Shoot the Breeze
Center of the Earth: The world’s deepest cave is the Krubera Cave in Georgia. At 7,208 feet deep, it is the deepest known cave on the planet and has been the site of numerous exploration expeditions. The cave is home to a variety of rare animal and plant species and is also the only known cave to have an underground river.[Read an article about it, here]
Bull by the Horn: In Greek mythology, the Minotaur was a creature that was half-man and half-bull, born from the union of Pasiphae, the wife of King Minos of Crete, and a bull sent to Minos by the god Poseidon. The Minotaur was said to have been kept in a vast, labyrinthine complex of tunnels and rooms beneath the palace of King Minos. The Minotaur was a ferocious beast that demanded the sacrifice of seven Athenian youths and seven Athenian maidens every nine years as tribute from Athens to Crete. [Read an article about it, here]
Japanese treat: Sashimi, the Japanese specialty, is thinly sliced, fresh, high-quality food (typically fish and seafood) that is served raw, usually with soy sauce. The types of fish used in this dish are often tuna, yellowtail, mackerel, and salmon. A popular place to eat sashimi is a revolving sushi bar restaurant. [Read an article about it, here]
Back in Time
Birthday – British nurse and public health activist Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) was born in Florence, Italy. She volunteered to aid British troops in Turkey where she improved hospital sanitary conditions and greatly reduced the death rate for wounded and sick soldiers. She received worldwide acclaim for her unselfish devotion to nursing, contributed to the development of modern nursing procedures, and emphasized the dignity of nursing as a profession for women.
Birthday – American author and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His works include: Nature (1836), Essays, First Series (1841), Essays, Second Series (1844), Poems (1847, 1865), Representative Men (1850), English Traits (1856), The Conduct of Life (1860), and Society and Solitude (1870).
May 1st, 1707 – Great Britain was formed from a union between England and Scotland. The union included Wales which had already been part of England since the 1500’s.
May 4, 1494 – During his second journey of exploration in the New World, Christopher Columbus discovered Jamaica.
May 8th – Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) the 33rd U.S. President was born in Lamar, Missouri. He became president upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in April 1945.
May 14, 1796 – Smallpox vaccine was developed by Dr. Edward Jenner, a physician in rural England. He coined the term vaccination for the new procedure of injecting a milder form of the disease into healthy persons resulting in immunity. Within 18 months, 12,000 persons in England had been vaccinated and the number of smallpox deaths dropped by two-thirds.
Memorable Quotes
“Courage is the only virtue you cannot fake.”
― Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of “Skin in the Game.”
“It is better to do something badly than to not do it at all. You can learn from your mistakes and do it better next time.”
— Jordan B. Peterson, author of “12 Rules for Life.”
Trivia
- What is the smallest mammal, weighing less than a penny?
- The human body has four lungs. [True or False]
- Which country has the world’s tallest building (Burj Khalifa)?
- What is the world’s longest highway?
- Which band recorded the hit song “Stairway to Heaven”?
(Bottom of this post has the answers)
Celestial Watch
May 5 – Penumbral Lunar Eclipse – On May 5, a penumbral lunar eclipse will occur. This type of eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth’s partial shadow, known as the penumbra. The Moon will darken slightly but not completely during this eclipse. The event will be visible throughout all of Asia and Australia, as well as parts of eastern Europe and eastern Africa. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
May 6, 7- Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower – The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is an above average shower, which produces up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. Most of the activity is seen in the Southern Hemisphere, and in the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour. The shower is produced by dust particles left behind by comet Halley, which has been observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from April 19 to May 28, and peaks this year on the night of May 6 and the morning of May 7. The nearly full moon will be a problem this year, blocking out all but the brightest meteors. If you are patient, you should still should be able to catch a few good ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
May 19 – New Moon – On May 19, the Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun, and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 15:55 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
May 29 – Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation – On May 29, the planet Mercury will reach its greatest western elongation of 24.9 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
Kicks & Giggles
- What did one hat say to the other? “You stay here, I’ll go on ahead!”
- Why did the cookie go to the doctor? Because it felt crummy!
- Why couldn’t the bicycle stand up by itself? Because it was two-tired!
- “Bless your heart.” – This phrase can be used sarcastically to insult someone, or genuinely to express sympathy.
Bible Verse
“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promises, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9
Trivia Answers
- Bumble bat
- False
- United Arab Emirates
- The Pan-American Highway
- Led Zeppelin
Read last month’s edition, here [April 2023 Edition]
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