This is that small window in Iowa when it is not snowing nor is it 90+ degrees. The humidity hasn’t quite reached steam room level yet and the bugs haven’t yet reached their adulthood appetite for fresh blood. In short that space of time when you can mow, preen, prune, dig, plant and remove a winter’s worth of crap without being bundled to the hilt or eaten alive. Enjoy this brief period. It shall not last. There won’t be another such period until raking time in the fall.

The news just keeps coming fast ’n’ furious.

1) “Sure I would have invaded Iraq” (paraphrased) said what candidate for president when asked “If you knew then what you know now..?”

2) Aftershocks, some as high as 7.3, continue to rock what earthquake ravaged nation?

3) Seems like Pope Francis makes someone mad every week. Whose wrath did he incur this week when he announced a treaty with “the state of Palestine?”

4) Which country was declared Ebola free last week after 42 days without a new case of ebola?

5) Meanwhile the Pope seems to have picked up what famous fan who said he may return to Catholicism after meeting the Pope?

6) May 17, 1792 is a significant day in financial news. That day, merchants and brokers meeting on Wall Street established what?

7) May 17, 1954, the SCOTUS hands down a unanimous decision in Brown v. Board declaring ‘separate but equal’ unconstitutional. Who argued the case for the winning side?

8) What small town in Iowa was hit by a tornado last Sunday?

9) In a surprising survey on religious affiliation in America released by the Pew Research Center, Christianity lost nearly 8% while what group gained nearly 7%?

10) Long a target of GOP cuts, what transportation sector did House Republicans vote to cut just days after a fatal accident?

11) In a surprise to almost everyone, the Obama Administration gave consent to allow what company to begin exploratory oil drilling in the Arctic?

12) Memorial Day weekend will see the grand opening of a museum that will honor what late movie star from Winterset, Iowa?

13) Which Republican presidential candidate ruffled some Iowa political feathers when he announced he would skip what event this summer?

14) North Korea’s defense minister was executed by firing squad last week. What was his fatal offense?

15) The group looking to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill with a woman has chosen the proposed replacement. Who is she?

16) Justice, finally. A work of art by what master, looted from a Jewish owner by the Nazis,was returned to the family of the original owner Friday?

17) Many progressives in Wisconsin welcomed the news that what former senator would run once more for his former seat?

18) The Pentagon (your tax dollars) paid teams from what sport up to $5.4 million for pre-game salutes to ‘local heroes’?

19) What notorious ambassador said Friday he would not seek the Republican nomination for President?

20) Which Republican presidential candidate called for ending the ACA and replacing it with care managed by an Apple watch app?

Some folks see shade trees. I see leaves to rake in the fall.

Answers:

1) Jeb Bush. Remember last week he said he’d seek out W for advice on the Middle East

2) Nepal

3) Israel

4) Liberia

5) Raul Castro, president of Cuba

6) The New York Stock Exchange

7) future SC Justice Thurgood Marsall

8) Lake City

9) the unaffiliated

10) Amtrak

11) Shell

12) John Wayne (born in Winterset as Marion Morrison)

13) Jeb Bush

14) dozing off during meetings. A sure cure for sleep apnea

15) Harriet Tubman

16) Matisse

17) Russ Feingold

18) NFL football

19) John Bolton

20) Jeb Bush – Jeb should be looking for an advisor after this week.