Should we celebrate more than just 2 of 44 presidents on Presidents' Day?

In response to last week’s question, “Should we celebrate more than just 2 of 44 presidents on Presidents' Day?", my friend Richard observed, "There might be 10 worth celebrating. Do we really want to celebrate Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison (the whole 31 days of his presidency), Millard Fillmore, or James Buchanan?"   My engineering friend Steve replied, "Yes, but not all 44!"

My friend Kosol was more discerning, "If we celebrate the birthdays of all the honest and great presidents we're lucky to even have two of them."  And my friend Swany was even more discerning, "I think there's a limit to the reverence that comes with the POTUS position.  Celebrating Washington as our new nation's first president and Lincoln as a historically pivotal president makes sense, however; I cannot 'celebrate' the likes of adulterers, liars and cheats that we have had as our 'leaders' in our modern times."  To this, my dad's beach buddy Bob proposed, "Perhaps 35, the rest we would like to forget for the damage they caused."

My social media friend Mark queried, "Does anyone really celebrate ANY presidents on Presidents' Day? People take the day off, but I don't know anyone who is doing (or did) anything special for or about George Washington or Abraham Lincoln."   To this, my friend Royce suggested, "It is possessive - Presidents' Day - without designating which president. I assume that it was created by Congress in order to take another long weekend junket." 

My cousin Wes shared, "We used to have a holiday for President Washington and one for President Lincoln.  Presidents' Day depreciates these Presidents. While some of the other 42 don't deserve a holiday, I want my two holidays back, even if I don't get both days off."

Then my writing and sailing friend Rich offered another view, "Washington and Lincoln need the holiday, after all they got screwed on the money, ones and fives, with inflation they hardly even matter.  Now Woodrow is a Dead President I would not mind having in my wallet."    * Woodrow Wilson is on the $100,000 bill.

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:

To eat a peanut,  do you shell it or unshell it?  from my friend Ivan

Life  is too short for drama and petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly, and forgive  quickly.

Hal

How big is a piece?

In response to last week’s question, “How big is a piece?", my birthday bud Jon was perplexed and in a John Lennon mood when he replied, "Not sure.  All I am saying, is give a piece a chance."

My social business (collaboration) friend Mark concluded, "A piece is relative to the length of time one goes without one."  To this, my friend Kelly cautioned, "If it’s the kind of piece some of my Navy friends got in foreign ports, it’s REALLY big, and has some long-lasting side effects!"  Then my cycling friend Ted added, "Einstein could answer this with relativity.  If you are talking about the average American Gluteus Maximus, then a piece is pretty big!  But if you are talking about that little shard of glass that gets in your foot when you break a light bulb in the kitchen, then a piece is pretty small.  Moral of the story? Don't compare a piece of glass to a piece of a--- !"

My friend Richard shared a different perspective, "I thought it was a measure of distance, not size.  Based upon prior experience when traveling in rural areas, when I have been told the place I was trying to reach was “just down the road a piece,” I have determined that “a piece” ranges from 1-25 miles (“as the crow flies,” I suppose!)."  My cable TV friend Megan had a similar view, "As a true born and bred Southerner that is tough.  A piece of chocolate cake at Grandmother’s is going to be BIG  while Uncle’s John’s house “just down the road a piece” could be a few hundred yards or miles and miles away!"

My engineering friend Steve took the logical route, "That very much depends on piece of what and the viewer's preference."  My dad's beach buddy Bob saw it as "somewhere between a bit and a chunk" while my friend Chris understood that "as my grandmother would so aptly put it..."It's bigger than a smidgen, but smaller than a slice."  My writing and sailing friend Rich was more definitive, "If it is Craig's Crazy Carrot Cake Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory the answer is about 1500 calories. That's about 1200 calories too many, but oh baby are they worth it."

My Dish TV and running friend John then added, "When it comes to birthday cake, my kids always complain that I’m taking the “whole thing” and that’s typically just 2 or 3 slices…so a piece would have to be something less than 3 slices.  (However, my slices are usually about ¼ the cake so that might explain both why my kids complain and why I have to run so much).  

BTW:  I don’t want to hear any complaining…I shared the smookie!(*)"

 

My friend Kosol shared, "it depends on how big the person is that's giving the piece."

Sadly, my friend Royce wrote, "Sorry, I am busy applying scientific principles to discovering the differences between "lust" and "love" (Mardi Gras vs. St Valentine's Day).  I'll try again next week." 

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:

Should we celebrate more than just 2 of 44 presidents on Presidents' Day?

Life  is too short for drama and petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly, and forgive  quickly.

Hal

(*) What's a s'mookie?  My friend John introduced this to me in St George, UT.  What a great dessert and it should not be confused with the www.urbandictionary.com definition.

Can a baby have an accent before it can talk?

In response to last week’s question, “Can a baby have an accent before it can talk?",  my musical friend Ira explained, "A baby can have an accent if its name is French. It might have an accent aigu or an accent grave."   Ira added, "And we Clevelanders truly know from whence the Ravens came. We just can't figure out why they didn't decide to start winning until they left...

My friend Royce then replied, "Does anyone really care?" Given the few responses, and none  about babies in Boston crying 'wa' while Southern babies cry multisyllabic 'wa-a-a-a', it could be that nobody really cares.

My friend Richard added a reply to the prior week's question about 'sitting in the stands  "According to the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary, among the definitions of “stands” are “to take up or maintain a specified position” and “to remain stationary or inactive,” either of which would certainly seem to apply. “Stand” may also be a derivative of “stanchion,” which is defined as “an upright bar, post, or support.” In short, a structure which rises above the level of the playing field and supports those in attendance.  Interesting aside:  At Texas A&M, the custom is that the students actually do stand in the stands throughout the game.  They only sit during halftime."

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:

How big is a piece?

Life  is too short for drama and petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly, and forgive  quickly.

Hal

Tue is Mardi Gras and Thu is St Valentine's Day.  This is your opportunity to differentiate lust and love.

Why do we sit in the stands?

In response to last week’s question, “Why do we sit in the stands?", my birthday bud Jon observed, "Because our team is losing."

My dad's beach buddy Bob replied, "because we are either too lazy or too old to do otherwise.  Some are at times below the stands laying  down."  My friend Kevin added, "Because we, as fans, have adopted the old adage by Satchel Paige, 'never stand when you can sit, and never sit when you can lie down'."

And my friend Chris concluded, "because if we 'stood in the sits', it would just sound too silly :)  ."

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:

Can a baby have an accent before it can talk?

Life  is too short for drama and petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly, and forgive  quickly.