Author Archives: dcaligari

Don’t lick the Christmas lights! The lighting of candles and decorating with candles has always been popular, but also one of biggest sources of danger during the Christmas holidays. In 1895 a New England Telephone employee, Ralph Morris, while looking at the newly installed string of lights made for the telephone switchboard decided to takeContinue reading “A message from corporate headquarters”

December 9, 1947 –An oft forgotten holiday classic, The Bishop’s Wife, starring Cary Grant, David Nivens, and Loretta Young premiered in NYC on this date. The film suffered at the box offices and endured several last minute re-writes. In some areas of the country the film was perceived as being “too religious” and was retitledContinue reading “The Bishop’s Wife premiered”

December 9, 1989 –Billy Joel’s history lesson, We Didn’t Start the Fire hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts on this date. Joel wrote the lyrics first, which he rarely does. He says that is why the song has no melody. Joel told Billboard magazine: “It’s terrible musically. It’s like a mosquito buzzing around yourContinue reading “Somebody started that damn fire”

December 9, 1965 –A pre-teen drama about the bi-polar kid and his wacky friends first experiences of the depressive nature of the holiday season premiered on this date – A Charlie Brown Christmas broke many of the rules prevalent for animated holiday specials during the 1960s: it didn’t make use of a laugh track; realContinue reading “Someone told us the true meaning of Christmas on TV for the first time”

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”