Morning Update, September 14, 2009

The_Kitchen_Guy

There were no new developments in Paige's case yesterday. No news, no new developments.

In news of Candles for Paige we had 58 candles as of this post. Remember, candles go out after 48 hours so keep lighting candles for Paige, her family and her three children.

Instructions for lighting candles for Paige are in the Missing thread, in this post.

On this date in History...

...in 1901, President William McKinley died of complications from a gunshot wound he suffered at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Under McKinley, the US went to war with Spain, won handily in just three months, and took on Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Phillipines as protectorates. Although he was under criticism for his outlook on big business, he was immensely popular and easily beat William Jennings Bryan in his reelction bid. He was shot at the Exposition by Polish-American anarchist, Leon Czolgoz, who was arrested and convicted of murder after McKinley died from gangrene. Czolgoz was executed shortly afterward.


Drawing by T. Dart Walker (1869 - 1914)

...in 1965, aguably the worst television series ever, or ever conceived, premiered. (Sitcom, not Jerry Springer, who wins the "Worst Show" title, hands down.) Called My Mother, The Car, the series ran from September 1965 to September 1966, and featured Ann Southern as David Crabtree's (Jerry Van Dyke) mother, reincarnated as a 1928 Porter automobile. There was no Porter, the one-of-a-kind automobile was built as a combination of Model T, Maxwell, Hudson and modern Chevrolet. A second Porter was built, without floorboards, allowing a stuntman to drive, making the car appear driverless. Both cars exist, the stunt car is on display in Tennessee and the other is in the hands of a Canadian collector. There were 30 episodes made but none have been seen since the series was cancelled. It might have been before its time, though, as the talking car concept worked quite well as Knight Rider in the 80's and made an unsuccessful come-back last year. I hear Jerry Van Dyke is available for a talking car series.



Believe me, if you never saw the show, you haven't missed a thing.

...in 1959, the Soviet Union became the first to reach the moon when a probe crash landed on the lunar surface. The successful launch of Sputnik and the moon probe were a major propaganda win for the Soviets, but also bruised American pride and served to launch an accelerated space program that reached its pinnacle in 1969, when Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon.


The Soviet Union probe, Luna 2, made it to
the moon after several failed attempts. It was the
first man made object to impact the moon. Luna 1
missed the moon by 6,000 kilometers and entered
orbit around the sun.

...in 1960, the Organization of the Petrolium Exporting Countries was founded by Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. OPEC has since added eight more members, but showed its power and influence by an oil embargo in 1973. Long lines for gasoline resulted, along with soaring prices and resulted in American automobiles being downsized and an emphasis was made on economy. Current price fluctuations demonstrate that 35 years later, the American government still doesn't get it.



...in 1982, Princess Grace of Monaco died in a tragic automobile accident, after she plunged 45 feet down an enbankment after a stroke. As Grace Kelly, she was endeared to American audiences in To Catch a Thief, Rear Window and High Society before she chucked it all to marry Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956.


Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco
November 12, 1929 - September 14, 1982

That's it. That's all we know as of 12:01 AM, EDT.

janetupnorth

Grace Kelly was quite the celebrity in her time!

raebates

She was a beautiful American woman who married a foreign prince. It was a modern fairytale.

janetupnorth

Yes, my parents loved her MUCH more than Princess Di...it was a fascinating story...

raebates

Well, theirs seemed to be a true love story, as opposed to Charles and Diana.

The_Kitchen_Guy

I thought that she might have been miscast in Rear Window (too classy) but she was splendid in To Catch a Thief. She was a favorite of Alfred Hitchcock and when you see her in his films, you can see why.