July 21, 2022
“ Dobroho ranku”, or “Good Morning!” in Ukrainian, an Eastern Slavic language spoken mainly in Ukraine. I have decided to maintain the UJT will focus on Ukraine until we can all rejoice in the end of hostilities. It has been 145 days since Russia attacked Ukraine.
Its good to work on another stained glass project. Especially since my Granddaughter, Cloe sent me the nicest grinder ever! For those who are blessed with less than perfect glass cutting skills, a glass grinder is required to make up for the dimensions of the piece left by your cutting and the actual size needed.
This week I learned some stuff:
• It is not easy to change a lifetime of living on 4.5 hours of sleep each night to eight hours. I am told that naps cannot be counted as part of your daily sleep number. If I could include naps I would get close!
• July 21 is the 202nd day of 2022. Just 166 days till Christmas! Today in 1861, at Manassas Junction, Virginia, the first major battle of the American Civil war begins and ends in a victory for the Confederate army; Today in 1865, in the market square of Springfield, Missouri, Wild Bill Hickok shoots and kills Davis Tutt in what is regarded as the first western showdown; In 1853 on this day, at Adair, Iowa, Jesse James and the James–Younger Gang pull off the first successful train robbery in the American Old West.y; In 1925 on this day, in Dayton, Tennessee, high school biology teacher John T. Scopes is found guilty of teaching human evolution in class and fined $100; Today in 1944, Claus von Stauffenberg and four fellow conspirators are executed for the July 20 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler; Elijah Jerry “Pumpsie” Green becomes the first African-American to play for the Boston Red Sox, the last team to integrate. He came in as a pinch runner for Vic Wertz and stayed in as shortstop in a 2–1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on this day in 1959; Today in 1969, at 02:56 UTC, astronaut Neil Armstrong becomes the first person to walk on the Moon, followed 19 minutes later by Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin; Today in 1979, Jay Silverheels, (AKA Tonto) a Mohawk actor, becomes the first Native American to have a star commemorated in the Hollywood Walk of Fame: President Barack Obama signs the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act today in 2010; NASA’s Space Shuttle program ends with the landing of Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-135 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to day in 2011; Today in 1816, Paul Reuter, German-English journalist, founded Reuters a was born; Born today in 1899, Ernest Hemingway, American novelist, short story writer, and journalist, Nobel Prize laureate was born; Isaac Stern, Russian-American violinist and conductor was born today in 1920; Don Knotts, (AKA Barney Fife) American actor and screenwriter was born today in 1935; Janet Reno, American lawyer and politician, 79th United States Attorney General was born today in 1938; Today in 1943, Henry McCullough, Northern IrishSpooky Tooth, guitarist, singer and songwriter was born; Ken Starr, American lawyer and judge, 39th Solicitor General of the United States was born today in 1946; Today in 1946, Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam), English singer-songwriter and guitarist was born; Robin Williams, American actor and comedian was born today in 1951; Today in 1955, Howie Epstein, American bass player, songwriter, and producer with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was born; on Lovitz, American comedian, actor, and producer was born today in 1957; Basil Rathbone, South African-American actor and singer died today in 1967; Alan Shepard, American admiral, pilot, and astronaut passed away today in 1998; And lastly, today in 2017, John Heard, American film and television actor passed away.
Website Update:
This week:
• Week 2 for our Vocabulary Quiz
• Last week for our Musical Trivia Quiz
• I was unable to come up with a new recipe this week.
• The Home Page quote this week is from the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, “Complaining about a problem without proposing a solultion is called whining.”.
Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass and Painting Update:
• I don’t recall if I mentioned that I procured via the wonders of the internet two sticks of willow. Weeping Willow has always been a favorite of both my wife and I. I saw the offering on Ebay and went for it. Following directions provided, I plopped the two green sticks into a tall coffee cup filled about 3/4 of the way with water. That was a couple of weeks ago and this week, “Lo and Behold!” now have 2 green sticks with roots and leaves. I am planing them in soil this week. I am so excited to bonsai a willow tree!
• The new stained glass project is proceeding slowly but I am enjoying using the new method (Lead Came vs Copper foil).
• I am continuing my streak of slacking off on the paper edits of Grandpa Stories. I just haven’t carved out any time for more chapters.
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
Frankly, I do not understand it. January 6th, 2021some government officials and citizen conspired to disrupt the transfer of power after the election. Since then the Justice Department and the DC Police have charged hundreds of the participants with crimes determined during their investigation of the treasonous event. Yet the most senior government officials and their various entourages remain unaccused and at large. These people inspired, orchestrated and led the event in one form or another. There is ample evidence against most of them. Yet we persist in conducting a political show vs. just filing charges against the perpetrators and pursuing remedies via the US Justice System. This particular route towards addressing the illegal and immoral acts is the slowest, most expensive and ineffective means available. It is decisions like this that cause reasonable people to vote for unreasonable and unqualified candidates. Our citizens are not voting for Trump and his ilk. Those reprobates have been put into power by an angry, frustrated electorate simply because the are tired of the idiots. By actions such as this, The Democratic Party demonstrates clearly that, their priorities are not the same as their constituents. The few available voices of genuine statesmen and stewards in power are drowned out by the drone of the mundane. The bottom line is our congressional representatives should be working on real issues with in their purvey and leave criminal prosecutions to the Justice Department.
Music Update:
This weeks mix is another reflection of the parts of life that mean the most.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
• Jim Croce — Time in a Bottle — There was always something special about Jim Croce. His songwriting touched us either with humor or empathy. He wrote this song in 1970, when his wife, Ingrid, told him that she was pregnant. It was released on his debut album, “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” released in 1972.
• Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention — Montana — This tight and at points, hilarious, song is a great example of how Zappa could draw in the best players and draw out their best performances. But the results were so eclectic that many were overlooked by the mainstream. This is from his, “Overnight Sensation” album released in 1973.
• Wild Child – Sinking Ship – This is a great tune from their “Expectations” release from last year. I really like this record! It reminds me of someone I can no longer recall very well, expect I smile when I try.
• Bonnie Raitt – Too Soon To Tell – This is one of those songs that you get or you don’t. I still get it after all these years. This is a deep cut from her 1989 hit album, “Nick of Time ”.
• Grateful Dead — I Need A Miracle Everyday — From the Vinyl !!!! Its been some time since I listened to “Shakedown Street”, released in 1978. This was an important song to Dead Heads. The Dead performed this song in their rotation for 271 shows over 2 years after the release.
• Crosby Stills Nash & Young — 49Bye Byes/Americas Children — This is a song about being an American kid in the 1970s. We all know about Stephen’s great guitar work but on this tune he is age the piano. This is one of my favorite cuts from “4 Way Street” released in 1971.
That’s it… Do the best you can; Laugh every chance you get; Always remember… The best is yet to come! As always, thank you for being my friend!