Despotism often presents itself as the repairer of all the ills suffered, the support of just rights, defender of the oppressed, and founder of order. People are lulled to sleep by the temporary prosperity it engenders, and when they do wake up, they are wretched.
— Alexis Charles Henri Clérel, comte de Tocqueville
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Today is Friday, December 22nd. It is Be a Lover of Silence Day, Abilities Day, National Cookie Exchange Day, and National Date Nut Bread Day.
On This Day
In 1807, the Embargo Act, forbidding trade with all foreign countries, was passed by the U.S. Congress, at the urging of President Thomas Jefferson.
In 1851, a fire destroyed 35,000 books in the Library of Congress.
In 1864, Savannah fell to the forces of General Sherman.
In 1891, Asteroid 323 Brucia became the first asteroid discovered using photography.
In 1937, the Lincoln Tunnel opened to traffic in New York City.
In 1942, Adolf Hitler signed the order to develop the V-2 rocket as a weapon.
In 1944, German troops demanded the surrender of U.S. forces at Bastogne, Belgium. General Anthony McAuliffe sent a one-word reply: “Nuts!”
In 1964, the first test flight of the SR-71 Blackbird took place at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
In 1984, Bernhard Goetz shot four would-be muggers on an express train in Manhattan. Goetz was acquitted on charges of attempted murder and first-degree assault, but was convicted of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.
In 2001, Richard Reid attempted to destroy American Airlines Flight 63 by igniting explosives hidden in his shoes.
Today’s Birthdays
Actor Héctor Elizondo is 87. Warmongering psychopath Paul Wolfowitz is 80. “Journalist” Diane Sawyer is 78. Actor Ralph Fiennes is 61. Actress Dina Meyer is 55. Singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor is 30.
The Links
NY Times Fact Check Fail on Excess Deaths — Part II (David Zweig)
“To recap: The Times cited an analysis to back up their claim that DeSantis was wrong for saying California had a higher excess mortality than Florida. The NYT reporters ignored my emails asking about the analysis. The researcher they cited acknowledged he shared the findings with the NYT of what is, essentially, a confidential analysis that he, nevertheless, believes is not meaningful or appropriate. And the researcher refuses to provide the analysis to, or discuss it with anyone else.”
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