Happy birthday, George Washington

Once upon a time, the U.S. celebrated George Washington's birth on February 22, the date he was born. Then, because everyone likes a long weekend better than a holiday in the middle of the week, Congress switched the celebration to the third Monday in February. There it stands today--even though it never falls on the first president's actual birthday anymore. It's mathematically impossible.

Maybe that impossibility is why the holiday got a new moniker--President's Day--and why some figure the day off also honors 16th president and emancipator Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is February 12. In any case, much of the U.S. will be taking a holiday on Monday, including us. We'll be back Tuesday with more pharma news. - Tracy Staton