What do John Lennon, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, former presidents Reagan and Carter and former Arizona Governor Fife Symington have in common? Correct. All of the above have seen UFOs. The credibility of the first four names pretty much stand up especially if the former Beatle was drug free at the time. As far as the former Arizona Governor, I question whether someone named Fife could pass a credibility test. Is he wife's name 'Drum' and are his kids named 'Bugle' and 'Corps'???
It was Dennis Kucinich, now a presidential candidate who mentioned seeing a UFO during one of the Democrats debates recently that has revived a movement that started in the 40s. In 1947 the Air Force started their Project Blue Book, investigating over 12,000 UFO reports from '47 to 1969. Investigators concluded that the incidents posed no threat and there was no evidence of space aliens or a super technology in operation. This past Monday, an international panel of two dozen former pilots and government officials called on the U.S. government to reopen its 60-year old investigation given continuing reports about flying discs, glowing spheres and other strange sightings...
Here's the statement issued by the Air Force on their website in answer to that panel of pilots: "Since the termination of Project Blue Book, nothing has occurred that would support a resumption of UFO investigations." What's the Air Force afraid of? There are dumber things that money is wasted on than finding out what UFOs really are. UFOs or "unidentified flying objects" exist. There are tons of people who've seen them. Fifty years ago, even Buchanan and Goodman knew they existed: http://youtube.com/watch?v=KRt2l3yKh1M ...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1832] Ding Ding Ding goes the trolley: The first streetcar goes into service in New York. It was horse-drawn with room for 30 and the fare was 12 cents. It ran on 4th Avenue (no longer in existence) between Prince and 14th Streets in Manhattan. Here's what the Brooklyn streetcars looked like in Brooklyn in the 30s: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0Gmxm_xboqk ...
- 1889] Whoa Nellie: New York World reporter Nellie Bly a.k.a. Elizabeth Cochrane begins an attempt to surpass the fictitious journey of Jules Verne's Phineas Fogg by traveling around the world in less than 80 days. Bly does it in 72 days, 6 hours and 11 minutes in January and records a new song called "Around the World in 72 days, 6 hours and 11 minutes"...
- 1943] The Maestro: 25-year old Leonard Bernstein makes his debut with the New York Philharmonic, filling in for an ailing Bruno Walter prior to a nationally broadcast concert...
- 1961] Premiered on this date: : "Blue Hawaii" starring Elvis Presley. Here's a trailer of the movie: http://youtube.com/watch?v=wV2AoExmPGA ...
- 1972] Wedding Bells: Britain's Princess Anne marries commoner Capt. Mark Phillips at Westminster Abbey. They divorce in 1992 and the Princess will re-marry...1996] Michael Jackson and mother-for-hire Deborah Rowe make it official...1998] Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman marry but there's some debate over who wore the bridal gown. The marriage ends in 9 days. So what took so long???
- 1986] A fine day: A record $100 million penalty is imposed on Ivan F. Boesky for insider trading. How exactly do you pay that off???
- 1986] Keeping it in the family: The Doubleday Publishing Company agrees to sell the Mets to Nelson Doubleday & Fred Wilpon for $80.7 million. The company had purchased the World Champions for a then-record $21.1 million in 1980. Citibank will be paying the Mets $20 million a year for 20 years for naming rights to Citi Field which will open in 2009 at the site of Shea Stadium which will turn into a parking lot...
- 1990] More than we need to know: The Who's Pete Townshend tells us just a bit too much information, confessing his bisexuality to Newsweek...
- 1993] The Dolphin swallows the Bear: Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula passes Papa Bear, George Hallas as the winningest coach in NFL history when Miami beats Philadelphia 19-14. It's Shula's 325th victory as a coach. His final coaching career stats are: 347-173-6...
- 1999] Afghanisanctions: The U.N. imposes sanctions on Afghanistan for refusing to hand over terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden. A lotta help that was...
Music Memories:
- 1961] Number One on this date: "Georgia on my Mind" - Ray Charles... 1972] "I Can See Clearly Now" - Johnny Nash, seen here on "The Midnight Special" in 1973: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NkwJ-g0iJ6w ...1982] "Up Where We Belong" - Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes (the song wins an Academy Award for "An Officer and a Gentleman")...
- 1970] Released on this date: "Black Magic Woman" - Santana...
- 1981] "Roo-mania": Four of the top 10 singles are done by Australian artists: Olivia Newton-John is #3 with "Physical", the Little River Band, Air Supply and Rick Springfield share the rest of the top 10...
- 1987] Reunited and it feels so good: Sonny & Cher reunite to sing "I Got You Babe" on the David Letterman Show and here's the historic clip: http://youtube.com/watch?v=GGdLYdkRoAg ...
Commentary:
Dickie Goodman of Buchanan & Goodman was a real character who would still be doing song parodies if he were alive today. He reminded me of a cross between Danny Bonaduce and Marty Ingalls, personality-wise. He was a typical New Yorker with boundless energy. He was influenced by Stan Freberg and practiced the same craft, producing and starring in his song parodies. Some of Buchanan & Goodman's hits beside "The Flying Saucer" include: "Buchanan & Goodman On Trial", "The Banana Boat Story", "Flying Saucer The 2nd", "Santa And The Satellite", "The Touchables", "Mr. Jaws". There were about 30 in-all. Dickie was sued many times over his use of song snippets without permission of the publishers but most were settled out-of-court. Dickie died of a self-inflicted gunshot in 1989 but son Jon Goodman carries on, promoting and administering his father's works. In 2006, Dickie's estate produced and authorized two albums: "All Time Novelty Hits" and "Dickie Goodman's Greatest Hits"...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Josh Duhamel (35), Curt Schilling (41), Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (53), Yanni (53), Stephen Bishop (56), remember his hit, "On and On"?: http://youtube.com/watch?v=nKyU89WqoNI , Britain's Prince Charles (59), Buckwheat Zydeco a.k.a. Stanley Dural Jr. (60) and Jimmy Piersall (78)...
Timeline Countdown: 8 days until Thanksiving, 20 days until Hanukah, 37 days until winter and 40 shopping days until Christmas...
