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.

____________________________________________________

Quote of the Day

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

Walt Whitman

____________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________

Anyone have a QoD for us?

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.

____________________________________________________

Quote of the Day

“That’s all folks!”

Mel Blanc

____________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________

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

____________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________

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

____________________________________________________

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.”

____________________________________________________

Anyone have a QoD for us today?

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.

____________________________________________________

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

____________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________

Anyone have a QoD for us?

Good Morning!

And a Happy Memorial Day to you all. 🙂

____________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________

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

____________________________________________________

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?

____________________________________________________

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’……

____________________________________________________

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

____________________________________________________

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…..?   😯

🙂

____________________________________________________

Who has a QoD for us today?

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.

____________________________________________________

Quote of the Day

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

Benjamin Cardozo

____________________________________________________

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.

🙂 🙂 🙂

____________________________________________________

Anyone have a QoD for us today?

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.

____________________________________________________

Quote of the Day

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

Thomas Hood
____________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________

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…

____________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________

Quote of the Day

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

Richard John Neuhaus

____________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________

Anyone have a QoD?