Category Archives: History

History at all levels, not just not my past or nostalgic musings.

Happy 100th Birthday Julia Childs

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Steve

Julia was instrumental to the birth of American public television and expanding our interests in “foreign” cuisine. Somara is the bigger expert on the famous lady. She’s read at least two books about Julia but the greater connection is them … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversions, History | Leave a comment

2002: Finding our Nemo

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Steve

Ten years ago, Somara was running some work-related errands at her job in Georgetown. While driving along Williams Avenue she thought she saw a plastic bag roll off the street into a ditch but something seemed off so she pulled … Continue reading →

Posted in Cats, History | Leave a comment

Happy Canada Day!

Posted on July 1, 2012 by Steve

Or as we sing down in the states, “Blame Canada.” According to the Toronto Star, the nation is 145 when I could’ve sworn it’s 199. Why? I always thought our northern neighbors started the process in 1863 during the (American) … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Leave a comment

2002: Tree Planting

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Steve

Today and tomorrow the weather will have temperatures exceeding 100F/40C. It appears that matters are going to crest and Austin then returns to the equally awful mid 90F/upper 30C climate. This isn’t exactly a shock other than the heat wave … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Leave a comment

Be sure to catch the transit of Venus!

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Steve

I need to set up a reminder to catch this because Venus going visibly across the Sun is an important historical and scientific matter. The Guardian gives a solid rundown here. Astronomers in the 18th Century sent scores of people all … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Leave a comment

It’s officially Summer! As it was in 1982

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Steve

School lets out at various points throughout the US: in Central Texas they’re out, in the Midwest, they have almost a week, I recall kids out East used to be stuck until mid-June. Universities are long gone and today is … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Leave a comment

Cool time machine on the #1 tunes

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Steve

Today’s first cool story courtesy of The Onion‘s AV Club is a link to this bitchin’ site that has sound clips of what were the hits during particular years. It starts from 1940 and runs up to the present. I … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Music | Leave a comment

Thirteen years at Apple

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Steve

There’s nothing really new to add that I haven’t covered or blathered on about before. Normally, I take the day off from work to reflect how far I’ve come, how far I want to go, so on, so forth. I … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Leave a comment

Cats re-enact the Ides of March

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Steve

Weeks ago, I mentioned how our only male cat (Nemo) has been undergoing a semi-daily regimen of Prozac due to his urinating issues. Overall, it appears to work because Somara forgot to give him a dose last night which resulted … Continue reading →

Posted in Cats, History | Leave a comment

Happy Lupercalia!

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Steve

Another randy Pagan holiday hijacked by Christianity but I don’t mind the little cards and candy. If the Romans failed to invent this, I’m sure the marketing behemoth in the modern Western Empire would create something to make everybody spend … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Italians, News | Leave a comment

Belated reflection about Austin Arrival

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Steve

Matters at work and elsewhere were rather busy for me, I made a little Day One entry about the occasion, left it at that. Somara’s recent illness has distracted me a tad plus we went out for dinner before going … Continue reading →

Posted in Austintatious, History, News | Leave a comment

2001: The Last Day of Christmas V, Series Finale

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Steve

As I close this string of remembrances, I found a loophole with the deadline, which I obviously missed for 1996 and 2001. According to my wife’s awesome and tasteful Bettie Page calendar, January 7 was Orthodox Christianity’s Christmas Day, ergo, … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Leave a comment

1996: The Fifth Day of Christmas V, Houston Redux

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Steve

OK, I totally missed the deadline of yesterday. You have to admit the birth of the Gordons’ new child is a pretty solid excuse! Onward since the next two will mark the finale, then I can find something more interesting … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Leave a comment

1991: The Fourth Day of Christmas V, Movie Tradition

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Steve

When I had my first lonely Christmas in Milwaukee the previous year, one thing I vowed to do was go to the movies. I followed through on this promise and it continued mostly through the Nineties, either by attending or … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Leave a comment

1986: The Third Day of Christmas V, college breaks are too long

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Steve

As per the song, I technically have until January 6, 2012 to complete this series and since it’s my last run of it, I do want to finish. There’s just so many other things jumbled up to bang out too. … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 1 Comment