Year: 2016

  • Winter Olympics: A Sports Tradition Since 1924

    Please consider supporting the show through Patreon.com On this date in 1924, the first Winter Olympics opened in Chamonix, France. Here are some things you may not have known about the Winter Olympics. The first Winter Olympics weren’t originally considered Olympics at all. Bowing to pressure from winter sports federations, the International Olympic Committee decided to hold what…

  • Macintosh “1984” Ad: A Smashing Success

    On this date in 1984 the Apple Macintosh computer was introduced with a commercial during the Super Bowl. Here are a few things you may not have known about Apple, the Macintosh and the iconic advertisement. Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Let’s talk about Ronald Wayne for…

  • DeLorean: A Man, a Car, a Deal Gone Wrong

    On this date in 1981, the first DeLorean DMC-12 rolled off the production line. Here are some things you may not have known about the car made famous as the time machine in “Back the the Future.” Company founder John DeLorean was well known for his work at General Motors. He designed the Pontiac GTO,…

  • Hawaii and the U.S.: An Arranged Marriage

    On this date in 1887, the United States Congress voted to allow the U.S. Navy to lease Pearl Harbor in Hawaii for a naval base. Here are some things you may not have known about the history of the relationship between Hawaii and the United States. On January 18, 1788, Captain James Cook of Great…

  • Janis Joplin: A Powerful Voice Gone Too Soon

    Today would have been the 73rd birthday of singer-songwriter Janis Joplin. Here are some things you may not have known about her. She was born in Port Arthur, Texas. Her mother worked at a business college and her father was an engineer for Texaco. As a teenager, she sang in a local choir and began…

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day: The Origins

      Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States. Here are some things you may not have known about the holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader. The idea of a holiday honoring King began shortly after he was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. In the early days, the…

  • Great Molasses Flood: A Sticky and Deadly Situation

    On this date in 1919, a massive storage tank failed, sending more than 2 million gallons of molasses through the streets of Boston, killing 21 people and injuring 150 others. Here are some things you may not have known about the Great Molasses Flood. The tank, which was owned by Purity Distilling Company was 50…

  • “Today” Show: A Morning News Pioneer

    Today is the 64th anniversary of NBC’s “Today” show. Here are some things you may not have known about “Today” and the morning news shows that followed. The show was created by NBC vice president Pat Weaver, who is the father of actress Sigourney Weaver. One of the proposed names for the show was “The…

  • Sick Day: No Show Today

    As you can probably tell from my voice, I’m a bit under the weather, so there won’t be a show today. You probably don’t want to listen to me sounding like this anymore than I want to be talking. Before I go, let me remind you of this week’s take-home test: What was name of…

  • David Bowie: A Legend Passes

    Rock icon David Bowie died earlier today at the age of 69, according to his family Here are some facts you may not have known about the musical innovator. Bowie was born David Jones in Brixton, South London on January 8, 1947. His mother worked as a waitress and his father worked for a charity.…