29 Aug

 

 
Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 36 Day 241 \ Ave. Sky Cover 35% \ Visibility 10 miles Flagstaff Today 75° \49° 
Wind 7mph \ Gusts 18mph  Air Quality
Moderate Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 28mi \ Nearest Lightning 6mi
Aug Averages for Flagstaff: 79° \ 50° (9days of moisture)

 

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

Thru Sep.5 National Marina Days (From Memorial Day to Labor Day)  Link

18-9/6   Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over Link

22-28   National Composites Week Link

23-9/1   World Water Week Link

25-31 Be Kind To Humankind Week

27-28  International Bat Night

27-9/4 National Chuckwagon Races

29-9/11 US Open Tennis Championships

Daily Observations

According to Hoyle Day
Chop Suey Day
Individual Rights Day Link
International Day Against Nuclear Tests
Lemon Juice Day
More Herbs, Less Salt Day
National Sarcoidosis Day Link  
National Whiskey Sour Day

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

There has been a nice amount of rain this monsoon season. Today was the first day with hail…only pea-sized, but still hail. Then a little later, a nice long rain.

I drove my ride last night after dark for the first time. I must say the auto headlights are great. Auto-dim is amazing!

Last night’s discussion went very well. A few months ago, we added two new couples to our group. Last night was proof that the new members add a lot to our group. Our discussion was on Putin. The moderator shared a trip he and his wife made in 2008 to Russia with a study group from Purdue. He had some very good insights as to why Putin was so well liked. I was able to add how my experience in Russia 3-years ago and in Cuba before that agreed with his observations. One observation was that many Russian citizens admire Putin because, after the fall of the USSR, the country was in chaos and Putin brought them stability. They may not know about his violations of human rights. Even if they have heard of them, he brought stability to their lives. I saw much the same in both Russia and Cuba.

I was only able to watch part of the Card’s game and part of the Bronco’s game because of our discussion group. The Cards lost to the Titans…The Broncos beat the Vikings. Broncos’ games are hardly ever on my TV, so I DVR’d the part of the game I missed. Glad I did.

One of our discussion group members had a book published. It is a fictional account of the life of a Jewish family during the war. She gave me a copy and I’m only into the first chapter, but it is interesting for sure.

Thought of the Day: Primary Elections are like the early rounds of American Idol. There are lots of people the viewer never heard of, and most of them are not that good.

Favorite Memes

One Hit Wonders

  "Seasons in the Sun," Terry Jacks (1974)

Adapted into English from 1961's "Le Moribond," by Belgian artist Jacques Brel, "Seasons in the Sun" became an international pop favorite via Jacks' recording. While the Canadian enjoyed more sustained success in his home country, Jacks' "Seasons in the Sun" version was also a No. 1 hit in the U.S. U.K., and Australia. Fun fact: the song was to be recorded by the Beach Boys, but they eventually decided against doing so. Jacks, a well-respected producer at the time, opted to do it on his own recording label. The rest, they say, is history.

Historical Events

29 – The martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist at the order of King Herod.
1758 – The first American Indian reservation was established, at Indian Mills, New Jersey.
1831 – Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction, opening the door to electric generators.
1839 – The ship Amistad was seized by abducted African slaves. After capture and imprisonment, they were declared free by the United States Supreme Court on March 9, 1841.
1896 – Chinese Ambassador Li Hung-Chang’s chef is credited with inventing Chop Suey.
1898 – The Goodyear tire company was founded.
1949 – The Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb, known as First Lightning or Joe 1, at Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan.
1958 – United States Air Force Academy opened in Colorado Springs, Colorado.1967 – The Fugitive finale, on ABC, starring David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimble, was the most-watched program of all time, until the 1980 series Dallas “who shot J.R.?” episode aired.
1991 – The Soviet Communist Party suspended all activities.
2005 – Hurricane Latrina struck the Gulf Coast, damaging over 90,000 acres, costing $200 Billion in damages, and the loss of thousands of people.

Birthdays Today

@90 – Richard Attenborough, English actor, and director (d. 2014)
@86 – Isabel Sanford, American actress  [The Jeffersons](d. 2004)
“If there’s anything in life you consider worthwhile achieving – go for it. I was told many times to forget show business – I had nothing going for me. But I pursued it, anyway. Voila!”– Isabel Sanford
84 – Elliott Gould, American actor
@81 – John McCain, American soldier, and politician (d. 2018)
@72 – John Locke, English physician, and philosopher (d. 1704)
“Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company, and reflection must finish him.”– John Locke
@67 – Ingrid Bergman, Swedish actress (d. 1982; breast cancer)
@76 – Robin Leach, English journalist and television host (d. 2018; stroke)
“Travel is very subjective. What one person loves, another loathes.”– Robin Leach
75 – Temple Grandin, biologist
51 – Carla Gugino, American actress
36 – Lea Michele, American actress
@34 – Charlie Parker, American saxophonist, composer (d. 1955; heart attack)
“You’ve got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.”– Charlie Parker
29 – Liam Payne, English singer-songwriter
“I try to be cool, but I’m not very good at it.”– Liam Payne