~★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~
September 27, 2012

★~ Today’s Quote: I asked the waiter, ‘Is this milk fresh?’ He said, ‘Lady, three hours ago it was grass.’ ~ Phillis Diller

★~ Ancestor Appreciation Day: 

It’s estimated that genealogy is the second-most-popular hobby among Americans. (Gardening is number one. You would’ve thought it was scrapbooking, right?). Today is celebrated by reflecting on our ancestors, and the ways in which they influenced our lives.

★~ Crush a Can Day:

How flat can you crush that can? Give it a try. It’s a great way to relieve stress especially if you give it a good kick after you have smashed it as flat as a fritter. Now if you want to prove demonstrate brain over brawn here is another way to crush a can that is guaranteed to impress the masses–so go ahead and gather a crowd.

1. Fill a large pot with three quarts of cold water.

2. Put one tablespoon of water into an empty aluminum soda can and heat it on the stove until it boils.

3. Let it boil for 30 seconds and then carefully remove it with tongs.

4. Invert the can and quickly dip it in the pot of cold water.

The can will collapse immediately, impressing women, captivating small children and frightening the family dog.

CAUTION: Do not heat the can over high heat or heat the can when it is empty. This may cause the ink on the can to burn or the aluminum to melt.

If you would like to find out the science behind this feat–Click here for the Crushed Can Experiment 

★~ Chocolate Milk Day:

Like practically any edible creation, chocolate milk has come a long way. Before the invention of the cocoa press, chocolate milk was once a very fatty, unrefined chocolate drink made from whole cocoa beans sweetened and flavored with sugar and spices. The creation of the cocoa press in 1928 made removing the cocoa fat from the bean possible, which resulted in a smoother, more digestible quaff.

While chocolate milk may be a drink more associated with childhood, a recent survey of adult Americans found that more than 50 percent of Americans voted chocolate to be their favorite flavor.  Check out the Food Network’s Rich Chocolate Milk  and here is a recipe for Super Spicy Chocolate Milk.

★~ Today in History:

♥~ 1888 – “Jack The Ripper” Letter: Anniversary.”  In the midst of the “Autumn of Terror” in which London, England, was convulsed over the crimes of a brutal serial killer, the city’s Central News Agency received a letter written in red ink purporting to be written by the killer. He dubbed himself “Jack the Ripper” and threatened more killings. Police at the time believed (and most historians today believe) the letter to be a hoax by an irresponsible journalist, but the name took hold in the public imagination and is forever associated with the Whitechapel murders of 1888.

♥~ 1954 – The Tonight Show debuted on NBC-TV.

♥~ 1991 – A Decatur, Alabama, auto dealership accepted a 450-pound bull as part trade-in on a Lincoln Town Car.

★~Born Today:

♥~ 1998: The Google homepage Thursday depicts a multicolor cake and a whole lot of candles – a celebration of sorts for the Mountain View company, which is turning 14. Want to know how influential Google has become as it edges deeper into its teenage years? Well, you need look no further than this week’s announcement that Google, in addition to mapping the earth, and the stars, and the streets of the world, is now going to map the ocean floor.

♥~ 1929 – Sada Thompson Emmy Award-winning actress: Family [1977-78]; Tony Award-winning actress: Twigs [1972]; Our Town, Desperate Characters; died May 4, 2011

♥~ 1943 – Randy Bachman musician: guitar, singer: groups: Bachman-Turner Overdrive: Let It Ride, Takin’ Care of Business, You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet, Roll on Down the Highway, The Guess Who: Shakin’ All Over, These Eyes, Laughing, No Time, American Woman, No Sugar Tonight

♥~ 1947 – Meat Loaf  (Michael Lee Aday) musician, singer: Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad, Paradise by the Dashboard Light; actor: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Americathon, Roadie

♥~ 1958 – Shaun Cassidy singer: Da Doo Ron Ron, That’s Rock ’n’ Roll, Hey Deanie, Do You Believe in Magic; actor: The Hardy Boys Mysteries, Breaking Away, General Hospital, Blood Brothers; son of Jack Cassidy & Shirley Jones; half-brother of David Cassidy

♥~ 1972 – Gwyneth Paltrow Academy Award-winning actress: Shakespeare in Love [1998]; Hook, Great Expectations, A Perfect Murder, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Bounce,The Anniversary Party, Possession, The Royal Tenenbaums, Shallow Hal, View from the Top, Proof, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow,Sylvia, Spain – On The Road Again, Glee

★~ Did You Know: In honor of World Tourism Day (September 27th), I thought it would be fun to share some information on unusual travel destinations and vacation packages.

Iraq- From  from Basra to Baghdad:   If you have always wanted to spend your vacation in a war-ravaged country, England’s Hinterland Travel offers tours to Iraq. Traveling may be a little tricky, as airlines continue to be touchy about the occasional suicide bombing and other incidents. However, if you arrive, you will be treated to sun, sand, and culture at a reasonable price. The tour company does suggest that you bring some extra cash in case of emergencies, and it advises that all travel is subject to change without notice.

♥~ Afghanistan:  If Iraq isn’t the war-zone vacation package you are looking for, perhaps Afghanistan is your dream destination. With thousands of square miles of rugged wilderness, Afghanistan is an adventurer’s paradise; that is, if you are a “private contractor,” CIA operative, or a crazy hillbilly bent on putting a terrorist’s head on your mantel. According to Afghanistan tour companies, traveling in Afghanistan is not all that dangerous if you stay in the right parts of the country and travel in one of their armored vehicles.

Colombia:  Although the State Department concedes that kidnappings have fallen from their peak earlier this decade, and narco-terrorism isn’t quite as bad as it used to be in urban areas, caution is still suggested while vacationing in Columbia. The upside to visiting Columbia is the country’s natural beauty, whitewater rafting, and the opportunity to get up-close and personal with the whole coffee-making process. What’s the downside? If narco-terrorists kidnap you, they’re not likely to let you go anytime soon.

Sudan:  One travel brochures reads,” It’s no secret that things are tragically awful in Sudan, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still make it your vacation destination.” Another travel brochure encourages you to visit Sudan because it has lots of Nubian ruins and pyramids, offering vacationers a two-week tour of the country. Adding to your adventure is the State Department’s warning against all travel to Sudan. The warning reminds potential travelers that both terrorists and the Sudanese government have a tendency to target westerners for physical threats or seizure of property and financial assets. If you’ve got the cash and the stomach for it, though, you can probably see some spectacular ruins and monuments in a crowd-free environment.

These are just a few of the travel destinations available for adventure travelers; so, if I didn’t mention one that satisfies your desire to combine travel with terror, you may want to consider swimming with sharks.

#

I’m hoping to play catch-up today. Cole was home Monday and Tuesday with some sort of virus, and he was off Wednesday for Yom Kippur. But, God willing, and the creek don’t rise, he will take a handful of Kleenex and head to school today. The highlight of my day will be when Orkin arrives to do battle with Morty the Mouse and his followers. I’m hoping to post the results from last week’s swap and blog, and offer a new swap a little later today.

Do any of those vacation spots excite you?

Have a great day, and remember: whatever makes you giggle, smile, or laugh, do it again!

♥~