---

Items included in this column are things that I have heard, seen or have been reported to me. I cannot vouch for their veracity.

A question I used to ask my geography students was, “So, what is the proper pronunciation of the capital of Kentucky? Is it Loo-iss-ville or Loo-eee-ville?” Read on.

At the Sport Pig Center in Moscow, Russia, one month old piglets are trained in running, swimming and “Pigball” competitions which will highlight this month’s Zoo Russia (an international animal show). The piglets are being looked after by coaches and zoo psychologists. After the swinelets go through general training, they pick up specialized sports. Zoo Russia has spurred interest in pig racing which is held a tracks across the former “Evil Empire.”

As of March 23, 186 people had contracted Bird Flu, worldwide. 105 of them died. So far, it takes long term contact with infected birds for humans to contract the disease. If it makes the jump to human to human transmission, experts expect that the cultures at greatest risk will be agrarian societies where people live in close contact with chickens and public health standards are not at our levels. European scientists are already trying to keep wild birds, which may already be infected, and domesticated foul away from each other. In Germany, house cats have been stricken with bird flu.

In 1991, thousands of domestic foul died from a mild strain of bird flu. The current, more virulent strain developed on a lake in northern China.

If human to human transmission happens, millions of deaths per year are anticipated. Estimates indicate that more people could die from bird flu in 24 weeks in the U.S. than have died from AIDS in 24 years.

In an average year, 36,000 people die from the garden variety respiratory disease we call flu. More died in the worldwide flu pandemic of 1918 than died in World War I.

Over the past 15 years, the number of employer sponsored retirement/pension plans in the U.S. has declined from 130,000 to 30,000.

Put money in that Roth IRA!

Louisville led the nation in generating money through its basketball team. In 2005, the Cardinal basketball team showed a $13.1 million surplus. Arizona was close behind with a $12.5 million profit. A successful basketball team often leads to increases in student applications. However, there seems to be little evidence which indicates that the increased numbers of applications lead to a higher quality (G.P.A., graduation rates, etc.) in the student body.

Of course, the proper pronunciation of Kentucky’s capital is............ Frank-fort.

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox (or, Blue Ox the Babe, as our younger daughter used to refer to the statuesque beast) stand on the lakefront in Bemidji. The pair, according to Life Magazine are the second most photographed statues in the nation. The presidential images on Mount Rushmore are number one.

Paul and Babe have attracted a lot of attention as the big lumberjack has been adorned with a giant replica of an Olympic Bronze Medal, in honor of the accomplishments of the U.S.A. men’s curling team. The men’s and women’s teams are both headquartered in Bemidji.

Babe is undergoing a $100,000 repair job meant to heal her aching back. She has suffered with a bad spine since shortly after the two first appeared in 1937.

Other Creations

A current version of the Big Bang Theory says that the universe was created in a gigantic explosion more than 13 billion years ago. This current version also states that the entire event took place in a fraction of a second.

The Moon is farther from the earth than it was a year ago. That distance, 239,000 miles or about 10 times the circumference of the earth, has been gradually increasing. It moves about an inch and a half further into space each year.

Canada and Norway are leading the movement to include women’s ski jumping in the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Shawn Kemp wants to return to the NBA after three years of retirement. When he left the league, he weighed in at 320 lbs.

Julio Franco, 47, has begun his 23rd year in Major League Baseball. When he hits his next homerun, he’ll be the oldest player ever to do so. He hit .279 with nine homers for the Atlanta Braves in 2005. His next round tripper will likely be for the Mets. Jack Quinn hit a four bagger for the Philadelphia A’s in the 1930’s when he was 46 years, 356 days old.

One hundred years ago this week, the Great San Francisco Earthquake leveled 28,000 buildings. The quake was followed by a firestorm that created temperatures in excess of 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. The official death toll was 478. However, more current investigations put the toll closer to 3000. Scientists believe the quake would have registered 7.9 on the Richter scale. That would make it 30 times as powerful as the World Series quake of 1989.

You are invited to send interesting, unusual and/or humorous items that could possibly be used in this space. If you choose to do so, please send it to [email protected].

If you prefer, you may send it to

Chisago County Press

Attn: Dave

12631 Lake Blvd.

Lindstrom, Mn 55045

or, you may bring it in to the office.

Sports stuff would be great, but, please do not limit yourselves. Politics, religion, culture (pop or otherwise) are welcomed. Please do not feel offended if your contribution is not included.

---