Category Archives: Uncategorized

Badfinger were a British pop band signed to the Beatles’ label Apple. One of their best songs was Without You which appeared on their second album No Dice. It was released as a single on November 9, 1970. Paul McCartney once described the ballad as “the killer song of all time“. Harry Nilsson started aContinue reading “Sorry for the Earworm”

The Eighth day of the Lunar New Year is believed to be the birthday of millet, an important crop in ancient China. According to the folk proverbs, if this day is bright and clear, then this whole year will be a harvest year; however, if this day is cloudy or even rainy, then the wholeContinue reading “Hang on folks, we’re half way through”

Elm Farm Ollie (known as “Nellie Jay” and post-flight as “Sky Queen“) was the first cow to fly in an airplane, doing so on February 18, 1930, as part of the International Air Exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri. On the same trip, which covered 72 miles from Bismarck, Missouri, to St. Louis, she alsoContinue reading “Did your milk really need to be this fresh?”

Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s National Drink Wine Day every day in my home. Hey, I make wine disappear – What’s your superpower? While, I can’t find the basis for the holiday, I have my suspicions: George, the English Duke of Clarence, was convicted of treason against his brother King Edward IV and murdered inContinue reading “Another Red Letter Day”

The Seventh day of the Lunar New Year is commonly referred to as “Ren Ri” (the day of human), because according to the legend, Nu Wa (a Goddess in Chinese mythology who is believed to create the world and human beings) created human beings on the seventh day. Humans were made using mud, mixing yellowContinue reading “I was told there would be cake.”

Memento mori! – Today is Ash Wednesday, you’re not being helpful – please don’t try to wipe the the smudge mark off your friend’s forehead. (Anyway, did you find the plastic baby in the King Cake? ) So begins forty days (remember that the six Sundays between today and Easter don’t count as part ofContinue reading “Hominem te esse memento!”

Today is the Sixth day of Lunar New Year and the God of Poverty visits each household. According to the legend, the ghost of poverty is a son of Zhuan Xu (an emperor among the Three Emperor and Five Sovereigns in ancient China). He was short and weak, and liked wearing ragged clothes and eatingContinue reading “Clean up time”

It’s Mardi Gras! No one needs to disrobe, it’s much too cold, we’ve got plenty of beads, and all the parades have been cancelled due to Covid (unless you like to disrobe in public and then, it’s between you and your maker.) Today is also know as Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day, which heralds theContinue reading “Bon temps roulez, mes amis –”

February 16, 1899 –Félix François Faure, President of France and the owner of the most audacious mustache in the late 19th century, died suddenly from a massive heart attack in his private offices while in the act of some sort of sexual congress with the notable courtesan, Marguerite Steinheil on this date. Apparently when FaureContinue reading “A really big petite mort”

It’s the Fifth day of the Lunar New Year Many stores open on this day after the Lunar New Year holiday. Some store owners put a table in the front of company’s main entry. They prepare fruit, flower, candy, tea, candles and animal sacrifices on the table to worship the God of Wealth. Some evenContinue reading “all taboos are broken”