Trivia People

On this date in 1957, inventor Fred Morrison sold the rights to his flying disc to the Wham-O company.

Here are some things you may not have known about the Frisbee.

Morrison said the idea came to him while he and his future wife, Lucille, were tossing a cake pan back and forth on a beach in 1938. Another person offered them 25 cents for the pan. As the pan cost just 5 cents, Morrison figured there might be a business opportunity there.

Following World War II, Morrison designed a more aerodynamically stable disc he called the Whirlo-Way. In 1948, he and a business partner began selling the discs at fairs and shows. In 1955, he designed a new model, called the Pluto Platter, which is the design he sold to Wham-O.

A few months after buying the design, the company decided to change the name to Frisbee, after discovering that's what college students in the Northeast called the Pluto Platter. The term Frisbee was derived from the Frisbie Pie Company, whose empty pie tins were tossed around the Yale University campus.

Morrison described the name as "a horror. Terrible."

In 1964, the Frisbee was redesigned to increase the thickness of the rim, which made it much more controllable. After the redesign, sales of the disc soared.

A class of sports was invented using the Frisbee, including Frisbee Golf and Ultimate Frisbee, among others.

Although people use the name generically, the name Frisbee remains a trademark of the Wham-O company. The company was known for mailing reminder letters to newspaper writers who didn't capitalize the name, along with a new Frisbee.

The year after Wham-O bought the rights to the Frisbee, they introduced the Hula Hoop. The company introduced the Slip 'N' Slide in 1961, followed by the Super Ball in 1965. According to Lamar Hunt, the late owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, the Super Ball's name was the inspiration for the name of the Super Bowl.

The company also marketed Silly String, the Hacky Sack and the Boogie Board.

Our question: What type of action stabilizes a Frisbee in flight?

Today is World Freedom Day in Taiwan and South Korea, and Bounty Day in the Pitcairn Islands.

It's unofficially National Pie Day, Measure Your Feet Day, and National Handwriting Day.

It's the birthday of U.S. Founding Father John Hancock, who was born in 1737; painter Edouard Manet, who was born in 1832; and Princess Caroline of Monaco, who turns 60.

Because our topic happened before 1960, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1972, the top song in the U.S. was "American Pie" by Don McLean.

The No. 1 movie was "The Cowboys," while the novel "Wheels" by Arthur Hailey topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: In the song "American Pie," who is referred to as "The Jester"?

Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we'll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner's wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday's episode.

Links

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website.

Also, if you're enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com

Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_23

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Frederick_Morrison

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisbee

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisbie_Pie_Company

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wham-O

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodyboarding

https://www.checkiday.com/01/23/2017

http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-january-23

http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1972

iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9

Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

Today is Inauguration Day in the United States.

Here are some things you may not have known about The swearing in of presidents.

Usually we end of this segment with a trivia question, but today let's start with one. Besides George Washington, who is the only president to have been sworn in in different months following his election?

The answer is Franklin Roosevelt, who was sworn in for his first term on March 4, 1933 and was sworn in for his second term on January 20, 1937.

The reason for the different inauguration date was the 20th amendment to the US Constitution. It changed the Inauguration date from March 4, or March 5 on years when the fourth fell on a Sunday, to January 20 or 21.

In addition, the 20th Amendment moved the start date for congressional terms to January 3, and provides a method for selecting a president if the electoral college fails to do so.

In total, there were 36 inaugurations held on March 4 or March 5. The first inauguration, that of George Washington in 1789, was held in April.

Presidents who ascend to the office following the death or resignation of their predecessor are sworn in immediately to avoid a power vacuum. Three of these extraordinary inaugurations have taken place in April, 2 each in August and September, and one each in November and July.

The Chief Justice of United States usually administers the oath of office. However, during extraordinary inaugurations the chief justice is not always available. Two notable cases were the first inaugurations of Calvin Coolidge and Lyndon Johnson. Coolidge, who became president following the death of Warren G. Harding, was sworn in by his father who was a state notary public. Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Johnson was sworn in by US District Judge Sarah T. Hughes, the only woman to have administered the oath of office.

Coolidge's second inauguration was the first to feature a former president administering the oath. William Howard Taft became Chief Justice following his term as president.

Our question: Which president had both the warmest and coldest inaugurations in history?

Today is Martyr's Day in Azerbaijan, Heroes' day in Cape Verde, and Armed Forces Day in Mali.

It's unofficially National Cheese Lovers Day and National Sweatpants Day.

It's the birthday of actor and comedian George Burns, who was born in 1896; Director David Lynch who is 71; and musician Questlove, who is 46.

Because our topic doesn't have a specific year associated with it, we'll pick a year at random.

This week in 1980, the top song in the U.S. was "Rock With You" by Michael Jackson.

The No. 1 movie was "Kramer vs. Kramer," while the novel "Smiley's People" by John le Carré topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Links

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website.

Also, if you're enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com

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On this date in 1978, the last original Volkswagen Beetle made in Germany rolled off the production line in Emden.

Here are some things you may not have known about the Beetle.

It was designed under specific orders from Adolf Hitler.

In 1934, Hitler wanted car designer Ferdinand Porsche to come up with a car the could transport two adults and three children at 62 miles per hour, with fuel mileage of 32 miles per gallon or better. He also demanded the engine be air cooled, because water-cooled engines needed antifreeze, which was only just coming into widespread use.

Testing on the Volkswagen Type 1, as it was officially known, began in the mid 1930s, with small batches made until the start of World War II in 1939. The first production Beetles were made starting on a small scale in 1941. Production numbers were kept down during the war because the factory was also making other vehicles for the Nazi war effort.

Following the war, the factory was seized by the Americans and turned over to the British to be dismantled and shipped to Britain. However, no British manufacturer was interested in building Beetles. An official report says the Beetle was "quite unattractive to the average buyer," and that building the car would be a "comepletely uneconomic enterprise.

The plant was allowed to remain, but first the British had to remove an unexploded bomb from the works. If the bomb had detonated, the plant would have been closed and the Beetle program canceled. A British army officer persuaded his military to order 20,000 cars, filling a British need for transportation, and a German need for jobs. The factory was soon making 1,000 Beetles a month. Over the next 10 years, more than 1 million Beetles were built.

Initially the Beetle was equipped with a 25-horsepower engine. This was eventually boosted to 36 horsepower and then a whopping 40 horsepower.

It reintroduced the rear-engined car to Europe. In 1946, 2.8 percent of European cars had engines in the rear; while 10 years later 26.6 percent of them did.

More than 15 million Beetles were manufactured in Germany before production was halted in 1978. Volkswagen continued to build Beetles in Mexico and Brazil until 2003.

A new model was introduced in Germany in 1998.

The Beetle is one of the most-nicknamed cars in history. It was called the Bug in the U.S., the Ladybug in France, and the Hunchback in Poland.

In 1999, the original Beetle finished fourth in the Car of the Century Competition.

Our question: What car won the Car of the Century competition?

Today is unofficially National Popcorn Day, Tin Can Day, and Good Memory Day.

It's the birthday of author Edgar Allan Poe, who was born in 1809; painter Paul Cézanne, who was born in 1839; and musician Dolly Parton, who is 71.

This week in 1978, the top song in the U.S. was "Baby Come Back" by Player.

The No. 1 movie was "Saturday Night Fever," while the novel "The Silmarillion" by J.R.R. Tolkien topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: What is the name of the current venue of the New York Philharmonic?

Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we'll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner's wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on tomorrow's episode.

Links

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website.

Also, if you're enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com

Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Beetle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_19

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_of_the_Century

https://www.checkiday.com/01/19/2017

http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-january-19

http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1978_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1978

iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9

Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

On this date in 1981, Phil Smith and Phil Mayfield parachuted off a Houston skyscraper, becoming the first BASE jumpers.

Here are some things you may not have known about BASE jumping.

BASE is an acronym. The letters stand for buildings, antennas, spans and earth, from which the jumpers must parachute or fly off of with a wingsuit. The acronym was coined by filmmaker Carl Boenish and his wife, Jean.

Jumpers earn a BASE number by completing jumps in each of the categories. Smith was BASE No. 1, while Mayfield is BASE No. 2. A separate classification for night jumps was later introduced.

Originally, BASE jumpers used standard skydiving equipment. However, because BASE jumps are usually made from much lower altitudes, specialized equipment has been invented.

During the early days of BASE jumping, the National Parks Service issued permits to jump from El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. The program lasted just three months and the activity has been banned since 1980. It's estimated that several hundred illegal jumps take place in the park each year.

It's estimated that more than 300 BASE jumpers have died since 1981. The fatality and injury rate is about 43 times higher than that of skydiving from an airplane.

In 2006, Daniel G. Schilling set the world record for most BASE jumps in a 24-hour period by jumping from the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho, 201 times.

Our question: What river does the Perrine Bridge span?

Today is Revolution and Youth Day in Tunisia, and Royal Thai Armed Forces Day in Thailand.

It's National Gourmet Coffee Day, National Peking Duck Day, and Thesaurus Day.

It's the birthday of writer A.A. Milne, who was born in 1882; actor Cary Grant, who was born in 1904; and actor Kevin Costner, who is 62.

This week in 1981, the top song in the U.S. was "Just Like Starting Over" by John Lennon, which we featured a couple of weeks ago. So, instead, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1992, the top song in the U.S. was "Black or White" by Michael Jackson.

The No. 1 movie was "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle," while the novel "Scarlett" by Alexandra Ripley topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: What is the name of the current venue of the New York Philharmonic?

Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we'll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner's wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday's episode.

Links

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website.

Also, if you're enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com

Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASE_jumping

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perrine_Bridge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_18

https://www.checkiday.com/01/18/2017

http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-january-18

http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/?chart=us&m=1&d=18&y=1960&o=

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1992_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1992

iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9

Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

Today is the 95th birthday of television personality Betty White.

Here are some things you may not have known about her.

She was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1922. Betty is her given name, and not a shortened form of Elizabeth. During the Great Depression, her family moved to California, where her father built radios, which he would occasionally exchange for dogs.

While at Beverly Hills High School, White wanted to be a forest ranger, but because women weren't allowed to be rangers at the time, she pursued an interest in writing. It was through writing that she found a love of performing.

Movie studios rejected her as being "unphotogenic," so she started working in radio. She began working in television in 1939 on an experimental channel in Los Angeles. During World War II, she joined the American Women's Voluntary Services. Following the war, she appeared on several radio shows, eventually getting her own show called, "The Betty White Show."

In 1949, she became the co-host of the variety show, "Hollywood on Television." By 1952, she was hosting the show solo. The show, which ran for five and a half hours six days a week, was largely ad-libbed. The show earned White her first Emmy nomination for best actress.

She co-created the show "Life With Elizabeth" in 1952, becoming one of the first actresses with full creative control over their show. At the time, she was 28 years old and lived with her parents. She hosted the annual Tournament of Roses Parade for 19 consecutive years in the 1950s and 60s.

She has been a frequent talk show and game show guest over the course of her career. Among the shows she frequently appeared on were "Password," "What's My Line?", "To Tell The Truth" and "Match Game." In 1963, she married Allen Ludden, the host of "Password."

During the fourth season of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," she joined the cast as Sue Ann Nivens. The character, who was the host of a cooking TV show, was sweet and innocent on the air and sarcastic and man-hungry off air, allowing White to satirize her own persona.

In 1985, she was cast as Rose Nylund, in "The Golden Girls." Rose, the innocent and naive widow from St. Olaf, Minnesota, lived with three other retired women in Miami. White was originally offerred the role of Blanche, which would be played by Rue McClanahan. White was nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series every year of the show's run. She won the award once.

Since "The Golden Girls ended in 1992, White has worked steadily as a guest star on many television series. In 2010, she hosted "Saturday Night Live" after a grassroots Facebook campaign. She won her seventh Emmy award for the appearance. From 2010 through 2015, she appeared on the series, "Hot in Cleveland."

In 2010, the United States Forest Service named White an honorary forest ranger, fulfilling her high school ambition. In a 2011 poll, she was named the most trusted celebrity among Americans, beating Denzel Washington, Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks.

Betty White is the only woman to receive an Emmy in all comedic performing categories. She also holds the record for the longest span between performance Emmys — she won her first in 1951 and her most recent in 2011. She won a Grammy 2012 for the audio recording of her memoir.

Our question: Who was the musical guest when Betty White hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 2010?

Today is unofficially Customer Service Day, Cable Car Day, and Hot-Buttered Rum Day.

It's the birthday of Benjamin Franklin, who was born in 1706; gangster Al Capone, who was born in 1899; and U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, who is 53.

Because Betty White was born before 1960, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1965, the top song in the U.S. was "Downtown" by Petula Clark.

The No. 1 movie was "My Fair Lady," while the novel "Herzog" by Saul Bellow topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: What is the name of the current venue of the New York Philharmonic?

Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we'll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner's wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday's episode.

Links

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website.

Also, if you're enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com

Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_White

https://www.checkiday.com/01/17/2017

http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-january-17

http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1965

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1965_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9

Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

On this date in 1938, Benny Goodman and his band played the first jazz concert at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Here are some things you may not have known about the concert, the landmark recording of it and Carnegie Hall in general.

Until 1938, Carnegie Hall had been been a venue exclusively for classical music.

It opened in 1891, built by Andrew Carnegie, who pronounced his name slightly different from the common name of the hall. It was built as the venue for the Oratorio Society of New York and the New York Symphony. Its original name, which remains above the marquee was simply "Music Hall." After two years, the directors of the hall persuaded Carnegie to allow the theater to be renamed "Carnegie Hall."

The New York Symphony eventually merged with the Philharmonic Society of New York to form the New York Philharmonic.

Benny Goodman was a clarinetist whose band was one of the first well-known racially integrated bands.

The idea of playing at the Carnegie Hall started as a publicity stunt by Goodman's publicist. Goodman seized on the idea and canceled several already-set concerts to work toward the landmark performance.

The concert was sold out weeks in advance with a top price of $2.75, which is equivalent to about $50 today.

The concert began with three contemporary songs, followed by a chronological history of jazz.

The show featured performances by Goodman's big band, his trio, his quartet and guests including Count Basie and Duke Ellington.

The highlight of the night was probably Goodman's signature tune "Sing, Sing, Sing," which featured solos by Goodman, along with Babe Russin on tenor sax, Harry James on trumpet, Gene Krupa on drums and an unexpected piano solo by Jess Stacy.

Stacy, who usually played rhythm on the song, said he was unprepared for the solo, but what he ended up playing has been hailed as a masterpiece linking jazz and classical music, which was quite appropriate for the venue.

Stacy was glad he didn't have warning of his solo. He said he would have gotten nervous and screwed it up.

The concert was recorded for personal use, and the original masters gathered dust until 1950, when Goodman brought them to Columbia Records.

The resulting album, "The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert" was the first double album and has never been out of print since its release. It's one of the best selling jazz albums of all time.

Carnegie Hall had its first rock and roll show in 1955, when Bill Haley and His Comets played a benefit show. In 1964, The Beatles played two shows on their first tour of the United States.

The New York Philharmonic moved to the new Lincoln Center in 1962. Carnegie Hall was saved from the wrecking ball in 1960 when the City of New York purchased it.

Our question: In which country was Andrew Carnegie born?

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States.

It's unofficially Elementary School Teacher Day, National Fig Newton Day, and National Day of Service.

It's the birthday of singer and actress Ethel Merman who was born in 1908; zoologist Dian Fossey, who was born in 1932; and playwright, songwriter and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is 37.

Because our topic happened before 1960, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1977, the top song in the U.S. was "I Wish" by Stevie Wonder.

The No. 1 movie was "The Enforcer," while the novel "Trinity" by Leon Uris topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Weekly question: What is the name of the current venue of the New York Philharmonic?

Submit your answer at triviapeople.com/test and we'll add the name of the person with the first correct answer to our winner's wall … at triviapeople.com. We'll have the correct answer on Friday's episode.

Links

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our website.

Also, if you're enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com

Please rate the show on iTunes by clicking here.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Famous_1938_Carnegie_Hall_Jazz_Concert

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_Hall

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Carnegie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Goodman#Carnegie_Hall_concert

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Symphony_Orchestra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Philharmonic

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oratorio_Society_of_New_York

http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-carnegie-hall-1938-complete-mw0000671550

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sing,_Sing,_Sing_(With_a_Swing)

https://www.checkiday.com

http://www.biography.com/people/groups/born-on-january-16

http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/numberonesongs/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1977_box_office_number-one_films_in_the_United_States

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Fiction_Best_Sellers_of_1977

iOS: http://apple.co/1H2paH9

Android: http://bit.ly/2bQnk3m

Today is the 95th birthday of television personality Betty White.

Here are some things you may not have known about her.

She was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1922. Betty is her given name, and not a shortened form of Elizabeth. During the Great Depression, her family moved to California, where her father built radios, which he would occasionally exchange for dogs.

While at Beverly Hills High School, White wanted to be a forest ranger, but because women weren’t allowed to be rangers at the time, she pursued an interest in writing. It was through writing that she found a love of performing.

Movie studios rejected her as being “unphotogenic,” so she started working in radio. She began working in television in 1939 on an experimental channel in Los Angeles. During World War II, she joined the American Women’s Voluntary Services. Following the war, she appeared on several radio shows, eventually getting her own show called, “The Betty White Show.”

In 1949, she became the co-host of the variety show, “Hollywood on Television.” By 1952, she was hosting the show solo. The show, which ran for five and a half hours six days a week, was largely ad-libbed. The show earned White her first Emmy nomination for best actress.

She co-created the show “Life With Elizabeth” in 1952, becoming one of the first actresses with full creative control over their show. At the time, she was 28 years old and lived with her parents. She hosted the annual Tournament of Roses Parade for 19 consecutive years in the 1950s and 60s.

She has been a frequent talk show and game show guest over the course of her career. Among the shows she frequently appeared on were “Password,” “What’s My Line?”, “To Tell The Truth” and “Match Game.” In 1963, she married Allen Ludden, the host of “Password.”

During the fourth season of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” she joined the cast as Sue Ann Nivens. The character, who was the host of a cooking TV show, was sweet and innocent on the air and sarcastic and man-hungry off air, allowing White to satirize her own persona.

In 1985, she was cast as Rose Nylund, in “The Golden Girls.” Rose, the innocent and naive widow from St. Olaf, Minnesota, lived with three other retired women in Miami. White was originally offerred the role of Blanche, which would be played by Rue McClanahan. White was nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series every year of the show’s run. She won the award once.

Since “The Golden Girls ended in 1992, White has worked steadily as a guest star on many television series. In 2010, she hosted “Saturday Night Live” after a grassroots Facebook campaign. She won her seventh Emmy award for the appearance. From 2010 through 2015, she appeared on the series, “Hot in Cleveland.”

In 2010, the United States Forest Service named White an honorary forest ranger, fulfilling her high school ambition. In a 2011 poll, she was named the most trusted celebrity among Americans, beating Denzel Washington, Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks.

Betty White is the only woman to receive an Emmy in all comedic performing categories. She also holds the record for the longest span between performance Emmys — she won her first in 1951 and her most recent in 2011. She won a Grammy 2012 for the audio recording of her memoir.

Our question: Who was the musical guest when Betty White hosted “Saturday Night Live” in 2010?

Today is unofficially Customer Service Day, Cable Car Day, and Hot-Buttered Rum Day.

It’s the birthday of Benjamin Franklin, who was born in 1706; gangster Al Capone, who was born in 1899; and U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, who is 53.

Because Betty White was born before 1960, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1965, the top song in the U.S. was “Downtown” by Petula Clark.

The No. 1 movie was “My Fair Lady,” while the novel “Herzog” by Saul Bellow topped the New York Times Bestsellers l...

On this Sunday, we present a best-of episode spotlighting the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919.

For more, see the original episode page at triviapeople.com/256

We’re going to wrap up the week with a shorter show than normal, because I’m making some podcast studio updates, and all the equipment isn’t quite hooked up yet.

Today is Constitution Day in Mongolia, Democracy Day in Cape Verde and Liberation Day in Togo.

It’s unofficially International Skeptics Day, National Rubber Ducky Day, and Public Radio Broadcasting Day.

It’s the birthday of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Salmon P. Chase, who was born in 1808; comedian Rip Taylor, who is 83; and actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is 56.

Because we didn’t have a topic today, we’ll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1973, the top song in the U.S. was “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon.

The No. 1 movie was “The Poseidon Adventure,” while the novel “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.

We're going to wrap up the week with a shorter show than normal, because I'm making some podcast studio updates, and all the equipment isn't quite hooked up yet.

Today is Constitution Day in Mongolia, Democracy Day in Cape Verde and Liberation Day in Togo.

It's unofficially International Skeptics Day, National Rubber Ducky Day, and Public Radio Broadcasting Day.

It's the birthday of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Salmon P. Chase, who was born in 1808; comedian Rip Taylor, who is 83; and actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is 56.

Because we didn't have a topic today, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.

This week in 1973, the top song in the U.S. was "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon.

The No. 1 movie was "The Poseidon Adventure," while the novel "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach topped the New York Times Bestsellers list.