Today is March 29, 2021: National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day, Mom and Pop Small Business Day, National Vietnam War Veterans Day, Smoke and Mirrors Day and Piano Day. Please pass me the lemon cake. Historically speaking, this is the day in 845 that Paris was sacked by Viking raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok, who collects a huge ransom in exchange for leaving. My son tells me that Ragnar and I are related. On this is the day in 1806 construction was authorized for the Cumberland Road which was the first United States federal highway. In 1852, Ohio makes it illegal for children under 18 and women to work more than 10 hours a day. How many hours did they work each day before the law was passed? I’m betting they also worked 7 days a week. In 1943 on this day, meat, butter and cheese were rationed in US during WW II. Lastly, this is the day in 1974 that a Chinese farmer discovered the Terracotta Army near Xi’an, 8,000 clay warrior statues buried to guard the tomb of China’s 1st emperor, Qin Shi Huang. This is Sam Walton’s birthday (1918). He’s the person who killed America’s Main Street. At least he did in my town. When Walmart opened, he put everyone on Main out of business. He said, “There is only one boss: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.” On a lighter note, this is the day Mitch Hedberg stopped living in 2005. He was a standup comedian known for his dead pan delivery. I saw this wino, he was eating grapes. I was like, “Dude, you have to wait”. “Alcoholism is a disease, but it’s the only one you can get yelled at for having. ” “I don’t have a girlfriend. I just know a girl who would get really mad if she heard me say that.” OK.. enough of the dry humor. That’s enough for today. Be safe out there. This isn’t over yet. Abide.
