Today is….Sept.17:

1. National Monte Cristo Day..Sept.17
   1. So you think having holidays for food is silly? Well there is one for spaghetti, pizza, and fried chicken to name a few.  Last Friday it was the hot dog and the first ‘TV Dinner’ and today it’s the famous Monte Cristo Sandwich!!  Here’s to making a good thing even greater.  And that’s the Monte Cristo.  It is said that on a foggy day in the Bay Area of SoCal in the 60’s a miracle emerged from a chef’s kitchen.  Starting with the classic club sandwich, it’s usually sourdough bread, (sometimes with turkey or chicken), ham and cheese.  Then dipped in a French toast batter and grilled golden brown and melty, topped with a little maple syrup and a splash of powdered sugar, and sometimes a side of jam for dipping. It’s both sweet and savory. This treat can be breakfast, lunch or dinner.  It is said to be a variation of the French ‘croque monsier’ or “Mister Crunchy”. 
   2. In California it gained in popularity in 1966 after the Blue Bayou Restaurant in Disneyland (New Orleans Square) began serving it and is still serving it after all these years.
2. Rice Krispies Treat Day..Sept.18
   1941. Now you’re talkin’!! A true reason to rejoice!! Rice Krispies cereal was introduced by the Kellogg’s Company for the first time in 1928 and was a moderate success.  The “treat” was made by the combination of Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal and a mix of margarine or butter and melted marshmallows. The Rice Krispies marshmallow squares were created by 2 Kellogg’s employees Malitta Jensen and Mildred Day in 1939 at the Kellogg Company Home Economics Department.  It took two weeks to perfect the recipe and was part of a fund-raising treat for a Camp Fire Girl’s Group as well as a way to promote the cereal itself.  It appeared in newspapers in 1940 and then on cereal boxes in 1941.  Their original recipe has never changed.  It’s a product that has helped make Kellogg’s a household name.
   1942. The largest Rice Krispies Treat was made in La Canada, CA. It was 10,314 pounds  and 12 feet by 6 feet by 7 feet according to Guinness World Records.
3. World Bamboo Day…Sept.18
   1. This holiday is to increase awareness of bamboo globally to protect natural resources and the environment. The World Bamboo Organization says “its time to plant bamboo”!!  Engineered bamboo products are in more markets gaining acceptance and  if we are to use more bamboo we need to plant it as well.  Bamboo is resilient and adaptable and grows quickly.  Its extensive root systems reduces erosion, stabilizes slopes, absorbs heavy metals, creates shade, harbors wildlife and cleans the air.
   2. Bamboo also provides habitat for a number of animals like the giant panda, red panda, mountain gorilla, and the greater bamboo lemur. All these animals rely on bamboo for food and shelter, as well as a tiny bat that lives in bamboo beetle holes.
   3. It is estimated that 2.5 billion people trade or use bamboo and depend on it for food, construction materials, handicrafts, acupuncture needles even musical instruments.
   4. Half the world’s 1,200 species of woody bamboo is facing extinction of because of forest destruction.
   5. This day is to raise awareness of the benefits of bamboo and to promote the planting of it. Usually there are bamboo planting ceremonies, 5K races, contests and other events scheduled around the world.

Famous People’s Birthdays:

1. Roddy McDowall…Sept.17,1928-1998
   1. Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall was an American British born actor, director and photographer. McDowall was born in London. Both parents were enthusiastic about the theatre..  He appeared as a child model as a baby and appeared in several films as a boy.  After winning an acting prize in a school play at age nine he started appearing in films.  After his family moved to the United States his career began in Hollywood with a part in “Man Hunt” directed by Fritz Lang.  Roddy’s next film was “How Green Is My Valley” and where McDowall met lifelong friend Maureen O’Hara.  The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
   2. A few years later he starred in “Lassie Come Home” and was introduced to another lifelong friend, Elizabeth Taylor.
   3. Over the years he continued to work in theatre and moved to New York City where he began appearing in television in the 1950’s as well as becoming a success on the Broadway stage.
   4. In the 60’s he moved back to Hollywood and appeared in Cleopatra, The Longest Day and starred on several television series such as the Alfred Hitchcock Hour. In 1968 he appeared in one of his memorable roles as the ape Cornelius in “Planet of the Apes” later appearing in three sequels.
   5. What is not widely known is that McDowall received recognition as a photographer working with Look, Vogue, Collier’s and Life. He published five books of photographs featuring interviews of his celebrity friends like Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, Judy Holliday, Katharine Hepburn and Lauren Bacall.
   6. In 1974 the FBI raided McDowall’s house and seized his collection of films and television series in the course of an investigation into film piracy and copyright infringement. His collection consisted of 160 16mm prints and more than 1000 video cassettes at a time before the era of commercial videotapes.  McDowall had purchased Errol Flynn’s home cinema films and transferred them all to tape for long lasting archival storage.  No charges were filed.
   7. Roddy McDowall starred in over 55 films, numerous television series and shows as well as stage productions and radio appearances.
   8. In 1998 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored him by naming its photo archive after him. The collection which includes several million negatives and stills is known as the Roddy McDowall Photograph Archive.

1. Did you know?
   1950. *Roddy was an accomplished ballroom dancer. He won both the Charleston and Cha-Cha contests on The Arthur Murray Party in 1950. 
   1951. *He was considered for the role of Pennywise the Clown in the horror “It” television miniseries..the role went to Tim Curry (from Rocky Horror Picture Show)
2. Short List of Roddy McDowall films
   1. The Longest Day…1962, directed by Darryl Zanuck and 4 others, starred John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Richard Burton, Robert Mitchum, Sean Connery, Robert Ryan, film nominated for 5 Oscars and won 2
   2. Inside Daisy Clover…1965, director Robert Mulligan, starred Natalie Wood, Robert Redford and Christopher Plummer, Ruth Gordon, film nominated for 3 Oscars

• Planet of the Apes…1968, director Franklin J. Schaffner, screenplay by Rod Serling, starred Charlton Heston, Kim Hunter and James Whitmore, film nominated for 3 Oscars and won for Honorary Award to John Chambers for Make-Up

1. The Poseidon Adventure…1972, director Ronald Neame, starred Ernest Borgnine, Gene Hackman, Shelley Winters, Stella Stevens, Red Buttons, film nominated for 9 AA awards and won for Best Music and the Special Achievement Award for Special Effects
2. The Legend of Hell House…1973 director John Hough, writer Richard Matheson based on his novel “Hill House”, starred Michael Gough, Gayle Hunnicutt and Ronald Culver
3. Fright Night..1985, director Tom Holland, starred Chris Sarandon, William Rasdale

NASA Nelly…Betty and Barney Hill’s adventure.

The Rant started last week concerning Dave Ramsey continues:

“…you’ll pay a hefty mortgage insurance premium that protects the lender (not you) against any losses.”

FALSE. The primary purpose of the Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) is to pay for losses resulting from the non-recourse nature of the product. This is primarily for the benefit of the borrower and their heirs as well as the investor who owns the paper. That lender would likely not have made that same loan—for the benefit of the borrower without the guarantee from the FHA mortgage insurance.

“You are also required to take a loan for the maximum amount you qualify for.” 

FALSE. Not only is false, but the Federal Government PROHIBITS borrowers from taking all the proceeds up front unless needed to pay off large mortgage balances at closing. This has been HUD’s policy since 2013 called “initial disbursement limits.”

“The interest rates that they’re calculated at are horrendously bad.”

FALSE. For most of years since beginning in 1988 HECM rates have been at, or below conforming interest rates.

“Servicing fees. These are another monthly expense coming your way with a reverse mortgage.”

FALSE. While HUD permits the use of Servicing Fees, we haven’t been seen a HECM servicing fee in over 10 years.

The federally insured reverse mortgage product is continually improving with new consumer protections and long-term advantages for those who wish to age-in-place. Do your own research and don’t let radio personalities with little knowledge about a product impact your retirement cash flow decisions.

2. Edgar G. Ulmer…Sept.17, 1904-1972
   1. Edgar Georg Ulmer was an American-Austrian film director who mainly worked on Hollywood B movies.  He was called “The King of PRC”, known as the Producers Releasing Corporation which was the less prestigious of the Hollywood film studios. A  stretch of Gower Street in Hollywood called “Poverty Row” was known for being the headquarters of low budget production companies (because the rent was cheap).  Many of these companies would make only a few B pictures and disappear. 
   2. Edgar was born in Olomouc (which is now the Czech Republic). He worked as a stage actor and set designer while studying architecture.  He served as an apprentice with German film director F.W. Murnau and  they both came to Hollywood in 1926.
   3. His first big film as director was “The Black Cat” with Bela Lagosi and Boris Karloff which became a big success. He eventually found a niche making melodramas on tiny budgets  His film “Detour” was selected by the Library of Congress among the first group of 100 American films worthy of special preservation.
   4. In commemoration of the 30^th anniversary of his death a 3-day symposium of lectures and screening was held at NYC’s New School (a school dedicated to academic freedom and a home for progressive thinkers). Among the many projects that they initiated was also launching the Philip Glass Institute.
   5. Edgar directed over 50 films.
   6. Short List of Edgar Ulmer films
      1934. The Black iiCat…1934..starring Bela Lagosi, Boris Karloff,
      1935. *Trivia: When movie music was usually limited to titles and credits Edgar had an almost continuous background score. This was the first film collaboration of Lugosi and Karloff, the beginning of many.

• Detour…1945, starring Tom Neal, Ann Savage, Edmund Mac Donald

1951. The Man from Planet X..1951..starring Robert Clarke, Willliam Schallert, Margaret Field (Sally Field’s Mother)
1952. *Trivia: To stretch his budget Edgar was able to use sets from the big budget film Joan of Arc. It was filmed in 6 days.  Robert Clark’s pay for the whole film including overtime was $210.  Pat Goldin who played the spaceman, complained about billing, short pay and the heat of the costume.  Edgar designed the moon, spaceship, and glass paintings to expedite the production and cut down on expenses.

1. The Amazing Transparent Man..1960, starring James Griffith, Douglas Kennedy,
2. Beyond the Time Barrier…1960, starring Robert Clarke, Darlene Tompkins and John van Dreelen

3. Edgar Mitchell…Sept. 17, 1930-2016
   1. Edgar Mitchell was a US Navy Officer, ufologist, a Nasa astronaut and the sixth person to walk on the Moon.
   2. Mitchell was born in Hereford, Texas. He came from a ranching family and received his pilot license at 16.  While on active duty in the Navy he earned a second bachelor’s degree in aeronautics, was selected in 1966 as part of the fifth astronaut group and was assigned to the crew to Apollo 14.
   3. In 1971 the Apollo 14 crew stayed on the Moon for 33 hours, activated lunar surface experiments and collected almost 100 pounds of lunar samples to take back to Earth.
   4. Other than his exceptional achievements on the Moon we find his ufology interests very fascinating.  Mitchell was interested in paranormal phenomena and conducted private ESP experiments with his friends on Earth, the first experiments of it’s kind channeled from space. In 1973 he became founding chairman of the Institute of Noetic Sciences for the purpose of consciousness research, remote viewing, and other related phenomena.
   5. Regarding UFOs he stated that he was 90% sure that many of the thousands of UFOs recorded since the 40’s belong to visitors from other planets. In 2008 in an interview he claimed the Roswell crash was real and that aliens have contacted humans several times but that governments have hidden the truth for 60 years, stating “I happen to have been privileged enough to be in on the fact that we’ve been visited on this planet and the UFO phenomenon is real”.  He claimed to have received confirmation from an unnamed intelligence officer at the Pentagon, that NASA was not involved in any cover up and that he had never seen a UFO and has never been threatened over his claims.

1. Short list of honors earned by Edgar Mitchell
   1. *Presidential Medal of Freedom
   2. *Manned Spacecraft Center Superior Achievement Award

• *NASA Distinguished Service Medal

1. *Inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame

4. Mitchell also authored three books.

1. Honorable Mentions
2. John Ritter…Sept.17,1948-2003
3. Actor appearing in over 100 films and many television shows including “Stephen King’s It” and “Three’s Company”

4. Bryan Singer…Sept. 17,1965
5. Director of over 20 films including “The Usual Suspects” and the “X-Men” series of films
6. Classical Composer’s  birthday
   1. (as part of Classical Music Month)
   2. As September is Classical Music Month we began with John Cage, last week we honored Antonin Dvorak and today we bring you…..
   3. Gustav Holst…Sept, 21, 1874-1934
   4. Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer and arranger, best known or his orchestral suite “The Planets”.
   5. Gustav was born in Gloucestershire, his father was a professional musician. He was taught to play the piano and violin and took up the trombone at 12 and began composing.
   6. Growing up he had asthma, poor eyesight and neuritis making playing the piano difficult. Even though he had these health challenges he received his first professional appointment at 17 as an organist and choirmaster. 
   7. Later against his father’s wishes who wanted him to become a pianist, he continued to pursue composing. He was unable to support himself by his compositions alone and to fill the gap he played the trombone professionally which allowed him to afford board, lodging, and manuscript paper.
   8. Holst later became a teacher and served as a musical director at Morley College in London. He was influenced by composers Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss as well as Gilbert and Sullivan, and became a lifelong friend of Ralph Vaughan Williams (who became more influential on Holst’s music than anybody else).

1. The Planets
   1913. Holst conceived the idea of “The Planets” in 1913. Unlike Dvorak’s obsession with trains, Holst had an interest in astronomy and it is said that he became a remarkably skilled interpreter of horoscopes thus adding to his inspiration for the suite.  Each planet is represented with a distinct character. “Mars”, as an example, provides battle music which is said to be “a unique expression of violence and sheer terror”. “Saturn” represents the relentless approach of old age.  “Neptune” is likened to “timelessness, never ending since space does not end but drifting away into eternal silence”. “Jupiter” as the ‘Bringer of Jollity’ with high spirits projected through an infectious dynamic melody.
2. There have been at least 80 commercial recordings of “The Planets” over the years. The suite has been adapted for numerous instruments including organ, brass band and jazz orchestra.  It has been taken as an influence by rock bands and various scores, from films to television and computer games.
3. Gustav Holst wrote almost 200 catalogued compositions including operas, ballets and concertos.

On This Day in History:

1. The Day The Earth Stood Still released18, 1951, director Robert Wise, starred Michael Renne, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, the remake was released in in 2008 starring Keanu Reeves
2. The Fugitive television series premiered Sept. 17, 1963, a QM (Quinn Martin) Production, usually narrated by William Conrad, starred David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimball, a physician who is wrongfully convicted of his wife’s murder and sentenced to death, and whose train ‘en route’ to death row derails, resulting in his escape and endless search for the killer. The series ran from 1963 to 1967.  “The Fugitive” was remade and released in 1993 which starred Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones.

3. Mission Impossible television series premiered Sept.17, 1966, a small team of secret government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force is used for missions against evil organizations, crimelords, etc.  The regular cast starred Peter Graves, Martin Landau, Leonard Nimoy, Lee Meriwether, Barbara Bain, Greg Morris and guest starred many other actors. Theme music is by composer Lalo Schifrin.  The show ran from 1966 to 1975 with various production companies.  Mission Impossible was also remade into several films produced and starring Tom Cruise.