Axes Are Fun!

Temperance advocate and axe-wielder Carry Nation was born this day 162 years ago. If you don't know about her, even a brief glance at her life story is entertaining and informative, an interesting piece of the great patchwork quilt of the American experience. Plus, Jane Lane knows about her and once said: (click here).

This is also the 173rd anniversary of the birth of Andrew Carnegie, a philanthropist who, among other things, donated money to Louisville (my home town) to start a public library, where I spent a lot of my childhood going through dinosaur books by the ton. It seems appropriate to mention him here, as he is indirectly responsible for a lot of my weirdness.

Today is also the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (yes, it is odd with Carry Nation born today, too, but I'm okay with that) and International Men's Day, but only in Canada and Australia (and a few other places). If I understand this correctly, we guys are supposed to honor the latter holiday in part by honoring the earlier holiday (being nice to women) and by sacrificing something for the sake of family, friends, and country. In other words, we don't get to sit on the sofa and watch TV and drink beer, or whatever. Something to think about, anyway.