Buzz Aldrin’s Felt Tip Pen Sells for $857,600
Now, why would a felt tip pen sell for that much money, even if it was owned by an iconic astronaut?
Specifically, it was on the Apollo 11 mission that landed on the moon 57 years ago this week. He not only wrote with it, it actually saved the astronauts from being stranded on the moon forever.
The Photograph
This sounds like the plot of a modern horror movie. Two sisters go to an Airbnb with other family members and see a photograph of a beach on the wall. And who do they see in the photograph? Themselves!
At the end of the movie, the sisters become trapped in the photo … forever!
Sandcastles (and Other Sand Things)
This remains one of those “How do that do that?” art forms: creating beautiful, intricate designs out of sand. And they’re temporary, which was evident last week as a rain storm hit this year’s International Sand Sculpting Festival in Revere, Massachusetts.
Headline of the Week
“We Are Not Wasting Donuts Today. Or Ever”
For the record, Miss Manners and her readers are wrong. You don’t leave half a donut in a box at the office. No one knows how it was cut or how it was handled. Take the whole donut, and if you don’t eat the whole thing, give the other half to someone else or toss it (but I bet if you take the whole thing you’ll eat the whole thing).
RIP Brenda Fricker, Peter Lassally, Hal Williams, Freddy Cannon, Plas Johnson, Joe Melson, Joe Caldwell, Theo Burrell, Dave Kendall, and Jim Gilstrap
Brenda Fricker won an Oscar for her supporting role in My Left Foot. She also appeared in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, So I Married an Axe Murderer, A Time to Kill, and Angels in the Outfield, as well as the soaps Casualty and Tolka Row. She died last week at the age of 81.
Peter Lassally produced such shows as The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Late Night with David Letterman, Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder (and later Craig Ferguson), as well as shows for Arthur Godfrey and Mike Wallace. He died Sunday at the age of 93.
Hal Williams was a regular on such shows as Sanford and Son, 227, On the Rocks, The Sinbad Show, and The Waltons, and was in the film and TV versions of Private Benjamin. He died last week at the age of 91.
Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon was known for such songs as “Palisades Park,” “Tallahassee Lassie,” and “Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy.” He died last week at the age of 89.
Plas Johnson played sax on the theme song to The Pink Panther and the Peter Gunn theme; played piccolo on Bobby Day’s “Rockin’ Robin” and flute on Nicolette Larson’s “Lotta Love;” played on the Pet Sounds album by The Beach Boys; was part of The Merv Griffin Show band, and played with such people as Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Elton John, and Frank Zappa. He died Wednesday at the age of 94.
Uploaded to YouTube by Henry Mancini
With Roy Orbison, Joe Melson co-wrote such classic songs as “Only the Lonely,” “Crying,” “Blue Bayou,” and “Running Scared.” He died earlier this month at the age of 91.
Uploaded to YouTube by Roy Orbison
Joe Caldwell was a writer on Dark Shadows and created, along with Ron Sproat, the Barnabas Collins character. He died last week at the age of 97.
Theo Burrell was a popular expert on the British version of Antiques Roadshow. She died earlier this month at the age of 39.
Dave Kendall was the creator and host of MTV’s 120 Minutes. He was also a journalist who wrote for several music magazines. He died recently at the age of 63.
Jim Gilstrap sang the theme song to Good Times and is the first singer you hear on Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.” He also worked with Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, and others. He died Saturday at the age of 79.
This Week in History
Viking 1 Lands on Mars (July 20, 1976)
It was the first of two spacecraft, the other being Viking 2, sent to Mars as part of the Viking program. It was in operation until 1982.
Alexandre Dumas Born (July 24, 1802)
The French writer gave us The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Corsican Brothers.
This is my favorite film version of The Three Musketeers. Gene Kelly is great as D’Artagnan!
This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Kraft Salads and Sandwiches (July 23, 1938)
Putting salad dressing on sandwiches is very underrated.
Sandwiches!
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I only eat sandwiches during the summer months of June, July, and August (just one of my many weather-related weird habits). I thought it was time to link to some sandwich recipes, just in time for that picnic you’re having this weekend.
Curtis Stone has a recipe for a Tomato and Avocado Panini with Mozzarella and Pesto or you could make The Pioneer Woman’s Favorite Sandwich, which has basically a grilled cheese on rye with mustard, mayo, tomato, and green chilies.
Allrecipes has the Elvis Sandwich, a favorite of Elvis Presley’s (made with or without bacon, depending on which source you use), Leite’s Culinaria has a Fried Egg Sandwich, and Sandwiches of History has a Broiled Turkey and Cheese, which is topped with cream of mushroom soup.
And with inspiration from the above Kraft ad, here’s a version of the Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, made with their Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce, and here’s a Toasty Ham and Cheese Sandwich from The Tipsy Housewife, made with Kraft’s classic sandwich spread.
Next Week’s Holidays and Events
Father-in-Law Day (July 30)
I bet he doesn’t even know about this holiday, so you can surprise him by buying him a card, a dinner, or maybe a new boat.
National Mutt Day (July 31)
If you miss it next week, don’t worry. Apparently, it is celebrated on December 2 too.
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Comments
Well, I can see why whomever bought Buzz Alrdrin’s felt tip pen from 57 years ago would want to remain anonymous, despite the pen’s importance in keeping the astronauts from being stranded on the moon forever.
Freddy Cannon’s ‘Palisades Park’ was/is a real masterpiece. With ties to ’50s doo wop, his fast-paced 1962 hit brilliantly utilized new sound effects not heard on any song up to that point. Still, it was the tune itself and his voice that made it so perfectly perfect, and always will.
Love the 1938 Kraft sandwiches for summer-time. Just LOOK at that spectacular cursive handwriting at the top; the real scene stealer of the entire ad!
I didn’t know there was a Father-in-Law Day at all Bob, but figure I’m probably in good company with Father’s Day itself (sadly) not ranking very high in terms of awareness.
No, it is Miss Manners who is right and the author of this column who is wrong. Throwing away perfectly good food is wrong when there is another taker in the office who could come along soon. Obviously, one must be neat and careful. Use a knife, as Miss Manner says, make sure you only use clean hands. There’s too much food waste now. People should try to create less. If I liked the variety, I’d take the other half. Some others would too. And for those who wouldn’t, just leave it.