2 May

 

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 19 Day: 122 \ Ave. sky cover: 5% \ Visibility: 10 miles Flagstaff Today 69° \33° 
Wind: 13mph \ Gusts: 43mph
Extreme risk of fire \ Nearest active fire: 12mi \ nearest Lightning: 240mi
May Averages for Flagstaff: 68° \ 34°  (3 days of moisture)

Today’s Quote

Monthly Observations

The month of May is called T’aatsoh, Growth of Bigger Leaf Plants in Navajo

Better Hearing & Speech Month Link
Bladder Cancer Awareness Month  Link
Borderline Personality Disorder Month Link
Brain Tumor Awareness Month Link
Building Safety Month Link Link
Celiac Awareness Month Link
Chip Your Pet Month Link  Link
Clap 4 Health Month
Clean Air Month
Creative Beginnings Month
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month Link
Drum Month
EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) Awareness Month Link

Weekly Observations

Thru 5/2 Festival of Ridvan: Baha'i community

May 1-7  Spring Astronomy Week  Be Kind To Animals Week  Dating and Life Coach Recognition Week  Link  Drinking Water Week  Link  Flexible Work Arrangement Week  Geek Week  Link  (First Week) Goodwill Industries Week   Hurricane Preparedness Week   Link International Clitoris Awareness Week    National Alcohol & Drug Related Birth Defects Awareness Week  National Anxiety & Depression Awareness Week National Correctional Officer's Week    National Family Week     National Hug Holiday Week National Root Canal Appreciation Week  Link   National Small Business Week National Tourism Week Link   North American Occupational Safety & Health Week   Link Public Service Recognition Week   Link National Pet Week  Link   Update Your References Week

2-6  Air Quality Awareness Week: Link  Construction Safety Week  Link National Safety Stand Down Week (Constuction Falls) Link PTA Teacher Appreciation Week Teacher Appreciation Week

2-8    Children's Book Week Link  (Also Nov. 7-13) National Sun Safety Week Link Peripheral Neuropathy Awareness Week  Link National Wildflower Week  Screen-Free Week (Digital Detox Week) Link

Daily Observations

 

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Another very windy day. Hoping for the best.

As a youngster growing up in Colorado, May 1^st was a day of celebration. My mom would make little May Baskets…as did all the neighbor’s moms. We would then deliver them around the neighborhood. Delivery was to put the basket on the front porch, ring the doorbell and run away. It was great fun. Sadly, the tradition ended just after we had outgrown it. The reason: The Ruskies…USSR…were holding a huge military parades that day to show off their military might. The US could no longer keep the tradition. Sad.

CNN broadcast the Correspondent’s Dinner last night. It was nice to have it back. I didn’t watch the whole thing…who wants to watch people eating? I did watch the presentations and then Trevor Noah. It was nice to hear how important a Free Press really is. It was difficult to see the number of journalists killed in Ukraine. Biden had some good lines, and Trevor Noah was funny while walking a very thin line.

I remember the Vietnam era and have read about Korea, WWI, WWII. I don’t remember the daily news talking about how much money the President was asking Congress to send to a war. Times have certainly changed, and the US is still not directly involved. Maybe that is why.

 

Favorite Memes

Wordle Rank	Rain reflection in clouds

 

Myths that are not true

You must wait an hour after eating to go swimming or you'll get cramps and/or die

This myth may stem from the belief that developing cramps while swimming paralyzes a person and can lead to drowning. While you are more likely to suffer from stomach cramps after eating and then physically exerting yourself, this has never been known to result in a drowning.

A dog year is equivalent to seven human years

Depending on the breed, a dog year is closer to the equivalent of 15 human years.

Sugar causes hyperactivity

The sugar rush is simply not a thing. Although not the healthiest food to give children, sugar has not actually been proven to alter behavior.

Eating candy causes acne

Candy and greasy food does not actually cause acne per se. It can have an inflammatory effect on the body that may be linked to breakouts.

Country Names

Indonesia

Indonesia takes its name from the Greek "Indos Nesos," which translates to mean "Indian Islands."

Pakistan

Pakistan is a composite name from the regions of Punjab, Afghan Frontier, Kashmir, and Baluchistan. It could also come from the Iranian "pak," meaning "pure," so Pakistan could mean "pure country."

Bangladesh

Bangladesh means "Land of the Bengalis." "Desh" can be traced back to "deś," meaning "land" or "country," while the Bengali people take their name from Chief Banga, of the Bang tribe.

Historical Events

Ø    1536 – Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, was arrested and imprisoned on charges of adultery, incest, treason, and witchcraft.

Ø    1611 – The King James Bible was published for the first time in London, England, by printer Robert Barker.

Ø    1775 – Benjamin Franklin completed the first scientific study and chart of the Gulf Stream.

Ø    1885 – Good Housekeeping magazine began publication.

Ø    1918 – General Motors acquired the Chevrolet Motor Company.

Ø    1939 – Lou Gehrig’s playing streak ended with 2,130 consecutive games played since May 25, 1925.

Ø    1965 – The Rolling Stones made their second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Ø    1982 – The Weather Channel began broadcasting in the US

Ø    1986 – The Citizens of Chernobyl were evacuated six days after the disaster

Ø    2011– Osama bin Laden was killed by American forces in Pakistan.

Birthdays Today

@94 – Benjamin Spock, American pediatrician, author (d. 1998)

@85 – Pinky Lee [Pincus Leff], American comedian, television host (d. 1993)

86 – Engelbert Humperdinck, singer

70 – Christine Baranski, actor

@68 – Lesley Gore, American singer-songwriter (d. 2015; lung cancer)

@67 – Catherine the Great of Russia (d. 1796; stroke)

67 – Donatella Versace, Italian fashion designer

50 – Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, American-Canadian wrestler and actor

47 – David Beckman, soccer sensation

 

1 May

  
Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 19 Day: 121 \ Ave. sky cover: 5% \ Visibility: 10 miles Flagstaff Today 69° \28° 
Wind: 5mph \ Gusts: 9mph
Extreme risk of fire \ Nearest active fire: 12mi \ nearest Lightning: 686mi
May Averages for Flagstaff: 68° \ 34°  (3 days of moisture)

Today’s Quote

Monthly Observations

ALS Awareness Month  Link
(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's Disease) 
American Cheese Month  Link (Moved from October in  2019)
America's Wetlands Month  Link
Apraxia Awareness Month   Link
APS Awareness Month Link
Aramanth Month Link
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Asthma Awareness Month
Awareness of Medical Orphans Month

Weekly Observations

Thru 5/1 Ramadan Preservation Week Link (re: Libraries) Stewardship Week   Interstate Mullet Toss  National Dream Hotline  National & Global Youth Service Days

Thru 5/2 Festival of Ridvan: Baha'i community

May 1-7   Spring Astronomy Week  Be Kind To Animals Week  Dating and Life Coach Recognition Week  Link  Drinking Water Week  Link  Flexible Work Arrangement Week  Geek Week  Link  (First Week) Goodwill Industries Week   Hurricane Preparedness Week   Link International Clitoris Awareness Week    National Alcohol & Drug Related Birth Defects Awareness Week  National Anxiety & Depression Awareness Week National Correctional Officer's Week    National Family Week     National Hug Holiday Week National Root Canal Appreciation Week  Link   National Small Business Week National Tourism Week  National Small Business Week National Tourism Week Link   North American Occupational Safety & Health Week   Link Public Service Recognition Week   Link National Pet Week  Link   Update Your References Week

 

Daily Observations

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

A nice Saturday. I spent much of the morning cleaning my deck after the long winter. I am finally ready for spring. My one pine tree in the back can produce more cones and dead needles than anyone can imagine. Then the really windy days also break off small new growth branches that land on the deck.

I have lots of non-tracking programs on my computer and my phone. Yet, whenever I search for something, it appears as ads in every site I visit. If these jerks can beat my non-tracking software, why can’t they turn it off when I buy the item? I really like my air-fryer. I wanted to one with larger capacity with more bells and whistles. One popped up on Morning Save, so I bought it online. It will replace my toaster oven & my air fryer. Three days later, ads for Air Fryers are still popping up. There is NO privacy on the internet.

Everyone knows I am a Jeopardy! fan. The current champion is setting records for wins, she  is only 23 years old and is from Canada. Mattea Roach is the youngest person to win 17+ games and still going. The NBC website wanted to recognize her. Their post said ‘Mattea Roach is a lesbian tutor from Canada….’ One can image the instant backlash from that introduction. Does that mean she tutors individuals to become lesbian? Many didn’t realize that was a career.

Favorite Memes

 

Myths that are not true

Drinking coffee stunts growth

While excess caffeine is not the healthiest thing for a child, drinking coffee has no link to growth. Stature and height are determined by genes.

We only use 10% of our brain

This common misconception is far from the truth. While you may not be using every bit of the brain at any given time, you do use your entire brain over the course of the day.

A full moon alters behavior

The most research has ever been able to do is prove correlations between a full moon and abnormal or altered behavior, which as we all (should) know, does not equal causation.

Country Names

Saudi Arabia

The word "Saudi" refers to the Sa'ūd ibn Muhammad ibn Muqrin dynasty. The word actually means "good fortune," making the country's literal translation, "Land of Good Fortune."

Thailand

"Thai" means "Free," which makes Thailand's translation "Land of the Free."

Australia

It was the Greeks who came up with the name "Terra Australis Incognita," which means "Unknown Southern Land." Australia then, translates to mean "Southern Land."

Historical Events

Ø    1707 – The Act of Union, uniting England and Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain took effect.

Ø    1759 – Josiah Wedgwood founded the Wedgwood pottery company in Great Britain.

Ø    1884 – Construction of the world’s first skyscraper began in Chicago. At 10 stories high, the Home Insurance Company building opened in 1885.

Ø    1893 – The influential Columbian Exposition opened in Chicago.

Ø    1899 – Bayer introduced aspirin in powder form, in Germany. The pill came about in 1915.

Ø    1939 – Batman debuted in Detective Comics #27

Ø    1941 – Citizen Kane premiered in New York City, at the RKO Palace.

Ø    1956 – The polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk was made available to the public.

Ø    1958 – “A national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day underscores how law and the legal process have contributed to the freedoms that all Americans share.”

Ø    1958 – The discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts that surround Earth by James Van Allen was published in the Washington Evening Star.

Ø    1960 – American U-2 spy plane shot down over the Soviet Union.

Ø    1961 – Fidel Castro, proclaimed Cuba a socialist nation and abolished elections.

Ø    1964 – The BASIC computer program was used for the first time at Dartmouth University by John G. Kemeny and Thomas E. Kurtz. The name is an acronym for ‘Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code’.

Ø    1971 – Amtrak took over the operation of the American passenger rail service.

Ø    1989 – Disney/MGM Studios opened at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, United States.

Ø    1999 – The body of British climber George Mallory was found on Mount Everest, 75 years after his disappearance in 1924.

Ø    2009 – Same-sex marriage was legalized in Sweden.

Ø    2011 – Osama bin Laden was reported killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan.

Birthdays Today

@92 – Louis Nye, American comedic actor (d. 2005)

@90 – Glenn Ford, Canadian-American actor (d. 2006)

@85 – Jack Paar, American comedian, author and talk show host (d. 2004)

83 – Judy Collins, American singer-songwriter

@79 – Kate Smith, American singer and actress (d. 1986; diabetic complications)

77 – Rita Coolidge, American singer-songwriter

55 – Tim McGraw, American singer-songwriter

@53 – Calamity Jane [Martha Jane Cannary], American frontierswoman, professional scout (d. 1903; alcohol related)