21 Aug

Flagstaff Today 88°: 56° Week 34 Day 233 Wind 4 mph Gusts 7 mph Active Fire: 107 miles away Risk of Fire: Extreme Nearest lightning: 312 miles away Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Aug. Averages: Temps: 79°\50° Moisture: 9 Day

Weekly Observations

World Photography Week: 12-26 Link Little League World Series: 13-24  Link Numismatic Week (World's Fair of Money): 19-23  Link

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: 15-9/1 Link  National Aviation Week: 17-23 Minority Enterprise Development Week: 18-24

Daily Observations

Brazilian Blow-out Day Link Internat’l Day of Remembrance & Tribute To The Victims of Terrorism Internet Self-care Day

National Spumoni Day Link Poet's Day Senior Citizen's Day World Daffodil Day Link  (Southern Hemisphere)

Today’s Quotes                                                             

Today’s Memes

 

Thoughts for the day

I’m enjoying another nice summer day.

My brother called. We had a great conversation. He’s doing well at the hacienda, Laura is on another business trip. A previous owner of the hacienda stopped by. They became friends with my brother. My brother is hoping to get more information on the hacienda history. Nice!

AZPBS, my local station out of ASU, is in trouble for the handling of the lack of debate between Gov. Hobbs and in now infamous Kari Lake. Republicans want AZPBS license pulled due to the issue. I doubt that will happen.

Sec Noem has announced the entire border wall between the US and Mexico will be painted black. She seems to believe this will stop immigrants from climbing the wall during the warmest months.

Myths from Medieval Times

Robin Hood Never Existed

Robin Hood has been a popular fictional figure for 700 years, but historians have yet to discover a real person like him. Academics have yet to find evidence of a person who steals from the rich and gives to the poor.

In the 13th century, terms like "robehod" “rabunhod” were slang for thieves. Perhaps 14th- and 15th-century ballads about Robin Hood were a tongue-and-cheek twist on the term. But if there was a person who inspired the Robin Hood stories, we have not found him yet.

 Things That Worked Better Before They Were “Improved” by Technology

Car Engines You Could Actually Fix Yourself

Back in the day, you could pop the hood of your car and actually see the engine – not just a plastic cover hiding everything. With basic tools and a Chilton manual, most mechanical problems could be fixed right in your driveway. Today’s computerized engines might be more efficient, but when something goes wrong, you need specialized diagnostic equipment and a degree in computer science just to figure out what’s happening.

Random Thoughts…

Biggest film of 1941: Sergeant York (Drama) earned ~ $16,000,000

Wade Boggs once Drank 64 Cans of Miller Lite on a Cross Country Flight and then Beat the Seattle Mariners the next day #goals #achievements

The most common use for Q-tips is not recommended or advertised by the Q-tip makers whatsoever.

In 2015 a French court renamed a baby after the judge ruled that the parents’ decision to the name the child “Nutella” was not in the child’s best interest.

From 1908–1940, Sears sold 75,000 homes through their mail-order “Modern Homes” program. There were 447 different housing styles to choose from.

Historic Events

Click here for 21 Aug history

Birthdays

84 – Jackie DeShannon (Sharon Lee Myers), American singer-songwriter 69 – Kim Cattrall, English-Canadian actress 58 – Carrie-Anne Moss, Canadian actress 46 – Kelis Rogers, American singer-songwriter 37 – Kacey Musgraves, American singer-songwriter 36 – Hayden Panettiere, American actress

@89 – Friz Freleng, American animator, director, producer (d. 1995) @85 – William Murdoch, Scottish engineer, and inventor, created gas-powered lighting (d. 1839) @82 – Blossom Rock, American actress (d. 1978) @81 – Kenny Rogers, American singer-songwriter and actor (d. 2020) @79 – Count Basie (William James "Count" Basie), American pianist, composer, bandleader (d. 1984; cancer) @74 – Hugh Wilson, American actor, director, screenwriter (d. 2018; emphysema) @64 – Bill Lee, American actor, singer (d. 1980; brain tumor) @63 – Wilt Chamberlain, American basketball player and coach (d. 1999; irregular heartbeat) @57 – Stephen Hillenburg, American marine biologist, animator, SpongeBob Squarepants (d. 2018; ALS) @50 – Joe Strummer, English singer-songwriter (d. 2002; heart attack)

…The End for today…

            

20 Aug

 

Flagstaff Today 86°: 52° Week 34 Day 232 Wind 6 mph Gusts 11 mph Active Fire: 31 miles away Risk of Fire: Extreme Nearest lightning: 165 miles away Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Aug. Averages: Temps: 79°\50° Moisture: 9 Day

Weekly Observations

World Photography Week: 12-26 Link Little League World Series: 13-24  Link Great American Stamp Days: 14-17

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: 15-9/1 Link  National Aviation Week: 17-23 Minority Enterprise Development Week: 18-24 Numismatic Week (World's Fair of Money): 19-23  Link

Daily Observations

Aviation Day: Bacon Lovers Day "Black Cow" Root Beer Float Day:    Link  Chocolate Pecan Pie Day Coco Chanel Day: Great Bird of The Galaxy Day:   Link  International Bow (Hair) Day:  Link

International Orangutan Day:   Link Lemonade Day National Potatoe Day:  Link Radio Day Talk Like Jar Jar Binks Day:   Link World Humanitarian Day:  Link  World Photography Day:   Link

Today’s Quotes                                                             

 

Today’s Memes

 

Thoughts for the day

Another nice summer day.

Yesterday's blood treatment took a little longer than expected as I waited for liquid to be prepared. It went well, but the Benadryl made me sleeply so I took a nap when I got home.

My fluid weight loss had my iWatch band be a little loose. I got a new Velcro band and all is good.

60 minutes did a story on 9/11. Scientists continue to identify DNA from that horrific day. Even today, families are notified when DNA matches occur.

Those Dems who left Texas have returned to the house. They had to sign a consent to have a police officer with them 24/7…not to protect them, but to keep tabs on them so if they decided to flee they could be caught. One female legislator refused to sign and spent the night in the chambers. Unacceptable.

I finished the Peter, Paul and Mary PBS special. It was nice to be reminded that so much of their music followed their creed: Peace, Honor, Justice. In today’s time, that creed is even more important.

Myths from Medieval Times

Most Maps Did Not Feature Mythological Creatures

When people think of Medieval maps, many picture inaccurate naval charts with drawings of mythological sea creatures. These maps did exist, but they were not used for navigation. They were owned by nobility and often hung as art pieces.

On top of that, the creature illustrations were not viewed as "magical" or "monstrous." According to historian Chet Van Duzer, cartographers tried to follow scientific descriptions of sea animals. What we're seeing are the early imaginations of lobsters, sea lions, whales, sea cucumbers, and other animals that people didn't yet have names for.

Accomplishments Wrongly Attributed to Famous People

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Many famous figures, including Edison (the light bulb), Bell (the telephone), and Fleming (penicillin), are wrongly credited with inventions or achievements when others made key contributions first.

Cultural icons like Shakespeare and Capone are tied to myths, with earlier writers and lesser-known individuals playing bigger roles than commonly believed.

National symbols and historic events, such as the US flag and the summit of Everest, have more complex backstories than the simplified legends suggest.

Marketing, media influence, and historical bias—primarily political or racial—have shaped public memory, often leaving true pioneers overlooked.

Random Thoughts…

While filming an episode of the West Wing, Martin Sheen put a cigarette out in the National Cathedral while in character – prompting the National Cathedral to ban filming inside the building.

 

Thomas Jefferson is credited with bringing Macaroni and Cheese to the United States, in 1802.

 

Jupiter’s moon Europa may have a similar chemical balance to Earth and has “the right conditions for life.” Oh sure, of ALL the places in the universe humans could move to, we pick the ONE place we were warned to avoid…

 

Lasers were once the greatest scientific breakthrough in history, now we use them to play with cats.

Historic Events

Click here for 20 Aug history

Birthdays

94 – Don King, American boxing promoter 90 – Ron Paul, American politician, physician 81 – Sylvester McCoy, Scottish actor 79 – Connie Chung, American journalist 77 – Robert Plant, English singer-songwriter 71 – Al Roker, American news anchor, and television personality 63 – James Marsters, American actor 55 – Fred Durst, American singer-songwriter 51 – Misha Collins, American actor 42 – Andrew Garfield, American-English actor 32 – Demi Lovato, American singer-songwriter, actress

@67 – Benjamin Harrison, 23rd President (d. 1901; pneumonia)   @65 – Isaac Hayes, American singer-songwriter, producer (d. 2008; stroke) @57 – Doug Fieger, American singer-songwriter, The Knack (d. 2010; cancer) @46 – H.P. Lovecraft, American short story writer, editor, novelist (d. 1937; cancer) @40 – Jim Reeves, American singer-songwriter (d. 1964; small plane crash)   @38 – Dimebag Darrell, American guitarist, songwriter (d. 2004; shot) @36 – Phil Lynott, Irish singer-songwriter, Thin Lizzy (d. 1986; septicemia)

…The End for today…

           

18 Aug

 

Flagstaff Today 81°: 48° Week 34 Day 230 Wind 5 mph Gusts 10 mph Active Fire: A miles away Risk of Fire: High Nearest lightning: 378 miles away Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Aug. Averages: Temps: 79°\50° Moisture: 9 Day

Weekly Observations

Nat’l Resurrect Romance Week: 10-16 World Photography Week: 12-26 Link Little League World Series: 13-24  Link Great American Stamp Days: 14-17

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: 15-9/1 Link  National Aviation Week: 17-23 Minority Enterprise Development Week: 18-24

Daily Observations

Bad Poetry Day  Link Birth Control Pills Day Fajita Day Ice Cream Pie Day Internat’l Delivery Rider Appreciation Day (Food)

International Pinot Noir Day  Link Mail Order Catalog Day National Badge Ribbon Day National Fajita Day Serendipity Day

Today’s Quotes                                                             

 

Today’s Memes

 

Thoughts for the day

It is a very nice summer day. Glad I took a walk through the neighborhood.

The Broncos beat the Cards in a pre-season game.

I have another blood treatment Monday. All seems to be going well.

I’ve been a fan of folk music since my early teens. PBS just did a re-run of 50 years of Peter, Paul, & Mary. I’m enjoying it a  lot.

Myths from Medieval Times

People Did Not Sleep Through The Night

Today, health experts recommend that we get around eight hours of sleep per night. But in the Middle Ages, people did not sleep that long. They had two "sleeps;" they would rest for four hours and then wake up to read, write, chat, etc. Then, they would sleep again for three or four hours.

This pattern of sleeping continued until the 19th century. Doctors even recommended a nightly break from sleep. In France, a 16th-century doctor told couples that the nightly break was the best time to conceive.

Accomplishments Wrongly Attributed to Famous People

The Telephone

Alexander Graham Bell is widely known as the inventor of the telephone, but Antonio Meucci, an Italian-American engineer, has contested this recognition. Meucci created the “teletrofono” prototype and even demonstrated it publicly in 1860, years before Bell’s patent was granted.

Unfortunately, Meucci lacked the funds to secure a proper patent and instead filed a temporary notice, which he was unable to renew. He later sent a model to Western Union, where it mysteriously disappeared. Two years later, Bell unveiled his telephone and secured a lucrative contract. Bell achieved fame and fortune, while Meucci passed away in poverty, his significant contribution largely unacknowledged during his lifetime.

Random Thoughts…

The cracking sound you hear from a whip is actually the whip breaking the speed of sound and creating a small sonic boom.

In his 1225 essay on the nature of color (Du Luce/On Light), the English Bishop Robert Grosseteste described the birth of the Universe in an explosion and the crystallization of matter to form stars and planets in a set of nested spheres around Earth, seven centuries before the Big Bang theory.

All gerbils in the US descend from 20 caught in Mongolia in 1935 for research purposes.

Roman citizens who did not have land were deemed unfit for battle since they would not have something to protect.

The Ouija board got its name after being asked what is should be called. When asked what it meant, the board allegedly replied, “good luck.”

Historic Events

Click here for 18 Aug history

Birthdays

91 – Roman Polanski, French-Polish director, producer   73 – Elayne Boosler, American comedic actress 69 – Jon ‘Bermuda’ Schwartz, American drummer, producer 66 – Madeleine Stowe, American actress 64 – Bob Woodruff, American journalist, author 55 – Edward Norton, American actor 47 – Andy Samberg, American actor, comedian 31 – Maia Mitchell, Australian actress

1587 – Virginia Dare, the first child born to English parents in the Americas (date of death unknown) @96 – Rosalynn Carter, First Lady (d. 2023) @91 – Max Factor, Jr., American businessman (d. 1996) @85 – Shelley Winters, American actress (d. 2006) @80 – Martin Mull, American actor, comedian (d. 2024) @71 – Marshall Field, American businessman, founded Marshall Field’s (d. 1906; pneumonia) @65 – Gail Fisher, American actress (d. 2000; kidney failure) @57 – Patrick Swayze, American actor, and dancer (d. 2009; pancreatic cancer) @38 – Roberto Clemente, Puerto Rican-American baseball player (d. 1972; plane crash) @35 – Meriwether Lewis, American soldier, explorer, and politician (d. 1809; mysterious death)

…The End for today…