New Page 1

                        Dedicated To The Memory Of Esperanza Aquino



                          Thursday September 9th, 2004

In Today's Edition

                   Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?

Born On September 9th

Michelle Williams (1980)

Henry Thomas (1971)

Adam Sandler (1966)

Hugh Grant (1960)

Angela Cartwright (1952)

Michael Keaton (1951)

Billy Preston (1946)

Otis Redding (1941)

Cliff Robertson (1925)

Born On September 12th

Mireya Watson

Aspirin

1st man: "I woke up this morning and felt so bad that I tried to kill myself by taking a thousand aspirin."

2nd man: "Oh really, what happened?"

1st man: "After the first two, I felt better."

Today's useless fact - What is a pimento and why is it in my olive?

Great question - that sweet red blotch inside a tart green olive has always been a puzzler.

To answer part one of your question, we headed straight for our Home Cooking category, where one of the links gave us the following definition:

Pimiento: a large, red, heart-shaped sweet pepper that measures 3 to 4 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide. The flesh of the pimiento (the Spanish word for "pepper") is sweet, succulent and more aromatic than that of the red bell pepper... Pimientos are the familiar red stuffing found in green olives.

Armed with a new appreciation for sweet peppers, tried to find the answer to the second part of your question. We couldn't find a specific reason as to where or why the practice of stuffing olives with pimentos started, but we did find some interesting facts about olives that may hint at a reason.

First, Spain leads the world in olive production, followed by Italy and Portugal. Since "pimento" is a Spanish word, we're guessing maybe they started the pimento practice. That answers the where, now for the why.

All freshly picked olives, no matter how ripe, have a vile, intensely bitter taste. In order to make them palatable, they must be pickled. Since pimentos are sweet and indigenous to the Mediterranean, it's easy to imagine an innovative farmer or chef way back when thinking they would make the perfect neutralizer to the olive's natural acidity. After all, aren't the best dishes created with ingredients most readily available?

While this is all speculation, if you visited a Spanish tapas bar and sampled a variety of olive offerings, you'd see our point. So pour yourself a martini and puzzle no more.

What's The Buzzword For September 9th?

urchin \ER-chun\ noun What does it mean? : a mischievous child How do you use it? Vanessa loved to listen to Grandma tell about when Dad was a young urchin who was always getting into mischief. Are you a word wiz? The word "urchin" used to refer to something quite different from a mischievous child. Which of the following do you think it is? A. puppy B. hedgehog C. rabbit D. coyote Answer: Mischievous children have been called "urchins" since at least the mid-1500s. But back in the 1300s, when it first appeared in English, the word "urchin" referred to a hedgehog. "Urchin" ultimately comes from the Latin "eris," meaning "hedgehog." The curious physical appearance of hedgehogs gave rise to extended uses of "urchin. To call a person an "urchin" usually suggested a ragged appearance, but a hedgehog's sharp spines were also sometimes compared to a person's sharp wit. "Urchin" also referred to mischievous goblins and elves believed to take the form of hedgehogs. The prickly hedgehog also gave its name to a spiny marine cousin, the sea urchin.

Today's Jigsaw Puzzle

Click Here Bike 30

               That's All For This Week. Tune In Monday For More Stuff.



                     The following is what appeared in Wednesday's edition

In Today's Edition

I heard it through the grapevine that there are forces at work trying to put into effect a plan for the annual Piknik this year. Yes, even as you read this, some kind souls are setting the wheels in motion to salvage our dearly beloved yearly family gathering. The tentative date is October 2nd at a park to be named soon. Stay tuned for more info.

Born On September 8th

Jonathan Taylor Thomas (1981)

Pink (1979)

Patsy Cline (1932)

Peter Sellers (1925)

Sid Caesar (1922)

Claude Pepper (1900)

Child Support

DIVORCED FATHER: "When you go back to your Mom's tonight, give her this envelope and tell her that since you are now 18, this is the last check she'll ever see from me for child support. Then, stand back and watch the expression on her face."

Later...

DAUGHTER: "Mom, Dad asked me to give you this envelope. He said to tell you that since I'm now 18, this is the last child support payment he'll ever have to make to you. Now I'm supposed to stand back and watch the expression on your face."

DIVORCED MOTHER: "Next time you visit your father, tell him that after 18 years I have decided to inform him that he's not your father... then, stand back and watch the expression on his face."

Today's useless fact - What is the difference between lager, bitter, ale, and stout?

The LUKOL Drinks Category directory contains a number of links pertaining to the malted, hopped, and somewhat bitter alcoholic beverage known as beer. One of the links offered succinct definitions of types of beer:

ALE - made with a top fermenting yeast, ales are described as "hearty, robust, and fruity."

BITTER - a mainstay in English pubs, this golden-brown draft ale is top-fermented, hoppy, dry, and lightly carbonated.

LAGER - made with a bottom fermenting yeast, lagers are characteristically "smooth, elegant, crisp, and clean." Comparable to pilsener.

STOUT - typically dark, heavy, and richly flavored, stout is "top- fermented beer made from pale malt, roasted unmalted barley, and often caramel malt."

People in all corners of the globe have been brewing for thousands of years, and the proof is in the awesome abundance of styles. So bend your elbow, drop your mouse, and don't forget to taste responsibly.

What's The Buzzword For September 8th?

crane \KRAIN\ verb What does it mean? 1 : to raise or lift by or as if by a crane 2 : to stretch out one's neck to see better How do you use it? We were waiting for Michael Phelps to take his place at the starting block, the shorter ones of us craning to see him over the heads of the taller ones. Are you a word wiz? The verb "crane" arose by suggestion from the long neck of the bird called a "crane." Which of the verbs below do you think also came from the attributes or behavior of an animal? A. "wolf," meaning "to eat greedily, devour" B. "cow," meaning "to lessen the spirits of, frighten" C. "seal," meaning "to mark with a cut or raised device that forms a mark" D. "quail," meaning "to lose courage, shrink in fear" Answer: The verb "wolf" means "to eat greedily, devour," a word arising from the reputation of the animal called the "wolf." It's plausible that the timidity of a cow or a quail might have led to verbs reflective of that characteristic, but not so. The verb "cow" derives from Scandinavian and the noun from English, while the verb "quail" comes from Dutch and the noun from Latin. Both the noun and verb "bear" come from Old English, but they are unrelated.

Today's Jigsaw Puzzle

Click Here Color Curves

               That's All For Today. Tune In Tomorrow For More Stuff.



                     The following is what appeared in Tuesday's edition

In Today's Edition

I Remember Daddy

In one of his letters, Dad told me that I had always been a mystery to him. How ironic—he had always been a mystery to me.

He was born Eulogio Rillon Aquino circa September 7, 1904. He started to use his older brother’s name, Agustin Rillon Aquino, because he was but 14 years old when he came to the U.S. They called him “Eloy” in the Philippines and “Gus” and “Aquino” in the U.S.

He was quiet at home for the most part until we misbehaved. He did not believe in spanking. He would talk to us instead (some would call it lecturing). He would tell us that we should not fight and that we should be kind to one another. He loved to talk and he was asked by many including Mom’s family to speak at public gatherings and to be a spokesperson at family meetings. I guess that is where Tony got his public speaking skills.

Dad was a hard worker—in the fields picking crops and later in the restaurant business. He worked his way up from dishwasher to Chef at several big restaurants.

Dad was protective of his family and took care of his responsibilities. When Esther, Rose, and I went to see him in the Philippines in 1979, he would not let us go out alone. He accompanied us everywhere, would not let strangers get near us or talk to us, and he would order for us at restaurants because he did not trust anyone with us. We were 35, 33, and 27 years old and had our Dad as a chaperone.

I remember the Sunday visits to Grandma and Grandpa (Nana and Tata) Aquirre’s house. We lived in Los Angeles and Dad would drive to La Puente on Valley Blvd. I remember our vacations to Phoenix, Arizona where Dad would drive straight through stopping only to get gas and to go to the bathroom. I remember our annual visit to the Los Angeles County Fair when Mom would pack our lunch and we would visit every exhibit and would meet Dad at the grandstand at the end of the day.

I remember the visits to the bakery in downtown La Puente where Dad would back up his car and load up his car trunk with day-old bread and Mom would make all sorts of dishes with the variety of bread that Dad got. I guess that’s why I like bread pudding so much because Mom made it so much.

Those were lean years but they taught me a lot.

I guess in all honesty I can say that Dad was the greatest teacher I ever had (along with Mom). He taught me to take care of myself and to be self-sufficient. He taught me to accept responsibility. He taught me to work hard for whatever I wanted out of life…and it looks like it was passed on to my children.

Thank you Dad—until we meet again.

Article and pictures by Petra Tuttle

Born On September 7th

Devon Sawa (1978)

Corbin Bernsen (1954)

Julie Kavner (1951)

Richard Roundtree (1942)

Buddy Holly (1936)

Elia Kazan (1909)

Grandma Moses (1860)

Elizabeth I, Queen of England (1533)

Agustin Rillon Aquino

The Haircut

A barber gave a haircut to a priest one day. The priest tried to pay for the haircut but the barber refused saying, "I cannot accept money from you, for you are a good man - you do God's work."

The next morning the barber found a dozen bibles at the door to his shop.

A policeman came to the barber for a haircut, and again the barber refused payment saying, "I cannot accept money from you, for you are a good man - you protect the public."

The next morning the barber found a dozen doughnuts at the door to his shop.

A lawyer came to the barber for a haircut, and again the barber refused payment saying, "I cannot accept money from you, for you are a good man - you serve the justice system."

The next morning the barber found a dozen more lawyers waiting for a haircut.

What's The Buzzword For September 7th?

rambunctious \ram-BUNK-shus\ adjective What does it mean? : not under control : unruly, exuberant How do you use it? The substitute teacher entered the classroom to find a rambunctious group of kids. . . . Are you a word wiz? Do you really know what "rambunctious" means? Test yourself! Which of the answers completes the sentence above and accurately shows what "rambunctious" means? A. noisily chasing each other around the room. B. quietly sitting at their desks. C. at the window, watching the baseball team practice. D. engaged in a fist fight. Answer: You're in control of "rambunctious" if you chose A! We know that answer B can't be right: if "rambunctious" kids are "unruly" and "not under control," they wouldn't be sitting quietly at their desks. Answer C implies that all the kids are watching practice, not being "exuberant." Answer D certainly shows the kids aren't in control, but it misses that "rambunctious" also means "exuberant," a word that usually describes joyously or playfully unrestrained behavior. That leaves us with answer A, where the rambunctious children are chasing each other around the room.

Today's Jigsaw Puzzle

Click Here Cow In Field

               That's All For Today. Tune In Tomorrow For More Stuff.



                     The following is what appeared in Monday's edition

In Today's Edition

If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

Born On September 6th

Greg Rusedski (1973)

Rosie Perez (1964)

Jane Curtin (1947)

Swoosie Kurtz (1944)

Jo Anne Worley (1937)

Joseph P. Kennedy (1888)

Keith and Alicia Rooney's Anniversary

Three Psychiatrists

While attending a convention, three psychiatrists take a walk.

"People are always coming to us with their guilt and fears," one says, "but we have no one to go to with our own problems."

"Since we're all professionals," another suggests, "why don't we hear each other out right now?"

They agreed this is a good idea.

The first psychiatrist confesses, "I'm a compulsive shopper and deeply in debt, so I usually overbill my patients as often as I can."

The second admits, "I have a drug problem that's out of control, and I frequently pressure my patients into buying illegal drugs for me."

The third psychiatrist says, "I know it's wrong, but no matter how hard I try, I just can't keep a secret."

Today's useless fact - What is the origin of the hockey term "hat trick"?

Watching a hockey player charge down the ice and slap the puck past a floundering goalie for his third goal of the game is one of the most exhilarating plays in all of sports. The term used to describe such a feat, "hat trick," has long been linked to hockey, and, after a bit of searching, we discovered its unusual origin.

One of the links in our Hockey History category suggests the term came from the English game of cricket and cites The Oxford English Dictionary, which explains: "The feat of a bowler who takes three wickets by three successive balls: originally considered to entitle him to be presented by his club with a new hat or some equivalent."

We next checked out an article titled "Puck talk: A guide to hockey lingo" from "The Dallas Morning News". In addition to learning that the terms "mucker," "pipe-fitter," "plumber," and "grinder" are interchangeable, we unearthed another interesting tidbit about the term "hat trick."

In the article, John Halligan, an NHL executive who writes a hockey trivia column for the NHL web site, says in the 1940s, a Toronto haberdasher used to give Maple Leaf hockey players free hats when they scored three goals in a game. Halligan also agrees that the term "hat trick" probably evolved from cricket.

So, what happens to all those hats that litter the ice? Well, it seems Dave Kindred, a columnist at "The Sporting News", has been asked that question a few times. As we would have guessed, the hats are usually given to charities.

He shoots, he scores, he wins a hat.

What's The Buzzword For September 6th?

ersatz \AIR-sahts\ adjective What does it mean? : being a usually artificial and inferior substitute or imitation How do you use it? The thief was disappointed to find that the cell phone he stole from the store window was an ersatz one marked "FOR DISPLAY ONLY: NONFUNCTIONING." Are you a word wiz? What do you think was happening around the time that the word "ersatz" first found its way into English? A. Medieval alchemists were trying to turn lead into gold. B. George Washington was being fitted for dentures in the late 1700s. C. Traveling shows of the 1800s were pushing useless mixtures as medicines. D. Football players of the mid-1900s were running on Astroturf for the first time. Answer: You're not faking your word power if you chose C! "Ersatz" was first being used in English to describe an artificial and inferior substitute in the second half of the 19th century, around the time that medicine shows were traveling around the U.S. hawking worthless potions as actual cures. "Ersatz" was borrowed from the German noun "Ersatz," which means "substitute." The English word "ersatz" can be used to refer to a thing that is a poor imitation or substitute, such as "ersatz jewelry." Or it can refer to a person who is a poor imitation of something, such as an "ersatz intellectual."

Today's Jigsaw Puzzle

Click Here Flotsam

That's All For Today. Tune In Tomorrow For More Stuff.