Red Rock On Air

TODAY IS: Darwin Day: An international celebration honoring Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution. And a day for promoting and recognizing the importance of science. Also the 2010 Winter Olympics begin today.

BIRTHDAYS

Joe Garagiola -84
Joanna Kerns (Growing Pains)-57
Joe Don Baker-74
Arsenio Hall-55
Chynna Phillips -42
Ray Manzarek (The Doors)-71
Josh Brolin-42
Michael Ironside-60
Christina Ricci-30
Michael McDonald -58

TODAY IN HISTORY

1876 Al Spalding opens his sporting good shop
1809 Abraham Lincoln, 16th President, is born.
1809 Charles Darwin is born.
1879 The first artificial ice rink opens in North America. It was at Madison Square Garden
1959 The Barbie Doll is first sold. Cost: $3
1972 “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green # 1.
1993 “Groundhog Day” opens in theaters.
1994 “The Power Of Love” by Celine Dion peaks#1.
1999 President Clinton is acquitted on two articles of impeachment
2008 A 25th anniversary edition of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album is released.

MISSING LANDMARKS
The Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, Ghirardelli Square and the Conservatory of Flowers, all San Francisco landmarks are missing. The miniatures from hundreds of thousands of plastic Lego pieces that took years to put together, went missing from the back of the Benz family family pick-up truck parked outside their California home. Her husband left them there overnight after returning from a Palo Alto museum where they had been on exhibition.

LIVING IN THE DOGHOUSE
A Canadian man raising funds for the humane society in London, Ontario, is living in a rooftop tent he calls a doghouse in harsh winter weather. Motorcycle parts technician Shawn Donaldson took his tent and supplies onto the roof of his employer, Rocky’s Harley-Davidson, Monday and vows to live there until Saturday to generate donations for the humane society.

HERE KITTY
Lynda Dyson put up posters in London looking for her lost cat, Fluffy. She was was issued a graffiti fine by her local council for putting up posters seeking her missing cat. “In a world where there is less and less community spirit, to impose a law and fine me for something like this is horrible,” she said. “Pets are a very important part of people’s lives. Without those notices, I would never have got her back. “I don’t see it as being anti-social behavior at all. Fluffy is outraged,” she said. The council apologized and dropped the fine.

LOCK YOUR DOORS
Police in Britain said officers posing as burglars will soon be prowling the streets to inspire people to be more safety-conscious. Cheshire Police said Operation Golden involves officers walking the streets under cover of night and trying doors and windows to see if any homes have been left unlocked. Officers said people found to have left their homes vulnerable will be woken up and given a lecture about security.

DESIGNER TP
A high-end British supermarket promises its latest brand of toilet paper, made with cashmere, is “the most luxurious yet.” “Cashmere provides that stamp of quality to any fashion garment, from a designer suit to the finest luxury knitwear,” Smith said. “It’s indulgent, it’s stylish and it’s helping provide that extra softness to our new premium bathroom tissue collection.”

STINKY WALMART
“Stink Bombs” and “Super Fart Spray,” are being blamed for an evacuation of a Port Orchard, Wash. Walmart. A 51 year old man reportedly had been throwing liquid onto the floor of the store. He admitted to dumping the liquid and deputies found bottles labeled “Stink Bombs” and a can of “Super Fart Spray” in his possession.

BULL BITES TIGER
A Chinese zoo’s bid to restore a tiger’s natural instincts by putting a live bull in its cage backfired when prey turned hunter. Keepers expected the rare tiger, called Tang Bai Hu, would kill and eat the animal as it would have done in the wild. Tang Bai Hu did try to attack the bull – but the bull turned the tables by charging the tiger which fled in terror, much to the amusement of visitors. The tiger tried again but could not get the better of the bull which pushed him away and, at one stage, even seemed to bite the tiger back. The zoo has not given up – but would try offering Tang Bai Hu live chickens next time and build up from there.

USELESS TRIVIA

The game of chess is known as ajedrez in Spain and Schachspiel in Germany.

A gigaton is the explosive force of a billion tons of TNT; or 1,000 megatons.

You have no doubt heard the French children’s ditty “Alouette.” An alouette is a skylark.

The word ‘aprosexia’ means an “abnormal inability to concentrate.”