28 June

 

28 June 2023

Flagstaff Almanac

Week 26 Day 179 Ave. Sky Cover 5%\ Visibility  32mi. Flagstaff Today  80° \ 42° 
Wind  6mph \ Gusts  17mph  Nearest active fire: 25miles Nearest Lightning:  374mi
Air Quality: Moderate   Moisture Days this month: 5 days
Risk of fire: Very Low Moderate High Extreme June Averages: Flagstaff: 80° \ 43° June Average: 1 Day of moisture
Sunshine  Red Flag Warning

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

25-30 International Lace Week Link   25-7/1   25-7/1   Carpenter Ant Awareness Week Fish Are Friends, Not Food! Week Link  Windjammer Days  Windjammer Days Link

26-7/2   National Tire Safety Week  Link 27-7/4 National Prevention of Eye Injuries Awareness 28-7/4 Fireworks Safety Week

Daily Observations

Ceviche Day International Body Piercing Day INTERNATIONAL CAP LOCKS DAY  Link  International Lightning Safety Day International Parrot Head Day   International Lightning Safety Day International Parrot Head Day  Link

National Logistics Day Link National Parchment Cooking Day Link    Tapioca Day Tau Day   Tapioca Day Tau Day  Link

Today’s Thoughts

Most of Coconino Nat’l Forest is now under Stage 1 Fire restrictions. That means no campfires, no open fires…and big fines are available for those who don’t want to observe the restrictions.

If you watch TV, you see many St. Jude’s Hospital ads for donations. Watching 60 minutes on Sunday I learned that St. Jude’s stepped up when critically ill children with cancer were rescued and taken to hospitals in nearby countries. The first ladies of many countries joined St. Jude’s in finding resources to find transportation to various countries that would provide medical care for the children at no cost to the families. Very impressive.

Tomorrow afternoon will be very busy, so possibly no posting. I see blood doctor at 1 and finally get my teeth cleaned at 3. The hygienist broke her wrist about 6 weeks ago and changed my appointment.

Also, thanks to my readers for the good wishes about my medical issues.   

Enjoy

Idioms explained…

Under the Weather

Under the Weather has its roots in maritime language. When a sailor became ill or seasick, often because of violent weather conditions, that sailor was sent below decks to the most stable part of the ship, which was under the weather rail. The phrase under the weather rail was shortened to the idiom under the weather.

Random Trivia…

One of President John Tyler’s grandsons is still alive today—and he was born in 1790. How is this possible? President Tyler, the 10th US president, was 63 when his son Lyon Tyler was born in 1853; Lyon’s son was born when he was 75. President Tyler’s living grandson, Harrison Tyler is 94. Lyon's other son Lyon Jr. passed away in 2020 at the age of 95. The Tyler family still maintains the President’s home, Sherwood Forest Plantation in Virginia. (sherwoodforest.org)

Historic Events

• 1838 – The Coronation of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
• 1855 – Sigma Chi fraternity is founded in North America.
• 1894 – Labor Day became an official US holiday.

Birthdays with some quotes

97 – Mel Brooks, Director
@87 – John Wesley, English cleric, theologian (d. 1791)
“Condemn no man for not thinking as you think. Let everyone enjoy the full and free liberty of thinking for himself. Let every man use his own judgment since every man must give an account of himself to God. Abhor every approach, in any kind or degree, to the spirit of persecution, if you cannot reason nor persuade a man into the truth, never attempt to force a man into it. If love will not compel him to come, leave him to God, the judge of all.”– John Wesley
85 – John Byner, American comedic actor
@78 – Aribert Heim, Austrian SS physician and Nazi (d. 1992; cancer)
@77 – Richard Rodgers, American playwright, composer (d. 1979; cancer)
75 – Kathy Bates, American actress
“I want to be defined by my own essence.”– Kathy Bates
@73 – Noriyuki ‘Pat’ Morita, Japanese-American character actor (d. 2005; kidney failure)
“I don’t know of any other creature on earth other than man that will sit in a corner and cry because of some painful experience in the past.”– Pat Morita
63 – John Elway, NFL Quarterback (BRONCOS)
@62 – Peter Paul Rubens, Flemish painter and diplomat (d. 1640; gout)
“Every child has the spirit of creation. The rubbish of life often exterminates the spirit through plague and a soul’s own wretchedness.”– Peter Paul Rubens
57 – John Cusack, American actor
52 – Elon Musk, South African-born American businessman
“Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough.”– Elon Musk
@42 – Gilda Radner, American comedic actress (d. 1989; cancer)
37 – Kellie Pickler, American singer-songwriter
34 – Markiplier, American internet personality

 

 

27 June

 

27 June 2023

Flagstaff Almanac

Week 26 Day 178 Ave. Sky Cover 5%\ Visibility 25mi. Flagstaff Today 82° \ 46° 
Wind  7mph \ Gusts  19mph  Nearest active fire: 25miles Nearest Lightning:  407mi
Air Quality: Moderate   Moisture Days this month: 5 days
Risk of fire: Extreme June Averages: Flagstaff: 80° \ 43° June Average: 1 Day of moisture
Sunshine  Red Flag Warning High wind advisory

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

25-30 International Lace Week Link   25-7/1   25-7/1   Carpenter Ant Awareness Week Fish Are Friends, Not Food! Week Link  Windjammer Days  Windjammer Days Link

26-7/2   National Tire Safety Week  Link 27-7/4 National Prevention of Eye Injuries Awareness

Daily Observations

Celebrate Joy Day Link Decide To Be Married Day "Happy Birthday To You" Day Helen Keller Day Industrial Workers of The World Day Micro-, Small-, Medium-Sized Enterprises Day

National HIV Testing Day Link National Columnists Day   National Onion Day Link National Sunglasses Day  Link Orange Blossom Day PTSD Awareness Day Link

Today’s Thoughts

Summer has arrived. Going to break 80° today. Finally time for short pants.

When I retired to Flag well over a decade ago, I bought a portable evaporative cooler. In all those years it has worked good and only one replacement pump. Now it is way past its prime and the wheels seldom worked. This morning I bought a new model. Prices have certainly gone up, but the new one hold more water, has more speeds, and best of all, has a remote control. Happy cool camper here.

About 2 months ago, I had a problem only a urologist could correct. He discovered that my PSA had risen significantly from last year. Soon after my retirement I did radiation treatments for prostate cancer. All had been going well with yearly checkups. The urologist set up testing, which I completed last week. I have been a little concerned. The timeframe for seeing a urologist here is less than desirable here in our little mountain community. I can’t see him until mid-July for the results. Happily, his office called this morning to let me know the tests showed no cancer. What a relief. I’ll get more at the next appointment as to what is going on. Good news for sure.

The annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia has begun. Covid had severely reduced the crowd size. This year they are expecting a record crowd of over 2 million. Attending this celebration at least once in a lifetime is one of the tenants of the Muslim religion.

Enjoy

Idioms explained…New!

Raining Cats and Dogs

This is from the Library of Congress – Odin, the Norse god of storms, was often pictured with dogs and wolves, which were symbols of wind. Witches, who supposedly rode their brooms during storms, were often pictured with black cats, which became signs of heavy rain for sailors. Therefore, “raining cats and dogs” may refer to a storm with wind (dogs) and heavy rain (cats). It basically just means it’s raining heavily.

Random Trivia…

There actually aren’t “57 varieties” of Heinz ketchup, and never were. Company founder H.J. Heinz thought his product should have a number, and he liked 57. Hint: Hit the glass bottle on the “57,” not the bottom, to get the ketchup to flow. (heinz.com)

Historic Events

• 2007 – Tony Blair resigned as British Prime Minister, a position he had held since 1997. His Chancellor, Gordon Brown succeeded him.

Birthdays with some quotes

@91 – Kate Carew, American illustrator and journalist (d. 1961)
@89 – Ross Perot, American businessman, politician (d. 2019)
“The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river.”– Ross Perot
@87 – Helen Keller, American author, academic, and activist (d. 1968)
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”– Helen Keller
@83 – John McIntire, American character actor (d. 1991)
74 – Vera Wang, American fashion designer
57 – J.J. Abrams, American director, producer, screenwriter
“Mystery is more important than knowledge.”– J.J. Abrams
52 – Jo Frost, English nanny, television personality, author
49 – Christian Kane, American actor
“I get up every day and work, regardless of if I have a job or not.”– Christian Kane
48 – Tobey Maguire, American actor
“I think the greatest way to learn is to learn by someone’s example.”– Tobey Maguire
37 – Sam Claflin, British actor
36 – Ed Westwick, English actor
34 – Matthew Lewis, English actor

 

 

26 June

 

26 June 2023

Flagstaff Almanac
Week 26 Day 177 Ave. Sky Cover 5%\ Visibility  32mi. Flagstaff Today  79° \ 42° 
Wind  8mph \ Gusts  23mph  Nearest active fire: 4miles Nearest Lightning:  558mi
Air Quality: Moderate   Moisture Days this month: 5 days
Risk of fire: Extreme June Averages: Flagstaff: 80° \ 43° June Average: 1 Day of moisture
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

25-30 International Lace Week Link   26-7/2   National Tire Safety Week  Link

25-7/1   Carpenter Ant Awareness Week Fish Are Friends, Not Food! Week Link  Windjammer Days  Windjammer Days Link

Daily Observations

Bar Code Day Canoe Day Link Chocolate Pudding Day Harry Potter Day Internat’l Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture National Canoe Day National Coconut Day  Link National Energy Shopping Day Please Take My Children To Work Day

Today’s Thoughts

A great Sunday. I even took a short walk around the compound. Getting better every day.

There is a small wildfire just 4 miles from Flagstaff. It is only one acre and crews are working on the fire. Just hoping they get it under control very quickly.

Everyone seems confused by the withdrawal of the Wagner Insurrection group from his march to Moscow. He has been given ability to move to Belarus with no Russian charges. Strange behavior for Putin. The West will probably never know why this withdrawal happened. The whole thing only took 36 hours.

Enjoy

 

Random Trivia…

Three presidents, all Founding Fathers—John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe—died on July 4. Presidents Adams and Jefferson also died the same year, 1826; President Monroe died in 1831. Coincidence? You decide. (constitutioncenter.org)

The Barbie doll’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, from Willows, Wisconsin. Her birthday is March 9, 1959, when she was first displayed at the New York Toy Fair. (barbiemedia.com)

Historic Events

• 1927 – The Cyclone roller coaster opened on Coney Island.
• 1988, Astro Ricky Gutierrez set the Major League Baseball record for seeing the most pitches in a single at-bat (20) against Cleveland pitcher Bartolo Colon.
• 2013 – The US Supreme Court ruled, 5–4, that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional and in violation of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Birthdays with some quotes

@91 – Eleanor Parker, American character actress (d. 2013)
@87 – Colonel Tom Parker (Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk), Dutch-American talent manager (d. 1997)
“The public is tired of politicians professing certain beliefs and not acting on those beliefs. They want elected officials who have the moral courage to do what they will say they will do when they’re running for election.”– Colonel Tom Parker
@80 – Pearl S. Buck, American novelist and writer, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1973)
@73 – Abner Doubleday, American general, ‘invented’ baseball (d. 1893; heart failure)
@70 – Paul Castellano, American gangster (d. 1985; murdered)
62 – Terri Nunn, American singer-songwriter
@59 – Peter Lorre, Slovak-American actor (d. 1964; stroke)
“Do you think we should drive a stake through his heart just in case?”– Peter Lorre
53 – Sean Hayes, American actor
“Isn’t it about getting out of your comfort zone and getting off the couch and challenging yourself and forcing yourself to do things you wouldn’t rather do? Otherwise, what are you living for?”– Sean Hayes
49 – Derek Jeter, American baseball player
“There may be people who have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do – and I believe that. Derek Jeter
31 – Jennette McCurdy, American actress
“They say actions speak louder than words, but actions don’t speak. People speak, and people are loud.”– Jennette McCurdy
30 – Ariana Grande, American actress

 

 

25 June

25 June 2023

Flagstaff Almanac

Week 26 Day 176 Ave. Sky Cover 5%\ Visibility 20mi. Flagstaff Today  75° \ 33° 
Wind  7mph \ Gusts  16mph  Nearest active fire: 21miles Nearest Lightning:  532mi
Air Quality: Moderate   Moisture Days this month: 5days
Risk of fire: Extreme June Averages: Flagstaff: 80° \ 43° June Average: 1 Day of moisture
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

19-25   Learning Disabilities Week Link  Link National Pollinator Week Link  19-25   19-25   National Insect Week 22-25   Watermelon Thump Seed Spitting Week Link    Water Ski Days Link

25-30 International Lace Week Link   25-7/1   25-7/1   Carpenter Ant Awareness Week Fish Are Friends, Not Food! Week Link  Windjammer Days  Windjammer Days Link

Daily Observations

America's Kids Day Catfish Day Color TV Day (CBS) Day of The Seafarer Link Descendants Day Global Beatles Day Link Global Smurfs Day Link Leon Day  Link

Log Cabin Day National Catfish Day Link Nat’l Police Community Cooperative Day  Link Please Take my Children to Work Day School Prayer Banned Anniversary Strawberry Parfait Day  Stripper Appreciation Day Link Victory Day for Oglala over Custer World Vitiligo Day Link

Today’s Thoughts

It’s a new season, so I flipped the mattress, laundered pad, changes linens. Ready for summer.

During my recent cold, the doctor had me get an oximeter to measure the O2 level. I left it in the car on Friday. I searched the house last night for it. This morning I found it on the seat of my car. I sure felt foolish.

Russia and Wagner Mercenaries are all over the news. Is change really coming? I sent a text message to Vlad to check on things and thank him again, 4 years ago, for our great adventure on the Trans-Siberian. He texted back and has been working at a school in Latvia for the past 9 months. He says he better understands why Focus members had careers in education. He wishes our group well. Nice!

Enjoy

 

History revisited

There was a Great Molasses Flood in Boston in 1919.

The Great Molasses Flood of 1919 was ta sticky situation with deadly consequences. United States Industrial Alcohol, which used the molasses to make liquor and in ammunitions manufacturing, had stored the molasses in a tank build after World War 1, according to History.com. One of the company's employees reportedly told them that the tank had been leaking and wasn't structurally sound, but they never took action to fix it.

On, Jan. 15, 1919, when it was warmer than usual, the tank burst and unleashed 2.3 million gallons of molasses, which rushed out onto Boston's streets. A 15-foot wall of molasses reportedly crashed down Commercial Street going 35 miles per hour. It was so strong that the Boston Globe wrote that it caused buildings to “cringe up as though they were made of pasteboard,” according to History.com. Overall, 21 people died and 150 were injured.

Historic Events

• 1788 – Virginia became the tenth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
• 1876 – Battle of the Little Bighorn and the death of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer.
• 1950 -The Korean War began with the invasion of South Korea by North Korea.
• 1978 – The rainbow flag representing gay pride was presented for the first time during the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade.

Birthdays with some quotes

98 – June Lockhart, American actress
@85 – Eddie Floyd, American R&B/soul singer-songwriter
78 – Carly Simon, American singer-songwriter
“We need role models who are going to break the mold.”– Carly Simon
@77 – Alex Toth, American animator, cartoonist (d. 2006)
“I spent the first half of my career learning what to put into my work, and the second half learning what to leave out.”– Alex Toth
76 – Jimmie Walker, American comedic actor
@64 – Peyo (Pierre Culliford), Belgian author, illustrator, created The Smurfs (d. 1992; heart attack)
62 – Ricky Gervais, English comedian, actor, director and producer
57 – Dikembe Mutombo, Congolese-American basketball player
“When you take the elevator to the top, please remember to send it back down so someone else might use it.”– Dikembe Mutombo
@53 – George Michael, English singer-songwriter (d. 2016)
48 – Linda Cardellini, American actress
“Just because someone isn’t working at an office doesn’t mean they’re not working hard at something.”– Linda Cardellini
@46 – George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair), British novelist, essayist, critic (d. 1950; burst artery)
“The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it.”– George Orwell 44 – “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”– George Orwell
44 – Busy Philipps, American actress
17 – Mckenna Grace, American actress

 

  

24 June

 

24 June 2023

Flagstaff Almanac

Week 25 Day 175 Ave. Sky Cover 5%\ Visibility  32mi. Flagstaff Today  75° \ 37° 

Wind  5mph \ Gusts  14mph  Nearest active fire: 21miles Nearest Lightning:  492mi
Air Quality: Fair Moisture Days this month: 5days
Risk of fire: Extreme June Averages: Flagstaff: 80° \ 43° June Average: 1 Day of moisture
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

18-24  
Animal Rights Awareness Week Link Link
18-24  
Greencare For Troops Awareness Week
Lightning Safety Awareness Week Link 
Old Time Fiddlers Week
National Mosquito Control Awareness Week
Old Time Fiddlers Week
National Mosquito Control Awareness Week Link 
National Play Catch Week
Universal Father's Week
19-25  
National Play Catch Week
Universal Father's Week
19-25  
Learning Disabilities Week Link  Link
National Pollinator Week Link 
19-25  
19-25  
National Insect Week
20-24  
Royal Ascot Link
22-25  
Watermelon Thump Seed Spitting Week Link   
Water Ski Days 
Water Ski Days Link

Daily Observations

ARRL (American Radio Relay League) Field Day Link 
Celebration of the Senses Link
Creamy Pralines Day
Great American Backyard Campout
International Fairy Day or Faerie Day  Link
National Haskap Berry Day  
National Take Back The Lunch Break Day Link
Polar Bear Swim (Nome,AK) Link 
Stonewall National Monument Day  Link
Swim a Lap Day
World Bike Naked Day Link  Link 
World UFO Day Link

Today’s Thoughts

I had a check up for my cold. All good. I’m improving every visit. I got to walk around the office for 6 minutes. Oxygen stayed within all parameters the entire time.

The Navajo Nation has been fighting for decades to get access to the Colorado River water.  Unfortunately, the Supreme Court 5-4 vote ended any hope of their water rights of Colorado River water.

The weather guy says to expect a hot week ahead. Flag will be in the 80’s. I’m not complaining but am concerned about what is next for fire…right now it has been at extreme for several weeks. The chart only has ‘Very extreme’ left. Not a good sign as we await the real monsoon.

The media is getting blowback for the difference in coverage of the ‘Adventurers’ visiting the Titanic and the coverage of the many boats of refugees that have sunk around the world. Several governments are also getting blowback as the missing wealthy are getting more resources than the refugees when they is a an at-sea disaster.

Commentary

History revisited

Neil Armstrong was probably misquoted on the moon.

Astronaut Neil Armstrong is recorded as saying, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," when he first stepped onto the moon in 1969, but he was probably misquoted.

Armstrong told reporters after the Apollo 11 mission that he actually said, "that's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." That missing "a" would make a lot more sense, because without it, Armstrong is repeating himself and saying "That's one small step for man," as in all of mankind, and then "one giant leap for mankind."

According to Space.com, computer programmer Peter Shann Ford analyzed audio of the transmission from the moon in 2006, and found that there was a pause between "for" and "man," and the radio just may not have transmitted the "a."

Historic Events

• 1950 – In South Africa, the Group Areas Act was passed, formally segregating races (Apartheid).
• 1957 – In Roth v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment.

Birthdays with some quotes

@96 – Al Molinaro, American character actor (d. 2015)
@87 – Jack Dempsey, American boxer (d. 1983)
“A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.”– Jack Dempsey
@86 – Fred Hoyle, English astronomer, author (d. 2001)
@78 – Jeff Beck, English guitarist (d. 2023)
“Things turn out better by accident sometimes. But you can’t organize accidents.”– Jeff Beck 
76 – Mick Fleetwood, English-American drummer
“If you were to ask me, ‘What the hell does a musician have in common with a restaurant?’I would say a huge amount. It’s showtime every day, it’s a team of people, like, running a circus, which is running a rock-and-roll band.”– Mick Fleetwood
@75 – Thomas Blanchard, American inventor (d. 1864)
@71? – Ambrose Bierce, American short story writer, essayist, journalist (d. 1914; disappeared)
“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech youc will ever regret.”– Ambrose Bierce
“Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.”– Ambrose Bierce
77 – Robert Reich, American economist, politician
“No economy can continue to function when the vast middle class and everybody else don’t have enough purchasing power to buy what the economy is capable of producing without going deeper and deeper into debt.”– Robert Reich
73 – Nancy Allen, American actress
@67 – Chuck Taylor, American basketball player sneaker salesman (d. 1969; heart attack)

57 – Hope Sandoval, American singer-songwriter