18 Jan

 

Week 3  Day 18   Flag Today  43°/22°  Sky cover:  95% Wind 7mph Gusts 11mph Active Fire:  595miles away Risk of fire: Low  Nearest Lightning:  1513 miles away Air Quality: Fair Overcast Jan. Daily Averages: Temps: 44°\16° Moisture:  5 Days

Today’s Quote                                                                                                Today’s Meme

Weekly Observations

6-2/13 Carnival 13-21 International Snowmobile Safety & Awareness Week Link  14-20 Healthy Weight Week Hunt for Happiness Week Idiom Week Sugar Awareness Week

15-19 No Name Calling Week Link 17-23 National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week 18-25 Week of Christian Unity 18-28 Sundance Film Festival

Daily Observations

Get to Know Your Customers Day Gourmet Coffee Day Hot Heads Chili Days Maintenance Day National Peking Duck Day

Thesaurus Day Link Winnie The Pooh Day Women's Healthy Weight Day (aka Healthy Weight Week)

Today’s Thoughts

Overcast and windy today. I did some quick shopping at Sam’s this morning, then headed home to get out of the chilly wind. This is a day to sit in front of my electric fireplace and watch some good movies. My luncheon group have suddenly become ‘snowbirds’ who stay in Phoenix when Flag gets too chilly. Mary and Mike have a house down there. Now Andy and Faith have moved their RV to Phoenix. They all come back every couple of weeks to check on their residence and pick up their mail.

Weird History…

Tablecloths Were Originally Intended to Be a Giant Napkin Tablecloths were once an unexpected form of dining accessory. While today they are a staple in many households, tablecloths were originally intended to be used as one giant napkin! It was first popularized by the French aristocracy during the 17th century. The wealthy would use large pieces of fabric draped over their tables and then wipe their hands on it after meals. This trend quickly spread throughout Europe and eventually the rest of the world. Though it may seem like a strange concept now, this is how tablecloths came into existence. They have since become a timeless part of our culture and can be found in homes across the globe. Who knew that something so simple could have such an interesting history?

Most important inventions

1981: Scanning Tunneling Microscope By moving the needle of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) across a surface and monitoring the electric current that flows through it, scientists can map a surface to the level of single atoms. The STM is so precise that it not only looks at atoms, it also can manipulate them into structures. The microscope’s development earns IBM researchers Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer a Nobel Prize and helps launch the emerging era of nanotechnology.

Untrue myths about Colonial America…States that never made the map

There Was A Mirror Tax Because a lot of mirrors were produced in segments, historians were led to believe that this was an attempt to avoid a tax on large mirror panes. However, this supposed mirror tax never existed. The truth is that it was difficult to manufacture large pieces of glass as well as transport them without breaking, therefore making them more expensive. It's possible this myth can be traced back to 1767's Townshend Revenue Acts which stated, "For every hundred weight avoirdupois of crown, plate, flint, and white glass, four shillings and eight pence." Yet, no specific taxes on mirrors was ever in effect.

Historic Events

1788 – The first elements of the First Fleet carrying 736 convicts from Great Britain to Australia arrived at Botany Bay. 1967 – Albert DeSalvo, the “Boston Strangler”, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. 1993 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day was officially observed for the first time in all 50 states.

Birthdays with some quotes

83 – Bobby Goldsboro, American singer-songwriter @82 – Cary Grant, English-American actor (d. 1986; stroke) I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally, I became that person. Or he became me. @80 – Thomas A. Watson, American assistant to Alexander Graham Bell (d. 1934) @80 – Ray Dolby, American engineer, and businessman, founded Dolby Laboratories (d. 2013) @74 – A.A. Milne, English author, poet, and playwright (d. 1956) Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them. @76 – Danny Kaye, American actor, singer, and dancer (d. 1987; Hepatitis C) Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can. @74 – Robert Anton Wilson, American writer (d. 2007) There is absolutely nothing that can be taken for granted in this world. @70 – Daniel Webster, American lawyer, and politician (d. 1852; cirrhosis) 69 – Kevin Costner, American actor, director, and producer @65 – Oliver Hardy, American actor, and comedian, partner of Stan Laurel (d. 1957; stroke) If you must make a noise, make it quietly. 55 – Dave Bautista, American wrestler, mixed martial artist, and actor 55 – Jesse L. Martin, American actor, and singer 44 – Jason Segal, American actor

…The End for today…