October 08, 2018

Good morning crew,

Happy Columbus Day. In recent years there has been some controversy surrounding the political correctness of celebrating this day, but it has a long tradition in the United States.

The first recorded celebration of Columbus Day in the U. S. took place on October 12, 1792. Organized by The Society of St. Tammany, also known as the Columbian Order, it commemorated the 300th anniversary of Columbus's landing.

The 400th anniversary of the event, however, inspired the first official Columbus Day holiday in the United States. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation urging Americans to mark the day. Which they have, ever since.

A common misconception is that Columbus proved that the world was round by sailing West into the unknown. During the debates at the court of Queen Isabella, the true shape of the Earth was never an issue, it was its size!

The opponents of Columbus said he was underestimating the size and that he could never sail due west from Europe to the Orient. They were right. He encountered an obstacle which later became know as North America.

Laugh it up,

Joe

joe@gophercentral.com

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"Alaska Airlines might start giving out virtual reality headsets to first-class passengers. Meanwhile, if you're in coach, they just duct tape an in-flight magazine to your forehead." -Jimmy Fallon

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"A new study reveals that the average fast-food chicken nugget is almost 60 percent fat. The study also says that the average fast-food customer is almost 60 percent chicken nuggets." -Conan O'Brien

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"According to a new report, there is a shrine in Japan solely dedicated to hemorrhoids. Seating is limited, but usually available." -Seth Meyers

As a new school Principal, Mr. Mitchell was checking over his school on the first day. Passing the stockroom, he was startled to see the door wide open and teachers bustling in and out, carrying off books and supplies in preparation for the arrival of students the next day.

The school where he had been a Principal the previous year had used a check-out system only slightly less elaborate than that at Fort Knox.

Cautiously, he asked the school's long time Custodian, "Do you think it's wise to keep the stock room unlocked and to let the teachers take things without requisitions?"

The Custodian looked at him gravely. "We trust them with the children, don't we?"

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One caller to our answering service gave me his name, number and message and then said, "You know my name. What's yours?"

"We're not allowed to give our names," I replied, "but my operator number is 4136"

Sounding disappointed, he said, "May I call you by your first digit, or would that be too personal?"