MONDAY, JULY 26, 2010
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“There are no secrets better kept then than the secrets that everybody guesses.”
- George Bernard Shaw
From Mrs. Warren’s Profession
The great Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw, was born in Dublin on this day in 1856. Shaw lived to a ripe old age and died on November 2, 1950. He was 94 years old. George Bernard Shaw is one of my favourites because his work is so witty and provocative. As regular readers of Number 16 know, I am a great admirer of wit.
While doing my research, I couldn’t help but notice that in addition to Shaw, many people of renown were born on July 26th. The list is quite impressive. Here it is.
JULY 26TH BIRTHDAYS
Mick Jagger once stated that he’d rather be dead than singing Satisfaction when he’s 45 years old. I’d be willing to bet Sir Mick regrets that statement. The lead singer for the Rolling Stones is 67 years of age today. He was born Michael Philip Jagger at Dartford, Kent, England on July 26, 1943.
“The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases ... “
- Carl Jung
From Modern Man in Search of a Soul, 1933,
Swiss psychologist Carl Gustav Jung was born on this day in 1875. Jung can be described as the father of analytical psychology and a trailblazer in the field of dream analysis. He died on June 6, 1961 in Zurich, Switzerland at the age of 85.
”After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”
- Aldous Huxley
From Music at Night, 1931
Aldous Huxley, the English critic and novelist was born on this day in 1894. Huxley is best known as the author of Brave New World. Born at Godalming, Surrey, England, he moved to the United States in 1937 and settled in California. It is interesting to note that Aldous Huxley died in Los Angeles on November 22, 1963, the same day as the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Famed movie director Stanley Kubrick was born in New York City on this day in 1928. His most aclaimed films are 2001: A Space Odyssey, Sparticus, A Clockwork Orange, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb and Full Metal Jacket. The Oscar winner was a huge fan of the New York Yankees, but I won’t hold that against him. Stanley Kubrick died at Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England on March 7, 1999.
Lucille Ball’s sidekick, Vivian Vance was born on this day in 1909 in Cherryvale, Kansas. I am a great fan of I Love Lucy and I have always felt that Vivian Vance and Lucy had superb comedic chemistry. Although Vivian’s character, Ethel Mertz, was meant to be several years older than Lucy Ricardo, Vivian was only slightly older than Lucille Ball who was born in 1911. Lucy and Desi Arnaz originally chose Bea Benaderet for the role of Ethel. (Benaderet later became the voice of Betty Rubble on the Flinstones and she starred in Petticoat Junction.)
Vivian Vance was reluctant to take the part of Ethel Mertz, because at age 42, she was not thrilled about playing the part of 64-year-old William Frawley’s frumpy wife. Fortunately, she decided to take the role that won her an Emmy Award in 1954. Vivian Vance died of cancer on August 17, 1979 in Belvedere, California.
I would also like to point out that Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren, was born on this day in England in 1945. Another Oscar-winning actress – Sandra Bullock – was born on June 26, 1964. American figure skater Dorothy Hamill also celebrates a birthday today. The 1976 Olympic champion was born in 1956. Actor Kevin Spacey will also be celebrating. He was born in 1959.
MORE ON THE CENSUS
I wish to commend Munir Sheikh who resigned last week as head of Statistics Canada. Mr. Sheikh resigned in protest over the government’s plans to axe the mandatory long form of the census. He has shown himself to be an honourable man, a man of principle. By the way, if you agree with me about the census (see my blog entry for July 9th), I urge you to sign the petition on the web. The address is http://www.nupge.ca/content/3412/petition-opposes-changing-canadas-census
SPORTS
The Argos are 3-1 for the season as they defeated the B.C. Lions 24-20 on Friday night. I only wish their victories would put more fans in the seats. The announced crowd was only 19,709.
The Blue Jays split a double header against the Detroit Tigers yesterday. They begin a home series against the woeful Baltimore Orioles tonight.
- Joanne
