16 Feb

 

Week 8  Day 47 Flag Today  48°/33°

Wind 7 mph Gusts 11 mph

Active Fire:  63 miles away Risk of fire: Moderate 

Nearest Lightning: 1483 miles away

Air Quality: Fair Sunshine Partly Cloudy Breezy

Feb. Averages: Temps: 46°\22° Moisture:  4.7Days

Weekly Observations

7-16 Take A Friend Snowmobiling Week  Link 12-3/1 Date (Fruit) Weeks 13-16 Great Backyard Bird Count Link

14-21 National Condom Week National Nestbox Week NCCDP Alzheimer's & Dementia Staff Education Week National Entrepreneurship Week Link 15-21 Build A Better Trade Show Image Week Random Acts of Kindness Week Link National Sauna Week Link  Through With The Chew Link

Daily Observations

International Syrah Day Link Kyoto Protocol Day Link National Almond Day

National Buna Day Link Presidents Day Shrove Monday

Today’s Quote                                                        

Today’s Meme

Today’s Thoughts

Our little mountain town has a wind advisory as a new storm is on the way.

Cuba is a fascinating country. During the Obama years I was fortunate enough to visit there twice.  Much has changed since my visits. Conditions there now are worse than they were when the Soviet Bloc failed. I hope the people of Cuba can recover from these current horrific conditions. Many celebrate the few hours that they have electricity. They are lucky if they can find gas for heating, cooking, and vehicles.

I am so tired of our current bipolar leadership. Instead of ICE arresting many people and sorting it out later, here is an idea…arrest all identified in the Epstein files and sort it out later. 

Historic Trivia

Billionaire Jeff Bezos is today's richest person with a net worth of $100+ billion, but, according to modern estimates, historical figures like Augustus Caesar and Mansa Musa (ruler of West Africa's Mali Empire in the 14th century) were likely trillionaires by today's standards.

The first known vending machine was invented by Hero of Alexandria in ancient Egypt to dispense holy water.

It worked a lot like modern vending machines — you inserted a coin, pushed down a lever, and got your soda...I mean holy water! 

Historic Events

 Feb in History

Birthdays with some quotes

Henry Wilson (1812-1875; @63, strokes) American politician, 18th Vice President (Republican: 1873-75) and Senator (Massachusetts 1855-73), born in Farmington, New Hampshire §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916; @64, cistitis) American religious leader (founder of the Bible School Movement that led to Jehovah's Witnesses), born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Edgar Bergen, American ventriloquist (Charlie McCarthy), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1978; @75, kidney disease) §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Hugh Beaumont, American actor (The Mole People, Leave it to Beaver), born in Lawrence, Kansas (d. 1982; @73, heart attack) §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§  Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono (1935-1998; @62, ski accident) American musician, vocalist (Sonny & Cher - "I Got You Babe"), songwriter ("Bang Bang"; "Needles and Pins"), actor (Hairspray), and politician (US Congress (R)-CA, 1995-98), born in Detroit, Michigan §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Kim Jong-il (1942-2011; @70ish, heart attack) Supreme Leader of North Korea (1994-2011), born in Vyatskoye, Soviet Union [disputed birthplace and birth date, 1941] §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

Carl Icahn (90 years old) American businessman (Icahn Enterprises), born in New York City §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ William Katt (75 years old), American actor (Greatest American Hero, Carrie), born in Los Angeles, California §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ LeVar Burton (69 years old), American actor, (Roots - "Kunta Kinte"; Star Trek: The Next Generation - "Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge"), born in Landstuhl, Germany §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Ice-T(68 years old) 1958 American rapper ("O.G. Original Gangster"), and actor (New Jack City; Tank Girl; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), born in Newark, New Jersey §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ John McEnroe (67 years old) 1959 American tennis player (US Open 1979, 80, 81, 84; Wimbledon 1981, 83, 84; 10 x Grand Slam doubles titles; Tour Finals 1978, 83, 84; Davis Cup x 5), born in Wiesbaden, Germany §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Mahershala Ali (52 years old) 1974 American actor (Moonlight, Green Book), born in Oakland, California §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Stacy Lewis (41 years old) 1985 American golfer (ANA Inspiration 2011, Women's British Open 2013), born in Toledo, Ohio §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Jon Ossoff (39 years old), American politician (US Senator-D-Georgia 2021-pesent), born in Atlanta, Georgia §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ The Weeknd (36 years old) Canadian pop and R&B singer-songwriter (After Hours; Beauty Behind the Madness), born in Toronto, Ontario §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

 

…The End for today…

               

15 Feb

 

Week 8  Day 46 Flag Today  40°/30°

Wind 3mph Gusts 3 mph

Active Fire:  63 miles away Risk of fire:                                                    

Nearest Lightning: 700 miles away

Air Quality: Moderate Sunshine

Feb. Averages: Temps: 46°\22° Moisture: 4.7Days

Weekly Observations

7-16 Take A Friend Snowmobiling Week  Link 9-15 Children's Mental Health Week Link  International Flirting Week Love A Mench Week 12-3/1 Date (Fruit) Weeks 13-16 Great Backyard Bird Count Link

14-21 National Condom Week National Nestbox Week NCCDP Alzheimer's & Dementia Staff Education Week National Entrepreneurship Week Link 15-21 Build A Better Trade Show Image Week Random Acts of Kindness Week Link National Sauna Week Link  Through With The Chew Link

Daily Observations

Angelman Syndrome Day Link Daytona 500 Digital Learning Day Love Reset Day Lupercalia (Ancient Rome) National Friendzone Day  Link National Gum Drop Day  Link

National Hippo Day Link NBA All Star Game 2026 Orthodox Meatfare Sunday Remember The Maine Day Singles Awareness Day Link Susan B. Anthony Day

Today’s Quote                                                        

Today’s Meme

Today’s Thoughts

Blue sky has returned. Snow melting quickly. Nice Day!

It was difficult to watch Ilia Malinin fall twice in his final program and lose his chance for that medal on the ice. Everyone in the stands, the media crew, and most of the TV observers expected him to get the gold. It just wasn’t his day.

Changing linens and a couple of loads of laundry are on my agenda today.

I am disappointed that Congress has taken another break for their work for the American people. Sometimes one must give up a break to get necessary business done. When I headed the teacher union, we were having negotiations. We did break for the Christmas holiday, but I still got 2 very long (about an hour each) phone calls while I was in Denver. Oops, that is in the real world, in the world of politics…it will still be there after we have our break. 

Historic Trivia

A common ingredient in medicine until the 20th century was — yuck! — human remains. The remains were most commonly ground up into a fine powder that could be made into pills or stirred into drinks. It was believed that ingesting a certain part of the deceased's body would help to cure illnesses in that part of the body. For example, crushed skull powder was believed to cure headaches. 

Saddam Hussein was given the key to the city of Detroit in 1980

Backstory: After Hussein rose to power in the late '70s, Rev. Jacob Yasso of Chaldean Sacred Heart sent Hussein congratulations, and in return, Hussein donated $250,000 to the church. (Chaldeans are a Catholic group in the mainly Muslim Iraq.)

Years later, the reverend visited Iraq and, with the mayor of Detroit's blessing, presented him with a key to the city.

Historic Events

 Feb in History

Birthdays with some quotes

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642; @77, fever) Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer who has been called the father of science, born in Pisa, Duchy of Florence, Italy §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Louis XV, King of France (1715-74) known as "Louis the Beloved", born in the Palace of Versailles, France (d. 1774; @64, smallpox) §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832; @84) English philosopher, social reformer and founder of modern utilitarianism, born in London §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Cyrus McCormick (1809-1884; @74, stroke) American inventor and businessman (mechanical reaper), born in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Charles Lewis Tiffany (1812-1902; @90) American jeweler and founder of Tiffany & Co, born in Killingly, Connecticut §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906; @86) American social reformer and women's suffrage movement leader, born in Adams, Massachusetts §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Demetrius Vikelas, Greek businessman and writer (first President International Olympic Committee 1894-1896), born in Ermoupoli, Greece (d. 1908; @73) §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Elihu Root (1845-1937; @91) American statesman (Nobel Peace Prize, 1912), born in Clinton, New York §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Emil Kraepelin (1856-1926; @70) German psychiatrist who developed a classification system for mental illness, born in Munich, Germany §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Alfred Carlton Gilbert (1884-1961; @76) American inventor and businessman who invented the Erector Set, one of the most popular toys of all time, born in Salem, Oregon §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Harold Arlen (1905-1986; @81) American composer ("Over the Rainbow"; "It's Only A Paper Moon"; "Stormy Weather"), born in Buffalo, New York §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Cesar Romero (1907-1994; @86) American actor (Batman, Ocean's 11), born in New York City §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Miep Gies, Dutch discoverer of Anne Frank's diary and friend of the Frank family, born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (d. 2010; @100) §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Harvey Korman, American actor (The Carol Burnett Show; Blazing Saddles; High Anxiety), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2008; @81) §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Sara Jane Moore, American radical who attempted to assassinate US President Gerald Ford, born in Charleston, West Virginia (d. 2025; @95)  §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Chris Farley (1964-1997; @33, OD) American actor and comedian (SNL, Wayne's World, Coneheads), born in Madison, Wisconsin §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Seattle Slew (1974-2002; @28) American racehorse (American Triple Crown 1977), born in White Horse Acres Farm, Texas §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

Sherry Jackson (84 years old), American actress (Make Room for Daddy. 1953-58 - "Terry"; The Mini-Skirt Mob), born in Wendell, Idaho §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Douglas Hofstadter (81 years old) 1945 American academic and writer, born in New York City §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Jane Seymour [Joyce Frankenberg], (75 years old) British actress (Live and Let Die; Somewhere in Time; Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman), born in London, England §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Melissa Manchester (75 years old), American pop singer ("Don't Cry Out Loud"; "Midnight Blue"), born in The Bronx, New York §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Matt Groening (72 years old) 1954 American cartoonist and writer (Life in Hell; The Simpsons; Futurama), born in Portland, Oregon §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Michael Easton (59 years old), American actor (General Hospital, Ally McBeal), born in Long Beach, California §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ Megan Thee Stallion (31 years old) 1995 American rapper, singer, and songwriter ("Savage"; Good News), born in San Antonio, Texas §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

 

…The End for today…