ON THIS DAY

ON THIS DAY

The legendary Sam Houston was born way, way back in 1793. I used to have a t-shirt, saying I had attended the Sam Houston Institute of Technology. Well, not the whole name, just the initials...

On this date in 1836, Texas declared independence from Mexico. And now, they're right back where they started.

In 1899, Mount Rainier National Park was created... near Mount Rainier, of course. There's an old saying in Seattle that if you look up at Mount Rainier and see clouds, it's going to rain... and if you look up at the mountain and there are no clouds, it's going to rain.

On this date in 1901, the U.S. Forest Service was created, as part of the U.S. Tree Service. For a while there, you couldn't see the Forest Service for the Tree Service.

Time magazine debuted on this date in 1923. Ironically, it was a big news week. It would have sucked to have been the Time "Man of the Year" in 1922 before the magazine was published. Up until then, being chosen Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" was meaningless.

On this date in 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted American citizenship. This was known as the "J-Lo Act."

In 1929, the U.S. Court of Customs & Patent Appeals was created by Congress. They invented a court for inventions. That's like the Department of Redundancy Department.

In 1949, the very first automatic street light flipped on in New Milford, CT. Of course, since it was during the day, not very many people noticed.

During World War II, a lab in the U.S. made a boo boo. The failed attempt to make a rubber substitute helped Peter Hodgson turn a $147 investment into $147 million over 50 years. Yes, on this day back in 1950, Silly Putty was introduced to the buying public. More than 20,000 containers and 600 pounds are still made each day.

On this date in 1962, Wilt Chamberlin scored 100 points in a single NBA game. If you read his book, he claims he scored a lot more than that!

In 1974, the price of a postage stamp went from a whopping 8 cents to 10 cents. Now that's just the down payment!

Children's author Dr. Seuss was born in 1904. How about some Dr. Seuss Pickup Lines:

• I may not like Green ham or eggs, but I sure love your long, thin legs!
• From far or near or here or there, haven't I seen you before somewhere?
• That's not the only place this Sneetch has a star, Baby.
• Y'know, after he stole it, the Grinch hid Christmas -- in my pants!
• Is that a Cat in your Hat or are you just happy to see me?
• My heart ain't the only thing two sizes too large, if you know what I mean.
• On a boat, in a car, with your toes all curled -- Oh, the places we'll go when I rock your world!
• Each book makes a million, a zillion, or three. Would you, could you come home with me?
• In all of Hooterville, where there's Hooters supreme, yours are the best of the the Hooters I've seen!
• I hate this place -- the crowd here's so phony, say, would you care to ride my pony?