February 2024 Issue

Love is the beauty of the soul.  — Saint Augustine

Question: What notorious gangster orchestrated the St. Valentine's Day massacre?

Question: What emperor called for St. Valentine's execution?

Question: How much money do Americans spend on chocolate for Valentine’s Day each year?

Leap Years generally occur every four years — but there is an exception when it comes to century years. A century year must be divisible by 100 and 400 to be a Leap Year! And since this only happens every four years — leap out and have some fun. 🐸

Check out the February calendar below — you’ll see dull February isn’t so dull after all.

See you in March.

February is Black History Month
Honor, reflect on the many contributions of Black Americans.

Groundhog Day - February 2nd
While Punxsutawney Phil will emerge from his burrow to predict if we’re heading toward the last stretch of winter 🌞  ☁️ — Phil has been correct only about 40% of the time. 🤫

Mardi Gras kicks off on Friday Feb 9 ending with … Shrove Tuesday, Feb 13
Shrove Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. This is “stuff yourself” day – known by many names in different countries. Pancake day, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Carnival, Fasching – the idea being to get rid of excess and indulge in one more party before the start of 40 days of Lent. A Christian time of reflection and “doing without” for those who observe. 🎉 🍤 🥪 🍾 😇

Chinese New Year - Feb 10
This year’s lunar calendar begins with start of the Year of the Dragon. 🐉🧧

Ash Wednesday - Feb 14
Marks the start of Lent in the Catholic Liturgical calendar. Christians who observe this day attend church to “receive ashes” in the mark of the cross on their forehead. ✝️

Valentine’s Day - Feb14
According to Catholic Church history there were three St. Valentines. Two were beheaded by Claudius 11 of Rome and the third one imprisoned. 😩 Not exactly a romantic start. In the Middle Ages it was celebrated because it was believed birds 🐦 mated during this season. In the early 1700’s, Americans exchanged hand-made cards of hearts ♥️ flowers, lace, and ribbons. ❤️‍🩹 🥀

Random Act of Kindness Day - Feb 17
My vote is that we make this an everyday holiday. 😻

Presidents Day - Feb 20.
Lincoln 12, Washington 22 🎂 🇺🇸
Two great Presidents, George and Abe were February babies.

Famous People Who ♥️ 😻 Love Cats!

Here are just a few famous people who have succumbed to the fascinating, elusive, and mysterious cat.

The Dalai Lama rescued a kitten being thrown into a gutter. Much loved and spoiled by the Dalai Lama and his staff, Mousie-Tung, also known as HHC (His Holiness’ Cat), and dubbed “Little Snow Lion” by the Dalai Lama himself, encounters Hollywood stars, Buddhist masters, famous self-help authors and many others who come to visit.

🌎 Save Our Planet

Here’s a resolution we can all easily make with some thought and planning.

Eliminate food waste.

Do you know that when food decays in landfills it generates methane — a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. Perhaps because we’re in the land of abundance, we don’t pay much attention, but the fact is that food waste is responsible for twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as commercial aviation.

Planet News
Reprint from NRDC Re: NY State

With just hours to go before the clock would reset on the Birds and Bees Protection Act, and after intense 11th hour negotiations, Governor Kathy Hochul signed this critical bill into law.

Neonics are a widely used class of toxic manmade pesticides. Their overuse is decimating the pollinator populations we rely on for our food supply and they are linked to harmful health threats that are especially dangerous for babies and children. That’s why it is so important to dramatically reduce New York’s use of neonics.

Once fully implemented, the Birds and Bees Protection Act will eliminate up to 80-90% of neonics annually entering New York’s environment. It’s the first bill in the entire country to restrict the use of neonic coatings on corn, soybean, and wheat seeds– a major source of neonics in our ecosystems and in our own bodies.

The bill also prohibits neonics for lawn and garden uses, joining states like New Jersey, Nevada, and Maine with similar restrictions. Lawn and garden uses are some the worst offenders at polluting water sources in densely populated areas and creating toxic hot spots for bees and other wildlife.

Answer: Al Capone
Answer: Claudius II
Answer: $1 billion

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