7 Jan

January 2023

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 1 Day 7 \ Ave. Sky Cover 5% \ Visibility 10 miles Flagstaff Today 40° \17°  Wind 7mph \ Gusts 16mph 
Air Quality: Fair\Very Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 375mi \ Nearest Lightning 888mi
Jan Averages for Flagstaff: 44° \ 16° \5 Days of moisture
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

1-7
Diet Resolution Week 
National Folic Acid Awareness Week   Link
Dating & Life Coaches Recognition Week
National Lose Weight/Feel Great Week
Silent Record Week
2-8
International Consumer Electronics Show
Someday We'll Laugh About This Week
3-6
No Tillage Week
6-9
Elvis' Birthday Celebration Week
6-Feb 21
Carnival Season
7-14
National Personal Trainer Awareness Week

Daily Observations

Bald Eagle Appreciation Days
Harlem Globetrotter's Day
I'm Not Going To Take It Anymore Day
International Programmers Day
Invisible Pain Day
National Bobblehead Day
National Old Rock Day  Link
National Pass Gas Day
National Play Outside Day Link 
Orthodox Christmas
National Bobblehead Day 
Orthodox Christmas
National Bobblehead Day Link
National Tempura Day Link

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

The expected snow never arrived. Still chilly, but lots of sunshine too.

Ellie called and her son, Jeff, wants to put the Focus Travel club website back up. I emailed him to see what we can do to make that happen.

It is interesting to be watching the vote in the House and at the same time the remembrance of Jan 6^th. Our country has sure gone through a lot since that day, and we still haven’t settled the conflict in our government.  Vote 14 will happen tonight and may be possible for McCarthy to win.

When the new year begins, insurance companies make changes for the new year. I learned that one of my meds is no longer covered. Thankfully my PCP found one that will also work. Insurance companies are in the business of making money. This is the first time it has affected my directly. Now I understand what many go through. For me, it all worked out, but for many others the outcome is not that positive.

Waterfalls around the world

Facts…

In The Snows of Kilimanjaro, Ernest Hemingway opens with the words: “Close to the western summit there is the dried and frozen carcass of a leopard. No one has explained what the leopard was seeking at that altitude.” But Hemingway only viewed Kilimanjaro from its base. His inspiration for this short story came from a photograph taken by a prolific climber named Richard Reusch. In 1926, Reusch stumbled across the animal Hemingway describes at about 18,500 feet above sea level on the crater rim, and captured the moment in a famous photograph. Today, the part of the crater where the creature was spotted is nicknamed Leopard Point.

In September 2014, a group of international cricketers set a world record for the highest-altitude cricket match when they played at Kilimanjaro’s Crater Camp. Among the players who participated were fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, who represented South Africa during his career, and former England spinner Ashley Giles. A few years later, women’s soccer reached new heights with a game played at 18,700 feet above sea level. The 30 players — hailing from 20 different countries — carried goal posts and nets up the mountain and marked out the pitch with flour to minimize harm to the mountain’s precious ecosystem. The 90-minute game ended in a goalless draw.

To advertise the opening of the first Pizza Hut in Tanzania in 2016, pepperoni pizza was delivered to employees and guides waiting at the summit of Kilimanjaro. The pizza was cooked in a Dar Es Salaam restaurant and flown to a local airport before being carried up the mountain on foot. An official representing Guinness World Records approved the feat as the highest-altitude pizza delivery ever made. Even straightforward climbs of Kilimanjaro haven’t always been, well, straight forward. Sanjay Pandit from Nepal reached the summit and returned to the foot of the mountain walking backward the entire way.

More importantly, climbing Kilimanjaro can be an effective way of highlighting worthy causes in the media and raising money for charity, particularly when celebrities are involved. Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, climbed dressed as a rhino to raise awareness for the Save the Rhino Foundation. And each year, members of Wings of Kilimanjaro climb Kilimanjaro and paraglide back down to raise money for causes such as digging wells and building schools in Tanzania. 

Slang Origins

1957: Fantabulous

Meaning: wonderful; marvelously good

The blend of two words—in this case, “fantastic” and “fabulous”—is known as a portmanteau. This is a common way to create new slang words; think of “ginormous” and or “guesstimate.” In the digital age, these have become even more popular, leading many to use them without even realizing it.

Historical Events

1927 -The first transatlantic telephone service was established between NYC and London.
1929 – Tarzan the Apeman, Comic Strip debuted
1934 – Flash Gordon, Comic Strip debuted
1999 – The Senate trial in the impeachment of U.S. President Bill Clinton began.

Birthdays Today

@103 – Adolph Zukor, Hungarian-American film producer, co-founded Paramount Pictures (d. 1976)
@85 – Alan Napier, English actor (d. 1988)
@84 – Butterfly McQueen, American actress, dancer (d. 1995)
@76 – Charles Addams, created The Addams Family (d. 1988; heart attack)
“Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.”– Charles Addams
75 – Kenny Loggins, American singer-songwriter
“Courage is always rewarded.”– Kenny Loggins
@74 – Millard Fillmore, American politician, 13th President of the United States (d. 1874)
“The whole country is full of enterprise. Our common schools are diffusing intelligence among the people and our industry is fast accumulating the comforts and luxuries of life. … It is not strange, however much it may be regretted, that such an exuberance of enterprise should cause some individuals to mistake change for progress and the invasion of the rights of others for national prowess and glory.”– Millard Fillmore
67 – David Caruso, American actor
@66 – Juan Gabriel, Mexican musician (d. 2016; heart attack)
66 – Katie Couric, American television journalist
“A boat is always safe in the harbor, but that’s not what boats are built for.”– Katie Couric
60 – Rand Paul, American ophthalmologist, politician
59 – Nicolas Cage, American actor
52 – Jeremy Renner, American actor

 

6 Jan

 

6 January 2023

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 1 Day 6 \ Ave. Sky Cover 50% \ Visibility 18 miles Flagstaff Today 51° \22°  Wind 2mph \ Gusts 5mph 
Air Quality: \ Very Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 304mi \ Nearest Lightning 414mi
Jan Averages for Flagstaff: 44° \ 16° \5 Days of moisture
Mostly cloudy

Today’s Quote

 

Weekly Observations

1-7
Diet Resolution Week 
National Folic Acid Awareness Week   Link
Dating & Life Coaches Recognition Week
National Lose Weight/Feel Great Week
Silent Record Week
2-8
International Consumer Electronics Show
Someday We'll Laugh About This Week
3-6
No Tillage Week
6-9
Elvis' Birthday Celebration Week
6-Feb 21
Carnival Season

Daily Observations

Apple Tree Day
Armenian Christmas
Bald Eagle Appreciation Days
Bean Day
Cuddle Up Day
Epiphany
National Shortbread Day
National Smith Day
I Am A Mentor Day  Link
National Shortbread Day  Link
National Technology Day  Link
Take a Poet To Lunch Day 
Three Kings Day

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

The last storm is melting rapidly. It’s a good thing because a new storm expected tomorrow early morning.

I went in for a blood draw. I got there at 7:45a but had to wait until 9:00 because the ultrasound team was in a meeting. They were very apologetic. Nothing I can do to change it.

Vote #10 just announced…no speaker of the House yet. There is no end in sight. This circus is hurting the vast majority of Americans. Without a Speaker, no legislation can move forward. American enemies and probably some of our allies are not going to forget this fiasco.  

Waterfalls around the world

Facts…

Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the Seven Summits — the highest peaks on each continent, which form the basis of one of the world’s most prestigious mountaineering challenges. American businessman Richard D. Bass became the first person to summit all seven on April 30, 1985, when he conquered his seventh peak, Mount Everest. Climbers have been trying to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro since the late 19th century, and a German man named Hans Meyer and his Austrian climbing partner Ludwig Purtscheller made the first documented successful climb to the summit by a European. It was Meyer’s second attempt — two years before that record-breaking climb, a wall of ice prevented him from reaching the top. Together with local guide Yohani Kinyala Lauwo, the two climbers made history at Kilimanjaro’s summit on  October 6, 1889.

There’s no question that reaching the top of Mount Kilimanjaro is difficult, but the level of difficulty depends on the path you choose. There are seven routes to the top: Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Shira, Rongai, Northern Circuit, and Umbwe. Marangu’s popularity stems from its relatively gentle gradient and the availability of accommodations on the trail. Lemosho is considered a much tougher climb, but many say that the scenery is better along the way. Umbwe is short at just 23 miles, but steep. On the other hand, the Northern Circuit covers 56 miles. If you are reasonably fit, Kilimanjaro is not as technical a climb as some of the world’s taller mountains, though you’ll still need to tackle a diverse range of environments — including forest, moorland, scree slopes, and rock faces — as you ascend.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro typically takes between five and 10 days, though it’s often much quicker for elite athletes. In fact, the current record holder is Swiss-Ecuadorian climber Karl Egloff, who managed the round-trip journey to the summit in an incredible 6 hours and 42 minutes. However, racing to the top is not recommended — the risk of debilitating altitude sickness is significantly reduced for those who trek more carefully. And for most people, it’s no walk in the park. Many have failed in their attempts to reach the top, among them former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and tennis legend Martina Navratilova. 

Slang Origins

1956: Hinky

Meaning: questionable, suspicious, unreliable

“Hinky” is a word of rather hinky origin itself. Some believe it has roots in an African American slang word from the 1920s, while others claim it comes from gangster slang of the ‘20s and ‘30s. Others believe it may come from an old definition of the verb “hink.” No matter what is correct, it’s still in use today, and an interesting word to add to your lexicon.

Historical Events

1536 – The first European school of higher learning in the Americas, Colegio de Santa Cruz de Tlatelolco, was founded in Mexico City.
1941 – US President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his Four Freedoms speech in the State of the Union address:
Freedom of speech     Freedom of worship     Freedom from want      Freedom from fear
1952 – The Hallmark Hall of Fame (Hallmark Television Playhouse) television anthology series premiered.

Birthdays Today

@89 – Carl Sandburg, American poet, historian (d. 1967)
Nothing happens unless first, we dream.– Carl Sandburg
@88 – Earl Scruggs, American banjo player, wrote Foggy Mountain Breakdown (d. 2012)
@87 – Loretta Young, American actress (d. 2000)
@80 – John DeLorean, engineer, , founded the DeLorean Motor Company (d. 2005)
@80 – Mickey Hargitay, Hungarian-American actor, and bodybuilder (d. 2006)
@79 – Danny Thomas, actor; founded St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (d. 1991; heart attack)
Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others.– Danny Thomas
@60 – Tom Mix, American cowboy, and actor (d. 1940; auto accident)
@69 – Bonnie Franklin, American actress (d. 2013; cancer)
@60 – Syd Barrett, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2006; cancer)
If I’d stayed at college I would have become a teacher.– Syd Barrett
@64 – Malcolm Young, Scottish-Australian singer-songwriter, AC/DC (d. 2017)
68 – Rowan Atkinson, English comedic actor, Mr. Bean
The clear problem of the outlawing of insult is that too many things can be interpreted as such. Criticism, ridicule, sarcasm, merely stating an alternative point of view to the orthodoxy, can be interpreted as an insult.– Rowan Atkinson
63 – Nigella Lawson, English chef, author
54 – Norman Reedus, American actor
53 – Julie Chen, American television journalist
@48 – Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese-American poet, painter, philosopher (d. 1931; cirrhosis)
Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.– Khalil Gibran @45ish – Gertrude the Great (Saint Gertrude of Helfta), German saint (died ~ 1302)
39 – Kate McKinnon, American comedic actress
36 – Arin Hanson, American YouTube Celebrity
@31 – Sandy Denny, English folk-rock singer-songwriter (d 1978; from a fall)
@19 – Joan of Arc, French martyr, saint (d. 1431)
I am not afraid… I was born to do this.– Joan of Arc

 

5 Jan

 

January 2023

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 1 Day 5\ Ave. Sky Cover 50% \ Visibility 13 miles Flagstaff Today 48° \23°  Wind 3mph \ Gusts 11mph 
Air Quality: Fair \Very Low Risk of fire \0 \ Nearest Lightning 1288mi
Jan Averages for Flagstaff: 44° \ 16° \5 Days of moisture
Mostly cloudy

Today’s Quote

 

Weekly Observations

Dec 14-Jan 5 
Christmas Bird Count Week: Link 
1-7
Diet Resolution Week 
National Folic Acid Awareness Week   Link
Dating & Life Coaches Recognition Week
National Lose Weight/Feel Great Week
Silent Record Week
2-8
International Consumer Electronics Show
Someday We'll Laugh About This Week
3-6
No Tillage Week

Daily Observations

Kappa Alpha Psi Day
National Bird Day Link
National Keto Day Link
National Screenwriters Day 
Monopoly Game Day  Link 
Twelfth Night
Whipped Cream Day  
Twelfth Night
Whipped Cream Day  Link

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Clouds coming in to prepare for the next storm which should arrive tomorrow. They say this will only bring about 1” of snow. Hmmm

The recent snow has driven a herd of about 50 Elk into our town. Yesterday they were blocking traffic on a major road in East Flagstaff.

The circus in DC continues...I am confused…again. Eli Crane is my newly elected Representative. I haven’t heard that they have been sworn in, but he is voting on the speaker. This district was redrawn so people in Tucson and Flagstaff are in the same district. Crane is a Republican who had joined the crazies regarding the Trump vote in 2020. I am embarrassed. I have to wonder how much longer this is going to go on, while important business can not be conducted.  

Waterfalls around the world

Facts…

Mount Kilimanjaro actually consists of three stratovolcanoes running from northwest to southeast, and its three peaks are volcanic cones. Kilimanjaro’s highest peak, Uhuru, is found on one of these cones, named Kibo. Though the other two cones, Mawenzi and Shira, are extinct, Kibo is technically dormant. Volcanologists believe the last major eruption of Kilimanjaro took place several thousands of years ago in the Pleistocene era, but fumarolic activity within some of Kibo’s summit craters proves that there’s still a slim chance of a future eruption.

In 2016, New Scientist reported that a 267-foot-tall Entandrophragma excelsum tree was discovered in a remote valley on Kilimanjaro, making it the tallest known tree in Africa. Fertile volcanic soils coupled with warm temperatures and ample rainfall have allowed the specimen, and others near it, to thrive. Though it’s dwarfed by the tallest trees in North America and Australia, such heights aren’t the norm in Africa. Scientists are now advocating that territory covered by nearby Kilimanjaro National Park be expanded to include the valley, to better protect the extraordinary trees from threats such as logging.

Slang Origins

1955: Idiot box

Meaning: television

While today society is worried about the effects of social media and smartphones on children, in the 1950s, they were worried about the television. TV ownership exploded over this decade, and soon became central to American life, with presidential debates and beloved shows like “I Love Lucy” broadcast side by side. Still, some feared that this passive and possibly addictive product could make viewers, especially children, dumber.

Historical Events

1914 – The Ford Motor Company announced an eight-hour workday and that it would pay a “living wage” of at least $5 for a day’s labor.

1957 – In a speech given to the United States Congress, United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announced the establishment of what became The Eisenhower Doctrine, an anti-communist agenda.

Birthdays Today

@93 – Jeane Dixon, American astrologer and psychic (d. 1997)
We must realize our own talents and, having realized, accept them; and play on them like a symphony in which all other instruments are harmonized to make a better universe.
– Jeane Dixon
@93 – Walter Mondale, soldier, lawyer, politician, 42nd Vice President (d. 2021)
92 – Robert Duvall, American actor
We’re all travelers in this world. From the sweet grass to the packing house. Birth ’til death. We travel between the eternities.– Robert Duvall
@90 – Jane Wyman, American actress (d. 2007)
@77 – King Camp Gillette, American businessman, founded the Gillette Company (d. 1932)
@79 – Phil Ramone, South African-American songwriter, and producer, co-founded A & R Recording (d. 2013; aneurysm)
81 – Charlie Rose, American journalist, talk show host
79 – Ed Rendell, American politician
If I lose, I lose. I’ll do it on my terms.– Ed Rendell
77 – Diane Keaton, American actress
I think that people who are famous tend to be underdeveloped in their humanity skills.
– Diane Keaton
73 – Chris Stein, American guitarist, and songwriter
70 – Pamela Sue Martin, American actress
70 – George Tenet, American civil servant
55 – Carrie Ann Inaba, American actress, and dancer
54 – Marilyn Manson, American singer-songwriter, AKA Brian Hugh Warner
When all of your wishes are granted, many of your dreams will be destroyed.– Marilyn Manson
48 – Bradley Cooper, American actor
Being in ‘Us Weekly’ does not make you famous.– Bradley Cooper
@45 – George Reeves, American actor, director (d. 1959; gunshot)
45 – January Jones, American actress
42 – Deadmau5 (Joel Thomas Zimmerman), Canadian musician
You don’t have to give up to let go.– Deadmau5