May 24

 

 
Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 22 Day: 144 \ Ave. sky cover: 60% \ Visibility: 10 miles Flagstaff Today 77° \36° 
Wind: 6mph \ Gusts: 7mph
High risk of fire \ Nearest active fire: 10mi \ nearest Lightning: 359mi
May Averages for Flagstaff: 68° \ 34°  (3 days of moisture)

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

17-28 Cannes Film Festival

22-28   National Backyard Games Week National Safe Boating Week World Schizophrenia Awareness Week  Link Healthy and Safe Swimming Week Link

23-6/5   National Seat Belt Reinforcement Week Link

23-27  Undergraduate Research Week: Link

24-29 Mule Days  Link

Daily Observations

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Cloudy…looks like rain, but no such luck according to the weather guy.

I headed out this morning to do some grocery shopping and then picked up my CPAP supplies. Quick and easy.

I grew up during the cold war days. I remember studying the China and Taiwan situation. Many years later I was fortunate to visit Taiwan on one trip and China on another. Politics aside, both countries’ citizens welcomed us…may for our money. Both have a very long history. Both have great food, beautiful sites, and friendly people. I never really understood the current ‘One China’ philosophy. Now I am more confused. I’m glad that Biden said we would not allow an invasion of Taiwan. His administration is saying it is NOT a change in policy. Obviously, the other side is saying it is a change. I just wish I knew if the real policy would protect those in Taiwan.

Favorite Memes

 

Humor

Why are toilets always so good at poker?

They always get a flush

Trivia

v In Japanese, the name 'Japan' is Nihon or Nippon, which means 'Land of the Rising Sun.' It was once believed that Japan was the first country to see the sun rise in the East in the morning.

v The Japanese word banzai literally means '10 thousand years' and was traditionally used to wish the emperor a long life. Today, it is closer to a cheer like 'Hip Hip Hooray!'

v The Japanese avoid the number four (shi) because it sounds the same as the word for death. Tall buildings do not have a fourth floor. Tea and sake sets are sold with five cups. Three or five is the desirable number of guests in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. As a rule, odd numbers are preferred over even numbers in Japan.

Historical Events

Ø 1626 – Peter Minuit bought Manhattan from the Lenape Indians for “60 guilders worth of trade,” approximately $1,143 in 2020 dollars.
Ø 1775 – John Hancock was elected president of the Second Continental Congress.
Ø 1844 – Samuel F.B. Morse sent the first public telegraph message – ‘What Hath God Wrought?’ through the Washington-to-Baltimore telegraph line.
Ø 1883 – The Brooklyn Bridge over the East River opened, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Ø 1938 – A patent (#2,118,318) was issued for a Coin Controlled Parking Meter to Carl C. McGee of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Ø 1956 – The first Eurovision Song Contest was held in Lugano, Switzerland.
Ø 1958 – United Press International (UPI) was formed through a merger of the United Press and the International News Service.
Ø 1991 – Thelma and Louise, starring Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, was released. Their car was a 1966 Ford Thunderbird.

Birthdays Today

84 – Tommy Chong, Canadian-American comedic actor

@81 – Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (d. 1901)

81 – Bob Dylan, American singer-songwriter, Nobel Prize laureate

78 – Patti LaBelle, American singer-songwriter

77 – Priscilla Presley, American actress

57 – John C. Reilly, American character actor

@44 – Heavy D [Dwight Arrington Myers], Jamaican-American rapper (d. 2011; embolism)

55 – Eric Close, American TV actor

50 – Greg Berlanti, American director, producer, and screenwriter

47 – Will Sasso, Canadian comedic actor