News for Week Ending Friday, Apr 13, 2018

1.   Yesterday was National Grilled Cheese Day.  ***   In honor of the occasion, a congressional committee grilled the big cheese at Facebook.

2.   In Idaho Falls, Idaho, a flock of fifty geese fell from the sky after being struck by lightning.  ***  I guess even God has a limit to how much of that squawking he can stand.

3.   Airbus is designing a plane with sleeping berths in the cargo hold.   ***   To get onboard, passengers will be thrown onto a conveyer belt.

4.   EPA head Scott Pruitt has defended his security expenditures by saying he has received threats of violence for rolling back numerous environmental protections, but the agency has no evidence of any such threats.  ***  Except for a few occasions when he was bitch-slapped by Mother Nature.

5.   Apple CEO Tim Cook says if he were “king for a day” he would eliminate Wall Street’s focus on quarterly financial results.  ***  But, he also said he wouldn’t want to be king for any longer than a day because he couldn’t stand the pay cut.

6.   On this date in history:  Apr 13, 1959 – The Vatican forbids Roman Catholics from voting for communists.  ***   It was apparent the Church was getting too involved when authorities started collecting ballots in wicker baskets with long handles.

7.   On this date in history:  Apr 12, 1858 – The first U.S. billiards championship is held in Detroit.  ***  However, organizers regretted their choice of venue when the event was delayed after someone stole all the balls.

8.   On this date in history:  April 11, 1984 – Challenger astronauts complete the first in-space satellite repair.  ***  The repair work was fairly quick, once they found the duct tape.   

9.   On this date in history:  Apr 10, 1841 – The New York Tribune begins publishing under editor Horace Greeley.  ***   Mr. Greely later inspired many men when he famously advised, “Go West, young man,” thus leaving him alone in the East with all the women.

10.  On this date in history:  Apr 9, 1878 – First Lady Lucy Hayes begins the egg rolling tradition on the White House lawn.  ***  Things like that can happen when you stagger home drunk one night and wake up in the back yard.