It Was 20 Years Ago Today

Friday, February 23, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the light from a supernova in the Greater Magellanic Cloud galaxy reached the Earth, after a journey of 168,000 years.  I talk about that celestial phenomenon, and a little about why I find astronomy a particularly fascinating science.The picture is an image of the gas cloud from Supernova 1987A, taken with the Hubble Space Telescope.Today's episode music is "InnaFabledCity," by Jeff Shields.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Thursday, January 22, 2007.  Twenty years ago today was the first Cat Day celebration in Japan.  I take a look at the origins of that day, days set aside to honor cats in other countries, and then tell the story of the cat I owned twenty years ago.  I can no longer remember her name, but I have one picture of her, and I've posted it here.Today's episode music is "Bella," by Patrick Gorman.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

You haven't stepped into a time warp --this is the first of an occasional series of "lost episodes" of "It Was 20 Years Ago Today."  This episode was written and recorded for December 11, 2006.  On that day twenty years before, a number of companies registered "dot com" domain names.  There were less than 100 "dot coms" in those days, and no Internet as we know it today.  I talk a little bit about how different it was to get wired in those days.Today's episode music is "Boot Strap," by Jeff Shields.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the President authorized the construction of the Superconducting Supercollider, the biggest atom smasher that -- as it turned out -- never was.Near the end of the show I mention the Large Hadron Collider, a new super-sized atom smasher which will be opening for business later this year.  The NPR program Science Friday did a segment on the LHC last week.If you're curious about the Grammar Girl podcast (one of the most popular on the Internet at the moment), it can be found here.Today's episode music is from "6 Is Lucky," by Hayfield.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Monday, January 22, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, politician Budd Dwyer committed suicide on camera.  I talk about that event, and how a similar one -- the death on camera of journalist Bill Stewart in 1979 -- had an impact on me which resonates to this day.Today's episode music is "Stranded," by David Henderson.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Thursday, January 4, 2007.  For the first podcast of the new year, I look back at a terrible train wreck that took place twenty years ago today.  I tell a little of the story of the Chase wreck, and explain how a deadly accident on the other side of the country could have me holding my breath five years later.Today's episode music is from "Sumday," by Jeff Shields.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Saturday, December 23, 2006.  There were two great homecomings twenty years ago today.  The experimental aircraft Voyager completed a non-stop, non-refueled flight around the world; and Andrei Sakharov was allowed to return home to Moscow after seven years of internal exile.Today's episode music is "Splat the Rat," by Father Rock.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Friday, December 22, 2006.  Twenty years ago today, an ordinance took effect in Platte City, Missouri, banning pit bull dogs.  I take a look at that ordinance, and the efforts to pass ones like it elsewhere in the country.Today's episode music is from "The Warlock," by Scott Shannon.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Saturday, December 9, 2006.  Twenty years ago today, I turned twenty years old.  I talk about the age I was then, the age I am now, and the attitudes of the younger generations toward the older ones.  Some things haven't changed in twenty years, really.Ironically, this is also my 40th podcast!  I didn't plan it this way, really.Today's episode music is from "Celestial Voices," by Commander Yo.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Friday, December 8, 2006.  Twenty years ago today, Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka gave his Nobel lecture, a call to action against the apartheid regime in South Africa.  I discuss Soyinka, his speech, as well as the efforts to change the situation in South Africa.  Those efforts included a famous protest song organized by Steven Van Zandt, "Sun City."Podcast theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Wednesday, December 6, 2006.  Twenty years ago today, the annual William Lowell Putnam mathematics competition was held.  See the questions for the 1986 competition.  (Link is to a PDF.)  I tell a little bit about the competition, and my relationship to math over the years.Today's episode music is from "Confusion," by Commander Yo.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Monday, December 4, 2006.  The Chicago Tribune announced the winners of its first annual Holiday Cookie Contest twenty years ago today.  I share the names of the winning recipes, and talk a little about my memories of cooking and baking.This podcast is guaranteed to be non-fattening!Episode music is from "Overnighter," by Jeremiah Fleming.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.Edit December 5, 2006:  I've reposted this episode with the correct audio file, this time!  No more Gotti, it's really time for cookies!

Sunday, December 3, 2006.  A key witness in the RICO trial of mob boss John Gotti began his testimony twenty years ago today.  I look at Gotti's history and how he went from being the Teflon Don in 1986 to the Velcro Don in 1992.Today's episode music is "The Wood Between the Worlds," by Commander Yo.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006.  The story of the video game Shenmue opens twenty years ago today.  I look at that game, and the state of video console gaming in the time Shenmue is set.Official site -- Shenmue.comShenmue Dojo on GameSpyEpisode music is from the Shenmue game.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006.  Twenty years ago today is the date of "Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1986" by William S. Burroughs.  The video clip of Burroughs reading the poem, directed by Gus Van Sant, can be found here.Today's episode music is "El Coradobes," by Gringo Motel.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Monday, November 27, 2006.  Twenty years ago today was Thanksgiving Day, and an article in the St. Petersburg Times was the first to characterize the next day as "Black Friday."  I take a look at that name, whether it really fits, and Christmas shopping.Today's episode music is "See You In Seattle," by the Scottish Guitar Quartet.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Friday, November 24, 2006.  A meeting at the White House twenty years ago today set the tone for how the Reagan Administration would handle the scandal.  I look at some of the details of that meeting and the press conference that took place the next day.Today's music is from "Warlock," by Scott Shannon.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Thursday, November 23, 2006 -- Happy Thanksgiving!  The new single from Weird Al Yankovic's album Polka Party made its debut on the Doctor Demento Show twenty years ago today.  I've been a fan of both Weird Al and Doctor Demento since before 1986, and I share some history about these two luminaries of the comedy music world.Today's theme music is "Press YES to Start Demo," by Aaron Derington.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

November 22, 2006.  Twenty years ago tody, Mike Tyson beat Trevor Berbick to become the youngest heavyweight boxing champ ever.  I talk about Tyson, and his rise and fall.Today's episode music is "Taking You There," by Jeremiah Fleming.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Twenty years ago today, there were a lot of documents being shredded in the offices of the NSA.  I take a look at who was doing the shredding, and why ... and exactly what I think of the whole idea.Extra special thanks to Joe Medina of Ollin Productions for his help in getting the sound effects and editing done for this episode.Theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.