June 2008 - This Month in History

10 Years Ago

1998 (June 4) A United States district judge sentences Terry Nichols to life in prison without parole for his role in the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City. More than 150 people were killed; approximately 500 others were injured.

1998 (June 12) The Philippines celebrate their 100th anniversary of independence from Spain.

1998 (June 14) The Chicago Bulls win their sixth NBA title in eight years; this is also Michael Jordan’s last game as a Bull.

15 Years Ago

1993 (June 9) The hockey team the Montreal Canadians win their 24th Stanley Cup.

1993 (June 25) Kim Campbell is sworn in as the first—and only—female Prime Minister of Canada. Less than five months later, her party (the Progressive Conservatives) is defeated in a general election, and she is replaced by another prime minister.

20 Years Ago

1988 (June 29) The United States Supreme Court upholds the rules (first put in place as part of the Watergate reforms) that allow independent counsels to investigate alleged crimes committed by executive branch officials.

25 Years Ago

1983 (June 18) Astronaut Sally Ride, serving as a mission specialist, becomes the first American female in space when she joins a crew of seven on the space shuttle Challenger.

30 Years Ago

1978 (June 9) A Gutenberg Bible, one of only 21, sells for $2.4 million in London.

1978 (June 9) The Mormon church ends its more than 100-year-old policy of not allowing black males to enter the priesthood and black Mormons of both genders from receiving blessings in its temples.

1978 (June 23) Yugoslavia names Josip Tito as its president for life.

35 Years Ago

1973 (June 9) Secretariat, a chestnut thoroughbred racehorse, wins the Belmont Stakes. Having won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness in May, this makes him the first Triple Crown winner since 1948.

1973 (June 24) Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev gives a televised speech to the American public, becoming the first Russian leader to do so.

40 Years Ago

1968 (June 5) Sirhan Sirhan shoots Sen. Bobby Kennedy (D-NY) at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Kennedy dies the next day, and his assassin is indicted.

45 Years Ago

1963 (June 16) Russian astronaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space, aboard Vostok 6.

1963 (June 17) The United States Supreme Court rules it is against the law to have Bible readings and prayer in public schools. At the time, 25 states had laws allowing Bible readings in schools.

50 Years Ago

1958 (June 1) The French government votes to bring Charles De Gaulle out of retirement to lead the country for six months.

1958 (June 2) The mansion and grounds of Hearst Castle (previously owned by publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst) in San Simeon, CA, opens to the public.

100 Years Ago

1908 (June 30) A 100,000-ton meteorite explodes over Siberia, with a force greater than an atomic bomb. It fells trees within an 830 square mile radius.

Happy Fathers Day to All

64.3 million: The estimated number of fathers-old and young-in the United States.

-U.S. Census Bureau

Spice Up Your Health

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but half a teaspoon of cinnamon can have remarkable effects, too.

Government researchers report that cinnamon improves insulin activity, which in turn improves blood sugar concentrations. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, consuming as little as about a half teaspoon of cinnamon a day can lead to dramatic improvement in blood sugar for people with Type 2 diabetes. Those who have elevated glucose, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, or total cholesterol levels may benefit from the daily inclusion of cinnamon as well, researchers say.

Consuming this amount of cinnamon is safe and users should not experience any ill effects, the researchers say. Shake a little in your coffee, or make tea with ground cinnamon or cinnamon sticks. The good news: The active ingredients are not destroyed by heat. Try it in your oatmeal, on vegetables, even in main dishes like spaghetti or meatloaf! (Note: The active components are not found in cinnamon oil.)

Why gardeners should get tetanus boosters

If you like to garden, then you should get a tetanus booster. One-third or more of the cases of tetanus that occur each year is contracted while people are gardening or doing yard work. Tetanus is a disease caused by bacteria that is found in dirt and on tools. Small cuts and splinters are enough for transmission. It’s a good idea to get a tetanus booster every 10 years, regardless of your activities. Tetanus is rare, but can be fatal.

—adapted from the University of California, Berkeley, Wellness Newsletter

EVENTS FOR JUNE 2008 

Friday the 13th. Variously believed to be a lucky or unlucky day. Every year has at least one Friday the 13th, but never more than three. This is the only Friday the 13th in 2008, next year will contain three Friday the 13ths. Any month that begins with a Sunday will contain a Friday the 13th.Fear of the number 13 is known as triskaidekaphobia.

Flag Day. June 14. To celebrate the anniversary of the American Stars and Stripes, June 14, 1777.

Father’s Day. June 15. Always the third Sunday in June to celebrate fathers and their roles in our lives.

Strawberry Moon, June 18. The Algonquin tribes who lived in the Northeast and parts of Canada called the first full moon of June “strawberry moon” because this was typically the start of strawberry season.

Juneteenth. June 19. Observance of the day in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger proclaimed the slaves free (and enforced the proclamation). Commemorated in the United States and many other parts of the world.

First Day of Summer, June 20. While this day is the official start of the summer solstice, meteorologists regard June 1 as the true beginning of the season (which ends on August 31st by their calculations) because June, July, and August are the three hottest months of the year. This system also helps them keep more accurate climate records because the solstice can fall on different dates depending on the year.

SPECTERA - Vision Network Change

As of may 1, 2008, Costco stores are no longer in the Spectera Vision network.  the doctors at Costco remain in the network (for eye exams), but purchases of glasses and contacts at Costco locations will no longer be considered in-network.  If you are enrolled in Spectra and have questions, you may refer to their website at www.spectera.com or call their Customer Service Department at 1-800-638-3120

The man who made
the world grow 'up'

At America’s first world’s fair, an enthusiastic engineer made history in the Crystal Palace Exhibition Hall. Elisha Otis stood on a platform to demonstrate that the safety elevator he had designed could not fall. He shocked his audience by dramatically taking a saber and cutting the only rope by which the platform was visibly suspended. Screams of horror rang out. But Otis, as planned, fell only a few inches before the spring mechanism he’d engineered was activated to halt his descent. “All safe, ladies and gentlemen, all safe,” he reassured them.

Otis’ safety elevator would shape the world’s cities: Architects could build up, instead of out, because climbing flights of stairs ceased to be an issue. His invention would eventually carry people skyward from the Eiffel Tower to the Empire State Building. Yet Otis Elevators had humble beginnings. The inventory listed in its account book of 1853 shows a total value of $122.71. Today Otis is the largest manufacturer of elevators, escalators, and moving walkways in the world with more than $10 billion in revenue.

Otis’ impact

Otis elevators now lift the equivalent of the world’s population once every nine days.

What's Cookin'? -Strawberry Pie

Celebrate strawberry season with this easy-to-make and delicious pie.

 Ingredients

Pre-baked 9-inch pastry pie shell or graham cracker crust

 4 oz. cream cheese (half a package)

 3 pints strawberries, washed and topped

 1 cup sugar

 3 tablespoons cornstarch

 1/4 teaspoon salt

 1/2 cup water

 Instructions

In a medium-sized saucepan, mix sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Mash down enough strawberries (roughly 1 ½ cups) to measure 1 cup. Add mashed berries and water to sugar mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils. Remove from heat.

Slice cream cheese into thin slices and place in the pie shell; use a hot butter knife (run it under hot water) to gently spread the cream cheese. Place the remaining berries top down into the cream cheese; pour the cooked strawberry mixture over the top. Cover with tin foil. Refrigerate until set, at least 3 hours.