We’ve been out of commission for a while, but we’re back (hopefully for a longer stint).
Normally, our Spotlight is on one event or person. However, there are a few instances in history that occurred on this day that all share the same theme. So here is a quick synopsis of them (in chronological order, of course):
While the popular vote was a tight one, Democrat Horatio Seymour was bested by Republican Ulysses S. Grant in terms of electoral votes on November 3, 1868, becoming America’s 18th President. Of the 294 electoral votes for the taking between 34 states, 214 went to Grant. This election was particularly important because it was taking place during the Reconstruction.
November 3, 1908 saw the election of America’s 28th President (who would later become the 10th Chief Justice). What is quite interesting about this election was that the Democratic nominee, William Jennings Bryan, was no stranger to Presidential elections. Or losing them: he had lost in 1896 to William McKinley, and again in 1900… to William McKinley (the man can’t get a break, huh). I guess thinking that the 3rd time is a charm, he ran again, and was quite popular. Sadly, Republican William Howard Taft (who was persuaded by close friend and incumbent President Theodore Roosevelt to run), would collect 321 of the 483 amongst the 46 continental states (No Arizona or New Mexico). Perhaps Bryan should have run against someone with a different first name than his. Just a thought…
Over 27 Million Americans showed their support for a man named Franklin Delano Roosevelt, as he is elected for the 2nd of 4 terms on this day, November 3, 1936. This election is particularly historic, as it is the most lopsided electoral victory in U.S. History. Of the 531 electoral votes spread across 48 states (remember, Alaska & Hawaii were not states yet), FDR nabbed 523 of them. For those of you playing at home, that leaves the other 8 (3 from Vermont and 5 from Maine) going to Republican Alf Landon.
An election with all of the states, finally (and including Washington D.C.). With the assassination of JFK in 1963, Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson had taken over as President. This election, occurring on November 3, 1964, was notable due to the popular-vote percentage won by the winner: 61.1% (over 43 Million Americans). Republican Barry Goldwater received 52 of the 538 electoral votes possible from 6 states. This win would solidify a full term for Johnson, America’s 36th President. One other thing to note is that this would be first time that D.C. would be included with Electoral College (contributing 1 vote).
Lastly, we highlight an election three-way (oh yeah…). Republican Incumbent George H.W. Bush was seeking a second term, Democrat Bill Clinton was the party’s poster child, and Ross Perot would drop out of the race early on, only to reenter the race later on (what a guy). This election was particularly interesting because Clinton would win a plurality with the popular vote (he got more than any other candidate, with 44 Million, but did not get the majority of the popular votes, i.e. 51%). Securing 370 electoral votes with 32 states, including D.C., Clinton became America’s 42nd President, on November 3, 1992.
For more information about these (and every other) American presidents, cast your vote by clicking here.
DUH OTHERS:
Laika, a Russian dog, becomes the first animal to orbit in space in 1957 (sadly, there were no hydrants installed on Sputnik 2)
Poland tells Russia to back off, declaring its independence from them in 1918
Aaron McKinney is convicted in the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Wyoming, in 1999 (This event would be the basis for the play The Laramie Project)
CLAP ON (CLAP CLAP):
Chilean Carlos Ibáñes del Campo (20th & 26th President of Chile) in 1877
English Musician Brian Poole (The Tremeloes) in 1941
American Comedian Dennis Miller (SNL, MNF) in 1953
American Elizabeth Smart (Kidnapped For 9 Months Between ’02-’03) in 1987
CLAP OFF (CLAP CLAP):
American Annie Oakley (Sharp-Shooter) in 1926
French Artist Henri Matisse (“Woman With A Hat”) in 1954
American Comic Artist Bob Kane (Co-Creator Of Batman) in 1998
Ecuadorean Alberto Spencer (Soccer Player) in 2006
HOLIDAZE:
Happy Independence Day in Panama (from Columbia in 1903), Dominica (from Britain in 1978), and Micronesia (from The U.S. in 1986)!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Don't Change That Channel (April 16)
Today's Spotlight promises to be more upbeat than the last 2. And how much higher can you go than being on a plane? Seriously.
Harriet Quimby (born in Arcadia, Michigan on May 11, 1875) was a woman who achieved quite a lot in her life. Early in her life, she worked as a theater critic for Leslie's Illustrated Weekly, where she would write over 250 articles. But her interest in aviation was first piqued in 1910, where she met famed aviator Matilde Moisant who was running a flight school. August 1, 1911 was the day that Harriet Quimby became the first woman to earn a pilot's certificate. Matilde would become the second woman to earn the certificate soon after.
(As a side note, she also penned five screenplays that would become romantic silent movies, which would all be directed by D.W. Griffith. He's probably most famous for his 1915 film Birth of a Nation)
Probably Quimby's most important flight took off from Dover, England and landed in Calais, France. The flight took 59 minutes total. Why is this flight so important? It just so happens that to get from Dover to Calais, one has to fly over a little something called the English Channel (350 miles long and between 21-150 miles wide). On this day, April 16th, 1912, Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly across the English Channel.
Her illustrious career was sadly cut short. Just a few months later, on July 1, while flying at an event in Boston, her aircraft pitched forward, flinging herself and her passenger, William Willard (the organizer of the event) out of the plane to their deaths. Harriet Quimby was 37.
A remarkable woman who set in motion the flight plan for women's aviation. A high-flying ace in the American History books. For more information on Harriet Quimby, feel free to navigate here or here.
DUH OTHERS:
MLK Jr. pens the Letter from Birmingham Jail while being jailed for protesting against segregation in 1963.
Apollo 16 launched from Cape Canaveral, FL in 1972.
Syria gains independence from France in 1946.
The Virginia Tech Massacre, where 33 people were killed (including the gunman who killed himself) and 23 others were injured occurred today in 2007.
HELLO HELLO:
American Aviator Wilbur Wright (First American Flight) in 1867
American Actor Charlie Chaplin (famous for his character "The Tramp") in 1889
American Composer Henry Mancini (The Pink Panther) in 1924
Pope Benedict XVI (The Freakin' Pope) in 1927
Taiwanese Actress Shu Qi (The Transporter) in 1976
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU SAY GOODBYE:
French Artist Marie Tussaud (Founder of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum) in 1850
British Chemist Rosalind Franklin (whose data helped Crick & Watson with the structure of DNA) in 1958
American Author Edna Ferber (Show Boat, Ice Palace) in 1968
British Film Director David Lean (Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago) in 1991
American Restaurateur Ruth Fertel (founder of Ruth's Chris Steak House) in 2002
HOLIDAZE:
Happy Emancipation Day! (Washington D.C.): Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act in 1862, which freed about 3,100 slaves from the District of Columbia (this is nine months prior to the Emancipation Proclamation).
Harriet Quimby (born in Arcadia, Michigan on May 11, 1875) was a woman who achieved quite a lot in her life. Early in her life, she worked as a theater critic for Leslie's Illustrated Weekly, where she would write over 250 articles. But her interest in aviation was first piqued in 1910, where she met famed aviator Matilde Moisant who was running a flight school. August 1, 1911 was the day that Harriet Quimby became the first woman to earn a pilot's certificate. Matilde would become the second woman to earn the certificate soon after.
(As a side note, she also penned five screenplays that would become romantic silent movies, which would all be directed by D.W. Griffith. He's probably most famous for his 1915 film Birth of a Nation)
Probably Quimby's most important flight took off from Dover, England and landed in Calais, France. The flight took 59 minutes total. Why is this flight so important? It just so happens that to get from Dover to Calais, one has to fly over a little something called the English Channel (350 miles long and between 21-150 miles wide). On this day, April 16th, 1912, Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly across the English Channel.
Her illustrious career was sadly cut short. Just a few months later, on July 1, while flying at an event in Boston, her aircraft pitched forward, flinging herself and her passenger, William Willard (the organizer of the event) out of the plane to their deaths. Harriet Quimby was 37.
A remarkable woman who set in motion the flight plan for women's aviation. A high-flying ace in the American History books. For more information on Harriet Quimby, feel free to navigate here or here.
DUH OTHERS:
MLK Jr. pens the Letter from Birmingham Jail while being jailed for protesting against segregation in 1963.
Apollo 16 launched from Cape Canaveral, FL in 1972.
Syria gains independence from France in 1946.
The Virginia Tech Massacre, where 33 people were killed (including the gunman who killed himself) and 23 others were injured occurred today in 2007.
HELLO HELLO:
American Aviator Wilbur Wright (First American Flight) in 1867
American Actor Charlie Chaplin (famous for his character "The Tramp") in 1889
American Composer Henry Mancini (The Pink Panther) in 1924
Pope Benedict XVI (The Freakin' Pope) in 1927
Taiwanese Actress Shu Qi (The Transporter) in 1976
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU SAY GOODBYE:
French Artist Marie Tussaud (Founder of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum) in 1850
British Chemist Rosalind Franklin (whose data helped Crick & Watson with the structure of DNA) in 1958
American Author Edna Ferber (Show Boat, Ice Palace) in 1968
British Film Director David Lean (Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago) in 1991
American Restaurateur Ruth Fertel (founder of Ruth's Chris Steak House) in 2002
HOLIDAZE:
Happy Emancipation Day! (Washington D.C.): Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act in 1862, which freed about 3,100 slaves from the District of Columbia (this is nine months prior to the Emancipation Proclamation).
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Never Let Go, Jack... (April 15)
The biggest grossing film of all time is 1987's The Brave Little Toaster, directed by Jerry Rees.
Nah, I'm kidding. The highest grossing film of all time is 1997's Titanic, directed by James Cameron (The Terminator, True Lies, Aliens). Its domestic gross is over $600 Million. It won numerous awards, including Best Picture & Best Director. It brought Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet into the spotlight. And It also brought us that GOD AWFUL song "My Heat Will Go On" by Celine Dion (which was originally written in secret; Cameron didn't want any songs with singing in the movie)
The world would have never been "blessed" with such a film had the RMS Titanic made it to New York City (the "RMS" stands for Royal Mail Ship, which means that the vessel carries mail under the contract of Royal Mail). Of course, the lives of 1,517 people would have not been lost had that happened.
The Titanic hit an iceberg the night before (April 14), and it took roughly 2 hours and forty minutes to sink, placing the sinking of the Titanic on this day, April 15th, 1912.
Some things that you may not know about the Titanic:
Fully loaded, the ship had 3547 people
Despite what is popularly known, the Titanic was never truly described as "unsinkable" prior to the tragedy.
There were 8 members in the famous band that played music as the ship sank (led by Wallace Hartley).
The voyage started at Southampton, England.
As The Titanic left, it nearly collided with another liner, City of New York, causing a four hour delay.
For more information about the Titanic, including accounts from survivors, click here or here.
DUH OTHERS:
The publisher Rand McNally publishes its first road atlas in 1924 (but men still don't end up asking for directions)
The Brooklyn Dodgers get a new team member: Jackie Robinson in 1947 (batting down the color barrier in baseball)
General Electric is formed in 1892 (ironically by flipping a switch)
SERVICES ACTIVATED:
Italian Renaissance Polymath Leonardo da Vinci (painting of the Mona Lisa) in 1452
French Physiologist Jean Pierre Flourens (anesthesia pioneer) in 1794
American Actress Elizabeth Montgomery (Samantha Stevens on Bewitched) in 1933
American Voice Actor Lou Romano (Alfredo Linguini in Ratatouille) in 1972
SERVICES TERMINATED:
Russian Scientist Mikhail Lomonosov (discovered the atmosphere of Venus) in 1765
American Actor Richard Conte (Don Barzini in The Godfather) in 1975
American Musician Joey Ramone (from The Ramones) in 2001
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Byron "Whizzer" White (appointed by JFK) in 2002
HOLIDAZE:
Happy Baisakhi!: an ancient harvest festival celebrated in Punjab. It also marks the beginning of a new solar year, as well as a new harvest season.
(Don't forget: if you live in the U.S., and you make money legitimately, your taxes are due today.)
Nah, I'm kidding. The highest grossing film of all time is 1997's Titanic, directed by James Cameron (The Terminator, True Lies, Aliens). Its domestic gross is over $600 Million. It won numerous awards, including Best Picture & Best Director. It brought Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet into the spotlight. And It also brought us that GOD AWFUL song "My Heat Will Go On" by Celine Dion (which was originally written in secret; Cameron didn't want any songs with singing in the movie)
The world would have never been "blessed" with such a film had the RMS Titanic made it to New York City (the "RMS" stands for Royal Mail Ship, which means that the vessel carries mail under the contract of Royal Mail). Of course, the lives of 1,517 people would have not been lost had that happened.
The Titanic hit an iceberg the night before (April 14), and it took roughly 2 hours and forty minutes to sink, placing the sinking of the Titanic on this day, April 15th, 1912.
Some things that you may not know about the Titanic:
Fully loaded, the ship had 3547 people
Despite what is popularly known, the Titanic was never truly described as "unsinkable" prior to the tragedy.
There were 8 members in the famous band that played music as the ship sank (led by Wallace Hartley).
The voyage started at Southampton, England.
As The Titanic left, it nearly collided with another liner, City of New York, causing a four hour delay.
For more information about the Titanic, including accounts from survivors, click here or here.
DUH OTHERS:
The publisher Rand McNally publishes its first road atlas in 1924 (but men still don't end up asking for directions)
The Brooklyn Dodgers get a new team member: Jackie Robinson in 1947 (batting down the color barrier in baseball)
General Electric is formed in 1892 (ironically by flipping a switch)
SERVICES ACTIVATED:
Italian Renaissance Polymath Leonardo da Vinci (painting of the Mona Lisa) in 1452
French Physiologist Jean Pierre Flourens (anesthesia pioneer) in 1794
American Actress Elizabeth Montgomery (Samantha Stevens on Bewitched) in 1933
American Voice Actor Lou Romano (Alfredo Linguini in Ratatouille) in 1972
SERVICES TERMINATED:
Russian Scientist Mikhail Lomonosov (discovered the atmosphere of Venus) in 1765
American Actor Richard Conte (Don Barzini in The Godfather) in 1975
American Musician Joey Ramone (from The Ramones) in 2001
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Byron "Whizzer" White (appointed by JFK) in 2002
HOLIDAZE:
Happy Baisakhi!: an ancient harvest festival celebrated in Punjab. It also marks the beginning of a new solar year, as well as a new harvest season.
(Don't forget: if you live in the U.S., and you make money legitimately, your taxes are due today.)
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
This Is What I Get? A Penny?! (April 14)
"You sock-dologizing old man-trap" is such a killer line. It appears in the play Our American Cousin, a three act play by Tom Taylor. It is meant to be a funny play, and that line in particular is considered to be the funniest line in the play. And I'm sure that it is (though I have never seen it myself).
The only reason why it such a "killer line" is because on this day, April 14th, 1865 (which happened to be Good Friday), President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theatre. That line, by the way, was the moment that Booth decided to shoot Lincoln because he was hoping that the laughter would drown out the sound of the gunshot.
Interestingly enough, assassinating Lincoln was not Booth's original plan. The original plan was to kidnap Lincoln and hold him hostage. However, a speech made by the President three days prior (regarding support for voting rights for black people) infuriated Booth, and thus he escalated his plan to murder.
Why make this event in history today's Spotlight? Sometimes it's important to go back and look at the events that shaped what this country has become today. For more information on this event, as well as links to other sources, click here or here.
DUH OTHERS:
In 1828, Noah Webster copyrights the 1st edition of his dictionary (I guess you can look up "dologizing" now.
Sputnik 2 tumbles back to earth in 1958.
The Peep Show is invented by Thomas Edison. Ok, not exactly like that, but he does demonstrate his Kinetoscope in 1894.
Napster gets slammed with a lawsuit from Lars Ulrich (the drummer from Metallica) in 2000, which sets in motion the fight against file-sharing programs.
SERIES PREMIERES:
Baseball Player Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds) in 1941
American Scientist Francis Collins (Human Genome Project) in 1950
American Actor Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) in 1960
American Rapper Da Brat (AKA Shawntae Harris) in 1974
SERIES FINALES:
German Composer George Frideric Handel (Messiah [that "Hallelujah" song]) in 1759
English Bassist Pete Farndon (from The Pretenders) in 1983
American Computer Programmer Phil Katz (created the .zip data compression) in 2000
American Musician Don Ho ("Tiny Bubbles") in 2007
HOLIDAZE:
Happy Black Day!: a South Korean informal holiday where single people who got no gifts on Valentine's Day or White Day (March 14) eat Jajangmyeon (noodles with black bean sauce) to commiserate their single status.
The only reason why it such a "killer line" is because on this day, April 14th, 1865 (which happened to be Good Friday), President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theatre. That line, by the way, was the moment that Booth decided to shoot Lincoln because he was hoping that the laughter would drown out the sound of the gunshot.
Interestingly enough, assassinating Lincoln was not Booth's original plan. The original plan was to kidnap Lincoln and hold him hostage. However, a speech made by the President three days prior (regarding support for voting rights for black people) infuriated Booth, and thus he escalated his plan to murder.
Why make this event in history today's Spotlight? Sometimes it's important to go back and look at the events that shaped what this country has become today. For more information on this event, as well as links to other sources, click here or here.
DUH OTHERS:
In 1828, Noah Webster copyrights the 1st edition of his dictionary (I guess you can look up "dologizing" now.
Sputnik 2 tumbles back to earth in 1958.
The Peep Show is invented by Thomas Edison. Ok, not exactly like that, but he does demonstrate his Kinetoscope in 1894.
Napster gets slammed with a lawsuit from Lars Ulrich (the drummer from Metallica) in 2000, which sets in motion the fight against file-sharing programs.
SERIES PREMIERES:
Baseball Player Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds) in 1941
American Scientist Francis Collins (Human Genome Project) in 1950
American Actor Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) in 1960
American Rapper Da Brat (AKA Shawntae Harris) in 1974
SERIES FINALES:
German Composer George Frideric Handel (Messiah [that "Hallelujah" song]) in 1759
English Bassist Pete Farndon (from The Pretenders) in 1983
American Computer Programmer Phil Katz (created the .zip data compression) in 2000
American Musician Don Ho ("Tiny Bubbles") in 2007
HOLIDAZE:
Happy Black Day!: a South Korean informal holiday where single people who got no gifts on Valentine's Day or White Day (March 14) eat Jajangmyeon (noodles with black bean sauce) to commiserate their single status.
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