So here it is. April 27th, 2007. Thirty-four years ago today at, if I recall correctly, around 10:00 PM, I was born in a small hospital in Charleston, West Virginia. These days, the sleepy community of my birth is now a bustling city with massive suburban sprawl slowly engulfing the surrounding small towns. What used to be a “long way” out of town is now part of town, and where there used to be long stretches of nearly-impassable dirt road to reach my relatives, there are now four-lane highways and paved asphalt.
On my birthday:
- Kansas City Royals pitcher Steve Busby pitches a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers, 3-0
- An article was published entitled “Space Shuttle: Despite Doubters, Project Will Probably Fly“, by Constance Holden in Science Magazine. Today, we are considering retiring the Space Shuttle in favor of cheaper, safer launch methods.
- Elvis Presley recorded his concert CD, “Shining in Portland”, about a half hour after my birth. He was still relatively slender and healthy at this time; four years later, at the age of forty-two, he died of a massive drug overdose and weighed 350 pounds.
- Reminders were published in California papers that the following Sunday would begin the state-wide trial of a new idea called “Daylight Saving Time”. Two years later, this became a national standard.
But current events for today are:
- Massive fires sweep across drought-stricken southeastern USA, particularly Georgia and Alabama
- Russian helicopter crashes in Chechnya, 17 dead
- Jack Valenti, former head of the MPAA died yesterday.
- Dick Cheney’s visit to Utah on Thursday draws fire from protesters. He spoke at Brigham Young University’s commencement after a meeting with the Regents of the university, who are the Presidency of the LDS church.
So on this Friday, kick back, have a brew (or a soda), and enjoy the last days of spring before summer kicks into full gear. And wish me a happy birthday 🙂
Happy Birthday!
You picked an amazing time,(1973), and place to be born. It is a great blessing to be born in this free land. Our ancestors fought bravely and worked hard so this generation could enjoy freedom. Have a wonderful day!
May the road rise to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the sun shine warm upon your face The rains fall soft upon your fields And until we meet again May God hold you in the palm of His hand
If it were left up to me…
Well, if it in fact had been up to me, I might have gunned for an earlier birthdate by two days. Then I’d match my wife’s birthday, one year earlier. Happy birthday to you too, baby.
But it’s a fine day. A log of important stuff happened on this day. Not like February 30th. It is a silly day.
—
Matthew P. Barnson
Happy Birthday !!!!!
AS YOU SLIDE DOWN THE BANISTER OF LIFE MAY THE SPLINTERS NEVER POINT THE WRONG WAY!
Never mind…
Never mind that annoying bump at the bottom. I long suspected that was designed specifically to discourage young male banister-sliders. Ouch.
—
Matthew P. Barnson
And in other news today…
There’s one news tidbit I didn’t get when I blogged above:
AIDS deniers have their day in court… and lose badly.
Yep, there are people in South Africa who deny that AIDS exists. One of the deniers, Eleni Papadopulos-Eleopulos, took the stand and said this memorable quote about her faith that AIDS does not exist:
Crazy people all around! But, much as the ID-iots had their day in court, lost, schemed up a new plan to foist their craziness on schoolchildren, tried again, lost, and came up with the “Teach the Controversy” plan, I expect these crazies to come back with some new scheme to earn a shred of credibility…
—
Matthew P. Barnson
Also..
There was no: World wide web Home gaming console VCR Answering Machines DVD Home computer (ok, there was, but not as we know it) Cellphone CD Star Wars Rap Music Reality TVAnd that only took me a few minutes.. there’s tons more..
Visit the Official Justin Timpane Website Music, Acting, and More! http://www.timpane.com
Happy Happy
Happy Birthday ‘n’ stuff.
— Ben