In Good Company

Well, the day has finally come. It's January 30, 2006 and it's a BIG day for a certain Editor I know.

Now while she may tell everyone that today marks the start of her 28th year on this earth, she is about 12 years off. So, in honor of the missing dozen, I thought I'd start the day by highlighting 12 more 2006 forty-year olds just so she'll see that she's in good company.

"It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"

This holiday classic premiered on October 27 1966, back when The Editor still thought "big orange country" referred to a pumpkin patch in Oakfield, NY. Those of you that know the birthday girl will agree that she chose to ignore Linus' advice from this classic - " I've learned there are three things you don't discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin."

"Born Free"

The Editors feline facination surely began with the June 22, 1966 premiere of Born Free. Like the heroine of the film, Joy Adamson, our Editor has taken in her fair share of strays over the years and, on more than one occasion, said strays have been royal beasts!

Daylight Savings Time

On April 12, 1966 The Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S. Code Section 260a), was signed into Public Law 89-387 by President Lyndon Johnson. Now, technically, Daylight Savings Time has been observed in the US as far back as 1918 but this law standardized the start time to begin on the last Sunday of April and to end on the last Sunday of October. It's kind of like how The Editor will tell you she started 28 years ago when she REALLY started...well, you get the picture.

The Black panther Party

On October 15, 1966 African American revolutionaries Huey Newton and Bobby Seale form the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in Oakland, California. With this controversial group, The Editor shares a penchant for activism AND her aforementioned love of kitties!

Miranda Rights

On June 13, 1966, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren delivered the opinion of the Court that set down a set of guidelines for custodial interrogations. Now referred to as one's Miranda Rights, the ruling stated:

The person in custody must, prior to interrogation, be clearly informed that he has the right to remain silent, and that anything he says will be used against him in court; he must be clearly informed that he has the right to consult with a lawyer and to have the lawyer with him during interrogation, and that, if he is indigent, a lawyer will be appointed to represent him.

The Supreme Court also made clear what had to happen if the suspect chose to exercise his rights:

If the individual indicates in any manner, at any time prior to or during questioning, that he wishes to remain silent, the interrogation must cease ... If the individual states that he wants an attorney, the interrogation must cease until an attorney is present. At that time, the individual must have an opportunity to confer with the attorney and to have him present during any subsequent questioning.

In other words, you have the right to remain silent - a right which The Editor has rarely exercised!

Star Trek

Captain's Log Star Date 0908.66 - The world was never the same after September 8, 1966 premiere of this TV icon on NBC. A new race of people known as "Trekers" was born. Finally, geeks, freaks and nerds could come together on common ground. Hmm, sounds like The Editor's birthday party!

Matt Drudge

Born October 27, 1966, Matt Drudge, the infamous found of The Drudge Report grew up in Takoma Park, Maryland. In 1989, he moved to Los Angeles where he took up residence in a small Hollywood apartment. He took a job in the gift shop of CBS studios and it was there that he was apparently privy to some inside gossip, part of the inspiration for founding the Drudge Report. Small Hollywood apartment, job that makes one privy to inside gossip, apparently The Editor has a doppleganger!

In Cold Blood

In 1966, Truman Capote published his "nonfiction novel," In Cold Blood, a chilling account of the senseless, brutal murder of a Kansas family that is widely considered his finest work. A "nonfiction novel," huh? I bet The Editor wishes a certain author would have taken a lesson from the Capote!

Pet Sounds

1966 was a good year for music. It saw the birth of some of the most influential albums and songs in history. The list includes, Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde, Simon and Garfunkle's Sounds of Silence, The Beatles' Revolver, and Elvis Presley's How Great Thou Art. But on May 16, 1966, Capitol Records released one of the most influential albums in history. And, as she lives with a fluffy shelty mix, a couch hogging pitbull and the furriest orange cat on the planet, The Editor certainly knows a thing or 2 about pet sounds.

The U.S. Patent 3,454,279 was filed on April 14, 1966 for Twister and soon there after, Milton Bradley's competitors began accusing them of selling "sex in a box" when they released the phenomenally successful action game. Twister was the first game in history to use the human body as a full-fledged playing piece. The Editor would soon create her own version called Twister Little Sister in which she would use tiny Kelvis as a full fledge playing piece of a different kind. I have scars to prove it!

First International Direct-Dial Call

The world became a little bit smaller in 1966 when the first direct-dial international call was made. Before this time, an operator was required to assist in all international calls. Isn't it funny how now, 40 years later, our communication seems to have regressed back to the typed letter? I can't remember the last time The Editor called me.

In October 1966 Betty Friedan cofounded the National Organization for Women(NOW), a civil rights group dedicated to achieving equality of opportunity for women. It's no Psyche Creative Society, but it'll have to do.

And that, my lovelys, is one dozen amazing things that sprung from the year 1966. As I am sure you will all agree, The Editor should be very happy to be a part of such an auspiciousus club!

Happy Birthday Ms. Popaleenie!!!