Sugar and Spice...

In honor of National Sugar Cookie Day, I would like each and every one of you to make (or buy) a dozen sugar cookies. With these cookies you should eat one, hand out ten of them to friends, family or even perfect strangers. With the twelfth one, send it to me. You will truly help the cause of furthering the status of National Sugar Cookie Day, especially by sending a cookie my way.

So much happens in history on any given day that historical editing is required. Today, we will focus on a few of my favorite events including:

1956- Tom Hanks was born. If you have never seen a movie with him in it, you must have been in a coma for the past 30 years or so. He Knows You’re Alone, Splash, Big, Philadelphia, Sleepless in Seattle, Apollo 13, Cast Away, The Green Mile, The DaVinci Code, Larry Crowne.

1956- Dick Clark hosted Bandstand for the first time. By the fall of 1957, the show would be picked up by ABC and aired nationally…American Bandstand would be born.

1945- One of the greatest modern day writers (IMHO) was born. Dean Koontz is responsible for wonderful thrillers and borderline supernatural stories including Odd Thomas, The Taking, Mr. Murder, The Good Guy, Sole Survivor, Star Quest and The Dead Town.

1850-President Zachary Taylor died.Cause was listed as gastroenteritis (or cholera morbus). Rumors grew through the years and in 1991, his body was exhumed to see if he had been poisoned (arsenic is the suspect). Turns out he was not, the cause of death remains gastroenteritis. It is said that he may have survived had his doctors been ‘better’..had they not drugged him with ipecac, calomel, opium and quinine. Had they not bled and blistered him…history would be different.

1819- Elias Howe was born, in a few years will be inventing the sewing machine. Thanks Eli.

1777- The first governor of NY was elected…He was Brigadier General George Clinton. He will be the longest serving Governor of the state. In 1805, He would be elected Vice President under Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.