History of the Day: 9/24

Mercifully, there's not much history today. Interestingly, today is the feast of Our Lady of Mercy (Our Lady of Ransom). In an apparition, Mary gave two bags of gold to ransom Christians from Muslim slavery. People who joined the order established to achieve this goal were called Mercedarians. This is important because I like thinking of names for imaginary bands. One of my favorites is "The Mercynaries." Get it? Maybe? A little?

OK, forget it.

In other religious history, today is the day Muhammad completed his hegira (pilgrimage) from Mecca to Medina in 622. There is a meteorite located in the Kaaba at Mecca. In 1947, President Harry Truman was worried about other things falling from the sky in Roswell, New Mexico and, on this day, (allegedly) established Majestic 12 to investigate. This is believed to be the high, holy day of Dennis Kucinich.

Finally, and most importantly, today is the commemoration of Sir Arthur Guinness, brewer of the beer that is so thick, it's a meal in itself. And; along with meat, potatoes and guilt; forms one of the four food groups of the Irish diet. As advertisements for Guinness once claimed, Is fearr de thú Guinness. (Guinness is good for you.)