Mar 31

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Mar. 31, 2020 Week: 14 Day: 91

86004: H 58° \ L 26° \ Average Sky Cover: 10%

Wind: 6mph\Gusts: 8mph Visibility: 10 mi

Nearest lightning: 319mi.; Nearest active fire: 679mi.

Record High: 73°[1966] Record Low: 3°[1912]

Mar. Averages: 53°\19° (6 days with moisture)

Today’s Quote

"When you reach the end of your rope,

tie a knot in it and hang on."

-Franklin D. Roosevelt

Random Tidbits

Forest fires move faster uphill than downhill!

Almost half the newspapers in the world are published in the United States and Canada!

Observations This Week

Orthodox Lent: 2-4/10National Cherry Blossom Festival: 20-4/12 Link  

National Physicians Week: 25-31  Link
NanoDays: 28-4/5 Link
Consider Christianity Week: 29 to 4/4
Passion Week: 29-4/4
Passiontide: 29-4/11
Mule Week: 30-4/5

Observations for Today

Anesthesia Tech Day  Link
Bunsen Burner Day

Cesar Chavez Day  Link
Equal Pay Day  Link    Link

International Hug A Medielvalist Day
International Transgender Day of Visibility    Link
National Crayon Day  Link  LinkNational Oysters on the Half Shell Day

National Prom Day  Link

National "She's Funny That Way" Day
Terri's Day    LinkWorld Backup Day

My Rambling Thoughts

Today's quote reminded me of a time long ago when I was teaching Jr. High English, and also sponsored the school's student council. We were planning a trip to the annual Student Council BIA meeting in Utah. Near the last minute, my supervisor canceled the trip for all because one member's parent had not signed the permission slip. I was upset, but didn't want to blame the student. I explained what had happened. Our 8^th grade President, stood up and said this quote. I worked with the principal, got the slip signed, and we went. But I will always remember the student and his quote.

When I was working I invested with my financial advisor. She got me into REITS, and other 'alternative' investments. They have done me well in my retirement. The one problem, is that several of these don't send the tax forms until the very last minute. Saturday I got the final form. I called my tax guy this morning. H&R is accepting forms but not setting up appointments. No problem as this guy has been doing my taxes for a long time. I dropped them off this morning. He said they will be placed in quarantine for 24 hours, then he will work on them. He will call whenever they are done and can make an appointment. I told him I didn't need an appointment, just the forms. He said he would see what he could do. I know the deadline was extended, but I'm old and I get my tax crap together as soon as the last form comes in. Can't teach an old-er dog new tricks, even while the virus is around.

Got a call from my college roommate, who lives in Seattle. He had an adventure planned for Croatia. He made it to London, before being told Croatia was closed. He got back to Seattle, with a $500 charge, but is home and safe awaiting his travel insurance payment. He told me another of our roommates was doing New Zealand then Tahiti. They did the NZ part, but were denied entrance to Tahiti. He is back safe in Denver. So I called and we had a great talk.

AZ Governor just issued a 'stay at home' order, with grocery stores and pharmacies open.

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of the page

Kangaroo words: Words that contain the letters in order of another word that means almost the same thing as the original word. respite has rest.

DECEASED...

INSTRUCTOR

RAMBUNCTIOUS

SPLOTCH

PERAMBULATE

Historical Events

1492 - Queen Isabella of Castille issued the Alhambra Decree, ordering her 150,000 Jewish and Muslim subjects to convert to Christianity or face expulsion.
1822 - The massacre of tens of thousands of people living on the Greek island of Chios by soldiers of the Ottoman Empire following an attempted rebellion.
1836 - The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, by Charles Dickens, was published under his pseudonym, Boz.
1889 - The Eiffel Tower, 986 feet tall, in Paris, France, was inaugurated
1918 - The US began daylight saving time (DST) on Easter Sunday, when clocks were set ahead by one hour.
1930 - The Motion Picture Production Code was instituted, imposing strict guidelines on the treatment of sex, crime, religion and violence in film, in the US. It was in place until 1968.
1943 - Broadway Show - Oklahoma! (Musical) opened
* Formally called 'Away We Go' in the initial tryout runs
1959 - The Dalai Lama, fled the Chinese suppression of a national uprising in Tibet and crossed the border into India, where he is granted political asylum.
1981 - A new single cell genetically engineered life form patent (#4,259,444) was issued to Ananda Chakrabarty. The Pseudomonas bacterium (now called Burkholderia cepacia) could be used to clean up toxic spills because it can break down crude oil into simpler substances that can potentially become food for aquatic life.
1994- Madonna appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and stirred up controversy by going on a profanity-laden tirade. It marked the most censored event in television talk show history with 13 swear words being censored.
1995- Latina singer Selena was murdered and the live coverage of the crime drew in over 3.2 million views to CBS.

Puzzle Answer:

DECEASED...dead

INSTRUCTOR...tutor

RAMBUNCTIOUS...raucous

SPLOTCH...spot

PERAMBULATE...amble