“The Islamic New Year, or the First of Muharram, begins at sundown. This marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar each year. For many Muslims, it begins at the first sighting of the lunar crescent after the new Moon in the month of Muharram. The crescent Moon may be visible a day or so after the new Moon, but weather and other factors may delay the sighting. Other Muslims use different criteria to determine the start of the calendar, such as the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA), which calculates the date according to the following: The Moon must be born (become new) before sunset in Makkah, and the Moon must set after sunset. The following dates are calculated according to the FCNA, and may be a day or so earlier than a visible sighting.”
Question of the Day
When a recipe calls for superfine sugar, do I really have to use it?
Yes, it’s best to use superfine sugar, but if you’re like us and don’t want to buy such a seldom-used item, you can use granulated sugar instead. Just whir it in the food processor until it is finely ground, about two minutes. You’ll be able to feel the difference. Superfine sugar dissolves more rapidly than regular sugar in cold liquids, so it is useful for drinks such as lemonade and iced tea.
Advice of the Day
A warm heart requires a cool head.
Home Hint of the Day
Boiled linseed oil is a penetrating wood finish that is easy to apply (wipe on with a rag, then wipe off the excess), gives long-lasting protection, and adds tone to unstained wood. The drawbacks, however, are that it darkens with age and offers little resistance to alcohol, water, or mildew.
Word of the Day
July
Named to honor Roman dictator Julius Caesar (100-44B.C.). In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar, with the help of Sosigenes, developed the Julian calendar, the precursor to the Gregorian calendar we use today.
Puzzle of the Day
I built my house upon my last. So sudden was its fall, and so surprisingly my first, it must have been my all.(What’s the word? Each clue is a syllable!)
Quick-sand
Died
King Edward I of England–
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle(Sherlock Holmes author)–
Vivien Leigh(actress)–
Veronica Lake(actress)–
Born
Gustav Mahler(composer)–
Leroy "Satchel" Paige(baseball player)–
Robert A. Heinlein(sci-fi writer)–
Pierre Cardin(fashion designer)–
Ringo Starr(Beatles’ drummer)–
Jorja Fox(actress)–
Joe Sakic(hockey player)–
Michelle Kwan(figure skater)–
Kaci Brown(singer)–
Events
Hammerfest, Norway (known as northernmost town in world), granted town status–
Cornerstone laid for first Catholic cathedral in the United States (Baltimore Basilica), in Baltimore, Maryland–
Acting on instructions from Washington, D.C., Commodore John Drake Sloat ordered his troops to occupy Monterey and Yerba Buena thus beginning the United States annexation of California–
Jim Thorpe won his first Olympic gold medal in the pentathlon–
Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini became the first American saint to be canonized–
First 6 enlisted women transferred from Naval Reserve to regular U.S. Navy–
Roosevelt Campobello International Park created, New Brunswick–
President Reagan nominated Sandra Day O’Connor to become a Supreme Court justice; she became the first female member of the Supreme Court–
Solar-powered aircraft Solar Challenger flew 163 miles in 5 hours, 23 minutes.–
A series of bombs exploded in London’s underground railway, as well as on top of a double-decker bus in a terrorist attack against the country–
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles became the youngest person to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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Weather
The thermometer touched 127 degrees F at Parker, Arizona–
In a rare July snowstorm, Glacier National Park received ten inches of snow and had 90 mph winds, while Denver had a record high temperature of 101 degrees F–
A record high temperature for this date of 81 degrees F hit Anchorage, Alaska–
Two inches of snow fell in Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska–
