Happy Sunday, June 16.  Start writing your holiday letters because there are only 192 days until Christmas.  Today is the birthday of Stan Laurel, Sergiu Commissiona and Patrick Stuart.  This day, in 632, was the origin of the Persian Era.  In 1896 the temperature hit 127^o in Fort Mojave, California and in 1977 “Beatlemania” opened on Broadway.  It is Chaco Peace Day in Paraguay and Father’s Day in the US.

Father’s Day was founded in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd.  She suggested it to her pastor after hearing a sermon about Mother’s Day.  The first celebration was held on June 19.  She originally wanted to have it on June 5, her father’s birthday, but her pastor said he would not be able to have a sermon ready until later in the month.  The holiday did not have much success initially and in the 1920’s Sonora Dodd stopped promoting it because she was studying at the Art Institute of Chicago.  She returned to Spokane in the 1930’s and began promoting it again.  She had assistance from those trade groups that would benefit most from the holiday, for example the manufacturers of ties, tobacco pipes and other gifts traditionally given to fathers.

A bill to accord national recognition was introduced in 1913, but was not acted on.  President Woodrow Wilson went to Spokane in 1916 to speak in a Father’s Day celebration.  He wanted to make the day official, but congress resisted fearing it would become commercialized (how omniscient).  President Calvin Coolidge recommended in 1924 that the day be observed by the nation, but stopped short of issuing a proclamation.  Finally, in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers, designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.  Six years later, the day was made a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972.

So, now you know all about Father’s Day.  Time to move on to another issue – drugs.  Because I have the time to do so, I have taken to paying close attention to drug commercials on TV.  On average, these commercials are 60 seconds long.  The first 15 seconds talk about the malady the drug treats.  The balance of the time is used telling you about the side effects.  I find that by the time the commercial is finished, I do not remember what the drug is for, but am sure I do not want to take it.

Here are some of the things that I wonder about.  Why do I have to be tested periodically for TB when taking a drug?  What could possibly be so wrong with me that I would risk TB to take this medication?  Many of the drugs they are pushing tell you that you may experience depression and/or suicidal thoughts.  I’m sorry, but a drug taken for depression should not cause suicidal thoughts.  That seems somewhat counterproductive.  It seems to me that the drugs they are coming out with lately cause more problems than they fix.  It makes you wonder if the drug manufacturers are doing this on purpose.  Take this drug to fix your joint problems, but it can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, swollen tongue, skin rash, rickets and toe nail fungus.  But don’t worry, we have a drug that will combat your depression, but it will cause suicidal thoughts, severe headaches, blurred vision, swollen joints and a desire to laugh like Santa Claus.  You should also be tested periodically for TB, scurvy and beriberi.  

One of the pills that really interests me is the drug for Erectile Dysfunction.  I notice that they are always very careful to warn you to contact a doctor if your erection lasts for more than four hours.  That sounds like more of a problem for your partner than you.  “Oh no, not again.  Get that thing away from me.  Go hang clothing on it or something.”  I also like the commercial where the couple is sitting in separate bath tubs looking at the sunset.  Is this before or after?  Does she use a different tub in case he goes on for over four hours?  Do you have to have sex in the tub after taking that pill, for some reason?  Just another one of those things that make you go  h-m-m-m-m-m.

The fact of the week – In the 1800’s, people believed that gin could cure stomach problems.  Actually, what happened was that if you drank enough of it, you forgot you had stomach problems for a few hours.  You forgot that you had a stomach!  You also forgot your name, where you were and your address. 

 

Happy Father’s Day and have a good week.