Almanac of Absurdities for 10/31

Harry Houdini (Born Erich Weiss) died on this day in 1926 of Gangrene and Peritonitis resulting from a burst appendix. He had been the worlds greatest escape artist, a magician, early filmmaker and a daring pioneer aviator. He was 52. Birthdays for Dale Evans, David Ogden Stiers, Jane Pauley and Kinky Friedman. And, needless to say, it's Halloween.

Almanac of Absurdities 10/30

H.G. Wells' “War of the Worlds” broadcast took place on this date in the year 1938. General panic is alleged, but historians differ on how many people really fell for it. On this date in 1945, Branch Rickey and Happy Chandler spring their conspiracy and announce the signing of Jackie Robinson, the first african-american professional major league baseball player, to the Brooklyn Dodgers. Birthdays: Grace Slick of the Jefferson Airplane, Cash Cab's Ben Bailey.

Almanac of Absurdities for 10/29/10

On this date in 1618, Writer, Adventurer, Explorer and Courtier Sir Walter Ralegh (yes, I spelled it right) gets “Alleged Conspirator” and “Corpse” added to his list of accomplishments when he is beheaded on accusations that he plotted against James I. Black Tuesday Stock Market Crash on this day in 1929. Animator Ralph Bakshi's Birthday.

Almanac of Absurdities 10/28

On this date in 1628, the Seige of La Rochelle ends with the surrender of the Hugenots. In 1919, the US Congress passes the Volsted Act, beginning Prohibition a few weeks later. Didn't turn out to be a very good idea, but many people seemed to have missed that lesson. Birthdays include Jonas Salk, Bill Gates and Wayne Fontana of the Mindbenders. National Chocolates Day.

Almanac of Absurdities for 10/27

October 27 is Navy Day, and it falls in the middle of International Magic Week, and National Massage Therapy Week. Big day for starting cities: Amsterdam was founded on this day in 1275 and Philadelphia on this day in 1682. The New York Subway opened on this day in 1904. Theodore Roosevelt's Birthday, as well as that of John Cleese.

Almanac of Absurdities 10/26/10

Today in 1881, Wyatt, Morgan and Virgil Earp, joined by Cardsharp, Gunslinger and sometime Dentist John Henry “Doc” Holliday Faced off with Ike Clanton and “The Cowboys” at the OK Corral in Tombstone Arizona, part of what came to be known as the Cochise County War. Birthdays: C.W. “Charlie” Post, of the Post Cereal Empire, Pat Sajak, Bootsy Collins, Cary Elwes.

Almanac of Absurdities 10/25

On this date in 1415, The Battle of Agincourt....Henry V's vastly outnumbered army defeats France: “Gentlemen in England now a-bed; Shall think themselves accursed they were not here; And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks; That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day." Birthdays: Billy Barty, Jon Anderson of “Yes.”

Almanac of Absurdities for 10/24

On this day in 1926, J. Gordon Whitehead asked Harry Houdini if it were true that he could take any blow to the upper body without injury. The magician, who was already suffering from Appendicitis and fever, absently answered yes, at which time Whitehead struck him several times in the abdomen. Despite the injury, Houdini finished his performance at the Garrick Theatre in Detroit Michigan that day. He died on October 31st of Peritonitis due to ruptured appendix.

Almanac of Absurdities for Oct 23

On this date in 1911, in the Turco-Italian war, a clever Italian aviator hopped in his plane and flew over to the enemy lines just to see what the Turks might be doing. It was the first use of a fixed-wing aircraft in warfare. Within a couple of weeks, they thought up aerial bombing, and tried that. It's Weird Al Yankovic's Birthday, and National Mother-In-Law Day.

Almanac of Absurdities for 10/22/10

Thanks to calculations and hints from the book of Daniel, The Millerite Sect decided that this day...in 1844...was to have been the date of the Second Coming of Christ. The Millerite Sect called the day "The Great Anticipation" as they gave away all their possessions and prepared for the rapture. The Millerites called the 23rd "The Great Disappointment" for obvious reasons. Curly Howard's Birthday.

Almanac of Absurdities 10/21/10

One of the greatest and most influential battles in world history occurred on this date in 1600. The Battle of Sekigahara ends in victory for forces led by Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the Shogunate he established continued to rule Japan until the mid-19th Century. If you read “Shogun,” this was the real Toranaga. Wedding anniversary for Juan and Evita Peron, married in 1945. Ursula Le Guin's Birthday if you're hip to that.

Almanac of Absurdities for 10/20/10

On this date in 1947, the House Un-American Activities Committee began its investigation into Commies in Hollywood, ruining countless lives and creative careers. Birthdays for Bela Lugosi, Joyce Brothers, Mickey Mantle and Iain McMillan who took the picture that became the cover of “Abbey Road.” National Freedom of Speech week too.

Almanac of Absurdities for Oct 19, 2010

On this day in 202 BC, the battle re-enacted in “Gladiator” actually took place-The battle of Zama, in which Roman Legions under the leadership of Scipio Africanus defeated the invading armies of Hannibal. No one there looks like Russel Crowe. King John of England dies on this day in 1216, succeeded by his 9-year old son Henry III. Birthdays for John Lithgow, Divine, and It's National Hagfish Day.

Almanac of Absurdities for 10/15/10

On this date in 1888, George Lusk of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee receives a letter “From Hell” purportedly from Jack The Ripper, which closes with “Catch me if you can.” Apparently he couldn't. 1969, the anti-Vietnam War Moratorium is held with 2 million people across the country...including 17-year-old yours truly...demonstrating against the conflict. Birthdays: Friedrich Nietzsche, Tito Jackson.

Almanac of Absurdities for 10/14

A day laden with history: 1066, battle of Hastings goes in favor of the Normans, King Harold II killed, long live William the Conqueror. 1586 Mary Queen of Scots goes on trial for her life. 1867, end of the final Shogunate Government of Japan. 1947, Chuck Yaeger flies the X-1 “Glamorous Glennis” over Muroc Air Station, and breaks the sound barrier for the first time. 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis Begins. 1982, Ronald Reagan declares “War on Drugs”.

Almanac of Absurdities for 10/13

On this date in 1307, French King “Phillip the Fair” carried out the event that would make Friday the 13th infamous throughout history. Under his orders hundreds of Knights Templar were arrested and brought to torture, many confessing to heresy and unspeakable crimes. You know, like you do when you're being tortured. It was, oddly enough, Jacques DeMolay's Birthday.

Almanac of Absurdities for 10/12

It's National Free Thought day. Most people still can't afford it. On 1823, Charles MacIntosh sells his first raincoat. The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy was first published on this day in 1979. Birthdays for Sam Moore of “Sam and Dave”, Aleister Crowley, and Art Clokey, creator of “Gumby.”

Almanac of Absurdities for 10/11

Theodore Roosevelt became the first American President to fly in an airplane on this date in 1910. It was a four minute flight in...or on...a Wright Brothers flyer piloted by the intrepid Arch Hoxey. Birthdays of Eleanor Roosevelt, Elmore Leonard and Darryl Hall of Hall and Oates. It's National Face Your Fears day, and perhaps not co-incidentally, it's National Coming Out Day.

Almanac of Absurdities for 10/9/10

“When I Cannot Sing My Heart, I Can Only Speak My Mind.” On this date in 1940, in the middle of an Air Raid, John Winston Lennon was born at Liverpool Maternity Hospital on Oxford Street, Liverpool, to Julia and Alfred Lennon. He was named for his Paternal Grandfather John “Jack” Lennon, and for Winston Churchill. The rest you know. Imagine.

Almanac of Absurdities for 10/8

On this day in 1806, British Military Forces lay seige to Boulogne in France for the first time using Sir William Congreve's “Rockets”. On this day in 1967 Che Guevara and his men are captured by Bolivian Army Regulars. He was executed the next day, a blow to La Revolution, but a boon to the T-Shirt Industry. Playing on the radio that day back in the US: “Daydream Believer” and “Heard It Through the Grapevine.” Frank Herbert's birthday in 1920 if you're hip to that.

Almanac of Absurdities for 10/7

On this day in 1542, Juan Rodriguqez Cabrillo, exploring the west coast of the North American Continent discovers a large coastal island that he calls “San Salvador” even though the natives who live there call it Pimu. 58 years later it'll be discovered again. Then they'll call it Santa Catalina Island. Battle of Lepanto in 1571 on this day. Birthdays for John Mellencamp and Yo-Yo Ma.

Almanac of Absurdities for October 6

It's the Earl of Southampton's Birthday, Sir Henry Wriothesly was born on this day in 1573. Oddly enough, it's also Mad Hatter day. On this day in 1889, Thomas Edison showed his first Motion Picture. Although credited with the invention of the first motion picture system, the Melies Brothers of France may well have beaten him to it. Edison's desire to claim the invention as exclusively his own led him later to hire thugs to break up motion picture productions using cameras that were not of his own manufacture. Indeed a group of New York based filmmakers finally fled the East Coast to avoid the problem...and settled out in a little California town named Hollywood.

Almanac of Absurdities 10/5/10

A lot of Debuts for English Entertainments today: On this day in 1962, the first James Bond Movie, Dr. No is released. A year later to the day, in 1963, came the release of the Beatles first single, “Love Me Do”. On this day in 1969, the first episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus is broadcast on the BBC. Birthdays for Larry Fine of the Three Stooges, Steve Miller and Clive Barker.

Alamanac of Absurdities 10/4/10

On this day in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII institutes the “Gregorian” Calendar, and in Italy, Portugal, Poland and Spain, October the 4th is followed by October 15, which cut way back on Halloween Preparations. On this day in 1957, the Russians scared the beejezus out of the US by Launching a small electronic beeping ball into orbit. Sputnik kicks off the Space Race. Birthdays for Rutherford B. Hayes and Anne Rice.

Almanac of Absurdities 10/2/10

Scots edged out the Norwegians in the Battle of Largs, 1263 AD. Peanuts comic strip debuts in 1950, first broadcast of the “Twilight Zone”in 1959. Birthdays of, Richard III, Groucho Marx, Bud Abbott Donna Karan and two celebrities best known for one-word names: Sting and Gandhi.

Almanac of Absurdities 10/1/10

On this date in 1843, the three-penny paper “News of the World” was first published in London. Due to its low price and its content, mostly news of Scandal, Vice Prosecutions, brothels, streetwalkers, and 'immoral' women.” it became the biggest selling newspaper in England. Now owned by Rupert Murdoch, it stays very close to its original ideals to this day. It's Julie Andrews Birthday.