DL Open Thread Tuesday August 3rd 2021

August was originally called Sextilis in Latin because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar. The pre-empire Romans basically took January and February off and just had a long gap in their calendar. March was the first month of the year until January and February were added by Numa Pompilius around 700 BC. In 8 BC, Sextilis was renamed in honor of Emperor Augustus. Other later emperors tried to rename months after themselves but they didn't stick. October and December remain mis-numbered relics of Rome's languid youth. August 8th is "Happiness Happens Day" and August is Happiness month. Both were established by Secret Society of Happy People (SOHP) which is an organization that celebrates the expression of happiness. Founded in August 1998, the society encourages thousands of members from all around the globe to recognize happy moments and think about happiness in their daily life. They dropped the "Secret" from their name at some point. I've been thinking about happiness a lot lately because I can't stop thinking about what a paradise we could build in this country if the GOP and Fox News were committed to happiness instead of misery. Read on for Open Thread Headlines.