Famous First Words: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan... Jordan's Constitution
It's Polar Bear Week. Welcome to the Lake Show with host, Stephen Coldbear. ** Billy was an emotionally unstable animal living in Alaska. That's right, he was a bipolar bear.
Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world. --Dolores Huerta
..........Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone..........Joni Mitchell …..Big Yellow Taxi aka They Paved Paradise
Insurrection is an art, and like all arts has its own laws. --Leon Trotsky
It is a bright sunny Friday morning. The patch of sky that I can see is clear of clouds and clear blue too. 47°F is chilly but not cold and a 5 mph breeze allows the willow branches to rest between dances and gusts. It amazes me that there is still so much green in the world – grass, leaves, flowering plants. Puck and Veronica have had their early outing and are back in, Puck is asleep under my desk and Veronica is keeping watch from my bedroom window. The murder of crows has been by, as well, making lots of noise and eating most of the peanuts. This flock of crows needs a name – The Master Murder, the Midlawrence Murder. (I'll work on it) I am settled in with a cup of decaf, some sandalwood incense, and a mission – to write to you. What a day!
Hope good fortune follows you like dominoes on the fall, bear-ers
First Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: The war on Christmas cannot end until Christmas stops its illegal occupation of November.
Baby bear: “Mom, are you sure I'm not a black bear or a brown bear?” Mom, “No son, you're a polar bear.” Baby bear: “Was dad a black bear or a grizzly?” Mom, “No your father was a polar bear. Why do you ask?” Baby bear: “Because I'm freezing my butt off here.” ** Polar Bear Blessing: May your coffee be stronger than your toddler.
The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river. --Ross Perot
..........But he could play a guitar just like ringin' a bell..........Johnny Winter …..Johnny B Goode
Trivia Questions: It's Dominoes Day!!!
How old is the game of Dominoes aka Dominos?
How many pieces are in the standard Dominoes set?
What other terms are used for “tile”?
Who is the World Champion Domino Player of 2025?
Wadda ya figure the most expensive Domino set is worth?
Big Hello: 'la ora na - Tahitian https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/hello.htm
Second Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: If my calculations are correct, biscuits and Triscuits hint towards a mysterious third food called “monoscuits”. --Submitted by LanguageNerds
Image of the Week:
Advise of the Week: If all the toilets in the house are occupied and you are waiting, try switching off the WiFi.
Never get into a fight with a barefisted polar bear on the ice. When a barefisted bear punches you on the ice, no one can hear you fall. ** The bare minimum for starting a zoo is two pandas, a grizzly, and three polar bears.
I think the importance of doing activist work is precisely because it allows you to give back and to consider yourself not as a single individual who may have achieved whatever but to be a part of an ongoing historical movement. --Angela Davis
..........Oh, won't you stay? We'll put on the day..........Joni Mitchell …..Chelsea Morning
Moonbeam: Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear. --Albert camus
Blasphemy of the Week: “Are they here legally?” is a modern version of “Who is my neighbor?” . --Luke 10:27-35
Coffee Joke of the Week: There's a new coffee shop in town that plays all The Beatles songs all day long. The name is Latte Be
Next Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: If liars' pants really did catch on fire, watching the news would be a lot more fun.
Paula Polar Bear wears that thick coat fur protection. ** There's a polar bear up here in the Yukon that goes around scaring other animals. We call her Winnie the Boo.
I would be an activist but never a politician. As an activist, nobody owns you. --Sinbad
..........I made the southern scene..........Johnny Winter …..Hustled Down In Texas
1) The earliest mention of dominoes is from a Chinese text written in Song dynasty (1232-1298). Modern domino tiles first appeared in Italy during the 18th century.
Almanac: It is Friday, November 7, 2025. The moon was full (Beaver) last Wednesday (11/5) and is in Gemini. Today is Domino Day, Fountain Pen Day, International Day Against Violence and Bullying at School, Including Cyber Bullying, International Day of Medical Physics, National Bittersweet, Chocolate with Almonds Day, National Medical Science Liaison Awareness & Appreciation Day, and Notary Public Day. Because it is the first Friday in November it is also Love Your Lawyer Day and National Football Jersey Friday.
Among those born on this day were Muhammad ibn Hazm (994), Andrew Dickson White (1832), Leon Trotsky (1879), Chandrasekhara Raman (1888), Dean Jagger (1903), Albert Camus (1913), Billy Graham (1918), Al Hirt (1922), Joan Sutherland (1926), Johnny Rivers (1942), and Joni Mitchell (1943).
On November seventh the third Council of Constantinople opened (680), Lewis and Clark sighted the Pacific Ocean (1805), the London Gazette was founded (1865), the elephant was first used as a Republican Party symbol (Nast, 1874), the first negro earned at PhD (Yale, 1876), Jeannette Rankin became the first woman in the US House (1916), the October Revolution ended when Lenin seized power (1917), Goddard demonstrated the solid fuel rocket (1918), the first black Democratic congressman was elected (IL, 1934), Jordan passed their constitution (1951), Nixon quit politics (1962), Nixon re-elected (1972), Liz Taylor was granted her seventh divorce (1982), and Sugar Ray Leonard KOed Donnie LaLonde (1988).
Night Sky, 11/7: We're now at the time of year when Orion is nicely up in the east-southeast as early as 10 pm. This evening you'll find it lower right of the Moon. And, tonight the Moon shines nearly on the line from bright Capella high overhead to Betelgeuse, Orion's orange shoulder. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-october-30-november-9/
Fraternal Picture of the Week: A game with dad. ~~Notice the stuffed dog who seems to be playing dominoes
This Week: Saturday, November 8 – Abet and Aid Punsters Day & Dunce Day & National STEM/STEAM Day
Sunday, November 9 – Kristallnacht & World Adoption Day & World Freedom Day
Night Sky, 11/9: The waning gibbous Moon rises around 9 pm local standard time. As always, the exact time depends on your location. Jupiter follows it up a half hour later, about 4° to the Moon's lower right. Pollux and Castor are to the Moon's upper left. This foursome forms a ragged diagonal line. Watch the line change shape hour by hour as the Moon moves eastward along its orbit. Later the line will become a smoothly curving arc. The time when this happens this will also depend on your location. Happy 91st birthday, Carl Sagan (November 9, 1934 – December 20, 1996).
Monday, November 10 – National Civic Pride Day & World Orphans Day & World Science Day for Peace and Development
Tuesday, November 11 – Armistice Day & Origami Day & Red Lipstick Day
Night Sky, 11/11: Sunrise: 7 am, Sunset: 5:10 pm. Moonrise: 11:47 pm, Moonset 1:36 pm
Wednesday, November 12 – Fancy Rat and Mouse Day & Football Day & World Pneumonia Day
Night Sky, 11/12: There is a Mercury/Moon conjunction. The moon enters its last quarter in Leo. And the Northern Taurid meteor shower spins slow moving, long lasting meteors into the atmosphere. https://www.space.com/taurid-meteor-shower
Thursday, November 13 – Sandwich Day & World Kindness Day
You'll recognize the Russian polar bears right away. They're red. ** When bears sit on the ice too long they get polaroids.
I've become more of a citizen and more of an activist. --David Hogg
.........I felt unfettered and alive..........Joni Mitchell …..Free Man In Paris
2) The traditional domino set contains one unique piece for each possible combination of two ends with zero (blank) to six. It is called the Double Six because the highest domino has six on both ends. That makes 28 pieces.
Preantepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Roadside Sobriety tests are getting ridiculous. Last night I had to fold a fitted sheet... --Submitted by Hippy Hour
Moonbeam: Every act of rebellion expresses a nostalgia for innocence and an appeal to the essence of being. --Albert Camus
Video of the Week: Who was Jannette Rankin? A video (2:01) https://www.britannica.com/video/who-was-Jeannette-Rankin/-274428
Fun Fact of the Week: A specific tradition of “Love Your Lawyer Day” is that lawyers (and everyone else) are encouraged to take a day off from lawyer jokes.
The historic ascent of humanity, taken as a whole, may be summarized as a succession of victories of consciousness over blind forces – in nature, in society, in man himself. --Leon Trotsky
Being an activist is about getting things done. It's not about standing around shaking your fist in anger. --Christine Quinn
The polar bears held a conference on global warming and climate change. They concluded that humans are not cool. ** How cool would you be if you made your bed with sheets of ice and blankets of snow?
..........Got the Mona Lisa on his cheek, the Van Gogh on his nose..........Johnny Winter …..Illustrated Man
3) Dominoes are also known as bones, cards, men, and/or pieces.
Antepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Gravity is one of the most fundamental forces in the universe, but if you remove it you get gravy.--Submitted by ScienceHumor
Weird Word of the Week: Dicktim: When you act like a dick, then act like a victim of it. --Submitted by The Feral Spiritualists
Dragons of the Week:
Wacky Uses for Common Products: Kill lice on combs and brushes. When treating hair for lice, add two teaspoons of Clorox Bleach to a sink full of water and soak all combs, brushes, barrettes, and hair clips in the solution. https://www.wackyuses.com/wacky/clorox3.html
I have always believed that we needed to push for change on the outside, through community organizing and advocacy. --Pramila Jayapal
Polar bear fast food – Brrr-grrrs. ** There is a Hibernation Channel, it shows reruns of Channel Zero. ** Lots of polars are supporters of the Right To Arm Bears movement.
...........A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway..........Joni Mitchell …..Coyote
4) Jason Beran is the 2025 Adult Singles World Dominoes Champion and Jimmy Baker and Tobie Dunlap are the 2025 Adult Doubles champions. Maverick French is the Teen Singles division champ and the team of Charl-Ann Skepple and Carol Faye Bynoe are the teen doubles champions.
Penultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Well, well, well, if it isn't the bridge I said I'd cross when I come to it. --Submitted by UUHS
Science Fiction Convention of the Week: Geek Girl Con 2025 (8-9, Seattle WA) Find your Party, Forge your Path https://geekgirlcon.com
Something of Other of the Week: King Charles banished his brother to protect the Royals. Speaker Johnson banished congress to protect pedophiles. --D L Hugley
Spark of Joy of the Week: How cool is this kid?
An activist is one who is actively involved in creating community, whether that is locally in their neighborhood or internationally. It is an admirable quality. --Jasmine Guy
Polar bears weigh just enough to break the ice. ** Patty polar bear moved to Florida and became a solar bear.
..........I like the way you walk, I like the way you talk..........Johnny Winter …..Suzie Q
5) The most expensive domino set is likely Queen Victoria's pearl-encrusted set, which sold for around $365,000 at Sotheby's.
Protest Sign of the Week: So Many Lies, So Little Cardboard
Quote of the Week: Just to be clear, these people aren't illegal anything. They're planning to apply for asylum once they get to the US border. It's not like they're just gonna rush the border like a game of red rover. Instead of sending 5,000 troops to the border, why not send 5,000 judges and lawyers to help them process their applications? --Trevor Noah
Final Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: …but that was my emotional support daylight... --Meg Reid
Today's Peace of History: November 7, 1973: New Jersey became the first state to allow girls to play Little League Baseball.
You can't always measure the effects of activist work; you just have to wish and pray that the message gets through. --Yoko Ono
My three year old got a fleece polar bear for her birthday. At bedtime every night she puts it in the freezer. ** Polar bears vote at the North Poll.
..........It's life's illusions that I recall..........Joni Mitchell …..Both Sides Now
Masthead of the Week: Friday ePistle, November 7, 2025: Ursine ePistle . Online at: http://fridayepistle.blogspot.com/ Exclusive editor: Christine Smith. Lawrence, KS.
Moonbeam: I would like to be able to love my country and still love justice. --Albert Camus
Cost of War:
As of 11/06/25 State Department Costs: $278,978,617,193
As of 10/30/25 State Department Costs: $278,445,558,697
As of 11/06/25 Homeland Security: $1,214,735,345,751
As of 10/30/25 Homeland Security: $1,214,156,435,701
As of 11/06/25 Interest on War Debt: $1,338,319,703,931
As of 10/30/25 Interest on War Debt: $1,336,830,953,270
As of 11/06/25 Military Costs: $3,175,816,938,537
As of 10/30/25 Military Costs: $3,174,686,867,507
As of 11/06/25 Veterans Care: $4,570,067,517,518
As of 10/30/25 Veterans Care: $4,558,781,983,519
As of 11/06/25 Total Cost of Wars: $10,577,919,028,857
As of 10/30/25 Total Cost of Wars: $10,562,903,231,758
https://www.nationalpriorities.org/cost-of/
Fascism is nothing but capitalist reaction. --Leon Trotsky
Famous Last Words: May God's grace be with you in all the days ahead. Nixon's Resignation Speech
…......I make my living feeling rotten, but I feel good when I play blues..........Johnny Winter …..World of Contradictions
I and you and everyone else has to be a political activist. --Michael Moore
The life of a polar bear is so Ice-solated. ** Polar bears keep their houses cool with bear conditioning.
May Peace lighten your days
And Joy gladden your nights
prairie mama
christine
Last Laugh:
