text:
Philosopy, College Age Style
"Mom, I've decided I'm not going to go skydiving someday like I had planned." Bigger Girl had just come in from her classes at the local community college.
Really, i mumbled as i searched for more Parmesan cheese in the pantry. Someone had, with the usual efficiency of our contains young people household, put the empty container back in the fridge.
"Yes," she continued. "I've decided to go base jumping instead. It's where you find a cliff and jump, and soar until it's time to open your parachute. It's more environmentally friendly because you don't have to waste the fuel on an airplane."
Well, i noted drily, as long as your insurance is paid up so i can bury you if the need arises, have fun!
"Mom, do you ever worry about me when I say I'm planning to do dangerous things like climb mountains and base jump?"
Why should i worry? i responded. First of all, you haven't done any of these things, and you aren't going to be doing them for a while To worry now would be useless. Also, none of us know when our time will come, any of us could end up in a bad accident on any given day, so why worry? Besides, i know you, if you do end up doing any of these things, you will make sure you get professional guidance and do them correctly, and if you die trying, you went out feet first, and happy.
"Yep, no regrets that way!" she said, then went on. "Our Public Speaking textbook says that most people either live their lives always looking at their past and regretting it, or living for the here and now and only to enjoy the present moment, or putting everything off and living for the future. I think that's wrong. I want to live in such a way that I am enjoying every moment in the here and now and making good use of these moments, so I will have a past worth remembering and so I can create a future worth living!"
And that, my dear, is why i don't have to worry.
Car Keys and Small Change Day -- ???
Charro Days Fiesta -- Brownsville, TX, US (international cooperation, Brownsville and its sister city Matamoros, Mexico, put on a beautiful celebration of the charro horsemen of Mexico, as well as dances, parades, and a carnival; through Mar.7)
Dia de Andalucia -- Andalucia, Spain
DNA Day -- day in 1953 when Watson and Crick determined the double helix structure of DNA
Februalia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (purification of Rome performed by citizens making sacrifices to the dead)
Floral Design Day -- a day to acknowledge this art form
Florida Strawberry Festival -- Plant City, FL, US (celebrating the winter strawberry harvest; through Mar. 10)
Kalevala Day -- Finland (Finnish Culture Day)
National Science Day -- India
Peace Memorial Day -- Taiwan
Public Sleeping Day -- this one even has a wikiHow page
St. Hedwig of Poland's Day (Patron of queens)
St. Romanus' Day (Patron of the mentally ill; against drowning, insanity)
Teacher's Day -- Algeria; Bahrain; Egypt; Jordan; Libya; Morocco; Oman; Saudi Arabia; Tunisia; United Arab Emirates; Yemen
Birthdays Today (Also includes Feb. 29 Birthdays following)
Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, 1533
University of Pittsburgh is chartered, 1787
John Wesley charters the Methodist Church, 1784
Regular steamboat service from the west to the east coast of the United States begins with the arrival of the SS California in San Francisco Bay, 4 months 22 days after leaving New York Harbor, 1849
The American Telephone and Telegraph Company is incorporated in New York State as the subsidiary of American Bell Telephone, 1885
The USS Indiana, the lead ship of her class and the first battleship in the United States Navy comparable to foreign battleships of the time, is launched, 1893
Queen Ranavalona III, the last monarch of Madagascar, is deposed by a French military force, 1897
DuPont scientist Wallace Carothers invents Nylon, 1935
Basketball is televised for the first time, 1940
In Taiwan, civil disorder is put down with the loss of 30,000 civilian lives, 1947
James D. Watson and Francis Crick announce to friends that they have determined the chemical structure of DNA; the formal announcement takes place on April 25 following publication in April Nature (pub. April 2), 1953
The first-ever color television sets using the NTSC standard are offered for sale to the general public, 1954
The United States and People's Republic of China sign the Shanghai Communiqué, 1972
Andalusia approves its statute of autonomy through a referendum, 1980
GRB 970228, a highly luminous flash of gamma rays, strikes the Earth for 80 seconds, providing early evidence that gamma-ray bursts occur well beyond the Milky Way, 1997
First flight of RQ-4 Global Hawk, the first unmanned aerial vehicle certified to file its own flight plans and fly regularly in U.S. civilian airspace, 1998
Over 1 million Taiwanese participating in the 228 Hand-in-Hand Rally form a 500-kilometre (300-mile) long human chain to commemorate the 228 Incident in 1947, 2004
Jupiter flyby of the New Horizons Pluto-observer spacecraft, 2007, proclaims the independence of Lower Canada (today Québec), 1838
Jupiter flyby of the New Horizons Pluto-observer spacecraft, 2007
Yesterday Was
A prime headache day.
Those don't come along often, but when they do, there is only one cure.
More coffee.
#2 Son and i spent a futile hour trying to get him a work permit. Someone here in our part of south Louisiana decided that before teens can get a job, they have to get a work permit from their school.
If the child is in a small private school or home school, you have to go to the public school s/he would attend to get this precious slip of paper.
It cannot be denied to the teen who wants it, no matter the student's grades or participation in other activities. It is not filed with any state or local agency. It is simply a paperwork boondoggle meant to make us run around uselessly so we can say we did it, if anyone ever asks, which they don't.
It is especially useless when, as with Bigger Girl a couple of years ago, it is needed for a summer job. Yes, when school is out, and you are 17, or even if you graduated at 17 as some do, you still have to go get a work permit from school.
A permit, as i noted, that they cannot deny you, and which no one will ever see or bother with.
Thus, after going to two different schools and being given information, but no piece of paper, i needed more coffee.
"Everybody should believe something. I believe I'll have more coffee." Anonymous
Day of Selene -- Ancient Greek Calendar (goddess of the moon, date approximate)
Feast of St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows/Gabriel Possenti (Patron of clerics, students, young people; Abruzzi, Italy; Catholic Action)
Inconvenience Yourself Day -- enrich your life by looking for ways to make a positive impact on the world, even if it inconveniences you
Independence Day -- Dominican Republic(1844)
Majuba Day -- South Africa (celebration of the Boers victory at Majuba Hill)
National Strawberry Day -- no, i don't know why this isn't in June, when the berries are best; maybe the person who put it here had too much Kahlua
No Brainer Day - this day is for me! created by Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith, "America's Premier Eventologist"
Polar Bear Day -- as declared by Polar Bears International
Read Five Pages in the Dictionary Day -- internet generated, and am i the only one who likes the idea?
Runic Half Month Tyr commences (cosmic pillar)
St. Galmier of Lyon's Day (Patron of locksmiths)
The Hop -- Fairy Calendar
Threepenny Day -- Eton College, England (By the last will of two Provosts in the 16th century, each boy receives a threepenny piece on this day -- enough to buy half a sheep back then.)
The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation of Scotland, 1560
Poet Lord Byron gives his first address as a member of the House of Lords, in defense of Luddite violence against Industrialism in his home county of Nottinghamshire, 1812
The current flag of Japan is first adopted as the national flag for Japanese merchant ships, 1870
Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discover carbon-14, 1940
The government of Italy asks for help to keep the Leaning Tower of Pisa from toppling over, 1964
The American Indian Movement occupies Wounded Knee, South Dakota, 1973
People magazine is published for the first time, 1974
U.S. President George H. W. Bush announces that "Kuwait is liberated", 1991
A Muslim mob kills 59 Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya, 2002
The Shanghai Stock Exchange falls 9%, the largest drop in 10 years, 2007
Central Chile is hit with an 8.8 magnitude earthquake, 2010
Thank You, Dr. Koop
Dr. C. Everett Koop, former Surgeon General of the United States, has died at age 96.
He was a pioneer pediatric surgeon, an advocate of a tobacco free society, and a role model.
Before he became Surgeon General, i had never paid much attention to that position. He was so passionate about educating people, empowering them to make good decisions for their health, that he changed how the role was perceived.
He was the calm voice during the first storms of AIDS. As conservative as he was, he saw that abstinence was not going to be practiced by some people, and believed they therefore needed to be told how to stay healthy within their choices.
Because of his passion for educating people, he touched the lives of millions.
Thank you, Dr. Koop. Rest in Peace, you will be miseed.
Ayyám-i-Há -- Baha'i (intercalary days, devoted to service and gift giving; through Mar. 1)
For Pete's Sake Day -- Wellcat Holidays asks us, who is Pete, and why do things for his sake? think about that as you celebrate this today
Intercalary Days -- Baha'i (through Mar. 1)
Levi Strauss Day -- his birth anniversary
Liberation Day -- Kuwait
National Personal Chef Day -- heaven knows we all have one of those; some websites list it today, some on July 16
National Pistachio Day
Rooks Nesting Day -- Olde England (12 days after Candlemas on the Julian Calendar)
Spay Day USA -- sponsored by the HSUS; Sit! Stay! Spay! Good Owner!
St. Alexander's Day (Patriarch of Alexandria)
St. Isabella of France's Day (Patron of the sick)
Tell a Fairy Tale Day -- shouldn't this have been two days ago, on Wilhelm Grimm's birth anniversary?
The Man In Black Day -- Johnny Cash's birth anniversary
Thriller Day -- Michael Jackson's album "Thriller" hit #1 today, and stayed there for 37 weeks
World Spay Day -- don't let your pets litter!
Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from Elba, 1815
In New York City a demonstration of the first pneumatic subway opens to the public, 1870
The Original Dixieland Jass Band records the first jazz record, for the Victor Talking Machine Company in New York, 1917
Robert Watson-Watt carries out a demonstration near Daventry which leads directly to the development of RADAR in the United Kingdom, 1935
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announces that his nation has an atomic bomb, 1952
Vincent Massey is sworn in as the first Canadian-born Governor-General of Canada, 1952
National Public Radio incorporates as a non-profit corporation, 1970
Egypt and Israel establish full diplomatic relations, 1980
The Sandinistas are defeated in Nicaraguan elections, 1990
On Baghdad Radio Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein announces the withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait, 1991
In New York City, a truck bomb parked below the North Tower of the World Trade Center explodes, killing 6 and injuring over a thousand, 1993
The United Kingdom's oldest investment banking institute, Barings Bank, collapses, 1995
Mount Hekla in Iceland erupts, 2000
Republic of Macedonia President Boris Trajkovski is killed in a plane crash near Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2004
How to have...
...a great congregational meeting.
First, have the session call a congregational meeting.
Second, remind your husband. Twice. Have him tell you he forgot, all the way up to the last minute.
Drag him anyway, even if his father did tell him when he was a teen that he didn't have to go to such things. Remind him that, as a grown-up now, it's time to step up.
Third, be grateful that everyone there wants it over fast, also, and that they put on their "track shoes" and got it done in record time. Also, be grateful all the news is good this year.
Fourth, feed everyone well after, and provide entertainment. Nothing makes people happier to show up at a regular meeting than having an "eatin' meetin'" afterward!
Amitabha Buddha Day -- Tibetan and Mahayana Buddhists
Dairokuten-no-Hadaka Matsuri -- Chiba, Japan (around this date; one of Japan's "naked" festivals, as participants wear only a loincloth as they wrestle in the cold, wet mud, bringing luck to the community as they run through the crowds smearing the lucky mud on the onlookers)
Dag van de Revolutie -- Suriname (Day of Liberation and Innovation)
Februaristaking -- Netherlands (commemoration of a strike against the Nazis)
Festival of Ptah -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (date approximate)
Full Snow Moon -- sometimes also called the Full Hunger Moon, as the most snow falls this month and finding food is hardest
Meaka Bochea -- Buddhist (celebration of the final sermon of Buddha)
Navam Full Moon Poya Day -- Sri Lanka
Spring Lantern Festival -- China (final day of the Chinese New Year celebrations)
Tabodwe Full Moon -- Myanmar (month of Hta-Ma-Ne Feast, the harvest festival of Thanksgiving)
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo -- Houston, TX, US (since 1932, great rodeo action and top-name entertainment; through Mar. 17)
Jenadriyah National Festival -- Saudi Arabia (two week heritage and cultural festival around this time of year, but i can't find exact dates)
Kitano Baika-sai (Plum Blossom Festival) -- Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan
Lesser Eleusinian Mysteries -- Ancient Greek Calendar (date approximate)
Let's All Eat Right Day -- in honor of the birth of Adelle Davis in 1904, an early pioneer in good nutrition
National Chocolate Covered Peanuts Day -- some sites say any nuts will do, some specify peanuts; take your pick
National Clam Chowder Day -- not to be confused with New England Clam Chowder Day, back in January
National Day -- Kuwait
People's Revolution Day/People Power Day -- Philippines
Pistol Patent Day -- Samuel Colt received US Patent #138 for the first pistol on this day in 1836
Read Me Week -- local and national celebrities, with community volunteers, are encouraged to visit classrooms this week and read to children www.bookem-kids.org
St. Walburga's Day (Patron of boatmen/mariners/sailors/watermen, harvests; Antwerp, Belgium; Eichstätt, Germany; Gronigen, Netherlands; Oudenarde, Belgium; Plymouth, England; Zutphen, Netherlands; against coughs, dog bites, famine, hydrophobia/rabies, mad dogs, plague, storms)
Soviet Occupation Day -- Georgia
Quiet Day -- can't find the history behind this one, but mommy wants one!
Hiram Rhodes Revels, a Republican from Mississippi, is sworn into the United States Senate, becoming the first African American ever to sit in the U.S. Congress, 1870
Marie-Adélaïde, the eldest of six daughters of Guillaume IV, becomes the first reigning Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, 1912
Oregon places a 1 cent per U.S. gallon tax on gasoline, becoming the first U.S. state to levy a gasoline tax, 1919
Glacier Bay National Monument (now Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve) is established in Alaska, 1925
Charles Jenkins Laboratories of Washington, D.C. becomes the first holder of a television license from the Federal Radio Commission, 1928
The USS Ranger is launched. It is the first US Navy ship to be built solely as an aircraft carrier, 1933
In occupied Amsterdam, a general strike is declared in response to increasing anti-Jewish measures instituted by the Nazis, 1941
The first Pan American Games are held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1951
Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston, 1964
The first unit of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, the first commercial nuclear power station in Canada, goes online, 1971
President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines flees the nation after 20 years of rule; Corazon Aquino becomes the first Filipino woman president, 1986
In the Cave of the Patriarchs in the West Bank city of Hebron, Baruch Goldstein opens fire with an automatic rifle, killing 29 Palestinian worshipers and injuring 125 more, 1994
In the Irish general election, the Fianna Fáil-led government suffered the worst defeat of a sitting government since the formation of the Irish state, 2011
Saved, from the scrap heap, one DVD that was believed to be scratched beyond use.
The treatment began with a very fine microfiber cloth that does not scratch. It was a deep purple one that i got from FlyLady's FlyShop.
Then i grabbed the baking soda. After rinsing the disc to make sure there wasn't any dust or grit that would make things worse, i sprinkled on the baking soda and rubbed with the purple cloth. Rinse and repeat, 3 times.
When that was done, believe it or not, a coating of Turtle Wax car polish. Gently apply, leave until it is dry, and then equally gently wipe off starting at the center of the disc and wiping outward toward the edge.
All of us are happier now, Kung Fu Panda is back! ;)
Amun in the Festival of Raising Heaven -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (date approximate)
Daytona 500 Race -- Daytona International Speed-way, Daytona Beach, FL, US
Dragobete -- Romania (lover's day, and the day birds choose a mate, also considered by locals as the first day of spring)
Edo Nagashibina -- Sumidagawa River, Japan (ritual to wish for children's good health by washing the sins of the body away)
FESTIMA -- Mouhoun, Burkina Faso (Festival International des Masques et des ARts de Dedougou/International Mask Festival, a multi-day African heritage and cultural display; dates to be confirmed)
Flag Day -- Mexico
Giving of Shoes -- Fairy Calendar
Goa Month begins -- Traditional Icelandic Calendar (month of the goddess Goa, personified as the daughter of Old Man Winter; as last month greeted her father well, greet her kindly, too, for an easy weather month)
Konudagur -- Housewife's Day (just as the first day last month honored husbands, this month the wife is greeted with either coffee or flowers)
Gregorian Calendar Day -- Gregory XIII issued the Papal Bull requiring Roman Catholics to adopt his calendar reform on this day; the effective date of adoption was to be Oct. 4, 1582
Iseseisvuspaev/Independence Day -- Estonia(1918)
National Artist Day -- Thailand
N'cwala -- Zambia (Thanksgiving festival, celebrated with traditional dance, music, and specially brewed beer)
Nylon Toothbrush Day -- the first ones went on sale this date in 1938
Purim -- Judaism (began sundown yesterday, through sundown today)
Regifugium -- Ancient Roman Calendar (flight of the king)
St. Æthelberht of Kent's Day (first Christian King of the Anglo-Saxons; some have his day listed tomorrow instead)
Tokyo Marathon 2013 -- Tokyo, Japan
Triodion begins -- Orthdox Christian
The American University is chartered by an act of the Congress of the United States of America, 1893
Western Washington University is established, 1899
L'Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi, one of the first works recognized as an opera, receives its première performance, 1607
The London première of Rinaldo by George Frideric Handel, the first Italian opera written for the London stage, 1711
The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, the first removal treaty in accordance with the Indian Removal Act, is proclaimed. The Choctaws in Mississippi cede land east of the river in exchange for payment and land in the West, 1831
The first parade to have floats is staged at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, 1868
Andrew Johnson becomes the first President of the United States to be impeached, 1868
Chicago is selected to host the Colombian Exposition, 1890
Hudson Motor Car Company is founded, 1909
National Public Radio is founded in the United States, 1970
The United States Olympic Hockey team completes their Miracle on Ice by defeating Finland 4-2 to win the gold medal, 1980
Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, 1981
A special commission of the U.S. Congress releases a report that condemns the practice of Japanese internment during World War II, 1983
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini offers a USD $3 million bounty for the death of The Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie, 1989
The last occurrence of February 24 as a leap day in the European Union and for the Roman Catholic Church, 1996*
Japan launches its fourth spy satellite, stepping up its ability to monitor potential threats such as North Korea, 2007
Fidel Castro retires as the President of Cuba after nearly fifty years, 2008
Final launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery, 2011
*The Romans counted Feb. 24 twice in leap years, instead of adding Feb. 29; that continued in many places until 1996
At the Core, They Mean Business
Apparently. Apple Computers does, that is.
They have applied for a patent that shows they are working on a "smart watch." Wearable technology.
At this point, i'm not sure whether to just say "oh" or "ugh."
No, i do not have a smart phone; i do not need something else around that is smarter than i am, that's why i have kids.
Now they will be wanting us to wear the stuff.
Yes, i know there are a few such thing out there already, that track heart rate, blood pressure, food intake, whether you are sleeping, etc. Those things being health related, i can rather understand using them to keep you on track to restoring or maintaining health.
But this will probably be for entertainment purposes only, and don't we have enough of that?
What's a first-cousin-to-a-Luddite to do?
Well, for now, make lame jokes about Apple and its core, but beyond this? Heave a huge sigh and watch with bemusement as yet another gadget becomes something we "cannot live without."
And watch my 70-something mother play with her smartphone. She deserves one, though, she doesn't have kids at home any more.
American Birkebeiner Race -- Cable to Hayward, WI, US (largest and most prestigious cross-country ski marathon)
Chinese New Year Parade -- San Francisco, CA, US (North America's largest Chinese community celebrates the Lunar New Year in style)
Clam Chowder Cook-Off -- Santa Cruz, CA, US (if you love clam chowder of any variety, this is the place for you)
Curling Is Cool Day -- embrace the Olympic sport the whole family can play; sponsored by Wellcat Holidays
Defenders of the Motherland Day (formerly Red Army Day) -- Russia and some former Soviet Republics
Homeland Defenders' Day -- Kyrguzstan
Motherland Defenders' Day -- Transdniestria
Desert Festival -- Jaisalmer, India (local culture, contests, and fun; through the 25th)
Easy Divorce Day -- marking the passage, in 1915, of the Nevada law granting easy divorces after only a 6 month residency, the first such in the US
FESPACO Film Festival -- Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (Panafrica's Film and TV Festival)
International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day -- internet generated
Iwo Jima Day -- commemoration of the US flag raising
Katsuyama Sagicho -- Katsuyama, Japan (Chinese influenced fire festival held the last weekend of every February; large stages are built and decorated, then burned the next day)
National Day -- Brunei
Open That Bottle Night -- time to finally drink that bottle of wine you've been saving for a special occasion; after all, the final Saturday in February only comes once a year (sponsored by Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher of The Wall Street Journal)
Parke County Maple Fair -- Rockville, IN, US (pancake meals, a Covered Bridge Art Assn. show, and more; this weekend and next)
Pebbles Day -- Pebbles Flintstone was born this day around 10,000BC
Purim -- Judaism (begins at sundown)
Republic Day (Mashramani) -- Guyana
Showa-Shinzan International Yukigassen Tournament -- Japan; snowball fighting (yukigassen) at its best, through tomorrow
St. Milburga of Shropshire's Day (Patron of birds)
St. Polycarp of Smyrna's Day (Patron against dysentery and earache)
St. Serenus the Gardener's Day (Patron of bachelors, falsely accused people)
Swamp Cabbage Festival -- LaBelle, FL, US (also called Hearts of Palm, gear up for two days of food, entertainment, and family fun)
Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western book printed with movable type, 1455
Baron von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to help to train the Continental Army, 1778
John Newman leaves the Anglican Church and is welcomed into the Roman Catholic Church, 1846
In Mexico, American troops under General Zachary Taylor defeat Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna, 1847
Charles Martin Hall, assisted by his sister Julia Brainerd Hall, produced the first samples of man-made aluminum, 1886
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is founded, 1847
The first mass inoculation with the Salk vaccine begins in Pittsburgh, 1954
First meeting of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), 1955
The United States Environmental Protection Agency announces its intent to buy out and evacuate the dioxin-contaminated community of Times Beach, Missouri, 1983
Supernova 1987a is seen in the Large Magellanic Cloud, 1987
A small fire occurs in the Russian Space station, Mir, 1997
An avalanche destroys the Austrian village of Galtür, killing 31, 1999
Unknown criminals pour more than 2.5 million liters of diesel oil and other hydrocarbons into the river Lambro, in Northern Italy, causing an environmental disaster, 2010
Two of the kittens we are currently bottle raising, with a third in the background.
Feline Friday was brought to my attention by Kathe W. at It's A Snap. If i can figure out how to link back to the originator of Feline Friday, i will.
Abu Simbel Festival -- Egypt (one of the two days a year when the light illuminates the statutes of Rameses, Ra and Amun in the temple complex)
Festival of the Perpendicular Sun/Illumination of the Inner Sanctum of Ramses II's Abu Simbel Temple -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar
Be Humble Day -- can't find the origin of this one, s/he wants to humbly remain anonymous
Call Somebody "Boo Boo" Day -- apparently just to see what s/he will call you back; be careful, this one started before anyone heard of Honey Boo Boo and doesn't take that into account
Concordia/Caristia -- Ancient Roman Calendar, Festival of Goodwill
Feast of the Chair of St. Peter at Antioch -- Roman Catholic Church
Festival au Desert -- Oursi, Burkina Faso (the final installment of most remote music festival in the world, with lots of African music and traditions; through the 22nd)
Heritage Day -- Yukon Territory, Canada
Independence Day -- Santa Lucia(1979)
International World Thinking Day -- a/k/a "B.-P. day" or "Founder's Day" -- World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
Girl Guides Day -- UK
Lost Dutchman Days -- Apache Junction, AZ, US (through Sunday; celebration of the legend of the Superstition Mountains and the Lost Dutchman Mine)
Newport Seafood and Wine Festival -- Newport, OR, US (featuring seafood and wine from Oregon, Washington, California, and Idaho; through Sunday)
St. Margaret of Cortona's Day (Patron of falsely accued people, hoboes, homeless people, mentally ill people, midwives, penitent women, people ridiculed for their piety, reformed prostitutes, single laywomen, teriaries, and tramps; against insanity, loss of parents, mental illness, sexual temptation, and temptation)
Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering -- Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX, US (annual gathering of cowboys for poetry readings and music; through Sunday)
Walking the Dog Day -- Can't find the originator of this one, but walk your dog, or do your yoyo tricks, whichever works for you
Washington's Birthday -- US
Washington University in St. Louis is founded, 1853
Pennsylvania State University is founded in State College, Pennsylvania, 1955
Edward Payson Weston, "The Father of Modern Pedestrianism," who gave lectures on the health benefits of walking, first comes into the public eye by leaving on this date to walk to Lincoln's inauguration, a distance of 478 miles, 1861*
Lee Petty wins the first Daytona 500, 1959
Following United States President Richard Nixon's visit to the People's Republic of China, the two countries agree to establish liaison offices, 1973
In Lake Placid, New York, the United States hockey team defeats the Soviet Union hockey team 4-3, in what is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in sports history, 1980
In Roslin, Scotland, scientists announce that an adult sheep named Dolly had been successfully cloned, 1997
An earthquake measuring 6.3 in magnitude strikes Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 181 people, 2011
*Yes, he got there in 10 days, in time for the inaugural ball!
Any time you long for the "good old days," you might want to check out these pictures someone posted from the Sears Catalog that is dated 1900.
Peruse at your leisure the "Greatest Values Ever Known In Washing Machines," the fashions, and the patent medicines "guaranteed" to cure everything from morphine addiction to obesity. Especially fascinating is "Brown's Vegetable Cure for Female Weakness."
Harken back to the latest in travel -- in wagons, horse not included. Remember the days when no one went anywhere without a hat.
The "good old days" were fine, if you can live without the modern conveniences, which i admit i would much rather not do.
Anniversary of His Majesty the King -- Bhutan
Anthesteria -- Ancient Greek Calendar (three day Festival of Flowers, feast of the dead, and drinking festival; date approximate)
Card Reading Day -- because greeting cards can be fun to just stop and read, can't they?
Day in Honor of Dr. W. H. Lini, Father of Independence -- Vanuatu
Feast of the Feralia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (final day of the Parentalia, with picnics in the graveyard that included libations to the departed)
International Mother Language Day -- UNESCO
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day -- some student programs at universities are set for this weekend
Montreal Hunting, Fishing, & Camping Show -- Montreal, Canada (weekend long celebration of the outdoors)
National Conference on Education -- Los Angeles, CA, US (three day conference sponsored by the American Assn. of School Administrators)
Ottawa Boat and Sportsmen Show -- Ottawa, ON, Canada (weekend long celebration of all things outdoors)
Remember the Funniest Thing Your Kid Ever Did Day -- in honor of Erma Bombeck's birth anniversary
Sandino Day -- Nicaragua (assassination anniversary of Augusto César Sandino)
Shaheed Dibosh -- Bangladesh (International Mother Language Day/Language Martyr's Day, for those who died in the Bengali Language Movement in 1952)
St. Peter Damian's Day (Doctor of the Church)
Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous -- Whitehorse, YT, Canada (mad trapper competition, flour packing, beard growing contest, old-time fiddle show, and more, with this year's theme being "The Magic and the Mystery"; through Sunday)
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish the Communist Manifesto, 1848
Edwin T. Holmes installs the first electric burglar alarm, in Boston, Massachusetts, 1858
The first Roman Catholic parish church for blacks in the US is dedicated, in Baltimore, Maryland, 1864
The first telephone book is issued, to 50 subscribers in New Harbor, Connecticut, 1878
The first instant developing camera is demonstrated in NYC, by E H Land, 1947
The British government, under Winston Churchill, abolishes identity cards in the UK to "set the people free", 1952
The Peace symbol is designed and completed by Gerald Holtom, commissioned by Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 1958
Malcolm X is assassinated, 1965
The Convention on Psychotropic Substances is signed at Vienna, 1971
The Soviet unmanned spaceship Luna 20 lands on the Moon, 1972
Former United States Attorney General John N. Mitchell and former White House aides H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman are sentenced to prison, 1975
Steve Fossett lands in Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada becoming the first person to make a solo flight across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon, 1995
"Mom, you know what?"
With Bigger Girl, i never quite know, but i can often imagine. It's going to be something interesting.
"It's probably a good thing Romney didn't win the election. After all, this country isn't ready for a Second, Third, and Fourth Lady!" She was grinning ear to ear as she said this.
No, i'm certain we aren't ready for that, i noted. Then i asked her if she had learned anything interesting in school today.
"Yes," she answered. "I learned that one of my professors didn't like leftovers until she was in college. Then she says she had to eat them because she couldn't afford to throw away food."
That's not exactly what i meant, but it will do. And that lady wouldn't have done well at all in this family.
"Oh, and I exchanged phone numbers with Chris. He's part of Will's study group. Most of the girls are only interested in going to the mall. Or hunting. The guys are the ones I like to talk to. They have more diverse interests."
So, all in all, a good day.
"Yes, and now it's time to go study, I have another test tomorrow."
Ah, i remember the days when study was all i really had to worry about, and i miss them sometimes.
Bicentenario de la Batalla de Salta -- Argentina (Bicentennial of the Battle of Salta)
Blessed Wulfric's Day
Festival au Desert -- Oursi, Burkina Faso (the most remote music festival in the world, with lots of African music and traditions; through the 22nd)
Flying Car Day -- the Arrowmobile, the first flying car, patented this day in 1937 (and can you imagine, as bad as driving is, how many accidents we would have if these people were flying around instead?)
Georgia National Rodeo -- Perry, GA (winners here qualify for the National Finals in December; through the 24th)
Hoodie Hoo Day (Northern Hemisphere) -- at noon local time, citizens are requested to go outside and yell "Hoodie-Hoo" to chase away winter and call in spring; sponsored by Wellcat Holidays
Khajuraho Dance Festival -- Khajuraho, India (annual gathering of Indian classical dancers from across the country and abroad; through the 26th)
Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival -- University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, US (students from elementary to college from all over the US participate in student performances and attend concerts and clinics in vocal and instrumental jazz performance; through Saturday)
Love Your Pet Day -- a day to pamper pets, like they don't get pampered enough
St Leo of Catania's Day (a/k/a Leo the Wonderworker, Patron of Rometta, Longi, and Sinagra, Sicily)
Toothpick Day -- first machine used to make them patented this day in 1872
World Day for Social Justice -- UN
US Post Office, 1792 (George Washington signed the act which created it)
The Postal Service Act, establishing the United States Post Office Department, is signed by President George Washington, 1792
In New York City the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens, 1872
The first minor league baseball association is organized, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1887
The Avro Arrow program to design and manufacture supersonic jet fighters in Canada is cancelled by the Diefenbaker government amid much political debate, 1959
While aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth, making three orbits in 4 hours, 55 minutes, 1962
Ranger 8 crashes into the moon after a successful mission of photographing possible landing sites for the Apollo program astronauts, 1965
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization disbands, 1976
Texas industrialist Ross Perot's U.S. presidential campaign begins, 1992
Spain becomes the first country to vote in a referendum on ratification of the proposed Constitution of the European Union, passing it by a substantial margin, but on a low turnout, 2005
Printers' Woes
Once again, Reader's Digest is filing for bankruptcy.
Every time i read about another magazine or newspaper going out of business, cutting back on how often it publishes, or switching completely to online, it hurts my heart a little.
The Digest will not go out of business now, but the whole future of print media is up in the air.
Some of my favorite memories are of reading the newspaper as a child, especially the advice columns and the funnies.
That's something the kids and i still do. We have a newspaper on the kitchen table each day, courtesy of my parents, who pass theirs along to us, and all of us stop at some point in the day to peruse it.
When everyone is done reading, i take them and do the puzzles; i can't imagine not having them around.
Yet it seems that, someday, it might really happen.
Let's hope not. Now please excuse me while i go read the latest Digest. It has some great stories about terrible bosses that i want to laugh over.
Armed Forces Day -- Mexico
Birthday of Minerva -- Ancient Roman Calendar
Birthday of Shivaji -- Maharashtra, India
Chaoflux -- Discordianism
Chief Leschi Day -- US, especially Washington State (Native American chief wrongly executed for murder on this date in 1958; fully exhonerated 2004)
Crackerjacks Prize Day -- the first prizes were added to the boxes of carmel popcorn this date in 1913
Flag Day -- Turkmenistan
Musikahan Festival -- Tagum City, Phillipines (using music to help the victims of Typhoon Pablo; through Sunday)
National Chocolate Mint Day (because every day needs chocolate in some form)
Single-Tasking Day -- encouraging you to do one thing at a time, and not feel guilty; begun by Theresa Gabriel, who suggests it be on the 4th Tuesday of the month, although other sites list other dates
Solar System Day -- birth anniversary of Copernicus
St. Conrad of Piacenza's Day -- (Patron against hernias)
Straw Wrapper Appreciation Day -- an internet spread holiday to remind you of how much fun it was as a kid to blow the wrappers off the straws
Temporary Insanity Day -- anniversary of the first time someone successfully pleaded temporary insanity in a court of law; Daniel Stickles, in 1859
Vassil Levski Day -- Bulgaria (Bulgaria's "Apostle of Freedome")
British explorer William Smith discovers the South Shetland Islands, and claims them in the name of King George III, 1819
Ed Wynn becomes the first talent to sign as a regular radio entertainer, 1922
Artificial heart recipient William J. Schroeder becomes the first such patient to leave hospital, 1985
The Soviet Union launches its Mir spacecraft, 1986
NASA's Mars Odyssey space probe begins to map the surface of Mars using its thermal emission imaging system, 2002
Delays, Delays
That's what Marvin the Martian used to say every time Bugs Bunny took his Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator. (Marvin, by the way, is one of my very favorite cartoon characters of all time.)
This time, the delays involve Ol' Bessy, my aging, ailing laptop. She is getting slower and slower sometimes. Scans are taking a bit longer. My virus protection turned itself off, and i've had to re-download it because it wouldn't just update.
Malwarebytes took over an hour to do a "quick" scan, and she is overheating again at times.
Because i can't use the laptop much right now, i'm not sure when i'll be able to post more pictures of the kittens. It's taken this first-cousin-to-a-Luddite this long just to figure out how to use the laptop to do it, and so there will be a delay while i see if i can figure it out on the other computer.
What she really needs, i've been told, is to be wiped clean and have Windows XP reloaded. The problem, of course, is that i don't have an XP disk to use to do that.
And in other news, Young Jacob has been in a minor car accident. Someone in our neighborhood ran a stop sign and hit him. The man admitted his fault, and it was obvious to the Deputy that the other party was in the wrong. No injuries, thank Heaven, but Young Jacob will be needing a rental, or rides to work. Even without popping the hood he knew he needed a new bumper and radiator at least.
Celtic Tree Month Nuin (Ash) begins
Clean Out Your Cubby Holes Day -- internet generated, but if you have any cubby holes, give them a look today, make sure nothing is in there you don't want to see
Cold Day in H*ll -- snow fell in the Sahara today in 1979
Day of Spenta Armaiti -- Zoroastrian (goddess of earth and fertility, especially celebrated by women; originally on Esfand 5th, which corresponds to 24 February, but is now celebrated on the 18th for reasons i can't figure out)
Family Day -- AB, ON, SK, Canada
Festival of Women -- Persian (traditional, it has been kept even among those who are no longer Zoroastrian)
Hadaka Matsuri -- Inazawacho, Japan (thousands of loincloth-wearing men try to touch the closely guarded Shin-otoko [a man chosen, stripped naked, and shaved totally] as he is on his way to the shrine)
Independence Day -- Gambia(1965)
Islander Holiday -- PEI, Canada
Louis Riel Day -- MB, Canada
National Battery Day -- probably created by the battery manufacturers, but they won't claim it
Pluto Day/Solar System Day -- the planet/planetoid was discovered on this day in 1930, and then considered to "complete" the solar system
Presidents' Day -- US and Territories
Rastraya Prajatantra Dibas -- Nepal (Democracy Day)
Rites of Tacita -- Ancient Roman Calendar (goddess of silence, rites to keep people from speaking out in anger)
Saidai-ji Eyo -- Saidai-ji, Okayama Prefecture, Japan (Spectacular and atmospheric naked festival dating back to the 14th century, in which up to 10,000 loincloth-wearing [and sometimes drunk] men battle for sacred wooden sticks [shingi] tossed into the air by priests.)
St. Bernadette of Lourdes' Day (in France; the remainder of the church celebrates her on 16 April)
Tanigumi Odori -- Tanigumi-mura, Gifu Prefecture, Japan (dance festival)
Tara Puja -- Tibetan Buddhist
Thumb Appreciation Day
Ohio State University is chartered as the first US land-grant college, 1804
Origin of the Kali Yuga Epoch ("age of vice" or Dark Age) of the Hindu/Buddhist calendars, BC3102
The premiere of George Frideric Handel's oratorio, "Samson" takes place in London, 1743
While studying photographs taken in January, Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto, 1930
The first Church of Scientology is established in Los Angeles, California, 1954
The Space Shuttle Enterprise test vehicle is carried on its maiden "flight" on top of a Boeing 747, 1977
Snow falls in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria for the only time in recorded history, 1979
Dan Jansen skates world record 1000m (1:12.43), 1994
Huddled Up
Our weather has gotten cold again, and as the kittens get bigger, they don't want to stay in the carrier. They do want to stay warm, however. Thus:
Two calicoes, a tortoiseshell, a tabby, and a tuxedo, all huddled in front of a space heater on a Winnie-the-Pooh blanket. The tabby and tux are boys. Over the course of this week, i'll try to get individual pictures.
Speaking of huddled, Bigger Girl has informed me that in football, the huddle was invented by a school for the deaf. The players had to huddle up like that to use sign language to communicate the next play to one another without the other team being able to see the signs and read them. Amazing what trivia she can come up with.
Burgbrenne -- Luxembourg (traditional burning of special bonfires on the first Sunday of Lent)
Day of Cancelled Expectations -- according to William Least Heat-Moon in his autobiography, Blue Highways
Daytona 500 Pole Day -- Daytona International Speed-way, Daytona Beach, FL, US (qualifying, and eanring the right to lead the pack)
Dita e Pavaresise -- Kosovo (Independence Day)(2008)
Feast of Shezmu -- Ancient Egyptian Calendar (god of the winepress; date approximate)
February 17 Revolution Day -- Libya
Hachinohe Enburi Matsuri -- Hachinohe, Japan (festival with prayers for a good harvest; through Wednesday)
Last day of Celtic Tree Month Luis (Rowan)
My Way Day -- today, determine your identity all by yourself, apart from what other people say you should be; sponsored by Wellcat Holidays
National Indian Pudding Day
National PTA Founders Day -- US
Practice Your Free Throws Day -- spread around the internet by someone who really loves basketball
Quirinalia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (a/k/a Feast of Fools)
Snow Ice Cream Day -- internet generated; if you want to try it, and are sure your snow is reasonably clean, add sugar, milk, a touch of vanilla, and enjoy
St. Fortchern of Trim's Day (Patron of bell-founders)
Tanis Diena -- Ancient Latvain Calendar (To honor pigs)
Miami University is chartered by the State of Ohio, 1809
Barry Humphries (Dame Edna Everage), 1934
The first volume of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" is
published, 1776
Madame Butterfly receives its première at La Scala in Milan, 1904
Vanguard 2 – The first weather satellite is launched to measure cloud-cover distribution, 1959
Sales of the Volkswagen Beetle exceed those of the Ford Model-T, 1972
Garry Kasparov beats the Deep Blue supercomputer in a chess match, 1996
Kosovo declares independence, 2008
In Threes
My thoughts, post V-Day.
Three days, 12 delivery routes, and 100 successful deliveries. Two returns, one popped balloon that got replaced and the delivery made anyway. My best holiday yet.
Some people just can't catch a break; some of the people on the disabled cruise ship ended up on a bus back to Texas that also broke down. Ouch.
Third and finally, between all of those deliveries i went for my annual physical. All is well, and i need to call back in 6 months to check my thyroid levels again, as well as schedule my mammogram, first ever DEXA scan, and first colonoscopy. Oh, joy.
Oh, and i should have said, fourth, that i'm going to get a lot of rest this weekend (when i'm not bottle feeding the 5 kittens and cooking meals and doing laundry).
Sometimes i have to quote the cartoon my mother keeps on her refrigerator. It's a picture of Calvin, from Calvin and Hobbes,and you can tell he is angry and frowning. It says, "G-d put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now, i am so far behind, i will never die!"
While i jokingly tell people i want to live to be 127 and still be the life of the party to the end, i'm now wondering if it's not going to take me that many years to get through my to do list.
Well, better to wear out than rust out.
Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!
Akiyoshidai Yamayaki -- Akiyoshidai, Japan (dry grass on the mountain side is burned in this coming of spring ceremony)
Bonten Matsuri -- Miyoshi-jinja Shrine, Akita, Japan (two day festival to ask for good crops this year)
Camellia Festival 2013 -- Chiswick House and Gardens Trust, London, England (through Mar. 17)
Do a Grouch a Favor Day -- internet generated attempt to get us to either get the grouches on our side, or make us cynical
Festival au Desert -- Bamako, Mali (continuation of the most remote music festival in the world)
Galesburg Historical Society Chocolate Festival -- Galesburg, IL, US (home made and commercially made chocolates, all you can eat for the price of the low admission fee; through tomorrow)
Ice Fishing Derby -- Fort Peck, MT, US (subject to cancellation if there is no ice)
Independence Day -- Lithuania (National Day/Restoration of Statehood)(1918)
Kyoto Protocol Day -- International (treaty on climate change; today is proposed as "Wear purple for Kyoto Day")
La Fiesta de Los Vaqueros and Tucson Rodeo -- Tucson, AZ, US (celebrating the Old West heritage; through the 24th)
Lemon Festival -- Menton, French Riviera (through Mar. 6)
Saidai-ji Hadaka Matsuri -- Okayama Prefecture, Japan (Naked Festival, in which a Shinto man strips, is completely shaved, then runs through town while thousands of townsmen in loincloths try to touch him while guard's throw cold water on them)
St. Juliana of Cumae's Day (Patron of the ill)
St. Onesimus' Day (runaway slave of Philemon, converted by Paul, of whom the Letter to Philemon was written)
Nichiren, 1222
Howard Carter unseals the burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, 1923
Wallace H. Carothers receives a United States patent for nylon, 1937
Canadians are granted Canadian citizenship after 80 years of being British subjects. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King becomes the first Canadian citizen, 1947
Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba after dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown on January 1, 1959
In Haleyville, Alabama, the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone system goes into service, 1968
The first computer bulletin board system is created (CBBS in Chicago, Illinois), 1978
The trial of John Demjanjuk, accused of being a Nazi guard dubbed "Ivan the Terrible" in Treblinka extermination camp, starts in Jerusalem, 1987
The Kyoto Protocol comes into force, following its ratification by Russia, 2005
The last Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) is decommissioned by the United States Army, 2006
*This is the same US state that still has a law on its books requiring every resident to take a bath at least once a year, whether the person needs it or not!
On our big day, i headed out to begin deliveries before 7am. By the time i was done, it was 7pm.
Two items returned from my routes, one because there was no such address and we were given no contact number (remember my hints!), one because it was misrouted and ended up getting there after the person had left work. It had to be redelivered.
Oh, and i am ashamed of myself; i popped a balloon by accident. At least i was able to run back, get another, and still get it to the lady, but for heaven's sake, i know better.
Today is my last day, i will "bat cleanup," taking care of the ones that couldn't be delivered yesterday, for whatever reason.
Then, i get a break until Mother's Day.
Candlemas -- on the Julian Calendar, and in the Orthodox Churches
Decimal Day -- UK (anniversary of the 1971 currency conversion to the decimal system)
Flag Day -- Canada (Maple Leaf adopted this date 1965)
Great Back Yard Bird Count begins -- birdsource.org; a four day project for anyone from across North America; count birds for a few minutes a day today, or every day for the next four days, giving a real time idea of where the birds are now
John Frum Day -- Tanna Island, Vanuatu
Kamakura Matsuri -- Yokote, Akita Prefecture, Japan (Snow Cave Festival; through tomorrow)
Kuromori Kabuki -- Kuromori, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan (traditional Kabuki, through the 17th)
Lupercalia -- Ancient Roman Calendar (remembrance of the she-wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus)
National Date Festival -- Indio, CA, US (a most exotic county fair, the date comes from the land of the Arabian Nights and this festival celebrates all aspects of the theme; through the 24th)
Nice Carnival -- Nice, France (dating back to the 14th century, this celebration is one of France's best; through Mar. 6)
Nirvana Day -- Jain
Reenactment of the Battle of Olustee -- Olustee, FL, US (largest Civil War battle in Florida; through Sunday)
Remember the Maine Day -- US (remembrance of the Spanish War)
Singles Awareness Day -- although some celebrate on the 14th as an anti-Valentine's Day
Sretenje -- Serbia (National Day)
Stop and Smell Your Compost Pile Day -- snort away the winter blues and think about spring (but i think this one is just plain weird)
Susan B. Anthony Day -- US (birth anniversary)
Tokamachi Yukimatsuri -- Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, Japan (snow fest and kimono festival; through Sunday)
Total Defense Day -- Singapore
Vasant Panchami / Saraswati Puja -- Hindu (celebrating Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge)
Wings Over the Platte Spring Migration Celebration -- Grand Island, NE, US (the world's largest concentration of sandhill cranes is celebrated through next month)
Miep Gees, 1909
American President Rutherford B. Hayes signs a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, 1879
Gerald Lankester Harding and Roland de Vaux begin excavations at Cave 1 of the Qumran Caves, where they will eventually discover the first seven Dead Sea Scrolls, 1949
The Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China sign a mutual defense treaty, 1950
Canada and the United States agree to construct the Distant Early Warning Line, a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic regions of Canada and Alaska, 1954
A new red-and-white maple leaf design is adopted as the flag of Canada, replacing the old Canadian Red Ensign banner, 1965
The decimalisation of British coinage is completed on Decimal Day, 1971
The 1976 Constitution of Cuba is adopted by the national referendum, 1976
The drilling rig Ocean Ranger sinks during a storm off the coast of Newfoundland, killing 84 rig workers, 1982
The Soviet Union officially announces that all of its troops have left Afghanistan, 1989
At the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China, a Long March 3 rocket, carrying an Intelsat 708, crashes into a rural village after liftoff, killing an unannounced number of people, 1996
First draft of the complete Human Genome is published in Nature, 2001
YouTube, the Internet site on which videos may be shared and viewed by others, is launched in the United States, 2005
Day one deliveries went well, and i even got to bring flowers to a really good, old family friend. It was amusing, i saw the name on the manifests, and told them i knew that person, and told stories about her from years ago, and they put me on that route.
At home, things didn't go quite so swimmingly, though. Someone let a cat into our bedroom that is not normally allowed in, and it decided to mark its territory on our bed. Thus i came home to dirty dishes (no one had washed up), and a bed to remake.
It could be worse, i could have not had chili planned and almost ready for dinner.
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting -- Washington, DC, US (a five day meeting of top scientist; who knows what these people will come up with next, because science is amazing!)
Bird Mating Season begins -- according to legend, in honor of St. Valentine
Blessing of the Salmon Nets -- Norham, Northumberland, England & North Shields, Northumbria, England (just before midnight, nets are blessed and right after midnight, the first nets of the season are thrown out; anything caught is presented to the officiating vicar)
Day Sacred to Juno Lupa -- Ancient Roman Calendar (Juno of the Wolf)
Feast of Vali -- Asatru/Slavic Pagan (archer god, an Asatru answer to the Valentine celebration, which is really a thinly disguised Lupercalia)
Ferris Wheel Day -- birth anniversary of G.W.G. Ferris, Jr.
Festival au Desert -- Segou, Mali (continuation of the most remote music festival in the world)
Fjortende Februar -- Denmark (Danish lovers send each other snowdrop flowers.)
International Quirkyalone Day -- a day to value your individuality, whether you are partnered or not
League of Women Voter's Day -- US
Liberation Day -- Afghanistan
Library Lovers Day -- for those whose favorite companion is a great book
Miami International Boat Show -- Miami, FL, US (biggest boat show in the US, and the main event for product introductions; through Monday)
National Call In Single Day -- what a lot of men who feel pressured to be romantic on this day wish they could do, i'm sure!
National Have-a-Heart Day -- to create awareness of the impact of our food choices on the environment, world hunger, animal welfare and human health—especially heart health
National Organ Donor Day -- US, but no matter where you live, consider leaving instructions about this to your loved ones
Race Relations Day -- originally on Lincoln's birth anniversary, now on the day promoting love
Rafik Hairi Memorial Day -- Lebanon
Read to Your Child Day -- to start their love of learning early (and do it daily!)
Simplot Games -- Holt Arena, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, US (Indoor track and field for the top high school athletes from the US and Canada; through Saturday)
Sts. Cyril & Methodius' Day (Patrons ecumenism, unity of Eastern and Western Churches; Bohemia; Bulgaria; Czech Republic; Europe; Moravia; the Slavic peoples)
Trifon Zarezan -- Bulgaria (Viticulturists' Day; since Thracian times, a day to celebrate Dionysus and wine)
Valentine's Day (St. Valentine of Rome, Patron of apiarists/beekeepers, betrothed couples, greeting card manufacturers, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, travellers, young people; Bussolengo, Italy; against epilepsy, fainting, plague)
George Washington Gale Ferris,Jr., 1859
Approximately 2,000 Jews are burned to death by mobs or forcibly removed from the city of Strasbourg, 1349
The United States Flag is formally recognized by a foreign naval vessel for the first time, when French Admiral Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte rendered a nine gun salute to USS Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones, 1778
James Cook is killed by Native Hawaiians near Kealakekua on the Island of Hawaii, 1779
John Jervis and Horatio Nelson lead the British Royal Navy to victory over a Spanish fleet in action near Gibraltar, 1797
The original Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is formed in Kirtland, Ohio, 1835
In New York City, James Knox Polk becomes the first serving President of the United States to have his photograph taken, 1849
A.G. Bell and Elisha Gray both apply for a patent for a telephone; Bell first by only 2 hours, and is ruled the rightful inventor, 1876
Voting machines are approved by the U.S. Congress for use in federal elections, 1899
The Soviet Union adopts the Gregorian calendar, 1918
The League of Women Voters is founded in Chicago, Illinois, 1920
ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, is unveiled, 1946
The Knesset (Israeli parliament) convenes for the first time, 1949
Element 103, Lawrencium, is first synthesized at the University of California, 1961
The first of 24 satellites of the Global Positioning System are placed into orbit, 1989
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text:
De treinbotsing bij Larissa vond plaats op 28 februari 2023, ten zuiden van de Tempi-vallei, nabij het dorp Evangelismos in Thessalië, een regio in Griekenland. Een intercitytrein die van Athene naar Thessaloniki reisde en vertraging had, kwam frontaal in botsing met een intermodale trein die op hetzelfde stuk spoor in tegengestelde richting reed, waardoor beide treinen gedeeltelijk ontspoorden.

Het is de dodelijkste spoorwegramp in de Griekse geschiedenis, met 47 doden, meer dan 85 gewonden en ongeveer 50 tot 60 lichamen die vermist of niet geïdentificeerd zijn.

Achtergrond
Passagierstrein InterCity 62, die om 19:22 uur van Athene naar Thessaloniki zou vertrekken, verliet het station een paar minuten achter op schema om ongeveer 19:30 uur EET (17:30 UTC), met ongeveer 350 passagiers. Deze trein werd geëxploiteerd door Hellenic Train, een dochteronderneming van Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane. De trein zou om 23:35 uur aankomen op het station van Thessaloniki. Tegelijkertijd reed een goederentrein met verschillende platte wagens geladen met containers en plaatstaal van Thessaloniki naar Larissa, getrokken door HellasSprinter-locomotief.

Eerder op dezelfde dag  had een explosie in het elektriciteitsnet op het treinstation van Palaiofarsalos tot gevolg dat de bovenleiding op een andere intercitytrein viel, wat leidde tot verschillende vertragingen op de lijn. De rampplek lag net naast een viaduct van de A1-snelweg, op een stuk lijn dat in 2003 werd geopend als onderdeel van een lijnherbouwprogramma dat gericht was op het segment van Larissa naar Thessaloniki van de hoofdlijn.

Vanwege vertragingen bij de implementatie van het European Train Control System (ETCS) is er een enkel blokgedeelte van het uitgangssein bij Larissa naar het ingangssein bij Neoi Poroi, waardoor de lijndoorvoer wordt beperkt tot zeven treinen per uur per enkele reis.  De implementatie van ETCS was oorspronkelijk gepland voor 2020, maar zal nu naar verwachting eind 2023 voltooid zijn.

Botsing
De botsing tussen de twee treinen vond plaats op de hoofdlijn Athene-Thessaloniki, die wordt geëxploiteerd door OSE, de Griekse nationale spoorwegmaatschappij. Het gedeelte waar het ongeval plaatsvond, gelegen 27,3 kilometers ten noorden van Larissa, was dubbelsporig en voorzien van automatische besturingen, maar wissels en seinen werden nog handmatig bediend. Vlak voor middernacht botsten de passagierstrein en de goederentrein frontaal op elkaar in de buurt van Evangelismos. In een interview met ERT meldde de gouverneur van Thessalië, Kostas Agorastos, dat de eerste vier rijtuigen van de passagierstrein waren ontspoord en dat de eerste twee rijtuigen in brand vlogen en "bijna volledig vernield" waren. Vanwege de duisternis ten tijde van het ongeval en het gebrek aan tijd voor de machinisten om op het ongeval te reageren, werd geschat dat de passagierstrein met snelheden tussen 140 en 160 km/h reed.

Passagiers konden naar verluidt de trein verlaten door ramen die ofwel bij de crash waren gebroken ofwel door passagiers. Velen raakten in paniek vanwege de chaotische scène van de crash, waarbij sommigen vastzaten in rijtuigen die minstens 45 graden waren gekanteld.

Talrijke treinwagons vlogen in brand na de botsing, en 17 voertuigen en 150 brandweerlieden waren bezig de vlammen te blussen. Ondertussen werden reddingspogingen ondernomen met de hulp van 40 ambulances en meer dan 30 politieagenten ter plaatse. Het wrak was zo ernstig dat kraanwagens werden gebruikt om voertuigen te bevrijden. Het Helleense leger werd opgeroepen om te helpen. Zo'n 250 overlevende passagiers, onder wie een aantal met lichte verwondingen, werden per bus geëvacueerd van de plaats van het ongeluk naar Thessaloniki.

Slachtoffers
Zevenenveertig mensen werden gedood en 85 anderen raakten gewond, van wie 25 ernstig. Van de gewonden werden er 66 in het ziekenhuis opgenomen, waarvan zes op intensive care. De identificatie van sommige slachtoffers was een uitdaging vanwege de hoge temperaturen die opliepen tot 1,300 ° C in het eerste rijtuig.

Nasleep
De Griekse regering heeft na de crash een spoedvergadering belegd en minister van Volksgezondheid Thanos Plevris bezocht de plaats. President Katerina Sakellaropoulou brak haar bezoek aan Moldavië af om steun te bieden aan de slachtoffers. Minister van Transport Kostas Achilleas Karamanlis nam ontslag na het treinongeluk en verklaarde op de plaats van het ongeval dat het zijn verantwoordelijkheid was om dit te doen "als een fundamentele blijk van respect voor de nagedachtenis van de mensen die zo oneerlijk stierven". De stationschef werd gearresteerd op verdenking van doodslag. Hij legde echter een verklaring af waarin hij beweerde dat het wrak niet zijn schuld was, maar het gevolg was van een storing in de apparatuur.

Onderzoek
Na de crash werden twee spoorwegbeambten ondervraagd door de politie. Een van hen, een stationschef, werd gearresteerd en beschuldigd van het veroorzaken van dood en letsel door nalatigheid. De stationmanager van Larissa beweerde dat de overgang van de opwaartse lijn (noordelijke richting) naar de neerwaartse lijn (zuidelijke richting) niet functioneerde en dat de passagierstrein op de opwaartse lijn had moeten blijven om de goederentrein te vermijden. Ook beweerde hij de trein door een rood sein te hebben laten gaan. Seinproblemen zijn niet ongewoon in Griekenland.

Reacties
Na het treinongeluk kondigde de Griekse regering een driedaagse rouwperiode af, waarin alle vlaggen halfstok hingen en feestelijke evenementen werden uitgesteld. De arbeidersvakbond STASY schortte de geplande stakingsactie in de metro van Athene op uit respect voor de slachtoffers. De voorzitter van de Griekse machinistenvakbond verklaarde dat het ongeval "had kunnen worden voorkomen als de veiligheidssystemen werkten". Ook voor het gebouw van de Europese Commissie in Brussel werden de vlaggen de ochtend na het ongeval halfstok gestreken.

Verschillende wereldleiders betuigden hun condoleances aan de families van de slachtoffers, waaronder de Franse minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Catherine Colonna, voorzitter van de Europese Commissie Ursula von der Leyen, voorzitter van de Europese Raad Charles Michel, en de Franse president Emmanuel Macron, die schreef op Twitter, "Frankrijk staat naast de Grieken". De staatsmedia van de Volksrepubliek China meldden dat president Xi Jinping een condoleancebrief had gestuurd aan president Sakellaropoulou. Het Turkse ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken bracht ook een verklaring uit waarin het zijn condoleances betuigde en een spoedig herstel wenste aan de gewonden bij het incident.

In de nasleep van de ramp werden er herdenkingen gehouden. Daarnaast waren er in de eerste week na de ramp boze protesten en rellen in Thessaloniki, Larissa en Athene, onder meer bij het parlementsgebouw. Premier Mitsokatis bood vijf dagen na het treinongeval via sociale media zijn excuses aan voor de gemaakte fouten die tot de ramp hadden geleid.

Referenties

Wikipedia:Coördinaten op Wikidata
Ramp in 2023
Larissa
Ramp in Griekenland

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


If you take photographs at the 2018 Loop and would like to share them, please drag and drop them using this link: https://leathermansloop.smugmug.com/upload/FknLkZ/loop2018 and they will appear here for other runners to enjoy. Please email us at leathermansloop@gmail.com if you post here so we know who we should thank! If you have a lot of photos we will make you your own separate album after you post here.


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Whether you are planning for hiking, camping or hunting, a multi-tool is an amazing piece of hiking gear which is really handy. It can fit easily inside your pockets.
Carrying a multi-tool with you while hiking will save lots of hassle as well as packing space. This is a pocket-sized tool which holds together all the functions which you could come across a typical toolbox used in the household.
Instead of packing all the screwdrivers, saw, pliers and knives you can find all these in a small and compact tool which in turn does the functions of all these.
You don't need to worry as this compact tool kit can be placed within your backpack itself. There are even multi-tool kits which can fit inside a pocket. Choose the one which satisfies your need.
How to Choose the Best Hiking Multi-tools?
You can use this compact toolkit for countless purposes. Extraordinarily useful, these are one among the ingenious tools for hiking.
They offer a wide range of functions; however, you won't require all of it. Yet, many of them will be useful to you more than you expected.
Below listed are the factors which need consideration while selecting your hiking multi-tools.
The main consideration with finding the best hiking multi-tool is to figure out the purpose with it.
Whether you are going to use it on daily basis on your house or for hiking purpose or for any specific outdoor adventure, sorting it out will help you to narrow your selection process.
After figuring out the purpose of the multi-tool, you can now move on to the features it holds. Right from the magnifying glasses to the scissors and the saws, all the popular ones are available in the marketplace. First think about your major requirement.
For example, campers will be focusing more on the knives as well as openers. Note down the tools which you need the most and then compare with the multi-tools for choosing the best fit for you.
You can get cheap ones as low as $3 or $4 dollars via online or through stores. However they don't have all the features which the high end ones are having. A durable as well as high quality, multi-tool will cost around $150 dollars.
They will be versatile and well-made too. While settling on the budget, check out how often you are planning to use it.
The number of functions as well as the type will make each hiking multi-tool unique. Majority of the ultralight backpackers will try to pick one with eating utensils or that tool which is smaller when compared to average tools for saving on weight.
You should also consider the weight factor even if you are not an ultralight backpacker. If you are not going to use it for anything else other than for opening your beer bottles, then going for a smaller and cheaper tool is the best option for you as it will avoid the extra weight factor added to your backpack.
Remember that, high quality tools are made out of materials with heavy weight.
The expensive and the heavier multi-tools are highly durable. If you are in a plan to use it on daily basis, then try to get the one which is stylish in nature without compromising on the brand that is having a good reputation in the marketplace.
It accounts for rugged construction along with better longevity.
Multi-tools are categorized under several numbers of configurations. They can be a simple one-piece thing to something which is complex 20-tool behemoths.
Some of the basic styles may include folding multi-tools, pocket multi-tools, keychain multi-tools, one-piece multi-tools, wallet multi-tools and specialty multi-tools.
How to Clean the Hiking Multi-tools?
Your knife or the multi-tool which is used for hiking is one of the most important gears which are important for your everyday needs.
If you ever feel a resistance while trying to open it up or see any kind of visible dirt or dust particles inside it, then it is high time to clean it. Below mentioned are the steps you need to follow while cleaning your multi-tool.
Before you start with, make sure that the tool is dry. Now using a toothpick, you can take out the gunk which is seen within the pivots or in the handle.
Keep in mind that, if you are trying to take the lint out while the tool is wet, it won't come out, rather will get stuck inside the pivot and later on it will be harder for you to clean it.
The next step is to wash the knife and clean all the stickiness around it. Be more careful with the locking mechanism and the pivot.
You can even make use of a sponge or some tooth brush with soft-bristles. Take each tool and clean it thoroughly by opening and closing each one of them.
If your knife has lots of lint or gunk build up inside, it is better to soak it in good sudsy water. Using hot water for this process will help to dissolve all the dirt particles and the sticky residues.
You can even make use of rubbing alcohol on a q-tip if the spots are too tough for cleaning.
In order to clean the inner portions of the tool, don't be in a hurry to disassemble it. This will void the warranty period of the product. Instead, try to make a call to the service centers and let them come and clean it for you.
Make sure that you dry the tool completely since even a bit of moisture content will end up in corrosion. There are even chances for the handle to get destroyed.
If there is rust on the blades, you can buy products from the markets which clean the rust very easily. Once this is done, wash and dry it once more.
There are many multi-tools which are coming with moving parts that includes pivots and the locking mechanisms. Make them lubed always so as to work reliably each time.
The Leatherman - Signal Multitool, Stainless Steel with Nylon Sheath (FFP) came first in the market and they are still the topers owing to their amazing features.
The makers are coming with tool that has wide range of configurations. With tools such as fire-starting rod along with an emergency whistle, you can very well withstand all the challenges which nature throws at you.
The Signal comes with tools such as a knife, needle nose pliers, screwdrivers and saws.
The Victorinox SwissTool is a multi-tool which is compact and sturdy in its construction. This is one of the best brands for out in the market for the multi-tools and pocket knives.
It has got folding multi-tool that has 37 functions along with a high quality stainless-steel body. It comes with a Phillips head screwdriver, bottle opener, large knife blade, can opener, metal file and also a metal saw.
It has got a life time warranty period.
You have now reached the ending part of the article and might be confident enough to make the final move on choosing the multi-tool for hiking. Keep in mind your major uses and also consider the tool's top features prior to picking a particular model.
A good hiking multi-tool can make a big difference between a misery as well as memorable trip and will even help when you are in some critical situation.
The only thing to keep in mind is not to put unnecessary burden on you while on the go. Make things lighter by making the perfect choice.


Kim Kardashian is charging fans an eye-watering sum of money to get up close for a selfie.
The reality star, who recently jetted off to Dubai to teach a make-up masterclass, offered to take selfies with her fans for £445 each, a source revealed to OK Online.
The insider also revealed that tickets to the exclusive event cost an astonishing £1300.
Places at the event were reportedly in high demand, after Kim was previously forced to cancel the appearance because of her robbery in Paris.
According to the event's website, Kim shared "detailed, tip and tricks behind her most sought-after looks", answered questions about her beauty secrets and had a meet-and-greet with fans.
Each participant also walked away with a gift bag worth over £2000 worth of products, hand-selected by Kim Kardashian's make-up artist Mario Dedivanovic.
The Dubai make-up masterclass was her first event since her dramatic robbery in October last year.
Since the traumatic incident, French authorities have arrested a number of people linked to the robbery.


text:
Рѐйъдър (, произнася се []; , Ра̀йадър Гуѝ) е град в Централен Уелс, графство Поуис. Разположен е около река Уай на около 90 km на север от столицата Кардиф. Селското стопанство и туризма са основните отрасли на икономиката на града. В Рейъдър на 21 януари 1940 г. е измерена най-ниската температура в Уелс (-23.3 °C, -10 °F). Имал е жп гара до 1963 г. Населението му е 2775 жители според данни от преброяването през 2001 г.

Външни препратки
 Фотоси от Рейъдър и околностите на Geograph.org.uk

Градове в Уелс


If any games are postponed you need to let your age group registrar know, please remembers to include the game details and division. Also remember teams only have 14 days to sort a new date and BOTH teams must email the age-group registrar with the details for the new fixture.
Any under u11s games not played please inform your registrar . Any games not played will be marked void unless both teams agree to play midweek ( if you have the facility's) or on a Saturday morning by Sunday 3rd March . There is no room to go past this date due to it being a 6 week block .


text:
package org.onosproject.openstacknetworking.codec;

import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.node.ObjectNode;
import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress;
import org.onlab.packet.MacAddress;
import org.onosproject.codec.CodecContext;
import org.onosproject.codec.JsonCodec;
import org.onosproject.net.DeviceId;
import org.onosproject.net.PortNumber;
import org.onosproject.openstacknetworking.api.InstancePort;
import org.onosproject.openstacknetworking.impl.DefaultInstancePort;
import org.slf4j.Logger;

import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
import static org.onlab.util.Tools.nullIsIllegal;
import static org.slf4j.LoggerFactory.getLogger;

/**
 * Openstack instance port codec used for serializing and de-serializing JSON string.
 */
public class InstancePortCodec extends JsonCodec<InstancePort> {

    private final Logger log = getLogger(getClass());

    private static final String NETWORK_ID = "networkId";
    private static final String PORT_ID = "portId";
    private static final String MAC_ADDRESS = "macAddress";
    private static final String IP_ADDRESS = "ipAddress";
    private static final String DEVICE_ID = "deviceId";
    private static final String PORT_NUMBER = "portNumber";
    private static final String STATE = "state";

    private static final String MISSING_MESSAGE = " is required in InstancePort";

    @Override
    public ObjectNode encode(InstancePort port, CodecContext context) {
        checkNotNull(port, "Instance port cannot be null");

        return context.mapper().createObjectNode()
                .put(NETWORK_ID, port.networkId())
                .put(PORT_ID, port.portId())
                .put(MAC_ADDRESS, port.macAddress().toString())
                .put(IP_ADDRESS, port.ipAddress().toString())
                .put(DEVICE_ID, port.deviceId().toString())
                .put(PORT_NUMBER, port.portNumber().toString())
                .put(STATE, port.state().name());
    }

    @Override
    public InstancePort decode(ObjectNode json, CodecContext context) {
        if (json == null || !json.isObject()) {
            return null;
        }

        String networkId = nullIsIllegal(json.get(NETWORK_ID).asText(),
                NETWORK_ID + MISSING_MESSAGE);
        String portId = nullIsIllegal(json.get(PORT_ID).asText(),
                PORT_ID + MISSING_MESSAGE);
        String macAddress = nullIsIllegal(json.get(MAC_ADDRESS).asText(),
                MAC_ADDRESS + MISSING_MESSAGE);
        String ipAddress = nullIsIllegal(json.get(IP_ADDRESS).asText(),
                IP_ADDRESS + MISSING_MESSAGE);
        String deviceId = nullIsIllegal(json.get(DEVICE_ID).asText(),
                DEVICE_ID + MISSING_MESSAGE);
        String portNumber = nullIsIllegal(json.get(PORT_NUMBER).asText(),
                PORT_NUMBER + MISSING_MESSAGE);
        String state = nullIsIllegal(json.get(STATE).asText(),
                STATE + MISSING_MESSAGE);

        return DefaultInstancePort.builder()
                .networkId(networkId)
                .portId(portId)
                .macAddress(MacAddress.valueOf(macAddress))
                .ipAddress(IpAddress.valueOf(ipAddress))
                .deviceId(DeviceId.deviceId(deviceId))
                .portNumber(PortNumber.fromString(portNumber))
                .state(InstancePort.State.valueOf(state)).build();
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
OBA: OUR BETTER ANGELS
Created and managed by American artist, Monte Laster, OBA is a project which reveals the rich and hidden talents of young artists from two separate cities, brought together by a common bond.
Overshadowed by repeated discrimination and political exploitation, La Courneuve, near Paris, and Harlem in New York represent powerful statements of urban culture, communicated by a shared artistic voice. OBA seeks to foster and record their message, while highlighting the social complexities of these two extraordinary cultures.
Since its launch in 2010, the project has courted global attention from governments, cities, universities, media, other artists and more. Establishing itself as a long term and sustainable project with a developing international exchange network, there is significant potential for an increasingly greater impact.
The resulting works of OBA will be exhibited through photography, film, music, written works and artistic installations to be showcased in galleries and art exhibitions throughout the world.
To view the Press Release for this project, please click here.
OBA I
In this project, Laster took a group of young rappers from their hometown of La Courneuve in France to Harlem, New York, a neighborhood known for its social complexity and musical heritage. The exchange between the French and Harlem rappers produced a number of exciting connections that eventually led all the way to the White House and the production of a series of films, photos and other materials destined for the construction of a large-scale exhibition.
NEW YORK, 20 FEB – 4 MAR, 2010 – Eight rappers and two bloggers from La Courneuve spent two weeks in New York City and Washington D.C. as part of a special exchange program organized by artist Monte Laster, the F.A.C.E. Association and the Harlem Biennale of Contemporary Art. While in the U.S. these young men explored topics that included contemporary art, the influences of American music: jazz & hip-hop, urban planning, the economic crisis, immigration and the Obama presidency. They also performed and recorded their music and participated in various workshops, collaborating with several non-profit organizations, schools and universities. This work led to a visit to the White House and a film created by the rappers entitled First Personal.
OBA II
OBA II is the second phase of the OBA project. The components of this project are presented below.
LA COURNEUVE, 2011 - As a result of the success of the first phase, FACE had the opportunity to produce this next phase, only this time from the perspective of Harlem. Abiodun Oyewole, considered as one of the founding fathers of hip-hop and slam, joined a group of young spoken-words artists from Harlem as they came to La Courneuve. They participated in a variety of planned events, producing works of their own and interacting with people who, though across the ocean, share an urban community of a similar complexity to Harlem.
The OBA project provides a framework for how these young people of mixed nationalities work together and provides a purpose for their work. The engaging relationships which have ensued as a result of OBA I, have already been extraordinary. OBA has engaged the collaboration of governments, politicians, media, universities and more. The final works of art created through the still ongoing OBA will result in a fascinating story destined for the construction of a large-scale exhibition.
This project is funded by the US Embassy in Paris, The French Ministry of Culture, The City of La Courneuve, and private donors.
FAMILY OF POETS
April 7th-15th, 2012 - OBA II / The Family of Poets is a project conceived by artist Monte Laster and produced under the direction of FACE and Quancard Contemporary Art. It consists of a series of documentary videos, photographs, poems, musical creations, artistic interventions and sculptures. Each piece reflects on themes of education, violence, imitation, belief systems, immigration and the concept of what a "masterpiece" is in today's context. The project links commonalities found between Harlem, New York and La Courneuve, France — each famous for its strong urban cultures, social dynamics, bad-boy image and political influence.
As a journey from the perspective of Harlem in Paris, OBA II / The Family of Poets follows the experience of 8 young poets formed under the direction of Laster. This group will travel to Paris in April 2012 to perform original pieces commissioned by Laster within the context of OBA. Performances will take place in La Courneuve, the Louvre Museum, Chateau de Versailles, Saint-Eustache Church, and for the grand re-opening of the Palais de Tokyo museum. The poets received training and mentoring from legendary poet Abiodun Oyewole of the Last Poets and urban-word artist Mikal Lee (aka. Hired Gun).
URBAN FAIRYTALES
Sister-school program from October 2010 to June 2011.
A sister school program was implemented between the Joliot-Curie Elementary School of La Courneuve and the Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School of Harlem. A collection of "urban fairytales" will be created on video by young children in both schools and then shared over the internet between them. The Family of Poets will work with the rappers of OBA I, Laster, and the children of Harlem. Stories and videos will be shared through a blog. The Family of Poets traveling from Harlem to La Courneuve will be the first physical link between the schools.
ABIODUN OYEWOLE
Participation in the Workshops/Performances from October 2010 to June 2011
Art residency in La Courneuve : June, 2011.
Abiodun Oyewole oversaw and critiqued the work of the Family of Poets in Harlem. Oyewole also did an artist residency in La Courneuve, where he worked in collaboration with Laster on a video about the urban atmosphere. He contributed a text that is in juxtaposition with Laster's images of the city. The residency gave him the opportunity to explore The Last Poets' legacy and its impact on the local community as a paradigm for the global influence of hip-hop.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
2016 NFL Draft: Can Rashad Robinson overcome his past?
Rashard Robinson was dismissed from LSU, but he could still find himself drafted
By Chris Pflum@RaptormkII Feb 18, 2016, 2:00pm EST
Share All sharing options for: 2016 NFL Draft: Can Rashad Robinson overcome his past?
Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
If the name Rashad Robinson rings a bell, but you can't quite figure out why it's because Robinson hasn't played football since November of 2014.
That's because he was suspended indefinitely following an arrest for breaking and entering.
However, before he was suspended and later dismissed from LSU, Robinson was regarded as the Tigers most talented secondary player.
According to a report by Tony Pauline from Draft Insider, Robinson is at least on the Giants' radar.
Personnel people from the Oakland Raiders and New York Giants believe Robinson would've competed for the top cornerback spot in this year's draft had he played the past two seasons and built upon his impressive freshman campaign. I'm told he will measure over 6-feet/2-inches and is expected to run the forty in the 4.3's at the combine. I've also been told Robinson has been invited to participate at LSU's pro-day. As someone told me earlier today teams are willing to roll the dice on tall corners that can run fast as the demand far outstrips the supply.
Height: 6-foot-2
40-Time: 4.40 (projected)
Prototypical height, weight, and speed for the position
Smooth athlete with the ability to backpedal and break on the ball.
Good hips and feet in backpedal
Suspended then dismissed following a breaking and entering incident.
Hasn't played football in a year and a half.
Struggled at times with footwork and physical play
Prospect Video
Big Board Rankings
*Considering Robinson's unique circumstances, we'll forego this for now
Does He Fit With the Giants?
Well, the Giants seem to believe that he could be one of the best corners in the draft, and they might find themselves in the position of needing a corner, so the answer would seem to be "Yes."
However, the question is more complicated than simple scheme fit.
The Giants have been looking for high character players in recent drafts and Robinson's arrest is certainly a red flag. Complicating matters even more, he had filed a report that the teammate who's apartment he had broken into had stolen some items of his [Robinson]. Is he a character risk? Or was he a kid who made a dumb mistake trying to get his property back?
If the Giants draft Robinson, it wouldn't be the first time they took a chance on a young man who had a run-in with the law. In 2007 they selected a running back from Marshall who faced charges regarding the theft of a Playstation 2 from an unlocked dorm room.
Ahmad Bradshaw was eventually selected 250th overall and played a critical role on two separate championship teams.
It would be beyond ambitious to even hope that Rashard Robinson could have a similar career, but there is, at least, something like precedent for the Giants to select a player in his situation. He will be an interesting player to watch in the Scouting Combine and through the rest of the draft process.
2016 NFL Draft: Profiling prospects who could be New York Giants
Auburn OL Shon Coleman a draft fit for Giants?
Are the Giants interested in CB Rashard Robinson?
What could Pharoh Cooper do for the Giants?


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Halle Berry, 47, gave birth to a baby boy on Saturday (Oct. 5) at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
This is Berry's second child, but her first child with new husband and Frenchmen Oliver Martinez. The boy joins 5-year-old sister Nahla, whose father is Berry's ex Gabriel Aubry.
"Every night, we do our prayers," Berry told Wendy Williams last November of her daughter. "We pray to God, so sweet. She says, 'God, please bring me a bunk bed and a baby sister.' And I say, 'I can do one of those things, I know for sure. The other one, we've got to keep praying on.'" Prayers answered.