Sep 19

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Sep. 19, 2019 Week: 38  Day: 262

86004:   H 74° \ L 50° \ Average Sky Cover: 35% 

Nearest wildfire:  18mi.  Nearest lightning:  483mi

Wind:   9mph\Gusts:  24mph  Visibility: 10 mi

Record High: 84°[1956]   Record Low: 25°[1971]

Sep Averages: 74°\42° (5 days with rain)

Today’s Quote

If moderation is a fault,

then indifference is a crime.

Jack Kerouac

Random Tidbits

Coin-operated gaming devices in the late 1800s included games with large revolving wheels divided into color segments. Players wagered on which color the wheel would stop. They're considered the forerunners of modern slot machines, even though they didn't have reels. The first recognizably modern three-reel slot was the Liberty Bell, invented by Charles Fey in San Francisco in 1899. The machine was so popular that for many years all slot machines were referred to as bell machines.

The game of 21 got its common nickname, blackjack, from a practice in illegal casinos in the early 1900s. Some casinos paid a bonus if a two-card 21 was made up of an ace and jack of spades. Others paid bonuses if an ace of spades was accompanied by a jack of either clubs or spades. The black jack was the key to the bonus, and became the name of the game.

Observances This Week

10-19

Palindrome Week 9-10-19…9-19-19

15-21

Balance Awareness Week Link   
Build A Better Image Week 
Child Passenger Safety Week Link  
International Clean Hands Week
Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week Link
National Farm & Ranch Safety and Health Week
National Historically Black Colleges & Universities Week
National Indoor Plant Week 
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week 
National Security Officer Appreciation Week  
National Singles Week 
Pollution Prevention Week Link
Prostate Cancer Awareness Week  

16-22

National Love Your Files Week Link 
National Postdoc Appreciation Week Link

17-23

Constitution Week

18-22

National Guitar Flat-Picking Days Link
Hummingbird Celebration: Link

Observances for Today

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

National Ask An Atheist Day Link   
National Gymnastics Day

National Butterscotch Pudding Day

National PawPaw Day
National Teach Ag Day Link 
Talk Like A Pirate Day Link  Link 

My Rambling Thoughts

After all my cleaning, I had about 3 bags of good stuff I no longer use ready for Savers (Boys Club Donations). So this morning I dropped them off at their bin. That pesky fire outside of town, though under control, and the wind the past few days has lots of smoke blowing in to our community during the day. Right now, it looks like an eclipse is happening. Grrrrr.

Thinking about winners and losers from yesterday’s hearing with Cory…there were no winners and the losers were the American people. Our President tweeted to Cory that he did a great job. Hmmm. One tiny thing that came out of the last part of the hearings is when Cory said he had no reason to talk truthfully to the press. He said with them, he is not under oath. The reason this is very frightening to me is that what other political people believe the same thing? Years ago I would have seen him as an outlier. Today, not so much.

I have been a fan of Cokie Roberts since she started at NPR and whenever she interviewed people on ABC. She will be missed by many. Journalism lost an icon, America lost a dedicated journalist.

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of this page

What can you hold in your right hand, but never in your left hand?

Take it slow and easy with this one. Perhaps if take a look at your own hands, that might give you a clue based on logic.

Historical Events

1876 - Melville Bissell patented the first carpet sweeper.

1921 - The greatest rainfall recorded in United States history during 18 consecutive hours (measured at an unofficial weather-monitoring site) fell at Thrall, Williamson County, Texas, 36.40 inches fell from a Hurricane.

1928 - Mickey Mouse's first screen appearance - Steamboat Willie at the Colony Theater NYC.

1934 - Bruno Haptmann was arrested for kidnapping Charles Lindbergh's baby.

1952 - The Adventures of Superman premiered, in syndication

1960 - #1 Hit: Chubby Checker - The Twist

1961 - Betty and Barney Hill claimed to be abducted by aliens in New Hampshire

1970 - #1 Hit: Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough

1970 - The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered on CBS.

1975 - The alligator was removed from the endangered species list in parts of Louisiana.

1976 - A UFO was reportedly seen over Tehran, Iran. Two F-4 Phantom II jets lost power during a chase.

1977 - The chairs on which Archie and Edith Bunker sat through 8 seasons of All in the Family were given to the Smithsonian Institution

1981 - Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel performed a reunion concert in New York's Central Park.

1983 - Kiss performed on MTV without make-up for the first time.

1983 - The nighttime (syndicated) edition of the NBC daytime game show Wheel of Fortune premiered

1984 - Highway To Heaven premiered on NBC

1987 - #1 Hit: Michael Jackson with Siedah Garrett - I Just Can't Stop Loving You

1994- ER made its debut on NBC

2005 - How I Met Your Mother premiered on CBS

2014 - The Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were released.

2015 - #1 Hit: Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean?

Birthdays Today

James Lipton, lyricist, writer (Inside the Actors Studio) (93)

Adam West, actor (d. 2017 @88)

Jeremy Irons, movie actor (71)

Twiggy [Dame Lesley Hornby Lawson, model (70)

Cheri Oteri, comedian (SNL) (57)

Brooke Benton, Rock & Roll/R&B singer

(d. 1988 @ 56; pneumonia)

Trisha Yearwood, country singer (55)

Jimmy Fallon, TV host (45)

Columbus Short, choreographer, actor (37)

Puzzle answer:

Your left hand.