Saturday, March 31, 2007

Sunday-Sunday, April 1-8, 2007

Baseball is back (no April Fool's joke)... (updated on March 31, 2007)

The 2007 Baseball season begins tonight when the Mets take on the St. Louis Cardinals, the team that beat them to get to the World Series. Tony LaRussa's Cardinals then dispatched the Detroit Tigers to become the 7th different team to win the fall classic in as many years. Will any of those 7 teams repeat as champs during this decade? What are the odds of 10 different teams winning the world series in a decade? Well, it's only happened once. From 1978 (Yankees) to 1987 (Twins), a different team won the world series each year. 10 different teams in 10 years. Never happened before and it hasn't happened since but it could. Stay tuned...

Your humble blogger is taking his spring break for a week but rest assured I won't leave you without anything to read so this will be the Spring Break edition of the MPR from April 1 to April 8, Sunday-to-Sunday. Every day is covered. Enjoy the timelines, chuckle, guffaw and kvell when the occasion calls for it. And there are more than a dozen video links scattered through the 8 days too...I'll be baaaaahk with fresh blog on Monday, April 9th...

No jokes coming up for the April 1 timeline, well - maybe. See if you can tell where they are...There are 2 video links which are pranks played on April Fools Day's past. Tom Bergeron's producers threw a couple of ringers into a Hollywood Squares episode: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0dkasKa7Yw , Here's one where Jimmy Kimmel played a prank on his uncle Frank: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpWmqmxC5iA ...

Timeline Memories...
"Happy Trails": 1996] Homeplate umpire John McSherry dies of a massive heart attack during a game. McSherry was 52...

$ $ $: 1778] Oliver Pollock, a New Orleans businessman creates the $ symbol (Pollock dies a pauper however)...

"Play Ball": 1876] Boston beats Philadelphia 6-5 in the 1st official National League game...

And the ball is still in his glove: 1930] Leo Harnett of the Cubs breaks the height record for a catch when he grabs a baseball dropped from the Goodyear blimp 800 feet over Los Angeles (excavation of this body takes several days but when he was found, the ball was still in his glove)...

A Hall of an opening: 1938] The Baseball Hall of Fame opens in Cooperstown (NY)...

Where's Fergie?: 1946] Weight Watchers is formed...

Weather or not: 1960] The U.S. launches the 1st weather satellite, TIROS-1...

Back to work: 1963] The Typographers Union ends their strike that had closed 9 New York City newspapers for 114 days. The strike began in December of 1962...

Strike One: 1972] Major leaguers walk out at the end of spring training and begin the 1st general player's strike in sports history. They return April 13...

The Dook of Flatbush: 1963] After a 16-year career with the Brooklyn, then-Los Angeles Dodgers, Duke Snider is traded to the Mets. Duke hits .243 with 45 RBIs in 129 games before being traded to San Francisco. Snider enters Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1980...

Busted: 1987] Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden tests positive for cocaine. Doc spends the 1st 2 months of the season in rehab and that was the beginning of the end for what could have been a brilliant career...

Reunited and it feels so good: 1964] John Lennon is reunited with his father after 17 years...

Released on this date: 1976] "Margaritaville" - Jimmy Buffett...

Marvin murdered in Hollywood: 1984] Marvin Gaye is shot to death by his father in Los Angeles one day before his 45th birthday...

Supercoach K: 1991] After making the Final Four 5 times under coach Mike Krzyzewski since 1986, Duke finally wins its 1st NCAA championship with a 72-65 win over Kansas...

Saving Private Lynch: 2003] American troops enter a hospital in Iraq and rescue Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, held prisoner since her unit was ambushed 9 days earlier...

Baby love: 2004] President George W. Bush signs into law new protections for the unborn that made it a separate federal crime to harm a fetus during an assault on the mother...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Jimmy Cliff (59), David Eisenhower (60), Rusty Staub (63), Phil Margo of the Tokens (65), Rudolph Isley (68), Ali MacGraw (69), Debbie Reynolds (75) and Jan Powell (78)...

Timeline Countdown: 1 day until the NCAA championship game, 1 day until Passover begins at sundown, 7 days until Easter and 57 days until Memorial Day...
...
Monday, April 2, 2007...

Passover begins at sundown tonight...

Timeline Memories...

"Happy Trails": 1972] Mets manager Gil Hodges who managed the Mets to their 1st world championship in 1969, dies of a heart attack while playing golf in West Palm Beach (FL) 2 days before his 48th birthday. Yogi Berra replaces Hodges as Mets manager...1998] Rob Pilatus of Milli Vanilli dies of a drug overdose in a Frankfurt, Germany hotel room. Pilatus was 32...2005] Pope John Paul II dies of natural causes at 85. Karol Jozef Wojtyla is succeeded by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger who becomes Pope Benedict XVI...

The 1st real estate mogul: 1513] Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon lands in Florida...

With 6 you get egg roll: 1877] President Rutherford B. Hayes rolls out the 1st Easter egg as the annual Easter Egg Roll has begun on the White House lawn...

Tin foiled again: 1889] Charles Hall patents aluminum...

Pass the popcorn: 1902] The 1st motion picture theater opens, the Electric Theatre in Los Angeles...

Blood money: 1932] A $50,000 ransom is paid for the infant son of Charles and Anna Lindbergh. The child is not returned and will be found dead the following month...

Recorded on this date: 1964] "I Get Around/Don't Worry Baby" - Beach Boys. This video is a live version of the song on 'Ready, Steady, Go!' in London from 1964: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCYouoLKxjo ...1967] "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" - Beatles...

Released on this date: 1978] "Sir Duke" - Stevie Wonder (Stevie's tribute to Duke Ellington). Here's Stevie doing it live on a French TV show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaoYu6jOoug ...

Playing in Traffic: 1967] Steve Winwood leaves the Spencer Davis Group to form Traffic...

Debuted on this date: 1978] The 1st episode of "Dallas" airs on CBS-TV. The series will run for the last time in May of 1991...

Shooting the trey goes to college: 1986] The NCAA adopts the 3-point shot in men's basketball and decides to use instant replay to check scoring and timing errors...

Rev it up: 1987] The speed limit on U.S. interstate highways is increased to 65 mph in limited areas...

Guilty as Charged: 1992] Mob boss John Gotti is convicted in New York of murder and racketeering. He's later sentenced to life in prison where he will die...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

'Law and Order's' Christopher Meloni (46), Emmylou Harris (60), Linda Hunt (62), Leon Russell (65), Rita Gam (79) and Dabbs Greer (90)...

Timeline Countdown: NCAA Championship Game is tonight, Passover begins at sundown, 6 days until Easter and 56 days until Memorial Day...
...
Tuesday, April 3, 2007...

"Happy Trails": 1882] Outlaw Jesse James, 34, is shot to death in St. Joseph (MO) by Robert Ford, a member of his gang...1990] Jazz great Sarah Vaughan dies of lung cancer at 66...1996] An Air Force jet carrying Commerce Secretary Ron Brown crashes in Croatia killing all 35 aboard. Brown was 54...

Mets hit the jackpot: 1966] The Mets win the rights to 'The Franchise' a.k.a. Tom Seaver in a lottery drawing after the Atlanta Braves violated the rules by signing the pitcher after the college season had started. 3 years later Seaver would help the Mets win their 1st world series...

Death by electrocution: 1936] Bruno Hauptmann is electrocuted in Trenton (NJ) for the kidnap-murder of the Lindbergh baby...

HST has a plan: 1948] President Harry S. Truman signs the Marshall Plan, allocating more than $5 billion in aid for 16 European Countries...

Debuted on this date: 1953] TV Guide is published for the 1st time...1955] Fred Astaire appears on television for the 1st time on "The Toast of the Town" with Ed Sullivan...

Elvis sighting: 1956] Elvis Presley appears on "The Milton Berle Show", broadcast live from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hancock. Elvis sings "Heartbreak Hotel", "Money Honey" and "Blue Suede Shoes"...

Released on this date: 1965] "Wooly Bully" - Sam The Sham and the Pharaoh's. This video clip is from England's 'Top of The Pops' show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JPNJpp5QnQ&mode=related&search= ...

The Final Curtain: 1962] Jockey Eddie Arcaro retires after 31 years and 24,092 races...1968] Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his 'mountaintop" speech to a rally of striking sanitation workers in Memphis...1982] John Chancellor steps down as anchor of "NBC Nightly News" and is replaced by Tom Brokaw and Roger Mudd...

Baseball rolls a "7": 1985] Baseball owners and players agree to expand the post-season championship series from a best-of-five format to best-of-seven...

A devil of a time: 1988] The New Jersey Devils beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in OT to make the playoffs for the 1st time...

Gotcha!: 1996] Unabomber Theodore John Kaczynski is arrested by FBI agents, accused of sending 16 mail bombs that killed 3 and injured 23 during an 18-year period. Kaczynski was sentenced to 4 life sentences plus 30 years...

Busted: 2000] A federal judge rules that Microsoft had violated U.S. antitrust laws by keeping "an oppressive thumb" on its competitors. Microsoft appeals the ruling...

Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Eddie Murphy (46), David Hyde Pierce (48), Alec Baldwin (49), Tony Orlando (65) Here's Tony Orlando & Dawn doing "Knock Three Times": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq36F96Joy8 ... , Wayne Newton (65), Billy Joe Royal (65), Marsha Mason (65) and Doris Day (83)...

Timeline Countdown: This is the 1st full day of Passover, 5 days until Easter and 55 days until Memorial Day...
...
Wednesday, April 4, 2007...

Timeline Memories...

"Happy Trails": 1841] President William Henry Harrison dies of pneumonia one month after his inauguration becoming the 1st president to die in office. Harrison was 68...

Jimmy V shines: 1983] Jim Valvano's North Carolina State Wolfpack upsets mighty Houston led by Clyde Drexler 54-52 to win the NCAA title. Valvano is seen running around the court looking for someone to hug, one of the most famous scenes in sports...

Stars and Stripes: 1818] Congress decides the U.S. flag will consist of 13 red and white stripes and 20 stars, with a new star added for each new state...

Recorded on this date: 1960] "Are You Lonesome Tonight" - Elvis Presley. This video clip is from Elvises 1968 comeback performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmwPVed7W9A ...

#1 on this date: 1963] "He's So Fine" - Chiffons...1973] "The Nights The Lights Went Out In Georgia" - Vicki Lawrence...

Top 5 on this date: 1964] 1) Can't Buy Me Love, 2) Twist and Shout, 3) She Loves You, 4) I Want To Hold Your Hand and 5) Please, Please Me. All by the Beatles. They become the only group to have 3 consecutive #1's which are #4, #3 and #1...

Where's Johnyyyy?: 1967] Johnny Carson quits 'The Tonight Show' only to return 3 weeks later for a $30,000 a week raise...

Struck down in his prime: 1968] Tragedy strikes in Memphis as Martin Luther King Jr. is gunned down while standing on the balcony outside his room at the Motel Lorraine. King was in Memphis to support striking sanitation workers...1968] James Brown makes a national TV appeal for calm following the assassination of King...

"Reunited and it feels so good": 1970] Janis Joplin holds a reunion concert with Big Brother & the Holding Company in San Francisco...

Debuted on this date: 1974] "Ladies and Gentlemen": The Rolling Stones" opens as the 1st film with a quadraphonic soundtrack...

Like kissing your sister: 1974] Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth's MLB home run record of 714 on Opening Day...

Record breaking: 1986] Wayne Gretzky sets an NHL record with his 213th point of the season...

Tragedy in the Air: 1991] Senator John Heinz of Pennsylvania and 6 others are killed when a helicopter collides with Heinz's plane over a schoolyard in Merion (PA)...

Alfonse's Folly: 1995] That jokester Senator (NY) Alfonse D'Amato uses a mock Japanese accent to ridicule O.J. Simpson judge Lance Ito on live radio. He apologizes 2 days later...

South of the border: 1999] The Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 8-2 in baseball's 1st season opener in Mexico...

Nomo no-no: 2001] Red Sox pitcher Hideo Nomo no-hits Baltimore to become only the 4th MLB pitcher to pitch no-hitters in both leagues...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

"Brokeback Mountain's" Heath Ledger (28), David Blaine (34), Robert Downey Jr. (42), David E. Kelley (51), Christine Lahti (57), Craig T. Nelson (63), Hugh Masekela (68), Clive Davis (75) and Maya Angelou (79)...

Timeline Countdown: 4 days until Easter and 54 days until Memorial Day...

...

Thursday, April 5, 2007...

Timeline Memories...

"Happy Trails": 1964] General Douglas MacArthur dies of natural causes at 84...1976] Reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes dies from kidney failure at 72...1981] Bob "The Bear" Hite of Canned Heat dies of a heart attack at 36. Here's a video clip of "The Bear" and his group from a live performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIu-hJHImr8 ..1991] Former Texas Senator John Tower, 65, and 22 others die in a commuter plane crash near Brunswick (GA)...1992] Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton dies of cancer. Walton was 74...2006] Gene Pitney is found dead in his Cardiff (Wales) hotel room during a UK tour. An autopsy shows that Pitney died of natural causes...

Primetime comes to Fox: 1987] Fox adds 2 network shows: "Married...with Children" and "The Tracey Ullman Show" which was the show that "The Simpsons" debuted in...

Wedding Bells: 1614] American Indian princess Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe in Virginia. The couple requests that maize be thrown instead of the traditional rice...

Let the games begin: 1896] The 1st Olympic Games of the 'modern' era are opened at the foot of the Acropolis by King George of Greece as Baron Pierre de Coubertin of France, founder of the modern games sees his dream come true as 311 athletes from 14 nations compete. There were no gold medals awarded but each winner receiving a silver medal, a crown of olive branches and a box of Barilla pasta...

Jess a champ: 1915] Jess Willard KO's Jack Johnson in the 26th round of their heavyweight championship bout in Havana. Both fighters start feeling a bit fatigued after 20 rounds...

Dead couple walking: 1951] Americans Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are sentenced to death for committing espionage for the Soviet Union in a very controversial case. There are those (especially the Rosenberg family) that believe they were innocent...

Debuted on this date: 1958] "Johnny Mathis' "Greatest Hits" LP debuts on the charts for a then record 490 weeks (10 years)...

Rockin' the ground: 1993] Construction begins in Cleveland for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...

Chapter 11: 1982] "Record World" magazine, a major trade publication for 8 years folds...

Record breaker: 1984] Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Lakers breaks Wilt Chamberlain's 11-year old NBA record of 31,419 points. Jabbar still holds the record with 38,387 points...

"We Are The World": 1985] An estimated 5,000 radio stations simultaneously play "We Are The World" to raise money to feed starving people in Africa and the U.S. Harvey Mednick considers this "one of the proudest moments at R&R" for he and Dwight Case. Ken Kragen received an award at that year's NAB convention for his work on "USA for Africa" which was benifitted by the "We Are The World" promotion...

"What timeout?": 1993] Michigan's Chris Webber calls a timeout his Wolverines didn't have. Michigan is assessed a technical foul and North Carolina wins its 3rd national championship (2nd under Dean Smith) 77-71...

An announcement from Peter Jennings: 2005] ABC News anchorman Peter Jennings reveals he has lung cancer. Here's a clip of the announcement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vRfdgU2Q4E . He dies 4 months later...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Agnetha Faltskog (one of ABBA's 'A's) (57), Michael Moriarty (66), Colin Powell (70) and Gale Storm (85)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until Easter Sunday and 53 days until Memorial Day...

...

(Good Friday) April 6, 2007...

Timeline Memories...

This school knows basketball: 2004] On April 5th, the Connecticut Huskies men's team wins the NCAA championship 82-73 by beating Georgia Tech. On April 6th the female Huskies win their title by beating Tennessee 70-61...

Elizabeth Taylor has nothing on this guy: 1868] Brigham Young marries his 27th and final wife. He always said he would quit after 27...

Get the picture?: 1889] George Eastman places Kodak Camera's on sale for the 1st time...

Keep your heading on North: 1909] Explorers Robert E. Peary and Matthew A. Henson become the 1st men to reach the North Pole. This is authenticated by the Navigation Foundation in 1989 and last year by Al Gore...

Twinkie Munch: 1930] Hostess Twinkies are invented by bakery executive James Dewar (who washes it down with a scotch)...

Guaranteed to taste better than airline food: 1954] The 1st TV Dinner is put on sale by Swanson and Sons...

Released on this date: 1957] "All Shook Up" - Elvis Presley...

Heard on this date: 1963] 16-year old Lesley Gore hears "It's My Party" on WINS coming home from school. Here's a clip of Lesley singing the song live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puu6K86F05I&mode=related&search= ...

Future lovers meet: 1971] Carly Simon and James Taylor meet at the Troubador in L.A...

#1 on this date: 1975] "Philadelphia Freedom" - Elton John...1977] "Dancing Queen" - ABBA (their only #1 hit). Here's ABBA on Japanese TV singing the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biKRbWrv7Lw ...

Wedding Bells: 1979] Rod Stewart and Alana Hamilton (George Hamilton's ex) rock down the aisle in Beverly Hills (they stay married 5 years)...1998] Citicorp and Travelers Group announces a merger, creating the largest financial-services conglomerate in the world under the name "Citigroup"...

Arnie's Army: 1958] 28-year old Arnold Palmer wins the Masters in Augusta. Arnie's Army is born...

This Army is for real: 1965] President Lyndon B. Johnson authorizes the use of ground troops in combat operations in Vietnam...

Share and share alike: 1974] The Yankees who start sharing Shea Stadium with the Mets while Yankee Stadium is renovated, beat the Indians 6-1 in their 1st game there. The Yankees get their stadium back in time for opening day in 1976...

Designated Hitter: 1973] The Yankees' Ron Blomberg becomes the AL's 1st DH, walking in his 1st AB at Fenway Park...

It Sticks anywhere: 1980] Post It notes are introduced...

The Final Curtain: 1980] Gordie Howe's remarkable 26-year NHL career ends when at 52 he plays his last game and scores his 801st and final goal for Hartford against his former Detroit Red Wings...1987] Dodger VP Al Campanis is quoted as saying "blacks lacked the necessities to be managers" to Ted Koppel on "Nightline". Campanis soon lacks the necessity of a job...

"Happy Trails": 1992] Science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov dies at 72 from AIDS, contracted by a blood transfusion during open-heart surgery...1998] Legendary Country singer Tammy Wynette dies in her sleep in Nashville at 55. Tammy was known as "The First Lady of Country Music" for having 18 #1 hits on the Country charts...

Cameo roles on Murphy: 1998] Dick Clark, Chubby Checker, Fabian and Lesley Gore appear on CBS-TV's "Murphy Brown"...

"Ring My Belle": 1996] Wacky Albert Belle shows off the strength of his arm by hitting a Sports Illustrated photographer prior to a game...

"D-I-V-O-R-C-E": 1999] Carmen Electra files for divorce from Dennis Rodman and asks for her wedding gown back. Carmen finally comes to her senses after 6 months of marriage...

The Man in Black is back: 1999] Johnny Cash returns from a bout with pneumonia by electrifying a New York City audience with a surprise appearance at an all-star tribute in his honor...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Zach Braff (32), Marilu Henner (55), John Ratzenberger (60), Roy Thinnes (69), Billy Dee Williams (70), Merle Haggard (70) and Andre Previn (78)...

Timeline Countdown: Today is Good Friday, 2 days until Easter Sunday and 52 days until Memorial Day...

...

Saturday, April 7, 2007...

Timeline Memories...

"We are the men from Texico": 1902] The Texas Oil Company is formed...

"Can you see me? Can you see me now?": 1927] The 1st long distance TV transmission is sent from Washington (D.C.) to New York City as the audience sees an image of Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover...

Empire Steel Building: 1930] The 1st steel columns are set for the Empire State Building...

"Another opening, another show": 1948] Rogers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific" opens on Broadway...

The Trolley Swan Song: 1957] The last of New York City's electric trolleys completes its final run from Queens to Manhattan...

Diaper duffer: 1963] At the age of 23, Jack Nicklaus becomes the youngest golfer to win the green jacket at the Masters Tournament...

Higher than the Berlin Wall: 1958] The L.A. Dodgers erect a 42-foot screen in left field at the LA Coliseum to cut down on home runs, only 250 feet down the line (no worries for Frank "Hondo" Howard)...

Stones are formed: 1962] The Rolling Stones are formed when Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones meet at the Ealing Blues Club in England...

Who's your Daddy?: 1967] Tom Donahue begins the Progressive a.k.a. AOR (Album Oriented Rock) FM format at KMPX in San Francisco. Donahue will become known as the "Father of FM Radio"...

#1 on this date: 1968] "Honey" - Bobby Goldsboro...1970] "Let It Be" - Beatles. Here's a live version of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oZYqAeIdYk ..1974] "Bennie and the Jets" - Elton John...

Elton lights a candle: 1985] Elton John performs "Candle in the Wind" at Farm Aid IV in tribute to Ryan White, a young AIDS patient who dies later that day...

Filling Sonny's shoes: 1998] Mary Bono, Sonny's widow, wins a special election to serve out the remainder of her husband's congressional term...

Save Me, save me: 1969] The Dodgers' Bill Singer is credited with the 1st official 'save' against the Reds...

An Oscar for Wayne: 1970] John Wayne wins his 1st and only Oscar for his role in "True Grit", after appearing in over 200 films...

A Good Thing: 2000] President Bill Clinton signs the Senior Citizens Freedom to Work Act of 2000 which allows senior citizens to earn money without losing Social Security benefits...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Victoria ("Posh Spice") Beckham (32), Former Giant RB Tiki Barber (32), Russell Crowe (43), Jackie Chan (53), Janis Ian (57), John Oates (58) Here's a video clip of Hall & Oates doing "Private Eyes": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anLfoy2XsFw , David Frost (68), Charlie Thomas of the Drifters (70), Wayne Rogers (74), James Garner (79), Ravi Shankar (87) and R.G. Armstrong (90)...

Timeline Countdown: 1 day until Easter Sunday and 51 days until Memorial Day...

...

Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007...

Timeline Memories...

Popular Vote: 1834] In New York City, Cornelius Lawrence becomes the 1st mayor to be elected by popular vote in a city election. I hope the mayor was as popular as his votes were...

The butter-margarine war has begun: 1873] Alfred Paraf patents the 1st successful oleomargarine...

Steel mills shut down: 1952] President Harry S. Truman seizes the steel mills in order to prevent a nationwide strike...

The knee bone's connected to the thigh bone: 1953] The bones of Sitting Bull are moved from North to South Dakota. Alert Michael Jackson...

There's a new home run king: 1974] Hank Aaron passes Babe Ruth, becoming baseball's new Home Run King with his 715th home run off of Dodger pitcher Al Downing. Barry Bonds will pass Aaron this season...

Debuted on the charts on this date: 1972] "Oh Girl" - Chi-Lites which will become their only #1 hit...

Rock & Roll Tragedy: 1983] Danny & the Juniors lead singer, Danny Rapp is a victim of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at 41. In better days Danny & the Juniors had one of the hottest records of the 50's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pYRTApUUX8 ..1994] The body of Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain is found in Seattle, another apparent victim of suicide. Cobain was 27...

Wham Bam: 1998] George Michael is released on bail after his arrest for engaging in a lewd act in a park restroom...

Breaking the color barrier: 1975] Frank Robinson of the Cleveland Indians becomes the Major League's 1st black manager...

"Happy Trails": 1981] Omar N. Bradley, a WWII general and the 1st chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff, dies of natural causes at 88...

Mayor-elect: 1986] Clint Eastwood is elected mayor of Carmel (CA). He will serve until 1988...

You're out of here: 1987] Dodger executive Al Campanis "resigns" after telling Ted Koppel just days earlier that "blacks may lack some of the necessities for becoming managers"...

Peaks become valleys: 1990] "Twin Peaks" debuts on ABC-TV. For a series that got so much press it's interesting to note that the wacky show lasted only one season...

A bad news conference: 1992] Tennis player Arthur Ashe announces at a news conference that he has AIDS...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Patricia Arquette (39), Julian Lennon (44), Gary Carter (53), Grand Funk's Mel Schacher (56), Steve Howe of Yes (60), John Havlicek (67), Shecky Greene (81) and Betty Ford (89)...

Timeline Countdown: Today is Easter Sunday, 50 days until Memorial Day...

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Friday, March 30, 2007

Friday-Saturday, March 30-31, 2007

Springtime, Sports and Dreams of The Summer...

What a great time of the year for sports with baseball back on Sunday night, the Final Four NCAA playoffs the night before, the championship game Monday night and the rest of the baseball schedule on the same day. This is the time of the year that every team is on an equal footing - for a while anyway. Let's take a look at late breaking baseball items of note before the season starts on Sunday night...

Steve Swindal, the man who would be king of the Yankees is on the way out of both his marriage and being the heir apparent to George Steinbrenner. Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal has moved to make sure her soon to-be-ex doesn't get any part of the family fortune. Don't let the door hit you on the way out Steve...Item number two: Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell has asked to start player interviews as part of his steroids probe and expects to complete his investigation in the "coming months". Good news...Item three: Ria Cortesio became the 1st female umpire to work a major league exhibition game since Pam Postema in 1989 when she worked the bases in a Cubs-D'backs game in Mesa (AZ) apparently well. Ria is the only female umpire in professional baseball...Item Four: Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky, a spry 87, will be forbidden from being in the Boston dugout this season by major league baseball. Pesky can appear in uniform before the game but once the game begins he cannot join the Sox on the bench. MLB says it's a numbers game and the bench is only for coaches (6), players (on roster), trainers (1), one manager and (essential staff which includes an equipment manager and assistant trainer who can come and go from the clubhouse to the bench). They point to 84-year old Red Schoendienst who wears a uniform before the game and sits in the stands (without a uniform) once the game starts. Maybe Tito can make him Dice-K's interpreter. Oh wait that's not allowed. According to MLB: batting practice pitchers, interpreters, masseurs and other extra staff are not allowed. C'mon Theo, get creative...

Two video links can be found in the "O Solo Mio" and "Happy Birthday...happy birthday" timelines...

Timeline Memories...
"Happy Trails": 1986] Legendary actor James Cagney dies from a heart attack at 86...2002] Queen Mother Elizabeth of England dies of natural causes at 101...

"Honey, I forgot to duck": 1981] President Ronald Reagan is shot by John Hinckley. Reagan will make a complete recovery as will D.C. police officer Thomas Delahaney, also shot. Press secretary James Brady is not as lucky. Brady is left with permanent brain damage from a gunshot wound to the head...

"North to Alaska": 1867] The U.S. purchases Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. The deal will be known as "Seward's Folly" after Secretary of State William H. Seward who brokered the deal for the U.S...

Groovy Bridge: 1909] The Queensboro bridge a.k.a. the 59th Street bridge linking Manhattan and Queens opens to traffic, becoming the 1st double tiered bridge...

Back to work: 1966] Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale end a 32-day double holdout and sign with the L.A. Dodgers for equal $135,000 salaries (chump change today)...

"Pass the pepper": 1967] The cover picture of the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" LP is shot at Michael Cooper's studio in Chelsea, England...

"O Solo Mio": 1989] Gladys Knight performs solo for the 1st time since her grammar school days. She sings 'Pip-less' during a Las Vegas date. Gladys says it could be the "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me". Gladys does it live with the Pips on this video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RctsRbQP_wM...

Musical call letters: 1992] WNSR (105.1) changes call letters to WMXV in New York...

Smarter than Maxwell: 1987] Keith Smart pops a 17-foot jumper from the corner with 4 seconds left to give Indiana a 74-73 win over Syracuse and the Hoosiers celebrate their 3rd NCAA title under coach Bobby Knight...

Touch 'em all: 1993] Charlie Brown hits his 1st home run in the Peanuts comic strip...

The rich get richer: 1998] BMW buys Rolls-Royce for $570 million (how many would you like?)...

Blood money: 1999] A jury in Portland (OR) orders Philip Morris to pay $81 million to the family of a man who died of lung cancer after smoking Marlboros for 4 decades ('and now a word from Marlboro')...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Norah Jones (28), Celine Dion (39), Ian ("Dancing with the Stars" contestant) Ziering (43), Tracy Chapman (43) and here's our birthday girl singing "Give Me One Reason": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPcjjOrKmJw&mode=related&search= , MC Hammer (45), Paul Reiser (50), Eric Clapton (62), Warren Beatty (70), John Astin (77), Richard (LA Law) Dysart (78), Peter Marshall (80) and social butterfly Brooke Astor (105)...

Timeline Countdown: 1 day until Final Four, 2 days until Opening Day, 3 days until NCAA championship game, 3 days until Passover and 10 days until Easter Sunday...
...
Saturday, March 31, 2007...

Video clips can be found in the "Released on this date" and "#1 on this date" timelines...

Timeline Memories...
"Happy Trails": 1986] O'Kelly Isley (who I had the pleasure of knowing) of the Isley Brothers dies of a heart attack at 48. A personal comment: Kelly would go on weight losing binges and then put it back on. I believe this took it's toll on the lead singer of the Isley Brothers...1998] Former New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug dies of heart disease at 77...2005] Terri Schiavo dies at a hospice in Pinellas Park (FL), 13 days after her feeding tube is removed. Schiavo was 42...

Vive la France: 1889] French engineer Alexandra Gustave Eiffel unfurls the French tricolor from atop the Eiffel Tower to mark its completion...

Club Med is ready: 1917] The U.S. takes possession of the Virgin Islands from Denmark. Part of the islands are British to this day...

Time after Time: 1918] For the 1st time in U.S. history, Daylight Savings Time goes into effect when clocks are moved ahead one hour at 2 a.m...

"They Shoot Horses, don't they?": 1923] The 1st U.S. dance marathon is won by Alma Cummings who sets a new world record of 27 hours in New York City. Gig Young finishes second...

Irish Tragedy: 1931] 43-year old Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne and 7 others are killed in a plane crash in Kansas (en route from Kansas City to L.A.) as the legendary coach was headed to Hollywood to make a football movie...

CCC? Si Si: 1933] Congress approves the Civilian Conservation Corps to put people back to work in the parks...

Can Shea Stadium be far behind?: 1940] La Guardia Airport officially opens...

Released on this date: 1958] "Johnny B. Goode" - Chuck Berry. Here's a clip of Chuck doing the song live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEq62iQo0eU&mode=related&search= ...

Another opening, another show: 1943] Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma" opens on Broadway...

Going out a winner: 1975] John Wooden coaches his last game, a 92-85 UCLA win over Kentucky which gives the Bruins their 10th national title under 'The Wizard of Westwood'...

"Breaking Up is Hard to do": 1982] The Doobie Brothers break up...

Stone Premiere: 1992] "Dateline NBC" premieres. I hope they do a series on 'Predators' every once in a while. Enough already. I feel dirty watching the show...

Pulling the plug: 1976] The New Jersey Supreme Court rules that Karen Anne Quinlan could be disconnected from her respirator. Quinlan remains comatose until 1985 when she passes away...

#1 on this date: 1975] "Lovin' You" - Minnie Riperton. This song was produced by Stevie Wonder. On a personal note: I never met a lovelier person than Minnie who at one time sang backup for Stevie. Minnie and Dick Rudolph's daughter Maya Rudolph is a cast member of "Saturday Night Live". Here's a video clip of the late Minnie singing her #1 hit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJWJT_jJeag ...

Airing for the 1st time: 2004] Air America debuts on 5 stations (David Bernstein ex-WOR, WRKO programmer was just hired to program AA)...

Tejano tragedy: 1995] 23-year old Tejano singing idol Selena is shot to death by Yolanda Saldivar, president of Selena's fan club, outside a Corpus Christi motel room...

Musical leagues: 1998] On the same day that Arizona and Tampa Bay play their inaugural games, the Milwaukee Brewers switch leagues from the American to the National but they lose their NL debut, 2-1 to the Atlanta Braves...

Guilty as Charged: 1999] 4 NYPD officers are charged with murder for killing Amadou Diallo. The officers will be acquitted in 2000...

Programming Note...

Sunday's MPR will go out separately on Sunday...Stay tuned...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Rhea Perlman (59), Al Gore (59), Gabe Kaplan (62), Christopher Walken (64), Herb Alpert (72), Shirley Jones (73), Richard Chamberlain (73) and Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe (79)...

Timeline Countdown: The Final Four playoff game is tonight, 1 day until Opening Day, 2 days until NCAA championship game, 2 days until Passover and 9 days until Easter Sunday...
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Thursday, March 29, 2007

Thursday, March 29, 2007

National Radio Hall Of Fame 2007 Nominees Announced...

The Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago is mailing ballots by regular mail to radio executives, broadcast historians and NRHOF members in May with a voting deadline of August 1 for the class of 2007 candidates. On Saturday, November 3 ABC Radio will produce and distribute a one-hour broadcast that night. According to MBC President Bruce DuMont (what's a guy with a TV name doing as president of a radio museum?) says "the list of nominees includes immensely talented personalities who have entertained and informed radio audiences from New York to Fort Wayne to San Francisco"...

Here are the nominees:
Network Or Syndicated Contemporary
Art Bell (founder and longtime host of the paranormal-themed program "Coast to Coast AM"), Bob Kingsley (Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40), Marian McPartland (Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz) and Dr. Laura Schlessinger (no-nonsense cultural commentator)...

Network Or Syndicated Pioneer
Jimmy Durante, The Great Gildersleeve, Phil Harris and Alice Faye and Lum & Abner (no descriptives necessary, these are all old radio pioneers)...

Local or Regional Contemporary
Jerry Coleman (former Yankee infielder and long-time voice of the San Diego Padres), Bob Grant (controversial talk radio legend formerly with WABC and WOR), Ronn Owens (KGO San Francisco talker since 1975) and Donnie Simpson (The Donnie Simpson Morning Show on WPGC Washington, D.C. since 1993)...

Local Or Regional Pioneer
Bob Collins (the late WGN fixture for over 25 years), Dan Ingram (legendary WABC/WCBS-FM DJ), Bob Sievers (WOWO Ft. Wayne for almost 50 years) and Rufus Thomas (late R&B singer and DJ at WDIA Memphis)...

As with all Halls of Fame, it's impossible for those voting to be knowledgeable about more than a handful of the nominees. Of nominees on this list I have worked with and/or know or known 2 (Bob Collins and Dan Ingram), have met (how ever briefly) 2 more and listened to 3 others. I am familiar with 3 of the 4 pioneers for a grand total of 10 out of 16 nominees that I can offer judgement on, which is probably a higher percentage than most voters...

If you would like to vote for those you know, you don't have to be a radio executive to do so. Anyone wishing to vote can join the NRHOF online at http://www.radiohof.org/ for $15 a pop. Not so much and you get a vote...

My thanks to Mike McCann who now dabbles in sports as an anchor on WFAN but will always be a top 40 guy at heart, for bringing this item to my attention...

Speaking of radio pioneers, one of the video links is Jack Benny with wife Mary Livingstone and Don Wilson doing a radio show which can be found in the "You're on the air" timeline. There's another video link is in the "When you're hot you're hot" timeline...

Timeline Memories...
"Happy Trails": 1980] Musician Mantovani (Annunzio Paulo Mantovani) dies from natural causes at 74...1999] Singing great Joe Williams (Count Basie Band) collapses and dies after walking 3 miles from a Las Vegas hospital after being treated for a respiratory ailment. Williams was 80...2005] Attorney Johnnie Cochran dies from an inoperable brain tumor at 67...

"Under cover of the night": 1984] Robert Irsay moves the Colts from Baltimore to Indianapolis in the middle of the night like a common thief...

"Oh Canada", eh?: 1867] The British Parliament passes the North America Act creating the Dominion of Canada. Grab a stick and lace 'em up...

"You're on the air": 1932] Jack Benny makes his radio debut on NBC. Here's a clip of Jack doing his radio show before a live audience: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqUjciB0Q80 ...1941] WPAT (NJ) begins broadcasting with a Country format...

Being rational: 1943] WWII causes rationing of meat, butter and cheese in the U.S...

#1 on this date: 1957] "Party Doll" - Buddy Knox...1976] "Disco Lady" - Johnnie Taylor (the 1st single certified 'platinum' by the RIAA for sales of more than 2 million copies. In 1989, the platinum standard is halved to 1 million due to declining sales)...1987] "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" - Starship ...

Gold Standard: 1962] "Duke of Earl" - Gene Chandler...

"When You're Hot You're Hot": 1959] "Some Like It Hot" starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon premieres. Here's a clip of the train scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSqwNLGiLwA ...

"Lights, camera, action, bullets": 1971] "The Godfather" begins filming...

"Guilty as Charged": 1971] Lt. William Calley Jr. is found guilty of premeditated murder of at least 22 Vietnamese civilians and is sentenced to life in prison. Calley won a court case and was paroled. He now lives in Columbus (GA)...1971] A jury in L.A. recommends the death penalty for Charles Manson and 3 female followers for the 1969 Tate-Lo Bianca murders. His sentence has been commuted to life in prison...1974] 8 Ohio National Guardsmen are indicted on charges stemming from the shooting death of 4 students at Kent State in May of 1970. All the guardsmen are later acquitted...

"The cover of Rolling Stone": 1973] 12 days after "The Cover of Rolling Stone" peaks at #6, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show are on the cover of Rolling Stone...

Turn out the lights: 1973] The last U.S. troops leave South Vietnam...

"Who did I just throw the ball to?": 1982] Mistaking North Carolina's James Worthy as a teammate, Georgetown's Fred Brown passes Worthy the ball with 5 seconds left in the NCAA championship game. Worthy passes the ball to Michael Jordan who ices the game with a bucket for NC as Dean Smith gets his 1st national title with a 63-62 win over G'town (I was never more convinced that I just witnessed a fixed game in my life but no investigation...nothing. There is absolutely no way that Brown could even think that Worthy was a teammate and I did not have an interest in the game)...

Hello Oscar: 1989] "Rainman" yeah, definitely Rainman and Dustin Hoffman win Oscars. So does Jody Foster at the 61st Academy Awards...1993] "A Whole New World" from "Aladdin" wins an Academy Award for Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle...

Wedding Bells: 1997] Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna paso doble down the aisle...

Hazardous to health: 1990] Record companies agree to put warning labels on music product that contains potentially offensive lyrics. This campaign was about as effective as "Just say No" or "Don't ask, don't tell"...

Don't hold your breath: 1992] Democratic presidential front-runner Bill Clinton says "I didn't inhale and I didn't try it again" when asked about experimenting with marijuana. His nose then proceeds to grow extending that indentation at the tip about 4 feet...

[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

Commentary...

Larry King celebrates 50 years in broadcasting and the celebration begins April 16th with guests like Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric (who will interview the talk-show King), Anderson Cooper, Ryan Seacrest, Bill Clinton and Bill Maher...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Jennifer Capriati (31), Lucy Lawless (39), Elle Macpherson (43), Walt "Clyde" Frazier (63), Terry Jacks (63), Vangelis ('Chariots of Fire') (64), Eric ("Monty Python") Idle (64) and John McLaughlin (80)...

Timeline Countdown: 2 days until Final Four, 3 days until Opening Day, 4 days until the NCAA championship game, 4 days until Passover, 11 days until Easter Sunday...

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Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

The Good...The Bad...The Ugly of the Month...

The Good
Everson Walls donated a healthy kidney to former Dallas teammate Ron Springs, a truly heroic and beautiful thing for anyone to do, the Penguins are staying in Pittsburgh and getting a new arena, the Saints will be staying in New Orleans and George Steinbrenner picked up the funeral tab for those 9 (8 children) people who lost their lives in that terrible row house fire. All of these feats are worthy of our 'Good' award this month but I'm gonna go with what is transpiring at the NFL meetings in Phoenix and that's a better policing policy of the thugs that are giving the league a bad name, namely Adam Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson and others. Johnson is already serving a prison term so he's being taken care of by the real law but Pacman will have to answer to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a meeting on April 3. This is the new commissioner's chance to really make a mark on his era. Let's hope he takes advantage of it The 'Good' award of the month goes to: The NFL...

The Bad
There a few late items to add to the 'Bad' hopper this month: The son of N.C. State basketball coach Sidney Lowe faces more than 20 charges from armed robbery to drug possession in connection with 2 separate attacks in Greensboro (NC), police also filed 13 charges against him in connection with an earlier incident. Also in Carolina, Panthers reserve guard D'Anthony Batiste was d'arrested early Sunday for carrying a concealed weapon. Add to those incidents, Washington Wizards' Gilbert Arenas made bets with fans during a game in Portland, Tony LaRussa was arrested on a DUI and the Rangers' Colton Orr decked the Flyer's Todd Fedoruk in a game. Previous candidates include the Albany (NY) group of drug suppliers, Arizona coach Richie Anderson busted in a police prostitution ring and new Miami Dolphin Joey Porter clocking Bengal Levi Jones at a blackjack table. A tough choice but the 'Bad' award of the month goes to: Sidney R. Lowe Jr...

The Ugly
In Orlando, PGA tour player Arjun Atwal was estimated to be going 80 mph in a 45 mph zone just before a car speeding next to him flipped and killed its driver. Witnesses have said Atwal and John N. Park, who died, were street racing. No criminal charges have been filed and troopers say it will be another month before the investigation is complete. That's a candidate. Then there's Ron Artest who pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges from a domestic dispute with his wife earlier this month. He has been ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from his wife and kids TFN so maybe this nonsense will stop. Other candidates include Islander Chris Simon who gave the Rangers' Ryan Hollweg a two-handed slash with his stick to the neck and musher Ramy Brooks, disqualified from the Iditarod for abusing his dogs, one of which died but as long as there's an Adam 'Pacman' Jones, who's about to be suspended by the NFL around - case closed. For being questioned for 10 separate incidents (one a homicide) in one year, the 'Ugly' of the month and candidate for the yearly award is: Adam 'Pacman' Jones...

Video links are included in the "Recorded on this date" and "One-man highlight film" timelines...

Timeline Memories...

"Happy Trails": 1941] Novelist and critic Virginia Woolf drowns herself near her home in England at 59... 1969] Dwight D. Eisenhower, our 34th president, dies of heart failure at 78...1987] Maria von Trapp, whose life inspired "The Sound of Music", dies in Morrisville (VT) from heart failure. She was 82...

Life immitates Art: 1979] A nuclear meltdown starts at Three Mile Island 12 days after "The China Syndrome" premieres. The movie about a meltdown would be nominated for several Oscars...

"This is the way we wash our clothes": 1797] Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire patents a washing machine...

A spy in the making: 1922] Bradley A. Fiske patents a microfilm reading device...

Recorded on this date: 1958] "Summetime Blues" - Eddie Cochran. Here's a rare look at Eddie doing the song on TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97elblDi3tY ...1966] "Green Grass" - Gary Lewis & his Playboys...1967] "Brown Eyed Girl" - Van Morrison...

Released on this date: 1970] "Woodstock" - CSNY...

Record breaker: 1964] The Beatles break Elvis Presley's 7-year record for most hits on the Billboard charts at one time. In 1956 Elvis had 9 but on this date the Beatles scored with 10 until April 11th when they would have 14 posititions on the charts, an all-time record...

#1 on this date: 1968] "(Sittin' on) The Dock of The Bay" - Otis Redding (3 months after his death)...1971] "Just My Imagination" - Temptations...1986] "Rock Me Amadeus" - Falco...

What's in a name?: 1963] Sonny Werblin, no doubt inspired by nearby LaGuardia airport, changes the name of the New York Titans to the J-E-T-S Jets just before they move into Shea Stadium for the '64 season...

New Ironsides: 1967] Raymond Burr stars in the TV movie "Ironside" which will become a highly rated, long-running series...

The Streaker: 1974] A streaker runs onto the set of "The Tonight Show" starring Johnny Carson (but Ed McMahon is quickly subdued by NBC pages)...

Wedding Bells: 1979] Eric Clapton marries George Harrison's ex, Patti "Layla" Boyd as he starts the 1st leg of a tour. The marriage lasts 9 years...

"D-I-V-O-R-C-E": 1995] The bubble bursts for Lyle Lovett as Lyle and Julia Roberts announce their separation. They were married 21 months...

One-man highlight film: 1992] Christian Laettner of Duke hits a 17-foot turn-around jumper just before the buzzer, giving the Blue Devils a dramatic 104-103 win over Kentucky to win the NCAA East Regional title. 9 days later Duke becomes the 1st team in 19 years to repeat as national champions with a victory over Michigan. Relive that shot by clicking on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY-iq58_oz4 ...

Commentary...

Congratulations to the NFL rules committee for making instant replay permanent and kudos to Roger Goodell who has appointed Harold Henderson, former NFL player and currently in charge of labor for the league who will now oversee player benefits with particular interest in making things better for retired players...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Vince Vaughn (37), Reba McEntire (52), Dianne Wiest (59), Rick Barry (63), Ken Howard (63) and Charlie McCoy (66)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until the Final Four, 4 days until Opening Day, 5 days until the NCAA championship game, 5 days until Passover and 11 days until Easter Sunday...
...

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Share and share alike with no strings attached...

There's an interesting item circulating about a device that turns iPods into miniature radio stations by transmitting FM radio waves from a portable music player to any other specially equipped player within 15 feet. Will this revolutionize the electronic media? Probably not but it does make it more convenient to share music with your friends instead of sharing ear buds. Leave it to a 16-year old to come up with this gadget. San Francisco teenager Kristyn Heath is the inventor of NoeStringsAttached which transmits over 5 frequencies not frequently used by traditional broadcasters...

The idea for using FM frequencies to transmit the shared music was to keep costs down. Other inventors already hold patents on similar systems, MIT Media Lab Europe for one and there are others that transmit music via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. FM radio doesn't offer the same audio quality as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth but Heath believes people won't mind...

A NoeStringsAttached kit, powered by a single AAA battery and set of headphones cost $59.99 and can only be purchased through eBay. An updated version of the gadget should be in stores by Christmas. My thanks to MIT Technology Review and Radio Daily News for pointing me in the direction of this story...

As great an idea as this is I think Kristyn should consider a 6th FM frequency called "What's the frequency, Kenneth?" but that's just me...

Two video links to share with you today, in the "Where are the Weather Girls?" and "Recorded on this date" timelines...

Timelines Memories...

"Happy Trails": 2002] Dudley Moore dies at his New Jersey home of pneumonia, a complication of progressive supra nuclear palsy at 66...2002] "Mr. Television", the legendary Milton Berle dies from colon cancer at 93...

Out-Trumping Trump: 1513] Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon sights Florida (puts some money down on a condo on Collins Avenue and says "Trump that Trump")...

"In The Navy": 1794] President George Washington and Congress authorize creation of the U.S. Navy...

Screw it: 1860] The corkscrew is patented by M. L. Byrn who will test his product in pubs for the remainder of his life...

Long distance? Get me New York: 1884] The 1st long-distance call is made from Boston to New York in which 2 people argue the merits of each other's teams before a shouting match ensues and the word "suck" is heard often, followed by the slamming of the phone...

Five and alive and headed for heaven on the way to 7: 1971] The UCLA Bruins top Villanova 68-62 for the 5th national title in a row for the John Wooden-led Bruins who won't stop until they've won 7...

"My Sweet Lord": 1893] The Stanley Cup, a silver bowl costing its owner 10 guineas ($50 USD) is donated as an annual award for Canada's amateur hockey champions by Frederick Arthur Lord Stanley. The NHL takes possession of the cup in 1910 as the symbol of hockey supremacy...

The Ducks make a splash: 1932] The 1st NCAA championship game is won by Oregon 46-33 over Ohio State. The NCAA will dominate the NIT starting in the mid-50's...

Recorded on this date: 1967] "Groovin" - Young Rascals...1972] "Burning Love - Elvis Presley. In this video clip Elvis performs the song live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKQn1fUV0z0&mode=related&search= ...

Released on this date: 1981] "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" - AC/DC...1984] "Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper...

#1 on this date: 1974] "Sunshine on My Shoulders" - John Denver...1984] "Footloose" - Kenny Loggins...

Where are the Weather Girls?: 1952] "Singin' in The Rain" starring Gene Kelly opens at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan and here's a clip of the classic song from the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkEvy-9yVyQ ...

747 Tragedy: 1977] A KLM Boeing 747 attempting to take off, crashes into a Pan Am 747 on the Canary Island of Tenerife killing 582...

Have a Cigar: 1996] Cigar, the great American thoroughbred wins the 1st $4 million Dubai World Cup to collect racing's richest purse. It's the 14th straight win by the 6-year old bay...

The wrong guy?: 1997] Dexter King, son of Martin Luther King Jr. meets with James Earl Ray in prison and believes his father's alleged assassin had nothing to do with his shooting...

Father's little helper: 1998] The Food and Drug Administration approves the drug Viagra, made by Pfizer, to fight male impotence...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

Commentary...

Sad to report that the North Carolina basketball mascot didn't make it. 21-year old Jason Ray died yesterday morning after being struck by an SUV on Friday afternoon. Ray was here with the North Carolina Tarheels for their elite 8 game with Georgetown, which they lost. Jason was to graduate with a major in Business Administration and minor in religion in May. The NCAA is looking to do something in Ray's memory during the Final Four games this Saturday...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Fergie (32), Mariah Carey (37), Quentin Tarantino (44), Cale Yarborough (52), Maria Schneider (55) and Michael York (65)...

Timeline Countdown: 4 days until the Final Four, 5 days until Opening Day, 6 days until the NCAA championship game, 6 days until Passover and 12 days until Easter Sunday...
...

Monday, March 26, 2007

Monday, March 26, 2007

Wikipedia gets competition...

When I started this blog in 2005 I did what you probably do now and that's click on Wikipedia for any information you might be searching for. I started out by using various sources, bios for those I was writing about, newspaper articles and history sources for important dates and events and then...I found Wikipedia and my life changed. What a great source of information on anything or everything until lately. Wikipedia uses the honor system for information which can be contributed by anyone. Since we know there are a couple of dishonest people in this world and those who like to screw around with the establishment, a lot of the information culled from Wikipedia was questionable, requiring some double and triple checking (something that should be done routinely by the way) but we might be getting a more reliable source soon and it will be started by one of the co-founders of Wiki, Larry Sanger...

Sanger is starting Citizendium with more safeguards built in to prevent vandalism and erroneous information. It should be known that there are thousands of experts at both companies who provide accurate information but it's what happens to that information once it's posted. Citizendium contributors must confirm their identities and submit a short biography (hopefully an honest one) in order to provide information. Wiki does not require that now but with a competitor surfacing you know that Wikipedia will add safeguards and produce a more reliable product...

Wikipedia with 3 million member accounts was started 6 years ago. Citizendium is an experimental new Wiki project in its baby stages and is being officially launched this week. Sanger hopes "to be able to create a credible competitor for Wikipedia within not too many years" and eventually end up attracting more people than the information source he helped to found...

The Citizendium (sit-ih-ZEN-dee-um) is defined as a "citizens' compendium of everything." To view, click on: http://en.citizendium.org/ ...

There are 2 video links that can be found in the 'Popeye the Sailor Man' and 'Bed-in' timelines...

Timeline Memories...
"Happy Trails": 2003] Former New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan dies from complications suffered from an emergency appendectomy one month earlier. Moynihan was 77...

Roll 'em: 1885] Eastman Kodak (Eastman Dry Plate and Film Co.) produces the 1st commercial motion picture film in Rochester (NY)...

Popeye the Sailor Man: 1937] Crystal City (TX) unveils America's 1st Popeye monument. The 6-foot-tall, brightly colored concrete statue is unveiled in 'Popeye Park' during the city's 2nd annual Spinach Festival. Ready to sing along with 'Popeye the Sailor Man"? Here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B4w4lafinU ...

'Doctor Feelgood": 1953] Dr. Jonas Salk announces that he has successfully tested a vaccine against polio...

Another opening, another show: 1964] "Funny Girl" starring Barbra Streisand opens on Broadway...

Musical guitars: 1965] It's announced that Jeff Beck will replace Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds...

Bed-In: 1969] John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin their 'bed-in' for peace at the Amsterdam Hilton. In this preview of the bed-in, cartoonist Al Capp interviews the pair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra5_9GtX374&mode=related&search= ...

Woodstock on the big screen: 1970] The classic documentary "Woodstock", the 1969 concert premieres. The film will win an Oscar for "Best Documentary"...

But does he make house calls?: 1969] The TV movie "Marcus Welby" runs on ABC-TV and will later be made into a highly rated weekly series...

Bird vs. Magic: 1979] Michigan State contains Larry Bird of Indiana State with Magic Johnson outscoring him 24 to 19 and the Spartans win their 1st National Collegiate title 75-64...

Vietnam remembered: 1982] Ground breaking ceremonies are held in Washington (D.C.) for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial...

Where's the spaceship?: 1997] The bodies of 39 members of the "Heaven's Gate" cult who'd committed suicide are found in Rancho Santa Fe (CA)...

Guilty as Charged: 1999] Dr. Jack Kevorkian is convicted of second-degree murder for giving a lethal injection to an ailing man whose death was shown on "60 Minutes". After serving some time Kevorkian was released because of a terminal illness...

A real election in Russia?: 2000] Vladimir Putin is elected Russia's 2nd democratically chosen president...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

Commentary...

The sad case of 21-year old North Carolina Ramses mascot, Jason Ray has taken a turn for the worst. Ray was hit from behind by an SUV on Rte. 4 in Fort Lee (NJ) over the weekend and is on life support. Doctors hold out little hope for his recovery. In town for the NC elite 8 showdown in the Meadowlands, Ray was walking back to his hotel after picking up some food at a convenient store when struck. The driver immediately called 911 for help and Ray was rushed to a nearby hospital...

"Happy Trails" to Channel 11 longtime sportscaster, Jerry Girard who died from cancer yesterday afternoon at 74. Jerry had a wise-cracking personality but was very accurate with his information. He had been in New York starting as a news writer in the late 60's before moving into sports in 1974...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Keira Knightley (22), Kenny Chesney (39), Michael Imperioli (Chris on "Sopranos") (41), Jennifer Grey (47), new 'Dancing with The Stars' contestant Leeza Gibbons (50), Curtis Sliwa (53), Martin Short (57), Teddy Pendergrass (57), Vicki Lawrence (58), Steven Tyler (59), Diana Ross (63), Bob Woodward (64), James Caan (68), Fred Paris of The Five Satins (71), Alan Arkin (72), Leonard Nimoy (76) and retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (77)...

Timeline Countdown: 5 days until The Final Four, 6 days until Opening Day, 7 days until the NCAA Championship game, 7 days until Passover and 13 days until Easter Sunday...
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