By international mutual agreement, this day’s name is October 17, 2023. That seems to be one of the few things everyone can agree on. It’s a start. This morning I’m grateful that I’m not homeless. I woke up in a warm bed in my home. On any given night this year, 585,000 people didn’t. Be grateful. Today is Black Poetry Day, Forgive an Ex Day, Mulligan Day, National Face Your Fears Day, National Pasta Day, Pay Back a Friend Day, Spreadsheet Day, and Wear Something Gaudy Day. Now some history: On this day in 1483 Tomas de Torquemade was appointed inquisitor general of Spain and was in charge of the Spanish Inquisition. During his tenure, he used torture to extract confessions and it is estimated that he burned 2,000 at the stake. Yet another example of religion run amok. On tis day in 1894 the Ohio national guard killed 3 lynchers and rescued a black man. This is the day in 1931 that Al Capone was convicted on 5 counts of tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in jail. In 1933 on this day Albert Einstein arrived in the US as a refugee from Nazi Germany. On this day in 1968 “Bullitt” starring Steve McQueen was released. One of my all-time favorite movies. On this day in 1972 chuck Berry’s “My Ding-a-Ling” went to #1. One of my all-time favorite Chuck Berry songs. It’s Aurther Miller’s birthday (1915). He was the playwright who wrote Death of a Salesman. He said, “No one wants the truth if it is inconvenient.” “don’t be seduced into thinking that that which does not make a profit is without value.” “I would be twenty before I learned how to be fifteen, thirty before I know what it meant to be twenty, and now at seventy-two I have to stop myself from thinking like a man of fifty who has plenty of time ahead.” That’s a good one to end on. Abide.
