9 Feb

 

9 February 2023

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 6 Day 40 \ Ave. Sky Cover 5% \ Visibility 19 miles Flagstaff Today 48° \10°  Wind 5mph \ Gusts 8mph 
Air Quality: Fair \Very Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 517mi \ Nearest Lightning 965mi
Feb. Averages for Flagstaff: 47° \ 19° \5 Days of moisture
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

 

Weekly Observations

4-11  
Freelance Writer Appreciation Week
5-11
African Heritage & Health Week
Burn Awareness Week Link  
Children's Authors & Illustrators Week
5-12  
Children's Authors & Illustrators Week
5-12  
Dump Your Significant Jerk Week
6-12 Children's Mental Health Week Link 
6-10
6-10
International Networking Week
National School Counseling Week Link 
Pride in Foodservice Week
Pride in Foodservice Week Link 
Tax Identity Theft Week
Tax Identity Theft Week Link 
Tinnitus Awareness Week
Tinnitus Awareness Week Link 
7-14 
7-14 
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week Link
Have A Heart for A Chained Dog Week Link
National Marriage Week Link  Link
Risk Awareness Week
7-12
Solo Diners Eat Out Weekend
Love Makes the World Go Round; But, Laughter Keeps Us From
8-14
Getting Dizzy Week 

Daily Observations

Chocolate Day
Cut The Cord Day  Link
Gwyl Mabsant Link
National Develop Alternative Voices Day
National Giving Hearts Day
National Pizza Day Link
National Toothache Day
Read in the Bathtub Day
Toothache Day Link 

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Sun shining, snow slowly melting. Icicles still hanging on.

Now the total in the Turkey/Syria earthquake is reporting more than 15,000 have died.

The State of the Union address was the usual picture of a positive message. Biden did seem to enjoy his banter with booing Republicans. He interrupted another banter session that only a very small number in the Congress wants to slash Social Security or Medicare…if only that were true. One thing I always enjoy, no matter who is named, is when the President of the United States introduces ‘regular’ Americans who have helped our country. I actually know one of the people recognized…the recently retired head of the Tuba City Medical Center. A big surprise for me, and a well-deserved recognition.

Here is a question I am pondering: should the US have a policy that ties trade to human rights? If a country denies certain human rights, should the US not trade with them?

LeBron broke the all-time scoring record. What a champ!

Winter…

Facts…

She Likely Didn’t Commit Suicide by Snake

The traditional story of Cleopatra’s demise is as follows: Upon seeing her inevitable end as Octavian approached Alexandria, Cleopatra purposefully let a venomous asp — likely the Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) — bite her breast. Although this dramatic episode is undoubtedly history’s most famous suicide by snake, historians have a tough time squaring this made-for-Hollywood account with some biological realities.

For one thing, the cobra is said to have been smuggled inside a fig basket, but Egyptologists and snake experts say a much larger serpent would have been needed to kill Cleopatra (along with her two handmaidens). Cobra attacks are also “dry bites” 90% of the time, meaning they rarely deliver deadly venom. Some historians believe that Cleopatra probably died by poison instead, likely hemlock mixed with wolfsbane and opium. 

Slang Origins

1988: What’s your damage?

Meaning: What’s your problem?

Continuing the tradition of slang being born or popularized in movies, “What’s your damage?” is one of the most iconic and enduring phrases from Daniel Waters’ teen satire “Heathers." Waters admits to borrowing some of the movie’s famous lines from people around him: This one came from a young girl at a summer camp where he was a counselor.

Trivia…

In 1971, the founders of Nike in Beaverton, Oregon, were searching for a catchy company name. Designer Jeff Johnson suggested Nike, the name of the Greek goddess of victory.

Historical Events

1864 – 109 Union Officers escaped from Libby Prison in Virginia.
1943 – The Allies retook Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Island, a major victory in WWII.
1964 – The Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan, with 73,000,000 viewers, a record at that time. There were 728 people in the studio audience.

Birthdays Today

@86 – Peggy Wood, American actress (d. 1978)
@83 – Barry Mann [Barry Imberman], American pianist, songwriter, producer
The real danger of writing a great song when you’re on something is that it might get you thinking that the only way to repeat that is by only writing when you’re high.– Barry Mann
@82 – Frank Frazetta, American painter and illustrator (d. 2010)
He knew he was good but did he know he was the best ever? Did he know he taught millions of artists how to dream? He never repeated a drawing. He always created anew, discovering again and again what it meant to create, to be a true artist that copied no one, not even himself. A world without Frank Frazetta makes no sense. No one like him will ever appear again. Remember him well.– Ralph Bakshi’ on Frank Frazetta.
81 – Carole King, American singer-songwriter
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come runnin’ to see you again
Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall,
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there
You’ve got a friend.
– Carole King
80 – Joe Pesci, American actor
78 – Mia Farrow, American actress
74 – Judith Light, American actress
@72 – Thomas Paine, English-American philosopher, author, and activist (d. 1809)
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.– Thomas Paine
@70 – Ernest Tubb, American singer-songwriter (d. 1984; emphysema)
@68 – William Henry Harrison, American general, 9th President (d. 1841)
60 – Travis Tritt, American country singer
@51 – Amy Lowell, American poet, critic, educator (d. 1925; stroke)
@59 – Gypsy Rose Lee (Rose Louise Hovick), American burlesque entertainer (d. 1970; cancer)
It’s not what you do. It’s the way you do it-stripping or writing or talking… or just breathing. Do it with air, and never admit you’re scared.– Gypsy Rose Lee
@42 – Hyrum Smith, American religious leader (d. 1844; shot)
47 – Shakira Ripoll, Columbian singer
In this life, to earn your place you have to fight for it.– Shakira
44 – Mena Suvari, American actress
42 – Tom Hiddleston, English actor
36 – Michael B. Jordan, American actor
As human beings, why does it take somebody to feel like they’re close to us for us to see their humanity? Why can’t we see the humanity in people that are distant from us?– Michael B. Jordan
31 – Avan Jogia, Canadian actor