From wikipedia.org:
Events
1700 - February 28 is followed by March 1 in Sweden, thus creating the Swedish calendar
1827 - The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad is incorporated, becoming the first railroad offering commercial transportation of both people and freight
1844 - A gun on USS Princeton explodes while the boat is on a Potomac River cruise, killing two United States Cabinet members and several others
1849 - Regular steamboat service from the west to the east coast of the United States begins with the arrival of the SS California in San Francisco Bay, 4 months 21 days after leaving New York Harbor
1850 - The University of Utah opens in Salt Lake City, Utah
1854 - The United States Republican Party is organized in Ripon, Wisconsin
1861 - Colorado is organized as a United States territory
1883 - The first vaudeville theater is opened, in Boston, Massachusetts
1885 - The American Telephone and Telegraph Company was incorporated in New York State as the subsidiary of American Bell Telephone. (American Bell would later merge with its subsidiary.)
1935 - Nylon is discovered by Wallace Carothers
1940 - Basketball is televised for the first time (Fordham University vs. the University of Pittsburgh in Madison Square Garden)
1952 - End of 8th Winter Olympic Games in Oslo
1953 - James D. Watson and Francis Crick announce to friends that they have determined the chemical structure of DNA; formal announcement April 25 following publication in April Nature (pub. April 2)
1960 - End of 10th Winter Olympic Games in Squaw Valley, California
1974 - After seven years, the United States and Egypt re-establish diplomatic relations
1983 - The final episode of M*A*S*H is broadcast in the USA, becoming the most watched television episode in history, with 106–125 million viewers in the U.S. (estimate varies by source)
1993 - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents raid the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas with a warrant to arrest cult leader David Koresh. Four BATF agents and five Davidians die in the initial raid, starting a 51-day standoff
2001 - An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter Scale hits the Nisqually Valley area of Washington. There were no reports of any deaths
Births
1827 - Blondin, French tightrope walker whose spectacular crossings of Niagara Falls (USA/Canada) made him world famous (d. 1897)
1862 - Canon Edwin Sidney Savage, Rector of Hexham Abbey and St Bartholomew the Great (d. 1947)
1878 - Pierre Fatou, French Mathematician, who worked on iteration theory which was later analysed by Benoit Mandelbrot
1901 - Linus Pauling, the only winner of Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1954 and Peace 1962 (d. 1994)
1929 - Hayden Fry, college football coach
1942 - Brian Jones, musician ("The Rolling Stones") (d. 1969)
1945 - Bubba Smith, American football player, actor (Police Academy)
1948 - Bernadette Peters, actress, singer
2001 - Smarty Jones, winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby
Deaths
1916 - Henry James, writer (b. 1843)
1979 - “The famous Mr. Ed”, the talking horse
1998 - Dermot Morgan, actor, comedian (b. 1952)
2003 - Roger Michael Needham, professor of cryptography at Cambridge University
28 February 2005
Today in History
27 February 2005
A Little Humor Is Good For the Soul
From the Mac News Wire:
IGM: ‘Don’t Get Ripped Off - Buy a Windows PC’:
“We love the occasional rant about how people should buy a PC. It just reminds us that Apple is doing far too well for some people’s liking.
“What caught our eye was Adam Steinberg’s Fusion column in Wayne State University’s South End.
““You’re paying for the image” when you buy a Mac, Steinberg writes. “The fact of the matter is, if you’re doing any serious (or obscure) computing, you need to be on a Windows PC.”
No, Mr Steinberg, I’m paying for the privilege, the pure pleasure, the delight of not having to use (and I “use” the term very loosely) Windows. Any computing I do is serious enough, even if I’m playing games, that Windows is not an option…
RIP
From the Mac News Wire:
IGM: Jef Raskin dead at 61:
“The Digibarn Computer Museum reports that Jef Raskin died on Saturday, Feb 26 of cancer. Hired as employee No 31 in 1978, he was the early driving force behind the Macintosh.”
From MercuryNews.com today:
Macintosh computer creator Raskin dead at 61:
“Raskin joined Apple in 1978 - employee No. 31 - to start the young company’s publications department. At the time, computers were primarily text based and users had to remember a series of arcane commands to perform the simplest tasks.
“In 1979, Raskin had a different idea: A computer that’s priced affordably, targeted at consumers and extremely easy to use. A small team, under his command, was put together at Apple to pursue his concept that would eventually become the Macintosh.
““His role on the Macintosh was the initiator of the project, so it wouldn't be here if it weren’t for him,” said Andy Hertzfeld, an early Mac team member.
“Raskin also named the Macintosh after his favorite apple, though the name was slightly changed because of a trademark issue with another company.
“Raskin led the project until the summer of 1981, when he had a falling out with Steve Jobs, Apple's co-founder. He left the company entirely the following year.
““One of the biggest things I give Jef credit for was putting together the very beginnings of the Mac team with some extraordinary people who didn’t necessarily have the credentials, but had everything else to do something great,” Hertzfeld said Sunday.”
26 February 2005
Randy Moss and the Prince of Darkness: A Match Made in, well…, er…
From MercuryNews.com recently:
He’s perfect fit for sad Raiders
And They Wonder Why They're Getting Less and Less Popular in More and More Places?
From the Bozeman Daily Chronicle’s Web site Friday:
Rangers tickets snowmobilers who didn’t know they were in the park or just couldn’t resist
24 February 2005
Who's Your Daddy???
When someone puts in for Child Support in Dallas, Texas, proper procedure requires finding out who the father is to determine why he is not providing support. The following are responses entered by Dallas women on Child Support Agency forms in the section for listing fathers’ details. These are actual excerpts from the forms. Reviewers felt that number 11 was very good - it took the prize, in their collective opinion; number 3 was runner up.
1. Regarding the identity of the father of my twins, child A was fathered by Jim Munson. I am unsure as to the identity of the father of child B, but I believe that he was conceived on the same night.
2. I am unsure as to the identity of the father of my child as I was being sick out of a window when taken unexpectedly from behind. I can provide you with a list of names of men that I think were at the party if this helps.
3. I do not know the name of the father of my little girl. She was conceived at a party at 3600 Grand Avenue where I had unprotected sex with a man I met that night. I do remember that the sex was so good that I fainted. If you do manage to track down the father, can you send me his phone number? Thanks.
4. I don't know the identity of the father of my daughter. He drives a BMW that now has a hole made by my stiletto in one of the door panels. Perhaps you can contact BMW service stations in this area and see if he’s had it replaced.
5. I have never had sex with a man. I am still a Virginian. I am awaiting a letter from the Pope confirming that my son’s conception was immaculate and that he is Christ risen again.
6. I cannot tell you the name of child A’s dad as he informs me that to do so would blow his cover and that would have cataclysmic implications for the economy. I am torn between doing right by you and right by the country. Please advise.
7. I do not know who the father of my child was as all blacks look the same to me.
8. Peter Smith is the father of child A. If you do catch up with him, can you ask him what he did with my AC/DC CDs? Child B who was also borned at the same time… well, I don’t have a clue.
9. From the dates it seems that my daughter was conceived at Disney World; maybe it really is the Magic Kingdom.
10. So much about that night is a blur. The only thing that I remember for sure is Delia Smith did a program about eggs earlier in the evening. If I’d have stayed in and watched more TV rather than going to the party at 146 Miller Drive, mine might have remained unfertilized.
11. I am unsure as to the identity of the father of my baby, after all when you eat a can of beans you can't be sure which one made you fart.
(This one’s April’s fault…)
I’m SO Surprised
From MercuryNews.com today:
Dell hit with class-action lawsuit in S.F.:
“Two San Francisco residents have filed a class-action lawsuit against computer manufacturer Dell, alleging the company regularly uses bait-and-switch techniques, and promises favorable financing terms that it doesn’t deliver.”
District boots falsely enrolled students
From MercuryNews.com today:
District boots falsely enrolled students
22 February 2005
I’ll Bet Environmentalists Aren’t the Only Ones Worried
From MercuryNews.com today:
Plan to spur building worries environmentalists
Hmmmm… Mountain Bikers Tend to Irk Hikers…
From MercuryNews.com today:
Judge’s ruling irks mountain bikers
21 February 2005
Another One (Political Correct Construct) Bites the Dust
From MercuryNews.com recently:
Gene researchers find variations by ancestry
19 February 2005
The Rock in Iowa
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Photo Gallery (The Rock in Iowa):
“Claim: Photographs show a rock painted with patriotic scenes alongside an Iowa highway.
Status: True.”
McMoose!!
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Photo Gallery (McMoose):
"Claim: Photograph shows a moose poking its snout into a McDonald's drive-through window.
Status: Undetermined."
Tunnel Vision
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Photo Gallery (Tunnel Vision)
Claim: Photograph shows a bridge-tunnel system passing underwater between Sweden and Denmark.
Status: Real photograph; inaccurate description."
17 February 2005
08 February 2005
07 February 2005
Serves the Sunny Beach Right!
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Autos (Sound Beating)
OMG!!! Bob (who had no idea what was coming when I hit the go button on the audio) was rolling on the floor!! It’s hysterical!
06 February 2005
NTB (Not Too Bright)
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Media (G.I. Don't Know . . .)
“I cannot provide any information about me because, as I mentioned earlier, I am unarmed, and any information about me might jeopardize my life and the lives of my family.
My apologies to everyone.”
Today in History
From wikipedia.org:
Events
1778 - American Revolutionary War: In Paris the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce are signed by the United States and France signaling official recognition of the new republic
1788 - Massachusetts becomes the sixth state to ratify the United States Constitution
1815 - New Jersey grants the first American railroad charter to a John Stevens
1819 - Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles founds Singapore
1820 - The first 86 African American immigrants sponsored by the American Colonization Society established a settlement in present-day Liberia
1843 - The first minstrel show in the United States The Virginia Minstrels opens (Bowery Amphitheatre in New York City)
1862 - American Civil War: Ulysses S. Grant gives the United States its first victory of the war, by capturing Fort Henry, Tennessee
Births
1564 - Christopher Marlowe, playwright (d. 1593)
1895 - Babe Ruth, Baseball Hall of Famer (d. 1948)
1911 - Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States (d. 2004)
1913 - Mary Leakey, anthropologist (d. 1996)
1914 - Thurl Ravenscroft, voice-over actor (“Tony the Tiger”)
1922 - Patrick Macnee, actor
1945 - Bob Marley, Jamaican roots rock reggae singer and musician, (d. 1981)
1950 - Natalie Cole, singer
Deaths
1617 - Prospero Alpini, Italian scientist (b. 1553)
1685 - King Charles II of England (b. 1630)
1740 - Pope Clement XII (b. 1652)
1952 - King George VI of the United Kingdom (b. 1895)
1989 - Chris Gueffroy, last person killed escaping over the GDR border
1991 - Danny Thomas, singer, comedia, actor (b. 1914)
1993 - Arthur Ashe, tennis star (b. 1943)
Holidays & observances
Feast day of Saint Paul Miki and companions
04 February 2005
Tradition
From the New York Times Web site tomorrow:
As Questions Rise, Pope Sees Frailties as Affirming Life
From washingtonpost.com tomorrow:
Pope’s Illness Highlights Dual Role
Today in History
From wikipedia.org:
Events
1783 - American Revolutionary War: The United Kingdom formally declares that it will cease hostilities with the United States of America
1789 - George Washington is unanimously elected to be the first President of the United States by the U.S. Electoral College1
792 - George Washington is unanimously elected to a second term as President of the United States by the U.S. Electoral College
1794 - French legislature abolishes slavery throughout all territories of the French Republic
1801 - John Marshall sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States
1862 - Bacardi, one of the world’s largest spirits company, was founded as a small distillery in Santiago de Cuba in eastern Cuba
1927 - The first talkie is released - The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson
1932 - 1932 Winter Olympics open in Lake Placid, New York
1932 - Asteroid 1239 Queteleta discovered by Eugène Joseph Delporte
1934 - Asteroid 2824 Franke discovered by Karl Wilhelm Reinmuth
1936 - Radium E. becomes the first radioactive element to be made synthetically
1938 - Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town opens (New York City)
1938 - Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released, and it went on to become a major box-office success, making more money than any other motion picture in 1938
1941 - World War II: The United Service Organization (USO) is created to entertain American troops
1957 - USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine, logged her 60,000th nautical mile, matching the endurance of the fictional Nautilus described in Jules Verne's novel “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”
1976 - 1976 Winter Olympics open in Innsbruck, Austria
1977 - Fleetwood Mac releases one of the biggest-selling albums of all time, Rumours
1996 - Major snowstorm paralyzes Midwestern United States; Milwaukee, Wisconsin ties all-time record low temperature at -26°F. (-32°C)
Births
1902 - Charles Lindbergh, U.S. aviator (d. 1974)
1913 - Rosa Parks, U.S. civil rights activist
Deaths
708 - Pope Sisinnius
869 - Saint Cyril, after whom the Cyrillic alphabet is named
1894 - Adolphe Sax, instrument maker, inventor of the saxophone (b. 1814)
1983 - Karen Carpenter, U.S. singer, musician (Carpenters) (b. 1950)
1987 - Liberace, U.S. musician (b. 1919)
Holidays & observances
Saint Paul of Tarsus
03 February 2005
Hats Off to These Guys
From SignOnSanDiego.com recently:
Eight rangers to be honored for rescuing Grand Teton climbers
