Born in 1909 – Simone Weil, French philosopher and mystic.

“Nearly everywhere – often even when dealing with purely technical problems – instead of thinking, one merely takes sides: for or against. Such a choice replaces the activity of the mind. This is an intellectual leprosy; it originated in the political world and then spread through the land, contaminating all forms of thinking. This leprosy is killing us; it is doubtful whether it can be cured without first starting with the abolition of all political parties.”

Previously: Carl Theodor Dreyer

Born in 1866 – Enrique Simonet, Spanish painter and academic.

Above: Simonet’s Flevit super illam (1892), a depiction of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem.

In 2009, Santonio  Holmes’ touchdown catch lifted the Pittsburgh Steelers to their record 6th Super Bowl title.

In 1969, The Beatles made their last public performance, on the roof of Apple Records in London.

Born in Anton Chekhov, Russian playwright and short story writer .

“The role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them.”

Born in 1915 – Jacques Hnizdovsky, Ukrainian-American painter and illustrator.

Above: Metro Rush Hour, 1957

Born in 1880 – Douglas MacArthur, American general.

Above: MacArthur, enjoying a pipe.

Born in 1882 – Virginia Woolf, English writer.

“Let us try to drag up into consciousness the subconscious Hitlerism that holds us down. It is the desire for aggression; the desire to dominate and enslave. Even in the darkness we can see that made visible. We can see shop windows blazing; and women gazing; painted women; dressed-up women; women with crimson lips and crimson fingernails. They are slaves who are trying to enslave. If we could free ourselves from slavery we should free men from tyranny. Hitlers are bred by slaves.“

–from Woolf’s 1940 essay “Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid”

Born in 1910 – Django Reinhardt, Belgian guitarist and composer.