Today is the last "teaching" co-op of this semester. Next week is the obligatory gift exchange and the fun of watching the kids perform or demonstrate or put out samples of what they did this semester.
For our last recipe, Mildred of http://mildredsmenagerie.blogspot.com/ directed me to the classic cheesecake recipe at http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/philadelphia-classic-cheesecake-52544.aspx . I let the kids work with it and see how easy it is to do a basic cheesecake, and have challenged them to find a more complicated recipe over the break and make one for themselves. I hope they will do it.
Today is:
Becky Thatcher Day (birthday of Laura Hawkins, in 1836, who inspired the
character in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)
Bifocals at the Monitor Liberation Day
Bizarre Bazaar
Calends of December
Carnival of Celendonia -- Fairy Calendar (Celendonia is the Fairy City
all Fairies want to retire to, by the way.)
Civil Air Patrol Day
Eat A Red Apple Day
Festival of Poseidon -- Ancient Greek Calendar (Greek God of Sea &
Rebirth)
Independence Day, Central African Republic, Iceland, Ireland
International Prisoners for Peace Day
National Pie Day
Restoration of Independence, Macau, Poland, Portugal
Rosa Parks Day
Saba Day, throughout the Caribbean
Theater Day
Unity Day, Serbia
Youth Day, Portugal
Anniversaries Today
Napoleon weds Josephine, 1804
Birthdays Today:
Bette Midler, 1945
John Densmore, 1944
Richard Pryor, 1940
Lee Trevino, 1939
Woody Allen, 1935
Lou Rawls, 1933
David Doyle, 1925
Mary Martin, 1913
Charles Finney, 1905
Robert Welch, 1899
Cyril Ritchard, 1897
Rex Stout, 1886
Oliver Wolcott, 1726
Louis VI of France, 1081
Today in History:
Henry V of England enters Paris, 1420
Pasha Muhammad ibn Farukh, governor, driven out of Jerusalem, 1626
Portugal regains independence from Spain, 1640
Massachusetts becomes first colony to give Statutory recognition to slavery, 1641
An athlete from Croydon is reported to have run 20 miles from St. Albans to London in less than 90 minutes, 1653
The first American school to offer manual training courses opens in Maryland, 1750
Charles and M.N. Roberts ascend 2,000' in a hydrogen balloon, 1783
Erie Canal closes for a month due to cold weather, 1831
Hans Christian Andersen publishes his first book of fairy tales, 1835
The first chartered mutual life insurance company opens, 1843
First appearance of sherlock Holmes in print, in "Study in Scarlet", 1887
The first certified public accountants receive their certificates in New York, 1896
The first Western film, "The Great Train Robbery," released, 1903
The first Israeli kibbutz is founded, Deganya Alef, 1909
The first drive-up gasoline station opens in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, 1913
Lady Nancy Astor is sworn in as the first female member of the British Parliament, 1919
There are repeat ads on the radio that have come to the point of making me sick. They really turn my stomach.
They are for "we can help you get out of credit card debt" ads, and they are lies, from companies that prey upon the desperate.
These companies are, at best, a rip off in the bit of help they do give you. At worst, they just steal your money and leave you even worse off than before.
Each one begins by talking about being "government approved" or "part of the bail-out" or some such nonsense. Each talks about how the credit card companies are supposedly "settling" for less than what you owe.
It is true, if you are very far behind, and you can scrape together some cash, you can sometimes get a credit card company to take less than what you owe as settlement in full. You have to get it in writing, and give them no electronic access to your checking account, ever, for any reason. All transactions with them, when you are that far behind, must be by cashier's check overnighted to the credit holding or debt collection company.
These so-called bail out companies just take your money, keeping most of it as a fee, and wait until you are so far behind the credit card company is ready to settle, and they send whatever is left after your fees to settle it for you. It is all stuff you can do for yourself without paying them.
The ads are nauseating. I never thought anything could be worse than all the holiday advertising. I was wrong.
Today is:
Bonifacio Day, Philippines
Computer Security Day
Cyber Monday
Ham and Roast Beef Night
Independence Day, Barbados
National Meth Awareness Day
National Mousse Day
Squirrel Hunt Day
Stay Home Because You're Well Day (sponsored by the Wellness Permission League -- if you get in trouble with the boss, make sure they will take the fall!)
Saint Andrew the Apostle's Day (patron of Scotland, Greece, Russia,
golfers, fishermen, sailors, spinsters; against gout, neck problems)
St. Frumentius' Day
Birthdays Today:
Clay Aiken, 1978
Ben Stiller, 1965
Bo Jackson, 1962
Billy Idol, 1955
Shuggie Otis, 1953
Mandy Patinkin, 1952
David Mamet, 1947
Abbie Hoffman, 1936
G. Gordon Liddy, 1930
Dick Clark, 1929
Robert Guillaume, 1927
Richard Crenna, 1926
Shirley Chisholm, 1924
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., 1923
Gordon Parks, 1912
Winston Churchill, 1874
L(ucy) M(aude) Montgomery, 1874 (Anne of Green Gables)
Mark Twain, 1835
Jonathan Swift, 1667
Today in History:
Amsterdam bans assembly of heretics, 1523
Death count by plague in Venice is officially set at 16,000, 1630
Beijing earthquake causes 100,000+ deaths, 1731
Britain signs agreement recognizing US independence, 1782
Peter Leopold Joseph of Habsburg-Lorraine, Grand Duke of Tuscany, promulgates a penal reform making his country the first state to abolish the death penalty. November 30 is therefore commemorated by 300 cities around the world as Cities for Life Day, 1786
Spain cedes her claims to Louisiana Territory to France, 1803
First ground is broken at Allenburg for the building of the original Welland Canal, 1824
First Welland Canal opens for a trial run, 5 years to the day from the ground breaking, 1829
Work begins on the first US underwater highway tunnel, in Chicago, 1866
The first international soccer football game is held, in Glasgow; Scotland-England 0-0, 1872
The first commercially successful AC electric power plant opens, Buffalo, NY, 1886
A German engineer patents front-wheel drive for automobiles, 1900
American Old West: Second-in-command of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch gang, Kid Curry Logan, is sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labor, 1902
Pike Place Market is dedicated in Seattle, Washington, 1907
The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park London destroyed by fire, 1936
Baseball's Negro National League disbands, two years after major league baseball integrated, 1948
What will they think of next?
Those electronic pets from the past keep coming back to haunt me. Apparently they reinvent the things every few years, whether in digital or robot form, and the kids go crazy for them.
The kids are enamored for about a hour before they get bored and wander off, wanting to do something else.
The best toys are still the ones that lead to hours of creative fun, not the ones that do limited tricks that the kids get bored with.
Save your time in line, go get the kid some toys to build stuff with, or to make artwork with.
Those last.
Today is:
Advent Begins -- Catholic Christian, often observed by other Christian denominations as well
Feast of Great Expectations
Festival of the Sons of Saturn
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
National Chocolates Day
Newspaper Day
Parliament Night
St. Cuthbert Mayne's Day
St. Saturnius' Day
Square Dance Day
Anniversaries Today:
Erwin Rommel marries Lucie "Lu" Mollin, 1916
Birthdays Today:
Jon Knight, 1968
Kim Delaney, 1961
Cathy Moriarty, 1960
Jeff Fahey, 1956
Howie Mandel, 1955
Garry Shandling, 1949
Chuck Mangione, 1940
Peter Bergman, 1939
John Mayall, 1933
Diane Ladd, 1932
Vin Scully, 1927
Madeline L'Engle, 1918
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., 1908
C.S. Lewis, 1898
Busby Berkeley, 1895
Louisa May Alcott, 1832
Christian Doppler, 1803
Today in History:
Jews of Augsburg, Germany, are massacred, 1349
(Sometimes, it seems, the more things change...)
King Philip II devalues Spanish currency, 1596
(See above...)
Sir James Jay invents invisible ink, 1775
Dessalines & Christophe declare St Domingue (Haiti) independent, 1803
First Italian opera in US, "Barber of Seville" premieres (NYC), 1825
Thomas Edison demonstrates hand-cranked phonograph, 1877
The first motorcycle race ever is held in Surrey, England; the distance was one mile and the winner was Charles Jarrot in a time of 2 minutes, 8 seconds, 1897
The first US patent for inventing the traffic lights system is issued to Ernest Sirrine. 1910
Fire destroys most of the buildings on Santa Catalina Island, California, 1915
The first surgery (on a human) to correct blue baby syndrome is performed by Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas, 1944
We have a Youth Pastor at our church.
He is a really great guy.
He taught my son to play the game where you put the fizzy antacids in your mouth, add soda, and see how long you can hold it. My son tried the game at homeschool co-op and got kicked out.
Last night was Fear Factor night for the youth. They spent the night at the church doing such things as capture the flag, hunting for cups in a dark room baited with mouse traps (the kind that pinch but won't actually break finger bones), paintball wars, and eating junk food.
My two kids came home with a bloody nose each, plug a goose egg on one's forehead and facial bruises on the other from a collision with both a tree and another kid.
I think the Youth Pastor needs more supervising!
Today is:
Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha -- Baha'i
Independence Day, Albania, Panama, Mauritania
Make Your Own Head Day
National French Toast Day
Red Planet Day
Republic Day, Chad
St. Simeon Metaphrastes' Day
Swine Time Festival, Climax, Georgia, US -- Come on out and join the fun, the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. Contests & Events include best dressed pig, corn shucking, hog calling, eating chitterlings, pig racing, syrup making, baby crawling and the greased pig chase!
Birthdays Today:
Jon Stewart, 1962
Judd Nelson, 1959
Ed Harris, 1950
Alexander Godunov, 1949
Paul Shaffer, 1949
Joe Dante, 1946
Randy Newman, 1943
Berry Gordy, Jr., 1929
Brooks Atkinson, 1894
John Bunyan, 1628
Today in History:
Skanderbeg and his forces liberate Kruja in Middle Albania and raise the Albanian flag, 1443
Ferdinand Magellan begins crossing Pacific Ocean, 1520
Washington & his troops cross Delaware River, 1776
The Times in London is for the first time printed by automatic, steam powered presses built by the German inventors Friedrich Koenig and Andreas Friedrich Bauer, signaling the beginning of the availability of newspapers to a mass audience, 1814
Ka Lahui: Hawaiian Independence Day - The Kingdom of Hawaii is officially recognized by the United Kingdom and France as an independent nation, 1843
Women vote in a national election for the first time in the New Zealand general election, 1893
US-born Lady Astor elected first female member of British Parliament, 1919
Capt Cyril Turner of the RAF gives the first skywriting exhibition in NYC; Turner spelled out "Hello USA. Call Vanderbilt 7200." 47,000 called, 1922
"Hopalong Cassidy" premieres on TV, 1948
The first Polaroid Camera is sold, 1948
Today is the day of extremes.
You shop, or you don't.
I don't.
Those people scare me, the ones who line up so early.
I tried it once, with my mom, and never again.
The one time we did, the toy store opened, and the first person through the door walked over to the manager and asked for a particular sale item, a real big item that was heavily advertised and hugely discounted.
She was told they were sold out.
Did I mention she was the first person through the door?
She was told there would be no rain checks issued, sorry, only what is in stock is available, and we are already sold out.
Only by threatening to call the sheriff's department fraud division did she get the manager to agree to give rain checks to the first 10 people in line who wanted that item.
If you read the fine print on the ads for one department store this year, their big door buster appliance says they only guarantee to have 3 available per store.
Last year, at the local Monster Mart, there were only 10 of a certain electronic item available at the special price. This happens to be a 24hr. Monster Mart and they closed a half hour before the sale began and made all shoppers leave, just to make sure everyone had the same chance.
Two employees, at 5AM as the doors opened, walked over to electronics and got in line first.
It is just not worth the aggravation of fighting all of that.
Today is:
Black Friday OR Buy Nothing Day, depending upon your preference
Eid al Adha -- Islam
Family Day, Nevada, US
Festival of Solitude (Not if you go shopping!)
Flossing Day
Maize Day
National Bavarian Cream Pie Day
National Day of Listening
Old Tyme Farm Day
Pins and Needles Day
St. Maximus' Day (patron of babies, the dying)
You're Welcome Day (Always the day after Thanksgiving -- somebody really has a sense of humor here, to create this holiday!)
Zibelemarit, Switzerland (Onion Market Festival)
Anniversaries Today:
William Shakespeare marries Anne Hathaway, 1582
Birthdays Today:
Jaleel White, 1976
Brooke Langton, 1970
Robin Givens, 1964
Caroline Kennedy, 1957
Rick Rockwell, 1956
Jimi Hendrix, 1942
Eddie Rabbit, 1941
Bruce Lee, 1940
"Buffalo" Bob Smith, 1917
Chick Hearn, 1916
James Agee, 1909
L. Sprague de Camp, 1907
Forrest Shaklee, 1894
Anders Celcius, 1701
Emperor Xiaozong of China, 1127
Today in History:
The first elected representatives from Lancashire were called to Westminster by King Edward I to attend what later became known as "The Model Parliament", 1295
The Portuguese Royal Family leaves Lisbon to escape from Napoleonic troops, 1807
Adoption of Constitution of the Kingdom of Poland, 1815
NY Times dubs baseball "The National Game", 1870
Alfred Nobel establishes the Nobel Prize, 1895
In New York City, the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is held, 1924
It just so happens that my brother's birthday coincides with Thanksgiving Day this year.
So, a turkey for all the turkeys born on Turkey Day!!!
And a Happy Day to all.
Today is:
Day of Covenant -- Baha'i
Independence Day, Colombia
National Cake Day
Sojourner Truth Day
St. John Berchmans' Day
St. Siricius' Day
Thanksgiving Day, US
Waqf al Arafa - Hajj Day -- Islam
What Do You Know About America Day
Anniversaries Today:
Founding of the University of Notre Dame, 1842
Founding of Sigma Alpha Mu in the City College of New York, by 8 Jewish young men, 1909
Birthdays Today:
Natasha Bedingfield, 1981
Tina Turner, 1939
Rich Little, 1938
Robert Goulet, 1933
Charles Schultz, 1922
Eugene Ionesco, 1912
Eric Sevareid, 1912
John Harvard, 1607
Emperor Go-Daigo of Japan, 1288
Today in History:
The Second Triumvirate alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus ("Octavian", later "Caesar Augustus"), Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and Mark Antony is formed, BC43
Vlad III Dracula (Vlad the Impaler)defeats Basarab Laiota with the help of Stephen the Great and Stephen V Bathory and becomes the ruler of Wallachia for the third time, 1476
Heavy storms/hurricane hit England, thousands killed, the Royal Navy loses 15 warships, 1703
The first lion exhibited in the US makes his debut in Boston, 1716
The first national US Thanksgiving is celebrated, 1789
The first streetcar railway in the US begins operation in NYC, fare 12 cents, 1832
The refrigerated railway car is patented by J.B. Sutherland of Detroit, Michigan, 1867
The first photograph of a meteor is taken, 1885
King Tut's tomb is opened by English archaeologist Howard Carter, 1922
Four young lads from Liverpool have their first recording session under the interesting name "The Beatles", 1962
This morning's fun is that the kids have broken the only remaining computer.
I woke up to the computer not responding to the mouse.
I cannot get online from home, and am borrowing a friend's computer.
I cannot access my documents upon which I have all of the holiday, birthday, and history facts I have chosen for today stored.
In short, I am messed up big time.
I don't know how long, because tomorrow starts a long holiday weekend, I will be without a computer and begging the use of other computers just to try to keep up with email.
It's going to be a long few days.
I have to get home and make my dad's birthday present, a traditional flat fried cake his family calls and ojaldra (pronounced oh-hal-dra). They tend to take hours to make.
If I cannot get on to post in the next few days, Happy Thanksgiving from the world's most boring blog!
ETA
I came home, and the computer had restarted after I shut it down, and it is working again. Spooky, but here goes nothing.
Today is:
Cat-Nipping Convention -- Fairy Calendar
Education Day
Evacuation Day
Independence Day, Suriname
National Day, Burma
National Don't Utter A Word Day (while trying to cook for Thanksgiving tomorrow? Right!)
National Parfait Day
Shopping Reminder Day (One month until Christmas!)
Saint Catherine Laboure's Day -- promulgator of the Miraculous Medal
Birthdays Today:
Barbara and Jenna Bush, 1981
Donovan McNabb, 1976
Christina Applegate, 1971
Jill Hennessy, 1968
Amy Grant, 1960
John F. Kennedy, Jr., 1960
John Larroquette, 1947
Paul Desmond, 1924
Ricardo Montalban, 1920
Joe DiMaggio, 1914
Solanus Casey, 1870
Carry Nation, 1846
Karl F. Benz, 1844
Andrew Carnegie, 1835
Today in History:
The siege of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain, begins, 1491
A deadly earthquake rocks Shemakha, in the Caucasus, killing 80,000 people, 1667
The Great Storm of 1703, the greatest windstorm ever recorded in the southern part of Great Britain, reaches its peak intensity which it maintains through November 27. Winds gust up to 120 mph, and 9,000 people died, 1703
1st English patent granted to an American, for processing corn, 1715
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is founded, 1758
Farmer's Almanac first published, 1792
The Greek frigate Hellas arrives in Nafplion to become the first flagship of the Hellenic Navy, 1826
A cyclone slams India with high winds and a 40 foot storm surge, destroying the port city of Coringa (never to be entirely rebuilt again); the storm wave sweeps inland, taking with it 20,000 ships and thousands of people. An estimated 300,000 deaths result from the disaster, 1839
Alfred Nobel patents dynamite, 1867
John B Meyenberg of St Louis patents evaporated milk, 1884
American College of Surgeons incorporates in Springield, Illinois, 1912
First Thanksgiving Day Parade is held in Philadelphia, 1920
Archaeologist Howard Carter enters King Tut's tomb, 1922
690 earthquake shocks recorded in 1 day in Ito, Japan, 1930
The first Soviet liquid fuel rocket attains altitude of 261' (80m), 1933
Woody Woodpecker debuts with release of Walter Lantz's "Knock Knock", 1940
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