Goodbye, January!

January is coming to a close and February is just two days away. I can't stand the cold, so I'm looking forward to March and enjoying the lovely days of spring. But today I've posted some interesting trivia about the first and coldest month of the year from Almnac.com:

January was named for the Roman god Janus, known as the protector of gates and doorways who symbolize beginnings and endings. Janus is depicted with two faces, one looking into the past, the other with the ability to see into the future. 

The months of January and also February were not originally in the ancient Roman calendar as the winter months were considered dormant, both in terms of agriculture but also in terms of making war. This was a time of peace. Until 450 BCE, the Roman calendar was 10 months, beginning in March (Martius), due to the March Equinox. Remember March was named for “Mars,” the god of War who was also an agricultural guardian.

January is my least favorite month because of the cold! So here's an interesting fact from Amazingfactshome.com: January is the coldest month in the northern hemisphere. The United States record-low temperature was minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit. On January 23, 1971, a weather observer at Alaska’s Prospect Creek Camp noted this. At this temperature, the eyeballs of a person can freeze after a few seconds of exposure.

And on that note, I'll say goodbye! I love hot weather and springtime can't get here soon enough for me. Do you prefer warm or cold temperatures? Thanks for visiting and have a great week!

Heidi: A Big Football Blunder

ESPN Featured an article on the NFL's Ten Biggest Mistakes. I am by no means a football fan, but since my hometown team the Bengals are going like gangbusters, I'm a little more interested than usual. 

When I was a kid, however, I had no interest at all. As a matter of fact, I probably watched the movie Heidi that's discussed in the following article. I also had the Heidi doll that came in a red carrying case. She waved when you pressed her belly button. I also had the Jan doll, Heidi's Japanese friend. She waved too. 

Enough of my reminiscing about Heidi. The following scenario would never happen today, but many little girls back in 1968 were happy it did.

Imagine a time when America's broadcasters prioritized their Sunday night movie schedules more than the outcomes of football games. Well, kids, it used to go that way.

The most famous instance came in 1968 during an AFL matchup, when NBC switched from a Jets-Raiders game to the children's movie "Heidi" as soon as the clock struck 7 p.m. ET. At the time of the switchover, the Jets led 32-29 with 1 minute, five seconds remaining. No one saw the Raiders drive the field for a winning touchdown.

NBC later issued a statement calling it a "forgivable human error" driven by the desire to maintain a scheduling commitment to kids. The resulting outcry was an eye-opener for the television industry, which soon realized the intensity with which games were viewed.

The merged NFL eventually asked broadcasters to televise the conclusion of games in the home markets of visiting teams, regardless of the time it delayed other programming. It was not until 1973, however, that NFL games were televised in their home markets. Until then, owners blacked them out to encourage tickets sales. This is one lesson the NFL learned quite well: Television is king.

To read about the other 10 football mistakes, check out the ESPN article. Thanks for visiting and have a great week!

Famous Quotes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, here are some inspiring quotes from his famous speeches and writings regarding education, hope, perseverance and freedom, compiled by Biography.com.

"Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education." 

—“The Purpose of Education” from Morehouse College student newspaper, The Maroon Tiger, 1947

“If we are not careful, our colleges will produce a group of close-minded, unscientific, illogical propagandists, consumed with immoral acts. Be careful, 'brethren!' Be careful, teachers!”  

—“The Purpose of Education” from Morehouse College student newspaper, The Maroon Tiger, 1947

"True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice."  

—Stride Toward Freedom, 1958

"Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals." 

—“A Tough Mind and a Tender Heart” sermon, August 30, 1959

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." 

—Strength to Love, 1963

“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed.” 

—"Letter From Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." 

—"Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

"Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope."

—"I Have A Dream" speech, Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963

“We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.” 

—"I Have A Dream" speech in Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963 

Thanks for visiting and have a great week!

Memorable Movie Lines

 

Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund in Casablanca
"Play it, Sam..."

"The stuff that dreams are made of." Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon, 1941

Dream weaving, illusion and great stories make wonderful motion pictures. But what makes a line of movie dialogue, or even just a single word, timeless and unforgettable? What makes it so memorable that it's often quoted in real life, other movies, television and even kids' cartoons?

Perhaps it's spoken during a suspenseful situation, or in a scene where love has gone wrong. Maybe it's exclaimed in the thick of danger, or during the thrill of excitement, or in the midst of a conflict about to

Lauren Bacall as Slim Browning in To Have and Have Not

explode. It could be line akin to a sigh of relief, spoken at the very end, when all problems are resolved.

With a skilled screenwriter and an awesome story, all of these elements can create exciting dialogue and at least one immortal line that leaves the audience saying, "I loved it when he said...", "Remember when she said...", or "I can't believe that's what______ meant!"

Here are 10 of my favorites, in chronological order.

1. "Wait a minute, wait a minute! You ain't heard nothin' yet!" Al Jolson as Jackie Rabinowitz in The Jazz Singer, 1927
2. Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." Clark Gable as Rhett Butler in Gone With the Wind, 1939
3. "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, 1939
4. "Rosebud." Orson Welles as Charles Foster Kane in Citizen Kane, 1941
5. "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By,'" Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund in Casablanca, 1942
6. "You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow." Lauren Bacall as Marie "Slim" Browning in To Have and Have Not, 1944
7. "Badges? We ain't got no badges! We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinking badges!" Alfonso Bedoya as "Gold Hat" in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, 1948
8. "Stella! Hey, Stella!" Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951
9. "You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am." Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront, 1954
10. "Say 'hello' to my little friend!" Al Pacino as Tony Montana in Scarface, 1983

What are some of your favorite movie lines? And in your opinion, what makes them so memorable?

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!

Most Popular New Year's Resolutions

 

Happy New Year! It's hard to believe it's 2023. But what a relief, right? 2022 was pretty horrible. 

Now, if you're thinking about making a New Year's resolution, be sure to check out this interesting article at Goskills.com by Brad Zomick. An excerpt is below:

Every year, millions of people make New Year’s resolutions, hoping to spark positive change. The recurring themes each year include a more active approach to health and fitness, improved finances, and learning new things for personal and professional development. Chances are, more than a couple of the top 10 most common resolutions will look familiar to you:

1. Exercise more
2. Lose weight
3. Get organized
4. Learn a new skill or hobby 
5. Live life to the fullest
6. Save more money / spend less money
7. Quit smoking
8. Spend more time with family and friends
9. Travel more
10. Read more

Zomick goes on to explain how to achieve these goals.  Some of his suggestions include mentally preparing for change, setting goals that motivate you, limiting resolutions to a manageable amount, being specific, breaking bigger goals into smaller goals, writing down your goals and sharing your resolutions with others. 

I haven't made a New Year's resolution in years, but after reading this article, maybe I will. Zomick's suggestions make setting one realistic. Be sure to check out the entire article here, and have a Happy New Year!

Will you be making a New Year's resolution? Thanks for visiting and have a great week!