Let's keep this quiet

But the Xoff Files has just learned that today is not only Fighting Bob LaFollette's 150th birthday, but also F. James Sensenbrenner's 62nd.

The two do have something in common besides a birth date -- a penchant for giving long speeches. The difference? People liked to listen to Fighting Bob.

As Gaylord Nelson reminded the John Birch Society when it objected to his plans for an April 22 Earth Day, on the grounds that it was Vladimir Lenin's birthday, with several billion people in the world, and only 365 days in a year, a lot of people, both good and bad, will of necessity share the same birthday. "St. Francis of Assisi, whom many believe to be the first environmentalist, was born on April 22," he said. "So was Queen Isabela. More importantly, so was my Aunt Tillie."

Today is also Olympic champion Eric Heiden's birthday, the Wisconsin Historical Society says.