January, Named After the God of Doors, Janus
(Duh!)
Factoid: The first month of the year, as well as February, were created in 713 BCE by some old Roman. Apparently before that they just went straight from December to March (something I think we should consider bringing back.) With two faces he could see both the future and the past so naming the first month after him makes sense.
As it turns out, a LOT of interesting stuff has happened the first month of the year. (Of course, lots of stuff happens every month we just don't hear about it.) Here's January's abbreviated list along with clarifying comments by moi.
(Come on, you can spare 10 min's to learn a lot!)
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| When Immigration was simple . . . |
January 1,
1892 - Ellis Island in New York Harbor opened. Over 20 million new arrivals to America were processed until its closing in 1954. Sign on Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Today? "No wretched refuse, door is closed, everybody go home!"
In 1975,
- Former top aides to President Nixon including Attorney General John Mitchell, Domestic Affairs Advisor John Ehrlichman and Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman, were found guilty of obstruction of justice in Watergate scandal.
Wow actual consequences for illegal behavior! Hmm Pam Bondi, Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem. . .
January 3,
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| Thanks, Sarah, thanks a lot . . . |
1959 - Alaska was admitted as the 49th U.S. state with a land mass almost one-fifth the size of the entire lower 48 states. Population – 740,000 (goofs.)
Jeopardy category: State's fame. Select - Alaska for $400; Winning answer: What state was famous for home of worst VP candidate ever? (Sarah Palin - well, worst until recently.)
1977
- Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak incorporated Apple Computer.
Thus was born one of the most famous cults in history (Apple - slightly less culty than hockey or Jim Jones of kool-aid fame.)
January 5,
1925 - Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming became the first female governor inaugurated in the U.S.
That was the last progressive thing done in Wyoming. They swore never to leave the 19th century again!
January 6,
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| Just visiting their congressman |
2021 - In Washington, D.C., thousands attended a “Save America Rally" near the White House at the Ellipse, a park located south of the White House grounds. Fortunately, these "patriots" who then tried to save the country by invading the Capital were all pardoned 4 years later - by a fellow felon.
1919
- Teddy Roosevelt died.
Some say the Republican party died with him. Resuscitated by Ike for 8 years then killed off for good. (Don't cheer Democrats, you're not looking too healthy either.)
Jan 7
- 2026 ICE agent executes mother who was protesting the thug-like "illegal immigration actions" in Minneapolis. (More info to come next month.)
January 8,
793 AD - Danish Vikings attacked Lindisfarne Island off the Northeast coast of England. Destroying the famous church of St. Cuthbert. This was the first attack on England and sent a shockwave throughout Europe.
More importantly it led directly to the screenplay for the TV series “Vikings” - and several other series about those blood thirsty pagans. Note: They were Danes not those nice Norwegians.
Birthday
- Elvis Presley (1935-1977) was born in Tupelo, Mississippi.
He left the building permanently while indisposed in the, uh, restroom.
January 9,
2007 - Steve Jobs released the first iPhone.
Oh no, not Steve Jobs again - the end of civilization begins.
January 10,
1878 - An Amendment granting women the right to vote was introduced in Congress by Senator A.A. Sargent of California. The amendment didn't pass until forty-two years later.
Well, you can’t rush into things like that. Anyway, some Evangelical "Christians" are trying to reverse that "mistake" today.
January 11,
January 11,
1569 - Working to raise funds for several public works projects Queen Elizabeth I was given the choice between levying a new tax or holding the first state lottery. The Queen decided to hold a lottery. Setting a terrible example followed by almost all modern governments today who are afraid to tax people for services. (Wouldn't tariffs be better?)
Birthday
- Alexander Hamilton (1755/7-1804) was born in the British West Indies. He was a founder of the United States who favored a strong central government and co-authored the Federalist Papers. He also was selected by Washington to be the first Secretary of the Treasury. He was by far the most interesting Founding Father: illegitimate by birth, loved by Washington, hated by Jefferson, died from a gunshot wound received during a duel with Jefferson's VP, Aaron Burr and had a long affair with a married woman. Also, probably the smartest guy of the bunch.
His life would make a great Broadway show! (Oh, never mind.)
Jan 12,
 Irene and Marv |
1919 - Mother of Dear Leader born. Legend has it she had a halo over her head for some time after his birth. (Marv later pointed out it was meant for his younger brother, Thomas the Perfect Son.)
January 13th,
2021 Trump impeached for second time, a record.
Might he be going for the hat trick?
January 15th,
1972 - "American Pie" (song not movie) hits number one on charts.
Many Chevys were driven to levies which turned out to be dry. (Google it)
January 16, 1919
- Speaking of dry, the 18th Amendment was passed starting the prohibition - no more legal booze!
We know how that turned out but unbelievably it still lasted 14 yrs.
January 17,
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| And those pesky Greenlanders! |
1961 - President Eisenhower delivers his farewell speech and warns about the military-industrial complex.
Apparently we thought he was kidding.
January 18,
1778 - Capt James Cook discovers beautiful islands in the Pacific and named them the Sandwich Islands.
After he was literally turned into a sandwich by unfriendly natives, they were renamed the Hawaiian Islands. (Which is apparently Polynesian for "Served with fries.")
January 19,
Birthday - Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849) poet and writer was born in Boston, MA. Among his many works are The Fall of the House of Usher, Pit and the Pendulum and his famous poem, The Raven.
Can you imagine what horror stories he could write today?!
January 20th,
Apparently just the beginning of greatness
Ha ha, and we thought that was too old for a president?! (Coincidentally, this was about when the gutting of the middle class began.)
2009
- Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States, the first African-American to hold the office, leading his country until 20th January 2017, when Number 45 took over.
Ah, the good old days when we had an actual president and a whole White House. Now all we have is a White House hole. . .
January 21st,
1969 - US B-52 bomber with 4 nuclear bombs on board crashed in Greenland.
No problem, the bombs didn't go off, they just spread radiation all over the ice. We cleaned most of it up. At least we know where it happened - unlike several others we've lost. (I canNOT understand why the Greenlanders don't want to become a US state!)
1950
- Death of George Orwell, author of 1984 and Animal Farm.
Too bad he isn't around today - talk about a real "1984"! (BTW title was based on year it was written, 1948.)
January 22nd,
1879 - Commanded by Ntshingwayo kaMahole Khoza and Mavumengwana kaNdlela Ntuli, around 20,000 Zulu warriors attacked and massacred 2,000 British forces at Isandhlwana in Natal Province, South Africa.
The fighting broke out when the British commander was unable to correctly pronounce the Zulu leaders names or where the battle was being fought.
1970
- The Boeing 747 Jumbo jet completes its first transatlantic flight from New York in London.
Holy cow, who knew a plane as big as building could actually fly?!
Jan 23
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| Vietnam Memorial (with names of several friends) |
1973 - Pres. Nixon announces Vietnam peace agreement.
Little too late for 58,220 GIs - and millions of Vietnamese.
January 24,
January 24,
1972 - Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi was discovered on Guam after he had spent 28 years hiding out in the jungle not knowing World War II had long since ended. He was said to have exclaimed, “Holy mackerel, I wondered why I hadn't been paid for a while!’ (Or something like that.)
January 26th,
1788 - Captain Arthur Phillip guided a fleet of 11 British ships carrying convicts to the colony of New South Wales – founding Australia.
According to "certain sources" Australia's demographics haven’t changed much in 238 yrs.
1998
- Pres. Clinton made an emphatic denial of charges that he had a sexual affair with Monica Lewinsky and had advised her to lie about it. He said "... I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky..."
Furthermore, he said those charges ". . . were unfounded and a low blow. I mean, it's not like I tried to overthrow an election!"
January 27th,
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| Mommmm, how do I get Netflix on this thing?! |
1926 - Scottish inventor, electrical engineer, and innovator John Logie Baird demonstrated the world’s first live working television system.
Who knew his invention would make stars out of the Kardashians, Jerry Springer and the Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Birthday
1756 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria. From the age of five, through his untimely death at age 35, this musical genius created over 600 compositions including 16 operas, 41 symphonies, 27 piano and five violin concerti, 25 string quartets, 19 masses, and many other works.
He reminds me of a young Dear Leader - except for the talent, fame and early death stuff of course.
January 28,
1986 - The U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 74 seconds into its flight, killing seven persons, including Christa McAuliffe, a teacher who was to be the first ordinary citizen in space.
There is nothing humorous to say about this tragedy but it is an outstanding example of human hubris and dangerous Group Think by so-called smart people.
January 29,
January 29,
2002 - Pres. Geo. W. Bush identifies Iraq, Iran and N. Korea as the "Axis of Evil." leading to 20 years of war.
Perhaps we should add Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Canada, Cuba - and Greenland - for a Compact of Cretins? Anyway, thanks to 45/47 Bush is no longer the worst president in our nation's proud history.
January 30,
1968 - Beginning of the Tet Offensive in Vietnam as North Vietnamese troops attacked several provincial capitals major cities in South Vietnam. Although they were defeated, it became a propaganda victory for the Vietnamese and helped turn U.S. public opinion against continuation of the war.
Sadly, it took 5 years and over 37,000 more US deaths before we declared victory and went home. (See also Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq.)
January 31,
1606 - Guy Fawkes was hung in London. He was the main leader of failed plan to blow up English parliament with 36 barrels of gun powder. Considered by gov't as a traitor - yet he is still celebrated by average people in Great Britain every year. (hmmm)
His mask was a main feature in movie the "V for Vendetta." Perhaps suggesting one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter?
Not unlike our brave fellow Minneapolitans - keep up the good fight!!!!
Th, th, that's all, folks - I'm exhausted from all this educatin' but a parting gift . . .
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Geo. Santayana
Armed with all this knowledge I hope you can look back on last year with very few regrets and forward to much better things.
Happy New Year!
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