Bits & Bytes

DAILY PRAYER: Dear Lord, Keep our president safe from all harms. And grant us the graces we need to pray sincerely for the conversion of the minds and hearts of those who hate him. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

AMERICAN HISTORY: On April 27, 1865, the paddle-wheel steamboat, SS Sultana, blew up, killing 1,800 of its 2,427 passengers. Most of those aboard were Union soldiers returning home from Confederate prisoner of war camps. It remains the worst maritime disaster in US history.

• https://www.historyandheadlines.com/april-27-1865-riverboat-ss-sultana-sinks-mississipi-worst-us-maritime-disaster-time/

BORDER: CLICK https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ALdhp-191tw [1:27] to hear a “Public Service Announcement” from someone who allegedly moved here from a place with “better vibes, music, food, culture, history.” She has NO accent, which means that, if she was born abroad, she almost certainly moved here while she was a small child and likely has little or no memory of her “better” birth place.

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: Supporters of a proposed state constitutional amendment have collected more than enough valid signatures to put the question on next November’s ballot. The amendment would add a new section to the state Constitution requiring voters to show government-issued identification when voting in person, or to give the last four digits of a unique government-issued identifying number when voting by mail. If the amendment passes, the state will provide voter ID cards at no cost.

CATHOLIC: Professor of History, Dr. Thomas Madden, debunks common myths. [35:46] –

1. False: “The Catholic Church taught the Earth is flat.”
2. False: “The Galileo affair proves the Catholic Church was against science.”
3. False: “The medieval inquisition was a reign of terror.”
4. Semi-False: “The Catholic Church burned Joan of Arc at the stake.”
5. False: “There’s never been a bad pope.”
6. False: “The Catholic Church kept the Bible from the people.”
7. False: “The Catholic Church burned pagan literature.”

DRY EYES: Dearest and I both suffer from dry eyes. The article linked below explains a lot about why the eye drops and heated mask only help for a while. I’m not up for spending $130 on the advertised product, but I am going to try using heat and massage. Since the eye mask we got from the doctor cools off too fast, I’m switching to my home-made rice bag. i.e., a sturdy cloth bag filled with a pound of dry rice and nuked at power five for two minutes.

• https://beminda.com/pages/ohradv1
• https://dryeyedirectory.com/meibomian-gland-expression/
• https://eyefatigue.com/how-to-unblock-eye-oil-glands-at-home/

ENERGY: America’s energy exports hit a record 12.9 million barrels a day last week.

• https://www.theepochtimes.com/business/us-exports-of-crude-and-petroleum-products-hit-record-highs-6017068

IRAN: [8:36] – A good update.

GRAMMY NOTES: I was an usher at a wedding once. The bride said she didn’t want the male guests trailing after the female/usher guests like lost puppies. I got such delighted responses from the guys when I offered my arm and explained. So fun!

SHORTS:

CLICK https://www.facebook.com/reel/3947061672094230 for a bunch of nifty beach/pool hacks.

CLICK https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TRw-Ep09p20 for a wonderful “product review.”