History of the Day: 9/22

On this day in 1236 the Lithuanians and Semigallians defeated the Livonian Brothers of the Sword in Battle of Šiauliai. I don't know who they are or why that's important, but it sure is fun to say!

In 1692 the last people executed for witchcraft in the United States were hanged. I'm not sure, but I think it looked something like this. Less than 100 years later, Nathan Hale was hanged for spying during the Revolutionary War. There's a little known but wonderful song about it called Hale in the Bush.

Fiddler on the Roof is 48. Here's a medley of songs from the musical.

Nick Cave was born on this day in 1957. I highly recommend his music. How many other artists do you know that have an entire album dedicated to covers of murder ballads? Here's a somewhat atypical love song of his, Into My Arms.

Andrea Bocelli, the blind bard of Italy, was born a year later. Here he is with Sarah Brightman singing Time to Say Goodbye.

Japanese Zen Buddhist, Dogen, died on this day in 1253. He is known for saying things like:

To study the Way is to study the self.
To study the self is to forget the self.
To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things of the universe.
To be enlightened by all things of the universe
is to cast off the body and mind of the self as well as those of others.
Even the traces of enlightenment are wiped out,
and life with traceless enlightenment goes on forever and ever.

I assume he reached Nirvana, but I don't know what he said to Kurt Cobain. Speaking of musicians, Irving Berlin also died on this day in 1989. He composed too many songs to pick from, so I'll just let you sing God Bless America to yourself.

Today is also Hobbit Day, being the ficticious birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. So ... I guess ... ummm ... don't shave your feet?  Or you could join with Leonard Nimoy and the Stepford Singers in The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins.

Finally, today is International Car Free Day. I will be walking to work, so I'll see you tomorrow.