Merry Christmas eve, Bombers. Or should that be Happy Holidays eve? Whatever you do to celebrate, remember - moderation in all things. Except wine. And chocolate. And pie. And gifts. Hmmm, maybe moderation is not such a good idea after all.
Time for Tweets!
Now, let's have that history lesson:
On This Day
In 1818, the first performance of "Silent Night" was given in the church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorf, Austria.
In 1865, the original incarnation of the Ku Klux Klan was formed.
In 1943, Dwight Eisenhower became the Supreme Allied Commander.
In 1955, NORAD tracked Santa for the first time.
In 1964, shooting began on the Star Trek pilot episode, "The Cage."
In 1973, the District of Columbia Home Rule Act was passed, allowing residents of Washington, D.C. to elect their own local government.
Born on This Day
1596 - Leonaert Bramer, Dutch painter (d. 1674)
1809 – Kit Carson, American frontiersman. (d. 1868) Perhaps the only one who was not played by Fess Parker!
1810 - Wilhelm Marstrand, Danish painter (d. 1873)
1877 – Sigrid Schauman, Finnish painter (d. 1979)
1886 – Michael Curtiz, Hungarian-born director, his most famous film being "Casablanca." (d. 1962)
1887 – Louis Jouvet, French actor and producer (d. 1951)
1893 – Ruth Chatterton, American actress (d. 1961)
1905 – Howard Hughes, American film producer and inventor (d. 1976)
1922 – Ava Gardner, American actress (d. 1990)
1924 – Lee Dorsey, American singer (d.1986)
1931 – Ray Bryant, American jazz pianist and composer
1945 – Lemmy, British singer, bassist (Motörhead)
1946 – Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, American racist sexist wingnut politician
1963 – Mary Ramsey, American singer (10,000 Maniacs and John & Mary))
1973 – Stephenie Meyer, American author (responsible for the sparkly vampire)
Died on This Day
1707 – Noël Coypel, French painter (b. Christmas 1628, missed his birthday by one day!)
1863 – William Makepeace Thackeray, British writer (b. 1811)
1865 – Sir Charles Lock Eastlake, British painter and writer (b. 1793)
1914 – John Muir, Scottish-American naturalist (b. 1838)
1957 – Norma Talmadge, American actress (b. 1893)
2008 – Harold Pinter, British playwright (b. 1930)
Today is
Christmas Eve
National Egg Nog Day
Last-Minute Shopper's Day