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.