All my California friends will be thrilled to know today is the birthday of Junipero Serra. He founded missions in Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, and a bunch of other places.
Military History experts will be interested in the birthday of Alexander Suvorov of Russia, born in 1729. He's in that ultra-elite club that nobody except me ever seems to recognize, of generals who never lost a battle. For good or ill, his record is sorta tainted because he never faced Napoleon, as so many Russian generals did. None of them managed to keep a solid record as Suvorov did, though one can debate who would have bested whom. While Napoleon was Napoleon after all, Suvorov didn't get his reputation because he could out-drink everyone at the Officers Club.
Speaking of generals who lost battles, happy birthday to Field Marshal Erich von Manstein. However, don't blame him- the Russians and Germans considered him to be Germany's finest strategist, and a solid commander on the battlefield too. He was the creator of the plan for invading France through the Ardennes, which worked so brilliantly. In fact, it was so brilliant, it almost worked again 5 years later, against the Americans. Which is impressive for the Germans, not so much for the American commanders. By the end of the War, he was in retirement for being critical of Hitler- and I mean real retirement, and not "dead and buried" retirement. Later, he was an adviser to the West German military. Interesting man.
If you are popular, then give thanks to Dale Carnegie, who probably taught you much of what you know. If you aren't popular, then go read his book and see if it teaches you anything. It probably will.
If you are desirous of an opportunity to excel, and to demonstrate to other individuals your ability to remonstrate and to indulge in a surfeit of critical contemplation; while indulging in the fine art of purveying your prolific talents with foolscap to the Hoi Polloi; then you should probably celebrate the birthday of William F. Buckley Jr., who was born on this date in 1925.
Oooh, two musicians share this birthday, both in 1941. Bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn (best known for being one of the M.G.s, and also for "The Blues Brothers") and the one and only Pete Best. If you don't know what he's best known for, then you're silly. Happily, he finally made some money off his ex-band when the albums and TV show "Anthology" came out some 10 years ago. He cowrote a very obscure song which was featured on the first album; which meant he got some residuals from every copy sold. So that's good news for him, though I doubt it made him feel that much better, given his very public humiliation over the years.
Send positive thoughts to NBA legend Dave Bing on his birthday. Since he's now the mayor of Detroit, he needs all the help he can get! I'd like to think he'll turn the place around, but it's gonna be a helluva fight. Thank God he's at least honest (as far as we know), which is a big change from his predecessor.
Ooh, it's also the birthday of Dwight Schultz, aka Howlin' Mad Murdoch of the A Team. "Trash bags! I want some trash bags!"
Say a prayer in memory of Todd Beamer, hero of September 11th. As many have pointed out, he and his fellow passengers demonstrated what happens when government fails and the common people are forced to step up to the plate. They don't fail as badly, and in his case, they beat the bad guys. Which is more than the government did on that date.
So there's another version finished. Have I mentioned Happy Thanksgiving?
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