24 Jul

Flagstaff Today 80°: 51° Week 30 Day 205 Wind 4 mph Gusts 13 mph Active Fire: 54 miles away Risk of Fire: High Nearest lightning: 184 miles away Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Jul Averages: Temps: 82°\51° Moisture: 8 Day

Weekly Observations

Tour de France: 5-27  Link                                                           
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) Education & Awareness Week: 18-25
National Moth Week: 19-27                                                                       RAGBRAI: 19-26
Captive Nations Week: 20-26                                Everybody Deserves A Massage Week: 20-26 Link 
National Independent Retailers Week: 20-26  Link            National Zoo Keeper Week: 20-26   Link 
Women in Baseball Week: 20-26                                                           World Forest Week: 21-25 Link
Comic-con: 24-27 Link                                                                    National Tequila Week: 24-30  Link
Comic Con International: 24-27                                                                Quilt Odyssey Week: 24-26
Comi Great Texas Mosquitos Days: 24-26 Link 

Daily Observations

Amelia Earhart Day                                       National Drive-Thru Day
Cousins Day                                                 National Tell an Old Joke Day
Gorgeous Grandma Day                                National Tequila Day
Hot Enough For Ya Day Link                           National Thermal Engineer Day
Mormon Pioneer Day                                     National Sprinkle Day Link

Today’s Quotes                                                             

Today’s Memes

 

Thoughts for the day

I had my regular teeth cleaning this morning. All good.

I was already a teacher when Ozzy hit the airwaves with Black Sabbath. I was teaching 7^th-8^th grade English when my supervisor, a Mormon, wanted to expel a student for wearing a Black Sabbath T-shirt. The student only knew about the band but the supervisor claimed it was ‘devil worship’. It took 3 of the young teachers to convince her that it was a band. She dropped the expel idea and just told him not to wear the shirt again. May Ozzy RIP.

Our Vets should receive the best medical treatment available for any injury, physical or mental, received while serving in our Armed Forces. I have known several vets who suffer from PTSD. Living in rural AZ, the best care is hardly available. The Trump administration is cutting their care. So disgusting.

I am so tired of President Trump sitting with invited world leaders that have to sit through his press conferences as he rambles about his issues with all his perceived American wrongs, usually aimed at previous administrations. It makes our country look weak and petty.

History Facts Americans Commonly Get Wrong

Paul Revere Wasn’t Alone on His Midnight Ride

“Paul Revere’s Ride” is one of the most famous moments in American folklore. But the truth is, Revere wasn’t the only rider spreading the alarm that the British were coming.
William Dawes and Samuel Prescott rode with him, and many other lesser-known patriots also carried the message. In fact, Revere never even finished the ride—he was detained by British troops, while Prescott made it to Concord to warn the militia.

Literary Legends…

John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck’s powerful social novels illuminate the lives and struggles of ordinary Americans during times of upheaval and hardship. Works like The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men stand out for their empathy, vivid characters, and piercing social critique. Steinbeck’s storytelling continues to resonate, capturing the resilience and dignity of those facing adversity. His Nobel Prize-winning legacy is explored in detail by the Nobel Prize organization.

Random Thoughts…

The shortest performance to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor was Anthony Quinn’s eight-minute role as Gauguin in Lust for Life.

The Aztec city of Tenochtitlán took conservation so seriously a person could be sentenced to death for cutting down a living tree without proper authorization.

The English language used to use double negatives, until Bishop Robert Lowth, proclaimed that “Two negatives in English destroy one another, or are equivalent to an affirmative.”

The Capital of Moldova is Chisinau

In the movie, Babe, 48 real piglets were used since they grow very quickly and all the pigs were female because the male parts would’ve been too obvious on screen.

Ibuprofen is relatively a new drug, only gaining approval in the US in 1974 and for over-the-counter purchase in 1983.

Biggest film of 1951: Quo Vadis (Drama) earned ~ $30,000,000

The average American adult reads 5 books per year.

Historic Events

Click here for 24 July history

Birthdays

85 – Dan Hedaya, American actor 76 – Michael Richards, American comedic actor 74 – Lynda Carter, American actress, 1972 Miss World USA 72 – Claire McCaskill, American politician 62 – Karl Malone, American basketball player and coach 61 – Barry Bonds, American baseball player 57 – Kristin Chenoweth, American actress, singer 54 – Patty Jenkins, American film director, screenwriter 46 – Rose Byrne, Australian actress 44 – Summer Glau, American actress 43 – Elisabeth Moss, American actress 43 – Anna Paquin, Canadian-New Zealand actress 34 – Emily Bett Rickards, Canadian actress

@92 – ‘Honest Ed’ Mirvish, American-Canadian businessman, philanthropist (d. 2007) @88 – Ruth Buzzi, American comedic actress (d. 2025) @87 – Mark Goddard, American actor (d. 2023) @79 – Ernest Bloch, Swiss-American composer, educator (d. 1959) @77 – Bella Abzug, American lawyer and politician (d. 1998; heart failure) @76 – Gallagher (Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr. ), American comedian (d.2022) @68 – Alexandre Dumas, French novelist, playwright (d. 1870; heart attack) @47 – Zelda Fitzgerald, American author and poet (d. 1948; in hospital fire) @41 – Amelia Earhart, American pilot and author (disappeared in 1937)

…The End for today…

           

23 Jul

 

Flagstaff Today 80°: 53° Week 30 Day 204 Wind 4 mph Gusts 10 mph Active Fire: 54 miles away Risk of Fire: Moderate Nearest lightning: 208 miles away Air Quality: Fair Partly Cloudy Sunshine Jul Averages: Temps: 82°\51° Moisture: 8 Day

Weekly Observations

Tour de France: 5-27  Link                                                           
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) Education & Awareness Week: 18-25
National Moth Week: 19-27                                                                       RAGBRAI: 19-26
Captive Nations Week: 20-26                                Everybody Deserves A Massage Week: 20-26 Link 
National Independent Retailers Week: 20-26  Link            National Zoo Keeper Week: 20-26   Link 
Women in Baseball Week: 20-26                                                           World Forest Week: 21-25 Link

Daily Observations

Be A Good Teammate Day                                       National Vanilla Ice Cream Day
Casual Pi Day  (22/7)                                               Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day
Gorgeous Grandma Day                                          Rat-catchers Day
Hot Enough For Ya Day                                            Spooners (Spoonerism) Day
Fragile X Awareness Day                                         Sprinkle Day
National Be A Good Teammate Day                          Yada, Yada, Yada Day
National Mango Day Link

Today’s Quotes                                                             

Today’s Memes

 

Thoughts for the day

My blood treatment yesterday was very successful. I now only do the treatment once a month.

It is great weather; I hope to spend some time walking in this beauty later today.

My father was born today in 1914. He lived to 80 years old. He is still missed.

Congress is taking an early break before the 4^th. They hope that this will quell the Epstein controversary. I sure hope that strategy doesn’t work. I am very tired of all the speculation…it is time to see the documents. What happened to Trump’s promise of getting rid of the ‘swamp’.

History Facts Americans Commonly Get Wrong

The Pilgrims Did Not Land on Plymouth Rock ©wikimedia

The story goes that the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620, but historians have long debunked this tidy tale. There is no mention of Plymouth Rock in any original Pilgrim writings.
The first reference to the rock appeared more than a century later, in 1741, when Elder Thomas Faunce, then 94, identified it as the landing site. By then, it was mostly legend.
Archaeologists and historians now agree the Pilgrims landed somewhere along the Massachusetts coast, but the exact spot remains unknown. The rock itself has become a powerful symbol, yet it’s unlikely the Pilgrims ever set foot on it.
Despite the tourism and tradition, the story is mostly a case of myth-making. Americans love a good origin tale, even if it isn’t quite true.

Literary Legends…

Eudora Welty

Eudora Welty’s short stories and novels capture the richness and complexity of Southern life through masterful storytelling and keen observation. Her evocative prose and sense of place have earned her a cherished spot among American literary greats. Welty’s legacy is preserved and explored at the Eudora Welty House and Garden, highlighting her significant influence on both regional and national fiction.

Random Thoughts…

Clarke’s Law of Revolutionary Ideas: Every revolutionary idea – in Science, Politics, Art or Whatever – evokes three stages of reaction. They may be summed up by the three phrases: > 1. “It is completely impossible – don’t waste my time.” 2. “It is possible, but it is not worth doing.” 3. “I said it was a good idea all along.”

Biggest film of 1953: Peter Pan (Action/Adventure) earned ~ $87,000,000

If a thief uses 1234 as a PIN number, they could access funds in almost 1 out of every 9 wallets they steal.

William Penn is one of eight people to have been granted “Honorary Citizenship” by the United States

 One of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World: Lighthouse of Alexandria, in Alexandria, Egypt, built ~280 BC, abandoned by 1323 AD

Historic Events

Click here for 23 July history

Birthdays

78 – David Essex, English singer-songwriter 75 – Ian Thomas, Canadian singer-songwriter 74 – Woody Harrelson, American actor 63 – Eriq La Salle, American actor 60 – Slash, English-American guitarist and songwriter 54 – Alison Krauss, American singer-songwriter, fiddler 45 – Michelle Williams, American singer-songwriter 43 – Paul Wesley (Paweł Tomasz Wasilewski), American actor 36 – Daniel Radcliffe, English actor 29 – Alexandra Andresen, Norwegian heiress and equestrian

@83 – Haile Selassie, Ethiopian emperor (d. 1975) @81 – Harold Peter Henry "Pee Wee" Reese , American baseball player, sportscaster (d. 1999) @81 – Arthur Treacher, English-American actor, television personality (d. 1975) @79 – Don Imus, American radio host (d. 2019; lung disease)   @70 – Raymond Chandler, American crime novelist, screenwriter (d. 1959; uremia) @68 – Charles Harrelson, American murderer, father of Woody Harrelson (d. 2007; heart attack) @57 – Bert Convy, American actor and game show host (d. 1991; glioblastoma)   @46 – Philip Seymour Hoffman, American actor (d. 2014; OD)

…The End for today…

           

21 Jul

Flagstaff Today 84°: 50° Week 30 Day 202 Wind 4 mph Gusts 7 mph Active Fire: 77 miles away Risk of Fire: High Nearest lightning: 376 miles away Air Quality: Fair Mostly Cloudy Sunshine Jul Averages: Temps: 82°\51° Moisture: 8 Day

Weekly Observations

Tour de France: 5-27  Link                                                           
Rabbit Week: 15-21 (Magician's) Sponsor: Melvin Rabbit (Canada)
Hemp History Week: 16-22                            National Parenting Gifted Children Week: 16-22 Link 

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) Education & Awareness Week: 18-25

National Moth Week: 19-27                                                                       RAGBRAI: 19-26
Captive Nations Week: 20-26                                Everybody Deserves A Massage Week: 20-26 Link 
National Independent Retailers Week: 20-26  Link           National Zoo Keeper Week: 20-26   Link 
Women in Baseball Week: 20-26                                                           World Forest Week: 21-25 Link

Daily Observations

Global Hug Your Kid Day                   National Get Out of the Doghouse Day 
International Balloon Holiday            National Junk Food Day
Invite an Alien to Live with You Day   National Tug-Of-War Tournament Day
Legal Drinking Age Day                     No Pet Store Puppies Day
Lowest Recorded Temperature Day (-128.6F Antarctica)

National Be Someone Day Link              Take a Monkey to Lunch Day

Today’s Quotes                                                             

 

Today’s Memes

 

Thoughts for the day

Yesterday brought a couple of nice gentle rainstorms. More expected today.

It’s a nice day for a walk through the neighborhood.

I continue to hope that the Gaza War will end and the people of Gaza will be able to live in peace. The loss of children to the war and now to starvation should be unacceptable to every person on the earth.

I have my blood treatment Monday, so no blog on that day.

History Facts Americans Commonly Get Wrong NEW!

The Declaration of Independence Wasn’t Signed on July 4th

Every Fourth of July, families across the country celebrate America’s independence. But did you know the Declaration of Independence wasn’t actually signed on July 4th, 1776?
The Continental Congress approved the text that day, but historians agree the actual signing happened over several weeks, starting on August 2nd. Some delegates didn’t sign until even later in the year.
According to the National Archives, only John Hancock and Charles Thomson signed on July 4th, if anyone did at all. The image of all the Founding Fathers gathered around one table on a single day is a dramatic invention, not a historical fact.
The true story is messier and involves delays, heated debates, and a lot of penmanship spread out over months. July 4th is a symbol, not the literal birthday of American freedom.

Literary Legends…

Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women continues to enchant readers with its heartfelt depiction of family, independence, and the evolving roles of women. Her writing offers enduring lessons on resilience and sisterhood, resonating with audiences across generations. The historical and literary importance of Alcott’s work is celebrated at Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House museum, where her legacy as a pioneering female author is kept vibrantly alive.

Random Thoughts…

The Capital of Montenegro is Podgorica

Swedish wasn’t made the official language of Sweden until 2009.

“Acronym” is not an acronym, there is no homonym for “Homonym”, “Phonetically” is not pronounced phonetically, there is a silent letter “Onomatopoeia”, and there can’t even be a synonym for “Synonym”.

A group of Hawks (at rest) is called a Cast.

All champagne is produced in the Champagne region in France. Otherwise, it is called sparkling wine.

Bugs Bunny’s accent is an equal blend of the Bronx and Brooklyn dialects.

In 100 years, will the laptops of writers be in museums as what they wrote their masterpieces on, like Conan Doyle’s notebook is on display now?

Historic Events

Click here for 21 July history

Birthdays

77 – Cat Stevens (Steven Demetre Georgio) (Yusuf Islam), English singer-songwriter, guitarist 77 – Garry Trudeau, American cartoonist   68 – Jon Lovitz, American comedic actor 56 – Godfrey (Godfrey C. Danchimah Jr.), American comedian, actor 47 – Josh Hartnett, American actor 36 – Rory Culkin, American actor

@94 – Kay Starr (Catherine Laverne Starks), American singer (d. 2016) @83 – Paul Burke, American actor (d. 2009) @82 – Paul Reuter (Israel Beer Josaphat), German-English journalist, founded Reuters (d. 1899) @81 – Don Knotts, American actor and screenwriter (d. 2006) @80 – Sara Carter, American singer-songwriter (d. 1979) @78 – Janet Reno, American lawyer and politician (d. 2016; Parkinson) @75 – Kim Fowley, American songwriter, producer, manager (d. 2015; bladder cancer) @63 – Robin Williams; comedian (d. 2014; suicide) @61 – Jean Picard, French astronomer (d. 1682) @61 – Ernest Hemingway, American novelist, short story writer, journalist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1961; suicide) @49 – John Gardner, American novelist, essayist, critic (d. 1982; motorcycle accident)

…The End for today…