Saturday, January 4, 2014

4 January 2014

Birthdays
Olivia Tennet b. 1991 (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Power Rangers R.P.M., Xena: Warrior Princess)
Erin Cahill b. 1980 (Power Rangers Time Force, Supernatural, Sleepy Hollow)
Julia Ormond b. 1965 (Witches of East End, Exploding Sun)
Gary Jones b. 1958 (Stargate, Supernatural, Painkiller Jane, Andromeda, Highlander, Sliders)
Matt Frewer b. 1958 (Witches of East End, Falling Skies, Orphan Black, Eureka, Supernatural, Alice, Watchmen, Dawn of the Dead, Taken, PSI Factor, Apollo 11, Lawnmower Man 2, The Stand, Eerie, Indiana, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Max Headroom, Supergirl)
Jim Norton b. 1938 (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Babylon 5, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Memoirs of an Invisible Man)
Barbara Rush b. 1927 (Batman, The Outer Limits, It Came From Outer Space, When Worlds Collide)
Jacob Grimm b. 1785 died 20 September 1863 (collector, Grimm’s Fairy Tales)

When Joseph Ruskin died, I wrote in the comments that the step up from "Oh, THAT guy" in public recognition is "Hey, it's Abe Vigoda!" Upon further review, I think "Hey, it's Max Headroom!" is a category in between those two, where an actor is known by a character's name. Matt Frewer has done a lot of work since and Max Headroom's heyday came and went about thirty years ago, so I expect younger people are completely unaware of it. In any case, he gets the Picture Slot today. The other person I would like to mention in passing is Jacob Grimm of the Brothers Grimm, whose great work is in comparative linguistics. In their research, they collected fairy tales from all over Europe and published them, which is their claim to fame with the public.

Many happy returns to all the living on the list and to Jacob Grimm, thanks for all the nightmares. And, oh yeah, Grimm's Law.
 

Predictor: John W. Noble, Secretary of the Interior, 1889-1893, asked for his predictions about the 20th Century in honor of the 1893 Columbian Exhibition

Prediction: One hundred years hence, these United States will be an empire such as the world never before saw, and such as will exist nowhere else upon the globe. In my opinion, the richest part of it, and a section fully as populous as the East, will be in the region beyond the Mississippi River.

Reality: The United States is a country like no other and a mighty empire, and in 1893, that was big talking. This was before the Spanish American War, and the center of power was definitely in Europe at the time. As for the east/west split at the Mississippi, the Eastern half of the country definitely still has more people, but it's much closer to even than it was in Noble's day. I would say this counts as about 2 out of 3 for 66.7%, but I'll bump him up to 70% and a passing grade for excellent facial hair.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

By 2005, the Martians were thought to be extinct. Hmm, maybe not.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!
 

3 comments:

  1. I wonder if Secretary Noble was thinking only of a continental empire or whether he was also looking overseas. At the time of his prediction the US had Alaska but I'm pretty sure that was the only non-contiguous territory it controlled.

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    Replies
    1. Alaska is mentioned in the longer version of his prediction, but he does not assume holding in the Pacific or the annexation/invasion of Mexico or Canada.

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  2. the hair on his melon is pretty impressive also.

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Traveler! Have you news... FROM THE FUTURE?