Erin O'Riordan writes smart, whimsical erotica. Her erotic romance novel trilogy, Pagan Spirits, is now available. With her husband, she also writes crime novels. Visit her home page at ko-fi.com.
April 24, 1915: About 250 Armenian intellectuals and political leaders are arrested in then-Constantinople, Turkey, in the beginning of what will become known as the Armenian Genocide. Those arrested on this day are deported to Ankara, where they’re eventually killed. The Armenian Genocide will last nine years.
April 24, 1954: French Formula One driver Guy Mairesse is killed during practice when his vehicle collides with a wall.
April 24, 1967: Soviet test pilot Vladimir Komarov is killed when Soyuz 1 crashes into the Earth upon reentry, its parachute having failed to deploy. Komarov’s death is the first fatality due to space flight.
Beatles Trivia April 2, 1974: Barbra Streisand wins an Oscar for her song “The Way We Were,” beating out Paul McCartney’s James Bond theme “Live and Let Die.”
Bummer April 2nd
April 2, 1932: 61-year-old retired rodeo performer Bill Pickett dies, never having recovered from a coma he entered after being kicked in the head by a bronco.
April 2, 1979: Military researchers in Sverdlovsk, Soviet Union (now Yekaterinburg, Russia) accidently release spores of Bacillus anthracis, the bacteria that cause anthrax, from the laboratory thanks to a defect in the ventilation system. At least 66 Russians die as a result.
April 2, 2021: Washington D.C. Capitol Police Officer William Evans is killed and his fellow officer is wounded when a man deliberately rams his car into a barrier outside the U.S. Capitol building. The 25-year-old assailant was known by his family to have had a number of mental health challenges.
Happy first night of Hanukkah! To celebrate the Festival of Light, who better than this member of the elite Oscar-Emmy-Grammy-Tony club?
If you are very young, you might only know her from her most recent project: playing Seth Rogen's mom in The Guilt Trip. If that is the case, go watch Prince of Tides now. Reading Pat Conroy's novel first is not a requirement.
My favorite Barbra Streisand quote? From her June 12, 1992 Women in Film speech:
"Welcome to the year of the woman. We’ve come a long way. Not too long ago we were called dolls, tomatoes, chicks, babes and broads. We’ve graduated to being called tough cookies, foxes, bitches, and witches. I guess that’s progress. Language gives us an insight into the way women are viewed in a male dominated society. Take our business for example. Though I’m sure this would hold true for women in positions of power in any field.
"A man is commanding – a woman is demanding.
A man is forceful – a woman is pushy.
A man is uncompromising – a woman is a ballbreaker.
A man is a perfectionist – a woman’s a pain in the ass.
He’s assertive – she’s aggressive.
He strategizes – she manipulates.
He shows leadership – she’s controlling.
He’s committed – she’s obsessed.
He’s persevering – she’s relentless.
He sticks to his guns – she’s stubborn.
If a man wants to get it right, he’s looked up to and respected.
If a woman wants to get it right, she’s difficult and impossible.
"If he acts, produces and directs, he’s called multi-talented. If she does the same thing, she’s called vain and egotistical.
"It’s been said that a man’s reach should exceed his grasp. Why can’t that be true for a woman?"
My favorite Barbra Streisand song evah? "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl. I know, I know - she does so many awesome renditions of songs by my historical Hebrew crush, George Gershwin. This number is irresistible, though!
I'm still a little pissed at Fanny Brice for getting that nose job, though.
Of course, I also appreciated that RevoLucian remixed her into "Bale Out." Christ(ian Bale)mas comes a little early this year.
In reality, Barbra is saying "Shut the fuck up" to a supporter of then-president George W. Bush who heckled her during a 2006 performance. The mouth on this one!
Endlessly talented, endlessly fascinating, Barbra even wrote the book on interior design. Literally. She has a fascination with architecture.
