November 28th 2022 has arrived. Here’s a fact that should help you be grateful for your good fortune: Today, 690 million people, give or take a few, live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $1.90 a day. You aren’t one of them. Feel lucky. I do. Today is Cyber Monday, It’s Letter Writing Day, Make Your Own Head Day, Red Planet Day, Turkey Leftover Day, and National French Toast Day. Now to the our history: This is the day in 1717 that Blackbeard attacked and captured a French slave ship, which he renames as his flagship the “Queen Anne’s Revenge”. In 1720 Anne Bonny and Mary Read are tried and found guilty of pirating and sentenced to hang. Both women “pleaded their bellies” asking for mercy because they were pregnant and were granted a stay of execution until they delivered. On this day in 1729 the Natchez Indians massacred 138 Frenchmen, 25 French women, and 56 children at Fort Rosalie. On this day in 1814 the Times of London was first printed by an automatic, steam powered press making newspapers available to a mass audience. On this day in 1893 New Zealand becomes the first country to allow women to vote in a national election. On this day in 1895 the 1st auto race in America was held. It was from Chicago to Evanston and back. 6 cars, 55 miles with an average speed of 7 MPH. On this day in 1925 the Grand Ole Opry premiered as the “WSM Ban Dance” on WSM radio in Nashville, TN. In 1974 John Lennon made his last concert appearance with Elton John at Madison Square Garden. They performed “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night” “Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds: , and “I Saw Her Standing There”. Today’s quotes come from the author Washington Irving (Rip Van Winkle and the Legend of Sleep Hollow). He said, “After a man passes 60, his mischief is mainly in his head.” I’ll end with this quote: “Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.” I agree with both of his quotes. Abide.
