7 Dec

 

Flag Today  50°/22°   Week 48  Day 342 Air Quality: Fair Moderate   Partly Mostly Cloudy  Overcast Smoky Red Flag Warning   Sunshine Wind 6 mph Gusts 12 mph Gentle Breeze Active Fire: 531 miles away Risk of fire: Moderate Nearest Lightning: a 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

3-10 Clerc-Gallaudet Week 4-24 Andisop (Meterological Fiddling) Link

Daily Observations

Bike Shop Day International Civil Aviation Day Letter Writing Day National Cotton Candy Day National Fire Safety Council Day

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day National Play Outside Day Link  Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Skywarn Recognition Day Link  World Pear Day Link

Today’s Seasonal Quote                                                       

 

Today’s Meme

 

Thoughts for the day

I did my weekly grocery shopping this morning. Even found some things I needed that were on sale. Good trip.

I ordered the books for our discussion group. I was not happy that the shipping charges have tripled since last year. I usually order for the group, and they pay for the books I pay for the shipping cost. I may not be so generous next year.

I’m looking forward to the weekend, I already got two calls for Rez friends are shopping this weekend and will stop by. Nice.

Trivia Time

 

Christmas Traditions

Eggnog

It’s hard to imagine why anyone would be inspired to chug a raw egg-based drink, but historians agree that ’nog was probably inspired by a medieval drink called posset, a milky drink made with eggs, milk, and sometimes figs or sherry. These were all pricey ingredients, so the wealthy often used it for toasting.

Eggnog became a holiday drink when colonists brought it over from England, but they found a way to make it on the cheap, nixing the figs and substituting rum for sherry. And how about that weird nog name? No one knows for sure, but historians theorize that nog was short for noggin, which was slang for a wooden cup, or a play on the Norfolk variety of beer also called nog (which itself may be named after the cup).

Random Thoughts…

Gyms would be more successful if they hounded you to come in and work out as they hound you to come back after your membership expires.

A group of Salamanders is called a Congress.

The best way to get rid of mosquitos would be with a really big laser aimed at the sky. They could see it for miles, fly to it, and get obliterated when they touched it.

Ancient Roman Life

Life of a female slave

In ancient Rome, female slaves faced a particularly harrowing existence marked by exploitation and a lack of autonomy. Beyond the general hardships endured by all slaves, such as grueling labor and harsh punishments, women in bondage were often subjected to additional layers of abuse and degradation. Many were bought specifically for their masters’ physical gratification, a tragic exploitation that stripped them of their autonomy and consent. This coital slavery wasn’t just a private affair; it extended to public brothels, where countless female slaves were forced to service numerous clients daily.

In addition to physical exploitation, female slaves also performed various roles in Roman households and society. They worked as maids, cooks, and nurses, often facing the dual burden of labor and intimate physical abuse. Their artistic talents, whether in music, dance, or other forms of entertainment, were exploited for the pleasure of their masters, turning their skills into instruments of their subjugation.

Historic Events

1732
The Covent Garden Theatre Royal (now the Royal Opera House) was opened on London.
1787
Delaware became ‘The First State’ to ratify the US Constitution.
1842
The first concert of the New York Philharmonic, founded by Ureli Corelli Hill.
1909
Leo Baekeland of Yonkers, New York, received the patent for a thermosetting artificial plastic which he called ‘Bakelite’ (patent #942,699)
1979
The National Fire Safety Council was founded.
1995
The Galileo spacecraft arrived at the planet Jupiter on its mission to study the planet and its moons.

Birthdays

Larry Bird, 68 Basketball Player C Thomas Howell, 58 Movie Actor Jasmine Villegas, 31 R&B Singer   Emily Browning, 36 Movie Actress   Noam Chomsky, 96, American linguist, philosopher

@98 – Eli Wallach, American actor (d. 2014) @80 – Clarence Nash, American voice actor, Donald Duck (d. 1985) @67 – Louis Prima, American singer-songwriter, trumpet player, and performer (d. 1978; stroke) @62 – Ted Knight (Tadeusz Wladyslaw Konopka), American actor, comedian (d. 1986; cancer) @50 – Richard Warren Sears, co-founder of Sears (d. 1914; Bright’s disease)

…The End for today…

                

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…