FDR on the day before Pearl Harbor 1941

We will celebrate another anniversary of Pearl Harbor tomorrow.   I found this note very interesting.    This is from the day before the Japanese bombed the US:  

On this day, President Roosevelt—convinced on the basis of intelligence reports that the Japanese fleet is headed for Thailand, not the United States—telegrams Emperor Hirohito with the request that “for the sake of humanity,” the emperor intervene “to prevent further death and destruction in the world.”The Royal Australian Air Force had sighted Japanese escorts, cruisers, and destroyers on patrol near the Malayan coast, south of Cape Cambodia.
An Aussie pilot managed to radio that it looked as if the Japanese warships were headed for Thailand—just before he was shot down by the Japanese.  

This is a remarkable note.   In other words, we suspected that the Japanese fleet was moving to Thailand.   We learned the next day that it had been moving to Hawaii all along. 

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

---

1965: "Rubber Soul" gets better with age!

“Rubber Soul" was released on this day in 1965. 

I've owned the vinyl stereo, 8-track cartridge, audio cassette and now the CD.   It is one of my all time favorite!   I can still listen to it and enjoy each and everyone of the songs.

The US version is different than the one released in the UK.   I learned this when I purchased the CD a few years ago.  Most of the tracks are in both versions with a few exceptions like “Nowhere Man” in the UK album and “I’ve just seen a face” on the US release.

It is one of the best pop LP's ever, as Rolling Stone reminded us:

Happy 50th birthday to Rubber Soul, the album where the Beatles became the Beatles. It was the most out-there music they'd ever made, but also their warmest, friendliest and most emotionally direct. As soon as it dropped in December 1965, Rubber Soul cut the story of pop music in half — we're all living in the future this album invented.

Great LP and cover photo.  An amazing collection of songs!

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

The 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865

Maybe you should watch that 2012 Lincoln movie.  It tells the story of President Lincoln and the 13th Amendment.  It is a great movie and good history.   

On this day in 1865, the 13th amendment to the US Constitution was ratified.  It ended slavery in the US.  

 

President Lincoln showed great leadership in getting members of Congress to vote for the 13th Amendment.    

This is a movie worth watching.    You can get it here:  CLICK!   And it's never too late to read a Lincoln biography.

 

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

 

We remember Mike Smith (1943-2008)

We remember Mike Smith who was born in England on this day in 1943.  He died in 2008.   Mike was the lead vocalist, organist and songwriter with The Dave Clark Five.   The DC5, as they were known, put 17 songs on US radio back in 1964-68.  They had a great sound!

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

We remember Agnes Moorehead (1900-74)

Agnes Robertson Moorehead was born on this day in Massachusetts in 1900.    She died in 1974.

She had a pretty good career in movies and TV before playing the role of "Endora" in "Bewitched".     In fact, she was in various important movies, such as  "Citizen Kane", "The Magnificent Ambersons", "All That Heaven Allows", "Show Boat" and "Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte".       I saw her recently with Bogart & McCall in "Dark passage", a very good movie.

Nevertheless, she is probably most remember as Samantha's mother and Darrin's mother in law.    She was really good in that role.

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

---

"Rubber Soul", the best Beatles' album!

It's hard to pick a favorite album. However, my money is on the US version of "Rubber Soul" by The Beatles.   

The US version starts with "I've just seen a face" and does not include "Drive my car" and "Nowhere man" like the UK version.   We got those songs later in the US release of "Yesterday and today".

"Rubber Soul", US or UK version, is just a great album.  It was the best collection of songs recorded by The Beatles.

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.