5/18/26 - The Godfather, National Recording Registry, and Horsies Run!

Monday 5/18/26

Celebrate:

HIV Vaccine Awareness Day/World AIDS Vaccine Day

I Love Reese's DayHor

International Museum Day

Mother Whistler Day

National Cheese Soufflé Day

National Speech Pathologist Day

National Visit Your Relatives Day

No Dirty Dishes Day

Send an Electronic Greeting Card Day

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Weekend Box Office

1. Michael  $26.1M

2. The Devil Wears Prada 2 $18.0M

3. Obsession $16.1M

4. Mortal Kombat II $13.4M

5. The Sheep Detectives $9.3M

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Napoleon Solo, a brilliantly fast 2-year-old whose struggles this year kept him out of the Kentucky Derby, returned to top form on Saturday and won the 2026 Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park outside Baltimore. 

Win: Napoleon Solo

Place: Iron Honor

Show: Chip Honcho

Ocelli

Incredibolt

And, now, the question will be whether Napoleon Solo will run in the Belmont Stakes in three weeks at Saratoga Race Course.

There is no chance for a triple crown since Derby winner Golden Tempo will be back for the Belmont.

There is also talk of moving the Preakness a week later to let the horses rest and maybe have more chances for a Triple Crown.

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Decades after the last “Godfather” movie and more than 10 years since the last “Godfather” novel, the story of the Corleone crime family has a new chapter, presented for the first time from a woman’s point of view.

Random House told The Associated Press that it had acquired a “Godfather” novel authorized by the estate of Mario Puzo and written by bestselling author Adriana Trigiani. “Connie” is scheduled for a fall 2027 release and will center on the Corleone family member played by Talia Shire, sister of director Francis Ford Coppola, in the three “Godfather” films.

“Connie” is the third “Godfather” book approved by the estate and the first written by a woman.

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Memorial Day Weekend is on the way, and besides BBQs, it's time to open the pool!

Each year, there are around 60,000 pool installations in the U.S., both above- and in-ground pools. The U.S. has approximately 10.4 million residential backyard pools. This includes about 6.1 million in-ground pools and 4.3 million above-ground pools.

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Every year, the Library of Congress announces inductees for the National Recording Registry.

This year’s class spans 70 years of music, news and sports broadcasts and other audio recordings. It includes music from country, pop, jazz, Latin, folk, funk and R&B artists. The list begins with 1944’s “Cocktails for Two,” a novelty record by Spike Jones and His City Slickers, and concludes with Taylor Swift’s 2014 album, “1989.” They liked Beyonce that they put a ring on "Single Ladies."

Belinda Carlisle, singer and songwriter for The Go-Go’s, one of the most successful all-female rock bands, said she was thrilled their 1981 album, “Beauty and the Beat,” made the registry.

Recordings Selected for the 2026 National Recording Registry

(chronological order)

“Cocktails for Two” – Spike Jones and His City Slickers (1944) (single)

“Mambo No. 5” – Pérez Prado (1950) (single)

“Teardrops from My Eyes” – Ruth Brown (1950) (single)

“Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)” – Kaye Ballard (1954) (single)

“Put Your Head On My Shoulder” – Paul Anka (1959) (single)

“The Blues and the Abstract Truth” – Oliver Nelson (1961) (album)

“Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” – Ray Charles (1962) (album)

“Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)” – The Byrds (1965) (single)

“Amen, Brother” – The Winstons (1969) (single)

“Feliz Navidad” – José Feliciano (1970) (single)

“The Fight of the Century: Ali vs. Frazier” (March 8, 1971) (broadcast)

“Midnight Train to Georgia” – Gladys Knight and the Pips (1973) (single)

“Chicago” Original Cast Album (1975) (album)

“The Devil Went Down to Georgia” – The Charlie Daniels Band (1979) (single)

“Beauty and the Beat” – The Go-Go’s (1981) (album)

“Texas Flood” – Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble (1983) (album)

“I Feel For You” – Chaka Khan (1984) (single)

“Your Love” – Jamie Principle (1986) / Jamie Principle/Frankie Knuckles (1987) (singles)

“Rumor Has It” – Reba McEntire (1990) (album)

“The Wheel” – Rosanne Cash (1993) (album)

“Doom” Soundtrack – Bobby Prince, composer (1993)

“Go Rest High on That Mountain” – Vince Gill (1994) (single)

“Weezer (The Blue Album)” – Weezer (1994) (album)

“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” – Beyoncé (2008) (single)

“1989” – Taylor Swift (2014) (album)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXQG0yOnx84

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Facebook post.

The planet has 5 minutes left. You're in charge of the final song played worldwide. What do you pick?

Comments:

It's the End of the World and We Know It

Final Countdown

Let the bodies hit the floor

Don't Fear the Reaper

Closing Time

What a Wonderful World

My Way

Highway to Hell

Always look on the bright side of life

Never gonna give you up - just one more time for the Rick Roll.

Another one bites the dust

Baby shark! (NOOOO)

and

Any song that is six minutes long - then everybody dies angry because they will miss the end.

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Today’s Useless Fact of the Day - The original name for Reese’s candy was “penny cups” due to their price at the time being only one cent in the early 1930s.

Reese’s makes enough Peanut Butter Cups in one year to feed one cup to every person in the USA, Japan, Europe, Australia, China, Africa & India.

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