I walk by a car proclaiming the message that “Jim Looney is 70.” Since I am also that age, it draws my attention. Seventy is five years past Social Security age. If you wait until age 70 to draw Social Security, you will draw the maximum amount. If you opt to wait any longer, it won’t make any difference. I waited and started drawing Social Security this year and have never felt richer. It feels like I have so much more money now. That is one benefit of turning 70. If you have sisters like mine who always make a point of doing something special for milestone birthdays, 70 was a heckuva year — even in the middle of a pandemic. They arranged for Colin Mochrie, cast member of the comedy improv TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” to send me a personal video birthday message. They provided him with information about me which he discussed in the video. Wow! What a great surprise and one more good reason to be 70. Seventy is a nice round number with lucky 7 in front. I hope Jim Looney finds it as satisfying as I have. To find out more about the number 70, read on.
In science
Ytterbium
According to Wikipedia, ytterbium is a chemical element with the symbol Yb and atomic number 70. It is the 14th and penultimate element in the lanthanide series, which is the basis of the relative stability of its +2 oxidation state. However, like the other lanthanides, its most common oxidation state is +3, as in its oxide, halides and other compounds. In aqueous solution — like compounds of other late lanthanides — soluble ytterbium compounds form complexes with nine water molecules. Because of its closed-shell electron configuration, its density and melting and boiling points differ significantly from those of most other lanthanides.
In 1878, the Swiss chemist Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac separated from the rare earth "erbia" another independent component, which he called "ytterbia" for Ytterby, the village in Sweden near where he found the new component of erbium. He suspected that ytterbia was a compound of a new element that he called "ytterbium" — in total, four elements were named after the village, the others being yttrium, terbium and erbium. In 1907, the new earth "lutecia" was separated from ytterbia, from which the element "lutecium" — now lutetium — was extracted by Georges Urbain, Carl Auer von Welsbach and Charles James. After some discussion, Marignac's name "ytterbium" was retained. A relatively pure sample of the metal was not obtained until 1953. At present, ytterbium is mainly used as a dopant of stainless steel or active laser media, and less often as a gamma ray source.
Natural ytterbium is a mixture of seven stable isotopes, which altogether are present at concentrations of 0.3 parts per million. This element is mined in China, the United States, Brazil and India in form of the minerals monazite, euxenite and xenotime. The ytterbium concentration is low because it is found only among many other rare earth elements; moreover, it is among the least abundant. Once extracted and prepared, ytterbium is somewhat hazardous as an eye and skin irritant. The metal is a fire and explosion hazard.
The chemical and physical properties of ytterbium could not be determined with any precision until 1953, when the first nearly pure ytterbium metal was produced by using ion-exchange processes. The price of ytterbium was relatively stable between 1953 and 1998 at about $1,000/kg.
NGC 70
NGC 70 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Andromeda. It was discovered on October 7, 1855 by R. J. Mitchell and was also observed on December 19, 1897 by Guillaume Bigourdan from France who described it as "extremely faint, very small, round, between 2 faint stars."
NGC 70 is a member of a compact group of seven] or eight galaxies, sometimes called the NGC 70 Group or the VV 166 Group. The group consists of three relatively bright galaxies: 70, 71 and 72 in the NGC catalog, along with four fainter galaxies. NGC 68 appears to be a group member, but its discrepant radial velocity and lack of tidal distortion suggests that it may be an unrelated galaxy along the group's line of sight. In photographs the NGC 70 group resembles the much more famous Stephan’s Quintet group, and it is a popular target for amateur astrophotographers.
In religion
Generations of Noah or Table of Nations – list of 70 names
The Generations of Noah or Table of Nations, broadly referred to as Origines Gentium, is a genealogy of the sons of Noah, according to the Hebrew Bible in Genesis 10:9, and their dispersion into many lands after the Flood, focusing on the major known societies. The term nations to describe the descendants is a standard English translation of the Hebrew word "goyim," following the c. 400 CE Latin Vulgate's "nations," and does not have the same political connotations that the word entails today.
The list of 70 names introduces for the first time several well-known ethnoyms and toponyms important to biblical geography, such as Noah's three sons Shem, Ham and Japeth, from which 18th century German scholars at the Göttingen School of History derived the race terminology Semites, Hamits and Japhetites. Certain of Noah's grandsons were also used for names of peoples: from Elam, Ashur, Aram, Cush and Canaan were derived respectively the Elamites, Assyrians, Arameans, Cushites and Canaanites.
As Christianity spread across the Roman Empire, it carried the idea that all people were descended from Noah. But the tradition of Hellenistic Jewish identifications of the ancestry of various peoples, which concentrates very much on the Eastern Mediterranean and the Ancient Near East, became stretched and its historicity questioned. Not all Near Eastern people were covered, and Northern European peoples important to the Late Roman and medieval world were not covered, nor were others of the world's peoples.
According to Joseph Blenkinsopp, the 70 names in the list express symbolically the unity of humanity, corresponding to the 70 descendants of Israel who go down into Egypt with Jacob at Genesis 46:27 and the 70 elders of Israel who visit God with Moses at the covenant ceremony in Exodus 24:1-9.
70 perspectives or “faces” to the Torah
According to the Jewish Aggada, there are 70 perspectives or "faces" to the Torah (Numbers Rabbah 13:15).
70 elders assembled by Moses
Seventy elders were assembled by Moses on God’s command in the desert (Numbers 11:16-30).
70 times 7
In Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus tells Peter to forgive people seventy times seven.
70 disciples
The seventy disciples were early emissaries of Jesus mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. According to Luke, the only gospel in which they appear, Jesus appointed them and sent them out in pairs on a specific mission which is detailed in the text.
In Western Christianity, they are usually referred to as disciples, whereas in Eastern Christianity they are usually referred to as apostles. Using the original Greek words, both titles are descriptive, as an apostle is one sent on a mission whereas a disciple is a student, but the two traditions differ on the scope of the words apostle and disciple.
70 of Muhammad’s adversaries dead
There are 70 dead among the Prophet Muhammad's adversaries during the Battle of Badr.
70 martyrs
In Shia Islam, there are 70 martyrs among Imam Hussein's followers during the tragedy of Karbala.
In law
In certain cases, copyrights expire after 70 years.
In sports
Olympic archery – 70 meters
In Olympic archery, the targets are 70 meters from the archers.
70 points in college bowl games
In college football, two teams scored 70 points in bowl games, the most in such contests: first the West Virginia Mountaineers against the Clemson Tigers in the 2012 Orange Bowl, and the Army Black Knights against the Houston Cougars in the 2018 Armed Forces Bowl.
70 laps
The number of the laps of the Canadian Grand Prix and Hungarian Grand Prix.
In other fields
70 mph
70 miles per hour is a common speed limit for freeways in many American states, primarily in the central United States. In the Eastern U.S. the speed limit is generally 65; in the Western U.S. it is 75.
70 years of marriage
70 years of marriage is marked by a platinum wedding anniversary.
70 as a year
As a year, "70" may refer to 70 BC, AD 70 or 1970.
70 – Rare Age of the Olden Times
In the Far Eastern culture of China, Japan, Korea, etc., 70 years old is called the Rare Age of the Olden Times, as written in one of Du Fu's poems.
Social Security at age 70
Under Social Security in the United States, 70 is the age at which a person can receive the maximum retirement benefits (and may do so and continue working without reduction of benefits).
Celebrities Who Are 70
Princess Anne
Anne, Princess Royal (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise; born 15 August 1950) is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizaabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. She is 14th in line to the throne as of May 2019 and has been Princess Royal since 1987.
Anne is known for her high-profile charity work, which involves her patronage of more than 300 organizations — many of which aim to improve transport and health in developing countries, and the well-being and education of children. In her youth, Anne was known for her equestrianism: she won two silver medals in 1975 and one gold medal in 1971 at the European Eventing Championships. She is the first member of the British royal family to have competed in the Olympic Games.
In 1973, Anne married Captain Mark Phillips, but they separated in 1989 and divorced in 1992. The couple have two children, Zara and Peter Phillips, and four grandchildren. Within months of her divorce, Anne married Commander — now Vice Admiral — Sir Timothy Laurence, whom she had met while he served as her mother's equerry between 1986 and 1989.
Debbie Allen
Deborah Kaye Allen (born January 16, 1950) is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, singer-songwriter, director, producer and a former member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. She has been nominated 20 times for an Emmy Award (winning three), two Tony Awards and has also won a Golden Globe Award and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991.
Allen is best known for her work in the musical-drama television series “Fame” (1982-1987), where she portrayed dance teacher Lydia Grant, and served as the series' principal choreographer. For this role in 1983 she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy and two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography and was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Allen later began working as director and producer, most notably producing and directing 83 of 144 episodes of NBC comedy series “A Different World” (1988-1993). She returned to acting playing the leading role in the NBC sitcom “In the House” from 1995 to 1996 and in 2011 began playing Dr. Catherine Avery in the ABC medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” also serving as an executive producer/director. She has directed more than 50 television and film productions.
In 2001, Allen opened the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles, where she currently teaches young dancers. She also taught choreography to former Los Angeles Lakers dancer-turned-singer, Paula Abdul. She is the younger sister of actress/director/singer Phylicia Rashad.
Morgan Fairchild
Morgan Fairchild (born Patsy Ann McClenny; February 3, 1950) is an American actress. She began acting in the late 1970s and early 1980s with continuing roles in several television series.
Fairchild began her career on the CBS daytime soap opera “Search for Tomorrow” as Jennifer Pace from 1973 to 1977. In 1978, she appeared on the primetime soap opera “Dallas” as the first actress to portray Jenna Wade, before taking a lead role on the NBC series “Flamingo Road” in 1980 for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama. In 1984, she co-starred on ABC's short-lived television drama “Paper Dolls” and then appeared on “Falcon Crest” as attorney Jordan Roberts from 1985 to 1986. Fairchild has also performed in theater and played guest roles on television comedies, including “Murphy Brown” for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, “Roseanne,” “Cybill” and “Friends.” She is a board member of SAG-AFTRA.
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno (born April 28, 1950) is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer and former late-night television host. After doing stand-up comedy for years, he became the host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” from 1992 to 2009. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled “The Jay Leno Show,” which aired weeknights at 10:00pm ET, also on NBC.
After “The Jay Leno Show” was canceled in January 2010 amid a host controversy, Leno returned to host “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on March 1, 2010. He hosted his last episode of “The Tonight Show” on February 6, 2014. That year, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. Since 2014, Leno has hosted “Jay Leno’s Garage.”
Dr. Phil McGraw
Phillip Calvin McGraw (born September 1, 1950), also known as Dr. Phil, is an American television personality, author and the host of the television show “Dr. Phil.” He holds a doctorate in clinical psychology, but ceased renewing his license to practice psychological therapy in 2006.
McGraw rose to fame with appearances on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in the late 1990s. Oprah Winfrey then helped McGraw launch his own program, “Dr. Phil,” in September 2002. The show is formatted as an advice show. In October 2003, he launched the Dr. Phil Foundation, which funds organizations that help disadvantaged families and children.
Bill Murray
William James Murray (born September 21, 1950) is an American actor, comedian and writer. Known for his deadpan delivery, he first rose to fame on “Saturday Night Live,” a series of performances that earned him his first Emmy Award and later starred in comedy films —including “Meatballs” (1979), “Caddyshack” (1980), “Stripes” (1981), “Tootsie (1982), “Ghostbusters” (1984), “Ghostbusters II” (1989), “What About Bob?” (1991), “Groundhog Day” (1993) and “Kingpin” (1996). His only director credit is “Quick Change” (1990), co-directed with Howard Franklin.
Murray later starred in Sofia Coppola’s “Lost in Translation” (2003), which earned him a Golden Globe and a British Academy Film Award, as well as an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. He also frequently collaborated with directors Wes Anderson and Jim Jarmusch. He received Golden Globe nominations for his roles in “Ghostbusters,” “Rushmore” (1998), “Hyde Park on Hudson” (2012), “St. Vincent” (2014) and the HBO miniseries “Olive Kitteridge” (2014), for which he later won his second Primetime Emmy Award. Murray received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2016.
Billy Ocean
Leslie Sebastian Charles, (born 21 January 1950), known professionally as Billy Ocean, is a Trinidadian-British recording artist who had a string of R&B international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular Trinidad–British R&B singer-songwriter of the early to mid-1980s. After scoring his first four UK Top 20 successes, seven years passed before he accumulated a series of transatlantic successes, including three U.S. No. 1's. His 1985 hit "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in the US. In 1985, Ocean won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his worldwide hit "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" and in 1987 was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Male Artist. His 1988 hit "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" reached No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 3 in the UK. His 1986 hit "There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" also reached No. 1 in the U.S.
In 2002, the University of Westminister, London, awarded Ocean an honorary doctorate of music. In 2010, Ocean was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the MOBO Awards. On July 29, 2011, Ocean became a Companion of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, presented to him by Sir Paul McCartney. He is a member of the Rastafari movement.
Martin Short
Martin Hayter Short (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian–American actor, comedian, singer and writer. He is known for his work on the television programs “SCTV” and “Saturday Night Live.” He has starred in comedy films such as “Three Amigos” (1986), “Innerspace” (1987), “Three Fugitives” (1989), “Father of the Bride” (1991), “Pure Luck” (1991), “Captain Ron” (1992), “Father of the Bride Part II” (1995), “Mars Attacks!” (1996), “Jungle 2 Jungle” (1997) and “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” (2006). Short created the characters Jiminy Glick and Ed Grimley.
Short also provided voice-work for films “The Prince of Egypt” (1998), “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius” (2001), “The Spiderwick Chronicles” (2008), “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” (2012) and the PBS series “The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!” (2010–2019) as the title character. He has also had an active career on stage, starring in the Broadway plays “The Goodbye Girl” (1993) and “Little Me” (1998–1999). The latter earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and the former a nomination in the same category.
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris (né Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. A prominent figure in popular music during the second half of the 20th century, Wonder is one of the most successful songwriters and musicians. A virtual one-man band, his use of synthesizers and further electronic musical instruments during the 1970s reshaped the conventions of R&B. He also helped drive the genre into the album era, crafting his LPs as cohesive, consistent socially conscious statements with complex compositions. Wonder is often hailed as a genius and has been credited as a pioneer and influence to musicians of various genres including rhythm and blues, pop, soul, gospel, funk and jazz.
Blind since shortly after his birth, Wonder was a child prodigy known as Little Stevie Wonder, leading him to sign with Motown’s Tamla label at the age of 11. In 1963, the single "Fingertips" was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when Wonder was 13, making him the youngest artist ever to top the chart. Wonder's critical success was at its peak in the 1970s. His "classic period" began in 1972 with the releases of “Music of My Mind” and “Talking Book,” the latter featuring "Superstition," which is one of the most distinctive and famous examples of the sound of the Hohner Clavinet keyboard. His works “Innervisions” (1973), “Fulfillingness’ First Finale” (1974) and “Songs in the Key of Life” (1976) all won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, making him the tied-record holder for the most Album of the Year wins, with three. He is also the only artist to have won the award with three consecutive album releases.
Wonder has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He has won 22 Grammy Awards. He was the first Motown artist and second African American musician to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song, for the 1984 film “The Woman in Red.” Wonder has been inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is also noted for his work as an activist for political causes, including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a federal holiday in the United States. In 2009, he was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. In 2014, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Steve Wozniak
Stephen Gary Wozniak (born August 11, 1950), also known by his nickname "Woz", is an American electronics engineer, programmer,philanthropist and technology entrepreneur. In 1976, he co-founded Apple Inc. with business partner Steve Jobs, which later became the world’s largest information technology company by revenue and the largest company in the world by market capitalization. Through their work at Apple in the 1970s and 1980s, he and Jobs are widely recognized as two prominent pioneers of the personal computer revolution.
In 1975, Wozniak started developing the Apple I into the computer that launched Apple when he and Jobs first began marketing it the following year. He primarily designed the Apple II, introduced in 1977, known as one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputers, while Jobs oversaw the development of its foam-molded plastic case and early Apple employee Rod Holt developed the switching power supply. With software engineer Jef Raskin, Wozniak had a major influence over the initial development of the original Apple Macintosh concepts from 1979 to 1981, when Jobs took over the project following Wozniak's brief departure from the company due to a traumatic airplane accident. After permanently leaving Apple in 1985, Wozniak founded CL 9 and created the first programmable universal remote, released in 1987. He then pursued several other businesses and philanthropic ventures throughout his career, focusing largely on technology in K-12 schools.
As of November 2019, Wozniak has remained an employee of Apple in a ceremonial capacity since stepping down in 1985.
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