November 23, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, 'Perestroika: New Thinking for Our Country and the World' was reviewed in the New York Times.  I talk about several reviews of Mikhail Gorbachev's book, as well as my own impressions of it, and a little about the effects of the reforms Gorbachev described in the book.

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

For August 29, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, minor-league baseball catcher Dave Bresnahan lost his job in the fallout of a stunt ever after known as 'The Great Potato Caper.'  I describe one of the funniest plays in baseball history, and the reaction from all quarters over the years.

An article written about six weeks after The Great Potato Caper, one of my principal sources for this podcast, can be found here.  You can see an image of (reportedly) the actual potato used here.

Episode music is from "Splat the Rat" by Father Rock.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For August 17, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, Rudolf Hess, the last surviving member of Adolf Hitler's inner circle and sole inmate of Spandau Prison for twenty years, died at the age of 93.  I talk a little about Hess' life, times and death; and how my interest in history began with a little book called 'The Rise and Fall of Adolf Hitler.'

Today's episode music is from 'House of the Dead,' by Scott Shannon.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For August 5, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the FCC enacted new regulations which spelled the end of the Fairness Doctrine as it had existed for almost 40 years.  I discuss the reasoning behind the Fairness Doctrine, the reasoning behind why it was killed, and my perceptions of the effect this has had on both broadcasting and public life in the United States.

Today's episode music is from "Fallen Angel," by DJ Topshelf.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For July 31, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the film 'The Living Daylights' was released in the United States.  I talk about the state of the James Bond film series in 1987, as well as my own fondness for Ian Fleming's iconic secret agent.

It turns out that the James Bond 007 role-playing game actually ceased publication in 1987, when the publisher lost the license from the James Bond copyright holders.  The Wikipedia entry linked here has some interesting facts about the game and links to other resources on the Web.

After the show there's a promo from the Icebox Radio Theater podcast -- bringing you great new and original audio theater from the Frozen North!

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

For June 19, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the Supreme Court handed down a decision in the case Edwards v. Aguillard.  This case is one of many court cases in the contentious issue of what explanation for the origins of life and human beings should be taught in schools.  I take a look at the Edwards case, the influence of religious conservatives on American political life, and creationism versus evolution.

Today's music is from "Reasontanker," by Father Rock.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Friday, November 2, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, William S. Sessions was sworn in as the new director of the FBI.  I talk a little about his career, and about one of his most widespread legacies:  'Winners Don't Use Drugs.'

Special thanks to Art at Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade in Portland, who took a look at some of their vintage machines and confirmed the message is still there.

After the show there is a promo for one of my favorite podcasts, Yog Radio.

Today's episode music is from 'Yeh So What,' by Gery Tinkeleberg.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

October 26, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, Herbert Ernesto Anaya Sanabria (pictured at the right) was gunned down in the streets of El Salvador, most likely by right-wing death squads supporting the government in that country's civil war.  I talk about the situation in Central America 20 years ago and how the United States Government decided which side it would support in each of the conflicts.

Today's episode music is from "Muertos," by Gringo Motel.  Our theme music was composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Following the show, you'll hear a promo for the Sonic Society, a broadcast radio show and podcast spotlighting the best in new, original audio drama.

October 19, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, stock markets around the world suffered big losses.  One of the biggest was in the United States, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered its largest one-day point loss to that date.  I share my memories of that "Black Monday," and discuss the probable causes of the big crash.

Today's episode music is from "Ambulance Ride for the Soon to Be Deceased," by Devin Anderson.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For June 12, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, President Ronald Reagan made what might have been the most famous speech of his presidency, and what has become one of the most famous speeches of its decade.  I include a brief clip from the speech, and share my thoughts about Reagan as "the great communicator" and the times in which the speech was made.

You can find complete audio, video, and text transcripts of Reagan's Brandenburg Gate address at the American Rhetoric website.

Our episode music is "Movement One," by Ocean Alexander.  Our theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

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.

This is the most current list of probable future topics for "It Was 20 Years Ago Today."  Listings in strikeout type indicate a show that has been written and recorded, but not yet uploaded.

I make no guarantee that just because a topic is on this list, that I will do a show about it, but this is my best plan at the moment.

 

June 1987

• 6/12 - Reagan's "Tear down this wall" speech
• 6/17 -- Journalist Charles Glass captured in Lebanon; he escapes in August
• 6/19 -- Edwards v. Aguillard decided by Supreme Court 

July 1987

• 7/6 – In the Dark released
• 7/31 – The Living Daylights released

August 1987

• 8/5 -- FCC kills Fairness Doctrine
• 8/11 -- Donald Harvey confesses to 33 murders over 17 years
• 8/17 – Rudolf Hess dies
• 8/27 -- after one month, FCC drops charges against Allan Weiner and Radio New York International, broadcasting off Long Island
• 8/29 – minor league catcher Dave Bresnahan fired after "The Great Potato Playβ€? the day before
• 8/30 -- US Army officers complete their first ever observation of a Soviet Union miliary exercise

September 1987

• 9/1 – peace activist Brian Willson run over by a train at Concord Naval Weapons Station
• 9/4 – Richard Marquand dies
• 9/13 – Tifton City Hall and Myon Complex dedicated in Tifton, GA
• 9/16 – US signs Montral Protocol, first CFC ban
• ~9/16 – WNET (Channel 13) begins 24/7 broadcasting; its 25^th anniversary
• 9/18 – Hellraiser released (USA; 9/11/87 UK)
• 9/30 – Alfred Bester dies

October 1987

• 10/6 – Works of Marcel Proust enter public domain
• 10/13 – George H.W. Bush declares candidacy for President
• 10/17 – Stock market crash
• 10/23 – Robert Bork rejected as Supreme Court nominee
• 10/31 – Joseph Campbell dies

November 1987

• 11/2 – William Sessions sworn in as new FBI director
• 11/4 – Rhyme Pays released
• 11/11 – U2 plays free show in San Francisco's Justin Herman Plaza
• 11/23 – Perestroika reviewed in NYT
• 11/25 – Harold Washington dies
• 11/29 – The Tommyknockers  reaches #1 on NYT bestseller list

December 1987

• 12/7 – PSA 1771 crashes, fmr employee David Burke shot pilots
• 12/29 – Prozac approved by the FDA
• 12/31 – Randall Garrett dies

February 1988

• 2/24 – Decision in Hustler Magazine v. Jerry Falwell

March 1988

• 3/13 – John Holmes dies

April 1988

• 4/1 – Beetlejuice released

May 1988

• 5/14 – Wimbledon beat Liverpool for the FA Cup, one of the biggest upsets in English football history
• 5/20 – Willow released

June 1988

• 6/24 – Who Framed Roger Rabbit? released

July 1988

• Discovery Channel runs its first β€œShark Weekβ€?
• 7/15 – A Fish Called Wanda released
• 7/18 – Akira released in Japan (comes to America a year or two later)

August 1988

• 8/12 – The Last Temptation of Christ released

September 1988

• 9/23 – Dead Ringers released
• 9/29 – Shuttle Discovery launches; STS-26 mission is first since the loss of Challenger in Jan. 1986

October 1988

• The Queen of the Damned reaches #1 on NYT bestseller list

November 1988

• 11/8 – George H.W. Bush elected President of United States
• 11/24 – First episode of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" airs on station KTMA in Minneapolis

March 1989

• The Satanic Verses reaches #1 on NYT bestseller list

April 1989

• 4/15 – Hillsborough stadium disaster; 96 people killed in crush

May 1989

• 5/4 – Magellan spacecraft launched; explores Venus 1990-1994

June 1989

• 6/15 – NYT publishes article about new computer game, SimCity

July 1989

• 7/18 – Rebecca Schaeffer murdered by stalker

 October 1989

• 10/18 – Galileo spacecraft launched; arrives at Jupiter in 1995
• 10/20 – Loma Prieta earthquake

 

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.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the tiny community of Saragosa was destroyed by a tornado.  I talk about that tornado, a little about tornadoes in general, and my own -- thankfully very limited -- experience of natural disasters.

Today's episode music is from "Muertos," by Gringo Motel.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, Coventry City won the FA Cup in a 3-2 extra time match against Tottenham Hotspur.  I talk a little about that special day, and the story of how I became a soccer fan.

My favorite football teams all have websites too:  Portland Timbers, Fulham, and Cardiff City.

Today's episode music is from "Purple Flipflops," by DJ Topshelf.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Originally written and recorded for January 26, 2007.  Twenty years ago, "Square One TV" made its debut on PBS.  This show was intended to help grade school kids learn math, but many adults -- myself included -- found it very entertaining as well.

Among other fan sites on the Internet, one of the biggest is Square One TV.org.  There's a Livejournal community for Square One TV, also.

Today's episode music is from "6 Is Lucky," by Hayfield.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Originally written and recorded for January 5, 2007.  Twenty years ago, C-SPAN 2 began broadcasting coverage of the United States Senate and other events on a 24/7 basis.  I take a look at some of the history of the C-SPAN channels, the reasons I like watching them, and a few interesting statistics about the channels and their viewers.

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

Sunday, May 13, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, Connecticut ratified a measure that would become the 27th Amendment to the Constitution.  I recount the fascinating history of this law, which was originally proposed over 200 years ago, and the strange turns of history around it before (and since) it became law.

Today's episode music is "Terraform," by Aged Machine.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Saturday, May 12, 2007.  The final episode of "Hill Street Blues" went out over the NBC network twenty years ago today.  I talk about what made the show so groundbreaking, and some of my special memories of watching it.

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

After several months of painfully long hours on the day job coupled with minor illnesses that sapped my energy -- and my voice! -- this show marks the beginning of a new and much more regular run of shows.  Thanks to all of you who have stuck with me.  This is a great time to spread the word about the show, too!

Friday, May 4, 2007.  Twenty years ago, Candy Maldonado of the San Francisco Giants achieved one of baseball's rarest feats -- hitting for the cycle.  I talk about the 1987 Giants and my own thoughts about baseball.

The Baseball Almanac website was a big help in preparing this episode.  Anything you might want to know about baseball history or statistics can very likely be found there.

Today's episode music was "The Wood Between the Worlds," by Commander Yo.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

For April 19, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the last wild California condor -- designated AC9 -- was captured and placed in a captive breeding program.  I talk about the condors, the captive breeding program and its results over the past twenty years, and my own history of trying to help endangered animals.

The picture at the right is of AC9 himself, who was released back into the wild in 2002.  It was taken in 2005 by nature photographer Dave Wyman, and is used with his permission.

Today's episode music is "Taking You There," by Jeremiah Fleming.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

This episode was written and produced for March 19, 2007.  Twenty years ago from that day, radio storytelling great Arch Oboler died.  I talk about Oboler and his work -- including a pair of clips from his most famous program, Lights Out -- and talk about the differences in audiences -- and producers -- between the "golden age of radio" and today.

The picture of Arch Oboler to the right was painted by portrait artist Michael Bennett, and is used here with his permission.

Theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Sunday, April 1, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, a town in Illinois instituted a new system of "sin taxes."  I explain how the system worked and how it's changed over the years.

Today's episode was inspired by one of the stories on this webpage.

Today's episode music is "Butt Quake," by Commander Yo.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Friday, March 23, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, "The Bold and the Beautiful" premiered on CBS.  It's a soap opera that's still on the air today.  I talk about soaps in the 1980s and my brief excursions as a soap watcher, one of which was my introduction to a famous British soap, twenty years ago.

Today's episode music is from "Oh Manyo," by Father Rock.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Thursday, March 22, 2007.  Twenty years ago this week, TV preacher Jim Bakker left his PTL ministry in disgrace amid allegations of both sexual and financial misconduct.  I talk about how Bakker and his then wife, Tammy Faye (pictured at the left) in some ways epitomized the culture of excess that permeated the 1980s.  I also share some personal thoughts about TV preachers.

Today's episode music is from "Celestial Voices," by Commander Yo.  Theme music is composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Another "lost episode," this one written and recorded for December 28, 2006.  Twenty years ago, author John D. MacDonald (pictured at the right) died.  He wrote hundreds of novels and short stories in just about every genre, but was best known for a series of mystery-thrillers featuring beach bum/detective Travis McGee.  I talk about MacDonald and his career, as well as offer a confession about when I really started reading the Travis McGee books.

Today's episode music is "8 Track SupaStar," by KCentric.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007.  Twenty years ago today was a Friday the 13th; it was also the heyday of the movie series bearing that title.  I share some information about the history of Friday the 13th in folklore and superstition, and then talk about why I really don't like slasher flicks.

Today's episode music is from "Weapons of Mass SIDuction," by DJ Topshelf.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Monday, March 12, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, "Les Miserables" opened on Broadway.  I talk about the history of the production and how it has become a staple of the musical theater scene, and follow that up with some assorted thoughts on musicals, show tunes, and a somewhat strange fan of a particular musical.

Today's episode music is "Overpopulation," by Flopsy Music.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Friday, March 2, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, Apple Computer introduced their newest computer, the Mac II.  I talk about that particular machine, compare the relative expense of top-of-the-line home computers then and now, and muse about the way technology has gotten progressively more powerful, yet less expensive.

Today's music is "Press YES To Start Demo," by Aaron Derington.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

There's also a promo for Yog-Sothoth.com, a gaming website devoted to Call of Cthulhu.  They also do a delightful podcast, Yog Radio.

If you're a podcaster and would like to swap promos, please email me!

Thursday, March 1. 2007.  [Almost caught up now!]

Twenty years ago today, Western Airlines and Delta Airlines announced they would merge, effective in a month.  It was the latest example of change that had become the norm for the airline industry in the nine years since deregulation.  I talk about the merger and the state of the airline industry during this time.

Episode music:  "See You In Seattle," by the Scottish Guitar Quartet.

Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Monday, February 26, 2007.  [Still playing catch-up, just a little.]

For the 50th (!!) episode of "It Was 20 Years Ago Today," we return to a subject we've visited before, and will again -- the Iran-Contra scandal.  On this day, the Tower Commission submitted a report on its investigations into the scandal.  It would be the first of many, which shared a common trait of often being difficult for the average person to follow.

George Santayana (1863-1952) was the person who said, "Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Today's episode music is from "Cyndi 2nd Draft," by Jeff Shields.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Sunday, February 25, 2007.  [Yes, we're running a couple days late, but I thought these episodes were worth posting anyway.]

Twenty years ago today, police in Peru got an archaeologist out of bed to protect a tomb from grave robbers.  That tomb, of an ancient warrior priest called the Lord of Sipan, is still being explored and its artifacts (such as the ornament pictured to the right) recovered to this day.

I also talk a little about how I developed an interest in archaeology and the ancient cultures of Central and South America.

Today's episode music is from "Forgotten Man," by David Henderson.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Friday, February 23, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the light from a supernova in the Greater Magellanic Cloud galaxy reached the Earth, after a journey of 168,000 years.  I talk about that celestial phenomenon, and a little about why I find astronomy a particularly fascinating science.

The picture is an image of the gas cloud from Supernova 1987A, taken with the Hubble Space Telescope.

Today's episode music is "InnaFabledCity," by Jeff Shields.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Thursday, January 22, 2007.  Twenty years ago today was the first Cat Day celebration in Japan.  I take a look at the origins of that day, days set aside to honor cats in other countries, and then tell the story of the cat I owned twenty years ago.  I can no longer remember her name, but I have one picture of her, and I've posted it here.

Today's episode music is "Bella," by Patrick Gorman.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

You haven't stepped into a time warp --this is the first of an occasional series of "lost episodes" of "It Was 20 Years Ago Today."  This episode was written and recorded for December 11, 2006.  On that day twenty years before, a number of companies registered "dot com" domain names.  There were less than 100 "dot coms" in those days, and no Internet as we know it today.  I talk a little bit about how different it was to get wired in those days.

Today's episode music is "Boot Strap," by Jeff Shields.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, the President authorized the construction of the Superconducting Supercollider, the biggest atom smasher that -- as it turned out -- never was.

Near the end of the show I mention the Large Hadron Collider, a new super-sized atom smasher which will be opening for business later this year.  The NPR program Science Friday did a segment on the LHC last week.

If you're curious about the Grammar Girl podcast (one of the most popular on the Internet at the moment), it can be found here.

Today's episode music is from "6 Is Lucky," by Hayfield.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Monday, January 22, 2007.  Twenty years ago today, politician Budd Dwyer committed suicide on camera.  I talk about that event, and how a similar one -- the death on camera of journalist Bill Stewart in 1979 -- had an impact on me which resonates to this day.

Today's episode music is "Stranded," by David Henderson.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Thursday, January 4, 2007.  For the first podcast of the new year, I look back at a terrible train wreck that took place twenty years ago today.  I tell a little of the story of the Chase wreck, and explain how a deadly accident on the other side of the country could have me holding my breath five years later.

Today's episode music is from "Sumday," by Jeff Shields.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Saturday, December 23, 2006.  There were two great homecomings twenty years ago today.  The experimental aircraft Voyager completed a non-stop, non-refueled flight around the world; and Andrei Sakharov was allowed to return home to Moscow after seven years of internal exile.

Today's episode music is "Splat the Rat," by Father Rock.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Friday, December 22, 2006.  Twenty years ago today, an ordinance took effect in Platte City, Missouri, banning pit bull dogs.  I take a look at that ordinance, and the efforts to pass ones like it elsewhere in the country.

Today's episode music is from "The Warlock," by Scott Shannon.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Just a brief announcement to let folks know that "It Was 20 Years Ago Today" is going on a short hiatus.  My day job has been downright brutal (60+ hour work weeks) for the past several weeks, and looks to continue that way for quite some time (with, if all goes well, a short vacation between Christmas and New Years).  Taking a break from the podcast now will allow me to get some more shows written and recorded in advance, which will allow me to post new episodes consistently after the break.

Look for the next new episode to appear on Thursday, December 21.

Thanks so much for your understanding and support.
--Jamie

Saturday, December 9, 2006.  Twenty years ago today, I turned twenty years old.  I talk about the age I was then, the age I am now, and the attitudes of the younger generations toward the older ones.  Some things haven't changed in twenty years, really.

Ironically, this is also my 40th podcast!  I didn't plan it this way, really.

Today's episode music is from "Celestial Voices," by Commander Yo.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Friday, December 8, 2006.  Twenty years ago today, Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka gave his Nobel lecture, a call to action against the apartheid regime in South Africa.  I discuss Soyinka, his speech, as well as the efforts to change the situation in South Africa.  Those efforts included a famous protest song organized by Steven Van Zandt, "Sun City."

Podcast theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Wednesday, December 6, 2006.  Twenty years ago today, the annual William Lowell Putnam mathematics competition was held.  See the questions for the 1986 competition.  (Link is to a PDF.)  I tell a little bit about the competition, and my relationship to math over the years.

Today's episode music is from "Confusion," by Commander Yo.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Monday, December 4, 2006.  The Chicago Tribune announced the winners of its first annual Holiday Cookie Contest twenty years ago today.  I share the names of the winning recipes, and talk a little about my memories of cooking and baking.

This podcast is guaranteed to be non-fattening!

Episode music is from "Overnighter," by Jeremiah Fleming.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Edit December 5, 2006:  I've reposted this episode with the correct audio file, this time!  No more Gotti, it's really time for cookies!

Sunday, December 3, 2006.  A key witness in the RICO trial of mob boss John Gotti began his testimony twenty years ago today.  I look at Gotti's history and how he went from being the Teflon Don in 1986 to the Velcro Don in 1992.

Today's episode music is "The Wood Between the Worlds," by Commander Yo.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006.  The story of the video game Shenmue opens twenty years ago today.  I look at that game, and the state of video console gaming in the time Shenmue is set.

Official site -- Shenmue.com
Shenmue Dojo on GameSpy

Episode music is from the Shenmue game.  Theme music composed and performed by Marc Rose.