May 23

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May 23, 2020 Week: 20 Day: 144

86004: H 73° \ L 36° \ Average Sky Cover: 15%

Wind: 5mph\Gusts: 10mph Visibility: 10 mi

Nearest lightning: 446mi.; Nearest active fire: 249mi.

Extreme Risk of Fire

Record High: 85°[1984] Record Low: 21°[1972]

May Averages: 68°\34° (3 days with moisture)

Today’s Quote

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap

but by the seeds that you plant."

-Robert Louis Stevenson

Random Tidbits

During his presidency, Richard Nixon encouraged a secret IRS program called the Special Services Staff, which investigated his political opponents as well as harassing them with audits. More than 10,000 individuals and groups were targeted between 1969 and 1973.

Previous to 1862, the government only collected sales tax on certain items such as alcohol and tobacco. President Lincoln created the IRS and enacted a 3 percent income tax on those who made between $600 and $10,000 to assist in covering Civil War costs. This would be repealed 10 years later.

Have a smile

A friend sent these to me

"In the middle of a Zoom class, one of my coworkers thought she was on mute and answered her phone with "Sup, bitch?" and the professor definitely thought she was speaking to her. She had to stay on the call and apologize."

Observations This Week

Ramadan: 23-5/23

Cannes Film Festival: 12-23 Cancelled due to COVID-19
EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Week: 17-23  Link
International Heritage Breeds Week: 17-23 Link  
National Eosinophil Awareness Week: 17-23  Link  
National Medical Transcription Week: 17-23  Link
International New Friends, Old Friends Week: 17-23
National Unicycle Week: 17-23
World Trade Week: 17-23 
National Bike to Work Week: 18-22 Link Moved to September 21-27 due to COVID-19
National Tire Safety Week:  18-24 Link  
Fleet Week (NY): 20-26
National Polka Weekend: 22-24 Cancelled due to COVID-19
Mudbug Madness Days: 23-25 Cancelled due to COVID-19
Old-Time Player Piano Weekend: 23-25  Cancelled due to COVID-19

Observations for Today

Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day (ARMAD) Link Link
Armed Forces Day Crossband Military/Amateur Radio Communications Test  Link
Declaration of the Bab Day
Eid-Al-Fitr
International Day to End Obstetric Fistula
International Heritage Breeds Day Link
International Jazz Day 

Lucky Penny Day

National Best Friend-in-Law Day
National Taffy Day Link
World Turtle Day

My Rambling Thoughts

Great spring day. Got my weekly shopping done and not a lot of other shoppers. I figured with the 'long weekend' there would be more people. Guess not many are going to be partying with the pandemic. I turned down a Saturday fishing trip on Lake Powell, just not ready.

My first refund check from the canceled Tahiti adventure arrived by pony express. Now just waiting for the big one. I'm in no real hurry as I figure the entire travel sector is scrambling right now. I know Tumlare and Joe Green will make us whole again.

I sure would like to meet up with friends this weekend and go somewhere new...but I'm not going to make a 3-day weekend my last hurrah, so I'll stay around Flag, take some nice hikes/walks and enjoy our nice weather.

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of the page

Can you figure out these clues from just the first letter of each word?

SWTI...is...H

I...is...B

NN...is...GN

H...is...TBP

B...is...ITEOTB

Historical Events

1701 - Scottish-born sea captain William Kidd was hanged on the banks of the Thames after being found guilty of piracy and murder.

1785 Benjamin Franklin announces his invention of bifocals

1813 South American independence leader Simón Bolívar enters Mérida, leading the invasion of Venezuela, and is proclaimed El Libertador ("The Liberator")

1911 - The New York Public Library was dedicated.

1920 - Joan of Arc was canonized by Pope Benedict XV.

1934 - Bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde were shot to death in stolen Ford Deluxe near Bienville Parish, Louisiana.

1785 Benjamin Franklin announces his invention of bifocals

1813 South American independence leader Simón Bolívar enters Mérida, leading the invasion of Venezuela, and is proclaimed El Libertador ("The Liberator")

1943 Thomas Mann begins writing his novel Dr Faustus

1958 Mao Zedong starts the "Great Leap Forward" movement in China

1960 Israel announces capture of Nazi Adolf Eichmann in Argentina

1960 (Tsunami) Caused by yesterday's earthquake off the coast of Chile, a tsunami travelled across the Pacific Ocean and killed 61 people in Hilo, Hawaii.

1992 US President George H. W. Bush orders Coast Guard to intercept boats with Haitian refugees

2005 - Tom Cruise famously jumped around on Oprah Winfrey's couch, proclaiming his love for Katie Holmes

2017 US President Donald Trump meets Pope Francis at the Vatican

2019 Prototype of new high-speed train that will float above the track, capable of travelling 600km an hour (370 mph), unveiled by Chinese Railway Rolling Stock Corporation in Qingdao

Birthdays Today

87-Actor Joan Collins

62-Comedian Drew Carey

57-Writer Karen Duffy

@56-Actor Douglas Fairbanks (d. 1939; heart attack)

45-Singer Jewel

44-Actor, model Kelly Monaco

Puzzle Answer:

Strike while the iron is hot

Ignorance is bliss

No news is good news

Honesty is the best policy

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder