Stranger in a Strange Land

Belgian artist Félicien Rops was born on July 7, 1833. Also Belarusian poet Yanka Kupala, in 1882 and poet Margaret Walker, in 1915.

Otto Rohwedder was born on July 7, 1880. He invented the first automatic bread slicing machine. The Chillicothe Baking Company sold the first loaves on July 7, 1928, on Rohwedder’s 48^th birthday. Satchel Paige was born on July 7, 1906.

Science fiction author Robert Anson Heinlein was born July 7, 1907.

*The Human Parody,* Félicien Rops circa 1881

Virginia and Robert Heinlein in a 1952 *Popular Mechanics* article, titled “A House to Make Life Easy”. The Heinleins, both engineers, designed the house for themselves with many innovative features.

Actress Shelly Duvall was born on July 7, 1949. Anyone else see The Shining way too young? That movie, along with the fear of hell’s eternal fire, and this wallpaper gave me many sleepless nights, staring into the abyss.

Yours truly, center, and my childhood version of *The Yellow Wallpaper*

There are a litany of symbols and superstitions around the number 7. But I am feeling very lazy so I will give you a list of the Seven deadly sins and wrap this up. Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. The deadliest for today: (I took care of sloth for you) Pride.

Today’s meditation: I mean is sliced bread really that great?

For today: Play a game of Chutes and Ladders.