Today is March 13th in the year 2024. The Earth will travel 1.6 million miles today as it orbits the Sun which orbits the Milky Way Galaxie. We aren’t a big deal as solar systems go because there are over 2 trillion of them that we can see. We are different, and special. We are alive. We are conscious. We can think. We exist. Today is Jewel Day, Donald Duck Day, National Coconut Torte Day, Ken Day, National Jewel Day, No Smoking Day, Smart and Sexy Day, Good Samaritan Day and Open Your Umbrella Inside Day. Don’t ask why that is a designated day. Now to history: On this day in 1639 Cambridge College was renamed Harvard for clergyman John Harvard. In 1781 William Herschel sees what he thinks is a “comet” but actually discovered the planet Uranus and in so doing, establishes a new category of celestial jokes. In 1900 In France the length of the working day for women and children was limited by law to 11 hours. Think about that for a little while. On this day in 1943 the Nazis liquidated the Jewish ghetto in Kraków. Oskar Schindler (Schindler’s List), with advance information, saved his workers by keeping them in his factory overnight. Finally, on this day in 1965 Eric Clapton quit the Yardbirds because the band moved away from traditional blues; Jeff Beck became his replacement. Today we will get advice from a dubious source, founder of the cult known as Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard. He said, “You don’t get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion.” “The only way you can control people is to lie to them. You can write that down in your book in great big letters.” “Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today and you make your tomorrow.” “If a person thinks he dan be happy without making those around him happy, he’s crazy.” “Tolerance is a good cornerstone on which to build human relationships.” “Your potentialities are a great deal better than anyone ever permitted you to believe.” That’s enough from L. Ron. Interesting guy to say the least. Maybe one of the biggest practical jokers of all time. Abide.
