Let the Friday Happy Dance Begin!

Friday’s are always a little more special around here. There’s nothing like a Friday to get the blood pumping just a little bit faster. We are set for the start of another weekend, but I also want to make sure you’re set with some Water Cooler News as you gather around the water cooler today.

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

• Lights!  Camera!  Burglary!
• Boy Calls 911 After Parents Take Away His Xbox
• Custodian Paid $14K Settlement After Injuring Back Picking Up Toilet Paper

Daily Mindbender Question
According to Women’s World, 4 out of 5 women report being in a happier mood just by putting this on. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Lights!  Camera!  Burglary!”
If the camera never lies, then two teenagers in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania are in big trouble. A 15-year-old boy and his 16-year-old friend were arrested after police found video recordings they made of themselves burglarizing homes. Police say in one of the videos they recovered, the teens joked about how Christmas came early for them. Their on-camera performances finally came to an end when they set off a burglar alarm in a house and officers found them on the street with bags filled with a thousand dollars of stolen merchandise.

“Boy Calls 911 After Parents Take Away His Xbox”
A 15 year old boy in Buffalo Grove, Illinois called 9-1-1 to complain about his parents. Authorites say the young teen was up set because they took away his Xbox. The boy hung up on the operator, but authorities traced the call and an officer was dispatched to the boy’s home, where he asked whether his parents had the right to remove his game system.  The officer told the boy he had to listen to his parents. It’s unclear why they took the Xbox away from their son.

“Custodian Paid $14K Settlement After Injuring Back Picking Up Toilet Paper”
Cook County in Illinois County reached a settlement agreement with custodian Mary Lait over a lawsuit she filed after being injured on the job. According to court documents Lait received a payment of 14 thousand dollars after she injured her back picking up toilet paper while on the job in the Sheriff’s Office. Lait claims she felt pain in her back on at least two occasions because of the injury. One county commissioner blasted the decision, saying, quote, “Do I think it’s excessive? I think we end up compensating employees for illnesses and injuries they bring with them to work.”

Historical Tidbits

Today is…
Name Your PC Day

Saturday, November 21, 2009
World Hello Day – Everyone who participates greets 10 people.  People in 180 countries have participated.

Notable Birthdays…
Richard Dawson, 77, TV host / actor (Family Feud)
Dick Smothers, 71, comedian
Norman Greenbaum, 67, singer (Spirit In The Sky)
Joe Walsh 62/singer-guitarist, The Eagles, James Gang and solo
Bo Derek, 53, actress

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Duane Allman–1946-1971/lead guitar, Allman Brothers Band
Alistair Cooke–1908-2004/host, TV’s Masterpiece Theater

Music History
1995 – Radio stations began airing a “new” Beatles, “Free As A Bird.” It debuted on ABC the night before during part one of The Beatles Anthology.

1973 – Novelty hit master Allan Sherman died. His biggest single was “Hello Muddah! Hello Faddah!” in 1963.

1967 – Strawberry Alarm Clock had the number one song with “Incense and Peppermints.”

1961 – Jimmy Dean went to number one with “Big Bad John.”

General History
1947 – Britain’s future queen, Princess Elizabeth, married Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh.

1962 – Mickey Mantle was named the American League Most Valuable Player for the third time.

1995 – Princess Diana admitted being unfaithful to Prince Charles in an interview broadcast on BBC Television.

Daily Mindbender Answer
According to Women’s World 4 out 5 women report being in a happier mood when they put on “lipstick”.

Yours in Water Cooler News!
Dr. Rus

It’s time for another edition of the Water Cooler News. Aimed at making sure you’re not left speechless at the daily gathering around the water cooler. There’s nothing worse than having nothing to talk about. With that in mind, in this edition of the Water Cooler News, you will find the usual collection of historical tidbits and birthdays for this date.

In the line of off-beat news there you will find…

• Love Of Dolls Sends Woman To Jail
• Cow Takes A Dip in Neighbor’s Pool
• Mail Carrier Takes A Drunk Noodle Break

Daily Mindbender Question
10% of Americans have never stepped foot here. Where is it?

Answer at end of post.

Off-Beat News

“Love Of Dolls Sends Woman To Jail”
58 year old Margot Strawn of Laguna Hills, California will spend the next four years in prison for stealing over half a million dollars from a trust fund so she could buy dolls for her collection. According to court documents, Strawn was working as an accountant when she was hired to manage a family’s trust fund in 2001. Over the next five-and-a-half years, she wrote checks to herself from the account to help fund her doll collection.

“Cow Takes A Dip in Neighbor’s Pool”
Kathy Wydareny of Anderson, South Carolina was stunned to discover a 650-pound cow in her pool Monday night. After hearing a huge splash in her back yard, she went outside to find the animal had fallen into the pool. It turns out the cow belonged to her neighbor.  Wydareny called 9-1-1 and five rescue workers responded to help remove the bovine bather from the pool.

“Mail Carrier Takes A Drunk Noodle Break”
A postal worker in Marion, Iowa is in hot water after she was found drunk in someone’s home while she was supposed to be delivering the mail. Police charged the 46 year old with public intoxication after they found her drunk on the kitchen floor of a 95-year-old woman’s house eating noodles she’d found in the refrigerator. Authorities say the woman managed to get into the home because the front door was unlocked.  She was in her uniform and had her mail bag with her as well. The worker, who’s been with the post office for 17 years, was placed on unpaid leave.

Historical Tidbits

Today is…
Cold War Formally Ended – 1990
First Automatic Toll Collection Machine Anniversary – 1954
Have A Bad Day Day – For those who are filled with repulsion at being told endlessly to “have a nice day”, this day is a brief respite.

Notable Birthdays…
Alan Young, 90, actor (”Mr. Ed)
Larry King, 76, talk show host
Dick Cavett, 73 TV host
Ted Turner, 71, media mogul
Dan Haggerty, 68, actor (”Grizzly Adams”)
Calvin Klein, 67, designer
Ann Curry, 53, journalist (”Today)
Meg Ryan, 48, actress
Jodie Foster, 47, actress
Terry Farrell 46/actress, TV’s Becker

Music History
1990 – The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences took away Milli Vanilli’s Best New Artist Grammy after it was revealed the two group members, Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, did not actually sing on the album, Girl You Know It’s True.

1979 – Chuck Berry was released from Lompoc Prison in California after serving a sentence for income tax evasion.

1971 – B.B King marked his 25th year in show business by kicking off a European tour in London.

1968 – The Supremes performed at the Royal Variety Show in London. Queen Elizabeth was in attendance.

1955 – Carl Perkins recorded “Blue Suede Shoes” at Sun Studios in Memphis.

1954 – Sammy Davis Jr. was involved in a serious auto accident in San Bernardino, California. Three days later, Davis lost the ability see with his left eye.

General History
1620 – The Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts.  All 102 of them had been cooped up aboard the Mayflower for two months.

1863 – Abraham Lincoln gave the famous Gettysburg Address, at a cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  It wasn’t famous at the time, though — the Chicago Times described the three-minute speech as, quote, “flat, silly and dishwatery.”

1895 – Inventor Frederick Blaisdell patented his new invention, the pencil.

1959 – The auto industry’s most spectacular flop, the Edsel, drove off to that big junkyard in the sky, as the Ford Motor Company announced it was suspending production of the car after just 26 months.

2001 – Barry Bonds* became the first player to win four of Major League Baseball’s Most Valuable Player awards.

Daily Mindbender Answer
10% of Americans have never stepped foot on a “bathroom scale”.

Yours in Water Cooler News!
Dr. Rus

It’s the middle of the week already! That’s right, we are starting our descent to another weekend. As you gather at the daily water cooler looking for interesting things to talk about, make sure you’re armed and ready with some great info!

In this edition of the Water Cooler News, there’s the collection of historical tidbits and birthdays for today. You will also find a collection of off-beat news…

• Woman Sues After Shampoo Bottle Bonks Her on Head
• Soap Operas Tear A Marriage Apart
• Winning The Lottery Is All About Dumb Luck

Daily Mindbender Question
Doing this in the middle of the day can boost your energy by 30%. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Woman Sues After Shampoo Bottle Bonks Her on Head”
Mary Jones of Iowa City has filed a lawsuit against La’James International College of Cosmetology, claiming she’s suffered recurring physical and mental pain after a bottle of shampoo fell on her head two years ago. Since that incident, Jones says she’s had all sorts of aches and pains and has spent money seeking medical attention, while also losing unspecified bodily functions.  She also claims the accident has deprived her of earning money and prevented her from enjoying life.

“Soap Operas Tear A Marriage Apart”
A newspaper in India is reporting that a woman divorced her husband because he wouldn’t let her watch soap operas. A judge ruled the hubby had been arguing with his wife for over four years for – quote – “watching Hindi serials on TV channels.”  The judge also said – quote – “The husband was not allowing his wife to see programs on TV as per her choice.” The divorce was finalized in August but recently became public knowledge when the husband appealed the ruling, in which the wife also won custody of their six-year-old child.

“Winning The Lottery Is All About Dumb Luck”
A man is counting his winnings after buying the wrong lottery ticket at a store in Bridgeton, New Jersey. It all started when the clerk accidentally gave him the wrong scratch-off ticket. The man asked for a Deuces Wild ticket, but the cashier gave him an Aces Wild ticket instead. The clerk tried to chase the man down after he left, but couldn’t catch him. But, the man returned a short time later to claim his prize…100 thousand dollars.

Historical Notes

Today is…
Mickey Mouse’s Birthday – 1928
The Push Button Phone Debuted – 1963

Notable Birthdays…
Linda Evans, 67, actress (Dynasty)
Susan Sullivan 67/actress, TV’s Dharma & Greg
Jameson Parker 62/actor, TV’s Simon & Simon
Kim Wilde 49/singer, “Kids in America”
Owen Wilson, 41, actor – Wedding Crashers, Cars

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Johnny Mercer–1909-1976/singer, founder of Capitol Records
Hank Ballard–1927-2003/singer-songwriter, wrote “The Twist”

Movie History
1928 – Mickey Mouse made his ‘talkie’ debut in Steamboat Willie, at New York’s Colony Theatre.  Mickey was originally named “Mortimer Mouse,” but Mrs. Disney didn’t like the name.

1959 – Ben Hur, starring Charlton Heston, premiered in New York City.

1983 – Yentl premiered in theaters on this date.

1992 – Malcolm X, starring Denzel Washington and directed by Spike Lee, opened nationwide.

1994 –     Star Trek: Generations hit theaters on this date.

2005 – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire premiered in theaters.

2005 – The Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line opened.

Music History
1994 – The Rolling Stones became the first group to broadcast a concert on the Internet.

1990 – Paul McCartney’s birth certificate sold for $18,000 at an auction.

1990 – Mick Jagger “married” model-actress JERRY HALL in Bali, Indonesia. Later, it was revealed the ceremony may not have been legal. The couple was together for 12 years and had two children together. Their union was dissolved in 1999 when Jerry found out Mick had fathered a child with Brazilian model Luciana Morad.

1987 – U2 opened for itself by pretending to be a country-rock group called The Dalton Brothers during a concert in Los Angeles.

1973 – Ringo Starr hit number one with the single “Photograph.” It was written by George Harrison.

1964 – The Supremes and The Righteous Brothers appeared on the show Shindig!

General History
1307 – A fellow named William Tell shot the apple off his son’s head, thus creating the legend bearing his name. Bill was a legendary Swiss marksman who had been forced into the stunt after refusing to bow down to the rule of the imperial rulers, the Hapsburgs. As a small precaution, he’d stuck a second bolt for his crossbow in his belt and told the local governor, Gessler, that it was for him should the lad be killed. Bill’s a big hero, because after he shot the arrow, he was hauled off to prison, escaped, killed Gessler and then started the struggle for Swiss independence.

1865 – Samuel L. Clemens published The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County under the pen name “Mark Twain” in the New York Saturday Press.

1872 – Susan B. Anthony and 12 other women were arrested for trying to vote.

1883 – The US adopted Standard Time and the nation henceforth became divided into four time zones designated as Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific.

1902 – The first teddy bear was invented by Morris Michtom, a Brooklyn candy store owner, who got the idea from a newspaper cartoon showing President Roosevelt on a hunting trip sparing the life of a female bear and her cubs.

1947 – Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers was named National League MVP.

Daily Mindbender Answer
“Brushing your teeth” in the middle of the day can boost your energy by 30%.

Yours in Water Cooler News!
Dr. Rus

Welcome to the Tuesday Water Cooler News!

It’s time to make sure you have lots to talk about as you gather around the proverbial water cooler and waste time during the work day. In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will find the usual collection of fun historical factoids and birthdays for this date. You will also find some off-beat news!

• Man Drives Million Dollar Sports Car Into Marsh
• Overdue Library Books Returned 51 Years Later
• Golden Rings – Not Really Golden

Daily Mindbender Question
What city sells the most pairs of sunglasses, per capita, in the United States?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Man Drives Million Dollar Sports Car Into Marsh”
A Texas man blamed a low-flying pelican and a dropped cell phone for his veering his million dollar sports car off the road and into a salt marsh near Galveston. The man told police he was driving his luxury, French-Built Bugatti when the bird distracted him. He then dropped his cell phone and when he reached to pick it up, he veered off the road and went into the water.

“Overdue Library Books Returned 51 Years Later”
A high school libraian in Phoenix says a former student at the school returned two overdue books checked out 51 years ago! When the books arrived at the library, there was also a thousand dollar money order with them to cover the fines. Camelback High School librarian Georgette Bordine said the two Audubon Society books checked out in 1959 and the money order were sent by someone who wanted to remain anonymous.

“Golden Rings – Not Really Golden”
An Ohio jeweler says thieves who smashed their way into his store and got away with rings are in for a surprise when they try to sell them. Henry Triplett of Henry’s Jewelers in Toledo said what appeared to be thousands of dollars in gold rings in his display cases were actually rings made of brass and worth barely 25 cents apiece. Triplett said the rings were dealers’ samples in the style of genuine gold rings that are safely locked away out of view. He told police the real cost of the break-in will come from replacing the front window on his shop and the shattered glass on the display cases.

Historical Notes

Today is…
Homemade Bread Day

Notable Birthdays…
Gerry McGee 72/guitarist, The Ventures
Gordon Lightfoot, 71, singer (Sundown)
Martin Scorsese, 67, director
Danny DeVito, 65, actor / director
Rachel McAdams, 31, actress (The Notebook)

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Gene Clark–1941-1991/singer, The Byrds
Rock Hudson–1925-1985

Movie History
1989 – The movie Steel Magnolias, starring Dolly Parton, Sally Field and Julia Roberts, opened nationally.

1995 – Goldeneye (Pierce Bronsan’s first film as 007) premiered in theaters.

Music History
1990 – Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan, aka Milli Vanilli, announced they would return their Best New Artist Grammy in the wake of revelations they only lip-synched their award-winning music.

1984 – “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by WHAM was at number one.

1980 – John Lennon’s Double Fantasy album was released.

1979 – The Commodores were at number one with “Still.”

1975 – “That’s The Way (I Like It)” by K.C. & The Sunshine Band was number one.

1974 – ABBA began their first tour of Europe. It was also their first tour outside of Sweden.

1970 – Elton John recorded a show in New York City that was later released as his 11-17-70 album.

1965 – The Supremes were at number one with “I Hear A Symphony.”

1963 – A grammar school headmaster in Surrey, England banned any of his pupils from having Beatles haircuts. He said, “This ridiculous style brings out the worst in boys physically. It makes them look like morons.”

1962 – The Four Seasons had their second number one with “Big Girls Don’t Cry.”

General History
1558 – Elizabeth I ascended the English throne upon the death of Queen Mary Tudor.

1968 – NBC cut away from the final minutes of a New York Jets-Oakland Raiders game to begin a TV special, Heidi. Viewers flooded the network in protest as the Raiders came from behind to beat the Jets, 43-32.

1973 – President Nixon told an Associated Press managing editors’ meeting in Orlando, Florida, “People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook.”

2006 – Sony’s PlayStation 3 went on sale in the United States.

Daily Mindbender Answer
Per capita, in the United States, “Seattle, Washington” sells the most pairs of sunglasses.

Yours in Water Cooler News!
Dr. Rus

It’s time to start  a brand new week! As you get ready to start your week, it of course will no doubt some time for a little idle chit-chat. With that in mind, you don’t want to be left chat-less so here’s your Water Cooler News!

In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will find a collection of historical tidbits and birthdays for todays date. You will also find some off-beat news…

• Korean Cops Bust Golf Ball Bandit
• Man Convicted of Robbing Mom to Pay Parking Ticket
• Three Times The DUI Stupidity

Daily Mindbender Question
In a recent survey, this is the main worry among women starting a new job. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Korean Cops Bust Golf Ball Bandit”
Police in South Korea arrested a 42 year old man, identified only as Lee, for stealing nearly 26 thousand golf balls worth more than 11 thousand dollars! Authorities claim Lee, who used to work at a golf club, would wear a diving suit and oxygen tank so he could jump into water hazards at night and collect lost balls. He’s accused of selling them for about 50 cents apiece to driving ranges.

“Man Convicted of Robbing Mom to Pay Parking Ticket”
A 27 year old man from Anchorage, Alaska has been convicted of robbing his mother at gunpoint after she refused to kick in any money to help him pay a 430 dollar parking ticket. According to court documents the man was also convicted of illegally contacting his mother from jail and attempting to get her to drop the charges. He’s slated to be sentenced in February and could spend up to 12 years behind bars.

“Three Times The DUI Stupidity”
The third time was not the charm for a hard-drinking Australian couple. A man and woman in Melbourne were caught drunk driving three times in three hours on the same road yesterday. Police initially stopped the man shortly after midnight and found he was over the legal blood-alcohol level. They also noticed his female passenger appeared intoxicated and urged her not to drive. About an hour later, officers stopped the car again only to find the woman, still drunk, was behind the wheel.  Shortly after three a.m., officers pulled the car over again and performed a breath test on the man, who was once again driving the car.

Historical Tidbits

Today is…
International Day of Tolerance

Notable Birthdays…
Keith Burns 46/former member of Trick Pony
Dwight Gooden 45/retired pitcher
Lisa Bonet, 42, actress (The Cosby Show)
Martha Plimpton 39/actress, Parenthood

Movie History
1956 – Love Me Tender, in which Elvis Presley made his film debut, premiered in New York City.

1959 – The Sound of Music, starring Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel, opened on Broadway.

1960 – Actor Clark Gable died of a heart attack at the age of 59. He had just finished shooting The Misfits with Marilyn Monroe.

1999 – Johnny Depp received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Music History
1998 – Former Elvis Presley sideman J.D. Sumner died of a heart attack at age 73. Sumner was the leader of The Stamps, the gospel vocal group that backed up Elvis on tour in the late ’60s and early ’70s.

1996 – All 3,500 tickets for Michael Jackson’s January 3rd, 1997 show at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu sold out in under four hours. A second show was added immediately.

1980 – Kenny Rogers had the number one song with “Lady.” It was written by Lionel Richie.

1978 – The movie version of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, starring the Bee Gees, Peter Frampton and Bill Preston, opened.  It bombed.

1974 – Stevie Wonder’s “Boogie On Reggae Woman” was released.

1973 – David Bowie appeared in his first TV special, 1980 Floor Show, broadcast on NBC’s Midnight Special.

1970 – The number one song was “I Think I Love You” by The Partridge Family. The TV series had premiered just two months and four days prior to the record hitting the top spot.

1970 – Anne Murray collected a gold single for “Snowbird.”

1960 – “Stay,” by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs was the number one song. It was the shortest number one in history, clocking in at just one minute and 37 seconds.

General History
1800 – Congress held its first session in Washington, D.C. in the partially completed Capitol building.

1907 – Oklahoma became the 46th state.

2004 – A NASA unmanned “cramjet” (X-43A) reached a speed of nearly 10 times the speed of sound above the Pacific Ocean.

Daily Mindbender Answer
In a recent survey the main worry among women starting a new job was “what to wear”.

Yours in Water Cooler News!
Dr. Rus

What’s wrong with this picture?

If you look in the dictionary under the definition of oxymoron, you might very well see the above picture under that heading. If you look in the dictionary under the definition of oxymoron, this could be an added entry.

Here’s a new re-worked definition of oxymoron from the Dr. Rus Dictionary…

Oxymoron – Shamed former New York Governor busted for having sex with prostitutes, talks about ethics at Harvard.

To be honest with you, I had to read the headline a few times because I simply couldn’t believe my eyes! I was sure reading wrong. I couldn’t believe Spitzer would talk about ethics, nor could I believe Harvard would even consider having him talk about such a subject!

Lets remember here people – Eliot Spitzer is the one who was having sex with prostitutes, transporting them across state lines, while in the office of Governor and married! This is the same Eliot Spitzer who took it upon himself as the Attorney General to go after prostitutes and bring them to trial.

How in the world does he get a gig to talk about ethics?

How The Mighty Have Fallen

Has Harvard forgotten about this girl?

Eliot Spitzer fell hard from power. The man who put up a squeaky clean appearance, wasn’t so squeaky clean when the truth came out. But, apparently Harvard has forgotten about the his past.

The former New York State Governor was forced from office by a sex scandal! But now Harvard invites him to speak on ethics. Maybe the Harvard officials have simply blacked out the definition of ethics from their dictionary. During his address to the Harvard students Spitzer talked about moral choices made in business and the government’s responsibility to regulate it. The former governor and state attorney general said the government needs to step in and address things like the Wall Street meltdown.

While he may know his topic, he certainly has no morals or ethics and is way out of his league to talk about such a topic.

Harvard should be ashamed of themselves. Spitzer is merely looking for a cash grab and making money.

Just my two cents,
Dr. Rus

Welcome to Happy Dance Friday!

The end of another week has arrived and that means it’s time for the Happy Dance on this Friday. It’s also time for some Water Cooler News. In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will find a list of birthdays and fun historical facts for today. You will also find some off-beat news…

• Flying With 1,000 Spiders Is A No-No
• Pilot Aims For Police
• Seduction By Deep Discount

Daily Mindbender Question
4.7% of newborn babies have this in common. What is it?

Off-Beat News

“Flying With 1,000 Spiders Is A No-No”
You’ve of “Snakes on a Plane” – but how about – “Spiders on a plane?” – A British man was caught this week trying to smuggle a thousand live spiders in his luggage before taking a flight home from Rio de Janeiro. Police arrested the man after the creatures turned up on an X-ray machine. The man is facing a year in prison and a fine of up to 2.3 million dollars.  It’s unclear why he wanted to bring the spiders home with him.

“Pilot Aims For Police”
Police in Griffin, Georgia arrested 48-year-old Dan Gryder on charges he tried to hit officers with his plane at a small airport. Officers were trying to issue Gryder a ticket for driving his car across the runway, but he jumped on a plane without signing the citation. He threatened to hit the policemen and motioned towards them with the plane when they demanded he stop the aircraft. Gryder tried to fly away but he didn’t have enough fuel.

“Seduction By Deep Discount”
A 20 year old Home Depot employee is accused of discounting 20 thousand dollars worth of merchandise from her store in Nitro, West Virginia for a man she was hoping to date. Kate Lynn Smith admitted she provided the deals over a four-month period for — quote — “A male she desired as a boyfriend.”  She no longer works at the store and there’s no word on whether Smith’s generosity succeeded in seducing the man.

Historical Notes

Today is…
Guinness World Records Day – A day celebrating ordinary people around the world doing extraordinary things. Also a day to encourage individuals to reach into their imaginations and attempt to break their own Guinness World Record. Find more information on the web at Guinness World Records.
World Kindness Day

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 14 is…
Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day – A day to remind people of all the benefits of joy and laughter.
World Diabetes Day

Notable Birthdays…
Garry Marshall, 75, producer / director
Chris Noth, 55, actor (Sex and the City)
Whoopi Goldberg, 54, comedienne (some sites show her age as 58)
Steve Zahn, 42, actor
Jimmy Kimmel, 42, late night talk show host
Gerard Butler, 40, actor (300)

Music History
2000 – The Beatles launched their first official website at thebeatles.com.

2000 – Elton John released his live album One Night Only. It had been recorded at New York’s Madison Square Garden only 22 days before.

1997 – Celine Dion, who has recorded in both English and French, released her first Japanese-language single, “Be the Man.” The song, which was the theme to the Japanese TV drama Eve, was only available in Japan.

1992 – Elton John performed in Mexico for the first time in front of 90,000 people in Mexico City.

1985 – At New York’s Whitney Museum, an exhibition opened celebrating Bob Dylan’s 25 years in the music industry.

1982 – Australia’s Men At Work started a 15-week run at the top of the album chart with their debut LP, Business As Usual.

1974 – John Lennon had the number one single with “Whatever Gets You Through the Night.” Elton John sang backing vocals and played piano and organ on the track.

1973 – Jerry Lee Lewis Jr. was killed in a highway accident near Hernando, Mississippi. Several days earlier, the 19-year-old had appeared on TV’s Midnight Special as a drummer in his father’s band. In 1962, Jerry Lee’s only other son, Steven Allen Lewis, had drowned in the family swimming pool.

1971 – Three Dog Night’s “Old Fashioned Love Song” was released.

1968 – The Beatles’ animated movie Yellow Submarine premiered in the U.S.

1961 – The Tokens’ The Lion Sleeps Tonight was released.

General History
1789 – Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to a friend in which he said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

1907 – The helicopter was introduced.

1940 – Walt Disney’s classic animated feature Fantasia was released.

1974 – Karen Silkwood, a technician and union activist at the Kerr-McGee Cimarron Plutonium Plant near Crescent, Oklahoma, was killed in a car crash. Silkwood’s name has become a rallying cry among anti-nuclear activists, who charge that foul play may have been involved in her death, although state authorities ruled it was an accident.

1998 – President Clinton agreed to pay Paula Jones $850,000, without an apology or admission of guilt, to throw out her sexual harassment lawsuit.

Daily Mindbender Answer
4.7% of newborn babies “are born on their due date”.

Yours in Water Cooler News!
Dr. Rus

We are flying through yet another week! It’s Thursday and that means we’re rapidly approaching the end of another week. As you gather around the water cooler today the last thing you want to have happen is to show up with nothing to say. 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 find a collection of birthdays and historical tidbits for this date. You will also find some off-beat news…

• Woman Takes A Stab At Getting More Vodka
• Set Of Wheels Sets Off Lawmaker
• What’s For Lunch!?

Daily Mindbender Question
Women who have this, make more money. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Woman Takes A Stab At Getting More Vodka”
Police in Clawson, Michigan say a 34-year-old woman threatened her husband with a knife after he threw out a bottle of vodka while she slept. When the woman woke up, she got into an argument with her hubby, but decided to get some more shuteye. She woke up again, at which point she took a seven-inch knife and told her husband to either give her back the liquor or hand her the car keys. Neither option appealed to the man, so he decided to hold down his wife while he called 9-1-1.

“Set Of Wheels Sets Off Lawmaker”
Karima Begam, who serves as Nepal’s deputy agriculture minister, got upset earlier this week when one of her subordinates sent an old car to pick her up at an airport. Apparently Begam wanted a specific jeep, but lost her cool when an older model Mitsubishi showed up to get her. She said, quote, “I slapped the employee four times in order to make him more aware of his duties and responsibilities.”

“What’s For Lunch!?”
Doctors in Peru recently removed one and a half pounds of metal from a man’s stomach. Requelme Abanto’s stomach was filled with such goodies as nails, coins, rusted copper wire and scrap metal. The 26-year-old construction worker said he’s been eating metal for months and he may keep doing it because – quote – “it’s a sport.”  Abanto’s cuisine of choice has forced doctors to conduct psychological tests on him while he recovers.

Historical Tidbits

Today is…
Triple Crown Surfing Day

Notable Birthdays…
Brian Hyland 66/singer, “Itsy-Bitsy-Teenie-Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini”
Booker T. Jones, 65, organist (Booker T. and the MGs)
Neil Young, 64, singer
Nadia Comaneci, 48, Olympic gold medal gymnast
Sammy Sosa 41/retired baseball slugger
Tonya Harding, 39, figure skater / bad girl
Anne Hathaway, 27, actress

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Kim Hunter – 1922-2002/actress, Dr. Zira in Planet of the Apes
Grace Kelly – 1929-1982/actress, Rear Window, Princess of Monaco

Music History
1997 – Billy Preston was sent to jail for three years for cocaine possession.

1993 – Michael Jackson canceled a world tour, saying he had a dependence on painkillers.

1990 – Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones was injured when he was struck by a car near London.

1987 – Sly Stone was arrested for nonpayment of child support when he arrived an hour late for his “comeback” concert in L.A.

1979 – Kenny Rogers began filming his TV movie The Gambler.

1970 – The Doors played what would be their final concert with Jim Morrison, in New Orleans.

1966 – The Monkees self-titled debut album started a 13-week run at number one. It sold over three million copies in three months.

1966 – Donovan’s “Mellow Yellow” was released.

General History
1931 – EMI’s now-legendary Abbey Road Studios in the St. John’s Wood section of London celebrated its grand opening.

1933 – Scotsman Hugo Gray first photographed the Loch Ness Monster as he was walking by Loch Ness near Inverness, Scotland.  Mr. Gray hastily snapped five shots — four were blank, but the fifth showed “an object of considerable dimensions.”

1946 – The first drive-thru bank tellers were introduced, as the Exchange Bank of Chicago became the first to offer the service, called, “autobank.”

1969 – Tiny Tim, born Herbert Buckingham Khaury, made his first appearance on The Tonight Show.

1975 – Leo Wiener opened the world’s first hotel for dogs in New York City.

2002 – Stan Lee filed a lawsuit against Marvel Entertainment Inc. that claimed the company had cheated him out of millions of dollars in movie profits related to the 2002 movie Spider-Man. Lee is the creator of such comics as Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk and Daredevil.

Daily Mindbender Answer
Women who have “a male name” make more money.

Yours in Water Cooler News!
Dr. Rus

Veteran’s Day – Lest We Forget

Before jumping into the Water Cooler News today I want to take a moment to say a special hello to all of our men and women in uniform. On this Veteran’s Day I pay special honor and tribute to those who have fought for the freedoms we experience today.

In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will find some birthdays and fun facts for this day in history. You will also find a collection of off-beat news!

• Drug Dealers Busted After Accidentally Calling 911
• Pick A Lock With A Flip-Flop
• Massive Brawl Mars Wedding

Daily Mindbender Question
According to a survey this is the #1 cause of arguments between couples at a restaurant. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Drug Dealers Busted After Accidentally Calling 911″
Police in Yukon, Oklahoma made sure to “call” off a drug deal last week. Police made two arrests after a man accidentally dialed 9-1-1 and operators heard him talking to another man about drug deals. Not realizing the call had been placed, the men continued to talk, so dispatchers quickly traced the call, enabling officers to find the man at a home, along with 20 thousand dollars worth of drugs. Making matters even worse is the fact the cell phone on which the accidental call was made, was stolen.

“Pick A Lock With A Flip-Flop”
An inmate at Georgia’s Bibb County Jail was captured Sunday after he escaped the night before by unlocking his cell door with a flip-flop. 20 year old Deante Gholston was sharing the cell with four other people at the time, but none of them fled with him. Jail officials say Gholston, who was accused of robbery, was able to escape because of overcrowding, a defective lock and a shortage of employees working at the time.

“Massive Brawl Mars Wedding”
A brawl broke out at a wedding reception in Tampa, Florida after the groom started tossing money on the dance floor for children to take. One of the guests became upset about the money, so the groom and his brother asked him to leave. Words were exchanged and some pushing ensued. Quicker than you can say “I do,” some 40 people headed to the parking lot where a full-out brawl erupted. Police showed up to quiet the scene, but that didn’t end the matter. Several guests left to go to a nearby hotel where they were staying, but more fighting took place in that parking lot. Things got so rowdy, in fact, the groom’s 74-year-old grandmother wound up in a choke hold, while the groom’s father was kicked in the face and by an armed man who didn’t even attend the wedding.

Historical Notes

Today is…
God Bless America First Performed – 1938 – Irving Berlin wrote this song especially for Kate Smith.  She first sang it during her regular radio broadcast.  It quickly became a great patriotic favorite of the nation and one of Smith’s most requested songs.
Veterans Day

Notable Birthdays…
Jonathan Winters, 84, comedian / actor
Jesse Colin Young 65/singer, The Youngbloods, “Get Together”
Fuzzy Zoeller 58/golfer
Demi Moore, 47, actress
Philip McKeon, 45, actor (Alice)
Leonardo DiCaprio, 35, actor

Music History
1985 – Starship had the number one single with “We Built This City.” It was the band’s first chart topper in 18 years. They were first known as Jefferson Airplane, then Jefferson Starship and then simply Starship.

1976 – KISS released the album Rock and Roll Over.

1972 – Allman Brothers Band bassist Berry Oakley was killed in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia, just three blocks from where guitarist Duane Allman was killed a year earlier. Both men were 24 at the time of their deaths.

1970 – Two different albums called Plastic Ono Band –one by John Lennon, one by Yoko Ono — were released simultaneously by Apple Records.

1969 – Jim Morrison of The Doors was arrested on a flight from Los Angeles to Phoenix for pestering a flight attendant. Jim was on his way to a Rolling Stones concert.

General History
1817 – The first sword swallower in America made his debut in New York, as Senaa Samma, from India, charged the sum of $1 — children half-price — to watch his act.

1918 – World War One ended with the signing of an armistice between the Allies and Germany.  It became effective at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. Today, it’s known as Veterans Day.

1984 – Gary Coleman, at age 13, underwent his second kidney transplant in Los Angeles. He had his first transplant at age five.

1987 – Vincent Van Gogh’s “Irises” was sold for a then record $53.9 million in New York.

1997 – Roger Clemens, of the Toronto Blue Jays, became the third Major League Baseball player to win the Cy Young Award four times.

Daily Mindbender Answer
The #1 cause of arguments between couples at a restaurant is “stealing French fries”.

Yours in Water Cooler News fun!
Dr. Rus

It’s time for a Tuesday edition of the Water Cooler News. Making sure you’re not left empty mouthed when it comes time to chat at the water cooler during the day. In this edition of the Water Cooler News you will find some birthdays and historical fun facts for todays date. You will also find a collection of off-beat news!

• Bank Robber Was Ripe For The Capturing
• Connecticut Needs To Work On Gum Control
• Sleep Gets The Best Of Burglar

Daily Mindbender Question
54% of women say that doing this helps them perform better at the office. What is it?

Answer at end of post!

Off-Beat News

“Bank Robber Was Ripe For The Capturing”
Police arrested 51-year-old Lloyd Barclay after he robbed a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania bank by keeping a rotten banana in his pocket so it looked like he was carrying a gun. That may be smart, but what wasn’t too swift was the fact Barclay left his wallet at the bank after holding it up back in September, making off with 800 dollars.  After police tracked him down, he admitted he stuffed the banana in his pocket so tellers would think he was armed.

“Connecticut Needs To Work On Gum Control”
Police in several Connecticut towns say the number of people caught stealing gum has skyrocketed. In one instance, a man from Stratford was busted swiping nearly 800 dollars worth of Orbit gum from several area stores. In West Hartford, police have received four complaints of gum theft since June, including one that resulted in the arrest of a man who allegedly helped himself to 175 dollars worth from a supermarket. Authorities believe the gum winds up on the black market and may be sold by drug addicts looking to make a quick buck in order to support their habit.

“Sleep Gets The Best Of Burglar”
A burglar in Australia was more concerned with shuteye than a shut door. The 35-year-old man fell asleep while trying to pick a lock outside a mall.  Police say they found him asleep with a lockpick wire in his hands. The man was also carrying keys to a car parked nearby that was filled with prescription drugs taken from a pharmacy that had been robbed earlier in the day. A police spokesman said, quote, “He obviously had a long night, whatever he was doing, and that got the better of him.”  The suspect was charged with driving without a license, burglary and attempted burglary.

Historical Notes

Today is…
Area Codes Introduced – 1951
National Young Readers Day
Edmund Fitzgerald Sinking Anniversary – 1975
Microsoft Releases Windows Anniversary – 1983
Sesame Street Premiered on TV – 1969 (40 years ago!)

Notable Birthdays…
Russell Johnson, 85, actor (Gilligan’s Island)
Donna Fargo, 68, singer (Funny Face)
Tim Rice 65/lyricist, Jesus Christ Superstar, Lion King
Alaina Reed-Hall 62/actress, TV’s 227, Sesame Street
Greg Lake 62/bass-vocals, Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Dave Loggins 62/singer, “Please Come to Boston”
Sinbad, 53, comedian
Mackenzie Phillips, 50, actress (One Day At A Time)
Josh Beck, 23, actor (Drake and Josh)

Born on this date…also known as the late…
Richard Burton–1920-1984 /actor, nominated for seven Oscars, but never won. Married twice to Liz Taylor.
Roy Scheider–1932-2008/actor, Jaws, The French Connection

Music History
1988 – Steve Miller kicked off his first tour in six years in Burlington, Vermont.

1986 – Bruce Springsteen’s Live 1975-1985 boxed set was released.

1973 – Fourteen-year-old Marie Osmond took the top spot with “Paper Roses.”

1969 – “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Gene Autry received a gold record. The song had been released 20 years earlier.

1967 – The Moody Blues released “Nights in White Satin.”

1965 – The number one Billboard pop hit was “Get Off My Cloud” by The Rolling Stones.

1958 – Sam Cooke and Lou Rawls were injured in a car accident that killed their chauffeur.

1956 – Billboard’s annual DJ poll found that Elvis Presley was the most-played male artist and country artist.

1956 – Marty Robbins went to number one with “Singing the Blues.”

General History
1775 – The Marines were organized under authority of the Continental Congress. The Marines went out of existence after the end of the Revolutionary War in April of 1783. The Marine Corps was formally re-established on July 11, 1798.

1871 – Henry M. Stanley, journalist and explorer, found David Livingstone. Livingston was a missing Scottish missionary in central Africa. Stanley delivered his now famous greeting: “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”

1980 – CBS News anchor Dan Rather claimed he had been kidnapped in a cab. It turned out that Rather had refused to pay the cab fare.

1996 – Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for more than 50,000 yards.

Daily Mindbender Answer
54% of women say “dressing up” helps them perform better at the office.

Yours in Water Cooler News!
Dr. Rus