A much bigger star than El-Sayed discovered that the American public dislikes seeing people compare themselves to Jesus.
Click to read:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/abdul-should-read-about-lennon-and-jesus/
Saturday, August 22, 2026
August 22, 1938: Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers on the cover of LIFE
On this day in 1938, Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers were on the cover of LIFE.
Fred & Ginger danced a lot in the 1930's or a time when The Depression was hitting most Americans very hard.
They were a major and very pleasant distraction for people at that time, as Bob Mondello wrote.
Here is a suggestion: Check out one of their many films.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Fred & Ginger danced a lot in the 1930's or a time when The Depression was hitting most Americans very hard.
They were a major and very pleasant distraction for people at that time, as Bob Mondello wrote.
Here is a suggestion: Check out one of their many films.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
August 22, 1989: Where were you the night that Nolan Ryan got his 5,000th strikeout?
It happened here at the old Arlington Stadium: Nolan Ryan got his 5,000th strikeout and set a record that will probably last forever.
Ryan followed up his historic performance with no hitters in 1990 and 1991.
“The Ryan Express” retired in 1993 and pursued business interests including turning into a very successful baseball executive. The Rangers won the AL pennant in 2010 and 2011 and made the post-season in 2012 and 2013.
Ryan left the Rangers after the 2013 season and became a consultant with the Houston Astros, although he spends most of his time these days at the ranch with Ruth.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Ryan followed up his historic performance with no hitters in 1990 and 1991.
“The Ryan Express” retired in 1993 and pursued business interests including turning into a very successful baseball executive. The Rangers won the AL pennant in 2010 and 2011 and made the post-season in 2012 and 2013.
Ryan left the Rangers after the 2013 season and became a consultant with the Houston Astros, although he spends most of his time these days at the ranch with Ruth.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
1914: Austria's Archduke Ferdinand assassinated
Back in 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie were shot to death by a Bosnian Serb nationalist during an official visit to the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo.
On August 1, 1914, World War I began to take shape:
".....four days after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, two more great European powers—Russia and Germany—declare war on each other; the same day, France orders a general mobilization.We started this series with Barry Jacobsen in 2014, or the 100th anniversary of World War I.
The so-called “Great War” that ensued would be one of unprecedented destruction and loss of life, resulting in the deaths of some 20 million soldiers and civilians and the physical devastation of much of the European continent."
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Listen to "The origins and causes of World War I with Barry Jacobsen" on Spreaker.
Friday, August 21, 2026
August 1968 and the history of communism
August 1968 and the history of communism:
The Prague Spring was a shocking reminder to an increasingly complacent West that the Soviet Union was a brutal totalitarian regime.
Click to read:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/august-1968-and-the-history-of-communism/
We remember Kenny Rogers (1938-2020)
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Hawaii made it 50 in 1959
We remember that Hawaii made it 50 on this day in 1959. Alaska became a state in January 1959 and it was followed by Hawaii months later.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Prague 1968 and memories of the old USSR
We read about Putin and Russian troops threatening neighbors. It's enough to remind us of another time when the then USSR invaded the then country of Czechoslovakia. It happened this weekend in 1968:
On the night of August 20, 1968, approximately 200,000 Warsaw Pact troops and 5,000 tanks invade Czechoslovakia to crush the “Prague Spring”–a brief period of liberalization in the communist country. Czechoslovakians protested the invasion with public demonstrations and other non-violent tactics, but they were no match for the Soviet tanks. The liberal reforms of First Secretary Alexander Dubcek were repealed and “normalization” began under his successor Gustav Husak.
It was the second time that USSR tanks under the banner of The Warsaw Pact had crushed democratic impulses in Eastern Europe. It also happened in Hungary in 1956 when Soviet tanks actually fought with people in the streets.
As a kid, we heard the stories of Cuban political prisoners. Our family dinner table was a classroom with my parents telling us about communism or reading the latest letter from Cuba.
I grew up admiring the men and women who risked their lives to fight for freedom. Some of these men were Cardinal Mindszenty of Hungary, those who tried to cross the Berlin Wall, the guerrillas who fought Castro in The Escambray Mountains and those who tried reforms inside the Soviet bloc.
On August 21, 1968, the Rascals were riding high with a song called "People got to be free".
It was a pop hit in the US. It was reality in the streets of Prague.
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.
Thursday, August 20, 2026
A chat with Frank Burke about Wisconsin politics
A chat with Frank Burke about Wisconsin politics....
Nixon is the one
Nixon is the one:
Corporal Vindman checks out.
Click to read: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/nixon-is-the-one/
Hank Aaron and Eddie Matthews hit 863 homeruns as teammates
On this day in 1965, Eddie Mathews hit # 28 to lead the Braves to a win 4-3 at Pittsburgh.
Matthew's home run gave the Matthews-Aaron duo (1954-66) a total of 772 home runs as teammates. They passed Ruth and Gehrig that day.
Aaron & Matthews ended up with 863 home runs in their 13 years together with the Braves. Matthews retired in 1968 and Aaron played until 1976.
Matthews came up with the Boston Braves but enjoyed his biggest years in Milwaukee. He led the National League with 47 home runs in 1953, the team's first year in Milwaukee. Aaron came up in 1954 and hit 755 career home runs.
Aaron & Matthews played in the World Series in 1957 & 1958. It was Matthews who caught the last out to beat the Yankees in 1957.
Great teammates!
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Happy # 82 Graig Nettles
In 1973, he became a Yankee and that's where he had some wonderful years: 250 HR & 834 RBI in 1,539 games.
Nettles was also a superb third baseman winning a couple of Gold Gloves Awards and a key part of the New York teams that played in the 1976, 1977, 1978 & 1981 World Series.
He retired with 390 HR & 1,314 RBI.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Prague 1968: Cuban regime supports the USSR as Soviet Tanks crush freedom
The USSR and The Warsaw Pact are now history. It all collapsed at the end of 1991. In other words, most young people younger than 35 have no emotional involvement with what we grew up with. They’ve probably never heard of the Berlin Wall or the 1956 Hungarian revolution or the atrocities of communism. Prague is now the capital of the Czech Republic and Slovakia is another country. It all seems like a past so long ago.
Some of us are old enough to remember this week when 200,000 Warsaw Pact troops and 5,000 tanks invaded Czechoslovakia to crush the “Prague Spring.”
It was a dark day for freedom. Like the Hungarians in 1956, the people of Czechoslovakia were given a taste of Soviet “tolerance.” The “Prague Spring” was all about freedom and reforms but the Kremlin did not accept it and sent the tanks in.
A sad day for those of us who were watching from the West, especially when Fidel Castro defended the USSR. by saying among many things that the country was “…..heading toward a counter-revolutionary situation, toward capitalism and into the arms of imperialism.”
We remember today all the people who stood up to Soviet tanks in Prague. And we remember more victims of communism.
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.
August 1968: Tanks head to Prague
(My new American Thinker post)
The USSR and the Warsaw Pact are now history. It all collapsed at the end of 1991. In other words, most people younger than 35 have no emotional involvement with what we grew up with. They’ve probably never heard of the Berlin Wall or the 1956 Hungarian revolution or the atrocities of communism. Prague is now the capital of the Czech Republic and Slovakia is another country. It all seems like a past so long ago.
Some of us are old enough to remember this week when 200,000 Warsaw Pact troops and 5,000 tanks invaded Czechoslovakia to crush the “Prague Spring.”
My father had a friend from Prague who escaped a few months later. He was often at our home listening to news reports on my dad's Telefunken short-wave radio. That's what we used to do before the internet and cable news.
The invasion was a dark day for freedom. Like the Hungarians in 1956, the people of Czechoslovakia were given a taste of Soviet “tolerance.” The “Prague Spring” was all about freedom and reforms, but the Kremlin did not accept it and sent the tanks in.
A sad day for those of us who were watching from the West, especially when Fidel Castro defended the USSR by saying among many things that the country was “….heading toward a counter-revolutionary situation, toward capitalism and into the arms of imperialism.”
We remember today all the people who stood up to Soviet tanks in Prague. And all the other victims of communism.
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.
1940: Leon Trotsky killed in Mexico
Leon Trotsky was born in 1879 of Russian-Jewish parents.
Like others of his generation, he embraced Marxism as a teenager and became a political activist. Later, he opposed Stalin and was banished from the USSR forever.
After four years in Turkey, Trotsky lived in France, Norway and was granted asylum in Mexico in 1936. During this time in exile, he was found guilty of treason in absentia during Stalin’s purges.
On August 20, 1940, Trotsky was killed in Mexico City by Ramón Mercader, a Spanish communist. The USSR denied responsibility, and Mercader was sentenced to 20 years in prison by Mexico.
Did Stalin have Trotsky killed? We can't prove it but it's very likely in my opinion.
Like others of his generation, he embraced Marxism as a teenager and became a political activist. Later, he opposed Stalin and was banished from the USSR forever.
After four years in Turkey, Trotsky lived in France, Norway and was granted asylum in Mexico in 1936. During this time in exile, he was found guilty of treason in absentia during Stalin’s purges.
On August 20, 1940, Trotsky was killed in Mexico City by Ramón Mercader, a Spanish communist. The USSR denied responsibility, and Mercader was sentenced to 20 years in prison by Mexico.
Did Stalin have Trotsky killed? We can't prove it but it's very likely in my opinion.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Something booming out there
Something booming out there:
The media are trying to hide it because the midterms are coming up, but Trump’s policies are restoring America’s badly damaged economy.
Click to hear:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/something-booming-out-there/
Happy # 91 Bobby Richardson
We remember Bobby Richardson who was born in South Carolina on this day in 1935.
Bobby was 19 when he broke with the Yankees in 1955 and became the starting second baseman in 1959 when he hit .301 in 134 games.
His best season was 1962 when he hit .302 with 209 hits. Bobby also caught the last out of the World Series that year, a line drive by Willie McCovey.
Richardson retired after the 1966 season: .266 with 1,432 hits in 1,412 games.
He played on great Yankee teams and remains a very underrated Yankee. He was the 1960 World Series MVP.
We also remember Richardson for that great eulogy at Mickey Mantle's funeral in 1995.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
August 1968: Tanks in Prague & "People got to be free" # 1 on Billboard
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We remember that Warsaw Pact tanks were crushing the people of Prague this week in 1968. Like Hungary 1956, the USSR did not tolerate dissent in any of its satellite states.
Over here, “People got to be free” by The Rascals was #1 on Billboard USA. It spent much of the month of August as the most popular song of that summer.
We don't know if the Rascals were inspired by The Prague Spring but it was a timely message.
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.
August 1965: 3 Beatles' fans rented a helicopter and the rest is history.....
Let's call them very devout fans.
Many summers ago, these girls wanted to say hello to The Beatles. So they rented a helicopter and flew over the group at the hotel that they were staying. Eventually, they spotted one of the guys and he waved back.
It must have been quite a day in the story of Beatlemania.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.Tuesday, August 18, 2026
A word about The Royal Navy plus a cheap shot against Natalie Hapf
A word about The Royal Navy plus a cheap shot against Natalie Hapf..............
Could today's Royal Navy fight for the Falklands?
This is not your grandfather's Royal Navy….
Click to read:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/could-today-s-royal-navy-fight-for-the-falklands/
---------------
Maybe you are old enough to remember when Argentina tried to take "Las Malvinas," or the Falklands, back in 1982. It was a call to action in the UK and PM Margaret Thatcher sent the fleet to keep the UK flag flying over the islands far away in the South Atlantic. It was a big flop for Argentina, in large part because the UK sent the fleet.
Could the UK do that today if Argentina tried again? I don't think that Argentina will do it again, but the point about the Royal Navy is real. Let's check this very long but informative report by Steven Wills at War on the Rocks:
The Royal Navy’s descent from the world’s second-most powerful fleet in 1945 to a force increasingly constrained by regional and coastal requirements might raise the question today of how many of the King’s warships might actually be at sea to defend the United Kingdom at home and its interests abroad in the immediate future.
By the 2030s, the Royal Navy surface fleet may consist of just thirteen Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, an unknown number of legacy Type 45 destroyers, and perhaps the first Common Combat Vessel. Will the Royal Navy again scramble to reactivate a decommissioned Type 45 as it did HMS Tiger and HMS Blake in 1982?
A credible hybrid force could still help arrest this decline, but only if Britain treats it as an addition to naval power rather than a budgetary escape from manned combatants. That would require sustained funding, industrial discipline, experimentation at scale, and cross-party political commitment -- far more than a promising concept and an ambitious delivery schedule.
In practical terms, Britain would need something approaching the seriousness of the Naval Defence Act of 1889: a national decision that seapower remains essential and must be paid for accordingly. That legislation provided the United Kingdom with over sixty new vessels over the next decade, including ten capital ships.
Without such a similar commitment to robust naval capability, 2026 may be remembered not as the year the Royal Navy entered the future, but as the year Britain accepted the sunset of its last genuine means of projecting combat power at range.
Britain needs to act quickly in its application of hybrid fleet concepts and in the requirement to staunch the bleeding out of its current ship and submarine capacity.
Bleeding indeed. This is not your grandfather's Royal Navy, as they say. Another question: Does the UK have the political power to do the right thing? I hope so because we've always seen them as our important ally in NATO.
So, could the Royal Navy keep the Falklands British today? I am not sure, but I hope the islanders understand that this is not 1982 anymore. Get your own guns because the British may not be coming.
On another subject closer to home, could the UK play a major role in keeping the Straits of Hormuz open? Again, I don't know, but it makes you wonder after looking at the UK today.
We remember Roberto Clemente (1934-1972)
We remember that Roberto Clemente was born on this day in 1934. He died tragically in 1972.
Put me down as one of those kids who checked the box scores daily to keep up with Clemente's batting statistics. His stats were awesome: a .317 career batting average, 3000 hits, 240 HRs and 1305 RBI.
Was he the greatest Latin player? I would say yes, with all due to respect to others already in the Hall of Fame. His greatest contribution is that he opened the door for so many Latins.
Clemente won 4 batting titles: 1961, 1964, 1965 & 1967. Sporting News ranked Clemente at # 20 among the 100 greatest players of all time.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.
Happy # 87 Joe Azcue
José JoaquÃn Azcue López was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, on this day in 1939.
Like so many others, from Minnie Minoso to Mike Cuellar to Camilo Pascual to Pedro Ramos, he played in the pre-Castro Cuban league and then the majors.
“Joe”, as he was known, broke with the Reds in 1960 and developed a reputation as a good defensive catcher. In 1963, Joe was traded to Cleveland where he enjoyed some good seasons including a trip to the 1968 AL All Star team. By the way, Azue joined fellow Cuban teammate Luis Tiant who started and won that game.
Azcue hit .252 over 909 games and retired with the Brewers in 1972.
Monday, August 17, 2026
The week in review with Bill Katz, the editor of Urgent Agenda...
A chat with Bill Katz, the editor of Urgent Agenda.................A review of US-South Korea relations, Iran and President Trump this week, Democrats vs Democrats and other stories..............
Happy #100 Fidel, I hope it burns down there
Happy #100 Fidel, I hope it burns down there:
There is nothing to say about Fidel at 100 except...good riddance.
Click to read:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/happy-100-fidel-i-hope-it-burns-down-there/
August 1973: Willie Mays hit # 660 or his last HR
The great Willie Mays hit his last home run, or # 660, on this day in 1973. He hit it off Don Gullett of the Cincinnati Reds.
Mays was # 3 behind Ruth and Aaron when he retired. He had a .302 career average, 3283 hits and 1903 Rbi.
Maybe the greatest player ever? He gets my vote.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.
We remember Diego Segui (1937-2025)
We remember Diego Segui who was born in Holguin, Cuba, on this day in 1937. He was another one of those who played in the old Cuban league and later in the US major leagues: Segui won 92 games, saved 71 with a 3.81 ERA.
Diego broke in with the Kansas City A’s (now Oakland A’s) in 1962 but left his mark in the city of Seattle.
My guess is that young Diego of Holguin never heard of Seattle when he was dreaming of a baseball career in the island’s sandlots.
Segui is the answer to a great baseball trivia question: Who pitched on opening day for the old Seattle Pilots in 1969 and the current Seattle Mariners who started playing in 1977? (By the way, the 1969 Seattle Pilots became the 1970 and current Milwaukee Brewers)
Here is the story:
“The city of Seattle (Washington) has been home to two Major League franchises.The Seattle Pilots, who were an American League team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, 1969, before being relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.And the modern day Seattle Mariners, an American League team also based in Seattle, Washington, 1977 through today.Diego Segui is the only player in baseball history to play for both the Seattle Pilots (66 games pitched in 1969) and the Seattle Mariners (40 games pitched in 1977).Even more unique than that, Diego Segui played in both franchises Opening Day game, appearing in relief on April 8, 1969, the first game in franchise history for the Seattle Pilots, and was handed the loss on April 6, 1977, the first game in franchise history for the Seattle Mariners.”
Diego retired in 1977 after pitching with a few other teams. Segui will be always be remembered in Seattle. He is the only man who wore the Pilots and Mariners uniforms on their respective opening day games! To my knowledge, no other major leaguer has ever done that.
He died in 2025.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Happy # 85 Boog Powell
Powell broke with the Orioles in 1961 and became a regular in 1962: 15 HR & 53 RBI. By 1964, Boog was one of the top power hitters in the AL: a .290 average with 39 HR & 99 RBI. His best season was 1970: .297 average, 35 HR, 114 RBI and the AL MVP. The Orioles also won the World Series that year.
Boog hit 303 HR as an Oriole (339 total) and remains one of the most popular men ever to wear the team's uniform. After baseball, the former MVP set up a barbecue operation at Camden Yards.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
The week of Woodstock 1969
The Woodstock Festival started this week in New York. It was a week of music and everything else.
The organizers sold 186,000 tickets and expected 200,000. Eventually, they opened the gates and almost 500,000 showed up. To say the least, the overflow of people created some serious traffic jams and logistical problems.
They eventually released a 3-disc LP of the event.
My favorite song about the events was Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock", a song released months later by Matthews Southern Comfort Band.
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.
Sunday, August 16, 2026
A chat with Allan Wall, blogger and George Rodriguez, South Texas conservative.
Guests: Allan Wall, blogger and George Rodriguez, South Texas conservative......
CANTO TALK podcasts from last week
Catch our shows from last week:
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Could Sandy Posey sing ‘Born a Woman’ today?
Could Sandy Posey sing ‘Born a Woman’ today?:
It’s another weekend, and the WNBA is still trying to answer the question about who is a woman.
Click to read:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/could-sandy-posey-sing-born-a-woman-today/
August 16, 1948: Babe Ruth died...
We remember that Babe Ruth died this week in 1948.
As a baseball fan, I will always associate 3 numbers with Babe Ruth:
a) 714 career home runs, a record that was broken by Hank Aaron in 1974;
b) 60 in 1927, a season record broken in 1961 by Roger Maris. We should point out that Maris did it in a 162 game season versus 154 in 1927; and,
c) He was 3-0 as a pitcher in The World Series. Ruth was an outstanding pitcher.
The Babe was 53 when he died.
As a baseball fan, I will always associate 3 numbers with Babe Ruth:
a) 714 career home runs, a record that was broken by Hank Aaron in 1974;
b) 60 in 1927, a season record broken in 1961 by Roger Maris. We should point out that Maris did it in a 162 game season versus 154 in 1927; and,
c) He was 3-0 as a pitcher in The World Series. Ruth was an outstanding pitcher.
The Babe was 53 when he died.
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 Eydie Gorme (1928-2013)
Edith Garmezano was born in New York on this day in 1928. Her parents were Sephardic Jews and that’s why she spoke Spanish. She died in 2013 days before her 85th birthday.
In 1964, Eydie Gorme revived her career with Trio Los Panchos and an LP of Spanish songs.
And this is where my parents and thousands of other Cuban parents come in!
In those early days in the US, my parents found tropical relief in cold Wisconsin winters by listening to all of those Spanish ballads that Eydie Gorme recorded.
I can remember listening to her LP (that’s what we had before CD or MP3 files) over and over again. My mom really loved them. It was the romantic music that she and my dad dance to in Cuba.
Frankly, I learned to love it too.
August 1977 and we remember another anniversary of Elvis' death!
Elvis came to Baltimore in mid-1977. I recall speaking to a lady who went to the concert. She said that Elvis looked terrible and overweight. Her words were "awful and fat".
She added that this is not the Elvis that she remembered in Las Vegas a few years before.
We know now that Elvis was not taking care of himself and allegedly taking drugs.
There were many chapters in the Elvis story, from the young rocker to the big concerts of the 1970's. Please give me his earlier material, such as "I want you, I need you, I love you".
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.
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