The first Academy Awards were
presented on this date in 1929. Back then, the Academy Awards were not televised. So
people had to to fall asleep in front of the radio.
The automohorse was patented on
this day in 1904. The automohorse was a great idea. It didn't scare all the real horses
off the road because, even though it was a car, it looked like a horse.
Fortunately, it didn't sweat like a horse or smell like a
horse. And, of course, it was a lot easier to crank.
Actor Henry Fonda was born on this day
in 1905. Henry starred in some of Hollywood's most successful productions. But Henry's
most successful productions were Jane and Peter.
International Pickle Week begins today, honoring the pickle. Especially the sour
pickle, which helps us all learn to pucker and make a face, one of life's great
joys for many of us.
Pickle Week
-
Pickle Poop
Jim Henson died on this date in
1990. His creations include famous puppets such as Kermit, Miss Piggy, Bert and Ernie,
Cookie Monster, Big Bird—although he had nothing to do with Rush Limbaugh.
Singer Janet Jackson was born on
this day in 1966. Janet says brother Michael can come to her birthday party—as long
as he doesn’t make himself at home and turn the place into a zoo.
David Hughes was born in London on this day in 1831. David invented the microphone, thank
goodness. Otherwise, I'd be sitting here playing CDs by fax machine.
Heliogabalus became Emperor of Rome on this date in 218. It was a big mistake. He made his
barber attorney general and appointed his mother sun god. But he got better after he was
murdered.
The
automohorse was patented on this date in 1904. When the horseless carriage first appeared
on American streets, it scared the horses. The automohorse, a carriage with a fake horse
in front, was designed to solve that problem. But for some reason, the idea never really
caught on.
Maybe an automodonkey would have been more
successful.
Elizabeth Palmer
Peabody was born in Massachusetts on this day in 1804. Liz founded the first kindergarten
in the U.S. She believed that by the time a child was five years old he was ready for
school -- he'd already done enough damage at home.
The U.S. five-cent
piece was authorized on this day in 1866. That was back when a nickel was worth something.
Today, the only thing a nickel will buy is five pennies, which are so worthless they won't
even buy back the nickel.
Actually, some very old gumball machines will still take a
nickel. But you always suspect you're getting a recycled gumball.
