February 2, 2024

Overview for this week.

1. February is Black History Month. In honor of this I am reposting the “I have A Dream” speech given by DR. Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963 during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

2. Happy Groundhog Day! Good news, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, so spring is coming early.

3. In our next installment of the history of the Babylonians are back and retake the territory lost to the Assyrians and rebuild Babylon as the economic and cultural capital of the Middle East.

4. We catch up with Dr. Fox and share a new entry from his blog.

5. February 1st through the 7th is United Nation's World Interfaith Harmony Week, something the world truly needs right now.

6. In the Next Gen we have our fourth installment in our series looking at the results of the research and analysis William George provides to investigative journalists.

7. February's full moon is the Snow Moon. We look at some of its other names and why this year's is also a micromoon.

8. In the Parent's Corner we highlight the options parents in Arizona have in choosing the schools their children attend and provide a link to information for parents in other states.

9. I recently met a young entrepreneur, Steve Lee, at a Stand Together event. He is the CEO of an organization, SkillUp Coalition, dedicated to providing workers with the right tool to improve their station in life.

10.We have a Flock reader suggestion in Wellness from regular contributor Dino DeConcini. It's the MIND Diet, which combines last week's DASH Diet with the Mediterranean Diet and targets brain health while still being a heart healthy choice.

11. The zebra foal born on Christmas day at Reid Park Zoo has a name now. 'Tikiti Maji' was the top choice of the more than 6,000 participants who voted on the choice of names.

12. Just in, we have The Flock's favorite Mezzo-Soprano, Linda Collazo's spring schedule of performances at Opera Orlando.

13. In the Book Corner, I'm featuring Golden Rule from the Tuttle Twins series of children's books.

14. In the Pet's Corner Baby Zeus has completed round one of his manners training. 

Now, to this week's Flock.

February is Black History Month. In honor of this I am reposting the “I have A Dream” speech given by DR. Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963 during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Today is Groundhog Day. Punxsutawney Phil was summoned from his tree stump for the 138th celebration of Groundhog Day in in Gobblers Knob, Pennsylvania this morning. Good news! Phil did not see his shadow, so spring is coming early.

From: WTAE, February 2, 2024

Punxsutawney Phil has spoken: An early spring awaits us.

The beloved groundhog took his position for the 138th time in Gobbler’s Knob Friday.

Phil's "inner circle" summoned him from his tree stump to learn if he saw his shadow. According to folklore, there will be six more weeks of winter if he sees his shadow. If he doesn't, spring comes early.

Thousands came out dark and early to see Phil make his weather prediction. That means good business for the small town in Jefferson County

This Groundhog Day I am reposting an article from the February, 2023 Flock Archives from on the holiday's history. Groundhog Day is celebrated in the United States and Canada. The roots of the holiday are an amalgamation of English, Scottish, German, and Delaware Indian traditions. The current tradition of waking Punxsutawney Phil to check his shadow dates to 1887.

From: Stormfax Weather Almanac

In 1723, the Delaware Indians settled Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania as a campsite halfway between the Allegheny and the Susquehanna Rivers. The Delawares considered groundhogs honorable ancestors.

When German settlers arrived in the 1700s, they brought a tradition known as Candlemas Day, which has an early origin in the pagan celebration of Imbolc. It came at the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. For the early Christians in Europe, it was the custom on Candlemas Day for clergy to bless candles and distribute them to the people in the dark of Winter. If the sun came out February 2, halfway between Winter and Spring, it meant six more weeks of wintry weather.

Over the past two weeks we looked a how the Babylonian Empire grew to power in southern Mesopotamia, while the Assyrian Empire simultaneously grew in Northern Mesopotamia, eventually conquering the Babylonian lands and taking control of all of Mesopotamia. Through eighth and seventh centuries BC, the neo-Assyrian Empire went into decline. The Babylonians, under their new king Nabopolassar were quick to take advantage of this decline and began taking back territory from the Assyrians and re-establishing the Babylonians dominance over the region by 612 BC. Nabopolassar's son Nebuchadnezzar II continued to expand the empire through the Levant to the Mediterranean Sea leading military campaigns against the Kingdom of Judah, laying siege to Jerusalem and enslaving the Hebrew people. In his 43-year reign, Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon as the dominant economic and cultural city in the Middle East. Babylon's renewed dominance would be short lived and last only 70 years until the Persians led by Cyrus the Great would topple their empire and free their captives.

From: Ducksters

Around 616 BC King Nabopolassar took advantage of the fall of the Assyrian Empire to bring the seat of the empire back to Babylon. It was his son Nebuchadnezzar II who led Babylon back to its former glory.

The Neo-Babylonian Empire

Ichthyovenator Sémhur

Nebuchadnezzar II Nebuchadnezzar II ruled for 43 years. He was a great military leader and expanded the empire to include much of the Middle East all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. This included the conquering of the Hebrews and taking them into slavery for 70 years as told in the Bible. Under Nebuchadnezzar's rule, the city of Babylon and its temples were restored. It also became the cultural center of the world, just like during Hammurabi's rule.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar II built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. This was a large series of terraces that rose to around 75 feet high. They were covered with all sorts of trees, flowers, and plants. The gardens is considered one of the great wonders of the ancient world.

Babylon the great (2,000 years of Mesopotamian history explained in ten minutes)



It's been a little while since we checked in with Dr. Fox. Today, I wanted to remind The Flock that Dr. Fox is here for you and share another thought from Dr. Fox's blog.

Delineations and demarcations

Like sky writings, merly lines in space

Never dividing, never partitioning

Intrinsic Wholeness

— Written by Hayward Fox

Yesterday, February 1st, marked the beginning of the United Nation's World Interfaith Harmony Week. Harmony and respect between all religions is very much in need during our current times and we applaud this effort.

From: United Nations

Uniting for peace

World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event observed during the first week of February, since the General Assembly designation in 2010. The General Assembly pointed out that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace and established World Interfaith Harmony Week as a way to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith.

Recognizing the imperative need for dialogue among different faiths and religions to enhance mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among people, the General Assembly encourages all States to spread the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship during that week, on a voluntary basis and according to their own religious traditions or convictions.

Origin and history

World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), conceived to promote a culture peace and nonviolence, was first proposed by King Abdullah II of Jordan at the United Nations in 2010. This was quickly adopted by the UN General Assembly (resolution A/RES/65/5), declaring the first week of February each year as World Interfaith Harmony week, calling on governments, institutions and civil society to observe it with various programs and initiatives that would promote the aim of the WIHW objectives.

This is the fourth installment on the research work that next genner William George does at Import Genius that is then used by investigative journalists in their reporting. Previously we've featured articles that he has contributed to on the Elfbar vape brand’s efforts to avoid import taxes by mislabeling their products, the destructive and unregulated Kratom industry, and the illegal cultivation of Cocoa on protected lands and how it makes its way to major chocolate makers. This week we're featuring an article from Reuters on the disruption to global markets being caused by the unrest in Yemen and attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

From: Reuters, By: Savyata Mishra and Deborah Sophia, December 21, 2023

Global retailers selling apparel, household staples and white goods face bigger risks from disruptions in freight movement through the key Suez Canal trade route as Iran-backed Yemeni militants attack ships sailing through the lower Red Sea.

Some shipping companies are already considering longer voyages, including around the Horn of Africa, due to the attacks by the Houthi militant group, potentially leading to longer wait times as well as higher prices for goods.

S&P Global identified sectors such as consumer goods, apparel and chemicals to bear the biggest brunt from the disruptions in shipping routes between Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The Suez Canal is one of the most important conduits for world trade, accounting for about 12% of the world's maritime traffic. The biggest names in the retail world, including Walmart (WMT.N), opens new tab, H&M Hennes & Mauritz (HMb.ST), opens new tab and Target (TGT.N), opens new tab, extensively use the canal to move goods from major manufacturing markets in Asia.

If there are extended disruptions, the consumer goods sector will face the biggest impact, S&P Global said in a report.

ImportGenius, a global trade database, said goods including clothing and accessories such as handbags, men's t-shirts and girls' dresses along with furniture, home decor and everyday items like toothbrushes, made up a majority of the goods transported via the key route so far in December.

The next full moon and February's only full moon, the Snow Moon, will be on February 24th. There is only one full moon per month this year, so no blue moons. For a full list of each month’s full moon, take a look at the December 29th issue of The Flock from our archives. The Snow Moon will also be a micromoon, appearing slightly smaller than usual, a full explanation is below.

From: Star Walk, December 28, 2023

What is a Snow Moon?

Traditionally, the February Full Moon is called the Snow Moon in North America and Europe. Unlike some other Full Moon names (like the Worm Moon or the Pink Moon), this name speaks for itself and doesn’t require much explanation. February is the month of heaviest snowfalls in North America, so Native American tribes referred to it as the Snow Moon. Some tribes also called it the Hunger Moon because it was difficult to hunt under harsh weather conditions.

First Micromoon of 2024

A Micromoon occurs when a Full Moon coincides with the apogee (the moment when our natural satellite is the farthest from the Earth). According to the calendar made by former NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak, the Full Moon in February 2024 will be the first Micromoon of this year. For observers, it means that the Moon might seem slightly smaller than usual. Check our Supermoons & Micromoons infographic to visually compare a Supermoon and Micromoon with an ordinary Moon.

February Full Moon alternative names

Different cultures gave the February Full Moon different names. Here are some of them:

• Chinese: Budding Moon
• Celtic: Ice Moon
• Cree: Eagle Moon
• Cherokee: Bony Moon
• Southern Hemisphere: Grain Moon, Barley Moon, Red Moon, Dog Moon

"Micro Snow Moon" One of Top Astronomy Events for February 2024



Many states offer options for parents to choose their children's schools. Here in Arizona, parents can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online schools, homeschooling, and microschooling to find the right fit for their child. Different states may have different option, The Schoolchoiceweek.com website can help you find out the options available in your state.

From National School Choice Week

If you live in Arizona, you have access to more K-12 education options than you might realize. Navigating these options can help you find a school where your child thrives, but it can also feel overwhelming. This guide will breakdown the main types of school choice in Arizona, as well as provide additional education resources.

Arizona families can choose from traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online learning, homeschooling, and microschooling and mix-and-match learning.

Interested in learning more about Arizona’s ESA program? Check out our deep dive blog on the Empowerment Scholarship Account program and Arizona School Choice.

I met this young delightful young businessman, Steve Lee, recently at a Stand Together event. Steve is the CEO of the SkillUp Coalition, a nonprofit that is dedicated to bringing knowledge and skills to workers who want to skill up, learn up and move on down the road. They provide practical training to help people move forward with their lives and careers.

From: SkillUP Coalition

Who We Are

SkillUp is a nonprofit that connects workers with the right tools, resources and support, so they can make confident career shifts, find quality living-wage jobs, and position themselves for promising career growth.

Our History:

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an economic toll on America’s workers. To address this critical need, we launched the SkillUp Coalition in July 2020, an upskilling non-profit coalition built to help America’s laid-off and furloughed workers access the training and employment opportunities they need to secure a place in the economy of the future.

Rather than push workers back into jobs just like the ones they left, SkillUp allows workers to leverage current skills while building new skills that are suited to in-demand jobs with promising career paths.

Now three years later, SkillUp comprises over 100 organizations including training and education providers, tech firms, employers, and philanthropies. We have connected over 1.6 Million workers to career and training supports throughout the country and are eager to reach even more in the coming years.

We proudly support all workers, at any stage of their journey, and create an affordable, equitable, upskilling ecosystem that allows anyone the op

“Rapid Reskilling” is the Future of Fulfilling Work

After seeing the article, we posted last week on the DASH Diet, one of our favorite followers and contributors, Dino DeConcini suggested we put something in this week about the MIND Diet. The MIND Diet combines elements of the Mediterranean and the DASH Diets. It is targeted at supporting brain health, but also has all of the cardiovascular benefits of the DASH Diet. Thanks for the suggestion, Dino!

From: Harvard School of Public Health

What Is It?

The Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, or MIND diet, targets the health of the aging brain. Dementia is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, driving many people to search for ways to prevent cognitive decline. In 2015, Dr. Martha Clare Morris and colleagues at Rush University Medical Center and the Harvard Chan School of Public Health published two papers introducing the MIND diet. [1,2] Both the Mediterranean and DASH diets had already been associated with preservation of cognitive function, presumably through their protective effects against cardiovascular disease, which in turn preserved brain health.

The Zebra Foal born on Christmas at Reid Park Zoo now has a name. The zoo held a contest and allowed the public to vote on the name. The votes are in and the winning name is Tikiti Maji, Swahili for watermelon.

From: Reid Park Zoo, January 31, 2024

The votes are in! Reid Park Zoo is excited to announce that its zebra foal, born on Christmas Day, officially has a name.

More than 6,000 votes were cast, with “Tikiti Maji” coming in as the top choice.

The name, which means “watermelon” in Swahili, was proposed by the Zoo’s hoofstock team due to her mother Anna’s fondness for the summer fruit during her pregnancy. The team plans on calling her “Tikiti”.

At one month old, Tikiti is doing great. She has become more comfortable around the Zoo’s other female zebra, Zuri. Tikiti, Anna, and Zuri have been spending time together as a herd day and night, grazing and resting nearby each other. During your next visit to Reid Park Zoo, you might catch Tikiti kicking up her legs or zooming through her habitat.

Reid Park Zoo announced zebra foal name



Look what just popped in. Linda Collazo is performing throughout this spring in Orlando, Florida at Opera Orlando.

Ethan and Emily Tuttle embark on their first summer camp adventure where competing teams turn into rivals, but Chief Ron helps the twins and their teammates learn the dangers of aggression, revenge, and blowback - and why peace and friendship are important!

Baby Zeus is exhausted from round one of his basic manners training and he's back home practicing his new skills. It wore him out, but he's resting up and getting ready for round two.

Just like a college student home for the weekend, Zeus is sleeping in.

Still out.

Now I'm up.

K9 Shrink Extraordinaire

Don't Be Shy: Share Your Stories!

I'm looking forward to sharing more of your personal stories - oral, written, or otherwise, as we enter our second year. I'd so love to present them to The Flock, hit a mailbox below to share your story.

Holualoa Ed Fit Wellness & Culture 2

520-818-4433

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