The Curse of August - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Steve M. · 08-04-2005, 11:06 PM

Author Ron Rosenbaum wrtoe a whole article in The New York Times Magazine years ago about how the worst things always happen in August. August was the month key events that led to both world wars took place, it's the month psychotherapists go on vacation, and it's the month Elvis died. Here's a breakdown of horrible happenings in August:

August 2, 1990: Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait, setting the stage for the mess we're in today.

August 4, 1914: Great Britain enters what started out as a declared war between Austria and Serbia but is now a conflict of a British-led alliance versus a German-led alliance. The "guns of August" sound the beginning of World War I.

August 6, 1945: The first atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan; a second bomb is dropped on Nagasaki three days later. The nuclear age begins.

August 6, 1978: Pope Paul VI dies, throwing the Catholic Church in a crisis that is exacerbated by the selection of Pope John Paul I twenty days later, who also dies after a month.

August 7, 1964: The Gulf of Tonkin incident involvoing American and North Vietnamese gunboats took place; it was later blown out of proportion by President Lyndon Johnson to justify U.S. involvement in the Vietnamese civil war.

August 7, 1998: Osama bin Laden's henchmen blow up two U.S. embassies in eastern Africa - a dress rehearsal for 9/11.

August 23, 1939: German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and Soviet Foreign Minsiter Vyschavlov Molotov sign a pact dividing eastern Europe between Nazi Germany and the U.S.S.R. Nine days later, Hitler invades Poland. World War II begins.

August 31, 1997: Princess Diana is killed in a car crash in Paris.

Is August cursed? Well, I was rear-ended three days ago.

PZelda · 08-04-2005, 11:22 PM

Many of the worst things have happened in other months too... 9/11 was in, obviously, September. Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7th. The OK City bombing was in April. The London bombings occurred in July. The Challenger explosion was in January, and the Columbia explosion was in February. We went to war in Iraq in March. The Madrid bombings occurred in March, as well.

Anything bad can happen in any month of any year, not just August. I don't agree with that article.

Hollow · 08-04-2005, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PZelda

Many of the worst things have happened in other months too... 9/11 was in, obviously, September. Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7th. The OK City bombing was in April. The London bombings occurred in July. The Challenger explosion was in January, and the Columbia explosion was in February. We went to war in Iraq in March. The Madrid bombings occurred in March, as well.

Anything bad can happen in any month of any year, not just August. I don't agree with that article.

EXACTLY. i could make a list of terrible things that happened in every month and be all "ooo, _______ must be CURSED!

" september seems like the most unfortunate month for me personally. besides 9/11, mr cliff burton died, my mom died, one of my friends on another message board died, hilary duff was born. oh the madness.

vienna waits · 08-04-2005, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safety pin

EXACTLY. i could make a list of terrible things that happened in every month and be all "ooo, _______ must be CURSED!

" september seems like the most unfortunate month for me personally. besides 9/11, mr cliff burton died, my mom died, one of my friends on another message board died, hilary duff was born. oh the madness.

hay that's when i was born

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 08-04-2005, 11:57 PM

For my family, December is a bad month. Lots of relatives have died in December...

rusyd · 08-05-2005, 12:05 AM

Sounds like alot of bad things happened in August except my Birthday.

TripperFan · 08-05-2005, 12:22 AM

My brother's birthday is in August so that would prove true.

Karen* · 08-05-2005, 12:34 AM

No it's not cursed! My birthday's in August, so THERE YA GO!

Karen* · 08-05-2005, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safety pin

september seems like the most unfortunate month for me personally...hilary duff was born. oh the madness.

Awwww...I like Hilary Duff.

*hides*

PZelda · 08-05-2005, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripperFan

My brother's birthday is in August so that would prove true.

My birthday is this month too!

TripperFan · 08-05-2005, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PZelda

My birthday is this month too!

oh.....sorry!!

Let's see...something good mustuv happened in August.......2003 - massive blackout in the U.S. and Canada........uh......oh - I know! Princess Beatrice was born on 8/8/88 - she hasn't screwed up yet. 'bout the only royal who hasn't!!

Brent88 · 08-05-2005, 12:59 AM

Actually... August is typically the slowest news month of the year. Even the President is on vacation.

swedeace · 08-05-2005, 01:00 AM

Eh, that qualifies as superstition just as other things that society tends to deem as "bad luck."

SBTB Geek · 08-05-2005, 01:27 AM

Some of the best people in the world and SO were born in August.

PZelda · 08-05-2005, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBTB Geek

Some of the best people in the world and SO were born in August.

You got that right. Three of them were born within a four-day period in mid-August.

08-04-2005, 11:06 PM	#1
Steve M. Back on the road to reality Forum Superstar Join Date: Nov 07, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 33,307	The Curse of August Author Ron Rosenbaum wrtoe a whole article in The New York Times Magazine years ago about how the worst things always happen in August. August was the month key events that led to both world wars took place, it's the month psychotherapists go on vacation, and it's the month Elvis died. Here's a breakdown of horrible happenings in August: August 2, 1990: Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait, setting the stage for the mess we're in today. August 4, 1914: Great Britain enters what started out as a declared war between Austria and Serbia but is now a conflict of a British-led alliance versus a German-led alliance. The "guns of August" sound the beginning of World War I. August 6, 1945: The first atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan; a second bomb is dropped on Nagasaki three days later. The nuclear age begins. August 6, 1978: Pope Paul VI dies, throwing the Catholic Church in a crisis that is exacerbated by the selection of Pope John Paul I twenty days later, who also dies after a month. August 7, 1964: The Gulf of Tonkin incident involvoing American and North Vietnamese gunboats took place; it was later blown out of proportion by President Lyndon Johnson to justify U.S. involvement in the Vietnamese civil war. August 7, 1998: Osama bin Laden's henchmen blow up two U.S. embassies in eastern Africa - a dress rehearsal for 9/11. August 23, 1939: German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and Soviet Foreign Minsiter Vyschavlov Molotov sign a pact dividing eastern Europe between Nazi Germany and the U.S.S.R. Nine days later, Hitler invades Poland. World War II begins. August 31, 1997: Princess Diana is killed in a car crash in Paris. Is August cursed? Well, I was rear-ended three days ago.

08-04-2005, 11:22 PM	#2
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	Many of the worst things have happened in other months too... 9/11 was in, obviously, September. Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7th. The OK City bombing was in April. The London bombings occurred in July. The Challenger explosion was in January, and the Columbia explosion was in February. We went to war in Iraq in March. The Madrid bombings occurred in March, as well. Anything bad can happen in any month of any year, not just August. I don't agree with that article.
	__________________ Cheers behind the couch!

08-04-2005, 11:57 PM	#5
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	For my family, December is a bad month. Lots of relatives have died in December...
	__________________ my name is ashlee Welcome! Everything is fine.

08-05-2005, 12:22 AM	#7
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	My brother's birthday is in August so that would prove true.
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

08-05-2005, 12:34 AM	#8
Karen* paradox. Forum Superstar Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 28,365	No it's not cursed! My birthday's in August, so THERE YA GO!
	__________________ karen on \| twitter \| tumblr

08-05-2005, 12:05 AM	#6
rusyd Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 13,505	Sounds like alot of bad things happened in August except my Birthday.

08-05-2005, 12:59 AM	#12
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	Actually... August is typically the slowest news month of the year. Even the President is on vacation.
	__________________ Brent

08-05-2005, 01:00 AM	#13
swedeace Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 22, 2003 Posts: 9,009	Eh, that qualifies as superstition just as other things that society tends to deem as "bad luck."

08-05-2005, 01:27 AM	#14
SBTB Geek Smooth Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 21, 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,004	Some of the best people in the world and SO were born in August.