A new day is upon us. What’s your plan for today? I’ve got a “to do” list. I’ve got a good attitude. I’m going to shoot some pool, cook some food, listen to some live music, see some friends and have a few adult beverages all while wearing flip flops and shorts. What a wonderful life I have. Gratitude is the corner stone of happiness. It’s also Pan American Aviation Day, Wright Brothers Day and National Maple Syrup Day. Not much to work with on this list. Now to history. The first interesting event happened in 1398 when Tamerlane captured Delhi, defeating Sultan Nasir-u Din Mehmud’s armies by setting camels loaded with hay on fire and charging them at the Sultans armored elephants. Must have been ugly. In 1791 NYC traffic regulation creates the 1st 1-way street. In 1821 Kentucky abolishes debtors’ prisons. I’ve often pointed out how difficult life was for Jews in Europe. Here too, in 1862 General Ulysses S. Grant issues order #11, expelling Jews from Tennessee. In 1895, the Anti-Saloon League of America formed, Washington, D.C. I probably wouldn’t have joined that happy group of people. This is the date in 1903 that the Wright brothers made their 1st sustained motorized aircraft flight at Kitty Hawk. In 1957 The last episode of The Nat King Cole Show airs on NBC due to lack of national sponsorship. I remember that show. A little bit of corporate racism involved? Nat died at the age of 43 from lung cancer. He said “Get me well so I can get on television and tell people to stop smoking”. This is also the birthday (1929) of William Safire who was a self described “right wing pundit”. He said “Never assume the obvious is true.” and “The right to do something does not mean that doing it is right.” Good advise in both quotes. Now that my brain is up to speed, I think I’ll go live December 17th, 2019. Be sure to Abide.
