Famous First Words: Good morning, everyone... Tom Brokaw on the Today show.
Ah, February /A joyful time of the year / It is Haiku Month! ~~Actually it is National Haiku Writing Month. ++ A cardinal rule / for writing a haiku jewel / rhyming isn't cool –Mad Kane ++ This is a Haiku / This is still a Haiku, and / This is the last line. ++ Three layers of pants / It is very hard to walk / Hurry, got to pee. --Anon ++ White snow flies quickly / Blades cut through the frozen ice / Gold medal dreams soar. --AI
I see Grace as an affectionate refusal of things that just aren't true. --Lizz Wright
..........Hey, lumpa sugar, you look kinda sweet.........Fabian …..Tiger
When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself. --Louis Nizer
It is a relatively warm (42°F) Friday morning. It is the first time in a couple of weeks that the temperature at dawn is above freezing and the whole world is happy about it. The sun seems more golden and friendly. The birds are singing to one another, the squirrels are playing tag, and Veronica got to sit in the open doorway for a full 5 minutes before I insisted we close up. The willow branches dance excitedly when a gust of wind comes along and Puck is asleep under my desk. In addition to being happy it isn't cold, I am joyful because there are multiple curling games on tv everyday, Olympic level curling everyday. I have already not finished my daily ToDo lists because I'm busy watching Canada (or maybe it was England) score 4 stones in one end. Wow. By the way, I have no intention of watching any other Olympics except half-tube. What else can be said? Thank you for reading my jokes. Warm love to you all.
Hope that your weekend / Break the world's record in fun / fair ePistliers
First Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Every morning my 2-year old sits up in her bed and yells “HELP, I WOKE UP” and I think we can all relate. --Kristen Mulrroney
A fractured nation / victimized by Trumpy myths / and cowardly pols. --Mad Kane ++At least my kids still / get excited when they hear / about wintry mix. --Anon ++ The Olympic Torch / The Olympic Torch-Relay / stranded in traffic. -–Sunil Uniyal ++ A Haiku is this: / Seventeen syllables split / As five, seven, five. --Kerry Hiles
In our pugilistic take-no-prisoners era, preaching grace toward those on the other side of the political fence is decidedly countercultural. --Kirsten Powers
..........One and all got to face reality..........Bob Marley & the Wailers …..Natural Magic
Trivia Questions: Happy 131st birthday to Babe Ruth
What was the Babe's real name?
How did he get to be called Babe?
What other nicknames did he acquire?
Which major league teams did the Babe play for?
If you owned a rookie Babe Ruth baseball card what would it be worth today?
Big Hello: Gude – Tok Pisin (Tok Pisin is an English-based Creole language spoken in Papua New Guinea.) https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/hello.htm
Second Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Andrew Lloyd Webber is grateful to Melania, because the movie version of Cats is no longer the worst film of the 21st century.
Image of the Week: The Peace Monks and Aloka will make it to DC on the 10th
Church Sign of the Week: Hipster Jesus Loved You Before You Were Cool. --Concordia Lutheran Church
Why don't I call / the GOP pols heartless? / I hate redundancy. --Mad Kane ++Wake up in darkness / serve dinner in the darkness / thanks, daylight saving. --Anon ++ White peaks in the sun / Fast skis cut the frozen air / Italy welcomes. --AI ++ Five syllables here / Seven more syllables there / Are you happy now? ++Me when I get cursed / to only speak in Haikus / but nothing changes.
We need grace in our lives, and I'm not talking about heavenly grace. I'm talking about human grace. --Letitia Baldrige
..........The dream of everlasting peace..........Bob Marley & the Wailers …..War
Moonbeam: When he says he loves me, it only means he loves me at that particular instant. Like his promises, which he never keeps. --Eva Braun
Blasphemy of the Week: An Episcopal priest told me this saying: Wherever there are four Episcopal priests, there's always a fifth. --Submitted by lh of ks
Coffee Joke of the Week: My granddaughter is trying to get a job that pays her to drink coffee. For one thing she wants to call herself a procaffinator and she heard those jobs have lots of perks.
Next Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: A charcuterie board is a lunchable that majored in musical theatre. https://www.facebook.com/ilouvreartmemes
Just in time to vote / it's “Use Your Common Sense Day” / Would it were common. --Mad Kane ++ Up here in Cleveland / I have at least seven coats / and I use them all. --Anon ++ A very small sled / What a very big mountain / It is a de-luge. --mcs
But we will not solve the significant and real problems our country faces if we cannot bring ourselves to embrace a mindset of grace. --Betsy DeVos
..........Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom..........Bob Marley & the Wailers …..Redemption Song
1) George Herman Ruth was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1895.
Almanac: It is Friday, February 6 2026. The moon will enter its last quarter on Monday (2/9) and is in Libra. Today is International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, International Frozen Yogurt Day, and Lame Duck Day. Because it is the first Friday in February it is also Bubble Gum Day, Fintastic Friday - Giving Sharks a voice, Give Kids a Smile Day, National Toboggan Days, Wear Red Day, and Work Naked Day. Because it is the first weekend it is the Cordova Ice Worm Days.
Among those born on this day were Christopher Marlowe (1564), Anne Stuart (1665), Aaron Burr (1756), Babe Ruth (George Herman Ruth, 1895), Louis Nizer (1902), Ronald Reagan (1911), Eva Braun (1912), Mary Nicol Leakey (1913), Francois Truffaut (1932), Mike Farrell (1939), Tom Brokaw (1940), Fabian (1943), Bob Marley (1945), Natalie Cole (1950), Kathy Najimy (1957), and Axl Rose (William Bailey, 1962).
On February sixth the Peace of La Rochelle was signed (Huguenots v the French, 1626), William and Mary College's charter was granted (1693), the first US pact, the Treaty of Aid, was signed (US & France, 1778), Massachusetts ratified the US constitution (6th, 1788), Singapore was founded (1819), the Peabody Fund was formed (1867), the Young Women's Hebrew Association was organized (NYC, 1902), dog sleds were first raced in the Olympics (1932), Monopoly went on sale (1935), singer Frank Sinatra debuted on radio's Your Hit Parade (1943), Paul Harvey was arrested for trespass (1951), Jail, No Bail movement started in SC (1961), Eisenhower shot a hole-in-one (1968), Shephard hit a golf ball on the moon (1971), Fekete skipped her curling rink to 2nd straight 8-ender (Edmonton, 1973), the No Smoking rule took effect in all federal buildings (1987), and Darryl Strawberry was suspended for 60 days (1995).
Night Sky, 2/6: The moon rises late evening in the Americas; it can be seen to the right (or celestial southwest) of Virgo's brightest star Spica.
Fraternal Picture of the Week: with dad and Lego Lad
Late Discovered Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Man, I can't believe the descendants of Europe's settler colonialism, slave owners, the kkk, the nazis, and the zionists turned out to be child trafficking sex predators. https://www.facebook.com/ComradePunisher2
This Week: Saturday, February 7 – Ballet Day & Laura Ingalls Wilder Day & National Periodic Table Day & World Body Painting Day
Sunday, February 8 – Laugh and Get Rich Day & Man Day & Popcorn Day & Super Bowl LX
Night Sky, 2/8: Southern Hemisphere: alpha-Centaurids meteor shower. 6 shooting stars per hour.
Monday, February 9 – Clean Out Your Computer Day & National Pizza Day & Read In The Bathtub Day
Night Sky, 2/9 : The moon reaches its last quarter at 5:43 CST and is in Scorpio.
Tuesday, February 10 – Extraterrestrial Culture & Visitor Day & Umbrella Day & World Pulses Day
Wednesday, February 11 – Be Electrific Day & Get Out Your Guitar Day & National Inventors Day
Night Sky, 2/11: Crescent Moon is visible near Antares in the southeastern early-morning sky. After it comes the southern Milky Way now coming into view in the northern hemisphere.
Thursday, February 12 – Darwin Day & NAACP Day & Paul Bunyan Day & Safety Pup Day
Night Sky, 2/12: Sunrise: 7:16 am Sunset: 5:52 pm (10 hours and 39 minutes of daylight) Moonrise: 3:57 am Moonset: 12:42 pm
When mendacity / replaces veracity / sorry state indeed. --Mad Kane ++Down in Miami / they don't even have a thing / called a coat closet. --Anon ++ From take-off table / Down the long, cold jumping ramp / Crash the landing hill. --mcs
Grace tried is better than grace, and more than grace; it is glory in its infancy. --Samuel Rutherford
..........So, old man river, don't cry for me..........Bob Marley & the Wailers …..Forever Loving Jah
2) Baltimore Orioles owner, Jack Dunn, had to become George's legal guardian in order to sign him. His teammates called him “Dunn's new babe”.
Preantepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: If God made a man in his own image, why aren't we all, like...invisible. --Father Guido Sarducci --Submitted by Wittenburg Door
Moonbeam: Basically, I have been compelled by curiosity. --Mary Leakey
Fun Fact of the Week: The Peabody Education Fund was established by George Peabody in 1867, after the American Civil War, for the purpose of promoting "intellectual, moral, and industrial education in the most destitute portion of the Southern States."
Video of the Week: Alan Shepherd hitting a golf ball on the moon (1:10) https://youtu.be/t_jYOubJmfM
A graceful taunt is worth a thousand insults. --Louis Nizer
Listen with grace, with no judgment, without imposing the law. --Joseph Prince
Donald cozies up / to Nazi-loving bigots / Hardly a surprise! --Mad Kane ++ Standing buck naked! / No need to be ashamed: / Trees teasing winter. --Millard Lowe ++ Board stuck on my feet / The half tube calls to my soul / Flop I fall from grace. --mcs ++ How much can I fit / Into a haiku format / Oh no, I'm out of
..........Then I'll satisfy your heart's desire..........Bob Marley & the Wailers …..Stir It Up
3) Ruth was called “The Bambino” which was a variation of Babe and “The Sultan of Swat” because of his record.
Antepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: 6th Grade Teacher: Bob, no one is going to pay you to look out the window all day. Bob, age 42, pilot, $134,000/year
Dragon of the Week: Snow Dragon
Weird Word of the Week: Philocalist: A lover of beauty and all things beautiful. https://word-lists.com/word-lists/100-rare-words-with-beautiful-meanings/
Wacky Uses for Common Products: Clean oil spots from a driveway. Pour a can of Coca-Cola on the oil stain, let sit overnight, and hose clean. Coca-Cola works as a non-toxic degreaser. If the oil stain has been there for twenty years, you may have to use a six-pack – one can at a time. https://www.wackyuses.com/wacky/cocacola.html
We all need grace. --Ben Zobrist
Tesla truck explodes / in front of a Trump Hotel / Metaphor writes itself. --Mad Kane ++ Snowmen in kit form / tumbling from the winter sky / I just need carrots. --Berlie Doherty ++ It is six of one / With skates and sticks and yells / Half dozen of them. --mcs ++ A Haiku: “Bless you!” / No, I'm writing a poem / Short, Sweet, To the point
...........Read it in the news..........Bob Marley & the Wailers …..I Shot The Sheriff
4) Babe Ruth played for the Boston Red Sox from 1914-1919, The New York Yankees from 1920-1934, and the Atlanta Braves in 1925. (The Baltimore Orioles were a minor league team at the time.)
Penultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Paid Agitators: George Soros caught paying 330 million Americans to avoid the new Melania movie. --Submitted by MMS
Science Fiction Convention of the Week: Gallifrey One 2026 (6-8, Los Angeles, CA) ...the world's largest and longest-running annual Doctor Who fan convention... https://www.gallifreyone.com/
Whatever This Is of the Week: Someone said protests don't belong in church and it took every ounce of self-censure within me not to say, “Deborah you are literally a Protestant.” --Submitted by Wittenburg Door
Spark of Joy of the Week: Springsteen's Streets of Minneapolis translated into American Sign Language. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUPVUOpkYFF/
I don't like to say I'm not a believer because I still feel like a believer in a lot of things, primarily hope and grace and the power of human connection. --Megan Phelps-Roper
A fractured nation / Endangered Constitution / The courts our last hope. --Mad Kane ++ COLD COLD COLD COLD COLD / COLD COLD COLD COLD COLD COLD COLD / COLD COLD COLD COLD COLD –-Richard Stachurski ++ Fast on four runners / With four people on top / Bloody-ass ice slopes. --mcs ++ Haikus confuse me / too often they make no sense / Hand me the pliers.
..........Why not help each other on the way..........Bob Marley & the Wailers …..Positive Vibrations
5) The 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth “true” rookie card is one of the most valuable sports cards selling for over $7.2 million in 2023.
Protest Sign of the Week: Believe Your Eyes Not Their Lies
Quote of the Week: I've decided to just be fully delusional this year and see where that takes me cuz being sensible hasn't gleaned the results I'm looking for. --Ellie Schnitt --Submitted by WWRWM
Final Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: I put my To-Do list in Schrödinger's box. --Submitted by Club42
Today's Peace of History: February 6, 1961: The Jail-In movement started in Rock Hill, SC, when students refused to pay fines and requested jail sentences. The Students Nonviolent Coordinating Committee urged a south-wide "Jail, No Bail" campaign.
I am seeking to be positive, have integrity, and speak with grace. --Kate Gosselin
Remaining “neutral” / and both-sidesing ev'rything / a gift to liars. --Mad Kane ++ Nose is turning blue / I am wearing 30 layers / Still, I freeze to death. --AI ++ The goal is thirty / miles per hour around the track / This is way too fast. --mcs ++ ME: What's a haiku? / PROFESSOR: five, seven, five / ME: Got it, thank you.
..........There's just no getting over you.........Natalie Cole …..Miss You Like Crazy
Masthead of the Week: Friday ePistle, February 6, 2026: High Coo ePistle . Online at: http://fridayepistle.blogspot.com/ Exclusive editor: Christine Smith. Lawrence, KS.
Moonbeam: The rule of my life is to make business a pleasure, and pleasure my business. --Aaron Burr
Cost of War:
As of 02/05/26 State Department Costs: $286,211,975,484
As of 01/29/26 State Department Costs: $285,654,196,268
As of 02/05/26 Homeland Security: $1,222,592,377,279
As of 01/29/26 Homeland Security: $1,221,986,511,431
As of 02/05/26 Interest on War Debt:$1,358,523,430,359
As of 01/29/26 Interest on War Debt: $1,356,965,402,630
As of 02/05/26 Military Costs: $3,191,256,852,133
As of 01/29/26 Military Costs: $3,189,973,791,547
As of 02/05/26 Veterans Care: $4,723,217,289,617
As of 01/29/26 Veterans Care: $4,711,406,122,348
As of 02/05/26 Total Cost of Wars: $10,781,703,984,263
As of 01/29/26 Total Cost of Wars: $10,765,987,555,
https://www.nationalpriorities.org/cost-of/
I know of no higher fortitude than stubborness in the face of overwhelming odds. --Louis Nizer
Famous Last Words: And ruled in France by Henry's fatal death --Christopher Marlowe The Massacre At Paris (Marlowe's last play)
..........Oh, where do we go now.........Guns & Roses with Axl Rose …..Sweet Child Of Mine
Charm and grace and a sense of humor will take you a long way. --Connie Britton.
MAGA v. Reason / ever-widening schism / with no bridge in sight. --Mad Kane ++ In this bright new year / May our dark times fade away / As hope-beams appear. --Susan Schultz ++ It's February / Now you write your own Haiku / It is the right month. ++ Let's speak only in / Haikus for the entire day. / That's ridiculous
May Peace give you hope
And Joy enrich your future
from prairie mama
christine
Last Laugh:
