Friday, June 19, 2020

ePistle Solitaire


Famous First Words: NOW, THEREFORE, I, William H Taft... Declaration of first Father's Day (1910)
It is National Hermit Week (13-20). A traveler made a long, arduous journey to find a hermit who was reputed to be wise. After searching the wilderness for many weeks, he finally found the old man in his hideaway. "Tell me about life," said the traveler. "Well," said the hermit, "life is like a fish." The traveler thought on this for a while, then said to the hermit, "How is life like a fish?" The hermit sat silently, pondering the question. Minutes turned to hours, as the sun moved across the sky and sank towards the horizon. Finally, the hermit said, "Okay, maybe life isn't like a fish."
..........I've been a fool before.........Paula Abdul …..Straight Up
And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; --Abraham Lincoln
It is a drippy Friday morning. Last night's rain has stopped but it still drips off of eaves (plop, plop) and fence rails (splat, splat) and patio furniture (plip, plip). The sky is a universal slate gray that suggests more rain may be on the way. This gives a dark and ominous look and feel to air itself. Everything is wet – grass, patio, flowers, and trees. 72°F and all the humidity leave the air thick and steamy. Puck does his business and returns indoors without a single bark at unseen squirrels or rabbits. The world smells of damp, grass, cement, and metal. Finally we close the door. Puck settles down for his early morning nap and I doctor my Moose Munch – sweetener, ½ and ½ . On the Road Again comes up on my playlist. And I sit down to write to you. Ahhh
Jubilant Juneteenth, ePistliers
First Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Pink Freud: The Dark Side Of Your Mom
The Hermit Crab called his home Michelle. / Hermit Jane's constant and consistent advise: Hold down control, shift, and escape.
Favorite Protest Signs of the Week #1: Karens Against Police Brutality / I'd like to speak to the manager of Systemic Racism please.
..........Played inside the months of moon..........Heart (with Ann Wilson) ….Magic Man
Trivia Questions: Happy Birthday to Garfield the Cat!
^ How old is Garfield, anyway?
^^ Who is Garfield's human?
^^^ Where does Garfield live?
^^^^ How much is Garfield worth?
^^^^^ By what other names is international Garfield known?
Second Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Sometimes I wonder if all this is happening because I didn't forward that message to 10 other people. --Submitted by inrith
Fake Library Statistic of the Week: Library computers are specifically designed not to accept USB drives until the third try. https://www.facebook.com/FakeLibStats/?fref=ts
If I buy 2 hermit crabs and put them in the same aquarium, are they still hermit crabs? / Fred became a hermit. He spent 10 years sitting alone in a cave in the woods. Eventually he became known for his vague metaphorical mumbo jumbo.
Favorite Protest Signs of the Week #2: Go Back To Eating Donuts / Everyone vs Racists
..........I'm gonna take this love right to ya........Paula Abdul …..Rush Rush
Moonbeam: Movies are so rarely great art that if we cannot appreciate great trash we have very little reason to be interested in them. --Pauline Kael
Naturally Occurring Mandala of the Week: Cornflower

Big Question of the Week: Remember, at the beginning of shelter in place, remember all those things we were going to get done...clean out the closet...paint the back bedroom...sort the box of pictures. Did any of those things get done? Have you done any of the things on your list?
Next Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones. --John Cage
Week of the Week: National Flag Week (14-20) --Did you wish your Stars and Stripes a “Flappy Birthday”? / The colors red, white, and blue represent freedom until they are flashing behind you. / What does it mean when the flag is flying at half-mast at the post office? They're hiring.
So, he gave up all his worldly possessions and left society to pray in the woods, he prayed everyday, then after many many years god appears before him. God: I'm pleased by your dedication, you may ask for anything and I'll grant your wish. Hermit: Okay, but what took you so long, I have been praying for a very long time now. God: The time in heaven works differently, it may have been two decades for you but for me it was just a single second. Hermit: Okay then, I wish for a kingdom, a very beautiful wife and lots of wealth. God looks thoughtful for a moment and then says,' Darn! I forgot my wish granting wand, be back in a minute.'
Favorite Protest Signs of the Week #3: If Your Beliefs Fit On A Sign, Think Harder / This Is My Resisting Bitch Face
..........We're getting older, the world's getting colder..........Heart (with Ann Wilson) ….Dog And Butterfly
^ The Garfield strip first appeared in 1978; so Garfield is 42. It is drawn by Jim Davis.
Almanac: It is Friday, June 19, 2020. The moon will be new on Sunday and is in Gemini. It is Juneteenth and Garfield the Cat Day. In Algeria it is the Anniversary of the Revolution (1965). Trinidad & Tobago celebrate Labor Day and in Uruguay it is Artigas Day (1764) Because it is the third Friday it is National Flip Flop Day, Ugliest Dog Day, World Sickle Cell Day, and World Sauntering Day. Finally because it is the Friday before Father's Day it is Work@Home Father's Day.
Among those born on this day were James VI (Scotland) aka James I (England, 1556), Blaise Pascal (1623), John Barrow (1764), Elbert Hubbard (1856), Mrs Simpson (Bessie Wallis Warfield, Duckess of Windsor, 1896), Moe Howard (1897), Guy Lombardo (1902), Lester Flatt (1914), Louis Jourdan (1919), Pauline Kael (1919), Neals Bohr (1922), Gena Rowlands (1936), Spanky McFarlane (1942), Malcolm McDowell (1943), Kathleen Turner (1949), Salman Rushdie (1947), Phylicia Ayers-Allen Rashad (1947), Ann Wilson (1951), Paula Abdul (1962), and Garfield the Cat (1978).
On June nineteenth Eratosthenes estimated the circumference of Earth (240 BCE), slavery finally came to an end in Texas (1865), the first Belmont Stakes was run (Ruthless won, 1867), Father's Day was first celebrated (1910), the first photoelectric cell was installed (CT, 1931), the Federal Communications Commission was created (FCC, 1934), I've Got a Secret debuted (CBS, 1952), Kuwait wins independence from Britain (1961), the Supreme Court struck down a MD provision that required state office holders to believe in God (1961), Valentina Tereshkova returned to Earth (1963), Pete Rose and Willie Davis both hit career 2000 (1973), and Geffen records signed their first artist (Donna Summer, 1987).
Night Sky, 6/19: Leo the Lion is mostly a constellation of late winter and spring. But he's not gone yet. As twilight ends look due west, somewhat low, for Regulus, his brightest and now lowest star: the forefoot of the Lion stick figure. The Sickle of Leo extends upper right from Regulus. The rest of the Lion's constellation figure extends for almost three fists to the upper left, to his tail star Denebola, the highest. He'll soon be treading away into the sunset. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/sky-at-a-glance/
Max Picture of the Week: Chef Max making a Birthday Cake worthy of a dad.

This Week: Saturday, June 20 – American Eagle Day & Mermaid Day & National Library Legislative Day
Night Sky, 6/20: The June solstice arrives today at 5:44 pm EDT. This is when the Sun reaches its northernmost declination in Earth's sky and begins its six-month return southward. Summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere, winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
Sunday, June 21 Father's Day & World Giraffe Day & World Music Day
Night Sky, 6/21: Annular Solar Eclipse – Not visible in the US
Monday, June 22 – World Rain Forest Day & Stupid Guy Thing Day
Tuesday, June 23 – America's Kids Day & Let It Go Day & Public Service Day
Wednesday, June 24 – Celebration of the Senses & International Fairy Day & Stonewall National Monument Day
Thursday, June 25 – National Hand Shake Day & National Police Community Cooperative Day
The Hermit Crab wanted to show off his new apartment so he took some shelfies. / Karen traveled to meet with the lady hermit on the side of Mt Godwin. She sat zazen and listened to her talk about all things being connected and the meaning of life. She listened for 3 hours. When the hermit had finished, Karen asked, “Could you get that down to 140 characters?”
Favorite Protest Signs of the Week #4: I Wish This Was Fake News / Stand Up For Those Stood On
..........You're like a long, cool glass of lemonade........Paula Abdul …..Crazy Cool
^^ Jon is Garfield's owner. In the first strip he is introduced as a cartoonist, but his job has never been mentioned again. He doesn't seem to have a surname.
'Nother Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Dear Daughter-in-law, I didn't give you the gift of life. I gave you my amazing son. Thank you for not selling him to the circus. I know how tempting that option was some days. Love, your Mother-in-law
Moonbeam: Einstein, stop telling God what to do! --Neals Bohr
Late Night Snacks of the Week: "Cops" is a long-running reality show in which funny, caring police officers arrest supposedly real criminals who are almost always drunk and often naked. But it's now off the air. Most people celebrated the news, but others say we need a professionally produced show like "Cops" because amateur videos made of goofy police hijinks are too often ruined by all the teargas. --Peter Sagal Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me 6/13/20
Not So Late Night Snacks of the Week: But the key question there is what’s the trade-off? If the police could guarantee that they could prevent all robberies but the only way to do is that by having an officer stationed in every bathroom watching you every time you take a shit, I’m not sure everyone would agree that it’s worth it, and the people who do, might want that for reasons other than preventing crime. --John Oliver / On the other side of the coin – the side Lincoln is on -- Nascar announced this week it will no longer allow Confederate flags at its races. So Nascar now has done more to fight racism than the president has. --Jimmy Kimmel / Why did Congress have Confederate statues in the first place? I mean, the Confederacy fought against America, so why would you have statues of them in America’s Capitol building? That makes no sense. It’s like white ladies having statues of gluten in their kitchen. --Trevor Noah / I guess he just misses walking out to a large crowd that he hasn’t teargassed. -- Stephen Colbert
...the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom. --Abraham Lincoln
Hermit crabs pay their utility bills with shell fees. / Fred came across a hermit sitting outside a cave in the middle of the woods. He threw himself at the feet of the hermit and said, “Thank God! Can you tell me how to get back to the interstate?”
Preantepenultimate Funnieset Thing I Read of the Week: The Flat Earth Society is reporting that the 6 foot social distancing measures are pushing some of their members over the edge. --Submitted by fnog
..........No time to be young..........Heart (with Ann Wilson) ….Crazy On You
^^^ Garfield is set in Davis's hometown of Muncie, IN, but that's also is mostly left unsaid.
Worthless Fact of the Week: Mosquitos are attracted to the color blue twice as much as to any other color.
Wicked Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: If we can just get through this month , we only have one more month to go before we need to get through another month. --Submitted by inrith
Weird Word of the Week: Zymurgy – art or practice of fermentation. Greek: zume – leaven, yeast http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-zai1.htm
Antepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: I hate when I open a pack of apples and find a bad one but the rest still shoot tear gas at me. --Steeve again
Wacky Uses for Common Products: Fix eyeglasses. In an emergency, put a small piece of chewed Wrigley's Spearmint Gum in the corner of the lens to hold it in place. In a pinch, you can also use a well-chewed piece of Wrigley's Spearmint Gum to reattach a pair of eyeglasses broken at the nose bridge
Karen covered a great distance, endured wilderness, and fought exhaustion to find the wise hermit who was sitting on a ball chair. Why the ball chair, she asked. It's for my back. You have 2 more questions. / What's the difference between a run down bus stop and a hermit crab with breast implants? One is a crusty bus station and the other is a busty crustacean
...........If you don't believe in believing........Paula Abdul …..Blowing Kisses In The Wind
^^^^ According to Slate,Garfield merchandise brings in $750 million to $1 billion annually
Penultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: A poem should improve on the blank page. --Nicanor Parra --Submitted by rl of ca
Poem of the Week:
Long ago there was a cat
Who swallowed a ball of yarn;
And when the cat had kittens
They all had sweaters on --anon ~~FYI: Puck is on vacation this week
Science Fiction Junk of the Week: Off World Designs –Tee Shirts & Mugs: Stained Glass Dice...Grabthar's Hammer...and, of course, dragons. https://www.offworlddesigns.com/fantasy-and-sci-fi-t-shirts/
Actual Science Junk of the Week: NASA Official Gear: Apparel (I Need My Space) ...novelties (NASA luggage tags)...toys (Mars Playing Cards) https://officialnasagear.com/
My Hermit Crab is named Leonardo da Pinchi. / Addendum to the Annual Hermit's Association Report: The secret of life has been unknowable ever since we assigned it to a committee.
..........When they heard those words about the trouble downtown..........Heart (with Ann Wilson) ….City's Burning
^^^^^ In Sweden, Garfield is known as Gustav. There are only three countries in the whole world where he’s not Garfield and they’re all in the Nordics. The other two are Norway and Finland. ~~I tried but could not find names from Norse or Finnish nor could I find images of strips from those countries.
Month of the Week: June is Great Outdoors Month --I had a great time watching "The World's Largest Outdoor Family Reunion" yesterday. I guess most people just call it the Alabama vs Auburn game. / Why are programmers no fans of the outdoors? ...too many bugs / I love going outdoors...It's so much safer than going outwindows.
Final Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: This weekend I am going to sling some candy out the door, toss a turkey in the oven, open a few presents, and call it a year. --Submitted by inhith
Well-Mannered Curse of the Week: May your life be as pleasant as you are.
Today's Peace of History, June 19, 1865: Known among African Americans as Juneteenth, this is the day slaves in Texas and Louisiana learned they had been freed by President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
My Hermit Crab refused a land line, she prefers a shell phone. / I may be a lousy friend, but I'm an awesome hermit.
..........Metaphysical past the visual........Paula Abdul …..Spellbound
Masthead of the Week: Friday ePistle, June 19, 2020, ePistle Solitaire. Peace, Pleasantries, and Privacy. Online at: http://fridayepistle.blogspot.com/ Exclusive editor: Christine Smith. 2511 Morningside Dr. Lawrence, KS 66047
Moonbeam: If I were asked for a one-sentence sound bite on religion, I would say I was against it. --Salman Rushdie
Cost of War:
As of 6/18/20 Military Costs of War since 2001: $3,036,884,361,127.
As of 6/11/20 Military Costs of War since 2001: $3,034,793,683,930.
As of 6/18/20 Homeland Security Costs since 2001: $973,212,736,411.
As of 6/11/20 Homeland Security Costs since 2001: $971,791,889,758.
As of 6/18/20 Interest on War Debt since 2001: $773,124,881,367.
As of 611/20 Interest on War Debt since 2001: $771,338,467,620.
As of 6/18/20 Veterans Care since 2001: $331,346,521,646.
As of 6/11/20 Veterans Care since 2001: $330,940,585,093.
As of 6/18/20 Total Cost of Wars since 2001: $5,114,569,501.702.
As of 6/11/20 Total Cost of Wars since 2001: $5,108,865,481.322.
...And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God. --Abraham Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation
Famous Last Words: Be very kind to each other, bye out there. --Gary Moore I've Got A Secret sign off
..........Now I'm stronger, now I'm coming through..........Heart (with Ann Wilson) …..Straight On
That psychic Hermit Crab makes shell-fulfilling prophecies. / Hey, all angry hermits are crabs.
May Peace Be Your Companion
And Joy Be Your Bestie
prairie mama
christine


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