February 16 in Book Four: Ichi-no-Tani 2017

Interesting things that happened today…
well, today but not this year…
2016: China announces it will relocate 9,000 people in Guizhou province, before completion of world’s largest telescope (FAST), designed to look for extraterrestrial life
2016: Former French President Nicholas Sarkozy is placed under investigation for campaign funds
2013: 84 people are killed and 190 are injured after a market bombing in Hazara Town, Pakistan
2006: The last Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) is decommissioned by the United States Army.
2005: The Kyoto Protocol comes into force following its ratification by Russia.
2005: 2004-05 NHL season is canceled by league commissioner Gary Bettman. This was the first time that a North American professional sports league had to cancel a season due to a labor dispute
1994: Premier Alfonso Bustamente ends government in Peru
1994: 6.5 earthquake strikes SE Sumatra, kills 200
1993: Western Australia’s and Australia’s first woman Premier, Carmen Lawrence, is voted out of office.
1993: Sandra Völker swims world record 50m backstroke (28.33 sec)
1989: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan & North Yemen form common market
1986: Mário Soares from the Socialist Party is elected the 1st civilian President of Portugal
1985: The founding of Hezbollah.
1968: US 1st 911 phone system went into service in Haleyville, Ala
1961: China uses its 1st nuclear reactor
1959: Fidel Castro becomes the 16th Prime Minister of Cuba after overthrowing Fulgencio Batista
1951: NYC passes bill prohibiting racism in city-assisted housing
1945: Venezuela declares war on Nazi Germany
1942: Bangka Island massacre: Japanese soldiers machine-gun 22 Australian Army nurses and 60 Australian and British soldiers and crew members from two sunken ships. Only one nurse and two soldiers survive.
1937: DuPont Corp patents nylon, developed by employee Wallace H Carothers
1934: Austrian Civil War ends with the defeat of the Social Democrats and the Republican Schutzbund.
1917: 1st synagogue in 425 years opens in Madrid
1916: The German ambassador in Washington announces that Germany will pay an indemnity for American lives lost on the Lusitania
1909: Serbia mobilizes against Austria-Hungary
1854: Franz Liszt’s symphony “Orpheus” premieres
1846: Battle of Sobraon ends 1st Sikh War in India
1838: Weenen Massacre: Hundreds of Voortrekkers along the Blaukraans River, Natal are killed by Zulu warriors
1838: Kentucky passes law permitting women to attend school under conditions

Now… as for the actual today… as in this year?
I’ve actually had a good day. The first really, honestly good day I can remember here. And yes, I give credit to the whole “Knowing I’m leaving” thing. That and the fact that this weekend promises to be very enjoyable.
I got through my desk (which, no matter how often I try, never happens).
I listened to David Bowie, Prince, Michael Jackson, Gaelic Storm, and The Dubbliners at work.
I read a too-brief but well done expose on one of my most favorite recording artists of all time (Weird Al Yankovic).
But I think the important thing that made me have a good day? I feel like I have deadlines, again. I have “Get this done by this date” kind of structure. Get this done by this date is traditionally a HUGE part of being an attorney. So… not having that, didn’t help. Now, though, I feel like… I have to get things done. A sense of purpose and urgency makes a world of difference.