Saturday, June 8, 2019

Bone dry, Straight Up, Olives

Today is National Name Your Poison Day. As described on many websites, "... National Name Your Poison Day is observed each year on June 8.  Over the years, bartenders have been known to use the phrase, “name your poison,” when asking patrons what they would like to drink.  This observation celebrates that phrase and is a day to commemorates making a choice or a decision."




As per usual, mine is Bombay Sapphire - Gin so good, you wished you were embalmed in it. Drink enough and you will be.  Speaking of which, Today is also the 11th World Gin Day, always celebrated on the second Saturday in June, (National Martini Day is coming up on Tuesday, June 19 - I will just have to pace myself!). 

I wait patiently by the phone for confirmation that I have become the new spokesperson for Bombay Sapphire

RememberDon't Cry Over Spilt Milk, It Could Have Been Gin.



(As always, please celebrate responsibly.)


It's the 151st running of the Belmont Stakes today,

And War of Will or Tacitus looks like they may win The Run for the Carnations,



But you don't care.



Before you complain - yes, the song has nothing to do with carnations or the race for that matter, but why not listen to Elvis Costello!


June 8, 1946 -
The very funny Looney Tunes cartoon, Kitty Kornered, was released on this date.



It have a number of firsts going for it:
1.) It's the first appearance of Sylvester the Cat (as this point unnamed) in a Warner Bros. cartoon.
2.) It's the first pairing of Porky and Sylvester.


June 8, 1950 -
The Asphalt Jungle, the superb film noir directed by John Huston, was released on this date.



During the production, Walter Huston came to Hollywood for his son John Huston's forty-fourth birthday party. Two days later, with John at his side, the legendary actor of stage and screen, died of heart failure at the age of sixty-six.


June 8, 1968 -
The Rolling Stones released Jumpin' Jack Flash on this date.



This was intended for Beggar's Banquet, but they left it off the album and released it as a single because The Stones were very pleased with the results. One year later on this date, founding member Brian Jones quit (some say 'pushed out') The Rolling Stones.



He died a month later, at age 27.


June 8, 1984 -
Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!



Ivan Reitman's comedy - horror film, Ghostbusters, premiered on this date.



The original premise had three main characters: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. They fought ghosts in S.W.A.T. like suits using wands instead of guns. The ghost named Slimer was known as 'Onionhead', and at the end of the movie, Ghostbusters businesses were all over the United States. John Candy also was slated to play Louis. However, with Belushi's death and actors backing out, the script was rewritten and new actors cast.


June 8, 1985 –
The Tears for Fears song Everybody Wants to Rule the World became the group's highest-charting single when it reached No. #1 on the Billboard Charts on this date.



Everybody Wants To Rule The World is a line from the 1980 Clash song Charlie Don't Surf. Joe Strummer of The Clash thought so. He recounted a story to Musician magazine about confronting Tear For Fears band member, Roland Orzabal in a restaurant, informing Orzabal that "you owe me a fiver." Stummer said that Roland reached in his pocket and produced a five pound note, ostensibly as compensation for poaching the line for his hit title.


Don't forget to tune into The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour today


Today in History:
June 8, 632 -
According to tradition, the prophet Mohammed died on this date. He was the founder of Islam, and his death was the first in a long chain of events that ultimately resulted in the Treaty of Tordesillas. Whether he is at this very moment reclining on a soft couch somewhere in Paradise, being serviced by a high-bosomed virgin with dark eyes or consuming a handful of raisins is debatable.

And if you think I'm going to post a picture of the Prophet, you've got another thing coming.


June 8, 1810 -
Robert Schumann, the great composer during the Romantic period, was born on this date. Schumann was able to create a large amount of work while battling the twin demons of bi-polar disease and dementia brought on by mercury poisoning related to the treatment of syphilis, contracted in his teens.



For the last two years of his life, after an attempted suicide, Robert Schumann was confined to a mental institution at his own request.

You may now impress your friends with this info.


June 8 1869 -
Ives W. McGaffey of Chicago patented his sweeping machine (patent # 91,145,) the first suction vacuum cleaner, on this date.

This suggests that Chicago was famous for sucking long before the emergence of the Cubs.


June 8, 1906 -
Pres. Theodore Roosevelt signed the American Antiquities Act, first proposed in 1882. It was used to set aside American resources by executive order.



Roosevelt had urged the passage of the Antiquities Act to allow the president to designate areas of scientific, historic or archeological significance as national monuments without the approval of Congress.


June 8, 1928 -
On May 31, 1928, Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm, Harry Lyon and James Warner left Oakland California in a Fokker VIIb-3m, called the Southern Cross, to attempt the first flight across the Pacific.



Flying via Hawaii and Fiji, they reach Brisbane, Australia 7,389 miles away, nine days later, on this date.


June 8, 1933 -
Certain key structural areas of the late, great Joan Alexandra Molinsky, comic and actress, were born on this date.



Unfortunately, some of her 'newer' parts have outlived her.


Nancy Sinatra was born on this date (it would be impolite to say how old she is but she is less than a year older than my mom.)



Her boots must be made for endurance walking


June 8, 1982 -
President Ronald Reagan became the first US chief executive to address the two houses of British Parliament on this day.



His assistants became slightly concerned about the President's faculties when Reagan mentioned to them, that he believed that scene went well but he could be more convincing in the next take. He also mentioned to them that he'd be having lunch with Dorothy Lamour at the commissary.



And so it goes.


Before you go - a faithful bunkie of this blog pointed out a very good cover version of the Tear For Fears song Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Bad Plus.  Ths year I would like to return the favor and head you all towards Weezer's cover version from earlier this year.



That was fun seeing Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith again (They are both a year young than I am, wow, I'm getting old.)


593

1 comment:

Jim H. said...

The Weezer live version is fun and cool! The Bad Plus version is sublime. As always, thanks for posting...