Echoes

Thirty-five years ago a gallon of gas sold for $1.19. Ronald Reagan was president, Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean was on top of the charts, and the only thing worth seeing in theaters was Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie. February 28, 1983 was a Monday. 77% of the country – myself included – watched the 150 minute final episode of the 11-year-old series M*A*S*H. I didn’t have much use for the show when it was in its infancy. I was never a fan of Larry Linville, Wayne Rogers or McLean Stevenson. Maybe the Korean War was a weighty subject for a 13-year-old. But as the show progressed it became more character-driven, and I did like Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan and David Ogden Stiers. I’m considerably older than thirteen now, but the thought of war still troubles me; especially when I remember the Korean Armistice of 1953 was a cease fire, not a peace treaty. Technically we’re still at war with North Korea.

Sixteen Propeller Blocks

The polar bear is the largest species of bear. Males can be up to 10 feet tall standing on their hind legs. (I was curious, so I checked. The smallest is the Malaysian sun bear.) Polar bears are found in countries ringing the Arctic Circle: The US, Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. They don’t eat penguins, as penguins live at the opposite end of the world. Their diet consists mainly of seals, but they’ve been known to dine on walrus, beluga whale, bird eggs and (occasionally) vegetation. They’re terrific hunters; typically killing once every four or five days. When they’re not hunting, polar bears sleep – up to 20 hours a day! Mama polar bears can have as many as four babies at a time, but twins are the most common births. The collective noun for polar bears is “sleuth,” but they aren’t pack animals. Except for moms and cubs, they’re rather solitary. Happy International Polar Bear Day!  

Four Stardust Blocks

“This is a partnership; God and his creation. The Primary song says, ‘I am a child of God.’ Born with a noble birthright. God is your father. He loves you. He and your mother in heaven value you beyond any measure. They gave your eternal intelligence spirit form, just as your earthly mother and father have given you a mortal body. You are unique. One of a kind, made of the eternal intelligence which gives you claim upon eternal life. Let there be no question in your mind about your value as an individual. The whole intent of the gospel plan is to provide an opportunity for each of you to reach your fullest potential, which is eternal progression and the possibility of godhood.” – President Spencer W. Kimball

Nine Propellers

“The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.” – Werner Heisenberg

“The gift of mental power comes from God, Divine Being, and if we concentrate our minds on that truth, we become in tune with this great power.” – Nikola Tesla

“As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene. No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life. Jesus is too colossal for the pen of phrase-mongers, however artful. No man can dispose of Christianity with a bon mot.” – Albert Einstein

“He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright.” – Blaise Pascal

Stardust Block

Yesterday was Walking the Dog Day. If you own a dog and didn’t walk him yesterday, shame on you. You should actually be walking him every day. Walking improves cardiovascular fitness, lowers blood pressure, strengthens muscles and bones, and decreases stress – for both you and the dog. Your furry friend has such a short lifespan to begin with. Most dogs don’t live to see the age of thirteen. Chances are he’ll spend most of that time wondering when you’ll come home. The very least you can do is share a pleasant walk with him. While you’re at it, you might pick up a package of dog biscuits for your four-footed companion. He’ll enjoy the treat, and it might even help to keep tartar off his teeth. Besides, February 23 is National Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.

Four Propellers

On this day in 1878, Frank Winfield Woolworth opened his “Woolworth’s Great Five Cent Store” in Utica, New York. Although the first few weeks looked promising, the store failed in its first year. A friend suggested he might have better success in a new location, so Woolworth pulled down the sign from his Utica store and set it up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The “five and dime” store quickly became an American icon. It’s hard to imagine a 20th century town – large or small – without one. Most of them disappeared at the beginning of this century. There was a Woolworth’s in operation in Harrogate, North Yorkshire early in 2009, but by Easter it, too had vanished. I’m told you can still shop at Woolworth’s in Germany, Austria and Mexico. Or you can visit the store’s successor right here. You see, Wooworth’s didn’t go bankrupt. It switched to sporting goods and changed its name to Foot Locker.

Variety's Crossing

Disney California Adventure has only been around seventeen years (give or take a week or two), but it’s already seen a lot of change. A Bug’s Land and Cars Land stand where Bountiful Valley Farm once was. They’re serving Girardelli’s sundaes in what was the Mission Tortilla Factory. You can ride Luigi’s Rollicking Roadsters where Luigi’s Flying Tires used to be. A Starbucks has taken the place of the California Zephyr. The Whoopi Goldberg movie Golden Dreams is now Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.  Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It! has been gone nearly twelve years. Muppet Vision 3D is a Frozen Sing-Along, Mulholland Madness is Goofy Sky School, and Superstar Limo is Mike and Sulley to the Rescue. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror closed last summer to make way for Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! California Screamin’ is getting a new Pixar theme and should open around the same time as the movie Incredibles 2.