It’s April 20, the 121st day of the year. Yesterday’s Lake Michigan temperatures were 46 degrees at the Chicago crib and 48 degrees at the Chicago shore. Yesterday was Easter Sunday for those in the Greek Orthodox Church.
This day in history (from history.com):
1841, Edgar Allan Poe’s story, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” first appears in Graham’s Lady’s and Gentleman’s Magazine. The tale is generally considered to be the first detective story.
1902, Four years after their discovery of the elements radium and polonium in their laboratory in Paris, Marie and Pierre Curie isolate radium salts the mineral pitchblende.
1999, Teen gunmen kill 13 at Columbine High School
I do not typically select violent actions for the three or four things listed in “This day in history” here. But that date and that event eviscerated the feeling we had that our children would be safe in schools. The generation that has essentially grown up with school shootings has taken the lead on gun violence. News of the virus and this pandemic disaster has overwhelmed the news, but my guess is these young people and those inspired by their activism are still working. That includes the Evanston Township High School kids who are unafraid to voice their opposition to gun violence and their fears for the future of the planet.
This being Earth Week, fears for the future of the planet – and ways to fend off climate disaster – might just replace fears about the virus this week. Sheltering in place means for some worrying in place but for others acting, supporting and thinking in place. If Dr. Fauci sees his shadow on Earth Day, will we have six more weeks of stay-at-home?
Mike Roche’s photos, along with many of his droll captions, are in the rotating photo box here.
I’m ending today’s column with the signoff that Fire Chief Brian Scott used in his April newsletter: “Be Safe! Be Strong! Be Evanston!”