The phrase “Dog Days” conjures up the hottest, most sultry days of summer. The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists the traditional timing of the Dog Days: the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius. The rising of Sirius does not actually affect the weather (some of our hottest and most humid days occur after August 11), but for the ancient Egyptians, Sirius appeared just before the season of the Nile’s flooding, so they used the star as a “watchdog” for that event. Since its rising also coincided with a time of extreme heat, the connection with hot, sultry weather was made for all time: “Dog Days bright and clear / indicate a happy year. / But when accompanied by rain, / for better times our hopes are vain.”
Question of the Day
Where did the different birthstones originate, and why are certain birthstones for certain months?
The wearing of the gemstone associated with your birth month is thought to bring good luck and good health. Astrologers long ago attributed supernatural powers to certain gemstones. The ones we associate with certain months now are not necessarily the same ones as in ancient times. The list fluctuates with the availability and cost of the stones. Once, color was the most important feature of a stone. Ancients did not distinguish between a ruby and a garnet, for example. The names used in history may not relate to the stone we think of with that name today. For example, a sapphire in the Bible was probably what we know today as lapis, and the diamonds were probably a white sapphire or white topaz. The stones originally assigned to each month related to the stones appearing on the breastplate of a Jewish high priest.
Advice of the Day
Cap in hand never did any harm.
Home Hint of the Day
Use uncooked rice as a mild abrasive for cleaning narrow-necked bottles and vases. Mix a few tablespoons of rice with water in the bottle or vase. Shake gently, pour out the rice and water, wash, and rinse.
Word of the Day
March
Named for the Roman god of war, Mars. This was the time of year to resume military campaigns that had been interrupted by winter.
Puzzle of the Day
A food item and a vessel.(Use these clues to find the two words that, when combined, form the name of a flower.)
Answer: Buttercup
Born
Samuel Huntington(signer of the Declaration of Independence)–
John Singleton Copley(painter)–
Richard Bedford Bennett(11th Prime Minister of Canada)–
George M. Cohan(composer)–
Franz Kafka(novelist)–
Ken Russell(film director)–
Pete Fountain(jazz musician)–
Harrison Schmitt(geologist, astronaut, politician)–
Tom Stoppard(writer)–
Betty Buckley(actress)–
Frank Daryl Tanana(baseball player)–
Thomas Gibson(actor)–
Tom Cruise(actor)–
Yeardley Smith(actress)–
Kevin Hearn(musician)–
Died
Jim Morrison(musician)–
Rudy Vallee(musician & actor)–
Jim Backus(actor)–
Andy Griffith(actor)–
Events
Quebec City founded by Samuel de Champlain–
The first savings bank in America (Bank of Savings) opened in N.Y.C.–
Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire officially opened to the public.–
Idaho became the 43rd state to enter the Union–
Fruit Garden and Home magazine was published. The publication changed its name two years later to Better Homes and Gardens–
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited segregation in public places–
The USS Vincennes shot down an Iranian passenger plane over the Persian Gulf, believing it to be a hostile fighter. All 290 civilians aboard were killed–
Singer Kylie Minogue received an Officer of the Order of the British Empire from Prince Charles during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace–
