On this day in history.

[scifan57]

John F. Kennedy Assassinated in Dallas today in 1963!

Sad day, indeed - I was a high school senior - in the 90s, I was at a medical meeting in Dallas, and visited the spot; went to the Sixth Floor Museum in the Dallas Book Depository Building where Lee Harvey Oswald was located. Dave


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A sad day indeed. Several years ago I bought a DVD copy of the restored Zapruder film,which also contained a documentary about the film and its restoration.

 

[giradman]

A sad day indeed. Several years ago I bought a DVD copy of the restored Zapruder film,which also contained a documentary about the film and its restoration.

His granddaughter, Alexandra Zapruder was on the Diane Rehm NPR show this morning talking about the film and her new book, shown below - cannot remember if I've seen that DVD - just checked and available on Amazon for purchase. Dave
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[J. A.]

November 23, 1963:
Doctor Who, a British TV science fiction series, was transmitted for the very first time. Due to a power failure in certain areas, and the overshadowing news of J. F. K.'s assassination, the first episode was repeated immediately before the second episode, the following week.
Doctor Who - Wikipedia

 

[J. A.]

November 24, 1859:
"On the Origin of Species", written by Charles Darwin, was published. It's considered the foundation of evolutionary biology.
On the Origin of Species - Wikipedia

 

[giradman]

November 24, 1859:
"On the Origin of Species", written by Charles Darwin, was published. It's considered the foundation of evolutionary biology.
On the Origin of Species - Wikipedia

Back in the early 1960s, I first read that book (and have done a re-read or two since that time) - as an undergrad, I took a number of anthropology and comparative anatomy courses, so early on developed a deep interest in evolution - over the decades, I've read dozens and dozens of books on the topics - no longer have them all (I'm a big culler and also donate books to a local 'senior services' for their annual book sale).

But, just checking my bookshelf, I do have about a dozen that I've keep - must say that two authors predominate my current collection, i.e. Richard Leaky and Donald Johanson - the half dozen of their books shown below are sitting on my den shelf at the moment - believe that I'll do some Amazon searching to see what 'new' may be available - Dave
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[KevinJS]

Back in the early 1960s, I first read that book (and have done a re-read or two since that time) - as an undergrad, I took a number of anthropology and comparative anatomy courses, so early on developed a deep interest in evolution - over the decades, I've read dozens and dozens of books on the topics - no longer have them all (I'm a big culler and also donate books to a local 'senior services' for their annual book sale).

But, just checking my bookshelf, I do have about a dozen that I've keep - must say that two authors predominate my current collection, i.e. Richard Leaky and Donald Johanson - the half dozen of their books shown below are sitting on my den shelf at the moment - believe that I'll do some Amazon searching to see what 'new' may be available - Dave
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Some of Richard Dawkins' books on the subject make an interesting read. The Ancestor's Tale starts from the present and works its way back through time showing where the major branches took place in the story of life. Dawkins is perhaps better known as one of THE major opponents of organized religion, but he is an evolutionary biologist of some note. And to tie a couple of posts together, he was married to Lalla Ward, who starred in Dr Who as mentioned above by @J. A.

Victor Stenger's "The Fallacy of Fine Tuning" is also a good read.

 

[giradman]

For those who like video courses, Susan & I own many from the Great Courses - the one below on the Darwinian Revolution is quite good and covers a variety of topics up to the present day - now 'on sale' - there are others. Dave
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[scifan57]

For those who like video courses, Susan & I own many from the Great Courses - the one below on the Darwinian Revolution is quite good and covers a variety of topics up to the present day - now 'on sale' - there are others. Dave
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His book was also the start of an ongoing conflict between the creationists and evolutionists that goes on to this day. A Spencer Tracy movie called Inherit the Wind is based on a true story and deals with this conflict in its depiction of the Scopes trial. Scopes Trial - Wikipedia

 

[giradman]

His book has was also the start of an ongoing conflict between the creationists and evolutionists that goes on to this day. A Spencer Tracy movie called Inherit the Wind is based on a true story and deals with this conflict in its depiction of the Scopes trial. Scopes Trial - Wikipedia

Yep, I've been watching Inherit the Wind since I was a boy - in my previous post about the Darwinian Great Courses offering, lecture #16 is devoted to the Scopes Trial; in fact, I just replaced my DVD earlier this year w/ the BD of that film shown below, an excellent restoration. Dave
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[J. A.]

November 25, 1787:
Franz Xaver Gruber, Austrian primary school teacher and church organist, known for writing the music to "Silent Night", was born in Hochburg, Upper Austria.

Franz Xaver Gruber - Wikipedia

 

[scifan57]

November 25, 1952;

Agatha Christie's play, "The Mousetrap" opens in the West End. To this day more than 10 million people have viewed over 20,000 performances. It holds the record for the longest continuously running play in history at 64 years. The Mousetrap - Wikipedia

 

[giradman]

November 25, 1952;

Agatha Christie's play, "The Mousetrap" opens in the West End. To this day more than 10 million people have viewed over 20,000 performances. It holds the record for the longest continuously running play in history at 62 years. The Mousetrap - Wikipedia
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Boy, Susan & I have not seen this play in London - in fact, we've seen just two shows there, i.e. Banana Ridge w/ Robert Morley & Driving Miss Daisy w/ Wendy Hiller - NOW, I've been to dozens and dozens of shows (mostly musicals) in the Big Apple (NYC) - one of the early ones in the late '60s was off-Broadway - The Fanstasticks, which is considered the 'longest running musical' - "The show's original off-Broadway production ran a total of 42 years and 17,162 performances, making it the world's longest-running musical (Source)." Try to Remember the most memorable song - video below w/ Jerry Orbach (lyrics by Tom Jones). Dave

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[KevinJS]

25/11/1969 - John Lennon returned his MBE to the Queen.

 

[scifan57]

25/11/1969 - John Lennon returned his MBE to the Queen.

I was recently watching a show about the Queen and in the part dealing with an awards ceremony they showed the index card in the files that recorded John Lennon's return of his MBE.

 

[KevinJS]

I was recently watching a show about the Queen and in the part dealing with an awards ceremony they showed the index card in the files that recorded John Lennon's return of his MBE.

Can't remember where I read it, but it's apparently quite a big thing. Refusing or returning an award is considered to be quite unthinkable. Those who are in line for awards are subtly canvassed beforehand to see whether they would be likely to accept it. If there is the slightest doubt that they would accept, and thereby snub the queen, they are struck off the list.