12 Nov

 

November 2022

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 46 Day 316 \ Ave. Sky Cover 5% \ Visibility 10 miles Flagstaff Today 40° \14° 
Wind 13mph \ Gusts 17mph  Air Quality: Fair\Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 124mi \ Nearest Lightning 864mi
Nov Averages for Flagstaff: 53° \ 23° (3 days of moisture)

Today’s Quote

 

Weekly Observations

Polar Bear Week: 6-13
Dear Santa Letter Week: 7-13
National Donor Sabbath: 10-12
World Antibiotic Awareness Week: 11-17
National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week: 12-18 Link  
International Fraud Awareness Week: 12-18  
International Fraud Awareness Week: 12-18  Link   
National Cider Week: 12-19 
National Cider Week: 12-19 Link 
National Split Pea Soup Week: 12-18
National Split Pea Soup Week: 12-18 Link
National Nurse Practioner's Week: 12-18 Link  Link
Perioperative Nurse Week: 12-18 Link
Roc Your Moc Week: 12-18 Link  
World Kindness Week: 12-18  
World Kindness Week: 12-18  Link 

Daily Observations

Chicken Soup For The Soul Day  Link
Diwali Link 
Fancy Rat & Mouse Day  
Fancy Rat & Mouse Day  Link
Football Day Link
National Chicken Soup for the Soul Day
National French Dip Day Link
National Happy Hour Day
National Pizza with the Works Except for Anchovies Day
Sigma Gamma Rho Day
World Pneumonia Day

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

A very chilly Veteran’s Day. Being a Federal Holiday, I believe everyone should have a day off. I am staying around the house and not encouraging businesses that are open.

Family Flag is flying to honor our vets.

AZ is still waiting for our final election results…tired of the holding pattern.

A Federal judge from TX has struck down Biden’s College Loan Forgiveness Plan. I’m sure there will be numerous appeals.

Here is an interesting stat I found today: Native Americans service in the armed forces is at a rate FIVE times the national average.

During Native American Heritage Month, the Phoenix Suns NBA team is wearing uniforms to honor the 22 tribes of AZ. Very cool.

Favorite Memes

	Still figuring out my new ride :)

Best Instrumentals

"Always with Me, Always with You" by Joe Satriani (1989)

No doubt that Satriani is up there with the great guitarists in music history. From a technical standpoint, he could be the best. There are many great Satriani tracks to choose from, but this is one of his most celebrated. It's also likely his most recognizable as it earned plenty of FM radio airplay, and the video received some decent love on MTV. 

Meaning/history of a phrase

A snafu

This expression is often used when something has gone wrong. But what does it mean, really?

"Snafu" comes from the World War II military acronym S.N.A.F.U., which stands for Situation Normal, All F**** Up. Which, in a context of war, means exactly that.

Historical Events

1799 – Andrew Ellicott wrote the about first known record of a meteor shower observed in the US. We now know they were the Leonids.
1847 – Sir James Young Simpson, the father of modern anesthetics, used chloroform (“perchloride of formyle”) for the first time as an anesthetic in an operation.
1927 – The Holland Tunnel connecting NY and NY – the world’s first underwater vehicular tunnel – officially opened.
1927 – Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Soviet Communist Party.
1929 – Commander Richard E. Byrd made the first flight over the South Pole.
1933 – First known photo of the so-called Loch Ness Monster was taken by Hugh Gray.
1946 – The Exchange National Bank of Chicago, Illinois, instituted the first drive-in banking service in America.
1954 – Ellis Island in New York closed after providing entrance to the US for 12 million immigrants between 1892 and 1924.
1956 – The largest iceberg on record was sighted by the USS Glacier, a U. S. Navy icebreaker, about 150 miles west of Scott Island in the Southern Hemisphere. It had broken from the Ross Ice Shelf in the Antarctic. It was about 208 miles long and 60 miles wide.
1980 – The NASA space probe Voyager I made the closest approach to Saturn and took the first clear images of its rings.

Birthdays Today

@91 – DeWitt Wallace, philanthropist co-founded Reader’s Digest, (d. 1981)
@83 – Charles Manson, American cult leader (d. 2017)
@79 – Kim Hunter, American actress (d. 2002; heart attack)
78 – Al Michaels, American sportscaster
77 – Neil Young, Canadian Singer/Songwriter, guitarist, and producer
@77 – Auguste Rodin, French sculptor, illustrator, created The Thinker (d. 1917)
“To the artist, there is never anything ugly in nature.”… “The more simple we are, the more complete we become.– Auguste Rodin
64 – Megan Mullally, American actress, singer
61 – Nadia Comaneci, Romanian Olympic Gymnast
54 – Sammy Sosa, Dominican-American baseball player
53 – Tonya Harding, American figure skater
“Getting angry doesn’t solve anything.”– Grace Kelly
“People are gonna believe what they want to believe And like I said before, I really don’t give a damn.”– Tonya Harding
@52 – Grace Kelly, American actress, later Princess Grace of Monaco (d. 1982; stoke)
46 – Tevin Campbell, American R&B Singer/Songwriter, actor
42 – Ryan Gosling, Canadian actor, producer, and singer
40 – Anne Hathaway, American actress
38 – Omarion, American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer

 

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)