Thursday

Nov. 14, 1996

Time for Serenity, Anyone?

by William Stafford

THURSDAY 11/14

Today's Reading:"Time for Serenity, Anyone?" by William Stafford from EVEN IN QUIET PLACES, published by Confluence Press.

It's the anniversary of the bombing of Coventry (London) in 1940, one of the worst bombing raids of the Blitz.

Journalist Harrison Salisbury (THE 900 DAYS: THE SIEGE OF LENINGRAD) was born today in Minneapolis, 1908. He launched the OP-Ed page at the Times in 1970.

It's the birthday of Swedish author Astrid Lindgren (PIPPI LONGSTOCKING; THE BROTHERS LIONHEART), born in Vimmerby, Sweden, 1907.

Silent-film star Louise Brooks (PANDORA'S BOX) was born on this day in Cherryvale, Kansas, 1906.

Composer Aaron Copland (APPALACHIAN SPRING; RODEO) was born today in Brooklyn, New York, 1900. He said, "For me it was not necessary to have an experience in order to compose about it. I preferred to imagine being on a horse without actually getting on one."

It's the birthday of chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland, 1863, developer of the first commercially viable plastic.

Historian Frederick Jackson Turner, who said the Western frontier shaped the American character, was born in Portage, Wisconsin, 1861.

Herman Melville's book, MOBY DICK, was published in New York on this day in 1851.

It's the birthday of French Impressionist painter Claude (Oscar) Monet, born in Paris, 1840.

The world's first streetcar began running on this day in New York City in 1832.

The inventor of the steamboat, Robert Fulton, was born today in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1765.

Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.®

 

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