Author Archives: dcaligari

July 4, 1826 –Frienemies Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both lay dying in there respective homes on this date. Jefferson, the nation’s third president, deeply in debt at age 83, died at one o’clock in the afternoon and correctly surmised that Adams had outlived him. John Adams, the second president died at age 90 inContinue reading “Sometimes it’s not great to be president”

July 4, 1776 –The Continental Congress approved adoption of the amended Declaration of Independence, prepared by Thomas Jefferson and signed by John Hancock – President of the Continental Congress – and Charles Thomson, Congress secretary (among others,) without dissent. However, the New York delegation abstained as directed by the New York Provisional Congress. The UnitedContinue reading “Happy Fourth of July”

July 4, 1966 –The Beatles played two shows at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manila, in the Philippines to over 80,000 fans, on this date. The Beatles did not appear at a palace reception hosted by President Marcos‘ family, who were not informed that the Beatles had previously declined their invitation. The Philippine media misrepresent thisContinue reading “A Hard Day’s Night in Manila”

Surprisingly, once again, Mrs. Dr. Caligari and I are not laying on a beach with our mispukah. (We are actually in the mountains with them.) (We are not indulging in too many samples at the Brotherhood Winery, but we are hoping to throw the surveillance team tailing us off our trail.) Please remember – AlcoholContinue reading “The only time we should be celebrating sedition in the U.S.”

On July 3, 1969, Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones drowned in his own swimming pool on this date. Although he was the first Rolling Stone to do so, Mr Jones is just one of millions of people to have drowned in their own swimming pools. As a public service I have therefore chosen toContinue reading “An important ACME PSA”

Siriusly – The Dog Days of Summer begin today. (That’s an inside joke for astronomers.) The following is provided for the benefit of non-astronomers. Sirius is the name of the brightest star in the night-time sky (the brightest star in the day-time sky is called “the sun“), and it’s known as the dog star becauseContinue reading “Florence, in case you didn’t know, they start today”

July 3, 1973 –At the Hammersmith Odeon in London, after 182 Ziggy Stardust concert performances, David Bowie appears as Ziggy Stardust for the last time, explaining: “Not only is this the last show of the tour, but it’s the last show that we’ll ever do.“ Many take this to mean Bowie was retiring from musicContinue reading “A Rock’N Roll Suicide”

July 3, 1940 –(More things you were never taught)Following the German invasion and occupation of France, French warships fled to the port of Mers-el-Kebir in Algeria. Britain gave the french Vichy government the options of the following for it’s French Navy: Join British naval forces in the fight against Germany. Hand the ships over toContinue reading “Basically your teachers fed you pablum”

It’s National Fried Clam Day today. Unlike most of these so called ‘holidays’, this one is actually based on an event. The story goes that Lawrence “Chubby” Woodman of Essex, Massachusetts was the first person to make deep fried clams, in 1916. As one if Woodman’s specialties was making potato chips, he already had theContinue reading “Happy National Fried Clam Day”

July 2, 1959 –Ed Wood’s greatest opus (not counting Glen or Glenda), Plan 9 from Outer Space, opened on this date. Bela Lugosi appears in footage shot just before his death, but with no script in mind. Edward D. Wood Jr. wrote the script to accommodate all the footage shot in a cemetery and outsideContinue reading “Plan 9 from Outer Space opened”