It Was 20 Years Ago Today

For June 3, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the movie "The Untouchables" was released in the United States.  I talk a little about the movie, and about its significance in my personal history.

After the show there is a promo for a new podcast, "Dial P for Pulp."  If you're a fan of the pulp fiction genre, go check it out!

Today's episode music is "Open Ended," by Jeff Shields.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For October 5, 2007.  Twenty years ago this week, Nobel laureate Sir Peter B. Medawar died at the age of 73.  I share a few facts about this man, who contributed a great deal to our understanding of the human immune system, including a quote which says a lot about the purpose of this podcast.  I also discuss, on the occasion of this show's first anniversary, my hopes for the show.

For those of you interested in the idea of how your perspective on the world is shaped by your age, I encourage you to check out the Beloit College Mindset List.  This list, now in its tenth annual edition, paints a picture of the world as it appears to college freshmen.  As it happens, Beloit College is where I spent my freshman year -- and Tom McBride, one of the list's authors, was one of my professors.

Today's episode music is from "Inspiration," by Victor Stellar.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

This is the second of two promo clips I created for the show.  Feel free to download, copy, share and spread the word!  This promo references events that happened during 1987, so can be used for the rest of this year.  I'll make a new one for 1988/2008.

This is the first of two promo clips I created for the show.  Please feel free to download, copy, share them around, and spread the word!  This is the more "generic" of my two promos and should be good indefinitely.

For May 27, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the sumo wrestler Konishiki was promoted to ozeki, becoming the first non-Japanese to reach the second-highest rank in professional sumo.  I talk about the life and career of this groundbreaking athlete, and why it is that I enjoy sumo.

Episode music is from "Sunrise," by Torchomatic.  Theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007.

Twenty years ago today, actor and director John Huston died at the age of 81.  I talk about my first experiences with Huston's work -- both as actor and director -- and how I became a movie buff through two college courses.

Today's episode music is "Entranced," by  Blake Emrys.  I found it -- like all the music used on the podcast -- at PodSafe Audio.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

At the end of the show, there's a promo for the Truth Seekers podcast, produced by 20YearsAgo fan and supporter Dani Cutler.

For May 24, 2007. 

Twenty years ago today marked the 50th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge.  An event that day when the bridge was closed to cars and open for pedestrians drew nearly three quarters of a million people -- a much bigger crowd than had been planned on!  The picture at the right, taken by John O'Hara of the San Francisco Chronicle has become the iconic image of that day.  I talk about the 50th anniversary event, as well as my own fascination with the bridge and its life and times.

Today's episode music is from "Sunlit Harbour," by Torchomatic.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For May 6, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, former CIA director William Casey died.  I take a look at his life, with a particular focus on several of the conspiracies which he was reportedly a part of -- from Iran/Contra to the New World Order.

Today's episode music is from "The Edge of Illusion," by DJ Topshelf.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Saturday, August 25, 2007.  After an extended summer break, we're back with new episodes.  Over the next several weeks, episodes reflecting the current date will be interspersed with ones written for May through early August.  There were a number of interesting and important events that happened in the summer of 1987 that I don't want to leave out!

For our first new show back, I take a look at the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which reached a record high twenty years ago today.  One of many stock indexes invented by Wall Street Journal cofounder Charles Dow (pictured at right), it has become the principal shorthand financial report for every major news show in the country.  I also describe the atmosphere on Wall Street in the summer of 1987.

Today's episode music is "Space Melody," by Victor Stellar.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Originally written and recorded for April 22, 2007.  Twenty years ago, one of the biggest selling authors was romance novelist Danielle Steel.  I offer a min-biography of Ms Steel, and share my own experience of trying to write a romance novel, which as it happens was also almost exactly twenty years ago.

Today's episode music is from "Romantic II," by Victor Stellar.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.