The most famous shot in "A Trip to the Moon." Special effects have gotten slightly better in the century since. Welcome once more to The Spark, your weekly digest of events and happenings and information in the Yahoo! Directory to help you appreciate them more. As we begin this last Spark before the Labor Day holiday, we have to ask just where in the heck the summer went. Seems like it was Memorial Day about five minutes ago, and now kids are back in school and Fall is lurking around the corner. Anyway, let's look at the week ahead. Monday: It's a day for monsters and creators. In the former category, we have Benedict Arnold, who on this day in 1780, secretly promised to surrender the Continental Army's fort at West Point, NY, to the British. Arnold was an egomaniac, who was frustrated with the lack of attention he had received, and what better way to get attention than to commit treason? Speaking of outsized egos, we note that today would have been the 127th birthday of Huey Long, the "Kingfish" who ran Louisiana like a private fiefdom until he was gunned down in 1935. Long ruled the state as both governor and senator, and his campaign slogan of "Every Man a King" mixed populism and fascism in equal measure. But let us not mention only those who destroy, let's celebrate those who create. When thinking of monsters, one almost automatically turns to thoughts of Dr. Frankenstein and his creation, for which we owe thanks to Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, born in 1793, she wrote her novel, "Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus," at the tender age of 18. And where would kids (and parents) be today without Babar? Laurent de Brunhoff (born in 1925), is son of Jean de Brunhoff, who created the elephant king, and who continued his adventures when his father died. Of course, those kids grow up to be teenagers and young adults, and where would they be without Robert Crumb, who turns 73 today? Crumb was in the vanguard of the underground comix movement of the 1960s, and he’s still active and creative, and his influence on modern pop culture is incalculable. And what would pop culture be without the Beatles? One hesitates to guess, but you can try to get a handle on it this week at the International Beatle Week in Liverpool, England. Of course, the Beatles played in the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York when they made their American debut in 1964, and that theatre is today home to the Late Show with David Letterman, which made its own debut in "the Ed" in 1993. A nice contrast to end the day. Gazillionaire Warren Buffett hits the big 8-0 today, and out in the Nevada desert, Burning Man begins. The best thing we can say about Burning Man is that it gets all those people who want to go to Burning Man in one spot away from the rest of us. Tuesday: More monsters. In 12, Gaius Caligula was born. Though the surviving sources are incomplete, Caligula was one of the most notorious Roman emperors of them all, known for the stories of his cruelty, instability, and sexual perversion. (We won’t deal with them here, but you can find the stories easily enough.) But Caligula isn't the only monster we note. On this date in 1888, Mary Ann Nichols was murdered and became the first of known victim of Jack the Ripper. And, of course, in 1928, Berlin saw the premiere of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s "Die Dreigoschenoper" (known in English as "The Threepenny Opera"), with its main character, the vicious murderer Captain Macheath, better known as "Mack the Knife." In 1959, Bobby Darin had a huge hit with that song (which is really odd, when one considers it's about a mass murderer killing people), and Friday will see the 51st anniversary of that song being banned by WCBS radio in New York City. At the time, there had been a series of teenage stabbings in the city, and the station didn't want to those crazy teens any ideas. And while marijuana possession is small potatoes compared to all of the above, we see that, in 1948, actor Robert Mitchum was arrested in a Hollywood drug bust, and was eventually sentenced to 60 days in prison, a scandal which in those days threatened to kill his career, but nowadays would rate only a passing mention on "Entertainment Tonight." All this talk of criminals and murderers makes us long for a hero, and fortunately, in 1942, "The Adventures of Superman" radio series began airing on the Mutual Broadcasting System. Wednesday: All we have for today is that in 1902, George Melies’s "A Trip to the Moon," was released in France and became the world’s first science fiction film. Thursday: So, in 490 BCE, the Athenian army was at Marathon, battling with Persia. The herald Pheidippides was sent to Sparta for help. He ran the 150 miles in two days, but because of religious laws, the Spartans couldn't send any help, so he ran back. In spite of not having the extra troops, Athens won the battle. And poor Phidippides took off again, this time running the 26.2 miles from Marathon to Athens to carry the news of the victory. He gasped out his last words, "We have won," and dropped dead of exhaustion. The lesson: do not underestimate the usefulness of warm-ups and warm-downs. In 1666, the Great Fire of London began in the wooden house of King Charles II's baker. By the time it ended three days later, more than 13,000 houses, including St Paul's Cathedral, had burned to the ground -- but amazingly, only six people had died. If you were living in England in 1752, tomorrow would have been September 14th. While most of the rest of the world had switched from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar in 1582, the stubborn Brits had stuck to their guns. But, after nearly 200 years, there was an eleven-day discrepancy between the two calendars, and the English had no choice but to convert. There were actual riots, as people cried, "Give us back our eleven days!" But it was to no avail. Great Britain and her colonies were dragged kicking and screaming into the 18th century. Speaking of fighting against reality, in 1934, singer Russ Columbo accidentally shot himself to death. Columbo was a wildly popular singer and actor, and when he killed himself (with an antique gun that was supposedly unloaded), his friends thought the news would prove fatal to his mother, so for the last years of her life, those friends created an elaborate ruse, sending postcards and letters from far-off locations, and using his records to simulate a radio show. In 1944, Mrs. Columbo died, never suspected that her son had died a decade before. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: Let's talk about pioneers this weekend. First, there's Louis Sullivan, born in 1856. Sullivan is, for all intents and purposes, the man who invented the skyscraper. Since Chicago had had its own giant fire in 1871, Sullivan had the opportunity and the laboratory to erest steel-framed buildings that towered over anything built before. In 1833, 10-year-old Barney Flaherty answered an ad in "The New York Sun" and became the first world's first newsboy, which is why we celebrate Newspaper Carrier Day today -- at least for those relatively few Americans who still have newspapers carried to them. Sunday would have been the 163rd birthday of Jesse James. Jesse was not the first Western outlaw, but he was the first to become world famous while plying his dubious trade. 1885 saw the opening of the Exchange Buffet in New York City. It was the first self-service restaurant (read, "cafeteria") in the United States. We don't know if they served chocolate (we'd guess yes), but whether they did or not, it's World Chocolate Day Friday, so you can serve yourself and indulge. In 1888, George Eastman registered the trademark "Kodak" (for the clicking sound a camera's shutter makes) and received a patent for his camera that used rolled film. Eastman's "Brownie" camera came from the factory loaded with enough film for 100 photos. When the roll was complete, the customer would mail the whole camera back to the factory in Rochester, NY, where the pictures would be developed and sent back along with a new camera. Sunday is the 81st birthday of comedian Bob Newhart. Newhart is a two-time pioneer, having been in the forefront of the stand-up comedy revolution of the 1950s, when he transformed himself from "button-down accountant" to a comedian with the top-selling album in America. Then, in the '70s, his sitcom, "The Bob Newhart Show," set new standards for writing, ensemble acting, and just plain goofiness. The weekend before Labor Day always marks the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. While it's easy to criticize the telethon for its corniness and out-of-date show business aesthetic, it's impossible to deny Lewis's commitment and ability to raise money -- nearly a billion-and-a-half dollars since 1966. Lastly, we'll note the 98th birthday of the late avant-garde composer John Cage with 4 minutes and 33 seconds of silence. Suggested Sites... United States Military Academy at West Point - for sale, cheap. Contact Gen. Arnold. Official R. Crumb Site - keep on truckin'. The Beatles - the core of the apple. Dangerous Minds: Early Technicolor - the good folks at Kodak bring you color movies from 1922. Jerry Lewis Telethon - mock him if you will, but he does good work.

Directory categories: Revolutionary War, Children's Literature, Rock and Pop Artists, Musicals, Running

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Say what you will about freedom, that seat's gotta be uncomfortable (Photo by Colin Palmer) [Warning: some of the links in the piece lead to sites that display images of naked people.] As the weather has started to turn summery, people seem to have been leaping at every opportunity to disrobe. The season of nudity started back in May with World Naked Gardening Day. This weekend we have the World Naked Bike Ride, and a naked hiking trail was slated to open in Germany this spring. Nudism, or naturism, is nothing new. But the practice continues to struggle for social acceptance. There are some signs, though, that the world may be ready to join the ranks of Switzerland, where public nudity is not considered a crime. People are even being encouraged to enjoy being naked, and a new social networking site called Skinbook is helping to connect those who enjoy being clothes-free. Not everyone is jumping on the nudity bandwagon, of course. A proposal for a nudist campground in Central Indiana has been rejected. Fortunately, there are vacation spots worldwide where travelers can fully enjoy the sun. Reportedly, Ireland is a promising destination for naturists (who knew?!). Recreation is not the only reason people have been taking off their clothes. Nudity has proven to be an effective way for protesters to get more attention directed at their… causes. The World Naked Bike Ride event in Miami this weekend is turning into a protest against BP. Whether you are someone who tends to think twice about taking off your clothes, or you shed them every chance you get, you may be seeing more skin around you this summer, so don’t say we didn’t warn you! Suggested Sites... Body Freedom Collaborative - freedom's just another word for not wearing anything. Skinbook - no dating, please. We're naked. American Association for Nude Recreation - for those with nothing to hide. List of Social Nudity Places in North America: - makes packing for your trip so much easier. The Naturist Camping Guide - but watch out for ticks!

Directory categories: Nudism, Nudist Organizations, Nude Protesting, Gardening, Cycling

Archived under: Biking, Camping, Communities, Events, Gardening, Germany, Hiking, Hobbies, Issues and Causes, Outdoors, Protests, Summer, Travel, Vacations

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Thanks, Mr. Postman! (Photo by M. Heimburger) Today is Thank a Mailman Day. While there are hundreds of silly made-up holidays out there (way more than one per calendar day), this is one we can get behind. Mailmen -- or if you'll pardon our PC, mail carriers (since there are plenty of, uh, femailmen making their rounds) -- have tougher jobs than you might think. First, there's that whole thing about not being deterred by rain or sleet or dead of night or snow or heat or whatever awful weather nature throws their way. While the occasional natural disaster or freak storm might delay the mail, it generally takes some pretty serious weather to do more than slow things down a bit. Carriers are out there slogging through flood waters, trudging through snowdrifts, and sweating through the dog days of summer while we're impatiently waiting (in climate-controlled comfort) for our daily delivery (which is probably mostly bills, anyway, so calm down). And being a postal carrier might not seem like an especially dangerous job, but consider some of the threats postmen face. Aggressive dogs. Crime-riddled neighborhoods. Disgruntled postal employees. Dangerous traffic on busy roads. Flocks of wild turkeys. Making their appointed rounds all day, mail carriers also end up as victims (or witnesses) of crimes when they walk in on hold-ups on their routes, get mugged for the mail they're carrying, or get caught in the crossfire of other crimes in progress. Finally, though they do get plenty of fresh air and exercise, they also get plenty of fresh air and exercise. Carriers can walk up to ten miles a day, all while carrying a heavy bag of catalogs, bills, cards, and parcels. And while it's not exactly a scientific study, we can report that most of the mail carriers we've known have done their tiring, occasionally dangerous, and physically demanding jobs with cheerful professionalism and genuine dedication to the communities they serve. So celebrate Thank a Mailman Day with us. Need ideas? Show your appreciation with a small present (though cash gifts aren't allowed by the USPS) or homemade cookies. Shovel your sidewalk. Smile nicely when your shipment of Collectible Lead Weights of the World is delivered. Keep your mail-hating dog inside or on a leash when the mail carrier comes to your house. Or just do the obvious thing and take a moment to say thanks. After all, your mail carrier doesn't bring just junk mail and bills; those Netflix DVDs and birthday cards don't deliver themselves. Suggested Sites... Postal Systems of the World - a ThinkQuest project compares over 60 global postal systems. HowStuffWorks: How the U.S. Postal Service Works - includes the history of the American post. Wikipedia: Mail - there's more to the mail than you might think. Mail Delivery 101 - a collection of mail-related how-to articles from eHow. Carrying the Mail: A Career in Public Service - information about life as a mail carrier from the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Directory categories: Postal Services, Postal Authorities, United States Postal Service, USPS Employees

Archived under: Communication, Communities, Employment, Holidays, Mail, Unions, Work

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"I don't believe what I just saw!" (Photo by tree & j hensdill) What is the rabid sports fan to do, once he or she leaves the home territories -- the "Friendly Confines," if you will -- of their favorite team? When you become attached to a team, you want to -- you need to -- follow its exploits and discuss its chances with like-minded fans who are eager to praise it or damn it, as necessary. But what to do if you're a member of Steeler Nation who moves to Seattle, or if you're a Packer Backer in Pensacola? Fear not, for the sports bar has made it possible for you to gather with your fellow fanatics and root, root, root for the home team -- even if that ballclub is a continent away. The tavern dedicated to athletic endeavors is not a new phenomenon: saloons such as Toots Shor and Jack Dempsey's in Manhattan were all the rage in the 1920s. But satellite TV, the collaborative nature of the Internet, and the leagues themselves have made it possible to watch far-away games as they happen. So while you may not be able to find a place where "everybody knows your name," you can certainly find a watering hole where everybody knows that that idiot on the sidelines needs to be fired. Suggested Sites... SportsTavern.com - find a sports bar near you. SportsBars.com - broken down by state or zip code. Soccer Bars.com - for watching the other kind of football. ESPN: Baseball's Top 10 Bars and Grills - the best of the best for the horsehide crowd. Didital City: Best Sports Bars in America - the fans have spoken!

Directory categories: Bars, Pubs, and Clubs, Fantasy Sports, Sports TV Networks, Sports News and Media, Sports Chats and Forums

Archived under: Baseball, Basketball, College Sports, Communities, Fanatics, Football, Hockey, MLB, NASCAR, NBA, NFL, NHL, Soccer, Sports, Sports Bars, TV

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Couldn't you just bite these two on the neck? (Photo from Yahoo! Movies) If you’ve been in a movie theater lately, chances are you’ve heard a chorus of teenage girls screaming at the trailer for the new "Twilight" movie, "New Moon." But it's not just adolescents who are giddy over the series -– fans of all ages will be convening in Dallas, Texas, from July 30th to August 2nd for the first-ever "Twicon." And lest you think that a convention about vampires who sparkle in sun is silly, it’s certainly not the first fan gathering of its kind. "Harry Potter" fans, or "Potterphiles," have been convening for years now -- most recently in San Francisco at the cleverly-titled Azkatraz." Then there are "Xena" fans, "Star Trek," a slew of other science fiction conventions, and countless comic book conventions. "Twilight" fans, like any other fandom, have their fair share of hardcore devotees (sometimes known as "shippers"). Fans express their undying love for Edward and Isabella by writing "fanfic" (short for fan fiction) or creating fan art. Then there are the fans who bring a little reality to the party by poking fun at the diehards or by parodying the movies and books themselves. This year's Twicon might not be filled with giant Wookiees or people dressed like Spock, but it's sure to feature some oddities of its own. But just remember, if you or someone you love starts wearing fake fangs and body glitter to channel their "inner vampire," it might be time to stage an intervention. Suggested Sites... Twicon 2009 - everything you need to know about this year's Twicon. The Twilight Saga - official move site. Stephenie Meyer - official site for the author. TwiFanatics - movie news, fan fiction, gossip, pictures, and more. Yahoo! Movies: Twilight - movie info and more.

Directory categories: "Twilight" Saga, "New Moon" Movie, Science Fiction and Fantasy Conventions, Fan Fiction, Vampires

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