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Bananas are curved because they grow towards the sun. Bananas go through a process called “negative geotropism.” Instead of growing towards the ground, they start growing towards the sun. The fruit grows against gravity, which gives the banana its familiar curved shape.

January 23, 1978 –Terry Kath of band Chicago accidentally killed himself on this date while pretending to play Russian Roulette in Woodland Hills. Kaith’s last words were ‘Don’t worry, it’s not loaded.‘ The circumstances of his death gave him the dubious distinction of being one of the first celebrities to be nominated for a DarwinContinue reading “Terry Kath”

Today is the birthday of Grand Duke Ivan III of Moscow, better known as Ivan the Great. He was born in 1440 and became Grand Duke of Moscow in 1462. Although Moscow was a lot of fun, it was not yet Russia. Ivan was determined to remedy that shortcoming as quickly as possible: he hadContinue reading “Ivan the Great”

January 22, 1989 –Metallica’s first music video, for their single, One, makes its debut on this date. The video incorporates footage from the 1971 anti-war film Johnny Got His Gun. Metallica performed this song at the Grammy awards in 1989. This was the first year a Grammy was awarded for Hard Rock/Metal Performance, and theContinue reading “One”

January 22, 1997 –Lottie Williams became the first—and, so far, only— human ever reported to be hit by human-made space debris (also known as “space junk”) on this date. Williams was jogging in a park near her Oklahoma home very early in the morning, and she saw a brilliant fireball-type meteor. She felt a “gentleContinue reading “While strolling through the park one day …”

January 21, 1968 –A B-52 bomber crashes near Thule Air Base, contaminated the area after its nuclear payload ruptured on this date. One of the four bombs remains unaccounted for after the cleanup operation was completed. If you have the bomb, the US government would be happy to take it off your hands – noContinue reading “A brief request from your government”

To A City-Park Squirrel Dear little exile from woodlands dear,How can you keep your wilderness grace,How can you bound so merrily here,Shut in this narrow and formal place? Still your fancies are forest-free,Still as gallant you swing and glideFrom dusty tree to skeleton treeAs once you roamed through the woodlands wide. Surely you must, onContinue reading “Another made up celebration”

January 21, 1957 –Patsy Cline sang Walking After Midnight on Arthur Godfrey’s nighttime television show, quickly launching her career on this date. The song became a crossover hit, charting at #2 Country and #12 Pop, and established Cline as a Country singer capable of mainstream success. Mr. Godfrey did not fire her after her performance.

Let us opine upon one of my favorite occupants of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (whom I mercilessly rib.) January 20, 1949 –President Harry S. Truman’s took the oath of office for the second time (the first time in which he is elected to the office,) on this date. It is the first to be televised. EightContinue reading “Harry S. Truman first ‘actual’ inauguration”

Today is the Feast day of St. Sebastian, patron saint of soldiers, plague-stricken, archers, Christian martyrs, athletes, (and homosexual icon – the saint is always depicted as a strapping youth, nude, save a haphazardly placed loin cloth, bound to the post, muscles, straining. Pierced by several arrows, still smiling – but we shan’t discuss thatContinue reading “We should not grudge our toil”