the term ‘austerty’ among the most commonly requested definitions in Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary: 5

·        Of ‘pragmatic’: 4

Ø  Somewhat Useless Information…

·        Prior to the 1950's the color of the graduation gown was gray. This was practiced only in the U.S. Colors in European countries were used as far back as the 1800s to signify the area of study. Sometime during the 1950's students began to ask for cap and gowns that represented their school colors.

·        During the 12th and 13th centuries the academic dress for graduation was born. At that time the standard dress for faculty or students was clerical dress. It wasn't until 1321 that the University of Coimbra decided that all Doctors, Bachelors, and Licentiates would be required to wear gowns.

·        The graduation ceremony is a cultural tradition that is considered a rite of passage that marks the transition from one stage in a student's life to another. The Baccalaureate Ceremony is considered the beginning of "Rite of passage." Some schools include the Baccalaureate Ceremony with the actual Graduation Ceremony, while others celebrate the two in separate events altogether.

Ø  Yeah, It Really Happened…

SCHLUSSER, Pa. - Police in Pennsylvania said a couple, ages 83 and 89, are accused of threatening to kill a neighbor after discovering cat droppings on their property. Investigators said Harold Rought, 83, and his wife, Ruth, 89, of North Middleton Township, called police after discovering the cat feces on their property, The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa., reported Monday. The couple told police they had been feeding stray cats in the neighborhood and they believed their neighbor had placed the droppings on their property in retaliation. The Roughts told police they were planning to shoot the neighbor. The couple were both arrested and charged with terroristic threats and harassment.

Ø  Guffaw…or at least smile…

A Sunday school teacher asked the children in her class, "If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would I get into Heaven?"

"No!" the children all answered.

"If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would I get into Heaven?"

 Again the answer was "No!"

 "Well", she continued, "then how can I get into Heaven?"

 A five-year-old boy shouted out, "You gotta be dead!"

Ø  Searchin’ “You Tube” I found…

OJ on the Run: The Bronco Chase

Peter Lupus 2007 world record

Mission Impossible TV Series Opening

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

Eat Your Vegetables Day

Dump The Pump Day: Save money and ride public transit

National Flip Flop Day

Stewarts Root Beer Day

World Day To Combat Desertification and Drought

Watergate Day

Work@Home Father's Day

Iceland: Independence Day [Þjóðhátíðardagurinn], from Denmark since 1944  

Ø  Today’s Events:

…  IN ARTS

1919 - "Barney Google" cartoon strip, by Billy De Beck, premieres

1968 - Ohio Express'  "Yummy Yummy Yummy" goes gold

…  IN ATHLETICS

1953 - Most runs scored in 1 inning (17 by Red Sox)

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

1992 - Philadelphia 76ers trade Charles Barkley to Phoenix Suns

…  IN BUSINESS

1864 - 640m long pontoon bridge over James River Virginia finished

1947 - Pan Am Airways chartered as 1st worldwide passenger airline

… IN EDUCATION

▬

…  FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

1579: Sir Francis Drake lands north of San Francisco, probably, at what is called today, Drake's Bay, in California. He reports the Indians to be "people of a tractable, free and loving nature, without guile or treachery."

1654: Today in a meeting between the Swedes and the Delawares in Tinicum (New Sweden, Pennsylvania). Delaware Chief Naaman praises the Swedes for their righteous treatment of the native inhabitants.

1876 - Battle of Rosebud/Battle Where Girl Saved Her Brother

1877 -  Battle of White Bird Canyon - the Nez Perce defeat the US Cavalry at White Bird Canyon in the Idaho Territory

…  IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

1462 - Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II (The Night Attack) forcing him to retreat from Wallachia

1579 - Anti-English uprising in Ireland

1956 - Golda Meir begins her term as Israel's foreign minister

1963 - British House of Commons debates Profumo-Christine Keeler affair

1972 - Chile president Allende forms new government

1991 - South Africa abolishes last of its apartheid laws

… IN RELIGION

1631 - Mumtaz Mahal dies during childbirth. Her husband, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I, then spends more than 20 years building her tomb, the Taj Mahal

1839 - In the Kingdom of Hawaii, Kamehameha III issues the Edict of toleration which gives Roman Catholics the freedom to worship in the Hawaiian Islands. 

…  IN SCIENCE

1950 - 1st kidney transplant (Chicago)

…  IN US POLITICS

1824 - Bureau of Indian Affairs established

1957 - Tuskegee boycott begins (Blacks boycotted city stores)

1982 - Pres Reagan 1st UN Gen Assembly address ("evil empire" speech)

1991 - Pres Zachary Taylors body is exhumed to test how he died

… ARTISTS:  AUTHORS:  COMPOSERS…

George S. Clinton, American composer and musician turns 64

Steven Martini, writer, actor, composer will be 33

…ATHLETES

Bobby Bell, NFL linebacker (KC Chiefs) turns 70

Venus Williams, tennis player will be 31

…ENTERTAINERS (ACTORS/SINGERS…)

1915 - Stringbean, [David Akeman], Ky, banjoist/comedian (Hee Haw)

1928 - James Brown, soul singer 

1910 – Clyde ‘Red’ Foley, American musician

Greg Kinnear, late night comedian will be 48

Peter Lupus, actor (Mission Impossible) turns 74

Barry Manilow, American musician turns 68

Diane Murphy, actress (Tabitha Stevens-Bewitched) turns 47

Craig Parker, actor (Lord of the Rings) will be 38

Jason Patric, actor  will be 45

Joe Piscopo, comedian, actor will be 60

… ENTREPRENEUR & EDUCATORS

Harry Browne, American free-market libertarian writer, politician, and investment analyst turns 78

1870 - George Cormack, cereal inventor (Wheaties)

…POLITICIANS

▬

…SCIENTISTS / THEOLOGISTS

1703 - John B Wesley, England, religion co-founder (Methodists)

Ø  Today’s Obits:

1719 - Joseph Addison, English poet/writer/secretary of state, dies of poor health at 47

2008 - Cyd Charisse, American dancer and actress dies at 86

1979 - Lou Frizzel, actor (Dusty Rhoades-Bonanza), dies after lengthy illness at 58

1858 - Rani Lakshmibai, queen of Jhansi in North India, one of the leading figures of the Indian rebellion of 1857 died in battle but body never recovered at 22

1986 - Kate Smith, singer (God Bless America), dies at 78

Ø  ANSWERS:

Trivia Quiz

1. What are the three most important reasons that the United States fought in the First World War on the side of France and Great Britain?

The U.S. entered World War 1 because of these three main reasons: German attacks on American ships threatened safety and trade, France and Britain were democracies and the U.S. believed it should help them and the U.S. had a closer historical relationship with France and Britain than with Germany.

2. Which area became part of the United States last?

A) Hawaii

3. The document that contains the basic rules used to run the United States government is:

D) the Constitution

4. Sojourner Truth said these words in 1852: "I hear talk about the Constitution and rights of man. I come up and I takes hold of this Constitution. It looks might big. And I feels for my rights, but they not there." What did Sojourner Truth want to communicate with her words?

C) The Constitution did not talk about the rights of African-Americans

Close Up Picture

Drinking Fountain

Ø  …AND THAT’S ALL FOR NOW