Friday, January 20, 2006

 

Spotlight: Life has been described as a roller coaster, with its ups and downs. The man who gave the US the roller coaster, LaMarcus Adna Thompson, got the patent for his creation on this date in 1885. A year earlier, his "Switchback Railway," the first roller coaster built in the US, had opened at the Coney Island amusement park. Roller coasters were already becoming popular in Europe by this time. Originally made of wood, most modern roller coasters are made of steel, which is easier to bend into loops and corkscrews.

Quote: "My favorite part of a roller-coaster ride is when you're going up and you're slightly scared and really excited. You don't know what's coming next but you know it's going to be good. You can't handle it, go on the carousel." – Gina Gershon

Today in History:

• Wannsee Conference: Nazis plotted the Final Solution regarding the Jews (1942)
• JFK inaugural address: "Ask not what your country can do for you" (1961)
• Iran hostage crisis: the last 52 were released after 444 days, just after Ronald Reagan took office (1981)

Today's Birthdays:

• George Burns: comedian and actor, The Sunshine Boys, Oh God (1896-1996)
• film directors: Federico Fellini (1920-1993), David Lynch (60)
• Buzz Aldrin: man No. 2 on the moon (76)

Word of the Day:  frisson: a nearly pleasant shudder from fright; riding the roller coaster brings on a frisson of fear.   (© )