Author Archives: dcaligari

February 3, 1995 –Astronaut Eileen Collins became the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle as mission STS-63 is launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. STS-63 was the second mission of the US/Russian Shuttle-Mir Program, which carried out the first rendezvous of the American Space Shuttle with Russia’s space station Mir. In July 1999,Continue reading “Eileen Collins ride to the stars”

Today is the 13th day of the Lunar New Year. All of the festival food should probably be done by now. Most people just want to eat something simple on this day. Some people eat vegetarian foods to cleanse their digestive system (remember yesterday was Diarrhea Day.) This day is dedicated to the General GuanContinue reading “It’s lucky 13”

February 3, 1959 –The Day the Music Died: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper were on a tour called “Winter Dance Party” tour. The musicians were traveling from venue to venue on tour buses. A small plane carrying The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson), Buddy Holly and Richie Valens crashed near Mason City, Iowa,Continue reading “Did you write the book of love?”

February 3, 1882 – P.T. Barnum purchased the elephant Jumbo on this date. He kept him for three years until the animal’s skull was crushed by a train. After his death, Jumbo’s skeleton was donated to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The elephant’s heart was sold to Cornell University. Jumbo’sContinue reading “Maybe he should have stayed at the Zoo”

February 3, 1978 –The TV-movie Dead Man’s Curve, the first to deal with the tragic Jan & Dean story, premieres on ABC-TV on this date. Wolfmand Jack, Dick Clark, and Beach Boys Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, appear in the movie. In the film, Wolfman Jack introduces himself to Jan and Dean in a smallContinue reading “Dead Man’s Curve premiered”

February 3, 1945 – Walt Disney’s The Three Caballeros, premiered in the US, on the date. The premise of the film is that it is Donald Duck’s birthday and his friends give him a tour of Latin America as a gift. The date of the birthday is given as “Friday 13th” with no month specified.Continue reading “The Three Caballeros premiered”

Groundhog Day, February 2nd, is a popular tradition in the United States. It is also a legend that traverses centuries, its origins clouded in the mists of time with ethnic cultures and animals awakening on specific dates. Myths such as this tie our present to the distant past when nature did, indeed, influence our lives.Continue reading “Happy Marmot Day!”

February 2, 1913 –The new Beaux-Arts style Grand Central Terminal in New York City opened on this date. The cost to construct Grand Central Terminal was a staggering $43 million. The price was offset by the sale of “air rights” over the enclosed facility. Many majestic buildings were constructed including the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. ForContinue reading “The third iteration of GCT opened”

Today is the 12th day of the Lunar New Year. Technically, the Spring Festival is 15 days, but celebrations start on New Year’s eve making it 16. However, you can also say that the holiday season starts in lunar December with the Laba Festival (December 30,) making it 34 days of celebration. Since the LunarContinue reading “Perhaps just a little tea and toast this morning”

February 2, 1950 –Produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, the TV game show What’s My Line, debuted on CBS TV on this date. Although there are those who suspect John Daly was sending the panel signals, Moderator Daly insisted that there is only one signal he ever gave to the panel: When he pulledContinue reading “What’s My Line premiered”