On This Date

Throughout the recorded history of mankind, some amazing, astounding and astonishing things have occurred on this most important date. For instance;

1566-French astrologer, physician, and prophet Nostradamus died. Like Elvis and now Michael Jackson, the masses have refused to let him die. You've surely seen his yearly predictions on the covers of tabloid papers in the checkout lines of grocery stores around the first of every year.

1776-The Continental Congress passed a resolution that "these United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be, Free and Independent States." Ah...America, the Beautiful.

1881-President James Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau; he died on Sept. 19. Talk about a lingering death. And all he got out of it was having a smart ass orange cat named after him.

1932-Democrats nominated New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt for president at their convention in Chicago. I think, sometimes, that I would have liked to have met him.

1937-Amelia Earhart and her co-pilot Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to fly around the world. Can you say, "Bermuda Triangle"?

1947-An object that the Army Air Force later said was a weather balloon crashed near Roswell, N.M. Eyewitness accounts gave rise to speculation it might have been an alien spacecraft. And that speculation was proved true in the movie, "Independence Day" starring Brent Spiner (otherwise known as Mr. Data from the Star Trek:Next Generation TV and movie series.

1961-Author Ernest Hemingway, 61, shot himself to death at his home in Ketchum, Idaho. I have to ask myself constantly, "Why are creative geniuses usually so...unbalanced?"

1964-President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. One of the most uplifting accomplishments of the U.S. government.

1997-Actor James Stewart died in Beverly Hills, California. He was always one of my favorite actors.

2002-Steve Fossett became the first to circumnavigate the globe solo in a balloon. A modern-day Phileas Fogg.

2007-Opera singer Beverly Sills died at age 78. A great singer that I have seldom listened to during my life.

And some fairly famous, infamous and/or important people were born on this date:

1908-Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court justice

1922-Dan Rowan Comedian Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in

1947-Larry David Seinfeld co-creator

1957-Bret Hart "The Hitman" Professional Wrestler, actor, artist, writer

1968-Ron Goldman Murder victim in OJ Simpson trial

1983-Michelle Branch Singer/Songwriter

1986-Lindsay Lohan Actress

As well as one singularly unimportant person born this day in 1955 who shall, for my part, remain nameless.

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