Happy 47th birthday to basketball's Michael Jordan. He was so good. On lay-ups and slam-dunks he had greater hang-time than anything -- except possibly my wife's pantyhose in the bathroom.

    The first sardine was canned on this day in 1876 in Eastport, Maine. Actually, it was the first 14 sardines, in a little tiny can. To get the lid on they had to pack ‘em in like sardines.

    Kenneth Leader won the World Shouting Championship at Scarborough, England, on this day in 1973. When one person does the shouting, it's called a "singles" competition. When two people do the shouting, it's called "marriage."

    The PTA was founded on this date in 1897. In most communities the PTA consists largely of punch and cookies. In some communities, however, parents and teachers actually join the PTA, and some parents even attend meetings -- when their child is on the program.

     Michael Jordan was born 47 years ago today. How much did he grow? Let's just say that his mom had to put his growth chart on the outside of their house.

     Today Michael Jordan turns 47. He can travel around the country with the frequent flier points he got just from going to the hoop.

     Michael Jordan was born  in Wilmington, North Carolina, on this day in 1963. I'm glad Michael retired. I was always worried about him wearing those inflatable shoes. He could have gone up for a power dunk and blown a shoe.

     On this day in 1864 a Confederate submarine became the first to sink a ship with a torpedo. But the explosion was so great the sub was destroyed, too. The code-name for this maneuver is "Operation Super-Dave."

      The inventor of the mail-order catalog, Montgomery Ward, was born on this date in 1844. He'll always be remembered for giving millions of young men their first chance to see women in their underwear.
     Now, of course, we have "Desperate Housewives."

     That great Native-American hero, Geronimo, died on this date in 1909. Legend has it his one regret was that he never got to jump out of a big silver bird and scream his name.

     Thomas J. Watson was born in Campbell, New York, on this day in 1874. He took over the bankrupt Computing Tabulating Recording Company in 1914, changed the name to IBM, and gave the world its first electric typewriters and electronic calculators. His motto was, "Build a better office machine and the world's secretaries will nag their bosses into buying it."

     Rene Laennec was born in France on this day in 1781. Rene invented the stethoscope. Which helped a lot. Because now a doctor could listen to your insides without cutting a hole. Or making you swallow a microphone.

     Geronimo died on this day in 1909. He was drunk. The next morning he probably didn't even remember it.

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