Well, we jump onto the next step in our climb up the ladder of May 20. Or something like that. Let's look at who joined the human race on this date. We start with the woman whose very name became a synonym for a vehicle used to carry heavy loads. I refer of course to Dolley Madison. She was the first lady, since she was married to the president, James Madison. Which I suppose makes her the fourth lady. But wait: Jefferson was a widower, so she sometimes filled in by playing hostess at his official functions, by virtue of being (then) the wife of the vice-president. But by helping Jefferson, does that make her the third lady?
Okay, we'll stop before I give myself another headache. She was living in the pretty darned new White House when the British came a'calling in 1814. Since they were at war with the US, their visit wasn't terribly welcome, so she fled. But she managed to rescue a lot of important papers from the White House, along with a portrait of Washington. I don't know if that's how "dolly" came to represent a vehicle (though I kinda doubt it), but I think it would be darned cool if it was! At any rate, she was a brave, talented woman, so we salute her today on her 244th birthday. Or, since she's a woman, on the 215th celebration of her 29th birthday.
In 1772, along came Englishman William Congreve. He actually ties in with Mrs. Madison somewhat. How? Well, Washington fell to the British, who burned it shortly after Dolley left town. But they had to retreat, since it was only a raid and they lacked the strength to hold the city. The raiding force returned to the British fleet in Chesapeake Bay, and re-embarked. And soon the whole fleet sailed north, and moved on Baltimore. But the City was protected by Ft. McHenry, out in the harbor. So the British bombarded it one night. You know the story, of course. But remember "the rockets' red glare"? Well those were Congreve Rockets, invented by... SIR William Congreve.
And now you know the rest of the story. As it were.
Our next birthday boy (in this particular example) is John Stuart Mill, born in 1806. Celebrate his birth by getting particularly ill on a half a pint of shandy- but only of your own free will, mind you! By the way, if you've ever mixed beer and cider, orange juice, or any other type of soda (like a "snakebite" or a "brass monkey"), then you've had a shandy. Now you just need to drink a half pint, and you'll be Mill's buddy! Go to it!
Remember when we discovered what a genuinely good person the late Perry Como was? Well today we celebrate the birth of an actor, a contemporary of Como's, whose status as one of The Good Guys can't be disputed. I refer to none other than the incredible Brigadier General James Stewart, USAF. He was a talented actor, served with distinction in the European Theater, and even flew as an observer in a B-52 raid over North Vietnam. He was apparently well respected as a squadron commander and operations officer, and went from the rank of private in 1940 to the rank of Colonel before the war ended. He flew 20 official missions in Europe, but also flew numerous additional missions, which he refused to have counted towards his total. If you've ever seen "The World at War", then you probably recognized him as "James Stewart, Squadron Commander". He retired from the Air Force in 1968, after 27 years. Some years later, President Reagan promoted him to Major General.
Oh, and Mr. Stewart also carved out a pretty good career for himself as an actor. Don't think I've ever read anything that suggests he was anything other than one of the good guys.
Another military hero was also born on this date. This one served in the Israeli forces. His name was Moshe Dayan, and he fought for the Israeli people from before WWII, through the wars after independence, and pretty well along. He lost his eye pretty early on, and was unable to get a glass eye because of the damage his eye muscles suffered. Apparently, he was kind of a poopie-head in person, but his performance with the Israeli military was pretty solid, though often controversial.
Baseball slugger extraordinaire, and home run champion Sadaharu Oh was born on this date in 1940. As a high school student, he was a pitcher who once pitched four complete games. In four days. With severely blistered fingers, which left bloodstains on the ball, which his catcher helped him conceal from their teammates. He switched to first base later, and in his career, he hit 868 home runs, more than anyone else ever. And he did it, presumably, without steroids. Unlike some other sluggers who won't be mentioned. He didn't quite make it to the 3000 hit club, but was close. He ended up with a career average of .301, so he wasn't one of those who hit either a homer or nothing.
In entertainment news, Joe Cocker and Cher both have birthdays today. He's best known for the classic impersonation that John Belushi did, and she's best known for being a mildly talented entertainer who thinks she's a lot smarter than she is. In the old days, my dad called her "the woman with nothing, who shows everything". She pretended to be American Indian (I guess that false claim helps explain why she's a democrat), but is actually Armenian, though she might be 1/32 Cherokee. No idea if she has a claim from an ancestors application for a marriage license, or if her claim is legit.
Also born today, Dave Thomas. Not the hamburger guy, the Canadian, eh. He was either Doug or Bob McKenzie on SCTV, records, and a movie. Lots of other stuff too, but I don't feel like looking it up, and most of it isn't that memorable... Though I think he was the announcer for the mud wrestling scene in "Stripes" with his fellow SCTV-er John Candy.
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Hawaiian singer, was also born on this date. He did a lovely version of "over the rainbow/what a wonderful world". Surprisingly for someone with a sweet voice like his, he was hugely obese- over 600 pounds, if I recall correctly, by the time he died. Sad.
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