14 Aug

 

Flagstaff Today 84°: 53° Week 33 Day 226 Wind A mph Gusts A mph Active Fire: 82 miles away  Risk of Fire: Extreme Nearest lightning: 2 miles away Air Quality: Fair Overcast Aug. Averages: Temps: 79°\50° Moisture: 9 Day

Weekly Observations

Elvis Week: 8-16 Link Assistance Dog Week: 10-16 Safe + Sound Week: 11-17 Link

National Resurrect Romance Week: 10-16 Weird Contest Week: 10-16  World Photography Week: 12-26 Link Little League World Series: 13-24  Link

Daily Observations

Creamsicle Day Military Marriage Day  National Hazy IPA Day Link  National Lizard Day Link National Navajo Code Talkers Day Navajo Code talkers Day

Romance Awareness Day Link Social Security Day St. Maximillian Kolbe Day (Ham Radio Saint) Link Link V-J Day World Calligraphy Day Link

Today’s Quotes                                                             

 

Today’s Memes

 

Thoughts for the day

A rainstorm is brewing.  I can smell the rain. Lightning is very close. We need moisture.

Today is Navajo Code Talkers Day. I was honored to meet and work with several Code Talkers in my career on the Rez. They did an amazing job during the war and were kind, successful leaders after the war. I also got to meet Mr. Johnson, an Anglo, who set up the training in Flagstaff for the original Code Talkers. He had some great stories too.

I have been reporting on the wildfire at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I also realize that there are huge fires around the US, including CO. Now there are huge wildfires in several parts of Europe. I sure hope all these fires are not announcing the arrival of the rapture.

Myths from Medieval Times

Not Everyone Was A "Flat Earther"

In the Middle Ages, most people did not believe that the earth was flat. Historian Jeffrey Burton Russell claims that the "flat earth" theory stopped being a widespread belief by the 3rd century B.C.

You might ask, "But what about the church?" Between two and five popes asserted that the earth was flat, but the rest disagreed. The concept of "anti-science" Middle Ages came from 19th-century writers who were largely anti-religious, according to Russell. It is possible that there are more flat-earthers today than there were in the Medieval era.

Accomplishments Wrongly Attributed to Famous People

The First Summit of Everest

It is uncertain whether Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to reach Mount Everest’s peak, as George Mallory and Andrew Irvine may have succeeded in 1924. Mallory’s body was found near the summit in 1999, and circumstantial evidence hints that he might have reached the top.

His goggles were in his pocket, suggesting that he was descending in low light when he perished. Irvine was carrying their camera, but their remains have never been found, leaving the question unanswered. Hillary himself graciously avoided dismissing their accomplishment, emphasizing that he and Norgay were at least the first to return from the summit successfully.

Random Thoughts…

Green Lantern’s ring is mostly just a 3-D printer, isn’t it?

History doesn’t repeat itself, humans repeat history.

It is often easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission.

Using the word “pedantic,” in fact, makes you sound pedantic.

Acton’s Law: Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The world record for 100-meter three-legged race stands at 13.6 seconds, since 1906.

Historic Events

Click here for 14 Aug history

Birthdays

80 – Steve Martin, American actor, comedian, screenwriter 79 – Susan Saint James, American actress 78 – Danielle Steel, American author 75 – Gary Larson, American cartoonist, The Far Side 66 – Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, American basketball player 65 – Sarah Brightman, English singer, actress 59 – Halle Berry, American model, and actress, Miss World United States 1986 57 – Catherine Bell, English-American actress 42 – Mila Kunis, Ukrainian-American actress 38 – Tim Tebow, American football and baseball player

@90 – Armando Joseph "Buddy" Greco, American singer, pianist (d. 2017) @84 – Alice Ghostley, American character actress (d. 2007)   @81 – David Crosby, American singer-songwriter (d. 2023) @72 – Francis Ford, American actor, director, producer, screenwriter (d. 1953)   @55 – William Hutchinson, founder of Rhode Island (d. 1642) @36 – Doc Holliday (John Henry Holliday), American dentist, gambler (d. 1887; TB)

…The End for today…

           

13 Aug

 

Flagstaff Today 88°: 50° Week 33 Day 225 Wind 3 mph Gusts 7 mph Active Fire: 82 miles away Risk of Fire: Extreme Nearest lightning: 154 miles away Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Aug. Averages: Temps: 79°\50° Moisture: 9 Day

Weekly Observations

Elvis Week: 8-16 Link Assistance Dog Week: 10-16 Safe + Sound Week: 11-17 Link

National Resurrect Romance Week: 10-16 Weird Contest Week: 10-16  World Photography Week: 12-26 Link

Daily Observations

Filet Mignon Day International Lefthander's Day  Link Link Link

National Prosecco Day

Today’s Quotes                                                             

 

Today’s Memes

 

Thoughts for the day

A warm summer day…still hoping for moisture.

I made a trip to Sam’s Club this morning. While shopping I found Skechers shoes. I have been wearing them for almost a decade. The new Skechers and slip-ons without having to bend over. I live in a small town and the closest Skecher’s store is about 1-1/2 hours away. None of the local stores had these new ones. Right there on the main aisle of Sam’s I found a pair I really liked and they were only $39. Happy camper here.

Five newspapers serving Globe, AZ and Page, AZ were closed without notice to the subscribers or to the management. The company that owns those papers owns many more around the US. They suddenly closed a dozen local papers without notice. Every day newspapers are making communities ‘news deserts’. It is a sad state of affairs.

Myths from Medieval Times

The Average Life Expectancy Was Not 35

If you've ever heard that the average life expectancy in the Middle Ages was 35. This is technically correct. However, the term "average" is misleading. If one person dies before the age of one, and the other lives until age 70, then the average life expectancy is 35, explains historian Walter Scheidel.

This average number is low because of the high infant mortality rate. In reality, human life expectancy has not changed much throughout the centuries. Once people in the Middle Ages survived early childhood, they often lived for 70, 80, even 100 years.

Accomplishments Wrongly Attributed to Famous People

Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is one of the most celebrated literary works; however, the famous story owes much to its prior adaptations. Arthur Brooke’s 1562 poem The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet heavily influenced Shakespeare’s play.

Where Brooke’s narrative spans nine months, Shakespeare condensed the events into four intense days, adding originality by crafting new scenes and deepening the drama.

Brooke, in turn, borrowed his tale from earlier sources, including works by Pierre Boaistuau, Matteo Bandello, and Luigi da Porto. Although Shakespeare’s version is not entirely original, his poetic mastery and storytelling have cemented it as the quintessential adaptation.

Random Thoughts…

William McKinley was on the $500 bill

So, are quesadillas the Mexican version of pizza, or is pizza the Italian version of a quesadilla?

No word in the English language rhymes with plankton.

Safety pins are just as dangerous as normal pins.

Peter Lorre – Real Name: Laszlo Loewenstein

Historic Events

Click here for 13 Aug history

Birthdays

66 – Danny Bonaduce, actor, DJ 63 – John Slattery, American actor 61 – Debi Mazar, American actress 43 – Sarah Huckabee Sanders, American political consultant 43 – Sebastian Stan, Romanian-American actor 27 – Dina and Arina Averina, Russian rhythmic gymnasts

@94 – Buddy Rogers, American actor, musician (d. 1999) @90 – Fidel Castro, Cuban revolutionary, 15th President of Cuba (d. 2016) @84 – Ben Hogan, American golfer, sportscaster (d. 1997) @83 – Dave “Baby” Cortez, American R&B pianist, organist @80 – Alfred Hitchcock, British director, cameo performer (d. 1980) @76 – Don Ho, American singer, ukulele player (d. 2007; heart failure) @75 – Lucy Stone, American abolitionist, suffragist (d. 1893) @72 – Bert Lahr, American actor (d. 1967; pneumonia) @66 – Annie Oakley (Phoebe Ann Mose), American target shooter (d. 1926; anemia) @57 – John Logie Baird, Scottish engineer, invented a television (d. 1946; stroke) @56 – Dan Fogelberg, American singer-songwriter (d. 2007; prostate cancer)

…The End for today…

           

12 Aug

 

Flagstaff Today 87°: 51° Week 33 Day 224 Wind 12 mph Gusts 22 mph Active Fire: 82 miles away Risk of Fire: Extreme Nearest lightning: 544 miles away Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Aug. Averages: Temps: 79°\50° Moisture: 9 Day

Weekly Observations

Elvis Week: 8-16 Link Assistance Dog Week: 10-16 Safe + Sound Week: 11-17 Link

National Resurrect Romance Week: 10-16 Weird Contest Week: 10-16  World Photography Week: 12-26 Link

Daily Observations

Home Sewing Machine Day IBM PC Day International Youth Day Julienne Fries Day Middle Child Day

Milkman Day Link  Toasted Almond Bar Day Vinyl Record Day World Elephant Day Link

Today’s Quotes                                                             

 

Today’s Memes

 

Thoughts for the day

A nice summer day.

I ran my vehicle through the car wash as it was all spotty after yesterday’s very short rain. It only lasted about 2 minutes…just enough the let the dust on my vehicle become all spotted.

Congrats to Jen Pawol on being the first female MLB umpire. She did great in her first game.

Trump has deployed 1000 National Guard troops to the streets of DC. These troops are NOT trained in police work. He also pulled a number of FBI agents from their jobs to monitor the streets of DC. Those agents are not trained in police work either. I doubt it will work out well.

Myths from Medieval Times

The Medieval Diet Was Better Than Today's

Despite what movies about the Middle Ages portray, peoples' diets were not entirely bland. Peasants had access to livestock and gardens, which gave them milk, cheese, sage, garlic, and parsley. Meats were preserved with salt and drinks were sweetened with honey. Although food depended on the season, peasants had a largely filling diet.

Since spices were expensive, the upper class had more varied and flavorful meals than the lower classes. Still, Medieval meals were probably far healthier than today's diet, according to the BBC. They were varied, flavorful, and less sugar-filled than modern food.

Accomplishments Wrongly Attributed to Famous People

The Tank

Tanks are primarily linked to Sir Ernest Dunlop Swinton, but an Australian named Lance de Mole might deserve more recognition. De Mole conceived an armored vehicle with chain wheels as early as 1912 and submitted his plans to the British War Office. Although his design could have accelerated the outcome of World War I, it was dismissed multiple times.

After his third attempt, De Mole received a modest grant, yet his innovation was largely overlooked. Swinton, inspired by seeing a tractor with a mounted gun, developed his version, and the first tank was introduced. De Mole’s earlier contributions remain a lesser-known but essential part of history.

Random Thoughts…

Sean Connery wore a toupee in every James Bond film that he starred in.

I might not be the best driver in the world, but at least I’ve never featured in a dashcam video. That’s got to count for something.

90% of label makers probably have a label on them that says, “label maker”

American Graffiti’s budget was exactly $777,777.77, and it was delivered on time – and on budget.

Historic Events

Click here for 12 Aug history

Birthdays

95 – George Soros (György Schwartz), Hungarian-American businessman, investor 76 – Mark Knopfler, Scottish-English singer-songwriter, guitarist 75 – August “Kid Creole” Darnell, American musician, singer-songwriter, record producer 71 – Sam J. Jones, American actor 71 – Pat Metheny, American jazz guitarist 62 – Sir Mix-a-Lot (Anthony L. Ray), American rapper 54 – Michael Ian Black, American comedian 54 – Rebecca Gayheart, American actress 50 – Casey Affleck (Caleb Casey McGuire Affleck-Boldt), American actor 45 – Maggie Lawson, American actress 45 – Dominique Swain, American actress 33 – Cara Delevingne, English actress

@96 – Jane Wyatt, American actress (d. 2006) @95 – Sid Bernstein, American record producer (d. 2013) @80 – Porter Wagoner, American singer-songwriter, guitarist (d. 2007) @80 – Joe Besser (Jessel Besser), American actor, Stooges #5 (d. 1988) @78 – Norris McWhirter, Scottish publisher, activist co-founded the Guinness World Records (d. 2004; heart attack) @77 – Cecil B. DeMille, American director, and producer (d. 1959) @76 – Buck Owens, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2006; heart attack) @71 – John Derek, American actor, director, cinematographer (d. 1998; congestive heart failure)   @69 – Katharine Lee Bates, American poet, author [America the Beautiful] (d. 1929) @63 – Percy Mayfield, American R&B singer-songwriter (d. 1984; heart attack) @50 – Ross McWhirter, Scottish publisher, and activist, co-founded the Guinness World Records (d. 1975; shot)

…The End for today…