Louis Burton Lindley Jr wanted to be a rodeo rider but was told there’d be “slim pickens”. He rode anyway, and rode to Hollywood. Pickens made it as a character actor, partly because he played himself. When he arrived on the set of “Dr Strangelove”, everyone thought he had arrived in costume. The role of… Continue reading #OTD 29 June – Slim & Easy does it
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#OTD 28 June – R&D and a τ of π
In a world where the uncertain makes us look to the rational, people have always been fascinated by π, the constant irrational. It is unsurprising that π has received its own day and less surprising still that it is 14 March or 3/14 in the US. Google celebrated π day 2010 by releasing a mock… Continue reading #OTD 28 June – R&D and a τ of π
#OTD 26 June – Ich bin ein Berliner
A nation is a nation when enough people, both inside and out, are prepared to recognise it. Sometimes, recognition is a fight about borders: “That’s not yours, it’s mine”… and so the blood flows. Often, recognition is about other things as well. Religion, ideology, laws and taxes are good examples. The German tribes had issues… Continue reading #OTD 26 June – Ich bin ein Berliner
#OTD 1 June – I’m scotched
In Scotland in the 15th century, the ruler’s money came in and it went out, much like every other place at every other time. It did so via the Exchequer. The word comes from the medieval Latin scaccarium, or “chessboard”, these royal accounts being kept with counters on a chequered cloth. On 1 June 1495, the… Continue reading #OTD 1 June – I’m scotched
#OTD 7 May – Westward ho?
On 7 May 1954, the Battle of Dien Bien Phu ended in a French defeat and a Viet Minh victory. In terms of dialogue about communism and about nationalism, the outcome was a doozy. It was also something more. In the words of a US soldier who would serve in Vietnam, the battle became a… Continue reading #OTD 7 May – Westward ho?
#OTD 6 May – The mother of all birthdays
On 6 May 2019, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born. George Clooney is reported to have stated: It’s kind of irritating, if you think about it…’Cause I’ve already had to split [my birthday] with Orson Welles, Sigmund Freud, and now this [baby] comes in. I’m moving down the line very quickly. Clooney the heartthrob ought to… Continue reading #OTD 6 May – The mother of all birthdays
#OTD 5 May – What is Europe?
What is Europe? is a question which ever resonates. As to the regal model, 5 May 1747 was the birthday of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and brother of Marie Antoinette. The execution of his sister Marie Antionette would have as one of its consequences a twist on the model and so on 5 May… Continue reading #OTD 5 May – What is Europe?
#OTD 4 May – Star Wars
The Fourth of May – “May the force by with you” – is Star Wars Day. Star Wars became the nickname for President Reagan’s Strategic Defence Initiative launched in 1984. His closest ally was the UK’s prime minister Margaret Thatcher, whose Conservative Party were victorious on Thursday and who was thus invited by the Queen… Continue reading #OTD 4 May – Star Wars
#OTD 3 May – Another Sun Day
3 May 1978 was a Wednesday. By US legislative decree it was also Sun Day, a day to celebrate “the realization of the promise of solar energy”. The celebration was strongly encouraged by President Carter. The sponsor in the House was Rep Leo J Ryan, who would soon become the second serving congressman to be… Continue reading #OTD 3 May – Another Sun Day
#OTD 14 October – England and France, not a love story
Behind west European history is an English-French and a more recent Protestant-Catholic rivalry. Things began in 1066 when William the Bastard sailed from Normandy. On 14 October, he defeated the Anglo-Saxon King Harold at Hastings. Five hundred and twenty years later on 14 October 1586, Mary Queen of Scots was tried for treason. One of… Continue reading #OTD 14 October – England and France, not a love story