525,600 reasons to celebrate Friday the 13th.

1996

The musical “Rent” opens off-Broadway. It addresses many controversial issues, including: exactly how many minutes are in a year?

1976

Dorothy Hamill and her hair win Olympic figure-skating gold.

1974

Writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn is expelled from U.S.S.R. Maybe now he’ll stop whining about the Gulag. Sheesh. We get it already.

1937

A quest to the Misty Isles: “Prince Valiant” comic strip first appears.

1924

King Tut’s tomb is opened.

1920

National Negro Baseball League organizes

1866

Jesse James holds up his first bank in Liberty, Missouri, for 15,000 dollars. Go big or go home.

1861

Abraham Lincoln is declared the president of the USA

1693

The College of William and Mary opens.

Have some cake and ice cream for...

1944

Former Cincinnati mayor/talk show host/blight Jerry Springer

1950

Rock star/angry person Peter Gabriel

1961

Spray paint the walls! Ex punk Henry Rollins

1933

Actress/Hitchcock obsession Kim Novak

Recessionista’s Guide To Valentine’s Day!

• Saturday is Valentine’s Day. So if you’ve got somebody special, go out and celebrate!
• Sure, the story of St. Valentine has no romantic connotations, but medieval courtiers used to exchange valentines all the time (Mmm courtly love).
• Geoffrey Chaucer also wrote a poem about Valentine’s Day, and what’s more romantic than middle English?
• Sure, the revival of Valentine’s Day in America was closely followed by the first mass-production of lacy heart shaped cards, but corporatization is sexy! (I think maybe we’re just bitter.)
• And now, the sale and use of tracking devices and hiring of private investigators are increasing around this holiday, which some consider an opportune time to catch a cheating spouse. [USA Today]
• And while, V-Day is supposed to be sexy, the down-in-the-dumps economy isn’t.
• But luckily, if your wallet is a little light this year, we present....

The Recessionista’s guide to Valentine’s Day:

• Have a nice cozy dinner at home instead of going out. Cheap AND romantic.
• Make your sweetie something heartfelt. It works with moms, and it works with significant others. Write a poem! Maybe skip the macaroni collage, though.
• Rent a movie. It’s thrifty, and it’s way more personal. No one will interrupt your exchange of sweet nothings with a pesky “Shh.”
• Not big on romantic movies? Here are a few suggestions:
  • “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952): Who wouldn’t want somebody to run around in the rain like a crazy person because they were so happy to be with you? Plus, Cyd Charisse is smokin’.
    
    
  • “Say Anything” (1989):C’mon. John Cusack underneath your window with a boom box. Game over.
    
    
  • “High Fidelity” (2000): I guess we sort of have a thing for John Cusack. But can you blame us? Sure, he starts off as kind of a jerk, but he comes around in the end. And this clip would melt even the coldest of hearts.
    
    
  • “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999): Yeah, it’s based on Shakespeare’s most misogynistic play. And Julia Stiles as riot grrl is a little comical. But Heath Ledger singing with the marching band? Even your grandma would swoon.
    
    
  • “Pride and Prejudice” (1995): We recommend the version with Colin Firth. We wish Mr. Darcy would meditate about our fine eyes.