A Brief History On December 27, 2017, we stand on the brink of a new year, giving us cause to look back on the year that is finishing.  As with every year, many notable people died this past year, and we list 10 of the most significant or interesting of the Class of 2017.  Many people you might add to the list are included in the “honorable mentions,” but feel free to tell us who else we should have listed.  (Dishonorable mention: Roger Ailes, Fox TV boss and sexual harasser; Manuel Noriega, dictator) Digging Deeper 1. Hugh Hefner, magazine magnate. Founder…

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A Brief History On December 26, 1986, a new National Day was declared in “honor” of the most serious of the whiners in this fair land.  The man behind the plan was Rev. Kevin Zaborney, who also created a National Hugging Day (January 21st).  See the link at the end of the article for his website. Digging Deeper Zaborney named Donald Trump the Most Famous Whiner of 2015, apparently largely due to this actual Trump quotation while being interviewed by Chris Cuomo.  According to Mr. Trump, in his own words, “I do whine because I want to win, and I’m…

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A Brief History On December 25, 1977, English acting legend Charlie Chaplin died of a stroke at the age of 88.  His 75 year career was most notable for his silent movie contributions, although he suffered from criticism for his increasingly strident political leanings in later years.  He was also criticized for his penchant for the ladies, especially younger women, some of whom he married, with his 4th and final wife being only 18 years old to his 54 years when they married in 1943.  Chaplin died on Christmas Day in 1977, a day that popular culture has recognized as…

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A Brief History On December 24, 1294, Pope Boniface VIII (born Benedetto Caetani) was elected Pope of the Roman Catholic Church to replace the previous Pope, St. Celestine V, who had resigned to return to his humble, monastic pre-papal life.  Fearing Celestine becoming an Anti-pope (pretender to the papacy), Boniface jailed Celestine, his predecessor (not the first Pope to ever resign the office, despite legend that he was).  Celestine spent the rest of his life imprisoned. Digging Deeper Celestine, born Pietro Angelerio in 1215 in Sicily, had become a Benedictine monk at the age of 17.  He led an austere…

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A Brief History On December 23, 1997, the Seinfeld television comedy show introduced us to a new, secular holiday to be celebrated during the winter season, avoiding the religious friction of Hanukkah vs. Christmas vs. Saturnalia vs. Winter Solstice and the racially charged Kwanzaa.  (Note: Kwanzaa was invented by a creep that was convicted of kidnapping and torturing 2 African American women.)  December 23 is the day designated for the celebration of Festivus (For The Rest of Us!!!) Digging Deeper The brainchild of Seinfeld writer Dan O’Keefe, the idea of Festivus is to provide a “holiday” without any pressures to…

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