I read the news today, oh boy- News Headlines from Wednesday February 5, 1969- 50 years ago today.

• According to estimates the population of the United States hit 200,000,000 on this day. The population of the US today- February 2019 is 324,000,000. Just looking at the photo above of a crowd makes me claustrophobic . I hate crowds.

• Cream released their fourth album in four years- titled Goodbye- and they meant it. This would be it for the super group of Eric Clapton- guitar, Jack Bruce- bass and lead vocals and Ginger Baker drums- had disbanded back in November 1968- the last album which came with mixed reviews was released after it was all over. Favorite song from the album- Badge -written by Clapton and Beatle George.

• The creators of the popular Laugh-In – came out with a new show called Tune-In. It only lasted one episode- shown on this date. It was a comedy sketch show. One of the shows writers was Albert Brooks. The guest host for the one and only Tune-In- was Tim Conway. It was the bomb of the year. TV Guide in 2002 ranked it #27 on their Worst TV Shows Of All-Time list.

• In 1968 Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio de Oliveira Salazar who had ruled as the country’s dictator since 1932 had a stroke and was in a coma. He was replaced as prime minister. They never told him when he came out of his coma that he was no longer the ruler. On this day he would be released from the hospital and would continue to believe he was Portugal’s leader until his death in 1970. World Leader Pretend.