11 Noc

11 November 2022

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 46 Day 315 \ Ave. Sky Cover 5% \ Visibility 10 miles Flagstaff Today 44° \13° 
Wind 4mph \ Gusts 5mph  Air Quality: Fair \Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 124mi \ Nearest Lightning 771mi
Nov Averages for Flagstaff: 53° \ 23° (3 days of moisture)

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

World Origami Days: 24-11/11
Drowsy Driving Prevention Week: 5-11  Link   
Give Wildlife A Brake! Week: 5-11  
Give Wildlife A Brake! Week: 5-11  Link 
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week: 5-11 
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week: 5-11 Link   
National Radiologic Technology Week: 5-11 
National Radiologic Technology Week: 5-11 Link  
National Book Awards Week: 5-11
Polar Bear Week: 6-13
Children’s Book Week: 6-11 
National Book Awards Week: 5-11
Polar Bear Week: 6-13
Children’s Book Week: 6-11 Link  (Also May 2-8) 
National Patient Accessibility Week: 6-10  
National Young Readers Week: 6-10 (Pizza Hut) 
National Patient Accessibility Week: 6-10  
National Young Readers Week: 6-10 (Pizza Hut) Link
Dear Santa Letter Week: 7-13
National Donor Sabbath: 10-12
World Antibiotic Awareness Week: 11-17

Daily Observations

Armistice Day/Veteran's Day Link
Death/Duty Day
Forget-Me-Not Day Link  
National Sundae Day
National Sundae Day
Origami Day
Red Lipstick Day
Remembrance Day (England)
Singles’ Day

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

A chilly day. No snow yesterday or today.

I had lunch with Mary, Mike, Faith, and Andy at Olive Garden. Great lunch and good conversation. We will meet up after I get back from Thanksgiving.

The 11^th is Veteran’s Day…a Federal holiday to honor our many veterans who have helped keep this country free. Thanks to all for their service.

AZ election results: I expected some delays during the 2020 election. Covid was in full swing, and everyone was masked, so it took time to get the results. This is 2022. We won’t know the results of this election until early next week. They are blaming it on new laws about voting and the fact that many turned in their early ballots on election day. Our statewide races are very close. I find these delay excuses nothing more than excuses for incompetence.

Favorite Memes

Best Instrumentals

"One of the These Days" by Pink Floyd (1971)

Pink Floyd has been known for many notable instrumental-like tracks ("On The Run," "The Great Gig in the Sky"), but this one should stand above all. It's one of the Floyd's heavier tunes and the opening song on the underrated Meddle album. The nearly six-minute cut offers a crescendoing pace and also highlights the often overshadowed drum work of Nick Mason. 

Meaning/history of a phrase

To wreak havoc

We tend to associate this phrase with things getting out of control and the destruction that may come with it.

The origins of the phrase actually mean the same, but it was used on the battlefield to give soldiers permission to do whatever they wanted, including committing slaughter. The practice was actually outlawed in England in the 1300s.

Historical Events

1215 – The Fourth Lateran Council met, defining the doctrine of transubstantiation, the process by which bread and wine are, by that doctrine, said to transform into the body and blood of Christ.
1790 – Chrysanthemums were introduced to England from China by M. Cels (France).
1864 – Sherman’s March to the Sea – General William Tecumseh Sherman began burning Atlanta, Georgia to the ground in preparation for his march south.
1918 – Armistice signed by the Allies and Germany comes into ending WW I.
1921 – President Harding dedicated the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. It is also known as The Tomb of the Unknowns.
1926 – U.S. Route 66 was established. It has also been called The Will Rogers Highway.
1938 – Kate Smith first sang Irving Berlin’s God Bless America on her radio show. Irving Berlin had originally written it in 1918.
1994 – Bill Gates bought Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester for $30,800,000. It was an insightful overview of Leonardo’s thoughts on various topics. It was also the most expensive book or manuscript of all time.
2004 – The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) confirmed the death of Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas was elected chairman of the PLO minutes later.

Birthdays Today

@92 – Alger Hiss, American lawyer and convicted spy (d. 1996)
@87 – Jonathan Winters, American actor, and screenwriter (d. 2013)
“I couldn’t wait for success, so I went ahead without it.”– Jonathan Winters
@84 – Kurt Vonnegut, American novelist, short story writer, and essayist (d. 2007)
“A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved. “– Kurt Vonnegut
@83 – Pat O’Brien, American actor (d. 1983)
82 – Barbara Boxer, American journalist, politician
62 – Stanley Tucci, American actor, and director
“A dream that you don’t fight for can haunt you for the rest of your life.”– Stanley Tucci
@60 – George S. Patton, American general (d. 1945; car accident)
“Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the man who leads that gains that victory. “– George S. Patton
60 – Demi Moore, American actress, director, and producer
58 – Calista Flockhart, American actress
@47 – Paracelsus, Swiss-German alchemist, physician, astrologer, occultist (d. 1541)
48 – Leonardo DiCaprio, American actor, and producer

  

10 Nov

 

November 2022

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 46 Day 315 \ Ave. Sky Cover 90% \ Visibility 10 miles Flagstaff Today 40° \13° 
Wind 6mph \ Gusts 14mph  Air Quality: Fair \Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 124mi \ Nearest Lightning 1305mi
Nov Averages for Flagstaff: 53° \ 23° (3 days of moisture) 

Today’s Quote

 

Weekly Observations

World Origami Days: 24-11/11
Drowsy Driving Prevention Week: 5-11  Link   
Give Wildlife A Brake! Week: 5-11  
Give Wildlife A Brake! Week: 5-11  Link 
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week: 5-11 
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week: 5-11 Link   
National Radiologic Technology Week: 5-11 
National Radiologic Technology Week: 5-11 Link  
National Book Awards Week: 5-11
Polar Bear Week: 6-13
Children’s Book Week: 6-11 
National Book Awards Week: 5-11
Polar Bear Week: 6-13
Children’s Book Week: 6-11 Link  (Also May 2-8) 
National Patient Accessibility Week: 6-10  
National Young Readers Week: 6-10 (Pizza Hut) 
National Patient Accessibility Week: 6-10  
National Young Readers Week: 6-10 (Pizza Hut) Link
Dear Santa Letter Week: 7-13
National Donor Sabbath: 10-12

Daily Observations

Area Code Day
Domino Day Link 
International Accounting Day 
International Accounting Day  Link 
NET Cancer Awareness Day 
NET Cancer Awareness Day  Link
Marine Corps Birthday
National Forget-Me-Not Day
National Vanilla Cupcake Day
Sesame Street Day
Windows Day (Microsoft; 1983)
World Science Day for Peace and Development Link

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Chilly and windy here. Lots of moisture, and it is rain, not snow. The 1-3” hasn’t shown up yet.

I still don’t know the final results of the AZ elections. This is always a Maricopa County (Phx) issue. At noon, they had only counted 70% of their ballots. It is too bad they can’t figure out a better way.

The Dems stopped the Red Wave that the pollsters had predicted. It is not over until the fat lady sings and Maricopa counts all their votes. It was also nice to see the return of the loser to concede to the winner. It happened on both sides…Nice!

There will be a new President and VP in the Navajo Nation. The incumbent from Shonto lost. There will also be the Navajo Nation’s first female VP. Things are a changin’.

A new issue for H1B visa holders, the visas issued when the applicant has a tech job that is not easily filled by American citizens: It turns out that the H1B visa is only good if the person is employed and the company ‘sponsors’ the person. As tech companies are letting many people go, the H1B visa holders have 60 days for find another job…in tech…or leave the country. A tough situation for many.

Favorite Memes

Best Instrumentals

"(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth" by Metallica (1983)

Few will argue that the late Cliff Burton still sits atop the heap when it comes to thrash metal bass players. Burton's ability and creativity on the bass were showcased on each of Metallica's first three albums, but this cut from the band's groundbreaking debut Kill 'Em All stands above the rest. Rock fans probably never thought a bass guitar could sound like that. Then, we were introduced to Cliff Burton. 

Meaning/history of a phrase

Pulling my leg

"Pulling my leg" is usually used when someone is trying to fool us, or playing us in a way. It's a popular expression in the UK, and it can be traced back to Victorian London.

Back then, dragging a person by the leg was a common way for robbers to get their hands on one's possessions.

Historical Events

1619 – René Descartes had the dreams that inspired his Meditations on First Philosophy.
1775 – The United States Marine Corps Was Born
1871 – Henry Morton Stanley in Ujiji, Central Africa, encountered David Livingstone with the immortal words: ‘Dr. Livingstone, I presume?’
1885 – The world’s 1st motorcycle, designed by Gottlieb Daimler, made its 1st test-run.
1908 – The first Gideon Bible put in hotel rooms at the Superior Hotel in Superior, Montana.
1951 – Area Codes were introduced in the United States.
1975 – The 729-foot-long freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank during a storm on Lake Superior, killing all 29 crew on board.
Bill Gates introduced Windows 1.0 in 1983.
1974 – The discovery of the “charmed quark” subatomic particle was announced simultaneously by an MIT group at Brookhaven National Laboratory and a SLAC-Berkeley group on the west coast at Stanford Linear accelerator center.
1975 – The 729-foot-long freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank during a storm on Lake Superior, killing all 29 crew on board.
1997 – WorldCom and MCI Communications announced a $37 billion merger, the largest merger in US history up to that time.

Birthdays Today

@94 – Mikhail Kalashnikov, Russian general and engineer designed the AK-47, (d. 2013)
@58 – Richard Burton, Welsh actor, singer (d. 1984; stroke)
@75 – Roy Scheider, American actor (d. 2008; myeloma)
77 – Donna Fargo, American Singer/Songwriter, guitarist
@77 – Claude Rains, English-American actor (d. 1967; hemorrange)
75 – Dave Loggins, American Singer/Songwriter, guitarist
@74 – John Bevis, English physician and astronomer discovered The Crab Nebula, (d. 1771)
@72 – George Jennings, invented the flush toilet, (d. 1882; horse accident)
66 – Sinbad (David Adkins), American comedian, actor, producer
@62 – Martin Luther, German monk, leader of the Protestant Reformation, (d. 1546; stroke)
“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.”
Martin Luther
54 – Tracy Morgan, American comedian, actor, and producer
53 – Ellen Pompeo, American actress, and producer
52 – Warren G, American rapper and producer
44 – Eve, American rapper, producer
39 – Miranda Lambert, American Singer/Songwriter, and guitarist
33 – Taron Egerton, Welsh actor
28 – Zoey Deutch, American actress
@25 – Michael Strank, American sergeant, flag raiser: Battle of Iwo Jima, (d. 1945; in battle)
@22 – Jason Dunham, American soldier Medal of Honor recipient, (d. 2004; Iraq War)

 

9 Nov

 

9 November 2022

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 46 Day 313 \ Ave. Sky Cover 5% \ Visibility 10 miles Flagstaff Today 55° \31° 
Wind 19mph \ Gusts 10mph  Air Quality: Fair \Moderate Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 124mi \ Nearest Lightning 410miNov Averages for Flagstaff: 53° \ 23° (3 days of moisture)

Today’s Quote

 

Weekly Observations

World Origami Days: 24-11/11
Drowsy Driving Prevention Week: 5-11  Link   
Give Wildlife A Brake! Week: 5-11  
Give Wildlife A Brake! Week: 5-11  Link 
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week: 5-11 
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week: 5-11 Link   
National Radiologic Technology Week: 5-11 
National Radiologic Technology Week: 5-11 Link  
National Book Awards Week: 5-11
Polar Bear Week: 6-13
Children’s Book Week: 6-11 
National Book Awards Week: 5-11
Polar Bear Week: 6-13
Children’s Book Week: 6-11 Link  (Also May 2-8) 
National Patient Accessibility Week: 6-10  
National Young Readers Week: 6-10 (Pizza Hut) 
National Patient Accessibility Week: 6-10  
National Young Readers Week: 6-10 (Pizza Hut) Link
Dear Santa Letter Week: 7-13

Daily Observations

Carl Sagan Day  Link
Go to an Art Museum Today Day
International Tempranillo Day Link
Kristallnacht-10
Microtia Awareness Day  Link
National Child Safety Council Day
National Louisiana Day
National Scrapple Day
World Freedom Day

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Windy day….storm a brewin’ for tomorrow….weather computer says 1-3” of snow, I’ll wait and see.

I went to the dentist this morning to get measured for the crown. He explained what happened, and sort of apologized. I’ll give him one more chance. They ‘laser measured’ my mouth for the crown. No more biting on that clay stuff to get an impression. I hope to get a good fit.

After the dentist I stopped at my polling place to vote. There was no line, but they had at least a dozen stands to vote. The sign-in is all computerized with my driver’s license and then I sign an iPad. They still use a paper ballot marked in ink. My ballot had 14 propositions. It took a while, but I was out in about 15 minutes. I hope everyone voted.

I learned something about polls I hadn’t realized. Most of the polls rely on landlines for their polls. That was OK back-in-the-day when almost all voters had one. Today many voters do not have a landline anymore. The upside is that they don’t get all those polling phone calls, the downside is that they don’t get many voter’s opinions. I don’t listen much to polls anyway as they are seldom right when the election results come in.

Whatever the outcome of Nov. 8 results, we are still a United States of America and voting is very important. If it wasn’t important, why would the far-right try so hard to make it difficult to vote?

Favorite Memes

Best Instrumentals

"Sirius" by The Alan Parsons Project (1982)

The opening track and lead-in to the band's hit "Eye in the Sky" off the album of the same name. These two tunes are perhaps the most recognizable from the band. And this instrumental opener should be quite familiar to fans of the Chicago Bulls. It's the song that plays during the club's starting lineup introductions. It was made super popular during those dominant Michael Jordan championship years of the 1990s. 

Meaning/history of a phrase

Mad as a hatter

This one is fairly easy to associate with the Mad Hatter in Lewis Carroll’s book 'Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.'

But the character himself is quite dark. Back in Victorian times, men were actually suffering from mental health problems caused by exposure to mercury, which was used to make felt hats more flexible.

Historical Events

1857 – The Atlantic was founded in Boston, Massachusetts.
1872 – The Great Boston Fire of 1872. 13 people died.
1887 – The United States received rights to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
1906 – Theodore Roosevelt became the first sitting President of the United States to make an official trip outside the country. He did so to inspect progress on the Panama Canal.
1938 – Al Capp, cartoonist of Lil’l Abner created Sadie Hawkins Day. It was now “celebrated” on the first Saturday after November 9th.
1938 – Crystal Night (Kristallnacht) took place in Germany. 30,000 Jews were arrested and nearly 100 were killed.
1953 – Supreme Court ruled Major League baseball exempt from anti-trust laws. Basically, it was a mechanism to make sure a player could not just quit one team to work for another team.
1955 – The National Child Safety Council (NCSC) was founded.
1961 – The X-15 rocket plane achieved a world record speed of 4,093 mph (Mach 6.04) and reached 101,600 feet (over 19 miles) altitude, piloted by US Air Force Major Robert M. White.
1965- Roger Allen LaPorte, protesting against the Vietnam War, set himself on fire in front of the United Nations building.
1965 – There was a blackout over much of the Northeastern United States, more than 30 million people were affected.
1967 – The first issue of Rolling Stone magazine was published.
1989 – The Berlin Wall fell. It was constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) starting on August 13, 1961.
2005 – The Venus Express mission of the European Space Agency was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
2011 – At 2:00 PM EST, all US TV and radio stations in the Emergency Alert System were tested simultaneously, the first nationwide test of the system since the 1997 inception of the EAS.

Birthdays Today

@85 – Hedy Lamarr, Austrian-American actress, inventor (d. 2000)
“Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid.”-Hedy Lamarr
@77 – Spiro Agnew, American soldier, politician 39th Vice President, (d. 1996; leukemia)
@72 – Mary Travers, American Singer/Songwriter (d. 2009; leukemia)
71 – Lou Ferrigno, American bodybuilder, actor
@62 – Carl Sagan, American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist (d. 1996; cancer)
“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe.”
“In the fabric of space and in the nature of matter, as in a great work of art, there is, written small, the artist’s signature.”– Carl Sagan
49 – Nick Lachey, American Singer/Songwriter, producer, actor
44 – Sisqó, American Singer/Songwriter, producer, actor
@42 – Dorothy Dandridge, American actress, singer, and dancer (d. 1965; OD)
“I can’t play a slave.”– Dorothy Dandridge
42 – Vanessa (née Minnillo) Lachey, Filipino-American TV host, actress
34 – Nikki Blonsky, American actress, singer, dancer