When is Labor Day? Saturday August 30, 2013 radio address - proclamation

Presidential Proclamation -- Labor Day, 2013 LABOR DAY, 2013 - - - - - - - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION On September 5, 1882, in what is thought to be the first Labor Day event, thousands of working Americans gathered to march in a New York City parade. In the 131 years since, America has called on our workers time and again -- to raise and connect our cities; to feed, heal, and educate our Nation; to forge the latest technological revolution. On Labor Day, we celebrate these enduring contributions and honor all the men and women who make up the world's greatest workforce. America is what it is today because workers began to organize -- to demand fair pay, decent hours, safe working conditions, and the dignity of a secure retirement. Through decades upon decades of struggle, they won many of the rights and benefits we too often take for granted today, from the 40-hour work week and minimum wage to safety standards, workers' compensation, and health insurance. These basic protections allowed the middle class to flourish. They formed the basis of the American dream and offered a better life to anyone willing to work for it. Yet over the past decades, that promise began to erode. People were working harder for less, and good jobs became more difficult to find. My Administration remains committed to restoring the basic bargain at the heart of the American story. We are bringing good jobs back to the United States. We are expanding programs that train workers in tomorrow's industries, and we eliminated tax breaks that benefited the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the middle class. In the years to come, I will continue to support collective bargaining rights that strengthen the middle class and give voice to workers across our Nation. And I will keep pushing for a higher minimum wage -- because in America, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty. Thanks to the grit and resilience of the American worker, we have cleared away the rubble of the worst recession since the Great Depression. Now is the time to reward that hard work. Today, as America celebrates working people everywhere, we unite behind good jobs in growing industries, and we strengthen our resolve to rebuild our economy on a stronger foundation. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2, 2013, as Labor Day. I call upon all public officials and people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that honor the contributions and resilience of working Americans. www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/08/30/presidential-proclamation-labor-day-2013

National Preparedness Month is September 2013 (Presidential Proclamation - White House dot-gov)

Time and again, America faces crises that test our readiness and challenge our resolve -- from natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods to shootings, cyber incidents, and even acts of terrorism. While my Administration is working tirelessly to avert national tragedies, it is every American's responsibility to be prepared. By planning for emergencies, individuals can protect themselves and their families while also contributing to their communities' resilience. During National Preparedness Month, we refocus our efforts on readying ourselves, our families, our neighborhoods, and our Nation for any crisis we may face. My Administration is committed to preparing our country for the full range of threats. In the face of an emergency, we will continue to cut through red tape and bolster coordination. At my direction, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will launch a comprehensive campaign to build and sustain national preparedness with private sector, non-profit, and community leaders and all levels of government. The campaign will be based on science, research and development, public outreach, and broad participation. It will aim to inspire Americans of all ages to increase their preparedness by moving from awareness to action. Over this past year, ordinary Americans have stepped up in moments of trial and tragedy to perform real acts of heroism. Despite the brave actions of first responders across America, neighbors and friends are often the first on the scene after an emergency, and circumstances can call anyone to become a hero. This year's National Preparedness Month theme, "You Can Be the Hero," asks all Americans to ready themselves to assist in case of emergency. Anyone can improve their preparedness by making or reviewing emergency plans with their family and by building a disaster kit with food, water, and essential supplies. Visit www.Ready.gov or www.Listo.gov to see which types of disasters are most likely for your area and learn more about what you can do to prepare. This month, as we reflect on challenges to our communities, regions, and our Nation, we continue to lend our support to recovery efforts, and we honor our first responders by doing our part to build a more resilient America. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2013 as National Preparedness Month. I encourage all Americans to recognize the importance of preparedness and work together to enhance our national security, resilience, and readiness.

Metaphor: "let justice roll down like flowing streams" (Dr. King language for "I Have a Dream" keynote)

Book of the Prophet Amos, Chapter 5, verse 24: "Let justice flow down like wathers, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream!"

50th Anniversary of March on Washington - Jobs & Freedom (August 28, 1963)

from President's Proclamations at White House Briefing Room section online: A PROCLAMATION On August 28, 1963, hundreds of thousands converged on the National Mall to take part in what the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., called "the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation." Demonstrators filled the landscape -- from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, alongside the still waters of the reflecting pool, to the proud base of the Washington Monument. They were men and women; young and old; black, white, Latino, Asian, and Native American -- woven together like a great American tapestry, sharing in the dream that our Nation would one day make real the promise of liberty, equality, and justice for all. The March on Washington capped off a summer of discontent, a time when the clarion call for civil rights was met with imprisonment, bomb threats, and base brutality. Many of the marchers had endured the smack of a billy club or the blast of a fire hose. Yet they chose to respond with nonviolent resistance, with a fierce dignity that stirred our Nation's conscience and paved the way for two major victories of the Civil Rights Movement -- the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Today, we remember that the March on Washington was a demonstration for jobs as well as freedom. The coalition that brought about civil rights understood that racial equality and fairness for workers are bound together; when one American gets a raw deal, it jeopardizes justice for everyone. These are lessons we carry forward -- that we cannot march alone, that America flourishes best when we acknowledge our common humanity, that our future is linked to the destiny of every soul on earth. It is not enough to reflect with pride on the victories of the Civil Rights Movement. In honor of every man, woman, and child who left footprints on the National Mall, we must make progress in our time. Let us guard against prejudice -- whether at the polls or in the workplace, whether on our streets or in our hearts -- and let us pledge that, in the words of Dr. King, "we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 28, 2013, as the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that celebrate the March on Washington and advance the great causes of jobs and freedom.

Friday evening: Severe Thunderstorm Watch: until 10 p.m. Aug. 30

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued August 30 at 3:10 p.m. EDT until August 30 at 10:00 p.m. EDT by National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 504 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS MI . MICHIGAN COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE ALLEGAN BARRY BAY BERRIEN BRANCH CALHOUN CASS . . . more named

On the Canonization of two Popes of the 20th Century: details forthcoming in September 2013

Posted August 24, 2013 -- Canonization date for John Paul II, John XXIII to be announced on September 30 Reported for National Catholic Reporter (News Service) by Cindy Wooden | Aug. 20, 2013 -- NCR ONLINE dot-org / _____________________ Pope Francis will host a meeting of cardinals Sept. 30 to formally approve the canonization of Blesseds John Paul II and John XXIII; the date for the canonization will be announced at that time, said Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes. The cardinal told Vatican Radio on Tuesday that only Pope Francis knows for sure the date he will proclaim the two popes saints, though he already implied that it is likely to be in 2014. Speaking to reporters traveling with him from Brazil to Rome on July 28, Pope Francis said he had been considering Dec. 8, but the possibility of icy roads could make it difficult for Polish pilgrims who would travel by bus to Rome for the ceremony. Another option, he said, would be April 27, the Sunday after Easter and the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday, a celebration instituted worldwide by Pope John Paul. Asked to describe the two late popes, Pope Francis said Blessed John was "a bit of the 'country priest,' a priest who loves each of the faithful and knows how to care for them; he did this as a bishop and as a nuncio." He was holy, patient, had a good sense of humor and, especially by calling the Second Vatican Council, was a man of courage, Pope Francis said. "He was a man who let himself be guided by the Lord." As for Blessed John Paul, he told the reporters on the plane, "I think of him as 'the great missionary of the church,' " because he was "a man who proclaimed the Gospel everywhere." Pope Francis signed a decree recognizing the miracle needed for Blessed John Paul's canonization July 5; the same day, the Vatican announced that the pope had agreed with the cardinal members of the Congregation for Saints' Causes that the canonization of Blessed John should go forward even without a second miracle attributed to his intercession. Before declaring new saints, the pope consults with cardinals around the world and calls a consistory -- a gathering attended by any cardinal who wants and is able to attend -- where those present voice their support for the pope's decision. A date for a canonization ceremony is announced formally only during or immediately after the consistory. Except in the case of martyrdom, Vatican rules require one miracle for a candidate's beatification and a second for his or her canonization as confirmations that the candidate really is in heaven with God.

"The Fix" Columnist Chris Cilizza answers my Chat-Discussion question (Washingtonpost dot-com) Aug. 23, 2013

see "Live Discussions" at WashingtonPost dot-com (Fridays 11 a.m.): When will the New Jersey U.S. Senate replacement for Lautenberg. . . Will voters decide early in September or on into November for a vote in the U.S. Senate for New Jersey? – August 23, 2013 10:05 AM A.Chris Cillizza : The special general election is on Oct. 16. Then Booker will run for a full term next November in the regular general election. – August 23, 2013 11:41 AM www.washingtonpost.com/

More details about the Tetzlaff lecture at Notre Dame (50 anniversary of MLK talk to South Bend community leadership - N. Dame)

find more information at this ND dot-edu web location http://artsandculture.nd.edu/events/2013/09/25/19484-dr-monica-tetzlaff-lectures-on-king-in-south-bend/

Anniversary of October 1963 visit of MLK to Notre Dame community and South Bend, IN - lecture on Sept. 25, 2013

South Bend Tribune coverage (Gene Stowe, correspondent) of the IUSB Professor's lecture to be held at Univ. of Notre Dame's Center for Art & Culture: The 50th anniversary of a speech by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the University of Notre Dame has inspired a yearlong focus on the African Diaspora with events on campus and in downtown South Bend centers. A broad and quickly arranged coalition of community leaders arranged the 1963 event here after King accepted resident Alphia Ganaway's invitation to visit the city. Ganaway recruited Dr. Roland Chamblee and others who formed the Citizens' Civic Planning Committee. Chamblee received permission from the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, university president at the time, to hold the rally at the Stepan Center. "I'm fascinated by the wide array of groups who brought Dr. King in -- many unions, churches, synagogues and interfaith groups, in addition to the usual NAACP that you might expect," said Monica Tetzlaff, an associate professor of history at Indiana University South Bend. "There were about 20 groups who cooperated," said Tetzlaff, who will give a lecture on the event at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 25 in the Notre Dame Center for Arts & Culture. King's appearance on Oct. 18, 1963, was some seven weeks after his "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington, the anniversary of which will be observed over the next week. Here, he addressed 3,000 people after a motorcade of 50 cars and 20 police officers from the airport to a downtown news conference and dinner at First United Methodist Church. "We must live together as brothers or die together as fools," King told the crowd here. "Science and technology have made today's world a neighborhood. We must make it a brotherhood." Among other things, King called for Birmingham, Ala., to hire 25 African-American police officers and denounced Attorney General Robert Kennedy's support for a watered-down civil rights bill. "The law can't make you love me, but it can keep you from lynching me," he said. "Laws can't change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless. Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated." King later wrote to Ganaway (now deceased) to thank her and her assistant, Martha Wilson, for organizing the event, which raised money for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. "Let me say that the rally in South Bend was one of the best organized we have ever had," he wrote. "It was remarkable that you were able to touch so many people in the wide cross section of the community." Notre Dame's commemoration includes exhibits and events on campus and in community centers such as the Notre Dame Center for Arts & Culture, the Indiana University South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center at the Natatorium, and the Center for History. www.southbendtribune.com/

50th Anniversary of March on Washington (Civil Rights 1963 event) - week of commemoration

from Washington Post dot-com story slash-local - summation (Aug. 21, 2013): A Saturday march tracing the historic 1963 route is one of the main events of a full week of activities commemorating the march, which drew 250,000 participants. For the anniversary march, the National Park Service has issued a permit for up to 150,000 people. A second, smaller march will be held on the anniversary itself, Aug. 28. That day, church bells will peal in communities throughout the country at 3 p.m., the moment when King began addressing the crowd. In an afternoon ceremony jointly sponsored by the Park Service, the King Center and the legacy organizations involved in the 1963 march, President Obama will speak from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where King stood. The first African American president will be joined by former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. In many ways, the events are not purely commemorative but about unfinished business. The Saturday march is billed as a National Action to Reclaim the Dream. The march next Wednesday is called the March for Jobs and Justice. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/events-marking-50th-anniversary-of-march-on-washington-to-emphasize-dreams-unfulfilled/2013/08/20/674922f0-08e0-11e3-9941-6711ed662e71_story.html

Three Oaks, Michigan - MOVING WALL - August 22 - 25, 2013 at Legion W. Linden Street

A half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans/Soldiers Memorial in the Mall, Washington, D.C. will be positioned next to the Three Oaks Am. Legion Post #204 from 2 p.m. Thursday August 22 until the closing ceremony Sunday August 25. There will be a motorcycle escort accompanying the Wall transport trucks from the Pokagon Tribe's "Four Winds Casino" near New Buffalo, Michigan also today (Thursday the 22nd). The panels listing the 58,228 U.S. Military Personnel who died during the Vietnam Conflict (1955 - 1975) are inscribed for the public viewing and the memorializing of the members of the Military branches. A public opening ceremony is planned for noon on Friday August 23 and the closing ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Aug. 26. The funding to pay for the visit and public exhibition was supplied by the Pokagon Fund, established by the Pokagon Bnad of Potawatomi Indians. The tribe sets aside a portion of electronic gaming casino revenue to support community projects in the general area (nearby Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan as well as St. Joseph County, Indiana). According to publicity supplied to the South Bend Tribune, more than $14.5 million for such projects over the last five years has been donated. See further -- www.southbendtribune.com/

Blue Moon -- changing definitions / one to see and notice!

from EARTH SKY dot-com : There are different definitions for Blue Moon. By popular acclaim, Blue Moon refers to the second of two full moons in a single calendar month. A Blue Moon might also be the third of four full moons in a single season – a season being defined as the time period between a solstice and an equinox, or vice versa. Or, someday, you might see an actual blue-colored moon. A Blue Moon falls on the night of August 20-21, 2013. It’s a Blue Moon by the seasonal definition, that is, the third of four full moons to take place in a season, in this case between the June 2013 solstice and September equinox. The last Blue Moon by this definition happened on November 21, 2010. Every month typically has a full moon (although sometimes February doesn’t have a full moon at all). In fact, our word for “month” comes from the word “moon.” Most of the time, the names for full moons coincide with particular months or seasons of the year. So whether you define a Blue Moon as the second full moon in a month – or the third full moon of four in a season – the name Blue Moon accounts for times when there are more full moons than is ordinary. The term once in a blue moon used to mean something rare. Now that the rules for naming Blue Moons include so many different possibilities, Blue Moons are pretty common.

August 9, 1854 -- an important day in American writing and philosophy

from Writer's Almanac (American Public Media: Garrison Keillor): _______________ On this day in 1854, Henry David Thoreau published Walden; or, Life in the Woods. His friend Ralph Waldo Emerson said he saw a "tremble of great expectation" in Thoreau just before publication day. Thoreau's previous book, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers (1849), sold fewer than 300 copies. On the day he got his 706 unsold copies back from the publisher, he wrote in his diary: "I have now a library of nearly nine hundred volumes, over seven hundred of which I wrote myself ..." Walden didn't do much better. It took five years to sell off the first edition of 2,000 copies, and Thoreau did not live to see a second edition. He managed to arrange a nationwide lecture tour, but only one city made an offer, and so Thoreau kept his lectures to the Concord area. Since then, millions of copies of Walden have been sold. __________

Health Care Centers (American Proclamation Week of Aug. 11, 2013): support for Public Health

from White House dot-gov Proclamations section: _______________ Community health centers play a critical role in providing affordable, high-quality preventive and primary health care to millions of Americans. From urban centers to rural towns, they offer vital services regardless of ability to pay -- services that help patients stay healthy and avoid emergency room visits. During National Health Center Week, we recognize health centers' significant contributions to keeping America healthy, and we offer our continuing support to the dedicated providers who operate them. Today, health centers operate thousands of clinics across our country. One in every fifteen people living in the United States depends on their services. They are an important source of jobs in many low-income communities, employing more than 148,000 people nationwide. And with clinical and support staff who are responsive to their communities' needs and cultures, health centers are important partners in our efforts to reduce health disparities. From coast to coast, they coordinate care and build professional, compassionate health care teams focused on improving patient outcomes. My Administration has worked to strengthen this essential network. Through the Affordable Care Act and the Recovery Act, we have made significant investments that have helped health centers expand their work, which is now reaching more than 20 million people each year. As millions of Americans gain access to more health insurance options through the Affordable Care Act, health centers remain as valuable as ever. They help community members understand their options, determine their eligibility, and review possibilities for financial assistance. With support and funding from the health care law, health centers are also helping the uninsured enroll in plans made available through the new Health Insurance Marketplace, as well as in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. This week, we celebrate these valuable services and extend our thanks to the women and men who operate America's health centers. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the week of August 11 through August 17, 2013, as National Health Center Week. I encourage all Americans to celebrate this week by visiting their local health center, meeting health center providers, and exploring the programs they offer to help keep families healthy.

Who is Lon Snowden?

ABC NEWS (Sunday a.m. Political interview and discussion show) on This_Week_with_George_Stephanopoulos will feature this primary line-up: As tensions between the U.S. and Russia reach a breaking point over Edward Snowden’s asylum, George Stephanopoulos speaks to Snowden’s father Lon Snowden and attorney Bruce Fein, in an interview you’ll see only on “This Week.” And the chairs of the Senate and House Foreign Relations committees, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., debate how the U.S. should respond to Russia’s actions as well as the latest terrorism threat. see further at ________ http://abcnews.go.com ____________________

Annual Archaeology Open House (Niles, Michigan historic Site) August 10 - 11, 2013

Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the South Riverfront Park near intersection of Fort and Bond Streets (site of the historic Fort St. Joseph). The annual Open House will showcase this summer's findings by Westeern Michigan University archaeology dig participants (graduate students) on the site of the 18th century fort. Admission is free. Event sponsors include the Western Michigan University Anthropology Department, the City of Niles, and the Fort St. Joseph Archaology Advisory Committee.

Protester (MI Coalition against Tar Sands) climbs tree near Cassopolis, MI and stops pipeline

from local CBS Affiliate (Wednesday, August 7, 2013) = www.wsbt.com (Reporter Kelly Stopcyzinski): CASS COUNTY -- A Kalamazoo woman spent about nine hours in a tree Wednesday, protesting Enbridge oil pipline construction in Cass County. Police said the woman, who was being called “Felix,” was hoisted into the tree by three other protestors shortly before clearing crews were supposed to knock down that tree and others in the Crane Pond State Game area, east of Cassopolis. The woman, estimated to be about 60 feet up, is with a group known as MI-CATS – the Michigan Coalition Against Tar Sands. Shortly after 6 p.m., the Cass County Sheriff's Department indicated in a news release that the woman had come down but said the incident remains under investigation. The case is expected to be forwarded to the Cass County Prosecutor. Demonstrations like that one have prompted Enbridge (a Canadian fossil fuels corporation) to pay the the Berrien County (Michigan) Sheriff's department $65 an hour to patrol its Niles Township staging site at the old Eastgate Shopping Center on Oak Streetin Niles, Michigan. Deputies don’t get paid the whole $65, but the rest of the money covers costs for things like gasoline.

25 years ago on Aug. 8, 1988 -- Student Uprising rocks military dictatorhip in Burma (NPR coverage of anniversary)

part of "All Things Considered" story - interviews - reflection by those then and now in Myanmar : Until about two years ago, Myanmar, also known as Burma, was ruled by the longest-running military dictatorship in the world. In 2010, the military began to loosen its grip on the country, increasing civil freedoms and offering some political and economic opportunity for citizens. But some are wondering whether the country can truly transition to democracy if it fails to reconcile with its brutal past. This week (August 5 - 9, 2013) marks the 25th anniversary of a violent chapter in the country's history: the nationwide democracy uprising of Aug. 8, 1988, and the harsh military crackdown that ended it. Despite being rich in resources, the country went into a long period of economic stagnation following a 1962 military takeover. "The government remained in power through fear. It reached the point where people were unwilling to even mention the name of the dictator," Ne Win, says Burt Levin, the American ambassador in Rangoon at the time. "In the summer of 1988, the population finally said, 'Enough is enough.' " Students began to voice their resentment over the economy and the government's wide restrictions on personal freedom. "We students had no hopes for any jobs after school," says Htay Kywe, an early student leader. "We were totally lost." A disagreement in a tea shop between university students and people linked to the government eventually grew into a student-led movement calling for democracy in the summer of 1988. ___________________________ www.npr.org ____________________________________"All Things Considered"

Who is Jeff Bezos? Washington Post's Reliable Source answers my Online Question (August 7 morning)

from Washington Post Live! dot-com : Will the new onwer of the Wash. Post give interviews about himself and loved ones? I understand he was "Person of the Year" for TIME Magazine in the 1990s; any up-to-2013 personal biographical treatments of the founder / entrepreneur? thanks – August 07, 2013 9:38 AM Permalink A.Amy Argetsinger : Whoa, catching up now. But yes, in fact, seems like there have been quite a few biographical treatments of this Bezos fellow lately. Here's one, and I'm liking the guy based on this headline: Bezos is known for his patience Another: Why Bezos usually buys things http://live.washingtonpost.com/the-reliable-source-080713.html

August 6, 8:15 a.m. -- at Hiroshima, Japan

From Writer's Almanac (American Public Media: Garrison Keillor): On August 6 in 1945 the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. It was the first time that an atomic weapon was ever used in warfare, and only the second time that cuch a weapon had ever been exploded. It was dropped over Hiroshima at 8:15 in the morning. It exploded 1,900 feet above the ground. Capt Robert Lewis watched the explosion from his cockpit and wrote in his journal, "My God, what have we done?"

44th President -- Happy Birthday!

from Writer's Almanac -- (American Public Media - Garrison Keillor) -- adapted for this notice: August 4 is the birthday of President Barack Obama, born in Honolulu, Hawaii (1961). He's the author of the New York Times best-selling books Dreams from My Father (1995) and The Audacity of Hope (2006) and Of Thee I Sing (2010).

Eid al-Fitr (feast that ends month-long Ramadan fasting) -- for Muslims in U.S. and "Muslim World"

from "Time and Date" dot-com website _________________________________________________ Eid al-Fitr is an important Islamic holiday that involves many Muslims waking up early and praying either at an outdoor prayer ground or a mosque. Many Muslims dress in their finest clothes and adorn their homes with lights and other decorations. Old wrongs are forgiven and money is given to the poor. Special foods are prepared and friends or relatives are invited to share the feast. Gifts and greeting cards are exchanged and children receive presents. Eid al-Fitr is a joyous occasion but its underlying purpose is to praise God and give thanks to him, according to Islamic belief. Some Muslim groups in the United States campaign for schools in some parts of the country to allocate Eid al-Fitr as a day off without being penalized on Eid al-Fitr. For example, the Coalition for Muslim School Holidays, which is a group of more than 80 religious and ethnic organizations, have been lobbying to have the two Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha designated as days off in New York City schools. For 2013 -- the eve of the Feast is Wednesday August 7, 2013. Note: Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen. Public life Eid al-Fitr is not a federal public holiday in the United States. However, many Islamic businesses and organizations may alter their business hours during this event. There may be some congestion around mosques around this time of the year. Background Eid al-Fitr is also known as the Feast of Fast-Breaking or the Lesser Feast. It marks the end of Ramadan and the start of a feast that lasts up to three days in some countries, such as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. It is one of Islam’s two major festivals, with Eid al-Adha being the other major festival. Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of the fasting that occurs during Ramadan. It is not possible to predict the date of Eid al-Fitr according to the Gregorian calendar accurately. This is because the month of Shawwal begins, and hence the month of Ramadan ends, after a confirmed sighting of the new moon. The new moon may be sighted earlier or later in specific locations. Hence, Muslims in different communities, for example on the east and west coasts of the USA and Canada, may begin the Eid-al-Fitr celebrations on different dates. http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/eid-al-fitr

Tuesday Aug. 6 - "Five Carvings, Five Stories" - Niles Library (Niles, Michigan) presentation (Art Association)

Further details are Niles Art Association website -- http://nilesartassc.webs.com/ _______________ NAA Meetings The meetings are held at the Niles District Library at Main and Seventh St. Niles, Michigan downtown, 49120; from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. John Van Dyke, teacher and sculptor, will explain the process through which he created sculptures in wood, based on verses and characters from the Old Testament stories. Presentation in the Niles Library Community Room (basement: elevator available) is free and open to the public. Telephone (269) - 683-6415 for details beyond the Web posting.

70 Shooting Stars per hour -- peak of Perseid Meteor Showers (Aug. 11 - 12, 2013)

from Detroit Free Press newspaper online article (Aug. 3, 2013): Summertime, and the shooting stars are easy. Just pack a lawn chair and save yourself a few hours long past bedtime for the watch party. Here comes the Perseid meteor shower, which promises about 70 shooting stars an hour this year and peaks on Aug. 11-12. Appearing every August, the meteors take their name from their apparent origin in the constellation Perseus, the hero of ancient Greek myth born from a shower of heavenly gold. “The Perseids are the good ones,” says meteorite expert Bill Cooke of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Known for producing fireballs that might streak across a third of the sky, the Perseids owe their brilliance to the speed — nearly 134,000 mph — with which they smack into the upper atmosphere. “It’s also because of the size of the meteors,” Cooke says — dust grains about one-fifth of an inch across that burn nicely as they zip overhead. Those dust grains come courtesy of Comet Swift-Tuttle, which circles the sun once every 133 years and leaves behind a debris trail. (Comets are basically dirty snowballs that develop tails when they approach the sun and start to melt. Different ones are responsible for other regular meteor showers, such as April’s Lyrids brought by Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, and November’s Leonids brought by Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle). You will have to stay up late to see the Perseids at their peak; the best viewing comes from midnight to dawn, particularly after the half-full moon sets at 1 a.m. on Aug. 12, says Astronomy magazine’s Michael Bakich. But they should appear nights in the week before and after the peak, as well. “Get out of the city and the lights to give yourself a chance to see them,” he says. The rule of thumb is that you should be able to see all the stars of the Big Dipper — seven stars if you are counting — to give yourself enough darkness to catch the shooting stars. And give your eyes an hour to adjust. “There will be a dozen ‘ooh’ moments in that hour,” Bakich says. “Ones when everyone will say, ‘Did you see that?’” Although the shooting stars seem to come from the constellation Perseus, don’t look there to see them, Bakich advises. Instead, look about one-third of the sky down and away from the constellation to spot meteors streaking across the sky. “That makes them easier to pick out,” he says. http://www.freep.com/article/20130803/FEATURES01/308030036/Perseid-meteor-shower

August 9 - 11: Upcoming intra-Michigan Longest Yard Sale

further information at this blog: www.usheritagetrail.org/garagesale.asp If you love to shop and love searching for hidden treasures and finding great bargains, this is sale and trip for you! You will find everything from antiques, collectables, furniture, dishware, fresh garden produce, homemade jams and jellies, live entertainment, and much more. Perhaps even more interesting than the "junk" are the people you will meet along the drive. The sales can be found along the highway at homes, farms, businesses, parking lots, and fields. Some areas will have large numbers of vendors while others may be scattered and in some instances a traveler will have to go several miles or more without seeing a yard sale because of the rural nature of the highway. August 8 - 11, 2013

Lunar Communion Sunday (July Sunday nearest July 20 annually)

from Church Website [ Webster Presbyterian Church, 201 W. NASA Parkway, Webster, TX U.S.A. ]: Webster Presbyterian Church was nationally known as the Church of the Astronauts while John Glenn, Buzz Aldrin, Jerry Carr, Charlie Bassett, and Roger Chaffee were active members during their service with NASA. On July 20, 1969, when the first Apollo mission landed on the moon, ruling elder Buzz Aldrin, as an act of thanksgiving, celebrated Holy Communion as an extension of the WPC congregation with the chalice and elements given to him by the church before he left Earth. WPC members were unique participants during the historic service as they gathered for communion in the same hour. Lunar Communion Sunday continues to be celebrated annually at Webster Presbyterian Church on the Sunday nearest the anniversary of the first moon landing. - - - - - - - - - - more information about the Astronaut Connection of this local church at ___________ http://www.websterpresby.org/history.asp

August 1974: 39 years ago

The 37th President of the U.S.: from WHITE HOUSE dot-gov biographical summation Faced with what seemed almost certain impeachment, Nixon announced on August 8, 1974, that he would resign the next day to begin "that process of healing which is so desperately needed in America." http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/richardnixon