Did You Know.....

.....There are over 100 billion galaxies in the universe.

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow - GOP's hypocrisy: "They're Not Embarrassed", but they should be:

Did You Know.....

.....the average human blinks 25 times per minute.

60's Bands From San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury District: Jefferson Airplane

The Jefferson Airplane, also known as the "J" Plane to Bay Area fans, got together in San Francisco in 1965. The Jefferson Airplane are mostly known for their contributions to Psychedelic Rock.

The band was founded by Marty Balin. Marty first recruited San Francisco native Paul Kantner into his band. Kantner then recruited guitarist Jorma Kaukonen. Later, drummer Jerry Peloquin and acoustic bassist Bob Harvey joined the group. During the mid 60's, the band made several personnel changes. In 1966, Grace Slick, formerly a member of the band "The Great Society", joined the Airplane. With the addition of Slicks' voice, the band was on the road to fame.

There are different stories making the rounds as to how the band came up with the name Jefferson Airplane. One story says the band got it's name from a slang definition for a used paper match split to hold a marijuana joint that has been smoked too short to hold without burning the fingers,an improvised roach clip. However, band member Jorma Kaukonen has been quoted as saying, "I had this friend in Berkeley who came up with funny names for people." "His name for me was Blind Thomas Jefferson Airplane (for blues pioneer Blind Lemon Jefferson). When the guys were looking for band names and nobody could come up with something, I remember saying, 'You want a silly band name? I got a silly band name for you!'

In 1967 the band released their classic  album "Surrealistic Pillow." The album featured the cuts "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit." Both cuts became huge successes in the U.S. The name Surrealistic Pillow was coined by Grateful Dead band member Jerry Garcia. In his role as a producer of the album he said, "the album sounded "as Surrealistic as a pillow is soft." The songs were iconic to the Summer of Love concerts in Golden Gate Park.

Rock music icon Bill Graham had manged the band until 1968 when Grace Slick gave the band a choice of keeping Graham or keeping her. Their new manager, Bill Thompson, moved the band forward financially and bought them a Victorian mansion at 2400 Fulton Street across from Golden Gate Park near the Haight-Ashbury district, which became the band's office and communal residence.
Jefferson Airplane, like Big Brother & The Holding Company, brought San Francisco Psychedelic Rock into being. The Airplane became one of the most commercially successful bands to evolve from the Haight-Ashbury District in San Francisco.

Did You Know.....

.....On average, women say 7,000 words per day while men manage just over 2,000 words.

60's Bands From San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury District: Big Brother & The Holding Company

Big Brother & The Holding Company hit the San Francisco scene in 1965. The original band was formed by Peter Albin, Sam Andrew, James Gurley and Chuck Jones. They lived and rehearsed in a Victorian boarding house at 1090 Page Street in Haight-Ashbury. The house was owned by Peter Albin’s uncle.
Every Wednesday night, the band held jam sessions, to the delight of tripping neighbors. Soon, the band was playing at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco, which was founded by music promoter Chet Helms. Helms, who owned Family Dog Productions, was responsible for conjuring up the name Big Brother & The Holding Company.
Helms also knew Janis Joplin from when he attended the University of Texas. Feeling the band needed a strong lead voice, he invited Janis to try out with the band. It was the perfect meld. The band, with Janis, played their first gig at the Avalon Ballroom in 1966. Big Brother & The Holding Company became a legend in music history after performing at the Monterey Pops Festival in June of 1967.
The band had a huge hit with their album "Cheap Thrills." The album featured psychedelic rock, acid rock and blues rock genres. The album boasted the hits "Ball and Chain", "Summertime" and "Piece Of My Heart."Janis Joplin left Big Brother in December 1968. Sam Andrew left with her. Peter Albin and Dave Getz joined Country Joe and the Fish.

Did You Know.....

.....the heart of a shrimp is located in its head.

Good 'Ol Boy Politics In Utah

The campaign for Utah Gov. Gary Herbert deposited $10,000 into the governor's campaign account the same day the governor met with the leaders of the coal mining company who donated the money. It looks as though state regulators sped up the approval process shortly thereafter, but, in a not so surprising move, Governor Herbert's office denies there's any connection.

Alton Coal Development LLC is hoping to begin operating the first strip mine, or surface mine, for coal in Utah. The mine would be a mere10 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park.

Last fall, Alton Coal Development company gave the governor's campaign $10,000. The governor's records show it arrived in the mail Sept. 13, and the campaign office deposited it on Sep. 17. The donation was made public in a Jan. 11 filing by Herbert's political-action committee. That same day, the governor had a private meeting with Alton Coal. The state Division of Oil, Gas and Mining then approved the company's application Oct. 15 -- three months ahead of a deadline set by law. John Baza, the director of Oil, Gas and Mining, attended the meeting with the governor. He says the mining company complained to the governor the approval process was moving too slowly. A memo from staff scientist Priscilla Burton, states that Alton Coal "had an audience with the governor on September 17, 2009, with the result that the permitting process will end on October 15, 2009."

Did You Know.....

.....during a hurricane, 90% of the people who die end up dying from drowning.