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STATS and FACTS for Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Eye-Catchers of the Day:

• The Top Ten Reasons The Government Shutdown Isn't All Bad (Posted by a group of Republican Senators)

 http://is.gd/cJZ7xj

• What happens in a US debt default?

Q & A: BBC http://is.gd/gxpHEW

• Vote for the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees: Rolling Stone Magazine http://is.gd/u2PACz

 

• ESPN Picture Graph: 21 countries have qualified for the 2014 World Cup. 11 more will do so in Nov. playoffs

http://is.gd/7RssZP

 

 

STATS  OF THE DAY

• By 2020, an estimated one-fourth of American workers will be 55 or older, up from 19 percent in 2010.
• The most calories for a single item at McDonald's is the chocolate McCafe shake with whipped cream and cherry-700 calories;  the lowest caloric burger or sandwich is theircheeseburger-300 calories.
• The St. Louis Cardinals flame thrower Trevor Rosenthal has not allowed a run in 11 career post-season appearances.
• The Dodger’s Yasiel Puig is batting .600 (9-for-15) through four home postseason games, the highest home average in MLB.
• ESPN: ``Justin Verlander is the first pitcher in postseason history to be the starter in two games in which his team lost 1-0 in a single postseason.’’
• Just 45 % of Americans were vaccinated during last year's flu season, according the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
• According to the Washington Post, stretching back to 1980, the debt ceiling has been raised 42 times. It was raised 17 times under Ronald Reagan, 4 times under Bill Clinton and 7 times under George W. Bush.
• According to the Corruption Perceptions Index (2012) Denmark, Finland and New Zealand tie for first place as being the least corrupt countries, based in part on their strong access to information systems and rules governing the behavior of those in public positions, while Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia are the most corrupt countries based predominantly on their lack of accountable leadership and effective public institutions.
• Former Fox News commentator Liz Cheney has raised $1.027 million since she announced in July her intention to challenge Mike Enzi (R-WY) for his senate seat.  Enzi, by contrast, has earned $847,646 during that same time period.

 

 

Polls/Surveys

• Harris Interactive Poll:  Dallas Cowboys are the favorite team of adults who follow professional football. The Green Bay Packers move up one spot to number 2 and the Denver Broncos make one of the largest moves on the list, going up 14 spots to 3^rd from a tie for 17th in 2011. Rounding out the top five favorite football teams are the New York Giants, up three spots from 7th to 4th, and the New England Patriots, who drop from number 4 to number 5.

http://is.gd/UVamUD

• Esquire-NBC News survey: just 1 in 4 support immigration reforms that would provide a path to citizenship for those who came here illegally.

http://is.gd/qaWL2Q

• The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll: An all-time high 74 percent of Americans disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling Washington’s budget crisis; 53 percent, by contrast, disapprove of Obama’s work on the issue-21 points lower than disapproval of the Republicans.

http://is.gd/1HZSsh

• The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research: Among Americans ages 50 and older who currently have jobs, 82% expect to work in some form during retirement.

http://is.gd/guicRK

 

• Pew Internet & American Life Project: As of May 2013, some 15% of American adults ages 18 and older do not use the internet or email. Another 85% of U.S. adults do go online.

http://is.gd/Pe0v0I

 

Today in History:

October 16, 1997: The first page one color photo appears in The New York Times.

A Footnote: The first color photo believed to have appeared on page one of a major newspaper was on October 21, 1959, when the Minneapolis Star ran an Associated Press color photo of the funeral of General C. Marshall. On June 8, 1939, AP transmitted a half-tone color picture of President Roosevelt and King George VI from the nation's capital.

 

Word Origin:

Cushy: The word ``cushy'' as in ``cushy job'', comes from a Hindi word khushi, meaning ``pleasant'' --a slang expression used by the British in India.

 

Looking For a Good Quote?

``             The boisterous sea of liberty indeed is never without a wave.''

-Thomas Jefferson

 

 

-Bill Lucey

[email protected]

October 16, 2013

STATS and FACTS for Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Eye-Catchers of the Day

• Washington Post http://is.gd/YC7hCd: ``During a single day last year, the NSA’s Special Source Operations branch collected 444,743 e-mail address books from Yahoo, 105,068 from Hotmail, 82,857 from Facebook, 33,697 from Gmail and 22,881 from unspecified other providers, according to an internal NSA PowerPoint presentation.’’

 

• AP INTERACTIVE: The clock is ticking: U.S. debt ceiling primer:

http://is.gd/WZKjCJ

Without a hike in the legal limit by Oct. 17, the Treasury Department will have to choose who gets paid on time and who gets paid late, which could trigger a default on U.S. obligations — something many experts describe as catastrophic.

 

• The New York Times: http://is.gd/erMX5J

Turning the Page (Historic Graphic)

On Tuesday, The International Herald Tribune will become The International New York Times.

****

 

STATS OF THE DAY:

• ESPN STATS: ``The 9 points by the Colts [in their 19-9 loss to the Chargers Monday night] matches their fewest in a game with Andrew Luck as starting QB.’’
• Peyton Manning, Phillip Rivers, Andrew Luck top 3 ranked quarterbacks in the NFL this season: ESPN http://is.gd/CVI16G
• According to Focus (a German weekly news magazine published in Munich) 68% of Germans believe their country's mission in Afghanistan was a failure; only 23% say it was a success.
• Tech Crunch http://is.gd/HwAQ3i  ``In September, Yahoo reported 350 million monthly active mobile users, up from 300 million reported for February 2013 in its 2012 annual report. ‘’
• According to The Federal Bureau of Investigation preliminary findings of its annual Uniform Crime Report for 2012, The South has been responsible for 82% of executions; the Midwest 12%; and the West 6%. The number of people on death row in the U.S. dropped to 3,082, marking the eleventh consecutive year in which the size of death row decreased. Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona accounted for half of all inmates sentenced to death. The report noted that in 2011 Illinois became the latest state to abolish the death penalty.
• The percentage of insured workers with a deductible of $1,000 or more for single coverage jumped to 34 percent in 2012 from 12 percent in 2007, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust. http://is.gd/NeMbLK
• According to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, if the debt limit is not raised, preventing the Treasury Department from borrowing, the government will only be able to pay bills with the cash it has on hand, which is about $30 billion per day.
• A statistical analysis by Moody’s Analytics, Inc. shows that increased political uncertainty since the recession hit in 2008 has lowered real GDP by close to $150 billion, reduced employment by 1.1 million jobs, and increased unemployment by 0.7 percentage point.
• Most recent data shows the U.S. GDP growing at an annual rate of 1.3 %

 

Findings from the Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) Wealth Report: 2013 http://is.gd/gwFyC6

• Wealth-X has identified 2,170 billionaires globally, with a total net worth of $6.5 trillion (U.S. dollars), equal to 23 percent of the world’s UHNW total wealth.
• Although the United States and Europe grew faster than Asia in the past 12 months, Wealth-X forecasts that Asia will generate more UHNW individuals and wealth than both regions in the next five years.
• At the current growth rates, Asia’s UHNW population and wealth will eclipse that of Europe in 2021 and 2017 respectively.
• The global UHNW population continues to be dominated by men, who form 88 percent of the total population, as well as self-made individuals, who form 65 percent of the world’s wealthiest individuals.
• Latin America was the only region to suffer a decline, with both its UHNW population and total wealth falling by 600 individuals and $75 billion respectively.
• As Europe’s growth weakens, Asia’s economies will continue to strengthen. The region’s wealth is expected to overtake Europe by 2017.
• 32 percent of US UHNW individuals’ net worth is held in liquid assets, the highest percentage out of all focus countries.
• UHNW women hold $1.2 trillion (U.S. dollars) in wealth in the US, more in dollar terms than any other country.
• Massachusetts was the fastest growing state in the past 12 months, increasing by over 35 percent to become the 10th most populous state in the country, up from a ranking of 17 last year.
• Pennsylvania was the state with the biggest absolute loss of UHNW individuals, with 50 fewer than the year before.

 

Blessed are the peacemakers; so why was Vladimir Putin overlooked?

Interfax

October 11, 2013

Russian commentators have largely criticized the Nobel Committee's decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Prominent pro-Putin commentator Sergey Markov said that the Nobel Committee was unable to give Russian President Vladimir Putin the award because of "Russophobia" and "anti-Russian hysteria". Others called the award "unfair", a "stupid action" and a "politically clever choice". 

He noted, however, that, ``despite the fact that the Nobel Committee did not decide to award the peace prize to Putin, it is precisely Putin who is the real winner "in the eyes of public opinion.’’

"The prize for the OPCW is a politically clever choice but looks like a cunning move and a way not to give the prize to those who averted a war in Syria.’’

Explaining his critical stance towards the Nobel Committee's decision, [United Russia MP Iosif] Kobzon said: "Precisely Putin launched the mechanism for chemical disarmament in Syria, precisely the Russian leader convinced Syrian President Bashar al-Asad to join the convention on banning this type of weapon."

"Putin launched this mechanism, the mechanism was awarded the peace prize but the author of the idea was not," Kobzon said.

Head of the Russian State Duma's International Affairs Committee Aleksey Pushkov said that the prize is being given in advance. tweeted: "They have started giving the Nobel Prize in advance: first to Obama for fine speeches but not for actions, and now the OPCW which has just started working in Syria.’’

 

***

Today in History

October 15, 2005, The Iraqi constitution was approved by voters in a referendum. It was drafted by members of the Iraqi Constitutional Committee to replace the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL), the law of administration for Iraq prepared by the Coalition Provisional Authority during the transitional period. More than 78 percent of 9.8 million voters approved the document. 63 percent of eligible voters turned out to vote.

 

Word Origin

Crocodile Tears: The word crocodile comes from ancient Greek and Egyptian folklore. Specifically, it comes from the Greek krokodeilos. According to legend, a giant lizard attracted its victims by loud moaning, including the shedding of tears while it devoured them.

 

Looking For a Good Quote?

``Politics is the study of who gets what, when, and how.’’

-Harold D. Lasswell, U.S. political scientist

 

 

-Bill Lucey

[email protected]

October 15, 2013

STATS and FACTS for Monday, October 14, 2013

Boston Red Sox Team Motto: ``Find a Way!’’

Elias Sports Bureau: `` Teams with a 5+ run lead in a postseason game are 459-14 (.970).''

ESPN STATS: ``The [Boston] Red Sox win probability was as low as 3.8 percent with 1 out in the 8th.''

Predicted Headline in Monday's Boston newspapers: ``GRAND PAPI!''

ESPN Recap of Dramatic Game 2 of the ALCS

http://is.gd/4ayjv5  

****

STATS of the Day:

• 91% of Americans own cell phones, 56% own a smartphone. There will be 100 to 150 million new high-end smartphone users annually over the next two years,

 

• There are 218.3 million monthly active users on Twitter.

 

• Almost three out of four U.S. adults (71%) watch local television news, 65% view network newscasts, and 38 % view cable TV news over the course of a month, according to Nielsen data from February 2013. About 38% of Americans access news online at home via a desktop or laptop computer.

 

• With output of more than 10 million barrels per day for the last two quarters, its highest in decades, the United States is set to become the largest non OPEC liquids producer by the second quarter of 2014, overtaking Russia.

 

• The U.S. holds about 30 % of the world's financial assets.

 

****

 

Surveys/Polls

• Gallup Poll http://is.gd/BMvWqf : Amid the government shutdown, 60% of Americans say the Democratic and Republicans parties do such a poor job of representing the American people that a third major party is needed.

 

• Biggest Reasons Women Have Abortions? Financial reasons (40%); timing (36%), partner related reasons (31%), and the need to focus on other children (29%) Source: BMC Women's Health 2013 13:29 http://is.gd/rJkrF2

 

• Financial Conditions of U.S. Cities? A majority of city finance officers (72%) report that their cities are better able to meet financial needs in 2013 than in 2012, according to the National League of Cities: http://is.gd/403ocG

 

• Levada Centre Poll http://is.gd/rFYSVm  : Russians' attitude toward the United States is worsening. 71% feel the U.S. are ``hypocritically'' trying to make other countries observe the rules of international law, while they don't always obey them itself." 50 % of respondents have a negative view about the United States ‘role in the modern world in general.

 

***

 

Controversy continues to hover around the word ``Redskins'' in Washington's football team, ever since President Obama in an interview with the Associated Press said if he were  the owner of the team, and knew the term (``redskins’’)was offending ``a sizeable group of people'' , he'd think about changing it.

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, however, remained defiant, saying he will ``NEVER!'' change the name.

On NBC’s Sunday Night Football halftime show last night, Bob Costas fired a missile at the team name:

``Think for a moment about the term “Redskins,” and how it truly differs from all the others. Ask yourself what the equivalent would be if directed towards African Americans, Hispanics, Asians or any other ethnic group. When considered that way, “Redskins” can’t possibly honor a heritage or noble character trait, nor can it possibly be considered a neutral term. It’s an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present day intent.’’ 

So what's the origin of the word ``redskin''?  Has it always been considered a racial slur?

 

Ives Goddard, Senior Linguist in the Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History argues the following points in a 2005 journal article. http://is.gd/Y6ym5N

 

• The quotation "I am a Red-Skin" in the title is from a speech made by the Santee chief French Crow in a formal council with President James Madison in the President's House in Washington on August 22, 1812, as interpreted by John A. Cameron and officially recorded.

 

• The same expression was used by the Potawatomi chiefs Topinabee and Metea at a treaty conference in Chicago in August, 1821, as interpreted by Whitmore Knaggs and recorded by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft.]

 

• The word redskins reflects a genuine Native American idiom that was used in several languages, where it grew out of an earlier established and more widespread use of ``red'' and ``white'' as racial labels.

 

****

 

Halloween Costumes, 2013

 

What's Trending?

 

• At Beyond Costumes in Yonkers, N.Y http://is.gd/rSvgo3  : ``With the release with The Great Gatsby, all of the 1920 looks are trending; also ``The Fox'' has been huge since the music video. Some of the creative costumes are those looking to recreate the Edward Gorey illustrations, a dark Victorian look. Movies like Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland and other fairy-tale characters are still very popular along with superheros pirates and gladiators.''

 

• At the Garment District in Cambridge, MA http://is.gd/1jI4fO  : ``Among all of the classic costumes, some of this year’s trends so far have been Breaking Bad, Miley Cyrus, and Game of Thrones.  We have a giant section of pre-owned costume elements, so a lot of customers have been piecing together their own costumes in order to have a totally unique costume (as well as save some money!). One of my favorite customer costume ideas so far this year has been a mother and her young son – she got a costume for Daenerys from Game of Thrones, and got a dragon costume for her son.''

 

• At Mallatt's Pharmacy and Costumes in Madison. WI  http://is.gd/sinIAc  : ``Cannot keep enough fox ears and tails as well as fox colored makeup on the shelf. The most requested look for men is "Heisenberg" persona of Walter White from the TV show "Breaking Bad", especially the facial hair and glasses. The second favorite looks are the boys from "Duck Dynasty." Women are sticking with the classics like zombies and other dead and undead creatures, these looks are easily created with stage quality makeup and a trip to goodwill, followed by renaissance/medieval dresses reminiscent of the "Game of Thrones." Katniss Everdeen from the "Hunger Games" also remains popular.''

 

• At Ricky's NYC in Manhattan: http://is.gd/AShX83  : Adults-Women: Wonder Woman, Flapper, Wizard of oz, Ninjas, Sexy superhero/Men: Prisoners/Jailbirds, Superman, Spider-Man, Kenny Powers, Mad hatter.

***

 

Today in History:

10 Year Anniversary

October 14, 2003: In the 8th inning of the NLCS between the Chicago Cubs and Florida Marlins at Wrigley Field with the Cubs staked to a 3-0 lead, a 3 games to 2 lead in the best of 7 series and just five outs away from winning their first NL pennant since 1945, Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo lifts a fly ball down the left field line. A star-crossed fan, Steve Bartman, lunged for the ball, preventing Cubs left fielder Moisés Alou from catching it. The Marlins ended up scoring 8 runs in that nightmare of an inning, beating the Cubs 8-3. They beat the Cubs (9-6) again the following night to secure the pennant and advance to the World Series against the New York Yankees.

                See video of the infamous catch: http://is.gd/YejW6M

 

 

Word Origin

``Sticking to your guns’’ (refusing to compromise); Originally a military phrase, when in the field of battle: ``sticking to your guns’’ meant remaining at your post despite being under constant siege.

 

Looking For a Good Quote?

``Always forgive your enemies-but never forget their names.''

-Robert F. Kennedy

 

 

  -Bill Lucey

 October 14, 2013

 [email protected]

FACTS and STATS for Friday, October 11, 2013

FACTS and STATS for Friday, October 11, 2013

 

Via ESPN: ``Justin Verlander's last four starts: 27 innings, 15 hits, 0 runs, 6 walks, 43 strikeouts. ''

Justin Verlander hasn't allowed a run since September 18^th. 

 

STATS of the DAY

• How much has Congress been paid since the government shutdown?  $2,600,000

• Rookie MLB starters have lost all 6 of their winner-take-all postseason starts from 2011 to 2013

 

• 4  MLB starters have multiple wins in winner-take-all postseason games-- J.Verlander, B.Gibson, C.Carpenter & M.Cain

 

• Matt Ryan, Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger will combine to make $55.1 million this season. Their teams are a combined 1-14.

 

•   N.Y. Giants are 0-6 for the 1st time since 1976 (started 0-9).

 

• Asia-Pacific countries collectively represent more than half of the world's GDP, 44 percent of world trade and 40 percent of world population.

 

• There are 32 million Americans who at present have no medical insurance.

 

**

 

Public Opinion Polls over the government shutdown have been coming thick and fast:

 

• Gallup: Eighteen percent of Americans are satisfied with the way the nation is being governed, down 14 percentage points from the 32% recorded last month before the partial government shutdown began. This is the lowest government satisfaction rating in Gallup's history of asking the question dating back to 1971.

http://is.gd/CHvkE4

• WSJ/NBC poll: 53%  blame Republicans for the shutdown v 31% who blame Obama.

http://is.gd/fEL7ql

• If you could, would you vote to defeat, replace every member of Congress, including your rep? Yes 60%/ No 35% NBC/WSJ    http://is.gd/19bH44 

 

How the Government Shutdown is affecting every agency: Washington Post Graphic http://is.gd/mfFOT0

 

***

Snippets from International Headlines

 

Moscow has no illusions with regards to destruction of Syria's chemical weapons

 

• MOSCOW, October 10 (Itar-Tass)

Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday that Moscow did not have any illusions with regards to when chemical weapons in Syria could be destroyed because the process was unlikely to be smooth. "We do not have any illusions about the fulfillment of this complicated task, especially the deadlines which have been set,"

 

"It is clear that the destruction of chemical weapons will not go smoothly. Apart from the hard situation in Syria, some chemical weapons facilities may be located in areas of military hostilities," Lukashevich emphasized.

 

• According to a report this week by Credit Suisse, China now has 6% of the world’s total of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, or those with fortunes in excess of $50 million. That’s second only to the United States, which commands nearly half the world’s total.

Wall Street Journal: http://is.gd/1Pht27

 

• CHINESE researchers may have found the cure for a hangover before it takes hold - lemonade. The Independent reports research from Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou which explains why lemonade, such as Sprite or Schweppes, could be the trick.

http://is.gd/ShSXJQ

 

Today in History:

October 11, 1975: ``NBC's Saturday Night'' (later changed to `` Saturday Night Live'') premieres with Don Pardo introducing the cast on the first show as the "The not for ready, prime time players" instead of their actual name as "The Not Ready For Prime Time Players." The original cast, included: Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, and Garrett Morris.

Comedian George Carlin was the first host with two musical guests: Billy Preston and Janis Ian.

 

Word Origin

``Pomp and circumstance’’, a phrase used by Sir Edward Elgar for his composition played at high school graduations was originally used in Shakespeare's Othello: ``Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war..'' According to William Morris' ``Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins’’, ``Circumstance’’ comes from two Latin words, circum and stare and originally meant ``standing around.'' In the age of Shakespeare it meant any formal show or ceremony.

 

Looking For A Good Quote?

``The fact is, that the public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing.''

-Oscar Wilde

 

-Bill Lucey

[email protected]

October 11, 2013

 

STATS and FACTS for Thursday, October 10, 2013

STATS and FACTS for Thursday, October 9, 2013

 

Adam Wainwright 5-0 with a 1.25 in his last 6 home starts, threw 48 curveballs on Wednesday, his most in any start in last 5 seasons.

Other Stats of the Day

• Sonny Gray, who holds a 1.85 ERA in his last 7 starts (including GAME 2 of the ALDS) will start the decisive Game 5 for Oakland A's.

 

• The Boston Red Sox outscored the Tampa Bay Rays 25-12 in the 4 games, while hitting .300 with runners in scoring position compared to the Rays' .179

 

• The Indianapolis Colts Andrew Luck is 5 for 5 getting a 1st down when scrambling on 3rd down , a big improvement from last year when he was just 9 for 14

 

• The Kansas City Chiefs are 2nd team in NFL history to have worst record in the NFL, then start 5-0 the following season. The other team was the 1956 Lions.

 

• Eli Manning is completing 53.7% of his passes this year, 3rd-lowest rate in NFL.

 

 

 Calling her one of the nation’s foremost economists and policy makers.” President Obama nominated renowned economist Janet L. Yellen to be the first woman to head the Federal Reserve System.

Interesting profile on her from the Brown Daily Forward, the student newspaper of her alma mater.

``Yellen has a documented ability to predict the direction of the economy — a crucial skill for the Federal Reserve chair position, [John] Kwoka [profesor of economics at Northeastern University] said. According to a July 2013 Wall Street Journal article that “examined more than 700 predictions made between 2009 and 2012 in speeches and congressional testimony by 14 Fed policy makers,” Yellen’s ability to forecast the direction of the economy was the most accurate overall.''

http://is.gd/GA781Q

 

•  The Independent (London) reports: ``Scientists have hailed an historic “turning point” in the search for a medicine that could beat Alzheimer's disease, after a drug-like compound was used to halt brain cell death in mice for the first time.’’

The study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, was carried out at the Medical Research Council's (MRC) Toxicology Unit at the University of Leicester.

http://is.gd/NWbXYA

 

• An article from Kommersant, a nationally distributed daily newspaper published in Russia, outlines a gloomy picture for the future of Afghanistan once the U.S. pulls out for good in 2014 based on a classified report.

October 5, 2013 (?)

Report by Yelena Chernenko: "Three Predictions for Taleban"

Some bullet points from the article

 

• Afghan government does not control the situation in the country, while the Taliban movement's positions are becoming stronger all the time.

 

• More than 3,000 militants from Taliban, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the Islamic Party of Afghanistan, and the Islamic Jihad Union are already operating in the northwest of Afghanistan from which its groups infiltrate into Central Asia through Afghan-Tajik border.

 

 

• "Neither the USSR (in Afghanistan) nor the Russian Federation (in the North Caucasus) nor the United States (in Iraq and Afghanistan) managed to achieve decisive successes in these kinds of wars."

 

• In to alleviate the threat, the Russian Federation will have to establish collaboration with the United States and other countries

 

 

• Where to get Census data during government shutdown?

Pew Research Center provides a tip sheet.

http://is.gd/iqU3Kn

 

• An unnoticed trend in the downsizing of newspapers has been the slashing of editorial writers and opinion pages.

Pew Research Center Study: http://is.gd/R047Su

 

 

• Plunkett Research, Ltd., the leading provider of industry sector analysis and research, released its annual list of industries with the best potential for job seekers.

Here's their top 30

1.) Personal care aides

2.) Home health aides

3.) Biomedical engineers

4.) Helpers-brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons and tile and marble setters

5.) Helpers-carpenters

6.) Veterinary technologists & technicians

7.) Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

8.) Physical therapist assistants

9.) Helpers-pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

10.) Meeting, convention, and event planners

11.) Diagnostic medical sonographers

12.) Occupational therapy assistants

13.) Physical therapist aides

14.) Interpreters and translators

15.) Glaziers

16.) Medical secretaries

17.) Market research analysts and marketing specialists

18.) Marriage and family therapists

19.) Brickmasons and blockmasons

20.) Physical therapists

21.) Dental hygienists

22.) Bicycle repairers

23.) Stonemasons

24.) Audiologists

25.) Health educators

26.) Pile-driver operators

27.)Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

28.) Cost estimators

29.) Mental health counselors

30.) Veterinarians

Source: Plunkett Research, Ltd.

 

• Today in History

October 10, 1896:, The New York Times begins a book review section, The Saturday Review of Books and Art, based on the assumption books can and should be treated as news.

 

• Word Origin

Hallelujah meaning jubilation is derived from two words in Hebrew: hallelu (praise), and yah (short for Yahweh, the Lord).

 

• Looking for a Good Quote?

``Fugit inreparabile tempus’’

`               ``Time is flying never to return’’

-          Virgil, Roman Poet, 70 B.C.-19 B.C.

 

-Bill Lucey

[email protected]

October 9, 2013

STATS and FACTS for Wednesday, October 9, 2013

FACTS and STATS for Wednesday, October 9, 2013

 

October 9, 1915, President Woodrow Wilson, wearing  a navy greatcoat, became the first U.S. president to attend a World Series game, when he traveled to Philadelphia for a game between the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, accompanied by his soon to be bride Ediith Galt, herself, a rabid baseball fan. The couple were seated in box seats next to the Phillies dugout, which had been decked out with small silk flags. The game started five minutes late due to the president arriving late to the game. Despite his late arrival, the 28^th U.S. president was met with a thunderous roar from the 20,000 fans in attendance at the Baker Bowl. Wilson threw out the first pitch of the second game of the WS.

FACT: In 1924, Calvin Coolidge became the first president to throw the opening pitch of a World Series

FACT: Other presidential firsts: FDR was the first to attend an All-Star Game; Harry Truman, the first to throw out the first pitch at a night game; Richard Nixon threw out the first pitch on Opening Day; and Ronald Reagan became the first to watch a game while actually sitting in a dugout.

STAT: Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush are the only other presidents to have thrown out a World Series first pitch since Wilson.

 

October 9, 1912: The New York Times report on the throng of bystanders gathered to experience the paper's new electric scoreboard at Times Square to watch the New York Giants play the Boston Red Sox during game one of the 1912 World Series. The scoreboard allowed fans outside of the Polo Grounds-- for the first time-- to watch every play of a baseball game. At the time of publication, this was the largest crowd ever to assemble at Times Square.

 

October 9, 1966 – The Rolling Stones record their first LP, "Got Live if you Want It",  a recording of live concerts from October 1st and 7^th in Newcastle Tyne and Bristol while on their last UK tour. The Stones went into the studio on the 9^th to correct some audio imperfections.  They were never happy with the quality of the album and tried to disown it even though it leaped to No. 6 in the US in early 1967 and eventually went gold.

FACT: In August 2002, `` Got Live If You Want It!’’ was reissued in a new remastered CD and SACD digipak by ABKCO Records.

STAT: According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Stones have sold 66.5 million albums in the US. (#13 overall).

http://is.gd/AqMM46

STAT: the Stones have 91 million in worldwide certified album sales (ranking them 12^th), with estimated sales of $ 200 million, placing them in the top ten of all artists.

 

October 9, 1939: New York Times’ writer Meyer Berger introduces a new column: "About New York." Due to wartime paper shortages, Meyer discontinued the column, but it returned in 1953 and continued writing the column until his death in 1959. Meyer was the recipient of a 1950 Pulitzer Prize in local reporting for his 4,000 word story, chronicling the mass killings by Howard Unruh in Camden, New Jersey, who killed 13 people (including three children) during a random 12-minute shooting spree through his neighborhood on September 6, 1949. At the time of the murders, Unruh was 28 years old. Berger reportedly sent the $1,000 Pulitzer Prize money to the mass murderer’s mother.

FACT: After Berger’s death, the ``About New York’’ column wouldn’t be revived by the Times until 1979. A number of prominent journalists were custodians of the ``About New York’’ column, including:  Francis X Clines, Anna Quindlen, Bill Geist, Michael Kaufman, Doug Martin, David Gonzalez, and Dan Barry. Since 2007, the column has been under the capable stewardship of Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author, Jim Dwyer.

 

October 9, 1946, the Simmons Company of Petersburg, Va., manufactured the first electric blanket as hit the market with a $39.50 sticker price. The temperature was regulated by an "electronic" thermostatic control.

FACT: The first electric blanket was invented in 1912 by American physician Sidney I. Russell.

STAT: According to the Electric Blanket Institute, about 4.5 million electric blankets and electric mattress pads are sold in the United States every year. What's more, about 25 million to 30 million electric bed warmers are already in use. Europeans also purchase around 4 million pieces of warming bedding with the UK, Italy and Germany leading the way.

http://is.gd/dE7Nk7

 

STATS of the DAY:

• The Cleveland Browns are 3-0 and averaging 94.3 rush yards per game since trading Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts.

 

• The Atlanta Braves have failed to advance a round in their last seven postseason appearances. They last reached the NLCS in 2001.

 

• Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones leads the NFL in receptions (41) and total yards (248) after Monday night’s spectacular catch.

 

October is National Bullying Prevention Month:

 

• According to a CareerBuilder.com survey, 35 percent of more than 3,800 workers surveyed claimed that they had been bullied at their workplaces, 16 percent said they suffered from health problems caused by this bullying, and 17 percent said they were forced to quit because of bullying.

http://is.gd/W3EDfm

 

• At least 50 percent of teens have been bullied online according to the iSafe Foundation.

 

• One-million children on Facebook alone were harassed in 2011 as reported by Consumer Reports.

 

-Bill Lucey

[email protected]

October 9, 2013

Stats and Facts for Tuesday, October 8, 2013

STATS and FACTS for Tuesday, October 8, 2013

 October 8, 1871, a  fire broke out in the barn behind the home of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary at 13 DeKoven Street in Chicago, causing nearly four-fifths of the city to burst into flames in what became known as the ``Great Fire’’ with an estimated 13,200 homes destroyed, leveling more than 18,000 structures, and leaving 350,000 residents homeless. The inferno raged mercilessly for three days, burning the City Hall to the ground, while the city Treasury went broke in providing relief to the homeless and cleaning up the debris of a smoldering city. The fire didn’t die down until October 10, 1871 after rain poured down on the city.

STAT: The ``Great Fire’’ resulted in the deaths of 300 people with $200 million worth of property destroyed.

FACT:  After the fire, a Chicago ordinance was passed that prohibited the construction of wooden frame buildings inside the city limits.

FACT: After the fire, one of the first initiatives undertaken by newly elected Chicago Mayor Joseph Medill (co-owner and managing editor of the Chicago Tribune) was to introduce a merit appointment system within the Fire Department, which had previously operated under a spoils system.

 

October 8, 1957, Walter O’Malley makes the official announcement that the Dodgers, after 68 seasons in Brooklyn, are leaving town for good and heading to the West Coast where they plan to take up residence in Los Angeles. Mr. O’Malley cited a number of reasons for leaving Brooklyn, namely, his frustrating in acquiring a new ballpark for an aging Ebbets Field, poor attendance, insufficient parking; and a New York City amusement tax of 5% on admissions. On April 18, 1958, the Dodgers played their first game in Los Angeles, defeating the Giants, 6-5, before 78,672 delirious fans at the Coliseum.

STAT:  Prior to their relocation, the Dodgers had been in Brooklyn since 1890, where they won 12 pennants and won their first World Series in 1955.

STAT: Taken together, The Dodgers have won six World Series titles and 21 National League pennants.

FACT: Not only did the Dodgers make history by signing Jackie Robinson (in 1947) to break the color barrier, but they’re also known for other notable innovations, including  televising the first baseball game (at Ebbets Field in 1939) and introducing the batting helmet in 1941.

FACT: Brooklyn writer and journalist Pete Hamill in compiling his worst human beings of the 20^th century listed Walter O’Malley after Hitler and Stalin. Hamill once wrote: ``After 1957, it seemed like we would never laugh again. Of course we did. It's just that we were never young again.''

 

October 8, 1985, Les Misérables, a musical based on Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel that centers on individuals struggling for redemption and revolution in 19^th century France, opened at the Barbican Theatre in London where it played for 7,602 performances at the Palace Theatre before transferring to the Queen’s Theatre on 3th April, 2004. The show originally met with a number of dismissive reviews, including one headline that read: ``Les Misérables has, sadly, been reduced to The Glums.’’  It didn’t take long, however, for some influential theater critics to enthusiastically embrace the production. After propelling to international fame, Les Misérables was dubbed the ``people’s musical.’’

STAT: Les Misérables has been translated into 22 different languages. Productions have taken place in 42 countries and over 319 cities, giving it a total audience figure of more than 60 million people worldwide.

STAT: The Broadway production opened March 12, 1987 and ran until May 18, 2003, closing after 6,680 performances. It is the fourth longest-running Broadway show in history and was the second-longest at the time. It has additionally been nominated for 12 Tony Awards, winning eight, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.

FACT:  Les Misérables is set to return on Broadway in March, 2014 at the Imperial Theatre with previews beginning March 1, 2014 and an official opening set for March 23, 2014. Casting has not been determined.

 

October 8, 1952, "The Complete Book of Etiquette" (later retiled ``Amy Vanderbilt's Etiquette’’) was published for the first time. The book is still in circulation and has long been considered a standard of etiquette writing.

FACT:  The word ``etiquette’’ which literally means ``a ticket or card’’ signifies a system of conventional rules that regulate social behavior. The word dates back to the ancient custom of a monarch instituting ceremonial rules and regulations that were expected to be observed by members of his court.

 

Some enlightening takeaways from Dan Balz’s superb and skillfully written analysis of the 2012 presidential election in

``Collision 2012: Obama vs. Romney and the Future of Elections in America.''

 

• Romney won just 27 percent of the Hispanic vote in the 2012 presidential election.

 

• President Obama was re-elected by winning just 39 percent of the white vote, which was offset by capturing 80 % of non-white voters.

 

• On Election Day, 2012, white voters made up just 72 % of the electorate.

 

• On the eve of the election, a vast majority of voters still blamed George W. Bush for the for the nation's economic hardship, compared with only 38 % blaming the poor economy on President Obama.

 

 

 New Washington Post-ABC News Poll:

70% of Americans now disapprove of Republicans' handling of budget negotiations http://wapo.st/17cb0vg  

 

 

STATS of the DAY

1.)  24 MLB teams have fallen behind 0-2 in divisional series since 2004, with 23 losing the series. Only the San Francisco Giants bucked the trend when they stormed back last year in the NLDS.

2.)  9 SEC players are projected as first-round prospects in the 2014 NFL Draft.

  3.) The St. Louis Cardinals  Carlos Beltran in recently belting his 16th postseason home run, has passed  Babe Ruth for the eighth spot on the all-time postseason home run list

 

-Bill Lucey

[email protected]

October 8, 2013

 

Stats and Facts for Monday, October 7, 2013

Allen Ginsberg

Stats and Facts for Monday, October 7^th, 2013

• October 7, 1955, Allen Ginsberg reads part of  his still unpublished poem ‘Howl'' for the first time to about 150 people gathered at the Six Gallery, 3119 Fillmore Street in San Francisco , a small art gallery and former auto-repair shop. When the poem was published by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti of the City Lights Bookstore in 1956, it sparked a great deal of controversy, with its references to illicit drugs and sexual practices. Ferlinghetti was eventually charged with distributing obscene literature and was arrested. On October 3, 1957, Judge Clayton W. Horn ruled the poem was not obscene.

Audio version of ``Howl’’ read by Ginsberg: http://is.gd/ZHFeBP

STATS: ``Howl’’ was translated into 25 languages; by the time of Ginsberg’s death in 1997, it had sold 800, 000 copies and well over a million copies by 2004.

FACT: The Sixth Gallery (at 3119 Fillmore Street) in San Francisco is now an Oriental rug shop.

 

• October 7, 2006, seven years ago, celebrated Russian investigative journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya, 48, was ruthlessly gunned down near her apartment with a Makarov 9-millimeter pistol lying beside her. Her murder remains unsolved and continues to attract international attention.

FACT: According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, there have been 56 journalists killed in Russia since 1992, the fourth deadliest country in the world behind Iraq (151), Philippines (73), and Algeria (60). Worldwide, there have been 1005 journalists killed since 1992.

 

• October 7, 1952, patent #2,612,994 was issued by the U.S. Patent Office to Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver for their invention of the bar code.  Their discovery was inspired by Morse code, by simply extending the dots and dashes into lines. It wouldn’t be commercialized until 1966. The first bar code (Universal Product Code or U.P. C. scanner) was installed at Marsh's supermarket in Troy, Ohio on June 26, 1974. The first product scanned was a 10-pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit chewing gum.

FACT: The 10-pack of Wrigley Juicy Fruit scanned in Troy, Ohio on June 26, 1974 is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.

Patent Search on Google: https://www.google.com/?tbm=pts

U.S Patent and Trademark Office: http://patft.uspto.gov/

 

• Oct. 7, 2001 , U.S. and British forces begin airstrikes in Afghanistan after the Taliban, the country’s ruling power, refuse to hand over al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden who was believed to have been the principal conspirator behind the September 11 attacks. The attacks included the launching of bombs and cruise missiles against Taliban military and communications facilities as well as an assortment of suspected terrorist training camps with Kabul, Kandahar, and Herat incurring the heaviest damage.

STATS: According to the Department of Defense, as of October 1, 2013, there were 2,143 U.S. deaths in Afghanistan alone (as part of Operation Enduring Freedom) with a total of 2,276 deaths worldwide.

 

• Americans and the Vatican Seeing Eye to Eye;

According to a new poll by Quinnipiac University, 68 % of U.S. Catholics agree with Pope Francis that the Church has become too focused on homosexuality, abortion, and contraceptives, while 60% of the country’s Catholics support the ordination of women priests. http://is.gd/soQmMB  

 

• U.S. Government Shutdown

What’s Open?  Airports, U.S. Postal Service, Federal Courts, Federal Prisons, Kennedy Center, Amtrak, military.

What's Closed? National Parks, National Zoo, U.S. Capitol, Free Museums.

The Washington Post breaks it down:  http://is.gd/4QFCEJ

FACT: The longest U.S. government shutdown lasted 21 days, from December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996.

FACT: Since 1976, there have been 17 times when Congress has allowed government funding to lapse, though not all of those lapses led to actual, physical shutdowns.

STATS: The military's 1.4 million active-duty personnel will stay on duty, while about 800,000 of the two million federal employees will not be paid.

 

• The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Forbes Magazine breaks down MLB's 2013 attendance figures, which shows that eight clubs surpassed the three-million mark (Dodgers, Cardinals, Giants, Yankees, Rangers, Tigers, Angels, and Phillies); The San Francisco Giants ended the 2013 season with 246 consecutive sell-outs, dating back to October 1, 2010, for the longest active streak in the Majors, while there were 9 games that had attendance under 10,000, four of those belonging to the Cleveland Indians, the Seattle Mariners with two, and the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays each having one game below the Mendoza Line.

http://is.gd/gaAkkk

 

NFL Stats and Facts for Sunday, October 7, 2013: Week 5

• Peyton Manning, who passed Dan Marino, now ranks 2nd in NFL history with 61,371 career passing yards.

 

• Eli Manning now has a league-high 12 interceptions as the Giants drop to 0-5 for the first time since 1987.

 

• The Kansas City Chiefs are 5-0 for the first time since 2003.

 

• Tom Brady's streak of 52 straight games with a TD pass comes to an end with 13-6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Drew Brees holds the NFL record with 54.

 

• Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo is the 5th QB to throw for at least 500 yards and 5 TDs in game; and is only one of seven star-crossed QBs to lose while throwing for 500+ yards.

 

-Bill Lucey

[email protected]

October 7, 2013

 

October 1, 1910: The Bombing of the L.A. Times

October 1, 1910, is a day that will live in infamy at the Los Angeles Times.

It was on this day, shortly after 1 a.m., when 20 Times' employees were killed after a time bomb constructed of 16 sticks of 80 percent dynamite connected to an alarm clock detonated in an alley (known as ``Ink Alley'') next to the Los Angeles Times building at First Street and Broadway in Los Angeles.

The bomb exploded with such violence, that many were convinced an earthquake had struck.

To many, it was known as the ``Crime of the Century.''

A night city editor, the principal telegraph operator, and many more dedicated newspaper employees fell to their death amid the destructive carnage. At the time of the explosion, there were 115 people in the building.

Additional bombs were planted in the bushes of the homes of L.A. Times executives, Gen. Harrison Gray Otis, publisher of the newspaper, and Felix J. Zeehandelaar head of a Los Angeles business organization. Both of these bombs failed to detonate.

After the rubble and the dust had cleared, it didn't take long to figure out the motive of the bombing. Otis, the publisher of the Times was a staunch anti-unionist and leader of the Merchants and Manufacturing Association, a powerful group of business owners.

After some investigation, it was determined the bombing was carried out by a Midwestern labor union in retaliation for the paper's aggressively anti-union policies and practices.

Two primary perpetrators of this cowardly act:  J.B. McNamara, and J.J. McNamara (both brothers) were arrested, tried and sent to prison. They were spared the death penalty only through the skillful bargaining of their defense attorney: Clarence Darrow.

During the course of the trial, Otis tore into the unions, labeling them: "anarchic scum," "cowardly murderers," "leeches upon honest labor," and "midnight assassins."

Those who were killed on this fateful day were buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where a bronze plaque lists their names.

For those who want to learn more about this bombing, Scott Harrison of The Los Angeles Times has put together a photogallery (at the Times’ photo blog Framework) .

-Bill Lucey

[email protected]

October 1, 2013

Remembering 2007, the Cleveland Indians Last Postseason Appearance

Yankees trainer Gene Monahan applies some insect repelent to pitcher Joba Chamberlain  during the 2007 ALDS at Jacobs Field. PHOTO CREDIT: AP

The Cleveland Indians clinched a spot in the 2013 Major League Baseball Postseason on Sunday in Minneapolis, marking the team’s first Postseason berth since 2007.

***

The Tribe are back in business.

For the first time since 2007, the Cleveland Indians live to see October and will host a one-game wildcard playoff against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night at Progressive Field in front of a capacity crowd of 43,000.

Fireballer Danny Salazar, the Dominican rookie, will take to the mound for the Tribe at approximately 8:07 p.m. (EST). The Rays will hand the ball to right-hander Alex Cobb.

Since 2007,  the Indians have undergone a number of significant facelifts.

Names like C.C. Sabathia, Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, Casey Blake, Joe Borowski, Fausto Carmona, Ryan Garko, Franklin Gutierrez, Kenny Lofton and Trot Nixon have either retired, moved on to other teams, or simply faded into the thin night air, having been replaced by the likes of Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jiminez, Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis and matinee idol Nick Swisher. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, the only holdover from the 2007 team, made his major league debut for the Tribe on August 8, 2007 against the Chicago White Sox.

A big reason why the Indians have won 24 more games than last year is attributable to their  new skipper: Terry Francona (`aka `Tito’’) who stormed into town on October 8, 2012 with a highly impressive set of credentials, namely, two World Series rings:, both with the Boston Red Sox. Indian players, during the course of the 2013 campaign, took to their new manager like bees do to honey. In 2007, Eric Wedge managed the Indians. He was fired at the end of the 2009 season.

Even the name of the park has changed. Jacobs Field is now called Progressive Field after its naming rights were purchased by the Progressive Insurance Company after the 2008 season. Die hard Indian fans, though, still refer to it as ``The Jake.''

And the Rays will be glad to notice another mighty big change since the 2007 playoff atmosphere in Cleveland.  The ``Biting Midges’’, those annoying bugs who swarmed and bore down on New York Yankee pitcher Joba Chamberlain as if he were a member of an Evil Empire during Game 2 of the 2007 American League Division Series, are believed to be far away from the shores of Lake Erie.

At least everyone hopes so.

Most importantly, the Tribe faithful are hoping their post season in 2013 turns out differently from their previous appearance. In 2007, the American League Central Division champs advanced to the American League Championship Series, only to lose to the Boston Red Sox in seven games.

For many, it’s hard to remember what was going on in Cleveland and the country last year, let alone in 2007, six years ago. So to refresh your memory, I compiled a brief year-in-review, underscoring some of the most pressing issues and major stories of 2007.

The last time the Cleveland Indians clinched a playoff spot (September 23, 2007, in a 6-2 win over the Oakland A’s), the following events took place:

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate was 4.6 with 7.2 million Americans unemployed.

• Cleveland Browns kicker Phil Dawson missed a 40-yard field goal on the last play of the game, allowing the Oakland Raiders to hang on to a 26-24 victory, to drop the Browns to 1-2 in the young NFL season.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers under rookie head coach Mike Tomlin thumped the San Francisco 49ers 37-16, giving the Steelers a 3-0 record for the first time since 1992, Bill Cowher's rookie season.

• Brett Favre led the Green Bay Packers to a 31-24 win over the San Diego Chargers, while connecting with wide receiver Greg Jennings for his 420th TD pass of his career, tying Dan Marino's record for the most touchdowns in NFL history.

• Benedictine, the top-ranked team in the Division III state (Ohio) poll, suffered its first loss of the season against undefeated Columbus Watterson on Saturday evening September 22, 2007, in a 31-14 pounding at Bedford's Bearcat Stadium.

• A day before the Tribe clinched a playoff spot, the Ohio State Buckeyes (on September 22, 2007) played their 500th game in Ohio Stadium, improving to 376-104-20 with a 58-7 mauling over Northwestern.

Other notable events in 2007:

• LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. They were ingloriously swept by the San Antonio Spurs in four games.

• Cuyahoga County, including Cleveland and 58 suburbs, posted one of the highest foreclosure rates, with officials expecting the worst yet to come. In 1995, the county had 2,500 foreclosures; in 2006, there were 15,000, due to a weak economy and housing market.

• Rob Chudzinski was in his first year as offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns under head coach Romeo Crennel.

• In January, addressing a national television audience, President George W. Bush announced a ``surge’’ of an additional 20,000 U.S. troops to suppress the sectarian fighting in Iraq.

• In February, 2007, The Plain Dealer report on plans for Cuyahoga County to spend $200,000 on tracking devices for vans used to transport foster children to meet with their parents. The devices were intended to ensure these vans weren’t used for frivolous ``side trips.’’ In a touch of irony, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, quipped: ``"Make sure one of those don't go on my car."

• February 11, 2007, at the 49th annual Grammy Awards, the Dixie Chicks, an American country music band, took home five Grammy’s, including Album of the Year (Taking the Long Way) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

• March 22, 2007, Elizabeth Edwards announced that her non-curable cancer had returned and that her husband's (John Edwards) quest for the U.S. presidency would go on with her blessing and help. She died of metastatic breast cancer on December 7, 2010.

• April 11, 2007, actor Alec Baldwin, on a voice mail (first disclosed by the website TMZ) called his 11-year-old daughter, Ireland, a "rude, thoughtless little pig,"

• April 15, 2007, Major League Baseball celebrated the 60th anniversary of the debut of Jackie Robinson at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, breaking the color barrier

• April 16, 2007, Seung-Hui Cho, a senior-level undergraduate student at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. went on a rampage, killing 32 people and wounding 17 others.

• May 14, 2007, the price of a postage stamp jumped from 39 cents to 41 cents, while post cards rose from 24 cents to 26 cents.

• June 5, 2007, American heiress and television personality Paris Hilton begins what was supposed to be a 45-day jail term at the Century Regional Detention Facility, an all-female jail in Lynwood, California for alcohol related reckless driving and violating her probation. On June 7th, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, however, citing ``medical considerations’’ signed orders reassigning the socialite to 40 days of home confinement with an electronic monitoring device.

• June 10, 2007: The season finale of the HBO television drama series ``The Sopranos’’ airs and was watched by an estimated 11.9 million viewers in the United States, a 49 percent increase from the previous episode and the show's best ratings for both parts of the sixth season.

• In June, 2007, according to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau, Cleveland, Ohio lost nearly seven percent of its residents from 2000 to 2006, ranking it as America's 40th-largest city, down from 33rd. In 1920, Cleveland was the fifth largest city in the nation.  Only New Orleans and Detroit suffered greater population losses. Demographers’ estimate Cleveland’s population will dip below 400,000 in 2015, and below 300,000 by 2033.

• On June 26, 2007, Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), once a strong supporter of funding the Iraqi war, in a letter to President Bush , calls for "gradually and responsibly reducing our forces" while urging the Iraqi government and its neighbors to assume greater responsibility in stabilizing the region.

• June 29, 2007, the iPhone (which retail for $499 or $599) hit Apple and AT&T stores as hundreds of customers queued up at stores from coast-to-coast.

• July 12, 2007: After 10 years away from the Columbus campus, Ohio State University trustees voted unanimously to reinstate Gordon Gee as president under a seven year contract, which will pay him an annual salary of $775,000, with an additional $225,000 in deferred annual compensation if he stays five years.

• July 21 2007, the seventh and final book, ``Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’’ was released. Deathly Hallows sold a record 8.3 million copies in its first 24 hours in the U.S., while children and adults waited in long lines through the night to snatch the latest installment.

• July 29, 2007, the average price of regular gasoline was $2.66 in Ohio and $2.69 in Greater Cleveland, below the national average of $2.88 a gallon.

• August 7, 2007, Barry Bonds belts his 756th home run, surpassing Hank Aaron's record to become the new home-run king. Bonds historic feat was marred by repeated accusations of steroid use. His home run ball (no. 756) was purchased for $752,467 by fashion designer Marc Ecko, with plans to brand it with an asterisk and donate it to the Baseball Hall of Fame,

• August 10, 2007, the Cleveland Indians paid tribute to Larry Doby, the first African-American to play in the American League at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio with every member of the Indians wearing Doby's no. 14.

• Former Vice President Al Gore and the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize on October 12, 2007.

• The housing bubble finally burst as defaults (due to predatory lending practices) on subprime mortgages (high and adjustable-interest rate home loans for people who don't qualify for the lowest market rates) rose to an alarming 93 percent from the previous year.

• More than 20 million toys made in China, were recalled for containing lead paint or loose magnets, including products which inflicted third-degree burns on children using a toy oven.

• Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain won the New York City Marathon (November 4, 2007), just nine months after giving birth in a time of 2:23:09.

• December 8, 2007, Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow won the 2007 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first sophomore or freshman recipient of college football's most prestigious award.

- Bill Lucey
[email protected]
September 30, 2013

****

Longest Win Streaks Entering Postseason – MLB All-time

SEASON	TEAM	GMS	DATES
1960	New York Yankees	15	SEP-16-1960 - OCT-02-1960
1970	Baltimore Orioles	11	SEP-20-1970 - OCT-01-1970
1971	Baltimore Orioles	11	SEP-19-1971 - SEP-29-1971
2013	Cleveland Indians	10	SEP-19-2013 – SEP-29-2013
1974	Baltimore Orioles	9	SEP-22-1974 - OCT-02-1974
2002	San Francisco Giants	8	SEP-20-2002 - SEP-29-2002

 Source:  STATS Inc.

***

Cleveland Economic Indicators: 2007 vs. 2012:

•         In 2007, there were 14 million visitors to Cuyahoga County.

•         In 2012, there were 16.9 million visitors to Cuyahoga County.
 
•         In 2007, tourism generated $6.4 billion in direct and indirect spending.

•         In 2011, tourism generated $6.7 billion in direct and indirect spending.

 •         In 2007, tourism sustained 7.5% of Cuyahoga County’s private sector employment.

•         In 2011, tourism sustained 9% of Cuyahoga County’s private sector employment.
 
Currently, the industry is looking at an unprecedented $2 billion in tourism-related development projects, including revenue from the Horseshoe Casino and $275 million from the Flats Redevelopment project.

Source: Positively Cleveland, formerly the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland, Inc. and originally the Convention Board of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce) is the convention and visitor bureau for the Greater Cleveland area.