Mr Teeny has been in one of his moods again
Today is National One Hit Wonder day. Celebrate responsibly - listen to only one or two of them at a time.
The Vapors - Turning Japanese
Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky
Note to Alanis Morissette - it's ironic that Mr. Greenbaum – who wrote the line "I got a friend in Jesus" — is Jewish.
September 25, 1943 -
The music goes around and around and it comes out here
An excellent Merrie Melodies cartoon, A Corny Concerto was released on this date.
For some reason, the identity of the black duckling in this short has prompted much debate among cartoon fans as to whether or not it is in fact Daffy Duck. Supporters of the idea claim it is Daffy due to the character's similar color design (such as the white collar around the neck), while naysayers say that if it was supposed to be Daffy then it would have been made a little more clearer in design or by having him speak. It should be noted that the books about Warner Bros. animation history has never addressed this, nor has it ever been confirmed either way.
September 25, 1961 -
One of the greatest sports movies of all time, The Hustler, premiered on this date.
During the filming, one of the production days happened to fall on St. Patrick's Day. Prior to Jackie Gleason's arrival to the shoot at the pool hall, the lighting crew took out all the clear gels, and replaced them with green ones. Upon seeing this, Gleason was so impressed he said, "Boys! This looks beautiful! Take the rest of the day off!". He left, and production was shut down for that day!
September 25, 1964 -
The series Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., starring Jim Nabors (who was not married to Rock Hudson) premiered on CBS-TV on this date.
Andy Griffith said that when they were trying to come up with an idea for a spinoff for Gomer, they wanted the toughest location or situation they could put him in; so they came up with the Marines. The idea was to pit Gomer's gentle character against the tough setting and it worked.
September 25, 1965 -
The Beatles Cartoon Show premiered on ABC-TV on this date. It racked up a 13 score (or 52 share), then unheard of in daytime television.
The Beatles themselves reportedly did not care for this series. They were also less than enthusiastic about the idea of Brodax and Dunning doing a feature film. However, they changed their minds about the feature film when they began seeing completed footage from Yellow Submarine. (John Lennon admitted in the 1970s that he "got a blast" out of watching reruns of the old cartoons.)
September 25, 1970 -
Everybody was implored to 'Get Happy' when The Partridge Family on this date.
Several songs credited to the Partridge Family actually charted. In fact the very first single, I Think I Love You went to number-one and sold over 4 million copies. Other hits included I'll Meet You Halfway, Doesn't Someone Want to Be Wanted and I Woke Up in Love This Morning.
Today in History -
On this day in 1789, Congress proposed twelve amendments to the Constitution of the United States. Habeas Corpus Christi and Freedom from Unreasonably Surging Seashores were ultimately rejected but the other ten passed and have come to be known as the "Bill of Rights."
In honor of this important anniversary, I have chosen to celebrate my favorite amendment, in the hopes that it may also soon be yours. I am speaking of the Ninth Amendment.
Like that of Beethoven, the Constitution's Ninth is the standard against which all others must be measured. Unlike Beethoven's, it doesn't climax with a resounding choral tribute to Joy (but that could be fixed).
Here is the ninth amendment: "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
This important amendment should not be neglected just because of some awkwardly placed commas.
Under the first amendment, for example, I have been given the right to say any stupid thing that pops into my head. (This should not be confused with the responsibility of doing so, which is reserved to journalists. Glenn Beck seems confused about this.) This is an enumerated right. My right not to have to listen to anyone else's idiotic opinion is not enumerated, but it's just as important.
In the second amendment, in order to preserve peace and order in the state, I have been granted the right to stockpile dangerous weapons. Unenumerated but no less important is my right not to be caught in the crossfire while you fire off a couple of clips at a Sunday School picnic. (The NRA generally seems to have missed this subtle point.)
Under the eighth amendment, I have the right not to be drawn and quartered, boiled in pitch, burned at the stake, or belittled by a British producer on national television. But this does not overrule my right to be entertained.
Let us all take a moment to give thanks to the Ninth Amendment, which preserves us not only from the tyranny of government, but the far more dangerous tyranny of one another.
September 25, 1890 -
The "1890 Manifesto", sometimes simply called "The Manifesto", is a statement which officially ceased the practice of plural marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
September 25, 1919 -
President Woodrow Wilson became seriously ill and collapsed after a speech today. The cause of his incapacitation was the physical strain of the demanding public speaking tour he undertook to obtain support of the American people for ratification of the Covenant of the League. After one of his final speeches to attempt to promote the League of Nations in Pueblo, Colorado, on this date, he collapsed. On October 2, 1919, Wilson suffered a serious stroke that almost totally incapacitated him, leaving him paralyzed on his left side and blind in his left eye. For at least a few months, he was confined to a wheelchair. Afterwards, he could walk only with the assistance of a cane. The full extent of his disability was kept from the public until after his death on February 3, 1924.
Remarkably, Wilson was, with few exceptions, kept out of the presence of Vice President Thomas R. Marshall, his cabinet or Congressional visitors to the White House for the remainder of his presidential term. His second wife, Edith, would continually tell people for the next five years that the President was in the bathroom and couldn't be disturbed. This was, as of 2013, the most serious case of presidential disability in American history and was later cited as a key example why ratification of the 25th Amendment and a large supply of TP at the White House was seen as important.
September 25, 1980 -
John Bonham, drummer for the seminal rock band, Led Zeppelin, actually did choke to death in his sleep on a regurgitated ham sandwich on this date.
The coroner's report concludes that it was his own vomit and no one else's.
September 25, 1981 -
Sandra Day O'Connor became the first female justice of the U.S. Supreme Court when she was sworn in as the 102nd justice on this date.
She had been nominated the previous July by President Ronald Reagan. (One of my faithful reader was one of her law clerks.)
There are 90 days until Christmas (I'm sure many of you have failed the naughty/ nice test already. Maybe you still have time.)
And so it goes
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