This stretch of time/space is called January 7, 2023. The world is still filled with chaos. The bombs continue to fall on the innocent. Politicians continue to seek power instead of providing the service they promised. More than half a million of us will sleep in cars, tents and in parks tonight. All of that is happening outside my bubble. Today I choose to ignore the chaos and seek happiness. Today is Fruitcake Toss Day, Harlem Globetrotter’s Day, I’m not Going to Take it Anymore Day, National Bobblehead Day, National Old Rock Day, National Tempura Day, and my pick, National Pass Gas Day. An average person farts between 5 and 15 times each day depending on diet. Now you know. Now let’s learn some history: On this day in 1601 Robert, Earl of Essex lead a revolt in London against Queen Elizabeth and became the last person to have his head cut off in the Tower of London. It took 3 swings of the axe. This is the day in 1714 that the Typewriter was patented by Englishman Henry Mill. On this day in 1784 the 1st US seed business was established in Philadelphia. Om 1890 on this day African American inventor William Purvis received a patent for the fountain pen. On this day in 1915 Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm approved strategic bombing of Britain but forbid bombing in London fearing that his relatives in the royal family might be killed. On this day in 1920 five duly elected Socialists were denied seats in the New York State Assembly. In 1948 on this day, President Harry Truman raised taxes to fund the Marshall Plan to help rebuild Europe after WWII. Today’s first dead person is Pulitzer Prize winning author, Thornton Wilder, who said, “99% of the people in the world are fools and the rest of us are in great danger of contagion” and “My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate.” Next was a foreign policy expert Jeane Kirkpatrick, who said, “Words can destroy. What we call each other ultimately becomes what we think of each other, and it matters.” The last one for today is Henry Morgan who played Colonel Potter on “Mash” and said, “Never get in a fight with 7 men if all you’ve got is a 6-shooter.” Seems like good advice to me. Abide.
