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Category Archives: History
1865: Appomattox Campaign begins
The noose finally began to tighten against General Lee (who should be remembered as a traitor in the same vein as Bowe Bergdahl, Benedict Arnold and Kim Philby) as General Grant’s attrition tactics were paying off. The Confederate forces had … Continue reading
1980: The Miracle on Ice
Today is the 35th anniversary of the US’s victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Games. Contrary to popular belief, it didn’t result in a gold medal, these guys still had to defeat Finland because the medal round … Continue reading
The Imitation Game: Worth Seeing
Alan Turing has been having a belated comeback in the same style as Tesla, except, I think Turing’s accomplishments are more verifiable now that much of Enigma and Ultra have been declassified. Modern computers can blow away whatever the participants … Continue reading
Posted in History, In Theaters, Math, Movies, Science & Technology
Tagged Drama, Forties, WWII
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Happy 206th birthday to Abraham Lincoln
Another dictator the Republicans, Libertarians and D+ students like to call out. However, there is a kernel of truth to their accusations. Lincoln did suspend habeas corpus, he did some rather dick moves (exiling a congressman to the Confederacy for “wrongdoing”) and … Continue reading
My Austin Arrival turns 21…
…now it can legally buy me an overpriced beer on Sixth Street! The only thing today has in common with the memorable day is the weather, it’s raining intermittently. It was somewhat warmer in 1994, but then again, it was … Continue reading
Happy belated 133rd birthday to FDR
True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made. Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power … Continue reading
RIP: Mario Cuomo
This Italian-American governor whose “liberalism” was out of step with the Eighties swallowing Reagan’s load of crap had often been the “what if” scenario of choice until his defeat in 1994. As you may watch from above, Mario gave a … Continue reading
(Heretics Guide to) The Mormons by David Fitzgerald
The book has its built-in audience and the author knows this. So beyond airing the Mormons’ obvious and odious dirty laundry, Fitzgerald provides arguments on conversing with followers of this American-based denomination, which is a generous designation. It kicks off with … Continue reading
1989: The Simpsons Christmas Special
I double-checked to make sure I wasn’t repeating myself from five years ago! Firstly, I want to kick off with yet another link from the fine folks at Mental Floss, many of the facts they divulge aren’t new if you’ve watched … Continue reading
Subversives by Seth Rosenfeld
This book was 30 years in the making thanks to the FBI stalling over the numerous FOIA requests Rosenfeld made; my review felt almost as long, I finished reading this in May and I had to rewrite this at least twice. … Continue reading
1974: Young Frankenstein debuts
Mel Brooks was on a roll 40 years ago. First Blazing Saddles spoofing Westerns (a dying genre then) followed by a spoof of the traditional Horror films, namely the old Universal films as they’re known by. I never got to see … Continue reading
1994: First Thanksgiving in Austin
I had been doing a good job knocking out story after story, something around two a day when the month kicked off. Thanks on again/off again cold. Aunt Letty’s passing couldn’t be helped. I’m glad she got what she wanted … Continue reading
1864: Sherman’s march to the sea begins
Today is the 150th anniversary of General Sherman’s controversial move to deliver the killing blow to the illegitimate Confederate regime. I’ve heard a couple Confederate apologists over the years in Austin bring up the horrors of Sherman’s forces: theft, arson and … Continue reading
1994: At least I met Oliver Stone
On another dreary late evening in Austin, I was drinking, hanging out at the Dog & Duck Pub with my French friend/tutor Patricia. The statewide election returns were funneling in as George “Dubious” Bush (the future worst president in history) would … Continue reading
Posted in Austintatious, Brushes with Greatness, History
Tagged Nineties, Opinion, Politics
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RIP: Tom Magliozzi
Car Talk was one of the weirdest shows on NPR. Personally, I thought it was incredibly stupid when I first caught wind of it as I was gradually becoming a stronger fan of public radio in the Nineties. The program … Continue reading