6 Dec

 

 

 

 

Flag Today  51°/21°   Week 48  Day 341

Air Quality: Fair Sunshine

Wind 7 mph Gusts A mph  Light Breeze

Active Fire: 300 miles away  Risk of fire: Moderate

Nearest Lightning: 1207 miles away

Dec. Averages: Temps: 45°\18° Moisture:  5 Days

Weekly Observations

1-7

Cookie Cutter WeekLink
National Hand Washing Awareness Week 
Link 
Recipe Greetings For The Holidays Week
2-6

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week Link 

3-10

Clerc-Gallaudet Week
4-24

Andisop (Meteorological Fiddling) Link

Daily Observations

Bartender Appreciation Day Link  Link  Link 
International Day To End Femicide 
Link
International Sweater Day
Miner’s Day
Mitten Tree Day  
Link
National Gazpacho Day
National Pawnbrokers Day

National Salesperson Day

National Pfeffernusse Day Link 

National Microwave Oven Day
Put on Your Own Shoes Day
Saint Nicholas Day 

Miners' Day

Today’s Quote                                                       

 


Today’s Meme

 



Thoughts for the day

Our retirement group had a great lunch with good conversations. Our first time all together in about a month.

A few years ago the Navajo Nation bought Horseman’s Lodge Restaurant an horseback riding venue. The Nation just announced it was now in trust land status and that they plan to build a new facility to sell Navajo Arts and Crafts and up to a 300-machine casino. It is about 15 minutes from my place.

Ater all the hoopla from the recent Michigan/Ohio State football game brawl, now each team must pay a $100,000 fine.

Trivia Time

 


Christmas Traditions

Advent Calendars

Technically, Advent, a religious event that has been celebrated since the 4th century, is a four-week period that starts on the Sunday closest to the November 30 feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle. Traditionally, it marked the period to prepare for Christmas as well as the Second Coming. These days, it’s mostly used as a countdown to Christmas for the religious and the non-religious alike.
The modern commercialized advent calendar, which marks the passage of December days with little doors containing candy or small gifts, are believed to have been introduced by Gerhard Lang in the early 1900s. He was inspired by a calendar that his mother made for him when he was a child that featured 24 colored pictures attached to a piece of cardboard. Today, advent calendars contain everything from candy to LEGOs.

Random Thoughts…

A group of Wild Rabbits (Hares) is called a Down or Husk. A group of baby Rabbits is called a Litter or Nest.

One of the 7 Wonders of the Middle Ages: Stonehenge, construction began ~2400 BC

Michael Crichton, the author of Jurassic Park, felt his professor at Harvard was giving him unfair grades. To prove it he turned in a paper from George Orwell and received a B-.

Fiancée is the feminine form and Fiancé is the masculine form for engagements.

A group of Rhinoceroses is called a Crash or Stubbornness.

In the USA, they call the contiguous states the “Lower 48.” But of the 50 states, the southernmost point is in Hawaii and the northernmost point is in Alaska. So shouldn’t the contiguous states be the “Middle 48?”

Ancient Roman Life

Ancient Roman Beauty Routines for Women

Women in ancient Rome strived for beauty standards that signified status and class, focusing on a pale, unblemished complexion with a subtle blush. Achieving this look required an array of natural cosmetics, such as foundations made from white lead and blush from various organic and inorganic materials.

Elaborate hairstyles embellished with ropes or golden threads displayed wealth and artistry. Icons like Poppaea Sabina exemplified these ideals. These beauty rituals went beyond vanity, embodying the wealth and societal roles of Roman women, and were integral to their identity in the public and private spheres​​​​​​​.

Historic Events

1790 – The US Congress moved from New York to Philadelphia.

1830 – The U.S. Naval Observatory, one of the oldest scientific agencies in the US, was established as the ‘Depot of Charts and Instruments’ in Washington, D.C.

1850 – Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-94) announced the invention the ophthalmoscope, to the Berlin Physical Society. It enabled doctors to see directly into a patient’s eye.

1865 – The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, officially ending the institution of slavery, was ratified.

1877 – Thomas Edison demonstrated the first sound recording, his reciting of ‘Mary had a Little Lamb’, at his Menlo Park, NJ Laboratory.

1877 – The Washington Post began publication.

1883 – Ladies’ Home Journal began publication.

1884 – The Washington Monument was completed.

1906 – The first aerial photographs of Stonehenge were shown at the Society of Antiquaries. 2nd Lieutenant Philip Sharpe of the Royal Engineers Balloon Section took them from a hydrogen balloon.

2017 – Donald Trump’s administration officially announced the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Birthdays

Giannis Antetokounmpo, 30 Basketball Player

Nathan Blair, 19 Movie Actor

Kenneth Copeland, 88 Religious Leader

Princess Sofia, 40 Duchess

Sarah Rafferty, 52 TV Actress

Vanessa Rubio, 41 TV Actress

@31 – Joyce Kilmer, American soldier, author, and poet (d. 1918; KIA)
@86 – Ira Gershwin, American songwriter (d. 1983)
@73 – Agnes Moorehead, American actress (d. 1974; radiation exposure cancer)
@25 – Baby Face Nelson (Lester Joseph Gillis), American gangster (d. 1934; shot by FBI)
@91 – Dave Brubeck, American pianist, and composer (d. 2012)

…The End for today…

               

5 Dec

 

 

Flag Today  50°/23°   Week 48  Day 340

Air Quality: Fair  Sunshine

Wind 9 mph Gusts 10 mph  Light Breeze

Active Fire: 132 miles away  Risk of fire Moderate

Nearest Lightning: 927 miles away

Dec. Averages: Temps: 45°\18° Moisture:  5 Days

Weekly Observations

1-7

Cookie Cutter WeekLink
National Hand Washing Awareness Week 
Link 
Recipe Greetings For The Holidays Week
2-6

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week Link 

3-10

Clerc-Gallaudet Week
4-24

Andisop (Meterological Fiddling) Link

Daily Observations

AFL-CIO Day Link (1955)
Bathtub Party Day 
Link
Columbian International Day of The Reef  
Link
International Ninja Day 
Link  Photo Photo
International Volunteer Day for Economic & Social Development

International Volunteer Day
Krampusnacht 
Link
National Blue Jeans Day
National Commute with your Baby Day
National Repeal Day 
Link
Sachertorte Day 
Link

World Soil Day Link

Today’s Quote                                                       

 


Today’s Meme

 



Thoughts for the day

Blue sky as it warms up very gradually.

I took my vehicle to the car wash. It’s all shiny and new again. I decided to do that instead of shopping today. Good choice.

Our retirement group is back in Flag, so lunch tomorrow will be enjoyable.

I realized this morning that I forgot to pick up a couple of small poinsettias on Black Friday. I’m sure I’ll find at least one when I go shopping.

Trivia Time

 


Christmas Traditions

Yule Logs

Throwing a yule log on the fire is another tradition that is said to predate Christianity. As part of winter solstice celebrations, Gaels and Celts burned logs decorated with holly, ivy, and pinecones to cleanse themselves of the past year and welcome the next one. They also believed the ashes would help protect against lightning strikes and evil spirits. The practice was scaled down over time, and eventually, it morphed into a more delicious tradition—cake! Parisian bakers really popularized the practice of creating yule log-shaped desserts during the 19th century, with various bakeries competing to see who could come up with the most elaborately decorated yule log.

If you prefer a wood yule log to one covered in frosting, but find yourself sans fireplace, you can always tune in to Yule Log TV.

Random Thoughts…

Happiness is a path, not a destination.

In 1830 students at Yale revolted over the introduction of chalk boards.

Tweety is and has always been a male character, in spite of what many people think.

Frank Lloyd Wright was specifically left off the architecture commission for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair due to his ‘inability to work well with others.’

Never attempt to put out a grease fire with water. Doing so spreads it and makes it worse. If grease catches fire you have to smother it and cut off its supply of oxygen to put it out.

Ancient Roman Life

Fire insurance – and insurance fraud – has seemingly been around since Roman times

It is not surprising that Romans began to invest in fire insurance, considering the frequency of fires throughout Ancient Rome. It was still a luxury option that was only available to those who could afford it. This also means that insurance fraud could have been a problem for Romans.

People would often invest in houses and have their contents insured against fire. Then they would mysteriously go up in flames. People were often given more money to cover their homes and other items than they were worth. They quickly realized that the fire may not have been as innocent after all.

Historic Events

1455 (Earthquake) Naples, Italy, killing an estimated 40,000 people.

1854 – Aaron H. Allen of Boston received U.S. patent# 12,017 for a folding chair as an “Improvement in Self-Adjusting Opera-Seat” for theatres or other public buildings. You have probably sat on his invention if you have gone to a movie theater.

1876 – Daniel Chapman Stillson patented the Stillson wrench. The device was the first practical pipe wrench; the design is still in use today. (Patent #184,993)

1933 – Prohibition ended, thanks to the 21st amendment. Utah was the last state needed to ratify it. When the 21st Amendment was passed to end Prohibition, American journalist H. L. Mencken celebrated with a glass of water, calling it “my first in 13 years.”

2005 – In the UK, the Civil Partnership Act granted civil partnerships “which include same-sex partnerships” in the United Kingdom with rights and responsibilities identical to civil marriage.

2008 – O.J. Simpson, who was acquitted for the well-known double murder in Los Angeles, was sentenced for up to thirty-three years in prison for robbing a pair of memorabilia dealers. 

Birthdays

Frankie Muniz, 39 TV Actor

Catherine Tate, 55 TV Actress

 

@100 – Strom Thurmond, American politician, 103rd Governor of South Carolina (d. 2003)

@87 – Little Richard (Richard Wayne Penniman), American singer-songwriter, pianist, actor

@85 – Fritz Lang, Austrian-American director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1976)

@80 – Otto Preminger, Austrian-American actor, director, and producer (d. 1986)@79 – Martin Van Buren, 8th President (d. 1862)

@74 – J.J. Cale (John Weldon Cale), American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2013; heart attack)

@65 – Walt Disney, American animator, director, producer, and screenwriter, co-founder of The Walt Disney Company (d. 1966; cancer)

@36 – George Armstrong Custer, American general (d. 1876; @ Little Big Horn)

…The End for today…

                

4 Dec

 

 

 

 


Flag Today  50°/21°   Week 48  Day 339  

Air Quality: Fair Sunshine

Wind 5 mph Gusts 8 mph  Light Breeze

Active Fire: 132 miles away  Risk of fire: Moderate

Nearest Lightning: 1056 miles away

Dec. Averages: Temps: 45°\18° Moisture:  5 Days

Weekly Observations

4-24

Andisop (Meterological Fiddling) Link

1-7

Cookie Cutter WeekLink
National Hand Washing Awareness Week 
Link 
Recipe Greetings For The Holidays Week
2-6

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week Link 
3-10

Clerc-Gallaudet Week

Daily Observations

Alpha Phi Alpha Day
International Cabernet Franc Day 
Link
International Cheetah Day 
Link
International Day of Banks
National Cookie Day 
Link
National Dice Day

National Dystychiphobia Awareness Day  Link
National Package Protection Day
 Link  
National Sock Day  
Link
Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting
Santa’s List Day  Special Kids Day 
Link 
World Wildlife Conservation Day 
Link

Today’s Quote                                                       

 


Today’s Meme

 



Thoughts for the day

Yet another nice fall day.

Whlie shopping, I picked up a new pair of house slippers. It’s hard to find ones that have a heel, I don’t like the heelless ones.

Nice to see the Broncos beat the Browns on TV. It was a decent game.

Martial Law in South Korea.  I wonder what that will do for our relationship with S. Korea.  Also wondering how N. Korea will react. I’m hoping for the best.

Trivia Time

 


Christmas Traditions

The A Christmas Story Marathon on TBS

If one of the highlights of your holiday is tuning in for 24 hours of watching Ralphie Parker nearly shoot his eye out, you’re not alone—over the course of the day, millions of viewers flip to TBS. The marathon first aired on TNT in 1997, then switched to sister station TBS in 2004.

Random Thoughts…

The earliest recorded recipe for Mac & Cheese is from the 14th century.

 

Alfred Hitchcock chose to not conclude the film The Birds with the usual “THE END” title because he wanted to leave the audience on edge.

 

Shuttlecocks used in professional badminton are made of feathers from the left wing of a goose. Feathers from the right wing make them spin the wrong way.

 

Ability is what you’re capable of doing…
Motivation determines what you do…
Attitude determines how well you do it.

Ancient Roman Life

Roman baths included just about everything someone could need

Over the years, archeologists have discovered amazing things that help to tell the story of life in Ancient Rome. Roman baths are one of many discoveries. But what was their purpose? They were much more than a place for communal bathing with the rest of the city.

Because they covered areas as small as little towns, the baths had all the necessary amenities. The largest was the Baths of Caracalla. The baths could accommodate 1,600 people and included a library, gym, and two fountains measuring 19 feet. The baths also featured a gentleman’s residence, marble statues, artwork, and mosaics.

Historic Events

1674 – In what is now Chicago, Father Jacques Marquette founded a mission on the shores of Lake Michigan to minister to the Illiniwek Indians.

1881 – The Los Angeles Times began publication.

1917 – “Shell Shock” was introduced as psychological trauma for war veterans.

1943 – Major League Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis announced that any club could employ black players.

1945 – The Senate approved the participation of the United States in the UN. The United Nations began several weeks earlier, on October 24, 1945.

1952 – Starting today, and over the course of the next several days, Smog (severe air pollution) killed over 4,000 people in London.

1971 – A fire broke out at the Montreux Casino during a Frank Zappa concert, this event was the inspiration for Deep Purple’s iconic rock anthem Smoke on the Water.

1981 – Falcon Crest premiered on CBS.

1991 – Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) ceased operations.

Birthdays

Jay-Z, 55 Rapper

JellyRoll, 40 Country Singer

Tyra Banks, 51 TV Show Host

Marisa Tomei, 60 Movie Actress

Jeff Bridges, 75 Movie Actor

Fred Armisen, 58 Comedian

Wink Martindale, 91, American game show host

@90 – Charles Keating, American lawyer, and financier (d. 2014)

@82 – Francisco Franco, Spanish leader (d. 1975)

@79 – Claude Renoir, French cinematographer (d. 1993)

@49 – Edith Louisa Cavell, English nurse, and spy (d. 1915; executed)

@39 – Dennis Wilson, American singer-songwriter, and drummer (d. 1983; drowned) 

…The End for today…

               

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Flagstaff, Arizona, United States
I retired in '06--at the ripe old age of 57. I enjoy blogging, photography, traveling, and living life to it's fullest.