January 21, 2019
Good morning dearest readers.
We hope you were able to see some of the lunar eclipse last night. Natural phenomena like that do a good job of putting us humans in our place. In a good way.
Today we have our usual tidbits on what our fellow humans were up to on this date in years, centuries, past. A thought from Ham On Rye by Charles Bukowski concerning ambition is featured in Philosophy 101.
THE DAILY ALMANAC
On This Date:
In 1789 – What is generally considered to be the first American novel – The Power of Sympathy: or, The Triumph of Nature by William Hill Brown – is published. It deals, in part, with the hilarity that ensues when a man seduces his sister-in-law. It was published in Boston and originally cost nine shillings.
In 2017 – On the first full day of Donald Trump’s presidency, the Women’s March takes place in various cities in the US and around the world. Organizers would later claim 673 marches took place worldwide, including one in Antarctica. It remains the largest protest in America history.
Your Hit Parade
#1 songs on this date in 1984:
Hot 100 – Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes (1st of two weeks)
Soul Chart – Joanna…Kool & the Gang (2nd of two weeks)
Country Chart – In My Eyes…John Conlee (only week)
Album Chart – Thriller…Michael Jackson (25th of 37 non-consecutive weeks)
– Chart data courtesy of Billboard.
Numbers Racket
10,624: the continuous number of days the US has been at war.
21.951: the number of dollars, in trillions, of America’s national debt. – Source: usdebtclock.org
655: days until 2020 election.
Philosophy 101
What did he do?
He made counterfeit dimes.
Dimes? Jesus Christ, what kind of ambition is that?
Charles Bukowski
Ham On Rye
You’ve got to have ambition in this life: it’s how things get done. If your only goal on this planet is to mark time, that is all you will do.
Be careful, though, because ambition does not serve everyone the same way. There are different types of ambition: there is ambition fueled by outside influences and there is the ambition that comes from deep inside. Only the second leads to any long-term happiness.
If your ambition is based solely on what you see around you, on the wealthy, trim and seemingly successful people we are force-fed on a daily basis, then you will probably be disappointed in your life. Not everyone on this planet is cut out to be rich and famous and pity those that are because wealth and fame are two awesome, demanding masters.
On the other hand, if you’re ambition stems from something deep inside you, well, that is ambition worth listening to. Nature gave all us assorted talents at birth and those that get on in this world are those that spend their time maximizing those talents. When you do this you are on your path and putting nature and circumstance to work for you. You might live down the ages or you may not. Either way, it will be the life you were meant to live, life’s great prize.
Have a good day, and many thanks for reading.
xoxoxo
Kaitlyn