Aug 26

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Aug. 26, 2019 Week: 35  Day: 238

86004:   H 83° \ L 54° \ Average Sky Cover: 5% 

Nearest wildfire:  27mi.  Nearest lightning:  834mi

Wind:   9mph\Gusts:  9mph  Visibility: 10 mi

Record High: 88°[1974]   Record Low: 37°[1989]

Aug Averages: 79°\50° (9 day with rain)

Today’s Quote

Art is not what you see,

but what you make others see.

Edgar Degas

Random Tidbits

When the U.S. debt reached 100% of its GDP in 2011, it joined Japan (229%), Greece (152%), Jamaica (137%), Lebanon (134%), Italy (120%), Ireland (114%), and Iceland (103%) as other countries whose public debt exceeds their GDP.

The U.S. debt ceiling was created in 1917 at a limit of $11.5 billion during WWI to allow greater simplicity and flexibility during the war by allowing the Treasury to borrow any amount it needed as long as the amount was below this limit. Prior to this, Congress had to approve each issuance of debt. To change the debt ceiling, Congress needs to enact specific legislation and the President must approve the legislation.

Observances This Week

24-9/1

Chuckwagon Races: 24-9/1 

25-31

Be Kind To Humankind Week
World Water Week  Link
National Composites Week Link
National Safe at Home Week

Observances for Today

National Cherry Popsicle Day

National Dog Day Link   Link

National Toilet Paper Day Link

National Web Mistress Day   Link

Women's Equality Day

My Rambling Thoughts

I had a busy day yesterday doing the reading for our discussion group. After the readings, I had to do a little research on the internet machine. Basically the articles talked about ‘pivotal periods’ of technology in the world: The first was irrigation technology in Ancient Egypt, then the use of maritime technology that opened trade, and railroad technology across the world to move the new trade, and computer technology, which is still in its infancy.  The author looked at the US, Russia, and China in the last pivotal technology. While much of the technology out there is very exciting; it is also frightening. We can get information much faster; the information not be factual. One can learn almost anything from the internet; one person can write a virus program that will disrupt any country’s power grid. While we all need to know what the US, Russia, and China are doing with technology, we also need to know what the geek in his basement is doing. The world needs to know what is propaganda v what is factual. Everyone must stay aware of what computers are doing: everything from buying groceries, banking, vehicles, building highways and bridges, ‘knowing’ your friends and neighbors, and on and on. In its earliest reveals, computer tech was seen as a time-saver for many. While we are still in the infancy stage, people are beginning to see that there are bad actors everywhere out there and some have developed great power we never expected. The discussion was long and very frightening with some happy moments. The conclusion of our group was that computer tech is here to stay and grow and as consumers we have to remain very aware to what is actually happening. Next month we are discussing Artificial Intelligence.

I finally reviewed all the excursions for the Tahiti trip. So many choices, but have decided on 5 that my Roommate Ed is doing. Now we just have to be sure that we pick the same time for several of the excursions. Moving right along.

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of this page

A man was found on the floor dead with a cassette recorder in one hand and a gun in the other. When the police arrive at the scene they pressed play on the recorder. It was the man’s voice. He said, “I have nothing else to live for. I can’t go on,” followed by the sound of a gunshot. After listening, the police knew that this was a murder, not a suicide. How?

Historical Events

1498 - Michelangelo began his work to carve the Pieta, depicting the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion.

1789 - The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was approved by the National Constituent Assembly of France.

1791 - John Fitch was granted a United States patent (# X00028) for the steamboat.

1883 (Volcano Eruption & Tsunami) Krakatoa began. It was one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history, with at over 36,000 deaths being attributed to the eruption itself and the tsunamis it created. Small eruptions, mostly of mud, continued into October 1883.

1967 - #1 Hit: Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe

1968 - Dan Bankhead became the first African American to pitch in a major-league baseball game.

1972 - #1 Hit: Looking Glass - Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)

1976 - While camping in Allagash, Maine Jim Weiner, Jack Weiner, Charles Foltz and Charles Rak claimed to have been abducted by 'four fingered beings' that performed experiments on them including alien probing.

1978 - #1 Hit: Frankie Valli - Grease

1978 - Pope John Paul I was elected.

1995 - #1 Hit: Seal - Kiss From A Rose

2000 - #1 Hit: Janet Jackson - Doesn't Really Matter

Birthdays Today

Katherine Johnson, NASA mathematician (101)

Mother Theresa

[Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu]

Albanian nun and Saint (d. 1997 @87)

Tom Ridge, former Sec of Homeland Security (74)

Melissa McCarthy, actor (49)

Thalía

[Ariadna Thalía Sodi Miranda], Mexican singer (47)

Macaulay Culkin, actor (39)

Chris Pine, actor (39)

Puzzle answer:

If the dead man had killed himself, he wouldn’t have been able to press the reverse button on the cassette recorder.