Almanac of Absurdities 12/30

On this date in 1924, in Los Angeles, Astronomer Edward Hubble for the first time, publicly details observations that prove the existence of galaxies beyond our own, and radically enlarges the human perception of the universe. California’s First Freeway, the Arroyo Seco Parkway opens this date in 1940. The first NTSC Color TV, an RCA, goes on sale this date in 1954 at about $1175.00 each, just in time for the Rose Parade.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/29

1170 AD, Following possibly misunderstood orders from Henry II, armed men attack and assassinate Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket. In 1966, at Abbey Road Studios in London, The Beatles begin the session that will yield “Penny Lane.” In 2003, Marja Sergina, an elderly resident of the Russian Kola Peninsula dies, and with her, dies the Akkala Sami language of the region, as she was its last speaker.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/28

Lots of beginnings today: Westminster Abbey consecrated on this day, 1065 AD. On this date in 1895, the Lumiere Brothers perform Boulevard Des Capucines in Paris, marking the first projection of moving pictures for a paying audience, and thus the birth of the Cinema. also the state of Iowa’s birthday, and the first day for San Francisco Streetcars in 1912. It’s Stan Lee’s Birthday.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/27

The odd-sounding “Flushing Remonstrance” is delivered to Colony Leader Peter Stuyvesant on this date in 1657, asking for exemptions to a general ban on pursuit of the Quaker faith in the colony of New Netherland. This becomes a precedent for the Separation of Church and State in the US Constitution. Birthdays: Louis Pasteur and Elvis’s guitarist Scotty Moore.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/26

On this day in 1982, Time Magazine makes “The Personal Computer” its first Non Human Man of the Year. No mention of this is made on Facebook or Twitter, as neither, yet, exist. Birthdays: Carol Spinney who has, for years, played “Big Bird” on Sesame Street, Convicted Producer Phil Spector and Lars Ulrich of Metallica.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/24

On this date in 1826, the so-called “Eggnog Riots” take place at West Point, after cadets smuggle whiskey into the academy. The all- night drunken disturbance eventually involves a third of the academy cadets resulting in 70 criminal implications and 19 Courtmartials. Cadet Jefferson Davis is named as “involved.” They must have smuggled in a lot. Christmas Eve, of course.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/23

On this date in 1968, 82 Sailors from the USS Pueblo are released from imprisonment in North Korea. In 1986, Dick Rutan and Jeana Yaeger land the “Voyager” at Edwards AFB, the first aircraft to fly around the world without aerial or ground refueling. Birthdays include Ron Bushy, drummer for Iron Butterfly, and former Playboy Model Holly Madison.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/22

Lots of battles on this date: 1790, Battle of Izmail, Russian Army takes Turkish Fortress; 1864, General Sherman takes Savannah Ga, and finishes “March to the Sea.” 1944, General McAuliffe replies “Nuts” to invitations to surrender to the Nazis and thus begins Battle of the Bulge in and around Bastogne, Belgium. Birthdays include Barbara Billingsley and the SR-71 Blackbird.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/21

On this date in 1620, the Mayflower Lands somewhere near Plymouth Massachusetts. The whole “Plymouth Rock” thing came up for the first time 121 years later. On this day in 1970, Elvis Presley manages to talk his way into the Oval Office for a chat with President Richard Nixon, in which he is deputized in the “War on Drugs.” Birthdays: Thomas Becket, Disney’s Snow White, and gone, but never forgotten, Frank Zappa.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/20

On this date in 1192 AD, Richard the Lionheart is captured and imprisoned by Leopold V of Austria, while on his way home from the 3rd Crusade, thus making all those Robin Hood Adventures possible in his absence. It's International Human Solidarity Day, so stay solid.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/19

On this date in 1154 ad, Henry II Plantagenent, the Great Grandson of William the Conqueror is crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. It's not noted if his good friend (and future adversary) Thomas Becket attends. On this date in 1915, the birth of iconic French Singer Edith Piaf. Today is listed as the “Day of South-South Cooperation,” so hopefully they'll get their shit together down there.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/17

On this day in 1903, several frustrating days turn to triumph for Orville and Wilbur Wright, as their experimental flyer makes a sustained powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Today in 1989, the first episode of “The Simpsons” is aired on fledgling Fox TV. Birthdays: Bernard Hill and Ernie Hudson.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/16

On this date in 1653, Oliver Cromwell is proclaimed Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, and thus begins the Interregnum. 1773, The Boston Tea Party, an event whose name has been degraded in recent years. 1985, Under orders attributed to John Gotti, Mobsters Paul Castellano and Thomas Bilotti are murdered. Gotti assumes leadership of the Gambino Family.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/15

On this date in 533AD, Byzantine General Belasarius beats the Vandals at the Battle of Tricameron. Don't you love it when a plan comes together? Hot Ticket: Premiere of “Gone With The Wind” at the Loew's Grand in Atlanta on this date in 1939. Birthdays: Emperor Nero, architect and famed tower creator Gustave Eiffel, and Woodstock Farm Owner Max Yasgur. Careful of the Brown Acid.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/14

On this date in 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright attempt, without success, to get their experimental flying machine to work. Don't worry, they'll be there a few days. On this day in 1911, Roald Amundson and four others are the first to reach the South Pole. Birthdays: Nostradamus born this day in 1503. Also Morey Amsterdam and Ted Raimi who played Joxer on Xena Warrior Princess.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/13

On this date in 1577, Sir Francis Drake left Plymouth England with a group of several ships carrying letters of marque signed by Elizabeth I allowing him to attack Spanish Shipping off the pacific coast of the Americas. Astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmidt leave the last human footprints on the moon so far on this date in 1972. Birthdays: Dick Van Dyke, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/12

Guglielmo Marconi receives…maybe…the first transatlantic radio signal on this date in 1901 at Signal Hill, St. John’s, Newfoundland. When told, Nicola Tesla sniffs that Marconi was using seventeen of Tesla’s Patents to do so. 1939, Battle of Tolvajärvi. Finns ice Soviets in the first major victory of the Winter War. Birthdays: Henry Wells of Wells Fargo, Frank Sinatra.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/11

Heavy Royal Events Day: 1282, Death of “Llywelyn The Last”, the last Native Prince of Wales. 1792, King Louis XVI is tried for Treason. He goes to the Guillotine on January 21. 1936, King Edward VIII abdicates after 325 days on the throne in order to marry American Divorcee Wallis Simpson. He ended up being Governor of the Bahamas, with the woman he loved. Works for me.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/10

On this day in 1684, Isaac Newton’s paper, “On the Motion of Bodies in an Orbit,” is presented to the Royal Society by fellow astronomer Edmund Halley. Yes, he was the Halley in Halley’s Comet. In 1868, the first gas-lamp traffic lights are installed near the Palace of Westminster in London. Birthdays: Grand Ol’ Opry, Mighty Mouse, Emily Dickinson, and Kyu Sakamoto, singer of the 1963 hit “Sukyaki.”

Almanac of Absurdities 12/9

In 1531, Peasant Juan Diego has a vision of the Virgin Mary near Mexico City. The spot becomes the most visited Catholic Pilgrimage Destination in the world. In 1965, the Kecksburg UFO incident: An unexplained fireball seen from Michigan to Pennsylvania. NASA subsequently admits that it did examine “An Object.” Birthdays: YMCA, John Birch Society, John Malkovich.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/8

On this date in 1660, Margaret Hughes appears on an English Public Stage, the first actRESS ever to do so, in a production of Othello. Of course, she plays Desdemona.
In 1980, Musician and Peace Activist John Lennon is Assassinated outside his home in New York City. A Dreamer; But not the only one.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/7

1941, Imperial Japanese Navy executes surprise attack on the Pacific Fleet, anchored at Pearl Harbor Hawaii. Simultaneously a brilliant tactical move by the Japanese but a fatal strategic one, as the enraged US Public is instantaneously united against the Axis. Nuclear Ass Kicking to follow. 1999, The RIAA sues Napster. Birthdays: Department Store Founder Richard Sears, Tom Waits, Rube Goldberg.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/6

On this date in 1240, A Mongol Horde under the command of Batu Khan invades the Russias. This day in 1969, Hell’s Angels Members, hired as security guards at a Rolling Stones’ concert in Altamont California, kill 18 year old Merideth Hunter near the stage. Hunter had allegedly drawn a gun after an altercation with the Angels in the early part of the concert. Dave Brubeck’s Birthday. The Master is 90, and still plays.

Almanac of Absudities 12/5

On this date in 1933, Utah, of all states, ratifies the 21st Amendment to the US Constitution and effectively ends Prohibition. Utah. Seriously. In 1941, General Georgy Zhukov launches a massive counter attack against the Nazis in the Battle of Moscow. Many historians say this is the day Hitler lost the war. Birthdays: Walt Disney, Little Richard.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/4

On this date in 1875, Former New York Politician “Boss” Tweed escapes prison and flees to Cuba, then Spain. In 1971, Someone attending a Frank Zappa concert in Montreaux Switzerland fires a flare gun and sets fire to the Casino, which burns down, (inspiring “Smoke on the Water,” but you knew that.) Wink Martindale’s birthday.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/3

On this date in 1976, Bob Marley survives an Assassination Attempt, but plays with the Wailers two days later. 1979, Eleven concert goers are killed in a rush for seats at a concert by The Who in Cincinnati. Birthdays: General George McClellan, Kim Dae Jung, and Ozzy Osbourne.

Almanac of Absurdities 12/2

On this date in 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself the Emperor of France, even though Pope Pius VII came all the way from Rome to do it for him. Oddly Enough, on this day in 1908, Emperor Pu Yi ascends the throne of China. He’s shorter than Napoleon, but then He’s only two years old. Birthdays: Circus Owner Charles Ringling, and Britney Spears.

Almanac of Absurdities for 12/1

On this day in 1955, Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat to a white man while riding on a Mobile Alabama City Bus. She’s arrested, but that’s not the end. In 1960, musicians Pete Best and Paul McCartney are deported from Hamburg Germany after setting fire to a condom in the ladies room of a Reeperbahn theatre. Birthdays: Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, and Billy Paul who did “Me and Mrs. Jones”