The Daily Dose/February 16, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
USA! USA!: President’s Day was yesterday and it completely escaped us. We didn’t realize it was a holiday until we showed up for work as a county veterans service officer and the parking lot was deserted. Now, we do keep rather odd hours here, but we don’t forget other holidays and if we’re forgetting this one perhaps it’s time for Presidents Day to go.
Now Hear This: Some favor making Juneteenth a holiday, on the theory this marks the end of slavery in the US.
Dry, Technical Matter: Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops announced the end of slavery in Texas.
Fly In The Ointment: An Abolition Day would be appropriate, of course, but here’s the problem though: Juneteenth doesn’t mark the end of slavery in the US. Hell, it doesn’t even mark the end of slavery in Texas. That had come two-and-a-half years earlier when the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in the Confederacy and Texas was only informing slaves about now because federal troops were there to make them.
And You Wonder Why You Don’t Get Invited To Any Parties: Slavery didn’t end until December 1865 when the passage of the 13th Amendment ended it in the two remaining states that had it: Kentucky and Delaware, which were Union states during the Civil War.
Let It Be Hereby Resolved…: So let’s replace Presidents Day with Abolition Day. February is already Black History Month and – for added historical context – the great American Frederick Douglass was born and died in February.
The Bottom Line: Holidays reflect the people that celebrate them, of course, and sometimes they run their course, especially since Donald Trump is now celebrated on Presidents Day, which is sort of like celebrating your favorite strain of the clap. And, as long as we’re at it, let’s 86 Columbus Day, too, and move the holiday to July 20 in honor of the first moon landing.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – At the hotel, Sparrow rents a room to three girls who had a lousy day. Today’s Diary.
Anyway, while on the mountain the girl in the cast broke her leg, so they all hauled off to the ER where they won’t the only broken bone requiring attention but eventually they made it out and then BOOM a flat tire, which officially certified the evolution as the Road Trip From Hell…They were able to laff about it, tho, and yours truly was pleased to quote them a rate of $129, plus tax, which included a Good Humour Discount of roughly $40 or so off what I probably normally would have asked.
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On This Date
The long march to today.
In 1804 – During the First Barbary War, US Navy Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, commanding a crew of mostly US Marines on the USS Intrepid, leads a raid to burn the USS Philadelphia held in Tripoli Harbor, off what is now Libya. Philadelphia had run aground in October and Decatur and his men were able to set fire to it and destroy it. The First Barbary War last from 1801 to 1805 and ended with a peace treaty.
In 1937 – Nels Stewart of the New York Americans establishes a new NHL record for most career goals in a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Stewart’s second-period goal was the 272nd goal of his career, breaking the record established by Howie Morenz from 1923-37. Stewart retired in 1940 with 324 goals, a record that stood until November 1952 when it was broken by Maurice Richard. The mark is now held by Wayne Gretzky with 894.
In 1975 – Linda Ronstadt is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the only week with You’re No Good. It was her 11th chart single, Her third of 17 Top 40 hits and remains her only #1 song. The song also hit the Top 10 in Canada and was Billboard’s 50th biggest song of the year. Versions by Betty Everett and The Swinging Blue Jeans went to numbers 51 and 97 respectively in 1964.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
It was the blood-stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery, through which I was about to pass.
Frederick Douglass
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave
Refers to watching his mother get beaten.
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Dick Button was the first US man to win the World Figure Skating Championships, at Davos, Switzerland in 1948.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
When was the Second Barbary War? – Answer next time!
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