I remember buying that issue. I remember it for the retrospective of past models, including some of the most popular girls at that time: Carol Alt, Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley, and Paulina Porizkova.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has run for the Republican nomination for President twice, in the 2016 and 2024 election cycles. He ended up endorsing Donald Trump the first time; the second time, he ran as an outspoken critic of Trump.
“The Chrises” is a collective nickname for four actors: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Chris Hemsworth, and Chris Pine. The four are of similar ages (all of them now in their early 40s), and are primarily known for starring in franchise blockbuster films, particularly in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
- Chris Evans played Steve Rogers / Captain America in the MCU, and had previously played Johnny Storm / the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four films
- Chris Pratt played Peter Quill / Star-Lord in the MCU, though he had initially gained fame for his role in the TV sitcom Parks and Recreation
- Chris Hemsworth played Thor in the MCU
- Chris Pine played James Kirk in the Star Trek reboot films, and Steve Trevor in the Wonder Woman films
The first Captain America comic book was published by Marvel Comics on March 1, 1941. The cover featured Captain America delivering a massive punch to the face of Adolf Hitler while his shield deflects a bullet fired by a Nazi soldier.
Marvel Comics began in 1939 as Timely Comics, with the first issue titled Marvel Comics (later renamed Marvel Mystery Comics). Timely was rebranded as Atlas Comics in 1950 before going out of business in 1957. Former editor Stan Lee relaunched the business as Marvel Comics in 1961. Marvel published sci-fi and teen humor comics before striking gold with superhero comics such as The Fantastic Four and Spider-Man.
In past centuries it was believed that a bite from a species of wolf spider (named “tarantula,” found in the Taranto region of Italy) would be fatal unless the victim engaged in frenzied dancing to a specific piece of music. It inspired a dance known as the tarantella.
The tarantella features in the fifth song on Tom Waits’ album Rain Dogs in the song Tango ‘Til They’re Sore. The album was rated in the Top 500 by Rolling Stone (#399) as well as one of the best 80s albums (#21). Waits is known for his eclectic style and instruments, unique voice and painstaking production values. This was his first album featuring Keith Richards as a musician on three other songs. The song has been interpreted as an existential warning of the dangers of using art as a form of escapism.
This YouTube link shows Waits playing the song live on The David Letterman Show.
Sydenham’s chorea, a form of rheumatic chorea, is a disorder characterized by rapid, uncoordinated jerking movements primarily affecting the face, hands and feet. It is characterized by the abrupt onset of neurological symptoms, which are non-rhythmic, writhing or explosive involuntary movements. Usually all four limbs are affected. It is also historically one of the conditions called St Vitus’ dance.
Armando Anthony “Chick” Corea was a jazz pianist and composer who won 27 Grammys out of over 70 nominations.
Chorea is one of the major criteria used to diagnose acute rheumatic fever, a complication of Group A Strep. Although this generally causes well under ten percent of sore throats, it is the main reason three-quarters of adults are overprescribed antibiotics.
After winning the 1864 Battle of Nashville, Major General George H. Thomas of the U.S. Army sent a telegram to his wife, the only correspondence of theirs which has survived: “We have whipped the enemy, taken many prisoners and considerable artillery.”
Artillery is called the king of the battlefield. Joseph Stalin said that artillery was the ‘God of War’.
Schwerer Gustav (or Heavy Gustav), at 800mm, was the largest-caliber rifled weapon ever used in combat, and in terms of overall weight it was the heaviest mobile artillery piece ever built. It fired the heaviest shells of any artillery piece. Its shells weighed nearly 3 million pounds. They were 1,490 short tons each. The 1941 Siege of Sevastopol was its first combat use.
In the Marines my artillery piece was the M198 towed howitzer. At 155mm caliber it is considered to be medium artillery. A standard HE round weighed 96 pounds.
Schwerer Gustav required 500 men to fire it:
The planet Mars is named after the Roman god of war. This association between Mars and war dates back at least to Babylonian astronomy, in which the planet was named for the Mesopotamian god Nergal, deity of war and destruction.
Burma-Shave shaving cream was famously advertised on road signs, usually in sets of four. They were often humorous, and one set parodied other companies offers of various things in exchange for labels: FREE–FREE/A TRIP TO MARS/FOR 900 EMPTY JARS/BURMA-SHAVE. Well, one man obtained that many. They sent him to Moers (pronounced Mars), Germany.
Burma, renamed Republic of the Union of Myanmar in 1989, is one of only three countries that still use inches & feet, ounces & pounds, cups & gallons and degrees Fahrenheit. The other two are the United States and Liberia.
Not in play:
I remember those sign sets well. It was always a welcome diversion to see them coming up on the highway, especially on our long vacations.
Googling, I found this: (Imagine a series of rectangular red signs with white lettering)
No Lady Likes
To Snuggle
Or Dine
Accompanied by
A Porcupine
Burma Shave
Carry on
In the early 19th century, there was a movement in the U.S. to resettle American Blacks (both those who were free-born, and those who were formerly enslaved) to Africa, under the belief that Blacks would have better opportunities for freedom and prosperity there, rather than in the U.S.
The American Colonization Society was formed in 1816 with this goal, and assisted in the migration of thousands of Blacks to Africa; in 1847, a group of such settlers formed the independent Republic of Liberia, the first such independent, modern republic in Africa.
The capitol of Liberia is Monrovia, which was settled in 1822 by a group of emancipated American slaves. Originally called Christopolis, is was renamed in 1824 in honor of US President James Monroe, a prominent supporter of the movement to relocate formerly enslaved Black people from America and other locations. Today Monrovia has a population of 1.7 million people, about 35% of the population of Liberia.
In The Verse by the Side of the Road: The Story of the Burma Shave Signs and Jingles by Frank Rowsome (which is a fun read), the author says Burma Shave got some angry letters about that campaign, because it turned out there was a men’s group like the more famous Moose or Elks called the Porcupines.
Back in play:
James Monroe was the last U.S. President not photographed in his lifetime.
James Monroe, at the time a young Continental Army officer, is shown in Emanuel Leutze’s famous (but very historically inaccurate) painting, Washington Crossing the Delaware. He’s behind Washington, holding up the American flag.