Again!
Again!
The Maundy Monday Newsletter - This Week in History October 2 -October 8.
Okay. It’s Monday. Again!
Over the weekend, the United States lost the Ryder Cup in Europe. Again! We had a mass shooting in Washington, DC. Again! We also averted another government shutdown. Again!
History just keeps repeating itself, which causes you to drink. Again!
Speaking of drinking…
This week, we commemorate the life of American Patriot Samual Adams, who died on October 3, 1803.
Adams was born in Boston who, after failing as a businessman, took up politics, where anyone can fail forward. He would gain a seat in the Massachusetts State Legislature, serve as a delegate to the Continental Congress, and ultimately win the governor's job in 1794. Just another example that you can’t run the government like a business.
He was a central figure of the American Revolution and a Founding Father who opposed basically everything the British Parliament tried to impose on the colonies. He's like the Michael Jordan of the Revolution because many dudes from other colonies are referred to as the Sam Adams of, say, Pennsylvania.
Adams married two women, both named Elizabeth, which made it easier for him to remember. He had six children, but only two made it to adulthood.
Sam is also a cousin of President John Adams, which means he was also the cousin of President John Quincy Adams.
And, of course, Sam Adams used to brew beer. This was before he entered politics, so he wasn’t very good at it. Someone else was, and now we know Sam Adams for the alcoholic beverage.
Sam Adams Beer was launched in 1985 as the flagship brand of the Boston Beer Company, founded by Jim Koch. Sam Adams grew rapidly over the next three decades and is considered the Founding Father of the American craft beer movement. The Boston Beer Company is the ninth best-selling beer company in America, seeing an increase due to purchasing many smaller breweries, including Dogfish Head.
Koch, who was born in Ohio, went to Harvard and began his career as a consultant. He is now worth a couple of billion. I have a couple of billion Sam Adams bottle caps in one of my kitchen drawers. You're welcome, Jim.
I received a book on Samuel Adams for Christmas last year, which means I will eventually read it in about ten years. I’m looking forward to it!
Okay, let's highlight what else happened this week. Here's what I got:
1. Earl Warren was sworn in as the 14th Chief Justice of the United States on October 5, 1953. Warren would serve as Chief Justice until 1969 and preside over a very woke Supreme Court which ruled on cases such as Brown v. Board of Education and Miranda v. Arizona. He also led a Commission he named after himself, where he covered up the details of President Kennedy’s assassination.
2. California governor Gray Davis was recalled on October 7, 2003. Davis, reelected in 2002 despite low approval ratings due to an electricity crisis in the state, became just the second governor to be recalled and replaced, losing to Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger.
3. The Motion Picture Association of America adopted its film-rating system on October 7, 1968. To assist audiences on the appropriateness of the movies, established a rating system from G for general audience to X for sex. Why else would it be called X if it wasn’t for sex? Answer me that.
This is shaping up to be a busy week. We are grateful that the government did not shut down so Anonymous can continue her spy work – although I must think that spies are essential workers, right?
Who pulls a spy off work because we can’t pay them?
Can’t wait till next month. When we do it – again!
I should be able to crank out the following amendment ranking this Friday. We have entered the top ten! Don’t forget to hit the like button. Again!
Have a great week.
Okay,
Chris
