Thursday

Good morning,

Quote of the day:

“OK, we'll go.”

These immortal words were uttered by US General Dwight D. Eisenhower. The D-Day invasion was scheduled for June 5, 1944 but the weather was prohibitive and the invasion was delayed one day. It positively could not be delayed any longer for several reasons. The invasion forces were already aboard ships ready and eager to go. If the invasion was delayed another day the ships would have be refueled and they could not be refueled with all those troops aboard meaning they would have to disembark greatly increasing the chance of a breach of secrecy. Not only that there had to be a full moon for the paratroopers and gliders and there had to be a low tide at dawn so all the obstructions could be seen. All of these conditions would not be available for another month. It all depended on the weather report and one English weatherman in particular. On the evening of June 5 Eisenhower called in the English weatherman and his staff for a briefing. The weatherman predicted that there would be about 40 hours of favorable weather including all day June 6 and most of June 7. After the briefing by the weatherman Eisenhower asked the opinions of the members of his staff. All of the pros and cons of going or waiting was discussed. British General Bernard L. Montgomery was the last person to give an opinion and he said “We cannot take those troops off and wait. They have been trained to a razors edge and are ready to go.” Everybody in the room looked at Eisenhower with bated breath waiting for a decision. It was then that he uttered those immortal words and the room was empty in 30 seconds...except for Ike. There were a lot of things to get done and not a lot of time to do it. The most ambitious military operation in history was under way.

This Date in History January 29

1936 On this date the first baseball players were selected for the newly opened Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. They were Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson. Ty Cobb, to this day, is the most productive hitter to ever play the game. Babe Ruth was both an ace pitcher and a devastating home run hitter, Honus Wagner was a versatile infielder and a dependable clutch hitter, Christy Mathewson had the most wins in National League history up until that time and Walter “Big Train” Johnson is considered to be one of the most powerful pitchers in history. The Hall of Fame was supposed to have opened in 1935 but money was at a premium because of the Depression so the opening was delayed. The rumor was spread that Civil War General Abner Doubleday was the inventor of baseball in Cooperstown but that was bullshit. The local businesses fostered that idea to pump up business and they made contributions toward the building of the Hall. The Hall of Fame has about 350,000 visitors a year.

1820   After 10 years of a debilitating disease that lead to total insanity, King George III of England died. King George was the chief antagonist of the American colonists that resulted in the American Revolutionary War. King George knew that he was not well and was desperately seeking someone that he could trust to take care of business in his behalf. He found one in Lord North and King George was very relieved. The problem was that England lost its most profitable colony in America and the English people were furious. In 1784 William Pitt the elder gained enough power in Parliament to take control. After this the King retired from active participation in government except for an occasional interference with major issues such as “Catholic Emancipation” which was defeated in 1801. I have not researched this issue but I will soon. King George had a long history of illness beginning in 1765 when he had a nervous breakdown and in the winter of 1788-89 he had a severe bout with mental illness. By 1810 he was permanently insane but he was cared for tenderly by his wife Charlotte Sophia. His son, the Prince of Wales, was named regent and assumed throne as King George IV when his father died in 1820.

Born today:

1737 Super American Patriot Thomas Paine. He said “When we are planning for posterity, we must remember that virtue is not hereditary.” Paine was one of the greatest wordsmiths this country ever produced.

1862 English composer Fredrick Delius. He said “Music is an outburst of the soul”. Indeed Fred, indeed.

1874 US industrialist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. He said “A friendship based on business is better that a business based on friendship.” The Rockefeller dynasty began with the establishment of Standard Oil which eventually became Esso and then Exxon.

1880 US comedian W.C. Fields. He said “My illness is due to my doctor insisting that I drink milk. It is a whitish fluid that they force down helpless babies.” Fields was a famous imbiber.

1923 US writer Paddy Chayefsky. He said “"Now listen to me, goddamnit! The Arabs are simply buying us! A handful of gas, shahs, and emirs who despise this country and everything it stands for—democracy, freedom, the right for me to get up on television and tell you about it—a couple of dozen medieval fanatics are going to own where you work, where you live, what you read, what you see, your cars, your bowling alleys, your mortgages, your schools, your churches, your libraries, your kids, your whole life...!" Pay attention to Paddy, y'all, it could happen.

1939 Australian feminist Germaine Greer. She said “Freud is the father of psychoanalysis, it has no mother.” I agree Germaine.

            Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow