Author Archives: dcaligari

La Tomatina tomato fight in Buñol near Valencia happens every year on the last Wednesday in August though the partying starts earlier in the week. The highlight of the festival is the tomato fight which takes place between 11am and 1pm on that day. Thousands upon thousands of people make their way from all cornersContinue reading “You say tomato, I say Food Fight”

August 31, 1987 –Epic/CBS Records released the Michael Jackson album, Bad on this date. A nearly 18 minute video of the title song, written by novelist and screenwriter Richard Price and directed by Martin Scorsese, debuted on CBS-TV on this same day, as well.

August 30, 1959 –Bobby Darin’s jazzy interpretation of Mack The Knife began its 26-week stay on the pop-singles charts. The original German version of this song is called Theme from The Threepenny Opera, or Moritat, which is the German word for Murder Ballad. The lyrics have been translated in various ways on different versions, butContinue reading “Mack the Knife Topped the Billboard Charts”

August 30, 1983 –The first black astronaut, Guion S. Bluford Jr., a US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, flew on the third mission of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Bluford had entered the US Astronaut program in 1979; this was his first mission. This was also the first mission to launch and land at night. And soContinue reading “Guion S. Bluford Jr. heads to Space”

Today is National Toasted Marshmallow Day Why wasn’t it celebrated on August 10th, National S’mores Day

August 30, 1963 –Almost a year after the world barely averted World War III during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Hotline between the Pentagon and the Kremlin went live, on this date. The system consists of two teletype machines, with a full-time communications link routed through London, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Helsinki.

August 30, 1993 –Moving himself and his gang of cohorts from NBC-TV, The Late Show with David Letterman premiered on CBS-TV, on this date. NBC claimed “intellectual property rights” on many of Letterman’s famous running gags and characters from his original show. As a result, the character of Larry Bud Melman was retired (though theContinue reading “The Late Show with David Letterman premiered”

August 29, 1949 –The Soviet Union joined the nuclear club on this date when they detonated a nuclear weapon, code-named First Lightning (Pervaya Molniya) at a test site in Kazakhstan. American experts were shocked and dismayed because they had thought the Soviets were still years away from having a workable bomb. The resultant fear helpedContinue reading “USSR first nuclear test”

August 29, 1896 –Here is one of those bright dividing lines: if you know what Chop Suey is – you’re old. If you’ve tasted Chop Suey – you’re really old. The Chinese-American dish Chop Suey was invented in New York City by the chef to visiting Chinese Ambassador Li Hung-chang on this date. And soContinue reading “Chop Suey”

August 29, 1966 –The Beatles performed their last concert before paying fans at in San Francisco’s Candlestick Park on this date. The performance marked the end of a four-year period dominated by touring and concerts including nearly 60 U.S. appearances and over 1400 internationally. Demand Euphoria!