Some October 4th birthdays 🎂

For those asking, I won't be watching or reviewing this week's BIG cinematic release The Smashing Machine. It's the same reason I've never watched Raging Bull. I am opposed to pugilism in all its forms. The thoughts of watching two grown men beat each other into a pulp is not entertainment. Sorry.

OJ Simpson was tried and acquitted for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, who were stabbed to death outside Brown's condominium in Los Angeles on June 12, 1994. The trial spanned eight months, from January 24 to to its conclusion on this day October 3, 1995.

In 1990, East Germany and West Germany merged, a process known as German reunification, which officially concluded on October 3, 1990. The former East Germany dissolved, and its states joined the Federal Republic of Germany (the former West Germany), which then became the present-day Germany.

On this day, 3 October 1975, Dr Tiede Herrema, a Dutch industrialist and Managing Director of Limerick’s Ferenka factory was kidnapped by the IRA while on the way to work. This triggered a Garda investigation and a two-week siege at a house in Monasterevin after which Herrema was released unharmed

John Huston's classic film noir The Maltese Falcon, starring Humphrey Bogart, premiered in New York City on this day in 1941. Based on Dashiell Hammett's novel, the film features Bogart as private investigator Sam Spade on a quest for a jewel-encrusted statuette. It's one of my favourite noir films

J.S. Thurman patented the first motorized "pneumatic carpet renovator" on this day in 1899. This device was a horse-drawn, gasoline-powered machine that did not suck up dust but rather used compressed air to blow it into a bag, making it the world's first motorized cleaning device.

On this day in 1901 The Victor Talking Machine Company was incorporated. After a merger with Radio Corporation of America, RCA-Victor became the leaders in phonographs and many of the records played on them. It introduced the famous logo of Nipper the dog, with the words "His Master's Voice"

I'm late publishing this on my own blog as it was published elsewhere last week. I have given the latest film by Paul Thomas Anderson 5 out of 5 as it is an essential and urgent cinematic document for our tumultuous times. www.thefourthwall.xyz/post/one-bat...

Like him or loathe him, I found this discussion interesting. @mrjamesob.bsky.social gives the conversation space and I enjoyed it. youtu.be/v0KcSGYYWvM?...

Good morning from Holly and me out for our walk this morning before the rain arrived. The Sun was slow to rise too. Have a lovely Friday. Stay safe from #StormAmy

On this day in 1950, the late Charles Schultz published his “Peanuts” comic strip for the first time.

Thinking of heading to bed but Holly has asked me to stay put 😂

Today marks the first day in public media’s history without federal funding. And we’re not going anywhere. Listeners like you keep our mission alive. Protect one of the last places where America comes together to hear itself. Stand with us today. Donate at this link: n.pr/46wamAj

October 1st is the start of World Mental Health Month www.mentalhealthireland.ie/campaign/men... #MentalHealthMonth #HelloHowAreYou #SmashTheStigma #FindYourTribe

In September 1938, the Munich Agreement between Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland, a border region of Czechoslovakia with a large ethnic German population. This annexation, which formally took place in October 1st 1938.

On this day in 1908, the Ford Model T was introduced, priced at $825, making it the first affordable car for the majority of Americans due to Henry Ford's revolutionary use of the assembly line. This innovation allowed for mass production, dramatically lowering the cost compared to other vehicles.

Sums up the situation pretty well 👇

J.K. Rowling's anti-trans bigotry and the alt-right pipeline she's personified require her to undermine and perpetuate real misogyny, so she's browbeating a woman almost half her age who has already been subjected to plenty of sexual violence for playing Hermione spitfirenews.com/p/jk-rowling...

One of my favourite German words to say aloud is Flurfunk. It describes gossip or rumours that spread through the workplace and means, literally, "hallway radio." On a related note, a Finnish word for gossipers is kahvipöytäparlamentti. It means "coffee break parliament."

Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to see this shite in the papers every single day knowing this is what politiciians, judges and other people in positions of power think is the truth?

And it's only Tuesday 🤦‍♀️ "It makes me wonder how I keep from going under" -G.M. Flash

Absolute all-timer sentence in today's @nytimes.com

Another capitulation to the bully; this time it's Google and YouTube YouTube to pay $22 million in settlement with Trump www.rte.ie/news/us/2025...

On this day in 1994, Taoiseach Albert Reynolds waited on the tarmac at Shannon Airport to greet Russian President Boris Yeltsin. However, President Yeltsin failed to leave the plane. Yeltsin claimed his aides didn’t wake him, however, rumours were rife that he had consumed one too many vodkas.

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John's "Summer Nights" from the movie Grease reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart on this day in 1978 and stayed there for seven weeks, becoming the second best-selling single of the year in the UK.

BBC Radio 1 launched on September 30, 1967, at 7:00 am, with Tony Blackburn as the first disc jockey, playing "Flowers in the Rain" by The Move as the first song. The station was created to compete with pirate radio stations that were popular at the time. youtu.be/4Cf0rTxlB5o?...

The Flintstones premiered on the ABC television network on September 30, 1960, marking the first time an animated series was broadcast in prime time. Yabbadabbadooooo!

On this day in 1938, Neville Chamberlain, then Prime Minister of Great Britain returned home promising “peace in our time” following a meeting with Adolf Hitler permitting him to annex the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. 11 months later, Hitler invaded Poland. Chamberlain was forced to resign

September 30, 1791, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's last opera, Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), premiered in Vienna at the Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden. Mozart conducted the performance. The opera was an immediate success and quickly became a beloved and frequently performed work in the repertoire

Daniel Defoe's 1719 novel "Robinson Crusoe" states that Robinson Crusoe was shipwrecked on this day September 30, 1659. He was the sole survivor of the disaster, which left him stranded on a dismal, uncharted island he called the "Island of Despair"

There were 2 murders on the night of Sept 30, 1888. Catherine Eddowes and Elizabeth Stride were murdered in the East End of London within about an hour and a mile of each other. These are 2 of the 5 so-called "canonical" murders of Jack the Ripper, which took place between August and November 1888.

Although the stapler had illustrious, royal origins, it didn't really come to be used by the public until the 19th century. On this day in 1841, a man named Samuel Slocum received a patent for his document fastening method that consisted of threading pins through paper

Paul Thomas Anderson's new film "One Battle After Another" is brilliant. Quirk story, great performances, an enjoyable caper and that car chase!! Detailed review to follow

Nothing says the establishment is out to get me like a spread on the front page.

Holly and I are on the sofa learning about NFL, Vikings, Steelers, twirling towels, touchdowns, dead plays, etc Clearly Holly is riveted 😂

Look closer! The mirror shows who you are, and who stands with you 🌈❤️🥰 #LoveIsLove #SelfLove

Dog walked 10k, weekly shop done, beds stripped and in washing machine, successful brunch with MIL, dinner in the oven and about to make dinners for the week; I think I'm nailing today! It's amazing what 9 solid hours of sleep will do for you. Off to see "One Battle After Another" later

Good morning from Holly and me out for our walk this morning. What a difference a day makes, as the song goes 🎶 Gorgeous bright morning here in Newbridge. Have a lovely Sunday everyone 😊

Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life" was released as a double LP with a four-song bonus EP on this day in 1978. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming only the third album to achieve that feat, and the first by an American artist.

Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered on this day in 1987. Set 78 years after Capt Kirk, the new USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) was helmed by Captain Jean Luc Picard. Their mission, to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Join us for our next IFI Evening Course CREATING CLASSIC CHARACTERS FOR THE SCREEN with writer Mary Kate O’Flanagan 🎭✍📽 Find out more ➡ https://ifi.ie/film/ifi-evening-course-creating-classic-classic-characters-for-the-screen/

Kids in life find some one who loves you the way the Irish Times loves Maria Steen.

I wonder if this guy is related to "Boris Johnson" who introduced "voter id" as Prime Minister in 2023 ... off the back of some crazy US conspiracy theories ... and in the process, made digital ID pretty much inevitable.

Layers of love, truth, and passion baked into one. 🌈❤️🍰 #RainbowCake #BeYourself #LoveIsLove

Good morning from Holly & me out for our walk this morning. It's a dark, wet morning here in Newbridge. It was another sleepless night thanks to insomnia but I put appropriate clothing on and off we went. Have a lovely day & if you are around, I'm on the wireless 🎙️📻 from 11am @kfmradio.bsky.social

Your Saturday press preview, starting with the Irish Independent #TomorrowsPapersToday

Happy birthday to the wonderful Michelle Dotrice, famed for being the long suffering wife of Frank Spencer.