We have decided to call this 24-hour patch of time/space May 3, 2022. I am going to do my best to insulate myself from the chaos that surrounds us. Since I can’t fix societies problems, (and the list is growing), I won’t spend today thinking about them. Is that selfish? Maybe. I’m not Don Quijote. So, let’s move on. May 3 is National Chocolate Custard Day, Garden Meditation Day, National Raspberry Popover Day, Poem on Your Pillow Day, National Teacher Day, Sun Day and Wordsmith Day. Next, history: On this day in 1621, Francis Bacon was accused of bribery. At the time he was one of the most powerful people in English government. Politicians accepting “gifts” goes back a long way. In 1765 the 1st North American medical college opened in Philadelphia. In 1802 Washington DC was incorporated. This is the day in 1861 that Lincoln asked for 42,000 Army Volunteers and another 18,000 seamen. In 1901 on this day fire destroyed 1,700 buildings in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1921 on this day West Virginia imposed the 1st state sales tax. On this day in 1944, WW II meat rationing ended in the United States. This is the birthday of the Renaissance philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli. He is often called the father of modern political philosophy and political science. He said, “It is better to act and repent than not to act and regret.” “A sign of intelligence is an awareness of one’s own ignorance.” “The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life the clearer we should see through it.” I’ll end with “I desire to go to Hell and not to Heaven. In the former I shall enjoy the company of popes, Kings and princes, while in the latter are only beggars, monks and apostles.” Abide.
