~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~
March 3, 2012

Post updated: March 3, 2013

★~ Today’s Quote: In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God’s existence.  Sir Isaac Newton

★~  National (US) Anthem Day:

It’s National Anthem Day! In 1814, a young lawyer named Francis Scott Key wrote a poem called “Defence of Fort McHenry.” Key penned the verses after witnessing the British attack on Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812. The sight of the American flag flying triumphantly over Fort McHenry in the morning inspired his legendary words.

Key decided to set his piece to music and borrowed the tune from a popular song called “To Anacreon in Heaven.” Not long after it was first published, people began referring to the piece as “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The song became an overnight success, and bands began playing it during public events and military occasions. In March of 1931, over a hundred years after Key wrote it, “The Star-Spangled Banner” became the official national anthem of the United States.

You do know all of the words to the national anthem (including verses two, three, and four). Right?

★~ What if Cats and Dogs had Opposable Thumbs Day:

I will admit it. It would be nice if Rascal could race to the fridge and get me a little bottle of Coke. But I’m not naïve. Cole has thumbs, and he won’t race to the fridge for me. Rascal would, however, fix herself a cold cut sandwich.

The point seems to be that we are supposed to enter into deep contemplation of the evolution of our precious furs, as well as, perhaps, taking a frank look at our pet’s capacity for metaphysical thinking. Cats, for example, might ponder with their innate curiosity about what is on the other side of the fridge door; while dogs might wonder what they would devour first if they had easy access to the fridge. And we might wonder if it would be ethical to teach our pets to unload the dishwasher or bring in the groceries if they had thumbs to accomplish the task.

Thumbs up does have a downside though. Beside instant access to the contents of the fridge, Water Dogs would take over our bathtubs and showers, and cats would constantly be opening and closing doors and drawers, trying to satisfy their curiosity.

As I reach down to pick up the slobbered-on ball dropped at my feet, I ponder if I would trade the contents of my fridge for a ball that was not foaming with said slobber.

★~ I Want You To Be Happy Day: 

Seriously, I do. So just be happy. Why aren’t you happy yet? Get a cuppa, and start smiling. Don’t make me come out there and make you happy!

★~ Cold Cuts Day (Food of the Day challenge #242):

No bologna—today is Cold Cuts Day. Make a deli run, and pick up some cold cuts and cheese along with some great rolls or bread. Make a sandwich with the condiments of your choice, pair with chips and a pickle, and, wala, Saturday dinner is served.

★~ Today in History:

♥~ 1845 – Florida became the 27 state. The word ‘Florida’ comes from the Spanish ‘feast of flowers’.. The capital of the Sunshine State is … no, not Walt Disney World … Tallahassee. The state flower is the fragrant orange blossom and the mockingbird is the state bird.  The Florida state motto is: “In God we trust.”

♥~ 1887 – Anne Sullivan arrived at the Alabama home of Capt. and Mrs. Arthur H. Keller to become the teacher of their blind and deaf 6-year-old daughter, Helen.

♥~ 1923 – Time magazine, founded by Briton Hadden and Henry R. Luce, debuted.

♥~ 1931 – The Star-Spangled Banner, written by Francis Scott Key, officially became the national anthem of the United States. Despite the fact that millions sing (in a manner of speaking) the anthem before sporting events, civic club meetings and other public gatherings, it is still ranked as the most difficult national anthem on earth to sing.

♥~ 1939 –  A new craze began to sweep college campuses.  It was perceived as being kind of ‘fishy’, and the trend started at Harvard.  The fad? Goldfish swallowing. (Gulp!)

♥~ 1973 – Iditarod  Dog race  (Mar 3–18) : Celebrating 40th years of the  “The Last Great Race on Earth.” 1,000 miles through Alaskan wilderness from Anchorage to Nome, AK, along the historic Iditarod Trail. More than 60 16-dog teams will compete

★~Born Today:

♥~ 1847 – Alexander Graham Bell teacher of the deaf, inventor: telephone; founder of Bell Telephone Company; died Aug 2, 1922

♥~ 1962 – Jackie Joyner-Kersee Olympic gold medalist & 1st woman to hold world record in the heptathlon: 7,044 points [1992]; 1st athlete to win multi-event medals in 3 Olympics [pentathlon, long jump]

♥~ 1970 – Julie Bowen actress: Modern Family, Crazy on the Outside, Kids in America, Joe Somebody, Multiplicity, Runaway Daughters, Five Spot Jewel, Boston Legal

♥~ 1926 – James Merrill, American poet, At age eight, James was already writing a poem a day.  He used a Ouija board to write his book-length poem Divine Comedies (1976), which won the Pulitzer Prize. His father was the founder of Merrill Lynch financial services

♥~ 1982 – Jessica Biel actress: 7th Heaven, The Illusionist, Elizabethtown, Stealth, London, Blade: Trinity, Cellular, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

★~ Did You Know:

♥~ Opposable thumbs are use to holding on and pick up small objects.  Without opposable thumbs it could be hard or nearly impossible to use a tool to get food.

♥~ During the Gallic wars, Julius Caesar ordered the thumbs of captured warriers amputated so that when they returned to their country, they would serve as examples and be unable to bear arms again. This practice was later used in a number of wars and in the slave trade.

♥~ Contrary to popular opinion, humans – homo sapiens –  are not the only primates possessing opposable thumbs. Chimpanzees and monkeys can oppose the thumb to the index digit.

♥~The thumb is controlled by 9 individual muscles, which are controlled by all 3 major hand nerves And moves in such a complex fashion that there are 6 separate descriptive terms just for particular directions of movement of one thumb joint – the basal joint, at the base of the thumb.

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Have a Super Saturday!