30 Sep

 

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 40 Day 273 \ Ave. Sky Cover 5% \ Visibility 10 miles Flagstaff Today 73° \44° 
Wind 4mph \ Gusts 7smph  Air Quality Fair
High Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 28mi \ Nearest Lightning 89mi
Sep Averages for Flagstaff: 74° \ 42° (5days of moisture)

 

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

19-30 International Women's Commerce Days

25-10/1  Banned Books Week National Chimney Safety Week  National Fall Foliage Week   National Keep Kids Creative Week  Remember to Register to Vote Week  Sea Otter Awareness Week   World Hearing Aid Awareness Week

30-10/9  International Sand Sculpting Championships Link

Daily Observations

Ask A Stupid Question Day Link 
Blasphemy Day  Link
Chewing Gum Day

Hot Mulled Cider Day 
Hug A Vegan Day 
International Podcast Day Link
International Translation Day Link
National Love People Day Link
National Mulled Cider Day Link
Recovery Day Link
Support Purple for Platelets Day  Link  
Vegan Baking Day 
Wrigley Chewing Gum Day

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Enjoying another nice fall day.

I had a nice lunch with Mary. Mike was busy packing as they are headed for Phoenix later this afternoon. Good food, good conversation.

The Maricopa County Attorney says she will prosecute violent crimes, fentanyl, and other public safety threat and will not prosecute women who seek an abortion.

Ian brought wind over 150mph. I lived in Boulder for college. Wind off the flatirons could be very strong…the strongest was in the early 1970’s while I was living in Williams Village high rise dorm. I was on the sixth floor. Wind a little over 100mph hit campus. I saw bicycles that hadn’t been locked slide along the sidewalk. I saw a couple of young people who fell and slid along the sidewalk. I remember seeing news footage the next day of Williams Village swaying in the wind. I can’t imagine 150mph wind.

The State Dept. is warning that men in Russia with dual citizenship may be drafted to fight in Ukraine. What a mess.

It is getting harder and harder to believe the news stories. Forbes listed the richest 400 and Donald Trump was number 343. The news does not paint that picture of him.

Favorite Memes

Superstitions

Walking Under a Ladder

This one has a morbid beginning. Back in medieval times, ladders were associated with the gallows where people were hanged. A person who made the mistake of walking under a ladder was believed to be facing their own death by hanging in the near future. There was also the belief that because people were hanged from the top of the ladder, the area underneath was haunted. 

US Facts

Mayflower descendants

Experts estimate that around one in 10 Americans could be a direct relative to one of the 102 pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620.

Historical Events

1452 – Johann Gutenberg published his first edition of The Bible.

It was completed by 1456.

1641 – America’s first “Annual fair” was held in New Netherlands (Now New Jersey/New York area).

1927 – Babe Ruth hit his 60th home run of the season, a record that stood until 1961.

Birthdays Today

91 – Angie Dickinson, American actress

“You can’t stop the aging process. There’s only so much oil you can put on your body. I’ve always just tried to go with my age.”– Angie Dickinson

87 – Johnny Mathis, American singer

@86 – Deborah Kerr, Scottish-English actress (d. 2007)

@72 – Ann Jarvis, American activist, co-founded Mother’s Day (d. 1905)

@70 – William Wrigley, Jr., founded Wrigley Company (d. 1932)

65 – Fran Drescher, American comedic actress

“Sometimes people come into your life for a season and other times for a lifetime.”

– Fran Drescher

61 – Eric Stoltz, American actor,

“I don’t want to see the zipper in the back of the monster suit. Like everybody else who goes to the movies, I want to believe the monster is real.”– Eric Stoltz

@59 – Truman Capote, American novelist, playwright, screenwriter (d. 1984; OD)

“Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot.”– Truman Capote

“Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.”– Truman Capote

51 – Jenna Elfman, American actress

40 – Lacey Chabert, American actress

@25 – Frankie Lymon, American singer-songwriter (d. 1968; OD)

  

29 Sep

 

 

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 40 Day 272 \ Ave. Sky Cover 10% \ Visibility 10 miles Flagstaff Today 75° \45° 
Wind 5mph \ Gusts 9mph  Air Quality Fair
Moderate Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 642mi \ Nearest Lightning 89mi
Sep Averages for Flagstaff: 74° \ 42° (5days of moisture)

 

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

19-30 International Women's Commerce Days

25-10/1  Banned Books Week National Chimney Safety Week  National Fall Foliage Week   National Keep Kids Creative Week  Remember to Register to Vote Week  Sea Otter Awareness Week World Hearing Aid Awareness Week

Daily Observations

Biscotti Day
Confucius Day
Coffee Day
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste Reduction
MAGS Day  Link
Marble’s Day (Snoopy’s brother)
Mocha Day
Michaelmas Link
Mutation Day (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) Link
National Attend Your Grandchild's Birth Day
National Biscotti Day
National Coffee Day Link
VFW Day
World Heart Day  Link
Silent Movie Night
World Maritime Day

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Another nice fall day…monsoon maybe this afternoon.

Ian has changed course a little and made land. I heard from my friends in Florida and everyone is OK, just very wet. I hope it stays that way.

Two pipelines that bring natural gas from Russia to Europe are leaking huge amounts of gas into the ocean. All sides believe it was sabotage. No one is taking credit, so tensions are higher than they have been.

This morning the State Department told US citizens and those with dual (US/Russia) citizenship to leave that country 'immediately'. The Russian people were so nice on our Trans-Siberian rail trip. This mess is so hard on the population.

Even before Ian, gas prices in Arizona were up 20¢ than a week ago and up 50¢ in the last month. They say it is due to CA refinery issues. The news says we won’t see prices below $3/gal again. Now with Ian, I’m sure they will go up even more.

I went to Sam’s this morning. Got what I needed and then picked up pants and a shirt for fall, both at a good price!

Favorite Memes

Superstitions

Crossing Your Fingers

This lucky superstition started back in the pre-Christian days when crosses were symbols of power and unity and people believed there was power in the middle area of the cross. They would cross their fingers and make a wish while focusing on the center area. 

US Facts

Good Samaritans

More than 69% of American firefighters are volunteers.

Historical Events

1829 – Scotland Yard began activity.
1907 – The cornerstone was laid at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (Washington National Cathedral) in Washington, DC.
1938 – The Treaty of Munich was signed by Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Daladier & Chamberlain. Contrary to some overly optimistic high hopes, it did not prevent World War II.
1963 – Rolling Stones 1st tour, opening for Bo Diddley and The Everly Brothers.
1982 – Cheers premiered on NBC.
1985 – The first of seven cyanide-laced Tylenol victims died. This event is what made manufacturers begin using tamper-proof packaging.
1988 – NASA launched Discovery (STS-26), the first mission since the Challenger disaster.
1992 – Magic Johnson came out of retirement to play for the Los Angeles Lakers after retiring less than a year earlier. He retired again in 1996.

Birthdays Today

@91 – Greer Garson, English-American actress (d. 1996)
“When you can’t wait for your ship to come in, you’ve got to row out to it.”– Greer Garson
@91 – Gene Autry, American singer, actor (d. 1998)
“A cowboy never takes unfair advantage, even of an enemy.”– Gene Autry
@87 – Stanley Kramer, American director, producer (d. 2001)
87 – Jerry Lee Lewis, American singer-songwriter, pianist
@86 – László Bíró, Hungarian-Argentinian inventor, invented the ballpoint pen (d. 1985)
@83 – Anita Ekberg, Swedish-Italian model, and actress (d. 2015)
79 – Lech Walesa, Polish electrician, 2nd President of Poland, Nobel Prize laureate
“We respect the dignity and the rights of every man and every nation. The path to a brighter future of the world leads through honest reconciliation of the conflicting interests and not through hatred and bloodshed. To follow that path means to enhance the moral power of the all-embracing idea of human solidarity.”– Lech Walesa
@68 – Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish novelist, poet, playwright (d. 1616; diabetes?)
“In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd.”– Miguel de Cervantes
@56 – Guadalupe Victoria, Mexican general, 1st President of Mexico (d. 1843; epilepsy)
@53 – Enrico Fermi, Italian-American physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1954; cancer)
“Never underestimate the joy people derive from hearing something they already know.”
– Enrico Fermi
@57 – Madeline Kahn, American actress (d. 1999’ ovarian cancer)

 

28 Sep

 

 

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 40 Day 271 \ Ave. Sky Cover 15% \ Visibility 10 miles Flagstaff Today 73° \45° 
Wind 8mph \ Gusts 12mph  Air Quality
Moderate Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 28mi \ Nearest Lightning 25mi
Sep Averages for Flagstaff: 74° \ 42° (5days of moisture)

 

Today’s Quote

 

Weekly Observations

19-30 International Women's Commerce Days

25-10/1  Banned Books Week National Chimney Safety Week  National Fall Foliage Week   National Keep Kids Creative Week  Remember to Register to Vote Week  Sea Otter Awareness Week    World Hearing Aid Awareness Week

Daily Observations

Ask a Stupid Question Day
Drink Beer Day
Good Neighbor Day
Strawberry Cream Pie Day
Confucius Day
Fast of Gedalya [Jewish]
Fish Tank Floorshow Night
International Day for Universal Access To Information
International Right To Know Day Link
National Drink Beer Day Link
National Good Neighbor Day  
Women's Health & Fitness Day Link 
World Rabies Day

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

A nice fall day. May have some monsoon rain later today or tomorrow.

Hurricane Ian is headed to Florida. It is the reason Artemis is postponed again because of the hurricane this time.

Dart hit its asteroid object. Great pictures for sure. Now the wait is on to see if it worked.

In football the Pro Bowl has been around forever. Now it is being replaced by the Pro Bowl Games that will take place a week before each Super Bowl. Guess the NFL wants an even bigger audience.

I had never heard of the Jones Act. It was passed in 1920 to protect shipping companies from competition from other countries competition. Over a hundred years later it continues to hurt Puerto Rico relief efforts. The Act states that ships that fly a foreign flag must have a waiver to land in America. Today, while thousands for Puerto Rico Americans do not have electricity or running water, there is 300,000 barrels of diesel from Texas sitting in a Puerto Rico harbor, unable to unload the much needed cargo because the ship is flying a foreign flag. Wake up again Congress and fix this yesterday.

Favorite Memes

Superstitions

Blessing a Sneeze

It’s become a reflex to bless someone after they sneeze. Little do you know; you could be saving them from damnation. This custom originated with an old superstition that a person’s soul separated from their body when they sneezed. Saying “Bless you” was a way to keep the devil from swooping in to steal their soul before they recovered. 

US Facts

Ancient rivers

Three of the five oldest rivers in the world are in the United States. They are the New, the Susquehanna, and the French Broad Rivers.

Historical Events

1066 – William the Conqueror landed in England, beginning the Norman conquest.
1850 – Flogging (whipping) in the Navy and Merchant Marines was abolished by the US.
1941 – Ted Williams achieved a .406 batting average for the season, and was the last MLB player to bat .400 or better.
1951 – CBS unsuccessfully launched their own color televisions; a different system became popular later.
1951 – The science-fiction classic film, The Day the Earth Stood Still, was released.
1963 – Tennessee Tuxedo cartoon debuted on CBS.
1980 – Carl Sagan’s 13 part Cosmos premiered on PBS.
2006 – The City Council of Reykjavik and neighboring municipalities agreed to turn off all the city lights in the capital area for half an hour, while a renowned astronomer talked about the stars and the constellations on national radio.

Birthdays Today

@89 – William S. Paley, American broadcaster, founded CBS (d. 1990)
“White lies always introduce others of a darker complexion.”– William S. Paley
88 – Brigitte Bardot, French actress
@76 – Ben E. King, American singer-songwriter (d. 2015)
“I still think my whole career was accidental. I didn’t pursue it. I feel like I’m cheating sometimes.”– Ben E. King
@73 – Ed Sullivan, American television host (d. 1974; cancer)
@71ish – Confucius, Chinese teacher, and philosopher (d. 479 BC)
“A man is great not because he hasn’t failed; a man is great because failure hasn’t stopped him.”– Confucius
“A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others.”– Confucius
@70 – Al Capp, American author, and illustrator (d. 1979; emphysema)
“Success is following the pattern of life one enjoys most.”– Al Capp
55 – Mira Sorvino, American actress
54 – Naomi Watts, English-Australian actress
@39 – Sean Levert, American R&B singer-songwriter (d. 2008; Sarcoidosis)
35 – Hilary Duff, American actress, Lizzie McGuire
“Be bold before you get stuck not being bold.”– Hilary Duff