August 10th, 2023
“ Dobroho ranku”, or “Good Morning!” in Ukrainian, an Eastern Slavic language spoken mainly in Ukraine. I have decided that the UJT will remain focused on Ukraine until we can all rejoice at the end of hostilities. It has been 525 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Well, we took the plunge and got our first Subaru! I have wanted one ever since I saw “The Brat” when it came out in 1978. The BRAT (Bi-Drive Recreational All-Terrain Transporter) was created for an audience that wanted something a little different. It was a cute little two-seater pickup with two seats in the bed facing backward. I never got one but fantasized a lot. Over the years, whenever it came time to get a new car, well there were always reasons not to do a Subaru, until now. Ours is a sort of burgundy color with a grey interior. We got all the safety bells and whistles that Subaru offers. We are very excited!
This week I learned some stuff:
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- Getting new carpet is not for Sissies! The guys will move the furniture but you have to get all of the nicknacks and other stuff off of and out of the furniture, disassemble the beds, remove dresser mirrors, and on and on..the list seems endless. To be completely honest, we put it off until we just cannot stand it anymore. It will be nice to have good carpeting again. Truth be told, doing stuff like this is probably a good thing.. a chance to reset.
- August 10th is the 222nd day of 2023. Just 136 days till Christmas. On this day in 1948, Candid Camera makes its television debut after being on the radio for a year as Candid Microphone; Today in 1949, an amendment to the National Security Act of 1947 enhances the authority of the United States Secretary of Defense over the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and replaces the National Military Establishment with the Department of Defense; A day after murdering Sharon Tate and four others, members of Charles Manson’s cult kill Leno and Rosemary LaBianca today in 1969; In Yonkers, New York, 24-year-old postal employee David Berkowitz (“Son of Sam”) is arrested for a series of killings in the New York City area over the period of one year. today in 1977; On this day in 19995, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols are indicted for the bombing. Michael Fortier pleads guilty in a plea-bargain for his testimony; Today in 2020, a derecho in Iowa becomes the most costly thunderstorm disaster in U.S. history; Henri Nestlé, German businessman, founded Nestlé was born today in 1814; Herbert Hoover, American engineer and politician, 31st President of the United States was born today in 1874; Today Jack Haley, (AKA The Tin Man in The Wizard of OZ) American actor and singer was born in 1924; Leo Fender, American businessman, founded Fender Musical Instruments Corporation was born today in 1909;Also born today in 1918,Noah Beery Jr., (AKA Rocky on Rockford Files)American actor ; Carol Ruth Vander Velde, American mathematician and Viola player in an all woman orchestra was born today 1926; Jimmy Dean, American singer, actor, and businessman, founded the Jimmy Dean Food Company was born today in 1928; Jay North, (AKA Dennis the Menace American actor; was born today in 1951; Tom Laughlin, (AKA Billy Jack) American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter was born today in 1931; Bobby Hatfield, American singer-songwriter (tenor Righteous Brother) was born today in 1940; Bread’s Jimmy Griffin, American singer-songwriter and guitarist was born today in 1943; Also that same day, Ronnie Spector, American singer-songwriter was born: Jethro Till’s Ian Anderson, Scottish-English singer-songwriter and guitarist was born today in 1947; Suzanne Collins, American author and screenwriter best known for The Hunger Games was born today in 1962; Rin Tin Tin, American acting dog passed away today in 1932; Robert H. Goddard, American physicist and engineer died today in 1945; Finally, we lost Isaac Hayes, American singer-songwriter, pianist, producer, and actor today in 2008.
This week’s Website Update:
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- Week 2 for our Vocabulary Quiz
- Last week for our Musical Trivia Quiz
- With the new car and new carpet, I started but didn’t finish some new recipes. I will post them when they are ready for prime time.
- The Home Page quote for this week is from our old friend, Anonymous, “ Reading can seriously damage your ignorance.”
Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass, and Painting Update:
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- I have done such a good job of procrastination on the stained glass project!!! I really will make something happen this next week.
- I now remember why i put down my red pen while doing the paper edits! So I lied when I said that “I am happy to report that I have taken up my red pen for the paper edits on Grandpa Stories”. After all this time I hope I can find the source document file.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
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- The first two cars that I owned cost me $25. I went over them with a fine-toothed comb. I problem spent a couple of hours under the hood checking for leaks, belt wear, and corroded battery terminals. Times have changed. I have owned my new car for days now and I haven’t even figured out what all the buttons, levers, and settings are yet. One of which is how to open the hood!
- All my life I have sneezed every single day I estimate an average 6-10 times per day. Let me see, round numbers – 71 years =25915 days * 8 sneezes = 207,320 sneezes @15 seconds/sneeze = 3,109,800 seconds spend sneezing=36 days of sneezing…. it seems like much more!
Music Update:
Here is a new batch of music for you to try out. Enjoy.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
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- Dave Mason — Can’t Stop Worrying, Can’t Stop Loving — One of my all-time favorite records is “Dave Mason Alone Together” released in 1970. I fell in love with Dave’s music when he was part of Traffic but his debut solo album rivaled all of the Traffic records.
- Peter Gabriel — Don’t Give Up — Peter’s music was always special This is a live version of a song that featured another favorite – Kate Bush! The bass is amazing on this song as well. This one is from his 1986 release called, “So”.
- Ohio Players — Fire — This song was not immediately valued by me but the more I listened the greater my appreciation grew. This is the title cut from their 1974 release.
- Jefferson Airplane — Comin’ Back to Me— This was always one of my favorite love songs. Marty Balin wrote it after partaking of some of Paul Butterfield’s most excellent weed. It was released in 1967 on their second album, “Surrealistic Pillow” and has been covered by Ricky Lee Jones and Richie Havens.
- James Taylor — Machine Gun Kelly — This is a deep cut from one of JT’s best albums, “Mudslide Slim and the Blue Horizon” released in 1971.
- The Lumineers – Morning Song — This is a deep cut from their debut album entitled “The Lumineers”. I haven’t heard anything by these folks in a while but I hope we do soon. They had something special
- for us.
That’s it… Do the best you can; Laugh every chance you get; Always remember… The best is yet to come! As always, thank you for being my friend!