Mar 22

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Mar. 22, 2020 Week: 13 Day: 82

86004: H 53° \ L 24° \ Average Sky Cover: 20%

Nearest lightning: 675mi.; Nearest active fire: 437mi.

Wind: 4mph\Gusts: 11mph Visibility: 10 mi

Record High: 68°[2004] Record Low: -1°[1952]

Mar. Averages: 53°\19° (6 days with moisture)

Today’s Quote

For the test of the heart is trouble

And it always comes with years.

And the smile that is worth the praises of earth

Is the smile that shines through the tears.

Random Tidbits

Thomas Francis and Jonas Salk (who later developed the polio vaccine) developed the first flu vaccine in 1944. These early vaccines often contained impurities that produced fever, headaches, and other side effects.

The flu vaccine in its various forms has been used for over 60 years and over 90 million Americans get a flu shot each year.

Observations This Week

Orthodox Lent: 2-4/10Act Happy Week: 16-22
National Fix A Leak Week: 16-22 Link
International Brain Awareness Week: 16-22  Link
International Teach Music Week: 16-22
Shakespeare Week: 16-22  (Link)
Wellderly Week: 16-22 International Dark Sky Week: 19-26  Link
American Crossword Puzzle Days: 20-22  Link
National Cherry Blossom Festival: 20-4/12 Link  
Internat'l Week of Solidarity with People's Struggling Against Racism & Discrimination: 21-27Health Information Professionals Week: 22-28 Link
International Phace Syndrome Awareness Week: 22-28  National Agriculture Week: 22-28
National Cleaning Week: 22-28 (Last Week)
National Protocol Officer's Week: 22-28 

Observations for Today

As Young As You Feel Day
International Day of The SealInternational Goof Off Day

Mothering Sunday  Link
National Goof-off Day

Talk Like William Shatner Day
Tuskegee Airmen Day
World Day for Water  (aka World Water Day)    LinkWorld Day of Metta

My Rambling Thoughts

Really nice Saturday. Took a nice long walk after it warmed up a bit.

This social distancing thing is getting pretty boring. I get why I am doing it, but it is still getting boring. Daily phone calls and social media are not cutting it for me.

I guess Pence was getting too much positive press and the President didn't like it. So now, he is the first guy to speak at all the CoVid-19 press conferences. He talks, others come forth to temper his comments with a dose of reality. I have worked for a few bosses who have to be in the spotlight. It ain't no fun. Those behind the scene, doing the vast majority of work, have to deal with it. This behavior is not good leadership. And it certainly is now what our country needs right now. Let the physicians talk and we will deal with it.

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of the page

A man left home running. He ran a ways and then turned left, ran the same distance and turned left again, ran the same distance and turned left again. When he got home, there were two masked men. Who were they?

Historical Events

1630 - The Massachusetts Bay Colony outlawed the possession of cards, dice, and gaming tables.

1894 - The first championship series for Lord Stanley's Cup was played in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal HC (Montreal Hockey Club) won the first cup.

1933 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Beer and Wine Revenue Act, putting a federal tax on all alcoholic beverages, although prohibition was still in effect until December, 1933.

1945 - The Arab League was founded in Cairo, Egypt.

1958 - #1 Hit: The Champs - Tequila

1960 - The first laser was patented (#2,929,922) by Arthur Schawlow and Charles Hard Townes under the title 'Masers and Maser Communications System.'

1963 - The Beatles' first album, Please Please Me, was released in the United Kingdom.
1972 - The Equal Rights Amendment was passed by the U.S. Senate and sent to the states for ratification. It never gained the 38 states necessary to become part of the US Constitution.

1978 - Karl Wallenda, aged 73, of The Flying Wallendas, died after falling off a tight-rope between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

1980 - #1 Hit: Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall

1997 - Tara Lipinski, age 14 years and 10 months, became the youngest women's World Figure Skating Champion.

2009 Mount Redoubt, a volcano in Alaska began erupting after a prolonged period of unrest

2012 Largest protest in Quebec's history occurs in Montreal with over 200,000 people marching against government tuition hikes and for free access to post-secondary education

2017 Terrorist attack on London's Westminster Bridge and Houses of Parliament kills 4 including a police officer and injures 40

2018 US President Donald Trump imposes $60 billion worth of tariffs on Chinese imports

2019 "Mind-blowing" discovery announced of 518 million year old fossil site in near Danshui river, Hubei province, China, with thousands of unknown fossils well preserved

Birthdays Today

90-Stephen Sondheim, composer, lyrics

89-William Shatner, actor

@87-Marcel Marceau, mime (d. 2007)

84-Roger Whittaker, Keyan-British songwriter, singer

73-James Patterson, author

72-Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer

68-Bob Costas, sportscaster

61-Matthew Modine, actor

44-Reese Witherspoon, movie actor

Puzzle Answer:

The catcher and the umpire

From yesterday: a reader sent some more words that change pronunciation when the first letter is capitalized. WOW!

1. August/august

2. Mobile/mobile
   
3. Tangier/tangier
   
4. Rainier/rainier
   
5. Natal/natal
   
6. Lima/lima
   
7. Moped/moped
   
8. Bologna/bologna

Mar 21

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Mar. 21, 2020 Week: 12 Day: 81

86004: H 49° \ L 26° \ Average Sky Cover: 20%

Nearest lightning: 883mi.; Nearest active fire: 662mi.

Wind: 3mph\Gusts: 6mph Visibility: 10 mi

Record High: 70°[2004] Record Low: 5°[1948]

Mar. Averages: 53°\19° (6 days with moisture)

Today’s Quote

"Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege."

Random Tidbits

The word "influenza" comes from the Italian influentia because people used to believe that the influence of the planets, stars, and moon caused the flu - for only such universal influence could explain such sudden and widespread sickness.

Observations This Week

Orthodox Lent: 2-4/10American Chocolate Week: 15-21  Link
National Animal Poison Prevention Week: 15-21 Link Link
National Inhalant and Poisons Awareness Week: 15-21 Link Link
World Folktales & Fables Week: 15-21
Act Happy Week: 16-22
National Fix A Leak Week: 16-22 Link
International Brain Awareness Week: 16-22  Link
International Teach Music Week: 16-22
Shakespeare Week: 16-22  (Link)
Wellderly Week: 16-22 International Dark Sky Week: 19-26  Link
American Crossword Puzzle Days: 20-22  Link
National Cherry Blossom Festival: 20-4/12 Link  
Internat'l Week of Solidarity with People's Struggling Against Racism & Discrimination: 21-27

Observations for Today

Corn Dog Day 
Credit Card Reduction Day

Common Courtesy Day

Memory Day
National Common Courtesy DayNational Crunchy Taco Day

National Day of Action On Syringe Exchange  Link
National Fragrance Day   
National Healthy Fats Day
National Renewable Energy Day
National Single Parent Day 

Play The Recorder Day
Save The Panther Day
Twitter Day  (Social Media Application)Walk In The Sand Day
WE Day  Link 
World Down Syndrome Day  Link
World Poetry Day  Link    Link
World Puppetry Day  Link
Worldwide Quilting Day

My Rambling Thoughts

I headed to Sam's and my grocery store today. Sam's was very crowded, no empty carts were available and the crew was trying to clear the cart holders in the parking lot. Still no TP and very few paper towels and napkins, Baby Wipes are limited to one package. Got what I needed, and headed to Fry's for some groceries. No rice, no bread, lots of empty shelves. Got juice and fresh produce and fruits. Meat dept was very low. Thank goodness I have a freezer.

I worked at a grocery store through my college years. I believe there is more to these shortages than we are being told. When a delivery truck doesn't arrive on time, shelves get empty fairly quickly. When the truck finally arrives, shelves are full again. Most large grocery stores get two or more deliveries per week. So if the trucks aren't delivering toilet paper, why not? Paper products take up a huge amount of space for what you get, in trucks, and on shelves. Are truckers just filling up with stuff that makes them more money per square foot of room in their truck? I just don't get it. Sure some people are hoarding, but by now every store has limits on purchases, and the shelves are still empty. I wish the media would do some digging on the empty shelves.

Shouldn't have to go to any store for at least a week. Friends are all in self-quarantine. Daily walks really help.

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of the page

What words are pronounced differently by merely capitalizing the first letter?

Historical Events

1617 - Pocahontas (Rebecca Rolfe) died of either small pox or pneumonia while in England with her husband, John Rolfe.

1788 - The Great New Orleans Fire destroyed 80% of the city.

1859 - The first Zoological Society was incorporated in Philadelphia. PA, today simply called 'The Philadelphia Zoo.'

1871 - Otto von Bismarck was appointed Chancellor of the German Empire.

1925 - Butler Act became state law in Tennessee that prohibited "The teaching of the Evolution Theory in all the Universities, Normals and all other public schools of Tennessee, which are supported in whole or in part by the public school funds of the State, and to provide penalties for the violations thereof that it shall be unlawful to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals." It was repealed on May 17, 1967.

1942 - A report was submitted suggesting the name "plutonium" for artificial element 94 since it followed neptunium and uranium (elements 93 and 92).

1952 - Hosted by Alan Freed, first major rock-and-roll show, the Moondog Coronation Ball, was held in Cleveland, Ohio.

1953 - #1 Hit: Patti Page - The Doggie In The Window

1963 - Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay closed and transferred its remaining prisoners.

1965 - Martin Luther King Jr., and 3200 civil rights demonstrators began a historic march from Selma, Alabama to the state capitol at Montgomery.

1980 - "Who shot J.R.?" On the season finale of Dallas, J. R. Ewing was shot by an unseen assailant. The following season we found out that it was Kristin Shepard, J.R.'s mistress

1980 - President Jimmy Carter announced that the United States would boycott the Olympic Games scheduled to take place in Moscow that summer.

1989 - Sports Illustrated reported allegations tying baseball player Pete Rose to baseball gambling.

2006 - Twitter was founded.

2006 Immigrant workers constructing the Burj Dubayy in Dubai, The United Arab Emirates and a new terminal of Dubai International Airport join together and riot, causing $1M in damage.

2007 - The Apple TV (1st generation) was released.

2013 The European Space Agency reveals new data that indicates that the universe is 13.82 billion years old

2018 Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg admits they "made mistakes" after data on 50 million users is harvested by Cambridge Analytica

2019 New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces a ban on military-style semiautomatic weapons, 6 days after the Christchurch terrorist attack

2019 US President Donald Trump says US should recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights on Twitter

Birthdays Today

@65-Johann Sebastian Bach, composer (d. 1750)

61-Gary Oldman, actor

58-Mathew Broderick, actor

57-Rosie O'Donnell, comedian, activist

50-Method Man [Clifford Smith Jr], rapper, record producer

Puzzle Answer:

There are several, and there could be more:

1. job, Job
2. herb, Herb
3. polish, Polish
4. begin, Begin (Israel politician)
5. nice, Nice (French town)
6. reading, Reading (the place)

Mar 20

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Mar. 20, 2020 Week: 12 Day: 80

86004: H 45° \ L °21 \ Average Sky Cover: 60%

Nearest lightning: 535mi.; Nearest active fire: 2708mi.

Wind: 7mph\Gusts: 12mph Visibility: 10 mi

Record High: 72°[2004] Record Low: -1°[1935]

Mar. Averages: 53°\19° (6 days with moisture)

Today’s Quote

Lest you lose yourself and then

Forget the good St. Patrick

And see all those snakes again.

May the enemies of Ireland never meet a friend.

Random Tidbits

Some historians blame President Woodrow Wilson's (1856-1924) lingering case of the Spanish flu as the reason he unexpectedly caved into stringent French demands for the harsh peace terms that decimated Germany which, in turn, led to the rise of Adolf Hitler and WWII.

Observations This Week

Orthodox Lent: 2-4/10American Chocolate Week: 15-21  Link
National Animal Poison Prevention Week: 15-21 Link Link
National Inhalant and Poisons Awareness Week: 15-21 Link Link
World Folktales & Fables Week: 15-21
Act Happy Week: 16-22
National Fix A Leak Week: 16-22 Link
International Brain Awareness Week: 16-22  Link
International Teach Music Week: 16-22
Native American Awareness Week: 16-20  Link
Shakespeare Week: 16-22  (Link)
Wellderly Week: 16-22 International Dark Sky Week: 19-26  Link
American Crossword Puzzle Days: 20-22  Link
National Cherry Blossom Festival: 20-4/12 Link  

Observations for Today

Alien Abduction Day
Bed-in For Peace Day(Beatles - John and Yoko)
Great American Meat Out Day Link
International Day of HappinessLink  Link
Extraterrestrial Abductions Day

Free Cone Day (Dairy Queen) Link
French Language Day Link
International Earth Day

National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence Link
National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Link
National Ravioli Day

Proposal Day

Rita's Free Italian Ice Day Link
Snowman Burning Day
Ta'Anit Esther
World Flour Day Link
World Frog Day Link
Won't You Be My Neighbor Day
World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People Link
World Sparrow Day Link

World Storytelling Day

My Rambling Thoughts

The first wave of our storm dropped about 6” of snow. HOA had walks cleared by 7a. It keeps trying to snow some more. It will be heavy, then nothing, sun breaks thru, the it will be heavy again. A very bipolar storm.

No need to leave home today. Actually no need to watch any news either. All I can do is stay away from gatherings, take a daily walk or two, and wait. I am getting a tad of cabin fever, since my walking in the snow are long gone. I'll be outside as soon as the sun comes out again.

I am enjoying the FB memes about parents as teachers, now that schools are closed. One of my favorites: Day 3 of Home Schooling...one girl suspended for talking back, one boy expelled for refusing to do any work, and one teacher fired for drinking on the job. School closed.

Reservations are dry...no alcohol can be legally sold or consumed. A tiny part, less than a full block, of Tuba City is 'state' land, surrounded by the reservation. A few years ago the long time owners sold the land and Family Dollar built and opened a new store on the land. Now they are applying through the state to get a liquor license. This is insanity. Once a person, Native or not, buys alcohol at their store and leaves the store to walk or drive somewhere, they can be arrested for having alcohol in their possession on reservation land.

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of the page

A man is looking at a photograph of someone.

His friend asks who it is.

The man replies, “Brothers and sisters, I have none. But that man’s father is my father’s son.”

Who was in the photograph?

Historical Events

1345 - According to scholars at the University of Paris, the Black Death was created today, from what they called "a triple conjunction of Saturn, Jupiter and Mars in the 40th degree of Aquarius, occurring on the 20th of March 1345." Actually, the bubonic plague came from infected fleas from sickened and dead rats.

1602 - The Dutch East India Company was established.

1852 - Harriet Beecher Stowe's anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, was published.

1854 - In Ripon, Wisconsin, former members of the Whig Party formed the Republican Party.

1900 - Nikola Tesla received a US Patent (#645,576) for the wireless transmission of electric power.

1916 - Albert Einstein's Theory of General Relativity was published in Annalen der Physik.

1961 - #1 Hit: Elvis Presley - Surrender

1971 - #1 Hit: Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee

1982 - #1 Hit: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - I Love Rock 'n' Roll

1985 - Libby Riddles became the first woman to win the 1,135-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

1987 - The FDA approved the sale of AZT (azidothymidine)

1995 - The Aum Shinrikyo (Supreme Truth) cult released Sarin gas into the Tokyo subway system, killing a dozen people and sickening thousands.

2003 A US-led coalition launches a ground invasion of Iraq after an ultimatum for Saddam Hussein and his sons to leave Iraq expires

2016 Barack Obama becomes the first US President to visit Cuba since 1928, arriving for a 3 day tour

2018 Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with US President Donald Trump at the White House

2019 Finland is the world's happiest country, South Sudan is world's least happy, according to annual World Happiness Report

Birthdays Today

98-Carl Reiner, comedian, director, screenwriter

89-Hal Linden, actor

@74-Mr. Fred Rogers, Minister, tv (d. 2003; stomach cancer)

@72-Jerry Reed, singer, songwriter (d. 2008; emphysema)

72-Bobby Orr, hockey player

63-Spike Lee, director

62-Holly Hunter, actor

14-Baron Trump

Puzzle Answer:

His son.

mar 19

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Mar. 19, 2020 Week: 12 Day: 79

86004: H 46° \ L 28° \ Average Sky Cover: 99%

Nearest lightning: 1314mi.; Nearest active fire: 3992mi.

Wind: 1mph\Gusts: 3mph Visibility: 10 mi

Record High: 71°[1907] Record Low: 1°[1963]

Mar. Averages: 53°\19° (6 days with moisture)

Today’s Quote

I complained that I had no shoes

Until I met a man who had no feet.

St. Patrick was a gentleman

Who through strategy and stealth

Drove all the snakes from Ireland.

Here's toasting to his health.

But not too many toastings

Random Tidbits

But this is hardly the first time humanity has faced a deadly infection, and not even the most lethal; the Spanish flu pandemic being the most recent modern example

The single deadliest flu pandemic in history was the Spanish flu pandemic during 1918-1919. Occurring in the three waves of increasing lethality, the Spanish flu killed more people in one year than the combined total who died in battle during WWI, WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Observations This Week

Orthodox Lent: 2-4/10American Chocolate Week: 15-21  Link
National Animal Poison Prevention Week: 15-21 Link Link
National Inhalant and Poisons Awareness Week: 15-21 Link Link
World Folktales & Fables Week: 15-21
Act Happy Week: 16-22
National Fix A Leak Week: 16-22 Link
International Brain Awareness Week: 16-22  Link
International Teach Music Week: 16-22
Native American Awareness Week: 16-20  Link
Shakespeare Week: 16-22  (Link)
Wellderly Week: 16-22 International Dark Sky Week: 19-26  Link

Observations for Today

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day

Client's Day 
Data Innovation Day: 

Let's Laugh Day

National Oatmeal Cookie Day

Poultry Day

My Rambling Thoughts

I enjoyed my Irish dinner last night. Even made soda bread.

This Covid-19 thing is really picking up speed. Two cases were reported in the Kayenta / Shonto area of the Navajo Nation. Both patients had been traveling. These are fairly isolated parts of the already isolated rez. The Navajo Casinos are now closed. The Tuba hospital, a large regional hospital has security at the parking lot and if you are not very sick, you are not allowed to even park. No visitors.

And then there are truckers. While they can still get gas, they are having a hard time finding hot meals. You can't just pull a big rig into a drive thru. And with all restaurants closed, it is tough.

When I voted yesterday, I told the lead person I wished that they had postponed the election. She said it was considered, but this may turn out to be the safest time to vote. WOW!

It has been heavy snow, on and off, since before 6am when I checked. Thankfully, it isn't sticking. We sure need the moisture.

I finally got a call from the supervisor at the call center for my local paper. He admitted a bill was never sent out. Apologized for any inconvenience. I explained several recent encounters and told him I had reached my limit. He apologized again and gave me his direct number. At my suggestion, he said he would call the call center, act like a customer, and see if he could talk to a supervisor. I told him I was sorry to drop the local paper, but had reached that point. I have been reading the paper on line for the past few days, and while it is not as good as the paper edition, I do get the news. I do miss the comics.

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of the page

Cannibals in the jungle capture three men. The men are given one chance to escape with their lives.

The men are lined up and bound to stakes such that one man can see the backs of the other two, the middle man can see the back of the front man, and the front man cannot see anybody.

The men are shown five hats, three of which are black and two of which are white. Then the men are blindfolded, and one of the five hats is placed on each man’s head. The remaining two hats are hidden away.

The blindfolds are removed. The men are told that if just one of the men can guess what hat he is wearing, they may all go free. Time passes. Finally, the front man, who cannot see anyone, correctly guesses the color of his hat. What color was it, and how did he guess correctly?

Historical Events

1649 - The House of Commons of England abolished the House of Lords, declaring it 'useless and dangerous to the people of England'.

1842 - French writer Honore de Balzac's play Les Ressources de Quinola opened to an empty house due to a publicity stunt. He had earlier announced that the show had sold out, so nobody actually bought any tickets.

1918 - Congress established time zones and approved daylight saving time.

1931 - The Nevada state legislature voted to legalize gambling

1957 - Graceland was on 13.8 acre estate, and sold for $102,500 to Elvis Presley.

1962 - Bob Dylan released his first album, Bob Dylan.

1979 - C-Span was launched

1983 - First Lady Nancy Reagan made an appearance on an episode of Diff'rent Strokes, beginning her Just Say No anti-drug campaign

1987 - Televangelist Jim Bakker resigned as the host of The PTL Club after involvement in a sex scandal.

1998 - Broadway Show - Cabaret (Musical) opened

2003 Airstrikes by an American and British-led coalition signal the beginning of the invasion of Iraq, without United Nations support and in defiance of world opinion

2012 Wendy's overtakes Burger King to become the second best-selling hamburger chain

2013 NASA's Mars rover Curiosity discovers further evidence of water-bearing minerals

2018 World's last male northern white rhino, 45 year old Sudan, dies in Kenya

2019 "Superbloom" of poppies in Walker Canyon, southern California visible from space, after high rainfall

Birthdays Today

84-Ursula Andress, actor

@80-Wyatt Earp, lawman, gamber (d. 1929)

72-Glenn Close, actor

67-Harvey Weinstein, film producer

65-Bruce Willis, actor

Puzzle Answer:

The back man can see the hats worn by the two men in front of him. So, if both of those hats were white, he would know that the hat he wore was black. However, since he does not answer, he must see at least one black hat ahead of him. After it becomes apparent to the middle man that the back man cannot figure out what he is wearing, he knows that there is at least one black hat worn by himself and the front man. Knowing this, if the middle man saw a white hat in front of him, he would know that his own hat was black, and could answer the question correctly. But, since he does not answer, he must see a black hat on the front man. After it becomes apparent to the front man that neither of the men behind him can answer the question, he realizes the middle man saw a black hat in front of him. So he says, correctly, “My hat is black.”