THE SPACE ALIEN CELEBRATES THANKSGIVING 2020

 The Space Alien looked at the calendar and realized that it was almost Thanksgiving!   

Quickly the Space Alien picked up the phone and dialed Your Editor.  

"What are we doing for Thanksgiving this year?" cried the Space Alien.  "It's just days away and we haven't even begun to plan a gala dinner for family and friends!"  

Your Editor answered sadly "Don't you understand?  There is an epidemic this year!  It is called COVID19!  Why, we even carried a story about that!  It's at: http://www.spacealiengazette.com/2020/04/the-space-alien-and-queen-elizabeth-ii.html "

"You're right!" answered the Space Alien.  "I guess that's why I'm still wearing this mask!  You know I'm immune to this virus, but I've wanted to set a good example.  Now I've almost forgotten I'm wearing it.  It just seems natural now!"

"And don't forget," added Your Editor, "You even wrote a lovely poem about wearing a mask!" 

But the Space Alien still wanted to know about Thanksgiving. 

"How will we celebrate this year?  Will we still get together with family and friends and have lots of yummy food and share great memories?" 

Your Editor shook her head sadly. 

"I'm afraid not," she answered.  It's just too dangerous this year."  

"But maybe we can get together on the internet!" Your Editor continued.  "At least we could see and hear each other!"  

"It won't be the same," observed the Space Alien, "but if we love each other we can still have a meaningful Thanksgiving.  We can be thankful for each other!"

"You're right," answered Your Editor.  "We may not have a holiday table but we'll have Zoom!"

And here, Loyal Readers, is the poem written by our very own Space Alien.  We know you will appreciate its sentiment!   

You don't have to ask,
I'll still Wear a Mask!
At home or in space,
I'll cover my face!
Our friends will admire us,
And not catch this virus!
It's fashionable too!
And shows I love you!

All of us here at the busy and socially distancing offices of the Space Alien Gazette wish you the best Thanksgiving possible!  

THE SPACE ALIEN GETS OUT THE VOTE!

The Space Alien reminds Loyal Readers to vote on Tuesday, November 3!  

Vote cheerfully and thoughtfully!

And here, Loyal Readers, is a song you can sing as you march to the polls!  Your Editor wrote the words and you can sing them to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic.  

Tuesday Morning Patriots 

Our loyal troops in uniform are on the line for you,

They do their job at any cost, I’m grateful that they do.

But all of us can join the fight wherever we may be,

‘Cause Tuesday Morning Patriots will keep our country free.

Chorus: 

Yes, Tuesday Morning Patriots are marching to the polls,

To exercise their voting rights with fire in their souls,

With ballots, not with bullets, they’ll send their message clear,

Our country needs good leadership, the time is now, it’s here!

Our right to vote has been secured by fire, blood and sweat,

Millions struggled, fought and died, and we must not forget!

Don’t let your country slip away!  Let your voice be heard!

Just SHOUT into that ballot box, they’ll hear your every word!

Chorus:

Yes, Tuesday Morning Patriots are marching to the polls,

To exercise their voting rights with fire in their souls,

With ballots, not with bullets, they’ll send their message clear,

Our country needs good leadership, the time is now, it’s here!

Never say that one small vote can’t turn this land around,

One plus one, a million strong, will make a mighty sound!

You have the choice, do nothing, and nothing’s what you’ll get,

But take a small step to the polls, you’ll make a winning bet!

Chorus:

Yes, Tuesday Morning Patriots are marching to the polls,

To exercise their voting rights with fire in their souls,

With ballots, not with bullets, they’ll send their message clear,

Our country needs good leadership, the time is now, it’s here!

Make no complaint November fourth* when we get the news, 

Of who will be sworn in to lead and who gets walking shoes;

Don’t wait!   November third* join voters proud to serve,

And let the slackers who stay home get just what they deserve! 

Chorus: 

Yes, Tuesday Morning Patriots are marching to the polls,

To exercise their voting rights with fire in their souls,

With ballots, not with bullets, they’ll send their message clear,

Our country needs good leadership, the time is now, it’s here!

Plan your Vote -- and Vote!

-----------------------------

* Revised For the 2020 National Election. 

See more about Tuesday Morning Patriots at 

https://joansoccasionalpoems.blogspot.com/2020/08/tuesday-morning-patriots-2020.html 

© 2004 Joan D. Levin.  

May be used freely for any non-commercial purpose.

THE SPACE ALIEN PREPARES FOR ELECTION DAY 2020

     Election Day 2020 is just around the corner on Tuesday, November 3rd.  Absentee voting has already begun!

     The Space Alien is not a citizen of the United States and therefore cannot vote, but can still show voters where to get the information they need to cast absentee ballots and help the postal workers deliver them!  

      Because of COVID-19, so many voters have decided to vote by mail that the Space Alien fears the post offices will be swamped.  

     Fortunately the U. S. Postal Service says it is prepared and not to worry about this!  

     If you have not yet voted, here are some resources the Space Alien recommends: 

1. The U. S. Government website where you can find your state's rules: 

https://www.usa.gov/absentee-voting

2. The United States Postal Service information on voting by mail: For this link, please Click Here

We urge Loyal Readers to take advantage of these resources and be sure to VOTE!   

                                      ###   

THE SPACE ALIEN GREETS 5781

The Space Alien has been busy in the kitchen baking a delicious Honey Cake to welcome the New Year, 5781!  (This year this will begin at sunset on the evening of Friday, September 18.)

Here is the Space Alien's delicious honey cake! 

And for a sweet year, the Space Alien has Apples to dip into Honey!

All of us at the Space Alien Gazette wish everyone a good, sweet and healthy year!

To all our Loyal Readers: Shanah Tovah!

A Good Year!

THE SPACE ALIEN EXECUTES A THRILLING RESCUE AT SEA!

(Note: While this may not go out as a separate issue of the Space Alien Gazette, it will surely be of interest to Loyal Readers!)  

A Loyal Reader sent Your Editor this article from the  New York Times dated September 5, 2020, about a thrilling rescue of boatloads of Trump supporters at a large reservoir lake in Texas.  

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/05/us/Texas-boat-parade-trump.html?action=click&module=Latest&pgtype=Homepage

Your Editor believes the picture in this New York Times article may have been "doctored" to remove a very important element: the role of the Space Alien in rescuing people from the foundering boats.

As the article above notes: "Firefighters pulled some people out of the water" but it does not say exactly how the others were rescued.  

Fortunately Your Editor was able to obtain an original copy of this photograph making it clear that the Space Alien played an important role in this thrilling rescue!    

As you can see, the Space Alien bravely places saving lives above political considerations!  

THE SPACE ALIEN HONORS LABOR DAY

The Space Alien works hard on the assembly line when this plant is short-handed, performing assigned tasks with speed and precision.

On Labor Day, the Space Alien joins workers everywhere, celebrating the advances workers have made while considering goals yet to be met.    

This year the Space Alien will march in parades, and then then relax with friends at a picnic to say goodbye to summer.

Here are some interesting websites about Labor Day: 

https://parade.com/1081089/jessicasager/labor-day-history/

and: 

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/labor-day-1

and:

https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/10-fascinating-facts-about-the-labor-day-holiday/

and:

https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-labor-day

and:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveodland/2012/08/29/10-labor-day-facts/#6225b1775af3

While puzzled by seeming inconsistencies between these accounts, the Space Alien was still fascinated to learn more about this holiday honoring our workforce, and hopes that as Loyal Readers enjoy these last days of summer, they will also think about the meaning of Labor Day.

Labor Day, observed on the first Monday in September, will be observed this year on September 7th.  Whatever your plans, the Space Alien and Your Editor wish you a wonderful weekend!

THE SPACE ALIEN MAKES A BIG MOVE

One of many executive decisions the Space Alien recently made was to move internet hosting from Jacksonville, Florida to Mountain View, California, nearly 3,000 miles away! 

(Loyal Readers may recognize these cities as the homes of Register.com and Google.com, not a surprising coincidence given the Space Alien's long interest in modern technology.)  

The Space Alien normally travels at tachyonic velocities exceeding the speed of light, but there was concern that bringing needed information from Florida to California in this manner could totally vaporize these valuable files!     

Commercial airline travel was not practical because many commercial airlines had cut back on flights due to COVID-19, and also because the Space Alien has encountered difficulties with commercial airlines (mainly involving disputes over bags of peanuts).   

So the Space Alien decided to take a leisurely drive to the new internet headquarters with the valuable files safely packed in the trunk!   

Hopefully not too many of these valuable files will be lost in this move, and the Space Alien looks forward to many more years of producing the very highest quality journalism for Loyal Readers of the incomparable Space Alien Gazette!  

THE SPACE ALIEN CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE DAY IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Your Editor encountered the Space Alien viewing past issues of the Space Alien Gazette.

"Look how proudly I marched on July 4th last year!" cried the Space Alien.  "I beat the drum in a Spirit of '76 reenactment so all the marchers could keep in step!"

http://spacealiengazette.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-space-alien-celebrates-our-nations.html

"And this July marks the completion of our fourth year of online publication of the Space Alien Gazette," added the Space Alien. "I think we should have a big party to celebrate that as well!"

"But you know we can't have a big party now because of COVID-19," said Your Editor.

"So what shall I do instead on July 4th?" cried the Space Alien.

Your Editor paused before answering.
"Do you know what the Fourth of July is all about?" she asked.

"I'm not sure," answered the Space Alien. 
"Maybe the invention of firecrackers?"

"Not at all," said your Editor.  "Just look at this!" she continued, taking a framed reproduction down from the wall.  

"This document, written over 200 years ago and signed on July 4, 1776, declared the independence of the United States of America from the British Empire," she explained.

And you may read it here:
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript


The Space Alien looked over this document thoughtfully, and then read these words aloud:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." 

"These are very important words!" said the Space Alien.  "I am going to spend the rest of the day studying them and thinking about their meaning!" 

"That's a good idea," agreed Your Editor.  "I'll join you -- we'll do this together!  And then we'll act to assure that our government today will actually live up to these words with fairness for all!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This issue of the Space Alien Gazette is lovingly dedicated to the memory of my dear Uncle Al who reminded us each year to re-read the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July.