Every four years on February 29 -- (custom in restaurant)

from "Morning Edition" online summary -- www.npr.org/

February 29, 2012
Traditionally, in many European countries, Leap Day was considered the only day a woman could propose to a man. At the Beefeater Grill, ladies can order the special and get down on one knee. It's a 7-ounce steak branded with the words "Will You Marry Me?"

http://www.npr.org/2012/02/29/147621400/the-last-word-in-business

150 years ago: Kellogg brother born -- established Battle Creek, MI as Cereal Production Center

from Writer's Almanac (Garrison Keillor, Am. Public Media):

February 26 is the birthday of John Harvey Kellogg, doctor and cereal pioneer, born in Tyrone, New York (1852). He ran the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Battle Creek,  Michigan to promote healthy living and eating. There, he and his brother, Will, invented several grain-based foods, cooking the grain and forcing it through rollers to make dough. They were cooking wheat one day when they were called away, and when they returned, the wheat was apparently overcooked. They decided to put it through the rollers anyway, and cereal flakes were born.

End of Iraq War (2003 - 2011): "A Nation's Gratitude" White House Dinner for 200 February 29, 2012

FOOD RELATED INFO / PRESS RELEASE : Obama Food-O-Rama

http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2012/02/president-obama-first-lady-will-host_06.html

A tribute to 200 heroes: "A Nation's Gratitude"
Two and a half months after the last US troops withdrew from Iraq, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will host a formal dinner at the White House to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the veterans and their families, the White House announced today. The Feb. 29 event in the East Room has been designed to replicate a State Dinner, with the theme "A Nation's Gratitude: Honoring Those Who Served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn," according to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Doug Wilson. The President and Mrs. Obama will welcome about 200 specially selected guests, and the event will include performances by high-profile entertainers.

"The template is a State Dinner, the highest honor that a President can give a visiting Head of State, because everyone involved felt this was appropriate to give thanks and to honor America's men and women in uniform," Wilson said.

Senior military leaders will be invited, but most of the invitations "will go to enlisted NCOs and the common fighting man and woman," said Wilson, who represent the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy and the National Guard, and come from all 50 states and the territories. They will include military family members and/or caregivers, members of Gold Star families, and wounded warriors.

"Mrs. Obama wanted to make sure that the room that night represented the America that served in Iraq," Wilson said.

About 1.5 million Americans served in Iraq during the war that lasted from March of 2003 to December of 2011; close to 4,500 were killed, and more than 32,000 wounded. A committee made up of senior enlisted representatives from each branch of service hand-picked the President and Mrs. Obama's guests.

The White House will send out formal invitations to the dinner in the next 7-10 days, Wilson said. Attire will be black tie and dress uniforms, and whether or not there will be a formal arrival ceremony and a red-carpet style entrance has yet to be determined. The names of the entertainers have not yet been announced.

The President and Mrs. Obama annually host a closed-press dinner for top military brass, the Combatant Commanders Dinner, but a dinner to mark the end of a war seems to be a White House first, according to Wilson, who said he was not aware of a similar formal event hosted by a President. America's returning heroes from Iraq have not yet received a ticker-tape style parade in New York, because some troops who served are now re-deployed in Afghanistan, Wilson said. Veterans' groups have been lobbying for such a parade. The city of St. Louis held its own ticker-tape parade in tribute to local Iraq heroes, Wilson said.

"This dinner--an expression of the nation's gratitude for the achievements and enormous sacrifices of the brave Americans who served in the Iraq War and of the families who supported them--will include men and women in uniform from all ranks, services, states and backgrounds, representative of the many thousands of Americans who served in Iraq," read the formal White House announcement.

Google BLOGGER posting Feb. 6, 2012

Apple CEO & co-founder: Steve Jobs born on this date (1955)

biographical summary by Garrison Keillor (Am. Public Media: The Writer's Almanac):

February 24 is the birthday of Steve Jobs, born in San Francisco (1955) to two University of Wisconsin graduate students who placed him for adoption. Clara and Paul Jobs, an accountant and a machinist, adopted him when he was still a baby. Growing up, Jobs and his father would tinker with electronics in the garage.
He dropped out of college after a semester, went to India in search of spiritual enlightenment, returned a devout Buddhist, experimented with LSD, and then got a job with a video game maker, where he was in charge of designing circuit board for one of the company's games. In 1976, at the age of 21, he co-founded Apple Computers, and less than a decade later, Apple unveiled the Macintosh computer. It was the first small computer to catch on with the public that used a graphical user interface, or GUI (sometimes pronounced "gooey"), where people could simply click on icons instead of typing in precise text commands.
The graphic user interface revolutionized computers, and it's on almost all computers today. It's on a whole lot of other devices as well, like fancy vending machines and digital household appliances and photocopying machines and airport check-in kiosks. And graphical user interface is what's used with iPods, another of Apple's wildly successful products.
Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003. He opted for a variety of alternative treatments, but eventually -- in 2004 -- he underwent surgery to remove the tumor. His health began to decline in 2009, and the disease claimed him last October (2011). He was 56.

Jobs once said, "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

Wm. Paul Young (Author of "The Shack") -- details of Author event, South Bend, IN on Feb. 25 - 26, 2012

According to his media - publicity partners at http://windrumors.com/

He will be lecturing / discussing his literary work (THE SHACK -- published 2008) --

at the South Bend COMFORT SUITES -- S. Bend, IN -- details forthcoming

on February 25 - 26 , 2012 --  at 8 a.m. Eastern Time

Habitat for Humanity (February 2012) - Niles-Buchanan, Michigan

According to information at St. John's UCC (Niles, Michigan 49120) -- www.stjohnsniles.org/

"Niles-Buchanan Habitat for Humanity will be dedicating a new house at 909 Ferry Street, Niles, Michigan 49120 on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time."

Born on Feb. 19, 1473 -- Astronomer / Cosmologist Nicolaus Copernicus

from Writer's Almanac (American Public Media: Garrison Keillor):

Today (February 19) is the birthday of the scientist who first proposed that the Earth revolved around the Sun, Nicolaus Copernicus, born in the ancient city of Toruń, Poland (1473).
The Christian Church, Protestants and Catholics alike, held the belief that God had created the Universe just for mankind and so the Earth must be the center of it. But that did not fit with what Copernicus knew about physics and the motion of the planets -- he couldn't make the math work or match his observations -- and he realized that, if he created a new model and moved the Sun to the center, the equations all functioned much more smoothly.
Sometime between 1510 and 1514, Copernicus published his "Little Commentary" on his new model, a 40-page outline of his heliocentric -- sun-centered -- universe, which he sent to various astronomers while he continued working on a much longer, more detailed discussion of the idea. That work became On the Revolutions (1543), which Copernicus dedicated to Pope Paul III, hoping the Pope would protect him from vilification for having removed the Earth from its sacred place. On the Revolutions hardly created a revolution when he wrote it; it was groundbreaking and controversial but, contrary to popular lore, the Church didn't immediately condemn him for it.

"What the Dickens?" Quiz Night (Feb. 29) -- London's Barbican Library Museum -- Dickens Bicentennial Event

more details at DICKENS 2012 dot-org website -- http://www.dickens2012.org/section/festivals-outdoor

“What the Dickens?” Quiz Night

Barbican Library, London (UK)
Wed, 29th February 2012

In celebration of Charles Dickens’s bicentenary, question categories will include Victorian London, Dickens on film  and a music round.

Participants can enter as a team (max 6 members) or as an individual to make up a team on the night.

Doors open 6:30 pm, a glass of wine and light refreshments will be provided. Join staff in Victorian dress (optional) and win a prize for the best costume!

Entry forms available early January. Entry is free but booking is essential.

This event is part of the City of  London's programme of events to celebrate Dickens.

http://www.dickens2012.org/event/“what-dickens”-quiz-night

Local Congregation's Shrove Tuesday Pancake & Sausage Supper (Niles, Michigan 49120): Feb. 21, 2012

Here is the local Church holding its traditional and annual meal for the hungry (Donations accepted):

Tue, February 21, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Where: Trinity Episcopal Church, corner of Fourth Street and Broadway, Niles (map)

Description: The public is welcome to a pancake and sausage supper for Shrove Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, corner of Fourth Street and Broadway, Niles.

On this date in 2011 (Feb. 17): Libya's Revolution began

statement posted at White House website -- Press Office

The United States congratulates Chairman Jalil, Prime Minister al-Keeb, and all the people of Libya on the first anniversary of their historic revolution.  Last February, few could imagine that the peaceful protesters  in cities from Benghazi to Tripoli would bring down a four-decade-old dictatorship.  Through their courage and great sacrifice, and with the support of the United States and an international coalition, the Libyan people defeated a brutal regime and won their freedom.
Today the Libyan people are enjoying new liberties, expressing themselves freely, debating new laws, joining civil society organizations,  and preparing for the first free and fair elections in the country’s history. Libya’s natural wealth can finally be invested in the people’s future.   Libya’s emerging democracy and its institutions will take time to build, and the United States stands ready to assist the Libyan people as they shape their future.  The Transitional National Council and government should take full advantage of this historic moment by making decisions openly and transparently.  The revolutionaries who fought so hard for liberty now have a responsibility to protect their freedoms by working with the government to establish stability, peace, and reconciliation.  Protecting the rights of all the Libyan people will help preserve the unity of purpose that defined the revolution.
We will never forget the voices, images, and sacrifices that we have seen in Libya over the last year, and we are grateful to the American service-members and civilians who helped save lives and stand up to tyranny. The United States was proud to support the Libyan people in their revolution last year, and looks forward to building a close friendship with a free Libya in the years to come.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/02/17/statement-press-secretary-first-anniversary-libya-s-revolution

Galileo's Birthday -- Astronomer, Scientist

from Writer's Almanac (Garrison Keillor, American Public Media):

February 15 is the birthday of scientist and writer Galileo Galilei, born in Pisa, Italy (1564), who defended the scientific belief that the Earth was not the center of the Universe and was tried by the Roman Inquisition for heresy. He once prophesied that, in the future, "There will be opened a gateway and a road to a large and excellent science into which minds more piercing than mine shall penetrate to recesses still deeper."
Galileo was a mathematics professor at Padua when he first heard about a new invention from the Netherlands, the telescope. When he couldn't get his hands on one to even look at, he worked out the mechanics on his own. The spyglass everyone had been talking about could magnify objects to three times their original size. The instrument Galileo made with lenses he ground himself, magnified all the way up to 20 times. He was able to see the valleys and mountains of the moon, the Milky Way, and to discover four moons of Jupiter. In 1610, Galileo published the story of his telescope and the results of his studies as The Starry Messenger.
Galileo had been corresponding with German astronomer Johannes Kepler, who also believed that the Sun, not the Earth, was the center of the solar system. Kepler had been urging Galileo to go public with his theories for years and, though Galileo was tried and convicted by the Church for heresy, he was never tortured or excommunicated as the dominant narrative goes--in reality, he remained a loyal Catholic his entire life.

Dickens 200th Birthday Activities: Storytelling, Gruelmaking (Mansfield, London, UK) - Feb. 17, 2012

As noticed in Dickens2012 dot-org

http://www.dickens2012.org/

Boz’s Big Birthday Bash at Mansfield Museum, Notts (UK)

Friday 17 February 2012

http://www.dickens2012.org/event/mansfield-museum-dickens-festival

Details to be confirmed but probable activities include storytelling; large-scale illustration; silhouette making and, possibly, gruel making.

Free entry.

http://www.mansfield.gov.uk/museum/calendar/index.htm

Marian Apparition (Feb. 11, 1858) -- Bernadette of Lourdes, France -- Pilgrimage site established

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/multifaith-calendar/

February 11, 2012

Our Lady of Lourdes (Christianity)
This marks the day in 1858 when St. Bernadette had her first vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the city of Lourdes in southern France. She had 18 apparitions in all, one which told her to dig for a spring. The water of this spring is said to have great healing powers, and Christians make pilgrimages to visit this spring and the church that was built on the property.

Paul McCartney honored at MusiCares (Feb. 10 in Los Angeles) while raising $6.5 million

from USA TODAY coverage -- www.usatoday.com/

Paul McCartney, the legendary musician, the biggest big shot snagged in the event's 22-year history, was celebrated for his music and philanthropy Friday night at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The honoree, accompanied by wife Nancy Shevell, didn't bask in glory. He sang for his (vegetarian) supper.

After the boisterous dance-and-acrobatics pageantry of Cirque du Soleil's Beatles LOVE troupe, McCartney, 69, took the stage and charged into rousing versions of Magical Mystery Tour and Junior's Farm, setting a high bar for an evening of distinctive covers by diverse admirers.

The Foo Fighters cleared that bar with a roaring Jet, after singer Dave Grohl gushed about the surreal coolness of "hanging out with Paul friggin' McCartney."

Alicia Keys, who accompanied herself on piano for an aching, soulful Blackbird, said, "It's a beautiful honor to be here tonight. I never knew how much this song was about me."

Alison Krauss & Union Station, plus Jerry Douglas, brought creamy harmonies and bluegrass shades to an acoustic No More Lonely Nights, performed on a rotating satellite stage. (In rehearsal, Krauss quipped, "What are we, rotisserie chicken?")

Tony Bennett delivered a jazzy, classy Here, There and Everywhere, equaled in elegance by Norah Jones' Oh Darling. Katy Perry, dazzling in a white gown and giant rose-petal hat, infused an acoustic Hey Jude with intensity.

Neil Young and Crazy Horse earned a standing ovation for their loud, scrappy, guitar-driven I Saw Her Standing There. Also on the menu: Coldplay's pretty We Can Work It Out, Diana Krall's plaintive For No One, James Taylor's Yesterday and Sergio Mendes' Fool on the Hill.

Twang guitar pioneer Duane Eddy performed a sparkling instrumental rendition of And I Love Her.

"I'm honored and it's good fun," Eddy, 73, said backstage before curtain. "He doesn't write any terrible songs, and they picked a nice one for me. I'm happy to play with his band, one of the best in the world."

The VIP crowd of musicians and industry elites is a mixed blessing, he said.

"You won't find a more understanding, sympathetic or forgiving audience anywhere," Eddy says. "On the other hand, you don't want to mess up."

Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow, Olivia, were on hand (Ringo Starr was sick at home), along with Bonnie Raitt, Glen Campbell, Brian Wilson, Smokey Robinson, David Foster, Don Was, Jeff Lynne, David Crosby, Steven Van Zandt, Randy Jackson, Carole King, Jason Mraz and L.A. Reid.

As emcee, comedian/actor Eddie Izzard invented a hilarious McCartney bio populated by Jacques Cousteau, Fidel Castro and Muhammad Ali, with all events occurring in 1962.

The charity gala drew record attendance (2,800) and raised $6.5 million, the most in its history, for musicians in need of medical or financial aid. A baby grand piano painted and signed by Peter Max for Starr sold at auction for $175,000. Katy Perry, who researched MusiCares programs after receiving the tribute invitation, pledged $250,000.

In a humorous video tribute, Elvis Costello chronicled McCartney's artistic and charitable contributions, ending with new album Kisses on the Bottom, which he joked "could be an alternative title of tonight's event."

McCartney closed the evening with instant standard My Valentine and Fats Waller cover I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, both from Kisses, then Wings' Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-five and finally Carry That Weight and The End from the Abbey Road medley, accompanied by Joe Walsh and Grohl on guitar.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/grammys/story/2012-02-11/paul-mccartney-musicares-party/53046928/1

National Black History (African American H.) Month (February 2012) - President's Proclamation

from WhiteHouse dot-gov "Proclamations"

A PROCLAMATION

     The story of African Americans is a story of resilience and perseverance.  It traces a people who refused to accept the circumstances under which they arrived on these shores, and it chronicles the generations who fought for an America that truly reflects the ideals enshrined in our founding documents.  It is the narrative of slaves who shepherded others along the path to freedom and preachers who organized against the rules of Jim Crow, of young people who sat-in at lunch counters and ordinary men and women who took extraordinary risks to change our Nation for the better.  During National African American History Month, we celebrate the rich legacy of African Americans and honor the remarkable contributions they have made to perfecting our Union.
     This year's theme, "Black Women in American Culture and History," invites us to pay special tribute to the role African American women have played in shaping the character of our Nation -- often in the face of both racial and gender discrimination.  As courageous visionaries who led the fight to end slavery and tenacious activists who fought to expand basic civil rights to all Americans, African American women have long served as champions of social and political change.  And from the literary giants who gave voice to their communities to the artists whose harmonies and brush strokes captured hardships and aspirations, African American women have forever enriched our cultural heritage.  Today, we stand on the shoulders of countless African American women who shattered glass ceilings and advanced our common goals.  In recognition of their legacy, let us honor their heroic and historic acts for years to come.
     The achievements of African American women are not limited to those recorded and retold in our history books.  Their impact is felt in communities where they are quiet heroes who care for their families, in boardrooms where they are leaders of industry, in laboratories where they are discovering new technologies, and in classrooms where they are preparing the next generation for the world they will inherit.  As we celebrate the successes of African American women, we recall that progress did not come easily, and that our work to widen the circle of opportunity for all Americans is not complete.  With eyes cast toward new horizons, we must press on in pursuit of a high-quality education for every child, a job for every American who wants one, and a fair chance at prosperity for every individual and family across our Nation.
     During National African American History Month, we pay tribute to the contributions of past generations and reaffirm our commitment to keeping the American dream alive for the next generation.  In honor of those women and men who paved the way for us, and with great expectations for those to follow, let us continue the righteous cause of making America what it should be -- a Nation that is more just and more equal for all its people.
     NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2012 as National African American History Month.  I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/31/presidential-proclamation-national-african-american-history-month-2012

Chat Q/A on JFK alleged Mistress (Mimi Alford): to Celebritology (Wash. Post online)

posted by me on Feb. 9, 2012 late morning at Washingtonpost dot-com:

Q. Can you sell an autobiography as JFK Mistress during 15 minutes of fame?

Isn't this old news (beyond the statute of limitations)? I don't predict it becoming a bestseller except as NATIONAL ENQUIRER material. . .

February 09, 2012 11:36 AM

Answer by Jen Chaney :

Will be interesting to see whether or not it does. It's certainly getting a lot of attention, but that does not necessarily translate into book buyers.
I bet it will do well on Kindles and such.

– February 09, 2012 2:09 PM

 

http://live.washingtonpost.com/celebritology-120209.html

Chrysler Super Bowl Ad: Narrated by Clint Eastwood -- M Live editorial

Still shot from Chrysler's "Halftime in America" Super Bowl commercial.

For the second straight year, Chrysler celebrated the city of Detroit and its most prominent industry in a two minute advertisement during the Super Bowl.

This time around, veteran actor Clint Eastwood spoke during "Halftime in America," playing the role of the nation's coach as he used the auto industry rebound as a motivational tool.

"How do we come from behind? How do we come together? And how do we win? Detroit's showing us it can be done," Eastwood said.

"And what's true about them is true about all of us. This country can't be knocked down with one punch. We get right back up and fight again, and when we do, the world's going to hear the roar of our engines. Yeah, it's halftime America. And our second half's about to begin."

The message of unity apparently moved Chevrolet, which sent out a tweet thanking its competitor minutes after the ad aired: "Thank you for your trust in America. From the heart of Detroit to your homes, we feel the same way."

Chrysler did its best to keep the commercial under wraps leading up to today's Super Bowl, but earlier this week CEO Sergio Marchionne hinted that it would be "unconventional" and take cues from last year's hit ad, which featured Eminem and introduced the automaker's "Imported from Detroit" tag line.

"It will reflect the very spirit of what Chrysler is today, how we view our role in society, our passion and our love for this country," Marchionne said.

www.mlive.com/

Stories of Practical Holiness (ND Institute of Church Life, interfaith participation) - Feb. 5 and following

www.icl.nd.edu/

7:00 p.m.          Opening Remarks & Welcome  |  McKenna Hall Auditorium

Dr. John C. Cavadini, McGrath-Cavadini Director, Institute for Church Life

7:15 p.m.          Transforming Self and the World - A Story of Buddhist Spirituality  |  McKenna Hall Auditorium

Dharma Master Hsin Tao  (Brief profile)

Monday, February 6, 2012

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8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  Classroom visits by speakers and presenters

Ven. Guang Guo Shih, ordained as a nun in the Wu Sheng Monastery on Ling Jiou Mountain in Taiwan in 1991, currently serves as Abbess of the One Center in Manhattan, NY.

12:00 p.m.       Lunch   |  Morris Inn Private Dining Room

With selected faculty, for conferene presenters
 

2:00 p.m.       Zen Meditation with Dharma Master Hsin Tao |  100 - 104 McKenna Hall
Public welcome, students encouraged to attend!

4:30 p.m.          The Story of a Sikh Luminary: Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha as an Exemplar of Holiness  |  McKenna Hall Auditorium

Bhai Sahib (Dr.) Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia (Brief profile), visionary Sikh faith leader

Spiritual leader,  Chairman of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) UK

7:30 p.m.        Of Gods and Monks: The Story of the Trappist Martyrs of Algiers   |  McKenna Hall Auditorium

Fr. Armand Veilleux, ocso  (Brief profile)

Abbot of Scourmont Abbey in Belgium

Screening of Of Gods and Men in the McKenna Hall Auditorium will follow immediately after Fr. Veilleux's remarks.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

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8:00 a.m.                    Prayer for Peace Breakfast  |  Morris Inn Private Dining Rooms

http://icl.nd.edu/icl-events/fetzer-institute-conference/conference-schedule/

Super Book Sale (Niles, Michigan District Library Fundraiser for "Friends"): 2012

Today is "Super Bowl Sunday" (February 5, 2012) : event runs from 1 - 4 p.m. in the Library Basement

Are you ready for a book sale?! Niles District Library will hold our annual 2012 Super Bowl Super Book Sale on Sunday. All books, hardback and paperback, will be on sale for just 10 cents. We have thousands of books available. Also on sale are retired VHS and Audio book titles.

White House Health & Food Policy Adviser Sam Kass -- chat-discussion on Twitter

from Obama Food-o-rama (Blog)

As part of First Lady Michelle Obama's second anniversary celebration of the Let's Move! campaign, Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass will be answering questions on Twitter on Monday, Feb. 6 at 2:30 PM/ET. Those interested in participating should follow @LetsMove and submit questions using the hashtag #WHChat. Kass will be "live" on Twitter on Monday, but questions can be submitted ahead of time.

Kass does not have his own Twitter account, and it is his first live White House chat. In this Obama Foodorama interview, Kass discusses the impact of the Let's Move! campaign, and where it's headed in 2012.

http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2012/02/lets-move-white-house-twitter-chat-with.html

Liberian College Student (Ezekiel Freeman) -- Notre Dame lecture at Niles, Michigan Library

Posted Saturday Feb. 4, 2012 -- details from NILES DAILY STAR online -- www.nilesstar.com/

Niles District Library will show the movie, “Up From the Bottoms: The Search for the American Dream,” which tells the story of the massive migration of African-Americans from the rural south to the prosperous north during the World War II years and beyond at 1 p.m. Saturday 2/4/2012.
At 2 p.m., Ezekiel Freeman, a Notre Dame student from Liberia, will speak about the founding of his country.  The event is free and open to the public.