MONDAY ALMANAC – June 23

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

July 4, Friday – U.S. Independence Day
Sept. 1, Monday – Labor Day
Sept. 11, Thursday – Patriot Day
Sept. 22, Monday – Fall begins (Autumn Equinox is 2:19 p.m. EDT)

BIRTHDAYS

Melissa Rauch (actress, Bernadette on “The Big Bang Theory”) … 45
Selma Blair (actress) … 53
Joss Whedon (writer, producer, director) … 61
Frances McDormand (actress, “Nomadland,” “Fargo”) … 68
Randy Jackson (music business biggie, former “American Idol” judge) … 69

Today’s Birthdays grade: A mixed bag including a respected actress, a Big Bang Theory alum, a fan-fave sci-fi fantasy producer/director revealed to be a toxic-workplace bully who adds a real “yuck” factor to today’s list. Grade: C-minus.

[Want to try something different with the daily birthdays? Try grading them! Some days have “good” celebs, some have “great” celebs, some have “lousy” celebs. For fun, give the group an arbitrary grade: A-plus through F-minus. Sidekick will give you our take on it; you can to take the concept and run with it.]

BIRTHDAY QUOTE QUIZ – Ask your listeners “Who said it?” HINT: Today’s their birthday!

“This is what we always say in the music business: Do you know when you’ve made it? When people hate you.”

(A) Justin Bieber
(B) Kanye West
(C) Randy Jackson

ANSWER: (C) Randy Jackson

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2013 – Daredevil Nik Wallenda completed a historic 1,400-foot high-wire walk on a 2-inch (5-cm) steel cable over the Grand Canyon. It took 22 minutes and 54 seconds, and was broadcast worldwide.
* Does he realize we can do that with CGI now?

1993 – In an act that received international attention, Lorena Bobbitt of Prince William County, Va., whacked off her husband John’s penis after he allegedly raped her.
* It was “The Chop Heard ‘Round the World.”

1989 – The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the law that declared telephone-based pornography was illegal. The court said it was unconstitutional to prohibit “all sexually-oriented” telephone conversations.
* Who said the Supreme Court doesn’t want anybody to have any fun?

1982 – The coldest temperature on Earth was recorded at the South Pole – minus 117 degrees F.
* The guy who went out to read the thermometer should be thawed out by August.

1868 – The first “type-writer” was patented. The machine had ALL CAPS only, was as big as a kitchen table, and typists couldn’t see what was being printed until after they had finished.
* And the top speed anybody could type on it was a fiery three words per minute.

1860 – The U.S. Secret Service was established.
* Leading to a massive increase in the number of U.S. secrets.

1836 – Each of the 26 U.S. states was given $1 million on this day after the federal government declared it had too much money.
* The next day, the government sent the states a telegram saying: “Please disregard yesterday’s announcement. That was supposed to go out on April Fool’s Day.”

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2010 – 62-year-old Gregg Allman underwent a successful liver transplant operation at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Allman had begun a series of treatments for Hepatitis C, but chronic damage of his liver led doctors to recommend a transplant. In a statement to the press, Allman said “I changed my ways years ago, but we can’t turn back time. Every day is a gift.”

2009 – Chris Brown pleaded guilty to one count of assault on his former girlfriend, Rihanna. The 19-year-old R&B singer was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to do six months community service. Brown had faced charges of assaulting Rihanna, 21, in February. The last-minute plea deal came before a hearing at a Los Angeles court at which Rihanna was due to give evidence. The Los Angeles County Superior Court judge also ordered Brown and Rihanna to stay at least 50 yards from each other, except at entertainment industry events when the distance is reduced to 10 yards.

2003 – In London, Eminem gave a $450,000 necklace to a fan in the front row of a concert. He had announced from the stage “I’m going to give this to the sexiest woman I see.”

2000 – Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, unveiled The Experience Music Project in Seattle. The $255 million museum contained over 80,000 items of Jimi Hendrix memorabilia, including a smashed guitar from the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.

1990 – 13-year-old Keith Sorrentino filed a $500,000 lawsuit against Madonna, claiming he suffered nightmares and bed-wetting problems after an incident outside Madonna’s home when she allegedly flung him to the ground.

1990 – Buddy Holly’s Gibson acoustic guitar sold for $237,419 in a Sotheby’s auction. The guitar was in a tooled leather case made by Holly himself.

1984 – Duran Duran started a two-week run at No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with “The Reflex,” the group’s first U.S. No.1.