28 Dec

 

Flagstaff Today 47°: 25°  Week 52 Day 363 Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Wind 12 mph Gusts 19 mph Breezy Active Fire: 347 miles away Risk of Fire: Low Nearest lightning: 1304 miles away Dec Averages: Temps: 45°\18° Moisture: 5 Days

Weekly Observations

14-1/5/25 Christmas Bird Count Week Link  14-28 Halcyon Days: 14-28 (Always 7 days before and 7 days after the Winter Solstice)

25—1/2/25 Chanukah 25-31 It's About Time Week 26-1/1/25 Kwanzaa

Daily Observations

Call a Friend Day Endangered Species Act Day Holy Innocent’s Day National Card Playing Day

National Chocolate Day Link Pledge of Allegiance Day Short Film Day  Link

Today’s Quote                                                               

 

Today’s Meme

 

Thoughts for the day

A breezy but tolerable day. I took a nice walk around the neighborhood before the breeze picked up. I just needed a light jacket.

Alcoholism is a real problem on many reservations. Back in 2019 there were a number of new ‘treatment centers for Natives’ spring up in Phoenix. Since there has been a string of news stories that they were not working. Natives attending these places were either missing or found dead. Now the Navajo Nation has filed a $2.8 billion lawsuit against the state of Arizona for failure to stopping various fraud schemes involving Medicare/Medicaid (ACCCHS). These frauds claimed to set up drug treatment facilities, but in fact provided drugs and alcohol to patients, while being paid by ACCCHS for their service. Shameful.

Panama’s President has stated that Chinese are not working in the Panama Canal, and that the only Chinese would be passengers of cruise ships entering and leaving the canal. It sounds to me like Trump is having another ‘They are eating the pets’ moments. I am remaining calm and waiting to see what Trump actually does after Jan. 20. …

Random Thoughts…

The original drummer of The Velvet Underground, Angus MacLise, once showed up for a show a half-hour after it started and played for a half-hour after the rest of the band ended. He later quit the band after they took a paying gig because he considered that as selling out.

A group of Stories is an Anthology.

Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (86 AD – 161 AD) had the most peaceful reign of any ruler in antiquity. There is no record of any major events or conflicts during his 23-year reign.

The Vatican broadcast its public approval of Pokémon in April 2001 after Christian groups argued that it promoted Satanic themes.

Diet Coke was first marketed in 1982.

The Bee Gees song Stayin’ Alive was used in a study to train medical professionals to provide chest compressions per minute while performing CPR.

Quirky town names…

Yeehaw Junction, Florida

Yeehaw Junction’s name reflects its Wild West-inspired roots. Originally a trading post and cattle town, it embraced the cowboy culture of Florida's past and now attracts tourists for its quirky vibe.

Historic Events

28 Dec. History Click on date

Birthdays

Nash Grier, 27 Movie Actor Edgar Winter, 79 singer-songwriter   Denzel Washington, 70 Movie Actor John Legend, 46 R&B Singer Seth Meyers, 51 TV Show Host David Archuleta, 34 Pop Singer Joe Manganiello, 48 TV Actor Gayle King, 70 Radio Host    Adam Peaty, 30 Swimmer

@90 – Johnny Otis, American singer-songwriter (d. 2012) @89 – Nichelle Nichols, American actress (d. 2022) @89 – Maggie Smith, English actress (d. 2024) @83 – Martin Milner, American actor (d. 2015)   @67 – Woodrow Wilson, American politician, 28th President (d. 1924)

…The End for today…

               

27 Dec

 

Flagstaff Today 46°: 22°  Week 52 Day 362 Air Quality: Fair Overcast Wind 1 mph Gusts 4 mph Active Fire: 346 miles away Risk of Fire: Low Nearest lightning: 854 miles away Dec Averages: Temps: 45°\18° Moisture: 5 Days

Weekly Observations

14-1/5/25 Christmas Bird Count Week Link  14-28 Halcyon Days: 14-28 (Always 7 days before and 7 days after the Winter Solstice)

25—1/2/25 Chanukah 25-31 It's About Time Week 26-1/1/25 Kwanzaa

Daily Observations

Howdy Doody Day International Day for Epidemic Preparedness Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day

National Fruitcake Day Radio City Music Hall Day Visit The Zoo Day Link

Today’s Quote                                                               

 

Today’s Meme

 

Thoughts for the day

The storm for Christmas day never materialized. However; the day after Christmas is overcast, but no precipitation is in the forecast. Crazy!

I made or got several calls from friends on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I talked to Cheryl who is happy in her own little world. I also talked to my brother
Richard. He and Laura are doing great and enjoying their 2^nd place in San Miguel. I also talked to Lori and Lisa, Bob Echardt’s daughters. Lisa is still working in Chicago and Lori is in Loveland. They used Lori’s RV to escape for a spa vaca in Buena Vista. Both are doing well. I also texted Robin and Frank, Laura’s parents, in Chicago.  They are doing well and we plan to meet up when they come to their condo in Surprise later this year. A good Christmas all around.

Flagstaff’s pinecone drop on New Year’s Eve was just ranked as one of the top 5 in unique NYE celebrations. Nice!

It looks like the NBA v NFL for Christmas Day viewership is in full swing. The Nuggets lost to the Suns in their game.

On a serious note, the Māori are in a constitutional battle with New Zealand over their sovereignty. It will be a tough legal battle and one that should not be necessary.

After hundreds of years of believing that the Bald Eagle was the National Bird, a law was signed by Biden to make it so.

Inventions…NEW

Samuel Leeds Allen - Modern Sled: " Flexible Flyer sled" is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Samuel Leeds Allen patented the Flexible Flyer sled in 1889 during his farming equipment company’s off-season. His design included a steering mechanism that allowed riders to control the sled by shifting their weight. The Flexible Flyer became America’s most popular winter toy. Allen’s basic steering design is still used in modern sleds.

Random Thoughts…

Biggest film of 2012: The Avengers (Action) earned ~ $623,000,000 (in the USA)

Boy George – Real Name: George O’Dowd

The Hatfield-McCoy Feud was settled by the doctrine that possession is nine-tenths of the law, giving possession of the pig that the McCoys claimed was their property.

Charles Darwin collected a Galápagos tortoise during his 1835 visit to the Galápagos Islands as part of his round-the-world survey expedition. It lived 175 years and died of heart failure at the Australia Zoo in 2006.

A group of Jellyfish is called a Smack or Brood.

The Noid, Domino’s 80’s Pizza mascot, was retired after a paranoid schizophrenic named Kenneth Lamar Noid entered a Domino’s Pizza in Atlanta and held two employee’s hostage at gunpoint. He believed the commercials were making fun of him.

Quirky town names…

Why, Arizona

This desert town got its name from a highway intersection shaped like the letter Y. When naming it, the state required at least three letters, so they settled on Why. It’s a tiny community with a big backstory. It is located in Pima County.

Historic Events

27 Dec History

Birthdays

Timothée Chalamet, 29 Movie Actor Hayley Williams, 36 Rock Singer Savannah Guthrie, 53 Journalist

@90 – Marlene Dietrich, German-American actress (d. 1992) @84 – John Amos, American actor (d. 2024) @75 – Cokie Roberts, American journalist (d. 2019; breast cancer) @58 – Louis Pasteur, French chemist, microbiologist, invented Pasteurization (d. 1895; stroke) @58 – Johannes Kepler, German mathematician, astronomer (d. 1630)

…The End for today…

               

24 Dec

 

Flag Today  52°/28°   Week 52  Day 359 Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Wind 4 mph Gusts 6 mph Active Fire: 1119 miles away Risk of fire: Moderate Nearest Lightning: 1734 miles away Dec. Averages: Temps: 45°\18° Moisture:  5 Days

Weekly Observations

Andisop 4-24 (Meteorological Fiddling) Link 14-1/5/25 Christmas Bird Count Week Link

14-28 Halcyon Days: 14-28 (Always 7 days before and 7 days after the Winter Solstice) 16-24 Posadas

Daily Observations

Christmas Eve Last Minute Shopper’s Day National Egg Nog Day

Today’s Seasonal Quote                                                                

 

Today’s Meme

 

Thoughts for the day

Wishing everyone a Happy Holidays. This will be my last post until after Christmas.

The Cowboys won another one. The Cards are out of the playoffs. Life goes on.

One should always dig deeper when hearing the news. Last night 60 Minutes did a story on Gun Trafficking. It turns out that the Cartels in Mexico get between 50% and 90% of their guns from the US. They use them to traffic drugs back into the US and terrify the locals. How can this happen? Probably our lax gun laws. The Cartel offer US citizens lots of money to buy their weapons and have them brought across the border. The US will never stop the drug trade until they stop the thousands of guns sent by US citizens to them. Such a difficult story to hear.

Christmas Traditions

Sugar Plums are Plums Coated in Sugar

Many imagine sugar plums as plums dipped in sugar, inspired by classic holiday tales. In reality, they're a type of candy, made from dried fruits and nuts, coated in sugar.

The confusion arises from the name, evoking images of sugar-drenched plums. However, traditional sugar plums are a confectionery delight enjoyed during Christmas.

Understanding this myth broadens appreciation for holiday treats, offering a taste of history with every bite.

Christmas Trees are a Christian Tradition

Christmas trees are often associated with Christian traditions, but their origins predate Christianity. Ancient cultures, like the Egyptians and Romans, used evergreen plants in winter festivals.

The modern Christmas tree tradition began in Germany in the 16th century, gradually blending with Christian customs. Today, it's a symbol of joy, unity, and celebration across cultures.

Recognizing this myth highlights the beauty of cultural exchange, enriching our festive experiences.

Random Thoughts…

The largest man-made lake in the U.S. is Lake Mead, created by the Hoover Dam.

The village of Carol Stream, Illinois is not named after a local stream but is in fact one of only a few municipalities in the US named after a person’s first and last name.

Jimmy Carter was the first president to admit to seeing a UFO.

Santa must deliver presents to almost 22 million kids an hour, every hour, on the night before Christmas. That’s about 365,000 kids a minute; about 6,100 a second.

The drug term “trip” was first coined by U.S. Army scientists in the 1950’s when they were experimenting with LSD.

A group of Cobras is called a Quiver.

Despite their reputation, it is actually very rare for an opossum to have rabies because their body temperature is too low for rabies to survive and replicate well.

Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School (established in 1937) is the longest continuously running Santa Claus School in the world.

Quirky town names…

Intercourse, Pennsylvania

While its name might raise eyebrows, Intercourse was likely named for the original meaning of the word—“fellowship” or “social interaction.” It’s now a hub for Amish tourism, but the name is what draws the curious.

Ancient Roman Life

Roman baths included just about everything someone could need

Over the years, archeologists have discovered amazing things that help to tell the story of life in Ancient Rome. Roman baths are one of many discoveries. But what was their purpose? They were much more than a place for communal bathing with the rest of the city.

Because they covered areas as small as little towns, the baths had all the necessary amenities. The largest was the Baths of Caracalla. The baths could accommodate 1,600 people and included a library, gym, and two fountains measuring 19 feet. The baths also featured a gentleman’s residence, marble statues, artwork, and mosaics.

Historic Events

24 Dec History

Birthdays

Ryan Seacrest, 50 TV Show Host Carol Vorderman, 64 Game Show Host Ricky Martin,  53, Puerto Rican-American singer-songwriter

@70 – Howard Hughes, businessman, engineer, pilot (d. 1976; kidney failure) @70 – Lemmy, English rock singer-songwriter, bass player (d. 2015; kidney failure from drug use) @69 – Jean-Louis Pons, French astronomer, found 37 comets (d. 1831) @67 – Ava Gardner, American actress (d. 1990stroke) @58 – Christopher ‘Kit’ Carson, American general, and frontiersman (d. 1868; aneurysm) @55 – Kate Spade, American fashion designer, co-founder of Kate Spade New York (d. 2018; suicide) @49 – John, King of England, Magna Carta (d. 1216; dysentery)

…The End for today…