On-line Opinion Magazine…OK, it's a blog

“The date as decided by UNESCO as it was also the death and birth anniversary of William Shakespeare, a world famous author. The date also coincided with the death anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes, who was a noted Spanish author. Some other well known authors whose birth or death anniversary falls on this day are Maurice Druon, Josep Pla and Halldor Laxness.”

Sundown today marks the beginning of Pesach [Passover]. The story is found in the Book of Exodus. Rather more relevant now after a pandemic (which isn’t over) and ongoing wars.

This is a time of Matzah [unleavened bread], Marror [bitter herbs], wine and the retelling of the story of founding of Israel.

You can, of course, just pop in a DVD of The Ten Commandments, Cecil B. DeMille’s version.

At its core this is a story of immigration and anyone claiming to be a Christian or Jew should pay attention – it’s on the FINAL EXAM.

She’s the only planet we have, if we blow it, we can’t pack up and move.

There’s no Plan[et] B.

Wikipedia has an Earth Day entry, with links to other sites.

Today is also Tax Day in the US. Here’s the theme music for the day on YouTube.

The BBC’s Spaghetti Harvest is still the top of the list for pranks.

This is what happens when you have small children – you dye your kitchen.

Yes, the festival of Easter, goddess of the Spring, is celebrated this time of year with the traditional symbols of fertility, the egg and the rabbit, by the people who settled around the Baltic Sea – the Teutons, Slavs, Finns, Prussians, Letts, et al. It is a festival of plenty after the hardships of winter, with the promise of new growth.

Of course, later groups took the celebration and turned it to other purposes, but I doubt Easter minds.

[An oldie from Easters past]

It’s that time of year. Spring arrives at 10:06PM CDT to night. You can find the date for your location at Time and Date.

The air is already filled with pollen and the live oaks are dropping last year’s leaves. The azaleas have already peaked and the pear trees are snowy with blooms.

I would note that locally we have had 12 hours or more of daylight since before St. Patrick’s Day, and usually do.

Éireann go Brách!

Well everyone agrees that he died on March 17^th, but the year is subject to debate. This is his feast day on the Catholic calendar. Enjoy as you are wont.

Wikipedia has more on Saint Patrick’s Day, if you need more.

Dallas won in 9 days 2 hours 16 minutes & 8 seconds. Jeff Reid brought the Red Lantern under the Burled Arch in 12 days 11 hours 22 minutes & 1 second.

Standings at 5:30AM CDT (2:30AM AKDT):
Finished at Nome
11 Wally Robinson (39)
12 Nicolas Petit (17)
13 Matthew Failor (31)
14 Ryan Redington (21)
15 Josi Thyr (22)^R
16 Jason Mackey (19)
17 Bailey Vitello (32)
18 Gabe Dunham (24)^R
19 Jessica Klejka (8)
20 Mats Pettersson (5)
21 Anna Berington (2)
22 Will Rhodes (4)^R
23 Lara Kittelson (36)^R
24 Anna Hennessy (25)^R
25 Benjamin Good (33)^R
26 Lauro Eklund (13)^R
27 Joshua Robbins (11)^R
28 Severin Cathry (30)^R
29 Jeff Reid (35)^RΦ
[continued below the fold] [Read more →]

After race officials discussed his lack of progress with him, Sean Williams (27) scratched at Elim.

Standings at 8:30PM CDT (5:30PM AKDT):
Finished at Nome
11 Wally Robinson (39)
12 Nicolas Petit (17)
13 Matthew Failor (31)
14 Ryan Redington (21)
15 Josi Thyr (22)^R
16 Jason Mackey (19)
17 Bailey Vitello (32)
18 Gabe Dunham (24)^R
19 Jessica Klejka (8)
20 Mats Pettersson (5)
21 Anna Berington (2)
22 Will Rhodes (4)^R
23 Lara Kittelson (36)^R
24 Anna Hennessy (25)^R
25 Benjamin Good (33)^R
26 Lauro Eklund (13)^R

Beyond Safety
27 Jeff Reid (35)^R
28 Severin Cathry (30)^R
29 Joshua Robbins (11)^RΦ
[continued below the fold] [Read more →]

The first 10 finishers are below the fold. Nothing said about Bryce Mumford who is too far behind to arrive during the race’s time limit if he is still moving.

Update: After race officials discussed his lack of progress with him, Bryce Mumford scratched at Unalakleet.

Standings at 9:30PM CDT (6:30PM AKDT):
Finished at Nome
11 Wally Robinson (39)
12 Nicolas Petit (17)
13 Matthew Failor (31)
14 Ryan Redington (21)
15 Josi Thyr (22)^R
16 Jason Mackey (19)
17 Bailey Vitello (32)
18 Gabe Dunham (24)^R
19 Jessica Klejka (8)
20 Mats Pettersson (5)
21 Anna Berington (2)
22 Will Rhodes (4)^R
23 Lara Kittelson (36)^R
24 Anna Hennessy (25)^R
Beyond White Mountain
25 Benjamin Good (33)^R
At White Mountain
26 Jeff Reid (35)^R
27 Lauro Eklund (13)^R
28 Severin Cathry (30)^R
Beyond Elim
29 Sean Williams (27)^R
30 Joshua Robbins (11)^R
[continued below the fold] [Read more →]

3/14 is Albert’s birthday and

Π Day.

I assume you have all shopped for the perfect gift.

To start: Π ≅ 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399
3751058209749445923078164062862089986280348253421170679….

I’m a bit concerned about Bryce Mumford (6)^R. He has been alone beyond Kaltag for an extended period. It could be bad bookkeeping, i.e. people in the back get ignored, but Kaltag to Unalakleet is the second longest stretch of trail and it’s wide open if the wind picks up.

Standings at 10:00PM CDT (7:00PM AKDT):
Finished at Nome
1 Dallas Seavey (7)
2 Matt Hall (16)
3 Jessie Holmes (9)
4 Jeff Deeter (18)
5 Paige Drobny (38)
6 Travis Beals (14)
7 Mille Porsild (12)
8 Amanda Otto (28)
9 Peter Kaiser (26)
10 Jessie Royer (20)
11 Wally Robinson (39)
12 Nicolas Petit (17)
13 Matthew Failor (31)

Beyond White Mountain
14 Ryan Redington (21)
15 Josi Thyr (22)^R
16 Jason Mackey (19)
17 Bailey Vitello (32)
[continued below the fold] [Read more →]

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Dallas Seavey will win his sixth Iditarod and become the winningest musher in the history of the race,

A Third Dog Dies: – At approximately 10:15 a.m. today, Henry, a three-year-old male from the race team of Calvin Daugherty (bib #37), collapsed on the trail roughly 10 miles before reaching the Shaktoolik checkpoint. Daugherty administered CPR but unfortunately the attempts to revive Henry were unsuccessful. Calvin scratched in accordance with Rule 42.

Standings at 10:00PM CDT (7:00PM AKDT):
Finished at Nome
1 Dallas Seavey (7)
Beyond Safety
2 Matt Hall (16)
Beyond White Mountain
3 Jessie Holmes (9)
4 Jeff Deeter (18)
5 Travis Beals (14)
6 Paige Drobny (38)
At White Mountain
7 Mille Porsild (12)
8 Jessie Royer (20)
9 Amanda Otto (28)
10 Peter Kaiser (26)
[continued below the fold] [Read more →]