Good Morning!

On this day in 1785 Benjamin Franklin wrote in a letter that he had invented bifocals.

In 1788 South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify U.S. Constitution.

In 1873 Canada’s North West Mounted Police force was established. The name was changed to Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1920.

In 1876 Boston’s Joe Borden pitched the very first no-hitter in the history of the National League.

In 1934 in Bienville Parish, LA, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were ambushed and killed by Texas Rangers.

In 1962 Joe Pepitone of the New York Yankees set a major league baseball record by hitting two home runs in one inning. 🙂

And in 1995 the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was demolished.

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Quote of the Day

“A moment’s thinking is an hour in words.”

Thomas Hood
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This guy was born on this day in 1910

It’s this lady’s birthday as well.

And this song was recorded today in 1960.

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Anyone have a QoD for us?

Good Morning!

On this day in 1761 in Philadelphia, the first life insurance policy was issued in the U.S.

In 1849 Abraham Lincoln was granted a patent for the floating dry dock.

In 1868 near Marshfield, IN, The “Great Train Robbery” occurred. Seven members of the Reno gang were responsible.

In 1872 The Amnesty Act restored civil rights to Southerners.

In 1891 the first public motion picture was shown in Thomas Edison’s lab.

In 1892 A British dentist named Dr. Sheffield invented the toothpaste tube.

In 1900 the Associated Press was incorporated in NY.

In 1955 a scheduled dance, headlined by Fats Domino, was canceled by police in Bridgeport, Conn. because “rock and roll dances might be featured.” 🙂

In 1967 “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” premiered on PBS.

And in 1992 Johnny Carson hosted NBC’s “Tonight Show” for the last time after a 30 year run.

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Quote of the Day

“Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention?”
“To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.”
“The dog did nothing in the night-time.”
“That was the curious incident,” remarked Sherlock Holmes.”

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1893)  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

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Remember kids…

No rock and roll dancin’!

And yeah, that was from “55. 🙂

Next up, let’s have another one of them rock and roll dancer’s. Or should I say THE rock and roll dancer…

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Who has a QoD?

Good Morning!

On this day in 1536 The Reformation was officially adopted in Geneva, Switzerland.

In 1819 bicycles were first seen in the U.S. in N.Y. City.

In 1881 the American branch of the Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton.

In 1906 Louis H. Perlman received his patent for the demountable tire rim.

In 1941 the first U.S. ship, the SS Robin Moor, was sunk by a U-boat.

In 1956 the U.S. exploded the first airborne hydrogen bomb over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.

In 1968 the nuclear-powered U.S. submarine Scorpion, with 99 men aboard, was last heard from. The remains of the sub were later found on the ocean floor.

And in 1970 the National Guard was mobilized to quell disturbances at Ohio State University.

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Quote of the Day

“Socialism is the religion people get when they lose their religion.”

Richard John Neuhaus

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Today is Marc Ribot’s birthday, so it’s “Fat Man Blues”

And on this day in 1892 this opera was performed for the first time by Ruggiero Leoncavallo. Here’s as good a rendition of some of it as you’ll find.

And on this day in 1970 Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young recorded this hippie protest song.

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Anyone have a QoD?

Good Morning!

Here’s a controversial topic for this day in history, from the good folks at Wikipedia.

The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is claimed by some to be the first declaration of independence made in the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolution. It was supposedly signed on May 20, 1775, at Charlotte, North Carolina, by a committee of citizens of Mecklenburg County, who declared independence from Great Britain after hearing of the battle of Lexington. If the story is true, the Mecklenburg Declaration preceded the United States Declaration of Independence by more than a year. The authenticity of the Mecklenburg Declaration has been disputed since it was first published in 1819, forty-four years after it was reputedly written. There is no conclusive evidence to confirm the original document’s existence, and no reference to it has been found in extant newspapers from 1775.

Many professional historians have maintained that the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is an inaccurate rendering of an authentic document known as the Mecklenburg Resolves. The Mecklenburg Resolves were a set of radical resolutions passed on May 31, 1775, that fell short of an actual declaration of independence.

And in 1830 the fountain pen was patented by H.D. Hyde.

In 1874 Levi Strauss began marketing blue jeans with copper rivets.

In 1899 Jacob German of New York City became the first driver to be arrested for speeding. The posted speed limit was 12 MPH.

In 1916 Norman Rockwell’s first cover on “The Saturday Evening Post” appeared.

In 1927 Charles Lindbergh took off from New York aboard the “Spirit of St. Louis.” He arrived in Paris 33 1/2 hours later.

In 1932 Amelia Earhart took off to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the first woman to do so.

And in 1978 Mavis Hutchinson, at age 53, became the first woman to run across America. It took 69 days

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Quote of the Day

“Some people have been kind enough to call me a fine artist. I’ve always called myself an illustrator. I’m not sure what the difference is. All I know is that whatever type of work I do, I try to give it my very best. Art has been my life.”

Norman Rockwell

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Bill will introduce some of the musicians today. It’s one of their birthdays.

This one we sang yesterday, and I do love it, so here it is again for you.

And who better to sing it than Mr. Shea. 🙂

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Anyone have a QoD for us?

Good Morning!

It’s Saturday! Yay! 🙂

On this day in 1798 Benjamin Stoddert was appointed as first Secretary of the U.S. Navy.

In 1802 Great Britain declared war on Napoleon’s France.

In 1917 U.S. Congress passed the Selective Service Act, which called up soldiers to fight in World War I.

In 1942 New York ended night baseball games for the duration of World War II.

And on a side note, today is also the birthday of Baltimore’s Brooks Robinson, who spent his entire 23 year career as an Oriole. Now that’s loyalty. 🙂  It’s also the birthday of some guy named Reggie Jackson. Perhaps you’ve heard of him? 🙂

Anyway, in 1951 the United Nations moved its headquarters to New York City.

And in 1980 Mt. Saint Helens erupted in Washington state killing 57 people and causing 3 billion in damage.

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Quote of the Day

“If it’s a good song and it fits me, that’s what I’m going to do, I’m not out there trying to change the world. I’m just out there trying to sing country music the best way I can.”

George Strait

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Today is George’s birthday, so here he is with the fake AJ. 🙂

We also have Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys with a birthday. Now I could obviously find plenty of Oak Ridge Boys on YouTube. They’ve been around for a long time. But I found one I really like that’s them doing a cover of “Seven Nation Army”, by the White Stripes, which I also like. It takes a little getting started while they explain the reason for the song, but I must say they do it well. 🙂

And it’s also Mr. Como’s b-day too.

And this is the song the Oak Ridge Boys covered above. I love the way 2 people pull it off as well.

That’ll do a number on your eyes huh? Mostly I just like the way he uses the guitar as a bass too. 🙂

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Does anyone have a QoD for us?

Good Morning!

It’s Friday! 🙂

And on this day in 1630 an Italian Jesuit named Niccolo Zucchi saw the belts on Jupiter’s surface.

In 1792 the New York Stock Exchange was founded at 70 Wall Street by 24 brokers.

In 1875 the first Kentucky Derby was run in Louisville.

In 1954 the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled for school integration in Brown vs. Board of Education.

In 1996 President Clinton signed Megan’s Law.

And in 1998 New York Yankees pitcher David Wells became the 13th player in modern major league baseball history to throw a perfect game. 🙂

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Quote of the Day

“Technology is anything that wasn’t around when you were born.”

Alan Kay

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No disrespect to George, or Eric who does it well too, but Peter does it better. 🙂

And I’d hate to disappoint Beatles fans either, so…

But since it’s Friday, and I mentioned Clapton too….

One more, or I guess you could say two. 🙂

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QoD? Anyone…?

Good Morning!

On this day in 1866 the U.S. Congress authorized the first 5-cent piece to be minted.

In 1868 U.S. President Andrew Johnson was acquitted during the Senate impeachment, by one vote.

In 1888 the first demonstration of recording on a flat disc was demonstrated by Emile Berliner.

Also in 1888 the new capitol in Austin was dedicated.

In 1946 “Annie Get Your Gun” opened on Broadway.

In 1965 Spaghetti-O’s went on sale for the first time.

In 1971 the price of a one-ounce first class stamp was increased from 6 to 8 cents.

In 1988 the Supreme Court ruled that police do not have to have a search warrant to search discarded trash.

And in 1991 Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to address the U.S. Congress.

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Quote of the Day

“It’s not wise to violate rules until you know how to observe them.”

T. S. Eliot

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You already know I love “Annie Get Your Gun”. Well today in 1946 it opened at New York’s Imperial Theatre.

And I love the movie too…..

And this song was recorded today in 1929.

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Anyone have a QoD for us?

Good Morning!

On this day in 1856 Lyman Frank Baum was born. He was the author of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

In 1862 U.S. Congress created the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In 1940 nylon stockings went on sale for the first time in the U.S.

In 1941 Joe DiMaggio began his historic hitting streak of 56 games. 🙂

In 1948 Israel was attacked by Transjordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon hours after declaring its independence.

And in 1972 Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace was shot by Arthur Bremer in Laurel, MD. Wallace was paralyzed as a result.

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Quote of the Day

“The road to the City of Emeralds is paved with yellow brick.”

L. Frank Baum

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I pretty much have to now….. 🙂

This one is because my wife likes it. 🙂

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Who has a QoD for us today?

Good Morning!

Today I have 2 words for you.

🙂 🙂 🙂

On this day in 1787 delegates began gathering in Philadelphia for a convention to draw up the U.S. Constitution.

In 1874 Harvard played McGill University in Cambridge, MA, in the first college football game to charge admission.

In 1878 the name Vaseline was registered by Robert A. Chesebrough.

In 1897 “The Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Phillip Sousa was performed for the first time.

In 1904 in St. Louis, the Olympic games were held for the first time in America.

In 1948 Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the independent State of Israel after British rule ended in Palestine.

And in 1973 SkyLab One was launched into orbit around Earth as the first U.S. manned space station.

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Quote of the Day

“Courage is a special kind of knowledge: the knowledge of how to fear what ought to be feared and how not to fear what ought not to be feared.”

David Ben-Gurion

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Today we have the sometimes spastic David Byrne. I never knew until today that we share a birthday. Plus, I’ve always liked the guy. 🙂

It’s also Bobby Darin’s.

This one’s just because I like it. 🙂 And it’s 2 fine guitar players.

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Who has a QoD?

Good Morning!

On this day in 1607 Jamestown, Virginia, was settled.

In 1787 Captain Arthur Phillip left Britain for Australia, where he successfully landed eleven ships full of convicts on January 18, 1788, at Botany Bay. The group then moved north and settled at Port Jackson.

In 1846 the U.S. declared that war already existed with Mexico.

In 1865 the last land engagement of the American Civil War was fought at the Battle of Palmito Ranch in far south Texas.

In 1867 Confederate President Jefferson Davis was freed from prison after spending two years there for his role in the American Civil War.

In 1918 the first airmail postage stamps were issued with airplanes on them.

In 1967 Mickey Mantle hit his 500th home run. Yankee manager Joe Girardi got his 500th win as the skipper of the Yankees this weekend too. Just thought I’d mention it, in case you hadn’t heard. 🙂

In 1981 Pope John Paul II was shot and seriously wounded in St. Peter’s Square.

And in 1985 a confrontation between Philadelphia authorities and the radical group MOVE ended as police dropped an explosive onto the group’s headquarters. 11 people died.

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Quote of the Day

“In a time of universal deceit – telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

George Orwell

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Two birthday musicians today. First….

And then Hootie, no Blowfish. Or Darius, if you prefer…

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Who has a QoD for us today?