Search the Community

April 1st 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Cellach of Armagh Hugh of Grenoble Frederick Denison Maurice (Church of England) Mary of Egypt Melito of Sardis Tewdrig Theodora Walric, abbot of Leuconay April 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) April Fools' Day Odisha Day (Odisha, India) Arbor Day (Tanzania) Civil Service Day (Thailand) Cyprus National Day (Cyprus) Edible Book Day Fossil Fools Day Kha b-Nisan, the Assyrian New Year (Assyrian people) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Boomer Bonus Days Community Garden Week Dyngus Day Easter Monday International Tatting Day Library Snap Shot Day Lupus Alert Day Martyrdom of Imam Ali Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month Myles Day National Connor Day National Fun Day National Greeting Card Day National Loyal Day National One Cent Day National Sourdough Bread Day National Trombone Players Day Nature Day Nickelodeon Anniversary Celebration Day Reading is Funny Day St. Stupid Day Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action U.S. Air Force Academy Day - 1 U.S. Air Force Academy Day - 2 White House Easter Egg Roll Taina Williams’s Birthday Logan Paul’s Birthday Sean Taylor’s Birthday Randy Orton’s Birthday Rachel Maddow’s Birthday Jonny May’s Birthday Mackenzie Davis Taran Killam Bijou Phillips ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mon Apr 1st, 2024 - Fri Apr 5th, 2024 National Cancer Registrars Week Mon Apr 1st, 2024 - Sat Apr 6th, 2024 Take Your Poet to School Week Mon Apr 1st, 2024 - Sun Apr 7th, 2024 Be Kind to Spiders Week Blue Ribbon Week Golden Rule Week International Pooper Scooper Week Laugh at Work Week Medication Safety Week National Bake Week National Public Health Week National Window Safety Week Testicular Cancer Awareness Week Community Garden Week Observances (click on the month for details) Adopt a Ferret Month Adopt a Greyhound Month Arab American Heritage Month Autism Acceptance Month Bowel Cancer Awareness Month Cancer Control Month Canine Fitness Month Celebrate Diversity Month Cesarean Awareness Month Child Abuse Awareness Month Children and Nature Awareness Month Counseling Awareness Month Couple Appreciation Month Cranberries and Gooseberries Month Deaf History Month Defeat Diabetes Month Distracted Driving Awareness Month Dog Appreciation Month Earth Month Emotional Overeating Awareness Month Fair Housing Month Filipino Food Month Financial Capability Month Financial Literacy Month Fresh Florida Tomato Month Genocide Awareness Month Global Astronomy Month Grange Month Heartworm Awareness Month IBS Month Informed Women Month International Amateur Radio Month International Customer Loyalty Month International Guitar Month Jazz Appreciation Month Keep America Beautiful Month Month of the Military Child Move More Month Multicultural Communications Month Multiple Birth Awareness Month National African-American Women's Fitness Month National Alcohol Awareness Month National BLT Sandwich Month National Car Care Month National Card and Letter Writing Month National Decorating Month National Donate Life Month National Facial Protection Month National Food Month National Foot Health Awareness Month National Fresh Celery Month National Frog Month National Garlic Month National Grilled Cheese Month National Humor Month National Internship Awareness Month National Kite Month National Knuckles Down Month National Literature Month National Minority Health Month National Month of Hope National Pecan Month National Pest Management Month National Pet First Aid Awareness Month National Poetry Month National Rebuilding Month National Safe Digging Month National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month National Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Education and Awareness Month National Sjogren's Syndrome Awareness Month National Social Security Month National Soft Pretzel Month National Soy Foods Month National Volunteer Month National Welding Month National Woodworking Month National Youth Sports Safety Month Occupational Therapy Month Panagyaman Rice Festival Parkinson's Awareness Month Parliamentary Law Month Pharmacists War on Diabetes Month Physical Wellness Month Poetic Earth Month Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month Primary Immunodeficiency Month Records and Information Management Month Rosacea Awareness Month Sarcoidosis Awareness Month School Library Month Scottish-American Heritage Month Sexual Assault Awareness Month Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month Step up for 30 For Bowel Cancer Month STI Awareness Month Straw Hat Month Stress Awareness Month Summer Tire Changeover Month SunSmart Skin Cancer Prevention Testicular Cancer Awareness Month Tomatillo and Asian Pear Month Women's Eye Health and Safety Month Workplace Conflict Awareness Month World Autism Month World Landscape Architecture Month Worldwide Bereaved Spouses Awareness Month Fun Observances Fun at Work Day Have double the fun on April 1, because it is not only April Fool’s Day but it is also Fun at Work Day. Sometimes celebrated on January 28, the day encourages people to add some fun to their workday. How to Celebrate? Here are some ideas on what you can do to make work fun on Fun at Work Day or any other day: Bake goodies and bring them for your colleagues. Play harmless pranks on your colleagues and coworkers. Watch Office Space or a few episodes of The Office at work. With the consent of your supervisor, spend some time playing board games at work. Did You Know… …that studies have shown that a person's perception of time changes when they are having fun? According to these studies, having fun can help pass the time faster. *** One afternoon while I was visiting my library, I noticed a group of preschoolers gathered for story time. The book they were reading was "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly." After the librarian finished the first page, she asked the children, "Do you think she'll die?" "Nope," a little girl in the back said. "I saw this last night on 'Fear Factor.' " *** On the afternoon of Administrative Professionals Day, my co-worker and I finally found the time to get gifts for our secretaries. While at the store, my colleague noticed my disappointment when I discovered the shop didn't provide gift wrapping. "What's wrong?" he asked. "They won't wrap the gifts for us," I answered. "No problem," he said quickly. "I'll ask my secretary to do it." *** Our copier was on the fritz so I put a note on it: "Service has been called." When the technician told me he had to order parts, I added a second note: "Parts have been ordered." During the next five days, when we had to use an older, slower copier on the other side of the building, someone taped a third note to the machine: "Prayers have been said." *** When my printer's type began to grow faint, I called a local repair shop, where a friendly man informed me that the printer probably needed only to be cleaned. Because the store charged $50 for such cleanings, he told me, I might be better off reading the printer's manual and trying the job myself. Pleasantly surprised by his candor, I asked, "Does your boss know that you discourage business?" "Actually it's my boss's idea," the employee replied sheepishly. "We usually make more money on repairs if we let people try to fix things themselves first." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ( been there, done that) *** (been there, done that) *** *** (been there, done that, a couple of times) *** (been there, done that, over and over again) *** (yup) *** (gets my vote) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Widderkin VOE. Chapter 23. "You’d better not take Ban to the Lodge, Kieran. We’d both like to go but the mining company’s furious after yesterday's media releases and the nationwide coverage of the protest march. They’ll be watching like hawks." "I suppose, but always staying in the background the way you do’s got knobs on it." "Morrison’s so convinced it's me accessing their systems he’s got a dedicated security team looking for me." "Hasn't he been looking for you ever

March 1st 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Beer Day, marked the end of beer prohibition in 1989 (Iceland) Christian feast day: Agnes Tsao Kou Ying (one of the Martyr Saints of China) Albin Eudokia of Heliopolis Pope Felix III Leoluca Luperculus Monan Rudesind Saint David's Day or Dydd Gŵyl Dewi (Wales and Welsh communities) Suitbert March 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Commemoration of Mustafa Barzani's Death (Iraqi Kurdistan) Disability Day of Mourning Heroes' Day (Paraguay) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina from Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992. National "Cursed Soldiers" Remembrance Day (Poland) National Pig Day (United States) Remembrance Day (Marshall Islands) Samiljeol (South Korea) Self-injury Awareness Day (international) Southeastern Europe celebration of the beginning of spring: Baba Marta Day (Bulgaria) Mărțișor (Romania and Moldova) The final day (fourth or fifth) of Ayyám-i-Há (Baháʼí Faith) World Seagrass Day Yap Day (Yap State) Zero Discrimination Day Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day Baby Sleep Day Denim Day for Dementia Endometriosis Awareness Day International Martisor International Women of Color Day National Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Day National Dadgum That's Good Day National Day of Unplugging National Dress in Blue Day National Employee Appreciation Day National Fruit Compote Day National Horse Protection Day National Hotel Slipper Day National Minnesota Day National Peanut Butter Lover's Day National Sage Day National Speech and Debate Education Day National Texas Stress Day National Wedding Planning Day National Welsh Corgi Day Overseas N.H.S. Workers Day Peace Corps Day Public Risk Management Awareness Day Refired Not Retired Day Share a Smile Day World Civil Defense Day World Day of Prayer International Wheelchair Day National March First Day National Barista Day Mountain Hare Day National Salesperson Day Wonho’s Birthday Justin Bieber’s Birthday Ron Howard’s Birthday Sawyer Sharbino’s Birthday Philza’s Birthday Kesha’s Birthday Kenny Redneck Tv’s Birthday Frederic Chopin’s Birthday Lupita Nyong’o Jensen Ackles Mark-Paul Gosselaar ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fri Mar 1st, 2024 - Sat Mar 2nd, 2024 Festival of Owls Week Fri Mar 1st, 2024 - Wed Mar 6th, 2024 National Aplastic Anemia & MDS Awareness Week Fri Mar 1st, 2024 - Thu Mar 7th, 2024 Hearing Awareness Week National Ghostwriters Week National Invest in Veterans Week National Will Eisner Week National Write a Letter of Appreciation Week North Dakota Winter Show Universal Human Beings Week Observances (click on the month for details) Academy Awards Month Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month Alport Syndrome Awareness Month American Red Cross Month Berries and Cherries Month Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month Brain Injury Awareness Month Colic Awareness Month Color Therapy Month Colorectal Cancer Education and Awareness Month Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Awareness Month Dolphin Awareness Month Employee Spirit Month Endometriosis Month Essential Tremor Awareness Month Exotic Winter Fruit & Leeks and Green Onions Month Expanding Girls' Horizons in Science and Engineering Month Eye Donor Awareness Month Frozen Food Month Gardening, Nature and Ecology Books Month Gender Equality Month Greek-American Heritage Month Honor Society Awareness Month Humorists are Artists Month International Mirth Month Irish-American Heritage Month Listening Awareness Month Mad for Plaid Month Malignant Hyperthermia Awareness and Training Month March Madness Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal Mental Retardation Awareness Month Middle Level Education Month MS Awareness Month National Athletic Training Month National Bed Month (U.K.) National Breast Implant Awareness Month National Caffeine Awareness Month National Celery Month National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month National Cheerleading Safety Month National Clean up Your IRS Act Month National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month National Craft Month National Credit Education Month National Crochet Month National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month - 1 National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month - 2 National Endometriosis Awareness Month National Ethics Awareness Month National Flour Month National Kidney Month National March Into Literacy Month National Music in Our Schools Month National Noodle Month National Nutrition Month National Optimism Month National Peanut Month National Professional Social Worker's Month National Reading Month National Sauce Month National Umbrella Month National Women's History Month NZ Book Month Play the Recorder Month Poison Prevention Awareness Month Read an E-Book Month Red Cross Month Save Your Vision Month Sing With Your Child Month Small Press Month Social Work Month Spiritual Wellness Month Supply Management Month The Great Daffodil Appeal Trisomy Awareness Month Vascular Anomalies Awareness Month Veggie Month Women’s Month (Philippines) Workplace Eye Wellness Month Youth Art Month Fun Observances ( 2 ) World Compliment Day March 1 is celebrated as World Compliment Day, a day that aims to address the “basic human need for recognition and appreciation.” Started in the Netherlands by Hans Poortvliet in 2001, the day is now celebrated in many European countries including Norway and Belgium. Spread Joy and Positivity According to the official website of the unofficial holiday, Poortvliet created the day as a way to spread happiness and increase productivity. The website encourages people to use words instead of gifts as a way to praise and appreciate people. The idea is to create the “most positive day in the world.” How to Celebrate? Pay compliments to everyone you meet. Appreciate family, coworkers, and friends for their hard work and for being there in your life. Did You Know... ...there is a similar holiday, Compliment Day that is annually celebrated on January 24? ~~~~~~~ Plan a Solo Vacation Day Need a vacation and don’t have a traveling companion? Then March 1 or Plan a Solo Vacation Day is the unofficial holiday for you. On this day treat yourself to that vacation you have always wanted, without having to wait for someone to join you on your adventures. Advantages Planning a solo vacation can be intimidating and overwhelming. But traveling alone can have many advantages. Informal studies have shown that those who travel by themselves tend to be more spontaneous and adventurous. Facing unknown situations in new and strange places can help people overcome their fears and anxieties. Friendlier Those who travel solo are forced to interact with locals and fellow travelers, instead of just hanging out with a small group of people. This translates into social benefits in real life - solo travelers can easily mold themselves to fit into any social group and situation. Do Whatever You Want Finally, taking a solo vacation means you can be your own master. You don't have to stick to a plan or follow someone else's lead - you can go wherever you want, whenever you want, and do whatever you want to do. No more boring museums or spending countless hours shopping. How to Celebrate? Go on, plan your dream holiday all for yourself! You don’t need a traveling partner to have fun! Don't want to travel? What about a solo staycation? Stay at home, explore your city, catch up on your reading, meet with friends and enjoy your time off from work. Did You Know… …that the earliest guidebooks were called periplus? They were Roman and Greek documents that listed ports and landmarks that ships could encounter on their voyages. *** I had just had my 50th birthday and found the decade marker traumatic. When I went to get my driver's license renewed, a matter-of-fact woman typed out the information, tested my vision, snapped the camera and handed me a laminated card with my picture on it. "You mean I have to look at this for the next four years?" I jokingly said to her. "Don't worry about it," she replied. "In four years it'll look good to you." *** I am a first-grade teacher and a new empty nester. One night I was trying out an art project: making a person with simple materials. I took a coat hanger, attached a paper-plate face, put a shirt on the hanger and stuffed it. Then I sat it on the couch to see how it looked. Later that evening my son walked in the door, home for a surprise visit. Taking one look at my coat-hanger friend sitting on the couch, he said, "Mom, it's not that bad, is it?" *** At 82 years old, my husband applied for his first passport. He was told he would need a birth certificate, but his birth had never been officially registered. When he explained his dilemma to the passport agent, the response was less than helpful. "In lieu of a birth certificate," the agent said, "you can bring a notarized affidavit from the doctor who delivered you." *** My friend Garrick had the solution to forgetting his wife’s birthday and their wedding anniversary: He opened an account with a local florist and provided it with both dates as well as instructions to send flowers and a card signed “Your loving husband, Garrick.” For a few years, it worked. Then one day, Garrick came home on their wedding anniversary. He saw the flowers on the dining room table and said, “What nice flowers. Where did you get them?” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Quigley and Phentrom were in the Stealth Witch’s airlock. They were both armed with multiple blasters and ready to sneak onto the Deathian, but the bounty hunter paused before they disengaged the destroyer’s exterior door. He turned to Phentrom. “We didn’t have much time to plan. Let’s run through it all once more.” “Good idea,” Phentrom said with a nod, “we need to deactivate any vicinity controlling weapons, like power syphon cannons or magnetic beams, anything which would make getting a

After chain smoking on my apartment’s rooftop, I had attempted to sleep. No luck. Which meant that I had very little patience for…really anything today. I felt like garbage and I kept getting walk ins for simple tattoos I’d done a hundred times. If no one ever got another infinity symbol it would be too soon. I had a terrible headache and I was struggling to be friendly and accommodating to everyone who walked through our door. Cameron had the day off, so on top of it, Lukas and I had to take tu

At the same time as Cosmo was climbing the winding steps for his morning at the Villa Cimbrone with Luca and Emilia, Marco was coaxing his new mountain bike up the last of the roads to the highest point of Scala. It had been a long, demanding climb in the morning sun, and Marco had taken it gently, pausing for regular rest breaks. The last thing he wanted was to arrive at Giorgio’s place all hot and sweaty. Get a grip, Marco. He’s a full year younger than you! Are you REALLY worried about l

Three more days of hard, unrelenting work pass before I am able to visit Billie. Miraculously, or maybe not, the grove remains undamaged from the storm. Around it, trees lay felled in clumps. The land is still flooded in places, but the gentle knoll, atop which lies Billie’s fire ring and circle of mature mangrove trees, stands undisturbed, a picture of calm in a sea of bedlam. Likewise, Billie’s small concrete house, his chickee, and even his bicycle survived the tempest. The latter

March 23rd 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Gregory the Illuminator (Episcopal Church) Gwinear Joseph Oriol Ottone Frangipane Rafqa Pietra Choboq Ar-Rayès (Maronite Church) Turibius of Mogrovejo Victorian, Frumentius and Companions March 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Hungarian-Polish Friendship (Hungary and Poland) Day of the Sea (Bolivia) Family Day (South Africa) Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Day (Azerbaijan) Pakistan Day (Pakistan) Promised Messiah Day (Ahmadiyya) World Meteorological Day Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Atheist Day Chips and Dip Day - 1 National Chip and Dip Day - 2 Cuddly Kitten Day Day of the Liberation of Southern Africa Erev Purim Esther Fast Melba Toast Day National Alice Day National Chia Day National Jacob Day National Tamale Day OK Day Otago Anniversary Day Ravenclaw Pride Day Walk in the Sand Day World Math Day National Corn Dog Day World Bear Day Kyrie Irving’s Birthday KarinaOMG’s Birthday Joan Crawford’s Birthday Renjun’s Birthday Quando Rondo’s Birthday Keri Russell Fun Observances ( 2 ) Puppy Day March 23 is Puppy Day, a day reserved for recognizing the joy and love that puppies bring to our lives. First celebrated in 2006, the unofficial holiday, which is also known as National Puppy Day in the United States, was created by Coleen Paige, an animal behaviorist. The day calls for people to adopt puppies and to work towards putting an end to puppy farms and mills. Inhumane Treatment Puppy mills are places where dogs are kept and bred for the sole purpose of selling them. Many mills operate under inhumane conditions and treat dogs only as breeding machines. Old or sick dogs, and those that are unable to give birth to puppies are often left loose on the streets to fend themselves or euthanized. Puppy Day shines a light on these conditions and encourages people to adopt their canine family members. By doing so, it reduces the financial incentives that keep puppy mills running. Celebrated Many Times a Year The deep bond between humans and their furry best friends is celebrated several times in a year. Unofficial annual holidays that are dedicated to the canines in our families include Dog Appreciation Day, Take Your Dog to Work Day, Work Like a Dog Day, and Hug Your Hound Day. How to Celebrate? If you already have puppies, give them an extra hug on this day and show them how much you love them. If you are thinking of adding one to your family, don’t dilly dally. Go to your nearest adoption center and adopt a puppy today. Don’t have a puppy or prefer to have kittens around? Don’t despair, you can spoil and pamper your furry feline on Hug Your Cat Day. Did You Know… ...that a dog’s nose print is as unique as a human’s fingerprint? ~~~~~~~ Near Miss Day March 23 is Near Miss Day, an annual reminder of the day in 1989 when an asteroid nearly collided with the Earth. The 300-meter wide asteroid called 4581 Asclepius flew past the Earth by a distance of about 450,000 miles (684,000 kms) and almost missed striking it by 6 hours. Experts estimate that if the asteroid had hit the Earth, the resulting collision would have released energy equal to about 1000 atom bombs! Discovered Days Later It is a good thing then that the asteroid wasn't discovered until March 31, 9 days after it had flown by the Earth. Named after the Greek god of medicine, Asclepius, was discovered by American astronomers Henry E. Holt and Norman G. Thomas. Nothing to Worry About Since 1989, several meteoroids and asteroids have buzzed past the Earth from a safe distance. Scientists and astronomers measure the probability of a celestial object colliding with the Earth on two different scales - the Torino Scale and the Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale. According to NASA, there are very few near-Earth objects that have the capacity to hit the Earth and create havoc in the near future. Space Rocks Asteroids are space rocks that are a by-product of the formation of the Solar System. Found mostly in the asteroid belt – the region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, these celestial objects contain minerals highly coveted by humans. How to Celebrate? This one's easy. Celebrate the day by celebrating life and all the second chances you have ever been given. Learn more about asteroids and other near-Earth objects. Did You Know... ...that asteroids may have killed the dinosaurs? *** Just after my father, who was a career Air Force NCO, passed away, all my brothers and sisters returned home to be with Mom. As we reminisced about my dad, we found ourselves floating from sorrow to laughter as we brought up fond memories of our nomadic military lifestyle. One morning we were discussing what music should be played at the funeral and several hymns were suggested. "But, Mom," my older sister said, "since Daddy was in the Air Force, shouldn't we request the Air Force song?" "No, dear," my mother said with a smile. "We are not playing a song with the words 'Off we go into the wild blue yonder' at your father's funeral!" *** When the Second Division set up shop in South Korea, it did so with its slogan proudly displayed at the front gate: "Second to None." A few months later, a South Korean base opened two miles down the road. The sign greeting visitors read "You are now entering the famed sector of the South Korean ROK Division, better known as 'The None Division.' " *** Who says companies only care about the bottom line? Ours is socially conscious and offers employees fun outdoor activities throughout the complex. Both of these admirable elements were driven home one day when a voice over the loudspeaker boomed "Everyone who signed up to donate blood, please report to the rifle range!" *** Spanish never came easily to my sister. Still, she did her best to communicate with the Spanish-speaking staff at the restaurant she managed. But when she made mistakes—and she made a lot—she'd apologize by saying, "Me estúpido." Finally, a staffer took pity on her. "Susanna, you're not estúpido," she said, bucking up my sister's ego. "You are a woman," she continued. "So you are estúpida." *** Over the years, my husband and I have usually managed to decode the cute but confusing gender signs they sometimes put on restroom doors in restaurants (Buoys & Gulls, Laddies & Lassies, etc.), but every so often we get stumped. Recently my husband, Dave, wandered off in search of the men’s room and found himself confronted by two marked doors. One was labeled 'Bronco' and the other was designated 'Cactus.' Completely baffled, he stopped a restaurant employee passing by. "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom," Dave said. Gesturing toward the doors, he asked, "Which one should I use?" "Actually, we would prefer you to go there," the employee said, pointing to a door down the hall marked 'Men.' "Bronco and Cactus are private dining rooms." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Primordial Pouch (Cat Belly Flap) in Cats - Cat-World *** *** *** How an "underwater waterfall" came to exist on Mauritius - Big Think *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 1st 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Abolition of Slavery Day (Mauritius) Air Force Day (Nicaragua) Christian feast day: Blessed Candelaria of San José Brigid of Ireland (Saint Brigid's Day) Verdiana February 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest day on which Constitution Day can fall, while February 7 is the latest; celebrated on the first Monday in February. (Mexico) Federal Territory Day (Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, Malaysia) Heroes Day (Rwanda) Saint Brigid's Day/Imbolc (Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, and some Neopagan groups in the Northern hemisphere) Memorial Day of the Republic (Hungary) National Freedom Day (United States) The start of Black History Month (United States and Canada) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Car Insurance Day World Hijab Day Change Your Password Day Conservatorship and Guardianship Abuse Awareness Day Day of Remembrance and Respect to Victims of the Communist Regime Decorating With Candy Day G.I. Joe Day Holiday Hugs Day Hula in the Coola Day Imbolc National Baked Alaska Day International Face and Body Art Day National Cameron Day National Dark Chocolate Day National Get Up Day National Sean Day National Serpent Day Optimist Day Robinson Crusoe Day Spunky Old Broads Day Texas Day World Aspergillosis Day National Unclaimed Property Day Stormi Webster’s Birthday Harry Styles’s Birthday Ronda Rousey Brandon Lee Lisa Marie Presley Michael C. Hall Clark Gable ~~~~~~~~ Thu Feb 1st, 2024 - Wed Feb 7th, 2024 La Poutine Week National Patient Recognition Week Shape Up With Pickles Time Solo Diners Eat Out Week Women's Heart Week World Interfaith Harmony Week African Heritage and Health Week Observances (click on the month for details) - 91 of them, WOW! Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month African American Heritage Month African American Read-In AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month American Heart Month An Affair to Remember Month Barley Month Beat the Heat Month Berry Fresh Month Bike To Work Month Black History Month Canned Food Month Celebration of Chocolate Month Cholangiocarcinoma Awareness Month Creative Romance Month Declutter for a Cause Month Dog Training Education Month Ethnic Equality Month Exotic Vegetables and Star Fruit Month Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month Feline Fix by Five Month Financial Aid Awareness Month Free Open Source Software Month From Africa to Virginia Month Great American Pie Month Human Relations Month Humpback Whale Awareness Month International Boost Self Esteem Month International Expect Success Month International Friendship Month International Hoof Care Month International Month of Black Women in the Arts International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month Jobs in Golf Month LGBT+ History Month Library Lovers Month Love the Bus Month Marfan Syndrome Awareness Month Marijuana Awareness Month National Arts Month National Avocado and Banana Month National Bake For Family Fun Month National Bird Feeding Month National Blah Buster Month National Cancer Prevention Month National Care About Your Indoor Air Month National Cat Health Month National Cherry Month National Children’s Dental Health Month National Condom Month National Embroidery Month National Enrolled Agents Month National Fasting February National Fasting February National Fondue Month National Goat Yoga Month National Grapefruit Month National Haiku Writing Month National Heart Healthy Month National Hot Breakfast Month National Laugh-Friendly Month National Macadamia Nut Month National Mend a Broken Heart Month National Parent Leadership Month National Self-Check Month National Senior Independence Month National Snack Food Month National Sweet Potato Month National Therapeutic Recreation Month National Time Management Month National Wedding Month National Women Inventors Month North American Inclusion Month (NAIM) Pet Dental Health Month Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month Potato Lovers Month Pull Your Sofa Off the Wall Month Raynaud's Awareness Month Relationship Wellness Month Responsible Pet Owners Month Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month Spay/Neuter Awareness Month Spiritual Teachers Month Spunky Old Broads Month Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Vegan Cuisine Month Wise Health Care Consumer Month Women’s Role in History Month Worldwide Renaissance of the Heart Month Youth Leadership Month Fun Observances ( 0 ) *** Funny Things That Parents Say "You shouldn't be eating candy so early. We have doughnuts." "The key is to put the mousetrap outside the house. That way, the mice don't come in." "Your aunt couldn't make it, so I brought the cat." "Don't do drugs. They're hell on your body, and I may need one of your organs someday." *** Our 25-year-old son moved back home with an eye toward socking away money to buy a condo. We never bothered asking how long he'd planned to stay, but I got a pretty good idea when I walked into his room recently. In the corner was a milk jug with a few coins in it and a label that read "Condo down payment." *** People’s parents actually give them sage advice, like “Do what you love, and the money will follow” or “The early bird gets the worm.” All I remember is “Don’t fill up on bread.” *** When the new activities director for the rec center walked in, all us retirees quickly took notice. She was 20-something, statuesque, and gorgeous. My buddy whispered, “She makes me wish I was 30 years older.” “Don’t you mean 30 years younger?” I asked. “No. If I were 30 years younger, I’d still never have a chance with a woman like that. If I were 30 years older, it wouldn’t bother me so much.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

August 14, 2004 Tribeca New York, NY JJ This was our first night out in public since the charity dinner a week ago. We were going to a preview for Tom Ford, then there were a few parties on the potential list after that. I was in front of the mirror, working on my hair, when Kris walked up behind me and nibbled at the space behind my ear. I smiled and leaned back into him. “You look absolutely amazing,” he said. “So do you,” I said, as I pivoted and really stud

Quigley’s ship, the Burn Throne, rose above the surface of the planet where he had made a home for himself and his family. Once it was beyond the atmosphere, he activated its cavitation engine, and the vessel disappeared into the void. The emotions Quigley felt about his wife and daughter being taken had shifted. After his initial shock had subsided, he could only focus on wrath and getting revenge, but eventually he reached the point of acceptance. By that time though, Quigley had armed h

The next morning. Carey tried to shake the sleep out of his brain. He sat up, coughed once, and looked at his phone on the night stand. He’d brought it in sometime during the night to shoot some absolutely raunchy pictures of them together. Memories. “Shit!” Looking at the time. “I gotta be at the office in like fifteen minutes.” Randy, awake suddenly, rolled off the bed and stood up. “C’mon, let’s shower. You stink!” He laughed. Stumbling to the bathroom,

“Will do, I will take a wheelbarrow and scoop with me as we go,” Jarrad said sarcastically to his father, “Cheeky brat, get out of here, and have fun,” his father responded smiling. “We are taking part of the Brigadoon Bridle trail Mr Drake, which is about 7 kilometres, so we will be back just before lunchtime, or we can do an additional five kilometres, in which case I have a packed lunch with me,” I informed Jarrad’s father, “Very well, stay safe, and do one of you boys have a mobile with you?

Chapter 10 – St. Nick Visits the Hospital Now that classes had resumed after the Thanksgiving break, Devin and I turned our attention to the two most important issues: our class work and the Second Annual Toy Drive. In regards to the latter, after classes ended for the day, we went over to the Campus Newspaper office to speak with the staff and thank them for the article they’d run about the upcoming toy drive. “I’m Anna Franklin and I wrote that article for you,” she stated. “I th

Back from Melbourne we both returned to work. Nothing urgent had happened over Easter but I still had a list of routine issues that had been logged and needed attention. I was by myself as Tyron had asked if he could have the rest of the week off to go surfing with his mates and work on some Uni assignments. He had been backup if I needed him over Easter so I couldn’t refuse. The next Tuesday came very quickly. Skye had phoned during the week and weekend. She was so excited about going back

April 10th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Fulbert of Chartres James, Azadanus and Abdicius Mikael Agricola (Lutheran) Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (Episcopal Church) William of Ockham (Anglicanism) William Law (Anglicanism) April 10 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of the Builder (Azerbaijan) Feast of the Third Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law (Thelema) Siblings Day (International observance) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Birth anniversary of Manlilikha ng Bayan Masino Intaray Eid al-Fitr Encourage a Young Writer Day Global Work From Home Day Golfer’s Day International Safety Pin Day National Bookmobile Day National Calvin Day National Cinnamon Crescent Day National Farm Animals Day National Hug Your Dog Day National Nana Day National Report IRS Tax Fraud Day National Tamara Day National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day Salvation Army Founder's Day World Homeopathy Day National Library Outreach Day World Baton Twirling Day International Day of Pink Ynw Bslime’s Birthday Sofia Carson’s Birthday Shay Mitchell’s Birthday Emily Miller’s Birthday Custis Blue’s Birthday Charlie Hunnam’s Birthday David Harbour Mandy Moore Steven Seagal ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wed Apr 10th, 2024 - Tue Apr 16th, 2024 World Homoeopathy Awareness Week Wed Apr 10th, 2024 - Wed Apr 17th, 2024 Parkinson's Awareness Week Fun Observances Siblings Day Honor your sibling on Siblings Day, an unofficial holiday celebrated annually on April 10. The day aims to celebrate the very important but often under-appreciated special relationship and bond of love, friendship, and respect shared between siblings. Made in New York All of us who have been lucky enough to have siblings know that sometimes they can be annoying and a pain to be around, but this should not stop you from celebrating what will possibly be the longest relationship in your life. The unofficial day was created by New Yorker Claudia Evart in memory of her brother and sister, whom she lost early in her life. Since 1998, US President Bill Clinton and governors of 39 states in the U.S. have officially recognized Siblings Day as an observance. The holiday is also known as National Siblings Day in the United States. How to Celebrate? Here are some ways you can celebrate this special day: Even though it is a predominantly American holiday, nothing should stop you from celebrating it wherever you are. Do something special to celebrate your siblings - throw a party for them, cook them their favorite dish, take them out to do their favorite activity, stay at home and go through old family photos and videos, and reminisce about the good times you had growing up together. Spend some time with your siblings. If you live away from them, call them and talk to them. What about paying them a surprise visit? If you are unable to call or visit them, what about sending them a lovely card that tells them how much you miss them and care for them? Tell them how much you love them and appreciate them and all they do for you. If your siblings are no longer with you, what about doing something special in their memory? Perhaps donating to their favorite charity? And don't forget your step- and half-siblings! So what if you only share one parent or don't have a genetic connection to them - sometimes connections of the heart are all you need to become brothers and sisters. Did You Know... ...that siblings who have the same parents share 50% of their DNA, while half-siblings – siblings who have one common parent – possess about 25% similar genetic material? *** John went to visit his old grandfather in a secluded area of Georgia. After chatting all night John's grandfather made a breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast. However, John noticed a film on his plate, and questioned his grandfather, "Are these plates clean?" His grandfather replied, "They're as clean as cold water can get them. Just finish your meal!" For lunch John worried that the plates had dried egg and asked, "Are you sure these plates are clean?" The old man said, "I told you those dishes are as clean as cold water can get them. Now I don't want to hear any more about it!" Later that afternoon, as John was leaving, his grandfather's dog started to growl, not letting him pass. John yelled, "Grandfather, your dog won't let me get to my car." The old man shouted, "Coldwater, go lie down!" *** A propane supply store isn't shy about revealing where its heart lies: "Tank heaven for little grills." *** What does a producer do? The screenwriter, obviously, writes the screenplay. The actors, of course, act in that screenplay. And the director, without question, directs the whole thing. But what does the producer do? I will attempt to explain. A film producer is the guy who, when a writer tells him about a good idea he's got for a screenplay, says, "That was done in 1938 by William Wyler. It costarred Fredric March and Loretta Young, with Claude Rains playing the black hat. But you know what? I think we could update it, if instead of making the leading lady a nun, we have her working in a casino in Nevada. We put George Clooney in the Fredric March role, and we make him an undercover agent for the CIA who has tracked a Russian agent to Las Vegas. Angelina Jolie would be great for the girl. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"]http://media.rd.com/rd/images/rdc/mag0811/quirks-film-producer-ch.jpg Matty Simmons is the producer of National Lampoon's Animal House and the Vacation movies.[/caption] "They meet and fall in love, but he discovers that she's pregnant by the Russian agent. George has been licensed to kill this guy, who, incidentally, will be played by Jack Black, but Angelina begs George not to kill the father of her unborn child. In a tearstained scene at the Las Vegas airport, Angelina says goodbye to George and walks to the plane to join Jack Black for the trip back to Moscow. Our big ballad here. Maybe we get Elton John. "George stops at the airport and pulls out a quarter-a quarter she gave him. He drops it in a slot machine. The place goes nuts-bells ringing and all that stuff. George has hit the $1 million jackpot! He collects his money in a single large suitcase. It's all in ones to make it more visual-this is a visual medium. "He goes back to his hotel. He's still sick about losing Angelina. He takes the $1 million down to the hotel casino and puts the whole thing on No. 27, which was their number. We see the ball rolling around and around and around-endlessly, while the theme music, sung by Celine Dion, soars until every butt in every seat is up in the air. The ball drops into No. 29, then hiccups slightly and pops into 28, then, as Celine reaches a pitch so high that every dog within a mile of any movie house in America is howling with pain, the ball goes blip-and drops into 27." *** One evening my husband's golfing buddy drove his secretary home after she had imbibed a little too much at an office reception. Although this was an innocent gesture, he decided not to mention it to his wife, who tended to get jealous easily. Later that night my husband's friend and his wife were driving to a restaurant. Suddenly he looked down and spotted a high-heel shoe half hidden under the passenger seat. Not wanting to be conspicuous, he waited until his wife was looking out her window before he scooped up the shoe and tossed it out of the car. With a sigh of relief, he pulled into the restaurant parking lot. That's when he noticed his wife squirming around in her seat. "Honey," she asked, "have you seen my other shoe?" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 23rd 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Polycarp of Smyrna Serenus the Gardener February 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) The Emperor's Birthday, birthday of Naruhito, the current Emperor of Japan (Japan) Mashramani-Republic Day (Guyana) National Day (Brunei) Red Army Day or Day of Soviet Army and Navy in the former Soviet Union, also held in various former Soviet republics: Defender of the Fatherland Day (Russia) Defender of the Fatherland and Armed Forces day (Belarus) Armed Forces Day (Tajikistan) (Tajikistan) Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details) Curling Is Cool Day Diesel Engine Day International Stand Up to Bullying Day National Banana Bread Day National Hospitality Workers Appreciation Day National Play Tennis Day National Rationalization Day National Rudy Day National Tile Day National Tootsie Roll Day Pinocchio Day Skip the Straw Day World Peace and Understanding Day Yukon Heritage Day Emily Blunt’s Birthday Desiree Montoya’s Birthday Dakota Fanning’s Birthday W. E. B. Du Bois Fun Observances International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day February 23 is Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. Show your appreciation for your furry canine friends by spoiling them with their favorite dog biscuits. Dog biscuits, or dog bread as they were known then, have been part of human-canine history since Roman times. Bad Bread For a large part of history, dog bread was considered bad, low-quality bread unfit for human consumption. It is thought that modern day dog biscuits were created by American inventor James Pratt sometime in the 19th century. Toothbrush Today, there are hundreds of types of dog biscuits, many of which claim that they can help maintain your dog's oral health by acting as a "toothbrush" cleaning the dog's teeth. The origins of this holiday are unknown, and it is also known as Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day or National Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day in the U.S. How to Celebrate? They say that a dog is a man’s best friend – they shower you with unconditional love and are always there for you. So, give your dog all your love on Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. Treat your dog with his or her favorite biscuits. Better still, bake them at home – they will surely appreciate it! Did You Know… …that dogs can express about 100 types of expressions using mostly their ears? *** As a professor at Texas A&M, I taught during the day and did research at night. I would usually take a break around nine, however, calling up the strategy game Warcraft on the Internet and playing with an online team. One night I was paired with a veteran of the game who was a master strategist. With him at the helm, our troops crushed opponent after opponent, and after six games we were undefeated. Suddenly, my fearless leader informed me his mom wanted him to go to bed. "How old are you?" I typed. "Twelve," he replied. "How old are you?" Feeling my face redden, I answered, "Eight." *** While my friend Emily was visiting her mother, they went for a walk and bumped into an old family acquaintance. "Is this your daughter?" the woman asked. "Oh, I remember her when she was this high. How old is she now?" Without pausing, Emily's mother said, "Twenty-four." Emily, 35, nearly fainted on the spot. After everyone had said their good-byes, Emily asked her mother why she'd told such a whopper. "Well," she replied, "I've been lying about my age for so long, it suddenly dawned on me that I'd have to start lying about yours too." *** An acquaintance of mine was hired as a research assistant by the physics department of a West Coast university to investigate the thermodynamic properties of wood. Two weeks after starting work he was approached by an encyclopedia salesman who explained that purchase of the encyclopedia entitled the buyer to have any three special questions answered completely. To save himself a great deal of work, the researcher bought the encyclopedia, stipulating for his first free question a full dissertation on the thermodynamic properties of wood. Three weeks later the head of the physics department called the research assistant into his office and said, "We have a request from an encyclopedia company. One of their customers has asked for a report on the thermodynamic properties of wood. Please prepare the report for them." *** While serving in Vietnam, my friend and his buddies were hunkered down in a mud-filled hole that had been dug into the side of a berm and covered with lumber for protection. Their one extravagance: a bare light bulb they’d hung from the “ceiling.” One guy was reading a newspaper article from back home about a congressional investigation into why some troops were living in relative luxury. The guy put down the paper, turned to my friend, and said, “Well, there goes the light bulb.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

This should be published tomorrow. Test

Ho hum First day of spring came and we got snow snow snow 😛 Definitely there are those of you out their that are giggling like skewl gurls on the playground Well I hope your comeuppance comes soon . So was looking for a place that I could find some more gay themed movies than Prime and Nexflix and then came across a free streaming service called Tubi which I believe is available in Canada and the US of A. Their is a lot of movies on there, some not so good quality and some good quality. Some in foreign languages with subtitles, others dubbed into English, others made in English. I sat around last weekend holed up at home watching nothing but movies. The thing was I was literally physically and mentally exhausted after. There seems to be soooo many gay movies out there that don't have happy endings. I mean, watching all the movies, one could say that gay relationships can't end happy . I can think of a couple maybe higher budget ones that do. Love, Simon and Handsome Fella. So that is my question to you, can you tell me a happy ending gay movie this week? Maybe not all of us can stream it, so maybe don't put in a trailer or link as what is seen in the US of A, may not be able to be seen anywhere else. Even if they are ones that I might have to go to my vault and crack out my credit card to watch Okay, now onto the important stuff. What happened this past week on the GA News Blog 🥳 Monday, can you believe it has been a month since our last Signature Feature? Then it was onto Tuesday where we got a Deep Dive on Romance This week of the month always means Wednesday is followed up to Monday with our Signature Feature Excerpt: Thursday, GA was taken over by Valkyrie and her rag tag army of molting penguins, discussing the Poetry Anthology Friday, she was back to introduce the Friday Prompts: Saturday was a whole new Writing Article on Violence I'm curious, even if you haven't followed this week, with this list, off the top of your head how many Words of the Day did you not know? leprechaun, muskellunge, merganser, psoriasis, irate, larder, nectarine Upcoming Writing Events Poetry Anthology - Seasons, will be due April 1st 2024. Click here for all the information and more that you will need. Secret Author Contest - More information to come. Annual Anthology - In Too Deep - Due October 1st 2024. Click here for all the information and more that you will need. Prompt Team Event/Contest - More information to come. Member Participation Blogs - Great way to promote yourself!! Ask a Author 3.0 If you have a author you want to get some answers from, write a PM to @astone2292 Author Guess Who Get our members to guess who you are and also let everyone know who you are. Also write a PM to @astone2292 Here is the look at the past weeks postings on all our Authors and Poets! 6 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories The Freshmen by Mark Arbour Peace of Amiens by Mark Arbour Only Prompts by Mikiesboy The Great Mirror of Same-Sex Love - Poetry by AC Benus The Ultimate Vehicle of Earthly Bliss by AC Benus tim's Bits and Pieces by Mikiesboy 3 Recently Updated 'Classic Author' Stories Secrets 2: Looking Through Different Eyes by Bill W Sands of Time by Roland Window Stories by Ronyx 1 Recently Updated 'Promising Author' Stories The Man I Like Might Be A Delinquent by lilansui 31 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories Between Two Mountains by James Carnarvon Jail Cell Love Affair by Lee Wilson Thicker Than Water by John Henry Oregon in the Fall by drown Touch: A survival story. by Rhythminthemind Deeds of Their Past by mcarss Country Retreat by quokka Special Circumstances by lawfulneutralmage A Wizard's War by TeamStilinski Luminosity-The Return (book 2) by paren01 Who's Afraid of Joe Vincente by chris191070 Of Pride and Power by W_L Heat by MythOfHappiness They may not mean to, but they do by Robert Hugill Andre and Chris by Paladin Life's a Dreamboat by J92 Re-Education by Justin4Fun Trash Polka by Demiurge The Man I Like Might Be A Delinquent by lilansui The Shadowy Path by Lupus Abraham Etheridge by Mac Rountree All My Dreams Pass Before My Eyes by JLynch **Complete** Goldstein Johnson & Cole (2024 re-write) by Mancunian **Complete** No going back by Robert Hugill The Spirit of the Plum Blossom Tree (TSPBT) by Kong Wen Hui Sneakin by penguinsrgay **Complete** Sands of Time by Roland Dating Rules And Pretty Fools by Laura S. Fox Res Publica Christiana by W_L Any Way Out by Leslie Lofton Widderkin V. O. E. by Palantir Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)

Colin had thought about Jase’s advice regarding staying in touch with his family and sent emails to his Mum, Annalisa and to Miles. The weekend in Oslo gave him the excuse of sending a few of the pictures he’d taken, including one of him and Owain where they looked like an ordinary happy couple. His Mum hadn’t responded, yet, but Annalisa had sent more news of the twins. It wasn’t that the inane stories of ballet and that were interesting, it was the fact that she was sending anything at all.

March 10th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day Attala Harriet Tubman (Lutheran) John Ogilvie Macarius of Jerusalem Marie-Eugénie de Jésus Pope Simplicius Sojourner Truth (Lutheran) March 10 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Harriet Tubman Day (United States of America) Holocaust Remembrance Day (Bulgaria) Mario Day (Globally) Men's Day (Poland) National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (United States) Székely Freedom Day (Romania) Tibetan Uprising Day (Tibetan independence movement) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Check Your Batteries Day Daylight Savings Festival Of Life In Cracks Day Histotechnology Professionals Day International Bagpipe Day International Day of Awesomeness International Day of Women Judges International Wig Day Mothering Sunday U.K. National Blueberry Popover Day National Drake Day National Dry Shampoo Day National Freelancers Day National Landline Telephone Day National Pack Your Lunch Day National Peel Day National Ranch Day National Sending Day National Skirt Day New Moon March Orthodox Meatfare Sunday Paper Money Day Pretzel Sunday Salvation Army Day Keke Wyatt’s Birthday Def Noodles’s Birthday Chuck Norris’s Birthday Sharon Stone’s Birthday Carrie Underwood’s Birthday Bad Bunny’s Birthday Chad Wild Clay’s Birthday Olivia Wilde Jon Hamm ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sun Mar 10th, 2024 - Sat Mar 16th, 2024 Girl Scout Week National Bubble Gum Week National Groundwater Awareness Week National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week National Older Workers Employment Week Patient Safety Awareness Week Pulmonary Rehab Week Sleep Awareness Week Sunshine Week Termite Awareness Week World Glaucoma Week Universal Women’s Week Sun Mar 10th, 2024 - Mon Apr 8th, 2024 Ramadan Fun Observances Mario Day March 10 is Mario Day, a day to celebrate the main character of the popular Nintendo video game franchise, Super Mario. March 10 was chosen by fans of the game as the date for this holiday because March 10 when abbreviated and written without a space between the month and date – Mar10 – looks like the word Mario. Fictional Italian Plumber The Super Mario video games follows the adventures of Italian plumber Mario and his brother Luigi while they try to rescue Princess Peach from the evil Bowser. Princess Peach is the princess of the fictional Mushroom Kingdom in which the game is set. Best-Selling Game Considered to be the best-selling video game of all time and one of the most recognizable video game characters in the world, Mario was created by Shigeru Miyamoto. Since his first appearance in the 1981 Nintendo game, Donkey Kong as Jumpman, Mario has featured in over 200 video games, and several television shows and comics. How to Celebrate? Spend the day playing the iconic game. Have a super Mario themed party. Serve star shaped cookies , mushroom shaped cupcakes, and chocolate coins. And if you are brave enough, why not dress up like Mario for the day? Did You Know… …that when Mario made his first gaming appearance as Jumpman, he was not a plumber but a carpenter? *** As an attorney in a major New Mexico law firm, I have many colleagues who work long hours. However, the reputation of one of my partners' workaholic ways even extended beyond the office. He not only had to leave work early one day because of a medical problem, but was also told by his doctor to stay home until the end of the week. My colleague grudgingly agreed to comply. In the middle of the week, our receptionist received a call for him. She announced that the partner was out of the office until Friday. "Good," the caller said. "That's all I wanted to know." It was my partner's doctor. *** When I walked into a small café in rural Minnesota, I had no trouble distinguishing the nonsmoking area from the smoking area. There before me were two neatly printed signs: "Coffee Corner" and "Coughy Corner." *** One day at the office of the orthopedic specialist I work for, we had to make arrangements for an elderly patient with spinal arthritis to have a special injection. We said we would phone him with the information. Two days later, the patient called us, concerned that he had missed our call because of his poor hearing. "I can barely hear, barely see and barely walk," he told me. Then he added cheerfully, "Things could be worse, though. At least I can still drive." *** Our family took shelter in the basement after hearing a tornado warning. My husband told everyone to stay put while he got his cell phone out of the car, in case the lines went dead. He didn't return for the longest time, so I went looking for him. I was upstairs calling his name, when I heard our phone machine click on. "Hi," a voice said. "This is Dad. I'm locked out of the house." *** *** *** *** *** *** The Beagle Didn't Die *** *** *** Star Trek: Every Role Played by Clint Howard, From TOS to Discovery Clint Howard - Wikipedia *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn B.T.W. Did you know that Clint Howard is Ron Howard's brother!!!

The station was busy, it smelt of cheap air freshener and sweat. There was a baby crying at reception and a guy arguing with the receptionist with a queue behind him. There were couples sitting together in the waiting area, a few people coughing. People were arguing with each, police officers weaving in and out the reception. Robert took a deep breath and waited behind the line of people at reception. After the guy in front of him swore and flipped off the exhau

Chapter 23 This is a big chapter when it comes to the results of the long plot threads. Military equipment is now being fully deployed by Eli and Robert. A lot of covert industrialization has been happening as I mentioned in prior chapters, funded by gold stowed away from the national treasury due to the clerical issue of coinage. A shadow economy developed in Western English areas where Eli has direct oversight. Recruitment for troops has also been building for quite some time, via the short stories like "Quid Hoc" you heard that the basic training camps were already filled to the brim. Officer and advanced training facilities at Seahawk base and Plymouth Base were also mentioned in the last short story. That is what allows a 48,000 combined arms force to exist. As for equipment, Eli does not have an airforce, due to several factors, such as the need for specialized training, maintenance, and problematic reconnaissance from Imperial aircraft. However, the deficit of air power was made up of major pieces of equipment: tracked armored vehicles, 8.8 cm Anti-air/Artillery guns, communication and radar equipment to coordinate, and finally 20th warships. The naval and communication equipment is based on British designs during WWII. The tanks are based on easily produced soviet designs such as T-34 medium tank, T-80 Light tank, and Czech 38t light tank. The artilley and anti-air guns are based on German designs, which had multi-functionality. What many people might overlook in all of the military equipment though is the inclusion of a simple new wagon design, based on the US Conestoga wagons, which could carry 12,000 pounds. Even with four years of preparation, Eli could not create a fully mechanized military force, so a heavy load-bearing wagon was needed to transport mortars, artillery, and munitions across the various battlefields. As for the Coup de grace on what Eli was building with the 3 stolen cores (they have 4 in total, but the 4th is special due its connection with Robert/Eli), HMS Dreadnaught has been launched. Most people will not know what HMS Dreadnaught was, but they do know the name signifies the power of a battleship above the rest. England historically began to rule the Oceans in history during Elizabeth's era, so Eli's timeline will have similar themes. A warship armed with a smaller railgun that can fire 200 miles and deliver 500 tons of TNT explosive power is technically possible and was tested by US navy in 2010s, but the railgun power requirement was too steep to be a useful weapon, along with recharge time. The cores would essentially solve that issue. However, unlike the sky fortress, the railgun barrel is too short with the limited space of the battleship, so it cannot achieve nuclear weapons level of power without Eli or Robert playing with physics. The Imperial Sky fortress can unleash at maximum output 3x at 150 megatons of TNT to what the Pluton gun can unleash in one-shot, but 50 megatons is more than enough to take out most major cities. This week's law of Power is 29th law, “Plan all the way to the end”, which is epitomized by the years of preparation that Eli used to build a military and infrastructure that could rival and defeat his opponents. Eli also made allies along the way such as John Knox in Scotland and William Parr, Earl of Northhampton, who supported the effort through their own independent uprisings and providing crucial support. John Knox's rebellion held off 50,000 French troops in Scotland, while William Parr secured the second largest city of Norwich, which had already developed favorable impression of Duke Eli's effort from the Kett's Rebellion campaign. Notes: 1. In real history, Mary's second false pregnancy was made public in the autumn of 1557 2. The real HMS Dreadnaught never saw battle and was scrapped, despite being considered the pinnacle of a modern waship when it was launched at the start of the 20th century. 3. Henry Percy is famous for being a conspirator against Elizabeth I, so it's not odd for him to control some of Mary's army.

We were sitting at a knee-high wall in the backyard of the motel, barely covered by the porch roof, while raindrops were falling from the summer night’s sky. That picture in itself had a certain beauty. “So, what now?” Rhys broke the silence. “Quod esset demonstrandum,” I replied. “On the other hand: I realized something else tonight: Was us heading for the border really primarily romantic, or was it running away? I mean, I never felt closer to you than last night, when we kinda pushed