Today

A few quick things before I head off to MGH for a CT scan and follow up appointment with my neurologist. Me nervous? No, not at all (lie alert). What makes you think that?

History in public schools would be greatly improved if Bill Bryson wrote all the textbooks. The man could make Cream of Wheat fascinating.

From One Summer: America 1927 (which encompasses much more than one summer of one year):

You don't have to know anything about baseball to respond to Babe Ruth because he's just this magnificent human being. And a really good story because he was this kid who grew up essentially as an orphan, you know, had a tough life, and then he became the most successful baseball player ever. But he was also a really good guy.

Even with the benefit of steroids most modern players still couldn't hit as many home runs as Babe Ruth hit on hotdogs.

He (Henry Ford) was defiantly narrow-minded, barely educated, and at least close to functionally illiterate. His beliefs were powerful but consistently dubious, and made him seem, in the words of The New Yorker, “mildly unbalanced.

Henry Ford had the additional distinction of being the only American mentioned favorably in Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler’s memoir of 1925.

Next, the Winter Solstice happens at precisely 10:58AM. After which the days slowly lengthen. SLOWLY. Hillel sent me an entirely up to date ritual for pagans and everyone else who wants to take part. Do read all the comments—I believe they’ll be totally helpful in your ritual prep.

Wish me luck in today’s MGH fun follow up time. I’m hoping, of course, for no new surgery news.