26 Jan

 

Flagstaff Today 47°: 22°  Week 5 Day 26 Air Quality: Fair Red Flag Warning Sunshine Wind 10 mph Gusts 22 mph Breezy Active Fire: 17 miles away Risk of Fire: High Nearest lightning: 1685 miles away Jan Averages: Temps: 44°\18° Moisture: 4 Days

Weekly Observations

Sundance Film Festival: 16-26 International Snow Sculpting Week: 24-29 Cordova Ice Worm Days: 25-2/1  Link Catholic Schools Week: 26-2/2 Data Privacy Week: 26-2/2 Link  Celebration of Life Days: 26-2/1

Meat Week: 26-2/2  National CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) Week:26-2/1  National School Choice Week: 26-2/1 Link

Daily Observations

Clashing Clothes Day Dental Drill Appreciation Day International Customs Day Link Isra Al Mi'Raj (Muslim) Lotus 1-2-3 Day National Bible Sunday

National Green Juice Day Link National Peanut Brittle Day  Link Peanut Brittle Day Spouses’ Day Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement World Leprosy Day

Today’s Quote                                                               

 

Today’s Memes

Thoughts for the day

It’s a nice day. Our discussion group meets today to lay out this year’s calendar. It is a Red Flag Warning Day so hopefully everyone is extremely careful around fire.

Thanks to everyone who responded to my blog absence. Everything is good. My phlebotomy took longer than expected. On Thursday my vein only gave 1/5 of what was needed. On Friday it took over 2-1/2 hours to get the rest. We have a new plan for the next one. They are not painful, just very boring and time consuming.

Trump made a mistake: There are at least 40 countries that have birthright citizenship. We are far from the only one.

The Lumbee Tribe of NC is getting close to approval as a Federally recognized tribe. The state has recognized the tribe since the 1930’s.

Lenny and Eleanor (my brother’s half brother and wife) spent the week with Richard, Laura and I back in October. Yesterday a got a book of pictures of that visit along with a very beautiful card where both Lenny and Eleanor talked about how great it is to have me in the family. Such a thoughtful and beautiful couple.

Mayan Culture of Mexico and beyond…

They believed in human sacrifice.

The Mayan people were practitioners of human sacrifice. The purpose of human sacrifice was to offer food to the gods and was viewed as a celebratory and joyous occasion. 

Originally, human sacrifice started with nobility, since they were considered to be the most "pure." Later, lower classes were incorporated into human sacrifice, and later, the victims were criminals. Sacrifices were often painted blue.

Random Thoughts…

Biggest film of 1998: Saving Private Ryan (Drama) earned ~ $217,000,000

Anyone who uses the phrase ‘easy as taking candy from a baby’ has never tried taking candy from a baby.

You think you’re unique until you have to choose a username.

A group of Vultures is called a Venue. A group of Vultures (circling above) is called a Kettle.

Count Basie – Real Name: William Basie

The world’s only oyster museum is located in Chincoteague Island, Virginia.

A group of Lizards is called a Lounge.

The first song Prince taught himself to play on the piano, at 7 years old, was the Batman theme.

“Tired and sick” and “sick and tired” have completely different meanings…

Origin of city nicknames…

Dallas, Texas: ‘The Big D’

‘The Big D’ (or maybe just ‘Big D’, as the use of the definite article is disputed by locals) quite simply refers to how large Dallas is. The term has been widely used since at least the 1930s and became more popular with the 1956 song Big D from the musical The Most Happy Fella. Some might view this as another example of Texas' size obsession, reflected in the phrase "everything is bigger in Texas." After all, Dallas isn’t even the biggest city in the state (Houston and San Antonio both have larger populations), but there’s no denying its importance as a major financial center and transportation hub, so who’s to argue?

Historic Events

Click here for 26 Jan History

Birthdays

Ellen DeGeneres, 67 TV Show Host Joseph Quinn, 31 TV Actor Wayne Gretzky, 64 Hockey Player Anita Baker, 67 R&B Singer

@84 – Douglas MacArthur, American general (d. 1964) @34 – Bessie Coleman, American pilot (d. 1926; plane crassh) @82 – Maria von Trapp, Austrian-American singer (d. 1987) @91 – Philip José Farmer, American writer (d. 2009) @94 – Anne Jeffreys (Annie Jeffreys Carmichael), American actress and singer (d. 2017) @83 – Paul Newman, American actor, race car driver, businessman, co-founded Newman’s Own (d. 2008)

…The End for today…

               

23 Jan

 

Flagstaff Today 44°: 13°  Week 4 Day 23 Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Wind 11 mph Gusts 18 mph cold breeze Active Fire: 69 miles away Risk of Fire: High Nearest lightning: 2707 miles away Jan Averages: Temps: 44°\18° Moisture: 4 Days

Weekly Observations

Sundance Film Festival: 16-26 Nat’l Fresh Squeezed Juice Week: 17-23 Week of Christian Unity: 18-25 Clean Out Your Inbox Week: 19-25 Nat’l Activity Professionals Week: 19-25  Link Hunt For Happiness Week: 19-25

National Handwriting Analysis Week:19-25 Snowcare for Troops Week: 19-25 Sugar Awareness Week: 19-25 Internat’l Hoof-Care Week: 21-24 Link

Daily Observations

Maternal Health Awareness Day Link Measure Your Feet Day National Handwriting Day Link National Pie Day Link  Link

Paul Pitcher Day  Link Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day Link Women's Healthy Weight Day

Today’s Quote                                                               

 

Today’s Memes

Thoughts for the day

A decent winter weather day.

It is hard for me to understand why violent offenders were pardoned…ever. As crazy as it sounds, these pardons were a campaign promise that is now true. We get what we vote for.

I’m saddened that Trump is returning Denali back to Mt. McKinley.

During other Republican administrations I worked through several ‘hiring freezes’ that were across the board.  They are neither beneficial, nor simple. We never had ‘extra’ teachers or bus drivers sitting around that could fill vacant necessary positions. Republican administrations never understood or cared about our day-to-day needs.

Mayan Culture of Mexico and beyond…

They believed in fairies.

Many cultures from around the world have a belief in fairies. These are also known as sprites, pixies, gnomes, leprechauns and, in the case of the Maya, aluxes. 

The aluxes were depicted in sculptures made from clay or wood. The tiny creatures were thought to protect the land, crops and animals. These sculptures would be taken into the forest and hidden in discreet spots, and the Maya believed that they would come to life at night and offer guardianship of the land.

Random Thoughts…

The biggest film of 2001: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Action/Adventure) earned ~ $318,000,000

 

SCOTTY’S RULE: When doing work for someone and giving a completion date, make it later than you expect so when you get it done early you look golden!

 

Describing yourself as someone smarter than most people is not socially acceptable. Saying that people are stupid is. The only difference is the wording.

 

Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties.

 

The biggest film of 2000: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Comedy/Adventure) earned ~ $260,000,000 

Origin of city nicknames…

Key West, Florida: ‘The Conch Republic’

Back in 1982, Key West residents were increasingly frustrated by a US Border Patrol checkpoint that stopped every car entering or leaving the area to search for illegal immigrants and drugs, causing significant traffic congestion. When their complaints were ignored, Key West Mayor Dennis Wardlow took a bold and humorous stand. On 23 April 1982, he declared that if the US was going to treat Key West as a foreign country, then they would secede from the Union and form The Conch Republic'. Although this declaration was made tongue-in-cheek, it had the desired effect: the roadblock was quietly withdrawn shortly thereafter. The Conch Republic remains a symbol of Key West’s independent spirit and is celebrated annually.

Historic Events

CLICK HERE FOR 23 JAN HISTORY

 

Birthdays

Mariska Hargitay, 61 TV Actress Tiffani Thiessen, 51 TV Actress Rachel Crow, 27 Pop Singer

@89 – Randolph Scott, American actor (d. 1987) @59 – Stendhal (Marie-Henri Beyle), French writer (d. 1842; syphilis)   @56 – John Hancock, American general and politician (d. 1793) @42 – Ernie Kovacs, American comedic actor and game show host (d. 1962; vehicle crash)

…The End for today…

               

22 Jan

 

Flagstaff Today 34°: 12°  Week 4 Day 22 Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Wind 4 mph Gusts 7 mph Active Fire: 283 miles away Risk of Fire: Moderate Nearest lightning: 1614 miles away Jan Averages: Temps: 44°\18° Moisture: 4 Days

Weekly Observations

Sundance Film Festival: 16-26 National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week: 17-23 Week of Christian Unity: 18-25 Clean Out Your Inbox Week: 19-25 National Activity Professionals Week: 19-25  Link Hunt For Happiness Week: 19-25

National Handwriting Analysis Week:19-25 Snowcare for Troops Week: 19-25 Sugar Awareness Week: 19-25 International Hoof-Care Week: 21-24 Link

Daily Observations

Answer Your Cat's Questions Day  Link Celebration of Life Day Come in From The Cold Day Dance of the Seven Veils Day Library Shelfie Day Link

National Hot Sauce Day National Polka Dot Day (Disney Minnie Mouse) Roe vs. Wade Day

Today’s Quote                                                               

 

Today’s Memes

Thoughts for the day

A nice winter day.

I did some grocery shopping early this morning. All is good.

Trump’s Oval Office Exec Orders/press conference was certainly a new thing.

Back in the day, I really enjoyed folk music, and I still do. I even took a graduate course in the History of Folklore and music. After a career on the Rez, I have had problems with Pete Seeger’s “This Land is Your Land.” While it is our land now, it once was inhabited by Indigenous People of North America. Every time I hear a rendition of this song, I remember the Indigenous people.

Mayan Culture of Mexico and beyond…

Enemas were part of their rituals.

Hallucinogens and other mind-altering substances were not uncommon in Mayan rituals. In fact, they believed that consuming these was the best way to communicate with spirits. 

In order to feel the effects as quickly as possible, it is believed that Mayans may have taken their substances via ritual enemas. Researchers believe this to be true because of the many pictures in Mayan art that depict enemas being used in a spiritual setting.

Random Thoughts…

Cole’s Law: Thinly sliced cabbage.

Richard Dawson (original host of Family Feud) was asked by producers to quit kissing women. He asked the audience to mail in what they wanted, 704 were against the kissing, and 14,600 wanted him to continue.

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

The word “alphabet” comes from the first two letters, alpha and beta.

Blackberries and strawberries are not berries, but tomatoes and avocados are.

Origin of city nicknames…

San Francisco, California: ‘Frisco’

Although loathed by most locals, ‘Frisco’ has become one of the most enduring nicknames of any American city. Probably nothing more than a simple abbreviation, its origins are somewhat vague, but apparently date back to the mid-19th century. And its usage has only increased since. Herb Caen, the revered San Francisco Chronicle columnist, may have titled his 1953 book Don’t Call it Frisco, but Irving Berlin, Otis Redding, Jack Kerouac and the Hells Angels have all helped keep it on the cultural map. 

Historic Events

Click here for 22 Jan Historical events

 

Birthdays

Caitlin Clark, 23 Basketball Player Guy Fieri, 57 Chef Diane Lane, 60 Movie Actress Steve Perry, 76 Rock Singer Steven Adler, 60 Drummer

@92 – Ann Sothern (Harriette Arlene Lake), American actress and singer (d. 2001) @77 – John Hurt, English actor (d. 2017; pancreatic cancer) @66 – Edward Harkness, American philanthropist (d. 1940) @65 – Sir Walter Raleigh, English poet, soldier, courtier, explorer (d. 1618; executed) @65 – Francis Bacon, English philosopher and politician (d. 1626; pneumonia) @59 – Bill Bixby, American actor (d. 1993; prostate cancer) @36 – Lord Byron, English influential poet and playwright (d. 1824; fever) @33 – Sam Cooke, American singer-songwriter (d. 1964; murdered) @30 – Robert E. Howard, American author, creator of Conan The Barbarian (d. 1936; suicide)

…The End for today…