Putting the Cooper ‘Chute to Bed
The FBI has confirmed that the parachute dug up in Washington last month was not D.B. Cooper’s. But it may be left over from the 1945 crash of a Marine Corsair.
Biographies
Dr. Demento and ‘Fish Heads’
Dr. Demento, the radio host who brought the world ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic, turns 67 today.Demento said in a 2000 interview that his show’s “all time most requested song is ‘Fish Heads’ by Barnes and Barnes.” Lightly disturbing video follows.
Nixon in ’92!
Speaking of April 1 jokes, the Museum of Hoaxes has ranked the top 100 April Fool’s Day hoaxes of all time.#6 is National Public Radio’s 1992 announcement that Richard Nixon was running for president again. His campaign slogan? “I didn’t do anything wrong, and I won’t do it again.”
‘Chute Not Cooper’s, Says Expert
The parachute dug up in Washington State recently was not used by jumping skyjacker D.B. Cooper, according to the man who packed Cooper’s parachutes.The Associated Press quotes Earl Crossley, who has now examined the parachute: “Absolutely, for sure… The D.B. Cooper parachute was made of nylon. This 1945 parachute was made of silk.”
Flying Penguins Discovered by BBC
The BBC program Miracles of Evolution, hosted by Terry Jones, has announced the discovery of a remarkable colony of Antarctic penguins.The Daily Telegraph has the story.
Walken is 65
Actor Christopher Walken turns 65 today.It’s also been 30 years since his Oscar-winning 1978 turn in The Deer Hunter.The IMDB puts his career tally at 110 film and TV appearances, and counting.
Are You Saying “Boo” or “Buu-uush?”
George W. Bush threw out the first pitch of the baseball season last night in Washington, D.C. This morning the hot question seems to be: Did he get booed or cheered?
Dith Pran, Subject of The Killing Fields, Dead at 65
Dith Pran, the Cambodian journalist who survived the massacres of the Khmer Rouge, and whose story was told in the book and movie The Killing Fields, has died at age 65. The cause was pancreatic cancer.Besides the obituary linked above, The New York Times coverage includes one of their “Last Word” videos of Pran, propped up on pillows, telling his story one more time.
First Lady or ‘First Laddy’?
With the recent addition of Cindy McCain, we now have profiles of all three of 2008’s potential presidential spouses: McCain, Michelle Obama, and Bill Clinton.What to call Clinton if he becomes the nation’s first male First Lady? He himself has the best idea so far: “My Scottish friends suggested ‘First Laddy.'”
Karen Allen: Only a Cameo?
Perhaps we spoke too soon about the delights of having Karen Allen return to star opposite Harrison Ford in the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.