15 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 155

Micah 6:8
Ezra 7:26
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

This is National Acadian Day in Canada, the day the Canadians commemorate their expulsion of the Cajuns from Canada. 

 
Somehow it just doesn't seem very Canadian to celebrate kicking people out of the country, but I guess Canadians are more complex (meaning less polite) than we thought. What's next? National club a baby seal day? 

 Come on, Canada, you're better than this!

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

14 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 154

Micah 6:8
Numbers 13:26-27
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?


Creamsicles are good, that's why there is such a thing as today's National Creamsicle Day. In fact, they're so good that there's also a Creamsicle ice cream available, and in September of 1982 it was the flavor of the month at Merit Woods Pharmacy. It then became the flavor of ice cream served at Heidi and Charlie's Wedding (you may have seen the bumper stickers).

(update: Apparently there are now multiple flavors of Creamsicles, not just the traditional orange sherbet/vanilla ice cream variety, but other fruits paired with vanilla as well. We may have to find and try some of these.)

 

But back to those bumper stickers, the best story about them came from a friend driving through Ontario on the 401. Other cars were passing her, and the drivers and passengers were all waving and pointing at the back of her car. Finally she had to pull over to find out what was going on. It turned out that the bottom left corner of her sticker had been damaged, losing the HEI of HEIDI, causing it now to read: I was at DI and CHARLIE'S Wedding. Well, who wouldn't honk and wave at someone who had attended that fairy-tale royal wedding, eh? Especially there in the Dominion of Canada?

I love that story.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

13 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 153

Micah 6:8
Judges 3:15-23
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is International Left-Handers Day! While only semi-left-handed myself (in fact, I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!), I do sympathise with my lefty brethren and sistern - even to the point of founding the formerly-annual Sinister Invitational.
You can read the lore and results of this spectacular do here.

To show my solidarity with the sinestral downtrodden, I mouse and eat left-handed (I can't even use chopsticks in my right hand), however I will not go so far as to chant "Kill Righty" at any left-handed protests. Don't even ask.

Speaking of Simon (as in Bar Sinister) leads to Symon (as in Chef Michael), and the fact that today is also National Filet Mignon Day. Why not hit the grill and do a left-handed compliment to a filet mignon by having a ribeye(or delmonico if you prefer) since that's a much tastier option.

Cheers! (oh, you can toast it all with a glass of prosecco, since it's also National Prosecco Day!)

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

12 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 152

Micah 6:8
Daniel 5
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?


Today is World Calligraphy Day. Calligrapher is Greek for "handwriting show-off," so celebrate in whatever way you like.

Today is also IBM PC Day, remembering the day back in 1981 when IBM introduced its first Personal Computer to the world.

It's a somewhat odd coincidence that yesterday was Steve Wozniak's birthday and today is the IBM PC's birthday. A belated Happy Birthday to the Woz, the only techno-geek contestant on Dancing With The Stars who danced on a Segway (as far as I know). I now understand why - apparently he was a member of a Segway Polo team. That just sounds cool, doesn't it? (Even if Segways never were, nor really ever could be cool.)

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

11 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 151

Micah 6:8
2 Kings 20:12-17
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

The President issued an Executive Order and some Presidential Memoranda in recent days aimed at extending extra unemployment benefits and at giving some extra income to folks who are actually working as well (nice to be remembered now and again, I suppose).

Predictably, those of the other political persuasion are hopping mad, if not worse. After all, the President can't just issue Executive Orders and do what he wants - it's not like he doesn't need Congress as long as he has a pen and a phone, right? Oh. Well.

Anyway, some of the controversy is over the suspension of FICA taxes - payroll taxes, aka Social Security taxes. Suddenly those looking for a few extra trillion dollars to throw around are feeling the need to protect the Social Security accounts of their constituents. It's almost like the days of putting that money in a lock box for each of us to access when we hit whichever magical age Congress decides is the time to open the box, right? Of course, there never has been an actual, funded Social Security trust. (Maybe not never - it might have worked correctly for a short time before I was born, I suppose.)

 

None of this is new, of course, and I ran across this timely, yet gloriously out-of-date blog post from nine years ago - enjoy!

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

 

 

10 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 150

Micah 6:8
Isaiah 11:5-7
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Item #1 - Hoist on my own petard
Regular readers will remember Saturday was sneak zucchini on your neighbor's porch day. Looks like I was too good at spreading the word in my own neighborhood!

Item #2 - World War II Ends
Today is VJ Day (also simply called Victory Day, since VE Day had already happened, so this was the end of WWII). Yes, 75 years ago today the Empire of Japan formally surrendered, ending World War II. Sadly, there will likely be very little notice given to this important anniversary - after all, the press hardly noticed the 75th anniversary of the only two atomic bombings in history, and that was their opportunity to paint the US as dreadfully evil. Maybe the fact that the President who ordered the bombing was a democrat has something to do with that lapse of blame-storming? We may never know.

Item #3 - I'm hungry, like the wolf
Yes, I am indeed hungry like the wolf. Hmm, maybe I should just go to Rio? After all, it is National Duran Duran Appreciation Day (no, not Roberto Duran, I think this is his cousin).

No matter what the relationship, whether by blood or marriage (or even none), enjoy this trip back in time.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

09 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 149

Micah 6:8
2 Samuel 6:14-15
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

It's Sunday again, so it's the day to head to worship at the church of your choice. If you want to join us virtually at Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church, here are the links as always. The lives stream will start about 9:30 this morning.

Today's Live Stream

Our YouTube channel

By the way, today is National Polka Day, so after church, why not polka to Jesus Loves Me?

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.