Birthday:

"Mad" King Ludwig II of Bavaria

King Ludwig I of Bavaria

More because it amuses me than because it is of any real importance, today I’m going to talk about an odd coincidence. King Ludwig I and King Ludwig II of Bavaria were born on the same day, 59 years apart. Ludwig I, Ludwig II’s grandfather, insisted when Ludwig II was born that the child be named after him, because of their common birthday. Ludwig II, interestingly, was deposed on grounds of insanity. With a notoriously excentric and pathologically shy ruler intent upon ignoring affairs of state, the cabinet felt that the good name of their country, along with their own comfortable positions, were at risk.  Ludwig II was deposed and institutionalized, his uncle taking up the regency. He died mysteriously, found dead in a stream along with the body of one the psychologists who helped to depose him. Since his death, King Ludwig has been accused of homosexuality and some say he was secretly executed because of this. There is however, little evidence. His younger brother Otto, was truly mentally ill and spent his life in an asylum. Cheerful, eh?

That enormous essay above (sorry about that, incidentally) sort of counts as history, but it didn’t all take place today, so onward!

British troops burn Washington, DC

Yes, yes, it’s the War of 1812! This day 1814 (if my sources are correct, which is always iffy) the British torched the U.S. capital and razed the White House. Now, I know we’re all very enthusiastic about the War of 1812, but there’s no reason to go staging a reenactment, okay folks? We’re in enough debt without having to rebuild the White House. People…*shakes head*

In the news…

Picture of a plane, not THE plane

A JC Penny employee in Rockaway Township, New Jersey reports a small airplane crashing in the JC Penny parking lot. The pilot is receiving medical attention, but was reportedly conscious. The plane appears to have minimal damage and was surrounded by fire extinguishing foam. It is unclear where the plane took off from or where its destination would have been. Little tip for you guys, JC Penny parking lots are not runways and they not have aircraft services. It is recommended that you land at an airport or similar. Just want to make that clear.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand…

I know what day it is...

It’s Second Hand Clothes Day!!! It’s ridiculous, this is one of those useful holidays all American children should be celebrating and learning from. You like Sally’s outfit? She got it at a second hand store. See, children? Things don’t need to be expensive or designer to be good. A cute outfit can be cobbled together from the contents of your local Savers! (And they have other cool stuff too!) Yes, readers, today take a break from the over competitve worl of fashion and pay a visit to a thrift store. Take a look around. Feel it? See it? Yeah, that’s clothing. Real clothing. With personality.

~deebs

Yes, today we send out our best wishes to Mike Huckabee, former presidential hopeful

Happy 54th, Mike! If anyone would like to bake Mike a cake, you can help me put together my six-layer Angel’s food cake if you bring a popcorn maker because without one I can’t cook the squirrel the way he likes it. Then, of course, we’ll have to wrap his present. I bought him a nice desk and hand carved “You earned this” into the top in a nice font. I think he’ll be very touched. Thanks for all the laughs, Mike. I’ve read the last chapter of the book and you do end up winning. Thanks to hossentoss for posting the above picture on your blog along with that great article by Matt Taibbi from Rolling Stone, November 29, 2007. To read the article, click here.

Next, on to history.

Ah, Vesuvius, the ideal holiday destination

1930 years ago today a tranquil looking mountain blew its top, burying 3 cities and killing tens of thousands of people. The victims of Vesuvius were crushed in their houses by collapsing roofs, struck down in the street by falling tiles, suffocated by inhaled ash, and incinerated by the heat. Every once in a while, humans need a reminder from Mother Nature that they don’t have control over everything and we are but insects in the great kingdom of earth, at the mercy of the great throbbing power of our planet. Every once in a while we need a little perspective check. Vesuvius is just that. Today, 3 million people live around the area of the volcano. We wish you luck. Thanks to Danny and Simone of travelscrapbookonline.com for the image. To read about their adventure click here. Thank you to my seventh grade history teacher for the “This day in history” concept. Not that I remember these things or anything…

Today today (that is to say August 24, 2009):

Hanspeter Thür, Swiss data production commissioner, wants Google to close down Street View

Google, having received complaints from the Swiss government that their navigation service Street View invades people’s privacy, today agreed to discuss a course of action with Mr. Thür. The images on Google Street View apparently break Swiss law because license plate numbers and faces are either not blurred or insufficiently blurred. In fact, a small scandal ensued this weekend when Reudi Noser, of Swiss parliament, was captured on Google Street View walking with a woman. The woman was identified as his assistant and Mr. Noser said, “There is probably no problem for my wife, as you could also recognize my companion in the picture,” but demanded Street View be shut down until privacy can be guaranteed. Google’s global privacy counsel, Peter Fleischer, said, “We are excited about the discussion with the commissioner to hear his thoughts and to respond by demonstrating how we protect the private sphere with Street View.” These have not been the only complaints made about Street View, including one time when the inhabitants of a little British village formed a human chain to stop Google camerapeople from taking photos of their town. Since the upgrade to Street View, Google Maps has seen a surge in popularity. So, be careful what you say about Google. They know where you live. Thank you to the New York Times website for posting this article. The full story can be read here.

Finally…

Nomnomnom

It’s National Waffle Day! There’s nothing like a nice waffle to cheer you on your way through a tough day and they’re even delicious when eaten cold for lunch! Three guesses what I’ll be having for lunch today. Enjoy the waffles while they last, because you know tomorrow they won’t mean as much.

~deebs