Award Winning Monday

Tom Landry: As the coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Landry brought the team two Super Bowl victories, five NFC Championship victories and holds the records for the record for the most career wins. He also has the distinction of having one of the worst first seasons on record (winning no games) and winning five or fewer over the next four seasons.

The Screen Actor Guilds awards were last night. The highlight for me was watching an incredible speech by 94 year-old Ernest Borgnine. Classy speech, classy guy, and more with it than I am. Just the highlights:

Movies:

Best Picture- The King's Speech, Best Male Actor - Colin Firth TKS, Best Female Actor - Natalie Portman - Black Swan, Best Supporting Actor - Christian Bale - The Fighter, Best Supporting Actress - Melissa Leo - The Fighter.

Television. Best Drama - Boardwalk Empire, Best Comedy - Modern Family. DRAMA: Best Actor - Steve Buscemi, Best Actress - Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife. COMEDY: Best Actor - Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock, Best Actress - Betty White - Hot In Cleveland.

Enough about entertainment for now. I will report on the fashion hits and misses tomorrow. Let's start with a delightful article to start your week out:

http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2011/01/music_has_the_power_to_pull_me.html

I just love the idea of generations being together and sharing music and fun.

Even more good news is on the horizon:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110129/ap_on_hi_te/us_sober_cars

Just think of how many innocent lives this may save?

That is it for the day. Hope this day starts out your week in good fashion. Looking forward to your comments.

WHO AM I?

I was born in 1906 and died in 1975. I was an influential German-Jewish political theorist. I have often been described as a philosopher, although I refused that label on the grounds that philosophy is concerned with "man in the singular." I described myself as a political theorist. My first relationship was controversial because of his support of the Nazi Party. After our breakup I wrote my dissertation on the concept of love in the thought of Saint Augustine. The dissertation was published the same year but I was prevented from habilitating, a prerequisite for teaching in German universities, because I was Jewish. I worked for some time researching anti-Semitism before being interrogated by the Gestapo, and thereupon fled Germany for Paris. While in France I worked to support and aid Jewish refugees. I was imprisoned in Camp Gurs but was able to escape after a couple of weeks. However, with the German military occupation of northern France during World War II, and the deportation of Jews to Nazi concentration camps I was forced to flee France. I married a German poet. I escaped with my husband and my mother to the United States. After World War II I returned to Germany and worked for Youth Aliyah, an organization that had saved thousands of children from the Holocaust. In 1950 I became a naturalized citizen of the United States. At Princeton I became the first woman appointed to a full professorship, a decade prior to that university's first admission of female students. I contended that Jewry was not the operative factor in the Holocaust, but merely a convenient proxy. Totalitarianism in Germany, in the end, was about megalomania and consistency, not eradicating Jews. I coined the banality of evil to describe Eichmann. I raised the question of whether evil is radical or simply a function of thoughtlessness—the tendency of ordinary people to obey orders and conform to mass opinion without critically thinking about the results of their action or inaction. I was extremely critical of the way that Israel conducted Eichmann's trial. I was also critical of the way that many Jewish leaders (notably M. C. Rumkowski) acted during the Holocaust, which caused an enormous controversy and resulted in a great deal of animosity directed towards me within the Jewish community. I did endorse Eichmann's execution with these words "Just as you supported and carried out a policy of not wanting to share the earth with the Jewish people and the people of a number of other nations — as though you and your superiors had any right to determine who should and who should not inhabit the world — we find that no one, that is, no member of the human race, can be expected to want to share the earth with you. This is the reason, and the only reason, you must hang." Have you ever thought about THE ORIGINS OF TOTALITARIANISM? That will help you answer the question, Who Am I?

Wound Care Update.

J. K. Rowling: Rowling may be rolling in a lot of Harry Potter dough today, but before she published the series of novels she was nearly penniless, severely depressed, divorced, trying to raise a child on her own while attending school and writing a novel. Rowling went from depending on welfare to survive to being one of the richest women in the world in a span of only five years through her hard work and determination.

My update. Last week. Three days and two nights at Mom's. Five games of Scrabble, three loads of laundry, Mom's books for the year, grocery shopping for two households, a lunch and dinner out with mom, making two lunches and two dinners, the doctor to look at my leg, my annual eye appointment, a dinner out with the family and the movie THE FIGHTER. Good news. My eyesight hasn't changed in three years now. Bad news. My leg hasn't healed yet.

Next week. See the doctor on Wednesday for possible wound care on my leg. Prayers and good thoughts are appreciated. Two nights, three days at Mom's. The movie The Black Swan. Tonight I am going to watch the Screen Actors Guild awards show. I will be rooting for The King's Speech and Colin Firth.

Entertainment update. Rumor has it that Lorenzo Lamas and Donna D'Errico are trying to get on Dancing With The Stars and that Lindsay Lohan and Tod Palin may be competing as well. It has been announced that Derek Hough will sit on this season to work on a movie. The cast of Dancing With The Stars will be announced the first of February. The Amazing Race starts Sunday February 20th and is kind of an all star version with runner ups and favorites from previous seasons competing. You can see the cast here:

http://www.amazingracefanwiki.com/photos/album/187593/TAR+18%3A+Cast+Photos

The blog is now yours. Tell me everything. Ups, downs, joys, events that you experienced last week and or going to experience next week. Looking forward to you sharing you lives with me.

Lists & Laughs

When Pablo Casals reached 95, a young reporter asked him "Mr. Casals, you are 95 and the greatest cellist that ever lived. Why do you still practice six hours a day?" Mr. Casals answered, "Because I think I'm making progress."

The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was Karen Horney. As DR pointed out this very interesting woman could have been the founder of self-help psychology. Because the second article is so long we are going to only do two articles today. As I think the second article may have you laughing so hard that you might not get to any other article I'm going to do the article on the uses of corn starch first:

http://www.diylife.com/2011/01/21/cornstarch-unusual-uses/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-sb-n%7Cdl5%7Csec1_lnk3%7C198005

I'm heading out to buy some corn starch so I can wash windows today. What are you using corn starch for today?

And you thought yesterday was weird. OK, I really think this is more funny than weird:

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/29/the-week-in-weird-sex-toy-assault-edition/

I learned a lot from reading the above, including what to do with those dead bodies in my garage if anyone ever does find them. Anything in the article surprise you? Make you laugh?

Hope this will be a great day for you. As always I look forward to your comments.

Weird Friday.

Enrico Caruso's music teacher said he had no voice at all and could not sing. His parents wanted him to become an engineer.

The really weird plan:

http://www.newser.com/story/110781/convicts-suicide-plan-be-bear-food.html

I can think of a lot better ways to commit suicide. I'd never do it because, frankly, I think it is the coward's way out.

The weird journey.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110127/ap_on_sc/us_sci_out_of_africa

I think it is important that we discovered people left Africa a lot earlier than we previously thought. I'm just not sure why it is important.

The just plain weird. Did you know that January is named after the two-headed Roman god, Janus? Makes the following article even more weird. It is kind of sad in places and eerie in others.

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/28/two-headed-calves-camel-sharks-make-january-a-doubly-weird-mon/

Brings the phrase "two-faced" to a new level.

I'm off to see THE FIGHTER. Will look forward to you comments and insights when I return.

WHO AM I?

I was born in 1885 and died in 1952. I was a German psychoanalyst and psychiatrist of Norwegian and Dutch descent. My theories questioned some traditional Freudian views, particularly his theory of sexuality, as well as the instinct orientation of psychoanalysis and its genetic psychology. As such I am often classified as Neo-Freudian. My father was a cruel disciplinary figure, holding his son Berndt in higher regard than myself. From roughly the age of nine I changed my perspective on life, becoming ambitious and somewhat rebellious. I felt that I could not become pretty and instead decided to vest my energies into my intellectual qualities—despite the fact that I was seen by most as pretty. Mom left dad when I was twenty-one and took us children with her. I entered medical school against my parent's wishes. It was during my time as a medical student that I met my husband and gave birth to a daughter, who the first of three daughters. I became a correspondent of Sigmund Freud who regarded me as an extensively gifted analyst and teacher of psychoanalysis. My first career posting in the United States was as the Associate Director of the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. When I lived in Brooklyn I developed and advanced my composite theories regarding neurosis and personality, based on experiences gained from working in psychotherapy. If you are not sure who I am maybe you should think about THE NEUROTIC PERSONALITY OF OUR TIME. Who Am I?

Doing Nothing But Dreaming.

Twenty-two publishers rejected James Joyce's The Dubliners.

The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was the fascinating Mary Seacole

Can you do nothing for two minutes? Just two minutes? Sound easy? It isn't.

http://www.switched.com/2011/01/26/do-nothing-for-2-minutes-from-alex-tew/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl5%7Csec1_lnk1%7C197565

Do you turn your dreams into solutions for your problems?

http://www.mydaily.com/2011/01/25/dream-interpretation-kelly-sullivan-walden/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl3%7Csec3_lnk2%7C1975

Now on to mind boggling stupidity. No wonder our jails don't have room for real criminals.

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/26/ohio-mom-kelley-williams-bolar-jailed-for-lying-about-kids-scho/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk1%7C197543

Looking forward to your comments.

Food, Robots, & Oscars

The first time Jerry Seinfeld walked on-stage at a comedy club as a professional comic, he looked out at the audience, froze, and forgot the English language. He stumbled through "a minute-and a half" of material and was jeered offstage. He returned the following night and closed his set to wild applause.

First up are foods you might think are healthy but nope:

http://www.aolhealth.com/2011/01/25/healthy-snacks-that-are-actually-bad-for-you/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl3%7Csec1_lnk3%7C197371

Next up is a pretty cool use of a robot:

http://www.jsyk.com/2011/01/25/robot-helps-sick-teen-attend-high-school/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl8%7Csec3_lnk1%7C197297

Yesterday were the Oscar nominations and the most nominated films were The King's Speech, True Grit, and The Social Network. Three films I've already went to. Usually I try to all movies nominated for the Best Picture but this year I will only see nine of the ten films. I'm just not going to 127. Watching a limb be cut off isn't my style.

I really liked all of the most nominated films. The King's Speech is my favorite, sort of like the Rain Man of stutterers. True Grit was the best western for a while. A The Social Network was well acted but annoying.

You can read about the nominations here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110126/ap_en_ot/us_oscar_nominations

WHO AM I?

I was born in Jamaica in 1805 and died in 1881. I was a nurse who became well known in the Victorian period for my nursing efforts during the Crimean War. I was of mixed race birth being born to a British army officer and a free Jamaican Creole. With the help of a 'kind patroness' (local elderly, rich lady) I achieved a good education and trained as a nurse. In 1821 I visited London for a year and was exposed to some of the racial prejudices of the time. In the Caribbean, slavery was still legal until it was partly abolished in 1834 and fully abolished in 1838. I married in 1836 a marriage that lasted only eight years. My mother died the name year of my divorce plunging me into a period of grief. To make things more difficult the previous year my boarding house burnt down. Through my resilience and hard work as a nurse, I became widely known and respected amongst the European military visitors to Jamaica. I was active in dealing with an outbreak of cholera in 1850, at a time when there were few treatments for cholera. I heard about an appeal in the Times newspaper for nurses to aid wounded soldiers in the Crimean War. I felt a call to go to London and apply to be of service. Despite letters of recommendation from doctors in the Caribbean I was turned down by the War Office and the medical department headed by Florence Nightingale. Undeterred by the seeming racial and class prejudices of those in charge I was determined to travel to the Crimea using my own funds. Reaching the Crimea she visited the Nightingale's hospital in Scutari, but my offer of help was again refused. I then went to a British bridgehead at Balaclava. Here I managed to build a British hotel on the main British supply road on the way to the siege of Sevastopol. I began running a thriving hotel selling food, drink and clothes to British officers and meeting medical problems. I also traveled to visit injured troops on the front lines. I became known as "Mother" and my presence was greatly welcomed by injured troops. Reports suggested I was able to address many injuries and illness' with all manner of cures. On one occasion I dislocated her right shoulder when visiting troops under fire. A peace treaty was signed between the allies and Russia. I had gained a great reputation, but my activities had left me poor. Hearing about my financial plight, back in London a fund was set up to collect money. Many prominent people contributed to my fund including the Duke of Wellington. I later became a personal masseuse to the Princess of Wales. The rumor is that Florence Nightingale did appreciate my work and was an anonymous contributor to the my Fund. I was called ANOTHER FLOERNECE NIGHTINGALE. Who Am I?

Names, Brains, & Recalls.

John Constable's luminous painting Watermeadows at Salisbury was dismissed in 1830 by a judge at the Royal Academy as "a nasty green thing." Name of the judge, anyone? Anyone?

The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was Dame Barbara Cartland. Off to my annual eye appointment then over to Mom's to take her to lunch and spend the next three days and two nights there. Before leaving I have two questions to ask you and then am going share an article about recalls.

What is in a name?

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2009/02/02/does-your-name-spell-success/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl9%7Csec3_lnk1%7C197178

I'm stuck with my name. I have to many letterheads left to change my name now.

Are you a left or right brain thinker? You can find out by reading the following article?

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2009/01/26/are-you-a-right-or-left-brain-thinker/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl9%7Csec3_lnk1%7C197141

I got six right brain and four left brain answers which probably means I'm a mess. Can you be middle brained?

Part of my blog is to provide helpful information. Here are the latest recalls that you haven't heard of:

http://www.walletpop.com/2011/01/21/consumer-allys-recall-roundup-generators-snowmobiles-salsa-a/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl8%7Csec3_lnk1%7C196661

Anything on the recall list surprise you?

Looking forward to your comments and to see the right and left brainers amongst us.

Soft News

Sigmund Freud was booed from the podium when he first presented his ideas to the scientific community of Europe. He returned to his office and kept on writing

Oscar nominations are going to be announced tomorrow morning. President Obama's State of The Union address is tomorrow night. Today Oprah is announcing she has a half sister. Jack Lalanne, the fitness guru, passed away at age ninety-six. Then there is the Walmart shootings in Washington and the shooting of two officers in Florida. Not to mention the bombing in Russia. Hard news is going on everywhere. Everywhere but here. I think we all need a break from the troubling news, politics, and secrets of the day. I hope to provide that from hard news today. Sure that hard news will always be the Elephant in the room. However, the elephants may not have tusks:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110120/od_nm/us_mammoth_confiscation

I'm sure we all think some of what we read in newspapers and what we hear from our televisions is rubbish. Now we now what to do with any leftover rubbish:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110121/od_nm/us_rubbish_hotel_odd

The obvious is sometimes fun. It never ceases to amaze me what companies do and what they think they can get away with. I saw this court decision coming from miles away:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110124/ap_on_re_us/us_supreme_court_retaliation

Comment at will. The picture that follows the Who Am I of the day is from Mom's surprise party. It was taken by cousin Belva and is of Sister, Mom. and myself. Thanks Belva!

WHO AM I?

I was born in 1901 and died in 2000. During my life I was a prolific and popular writer of Romantic novels. Using a tried and tested formula, I tapped into a populist demand for romantic novels, usually with women ending up happily married to some chivalrous man. Outside of writing I was a vivacious and outgoing personality, rarely short of an opinion on any subject. My father died during the First World War, leaving the family in difficult circumstances. However, with my natural charm, beauty and energy, I became a feature on the 1920s social circle. I attracted forty-nine proposals of marriage before finally accepting. My first marriage ended in divorce after six years. My second marriage was successful and we had two children. I was awarded a position at the Daily Mail where I gained a column to write on issues of the day. In 1923 I wrote my first novel. I wrote an estimated 723 books during my life. During the Royal Wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981, it was feared I would upstage the young couple through my relationship with Lady Diana. However, I avoided attending the wedding to avoid taking the spotlight. I was also a defender of old fashioned beliefs; I believed that women should remain chaste until marriage. I believed men should have experience. I suffered great personal loss in both first world Wars. After helping my brother become an MP, he became the first MP to die during the conflict at the battle of Dunkirk. Later my elder brother died. I was one of the top 10 best selling authors of all time. I also hold Guiness World Record for the most novels written in one year. If you are not sure who I am by now maybe you should find out what THE TEMPTATION OF TORILLA is. Who Am I?

Brief Update

When Bell telephone was struggling to get started, its owners offered all their rights to Western Union for $100,000. The offer was disdainfully rejected with the pronouncement, "What use could this company make of an electrical toy."

The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was Anne Frank.

Going to be a short update today because this is your day and I really want to know what is up with you.

Last Week. Two days three nights at Mom's. One day at a seminar, the second scheduled day at the seminar was canceled. Finished Phillip Margolin's THE ASSOCIATE. Dinner out with Mom, Sister, and her husband on Thursday night. Then the big party Saturday night.

Coming up this week. Relaxing today. Tomorrow work. Tuesday my annual eye appointment. Tuesday and Wednesday nights and Thursday day at Mom's. Friday and Saturday getting ready for tax season mode.

Not much on the entertainment front. American Idol started but I don't usually watch the show. I may this year but I will wait until they get down to where there are a final twelve.

That's it for me. You know the drill, fess up and tell me about your lives.

SURPRISE!! A Special Update.

This is a special edition update, there will be a regular update later this afternoon.

THE 95TH BIRTHDAY SURPRISE PARTY.

Directed by daughter Jackie, son-in-law Robert, and son Bill. Bill forgot to take pictures of the directors.

Not able to attend but calling in granddaughters Lisa and Kelly, grandson Robert, and son Grover. Also calling was her brother Frank and his wife Velma and their daughter my cousin/sister Dixie and long time friend Maxine.

Sending a very funny card Mom's second cousin, Christine. Sending letters were first cousin Ruth and long time friend Alice.

Wishing a happy birthday by either my blog or on Facebook, Bev A, Pat, Dona, DanaRae, Mary Z, and Ernie.

THE STAR

She didn't have a clue and cried when she arrived to twenty awaiting friends and relatives. Sis and I succeeded in pulling one off on their Mom. Mom said she didn't want a party, afterward "I don't know why, it was just such a great night."




THE VENUE



THE CREW

The very accomdating manager at Claim Jumpers.



The servers did an amazing job.







THE CAST

This is my nephew Greg. He is all they way to the right. His wife is an oncology emergency nurse and couldn't be there last night. Also in the picture are his daughters Chelsea and Katie and their really nice boyfriends. The bunch drove up from Eugene to be part of the celebration.




This is my niece Kristi and her solid as a rock husband, Ryan and their two children, Natalie and Carson.




These are long tim friends of Mom, Ted and Betty. Ted used to sing in the choir with my dad. They have been friends for over thirty years.




This is Mom's beautiful first cousin, Belva and her delightful husband Don. They drove up from Albany to help Mom celebrate.




These are current neighbors of Mom, Larry and Gloria. They befriend Mom when she first moved to King City.




This is one of Mom's friend, Marion and her husband Rod. Mom has known Marion since 1974.



THE PROP



THE MAIN EVENT

The Weird, The Diet, and Women in Politics.

Orville and Wilbur Wright: These brothers battled depression and family illness before starting the bicycle shop that would lead them to experimenting with flight. After numerous attempts at creating flying machines, several years of hard work, and tons of failed prototypes, the brothers finally created a plane that could get airborne and stay there.

Been a busy week and I'm really excited about tonight's surprise party. Guest of honor still doesn't have a clue. I got the batteries for my camera charged so amongst the excitement if I remember I will take some pictures.

Because I'm in excitement mode I need to relax to keep the blood pressure down so we are going to do the weird, a diet choice that is easy to fix, and celebrate an article that takes the position that women are better than men at politics. Then I will give you a very easy Who Am I. Even I know the answer.

First up is the weird that went on last week.

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/22/the-week-in-weird-sex-doll-rescue-edition/

Looking for something easy to fix for dinner tonight? The following article has just the answer:

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/21/meet-the-woman-who-eats-couch-cushions/

Who do you think is better at politics, men or women?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-01-21/women-in-the-house-why-female-politicians-are-more-effective/

Comments are appreciated.

WHO AM I?

I am one that everyone on that planet has heard of. Movies have been made of me. Books have been written about me. Just think what I would have accomplished if I hadn't died of Typhoid fever at the much to young age of sixteen. I wrote the following; "It’s difficult in times like these; ideals, dreams and cherished hopes rise within us, only to be crushed by grim reality. It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.” All my fame came after my death thanks to my father. Like many of my fellow believers I had to turn-in my bicycle, couldn't ride trams or cars. I couldn't go to theatres, cinemas or any other forms of entertainment, Neither could I use swimming pools, tennis courts, hockey fields or any other athletic fields. Because of all the things I couldn't do and because of my small living space I longed to ride a bike, dance, whistle, look at the world, feel young and know freedom. My book has become an important symbol of how innocent people can suffer from intolerance and persecution. Who Am I?

Happy Birthday Mom.

I'm at the second day of a two day seminar that starts at eight A.M. It doesn't leave me enough time for a real post. It just so happens that today is my Mom's 95th birthday. I decided to join together two old posts and honor Mom today.

Happy Birthday Mom! May this be a day filled with laughter, love, swapping stories, and sharing life with friends.

You taught me how to laugh at myself.

The funny story about Mom first. From the time I was in the fourth grade until the time I graduated from high school we lived in Klamath Falls, Oregon. My parents owned a Coast To Coast Hardware Store. Mom worked with dad in the store. All of us three kids worked in the store, it was required if we wanted spending money. One Saturday afternoon the store was packed when a man came in, in a hurry and interrupted my mom while she was helping another customer and said to her "I need some nuts and bolts." Mom with her mind on many things and many customers without thinking asked the man in a voice loud enough to be heard throughout the store, "What size are your nuts?" The man turned beet red and raced out of the store trying to avoid the laughter that was ringing throughout the store. Yes, mom gets embarrassed when we tell that story. But she laughs.]

You taught me a good work ethic, you taught me that I matter, you taught me how to love by showing me a mother's love.

Mom worked hard in that store. Six days a week. Then, after work she would come home and fix us dinner. We always had dinner as a family. It was almost required. We never had much money in those days but Mom kept all three of us kids dressed nicely. Maybe we didn't wear designer clothes but we were always clean and presentable. Mom was a magic maker. She stretched what little money her and dad made to give us a comfortable life. We grew up in one of the nicest houses in Klamath. We always had nice birthdays and nice Christmases. We never really hurt for anything. She supported my sister when she became head cheeleader. After work she would drive the yell squad to the games as a chaperone. She supported my brother when he became an All conference football and basketball player. Her and Dad would close the store and take the teams their games. I was really overshadowed by my siblings. My claim to fame is winning an Opie look alike contest. But despite probably being the less talented of the three children Mom was always there for me. When I had my accident Mom was put in the position of having to make a choice between a dying son and a pregnant daughter who in all likelihood was going to lose her baby. My doctor wouldn't let her to travel to my sister because he didn't think I would make it through the night. Sis lost her baby. I was in the hospital for what seemed like an eternity. Mom was at my bed every step of the way. She slept at the hospital for days. When I was out of danger Mom went to Sis. To make what mom was dealing with even more difficult is that she had only been out of the hospital herself just ten weeks on the date of the accident due to cancer surgery. The time was rough but through that time she taught me a mother's love.

Now mom is teaching me how to age gracefully. I know it is hard for her. When you are 95 everyone around you is dying. You lose friends weekly. Sometimes daily. She is in a lot of pain. She has had four heart attacks and four strokes. She keeps on trucking. She gets up everyone morning and faces the day and most days with a smile. She reads four books a week. She beats me at Scrabble. She looks young. I always feel her love.

Thank you for standing behind me when I needed a gentle shove.

Thank you for standing beside me when I needed a friend.

Thank you for standing ahead of me when I needed direction.

Thank you for being you.

Thank you for making me the man I am today.

HAPPY 95TH !! Comment at will. Wish Mom happy birthday if you choose, tell me about your Mom if you desire. I will respond after five tonight. Tomorrow the blog returns to normal. Monday the Who Am I will return.

This is Mom not long before she turned 94.



This is a picture Mom painted when she was in her late eighties:

When Will We Ever Learn.

Zane Grey: Incredibly popular in the early 20th century, this adventure book writer began his career as a dentist, something he quickly began to hate. So, he began to write, only to see rejection after rejection for his works, being told eventually that he had no business being a writer and should given up. It took him years, but at 40, Zane finally got his first work published, leaving him with almost 90 books to his name and selling over 50 million copies worldwide.

The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was Germaine Greer .

I am at the first day of a two day seminar today so I didn't really have time to do a blog entry with links. Instead I am sharing something I wrote a while back but unfortunately I had to update it.

I know this is a controversial subject. Even my own brother disagrees with me. He hunts, I don't. I'm really don't want to prevent people from going hunting and am not promoting a ban on all guns just assault weapons that in my humble opinion should be left only in the hands of the military.


SHOOTINGS BY WILLIAM J. DAHN

When will we ever learn, my friend, when will we ever learn?

On July 1, 1993, Gian Luigi Ferri, armed with two Intratec TEC-DC9 semi-automatic assault pistols, a 45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and 40- to 50-round high-capacity ammunition magazines, opened fire at the San Francisco, CA, law firm of Pettit & Martin, killing eight and and wounding six before taking his own life.

When will we ever learn, my friend, when we they ever learn?

On December 7, 1993, Colin Ferguson, armed with a Sturm, Ruger P89 9mm semi-automatic pistol and four 15-round high-capacity ammunition magazines, opened fire on Long Island Railroad commuters, killing six and wounding 19.

When will we ever learn, my friend, when will we ever learn?

On May 21, 1998 Kip Kinkel carried: a hunting knife, a 9 mm Glock 19 pistol, a Ruger .22 semi-automatic rifle, and a Ruger .22 pistol and 1,127 rounds of ammunition to Thurston High School in Oregon. killing two and wounded twenty-four students as he fired a total of fifty rounds.

When will we ever learn, my friend, when will we ever learn?

On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, armed with an Intratec TEC-DC9 semi-automatic assault pistol, Hi-Point 9mm semi-automatic Carbine, two Savage shotguns, and high-capacity ammunition magazines, killed 13 and wounded 23 at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, before taking their own lives.

When will we ever learn, my friend, when will we ever learn?

On September 15, 1999, Larry Gene Ashbrook, armed with a Sturm, Ruger P85 9mm semi-automatic pistol and three 15-round high-capacity magazines, killed seven and wounded seven at the Wedgewood Baptist Church before taking his

When will we ever learn, my friend, when will we ever learn?

On November 2, 1999, Byran Uyesugi, armed with a Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol and three 15-round high-capacity magazines killed seven opened fire at the Xerox Office Building in Honolulu, HA,.

When will we ever learn, my friend, when will we ever learn?

On April 16, 2007, Seung-Hui Cho, armed with a Glock 19 semi-automatic pistol, Walther P22 semi-automatic pistol, and 15-round high-capacity ammunition magazines, killed 32 and wounded 17 on the campus of Virginia Tech before taking his own life.

When will we ever learn, my friend, when will we ever learn?

On November 5, 2009, Nidal Hasan, armed with an FN 5.7 semi-automatic pistol and 30- and 20-round high-capacity ammunition magazines, killed 13 and wounded more than 30 at the Fort Hood military base in Fort Hood, TX.

When will we ever learn, my friend, when will we ever learn?

On August 3, 2010, Omar Thornton, armed with a Sturm, Ruger SR9 semi-automatic pistol and high-capacity ammunition magazine killed eight and wounded two of his co-workers before take his own life.

When will we ever learn, my friend, when will we ever learn?

January 8, 2011 Jared L. Loughner using a Glock 19 kills six and wounds thirteen, including Representative Gabrielle Giffords.

http://www.bradynetwork.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=2960

All Over The Map.

Michael Caine's headmaster told him, "You will be a laborer all your life."

We are all over the map today. First up is a different kind of infidelity:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110113/od_nm/us_money_couples_odd

Does the article surprise you?

Next let's have a beer together:

http://www.newser.com/story/109737/for-good-health-have-a-beer.html

I've read about wine being helpful to the heart but to me beer tastes a little better so I might give it a go.

After drinking a few beers you may want to tackle your tax return. If you decide it is just to much for you right now here are some helpful tips:

http://www.walletpop.com/2011/01/14/seven-tips-for-choosing-a-tax-preparer/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk1%7C195807

Looking forward to your comments.

WHO AM I?

I was born in 1939 and am an Australian writer, academic, journalist and scholar of early modern English literature, and am widely regarded as one of the most significant feminist voices of the later 20th century. M father was a newspaper advertising rep' who served in the wartim and mom was a homemaker. At the age of thirty-three I would identify as an anarchist communist, close to Marxism. I believed: that there could be no liberation for women, no matter how highly educated, as long as we were required to cram our breasts into bras constructed like mini-Vesuviuses, two stitched white cantilevered cones which bore no resemblance to the female anatomy. Once I would join a student amateur acting company, the Cambridge Footlights, which launched me into the London arts and media scene. Believing in equality I once posed nude for Oz on the understanding that the male editors would do likewise: they did not. I received my Ph.D. on the topic of Elizabethan drama. I married an Australian journalist but the marriage lasted three weeks. I appeared on conservative William F. Buckley's Firing Line. In his memoir, Buckley recalled that I had "trounced him" during the debate. He wrote, "Nothing I said, and memory reproaches me for having performed miserably, made any impression or any dent in the argument. She carried the house overwhelmingly." On ABC I responded to a question on whether feminism was the only successful revolution of the 20th century saying: "The difficulty for me is that I believe in permanent revolution. I believe that once you change the power structure and you get an Oligarchy that is trying to keep itself in power, you have all the illiberal features of the previous regime. What has to keep on happening is a constant process of criticism, renewal, protest and so forth." I defined THE FEMALE EUNUCH. Who Am I?

Treasure The Old

Charlie Chaplin was initially rejected by Hollywood studio chiefs because his pantomime was considered "nonsense."

The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was Katherine Hepburn. This is going to be an easy week for all of you.

I've been thinking a lot about old things. Possessions, thoughts, and of course our elderly. Since this is Mom's birthday week it really has hit home. I think we should treasure both our elderly friends/relatives and the old treasures we have. I love this picture of a purse made by Sitting Bull for my great grandfather.



In honor of our treasures I am sharing articles about finds today:

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/15/archaeological-team-find-sword-hilt-on-the-queen-annes-revenge/

Wouldn't be fun to own the sword?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110113/ap_on_sc/us_sci_new_dinosaur

Amazing find, no?

Next up really isn't an old possession or elderly treasure but it is a long time in hiding story:

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/15/ian-jackson-macdonald-caught-after-30-years-on-the-run/

Both your comments and your thoughts are treasured by me so comment at will. I'd also be interested in some of the things that you own that you treasure.

Two Part Entry

English crime novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books.

Today is a two part entry, one part for Golden Globe fans and one part for those who don't give a rip about award shows.

GOLDEN GLOBE FANS:

The highlight of the night was Michael Douglas who has been fighting cancer, with the quip "Certainly there has to be an easier way to get a standing ovation." The lowlight of the night was the host Ricky Gervais who was awful and there were even reports that he was fired during the show.

I was disappointed that The Social Network won over The King's Speech as the best movie, I've seen both and The King was much better. I'm glad Colin Firth won the best actor award for The King's Speech. I was disappointed that Jim Parsons won the best actor award for TV comedy. I don't get either his role or the show, The Bing Bang Theory. Yea to both The Kids Are Alright and Annette Bening for their wins as Best Comedy and Best actress in a comedy. Melissa Leo, The Fighter, deserved best supporting actress but so did Amy Adams from the same movie. The Good Wife should have won best TV drama but didn't. You can see a list of the Golden Globe winners here:

http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/

Let's talk fashion. Here is a summary of what women chose right and one women chose wrong.

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/galleries/TMG8257728/Golden-Globes-2011-red-carpet-fashion-hits-and-misses.html

I disagree on several. Halle Berry was miss for them but a hit with me. Julianne Moore was a hit with them but a miss with me. Sandra Bullock was a hit with them but I hated her hair. Tilda Swinton was a hit with them a miss with me. Nicole Kidman and Eva Longoria were hits with me but off base with them. Heidi Klum was the worst of the night, in my humble opinion.

NON GOLDEN GLOBE FANS:

Stock up on the following items because according to the following article these items will cost more sometime during 2011.

http://www.walletpop.com/2011/01/07/seven-things-that-will-cost-more-in-2011-and-what-you-can-do-abo/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl3%7Csec3_lnk1%7C195247

Do you believe in magic? What about magic mirrors?

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/13/thermo-mirror-measures-body-temperature-gives-us-something-else/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl9%7Csec3_lnk3%7C195300

Let's close the day on a happy note.

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/15/world-war-ii-veteran-hilberto-rodriguez-gets-high-school-diploma/

Comment at will:

Who Am I?

I am one of the most well-known Who Am Is used on The Dahn Report. I was born in 1907 and died in 2003. My Mom was a suffragette and her strong views and independence influenced me. As a teenager I was free spirited getting involved in sports such as swimming, skating and gymnastics. I had a fearless streak and was suspended from school for smoking and breaking curfew. I later admitted to going swimming naked in the middle of the night. My motto was; "If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun." My brother committed suicide and that influenced the rest of my life. I married for the first time at age 21. My most famous quote was; "Life is to be lived. If you have to support yourself, you had bloody well better find some way that is going to be interesting. And you don't do that by sitting around wondering about yourself." I started acting on stage and transferred to movies winning my first Oscar at age twenty-six. Despite my successes in my early thirties my career started to decline and was once labeled as 'toxic for the box office' along with Fred and Marlene Dietrich. After the WWII mys career picked up and at age forty-four gained another Oscar nomination. I starred along side Humphrey, Sidney and Henry but made the most films with the actor that Bill's dad was often confused with. Fiercely independent I played an important role in providing a role model for women beyond the dutiful Hollywood blonde bombshell. When I spoke of my own image I said "Everyone thought I was bold and fearless and even arrogant, but inside I was always quaking." I embodied feminine beauty, masculine strength and reserve. My last Oscar was set on a beautiful pond that some even said was golden. Who Am I?

The King Speech's Update

A Paris art dealer refused Picasso shelter when he asked if he could bring in his paintings from out of the rain. One hopes that there is justice in this world and that the art dealer eventually went broke.

Last week. Oregon loss to Auburn on Monday plus I took both Mom's and my cars to get new windshield wiper blades. Tuesday lunch with Mom. Wednesday dinner with Mom. Thursday dinner with Mom and family. Friday keeping my leg up, it is still not doing well. Saturday the movie The King's Speech. Today work related stuff and getting most of the blog done for the coming week.

This coming week is one of the busiest I have had for a while. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday are at Mom's. Thursday and Friday are at a seminar. Saturday is Mom's surprise 95th birthday party. Mom's 95th is Friday the 21ST but we are doing a surprise party and are doing it the 22ND because she would figure it out if we did it on the real day. Sister and I are hosting the surprise party at Claim Jumpers in Tigard, Oregon on the 22nd at 4:30. Sis and her husband will tell Mom they are taking her to dinner at her favorite restaurant. Whenever we eat there I always meet them there. So I will go ahead of them, get there early, and welcome twenty of Mom's friends and relatives. There would have been a lot more but Sister and I are hosting it so we really had to budget. We had to stop at first cousins, close freinds that she has known for more than ten years, and first family relatives. When Mom gets there boy is she going to be surprised!

The blog will probably be slow next week. You can expect normal entries Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday. Thursday won't be a normal entry, it will be an article that I wrote about assault weapons. Friday will be a replay of an entry where I honor my Mom. I will take that entry with me to the surprise party.

The entertainment update. The new cast of The Celebrity Apprentice was announced. Competing this season are LaToya Jackson, Gary Busey, "Real Housewife" NeNe , Star Jones, Lisa Rinna, Marlee Matlin, Dionne Warwick, David Cassidy, John Rich, former "Survivor" champ Richard Hatch, Meat Loaf, Mark McGrath, Jose Canseco, rapper Lil Jon, model Niki Taylor and reigning Playboy Playmate of the Year Hope Dworaczyk. Well, I know some of them.

As part of the entertainment update I am going to highly recommend The King's Speech. Extremely well acted and a great true story. It is British historical drama starring Colin Firth as King George the VI and Geoffrey Rush as speech therapist Lionel Logue, who helped George VI overcome a stammer. Helena Bonham Carter also stars as Queen Elizabeth. While I really loved Timothy Spall's Winston Churchill, Carter's Elizabeth, and Calum Gittins Laurie Logue this movie belongs almost completely to Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. Their scenes together on the screen are among the greatest acted scenes in the history of movies. Their relationship is the center of the movie and should be. Don't miss it!

You know the drill, this is your day to tell me all about you and to post whatever you damn well please! Make me happy and tell me all about yourselves!

Drugs

Did you know that Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women, was encouraged to find work as a servant by her family?

The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was Coco Chanel.

I think you would probably need drugs to pronounce the new astrological sign Ophiuchus. Today's Oregonian said that Ophiuchus is pronounced Ooh-FEE-yew-kus. I'm still not going to tackle it.

First up is a disturbing article that was in the above mentioned Oregonian a couple of days ago:

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/01/oregon_sues_johnson_johnson_fo.html

It bothers me that Johnson & Johnson went to underhanded means instead of just issuing a recall.

Second, is another disturbing article:


http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/drug-shortages-a-deadly-problem-with-no-cure-in-sight/19783927/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl3%7Csec1_lnk3%7C195006

I guess I don't understand why there is shortages. Couldn't the drug companies foresee the shortages and produce more of the drugs?

I'm closing with some helpful advise on how to avoid germs. It may help you to avoid conditions that might require drugs they no longer have:

http://www.aolhealth.com/2011/01/11/germs-you-pick-up-everyday-germiest-places/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl4%7Csec1_lnk3%7C195202

Enjoy the day today, on the agenda for me is either The Fighter or The King's Speech. Your comments are always welcome.

What's Your Sign?

In 1944, Emmeline Snively, director of the Blue Book Modeling Agency, told modeling hopeful Norma Jean Baker, "You'd better learn secretarial work or else get married." I'm sure you know that Norma Jean was Marilyn Monroe. Now . . . who was Emmeline Snively?

What your sign? Not so fast, I thought I was either a Gemini or Cancer most of my life. Now I find out I'm a Taurus or a Gemini.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6217292/a_change_in_the_zodiac_ophiuchus_the.html?cat=9

In job interviews you almost always get the question, "What is your greatest weakness" and you are kind of stumped how to answer that question. The following article gives some tips on how to answer the question during job interviews. However, I'm curious as what you all see as your greatest weakness. My greatest weakness is also my greatest strength. It just depends on how you define that personality trait. My weakness is I'm bullheaded. My strength is that I am resilient and don't gave up. Come on now fess up, what is your greatest weakness and what i your greatest strength?

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/01/10/interview-question-your-greatest-weakness/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-sb-n%7Cdl4%7Csec1_lnk3%7C195250

It is Friday so lets end the relaxing day with a fun quiz. Five questions about the news of the last few days. I got three out of five.

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/13/test-your-news-iq-in-weekly-street-quiz-video/

What did you get?

Comments are always welcome.

Who Am I?

I was born in 1883 and died in 171 and was a pioneering French fashion designer whose modernist philosophy, menswear-inspired fashions, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her an important figure in 20th-century fashion. and was named one of Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century. I was the second daughter of a market stallholder and laundrywoman. I had five siblings: two sisters and three brothers. My mother died of tuberculosis and father left the family. Because of this I spent six years in a orphanage and learned to a seamstress. When I turned eighteen I left the orphanage to become a cabaret singer. I performed in clubs in Vichy and Moulins. When I failed to get steady work as a singer I a met rich, young French textile heir and became an acknowledged mistress. I soon began designing hats as a hobby. My second love financed my first shops and his own clothing style, notably his jersey blazers, inspired my look. After his death I became a licensed modiste (hat maker) and opened a boutique. I launched her career as fashion designer when I opened her my boutique. I created loose casual clothes made out of jersey, a material typically used for men's underwear. I dated some of the most influential men of my time, but never married. At the beginning of World War II I closed my shops. I believed that it was not a time for fashion. I lived in the Hôtel Ritz Paris on and off for more than 30 years, making the hotel my Paris home even during the German occupation. My close relationship with Nazi's during the war, even though I was arrested by the Gestapo as a spy, prevented my after the war collection from being a big hit. My first name will remind you of an ingredient for hot chocolate. You can find my last name if you search the gift from heaven on Bill's blog. Who Am I?

Cross-Eyed Opossums & Breast Implannts

Soichiro Honda was turned down by Toyota Motor Corporation during a job interview as "engineer" after World War Two. He continued to be jobless until his neighbors starting buying his "home-made scooters". Subsequently, he set out on his own to start his own company. Honda. Today, the Company has grown to become the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer and one of the most profitable automakers - beating giant automaker such as GM and Chrysler. With a global network of 437 subsidiaries, Honda develops, manufactures, and markets a wide variety of products ranging from small general-purpose engines and scooters to specialty sports cars.

The answer to yesterdays Who Am I was a woman much ahead of her time, Emily Murphy.

Today we are all over the map. First up is a very taxing situation:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110112/od_nm/us_argentina_tax;_ylt=ApParXeziBqWJtR3ZNEDcbis0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFmb3BtcG45BHBvcwMyMDQEc2VjA2FjY29yZGlvbl9vZGRfbmV3cwRzbGsDYnJlYXN0aW1wbGFu

Next up is an unusual animal that is making rounds on all the news shows:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110112/ap_on_re_eu/eu_germany_animal_magnetism;_ylt=AikfzGfwTW_2tu1dz0a7wGys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFpa2trMTdtBHBvcwMzOQRzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX21vc3RfcG9wdWxhcgRzbGsDbGF0ZXN0Z2VybWFu

I'm closing today's entry with what I would classify as an inspirational story.

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/01/06/mamane-myjewelrybox/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl4%7Csec3_lnk3%7C195004

Comment at will.

From The Serious To The Light.

At the age of 21, French acting legend Jeanne Moreau was told by a casting director that her head was too crooked, she wasn't beautiful enough, and she wasn't photogenic enough to make it in films. She took a deep breath and said to herself, "Alright, then, I guess I will have to make it my own way." After making nearly one hundred films her own she received the European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Today just like life we are going to go from the serious to the light. Each day in our lives is filled with a little of both.

The serious is the article that I got from NPR's Facebook Page.

http://jezebel.com/5730719/the-depressing-realities-of-rape-statistics

There is just so much wrong with that report. I don't even know where to start. How sad we can't be honest and report rapes for what they are, rapes.

Now on to a lighter subject that some women may consider anything but light. Can you be to cute or attractive? Certainly not a problem I have to deal with on a daily basis.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-01-12/online-dating-tips-the-perils-of-being-too-attractive/

Life is a journey and her is an article giving you several reasons to take a trip to Mars.

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/12/why-volunteer-for-a-one-way-mission-to-mars/

Your comments are appreciated.

WHO AM I?

I was born in 1868 and died in 1983 and am an author, jurist, and women's rights activist. I was the first woman magistrate in Canada, and in the British Empire. I am best known for questinong whether women are persons under the Canadian law. I was part of the famous five, five women who came together to launch the "Persons Case," contending that women could be "qualified persons" eligible to sit in the Senate. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that they were not. However, upon appeal to the Judicial Committee of the British Privy Council—the court of last resort for Canada at that time. We won our case. I was the third of six children born to a business man father and a homemaker Mom. Dad encouraged his sons and daughters to share responsibilities equally. At the age of 40 I began to actively organize women’s groups where the isolated housewives could meet and discuss ideas and plan group projects. I spoke openly and frankly about the disadvantaged and the poor living conditions that surrounded society. My strong interest in the rights and protection of women and children intensified when I was made aware of an unjust experience of an Albertan woman whose husband sold the family farm and abandoned his wife and children who were left homeless and penniless. At that time, property laws did not leave the wife with any legal recourse. This case motivated me to create a campaign that assured the property rights of married women. With the support of many rural women I began to pressure the Alberta government to allow women to retain the rights of their land. In 1916, I successfully persuaded the Alberta legislature to pass the Dower Act that would allow a woman legal rights to one third of her husband’s property. In Canada’s Senate Chamber the famous five are honored with a plaque that reads, “To further the cause of womankind these five outstanding pioneer women caused steps to be taken resulting in the recognition by the Privy Council of women as persons eligible for appointment to the Senate of Canada." My views on race and sterilization were controversial. Maybe you should do what I did. RETHINKING THE FIRST-WAVE FEMINISIM. That should help you answer the question, Who Am I?

To Many Wives & Historical Tours

Fifteen publishers rejected a manuscript by e. e. cummings. When he finally got it published by his mother, the dedication, printed in uppercase letters, read WITH NO THANKS TO . . . followed by the list of publishers who had rejected his prized offering.

The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was Emmeline Pankhurst.

Congratulations to Auburn winners over Oregon 22-19 in the college national championship game.

Would you take the following tour?

http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/10/hilter-tour-around-germany/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl5%7Csec4_lnk1%7C194701

I might take the tour if it was cheaper. It is history and one of the ways we can keep history from repeating itself is to be informed of it.

You are invited to a party and they give you a glass of wine. You ask, "what year is this?"

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/11/worlds-oldest-winery-found-in-armenia/

While there may be some reports that I have food that old in my refrigerator I think I might decline the glass of wine. Would you drink it?

How many wives are acceptable for polygamists to have? How many wives would wives allow?

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/05/polygamist-pummeled-by-first-and-second-wives-for-planning-fifth/

I didn't know there was a limit. I would be happy to find one.

Comment at will.

Pushups For Puddles Day.

I bet you didn't know that John Milton wrote Paradise Lost sixteen years after losing his eyesight

Puddles is the name of The Oregon Duck Mascot. He is such a spitting image for Donald Duck that for years Oregon had to receive permission from Disney to use the mascot, which Disney graciously gave and in the last year or two gave Oregon the rights to the mascot. Every game this year whenever the Oregon Ducks score, Puddles does pushups. If the Ducks score seven points he does seven points, if they score again and the total is fourteen points he does fourteen pushups. This year he has done thousands of pushups since the Ducks almost fifty points a game. I am declaring this Pushups For Puddles Day on the blog.

Information from USA Today and The Oregonian:

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, 5:30 PDT TONIGHT, AUBURN VS. OREGON

AUBURN:

location: Auburn, Alabama.

City Population: 55,439.

State population: 4.8 million.

College Enrollment: 25.078.

Fortune 500 company in state: Regions Financial.

School Known for: 6 Astronauts.

Creative Types: Toni Tenille, Ace Atkins.

Infamous grad: Milton McGregor (casino owner indicted on charges of buying and selling legislative vote.

Movie filmed on campus: Big Fish.

OREGON

location: Eugene, Oregon.

City Population: 149,525.

State population: 3.8 million.

College Enrollment: 23,389.

Fortune 500 companies in state: Nike & Precision Castparts.

School Known for: 19 Rhodes Scholars.

Creative Types: Ken Kesey, David Ogden Stiers.

Infamous grad: Onterrio Smith (former Oregon football player caught with prosthetic male organ for cheating drug tests).

Movie filmed on campus: Animal House.

Richest Grad: Phil Knight.

There are some reports that men will sometimes grow horns. Now there is proof:

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/10/chinas-huang-yuanfan-sprouts-3-inch-horn-from-head/

There are also a lot of articles that sisters bond and have one of the closest relationships of any relationship. Here is an interesting article about the bonding of two sisters:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110107/od_nm/us_sisters

Comment at will.

WHO AM I

I was born in 1858. My family had a tradition of radical politics and I stepped into that mould becoming a passionate campaigner for women's right to vote. I married a dude who supported the women's suffrage movement. After his death I threw myself into the women's suffrage movement forming the Women's Franchise league in 1898. In 1903 I formed the more militant Women's Social and Political Union. It was through the WSPU that the political action gained the group the term women's suffragette movement. I led a passionate group of women who were willing to take part in drastic action such as tying to railings, smashing windows and launching demonstrations. The government and establishment were somewhat shocked at the tactics we used and many of us were arrested. When we went on a hunger strike they were forced to feed or release us only to be rearrested - something known as cat and mouse. When WWI broke out I used my campaigning tactics to support the war effort - announcing a temporary truce in the women's suffrage campaign. In the war effort women were drafted into factories and took on many jobs previously the preserve of men such as bus drivers and postmen. The radical social change of the first world war helped to diminish the opposition to women getting the vote. In 1918, women over the age of 30 were given the vote and in 1929, the voting age for women was reduced to the same age as men. I died shortly after my life's goal was achieved. If you search two organizations you may be able to answer the question, Who Am I?

A Clueless Idiot Update.

Van Gogh sold only one painting during his life. And this to the sister of one of his friends for 400 francs (approximately $50). This didn't stop him from completing over 800 paintings.

The clueless idiot that I am talking about today, is yours truly. Keeping up with my 2011 themes of just say yes and get up, get going, and get out I went to the company party last night. It was the second event since I adopted that theme that I wouldn't normally have gone to but sucked it up and went. At both of the events I learned something about myself. This could be an interesting year.

I don't know if the rest of you do this kind of introspection but I will at times wonder how people react to and think about what I am about, what I say to them and how I relate to them. I'm just not all that confident in that area and certainly not that confident on how I relate to women. At work I always say small things to my co-workers. I never lie to them. But if they look especially nice that day I will say so. If they are always fun to be around I will also tell them. N was the receptionist last year. She was working last tax season because her own business, a foot reflexology business, was nailed by the economy. She was always fun to be around, always made the effort to look nice, and had an easy laugh. So I told her. After tax season her business made a turn around and it has gotten to busy for her to return this year. The partners of the firm where I work always invite anyone that has worked for them to the party so N was there last night. She sat next to me while we did the "you can steal my gift," gift exchange. This is the conversation:

N "You know you were the first person that made me feel alive in years."

Me "Me?"

N "Yes, you. I flirted with you all tax season and you never did ask me to lunch."

Me. "You were flirting with me? I thought you were just being nice."

N "Isn't that flirting?" "No wonder you are not married."

I learned a couple of things from that exchange. Small things you say to others can have a major impact on them. You just never know how your words will help them or I am sure at times hurt them. And I am really a clueless idiot where women are concerned. I need to take a class in flirting 101 that has a major section on how to recognize when you are being flirted with. Any tips for me? Is it OK to ask a woman the question, "Are you flirting with me?" or would that spoil the moment?

My update. Last week: Two nights at Mom's. The company party. Mom & I went to the heart doctor. I'm doing great and so is mom, neither of us need to return for a year. Dinner out with Sis, B-i-l, and Mom. Made two lucnhes and cooked two dinners at Mom's. Next week: Monday car Clara to the doctor to get her ready for an expected snowstorm. New windshield wipers, etc. Then Monday night I'm watching my Ducks play Auburn. On Wednesday if weather permits me leaving my house (they are predicting as much as a foot of snow Wednesday morning) a night at Mom's. Also on the agenda this week is shopping for a new computer and some new shirts. Again that is if weather permits. If we end up getting as much snow as they are predicting most likely I will be housebound and turn into Jack Nicholson from THE SHINNING.

Entertainment update. The Good Wife returns Tuesday night. YEA!. For you Project Runway fans I thought you would enjoy the following article:

http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2011/01/project_runway_winner_seth_aaron_henderson_designs_dresses_for_vancouver_girl_with_cancer.html

It is now your turn. This is your day on the blog to share whatever you damn well please or whatever you wish to. I really do love hearing about your lives, your concerns, your joys, what you have been up to, and what is on your agenda for next week. Share at will.

Mad About You

Well not really mad about anyone just mad in general.

Decca Records turned down a recording contract with the Beatles with the un-prophetic evaluation, "We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on their way out." After Decca rejected the Beatles, Columbia records followed suit.

The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was Mary Wollstonecraft. An interesting fact provided by Pat is that her daughter wrote Frankenstein.

Police are asking if anyone cares. Well, I care and am providing a link to the article with a picture so that everyone that reads this can be on the lookout for the young woman:

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/07/police-national-media-needed-in-search-for-missing-north-caroli/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk3%7C194167

I'm a little upset that the national media hasn't stepped up to the plate. Pass on the article and the picture to your friends.

I also care about the elderly and am upset at many people mentioned in the following article but most of my anger is directed at the idiot attorney that didn't file the proper paperwork so that the couple could keep their pet.

http://www.pawnation.com/2011/01/07/octogenarians-fined-12-000-over-cat/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl5%7Csec3_lnk3%7C194105

Who are you mad at in the above story? The elderly couple? The attorney? The association?

As long as we are being mad at people today, which companies are you mad at?

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/01/06/15-most-hated-companies-in-america/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-sb-n%7Cdl4%7Csec3_lnk2%7C194071

Did any of the companies on your list also make this list? BP and McDonald's made my list.

Enjoy the weekend and then on Monday night at 5:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time go Quackers and root for my Oregon Ducks as they play Auburn in the College Football national championship game.

Don't Cry, Please!

R. H. Macy: Most people are familiar with this large department store chain, but Macy didn't always have it easy. Macy started seven failed business before finally hitting big with his store in New York City.

Usually when a woman cries I'm next. I do sometimes get a little disappointed because I sometimes feel like I'm being manipulated. There is crying and there is pretending to cry to get me to do something I might not want to do. The first, I'm right there with the woman. The second I usually end up doing whatever I am supposed to do to stop the crying but then I cuss myself out for the rest of the day. A new study now says men have a biological reason not to like women crying:

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/06/chemical-in-womens-tears-turns-men-off-study-finds/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk1%7C194003

What is your reaction to the study?

How does cold weather help or hurt your love life? Check out the following study:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110106/ap_on_sc/us_sci_butterfly_sex

Personally I really haven't given a lot of thought to butterfly sex before reading the above article. How about you?

Enough about sex and tears, let's talk about dumb crininals:

http://www.aolnews.com/story/police-drunken-burglar-gets-stuck-inside/1496584/

Who Am I?

I was born in 1759 and died in 1797. I was an eighteenth-century British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights. During my career I wrote novels, treatises, a travel narrative, a history of the French Revolution, a conduct book, and a children's book. I'm best known for arguing that women are not naturally inferior to men, but appear to be only because they lack education. I suggested that both men and women should be treated as rational beings and imagined a social order founded on reason. My personal life encompassed several unconventional personal relationships received more attention than my writing. I died at the age of thirty-eight, ten days after giving birth to my second daughter, leaving behind several unfinished manuscripts. After my death, my widower published a Memoir (1798) of my life, revealing her unorthodox lifestyle, which inadvertently destroyed my reputation for almost a century. Now I am regarded as one of the founding feminist philosophers, and feminists often cite both my life and work as important influences. As a child due to an abusive father I used to lie outside the door of my mother's bedroom to protect her. Frustrated by the limited career options open to respectable yet poor women I decided after only a year as a governess, to embark upon a career as an author. After being rejected by the love of my life I attempted suicide for the leaving a note for him: "Let my wrongs sleep with me! Soon, very soon, I shall be at peace. When you receive this, my burning head will be cold ... I shall plunge into the Thames where there is least chance of my being snatched from the death I seek. God bless you! May you never know by experience what you have made me endure. Should your sensibility ever awake, remorse will find its way to your heart; and, in the midst of business and sensual pleasure, I shall appear before you, the victim of your deviation from rectitude." After the attempt failed I gradually returned to my literary life. After my death Browning & Roscoe wrote of me:

"Hard was thy fate in all the scenes of life
As daughter, sister, mother, friend, and wife;
But harder still, thy fate in death we own,
Thus mourn'd by Godwin with a heart of stone."

If you don't know who I am by know maybe you should know my Thoughts on the Education of Daughters and then you can answer the question, Who Am I?

Charming, Troubling, & Taxing

Robert Sternberg: This big name in psychology received a C in his first college introductory psychology class with his teacher telling him that, "there was already a famous Sternberg in psychology and it was obvious there would not be another." Sternberg showed him, however, graduating from Stanford with exceptional distinction in psychology, summa cum laude, and Phi Beta Kappa and eventually becoming the President of the American Psychological Association.

The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was the female Paul Revere, Sybil Ludington.

This is a pretty amazing story that you really would have to be in a cave if you haven't already heard the story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110106/ap_on_sp_ot/us_odd_homeless_radio_voice;_ylt=AskB7kRbySeeI4VRhtqfnuCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFlbDVwaGpyBHBvcwM2OARzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX3Vfc19uZXdzBHNsawNob21lbGVzc21hbnc-

He has been clean and sober for two years. I really hope that now that he is back in the working world that he won't be under so much pressure that he drinks again.

From the charming story to the troubling story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110104/ap_on_he_me/us_med_heart_implants

We all know someone that has a heart history. Feel free to pass this story on to them.

From the troubling story to the taxing story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110106/ap_on_re_eu/eu_romania_witchcraft

I kind of think they should have paid taxes all along. I curse paying taxes but I still have to do it.

Comment at will.

A Stinging Journey

Steven Spielberg: While today Spielberg's name is synonymous with big budget, he was rejected from the University of Southern California School of Theater, Film and Television three times. He eventually attended school at another location, only to drop out to become a director before finishing. Thirty-five years after starting his degree, Spielberg returned to school in 2002 to finally complete his work and earn his BA.

The journey:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110105/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_turtles__journey

The stinging story:

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/04/study-us-bumblebee-population-in-sharp-decline/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-sb-n%7Cdl1%7Csec4_lnk2%7C193568

Speaking of stories, an new edition of a Mark Twain classic.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_revising_mark_twain;_ylt=AvvbDikjarRLsifwMH0YK1is0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNxZjFhZXFhBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwMTA1L3VzX3JldmlzaW5nX21hcmtfdHdhaW4EY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwM4BHBvcwM1BHB0A2hvbWVfY29rZQRzZWMDeW5faGVhZGxpbmVfbGlzdARzbGsDbmV3ZWRpdGlvbnJl

Comment at will. Frankly, I'm disappointed that they would edit a classic. It would be like editing To Kill A Mockingbird and taking the "n" word out of it. While I'm disappointed in the editing of a classic I'm not really disappointed in there being les bees. I'm allergic to them. And I'm always glad when the turtle beats the hare.

WHO AM I?

Everyone has heard of the midnight ride of Paul Revere but they didn't tell you about my ride. When I was sixteen years old I rode to alert American Colonial forces to the approach of enemy troops. Doesn't matter that I rode twice the distance of Paul. My ride started at 9:00 P.M. and ended around dawn. I rode 40 miles into the damp hours of darkness. Remarkable because modern day endurance horse riders using lightweight saddles can barely ride such distances in daylight over well marked courses. As I rode I could see the sky aglow from the burning town. "Muster at Ludington's," I shouted at the farmhouses of the militiamen. I rode through Carmel on to Mahopac, thence to Kent Cliffs, from there to Farmers Mills and back home. I used a stick to prod my horse and knock on doors. I managed to defend myself against a highwayman with my father's musket. When, soaked from the rain and exhausted, I returned home, and most of the 400 soldiers were ready to march. I was born the daughter of an Army officer. After the war I married and had six children. I was born in 1761 and died in 1839. New York State erected a number of markers along my route. George Washington made a personal visit to thank me for my ride, to bad history books didn't thank me by including my ride along with Paul's. If you don't know who I am by now wouldn't you think that my nickname is the "Female Paul Revere." Who Am I?

The Disappointing, The Obvious, & The Unusual

Stephen King: The first book by this author, the iconic thriller Carrie, received 30 rejections, finally causing King to give up and throw it in the trash. His wife fished it out and encouraged him to resubmit it, and the rest is history, with King now having hundreds of books published the distinction of being one of the best-selling authors of all time.

The answer to yesterday's answer was The Angel Of Tombstone, Nellie Cashman.

The disappointing:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/justice-scalia-women-not-constitutionally-protected-from-discrimination;_ylt=Ak17dlXebVT2uOwm7po1rcKs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTVwZHJoYm9iBGFzc2V0A3libG9nX3RoZWxvb2tvdXQvMjAxMTAxMDQvanVzdGljZS1zY2FsaWEtd29tZW4tbm90LWNvbnN0aXR1dGlvbmFsbHktcHJvdGVjdGVkLWZyb20tZGlzY3JpbWluYXRpb24EY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwM1BHBvcwMyBHB0A2hvbWVfY29rZQRzZWMDeW5faGVhZGxpbmVfbGlzdARzbGsDanVzdGljZXNjYWxp

The obvious:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110103/ap_on_he_me/us_med_healthbeat_bad_habits

The unusual:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110103/od_nm/us_suicide_garbage_odd

Comment at will.

Colors

Lucille Ball: During her career, Ball had thirteen Emmy nominations and four wins, also earning the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors. Before starring in I Love Lucy, Ball was widely regarded as a failed actress and a B movie star. Even her drama instructors didn't feel she could make it, telling her to try another profession. She, of course, proved them all wrong.

What colors are you wearing and what does it say about you? What colors should you wear if you want to portray a certain image? I have the answers:

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2010/12/27/meaning-of-colors-at-work/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl6%7Csec4_lnk1%7C192764

Do you have some leftover baby oil taking up space in your house and you just don't know what to do with it? Here are some suggestions:

http://www.diylife.com/2010/11/24/baby-oil-uses/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl5%7Csec1_lnk3%7C192756

I like to start the week with some good health news and I think the following article provides it:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110103/ap_on_he_me/us_med_cancer_blood_test

Your comments are appreciated.

WHO AM I?

I was born in 1845 and died in 1925 and was famous as both a nurse and a gold prospector. I immigrated to the United state with my mother and my sister. Fifteen years after we first arrived in the U.S. we went out west to set up camp in San Francisco. After the Gold rush era came I left my family to go to the Cassiar Mountains, in British Columbia, Canada. A lifelong Catholic I set up a boarding house for miners, asking them for donations to be made for the Sisters of St. Anne in return for receiving the services available at my boarding house. I later traveled to Victoria, to deliver 500 dollars received in donations,to the nuns of the Sisters of St. Anne. There I heard that a snowstorm had attacked the Cassiar mountains area, stranding and injuring 26 miners, who were also suffering from scurvy. I immediately organized an expedition with six men and collected food and medicines, planning to find the men and rescue them. Conditions at the Cassiar Mountains were so dangerous during the time, that not even the Canadian Army considered it a worthy task to try to rescue the twenty six stranded men. When they heard of my expedition, a commander sent his troops to find me and bring me and my group of men back safely. An Army trooper found me standing over the ice of Stikine River, cooking my meal for the evening. I offered the trooper and a few other men from his group some tea, and convinced them that it was my will to continue and I would not head back without rescuing the men. After 77 days of unfriendly weather, I found the sick men, which, as it turned out, were more than twenty six; some estimates put the number of lives that I and my crew saved at seventy five. I used a Vitamin C diet to re-establish the group's health. Thereafter, I was fondly known in the region by my Angel nickname. Later I moved to Arizona, where I kept working for my Catholic faith. I raised money to build the Sacred Heart Catholic Church there, and I worked with the Sisters of St. Joseph's. I also kept my work as a caretaker, getting a job as a nurse in a local Cochise hospital. After my brother-in-law's death I invited my sister, Fanny, to move to my home along with her five children. However, Fanny died two years later, leaving me as the only caretaker of the five children. Still hoping to find gold I traveled to Baja California, Mexico, soon after my sister's death. With 100 miles to reach their destination, I decided that six men would lead the group that I was traveling with, which consisted of me and twenty-one men. After sixteen hours most of the men in the group suffered dehydration from the Arizona heat. As a consequence, the group's water supply was almost gone. When robbers were convicted and sentenced to death I was indignant at the behavior of the citizens of Tombstone, feeling that no death should be celebrated. I befriended the five convicts, visiting them constantly to provide them with spiritual guidance. I spoke to the sheriff about the upcoming event, pleading with him to put a curfew in place during the day of the hangings so that no crowds would stand by the street to watch. The sheriff conceded, and a curfew was set.
Next, I and some friends went at night to the site of the execution, destroying the grandstand with hammers and axes. While the hangings proceeded as scheduled, the public was unable to watch, and I achieved what I wanted: the five men died feeling that a small portion of dignity had been restored to them. I co-owned and ran a restaurant and hotel in Tombstone called Russ House. According to a popular legend, once, a client complained about my cooking, and Doc Holliday drew his side arm, asking the customer to repeat what he had said. Embarrassed, the client replied, "Best I ever ate." Motivated by my dream of finding gold during the Klondike Gold Rush I moved to Alaska were I owned a store and searched for gold in Klondike, Fairbanks and Nolan Creek. I later visited California, where I declared that I'd like to be appointed U.S. deputy Marshal for the area of Koyukuk. The Associated Press documented my trip from Nolan Creek to Anchorage during which I began suffering from pneumonia and rheumatism. My friends took me to the same hospital I had helped built 51 years before, the Sisters of St. Anne. Ironically, I died soon afterwards in that institution. After my death I was inducted into the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame. If you don't know who I am by now may I recommend "Stalwart Women: Frontier Stories Of Indomitable Spirit" to the blog readers and posters? Who Am I?