Comedy Calendar

February 19, 2012

     The only woman ever to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, Dr. Mary Walker, died on this day in 1919. She was awarded the medal while serving as an officer in the Union Army during the Civil War, but in 1917 a review board claimed Dr. Walker had not earned the medal and revoked it. At age 85 she was asked to return the medal. She replied, "Over my dead body!"
    Two years later Dr. Walker was buried wearing her Medal of Honor.
    Doesn't that make you just want to run right out and slap a general?

     On this day in 1977 a Cuyahoga, Ohio, woman set a world record by completing a crocheted wool chain 11 miles long. At last report she was still trying to decide what to do with it.

     Thomas Edison received a patent for the phonograph on this day in 1878. If it weren't for Edison, people like me would have to get a real job.
     Just think, on this day in 1878 Edison not only was the top disc jockey in town, he also had the #1 record.

     Copernicus was born on this day in 1473. Copernicus was the Polish astronomer who decided that the sun was always at the center of our planetary system. Others also believed the sun was at the center of our planetary system, but they thought it went somewhere else at night.

     Thomas Edison patented the phonograph on this date in 1878. These days, the most significant vinyl in the recording industry is used in Shania Twain’s pants.

     Thomas Edison patented the phonograph on this day in 1878. Those first recordings were tinny and scratchy, kind of like a Yoko Ono album.

     On this day in 1994 the Jackson family reunited for a show in Las Vegas, but the world was watching the Winter Olympics and nobody cared. Michael was so upset, he squealed at his monkey.

     Prince Andrew is 52 today. He was married to Fergie, right? To be honest, sometimes I get my princes confused. All in all, I suppose I prefer the ones who don't sing.

     England's Prince Andrew is 52 today. His friends are throwing a big party. They'll have cake and ice cream and play cricket and polo and Pin the Tail on Fergie.

     On this day in 1977 Betty Tafat of Cuyahoga, Ohio, set a world record by completing a crocheted wool chain 11 miles long. Later, Betty set another world record by becoming the first person to uncrochet an 11-mile-long wool chain.

     In Rheims, France, on this day in 1725 an innkeeper's wife exploded in flames in history's only known case of spontaneous human combustion. I mean, this lady really blew up.
     Nobody could explain it. In France in those days you couldn't even get Mexican food.
 

Copyright © 2012 by Joe Hickman