Sep 18

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Sep. 18, 2019 Week: 38  Day: 261

86004:   H 71° \ L 47° \ Average Sky Cover: 25% 

Nearest wildfire:  80mi.  Nearest lightning:  135mi

Wind:   21mph\Gusts:  38mph  Visibility: 10 mi

Record High: 86°[1956]   Record Low: 27°[2006]

Sep Averages: 74°\42° (5 days with rain)

Today’s Quote

Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.

Sophocles

Random Tidbits

There is a school in Tracy, California named Millennium High School. They're mascot is the Falcon. Yes, they are the Millennium Falcons.

The Pledge of Allegiance was originally conceived by a Christian Socialist, and was then adopted by a flag company as a marketing scheme to sell flags to schools.

Observances This Week

10-19

Palindrome Week 9-10-19…9-19-19

15-21

Balance Awareness Week Link   
Build A Better Image Week 
Child Passenger Safety Week Link  
International Clean Hands Week
Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week Link
National Farm & Ranch Safety and Health Week
National Historically Black Colleges & Universities Week
National Indoor Plant Week 
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week 
National Security Officer Appreciation Week  
National Singles Week 
Pollution Prevention Week Link
Prostate Cancer Awareness Week  

16-22

National Love Your Files Week Link 
National Postdoc Appreciation Week Link

17-23

Constitution Week

18-22

National Guitar Flat-Picking Days Link
Hummingbird Celebration: Link

Observances for Today

Air Force Birthday
Chiropractic Founders Day Link
Hug A Greeting Card Writer Day
International Day Against DRM  Link
National Ceiling Fan Day Link
National Cheeseburger Day Link  Link
National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day Link
National Play-Dough Day

National Rehabilitation Day
National Respect Day Link
National School Backpack Awareness Day  Link 
Rice Krispie Treat Day

World Water Monitoring Day Link Link

My Rambling Thoughts

A tad too windy for my today. Thankfully I don’t get the sand I lived with on the Rez.

So Cory is in front of the committee again…He ain’t saying much but at least he showed up. Way too much grandstanding on both side today. I so wish they would just ask a question and let the guy answer.  This particular hearing is not about finding anything new, it’s all about grandstanding. I’m watching to hear something new, but my head is about to explode.

I should have made some plans for today, but it is Tuesday and I just wanted to be around my clean house. Should have not turned on the TV, but a friend kept texting me about the hearings, so I had to watch to respond. Haha.

Focus is in Scotland. Ellie and crew seem to be having a great time. Thanks to Ann for posting pics and the adventure continues. I really enjoyed Scotland. Bob and I went to a pub one early evening. We sat at a table and enjoyed the music. Around 8p the band took a break. We had talked with them during an earlier break. Nice people. The band leader came to our table and said ‘…if anyone tells you to move, just tell them you are with the band…’. At the end of the break, the place was packed with more trying to get in. Sure enough, a bouncer came to our table and ask us to move. We said we were with the band. He apologized and we stayed until the next break, enjoying the music and the brews. A great evening I will never forget. The next day we were in another small town, and asked the bartender where we could find some Scottish music CD’s in town. He sent us to the local record shop and music store. The guy suggested the ‘Red Hot Chili Pipers’, a band that had just been in this town for a bagpipe competition. He pulled out a new CD, opened it and put it in a small boom box that was sitting next to the musical instruments he sold. The first song was  “We will Rock You’on the friggin Bagpipes. The second song was ‘Eye of the Tiger’  on the bagpipes. I was ready to buy it, but the guy went back and got me a new, unopened one. He said he would never sell a non-sealed CD. I reminded him I was standing there when he opened it for me to hear. Didn’t matter, I got the unopened one. I still enjoy listening to it.

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of this page

First you eat me, then you get eaten. What am I?

Highlight the black box to see the hint

Hard riddles get you used to thinking about metaphors and concepts. Not this one; keep it simple and literal to get to the solution. But ask yourself who or what the “you” is.

Historical Events

844 (Earthquake) Damasus, Syria

1793 - George Washington laid the cornerstone for the Capitol building in Washington D.C.

1848 - Baseball rule a 1st baseman can tag base for out instead of the runner

1850 - Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which required the return of escaped slaves to their owners.

1851 - The first edition of The New York Daily Times (now The New York Times) was published.

1927 - With 18 radio stations in the US, The Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) went on the air.

1947 The Central Intelligence Agency officially comes into existence after being established by President Truman in July

1961 - #1 Hit: Bobby Vee - Take Good Care of My Baby

1964 - The Addams Family debuted on ABC.

1965 - Get Smart and I Dream of Jeannie premiered on NBC

1970 - Jimi Hendrix (age 27) died in London.

1975 - Patty Hearst was captured by FBI agents and indicted.

1976 - #1 Hit: Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music

1978 - WKRP in Cincinnati premiered on CBS

1997 Ted Turner gives $1 billion to the United Nations, creating the public charity, the United Nations Foundation

1999 - #1 Hit: TLC - Unpretty

2001 First mailing of anthrax letters from Trenton, New Jersey in the 2001 anthrax attacks.

2010 - #1 Hit: Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

2016 Earliest known fishooks at 23,000 years old discovered on Okinawa Island, Japan, findings published in PNAS journal

2017 Hurricane Maria passes over the Caribbean island of Dominica as a category 5 hurricane, destroying 90% of structures and killing 27

2018 China announces new $60 billion tariffs on US imports, a day after the US imposes $200 billion worth of new tariffs on Chinese goods

2018 South Africa's Constitutional court legalizes cannabis use by adults in private places

Birthdays Today

Robert Blake [Michael Gubitosi], TV actor (Baretta) (86)

Jack Warden, character actor (d. 2006 @85)

Greta Garbo, Swedish/American actor (d. 1990 @84)

Fred Willard, actor, comedian (80)

Frankie Avalon, actor, singer (80)

Ben Carson, HUD Sec., Dr. (68)

Holly Robinson Peete, actor (55)

James Gandolfini (d. 2013 @51; heart attack)

Aisha Tyler, actor, TV host (49)

Lance Armstrong, disgraced cyclist (48)

Jada Pinket Smith, actress (48)

Ronaldo, soccer player (43)

Puzzle answer:

A fishhook

Sep 17

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Sep. 17, 2019 Week: 38  Day: 260

86004:   H 70° \ L 50° \ Average Sky Cover: 90% 

Nearest wildfire:  80mi.  Nearest lightning:  2mi

Wind:   7mph\Gusts:  17mph  Visibility: 10 mi

Record High: 88°[1956]   Record Low: 27°[1903]

Sep Averages: 74°\42° (5 days with rain)

Today’s Quote

The best and most beautiful things in the world

cannot be seen or even touched –

they must be felt with the heart.

 Helen Keller

Random Tidbits

Research on DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) has largely shown it to be ineffective, and in some cases it has increased the use of drugs at schools.

Observances This Week

10-19

Palindrome Week 9-10-19…9-19-19

14-17

World Goat Days  Link 

15-21

Balance Awareness Week Link   
Build A Better Image Week 
Child Passenger Safety Week Link  
International Clean Hands Week
Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week Link
National Farm & Ranch Safety and Health Week
National Historically Black Colleges & Universities Week
National Indoor Plant Week 
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week 
National Security Officer Appreciation Week  
National Singles Week 
Pollution Prevention Week Link
Prostate Cancer Awareness Week  

16-22

National Love Your Files Week Link 
National Postdoc Appreciation Week Link

17-23

Constitution Week

Observances for Today

Citizenship Day
Constitution Day Link
Get Ready Day Link  
International Country Music Day Link
IT Professionals Day (Third Tuesday)
National Apple Dumpling Day

National Monte Cristo Day Link
National Professional House Cleaners Day
Time's Up Day
VFW Ladies Auxiliary Day

My Rambling Thoughts

There was a nice 30-minute hard rain this morning. NICE! I had returned from shopping just as it started. The smell of fresh rain permeated that atmosphere!

UAW is striking for better pay. But the President said when he cut taxes the magnanimous corporations would have their increase profits trickle down to the workers.  Surprise, they never have and never will.

Lots of rumbling that gas prices will be going up, due to the Saudi oil field fires. I’m not concerned, the President said many times, in many speeches and tweets, that we are finally Energy Independent. Hope he is correct.  

PBS is running a series, County Music. I watched the first episode last night. It is awesome. The first 2-hour segment was on County Music prior to the 1930’s. This documentary is a must see for music lovers, history buffs, and anyone who just enjoys country music. And it’s 2 hour segments have NO commercials. Way to go Ken Burns & PBS.

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of this page

First, think of the color of the clouds. Next, think of the color of snow. Now, think of the color of a bright full moon. Now answer quickly what do cows drink?

Highlight the black box for a hint

Some riddles work by getting your brain to go through a series of associations so you get locked in and can’t think of alternatives. Be careful with this riddle. Is the question really connected to that color you were asked to think about? Most folks say that cows drink milk because they’re fixated on the color white.

Historical Events

1303 (Earthquake) China

1849 - Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery in Maryland.

1859 - Joshua Norton declared himself "Emperor of these United States" and subsequently "Protector of Mexico", renaming himself Norton !

1895 - The second U.S. battleship, but first named after a state, the USS Maine was commissioned.

1908 - Thomas Selfridge, a passenger in a plane piloted by Orville Wright, became the first airplane fatality when the craft crashed.

1947 - Jackie Robinson was named Rookie of Year by The Sporting News.

1964 - Bewitched premiered on ABC.

1965 - The Wild, Wild West and Hogan’s Heroes premiered on CBS.

1967 - Mission Impossible premiered on CBS.

1967 - The Doors appear on The Ed Sullivan Show and perform "Light My Fire". Sullivan had requested that the line "Girl we couldn't get much higher" be changed for the show, but Jim Morrison performed it the way it was written. The Doors never appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show again.

1972 - The first episode of M.A.S.H. aired on CBS.

1976 - NASA publicly unveiled the space shuttle Enterprise in Palmdale, California.

1978 - Battlestar Galactica premiered on ABC

1980 Polish workers under the leadership of Lech Wałęsa found the Solidarity movement at the Gdańsk Shipyard

1981 Fernando Valenzuela sets NL rookie record with 8th shutout of season

1983 - Vanessa Williams was crowned Miss America 1984.

1987 Pope John Paul II arrives in San Francisco, meets with AIDS patients, and embraces an AIDS infected child    

1996- The O.J. Simpson civil trial began

2005 - #1 Hit: Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx - Gold Digger

2009 - Archer premiered on FX

2011 - #1 Hit: Adele - Someone Like You

2011 - The Occupy Wall Street movement began in Zucotti Park, New York City

2012 Panasonic suspends operations at its three factories in China

2018 US border control agent confesses to the murder of four women and assault of another in Laredo, Texas

2018 Hurricane Florence has caused 900 people to be rescued from flooding, death toll at 23, city of Wilmington isolated officials announce

Birthdays Today

Roddy McDowall, actor, director, photographer

(d. 1928 @70; lung cancer)

Anne Bancroft

[Anna Maria Louisa Italiano], actor, director

(d. 2005 @73; uterine cancer)

Cassandra 'Elvira' Peterson, actor (68)

Rita Rudner, comedian (66)

Baz Luhrmann, writer, director (Moulin Rouge!) (57)

Bryan Singer, director, producer, writer (54)

John Ritter, Comedian, actor

 (d. 2003 @54; ruptured heart vessel)

Nick Berkus, designer, TV host (48)

Hank Williams, country singer

(d. 1953 @29; hemorrhages)

Puzzle answer:

Water