Notable Dates

Since we're busy getting ready for Worldcon, 'blogging will be light this week.

However: on this day in 1492, Christopher Columbus left Spain on his attempt to reach the East Indies by sailing west across the ocean. As everyone should know by now, Columbus's opponents didn't think the world was flat, and in fact had a much more accurate idea of how far he was planning to sail -- more than 12,000 miles through unknown waters. Columbus had managed to delude himself that the Earth was smaller and Asia was bigger, and persuaded the Spanish monarchy that the trip was feasible. Fortunately for him, there was an undiscovered continent in the way, which he reached six weeks later.

Four hundred years and one day after Columbus set sail, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Borden of Fall River, Massachusetts, were hacked to death with a hatchet. Mr. Borden's 32-year-old daughter Elizabeth was charged but acquitted.

The connection is obvious.