ON THIS DAY

On this date in 1598, King Henry IV of France signed the Edict of Nantes, which granted rights to the Protestant Huguenots. Opponents called him a Nantes-ee boy.

In 1742, Handel's Messiah was performed for the very first time. When asked how it felt to have that first performance over, Handel replied, "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Halle-lujah! Halle-lujah! Hall LAY you yaw!"

It's Thomas Jefferson's birthday today (1743). Hey, he was a great leader and we don't have a holiday off in April: what gives? Here's some Jefferson tidbits: 

  • He was credited with introducing the handshake in the White House (up until his time, the leaders bowed to greet someone). 
  • He appears on the nickel and the $2 bill (gee, thanks guys, don't do me any favors) and invented the idea of the dumbwaiter. 
  • Jefferson's epitaph (he wrote himself): "Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, of the statute of Virginia for religious freedom and the father of the University of Virginia." He didn't even bring up being U.S. president. 

On this date in 1776, George Washington arrived in New York City to help defend a group of colonists as they prepared to walk through Central Park.

In 1796, the very first elephant arrived in the United States went on exhibition.
  • It was a few days late because, during shipping, his trunk was accidentally sent on to Kansas City. 
  • I think it was here for a ceramics show. 
  • Unfortunately, his trunk went on to Canada. 
  • Ironically, no one remembers why. 
  • It was kinda tricky getting him through the museum without breaking things, but what could you do: he had a ticket. 

On this date in 1870, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is founded in New York. To this day, we still don't know "Art who?"

In 1964, Sidney Potier (paw-tee-AY) became the first black actor to win an Oscar. Boy, the show must have run really long that year if he didn't win until April 13th.

It was on this date in 1970, the 13th day of April, that an oxygen tank blew up on Apollo 13 and a very young Ron Howard said, "Hey, I've got a great idea for a movie!"

On this date in 1976, the $2 bill was re-introduced in the U.S. It was as big a hit as when it was first introduced... which was NOT!

In 1997, Tiger Woods became the youngest person to ever win the Masters Tournament. That was one wife and 37 girlfriends ago.

TODAY IS

It's Thursday the 13th!

It's Maunday Thursday, an old church term for the night that Jesus was said to have been betrayed after the Last Supper.

Allison Williams, an actress and daughter of former NBC News Anchor Brian Williams, turns 29 today... if Brian can be believed.

Lou Bega, the guy who gave us Mambo Number 5 and won't take it back, turns 42. He probably should be singing "Mambo #13."

Rick Schroder turns 47 today. He was once a child actor named Ricky but then, one day, he had his "y" clinically removed.

Tony Dow, who had no choice but to be Wally from "Leave it to Beaver" all of his life, turns 72 today. Dad's probably going to holler at him... but that's just so he can hear. Just for old time's sake, Eddie Haskel is going to come and help him get into a pickle.

One-time hunk on the Carol Burnett show, Lyle Waggoner, turns the even bigger 82.

Scrabble Day -- There are 225 squares on a Scrabble board. The highest scoring word in the English language game of Scrabble is "Quartzy." This will score 164 points if played across a red triple-word square with the Z on a light blue double-letter square. This does not include the points it makes off it's adjoining word.


MY OTHER THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

They say Samsung is closing to putting out a foldable phone. Weren't we there once already?

Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork producer, has established a separate bioscience unit to expand its role in supplying pig parts for medical uses, with the ultimate goal of selling pig organs for transplanting into humans. I don't know if I'm for any technology that would turn eating bacon into cannibalism.

An Italian man was granted a divorce after claiming his wife was possessed by the devil. Show me an ex that isn't.

"The Walking Dead" has ended its most recent season with the lowest ratings in four years. Ironically, it's audience is dying.

Iowa is honoring native Ashton Kutcher for all his humanitarian projects. That explains his new movie, "Dude, where's my charity?"

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