Just My Two Cents http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:14:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.gifSome Rights ReservedJustMyTwoCentshttp://feedburner.google.com 073010: Water Cooler News http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JustMyTwoCents/~3/JagQLpHp1lY/ http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/30/073010-water-cooler-news/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:14:31 +0000 Dr. Rus http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/?p=1863

Water Cooler News – July 30, 2010

Welcome to Friday!

Let the “Happy Dance” begin! We have arrived at another Friday and that means we’ve made it through another work week. With the weekend set to start, lets make sure you have lots of great conversation starters for today and even for the weekend. In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will find the usual collection of historical fun facts and a list of birthdays for today.

Then there’s some great off-beat news…

  • Dog Causes Car to Crash into Liquor Store
  • Woman Stuck in Acupuncturist’s Office
  • Suspect Tried To Cash Phony One Million Dollar Check

Daily Mindbender Question
The average person does this twice a month.
What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Dog Causes Car to Crash into Liquor Store”
A driver in Woodbury, Minnesota says “the dog made him do it!” Authorities say 72 year old Richard Coerber was driving his car when his dachshund puppy fell to the floor and got stuck on the gas pedal, which in turn caused the car to accelerate and ram into a liquor store. Investigators say no one was hurt, including the little doxie, but the charges are pending in the case.
“Woman Stuck in Acupuncturist’s Office”
Police say a woman in Bellingham, Washington was on pins and needles waiting to be set free after being trapped in an acupuncturist’s office. The 47 year old eventually called 9-1-1 after workers at teh clinic where she was receiving the treatment accidentally locked her inside the office. Authorities say when they arrived on the scene the woman still had needles in her back and tried to leave, only to find the doors locked. After motion detector alarms went off, she decided to call the police herself for help.
“Suspect Tried To Cash Phony One Million Dollar Check”
Police in Bloomfield, Indiana report that they arrested Justin Johnson for forgery after he tried to cash a check for one million dollars at a bank’s drive-thru window. Even though the teller said she couldn’t cash the check because it was phony, Johnson still gave up his driver’s license, so she could make a copy of it.  That made it pretty easy for officers to track him down at his home and arrest him.
Historical Notes

Today is…
Paperback Books First Introduced – 1935

Notable Birthdays…
Peter Bogdanovich 71/director, The Last Picture Show
Paul Anka 69/singer-songwriter, “My Way,” “Having My Baby”
David Sanborn 65/jazz sax player
Jeffrey Hammond 64/bassist, ex-Jethro Tull
Arnold Schwarzenegger 63/governor of California, actor
Jean Reno 62/actor, The Da Vinci Code, Mission: Impossible
Frank Stallone 60/actor-singer, brother of Sly
Ken Olin 56/actor, TV’s thirtysomething
Delta Burke 54/actress, TV’s Designing Women
Laurence Fishburne 49/actor, The Matrix, Apocalypse Now
Lisa Kudrow 47/actress, Phoebe on TV’s Friends
Vivica A. Fox 46/actress, Soul Food, Independence Day
Christopher Nolan 40/director, The Dark Knight, Memento, Inception
Christine Taylor 39/actress, Marcia in The Brady Bunch Movie, Mrs. Ben Stiller
Hilary Swank 36/actress, won Oscars for Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Henry Ford–1863-1947/founder of the Ford Motor Company

Saturday, July 31, 2010
Moby-Dick Marathon Day

Sunday, August 1, 2010
Girlfriend’s Day
Respect for Parents Day

- A day set aside to think about all of the positive things parents

contribute to society.

Rounds Resounding Day

- To sing rounds, catches and canons in folk contrapuntal tradition.  Motto:

“As rounds re-sound and resound, all the world’s joined in a circle of

harmony.” Row, Row, Row Your Boat anyone?

Sister’s Day
World Wide Web Anniversary Day

- The creation of what would become the World Wide Web was suggested this

month in 1990 by Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau at CERN, the European

Laboratory for Particle Physics at Switzerland.  By October, they had

designed a prototype Web browser.  They also introduced HTML and the URL.

Mosaic, the first graphical Web browser, was designed by Marc Andreessen

and released in 1993.  By early 1993, there were 50 Web servers worldwide.


Music History
2006 – After 42 years, the British music program Top of the Pops aired for the last time.

1988 – Steve Winwood started a four-week run at number one on the singles chart with “Roll with It.”

1987 – David Bowie played the first show of his Glass Spider tour in Philadelphia.

1986 – Boy George was fined 356 dollars in London for possession of heroin.

1975 – The number one song was “One of These Nights” by The Eagles.

1970 – The Rolling Stones fired Allen Klein as their manager.

1968 – The Beatles closed their Apple Boutique in London. The night before, friends and family of the Apple staff were allowed to take anything they wanted from the store for free. The public got to do the same the following day.

1966 – “Wild Thing” by The Troggs was the number one song. It was the first chart-topper to be released on two different record labels in the U.S.: Fontana and Atco.

1966 – The Beatles’ Yesterday and Today album started a five-week run at number one on the album chart. The collection of singles and tracks from the U.K. versions of Help!, Rubber Soul and Revolver was only released in the U.S.

1955 – Johnny Cash recorded the first version of “Folsom Prison Blues” at the Sun Recording Studio in Memphis.

1954 – Elvis Presley gave his first live performance at the Overton Park Shell in Memphis.

1942 – Frank Sinatra recorded the last of 90 recordings with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

General History
1729 – The city of Baltimore was founded in Maryland.

1885 – Jean Francois Gravelet stepped out over Niagara Falls for the first tightrope walk over the famous waterfall. She did it on a three-inch rope stretched one thousand, 166 feet.

1928 – George Eastman demonstrated the first color movies.  He also invented roll film and cheap portable cameras. At the age of 77, he shocked his friends by shooting himself in the heart. Eastman left behind a note that read, “To my friends: my work is done…why wait?”

1956 – President Eisenhower signed a law officially making the nation’s motto “In God We Trust.”  The law also mandated that the phrase be printed on all American paper currency.

1965 – President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a health insurance program for the elderly called Medicare into law.

1975 – Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa disappeared as he was trying to recapture control of the union he once headed.  He was last seen getting into an automobile that pulled up outside a suburban Detroit restaurant.  The car drove away and he was never seen again.

1982 – A Michigan judge declared Jimmy Hoffa officially dead.

1996 – Tom Cruise filed a lawsuit against a German magazine for falsely quoting him as saying he had “zero sperm count.”

2003 – In Mexico, the last old style Volkswagen Beetle rolled off an assembly line.
Daily Mindbender Answer
The average person “has a screaming match with someone” twice a month.
Yours in Water Cooler News!
Dr. Rus

]]> http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/30/073010-water-cooler-news/feed/ 0 http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/30/073010-water-cooler-news/ 072810: Water Cooler News http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JustMyTwoCents/~3/_mrwaoyC6cw/ http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/28/072810-water-cooler-news/#comments Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:54:24 +0000 Dr. Rus http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/?p=1858

Water Cooler News — July 28, 2010

Welcome to “Hump-Day”!

It’s Wednesday already! Another middle of the week has arrived and that means some may already be planning the upcoming weekend. But, just because you may be making weekend plans, doesn’t mean you won’t need conversation starters for the day. With that in mind, it’s time for another edition of the Water Cooler News. In this edition of the WC News there’s the usual list of birthdays for today and some great historical facts too.

There’s also a collection of off-beat news…

  • Man Shares a Little Too Much with Girlfriend’s Mother
  • There’s Nothing New About These Newlyweds
  • Daughter Busted for Putting Lysol in Mom’s Juice

Daily Mindbender Question
15% of dog owners say they’ve purchased this for their dog.
What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Man Shares a Little Too Much with Girlfriend’s Mother”
Authorities say an 18 year old from Glendale, Wisconsin has been cited for disorderly conduct after he showed his girlfriend’s mother just what kind of a man he really is. Authorities say the teen sent his 17 year old girlfriend a picture himself in the buff, but, got in trouble because the girl’s mother saw the picture first since she shares a cell phone with her daughter.
“There’s Nothing New About These Newlyweds”
Henry Kerr and Valerie Berk-oh-witz promise to love one another “’til death do them part.” However, no one is sure how long that will be since Henry is 97 and Valerie is 87. The British couple, each of whom outlived their first spouses, got married last weekend in their nursing home. The lovebirds met four years ago at the home and Kerr says he “immediately fell head over heels in love with Valerie”. As a result, he started writing her poems to win her over.
“Daughter Busted for Putting Lysol in Mom’s Juice”
Authorities in Portsmouth, New Hampshire arrested 17 year old Brittany Merrill for putting Lysol in some juice her mother was drinking. Police say the incident allegedly took place after Brittany got into an argument with her mother, who became suspicious when her throat started burning after swallowing some of the contaminated juice.
Historical Notes
Today is…
Singing Telegram Anniversary – 1933 - On this day the first singing telegram was delivered to Rudy Vallee on his 32nd birthday.
Notable Birthdays…
Jim Davis 65/cartoonist, Garfield
Linda Kelsey 64/actress, TV’s Lou Grant
Jonathan Edwards 64/singer, “Sunshine”
Sally Struthers 62/actress, Gloria on TV’s All in the Family
Georgia Engel 62/actress, TV’s Mary Tyler Moore Show
Simon Kirke 61/drummer, Bad Company, Free
Steve Morse 56/guitarist, Deep Purple
Lori Loughlin 46/actress, TV’s 90210, Full House
Elizabeth Berkley 38/actress, TV’s Saved by the Bell, Showgirls
Born on this date…also known as the late…
Richard Wright–1943-2008/keyboardist, Pink Ployd
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis–1930-1994
Music History
2001 – The Eagles played the first concert at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
1995 – Jimi Hendrix’s father, James Al Hendrix, won back the rights to his son’s name, likeness, image and music after a number of companies had profited from them over the years.
1992 – Patti Labelle abruptly ended a concert in Warwick, Rhode Island after complaining onstage about backstage food.
1982 – The Bellamy Brothers’ compilation Greatest Hits was released.
1987 – The Beatles sued Nike and Capitol Records over the use of their song “Revolution” in shoe commercials.
1979 – The World Series of Rock, featuring Journey, Ted Nugent and Thin Lizzy was held at Cleveland Stadium.
1973 – A crowd of 600 thousand gathered for a rock festival at Watkins Glen Raceway in New York to hear the Grateful Dead, The Band and the Allman Brothers Band.
1973 – Grand Funk Railroad’s “We’re An American Band” was released.
1971 – Charley Pride recorded “Kiss an Angel Good Morning” in Nashville.
1970 – The movie Ned Kelly — in which Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones made his acting debut — opened.
1957 – Jerry Lee Lewis made his TV debut on The Steve Allen Show.
1939 – Judy Garland recorded “Over the Rainbow.”
General History
1866 – The metric system was legalized by Congress for the standardization of weights and measures throughout the United States.
1951 – The Walt Disney film Alice in Wonderland was released.
1973 – Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett married.
1978 – National Lampoon’s Animal House opened in theaters. The spoof about 1960s college fraternities starring John Belushi became part of pop-culture history.
1991 – Dennis Martinez of the Montreal Expos pitched the 13th perfect game in Major League Baseball history.
2000 – Kathie Lee Gifford made her final appearance as co-host of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.
Daily Mindbender Answer
15% of dog owners say they’ve purchased “toothpaste” for their dog.
Yours in Water Cooler News fun!
Dr. Rus
]]> http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/28/072810-water-cooler-news/feed/ 0 http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/28/072810-water-cooler-news/ 072710: Water Cooler News http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JustMyTwoCents/~3/ihhF60KeEEM/ http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/27/072710-water-cooler-news/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:14:35 +0000 Dr. Rus http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/?p=1854

Water Cooler News – July 27, 2010

Hello Tuesday and welcome to another edition of the Water Cooler News! Making sure you’re not left empty-mouthed when searching for daily chit-chat information you will find lots of fun material to talk about with your co-workers here. In this edition of the WC News you will find the usual collection of historical notes and a list of birthdays for today.

Of course you will also find some off-beat news…

  • “Would You Pay $69 for a Hot Dog?”
  • “Pot in a Painting”
  • “Boat Made of Bottles Finishes 8,000-Mile Voyage”

Daily Mindbender Question
20% of people have lost this while on vacation.
What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Would You Pay $69 for a Hot Dog?”
You may have to go a foot deep into your wallet to pay for a foot-long at New York City’s Serendipity 3. According to the New York Daily News, the restaurant has set the Guinness record for most expensive hot dog, with a wiener that will set you back $69.  The frankfurter, served on a salted pretzel bed, comes with truffle oil, truffle butter, duck foie gras, Dijon mustard, Vidalia onions and ketchup. Serendipity 3 owner Stephen Bruce said he decided to go for the record because the hot dog is an all-American food.  The eatery sure has a real penchant for serving common foods at uncommon prices: it has an ice cream sundae goes for a record $1,000.  It also offers the largest cup of hot chocolate, at four gallons.  The balance of its menu goes for regular prices — regular for New York, that is.  $14.00 cheeseburger, anyone?
“Pot in a Painting”
Water colors met watery eyes when a man in Canton, Georgia recently found marijuana inside a painting.  WSB reports 80-year-old Gordon Clement stumbled across four pounds of pot inside the piece of artwork last week when he tried to sell the painting at an auction.  He bought the piece about five years ago.  Clement had planned to ask $25 for the artwork, which is nothing compared to the $4,800 police say the pot is worth.
“Boat Made of Bottles Finishes 8,000-Mile Voyage”
We’ve all heard of a ship in a bottle, but how about a ship from a bottle?  The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports a catamaran created from 12,000 plastic bottles pulled into Sydney Harbour in Australia on Monday after completing its 8,000-mile trek from San Francisco that began in March.  David de Rothschild, who served as captain of the vessel — dubbed Plastiki, inspired by adventurer THOR HEYERDAL’s 1947 Kon-Tiki expedition across the Pacific — said he went on the journey to raise awareness about pollution, while informing people know how much plastic ends up in the world’s oceans.  He said, “You go a couple of hundred miles off the coast and nobody is claiming responsibility.  Which allows people just to do what they want and allows them to abuse the ocean’s depth and its so-called scale.”  The Plastiki will now go on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Historical Notes
Today is…
Walk on Stilts Day
Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day
Notable Birthdays…
Norman Lear 88/creator, producer TV’s All in the Family, Good Times
Jerry Van Dyke 79/actor, Dick’s brother, TV’s Coach
Bobbie Gentry 66/country singer, “Ode to Billy Joe”
Betty Thomas 62/director, Doctor Dolittle, Private Parts, TV’s Hill Street Blues
Peggy Fleming 62/Olympic gold medal winning ice skater
Maureen McGovern 61/singer, “The Morning After”
Jonathan Rhys Meyers 33/actor, Match Point, Mission: Impossible 3
Music History
1997 – The soundtrack to the movie Men in Black began a two-week run at the top spot on the album chart.
1991 – Bryan Adams started a seven-week run at number one on the singles chart with “(Everything I Do) I Do it for You.”
1987 – U2 caused major traffic problems in downtown Los Angeles when they filmed the video for “Where the Streets Have No Name” on a rooftop.
1986 – Queen became the first act from the West since Louis Armstrong in 1964 to perform in Budapest, Hungary.
1985 – Singer Paul Young had the number one song with his cover version of the HALL & OATES tune, “Every Time You Go Away.”
1976 – John Lennon received his green card from U.S. immigration.
1976 – Tina Turner filed for a divorce from IKE.
1976 – Bruce Springsteen sued his manager, Mike Appel, in Manhattan’s U.S. District Court for fraud and breach of contract.
1974 – Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” was released.
1968 – Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees collapsed as the group was about to leave for their first U.S. tour.  Robin was suffering from nervous exhaustion.
1963 – Johnny Cash took “Ring of Fire” to number one.
General History
1909 – Orville Wright set a record for the longest airplane flight. He was testing the first Army airplane and kept it in the air for one hour, 12 minutes and 40 seconds.
1940 – Bugs Bunny made his official debut in the Warner Brothers cartoon A Wild Hare.
1984 – Pete Rose passed Ty Cobb’s record for most singles in a career when he hit number three thousand, 503.
1990 – Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor was sentenced to three days in jail for slapping a police officer.
1996 – At the Atlanta Olympics, a pipe bomb exploded at the public Centennial Olympic Park. One person was killed and more than a hundred were injured.
2003 – Legendary actor and comedian Bob Hope died at the age of 100.
Daily Mindbender Answer
20% of people have lost a “tooth” while on vacation.
Yours in Water Cooler News Fun!
Dr. Rus
]]> http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/27/072710-water-cooler-news/feed/ 0 http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/27/072710-water-cooler-news/ 072610: Water Cooler News http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JustMyTwoCents/~3/s_3qQ7ZiH_k/ http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/26/072610-water-cooler-news/#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:31:25 +0000 Dr. Rus http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/?p=1850

Water Cooler News – July 26, 2010

Wow! Where did that weekend go! It’s time to start a brand new work week and that also means it’s time for another great week of Water Cooler News! Making sure you have idle chit-chat material for when you gather around the proverbial work water cooler killing time through the day. In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will find some great off-beat news…

  • Drunk 16-Year-Old Takes Fire Truck for Joyride
  • Lawyer Vandalizes Former Client’s Home
  • Darth Vader Robs Bank

Then of course there’s the usual collection of birthdays for this date and some great historical tidbits too!

Daily Mindbender Question
In 1965, 10% of us owned this. Today 3 out of 4 of us have this. In the last 40 years, use of this has increased 6 times.
What is it?

Answer at end of question!

Off-Beat News

“Drunk 16-Year-Old Takes Fire Truck for Joyride”
A teenager in Australia didn’t want to wait to grow up to be a fireman.  The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports police recently arrested a 16-year-old boy for breaking into a firehouse, stealing a fire truck and taking it for a spin around town.  The teen, who was over the legal blood-alcohol limit, only managed to make it partway down the street before cops pulled him over.
“Lawyer Vandalizes Former Client’s Home”
Albert E. Ford II set the bar pretty low. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the 43-year-old lawyer from Longwood, Florida was arrested last Thursday for burglarizing the home of a former client who filed a complaint over Ford’s fees.  Authorities say Ford went to former client Kasee Singh’s home and broke the doorbell, kicked a bench into the pool and moved a pool tank, filter and canister.  Surveillance footage revealed Ford was the person responsible.  For good measure, Ford also took an American flag which Singh kept on his property.  It’s unclear if Ford went to Singh’s home before or after the complaint was filed.  It was rejected earlier this month.
“Darth Vader Robs Bank”
“Luke, I am your robber.”  The New York Daily News reports a man dressed as Darth Vader robbed a bank in Setauket, New York last Thursday.  While the suspect, who was armed with a gun and wearing camouflage pants, was all business, one customer thought the robber was trying to make a joke and started kidding around with him.  Lord Vader found his lack of faith disturbing — he pushed the customer to the floor and approached a teller, demanding cash.  The thief made off with an unspecified amount of money.
Historical Notes
Today is…
Parent’s Day
Notable Birthdays…
Blake Edwards 88/director, The Pink Panther
James Best 84/actor, Sheriff Coltrane on TV’s Dukes of Hazzard
Dobie Gray 70/singer, “Drift Away”
Mick Jagger 67/singer, Rolling Stones
Helen Mirren 65/actress, won Best Actress Oscar for The Queen
Roger Taylor 61/drummer, Queen
Kevin Spacey 51/actor, American Beauty, The Usual Suspects
Sandra Bullock 46/actress, Speed movies, Crash, The Blind Side
Kate Beckinsale 37/actress, Pearl Harbor, The Aviator
Born on this date…also known as the late…
Stanley Kubrick–1928-1999/Director of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Full Metal Jacket, The Shining, A Clockwork Orange
Music History
2001 – Paul McCartney announced his engagement to former model and English charity campaigner Heather Mills.  They were married in 2002 and divorced in 2008.
1998 – SHA NA NA singer-bassist “Chico” Ryan died at age 50. He joined the band in 1973 and stayed for over 25 years.
1992 – Motown singer Mary Wells died after a long bout with cancer.
1992 – KISS singer-guitarist Paul Stanley married actress-model Pamela Bowen.
1986 – Peter Gabriel had the number one single with “Sledgehammer.” The number one album was the soundtrack to the movie Top Gun.
1984 – Prince’s movie Purple Rain premiered in Hollywood.
1980 – Billy Joel had his first number one single with “It’s Still Rock And Roll to Me.”
1975 – The number one song in America was Van McCoy’s “The Hustle,” signaling the beginning of the disco era. The song was actually inspired by the dance, not the other way around.
1972 – The number one single was “Alone Again (Naturally)” by Gilbert O’ Sullivan.
1969 – The Rolling Stones released the album Beggar’s Banquet.
1968 – Paul McCartney and John Lennon finished “Hey Jude” during a writing session at Paul’s home.
General History
1775 – The Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster general at a salary of a thousand dollars a year.
1919 – The first wedding was performed in an airplane.
1945 – Winston Churchill resigned as Britain’s prime minister.
1948 – Babe Ruth was seen by the public for the last time, when he attended the New York City premiere of the movie The Babe Ruth Story.
1955 – Ted Allen set a world’s record for pitching horseshoes by throwing 72 consecutive ringers.
1958 – Queen Elizabeth proclaimed her son Charles the Prince of Wales.
1984 – The Tonight Show made history by being the first network show broadcast in stereo.
1986 – Mike Tyson knocked out Marvin Frazier in 30 seconds flat.  It was the shortest fight in televised history.
1990 – Roseanne Barr sang the national anthem in San Diego, just before the Padres-Reds game.  Her performance was grating and off-key.  To add insult to injury, she mimicked every ballplayer cliché, grabbing her crotch and spitting on the field.  Even President George Bush called it “disgraceful.”
1996 – Donny Osmond apologized to Rosie O’Donnell on her show for implying she was fat.  He wore a puppy costume and sang “Puppy Love” to her.
Daily Mindbender Answer
In 1965 10% of us owned “air conditioning in our homes”. Today 3 out of 5 have it. 98% of all cars are made with it too.
Yours in Water Cooler News fun!
Dr. Rus
]]> http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/26/072610-water-cooler-news/feed/ 1 http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/26/072610-water-cooler-news/ 072310: Water Cooler News http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JustMyTwoCents/~3/3fbOGdglKHk/ http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/23/072310-water-cooler-news/#comments Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:26:00 +0000 Dr. Rus http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/?p=1846

Water Cooler News — July 23, 2010

Welcome to “Happy Dance Friday”!

It’s time for the Friday edition of the Water Cooler News! Of course as you look forward to the start of another weekend, lets make sure you’re all set with some great chit-chat material as you gather around the proverbial work water cooler! In this edition of the WC News you will find some fun historical fun facts along with a list of birthdays for today.

You will also find some off-beat news…

  • Man in Handcuffs Taken to Jail by Cops with Badges
  • If You’re Going to Eat, Steal and Run, Don’t Forget Your Purse
  • Man Steals iPhone with GPS, Cops Catch Thief Using GPS

Daily Mindbender Question
Two of these toys are purchased every second somewhere in the world. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Man in Handcuffs Taken to Jail by Cops with Badges”
You could say Shawn Martines made a citizen’s arrest, on himself.  According to WCTV, cops in Port Richey, Florida arrested the 25-year-old Tuesday after he waved down officers in the hopes they could help him remove a pair of handcuffs.  Martines told the cops he’d let a woman put the cuffs on him, believing they were fake.  Unfortunately, they were real and the woman didn’t have a key.  Though Martines managed to pick one cuff, but needed help with the other one.  Nothing illegal there.  However, the same couldn’t be said for the hypodermic needle and nine Xanax pills officers found on Martines when they patted him down.  At that point, officers snapped the open bracelet back on Martines’ wrist and whisked him away to jail on drug charges.
“If You’re Going to Eat, Steal and Run, Don’t Forget Your Purse”
According to Missouri’s Springfield News-Leader, it wasn’t difficult to discover the identities of two of three women who skipped out on a $39 bill last Sunday at a Waffle House there. The women neglected to take their purses with them when they left.  Shortly after the manager took the purses to his office and called police, one of the women returned, demanding the bags, which contained proof of identification.  When the manager said the cops were coming, she split.  The police are currently holding the purses.  No charges have yet been filed.
“Man Steals iPhone with GPS, Cops Catch Thief Using GPS”
Here’s one iPhone that works just fine, thank you very much.  The San Francisco Chronicle reports a man who stole an Apple iPhone from a woman in San Francisco on Monday was caught nine minutes later because the woman was testing a new GPS application.  Thirty-one-year-old Horatio Toure approached the victim — who’s an intern with a company developing the software — and grabbed the phone.  He sped away on a bike, completely unaware that the phone was displaying a satellite image of his getaway, which the company’s CEO used to follow his route.  Cops easily captured Toure half a mile away.
Historical Notes
Today is…
Gold Discovery Days
Gorgeous Grandma Day
Hot Enough For You Day
Notable Birthdays…
Don Imus 70/radio personality
David Essex 63/singer, “Rock On”
Larry Manetti 63/actor, TV’s Magnum P.I.
John Hall 62/singer, Orleans, became a Congressman
Blair Thornton 60/guitar, Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Belinda Montgomery 60/actress, mother on TV’s Doogie Howser, M.D.
Edie McClurg 59/actress, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, TV’s The Hogan Family
Woody Harrelson 49/actor, TV’s Cheers, Natural Born Killers
Lydia Cornell 48/actress, TV’s Too Close For Comfort
Eriq LaSalle 48/actor, TV’s ER
Philip Seymour Hoffman 43/actor
Daniel Radcliffe 21/actor, Harry in the Harry Potter movies
Born on this date…also known as the late…
Raymond Chandler–1888-1959/author, Strangers On a Train, Farewell My Lovely, The Big Sleep
Calvert DeForest–1921-2007/actor, David Letterman’s Larry “Bud” Melman
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Cousins Day – A day to honor and appreciate your cousins
National Day of the Cowboy
National Drive Thru Day
National Tell An Old Joke Day
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Parent’s Day
Music History
1994 – Alan Jackson’s remake of “Summertime Blues” went to number one.
1992 – Chicago got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1990 – Production began on the film, Falling from Grace, which marked John Mellencamp’s acting and directing debut.
1988 – Richard Marx had the number one single with “Hold On To the Night.” It was the fourth single from his debut album.
1981 – Air Supply was at number one on the singles chart with “The One That You Love.”
1980 – Singer Cliff Richard received his O.B.E. from the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
1977 – Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and band manager Peter Grant were charged with assault after a fight broke out backstage with employees of the concert’s promoter in Oakland, California.
1977 – Barry Manilow had the number one single with “Looks Like We Made It.” It was his third chart topper.
1977 – Foreigner’s “Cold as Ice” was released.
1966 – Frank Sinatra had the number one song with “Strangers in the Night.”
1964 – The Beatles had their fifth U.K. number one single with “A Hard Day’s Night.”
General History
1827 – The first swimming school in the U.S. opened in Boston.
1829 – William Burt patented the typographer, which was the first typewriter.
1904 – The ice cream cone was invented by Charles E. Menches during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis.
1984 – Vanessa Williams became the first Miss America to give back her title after it was discovered she had posed for Penthouse magazine. Suzette Charles succeeded Vanessa.
1986 – Prince Andrew married Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson in Westminster Abbey.  They later divorced.
1993 – James Jordan, father of basketball great Michael Jordan, was murdered in his car along Highway 95 in North Carolina.
2000 – Lance Armstrong won his second Tour de France.
Daily Mindbender Answer
Two “Barbie dolls” are purchased every second somewhere in the world.
Yours in Water Cooler News!
Dr. Rus
]]> http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/23/072310-water-cooler-news/feed/ 0 http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/23/072310-water-cooler-news/ 072210: Water Cooler News http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JustMyTwoCents/~3/WcyC-NAtgSE/ http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/22/072210-water-cooler-news/#comments Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:24:51 +0000 Dr. Rus http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/?p=1842

Water Cooler News — July 22, 2010

Happy Birthday to our middle son who turns 22 today!

It’s Thursday and while many are starting to think about weekend plans, it’s important that you’re not left empty-mouthed as you gather around the proverbial work water cooler looking for things to talk about. With that in mind, it’s time for Water Cooler News! In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will find the usual collection of birthdays for this date and some great historical fun facts too!

Then of course there’s the off-beat news…

  • Robbers Demand Money, Donuts with Sprinkles
  • Incarcerated Husband Busted for Sending Letters to Wife’s Cat
  • Shot by Toilet Paper

Daily Mindbender Question
50% of people say when on a 1st date, this leaves the worst impression. What is it? (Hint: it’ll happen in the car.)

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Robbers Demand Money, Donuts with Sprinkles”
America runs away on Dunkin.  KVVU reports two young men robbed a donut shop in Las Vegas earlier this month.  In addition to taking an unspecified amount of money, the suspects demanded donuts with sprinkles and some milk.  Police have yet to apprehend the perpetrators, believed to be teenagers.
“Incarcerated Husband Busted for Sending Letters to Wife’s Cat”
The cat’s out of the mailbag. The Deseret News reports a man from Salt Lake City, Utah has been accused of sending letters to his estranged wife’s cat as a way to circumvent an order not to contact his better half. Thirty-two-year-old Ronald Dallas has been told he cannot contact his wife during the domestic violence case against him, but prosecutors say he sent 11 letters to her cat from jail that were really meant for her.  In the letters, Dallas reportedly begs his wife not to testify against him.  We don’t know if the letters made his wife have a change of heart but we do know Dallas is now looking at 11 counts of violation of a protective order and two counts of tampering with a witness.
“Shot by Toilet Paper”
A Reidsville, North Carolina man may do soft time for his crime.  WGHP reports police arrested 38-year-old Lonnie Irvin Pinnix on Tuesday for shooting his wife with a gun he stuffed with toilet paper.  Pinnix’s wife came home and hopped into bed, but he ordered her to get out while pointing the gun at her.  Before she had the chance to stand, Pinnix shot her in the back.  His wife went to the hospital with powder burns.  Pinnix claims he shot the little missus because she wouldn’t leave.
Historical Notes
Today is…
Comic-Con International
Rat-Catchers Day - A day to recognize the rat catchers who labor to exterminate members of the genus Rattus.  This coincides with the Pied Piper of Hamelin anniversary.
Notable Birthdays…
Bob Dole 87/former Republican presidential candidate
Orson Bean 82/actor-comedian, TV’s Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Oscar de la Renta 78/Fashion designer
Louise Fletcher 76/actress, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Chuck Jackson 73/singer, “Any Day Now”
Terence Stamp 72/actor, General Zod in Superman movies
Alex Trebek 70/game show host, TV’s Jeopardy!
Bobby Sherman 67/singer-actor, “Easy Come, Easy Go”
Don Henley 63/singer-drummer, The Eagles and solo
Danny Glover 63/actor, Lethal Weapon movies
Alan Menken 61/composer, The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors
Music History
2005 – Eugene Record, founding member and singer of The Chi-Lites, died of cancer at the age of 64.
1986 – The number one song was “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel.
1982 – Dolly Parton’s movie with Burt Reynolds, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, premiered in Nashville.
1979 – Little Richard, known as Reverend Richard Penniman, spoke at a revival meeting in North Richmond, California. He warned the congregation about the evils of rock & roll music.
1977 – Tony Orlando announced his split from Dawn during a concert in Cohasset, Massachusetts.
1974 – John Denver had the number one single with “Annie’s Song.”
1969 – Aretha Franklin was arrested for disorderly conduct after creating a disturbance in a Detroit parking lot.
1968 – The Byrds released their pioneering country-rock album, Sweethearts of the Rodeo.
1963 – The Beatles’ first U.S. album, Introducing The Beatles, was released.
General History
1376 – The legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin leading rats out of town is said to have occurred on this date.
1926 – Babe Ruth caught a baseball at Mitchell Field in New York. The ball had been dropped from an airplane flying at 250 feet.
1933 – Wiley Post completed the first around-the-world solo flight in seven days and 19 hours.
1934 – John Dillinger was mortally wounded by FBI agents at the Biograph Theatre in Chicago.
1994 – O.J. Simpson pleaded “absolutely 100 percent not guilty” to charges he killed his ex-wife Nicole and her friend, Ron Goldman.
2008 – Actress Estelle Getty, best known for her work on the sitcom The Golden Girls, died at the age of 84.
2009 – The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st Century occurred, lasting six minutes and 39 seconds over parts of Asia and the Pacific Ocean.
Daily Mindbender Answer
50% of people say when on a 1st date “road rage” leaves the worst impression.
Yours in Water Cooler News Fun!
Dr. Rus
]]> http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/22/072210-water-cooler-news/feed/ 0 http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/22/072210-water-cooler-news/ 072110: Water Cooler News http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JustMyTwoCents/~3/buDouuKWL8o/ http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/21/072110-water-cooler-news/#comments Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:30:39 +0000 Dr. Rus http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/?p=1836

Water Cooler News — July 21, 2010

Welcome to Hump-Day Wednesday!

Wow! It’s the middle of the week already! It’s flying by and that means many may already be planning weekend events. But, if you don’t fall into that category, you may very well land into the category of wanting juicy tid-bits of information to wow your friends and neighbors with during idle-chit-chat time. With that in mind, it’s time for another edition of the Water Cooler News!

In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will of course find some fun historical facts and a list of birthdays for this date. You will also find some off-beat news…

  • Suspect Caught on Surveillance Camera Trying to Steal Surveillance Camera
  • ‘Disabled’ Man Jailed After Being Videotaped Playing Ping-Pong
  • Homeowner Pulls Gun on AC Repairman: Fix It or Else

Daily Mindbender Question
According to government studies the average American eats three of these each week.
What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Suspect Caught on Surveillance Camera Trying to Steal Surveillance Camera”
Police say an Iowa man was charged with second-degree theft Sunday after he was caught on security video stealing a surveillance camera and related equipment.  Authorities in Black Hawk County say Terrance Mitchell and another man were observed stuffing surveillance camera merchandise into a bag at a local home improvement store on July 7th.  The two fled without their loot after employees confronted them, but an investigation discovered the pair had been caught on security cameras at the same store in early June stealing security cameras.  Mitchell’s accomplice is still at large.
“‘Disabled’ Man Jailed After Being Videotaped Playing Ping-Pong”
A man who claimed to be disabled by cerebral palsy, unable to work and confined to a wheelchair was sentenced to three years in prison this week in Sweden after he was caught playing in a ping-pong tournament.  The Swedish news website TheLocal.se reports the 32-year-old man’s fraud was uncovered in April after investigators videotaped him engaging in various activities, including table tennis.  The man, a native of Iraq, was also fined 640 thousand dollars and ordered to be deported back to Iraq once his prison sentence is completed.
“Homeowner Pulls Gun on AC Repairman: Fix It or Else”
The summer heat apparently got to a 67-year-old Pennsylvania man this week.  State police say Eugene Howell pulled a gun on an air conditioning repairman Monday and refused to let the man leave until he fixed the AC. Police tell The Morning Call that the incident began after the repairman arrived at Howell’s home and told him his air conditioning unit couldn’t be fixed right away because a part needed to be ordered.  According to police, the repairman fled to another part of the house when Howell pulled out a handgun and refused to let him leave.  Authorities say Howell blocked the back door when the repairman tried to flee and then slammed the front door shut when the repairman attempted to leave that way.  The repairman eventually escaped and called police.  Howell is charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and reckless endangerment.
Historical Notes

Today is…
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
First Robot Homicide Anniversary – 1984

– The first reported killing of a human by a robot occurred at Jackson, MI.

A robot turned and caught a 34 year old worker between it and a safety

bar, crushing him.  He died of the injuries on July 26th.

Notable Birthdays…
Norman Jewison 84/director, Moonstruck, A Soldier’s Story
Janet Reno 72/former attorney general
Cat Stevens 62/singer, converted to Islam and changed name to Yusuf Islam
Garry Trudeau 62/cartoonist, Doonesbury
Robin Williams 59/actor-comedian, Good Will Hunting, Mrs. Doubtfire
Lance Guest 50/actor, TV’s Lou Grant
Damian Marley 32/reggae singer
Josh Hartnett 32/actor, Black Hawk Down, Pearl Harbor
Rory Culkin, 21, part of the famous Culkin clan, actor (Scream 4)

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Ernest Hemingway 1899-1961/author, won both the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize.

Don Knotts 1924-2006/actor, Barney Fife on TV’s Andy Griffith Show, Three’s Company

Music History
2008 – The Police played the first of two nights at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado during the final leg of their 152-date world Reunion tour.  The tour became the third highest grossing of all time, earning more than 340 million dollars.

1999 – Charley Pride received the two thousand, 140th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1990 – BBC’s Radio One apologized to listeners after Madonna repeatedly cursed during a live concert broadcast.

1990 – Former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters staged a production of his rock opera The Wall in Berlin. The event included performances by Sinead O’Connor, Cyndi Lauper, Bryan Adams and Phill Collins.

1979 – Robert Palmer’s “Bad Case of Loving You” was released.

1975 – Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony had the number one pop hit with “The Hustle.”

1970 – The Carpenters had the number one pop hit with “(They Long to Be) Close to You.”

1956 – Johnny Cash went to number one with “I Walk the Line.”

General History
1733 – John Winthrop was granted the first honorary doctor of law degree in the U.S. The honor was given by Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

1873 – Jesse James and his gang pulled off the first train robbery in the U.S. They took three thousand dollars from the Rock Island Express at Adair, Iowa.

1987 – Mary Hart, of Entertainment Tonight, had her legs insured by Lloyd’s of London for two million dollars.
Daily Mindbender Answer
According to government studies the average American eats three “hamburgers” each week.
Yours in Water Cooler News Fun!
Dr. Rus

]]> http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/21/072110-water-cooler-news/feed/ 0 http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/21/072110-water-cooler-news/ 072010: Water Cooler News http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JustMyTwoCents/~3/Bu6KKpbpndM/ http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/20/072010-water-cooler-news/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:49:02 +0000 Dr. Rus http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/?p=1832

Water Cooler News — July 20, 2010

It’s the Tuesday edition of the Water Cooler News! In this edition of the WC News you will find some off-beat news…

  • Massachusetts Tourism Promotion Includes Closed Attractions
  • Snail “Races” to Victory in Championship
  • Homeowner Believes Annoyed Aliens Are Pelting His House with Meteorites

Of course there’s also the usual collection of historical notes and a list of birthdays for this date. That way you will be sure to have lots of fun idle chit chat material as you gather around the proverbial water cooler at work.

Daily Mindbender Question
1 in 5 men sing in the shower.
What is the most popular song they sing?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Massachusetts Tourism Promotion Includes Closed Attractions”
When Massachusetts tourism officials last week decided to release a list of the state’s “1,000 Great Places,” they first should have A) made sure they actually included 1,000; and B) checked to confirm all the attractions still existed.  The Boston Herald reports the list of “1,000 Great Places” actually only lists 996 sites, some of which have been closed for years.
The newspaper says the tourism list includes the Baker Robinson Whale Oil Refinery in New Bedford, which has been gutted to become part of a new Marriott hotel.  The “Great Places” list also includes Ashland State Park, the African Cultural Center in Worcester and St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Pittsfield, all of which are closed.  The tourism list also includes a bridge scheduled for demolition and a coffee shop that opened just a year ago.
In addition to the closed sites, at least a dozen other entries are listed in the wrong towns.  Also, the names of many of the “Great Places” are misspelled.  Former state legislator Erik Turkington headed up the effort to publish the list and admits he wishes he could have “proofread [it] one more time.”

“Snail “Races” to Victory in Championship”

Congratulations to Sidney, winner of the 2010 World Snail Racing Championship.  Sidney was crowned over the weekend in Norfolk, England after completing the grueling 13-inch course in a blistering three minutes and 41 seconds, according to Orange.co.uk.  The snail won a silver cup filled with lettuce for his trouble.  Sidney’s owner, 62-year-old Claire Lawrence, discovered the champ in her garden several days ago.  The world record for the 13-inch course is two minutes flat, which was set by a snail named Archie in 1995.  Organizers say windy conditions at this year’s event resulted in slower finish times.

“Homeowner Believes Annoyed Aliens Are Pelting His House with Meteorites”

A man in Bosnia believes aliens are targeting his house by repeatedly dropping meteorites on his roof.  Radivoje Lajic tells the website Orange.co.uk. his house has been hit six times since 2007, and experts at Belgrade University have confirmed all the white-hot rocks are meteorites.  Lajic says, “I am obviously being targeted by aliens.  I don’t know what I have done to annoy them, but there is no other explanation that makes sense.”  Lajic says his house has become something of a tourist attraction, and he’s planning to put the rocks on display in a small museum he’s building in his back yard.

Historical Notes

Today is…

Space Milestone Day – Moon Day

Special Olympics Day

- Official anniversary of the first ever International Special Olympics

Competition.

Notable Birthdays…

Sally Ann Howes 80/actress, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Diana Rigg 72/actress, Mrs. Peel on TV’s The Avengers

John Lodge 67/bassist, The Moody Blues

Kim Carnes 65/singer, “Bette Davis Eyes”

Carlos Santana 63/guitarist, Santana

Jay Jay French 58/guitarist, Twisted Sister

Donna Dixon 53/actress, TV’s Bosom Buddies, wife of Dan Aykroyd

Mick McNeil 52/keyboardist, Simple Minds

Simon Rex 36/actor, TV’s What I Like About You

Elliott Yamin 32/singer, former American Idol contestant

Gisele Bundchen 30/supermodel, married to New England Patriots’ Tom Brady

John Francis Daley 25/actor, TV’s Freaks and Geeks, Bones

Billi Bruno 14/actress, TV’s According To Jim

Born on this date…also known as the late…

Natalie Wood 1938-1981/actress, Splendor in the Grass, married to Robert Wagner.

Cindy Walker 1918-2006/Country Music Hall of Fame member, co-wrote Eddy Arnold’s “You Don’t Know Me”

Music History

2004 – Van Halen released the compilation album The Best of Both Worlds, featuring songs from the band’s two successful vocalists, David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar.

1982 – The number one song was “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor. It was the theme song from the film Rocky III.

1979 – ELO dedicated their “Don’t Bring Me Down” single to Skylab.

1975 – Steve Van Zandt performed for the first time in concert as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band.

1974 – David Bowie performed a gig at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

1974 – Joey Ramone became the lead vocalist for The Ramones.

1971 – The Carpenters premiered their summer replacement show on NBC-TV, Make Your Own Kind Of Music.

1968 – Cream started a four-week run at number one on the album chart with the two-LP, half live/half studio set, Wheels Of Fire.

1968 – Iron Butterfly’s second album, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, entered the album chart for the first time. It contained the 17-minute title track that filled the second side of the LP, which went on sell over four million copies in the U.S. alone.

1968 – Johnny Cash’s live version of “Folsom Prison Blues” went to number one.

1965 – The Bob Dylan classic “Like a Rolling Stone” was released.

1965 – The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Do You Believe in Magic” was released.

1963 – Jan & Dean had the number one song with “Surf City.” The song was written by Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, who also sang backup vocals on the record.

General History

1801 – A 1,235-pound cheese ball was pressed at the farm of Elisha Brown, Jr.  The ball of cheese was later loaded on a horse-driven wagon and presented to President Thomas Jefferson at the White House.

1944 – President Franklin Roosevelt was nominated for an unprecedented fourth term of office at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

1969 – Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. became the first men to walk on the moon.

1973 – Bruce Lee, actor and martial-arts expert, died in Los Angeles from a brain edema possibly caused by a reaction to a prescription painkiller.  He was 32.  During Lee’s all-too-brief career, he became a movie star in Asia and, posthumously, in America.

1984 – Hank Aaron broke Ty Cobb’s record, as he appeared in the 3,034th game of his career.

Daily Mindbender Answer

1 in 5 men sing in the shower. The most popular song they sing is “Roxanne”.

Yours in Water Cooler News Fun!

Dr. Rus

]]> http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/20/072010-water-cooler-news/feed/ 0 http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/20/072010-water-cooler-news/ 071910: Water Cooler News http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JustMyTwoCents/~3/0d50CdfmaJk/ http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/19/071910-water-cooler-news/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:53:53 +0000 Dr. Rus http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/?p=1828

Water Cooler News — July 19, 2010

It’s Monday which means it’s time to start a brand new week. As we start a new week, it’s also time for some Water Cooler News. In this edition of the WC News you will find a collection of historical notes and some birthdays for this day too.

Then of course there’s the off-beat news…

  • Underwear-Clad Man Accused of Throwing Chainsaw at Police and Jumping on Cars
  • Thief Busted After Getaway Car Runs Out of Gas
  • Teacher Accused of Faking Brain Tumor to Get Time Off

Daily Mindbender Question
62% of us say a this is required at a picnic. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Thief Busted After Getaway Car Runs Out of Gas”
Police in Wenatchee, Washington say they had no trouble tracking down a man suspected of stealing Native American artifacts from an antique shop last week — the suspect’s getaway car ran out of gas as he was driving away.  The Wenatchee World reports police were called to the scene by the shop owner, and found the suspect walking away from his car after it ran out of gas about 50 feet from where he’d parked it.  Authorities say the 47-year-old suspect was found in possession of several Indian collectibles.
“Underwear-Clad Man Accused of Throwing Chainsaw at Police and Jumping on Cars”
A 34-year-old Illinois man is in trouble with the law for allegedly throwing a chainsaw at a police cruiser and jumping on cars while clad only in his underwear.  WQAD-TV reports police in Knox County were summoned Friday night after receiving a call about a man in his underwear jumping up and down on cars.  Authorities say when the man, identified as Christopher Colvin, spotted police, he threw a chainsaw at the rear window of a patrol car.  Colvin was arrested on numerous charges and sent to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.
“Teacher Accused of Faking Brain Tumor to Get Time Off”
A Pennsylvania middle school teacher got an “F” in honesty last week after she was arraigned on charges she lied for years about having an inoperable brain tumor.  Police in Lower Swatara Township say 51-year-old Leslie Herneisey faked documents, claiming she needed weeks of chemotherapy for treatment of a purported tumor and would have to miss work at Middletown Middle School.  Friends and co-workers even donated an all-expense trip to Disneyland to Herneisey and her family.  Authorities say school district officials finally became suspicious when they couldn’t help but notice Herneisey’s lack of symptoms.  Investigators say Herneisey admitted fabricating her illness and resigned in May.  She was arraigned last week on 12 counts of forgery.  Herneisey’s defense attorney says his client is now battling depression.
Historical Notes
Today is…
Marilyn Monroe’s First Screen Test Anniversary – 1946
Notable Birthdays…
George McGovern 88/former senator & candidate for president
George Hamilton IV 73/Grand Ole Opry star
Commander Cody 66/vocals, Lost Planet Airmen, “Hot Rod Lincoln”
Alan Gorrie 64/bass-vocals, Average White Band
Bernie Leadon 63/guitar-banjo, ex-Eagles, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Brian May 63/guitarist, Queen
Beverly Archer 62/actress, TV’s Major Dad
Campbell Scott 49/actor-director, son of the late George C. Scott
Anthony Edwards 48/actor, was Dr. Mark Green on TV’s ER
Clea Lewis 45/actress, TV’s Ellen
Born on this date…also known as the late…
Allen Collins–1952-1990/guitar, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Music History
1987 – Bruce Springsteen played his first show behind the Iron Curtain when he appeared in East Berlin in front of 180-thousand people.  The show was broadcast on East German TV.
1986 – Genesis had the number one single with “Invisible Touch.”  The number two song was Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer.”
1980 – Billy Joel earned his first gold record with “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me.”
1980 – David Bowie made his theatrical debut in the title role of The Elephant Man.
1975 – “Listen to What the Man Said” by Paul McCartney & Wings was the number one song.  Wings also had the number one album with Venus and Mars, McCartney’s fourth number one album since The Beatles.
1969 – The Spencer Davis Group split up.
1969 – The Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women” was released.
1968 – Hugh Masekela’s original instrumental version of “Grazin’ in the Grass” was the number one single.
1967 – The Beatles scored their 12th U.K. number one single with “All You Need Is Love.”
1954 – Sun Records released Elvis Presley’s first single, “That’s All Right Mama.”
General History
1941 – Winston Churchill used the V sign hand gesture during a speech, popularizing its use during World War II as a sign for “victory.”
1952 – A rash of UFO sightings began in Washington, DC.  The UFOs were picked up both visually and on radar, and the Air Force sent out several jet fighters to investigate, but no one could catch up with any of the mystery craft.  UFOs were even spotted over the White House, a highly restricted and protected area.  The UFOs returned a week later, and then left for good, leaving the government with no “official” explanation for the sightings.
1961 – The first regular in-flight movie was shown. It was By Love Possessed, starring Lana Turner and Efrem Zimbalist Jr., on a cross-country flight from Los Angeles to New York.
1966 – Frank Sinatra married Mia Farrow, the 21-year-old star of Peyton Place.  She was his third wife, 30 years his junior and a year younger than his son!  Frank’s second wife, Ava Gardner, had this to say about the thin, waifish, short-haired Mia: “I always knew Frank would end up sleeping with a boy.”
1969 – Apollo 11 went into orbit around the moon.
1980 – The Moscow Summer Olympics began minus dozens of boycotting nations protesting Soviet intervention in Afghanistan.
1985 – Schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe was chosen as the first civilian to ride aboard the space shuttle.  She and six other astronauts were killed when the shuttle “Challenger” exploded in January of the following year.
1990 – Former Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose received a sentence of five months in prison, three months in a half-way house, a thousand hours of community service and a $50,000 fine for tax evasion.
2001 – Famed lion tamer Gunther Gebel-Williams died at age 66. No, he was not eaten by a lion.
Daily Mindbender Answer
62% of us say “a Frisbee” is required at a picnic.
Yours in Water Cooler News Fun!
Dr. Rus
]]> http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/19/071910-water-cooler-news/feed/ 0 http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/19/071910-water-cooler-news/ 071610: Water Cooler News http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JustMyTwoCents/~3/6eqV8X37eeA/ http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/2010/07/16/071610-water-cooler-news/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:52:51 +0000 Dr. Rus http://justmytwocents.godlaughs.net/?p=1824

Water Cooler News – July 16, 2010

Welcome to Happy Dance Friday!

The weekend is almost set to begin so it’s time for the Happy Dance! As you prepare for your weekend, you’re also preparing to gather around the old water cooler at work. That of course means you need some fun conversation starters. With that in mind, it’s time for the Friday edition of the Water Cooler News! In this edition of the WC News there’s some fun off-beat news…

  • One-Armed Man Charged with Unarmed Robbery
  • Fiance Buys Beloved $250,000 Winning Lottery Ticket
  • Man Protests Tax Bill by Paying in Pennies

Of course you will also find some fun historical notes for this day and a list of birthdays.

Daily Mindbender Question
Nearly 15% of men have cooked this for a woman on their first date.
What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“One-Armed Man Charged with Unarmed Robbery”
Police say 28 year old Manuel Hernandez, also known as Lefty because he’s missing his right arm, has been charged with robbery for holding up a 68 year old man. Authorities say Hernandez robbed the man on the street in Springfield, Massachusetts and then ran away. The victim flagged down some officers who later found and arrested Hernandez, who had the man’s wallet, which contained more than $350. Hernandez is known to police in the area for various crimes he’s committed over the years, including car theft and burglary.
“Fiance Buys Beloved $250,000 Winning Lottery Ticket”
According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Rob Russell bought a scratch-off lottery ticket for his fiancee Tracie Rogers which turned into a 250 thousand dollar winning ticket! Russell told the newspaper he bouth the lottery ticket because he didn’t want to return from a trip to the convenience store with nothing for her. Rogers and Russell, who’ve been a couple for 12 years, got engaged in 2007, but they’ve never set a wedding date because they both lost their jobs. They say they plan to use their new-found wealth to pay off their mortgage, rather than spend it on a lavish wedding.
“Man Protests Tax Bill by Paying in Pennies”
A man in Quebec upset by a property tax rate hike tried to pay his bill in pennies. A spokesperson for the tax office said after the increase the man’s tax bill soared to 64 hundred dollars. To protest the increase he took 200 thousand pennies – which amounts to 10 thousand dollars – to city hall to pay his bill under protest. However, Canadian law stipulates people can refuse payment of more than 25 cents in pennies. As a result, the pennies were refused and he had to write a check.
Historical Notes
Today is…
Atomic Bomb Tested – 1945
Big Sky State Games – www.bigskygames.org
Show Me State Games – www.smsg.org
Notable Birthdays
Stewart Copeland 58/drummer, The Police
Phoebe Cates 47/actress, Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Daryl “Chill” Mitchell 45/actor, TV’s Ed
Will Ferrell 43/comic actor, SNL
Rain Pryor 41/actress, Head of the Class, Richard’s daughter
Corey Feldman 39/actor, Stand by Me, The Lost Boys
AnnaLynne McCord 23/actress, TV’s 90210, Nip/Tuck
Mark Indelicato 16/actor, Ugly Betty
Born on this date…also known as the late..
Ginger Rogers–1911-1995/actress, dancer, singer.
Saturday, July 17 2010
First Perfect Score In Olympic History Anniversary
- Nadia Comaneci score the first perfect “10″ in Olympic history.  The
scoreboard displayed “1.00″ because it couldn’t go up to 10.
National Ice Cream Day
Sunday, July 18 2010
First Woman Vice-Presidential Candidate Anniversary – 1984
- Geraldine Ferraro was nominated to run with presidential candidate Walter Mondale on the Democratic ticket.  They were defeated by Ronald Reagan
Marilyn Monroe’s First Screen Test Anniversary – 1946
National Get Out Of The Doghouse Day
- Men can now go back to their beds and get off the couch!
National Hug Your Kids Day
Music History
1996 – Styx drummer John Panozzo died at the age of 49. He suffered from cirrhosis of the liver.
1996 – Billy Ray Cyrus’ Some Gave All album became the first country debut album to sell nine million copies.
1995 – Wayne Osmond of The Osmond Brothers underwent an operation for a brain tumor.
1995 – Queen Latifah was the victim of a carjacking that went wrong. Her bodyguard wound up shot and wounded.
1994 – The Lion King soundtrack started a nine-week run at number one on the album chart.
1986 – Country star Dolly Parton’s theme park, Dollywood, opened in Tennessee.
1983 – “Every Breath You Take” by The Police started an eight-week run at number one on the singles chart. It would go on to be the top song of the year.
1982 – Kenny Rogers made his film debut in the movie Six Pack. His song “Love Will Turn You Around” was featured in the film as well.
1981 – Folk singer-songwriter Harry Chapin had a heart attack while in a car accident on the Long Island Expressway. Chapin was on his way to perform at a benefit concert.
1977 – Shaun Cassidy had the number one single with “Da Doo Ron Ron.”
1977 – The number one album was Barry Manilow Live. It was his only chart topper.
1976 – The Allman Brothers Band broke up…for the first time.
1976 – Loggins and Messina broke up.
1973 – Bob Dylan released the soundtrack to Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid.
1973 – The number one song was “Bad Bad Leroy Brown” by Jim Croce.
1972 – Smokey Robinson played his final show with The Miracles in Washington, D.C. William Griffin replaced him in the group.
1969 – The Who released “I’m Free.”
1966 – In London, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker formed the band Cream.
1966 – The Lovin’ Spoonful released “Summer in the City.”
1966 – It took three years for “Hanky Panky” by Tommy James & The Shondells to hit number one.
General History
1935 – Oklahoma City became the first city in the U.S. to make use of parking meters.
1950 – The largest crowd in sporting history – 199 thousand, 854 people — watched Uruguay defeat Brazil in the World Cup soccer finals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
1951 – J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye, was first published.
1957 – Marine Major John Glenn set a Transcontinental Speed Record when he flew a jet from California to New York in three hours, 23 minutes and eight seconds.
1969 – Apollo 11, carrying Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, blasted off from Cape Kennedy on the first mission to the surface of the moon.
1973 – Roger English stopped dancing the twist after a record 102 hours, 29 minutes.
2004 – Martha Stewart was sentenced to five months in prison for lying about a stock sale. She was also ordered to spend five months confined to her home and fined 30-thousand dollars.  She was allowed to remain free pending her appeal.
Daily Mindbender Answer
Nearly 15% of men have cooed a “frozen dinner” for a woman on their first date.
Yours in Water Cooler News Fun!
Dr. Rus
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