Composer-conductor John Williams is 80.
Actor Nick Nolte is 71.
Author John Grisham is 57.
Rock singer Vince Neil (Mötley Crue) is 51.
Actor Seth Green is 38.
On February 8…
1587 – Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded.
1910 – The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated.
1918 – The Stars and Stripes, the weekly newspaper of the American Expeditionary Forces, was published for the first time.
1924 – John Joseph Carty of the Bell Telephone System gave a speech in Chicago, IL, that was carried across the nation on the first coast-to-coast radio hookup. An estimated 50-million people heard the speech.
1960 – U.S. Congressional investigators began exploring the influence of payola in the radio and record industries. Alan Freed and American Bandstand host, Dick Clark, among others, were called to testify.
1963 – Lamar Hunt, owner of the American Football League franchise in Dallas, TX, moved the operation to Kansas City. He named the new team the Chiefs. Dallas got possession of an NFL franchise known as the Cowboys.
1971 – NASDAQ, the world’s first electronic stock exchange, conducted its initial trading day.
1984 – The XIV Winter Olympics opened in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (now Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina). The Olympic facilities have since been all but destroyed by the war in Bosnia.
1992 – The XVI Winter Olympic Games opened in Albertville, France.
Filed under History
Josefina Vazquez Mota Is Mexico’s First Female Presidential Candidate
Josefina Vazquez Mota, a 51-year-old economist and former Mexican congresswoman, became the first female presidential candidate from any of México’s major parties when she won 55% of the vote in Sunday’s primary for the National Action Party (PAN), with 89% of polling stations counted. Although it’s just the primary, her victory marks a milestone for women in a country that didn’t grant them the right to vote until 1953. The first female governor did not take office until 1989, and only a handful of women have been elected to political office since. México’s presidential elections will be held on July 1. Vasquez-Mota sounded confident when she proclaimed, “I will be the first woman president of México in history.”
PAN scored a major triumph in 2000 when Vicente Fox won the presidency; a significant achievement because the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) had ruled México for 71 years. PAN also hopes México will follow Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica and other Latin American countries that have elected female leaders in recent years.
It would be an interesting political coup if México elects a female president, considering the United States – which champions itself as the leader of the free world and progressive on women’s rights – really hasn’t come close. If you ponder the vice-presidential runs of Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and Sarah Palin in 2008, it’s even more depressing.
February 8, 2012 – 316 days Until Baktun 12
Survivalist Tip: Buy a compass. According to some predictions, the Earth’s magnetic fields will make a gigantic somersault on December 21st – which means North will become South, up will become down, gift cards will convert to cash, etc. A compass, therefore, will help you keep things straightened out. If you’re a homosexual, don’t get offended; it’s just a figure of speech. If you’re bisexual, I guess you’re only half-way offended, but I still don’t care. If you don’t know what you are, just drink some wine and buy a damn compass anyway! You’re running out of time, bitch!
Filed under Mayan Calendar Countdown
Quote of the Day
“Wow, now it’s Santorum’s turn! A clinging creep, but if he makes Mitt Romney’s life miserable, he’s doing the Lord’s work.”
– Bill Maher on Rick Santorum’s win in Colorado’s GOP primary
Filed under News
GIVE ME THE BABY
By Alejandro De La Garza
“Maricella, give me the baby.”
“No.” Maricella held him tighter.
Her mother, Helen, stood in the corner, twisting her hands. She started to speak, but Linda held up her hand. “Maricella,” Linda repeated, albeit more softly, “please give me the baby.”
“No,” Maricella said. “Give me a minute.”
Linda sighed heavily and traded glances with Helen. Both women looked at the floor. The crib sat nearby.
“Just a minute,” Maricella murmured. They’d named him Javier, after his father. They’d only been back from the hospital one day. She liked the way the baby held onto his daddy’s finger. Then, Javier, Sr., rushed away. She didn’t know why. Maybe he didn’t feel comfortable with the baby. Not yet, Maricella told herself. But, he will. He’ll be the daddy he wants to be.
“Nine pounds, wow!” the doctor said. “You had a monster!”
No, she thought, I had an angel. His hair was thick and auburn, a few strands reaching to his shoulders. So much hair; already so much hair. “Just like his daddy,” her mother-in-law said. “He had hair down to his shoulders when he was born, too.”
She held his hands, one at a time. She liked the feel of his soft skin; a baby’s skin. Like silk.
All the men were elsewhere in the house. I guess none of them really feel too comfortable around babies, she told herself. Oh, well. I’m here. Little Javier knows I’m here. He almost wasn’t here.
It had been the scariest feeling. Pregnant. A simple word with big implications. A word like no other – just like the feeling. They were both scared – her and Javier. Are we really ready? Do we have enough money? Do we have enough room? Do we have enough time? Too many questions. Yes, they were both scared, but only for a little while. Then, it began to settle into their minds. But, it was still a little frightening.
She remembers biting Javier’s hand. He’d reached up to caress her hair – or something like that – and she thought he was trying to cover her mouth. She was what – seven or eight months along? He had tried to cover her mouth, she realized later, because she was yelling at him. It had been so hard for her and her small body. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
“You’re going to have a difficult time getting pregnant,” the doctor had told Maricella. Her cycles were irregular; her stomach muscles were weak; she was over thirty. “Not impossible,” the doctor added with a smile, as if trying to show some enthusiasm, “but difficult.” The first two miscarriages had been bloody and painful. The third wasn’t so bad. I guess she knows what she’s talking about, Maricella had said, thinking of the doctor. But, I’ll prove her wrong. And, she did.
It was so hard. “You’re body will change like nothing else,” her mother had said; more of a warning than advice. The nausea, the hemorrhoids, the swollen ankles – everything. “And, you’re husband will start looking at other women, too.”
“I thought they did that anyway,” Maricella laughed.
She remembered that one night – or early in the morning – when she woke up gasping.
“What’s wrong?!” Javier asked, startled. He was ready to head to the hospital.
“I’m having trouble breathing.” She didn’t expect that. The baby pressing up against her lungs, as if trying to be born from her mouth.
“That happens sometimes,” the doctor said with her reassuring smile. “Try to sleep sitting up. It may be hard at first, but you’ll get used to it.”
She really didn’t. Has that woman ever had a baby of her own?
Linda edged closer. Her favorite aunt had been more than just a concerned relative; she’d been a nursemaid and confidant. She’d become a big sister. Maricella didn’t understand why she wanted to hold the baby so badly. Put him down for a nap? Her mother remained in the corner of the room with knotted hands. “Maricella,” Linda said, “give me the baby.”
She saw Javier at the doorway. His eyes looked moist. What’s wrong with you? “Please give her the baby.”
“No.” He’s sleeping. Can’t they see that?
“Maricella…please.” Linda again. “Let me have the baby.”
“No! Why?”
“Maricella,” Javier muttered.
“Stay there,” Linda said to him, as he took a step forward.
She could see her father behind Javier. And, someone else.
“Maricella, please.” Linda stepped forward, hands outstretched.
What was she trying to do?! “He’s sleeping.”
“No, no. Please give me the baby.”
“No! He’s sleeping!” Good God! Surely, she’d seen a sleeping baby before!
“Maricella.” Linda’s voice was more firm, demanding. “Give me the baby!”
“No! Why do you keep saying that?! He’s sleeping!”
Her mother finally moved forward.
Javier came into the room.
“Give me the baby.” Linda’s hands had reached under her arms.
Oh God! “No!”
Javier’s hands landed softly atop her shoulders.
“You need to give me the baby,” Linda said, looking into her eyes.
“No!”
But, Linda had grabbed him.
Javier wrapped his arms around her torso.
“What’s wrong with you?!” Maricella had never screamed at Linda.
Linda’s gaze didn’t waver – but her voice suddenly trembled. “Maricella, for God’s sake!”
“What are you doing?!”
“Maricella, please!” Linda shouted back. “He’s dead!”
© 2010
Filed under Wolf Tales
February 7
Author Gay Talese is 80.
Actor James Spader is 51.
Singer, song-writer Garth Brooks is 49.
Actor-comedian Chris Rock is 46.
Actor Ashton Kutcher is 34.
Filed under Birthdays
On February 7…
1795 – The 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, dealing with states’ sovereign immunity, was ratified.
1812 – The most violent of a series of earthquakes near Missouri – along the New Madrid Fault Line – caused a “fluvial tsunami” in the Mississippi River.
1936 – A U.S. Vice President’s flag was established by executive order.
1940 –Walt Disney’s Pinocchio premiered at the Center Theatre in Manhattan.
1962 – President John F. Kennedy imposed a full trade embargo on Cuba.
1964 – The “British Invasion” began, as The Beatles – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr – arrived at JFK International Airport in New York City for their first U.S. visit.
1984 – Space shuttle Challenger astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart went on the first untethered spacewalk, which lasted nearly 6 hours.
1998 – The XVIIIth Winter Olympic Games opened at Nagano, Japan.
1999 – Jordan’s King Hussein bin Talal who died at age 63 after a long battle with cancer. His eldest son, Abdullah, was sworn in as king hours after his father’s death.
Filed under History
On February 6…
1788 – Massachusetts became the sixth state to enter the United States of America.
1932 – In a joint effort between the United States and Canada, dog sled racing was demonstrated at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY.
1933 – The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which established when the terms of the President, Vice-President and members of both Houses of Congress shall began and end.
1937 – K. Elizabeth Ohi became the first Japanese woman lawyer as she received her degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago, IL.
1943 – Frank Sinatra made his debut as a vocalist on radio’s Your Hit Parade.
1952 – Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was crowned Queen Elizabeth II. She was officially crowned June 2, 1953.
1967 – Muhammad Ali retained his world heavyweight title and won the WBA heavyweight title with a 15-round decision over Ernest Terrell in the Houston Astrodome.
1968 – The 10th Winter Olympic Games opened in Grenoble, France.
1971 – NASA Astronaut Alan B. Shepard took a six-iron golf club that he had stashed away inside his spacecraft and swung at three golf balls on the surface of the moon.
1981 – Former Beatles, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison teamed up to record a musical tribute to John Lennon. The result of that session became All Those Years Ago. The song went to #2 on the pop music charts for three weeks.
1985 – The noted French mineral water company, Perrier, debuted its first new product in 123 years.
1998 – Washington National Airport was renamed Ronald Reagan National Airport, for U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
Filed under History
On February 5…
1846 – The Oregon Spectator became the first newspaper published in American territory west of the Rocky Mountains.
1861 – Samuel Goodale of Cincinnati, OH patented the “Stereoscope,” a moving picture viewing device, where pictures of scenes would flip from one to another “instantaneously.”
1916 – Enrico Caruso recorded O Solo Mio for the Victor Talking Machine Company, which eventually became Victor Records, then RCA Victor.
1928 – Singer Jessica Dragonette appeared on one of the first television shows; an experiment in which her image was transmitted some 20 miles away.
1937 – Modern Times, the first Charlie Chaplin talkie in which he actually just sang, was released.
1953 – Walt Disney’s film, Peter Pan, opened at the Roxy Theatre in New York City.
1958 – A year after its founding, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), which presents the annual Grammy Awards, formed a New York chapter.
1972 – Bob Douglas became the first black man elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA.
1987 – The Dow Jones industrial average closed above the 2,200-point mark for the first time, when the market closed at 2201.49.
Filed under History
Chief Writing Wolf 
