Author Archives: dcaligari

It’s National Daiquiri Day. It’s just about the middle of the summer, so it more than appropriate to celebrate (although it might have been fun to celebrate it on July 11 – see my note on sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia.)

July 18, 1980 –Closer, the second and final album from Joy Division, was released on this date, just two months after the suicide of founding member and singer Ian Curtis. Despite or perhaps because of the tragedy surrounding Joy Division, the band has had an indelible effect on the post-punk music scene, which later morphedContinue reading “Asylums with doors open wide”

July 18, 2008 –Universal Pictures finally released it much planned ABBA jukebox musical, Mamma Mia! starring Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgård, Meryl Streep and Julie Walters in the US on this date. Meryl Streep first saw the musical in October 2001 with her daughter Louisa, and her daughter’sContinue reading “I have a dream, a song to sing …”

July 18, 1986 –A Minnesota local news crew, KARE 11’s chopper pilot Max Messmer and photographer Tom Empey, captured unbelievable footage of a tornado moving through the Twin Cities area, on this date. The video, which was shown live during the 5 p.m. news, (which was the first time a tornado was broadcast live inContinue reading “One would have thought this happened earlier”

July 18, 1988 –People think I’m not polite. But, what I have to say to people seems so unnecessary. I can’t be forced. I’d rather just be what I feel. Even when I sing I try to imagine I’m all alone, there’s nobody out there listening. I play with the notes, with the feeling. EachContinue reading “Christa Päffgen”

July 18, 1939 –I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me. Hunter Stockton Thompson was born on this date. He was once considered, armed, and dangerous. Now he is no more than soot on the window sills of his and his neighbors homes. Dr. Thompson foundedContinue reading “Hunter S. Thompson”

Today is National Caviar Day. Although it is high in sodium and cholesterol, caviar is rich in calcium and phosphorus, as well as protein, selenium, iron, magnesium, and Vitamins B12 and B6. While it’s normal to wash down the briny fish roe with champagne or iced vodka; why not down shots of iced Bombay Sapphire.Continue reading “Never spread it about like marmalade”

July 17, 1959 –In this country, don’t forget, a habit is no damn private hell. There’s no solitary confinement outside of jail. A habit is hell for those you love. And in this country it’s the worst kind of hell for those who love you. Billie Holiday died in a New York City hospital fromContinue reading “Eleanora Fagan died”

July 17, 1968 –The premiere of the drug-induced, Big Blue Meanie-infested cartoon Beatles film Yellow Submarine, was held at the London Pavilion on this date. The Beatles hated The Beatles, the television cartoon show of them, which was also produced by Al Brodax and George Dunning. When the producers approached them about this movie, theContinue reading “It lay or lie … I’m not too sure”

July 17, 1947 – Jackie Robinson was playing his historic first season with the Dodgers, the Yankees finally lost after 19 straight victories and Perry Como topped the Billboard charts with Chi-Baba,Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go to Sleep) and Jack Kerouac began his On the Road trip, on this date. He left his mother’s apartment inContinue reading “Every novel starts with an origin story”