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On July 3, 1969, Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones drowned in his own swimming pool on this date. Although he was the first Rolling Stone to do so, Mr Jones is just one of millions of people to have drowned in their own swimming pools. As a public service I have therefore chosen toContinue reading “Today in Rock History”

The Dog Days of Summer begin today. The following is provided for the benefit of non-astronomers. Sirius is the name of the brightest star in the night-time sky (the brightest star in the day-time sky is called “the sun“), and it’s known as the dog star because it’s located in the constellation Canis Major –Continue reading “Siriusly –”

One day in the second half of the ninth century, a poor young woman on her way to the market dropped her basket of eggs, breaking all of them. The young woman knelt on the ground beside the fallen basket and began to weep. The local bishop had been out for his morning stroll andContinue reading “Just another day in Medieval England”

July 2, 1971 –Gordon Parks’ classic crime-drama Shaft, starring Richard Roundtree, premiered on this date. Much of the action centers around 125th Street in Harlem. The exterior of Shaft’s apartment was at 55 Jane Street, in Greenwich Village, across the street from the (real) No Name Bar at 621 Hudson Street. The bar later becameContinue reading “Who’s the cat that won’t cop out when there’s danger all about?”

According to the Gregorian calendar, July is the seventh month. On the Roman calendar, it was the fifth month and it was called ‘Quintilis‘, meaning ‘fifth‘. Julius Caesar gave the month 31 days in 46 B.C. Being a dictator he could. Luckily for us he didn’t authorize the constant changing of underpants or most ofContinue reading “Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.”

July 1, 1956 –TV critic John Crosby panned the following performer’s performance, calling it an ‘unspeakable, untalented and vulgar young entertainer.’ Elvis Presley appeared on NBC-TV’s The Steve Allen Show and performed Hound Dog, to a live Hound Dog.

As always, your friends from the ACME Corp would like to salute our friends in Canada on Canada Day. Canada is the second-largest nation in the world. It is not part of the United States – (it’s the U.S.‘ nicer sister, not dissing Mexico, the U.S.’ feistier sister.) A little jewel sitting at the topContinue reading “Toques off to our neighbor in the North!”

June 30, 1987 –The Royal Canadian Mint introduced the $1 coin, affectionately known as the Loonie, on this date. It bears images of a common loon, a bird which is common and well known in Canada, on the reverse, and of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. It is produced by the Royal Canadian MintContinue reading “Tomorrow is Canada Day”

June 30, 1989 –One of Spike Lee’s big early films, Do The Right Thing, went into limited release in the US on this date. The key scene when Danny Aiello and John Turturro talk alone, approximately midway through the film, was partly improvised. The scripted scene ended as the character Smiley approached the window. EverythingContinue reading “Waaaake upl Wake up! Wake upl Wake upl”

June 29, 1988 –The John Landis blockbuster film, Coming To America, starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, John Amos and a plethora of stars in funny cameo roles, opened on this date. After the make-up and clothing was applied for the Jewish character Saul, Eddie Murphy wanted to test the make-up and costumeContinue reading “Wipers!”