Sunday Open Thread: October 1st is International Music Day

World History this day 0331 BC -- Alexander the Great whupped Darius III at Gaugamela. This was a BFD 1898 -- The Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration was founded, oh woe, oh woe 1918 -- T. E. Lawrence, et. al. took Damascus. Much was promised, many were shafted. 1928 -- The Soviet Union introduced its First five-year plan. I'm assuming that it failed 1931 -- Spain adopted women's suffrage. Even the US beat that, though the Saudis didn't. 1936 -- Francisco Franco became head of the Nationalist government of Spain. *** 1938 -- Germany annexed the Sudetenland. Also a BFD. 1978 -- The Voltaic Revolutionary Communist Party was founded. Sounds electrifying.

***( The US loved him, which tells you what a bastard he was.

US History this day

1800 -- Spain ceded Louisiana to France 1890 -- Yosemite National Park was established by Congress, who had finally caught on 1891 -- Stanford University opened its doors as a snooty junior version of CAL (est. 1868) 1940 -- The Pennsylvania Turnpike opened. No one knows why. 1958 -- NASA replaced NACA. The beginning of the current era. ** 1979 -- The US returned sovereignty of the Panama Canal to Panama. Uh huh.

** After this date, government leaders, corporate management and highly paid consultants began renaming shit and passing that off as innovation, renovation and progress. Shareholders tend to buy it, employees, not so much.

Science & Technology this day 1811 -- The first steamboat to sail the Mississippi reached N'awlins 1880 -- First recorded electric lamp factory 1908 -- Ford put the Model T on the market (Like there was another plan?) 1947 -- First flight of the North American F-86 Sabre, possible birth of "Terry & the Pirates". 1964 -- Japanese Shinkansen began high-speed runs from Tokyo to Osaka. Ths US built bombs and shit. 1969 -- The Concorde broke the sound barrier. That was the plan, n'est ce pas?

The Arts this day

1861 -- Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management was published, and still sells, they say 1962 -- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was first aired. Looking back, this was a thing, but Steve Allen was cooler 1971 -- Walt Disney World opened near Orlando. The spirits of Beckett, Ionesco, & Genet walked the land crying. 1982 -- Epcot opened at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Athena, goddess of wisdom, fell on her sword. 1982 -- Sony launched the first consumer CD player (model CDP-101). At that price?

Misc. this day

1975 -- Muhammad Ali beat Joe Frazier. Michael Jackson found an album title.

Birthdays of Note this day

86 BC -- Sallust, an historian 1526 -- Dorothy Stafford, just go look her up 1832 -- Henry Clay Work, composer, wrote Marching Through Georgia 1847 -- Annie Besant, look her up too. (Hint) Blavatsky as well. Meditate upon right action from bad premises 1865 -- Paul Dukas, composer 1881 -- William Boeing, engineer 1885 -- Louis Untermeyer, anthologist 1903 -- Vladimir Horowitz, pianist and composer 1910 -- Bonnie Parker, businesswoman 1924 -- Jimmy Carter, peanut farmer, made Afghanistan into Russia's Viet Nam. (He thought.) 1924 -- Roger Williams, pianist 1929 -- Grady Chapman, lead singer for the Robins 1932 -- Albert Collins, singer, songwriter and guitarist 1935 -- Julie Andrews, singer and actress 1940 -- Marc Savoy, accordianist who created the Cajun accordion 1942 -- Herb Fame, singer, generally served with Peaches 1942 -- My late, great, brother Dave, journalist, human extraordinnaire, one time part-time hippie, y mas 1945 -- Donny Hathaway, singer, songwriter, pianist 1946 -- Dave Holland, bassist 1947 -- Dave Arneson, D&D dude 1948 -- Cub Koda, singer, songwriter and guitarist

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