Author: SuburBint

in·teg·ri·ty 1. adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

For he today that GTLs with me shall be my bro, be he ne’er so pale….

Once more unto the beach, dear friends, once more…

Friday, September 7 The American Turtle, the first known submersible water vehicle (isn’t it cute?), carried out its first attempt at an underwater attack on the British ship HMS Eagle in the early hours of September 7, 1976. David Bushnell, the inventor and pilot of the Turtle was unsuccessful in implanting explosives in the hull [...]

Thursday, September 6 The Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England, on this date in 1620. America’s Got Talent (NBC 8pm) The judges reveal the Top Six; Train performs. Here’s hoping Pat Monahan keeps his “untrimmed chest” well and truly covered during his band’s performance, but his predilection for deep-V shirts makes this an unlikely prospect. [...]

Wednesday, September 5 On this date in 1698, Tsar Peter I of Russia imposed a beard task on all Russians who were not peasants or clergy, in an attempt to Westernize Russian society. Big Brother (CBS 8pm) The contestants compete in the veto competition. Next thing you know, they’ll be competing for head of household. [...]

Tuesday, September 4 The city of Los Angeles, California, was founded on this date in 1781. The forty-four Spanish settlers who were the first citizens of LA named their new city El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora La Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula, which translates as The Village of Our Lady, the Queen of the [...]

Friday, August 31 In the wee hours of August 31, 1888, a 42 year-old English prostitute named Mary Ann Nichols was found dead in the Whitechapel neighborhood of London. She was the first known victim of Jack the Ripper. America’s Next Top Model (The CW 8pm) The contestants take part in a challenge that leaves [...]

Thursday, August 30 “I can visit your Sydney, or your Melbourne, but I am not welcome in your bush.” The city of Melbourne turns 177 today. The Economist Group’s Intelligence Unit has named it “the world’s most livable city” for the past two years, so let’s not all ruin that by moving there at once. [...]

Wednesday, August 29 Michael Jackson was born on this date in 1958. Nineteen. Fifty-eight. There’s been a lot of talk lately around the ‘Gasm lately about child stars gone wrong, but I think we can all agree that it doesn’t get much sadder than Michael Jackson.   Big Brother (CBS 8pm) The contestants compete in the [...]

Tuesday, August 18 The Philadelphia Race Riots began on this date in 1964. Among the first racially motivated riots during the Civil Rights Movement of the ’60s, this riot lasted for three days and was sparked due to increasing incidents of police brutality against Black Philadelphians. America’s Got Talent (NBC 8pm) Twelve acts perform. You [...]

Monday, August 27 On this date in 410, the sacking of Rome by the Visigoths ended, largely because the Romans had barricaded themselves inside the city before the Visigoths broke through that they were all too weak to fight back. Also, sending the majority of their military to conquer far off places left the homeland [...]

Friday, August 24 Mt. Vesuvius erupted on this date in the year 79, burying the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae in ash. As many of you probably know already, this eruption actually saved the human race, because had the Doctor not turned off the energy converter in time, we would all be Pyroviles now. [...]

Thursday, August 23 William Wallace was executed on this date in 1305. Killed as a traitor to the British crown (which he refused to recognize, as you may remember from Braveheart, although the other 99% of that movie was made up,) Wallace was hanged, drawn, and quartered, a punishment that wasn’t officially en vogue as [...]

Wednesday, August 22 On this date in 565, Saint Columba, an Irish missionary to Scotland, reported seeing a monster in Loch Ness. History is silent on whether or not he gave Nessie t’ree-fiddy. Big Brother (CBS 8) The contestants compete in the veto competition. I wonder who that sad little scrap of paper is? So [...]

Tuesday, August 21 The Marvelettes’ song “Please Mr. Postman,” the first Motown song to reach the #1 position on the U.S. charts, was released on this date in 1961. Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family 8pm) Spencer uncovers Paige’s sordid history with Alison, but Emily is reluctant to heed her warning, Aria tries to help Ezra [...]

Monday, August 20 Disney factory baby and future X Factor judge Demi Lovato turns 20 today. Bachelor Pad (ABC 8pm) Contestants compete in a teacup-stacking challenge; dates include a tour of Los Angeles and a camping trip; a twist sends a confident player scrambling. It’s a little known fact that a man’s ability to stack [...]

Friday, August 17 Today is National Head Day. That pretty much speaks for itself. Teachers Rock (CBS 8pm) Honoring America’s educators; Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Fun, Josh Groban and Garth Brooks perform. The venue will reek of dry erase markers and desperation. NFL Preseason Football (Fox 8pm) Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens I’m sure the [...]

Thursday, August 16 Elvis Presley (damn he was purty in his youth!) died 35 years ago today. In other news, 35 years ago today some of the most bizarre conspiracy theories and a cottage industry of tacky velvet paintings were born. Wipeout (ABC 8pm) Former “Wipeout” champions team with memorable, but less-successful former contestants and [...]

Wednesday, August 15 On this date in 1040, King Duncan of Scotland was killed in battle against MacBeth. Seventeen years later, MacBeth also died on this date, fighting against the army of  Máel Coluim mac Donnchada. Big Brother (CBS 8pm) The contestants compete in the veto competition. Today must be Wednesday. So You Think You [...]

Tuesday, August 14 The Social Security Act was enacted on this date in 1935. Politicians argued vigorously about its mechanics, funding, and constitutionality then, and still haven’t stopped. America’s Got Talent (NBC 8pm) Twelve acts discovered online perform. YouTube has a lot to answer for. Hotel Hell (Fox 8pm) Ramsay’s efforts to save Vermont’s Juniper [...]

Monday, August 13 On this date in 1964, the last two criminals to be executed in Great Britain were hanged. Gwynne Evans and Peter Allan were convicted of the April 7, 1964, murder of a 53 year-old laundry van driver, and hanged a mere four months later. Whatever your views on capitol punishment, that’s pretty [...]

 Friday, August 10 Olympic Fun Fact: Czech gymnast Marie Provaznikova was the first Olympic athlete to defect during the Olympic Games. She defected during the 1948 London Olympics and sought asylum in the United States. Since 1948, at least 83 other athletes have used the Games as an opportunity to defect, primarily from the former [...]

Thursday, August 9 Olympic Fun Fact: Historically, the host cities of the Olympic Games tend to win more medals during their hosting year than they have in the Games four years prior (for example, Great Britain’s 146 medals won during the 1908 London Olympics as opposed to their 2 medals during the 1904 Olympics in [...]

Wednesday, August 8 Olympic Fun Fact: The 1908 Olympic Games were originally supposed to be hosted in Rome, but were moved to London because the 1906 eruption of Mount Vesuvius required the funds intended for the Olympics to be diverted to rebuilding the town of Naples. Big Brother (CBS 8pm) Contestants compete in the veto [...]

Tuesday, August 7 Olympic Fun Fact: The ancient Olympic Games were held every four years from 776 BC through 326 AD. They originally began as a foot race in which young women competed for the position of priestess for the goddess Hera, followed by a race in which men competed for the position of the [...]

Monday, August 6 Olympic Fun Fact: NBC’s coverage of the 2012 London Olympics has drawn a record viewership thus far, with an approximate 189 million viewers total over the first eight days of the games. Six of the first eight nights averaged over 30 million viewers each night, more than tuned any on any night [...]

Saturday, August 4 Olympic Fun Fact: If the 302 gold medals that were made for the 2012 Olympics were made of solid gold, they would cost nearly $40 million dollars to make. The medals, which are 92.5% silver, 1.34 percent gold, and 6.16% copper, have an approximate value of $708 dollars each. XXX Summer Olympics [...]

Friday, August 3 Olympic Fun Fact: The last year that Olympic gold medals were made out of solid gold was 1912. The current standard for a gold medal is that it must be at least 92.5% silver and plated with a minimum of 6 grams of gold. Minting the Olympic medals is the responsibility of [...]

Thursday, August 2 Olympic Fun Fact: My grandfather (GrandadBint) received a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. He was not an athlete; as an engineer for IBM, GrandadBint was instrumental in developing a program that was used in collecting and figuring scores for the competitors as the Olympic Games began [...]

Wednesday, August 1 Olympic Fun Fact: The oldest known Olympic medalist was Oscar Swahn of Sweden, who won his final medal (a Silver medal in the Running Deer, Double Shot Team event) at the age of 72. Big Brother (CBS 8pm) Contestants compete in the veto competition. The burning question on everybody’s mind tonight is… [...]

Tuesday, July 31 Olympic Fun Fact: While most Americans probably remember that Michael Phelps brought home a record number of eight gold medals from the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, the Olympic athlete to receive the most total medals is Larissa Latynina. Over the course of her career as a gymnast for the former Soviet [...]

Monday, July 30 Olympic Fun Fact: From 1912 – 1952, there was a fine arts component to the Olympic games. Items were submitted under the categories of Architecture, Literature, Music, Painting (which included drawing, painting, and graphic arts), and Sculpture. These categories were discontinued due to the argument that the artists submitting items for judgment [...]

Friday, July 27 Opening ceremonies for the 2012 Olympic Games take place tonight. XXX Summer Olympics (NBC 8pm) London, the first city to host the Olympics three times, welcomes the world and Queen Elizabeth II officially opens the Games. Before you get excited, the “XXX” signifies the three times London has hosted, not anything interesting. [...]

Let’s dive right in, shall we? Previously on Snooki & JWoww: Snooki is pregnant; Snooki decided to invite the Jersey Shore roommates over for dinner and to announce her engagement and pregnancy; JMomm is doing a terrible job pretending that she is not insanely jealous about Snooki’s impending domestic life. I don’t care, I love [...]

Thursday, July 26 On this date in 1953, approximately 100 Arizona police officers and National Guard soldiers raided a polygamous community in Short Creek, Arizona. The entire community was taken into custody, and 263 children were taken from their parents. Some children were eventually returned to their parents, but several were not. While Arizona governor [...]

Wednesday, July 25   Mozart completed his Symphony #40 in G minor on this date in 1788.  Big Brother (CBS 8pm) Contestants compete in the veto competition. After that stunning description there is nothing left for me to say. The CLIOS: World’s Best Commercials (NBC 8pm) Innovative advertisements from around the world; J.B. Smoove hosts. I’m just [...]

Tuesday, July 24 Hell’s Kitchen (Fox 8pm) Ramsay puts the chefs’ communication skills to the test; the contestants face their most important dinner service yet. This batch of contestants are excellent at communication — they have passive-aggressive body language down to an art. Deadliest Catch (The Discovery Channel 8pm) The opilio season comes to a [...]

Monday, July 23 How I Met Your Mother character Robin Sherbatzky (aka Robin Sparkles) would be celebrating her 32nd birthday today, if she were a real person. Which she isn’t. I’m 99.3% sure. Bachelor Pad (ABC 8pm) Premiere: Five super fans join memorable characters the “Bachelor” franchise at the mansion; the men and women couple [...]