Our Daily Thread 6-4-13

Good Morning!

On this day in 1784 Marie Thible became the first woman to fly in a hot-air balloon.

In 1812 the Louisiana Territory had its name changed to the Missouri Territory.

In 1919 the U.S. Senate passed the Women’s Suffrage bill.

In 1942 the Battle of Midway began.

In 1944 the U-505 became the first enemy submarine captured by the U.S. Navy.

In 1974 the Cleveland Indians had “Ten Cent Beer Night”. Due to the large number of drunken and unruly fans, the Indians forfeited the game to the Texas Rangers.

Also on this day in 1974 Sally Murphy became the first woman to qualify as an aviator with the U.S. Army.

And in 1985 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling striking down an Alabama law that provided for a daily minute of silence in public schools.

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Quote of the Day

“One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician’s objective. Election and power are.”

Cal Thomas

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It’s Mr. Fender’s birthday today.

It’s also Robert Merrill’s.

And also John McCormack’s.

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Anyone have a QoD for us?

Our Daily Thread 6-3-13

Good Morning!

On this day in 1784 the U.S. Congress formally created the United States Army to replace the disbanded Continental Army. June 14, 1775 is still considered to be the “birth date” of the United States Army. That’s when the Continental Army was created.

In 1800 John Adams moved to Washington, DC.  He was the first President to live in what would later become the capital of the U.S.

In 1851 the New York Knickerbockers became the first baseball team to wear uniforms.

In 1932 Lou Gehrig set a major league baseball record when he hit 4 consecutive home runs.

In 1959 the first class graduated from the Air Force Academy.

And in 1989 Chinese army troops positioned themselves to begin a sweep of Beijing to crush student-led pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square.

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Quote of the Day

“Manners are like the shadows of virtues, they are the momentary display of those qualities which our fellow creatures love and respect.”

Sydney Smith

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First up, the Melody Boys.

Next up today, one for the Skynyrd fans among us, since it’s Billy Powell’s birthday.

And  today in 1964 this band made their first US appearance at The Hollywood Palace.

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QoD

If you could change one physical feature, attitude, or habit of yours, what would it be?

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Our Daily Thread 6-1-13

Good Morning!

Happy Saturday! 🙂

On this day in 1774 the British government ordered the Port of Boston closed.

In 1861 the first skirmish of the U.S. Civil War took place at the Fairfax Court House, Virginia.

In 1869 Thomas Edison received a patent for his electric voting machine.

In 1916 The National Defense Act increased the strength of the U.S. National Guard by 450,000 men.

In 1938 Superman, the world’s first super hero, appeared in the first issue of Action Comics.

In 1954 Linus’ security blanket made its debut in the Peanuts comic strip.

And in 1961 radio listeners in New York, California, and Illinois were introduced to FM stereo broadcasting.

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Quote of the Day

“My heart, which is so full to overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary.”

Martin Luther

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Since I mentioned Superman…  Tell me this doesn’t look cool?

Oh yeah… 🙂

Next up today, it’s Mr. Griffith’s birthday.

It’s also Mr. Boone’s.

And this song was released in the UK on this day in 1967. The US release was tomorrow.

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Who has a QoD for us?

Our Daily Thread 5-31-13

Good Morning!

It’s finally Friday! 🙂

On this day in 1859 the Philadelphia Athletics were formally organized to play the game of Town Ball.

In 1884 Dr. John Harvey Kellogg patented “flaked cereal.”

In 1889 devastation struck Johnstown, PA. More than 2,200 people died after the South Fork Dam collapsed.

In 1913 the 17th Amendment went into effect.  It provided for popular election of Senators.

In 1929 in Beverly, MA, the first U.S. born reindeer were born.

In 1962 Gestapo official Adolf Eichmann was hanged in Israel for his actions in the Nazi Holocaust.

In 1970 an earthquake in Peru killed tens of thousands of people.

And in 1974 Israel and Syria signed an agreement on the Golan Heights.

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Quote of the Day

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind  you.

Walt Whitman

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Sometimes the music choice is really easy, like today. 🙂

It’s Mr. Bach’s birthday, so here’s the Cello Song, with 7 more cellos. 🙂  From ThePianoGuys

It’s also Johnny Paycheck’s. 

And also, Peter Yarrow, from this trio.

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Anyone have a QoD for us?

Our Daily Thread 5-30-13

Good Morning!

On this day 1416 Jerome of Prague was burned as a heretic by the Church.  😦

In 1431 Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen, France. 😯

I don’t think I much care for the 1400’s.

In 1783 the first daily newspaper in the U.S. was published by Benjamin Towner. It was called “The Pennsylvania Evening Post”

In 1854 the U.S. territories of Nebraska and Kansas were established.

In 1896 the first automobile accident occurred in New York City.

In 1911 Ray Harroun won the first Indianapolis Sweepstakes, the 500-mile race that would later be known as the Indianapolis 500.

In 1922 The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated.

In 1958 unidentified soldiers killed in World War II and the Korean conflicts were buried at Arlington National Cemetery. 

 And in 1967 Evel Knievel jumped 16 cars in a row in a motorcycle stunt at Ascot Speedway in Gardena, CA.

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Quote of the Day

“That’s all folks!”

Mel Blanc

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Everyone in America, and most of the world, has heard Mel’s voice at one time or another. Almost 500 voices in over 5000 cartoons. Here’s a clip with a bunch, from way back when Letterman was actually funny.  🙂

And here’s some music.

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QoD

Which Mel Blanc character was your favorite?

Here’s a list of Looney Tunes characters to refresh your memory, from Wikipedia

And more here, also from Wikipedia

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Our Daily Thread 5-29-13

Good Morning!

And on this day in 1453 Constantinople fell to Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, ending the Byzantine Empire.

In 1721 South Carolina was formally incorporated as a royal colony.

In 1790 Rhode Island became the last of the original thirteen colonies to ratify the Constitution.

In 1910 an airplane raced a train from Albany, NY, to NYC. The airplane pilot Glenn Curtiss won the $10,000 prize.

In 1912 fifteen women were dismissed from their jobs at the Curtis Publishing Company in Philly, for dancing the Turkey Trot on the job. Now if you’re like me, you asked yourself, “what’s the Turkey Trot, and why would it get you fired?” 🙂  See the first video. 🙂

In 1916 the official flag of the president of the United States was adopted.

And in 1974 President Nixon agreed to turn over 1,200 pages of edited Watergate transcripts.

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Quote of the Day

“A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.”

John F. Kennedy

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The Turkey Trot. Then, it got you fired. Now, it’s called team building and corporate America encourages it. Along with bowling for some reason. 🙂

Today is the birthday of Mark Lee of Third Day. So here’s Third Day, with help from Brandon Heath, doing Rich Mullins’ “Creed.”

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Anyone have a QoD for us today?

Our Daily Thread 5-28-13

Good Morning!

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend and Memorial Day. 🙂

On this day in 1774 The First Continental Congress convened in Virginia.

In 1863 the first black regiment left Boston to fight in the U.S. Civil War.

In 1937 President Franklin Roosevelt pushed a button in Washington, DC, signaling that vehicular traffic could cross the newly opened Golden Gate Bridge in California.

In 1957 National League club owners voted to allow the Brooklyn Dodgers to move to Los Angeles and that the New York Giants could move to San Francisco.

In 1961 Amnesty International was founded.

And in 1996 U.S. President Clinton’s former business partners in the Whitewater land deal were convicted of fraud.

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Quote of the Day

“Then sails are back’d, we nearer come,
Kind words are said of friends and home;
And soon, too soon, we part with pain,
To sail o’er silent seas again.”

Thomas Moore

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First up, the birthday lady and the Pips.

And then John Fogerty is next. Since he was at his best with CCR in my opinion….

And here’s a little music trivia for you. Today in 1955 the song “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” was reported to be the most popular song on Billboard. It would also make the chart 2 additional times in 1955 when 2 other artists released their versions of the song. Here’s the original from Bill Hayes, which was the only one to hit #1. 5 bonus points if you can tell me without looking what soap opera he played on.

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Anyone have a QoD for us?

Our Daily Thread 5-27-13

Good Morning!

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And a Happy Memorial Day to you all. 🙂

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This day was originally called Decoration Day, and was established after the Civil War by Union Veterans in 1868.

Since 1971 when the day was established as an official holiday, Americans have set aside the last Monday in May to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. It is a well deserved honor.

While there is some question as to the most accurate total of those who have died, it is well over 1.1 million soldiers and sailors from all branches. Over 300,000 are buried in Arlington.

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The 3rd US Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, has been honoring the fallen by preparing Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day Services for more than 60 years. 900 soldiers, 400 flags each.

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Quote of the Day

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”

George S. Patton

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QoD’s

Do you plan to attend a memorial service today?

Or do you have someone among your family or friends that you’re thinking of today?

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Our Daily Thread 5-25-13

Good Morning!

Happy Saturday! 🙂

On this day in 585 BC the first known prediction of a solar eclipse was made in Greece.

In 1787 the Constitutional convention opened in Philadelphia with George Washington presiding.

In 1925 John Scopes was indicted for teaching the Darwinian theory in school.

In 1935 Babe Ruth hit his final home run, his 714th, a record that would stand for 39 years.

In 1977 “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” opened and became the largest grossing film to date.

In 1979 an American Airlines DC-10 crashed during takeoff at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport killing 275 people.

In 1983 “The Return of the Jedi” opened nationwide. It set a new record in opening day box office sales.

Just a side note here since Star Wars has already been a hit on this day. Today is also the birthday of Frank Oz, the actor, puppeteer, and voice of many of the Muppets, as well as the voice of Yoda. That has to be “The Force” at work. 🙂 I’m just sayin’……

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Quote of the Day

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Since it’s the weekend……. and it’s front man Klaus Meine’s birthday…….

This next one? Well blame Peter L. He’s the one who got it stuck in my head. 🙂 So I thought I’d do the same for you.

You’re welcome. 🙂

And it’s also this lady’s birthday. Which is yet another Muppet/birthday/Oz/Yoda/Star Wars movie connection on the same day coincidence. I’m tellin’ ya… it’s “The Force” at work. 🙂

And Frank Oz may have been in that video too, I don’t know for sure. But from the looks of Wikipedia it’s possible.

Oz is known for his work as a puppeteer, performing with Jim Henson‘s Muppets. His characters have included Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam the Eagle on The Muppet Show, and Grover, Cookie Monster and Bert on Sesame Street, among many others.

See how it all ties in…..?   😯

🙂

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Who has a QoD for us today?

Our Daily Thread 5-24-13

Good Morning!

It’s finally Friday! 🙂

And on this day in 1738 the Methodist Church was established.

In 1830 the first passenger railroad service in the U.S. began service.

In 1844 Samuel F.B. Morse formally opened America’s first telegraph line. The first message was sent from Washington, DC, to Baltimore, MD., and the message was “What hath God wrought?”

In 1883 after 14 years of construction the Brooklyn Bridge was opened to traffic.

In 1935 the Cincinnati Reds played the Philadelphia Phillies in the first major league baseball game at night. The switch for the floodlights was thrown by U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt.

And in 1994 four men convicted of bombing the World Trade Center were each sentenced to 240 years in prison.

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Quote of the Day

“Freedom of expression is the matrix, the indispensable condition, of nearly every other form of freedom.”

Benjamin Cardozo

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It’s this lady’s birthday today.

This guy too.

And on this day in 1970 Weird Al Yankovic recorded this and 4 other songs for the movie UHF.

🙂 🙂 🙂

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Anyone have a QoD for us today?