It’s already November 6, 2023. I’m happy living my short life on my infinitesimal small speck of a planet on the edge of our massive galaxy (100,000 light years across), which turns out to be just one of an estimated two trillion galaxies in our corner of the universe. Both the big picture and the small picture (Quantum Physics) is miraculous. By the way, why is the Milky Way flat? Today is Basketball Day, Button Day, Color the World Orange, Fill Our Staplers Day, Marooned Without a Compass Day, National Healthy Eating Day, Saxophone Day, and National Nachos Day. Now some historical footnotes: On this day in 1813 the Chilpancingo Congress declared Mexico independent of Spain. This is the day in 1860 that Lincoln was elected as the 16th President. On this day in 1917 New York state adopted a constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote in state elections. On this day in 1941 Einsatz Gruppe (German death squads) murdered 15,000 Jews of Rovno Ukraine. On tis day in 1945 the first landing of a jet on a carrier took place on the USS Wake Island. On this day in 1962 Saudi Arabia proclaimed the end of slavery. On this day in 2018 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest person ever elected to the House of Representatives at the age of 29. Today’s quotes come from Catherine the Great of Russia. She said, “Power without a nation’s confidence is nothing.” “One does not always do the best there is. One does the best one can.” “I sincerely want peace, not because I lack resources for war, but because I hate bloodshed.” “I am one of the people who love the why of things.” “I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly.” “Don’t worry about things you cannot alter.” “You were in a mood to quarrel. Please inform me once the inclination passes.” “Praise is the only gift for which people are really grateful.” Think about how much better it would be to have Catherine in charge of Russia right now. Abide.
