Let's start with a little history, shall we? On this day in 1863, the C.S.S. Hunley, the world’s first successful combat submarine, sinks during a test run, killing its inventor and seven crew members. During a test run, a crew member became tangled in part of the craft’s machinery and the craft dove with its hatch open; only two men survived the accident. The ship was raised and repaired, but it was difficult to find another crew that was willing to assume the risk of operating the submarine. Its inventor and namesake stepped forward to restore confidence in his creation. On October 15, he took the submarine into Charleston Harbor for another test. In front of a crowd of spectators, the Hunley slipped below the surface and did not reappear. Horace Hunley and his entire crew perished. Another willing crew was assembled and the Hunley went back into the water. On February 17, 1864, the ship headed out of Charleston Harbor and approached the U.S.S. Housatanic. The Hunley stuck a torpedo into the Yankee ship and then backed away before the explosion. The Housatanic sank in shallow water, and the Hunley became the first submarine to sink a ship in battle. However, its first successful mission was also its last—the Hunley sank before it returned to Charleston, taking yet another crew down with it. The vessel was raised in 2000, and is now on exhibit in Charleston.Also-On this day in 1917, Mata Hari, the archetype of the seductive female spy, is executed for espionage by a French firing squad at Vincennes outside of Paris. There is some evidence that Mata Hari acted as a German spy, and for a time as a double agent for the French, but the Germans had written her off as an ineffective agent whose pillow talk had produced little intelligence of value. Her military trial was riddled with bias and circumstantial evidence, and it is probable that French authorities trumped her up as “the greatest woman spy of the century” as a distraction for the huge losses the French army was suffering on the western front. Her only real crimes may have been an elaborate stage fallacy and a weakness for men in uniform.And-On this day in 1989, during a game against his old team, the Edmonton Oilers, Canadian ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky breaks Gordie Howe’s National Hockey League career scoring record of 1,850 points. Gretzky dominated professional hockey during the 1980s, setting numerous records and leading the Oilers to four Stanley Cup victories. In 1988, the “Great One” was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, where he continued to excel as one of the National Hockey League’s foremost players. He retired in 1999 as a New York Ranger, holding records for most career goals, 894; most career assists, 1,963; and most career points, 2,857. Good-bye to Sears, so it appears. Still was hoping to see one last Christmas catalog before they went away for good. Trying to figure out why folks are so surprised that NJ sports betting went way up in September. Considering the fact that NFL games and college football started then, it makes sense to me that bets would increase. Maybe Sears and RadioShack can get together and rise from the ashes. Toys 'R' Us too. This is the day The Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Bitcoin up some 5% pre-market. Not sure what it means. $GBTC, GRAYSCALE BITCOIN TRUST / H1 Where is Jon Corzine and will MF Global continue to operate in Saudi Arabia? Where is Marissa Mayer and did she really start Nathan Peterman at QB yesterday on her Yahoo fantasy football team? Have a great day everyone. Stay safe, sage, and sane out there. Excelsior!via @deercreekvols