I’m so pretty when I'm dancing.

Hey, that could be a dangerous weapon, but isn’t that an oxymoron? Or is it a redundancy?

Margarine - Should I Use It to Lube the Car?

Go au naturale or not go au naturale? That's a question. Use butter or use margarine? That's another question. This source says to try this experiment with a container of margarine:

"Open it, then leave it in your garage or in another shaded area. Within a couple of days, you will notice a few things: First, it doesn't rot or smell different. Second, nothing will grow on it. And finally, no bugs-not even those pesky fruit flies--will go near it. That should tell you something."

Well, even if it turned out as stated, does that make margarine a bad thing? I suppose that one could take some calcium or iron or magnesium or zinc and put it in the garage and see if anything ate it. Just because nothing touched it, doesn't make it "bad" for you, does it?

Tell me how it turns out.

Let's get a Christian.

Christopher Fry died today – 3 years ago

Author (of the play The Lady’s Not for Burning) Christopher Fry was born as Christopher Harris on December 18, 1907 in Bristol, England. He said, “What after all, is a halo? It's only one more thing to keep clean." [But it can be so impressive.]... Mr. Fry died on June 30, 2005 in Chichester, England.

Buddy Hackett died today – 5 years ago

Comedian and actor (in The Music Man and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In) Buddy Hackett was born as Leonard Hacker on August 31, 1924 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. He said, “I've had a few arguments with people, but I never carry a grudge. You know why? While you're carrying a grudge, they're out dancing." [Yep. They can be heavy.]... Mr. Hackett died on June 30, 2003 in Malibu, California.

Chet Atkins died today – 7 years ago

Guitarist Chester Burton "Chet" Atkins was born on June 20, 1924 in Luttrell, Tennessee. He said, “A long apprenticeship is the most logical way to success. The only alternative is overnight stardom, but I can't give you a formula for that." [Darn!]... Mr. Atkins died on June 30, 2001 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Gale Gordon died today – 13 years ago

Actor (in I Love Lucy, Our Miss Brooks, Dennis the Menace, The Lucy Show, Here’s Lucy, and Brothers) Gale Gordon was born as Charles T. Aldrich, Jr. on February 20, 1906 in New York City, New York. He said, “I think anybody who has been in the theater, prefers it. Television is a... factory. You turn out things on a revolving assembly line. You don't have time to perfect anything in television.” [It’s fast, fast, fast, fast, fast.]… Mr. Gordon died on June 30, 1995 in Escondido, California.

Phyllis Hyman died today – 13 years ago

Singer (of “Living All Alone”, “Old Friend”, and many other songs) Phyllis Hyman was born on July 6, 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She said, “Oh, I'm a ballad queen for sure... I don't dig dance stuff very much but I seem to hit the charts with it. Go figure...” [It takes all kinds.]… Ms. Hyman died on June 30, 1995 in New York City, New York.

George “Spanky” McFarland died today – 15 years ago

Actor (in Our Gang Follies of 1936 and Our Gang Follies of 1938) George Robert Phillips "Spanky" McFarland was born on October 2, 1928 in Dallas, Texas. Mr. McFarland died on June 30, 1993 in Grapevine, Texas.

Lillian Hellman died today – 24 years ago

Author (of The Children’s Hour and The Little Foxes) Lillian Florence Hellman was born on June 20, 1905 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She said, “Cynicism is an unpleasant way of saying the truth." [And as Lily Tomlin said,”No matter how cynical you become, it's never enough to keep up.”]... Ms. Hellman died on June 30, 1984 in Tisbury, Massachusetts.

Lee De Forest died today – 47 years ago

Inventor (of the Audion vacuum tube) Lee De Forest was born on August 26, 1873 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He said, “While theoretically and technically television may be feasible, commercially and financially it is an impossibility." [He just didn't realize that people would find enough junk to sell on it.]... Mr. deForest died on June 30, 1961 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

Katharine Hepburn died today – 5 years ago

Actress (in On Golden Pond) Katharine Houghton Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907 in Hartford, Connecticut. She said, “If you obey all of the rules, you miss all of the fun." [There are just too many rules.]... Ms. Hepburn died on June 29, 2003 in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

Rosemary Clooney died today – 6 years ago

Singer (of Come on-a My House, Mambo Italiano, Blue Skies, Tenderly, This Ole House, and You’ll Never Know) and actress (in White Christmas) Rosemary Clooney was born on May 23, 1928 in Maysville, Kentucky. She said, “I remember Mitch Miller saying every week, This rock and roll stuff will never last. But one doesn't like to bring that up to Mitch." [Well, occasionally... sometimes... often... frequently... people get things wrong.]... Ms. Clooney died on June 29, 2002 in Beverly Hills, California.

William Hickey died today – 11 years ago

Actor (in Wings) William Edward Hickey was born on September 19, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Mr. Hickey died on June 29, 1997 in New York City, New York.





How about some other “wings”?

Lana Turner died today – 13 years ago

Actress (in Madame X) Lana Turner was born as Julia Jean Mildred Frances Turner on February 8, 1921 in Wallace, Idaho. She said, “It's said in Hollywood that you should always forgive your enemies - because you never know when you'll have to work with them." [Hollywood is full of such erudition.]... Ms. Turner died on June 29, 1995 in Century City, Los Angeles, California.

Irving Wallace died today – 18 years ago

Author (of The Prize and The Word) Irving Wallace was born on March 19, 1916 in Chicago, Illinois. He said, “Every man can transform the world from one of monotony and drabness to one of excitement and adventure.” [Or even more.]… Mr. Wallace died on June 29, 1990 in Los Angeles, California.

Bob Crane died today – 30 years ago

Actor (in Hogan’s Heroes) Robert Edward Crane was born on July 13, 1928 in Waterbury, Connecticut. Mr. Crane died on June 28, 1978 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Jayne Mansfield died today – 41 years ago

Actress (in It Happened in Athens and Promises! Promises!) Jayne Mansfield was born as Vera Jayne Palmer on April 19, 1933 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. She said, “If you're going to do something wrong, do it big, because the punishment is the same either way." [Or at least probably not proportional.]... Ms. Mansfield died in an automobile crash on June 29, 1967 near Slidell, Louisiana.

Paul Klee died today – 68 years ago

Painter (creating Cat and Bird) Paul Klee was born on December 18, 1879 in Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland. He said, “A line is a dot that went for a walk." [And a song is a note that went for a dance.]... Mr. Klee died on June 29, 1940 in Muralto, Switzerland.

Thomas Henry Huxley died today – 113 years ago

Biologist Thomas Henry Huxley was born on May 4, 1825 in Ealing, Middlesex, England. He was the father of Aldous Huxley and Julian Huxley. He said, “Agnosticism simply means that a man shall not say he knows or believes that for which he has no grounds for professing to believe." [So that’s it.]... Mr. Huxley died on June 29, 1895 in Eastbourne, Sussex, England.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning died today – 147 years ago

Author (of the poems Sonnets from the Portuguese) Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born on March 6, 1806 in Durham, England. She said, “What is genius but the power of expressing a new individuality?" [As long as it’s productive.]... Ms. Browning died on June 29, 1861 in Florence, Italy.

Mortimer J. Adler died today – 7 years ago

Philosopher and author (of How to Read a Book and Aristotle for Everybody: Difficult Thought Made Easy) Mortimer Jerome Adler was born on December 28, 1902 in New York City, New York. He said, “In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but how many can get through to you." [So that’s why some people read so few.]... Mr. Adler died on June 28, 2001 in Palo Alto, California.

Harry Mills died today – 26 years ago

Singer (with the Mills Brothers) Harry Mills was born on August 19, 1913 in Piqua, Ohio. He said, "Our dreams will live though we are apart" in the song Till Then... Mr. Mills died on June 28, 1982 in Los Angeles, California.

Rod Serling died today – 33 years ago

Author (of Twilight Zone episodes) Rodman Edward "Rod" Serling was born on December 25, 1924 in Syracuse, New York. He said, “It is difficult to produce a television documentary that is both incisive and probing when every twelve minutes one is interrupted by twelve dancing rabbits singing about toilet paper." [’Tis distracting. But if that documentary is about trees around Easter time, then...]... Mr. Serling died on June 28, 1975 in Rochester, New York.

Maria Mitchell died today – 119 years ago

Astronomer (discovering a comet) Maria Mitchell was born on August 1, 1818 in Nantucket, Massachusetts. She said, “I am always the better for open-air breathing, and was certainly meant for the wandering life of the Indian." [But it’d be kinda difficult carrying around that big telescope.]... Ms. Mitchell died on June 28, 1889 in Lynn, Massachusetts.

John Entwistle died today – 6 years ago

Bassist, singer, and songwriter (with The Who) John Alec Entwistle was born on October 9, 1944 in Chiswick, London, England. He said, “I ain't heard anyone play like I do in my band and I am very happy about that." [No hubris there.]... Mr. Entwistle died on June 27, 2002 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jack Lemmon died today – 7 years ago

Actor (in Some Like It Hot, The Odd Couple, and The China Syndrome) John Uhler “Jack” Lemmon III was born on February 8, 1925 in Newton, Massachusetts. He said, “Failure seldom stops you. What stops you is the fear of failure." [And don't forget it.]... Mr. Lemmon died on June 27, 2001 in Los Angeles, California.

Plutonium For Sale

The government of North Korea has announced plans to demolish a cooling tower at the Yongbyon nuclear reactor. They no longer need to manufacture their own plutonium. They might just buy it from the UK, or maybe China. or maybe the US, or maybe the water, or maybe NASA... NAH.

Liz Claiborne died today – 1 year ago

Fashion designer and entrepreneur (founding Liz Claiborne Inc.) Anne Elisabeth Jane "Liz" Claiborne was born on March 31, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium. She said, “If we don’t make it, it ain’t fashion.” [Well, she might have thought it.]… Ms. Claiborne died on June 26, 2007 in New York City, New York.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau died today – 11 years ago

Oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910 in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, Gironde. He said, “I believe that national sovereignties will shrink in the face of universal interdependence." [Think of what you have in common and what you can exchange with others, and then they may become your friends and not your endless enemies.]... Mr. Cousteau died on June 25, 1997 in Paris, France.

Johnny Mercer died today – 32 years ago

Songwriter-lyricist (of Autumn Leaves, The Glow-Worm, Moon River, Days of Wine and Roses, and many more songs) John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was born on November 18, 1909 in Savannah, Georgia. He said, “Once upon a time the world was sweeter than we knew. Everything was ours; how happy we were then, but then once upon a time never comes again." [Ah, yes... once upon a time.]... Mr. Mercer died on June 25, 1976 in Bel Air, California.

Patsy Ramsey died today – 2 years ago

Patricia Ann "Patsy" Ramsey was born on December 29, 1956 in Parkersburg, West Virginia. She was the mother of JonBenét Ramsey who died on December 26, 1996... Mrs. Ramsey said, ... well, listen for yourself here. Mrs. Ramsey died on June 24, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Paul Winchell died today – 3 years ago

Paul Winchell was born as Pinkus Wilchinski on December 21, 1922 in New York City, New York. Although probably best known as a ventriloquist, he was also an inventor, building an artificial heart. Mr. Winchell said, “Ventriloquism today is in a slump.” [So buy straighter wood.]… Mr. Winchell died on June 24, 2005 in Moorpark, California.

Brian Keith died today – 11 years ago

Actor (in Family Affair) Brian Keith was born as Robert Keith Richey, Jr. on November 14, 1921 in Bayonne, New Jersey. Mr. Keith died on June 24, 1997 in Malibu, California.

Jackie Gleason died today – 21 years ago

Actor (in Smokey and the Bandit) Jackie Gleason was born as Herbert Walton Gleason, Jr. on February 26, 1916 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York. He said, “Thin people are beautiful, but fat people are adorable." [Like furry kittens.]... Mr. Gleason died on June 24, 1987 in Lauderhill, Florida.

George Carlin died yesterday

Comedian George Denis Patrick Carlin was born on May 12, 1937 in Manhattan, New York City, New York. He said, “Dusting is a good example of the futility of trying to put things right. As soon as you dust, the fact of your next dusting has already been established.” [So don’t dust, plant seeds, and get an indoor garden.]... Mr. Carlin died on June 22, 2008 in Santa Monica, California.

Aaron Spelling died today – 2 years ago

Film and television producer (of Dynasty, Charlie’s Angels, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Hotel, and a LOT more) Aaron Spelling was born on April 22, 1923 in Dallas, Texas. He said, “You know what shows today are missing? Stars.” [And real characters.]… Mr. Spelling died on June 23, 2006 in Los Angeles, California.

Maureen O'Sullivan died today – 10 years ago

Actress (in Peggy Sue Got Married) Maureen Paula O’Sullivan was born on May 17, 1911 in Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland. She said, “We are going into places where men's minds are tangled worse that the worst underbrush in the jungle, and I'm afraid. More afraid than I've ever been in my life. Everywhere we'll be met with lies and deceit. Your honesty and directness will only be handicaps.” [Could it have been here?]...Ms. O’Sullivan died on June 23, 1998 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Jonas Salk died today – 13 years ago

Microbiologist (developing a polio vaccine) Jonas Edward Salk was born on October 28, 1914 in New York City, New York. He said, “I pictured myself as a virus or a cancer cell and tried to sense what it would be like." [Not too lonely, at times.]... Mr. Salk died on June 23, 1995 in La Jolla, California.

Ann Landers died today – 6 years ago

Advice-giver (for the Ann Landers column) Ann Landers was born as Esther "Eppie" Pauline Friedman Lederer on July 4, 1918 in Sioux City, Iowa. She said, “Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful." [It just might be trying to trick you into giving it something. So get a second opinion. Ask the cat.]... Ms. Landers died on June 22, 2002 in Chicago, Illinois.

Fred Astaire died today – 21 years ago

Dancer (in Shall We Dance), actor (in Finian’s Rainbow), and singer Fred Astaire was born as Frederick Austerlitz on May 10, 1899 in Omaha, Nebraska. He said, “Disco is just jitterbug." [Perhaps the way he did it.]... Mr. Astaire died on June 22, 1987 in Los Angeles, California.

Judy Garland died today – 39 years ago

Singer (of Over the Rainbow and You Made Me Love You) and actress (in The Wizard of Oz and A Star is Born) Judy Garland was born as Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. She had been married to David Ross, Vincente Minelli, Sidney Luft, Mark Herron, and Mickey Deans. Ms. Garland said, “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." [Imitation may be flattery, but we've got way too much fake back-pattin' goin' on.]... Ms. Garland died on June 22, 1969 in Chelsea, London, England.

David O. Selznick died today – 43 years ago

Producer (of Gone with the Wind and Rebecca) David O. Selznick was born on May 10, 1902 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He said, “I never ate of the grapes nor feared of the eruptions." [He must have been around Pompeii at the time.]... Mr. Selznick died on June 22, 1965 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

Bob Evans died today – 1 year ago

Entrepreneur (founding the Bob Evans Restaurants) Bob Evans was born on May 30, 1918 in Sugar Ridge, Ohio. He said, “Eat at Bob Evans Restaurants.” [Oh, come on. Of course he said it.]… Mr. Evans died on June 21, 2007 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Leon Uris died today – 5 years ago

Author (of Exodus and Trinity) Leon Marcus Uris was born on August 3, 1924 in Baltimore, Maryland. He said, “Often we have no time for our friends but all the time in the world for our enemies.” [What a shame!]… Mr. Uris died on June 21, 2003 on Shelter Island, New York.

Carroll O'Connor died today – 7 years ago

Actor (in All in the Family and Archie Bunker’s Place) Carroll O’Connor was born on August 2, 1924 in the Bronx, New York. He said, “It was a lack of system that made the '30s Depression as inevitable as all others previously suffered." [He should have read Murray N. Rothbard's "America's Great Depression".]... Mr. O’Connor died on June 21, 2001 in Culver City, California.

Bert Kaempfert died today – 28 years ago

Orchestra leader and songwriter (of Strangers in the Night and Spanish Eyes) Bert Kaempfert was born as Berthold Kämpfert on October 16, 1923 in Hamburg, Germany. He died on June 21, 1980 in Majorca.

Niccolò Machiavelli died today – 481 years ago

Author (of The Prince and Discourses on Livy) Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469 in Florence, Italy. He said, “Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions." [It’s a good thing that women aren’t that way.]... Mr. Machiavelli died on June 21, 1527 in Florence, Italy.

Estelle Winwood died today – 24 years ago

Actress (in Blithe Spirit, The Swan, and The Misfits) Estelle Winwood was born as Estelle Goodwin on January 24, 1883 in Lee, Kent, England. She said, “My advice to actresses is don't worry about your looks. The very thing that makes you unhappy in your appearance may be the one thing to make you a star.” [Yep. We need characters, not perfection.]... Ms. Winwood died on June 20, 1984 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California.

Howard Johnson died today – 36 years ago

Entrepreneur (founding Howard Johnson's) Howard Deering Johnson was born on February 2, 1897 in Boston, Massachusetts. He said, “Eat and sleep under the same roof… just like at home.” [Well, he probably thought it.]... Mr. Johnson died on June 20, 1972.

Bobby Helms died today – 11 years ago

Singer (of My Special Angel and Jingle Bell Rock) Bobby Helms was born as Robert Lee Helms on August 15, 1933 in Bloomington, Indiana. He died on June 19, 1997 in Martinsville, Indiana.

William Golding died today – 15 years ago

Author (of Lord of the Flies and the trilogy To the Ends of the Earth) William Gerald Golding was born on September 19, 1911 in St Columb Minor, Cornwall, UK. He said, “Sleep is when all the unsorted stuff comes flying out as from a dustbin upset in a high wind." [The brain's gotta sweep up somehow.]... Mr. Golding died on June 19, 1993 in Perranarworthal, Cornwall, England.

Ed Wynn died today – 42 years ago

Comedian and actor (in Mary Poppins) Ed Wynn was born as Isaiah Edwin Leopold on November 9, 1886 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He said, “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Heck, I'll take that and more!" [That’s right.]... Mr. Wynn died on June 19, 1966 in Beverly Hills, California.

John Dalberg Acton died today – 106 years ago

Historian John Dalberg Acton was born on January 10, 1834 in Naples, Italy. He said, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” [OK. It’s old. But it’s still true.]... Mr. Acton died on June 19, 1902 in Tegernsee, Germany.

Nancy Marchand died today – 8 years ago

Actress (in Lou Grant and Jefferson in Paris) Nancy Marchand was born on June 19, 1928 in Buffalo, New York. She died on June 18, 2000 in Stratford, Connecticut.

Peter Allen died today – 16 years ago

Songwriter (of Don't Cry Out Loud, I Go to Rio, and I Honestly Love You) Peter Allen was born as Peter Allen Woolnough on February 10, 1944 in Tenterfield, New South Wales. He had been married to Liza Minnelli. Mr. Allen said, “Medical research in the twentieth century mostly takes place in the lab; in the Renaissance, though, researchers went first and foremost to the library to see what the ancients had said." [You have to go somewhere.]... Mr. Allen died on June 18, 1992 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Pamela Hansford Johnson died today – 27 years ago

Author (of The Honours Board) Pamela Hansford Johnson was born on May 29, 1912 in London, England. She said, “We demand that people should be true to the pictures we have of them, no matter how repulsive those pictures may be: we prefer the true portrait in all its homogeneity, to one with a detail added which refuses to fit in." [Of course.]... Ms. Johnson died on June 18, 1981 in London, England.

Maxim Gorky died today – 72 years ago

Author (of Children of the Sun) Maxim Gorky was born as Aleksey Maksimovich Peshkov on March 28, 1868 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Empire. He said, “When everything is easy, one quickly gets stupid." [It helps.]... Mr. Gorky died on June 18, 1936 in Moscow, USSR.

Samuel Butler died today – 106 years ago

Author (of Erewhon and The Way of All Flesh) Samuel Butler was born on December 4, 1835 near Bingham, Nottinghamshire, England. He said, “Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on." [Just so long as you practice enough.]... Mr. Butler died on June 18, 1902 in London, England.

Kate Smith died today – 22 years ago

Singer (of When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain) Kathryn Elizabeth "Kate" Smith was born on May 1, 1907 in Greenville, Virginia. She said, “An entertainer should in his public performance keep himself out of any controversy, political or otherwise.” [Oh, go ahead. Speak your mind.]... Ms. Smith died on June 17, 1986 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Jeff Chandler died today – 47 years ago

Actor (in Return to Peyton Place) Jeff Chandler was born as Ira Grossel on December 15, 1918 in Brooklyn, New York. He died on June 17, 1961 in Culver City, California.

Dorothy Miller Richardson died today – 51 years ago

Author (of the Pilgrimage novels) Dorothy Miller Richardson was born on May 17, 1873 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England. She said, “Coercion. The unpardonable crime.” [Wow!]... Ms. Richardson died on June 17, 1957 in Beckenham, Kent, England.

George Reeves died today – 49 years ago

Actor (in the Adventures of Superman) George Reeves was born as George Keefer Brewer on January 5, 1914 in Woolstock, Iowa. He said, “Knock the 't' off the 'can't'.” [And the “n’t” off the “don’t” and then Do It!]… Mr. Reeves died on June 16, 1959 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California.

David Stotlar died today – 5 years ago

Choral director David Stotlar was born around 1957 in Herrin, Illinois. He died on June 15, 2003 in Texas.

Hume Cronyn died today – 5 years ago

Actor (in Cocoon, and Sea People) Hume Blake Cronyn was born on July 18, 1911 in London, Ontario, Canada. He said, “The whole business of marshaling one's energies becomes more and more important as one grows older." [Thanks for telling me.]... Mr. Cronyn died on June 15, 2003 in Fairfield, Connecticut. (His wife Jessica Tandy had died on September 11, 1994.)

Ella Fitzgerald died today – 12 years ago

Singer (of How High The Moon) Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917 in Newport News, Virginia. She said, “It isn't where you came from, it's where you're going that counts." [Amen!]... Ms. Fitzgerald died on June 15, 1996 in Beverly Hills, California.

Victor French died today – 19 years ago

Actor (in Little House on the Prairie and Highway to Heaven) Victor French was born on December 4, 1934 in Santa Barbara, California. He died on June 15, 1989 in Los Angeles, California.

Meredith Willson died today – 24 years ago

Playwright and songwriter (of The Music Man) Robert Meredith Willson was born on May 18, 1902 in Mason City, Iowa. He said, “Barbershop quartet singing is four guys tasting the holy essence of four individual mechanisms coming into complete agreement.” [Don’t think so? Then check this out.]… Mr. Willson died on June 15, 1984 in Santa Monica, California.

Peter McWilliams died today – 8 years ago

Author (of Do It! Let's Get Off Our Buts, Life 101: Everything We Wish We Had Learned About Life in School -- But Didn't, You Can't Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought, and Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do: The Absurdity of Consensual Crimes in a Free Society) Peter Alexander McWilliams was born on August 5, 1949 in Michigan. He said, “We are all, right now, living the life we choose.” [So let’s make some better choices.]... Mr. McWilliams died on June 14, 2000 in California.

Rory Gallagher died today – 13 years ago

Guitarist Rory Gallagher was born on March 2, 1948 in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland. He died on June 14, 1995 in London, England.

Henry Mancini died today – 14 years ago

Composer (of Moon River, The Pink Panther Theme, and Lujon) Henry Mancini was born as Enrico Nicola Mancini on April 16, 1924 in Cleveland, Ohio. He said, “If it calls for a Madison or a Twist, I'll do it. And if it calls for a tone row or anything in surreal music I'll do that, too. But the dance band is what has given me the kind of little edge towards the jazz field.” [OK.]... Mr. Mancini died on June 14, 1994 in Los Angeles, California.

Alan Jay Lerner died today – 22 years ago

Lyricist (of the musicals Brigadoon, Paint Your Wagon, My Fair Lady, Gigi, Camelot, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) Alan Jay Lerner was born on August 31, 1918 in New York City, New York. He said, “Coughing in the theater is not a respiratory ailment. It is a criticism.” [It could be, so listen carefully... if you can.]... Mr. Lerner died on June 14, 1986 in New York City, New York.

Marlin Perkins died today – 22 years ago

Zoologist and TV host (of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom) Richard Marlin Perkins was born on March 28, 1905 in Carthage, Missouri. He said, “Beware of the wild things.” [Well, he might have said it.]... Mr. Perkins died on June 14, 1986 in Clayton, Missouri.

G. K. Chesterton died today – 72 years ago

Author (of The Man Who Was Thursday and The Ballad of the White Horse) Gilbert Keith Chesterton was born on May 29, 1874 in London, England. He said, “A man who says that no patriot should attack the war until it is over... is saying no good son should warn his mother of a cliff until she has fallen." [Wow!]... Mr. Chesterton died on June 14, 1936 in Beaconsfield, England.

Reg Smythe died today – 10 years ago

Cartoonist (creating Andy Capp) Reginald "Reg" Smythe was born on July 10, 1917 in Hartlepool, England. He died on June 13, 1998 in Hartlepool, England.

Fran Allison died today – 19 years ago

Comedian (in the Kukla, Fran and Ollie show) and singer Fran Allison was born on November 20, 1907 in La Porte City, Iowa. She said,… well, check it out for yourself… Ms. Allison died on June 13, 1989 in Sherman Oaks, California.

Geraldine Page died today – 21 years ago

Actress (in The Trip to Bountiful) Geraldine Sue Page was born on November 22, 1924 in Kirksville, Missouri. She said, “I guess when you've lived longer than your house and your family, then you've lived long enough.” [Especially if that house was made of stone.]… Ms. Page died on June 13, 1987 in New York City, New York.

Benny Goodman died today – 22 years ago

Clarinetist and bandleader Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was born on May 30, 1909 in Chicago, Illinois. He said, “Sometimes when you start losing detail, whether it's in music or in life, something as small as failing to be polite, you start to lose substance.” [Character is in the details.]… Mr. Goodman died on June 13, 1986 in New York City, New York.

Alexander III of Macedon died Tuesday – 2,331 years ago

Alexander III of Macedon (or Alexander the Great or the Terrible) was born on July 20, 356 BC in Pella, Macedon. He said, “Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters." [On the two suns thing, perhaps not... On the masters thing, how about none?]... Alexander III of Macedon died on June 10, 323 BC in Babylon.

Gregory Peck died today – 5 years ago

Actor (in The Yearling and Arabesque) Eldred Gregory Peck was born on April 5, 1916 in La Jolla, California. He said, “Tough times don't last, tough people do, remember?” [And don't ya' forget it.]... Mr. Peck died on June 12, 2003 in Los Angeles, California.

Bill Blass died today – 6 years ago

Fashion designer William Ralph “Bill” Blass was born on June 22, 1922 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He said, “When in doubt wear red." [Thanks for the tip.]... Mr. Blass died on June 12, 2002 in New Preston, Connecticut.

Ronald Goldman died today – 14 years ago

Ronald Lyle Goldman was born on July 2, 1968 in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Mr. Goldman was murdered on June 12, 1994 in Los Angeles, California.

Norma Shearer died today – 25 years ago

Actress (in Marie Antoinette) Edith Norma Shearer was born on August 10, 1902 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She said, “An adventure may be worn as a muddy spot or it may be worn as a proud insignia. It is the woman wearing it who makes it the one thing or the other." [So don’t be afraid to get a little dirty.]... Ms. Shearer died on June 12, 1983 in Woodland Hills, California.

William C. Bryant died today – 130 years ago

Author (of the poem Thanatopsis) William Cullen Bryant was born on November 3, 1794 in Cummington, Massachusetts. He said, “Weep not that the world changes - did it keep a stable, changeless state, it were cause indeed to weep." [We’d probably think that it had died.]... Mr. Bryant died on June 12, 1878 in New York City, New York.

David Brinkley died today – 5 years ago

TV news anchor (on the Huntley-Brinkley Report) David McClure Brinkley was born on July 10, 1920 in Wilmington, North Carolina. He said, “People have the illusion that all over the world, all the time, all kinds of fantastic things are happening. When in fact, over most of the world, most of the time, nothing is happening." [Sounds like an elitist view to me.]... Mr. Brinkley died on June 11, 2003 in Houston, Texas.

Leo Buscaglia died today – 10 years ago

Author (of The Fall of Freddie the Leaf) Felice Leonardo “Leo” Buscaglia was born on March 31, 1924 in Los Angeles, California. He said, “Don't smother each other. No one can grow in shade." [We all need the freedom to grow. So let's allow it.]... Mr. Buscaglia died on June 11, 1998 in Glenbrook, Nevada.

John Wayne died today – 29 years ago

Actor (in The Shootist) John Wayne was born on May 26, 1907 in Winterset, Iowa. He said, “Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid." [Oh, yeah!]... Mr. Wayne died on June 11, 1979 in Los Angeles, California.

Ray Charles died today – 4 years ago

Pianist and singer (of Georgia on My Mind, Hit the Road Jack, and Unchain My Heart) Ray Charles was born as Ray Charles Robinson on September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia. He said, “There are many spokes on the wheel of life. First, we're here to explore new possibilities." [So let's Do It!]... Mr. Charles died on June 10, 2004 in Beverly Hills, California.

Louis L'Amour died today – 20 years ago

Author (of Silver Canyon, Last of the Breed, and The Haunted Mesa) Louis L’Amour was born as Louis Dearborn LaMoore on March 22, 1908 in Jamestown, North Dakota. He said, “All loose things seem to drift down to the sea, and so did I." [Like a sand grain in the wind, to the beautiful sea.]... Mr. L’Amour died on June 10, 1988 in Los Angeles, California.

Spencer Tracy died today – 41 years ago

Actor (in Inherit the Wind) Spencer Tracy was born on April 5, 1900 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He said, “It is up to us to give ourselves recognition. If we wait for it to come from others, we feel resentful when it doesn't, and when it does, we may well reject it." [So promote yourself.]... Mr. Tracy died on June 10, 1967 in Los Angeles, California

Frederick Delius died today – 74 years ago

Composer (of the Florida Suite, Paris: The Song of a Great City, In a Summer Garden, and A Song of Summer) Frederick Albert Theodore Delius was born on January 29, 1862 in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. He said, “There is only one real happiness in life, and that is the happiness of creating.” [It does one good.]... Mr. Delius died on June 10, 1934 in Grez-sur-Loing, France.

Frank Chacksfield died today – 13 years ago

Orchestra conductor Frank Chacksfield was born as Francis Charles Chacksfield on May 9, 1914 in Battle, East Sussex, England. Mr. Chacksfield died on June 9, 1995 in England.

Ugo Betti died today – 55 years ago

Author (of the play The Fugitive) Ugo Betti was born on February 4, 1892 in Camerino, Italy. He said, “All of us are mad. If it weren't for the fact every one of us is slightly abnormal, there wouldn't be any point in giving each person a separate name." [You mean that we’d be “Hey, you #1", “Hey, you #2”, ... “Hey, you #123,456,789,000”?]... Mr. Betti died on June 9, 1953 in Rome, Italy.

Charles Dickens died today – 138 years ago

Author (of The Adventures of Oliver Twist, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations) Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, England. He said, “Credit is a system whereby a person who can not pay gets another person who can not pay to guarantee that he can pay." [Well, give credit where credit is due.]... Mr. Dickens died on June 9, 1870 in Gad's Hill Place, Higham, Kent, England.

Abraham Maslow died today – 38 years ago

Psychologist (creating his “hierarchy of needs”) Abraham Harold Maslow was born on April 1, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York. He said, “Classic economic theory, based as it is on an inadequate theory of human motivation, could be revolutionized by accepting the reality of higher human needs, including the impulse to self actualization and the love for the highest values." [And the only way you’ll get it is with freedom.]... Mr. Maslow died on June 8, 1970 in Menlo Park, California.

George Sand died today – 132 years ago

Author (of “Indiana” and “Mauprat”) George Sand was born as Amandine Aurore Lucile Dupin on July 1, 1804 in Paris, France. She said, “Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved." [So “Make Your Own Kind of Music” and “Follow That Dream”.]... Ms. Sand died on June 8, 1876 in Nohant, Indre, France.

Thomas Paine died today – 199 years ago

Author (of “Common Sense”, and the “Rights of Man”, and “The Age of Reason: Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology”) Thomas Paine was born on January 29, 1737 in Thetford, England. He said, “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right." [Amen!]... Mr. Paine died on June 8, 1809 in New York City, New York.

Dennis Potter died today – 14 years ago

Author (of “The Singing Detective”) Dennis Christopher George Potter was born on May 17, 1935 in Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, UK. He said, “I did not fully understand the dread term 'terminal illness' until I saw Heathrow for myself." [Guess who's operating it? BAA.]... Mr. Potter died on June 7, 1994 in Ross-on-Wye, England.

E. M. Forster died today – 38 years ago

Author (of “A Room with a View”) Edward Morgan Forster was born on January 1, 1879 in Marylebone, London, England. He said, “I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars." [Well, let’s try it.]... Mr. Forster died on June 7, 1970 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England.

Jean (Hans) Arp died today – 42 years ago

Sculptor (of “Cloud Shepherd”), painter, and founding member of the Dada movement Jean (Hans) Arp was born on September 16, 1886 in Strasbourg, France. He said, “Soon silence will have passed into legend. Man has turned his back on silence. Day after day he invents machines and devices that increase noise and distract humanity from the essence of life, contemplation, meditation." [Shhhh. Listen. There’s a lot of truth there.]... Mr. Arp died on June 7, 1966 in Basel, Switzerland.

ZaSu Pitts died today – 45 years ago

Actress (in “It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” and a few more films) ZaSu Pitts was born on January 3, 1894 in Parsons, Kansas. She said, “I was what they called a feature player, never a star. They say I was in 500 films, everything but the newsreels." [Busy, busy.]... Ms. Pitts died on June 7, 1963 in Hollywood, California.

Jean Harlow died today – 71 years ago

Actress (in “Dinner at Eight”) Jean Harlow was born as Harlean Harlow Carpenter on March 3, 1911 in Kansas City, Missouri. She said, “When you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas." [How about cats?]... Ms. Harlow died on June 7, 1937 in Los Angeles, California.

Billy Preston died today – 2 years ago

Singer and songwriter (of “Nothing From Nothing” and “You Are So Beautiful” (with Dennis Wilson and Bruce Fisher)) William “Billy” Everett Preston was born on September 2, 1946 in Houston, Texas. He said, “Will it go round in circles? Will it fly high like a bird up in the sky?” [He sang it.]... Mr. Preston died on June 6, 2006 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Anne Bancroft died today – 3 years ago

Actress (in “Silent Movie”) Anne Bancroft was born as Anna Maria Louisa Italiano on September 17, 1931 in the Bronx, New York City, New York. She said, “I am quite surprised, that with all my work, and some of it is very, very good, that nobody talks about The Miracle Worker. We're talking about Mrs. Robinson. I understand the world... I'm just a little dismayed that people aren't beyond it yet." [Well, let’s see. “The Miracle Worker” was “the story of Anne Sullivan's struggle to teach the blind and deaf Helen Keller how to communicate”, while “Mrs. Robinson” was a character – and I do mean quite a character – in “The Graduate”. Which one do you think most people would remember the most?]... Ms. Bancroft died on June 6, 2005 in New York City, New York.

J. Paul Getty died today – 32 years ago

Entrepreneur (founding the Getty Oil company) Jean Paul Getty was born on December 15, 1892 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He said, “Going to work for a large company is like getting on a train. Are you going sixty miles an hour or is the train going sixty miles an hour and you're just sitting still?" [We're just here for the ride?]... Mr. Getty died on June 6, 1976 in London, England.

Robert F. Kennedy died today – 40 years ago

Robert Francis “Bobby” Kennedy was born on November 20, 1925 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He said, “There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" [And why not? Because we tolerate others telling us what we can and can’t do. We let others regulate us and enslave us to their ideas. So let’s get out there and “Do It!”]... Mr. Kennedy died on June 6, 1968 in Los Angeles, California. The circumstances of his death are still being investigated here.

Carl Jung died today – 47 years ago

Psychoanalyst and founder of “analytical psychology” Carl Gustav Jung was born on July 26, 1875 in Kesswil, Thurgau, Switzerland. He said, “The greatest and most important problems of life are all fundamentally insoluble. They can never be solved but only outgrown." [Hmmm.]... Mr. Jung died on June 6, 1961 in Zürich, Switzerland.