Leap Year Born
45 BC

After a confusing year containing 445 days, Roman dictator Julius Caesar declared on this day in 45 BC that all future years would comprise 365 days and six hours, with one extra day inserted every fourth year.

Leap year, as well as the long-lasting Julian calendar, was born.

By the late 1500's, Caesar's calendar had moved off center by only 12 days, owing to the fact that a closer measure of the year yielded 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 45 seconds. At that time, under the patronage of Pope Gregory XIII, the modern Gregorian calendar was created.

Given the tools of the time, Caesar's feat was an astronomical blockbuster. The acknowledged genius of the political, military, literary and scientific realms died by assassins' thrusts just a year later, the Ides of March, 44 BC.

Sadie Hawkins Day

Although the idea has much older roots in Europe and elsewhere, we best understand Sadie Hawkins Day from Al Capp's [Alfred Caplin's] popular comic strip, L'il Abner.

On this day the traditional roles (and rules) of courtship -- if that's the right word for a one-day decision to grab a marriage partner -- are reversed, and the ladies are supposed to chase after the men. Once caught, the men are stuck -- wedding time.

More of a college hee-haw in this country, we're equally sure that it is politically incorrect.

Therefore, we say, "Have at it ladies!"