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- February 20, 2022
- Clean out your Bookcase Day 2022
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This is February 20th. It is designated as Clean Out Your Bookcase Day.
I cannot determine the origin of the day. I suppose some bibliophile got a wild hair and just declared it enough til it stuck.
Anyway, I am the proud owner of a single six foot cherry finish book case I've had a long time which I intend to give a good cleaning in the immediate future.
I store books, a few personal items, and my collection of marine animal glass sculpture my Mama gave me back in her cruise days.In the immortal words of Gomer Pyle:
Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!
Gomer Pyle
portrayed by Jim Neighbors
I have been known to take everything out, dust it off, wipe down the shelves really well, then replace everything to it's place periodically.
The glass statuary ususally gets a good soapy soak in a plastic wash basin padded with a towel.
I just didn't know that there were people out there who have an entire day set aside for it all.
Happy Clean out your Bookcase Day to you !
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- February 19, 2022
- Iwo Jima Day 2022
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My late friend Dewitt was a marine. He told me that "once a marine always a marine" and he said there was no such thing as a "former marine". I suffered long and hard throughout his interest in the Marine Corps League — and let me tell you he was gung ho and eat up with it.
He had a fine old colorized 16x20 print of the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima. It appeared to be rotogravure or some manner of spectacular gravure process print in a frame under glass. I think it was one of the many treasures he obtained from various yard sales he was known to frequent. It hung upon the inside of his bedroom on the door and is something we regarded and admired and discussed pretty much at each and every opportunity.
This is February 19 and that is Iwo Jima Day marking the anniversary of the 5 week or so battle between American and Japanese forces which was perfectly horrible as far as military engagements go.
Thousands of combatants lost there lives with the United States emerging victorious in light of the terrible viciousness of this battle.
This day is in tribute to our lost soldiers, remembering their victory, and rejoicing for our nation as a whole.
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- February 18, 2022
- National Battery Day 2022
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I go through a lot of batteries. I maintain a good supply of AAA, AA, C, D and 9 volt batteries with a couple of of various cell configurations for the various things I use that require them. Additionally, I have acquired a few AAAA batteries purchased in error. In particular I like a flashlight handy with a fresh set of D batteries installed.
I use batteries as a manner of convenience and to accessorize myself with various technology I utilize. I would have to say that my cell phone and two main flashlights are the biggest need I have personally.
Batteries are containers comprised of one or more chemical cells which are manufactured such that the chemical energy they contain is converted into electricity for use as a source of power. We refer to such chemical to electrical conversion as "battery power" and it makes a lot of the new era gadgets operate for us ... particularly those cell phones so many of us have become fanatical about.
Today is National Battery Day. It goes down each February 18th. I suppose it's a function of everything and everyone wanting their own "day" as it were.
Without batteries we would be slaves to the electric socket to engage technology by and large. Thus, batteries give us the ability to be portable without permanent attachment to some less than mobile power source.
They really are a marvel even with their explosions and other mishaps and misadventures likely due to how they are treated during operation.
My only qualm with batteries have to do with recycling them as my local jurisdiction can't even handle anything "battery" in the recycle and so I am forced to place spent batteries in the trash.
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- February 17, 2022
- A Year without Rush Limbaugh
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It's been a year since Rush Limbaugh died at the age of 70 from the sequela of lung cancer. He had been a long time smoker and February 17, 2021 will always be a sad day for me personally.
Others have stepped into the conservative movement to try to fill the huge gap in support and commentary he left and we mark this day in his honor.
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- February 17, 2022
- Random Acts of Kindness Day 2022
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One of those days I like to note is Random Acts of Kindness Day. It is ostensibly set aside for those nice things we may do for one another in the name of benevolence that indicates a propensity for courtesy, favor, grace, indulgence, and mercy.
Once upon a time I was a gruff redneck ruffian with little in the way of kindness in my soul. Over the years I have calmed down somewhat and with all that water under the bridge I've seen a lot that was previously unknown to me.
The acquisition of technical information and skills over time changed my direction. After several mistakes along the way I at least attempt to take other people into consideration prior to going off the deep end anymore.
This has caused me to take pause before acting and that in itself has resulted in the kinder, gentler Dave of the present.
Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty
It's become a recurring theme in my life. I continually attempt to live up to the notion. Many times I fail miserably. Other times I rise to the occasion. Regardless, I try to keep it as a tenet in my life.
I used to see art contests for school children touting random acts of kindness. I can recall being touched by a number of them given the child like innocence of the drawings coupled with the very adult admonition that kindess and beauty are importent elements of the world today.
Random Acts of Kindness Day is that day to celebrate and encourage random acts of kindness. The day is observed February 17 in the US. It is also celebrated on other days elsewhere.
See Also:
Random Acts of Kindness Day
Random Acts of Kindness Day 2018
World Kindness Day 2018
World Kindness Day 2019
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- February 16, 2022
- Remembering Margaux Hemingway on her birthday
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The birthday of Margaux Hemingway brings back those long past memories of pining for her early in my career.
Margaux Louise Hemingway was born Margot Louise Hemingway on February 16, 1954.
She became an American fashion model and actress then a supermodel appearing on the covers of those fashion magazines of her era.
All this became moot July 1, 1996 when she passed from apparent suicide at aged 42 in Santa Monica, California.
We were close in age and those things you want don't always materialize. Matters of the heart are particularly fickle in a big world of disparate environments and circumstances.
She was interred near my childhood home at Blackfoot Idaho in a town called Ketchum.
That turmoil in her later years due to highly publicized episodes of addiction and depression prior to her suicide by an overdose of phenobarbital made me think that aspects of her life were left unfulfilled and likely of a relationship causality; but of course I would grasp for anything in my meager sphere containing the "what ifs" and "if onlys" of personal desire.
Though in my experience the reality has always been one thing, "personal wishes" another despite the entire notion being quite irrelevant from the beginning to boot — the thought of her still gives me intermittent and brief wistful pause to this day.
I recall the news of her death and that I thought it was a waste of what should have been a wonderful idylic life.
So much for my personal fantasies during those earlier times of life long gone by.
Shucks.
See Also:
Pining for Margaux Hemingway
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- February 15, 2022
- The Chelyabinsk meteor of 2013
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I'm one of those paranormal enthusiasts ... though I freely admit to be totally nonpracticing from an investigatory standpoint.
One of those television programs I enjoy is Paranormal Caught on Camera which discusses various clips of paranormal and extraterrestrial incidents caught internationally.
They had a clip about the February 15, 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor which exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia and injured some 1500 people, blew out windows, shook buildings, and shook up everybody otherwise.
This unexpected event happened mere hours before the anticipated closest ever approach of the larger and unrelated asteroid known as 2012 DA14.
The various clips included from concurrent camera feeds were shocking from a human standpoint and the damage to people and places was stupendous for such a brief event.
This particular piece was scary from the standpoint of empathy and the fact that it could have happened to me. I personally feel that Russia has a lot more of these ocurrences due to the size of the country more than anything else.
Reports of the Chelyabinsk meteor classified it as a small asteriod around the size of a 6 story building which then broke up over the city of Chelyabinsk in a blast said to be stronger than an nuclear explosion.
It triggered detections from monitoring equipment as far away as Antarctica.
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- February 14, 2022
- Valentine's Day 2022
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While originally a religious observance and feast of the various Christian martyrs called Saint Valentine across the ages, the holiday has become a secular observance for sweethearts around the world.
With all the trappings of that cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love all over. Likely it's all the result of commercial interests in the greeting card and chocolate industry.
Be all of this as it may, Valentine's Day aka Saint Valentine's Day aka Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14th.
It originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, through later folk traditions, has become a significant .
Saint Valentine's Day is not a "public" holiday in any country, although it is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Church but remains widely observed and celebrated by sweethearts everywhere.
Personally, I'm crazy about Denise.
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- February 13, 2022
- Kim Jong-nam assassinated in 2017
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I'm afraid I haven't been a fan of the nepot regime ruling North Korea. "Dear Leader" as it was simply strikes me as a despot who seized control and made it a family legacy without anything remotely resembling any initial inherited title or legacy of service warranting such control. This leaves the rest of his family without anything remotely qualifying beyond strong arm tactics, intimidation of a nation, and murder.
Sorry, but anyone who could in good conscience execute his uncle with an antiaircraft weapon simply for being bored and falling asleep absolutely cannot be an individual of sound or moral character.
Kim Jong-nam was the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. He was born May 10, 1971 and was heir apparent to the cult of personality ruling North Korea from about 1994 until 2001.
It is believed that he fell from favor due to perceived embarrassment of the regime in 2001 when he attempted to visit Tokyo Disneyland with forged passport credentials.
He said his loss of favour had been due to advocating reforms.
Exiled from North Korea around 2003 he became the occasional critic of the family regime such that his younger paternal half-brother, Kim Jong-un, was named heir apparent in September 2010.
His accommodations and lifestyle were quite modest after his fall from grace in the regime.
Kim Jong-nam was assassinated in Malaysia on February 13, 2017 with the nerve agent VX which is an extremely toxic synthetic chemical compound of thiophosphonate compounds developed for military use in chemical warfare as a spinoff of pesticide research.
He was said to be returning to Pyongyang.
The attack was allegedly on the orders of his half-brother, Kim Jong-un and those delivering the agent believed they were part of a television attack according to their accounts of the incident after arrest.
He was allegedly outed by The Wall Street Journal on June 10, 2019 as a CIA source according to US officials which is quite par for the treacherous course.
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- February 12, 2022
- International Darwin Day 2022
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When I was in school I learned of Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution. While many spiritually oriented individuals such as myself think that evolution is contradictory to theology and the creationist belief system I simply feel that it is a method of the almighty whose ways are mysterious and without question.
Science too is merely a divine methodology; much of which has been misrepresented in the public school systems particularly in the field of physics and we will some day know that subterfuge which has been shadow world leadership in the greater picture of the universe.
Inasmuch as I therefore see Darwin as a tool set upon the earth to bring to light those ways in which we are.
Charles Robert Darwin was a English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended from common ancestors is now widely accepted and considered a fundamental concept in science.
He was born February 12, 1809 at The Mount House in Shrewsbury, United Kingdom. He died April 19, 1882 at his home called Down House in Downe, United Kingdom. His spouse was named Emma and they had a number of offspring together.
Among key awards and recognition he received are:
Copley Medal
Wollaston Medal
Royal Medal
Fellow of the Royal Society
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
Fellow of The Linnean Society
Fellow of the Zoological Society
International Darwin Day is held each February 12th in the name of inspiration of the people around the world to reflect and act on ideas like intellectual bravery, perpetual curiosity, scientific thinking, and hunger for truth as embodied in Charles Darwin.
It is a day for celebration, activism, and international cooperation for the advancement of science, education, and human well-being.
See Also:
Evolution Day
Evolution Day 2019
I'm NOT a Transhumanist
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- February 11, 2022
- National Inventors Day 2022
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This is another of those perceived travesties imparted by a well-meaning government.
February 11, 1983 was proclaimed as National Inventors Day by Ronald Reagan which corresponds to the anniversary of the birth of the inventor Thomas Alva Edison — who allegedly held over 1,000 patents.
Only problem is I suspect that a signifcant number of his patents were stolen from others in his midst such as various associates and Nikola Tesla.
Given the fact that these suspicions cannot be proven at this juncture, I suppose I'll just have to give him the benefit of the doubt ... only I subjectively don't have any.
My problem with both Westinghouse and Edison surround their mistreatment of Tesla and the FBI is right in there with them stealing his stuff as well when they cleaned out his vault the very day he died.
I get this skepticism honestly coming from a place where my intellectual property was routinely stolen and copyrighted by others whose capabilities were far less than mine.
So anyway, Inventor's Day is somewhat sullied for me and Thomas Alva Edison is NOT what he is to many others in my mind.
J Edgar Hoover was and the FBI is far worse.
Happy Inventor's Day anyway.
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- February 10, 2022
- Attention to detail too
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In my career I've encountered too many who lack attention to detail.
They are mostly females and typically speak in circular patterns interspersed with 'do you dig where I'm coming from ?' among other trite mess and I have grown intolerant of interactions with individuals unable to function at an adequate intellectual level in my presence.
No offense, I think it's fine not to be academically spirited, but prefer coherent stimulating company myself.
I've always prided myself in my ability to provide attention to detail.
Until lately I have always been able to engage my cognition with accuracy and thoroughness pouring over details for hours on end without tiring.
I have analyzed data to check for errors and inaccuracies but more, erroneous control structures and logic in code that I write.
Far better to discover your own errors than to have the client do so.
This, unfortunately, has occured occasionally over time.
That was then. This is now.
Of late, I notice these thought processes I once cherished in myself aren't as fluid and easy as I once thought they were.
I attribute this to my advancing age and while my memory is satisfactory I view it as a failure of my own personal standards.
Why then, should a retired fellow be so concerned noticing less intellect than remembered previously ?
Because I'm a F☠cking stickler for facts, recall, and consistently firing synapses.
This is why further courses of nootropics are in my immediate future.
I am not one to take what I construe to be excess groping for a thought or a word or an idea lying down.
What do I look like, some dumb ass college instructor ?
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- February 9, 2022
- Chick Corea, jazz virtuoso
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Normally, I won't waste any time pouncing on you if your persuasion is Scientology. Yes, I feel that the ersatz religion is a lot of bunk created by a shyster out to make a buck.
However, one of my most favorite keyboard artists, Chick Corea, was one so I'm going to leave that fact alone.
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea was an American jazz musician who composed beautiful pieces, lead a band, and sometimes dabbled in percussion and kept me entralled during very difficult moments in my life.
He was able to make me forget my troubles for brief interludes with the melodious pursuit of his art.
My audiophile interest in jazz fusion and improvisation melded perfectly with his ensembles with Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, and McCoy Tyner.
His place as one of the foremost jazz pianists in history is well deserved and I am sorry that he is only available on recordings now.
He succumbed to a rare form of cancer at home Florida on February 9, 2021. He was 79 years old.
He was awarded 25 Grammys and received over 60 nominations over his career.
Rest in peace.
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- February 8, 2022
- Communications Decency Act of 1996
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On this day in 1996 congress passed the Communications Decency Act.
This was an attempt to control what was construed as “obscene or indecent” to recipients under 18 years of age and outlawed the display of “patently offensive” materials to those under 18.
Of course, the only problem with all of this is the interpretation. That which YOU might feel is obscene or indecent SOMEONE ELSE might view otherwise.
The Communications Decency Act of 1996 was merely one of many attempts by congress to involve themselves outside of their purview.
The United States Supreme Court struck those anti-indecency provisions in the 1997 case Reno v ACLU.
Today we have judges who believe they have the right to legislate and in particular those libtard appointment mistakes secondary to the Obama and Biden administrations that in themselves are obscene and indecent with innumerable capricious judgements which favor the criminal.
Boo to Obama.
Boo to Biden.
Boo to the George Soros owned democrats and progressives out to ruin our nation.
A day of reckoning for these crimes will come.
I am not the only conservative who is fed up.
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