Author Archives: dcaligari

The ‘supposed‘ charity event – the 12th annual Santa-con in NYC today. (It may be the 16th one, but who cares, I don’t.) The amateur drinkers (in various states of holiday undress) are once again back in Manhattan this year: they will be in Midtown and Lower Manhattan, stating at 10 AM. I can takeContinue reading “Don’t let you kids talk to the roving Santas today”

Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we’re being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I’m liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That’s what’s insane about it. There is a better way to remember John Lennon on this sad anniversary Beatles Christmas Mash-upContinue reading “The Beatles will exist without us.”

It’s the second night of Hanukkah. (It’s an excuse to eat donuts all day long.) Gather your family around and listen to some more Hanukkah songs – The Chanukah Song Part 2 Adam Sandler – Hanukkah Dance Woody Guthrie – Dreidel Don McClean – Happy Hanukkah Walk off the Earth (Ft. Scott Helman) – ‘TwasContinue reading “Sufganyiots are Homer Simpson approved”

I am going to send you directly to the group of old ladies in church, saying the rosaries on a Thursday afternoon in the back row of your church to explain this one to you: December 8, 1854 –Pius IX promulgates the doctrine of Immaculate Conception (Ineffabilis Deus) – the Virgin Mary is free fromContinue reading “This all somehow makes sense”

It’s apparently National Brownie day today, as opposed to ‘Send Kevin the loose bills in your pocket day.’ According to several sources, Brownies seem to have made their first appearance at the Parker House Hotel in Chicago in 1893 celebrating the Columbian Exposition World’s Fair in Chicago, (you may find their original recipe for theContinue reading “Life is short, eat brownies”

December 8, 1980 – John Lennon was shot by a lunatic, Mark David Chapman, outside Lennon’s apartment in New York City mere hours after receiving the Beatle’s autograph. Chapman was carrying around his dog eared copy of Catcher in the Rye. For those of you who remember the book, I leave it to you toContinue reading “A terrible anniversary”

December 8, 1976 –Asylum release the fifth studio album of the Eagles, Hotel California, on this date. Hotel California would go on to sell 16 million copies in the U.S. and double that figure worldwide.

December 8, 2000 –Ang Lee’s visually stunning martial arts film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, starring Yun-Fat Chow, Michelle Yeoh, and Ziyi Zhang opened in limited release in the US on this date. Director Ang Lee described the film as “a dream of China…that probably never existed.”

December 8, 1957 – The CBS series, The Seven Living Arts aired, The Sound of Jazz, live from their NYC studios: an all-star program featuring swing era and contemporary jazz artists, including Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Lester Young, Gerry Mulligan, and many others, on this date. The show’s performance of Fine and Mellow reunited BillieContinue reading “The Sound of Jazz premiered”

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah – You add the candles from right to left but light them left to right. So, let the serious eating commence. Original Hanukkah Song Adam Sandler – Era-lution of Taylor Swift – (Chanukah’s version) Six13 – Chanukah Upmix   DJ Farbreng – Mi Y’malel (Who Can Retell?)   Continue reading “The dreidel game is strangely addictive.”