What He Said, (just don't send me to Arkansas)

A nice piece of music history....Today, 1959, legend Ray Charles releases the song, "What'd I Say. So you don't need to hear me yap about it, here it is to hear for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPP8w0wMRgQ

I loved baseball ever since arnold rothstien fixed the world series.

     This is a classic character, from a classic movie, played by a well known actor, turned acting coach. Today, 1982, Hyman Roth passes away at the age of '82. Well, not the character, but the actor who played him, passed away of a heart attack.
      Lee Strasberg, the actor who portrays Roth, was an established actor, who pioneered the concept of method acting.  He had long since been retired when F.F. Coppola and Al Pacino talked him into performing in the movie.  He had established working relationships already with Pacino and De Niro, as their acting coach.
      He will most notably be remembered as Hyman Roth, jewish gangster and friend to Moe Green, from the Godfather II.  So here's thinking of you today, and the great job you did, and besides if you need to, "I'd give four million just to take a piss without it hurting."

Patrick Henry

Today, in 1777, Patrick Henry became colonel of the First Virginia Battalion.  One of the South's premiere orators, he is well known for pushing for the Bill of Rights, and the "give me liberty or give me death," speech.  He was among the first to speak out against taxation without representation, and would commonly refer to the King as a tyrant.

He would later be elected as the first post-colonial governor of Virginia, and is considered a Founding Father of the country.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace²but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm

spud's for you

       Today in history, 1986,Tony Webb wins the  3rd NBA dunk contest.  OK, you know him better as Spud. I have to go with Spud Webb today, one for the little guy, since we are about the same height, considering the closest I came to dunking was a tennis ball.  So I know what it entails and give great credit.
       Webb would beat Dominique Wilkins, one of the NBA's all-time greatest Dunkers, better known as the, human highlight reel." Wilkins had bested Jordan the previous year and was the heavy favorite to win. However it wasn't his night and the 5'7" Webb prevailed with several stylish dunks, including a 360.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5wBI98NXEE

Check out the video on youtube

Hard Days Flight

Let it Be, album cover

      Today 1964, the band the Beatles, arrived in New York City for their first US. appearance.  If you have never heard of or listened to the Beatles, you should check them out.  I think they have finally gotten their music on I tunes recently so you might be able to find them there. Always a good sign for an up and coming band to get on iTunes. I think they will be a success. 

       The US tour would take them from the highly successful and famous appearance on the Ed Sullivan show to Washington DC.  The first Sullivan show was so successful, Ed would book them for two more occasions that month. The tour was an overall success for the band, who had scored with, " I want to hold your hand", as a #1, a few weeks before.  The rest is Beatlemania history...
Admittedly, it would be very interesting to hear any stories of people that seen them live, or just general stories about them. Maybe where you were when you first heard them or your thoughts and take on Lennon's death for example.  So go break out that old '45  of "Hard Day's Night" or dust off the copy of "Let it Be", and enjoy your day, trapped in Beatle history.

Father of our Country...(if he seen it today might ask for a paternity test)

George Washington elected President....Twice...February 4, 1789 and 1792. Becoming the first and only person elected by a unanimous vote by the electoral college, John Adams finishes a distant second, to become the Vice President. It wasn't much of a campaign in today's sense of the word, because of Washington's popularity.  In those days, the electoral college placed two names on the ballot before turning them in.  The top name getter became President, while the name getting the second number of votes won the Vice Presidency.  Washington would win unanimously, and John Adams finished with the second amount of votes out of twelve other people. The process would basically repeat itself for the election of 1792...before the process of placing two names on the ballot is changed to, one for President and one for VP.