THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

“We can judge our progress by the courage of our questions and the depth of our answers, our willingness to embrace what is true rather than what feels good.”

— Carl Sagan

BIRTHDAYS:

1527 Luca Cambiaso, Italian painter and sculptor, born in Moneglia, Republic of Genoa.

1584 Gaspar de Crayer, Flemish painter, born in Antwerp.

1680 Jean-Baptiste Loeillet, Flemish composer, born in Ghent, Spanish Netherlands. Oboe Sonata in C major

1785 David Wilkie, British painter.

1786 Carl Maria von Weber, German composer, conductor, virtuoso pianist, guitarist, and critic in the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Der Freischütz – Ouverture

1787 Louis-Jacques Daguerre, French scientist, artist and photographer recognized for his invention of the eponymous daguerreotype process of photography.

1797 Sojourner Truth, African American woman who escaped slavery and became a preacher, abolitionist, and advocate for women’s rights.

1836 W. S. Gilbert, English dramatist, librettist, poet, and illustrator best known for his comic operas created in collaboration with composer Arthur Sullivan. “I have a song to sing, O!” (The Yeomen of the Guard)

1860 Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Polish virtuoso pianist, composer, and statesman who advanced the cause of Polish independence through his international influence and diplomatic efforts. Melodie in G-flat major from Miscellanea, Op.16 No.2

1923 Alan Shepard, American astronaut. In 1961, he became the second person and the first American to travel into space and, in 1971, he became the fifth and oldest person to walk on the Moon, at age 47.

MISCELLANEOUS:

THOSE WASCALLY AWIENS. NASA Will Release HiRise Images of 3I/Atlas Interstellar Object Tomorrow

IN THE FUTURE, BEFORE LOCKING THINGS DOWN AGAIN (INCLUDING FREE SPEECH AND THE FREEDOM TO ASSEMBLE), THE AUTHORITIES MIGHT WANT TO REACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH THE FOLLOWING:

Nuremberg Code

Disease Mitigation Measures in the Control of Pandemic Influenza

Great Barrington declaration