Osbert Lancaster (4 August 1908 – 27 July 1986) was an English
cartoonist, architectural historian and stage designer. He became known
in the 1930s for his books on architecture, aiming to amuse the general
reader while demystifying the subject. Several of the terms he coined as
labels for architectural styles such as "Pont Street Dutch" have gained
common usage, and his books have continued to be regarded as important
works of reference on the subject. In the Daily Express from 1938 to
1981 he drew the "pocket cartoons", a form he introduced to Britain.
They featured a cast of regular characters, led by his best-known
creation, Maudie Littlehampton, through whom he expressed his views on
the fashions, fads and political events of the day. In 1951 he was
commissioned to create costumes and scenery for a new ballet, Pineapple
Poll. Between then and the early 1970s he designed new productions for
the Royal Ballet, Glyndebourne, D'Oyly Carte, the Old Vic and the West
End.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osbert_Lancaster>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1778:
The Battle of Ushant, the first encounter between the French
and British fleets in the American Revolutionary War, ended indecisively
and led to political disputes in both countries.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ushant_%281778%29>
1916:
First World War: British mariner Charles Fryatt was executed in
Bruges, Belgium, after a German court-martial found him guilty of being
a franc-tireur.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Fryatt>
1955:
After straying into Bulgarian airspace, El Al Flight 402 was
shot down by two MiG-15 fighter jets, resulting in the deaths of all 58
on board.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Al_Flight_402>
1990:
Jamaat al Muslimeen, a radical Islamic group, began a coup
attempt against the government of Trinidad and Tobago by taking
hostages, including Prime Minister A. N. R. Robinson, before
surrendering five days later.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaat_al_Muslimeen_coup_attempt>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
carrier wave:
(physics) A wave that can be modulated, either in amplitude, frequency,
or phase, to carry or transmit images, music, speech, or other signals.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/carrier_wave>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
I'm a goddess in your eyes, and I will never die. I was born of
people's needs, and what they don't wanna believe. But I am a liar,
that's the truth, go home and think it through. That's the harm in
mystery, all you know is what you see.I got no idols.
--Juliana Hatfield
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Juliana_Hatfield>
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