Today in Detroit History:

• Today in 1967, STP’s Andy Granatelli predicted that gas turbine engines would power all racing cars within a decade after his entrant in the Indy 500 came within a hairs breath of winning the Greatest Spectacle in Racing on Memorial Day. A $6 dollar ball bearing failed late in the race, sidelining the turbine-powered vehicle as it was headed for an historic victory.
• Today in 1972, trading on the Detroit Stock Exchange all but halted for a time after a steam pipe burst in the basement of Detroit’s Penobscot Building, interrupting phone service to the majority of the 47 story structure. Bell Telephone engineers restored service by late afternoon. Stock exchange head, George White said trading was “very, very slow” and it was impossible to calculate the potential losses during the outage.

What’s Happening via JJ Duling:

According to the WSJ, (Paywall) calling off plans at the last minute has become a fixture of social life. Covid has made those prone to breaking plans feel less guilty about bailing last-minute. Some still take exception to the practice, including couples headed to the altar. Wedding planner, Ginny Boland, told the Journal many of her clients are more upset by last-minute cancellations unless it is a documented case of Covid-19 or obvious symptoms.

For a second summer, there is a national shortage of lifeguards that has limited the number of beach openings increased the risk of water safety accidents nationwide. The perfect storm of COVID, few visas for immigrant’s with lifeguard skills and the effects of The Great Resignation are all said to be among the causes. Bernard J. Fisher II, the American Lifeguard Association’s director of health and safety sees a “silver lining.” A number of well trained and fit older lifeguards may be enticed out of retirement to help protect swimmers.

Routine, fitness and conversation are three powerful ways to deal with tragic news. Stephanie Marcello, chief psychologist at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, who specializes in treating people who’ve experienced trauma told Buzzfeed that patience with yourself is another important tool. Avoid making any major personal changes in light of a tragedy. Marcello recommends getting involved with your community to spur the change you want to see.

The defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard dominated social media platforms last week with Heard ending up in a negative light. The New York Times’ Amanda Hess says Television turned the celebrity trial into a 24-hour tabloid spectacle. Social media made it into a sport.

Still trending in Google searches this morning is the story of the 36-year-old man who disguised himself as a woman and threw a piece of cake at the famous painting of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. The painting, protected by bullet proof glass, was undamaged. Norm McDonald’s last performance “Nothing Special” also got viral traction. Six of his contemporaries including David Letterman, Molly Shannon, Dave Chappelle, Conan O’Brien, Adam Sandler, David Spade gather to react to the program, which debuted yesterday on Netflix.

If you’re young and have brains you can get an unrestricted visa to live in the UK, but only if you graduated from what the Brits call a, “high potential university.” Grads will be eligible regardless of where they were born and will not need a job offer in order to apply. 37 institutions are on the list according to the BBC. Only one school within the state made the list, The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Number one on Keener this week in:

(1964) Memphis, Johnny Rivers
(1965) I Can’t Help Myself, Four Tops
(1966) Strangers in the Night, Frank Sinatra
(1967) Somebody to Love, Jefferson Airplane
(1968) This Guy’s In Love With You, Herb Alpert
(1969) Get Back/Dont Let Me Down, Beatles
(1970) Up Around The Bend, Creedence Clearwater Revival
(1971) Want Ads, Honey Cone

Today in History:

1790 US copyright law enacted
1879 Madison Square Garden opens in New York, named after 4th President James Madison
1907 Taxis 1st began running in NYC
1911 RMS Titanic launched in Belfast
1927 Tiger 1st baseman Johnny Neun makes an unassisted triple play
1943 “Archie” comic strip 1st broadcast on radio
1958 Dick Dale invents “surf music” with “Let’s Go Trippin”
1968 Movie star James Stewart retires from the US Air Force after 27 years of service
1969 “Gitarzan” by Ray Stevens peaks at #8
1969 John Lennon and Yoko Ono record “Give Peace a Chance” in a Montreal hotel, during their second ‘bed-in’ for peace
1969 Stevie Wonder releases the single “My Cherie Amour” which goes on to become a soul classic
1975 “Fight the Power” single released by The Isley Brothers (Billboard Song of the Year, 1975)
1976 The Who set the record for the loudest concert of all time, 120 decibels at 50 metres, at The Valley in Charlton, London, England

Rock and Roll Birthdays – Via DrRock.com:

1909 Sammy Spear, American big band trumpet player and orchestra leader (The Jackie Gleason Show), born in Brooklyn, NYC (d. 1975)
1930 Clint Eastwood, (Clinton Eastwood, Jr.), Wannabe jazz pianist turned globally-acclaimed actor, film director, politician and film score composer, wrote the music to Mystic River (2003), Flags Of Our Fathers (2006) and J. Edgar (2011), among other films, co-wrote “Why Should I Care” (1999) for Diana Krall, nominated for or won numerous awards for other music compositions
1935 Herb Alpert, (Herbert Alpert), Nine time Grammy-winning trumpeter, composer and bandleader for The Tijuana Brass, the only artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart with a vocal single (“This Guy’s In Love With You,” #1, 1968) and an instrumental song (“Rise,” #1, 1979), founder and former executive of A&M Records with partner Jerry Moss
1938 Peter Yarrow, Vocals and guitar for seminal folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary, “Puff (The Magic Dragon)” (#2, 1963)
1938 Johnny Paycheck, (Donald Eugene Lytle), Gruff-voiced “outlaw” country music singer with 21 Country Top 20 hits, mostly in the 70s, best known for rendition of “Take This Job And Shove It” (Country #1, 1978), his career was cut short by drug, alcohol and prison troubles, died in Nashville from emphysema on 2/19/2003, age 64
1940 Augie Meyers, (August Meyers), Founding member of early country-rock Sir Douglas Quintet (“She’s About A Mover,” #13, 1965) and later the Tejano (fusion of rock, country and various Mexican styles) supergroup Texas Tornados with Doug Sahm, Freddy Fender and Flaco Jimenez
1943 Wayne Carson, (Wayne Head), Grammy-winning country and pop songwriter, musician and record producer, wrote “Somebody Like Me” (#53, Country #1, 1966) for Eddy Arnold and “The Letter” (#11, 1967) for The Box Tops, co-wrote “Always On My Mind” which has been recorded over 300 times, most notably by Willie Nelson (#5, Country #1, 1982), died from congestive heart failure on 7/20/2015, age 72
1948 Bonzo Bonham, (John Henry Bonham), Original drummer for influential hard rock Led Zeppelin, “Whole Lotta Love” (#4, 1970), #1 on Rolling Stone magazine’s readers’ poll of the “best drummers of all time”, died after choking on his own vomit on 9/25/1980, age 32
1954 Vicki Sue Robinson, Theater and film actress turned one hit wonder R&B/disco singer, “Turn The Beat Around” (#10, 1976), died of cancer on 4/27/2000, age 45

Other Notable Birthdays – Via OnThisDay.com:

1819 Walt Whitman, American poet (Leaves of Grass) and volunteer nurse during the Civil War, born in West Hills, New York (d. 1892)
1861 Emily Bissell, American welfare worker and founder of Christmas Seals, born in Wilmington, Delaware (d. 1948)
1894 Fred Allen, American comedian (Fred Allen Radio Show), born in Cambridge, Massachusetts (d. 1956)
1898 Norman Vincent Peale, American clergyman, broadcaster (The Art Of Living), and author (The Power of Positive Thinking), born in Bowersville, Ohio (d. 1993)
1908 Dominic “Don” Ameche, American actor (The Bickersons, Cocoon, Trading Places), born in Kenosha, Wisconsin (d. 1993)
1916 John Vivyan, American actor (Mr Lucky, Wrong Man, Imitation of Life), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1983)
1922 Denholm Elliott, English actor (Alfie, Raiders of the Lost Ark), born in London, England (d. 1992)
1923 Rainier III, Prince of Monaco (1949-2005), born in Monaco (d. 2005)
1934 Jim Hutton, American actor (Ellery Queen), born in Binghamton, New York (d. 1979)
1943 Joe Namath, American Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback (Super Bowl 1969; Super Bowl MVP 1969; Pro Bowl 1972; NY Jets), born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
1943 Sharon Gless, American actress (Chris Cagney-Cagney & Lacey), born in Los Angeles, California
1945 Bernard Goldberg?, American journalist
1949 Tom Berenger, American actor (Big Chill, Someone to Watch Over Me), born in Chicago, Illinois
1950 Gregory Harrison, American actor (Trapper John, Logan’s Run), born in Catalina, California
1957 Jim Craig, American hockey goaltender (Olympic gold 1980), born in North Easton, Massachusetts
1960 Chris Elliott, American screenwriter, comedian, and actor (David Letterman; Cabin Boy, Get A Life), born in NYC, New York
1965 Brooke Shields, American model and actress (Blue Lagoon, Suddenly Susan), born in NYC, New York
1976 Colin Farrell, Irish actor (In Bruges, Minority Report), born in Dublin, Ireland