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October 5, 1973 –The seventh studio album by Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, (a double LP,) was release on this date. Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics to this and most of Elton’s other songs. He often seems to write about Elton, but this one appears to be about himself. The lyrics are about givingContinue reading “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”

Belgium once tried using cats to deliver mail. In the 1870s, the town of Liège came up with the idea of employing 37 cats as their new mail couriers. The mail was loaded into waterproof bags that were tied around the kitties’ little collars and they were sent to their destination. However, this was quicklyContinue reading “There was also a spike in the criminal class of dogs”

October 5, 1969 – The British Empire had been on a long slow decline for many years. The last flourish of that dying world power happened on this date – Monty Python’s Flying Circus made its debut on BBC-TV. The phrase “And now for something completely different” was taken from a real phrase often usedContinue reading “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”

October 4, 1957 –Sputnik One (meaning “companion” or “fellow traveller“), the first man-made satellite, was launched on this date, beginning the “space race.” The satellite, built by Valentin Glushko, weighed 184 pounds and was launched by a converted Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). Sputnik orbited the earth every 96 minutes at a maximum height of 584Continue reading “… a firework, a rocket, a new invention”

Rutherford Hayes was born on this date, in Delaware, Ohio. That’s not especially interesting in itself. Presidents, after all, must be born somewhere – and President Hayes was not the only one to have chosen Ohio. But consider: Jimmy Carter was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, and Chester Arthur was born onContinue reading “Maybe today should be President’s Day”

October 4, 1964 –Gerry Anderson’s third Supermarionation could freak out unsuspecting children again when Stingray, premiered in the UK on this date. (It was the first British series to be filmed entirely in Colour: the extra U was particularly expensive.) The original red used on the uniforms had to be changed as it was comingContinue reading “Stingray”

St Francis of Assisi, (nee Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone,) was born the son of a rich silk merchant in Italy during the late 12th and 13th centuries. He is remembered for his generosity to the poor, love of animals and his willingness to minister to the lepers. He was fond of kissing leper’s soresContinue reading “We must be simple, humble and pure”

A man survived being hit by a car and thrown 118 feet. In 2001, paramedic Matthew McKnight of Fayette County was struck by a car doing 70 mph along Interstate 376 in Monroeville while he was trying to aid two accident victims was hit by a car travelling 70 miles per hour and was catapultedContinue reading “Kids, don’t try this at home”

October 3, 1942 –An A4-rocket (a modified V-2) developed under the direction of Werner von Braun “Good Nazi“, was successfully launched from the Test Stand VII in Peenemünde, Germany. The 13-ton, 46-foot long V2 rocket flies perfectly over the course of 118 miles to an altitude of 53 miles (85km). While it is generally seenContinue reading “How strange the coincidences in life are”

October 3, 1953 – The final installment of the Looney Tunes “Hunting Trilogy“, Duck! Rabbit, Duck!, premiered on this date. Bugs Bunny stuck out four signs to lead Elmer Fudd to shoot Daffy Duck. In order they are:1st GOAT SEASON OPEN;2nd, DIRTY SKUNK SEASON;3rd, PIGEON SEASON;4th and last, MONGOOSE SEASON.