7 Mar

 

7 March 2023
Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 10 Day 66 \ Ave. Sky Cover 10% \ Visibility 18 miles Flagstaff Today 52° \24°  Wind 7mph \ Gusts 15mph 
Air Quality: Fair \ Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 251mi \ Nearest Lightning 2134mi
Mar. Averages for Flagstaff: 51° \ 23° \6 Days of moisture
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

  22-4/8
  Lent
  1-7
  Hearing Awareness Week Link
LGBT Health Awareness Week Link
National Cheerleading Week
National Write A Letter of Appreciation Week
National Ghostwriters Week
National Invest in a Veteran Week  Link
National Pet Sitters Week Link
Return The Borrowed Books Week
Universal Human Beings Week: Link
Will Eisner Week Link
World Hearing Awareness Week 

Daily Observations

Alexander Graham Bell Day
Cereal Day
Crown Roast of Pork Day
National “Be Heard” Day
National Cereal Day  Link
National Flapjacks Day  Link
Organize Your Home Office Day
Peace Corps Day Link 
Unique Names Day 
Unique Names Day Link 

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

It continues to warm up and melt our piles of snow.

This morning I had an eye appointment for my annual ‘field of vision’ test. It has been an annual test since I turned 65. It takes about 20 minutes and is the most boring test I have ever taken.

My new vehicle only has 2800 miles, but the magic computer says it is time to change the oil. I called and got an appointment for 1:00 today. I have been using Jiffy Lube for decades, but am having the dealer do this one…because I got a coupon for a free oil change. While I like the dealership, I hate sitting in the waiting room. The nearest stores are about ¼ mile away and it is too chilly and windy to take that walk.

Sunday’s 60 Minutes was very informative:  As artificial intelligence keeps improving, there are some frightening things that need to be studied.  Right now, AI produces a lot of non-truth conclusions with inaccurate ‘facts’, it is almost impossible to identify AI so be wary. Another story was on David Byrne, of ‘Talking Heads’. He is a very interesting character.

Recently, I have been thinking about college debt and Biden’s forgiveness program. I know several people who had student loans to get an education in bogus colleges. I believe those should be forgiven, and the people behind those bogus schools should have to pay. I also understand that college tuition costs have risen to a point that loans are the only way to get an education. The entire student loan process needs to be fixed. For many students, the constantly increasing loan rates are unacceptable. I know several people who graduated decades ago and are still paying off interest and haven’t even started paying off the actual debt. Forgive the interest and pay off the principle. Have student loans at a very low fixed rate that can’t increase.

Enjoy…

Facts…

Anyone who owns a smart device is likely well aware of its Bluetooth capabilities, but both the word “Bluetooth” and its logo have meanings that predate modern technology by centuries. “Bluetooth” was first used in 10th-century Denmark, a kingdom ruled by King Harald Gormsson, who was nicknamed Harald Bluetooth. Though there’s still debate as to the origins of this moniker, many scholars believe it reflects the fact that one of Harald’s teeth was rotten and blueish.

In 1996, employees from Intel, Ericsson, and Nokia met to discuss the implementation of the technology that would become Bluetooth. Intel’s Jim Kardach initially suggested the name “Bluetooth” as a placeholder, as the companies hoped to unite the PC and cellular industries in a method similar to the way that the king had united the tribes of Denmark. The name stuck, and the Bluetooth symbol was designed to represent Harald’s initials in the Younger Futhark runic alphabet: Hagall (ᚼ) with Bjarkan (ᛒ). 

A Look back in time…Baby Boomers life

#9 No Environmental Regulations

Environmental regulations were not yet in place, and many companies and individuals would freely pollute the air, water, and soil without consequences. Many boomers and Gen – Xers grew up with hazardous smog in the cities and chemicals in their toys, homes, food, and water.

While the EPA has banned several toxic chemicals and materials since the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, there's still a long way to go in safeguarding our planet's climate.

Beauty in our 50 states…

 

42. North Dakota

For some reason—maybe some combination of fracking, the Coen brothers, and January—the words "North Dakota" have become synonymous with "frozen wasteland." Which isn't completely inaccurate when discussing some parts of this state, but lest we forget that it's also home to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a breathtaking mix of prairies, mesas, and mountain views dotted with buffalo. And kind of like the younger child constantly being compared to their older sibling, North Dakota doesn't get proper credit when compared to its beautiful sister state to the south.

Historical Events

1850 – American Senator Daniel Webster gave his Seventh of March speech endorsing the Compromise of 1850.
1869 – The Suez Canal opened for limited shipping.
1876 – Alexander Graham Bell received his patent for (#174,465) the telephone.

Birthdays Today

@87 – Willard Scott, American television personality (d. 2021)
“It was a big story and yesterday’s soup. Who cares?”– Willard Scott
85 – Janet Guthrie, American professional race car driver
81 – Michael Eisner, American businessman
@79 – John Herschel, English mathematician, astronomer (d. 1871)
@79 – Luther Burbank, American botanist, author (d. 1926; heart attack)
71 – Lynn Swann, American football player
“If a player demonstrated that he is the best, and a team decides, even so, we don’t want to pay him, as in any other business, he should be able to play elsewhere.”– Lynn Swann
67 – Bryan Cranston, American actor
@62 – Maurice Ravel, French pianist, composer, conductor (d. 1937; head injury)
59 – Wanda Sykes, American comedian and actress
“If you feel like there’s something out there that you’re supposed to be doing if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it.”– Wanda Sykes
53 – Rachel Weisz, English-American actress
49 – Jenna Fischer, American actress
“Growing up, I was a very shy, wallflower type. I was not a nerd, but not popular. I was just invisible, like that person you probably didn’t know you were in school with.”– Jenna Fischer
43 – Laura Prepon, American actress

 

 

6 Mar

6 March 2023

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 10 Day 65 \ Ave. Sky Cover 30% \ Visibility 16 miles Flagstaff Today 51° \26°  Wind 9mph \ Gusts 18mph 
Air Quality: Fair \ Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 231mi \ Nearest Lightning 2333mi
Mar. Averages for Flagstaff: 51° \ 23° \6 Days of moisture
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

 

Monthly Observations

Transgender Month of Action for Healthcare Equality Link
Trisomy Awareness Month Link
Vascular Abnormalities Awareness Month
Women's History Month: Link
Workplace Eye Wellness Month
Worldwide Home Schooling Awareness Month
Youth Art Month

Weekly Observations

  22-4/8
  Lent
  26-3/4 
  Telecommuter Appreciation Week
  1-7
  Hearing Awareness Week Link
LGBT Health Awareness Week Link
National Cheerleading Week
National Write A Letter of Appreciation Week
National Ghostwriters Week
National Invest in a Veteran Week  Link
National Pet Sitters Week Link
Return The Borrowed Books Week
Universal Human Beings Week: Link
Will Eisner Week Link
World Hearing Awareness Week
2-5
  American Association For The Advancement of Science Week Link
National Money Show
3-5
  International Festival of Owls Week

 

Daily Observations

Casimir Pulaski Day Link 
Day of The Dude Link
Dress Day
Frozen Food Day
Fun Facts About Names Day  Link  
National Dentist's Day Link
National Dress Day  Link
Sofia Kovalevskaya Math Day  Link
World Tennis Day 

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

It is still winter, yet it appears the spring winds have arrived early. Flag is under a wind advisory that expect wind gusts to 50mph today and maybe tomorrow.

It’s Sunday and I’m having a lazy day. I took a break from NetFlix to write this blog. Watching some entertaining comedies.

Enjoy…

Facts…

For centuries, ♂ and ♀ have represented the concepts of male and female in the world of science. Long before these icons had anything to do with biology, however, they were used throughout ancient cultures such as Greece and Rome. ♂ corresponded to the Greek god Ares (Mars, in Roman mythology), whereas ♀ was tied to the Greek goddess Aphrodite (Venus, in Rome). The association between the gods and those symbols came about because of metals used to forge weaponry, with Ares representing iron (thouros) and Aphrodite representing copper (phosphoros). Over time, the Greek words for the metals were written in shorthand using the symbols that we now use to convey gender.

The symbols first played a role in biological research in 1751, when the father of modern taxonomy, Carl Linnaeus, adopted and used the icons to refer to the gender of flowers in his dissertation Plantae hybridae. Many scientists thereafter followed in Linnaeus’ footsteps, with those symbols later extending to human genetics. In recent decades, new symbols have been created based on those centuries-old designs in order to be more inclusive of those who don’t identify as male or female. 

A Look back in time…Baby Boomers life

#8 Communication Was Slow

Baby Boomers grew up in a world without cell phones and often relied on letters, pay phones, or landlines for communication. Imagine having to get in touch with your loved ones in an emergency and running to the pay phone to make a call.

My grandmother tells a story of how she went into labor and gave birth, all without my grandfather realizing it till after he got home from work.

Beauty in our 50 states…

 43. Nebraska

Sleep on Nebraska's subtle beauty if you want, but its big skies and rolling hills have a thoroughly pleasant and peaceful charm. As impressive as Toadstool Geologic Park (Nebraska's Badlands!) and Chimney Rock are, the Cornhusker State doesn't have the spectacular vistas of its neighbors to the west. What it does have is open spaces, the Platte River, and a complex and important ecosystem where literally millions of birds—including 80% of the world's sandhill cranes—visit every spring.

Historical Events

1857 – The Dredd Scott Decision. Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes called it the Court’s “greatest self-inflicted wound.”

1998 - is the annual sacred high holy day of Dudeism, “The Day of The Dude”. Dudeism is a religion, philosophy, or lifestyle inspired by “The Dude”, the protagonist of the 1998 film, The Big Lebowski.

Birthdays Today

97 – Alan Greenspan, American economist
@93 – Harriet Tubman, Civil Rights Leader (d. 1931)
@88 – Michelangelo, Italian painter and sculptor (d. 1564)
“Genius is eternal patience.”– Michelangelo
“There is no greater harm than that of time wasted.”– Michelangelo
@86 – Ed McMahon, American comedian, game show host, and announcer (d. 2009)
@87 – Will Eisner, American illustrator, publisher (d. 2005)
“As for me, I am in pursuit of excellence. I have no time to get old.”– Will Eisner
85 – Tom Foley, American lawyer, politician (d. 2013)
@78 – Marion Barry, American lawyer and politician (d. 2014; cardiac arrest)
76 – John Stossel, American journalist, author
75 – Stephen Schwartz, American composer, producer
@70 – Bob Wills, Western swing musician, songwriter, bandleader (d. 1975; pneumonia)
60 – D.L. Hughley, American actor
“One of the most beautiful things in the world I’ve ever seen or heard is people laughing, even when there seems to be so little reason for them to laugh.”– D. L. Hughley
56 – Connie Britton, American actress
@55 – Elizabeth Barrett Browning, English poet (d. 1861; long illness)
“Silence is the best response to a fool.”– Elizabeth Barrett Browning
51 – Shaquille O’Neal, American basketball player
@50 – Lou Costello, American actor and comedian (d. 1959; heart attack)
@36 – Cyrano de Bergerac, French author, playwright (d. 1655; falling wooden beam) 

  

5 Mar

 

5 March 2023

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 10 Day 64 \ Ave. Sky Cover 5% \ Visibility 17 miles Flagstaff Today 48° \12°  Wind 6mph \ Gusts 12mph 
Air Quality: Fair \Very Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 231mi \ Nearest Lightning 889mi
Mar. Averages for Flagstaff: 51° \ 23° \6 Days of moisture
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

Monthly Observations

Optimism Month
Paws To Read Month
Play The Recorder Month
Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Problem Gambling Awareness Month Link
Quinoa Month Link
Save The Vaquita Month
Save Your Vision Month
Sing With Your Child Month
Small Press Month Link
Social Work Month
Spiritual Wellness Month
Supply Management Month

Weekly Observations

  22-4/8
  Lent

  1-7
  Hearing Awareness Week Link
LGBT Health Awareness Week Link
National Cheerleading Week
National Write A Letter of Appreciation Week
National Ghostwriters Week
National Invest in a Veteran Week  Link
National Pet Sitters Week Link
Return The Borrowed Books Week
Universal Human Beings Week: Link
Will Eisner Week Link
World Hearing Awareness Week
2-5
  American Association For The Advancement of Science Week Link
National Money Show
3-5
  International Festival of Owls Week

Daily Observations
Cheese Doodle Day
Cinco de Marcho
Daughters' and Sons' Day  
Finisher's Medal Day Link  
Mars Day
Namesake Day: 
Mars Day
Namesake Day: Link
National Absinthe Day Link
National Pasty Day    Link
National Poutine Day
Saint Piran's Day
World Book Day (UK and Ireland) 

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Warming up to melt the snow. HOA was here yesterday afternoon to clear the parking area of the snow. They did a great job.

All this snow reminded me of cultural differences. Most Native tribes believe you live in harmony with nature. Many Americans and others believe nature should be controlled. Americans seed clouds to bring rain, divert rivers to make cities, and even try to control the atom. Harmony is a much more productive way to view nature. While I was not happy with all the snow, I realize this will help us in the future and the snow will eventually melt.

Enjoy…

Facts…

We can thank Gary Anderson for the modern recycling symbol. As a senior at the University of Southern California in 1970, Anderson submitted his design to a contest promoting environmental awareness. The symbol Anderson used in his design is a Möbius loop (named for August Ferdinand Mobius, one of two German mathematicians who independently discovered the properties of the strip in 1858), with each one of the three twisting arrows possessing a deeper meaning. The first arrow represents the collection of recyclable materials, while the next is meant to convey repurposing those materials into a newly manufactured product, and the last arrow symbolizes the purchase of those brand-new items.

Modern updates to the recycling logo feature a number at its center; each of those numbers (from one to seven) represents a code regarding what materials can be recycled. A “1” refers to single-use plastics, whereas a “7” is used for everything from bulletproof materials to sunglasses. 

A Look back in time…Baby Boomers life

#7 Unsupervised Playtime

As our parents tell us, there were mostly no concerns about letting children play outside on the road, in playgrounds, or near water bodies without adult supervision. At the beach, there may or may not have been a lifeguard to keep an eye out, but kids were largely left alone to play.

The times are truly different today. Stranger danger is real, there are strict water safety rules, and children usually play in their homes or backyards.

Beauty in our 50 states…

 

44. Ohio

High in the middle and round on the ends, Ohio has an honestly fair reputation as flat and forgettable. But the hilly southern part of the state is prettier than people realize; it does border Kentucky and West Virginia, after all. And while no one would mistake the southern shore of Lake Erie for Big Sur, Ohio's nearly 300 miles of Great Lake coastline offer outstanding open-water vistas from the tops of roller coasters.

Historical Events

1521 – Guam was discovered by Ferdinand Magellan
1770 – The Boston Massacre; 5 Americans killed and 6 wounded by British soldiers.
1933 – President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed a three-day bank holiday.
1933 – Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party received43.9% at the Reichstag elections, allowing the Nazis to later pass the Enabling Act, establishing a dictatorship.
1946 – Winston Churchill gave his “Iron Curtain” speech

Birthdays Today

@91 – Henry Travers, English-American actor (d.  1965)
@87 – László Benedek, Hungarian-American director, cinematographer (d.  1992)
@82 – Rex Harrison, English actor (d.  1990)
@85 – Dean Stockwell, American actor (d. 2021)
“I’ve got categories of jobs, and one of the categories is ‘money jobs.’ If one of those comes along and I have to make a living, even if I don’t like the script that much, I’ll do it and just try to stay above water, which I’m able to do most of the time. I try not to sink with the ship.”– Dean Stockwell
84 – Samantha Eggar, English actress
@75 – Jan van der Heyden, Dutch painter and engineer (d.  1712)
75 – Eddy Grant, Guyanese-British singer-songwriter
“To all those who won’t listen to my music because I don’t smoke Ganga, I say the hell with those people.”– Eddy Grant
75 – Elaine Paige, English singer, actress
69 – Marsha Warfield, American actress, comedian
68 – Penn Jillette, American magician
“If there’s something you really want to believe, that’s what you should question the most.”– Penn Jillette
60 – Joel Osteen, American pastor, author, and television host
“When the negative thoughts come – and they will; they come to all of us – it’s not enough to just not dwell on it… You’ve got to replace it with a positive thought.”– Joel Osteen
@58 – Howard Pyle, American author, illustrator (d.  1911; Bright’s disease)
“Throw your heart into the picture and then jump in after it.”– Howard Pyle
@56 – Willam Blackstone, early American settler (d.  1675; gout)
@49 – Jack Cassidy, American actor and singer (d.  1976; apartment fire)
49 – Matt Lucas, English actor and television personality
49 – Eva Mendes, American model and actress
@30 – Andy Gibb, English-Australian singer-songwriter (d. 1988; heart disease from Cocaine)
27 – Taylor Hill, American model