Kill That Damn Video...
The first thing I heard when the clock radio went off this morning was an announcement of school closings in the metropolitan area caused by phone and e-mail threats of violence. Experts tell us that the mentally unbalanced bent on violence see a connection between themselves and people like Cho who actually commit those crimes yet there are tv stations that continue to make him a martyr by showing his chilling and disturbing video manifesto...
One of the things we love about our country is the freedom and openess we enjoy but we must also temper that freedom when it endangers us, as is the case with this video. What is the purpose of continuing to show us this video? After the WTC tragedy of 911, the media received so many complaints from the families of the victims that they stopped showing the planes going into the twin towers. It's time to do the same with the Cho video NOW!!!
The state of Virginia has called for a day of mourning for the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre and today marks the 8th anniversary of the Columbine tragedy. Let's not encourage another one...
I'll get down from my soapbox to let you know that the weekend is filled with video links. Today's link can be found in the "Friendly Fenway" timeline...
Timeline Memories...
Columbine remembered: 1999] A dozen students and one teacher are killed at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO when 2 teenagers open fire before taking their own lives...
A glowing tribute: 1902] Scientists Marie and Pierre Curie isolate the radioactive element radium. Their graves have a radiant glow above them in tribute to their discovery...
Friendly Fenway: 1912] Fenway Park opens with the Red Sox beating the Highlanders (who will become the Yankees) 7-6. Boston mayor John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald throws out the first ball, something grandson Teddy Kennedy will do for the 100th anniversary of Fenway in 2012. The Yankees visit Fenway this weekend. If like me, you haven't visited the fens in several years, this video is for you, it features a 6-minute tour of Friendly Fenway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83daYpwGRrU&mode=related&search= ...
Friendly Confines: 1916] Wrigley Field opens in Chicago with the Cubs beating Cincinnati 7-6. "Cubs win...Cubs win...Cubs win"...
Debuted on this date: 1934] Shirley Temple debuts in "Stand Up and Cheer"...1939] Ted Williams debuts (he played rightfield that day) with the Red Sox and doubles for his 1st hit at the age of 20. The Yankees beat the Sox 2-0 at Yankee Stadium...1959] "Desilu Playhouse" on CBS-TV presents a 2-part show titled "The Untouchables" which will become a regular series...1961] FM Stereo is approved by the FCC...1964] "Viva Las Vegas" starring Elvis Presley premieres...1977] Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" premieres...1988] The stealth bomber is officially unveiled and there it wwwweeeeennnntttttt...1989] Scientists announce the successful testing of high-definition TV. And we just got it almost 20 years later???
Wedding Bells: 1963] Rick Nelson strums down the aisle with Kris Harmon. The marriage lasts into the 70's before "D-I-V-O-R-C-E"...
Fly me to the moon: 1972] The manned lunar module from Apollo 16 lands on the moon...
Land ho: 1980] The 1st Cubans sail to the U.S. as part of the massive Mariel boatlift that reaches Florida...
Madonna Millions: 1992] Madonna signs a deal with Time Warner to set up a multimedia company. The deal makes Madonna the highest paid woman in pop music...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
Commentary...
This is a fun weekend for baseball fans because two rivalries start up for the season in New York and Boston when the Atlanta Braves visit Shea and the New York Yankees visit Fenway for weekend series. Tonight's games mark the 1st of 19 games between these division opponents. All four are the teams to beat in their division...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Joey Lawrence (31), Carmen Electra (35), Jessica Lange (58), Ryan O'Neal (66), Johnny Tillotson (68), George ("Star Trek", "Heroes") Takei (70) and Nina Foch (83)...
Timeline Countdown: 8 days until the NFL draft, 15 days until the Kentucky Derby and 38 days until Memorial Day...
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Saturday, April 21, 2007 (with videos)...
Timeline Memories...
"Happy Trails": 1918] German ace fighter Baron von Richthofen ("The Red Baron") is shot down (by Snoopy?) and killed during WWI. He was 26...
"Surprise, surprise": 1956] Leonard Ross, age 10, becomes the youngest prize winner on the 'Big Surprise', winning $100,000...
On the tube: 1965] The Beach Boys sing "Do You Wanna Dance" on ABC-TV's "Shindig"...1977] Natalie Cole and John Denver guest on Frank Sinatra's ABC-TV special "Sinatra and Friends"...1986] A vault in Chicago's Lexington Hotel that was linked to Al Capone is opened on live TV and except for some empty gin bottles, the vault is empty. Here's a clip of Geraldo Rivera making light of the event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P84OKTUx6LY ...
I just wanna testify: 1960] Dick Clark testifies before a congressional committee investigating payola. He will be forced to divest himself of record properties he has a financial interest in...
Another opening, another show: 1977] "Annie" opens on Broadway...
Marathon scam: 1980] When Rosie Ruiz crosses the finish line 1st in the Boston Marathon, she didn't even break a sweat. The reason? Rosie took the 'T' at least part of the way. Rosie is disqualified...
#1 on this date: 1956] "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley and here's a clip of him singing the song on a 1956 TV show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Qo1eaWF8c ...
It's a gas: 1992] Robert Alton Harris becomes the 1st person executed by the state of California in 25 years when he's put to death in the gas chamber for the 1978 murder of 2 teenage boys...
The final curtain: 1995] The Boston Celtics play their last game at Boston Garden, their home since 1946. The Fleet Center (now TD Banknorth) is built right next door with a piece of the parquet floor from the old Garden, used on the the floor of the new arena...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Andie MacDowell (49), Tony Danza (56), Patti LuPone (58), Paul Davis (59), Iggy Pop a.k.a. James Newell Osterberg Jr (60), Charles Grodin (72) and Queen Elizabeth II (81)...
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Sunday, April 22, 2007 (with videos)...
Timeline Memories...
A higher calling: 1864] Congress authorizes the use of the phrase "In God We Trust" on U.S. coins...
Play ball: 1876] The 1st official National League game is played with the Boston Red Stockings beating the Philadelphia Athletics 6-5...1915] The New York Yankees wear pinstripes for the first time. They also introduce their top hat logo...
A-test: 1952] An atomic test conducted in Nevada is the 1st nuclear explosion shown on live television...
The clock is ticking: 1954] Syracuse Nationals owner Danny Biasone invents the 24-second clock which debuts in the NBA...
On the tube: 1954] The U.S. Senate, Army-McCarthy televised hearings begin...
Released on this date: 1966] "Wild Thing" - Troggs...
Debuted on this date: 1956] Elvis Presley makes his Las Vegas debut at The Frontier...1968] Herb Alpert debuts "This Guy's In Love With You" on his self-titled CBS-TV special...1970] The 1st 'Earth Day' is observed...1976] Barbara Walters becomes the 1st female nightly news anchor...1978] John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd make their 1st appearance as The Blues Brothers on 'Saturday Night Live'. Here's a clip of the BB doing 'Soul Man': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea9mV9EhPvE ...1990] Over 750,000 are treated to an "Earth Day" concert in Central Park starring Hall & Oates, Ben E. King and the B-52's...
"Happy Trails": 1994] Richard Milhous Nixon dies at 81, the results of a stroke 4 days earlier...2004] NFL player Pat Tillman who traded a career in the NFL for life as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan, is killed by friendly fire at the age of 27...
O-No: 1969] John Lennon legally changes his middle name from Winston to Ono...
The Franchise: 1970] Tom Seaver of the Mets ties the single game strike-out record with 19 against San Diego at Shea Stadium...
Gold Standard: 1976] Johnnie Taylor's "Disco Lady" becomes the 1st single to sell over 2 million copies...
Eeeeelllleeeeannnn: 2001] In a pre-dawn raid, armed immigration agents seize Elian Gonzalez from his relatives home in Miami. The 6-year old boy is reunited with his father at Andrews Air Force Base before being flown back to Cuba where he now resides as Castro's prize trophy...
Guilty as charged: 2005] Zacarias Moussaoui pleads guilty to conspiring with hijackers in the 911 plot to attack American buildings and citizens. Moussaoui is serving a life sentence in Colorado...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Paul Carrack (Ace, Squeeze, Mike & the Mechanics) (56), Peter Frampton (57) Peter shows you the way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6Twut7qP08 , John Waters (61), Mel Carter (64), Jack Nicholson (70), Glen Campbell (71), "Seinfeld's" Estelle Harris (75) and Charlotte Rae (81)...
Timeline Countdown: 6 days until the NFL draft, 13 days until the Kentucky Derby and 36 days until Memorial Day...
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