It’s March 24th, 2024. I woke up thinking “wouldn’t it be nice if all the Christian Nationalist started demanding that America do a better job of feeding the hungry, caring for the sick and sheltering the homeless?” Just a thought. Today you can celebrate National Cheesesteak Day, National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day, International Day Of Achievers and (drum roll) National Cocktail Day! Since I’m an Ordained Priest of the Latter Day Church of the Dude, I think sometime later today I’ll raise a White Russian to celebrate. Now to the interesting footnotes of history. On this day in 1832, Mormon leader Joseph Smith was beaten, tarred & feathered in Ohio. That kept him moving West. On this day in 1837 Canada gave its black citizens the right to vote. In 1906 the “Census of the British Empire” showed that Great Britain ruled 1/5th of the world. In 1930 on this date, the 1st religious services were telecast in the US. On this day in 1942 the US government began moving native-born citizens with Japanese ancestry into detention centers under Executive Order 9066, with the intention of preventing home-grown espionage. Finally, in 1958 Elvis Presley joined the army on this day. On this day in 1944 RAF rear gunner Nicholas Alkemade survived falling 18,000 feet without a parachute from his bomber. His fall was broken by pine trees and soft snow. He limped away with only a sprained leg. Today’s dead person is Harry Houdini. He said, “Never try to fool children, they expect nothing, and therefore see everything.” “Keep up your enthusiasm! There is nothing more contagious than exuberant enthusiasm.” “The greatest escape I ever made was when I left Appleton, Wisconsin.” “A magician is only an actor – an actor pretending to be a magician.” “The secret of showmanship consists not of what you really do, but the mystery-loving public thinks you do.” “Anyone who believes in magic is a fool.” Harry died of a ruptured appendix at the age of 52 in Detroit, MI. The story is that the cause was a McGill University student who punched him in the stomach with his permission. That’s enough for today. Have a good one. Abide.
