Tuesday

                    Musings and History

Quote of the day:

“Old is when your wife or girlfriend says ' Let's go upstairs and make love' and you say 'Honey, it's one or the other'”.

                                        Red Buttons

I have been going to the local McDonalds for breakfast recently. It is because if you buy anything they will give you a sales receipt that gives you a website to go to and do a survey...your reward is a two for one quarter pounder or egg McMuffin. Two egg McMuffins and a large coffee is about $4.50 and is more than the average bear can handle.

There is a group of old guys in there every time I go. These guys move old, act old and talk old. Yesterday while I was in there one guy said “I was asleep in my recliner and my cat jumped up on my chest and scared the hell out of me.” Another one said “Ellie cooked black-eyed peas, rice and cornbread last night.” It is depressing to think that their live have become this mundane. I suspect this gathering is the high point of their day. They did read the newspaper and mentioned events only because they happened at places near where they used to live.

I was sitting by myself reading a textbook from SMU about the history of the Comanche and was probably the oldest person in there. I am not saying that I am better or worse that they but I would hope that my enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge would never wane and I would not be content with a life that shallow.

         This Date in History May 24

1543 On this date one of the most brilliant scientists in history died in what is now Frombork, Poland. Nicolo Copernicus was the first scientist to formulate the theory that it was the sun, not the earth, which was the center of “universe” meaning the solar system. It also was he that determined that it was the tilt of the earth on its axis that formed the seasons. His theories were discussed among other scientists but Copernicus would not publish his thoughts because it was adverse to the opinions of the Catholic Church and in those days no one opposed the Church at the risk of torture and death. Another Pole named Johann Kepler also fostered the theory of Copernicus but was able to make his theories known because he moved to Denmark where the Catholic Church did not hold sway. And finally the immortal Galileo determined that the theories of Kepler and Copernicus were indeed the closest to the mark as far as the mechanics of the “universe” is concerned and published his opinions. Unfortunately, Galileo lived in Italy and soon had a visit from a representative of the Vatican and was persuaded to recant his teachings under the threat of torture and was sent to exile in his country villa. But fortunately for science, Copernicus was able to get his thoughts published and distributed throughout Europe and eventually the world even though he lived in a country under the heel of the Pope. He did this by dying just days after publication so threats of torture meant nothing. God works in mysterious ways.

1844  On this date while being watched by members of Congress, Samuel F. B. Morse sent a telegraph message to Alfred Vail at a Baltimore train station. Morse sent “What hath God wrought?” A few seconds later Morse received the same message back from Vail. Morse did not invent the telegraph an Italian inventor did but it was Morse that made it into something that could be used universally. He had worked on it for 12 years and even invented the famous code that is in used to this day. After perfecting his system, Morse was able to get a patent. He had members of Congress watch him send and receive the messages in the hope that Congress would help finance the expansion of this service. Naturally, Congress agreed and within 10 years there was over 20,000 miles of telegraph lines criss-crossing America.

1989  On this date Lori Ann Auker disappeard from the parking lot of the pet store where she worked in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The shop was at the busy Susquehanna Mall. The police were at a loss for what happened to Lori. That is until it dawned on them that there probably was a bank security camera film out there with a picture of Lori on it. And sure enough, they found a picture of Lori getting into a 1983 to 1986 Chevrolet Celebrity. Lori and her husband Robert had been involved in a bitter custody battle making him the prime suspect. Two weeks later Lori’s body was found dead with multiple stab wounds, the police also found out the Lori’s husband had been using his father’s 1984 Chevrolet Celebrity the day that Lori disappeared. The police went on a search for the car and found out that Lori’s father-in-law has sold the car two days after Lori disappeared. In spite of the car going through several owners, the police found the car and detected a few of Lori’s hairs and hair from her cat still in the car. Finally, the police felt they had enough evidence and three years after Lori’s death her husband was arrested, tried and convicted. He is now doing life without parole.

1797  On this date widower and future President Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to his friend in the Angelica Church and casually asks about a mutual friend named Maria Cosway. It appears that Maria and Thomas had lit a fire a few years ago but was unable to continue. In 1786 while Jefferson was in Paris as an American representative he met Maria Cosway and a deep relationship ensued. There was no evidence that they ever slept together but there were strong implications that they had. It was reported that Jefferson acted like a giddy school boy when around Maria. He even once jumped into a fountain while walking with her. There was a small problem, Maria was married. During his jump into the fountain he had fallen and broken his wrist. Right after this Maria and her husband left for London for an expended stay. After his wrist had healed he wrote a very syrupy letter to her detailing his love sickness. I have not read the letter but I can imagine how juicy it would have been with his way with words.

1941  On this day the mightiest warship afloat, the German battleship Bismarck engaged the best English battleship HMS Hood. They met in the North Atlantic southeast of Iceland and began exchanging gunfire. The Hood was faster but the Bismarck had heavier armor. In just a matter of minutes the Hood was fatally wounded and went to the bottom carrying 1,500 English sailors with it. There were just three survivors. During the battle the Bismarck sustained damage in her fuel oil tanks and was leaving an oil trail. The Captain of the Bismarck decided that he needed to get his ship into a German held French port for repairs and headed southeast. After the loss of the Hood the British navy was going to put an end to the Bismarck come hell or high water. Over a period of several days the English navy attacked several times with no effect, they just could not penetrate her armor. But by sheer luck, one torpedo attack damaged the Bismarck’s rudder and she cannot do anything but circle. This gave the British time to bring up the heaviest ships in their navy from English waters and the Mediterranean and they surrounded the crippled Bismarck and all ships pour gunfire into the Bismarck until she disappeared beneath the waves taking 2,300 German sailors with her. There were several German survivors who spent the rest of the war in a prison camp. The Hood had been avenged.

Born today:

1870 US jurist Benjamin Cardozo. He said “Justice is not to be taken by storm, it is to be wooed by slow advances.” Ben, you dumb ass. It is well known opinion by the United States Supreme Court that “Justice delayed is justice denied.”

        Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow