They're checking out

We start off today with an Italian (presumably) who went to England.  Of course, then it was Britain.  At any rate, his name was Justus (which interestingly later became the title of an album by the Monkees, which featured Englishman Davy Jones.  Coincidence?  I think not!)  At any rate, Justus is 4th in the line of Archbishops of Canterbury, and became a saint.  Only after this date in 631, which seems to be the latest date offered for his death. 

One person who clearly is not a saint is Henry Wirz.  He died on this date in 1865, and not in a natural manner... though I guess if they hang you, it's natural to die.  He was the Confederate commander of a little place known as Andersonville.  And he's one of the first people to be put to death essentially for war crimes.  Sadly, it turned out that one of the major witnesses against him was guilty of perjury, and it is also likely that some of the difficulties in the camp were simply due to a lack of food and medicine in the Confederacy.  I visited the camp once, when I was in the Army, as a field trip to discuss ethics.  It was quite small, and vastly overcrowded- none of which was the fault of Wirz.  I suspect he got a raw deal, and those people who want him pardoned probably have a decent case.  Doesn't look like it's gonna happen anytime soon though. 

Remember Leonid Brezhnev?  He died today.  Good thing, too.  He was a commie, and as such, he sucked goats. 

Tommy Tedesco however didn't suck goats.  He was a session guitarist, and a darn fine one at that.  He played Tommy Marinucci, the guitarist for Happy Kyne's Mirth-makers on the hilarious Martin Mull show "Fernwood 2 Night".  He might well have been the most recorded guitar player in history. 

John Allen Muhammed was executed on this date in 2009.  He was the infamous Beltway Sniper.  The authorities apparently still have trouble figuring out why he did it.  Because the name "Muhammed" provides no clue whatsoever.  No sir.  Not a one.

And finally, in 2010, Dino De Laurentiis died.  He had a heck of a career as a producer, including such classics as Barbarella, Serpico, and Conan the Barbarian.  And he spawned the incredibly hot, yet allegedly slutty, Giada- or at least he spawned one of her parents.  I'm guessing her dad.  Quite a life he had!

And that's that, as they say.