Thursday, January 27, 2011

Thomas Crapper Day

He died 101 years ago today.  Or maybe he didn’t.

thomas crapper

One of history's great inventors died on this date in 1910. Then again, maybe he didn't. It depends on whether he ever lived.  You see, Sir Thomas Crapper is widely recognized as the inventor of the flush toilet. Honest. His biography is classified as non-fiction by the Library of Congress.  It appears now, however, that Sir Thomas lived only in the mind of British author Wallace Reyburn, who wrote the alleged biography entitled Flushed With Pride.

flushed

According to the bathroom history, Clean And Decent by Lawrence Wright, the island of Crete had flush toilets as early as 2500 B.C.; so you can see where that leaves Sir Thomas Crapper.  You can also see just how deep we'll dig to keep you informed.   And right now it's getting pretty deep!

History 101:  Scottish inventor John Logie Baird unveiled the first true television system during a demonstration in London on January 27, 1926 -- Baird used his "televisor" for the first "TV show" starring two ventriloquist's dummies which he operated himself.

17th December 1942:  Scottish electrical engineer and television pioneer John Logie Baird (1888 - 1946) giving a demonstration in his laboratory of his latest advance in colour television.  Baird was born in Helensburgh and studied at Glasgow University. Baird worked as an engineer at Clyde Valley Electric Power Company but had to retire due to ill health. He used his time to conduct experimental research into the transmission of images and gave a successful public display of his television system in London on 27th January 1926. In 1929 his mechanically scanned system was adopted by the BBC and he provided an improved system five years later. Baird also helped pioneer colour television and stereophonic sound.  (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

Music History, January 27, 1958: Richard Wayne Penniman interrupted his music career to enter a theological seminary in Huntsville, Alabama, where he received a degree. He was better known simply as "Little" Richard.

little richard

We’re trying to imagine this man in a pulpit.

The 101 number one song of the day was written and recorded by a guy from New Jersey named Joseph DiNicola whose nightclub acts launched his career and that of some other well known rock and rollers. (The story and the song is next) He and his group were playing weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, and high school dances when an agent from NYC called and offered them a job at a new club on West 45th Street. A female trio that was part of his revue at the club became the Ronettes. Later when he was able to open his own New York club, his band consisted of Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish and Eddie Brigati who later became the Rascals.  As for Joseph, his big chance came when that West 45th Street club became trendy with socialites who came by to dance the twist after Chubby Checker rekindled the craze for the second time after an appearance on the Ed Sullivan show.  DiNicola wrote his own song to capitalize and that song became number one on January 27, 1962 – By this time he was calling himself Joey Dee.  The song is Peppermint Twist.

joey dee

Other stuff:

Men’s Health magazine has a list of the ten best foods for you – that you aren’t eating.

menshealth01

These are the healthiest foods that you don’t eat – beets, cabbage, guava, Swiss chard, cinnamon, purslane, pomegranate juice, goji berries, prunes and pumpkin seeds.  Some of this stuff we’ve never heard of – let alone eat.

Purslane

This is purslane, by the way.

Live Theater in Las Cruces: No Strings Theatre Company presents "Crime and Punishment" adapted by Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus, from the novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky and directed by Shaun Hadfield. The play runs from January 21 through February 6 at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N Downtown Mall in Las Cruces.

dostoevsky

The story concerns a young and destitute student who plans the perfect crime - the murder of a despicable old pawn broker that no one loves and will not be missed. But just because one can reason that such a crime could benefit humanity, does it still make the act just? In this new adaptation of Dostoyevsky's literary masterpiece "Crime and Punishment," the audience is transported into the mind of a murderer, where he relives the thoughts, ideas, and feelings that drove him to commit such terrible atrocity. Urging him along are his friend Sonia and the detective Porfiry, who along with other characters guide the viewer through a "conversation on the nature of evil." Many times Raskolnikov addresses the audience directly to plead his case, making them another character in the story. Infused with psychological, religious, and social commentary that is as true now as it was in 1860, the audience witnesses not only the darkest corners of the human soul, but the redemption of a man who ultimately cannot escape his own conscience. 

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sunday Matinees on January 30 and February 6 at 2:30 p.m. and a Thursday performance on February 3 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 regular admission, $9.00 students and seniors over 65 and all seats on Thursday are $7.00. Reservations: (575) 523-1223,

No comments:

Post a Comment