Sonic the Hedgehog is an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog. He is the protagonist of a video game franchise created by Yuji Naka, and is developed and owned by Sega. The franchise centers on a series of speed-based platform games, but several are spin-offs in different genres. Sonic’s peaceful life is often interrupted by mad scientist Doctor “Eggman” Robotnik. Typically, Sonic—usually along with some of his friends, such as Tails, Amy Rose and Knuckles—must stop Eggman and foil any plans of world domination. The first game in the series, published in 1991, was conceived after Sega requested a mascot character; the title was a success and and transformed Sega into a leading video game company during the 16-bit era in the early to mid-1990s. The series has sold 150 million units as of November 2014, making it one of the best-selling franchises of all time.
Since I had a Sega Genesis instead of a Super Nintendo, Sonic the Hedgehog was a relevant part of my junior high school experience. The decision to choose Sega Genesis over SNES was easy at the time because violent arcade games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, plus EA Sports titles, were important to adolescent me. Oh yeah, and NBA Jam was the best (as covered in my Mike Iuzzolino post).
Garfield is the title character of a comic strip created by Jim Davis. Published since 1978, Garfield chronicles the life of the cat Garfield; his owner, Jon; and Jon’s dog, Odie. As of 2013, it was syndicated in roughly 2,580 newspapers and journals, and held the Guinness World Record for being the world’s most widely syndicated comic strip. Common themes in the strip include Garfield’s laziness, obsessive eating, and disdain of Mondays and diets. Originally created with the intentions to “come up with a good, marketable character,” Garfield has spawned merchandise earning $750 million to $1 billion annually. In addition to the various merchandise and commercial tie-ins, the strip has spawned several animated television specials, television series and movies. Part of the strip’s broad appeal is due to its lack of social or political commentary.
Few things are more banal than a Garfield comic strip, but apparently few things are more profitable than relatable banality. My daughter now has two plush Garfield toys from my 1980s childhood. With one billion dollars in Garfield merchandise sold each year, this lazy cat is difficult to avoid, despite having nothing interesting to say. However, it’s all worth it, because the existential angst of Dan Walsh’s Garfield Minus Garfield is the best.
Snoopy is a pet dog owned by Charlie Brown in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. The original drawings of Snoopy were inspired by Spike, one of Schulz’s childhood dogs. Snoopy is a perpetually innocent and mindlessly happy dog who either fantasizes or dances around in joy. Snoopy cannot talk, so his thoughts are shown in thought balloons. In the animated Peanuts films and television specials, Snoopy’s thoughts are not verbalized; his moods are instead conveyed through growls, sobs, laughter, monosyllabic utterances and pantomime. Snoopy has imagined himself as different things such as a pelican, a vulture, an author and a World War I Flying Ace (in which he battles the Red Baron).
Tony Hawk, nicknamed “The Birdman,” is an American professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk is well-known for completing the first documented 900 and is widely considered one of the most successful and influential pioneers of modern vert skateboarding. His series of licensed video game titles have been published by Activision since 1999. In 2002, Hawk created the Boom Boom HuckJam, an extreme sports exhibition and tour that was launched in Las Vegas. Throughout his career, Hawk has made numerous appearances in films, other media and his own series of video games. He has also been involved in various philanthropic activities, including his own Tony Hawk Foundation that helps to build skateparks in underprivileged areas. Hawk was born on May 12, 1968.
Sugar Ray Robinson was an American professional boxer. Frequently cited as the greatest boxer of all time, Robinson’s performances in the welterweight and middleweight divisions prompted sportswriters to create “pound for pound” rankings, where they compared fighters regardless of weight. Robinson was 85-0 as an amateur with 69 of those victories coming by way of knockout, 40 in the first round. He turned professional in 1940 at the age of 19 and by 1951 had a professional record of 128-1-2 with 84 knockouts. From 1943 to 1951 Robinson went on a 91-fight unbeaten streak, the third longest in professional boxing history. Renowned for his flamboyant lifestyle outside the ring, Robinson is credited with being the originator of the modern sports “entourage.” After his boxing career ended, Robinson attempted a career as an entertainer, but struggled, and was challenged financially until his death. Robinson was born on May 3, 1921 and died on April 12, 1989. In 2006, he was featured on a United States Postal Service commemorative stamp.
The Little Professor is a backwards calculator designed for children ages five to nine. Instead of providing the answer to a mathematical expression entered by the user, it generates unsolved expressions and prompts the user for the answer. The Little Professor was first released by Texas Instruments in 1976. As the first electronic educational toy, the Little Professor is a common item on calculator collectors’ lists. An emulator of the Little Professor for Android was published in 2012.
I still have my Little Professor calculator from the early 1980s in a box somewhere, as well as a couple of Tiger handheld games. I was quite fond of the robotic way the Little Professor spoke. If you play as the Little Professor in my retro artillery game, he throws money. In other money-throwing news, we officially closed on a new house today, and so the laborious process of moving across town begins. Keeping up with any of my hobbies is going to be difficult for a little while.
Ella Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer often referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz and Lady Ella. She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and a “horn-like” improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. In addition to her singing career, Fitzgerald appeared in movies and on popular television shows. Her musical collaborations with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Bill Kenny and the Ink Spots were some of her most notable acts outside of her solo career. After her passing, Fitzgerald’s influence lived on through her 14 Grammy Awards, National Medal of Arts, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and tributes in the form of stamps, music festivals and theater namesakes. Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917 and died on June 15, 1996.
Wolverine is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the X-Men. Born James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant who possesses animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities (including three retractable claws housed within each forearm) and a healing factor. He has been depicted variously as a member of the X-Men, Alpha Flight and the Avengers. Wolverine is typical of the many tough antiheroes that emerged in American popular culture after the Vietnam War; his willingness to use deadly force and his brooding nature became standard characteristics for comic book antiheroes by the end of the 1980s. As a fan-favorite character, Wolverine has appeared in most X-Men adaptations, including animated TV series, video games and the live-action X-Men film series.
Maria Sharapova is a Russian professional tennis player. She is currently ranked No. 2 on the WTA Tour. A U.S. resident since 1994, Sharapova has competed on the WTA tour since 2001. She has been ranked world No. 1 in singles by the WTA on five separate occasions. She became the world No. 1 for the first time in 2005 and last held the ranking in 2012. Sharapova’s 34 singles titles and five Grand Slam titles—two at the French Open and one each at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open—rank third among active players, behind Serena Williams and Venus Williams. Sharapova is the reigning champion in singles at the French Open. She won a silver medal for Russia at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Sharapova was born on April 19, 1987.
My wife, daughter and I returned to Oregon late last night after visiting family in Pennsylvania. Today we will be attending Linework NW, a free illustration and comics festival in Portland. It starts at noon at the Norse Hall, which is in Northeast Portland near Voodoo Doughnut Too. Last night we stayed at the Nordic Motel (fairly close to the airport), so I guess between Norse and Nordic we’re accidentally pretending to be visiting Scandinavia today?
Roshanna Chatterji (also known as Tremor) is a superhero in the DC Universe with the ability to create vibrations, giving her the power to create earthquakes or disrupt land. Tremor is Bengali and was born in India, where she discovered her ability to move the earth with shockwaves. She frequently displayed her powers, which led to people calling her a witch. She moved to the U.S., where she quickly made new friends, before an alcohol-fueled joyride changed her life. Tremor was created by Gail Simone and Jim Calafiore and first appeared in the Secret Six comics. She also appears within the rebooted Prime Earth (or the New 52) continuity, in The Movement comic book series. Tremor, a teenager, is asexual, making her the only known asexual superhero in either DC Comics or Marvel.
Dana Scully is a fictional character in the science fiction-supernatural television series The X-Files (1993-2002) played by Gillian Anderson. Scully is an FBI agent, partnered with fellow Special Agent Fox Mulder for the first seven seasons, and in the eighth and ninth seasons partnered with John Doggett. In the TV series, they work out of a cramped basement office at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. to investigate unsolved cases labeled “X-Files.” In contrast to Mulder’s “believer” character, Scully is the skeptic for the first seven seasons, choosing to base her beliefs on what science can prove. She later on becomes a “believer” after Mulder’s abduction at the end of season seven. Scully also appears in the feature films The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998) and The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008).
FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, portrayed by Kyle MacLachlan, is a fictional character and the protagonist of the television series Twin Peaks (1990-91), created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. Cooper is an eccentric FBI agent who arrives in Twin Peaks in 1989 to investigate the brutal murder of popular high school student Laura Palmer. He displays an array of quirky mannerisms such as giving a “thumbs up” when satisfied, sage-like sayings, a distinctive sense of humor, and a love for good cherry pie and a “damn fine cup of coffee” (which he takes black). One of his habits is speaking into a microcassette recorder, through which he addresses a mysterious woman named “Diane.” Cooper briefly appears in the 1992 prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.
Note: The Twin Peaks pilot episode was first broadcast 25 years ago, on April 8, 1990. It was recently announced that MacLachlan will return as Cooper for a nine-episode continuation of Twin Peaks in 2016. The new limited series will be set in present day, picking up 25 years after the events of the 1991 finale. It will air on Showtime.
Maya Angelou was an American author, poet, dancer, actress and singer. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays and several books of poetry, and was credited in plays, movies and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Angelou is best known for her series of autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim. Her books center on themes such as racism, identity, family and travel. Angelou was active in the Civil Rights Movement, and worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. She was born on April 4, 1928 and died on May 28, 2014.
Stanley Burrell, known professionally as M.C. Hammer, is an American rapper, dancer and entrepreneur. Widely considered the first “mainstream” rapper, he has sold more than 50 million records worldwide. Hammer had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the late 1990s. Remembered for his rapid rise to fame, Hammer is known for hit records (such as “U Can’t Touch This” and “2 Legit 2 Quit“), flashy dance movements, choreography and parachute-like Hammer pants. Hammer’s superstar-status and entertaining showmanship made him a household name and hip-hop icon. In 1995, Hammer signed with Suge Knight’s Death Row Records, but filed for bankruptcy one year later due to dwindling album sales and a lavish lifestyle. In 1997, Hammer became an ordained minister and hosted a Christian ministry program called M.C. Hammer and Friends. He was born on March 30, 1962.
Peyton Manning is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). A five-time NFL MVP, he played for the Indianapolis Colts for 14 seasons (1998-2011). Manning was chosen by the Colts with the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. His playing career and statistics have ranked him among the greatest quarterbacks of all time. From 1998 to 2010, Manning led the Colts to eight division championships, two AFC championships and one Super Bowl championship (Super Bowl XLI). Manning’s pre-snap routine has earned him the nickname “The Sheriff,” and he is one of the most recognizable and parodied NFL players (e.g., Manning Face). He was born on March 24, 1976.
Kyrie Irving is an American professional basketball point guard for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. He was born in Melbourne, Australia but grew up in New Jersey. He played collegiately at Duke University and was selected first in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Cavaliers. In the NBA, Irving has achieved a number of accolades including being the 2011-12 NBA Rookie of the Year and the 2014 NBA All-Star Game MVP. In the ongoing 2014-15 NBA season, Irving owns the top two highest-scoring games. On January 28, he scored 55 points against Portland, including 11 three-pointers. On March 12, he scored a career-high 57 points against San Antonio. Irving was born on March 23, 1992.
Anthony Davis, Jr., nicknamed “The Brow” for his trademark unibrow, is an American professional basketball power forward/center for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans. In his one season of college basketball at the University of Kentucky, Davis was the consensus national player of the year. He was selected first overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by New Orleans, and is a two-time NBA All-Star. Davis won a gold medal on the U.S. national team at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He was born in Chicago on March 11, 1993.
Russell Westbrook Jr. is an American professional basketball point guard for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. He has established himself as one of the most athletic players in NBA history and attacks the basket relentlessly. Westbrook played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins and was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics who then relocated to Oklahoma City six days later. Westbrook is a four-time NBA All-Star, and he was named the 2015 NBA All-Star Game MVP. He won a gold medal on the U.S. national team at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Jaime Meline, better known by his stage name El-P (originally El Producto), is an American hip-hop recording artist, record producer, rapper and entrepreneur from Brooklyn. Originally a member of Company Flow, El-P has been a major driving force in alternative hip-hop for more than two decades. He is the co-founder, owner and CEO of the Definitive Jux record label. His solo albums include Fantastic Damage (2002) and I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead (2007). El-P is also a member of The Weathermen and art collective Cardboard City (along with Cage, Shia LaBoeuf, Aesop Rock, Yak Ballz and others). In 2013, he formed the hip-hop duo Run the Jewels, with frequent collaborator Killer Mike, and has released two RTJ albums. El-P was born on March 2, 1975.
My favorite song from Run the Jewels 2 (2014) is the excellent final track, “Angel Duster.” Also, five years ago, I uploaded a 12-song Definitive Jux 2010 playlist to 8tracks. It’s a 2001-2009 retrospective of some favorite Def Jux tracks in response to El-P’s announcement that the label was going on hiatus and he was stepping down as artistic director. Feel free to listen to the playlist in honor of El-P’s 40th birthday. Or in honor of my 36th birthday, which is tomorrow.
Antoine “Fats” Domino Jr. is an American pianist and singer-songwriter. He released five gold records before 1955 and had 35 nationally charted hits. Domino has a music style based on traditional rhythm and blues ensembles of bass, piano, electric guitar, drums and saxophone. He was an important influence on the music of the 1960s and 1970s and was acknowledged as such by top artists, including John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Of French Creole background, Domino was born in New Orleans on February 26, 1928 and lives there to this day. He even tried to stay at home during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which heavily flooded his neighborhood.
Sonic the Hedgehog – No. 874
Sonic the Hedgehog is an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog. He is the protagonist of a video game franchise created by Yuji Naka, and is developed and owned by Sega. The franchise centers on a series of speed-based platform games, but several are spin-offs in different genres. Sonic’s peaceful life is often interrupted by mad scientist Doctor “Eggman” Robotnik. Typically, Sonic—usually along with some of his friends, such as Tails, Amy Rose and Knuckles—must stop Eggman and foil any plans of world domination. The first game in the series, published in 1991, was conceived after Sega requested a mascot character; the title was a success and and transformed Sega into a leading video game company during the 16-bit era in the early to mid-1990s. The series has sold 150 million units as of November 2014, making it one of the best-selling franchises of all time.
Since I had a Sega Genesis instead of a Super Nintendo, Sonic the Hedgehog was a relevant part of my junior high school experience. The decision to choose Sega Genesis over SNES was easy at the time because violent arcade games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, plus EA Sports titles, were important to adolescent me. Oh yeah, and NBA Jam was the best (as covered in my Mike Iuzzolino post).