Monday Musings

Traditionally, Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. Today, Memorial Day, 2024, we honor United States military members who died in service to our country, at home and abroad. At 3:00 PM local time, a national moment of remembrance occurs. The date is a solemn time to pay respects and reflect on the soldiers’ ultimate sacrifice. Do you have a loved one who lost their life in armed forces action? What traditions do you and your family follow in deference to their death? You can follow the Author on her  Website  or  X  (formerly Twitter).

This past weekend, the NASCAR All-Star Races were held at the North Wilkesboro Speedway (NWS). The racetrack reopened in August 2022 after a 25-year hiatus (broken only by a one-and-done race in 2010). After a grand reopening race in 2023, the speedway tradition continues. NWS, a paved oval short track (0.625 miles), held its inaugural racing season in 1947. The track roots hail from moonshine runners. During the Prohibition Era, North Wilkesboro was the unofficial “Moonshine Capital of the World.” Local good old boy Junior Johnson, was profiled in  Esquire  for his role in the bootleg trade, which evolved from driving his daddy’s “shine” to eager customers. Junior was a pro at evading the Alcohol Tax agents from “boro to boro” and “ville to ville” on the switchback mountain roads, roaring over ridges, and chasing through clay cuts. This daring reprobate starred in a decade of stock-car racing from 1955 to 1966 with a record of 50 victories, 11 at major speedways. He was the “...

  A home owner’s tale: essential repairs on a twenty-year-old cabin. Today, our lives are interrupted by the rhythm of laborers and our dogs’ reaction to unfamiliar people and sounds. A rotting porch landing that needs to be replaced, necessitating crowbars, wood saws, and hammers. The canine response is sharp and continual: barks alternating with low growls. A chorus of two guard dogs (the above video is not our doodle but accurately represents the chaos). On the opposite side of the house, a recent deck railing has completed the requisite aging and is ready for stain. First, a touch-up sanding: a mayhem of machine and menace. The remainder of the task is a quiet one, only the soft bristle of a brush, but our labradoodle still paces and barks at the man, moving silently back and forth outside his windows. Finally, the workers are done for the day. The quiet is overwhelming! What disrupts your daily life? Is it construction, wild weather, neighbors, and/or pets? You can follow the ...

  Today is the start of National Nurses Week, which culminates on Florence Nightingale’s birthday, May 12th. “The Lady with the Lamp” is the founder of modern nursing. At the end of the 19th Century, during the Crimean War, Ms. Nightingale instituted strict hygiene practices and hand-washing. These routines slashed the death rate from 42% to 2% due to a significant decrease in infections. The Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing, established in 1873 in NY, was the first Nursing School based on Nightingale’s hygiene principles. Nearly one hundred years later, in 1982, National Nurses Day was recognized and celebrated. Nurses comprise the largest percentage of healthcare workers, with over 3 million in the US today. The work is challenging and physically strenuous. They walk ~ 5 kilometers per shift. In addition, they are at higher risk of an on-the-job back injury than construction workers. Where do these millions of caregivers practice? You may be surprised to learn that over 50% of...

  A packaging outlet introduced this “holiday” in 2020 to recognize the effect the process has on all of us. 100 years ago, all supply chains were local due to transportation limitations. Early shipping in the 1900’s was in the hands of the Postal Service. The distribution distance increased with the utilization of railroads. IBM’s computerized forecasting and inventory management system changed the outlook of supply distribution. The technological revolution led to globalization rather than the previous amalgam of sub-specialties. The supply chain has evolved due to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). The system’s bottom line is “every link in the supply chain matters.” One broken or missing link can cause worldwide disaster. Recall the  backlog of international vessels stacked up in Western US coastal waters  during the days of COVID-19. This  White Paper  provides a more in-depth read on the topic. A cyberattack can bring the chain to a grindin...

  Today, we celebrate our host, the Earth. Many activities are planned worldwide, in person, and online. Today’s  Google Doodle  reminds us of climate change: Space.com expands on the illustration. Chief Seattle of NW Washington state, a leader of Suquamish and Duwamish nations, made a famous speech to Governor Stevens in 1854, purportedly an environmental treatise. Multiple versions of his talk exist, starting with a translated transcription; the subsequent transliterations may veer widely from the original. Rachel Carson ’s concern about pollution and its effects on the Earth, expressed in her 1962 book  Silent Spring , heralded the clarion call for change and helped launch the environmental movement. US Senator Gaylord Nelson put out a call to action in 1969 in response to the massive Santa Barbara, CA, oil spill. Over 20 million Americans demonstrated for increased environmental protections on the  first Earth Day in 1970 , organized by Denis Hayes. Shortly ...

  Again, it is time to render unto Caesar what he is due. Everyone with an income must file a Federal Income Tax return. Some can file a simple 1040 and do it themselves. Others have personal, medical, or business expenses. They have to include additional forms and receipts and elicit the assistance of accountants. Most people must also file a State return. Citizens in seven states don’t have individual income taxes: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. State rates and requirements vary. For the past few years, we have received a refund from Uncle Sam and the State of North Carolina. As retirees on a fixed income, we are grateful. Today, April 15th, is the day. Did you file your taxes on time? Do you owe Caesar or will he deposit a nice nest egg in your bank account? You can follow the Author on her  Website  or  X  (formerly Twitter).