Meme Scholar with Madness (PhD)

[EndtheMadnessNow]

December 18, 1779: Joseph Grimaldi was born in Clare Market, in Westminster, London. He became famous on the London stage as a Clown known as "Joey", who wore whiteface make-up, which became used widely by other clowns. Grimaldi always opened his shows with the catchphrase: "Here we are again!"


The Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi

Joseph Grimaldi Satirical Drawings at The British Museum

Remembering the sad clown Joseph Grimaldi

New Jersey Ratifies the Constitution

The New Jersey ratifying caucus approved the Constitution on December 18, 1787. Highly critical of the Articles of Confederation, the delegates acted quickly to ratify the new constitution. New Jersey was the third state to do so, following the votes of Delaware and Pennsylvania.

    Now be it known, that we, the delegates of the state of New Jersey, chosen by the people thereof, for the purpose aforesaid, having maturely deliberated on and considered the aforesaid proposed Constitution, do hereby, for and on the behalf of the people of the said state of New Jersey, agree to, ratify, and confirm, the same and every part thereof.

Prior to the American Revolution, New Jersey was part of the original land grant to the Duke of York. He, in turn, granted it to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret in June 1664. The province was divided, in 1676, between the proprietors. By that division, East New Jersey was assigned to Carteret, and West New Jersey to William Penn and others, who had purchased it from Lord Berkeley. The division and divisiveness continued until Queen Anne, in April 1702, reunited both provinces into one province, and by commission appointed a governor over them.

In the nineteenth century, New Jersey was nicknamed “The Garden State.” Abraham Browning, a Camden attorney, is credited with the name, noting that the “Garden State is an immense barrel, filled with good things to eat and open at both ends, with Pennsylvanians grabbing from one end and New Yorkers from the other.”

Over the course of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, however, farmland gave way to urban industry. Today New Jersey exports manufactured goods around the world and is a center of the biotechnology industry. [And exotic Drone tech]

Dec 18, 1950: Pres. Truman authorized the establishment of a 680-square-mile portion of the Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range as the Nevada Proving Ground, which later grew larger and was renamed the Nevada Test Site and then Nevada National Security Site. Been here a few times while being closely watched by Marine commandos with lots of guns. A sign stating "the use of deadly force is authorized beyond this point" is about a mile back before the main gate.




Dec 18, 1964: Filming of Star Trek: The Original Series, the pilot episode "The Cage" was completed but was rejected by NBC. It first aired on Oct 4, 1988.

"The Cage" plot: Capt. Pike is held prisoner and tested by aliens who have the power to project incredibly lifelike illusions.




Dec 18, 1968: Lollipops! And all free today! The children's musical fantasy film CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG directed by Ken Hughes based on the novel by Ian Fleming & screenplay by Roald Dahl, starring Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, Robert Helpmann and Gert Fröbe, opened on this day in the USA & UK.


Caractacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke) turned 99 last week.

What kind of car was Chitty?

Based on Ian Fleming’s novel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car, from 1964, Fleming was more famous for his James Bond 007 books; the English author turned to children’s literature while convalescing from a heart attack.

He based Chitty on a hybrid of a customised 1920s Mercedes racing car with a 23-litre engine from a World War I Zeppelin aircraft and his own car, a Standard Tourer, from his younger days.

Six different cars were built for the film, with the first one having to be scrapped afterwards, having been crashed and set alight. The remaining five are still in existence, including the Original GEN 11 Road Car used in the driving scenes, which promoted the film and was later sold to New Zealand filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson.

The other four cars belong respectively to the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire; billionaire British businessman Lord Anthony Bamford; the Dezer Auto Museum in Florida; and a private auto enthusiast in Florida, who owns the flying version fitted with wings and propellers – probably the most famous, as it features in the iconic final scene, when it flies off into the sunset after Caractacus proposes to Truly and finally sells his patent for Toot Sweets to ensure the family’s future.

There was quite a lot of crossover between the James Bond films and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as famous 007 stuntman Vic Armstrong performed many of the hair-raising stunts for Dick Van Dyke. Actor Gert Fröbe, who played chilling Bond villain Goldfinger, portrayed Baron Bomburst, while his screen wife the Baroness was played by Anna Quayle, who was secret agent Frau Hoffner in Casino Royale in 1967. Desmond Llewellyn, who played 007’s famous gadget inventor, Q, also popped up in Chitty as a scrap dealer!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: A Timeless Christmas Classic


Spy Kids? 2001? Seriously?? These kids are now the adults behind the New Jersey drones.


The public nominated 6,744 titles for consideration this year. Several inductees received strong public support, including: “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” & “The Social Network.”

The oldest film being inducted is the 1 minute in length, Annabelle Serpentine Dance (1895). This Edison Manufacturing Company silent short is an excellent example of what the industry created to entice & enchant audiences in the early days of film, before narrative cinema was prevalent.

25 Films Named to National Film Registry for Preservation

I hope to see this movie included someday.




Royal Air Force Lakenheath Strike Eagles been busy. Half a dozen F-15Es have returned to RAF Lakenheath following a short deployment "to the Middle East." Note both nose art, and weapons employment symbols. Going in heavy on the Greek mythology, I see...


It's hard to see but appears Hades had all the fun judging by the bomb strike symbols (beneath the H). The graphic artist may be too busy with the nose art. However, you can't really take mission markings as inscribed in stone.



The Trump Administration's approach to Russia and Ukraine? Ignore the heavy breathing people...just look at what his team has written.


I&W of the Next Trump Administration's Approach to Russia and Ukraine


A few random photos...