1 Jan 2023

 

1 January 2023

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 1 Day 1 \ Ave. Sky Cover 80% \ Visibility 5 miles Flagstaff Today 48° \35°  Wind 7mph \ Gusts 11mph 
Air Quality: Fair\ Very Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 576mi \ Nearest Lightning 1526mi
Jan Averages for Flagstaff: 44° \ 16° \5 Days of moisture
Overcast

Today’s Quote

Monthly Observations

Adopt A Rescued Bird Month Link
Bath Safety Month
Be Kind to Food Servers Month
Birth Defects Month Link
Black Diamond Month Link
Book Blitz Month
California Dried Plum Digestive Month Link
Carnival Season: Jan. 6- March 1
Celebration of Life Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month Link
Children Impacted By Parent's Cancer Month
Clap 4 Health Month
Financial Wellness Month

Weekly Observations

Christmas Bird Count Week: Dec 14-Jan 5 Link 
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: Dec 15 – Jan 1  
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: Dec 15 – Jan 1  Link 
Kwanzaa: Dec 26-Jan 1
Jan 1-7
Diet Resolution Week 
National Folic Acid Awareness Week   Link
Dating & Life Coaches Recognition Week
National Lose Weight/Feel Great Week
Silent Record Week

Daily Observations

Apple Gifting Day
Commitment Day
Copyright Law Day
Ellis Island Day
Euro Day
First Foot Day Link
Global Family Day Link
Humane Day  Link
Mummer's Parade
National Bloody Mary Day New Years Day
New Year's Dishonor List Day 
Polar Bear Plunge or Swim Day Link (Cony Island NY & Vancouver, BC)
Public Domain Day  Link
St. Basil's Day
World Day of Peace Link
Z Day

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

In 2022 I finally got to French Polynesia, after waiting 2 years due to Covid closures. I  also got to spend 10 days with my brother, his wife, her dad and step mom the hacienda resuce dogs, and friends of the in-laws. Weekly lunches with friends. Overall, it was a good year.

Just as the year was ending, the world lost Barbara Walters at 93 and Pope Benedict at 93. Both had good long lives. They will be missed.

Just as the year was ending, the police in Idaho arrested the man they believe responsible for the horrific murders of 4 college students.

Our mountain town is expecting a big snowstorm just a few hours into the new year. I’m ready and will simply wait it out here in my warm home.

Here’s hoping that the new year brings happiness and joy to all. That our divided country continues healing and works better together.

Favorite Memes Final Winter Wonderland pics

New Year Traditions…

Wave Jumping in Brazil

If you’re heading off to one of the biggest New Year’s Eve bashes in the world, make sure you’re in on Brazil’s most important traditions. Some of the craziest parties in this South American country happen on the beautiful beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Don’t be alarmed when you see party-goers out in the water jumping over waves at night. Brazilians say that jumping over one wave each time you make a New Year’s wish (seven waves total) will increase your good luck and your wishes will come true. Besides wave jumping, another popular tradition is wearing a primarily white outfit for luck. Be sure to pack your swimwear and your white party outfit when you head to the beautiful Copacabana Beach to ring in the new year.

Smashing Dishes in Denmark

If you’re visiting this Scandinavian country for the holiday, be sure to wear some close-toed shoes. In Denmark, it is tradition to smash plates on your neighbors’ houses as a sign of affection. These plates are thrown after midnight for good luck and whoever has the largest pile in the morning is said to have the most loyal friends. Similarly, in the Netherlands, Dutch children bring a small pile of broken pottery to their neighbors’ doorsteps with the same intent. If you’re looking to smash some plates, downtown Copenhagen is a beautiful city to spend your New Year’s Eve. The heart of the city boasts fireworks, great food and beautifully decorated buildings — just be sure to watch your step for broken pottery.

Empty Suitcases in Mexico

Mexico — home to white sand beaches, delicious food, ancient ruins and... empty suitcases? Tradition says that walking your empty suitcase around the block will guarantee a year filled with travel and new experiences. This tradition is popular in other Latin American countries and is perfect for all of you “wanderlusters”. Locals will also toss a glass of water out of their window to signify fewer tears in the future. A year of good travels and no tears — it sounds like Mexico has the right idea. So, if you find yourself on a beach in Playa del Carmen on New Year’s Eve, make sure to grab a drink and empty your suitcase to celebrate the local way.

Broken Furniture in South Africa

Looking to redecorate? You might want to take some pointers from the South African locals and throw your unwanted furniture and appliances out of your windows and onto the street. Locals say that this brings them a fresh start to the new year. The tradition is a bit dangerous, as even refrigerators were thrown out of windows, so the tradition has calmed down a bit. Small towns and large cities alike have celebrations all through the night on this holiday. Whether you want to visit a beautiful wine region, go on a safari or throw a table onto the streets — this African country has what you need to have an unforgettable New Year’s Eve. 

Historical Events

1808 – The United States banned the importation of slaves.
1892 – Ellis Island began processing immigrants into the United States.
1847 – The world’s first “Mercy” Hospital was founded in Pittsburgh, United States, by a group of Sisters of Mercy from Ireland.
1958 – The European Economic Community (EEC) was established.
1979 – Normal diplomatic relations are established between the People’s Republic of China and the United States.
1980 – The Far Side, Comic Strip debuted
1995 – The World Trade Organization began.

Birthdays Today

@91 – J. D. Salinger, American soldier and author (d. 2010)
The true poet has no choice of material. The material plainly chooses him, not he it.– J. D. Salinger
@90 – Xavier Cugat, Spanish-American singer-songwriter, actor (d. 1990)
@84 – Betsy Ross, credited with designing the Flag of the United States (d. 1836)
@83 – Paul Revere, American silversmith and engraver (d. 1818)
@83 – Dana Andrews, American actor (d. 1992)
81 – Country Joe McDonald, American singer-songwriter, guitarist
80 – Don Novello, American comedian (Father Guido Sarducci)
@77 – J. Edgar Hoover, American civil servant, first director of the FBI (d. 1972; heart attack)
@71 – Rocky Graziano [Thomas Rocco Barbella], American boxer, actor (d. 1990; heart failure)
59 – Dedee Pfeiffer, American actress

 

31 Dec

 

31 December 2022

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 53 Day 365 \ Ave. Sky Cover 5% \ Visibility 25 miles Flagstaff Today 45° \31° 
Wind 5mph \ Gusts 13mph  Air Quality: Fair \Very Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 131mi \ Nearest Lightning 1245mi
Dec Averages for Flagstaff: 43° \ 17° `
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

Christmas Bird Count Week: 14-1/5 Link 
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: 15 - 1/1/23  
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: 15 - 1/1/23  Link 
It's About Time Week: 25-31
Kwanzaa: 26-1/1

Daily Observations

First Nights
Hogmanay Link
Leap Second Time Adjustment Day
Make Up Your Mind Day
National Champagne Day 
New Years Eve
New Year's Eve Banished Words List
New Year's Dishonor List
Universal Hour of Peace Day
World Healing Day  Link  
World Peace Meditation Day
World Peace Meditation Day

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Sun is shining brightly on the white snow. We are in between storms with the next one due around the time we change to 2023…starting about midnight.

The HOA crew came in and cleared off our parking spaces and driveways. Glad they did it as there was still an inch or so of ice in most of the parking spaces. During the day, I am usually the only vehicle in the parking spaces, so I quickly moved my vehicle so they would have an easier time.

I get the Southwest computer issues. When our trip to Tahiti was cancelled, just as the pandemic was turning real, I flew into Denver on Southwest, arriving about 6pm. The next morning our trip was cancelled, and I went to the Southwest counter to change the date of my return flight. The Southwest staff was just learning about COVID, along with everyone else. A very kind lady worked for almost 45 minutes, then called her supervisor, who worked about 20 minutes before calling the next supervisor. After about 90 minutes I got a flight. They were all great, it was the computer that wouldn’t cooperate. I even got their names and wrote a letter to Southwest corporate to thank them. The whole Southwest problem is NOT the employees, it is the corporate office that hasn’t kept up with technology. I hate to see the front-line employees having to take the brunt of the criticism.

Since 1999, Flagstaff has had a pinecone drop at the historic Weatherford Hotel in downtown Flag.  It is a lighted metal pinecone that drops on New Year’s Eve. The drop is only 2 stories, but that is the tallest building. It is returning this year after a 2-year hiatus because of Covid. Nice to have it back.

Pinal County…Florence, AZ is the county seat…has just finished their midterm recount. Lots of errors were found. Every recount has a few ballots that were miscounted. The Pinal County recount sent off alarm bells since about 150 ballots were incorrectly counted. The recount verified that a Democrat is our new attorney-general here in AZ.

Favorite Memes Winter Wonderland cont.

Facts…

Australia is Earth’s smallest continent — closer in size to Greenland than any other continent. So why did geographers decide Australia was a continent instead of an island like Greenland? For starters, Australia has a much larger landmass than Greenland: roughly 3 million square miles compared to Greenland’s 836,000 square miles. It also sits on a tectonic plate, which is partially shared with Asia, while Greenland is on the same tectonic plate as all of North America. Also, much of Australia’s plant and animal life is endemic to the country, including its Indigenous people. The Aboriginal people of Australia are found nowhere else in the world, while the Indigenous people of Greenland, the Inuit, live on different continents in the Arctic. Altogether, these facts led geographers to classify Australia as a continent, although it is technically an island.

….

In most cities, Christmas comes once a year… unless you live in Santa Claus, Indiana, the self-proclaimed home of the holiday season and America’s first theme park: Santa Claus Land. While amusement parks have existed in the U.S. since the 1840s, at the beginning the general idea was just having fun. It wasn’t until 1946, with Santa Claus Land’s opening, that amusement parks began developing specific themes. The attraction took advantage of the town’s unique name, hoping to draw in visitors who wanted to experience a bit of holiday spirit any time of year, and especially youngsters keen to meet St. Nick himself. Owner Louis Koch, who built the theme park as a retirement project, planned the destination with children in mind; his original park featured a toy shop, doll displays, children’s rides, and a restaurant. Over time, Koch also added a mini circus, deer farm, wax museum, and live entertainment.

But Santa Claus Land’s biggest attraction was, of course, its namesake: Santa. Its Kris Kringle impersonators took the job seriously; the park’s longest-working Santa, Jim Yellig, wore the red-and-white suit for 38 years. During his tenure, Yellig reportedly heard more than 1 million holiday wishes from park visitors, an achievement that earned him induction into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame in 2010. Santa Claus Land went through some upgrades around the time of Yellig’s retirement in 1984, adding on zones for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July. Today, the park goes by the name Holiday World, and continues to welcome more than 1 million visitors each season. 

Slang Origins

1951: GOPer

Meaning: a member of the Republican party

The Republican party has been calling itself the “Grand Old Party” since the 1850s, with the acronym credited to a T.B. Dowden, a newspaper typesetter who needed to make room for the last two words in a story. It’s unclear why the term took so long to be applied to members of the party, but Dowden’s acronym is still used to shorten headlines today.

Mysteries…

WHEN WAS JESUS BORN?

While many Christians today celebrate Dec. 25 as the birth of Jesus, he likely was not born on this day. The date Dec. 25 may have been chosen because it’s close in time to Saturnalia, a Roman festival that celebrated the god Saturn. The earliest records of Dec. 25 being the birthday of Jesus date to the fourth century – more than 300 years after his birth.

Ancient records suggest that early Christians were never able to agree on a date when Jesus was born and even today many Orthodox Christians celebrate Jesus’ birthday as being on Jan. 6 or 7. In the end, it is unlikely that the date of Jesus’ birth will ever be known — in fact, even the precise year is not certain, although scholars generally agree that it was sometime around 4 B.C. 

….

WERE THE HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON REAL?

Ancient writers describe a fantastic series of gardens constructed at the ancient city of Babylon in modern-day Iraq. It's not clear when these gardens were built, but some ancient writers were so impressed by the gardens that they called them a "wonder of the world." Around 250 B.C., Philo of Byzantium wrote that the Hanging Gardens had "plants cultivated at a height above ground level, and the roots of the trees are embedded in an upper terrace rather than in the earth."

So far, archaeologists who have excavated Babylon have been unable to find the remains of a garden that meets this description. This has left archaeologists with a question: Did the hanging gardens really exist? In ­2013, Stephanie Dalley, a researcher at the University of Oxford, proposed in a book that the gardens were actually located at the Assyrian city of Nineveh. Over the past two decades, both Babylon and Nineveh have suffered damage from wars and looting, and it seems unlikely that this mystery will ever be fully solved.

Historical Events

The first word most people say every year is “happy.”
1600 – The British East India Company was chartered. At one point it had a hand in 50% of the whole world’s trade and business.
1907 – The first New Year’s Eve celebration was held in Times Square (then known as Longacre Square) in Manhattan.
1983 – the United States Government broke up AT&T ‘Ma Bell’ telephone system monopoly.
On December 31, 1999, Albert Einstein was chosen as person of the century by Time.

Birthdays Today

87 – Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia
85 – Anthony Hopkins, actor
@84 – Henri Matisse, French artist (d. 1954)
“For my part, I have never avoided the influence of others. I would have considered it cowardice and a lack of sincerity toward myself.”– Henri Matisse
80 – Andy Summers, English guitarist, and songwriter (The Police)
79 – Ben Kingsley, English actor
@78 – George Catlett Marshall, American General (d. 1959; strokes)
“The only way human beings can win a war is to prevent it.”– George Marshall
@77 – Odetta (Holmes), American singer-songwriter, actress (d. 2008; heart disease)
75 – Tim Matheson, American actor
64 – Bebe Neuwirth, American actress, and dancer
@63 – Donna Summer, American singer (d. 2012; lung cancer)
63 – Val Kilmer, American actor
@53 – John Denver, American singer-songwriter (d. 1997; plane crash)
45 – Donald Trump, Jr., American businessman
27 – Gabby Douglas, American gymnast
“My message is to never quit, never give up. When you have a little trouble here and there, just keep fighting. In the end, it will pay off.”– Gabby Douglas