Keener Today – May 20

 May 20, 2025
Bill Haley and his Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets released “Rock Around the Clock on this date.

Did You Know:

How your new ID can make the Airport TSA Line move faster: Some U.S. airports now use Credential Authentication Technology (CAT), allowing travelers to pass through TSA checkpoints with just a photo ID instead of a boarding pass. While this streamlines security, you’ll still need your boarding pass at the gate since airlines don’t have access to CAT systems. https://dailypassport.com/you-no-longer-have-to-show-tsa-your-boarding-pass-at-some-airports/

How Loud is Pickleball? Bob Unetich, a retired engineer, embarked on a quest to silence America’s fastest-growing sport: pickleball. Its distinctive “pwock” sound, while cherished by players, was driving nearby residents to distraction and even lawsuits. Through his makeshift lab, Unetich studied the acoustics of paddles and balls, aiming to innovate quieter equipment and establish noise standards for the sport. More: https://thehustle.co/one-mans-quest-to-make-pickleball-quiet?utm_source=recommendedreads.com

Why McDonalds cant call them Milkshakes: McDonald’s labels its popular sweet beverages “shakes” instead of “milkshakes” due to varying state-specific dairy regulations concerning milkfat and milk solids. This simplification allows the company to maintain consistent menu terminology across different regions. Despite public speculation, McDonald’s shakes do contain milk, primarily in their reduced-fat vanilla soft-serve base, along with flavorings and whipped cream. More: https://www.rd.com/article/mcdonalds-wont-call-shakes-milkshakes/?utm_source=recommendedreads.com

Traveling to the U.P. Memorial Day weekend? Expect delays due to repaving work on the Mackinac Bridge that won’t finish until May 29 at the earliest. More: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/05/19/mackinac-bridge-work-could-delay-memorial-weekend-trips/83726911007/

Senior Prom send-offs are becoming big business in Detroit: According to the Free Press the demand for high-end experiences has fueled the emergence and expansion of numerous local businesses catering to the luxury prom market. More: https://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2025/05/20/prom-send-offs-in-metro-detroit-are-priceless-moments-for-families/83581859007/

Today in History:

  • 1873 – Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis receive a U.S. patent for blue jeans, revolutionizing global workwear.
  • 1927 – Charles Lindbergh takes off from New York in the Spirit of St. Louis for the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight
  • 1932 – Amelia Earhart departs Newfoundland to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
  • 1954 – Bill Haley & His Comets released “Rock Around the Clock,” a landmark single that signaled the rise of rock and roll. Though initially modest in impact, it exploded in popularity a year later after being featured in the film Blackboard Jungle.
  • 1956 – The Detroit Red Wings trade goaltender Terry Sawchuk to the Boston Bruins, shocking fans and marking the end of an era.
  • 1967 – The Young Rascals began a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Groovin’.” The laid-back track was inspired by Sundays in New York and became one of the defining hits of the Summer of Love.
  • 1978 – Paul McCartney topped the U.S. singles chart with “With A Little Luck,” his sixth U.S. No. 1 as a solo artist. The synth-driven track was recorded on a yacht in the Virgin Islands and marked a smooth pop turn for Wings.
  • 1990 – Hubble Space Telescope sends back its first photographs from orbit, expanding humanity’s view of the cosmos.
  • 2002 – Eastpointe, a Detroit suburb, swears in its first Black city council member, reflecting regional demographic shifts.
  • 2008 – Congress officially designated May 13 as Frank Sinatra Day to honor his cultural contributions. The legendary singer won nine Grammys and appeared in over 60 films throughout his career.
  • 2012 – Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees died from cancer at age 62, closing a vital chapter in pop and disco history. He co-wrote massive hits like “Stayin’ Alive” and “How Deep Is Your Love,” which fueled the Saturday Night Fever phenomenon.
  • 2013 – Ray Manzarek, founding member and keyboardist of The Doors, died at age 74. His hypnotic organ riffs helped define classics like “Light My Fire” and “Riders on the Storm.”
  • 2015 – The Rolling Stones played a surprise show at L.A.’s 1,300-capacity Fonda Theatre, performing Sticky Fingers in full. Celebrities like Jack Nicholson, Leonard Cohen, and Harry Styles were among the lucky few in the audience.
  • 2015 – David Letterman hosts the “Late Show with David Letterman” for the last time, ending 33 years in late night television

Today’s Birthdays:

  • Jimmy Stewart was born today in 1908. (d. 1997)
  • (Frederick) “Shorty” Long, (“Devil with the Blue Dress On”; “Here Comes The Judge”), born today in 1940 .(d. 1969)
  • Joe Cocker was born today in 1944.
  • Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian La Pier) is 79.
  • Steve Currie, T. Rex bassist, was born today in 1947.
  • Steve George of Mr. Mister is 70.
  • Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go’s is 67.
  • Susan Cowsill of the Cowsills and Continental Drifters is 66.

Happening Today: