It Was 20 Years Ago Today

Friday, December 7, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, PSA Flight 1771 crashed, killing everyone aboard, in what was not an accident but one of the worst incidents of workplace homicide in American history.  I share some details of the crash and how it happened, along with a discussion of the origins of a phrase which didn't yet exist in 1987 but is now commonly used to describe such incidents.Today's episode music is 'Terraform,' by Aged Machine.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

November 23, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, 'Perestroika: New Thinking for Our Country and the World' was reviewed in the New York Times.  I talk about several reviews of Mikhail Gorbachev's book, as well as my own impressions of it, and a little about the effects of the reforms Gorbachev described in the book.Today's episode music is from 'Inspiration,' by Victor Stellar.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For August 29, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, minor-league baseball catcher Dave Bresnahan lost his job in the fallout of a stunt ever after known as 'The Great Potato Caper.'  I describe one of the funniest plays in baseball history, and the reaction from all quarters over the years.An article written about six weeks after The Great Potato Caper, one of my principal sources for this podcast, can be found here.  You can see an image of (reportedly) the actual potato used here.Episode music is from "Splat the Rat" by Father Rock.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For August 17, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, Rudolf Hess, the last surviving member of Adolf Hitler's inner circle and sole inmate of Spandau Prison for twenty years, died at the age of 93.  I talk a little about Hess' life, times and death; and how my interest in history began with a little book called 'The Rise and Fall of Adolf Hitler.'Today's episode music is from 'House of the Dead,' by Scott Shannon.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For August 5, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the FCC enacted new regulations which spelled the end of the Fairness Doctrine as it had existed for almost 40 years.  I discuss the reasoning behind the Fairness Doctrine, the reasoning behind why it was killed, and my perceptions of the effect this has had on both broadcasting and public life in the United States.Today's episode music is from "Fallen Angel," by DJ Topshelf.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For July 31, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the film 'The Living Daylights' was released in the United States.  I talk about the state of the James Bond film series in 1987, as well as my own fondness for Ian Fleming's iconic secret agent.It turns out that the James Bond 007 role-playing game actually ceased publication in 1987, when the publisher lost the license from the James Bond copyright holders.  The Wikipedia entry linked here has some interesting facts about the game and links to other resources on the Web. After the show there's a promo from the Icebox Radio Theater podcast -- bringing you great new and original audio theater from the Frozen North! Today's episode music is from "Sunrise," by Torchomatic.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For June 19, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the Supreme Court handed down a decision in the case Edwards v. Aguillard.  This case is one of many court cases in the contentious issue of what explanation for the origins of life and human beings should be taught in schools.  I take a look at the Edwards case, the influence of religious conservatives on American political life, and creationism versus evolution.Today's music is from "Reasontanker," by Father Rock.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Friday, November 2, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, William S. Sessions was sworn in as the new director of the FBI.  I talk a little about his career, and about one of his most widespread legacies:  'Winners Don't Use Drugs.'Special thanks to Art at Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade in Portland, who took a look at some of their vintage machines and confirmed the message is still there.After the show there is a promo for one of my favorite podcasts, Yog Radio.Today's episode music is from 'Yeh So What,' by Gery Tinkeleberg.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

October 26, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, Herbert Ernesto Anaya Sanabria (pictured at the right) was gunned down in the streets of El Salvador, most likely by right-wing death squads supporting the government in that country's civil war.  I talk about the situation in Central America 20 years ago and how the United States Government decided which side it would support in each of the conflicts.Today's episode music is from "Muertos," by Gringo Motel.  Our theme music was composed and performed by Marc Rose.Following the show, you'll hear a promo for the Sonic Society, a broadcast radio show and podcast spotlighting the best in new, original audio drama.

October 19, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, stock markets around the world suffered big losses.  One of the biggest was in the United States, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered its largest one-day point loss to that date.  I share my memories of that "Black Monday," and discuss the probable causes of the big crash.Today's episode music is from "Ambulance Ride for the Soon to Be Deceased," by Devin Anderson.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For June 12, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, President Ronald Reagan made what might have been the most famous speech of his presidency, and what has become one of the most famous speeches of its decade.  I include a brief clip from the speech, and share my thoughts about Reagan as "the great communicator" and the times in which the speech was made.You can find complete audio, video, and text transcripts of Reagan's Brandenburg Gate address at the American Rhetoric website.Our episode music is "Movement One," by Ocean Alexander.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For June 3, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the movie "The Untouchables" was released in the United States.  I talk a little about the movie, and about its significance in my personal history.After the show there is a promo for a new podcast, "Dial P for Pulp."  If you're a fan of the pulp fiction genre, go check it out!Today's episode music is "Open Ended," by Jeff Shields.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For October 5, 2007.  Twenty years ago this week, Nobel laureate Sir Peter B. Medawar died at the age of 73.  I share a few facts about this man, who contributed a great deal to our understanding of the human immune system, including a quote which says a lot about the purpose of this podcast.  I also discuss, on the occasion of this show's first anniversary, my hopes for the show.For those of you interested in the idea of how your perspective on the world is shaped by your age, I encourage you to check out the Beloit College Mindset List.  This list, now in its tenth annual edition, paints a picture of the world as it appears to college freshmen.  As it happens, Beloit College is where I spent my freshman year -- and Tom McBride, one of the list's authors, was one of my professors.Today's episode music is from "Inspiration," by Victor Stellar.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

This is the second of two promo clips I created for the show.  Feel free to download, copy, share and spread the word!  This promo references events that happened during 1987, so can be used for the rest of this year.  I'll make a new one for 1988/2008.

This is the first of two promo clips I created for the show.  Please feel free to download, copy, share them around, and spread the word!  This is the more "generic" of my two promos and should be good indefinitely.

For May 27, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the sumo wrestler Konishiki was promoted to ozeki, becoming the first non-Japanese to reach the second-highest rank in professional sumo.  I talk about the life and career of this groundbreaking athlete, and why it is that I enjoy sumo.Episode music is from "Sunrise," by Torchomatic.  Theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007.Twenty years ago today, actor and director John Huston died at the age of 81.  I talk about my first experiences with Huston's work -- both as actor and director -- and how I became a movie buff through two college courses.Today's episode music is "Entranced," by  Blake Emrys.  I found it -- like all the music used on the podcast -- at PodSafe Audio.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.At the end of the show, there's a promo for the Truth Seekers podcast, produced by 20YearsAgo fan and supporter Dani Cutler.

For May 24, 2007.  Twenty years ago today marked the 50th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge.  An event that day when the bridge was closed to cars and open for pedestrians drew nearly three quarters of a million people -- a much bigger crowd than had been planned on!  The picture at the right, taken by John O'Hara of the San Francisco Chronicle has become the iconic image of that day.  I talk about the 50th anniversary event, as well as my own fascination with the bridge and its life and times.Today's episode music is from "Sunlit Harbour," by Torchomatic.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For May 6, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, former CIA director William Casey died.  I take a look at his life, with a particular focus on several of the conspiracies which he was reportedly a part of -- from Iran/Contra to the New World Order.Today's episode music is from "The Edge of Illusion," by DJ Topshelf.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Saturday, August 25, 2007.  After an extended summer break, we're back with new episodes.  Over the next several weeks, episodes reflecting the current date will be interspersed with ones written for May through early August.  There were a number of interesting and important events that happened in the summer of 1987 that I don't want to leave out!For our first new show back, I take a look at the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which reached a record high twenty years ago today.  One of many stock indexes invented by Wall Street Journal cofounder Charles Dow (pictured at right), it has become the principal shorthand financial report for every major news show in the country.  I also describe the atmosphere on Wall Street in the summer of 1987.Today's episode music is "Space Melody," by Victor Stellar.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.