16 Mar

 

16 March 2023

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 11 Day 75 \ Ave. Sky Cover 90% \ Visibility 3 miles Flagstaff Today 50° \32°  Wind 4mph \ Gusts 8mph 
Air Quality:  \Very Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 249mi \ Nearest Lightning 315mi
Mar. Averages for Flagstaff: 51° \ 23° \6 Days of moisture
Raining

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

  22-4/8
  Lent
  10-16
  Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Week
11-17
  Turkey Vultures Return to the Living Sign
12-18
  Campfire USA Birthday Week
  Girl Scout Week Link , Link
  Teen Tech Week
13-17
    Native American Awareness Week Link
13-19
  International Brain Awareness Week Link

Daily Observations

Artichoke Hearts Day
Absolutely Incredible Kid Day
Curlew Day
Everything You Do is Right Day
Freedom of Information Day
Goddard Day Link, Link
Panda Day
Lips Appreciation Day
National Farm Rescuer Day Link 
National Panda Day
No Selfies Day
St. Urho's Day 
National Panda Day
No Selfies Day

St. Urho's Day Link, Link

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

A rainy day…unusual for this high desert. Still appreciated.

I have my annual physical tomorrow. I’ll try to keep a straight face as they ask those Medicare questions about depression.

The US is claiming that Russia was reckless when one its jets hit one of our drones. Hopefully neither side wants any escalation. Let the diplomats work this out.

NAU, the local university is raising tuition again. The good news is that new students are the only ones paying the increase. At NAU when one enrolls as a full-time student, they are promised that tuition will not raise during their 4 year pursuit of the degree. The bad news is that this does not include mandatory fees, dorms, or meals. In-state students will pay $11,253 per year; non-residents will pay $27,600, international undergrads will pay $28,600. These prices are a bit higher than when I got my degree at Univ. of CO.

Enjoy…

Facts…

Paul Revere didn't finish his midnight ride, but Sybil Ludington, a 16-year-old girl, did. Legend says she rode for 40 miles alerting people of a British attack in 1777. 

More Slang origins…

Don't flip your wig

We're not sure what toupees were like in our grandfather's time, but, apparently, they were loose-fitting enough that there was a constant danger of them flying off their heads, especially during moments of excitement or agitation.

Beauty in our 50 states…

33. Georgia

If you live in Florida, the most beautiful sight you'll ever see is when you cross the state line into Georgia and see gas prices drop a buck a gallon. Past that? There ain't much. Aside from the quaint Southernness of trees draped in Spanish moss and untouched beaches in the southern part of the state, the scenic highlight is the "mountains" north of Atlanta. Which seem downright towering when you've been driving through Florida, but still don't measure up to the Smokies or the Appalachians a few hours down the road.

Historical Events

1802 – The Army Corps of Engineers was established to found and operate the United States Military Academy at West Point.
1865 –The Thirteenth Amendment was officially ratified.
1926 – Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, MA.
1968 – The My Lai Massacre involved the killing of 3000 noncombatant Vietnam citizens.
1995 – Mississippi formally ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, becoming the last state to approve the abolition of slavery.
2020 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 2,997.10, the single largest point drop in history and the second-largest percentage drop ever, at 12.93%.

Birthdays Today

@91 – Henny Youngman, English-American violinist and comedian (d. 1998)
“I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to stop going to those places.”– Henny Youngman
@91 – Jerry Lewis, American actor and comedian (d. 2017)
“I have a loyalty that runs in my bloodstream, when I lock into someone or something, you can’t get me away from it because I commit that thoroughly. That’s in friendship, that’s a deal, that’s a commitment. Don’t give me paper – I can get the same lawyer who drew it up to break it. But if you shake my hand, that’s for life.”– Jerry Lewis
@87 – Mercedes McCambridge, American actress (d. 2004)
@85 – James Madison. 4^th President (d. 1836)
82 – Chuck Woolery, American game show host and television personality
@72 – Conrad Nagel, American actor (d. 1970; heart attack)
74 – Erik Estrada, American actor
“Respect other people regardless of the level they are at… or the level you are at. When you hand out respect, you get it back.”– Erik Estrada
69 – Nancy Wilson, American singer-songwriter, Heart
@67 – Josef Mengele, evil German physician (d. 1979; stroke while swimming)
@65 – Georg Ohm, German physicist, mathematician (d. 1854)
64 – Flavor Flav, American rapper and personality
56 – Tracy Bonham, American singer
54 – Judah Friedlander, American comedic actor
“You jump on a bike and start peddling. You fall down and you get up again. I’ve always been a ‘learn by doing’ kind of guy.”– Judah Friedlander
52 – Alan Tudyk, American actor
36 – Alexandra Daddario, American actress
“As a child, I loved fantasy books, I loved Harry Potter and the idea that there is something ‘out there’ is inspiring to kids and inspiring to me. It’s exciting and I think people can relate to it. Even if things are difficult or bad for you, the idea that there is something special within you is positive and true.”– Alexandra Daddario

 
 

15 Mar

 

15 March 2023

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 11 Day 74 \ Ave. Sky Cover 70% \ Visibility 18 miles Flagstaff Today 64° \25°  Wind 4mph \ Gusts 12mph 
Air Quality: Moderate \ Low Moderate High Extreme Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 203mi \ Nearest Lightning 937mi
Mar. Averages for Flagstaff: 51° \ 23° \6 Days of moisture
Cloudy and sunny

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

  22-4/8
  Lent

  10-16
  Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Week
11-17
  Turkey Vultures Return to the Living Sign
12-18
  Campfire USA Birthday Week
Girl Scout Week Link , Link
Teen Tech Week
13-17
  Native American Awareness Week Link
13-19
  International Brain Awareness Week Link

Daily Observations

  Brutus Day
Buzzards Day Link
Everything You Think is Wrong Day
Ides of March
International Day of Action Against Canadian Seal Slaughter  Link
International Day to Combat Islamophobia
National VO Day (Voice Over)
National Shoe The World Day
Pears Helene Day

  Small Business Development Day  Link 
True Confessions Day
World Consumer Rights Day Link

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Clouds are moving in, just awaiting expected rain.

Focus Travel is doing one final cruise before Ellie fully retires from the club. In October there will be a cruise from Montreal, Canada to Boston, Mass. I sent in my initial deposit and registration this morning. Ellie has been working on this for a few months and announced yesterday that there were enough people to make the trip. Sound like fun.

I wasn’t really following the bank collapse that closely as I know my money is in FDIC protected accounts. Yesterday, Elizabeth Warren had an interview that explained the mess quite simply. Here’s some history: FDR gave his very first fireside chat on the banking crisis. After declaring a banking holiday, he was stopping the run on the banks around the country. That was 90 years ago.   Biden made a similar speech on Monday. After the collapse of Enron and others Congress passed and Obama signed the Dodd-Frank regulations for banks. These regulations were meant for all banks and set up procedures to ensure that banks were not making very risky investments.  Many bank CEO’s claimed that ‘their’ bank should not be entangled with the regulations. Finally Congress stepped in and made some of the regulations only for ‘large’ banks. President Trump signed that legislation. The collapsed banks then began growing exponentially. Then some bank CEOs began to make more and more risky investments. Elizabeth Warren and others warned that removing the Dodd-Frank regulations would set up some banks to fail. Turns out, the warnings were right. Biden has said that no depositors will lose any money but did not rule out legal actions against those who were responsible. This is different than the Enron crash when responsible parties faced no legal action. Maybe Congress will recognize the error of their ways, or maybe not.

Enjoy…

Facts…

The average British postage stamp glue contains 5.9 calories per stamp, while the average US stamp glue contains about one-tenth of a calorie per stamp. 

More Slang origins…

Cat

Not exactly referring to a feline companion, in certain circles of artistic types and musicians, "cat" became a catch-all term for any kind of hip person.

Beauty in our 50 states…

34. Rhode Island

For such a tiny state, Rhode Island does relatively well for itself, on average. Lots of folks will joke that half of its area is made up of beaches, and they're honestly not too far off—Block Island has some lovely ones, and sea cliffs/bluffs there and in Newport add to the state's nautical charm. But it's got the deck stacked against it: There just isn't enough room in Rhode Island for anything truly grand, the Breakers aside. It's just a shame that nature didn’t build them.

Historical Events

44 BC – Gaius Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate house, by 60 conspirators led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. #bewaretheidesofMarch
1820 – Maine became the 23rd US state
1917 – Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicated the Russian throne.
March 15, 1956 – 1st appearance Robbie the Robot in Forbidden Planet, Film
1990 – Mikhail Gorbachev was elected as the first President of the Soviet Union.

Birthdays Today

88 – Judd Hirsch, American actor
88 – Jimmy Swaggart, American pastor and television host
@87 – Ruth Bader Ginsburg, American lawyer and judge (d.2020)
“Every now and then it helps to be a little deaf…That advice has stood me in good stead. Not simply in dealing with my marriage, but in dealing with my colleagues.”– Ruth Bader Ginsburg
@86 – Marjorie Merriweather Post, businesswoman, philanthropist, founded General Foods (d.1973)
82 – Mike Love, American singer-songwriter, musician, Beach Boys
“I learned that when you do the best job that you can do, some people will idolize you, others won’t care, and some will vilify you.”– Mike Love
80 – Sly Stone [Sylvester Stewart], American singer-songwriter, musician, producer
“You can make it if you try, push a little harder, think a little deeper.”– Sly Stone
@78 – Andrew Jackson, general, 7th President of the United States (d.1845; TB)
“I weep for the liberty of my country when I see at this early day of its successful experiment that corruption has been imputed to many members of the House of Representatives, and the rights of the people have been bartered for promises of office.”– Andrew Jackson
@73 – Saint Nicholas, Greek bishop and saint (d.343)
48 – Eva Longoria, American actress
48 – will.i.am [William James Adams Jr.], American rapper, producer
“There are no problems that can’t be solved. The world is too full of options. If you can’t solve the #problem, it’s because you haven’t found the right option … But the answer is always there.”– will.i.am
33 – Siobhan Magnus, American singer-songwriter

 
 

14 Mar

 

14 March 2023

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 11 Day 73 \ Ave. Sky Cover 5% \ Visibility 18 miles Flagstaff Today 56° \25°  Wind 4mph \ Gusts 15mph 
Air Quality: Fair \Very Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 249mi \ Nearest Lightning 1192mi
Mar. Averages for Flagstaff: 51° \ 23° \6 Days of moisture
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

  22-4/8
  Lent
  10-16
  Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Week
  11-17
  Turkey Vultures Return to the Living Sign
  12-18
  Campfire USA Birthday Week
  Girl Scout Week Link  Link
  Teen Tech Week
  13-17
  Native American Awareness Week Link
  13-19
  International Brain Awareness Week Link
Daily Observations

International Ask A Question Day
International Day of Action for Rivers Link
International Day of Mathematics  Link
  Learn About Butterflies Day
MOTH-ER Day
National Equal Pay Day  Link
Potato Chip Day
Pi Day (as in the math pie = 3.14159265 etc.) Link
Reuben Day
Save a Spider Day Link
Write Your Story Day

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

A couple of nice days ahead, then rain, then a little snow.

I headed to Wal-Mart to pick up household essentials. I picked up what I needed and some Cadbury eggs, my Easter nemesis…but they are so good. My willpower is tested to keep consumption at one egg a day.

60 Minutes had some great animal stories last night. There is DNA evidence that, thousands of years ago, wolves with a genetic mutation sought out friendliness. More study needed but looks like that is why dogs are so friendly to humans. Cool. They also went to a prison where inmates near parole are training wild horses. The project then auctions the gently trained horses and uses the money for more training. Nice Idea that is working.  

Enjoy…

Facts…

W     Volvo invented the three-point seatbelt in 1962 but gave away the patent for free to save lives.

W     "On Venus, a year is shorter than a day — meaning it takes Venus less time to orbit the Sun (year) than to complete one rotation (day)." 

More Slang origins…

Knuckle sandwich

Well when you put it that way, your closed fist that's heading towards my face sounds almost appealing.

Beauty in our 50 states…

35. Pennsylvania

It's got hills and Amish buggies and pleasant forests that in the fall molt into spectacular golds and yellows and oranges. But for Pennsylvania's size, it lacks that "wow" factor. It's a densely populated eastern state minus the redeeming coastline. It's got a nice piece of the Appalachians, but not so impressive a piece as its neighbors. And, yes, you can ski the Poconos if you really don't feel up to going somewhere better. But like so many of the features here, you'd trade up, given the option.

Historical Events

1900 – The Gold Standard Act is ratified, placing United States currency on the gold standard. No country uses it today (2016).
1936 – The first all-sound film version of Show Boat opened at Radio City Music Hall.
1950 – The Federal Bureau of Investigation instituted the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list
2011 – Aflac Insurance fired Gilbert Gottfried, the voice of the Aflac Spokesduck, for an offensive online tweet about the Japan earthquake.

Birthdays Today

90 – Michael Caine, English actor and author
“A man’s body may grow old, but inside his spirit can still be as young and as restless as ever.”– Michael Caine
90 – Quincy Jones, American singer-songwriter, trumpet player, and producer
“Excellence isn’t an act, it’s a habit.”– Quincy Jones
@88 – Les Brown, American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader (d. 2001)
@81 – Hank Ketcham, author, created Dennis the Menace (d. 2001)
@76 – Albert Einstein, German-American physicist, engineer, academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1955; aneurysm)
“Genius is making complex ideas simple, not making simple ideas complex.”– Albert Einstein
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”– Albert Einstein
75 – Billy Crystal, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
“In high school, I was the class comedian as opposed to the class clown. The difference is the class clown is the guy who drops his pants at the football game, the class comedian is the guy who talked him into it.”– Billy Crystal
@73 – Les Baxter, American pianist and composer (d. 1996)
44 – Chris Klein, American actor
@37 – Casey Jones, American engineer (d. 1900; train crash)
35 – Stephen Curry, basketball player
26 – Simone Biles, Olympic champion gymnast
15 – Abby Ryder Fortson, American actress