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.

  1 -- May Day

  5 -- Cinco De Mayo

10 -- Mother's Day

16 -- Armed Forces Day

26 -- Memorial Day

Rally 'round the Maypole, as we gather this information for you to start this, "The Merry Merry Month of May!" May Day has been a traditional holiday celebration since ancient times. On this day, spring festivals and Maypoles are common. The Maypole is a tall, um, pole, that has streamers, flowers and other decorations of spring. People grab hold of a streamer and dance around the pole to ward off ol' man Winter for good. It is a way to shake the dreary winter blues once and for all. May Day is also celebrated as a national labor holiday in some countries, particularly in Russia while in Hawaii, May Day is Lei Day. It's a day when friends, lovers, bosses, relatives ... just about anyone and everyone ... gives the gift of a lei to another, putting it around the receiver's neck and accompanying it with the traditional kiss. This custom of sharing the aloha spirit with a beautiful floral lei on Lei Day began in 1928. There are many celebrations throughout the islands; some complete with pageants, a Lei Queen and her court. May 1st is considered to be sauerkraut & frankfurter barbecue time, too -- the idea is to officially launch the barbecue and outdoor eating season. The time of food, ants, bugs, baseball and tummy medicine. ENJOY! Why wait 'til the end of May to begin the fun?

Word Of The Day: Doctrinaire (dahk truh NER) n. One who holds to a theory or practice without regard to its practicality . "You inflexible doctrinaire!" He said accusingly.

No, it's not Halloween. It was on this day in Tacoma, Washington, in 1904, that Harry Lillis Crosby was born; better known to us as Bing. Bing Crosby went on to sing well over 4,000 songs during his impressive show biz career which spanned not only hit recordings, but movies, radio and TV, too. Crosby's most successful tune? "White Christmas" -- written by Irving Berlin. Bandleader Paul Whiteman hired Crosby in 1926, along with singing partner, Al Rinker. With the addition of Harry Barris, the trio became The Rhythm Boys and gained quite a following. After leaving the Whiteman organization in 1930, Crosby sang for a brief while with Gus Arnheim's band. In 1931, "Der Bingle" recorded "I Surrender, Dear". The popularity of that song landed Crosby on CBS Radio and an unsurpassed solo career was underway. Over the next 30 years, Crosby's baritone and easy manner sold more than 300,000,000 records. The consummate golfer, Crosby was host of the annual Crosby Open held at Pebble Beach, Spyglass and, formerly, Cypress Point (the third course is now Poppy Hills). With Crosby's passing in 1977 -- on a golf course near Madrid, Spain -- the tournament changed names to the AT&T/Pebble Beach Open. Bing was featured in over 60 movies, winning an Academy Award for "Going My Way" in 1944. Crosby won the Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1962 and has been called the number one recording artist of all time. Together, we can all croon in his honor: Ba Ba Ba Booo.

Word Of The Day: Maunder (MAHN duhr) v. To mutter; talk incoherently or aimlessly. His maundering could be heard all the way down the hall.

It was on this day in 1971 that National Public Radio, the U.S. national, non-commercial radio network, was born. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting financed National Public Radio so we could, once again, have the thrill of live radio; drama that made fictional places like Lake Wobegon, in Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion", into realities in our minds. Award-winning programming such as "All Things Considered" with Robert Krulwich, presented uninterrupted, informative reports on business, economics and the world, in general -- and still does. Today, "Car Talk" is also one of NPR's most popular shows. National Public Radio was formed to educate, entertain and inform in ways that were not available elsewhere. It was and is the audience's alternative to commercial radio.

Word Of The Day: Banal (bah NAHL or BAY nuhl) adj. Ordinary; trite; meaningless from overuse. The speech seemed banal; there was nothing special about it.

Edda Kathleen Hepburn van Heemstra was born on this day in Brussels, Belgium in the year 1929. This is quite a large name for the gamine-faced, petite charmer we knew as Audrey Hepburn. At the young age of thirteen, she had already developed the need to provide relief to the human suffering surrounding her and enlisted in the Dutch underground in their fight against the Nazi occupation of Holland. Nine years later, performing on the Broadway stage, critics found her to be charming, honest and talented in the title role of "Gigi". She achieved stardom a mere two years later with her Academy award-winning performance in "Roman Holiday". Audrey married Mel Ferrer on September 25, 1954 and co-starred with him and Henry Fonda in War and Peace. A year later, "Funny Face" premiered with Fred Astaire as his co-star. (The title role stuck to her like glue.) "Love in the Afternoon" opened the same year with Gary Cooper sharing the spotlight. The seemingly fragile actress -- she fainted at the premiere of "Farewell to Arms" when the scene showed a difficult childbirth, and fell off a horse, fracturing several vertebrae while filming "The Unforgiven", received four Oscar nominations for Best Actress and made no less than two dozen movies in her film career including: "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "The Children's Hour" in 1961, "Charade" [1963], "My Fair Lady" [1964] (Marni Nixon dubbed her singing), "Two for the Road" in 1967 and "Robin and Marian" with Sean Connery [1976]. Both stars received France's Commander of Arts and Letters Award in 1987. In later years, the diminutive star turned her attentions once more to affairs of the world, serving as spokesperson for the United Nations Children's Fund. The world lost a great benefactor and a beautiful funny face when Audrey Hepburn passed away in January of 1993.

Word Of The Day: Picayune (pik ee YOON) adj. Of little value; paltry. I can't accept such a picayune sum for the car.

If you're Mexican or of Mexican descent or just like a party, today is the day to celebrate the anniversary of the 1862 Battle of Puebla. General Ignacio Zaragoza's troops were outnumbered three to one as they battled the invading French army. They may have been outnumbered but they had the will to win. The Mexican forces defeated Napoleon III's army and Puebla stood. Now stand up and join that Cinco de Mayo parade, attend the festival, enjoy the salsa music and the salsa dip with your Margarita. We all salute General Ignacio Zaragoza and his brave contingent.

Word Of The Day: Skud (skud) v. To move along swiftly and easily. Thin clouds scudded across the sky.

Rodolpho Alfonso Rafaello Pietro Filiberto Guglielmi Di Valentina D'Antonguolla was born this day in 1895. How he got past the name selection process is anyone's guess! Rudolph Valentino became a national phenomenon and a star of unprecedented sensual attraction to women, starring in these memorable movies: "The Big Little Person" (1918), "The Delicious Little Devil" (1919) for which he earned $100 per week, "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (1921), "Blood and Sand" (1922), and his most famous, "Sheik" (1921), which he said he hated. He also disliked Paramount Studios, saying he was dissatisfied with the photography, management and direction; that they did not live up to his artistic ambitions. However, by 1924, Valentino was in the top ten of box office stars. "Monsieur Beaucaire" starring Valentino was released that same year. A year later he was at the very top of the box office star list. The leading man was just 31-years old when a perforated ulcer took his life. Tens of thousands came to view their screen idol and movie studios closed during the funeral. On the anniversary of his death, the "Lady in Black" made her first of many annual appearances at his burial site. The mystery lady was never identified. Even in death, Rudolph Valentino was a superstar.

Word Of The Day: Guffaw (guh FAH) n. Hearty, bursting laughter. He let out a guffaw at the silly punchline.

Glenn Miller and his Orchestra recorded one of the great American music standards, "Chattanooga Choo Choo", on this day in 1941. The song was recorded at the famous Victor Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. The record not only became a big hit, it it is said to have been the first gold record -- for selling over one million copies. The claim, incidentally, was a promotion idea of RCA Victor. It was not until over a decade later that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) was formed to designate and audit actual certification for gold, and later, platinum records, tapes, CDs, videos and even computer software. "Song of the Volga Boatman", "Elmer's Tune", "A String of Pearls", "Moonlight Cocktail", "That Old Black Magic" and "Kalamazoo" were also Glenn Miller #1 recordings alongside "Chattanooga Choo Choo". All aboard!

Word Of The Day: Fatuous (FACH oo uhs) adj. Foolish, inane; futile. In fatuous desperation, the antelope turned and charged the lion.

Dr. John S. Pemberton first sold his secret elixir formula on this day in 1886. It was originally used for medicinal purposes. So, Dr. Pemberton went, naturally, to the right place to sell his new product: Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta, GA. Three years later, Dr. Pemberton figured that his secret formula had been enough of a success for him to sell out. He did just that, for $2,300. Even in 1889 dollars, $2,300 was a mere drop in the bucket for what the still very classified, secret formula would be worth. Today, that formula is used in a product that sells about 350 million cans and bottles a day in nearly nearly 200 countries. That's enough secret elixir for every man, woman and child on earth to consume 25 times a year. Dr. Pemberton's medicine that was sold to make people feel better still does today. It's "the Pause that Refreshes". It's "The Real Thing". It's Coca-Cola. Have a Coke in honor of Dr. Pemberton, today.

Word Of The Day: Precipitate (pri SIP uh tayt) v. To hasten; to cause to happen. A brush-back pitch precipitated a brawl between the teams.

On this day in 1754, the first cartoon appeared in "The Pennsylvania Gazette", the newspaper published at the time in Philadelphia, PA, Benjamin Franklin's hometown. The title of the featured cartoon was "Join or Die". Certainly not "Peanuts", or "Nancy" or "Beetle Bailey", "Garfield" or "Doonsbury" it seems ... Our crack research team says it has something to do with the politics of the time.

Word Of The Day: Staid (stayd) adj. Reserved, dignified, serious. Her grandmother always seemed so staid and pensive

On this day in 1872, the first woman nominated to be President of the United States was Victoria Claflin Woodhull. She was chosen for the ballot by the National Woman Suffrage Association in New York City. Ms. Woodhull was not elected; nor has any woman ever been elected to the office of U.S. President. The closest any woman has come to the top seat of the nation since Victoria Woodhull was Geraldine A. Ferraro who was on the Democratic party slate as the Vice-Presidential candidate in 1984. We expect The First Lady to be Ms. President someday ... not yet ... but soon.

Word Of The Day: Harlequin (HAHR luh kwin) n. A clown, buffoon. The plant manager is a pistol; a real harlequin.

There never was show business like we know it until this day in 1888, when Israel Baline was born in Tyumen, Russia. Maybe you don't recognize this name; but we're sure you'll recognize and be able to sing many of the tunes he composed when he grew up. Little Israel came to the United States with his family at the age of four. His father passed away several years later, so Israel took to the streets of New York, singing on street corners and in saloons, and as a singing waiter, all to earn money to help support his family. It was the beginning of a wonderful career in song, stage and movies. A printer's error on the music sheet for his composition, "Marie from Sunny Italy", accidentally changed his name. The change became permanent. Mr. American Music, better known to us as Irving Berlin, wrote more songs than we care to count including "Alexander's Ragtime Band", "Always", "Doin' What Comes Naturally", "Puttin' on the Ritz", "Blue Skies" and "Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning", "Play a Simple Melody". This man, who could neither read nor write music, also composed a song titled, "Smile and Show Your Dimple". You probably never heard of that one; but seventeen years later it, when it was produced, it became a hit as "Easter Parade". Kate Smith was the voice he chose to sing a song which he wrote in 1917. It became her signature and a major contender to replace "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the U.S. national anthem. The song: "God Bless America". Berlin wrote the scores for many Broadway shows ("Annie Get Your Gun") and films ("Top Hat"). Winning an Oscar for his composition, "White Christmas", Irving Berlin had the unique experience of opening the envelope that contained his name. He was the presenter at this segment of the Academy Awards for 1942 and upon opening the envelope, said, "This goes to a nice guy; I've known him all my life. The winner is ... me. The composer of "There's No Business Like Show Business" truly knew the meaning of those words.

Word Of The Day: Inviolate (in VAI uh lit) adj. Intact, unscathed; not violated. Wearing an apron on the job is an inviolate rule.

Edward Lear was born on this day in 1812. A big champion of the limerick, Lear wrote "Edward Lear's Book of Nonsense" and others, which helped the limerick to become very popular. So, what are you waiting for? Write a limerick today! Here's one to get you started:

Word Of The Day: Extrusion (ik STROO zhuhn) n. A jutting, pushed-out shape or object. Its extrusions give the building a gothic effect.

Steveland Morris Hardaway was born prematurely, on this day in 1950. Too much oxygen in the incubator caused the baby to become permanently blind. However, this did not prove to be any kind of handicap to Steveland's musical talents as a singer, songwriter and multiinstrumentalist. At the tender age of ten, Little Stevie Wonder, as he was called by Berry Gordy at Motown, was discovered singing and playing the harmonica. The child prodigy got a little bigger and, in his teen years, recorded "Fingertips" (his first hit) and "My Cherie Amour"; co-wrote "I was Made to Love Her", "For Once in My Life" and "Tears of a Clown". "If You Really Love Me" was a #1 hit and Stevie was just 20 years old. Stevie wonder won an Oscar in 1984 ("I Just Called to Say I Love You"); induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989; and sixteen Grammy Awards. He has stood up for civil rights, campaigns against cancer, AIDS, and drunk driving, and the plight of Ethiopia. As an adult, and no longer little, Stevie Wonder has been no less than wonderful. Happy Birthday, Stevie!

Word Of The Day: Transient (TRAN shuhnt) adj. Passing through with only brief stops; passing away over time. Happiness is only a transient illusion.

Three very small ships, "Susan Constant", "Godspeed" and "Discovery" sailed across the ocean blue from Plymouth, England to a place the ship's crew and passengers called Jamestown, on this day in 1607. If you have ever been to today's Jamestown and had the chance to climb aboard the restored ships, you would wonder how anyone could have survived that historic trip in such tiny, cramped quarters. We can only assume that some of us had ancestors who were very, very short. This hearty group of Virginia Company settlers were chartered by England's King James I, therefore, the name, Jamestown, Virginia. The group was led by Captain John Smith of Pocahontas fame and Christopher Newport. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States. It became the capital of Virginia and remained so through 1699.

Word Of The Day: Bagatelle (bag uh TEL) n. A trifle; unimportant. Money is a bagatelle to him.

Today is the anniversary of the birth of Lyman Frank Baum, who was born in 1856. Lyman grew up to become a newspaperman and the author of one of the most famous children's stories in recent history. Lyman Baum wrote "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". Baum wrote a series of Oz books, but this was the most famous. He also adapted the story into a musical play. It then became the basis for the 1939 MGM musical, The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland, Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan, and Billy Burke among others. The film, a classic, was nominated for six Academy Awards but won only two (Best Song: "Over the Rainbow" and Best Score). Lyman Frank Baum's adaptation was adapted once again in 1978 as a Broadway show and film, "The Wiz" featuring an all-black cast.

Word Of The Day: Allude (uh LOOD) v. To hint or suggest. She alluded to having family, though we never met them.

The U.S. Treasury Department added another coin to American currency by authorizing the minting of the nickel, a five-cent coin, on this day in 1866. On its face was a shield, while on the reverse was the number 5. From 1883 until 1912, the head of Liberty was on the obverse while the Roman numeral 5 was on the reverse side. In 1913, the U.S. Treasury minted nickels with Indian heads on one side and buffaloes on the other. The current nickel is the Jefferson nickel, minted since 1938. The Jefferson nickel has a profile of none other than Thomas Jefferson on the face and a picture of his home, Monticello, on the flip side. The nickel is made of only 25 percent nickel and 75 percent copper. However, some smart soul at the Treasury came up with the bright idea that nobody would ever say, "Lend me a copper!" So, the coin became the nickel. Actually its official name is the five-cent piece. Got a nickel ...um, er... got a five-cent piece on you?

Word Of The Day: Omnibus (AHM ni buhs) adj. All-inclusive; covering many things or classes. The omnibus budget law was a thousand pages long.

On this day in 1792, twenty-four brokers sat down to fix rates on commissions on stocks and bonds. From that agreement came what was has been known since as the New York Stock Exchange or Wall Street. The New York Stock Exchange is located in the financial district, an area in lower Manhattan, on a street named after a defensive wall built around 1650. Wall Street became interchangeable with the Stock Exchange.

Word Of The Day: Causal (KAH zuhl) adj. Indicating or constituting a cause. Acid rain is a causal factor in global deforestation.

On this night in 1910, thousands of Americans were scared out of their wits with the thought that Halley's Comet was set to crash into Mother Earth. Halley's Comet, named after English astronomer, Edmund Halley, makes its closest path to Earth about once every hundred years. Although it is millions of miles away, it is still visible to the human eye. It appeared to the Jamestown, VA colonists in 1607. They thought it signified an extremely cold winter to come. It was also visible on the date of Mark Twain's birth in 1835 ... and his death: May 18, 1910.

Word Of The Day: Expedite (EK spi dait) v. To speed the progress of; make easier. Expedite the delivery of that valve; we needed it yesterday!

The Pride of San Joaquin Valley was declared the winner of the first frog jumping jubilee held in Calaveras County, CA on this day in 1928. The froggy jumped three feet, four inches and won over 49 other frogs in the contest. The true beginnings of the frog jubilee date back to gold rush days, an event instigated by none other than Mark Twain. The frogs are still hoppin' each May at the Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee. Frogs come from all over the world to compete in this, the road to top frog. Incidentally, frogs jump a LOT more than three feet today, and for a fair amount of money, prizes and media exposure. The current record is held by Rosie the Ribiter from Santa Clara, CA. Rosie made the record-setting 21 feet, 5 3/4 inch jump in May of 1986. Four legs, two eyes, in the water, ker-plunk! Rib-it!

Word Of The Day: Marked (mahrkt) adj. Noticeable, distinctive. A marked increase in civil rights reforms became his legacy.

The most famous magazine illustrator of the twentieth century drew it like it was. This was the day, in 1916, when Norman Rockwell's first cover on "The Saturday Evening Post" appeared. The illustration was of a young boy having to care for his baby sibling while his little buddies left him and went off to play ball. The forlorn child pushing a baby carriage tugged at the heart strings of all who saw it. Norman Rockwell drew over 300 covers for "The Saturday Evening Post" plus Boy Scouts of America calendar pictorials and four paintings, "The Four Freedoms", used as patriotic posters during W.W.II. All of his illustrations pictured nostalgic scenes of small-town America ... true slices of life ... captured from a time gone by.

Word Of The Day: Stultify (STUL tuh fai) v. To stifle; cause to appear stupid. A dictator can no longer stultify the free thought of his followers.

No, this day has nothing to do with face make-up -- but it does have to do with the make-up of the pop music charts of mid-1950s. With the dawn of rock and roll upon us, Chuck Berry started his climb to stardom. Berry, born in San Jose, California but raised in St. Louis, Missouri, was introduced to record executive Leonard Chess (of Chess Records in Chicago) by bluesman Muddy Waters. Berry, who had learned to play the guitar in St. Louis, and had led a trio there, played his demo tape for Chess. One of the songs on the tape was a country song performed in rhythm and blues style. It was titled, "Ida Red". On this day in 1955, Berry went into a recording session for Chess, performing a restyled version of "Ida Red". What came out of that hot session was Ida Red's new name and Chuck Berry's first hit, "Maybellene". "Maybellene" topped the R & B charts at #1, and the pop charts at #5. And Beethoven rolled over... The rest is rock 'n' roll history.

Word Of The Day: Caveat (KAV ee aht) n. A warning. His caveat against buying the watch went unheeded.

On this day in 1841 -- Henry Kennedy of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was lounging around the house when the mailman rang his doorbell (or cranked it, since electricity wasn't even available, yet...or, heck, maybe he just knocked on the door. There were doors back then, you know...) In any case, a patent had arrived for Mr. Kennedy for the first reclining chair. So, sit back (er, recline), relax, and enjoy the rest of today's show...

Word Of The Day: Suppliant (SUP lee uhnt) adj. Asking humbly and earnestly; beseeching. How could she refuse the explorer's suppliant words?.

Believe it or not, women weren't always allowed to become attorneys in the United States. The gavel was pounded for the first time when Belle Aurelia Babb was born on this day in 1846. It took some 23 years, but Belle, who later changed her name to Arabella Mansfield, became the first woman admitted to the legal profession in the U.S. A teacher at Ohio Wesleyan college, Mansfield took the bar exam and passed. The legal beagles who tested her gave Arabella a passing grade saying, "...she gave the very best rebuke possible to the imputation that ladies cannot qualify for the practice of law." Ms. Mansfield took her law degree and put it away somewhere. You see, she never did practice law. Instead she became one of the first female college professors and administrators in the U.S. as the dean of the schools of art and music at DePauw University. She also helped found the Iowa Woman Suffrage Society. Just knowing that she could become an attorney was enough for Ms. Mansfield. Women attorneys throughout the U.S. - all stand.

Word Of The Day: Palliate (PAL ee ayt) v. To excuse; to relieve without curing. It disappoints me that you seek to palliate your mistakes rather than own up to them.

You know the songs, "Like a Rolling Stone", "Lay Lady Lay", "Positively 4th Street", "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35", "Hurricane [Part 1]", (the latter dedicated to imprisoned boxer, Rubin Hurricane Carter, a convicted murderer); and you're familiar with the nasal tones of Bob Dylan, the voice that made his words famous. Bob Dylan was born Robert Zimmerman on this date in 1941. One of Zimmerman's many stories as to why the name change says he borrowed it from poet, Dylan Thomas. Bobby Zimmerman legally changed his name to Bob Dylan in 1962. One story (some doubt its validity) is that Bobby Zimmerman was a piano player for a 1960s singer who had him fired for "not having a future in the music business." That singer was Bobby Vee. Luckily Bobby didn't listen and moved from the Iron Range of Minnesota, near Duluth, to New York City where he played folk clubs in Greenwich Village. It was there, in 1961, that his talents were recognized and he was signed to CBS Records. His electric folk/rock sound soon became a trademark and put him miles ahead of his contemporaries. Yet folk purists booed him off the stage at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1965. He retired for a short time following a 1966 motorcycle accident; received an honorary doctorate degree from Princeton University in 1970; then performed for George Harrison's Concert for Bangla Desh in 1971. Two years later, Dylan made his acting debut in the film, "Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid"; then made the four-hour film, "Renaldo and Clara" with Joan Baez in 1978. That same year, Dylan announced that he had become a born-again Christian; his newly-found faith apparent in his recordings of that time: "Precious Angel", "When He Returns" and "Gotta Serve Somebody" which won him his first Grammy in 1980. Dylan was Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and earned the Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991. At last glance, the name Bobby Vee has not been added to the wall of the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Little Bobby Zimmerman aka Bob Dylan made a name for himself in the history books of rock 'n' roll. If you want to know what it's like to ride the waves of success and defeat, ask Bob Dylan. He knows how it feels...

Word Of The Day: Dissipate (DIS uh payt) v. To vanish; to drive away; waste. His entire inheritance will soon dissipate.

On this day in 1927, the Ford Motor Company announced that its popular automobile model, the Model T, known as the Tin Lizzie, would not be rolling off assembly lines anymore. Instead, the discontinued car would be replaced by the more modern Model A. The first Model T was manufactured in 1908, designed, the Ford Motor Company stated, "as an inexpensive vehicle for the great multitude". It was also the first item produced on an assembly line (Henry Ford's new production system). By 1918, half of all motor cars in the entire world were Tin Lizzies. And as Henry Ford commented, "a customer could have the car in any color as long as it was black." The black wreaths were hung on this day for the black Model T. Bye-bye Lizzie...

Word Of The Day: Ennui (AHN wee) n. Boredom; world weariness. Such ennui set in that even engaging in conversation became an effort.

In 1836, the United States House of Representatives adopted what has been called the Gag Rule. One of our staffers inquired if the Gag Rule had anything to do with the food served in the Congressional cafeteria. We were assured that it did not. This rule was made to restrict needless, overly long discussion about legislation in Congress. Is anyone listening?

Word Of The Day: Profuse (pro FYOOS) adj. Overflowing, abundant. Her writing is colorful and profuse.

Amelia Jenks Bloomer was born on this day in 1818. Amelia was a women's rights advocate (you didn't know the folks back in the mid 1800s even knew about women's rights, did you?). She was also a social reformer; and yes, bloomer panties were named after her. You see, she worked for more sensible dress for women ... and recommended what was called the Bloomer Costume in 1849. Actually Elizabeth Smith Miller introduced the costume but "bloomers" sounded more interesting than "millers". Today, those ruffled little bottoms aren't worn much by adult women but they often cover baby bottoms. Babies don't seem to mind wearing those sensible bloomers.

Word Of The Day: Expurgate (EK spuhr gayt) v. To remove objectionable parts or passages from written material. Resubmit your manuscript after expurgating chapter seven.

In 1953, the first 3-D (three-dimensional) cartoon premiered at the Paramount Theatre in Hollywood, California. The production, a Walt Disney creation, and an RKO picture, was titled, "Melody". It didn't exactly come on the heels of the first 3-D non-cartoon movie. That credit has to go to "The Power of Love" which also opened in LA; but in 1922. It was filmed in the Fairall stereoscopic process, a primitive 3-D process. However, "Melody" was filmed in the same process as "Bwana Devil", the first modern 3-D movie which premiered just six months before the cartoon flick. Just one year later, a "Variety" headline read: "3-D Looks Dead in United States". This was a very short melody, indeed...

Word Of The Day: Mercenary (MUR suh ne ree) adj. Motivated by greed. I don't care if it appears to be a mercenary act; I'm just looking out for myself.

England's Leslie Townes Hope was born on this day in 1903, and he was probably smiling instead of crying when he entered the world. You see, Leslie, better known to us as Bob, has kept the world smiling for seven decades. With a career that began with appearances in comedy short films in the 1930s, Bob Hope hit it big in 1940 with his first 'road' picture, "The Road to Singapore". Co-starring with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour, he hit the road to Zanzibar, Morroco, Utopia, Rio, Bali (the first in color), and the last, Hong Kong in 1962. His autobiography, "Ski Nose", gives us an insight into his sense of humor and comedic timing, "In Russia, I had no trouble with the language -- nobody talked." The consummate entertainer, Bob Hope has appeared in a multitude of films other than the roadies. Millions have seen his act on night club stages, and on countless TV specials including 17 years as host of "The Academy Awards". Yet he is still best known for his USO tours and entertaining of troops overseas and on the front lines during World War II, the Korean War, the Viet Nam War and even during Desert Storm. Thank you for the memory, Mr. Hope, and for giving others hope.

Word Of The Day: Requisite (REK wuh zit) adj. Required, necessary. It's requisite that you register at least an hour before the event is to begin.

On this very day in 1922, Max Flack and Clifton Heathcote became the first major-league baseball players to play on two teams in the same day! Here's how it went down: Between games of a doubleheader, the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals made the switcheroo, with Flack putting on a Cubs uniform and Heathcote trading his Cubs uniform for that of the Cardinals. The outfielders both played in the nightcap of the twin-bill.

Word Of The Day: Potpourri (po pooh REE) n. A combination, mixture. What potpourri of fruits is in this salad?.

Men relate to him, women's hearts skip a beat. He's the strong, silent type. He's Clint Eastwood, born, probably complete with leathered face, on this day in San Francisco in 1930. Critics panned the actor. Most thought he couldn't deliver a line. He laughed all the way to the bank. Movies changed, Clint matured with them. He learned his art and became an accomplished, Academy Award-winning director and producer ("Unforgiven" in 1992). Whether you picture him as the young cattle driver, Rowdy, in "Rawhide"; the silent man with no name in Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns ("The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"); the fatally attractive DJ in "Play Misty for Me", the death-defying rock-hard cop, "Dirty Harry"; or the sexy, mature photographer who stole the heart of an Iowa farm-wife in "The Bridges of Madison County", Clint Eastwood has somewhere, sometime, made your day.

Word Of The Day: Niggling (NIG ling) adj. Fussy; petty; requiring attention to detail. Quit your niggling quarrel and get back to work.

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

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