In 1972, Kurt Waldheim became Secretary General of the United Nations; President Nixon visited China and met with Mao Zedong; Pioneer 10 became the first man-made spacecraft to leave the solar system; Five White House operatives were arrested for breaking into the offices of the Democratic National Committee; On Bloody Friday, twenty-two bombs planted by… Continue reading Four years before America’s bicentennial: A look back at 1972
Tag: Science Fiction
Time to phone home: A look back at 1982
In 1982, Elk Cloner, the first computer virus, was created; Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands; The World’s Fair was held in Knoxville; Fahd became King of Saudi Arabia; Italy won the World Cup; The first CDs were created in Germany; Yuri Andropov became Secretary General of the Communist Party; Michael Jackson released Thriller; Barney Clark… Continue reading Time to phone home: A look back at 1982
Welcome to the world, Department of Homeland Security: A look back at 2002
In 2002, The euro was introduced; Queen Elizabeth II celebrated fifty years on the throne; The 2002 Winter Olympics were held in Salt Lake City; East Timor gained independence; John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo killed seventeen people in the DC sniper attacks; The SARS epidemic began; The Department of Homeland Security was created;… Continue reading Welcome to the world, Department of Homeland Security: A look back at 2002
The year the towers fell: A look back at 2001
In 2001, American Online and Time Warner merged; Wikipedia launched; George W. Bush became the 43rd President of the United States; Hijackers crashed America Airlines flight 11 and United Airlines flight 175 into the World Trade Center; Nintendo released the Gamecube; Apple introduced the iPod; Microsoft released the Xbox; Enron declared bankruptcy; Mister Roger’s Neighborhood aired… Continue reading The year the towers fell: A look back at 2001
Once upon a time, I wrestled while you slept
The Wrestler (2008) For those of us who remember wrestling in the Hulk Hogan heyday, this is a powerful counterpoint, highlighting the physical and emotional toll of being a wrestling performer. Constant touring, being away from your family, broken bones, and concussions are only a few of the features of the profession. And most wrestlers aren’t… Continue reading Once upon a time, I wrestled while you slept
The wall came tumbling down: A look back at 1989
In 1989: The Nissan Infiniti and Toyota Lexus debuted; George H.W. Bush was sworn in as the 41st President of the United States; Ayotollah Khomeini issued a fatwah against author Salman Rushdie; The Exxon Valdez ran aground and spilled 240,000 barrels of oil; Chinese students began massive protests in Tiananmen Square; Nintendo released the Gameboy;… Continue reading The wall came tumbling down: A look back at 1989
When American turned 203: A look back at 1979
In 1979: The Dukes of Hazzard debuted on CBS and ESPN launched; Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi fled Iran; Michigan State defeated Indiana State in the NCAA Championship game; The nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island suffered a meltdown; Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Micronesia and Kiribati became independent nations; McDonald’s introduced… Continue reading When American turned 203: A look back at 1979
The thin man and OJ ate some grass
The Thin Man Goes Home (1945) When famed married detectives Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell and Myrna Loy) visit his parents, they are unwillingly pulled into yet another caper in the fifth and penultimate film of the Thin Man series. Just like every other detective series from Agatha Christie to Scooby Doo, you know Nick… Continue reading The thin man and OJ ate some grass
“That’ll never happen”: A look back at 2016
In 2016: The United Kingdom voted in a nationwide referendum to leave the European Union; The Olympics were held in Rio de Janeiro; Donald Trump was elected President of the United States of America; Peyton Manning retired from professional football; The Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a three games to one deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors… Continue reading “That’ll never happen”: A look back at 2016
America entered its twenty second decade: A look back at 1986
In 1986, Pixar Animation Studios opened; Halley’s Comet made its second visit to our solar system in the twentieth century; The The Legend of Zelda was released; A mishandled safety test at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant killed over 4000 people; The Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds after launch; Len Bias died of a cocaine overdose 48 hours after being… Continue reading America entered its twenty second decade: A look back at 1986