It’s March 5, 2022. Ra has started his daily trip and will provide another sunny day topping out at 85 degrees. Can’t be much better than that. Another good day awaits. It’s National Absinthe Day, Cinco de Marcho, Multiple Personality Day, National Poutine Day, National Potty Dance Day, and National Cheese Doddle Day. Cinco de Marcho is a made–up holiday that marks the beginning of a 12-day period when “people train their livers for drinking huge amounts of alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day.” Sounds like a party. Now to a short history lesson. On this day in 1558 smoking tobacco was introduced into Europe by the Spanish. This is the day in 1770 known as the Boston Massacre when British soldiers killed 5 men in a crowd throwing snowballs, stones and sticks at them. African American Crispus Attucks was the 1st to die. In 1836 Samuel Colt manufactured his first pistol, a 34-caliber “Texas” model. In 1841 on this day began the 1st continuous filibuster in the US Senate which lasted until March 11. In 1933 FDR proclaimed a 10-day bank holiday. This happened 2 days after FDR took office and gave him time to pass the Emergency Banking Act to save our financial system. Today I’m going to deviate from my norm and give you a quote of a dictator who murdered an estimated 1.5 million of his own citizens: Joseph Stalin. Stalin said, “It’s not the people who vote that count. It’s the people who count the votes.” Remember that quote when you read about legislatures changing their states voting laws. I’ll end with a quote from John Belushi who died on this day in 1982 at the age of 33. John said, “My advice to you is to start drinking heavily.” A fitting place to end on Cinco de Marcho day. Abide.
