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The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude. It’s the 109th birthday of Julia Child – Chef, Spy, Philosopher and in my opinion, one of the greatest Americans of the last century. Besides Julia’s, today is the birthday of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769), Rose Marie (1925),Continue reading “Know the happiness time brings, do not count the years”

August 14, 1900 –121 years ago today the western powers quelled the Boxer Rebellion in China. In the clearing stood the Boxers, fighters by their trade, and they carried the reminders of every glove that laid them down or cut them til they cried out, in their anger and their pain, they were leaving, theyContinue reading “This story’s seldom told”

August 14, 1995 –The Foo Fighters made their network television debut on The Late Show with David Letterman when they performed their single This Is A Call, on this date. The single peaked at Number Two on the Modern Rock Track chart, though they wouldn’t have a crossover hit until Big Me in early 1996.

It’s Friday the 13th. In most large cities in the United States, many building don’t have 13th floors. In Japan, they don’t have 4th floors, because the word for four sounds similar to the word for DEATH! Some say that the modern basis for Friday the 13th phobia dates back to Friday, October 13, 1307.Continue reading “Try to avoid all unlucky things”

August 13, 1961 –The city of Berlin split itself right down the middle on this date. The Cold War was running pretty hot back then. The Russians were just nasty. They were so evil they convinced East Germany to shut West Germany out. East Germany locked the Brandenburg gate and threw away the key. Then,Continue reading “Karma does appear to bite one in the ass.”

August 13, 1942 –Walt Disney’s Bambi premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York on this date. Unusual for the time, Walt Disney insisted on children providing the voices for the animals when they were young, instead of using adults mimicking youngsters.

August 12, 1869 –In San Francisco on this date, Emperor Norton I issued a stern edict outlawing both the Republican and Democratic political parties. Violators face a prison term of five-to-ten years. Oh, for that wise man today! Not familiar with Norton I ? Read the amazing tale of Emperor Joshua Norton. (Also, please checkContinue reading “All Hail Emperor Norton!”

August 12, 1988 –Universal Pictures released Martin Scorsese’s controversial film The Last Temptation of Christ, starting Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, David Bowie, and Barbara Hershey on this date. Director Martin Scorsese first read Nikos Kazantzakis’s novel The Last Temptation of Christ, after being given a copy by Barbara Hershey, while he was directing her inContinue reading “The Last Temptation of Christ”

In what other city would a harmless madman who supposed himself emperor of the two Americas have been so fostered and encouraged? Where else would even the people of the streets have respected the poor soul’s illusion? Where else would bankers and merchants have received his visits, cashed his cheques, and submitted to his smallContinue reading “Long live the emperor!”

August 11, 1995 –The Hollywood Picture film, Dangerous Minds, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, and Courtney B. Vance, premiered in US theaters on this date. The movie’s soundtrack tops the Billboard albums chart thanks to its lead single, Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise. Michelle Pfeiffer was pregnant during production. Although shot out of sequence like most films, it becomesContinue reading “Dangerous Minds”