All right; so those weren't Oscar Wilde's last words - but they should have been We'll start the day by mentioning three of the wittiest men who ever lived. It's the birthday of both Jonathan Swift (b. 1667) and Mark Twain (b. 1835), and the anniversary of the death in 1900 of Oscar Wilde. Swift was the Irish cleric and satirist who wrote "A Modest Proposal" (which purportedly advocated that the cure for Irish economic woes was selling its children to be eaten) and "Gulliver's Travels" (which started out as a satire of European politics, but has evolved to become fodder for Jack Black to show once again how annoyingly unfunny he is). We've written about Twain in previous Sparks, but we’ll add once again that his "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is considered by many to be the "Great American Novel," and that his autobiography was published a couple of weeks ago. Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was one of Ireland and England's most celebrated wits, with an epigram for every occasion. He wrote plays, books, and poems, including one of the most perfect comedies ever, "The Importance of Being Earnest." In 1895, at the height of his fame, he was arrested and tried for his homosexuality, and eventually sentenced to two years of hard labor. A broken man by the time he was released in 1897, he left London, ending his days in a  shabby Parisian hotel. On a less gloomy Gallic note, we note that on this day in 1886, the Folies Bergère staged its first revue. The theatre was dedicated to music hall and vaudeville-type performances, and in its time has featured such stars as Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, Elton John, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and even Benny Hill. If you're looking for racier entertainment, we can point you to a double shot today, as CBS will air the annual "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show," and the 2011 Pirelli calendar will be released. The TV show, a parade of beautiful women walking the runway in their underwear is a beloved holiday tradition for men (and lingerie-loving women) everywhere, while the Pirelli calendar offers many of the same models, only sans the underwear, in artistic photos. (We'd offer more links to the calendar, but this is a family-friendly blog, after all.) We're so family-friendly, that we'll offer some programming to counter the fashion show. Tonight also brings the annual airing of the stop-motion animated classic, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and NBC's special "Christmas in Rockefeller Center," which will feature appearances by Susan Boyle, Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Jackie Evancho, Josh Groban, Annie Lennox, Kylie Minogue, and Jessica Simpson The extravaganza will climax with the lighting of the Center's tree (this year, it's a 74-foot Norway spruce from Mahopac, New York). The weather forecast for New York on Tuesday evening calls for rain and a low of 53°F, not exactly winter weather, so we guess it's appropriate that the U.N.'s Climate Change Conference is being held this week in sunny Cancun, Mexico (Tuesday's forecast high: 82°F). Speaking of "hot," Tuesday is the 28th anniversary of the release of Michael Jackson's "Thriller," which became the biggest-selling album of all time, in addition to inspiring prisoners around the globe to replicate Jacko's signature moves. As unique as Michael Jackson in their own ways were Winston Churchill and Irma S. Rombauer. Churchill was the Nobel Prize-winning author, historian, orator, and two-time British Prime Minister who led his country through World War II (and was promptly bounced out of office afterward as thanks) and whose 136th birthday occurs today. Rombauer was the St. Louis teacher and housewife whose cooking classes were so popular that, on this day in 1931, she self-published her book of recipes under the title "The Joy of Cooking." The book has never been out of print, and although it has undergone numerous revisions and alterations in the decades since, it remains one of America's favorite cookbooks. Finally, we remind you that today is Computer Security Day, so take a moment to check your security settings and virus updates, won't you? We want to see you back safely next time. Suggested Sites... After Reading: Prison, Publication, and Personal Letters - letters to and from Oscar Wilde after his release from prison. Folies Bergere Stages First Revue - a show featuring "scantily clad chorus girls" was "a tremendous success." Boy, times sure have changed ... CBS: Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - ... yep, they sure have. Wikipedia: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Special - is it Hermie the Elf, or Herbie? About.com: Computer Safety Tips - stay virtually safe.

Directory categories: Authors, Playwrights, Paris, Rockefeller Center, Cookbooks

Archived under: 17th Century, 1930s, 19th Century, Actors, American History, Animation, Anniversaries, Authors, Beauty, Birthdays, Books, Bras, Breasts, Buildings, Calendars, Celebrations, Celebrities, Charlie Chaplin, Christmas, Clothing and Accessories, Coincidence, Computers, Cooking, Dead Celebrities, Death, Eating, Entertainment, Environment, Events, Fiction, Food and Drink, France, Frank Sinatra, Gay History, History, Holidays, Humor, In Character, Legal Cases, Lingerie, Literature, London, Mark Twain, Men, Michael Jackson, Models, Movies, Music, Musicians, New York, Oscar Wilde, Performing Arts, Photography, Quotes, Recipes, Safety, Scandals, Science, Sex and Sexuality, Singers, TV, Theatres, Thriller, Tourist Attractions, Trees, U.K. History, United Kingdom, United Nations, Vaudeville, WWII, Weather, Winter, Women, Writers, Writing

Post a comment (0) | Email this posting

"That's "Hedy," not "Hedley!" Tuesday: As mysterious as Dorothy Kilgallen's death on November 8, 1965, is the 1965 blackout that overtook much of the Northeast United States and Ontario, Canada on this day. While the official cause was a series of mistakes and blown relays, there were also reports of UFOs near some of the power stations. We don't necessarily believe the reports; we're just saying ... Not all of the Northeast was affected, however, and a full moon that night kept things surprisingly safe, with New York City reporting only five instances of looting. When one speaks of New York, it's difficult to not think of Stanford White (whose 157th birthday falls on this day). White's distinctive architectural fingerprints can still be found all over Manhattan more than a century after his death. Such structures as the Municipal Building, the Washington Square Arch, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art – not to mention many of the millionaires' mansions on Fifth Avenue - were his designs. While White's firm designed things to be built, it's a demolished object that we take special notice of today, as it's the 21st anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The wall itself was the literal dividing line between East and West Berlin, constructed to keep East Germans from escaping the Communist regime. When that government fell, so did the wall. Something that irriatated those killjoy East German officials was rock music, and on this day in 1967, the first issue of "Rolling Stone" was published. While "Rolling Stone" was originally dedicated to rock, pop, and blues music and musicians – and those are still its primary focus – it's expanded in the decades since to become one of America's most respected magazines, known for its reporting on politics and entertainment. Speaking of respect, we throw a little of it to the creative community today as it's Inventor's Day, celebrated today because it's the birthday of actress Hedy Lamarr. Lamarr was not only one of the most glamorous and beautiful actresses of the 1930s and '40s, but was also something of a scientific genius. In 1942, she was granted a patent for a communication system that would "hop" frequencies in order to make radio-guided torpedoes harder to detect. While the technology went basically unused until the '60s, today it forms the basis for wi-fi networks and cell phones. Suggested Sites... November 9th, 1965 Blackout - sometimes Occam's Razor is a UFO. New York Architecture Images: McKim, Mead, and White - a century later, still some of Manhattan's most beautiful buildings. The Fall of the Berlin Wall: A Personal Account - the wall came a-tumblin' down. Hedy Lamarr Foundation - devoted to cultivating both brains and beauty. 5 Surprising Inventions From Famous People - Isaac Newton invented the cat door?

Directory categories: Electricity, Berlin, Rock and Pop Musicians, Magazines, Classic Hollywood Actors

Archived under: 1940s, 1960s, 1980s, 19th Century, Actors, American History, Anniversaries, Architects, Architecture, Arts, Beauty, Berlin, Birthdays, Buildings, Canada, Celebrations, Celebrities, Cell Phones, Communism, Communists, Electronics, Entertainment, Europe, European History, Events, Germany, History, Holidays, Ice, In Character, Invention, Inventors, Journalism, Magazines, Men, Museums, Music, Music History, New York, Rock and Roll, Science, Scientists, Tourist Attractions, UFOs, United States, Urban Legends, Weird Stuff, Women

Post a comment (0) | Email this posting

Who knows what bargains lurk in secondhand stores? (Photo by Janne Hellsten) Today is National Secondhand Wardrobe Day, which got me thinking about one of the perks of being an oldest child. Usually, being the first-born works against you: you're forced to spend your Saturday afternoons as free slave labor, babysitting younger siblings while your mother attends her Tupperware parties. But being the eldest also means that you avoid the dreaded hand-me-down; those secondhand atrocities with stubborn zippers and frayed hems that get passed down by older brothers and sisters. What recycled clothes I did inherit as a child were passed on by neighbors whose parents had better fashion sense than mine. I wore ill-fitting sweaters knitted by well-intentioned godparents, while my friends wore bright sundresses with ruffles in all the right places. As my friends grew out of their clothes, I reaped the benefits, collecting eighties-style jumpers with cute bows, trendy denim dresses, and shirts that didn't look like they were ordered out of a Land’s End catalogue (no offense, Mom). As I got older and was no longer reliant on my parents for my wardrobe choices, I discovered that having friends with good taste and an addiction to shopping worked to my advantage. Over the years, I've inherited form-fitting trench coats, black leather pumps, sexy strapless dresses, and other chic pieces I would have lacked the confidence to purchase myself. I've since moved on from my geeky childhood and adolescent years, eventually learning how to build a wardrobe and style of my own. But I haven't given up on the secondhand experience quite yet. While dropping off some odds and ends at a local Goodwill store recently, I happened to wander in and stumble across a gently-used velvet blazer from Banana Republic. I grinned, and snatched it up for a fifteenth of the original price. How’s that for being fashionable? Suggested Sites... Hand-Me-Downs - secondhand website for parents to swap and sell used childrens' clothing, furniture, and more. Freecycle - organization that helps people trade everything from clothes to electronics locally for free. Vintage Shopping Guide - directory of vintage stores nationwide, plus articles on recycled clothing and fashion. How to Host a Swap Shop - how to host parties toswap clothing with your friends. Clothing Swap - hints on trading and swapping clothes online and in person.

Directory categories: Vintage Clothing, Bartering and Swapping, Freecycling, Fashion and Beauty

Archived under: 1980s, Apparel, Beauty, Celebrations, Charity, Clothing and Accessories, Creativity, Events, Fashion, Freecycling, Green Living, In Character, Philanthropy, Recycling, Shopping

Post a comment (0) | Email this posting

The famous logo On this day in 1953, the very first issue of "Playboy" was published. In it, founder Hugh Hefner encapsulated the magazine's essence with these words: "If you're a man between the ages of 18 and 80, 'Playboy' is meant for you. If you like your entertainment served up with humor, sophistication and spice, 'Playboy' will become a very special favorite." That first issue, though, had a precarious future. There was no date on it (a second issue was in doubt) and Hef's name was left out so it wouldn't be tarnished should the magazine go -- dare we say it? -- bust. Luckily for him, the issue sold well -- due in no small part to the nude centerfold, Marilyn Monroe. The centerfold may be the foundation upon which the magazine is built, but "Playboy" distinguished itself from other men's magazines of the era through its focus on a sophisticated urban lifestyle, as opposed to the rough and tumble worlds endorsed by competitors. This bid for sophistication incorporated intelligent articles, short stories by talented writers, and the "Playboy Interview," which has grown into an institution of its own. That formula of sophistication -- and sex -- which worked so well in the 20th century, has, with little alteration, endured into the 21st century. Today's magazine is only a part of Playboy Enterprises, which has spread beyond publishing into a clothing line, gambling, the Web, social networking, video, radio, and television. While Hefner remains the embedded symbol of Playboy leadership, the sprawling empire is actually run by his daughter, Christie from Playboy headquarters in Chicago. The magazine's 55th anniversary issue is due in January, and will feature a centerfold model chosen from the girls considered during this past summer's massive nationwide casting call. (An anniversary issue tradition since 1979.) The niche that Playboy carved out in the '50s is now saturated with men's magazines as well as online content, but the progenitor of them all is still the most popular. Why? It's a glittering male fantasy that's incredibly seductive, despite -- or maybe even as a result of -- being somewhat dated. But, really, what it comes down to is that, "Playboy" simply answers that indecent question ensconced within the male mind: what does that girl next door look like underneath her clothes? Suggested Sites... Official Playboy Website - access everything in the Playboy universe. Playboy Enterprises - Playboy magazine's corporate site. The Girls Next Door - information on the E! Channel reality show. Centerfold.com - archive of Playboy pictorials. Interviews with Hugh and Christie Hefner - Charlie Rose interviews Hugh Hefner and Playboy CEO Christie Hefner

Directory categories: Playboy, Adult Magazines, Playboy Playmates, Hugh Hefner, The Girls Next Door

Archived under: 1950s, American History, Anniversaries, Babes, Beauty, Breasts, Hugh Hefner, Magazines, Men, Models, Playboy, Sex and Sexuality, Society and Culture, Women

Post a comment (0) | Email this posting

The Essential Michael Jackson and how we'd like to remember him Today, Michael Jackson turns 50... but he doesn't look a day older than 80, does he? Unfortunately, due to Michael's obsession with altering his appearance, he will never look his age -- of course, at this point he also doesn't look human! Remember when the self-proclaimed King of Pop looked normal? Yes, think way back. Ol' "Wacko Jacko" took the title of his biggest selling album a bit too literally and made himself into a thriller. But why, Mike? Why? Between the years 1979 and 2001, Michael Jackson changed his looks -- considerably -- as can easily be seen by his album covers during those years. "Off the Wall" was the last time we'd get to hold "young and innocent Michael" in our hands. Maybe it was the success of that album, or the thought of millions seeing his adult face even more on TV, that persuaded him to start making major changes to his appearance, starting with a new nose to show off on "Thriller." Fine, that was cool -- we could deal with that. In fact, he looked good! But five years later, his "Bad" look was a bit of a surprise. He was... um, a different hue, for one. Long hair -- okay, fine -- and dressed all in black (yes, we get it -- you're Bad!). Ah, but then, with his next album, he seemed to have gotten the message. He was totally hidden on the cover of "Dangerous" -- and considering that title, it makes us wonder why he was hiding. Don't be ashamed, Mike. Just stop going under the knife, man! Alas, he did not learn: On the cover of his latest album, "Invincible," he was paler than ever (and the over-exposed white contrast of the cover didn't help, Michael). That was in 2001: I cringe when I think about what he'll look like on his next album cover. So what, now, MJ? Is there any way you can just age gracefully? Mikey, seriously, at the rate you're going, many of us are just hoping you age at all. Suggested Sites... ABC News: The Changing Face of Michael Jackson - photo slideshow of Jacko's career and the many faces he's worn. YouTube: Morphing Michael Jackson - watch MJ's many faces morph from his adolescent days to recent years. Michael's YouTube Channel - watch classic music videos of Michael when he was totally normal, like "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You." A Photographic History of Michael Jackson's Face - with "blithering, yet witty commentary." Michael Jackson Didn't Have Plastic Surgery On His Heart - one fan's letter to those dissing Michael Jackson's incredibly bizarre face.

Directory categories: Michael Jackson, Jackson 5, Celebrity Plastic Surgery

Archived under: Beauty, Entertainment, Health, Michael Jackson, Mug Shots, Musicians, Plastic Surgery

Post a comment (3) | Email this posting