Sep 2

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Sep. 2, 2019 Week: 36  Day: 245

86004:   H 87° \ L 54° \ Average Sky Cover: 40% 

Nearest wildfire:  27mi.  Nearest lightning:  75mi

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

Record High: 91°[1948]   Record Low: 35°[1953]

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

Today’s Quote

Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.

Confucius

Random Tidbits

Word Origins

Ferris Wheel

The Ferris Wheel was designed as the American competitor to the Eiffel Tower. George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr., was a young engineer whose company was given the task of coming up with something "daring and unique." This kind of amusement park wheel had been designed before, but not at this scale. Ferris's wheel was 250 feet in diameter and it carried 36 cars, each with a capacity of 60 people.

Kalashnikov, or AK-47

Arguably the most famous weapon in history, the AK-47 was designed from a hospital bed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. Kalashnikov, who served in a Russian tank unit, had been wounded during a battle against Germany in World War II.

Observances This Month

Childrens' Good Manners Month
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Link
Cholesterol Education Month Link
Classical Music Month  Link
College Savings Month
Craniofacial Acceptance Month  Link
Eat Chicken Month
Fall Hat Month
Global Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month  Link
Go Wild During California Wild Rice Month Link
Great American Low-Cholesterol, Low-fat Pizza Bake Month
Gynecology Cancer Awareness Month

Observances This Week

1-5

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Link 

1-7

International Enthusiasm Week
National Nutrition Week (UNICEF-India) Link
Self-University Week Link
Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week
National Waffle Week 

2-6

National Payroll Week 

Observances for Today

Bison Ten Yell Day
Great Bathtub Race (Always on Labor Day)
Labor Day
Mouth-guard Day
National “Grits for Breakfast” Day

International Bacon Day

National No Patrick Day Link  (SpongeBob Squarepants)
V-J Day
World Coconut Day  Link

My Rambling Thoughts

Started off the day by heading to ‘Art in the Park’ in downtown Flag. Was able to visit with several Native artists I know who were selling. All said it was a good selling weekend. And lots of other art also. Enjoyable, though parking is always a hassle. The show took up an entire square block, but had to park 5 blocks away. Worth the time.

It’s another warm day, hoping for some moisture.

 I didn’t go to the County Fair again this year. Last year I tried, but traffic was horrific so I just skipped it this year.

Another mass shooting, this time in Odessa, TX. No hope for stopping these horrific events as too many conservatives are against any gun control. Sad. After all the mass shootings I read that Greeley, Colorado classeooms now have emergency packs with tourniquets and ‘stop the bleeding’ pads. SAD!

The highest wind I have experienced was 109 while attending CU/Boulder. I can’t imagine the 185 mph winds in the Bahamas.

Be safe if you are out and about on Labor Day.

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of this page

You see a boat filled with people. It has not sunk, but when you look again you don’t see a single person on the boat. Why?

Historical Events

44 BC - Cicero started the first of his Philippics (oratorical attacks) on Mark Antony.

1192 - The Treaty of Jaffa was signed between Richard I of England and Saladin, leading to the end of the Third Crusade.

1666 - The Great Fire of London destroyed more than 13,000 homes along with St. Paul's Church.

1752 (Julian year) - Great Britain adapted the Gregorian calendar, making the next day September 14, 1752. There was no September 3-13 in the British Empire, including the American colonies.

1754 (Earthquake) Cairo, Egypt

1789 - The United States Treasury Department was established.

1837 - General Sherman took Atlanta, after four weeks of fighting.

1837 - Samuel F.B. Morse patented his telegraph for sending messages. Ben Franklin was the first to send an electrical signal through a wire in 1750.

1897 - McCall Magazine began publication.

1901 - Vice President of the US, Theodore Roosevelt, used the famous phrase, "Speak softly and carry a big stick" at the Minnesota State Fair.

1912 - Arthur Rose Eldred was awarded the first Eagle Scout award of the Boy Scouts of America.

1944 - Future President George H.W. Bush ejected from his damaged plane in WW II.

1945 - Japan formally surrendered World War II.

1963 - CBS Evening News expanded from 15 minutes to 30 minutes, the first network to do so. NBC followed on September 9.

1969- Chemical Bank installed the first United States ATM in the U.S. at the branch in Rockville Centre, New York.

1985 - NBC began broadcasting in stereo.

1989 - #1 Hit: Paula Abdul - Cold Hearted

1992- (Earthquake) Nicaragua killing at least 116 people.

1995 - #1 Hit: Michael Jackson - You Are Not Alone

2005 - On NBC's Concert for Hurricane Relief, Kanye West stated that "George Bush doesn't care about black people"

2015 Earth's trees number just over 3 trillion according to study in "Nature" by Thomas Crowther of Yale University

2015 US President Barack Obama becomes the first president to visit the Arctic Circle at Kotzebue, Alaska

2018 Major fire at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro destroys most of its 20 million artifacts

Birthdays Today

Terry Bradshaw, football star (71)

Harvey Levin, TMZ host (69)

Mark Harmon, TV actor (68)

Billy Preston, keyboardist in R&B, funk…

(d. 2006 @59; kidney failure)

Keanu Reeves, movie actor (55)

Salma Hayak, movie actor (53)

Lennox Lewis, Boxer (53)

Katt Williams, comedian (48)

Puzzle answer:

All the people were married.

Sep 1

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Sep. 1, 2019 Week: 36  Day: 244

86004:   H 85° \ L 54° \ Average Sky Cover: 70% 

Nearest wildfire:  27mi.  Nearest lightning:  149mi

Wind:   4mph\Gusts:  4mph  Visibility: 10 mi

Record High: 91°[1948]   Record Low: 33°[1962]

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

Today’s Quote

Any sufficiently advanced technology is

iIndistinguishable from magic.

Arthur C. Clarke

Random Tidbits

A fruitarian is a type of vegetarian in which a person eats just fruits, nuts, seeds, and other plant material that can be harvested without killing the plant.

Approximately 25 gallons of water are needed to produce 1 pound of wheat. Around 2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce 1 pound of meat. Many vegetarians argue that more people eating a meat-free diet would lower the strain that meat production puts on the environment.

Observances This Month

According to the Georgian calendar, September is the ninth month. But, on the Roman calendar, it was the seventh month. September has had 29 days, and 31 days; but, since the time of the emperor Augustus, it has had only 30 days.

The Autmn Equinox is September 22

AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Month   Link
All American Breakfast Month Link
Attendance Awareness Month Link
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month
Atrial Fibrillation Month

Baby Safety Month Link
Backpack Safety America Month
Be Kind To Editors & Writers Month
Blood Cancer Awareness Month Link
Bourbon Heritage Month Link

Observances This Week

1-5

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Link 

1-7

International Enthusiasm Week
National Nutrition Week (UNICEF-India) Link
Self-University Week Link
Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week
National Waffle Week 

Observances for Today

Building and Code Staff Appreciation Day 

Calendar Adjustment Day

Chicken Boy's Day

Emma Nutt Day

International Day of Awareness for the Dolphins of Taiji Link

National Cherry Popover Day

National Gyro Day

National No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day

Random Acts of Kindness Day or Be Kind Day  Link  

Save Japan's Dolphins Day Link 

Toy Tips Executive Toy Test Day

World Letter Writing Day Link

My Rambling Thoughts

A busy day yesterday. Andy had a PT appointment, and then a nice late breakfast/early lunch after the appointment. Nice to see the improvement with each visit. He can now get his healing leg into his pickup without any assistance. Then off to buy a groceries. Got home about 3p, took a short nap. It was very warm.

Doing some cleaning today and looking forward to September. Can’t believe how fast this fantastic summer, highlighted by the Trans-Siberian RR adventure, has gone by.

My Florida friends are all prepared for whatever. The ones I communicated with have been through this many times over the years and are just waiting.

Every President needs trusted, competent staff. Every staff member works for the American people and is paid with tax payer dollars. Our current President does not seem to grasp that concept, he appears to think they work for him. He even has some of his staff sign nondisclosure agreements and it is doubtful these agreements will hold up in any court. He fears negative press, so he had to tweet that his former Secretary had signed an NDA and he was sure she wouldn’t need to be sued for breaking it.

I’m tired of a President who changes policy without having a plan to implement his changes. The most recent is for children from foreign countries who were invited to the US to participate in medical studies that ‘might’ save their lives. Then the administration cancels their visas and gives them 33 days to self-deport, with no plan as how to continue their life-saving treatment. Inhumane and crazy.

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of this page

What is seen in the middle of March and April that can’t be seen at the beginning or end of either month?

This riddle works by trying to get you to think about the weather or holidays or other events linked to a calendar. To get this one right you actually need to get super literal.

Historical Events

1661 - In the first official well-known Yacht Race, England's King Charles lost to his brother, James.

1752 - "Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" The Liberty Bell was officially placed in the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall) in Philadelphia.

1799 - The Bank of Manhattan Company (now Chase Manhattan) opened in New York City.

1859 - The Carrington Event, a large solar flare (a coronal mass ejection - CME, solar superstorm) effected many of the (relatively few) electronics and telegraph lines on Earth.

1872 - Linda Ann Judson Richards graduated from the Training School of the New England Hospital for Women and Children and became America's first Nurse.

1894 - Juno, one of the four largest asteroids in the Main Belt, was discovered by the German astronomer Karl Ludwig Harding.

1894 - Great Hinckley Fire, Minnesota

1897 - Boston's Tremont Street Subway opened.

1902 - A Trip to the Moon, considered one of the first science fiction films, was released in France.

1923 (Volcano Eruption & Earthquake) Kanto, Japan

1935 - Labor Day Hurricane, Florida

1939 - Adolf Hitler signed an order to begin the systematic euthanasia of mentally ill and disabled people.

1939 - World War II began with Germany's invasion of Poland.

1948 - The United Nation's World Health Organization was founded.

1952 - The Old Man and the Sea, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Ernest Hemingway, was first published.

1962 - #1 Hit: Tommy Roe - Sheila

1968 - Irvin Feld opened the Clown College, in Venice, Florida.

1969 - Muammar el-Qaddafi overthrew King Idris, and founded the Libyan Arab Republic.

1972 - Bobby Fischer defeated Boris Spassky of the USSR. He was the first American to compete in the tournament.

1972 - Mark Spitz won his 4th and 5th Olympic Medals (he won 7 in total in the '72 Olympics)

1977 - The first TRS-80 Model I computer was sold at Radio Shack.

1979 - An LA Court ordered Clayton Moore to stop wearing Lone Ranger mask. The copyright owners did not want any association with him, although he used his fame as the Television face as the Lone Ranger as a positive example of what the Ranger (and Tonto) represented. He began wearing wrap-around shades instead.

1979 - Pioneer 2 flew past Saturn discovering an eleventh moon and two new rings.

1980 - The Apple III was released.

1982 - The United States Air Force Space Command was founded.

1983 - Korean Airlines Boeing 747, flight 007 was shot down by Soviets in Russian airspace.

1984 - #1 Hit: Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do with It

1985 - The remains of the Titanic, sunk by an iceberg in 1912, were discovered in the North Atlantic.

1990 - #1 Hit: Sweet Sensation - If Wishes Came True

1991- E! News had its first live broadcast

1994- The Independent Film Channel made its debut

1997 - Disney Channel ended their 14 year run of being a subscription TV channel and became a basic cable 'free' channel..

2004 - Chechen terrorists took over 1,000 schoolchildren and others hostage in Beslan, Russia.

2012 - #1 Hit: Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

Birthdays Today

Yvonne De Carlo

[Margaret Yvonne Middleton]

, actor (The Munsters)

 (d. 2004 @ 84)

Lily Tomlin, comedian (80)

Edgar Rice Burroughs, writer

 (d. 1950 @ 74; heart attack)

Barry Gibb, singer (BeeGee’s) (73)

Dr. Phil McGraw, TV host (69)

Boxcar Willie

[Lecil Travis Martin],

country musician

(d. 1999 @67; leukemia)

Gloria Estefan, singer/dancer (62)

Conway Twitty

[Harold Lloyd Jenkins]

country singer

(d. 1993 @59; aneurysm)

Rocky Marciano, champion boxer

 (d. 1969 @ 45; plane crash)

Zendaya

[Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman],

Disney actor (23)

Puzzle answer:

The letter “R”