Today’s Birthday: Lewis Hine (1874)

Today’s Birthday:
Lewis Hine (1874)

Hine was an American photographer whose career began shortly after he bought his first camera in 1903. Devoted to capturing images of the dark side of the industrial revolution in the US, he documented the poverty of immigrants and the plight of child laborers. The power of his images placed him at the forefront of 20th-century documentary photographers and helped bring about the passage of child labor laws. Some of his most famous images document the construction of what iconic skyscraper? More…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

Today’s Birthday: Mickey Rooney (1920)

Today’s Birthday:
Mickey Rooney (1920)

Rooney is an American actor who began his career when he was just 17 months old, as part of his family’s vaudeville act, and made his film debut at 6. He went on to star in 50 RKO short comedies, and his diminutive size allowed him to play boys until he was nearly 30. From 1937, he played the cocky, energetic Andy Hardy in a series of popular films, often teamed with Judy Garland. In 1983, he received an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement. What now-famous TV role did he turn down? More…: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfd.mobile.TfdSearch

today’s birthday: Glenn Seaborg (1912)

Glenn Seaborg (1912)

In 1940, American chemist Glenn Seaborg and his colleagues discovered plutonium. He soon joined the Manhattan Project and was instrumental in the development of the atomic bomb, which he unsuccessfully pressed President Truman not to use on civilian targets. In 1951, he and Edwin McMillan shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on transuranium elements. During his lifetime, Seaborg held dozens of patents—among them the only patents ever issued for what? More… Discuss

today’s birthday, Harry Houdini (1874)

Harry Houdini (1874)

Born Erik Weisz, Houdini was an American magician, escape artist, and silent film star famed for his escapes from bonds of every sort—locks, handcuffs, straitjackets, and underwater chests. One of his most notable non-escape illusions was performed in 1918, when he had an elephant vanish onstage. In his later years, he campaigned against magicians and mind readers who claimed supernatural powers and even took aim at Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, from whom he derived his name. How did Houdini die? More… Discuss

today’s birthday: Jack Kerouac (1922)

Jack Kerouac (1922)

Considered the father of the Beat movement, Jack Kerouac was an American novelist whose semiautobiographical, “spontaneous prose” reflects a frenetic, restless pursuit of new sensation and experience and a disdain for the conventional measures of economic and social success. His best known works are The Subterraneans, The Dharma Bums, and On the Road, which is widely considered the testament of the Beat Generation. Why was Kerouac arrested in connection with a 1944 murder? More… Discuss

today’s birthday: Chuck Norris (1940) (Chuck Norris vs. Bruce Lee in “The Way of the Dragon”)

Chuck Norris (1940)

Carlos “Chuck” Norris is an American martial artist and action star best known for his titular role on the television series Walker, Texas Ranger. After serving in the US Air Force, Norris became a martial arts champion and an actor, starring in many action films. In 2005, Norris became the subject of an Internet phenomenon known as “Chuck Norris Facts,” which document fictional, often absurdly heroic feats and characteristics about him. Which “fact” is reportedly Norris’s favorite? More… Discuss

Bruce Lee Vs Chuck Norris (Way of the Dragon) Climactic Fight to Death

HongKongActionFilms

Uploaded on Nov 12, 2008

Check Out My Hong Kong inspired Bloody Violent Vigilante Action Film Trailer! “ADDICTION” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma9Aus… Bruce Lee Vs Chuck Norris Hong Kong action film climactic fight to the death between martial arts legend Roman Colosseum Rome Chuck Norris plays a villain two Nunchakus return of the dragon Violent bloody kung-fu kung fu non-stop action film HK films great fighting punching Kick kicking punch directing debut fists and feet Bob Wall “Colt” CHINESE BOXING greatest fight scene ever Karate Bruce Lee Siu-Lung
Way of the Dragon (traditional Chinese: 猛龍過江; released as Return of the Dragon in the U.S.) is a 1973 Hong Kong martial arts-action film directed by Bruce Lee. It was the third major film of the martial arts legend. In addition to directing the film, Bruce Lee has the leading role and is also the script writer. Unlike his other movies, all which are action-dramas, this one is essentially an action comedy. * Bruce Lee as “Tang Lung” (a.k.a. “China Dragon”) * Nora Miao as “Chen Ching Hua” * Chuck Norris as “Colt” * Robert Wall as “Fred” * Hwang In-Shik as “Japanese Martial Artist” * Wei Ping-Ao as “Ho”
This is the only film in which Chuck Norris plays a villain and the only film in which he is defeated.
Tang Lung (Bruce Lee) is sent from Hong Kong to Rome to help his sick friends’ niece Miss Chen and some family friends whose restaurant is being targeted by the local gangsters and forcing them to sign a contract which will make the Mafia boss gain control of the property. After their offers to purchase the restaurant are repeatedly turned down, the gangsters resort to intimidation. Tang Lung fends off the local gangsters and gains Miss Chen’s interest, who up till now has looked down on Tang for his innocence from his hesitance of putting his savings into a bank to unknowingly going home with a prostitute whilst touring Rome with Miss Chen. The Mafia boss, played by John Benn, sends a gunman but Tang Lung defeats him with his throwing wooden darts and fractures his neck. The Mafia boss then goes to the restaurant himself along with all his gangster thugs to make Miss Chen sign the contract. Tang Lung defeats them all with his fighting skills with help from a Bo Staff and two Nunchakus. He then warns that if the boss comes to threaten his friends once more, he will take drastic actions. After a failed second attempt by the gunman at Miss Chen’s apartment, who now sports a neck brace but manages to escape, Tang Lung and his friends goes to save Miss Chen after being kidnapped by the Mafia boss to sign the contract at his headquarters. The Mafia boss then hires foreign martial artists who have trouble communicating with each other, played by Robert Wall and In Sik Whang, to challenge Tang Lung but he defeats them both with help from friends in a countryside near the Colosseum. The final duel takes place between Tang Lung and the best of the foreign martial artists, Colt (Chuck Norris), in the Colosseum itself. Tang Lung kills Colt, but covers his body with Colt’s white gi to show his respect and admiration, and the Mafia boss is finally arrested whilst the other villians are killed. Having solved the problem, Tang Lung departs Rome alone.

 

today’s birthday: Buster Keaton (1895) (and great documentary on his life and career)

Buster Keaton (1895)

Though his career had its ups and downs, Keaton is recognized today as one of silent cinema‘s greatest actors and filmmakers. He is remembered as much for his acrobatic skill as for his trademark deadpan expression, both of which he developed performing in vaudeville as a child and honed over the course of his decades-long career on the silver screen, starring in such classics as The General and Steamboat Bill, Jr. How did Joseph Frank Keaton come to be known as Buster? More… Discuss

Buster Keaton Documentary 2014

   UFO Documentary

Today’s Birthday: HENRY WARD BEECHER (1813)

Henry Ward Beecher (1813)

Beecher became one of the most famous and influential American ministers of his time for his advocacy of an emotional “gospel of love” Christianity. Every important issue of the day was discussed from his pulpit and in his lectures. He was a leader in the antislavery movement, a proponent of women’s suffrage, and an advocate of the theory of evolution. In 1874, however, he became the subject of a sensational adultery trial for an alleged affair with Elizabeth Tilton. What was the verdict? More… Discuss

Beecher became one of the most famous and influential American ministers of his time for his advocacy of an emotional “gospel of love” Christianity. Every important issue of the day was discussed from his pulpit and in his lectures. He was a leader in the antislavery movement, a proponent of women’s suffrage, and an advocate of the theory of evolution. In 1874, however, he became the subject of a sensational adultery trial for an alleged affair with Elizabeth Tilton. What was the verdict? More… Discuss

Related articles

• Celebrate Henry Ward Beecher’s 200th Birthday with the Litchfield Historical Society (janetserra.com)
• Henry Ward Beecher (manuscripts.wordpress.com)

EDWARD I OF ENGLAND, AKA EDWARD LONGSHANKS (1239)

Edward became king upon the death of his father, Henry III, in 1272 but was not crowned until he returned from a crusade two years later. His 35-year reign was characterized by constant warfare, including long and costly campaigns to conquer Wales and Scotland. It was a struggle to fund these endeavors, and he did so, in part, by exploiting the Jews under his rule. Finally, in 1290, he expelled them from England and seized their property. For how long did his Edict of Expulsion remain in effect? More… Discuss

 

Today’s Birthday: MARGARET FULLER (1810) a critic, teacher and woman of letters

Margaret Fuller (1810):  

“Very early, I knew that the  only object in life was to grow.”  Margaret FUller

One of the most influential American literary personalities of her day, Fuller was a critic, teacher, and woman of letters. She was an ardent feminist, and herWoman in the Nineteenth Century is now considered a classic piece of feminist literature. While working in Italy as a foreign correspondent, Fuller met and married a marquis. Exiled for their support of the failed 1848-49 revolution, they sailed for the US with their infant son. What disaster befell them at the end of their voyage? More… Discuss

Related articles

• Life of Margaret Fuller (c-span.org)
• Role Model Margaret Fuller (rolemodelsforme.wordpress.com)
• Monday Inspiration – Victorian women journalists (susanmacatee.wordpress.com)
• ‘Margaret Fuller,’ by Megan Marshall (nytimes.com)
• Margaret Fuller: A New American Life (feministtexicanreads.wordpress.com)
• Rite of Spring (3quarksdaily.com)

Today’s Birthday: JAYNE MANSFIELD (1933) spoke 5 languages, played the violin, and claimed an IQ of 150+

Jayne Mansfield (1933)

One of the leading sex symbols of the 1950s, Mansfield reportedly spoke five languages, played the violin, and claimed an IQ of over 150. However, the provocative image she presented to the public was carefully crafted, and she was best known for her film roles as a “blonde bombshell” and her many appearances in photographs. Her tragic death at the age of 34 in a car accident led to the mandating of underride guards on tractor-trailer trucks in the US. What well-known actress is her daughter? More… Discuss

Related articles

• LIFE With Jayne Mansfield: Blonde Ambition (life.time.com)
• The Smartest ‘Dumbest’ Blonde Ever? (huffingtonpost.com)
• The Jayne Mansfield Story (1980) (journeysinclassicfilm.com)