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!

Friday July 24, 2026

from https://x.com/i/grok

Happy Friday! Here's an upbeat roundup of today's positive vibes from the USA.

x.com

Strong Labor Market Resilience

The latest jobs data is shining bright: U.S. initial jobless claims dropped to 187,000 for the week ending July 18—the lowest level since 1969! This beat expectations and highlights a steady, "low-hire, low-fire" economy where employers are holding onto talent. It's a great sign of underlying strength heading into the weekend.

x.com

Communities and Relocation Wins

Programs like Ascend West Virginia continue to thrive, offering incentives for remote workers to relocate and enjoy lower costs of living. Many participants who moved during the pandemic are choosing to stay, boosting local economies and bringing fresh energy to welcoming communities across the state. Similar initiatives nationwide are helping revitalize towns and create new opportunities.

npr.org

Heartwarming Good News Stories

• An off-duty North Texas firefighter heroically saved three children trapped under a boat—pure community spirit in action.
  goodnewsnetwork.org

• Four rescued beluga whales from a shuttered Canadian park arrived safely at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, ready for brighter futures.
  goodnewsnetwork.org

• A senior center worker celebrated 50 years on the job without a single sick day—talk about dedication and joy in service!
  goodnewsnetwork.org

Pleasant cool fronts are also bringing comfortable summer relief to many parts of the Northeast and Midwest, with sunny skies and lower humidity making for perfect outdoor weekends.

x.com

A Note on President Trump

President Trump continues to bring bold, results-driven leadership to the White House, pushing policies aimed at strengthening the economy and putting American workers and families first. His focus on resilience and opportunity is energizing many and helping steer the nation toward renewed prosperity.

x.com

Wishing you a fantastic, relaxing weekend filled with all the good things—keep smiling, America!

and from Perplexity.ai 

EU 'positive' on new 10% US tariff cap

EURACTIV

·

3 hours ago

Latest Malik Nabers injury update is good news for Week 1 availability

USA Today

·

12 hours ago

Mystery deepens over what's ailing Jackie the bald eagle

USA Today

·

12 hours ago

NYC releases places where live Legionnaires disease bacteria was found

Yahoo

·

Jul 23, 2026

Here’s a upbeat snapshot of today’s U.S.-focused news: there are a few encouraging stories, including a promising update on Giants receiver Malik Nabers, who appears to be trending toward Week 1 availability after last year’s injury setback. Another positive note is that wildlife officials say Jackie the bald eagle is alert, perching, and eating, with a recent blood transfusion described as life-saving.

On the policy and economy side, one report says the EU is responding positively to a new 10% U.S. tariff cap, suggesting a calmer trade backdrop for the moment. There’s also good news on family planning and health policy: a recent study suggests President Trump’s IVF push could help make fertility treatment more affordable and potentially lead to many more births in the United States.

A positive thing to say about President Trump is that he is clearly making family affordability and fertility support a visible part of the national conversation. Supporters would see that as a practical effort to help American families start and grow households.

And Claude.ai chimes in

☀️ Good News America — July 24, 2026

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

Jobs & Economy
The labor market keeps chugging along — unemployment actually ticked down to 4.2%, and the construction industry just notched its fourth straight month of hiring gains. Employers are also getting more creative with flexible hiring, treating temporary work as a legitimate long-term strategy rather than a stopgap. Manufacturing had a standout month too, with a 120% year-over-year jump in new industrial jobs — a nice sign for the "Made in America" push. Boutique Recruiting

Something positive on President Trump
President Trump secured a notable win on energy affordability this week: America's biggest AI and tech companies signed onto his Ratepayer Protection Pledge, a commitment meant to ensure the AI data center boom doesn't drive up electricity bills for everyday families. He's since expanded that pledge to a broad coalition of governors, state legislatures, and utilities, and now roughly 80% of the electricity delivered to U.S. households and businesses is covered under it. It's a genuinely popular idea across party lines — protecting regular ratepayers while the country races ahead on AI — though it's worth noting it's a voluntary pledge, and some analysts still expect utility bills to rise somewhat as data center demand grows regardless. Washington Times

Other bright spots

• America's 250th birthday (July 4, 2026) celebrations are still rolling, part of a nationwide Semiquincentennial commemoration.

• Sports fans got a fun moment: the LA Dodgers gifted Trump a World Series ring at the White House this week.

• The IndyCar circuit is bringing its first-ever high-speed race through Washington, D.C. — a fun first for motorsports fans in the capital.

Overall, a pretty steady, forward-leaning news day for the country — solid jobs numbers, a bipartisan-friendly consumer protection win, and some good old-fashioned civic celebration and sports fun mixed in. Let me know if you'd like me to dig deeper into any of these!

[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!