17 Mar ♣♣

 

♣ 17 March 2023 ♣

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 11 Day 76 \ Ave. Sky Cover 60% \ Visibility 13 miles Flagstaff Today 53° \24°  Wind 6mph \ Gusts 7mph 
Air Quality: Fair \Very Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 249mi \ Nearest Lightning 735mi
Mar. Averages for Flagstaff: 51° \ 23° \6 Days of moisture
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

  22-4/8
  Lent
  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

Campfire Day
Green Beer Day
St. Patrick's Day Link
Submarine Day 
Transit Driver Appreciation Day Link
World Sleep Day Link

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Rain with only a dusting of snow overnight.

I had a decent physical. I am cutting down on one thyroid medicine. Doing well otherwise.

Last night about 8pm I got a phone alert that there were flashfloods in many areas around Sedona that put a number of residents in ‘GO’ status, as it was still raining and the proverbial creek was rising. This morning, the main road from Flag to Sedona is still closed due to flooding.

I had lunch with Mary and Mike this afternoon. They brought me some great, huge, juicy oranges from their trees in Phoenix. Excellent! I also had a great Corned Beef Ruben Sandwich, to honor St. Patrick

St. Patrick’s Day facts

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated every year on March 17th. It is a national holiday in the Republic of Ireland as well as the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

St. Patrick’s Day was a religious holiday, dedicated to Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, until 1903 when it became public by the Bank Holiday Act of 1903. The Irish Member of Parliament, James O’Mara, later introduced a law that all pubs be, wait for it, closed on March 17th. Surprisingly this law stuck around until the 1970s, when people finally realized that St. Patrick’s Day is all about drinking, drinking, drinking.

Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick was born around the end of the fourth century A.D. in Britain. Although his father was a Christian deacon, their family was not a very religious one. At 16, Saint Patrick was taken into slavery by a group of Irish thieves who took over his home village. During his time in captivity, he spent a lot of time alone and in this time turned to God, becoming more religious. After six years, Saint Patrick escaped and went to Gaul where he studied in a monastery for 12-15 years. After being ordinated as a priest, Saint Patrick was sent to Ireland to be a minister as well as convert the non-Christian Irish. His mission lasted for 30 years.

The Parade

The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was actually held in New York City in 1962. It consisted of Irish soldiers serving in the English military Marching the streets of the city. “Each year, nearly three million people line the one-and-a-half mile parade route to watch the procession, which takes more than five hours. Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Savannah also celebrate the day with parades including between 10,000 to 20,000 participants.” – The History Channel

Traditions

The traditional meal of Saint Patrick’s Day is corned beef, boiled potatoes, and mashed cabbage, as well as Guinness Beer.

The shamrock is a special part of the holiday; in ancient Ireland, it symbolized the rebirth of spring. Since then, the shamrock has become a symbol of Irish nationalism and pride. It is also said that Saint Patrick used the three-leaved shamrock to demonstrate the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The color green is associated with the holiday for a few, obvious reasons. The first is because of the shamrock, which the Irish hold close to their culture. Also, green is on the national Irish flag, where is represents all the green pastures of the country.

Facts…

We see, use, and drink the same water the dinosaurs did. 

More Slang origins…

Bust a gut

The LOL of its time. Because sometimes you laugh, and sometimes you laugh so hard, it feels like your stomach is going to explode

Beauty in our 50 states…

32. New Hampshire

If we’re being honest, New Hampshire lost its most glorious sight a few decades back when the Old Man of the Mountain collapsed. (No, we’re still not over it.) Yet its profile remains relatively strong: it’s home to the White Mountains' grand Presidential Range, dramatically carved flume gorges, notches, big lakes like Winnipesaukee, and sprawling valleys of farmland near the Canadian border. It's just a shame that the southern part of the state looks so much like suburban Connecticut, but with fewer liquor stores.

Historical Events

1910 – The Camp Fire Girls organization was founded.
1941 – The National Gallery of Art was officially opened in Washington, DC.
1958 – The United States launches the first solar-powered satellite, Vanguard I.

Birthdays Today

79 – John Sebastian, American singer-songwriter
74 – Patrick Duffy, American actor
68 – Gary Sinise, American actor
@60 – Shemp Howard (Samuel Horwitz), Stooge #4 (d. 1955; heart attack)
59 – Rob Lowe, American actor
“Can someone explain the vitriol whenever Ayn Rand comes up? ‘Atlas’ is the greatest motivator for the individual that I can imagine.”– Rob Lowe
56 – Billy Corgan, American singer-songwriter
“I think a spiritual journey is not so much a journey of discovery. It’s a journey of recovery. It’s a journey of uncovering your own inner nature. It’s already there.”– Billy Corgan
@54 – Rudolf Nureyev, Russian-French dancer and choreographer (d. 1993; AIDS)
“When I miss class for one day, I know it. When I miss class for two days, my teacher knows it. When I miss class for three days, the audience knows it.”– Rudolf Nureyev
51 – Mia Hamm, American soccer player
@45 – Nat King Cole, American singer, pianist, and television host (d. 1965; cancer)
“Critics don’t buy records. They get ’em free.”– Nat King Cole
33 – Hozier, Irish singer-songwriter
“Art and music are the vehicles for the zeitgeist.”– Hozier
31 – John Boyega, English actor

 
 

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