Filled With Laughter - 24 July 2021 - Plague Journal Day 499

Micah 6:8
Proverbs 14:13  Psalm 126:1-3
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?

On 24 July 1980 the fabulous Peter Sellers shuffled off this mortal coil, taking with him a real gift for making others laugh. Sadly, it seems he was not as happy a person (nor as mentally healthy) as one might have assumed and hoped.
Not only was he great in many films, often playing multiple characters, but he also produced some really great comedy and musical recordings.

You're welcome.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

I'm In the Mood for Singing - 23 July 2021 - Plague Journal Day 498

Micah 6:8
Matthew 5:14-16
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?

I'm looking forward to worship this week even more than usual. My friend, Sue, will be singing a duet in church with her granddaughter - "This Little Light of Mine" - and I get to accompany on guitar. What could be sweeter than that?

It's wonderful when we can help children know they are loved and appreciated, and help them praise the Lord with the gifts He has given them, and that's just what Sue is doing for Laura. I can hardly wait.


Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Don't Touch My Pi, Redux - 22 July 2021 - Plague Journal Day 497

Micah 6:8
Acts 28:12-14
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?

If you are a regular reader here, you may remember my post of 28 June admonishing mathematicians to stick with Pi rather than move to Tau. Today, 22 July - 22/7 after the date-writing manner of most of the world - is Pi Approximation Day! (it's also known as Casual Pi Day - I like that notion) 

You may recall using 22/7 as an approximation for Pi when doing geometry back in your school days - I know I do.

This, then, is yet another reason to avoid Tau and stick with Pi - how could we ever get a day for Tau Approximation Day? That would have to happen on 44/7! (for the calendrically challenged among us, July only has 31 days - there is no 44 July - we would have to celebrate on 13 August and pretend. Granted, Pi (and Tau) is irrational (in fact transcendental), but it's not imaginary!

The very motion of the Earth around the Sun and of the Moon around the Earth militate against Tau. Just stop it!

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Drop Trou? - 21 July 2021 - Plague Journal Day 496

Micah 6:8
Psalm 81:1-3
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?

What a day 21 July is! On that date in 1948, Cat Stevens was born. Then, on Cat's 21st birthday, 21 July 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon. He stepped out of the Apollo 11 Lunar Lander onto the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon. (No, he didn't walk on water.) As he stepped off the lander's foot, Armstrong spoke those famous words, "one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." As he re-entered the lander after that first walk, he spoke his other famous words, "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky." And thereby hangs a tale. Look it up.

Oh, still wondering why I matched up Cat Stevens and the Moon landing? Here's why!

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

To The Moon, Alice! - 20 July 2021 - Plague Journal Day 495

Micah 6:8
Psalm 127
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 marks the 52nd anniversary of the first time men walked on the Earth's Moon (that we know of). What with the Bezos brothers et al. making a foray not even as far as Alan Shepard did back in 1961, everyone and his sibling will be breathlessly recounting their memories of that amazing landing - much as I did a year ago here. I'll leave such remembrances to those who haven't done it before.


I will add that it's nice that Viking I landed on Mars also on this date (in 1976, a mere five years after Alan Shepard (remember him?) walked on the Moon). What is it about 20 July?

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

What's On The Slab? - 19 July 2021 - Plague Journal Day 494

Micah 6:8
1 Corinthians 7:12-16
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 National Flitch Day! Flitch is a semi-archaic word which has largely been replaced, at least in American English, by the word slab, as in a slab of bacon. Today is the day when couples who've gone a year and a day without wishing they weren't married are awarded a flitch of bacon by the church - provided the priests are fully convinced of the couple's honesty and sincerity. Apparently the awarding has not been very common over the centuries.

Remember, we're talking about a flitch, not Fletch. (nor even a flit nor flash), so for a slab related video, you might enjoy this fun clip.

Today is also Flight Attendant Safety Professionals Day. One could hardly mark this celebration without a nod to the good folks at Air New Zealand and their wacky, yet intriguing safety videos. Would that they were flying out of Detroit!

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Worship - 18 July 2021 - Plague Journal Day 493

Micah 6:8
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
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?

 

 

For our 9:30 worship service we have a piano solo at offertory time, and two hymns for us to sing while Doug plays. Yes - we're back to congregational singing. We're Methodists again!
Remember, we'll be streaming for all those who can't join us in person, and intend to continue that practice indefinitely.

As usual, today's stream should just appear as the latest entry on our YouTube channel, here.
You'll find all our previous worship videos right there at that same place, and today's stream will stay there as a recording as well.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264