Famous First Words: The paragraphs, you say, Mr. Snake, were all inserted? --Lady Sneerwell Richard Sheridan The School for Scandal.
Happy Mother Goose Day. Here's a few nursery rhymes for ePistliers, dreamers, lovers, and me. Do you love me, Or do you not? You told me once, But I forgot. ^^ What's the news of the day, Good neighbor, I pray? “They say a balloon Is gone up to the moon. ^^ Hey, Donald Diddle, Iran's got your fiddle. The rocket flew over the moon. JD's cat laughed to see all of that and the Dems just sing that same tune.
..........Who you gonna call?.........Ray Parker Jr …..Ghostbusters
A general strike is when working people across many jobs, industries, and communities collectively stop participating in the system. No work, no buying, no compliance, not until real demands are met. It's not just about labor. It's about people. When we stop together, the system has to listen. --Unknown, posted in West Virginia
I am different. Let this not upset you. --Paracelsus
It is a chilly (40°F) Friday morning. The sky is nearly cloudless with only a few thin streak that could be left over jet trails. A blue jay, two sparrows and a squirrel are having a breakfast of sunflower seeds on the patio but the world itself is quiet. None of the birds are singing out Beltane blessings. There is very little wind. The willow branches high up the tall tree are scraggly and battle worn for the relentless winds we have had lately. Now they are resting from their frenzied dancing. I am at my desk listening to Puck snoring under my feet and sipping my doctored decaf. It is the day for the general strike and I have no plans to shop or work or go to school. I plan to spend my day writing and reading. Blessed be, on this fine holiday morning, blessed be.
Today is Beltane, it is the start of the glorious summer. It's time for fires, beach trips, and merriment under blue skies once again.
First Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit. --Noel Coward
My uncle died a week ago And left me all his riches: A wooden leg; a feather bed; And a pair of leather breeches. ^^ If many men did what many men do, The world would be better—I think so; don't you? ^^ Mary had a little lamb. She dressed it lots of leather. A sheep wrapped in a cow? Why not dress her in feathers.
..........We'll take on the world and win.........Rita Coolidge …..All Time High
If the workers take a notion, they can stop all speeding trains; every ship upon the ocean they can tie with mighty chains. --Joe Hill
Trivia Questions: Today is International Workers' Day
What is the purpose of International Workers' Day?
When did this holiday begin?
What were conditions like before the 8-hour day was enacted?
What do you know about the Haymarket Incident?
What's the difference between May Day and Labor Day?
Big Hello: BitaŃ (Vitayu) - Ukrainian https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/hello.htm
Second Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: I've reached the age where I no longer know if I've sustained an injury of if that's just the way I am now. --Submitted by cjj of ks
Image of the Week: How tall do the trees grow in Washington?
Question of the Week: Who put the alphabet in alphabetical order?
Twelve pairs hanging high, Twelve knights riding by, Each knight took a pear, And left a dozen hanging there. ^^ There was a girl in our town, silk an' satin was her gown, Silk an' satin, gold an' velvet, Guess her name--three times I've tell'd it. ^^ RFJK was walking one day and found a bear cub that was dead. He took it back home, used a brush and a comb; what has gone wrong with his head?
..........There ought to be clowns.........Judy Collins …..Send In The Clowns
May Day Strong: No Work, No School, No Shopping --Indivisible
Moonbeam: You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes. --Mother Jones
Blasphemy of the Week: Thou shalt not leave your kneeler down when going to receive Holy Communion.
Coffee Joke of the Week: Who charges more per cup – Starbucks or Victoria's Secret?
Next Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: When my fellow marines and I were being shot at by al-Qaeda and ISIS, I kept thinking, “If only we had a ballroom.” --Submitted by USDS
Wouldn't it be funny-- Wouldn't it, now-- If the dog said, “Moo-oo” And the cow said, “Bow-wow?” ^^ St Dunstan, as the story goes, once pulled the devil by the nose, with red hot tongs, which made him roar, that could be heard ten miles or more. ^^ Old Mother Pam went for the sham and everyone knew she was lying. Dear Mother Bondi protected the blondie, or at least she was trying.. Old Mother Pam was bad at the sham and so her career is dying.
..........What a lonesome feeling when you're by yourself.........Little Walter …..Blues With A Feeling
We have people power. We are the majority. We will never stop fighting for the democracy we deserve. --Women's March
1) International Workers' Day aka May Day is a holiday celebrating workers and the history of labor organizing. https://irle.ucla.edu/2025/04/28/may-day-history-significance/
Almanac: It is Friday, May 1, 2026. The moon is full (Flower) today and is in Scorpio. Today is May Day, Amtrak Day, Beltane, Buddha Day, Dandelion Days (1-2), Discuss Your Wage Day, Executive Coaching Day, Global Love Day, Hug Your Cat Day, International Doodle Dog Day, International Guerilla Sunflower Gardening Day, International Sauvignon Blanc Day, International Workers Day, Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Day, Law Day, Lei Day, Loyalty Day, May One Day, Mother Goose Day, National Bubba Day, National Heatstroke Prevention Day, National High Potassium Awareness Day, National Purebred Dog Day, New Homeowner's Day, Religious Brothers Day, School Principals' Day, School Lunch Hero Day, Silver Star Banner Day, and Tuba Day. ~~Whew! They should just call it Everything Day.
Among those born on this day were Paracelsus (1493), Joseph Addison (1672), Mother Jones (1830), Calamity Jane (Martha Burke, 1852), Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881), Glenn Ford (1916), Jack Paar (1916), Joseph Heller (1922), Terry Southern (1924), Harry Belafonte (1927), Little Walter (1930), Judy Collins (1929), Rita Coolidge (1944), and Ray Parker Jr. (1954).
On May first England, Wales and Scotland formed the United Kingdom (1707), Sheridan's School for Scandal premiered in London (1777), the first adhesive postage stamps were issued (Penny Blacks, 1840), the first telegraph message was sent (1844), Argentina adopted its constitution (1853), the American Equal Rights Association formed (1866), Howard University was chartered (1867), the Folies-Bergere opened in Paris (1869), Buffalo Bill Cody's first wild west show opened (1883), the first International Workers Day was held (1889), Satchel Paige made his pitching debut (1926), the Empire State Building opened (1931), The Catholic Worker newspaper was founded (Dorothy Day & Peter Maurin, 1933), Batman comics hit the streets (1939), Citizen Kane premiered (1941), Cheerios went on sale (1941), and Pirate Radio Station 259 (England/France) began transmitting (1969).
Night Sky, 5/1: The Flower Moon rises gently into the night sky, glowing in soft silver and quiet gold as spring reaches its peak. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set during the early morning hours and will provide a small window of opportunity to view meteor activity under dark skies between moonset (5:57 am) and dawn.
Fraternal Picture of the Week: The boys find the magic box
Extra Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Idk who needs to hear this, but I switched from buying coffee every day to making it at home 2 years ago and I'm still not a millionaire. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1473909789461636/
This Week: Saturday, May 2 – Indigenous Arts Day & Mariachi Day & National Home Brew Day & World Tuna Day
Sunday, May 3 – Garden Meditation Day & International Firefighters Day & Public Radio Day & World Laughter Day & World Press Freedom Day
Night Sky, 5/3: The 97% illuminated, waning gibbous will dominate the sky, rising alongside the bright star Regulus. Venus and Jupiter will be visible in the evening, while the early Summer Triangle, featuring the star Vega, begins to appear in the northeast.
Monday, May 4 – Lag B-Omer & National Day of Reason & National Weather Observers Day
Tuesday, May 5 – Cartoonists Day & Cinco de Mayo & National Astronaut Day
Night Sky, 5/5: The Eta Aquariids meteor shower peaks tonight. The best time to watch in before dawn. https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/
Wednesday, May 6 – No Homework Day & Russell Stover Candies Day & School Nurse Day
Night Sky, 5/6: Sunrise: 6:15 am Sunset: 8:20 pm (14 hours and 5 minutes of daylight) Moonrise: 12:28 am Moonset: 9:26 am
Thursday, May 7 – Beaufort Scale (Wind) Day & World Password Day & National Barrier Awareness Day
My little old man and I fell out; I'll tell you what t'was all about,-- I had money and he had none, And that's the way the noise begun. ^^Jerry Hall, He was so small, A rat could eat him, Hat and all ^^ Many mumbling mice are making Midnight music In the moonlight. ^^ Jack and Jill went up the hill to buy pork chops for dinner. Jack and Jill were short of cash, and came back down much thinner.
..........My head is turning around.........Harry Belafonte …..Jamaica Farewell
May 1st! No work, No school, No spending. Time to hit their wallets! --US Democratic Socialists
2) The holiday originated from a movement demanding improved working conditions and greater recognition for workers’ contributions. In 1884, a national federation of unions announced a campaign to establish an eight-hour workday by May 1, 1886. Workers in cities across North America went on strike leading up to that date in one of the era’s largest and most tumultuous periods of worker unrest.
Preantepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: They say women are emotional but I've never seen anything more dramatic than a man being held accountable for his actions. --leadingwomen https://www.facebook.com/NationalNOW
Moonbeam: What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable. --Joseph Addison
Fun Facts of the Week: On the morning of February 6, 1919, Seattle, a city of 315,000 people, stopped working. 25,000 other union members had joined 35,000 shipyard workers already on strike. The city's AFL unions, 101 of them, had voted to walk out in a gesture of support and solidarity. Read more
Audio of the Week: You Fascist Bound To Lose sung by Woody Guthrie 1944 (1:34) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwcKwGS7OSQ
The human body is vapor materialized by sunshine mixed with the life of the stars. --Paracelsus
A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds. ^^ Multiplication is vexation, Division is as bad; The Rule of Three doth puzzle me, And practice drives me mad. ^^ Bah! Bah! Red Sheep, have you any hope? No! No! No! No!. That's even worse than dope.
Unity over division! Whether you're a Progressive, Marxist, Anarchist, or a Democratic Socialist you're welcome here! --US Democratic Socialists
..........She take me money and runs Venezuela.........Harry Belafonte …..Matilda
3) Before the 8-hour day, USA labor conditions were marked by grueling 10 to 16-hour workdays, six days a week, often with minimal breaks, particularly in industrial settings. Workers faced unsafe environments at low wages for both adults and children.
Antepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: I'm with President Trump. The WHCD shooting revealed the need for a secure, bulletproof ballroom to keep people safe. That is why going forward I will be advocating for a ballroom to be built at every US elementary school. --gamelawkate
Weird Word of the Week: Quiescent: Something that is quiet or still, often used to describe a calm and peaceful scene. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/quiescent
Dragon of the Week:
Wacky Uses for Common Products: Clean a burn stain from a pot or pan. If you burn a pot or pan on the stove and want to clean out the brown burn stain, boil some Coca-Cola in the pot or pant and the burn stain will come off. https://www.wackyuses.com/wacky/cocacola2.html
Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater, Whacked off in the movie theater. Sprayed his load across the screen, And ruined Titanic's final scene. -Andrew Dice Clay ^^ Little Boy Blue – He needed the money -Andrew Dice Clay ^^ You better watch out. You better keep cool. Success will find you if you stay in school. ^^ Bah! Bah! red sheep, have you any shame. No! No! No! No! Good and bad, it's all the same.
No School. No Work. No Shopping. We are taking collective action and demanding a nation that puts workers over billionaires. --Women's March
...........You shake, shake here, you shake, shake there.........Little Walter …..Mellow Down Easy
4) In May 1886, police in Chicago shot striking workers, prompting activists to organize a protest in the city’s Haymarket Square. When a bomb exploded at that protest, killing one police officer and wounding others, police opened fire into the crowd, resulting in the deaths and injuries of both police and protesters. Eight protesters were arrested for inciting violence. The ensuing trial was considered by many to be unfair and resulted in the execution of seven of the eight men (1). This series of events would come to be known as the “Haymarket Incident” or “Haymarket Affair.”
Penultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: I'm looking forward to watching the World Origami Championship. It's on Paper View. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093217332185
Science Fiction Convention of the Week: Ashika-Con 2026 (1-2, Vancouver, WA) ...the ultimate fan experience... https://www.ashikacon.com/
Helpful Website of the Week: May Day Strong ( https://maydaystrong.org/ ) will help you find vigils, demonstrations, and other strike activities.
Spark of Joy of the Week: Utah Phillips singing Solidarity Forever: https://youtu.be/5rBVd9JAz3M (4:29)
Ah, yes! I wrote the “Purple Cow” – I'm sorry now I wrote it! But I can tell you anyhow, I just might kill you if you quote it. ^^ I never beat a rotten egg, I hever hope to beat one; But I can tell you anyhow, I'd rather beat than eat one. ^^ Twinkle, twinkle K2-18b. Entangle a quantum, we'll talk, you'll see.
The goal is to shift from mobilizing to organizing, so we are ready to respond when it matters: to ICE activity in our communities, to attacks on elections, to the ongoing consolidation of power by the Trump regime and its allies. --May 1st Strike Committee
..........So blow, you old Blue Northern.........Judy Collins …..Someday Soon
5) Labor Day is celebrated in the United States and Canada on the first Monday in September. The origins of this holiday are also rooted in the 19th century when the Central Labor Union organized the first Labor Day march on September 5, 1882 in New York City. It became an official federal holiday in 1894 (3). Unlike Labor Day, May Day is not officially recognized in the United States as a federal holiday. However, both holidays have ties to the American labor movement and both uplift the accomplishments of workers.
Protest Sign of the Week: I've Seen 17 Presidents In My 94 Years And He's The WORST
Quote of the Week: The belief in the possibility of a short, decisive war appears to be one of he most ancient and dangerous of human illusions. --Robert Lynd
Final Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: What kind of jerk makes an anti-anxiety pill that's difficult to break in half? --Submitted by INRITH
Today's Peace of History: , May 1, 1887: May Day was called Emancipation Day in 1886 when 340,000 went on strike (though it was Saturday it was a regular day of work) in Chicago for the 8-hour workday.
John Lithgow & Mother Goose: POTUS whose pants are routinely on fire, Could be Dumpty the Huckster or Dumpty the Liar. ^^ ...Blithering idiot, gone round the bend: when in the world will this lunacy end?
The poor were wise, who, by the rich oppressed, withdrew, and sought a secret place of rest. --Juvenal
..........But I forgot how to dream.........Rita Coolidge …..That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be
Masthead of the Week: Friday ePistle, May 1, 2026: Goosed ePistle . Online at: http://fridayepistle.blogspot.com/ Exclusive editor: Christine Smith. Lawrence, KS.
Moonbeam: Some people are born mediocre, some people achieve mediocrity, and some people have mediocrity thrust upon them. --Joseph Heller
Cost of War:
Pentagon Spending as of 5/01/26: $592,500,326,688
Pentagon Spending is April 2026: $81,264,897,194 Average spent per day $2,708,829,906.46
https://www.nationalpriorities.org/cost-of/category/military/
The higest degree of a medicine is Love. --Paraclesus
Famous Last Words: Merry part until we merry meet again! --Beltane blessing
Labor will feed the People… Labor will care for the babies and the sick… Labor will preserve order…—Anna Louise Strong, summarizing the intentions of the General Strike
..........Good night turned into late night.........Ray Parker Jr …..Girls Are More Fun
Tariffs posed by Trump, Put the farmers in the dump. O, no the Derry-O, the farmers in a slump. --Stephen Colbert ^^ Once upon a time when pigs spoke rhyme, And monkeys chewed tobacco, And hens took snuff to make them tough, And ducks went quack, quack, quack O! ^^ Who killed cock robin? I said UHI, to keep the profits high. Who saw her die? We said the bears, to spare the billionaires.
May Peace lift your spirits
And Joy raise your soul
prairie mama
christine
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