Author Archives: dcaligari

April 12, 1974 –Elton John song Bennie and the Jets (Penny on the desk) hit No. #1 in the US on this date. Elton wrote the music to this song as an homage to glam rock, a style defined by outrageous costumes that was popular in the early ‘70s, especially in the UK. Artists likeContinue reading “It must be a lucky day for Elton”

April 11, 1954 –According to a team of Cambridge University scientists, this date in history was the most boring day during the entire 20th Century. It appears to have been so boring that it had to be named National Cheese Fondue Day (and 8-track Tape Day) just so those people living through it didn’t killContinue reading “The Most Boring Day”

April 11, 1905 –A simple patent clerk, Albert Einstein, known mostly for looking at the town clock or passing trains, produces a not so simple paper discussing the Theory of Relativity which among other things postulates that E=MC². This astonished the world because previously E had always equated the fifth letter of the alphabet. AndContinue reading “Theory of Relativity”

April 11, 1973 –In one of the show’s most memorable moments, Stevie Wonder plays a funky, live version of Superstition on Sesame Street, on this date. The song was originally intended for Jeff Beck, who was brought in to play some guitar parts on the album in exchange for a song. At one of theContinue reading “Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street”

Happy Palm Sunday The name Palm Sunday comes from the tradition for worshippers being given palm fronds which they use to participate in the reenactment of Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem. As always, we here at ACME wish to quote that great theologian, my mother, during this holiday season: “I swear to God if you kidsContinue reading “Next years ashes that will be on your forehead are created from the burnt palms of today’s Palm Sunday.”

Today is National Gin and Tonic Day Once again I will remind you gentle readers that I am not a spokesperson for Bombay Sapphire (yet), I find it is a waste to use it, given it’s delicate botanicals in a G and T; but hey, what do I know. International Gin and Tonic Day, forContinue reading “No one is as happy as we are tonight!”

April 9, 1974 – It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!, the 12th prime-time animated Peanuts TV special debuted on CBS on this date. When the Peanuts characters arrive at the mall at Easter time, the mall is decorated for the December holiday season with banners that proclaim: Only 246 shopping days until Christmas.

April 9, 1928 –… It is sobering to consider that when Mozart was my age he had already been dead for a year. Tom Lehrer, singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, and mathematician,was born on this date. (Lehrer entered Harvard at age 15, having skipped several grades. Everyone applying for admission to Harvard was required to include anContinue reading “Thomas Andrew Lehrer”

April 8, 1973 –…Drink to me, drink to my health, you know I can’t drink any more…. Pablo Ruiz Picasso, one of the most recognized figures in twentieth-century art, he is best known for co-founding the Cubist movement, the wide variety of styles embodied in his work and sleeping with almost anything that moved, diedContinue reading “Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso”

April 8, 1979 – The 204th and final episode of All in the Family, Too Good Edith, aired on this date. The series would come back in the fall in the less successful offering, Archie’s Place.