Loonies Are Fun

One of my daily rituals is checking out that main page at Wikipedia to see what nuggets of trivia they're pushing. Today marks an auspicious anniversary: on this date in 1959, Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico issued an imperial decree disolving Congress.

Never heard of Norton I? Never knew the United States had an Emperor (Dubya's delusions to the contrary)? Well, head on over and learn the story of Joshua A. Norton, whom the article charitably describes "he was considered insane, or at least highly eccentric." The native Brit immigrated to the US from South Africa, eventually settling in San Francisco and declaring himself emperor. He became quite the sensation in San Fran before his death.