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September 1, 1939 –Germany, itching to start their Second World War Tour (the Foreign Minister of Germany, Joachim von Ribbentrop was seen running around Europe in the Tour T-Shirt, months earlier,) kicked it off at 5:30 AM on this date. Hitler was so happy that day, he orders extermination of the mentally ill in GermanyContinue reading “World War II starts”

September 1, 1914 –The last passenger pigeon, a female named Martha, died in captivity in the Cincinnati Zoo on this date. There are various reasons for the extinction of the passenger pigeon – the main one unfortunately was they tasted so damn good broasted. Her body was frozen into a block of ice and sentContinue reading “Goodbye Martha”

September 1, 1923 –The worst earthquake in Japan’s history hit the Kanto Plain between Tokyo and Yokohama with a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter scale. The earthquake and subsequent fires killed nearly 140,000 people and destroyed most of both cities. The fires started because the earthquake occurred at noon, when charcoal cooking stoves wereContinue reading “A Major Earthquake occurred in Japan”

September 1, 1972 –David Bowie released John, I’m only Dancing in the U.K. on this date. This was the follow-up single to Bowie’s British breakthrough Starman. He’d previously charted with Space Oddity back in 1969, but had been unable to follow it up.

September is the ninth month of the year, which is why its name is derived from the Latin Septem, meaning seven. (We have previously addressed this problem last month; see August, the Sixth Month.) On the French Revolutionary calendar, September is known as Vendémiaire (vintage,) and in Dutch, September is “the begining of autumn“, Hertmaand.Continue reading “Keep calm and welcome September.”

September 1, 1902 –Le Voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon), written and directed by Georges Méliès, assisted by his brother Gaston, considered to be the first science fiction movie, was released on this date. After finishing work on the film, Georges Méliès intended to release it in America and thereby make lotsContinue reading “A Trip to the Moon premiered”

August 31, 1950 –A mouse flew on a US V-2 rocket from New Mexico, USA on on this date, reaching an altitude of 137 km (85 miles). It was the first mouse in space. Unfortunately the rocket disintegrated because the parachute system failed. But what the hell do you care. And so it goes

August 31, 1422 –Henry V of England, one of the great warrior kings of the Middle Ages, died suddenly of dysentery on this date. He was 34 at the time. At the time of his death, Henry had not only consolidated power as the King of England but had also effectively accomplished what generations ofContinue reading “Good hygiene saves lives”

August 31, 1997 –On August 28, 1997, Mrs. Dr. Caligari and I were coming out of the revolving doors at the Ritz Hotel in Paris and a very famous couple were coming in. A few days later on this date, a charming, slightly addled, beautiful divorcee with two children decides to take a car rideContinue reading “Diana Spencer”

August 31, 1976 –George Harrison was found guilty of unintentionally plagiarizing My Sweet Lord from the Chiffons song He’s So Fine. Just in case you didn’t hear it Those damn Beatles could never come up with an original tune. And so it goes