Here are a few items provided by Baltimore's H,L. Mencken:

01.  What do these names have in common?

Willie and Frieda Abt

Fred Asker

Alberta Tarbox

Anton and Charlotte Hug

Enrico Caruso

02.  To: Holocaust Deniers

About 50,000 Jews live in Germany today.

About 600,000 Jews lived in Germany before WWII!

03.  Incense

The Church developed incense to mask the stink of their parishioners.

(As I served as a pall-bearer for my wife's funeral, the priest kept spraying me with incense.  Now I know why... or was it because I wasn't Catholic?)

(That's enough to think about for today.)

 Karen from Right at Home wheeled me onto the back deck so I could watch beautiful daughter, Diane plant some more vegetables.  The tomatoes that Diane planted the other day are doing wonderfully!

(Diane also brought me some delicious ice cream that disappeared almost immediately.)

 I just spent an interesting hour with Art, the Hospice Chaplain.  A short time ago Art had asked me what I had enjoyed doing during my life and what I might like to continue for the rest of it, no matter the length.

I mentioned that the Toastmasters Organization had taught me how to subdue my stage fright and taught me how to give speeches.  I had the privilege of giving hundreds of speeches over the years and enjoyed doing so. 

After our talk, Art looked into the current status of Toastmasters today and found that there was one active club in this area.  He spoke to the leader and found out that they might like to hear from an 89 year old ex-member.  Art would arrange for transportation as necessary.

As much as I might like to get involved again into the Toastmasters' fun time, I need to think about this a little more.

To be continued.

 Catster Magazine recently listed 7 reasons Stella the cat thinks you're weird.

1. You don't slide toiletries off the sink one by one.

2.  You don't sit on your computer keyboard.

3.  You turn faucets off.

4.  You don't sleep clear through a Tuesday.

5.  You don't vomit on anything good.

6.  You don't race around the house at midnight like a maniac.

7.  You don't nap in the laundry basket.

 Interesting Podcasts

Bottom Line Personal listed some seductive podcasts in December 2022 that might keep your attention.

Nothing Much Happens:  "gentle" stories take your brain to quiet places.

Pop Culture Happy Hour:  Discussion about current books, movies, etc.

Buried Bones:  Cold case investigation.

The Perfect Scam: From the AARP Fraud Watch Network    

TED Talks Daily:  All kinds of topics.

I hope you like PODCASTS as much as I do.

                                                                   

                                                   

 Ahhhh!  WORDLE. Some thing that adults can get involved with.  I look forward to it every day.

As  I've mentioned many times before: I like to use a different starting word every time. (I think that it makes your brain work a little harder.)

Have you tried the AI analysis of your session?  Interesting how your entries are compared to approximately 650,000 other entries.  Just like magic.

Also, don't forget to read the comments from players.  One lady from Dubai says she has never not solved each daily WORDLE.  Amazing!

Have some fun with WORDLE!

Joe

Odd Ball Stuff

 Yes, I'm back, but I have a bad case of "bloggers'' Block!"

01. First Social Security Recipient. Ida Mae Fuller

(Below is a quote from the NARFE Magazine for April  2023:)

(I have a lot of "stuff" that I would like to share... like the Ida Fuller info mentioned.  I just have to get my butt in gear.  

Meanwhile, I trust that you are enjoying the slightly warmer weather that you might be having.  

See ya!)

"... Ida Mae Fuller received the first monthly Social Security retirement benefit in 1940, she was 65 years old. As a secretary, she paid into the program $24.75 over the three years that Social Security collected payroll taxes. 

Her initial benefit was 22.54 per month, and over her lifetime, she collected a total of  $22,888.92.  Ida Mae lived to 100 -- you could say that she maximized her Social Security benefit."

02. Who was Ida Mae Fuller?

03.  Was Ida's face recognizable?

On the 4th floor of the Woodlawn, Maryland Social Security (SSA) Headquarters, there was a large picture of this lady, which was observed constantly  by SSA employees and visitors.

Mrs. Fuller lived in Ludlow, Vermont. she was the secretary for the Congressman who pushed for the program the most.