Sound Beat

The bread slicer was invented in 1928. But anthropologists believe humankind has been cooking meat for thousands of years, as evidenced by the existence of bronto-ribs on the Flintstones. These early methods involved low-temp smoking the meat for a long period of time. This “slow and low” process helped to kill bacteria, and the mouthwatering aroma exuded probably didn’t hurt. For What our great ancestors probably lacked in table manners, we haven’t changed their cooking process all too much since then. The iconic Weber Kettle grill brought it to the backyard in 1952, and the gas grill followed shortly after, but purists might flinch a bit at barbecue cooked with charcoal briquettes, never mind propane. And don’t even mention the crock-pot.

You’ve been listening to “Struttin’ With Some Barbecue”, a 1949 Columbia record by Jimmy Dorsey and The Original Dorseyland Jazz Band.

Photo credit: Wally Gobetz

Buddy Holly left “The Crickets” with whom he recorded 1957’s “Not Fade Away”, in ‘58. Waylon Jennings started backing him on bass, and famously gave his seat up (gave up his seat?) to The Big Bopper on that fated flight. In his words:

“I remember the last time I saw Buddy. He had me go get us some hot dogs. He was leaning back against the wall in a cane-bottom chair and he was laughing at me. He said, ‘So you’re not going with us tonight on the plane, huh? Well, I hope your ol’ bus freezes up. It’s 40-below out there and you’re gonna get awful cold.

Jennings’ response: ‘Well, I hope your ol’ plane crashes.’”

Most anyone would forgive him the line as joking repartee, but that’s not how guilt works. He would keep the story secret for years. Read his entire account right here

Robert Cocking was one such name, and parachuting was his game. Well…kind of. Actually, he was an early 19th century artist with an interest in aeronautics. Inspired by earlier parachute jumps, he drew up his own plans. And who did the 61-year-old watercolor painter with no parachuting experience pluck to test his? You guessed it. He went up over South London on July 24th, 1837 in a hot-air balloon…and went down, as one eye-witness put it, “like a stone through a vacuum”. His was the first parachute-related death.

You’ve been listening to “Open, Parachute” by Danny Scholl, with David Terry conducting.

(mock incredulity):  Turns out the parachute design was to blame.  Here’s a little breakdown of the events, with some background info and a picture of the design.

It’s believed to be the most recognizable word on the planet, and possibly the first word spoken on the moon. And the overwhelming likelihood is that you’ve said “OK” all your life, in a bunch of different ways. Why, you’ve said it to:

–         Agree: Like, I don’t know, when they ask you at the barber shop if their “intern” can cut your hair: “OKAY.”

–         To ask for agreement: Like when you tell the guy, expressly, that you “don’t want it too short, OKAY!?

–         To…reassure: Like, “it’s OKAY, he’ll stop there…I mean, he has to, he’s seen people’s heads before.”

–         And to interrupt.  “OH-KAY…this is over. This….this is not a haircut.”