Interrogatories
In the Bush Jr. presidency, do you think Bush was in control of his agenda, or do you think his agenda was controlled by others, and if the latter, who do you think was controlling?
What kind of souvenirs do you collect on your travels?
What sounds do you hear around you right now?
The Twitter Emitter
Some educators, who are quick to say "These students just don't want to learn”, should instead be saying "I suck at my job”.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) January 8, 2014
Instead of voting Republican, why not just poison your own water and blow up your own factory?
— Peter Flom (@peterflom) February 15, 2014
So the Florida rules are: No hoodies, no Skittles, no loud music, and especially — don't be black. #DunnTrial
— Barracks O'Bama (@P0TUS) February 15, 2014
There is something really wrong when a white man's right to fear is more valued than a black man's right to live. #DunnTrial #JordanDavis
— Kristen Howerton (@kristenhowerton) February 16, 2014
Hypothesis: the people who most want to carry are the very last people on earth who should be allowed to carry.
— davidfrum (@davidfrum) February 16, 2014
Homeopathic air capsules. Take 2 a day for 14 days at $7.50 each. Natural Organic Gluten-free Homeopathic Air. EZ Terms. Layway! Call me!
— Justice Putnam (@justiceputnam) February 16, 2014
So MTP has become the Dancing With The Stars for past-their-prime politicians? #saygoodbyeMitt
— Sam Seaborn (@SamSeaborn) February 16, 2014
Johnny Weir makes me painfully aware of my acute unfabulousness.
— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) February 16, 2014
Did Bill Nye bring a signed note from Jesus saying climate change is real? If not, he lost.
— William K. Wolfrum (@Wolfrum) February 16, 2014
There's no more dangerous creature in the world than a person who is willing to proclaim ignorance in support of an ideology.
— kara vallow (@teenagesleuth) February 16, 2014
On This Day
In 1621, Myles Standish was appointed as first commander of Plymouth colony.
In 1801, an electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr was resolved when Jefferson was chosen as President and Burr made Vice President by the House of Representatives.
In 1964, in Wesberry v. Sanders, the Supreme Court ruled that congressional districts have to be approximately equal in population. If only they’d ruled that they have to make geographic sense, too.
In 1996, world chess champion Garry Kasparov beat IBM supercomputer “Deep Blue,” winning a six-game match in Philadelphia.
In 2002, the new Transportation Security Administration took over supervision of aviation security from the airline industry and the Federal Aviation Administration.
In 2005, President George W. Bush named John Negroponte to be the first national intelligence director.
In 2009, President Barack Obama signed a $757 billion economic stimulus package into law.
Born on This Day
1519 – Francis, Duke of Guise, French soldier and politician (d. 1563)
1524 – Charles of Guise, French cardinal (d. 1574)
1675 – Dirk Valkenburg, Dutch painter (d. 1727)
1754 – Nicolas Baudin, French explorer (d. 1803)
1774 – Raphaelle Peale, American painter (d. 1825)
1800 – Ludovico Lipparini, Italian painter (d. 1856)
1821 – Lola Montez, Irish dancer (d. 1861)
1837 – Pierre Auguste Cot, French academic painter (d. 1883)
1877 – André Maginot, French politician (d. 1932)
1910 – Arthur Hunnicutt, American actor (d. 1979) and epitome of the “grizzled prospector” character.
1911 – Orrin Tucker, American bandleader and composer (d. 2011)
1912 – Andre Norton, American author (d. 2005)
1914 – Arthur Kennedy, American actor (d. 1990)
1916 – Raf Vallone, Italian actor (d. 2002)
1919 – Kathleen Freeman, American actress (d. 2001)
1920 – Curt Swan, American comics artist (d. 1996)
1922 – Enrico Banducci, American nightclub owner (d. 2007)
1925 – Hal Holbrook, American actor
1928 – Marta Romero, Puerto Rican actress and singer (d. 2013)
1929 – Chaim Potok, American author (d. 2002)
1930 – Ruth Rendell, English mystery writer, whose Inspector Wexford series is great, and whose standalone mysteries as well as those written under the name Barbara Vine are also excellent.
1934 – Alan Bates, English actor (d. 2003)
1942 – Huey P. Newton, American political activist (d. 1989)
1946 – Dodie Stevens, American singer
1949 – Fred Frith, English musician and composer (Henry Cow, Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew)
1954 – Rene Russo, American actress
1962 – David McComb, Australian musician (The Triffids) (d. 1999)
1963 – Michael Jordan, American basketball player
1966 – Michael Lepond, American musician (Symphony X)
1972 – Billie Joe Armstrong, American musician (Green Day)
1972 – Taylor Hawkins, American musician (Foo Fighters and Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders)
1981 – Joseph Gordon-Levitt, American actor
1981 – Paris Hilton, American heiress, famous for being rich
Died on This Day
1554 – Giuliano Bugiardini, Italian painter (b. 1475)
1600 – Giordano Bruno, Italian philosopher (burned at the stake) (b. 1548)
1609 – Ferdinando I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (b. 1549)
1781 – Jacques Dumont le Romain, French painter (b. 1701)
who knew and was painted by…
1788 – Maurice Quentin de la Tour, French portrait painter (b. 1704)
so let’s kill two painters with one brush, here’s le Romain by de la Tour:
1847 – William Collins, English landscape and genre painter (b. 1788)
1854 – John Martin, English painter (b. 1789)
1875 – Léopold Fertbauer, Austrian painter (b. 1802)
1909 – Geronimo, Apache leader (b. 1829)
1943 – Konstantin Bogaevsky, Russian painter (b. 1872)
1943 – Armand J. Piron, American jazz violinist and composer (b. 1888)
1944 – Fausto Agnelli, Italian painter (b. 1879)
1961 – Nita Naldi, American actress (b. 1897)
1966 – Gail Kane, American actress (b. 1885)
1980 – Graham Sutherland, English etcher, lithographer, and painter (b. 1903)
1982 – Thelonious Monk, American jazz pianist (b. 1917)
1982 – Lee Strasberg, Austrian-born actor (b. 1901)
1987 – Verree Teasdale, American actress (b. 1903)
1988 – María Antonia Dans, Spanish painter (b. 1922)
1994 – Randy Shilts, American author and activist (b. 1951)
2006 – Bill Cowsill, American singer (The Cowsills) (b. 1948)
2010 – Kathryn Grayson, American actress and singer (b. 1922)
Today is
Champion Crab Races Day
National Cafe au Lait Day
National Cabbage Day
Random Acts of Kindness Day
My Way Day
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