The Monday Memo

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We’re all brave in our own way. For example, I’m not afraid of raw cookie dough. – Unknown

Today’s independent commentary deals with these people/issues:

  • Presidents’ Day
  • Congressional District Census
  • NBA All-Star Game
  • One More Thing

PRESIDENTS’ DAY:

Today (February 17) is Presidents’ Day. According to the DateandTime.com website, Washington’s Birthday, also known as Presidents’ Day, is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of February. The day honors presidents of the United States, including George Washington, the USA’s first president. Washington’s birthday is February 22.

I have a February birthday. Four presidents have birthdays in February: George Washington, William Henry Harrison, Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald Reagan. I have some very distinguished company!

Do you have a favorite President? 

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CENSUS:

If you read my column on Friday, you would have been one of the first to hear about the Congressional District Census scam that is hitting Montana. Some others are now reporting about it. 

Here is part of what I wrote:

I received an official-looking legal-sized letter Thursday with no return address. It had the following instructions printed on the outside of the envelope:

DO NOT DESTROY
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT

After opening the document, the first thing I saw was:

2020 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CENSUS

In smaller letters, I saw this information:

Commissioned by the Republican Party

Why is the Republican Party using the word “Census” in any mailings? The 2020 Census count is coming up in April and mailings like this one will confuse some residents.

As a former member of the 2010 Census team (Partnership Specialist), I can tell you that things like this only serve to harm our country from getting accurate counts.

Of course, they ask for donations at the end, which the real Census will never do.

I also included some photos with the original column that you can see HERE.

NBA ALL-STAR GAME:

I did not watch all of the NBA All-Star game, but I did catch most of the fourth quarter. It was very good – which most All-Star games are not.

Yahoo Sports reported:

While everyone once treated the NBA All-Star Game like a vacation, four-time MVP Kobe Bryant never stopped working, so his torchbearers honored him with the most competitive exhibition ever Sunday night.

In a tribute to Bryant, the league opted to turn off the clock in the fourth quarter and set a final target score by adding 24 points to the leading team’s total through three quarters. The first three quarters were also mini games within the game, each played for $100,000 to the leading team’s charity of choice. An additional $200,000 was reserved for the winning team’s charity.

The final score was 157-155. Team LeBron won.

ONE MORE THING:

I have some great news to report to my faithful readers! I won playing the Powerball Lottery Saturday night. I did not win the top jackpot or even the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth highest prize.

I won $4.00.

I will let you know how much my life changes after this win…

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