Peter the Great was born on this day, and what a life he had. Russia and Europe were dramatically changed as a result of his odd childhood. He was the younger of two half-brothers when their father died when the boys were young. Ivan was the older of the two and got stuck in the palace in the traditional upbringing of a monarch, Peter got to play outside and meet foreigners, because Ivan's sister Sophia thought Ivan would come to greater power that way. But Ivan died, and Peter's energy and wider vision led him from Tsar of Muscovy to Emperor of all the Russias, building a real army, fostering education, importing scientists and engineers, building the first Russian navy.
It's probably less important in the grand scheme of things, but musician Les Paul had similar impact on modern music. It's unclear who invented the solid-body guitar that is the heart of rock and blues, although the Les Paul signature guitars that Gibson made were certainly among the first and most important along with Leo Fender's Telecaster and Adolph Rickenbacker's designs, he also invented multi-track recording and reverb.
Today is also the anniversary of Emperor Nero's suicide, income tax withholding, and a major tornado in Massachusetts. The quotes are in honor of, or at least relate to, income taxes.
68 - With the provinces and his own Praetorian guard in rebellion, declared a public enemy by the Roman Senate, Emperor Nero committed suicide at the age of 31, saying "What an artist the world is losing in me!" He probably didn't play his violin while Rome burned, he probably did arrange the fires.
1943 - Specifically to conceal the impact of the income tax, but publicly promoted as a convenience to the taxpayer, the US Congress passed the Current Tax Payment Act of 1943, requiring withholding of income taxes by employers.
1953 - A tornado with winds in the funnel estimated at 325 miles per hour touched down in Petersham, Massachusetts briefly, then hit Worcester at 5:30 pm. It stayed about 75 minutes, leaving 90 dead and 1300 injured, leveling 530 homes and businesses and damaging 5,000 other buildings.
Feast of Saint Columba, Patron saint of Scotland, founder of 40 churches and 27 monasteries including Derry and Durrow in his native Ireland and one on the island of Iona on the Scottish coast which was the center of his mission to the Scots and Picts, baptized the kings of both peoples. He may have contributed to The Book of Kells while still in Ireland. A strict ascetic, Columba was active to the end of his 76 years, died 9 June 597.
1672
- Peter I Alexeevich, Russian politician - Son of Tsar Alexis by
his second wife, Alexis died in 1676 and Peter became co-tsar with his
half-brother in 1682, pushed into the background allowing him freedom
of inquiry and association outside the Kremlin. In 1689 he took power
from his half-sister (the real power behind co-tsar Ivan IV who died in
1696), sending her to a convent, and married Eudoxia, she bored him and
he banished her to a convent in 1698 after returning from the Grand Embassy.
In this he took 250 men to Europe, himself incognito as a sergeant, learning
shipbuilding by working in the yards of the Dutch East India Company,
worked in Royal Navy's shipyard in England, visited factories, schools,
museums, and Parliament, hired experts to return with their skills to
Russia. Created a regular European-style army, developed science, required
education of the aristocracy. Marrie a laundress in 1712, she succeeded
him as Catherine I. Critical of his son Alexei for laziness, Alexei went
to Austria and on his return was tried for treason and died in prison
1718. Formed empire 1721, because first Emperor of all the Russias. In
the fall of 1724 he saw soldiers from a grounded ship in danger of drowning
and rushed into the icy waters, caught a chill, and continued to work
through a serious illness until his death at St Petersburg on 8 February
1725.
1915 - Les Paul, US musician, inventor - Born Lester Polfus in Waukesha, Wisconsin, performing at 13, led his own trio in New York City at 21. Armed Forces Radio through WW II, then staff musician with NBC (radio) in Los Angeles, started building experimental solid-body guitars in 1946. His 1946 hit "Lover" was the first overdubbed recording released, he built the first 8-track tape recorder in 1953 for sessions with Bing Crosby, first to add reverb in recording. Paul started making experimental solid-body guitars in 1947, Gibson started making the "Les Paul Standard" guitar in 1952. Married Mary Ford in 1949, they recorded major hits in '50s including "Vaya con Dios," "Tennessee Waltz," and "Mockin' Bird Hill." Divorced and retired in '63, solo album '68, 1977 Grammy for "Chester and Lester" with Chet Atkins, returned to live work with jazz trio in New York City 1984.
Next to being shot at and missed, nothing is quite as satisfying as an
income tax refund.
- F. J. Raymond
On my income tax 1040 it says 'Check this box if you are blind.' I wanted
to put a check mark about three inches away.
- Tom Lehrer
The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf
has. Even when you make a tax form out on the level, you don't know when
its through, if you are a crook or a martyr.
- Will Rogers
Income tax returns are the most imaginative fiction being written today.
- Herman Wouk
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