TGIF Friday

Yes sir, it's Friday (Chukar-waar, Jom'eh, Yawm-al-jum'a, Istiqlal, Sweetmorn) and that means it's time for some etymology. Friday is derived from the Anglo-Saxon "frigedaeg" of the Day of Frigg who was the supreme goddess of the Norse, wife of Odin. Frigg had the power of prophecy yet never revealed what she knew. Just like a woman, ey? In any case, it's the last day of the week, and I couldn't be happier about that. To make matters even better, some client brought in 4 dozen Krispy Kreme donuts and I love donuts. And to top it off, the Castle Cheese Factory is buying its employees lunch in order to placate us. It's not enough.

For some reason, I've got Pigs in Space stuck in my head.

In 1079 King Boleslaw II of Poland (he was nicknamed coleslaw by other European monarchs and is the reason why we have Polack jokes) executed Bishop Stanislaus of Szczepanow (don't ask me how to pronounce that) over a property dispute. In 1689 William III and Mary II were crowned co-sovereigns of Great Britain. In 1775 the last execution for witchcraft was carried out in Germany. There was no sharp rise in the witch population after this point. In 1865 Abraham Lincoln gave his last public speech. In 1876 the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks was organized. In 1899 Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the US. In 1905 Einstein revealed his Theory of Relativity. In 1919 the International Labor Organization was founded. Two years later Iowa imposed the first cigarette tax. Bastards. In 1965 51 tornadoes hit 6 midwestern states killing 256. That's what you call a bad day. In 1968 LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act into law. In 2002 Al Qaeda bombed a synagogue in Tunisia killing 21. And last year two bombings in Algiers killed 33.

In Costa Rica today is Juan Santamaria Day. He is the national hero of Costa Rica and was nicknamed "the hedgehog", not to be confused with Ron Jeremy. He burned down the hotel in which the would-be conqueror William Walker was staying in, killing Walker and preserving Costa Rica's independence.

It is also the feast day of St. Gemma of Lucca. I've been to Lucca three times. It's a cool city that has great food. Gemma was known as the Virgin of Lucca and claimed to have been in direct contact with Jesus, Mary, and several angels. Her sister told her she was crazy and drove her into a convent. Go figure.

Please enjoy your day and your weekend. And happy birthday, Joss Stone.