Sunday June 28th, 2020

Some updates:

Hey, Informal Education with Dr. White (or karens2019.blogspot.com) readers.

I have written some sort of blog for years.  I think my first blogs were about 2004 - and mostly daily blogs from 2012.  

I love to write!!  Hopefully, my blogs do cause you to think and grow!!!

I wanted to (needed to?) change things up a little.

I started with Saturday Stories a few weeks back.  I’d like to keep writing those little stories

This week, I want my Sunday blog to be more informal - looking at some little articles that I find interesting, looking at updating days and “National Days” and more.  

So, today will be a Sunday blog!!

Hugs!!

Karen

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YES - INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

From Wikipedia::

“The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states. The Congress had voted to declare independence two days earlier, on July 2, but it was not declared until July 4.”  So, theoretically, you can celebrate Independence Day on July 2nd (when it was approved) or July 4th when it was officially declared!!

And, the old question “Does Canada have the Fourth of July?”  The answer is yes - the Canadian calendar and the world-wife calendar all have the Fourth of July (did you think, they would skip from the 3rd to the 5th?) 

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Corona Virus:

Coronavirus update: Systems that circulate cool air in meat processing plants may be a factor in outbreaks that have plagued such facilities around the world, a German public health authority warns.  (So, turn off the cool air and make it into a real “sweatshop”? 

I can’t travel to New York!!!

“The tables have turned. Now America’s largest city is no longer the world’s worst COVID-19 hot spot. New York-area governors say they’ll impose two-week quarantines on visitors from states with major outbreaks. Having dropped from 10,000 daily cases to a few hundred, governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut want to prevent the contagion’s revival by targeting eight states, including hard-hit Arizona, Florida, and Texas, for travel restrictions. Fortunately, deaths in those states aren’t surging with new cases, but experts say it’s likely they will in the coming weeks.”  

(To my Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York friends - you are more than welcome to come to Texas if you want to catch COVID-19)!!!  

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So, how is the environment?

“When Microsoft pledges $1 billion to fund climate innovation, Jeff Bezos has one option: double it. “

“Yesterday, Amazon announced a $2 billion venture fund to invest in cleantech that helps fight climate change. The company will spread investments across industries, from transportation and logistics to food and agriculture.”

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I’ll have a whiskey, please

“American whiskey distillers have watched more than $300 million in export revenues evaporate in the two years since becoming entangled in a trade dispute between the Trump administration and the European Union, according to estimates in a new report.

“Exports of American whiskey — mostly bourbon, Tennessee whiskey, and rye whiskey — to the EU have fallen 33% since the EU imposed a retaliatory tariff on those products on June 22, 2018, according to the report issued Monday by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

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Today is National Alaska Day!!!  

Wednesday (July 1st) has two related days:  National Postal Workers Day and National Postage Stamp Day!!!  

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The United States is running low on coins:

“Banks around the U.S. are running low on nickels, dimes, quarters, and even pennies. And the Federal Reserve, which supplies banks, has been forced to ration scarce supplies.”  

So, dig into your sofa cushions, ‘rob’ your piggy bank and take your coins to your bank (if they are open) and get real “greenbacks” and get those coins back in circulation!!

Happy Last week of June!!!  May July be an exciting and wonderful month for you!!!

Karen