This Day in History on January 5 - History and Headlines

January 5, 2005: What is a Dwarf Planet?

By Major Dan on January 5, 2019 January 5, Nature, Science & Technology

A Brief History On January 5, 2005, American astronomer Michael E. Brown (CalTech, Princeton,Berkeley ) with fellow astronomers David L. Rabinowitz (Yale University and University of Arizona) and Chad Trujillo (University of Hawaii, Gemini Observatory and Northern Arizona University) were given credit for their discovery of a planetoid they called Eris, at the time, the largest dwarf planet known in the Solar System. The astronomical team actually discovered Eris in 2003, but its (relatively) small size and distance from Earth required rigid documentation for the discovery to be accepted. Larger than Pluto, the dwarf planet that used to be considered…

January 5, 2018: Insidious: The Last Key, Movie Review

By Major Dan on January 5, 2018 Cinema & TV, January 5, The Paranormal

A Brief History On January 5, 2018, the fourth movie in the Insidious horror movie series makes its opening across the US, bringing the familiar character, ghost buster Elise Rainier, back into play in a battle against evil. The film is an absolute must see for Insidious fans, but can easily stand on its own for those unfamiliar with the movie franchise. Digging Deeper Without giving away spoilers, suffice to say the movie reveals the background of our heroine, from her time as a young girl with the dubious “gift” of being able to see and communicate with ghosts. Smoothly…

January 5, 1066: 10 Modern Nicknames for Celebrities

By Major Dan on January 5, 2018 January 5, Lists, Politics

A Brief History On January 5, 1066, Edward the Confessor of England died, setting the stage for what became the Norman Conquest. On January 5, 1500, Charles the Bold also died, killed in battle. Of course, this guy is not to be confused with Charles the Bald, although he was also known as Charles the Rash, but not because of a skin condition! In the past we have pointed out the odd names bestowed upon historical figures, and today we speculate about what names our current crop of luminaries would be called if people still were named according to a…

January 5, 1998: Sonny Bono Skis into a Tree and Dies!

By Major Dan on January 5, 2017 Arts & Entertainment, January 5

A Brief History On January 5, 1998, former rock and roll star and current Congressman from California, Salvatore “Sonny” Bono, died when he skied into a tree at a Nevada ski resort. Sonny, former member of rock duo Sonny and Cher, was 62 years old when he died. Digging Deeper Born in Detroit to a Sicilian family, Sonny moved to California at the age of 7. Bono’s first foray into the music business was as a songwriter, with the hit song “Needles and Pins” to his credit (#13 in US and #1 in the UK in 1964 by The Searchers).…

History: January 5, 1956: Alexander the Great, The Motion Picture

By Major Dan on January 5, 2016 Cinema & TV, History versus Hollywood, January 5

A Brief History On January 5, 1956, producers and editors of the major Hollywood motion picture, Alexander the Great, starring Richard Burton in the title role, were hard at work preparing the movie for its March 22, 1956 release, cutting its running time from over 3 hours to 135 minutes. Digging Deeper The film is of course about the great Macedonian King and conqueror who ruled an enormous empire carved out of the Middle East and Mediterranean by his own leadership between 336 and 323 BCE. During his reign, Alexander defeated the great Persian Empire and all others that stood in…