February 23rd

February 23 is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. If the ancient Mayans were correct, there are 302 days remaining until the end of time.

303 Emperor Diocletian orders general persecution of Christians. After being Senior Warden of my parish, I can understand his motivation!

1775 Big Mouth Patrick Henry declares, "Give me liberty or give me death." He really didn’t think they’d take him up on his offer though.

1896 Leo Hirshfield calls his new candy, Tootsie Roll, because Chocolate Turd was already taken.

1903 Cuban state of Guantanamo is leased to USA "in perpetuity" which in turn lets suspected terrorists live "in perpetuity."

1904 U.S. acquires control of the Panama Canal Zone for $10 million, but not "in perpetuity."

1963 Indiana repeals ban on sale of sex toys and becomes a much happier place.

1967 John Herbert's "Fortune and Men's Eyes" premieres in New York City

1974 Patty Hearst, daughter of publisher Randolph Hearst, becomes much more interesting when she is kidnapped by Symbionese Liberation Army

1980 Eric Heiden wins all 5 speed skating golds at Lake Placid Olympics

1685 Sexually frustrated Georg Friedrich Handel, German-born British composer 

1868 William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, US historian/civil rights activist

1940 Peter Fonda, US actor

1962 Berry DeMey, Dutch body builder/photographer  

1962 Olivier Ducastel, gay French director/writer 

1966 Alexandre Borges, Brazilian actor

1970 Niecy Nash [Carol Denise Ensley], US actress/host/Clean House/Reno 911/The Insider 

1983 Mirco Bergamasco, Italian rugger / Dieux du Stade model

1983 Maciej Ustynowicz, Polish speed skater

1884 Tambo Tambo, Australian aboriginal/US circus attraction, becomes a mummified attraction at a Cleveland funeral home for 100 years.  Read the weird chain of events here. 

1934 Edward Elgar, bisexual British Composer , bows out with pomp and circumstance.  I can almost feel the tickle from his porn 'stache!

1965 Stan Laurel, comedian (Laurel and Hardy), gets himself into a fine mess.