Friday, April 27, 2018

Azure ePistle


Famous First Words: An act to allow a drawback of the duties... The Stamp Act of 1773
It is Sky Awareness Week (April 22-28) --Emma, the teacher, is reading her class the story of Chicken Little. Emma gets to the part where Chicken Little tries to warn the farmer. "So Chicken Little went over to the farmer and said, 'The sky is falling, the sky is falling." Emma then asks her class, "What do you think the farmer then said?" Little Moshe raises his hand. "I think he said, 'I can't believe it! A talking chicken!"
..........He is the moon in the morning, and the sun at night.........Sheena Easton …..When He Shines
50 Ways to Promote Peace # 2: Attend Peace Rallies ~~The next peace vigil in Lawrence is tomorrow, May 4 at noon at 9th and Mass.
It is a lovely Friday morning. The sun is shining and there is not a single cloud or jet trail or even flock of birds in the sky. A light breeze enforces the 41°F without being outright cold. The white flowers of the decorative pear are gone, replaced by cute little baby leaves but the white bud (albino red bud?) is in full bloom and even the big, old trees in the little wood across the street and the stubborn pin oaks are sporting green stubble. In fact, green is everywhere – the lawn, the bushes, the trees, the flowers. Yapping Puck and cold-nosed Cooper and wiggly Cy are all chasing squirrels who are long gone from the yard by now, but Puck barks and Cy jumps on the fence and Cooper stands by me patting my leg with is cold, wet nose. Birds are on branches high and low; a pair of robins silently vie for position, a quarrel of sparrows are discussing something quite animatedly, and lone birds fly from yard to wood to housetop. The air is full of birdsong from seen and unseen sources. Bare spots in the yard are still a bit muddy from yesterday's rain and give a damp, dank smell to the morning which blends well with the scent of new foliage on the wind. But my nose and my toes begin to feel the cold and the dogs have finished whatever they call what they were doing and so Puck and I return to our rooms and warmth and fresh brewed decaf. Now I sit with my mouth enjoying creamy sweetened tartness and my brain enjoying thoughts of you. ….lovely morning.
Hope your weekend unfolds under clear skies, ePistliers.
Do we have any idea what Spring is up to this year that she can't show up for work? / The Bible says it rained for 40 days and 40 nights and it's called a “catastrophe”. In Sweden, we call it summer.
..........For a dime I can talk to God.........Sheena Easton …..In The Winter
Trivia Questions: Happy Birthday, Ulysses
^ Do you know what Ulysses S Grant's actual name was?
^^ At the time of his election Grant was the youngest president ever to be elected. How old was he – more or less?
^^^ Which Caribbean nation did Grant attempt to annex?
^^^^ In what war did Grant and Lee fight together?
^^^^^OK, so who is really buried in Grant’s tomb?
Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: I don't always roll a joint, but when I do it's my ankle. --Submitted by sd of ks
Fake Library Statistic of the Week: 10% of librarians are currently keeping an eye on the computer user who keeps nervously peeking around his monitor. https://www.facebook.com/FakeLibStats/?fref=ts
What did tornadoes sound like before there were freight trains? --Stephen Wright / There is a technical name for dangerous precipitation. It's called rain of terror.
..........I wanna give you better days.........Sheena Easton …..Fire And Rain
Moonbeam: It is justice, not charity, that is wanting in the world. --Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin
Something to Think About of the Week:

Next Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: The inventor of the doorbell did not own a chihuahua.
Big Hello: Yá'át'ééh - Navajo https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/hello.htm
Week of the Week: National Tattoo Week (April 25-30) –The blue dragon of Punr had a distinctive tattoo under his right wing. It was a picture of a drunk college boy.
There is a technical name for a warm, sunny day following two rainy days. It's called Monday / Arizona has two types of weather. HOT and a little less HOT.
..........So you better beware.........Sheena Easton …..When The Lightning Strikes Again
^ Hiram Ulysses Grant was stuck with the name Ulysses S. Grant due to a mistake by a benefactor on his application form to West Point. And as with President Harry S. Truman, the middle initial "S" doesn’t stand for anything. But having the name "U.S." Grant gained Hiram the nickname “Sam”--as in Uncle Sam--among soldiers.
Almanac: It is Friday, April 27, 2018. The moon will be full (Blue) next Monday and is in Libra. It is Babe Ruth Day, LGBT National Day of Silence, Mantanzas Mule Day, Morse Code Day, (Some also observe this on May 24) National Little Pampered Dog Day, and Undiagnosed Children's Awareness Day. Austria commemorates 2nd Republic Day (1945) while in Sierra Leone-1961 and Togo-1960 it is Independence Day. Because it is a Friday it is Arbor Day in the US and, apparently, in particularly in Utah. Because it is the last Friday it is also National Hairball Awareness Day, National Day of Silence, and Day of Dialogue. ~~Wonder how often the 27th of the month was on a Friday that wasn't the last Friday...
Among those born on this day were John Burman (1707), Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (1759), Andreas Romberg (1767), Samuel Morse (1791), Ulysses Grant (1822), Edward Whymper (1840), Walter Lantz (1900), Jack Klugman (1922), Casey Kasem (1932), Sandy Dennis (1937), Cuba Gooding (1944), Jim Ryun (1947), and Sheena Easton (Shirley Orr, 1959).
On April twenty-seventh the universe was created (according to Kepler, 4977 BCE ~~Hey, he was only off by 4 billion years), the Peace of Beaulieu & Paix de Monsieur was signed (1576), the Tea Act was enacted in British Parliament (1773), Regent's Park zoo opened (London, 1828), West Virginia seceded from Virginia (1861), Cornell University was chartered (1865), Schliemann discovered the ruins of Troy (1870), the World Exposition opened in Luik (1905), the Brussels' World Fair opened (1935), US Social Security paid it's first benefit (1937), the first atomic powered submarine was launched (Tullibee, 1960), Syngman Rhee of South Korea resigned (1960), Apollo 16 returned to Earth (1972), and students took over Tiananmen Square (1989).
Night Sky, 4/27: Look below the bright Moon this evening for Spica. Jupiter rises far to their lower left around the end of twilight. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/sky-at-a-glance/
Science Fiction Convention of the Week: Pine Fur Con (27-29, Portland, ME) Heroes vs Villains – Maine's first furry convention. https://pinefurcon.org/
Actual Science Convention of the Week: Annual meeting of the Solid State Division of the Mexican Society of Physics (26-28, Zacatecas, Mexico) https://www.aps.org/meetings/meeting.cfm?name=SSD18
This Week: Saturday, April 28 – National Herb Day & National DEA Take Back Day & Workers Memorial Day
Night Sky, 4/28: Face north just after nightfall, look very high, and now you'll find the Pointers, the end stars of the Big Dipper's bowl, on the meridian pointing toward Polaris straight down below. From the Pointers to Polaris is about three fists at arm's length.
Sunday, April 29 – International Dance Day & Peace Rose Day & Zipper Day
Monday, April 30 – Kiss of Hope Day & International Jazz Day & Walpurgis
Night Sky, 4/30: As night descends, Pollux and Castor are high in the west lined up almost horizontally (depending on your latitude). The heads of the Gemini twins, they form the top of the enormous Arch of Spring. To their lower left is Procyon, the left end of the Arch. Farther to their lower right is the right end, formed by Menkalinan (Beta Aurigae) and then brilliant Capella. The whole thing sinks in the west through the evening.
Tuesday, May 1 – Beltane & International Workers Day & Skyscraper Day
Night Sky, 5/1: Mercury is very low in the glow of sunrise while Neptune is deep in the skyglow of dawn. Mars and Saturn both rise about 2 am in Sagittarius.
Wednesday, May 2 – World Tuna Day & National Deaf Interpreter Day
Night Sky, 5/2: Venus shines brightly in the west in twilight. Jupiter rises around the end of twilight after dark and shines after Venus sets
Thursday, May 3 – Lumpy Rug Day & National Textiles Day & Public Radio Day

..........The darkness has passed.........Sheena Easton …..Flower In The Rain
^^ Grant, the former general was 46 years old and had never held elected office when he took office in 1869. His inexperience would be a factor in a tumultuous eight-year term in the midst of Reconstruction.
'Nother Funniest thing I Read of the Week: How to win the war on drugs. 1. Legalize drugs 2. Require all drugs to be purchased through Comcast customer service.
Although a soldier by profession, I have never felt any sort of fondness for war, and I have never advocated it, except as a means of peace. --Ulysses S Grant
Moonbeam: The beginning is always today. --Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin
Late Night Snacks: Thanks to the royal baby, today was the first time in a long time that the breaking news wasn't about Donald Drumpf. Which is weird, 'cause usually #royalbaby is about Donald Drumpf. --Conan O'Brien / Over the weekend Drumpf tweeted about James Comey and Robert Mueller but he misspelled the words "counsel" and "shady." Drumpf doesn't know the red underline means spell check — he thinks it's his phone telling him that it loves that part of the tweet. --Jimmy Fallon / White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said today that President Drumpf has no intention of firing special counsel Robert Mueller. Instead, Drumpf's plan is to be so guilty of so many things that Mueller just works himself to death. --Seth Meyers / President Drumpf did not attend the funeral (Barbara Bush). The White House said they didn't want him to be a distraction. Only Donald Drumpf could make people say, "I'm glad he's not at this funeral. He'd ruin the mood." --James Corden / Drumpf hit on a variety of subjects, but the one that really seems to have stuck in his craw was a New York Times article, "Michael Cohen has said he would take a bullet for Drumpf. Maybe not anymore." Yeah, I don't think he'll take a bullet. At this point, my money is on Russian poisoning. --Stephen Colbert
Not So Late Night Snacks: So Cohen claimed attorney-client privilege for a lot of these records, but he said that he only had three clients - President Trump, this other big GOP fundraiser, who also had to pay off a Playmate or four, and a mystery client. Who could it be? Somebody who didn't want his name mentioned in court - was it maybe Mike Pence, who needed to pay off a young woman who saw him with his necktie loosened once? No. It was Fox News' Sean Hannity. So the question immediately arose - who did Sean Hannity need to pay off? It's horrible to think there are people who got money for sleeping with him. But it's worse... It's worse to think of all the people who slept with him and got nothing. --Peter Sagal Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me
Actually, Cloud has been dating Fog for quite a while now. She finds him very down to earth. / Remember the ice bucket challenge? It Scotland it's called going outside.
..........Won't you close your weary eyes.........Sheena Easton …..St Judy's Comet
^^^ The president wanted to take the Dominican Republic into the Union for several reasons: as a military base, as a sanctuary for freed slaves, and as a market for US goods. The treaty was approved by the Dominicans, but stalled in the Senate. Grant’s fight with Senator Charles Sumner divided the Republican party.
Worthless Fact of the Week: Under the terms of the Peace of Beaulieu the Huguenots were given freedom of worship throughout France.
Weird Word of the Week: Hebdomadal – something that occurs every 7 days. Its full moniker is Pre-Deadline Tension, the bane of wordsmiths such as myself with a hebdomadal column to devise, write, rewrite, endlessly tweak and, usually at the eleventh hour, email to a hotly expectant press. --Alison Taylor, in the Liverpool Daily Post, 7 Feb. 2008. http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-heb3.htm ~The ePistle is hebdomadal – who knew?
Wicked Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: You know what's cheaper than therapy? Just admitting you're nuts and running with it. --Submitted by nm or ks
Wacky Uses for Common Products: Make your own household cleanser for walls and floors. Add one-half cup 20 Mule Team Borax, one-half teaspoon Dawn Dish Washing Liquid, and one teaspoon ammonia to two gallons of warm water. http://www.wackyuses.com/wacky/20muleteam.html
Florida – where the weather is so messed up we give it names. / My mother always said hurricanes are like stray cats...you give them a name and they move right in with you. Pretty soon they've ruined the furniture and you're living on their time schedule.
...........Divided in your thoughts.........Sheena Easton …..Calm Before The Storm
^^^^ Grant and Lee served in the army during the Mexican War. Lee was the chief of staff for General Winfield Scott, while Grant served under General Zachary Scott. Both men received high marks from their superiors.
Word Shakespeare Made Up of the Week: Gnarled – knobbly, rough, twisted, especially with age. Measure for Measure Act II, Scene 2 Isabella: thou rather with they sharp and sulphurous bolt splilt'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak the the soft myrtle...
Penultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: This guy in my art class forgot his paint brush so he just cut off a chunk of his hair and taped it to a pencil. I feel like he has more commitment to fine art than I do.
Science You Can Do At Home of the Week: Pasta Rocket … Make a homemade rocket engine with pasta and peroxide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrhdMYJJRxM

Puck the Brave Episode of the Week: Here's our fearless Puck listening with skepticism to his mom explain why she still hasn't given him his summer haircut in the case of the Cold Chow.
The Automobile Association warned that anyone traveling in icy conditions should take a shovel, blankets, extra clothes, 24 hours supply of food and water, de-icer, rock salt, a flashlight, a spare battery, a gas can, first aid kit, and jumper cables. Then they wouldn't let me on the bus. / It's official. The weather has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.
..........You can let down and kick around.........Sheena Easton …..No Deposit, No Return
^^^^^ That’s a trick question. Grant and his wife, Julia, are interred inside the tomb, but their crypt is above ground. No one is buried. It is the largest mausoleum in North America.
Month of the Week: April is National Humor Month – A Pun, a Play-on-Words, and a Limerick walk into a bar. No joke!
Final Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Exercise? I thought you said extra fries.
Most Beautiful Thing in Wyoming: Grand Teton National Park --Crowned by the craggy peaks of the mighty Teton Mountain Range, Grand Teton National Park is one of the jewels of Wyoming. https://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm
Today's Peace of History, April 27, 1942: Sixteen pacifists, including Evan Thomas and A.J. Muste, refused to register for the World War II draft. Muste was a Quaker activist, founder of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and author of two pamphlets that same year, War Is the Enemy and Wage Peace Now.
Weather Warning! Southerners are urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary. Northerners, you will need your big coat. / A snow day is only bad news if you forgot to run to the liquor store.
..........I think of things we used to do.........Sheena Easton …..Misty Blue
Masthead of the Week: fRiday ePistle April 27, 2018, Azure ePistle. Online at: http://fridayepistle.blogspot.com/ Generic Tag Line. Exclusive editor: Christine Smith. 1800 Goodell Ct. Lawrence, KS 66046
Moonbeam: Men, in general, seem to employ their reason to justify prejudices...rather than to root them out. --Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin
Cost of War:
As of 4/24/18 Military Costs of War since 2001: $2,815,525,306,556.
As of 4/19/18 Military Costs of War since 2001: $2,813,565,582,699.
As of 4/24/18 Homeland Security Costs since 2001: $822,774,407,167.
As of 4/19/18 Homeland Security Costs since 2001: $821,442,570,350.
As of 4/24/18 Interest on War Debt since 2001: $584,001,998,869.
As of 4/12/18 Interest on War Debt since 2001: $580,630,461,317.
As of 4/24/18 Veterans Care since 2001: $288,364,070,304.
As of 4/19/18 Veterans Care since 2001: $287,683,527,130.
As of 4/24/18 Total Cost of Wars since 2001: $4,510,666,379,982.
As of 4/19/18 Total Cost of Wars since 2001: $4,505,319,076,475.
50 Ways to Promote Peace #1: Treat all people with kindness, regardless of race, gender orientation, sexual orientation, religion, etc. http://uncustomary.org/50-ways-promote-peace/
..........How high is the sky.........Sheena Easton …..How Deep Is The Ocean
You thought spring was near. That's adorable. Welcome to 2018! / Welcome to Cleveland where the weather is made up and the seasons don't matter. --Drew Carey
Famous Last Words: ĀR - .-.-. --OUT - Morse Code
May Peace color your sunshine
And Joy paint your rainbow
prairie mama
christine


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