It is now the 9th day of February 2024. We can either look at today in the context of yesterday and tomorrow or we can treat it as a unique single 24–hour experience. Each of us gets to decide what our experience will be. What would you do if this were your last day? Something to ponder. Moving on. There are lots of good options for a celebration. It’s National Pizza Day. It’s also National Cut the Cord Day, National Develop Alternative Vices Day, National Stop Bullying Day, No One East Alone Day, and Read in the Bathtub Day.. I’ve got a sufficient number of vices that I’m happy with. No need to develop alternatives. There isn’t a lot in the history of today. The first interesting footnote is in 1895 on this date when volleyball was invented by W G Morgan in Massachusetts. In 1909 the 1st federal legislation prohibiting narcotics became law. Before that, it was legal. In 1926 the teaching theory of evolution is forbidden in Atlanta, Georgia schools. In 1943, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order setting a minimum 48-hour work week in a number of critical war industries. In 1950 on this date, Senator Joseph McCarthy charged that the State Department was infested with 205 communists. In 1964 the 1st appearance of the Beatles on the “Ed Sullivan Show” drew 73.7 million viewers. In 1971, Satchel Paige became the 1st negro-league player elected to baseball Hall of Fame. He is thought by some baseball historians to be the greatest pitcher of all time. When he was booed by the opposing fans, he’d sometimes call in the outfield and have them sit in the infield while he’d strike out the other team’s batters. Here are a couple of quotes from Satchel, “I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I toss one that ain’t never been seen by this generation.” And, “Work like you don’t need the money. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Dance like nobody’s watching.” Pretty good advice. This is the date (1773) when our 9th President, William Henry Harrison was born. He said, “I believe that all the measures of the Government are directed to the purpose of making the rich richer and the poor poorer.” It appears that Government hasn’t changed much over the years. This is also the date in 1981 that Bill Haley, who gave us Rock Around the Clock, dies of a heart attack. He is the person who gave us the immortal phrase “See you later, alligator. After a while, crocodile.” The end. Abide
