Today in Tech History: May 2, 2008 Video
Today in Tech History: May 2, 2008 Video Transcript
Hey there, I'm Molly Wood. Its May 2, 2008. Here's what happened today in tech history. The Brits have a lot of landmarks on May second. For example, in 1952, the British-designed de Havilland Comet 1 made its maiden voyage and became the world's first jet airliner. That first flight went from London to Johannesburg. Unfortunately, after it went into commercial production, Comet aircraft were involved in several disastrous and some fatal accidents as a result of metal fatigue. It was pulled out of service, but future Comet models had successful careers. May 2, 1969 saw the maiden launch of the British Ocean Liner Queen Elizabeth 2, to New York City. And 2002 brought the death of W.T. Tutte, the British codebreaker who made a major breakthrough on German codes during World War II that significantly advanced the Allied invasion of Europe. Meanwhile, back in America, on this date in 2005, the last car was produced at the 100-year-old Lansing Car Assembly plant -- and it was a Pontiac Grand Am. The plant was the longest-operating in the U.S. when it closed four days later, and it was also the plant that built the last Oldsmobile (back on April 29th). And that'll do it for today, my friends. See you tomorrow for more tech throughout the ages.
Related Videos
"Queen Elizabeth and the Battle of Tilbury"
The story of Queen Elizabeth and the Battle of Tilbury is told.
Acclaimed filmmaker Paul Greengrass ("The Bourne Supremacy") writes and directs an unflinching drama that tells the story of the passengers and crew, their families on the ground and the flight controllers who watched in dawning horror as United Airlines Flight 93 became the fourth hijacked plane on the day of the worst terrorist attacks on American soil: September 11, 2001. "United 93" recreates the doomed trip in actual time, from takeoff to hijacking to the realization by those onboard that their plane was part of a coordinated attack unfolding on the ground beneath them. The film attempts to understand the abject fear and courageous decisions of those who--over the course of just 90 minutes--transformed from a random assembly of disconnected strangers into bonded allies who confronted an unthinkable situation. Greengrass, known for films such as "Resurrected" and "Bloody Sunday," brings to United 93 a history of compassionate filmmaking that has explored some of the most troubled incidents of recent world history--when politics turns to violence, when beliefs slip into zealotry. As there is no perfect record of the hijacking's exact details and hostage retaliation, Greengrass takes a careful hand and partially improvises the events with an ensemble cast of unknown actors who were given studies of their UA Flight 93 counterparts. "United 93" intends to dignify the memory of those on that flight, the men and women whose sacrifice remains one of the most heroic legacies of the incomprehensible tragedies that unfolded on that autumn morning.
Kacey Jones: "San Francisco Mabel Joy"
She's been virtually the laughing stock of the music industry for years. She's been laughed at outside the Nashville city limits by the likes of People Magazine, USA Today, Billboard, and on National Public Radio as Garrison Keillor's special guest on "A Prairie Home Companion." With KACEY JONES there's a lot to laugh about. Her new CD on IGO Records, "The Sweet Potato Queens' Big-Ass Box of Music," proves that Kacey Jones won't be taken seriously anytime soon. The follow-up to her last music-comedy project, "Never Wear Panties to a Party," the newest creation is not only bottomless in comedy appeal, but in establishing the vocal talent and comedy genius caught in the grooves. In the hard work-a-day world of carving a national name as one of the brightest new musical humorists to break through in recent years, Kacey Jones is used to breaking the mold. Singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, producer, and publisher--all distinct descriptions that fit only one unique piece of this puzzle. When completely assembled, the one that emerges is one of a delightful, born and bred in the San Francisco Bay Area, madcap redhead who sees the world at large with laser perception and a funny tilt. The naked truth is that many of the songs on "The Sweet Potato Queens' Big-Ass Box of Music" were divinely inspired by three best-selling Sweet Potato Queen books written by Kacey's friend and ally, Jill Conner Browne. "The Sweet Potato Queen's Big-Ass Cookbook & Financial Planner" written by Conner Browne and published by Three Rivers Press/Random House, hit #1 on the NY Times bestseller list for three weeks in March of 2003. Boasting a worldwide membership of 50,000, the Sweet Potato Queens can also boast that Kacey Jones holds the Official Title: "Royal Minstrel To The Sweet Potato Queens' Court" among the ranks of those who consider the sweet potato a sacred vegetable and have raised its perception to a national art form. If it all seems off the wall, it's totally sane in the world of Kacey. Hers was, after all, the brilliant mind that conceived one of Nashville's most unique and revered cult groups, the all-girl "Ethel and The Shameless Hussies," who broke above the waves in the late 80's to mainstream nominations as "Comedy Act of the Year," as well as a major contract with MCA Records. As lead singer and lead comedy writer, Kacey put the Shameless Hussies on America's national radar. Further proving that her talents could produce more than just a few good laughs, Kacey went into the studio with legendary cult artist, Kinky Friedman, only to emerge as the producer of his critically acclaimed project, "Pearls in the Snow." The album reached the #1 spot on the Americana radio chart in 1999. She added further weight to her professional portfolio by producing tracks for Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Tom Waits, Dwight Yoakam and Delbert McClinton for the same project. Movies were next to fall under the spell. Kacey contributed three original songs to the soundtrack of the award winning cult film, "Sordid Lives" starring Beau Bridges, Olivia-Newton-John, Delta Burke, Bonnie Bedalia, and Leslie Jordan. Could television be next? The WB Television Network currently has a sitcom in development titled, "The Sweet Potato Queens." "I hitched my wagon to the Sweet Potato Queens' rising star four years ago," stated Jones in a recent interview, "I've got 50,000 fabulous women (and a few Spud Studs) who worship me like I'm their Elvisit's a Royal ride and I'm enjoying every minute of it." The simultaneous release of "The Sweet Potato Queens' Big-Ass Box of Music" and a three-book-box-set by Conner Browne titled, "The Sweet Potato Queen's Big-Ass Box of Love," may just be the puff of wind under the dress that lifts Kacey Jones' career to new comedy heights.
Kleinrock created the basic principle of packet switching, which underpins the Internet. A decade later, his host computer at UCLA became the first node on the Internet. In an interview with CNET News.com's Marguerite Reardon, Kleinrock says today's tech companies have more competition and less money.
Planet CNET: Another Apple first
This world roundup includes the grand opening of the first Apple Store in the southern hemisphere; the reason people in Japan are talking to plants; and a car tech test that will make you LOL.
Director Garry Tutte directs DL in this dance-centric club clip for Verbalerity,the second single off Life's A Collection of Experiences. DL looks pretty comfortable in the room of muted burgundy, gold and chocolate, rocking a white track jacket with popped collar and making eyes at the lady at the bar. He's entitled to be feeling pretty good; Life's A Collection was Juno-nominated and his next LP, Organic Music For A Digital World is due March 2006. - MuchMusic
Contaminated food and water and a lack of medicine lead to health problems. CNN's Elizabeth Cohen reports. (August 30)
Hurricane Katrina victims need your help. Donate to the Red Cross today.
CNN's Elizabeth Cohen has a troubling report on what exactly might be in the floodwaters in New Orleans. (September 7)
Hurricane Katrina victims need your help. Donate to the Red Cross today.
With one foot in the early roots of her career as a "dance artist" and the other foot planted firmly into the sound of "future disco", Madonna returned to the clubs with a vengeance when CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE FLOOR was released by Warner Bros. Records on November 15, 2005.
Recorded in London, Confessions features songs primarily co-written and co-produced by Madonna and Stuart Price, producer, mixer and DJ-supreme ( Les Rythmes Digitales, Jaques Le Cont). Price was Madonna's musical director on her 2002 Drowned World Tour and last summer's Reinvention Tour. Additional producers and co-writers include Henrik Jonback, Grammy Award-winning team Bloodshy & Avant, and Anders Bagge + Peer Astrom from Murlyn Music collective. In addition Mirwais Ahmadzai, the producer of Madonna's last two albums American Life and Music, contributed two songs and co-produced one track. The song "Jump" was co written by previous Madonna collaborator, artist, and producer Joe Henry (Don't Tell Me).
The 404 368: Where we're rollin' with the homies
We love having guests on the show, but it's always good to get back to our bread and butter: making fun of silly tech news! Today we cover several stories that've slipped through the cracks, including the new Alice in Wonderland movie, a new autotune iPhone application in the works, a new Queen of text messaging, and a huge calls from the public.
