World War II ended today. Seriously, you can't make this stuff up. The ceremonial surrender of the Japanese happened today on the USS Missouri.

I am just a fanatic for this day in history stuff. Maybe I'll just make the blog all about that. Look at what else happened today:

1969: First ATM opened. And the America went broke. Also on the same exact day the original Star Trek aired its final episode.
1666: London started to burn down
1985: The Titanic wreckage was found in the Atlantic
And the one that I decided to look into a little more:

In 1963 Alabama Gov. George Wallace prevented the integration of Tuskegee High School by encircling the building with state troopers. No, the irony in the name is not lost. But we are talking about a governor who literally won his race with this famous quote:

"Let us rise to the call of freedom-loving blood that is in us and send our answer to the tyranny that clanks its chains upon the South. In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny . . . and I say . . . segregation today . . . segregation tomorrow . . . segregation forever.

Don't believe it was said? Download Kenny G's "Millennium Mix" of Auld Lang Syne. There's a clip. This is the same guy that on his first day in office tried to kick liquor out of Alabama. So the two most ungodly things: liquor and black people. In the name of freedom. THIS GUY WAS THE GOVERNOR!

He went on to say that Alabama had been blessed by God like few other states had. It is amazing what you can do in the name of God in this world. Excuse me while I go tell all the women in my office to get back in the kitchen (thank you Bob McDonnell). Seriously though, these jokes aren't even funny. Granted I have live in a seemingly more blessed time and place, but it is amazing that people think this way. McDonnell chalks it up to being a "kid". He was 34. Pray for him.

Links:

A 7.0 earthquake hit Indonesia near Java. Natural disaster has just been destroying the extremely poor area for years.

Interesting WSJ story about the political leanings of football coaches. Seems like the points made about hard work and all that are not as striking. But the idea that, especially in the larger and west coast markets your players likely trend Democrat could help coaches lean that way. One thing it didn't mention, which is probably of most consequence here, is these coaches bank accounts. How many people would switch party affiliations if they were multimillionaires. During the election last summer there was a question in Sports Illustrated asking what party certain athletes vote with and why. There was a range of answers, but the one that stuck with me was a hockey player: "Republican, clearly. I know what tax bracket I'm in." Seems like it comes down to that more often than not.

Every paper I've read today had a story about the limits of the sex offender program. Reminded me that UW had some trouble with a halfway house in the greek system that the Governor was not too helpful with.

One consequence of the struggling economy is a difficulty in finding jurors that can afford the time.

Is Justice John Paul Stevens moving toward retirement?

The scariest thing about these wildfires already just destroying California is that the height of the season and of the dangerous Santa Ana winds, has not even started yet. Yes, fire is good in many places. It is natural. But not in cities and those are being threatened.

And it is time to start paying attention to The Fix again as the speculation for the late Senator Ted Kennedy's seat heats up.

The introduction of the Senate version of the energy bill was postponed by Senators Boxer and Kerry, but next week and the week after promise to be pretty crazy.

All for now