Happy Birthday to You
I’m always late when it comes to trends. Just last week I learned the Macarena and I can’t stop. No wonder that craze swept the nation in 1996. Sadly, no one wants to do it now.
And speaking of being late with trends, apparently the latest blog trend is to enter your birthday into wikipedia and see what has happened on your birthday throughout history. Not that you were wondering what has happened on January 23, but in the off chance that you were, here you go.
Events:
1556 – The deadliest earthquake in the history of the world strikes the Shaanxi province in China, killing approximately 830,000 people. (We’re not off to a good start for this day.)
1570 – The assassination of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray throws Scotland into civil war. (Natural disaster and war, things need to get better quickly.)
1719 – The principality of Liechtenstein is created. (Now we’re talking. I like to think this moment was the beginning of the end of the Holy Roman Empire.)
1789 – Georgetown College becomes the first Catholic college in the United States (John Thompson was hired as basketball coach two years later.)
1849 – Elizabeth Blackwell is awarded her M.D. by the Medical Institute of Geneva, New York, becoming the first woman doctor in the United States. (China could have used her 300 years before this.)
1870 – U.S. cavalrymen kill 173 Native Americans, mostly women and children, in the Marias Massacre (Natural disaster, war, and human atrocities. The circle of death is complete.)
1904 – The Norwegian coastal town of Alesund is devastated by fire, leaving 10,000 people homeless. (Seriously, this is depressing me at this point.)
1941 – The Allies defeat Japan in Papua, which marks the turning point of the Pacific War and the end of Japanese aggression. (Did anything not involving death happen on January 23?)
1964 – The 24th Amendment is ratified. It prohibits poll taxes in national elections, but you knew that already.
1985 – O.J. Simpson becomes the first Heisman Trophy winner elected to the Football Hall of Fame. (And we all know how well O.J. turned out.)
1997 – Madeleine Albright becomes the first woman to serve as the United States Secretary of State.
Births:
1737 – John Hancock, American revolutionist. (Before him, people just put their signatures on documents.)
1857 – Andrija Mohorovic, Croatian seismologist (I just included him because I was unaware there were seismologists in Croatia.)
1915 – Potter Stewart, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
1950 – Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver was born on my birthday. I’d hate to think
how he escaped his mother’s womb.)
1964 – Mariska Hargitay, (A Law & Order: SVU star born on my birthday.)
1974 – Tiffani (Amber) Thiessen (Kelly Kapowski and I share a birthday.)
1985 - Doutzen Kroes (who might that be, you ask? Only a Dutch supermodel, which creates the perfect excuse to add her photo.)
Deaths:
1002 - Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor (I blame him for failing to give Liechtenstein its freedom earlier.)
1803 – Arthur Guinness (Yes, that Guinness.)
1937 – Orso Mario Corbino (yes, that Italian physicist.)
2005 – Johnny Carson
Weekend update: Friday afternoon, Yes Dear called and said she (and I) had forgotten that we’d agreed to design the set for the children’s play at church Sunday night. So when she got home, we went to work finding what we needed. We did as much as we could Friday night before going out to dinner. Saturday, I covered the March of Dimes and then we went back to finish setting up for the play. Saturday night we watched the Preakness (Sweetnorthernsaint, my horse, finished second) and then some friends were in town, so we went out to dinner. Sunday was (and is, until further notice) reserved for watching baseball.
F
antasy Update: Due to the poor performance of the Fighting Squirrels last week, I’ve asked Elizabeth Hurley if she wouldn’t mind coming to console me. Sadly, she hasn’t taken me up on my offer, which I desperately need after last week. The Squirrels (we didn’t put up much of a fight) went 5-10-1 in one league, dropping me to second place and going 4-9-2 to fall to fourth place in the other league. Needless to say, this is unacceptable.
House Update: With only nine days until we’re scheduled to close, we still don’t have carpet or tile, not to mention sinks and, (most importantly to me) a cable outlet in our den, which we now refer to as the “sports room” since that’s where I’ll be watching all my sporting events. It’s also the only room I’m allowed to decorate. Hopefully it’ll get done in time.
Cubs Update: Despite losing two of three to the White Sox, all anyone wanted to talk about was the collision between Cubs catcher Michael Barrett and White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski in which Barrett punched Pierzynski, leading to a bench-clearing brawl. After the collision in which Pierzynski ran over Barrett (cleanly, I need to stress), Barrett saw A.J. coming at him. Barrett bear-hugged him and then punched him in the face (which, by the way, is the official conflict resolution approach endorsed by Official Brother.) It turns out A.J. was going to get his helmet and Barrett overreacted. He’ll be suspended (rightfully) for about 10 games, I would guess and the Cubs continued season of frustration will continue.
American Idol Update: Well, we’re down to the final two. Katherine or Taylor. I’ve been disappointed each of the last two weeks as Chris and Elliot have been voted off. That said, I’m hoping Katherine wins, simply because she’s hot. I don’t think either of them has near the talent the past winners have had.
On Deck: A game you and your friends or significant other will be playing all weekend.
It’s Monday night, Put on the Barry White, break out your “Great Earthquakes throughout history” book, place your American Idol bets with your sweetie, discuss the rules of bench clearing brawls and when it’s time to make your move and she says she’s still broken up over the death of Orso Mario Corbino, it ain’t Barry White’s fault.
And speaking of being late with trends, apparently the latest blog trend is to enter your birthday into wikipedia and see what has happened on your birthday throughout history. Not that you were wondering what has happened on January 23, but in the off chance that you were, here you go.
Events:
1556 – The deadliest earthquake in the history of the world strikes the Shaanxi province in China, killing approximately 830,000 people. (We’re not off to a good start for this day.)
1570 – The assassination of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray throws Scotland into civil war. (Natural disaster and war, things need to get better quickly.)
1719 – The principality of Liechtenstein is created. (Now we’re talking. I like to think this moment was the beginning of the end of the Holy Roman Empire.)
1789 – Georgetown College becomes the first Catholic college in the United States (John Thompson was hired as basketball coach two years later.)
1849 – Elizabeth Blackwell is awarded her M.D. by the Medical Institute of Geneva, New York, becoming the first woman doctor in the United States. (China could have used her 300 years before this.)
1870 – U.S. cavalrymen kill 173 Native Americans, mostly women and children, in the Marias Massacre (Natural disaster, war, and human atrocities. The circle of death is complete.)
1904 – The Norwegian coastal town of Alesund is devastated by fire, leaving 10,000 people homeless. (Seriously, this is depressing me at this point.)
1941 – The Allies defeat Japan in Papua, which marks the turning point of the Pacific War and the end of Japanese aggression. (Did anything not involving death happen on January 23?)
1964 – The 24th Amendment is ratified. It prohibits poll taxes in national elections, but you knew that already.
1985 – O.J. Simpson becomes the first Heisman Trophy winner elected to the Football Hall of Fame. (And we all know how well O.J. turned out.)
1997 – Madeleine Albright becomes the first woman to serve as the United States Secretary of State.
Births:
1737 – John Hancock, American revolutionist. (Before him, people just put their signatures on documents.)
1857 – Andrija Mohorovic, Croatian seismologist (I just included him because I was unaware there were seismologists in Croatia.)
1915 – Potter Stewart, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
1950 – Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver was born on my birthday. I’d hate to think
how he escaped his mother’s womb.)1964 – Mariska Hargitay, (A Law & Order: SVU star born on my birthday.)
1974 – Tiffani (Amber) Thiessen (Kelly Kapowski and I share a birthday.)
1985 - Doutzen Kroes (who might that be, you ask? Only a Dutch supermodel, which creates the perfect excuse to add her photo.)
Deaths:
1002 - Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor (I blame him for failing to give Liechtenstein its freedom earlier.)
1803 – Arthur Guinness (Yes, that Guinness.)
1937 – Orso Mario Corbino (yes, that Italian physicist.)
2005 – Johnny Carson
Weekend update: Friday afternoon, Yes Dear called and said she (and I) had forgotten that we’d agreed to design the set for the children’s play at church Sunday night. So when she got home, we went to work finding what we needed. We did as much as we could Friday night before going out to dinner. Saturday, I covered the March of Dimes and then we went back to finish setting up for the play. Saturday night we watched the Preakness (Sweetnorthernsaint, my horse, finished second) and then some friends were in town, so we went out to dinner. Sunday was (and is, until further notice) reserved for watching baseball.
F
antasy Update: Due to the poor performance of the Fighting Squirrels last week, I’ve asked Elizabeth Hurley if she wouldn’t mind coming to console me. Sadly, she hasn’t taken me up on my offer, which I desperately need after last week. The Squirrels (we didn’t put up much of a fight) went 5-10-1 in one league, dropping me to second place and going 4-9-2 to fall to fourth place in the other league. Needless to say, this is unacceptable.House Update: With only nine days until we’re scheduled to close, we still don’t have carpet or tile, not to mention sinks and, (most importantly to me) a cable outlet in our den, which we now refer to as the “sports room” since that’s where I’ll be watching all my sporting events. It’s also the only room I’m allowed to decorate. Hopefully it’ll get done in time.
Cubs Update: Despite losing two of three to the White Sox, all anyone wanted to talk about was the collision between Cubs catcher Michael Barrett and White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski in which Barrett punched Pierzynski, leading to a bench-clearing brawl. After the collision in which Pierzynski ran over Barrett (cleanly, I need to stress), Barrett saw A.J. coming at him. Barrett bear-hugged him and then punched him in the face (which, by the way, is the official conflict resolution approach endorsed by Official Brother.) It turns out A.J. was going to get his helmet and Barrett overreacted. He’ll be suspended (rightfully) for about 10 games, I would guess and the Cubs continued season of frustration will continue.
American Idol Update: Well, we’re down to the final two. Katherine or Taylor. I’ve been disappointed each of the last two weeks as Chris and Elliot have been voted off. That said, I’m hoping Katherine wins, simply because she’s hot. I don’t think either of them has near the talent the past winners have had.
On Deck: A game you and your friends or significant other will be playing all weekend.
It’s Monday night, Put on the Barry White, break out your “Great Earthquakes throughout history” book, place your American Idol bets with your sweetie, discuss the rules of bench clearing brawls and when it’s time to make your move and she says she’s still broken up over the death of Orso Mario Corbino, it ain’t Barry White’s fault.
posted by Luke at 5:27 PM
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