colonies, birth, death, voting, dogs, sisters and kids

I've lost all creativity. So today will just be a listing of the days since Friday, Aug 5:

Friday: Scooter's birthday! 1st English colony in North America (Newfoundland). Raoul Wallenberg date of birth (1912). Wallenberg was a Swedish architect who is credited with savig 100,000 Jews from certain death by Nazis in WWII. He's the second person in history to be granted honorary American citizenship (posthumously).

Saturday (Aug 6): Electrocution was first used to carry out the death penalty on this day in 1890, at Auburn Prison in Auburn, NY. Apparently, they botched the job, and it was reported that they could have done a better job with an axe. Kind of makes you think... This was also the aniversary of the birth of Alexander Fleming (1881). He discovered penicillin and received a Nobel Prize. Also the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. More than 205,000 civilian deaths are linked to that event. Happily, though, Aug 6th is also the anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to thwart attempts to discriminate at the polls. It was extended in 1975, 1984 and 1991.

Sunday: Started "Assistance Dog week." So if your dog is of assistance to you, hats off! Sunday was sisters' day. I did not recognize or give appreciation to my sisters that day, although I guess I should have...

Monday: Started "Exercise with your Child Week." I guess I need to exercise with Bubba this week. Scooter got a bike at her dad's for her birthday. Maybe I should encourage them NOT to bike with her. I've found that it's like reverse psychology to get anything done over there... Yesterday was also Happiness Happens Day. It celebrates the Secret Society of Happy People. Um...that society shouldn't be secret. We need more happiness in the world. Aug 8, 1844 was the day Brigham Young was chosen to lead the Mormons after Joe Smith was murdered. And in 1974, Nixon resigned on TV. First time ever for a US pres.

Today is Tisha B'av or Fast of Ab. It commemorates and mourns the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem. It's also the UN's International Day of the World's Indigenous People. So...if you're indigenous: Good day to you! Otherwise, I guess you should be ashamed for moving. And in 1483, Pope Sixtus IV celebrated the frist mass in the Sistine Chapel, which was named after him.