30 Mar

30 March 2023

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 13 Day 89 \ Ave. Sky Cover a% \ Visibility 21 miles Flagstaff Today 59° \28°  Wind 11mph \ Gusts 22mph 
Air Quality: Moderate \ Moderate Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 245mi \ Nearest Lightning 1216mi
Mar. Averages for Flagstaff: 51° \ 23° \6 Days of moisture
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

 3/22-4/8
       Lent
       19-4/16
        National Cherry Blossom Festival Link  
22-4/20
       Ramadan
24-30
       National Farm Workers Awareness Week Link
25-31
       National Physicians Week Link
26-4/1
        Consider Christianity Week
         International Phace Syndrome Awareness Week
         National Cleaning Week Link
26-4/9
         Passiontide
26-4/1
         Passion Week
29-4/1
         International Listening Association Week
30-4/2
        Mule Days

Daily Observations

Doctors Day   Link
Grass Is Always Browner On The Other Side Of The Fence Day
I Am In Control Day Link
International Laundry Folding Day
Pencil Day
Take a Walk in the Park Day Torrents Day Link
Turkey Neck Soup Day Virtual Vacation Day  Link
World Bi-polar Day Link

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Another nice spring day..

I got my latest Verizon upgrade notice yesterday. I went to the nearest Verizon store. It was a very good experience. It took some time, but I got the 14 max pro. So far I’m happy with it. The best part, I was able to do the change from my old iPhone right there and it only took about 20 minutes. Verizon is learning about customer service.

Last week a local bank was robbed by a young man. Yesterday he and his buddy…aged 16 and 15, were arrested in in Barstow,  CA. Turns out CA, AZ and a few other states had arrest warrants active for both of them.

Last night, CNN had a segment on Assault Weapons and how the bullets explode internally of the victim. The video shot an assault weapon bullet into that gel-material, then shot a regular rifle bullet into gel-material. This should be mandatory videos for every person in Congress and state legislatures. I believe this would change their attitude about gun reform laws we so desperately need.

Enjoy…

 

Facts…

Dr. Seuss wrote Green Eggs and Ham because someone bet him it was impossible to write a children's book with fewer than 50 different words in it. 

More Slang origins…

Scarce As Hen’s Teeth

If something’s as scarce as hen’s teeth, you probably won’t have much luck finding it. This phrase is used to denote something that is extremely rare or in short supply.

Beauty in our 50 states…

19. West Virginia

You may not mean to drive to it, but you'll never forget driving through it. A favorite of base jumpers for its gorgeous gorges and outdoorsy types come to ogle America’s newest national park, West Virginia's scenery is full of unbroken, rolling old hills and rivers spilling down limestone. The Monongahela National Forest exemplifies the forested, rocky terrain that kids from Maine to Missouri grew up clambering through. One of the most overlooked corners of the country evokes the best parts of the eastern half of the continent.

Historical Events

1822 – The Florida Territory was created in the United States.
1856 – The Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the Crimean War.
1981 – President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest outside a Washington, DC hotel by John Hinckley Jr. He later told his wife, Nancy, ”Honey, I forgot to duck.”
2017 – SpaceX conducted the world’s first re-flight of an orbital class rocket.

Birthdays Today

@93 – Frankie Laine (Francesco Paolo LoVecchio), American singer-songwriter (d. 2007)
“I did all the usual things. I think I did everything that everybody else does. I did auditions. I went to see people. I went to see the right people in some instances, the wrong people in others. The wrong time in others. The right time in others. Nothing seemed to make any difference. I quit 5 times! I always went back to try again when circumstances came around to it.”– Frankie Laine
93 – John Astin, American actor
93 – Rolf Harris, Australian singer-songwriter
86 – Warren Beatty, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
“You’ve achieved success in your field when you don’t know whether what you’re doing is work or play.”– Warren Beatty
78 – Eric Clapton, English guitarist and singer-songwriter
“Every time you pick up your guitar to play, play as if it’s the last time.” Eric Clapton
@71 – Robbie Coltrane, Scottish actor (d.2022)
66 – Paul Reiser, American actor
61 – MC Hammer, American rapper
@59 – John Proctor, farmer hanged for witchcraft in the Salem Witch trials (d. 1692)
59 – Tracy Chapman, American singer-songwriter
@58 – Anna Sewell, English author, Black Beauty (d. 1878; TB)
58 – Piers Morgan, English journalist and talk show host
56 – Celine Dion, Canadian singer-songwriter
44 – Norah Jones, American singer-songwriter
“It’s funny how you realize what’s important, and it’s not fame and money, even though it can be really nice. It’s happiness and whatever it takes to make you feel happy.”– Norah Jones
@37 – Vincent van Gogh, Dutch-French painter and illustrator (d. 1890; suicide)
“The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.”– Vincent Van Gogh
30 – Anitta (Larissa de Macedo Machado), Brazilian singer and entertainer

 
 

29 Mar

28 March 2023

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 13 Day 88 \ Ave. Sky Cover 5% \ Visibility 18 miles Flagstaff Today 58° \24°  Wind 9mph \ Gusts 18mph 
Air Quality: Fair \ Low Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 254mi \ Nearest Lightning 967mi
Mar. Averages for Flagstaff: 51° \ 23° \6 Days of moisture
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

 

Weekly Observations

       3/22-4/8
       Lent
       19-4/16
        National Cherry Blossom Festival Link  

22-4/20
       Ramadan
24-30
       National Farm Workers Awareness Week Link
25-31
       National Physicians Week Link
26-4/1
        Consider Christianity Week
        International Phace Syndrome Awareness Week
        National Cleaning Week Link
26-4/9
         Passiontide
26-4/1
         Passion Week
29-4/1
         International Listening Association Week

Daily Observations

Knights of Columbus Founders Day
Lemon Chiffon Cake Day
Little Red Wagon Day Link  
Manatee Appreciation Day 
Manatee Appreciation Day Link 
Mom and Pop Business Owners Day
National Mom & Pop Business Owner's Day
National Vietnam War Veterans Day  Link
Niagara Falls Runs Dry Day
Piano Day Link (88th day of the year)
Smoke & Mirrors Day  Link
Texas Loves The Children Day
Vietnam War Veteran’s Day
World Piano Day Link

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Sunshine and blue sky…hope it stays around.

History is being made: the Navajo Technical University in Crown Point New Mexico,  is the first Native-run University to offer a PhD program. Very cool!

There have been 131 mass shootings in the US this year…as of day 87…at this time in 2022 it was 113. This year 502 people have been wounded and 193 have been killed. I am so sickened that these stats are our normal.   

I had a nice conversation with Ed, my Focus Travel roommate, who lives in CO. Getting excited about the Canada cruise. We had an interesting discussion on the changes that 2023 has seen in medical coverage…some good, some not so much.

Enjoy…

 

Facts…

Four percent of the sand on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, is made up of shrapnel from D-Day that has broken down. 

More Slang origins…

High On The Hog

If someone is living high on the hog, that means they’re enjoying a very luxurious lifestyle full of splendor and all manner of comforts. Living high on the hog can also mean that you’re living life to its fullest.

Beauty in our 50 states…

20. Tennessee

Read the state left to right, and it just keeps getting better: from the top of the Delta in the west, across the hills and pastures of the central third, to the crescendo of mountain vistas that announce your arrival in the Smoky Mountains. Since this landlocked eastern state packs this much variety, you can pretty much pick any highway, turn off the first time you see a state park sign, and feel like you've hit the scenic jackpot.

Historical Events

845 – Paris was sacked by Viking raiders, possibly under Ragnar Lodbrok.
1848 – Large blocks of ice blocked Niagra Falls until April 1.
1951 – Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage with the Soviet Union.
1999 – The Dow Jones Index topped 10,000 for the first time.

Birthdays Today

@88 – Denton True “Cy” Young, American baseball player, manager (d. 1955)
80 – Vangelis (Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou ), Greek keyboard player, songwriter
80 – Eric Idle, English comedic actor
“A lot has been said about politics; some of it complimentary, but most of it accurate.”– Eric Idle
@74 – Sam Walton, founded Walmart and Sam’s Club (d. 1992; Multiple myeloma)
“There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.”– Sam Walton
@71 – John Tyler, 10th President (d. 1862)
@72 – Pearl Bailey, American actress and singer (d. 1990; heart issues)
“People see God every day, they just don’t recognize him.”– Pearl Bailey
62 – Amy Sedaris, American actress
“Before you can give of yourself to others you must know what of yourself you have to give. Every person is special. In all the land there is only one you, possibly two, but seldom more than sixteen.”– Amy Sedaris
59 – Elle Macpherson, Australian model
55 – Lucy Lawless, New Zealand actress
“Happiness is a choice. You grieve, you stomp your feet, you pick yourself up and choose to be happy.”– Lucy Lawless

 

  

28 Mar

 

28 March 2023

Daily Almanac for Flagstaff
Week 13 Day 87 \ Ave. Sky Cover 5% \ Visibility 18 miles Flagstaff Today 41° \13°  Wind 8mph \ Gusts 14mph 
Air Quality: Fair \ Risk of fire \ Nearest active fire 271mi \ Nearest Lightning 651mi
Mar. Averages for Flagstaff: 51° \ 23° \6 Days of moisture
Sunshine

Today’s Quote

Weekly Observations

       3/22-4/8
       Lent
       21-27
        International Week of Solidarity with People's Struggling Against Racism & Discrimination
        22-4/20
        Ramadan
24-30
        National Farm Workers Awareness Week Link
25-31
        National Physicians Week Link
26-4/1
        Consider Christianity Week
International Phace Syndrome Awareness Week
National Cleaning Week Link
26-4/9
         Passiontide
26-4/1
         Passion Week

Daily Observations

American Diabetes Association Alert Day Link  
Barnum & Bailey Day
Black Forest Cake Day
National Triglycerides Day  
Barnum & Bailey Day
Black Forest Cake Day
National Triglycerides Day  Link
Respect Your Cat Day
Something On A Stick Day
Weed Appreciation Day Link

My Sometimes-Long-Winded Thoughts

Finally…a day of sunshine. I took my vehicle to the dealer’s free car wash. Nice to get rid of that road dirt off my vehicle.

Yet another school shooting. This time in Nashville. Three elementary students and 3 adults shot by a well-armed female. Such an unnecessary tragedy…AGAIN.

Many remember Elian Gonzalez, the young Cuban boy who was returned to his Cuban family after fleeing to the US. He is now an adult and is going to be a member of the Cuban Assembly. He says he wants to allow all exiles back to Cuba to rebuild the country. I’ll keep following this and hope his dream becomes reality.

The American Library Assoc noted that there were 1269 attempted book bans in 2022. That is a record high. History shows that they never work. I always find is odd that many calling for the ban have never read the book they want banned. I’m also wondering why the Old Testament is not banned in libraries as there are some very gruesome stories that might frighten children.  

The Anti-Defamation League released its annual audit of anti-Semitic incidents that includes reports of harassment, vandalism and violence toward Jewish people and found that nationally, there were 10 anti-Semitic incidents every day in 2022. In Arizona, there were a total of 53 reported incidents, down from 56 the year prior but still more than the 23 reported in 2020, the 20 reported in 2019 and 32 reported in 2018. The incidents include an increase in pushes of propaganda by white supremacist and Neo-Nazi groups who have been sharing their rhetoric at college campuses across the state. Thankfully, there were no incidents in Flagstaff.

Enjoy…

 

Facts…

Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup was a 19th-century medicine for crying and teething babies...that had alcohol, cannabis, morphine, and chloroform in it. 

More Slang origins…

Ragamuffin

In the South, a "ragamuffin" is someone who is looking sloppy or ragged. In the late 1800s, children dressed up on Thanksgiving Day and beg for fruit or candy in what became known as Ragamuffin Day, and some towns held parades for children in costume.

Beauty in our 50 states…

21. South Dakota

If you’re wondering how the heck a freaking DAKOTA made it this far, you’ve clearly never made a trip to the most underrated state in America. The scenery here is so much more than just a mountain with four dudes’ faces disrespectfully carved into it. It’s the entire Black Hills region, where you can in the morning hike to Harney Peak (the highest point between the Rockies and the Pyrenees) and spend the afternoon hiking Spearfish Canyon. Or head a little further into the Badlands, that inaptly named Martian rockscape, with more vegetation and a greater variety of colors. Even the flatter eastern part of the state has places like Palisades State Park outside Sioux Falls, where Split Rock Creek meanders through 50ft quartzite cliffs. A trip here might have you wondering why it’s not ranked higher.

Historical Events

1842 – The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra debuted, conducted by Otto Nicolai.
1881 – ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ Barnum and Baily Brothers Circus debuted.
1979 – The Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant accident occurred.

Birthdays Today

@81 – Marlin Perkins, American zoologist and television host (d. 1986)
78– Rodrigo Duterte, Philippines leader
75 – Dianne Wiest, American character actress
@71 – Ken Howard. American actor (d. 2016; prostate cancer)
68 – Reba McEntire, American singer-songwriter and actress
@67 – Frederick Pabst, founded the Pabst Brewing Company (d. 1904)
54 – Brett Ratner, American director, producer
@54 – Jimmie Dodd. actor (Mickey Mouse Club), singer-songwriter (d. 1964; cancer)
53 – Vince Vaughn, American actor
48 – Kate Gosselin, American television personality
“I realize that life isn’t perfect – it can’t be perfect. I can drive myself nuts trying to make it perfect, or I can just have a lot of fun with the kids.”– Kate Gosselin
42 – Julia Stiles, American actress
@37 – Raphael, Italian painter and architect (d. 1520; exhaustion, bloodletting)
“When one is painting one does not think.”– Raphael
37 – Lady Gaga, American singer-songwriter and actress
“Fight and push harder for what you believe in, you’d be surprised, you are much stronger than you think.”– Lady Gaga