Note: The calendar is also a page index. Select a date or other item of interest for more information.

The daily notes for this month are from the The History Channel's Home Page. If you like these notes, you'll love looking at the other notes and birthdays they have recorded for every day of the year.

Hey, gang, crank up the FM Stereo tuner and celebrate the reason why you listen to that hard rock/alternative music stuff in the first place. FM Radio began in the U.S. when station W47NV in Nashville, TN started operations on this day in 1941. W47NV was the first commercial FM radio station to receive a license, some 20 years after its AM radio counterpart, KDKA in Pittsburgh. For those of you who don't remember, FM stands for 'frequency modulation' as opposed to 'amplitude modulation'.

W47NV operated with 20,000 watts on a frequency of 44,700 kilocycles. FM stations don't do that anymore. They operate in a different segment of the radio spectrum (88-108 MHz) and at power outputs not exceeding 100,000 watts, except in rare instances. (There are a few FM stations in the U.S. with power output up to 300,000 watts and antennas more than a thousand feet high.)

In the beginning, FM radio was pretty much a graveyard for beautiful music that numbed us in doctor's offices and in elevators. It became a primary source for educational programming; featuring classical music, opera and jazz.

Today, more than 80 percent of radio listening in the United States is done by way of FM and one can hear just about everything, from Hootie and The Blowfish to country to blues to National Public Radio -- not to mention Howard Stern and his ilk. (And if you haven't heard Howard Stern's ilk, you haven't heard anything.)

That's it. I'm Mr. Wizard. Thank you. And thank you FM!

Word Of The Day: Inexorable (in EK suhr uh buhl) adj. Unrelenting; not to be influenced.. His inexorable refusal made further reasoning useless.

Take time to celebrate the fact that on this day in 1923, the first issue of the weekly periodical, "TIME" appeared on newsstands. The first issue was 32 pages and featured a charcoal sketch of Congressman Joseph Gurney Cannon on the cover. It was the United States' first modern newsmagazine.

Today, the worldwide newsweekly, founded by Henry Luce and Briton Hadden, is printed in several languages and is among the most popular magazines in history with readership topping four million. The magazine, published by Time Inc., has a corporate staff housed in its own building: the Time and Life Building in New York City.

Word Of The Day: Monolithic (mahn uh LITH ik) adj. Unyielding; massively solid. Our educational system is a monolithic giant.

It was on this day in 1931 that "The Star-Spangled Banner", written by Francis Scott Key, officially became the national anthem of the United States. Despite the fact that millions sing (in a manner of speaking) the anthem before sporting events, civic club meetings and other public gatherings, it is still ranked as the most difficult national anthem on earth to sing.

While's Key's lyrics reflected an enduring sentiment of America during war time of 1812, with its "rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air" over Fort McHenry at Baltimore, MD, the melody goes against most everything musical and the words themselves are quite difficult to remember -- especially those following the first verse.

Amateur singers embarrass themselves as they attempt to hit the high notes at the end of the song. They do this in the shower and at community events; while professional opera singers and pop music stars go flat ... or forget the words ... in front of national television audiences. Performers such as Robert Morley, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, Jose Feliciano, Ray Charles and others have had difficulties in musically translating the nation's anthem. The melody, originally an English drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven", is next to impossible for most of us to sing. Maybe that's why it was a drinking song. You either have to be drunk to sing it or if everyone's drunk, who cares!

Almost since the song was adopted officially, there has been movement to bring about change. Many would like to see "America the Beautiful" become the U.S. national anthem and every so often, there is talk of such a change, but to no avail, in this, "the home of the braaaaaaaaaaaaave."

Word Of The Day: Salient (SAYL yuhnt) adj. Prominent, outstanding; conspicuous. Only the most salient arguments will be presented.

This day is celebrated by disc jockeys, TV hosts, movie stars, department store announcers, rock groups, politicians and many, many others. For it was on this day in 1877 that Emile Berliner, the man behind so many inventions, came up with a thing called the microphone. Good thing, too, because the Bell System -- an invention of Alexander Graham Bell, of course -- was in desperate need of something to save it from financial ruin -- and to help the progress of the telephone.

So, the Bell Labs came up with an earpiece, a compact way to put Mr. Berliner's microphone on a wooden box, a crank, a cradle hook for the earpiece and some wires and called it -- the telephone. There was no such thing as a telephone dial -- one rang "Jenny" three turns on the crank. That got the operator to put a cord into the switchboard directly to the phone you were calling. Because of the microphone, people could hear you speak. Neat, huh?

And in 1957, operators in upstate New York (90 miles from Manhattan) and other somewhat rural areas throughout the U.S. were still saying, "Number, plee-uz" into their little mouthpiece microphones attached to headsets.

Word Of The Day: Demure (di MYOOHR) adj. Modest in manner; reserved, sedate. A young woman glanced my way and flashed a demure smile.

Lace up those bowling shoes, keglers, grab that 16-pounds of rubber or hi-tech plastic and let it rip down the lane, as we bring you bowling news from this day in 1924. Frank Caruana of Buffalo, New York, became the first bowler ever to roll two perfect games in a row and an amazing 29 strikes in succession! He rolled five strikes in-a-row in a third game in sanctioned play, as well. Must have been some "beer frame" for those at the bowling alley that night...

Word Of The Day: Precocious (pri KO shuhs) adj. Reaching early maturity (especially mentally). Gazing down at my precocious child, I wept with joy.

It was on this day in 1836, the last of a thirteen-day siege, that Mexico's dictator, Santa Anna and his thousand-man army defeated a little band of Texas volunteers. The last of these 189 brave men (who included Davy Crockett) died on March 6, holed up in the Alamo. Their fight for Texas' liberty did not go unnoticed. 46 days later, with the battle cry, "Remember the Alamo", General Sam Houston and his Texans captured Santa Anna and finished the job started at the Alamo. Texas gained its independence.

Word Of The Day: Inclusive (in KLOO siv) adj. Taking everything into account. It lengthened into an inclusive survey.

Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians recorded one of the most popular songs of the century on this day in 1939. The standard, "Auld Lang Syne" was recorded for Decca Records ... about two months and a week late, we'd say.

Actually, the song, synonymous with New Year's Eve revelry, was not intended to be that. The popular song was used as the closing theme of each show by Lombardo. Then, one New Year's Eve at the famed Roosevelt Grill in New York City it was played and just happened to click as the song to sing at the stroke of midnight on January 1 each year. In fact, the song has become so popular for New Years, that hearing it at any other time of the year sounds a bit out of place, despite its popularity. The tune is, of course, a million-seller many times over.

Word Of The Day: Misconstrue (mis kuhn STROO) v. To incorrectly interpret. You misconstrue nearly everything I say.

Bernard McFadden was a physical culturist who had a radio show in New York City on this day in 1925. But not for long. McFadden failed to show up for his daily morning program, causing a young studio engineer to ad-lib on the air for a solid hour. As a result, the radio station, WOR, decided to give the young man the morning announcer's job.

He stayed at WOR for many years, then turned the mike over to his son, who, finally, turned the program over to his son. They are all named John, after the man who started the legendary radio show, studio engineer: John B. Gambling. Mr. Gambling's "Rambling with Gambling" program attracted tri-state audiences (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) in record numbers for over 70 years on the 50,000 watt talk-radio powerhouse at 710 AM on your radio dial from New York each morning.

Word Of The Day: Laudable (LAHD uh buhl) adj. Praiseworthy, commendable. The actors gave a laudable performance of "Bolero.".

This is absolutely no falsehood! Accept no substitutes! It was on this day in 1822 that Charles M. Graham of New York City received a patent for artificial teeth. So, in honor of the momentous occasion, let's all try to keep a stiff upper ... plate today!

Word Of The Day: Magnific (mag NIF ik) adj. Magnificent; made great. Donned in magnific apparel, the princess took the throne.

On this day in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell sent the first clear telephone message across the way -- actually, into another nearby room, to his assistant, Mr. Watson. "Mr. Watson, come here, I want you" were the first words spoken into the invention that Bell created. Of course, that was the telephone. What Mr. Watson's reply was is anyone's guess. However, sitting around the lunch room talking about this very thing, we decided he might have said, "Hey, Alex, 'Reach out. Reach out and touch someone'." And thus was born the first advertising "jingle"...

Word Of The Day: Factitious (fak TISH uhs) adj. Artificial; forced. He manifested a factitious concern for the life-or-death issue.

On this day in 1971, television networks ABC, NBC and CBS were told by the Federal Communications Commission that a limited three-hour nightly program service -- or "prime time" -- would begin in September. The network programs were to be slotted between 8-11 p.m. on the east and west coasts -- an hour earlier in the Central, Mountain and Hawaii time zones (Hawaii's network programs were an hour earlier and also, a week or two late, at that time - now they're an hour earlier and ten minutes late - but that's another subject for another time).

Syndicated shows were drastically cut back by local stations to make way for the new network packages. Independent stations (those with no network affiliation) began to scramble for newer "off network" programming in order to compete.

Today, in addition to cable networks, three new networks for "free TV" broadcasters have emerged: FOX Television, the WB (Warner Brothers) Network and UPN (United Paramount Network). Now who knows what time is prime time! Check listings for time and channel in your area...

Word Of The Day: Rampant (RAM puhnt) adj. Growing; widespread. We must check the rampant illiteracy in our schools.

Gather 'round and munch a bunch of delicious Girl Scout cookies, as we tell you the story of how the Girl Scout organization was founded on this day in 1912. Juliette Low of Savannah, Georgia is the person credited with beginning this group for young girls, figuring, of course, that if there were Boy Scouts, why not Girl Scouts, too?

However, at first, the girls weren't called Girl Scouts at all -- they were called Girl Guides until the name was officially changed a short time after the group's founding. Volunteer, help a friend, set an example and complete a project then pass those chocolate mint and peanut butter-filled cookies, please, as we "guide" you along the path when "Those Were the Days".

Word Of The Day: Corpulent (KOR pyoo luhnt) adj. Obese, fleshy, fat. The corpulent guest confessed his fondness for pastry.

Hey! Let's take the day off! It's Uncle Sam Day! On this day back in 1852, the New York "Lantern" newspaper published an "Uncle Sam" cartoon for the first time. The drawing was the work of Frank Henry Bellew. Through the years, the caricature changed with Uncle Sam becoming symbolic of the U.S. being just like a favorite uncle. A prime example of this symbolism were U.S. Army posters that portrayed Uncle Sam pointing and saying, "I want you!". As a result, many of us joined his ranks.

Uncle Sam always wore a nifty suit of red, white and blue, a hat with stars and stripes down the trousers of both of his long legs. The origins of how he became known as Uncle Sam are varied, but include a dock worker wondering what the words "From U.S." meant on shipping crates. Reportedly, he was told jokingly, "Oh, this is from your Uncle Sam."

Word Of The Day: Raiment (RAY muhnt) n. Clothing, dress. The groom's kingly raiment became soaked by rain.

On this day in 1958, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the first gold record. It was Perry Como's "Catch A Falling Star" on RCA Victor Records. The tune became the first to win million-seller certification, though other songs dating as far back as the 1920s may have sold a million records or more. Due to lack of a certification organization like the RIAA, they weren't awarded the golden platter.

The next three gold records that were certified after Perry Como's honor were the 45 rpm recordings of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" by Laurie London, "Patricia", an instrumental by the "Mambo King", Perez Prado and "Hard Headed Woman" by Elvis Presley. The first gold album certification went to the soundtrack of the motion picture, "Oklahoma!" featuring Gordon MacRae.

Is there really a gold record inside the wooden frame presented to winners? Those who know say, "No." Its a gold leaf veneer of maybe 18 kt. gold and/or it is a record painted gold. Yes, the song earning the award is supposed to be the one making up the gold record, but this is not always the case, according to several artists who have tried to play theirs.

Word Of The Day: Descry (di SKRAI) v. To catch sight of; to discover by observation. I descried the algebraic solution after much pondering.

The first album on the new record chart of top albums to appear for the first time in "Billboard" magazine was what? For those who thought it was Hootie & The Blowfish, move two steps back, please. For those who thought it was a wax cylinder from Thomas Edison and the Record Rappers, jump back another three spaces. If however, you said that the first album to reach #1 on this day in 1945 was "The King Cole Trio", then you are absolutely correct and should be very proud!

Of course, the albums mentioned on the Billboard list were, for several years, 78 rpm disks, not the 33-1/3 albums we came to know. Billboard and other trade magazine still continue to list the week's top albums. Billboard lists the "Top 200" in order from #1 on down. Some even have "bullets" to reflect the week's top movement in sales and radio airplay.

Word Of The Day: Quell (kwel) v. To put an end to; subdue. His voice will ring out eternally; time shall not quell it!

Who could have known that Joseph Levitch, the baby boy born on this day in 1926 in Newark, New Jersey, would someday wear the crown of the "King of Crazy"! Maybe his father had a clue when he introduced his five year old on stage at Brown's Hotel in Loch Sheldrake, NY. Little Joey sang, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime". Today, that theatre bears the name of this actor, singer, dancer, musician, comedian, producer, professor, and humanitarian. Maybe you've been to the Jerry Lewis Theatre in the 'borscht belt' in upstate New York. Certainly, you've seen Jerry Lewis perform.

Maybe your first experience was seeing him in his role as the goofy partner of the suave, romantic Dean Martin. From 1946, when the two performed together for the first time in Atlantic City's 500 Club, till a decade later when the partners split; we were entertained with club appearances and no less than a dozen movies. The first, "My Friend Irma", premiered at New York's Paramount Theatre. The opening stage act starred Martin and Lewis in person.

Jerry Lewis' mugging skills became the central force behind many of the movies the two made. Films like "That's My Boy" and "The Caddy" catapulted him into stardom. From 1951 through 1959, Jerry's name appeared in the top ten of box office stars (6 years with his partner and 3 solo). In fact, in 1959, Paramount signed him to a fourteen film contract for ten million dollars -- probably the most expensive contract ever signed with a performer. He was back in the top ten from 1961 through 1964 and had now received acclaim as Best Director for "The Nutty Professor" from the French.

Comedian, film star and director was never enough for the zany, talented Lewis. He had a top ten hit in 1956, "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody"; his own TV variety show from 1965 to 1974 and he continued to film movies, work the club circuit, and teach film at USC. His devotion to supporting the Muscular Dystrophy Association is known world wide. There are few who have never seen the annual Labor Day telethon for MDA hosted by the untiring Jerry Lewis. Undaunted by protesters he continues the quest to raise money to help those stricken with muscular diseases.

And, undaunted by the fact that his talents have never been truly recognized by his fellow Americans, Jerry Lewis continues to entertain us. A cult hero to the French, he remains "Le Roi du Crazy".

Word Of The Day: Purview (PUR vyoo) n. Scope, range of vision; outlook. Profits from one quarter don't reveal a complete purview of the possibilities.

In 432 A.D., Bishop Patrick left his home in England and returned to the country where he had once been enslaved. His purpose was to introduce Christianity to the Irish people. Many legends were told about Patrick, including the most famous, that he had charmed all the snakes into the sea, ridding Ireland of them. He was so loved that he was made the Patron Saint of all of Ireland. St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in Ireland on his feast day, March 17th, since the year 461. Today, Saint Patrick's Day is still a legal, national holiday in Ireland and Northern Island.

Irish people have traveled to all parts of the world bringing their holiday with them. In 1762, those who came to New York formed the first of New York City's St. Patrick's Day parades; an annual event ever since. This year, 125,000 marchers walk the two-mile green stripe down NYC's famed Fifth Avenue, with another 2-million watching them, the largest St. Patrick's Day parade anywhere.

Most of those New Yorkers will be wearing the three-leafed shamrock. It is said that St. Patrick used the green-leafed clover to illustrate the Trinity.

We'll be wearing green this day or we'll be be pinched for sure, whether we're Irish or not ... even though we don't know how the pinch became part of the day's traditions. Maybe it's those leprechauns who started the pinching.

When and how corned beef, boiled cabbage and potatoes became part of this day's celebration are also a mystery. We can kinda figure this one out for ourselves; but green beer and green bagels are another story.

Word Of The Day: Yen (yen) v. A strong longing; desire. I have a yen for pizza and rootbeer.

Hold on to you hats! The opera, "Pipe of Desire" was first performed this day in 1910 at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Frederick Sheperd Converse wrote the work that turned out to be the first opera by an American composer to be performed at the Met. One could probably tell. The English words in the title are always a giveaway...

Word Of The Day: Defamatory (di FAM uh tor ee) adj. Damaging character by false reports. Defamatory articles ruined his career.

This is St. Joseph's Day, the day that those little birds known as swallows traditionally return to the Mission San Juan Capistrano in California. Every March 19th, since 1776, with very few exceptions, the birds come back to usher in spring in this Southern California seaside town.

While their return is an annual tourist attraction, some in the community have gotten a bit fed up with the mess left behind when the birds migrate in the fall, on October 23rd, St. John's Day. It is costing the quaint town of San Juan Capistrano, in Orange County, California, a lot of money to clean up historic, old buildings where the swallows return to roost year after year.

Word Of The Day: Consternation (kahn stuhr NAY shuhn) n. Great fear or worry. Growing consternation creased the parents' haggard faces.

It was this day in 1852 that Harriet Beecher Stowe's classic book was published. "Uncle Tom's Cabin", subtitled "Life Among the Lowly" became an instant success, selling 300,000 copies in its first year. It has since been translated into twenty languages and performed as a play the world over. It was even spotlighted in the Broadway musical and film, "The King and I". Maybe you remember the haunting chant from the show, "Run Eliza, Run!" Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel remains a 'must read' for school children -- and a reminder to all of us of an ugly time in the history of the United States.

The antislavery novel and the adapted plays all feature the elderly, kind slave, Uncle Tom; the slave child, Topsy; Little Eva, the daughter of Tom's owner; Eliza, a young mulatto woman and the cruel, northern-born overseer who beat Tom to death, Simon LeGree.

The book brought much sympathy from around the world toward the American "peculiar institution" of slavery. In fact, Abraham Lincoln told Harriet Beecher Stowe she was "the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war", referring of course, to the Civil War.

'Til this day, we refer to an employer or any other with slave-driving tendencies as a "Simon LeGree".

Word Of The Day: Proclivity (pro KLIV i tee) n. A natural inclination; propensity. Puppies have a proclivity to seek warmth and protection.

A song, written by Irving Berlin back in 1918 as a tribute of a successful immigrant to his adopted country, was recorded by singer, Kate Smith, for Victor Records on this date in 1939.

Ms. Smith first introduced the song on Armistice Day, November 11, 1938, from the New York World's Fair -- a fitting tribute to its composer, who gave all royalties from the very popular and emotional, "God Bless America" to the scouts. The song became Kate Smith's second signature after "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain"; and the second national anthem of the United States of America.

On several occasions, it has even been suggested that the U.S. Congress enact a bill changing the national anthem to "God Bless America".

Word Of The Day: Manifest (MAN uh fest) adj. Obvious, clearly apparent. It's manifest that at this time parole should not be granted.

In 1894, competition for the coveted hockey award known as Lord Stanley's Cup began. Montreal and Ottawa played for the first championship honors on this day. The original trophy cost $48.67 and was purchased for the occasion by Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston. He then donated it to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. The following year and continuing to date, the winner of the Stanley Cup must win in a series of playoffs. In 1926 the playoff format took the order it is still in and the National Hockey League has been the permanent forum.

The teams with the most Stanley Cup titles since 1927 include: the Detroit Red Wings [7] and Toronto Maple Leafs [11] with the Montreal Canadiens outdistancing the rest of the NHL with 24 championship trophies. Player, Larry Robinson holds the record for playing in the most Stanley Cup games [203 for Montreal and 24 for the LA Kings].

The Stanley Cup competition remains the oldest in professional sports in North America.

Word Of The Day: Qualm (kwahm) n. Doubt, uneasiness. They haven't the slightest qualm about leaving him home alone.

An evolution law, enacted this day in the great State of Tennessee in the year 1925, made it a crime for a teacher in any state-supported public school or college to teach any theory that contradicted the Bible's account of man's creation. Tennessee's Governor Austin Peay said, "the very integrity of the Bible in its statement of man's divine creation is denied by any theory that man descended or has ascended from any lower order of animals." Opponents planned to challenge the law, denouncing it as a violation of the constitutional principle of separation of church and state.

Within two months, a Dayton, Tennessee high school science teacher, John T. Scopes was indicted, and later convicted, in the famous "Monkey Trial" for teaching his students the theory of evolution; that man descended from a lower order of animals ... or monkeys. Scopes was fined $100. Defense Attorney Clarence Darrow stated that this was "the first case of its kind since we stopped trying people for witchcraft."

Remember this the next time you think about swinging from a tree ... especially while eating a banana and singing, "Yaba daba daba."

Word Of The Day: Lassitude (LAS uh tood) n. Weakness, weariness. Extreme lassitude overcame us after the hike.

The first (and as far as we know, the only) father-son Oscars were presented on this night in 1949 to Walter and John Huston for their stunning work in the 1948 film, "The Treasure of Sierra Madre". Walter was awarded an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and son, John, received the honors for Best Director. Other winners in 1949: "Hamlet" for Best Picture, Laurence Olivier for Best Actor (in "Hamlet"), Jane Wyman (the former Mrs. Ronald Reagan) for Best Actress (film: "Johnny Belinda") and Claire Trevor for Best Supporting Actress (film: "Key Largo"). And the envelope please...

Word Of The Day: Diminutive (di MIN yoo tiv) adj. Small, tiny. The diminutive horse stood no more than three feet tall.

Howard Cosell (Cohen) was born on this day in 1920. Cosell came to be the most liked -- and the most disliked -- sports journalist across America. Cosell agreed when others described him as arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a show-off. Others said he forgot the words "irritating, generous, funny, paranoid, charming, egomaniacal and insecure."

A New York attorney, Cosell ventured into the world of network sports journalism through his association with WABC Radio and TV in New York in the 50's and early '60s. He was featured as the boxing announcer for ABC Sports and under Roone Arledge, filled various sports positions on "Wide World of Sports" -- from horse racing to Olympic competition. Cosell would, in a stentorian and often difficult to understand syntax, make use of his abundant vocabulary that contained big, big words that sent sports fans scurrying for a dictionary.

Always outspoken and frequently controversial, Cosell would "Tell It like It Is", the title of one of his best selling books on the subject of sports and broadcasting. It was Cosell who would be the first to claim that Cassius Clay (Muhammed Ali), would be a media star; and he championed Ali's fight against the draft. His association with the boxer put him in front of Congressional committees and made him a regular guest lecturer in college classrooms.

Cosell later quit broadcasting boxing matches and openly expressed a loathing for that sport, and for football, as well. "Humble Howard" was also host of a weekly program (not a sports program) for ABC Contemporary Radio -- interviews and commentary titled, "Speaking of Everything".

Cosell was a major figure, with colleague Jim McKay, in bringing the hard news story to the minds and souls of a nation in 1972 when several Olympians were tragically slain during the Winter Olympics in Germany, He later became more outspoken, even against his own colleagues who he had worked with for so many years. Many people felt that Cosell became a bitter, broken man in his later years following the death of his wife, Emmy. She was the only one who could tell him to "...shut up, Howard. Nobody cares."

The once powerful "voice that roared" left Monday Night Football after fourteen years. It hasn't been the same since.

Howard Cosell died in 1995. Roon Arledge said, "Howard Cosell was one of the most original people ever to appear on American TV. He became a giant by telling the truth in an industry that was not used to hearing it and considered it revolutionary."

Word Of The Day: Cloistered (KLOY stuhrd) adj. Secluded or confined. To be cloistered safely away in a monastery would feel good right now.

In 1936, the first 200-inch telescope was shipped -- very, very carefully -- from Corning, New York to Mt. Palomar Observatory in California. The lens weighed 20 tons. The Mt. Palomar scope remains one of the most widely used scientific telescopes on the planet -- as it looks at other planets and beyond.

Word Of The Day: Transcend (tran SEND) v. To rise above, surpass; exist independently. Your gambling luck transcends the odds.

No, it doesn't hold a candle to Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas in popularity -- but just wait and see! Corkscrew Day is headed to become one of your holiday favorites! It was on this historic day in 1860 that the device which, officially, is a "covered gimlet screw with a "T" handle" or, "corkscrew", was patented by M. L. Byrn of New York City. Hooray for M. L. Byrn!

After all, if it wasn't for the invention of the corkscrew we'd be pulling corks out of those wine bottles with our teeth or maybe pliers ... and what would the sommeliers use?

Word Of The Day: Feckless (FEK lis) adj. Lacking purpose or vitality; ineffective, weak, irresponsible. He became a feckless wanderer, having no aspirations.

Radio Caroline debuted as the first pirate radio station to broadcast off the coast of England on this day in 1964. The combination of rock music and lively disk jockey patter played to a huge audience in Great Britain. The broadcasts were well out of the reach of British authorities, who tried many times to shut the radio station ship down. The broadcaster was competition to the staid and usually dull British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Today, that is all different, as there is licensed radio competition throughout Great Britain. The BBC and the giant, government-owned network has caught up with the times by offering five different "services" to appeal to wide audiences. They are simply known as "Radio 1" through "Radio 5" ... No "Zees", "Qs" or "Bees", just numbers that include a rock channel, a talk channel, a nostalgia/easy listening channel, a classical/fine arts channel and a news channel.

This is the BBC...

Word Of The Day: Capricious (kuh PREE shuhs) adj. Whimsical, inclined to change one's mind. Sports fans are capricious, booing one minute, cheering the next.

On this day in 1937, the radio serial, "Our Gal Sunday", was first heard. The question, "Can this girl from a small mining town in the West find happiness as the wife of a wealthy and titled Englishman?" was asked each day as the show continued for the next 22 years! Wouldn't you think people would get tired of hearing the same question, over and over and over again?

Word Of The Day: Synchronous (SING kruh nuhs) adj. Occurring at the same time or rate. Our synchronous arrivals were ironic.

In 1858, Hyman L. Lipman of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania patented the writing device we call the pencil. Yes, it did have an attached eraser as well. Why, then, we wondered, wasn't it called the "Lipman"? "Teacher, I'm sorry, but I seem to have forgotten my Lipman this morning." Or -- "May I please go and sharpen my Lipman?" See? It works.

Word Of The Day: Discomfit (dis KUM fit) v. To disconcert; defeat; make uneasy or confused. Her constant stare discomfits me.

To the "City of Lights" we go, down the beautiful streets of Paris, under the Arc de Triumphe and there, before us, the site of one of the world's most photographed and well-known landmarks, the Eiffel Tower.

It was on this day in 1889 that the structure opened in Gay Paree'. A beautiful sight, no? Well, not so to writers, Guy deMaupassant and Alexandre Dumas who condemned the Eiffel Tower as a "horrid nightmare". Well, no pleasing some people, we guess...

The Eiffel Tower was named after its designer, architect, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel who built the structure for the Paris Exhibition of 1889.

Word Of The Day: Atrophy (AT ruh fee) v. To waste away, wither. Muscles often atrophy while a patient is bedridden.

George R. Self
E-mail me at: grself@c2i2.com

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