ePistle

Friday, August 9, 2024

ePistle eRRor

Famous First Words: Oh, sh*t, NO! --Christine: It is Wednesday afternoon (8/7 – also I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon) and I just realized that I (with decades of computer experience of one kind or another) managed to delete the entire aug9 ePistle by saving the “last laugh” picture on top of select all (a mistake lower on the scale than rookie). So these are the first words to bless this ePistle.

Me: What a great day. My computer hasn't crashed once. My Computer: Now that I have her confidence, I'll crash when she tries to save her work. / I hear witches use hexberts to fix their computers.

..........A doll that other fellows cannot steal.........Mills Brothers …..Paper Doll

Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. --Henry David Thoreau

It is a cool (62°F) Friday morning, The sky is covered in thin white clouds and decaying jet trails. A 7 mph breeze moves the mulberry just enough to compliment the bright sunflower waving to the rising sun. Puck and Veronica have been out and Puck now sleeps on this bed. He's making little pouty noises as if trying to purr his contentment. Veronica has disappeared up the stairs. I have traveled out to the pharmacy to purchase medihoney which is a special honey from New Zealand that is supposed to help my incision heal a little faster. The world out there is full of people rushing about – I assume to work. But I'm home now and my wound is honeyed and bound and I listen to the bird song as I type. Chirp, chirp chirp, chiiiirrrrp. In here I nibble at a chocolate chip muffin and admire the majesty of the willow dancing for nature's enjoyment. A cone of red incense sends white smoke curling around my monitor in an unsuccessful attempt to recreate the clouds outside. It fills the room with the scent of cedarwood. Wow, a rich, full morning and it's not even 9 am yet.

Hope your weekend has no error messages, ePistliers

First Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: I really love New York. I got a hotel room so small the bedbugs were hunch backed. No, seriously... --B Kliban

Me: Computer error. My Computer: Human error. / It was after three attempts to decipher the CAPTONA that Rachael Rosen began to suspect she might be an automaton.

..........Light the path below, above.........Mills Brothers …..Glow Worm

Trivia Questions: It is Kool-Aid Weekend!

^ Who invented Kool-Aid?
^^ What product(s) evolved into Kool-Aid?
^^^ When did the “Kool-Air” man burst onto the scene?
^^^^ How many of the original flavors can you name?
^^^^^ Who owns Kool-Aid now?

Big Hello: Bures – Northern Sámi (Norway, Sweden, & Finland) https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/hello.htm

Second Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Will Walz only work three quarters time? --Submitted by dr of oh ~~Opps! I've been told it is pronounced walls.

Image of the Week: This week I have seen people fly.

Writer's Jokes of the Week: Your first name + your last name = your struggling writer name. Gentlemen, Regarding the recent rejection slip you sent me. I think there might have been a misunderstanding. What I really wanted was for you to publish my story and send me fifty thousand dollars. --Snoopy

Error 54552 User error – Replace user / A bug is just an undocumented feature.

..........When the summer sun decides to settle low.........Mills Brothers …..Across The Alley From The Alamo

Moonbeam: Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. --Izaak Walton

Blasphemy of the Week: When Christians become convinced that we are the only authority on truth...we are worshiping ourselves. --Submitted by MMS

Puzzle of the Week: From Adam Aaronson, of Deerfield, IL.: Think of a classic movie title in which the initials of all the words up to the last one, in order, spell the number of letters in that last word. The number of words in the title is for you to discover. What film is it?

Next Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: My brother, Fletcher, has been placed in hospice. Here is just one of the stories: My mom asked me if a waxed paper bag could be recycled. My dad sat up in bed and said "Throw it out." My dad will rise from his deathbed to make sure we don't contaminate the recycling. ~~He is a wonderful brother, a fun husband, a great father, and, apparently, an environmental activist.

Any user interface is like a joke. If you have to explain it, it's not that good. / Autocorrect can go straight to he'll.

..........When there's joy in living you just never grow old.........Mills Brothers …..Be My Life's Companion

^ Edwin Perkins invented Kool-Aid in Hastings, NE in the 1920s. Perkins ran a mail order business for all sorts of products.

Almanac: It is Friday, August 9, 2024. The moon will enter its first quarter on Monday (8/12) and is in Libra. It is Nagasaki Memorial Day. 40,000 people died in Nagasaki on this day and another 60,000 were injured. To date, the United States is the only nation that has used nuclear weapons against civilians.

Among those born on this day were Izaak Walton (1593), Jean Piaget (1896), William A. Fowler (1911), Harry Mills (Mills Brothers, 1913), Bob Cousy (1928), Sam Elliot (1944), Melanie Griffith (1957), and Whitney Houston (1963).

On August ninth Walden was published (1854), Betty Boop debuted (1930), South African women demonstrated against Pass Laws (1956), Robert Zimmerman legally changed his name to Bob Dylan (1962), and Richard Nixon resigned (1974).

Night Sky, 8/9: Look west-southwest in late dusk to spot Spica just 4° or 5° upper left of the crescent Moon. Very high above or upper right of them is Arcturus, brighter and pale yellow-orangish. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/sky-at-a-glance/

Fraternal Picture of the Week: Smoke, Minors, and Marshmallows

This Week: Saturday, August 10 – Agent Orange Awareness Day & National Bowling Day & World Lion Day

Sunday, August 11 – Global Kinetic Sand Day & National Hip Hop Day & Popsicle Day

Night Sky, 8/11: Perseids meteor shower peaks tonight. Better after the moon sets around midnight. Could yield 100 meteors per hour. Perseid meteor shower 2024 — When, where and how to see it | Space

Monday, August 12 – Middle Child Day & World Elephant Day

Tuesday, August 13 – International Left Handers Day

Wednesday, August 14 – National Lizard Day & National Navajo Code Talkers Day

Night Sky, 8/14: Saturn (magnitude +0.8, near the Aquarius-Pisces border) rises in the east around the end of twilight. Watch for it to the lower right of the Great Square of Pegasus, which is balancing on one corner. The Square's top-right edge points diagonally down nearly to Saturn, two fists at arm's length away.

Thursday, August 15 – Best Friends Day & National Relaxation Day

Most issues can be fixed by replacing or simply removing the failed component located between the keyboard and the chair. / Error: An error occurred while displaying the previous error.

..........Linger in the shade of a kind old tree.........Mills Brothers …..Up A Lazy River

^^ Originally Perkins sold flavor concentrates known as Fruit Smack. However, it had to be shipped in bottles subject to breaking and higher shipping costs, Taking jello as an example, he figured out how to dehydrate Fruit Smack and produced Kool-Ade. But in 1934 the Ade turned to Aid – because ade implied fruit juice and Kool-Aid has no fruit or fruit juice or fruit pulp. It is fruitless.

Preantepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: There are more airplanes in the ocean than submarines in the air.

Moonbeam: Do your best when no one is looking. If you do that, then you can be successful at anything you put your mind to. --Bob Cousy

Video of the Week: Dizzy Dishes: very first betty boop cartoon - Google Search (6:18)

Interesting Fact of the Week: Thoreau had a “job” at his father's pencil factory. He designed pencils. I personally feel like the design of the pencil hasn't changed much since the 1560s.

But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things. --Henry David Thoreau

He screamed, “Damn this operating system!” and then jumped. Now I know why they call it windows. / Go to the Preferences File, click on the pull-down menu, find the option that says “Nothing Works Right” and uncheck it.

..........drifting to and fro.........Mills Brothers …..Chinatown, My Chinatown

^^^ While a generic anthropomorphic pitcher was used as far back as the 1950s, Pitcher Man burst through his first wall in 1975. He has his own comic book.

Antepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: 3 of the 4 voices in my head want to sleep...the other wants to know if penguins have knees. --Submitted by INRITH

Weird Word of the Week: Recessionista – a fashionista who is decisively on trend in these straitened times and dresses exclusively in black (it's grim), vintage (It's all we can afford), and long skirts (going short during bad economic times is as frowned on in hemlines as it is in hedge funds). Recessionista (worldwidewords.org)

Dragon of the Week: This is the model of a dragon by Niki de Saint-Phalle. The sculpture is in a Tarot garden in Tuscany. It represents the Strength card. The model is (or was) on exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins in KC. --Submitted by ml of ks The Tarot Garden | Official Website (ilgiardinodeitarocchi.it)

Wacky Uses for Common Products: Clean a vase. Place one teaspoon of Cascade in a dirty glass vase, fill with water, and let sit overnight. The next morning, simply rinse clean. Cascade®: Wacky Uses

Error: Keyboard not found. Press F1 to continue. DEL to enter Setup. / User Error: It was an internal PEBCAK issue that you understand.

...........What do I care how much it may storm.........Mills Brothers …..I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

^^^^ Original flavors: Grape, Orange, Cherry, Root Beer, Lemon-Lime, and Raspberry. There have been many, many flavors since. Kool-Aid/List of products and flavors | USA Store Fanon Wikia | Fandom

Penultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: In my opinion, we don't devote nearly enough scientific research to finding a cure for jerks. --Calvin & Hobbes

Science Fiction Convention of the Week: Monsterama 2024 (9-11, Atlanta, GA) ...When Monsterama Ruled The Earth... Monsterama Con August 9-11, 2024 Atlanta, GA

Actual Science Conference of the Week: Ecological Society of America (ESA) Annual Meeting (4-9, Long Beach, CA) ...supporting ecologists throughout their careers. Ecological Society of America (ESA) 2024 Annual Meeting | Department of Energy

Answer to Puzzle of the Week: The Wizard Of Oz

Me: I need a more user-friendly computer. My Computer: I need a smarter human. / Windows XP: Task failed successfully.

..........those circles of blue and white.........Mills Brothers …..Smoke Rings

^^^^^ General Foods purchased Kool-Aid in 1953. In 1989 Kraft merged with General Foods. Kraft merged with HJ Heinz in 2015. (So, maybe, Mitt Romney owns Kool-Aid.)

Conspiracy Theory of the Week: The best man for the job may be a woman.

Quote of the Week: In Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and their personal choices that they make. Even if we wouldn’t make the same choice for ourselves, there’s a golden rule: Mind your own damn business. --Gov Bob Walz

Final Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't. --Mark Twain

Today's Peace of History, August 9, 1987: Hundreds were arrested in an all-day blockade of the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant in Golden, Colorado. Protests at Rocky Flats had been going on for some years.

Oscar never empties the Trash file and the blue Monster never deletes the cookies. / My computer says I need to upgrade my brain to be compatible with its new software.

..........You sit all alone like me.........Mills Brothers …..Yellow Bird

Masthead of the Week: Friday ePistle, August 9, 2024, ePistle eRror. Online at: http://fridayepistle.blogspot.com/ Exclusive editor: Christine Smith. Lawrence, KS.

Moonbeam: The goal of education is not to increase the amount of knowledge but to create the possibilities for a child to invent and discover, to create people who are capable of doing new things. --Jean Piaget

Cost of War:

As of 08/08/24 State Department Costs: $242,838,690,675.
As of 08/01/24 State Department Costs: $242,282,845,667.
As of 08/08/24 Homeland Security: $1,175,479,986,906.
As of 08/01/24 Homeland Security: $1,174,875,222,740.
As of 08/08/24 Interest on War Debt: $1,237,377,198,440.
As of 08/01/24 Interest on War Debt: $1,235,824,654,552.
As of 08/08/24 Military Costs: $3,099,175,336,321.
As of 08/01/24 Military Costs: $3,097,996,550,721.
As of 08/08/24 Veterans Care: $3,804,897,367,206.
As of 08/01/24 Veterans Care: $3,793,128,785,792.
As of 08/08/24 Total Cost of Wars: $9,528,309.356.738.
As of 08/01/24 Total Cost of Wars: 9,559,769,740,710.

https://www.nationalpriorities.org/cost-of/

As if you could kill time without injuring eternity. --Henry David Thoreau

Famous Last Words: Always a hoot. --Jerry Garcia who died on August 9, 1995.

..........Low or highbrow, they all cry now.........Mills Brothers …..Tiger Rag

Me: Can't you do anything right. My Computer: Can't you do anything right? / My computer has a fast modem, a Pentium, increased RAM, a huge hard drive, and broadband net connections. The problem – slow finger.

May Peace renew your soul
And Joy refresh your heart
prairie mama
christine

Last Laugh:

Friday, August 2, 2024

HOG wild ePistle

Famous First Words: Political activity authorized; prohibitions... The Hatch Act ₴7323

For those of you who can't make it to the Sturgis Bike Rally this year, here's a celebration of it. The bike started up fine, but I'm just gonna rev the engine a few times to make sure. Never trade the thrills of living for the security of existence.

..........I don't want a tickle.........Arlo Guthrie …..The Motorcycle Song

It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have. --James Baldwin

It is a clear, warm (76°F) Friday morning. The sky is a deep blue without clouds. A breeze (6 mph) makes the willow branches dance as if they were in Olympic competition and even the mulberry cannot help but move. I am sitting at my computer eating homemade from scratch biscuits with homemade from scratch sausage gravy, mmm, mmm. All this already makes it a great morning. There are also birds flitting about in the trees, sometimes singing...sometimes silent. Puck is asleep in the recliner which he has claimed since my hip surgery freed me from its constant use. (I still nap on it in the afternoon.) The whole house smells of fresh baking and gives a sense of comfort to anyone in smelling distance. Ah, a sparrow has landed on the utility and looked right into the window...and now is gone again. A morning of peace and glory.

Hope the weekend shines for you, ePistliers

First Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: I don't mind genetically modified foods. I've just had a lovely leg of salmon. --Submitted by INRITH

I'm looking to buy a harley that makes me look cool, young, attractive and thin, and I want it to lower my cholesterol. Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul.

..........Gee it must be great, riding with him.........Shangri-Las …..Leader of the Pack

Trivia Questions: Happy Twins Days!

^ What percentage of births are twins?
^^ What kinds of twins are there?
^^^ Are twins more likely to be left-handed?
^^^^ Which US state has the most twins?
^^^^^ Do identical twins have identical fingerprints?

Big Hello: CaЛam – Nogai (southwestern Russia) https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/hello.htm

Second Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Today's Special: 5 minutes in the walk-in freezer with any purchase. --Submitted by INRITH

Image of the Week: The first mascot for the modern games was Smokey, the Scottish Terrier in 1932. The Olympics did not have “official” mascots until 1972. I eventually saw two spectators at the Olympics wearing the mascot hats.

Library Joke of the Week: Thermometers are speedometers for atoms. --Submitted by Laughing Librarian

Harley Davidson: The most efficient way to convert gasoline into noise without the side effects of horsepower. What's the cheapest thing on a BMW Motorcycle? The rider.

..........Won't you lay your big spike down.........Neil Young …..Motorcycle Mama

Moonbeam: Knowledge once gained casts a light beyond its own immediate boundaries. --John Tyndall

Blasphemy of the Week: There are three branches of government. Your church is not one of them.

Puzzle of the Week: From listener Mark Scott, of Seattle. Take the name of a famous actor of the past. Say it out loud, and phonetically you'll describe what a famous general's horse did. Who is the actor and who is the general? NPR Sunday Puzzle 7/28/24

Next Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Look, I don't know how we got here, but in the year 2024 the two most wholesome people on the television are Snoop Dogg and Flavor Flav. --Linda Hopkins

My greatest fear is that when I die my partner will sell my bike parts for what I told her they cost. My rear view mirror says: Warning: Objects seen here are disappearing rapidly.

..........Go out yonder, peace in the valley.........The Band with Garth Hudson …..The Shape I'm In

^ 3% (3 in 100) births are multiples. 31.2 per 1000 are twins. 78.9 per 100,000 births are triplets or more. (These numbers don't add up, but they are the ones I was given by the national center for health statistics

Almanac: It is Friday, August 2, 2024. The moon will be new on Sunday (8/4) and is in Cancer. It is National Coloring Book Day and Take A Penny/Leave A Penny Day. Because it is the First Friday it is also Braham Pie Day aka Homemade Pie Day, International Beer Day, National Water Balloon Day, and Tomboy (i.e. Pink) Tools Day. The first weekend gives us Satchmo Days (mostly in New Orleans) and this weekend, in particular, is Twin Days.

Among those born on this day were Pierre Charles L'Enfant (1754), John Tyndall (1820), Arthur Bliss (1891), Myrna Loy (1905), Mary Hamman (1907), Carroll O'Connor (1922), James Baldwin (1924), Lamar Hunt and Peter O'Toole (1932), Garth Hudson (1942), and Sue Rodriguez (1950),

On August second the Declaration of Independence was formally signed (1776), the San Francisco cable cars made their first trial run (1873), the first Lincoln head penny was minted (1909), the Hatch Act was passed (1939), the Beatles played their very first gig as the Cavern house band (Liverpool, 1961), Billy Martin was named manager of NY Yankee for the first time (1975), and Voyager 2 discovered 3 more moons around Neptune (1989).

Night Sky, 8/2: Week by week, Venus is getting just a little less low in the sunset. Using optical aid, can you pick it up and then detect Regulus and Mercury to its left? http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/sky-at-a-glance/

Fraternal Picture of the Week: If you notice the boys (and mom too) have rainbow hair. They colored it especially for attending the Pride Parade and Picnic.

This Week: Saturday, August 3 – Home Fermentation Day & Clown Day & National Sunflower Day

Sunday, August 4 – American Family Day & Coast Guard Day & National White Wine Day

Night Sky, 8/4: Bright Vega passes closest to overhead around 10 or 11 pm, depending on how far east or west you live in your time zone. It passes right through your Zenith if you're at latitude 39° north (DC, Cincinnati, KC, Lake Tahoe).

Monday, August 5 – National Oyster Day & National Electric Traffic Light Day & National Underwear Day

Tuesday, August 6 – Hiroshima Day

Wednesday, August 7 – Lighthouse Day & Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day

Thursday, August 8 – Dalek Day & International Cat Day & National Pickleball Day & Odie Day

Night Sky, 8/8: Eta Eridanids Meteor Shower 7/31-8/19, Peaks tonight. Fast moving (65km/s but only a few perhaps 6 per hour. Eta Eridanids Meteor Shower (Information, Facts, When, Where, Map) - Universe Guide

A laughing motorcycle is called a Yamahahaha. Life may begin at 30 but it doesn't get really interesting until about 150.

..........We could be relaxing in my sleeping bag.........The Band with Garth Hudson …..Rag Mama Rag

^^ Identical twins are born of a single egg splitting after fertilization. Fraternal twins are conceived with two eggs and two sperm. Mirror-image twins occur when one twin is left-handed and the other is right-handed (They also have birthmarks on opposite sides of their bodies).

Preantepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Raisins: Grape Jerky --Submitted by SH

Moonbeam: I truly believe that if you love something you can't help but be successful at it. --Lamar Hunt

Follow Up of the Week: You may or may not remember that June 28^th was Paul Bunyan Day. Tribal Family has informed me of a story about Paul Bunyan and Nanaboozhoo, the greatest Objibwa who ever lived. Here it is, not long, lots of fun, and very worthwhile. Nanabozho - Wikipedia

Video of the Week: Louis Armstrong: La vie en rose (3:24) Louis Armstrong - La vie en rose (youtube.com)

The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose. --James Baldwin

I work hard so my motorcycle can have a better life. My Harley doesn't leak. It just marks its spot like a dog.

..........That's when that little love of mine dips her doughnut in my tea.........The Band with Garth Hudson …..Up On Cripple Creek

^^^ About 1 in 5 sets of twins are left-handed. This is roughly double the rate of the general population.

Antepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: It's possible that a slough could have been chasing after you for the past 6 years and you don't even know it. --Submitted by INRITH

Weird Word of the Week: Quinion – A group of 5 sheets of paper, laid on top of each other, and folded for publication...5 sheets, 10 folds, 20 pages. Quinion (worldwidewords.org)

Dragon of the Week: Park Bench in Bruges, Belgium

Wacky Uses for Common Products: Whiten white polyester. Mix one cup Cascade and one gallon warm water in a plastic bucket. Soak the clothes in the mixture overnight, then run them through the washing machine. Cascade removes the gray due to detergent residue build-up on white polyester. Cascade®: Wacky Uses

The only difference between a Harley Hog and a Hoover vacuum cleaner is the position of the dirt bag. You'll know when your BMW bike is out of oil. It will stop leaking.

...........two bits a shot.........the Band with Garth Hudson …..Life Is A Carnival

^^^^ New Jersey has the highest percentage of twin births (4.31%) but California has the most twin births. New Mexico has the lowest twin birth rate at 2.4%.

Penultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Every Olympic event should include one average person competing for reference. --Submitted by ar of ks

Science Fiction Convention of the Week: PulpFest 2024 (1-4, Pittsburgh, PA) Out Of The Ashes PulpFest – Join us Aug. 1 – 4, in Pittsburgh, PA!

Actual Science Conference of the Week: International Conference on Low Temperature Physics and Superconductivity (ICLTPS) ...Ultra Low-Temperature Techniques (2, San Francisco, CA) International Conference on Low Temperature Physics and Superconductivity (conferenceineurope.net)

Answer to Puzzle of the Week: Cary Grant → Ulysses S Grant

I've heard Santa rides a Holly Davidson. A Harley Davidson is an American cultural icon, everything else is just a motorcycle; a better motorcycle, but still just a motorcycle.

..........They ain't gonna catch me, no.........The Allman Brothers Band …..Midnight Rider

^^^^^ Fingerprints are made as babies move around and touch the amniotic sac, hence creating unique ridges and lines form unique fingerprints. It is not linked to the DNA. Identical twins also have unique belly buttons.

Conspiracy Theory of the Week: Some far-right commentators have long argued that Democratic Party elites were plotting to replace President Biden. How Biden’s Stumbles Collided With a Right-Wing Conspiracy Theory - The New York Times (nytimes.com) ~~Apparently they did this without knowing the meaning of “plotting” since they did it in the media, in person, in groups, individually, in the open, publically, etc.

Quote of the Week: Here's the thing: every office I've run for I was the first to win. First person of color. First woman. First woman of color. Every time. --Kamala Harris

Final Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: It's hard to free fools from the chains they revere. --Voltaire

Today's Peace of History August 2, 1939: Albert Einstein urged all scientists to refuse military work. "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." - Albert Einstein

Any bike will last you a lifetime if you ride it fast enough. I blew both the tires on my Harley, now it's a ground hog.

..........Take me from this road to some other town.........The Byrds …..Ballad of Easy Rider

Masthead of the Week: Friday ePistle, August 2, 2024, HOG wIld ePistle. Online at: http://fridayepistle.blogspot.com/ Exclusive editor: Christine Smith. Lawrence, KS.

Health Hint of the Week: The leading cause of dry skin is towels.

Moonbeam: Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. --James Baldwin

Cost of War:

As of 08/01/24 State Department Costs: $242,282,845,667.
As of 07/25/24 State Department Costs: $241,721,963,445.
As of 08/01/24 Homeland Security: $1,174, 875,222,740.
As of 07/25/24 Homeland Security: $1,174,267,015,918.,
As of 08/01/24 Interest on War Debt: $1,235,824,654,552.
As of 07/25/24 Interest on War Debt: $1,234,258,109,362.
As of 08/01/24 Military Costs: $3,097,996,550,721.
As of 07/25/24 Military Costs: $3,096,807,130,702.
As of 08/01/24 Veterans Care: $3,793,128,785,792.
As of 07/25/24 Veterans Care: $3,781,25,021,826.
As of 08/01/24 Total Cost of Wars: $9,544,112,926,749.
As of 07/25/24 Total Cost of Wars: $9,528,309.356.738.

https://www.nationalpriorities.org/cost-of/

Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor. --James Baldwin

Famous Last Words: Afford us keener pleasure. --Arthur Goodenough An August Cricket

..........That fool was the terror of highway 101.........The Cheers …..Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots

If I was riding you, you'd be loud too. Just one more bike, I promise. I once had a dog that chased people on motorcycles. I had to take the keys away from her.

May Peace be your method
And Joy be your goal
prairie mama
christine

Last Laugh:

Friday, July 26, 2024

ePistle bUrgoo

Famous First Words: The Congress finds that... Americans With Disabilities Act

July is Picnic Month...Actually, it's also National Baked Beans Month, National Hot Dog Month, National Ice Cream Month, National Deli Salad Month, and National Watermelon Month...so Picnic and its various components Month. My friend Nicolas entered a contest to have lunch in the park with the Rolling Stones. I hope they pick Nick.

..........I don't want you to wash my clothes.........Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger …..I Just Want To Make Love To You

Peace is the breath of our spirit. --Universal Peace Covenant

It is a beautiful (74°) Friday morning. There are no clouds in the sky although the blue is very pale as if a very thin layer of white covers it. A 2 mph wind hardly moves the leaves on the trees, much less their limbs. Backyard sunflowers are bright and cheerful and everywhere there are the deep greens of summer. Birds flit through the greenery now and then. Sometimes their voices are heard while they flit, some are silent; the robins rarely converse. Currently there is a high pitched tweet but the maker is unseen. Puck is sleeping and lightly snoring on his pillow. Veronica the cat has not made an appearance yet this morning. I am munching a blueberry muffin and drinking sweet and creamy decaf. Jeff has a new electric mop and so the house begins to smell like soap and steam and the air is filled with swishing sounds. It's a pretty fine morning all the way around.

Hope your weekend is a walk in the park – with food, ePistliers.

First Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: I want my coffee so strong it would get somebody stripped of their Olympic medal. --Jonathan Edward Durham --Submitted by INRITH

Picnics are for lovers and ants. For a festive change of pace, Anna Anteater's family used to go to the park and lay out a nice checkered tablecloth on the ground and fill it with cake and pie. Then they would play I Spy until their picnic showed up.

..........You'll come running back to me.........Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger …..Time Is On Our Side

Trivia Questions: One Voice Day was created to read the Universal Peace Covenant.

^ The Universal Peace Covenant was created by the School of Metaphysics. What do you know about this KCK organization?
^^ What religious teaching informs the School of Metaphysics?
^^^ Have you read the Universal Peace Covenant?
^^^^ One Voice Day asks that we all give public readings of the covenant on what day of the year?

Big Hello of the Week: Fakaalofa atu – Niuean (New Zealand, Cook Islands, Tonga) https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/hello.htm

Second Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Remember when we used to laugh at those commercials “I've fallen and I can't get up”? Well, it's not funny anymore. --Submitted by Laughing Librarian

Image of the Week: 2024 Olympic Mascot Phrygian – shaped after the small Phrygian hats. The hat mascot suggests an allegorical figure of the French republic and therefore freedom.

People Wearing Phrygian Hats of the Week: people wearing phrygian hats - Google Search

Literary Joke of the Week: I asked a literary agent what kind of writing paid the most. She said, “ransom notes”. --Submitted by Laughing Librarian

The taxidermist was at the hot dog stand stuffing his face. / A strange sect makes hot dogs from flying mammals...so from bat to wurst.

..........Too lazy to crow for day.........Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger …..Little Red Rooster

Moonbeam: After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. --Aldous Huxley

Blasphemy of the Week: Jesus isn't American.

Puzzle of the Week: From Sandy Weisz, of Chicago: Think of a famous actor and a famous actress who co-starred in a classic movie of the past. The actress's first name, when reversed, and the actor’s last name, spelled forward, are similar romantic gifts. Who are these film stars? NPR Sunday Puzzle 7/21/24

Next Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Voting Prevents Unwanted Presidencies.

When it comes to picnics, spilling the beans usually precedes dishing the dirt. Baked beans are rarely brought to picnic these days. They have become tomato covered student food. Has beans.

..........I have to turn my head until my darkness goes.........Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger …..Paint It Black

Almanac: It is Friday, July 26, 2024. The moon will enter the last quarter on Sunday (7/28) and is in Aries. It is All or Nothing Day, One Voice Day, Lumberjack Day, National Talk in an Elevator Day, and System Administrator Appreciation Day.

Among those born on this day were George Bernard Shaw (1856), Carl Jung (1875), Pearl S. Buck (1892), Aldous Huxley (1894), Gracie Allen (1902), Blake Edwards (1922), Jason Robards Jr. (1922), Mick Jagger (1943), Helen Mirren (1946) and Dorothy Hamill (1956).

On July twenty-sixth Ben Franklin became the first Postmaster General (1775), New York ratified the US constitution (1788), the FBI was established (1908), the CIA was established (1947), the first black tv host aired (CBS, Bob Howard, 1948), Egypt seized the Suez Canal (1956), and Apollo 15 was launched (1971).

Night Sky, 7/26: Week by week, Venus is edging up in the west through the afterglow of sunset. Fading Mercury soon drops down. And can you make out fainter, twinkly Regulus near Mercury? http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/sky-at-a-glance/

Fraternal Picture of the Week: Family Picnic

This Week: Saturday, July 27 – Love Is Kind Day & National Day of the Cowboy & Walk On Stilts Day

Sunday, July 28 – Buffalo Soldiers Day & National Parents Day & National Waterpark Day

Night Sky, 7/28: The Piscis Austrinus meteor shower will be active from 15 July to 10 August, producing its peak rate of meteors around 28 July. Piscis Austrinid meteor shower 2024 - In-The-Sky.org

Monday, July 29 – International Butler Day & International Tiger Day & National Lipstick Day & Rain Day

Tuesday, July 30 – Cheesecake Day & Friendship Day & National Share A Hug Day & Paperback Book Day

Wednesday, July 31 – National Avocado Day & National Mutt Day & National Orgasm Day

Night Sky, 7/31: The tail of Scorpius is at its best low due south right after night is fully dark. Find it lower right of the Teapot's spout by a fist at arm's length or less. Or about a fist and a half lower left of Antares. How low it will appear depends on how far north or south you live: the farther south, the higher.

Thursday, August 1 - Girlfriends Day & Lammas & National Mah Jongg Day & Rounds Resounding Day

It's true that the ice princess grew up to be the Dairy Queen. Soda jerks learn their trade at Sundae School. These jokes are from Cone Appétit magazine.

..........While the sun is bright.........Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger …..Ruby Tuesday

^ The School of Metaphysics was brought into the world in 1973 as a place where all people of all backgrounds could come to study, learn, teach, research the ways to live in harmony with the Universal Laws that govern creation. It is a 501(c)(3) educational institute of higher learning. It is headquartered in Kansas City, KS. School of Metaphysics (som.org)

Preantepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: The difference between JD Vance and his book is the book has a spine. --Adam Miller --Submitted by gr of oh

Moonbeam: Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards. --Aldous Huxley

Conspiracy Theories of the Week: Almost immediately after the assassination attempt on Trump at a Butler, Pennsylvania, rally Saturday evening, a conspiracy theory emerged that the assassination attempt had been “staged” – that Trump and his campaign had set it up to orchestrate the iconic photos of a resolute Trump surviving an attempt on his life. The term “staged” began trending. AND Some suggested, without evidence, that the shooting had occurred because of deliberate negligence on the part of the Secret Service. Others, including elected Republican lawmakers, falsely tried to suggest President Joe Biden or his administration had some role in the attempted assassination. Conspiracy theories spread wildly after the first assassination attempt on a US president in the social media age | CNN Business

Joke Related to Conspiracy Theories of the Week: The reason I'm convinced that he didn't lose a piece of his ear is that he would have put it up for auction by now. --Submitted by 98%

Video of the Week: In Honor of Lumberjack Day – Monty Python: The Lumberjack Song (2:41) The Lumberjack Song (youtube.com)

Peace is our birthright. --Universal Peace Covenant

A picnic is a great way to see what all the foods you love would taste like if you add ants. --Maxine. I love everything about family picnics. Except the heat, the food, the flies, and the family. --Maxine

..........Hey, think the time is right for a palace revolution.........Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger …..Street Fighting Man

^^ The Bahá'i Faith's Universal Life Principles were a basis for the Universal Peace Covenant. Among these principles are the independent search after truth and the oneness of the human race. Universal Peace | What Bahá’ís Believe (bahai.org)

Antepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: We all deserve oscars for our stunning performances as high functioning humans in a crumbling society.

Weird Word of the Week: Percontation: A question designed to elicit confirmation or denial as opposed to a question designed to obtain information Percontation (worldwidewords.org)

Dragon of the Week: Street Lamp in Copenhagen

Wacky Uses for Common Products: Clean dirt, grease, and grime from walls, glass, porcelain, wooden furniture, and the outsides of appliances. Dissolve one-quarter cup Cascade in one gallon of very hot water. Scrub, then wipe clean with a dry cloth. Cascade is spot-resistant and contains water-softening agents, so everything gets shiny clean without rinsing. Cascade®: Wacky Uses

Watermelons write all the good tell-all books because they have all the juice. If life gives you melons, check with your optometrist, you may have dyslexia. You should never trust watermelons; they've always been a little seedy.

...........Well, you know I could never be alone.........Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger …..Dead Flowers

^^^ It's not very long and it's right here: The UNIVERSAL PEACE COVENANT (som.org)

Penultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: After watching a whole lot of TV thrillers...I've come to the conclusion that serial killers only murder women with matching bras and panties. This makes me feel very safe. --Submitted by Laughing Librarian

Science Fiction Convention of the Week: GalaxyCon 2024 (25-28, Raleigh, NC) Join fans from across the galaxy... GalaxyCon Raleigh

Actual Science Conference of the Week: 9^th International STEAM Education Conference (iSTEM-Ed) 2024, (7/31-8/2, Cha-am, Hua Hin, Thailand) Teaching with the Technology Resource Center 9th International STEM Education Conference 2024 | IEEE Education Society (ieee-edusociety.org)

Answer to Puzzle of the Week: Meg Ryan (Gem) and Billy Crystal (Crystal, When Harry Met Sally)

My love for pie is irrational. My philosophy in life is always leave room for pie. These fast food places would make a lot more money if they sold breakfast pies instead of breakfast burritos.

..........When I'm ridin' round the world.........Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger …..Satisfaction

^^^^ Originally the Universal Peace Covenant was to be read every year on December 31^st. The date was later changed to July 26^th, One Voice Day.

Fun Facts of the Week: Iceland is the only country in the world with no mosquitoes.

Quote of the Week: True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. --Kurt Vonnegut

Final Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: My mind works so fast. When I think of something I say it. Lots of times I say it even before I think of it. --Gracie Allen

Today's Peace of History, July 26, 1990: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush.

S'more puns, I can't resist. I'll tell you where Puffy is. They smooshed his face between two crackers and doused him with chocolate. It was s'morbid. Little known fact: King Arthur took that sword out of the stone so he could toast marshmallows for s'mores.

..........Se a cabo..........Santana …..Se A Cabo

Masthead of the Week: Friday ePistle, July 16, 2024, ePistle bUrgoo**. Online at: http://fridayepistle.blogspot.com/ Exclusive editor: Christine Smith. Lawrence, KS. **Burgoo is a thick soup or the outdoor meal where it is served.

Moonbeam: An intellectual is a person who's found one thing that's more interesting than sex. --Aldous Huxley

Cost of War:

As of 07/25/24 State Department Costs: $241,721,963,445.
As of 07/18/24 State Department Costs: $241,167,455,132.
As of 07/25/24 Homeland Security: $1,174,267,015,918.,
As of 07/18/24 Homeland Security: $1,173,664,695,216.
As of 07/25/24 Interest on War Debt: $1,234,258,109,362.
As of 07/18/24 Interest on War Debt: $1,232,709,317,418.
As of 07/25/24 Military Costs: $3,096,807,130,702.
As of 07/18/24 Military Costs: $3,095,631,242,609.
As of 07/25/24 Veterans Care: $3,781,25,021,826.
As of 07/18/24 Veterans Care: $3,769,513,972,329.
As of 07/25/24 Total Cost of Wars: $9,528,309,356,738.
As of 07/18/24 Total Cost of Wars: $9,512,687,051,250.

https://www.nationalpriorities.org/cost-of/

Our world is in the midst of change. --Universal Peace Covenant

Famous Last Words: “Good night, Gracie” --Gracie Allen (Burns and Allen Show)

..........The sands have run out.........Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger …..Lady Jane

Ever been to one of those church picnics where everybody brings enough for their family and another family. In fact, as a benediction** our pastor used to say, “Go in peace and take something with you.” Elon Musk is so stingy he held the company picnic at a soup kitchen. **My grammar AI wanted me to change it to blessing. It gave no explanation. FYI: AI doesn't understand puns at all and is down right snotty about whether you can use definite articles or whether you can leave them out.

May Peace be your entree
And Joy be your dessert
prairie mama
christine

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