"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

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Did you ever think that maybe it's the Tower is straight, and it's the rest of Pisa that's crooked? (Photo by Sébastien Bertrand) Welcome back to The Spark, version 2.0. As is our new wont, we'll be taking a look at news, events, and anniversaries for the upcoming week in order to point you to deeper resources available about them in the Yahoo! Directory. Anxious to begin? So are we! Let's dive in. Monday: On this date in 1173, construction began in Pisa, Italy on a campanile. Soon after building began, the tower began to sink and tilt. (We think you can see where we’re going with this ...) Suffice it to say, though, we were surprised to learn it took nearly two hundred years to complete. Eight stories in two centuries? That's either some tough zoning commission or pretty strict union rules. In 1483, Sistine Chapel in the the Vatican opened. We always wondered where its name came from, and it turns out it was named after Pope Sixtus IV. In another construction fun fact, we were surprised to learn that the room didn't open with Michelangelo's ceiling paintings in place; they weren't added for another 25 years -- and even then, it took the artist four years to finish the job. (Insert obligatory joke about "he should have used a roller.") We don't know if this is coincidental, but today is also International Art Appreciation Day. So go out and appreciate some art, won't you? We don't take notice of just contractors today; we also salute Mr. Jacob Bronck, the Dutch farmer who managed to purchase what is now the New York borough of The Bronx (which is, of course, named for him) from local Indian tribes for 400 beads. In birthdays today, cartoon icon Betty Boop turns 80, having made her debut in the Fleischer Studios cartoon "Dizzy Dishes" in 1930. Betty looks pretty good for an old dame, and was recently unveiled as the "Official Fantasy Cheerleader" of the United Football League -- and no, we’re not sure what that actually means. Speaking of fantasy mascots, the United States Forest Service unveiled their own mascot, Smokey the Bear, on this day in 1944. For those of you inclined toward motorcycles and unseemly behavior, we'll note that the 70th Sturgis Rally begins today in Sturgis, SD, and leave it at that -- except to not that "unseemly behavior" reminds us that this is the 36th anniversary of Richard Nixon resigning the Presidency. Tuesday: In these days of the Interwebs, it's hard to conceive of how slow communication used to be. For example, it was until this day in 1776 that word of the United States declaring its independence reached London -- over a month after the event took place. It's a good day for revolutionary movements, as, in 1792, French revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace and arrested King Louis XVI. But it's not just a day for revolting; it's also a day for learning and scholarship. In 1846, James Smithson donated $500,000 (about $115 million today) to fund what would turn out to be the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. In much the same spirit, a group of, well, obsessive nerds (and we mean that fondly) met in Cooperstown, NY, in 1971, to found the Society for American Baseball Research, known for such Sabermetric abbreviations as WARP, wOBA, and xFIP. (If you’re more fond of football and video games than you are of baseball, please note that Madden NFL 11 will be released today). Antonio Banderas turns 50 today. We'll say he looks pretty darn good for a guy his age, and leave it at that. It's the 78th anniversary of the death of Rin Tin Tin. Rinty was a German Shepherd puppy who was found on a World War I battlefield by soldier Lee Duncan. Duncan brought the dog back to America and taught him any number of tricks, to the point where the dog became a major movie star in the 1920s, even keeping the Warner Bros. studio from going bankrupt. To get serious for a moment, we wish our Muslim readers a blessed Ramadan, the holiday that begins today. Wednesday: Not much to note today, but we found this juxtaposition irresistible, especially in light of recent events in the Gulf. In 1994, a federal jury awarded $286.8 million to 10,000 commercial fishermen for their losses suffered as a result of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. And on the same date in 1998, British Petroleum purchased Amoco for $49 billion. And in 1934, the first prisoners started arriving at the newly-commissioned federal prison on Alcatraz Island. BP? Oil spills? Alcatraz? We'll leave the math to you. Thursday: State fair season gets underway this weekend, as fairs open in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and West Virginia. The idea of the state fair conjures up (for us, anyway) the idea of small towns and the Midwest, which also reminds us that, in 1939, "The Wizard of Oz" had its world premiere not in Hollywood, but at the Strand Theatre in the bustling Wisconsin town of Oconomowoc. Turns out MGM was afraid they had a flop on their hands, and wanted to keep it quiet. (And we'll mention here that Bert Lahr, who played the Cowardly Lion, would have turned 115 this Friday). Speaking of fantasies, supposedly on this date in 1943, the U.S. Navy tested a teleportation machine in what has come to be known as the Philadelphia Experiment. Way, way back in 30 BCE, Cleopatra committed suicide by letting an asp bite her. For the geeky, not only will Jon Stewart be interviewing George Lucas at the Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, FL, but it's also the first day of the QuakeCon video game tournament. For the more athletically inclined, the PGA Golf Championship begins today in Kohler, WI, as well as the annual inductions at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA. Friday: Remember not so long ago, when everyone was all concerned about how 2012 is the end of the Mayan calendar, which somehow means the end of the world? Well, on this day in 3114 BCE, the Mayan calendar started up. We can only guess what was around before that ... A big day for women today. It's the 150th birthday of sharpshooter Annie Oakley, the 100th anniversary of the death of pioneer nurse Florence Nightingale, and the 92nd anniversary of Opha Mae Johnson being the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. In the world of movies, Alfred Hitchcock, "the Master of Suspense," known for such classics as "Psycho," "North by Northwest," and "Vertigo," was born in 1899, which would have made him 111 today -- almost as old as the cast of "The Expendables," which opens today with such stars as Sylvester Stallone, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. That it's also Friday the 13th and World Lizard Day seems almost non-coincidental. (Though it's also International Lefthanders Day, so we probably shouldn't make too much of it.) Saturday: Today is the 75th anniversary of the passing of the Social Security Act, which should come as a relief to Steve Martin, who turns 65 today, and is now eligible to retire. On the same day Steve was born, the Japanese surrendered to the Allies, ending World War II, an event that was helped in no small part by the U.S. Army's Navajo code talkers -- Native Americans who radioed each other in their native tongue, completely confounding the Japanese who tried unsuccessfully to understand them; something that is celebrated today with National Navajo Code Talkers Day. In Glasgow today, pipers from around the world will gather at the World Pipe Band Championships, something annoying for most of us, and bizarre enough to commemorate the 60th birthday of "Far Side" cartoonist Gary Larson. (Though perhaps it's not as bizarre as the UK Mobile Phone Throwing Championships.) A more pleasant musical event will take place on the other side of the Equator, as the World Tango Championships will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sunday: Birthdays today for two people who conquered their own worlds in their own ways. In 1769, it was Napoleon Bonaparte, and in 1912, it was Julia Child. In 1969 on this date, Woodstock opened, featuring such musical acts as Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Carlos Santana, Crosby, Stills and Nash, the Jefferson Airplane, The Who, and others. We began this week by mentioning the Leaning Tower of Pisa, so it’s only fitting that we end it by referring to the laying of the foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral in 1248. The Tower took only 200 years to build, but the Cathedral wasn't completed until 1880. We wish you a good week and the hopes that your own construction projects go more swiftly. Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: Sistine Chapel Ceiling - details about the painting and the process. Sturgis Rally - it's either Heaven or Hell, depending. Maybe a little bit of both. National Park Service: Alcatraz Island - take a tour of the Rock. Quake Con 2010 - games slightly more complicated than checkers. Star Wars Celebration V - Han shot first.

Directory categories: Painting Masters, Animation, Baseball History, Movie History, Rock and Pop Music History

Archived under: 18th Century, 1940s, 19th Century, Actors, Alcatraz, Alfred Hitchcock, American History, Ancient History, Animation, Anniversaries, Architecture, Arts, Baseball, Basketball, Betty Boop, Birthdays, Buildings, Calendars, Cartoonists, Cartoons, Celebrations, Celebrities, Cell Phones, Cheerleaders, Chefs, Coincidence, Concerts, Conspiracies, Cover Ups, Directors, Disappearances, Dogs, England, Entertainment, Europe, European History, Events, Festivals, France, Friday the 13th, Gamers, Games, Government, Heavy Metal and Hard Rock, History, Holidays, Islam, Italy, Japan, Judy Garland, London, MLB, Mascots, Mayan Civilization, Military, Motorcycles, Movie History, Movie Theatres, Movies, Music, Music History, Musicians, Mysteries, Mythology and Folklore, Napoleon Bonaparte, New York, Nostalgia, Online Gaming, Real Estate, Revolutionary War, Rin Tin Tin, Rome, San Francisco, Science Fiction, Scotland, Secrets, Silent Movies, Small Towns, Star Wars, U.K. History, United Kingdom, United States, Urban Legends, Video Games, WWI, WWII, Women, Yahoo! Directory

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How come I'm always in back of this jagoff? (Photo by Jim Legans, Jr ) July is Cell Phone Courtesy Month, and in honor of this occasion we are offering friendly reminders and cautionary tales. We intend to improve your life by letting you know that you are not alone in your disdain for those oblivious to the annoyance they cause others, and also offer you comfort in knowing that you are not the only one who makes the occasional slip in etiquette. All names have been changed to protect our sources in this delicate matter. "Marion" - Remember when Bluetooth headsets first came out and people would wear them even when they weren’t using their phones? Not a cool look and very unapproachable. Thank goodness I don’t see Borg-y Magees much anymore. "Alice" - Cell phones should be in a silent mode all the time in the office -- most phones offer a silent mode w/vibration nowadays. Electrical versions of the latest hit songs, some random customized ring tones, and the good old phone rings can be all quite distracting for some people. Especially when a cell phone is left in a cube. The personal phone rings continuously, and that’s mostly after the work phone rang a few times. Expecting some important calls? That's when the phone should really be in silent mode, because it'll surely ring until it gets answered! "Bruce" - I was at a movie the other night and some pinhead right in front of me kept looking at his phone, either texting or reading his email, and the incredibly bright light kept shining in my face like a Vegas spot light (at least, that’s how it felt). Morons need to either ignore their phones completely (TURN IT OFF!) or at the very least, turn down their brightness settings. Also, during the same movie (this was a Metallica concert/movie, so the number of pinheads increased substantially), some jagoff walks into the theater, late, of course, using his phone as a FLASH LIGHT! Because THAT'S not annoying at all! "Bella" - I once realized I was checking Facebook and email on my phone while my friend was over to hang out and in mid-conversation. That was pretty rude of me. "Clark" - I'm a fan of live theatre, and there's always a chance that anything can happen during the performance -- particularly a cell phone going off. No matter how many times an audience is warned, some dimwit thinks his phone won't be the one that goes off. Most times the actors ignore the interruption, but in egregious cases, actors will try either a charming approach or be more aggressive in their attempts to get the audience to actually watch the show they paid to see. I recently saw a play with Christopher Walken, and at one point in the show, he was crossing down right, and a cell phone started ringing. Walken stopped, gave the audience one of his quizzical looks and stood, just waiting. After about four rings, the phone stopped. He gave a "what are you gonna do?" shrug, and continued the action, handling it brilliantly. "Dana" – I once worked at a bookstore, and a man on his cell phone ducked half-way into the back room through the "employees only" door (first offense), and proceeded to reveal to the entire shop that he was a doctor by loudly discussing a patient's medical condition (second offense), and referring to the patient by name (third offense). I was very glad he wasn't my doctor. "Lyra" - My feathers are repeatedly ruffled by teens and students who decide to use their phones as ghetto blasters on public transport. Whether it’s Ke$ha or Katy Perry, I know that everyone else in the train carriage is thinking the same thing I am: "Turn that racket off!" Then I wonder why, if they can afford the latest in MP3 cell phone technology, they can’t also invest in a good pair of headphones ... "Snuffy" - While I can tolerate loud talkers in waiting rooms, gossiping teenagers on public transit, and glowing-screen texters in movie theaters, I hate when people talk on their phones in the bathroom. You may not care if the other person on the line hears your bodily functions, but I certainly don't want people to hear mine! "Madeline" - Talking on your cell phone in public restrooms is NOT okay. Specifically while you are in the stall. Therefore, I invite all who encounter this behavior to invoke their six-year-old selves and make loud noises in their own stalls. This will not only satisfy one's inner child, but will also hopefully be heard by the person on the other end of the line. Clearly, we can all benefit from a brief refresher in manners when it comes to phone use in public. Some people take things to the extreme with their phones, such as supermodel Naomi Campbell, who has reportedly used her phone as a weapon again and again and again. The good news is that most cell phone offenses are minor, and of us can be reformed. You may have been gabbing to your friend and ordering coffee from a perturbed barista this morning, but a little mindfulness can save you from the same faux pas tomorrow. Suggested Sites... The Basic Rules of Cell Phone Etiquette - rules for restaurants, concerts, airplanes, and more. Drive Now Talk Later - Car Talk's Tom and Ray offer an extensive guide to the risks and rules of driving and dialing. Practicing Proper Cellular Conduct - a handy color-coded guide to when you can and can't answer the phone. Cell Phone Etiquette on eHow - tons of articles and videos. Become an expert and impress your friends! Top 10 Cell Phone Etiquette Rules People Still Break - are you guilty of one of these bad behaviors?

Directory categories: Etiquette , Cell Phone Etiquette, Cell Phones, Telecommunications , Naomi Campbell

Archived under: Business, Cell Phones, Communication, Eavesdropping, Etiquette, Events, Mobile Phones, Movie Theatres, Performing Arts, Ringtones

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These Things Drive Us CRAZY! (Photo by Chelsea Durham) When George Orwell wrote "Nineteen Eighty-Four," he could never have imagined The Spark. In his classic novel, Orwell proposed that every April the citizens of Oceania were whipped into a frenzy of hate against some imaginary foe, for no reason other than to keep them distracted from what was really happening. (Sounds like some current political commentators, but we digress ...) In the past we've mentioned our loathing of cell phones, banished words, NASCAR, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, bad movies, telemarketers, Tim McCarver, Hannah Montana, High School Musical, Keanu Reeves, and "Batman" the TV show, but there's always new stuff to denigrate. When we got to thinking about it, we realized that celebrating hate sounded like a darn fine idea -- oh, not the harmful kind that actually hurts people, but rather, as an outlet for those things that either drive us crazy or that we just can't stand. So, herewith, the Spark's "We Hate It" list: Liz: I hate it when I rent or borrow a movie on DVD and it stops in the middle. Then when I look at the disc, it appears that someone has used it as a hockey puck or a butter dish -- or both. Can we learn to hold these things by the edges, people? Robert: I have a strong dislike for tofu ice cream bars. They look like ice cream, they feel like ice cream when you roll them around in your mouth, but you wait -- and that rich, sweet taste never comes. Instead, you're left with thoughts of what could have been and the faint aftertaste of bean curd. I'm sure there are vegan tofu ice cream enthusiasts that love these things, but I personally shudder when I think about them. Suzi: Drivers who use their brights on the highway, regardless of oncoming traffic. Helene: I hate falling asleep without having caught that spider hanging on the ceiling. Apparently, we eat three spiders per year while sleeping. Heather: I have a love/hate relationship with the movie industry. There's something particularly annoying about getting all pumped up over a stellar movie trailer, only to walk out of a theater $8.00 poorer with a sour taste in your mouth and a queasy feeling in your gut. Netflix, anyone? Mike: I hate road hogs who think letting a car change lanes in front of them is like an insult or something. Sarah: The "Twilight" movie posters. Yellow eyes aren't sexy; they're a sign of jaundice! Jessica: I hate people who are walking and talking on Bluetooth. I even hate myself when I'm walking and talking on Bluetooth. Richard: There's only one thing in this world that I truly hate to my very core: Cilantro, the devil's herb. It's true. Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: Hate Week - start your own celebration. How To Repair Damaged CDs or DVDs - help is on the way! Tofu Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe - can you call it ice cream if there's no milk? Bad Driver Blog - you're not alone. Idiots are everywhere. Ban Cilantro.org - dedicated to the destruction of the evil weed.

Directory categories: George Orwell, 1984, Tofu, Bad Drivers, Traffic and Road Conditions

Archived under: 1984, Adam West, Authors, Batman, Celebrations, Cell Phones, DVD, Disney, Disney Channel, Driving, Entertainment, Fiction, George Orwell, Hannah Montana, Holidays, Humor, Ice Cream, In Character, Literature, Miley Cyrus, Movie Trailers, Movies, NASCAR, Performing Arts, Rock and Roll, Spiders, Sportscasters, Superheroes, T-Shirts, Telemarketing, The Spark, Tofu, Travel, Vampires, Writers, Yahoo! Directory

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(Photo by Torbert Timson) Around this time every year, the small Finnish town of Savonlinna becomes the center of attention. Summer solstice? Nope. Exquisite views of the Aurora Borealis? Think again. More important than all of these is the annual Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships. Let's be honest, there are plenty of good reasons to hurl a misbehaving cell phone as far it can go. There are the people with "Who Let the Dogs Out?" as their ringtone. There's the fool who'll happily answer a call while sitting on the toilet. And of course, you can't beat the theater-goer whose blasted phone goes off during that really sensitive bit in the movie, despite the numerous warnings telling them to shut off their cell phone or face death by stoning. Do we sound bitter? Perhaps. But these folks in Finland seem to have a lot of fun. Last year, for example, Lassi Etelätalo threw one 89 meters (that's over 290 feet for the metrically impaired). To make things fair, Finnish consulting company Fennolingua supplies all the phones which apparently weigh-in between 220 grams and 400 grams. This August, as the competition enters its seventh year, and thousands of people descend on the town, we salute all the competitors and organizers who vent their frustrations on those ubiquitous devices we've learned to love to hate. Suggested Sites... Etela-Savon Maakunta - home county to Savonlinna. Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships - an official site, naturally. YouTube: Mobile Phone Throwing Videos - hundreds of 'em!

Directory categories: Cell Phones, Finland, Cell Phone Etiquette, Bizarre Humor, Phone Ringtones and Graphics

Archived under: Cell Phones, Communication, Contests, Events, Regional, Sports, Weird Stuff

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