Ridley's Believe It Or Not--This Day In History--January 7, 2014

Ridley's Believe It Or Not--January 7, 2014:  Slow day for holidays unless you have a Time Machine and are celebrating Distaff Day in Medieval Europe or in Japan eating seven herb rice porridge and celebrating 七草の節句(for those who cannot read Japanese characters-- Nanakusa no sekku, and scraped from the bottom of the holiday barrel two weird ones--Tempura Day (at least goes with 七草の節句) and Rock Day which leads readers to believe I have lost my marbles; but on this day in 1890 W.B. Purvis received a patent for a fountain pen; 1894 William Dickson received a patent for motion picture film; in 1927 the first Transatlantic telephone service commenced between London and New York City; and in 1954 IBM demonstrated the first machine translation system (how is that for 64 years of communications progress?).

            Why use a pen when a computeer will do? "The pen is the tongue of the hand, a silent utterer of words for the eye." Henry Ward Beecher, noted 19th Century clergyman, writer and campaigner for the abolition of slavery and for women's suffrage (also known for dodging by a hung jury a trial for adultery).  Great concept as long as handwriting is legible which is why Robin Cook as a doctor probably uses a computer.

            Kudos to Seminoles last night and condolences to an underdog Auburn team that played their hearts out, only to lose in the last few seconds. Kudos also to the voters who voted for Winston as this year's Heisman. Farewell to the BCS--you will not be missed.     
            Take five from the first full week of work in 2014  and please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join 134 growing  followers and  please follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs--click on links below. www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for an original poem for Christmas just posted and poem on the 2013 in  review just posted and www.alaskanpoetcommentary.blogspot.com for poem on the President's birthday gift to Michelle and why a War on Spending Inequality might be needed--you will enjoy it.  
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