Happy Birthday…

…to the U. S. Navy – established 13 October 1775.

On Friday, October 13, 1775, meeting in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress voted to fit out two sailing vessels, armed with ten carriage guns, as well as swivel guns, and manned by crews of eighty, and to send them out on a cruise of three months to intercept transports carrying munitions and stores to the British army in America. This was the original legislation out of which the Continental Navy grew and as such constitutes the birth certificate of the navy.

Thanks to Jerry – a Navy Vet in Cloudcroft for reminding us.  The picture above is of the USS Vermillion LKA 107 which Mike McKay served onboard from ‘68-‘70

It is also is Emergency Nurses Day.

and National Nuzzling Day.

Music History 101: 1975 –This Canadian singer who was once a part of Buffalo Springfield and later part of a quartet named after each of their last names underwent surgery on his vocal chords in Los Angeles CA. – Neil Young

The 101 number one song of the day was inspired by a tale of an Indian tribe whose members included far more men than women and how they coped with that situation. The one time pre med student at New York University was in Canada when a medical missionary told him that the men who did not have women would buy bottles of rose wine which would become their women for the weekend. We’re not quite sure if the wine made them forget their predicament or the bottle in which it came was some sort of substitute but in any event, the song that grew out of that story was number one on October 13, 1970 for Neil Diamond and here’s your 101 number one song of the day. (Cracklin’ Rosie)

Other stuff:

Scotland has regained the coveted Golden Spurtle Award signifying the world’s best porridge. Neil Robertson, owner of the Tannochbrae Tearoom in Auchtermuchty, Scotland, took the honor with his special porridge in the 17th annual World Porridge Making Championship held in Carrbridge. Scotland lost the prize last year to Matthew Cox of Bob’s Red Mill in Portland, Oregon. Cox was back again this year to defend his title, but Robertson prevailed over him as well as other competitors from the United States, Sweden, Canada and England. Robertson credited his development of a special, doubled-backed spoon to stir the oatmeal for its pleasing, fluffy texture. According to dictionary.com, porridge is “a food made of oatmeal, or some other meal or cereal, boiled to a thick consistency in water or milk.”

Here’s a list that bears good news for Americans.  The United States continues to lead the world in global image, according to the 2010 Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index. The Index measures the global image of 50 countries, and the U.S. holds the top spot for the second consecutive year as the country with the best overall brand. The survey was based on questions in six categories: Exports, Governance, Culture, People, Tourism and Immigration/Investment.

2. Germany

3. France

4. United Kingdom

5. Japan

Most people growing marijuana illegally at least try to hide it from authorities. But one man in St. Cloud, Florida, was allegedly growing the plants in his front yard. Agents with the Osceola County Investigative Bureau charged Bryan Hartman on Monday for cultivation of cannabis. Authorities said Hartman had 17 pot plants – some as tall as seven feet. Police said the plants could “easily be seen from the road.”