James Dean Memorial Junction in California, off HWY 46 and 41 Fifty-three years ago today, James Dean uttered those words just moments before his fatal automobile crash near Cholame, California. Obviously, he was wrong, and the improbably named Donald Turnupseed ended one of Hollywood's most promising careers. Dean was hardly the first person to be killed in a car crash (that "honor" belongs to Henry Bliss of New York City in 1899), but given the number of celebrities who have met their ends in cars, one wonders why they ever get into automobiles in the first place. One of the earliest stars to meet her maker in a car was the "Empress of the Blues," Bessie Smith, who may have been turned away from a segregated Mississippi hospital. Cowboy superstar Tom Mix ignored warning signs at a construction site and slid his car into a gully, Ernie Kovacs was lighting a cigar when he fatally crashed into a Beverly Hills power pole, and Jayne Mansfield plowed into a truck. Athletes have also fallen victim to vehicular deaths. New York Giants stars Mel Ott, Carl Hubbell, and Frankie Frisch all succumbed in cars, as did Billy Martin and Steve Prefontaine (though alcohol figured in the last two), and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt died during the 2001 Daytona 500. Authors and artists are thoughtful people, but the deaths of T.E. Lawrence, Albert Camus, Margaret Mitchell, Nathanael West , Helmut Newton, and Jackson Pollack prove that accidents can happen to even the most punctilious. Nor is royalty immune, as the deaths of Princess Diana and Princess Grace can attest. While we don't mean to sound flip, good can come of such tragedies; the heart that Christian Barnard used in his first transplant came from a woman who had been killed by a car, and every year, hundreds of lives are saved by those who donate their organs. So on this somewhat morbid occasion, we urge you to sign those donor cards -- and to "watch out for the other guy." Suggested Sites... James Dean.com - official site for the actor, with information about his life and legacy. James Dean on Driving Safely - Dean's last film appearance, speaking ironically enough on auto safety. Celebrity Automobile Accidents - a surprisingly long list of celebrities involved in fatal car crashes. Snopes.com: Spyder Web - examines the legend that the car Dean died in is cursed. The Death of James Dean - contemporary newsreel of the tragedy, featuring the CHP officer who responded to the call.

Directory categories: James Dean, Driving Safety, Dale Earnhardt, Organ Donation, Roadside Attractions

Archived under: Actors, Anniversaries, Athletes, Authors, Autos, Bereavement, Dead Celebrities, Death, Driving, James Dean, Safety

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(Photo by Kolby) In 1888, 33 explorers and scientists gathered in Washington, D.C., with a mission to create "a society for the increase and diffusion of geographic knowledge." The result of that meeting was the National Geographic Society, which celebrates its 120th anniversary this year. National Geographic is near and dear to my heart for a variety of reasons, but mostly for the realms of discovery it's provided for me since childhood. Not only was the Society's magazine the sole delight I could look forward to while visiting various doctors' offices, but its photography, cultural travel, and science articles have been a never-ending source of eye candy and brain manna. The periodical opened up the entire world for Western populations, long before mass media and the Internet were available. Today it has blossomed into dozens of publications and news channels across the planet -- including the glorious National Geographic Channel in HD. But, not to forget the original intent of this organization -- to explore and discover -- here are but a few fruits of the Society's myriad labors: Discovery of Canada's highest peak, Mount Logan Support of the first successful expedition to the North Pole Excavations of Machu Picchu NGS flags flew along with John Glenn on America's first orbital space flight, as well as to the moon on Apollo 11 And in what may have provided the inspiration for my own college aspirations, the National Geographic Society, paired with Louis and Mary Leakey, helped launch (and fund) the careers of Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall, and Birute Galdikas, So here's my salute to you, National Geographic, for bestowing upon me -- and the rest of the planet -- your sense of adventure, need for knowledge, and the drive to make our world feel that much smaller, and all of us more connected. Suggested Sites... National Geographic Society - official site of the "society for the increase and diffusion of geographic knowledge." National Geographic Magazine - official subsite to connect with the popular publication. National Geographic Channel - see what's airing on the television channel. Wikipedia: National Geographic Society - an explanation and history of the group started by explorers and scientists.

Directory categories: National Geographic Society, Conservation, Photojournalism, Anthropology and Archeaology

Archived under: Adventure, Ancient History, Archaeology, Journalism, Magazines, National Geographic, Photography, Society and Culture, Travel

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McCay's Little Nemo in Slumberland The division of worlds between what's "for kids" and what's "for adults" is generally clear. But with comics, there's a vast gray area. I have a distinct memory of sitting with my dad and reading the candy-colored Sunday newspaper comics. I asked him, "What does @#$%& mean?" I can't print his answer, but it was the beginning of my understanding that there were things in the comics that were for me, and things that weren't. Comics exist on a continuum, with child-friendly cartoons like "Garfield" at one end and editorial cartoons at the other. It's a rare artist whose work spans this spectrum, but at the nascence of the art form, Winsor McCay (whose 127th birthday we celebrate today) was such an illustrator. He is fondly remembered for his pioneering contributions to cartooning, thanks to his 1914 film, "Gertie the Dinosaur," as well as for his comic strips, including "Little Nemo in Slumberland" (for kids) and "Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend" (for the grown-ups). Thanks to technology, animation and comics have made leaps and bounds since the 1910s, but if McCay were alive today, I believe that many modern comic strips, with their classic lines in ink, would be pleasantly familiar to him. Many creators, from Maurice Sendak, with his "In the Night Kitchen," to Neil Gaiman and his "Sandman" comics, openly cite McCay as an influence, as his subject matter is timeless. He delved into the subconscious, mapping out dreams that were (as dreams are) a little creepy and surreal (as opposed to saccharine). Gaiman plays on this theme, as does Jesse Reklaw -- quite literally, as he draws people's dreams into his strip, "Slow Wave." With the arrival of the First World War, McCay's popularity lessened, but his work was as detailed and stylish as ever. His greatest legacy may be that he followed his own vision and, regardless of circumstance, kept his pen moving. Suggested Sites... Meeting McCay - blog devoted to informing the world about McCay and his home town of Spring Lake, Michigan. History of Animation - 1824-2005 timeline of animation history from Amazing Gallery. An Eclectic Repository - read examples of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" and "Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend." Annie Awards: Winsor McCay Award - find out who has received this honor from the International Animated Film Society.

Directory categories: Winsor McCay, Animation, Comic Strips, Maurice Sendak, Neil Gaiman

Archived under: Animation, Artists, Arts, Cartoonists, Cartoons, Comics, Creativity, Dreams, Winsor McCay

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V.P. Dick Cheney The vice presidential candidacies of Sarah Palin and Joe Biden have turned an unusual spotlight on the potential residents of Number One Observatory Circle. We started to wonder about the veeps of campaigns past. Who were these guys? Mostly, they were chosen to deliver their home states and remain anonymous, but some stood out for their ability to attack the opposition; for their gender; their perceived lack of readiness; or for their controversial views: Curtis LeMay wanted to start World War III, and Fielding Wright was a segregationist. In spite of not being elected, some went on to distinguished careers. Frank Knox ran against Franklin Roosevelt, but was later appointed by him to be Secretary of the Navy. Earl Warren became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. FDR had three VPs: "Cactus Jack" Garner, Henry A. Wallace, (whose crypto-Buddhist philosophy was too strange for the 1940s), and Harry Truman, who succeeded him. Some candidates had unique careers. Charles Fairbanks was elected in 1904, retired in 1909, then ran again (unsuccessfully) in 1916. Nicholas Murray Butler was originally just a delegate to the 1912 Republican Convention, but took James Sherman's place when Sherman died just days before the election. Adlai E. Stevenson I served as Grover Cleveland's number two in 1892, then lost with William Jennings Bryan in 1900. In 1896, Bryan achieved something that no other candidate has managed: running on two tickets (Democratic and Populist) with two different running mates (Arthur Sewall and Thomas Edward Watson). Of course, not every vice president is as close as Dick Cheney is to George Bush. Dwight Eisenhower didn't really get along with Richard Nixon, and Woodrow Wilson wouldn't even let Thomas Marshall relay his messages to the Senate. The last word about the office probably comes from Garner, who famously summed it up as being "not worth a bucket of warm piss." Suggested Sites... The White House: Vice President of the United States - information on the vice president's duties, speeches, and biography. Sarah Palin - official site from the McCain/Palin campaign. Joe Biden - official site from the Obama/Biden campaign. Wikipedia: Vice Presidents of the United States - overview of the office and the men who have occupied it, with lots of fun facts. Time Magazine: America's Worst Vice Presidents - sounds like a game show, but it's a roster of infamy and incompetence.

Directory categories: Vice Presidents, Joe Biden, Sarah Palin, United States Senate, United States Executive Branch

Archived under: American History, Candidates, Democratic Party, Government, Presidential Candidates, Presidents, Republican Party, U.S. Elections, U.S. Senate, Vice Presidents

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Signs like this make us worry (Photo by Sean Graham) Like so many things in life we dont always appreciate punctuation until its gone Today is National Punctuation Day, beloved of teachers, editors, and amateur nit-pickers with red pens and digital cameras. Why should punctuation get its own day? Many among us believe that proper punctuation is endangered. Some blame the Internet (no, "I can has cheezburger?" isn't grammatically correct); others suggest txt msgs or a failing educational system should take the fall. More pessimistic grammarians see English in a downward spiral of laziness and disuse, slowly breaking down our ability to communicate intelligently, ultimately leaving humankind in a bleak dystopia of monosyllabic caveman grunts and primitive glyphs scratched into the dirt. (Sounds like someone could benefit from better anxiety meds.) We're all occasionally guilty of grammatical mistakes and typos, but only the stickliest of sticklers would fault someone for the occasional error (or made-up word). The real problem is an epidemic of wanton disregard for the value of grammar, punctuation, and clear communication. Far too many sign-makers just don't seem to care if potential customers can understand what they're selling. Too many ads and corporate emails risk losing potential investors who may decide they can't trust their business to a company that doesn't know their "there" from their "they're." If you're a confused or lazy writer who can't be bothered to remember the difference between "its" (something that belongs to "it") and "it's" (a contraction of "it is"), please do your part to celebrate National Punctuation Day today. Turn on the spellcheck before sending that email. Put down those extraneous quotation marks on signs (they're not supposed to be used for "emphasis," we promise). Fight the urge to add apostrophes to plural nouns (we know you want to call them "DVD's" and "pizza's," but we swear they're really "DVDs" and "pizzas"). If for today only, do your part to make a grammar nerd happy. Suggested Sites... National Punctuation Day - get out your red pen and celebrate with us! Gallery of "Misused" Quotation Marks - what are they really trying to "say"? The Apostrophe Protection Society - please dont make these mistakes'. The "Blog" of "Unncessary" Quotation Marks - they really "hate" signs with "bad" punctuation. Apostrophe Abuse - share your own apostrophe horror stories'.

Directory categories: Punctuation, Grammar and Style, Style Guides, Linguistics and Languages, Editing and Proofreading Services

Archived under: Education, Grammar, Holidays, Languages, Signs, Words, Writing

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