Thursday
Apr. 6, 2000
Some Details of Hebredean House Construction
Poem: "Some Details of Hebridean House Construction," by Thomas A. Clark, from Tormentil and Bleached Bones (Edinburgh University Press).
It's the birthday of country singer MERLE HAGGARD, born in Bakersfield, California (1937). He began writing songs while in prison at San Quentin.
It's the birthday of geneticist JAMES D(ewey) WATSON, born in Chicago (1928). Along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, he was awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize for the discovery of the molecular structure of DNAdeoxyribo-nucleic acidthe substance at the basis of heredity. He later wrote The Double Helix (1968), an informal, personal account of the DNA discovery.
On this day in 1896, THE OLYMPIC GAMES WERE RESUMED IN ATHENS, Greece, based on the model of their ancient Greek counterpart, discontinued in 393 A.D. In the new games, 8 countries were represented: Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Switzerland and the United States.
On this day in 1862, the first day's fighting at THE BATTLE OF SHILOH, in the Civil War, ended inconclusively. But the next day Grant's Union troops were reinforced and Confederate General Beauregard ordered a retreat, leaving Federal troops in a stronger position in Tennessee.
On this day in 1830, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS WAS FOUNDED by Joseph Smith, Jr., in Fayette, New York.
It's the birthday of the Shoshoni woman SACAJAWEA, born in Idaho (1786), who served as interpreter for the Lewis and Clark expedition (1804). She spoke half dozen Indian languagesbut she also knew which wilderness plants were edible, and saved the explorers' records when their boat overturned. She served as camp cook, housekeeper, and peacemaker with the watchful tribes they met along the way.
Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.®