The Thing About Today – December 25

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December 25, 2020
Day 360 of 366

December 25th is the 360th day of the year. It is Christmas Day in the Christian faith, a holiday that is celebrated around the world.

There are six days remaining in the year.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Pumpkin Pie Day and A’Phabet Day or No “L” Day.

Historical items of note:

  • In 274, a temple to Sol Invictus was dedicated in Rome by Emperor Aurelian.
  • In 336, the first recorded Christmas celebration occurred. It was held in Rome.
  • In 1642 (on the old calendar), English physicist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton was born.
  • In 1758, Halley’s Comet was sighted by Johann Georg Palitzsch, confirming Edmund Halley’s prediction of its passage. This was the first passage of a comet predicted ahead of time.
  • In 1809, Dr. Ephraim McDowell performed the first ovariotomy, removing a 22-pound tumor.
  • In 1815, the Handel and Haydn Society, the oldest continually performing arts organization in the United States, gave its first performance.
  • In 1821, nurse and humanitarian Clara Barton was born. She founded the American Red Cross.
  • In 1831, the Great Jamaican Slave Revolt began. Up to twenty percent of Jamaica’s slaves mobilized in an ultimately unsuccessful fight for freedom.
  • In 1899, actor Humphrey Bogart was born.
  • In 1914, a series of unofficial truces occurred across the Western Front to celebrate Christmas.
  • In 1924, screenwriter and producer Rod Serling was born. He created The Twilight Zone.
  • In 1946, the first European self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction was initiated within the Soviet Union’s F-1 nuclear reactor.
  • In 1949, actress Sissy Spacek was born.
  • In 1950, the Stone of Scone, the traditional coronation stone of British monarchs, was taken from Westminster Abbey by Scottish nationalist students. It later turned up in Scotland on April 11, 1951.
  • In 1952, Guyanese-American actress CCH Pounder was born.
  • In 1954, Scottish singer-songwriter and pianist Annie Lennox was born.
  • In 1962, To Kill a Mockingbird, the film adaptation of the novel by Harper Lee, was released.
  • In 1963, Disney’s The Sword in the Stone was released.
  • In 1984, British actress Georgia Tennant was born.
  • In 1985, British actress Perdita Weeks was born.
  • In 2003, the ill-fated Beagle 2 probe, released from the Mars Express spacecraft on December 19, stops transmitting shortly before its scheduled landing.
  • In 2004, the Cassini orbiter released the Huygens probe which successfully landed on Saturn’s moon Titan on January 14, 2005.

December 25th is also the date of several non-Christmas related holidays.

In Pakistan, it is Quaid-e-Azam Day (یوم ولادت قائداعظم), commemorating the birthday of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

Among the Nakh peoples of Chechnya and Ingushetia, it is Malkh-Festival, a festival dedicated to the Deela-Malkh in Vainakh mythology. Today marks the birthday and the festival of the Sun, and during the ceremonies suppliants turned to the east, matching their temples and house façades. The Nakh believed that the Sun went to visit her mother, Aza, at the summer and winter solstices. That journey took her six months to complete.

In India, it is Tulsi Pujan Diwas. The plant tulsi (also known as Holy Basil) is planted and worshipped on the occasion. In Hinduism, tulsi is used for medicinal and spiritual purposes.

Finally, in the Chumbivilcas Province of Peru, Takanakuy is observed today. From the Quechua for “to hit each other”, it is an annual established practice of fighting fellow community members. The festival consists of dancing and of individuals fighting each other to settle old conflicts.

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

The Thing About Today – December 24

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December 24, 2020
Day 359 of 366

December 24th is the 359th day of the year. It is Christmas Eve in the Christian faith, along with related observances. Iceland celebrates Aðfangadagskvöld, the day when the 13th and the last Yule Lad arrives to towns. Italian Americans celebrate today as the Feast of the Seven Fishes while Nordic countries observe Juleaften in Denmark, Julaften in Norway, and Julafton in Sweden.

It is Nittel Nacht in certain Orthodox Jewish denominations, Nochebuena in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries, the Declaration of Christmas Peace in the Old Great Square of Turku (Finland’s official Christmas City), and Wigilia in Poland.

It is also Quviasukvik, the Inuit new year in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia.

There are seven days remaining in the year.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Eggnog Day.

Historical items of note:

  • In 1777, Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, was discovered by James Cook.
  • In 1814, representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States signed the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812.
  • In 1818, the first performance of “Silent Night” took place in the church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorf, Austria.
  • In 1826, the Eggnog Riot at the United States Military Academy took place. It was caused by a drunken Christmas Day party in the North Barracks of the academy. Two days prior to the incident, a large quantity of whiskey was smuggled into the academy to make eggnog for the party, giving the riot its name.
  • In 1865, Jonathan Shank and Barry Ownby formed The Ku Klux Klan.
  • In 1871, the opera Aida premiered in Cairo, Egypt.
  • In 1905, reclusive billionaire, filmmaker, and aviator Howard Hughes was born.
  • In 1906, Reginald Fessenden transmitted the first radio broadcast. It consisted of a poetry reading, a violin solo, and a speech.
  • In 1914, the World War I “Christmas Truce” began.
  • In 1922, the BBC broadcast the first British radio play “The Truth about Father Christmas”.
  • In 1927, author Mary Higgins Clark was born.
  • In 1940, physician Anthony Fauci was born.
  • In 1941, British actor John Levene was born.
  • In 1945, writer and director Nicholas Meyer was born.
  • In 1968, the crew of Apollo 8 entered orbit around the Moon, becoming the first humans to do so. They performed ten lunar orbits and broadcast live TV pictures.
  • In 1970, Disney’s The Aristocats debuted.
  • In 1973, the District of Columbia Home Rule Act was passed, allowing residents of Washington, D.C. to elect their own local government.
  • In 1980, witnesses reported the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom. The incident became known as “Britain’s Roswell”.

December 24th is National Eggnog Day in the United States.

Also known as milk punch or egg milk punch when alcohol is added, eggnog is a rich, chilled, sweetened, dairy-based beverage. It is traditionally made with milk, cream, sugar, whipped egg whites, and egg yolks (which gives it a frothy texture and its name). In some contexts, distilled spirits such as brandy, rum, whisky, or bourbon are added.

Throughout Canada and the United States, eggnog is traditionally consumed over the Christmas holiday season, starting in late October. A variety called Ponche Crema has been made and consumed in Venezuela and Trinidad since the 1900s, also as part of the Christmas season. During that time, commercially prepared eggnog is sold in grocery stores in these countries.

Eggnog can be homemade using milk, eggs, sugar, and flavorings, and served with cinnamon or nutmeg. While eggnog is often served chilled, in some cases it is warmed, particularly on cold days similar to mulled wine. Eggnog or eggnog flavoring may also be used in other drinks, such as coffee and tea, or to dessert foods such as egg-custard puddings.

The origins are debated, with potential roots as a strong beer brewed in East Anglia to an English beverage known as Egg Flip.

In Britain, the drink was popular among the aristocracy, particularly among those who could afford luxuries like eggs and milk. The drink crossed the Atlantic with British colonists, and rum was substituted for the heavily taxed brandy and wine courtesy of the Triangular Trade with the Caribbean. When rum became more rare during the American Revolution, whisky and bourbon became a popular additive. Moonshine was also used when nothing else was available.

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Timestamp #212: Victory of the Daleks

Michael Falkner9 Comments

Doctor Who: Victory of the Daleks
(1 episode, s05e03, 2010)

Timestamp 212 Victory of the Daleks

Subversively, this story is literally what it says on the tin.

The time is World War II. Winston Churchill enters the Cabinet War Rooms and asks about the status of incoming enemy planes. When advised that they are out of conventional range, he decides to roll out his secret weapon. He pushes a miniature Dalek forward on the map board.

The TARDIS materializes soon afterward and is immediately surrounded by soldiers. The Doctor and Amy are greeted by Churchill, responding to his summons. The TARDIS is a month late, but that’s okay even though the time capsule is a bit inaccurate.

Churchill is amazed that the Doctor has changed faces again (even though we’ve never met him before). Amy is amazed at being in the nerve center of London’s war effort. They go to the roof and gaze upon the city, stunned by the sight of history and appalled at the revelation that Churchill is using Daleks to fight the Germans. The Doctor is brought face-to-face with an Army-green, Union Jack-sporting, obedient Dalek, known here as an Ironside.

The Doctor tries to convince Churchill to back down from employing the weapons, but Churchill is convinced that the machines will win the war. Churchill believes that they were invented by Professor Edwin Bracewell, and when the Doctor asks Amy to recall the events of the 2009 Dalek invasion, she tells the Doctor that she has no idea what he’s talking about.

Churchill is not swayed – “If Hitler invaded Hell, I would give a favorable reference to the Devil. These machines are our salvation.” – so, when the all-clear alarm sounds, the Doctor decides to visit Bracewell. He asks Bracewell how he developed them, and the professor explains that the ideas just come to him. A Dalek serves tea, spurring the Doctor into anger. He tries to provoke the Dalek into attacking him, channeling his anger and fury into the effort, but is unsuccessful at first. When he reveals himself as the Doctor, the Daleks finally drop the charade.

They transmit the Doctor’s identity to a saucer on the far side of the Moon. Two soldiers attempt to stop the Daleks but are promptly exterminated. Bracewell tries to reason with them but has his hand shot off, revealing that the professor is an android that they created. The Daleks declare victory and transmat to their ship. The Doctor’s testimony is now powering some kind of progenitor.

The Doctor leaves Amy with Churchill and takes the TARDIS to the Dalek ship, claiming to have a self-destruct sequence on a dead man’s switch. It’s really a Jammy Dodger, but it fools the Daleks for the time being. The Daleks reveal that one ship survived their last encounter with the Doctor and the ship located a progenitor device containing pure Dalek DNA. The three Daleks on the ship were created from Davros’ cells, so the progenitor would not recognize them since they are not pure Daleks. As a backup, however, if it detected the Doctor nearby, it would activate.

Forcing a stalemate, the Daleks remotely switch on the lights in London, turning it into a giant target for the German air forces. They all watch as a new Dalek paradigm is born with multi-color Daleks born from pure DNA. Soon after birth, the new Daleks use maximum extermination against the inferior Daleks. When they turn on the Doctor, he brandishes his Jammy Dodger again.

Amy and Churchill realize that they have a way to help. They visit Bracewell, who is threatening suicide since he believes that his entire life is a lie. Amy talks him out of it and convinces him to help save London. Bracewell theorizes that he could send a weapon into space with his gravity bubble technology. Churchill scrambles three Spitfires – Jubilee, Flintlock, and Danny Boy – to assist just as the Daleks figure out the Jammy Dodger ruse.

The Daleks take out Jubilee and Flintlock. The Doctor is forced back into the TARDIS, which proves advantageous as he is able to disrupt the Dalek ship’s shields long enough for the Spitfire to destroy the transmission dish. With London safe, the Doctor dispatches Danny Boy to destroy the ship, but the Daleks reveal that Bracewell is a bomb ready to destroy the planet if the Doctor does not let them survive.

The Doctor reluctantly lets them leave, but they activate the bomb’s timer on their way out. The Doctor returns to Earth and reveals the bomb. The Doctor realizes that the professor’s human memories, particularly the emotions behind them, have the power to stop the countdown. Unfortunately, it fails.

Amy tries another tactic: She asks if he’s ever fancied someone that he shouldn’t. She asks him to remember the pain of a woman named Dorabella and how beautiful she was. The emotion disables the oblivion continuum bomb, but the Doctor is too late to stop the Daleks from leaving.

The Doctor is distraught even in victory. Meanwhile, Bracewell has lost his access to new futuristic ideas and the Doctor has stripped it out of the headquarters. The Doctor hugs Churchill and Amy bids him farewell, but demands the TARDIS key back before they go. Churchill, it seems, has sticky fingers.

Before they leave, the Doctor and Amy visit Bracewell. The professor is certain that they’ve come to deactivate him, but they have no intention of doing so. They recommend that he go find Dorabella or some of the places in his memories, and as they leave, Bracewell starts packing.

Off to the TARDIS go the Doctor and Pond, but the Doctor is still perplexed at how Amy cannot recall the Battle of Canary Wharf or the War in the Medusa Cascade. Regardless, they board the TARDIS and depart, leaving behind the menacing crack in the wall.

I really appreciate the double meaning of this story’s title. On the one hand, it plays well off the allied propaganda from World War II, but on the other hand, the title is quite literal: In a rare move for the franchise, the Daleks actually win by achieving a major goal.

These new Daleks, which will become known as the Paradigm Daleks, are vastly different than the Skaro Daleks (1963-1975), the Renegade-Imperial Civil War Daleks (1975-2005), and the Time War Daleks (2005-2010). They also (at this point) also retcon (establish a retroactive continuity) about the Daleks, effectively erasing the Daleks from the Time War forward except for the Doctor’s memories. What’s not entirely clear is where the Ironsides Daleks come from. Are they part of the army from the human-Dalek hybrids (which tie back to the Imperial Daleks, and therefore, Davros), or are they survivors of the New Dalek Empire? It is implied that they were part of the War in the Medusa Cascade, but it’s not definitive.

The effect is quite literal as Steven Moffat destroys the Dalek legacy created by Russell T Davies. I know that many fans despise the redesign, but I don’t mind them that much. They are definitely more chunky than every other previous Dalek design, but the most garish design factor is the rainbow coloring. In the classic era, Daleks stuck to the standards of grays, blacks, whites, golds, and light blues. In the first five years of the modern era, they went to grays, blacks, and bronzes.

The Skittles variety is a major culture shock.

It’s also worth noting here that this is not the first time that the Doctor has considered exchanging the Earth for the complete destruction of his worst enemy (The Parting of the Ways), which also links to the Doctor’s fury at the first time the Ninth Doctor encountered one of them (Dalek).

Lastly, the Daleks didn’t seem to recognize the Doctor with his eleventh face. In The Power of the Daleks, the Doctor mentioned that they always manage to recognize him. The recognition files seem to not work in certain cases, like the Renegade Daleks being dumbfounded over the Sixth Doctor (Revelation of the Daleks) and the Cult of Skaro not recognizing the Tenth Doctor (Doomsday). So, this matches with previous events, but the connection is not entirely clear.

Moving to the more humorous, the absurdity of Royal Air Force Spitfires engaged in space combat made me laugh. I also loved how dedicated the Ironside Daleks were to the ruse, from serving tea to waiting so very long for the Doctor to arrive. Quite frankly, they deserve their victory despite the ramifications for the universe going forward.

One thing is certainly clear: The Daleks just got less scrappy and a whole lot more menacing again.

(Thanks to The Doctor Who Site for their visual reference guide to the different Dalek types.)

Rating: 4/5 – “Would you care for a jelly baby?”

UP NEXT – Doctor Who: The Time of Angels and Doctor Who: Flesh and Stone

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The Timestamps Project is an adventure through the televised universe of Doctor Who, story by story, from the beginning of the franchise. For more reviews like this one, please visit the project’s page at Creative Criticality.

The Thing About Today – December 23

Michael FalknerLeave a comment

December 23, 2020
Day 358 of 366

December 23rd is the 358th day of the year. It is HumanLight, a Humanist holiday that focuses on the positive, secular human values of reason, compassion, humanity, and hope. The New Jersey Humanist Network founded the holiday in 2001 to aid secular people in commemorating the December holiday season without encroaching on other adjacent holidays, both religious ones such as Christmas and secular ones such as Solstice.

There are eight days remaining in the year.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Pfeffernusse Day, National Roots Day, and Festivus. I really didn’t like Seinfeld at all, so the whole Festivus thing is an odd concept to me.

Historical items of note:

  • In 1815, the novel Emma by Jane Austen was first published.
  • In 1893, the opera Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck was first performed.
  • In 1919, the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act of 1919 became law in the United Kingdom. The act enabled women to join the professions and professional bodies, to sit on juries and be awarded degrees. It was a government compromise, a replacement for a more radical private members’ bill, the Women’s Emancipation Bill.
  • In 1928, NBC set up a permanent, coast-to-coast radio network.
  • In 1943, actor, voice artist, and comedian Harry Shearer was born.
  • In 1947, the transistor was first demonstrated at Bell Laboratories.
  • In 1954, the first successful kidney transplant was performed by J. Hartwell Harrison and Joseph Murray.
  • In 1978, Canadian swimmer, model, and actress Estella Warren was born.
  • In 1986, Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. It was the first aircraft to fly non-stop around the world without aerial or ground refueling.
  • In 2002, Canadian actor and musician Finn Wolfhard was born.

December 23rd is the Night of the Radishes.

La Noche de Los Rábanos is an annual event held in Oaxaca, Mexico. It is dedicated to the carving of oversized radishes to create scenes that compete for prizes in various categories.

The event has origins in the colonial period when radishes were introduced by the Spanish. Oaxaca has a long wood carving tradition and farmers began carving radishes into figures as a way to attract customers’ attention at the Christmas market, which was held in the main square on December 23rd. In 1897, the city created the formal competition, and as the city has grown, the city has had to dedicate land to the growing of the radishes used for the event, supervising their growth and distribution to competitors.

The event has become very popular, attracting hundreds of contestants and thousands of visitors. The event also has display and competitions for works made with corn husks and dried flowers, which are created with the same themes as those with radishes.

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

The Thing About Today – December 22

Michael FalknerLeave a comment

December 22, 2020
Day 357 of 366

December 22nd is the 357th day of the year. It is Unity Day in Zimbabwe, commemorating the signing of the Unity Accord between Zimbabwe’s two major nationalists movements. The Zimbabwe African People’s Union led by Joshua Nkomo and the Zimbabwe African National Union led by Robert Mugabe signed the agreement on December 22, 1987, to form a united nationalist political party and end ethnic violence which had marred the country since the early 1980s.

There are nine days remaining in the year.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Date Nut Bread Day.

Historical items of note:

  • In 1808, Ludwig van Beethoven conducted and performed in concert at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna. The performance included the premiere of his Fifth Symphony, Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto (performed by Beethoven himself), and Choral Fantasy (with Beethoven at the piano).
  • In 1858, Italian composer and educator Giacomo Puccini was born.
  • In 1891, asteroid 323 Brucia became the first asteroid discovered using photography.
  • In 1915, actress Barbara Billingsley was born.
  • In 1917, game show host Gene Rayburn was born.
  • In 1932, The Mummy was released.
  • In 1937, the Lincoln Tunnel opened to traffic in New York City.
  • In 1939, Indian Muslims observed a “Day of Deliverance” to celebrate the resignations of members of the Indian National Congress over their not having been consulted over the decision to enter World War II with the United Kingdom.
  • In 1945, journalist Diane Sawyer was born.
  • In 1947, author and screenwriter Brian Daley was born.
  • In 1948, actress and singer Lynne Thigpen was born.
  • In 1962, English actor Ralph Fiennes was born.
  • In 1964, the first test flight of the SR-71 Blackbird took place at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
  • In 1965, screenwriter David S. Goyer was born.
  • In 1968, actress Dina Meyer was born.
  • In 1989, Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate re-opened after nearly 30 years, effectively ending the division of East and West Germany.
  • In 2010, the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, the 17-year-old policy banning homosexuals from serving openly in the United States military, was signed into law by President Barack Obama.

December 22nd is National Mathematics Day in India.

The Indian government declared the date on February 26, 2012. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced it at Madras University during the inaugural ceremony of the celebrations that marked the 125th anniversary of the birth of the Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan. The announcement also contained the proclamation that 2012 would be celebrated as the National Mathematics Year.

Since that event, India’s National Mathematics Day has become an annual celebration with numerous educational events held at schools and universities throughout the country, especially the 2017 opening of the Ramanujan Math Park in Kuppam, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh.

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Disney Investor’s Call 2020: Addendum

Michael Falkner1 Comment

Culture on My Mind
Disney Investor’s Call 2020: Addendum
December 21, 2020

Since it was just announced, I have one addendum to my post about the Disney Investor’s Call: The Book of Boba Fett.

The news was dropped at the end of The Mandalorian‘s season finale, and it was formally announced on December 21st.

Now, among things that shouldn’t need saying with the actual words being right there in the tweet and Facebook post, this is a new series, not the third season of The Mandalorian. A new series that Disney couldn’t talk about at the investor’s call because it would spoil the back half of a currently airing production.

Nevertheless, certain geek websites and YouTube talking heads insist that Temuera Morrison and Boba Fett are replacing Pedro Pascal and Din Djarin because of behind the scenes “drama” or some bantha poodoo.

Don’t give them the oxygen or the credit. They’re lying to you.

Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett is coming in December 2021. The Mandalorian is slated to return for a third season soon after that.

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Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Continues

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Culture on My Mind
Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics Continues
December 21, 2020

The folks at the Dragon Con American Sci-Fi Classics have been continuing to churn out content. It’s been a few weeks since I checked in with them, so here’s a bit of catching up.

On October 22nd, they celebrated Halloween with Tar Man, Bub, Barbara’s Brother, and More: Our Favorite Zombies! This panel included Jason Gilbert and Samantha Bryant.

On October 29th, Felicity Kusinitz and Rick Terault stopped by to discuss the 45th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Also on October 29th, Gary and Joe were visited by Beth Van Dusen and Lola Lariscy to chat about horrific children in Tender Lumplings: Our Favorite Evil Kids.

On November 5th, they took a dive into local children’s television shows from the age of youth on Jabberwock & Vegetable Soup: Obscure Children’s Shows. The panel included Kevin Eldridge, Felicity Kusinitz, Deanna Toxopeus, and Sherman Burris.

On November 11th, Keith R. A. DeCandido stopped by to talk superheroes on Talkin’ Tights & Capes with Keith DeCandido.

On November 12th, I joined in the fun as Gary Mitchel celebrated a birthday with the tradition AMA (Ask Me Anything) panel.

On November 19th, it was All Things V! Graciously Welcoming Our Lizard Overlords. Guests included: Charles and Adina, founders of CT:V, the Flagship of the Visitor Fleet, a dedicated group of costumers celebrating the original sci-fi classic “V”; The Irredeemable Shag from The Fire and Water Podcast Network; and Denise Lhamon.

November 26th saw the Turkey Day Potluck on the channel. Kevin Eldridge joined in to host the variety show.

On December 3rd, they hosted a huge panel on Elf, Scrooged, Muppets & Die Hard: Greatest Christmas Movies Ever Made! Guest included Elizabeth Jones, Bethany Kesler, Shaun Rosado, Alison Sky, and Chad J. Shonk.

The Christmas spirit continued on December 10th with Funny Christmas & Chanukah Music. Guests included Kevin Eldridge, Geena Phillips, Chris Cummins, and Metricula.

December 17th rounds out this batch with Moving the Stars for No One: A David Bowie Tribute Panel. Guests included Beth Van Dusen, Rob Levy, and Tom Morris.

So, I can’t make any promises, but I’m going to try to keep up with the promotion of this channel. It’s one of my home bases during Dragon Con and Gary and Joe are great people. I admire the work that they’re doing to keep these discussions going throughout the year.

Gary and Joe have a lot more fun discussions planned. Stay tuned to the YouTube channel and the group on Facebook. If you join in live, you can also leave comments and participate in the discussion using StreamYard connected through Facebook.

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Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

The Thing About Today – December 21

Michael FalknerLeave a comment

December 21, 2020
Day 356 of 366

December 21st is the 356th day of the year. This year, today is the solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is the shortest day of the year, typically regarded as the first day of winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the longest day of the year.

Related observances include Blue Christmas (typically among modern American liberal Protestant groups), the Dongzhi Festival in Asia, Sanghamitta Day in Theravada Buddhism, Yule for neopagans in the Northern Hemisphere, and Ziemassvētki in ancient Latvia.

There are ten days remaining in the year.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as Crossword Puzzle Day, Humbug Day, National Maine Day, Phileas Fogg Win A Wager Day, National Flashlight Day (typically observed on the day of the Winter Solstice), National French Fried Shrimp Day, National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day (typically observed on the first day of winter), and Anne & Samantha Day (typically observed every solstice to honor Anne Frank and Samantha Smith).

Historical items of note:

  • In 1861, Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy Medal of Valor, was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln. This was the first establishment of the Medal of Honor, the country’s highest military award. The Department of the Army would establish their Medal of Honor on July 12, 1862, and the Department of the Air Force would follow on April 14, 1965.
  • In 1879, Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House premiered at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • In 1883, The Royal Canadian Dragoons and The Royal Canadian Regiment, the first Permanent Force cavalry and infantry regiments of the Canadian Army, were formed.
  • In 1892, English journalist and author Rebecca West was born.
  • In 1913, Arthur Wynne’s “word-cross”, the first crossword puzzle, was published in the New York World.
  • In 1914, Tillie’s Punctured Romance, the first feature-length silent film comedy, was released.
  • In 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the world’s first full-length animated feature, premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Hollywood.
  • In 1948, actor and producer Samuel L. Jackson was born.
  • In 1950, screenwriter and producer Jeffrey Katzenberg was born. He co-founded Dreamworks Animation.
  • In 1966, British-Canadian actor, director, and producer Kiefer Sutherland was born.
  • In 1968, Apollo 8 was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, placing its crew of Frank F. Borman II, James A. Lovell Jr., and William A. Anderson on a lunar trajectory for the first visit to another celestial body by humans.
  • In 1983, actor Steven Yeun was born.

In 1620, the Mayflower Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts after their voyage from England.

Forefathers’ Day was established in 1769 as a local annual holiday to commemorate the event, and is celebrated on either December 21st or December 22nd. The good-hearted dispute between the Old Colony Club and the Mayflower Society comes from the adjustment to the Gregorian calendar. This erroneously established the anniversary on both days. As a result, members of both societies participate in both celebrations.

The Old Colony Club begins the celebration at 6:00 AM with a march by members to the top of Cole’s Hill next to the statue of Massasoit, the leader of the Wampanoag confederacy. This is followed by a reading of a proclamation honoring the forefathers and a ritual firing of the club’s cannon. Both organizations include a succotash dinner to close out the celebrations.

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

The Thing About Today – December 20

Michael FalknerLeave a comment

December 20, 2020
Day 355 of 366

December 20th is the 355th day of the year. It is Abolition of Slavery Day, also known as Fête des Cafres, in Réunion, French Guiana.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Sangria Day and Mudd Day.

Historical items of note:

  • In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was completed at a ceremony in New Orleans.
  • In 1808, the original Garden Theatre in London was destroyed by a fire, along with most of the scenery, costumes, and scripts.
  • In 1939, actress Kathryn Joosten was born. She was the absolutely magnificent Mrs. Landingham in The West Wing.
  • In 1946, the popular Christmas film It’s a Wonderful Life was first released in New York City.
  • Also in 1946, director, producer, and screenwriter Dick Wolf was born. Among other properties, he is best known for the immense Law & Order franchise.
  • In 1950, Harvey premiered.
  • In 1951, the EBR-1 in Arco, Idaho became the first nuclear power plant to generate electricity. The electricity powered four light bulbs. (Captain Jean-Luc Picard could not be reached for comment.)
  • In 1952, actress Jenny Agutter was born.
  • In 1955, Cardiff was proclaimed the capital city of Wales, United Kingdom.
  • In 1970, actress Nicole de Boer was born.
  • In 1989, the United States invasion of Panama deposed Manuel Noriega.
  • In 2007, Elizabeth II became the oldest monarch of the United Kingdom, surpassing Queen Victoria, who lived for 81 years and 243 days.

December 20th is International Human Solidarity Day, an international annual unity day of the United Nations.

The observance was established under the influence of the U.N. Millennium Declaration that determines the civil and political rights of an individual in the modern era by establishing the foreign relations between the member states and the United Nations. It promotes the importance of sharing and the culture of solidarity to combat poverty and to encourage governments, NGOs, and almost every individual to organize programs and debates, on either a national or international level, so that poverty can be reduced by spreading the awareness.

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

The Thing About Today – December 19

Michael Falkner1 Comment

December 19, 2020
Day 354 of 366

December 19th is the 354th day of the year. It is Goa Liberation Day, commemorating the Indian Army’s invasion of Portuguese territories on the Indian subcontinent that they refused to surrender after India gained independence from British rule in 1947. On December 19, 1961, Operation Vijay resulted in the annexation of Goa and of the Daman and Diu islands into the Indian union. On May 30, 1987, the union territory was split, and Goa was made India’s twenty-fifth state, with Daman and Diu remaining a union territory.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Hard Candy Day, National Oatmeal Muffin Day, and National Wreaths Across America Day (an observation that shifts dates annually).

Historical items of note:

  • In 1606, the ships Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery departed England, carrying settlers who founded, at Jamestown, Virginia, the first of the thirteen colonies that became the United States.
  • In 1714, astronomer and educator John Winthrop was born.
  • In 1825, violinist and composer George Frederick Bristow was born.
  • In 1924, the last Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost was sold in London, England.
  • In 1932, BBC World Service began broadcasting as the BBC Empire Service.
  • In 1961, English actor and author Matthew Waterhouse was born. He played Adric in Doctor Who.
  • In 1963, model and actress Jennifer Beals was born.
  • In 1972, actress Alyssa Milano was born.
  • In 1974, the ninth James Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun, premiered.
  • In 1975, Canadian composer Jeremy Soule was born.
  • In 1980, actor and producer Jake Gyllenhaal was born.
  • In 1986, Platoon premiered.
  • In 1995, the United States Government restored federal recognition to the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Native American tribe.
  • In 1998, President Bill Clinton was impeached by the United States House of Representatives, becoming the second President of the United States to be impeached. Andrew Johnson was the first, and Donald Trump was the third (and latest).
  • In 2013, spacecraft Gaia was launched by European Space Agency.

December 19th is National Heroes and Heroines Day in Anguilla. It is a day to celebrate and remember all those who have made important contributions to the nation.

As a British overseas territory in the Easter Caribbean, Anguilla was joined to St. Kitts and Nevis as an associated statehood in 1962. Resentment against this political decision festered, and in May 1967, the people of Anguilla marched on the Police Headquarters and evicted the Royal St. Kitts Police Force from the island.

On December 19, 1980, Anguilla fully seceded from the association. This date was marked by a public holiday called Separation Day, but in the years since, the Government of Anguilla has renamed the holiday to National Heroes and Heroines Day. The holiday became a general celebration of the people who have played an important role in the history of Anguilla and made significant sacrifices for the prosperity of this small but proud island nation.

The holiday also honors the revolution in 1967, including memorial services for those involved. The services are accompanied by parades and music performances and the whole day is observed as a joyous celebration rather than solemn remembrance.

The Thing About Today is an effort to look at each day of 2020 with respect to its historical context.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.