Monthly Archives: January 2023

In Remembrance – Space Shuttle Challenger & Crew

Posted on January 28, 2023 by James| Comments Off

On January 28, 1986 at 11:39 EST, the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds into its flight after an O-ring seal in its right solid rocket booster (SRB) failed at liftoff. All seven astronauts on board were lost.

Challenger STS-51 at Launch — Challenger launches on its final mission, STS-51.

Challenger STS-51 Crew — The crew of STS-51. Front row, from left to right: Smith, Scobee, and McNair. Back row, from left to right: Onizuka, McAuliffe, Jarvis, and Resnik.

Challenger STS-51 Mission Patch — STS-51 mission patch.

Wikipedia Link

Posted in Because I Can, On This Day, Patriotic, Planes Trains and Automobiles

I know nothing! Thank you, John Banner!

Posted on January 28, 2023 by James| Comments Off

John Banner (January 28, 1910 – January 28, 1973)

John Banner, born Johann Banner, was born on this date 112 years ago and died 49 years ago at the age of 63. He is best known for his role as Master Sergeant Schultz in the situation comedy Hogan’s Heroes (1965–1971). Schultz, constantly encountering evidence that the inmates of his stalag were planning mayhem, frequently feigned ignorance with the catchphrase, “I know nothing! I see nothing! I hear nothing!” (or, more commonly as the series went on, “I see nothing, nothing!”).

Thank you for years of entertainment!

Posted in Because I Can, Humor, The Little Screen (Television)

Frisbee!

Posted on January 23, 2023 by James| Comments Off

On this day in 1957, machines at the Wham-O toy company roll out the first batch of their aerodynamic plastic discs–now known to millions of fans all over the world as Frisbees.

Posted in Because I Can, On This Day

Fast Food: The Fast Lane of Life

Posted on January 22, 2023 by James| Comments Off

Posted in Because I Can, Food

Stout Scarab

Posted on January 21, 2023 by James| Comments Off

Taken from Hagerty:

“The world’s first minivan.” Few automotive honors are less sexy than that dubious title. Unless, of course, you look like the 1930s Stout Scarab. The Art Deco, aerodynamic, head-turning multi-passenger vehicle created a stir eight decades ago. Its powers have not waned.

Read the rest of the story over on the Hagerty website.

Posted in Because I Can, Planes Trains and Automobiles

Tom Scott was (gulp) wrong?!

Posted on January 20, 2023 by James| Comments Off

Posted in Because I Can

RIP David Crosby

Posted on January 19, 2023 by James| Comments Off

David Crosby (August 14, 1941 – January 19, 2023)

Per Wikipedia:

David Van Cortlandt Crosby was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Crosby joined the Byrds in 1964. They had their first number-one hit in April 1965 with a cover of “Mr. Tambourine Man” by Bob Dylan. Crosby appeared on the Byrds’ first five albums and produced the original lineup’s 1973 reunion album. He subsequently formed Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1968 with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash.

Wikipedia Link

Posted in Because I Can, Music, News

Edgar Allan Poe

Posted on January 19, 2023 by James| Comments Off

Edgar Allan Poe was an American poet, short story writer, editor, critic and one of the leaders of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of the macabre, Poe was one of the early American practitioners of the short story and a progenitor of detective fiction and crime fiction. He is also credited with contributing to narrative forms of the emergent science fiction genre.

Wikipedia Link

Posted in Because I Can, Literary

Racoon tries to catch falling snow

Posted on January 18, 2023 by James| Comments Off

Posted in Because I Can, Critters, Humor

Two-Legged Fox spotted

Posted on January 17, 2023 by James| Comments Off

Residents Phil and Jane Carter spotted a rare two-legged fox foraging for food in their Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England garden on December 17, 2022. The nimble vulpine had no trouble getting around the garden and certainly could easily run away, sprinting upright.

Elvis Presley

Posted on January 8, 2023 by James| Comments Off

Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known mononymously as Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll” or simply “the King”.

Posted in Because I Can, Music, The Big Screen

It’s a Wonderful Life

Posted on January 7, 2023 by James| Comments Off

It’s a Wonderful Life is a 1946 Frank Capra film, produced by his own Liberty Films and released originally by RKO Radio Pictures. Dubbed by the American Film Institute one of the best films ever made, it placed #1 on AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Cheers, a list of the most inspirational American movies of all time. It ranks 11th on AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movies, a list of the greatest American films. The film has also been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
The movie is the story of the life of everyman George Bailey, as told to his guardian angel Clarence Oddbody, who has been recruited to save him in his moment of need.