Happy birthday, astronaut Bob Behnken!

Robert Louis Behnken, born July 28, 1970 in St. Ann, Missouri, has been to space three times.  He earned a BS in mechanical engineering and phusics from Washington University in St. Louis.  Then he earned an MS and PhD in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology.

He entered the Air Force and after graduating he flew the F-15 and F-16.

His first trip into space aboard Endeavour (STS-123) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in March 2008. He spent almost 16 days in space.

Behnken's second trip was also aboard Endeavour (STS-130) as mission specialist to the ISS in February 2010. He spent almost 14 days in space.

His third and final trip was aboard Crew Dragon Endeavour Demo-2 as Joint operations commander to the ISS in May 2020. He remained on the space station as part of Expedition 63 before returning to Earth in August 2020. He spent 63 days in space. 

Who is Bob Behnken? 

"Gamera vs. Jiger" released 1970

Gamera vs. Jiger, released March 21, 1970 in Japan, is the sixth movie in the Gamera franchise.  When a statue on Wester Island in the Pacific Ocean is requested for an exhibition for Japan's Expo '70, a tribal member tries to prevent the removal of the statue.  However, removal of the statue proceeds and Gamera shows up to hamper the process.  Only the children seem to know that Gamera isn't a threat, but the statue is removed.  

Soon Jiger appears and Gamera must come to the rescue of Osaka.  Interestingly, Gamera uses his smarts rather than his brute strength to win the day.

Happy birthday, astronaut Matthias Maurer!

Matthias Maurer, born March 18, 1970 in West Germany, is an astronaut with the European Space Agency. He went into space as part of SpaceX Crew-3, launched in November 2021 to the International Space Station. He participated in Expeditions 66-67 and spent over 176 days in space.  He returned to Earth in May 2022.

Happy birthday, astronaut David Saint-Jacques!

David Saint-Jacques, born January 6, 1970 in Quebec City, Canada, went into space aboard Soyuz MS-11 to the International Space Station in December 2018.  He participated in Expeditions 57-59 and conducted an EVA for 6 hours, 29 minutes.  He spent almost 204 days in space before returning to Earth in June 2019.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Luis Negrón, Lambda Literary Award winner

Luis Negron, born in Guyama, Puerto Rico in 1970, is a writer, living in Santurce, Puerto Rico.  His debut short story collection, Mundo Cruel, was published in 2010.  Its stories focus on gay life in Santurce, and has been printed five times in Spanish, and an English translation was published in 2013.  

Mundo Cruel won the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction at the 26th Lambda Literary Awards in 2014.

Luna 16, first lunar sample return mission, lands 1970

Luna 16, the first successful lunar sample return mission, landed on Earth September 24, 1970. The main spacecraft was launched September 12 and landed on the dark side of the moon. Within an hour of landing, Luna 16 deployed an automatic drill.  It reached a depth of 35 cm and withdrew about 101 grams sample of lunar soil. The upper stage lifted off from the moon on September 21 and parachuted down, successfully landing in Kazakhstan September 24, 1970.

Celebrating Black History Month: Happy birthday, Emmy winning actress Niecey Nash

Actress, comedienne, director, and producer, Niecey Nash, born February 23, 1970 in Palmdale, California, recently won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her performance in Monster.  It was her fifth nomination. She also won an Image Award from NAACP, Critics Choice Award, and a Gold Derby for her work.   She was also nominated for her role in Monster for a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, OFTA Television Award, Women's Image Network Award, International Online Cinema Awards, Black Reel Award, Critics Choice Super Awards, Pena de Prata, Awards Daily Cooler Awards, and Astra Television Awards.

We came to love her when we watched Reno 911! and Clean House, so it is so wonderful to see her win a prestigious award like this.

Congratulations on your win, Niecey!

"The Carol Burnett Show" wins two Golden Globe Awards 1970

Since I had just turned 7 the September before, I'm not familiar with many of the movies and television shows in 1969, that were nominated and awarded a Golden Globe at the 27th annual ceremony, held February 2, 1969.

I am very familiar with The Carol Burnett Show, which we watched loyally every Saturday night.  The show won two Golden Globes that evening. The first was for Best Television Series: Musical or Comedy, beating Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in.

Carol Burnett tied for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy with Julie Sommars of The Governor & J.J., which I've never heard of either of them. They beat some stiff competition: Lucille Ball, Diahann Carroll, Barbara Eden, and Debbie Reynolds. 

Goldie Hawn won Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture for her performance in Cactus Flower. John Wayne won Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama for True Grit. I haven't seen either one of these movies, but I do like Goldie Hawn. 

Luna 16 launched 1970

Luna 16, launched by the Soviet Union September 12, 1970, was the first probe to land on the moon and then return a sample of the lunar soil to Earth.  It landed in the Sea of Fertility (Mare Fecunditatis) at night September 20, becoming the first night landing.  A drill pierced the lunar surface and obtained a sample of about 101 g.  On September 21, the upper stage blasted off from the moon and returned to Earth three days later. 

Celebrating Black History Month: Alphonso Lofton, first African-American Florida Highway Patrol trooper

Alphonso Lofton was the first African-American trooper in the Florida Highway Patrol. He joined the patrol in 1970 after witnessing an FHP trooper investigating a hit-and-run accident.  After graduating from the academy, he was assigned to Field Operations in Miami's Troop E, and in 1973, he was promoted to Traffic Homicide Investigator.  He became a recruiter in 1981 to encourage more African-Americans into the FHP. 

He received the Martin Luther King Brotherhood Award.  He passed away in 1984 at 39 from multiple sclerosis.

In 2019, he was inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers' Hall of Fame.

Happy birthday, Star Wars/Harry Potter actor Warwick Davis!

Warwick Davis, born February 3, 1970 in Surrey, England, has appeared in several Star Wars movies and all of the Harry Potter movies.  He was 11 years old when his grandmother encouraged him to audition for Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, when she heard they were looking for people under 4 feet tall.  He was cast as an extra and was given the role of Wicket, when Kenny Baker, who was originally cast in the role, fell ill.  Davis plays the Ewok who finds Leia in the woods.  

He's appeared in Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, Star Wars Episode 1: Phantom Menace, Episode VII: The Force Awakens, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

After the success of Return of the Jedi, he was cast in the title role in Willow.  He played Professor Flitwick in the Harry Potter movies.

Happy birthday, actress Essie Davis!

We came to love multi-talented and lovely actress Essie Davis, born January 19, 1970 in Tasmania, Australia, in her role as Miss Phryne Fisher, solver of mysteries.  She had a short sting on Game of Thrones, but she has won many accolades and awards for her performance in the horror flick, The Babadook.

After the Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries series ended, she reprised her role in the made for television movie Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears.

I really hope she continues to enthrall us in future Miss Fisher movies.

Luna 17 launched 1970

Luna 17, launched November 10, 1970, delivered Lunokhod 1, the first robotic rover to the moon.  The spacecraft reached the moon November 15 and landed on Nov 17.  Lunokhod 1 had eight wheels that could be controlled independently and could travel up to 100 m/hr or about 0.062 mph.  

During its mission, it traveled 10.5 km, returned over 20,000 images, and performed 25 soil samples.  The last communication with Lunokhod 1 occurred on September 14, 1971.  On October 4, attempts to reestablish contact ceased.

The 5th Dimension wins two Grammys 1970

The 5th Dimension, a singing group from Los Angeles, won two Grammys at the 12th ceremony March 11, 1970 for their song Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In. They won the Grammy for Record of the Year for producer Bones Howe.  They also won the award for Pop, Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Group.  

Happy birthday, astronaut Chris Cassidy!

Christopher Cassidy, born January 4, 1970 in Salem, Massachusetts, has been in space three times. He was a Navy Seal for ten years before being selected as an astronaut by NASA in May 2004.  

His first trip into space was aboard Endeavour (STS-127) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in July 2009.  He conducted three EVAs with fellow astronauts David Wolf and Thomas Marshburn for a total of over 18 hours.

His second flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-08M to the International Space Station in March 2013.  He participated in Expeditions 35 and 36.  He stayed aboard for over 166 days before returning to Earth in September 2013.

His third flight was aboard Soyuz MS-16 to the International Space Station in April 2020.  He participated in Expeditions 62 and 63.  He stayed aboard for almost 196 days before returning to Earth in October 2020.

Celebrating Pride Month: First Los Angeles Pride Parade 1970

The first gay pride parade in Los Angeles was held June 28, 1970, the day after the first pride parade was held in Chicago.  The parades were started to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots which occurred in New York City in 1969.

Celebrating Black History Month: Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, African-American female mayor of Baltimore

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, born March 17, 1970, is the second African-American woman to serve as mayor of Baltimore, Maryland.  In 1995, she became the youngest person elected to the Baltimore City Council, representing Districts 5 and 6.

She became President of the Council in January 2007 and became acting mayor when Sheila Dixon resigned from office in February 2010.

Rawlings-Blake sought a full-term mayor in 2011 and won, getting 84% of the vote.  After criticism of her handling of the 2015 Baltimore Riots, she announced that she would not seek re-election in the 2016 race.

Happy birthday, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui!

Kimiya Yui, born January 30, 1970 in Japan, has spent 141 days in space aboard the International Space Station.  He went aboard Soyuz TMA-17M in July 2015 and served as part of Expeditions 44 and 45.  He returned to Earth December 2015.

Prior to going to space, Yui was an aquanaut in the Aquarius Underwater Laboratory in June 2012.  He was part of expedition NEEMO 16.

Simon and Garfunkel release "Bridge over Troubled Water" 1970

Simon and Garfunkel released Bridge Over Troubled Water, their fifth and final album January 26, 1970.  The single of the same name was released just a few days prior. 

The album and single won seven Grammys: Album of the Year, Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists, Best Engineered Recording, Contemporary Song, Record of the Year, Song of the Year.  It has been certified 8 x platinum.  Rolling Stone ranked the album No. 51 on the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and the single as No. 48 on the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The Boxer, another single from the album released in March 1969, was another success, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Rolling Stone ranked it No. 106 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

"The Aristocats" released 1970

Disney's animated film The Aristocats was released December 24, 1970 to positive reviews.  It was also well-received in Europe.  It was the most popular "general release" in Britain for 1971 and the most popular film in France and Germany for 1971.

Eva Gabor voiced the main character Duchess.  Brother Richard and Robert Sherman composed several songs for the movie but only Scales and Arpeggios was included.  The soundtrack features more jazzy sound than previous movies.