Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans, but it seems they are
now attempting to force Thanksgiving back on us. By tradition, we do not
have holidays or celebrate this, unless very religious, so I rather get
annoyed when folk start sending cards for it. Gowd I give up.
I am going to start a celebration one can celebrate any time. Its called,
the non committed day. Thus if a day does not have any meaning whatsoever
you can wish people a happy one.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active

On Thursday, November 28, 2013 4:24:42 PM UTC, Brian Gaff wrote:
Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans,


Since it has pagan roots, it pre-dates America by some time.

On 28/11/2013 16:24, Brian Gaff wrote:
Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans, but it seems they are
now attempting to force Thanksgiving back on us. By tradition, we do not
have holidays or celebrate this, unless very religious, so I rather get
annoyed when folk start sending cards for it. Gowd I give up.
I am going to start a celebration one can celebrate any time. Its called,
the non committed day. Thus if a day does not have any meaning whatsoever
you can wish people a happy one.
Brian

Sending cards? Even the Americans don't send cards, or didn't seem to
when I lived there. I was actually quite impressed. It was one occasion
that seemed to be non-commercial. Just get together with the family for
a good meal and celebration. Based on Harvest Festival wasn't it?

On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 08:38:13 -0800, Road_Hog wrote:

Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans,

Since it has pagan roots, it pre-dates America by some time.

We most certainly did import all the pumpkin/demanding-sweets-with-
menaces/costume ********, though.

Isn't Thanksgiving just Harvest Festival, though?

On Thursday 28 November 2013 16:53 Adrian wrote in uk.d-i-y:

On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 08:38:13 -0800, Road_Hog wrote:

Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans,

Since it has pagan roots, it pre-dates America by some time.

We most certainly did import all the pumpkin/demanding-sweets-with-
menaces/costume ********, though.

"Guising" has it's roots in scots/welsh/manx/irish culture going back to the
16th century according to Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

which is where the americans got it from.

When I was a kid, the english would pretty much just haves some spooky
stories and maybe dress up in the home.

Isn't Thanksgiving just Harvest Festival, though?

Pretty much, as I understand it. Sounds like another occasion of forced get
togther with people you hate

I have no idea why they seem to basically eat Xmas dinner for it though?


--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://squiddy.blog.dionic.net/

http://www.sensorly.com/ Crowd mapping of 2G/3G/4G mobile signal coverage

On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 17:06:28 +0000, Tim Watts wrote:

I have no idea why they seem to basically eat Xmas dinner for it though?

They probably can't figure why we eat Thanksgiving dinner for Xmas.

thinks
So what do 'merkins tend to do for Xmas?

On 11/28/2013 11:53 AM, Adrian wrote:
On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 08:38:13 -0800, Road_Hog wrote:

Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans,

Since it has pagan roots, it pre-dates America by some time.

We most certainly did import all the pumpkin/demanding-sweets-with-
menaces/costume ********, though.

AIUI, the pumpkins were an American adaptation of the Scottish/Irish
turnip lanterns, as they are much easier to carve.

Isn't Thanksgiving just Harvest Festival, though?

Yes.

On 28/11/2013 16:24, Brian Gaff wrote:
Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans, but it seems they are
now attempting to force Thanksgiving back on us. By tradition, we do not
have holidays or celebrate this, unless very religious, so I rather get
annoyed when folk start sending cards for it. Gowd I give up.
I am going to start a celebration one can celebrate any time. Its called,
the non committed day. Thus if a day does not have any meaning whatsoever
you can wish people a happy one.
Brian



The American owned companies operating in the UK such as Asda and Amazon
are pushing 'Black Friday' - the USA equivalent of the Boxing day sales.


--
mailto:news{at}admac(dot}myzen{dot}co{dot}uk

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
...
Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans, but it seems they
are now attempting to force Thanksgiving back on us. By tradition, we do
not have holidays or celebrate this, unless very religious, so I rather
get annoyed when folk start sending cards for it. Gowd I give up.
I am going to start a celebration one can celebrate any time. Its called,
the non committed day. Thus if a day does not have any meaning whatsoever
you can wish people a happy one.

and a happy unbirthday to you, Brian

tim

Adrian wrote:
On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 17:06:28 +0000, Tim Watts wrote:

I have no idea why they seem to basically eat Xmas dinner for it though?

They probably can't figure why we eat Thanksgiving dinner for Xmas.

thinks
So what do 'merkins tend to do for Xmas?

Not a lot: they're back at work on Dec 26th (Boxing Day doesn't exist
there.) AIUI Thanksgiving is the bigger of the two celebrations.

--
Scott

Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?

S Viemeister wrote in news:bfpdahFik5bU1
@mid.individual.net:

On 11/28/2013 11:53 AM, Adrian wrote:
On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 08:38:13 -0800, Road_Hog wrote:

Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans,

Since it has pagan roots, it pre-dates America by some time.

We most certainly did import all the pumpkin/demanding-sweets-with-
menaces/costume ********, though.

AIUI, the pumpkins were an American adaptation of the Scottish/Irish
turnip lanterns, as they are much easier to carve.

Isn't Thanksgiving just Harvest Festival, though?

Yes.

I think we should be more honest about Christmas and have a Winter Holiday
- but during the holiday, Christians can celebrate the birth of their Lord.
Others can be less hypocritcal and eat, drink and be merry without
pretending to use a religeous festival.

--

DerbyBorn

On 28/11/2013 17:06, Tim Watts wrote:


I have no idea why they seem to basically eat Xmas dinner for it though?



Isn't it to celibate the date that the native American Indians showed
the clueless founding fathers how to live off the land?

--
mailto:news{at}admac(dot}myzen{dot}co{dot}uk

On 28/11/2013 17:52, DerbyBorn wrote:
S Viemeister wrote in news:bfpdahFik5bU1
@mid.individual.net:

On 11/28/2013 11:53 AM, Adrian wrote:
On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 08:38:13 -0800, Road_Hog wrote:

Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans,

Since it has pagan roots, it pre-dates America by some time.

We most certainly did import all the pumpkin/demanding-sweets-with-
menaces/costume ********, though.

AIUI, the pumpkins were an American adaptation of the Scottish/Irish
turnip lanterns, as they are much easier to carve.

Isn't Thanksgiving just Harvest Festival, though?

Yes.

I think we should be more honest about Christmas and have a Winter Holiday
- but during the holiday, Christians can celebrate the birth of their Lord.
Others can be less hypocritcal and eat, drink and be merry without
pretending to use a religeous festival.


We could call it 'Winter Solstice'.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 28/11/13 16:24, Brian Gaff wrote:
Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans, but it seems they are
now attempting to force Thanksgiving back on us. By tradition, we do not
have holidays or celebrate this, unless very religious, so I rather get
annoyed when folk start sending cards for it. Gowd I give up.
I am going to start a celebration one can celebrate any time. Its called,
the non committed day. Thus if a day does not have any meaning whatsoever
you can wish people a happy one.
Brian

International piracy day.



--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc-ra-cy) €“ a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.

On 28/11/2013 6:10 PM, The Medway Handyman wrote:
On 28/11/2013 17:52, DerbyBorn wrote:
S Viemeister wrote in news:bfpdahFik5bU1
@mid.individual.net:

On 11/28/2013 11:53 AM, Adrian wrote:
On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 08:38:13 -0800, Road_Hog wrote:

Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans,

Since it has pagan roots, it pre-dates America by some time.

We most certainly did import all the pumpkin/demanding-sweets-with-
menaces/costume ********, though.

AIUI, the pumpkins were an American adaptation of the Scottish/Irish
turnip lanterns, as they are much easier to carve.

Isn't Thanksgiving just Harvest Festival, though?

Yes.

I think we should be more honest about Christmas and have a Winter Holiday
- but during the holiday, Christians can celebrate the birth of their Lord.
Others can be less hypocritcal and eat, drink and be merry without
pretending to use a religeous festival.


We could call it 'Winter Solstice'.


Or Yule - which is what it was originally before the christians adopted it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule

--
Bob - Tetbury, Gloucestershire, UK

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

On 28/11/13 17:52, DerbyBorn wrote:
S Viemeister wrote in news:bfpdahFik5bU1
@mid.individual.net:

On 11/28/2013 11:53 AM, Adrian wrote:
On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 08:38:13 -0800, Road_Hog wrote:

Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans,

Since it has pagan roots, it pre-dates America by some time.

We most certainly did import all the pumpkin/demanding-sweets-with-
menaces/costume ********, though.

AIUI, the pumpkins were an American adaptation of the Scottish/Irish
turnip lanterns, as they are much easier to carve.

Isn't Thanksgiving just Harvest Festival, though?

Yes.

I think we should be more honest about Christmas and have a Winter Holiday
- but during the holiday, Christians can celebrate the birth of their Lord.
Others can be less hypocritcal and eat, drink and be merry without
pretending to use a religeous festival.

Burn an art student and have a proper M�draniht
--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc-ra-cy) €“ a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.

The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 28/11/13 16:24, Brian Gaff wrote:
Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans, but it seems they are
now attempting to force Thanksgiving back on us. By tradition, we do not
have holidays or celebrate this, unless very religious, so I rather get
annoyed when folk start sending cards for it. Gowd I give up.
I am going to start a celebration one can celebrate any time. Its called,
the non committed day. Thus if a day does not have any meaning whatsoever
you can wish people a happy one.
Brian

International piracy day.

.... are you perhaps referring to International Talk like a Pirate Day?

Sept 19th, iirc

#Paul

"Tim Watts" wrote in message
...
On Thursday 28 November 2013 16:53 Adrian wrote in uk.d-i-y:

On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 08:38:13 -0800, Road_Hog wrote:

Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans,

Since it has pagan roots, it pre-dates America by some time.

We most certainly did import all the pumpkin/demanding-sweets-with-
menaces/costume ********, though.

"Guising" has it's roots in scots/welsh/manx/irish culture going back to
the
16th century according to Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

which is where the americans got it from.

When I was a kid, the english would pretty much just haves some spooky
stories and maybe dress up in the home.

Isn't Thanksgiving just Harvest Festival, though?

Pretty much, as I understand it. Sounds like another occasion of forced
get
togther with people you hate

I have no idea why they seem to basically eat Xmas dinner for it though?


And beg the turkey's pardon.
What a load of contrived bollix.

Sad *******s.

"alan" wrote in message
...
On 28/11/2013 17:06, Tim Watts wrote:


I have no idea why they seem to basically eat Xmas dinner for it though?



Isn't it to celibate the date that the native American Indians showed the
clueless founding fathers how to live off the land?

Shortly before ethnically cleansing them?

No we didn't. All hallows eve was celebrated by the pagans LONG before
America was even thought of. What we do seem to have inherited from
them is the concept of "trick or treating" rather than "guising" to
'celebrate' this.


Brian Gaff wrote:
Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans,

Andrew May wrote:
Based on Harvest Festival wasn't it?

Nah. Giving thanks for the Indians feeding the settlers their first
winter, now a generic time to be thankful. "I am thankful all my family
are here", "I am thankful uncle Rodney's cancer has gone into remission" etc

Yes, but the current commercialisation and so called traditions are squarely
centred on the US of A, I am sure.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Road_Hog" wrote in message
...
On Thursday, November 28, 2013 4:24:42 PM UTC, Brian Gaff wrote:
Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans,


Since it has pagan roots, it pre-dates America by some time.

Not sure what it was based on, but maybe things have changed, I guess though
if cards were made, its possibly a backlash for cards for everything as now
seems to be the norm.
Actually it was precisely because they are so rare for that festival that
the person sent it I understand, these are the kind of people who look for
daft novelties when on holiday to give as gifts. I'm sure you have met
people like this.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Andrew May" wrote in message
...
On 28/11/2013 16:24, Brian Gaff wrote:
Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans, but it seems they
are
now attempting to force Thanksgiving back on us. By tradition, we do not
have holidays or celebrate this, unless very religious, so I rather
get
annoyed when folk start sending cards for it. Gowd I give up.
I am going to start a celebration one can celebrate any time. Its
called,
the non committed day. Thus if a day does not have any meaning whatsoever
you can wish people a happy one.
Brian

Sending cards? Even the Americans don't send cards, or didn't seem to when
I lived there. I was actually quite impressed. It was one occasion that
seemed to be non-commercial. Just get together with the family for a good
meal and celebration. Based on Harvest Festival wasn't it?

so what other ones should we celebrate? Passover perhaps?
I think we should find some more. Who invented Tarmac, where would we be
without him now?


Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"soup" wrote in message
...
Andrew May wrote:
Based on Harvest Festival wasn't it?

Nah. Giving thanks for the Indians feeding the settlers their first
winter, now a generic time to be thankful. "I am thankful all my family
are here", "I am thankful uncle Rodney's cancer has gone into remission"
etc

On Fri, 29 Nov 2013 11:36:36 +0000, Brian Gaff wrote:

Who invented Tarmac

The Babylonians, 2,600+ years ago.

where would we be without him now?

Knee-deep in mud, probably.

On Friday, November 29, 2013 11:36:36 AM UTC, Brian Gaff wrote:
so what other ones should we celebrate? Passover perhaps?

I think we should find some more. Who invented Tarmac, where would we be

without him now?

Fuehrer's birthday? Used to be a big thing, I believe.

On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 17:49:43 +0000
Scott M wrote:

Adrian wrote:
On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 17:06:28 +0000, Tim Watts wrote:

I have no idea why they seem to basically eat Xmas dinner for it
though?

They probably can't figure why we eat Thanksgiving dinner for Xmas.

thinks
So what do 'merkins tend to do for Xmas?

Not a lot: they're back at work on Dec 26th (Boxing Day doesn't exist
there.) AIUI Thanksgiving is the bigger of the two celebrations.


Seconded. Thanksgiving is when all the family gathers together and eats
turkey, Christmas is slightly more commercial, if that's possible.
I hated going back to work on Boxing Day all the time I lived over
there.
Coming back here, the UK seems to have imported all the crap from
America, and left the better stuff over there.

I offer you Pringles and Starbucks as examples.

--
Davey.

"Davey" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 17:49:43 +0000
Scott M wrote:

Adrian wrote:
On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 17:06:28 +0000, Tim Watts wrote:

I have no idea why they seem to basically eat Xmas dinner for it
though?

They probably can't figure why we eat Thanksgiving dinner for Xmas.

thinks
So what do 'merkins tend to do for Xmas?

Not a lot: they're back at work on Dec 26th (Boxing Day doesn't exist
there.) AIUI Thanksgiving is the bigger of the two celebrations.


Seconded. Thanksgiving is when all the family gathers together and eats
turkey, Christmas is slightly more commercial, if that's possible.
I hated going back to work on Boxing Day all the time I lived over
there.
Coming back here, the UK seems to have imported all the crap from
America, and left the better stuff over there.

I offer you Pringles and Starbucks as examples.

what's wrong with Pringles?

tim

[1] apart from the price - I always buy mine in the pound store, you have to
be mad to pay 2.29 a tube! You do have to be careful to look at the dates
though.

On Thursday, 28 November 2013 18:31:22 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 28/11/13 17:52, DerbyBorn wrote:

S Viemeister wrote in news:bfpdahFik5bU1

@mid.individual.net:



On 11/28/2013 11:53 AM, Adrian wrote:

On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 08:38:13 -0800, Road_Hog wrote:



Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans,



Since it has pagan roots, it pre-dates America by some time.



We most certainly did import all the pumpkin/demanding-sweets-with-

menaces/costume ********, though.



AIUI, the pumpkins were an American adaptation of the Scottish/Irish

turnip lanterns, as they are much easier to carve.



Isn't Thanksgiving just Harvest Festival, though?



Yes.



I think we should be more honest about Christmas and have a Winter Holiday

- but during the holiday, Christians can celebrate the birth of their Lord.

Others can be less hypocritcal and eat, drink and be merry without

pretending to use a religeous festival.



Burn an art student and have a proper M�draniht

Burn any student more than one if you get the chance ;-)

Brian Gaff wrote:

Who invented Tarmac


Tarmac short for Tarmacadam or(tar impregnated Macadam) was patented by
Edgar Purnell Hooley.

Macadam was a Scotsman who "invented" a road surfacing technique but
this couldn't cope with the fast(ish) motorized traffic of the day so
the Macadam ed surface was impregnated with Tar (to hold the dust down
etc)

Even Christmas was a best guess day by the early Christians since nobody real knows Jesus' real birthday or for that matter the actual year. It has been suggested that Christmas was chosen more to coincide with the Roman festival of Saturnalia renowned for a period celebrated with orgies.

Richard

On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 17:08:31 +0000, Adrian wrote:

So what do 'merkins tend to do for Xmas?

Buy ****. Just like they do for every other f*ckin' day of the year.

On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 16:24:42 -0000, Brian Gaff wrote:

Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans, but it seems they are
now attempting to force Thanksgiving back on us. By tradition, we do not
have holidays or celebrate this, unless very religious, so I rather get
annoyed when folk start sending cards for it. Gowd I give up.
I am going to start a celebration one can celebrate any time. Its called,
the non committed day. Thus if a day does not have any meaning whatsoever
you can wish people a happy one.
Brian

I challenge you to find a day that is not some kind of celebration.

--
Two cowboys are talking over a beer, discussing various sex positions.
The first cowboy says his favorite position is "the rodeo".
The other cowboy asks what the position is, and how to do it. The first cowboy says, "You tell your wife to get on the bed on all fours and then do it doggy style. Once things start to get under way and she's really enjoying it, lean forward, grab her by her hair and whisper in her ear, 'Your sister likes this position too.' Then try to hang on for 8 seconds".

In article , Gefreiter Krueger
wrote:
On Thu, 28 Nov 2013 16:24:42 -0000, Brian Gaff
wrote:

Now I know we inherited Halloween from the Americans, but it seems they
are now attempting to force Thanksgiving back on us. By tradition, we
do not have holidays or celebrate this, unless very religious, so I
rather get annoyed when folk start sending cards for it. Gowd I give
up. I am going to start a celebration one can celebrate any time. Its
called, the non committed day. Thus if a day does not have any meaning
whatsoever you can wish people a happy one. Brian

I challenge you to find a day that is not some kind of celebration.

I once owned a book which had a chapter entitled "365(6) excuses for a
party"

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.18

On 29/11/2013 12:04, wrote:
On Friday, November 29, 2013 11:36:36 AM UTC, Brian Gaff wrote:
so what other ones should we celebrate? Passover perhaps?

I think we should find some more. Who invented Tarmac, where would we be

without him now?

Fuehrer's birthday? Used to be a big thing, I believe.

Same date as Napoleon III and Harold Lloyd, although different years.

Colin Bignell

"Tricky Dicky" wrote in message
...
Even Christmas was a best guess day by the early Christians since nobody
real knows Jesus' real birthday or for that matter the actual year. It has
been suggested that Christmas was chosen more to coincide with the Roman
festival of Saturnalia renowned for a period celebrated with orgies.


----------------------------------------------------------------------

OOI what was the first year (that we have evidence) that people started to
use years counted as AD.

I can't believe that it was year 1 (otherwise there wouldn't be this
disagreement about when the "Christ" event actually happened).

Who was it who counted backwards to work out that this year was 739 (or
whatever)

tim

"Nightjar" wrote in message
...
On 29/11/2013 12:04, wrote:
On Friday, November 29, 2013 11:36:36 AM UTC, Brian Gaff wrote:
so what other ones should we celebrate? Passover perhaps?

I think we should find some more. Who invented Tarmac, where would we
be

without him now?

Fuehrer's birthday? Used to be a big thing, I believe.

Same date as Napoleon III and Harold Lloyd, although different years.

I share my birthday with one American (ex) president and one (ex) vice
president

There can't be too many dates with that occurrence

tim

On 29/11/13 19:25, tim...... wrote:

"Nightjar" wrote in message
...
On 29/11/2013 12:04, wrote:
On Friday, November 29, 2013 11:36:36 AM UTC, Brian Gaff wrote:
so what other ones should we celebrate? Passover perhaps?

I think we should find some more. Who invented Tarmac, where
would we be

without him now?

Fuehrer's birthday? Used to be a big thing, I believe.

Same date as Napoleon III and Harold Lloyd, although different years.

I share my birthday with one American (ex) president and one (ex) vice
president

There can't be too many dates with that occurrence

probably less than 366 certainly.


tim



--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc-ra-cy) €“ a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.

Much travelled post in time and location?

For anyone that is interested [no a lot] there was a really good Radio 4 programme this week about the first "American --thanksgiving---" where it was graphically described as to who fed whom, and in return for the metal, knives, Axes, Etc. the Native Americans traded food for "tools" and implements, the programme made it clear that the "Settlers" [Pilgrims] were totally un-suited for the proposed undertaking. I would commend a list, better than the box in the corner.

The box in the corner leads me to my next bit of rambling, Mr J.L. Baird invented this hideous device, why go on about Him? He was a Scot, just like the block that "invented" "coated material" - Tar and chips, Mr Macadam. Another few well known Scots? the late Queen Mother? Here is a wee [Scots] question? any one heard of Mr Napier [a Scot] but here is the stinger what did he invent? a Clue? has to do with mathematics?

Why go on about all this? there have been some "inferences" within this string about Christmas?

Now for the next bit.

Up here a few miles north of Watford Gap, within [my] living memory, Christmas was not regarded as a Holiday, indeed when I worked as an Apprentice joiner during my first year I worked Christmas day? It was not regarded as a public [or Trade holiday] The Bosses did not take kindly to Christmas. My mother recalled that "Presents" were sometimes available, but not until New years day?

That brings me on again? [will he never stop?] - NO- In Scotland both New year's day and the day after WERE "Official, and Trade holidays" Indeed have a look at your Diary for next year and the 2nd of January is still an official holiday in Scotland.

Where are we now? Commercialism, the drive for profit and the need to maximise profit during Christmas as the single largest Consumer spending spree, the American Black Friday when everyone gets on line and clicks until the bank calls appears to rule, and like turkeys [spot the American connection] we all vote for Christmas?

Happy Christmas all

Ken

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 29/11/13 19:25, tim...... wrote:

"Nightjar" wrote in message
...
On 29/11/2013 12:04, wrote:
On Friday, November 29, 2013 11:36:36 AM UTC, Brian Gaff wrote:
so what other ones should we celebrate? Passover perhaps?

I think we should find some more. Who invented Tarmac, where
would we be

without him now?

Fuehrer's birthday? Used to be a big thing, I believe.

Same date as Napoleon III and Harold Lloyd, although different years.

I share my birthday with one American (ex) president and one (ex) vice
president

There can't be too many dates with that occurrence

probably less than 366 certainly.

certainly no more than 44

As president of the US you've a 1 in 10 chance of being assassinated, why
would you want the job?

tim