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The Daily Dose/April 20, 2011
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Notes from the Human Experience...
JOLLY GOOD: With Prince William and his intended, Kate Middleton, set to marry and get busy producing heirs and otherwise begin their life of indentured servitude together, news is coming out of Great Britain that the government is considering farting around with the order of succession to the throne in the British Commonwealth.
Currently, the oldest male heir had precedence over any female heirs, even older ones. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who has responsibility for constitutional matters such as this, is starting to make noises about changing that, so that the first born, regardless of gender, inherits the throne.
Quote That Sucker: In remarks made to the BBC, Clegg candidly acknowledged the new couple may well have a daughter the first time out!
I think most people in this day and age would think it's worth considering whether we change the rules so that that baby girl then could become the future monarch.
Having A Spot Of Trouble With Colonies, Are We? In an rare display of enlightenment showing that Britain may well finally come kicking and screaming into the 18th century, Clegg made a touching, personal statement:
My own personal view is that in this day and age the idea that only a man should ascend to the throne I think would strike most people as a little old-fashioned.
Fly In The Ointment: Though no one really expects the other members of the British realm to object to this, the other fifteen Commonwealth nations must agree because this affects the succession of their monarch. This includes those zanies in Tuvalu, even if Her Majesty seldom gets to Tuvalu.
Dry, Technical Matter: Tuvalu is about halfway between Australia and Hawaii, and is one of the smallest countries in the world, with a population of about 10,500 (third smallest) and an area of about 10 square miles (fourth smallest). Its capital, and we are not making this up, is Funafuti.
Stay Tuned For More On This Story: There is no word from Tuvalu if their 15-member parliament - which is elected every four years - is on board with the change.
Yeah, This Is A Bulletin: Under current laws of succession Elizabeth II will be succeeded by Prince Charles. Prince William will succeed him and until Wills and Kate start pumping out princes and princesses, Prince Harry is next in line after that.
Oh Jesus H, Quit Showing Off: Should William become king without an heir, Prince Harry would be known as the heir presumptive, because he would be bumped as heir by William's first issue.
FunFact: Even though the British prefer men on the throne, the ancestor on whom royal succession is based is actually a woman, Sophia of Hanover.
Hey Pope, Piss Off! The reasons are a bit more bloody complicated than even we care to delve into, but basically they have to do with keeping the goddamned Catholics off the throne.
It worked. Sophia's cousin was King William III, who had no heirs. Concerned about this, Parliament passed the Act of Settlement 1701, which settled on Sophia as the heiress to the crowns, because there were a lot of Catholics lurking around who would otherwise have claims to the throne. William died in 1702 and was succeeded by his sister-in-law, Anne. Anne died in 1714, and would have been succeeded by Sophia had she still been alive. Instead, George I, the closest Protestant relative, became king.
PLAY BALL: Fenway Park, which still houses the Boston Red Sox, opens on this date in 1912. In the opener, the Red Sox beat the New York Highlanders 7-6 in eleven innings. With the win the Red Sox move to 5-1 on a season that will see them win the World Series, while the Highlanders drop to 0-6 and are already safely ensconced in last place, where they will finish despite a spirited run by the St. Louis Browns.
Play Ball II: Tiger Stadium in Detroit also opens on this date in 1912. In accordance with a then in effect bylaw stating that all new stadiums must have the opener go eleven innings, the Tigers beat the Cleveland Naps 7-6 in eleven innings. Tiger Stadium closed in 1999.
Heil Hitler, For A Few More Days At Least: In the last days of War II, Adolph Hitler leaves his bunker in Berlin for the last time on this date in 1945, so he could award medals to members of the Hitler Youth. Hitler would kill himself in the bunker on April 30.
One Small Step…Again: Apollo 16, commanded by John Young, lands on the Moon on this date in 1972. Charles Duke joins Young in three walks on the lunar surface, becoming the eleventh and twelfth humans to walk on the Moon.
God, We're Old: During this mission, Congress approved funding for the Space Shuttle, which first flew in 1981 and is scheduled to fly for the last time this year.
SHAMELESS PLUG: Gaylon's latest novel, Swords In The Narthex, is now available. Click on the books link at the top of the page to read a sample chapter. The book is available on Nook and Kindle, and as an ebook. Real books are coming soon! Swords In The Narthex is funny, thoughtful and racy (hubba-hubba) so don't be the last one in your cadre to get a copy.
Thought For The Day: Great events make quiet and calm; it is only trifles that irritate my nerves. - Queen Victoria.
Answer To The Last Trivia Question: Silly goose, there wasn't a trivia question last time!
Today's Stumper: Which stadium had/has had the most no-hitters in its history, Fenway Park or Tiger Stadium? - Answer next time!
Comments? Recipes? Complaints? Email the Writer's Shack here!
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