Day Tripping: November 7

The Philosopher

Albert Camus was born to a family of agriculture workers in French Algiers in 1913. He never knew his father who died during WW I. As the direct ancestor of French citizens who emigrated to Algiers, Camus maintain dual citizenship which labeled him a ‘black foot’. The slang term for a poor background affected him deeply and influenced a public outburst later in his life.

Albert moved to France at the beginning of WW II but was denied enlistment in the French army because of his previous diagnosis of tuberculosis. He began writing under an assumed name for the resistance movement to avoid capture by the Germans.

He met Jean-Paul Sartre and other intellectuals, but later became vocal against the rise of Communism in France, ending the friendship with Sartre and other intellectuals. Camus founded the French Committee for the European Federation, in the belief that Europe would only thrive as a federation of nations.

“Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.”

In 1957, Albert Camus was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. It came as a complete surprise to him since he had gone into seclusion after the death of his wife. At 44, Camus was the youngest recipient of the award next to Rudyard Kipling.

During his ceremony, Camus confronted a critic from Algiers who dismissed Albert as a colonialist reactionary.

Today is:

National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day — Delicious and so good for you.

Musical Ride

In 1969, rumors persisted that Paul McCartney was dead. Conspiracy theorists believed his appearance on the Hey Jude cover barefoot, was another sign of the Beatle’s demise. So Life magazine tracked the bass player down at his farm in Scotland where he was living comfortably and quietly with Linda and the family.

Interesting Notes

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid died in the famous ambush by the Bolivian Army in 1908.

Gone But Not Forgotten

Songwriter, poet, and novelist Leonard Cohen explored themes of religion, politics, and depression in his work. His song Hallejuhah is one of the most covered pieces in modern music. Cohen was 82 when he died in 2016.

Notable Births

1867 — Marie Curie: “After all, science is essentially international, and it is only through lack of the historical sense that national qualities have been attributed to it.”

1943 — Joni Mitchell: “I see music as fluid architecture.”

K. Barrett Maria Rattray Maryam Merchant Dr. Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, Ph.D. Terry Trueman Dr. Preeti Singh John Gruber Bill Abbate James G Brennan ScienceDuuude Marcus Liam Ireland Claire Kelly Noorain Hassan, BMS Amy Pierovich David Acaster Nora Thewriteyard David Perlmutter Joe Luca Holly Kellums Michael Burg, MD Lucy Dan Dave Logan

All previous Day Tripping entries are available at the following links:

The Story Of Day Tripping Through History What’s Past Is Often Present

A comprehensive directory for Day Tripping