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An Honest Con
@anhonestcon.bsky.social
· Nov 13
An unserious nation deserves an unserious government populated by unserious people.
On this day in 1886, Rex Todhunter Stout was born to write, piling up quite a number (70+?) of detective tales featuring Nero Wolfe, aka "the Falstaff of detectives," and his sidekick, Archie Goodwin, & also creating an female detective, Dol Bonner. #OTD
December 1, 2025 at 12:10 PM
On this day in 1886, Rex Todhunter Stout was born to write, piling up quite a number (70+?) of detective tales featuring Nero Wolfe, aka "the Falstaff of detectives," and his sidekick, Archie Goodwin, & also creating an female detective, Dol Bonner. #OTD
On this day in 1909, Robert Lee McCollum was born to become Robert Nighthawk and play the blues, playing with many notables and, in the early 1950s, giving Muddy Waters a run for his money as king of the Chicago blues scene. A must hear. #OTD
November 30, 2025 at 3:42 PM
On this day in 1909, Robert Lee McCollum was born to become Robert Nighthawk and play the blues, playing with many notables and, in the early 1950s, giving Muddy Waters a run for his money as king of the Chicago blues scene. A must hear. #OTD
On this day in 1960, Cathy Moriarty was born to explode onto the screen in 'Raging Bull,' and keep arresting our attention ever since, even as she has a whole second career as an activist and spokesperson for the autistic community. Bronx-bred folks, they do good. #OTD
November 29, 2025 at 1:38 PM
On this day in 1960, Cathy Moriarty was born to explode onto the screen in 'Raging Bull,' and keep arresting our attention ever since, even as she has a whole second career as an activist and spokesperson for the autistic community. Bronx-bred folks, they do good. #OTD
On this day in 1922, Charles Monroe Schulz was born to draw & become one of the most influential cartoonists & animators of the 20th century, turning his strip, "Peanuts," into a daily must-read for millions & creating TV specials that remain must sees & expose kids to jazz. #OTD
November 26, 2025 at 11:34 PM
On this day in 1922, Charles Monroe Schulz was born to draw & become one of the most influential cartoonists & animators of the 20th century, turning his strip, "Peanuts," into a daily must-read for millions & creating TV specials that remain must sees & expose kids to jazz. #OTD
On this day in 1864, Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa was born to discard four of his names and take up art, leaving behind, at his untimely death, thousands of drawings, prints and paintings, many featuring the demi-monde, whihc was his playpen and undoing. #OTD
November 24, 2025 at 6:17 PM
On this day in 1864, Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Montfa was born to discard four of his names and take up art, leaving behind, at his untimely death, thousands of drawings, prints and paintings, many featuring the demi-monde, whihc was his playpen and undoing. #OTD
On this day in 1937, Margaret Julia Thomas was born to become Ann Marie, no, that's not right, to become Marlo Thomas, the aforementioned That Girl who followed her sitcom success with a life of acting & trying to make the world a little bit better. Happy 88th Ms. Thomas! #OTD
November 22, 2025 at 1:40 AM
On this day in 1937, Margaret Julia Thomas was born to become Ann Marie, no, that's not right, to become Marlo Thomas, the aforementioned That Girl who followed her sitcom success with a life of acting & trying to make the world a little bit better. Happy 88th Ms. Thomas! #OTD
November 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
On this day in 1905, Thomas Francis Dorsey, Jr. was born to play trombone, compose songs & become The Sentimental King of Swing, playing first with his brother, Jimmy, then leading his own unit, including Frank Sinatra. Pick hit: "Opus One." I dare you to not start dancing. #OTD
November 19, 2025 at 1:30 PM
On this day in 1905, Thomas Francis Dorsey, Jr. was born to play trombone, compose songs & become The Sentimental King of Swing, playing first with his brother, Jimmy, then leading his own unit, including Frank Sinatra. Pick hit: "Opus One." I dare you to not start dancing. #OTD
On this day in 1968, Owen Cunningham Wilson was born to write and act in films, working closely with Wes Anderson as well as his friends in the frat pack. Wilson amuses me because I can't reconcile his nose and voice with movie stardom, though they're quite entertaining. #OTD
November 18, 2025 at 9:04 PM
On this day in 1968, Owen Cunningham Wilson was born to write and act in films, working closely with Wes Anderson as well as his friends in the frat pack. Wilson amuses me because I can't reconcile his nose and voice with movie stardom, though they're quite entertaining. #OTD
On this day in 1790, August Ferdinand Möbius was born to make singular contributions to mathematics (although he & the scientists he studied with were all astronomy profs), including the eponymous strip along w. transformations, inversions and a functions that bear his name. #OTD
November 17, 2025 at 8:14 PM
On this day in 1790, August Ferdinand Möbius was born to make singular contributions to mathematics (although he & the scientists he studied with were all astronomy profs), including the eponymous strip along w. transformations, inversions and a functions that bear his name. #OTD
On this day in 1942, Daniel Moses Barenboim was born to play classic orchestral music on the piano & to conduct major orchestras, which he's done on at least a couple of continents. I've always enjoyed his record of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 In F Minor, Op. 36 w. the CSO. #OTD
November 15, 2025 at 3:11 PM
On this day in 1942, Daniel Moses Barenboim was born to play classic orchestral music on the piano & to conduct major orchestras, which he's done on at least a couple of continents. I've always enjoyed his record of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 In F Minor, Op. 36 w. the CSO. #OTD
On this day in 1927, Narciso Yepes was born to play instrumental music on the guitar, starting with the traditional repertoire and then, after he co-invented the 10-string guitar, unearthing 16th &17th century lute & guitar music, the former easier to play on the 10-string. #OTD
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
On this day in 1927, Narciso Yepes was born to play instrumental music on the guitar, starting with the traditional repertoire and then, after he co-invented the 10-string guitar, unearthing 16th &17th century lute & guitar music, the former easier to play on the 10-string. #OTD
On this day in 1947, Toy Talmadge Caldwell, Jr. was born to write songs and play guitar, which he did as founding member and driving force of The Marshall Tucker Band. Back in the day, MTB was one of the big southern rock bands and I think their catalog has stood up well. #OTD
November 13, 2025 at 12:13 PM
On this day in 1947, Toy Talmadge Caldwell, Jr. was born to write songs and play guitar, which he did as founding member and driving force of The Marshall Tucker Band. Back in the day, MTB was one of the big southern rock bands and I think their catalog has stood up well. #OTD
On this day in 1938, Mortimer Shuman was born to become Mort Shuman, the songwriting partner of Doc Pomus, penning such hits as 'Little Sister,' 'Viva Las Vegas,' 'Save the Last Dance for Me' and 'Can't Get Used to Losing You.' Pretty good for a couple of kids from Brooklyn. #OTD
November 12, 2025 at 2:40 PM
On this day in 1938, Mortimer Shuman was born to become Mort Shuman, the songwriting partner of Doc Pomus, penning such hits as 'Little Sister,' 'Viva Las Vegas,' 'Save the Last Dance for Me' and 'Can't Get Used to Losing You.' Pretty good for a couple of kids from Brooklyn. #OTD
On this day in 1821 , Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky was born to write masterpieces--short stories, novels, essays, journalism--and philosophize, using the social conditions of his native Russia to illuminate the human condition. His output suggests it was a heavy lift. #OTD
November 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
On this day in 1821 , Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky was born to write masterpieces--short stories, novels, essays, journalism--and philosophize, using the social conditions of his native Russia to illuminate the human condition. His output suggests it was a heavy lift. #OTD
On this day in 1909, John David Marks was born to write songs, including many we think of as Christmas standards: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "A Holly Jolly Christmas," and "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." Marks was Jewish. #OTD
November 10, 2025 at 12:33 PM
On this day in 1909, John David Marks was born to write songs, including many we think of as Christmas standards: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "A Holly Jolly Christmas," and "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." Marks was Jewish. #OTD
On this day in 1934, Carl Edward Sagan was born to study the cosmos and bring science to as wide an audience as he could reach. If you were watching PBS in 1980 you probably saw 'Cosmos.' I've met a number of Cornell alums who told me his lectures changed their life . #OTD
November 9, 2025 at 2:35 PM
On this day in 1934, Carl Edward Sagan was born to study the cosmos and bring science to as wide an audience as he could reach. If you were watching PBS in 1980 you probably saw 'Cosmos.' I've met a number of Cornell alums who told me his lectures changed their life . #OTD
On this day in 1968, Parker Christian Posey was born to become the Queen of the Indies, & also one of SUNY Purchase's drama students who never graduated because her career took off. (Gotta represent for Purchase, THE conservatory school of SUNY, and a solid LA one, too). #OTD
November 8, 2025 at 1:52 PM
On this day in 1968, Parker Christian Posey was born to become the Queen of the Indies, & also one of SUNY Purchase's drama students who never graduated because her career took off. (Gotta represent for Purchase, THE conservatory school of SUNY, and a solid LA one, too). #OTD
"...10 data centers in six markets ... that together consume enough energy to power Burlington, Vt., for half a decade."
Makes me wonder if wisdom is the right word in the the oft-used (and abused) phrase "the wisdom of crowds."
Makes me wonder if wisdom is the right word in the the oft-used (and abused) phrase "the wisdom of crowds."
November 8, 2025 at 1:38 PM
"...10 data centers in six markets ... that together consume enough energy to power Burlington, Vt., for half a decade."
Makes me wonder if wisdom is the right word in the the oft-used (and abused) phrase "the wisdom of crowds."
Makes me wonder if wisdom is the right word in the the oft-used (and abused) phrase "the wisdom of crowds."
On this day in 1943, Roberta Joan Anderson was born to become Joni Mitchell, queen of the singer-songwriter era, muse to a generation, writer of songs filled with longing & regret, jazz dabbler & fan of idiosyncratic tunings, although what I like best is her strumming style. #OTD
November 7, 2025 at 7:05 PM
On this day in 1943, Roberta Joan Anderson was born to become Joni Mitchell, queen of the singer-songwriter era, muse to a generation, writer of songs filled with longing & regret, jazz dabbler & fan of idiosyncratic tunings, although what I like best is her strumming style. #OTD
On this day in 1861, James Naismith was born to invent basketball, which sort of makes him father of the NBA & NCAA (he was athletic director of the Jayhawks), so let's just say 31 businesses worth at least $1B each. Nice work for a Canadian immigrant. Just don't tell DJT. #OTD
November 6, 2025 at 1:12 PM
On this day in 1861, James Naismith was born to invent basketball, which sort of makes him father of the NBA & NCAA (he was athletic director of the Jayhawks), so let's just say 31 businesses worth at least $1B each. Nice work for a Canadian immigrant. Just don't tell DJT. #OTD
On this day in 1913, Vivian Mary Hartley was born to become Vivien Leigh and bring vivid characters to life on screen, most notably as Scarlett O'Hara and Blanche DuBois. N.B., both performances were awarded an Academy Award. #OTD
November 5, 2025 at 5:29 PM
On this day in 1913, Vivian Mary Hartley was born to become Vivien Leigh and bring vivid characters to life on screen, most notably as Scarlett O'Hara and Blanche DuBois. N.B., both performances were awarded an Academy Award. #OTD
On this day in 1956, James Honeyman-Scott was born to play guitar and write songs as a founding member of The Pretenders. His distinctive playing was key to their early success and seems to have influenced more than a few players who followed. #OTD
November 4, 2025 at 2:16 PM
On this day in 1956, James Honeyman-Scott was born to play guitar and write songs as a founding member of The Pretenders. His distinctive playing was key to their early success and seems to have influenced more than a few players who followed. #OTD