The 24th day of January 2024 has arrived. I’ll start with a quote from Jimmy Dean who said, “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails.” Today is Beer Can Appreciation Day, Belly Laugh Day, Chage a Pet’s life Day, Library Shelfie Day, National Compliment Day National “Just Do It” Day, National Peanut Butter Day, and Talk Like a Grizzled Prospector Day otherwise known as Dagnabit Day. Not a bad list. Now some history: On this day in 1656 the 1st Jewish doctor in the Colonies, Jacob Lumbrozo, arrived in Maryland. On this day in 1948 James Marshall found gold in Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California, starting the California Gold Rush. This is a particularly good footnote: In 1892 on this day the Battle of Mengo, Uganda was fought between French missionaries and British missionaries. The messengers of a loving God take time off to kill each other. On this day in 1922 the Eskimo Pie was patented by Christian Kent Nelson of Iowa. He wasn’t an Eskimo. This is the day in 1935 that beer was first sold in a can. It was “Krueger’s Cream Ale”. On this day in 1943 Hitler ordered German troops at Stalingrad to fight to the death. This is the day in 1965 that Winston Churchill died of a stroke at age 90. He will provide today’s insightful observations: “You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.” “The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.” “I’d rather argue against a hundred idiots, than have one agree with me.” “Lady Nancy Astor: Winston, if you were my husband, I’d poison your tea. Churchill: Nancy, If I were your husband, I’d drink it.” “Some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others change their principles for the sake of their party.” Last one: “You can always count on Americans to do the righ thing – after they’ve tried everything else.” Abide.
