Today in History

Yes, today is of course the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and I want to thank and honor all those of the "Greatest Generation" who struggled and served. As was discussed on Morning Joe this a.m.--everyone does not sacrifice in today's conflicts as they did in those days. (And yet Iraq has been our longest-running war to date.)

But I'd like to shine a light on a few other of today's anniversaries, along with their contemporary counterparts (though likely only in my cockeyed mind).

THEN:
DECEMBER 6, 1787 HAPPY DELAWARE DAY! Delaware became the first state to ratify the US Constitution on this date. That's why we know it as "The Constitution State."
NOW:
The Colorado River is going to run dry at some point. You see out here in the West, gold may be a precious find, but no solid, liquid, nor gas can top WATER in importance and survival. The Delaware River set me down this rabbit hole of logic and was buoyed by a column in the local rag. Rightwing as it definitely is, the columnist was still able to pull off his argument that Climate Change is causing a faster evapo-transpiration rate along the Colorado's course meaning that when the aquifers run out, the claims on the river will grow to a fever pitch and the flow will be compromised. As Delaware was Number One  223 years ago, water was then, is now, and will in the future continue to be our Number One concern. Plus, water is really good for one's "constitution."

THEN:
DECEMBER 6, 1909 Chemist Leo H. Baekeland received a patent for Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, and a source of great joy for collectors of moderne. Say what you will about petroleum products, BPA, and off-gassing--and I'm right there with you--this stuff is pretty darned swell.
NOW: So the local five-star hotel is showcasing some chefs who are, I'm sure, quite wonderful at what they do. However, I take issue with a printed recipe for Peach Melba that takes upwards of seven hours to prepare. SEVEN FLIPPING HOURS for ice cream in a peach half? No thanks, chefs. I'd rather spend six hours combing through thrift stores for retro kitchenware then return home to scoop out some ice cream for those little peach moons. And I'll have 45  minutes to spare.

THEN:
DECEMBER 6, 1911 China abolished the requirement that men wear their hair in a ponytail. Okay, men telling men how to do something. Or not to. Which brings me to...
NOW:
Steve Young, Joe Theismann (it doesn't rhyme with Heismann), and Randall Cunningham gave interviews recently in which they evaluate the quarterback play of one Tim Tebow. Readers of this blog will note that I have been very hard on Tebow as it concerns public displays of religion, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to defend the boy now. Steve Young makes the point that Tebow, being allowed to play with his mechanics uncorrected, isn't learning anything. Young, who entered the NFL as a scrambler and left a pocket-passer, says that Tebow can and will win games, but not championships with his level of play. The Hall of Fame 49er says Tebow needs, as he did, to learn how to be an NFL quarterback: To study the defenses and to learn how to pass.  Theismann says that Tebow has only thrown one interception in seven games because he often throws the kind of ball that no one can catch. He adds that we should "enjoy the circus while it's in town." Randall Cunningham, much to his credit, said that in his first year he was no more accurate than Tebow. He went from a rookie year percentage of 42 to an end of career 56.6%. The AP writer, Arnie Stapleton, goes on to say that though Cunningham "was one of the most exciting players of the day" he "never won a championship."
So you have three takeaways (no pun) from Mr. Stapleton's article from which to choose: Steve "I'd like to see more throws" Young, Joe "Not enough completions"Theismann, and Randall "What's his winning percentage" Cunningham. It's 85.7%, and I'm going with the kind-hearted, doesn't-seem-to-have-a-chip-on-his-shoulder Cunningham. Just makes me that much happier that I just snagged a Cunningham #11 Minnesota jersey from the Goodwill last month. I'll recall his gracious attitude whenever I or my 11-year-old daughter (it was a birthday gift) wear it.

So like "Water for Peaches" and "Quarterbacks with Ponytails", every day has its connections to the past. Thank a vet, bake with joy, and give someone a break--whether they deserve it or not!