Today is the birthday, in 70 BCE, of Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil. He was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He composed three of the most famous poems in Latin literature: the Eclogues (or Bucolics), the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid.
He stood as the most popular Latin poet through late antiquity, the Middle Ages, and early modernity, exerting major influence on Western literature. T. S. Eliot famously began a lecture on the subject “What Is a Classic?” by asserting as self-evidently true that “whatever the definition we arrive at, it cannot be one which excludes Virgil – we may say confidently that it must be one which will expressly reckon with him”.
As a schoolboy, I spent hours reading and translating his work and cursing him prolifically; I still remember parts: “Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris Italiam, fato profugus, Laviniaque venit litora” (“I sing of arms and of a man, an exile driven by fate, who first came from the shores of Troy to Italy and the Lavinian coasts”).
Virgil Reading the Aeneid to Augustus, Octavia, and Livia by Jean-Baptiste Wicar,
Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings which was fought between the Norman-French army of William, Duke of Normandy, and an English army under the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson, beginning the Norman Conquest of England.It was a decisive Norman victory, Harold was killed in the battle and William became king.
Bayeux Tapestry – Scene 57: the death of King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. Titulus: HIC HAROLD REX INTERFECTUS EST (Here King Harold is slain)
and…the reverse Bayeux Tapestry…
Thanks, Debra!
Today is the birthday, in 1948, of British singer Marcia Barrett. She was one of the original singers with the vocal group Boney M, who had the 1978 UK No.1 & US No.30 single ‘Rivers Of Babylon’. With more than 150 million records sold, they are one of the best-selling artists of all time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpDj1UTIn4Y
On this day in 1775, the Continental Congress established the Continental Navy, the predecessor to the United States Navy. It was founded to fight against British forces and their allies as part of the American Revolutionary War. In 1776, Commodore Esek Hopkins was appointed by Congress to command the navy. Due to the efforts of several prominent patrons such as John Adams, the Continental Navy eventually developed into a substantial force, though it never replicated the successes of the Continental Army.
The Continental Navy was unable to make a significant impact on the war’s outcome, and many of its ships were lost to British naval attacks, accidents, or bad weather. However, it produced a corps of skilled naval officers who would go on to fight in the Quasi-War, Barbary Wars and War of 1812. The Revolutionary War ended with an American victory in 1783, and two years later the Continental Navy was disbanded by Congress. On March 27, 1794, the United States Navy was officially established, inheriting many of the Continental Navy’s traditions.
The Continental Navy frigate Columbus with the captured British brig Lord Lifford off New England, 1776
BADA BING!
Now that I’ve reflected on it, cleaning mirrors is a job I can really see myself doing in the future.
In my school days, I did well in every subject except Greek mythology. You could say that class was my Achilles elbow.
I had to call the tinnitus hotline today. There was no answer — it just kept ringing.
SOCIALISM IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAVING YOUR HOUSE. CAPITALISM IS THE INSURANCE COMPANY DENYING YOUR CLAIM. COMMUNISM IS WHEN YOU START YOUR OWN TV PROPAGANDA STATION AFTER KICKING OUT THE FREE PRESS.
I’ve officially reached the age where my obituary won’t be using the word “untimely.
Stop buying plastic skeletons for Halloween, they’re terrible for the environment. Locally sourced, all natural skeletons are much more environmentally friendly. They take a bit of prep work, but so worth it. Reuse, repurpose, recycle.
Carole: That stupid teacher doesn’t know shit about math, history or English. I’m sure I smelled vodka on her breath. Brother: Stop it Carole! Mom is trying her best.
You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream. And that’s kind of the same thing.
A word to the wise ain’t necessary. It’s the stupid ones that need the advice.
I went out on a date with a woman recently and she said she wanted to get to know me better. I said, “No you don’t!” I got news for you ladies. We’re not hiding the good stuff.
I’ve reached the age where I can’t tell if I’ve sustained an injury or that’s just how I am now.
I’m not really worried about getting older … I’ll still do the same dumb stuff, just slower.
A recent study has shown that the most effective way to recover quickly after strenuous exercise is to be 20 years old.
Today is the birthday, in 1948, of American singer, classically trained pianist, guitarist, John Ford Coley, from England Dan & John Ford Coley, who had the 1976 US No. 2 & UK No. 26 single, ‘I’d Really Love To See You Tonight.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuUVgKT4roQ
On this day in 1825, the sloop Restauration arrived in New York City, from Norway, the first organized immigration from Norway to the United States. There are more than 4.5 million Norwegian Americans, according to the 2021 U.S. census; most live in the Upper Midwest and on the West Coast of the United States.
The descendants of these immigrants are referred to as “Sloopers”, in reference to the sloop ship that brought them from Norway. Many of the 1825 immigrants moved on from the Kendall Settlement in upstate New York in the mid-1830s, settling in Illinois and Wisconsin. These “Sloopers” gave impetus to the westward movement of Norwegians.
Between 1825 and 1925, more than 800,000 Norwegians immigrated to North America—about one-third of Norway’s population with the majority immigrating to the U.S., and lesser numbers immigrating to the Dominion of Canada. With the exception of Ireland, no single country contributed a larger percentage of its population to the United States than Norway.
U.S. postage stamp featuring the ship Restauration issued in honor of the 100th anniversary of Norwegian immigration
Today is the birthday, in 1895, of Zog I. born Ahmed Muhtar Bey Zogolli, he was an Albanian statesman and aristocrat who served as the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. At age 27, he first served as Albania’s youngest ever prime minister (1922–1924), then as president (1925–1928), and finally as king (1928–1939).
In April 1938, Zog married Countess Geraldine Apponyi de Nagy-Appony, a Roman Catholic aristocrat who was half-Hungarian and half-American. Zog had been engaged to the daughter of Shefqet Bey Verlaci before he became king. Soon after he became king, however, he broke off the engagement. According to traditional customs of blood vengeance prevalent in Albania at the time, Verlaci had the right and obligation to kill Zog.
About 600 blood feuds reportedly existed against Zog, and during his reign he reputedly survived more than 55 assassination attempts. he died at the Foch Hospital, Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, on 9 April 1961Zog was said to have regularly smoked 225 cigarettes a day, giving him a possible claim to the title of the world’s heaviest smoker in 1929, but had been seriously ill for some time. He was survived by his wife and son, and was initially buried at the cimetière parisien de Thiais, near Paris. On his death, his son Leka was pronounced H. M. King Leka of the Albanians by the exiled Albanian community.
His widow, Geraldine, died of natural causes in 2002 at the age of 87 in a military hospital in Tirana.
Zog I in 1939
Today is the birthday, in 1947, of Trinidadian vocalist, bass guitarist and songwriter, Tony Wilson from British soul band Hot Chocolate. They had the 1975 US No.3 single ‘You Sexy Thing’ the 1977 UK No.1 single ‘So You Win Again’ and over 25 other Top 40 hits. The group had at least one hit song every year on the UK Singles Chart from 1970 to 1984. Wilson died in Trinidad on 24 April 2026, at the age of 89. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DwEni2N_-A
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