July 24, 2012

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW! I really wish I could be with you today, but here I am in Texas & there you are in South Carolina. Yep, you're 26 today which makes me ... old. LOL! Eve will be out there Sunday, so I'll have her give you a hug from all of us.

I finished everything yesterday & then completed the 3rd panel on the Mock Cable Afghan 2012. It's looking great! 3 panels & 3 days ... I've had a great 3 days!

LCFD training at the station tonight at 7.

Amexicano:

Unable to find employment after losing his job, Italian-American Queens native Bruno (Carmine Famiglietti) takes a temporary construction and landscaping gig -- and reluctantly ends up laboring alongside a group of illegal immigrants. But a growing respect for his diligent co-worker Ignacio (Raul Castillo) gradually causes a shift in Bruno's narrow beliefs. Directed by Matthew Bonifacio, this topical tale also stars Jennifer Peña as Ignacio's wife.

A sunbathing hippo has no need for SPF. Scientists believe that hippopotamus sweat, which is reddish-orange, acts as a sunscreen.

Drink plenty of fluids, even if you're not thirsty, to replace the water you lose thorough perspiration.

Good fans:

• Cheer for good plays by their team.
• Sit down when the crowd around them does.
• Show support for any player who is injured & has to be helped out of the game.
• Use good language when they cheer

Here's the deal. You don't have to run up a bunch of debt to have a credit history! Even if all you've ever done is pay your rent on time or early, you have a credit history - & in that case, a good one.

How fast can a dragonfly fly?

The fastest dragonfly can fly 38 miles an hour.

Keep the dog's leash on a hook or in a basket by the door you use when you take your 4-legged friend for a walk. Always put it in the same place so you know where it is, in case the dog needs to get outside in a hurry!

Lance Armstrong wins seventh Tour de France (2005):

On this day in 2005, legendary American cyclist Lance Armstrong wins a record-setting seventh consecutive Tour de France and retires from the sport. After surviving testicular cancer, his rise to cycling greatness inspired cancer patients and fans around the world and significantly boosted his sport’s popularity in his native United States.

Lance Armstrong was born on September 18, 1971, in Plano, Texas. He began his sports career as a triathlete, competing professionally by the time he was 16 years old. Biking proved to be his strongest event of the three, and at the age of 17, he was invited to train with the U.S. Olympic cycling developmental team in Colorado. He won the U.S. amateur cycling championship two years later, in 1991. The next year, he finished 14th in the road race competition at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He turned pro later that year, but finished last in the Classico San Sebastian, his first race as a professional. In 1993, he bounced back to win 10 titles, including his first major race, the World Road Championships. He also competed in his first Tour de France that year, winning the eighth stage. In 1995, he again won a stage of the Tour de France, as well as the Tour DuPont, a major U.S. cycling event.

Armstrong began 1996 as the number-one-ranked cyclist in the world, but he chose not to race the Tour de France and performed poorly at that year’s Olympics. After experiencing intense pain during a training ride, he saw a doctor. On October 2, 1996, he was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer, which had already spread to his lungs and brain. Doctors gave him less than a 50 percent chance of survival. After undergoing surgery to remove his right testicle, he underwent two more dangerous operations to remove cancerous tissue from his brain. He then chose to undergo a severe course of chemotherapy because the standard course would likely have left him with lung damage that would have ended his cycling career.

Slowly the treatment worked, and, with his cancer in remission, Armstrong began training again. After some difficulty finding a sponsor, he eventually signed with the brand-new United States Postal Service team. After he quit in the middle of one of his first races back, many thought his career was over. But after taking some time off from competition, Armstrong came back to finish in the top five at both the Tour of Spain and the World Championships in 1998. The next year, to the amazement of the cycling community, he won his first-ever Tour de France and went on to win the race for the next six consecutive years. In addition to his seven overall wins (a record for both total and consecutive wins), he won 22 individual stages, 11 individual time trials, and led his team to victories in three team time trials between 1999 and 2005. His last win, on this day in 2005, was made with the Discovery Channel team (the Discovery Channel took over his team’s sponsorship when the United States Postal Service ended their support after the 2004 Tour de France).

Over the years, Armstrong’s intense training regimen and his famed dominance in the difficult and treacherous mountain stages of the Tour de France have inspired awe and intimidation among both fans and opponents. His cycling cadence, which averaged 95 to 100 rotations per minute (rpm), but reached as high as 120 rpm, was remarkable and faster than most of his competitors, especially while climbing. In addition to being an exceptionally talented climber, Armstrong traditionally performed extremely well in time trials, a rare combination in the sport. He also took pains to surround himself with a well-rounded team, experienced coaches, and the best available cycling technology. Armstrong, like many top cyclists, has been continuously dogged by allegations of performance-enhancing drug use, but has repeatedly and strenuously denied all such charges.

Since his retirement in July 2005, Armstrong has continued to speak out on the importance of cancer research and has worked at raising funds for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, an organization he founded soon after his diagnosis that provides support for people living with cancer. The Foundation's sale of simple yellow rubber bracelets, imprinted with the slogan "LIVESTRONG," raised millions to fund their mission. Armstrong is also a best-selling author. He has three children with ex-wife Kristin: Luke, who was born in October 1999, and twins Isabelle and Grace, who were born in November 2001. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Littoral:

Of, relating to, or situated or growing on or near a shore especially of the sea.

Since the cleanup effort began, the condition of the state's littoral waters has shown dramatic improvement.

You're most likely to encounter the adjective "littoral" in contexts relating to the military & marine sciences. A "littoral combat ship" is fast, easily maneuverable, & built for use in coastal waters. In marine ecology, the "littoral zone" is a coastal zone characterized by abundant dissolved oxygen, sunlight, nutrients, & generally high wave energies & water motion. Most of us, however, are more likely to encounter the noun "littoral," which refers to a coastal region (& more technically, to the shore zone between the high tide & low tide points). Although the adjective is older - dating from the mid-17th century - the noun, which dates from the early 19th century, is more common. "Littoral" comes to English from Latin litoralis, itself from litor- or litus, meaning "seashore."

What were the first names of baseball legends Dizzy and Daffy Dean?

Which type of medal represents the highest honor?
A. Silver Star
B. Medal of Honor
C. Distinguished Service Cross

Which university was founded 1st, 2nd, & 3rd?
A. Bologna
B. Paris
C. Oxford

ABC. The University of Bologna dates from 1088. Oxford, with its famed "dreaming spires," began in 1167. All 3 universities have been in continuous operation since their founding. Imagine the tuition money.

You can simply stop your craving for sweets by pressing you thumb or index finger firmly on your opposite palm for 30 seconds, according to acupressurist Dr. Grigory Sadkhin.