(Above: There's an implication here that she's letting more than her hair down.) December 13, 1969 This is a slow news weekend, unless you are a fan of the Continental Football League. Remember them? Their final championship was played on this date as Indianapolis beat San Antonio 44-38. The league folded the following month. Monday … Continue reading New this week in ’69: December 13
Author: Len
Rest in peace, Jack Scott: “Leroy” (1958)
Jack Scott passed away yesterday in Michigan after suffering from congestive heart failure at the age of 84. His may not be a name that's immediately familiar to you. Let's fix that. Scott was born Jack Scafone in Windsor, Ontario, Canada in 1936. His family relocated to the Detroit suburbs when he was ten … Continue reading Rest in peace, Jack Scott: “Leroy” (1958)
New this week in ’69: December 6
(Above: Smile now, kids, 'cause this ain't gonna end well.) December 6, 1969 There's a big football game: #1 Texas plays #2 Arkansas in Fayetteville and wins 15-14. What's more interesting is that not only is President Nixon at the game, but also future President George H.W. Bush. The next night the animated Rankin-Bass Christmas … Continue reading New this week in ’69: December 6
Rest in peace, Marie Fredriksson: Roxette, “The Look” (1989)
(Above: If you didn't have this LP, someone that you know did.) Word is circulating this morning that Gun-Marie Fredriksson passed away yesterday at the age of only 61. Fredriksson had been battling a brain tumor. She, along with Per Gessle, were the forward faces of a band that you couldn't get away from hearing … Continue reading Rest in peace, Marie Fredriksson: Roxette, “The Look” (1989)
New this week in ’69: November 29
(Above: I spent many, many hours crossing the Pacific in these things.) November 29, 1969 Last week baseball star Ken Griffey Jr. turned 50: today, it's Mariano Rivera's turn. That same day Keith Holayoke is re-elected as Prime Minister of New Zealand. He's held that role since 1960. The next day Charles "Tex" Watson is … Continue reading New this week in ’69: November 29
New this week in ’69: November 22
(Above: This ad ran 11/22/1969. Would you buy it?) November 22, 1969 It's the day after ARPANET becomes permanent. ARPANET is the computer connection between UCLA and Stanford that effectively becomes what we today call "the Internet." That same day, baseball star Ken Griffey, Jr. is born. The 22nd sees Michigan end Ohio State's winning … Continue reading New this week in ’69: November 22
New this week in ’69: November 15
(Watch this band. They have potential.) November 15, 1969 It's the day after Apollo 12 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida for the second manned flight to the Moon. Astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean will land the ship on the lunar surface the following Wednesday the 18th. On the 15th, a fellow named Dave Thomas … Continue reading New this week in ’69: November 15
Sesame Street at 50: A Musical Legacy
November 10, 1969 was the premiere of Sesame Street. This show - back when we had a separate television history course in our program - is one that I spend considerable time on. The impact of Sesame Street on generations of young children, preparing them to read, to go to school, to learn how to … Continue reading Sesame Street at 50: A Musical Legacy
New this week in ’69: November 8
(Above: Oscar should be orange.) November 8, 1969 It's just two days before a new television program airs on the National Education Television (NET) network: Sesame Street. Some critics have suggested that this just might be the most important show ever to air on television, given the combination of the effect that it has had … Continue reading New this week in ’69: November 8
New this week in ’69: November 1
(Above: Wal-Mart used to look a bit different.) November 1, 1969 The Internet turned fifty this past week - sort of. It was on October 29, 1969 that the first message was sent over ARPANET, a forerunner of the modern net, from UCLA to Stanford. The plan was to send the letters "L-O-G" to Stanford, … Continue reading New this week in ’69: November 1
45 Ruminations Per Megabyte 