dual personalities

Funnily enough, the giant Imperial Walker was removed yesterday morning, only to be replaced by a variety of other large vehicles. Lots of coming and going ensued.

Onward and upward.

Today we celebrate the birthday of movie actor William Holden (1918-1981).

He was born just across the river in O’Fallon, Illinois, but he spent most of his youth in California. Though a very sophisticated type, he managed to hold on to his midwestern charm–not unlike his friend and fellow Illinoisan, Ronald Reagan. He made a lot of good movies.

Of course, my favorite is The Horse Soldiers (1959).

Like too many other people, sadly, alcohol was his downfall. He died at 63 after tripping on a rug at home alone and hitting his head. He was found four days later–an ignominious end. Toasting may be inappropriate, but I will find something on his playlist to watch.

We also note that today marks the 234th anniversary of the death of Benjamin Franklin in 1790. Approximately 20,000 people attended his funeral after which he was interred in Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia. 

In those wretched countries where a man cannot call his tongue his own, he can scarce call anything his own. Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech … Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom, and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech, which is the right of every man …

Silence Dogood, 1722

I couldn’t agree more. I also like Franklin’s proposal (which was not adopted) for the design of the Great Seal of the United States which featured the motto: “Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God”.

The OM texted me yesterday to inform me that Whitey Herzog had died. Whitey was great and we sure loved that 1982 St. Louis Cardinals team that won the World Series. Ozzie Smith, Keith Hernandez, Willy McGee, Darrel Porter, Lonnie Smith, Bruce Sutter…

The team hit a grand total of 67 home runs in 1982, the fewest in the major leagues. But they caught the ball, pitched well and ran–they played what became known as “Whiteyball”. The style was solidified one Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium, when the team’s third-string catcher stole home with two outs and two strikes in the 12th inning for a victory. The Cardinals won the division by three games, then swept the Braves in a best-of-five playoff. They kicked off the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers with Gussie Busch riding around the stadium behind the Clydesdales and Smith doing a backflip on the way to his position. In truth, reading about it now, it sounds a lot like the Indians in Major League (1987)!

Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction! Have a good Wednesday!