HISTORICITY

Happy Martin Luther King Day (observed). Let’s start with the fact that I understand why labor unions had to come into existence, and why they have evolved into what they are today. However, I do wish they would all get together and stop pushing for Monday holidays. It is getting so that every holiday except Thanksgiving and the Winter Recess—which is another kettle of fish—is celebrated over a weekend including Monday.

Businesses like this for two reasons. Workers have three days mandated so that presumably they won’t take four. People who are not at work tend to shop. Of course, what really happens with a three day weekend looming is that people take the day before “to avoid the traffic.” Alternatively, they take Tuesday off to allow for hangover reduction.

The word of the day for January 15, 2007 is “historicity” — noun : historical actuality.

Our quote for today is from Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821):

History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.

;^)