Hello Tuesday. Today is National Take a Walk in the Park Day. If you go, you might want to take a coat! It’s also National Pencil Day. Hymen Lipman received the first patent for attaching an eraser to the end of a pencil on this day in 1858. Before that time, pencils and erasers existed separately. Did you know that during World War II, the Cumberland Pencil Company out of Kenswick, England produced pencils that contained secret maps? The pencils were designed to work but they were hollow with graphite on the ends. Between the graphite, the makers had stowed maps to aid captured military personnel in their escape to freedom. At night, when the factory closed, workers would assemble them under secrecy. The miniature maps detailed escape routes from prisoner of war camps and also included a miniature compass. Throughout the war, these small tools were issued to members of the Royal Airforce and sent to POW camps. Now you know.
5 more things you need to know
- Former SLCounty GOP chair who resigned on Sunday is still running for state GOP chair.
- CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky had to fight back tears as she warns of ‘impending doom’ with new COVID-19 surge.
- The trial of Derek Chauvin began yesterday. He is the police officer who kept his knee on George Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds.
- President Biden’s approval rating on the COVID-19 response hits 72%.
- Beverly Cleary died over the weekend, just shy of her 105th birthday.
Countdown
15 days until the end of the Cox/Henderson administration’s first 100 days (04/14/2021)
25 days until the United Utah Party Organizing Convention (04/24/2021)
31 days until the Biden/Harris administration’s first 100 days are up (04/30/2021)
32 days until the in-person Utah GOP Organizing Convention (05/01/2021)
165 days until half-way through the Cox/Henderson’s administration’s 500-day plan (09/11/2021)
