On this Day in History

[beachbaby179]

On Dec 31, 1907, the first New Years Eve ball drop occurred in Times Square. It was a 500 pound iron and wood ball lit by 100 25-watt bulbs. Happy New Year, everyone.

 

[latecomer91364]

This is the date in 1942 when 5 patriotic brothers enlisted in the Navy on the same day, vowing to avenge the death of a friend killed in Pearl Harbor. They were later dubbed "The Fighting Sullivan boys,".

Tragically, all five died 10 months later when their ship was torpedoed. This led to a change forbidding relatives from serving together, and was the impetus in the story that propelled Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan.'

 

[latecomer91364]

On this day in 1977, Apple was incorporated by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. It went on to become one of the most recognizable brands and most successful corporations in the world.

Got an iPhone?

 

[latecomer91364]

It was on this day in 1975 that we lost Irish lead singer, songwriter and bassist Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy, who died of heart failure and pneumonia after being in a coma for eight days following a drug overdose. He had a long history of heroin addiction.

With Thin Lizzy he had the 1973 hit 'Whiskey in the Jar', (their version of the traditional Irish song) and hits with ‘The Boys Are Back in Town’, ‘Jailbreak’ and ‘Waiting for an Alibi’. The groups 1978 album 'Live and Dangerous' spent 62 weeks on the UK chart.

Lynott fronted several bands as a lead vocalist, including Skid Row alongside Gary Moore. A life-size bronze statue of Phil Lynott was unveiled on Harry Street in Dublin Ireland in 2005.

It's another sad tale from the annals of Rock and Roll.

 

[Mav Unlimited]

On this day in 1984, the American television sitcom Night Court premiered on NBC and ended on May 31, 1992, after nine seasons consisting of 193 episodes. The show was set in the night shift of a Manhattan Criminal Court presided over by a young, unorthodox judge, Harold "Harry" T. Stone (portrayed by Harry Anderson), and was created by comedy writer Reinhold Weege.

 

[latecomer91364]

On this day in 1709, Europe's coldest winter in 500 years began to take hold. It would kill hundreds of thousands of people, make travel and trade nearly impossible, and disrupt two wars. Climatologists are still trying to understand the cause of what became known as the Great Frost.

Hard to blame that 300+ year-old event on the fake 'climate change' hysteria of today.

 

[beachbaby179]

January 7, 1926. Exactly 100 years ago today. George Burns married Gracie. Happy anniversary to two legends.

 

[latecomer91364]

On January 7, 2015, Islamic terrorist gunmen raided the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people. The attack, a response to the magazine's criticism of Islam and depiction of Muhammad, demonstrated the danger of homegrown terror in Europe as well as the deep conflicts within French society.

France didn't heed this warning, and even worse Islamic terrorist crimes killed more French citizens in the years to come.

 

[latecomer91364]

Happy birthday to Elvis Presley, born on this day in 1935!

It was on his 11th birthday in 1946 that his mother Gladys bought him a gift that would help change music history: a $7.75 acoustic guitar. Stories have it that what Elvis really wanted was a rifle or a bike, but his over-protective mom thought a guitar was best (she was right).

10 years later, Elvis appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show:

 

[latecomer91364]

On this ray in 2016, we lost a rock icon when David Bowie died from liver cancer in New York City. He was 69.

Do we need to explain who David Bowie was and what he did? Suffice it to say that it was his vision that transformed himself from a traditional pop singer into a trendsetting international superstar best known for his metamorphic personae (on- and offstage), abrupt shifts in musical genres, and status as a fashion icon.

In his own way, Bowie changed a lot of what was then 'acceptable' in rock music.

My forever favorite:

 

[latecomer91364]

On this day in 1964, 'Louie Louie' a cover by The Kingsmen hit #1 on the US Cash Box music chart. A massive hit, it became an anthem for the time and has often been covered by bands and featured in motion pictures. It was originally recorded by Richard Barry in 1955 as a rhythm and blues song.

For a while, the record was banned by a handful of US radio stations because of its indecipherable lyrics, which were rumored to contain some naughty words. Even the F.B.I. investigated the song, but finally concluded that they could find nothing wrong.

 

[mstrman]

1969 "Hooked on a Feeling" by BJ Thomas peaks at #5

"Hooked on a Feeling" is a 1968 pop song written by Mark James and first recorded by American singer B. J. Thomas. Thomas's version featured the sound of the electric sitar (played by Reggie Young) and reached No. 5 in 1969 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has been recorded by many other artists, including Blue Swede, whose version reached No. 1 in the United States in 1974.

 

[latecomer91364]

1969 "Hooked on a Feeling" by BJ Thomas peaks at #5

"Hooked on a Feeling" is a 1968 pop song written by Mark James and first recorded by American singer B. J. Thomas. Thomas's version featured the sound of the electric sitar (played by Reggie Young) and reached No. 5 in 1969 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has been recorded by many other artists, including Blue Swede, whose version reached No. 1 in the United States in 1974.

Good to see you here!

 

[mstrman]

2010 Haiti earthquake​

2010 Haiti earthquake, large-scale earthquake that occurred January 12, 2010, on the West Indian island of Hispaniola, comprising the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Most severely affected was Haiti, occupying the western third of the island. An exact death toll proved elusive in the ensuing chaos. The Haitian government’s official count was more than 300,000, which would make the earthquake’s aftermath one of the worst natural disasters in recorded history, but other estimates were considerably smaller. Hundreds of thousands of survivors were displaced.

The earthquake hit at 4:53 pm some 15 miles (25 km) southwest of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. The initial shock registered a magnitude of 7.0 and was soon followed by two aftershocks of magnitudes 5.9 and 5.5. More aftershocks occurred in the following days, including another one of magnitude 5.9 that struck on January 20 at Petit Goâve, a town some 35 miles (55 km) west of Port-au-Prince. Haiti had not been hit by an earthquake of such enormity since the 18th century, the closest in force being a 1984 shock of magnitude 6.9. A magnitude-8.0 earthquake had struck the Dominican Republic in 1946.

 

[latecomer91364]

On this date, we saw two hit TV shows debut, 5 years apart. Both became cultural phenomena, for different reasons

1966: Batman
Starring Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin, it immediately become a huge hit, airing twice a week on Wednesday and Thursday nights, with each storyline typically a two-part cliffhanger, for its first two seasons.

The show was known for its campy style, upbeat theme music, and a roster of famous guest stars as villains. The series ran for a total of 120 episodes across three seasons, concluding on March 14, 1968.

1971: All in the Family
Created by Norman Lear, the controversial but hilarious show featured Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton as Archie and Edith Bunker, and Sally Struthers and Rob Reiner as daughter Gloria and her husband Mike (Meathead) Stivic.

The show continuously held previously 'dangerous' topics up to a comedic and often sympathetic light, including racism, antisemitism, infidelity, homosexuality, women's liberation, rape, religion, miscarriage, abortion, and breast cancer.

The show ran until April 8, 1979, with a total of 205 episodes, and spawned Archie Bunker's Place. Jean Stapleton wanted to move away from her role as Edith, and appeared only in the first season of the spin-off, her character dying from a stroke at the beginning of season 2.

 

[latecomer91364]

It was on this date in 1968 that Johnny Cash arrived at Folsom prison and played for the inmates, recording his live set for the release of the legendary album Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison.

The album reinvigorated his lagging career and cemented his place as a 'forever superstar' in both country and pop history.

Aside from a few occasions when he had to dry out overnight in a local jail, Johnny had never been to prison, although he wrote Folsom Prison Blues (1956) from the viewpoint of an inmate. It's the first cut on the live album.

 

[mstrman]

Gates Steps Aside as Chief of Microsoft but Will Remain Chairman​

By JOHN MARKOFF with STEVE LOHR​

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EDMOND, Wash., Jan. 13 -- William H. Gates stepped aside today as chief executive of Microsoft after a quarter-century of running the company day to day and gave that role to his longtime partner Steven A. Ballmer, the company's president.

Mr. Gates will remain as chairman and said he would take on a new role as "chief software architect," declaring his conviction that "in the revolution ahead of us, software will be at the center."




That vision is in contrast to the thinking behind this week's merger announcement by America Online and Time Warner, a gamble that content will play a paramount role in a digital era.

Mr. Gates said that in his new role he would seek to create a new kind of software system harnessing large computing systems, desktop personal computers and a proliferating array of consumer electronic devices, all connected to the Internet.

Mr. Gates, upbeat and intense, offered no hint that fatigue or weariness had weighed in the decision. He said the shift, in effect, completed an evolution begun a year and half ago when he named Mr. Ballmer president of Microsoft.

"At the end of the day when you go home you're thinking, thinking, thinking about how the different pieces of the company come together," Mr. Gates said in an interview, and the move will free him to devise strategy without worrying about day-to-day business.

It is the close relationship between Mr. Gates, 44, and Mr. Ballmer, 43, forged in their Harvard days, that will make the organizational changes work, Mr. Ballmer said.

Mr. Ballmer dropped out of business school at Stanford University to join Mr. Gates at Microsoft in 1980 and has played a variety of roles at the company, frequently driving its marketing and sales efforts. He was named president in July 1998.

"On a personal level, the kind of relationship that Bill and I have must be totally unique in the business world," Mr. Ballmer said. "The times Microsoft has been faced with challenges is the time we have done our best work."

At one point in the news conference, Mr. Ballmer went to some lengths to emphasize the challenge from competitors, citing Sun Microsystems, I.B.M., Oracle, the free Linux operating system, and pointedly including AOL and Time Warner.

Later in the conference, he was asked whether he thought Microsoft needed to seek a big merger partner itself, as America Online had. "Our business is focused in on software, and I don't anticipate the need for megamergers to accomplish what we want to do in software," Mr. Ballmer said.

Then he added jokingly, "Half of you guys want to break us up and the other half wants us to do a megamerger."

Whatever the competition, Mr. Gates sketched a world view revolving around the company's software in a variety of guises. In that world the personal computer will be the most important platform, but Microsoft software will extend both upward toward large computing services and down to home appliances.

"We're bold enough to think that even reading e-books will be part of the next generation," he said.

The new strategy as outlined by Mr. Gates and Mr. Ballmer is in essence a bet on creating an Internet operating system, integrating the disparate parts of the Internet in somewhat the way programs are now integrated in a single PC.

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[mstrman]

January 14, 1952
The "Today" show made its debut on January 14, 1952, with Dave Garroway and Jack Lescoulie as its original hosts. The show was a groundbreaking experiment that combined news, entertainment, and human interest stories to inform and engage viewers during the early morning hours. Garroway's easygoing and relaxed style became a hallmark of the show, and it quickly became a morning staple in American households. The show's format included multiple hosts, with Garroway joined by Lescoulie and news anchor Jim Fleming. Over the years, "Today" has evolved and adapted, reflecting the changing times and tastes of its audience, and has become a cultural touchstone.

 

[latecomer91364]

While it was all over with the defeat of the British at Yorktown, on January 14, 1784, the Continental Congress ratifies the Treaty of Paris, ending the War for Independence. Just a formality.

The British tried again with the War if 1812, but were once again vanquished. It was this war, and the battle over Fort McHenry, which gave Francis Scott Key, who was on board a British ship negotiating the release if prisoners, to witness the battle and create the poem, which was later set to the music of John Stafford Smith to become our national anthem.

 

[latecomer91364]

It was on this date in 1994 that we lost iconic singer songwriter Harry Nilsson, who had been born with congenital heart problems, when he died in his sleep of heart failure after spending the previous day in the recording studio. He was only 52.

He recorded a string of hits, from Everybody's Talkin' from the film Midnight Cowboy, Coconut, Jump into the Fire and wrote hits for Three Dog Night and The Monkees. Had the UK & US No.1 single with his version of the Badfinger Evans & Ham song 'Without You.' When John Lennon and Paul McCartney held a press conference in 1968 to announce the formation of Apple Corps, John was asked to name his favorite American artist. He replied, "Nilsson". Paul was then asked to name his favorite American group. He replied, "Nilsson".

 

[mstrman]

US Airways Flight 1549​

"2009 Hudson River plane crash" or "Miracle on the Hudson"
US Airways Flight 1549 was a regularly scheduled US Airways flight from New York City's LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte and Seattle, in the United States, that ditched into the Hudson River shortly after takeoff on January 15, 2009 due to a double engine failure caused by a bird strike. The Airbus A320 operating the flight, registered N106US, struck a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia, resulting in a dual engine failure. Given their position in relation to the available airports and their low altitude, pilots Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles decided to glide the aircraft into a water landing on the Hudson River near Midtown Manhattan, doing so without significant damage to the aircraft.

All 155 people on board were rescued by nearby boats. There were no fatalities, although 100 people were injured, 5 of them seriously. The time from the bird strike to the ditching was less than four minutes.

The then-Governor of New York State, David Paterson, called the incident a "Miracle on the Hudson" and a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) official described it as "the most successful ditching in aviation history". Flight simulations showed that the aircraft could have returned to LaGuardia, had it turned toward the airport immediately after the bird strike. However, the NTSB found that the scenario did not account for real-world considerations, and affirmed the ditching as providing the highest probability of survival, given the circumstances. 

The pilots and flight attendants were awarded the Master's Medal of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators in recognition of their "heroic and unique aviation achievement".

 

[Stopokochac]

January 15, 1759, British Museum opens at Montagu House in London

 

[latecomer91364]

Many other more important events have occurred on this date over the years, but they really don't matter - as they have nothing to do with Jimmy Buffett.

On January 16, 1996, Jamaican law enforcement officers opened fire on Jimmy's seaplane, The Hemisphere Dancer, as he was attempting to take off. They mistakenly suspected it was smuggling drugs.

This could have been a tragedy, as also on board were U2's lead singer Bono, his wife Ali, their children Jordan and Eve, and Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.

Of course, Jimmy wrote a song about it: Jamaica Mistaica.

 

[MedicalMuse]

On this date: The last episode of Bonanza aired on NBC as the popular western series ended after 14 seasons.


It’s also the day that the Persian gulf war officially started in 1991.

 

[JKL123]

OTD: In 1920 ... The 18th Amendment (prohibition) took effect.