Dec 6

 

‘Tis the Season

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Dec 6, 2020  Week: 50 Day: 341	Local:  H 51°\ L 17°\Average Sky Cover: 5%
Wind:   4mph\Gusts:  8mph	Nearest lightning:1230 mi.; Active fire:  59mi
Moderate Risk of Fire	Visibility:  10mi
Record: 62°[1977]   Record: -6°[1951]	Nov Averages: 44°/\17° (5 days with moisture)

 

Today’s  Quote

Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.

Voltaire

 

Random Tidbits

Gorbachev’s Glasnost reforms uncovered so many cover-ups about events in the Soviet Union that all school history exams in 1988 were canceled.

 

US President #32 Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) FDR was elected four terms. After that, they changed the rules so a President can only be President for two terms.

 

A little humor

My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.

 

True Things

 Typo, a gift and stationery retailer in Australia known for its tongue-in-cheek merchandise, is drawing fire from moms and dads Down Under after marketing a Christmas ornament that features a small elf holding a sign that says, "Santa isn't real," 7News reported. One dad posted that the item led to an awkward discussion with his son and encouraged other parents to "complain and get these things taken off the shelves." The store said the ornament, which is part of its "naughty" line, has been removed from Typo's in-person and online stores. "Sometimes we do make mistakes," a spokesperson admitted. "We certainly don't want to take the fun out of Christmas for anyone, especially after the year we've all had."

 

Observations This Week

Cookie Cutter Week………………………………	1-7 Link
Clerc-Gallaudet Week…………………………..	3-10
Andisop (Meterological Fiddling)………….	5-24  Link
National Hand Washing Awareness Week…	5-11 Link
Recipe Greetings For The Holidays Week…	5-11
Older Driver Safety Awareness Week……..	5-11 Link
Computer Science Education Week: ( Always week with 12/9. Birthday of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper.)	6-12  Link

 

Observations for Today

Bartender Appreciation Day

International Sweater Day

Microwave Oven Day

Miners' Day
Mitten Tree Day  Link
National Pawnbrokers Day
St. Nicholas Day

National “Cook for Christmas” Day

National Gazpacho Day
National Microwave Oven Day
Put on Your Own Shoes Day

 

My Rambling Thoughts

Saturday has warmed up, even though it was cold last night. Finally able to take a walk around the neighborhood without having to get all bundled up.

While listening to NPR I learned a new acronym…LSI. It is from the pandemic mess. It is widely used in Singapore. It stands for Local Stranded Inhabitants…those who can’t get back to their home because of various lockdowns. Many workers come to Manila from other nearby islands to work. Since transportation has been shut down between islands, they are stuck and many have lost their jobs. It is becoming a real problem.

Last night our PBS affiliate in Phoenix had a fund raising special on Folk Music. It was nice to hear good old folk music. It was interesting that many of the folk songs from the 60’s are as true today as they were back then. Listening to Blowing in the Wind is a great example of that truth.  I was truly fortunate to take several years of piano lessons and music theory classes in my youth. I was never a good pianist, but the theory taught me to appreciate various kinds of music. Folk and Folk Rock were among my favorites. I wish I had DVR’d it so I could see it without the many fundraising interruptions.  

Mitten Tree Day reminds me of my mother. Every year the church would collect mittens for the needy. My mother would hit all the grocery stores and other stores that sold mittens to get them to donate some to the needy. She enjoyed doing it and the mitten tree at the church always appreciated her large donation.

 

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of the page

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

 

Historical Events

1790 – The US Congress moved from New York to Philadelphia.

1830 – The U.S. Naval Observatory, one of the oldest scientific agencies in the US, was established as the ‘Depot of Charts and Instruments’ in Washington, D.C.

1850 – Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-94) announced the invention the ophthalmoscope, to the Berlin Physical Society. It enabled doctors to see directly into a patient’s eye.

1865 – The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, officially ending the institution of slavery, was ratified.

1877 – Thomas Edison demonstrated the first sound recording, his reciting of ‘Mary had a Little Lamb’, at his Menlo Park, NJ Laboratory.

1877 – The Washington Post began publication.

1883 – Ladies’ Home Journal began publication.

1884 – The Washington Monument was completed.

1906 – The first aerial photographs of Stonehenge were shown at the Society of Antiquaries. They were taken from a hydrogen balloon by 2nd Lieutenant Philip Sharpe of the Royal Engineers’ Balloon Section.

1907 – The Monongah Coal Mine Disaster killed 361 coal miners. It was the worst mining disaster in American history.

1933 – A federal judge ruled that James Joyce’s book, Ulysses, was not obscene

1947 – Everglades National Park in Florida was dedicated by President Harry S Truman. His “S” didn’t stand for a name.

1964 – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer debuted on NBC. The holiday tradition moved to CBS in 1972

2005 – Brokeback Mountain, starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal was released in theaters.

2017 – Donald Trump’s administration officially announced the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

 

Birthdays Today

@91 – Dave Brubeck, American pianist, and composer (d. 2012)

@86 – Ira Gershwin, American songwriter (d. 1983)

@73 – Agnes Moorehead, American actress (d.1974; cancer)

63 – Andrew Cuomo, politician [Gov. of NY]

@48 – Wally Cox, American actor (d. 1973; heart attack)

@31 – Joyce Kilmer, American soldier, author, and poet (d. 1918; shot in battle)

 

Puzzle Answer

Your left hand

Enjoy the Holiday