Valentine’s Day Yesterday and Today February 14, 2010

Snow White Loves Me

Al's Idea of A Happy Valentines

Valentine’s Day and This Date in History: What’s the deal with this? Who invented it? I always figured it was a conspiracy of the greeting card people and chocolate manufacturers to try to boost business in the dark days of winter. Al Capone thought it was a good day to get rid of his competition on this date in 1929 at 2122 North Clark Street in Chicago. His little escapade became known as the St. Valentines Day Massacre and it probably marked the beginning of the end for Capone. The violence was just so over the top that the public and authorities got fed up and went to great lengths to capture or kill Capone, which they eventually did.

Teddy's Sad Entry

It was not a happy day for Theodore Roosevelt whose wife not only died on this date in 1884, but so did his mother. His diary notation for the day simply read, “the light has gone out of my life.” In some ways, it may have paved his way to the presidency because he was so distraught, he basically dropped out and went west for a couple of years. It was on this quest that he developed his love for the outdoors and his robust attitude. He was probably better prepared for a big future than he would have been otherwise. In any event, whatever or however Valentine’s Day came about, don’t make light of it, guys. Three years ago, I tried and it flopped. I took Snow White to a family restaurant….one in which patrons stand in line with cafeteria trays. I thought it would be funny. The humor was obviously lost as for the next 365 days the subject was brought up from time to time. Don’t be like Bob.

Nice Restaurant...Not A Great Idea For Valentines

Treat the day with great respect because, if you don’t, you will be reminded of your transgressions for the next 12 months. No doubt, there are plenty of nice places to eat in town and your efforts will be well rewarded. I did my best to make up for my disaster to Snow White and last year I succeeded. She deserves all that I can give and I know there are hundreds of left over suitors who would love to do the same, though they are afraid I may order up a thunderbolt in their nether regions if they attempted to do so. Snow White is the grandest of all Valentine’s ladies in my book.

Click Here to Find out more about Wayside...Or Pick Your Own Special Way for you and Your Valentine Can Show Your Love

So much so, that last year, she came home and said that every day was Valentine’s Day and that we show our love for each other every day and so we don’t need any special day for that. So, what we did last year was we went to Wayside Christian Mission and made donations of food, pillows and cash. I began to think about it and Snow White’s pretty smart. I mean we do love each other every day so, why do I need a special day? If I’m going to spend money on February 14, why not drop it on charitable organizations that directly help others, particularly those who are in our own communities? If Valentine’s Day is a day of love, then why not show it that way? There are three variations of love. There is Phillipi, which is brotherly love. That is why Philadelphia is known as the City of Brotherly Love. There is Eros, which is sexual love. And then there is Agape, which is spiritual love, or for Christians, the love of Christ. In my view and that of others, in order to have a successful love relationship, you need to have all three. Otherwise, more often than not, the relationship will eventually crumble. But, modern Valentine’s Day and the commercial aspects of it generally revolves around the romantic or Eros aspect of love…except of course for family members. But , you know what I mean. If we are going to break off a piece of love and use it to represent Valentine’s Day, then why not take off the one that truly is a giving of oneself with no expectation of getting anything in return? How about following Phillipi or Agape, and give to others. We Americans do it alot.  This past year, I was invited to speak to the men at Wayside and it was quite an experience.  Snow White wondered the other day how many people this past year had a pillow to sleep on because we chose to NOT buy stuff for each other. 

Donations Up in 2005 From 2004

In 2005, the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics show that 65.4 million Americans did some sort of volunteer work. Thats a shade under 30% of the population. Now, that is actually volunteering time and effort to make a difference, not money and time is a priceless commodity.  Yet, people often give money instead of their time and that’s okay because organizations need money to operate. Americans step to the plate in that arena too. According to a study by the Giving USA Foundation, American estates, corporations, foundations and individuals gave some $260 billion to charitable causes in 2005. If we transformed the culture to give that $50 you spend on Valentines Day candy or flowers or dinner to a local charity instead, think of the huge shot in the arm that would give local groups and how much you could do for so many other people. Snow White is right…every day should be Valentine’s Day with your loved ones. It’s just an idea. And now you know why I say that Snow White is the grandest Valentine of all…and she’s like that every day. Nevertheless…I’ll still do something for her on top of the donation….just in case…after church we’ll go to her favorite place for brunch.  Always a winner…and it will be especially so if it’s snowing by then, though I doubt it will be snowing yet.

So, what about the history of Valentine’s Day? The history of the day is, as usual, a bit sketchy. I’ve heard that it was linked to some pagan fertility festival of days of yore and other tales take it to Geoffrey Chaucer somehow. As with many old traditions emanating from Europe, this one seems to have some tie to the Catholic Church. I don’t care to go into it but you can look it up for yourself. Here is a take on the day from the Catholic Encycolopedia. If you don’t like that one, then try this site that doesn’t have a religious sanction. These two should provide some answers though and probably create more questions. The only answer I have for you though is to show your feelings every day to your loved ons and treat this day with the respect that you would treat your loved one(s)! Jokes don’t work.

NWS Louisville is a shade more agressive than me, but it's an academic difference and no big deal

Weather Bottom Line:  As I’ve been telling you, we’re going to get snow.  And the 18Z Saturday NAM and GFS were remarkably similar.  They both take the low down to our Southwest and then swing it sharply northeast almost right over the top of Louisville.  It’s a pretty good track for snow and also, once the low passes, for the wrap around deformation zone over us.  So, we’re looking for the snow to begin maybe a little on Sunday but mainly begin in earnest on Sunday night and then through Monday before it tapers off Monday night.  Then, with cold air filling in behind it we get flurried to death Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.  NWS is calling for 4-6 inches…I’ve been thinking 3-5 inches…whatever.   Just know that we will have snow and that your drive to work or school may be interesting Tuesday morning….I would say Monday but it’s President’s Day!

Sat 18Z NAM calls for about 3 inches by early Wed AM

Now, an interesting wrinkle from the 12Z GFS showed up and that is for the low that is traversing the south on Thursday into Friday to bring us more snow.  Earlier, the solution had been for the low to be so far north that we get rain-ice-snow.  Then at 12Z it was all snow to the tune of another 2-3 inches.  But, the 18Z had it even farther south to where we just get a dusting. But, the ECMWF and the GEM both had similar solutions for this first event and also for a snow feature on Thursday/Friday.  We’ll have to see how that shakes out but…as I’ve been saying all along…I don’t see how we get above freezing anytime soon. For some reason, public longer range forecasts keep showing highs of 35 or 36 for days 4 and 5 and every time we get to those days, they’ve lowered the highs.  I’d expect the same this time, unless the low tracks farther north on Thursday.

Odd Law: Seduction Illegal! Urinal Dividers Required! April 24, 2009

On This Date In History:  On this date 1949 Alfred Hitchcock would not have been proud.  Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson was not for the birds.  Passed by the Illinois legislature was a bill that would protect birds from cats.  It sat on his desk until he vetoed it.  In referencing his denial of legal cover for our feathered friends, he said “We may be called upon to take sides as well in the age old problems of dogs versus cats…even bird versus worm.  [We] already have enough to do without trying to contol feline delinquency.”  No word on weather or not Tweety Bird made an appeal. 

This Says It All

Now…we all know that Louisiana has had some trouble following Katrina.  Of course, Mississippi was the one that really got hit by the hurricane and suffered great devastation.  You don’t hear as much about Mississippi and its continuing rebound.  Perhaps this little gem may give you some reason to figure out why Louisiana has still has a few problems….and it’s similar to the story concerning Mr. Stevenson.  While there are still many problems and issues to deal with in Louisiana on a yearly basis, the efforts to deal with reconstruction of damaged areas and institute changes to make sure that mistakes of the past will not be repeated one would think would be the primary focus of the lawmakers.  Alas,  on this date in 2008, reports surfaced that the Louisiana legislature had put forth a call for dividers be put between urinals in men’s restrooms.  Seems one of the lawmakers is concerned about preverts in the privy!  Yes indeed.  They have their priorities straight down on the bayou in my state of birth.

Please note that the tv station that posted the story below on the web found it to be of newsworthy importance.  Another example of the media  covering such hard-hitting stories that can only shine one type of light on journalism as a whole.

 Important Louisiana Legislation!

Snoop Might Have Been In Trouble in 1886

On This Date in 1886, the citizens of Ohio were finding out what it was like to live in a society in which seduction was  illegal.  It’s rather interesting to note seduction became illegal on what would become known as Earth Day which seems to be in part designated as a day to promote peace and harmony on earth.  It’s really not that big of a deal because the law says that teachers or other instructors were not allowed to have sex with anyone that they were instructing.  That is similar to laws today.  But, this one said that age was not a factor nor whether or not consent was given.  There were similar laws in other states but most of those made it a crime for a man to have such relations with any woman who was not his wife.  The laws were not really enforced much but some guys went to jail.  I guess the women were just scorned, or something.  One guy in Michigan had two of his three counts thrown out by the appeals court.  They decided the second two didn’t count since the woman was no longer “virtuous” after the first encounter.  Then the third count was overturned after the court decided it was medically impossible for two people to take a tumble in a buggy!  A guy in New York in 1867 got clever and beat the system.  During his trial, he simply proposed to the woman and the trial was turned into a marriage ceremony.  Case dismissed!

She Still Loves Me

Speaking of marriage….yesterday marked the fourth year of my bliss with Snow White.  I’m not sure that Snow White would say that say that four years with Dopey and his forever juvenile delinquent cats, Nit and Wit, have been total bliss but she is as joyful and vivacious as ever.  Truly a blessed soul and I am a blessed man.  I’m extending her anniversary present.  Last night we had a very nice dinner at Avalon, where they have changed the menu. You need to stop by if you can.  If you’re coming in for the Derby, it’s on Bardstown Road near Mid-City Mall.  We had Laurie the waitress and she did a fine job as she tutored her young newbee, David, who also did a fine job but she still sent him off to polish silverware.  Rookies always get the lousy jobs. It was a great experience and the food was wonderful.  Today and Monday I have a couple of little surprises as well.  But, guys…a little tip…flowers are always a good way to stay out of the dog house.  Since I”ve been woofing of late…I got her two bunches.

Weather Bottom Line:  I figured out why the SPC was talking about the potential for t’storms from the southern and western part of the viewing area on Thursday.  There were no short waves or anything.  But, there was the warm frontal boundary.  Now, the air was pretty dry around here and I figured that we may get some virga and clouds, but was discounting the rain.  As it turns out, both ideas were right.  We had a couple of elevated t’storms on the midpoint of the boundary but the air below was so dry there really wasn’t much rain.  At the time of the posting, I didn’t look that close at it and I realized the reason for the SPCs contention, but I wasn’t jazzed enough to change the verbiage.  My bad.  Should look at things more closely but its kinda boring. The warm front zooms through, we get warm southwesterly wind and the temperatures go to the mid 80′s through the weekend.  By Tuesday, another rather weak boundary comes through and we get a chance for t’storms…most likely late in the day or evening.

NAM Midday Sat Temps

http://alphainventions.com/

alphainventions

New Valentine’s Day Idea; Cold Pattern Again? February 14, 2009

Snow White Loves Me

                                                                                                                                

Al's Idea of A Happy Valentines

Valentine’s Day and This Date in History: What’s the deal with this? Who invented it? I always figured it was a conspiracy of the greeting card people and chocolate manufacturers to try to boost business in the dark days of winter. Al Capone thought it was a good day to get rid of his competition on this date in 1929 at 2122 North Clark Street in Chicago.  His little escapade became known as the St. Valentines Day Massacre and it probably marked the beginning of the end for Capone.  The violence was just so over the top that the public and authorities got fed up and went to great lengths to capture or kill Capone, which they eventually did. 

Teddy's Sad Entry

It was not a happy day for Theodore Roosevelt whose wife not only died on this date in 1884, but so did his mother.  His diary notation for the day simply read, “the light has gone out of my life.” In some ways, it may have paved his way to the presidency because he was so distraught, he basically dropped out and went west for a couple of years.  It was on this quest that he developed his love for the outdoors and his robust attitude.  He was probably better prepared for a big future than he would have been otherwise.  In any event,  whatever or however Valentine’s Day came about, don’t make light of it, guys. Two years ago, I tried and it flopped. I took Snow White to a family restaurant….one in which patrons stand in line with cafeteria trays. I thought it would be funny. The humor was obviously lost as for the next 365 days the subject was brought up from time to time. Don’t be like Bob. Treat the day with great respect because, if you don’t,  you will be

Nice Restaurant...Not A Great Idea For Valentines

 reminded of your transgressions for the next 12 months. No doubt, there are plenty of nice places to eat in town and your efforts will be well rewarded. I did my best to make up for my disaster to Snow White and last year I succeeded.   She deserves all that I can give and I know there are hundreds of left over suitors who would love to do the same, though they are afraid I may order up a thunderbolt in their nether regions if they attempted to do so. Snow White is the grandest of all Valentine’s ladies in my book.

So much so, that this year, she came home and said that every day was Valentine’s Day and that we show our love for each other every day and so we don’t need any special day for that.  So, what we did this year was we  went to Wayside Christian Mission and made donations of food, pillows and cash.  I began to think about it and Snow White’s pretty smart.  I mean we do love each other every day so, why do I need a special day?  If I’m going to spend money on February 14, why not drop it on charitable organizations that directly help others, particularly those who are in our own communities?  If Valentine’s Day is a day of love, then why not show it that way?  There are three variations of love.  There is Phillipi, which is brotherly love.  That is why Philadelphia is known as the City of Brotherly Love.  There is Eros, which is sexual love.  And then there is Agape, which is spiritual love, or for Christians, the love of Christ.  In my view and that of others, in order to have a successful love relationship, you need to have all three.  Otherwise, more often than not, the relationship will eventually crumble.  But, modern Valentine’s Day and the commercial aspects of it generally revolves around the romantic or Eros aspect of love…except of course for family members.  But , you know what I mean.  If we are going to break off a piece of love and use it to represent Valentine’s Day, then why not take off the one that truly is a giving of oneself with no expectation of getting anything in return?  How about following Phillipi or Agape, and give to others.  We Americans do it alot. 

Donations Up in 2005 From 2004

In 2005, the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics show that 65.4 million Americans did some sort of volunteer work.  Thats a shade under 30% of the population.  Now, that is actually volunteering time and effort to make a difference, not money.  People often give money instead of their time and that’s okay because organizations need money to operate.  Americans step to the plate in that arena too.  According to a study by the Giving USA Foundation, American estates, corporations, foundations and individuals gave some $260 billion to charitable causes in 2005.  If we transformed the culture to give that $50 you spend on Valentines Day candy or flowers or dinner to a local charity instead, think of the huge shot in the arm that would give local groups and how much you could do for so many other people.  Snow White is right…every day should be Valentine’s Day with your loved ones.  It’s just an idea.  And now you know why I say that Snow White is the grandest Valentine of all…and she’s like that every day.  Nevertheless…I’ll still do something for her on top of the donation….just in case.

So, what about the history of Valentine’s Day? The history of the day is, as usual, a bit sketchy. I’ve heard that it was linked to some pagan fertility festival of days of yore and other tales take it to Geoffrey Chaucer somehow. As with many old traditions emanating from Europe, this one seems to have some tie to the Catholic Church. I don’t care to go into it but you can look it up for yourself. Here is a take on the day from the Catholic Encycolopedia.  If you don’t like that one, then try this site that doesn’t have a religious sanction.  These two should provide some answers though and probably create more questions. The only answer I have for you though is to show your feelings every day to your loved ons and treat this day with the respect that you would treat your loved one(s)!  Jokes don’t work.

NAM 7AM Sat...just a few light showers

Weather Bottom Line: The forecast is pretty simple.  A little system comes through on Saturday.  Perhaps some light showers for the first part of the day and afternoon highs only in the low to mid 40′s.  Chilly on Sunday.  Then we warm a bit above seasonal levels before our next best rain chance shows up in the middle of the week.  I think that the biggest weather news this time around is to not turn your furnace off or put the coats away just yet.  It’s a little early to tell but all indications are that we get cold again after Wednesday and the long wave pattern is shifting back to what it has been for much of the season with a ridge building out west and a big trof in the east.  There’s no way to tell how long it lasts but it would appear we will have another round of several days at least of colder than average air toward the end of next week through the weekend, if not beyond.