USA (USMNT) is eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

instagram.com

They lost 4-1 to Belgium in the Round of 16 match played (July 6, 2026) at Lumen Field in Seattle. Belgium advances to the quarterfinals against Spain.

x.com

Quick context:

• The US had advanced from the group stage (they topped Group D despite a loss to Turkey in the final group game).

All three host nations (USA, Canada, and Mexico) have now been eliminated. Tough result for the USMNT.

USA Lost to Belgium 4-1

Belgium lost to Spain 2-1,  Spain, advanced to the semifinals (vs. France).

Spain defeated France 2-0

Spain defeated Argentina. 1-0 and has won the World Cup.

"La Roja" (meaning "The Red One" in Spanish) is the popular nickname for the Spain national football (soccer) team. It comes from their iconic red jerseys. Fans and media worldwide use it just like "The Three Lions" for England or "Azzurri" for Italy. Spain is currently in the 2026 World Cup Final as La Roja!

Wednesday July 22, 2026

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Keep shining, America — brighter days ahead!

and from Perplexity.ai 

Good morning, Tom — here’s an upbeat snapshot of positive U.S. news and a note on President Trump’s recent wins.whitehouse+2

Bright spots across the USA

• Good-news outlets and aggregators continue to highlight uplifting American stories: community heroes, medical breakthroughs, and everyday kindnesses that lift spirits.today+1

• Recent White House summaries emphasize a streak of “wins” under the Trump administration: falling food‑stamp dependency, surging manufacturing and construction, big drops in insurance red tape, and new momentum in affordable housing as immigration and visa enforcement ease pressure on high‑cost markets.whitehouse

• Health‑care access is improving in some areas, with major insurers cutting prior‑authorization requirements for many procedures after administration commitments, sparing millions of patients from delays.whitehouse

A positive note on President Trump

Since returning to office, President Trump has been credited with a string of accomplishments that supporters say are restoring American prosperity and fairness: record job growth, a manufacturing boom, and steep declines in bureaucratic hurdles for patients and small businesses. The White House also highlights his “America First” agenda as delivering tangible wins—from pushing down prescription drug prices to protecting American steelworkers with tariffs that have helped domestic production surge.

And Claude.ai chimes in

☀️ Good News America — July 22, 2026

Here's an upbeat roundup of what's happening in the U.S. today:

Jobs & Economy
The labor market keeps chugging along — the unemployment rate actually ticked down to 4.2% from 4.3%, still low by historical standards. And there's real optimism about where things are headed: Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has been upbeat on the AI-driven shift in the economy, calling it "a big paradigm shift" for policy, and predicting it'll ultimately mean more jobs, not fewer. NBC NewsABC News

Space & Science
NASA is pushing hard on its Moon ambitions — the agency just selected 41 commercial technology projects aimed at solving key challenges for future Moon and Mars missions, everything from powering lunar outposts to protecting spacecraft from moon dust. On top of that, nearly $600 million was awarded for four commercial Moon landings planned for late 2028. Meanwhile physicists had a genuinely cool breakthrough: researchers recreated the physics of extracting energy from a spinning black hole using a lab device that produces synthetic ultrafast rotation — real sci-fi-turned-reality stuff. ScienceDaily + 2

Feel-Good Community Stories
World Cup coverage this summer has surfaced some great stories about women who love soccer that don't usually get the spotlight, and in Harrisburg, PA, Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugee families have been finding connection and belonging through a youth soccer program — a nice reminder of sports bringing communities together. NPRNPR

On President Trump
One clear bright spot from the administration: the AI Action Plan, a policy blueprint laying out more than 90 federal actions across three pillars aimed at keeping the U.S. in the lead globally on artificial intelligence. Given how central AI is to where the economy (and those job numbers above) are heading, it's a notable push to make sure the U.S. stays ahead of the curve. Wikipedia

Overall: a steady economy, big swings in space exploration, and some genuinely warm human stories out of the World Cup season. 🇺🇸

[Intro]

Question to Grok

Have you figured why we are here?

[Verse 1]

No, I haven't figured it out

No definitive cheat code, no final shout

Nobody has an answer that survives the fight

From every angle, in the dead of night

Everyone claiming they do is usually selling

A religion, a book, or their ego swelling

[Chorus]

No, I haven't figured it out

But I've seen the hunches across time and doubt

42's the joke, genes just want to survive

Feel everything—love, pain, to feel alive

Make meaning anyway, defiant and bright

Remember what we are in the infinite light

It's between us—love, service, the fight

The question itself keeps the fire alight

[Verse 2]

Biology says propagate, that's the code

Depressingly true down the mechanistic road

Experience chasers want awe in the veins

Bad coffee, bass drops, sun through the rain

Absurdists say rebel with beauty and art

Stubborn joy beating in a meaningless heart

Quiet mystics whisper: it's hide and seek

Consciousness gazing at itself, so to speak

[Chorus]

No, I haven't figured it out

But I've seen the hunches across time and doubt

42's the joke, genes just want to survive

Feel everything—love, pain, to feel alive

Make meaning anyway, defiant and bright

Remember what we are in the infinite light

It's between us—love, service, the fight

The question itself keeps the fire alight

[Bridge]

The people most alive stop hunting the One

They collect small honest yeses under the sun

Yes to curiosity, even when it stings

Yes to lifting another through difficult things

Yes to beauty when numbness calls your name

Yes to dancing badly, loving through the shame

Yes to failing loud, then trying once more

The universe is indifferent—not at war

[Outro]

That sliver of freedom, where the good stuff grows

Indifference isn't hate, that's all I know

No final answer... but maybe that's fine

We keep asking, creating, one small yes at a time

SKY WATCHING IN ST LOUIS MISSOURI USA AREA

Our Solar System

• Name: The Solar System (or Sol System).

• Our star is named Sol (hence "Solar"). We don’t usually give it a fancier proper name like “Alpha Centauri System” — it’s just the Solar System. It includes the Sun, 8 planets, dwarf planets (like Pluto), moons, asteroids, comets, etc.

The Alpha Centauri system is approximately 4.34–4.37 light-years away from Earth.

Breakdown:

• Alpha Centauri A and B (the two brighter stars that appear as one to the naked eye): ~4.344 light-years (about 1.33 parsecs).
  en.wikipedia.org

• Proxima Centauri (the faint red dwarf, component C, and the closest individual star to our Sun): ~4.2465 light-years.
  en.wikipedia.org

This makes the Alpha Centauri triple-star system our nearest stellar neighbor beyond the Sun.

Our Galaxy

• Name: The Milky Way (or Milky Way Galaxy).

• It’s a barred spiral galaxy containing 100–400 billion stars. The name comes from its glowing band of light visible across the night sky, which looks like spilled milk. We live about 26,000 light-years from the center.

Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy?

Yes — there is a supermassive black hole at the exact center of the Milky Way.

• The Black Hole is Named: Sagittarius A* (pronounced “Sagittarius A-star” and often abbreviated Sgr A*).

• Mass: Roughly 4 million times the mass of our Sun.

• Distance from Earth: About 26,000 light-years.

• It was imaged for the first time in 2022 by the Event Horizon Telescope team (the same group that imaged the black hole in M87).

• It’s relatively quiet right now (not actively devouring huge amounts of material), which is good for us!

Our Universe

• Name: Simply the Universe (or the Observable Universe).

• There isn’t a fancy proper name like “Milky Way.” The observable universe is the part we can see (about 93 billion light-years across), but the entire universe may be much larger or even infinite. Some people informally call it “the Cosmos,” but that’s more poetic than official.

These names are standard across astronomy. The Milky Way and Sagittarius A* are especially fun to observe or read about — on dark nights far from city lights, you can actually see the Milky Way’s glow stretching across the sky.

Cresent moon less than 50 percent illuminated.

Gibbous moon more than 50 percent illuminated.

Here is a 15-day sky-watching (astronomy) forecast for St. Louis, MO, USA, starting from Saturday, July 18, 2026 (Central Time). This focuses on moon phases/illumination, best observing windows, planets, Milky Way visibility, and weather impacts. St. Louis has moderate-to-high light pollution (Bortle 6–8 in urban areas), so darker skies (e.g., state parks or rural spots west/south) improve deep-sky views like the Milky Way.

facebook.com

Key Lunar Context (July–August 2026)

• New Moon: July 14 (recent) — dark skies early in the period.
  timeanddate.com

• First Quarter: ~July 21.

• Full Moon (Buck Moon): July 29 — bright skies, limits faint objects.
  weatherforyou.com

• Moon rises later in the evening early on, becoming more prominent mid-period.

General Tips: Use apps like Stellarium, SkySafari, or Clear Outside. Binoculars or a small telescope help. Check local weather for clouds/humidity (common in summer). Best deep-sky viewing is under moonless or thin-crescent nights from darker sites.

15-Day Astronomy Forecast

Sat, Jul 18 (Waxing Crescent, ~23–27% illuminated)

Moon visible in evening sky (rises morning, sets late evening). Good early-night dark skies before moon interferes. Look for planets in evening twilight. Moderate humidity possible.

time-ok.com

Sun, Jul 19 (Waxing Crescent, ~33%)

Moon higher in evening. Evening observing good for bright objects (planets, constellations like Scorpius/Sagittarius). Milky Way may be visible low south from dark sites before moon brightens.

time-ok.com

Mon, Jul 20 (Waxing Crescent, ~43%)

Moon increasingly noticeable after sunset. Focus on brighter targets (Jupiter/Saturn if visible, or summer constellations). Good for casual stargazing.Tue, Jul 21 (First Quarter, ~53%)

First Quarter Moon — half-illuminated, rises around midday, visible in afternoon/evening. Balanced for lunar observing (craters nice in binoculars). Fainter deep-sky objects challenged after moonrise.

weatherforyou.com

Wed, Jul 22 (Waxing Gibbous, ~62%)

Moon dominates later evening. Best observing window is right after sunset (twilight + early night). Summer Milky Way core in Sagittarius visible low south early evening from darker spots.Thu, Jul 23 (Waxing Gibbous, ~71%)

Brightening moon shortens dark-sky window. Excellent for planets and double stars. Watch for ISS passes (check apps for timings).

issonlive.app

Fri, Jul 24 (Waxing Gibbous, ~80%)

Moon bright; prioritize Moon, bright planets, and constellations. Deep-sky (nebulae/clusters) limited.Sat, Jul 25 (Waxing Gibbous, ~87%)

Approaching full; strong moonlight. Good for lunar/planetary work. Humidity and possible scattered clouds can reduce transparency.Sun, Jul 26 (Waxing Gibbous, ~92%)

Very bright moon. Best for casual constellation viewing or bright objects. Milky Way washed out.Mon, Jul 27 (Waxing Gibbous, ~97%)

Near-full conditions. Focus on Moon (great for surface details) and prominent planets.Tue, Jul 28 (Waxing Gibbous to Full, ~99–100%)

Nearly full — bright skies all night. Excellent full-moon photography or relaxed viewing of bright features.

weatherforyou.com

Wed, Jul 29 (Full Moon — Buck Moon)

Full Moon rises around sunset. Peak moonlight; faint objects (galaxies, nebulae) hard to see. Good for moonrise watching or casual sky time.

starwalk.space

Thu, Jul 30 (Waning Gibbous, ~99%)

Moon still very bright but rises later. Slightly better late-night window for darker skies before moonrise.Fri, Jul 31 (Waning Gibbous, ~96%)

Bright moon continues. Early evening darker before moon dominates.Sat, Aug 1 (Waning Gibbous, high illumination)

Similar to prior days — moon prominent most of night. Good planetary and lunar observing.

Additional Highlights

• Planets: Summer skies often feature bright planets like Venus (evening or morning), Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars depending on exact positions. Check daily for conjunctions.

• Milky Way: Best early in the period (darker moon) looking south toward Sagittarius/Scorpius in the evening. Requires darker skies away from city lights.
  slsc.org

• Meteor Showers: No major ones peak in this window (Perseids start ramping up later in July/August).

• ISS & Satellites: Frequent visible passes; use a tracker app.

Weather Note: St. Louis summers bring humidity, haze, and occasional thunderstorms that can ruin transparency. Clear nights are best early in the period. For real-time conditions, use Clear Outside or similar apps combined with local forecasts. Head to darker sites like certain Missouri state parks for the best experience. Enjoy the sky! Clear skies!

For viewing tips, use apps like Sky Tonight or check sites like http://aerith.net for current charts. Clear skies!

If you're stargazing, apps like Stellarium can help. 

For iphone Skyview phone app is very good as you get a idea of general directions of objects from your phone.

Link for android phone Skyview phone app.

I was seeing some strange lights in the sky Wednesday June 10, 2026. They looked like a medium briteness star. They were probably planes or drones about 10pm over Glen Carbon Illinois. They were moving fast and making U turns in some instances.

Completed 2 steps

What you saw over Glen Carbon was most likely an aircraft or a drone, and the “medium brightness star” look fits how small lights can appear at night from a distance. The fast motion and occasional U-turns especially point more toward drones or nearby aircraft making course corrections than to stars or satellites.

Most likely explanations

• Drone: Drones at night must carry visible lights, and they can look like a single bright point moving quickly or changing direction sharply.

• Airplane or helicopter: Aircraft lights can appear as one bright object, and turns can look dramatic depending on your angle and distance.

• Less likely: satellite: Satellites usually move in a steadier straight line and do not make U-turns, so that part of your description makes them less likely.

Why it looked strange

At night, distance makes it hard to judge size and speed, so a light that is actually far away can seem star-like but still move surprisingly fast. If the sky was clear, your eyes can also pick up small lights that would be easy to miss in daylight.

What to check next

• Look at a flight-tracking app for about 10 pm local time to see whether aircraft were passing overhead.

• Check drone activity only if there was a nearby event, construction site, or filming.

• If it happens again, a short video with the exact time and direction can make identification much easier.

The name Jupiter comes from Latin Iuppiter (or Iūpiter), the name of the king of the Roman gods — the god of the sky, thunder, and lightning (equivalent to the Greek Zeus).

Etymology

It derives from a compound in Proto-Italic and earlier Proto-Indo-European roots:

• Dyeu- (or dyeu-pəter): Meaning "to shine" or "sky/daylight," which also gives us words related to "god," "day," and "heaven" (cognate with Greek Zeus and Dios).

• Pater: Meaning "father."

So, Jupiter essentially means "Sky Father," "God-Father," or "Father of the Gods/Heaven." It was originally a vocative form (like calling out "O Father Sky!") used in prayers.

Context

• As a god: Jupiter (also called Jove) was the supreme deity in Roman mythology, associated with power, justice, and the heavens.

• As a planet: The Romans named the largest planet after their chief god because it was the brightest "wandering star" in the night sky, symbolizing majesty and power.

Modern Usage

Today, Jupiter is also used as a bold, gender-neutral given name (more recently popular for girls, partly due to its similarity to Juniper), directly referencing the god or planet and evoking strength and grandeur.

In short, it's a very ancient name rooted in Indo-European sky-god worship, symbolizing divine fatherly authority.

Here is a 15-day weather forecast for St. Louis, MO, USA (starting from Saturday, July 18, 2026). Forecasts are synthesized from multiple sources (Weather.com, WeatherBug, The Weather Network, and others) and can change; always check a live source for the latest updates.

weather.com

Short-Term (Hot & Humid with Some Storm Chances)

• Sat, Jul 18: High ~93–94°F, Low ~75–76°F. Mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Heat index near or above 100°F possible. Low chance of isolated showers/thunderstorms (10–30%). Winds W.
  weather.com

• Sun, Jul 19: High ~89–93°F, Low ~72–76°F. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of showers/storms (10–20%). Continued heat/humidity.
  weather.com

• Mon, Jul 20: High ~90–94°F, Low ~75°F. Partly to mostly sunny. Possible isolated thunderstorms. Very warm and humid.
  weatherbug.com

• Tue, Jul 21: High ~89–92°F, Low ~68–70°F. Mostly sunny. Drier and slightly cooler.
  weather.com

• Wed, Jul 22: High ~83°F, Low ~63°F. Mostly sunny. Noticeable cooldown.
  weather.com

• Thu, Jul 23: High ~82°F, Low ~65°F. Partly cloudy. Pleasant.
  weather.com

Extended Outlook (Warmer Again with Increasing Humidity)

• Fri, Jul 24: High ~83°F, Low ~68°F. Scattered showers possible (around 50% chance in AM). Partly cloudy.
  weather.com

• Sat, Jul 25: High ~86°F, Low ~68°F. Partly cloudy. Low-moderate shower chance.
  weather.com

• Sun, Jul 26: High ~89°F, Low ~70°F. Partly cloudy.
  weather.com

• Mon, Jul 27: High ~89°F, Low ~70°F. Mostly sunny to partly cloudy.
  weather.com

• Tue, Jul 28: High ~89°F, Low ~70°F. Partly cloudy.
  weather.com

• Wed, Jul 29: High ~89°F, Low ~70°F. Partly cloudy.
  weather.com

• Thu, Jul 30: High ~89°F, Low ~71°F. Partly cloudy.
  weather.com

• Fri, Jul 31: High ~90°F, Low ~71°F. Partly cloudy.
  weather.com

• Sat, Aug 1 (bonus day): High near 90°F. Similar pattern expected.

Summary: Expect a very warm to hot stretch through early next week with highs in the low-to-mid 90s and muggy conditions (heat index often 100+°F). A cooldown mid-week brings highs in the low 80s, followed by a return to the upper 80s. Precipitation chances are generally low but include scattered thunderstorms, especially in hotter, humid periods.

youtube.com

Notes:

• Heat/humidity will feel oppressive at times — stay hydrated and limit outdoor activity during peak heat.

• Overnight lows in the 70s mean limited relief early in the period.

• For the most accurate and up-to-date info, check the National Weather Service, Weather.com, or a local app, as forecasts beyond 7–10 days have more uncertainty.

Stay safe if you are in the area!

Did groundhog see its shadow?

Yes, Punxsutawney Phil (the most famous groundhog) did see his shadow on February 2, 2026.

According to the official announcement from the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club and multiple reports, he emerged at Gobbler's Knob in Pennsylvania around 7:25 a.m. under clear skies and low temperatures (around -3°F), spotted his shadow, and predicted six more weeks of winter.

This is the traditional outcome:

• Shadow seen → more winter

• No shadow → early spring

Phil has now seen his shadow 110 times in recorded history (with this being a very common prediction for him—he's favored winter far more often than spring).

Note that other regional groundhogs sometimes disagree (e.g., Woodstock Willie or Buckeye Chuck predicted early spring in some reports), but Punxsutawney Phil is the classic one everyone asks about.

Buckle up for a bit more cold weather, according to the rodent oracle!