1481 – William Caxton reprinted the illustrated book, Mirror of the World, from the original French.
1913 – The Internal Revenue Service began collecting income tax on Americans’ income.
2014 – Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared over the South China Sea
If you were born on March 8th,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 15th (prior year)
Women’s Day
Since 1911, International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. Purple, green, and white are the colors of International Women’s Day. Purple signifies justice and dignity. Green symbolizes hope. White represents purity, albeit a controversial concept. The colors originated from the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the UK in 1908. (website)
National Proofreading Day
Proofreading is a process that has been around for centuries. Back in the days of medieval scribes, manuscripts had to be copied by hand – and mistakes were inevitable. But the scribes had a few tricks up their sleeves for correcting their work.
One such method was to cross out the incorrect passage, then begin again on the next page. This is a trick that many of us are familiar with – though we tend to type over mistakes instead! Proofreading has come a long way since medieval times…
But that doesn’t mean that the process is perfect. Proofreading still requires a great deal of attention to detail and can be time-consuming. However, it’s an essential step in ensuring the accuracy of your writing.
So next time you’re proofreading a document, remember these tips:
Read through the text several times, checking for errors each time.
Look for mistakes in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Pay close attention to formatting and layout.
Use a tool like Grammarly to help you catch mistakes that you might have missed.
Proofreading is a process that has been around for centuries – but it’s more important than ever in today’s digital world. Proofreading is essential for ensuring that the content you publish online is accurate and error-free. And in today’s fast-paced social media environment, where everything travels at lightning speed, it’s important to be sure that your grammar is correct before sharing!
March 8 is…
Peanut Cluster Day
Proofreading Day
(International) Women’s Day
March 8 Birthday Quotes
“I was raised to believe in myself. I know I’m cool. I’m not trying to brag or say I’m the man or anything like that. I don’t lie or cheat, and I’m not mean to anybody. I treat people with respect.”
– Freddie Prinze, Jr.
“I learned that people want to be in love. They long to be in love, they pretend to be in love, and sometimes they are.”
– Carole Bayer Sager
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
“The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is not a public democratic organization; it’s a private club basically. It’s like a private golf club and they decide who they’re going to let in the club.”
– Micky Dolenz
“If I had to give up either acting or dancing, I’d choose to keep dancing.”
– Cyd Charisse
March 8 Birthdays
1841 – Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., American lawyer and jurist (died in 1935)
1859 – Kenneth Grahame, Scottish author (died in 1932)
1879 – Otto Hahn, German chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died in 1968)
1902 – Louise Beavers, American actress (died in 1962)
1910 – Claire Trevor, American actress (died in 2000)
1922 – Cyd Charisse, American actress and dancer (died in 2008)
1942 – Dick Allen, American baseball player (died in 2020)
1943 – Lynn Redgrave, English-American actress and singer (died in 2010)
1945 – Micky Dolenz, American singer-songwriter and actor
1946 – Randy Meisner, American singer-songwriter and bass player
1947 – Carole Bayer Sager, American singer-songwriter and painter
1958 – Gary Numan, English singer-songwriter
1976 – Freddie Prinze Jr., American actor
1977 – James Van Der Beek, American actor
March 8 History
1618 – Johannes Kepler formulated his Third Law of Planetary Motion.
1669 – Mount Etna, on the island of Sicily, began erupting and over the next several weeks killed over 20,000 people.
1755 – Thomas Paine, published African Slavery in America – the first article in the American colonies calling for the emancipation of slaves and the abolition of slavery.
1817 – The New York Stock Exchange was founded.
1950 – The ‘Volkswagen Type 2’, known as the VW Bus, was produced for the first time.
1961 – Broadway Show – Mary, Mary (Play) March 8, 1961
1968 – Bill Graham’s Fillmore East opened in New York City.
1971 – Muhammad Ali lost to Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier in the “Fight of the Century” at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
1975 – #1 Hit March 8, 1975 – March 14, 1975: Olivia Newton-John – Have You Never Been Mellow
1978 – The first radio episode of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, was broadcast.
1983 – President Ronald Reagan labels the Soviet Union an ‘evil empire.’
1993- Beavis and Butt-Head premiered on MTV.
March 8, 2002 – Cadet Kelly aired on The Disney Channel
2003 – #1 Hit March 8, 2003 – May 9, 2003: 50 Cent – In Da Club
2006 – Top Chef debuted on Bravo
2014 – #1 Hit March 8, 2014 – May 16, 2014: Pharrell Williams – Happy
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
International Women’s Day was first celebrated in the Soviet Union and was called International Working Women’s Day until 1975,
In the event of an Apocalypse, would you be more concerned about the hordes of dead citizens in the streets or the fact that there was no pizza left anywhere in your city?
The largest cast of living creatures in a Hollywood film was the 22 million bees, in 1978’s “The Swarm”.
Write down ALL thoughts/ideas. You’re working for a paycheck, not waiting to win the lottery. #LifeProTips
Caractacus Potts was the owner and driver of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
In the 18th century, many prominent voices were concerned by an ‘epidemic’ affecting young people whereby they were spending too much time reading books. It was diagnosed as ‘a dangerous disease’ called ‘reading rage, reading fever, reading mania or reading lust.’
If I ever crash land on a planet with Earth-like conditions where everyone speaks English, I’m pretty sure I’d figure out it was Earth right away.
The Capital of Palau is Melekeok
The biggest film of 1969: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Western) earned ~ $102,000,000
Why is there a bear in The Jungle Book? Bears don’t live in the jungle!
On request of the family of Sir Winston Churchill, there is always a marmalade cat called Jock in residence at Chartwell house. Last we checked, Jock VI was still there.
Useless Pronunciation: E as in eight
An elephant’s brain reacts the same way to humans the way human brains react to puppies. That is, they like us.
Maybe someday Beanie Babies will actually become valuable and we will all have a good laugh about it.
“I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vics.” #songlyrics
Beautiful Day – U2 (Grammy for Record of the Year)
Shelby Lynne (Best New Artist Grammy Winner)
New Artists in the Pop Charts Included: Alicia Keys, Nickleback, Dido, Petey Pablo, Michelle Branch, Shakira, Jill Scott, Black Eyed Peas, Puddle of Mud, Linkin Park, Tool, India.Arie, Nelly Furtado, Incubus, Bubba Sparxxx and Five For Fighting
2001’s Retro Top 10 Hits
1. It Wasn’t Me – Shaggy with Ricardo Ducent
2. Get The Party Started – Pink
3. How You Remind Me – Nickleback
4. Thankyou – Dido
5. One More Time – Daft Punk
6. I’m Real – Jennifer Lopez
7. God Bless The U.S.A. – Lee Greenwood
8. Crazy For This Girl – Evan and Jaron
9. Hanging By a Moment – Lifehouse
10. Tainted Love – Marilyn Manson
2001’s ‘One Hit Wonders’
1. Breathless – The Coors
2. Perfect Day – Hoku (reached # 127 in US charts)
3. Smooth Criminal – Alien Ant Farm
4. The Call – Backstreet Boys
5. Start the Commotion – The Wiseguys
6. Flavor Of The Week – American Hi-Fi
7. Because I Got High – Afroman
8. Wherever You Will Go – The Calling
9. Butterfly – Crazy Town
10. I Wanna Be Bad – Willa Ford
2001’s Dance Top 10 Hit List
1. Cha Cha Slide – Mr. C The Slide Man
2. Lady Marmalade – Christina Aguilera, Lil Kim, Mya and Pink
3. Bootylicious – Destiny’s Child
4. Around The World (La La La La La) – ATC
5. Dance With Me – Debelah Morgan
6. Where The Party At – Jagged Edge with Nelly
7. Hit ‘Em Upstyle – Blu Cantrell
8. Sandstorm – Darude
9. Angel-Shaggy
10. Survivor – Destiny’s Child
2001’s Bubblegum Top Twenty
1. Never Had a Dream Come True-S Club 7
2. Bouncing Off The Ceiling- A*Teens
3. I’m A Believer – Smash Mouth
4. Get The Party Started – Pink
5. Lady Marmalade – Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya & Pink
6. Breathless – The Corrs
7. Whenever, Wherever – Shakira
8. AM to PM – Christina Milian
9. (Dirty) Pop – NSYNC
10. Irresistible – Jessica Simpson
11. Everywhere – Michelle Branch
12. Stronger – Britney Spears
13. Drops of Jupiter – Train
14. Get Over Yourself – Eden’s Crush
15. This Is Me – Dream
16. All Or Nothing – O-Town
17. Butterfly – Crazy Town
18. I’m Like A Bird-Nelly Furtado
19. All For You – Janet Jackson
20. Hit ‘Em Upstyle – Blu Cantrell
2001’s Pop Rock Top 10 Hit List
1. The Middle – Jimmy Eat World
2. How You Remind Me – Nickleback
3. Hit Or Miss (Waited Too Long) – New Found Glory
4. Elevation – U2
5. Hash Pipe – Weezer
6. Flavor Of The Week – American Hi-Fi
7. The Rock Show – Blink 182
8. Fat Lip – Sum 41
9. Smooth Criminal – Alien Ant Farm
10. Drop of Jupiter (Tell Me ) – Train
2001’s Alternative Top 10 Hit List
1. Clint Eastwood – Gorillaz
2. Drive – Incubus
3. Last Nite – The Strokes
4. Sing – Travis
5. Where’s Your Head At – Basement Jaxx
6. Shinobi vs Dragon Ninja – Lost Prophets
7. Chop Suey! – System Of A Down
8. Name Of The Game – Crystal Method
9. Breakdown – Tantric
10. Short Skirt/Long Jacket – Cake
2001’s Album Rock Top 10 Hit List
1. Outside – Staind
2. Blurry – Puddle Of Mudd
3. In The End – Linkin Park
4. Your Disease – Saliva
5. Down With The Sickness – Disturbed
6. Bodies – Drowning Pool
7. Crawling In The Dark – Hoobastank
8. Youth Of The Nation – P.O.D
9. Nice To Know You – Incubus
10. Schism – Tool
PCM’s 2001 Top 10 Hit List
1. Cha Cha Slide – Mr. C The Slide Man
2. I’m A Believer – Smash Mouth
3. Get The Party Started – Pink
4. Lady Marmalade – Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil Kim, and Mya
1850 – American Senator Daniel Webster gave his Seventh of March speech endorsing the Compromise of 1850.
1869 – The Suez Canal opened for limited shipping.
1876 – Alexander Graham Bell received his patent for (#174,465) the telephone.
If you were born on March 7th,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 14th (prior year)
Suez Canal
The 193.30 km (120 miles)-long Suez Canal is a man-made sea-level waterway located in Egypt and connects the Mediterranean with the Gulf of Suez, a northern branch of the Red Sea. It enables a more direct route for shipping between Europe and Asia, effectively allowing passage from the North Atlantic to the Indian Ocean without circumnavigating the African continent.
The journey from Europe through the Mediterranean and into the Red Sea, transiting through the Suez Canal, cutting around 4300 miles off the journey compared to the one carries out through the South Atlantic and southern Indian oceans. The canal also connects the Port Said in northeast Egypt with Port Tewfik at the town of Suez within the south.
Completed on November 17, 1869, the Suez Canal is one of the foremost heavily used shipping routes within the world, witnessing the passage of thousands of vessels per annum.
March 7 is…
Alexander Graham Bell Day
Cereal Day
Crown Roast of Pork Day
National “Be Heard” Day
March 7 Birthday Quotes
“Growing up, I was a very shy, wallflower type. I was not a nerd, but not popular. I was just invisible, like that person you probably didn’t know you were in school with.”
– Jenna Fischer
“If a player demonstrated that he is the best, and a team decides, even so, we don’t want to pay him, as in any other business, he should be able to play elsewhere.”
– Lynn Swann
“It was a big story and yesterday’s soup. Who cares?”
– Willard Scott
“I don’t have moments of weakness. I’m Rik Mayall.”
– Rik Mayall
“If you feel like there’s something out there that you’re supposed to be doing if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it.”
– Wanda Sykes
March 7 Birthdays
1792 – John Herschel, English mathematician and astronomer (died in 1871)
1837 – Henry Draper, American physician and astronomer (died in 1882)
1849 – Luther Burbank, American botanist and author (died in 1926)
1875 – Maurice Ravel, French pianist, composer, and conductor (died in 1937)
1934 – Willard Scott, American television personality
1938 – Janet Guthrie, American professional race car driver
1942 – Michael Eisner, American businessman
1952 – Lynn Swann, American football player
1956 – Bryan Cranston, American actor
1958 – Rik Mayall, English comedian, actor, and screenwriter (died in 2014)
1962 – Taylor Dayne, American singer-songwriter and actress
1964 – Wanda Sykes, American comedian and actress
1970 – Rachel Weisz, English-American actress
1974 – Jenna Fischer, American actress
1980 – Laura Prepon, American actress
The Birth of Corn Flakes
If you love cornflakes, then you have Dr. John Kellogg to thank! In 1894, he served the world’s first bowl of cornflakes to his patients at a mental hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan. At the time, cornflakes were a new and untested food, but Kellogg was convinced that they had great potential. He believed that they could help improve the health of his patients.
Kellogg was a doctor and nutritionist who was passionate about healthy eating. He believed that the key to good health was a balanced diet and plenty of exercise. In his quest to create the perfect breakfast, he experimented with all sorts of different grains and cereals. Cornflakes were his final invention – and they turned out to be a huge success!
Today, cornflakes are one of the most popular breakfast foods in the world. They’re enjoyed by people of all ages and nationalities. So next time you reach for a box of cornflakes, remember Dr. John Kellogg – the man who made them famous!
March 7 History
1894 – Dr. John Kellogg served the world’s first cornflakes to his patients at a mental hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan.
1911 – Willis S. Farnsworth Patented (#985,990) the first coin-operated locker.
1933 The board game Monopoly was created and trademarked by Charles Darrow in Atlantic City.
1955 – Phyllis Diller made her comedy stand-up debut at the Purple Onion in San Francisco, CA.
March 7, 1955 – Peter Pan aired live as part of NBC’s Producer’s Showcase.
1983 – TNN (The Nashville Network) began broadcasting.
1987 – Mike Tyson defeated James “Bonecrusher” Smith to unify the WBA and WBC heavyweight titles.
1996 – East End Show – The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Play) March 7, 1996
2009 – The Kepler space observatory was launched.
2011 – Charlie Sheen was officially fired from Two and a Half Men.
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Sony produced new Betamax cassettes until March of 2016.
Vegetables and animals have spent years upon years differentiating and evolving apart. Cooking is the art of bringing them back together.
“In Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, Ben Stein’s economics lecture scene was completely improvised and done in one take.
“The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” – Ben Jonson
One day someone just started counting every moment they could and measured it; we now know this as time.
A group of protesters is called a tantrum.
Joan Crawford – Real Name: Lucille LeSueur
The official nickname of people from the state of Indiana is “Hoosiers”, making Indiana the first state not to have a version of their state name in their nickname (“Floridians”, “Pennsylvanians”, etc.).
Transparent Aluminum – first mentioned in the film Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
Bass is spelled the same as bass, but bass sounds the same as base. Also, red sounds the same as read, but read is spelled the same as read.
“Oh, Jerry, don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars.” – Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis) #moviequotes
Ben Franklin’s 13 Virtues #1 – Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
1. They call it “The World’s Largest Parade” – What is it?
2. In 1924, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
3. Los Angeles resident Lionel C. Sternberger invented what hot sandwich?
4. What professional sports team debuted in Boston?
5. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1924?
6. Who proved that Andromeda was a Galaxy, and NOT a Nebula?
7. What 1924 invention obtains information about the electrical function of the heart?
8. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1924?
9. What was the average household income in 1924?
10. Who won the 1924 World Series?
11. What was the highest-grossing movie of 1924?
12. How much did an average Ford Model T cost in 1924?
13. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1924?
14. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1924?
15. What first-time aviation feat did Lowell H. Smith, Leslie P. Arnold, Erik H. Nelson, and John Harding Jr. complete in 1924?
16. How much did a dozen eggs cost in 1924?
17. How many people lived in the United States in 1924?
18. Who was the President of the United States in 1924?
19. Now represented by Leo the Lion, what motion picture company was founded in 1924?
20. What is MGM’s official motto?
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1924? Jimmy Carter, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, or Marlon Brando?
2. What was Chicago’s first air-conditioned office building?
3. Who was the American Vice-President in 1924?
4. The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR), in New York, changed their name to what in 1924?
5. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1924?
6. What movie company was founded by Harry and Jack Cohn, along with Joe Brandt?
7. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1924?
8. Held in Chamonix France, how many medals did the US win in the 1924 Winter Olympics?
9. Held in Paris, France, how many medals did the US win in the 1924 Summer Olympics?
10. Who was the Pope in 1924?
The Answers:
24 Trivia Answers for 1924 History
1. They call it “The World’s Largest Parade” – What is it?
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
2. In 1924, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
Men – 58.1 years, Women – 61.5 years.
3. Los Angeles resident Lionel C. Sternberger invented what hot sandwich?
The Cheeseburger
4. What professional sports team debuted in Boston?
The Boston Bruins
5. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1924?
9 cents
6. Who proved that Andromeda was a Galaxy, and NOT a Nebula?
Edwin Hubble
7. What 1924 invention obtains information about the electrical function of the heart?
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
8. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1924?
(tie) California, Here I Come! – Al Jolson OR It Ain’t Gonna Rain No Mo’ by Wendell Hall
9. What was the average household income in 1924?
$3,481.26
10. Who won the 1924 World Series?
In 1924, The Washington Senators won, beating the New York Giants (4 games to 3)
11. What was the highest-grossing movie of 1924? The Sea Hawk
12. How much did an average Ford Model T cost in 1924?
$265
13. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1924?
$0.21 per gallon
14. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1924?
In 1924, The Montreal Canadiens won over the Calgary Tigers (2 games to none)
15. What first-time aviation feat did Lowell H. Smith, Leslie P. Arnold, Erik H. Nelson and John Harding Jr. complete in 1924?
The first aerial circumnavigation of the world. (All served in the United States Army Air Service)
16. How much did a dozen eggs cost in 1924?
51 cents
17. How many people lived in the United States in 1924?
The population was an estimated 114,109,000 people.
18. Who was President of the United States in 1924?
Calvin Coolidge (August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929)
19. Now represented by Leo the Lion, what motion picture company was founded in 1924?
MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios)
20. What is MGM’s official motto?
“Ars Gratia Artis” (Art for art’s sake)
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1924? Jimmy Carter, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, or Marlon Brando?
Frank Sinatra was born in 1915.
2. What was Chicago’s first air-conditioned office building?
The Wrigley Building
3. Who was the American Vice-President in 1924?
The office of vice president was vacant from August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1925
4. The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR), in New York, changed their name to what in 1924?
International Business Machines (IBM)
5. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1924? So Big by Edna Ferber
6. What movie company was founded by Harry and Jack Cohn, along with Joe Brandt?
Columbia Pictures
7. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1924?
Black Gold
8. Held in Chamonix France, how many medals did the US win in the 1924 Winter Olympics?
4.
1 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze.
9. Held in Paris, France, how many medals did the US win in the 1924 Summer Olympics?
99.
45 Gold, 27 Silver, 27 Bronze.
10. Who was the Pope in 1924?
Pope Pius XI, February 6, 1922 – February 10, 1939
1857 – The Dredd Scott Decision. Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes called it the Court’s “greatest self-inflicted wound.”
March 6th is the annual sacred high holy day of Dudeism, “The Day of The Dude”.
Dudeism is a religion, philosophy, or lifestyle inspired by “The Dude”, the protagonist of the 1998 film, The Big Lebowski.
March 6, 2005, The Autons attempted to invade London in Doctor Who, TV
If you were born on March 6th,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 13th (prior year)
National Dress Day
National Dress day was created in 2016 by dressmaker Ashley Lauren to celebrate memories of special occasions via a dress. Traditionally, a dress might be a shirt with an attached bodice. they’re worn for casual, business, and formal settings. Lauren said, “To me today is about empowering women to celebrate our femininity and cherish memories of wearing dresses. It’s the ladies and their stories behind the dresses that make today so special.” Women are encouraged to wear one of their favorite dresses and/or post one among their favorite dress photos and share their stories on social media.
March 6 is…
Dentist’s Day
Dress Day
Frozen Food Day
Oreo Cookie Day
National Frozen Food Day
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed March 6 as National Frozen Food Day. The day celebrates the invention of frozen food by Clarence Birdseye in 1922.
Do you love frozen food? Do you hate it? Chances are, if you’re like most Americans, your answer to that question is “it depends.” Frozen food has come a long way since its inception in the early 20th century. In this blog post, we will take a look at how frozen food has evolved over the years and some of the controversies that have surrounded it. We will also discuss the benefits of frozen food and why it is such an important part of our diets.
The first frozen food product was introduced to the market in 1922 by Clarence Birdseye. He had developed a process for quick-freezing foods, which allowed them to be stored and transported long distances without spoiling. Frozen food caught on quickly and became especially popular during World War II when it was used to feed troops stationed overseas.
In the years since its invention, frozen food has come under fire from some health experts who claim that it is unhealthy and full of additives. However, recent studies have shown that this is not necessarily the case. In fact, frozen food can actually be quite healthy if you choose the right products. However, it is important to note that not all frozen foods are created equal. Some contain high levels of sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats. So, when choosing frozen foods, be sure to read the labels carefully.
There are many benefits to eating frozen food. For one thing, it is convenient and easy to prepare. It can also be a great way to save money on groceries. Frozen food is also a good choice for people who lead busy lives or who don’t have time to cook every day. And finally, frozen food is an excellent source of nutrients and antioxidants, which can help keep you healthy and looking young.
So this National Frozen Food Day, take some time to appreciate all that frozen food has to offer. There’s a reason why it’s become such a staple in our diets!
March 6 Birthday Quotes
“Genius is eternal patience.”
– Michelangelo
“One of the most beautiful things in the world I’ve ever seen or heard is people laughing, even when there seems to be so little reason for them to laugh.”
– D. L. Hughley
“As for me, I am in pursuit of excellence. I have no time to get old.”
– Will Eisner
“Silence is the best response to a fool.”
– Elizabeth Barrett Browning
“There is no greater harm than that of time wasted.”
– Michelangelo
March 6 Birthdays
1475 – Michelangelo, Italian painter and sculptor (died in 1564)
1619 – Cyrano de Bergerac, French author and playwright (died in 1655)
1780 – Lucy Barnes, American writer (died in 1809)
1806 – Elizabeth Barrett Browning (English poet died in 1861)
1905 – Bob Wills, American Western swing musician, songwriter, and bandleader (died in 1975)
1906 – Lou Costello, American actor and comedian (died in 1959)
1917 – Will Eisner, American illustrator and publisher (died in 2005)
1923 – Ed McMahon, American comedian, game show host, and announcer (died in 2009)
1926 – Alan Greenspan, American economist
1929 – Tom Foley, American lawyer and politician (died in 2013)
1936 – Marion Barry, American lawyer and politician (died in 2014)
1947 – Kiki Dee, English singer-songwriter
1947 – John Stossel, American journalist and author
1948 – Stephen Schwartz, American composer and producer
1963 – D.L. Hughley, American actor
1967 – Connie Britton, American actress
1972 – Shaquille O’Neal, American basketball player
March 6 History
1836 – The Battle (and fall) of the Alamo took place
1857 – The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case. It stated that anyone brought into the United States as a slave, or their descendants could never be a United States citizen. The court of public opinion disagreed very vocally a few years later.
1899 – Bayer registered Aspirin as a trademark. Aspirin is considered by many to be the first wonder drug.
1930 – General Foods put the first individually packaged frozen foods – “Birds Eye Frosted Foods” on sale in Springfield, Massachusetts
1943 – Norman Rockwell published Freedom from Want in The Saturday Evening Post with a matching essay by Carlos Bulosan as part of the ‘Four Freedoms Series.’
1950 – Silly Putty was introduced as a toy by Peter Hodgson. It was invented in 1943 by James Wright in an effort to make synthetic rubber.
1953 – James Watson and Francis Crick submitted to ‘Nature’ magazine their first article on the structure of DNA. It was published in the April 25th, 1953 issue.
1964 – Nation of Islam’s Elijah Muhammad officially gave boxing champion Cassius Clay the name of Muhammad Ali.
1965 – #1 Hit March 6, 1965 – March 12, 1965: The Temptations – My Girl
1976 – #1 Hit March 6, 1976 – March 12, 1976: The Miracles – Love Machine (Part 1)
1981 – Walter Cronkite resigned as the main anchorman of The CBS Evening News
1983 – Country Music Television (CMT) began.
1985 – The song We Are the World was released.
1988 – In The Heat of the Night, based on the 1967 film, debuted on NBC television.
March 6, 1992 (fiction) Dana Scully assigned to The X-Files, X-Files, TV
1992 – The Michelangelo computer virus began to affect computers.
1993 – #1 Hit March 6, 1993 – March 12, 1993: Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle – A Whole New World
1994 – Liquid Television on MTV ended
2000 – Mobile Suit Gundam Wing debuted on The Cartoon Network
2001 – Napster began to block the transfer of copyrighted material over its peer-to-peer network. In July 2001, Napster shut down its entire network.
March 6, 2005 (fiction) The Autons attempted to invade London in Doctor Who, TV
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Biggest film of 1970: Love Story (Drama) earned ~ $106,000,000
A group of Mathematicians is called a Number.
Growing up, everyone was worried that “the powers that be” were going to microchip us. With the spread of smartphones, we microchipped ourselves.
“It doesn’t matter what Lucy said. I stopped trusting her after she stole my pop rocks in the third grade.” #moviequotes
Decades from now, having a “Flock of Seagull’s hairdo” original meaning will likely be lost on most young people. It will just sound like another old-timey saying.
The Capital of the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi
Shaquille O’Neal only made one three-point shot during his entire career.
The word “Pokémon” is a contraction of the Japanese words, “Poketto” and “Monsut”, or “Pocket Monster” in English.
“We’ve become a race of Peeping Toms. What people ought to do is get outside their own house and look in for a change.” – Stella in Rear Window #moviequotes
Six of the eight largest pyramidal buildings in the world are either in Mexico or Egypt.
The Scary Statistic: Motor Vehicle Accident odds: 1-in-100
What to do: Stay away from moving cars, airplanes, and other motorized vehicles.
1770 – The Boston Massacre; 5 Americans killed and 6 wounded by British soldiers.
1933 – President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed a three-day bank holiday.
1933 – Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party received43.9% at the Reichstag elections, allowing the Nazis to later pass the Enabling Act, establishing a dictatorship.
1946 – Winston Churchill gave his “Iron Curtain” speech
If you were born on March 5th,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 12th (prior year)
Cinco de Marcho
Cinco De Marcho is a 12-day drinking regimen for anyone who wishes to “train one’s liver for the closing ceremonies on St. Patrick’s Day.”
March 5 is…
Cheese Doodle Day
Cinco de Marcho
National Absinthe Day
World Book Day (UK and Ireland)
National Absinthe Day
Absinthe, the drink often referred to as “the green fairy,” has a long and colorful history. Originating in Switzerland in the 18th century, it rose to popularity in early 20th century France among artists and writers. Absinthe is still enjoyed today and has a mystique that sets it apart from other alcoholic beverages. To celebrate National Absinthe Day each year on March 5, let’s take a closer look at the history of this unique drink…
Absinthe is a spirit that’s usually between 45 and 74 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). It has an anise flavor from the herbs used in the distillation process. Absinthe is green because of its coloring agents: chlorophyll from wormwood leaves, hyssop flowers, or mint. Some absinthes have other colors as well because of their additives.
Absinthe was first made in Switzerland around 1792 by a French doctor named Pierre Ordinaire who created it as a tonic for people suffering from stomach illnesses. The drink then became popular among farmers during the summer months when wine wasn’t available to them locally due to the lack of refrigeration technologies at that time period.
Absinthe’s popularity continued to grow in the early 1800s, and by the mid-1800s it had become very popular among French artists and writers. In fact, some say that absinthe was responsible for the famous “Lemon Law” of 1859, which stated that any artist who drank two glasses of absinthe per day would be banned from exhibiting at the Paris Salon.
Around this time, there were also concerns about absinthe’s effects on people’s health. Some believed that it caused hallucinations and other mental issues. This led to a prohibition of absinthe in France in 1915. The ban didn’t last long, though, as it was lifted in early 1919.
Today, absinthe is still enjoyed by many people all over the world. It has a unique flavor and mystique that sets it apart from other alcoholic drinks, and National Absinthe Day is a great opportunity to learn more about this interesting beverage!
March 5 Birthday Quotes
“Throw your heart into the picture and then jump in after it.”
– Howard Pyle
“I’ve got categories of jobs, and one of the categories is ‘money jobs.’ If one of those comes along and I have to make a living, even if I don’t like the script that much, I’ll do it and just try to stay above water, which I’m able to do most of the time. I try not to sink with the ship.”
– Dean Stockwell
“To all those who won’t listen to my music because I don’t smoke Ganga, I say the hell with those people.”
– Eddy Grant
“If there’s something you really want to believe, that’s what you should question the most.”
– Penn Jillette
“When the negative thoughts come – and they will; they come to all of us – it’s not enough to just not dwell on it… You’ve got to replace it with a positive thought.”
– Joel Osteen
March 5 Birthdays
1595 – Willam Blackstone, early American settler (died in 1675)
1637 – Jan van der Heyden, Dutch painter and engineer (died in 1712)
1853 – Howard Pyle, American author and illustrator (died in 1911)
1874 – Henry Travers, English-American actor (died in 1965)
1905 – László Benedek, Hungarian-American director and cinematographer (died in 1992)
1908 – Rex Harrison, English actor (died in 1990)
1927 – Jack Cassidy, American actor and singer (died in 1976)
1936 – Dean Stockwell, American actor
1939 – Samantha Eggar, English actress
1948 – Eddy Grant, Guyanese-British singer-songwriter
1948 – Elaine Paige, English singer and actress
1954 – Marsha Warfield, American actress and comedian
1955 – Penn Jillette, American magician
1958 – Andy Gibb, English-Australian singer-songwriter (died in 1988)
1963 – Joel Osteen, American pastor, author, and television host
1974 – Matt Lucas, English actor and television personality
1974 – Eva Mendes, American model and actress
1996 – Taylor Hill, American model
March 5 History
1496 – King Henry VII of England issued letters =to John Cabot and his sons, authorizing them to explore unknown lands of (soon to be named) America.
1770 – Boston Massacre: Five Americans, including Crispus Attucks, are fatally shot by British troops.
1836 0 1836 – Samuel Colt patented the first production-model revolver, the .34-caliber.
1872 – George Westinghouse patented the air brake.
1946 – Cold War: Winston Churchill coined the phrase “Iron Curtain” in his speech at Westminster College, Missouri.
1953 – Joseph Stalin, the longest-serving leader of the Soviet Union, died in Moscow.
1963 – American country music stars Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas, and their pilot Randy Hughes were killed in a plane crash in Camden, Tennessee.
1966 – #1 Hit March 5, 1966 – April 8, 1966: SSgt. Barry Sadler – The Ballad of The Green Berets
1977 – #1 Hit March 5, 1966 – March 25, 1966: Barbra Streisand – Evergreen (Love Theme From “A Star Is Born”)
1981 – The ZX81, a pioneering British home computer, was launched by Sinclair Research.
1982 – Soviet probe Venera 14 landed on Venus.
1983: #1 Hit March 5, 1983 – April 22, 1983: Michael Jackson: Billie Jean
2005: #1 Hit March 5, 2005 – May 6, 2005: 50 Cent with Olivia – Candy Shop
2016 – #1 Hit March 5, 2016 – May 6, 2016: Rihanna with Drake – Work
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.
“Time to make the donuts” – Dunkin’ Donuts ad
Two twin-sized mattresses are the same size as a single king size mattress.
“Holy crap!” – Frank Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
I am convinced that the people who make cough/cold syrup have never once actually tasted a berry.
Old Spice’s The Man Your Man Could Smell Like was played by Isaiah Mustafa.
It’s weird that pizza is shaped as a circle and comes in a square box and the slices are triangles. Pizza is a lesson in Geometry.
The name “Oreo” is “Greg” with o’s instead of g’s.
There are currently over 200 people living in the U.S with the name John Doe.
“Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything.” – Mr. Miyagi/Pat Morita #moviequotes
What makes us more sophisticated animals are our intellect and opposable thumbs. Both of which we are wasting by numbing our brains and scrolling via our thumbs on our “smart” phones.
Through, tough, thorough, thought, trough, though don’t rhyme, but pony and bologna do. #theenglishlanguage
1681 – Pennsylvania was deeded to Willam Penn by King Charles II of England.
1789 – The federal government under the US Constitution began, replacing the Articles of Confederation.
George Washington was declared the first US President.
1933 – Frances Perkins was the first US Cabinet Secretary (Sec. of Labor)
1974 – People Magazine premiered
If you were born on March 4th,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 11th (prior year)
The First Full Week in March is…
“Celebrate Your Name” Week.
“National Consumer Protection” Week
“Professional Pet Sitters” Week
“Return Borrowed Books” Week
Celebrate National Grammar Day!
Do you love grammar? Do you get a thrill from proper punctuation and well-placed modifiers? If so, then you’re in luck! March 4 is National Grammar Day, a time to celebrate all things grammar-related. According to the Oxford Dictionaries, National Grammar Day is “an annual event that celebrates good grammar and aims to raise awareness of the importance of language education.” Here are some fun facts about National Grammar Day, established in 2008 by Martha Brockenbrough, and give you some tips on how to celebrate!
Fun Facts About National Grammar Day:
The actual date, March fourth, is a mnemonic device because the month (M), day (D), and year (YY) all use Roman numerals. M = March; D = IV = four; YY= 08. It’s also an example of proper punctuation.
The Oxford Dictionaries notes that “The Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar [SPOGG] encourages Americans to celebrate National Grammar Day by sending well-crafted emails in support of good grammar.” SPOGG was founded by Martha Brockenbrough, who chose the name as sort of an inside joke with her friends from college. According to toOGG’s website, “The name is derived from a wordplay on the Society of Professional Journalists’ acronym – SPJ.”
Brockenbrough also established National Grammar Day because in 2006, she had to do an emergency rewrite of her book Things That Make Us, which was due at the printers. She wrote that as she saved the file and pushed it through, “I heard flutes playing and a choir singing ‘Alleluia.’” According to The New Yorker, “Brockenbrough’s first version of Things That Make Us [Sic] included grammar myths such as never-ending sentences with prepositions (think about what you just read) or starting one with a conjunction (and think about how often do this).”
While National Grammar Day is a time for fun, it’s also about taking grammar seriously. In an interview with The New Yorker, Brockenbrough said she started SPOGG as “a way to have some fun and raise people’s awareness of the importance of language education.” She added: “We will not challenge any errors on signs or menus or in casual conversation. We will only respond to such things when we see them in print, because that’s where they matter most.”
Tips on How to Celebrate National Grammar Day:
Write something!
Send your boss an email, and use proper grammar!
Make a cup of tea or coffee to celebrate National Grammar Day with a mug that has “Grammar Police” written on it.
Take the time to correct those who misuse words like “their,” which is plural but used as singular and other incorrect use of grammar.
Celebrate by using proper grammar in your writing and being courteously mindful of others’ misuse of language.
March 4 is…
Hug a G.I. Day
Pound Cake Day
March Forth and Do Something Day
National Grammar Day
World Obesity Day
March 4 Birthday Quotes
“It’s not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy.”
– Catherine O’Hara
“My approach has always been to put 100% into the movie I’m making right now. I think sometimes filmmakers put too much thought into the grand franchise they’re going to build. And guess what? If the first movie doesn’t work there is no franchise, so I’m always concentrated on making the best, best possible movie right now.”
– Paul W. S. Anderson
“It is my fondest wish that the gift of song that God has given me will flow from my soul to yours and help ease any burden that might weigh upon you.”
– Bobby Womack
“I build the car first then make a drawing, are you paying attention, Detroit ?”
– Ed “Big Daddy” Roth
“I don’t like to lose, and that isn’t so much because it is just a football game, but because defeat means the failure to reach your objective. I don’t want a football player who doesn’t take defeat to heart, who laughs it off with the thought, “Oh, well, there’s another Saturday.” The trouble in American life today, in business as well as in sports, is that too many people are afraid of competition. The result is that in some circles people have come to sneer at success if it costs hard work and training and sacrifice.”
– Knute Rockne
March 4 Birthdays
1678 – Antonio Vivaldi, Italian violinist and composer (died in 1741)
1702 – Jack Sheppard, English criminal (died in 1724)
1864 – David W. Taylor, American admiral, architect, and engineer (died in 1940)
1888 – Knute Rockne, American Football coach (died in 1931)
1913 – John Garfield, American actor and singer (died in 1952)
1919 – Buck Baker, American race car driver (died in 2002)
1925 – Paul Mauriat, French conductor and composer (died in 2006)
1932 – Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, American illustrator (died in 2001)
1938 – Paula Prentiss, American actress
1944 – Bobby Womack, American singer-songwriter (died in 2014)
1948 – Chris Squire, English singer-songwriter and bass guitarist (died in 2015)
1951 – Chris Rea, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
1953 – Emilio Estefan, Cuban-American drummer
1954 – Catherine O’Hara, Canadian-American actress
1958 – Patricia Heaton, American actress
1961 – Ray Mancini, American boxer
1962 – Simon Bisley, English author and comic book illustrator
1965 – Paul W.S. Anderson, English director, producer, and screenwriter
1968 – Patsy Kensit, English model and actress
1983 – Drew Houston, American internet entrepreneur
1986 – Margo Harshman, American actress
March 4 History
1193 – Saladin [Salah ed-Din]) Yusuf ibn Ayyub (52) Kurdish sultan of Egypt and Syria (1175-1193) died.
1519 – Hernán Cortés arrived in Mexico in search of the Aztec civilization and its wealth.
1826 – The first chartered railroad in the US was chartered as the Granite Railway in Quincy, Massachusetts.
1837 – The city of Chicago was incorporated.
1853 – Franklin Pierce was the first U.S. President to recite his inauguration address entirely from memory. The speech was 3,329 words long.
1930 – The Coolidge Dam on Gila River in Arizona was dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge.
1944 – Louis “Lepke” Buchalter, the head of Murder, Inc., was executed by electric chair at Sing Sing Prison in New York.
March 5, 1955 – Peter Pan aired live as part of NBC’s Producer’s Showcase.
1966 – John Lennon was quoted as saying “Christianity will go, it will vanish and shrink… We’re more popular than Jesus now,” in reference to religion fading in the western world.
1967 – #1 Hit March 4, 1967 – March 10, 1967: The Rolling Stones – Ruby Tuesday
1975 – The first People’s Choice Awards was shown on CBS.
1975 – People magazine was published for the first time in the United States as People Weekly.
1978 – #1 Hit March 4, 1978 – March 17, 1978: Andy Gibb – (Love Is) Thicker Than Water
1982 – Police Squad! premiered on ABC, lasting 6 episodes, but the concept was made into several very successful Naked Gun feature films
1984 – Television Academy Hall of Fame opened
1985 – Robotech premiered, in syndication.
1989 – #1 Hit March 4, 1989 – March 24, 1989: Debbie Gibson – Lost In Your Eyes
2000 – #1 Hit March 4, 2000 – March 17, 2000: Lonestar – Amazed
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
The biggest film of 1971: Billy Jack earned ~ $98,000,000
Barry Manilow wrote the jingle: “I am stuck on Band-Aids, ’cause Band-Aid’s stuck on me.”
I only buy one lottery ticket at a time. That way, when I finally win the big one, I didn’t waste too much money on extra tickets I didn’t need.
Chocolate manufacturers currently use 40 percent of the world’s almonds and 20 percent of the world’s peanuts.
The Scary Statistic: Heart Disease odds: 1-in-5
The two parts to the word “helicopter” are not “heli” and “copter”, but “helico” meaning spiral, and “pter” meaning one with wings, like a pterodactyl.
If someone 50 years ago was told that there would only be 8 planets, they might think something really exciting happened…
What to do: Take an 81 mg aspirin daily, eat healthy foods, exercise in moderation.
Sherlock Holmes is the most portrayed movie character in history.
Approximately 3 billion pizzas are sold in the U.S. each year.
What if my dreams are a connection to a different reality? #ThosePoorPeople
Earl Grey was actually a Prime Minister of Great Britain during 1830-1834.
I don’t really know the back of my hand that well.
The Carpenters (1970 Best New Artist Grammy Winner, presented in 1971)
The Carpenters were brother and sister, Karen and Richard Carpenter.
Simon and Garfunkel (Grammy for Album of the Year)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (Grammy for Record of the Year)
New Artists in the Pop Charts Included: Rod Stewart, John Denver, Cat Stevens, Olivia Newton-John, Earth Wind and Fire, Carly Simon, Yvonne Elliman, Alice Cooper, Redbone, Yes and Chuck Mangione
When I became of age my mother called me to her side,
She said, “Son, you’re growing up now pretty soon you’ll take a bride.
And then she said, “Just because you’ve become a young man now,
There’s still somethings that you don’t understand now,
Before you ask some girl for her hand now
Keep your freedom for as long as you can now.
-Smokey Robinson, Shop Around
ADVICE
Definition: an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct. Advice, reflective thought, and a pause in instinctive reactions can help people make the right decisions.
Advice may be given… advice may be taken. Even advice without an answer can remind you that you are never alone.
Giving and accepting advice is one part of life that helps us through the trials and tribulations we are faced with.
The problem with advice is that we often don’t take it, especially if it means doing or admitting something that we’d rather not. Sometimes advice brings up an option you didn’t think of before or gives you another question without an answer. Often inspiring and uplifting, sometimes a cold slap in the face, and occasionally funny, the great thing about advice songs is that you can kick back and listen to someone else coach you through a tough situation while rocking out at the same time.
PONDER
Definition: to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate or to weigh carefully in the mind and consider thoughtfully.
No, you can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, you just might find
You get what you need
-Rolling Stones, You Can’t Always Get What You Want
1960-1969 Advice Songs Chart
1.
Shop Around – Smokey Robinson And The Miracles
2.
You Can’t Always Get What You Want – The
Rolling Stones
3.
You Can’t Hurry Love – The Supremes
4.
When I Was Young – The Animals
5.
Respect – Aretha Franklin
6.
My Way – Frank Sinatra
7.
Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) – the Byrds
8.
Try A Little Tenderness – Otis Redding
9.
Give Peace A Chance – John Lennon
10.
All You Need Is Love – the Beatles
11.
Yakety Sax – Boots Randolph
12.
I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better – The Byrds
13.
Dazed and Confused – Led Zeppelin
14.
Reach Out (I’ll Be There) – The Four Tops
15.
That’s Life – Frank Sinatra
16.
We Shall Overcome – Joan Baez
17.
(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding
18.
Don’t Sleep In The Subway – Petula Clark
19.
Walk Like A Man – Four Seasons
20.
Hit The Road Jack – Ray Charles
21.
Blowin’ In The Wind – Bob Dylan
22.
I Should Have Known Better – The Beatles
23.
Stand By Your Man – Tammy Wynette
24.
If You Wanna Be Happy – Jimmy Soul
25.
For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
26.
Kozmic Blues – Janis Joplin
27.
Mama Said – The Shirelles
28.
The Best Is Yet To Come – Tony Bennett
29.
How Can I Be Sure? – The Young Rascals
30.
Break on Through – The Doors
31.
Getting Better – The Beatles
32.
Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
33.
A Place In The Sun – Stevie Wonder
34.
Stand! – Sly and the Family Stone
35.
Be True To Your School – The Beach Boys
36.
Little Bit O Soul – Music Explosion
37.
Listen To What The Man Said – Wings (Paul McCartney)
38.
19th Nervous Breakdown – The Rolling Stones
39.
I Started A Joke – The Bee Gees
40.
What The World Needs Now Is Love – Jackie
DeShannon
41.
Positively 4th Street – Bob Dylan
42.
Nowhere Man – The Beatles
43.
Everybody’s Talking – Nilsson
44.
Peaches & Cream – The Ikettes
45.
Help Yourself – Tom Jones
46.
I’m Telling You Now – Freddie and the Dreamers
47.
If I Were A Carpenter – Bobby Darin (or The Four Tops)
48.
White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane
49.
The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss) – Betty Everett
50.
Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind? – The Lovin’ Spoonful
51.
Good Times Bad Times – Led Zeppelin
52.
Georgy Girl – The Seekers
53.
Come Back When You Grow Up – Bobby Vee
54.
California Dreamin’ – The Mamas and the Papas
55.
Never Pick A Pretty Boy – Dee Dee Sharp
56.
Think! – Aretha Franklin
57.
Pushin’ Too Hard – The Seeds
58.
Take A Fool’s Advice – Nat King Cole
59.
Don’t Hang Up – The Orlons
60.
When You Wish Upon A Star – Dion and the Belmonts
61.
Run To Him – Bobby Vee
62.
People Are Strange – The Doors
63.
Apeman – The Kinks
64.
You Can’t Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd – Roger Miller
65.
Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying – Gerry and the Pacemakers
66.
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – The Animals
67.
Lady Willpower – Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
68.
Everybody – Tommy Roe
69.
Tighten Up – Archie Bell and The Drells
70.
Wishin’ and Hopin’ -Dusty Springfield
71.
Cry Like A Baby – The Box Tops
72.
Where Have All The Lowers Gone – Peter, Paul & Mary or The Kingston Trio
73.
I Feel Free – Cream
74.
Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right – Elvis Presley or Peter, Paul and Mary
75.
Only The Strong Survive – Jerry Butler
76.
One (Is the Loneliest Number) – Three Dog Night
77.
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You – The Monkees
78.
(We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet – Blues Magoos
79.
Dizzy – Tommy Roe
80.
Psychotic Reaction – The Count Five
81.
Tell Him – The Exciters
82.
It Must Be Him – Vikki Carr
83.
Things I Should Have Said – The Grass Roots
84.
You’ve Made Me So Very Happy – Blood, Sweat and Tears
1820 – Missouri Compromise was reached. It was repealed in 1954.
1845 – Florida became the 27th US State
1849 – The Territory of Minnesota was created.
1938 – Oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia.
March 3, 2017 – Nintendo Switch released, Video Game Console
If you were born on March 3rd,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 10th (prior year)
National Flag Day
Throughout the 19th century, “The Star-Spangled Banner” was considered the anthem by most branches of the U.S. soldiers and other groups, but it had been not until 1916, and therefore the signing of an executive order by President Wilson, that it had been formally designated intrinsically. In March 1931, Congress passed an act confirming Wilson’s presidential order, and on March 3 Hoover signed it into law.
Song’s origin started on September 14, 1814, when Francis Scott Key composed the lyrics to The Star-Spangled Banner after witnessing the overnight British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Maryland during the War of 1812. Key, an American lawyer, watched the siege while under detainment on a British ship and penned the famous words after observing with awe that Fort McHenry’s flag survived the 1,800-bomb assault. After circulating as a handbill, the patriotic lyrics were published in a Baltimore newspaper on September 20, 1814. Key’s words were later set to the tune of To Anacreon in Heaven, a well-liked English song.
March 3 is…
Ear Care Day
I Want You to be Happy Day
Mulled Wine Day
(US) National Anthem Day
Simplify Your Life Day
World Birth Defects Day
World Wildlife Day
March 3 Birthday Quotes
“Cakes are special. Every birthday, every celebration ends with something sweet, a cake, and people remember. It’s all about the memories.”
– Buddy Valastro
“You can criticize yourself to a point to do something better, or you criticize yourself to a point where you inhibit yourself.”
– Ira Glass
” You have to be yourself otherwise people won’t know who you are.”
– Doc Watson
“As soon as a norm is established, people start questioning it, which is probably a good thing in the end.”
– Robyn Hitchcock
“Mr. Watson… Come here, I want to see you.”
– Alexander Graham Bell
“It [prejudice] is such a waste. It makes you logy and half-alive. It gives you nothing. It takes away.”
– Dorothy Dandridge
“I went looking for trouble, and I found it.”
– Charles Ponzi
March 3 Birthdays
1831 – George Pullman, American engineer and businessman (died in 1897)
1847 – Alexander Graham Bell, American inventor (died in 1922)
1882 – Charles Ponzi, Italian businessman (died in 1949)
1902 – Dorothy Dandridge, African-American film and radio actress (died in 1987)
1911 – Jean Harlow, American actress (died in 1937)
1920 – James Doohan, Canadian-American actor and soldier (died in 2005)
1923 – Doc Watson, American bluegrass singer-songwriter and musician (died in 2012)
1947 – Jennifer Warnes, American singer-songwriter
1953 – Robyn Hitchcock, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
1958 – Miranda Richardson, English actress
1959 – Ira Glass, American radio host
1974 – David Faustino, American actor
1977 – Buddy Valastro, American chef and television host
1982 – Jessica Biel, American actress
1997 – Camila Cabello, Cuban-American singer
March 3 History
1873
US Congress passed the ‘Comstock Law’, making it illegal to send any “obscene, lewd, or lascivious” books through the mail.
1885
American Telephone and Telegraph Company was incorporated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Bell.
1901
An act of the US Congress created the Office of Standards, Weights, and Measures.
1915 Birth of a Nation made its east coast debut in NYC.
1915
NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics), the predecessor of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), was founded.
1919
The first US international airmail service began between Seattle, Washington and Victoria, B.C., Canada.
1923 Time magazine published the first issue.
1931
President Herbert Hoover made Francis Scott Key’s “The Star-Spangled Banner” the official national anthem of the United States.
1951 Watch Mr. Wizard debuted on NBC.
1951
Jackie Brenston recorded Rocket 88 at Sam Phillips’ recording studios in Memphis, Tennessee.
1952
In a 6-3 decision, the US Supreme Court upheld a New York state law prohibiting communists from teaching in public schools.
1969
Apollo 9 (March 3-13, 1969) Crew: James McDivitt, David Scott, and Russell Schweickart
1985 Moonlighting premiered on ABC.
1990
#1 Hit March 3, 1990 – March 23, 1990: Janet Jackson – Escapade
1991
Rodney King was severely beaten by police officers in Los Angeles, CA. Observers filmed the footage and then broadcast on television in the U.S. The incident led to massive riots by African-Americans in Los Angeles.
1997 Daria premiered on MTV
March 3, 19** (fiction) Harleen Quinzel interviewed The Joker for the first time. Harkey Quinn, Batman, DC Comics
2005
After 67 hours, the first solo non-stop and fastest flight around the world without refueling ended when Steve Fossett landed at the Salina Municipal Airport, which he had left on February 28, 2005.
2007
#1 Hit March 3, 2007 – March 9, 2007: Justin Timberlake – What Goes Around… Comes Around
2012
#1 Hit March 3, 2012 – March 16, 2012: Katy Perry – Part of Me
2017
March 3, 2017 – Nintendo Switch released, Video Game Console
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
People think those Russian dolls are cute; I think they’re full of themselves.
“I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV” – Vicks Formula 44 ad
“Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” – Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) #moviequotes
The original “Terminator (1984) was the T-800 Cyberdyne Systems Model 101.
Disney World in Orlando is roughly the size of San Francisco.
Mark Twain – Real Name: Samuel Langhorne Clemens
TV Quotes… “Oh, my nose!” (Marcia Brady) on The Brady Bunch.
The 2001 film Pearl Harbor was nominated for four Oscars and six Razzies.
Every time you break a pencil tip, the graphite could’ve written words but is now destined to lay on the floor. How many paragraphs in the pieces have been lost, never to be written…
I plan my trips around when Mercury is in (apparent) retrograde. It’s a fine time to travel as there are fewer astrologers on the road.
I’m glad Dr. Pepper went to med school instead of law school because I wouldn’t want to drink something called Jeffrey E. Pepper, Esq.
Isaac Asimov’s Laws of Robotics: Ethics at the Intersection of Sci-Fi and AI
In 1942, science fiction author Isaac Asimov introduced one of speculative fiction’s most enduring ethical frameworks: the Three Laws of Robotics. These laws first appeared in his short story “Runaround,” part of the I, Robot collection, and they’ve since echoed through books, films, and academic discourse. What began as a fictional safeguard against runaway robots has become a starting point for real-world discussions on artificial intelligence and machine ethics.
The Three Laws are as follows:
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
These deceptively simple rules suggest a world where machines exist only to serve and protect humans. But as Asimov himself repeatedly demonstrated, following rules isn’t always so straightforward.
Fiction Meets Philosophy
Asimov’s stories frequently explore how these laws might backfire. In “Little Lost Robot,” a robot has been given a weakened version of the First Law—one that ignores indirect harm. The result? A dangerous and unpredictable machine that follows commands while skirting the spirit of the law. In “The Evitable Conflict,” robots manage the global economy and make decisions that harm individual humans in order to preserve humanity at large—an ominous interpretation of the First Law.
These stories echo real-world ethical dilemmas. What happens when rules conflict? When harm is indirect or ambiguous? When machines are tasked with choosing between individual and collective good?
Rule-Based Systems vs. Moral Reasoning
Asimov’s framework has drawn comparison to various ethical theories:
Utilitarianism supports outcomes that maximize well-being, aligning with the First Law’s emphasis on preventing harm.
Deontological ethics, like those proposed by Immanuel Kant, argue for duties and rules, regardless of the consequences—much like the rigid adherence the Three Laws demand.
Virtue ethics, rooted in Aristotle, suggest that morality isn’t about rules or results but character and intention—something no robot yet possesses.
This tension remains unresolved in today’s AI development. Are rules enough? Or do we need systems that understand context, emotion, and long-term consequences?
Case Study: Self-Driving Cars
Self-driving vehicles face Asimov-like dilemmas in the real world. If a child darts into the street, should the car swerve—risking the lives of passengers—to avoid hitting them? Should it follow orders to prioritize cargo delivery deadlines, even when traffic conditions might suggest rerouting?
The “Trolley Problem”—a classic moral dilemma involving whether to sacrifice one to save five—suddenly becomes a programming issue. Whose life should be prioritized? And who decides?
Case Study: Medical AI
AI systems are increasingly used in healthcare to recommend treatments, flag errors, and even detect cancers. But what happens when an AI’s recommendation contradicts a doctor’s? Or when following a patient’s command might do them harm? These systems are bound by protocols—modern-day “laws”—but the subtleties of patient care often resist codification.
A real-world example: IBM’s Watson for Oncology was shelved after experts found its treatment recommendations were inconsistent and potentially dangerous. Even with the best data and intentions, machines don’t yet grasp the messy complexities of ethics.
The Illusion of Intelligence
Philosopher John Searle’s famous Chinese Room argument questions whether machines that simulate understanding understand anything at all. A robot might follow the Three Laws flawlessly, but that doesn’t mean it knows why.
This distinction—between acting like you understand and understanding—raises a central concern: Can we entrust moral decisions to systems that lack consciousness?
Beyond the Laws
Today, most ethicists and AI researchers view the Three Laws as a helpful metaphor—not a practical design framework. Modern discussions focus on:
Transparency – Users should understand how decisions are made.
Accountability – There must be someone to answer for machine behavior.
Fairness – AI must not reinforce biases or discriminate.
Safety and Alignment – Systems must be designed to reflect human values.
One influential document, the IEEE’s Ethically Aligned Design, offers engineers a more detailed and realistic ethical guideline, including provisions for human oversight, dignity, and well-being.
Are We Still Writing Science Fiction?
It’s worth noting how prophetic Asimov was. In 1950, he imagined machines grappling with ethical conflicts. By 2025, we have AI systems writing legal briefs, assisting in surgeries, and screening job applicants.
But we also have controversies: facial recognition software with racial bias, predictive policing systems reinforcing systemic injustice, and social media algorithms optimizing for engagement rather than truth or safety. These systems don’t follow Asimov’s laws. They follow profit motives, data patterns, or optimization goals, none guarantee moral outcomes.
Quotable Reflections
“A robot may not harm a human—but who defines harm?” — Isaac Asimov, I, Robot
“In AI ethics, the simplest rules raise the hardest problems.” — Bostrom & Yudkowsky, The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” — Isaac Asimov
Glossary of Terms
AI Ethics – The study of how machines should behave and how humans should design and regulate them.
Utilitarianism – A philosophy that prioritizes the greatest good for the greatest number.
Deontology – An ethics system focused on duties and moral rules, regardless of outcome.
Chinese Room Argument – A thought experiment questioning whether rule-following equals understanding.
Value Alignment – The challenge of ensuring AI systems reflect human moral values.
Discussion Questions
Can rigid programming ever truly replicate human ethical reasoning?
Should machines prioritize the individual or the majority when facing moral choices?
Is it ethical to build machines that make life-and-death decisions on our behalf?
2. What was the Second Biggest Number One Song of 1951?
3. Who was Tony the Tiger the mascot for, starting in 1951?
4. In 1951, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
5. Who was the President of the United States in 1951?
6. 1951 Catchphrase: Who said, “This is the city …”?
7. To the nearest quarter, what was the average movie theater ticket price in 1951?
8. What was the average income for Americans 14 years old and over receiving any income in 1951?
9. What was the name of the area on North American soil where they tested atomic bombs?
10. What tourist-filled city was near the Nevada Proving Ground?
11. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1951
12. This 1951 Sci-Fi classic was based on the 1940 science fiction short story Farewell to the Master by Harry Bates…
13. Although his show was canceled in 1956, this comedian continued to earn $200,000 a year through August 31, 1981, due to his 30-year contract signed in 1951. Name that funnyman.
14. What was the highest-grossing film of 1951?
15. How many people lived in the United States in 1951?
16. How many people lived in the World in 1951?
17. This 1951 film was Elia Kazan’s adaptation of the Tennessee Williams play. Name that film.
18. This 1951 British-American adventure film was adapted from C.S. Forester’s 1935 novel. Name it.
19. What Amendment to the Constitution passed in 1951?
20. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1951?
21. This once-popular office product for correcting mistakes was created by Bette Graham Nesmith in 1951.
22. This famous human sound has been heard in over 400 films, from Westerns to Star Wars. Name that yell…
23. This garment, created in 1951, is usually made of foamed neoprene to provide thermal protection for people engaging in water activities…
24. True or False: the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory toy sold for under $50 and included radioactive uranium.
25. Based in Texas, Geophysical Service Incorporated changed its name to what in 1951?
26. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1951?
27. This Major League baseball legend had a 56-game winning streak during his final season in 1951.
28. What was the Top-Rated TV Show in the 1950/1951 season?
29. What company has been reporting television ratings since the 1950/1951 season?
30. Walt Disney’s 13th animated feature film opened in 1951. Name that film…
HINT: Tim Burton released a live-action version in 2010.
31. In 1951, Davey Law in the UK and Hal Ketcham in the US introduced two different characters with the same name. Name that character.
32. How much did a Dozen Eggs cost in 1951?
33. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1951: Janice Dickinson, Chrissie Hynde, Bootsy Collins, or Mark Hamill?
34. In 1952, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz hosted the 4th Emmy Award ceremonies for the 1950-1951 TV season. How many Emmys did I Love Lucy win for the 1950/1951 season?
35. Who won the 1951 World Series?
36. This major sporting event in the Americas, occurring every four years, began in 1951.
37. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1951?
38. What is the fastest game bird in Europe, the golden plover or the red grouse?
39. 39. What best-selling book was inspired by The Golden Plover or Red Grouse Speed Question?
40. This kitchen storage company became popular with in-home product demonstrations. What are those demonstrations called?
41. The 74-minute length of Wilhelm Furtwangler’s recording of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 from the 1951 Bayreuth Festival was the targeted playing time for what digital platform?
42. This English actor appeared in over 400 films between 1914 and 1951, including 114 with his comedy partner…
43. Who was Oliver Hardy’s comedy partner?
44. New York Giants player Bobby Thomson’s home run to win the National League pennant on October 3, 1951 was better known as what?
45. This show, starring a real-life husband-and-wife team, debuted on CBS and became the most-watched show of the early 1950s. Name that show.
46. First presented to the US Census Bureau, what was the name of the first general business computer?
47. What novel featured a fictional character named Holden Caulfield?
48. This Broadway show, introduced in 1951, was based on a novel, Anna and the King of Siam, by Margaret Landon…
49. What actor played the King of Siam in the show and later the film version of The King and I?
50. The television show’s characters inhabited the fictional town of Doodyville. Name the show.
51. What time did every Howdy Doody Show start?
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. Who were the 1951 NBA Champions?
2. Who was the spokesperson for Carling Black Label?
3. Who were the 1951 NFL Champions?
4. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1951?
5. In 1951, Mary Reeser was one of the first modern examples of what unfortunate but rare lethal occurrence?
6. who were Lucy and Ricky’s neighbors and best friends on television’s I Love Lucy?
7. Who was the Pope in 1951?
8. What was the name of the 8-foot robot in The Day The Earth Stood Still?
9. This long-running soap opera started on CBS on September 3, 1951, and concluded on NBC 35 years later, on December 26, 1986.
10. Who was the American Vice-President in 1951?
The Answers:
51 Trivia Answers for 1951 History
1. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1951? Tennessee Waltz by Patti Page
2. What was the Second Biggest Number One Song of 1951? Cry by Johnnie Ray
3. Who was Tony the Tiger the mascot for, starting in 1951?
Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes cereal
4. In 1951, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
Men – 65.6 years, Women – 71.4 years.
5. Who was the President of the United States in 1951?
Harry S. Truman (April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953)
6. 1951 Catchphrase: Who said, “This is the city …”?
Joe Friday on Dragnet
7. To the nearest quarter, what was the average movie theater ticket price in 1951?
50 cents
8. What was the average income for Americans 14 years old and over receiving any income in 1951?
$2,200
9. What was the name of the area on North American soil where they tested atomic bombs?
Nevada Proving Grounds (also Nevada Test Site). Between 1951 and 1992, there have been nearly 1,000 nuclear tests above and under-ground conducted in Nevada
10. What tourist-filled city was near the Nevada Proving Ground?
Las Vegas. They even offered special “atomic cocktails” and “Dawn Bomb Parties” for people who watched the above-ground explosions.
11. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1951? From Here to Eternity by James Jones
12. This 1951 Sci-Fi classic was based on the 1940 science fiction short story Farewell to the Master by Harry Bates… The Day The Earth Stood Still
13. Although his show was canceled in 1956, this comedian continued to earn $200,000 a year through August 31, 1981, due to his 30-year contract signed in 1951. Name that funnyman.
Milton Berle
14. What was the highest-grossing film of 1951? Quo Vadis
15. How many people lived in the United States in 1951?
The population was an estimated 154,877,889 people.
16. How many people lived in the World in 1951?
The estimated world population in 1951 was 2,572,850,917 people.
17. This 1951 film was Elia Kazan’s adaptation of the Tennessee Williams play. Name that film. A Streetcar Named Desire
18. This 1951 British-American adventure film was adapted from C.S. Forester’s 1935 novel. Name it. The African Queen, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn
19. What Amendment to the Constitution passed in 1951?
The 22nd Amendment limited the number of times a person can be elected President.
20. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1951?
In 1951, The Toronto Maple Leafs won over the Montreal Canadiens (4 games to 1)
21. This once-popular office product for correcting mistakes was created by Bette Graham Nesmith in 1951.
Liquid Paper (also Mistake-Out or White-Out)
22. This famous human sound has been heard in over 400 films, from Westerns to Star Wars. Name that yell…
The Wilhelm Scream
23. This garment, created in 1951, is usually made of foamed neoprene to provide thermal protection for people engaging in water activities…
Wetsuit
24. True or False: the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory toy sold for under $50 and included radioactive uranium.
True
25. Based in Texas, Geophysical Service Incorporated changed its name to what in 1951?
Texas Instruments
26. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1951?
$0.27 per gallon
27. This Major League baseball legend had a 56-game winning streak during his final season in 1951.
Joe DiMaggio
28. What was the Top-Rated TV Show in the 1950/1951 season? Texaco Star Theater (NBC)
29. What company has been reporting television ratings since the 1950/1951 season?
Nielson (Nielson Media)
30. Walt Disney’s 13th animated feature film opened in 1951. Name that film…
HINT: Tim Burton released a live-action version in 2010. Alice In Wonderland
31. In 1951, Davey Law in the UK and Hal Ketcham in the US introduced two different characters with the same name. Name that character.
Dennis The Menace. Both even debuted on the same day – March 12, 1951.
32. How much did a Dozen Eggs cost in 1951?
74 cents
33. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1951: Janice Dickinson, Chrissie Hynde, Bootsy Collins, or Mark Hamill?
Janice Doreen Dickinson (born February 16, 1955)
34. In 1952, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz hosted the 4th Emmy Award ceremonies for the 1950-1951 TV season. How many Emmys did I Love Lucy win for the 1950/1951 season?
None.
35. Who won the 1951 World Series?
In 1951, The New York Yankees won, beating the New York Giants (4 games to 2)
36. This major sporting event in the Americas, occurring every four years, began in 1951.
The Pan American Games (Pan Am Games)
37. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1951?
Mohammad Mossadegh
38. What is the fastest game bird in Europe, the golden plover or the red grouse?
The Golden Plover
39. What best-selling book was inspired by The Golden Plover or Red Grouse Speed Question? The Guinness Book of World Records
40. This kitchen storage company became popular with in-home product demonstrations. What are those demonstrations called?
Tupperware Parties
41. The 74-minute length of Wilhelm Furtwangler’s recording of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 from the 1951 Bayreuth Festival was the targeted playing time for what digital platform?
The CD (compact disc)
42. This English actor appeared in over 400 films between 1914 and 1951, including 114 with his comedy partner…
Oliver Hardy
43. Who was Oliver Hardy’s comedy partner?
Stan Laurel
44. New York Giants player Bobby Thomson’s home run to win the National League pennant on October 3, 1951 was better known as what?
The “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”
45. This show, starring a real-life husband-and-wife team, debuted on CBS and went on to become the most-watched show of the early 1950s. Name that show. I Love Lucy
46. First presented to the US Census Bureau, what was the name of the first general business computer?
The UNIVAC I
47. What novel featured a fictional character named Holden Caulfield? Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
48. This Broadway show, introduced in 1951, was based on a novel, Anna and the King of Siam, by Margaret Landon… The King and I
49. What actor played the King of Siam in the show and later the film version of The King and I?
Yul Brynner
50. The television show’s characters inhabited the fictional town of Doodyville. Name the show. Howdy Doody Show
51. What time did every Howdy Doody Show start?
Howdy Doodie Time
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. Who were the 1951 NBA Champions?
For the 1950-51 Season, Champion Rochester Royals won 4 games to 3 over the New York Knicks
2. Who was the spokesperson for Carling Black Label?
Mabel, the waitress
3. Who were the 1951 NFL Champions?
Los Angeles Rams
4. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1951?
Count Turf
5. In 1951, Mary Reeser was one of the first modern examples of what unfortunate but rare lethal occurrence?
Spontaneous Human Combustion
6. who were Lucy and Ricky’s neighbors and best friends on television’s I Love Lucy?
Fred and Ethel Mertz (William Frawley and Vivian Vance)
7. Who was the Pope in 1951?
Pope Pius XII, March 2, 1939 – October 9, 1958
8. What was the name of the 8-foot robot in The Day The Earth Stood Still?
Gort
9. This long-running soap opera started on CBS on September 3, 1951, and concluded on NBC 35 years later, on December 26, 1986. Search For Tomorrow
10. Who was the American Vice-President in 1951?
Alben W. Barkley (January 20, 1949 – January 20, 1953)
1925 – Highway numbers were introduced in the United States.
East/West are even numbered, North/South are odd-numbered
1943 – The Battle of Bismarck, Ally victory in South Pacific
March 2, 1961 – (fictional) Baltian made first contact with humans on Earth, Men in Black, Comics/Film
If you were born on March 2nd,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 9th (prior year)
Dr. Seuss
Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, the author and illustrator of such beloved children’s books as The Cat within the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham, was born in Springfield in 1904. Geisel, who used his name (which was also his mother’s maiden name) as his nom de plume, wrote 48 books, including some for adults, that have sold overflow 200 million copies and been translated into multiple languages. Dr. Seuss’s books are known for his or her whimsical rhymes and quirky characters, which have names just like the Lorax and therefore the Sneetches and sleep in places like Whoville.
Geisel graduated from Dartmouth College, where he was editor of the school’s humor magazine, and studied at Oxford University. There he met Helen Palmer, his first wife and therefore the one that encouraged him to become a knowledgeable illustrator. Back in America, Geisel worked as a cartoonist for a spread of magazines and in advertising.
The first children’s book that Geisel wrote and illustrated, And to Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street, was rejected by over twenty-four publishers before making it into print in 1937. Geisel’s first bestseller, The Cat within the Hat, was published in 1957. The story of a mischievous cat during a tall striped hat happened after his publisher asked him to supply a book using 220 new-reader vocabulary words that would function an entertaining alternative to the varsity reading primers children found boring.
Other Dr. Seuss classics include Yertle the Turtl, If I Ran the Circus, Fox in Socks and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
March 2 is…
Banana Cream Pie Day
Dr. Seuss’s Birthday
Old Stuff Day
Read Across America Day
March 2 Birthday Quotes
“I stay fat because it just wouldn’t be fair to all the thin people if I were this good-looking, intelligent, funny, and thin. It’s a public service really.”
– Rebel Wilson
“It is a matter of great satisfaction to me to hope that my children will be in circumstances to receive a good education. Mine was defective and I feel the inconvenience, if not the misfortune of not receiving a classical education. Knowledge is the food of genius, and my son, let no opportunity escape you to treasure up knowledge.”
– Sam Houston
“I write stuff. Sometimes people pay me for some of it. “
– Mark Evanier
“Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate. The world doesn’t need any more gray. On the other hand, we can’t get enough color. Mediocrity is nobody’s goal and perfection shouldn’t be either. We’ll never be perfect. But remember these three P’s: Passion + Persistence = Possibility.”
– Jon Bon Jovi
“Life is beautiful in all its colors, even the darker ones, they’re here for a reason.”
– Chris Martin
March 2 Birthdays
1793 – Sam Houston, American soldier and politician, 1st President of the Republic of Texas (died in 1863)
1836 – Henry Billings Brown, American lawyer and judge (died in 1913)
1886 – Willis H. O’Brien, American animator and director (died in 1962)
1900 – Kurt Weill, German-American pianist and composer (died in 1950)
1904 – Dr. Seuss, American children’s book writer, poet, and illustrator (Theodor Seuss “Ted” Geisel d. 1991)
1917 – Desi Arnaz, Cuban-American actor, singer, and producer (died in 1986)
1919 – Jennifer Jones, American actress (died in 2009
1931 – Mikhail Gorbachev, Russian lawyer and politician, Nobel Prize laureate
1938 – Lawrence Payton, American singer-songwriter (died in 1997)
1942 – John Irving, American novelist and screenwriter
1948 – Larry Carlton, American guitarist and songwriter
1950 – Karen Carpenter, American singer (died in 1983)
1952 – Mark Evanier, American author and screenwriter
1952 – Laraine Newman, American actress and comedian
1953 – Russ Feingold, American lawyer and politician
1962 – Jon Bon Jovi, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor
1968 – Daniel Craig, English actor
1971 – Method Man, American rapper and record producer
1977 – Chris Martin, English singer-songwriter
1980 – Rebel Wilson, Australian actress
1981 – Bryce Dallas Howard, American actress
1988 – Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America 2012
1997 – Becky G, American singer
March 2 History
1657
The Great Fire of Meireki in Edo (now Tokyo), Japan, caused more than 100,000 deaths and lasted three days
1807
The US Congress passed an act to “prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States… from any foreign kingdom, place, or country.”
1863
The US Congress authorized a track width of 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches as the standard for the Union Pacific Railroad, which became the standard width for most of the world.
1899
Mount Rainier National Park: Established on March 2, 1899, in Washington, this park covers 369 square miles. Known for its towering Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano, glaciers, and alpine meadows.
1933 King Kong (film) opened at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.
1944
Train #8017 stopped in a tunnel near Salerno, Italy; more than 500 people on board suffocated and died. In the midst of WW II, the story was very much covered up by the Italian government.
1949
The first round-the-world nonstop airplane flight was completed in a US Air Force B-50 Superfortress bomber, the Lucky Lady II, by Captain James Gallagher. They landed back at Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth, Texas, which they had left on February 26, about 94 hours earlier.
1957
#1 Hit March 2, 1957 – March 29, 1957: Tab Hunter – Young Love
1960
Lucille Ball filed for divorce from Desi Arnaz, ending their marriage and the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show franchise on CBS.
1962
Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single basketball game against the New York Knicks. Final score: 169-147, at the Hershey Arena. Although only about 6,000 tickets were sold, guesstimates are that almost 50% of male sports fans born in the Philadelphia area between 1925 and 1958 claim to have been at the event.
1963
#1 Hit March 2, 1963 – March 22, 1963: The Four Seasons – Walk Like A Man
1965 The Sound of Music Premiered in NYC
1969
The Concorde SST Supersonic jet, prototype 001, took its first flight from Toulouse airport in France.
1972
US spacecraft Pioneer 10 was launched.
1974
#1 Hit March 2, 1974 – March 22, 1974: Terry Jacks – Seasons in the Sun
1978
Charlie Chaplin’s body was stolen from a cemetery in the Swiss village of Corsier-sur-Vevey, near Lausanne, Switzerland. The grave robbers (and the re-buried body) were found a few weeks later.
1983
Compact discs and players are released for the first time in the United States and other markets. (They had previously been available only in Japan.)
1985
Sheena Easton was the first and still only recording artist to score top-10 singles on all five major Billboard singles charts: Pop, Country, Dance, Adult Contemporary, and R&B, with her hit Sugar Walls.
1987
The Apple Macintosh SE & II was released.
1990
Nelson Mandela was elected deputy President of the African National Congress.
1995
Broadway Show – Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Review) opened
2009 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon premiered on NBC.
2013
#1 Hit March 2, 2013 – April 19, 2013: Baauer – Harlem Shake
2022
#1 Hit March 12, 2022 – April 15, 2022: Heat Waves – Glass Animals
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Is your refrigerator running? Refrigerators that run at least 1 mile a day have a 30% reduced chance of heart disease and stroke, even if they smoke.
A Welsh king, Morgan of Gla-Morgan, established trial by jury in 725 AD by declaring: “For as Christ and his 12 apostles were finally to judge the world, so human tribunals should be composed of the king and 12 wise men.”
Useless Pronunciation: K as in knee
Heard in our office:
Joe: Did somebody move this desk closer to the wall?
Lauren: No Joe, you’re getting fat.
The Popeye’s restaurant chain was named after Gene Hackman’s character in “The French Connection”
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 can reach 30,000 ft (9,100m) in 60 seconds and has a thrust-to-weight ratio that allows the aircraft to accelerate while flying straight up. It is also the only aircraft to ever shoot down a satellite orbiting in space.
Scooby-Doo was basically CSI for kids.
What are the strongest days of the week?
Saturday and Sunday, the rest are weekdays.
There are some things money can’t buy, for everything else, there’s money.
The chords to the AC/DC song “It’s a long way to the top (if you wanna rock’n’roll)” are A, C, D, C.
The King’s Own Immemorial 1st Infantry Regiment of the Spanish Army is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating military unit in the world, formed in 1248.
Rodney Dangerfield’s gravestone reads, “There goes the neighborhood”.
Too late comes sooner than you think. #foodforthought
Sexy Primes are prime numbers that differ from each other by six.
Sexy Prime Pairs include:
(5,11), (7,13), (11,17), (13,19), (17,23), (23,29), (31,37), (37,43), (41,47), (47,53), (53,59), (61,67), (67,73), (73,79), (83,89), (97,103), (101,107), (103,109), (107,113), (131,137), (151,157), (157,163), (167,173), (173,179), (191,197), (193,199), (223,229), (227,233), (233,239), (251,257), (257,263), (263,269), (271,277), (277,283), (307,313), (311,317), (331,337), (347,353), (353,359), (367,373), (373,379), (383,389), (433,439), (443,449), (457,463), (461,467).
1999 – Land Mines were banned in a United Nations treaty.
If you were born on March 1st,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 8th (prior year)
The Lindbergh Kidnapping
The Lindbergh kidnapping, also known as the “Crime of the Century,” was a famous and highly publicized criminal case. Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr., 20-month-old son of the famous aviator and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, was kidnapped about 9:00 p.m., on March 1, 1932, from the nursery on the second floor of the Lindbergh home near Hopewell, New Jersey. The child was not found and was declared dead in 1935. Bruno Richard Hauptmann, a German carpenter, was eventually arrested, tried, and convicted of the crime. He was sentenced to death and executed by electric chair in 1936. The case generated much media attention and was the subject of numerous books and movies. It remains one of the most famous criminal cases in American history.
March 1 is…
Baby Sleep Day
National Compliment Day
Peanut Butter Lovers Day
National Pig Day
(Plan a) Solo Vacation Day
National Compliment Day
In 1998, two women from New Hampshire, Kathy Chamberlin and Debby Hoffyman, started National Compliment Day as a way to remind people that paying compliments is a very positive thing. On this day, we celebrate the simple act of giving someone a compliment. It’s easy to connect with another human being and it can make them feel good! Here are 7 ways to pay a compliment on National Compliment Day (or any day, really).
“You have a really great smile.”
“I love your shirt!”
That was a great joke!”
“Your hair looks amazing today.”
“You’re so talented – I wish I could play the guitar like that!”
“You’re such a kind person – thank you for being so understanding.”
“Wow, you are one impressive person. I’m really lucky to know you.”
National Compliment Day is a holiday that isn’t very well known, but it’s definitely worth celebrating! On this day, we remind ourselves of the simple joys in life – like paying compliments. It’s easy to connect with someone when you compliment them, and it always makes them feel good. So why not celebrate National Compliment Day by paying someone a compliment? Here are seven great ways to do just that!
March 1 Birthday Quotes
“Everything good that has happened to me has happened as a direct result of something bad.”
– Harry Caray
“When Reality is a prison, Your mind can set you free.”
– Zack Snyder
“I think it’s in our nature to try to get beyond that next horizon. I think that when we as a species are scratching that itch we’re actually following an evolutionary compulsion that is wired into us. I think good things come of it. That’s the philosophical side.”
– Ron Howard
“Trouble is part of your life.”
– Dinah Shore
“Most of my major disappointments have turned out to be blessings in disguise. So whenever anything bad does happen to me, I kind of sit back and feel, well, if I give this enough time, it’ll turn out that it was good, so I shant worry about it too much.”
– William M. Gaines
“Nothing is more odious than music without hidden meaning.”
– Frederic Chopin
March 1 Birthdays
1432 – Isabella of Coimbra (died in 1455)
1590 – William Bradford, Pilgrim leader (died in 1657)
1611 – John Pell, English mathematician and linguist (died in 1685)
1810 – Frédéric Chopin, Polish pianist and composer (died in 1849)
1837 – William Dean Howells, American novelist, playwright, and critic (died in 1920)
1891 – Ralph Hitz, Austrian-American hotelier (died in 1940)
1904 – Glenn Miller, American trombonist, composer, and bandleader (died in 1944)
1910 – David Niven, English actor (died in 1983)
1914 – Harry Carey, American Baseball announcer (died in 1998)
1914 – Ralph Ellison, American novelist and literary critic (died in 1994)
1917 – Dinah Shore, American radio and television personality (died in1994)
1922 – William M. Gaines, American comic book publisher (died in 1992)
1922 – Yitzhak Rabin, Israeli general and politician, Nobel Prize laureate (died in 1995)
1924 – Arnold Drake, American author and screenwriter (died in 2007)
1926 – Pete Rozelle, American businessman and commissioner of the National Football League (died in 1996)
1927 – Harry Belafonte, American singer-songwriter and actor
1927 – Robert Bork, American lawyer and scholar, United States Attorney General (died in 2012)
1935 – Robert Conrad, American actor (died in 2020)
1941 – Robert Hass, American poet
1944 – Roger Daltrey, English singer-songwriter and actor
1944 – Mike d’Abo, English singer
1945 – Dirk Benedict, American actor and director
1947 – Alan Thicke, Canadian-American actor and composer (died in 2016)
1954 – Catherine Bach, American actress
1954 – Ron Howard, American actor, director, and producer
1956 – Tim Daly, American actor
1958 – Nik Kershaw, English singer-songwriter
1966 – Zack Snyder, American director, producer, and screenwriter
1974 – Mark-Paul Gosselaar, American actor
1978 – Jensen Ackles, American actor
1987 – Ke$ha, American singer
1994 – Justin Bieber, Canadian singer-songwriter
March 1 History
1692 – In Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Sarah Goode, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba, an Indian slave from Barbados, were accused of witchcraft, beginning the Salem Witchcraft Trials. Assuming those convicted were not practicing the dark arts, 19 innocent women and men were killed as a result of the trials.
1783 (Earthquake) Calabria, Italy
1790 – The first United States census was authorized.
1868 – The Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity was founded at the University of Virginia.
Yellowstone National Park: Established on March 1, 1872, Yellowstone is the first national park in the U.S. and covers 3,471 square miles across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Known for its geothermal features, such as Old Faithful Geyser, and diverse wildlife.
1910 – An avalanche in Wellington, Washington took The Great Northern Railroad’s westbound Spokane Express and the Wellington Train Station. 96 people were killed.
1921 – Harry Houdini earned a US Patent (#1,370,31) for a safety Diver Suit for his underwater magic escape tricks.
1932 – The Lindbergh Kidnapping – Charles Lindbergh III, the 20-month-old son of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, was kidnapped from the family’s new mansion in Hopewell, New Jersey.
1954 – At Bikini Atoll, US hydrogen bomb code-named Bravo exploded.
1961 – President John F. Kennedy issued an executive order establishing the Peace Corps.
1971 – A bomb exploded in the Capitol building in Washington, DC, but hurt no one. The “Weather Underground” group claimed credit for the bombing, which was done in protest of the ongoing US-supported Laos invasion.
1971 – James Taylor made the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, spotlighting ‘The New Rock: Bittersweet and Low.’
1975 – #1 Hit March 1, 1975 – March 7, 1975: Eagles – Best of My Love
March 1, 1980 Birthday (fictional) Ron Weasley, Harry Potter
1983 – Swatch watches were introduced. I’m still looking to replace my wife’s black face, black band, black hands edition.
1986 – #1 Hit March 1, 1986 – March 14, 1986: Mr. Mister – Kyrie
1991- Clarissa Explains It All debuted on Nickelodeon.
1995 – Yahoo! was incorporated.
1996 – The news was revealed that 1 billion households worldwide owned a television set.
1998 – Titanic became the first film to gross over $1 billion worldwide.
2007 – Chiller debuted on cable television
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
March 1, 1980 Birthday (fictional) Ron Weasley, Harry Potter
Any opposite sides on a die are equal to 7. 1/6, 2/5, 3/4.
John D. Rockefeller was worth a modern equivalent of $336 billion.
The Atlantic Ocean is named after Atlas, the Greek Titan who carried the world on his shoulders.
Useless Pronunciation: K as in knife
“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” – Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O’Neal) in Love Story, 1970
The instructions are unclear. In fact, the instructions are so unclear that they have begun to emit a very thick fog. Should I just sit in my car in this field with the brights on and wait it out?
The biggest film of 1972: The Godfather (Drama) earned ~ $135,000,000
Sarah Bernhardt – Real Name: Rosine Bernard
“Finally” is pronounced as Final – e but “finale” is pronounced as fi – nally. #thatcrazyenglishlanguage
Apple brags about releasing “their most advanced iPhone yet” every year as if they had any other option but to release something better than the previous model.
The Capital of the United Kingdom is London
The highest point on the moon is 6,358 feet higher (1938 meters) than Mount Everest.
Shelley Winters – Real Name: Shirley Schrift
The reason Shaggy and Scooby aren’t fat from eating so much food is probably because they spend so much of their time running away from monsters.
“I recognize the council has made a decision, but given that it’s a stupid-ass decision, I’ve elected to ignore it.” – Nick Fury
1844 – The USS Princeton exploded while demonstrating a gun, killing five people, and injuring many more.
1947 – The 228 Incident in Taiwan resulted in protests and rioting. Between 10,000 and 20,000 people were killed.
February 28, 19** Birthday (fictional) Superman, DC Comics
1983 – The final episode of M*A*S*H aired, and 77% of all television owners in the US watched.
If you were born on February 28th,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 7th (prior year)
February 28th is…
Floral Design Day
Global Scouse Day
National Chocolate Soufflé Day
National Science Day
National Tooth Fairy Day
Public Sleeping Day
Rare Disease Day
Tartar Sauce Day
February 28th Birthday Quotes
“Of all our infirmities, the most savage is to despise our being.”
– Michel de Montaigne
“Simply enjoy life and the great pleasures that come with it.”
– Karolina Kurkova
“The freedom of any society varies proportionately with the volume of its laughter.”
– Zero Mostel
“Science cannot be stopped. Man will gather knowledge no matter what the consequences- and we cannot predict what they will be. Science will go on- whether we are pessimistic, or are optimistic, as I am. I know that great, interesting, and valuable discoveries can be made and will be made… But I know also that still more interesting discoveries will be made that I have not the imagination to describe- and I am awaiting them, full of curiosity and enthusiasm.”
– Linus Pauling
“Las Vegas turns women into men and men into idiots.”
– ‘Bugsy’ Siegel
“In our country, learned ignorance is on the rise.”
– Paul Krugman
“It’s interesting that somebody might decide suddenly that we [cartoonists] have a social significance or not. But, we’re not in business for that purpose. We’re in business to sell newspapers, and the criticism, acceptance, or whatever, lies in the fact that we are in hundreds of newspapers, and that the readership of something like Peanuts is in the millions every day.”
– Milton Caniff
February 28th Birthdays
1533 – Michel de Montaigne, French Renaissance writer (died in 1592)
1824 – Charles Blondin (Jean Gravelet), French trapeze artist
1882 – Geraldine Farrar, American soprano and actress (died in 1967)
1901 – Linus Carl Pauling, American chemist and biochemist (died in 1994)
1906 – Benjamin ‘Bugsy’ Siegel, American gangster (shot and killed in 1947)
1907 – Milton Caniff, American cartoonist (died in 1988)
1908 – Billie Bird (Sellen), American actress (died in 2002)
1915 – Zero Mostel, American actor and comedian (died in 1977)
1923 – Charles Durning, American actor (died in 2012)
1931 – Gavin MacLeod, American actor
1939 – Tommy Tune, American actor, singer, dancer, and director
1940 – Aldo Andretti, Italian-American race car driver, Twin
1940 – Mario Andretti, Italian-American race car driver, Twin
1942 – Brian Jones, English guitarist, songwriter, and producer (died in 1969) #27club
1943 – Barbara Acklin, American singer-songwriter (died in 1998)
1945 – Bubba Smith, American football player and actor (died in 2011)
1947 – Stephanie Beacham, English actress
1948 – Bernadette Peters, American actress and singer
1948 – Mercedes Ruehl, American actress
1953 – Paul Krugman, American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
1953 – Ricky Steamboat, American wrestler
1955 – Gilbert Gottfried, American comedian and actor
1957 – John Turturro, American actor
1961 – Rae Dawn Chong, Canadian-American actress
1973 – Eric Lindros, Canadian ice hockey player
1976 – Ali Larter, American actress
1977 – Jason Aldean, American singer-songwriter
1984 – Karolína Kurková, Czech model
February 28th History
1066 – Westminster Abbey opened
1525 – Aztec king Cuauhtémoc was executed on the order of conquistador Hernán Cortés.
1784 – John Wesley chartered the first Methodist Church in the United States. An Anglican, Wesley wanted a church structure for his followers after the Anglican Church abandoned its American believers during the American Revolution.
1827 – The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was incorporated. It was the first railroad in America offering commercial transportation of both people and freight.
1854 – The Republican Party was organized in Ripon, WI. It was primarily anti-slavery people.
1885 – The American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) was incorporated in New York, as the subsidiary of American Bell Telephone.
1922 – The United Kingdom ended its protectorate over Egypt through a Unilateral Declaration of Independence.
1935 – Wallace Carothers discovered Nylon while working at DuPont.
1839 – The non-existent word “dord” was published in the Webster’s New International Dictionary, Second Edition.
February 28, 1925 (fiction) artists around the world have a dream about Cthulu and the City of R’lyeh, Lovecraft, Horror, Books
1940 – Basketball was televised for the first time. The game was Fordham University vs. University of Pittsburgh
1953 – Cambridge University scientists James D. Watson and Frances H.C. Crick announced that they had found the double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule containing human genes.
1954 – The first color television sets using the NTSC standard were offered for sale to the general public.
1970 – #1 Hit February 28, 1970 – April 10, 1970: Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
1976 – February 28, 1976 – March 5, 1976: Rhythm Heritage – Theme From S.W.A.T.
1981 – February 28, 1981 – March 20, 1981: Eddie Rabbitt – I Love a Rainy Night
1983 – CBS sitcom M*A*S*H ended after 11 seasons, airing a special two-and-a-half-hour episode watched by 77% of the television viewing audience.
1993 – Near Mount Carmel in Waco, Texas, agents of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) launch a raid against the Branch Davidian compound. At least 80 people, including 22 children, were killed.
1996 – KISS reunited at the Grammys in full makeup and costume.
1998 – #1 Hit February 28, 1998 – March 13, 1998: Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On
2002 – Sotheby’s auction house announced that Peter Paul Reubens was the creator of the painting The Massacre of the Innocents, not Jan van den Hoecke as previously believed.
2004 – #1 Hit February 28, 2004 – May 21, 2004: Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris – Yeah!
2009 – #1 Hit February 28, 2009 – April 10, 2009: Flo Rida – Right Round
2013 – Pope Benedict XVI resigned as the pope of the Catholic Church – the first pope to do so since 1415.
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Superman is probably a lot weaker in winter due to the decrease in sunlight.
How many people slipped on banana peels for it to become a thing? #neverseenithappen
“Let’s go to the Winchester, have a pint and wait for this to all blow over” – Shaun (of the Dead) #moviequotes
Guy Fawkes used the pseudonym John Johnson during the gunpowder plot.
I might enjoy sleeping without any clothes on but I don’t due to being afraid someone could break into my house and I would have to fight them while naked.
A health study conducted in 2010, found that not having friends has the same health risks as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.
US President #6 John Quincy Adams (1825-1829) On April 13, 1843, he became the first ex (or even active) President to be photographed.
The biggest film of 1973: The Exorcist (Horror) earned ~ $202,000,000
Evel Knievel suffered 433 broken bones over his lifetime, the most in recorded history.
“Canola” is derived from the combination of “Canada” and “ola,” meaning oil.
If you make a Mobius strip out of regular tape, you’ve technically got a piece of tape that only has one side and is simultaneously sticky and not sticky.
The Capital of Papua New Guinea is Port Moresby
The sound of the adults in the “Peanuts” Cartoon is made using a Trombone with a Mute.
“I…drink…your…milkshake! I drink it up!” – Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood #moviequotes
46 BC – Julius Caesar declared the first Leap Day.
The odds of being born on February 29th are 1 in 1,461.
365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds is how long it takes for the Earth to go around the Sun.
1288 – The concept of allowing women to propose marriage to men may have begun, in Scotland, with five-year-old Queen Margaret of Scotland.
1796 – The Jay Treaty between the United States and Great Britain was enacted, facilitating ten years of peaceful trade between both countries.
February 29, 1948 Birthday (fictional) Gary/Jerry/Larry Gergich, Parks & Recreation, TV.
If you were born on February 29th,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 7th, or 8th (prior year)
Is Leap Day Every Four Years?
Almost. In our calendar, years that are divisible by 100, but not by 400, do not contain a leap day. Thus, 1500, 1700, 1800, and 1900 did not contain a leap day- neither will 2100, 2200, and 2300. Conversely, 1600 and 2000 did and 2400 will.
Thirty days hath September,
April, June and November;
All the rest have thirty-one
Save February, she alone
Hath eight days and a score
Til leap year gives her one day more.
Leap Day Cocktail:
1 dash lemon juice
2/3 gin
1/6 Grand Marnier
1/6 sweet vermouth
February 29th is…
Bachelors Day
International Underling Day
Leap Day (Leap Year Day)
National Surf and Turf Day
National Underlings Day
Saint Oswald’s Day
February 29th Birthday Quotes
“It’s Leap Day. Real life is for March.” – 30 Rock
“You are now at a crossroads. Forget your past. Who are you now? Who have you decided you really are now? Don’t think about who you have been. Who are you now? Who have you decided to become? Make this decision consciously. Make it carefully. Make it powerfully. Then act upon it.”
– Anthony Robbins
“Every leap year I like to jump. It’s a good way to get my daily exercise in every four years.”
– Jarod Kintz
“Those that weather the storm are the great ones.”
– DJ Khaled
“I learned a long time ago: You’re in the entertainment business. You’re not in the reality business. One has absolutely nothing to do with the other.”
– Dennis Farina
“Happy Leap Day. A day where ‘this time last year’ and ‘this time next year’ does not apply.”
– Anonymous
“I’d like people to remember that I really tried everything within my range of reality. And that whatever I did, I did with all my heart.”
– Dinah Shore
“Leap day — it’s an extra day to do business, a bonus profit opportunity.”
– Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock
“Bebop has set music back twenty years.”
– Tommy Dorsey
“…and I’ve never taken up a sport just because it was a social fad.”
– Dinah Shore
February 29th Birthdays
Heidi Henriksen was born on 2/29/1960, her brother Olav four years later on 2/29/1964, and baby Leif-Martin four years after that on 2/29/1968.
1736 – Ann Lee, English-American religious leader, founded the Shakers (died in 1784)
1812 – Sir James Wilson, Premier of Tasmania (died February 29, 1880)
1892 – Augusta Savage, American sculptor (died in 1962)
1896 – William A. Wellman, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (died in 1975)
1904 – Jimmy Dorsey, American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader (died in 1957)
1916 – Dinah Shore, American singer and actress (died in 1994)
1916 – Leonard Shoen, founder of U-Haul Corp. (died in 1999)
1924 – Al Rosen, American baseball player and manager (died in 2015)
1936 – Alex Rocco, American actor (died in 2015)
1944 – Dennis Farina, American police officer and actor (died in 2013)
1956 – Aileen Wuornos, American serial killer (died in 2002)
1960 – Khaled, Algerian singer-songwriter (not DJ Khaled or Kahlid)
1960 – Anthony Robbins, American motivational speaker and writer
1972 – Antonio Sabàto, Jr., Italian-American model and actor
1976 – Ja Rule (Jeffrey Atkins), American rapper and actor
1984 – Mark Foster, American singer-songwriter
February 29th History
1692 – The first witches were arrested in Salem Massachusetts.
1892 – St. Petersburg, Florida was incorporated.
1936 – Baby Snooks, played by Fanny Brice, debuted on the radio show The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air.
1940 – Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award, for her role as Mammy in Gone With The Wind. It won 8 Oscars overall.
1944 – Dorothy McElroy Vredenburgh of Alabama became the first woman to be appointed secretary of a national political party. She was appointed to the Democratic National Committee.
February 29, 1948 Birthday (fictional) Gary/Jerry/Larry Gergich, Parks & Recreation, TV
1960 (Eathquake) Agadir , Morocca, killed over 3,000 people.
1960 – The Family Circus comic strip by Bil Keane debuted.
1960 – The first Playboy Club opened, in Chicago.
February 29, 19** Birthday (fictional) Kal-El, Superman, DC Comics
1992 – #1 Hit February 29, 1992 – March 20, 1992: Mr. Big – To Be With You
2012 – Tokyo Skytree construction completed. It is the tallest tower in the world, at 634 meters high, and second tallest artificial structure on Earth, next to Burj Khalifa.
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Joseph Stalin – Real Name: Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili
A group of Moose is called a Herd.
John Wayne – Real Name: Marion Morrison
Mount Everest is 29,029 feet high, or about 5.5 miles high. That’s a distance a car on a freeway can cover in just 5 minutes.
Guardians of the Galaxy’s Groot first appeared in Tales to Astonish #13, in 1960.
The World’s Shortest Escalator is located in Kawasaki, Japan. It is 2.7 feet tall (83.4 cm), and only has five steps.
If two centaurs had a baby, it would have a 1/4 chance to be pure human or pure horse. #howgeneswork
Roman Senator Cato the Elder would end every one of his speeches with “Carthago delenda est” which translates to, “Furthermore, I consider that Carthage must be destroyed”.
Harry Potter’s wand waving magics seems silly and impossible to me, but Yoda’s hand waving jedi force seems totally doable if I try hard enough.
Once you realize that ketchup is made with vinegar you’ll never not taste it.
Antimatter was first predicted in 1928 by English physicist Paul Dirac, who New Scientist magazine called “the greatest British theorist since Sir Isaac Newton.”
“This is no ordinary apple, it’s a magic wishing apple.” – Snow White And The Seven Dwarves #moviequotes
Who’s crazier? A man who believes he has a talking dog, OR a man who ignores consistently great advice from his dog?
The name of March comes from Latin Martius, the first month of the earliest Roman calendar.
Birthstone: Aquamarine
Flower: Daffodil
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
Aries (March 21 – April 20)
March is worst for work productivity
March is also The Month of Expectations
March 1-7 is Will Eisner (born March 6) Week
Traditional March Information
It was named for Mars, the Roman god of war who was also regarded as a guardian of agriculture and an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus. His month Martius was the beginning of the season for both farming and warfare, and the festivals held in his honor during the month were mirrored by others in October, when the season for these activities came to a close.
Martius remained the first month of the Roman calendar year perhaps as late as 153 BC, and several religious observances in the first half of the month were originally new year’s celebrations. Even in late antiquity, Roman mosaics picturing the months sometimes still placed March first.
The March equinox occurs the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator (the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator) from south to north. This happens either on March 19, 20, or 21 every year, generally on the 20th.
Irish American Heritage Month is an important month of celebration that recognizes the contributions and achievements of Irish Americans throughout history. It’s a time to honor the countless generations of Irish immigrants who have come to America for a better life, bringing their talents, culture, and traditions. From entrepreneurs to scholars, politicians to inventors, Irish Americans have made significant contributions across all sectors of our society. During this month, we can look back on Ireland’s significant history and legacy while also learning more about its dynamic culture today — from folk music and dance traditions to modern art and literature.
How Easter Is Decided In The Western Churches:
In 325 AD the Council of Nicaea established that Easter would be held on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox. From that point forward, the Easter date depended on the ecclesiastical approximation of March 21 for the vernal equinox.
Easter is delayed by 1 week if the full moon is on Sunday, which decreases the chances of it falling on the same day as the Jewish Passover. The council’s ruling is contrary to the Quartodecimans, a group of Christians who celebrated Easter on the day of the full moon, 14 days into the month.
The Jewish Passover usually falls on the first full moon after the Northern Hemisphere vernal equinox, although occasionally (7 times every 19 years) it will occur on the second full moon. The Christian churches calculate Easter as the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the March equinox. The official church definition for the equinox is March 21; however, as the Eastern Orthodox Churches use the older Julian calendar, while the Western Churches use the Gregorian calendar, both of which designate March 21 as the equinox, the actual date of Easter differs. The earliest possible Easter date in any year is therefore March 22 on each calendar. The latest possible Easter date in any year is April 25.
March is…
Alport Syndrome Awareness Month
American Dietetic Association National Nutrition Month
American Red Cross Month (Red Cross Month)
Caffeine Awareness Month
National Craft Month
Employee Spirit Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
Eye Donor Month
Flour Month
Fresh Celery Month
Frozen Food Month
Humorists Are Artists Month
International Ideas Month
Irish-American Month
Kidney Month
Music in our Schools Month
Noodle Month
National Nutrition Month
Optimism Month
Paws to Read Month
Peanut Month
Play-The-Recorder Month
Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Professional Social Work Month
Sauce Month
Social Work Month
Umbrella Month
Women’s History Month
Youth Art Month
Aries is the first astrological sign in the Zodiac, represented by the Ram. It is associated with the element of fire, and is considered a cardinal sign. Those born under this sign are considered independent, energetic, and assertive. The planet Mars rules Aries, and its corresponding astrological period is typically from March 21 to April 19.
March Facts
The word ‘March’ comes from the Roman ‘Martius’. This was originally the first month of the Roman calendar and was named after Mars, the god of war. March was the beginning of our calendar year. We changed to the ‘New Style’ or ‘Gregorian calendar in 1752, and it is only since then when the year began on 1st January.
March Quotes
Our life is March weather, savage and serene in one hour. We go forth austere, dedicated, believing in the iron links of Destiny, and will not turn on our heel to save our life: but a book, or a bust, or only the sound of a name, shoots a spark through the nerves, and we suddenly believe in will.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
“When March comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb.”
“Daffodils, that come before the swallow dares, and take the winds of March with beauty.”
– William Shakespeare
“A dry March and a wet May – fill barns and bays with corn and hay.”
“If you wed when March winds blow,
Joy and sorrow both you’ll know. . .
Married when March winds shrill and roar,
Your home will lie on a distant shore.”
-New Zealand Proverb
“March is the month God created to show people who don’t drink what a hangover is like.”
– Garrison Keillor
March is the Month of Expectation.
The things we do not know –
The Persons of prognostication
Are coming now.
-Emily Dickinson, March is the Month of Expectation
“By March, the worst of the winter would be over. The snow would thaw, the rivers begin to run and the world would wake into itself again.”
– Neil Gaiman
“Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.”
– Lewis Grizzard
The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
a cloud come over the sunlit arch,
And wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you’re two months back in the middle of March.
-Robert Frost, Two Tramps in Mud Time
March History</h4 >
March 2
783 (Earthquake) Calabria, Italy
1872 -Congress made 2,222,773 acres of public land in the area of what was later the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho as America’s first national park – Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone National Park spans an area of 3,468 .4 square miles.
1692 – In Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Sarah Goode, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba, an Indian slave from Barbados, were accused of witchcraft, beginning the Salem Witchcraft Trials. Assuming those convicted were not practicing the dark arts, 19 innocent women and men were killed as a result of the trials.
1910 – An avalanche in Wellington, Washington took The Great Northern Railroad’s westbound Spokane Express and the Wellington Train Station. 96 people were killed.
1932 – The Lindbergh Kidnapping – Charles Lindbergh III, the 20 -month-old son of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, was kidnapped from the family’s new mansion in Hopewell, New Jersey.
1962 – President John F. Kennedy issued an executive order establishing the Peace Corps.
1972 – A bomb exploded in the Capitol building in Washington, DC, but hurt no one. A group called the “Weather Underground” claimed credit for the bombing, which was done in protest of the ongoing US-supported Laos invasion.
1972 – James Taylor made the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine, spotlighting “The New Rock: Bittersweet and Low”
1983 Swatch watches were introduced. I’m still looking to replace my wife’s black face, black band, black hands edition.
1992 – Clarissa Explains It All debuted on Nickelodeon
1996 – The news was revealed that 2 billion households worldwide owned a television set
2007 – Chiller debuted on cable television
March 2
1807 – The US Congress passes an act to “prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States… from any foreign kingdom, place, or country.”
1944 – Train #8017 stopped in a tunnel near Salerno, Italy, and more than 500 people on board suffocated and died. In the midst of WW II, the story was very much covered up by the Italian government.
1960 – Lucille Ball filed for divorce from Desi Arnaz, ending their marriage as well as the ‘Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show’ franchise on CBS.
1962 – Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single basketball game against the New York Knicks. Final score: 169 -147, at the Hershey Arena. Although there were only about 6,000 tickets sold, guesstimates are that almost 50 % of male sports fans born in the Philadelphia area between 1925 and 1958 claim to have been at the event.
1978 – Charlie Chaplin’s body was stolen from a cemetery in the Swiss village of Corsier-sur-Vevey, near Lausanne, Switzerland. The grave robbers (and the re-buried body) were found a few weeks later.
1985 – Sheena Easton the first and still only recording artist to score top-10 singles on all five major Billboard singles charts: Pop, Country, Dance, Adult Contemporary, and R&B with her hit Sugar Walls.
2009 – Late Night with Jimmy Fallon premiered on NBC
March 3
1873 – US Congress passed the ‘Comstock Law’, making it illegal to send any “obscene, lewd, or lascivious” books through the mail.
1915 – ‘Birth Of a Nation’ made its east coast debut in NYC.
1932 – President Herbert Hoover made Francis Scott Key’s “The Star-Spangled Banner” the official national anthem of the United States.
1952 – Watch Mr. Wizard debuted on NBC
1952 – In a 6 -3 decision, the US Supreme Court upheld a New York state law that prohibited communists from teaching in public schools.
1985 – Moonlighting premiered on ABC
1992 – Rodney King was severely beaten by police officers in Los Angeles, CA. The footage was filmed by observers and then broadcast on television in the U.S. The incident led to massive riots by African-Americans in the city of Los Angeles.
1997 – Daria premiered on MTV
March 4
1789 – The federal government under the US Constitution began, replacing the Articles of Confederation.
1944 – Louis “Lepke” Buchalter, the head of Murder, Inc., was executed by electric chair at Sing Sing Prison in New York.
1966 – John Lennon was quoted as saying ” “Christianity will go, it will vanish and shrink… We’re more popular than Jesus now,” in reference to religion fading in the western world.
1975 – The first People’s Choice Awards was shown on CBS
1982 – Police Squad! premiered on ABC, lasting 6 episodes, but the concept was made into several very successful “Naked Gun” feature films
1985 – Robotech premiered, in syndication
March 5
1955 – Elvis Presley appeared on Louisiana Hayride on local television (Shreveport, Louisiana)
1963 – Invented in 1958 by Arthur K. Melin and Richard Knerr, the Hula Hoop was patented (#3,079,728 )
1969 – In Florida, the Dade County Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest warrant for Doors’ lead singer Jim Morrison charging him with a single felony count and three misdemeanors for his performance at a Miami concert a few days earlier. Specifically, “lewd and lascivious behavior, indecent exposure, profanity, and drunkenness”
2002 – The Osbournes debuted on MTV
March 6
857 – The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case. It stated that anyone brought into the United States as a slave, or their descendants could never be a United States citizen. The court of public opinion disagreed very vocally a few years later.
899 – Bayer registered Aspirin as a trademark. Asperin is considered by many to be the first wonder drug.
1836 – The Battle of the Alamo took place
1964 – Nation of Islam’s Elijah Muhammad officially gave boxing champion Cassius Clay the name of Muhammad Ali.
1982 – Walter Cronkite resigned as the main anchorman of The CBS Evening News
1983 – Country Music Television (CMT) began
1994 – Liquid Television on MTV ended
2000 – Mobile Suit Gundam Wing debuted on The Cartoon Network
2002 – Napster began to block the transfer of copyrighted material over its peer-to-peer network. In July 2002, Napster shut down its entire network
March 7
1876 – Alexander Graham Bell received his patent for (#174,465 ) the telephone.
1987 – Mike Tyson defeated James “Bonecrusher” Smith to unify the WBA and WBC heavyweight titles.
2012 – Charlie Sheen was officially fired from Two and a Half Men.
March 8
1669 – Mount Etna, on the island of Sicily, began erupting and over the next several weeks killed over 20,000 people.
1950 – The ‘Volkswagen Type 2 ‘, known as the VW Bus, was produced for the first time.
1968 – Bill Graham’s Fillmore East opened in New York City.
1972 – Muhammad Ali lost to Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier in the “Fight of the Century” at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
1993 – Beavis and Butt-Head premiered on MTV
2006 – Top Chef debuted on Bravo
March 9
1842 The US Supreme Court ruled that the African slaves who seized control of the Amistad slave ship had been illegally forced into slavery, and thus were free under American law.
1957 (Earthquake) Andreanof Islands, Alaska
1959 – Barbie debuted. Barbie’s appearance was modeled on a doll named Lilli, which was based on a racy German comic strip character.
1985 – The Tyler Civitan Club were the first to partake in the Adopt-a-Highway Sign Program, erected on Texas’s Highway 69 .
1989 – A Geomagnetic Storm affected Quebec’s electricity transmission system
1997 – Christopher Wallace, AKA Biggie Smalls, AKA the Notorious B.I.G., was shot to death at a stoplight in Los Angeles. Rapper Suge Knight has been eyed as the killer. Suge was also accused of running over (and killing) Terry Carter in January, 2015 .
2009 – Castle premiered on ABC
March 10
1906 – An underground fire sparked a massive explosion that virtually destroyed a vast maze of mines in Courrieres, France, that killed over 2,000 workers.
1926 – Lolly Willowes, or ‘The Loving Huntsman’, was the first Book-of-the-Month Club selection, published by Viking Press.
1978 – The Incredible Hulk premiered on CBS
1983 – MTV broadcasted the video of Michael Jackson’s song “Billie Jean” for the first time
1997 – Buffy, The Vampire Slayer premiered on The WB, based on the 1992 movie.
March 12
1818 – Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by 22 -year-old Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, was published. It is recognized as the world’s first science fiction novel.
888 – Great Blizzard of 1888, east coast, USA
1918 – The influenza epidemic of 1918 began in Fort Riley, Kansas. 20 million people worldwide died from the disease.
1974 – The children’s special ‘Free to Be… You and Me’, produced by Marlo Thomas, aired on ABC.
1989 – COPS debuted on FOX. It was one of the earliest ‘reality TV” shows.
1997 – ‘Sir’ Paul McCartney was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his “services to music.”
2012 (Earthquake) Coastal Honshu, Japan
2012 – Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster, Japan
March 12
1928 – St. Francis Dam collapsed San Francisquito Canyon, California
1933 – New resident Franklin D. Roosevelt gave his first national radio address or “fireside chat,” from the White House.
1993 – ’93 Superstorm stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the northeastern US. 318 were killed.
2003 – 15 -year-old Elizabeth Smart was found in Sandy, Utah, nine months after being abducted from her Salt Lake City home.
2003 – The Dixie Chicks’ lead singer, Natalie Maines said, in an interview with The Guardian “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence. And we’re ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas.” That lead to a firestorm revolt from many of their fans.
2008 – Hulu opened online
March 13
1782 – German-born English astronomer William Hershel discovered Uranus.
868 – Impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson began. He was found ‘not guilty.’
1969 – Disney’s ‘The Love Bug’ opened in theaters.
March 14
1950 – The Federal Bureau of Investigation instituted the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list (1950 -2009 list http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/ten-most-wanted-fugitives-60th-anniversary-1950 -2010 /chronological_listing)
1958 – The Recording Industry Association of America awarded the first Gold Record (500 ,000 sold) to Perry Como for ‘Catch A Falling Star.’
2012 – Aflac fired Gilbert Gottfried for an offensive online tweet about the Japan earthquake
March 15
44 BC – Gaius Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate house, by 60 conspirators led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus.
1806 – A chondrite meteorite, carrying carbon-based, organic chemicals, was identified for the first time. Found outside Alais, France, the organic chemicals it carried suggested the possibility of life on whatever body was the source, somewhere out in space.
1977 – Eight Is Enough & Three’s Company debuted on ABC
March 16
1850 – Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Scarlet Letter’ was published.
1926 – American Robert H. Goddard launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket at Auburn, Massachusett. It reached a height of 42 feet.
1945 – Tsutomu Yamaguchi was the only individual who witnessed and survived both atom bombs in Japan, Hiroshima on August 6th, and Nagasaki on August 9.
1978 – The Amoco Cadiz wrecked off the coast of Portsall, France, spilling 68 million gallons of oil.
2005 – Robert Blake, star of the 1970s television detective show Baretta, was acquitted of the murder of his 44 -year-old wife, Bonny Lee Bakley.
March 17
462 – Saint Patrick died in Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland.
1762 – The first parade Saint Patrick (the patron saint of Ireland) was held by Irish soldiers serving in the British army in New York City.
1902 – 12 years after his suicide, 72 paintings by Vincent van Gogh were shown at the Bernheim-Jeune gallery in Paris.
March 18
1852 – Henry Wells and William G. Fargo founded Wells, Fargo and Company.
1912 – Irving Berlin copyrighted the first mega-pop hit, ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band.’
1975 – McLean Stevenson’s character (Lt. Colonel Henry Blake ) died in the M*A*S*H episode “Abyssinia, Henry”, its third season finale
1982 – The Greatest American Hero debuted on NBC
1984 – Miss America, Vanessa Williams became even more well known when she becomes the first Miss America to resign after old nude photos of her appeared in “Penthouse” magazine. She has gone on to prove herself as a first-class actress and singer. That particular issue is also noted for being the first issue with a man on the cover (George Burns), and an underage Traci Lords is the nude centerfold. It is illegal to own, or even look inside, this issue in most countries, including the United States.
2005 – The Suite Life of Zack & Cody premiered on The Disney Channel
March 19
1842 – French writer Honore de Balzac’s play Les Ressources de Quinola opened to an empty house due to a publicity stunt. He had earlier announced that the show had sold out, so nobody actually bought any tickets.
1932 – The Nevada state legislature votes to legalize gambling
1957 – Graceland was on 13 .8 acre estate, and sold for $102 ,500 to Elvis Presley.
1979 – C-Span was launched
1983 – First Lady Nancy Reagan made an appearance on an episode of Diff’rent Strokes, beginning her Just Say No anti-drug campaign
1987 – Televangelist Jim Bakker resigned as the host of The PTL Club after involvement in a sex scandal
March 20
1345 – According to scholars at the University of Paris, the Black Death was created today, from what they called “a triple conjunction of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars in the 40th degree of Aquarius, occurring on the 20th of March 1345 .” Actually, the bubonic plague came from infected fleas from sickened and dead rats.
1854 – In Ripon, Wisconsin, former members of the Whig Party formed the Republican Party.
1982 – Rock Guitarist Randy Rhodes died in a plane crash.
1995 – The Aum Shinrikyo (Supreme Truth) cult released sarin gas into the Tokyo subway system, killing a dozen people and sickening thousands.
March 22
1952 – Hosted by Alan Freed, the first major rock-and-roll show, the Moondog Coronation Ball, was held in Cleveland, Ohio.
1963 – Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay closed and transferred its remaining prisoners.
1965 – Martin Luther King Jr., and 3200 civil rights demonstrators began a historic March from Selma, Alabama to the state capitol at Montgomery.
1980 – “Who shot J.R.? On the season finale of Dallas, J. R. Ewing was shot by an unseen assailant. The following season we found out that it was Kristin Shepard, J.R.’s mistress
1980 – President Jimmy Carter announced that the United States would boycott the Olympic Games scheduled to take place in Moscow that summer.
March 22
1894 – the first championship series for Lord Stanley’s Cup was played in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal HC (Montreal Hockey Club) won the first cup.
1933 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Beer and Wine Revenue Act, putting a federal tax on all alcoholic beverages, although prohibition was still in effect until December 1933.
1972 – The Equal Rights Amendment was passed by the U.S. Senate and sent to the states for ratification. It never gained the 38 states necessary to become part of the US Constitution.
1978 – The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash aired on NBC
March 23
893 (Earthquake) Iran
1839 – The initials “O.K.” were first published in The Boston Morning Post. Meant as an abbreviation for “oll correct,” a popular slang misspelling of “all correct” at the time.
1913 (Tornado) Omaha, Nebraska
1982 – Joanie Loves Chachi premiered on ABC
1983 – President Ronald Reagan introduced the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) now called “star wars” to the American discussion.
1998 – James Cameron’s Titanic won 12 Academy Awards
March 24
1955 – Tennessee Williams’ play ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ opens in New York,
1958 – Elvis Presley (serial number 53 310 762 ) was inducted into the U.S. Army
1989 – The Exxon Valdez, captained by Joseph Jeffrey Hazelwood, hit Prince William Sound, spilling 12,000,000 gallons of Alaskan crude oil.
1993 – Doogie Howser, M.D. aired its final episode
2005 – The Office premiered on NBC
2006 – Hannah Montana premiered on The Disney Channel
March 25
1912 – The Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory in New York City, killing 145 workers. The disaster helped bring forth more laws and regulations protecting employees.
1982 – Cagney & Lacey premiered on CBS
1984 – Television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever introduced Micheal Jackson’s ‘moonwalk’ during his performance of “Billie Jean.”
2002 – Bjork wore her now-famous ‘swn dress’ to the Oscars.
2002 – The Bachelor premiered on ABC
March 26
1872 (Earthquake) Owens Valley, California killed 30 people.
1920 – ‘This Side of Paradise’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald was published.
1953 – Dr. Jonas Salk announced that he had successfully tested a vaccine against poliomyelitis, the virus that causes polio.
1993 – The last new episode of The Family Feud with host Ray Combs aired
1997 – After the 1995 discovery of the comet Hale-Bopp, 39 members of the ‘Heaven’s Gate’ cult committed suicide to more quickly join the aliens on the ‘other side’ of the comet.
March 27
1973 – Native American actress Sacheen Littlefeather went to the podium for Marlon Brando to decline his “Best Actor” Oscar for his performance in ‘The Godfather.’
1983 – The Thornbirds miniseries ran March 27 -30 on ABC
1998 – The FDA approved Viagra. It seems like the commercials were running a lot longer than that.
March 28
1783 (Earthquake) Calabria, Italy
1920 – Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford got married; it was the first high profile celebrity wedding.
1960 – Stanley Kramer was the first to get his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
1964 (Earthquake) Alaska – the 8 .4 on the Richter scale quake killed 125 people.
1979 – Three Mile Island Nuclear Disaster happened when a pressure valve in the Unit-2 reactor at Three Mile Island failed to close.
2005 (Earthquake) Nothern Sumatra, Indonesia
March 29
1998 – BBC America made its debut on digital cable
2009 – In a very unusual political/business situation, Rick Wagoner, the chairman and chief executive of General Motors, resigned at the request of President Obama’s administration.
2006 Queen Elizabeth II pronounced the singer ‘Sir’ Tom Jones a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
2010 – Fox Reality Channel was replaced with Nat Geo Wild on cable television
March 30
1966 – The special Color Me Barbra, with Barbra Streisand, aired on CBS.
1982 – President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C., hotel by John Hinckley Jr. He later told his wife, Nancy, ”Honey, I forgot to duck.”
1990 – in Belgium, several UFOs were seen on radar and were chased by two Belgian Air Force F-16 ‘s
2002 – The Fairly Odd Parents and Invader Zim premiered on Nickelodeon
March 31
1836 – The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, by Charles Dickens, was published under his pseudonym, Boz.
1943 – Formally called ‘Away We Go’ in the initial tryout runs, ‘Oklahoma!’ opened on Broadway.
1957 – Julie Andrews starred in Cinderalla, on CBS
1959 – The Dalai Lama, fled the Chinese suppression of a national uprising in Tibet and crossed the border into India, where he is granted political asylum.
1987 – Max Headroom premiered on ABC
1994 – Madonna appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and stirred up controversy by going on a profanity-laden tirade. It marked the most censored event in television talk show history with 13 swear words being censored.
1995 – Latina singer Selena was murdered and the live coverage of the crime drew in over 3 .2 million views to CBS.
LeAnn Rimes (1996 Best New Artist Grammy Winner, presented in 1997)
Celine Dion (Grammy for Album of the Year)
Change The World – Eric Clapton (Grammy for Record of the Year)
New Artists in the Pop Charts Included: Spice Girls. Hanson, Will Smith, Third Eye Blind, Savage Garden, Matchbox 20, Ray J, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Chumbawamba, Sister Hazel, Aqua, Erykah Badu, Amber, Wyclef Jean, DJ Kool, Foxy Brown, Jagged Edge, Missy Elliott, Lorrie Morgan, Barenaked Ladies, Our Lady Peace, and Trace Adkins.
1997’s Retro Top 10 Hits
1. You Were Meant For Me – Jewel
2. ooh aah… Just A Little Bit – Gina G
3. How Do I Live – LeAnn Rimes
4. The Impression That I Get – Mighty Mighty Bosstones
5. Let Me Clear My Throat – DJ Kool
6. How Bizarre – OMC (Otara Millionaires Club)
7. Tubthumping – Chumbawamba
8. MM Bop – Hanson
9. Da’ Dip – Freak Nasty
10. Sunny Came Home – Shawn Colvin
1997’s ‘One Hit Wonders’
1. Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle
2. How Bizarre – OMC
3. Coco Jamboo – Mr. President
4. Song 2 – Blur
5. I Like It – The Blackout AllStars
6. Barely Breathing – Duncan Sheik
7. Bitch – Meredith Brooks
8. Lovefool – The Cardigans
9. Dream – Forest For The Trees
10. Naked Eye – Lucious Jackson
AND…
It’s Alright, It’s O.K. – Leah Andreone
1997’s Dance Top 10 Hit List
1. ESPN Jock Jam – Various (medley)
2. I Like It (Like That) – The Blackout Allstars
3. Let Me Clear My Throat – DJ Kool
4. U Make Me Wanna – Usher
5. This Is Your Night – Amber
6. Da Funk – Daft Punk
7. Show Me Love – Robyn
8. Free – Ultra Naté
9. Your Woman – White Town
10. Spin Spin Sugar – Sneaker Pimps
1997’s Hip Hop Music Top Ten
1. Mo Money More Problems – Notorious B.I.G. with Puff Daddy and Mase
2. Let Me Clear My Throght – DJ Kool
3. Hypnotize – Notorious B.I.G. with Pam Long
4. Feel So Good – Mase with Kelly Price
5. Men In Black – Will Smith
6. I’ll Be Missing You – Puff Daddy, Faith Evans and 112
7. Not Tonight – Lil Kim featuring da Brat, Left Eye, Missy Elliot, and Angie Martinez
8. Look Into My Eyes – BoneThugs-N-Harmony
9. It’s All About The Benjamins – Puff Daddy (& The Family)
10. Smile – Scarface, featuring 2Pac and Johnny P
More of1997’s Hip Hop Music Top Songs
C U When U Get There – Coolio Featuring 40 Thevz
Sock It To Me – Missy ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliott featuring da Brat
I’m Not A Player – Big Punisher
I’ll Be – Foxy Brown with Jay-Z
1997’s Bubblegum Pop Music Top Ten
1. MMMBop – Hanson
2. Wannabe – Spice Girls
3. Men In Black – Will Smith
4. Barbie Girl – Aqua
5. Quit Playin Games (With My Heart) – Backstreet Boys
6. Tubthumping – Chumbawamba
7. Fly – Sugar Ray
8. How Bizarre – OMC
9. Coco Jamboo – Mr. President
10. Space Jam – Quad City DJ’s
1997’s Pop Rock Top 10 Hit List
1. All Mixed Up – 311
2. Love Rollercoaster – Red Hot Chili Peppers
3. If You Could Only See – Tonic
4. Song 2 – Blur
5. Push – Matchbox 20
6. Semi-Charmed Life – Third Eye Blind
7. Santaria – Sublime
8. Desperately Wanting – Better Than Ezra
9. The Old Apartment – Barenaked Ladies
10. All For You – Sister Hazel
1997’s Alternative Top 10 Hit List
1. Criminal – Fiona Apple
2. Hell – Squirrel Nut Zippers
3. Superman’s Dead – Our Lady Peace
4. The Perfect Drug – Nine Inch Nails
5. The Freshmen – The Verve Pipe
6. Volcano Girls – Veruca Salt
7. The Impression That I Get – Mighty Mighty Bosstones
8. The New Pollution – Beck
9. Sell Out – Reel Big Fish
10. Female Of The Species – Space
1997’s Album Rock Top 10 Hit List
1. The Memory Remains- Metallica
2. Everlong – Foo Fighters
3. I’m Afraid Of Americans – David Bowie
4. Lakini’s Juice – Live
5. Precious Declaration – Collective Soul
6. A Long December – Counting Crows
7. Hitchin’ A Ride – Green Day
8. Touch Peel And Stand – Days Of The New
9. Monkey Wrench – Foo Fighters
10. Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees) – Aerosmith
1827- Masked and costumed students danced through the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the first of the city’s famous Mardi Gras celebrations.
1933 – Germany’s parliament building in Berlin, the Reichstag, was set on fire.
1951 – The 22nd Amendment to the Us Constitution was passed, limiting the tenure of holding the presidential office to two terms.
2006 – The African Burial Ground National Monument was established in Lower Manhattan, New York. Over 15,000 Africans, slave and free, were buried there from the 1690s through the 1790s.
If you were born on February 27th,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 6th (prior year)
February 27th is…
African Travel Day
Digital Learning Day
International Polar Bear Day
Kahlua Day
National Protein Day
National Retro Day
National Strawberry Day
No-Brainer Day
February 27th Birthday Quotes
“No one wants advice, only corroboration.”
– John Steinbeck
“It is very strange that the years teach us patience – that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting.”
– Elizabeth Taylor
“Follow your deepest dream, the one you had as a kid but stay focused.”
– Donal Logue
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
“Life is but an empty dream!”
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“Our species is the only creative species, and it has only one creative instrument, the individual mind and spirit of a man. Nothing was ever created by two men. There are no good collaborations, whether in art, in music, in poetry, in mathematics, in philosophy. Once the miracle of creation has taken place, the group can build and extend it, but the group never invents anything. The preciousness lies in the lonely mind of a man.”
– John Steinbeck
“There’s no half-singing in the shower, you’re either a rock star or an opera diva.”
– Josh Groban
“Thinking is the great enemy of perfection. The habit of profound reflection, I am compelled to say, is the most pernicious of all the habits formed by civilized man.”
– Constantine the Great
February 27th Birthdays
272 – Constantine the Great, Roman emperor (died in 337)
1807 – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet (died in 1882)
1891 – David Sarnoff, American businessman, founded RCA (died in 1971)
1897 – Marian Anderson, American singer and performer (died in 1993)
1902 – John Steinbeck, American journalist and author, Nobel Prize laureate (died in 1968)
1902 – Gene Sarazen, American golfer (died in 1999)
1910 – Peter De Vries, American journalist and author (died in 1993)
1932 – Elizabeth Taylor, English-American actress (died in 2011)
1934 – Ralph Nader, American lawyer, politician, and activist
1937 – Barbara Babcock, American actress
1954 – Neal Schon, American rock guitarist and singer-songwriter
1957 – Kevin Curran, American screenwriter and television producer (died in 2016)
1962 – Adam Baldwin, American actor, Brother
1966 – Donal Logue, Canadian actor
1971 – Sara Blakely, American businesswoman, founded Spanx
1980 – Chelsea Clinton, American journalist and personality
1981 – Josh Groban, American singer-songwriter
1983 – Kate Mara, American actress
February 27th History
1703 – The first Mardi Gras was celebrated in Mobile, Alabama in 1703.
1801 – District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801 – Washington, D.C. is placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress. ‘Taxation without representation.’
1812 – Lord Byron gave his first address as a member of the House of Lords, in defense of Luddite violence against Industrialism in his home county of Nottinghamshire.
1879 – Saccharin, the artificial sweetener, was discovered by Constantin Fahlberg,
1900 – German chemist Felix Hoffmann was issued the patent (#644,077) for ‘Acetyl Salicylic Acid’. We now call it Aspirin.
1936 – Shirley Temple received a new contract from 20th Century Fox that paid the seven-year-old star $50,000 per film.
1951 – The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, limiting Presidents to two terms, was ratified.
1954 – #1 Hit February 27, 1954 – March 12, 1954: Doris Day – Secret Love
1960 – The US Olympic hockey team defeated the Soviet Union in the semifinals at the Winter Games in Squaw Valley, California. The next day, the US team beat Czechoslovakia to win its first-ever Olympic gold medal in hockey.
1961 – #1 Hit February 27, 1961 – March 19, 1961: Chubby Checker – Pony Time
1973 – The American Indian Movement (AIM) occupied Wounded Knee, South Dakota.
1974 – People magazine was published for the first time
1980 – There was only one Grammy for Best Disco Recording ever, and it was awarded to Gloria Gaynor for I Will Survive.
1999 – Colin Prescot and Andy Elson set a new endurance record after being in a hot air balloon for 233 hours and 55 minutes.
2007 – #1 Hit February 24, 2007 – March 2, 2007: Nelly Furtado – Say It Right
2010 (Earthquake) Coastal Maule, Chile
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Benjamin Franklin coined the term battery during his experiments with electricity.
America’s population will be 60% over the age of 65 soon, so Hollywood is going to have to retool all their scripts and do a major national casting call soon for sexy old fogeys.
When times are troubled, SMILE. When disaster threatens, LAUGH. When asked your age, LIE.
“You don’t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could’ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.” – Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) in On the Waterfront, 1954
Place a slice of bread in a bag of a freshly cooked batch of cookies so the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread to stay fresh longer. #advice
“People are strange when you’re a stranger. Faces look ugly when you’re alone.” #songlyrics
A group of Moles is called a Labor or Company or Movement.
“I never thought those Pirates would beat all those Robots!” TVQuotes
Velcro is actually the name brand, the actual product is called Hook and Loop.
German Chocolate Cake is actually American and is named German Chocolate Cake after its creator, Sam German
A group of Computers is called a Network.
Fortune cookies were invented in 1916 by George Jung, in Los Angeles.
Somebody needs to buy the rights to the OMC song “How Bizarre” so we can finally hear the rest of the story.
Out of the 10,000 members of the Communist Party USA in 1957, 1,500 were FBI informants.
2. On December 19, 2018, a sequel to Mary Poppins was released. What was it called, OR who played Mary Poppins in the sequel?
3. In 1964, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
4. What was The Beatles’ first number-one Billboard US hit?
5. Name the number one Billboard hit with the shortest running time of the 1960s.
6. To the nearest quarter, what was the average movie theater ticket price in 1964?
7. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1964?
8. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1964?
9. How much was a Dozen Eggs in 1964?
10. How much was a Pound of Butter in 1964?
11. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1964: Nicolas Cage, Michelle Obama, Sarah Palin, or Brad Pitt?
12. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1964?
13. How many people lived in the United States in 1964?
14. How many people lived in the World in 1964?
15. Before becoming a television show in 1964, where did the Addam’s Family first appear?
16. What did the United States Surgeon General Luther Terry announce on January 11, 1964?
17. Name the first Pope to travel outside of Italy since Pius VII 1809. He was also the first to fly in an airplane.
18. Who was the President of the United States in 1964?
19. Project Gemini was NASA’s second human spaceflight program. What was the name of the program it replaced?
20. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1964?
21. Who did an estimated 73 million people watch on The Ed Sullivan Show?
22. This Hollywood couple married (for the first time) in Montreal, Canada. Between them, there were 13 marriages. Name the pair.
23. What company used the slogan: “Please Don’t Squeeze the …”?
24. Dr. Robert Moog invented what sound-making device in 1964?
25. Who was the American Vice-President in 1964?
26. Name the popular hot snack created at the Anchor Bar in New York…
27. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1964?
28. Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots was introduced in 1964. What were their names?
29. This device, used for storing and playing music, was popular from 1964 through the mid-1970s…
30. In the 1964 film starring Peter Sellers, what was “The Pink Panther”?
31. In the 1964 US Presidential race, President Johnson ran a very controversial television advertisement that aired only once against Barry Goldwater on September 7, 1964. What was the commercial?
32. Name the government organization charged with investigating the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
33. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York is very busy. What was it called before 1964?
34. On April 4, 1964, The Beatles held the first 5 spots on Billboard’s Top 100. Get one point for each that you can name…
35. Godzilla battled two new, flying giant monsters (kaiju) in 1964. Name one of them.
36. This man pitched a perfect game for the Philadelphia Phillies, the first in the National League since 1880. Name that pitcher.
37. Can you name the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize?
38. This nightclub in West Hollywood, California, located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard on the Sunset Strip, helped launch the careers of The Doors, Van Halen, , Johnny Rivers, AC/DC and many others.
39. In continuous since 1964, this car is the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. Name that car.
40. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1964?
41. Producer Irwin Allen is noted for having several science-fiction television shows, including Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel, and Land of the Giants. What was his first sci-fi tv show
42. What happened to the iconic Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, Denmark, in April 1964?
43. What was the name of The Beach Boys’ first number-one hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart?
44. Who won the 1964 World Series?
45. On the TV show, did they ever explain why Mister Ed, the talking horse, could talk?
46. The Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung was a book better known as what
47. Name the fifth country to make a nuclear weapon.
48. What character was often mentioned but never seen until the fourth season of The Dick Van Dyke Show?
49. What company used the slogan: “Put a Tiger in Your Tank”?
50. Who was the first African-American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in Lilies of the Field?
51. Who became Boxing’s Heavyweight Champion of the World on February 25, 1964?
52. Who does the “Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations” represent?
53. This bottlenose dolphin was the star of what television show?
54. Who was NOT an adult Jonny Quest’s team member: Dr. Benton Quest, Major Matt Murdoch, or Roger “Race” Bannon?
55. Voiced by character actor Wally Cox, name this crime-fighting cartoon dog.
56. What company used the slogan: “Let Your Fingers Do the Walking”?
57. This 1964 film is often credited as the inspiration for The Monkee’s TV television show.
58. Based on the 1957 novel by Ian Fleming, what was the title of the second James Bond film?
59. What was the Top Rated TV Show in the 1963/1964 season?
60. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. was a TV spy show. What did the letters U-N-C-L-E stand for?
61. This mascot’s name was Mr. ZIP, informally “Zippy,” he was introduced in 1964. Although his product came out in 1963, what did he represent?
62. This 1964 James Bond film was based on a book by Ian Fleming of the same name. Name that Spy film.
63. When it debuted in 1964, who was the first host for Jeopardy!?
64. Name the 1964 film based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 stage play Pygmalion.
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. Name the primary characters in My Fair Lady.
2. Who were the 1964 NBA Champions?
3. Mary Poppins was originally a book series written by who?
4. Who were the 1964 NFL Champions?
5. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1964?
6. The 1964 Winter Olympics were held in Innsbruck, Austria. How many medals did the US win?
7. Held in Tokyo, Japan, how many medals did the US win in the 1964 Summer Olympics?
8. Who was the Pope in 1964?
9. What was the name of Mr. Magoo’s dog?
10. BASIC is a computer programming language first used in 1964. What do the letters B-A-S-I-C stand for?
The Answers:
64 Trivia Answers for 1964 History
1. What was the highest-grossing film of 1964? Mary Poppins (2nd place: My Fair Lady, 3rd place: Goldfinger )
2. On December 19, 2018, a sequel to Mary Poppins was released. What was it called, OR who played Mary Poppins in the sequel? Mary Poppins Returns, starring Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins.
3. In 1964, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
Men – 66.9 years, Women – 73.7 years.
4. What was The Beatles’ first number-one Billboard US hit? I Want To Hold Your Hand (Please Please Me was the first Beatles single to reach #1 in the UK in 1963)
5. Name the number one Billboard hit with the shortest running time of the 1960s. Stay by Maurice Willaims and the Zodiacs
6. To the nearest quarter, what was the average movie theater ticket price in 1964?
$1.00
7. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1964? I Want To Hold Your Hand by The Beatles
8. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1964?
21 cents
9. How much was a Dozen Eggs in 1964?
54 cents
10. How much was a Pound of Butter in 1964?
74 cents
11. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1964: Nicolas Cage, Michelle Obama, Sarah Palin, or Brad Pitt?
Brad Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is the oldest in that group.
12. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1964?
In 1964, The Toronto Maple Leafs won over the Detroit Red Wings (4 games to 3)
13. How many people lived in the United States in 1964?
The population was an estimated 191,888,791 people.
14. How many people lived in the World in 1964?
The estimated world population in 1964 was 3,263,738,832 people.
15. Before becoming a television show in 1964, where did the Addam’s Family first appear?
As a one-panel comic strip in The New Yorker
16. What did the United States Surgeon General Luther Terry announce on January 11, 1964?
That smoking may be hazardous to one’s health. It was the first announcement about the dangers of smoking by the US Government.
17. Name the first Pope to travel outside of Italy since Pius VII 1809. He was also the first to fly in an airplane.
Pope Paul VI
18. Who was the President of the United States in 1964?
Lyndon B. Johnson (November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969)
19. Project Gemini was NASA’s second human spaceflight program. What was the name of the program it replaced?
Project Mercury
20. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1964? The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John Le Carré
21. Who did an estimated 73 million people watch on The Ed Sullivan Show?
The Beatles
22. This Hollywood couple married (for the first time) in Montreal, Canada. Between them, there were 13 marriages. Name the pair.
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor (divorced in 1974, remarried in 1975, divorced in 1976)
23. What company used the slogan: “Please Don’t Squeeze the …”?
Charmin
24. Dr. Robert Moog invented what sound-making device in 1964?
The Moog Synthesizer
25. Who was the American Vice-President in 1964?
The office of vice president was vacant from November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1965
26. Name the hot snack created at the Anchor Bar in New York…
Buffalo Wings
27. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1964?
$0.30 per gallon
28. Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots was introduced in 1964. What were their names?
Red Rocker and Blue Bomber
29. This device, used for storing and playing music, was popular from 1964 through the mid-1970s…
The 8Track Cartridge
30. In the 1964 film starring Peter Sellers, what was “The Pink Panther”?
A priceless diamond
31. In the 1964 US Presidential race, President Johnson ran a very controversial television advertisement that aired only once against Barry Goldwater on September 7, 1964. What was the commercial?
“Daisy” featured a little girl picking a daisy’s petals while counting each one. At 9, the camera cut to a nuclear explosion. Although rival Barry Goldwater was never mentioned, the narrator stated that “The stakes are too high for you to stay home.”
32. Name the government organization charged with investigating the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The Warren Commission (The President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy)
33. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York is very busy. What was it called before 1964?
Idlewild Airport (IDL)
34. On April 4, 1964, The Beatles held the first 5 spots on Billboard’s Top 100. Get one point for each that you can name… Can’t Buy Me Love (#1), Twist and Shout (#2), She Loves You (#3), I Want to Hold Your Hand (#4) and Please Please Me (#5).
35. Godzilla battled two new, flying giant monsters (kaiju) in 1964. Name one of them. Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, OR Mothra in Mothra vs. Godzilla.
36. This man pitched a perfect game for the Philadelphia Phillies, the first in the National League since 1880. Name that pitcher.
Jim Bunning
37. Can you name the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968)
38. This nightclub in West Hollywood, California, located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard on the Sunset Strip, helped launch the careers of The Doors, Van Halen, , Johnny Rivers, AC/DC and many others.
Whisky a Go-Go
39. In continuous since 1964, this car is the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. Name that car.
The Ford Mustang
40. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1964?
Lyndon B. Johnson
41. Producer Irwin Allen is noted for having several science-fiction television shows, including Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel, and Land of the Giants. What was his first sci-fi tv show? Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
42. What happened to the iconic Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, Denmark, in April 1964?
Political activists cut off her head. It was replaced, but the original was never recovered.
43. What was the name of The Beach Boys’ first number-one hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart? I Get Around
44. Who won the 1964 World Series?
In 1964, The St. Louis Cardinals won, beating the New York Yankees (4 games to 3)
45. On the TV show, did they ever explain why Mister Ed, the talking horse, could talk?
No, they did not.
46. The Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung was a book better known as what? The Little Red Book
47. Name the fifth country to make a nuclear weapon.
China
48. What character was often mentioned but never seen until the fourth season of The Dick Van Dyke Show?
Alan Brady, played by Carl Reiner. Alan Brady was the star of the fictional show The Alan Brady Show.
49. What company used the slogan: “Put a Tiger in Your Tank”?
Esso
50. Who was the first African-American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in Lilies of the Field?
Sidney Poitier
51. Who became Boxing’s Heavyweight Champion of the World on February 25, 1964?
Cassius Clay (aka Muhammad Ali)
52. Who does the “Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations” represent?
The Vatican/Pope
53. This bottlenose dolphin was the star of what television show? Flipper
54. Who was NOT an adult Jonny Quest’s team member: Dr. Benton Quest, Major Matt Murdoch, or Roger “Race” Bannon?
Major Matt Murdoch
55. Voiced by character actor Wally Cox, name this crime-fighting cartoon dog.
Underdog
56. What company used the slogan: “Let Your Fingers Do the Walking”?
Yellow Pages
57. This 1964 film is often credited as the inspiration for The Monkee’s TV television show. A Hard Day’s Night
58. Based on the 1957 novel by Ian Fleming, what was the title of the second James Bond film? From Russia with Love
59. What was the Top Rated TV Show in the 1963/1964 season? The Beverly Hillbillies (CBS)
60. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. was a TV spy show. What did the letters U-N-C-L-E stand for?
U.N.C.L.E. was an acronym for the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement
61. This mascot’s name was Mr. ZIP, informally “Zippy,” he was introduced in 1964. Although his product came out in 1963, what did he represent?
The US Postal Service’s Zip Codes.
62. This 1964 James Bond film was based on a book by Ian Fleming of the same name. Name that Spy film. Goldfinger
63. When it debuted in 1964, who was the first host for Jeopardy!?
Art Fleming (Alex Trebek began hosting in 1978)
64. Name the 1964 film based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 stage play Pygmalion. My Fair Lady
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. Name the primary characters in My Fair Lady.
The film stars Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle and Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins.
2. Who were the 1964 NBA Champions?
For the 1963-64 Season, Champion Boston Celtics won 4 games to 1 over the San Francisco Warriors
3. Mary Poppins was originally a book series written by who?
Pamela Lyndon (P.L.) Travers
4. Who were the 1964 NFL Champions?
Cleveland Browns
5. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1964?
Northern Dancer
6. The 1964 Winter Olympics were held in Innsbruck, Austria. How many medals did the US win?
7
1 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze.
7. Held in Tokyo, Japan, how many medals did the US win in the 1964 Summer Olympics?
90.
36 Gold, 26 Silver, 28 Bronze.
8. Who was the Pope in 1964?
Pope Paul VI, from June 21, 1963 – August 6, 1978
9. What was the name of Mr. Magoo’s dog?
McBarker
10. BASIC is a computer programming language first used in 1964. What do the letters B-A-S-I-C stand for? Beginners’ All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code
1616 – Galileo Galilei was formally banned by the Roman Catholic Church from teaching or defending the view that the earth orbits the sun.
1829 – Levi Strauss was born. He never married, so, ironically, he didn’t get to pass his genes on to the next generation.
1848 – The Communist Manifesto, by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, was published.
1993 – The World Trade Center was the target of a bombing, injuring over 1,000 people and killing six more.
February 26, 19** Birthday (fictional) Patrick Star, Cartoon.
If you were born on February 26th,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 5th (prior year)
February 26th is…
Levi Strauss Day
National Pistachio Day
Personal Chef’s Day
Tell a Fairytale Day
Thermos Bottle Day
February 26th Birthday Quotes
“I think a lot of people have lost respect for the individual, you know, the individual, the person who doesn’t conform.”
– Erykah Badu
“The true division of humanity is between those who live in light and those who live in darkness. Our aim must be to diminish the number of the latter and increase the number of the former. That is why we demand education and knowledge.”
– Victor Hugo
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he’s a victim of the times.
– Johnny Cash
“Every Indian outbreak that I have ever known has resulted from broken promises and broken treaties by the government.”
– Buffalo Bill
“Always love your country – but never trust your government!”
– Robert Novak
“If you have it and you know you have it, then you have it. If you have it and don’t know you have it, you don’t have it. If you don’t have it but you think you have it, then you have it.”
– Jackie Gleason
“Sure, ninety percent of science fiction is crud. That’s because ninety percent of everything is crud.”
– Theodore Sturgeon
February 26th Birthdays
1564 – Christopher Marlowe, English playwright (died in 1593)
1802 – Victor Hugo, French author, poet, and playwright (died in 1885)
1808 – Honore Daumier, French caricaturist and painter (died in 1879)
1829 – Levi Strauss, German-American fashion designer, founded Levi Strauss & Co. (died in 1902)
1846 – Buffalo Bill, American soldier, showman and hunter (died in 1917)
1887 – William Frawley, American actor and vaudevillian (died in 1966)
1908 – Tex Avery, American animator, producer, and voice actor (died in 1980)
1914 – Robert Alda, American actor (died in 1986)
1916 – Jackie Gleason, American actor (died in 1987)
1918 – Theodore Sturgeon, American author (died in 1985)
1920 – Tony Randall, American actor (died in 2004)
1921 – Betty Hutton, American actress (died in 2007)
1928 – Fats Domino, American singer-songwriter and pianist (died in 2017)
1931 – Robert Novak, American journalist and author (died in 2009)
1932 – Johnny Cash, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor (died in 2003)
1945 – Marta Kristen, Norwegian-American actress
1953 – Michael Bolton, American singer-songwriter
1971 – Erykah Badu, American singer-songwriter,
1979 – Corinne Bailey Rae, English singer-songwriter
February 26th History
1815
Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from Elba.
1870
New York City’s first pneumatic-powered subway line, created by Alfred Beach, was opened to the public.
1909
Kinemacolor, the first successful color motion picture process, was first shown to the general public at the Palace Theatre in London with 21 short films.
1917
Denali National Park and Preserve: (Mount McKinley National Park) Established on February 26, 1917, in Alaska, this park covers 9,492 square miles. Known for its diverse landscapes and North America’s tallest peak, Denali.
1919
Grand Canyon National Park: Established on February 26, 1919, in Arizona, this park covers 1,902 square miles. It showcases the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon, a mile-deep gorge formed by the Colorado River.
Acadia National Park: Established on February 26, 1919, in Maine, this park spans 49,075 acres. Known for its rocky coastline, granite peaks, and diverse plant and animal life.
1929
Grand Teton National Park: Established on February 26, 1929, in Wyoming, this park spans 484 square miles. Known for the jagged peaks of the Teton Range, abundant wildlife, and the Snake River.
1946
Finnish observers reported the first of thousands of sightings of ghost rockets.
1966
#1 Hit February 26, 1966 – March 4, 1966: Nancy Sinatra – These Boots Are Made For Walkin’
1977
#1 Hit February 26, 1977 – March 4, 1977: Eagles – New Kid in Town
1978
Broadway Show – Deathtrap (Play) February 26, 1978
1988
#1 Hit February 27, 1988 – March 11, 1988: George Michael – Father Figure
1992
February 26, 1992 Birthday (fictional) Matt Donovan, Vampire Diaries, TV
1993
The first World Trade Bombings occurred, the bomb went off in a parked truck under the North Tower. The bombing killed six and injured over a thousand people.
1995
Selena Quintanilla-Perez performed her last concert in Houston before being shot by her manager.
February 26, 19** Birthday (fictional) Patrick Star, SpongeBob SquarePants, Cartoon
2005
Halle Berry accepted her Razzie Award at the 25th annual ceremony at Hollywood’s historic Ivar Theatre.
2011
#1 Hit February 26, 2011 – April 8, 2011: Lady Gaga – Born This Way
2012
Trayvon Martin, an African-American teen walking home from a trip to a convenience store, was fatally shot in an altercation with George Zimmerman, a Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer patrolling the townhouse community of the Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford, Florida.
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
A burger has no front or back until you start eating it. #thisiswhyyoureadourposts
Christopher Nolan has never had a movie rated as “rotten” on Rotten Tomatoes.
Useless Pronunciation: W as in wrap
A group of Bats is called a Colony or Cloud.
Orbit chewing gum is represented by Vanessa, actress Vanessa Branch.
If an indoor cat gets outside and lost, put their litter box outside. They can smell it from up to a mile away and find their way home.
Hershey’s chocolate was substituted for blood in the 1980 black-and-white film ‘Raging Bull.’
Gift Cards are just a way to give someone money as a present, but with the message: “You can’t spend your money right, so I’m gonna choose where you spend it for you.”
Donald Duck’s middle name is ‘Fauntleroy’.
Those who see Earth from space reputedly experience “The Overview Effect” – A deep sense of connection with the rest of the human race, and a desire for world peace.
70% of the world’s production of maple syrup is from the Province of Quebec.
When I was young all the cartoons were for kids and pretty stupid. Now all the kid’s cartoons are educational and the adult cartoons are the stupid ones.
The Capital of Paraguay is Asuncion
The biggest film of 1974: Blazing Saddles (Comedy) earned ~ $112,000,000
1791 – The First National Bank of the United States was chartered in Philadelphia.
1919 – Oregon became the first US state to levy a gasoline tax by placing 1 cent tax on every gallon of gas.
1964 – Cassius Clay became heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He won the title 3 times and defended it 9 times.
1967 – Gene Kelly starred in Jack and the Beanstalk on NBC (produced by Hanna-Barbara) it was the first TV special to combine live-action and animation.
If you were born on February 25th,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 4th (prior year)
February 25th is…
National Chili Day
National Chocolate Covered Peanuts Day
National Clam Chowder Day
Paczki Day
Pancake Day
February 25th Birthday Quotes
Violence among young people is an aspect of their desire to create. They don’t know how to use their energy creatively so they do the opposite and destroy.
– Anthony Burgess
Every intelligent child is an amateur anthropologist. The first thing such a child notices is that adults don’t make sense.
– John Leonard
Television is a weapon of mass distractrion.
– Larry Gelbart
You can be standing right in front of the truth and not necessarily see it, and people only get it when they’re ready to get it.
– George Harrison
To be the man, you gotta beat the man.
– Ric Flair
The scientist, like the magician, possesses secrets. A secret -expertise- is somehow perceived as anti-democratic, and therefore ought to be unnatural. We have come a long way from Prometheus to Faust to Frankenstein. And even Frankenstein’s monster is now a joke.
– John Leonard
I suffer so much in this life. That is what they [the audience] are feeling when I sing, that is why they cry. People who felt nothing in this life cannot sing.
– Enrico Caruso
February 25th Birthdays
1841 – Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Frech painter (died in 1919)
1873 – Enrico Caruso, Italian-American tenor (died in 1921)
1888 – John Foster Dulles, American statesman (died in 1959)
1901 – Zeppo Marx, American comedian and Brother (died in 1979)
1910 – Millicent Hammond Fenwick, American politician (died in 1992)
1913 – Jim Backus, American actor (died in 1989)
1917 – Anthony Burgess, English writer (died in 1993)
1918 – Bobby Riggs, American tennis player (died in 1995)
1922 – ‘Texas Rose’ Bascom, Native American rodeo/USO star (died in 1993)
1928 – Larry Gelbart, American author and screenwriter (died in 2009)
1929 – Tommy Newsom, American saxophonist and bandleader (died in 2007)
1935 – Sally Jessy Raphael, American journalist and talk show host
1939 – John Leonard, American critic (died in 2008)
1943 – George Harrison, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (died in 2001)
1949 – Ric Flair, American wrestler
1949 – Jack Handey, American author
1966 – Téa Leoni, American actress
1966 – Nancy O’Dell, American model and journalist
1971 – Sean Astin, American actor
1971 – Daniel Powter, Canadian singer-songwriter
1975 – Chelsea Handler, American comedian and talk show host
1986 – Jameela Jamil, American actress
February 25th History
1836 – Samuel Colt was granted a United States patent (#9430X) for his Colt revolver.
1901 – J.P. Morgan incorporated the United States Steel Corporation.
Bryce Canyon National Park: Established on February 25, 1928, in Utah, this park covers 56 square miles. Known for its otherworldly hoodoos and red-rock landscapes.
1932 – Adolf Hitler obtained German citizenship by naturalization, which allowed him to run in the 1932 election for Reichspräsident.
1950 – Your Show of Shows, hosted by Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca premiered on NBC.
1956 – #1 Hit February 25, 1956 – March 23, 1956: Nelson Riddle – Lisbon Antigua
1964 – Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), age 22, defeated champion Sonny Liston in a technical knockout to win the world heavyweight boxing crown.
1984 – #1 Hit February 25, 1984 – March 30, 1984: Van Halen – Jump
1991 – The Warsaw Pact officially disbanded.
1995 – #1 Hit February 25, 1995 – April 14, 1995: Madonna – Take A Bow
2000 – Max Steel premiered on Kid’s WB
2004 – The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson’s film about the last 44 hours of Jesus of Nazareth’s life, opened in theaters, eventually earning over $370,700,000.
2006 – The world’s population reached an estimated 6.5 billion people
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
“Well, nobody’s perfect.” – Osgood Fielding III (Joe E. Brown) in Some Like It Hot, 1959
Biggest film of 1975: Jaws (Horror) earned ~ $260,000,000
“We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.” – Aesop
We make fun of the spell check generation for not being able to spell, but we don’t make fun of people who can’t make a fire just because the world is full of lighters and ovens.
Delina Filkins, who died in 1928, was the first verified person to reach both the ages of 112 and 113.
A group of Mallards (at rest) is called a Brace. A group of Mallards (in flight) is called a Sord.
I built a tunnel some time ago and I accidentally left a light on in it. Now my basement is packed with ‘no-unfinished-business’ souls that nobody is claiming and I’m not sure what to do with them.
It has been two decades and we still do not have an answer to the Baha Men’s question of ‘Who Let The Dogs Out?’
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliaphobia is the fear of long words.
A group of Eggs is called a Clutch.
Did You Know? “checks” can be written on just about anything and not necessarily on an actual check.
Ginkgo trees are an ancient species, effectively identical to the ones that grew 270 milion years ago.
‘Poppin’ Fresh’ is the name of the Pillsbury Doughboy.
Partners/buddies have a falling out over some random thing and decide to separate. #buddymoviecliches
1582 – Gregorian Calendar: Pope Gregory XIII issued a new, more accurate calendar that the Julian, which had been used for 1500 years. #intergravissimas
1868 – Andrew Johnson became the first President of the United States to be impeached by the United States House of Representatives. He was later acquitted in the Senate.
1942 – In what may or may not have been a UFO attack, The Battle of Los Angeles lasted into the early hours of February 25. (probably not)
1980 – The United States Olympic Hockey team completed its Miracle on Ice by defeating Finland 4 – 2 to win the gold medal.
If you were born on February 24th,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 3rd (prior year)
GOLF
Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented.
It was ruled “Gentlemen Only…Ladies Forbidden,” and thus the word GOLF entered into the English Language.
February 24th is…
Inconvenience Yourself Day
National Trading Card Day
Twin Peaks Day
World Bartender Day
February 24th Birthday Quotes
“We think basically you watch television to turn your brain off, and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on.”
– Steve Jobs
“God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.”
– Chester W. Nimitz
“I don’t want my picture in any cigarettes, but I also don’t want you to lose the ten dollars, so I’m enclosing my check for that sum.”
– Honus Wagner, his baseball cards were later recalled, which makes his cards so rare.
“I got the role because the producer thought I looked tired, but I looked tired because I had been jogging earlier that day.”
– Abe Vigoda
“I said if you want to be Keith Richards, you’ve got to listen to Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. Then I thought, ‘What did Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry listen to?’ I said, ‘They listened to Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters.’ Well, who’d they listen to? They listened to Robert Johnson. I said, ‘Ok, we’ll start with that.’”
– George Thorogood
“When I grow up I want to be an old woman.”
– Michelle Shocked
“You hear certain things, negative things, all the time that aren’t true, but you never hear about the positive.”
– Floyd Mayweather, Jr
February 24th Birthdays
1619 – Charles Le Brun, French painter and theorist (died in 1690)
1786 – Wilhelm Grimm, German anthropologist, author and Brother (died in 1859)
1827 – Lydia Becker, English-French activist (died in 1890)
1836 – Homer Winslow, American illustrator (died in 1910)
1874 – Honus Wagner, American baseball player, coach, and manager (died in 1955)
1885 – Chester Nimitz, American admiral (died in 1966)
1896 – Richard Thorpe, American director and screenwriter (died in 1991)
1921 – Abe Vigoda, American character actor (died in 2016)
1922 – Steven Hill, American actor (died in 2016)
1930 – Barbara Lawrence, American model and actress (died in 2013)
1938 – James Farentino, American actor (died in 2012)
1941 – Joanie Sommers, American singer and actress
1945 – Barry Bostwick, American actor
1947 – Rupert Holmes, English-American singer-songwriter
1950 – George Thorogood, American singer-songwriter
1951 – Debra Jo Rupp, American actress
1951 – Helen Shaver, Canadian actress
1954 – Plastic Bertrand (Roger François Jouret), Belgian singer-songwriter and producer
1955 – Steve Jobs, American businessman, co-founded Apple Inc. and Pixar (died in 2011)
1956 – Paula Zahn, American journalist
1958 – Sammy Kershaw, American singer-songwriter
1962 – Michelle Shocked (Karen Johnston), American singer-songwriter
1966 – Billy Zane, American actor
1977 – Floyd Mayweather, Jr., American boxer
1989 – Trace Cyrus, American singer-songwriter
February 24th History
1582 – The Gregorian Calendar, which most of the world uses today, was introduced.
1711 – The London premiere of Rinaldo by George Frideric Handel. It was the first Italian opera written for the London stage.
1863 – Arizona was organized as a United States territory.
1892 (Earthquake) Imperial Valley, California
1920 – Nancy Astor became the first woman to speak in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.
1938 – A nylon-bristled toothbrush became the first commercial product to be made with nylon yarn.
1938 – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) had bought the rights to adapt L. Frank Baum’s beloved children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, as reported by Variety magazine.
1938 – DuPont began commercial production of nylon toothbrush bristles for the so-called “Miracle Tuft Toothbrush.”
1952 – The Reputed ‘Battle of LA’ in Los Angeles, California
February 24, 1969, Jenna Maroney, 30 Rock, TV
1970 – The National Public Radio was founded in the US.
1973 – #1 Hit February 24, 1973 – March 23, 1973: Roberta Flack – Killing Me Softly with His Song
1981- The engagement of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer was announced
1982 – The U.S. Supreme Court voted 8-0 to overturn the $200,000 settlement awarded to the Reverend Jerry Falwell for his emotional distress at being parodied in Hustler, a pornographic magazine. Basically, the Supreme Court ruled that you can mock public figures.
February 24, 1989 (fiction) RIP Laura Palmer, Twin Peaks, TV
1989 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa and offers a $3 million bounty for the death of Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses.
1993- Michael Jackson received the Grammy Legend award which was presented to him by his sister Janet at the 35th annual Grammy Awards.
2001 – #1 Hit February 24, 2001 – March 23, 2001: Joe featuring Mystikal – Stutter
2011 – The final Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103)
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Bar code readers don’t read the black lines; they read the white spaces in between.
“Just keep swimming.” Dora, in Finding Nemo #moviequotes
The Walt Disney World Railroad has become one of the world’s busiest steam-powered railroads, with 3.7 million passengers served each year.
“That’ll do pig. That’ll do.” #moviequotes
“Eating rice cakes is like chewing on a foam coffee cup, only less filling.” – Dave Barry
People waste their time wishing they had more time.
If you think highly of someone, tell them.
I was sweeping the floor today, and the more I swept the more dirt I collected. It simply didn’t come clean. Now I’m 400 feet below the earth’s surface.
The Capital of the United States of America is Washington D.C.
In1982, the city of Key West, Florida declared its independence, declared war on the United States, and surrendered a minute later
When you buy a beggir bathtub you have more bathroom but less bathroom.
New York City Drivers spend an average of 107 hours a year searching for parking spots.
After being in the working world for over a decade now, I realized the most useful class I ever took over 16 years of schooling was in 6th grade. We spent nine weeks learning how to type.
“If you’re there before it’s over, you’re on time.” – James Walker
1893 – Rudolph Diesel received the German patent for his engine.
1945 – American Marines lifted the flag at Iwo Jima.
February 23, 1964 Birthday (fictional) Dana Scully, X-Files
1991 – A ground war began in Iraq (Operation Desert Storm)
1997 – Scientists announced the first successful cloning of an animal, a lamb named Dolly.
If you were born on February 23rd,
You were likely conceived the week of… June 2nd (prior year)
February 23rd is…
Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
National Banana Bread Day
National Tile Day
Rationalization Day
Single Tasking Day
World Understanding and Peace Day
February 23rd Birthday Quotes
“I feel like love is the thing we were created for, yet it’s the place we struggle the most.”
– Niecy Nash
“Man is always something more than what he knows of himself. He is not what he is simply once and for all, but is a process.”
– Karl Jaspers
“People quit on jobs. They quit on marriages. They quit on school. There’s an immediacy of this day and age that doesn’t lend itself to being committed to anything.”
– Emily Blunt
“I’m always changing the words. A screenwriter writes for somebody to read, but we are paid to take it off the page, to make it spoken. People stammer, they stutter, they take pauses, they drop stuff. It must drive writers crazy. But I’m making the character real.”
– Peter Fonda
“The function of the university is not simply to teach bread-winning, or to furnish teachers for the public schools or to be a center of polite society; it is, above all, to be the organ of that fine adjustment between real life and the growing knowledge of life, an adjustment which forms the secret of civilization.”
– W.E.B. Du Bois
“The ability to communicate with everybody, regardless of who are you are, is a great thing.”
– Bobby Bonilla
“Prove yourself brave, truthful, and unselfish, and someday, you will be a real boy.”
– The Blue Fairy
February 23rd Birthdays
1868 – W.E.B. Du Bois, American sociologist, historian, and activist (died in 1963)
1883 – Karl Theodor Jaspers, German philosopher (died in 1969)
1889 – Victor Fleming, American director, cinematographer, and producer (died in 1949)
1938 – Paul Morrissey, American director and producer
1940 – Peter Fonda, American actor (died in 2019)
1951 – Ed “Too Tall” Jones, American football player
1955 – Howard Jones, English singer-songwriter
1963 – Bobby Bonilla, American baseball player
1970 – Niecy Nash, American actress and producer
1971 – Melinda Messenger, English model and television host
1979 – S.E. Cupp, American journalist and author
1981 – Josh Gad, American actor
1983 – Emily Blunt, English actress
1994 – Dakota Fanning, American actress
February 23rd History
1455 – Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western book printed with movable type. Ironically, if there were newspapers at the time, we could be more confident about the date.
1739 – Richard Palmer was identified by his former school teacher, as the outlaw Dick Turpin.
1792 – The Humane Society of Massachusetts was incorporated.
1836 – The Siege of the Alamo (prelude to the Battle of the Alamo) began in San Antonio, Texas.
1896 – The Tootsie Roll was introduced by Leo Hirshfield, in New York.
1903 – Cuba leased Guantanamo Bay to the United States “in perpetuity”.
1905 – Chicago attorney Paul Harris and three other businessmen met for lunch to form the Rotary Club, the world’s first service club.
1927 – Federal Radio Commission (FRC, later replaced by the Federal Communications Commission, FCC) which was to regulate the use of radio frequencies in the United States was established.
1940 – Pinocchio was released in theaters.
1941 – Plutonium was first produced and isolated by Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg
1945 – During the Battle for Iwo Jima, U.S. Marines from the 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment of the 5th Division take the crest of Mount Suribachi, the island’s highest peak, and raised the U.S. flag. The photo would later become world-famous as well as win a Pulitzer Prize.
1947 – The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was founded.
1954 – The first mass inoculation of children against polio with Jonas Salk’s vaccine began in Pittsburgh, PA.
1955 – First meeting of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).
1964 – The Beatles appeared in the Ed Sullivan Show for the third time.
February 23, 1964 Birthday (fictional) Dana Scully, X-Files, TV
1967 – The Beatles made a taped appearance on American Bandstand, where they premiered their new music videos for the songs “Penny Lane” and “Strawberry Fields Forever”
1975 – There was an energy crisis in the US in 1975, so daylight savings time started two months early – Feb 23rd instead of April.
1978 -Both Barbra Streisand’s Love Theme from A Star Is Born (Evergreen) and Debby Boone’s You Light Up My Life were awarded the Best Song Grammy – the first and only tie in that category in Grammy history.
1980 – #1 Hit February 23, 1980 – March 21, 1980: Queen – Crazy Little Thing Called Love
1987 – The light from Supernova 1987A, in the Large Magellanic Cloud, reached the Earth.
1991 – #1 Hit February 23, 1991 – March 8, 1991: Whitney Houston – All The Man That I Need
2002 – #1 Hit February 23, 2002 – March 8, 2002: Ja Rule featuring Ashanti – Always on Time
February 23, 2005 – The Apple iPod mini (2nd generation) was released.
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Every day I encounter dozens of individuals without speaking a word to each other. But when I log on to my computer I post a comment that could be viewed by hundreds, even thousands of people that I may never see in person.
“An empty stomach is not a good political adviser.” – Albert Einstein
TV Quotes… “Denny Crane” (Denny Crane) on “Boston Legal”
The biggest film of 1977: Star Wars Ep. IV: A New Hope (Action/Adventure) earned ~ $461,000,000
A group of ‘gods’ is called a Pantheon.
From my Idea Book: Get the actors that played the original kids from Barney and Friends. Make an adult comedy where they meet back up with Barney and get into shenanigans.
Any five consecutive months (except February) add up to 153 days.
Speedo originated in 1914 under the brand name ‘Fortitude’. It didn’t become known by its now-famous brand name until 1928.
Jeannette Rankin, the first Congresswoman, served just two non-consecutive terms starting in 1917 and 1941, and was the only person to vote against the declaration of war in both WWI and WWII.
Zombie Nation’s hit single “Kerncraft” synth riff comes directly from the Commodore 64 game “Lazy Jones.”
Sliced bread was invented in 1928 and was referred to as the ‘best thing since bagged bread’.
Sam Houston is the only person to be elected governor of two different states (TN and TX).
“Become vengeance, David. Become wrath.” – John Doe in Se7en #moviequotes
The State Motto of California is “Eureka! I have found it.”
1885 – The Washington Monument was dedicated in Washington, DC.
1965 – Malcolm X, founder of the Organization of Afro-American Unity was assassinated.
1972 American President Richard Nixon made a historic trip to China, opening diplomatic relations between the two countries.
1994 – Aldrich and Maria del Rosario Ames were arrested (and later convicted) of spying for the Soviet Union.
If you were born on February 21st,
You were likely conceived the week of… May 31st (prior year)
February 21st is…
Card Reading Day
International Mother Language Day
National Sticky Bun Day
February 21st Birthday Quotes
“I remember thinking how often we look but never see… we listen, but never hear… we exist, but never feel. We take our relationships for granted. A house is only a place. It has no life of its own. It needs human voices, activity, and laughter to come alive.”
– Erma Bombeck
“Individuality will always be one of the conditions of real elegance.”
– Christian Dior
“I’ve never been able to plan my life. I just lurch from indecision to indecision.”
– Alan Rickman
“Simplicity, good taste, and grooming are the three fundamentals of good dressing and these do not cost money.”
– Christian Dior
“The scariest monster in the world is human beings and what we are capable of, especially when we get together.”
– Jordan Peele
“All of us, can do so much more together than any one person can do alone. And I hope that thought bolsters you as much as it does me.”
– Eliott Page
“There’s no excuse for the young people not knowing who the heroes and heroines are or were.”
– Nina Simone
February 21st Birthdays
1621 – Rebecca Nurse, Massachusetts colonist, executed as a witch (died in 1692)
1821 – Charles Scribner I, American publisher, founded Charles Scribner’s Sons (died in 1871)
1855 – Alice Freeman Palmer, American educator (died in 1902)
1905 – Christian Dior, French Fashion designer (d.1957)
1915 – Ann Sheridan, American actress and singer (died in 1967)
1924 – Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwean politician, 2nd President of Zimbabwe (died in 2019)
1927 – Erma Bombeck, American journalist and author (died in 1996)
1933 – Nina Simone, American singer-songwriter (died in 2003)
1934 – Rue McClanahan, American actress (died in 2010)
1940 – John Lewis, American activist and politician
1943 – David Geffen, American businessman, co-founded DreamWorks and Geffen Records
1946 – Anthony Daniels, English actor and adjunct professor
1946 – Alan Rickman, English actor (died in 2016)
1947 – Olympia Snowe, American politician
1949 – Frank Brunner, American comic book illustrator
1949 – Jerry Harrison, American singer-songwriter
1955 – Kelsey Grammer, American actor
1958 – Mary Chapin Carpenter, American singer-songwriter
1961 – Christopher Atkins, American actor
1963 – William Baldwin, American actor, Brother
1977 – Kevin Rose, American businessman, founded Digg
1979 – Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress
1979 – Jordan Peele, American actor, producer, and screenwriter
1986 – Charlotte Church, Welsh singer-songwriter
1987 – Eliott Page, Canadian actor
1989 – Corbin Bleu, American actor, model, dancer
1996 – Sophie Turner, English actress
February 21st History
1848
The Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, was published in London by a group of German-born revolutionary known as the Communist League.
1866
Lucy B. Hobbs became the first woman to graduate from a dental school.
1878
The first telephone directory in the US, listing about 50 names, was issued by the New Haven Telephone Company in New Haven, Connecticut.
1885
The Washington Monument was dedicated. It was opened to the public about three years later. At 555 feet 5 1/8 inches, it was the tallest structure in the world until the Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889. The 555-foot-high marble obelisk was first proposed in 1783 and had countless delays, including the American Civil War.
1925
The New Yorker magazine began publication.
1947
A year before it became commercially available, Edwin Land demonstrated the Polaroid Land Camera to the Optical Society of America in New York City.
1948
The National Association for Stock Car Racing – NASCAR – was founded.
1953
The structure of the DNA molecule was discovered by Francis Crick and James D. Watson
1958
The internationally recognized peace symbol was designed by Gerald Holtom as the logo for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
1965
Malcolm X was assassinated by (reputedly) members of the Nation of Islam in the Audubon Ballroom in New York City.
1967
Apollo 1 (planned for February 21, 1967, but a cabin fire during a launch rehearsal test led to the deaths of the crew) Crew: Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Edward H. White, and Roger B. Chaffee
1986
The first Legend of Zelda game was released.
1991
Lost in Yonkers premiered in NYC at the Richard Rodger Theatre.
1997
The all-digital Wheel of Fortune board was introduced.
2004
#1 Hit February 21, 2004 – February 27, 2004: Twista featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx – Slow Jamz
2009
#1 Hit February 21, 2009 – February 27, 2009: Eminem featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent – Crack a Bottle
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
“The doctors are trying a new treatment. You have been in a coma for a year now. They say this might appear somehow in your dreams. Please wake up. We love you.” #what?
The Capital of Peru is Lima
Biggest film of 1976: Rocky (Drama) earned ~ $117,000,000
A group of Baboons is called a Troop or Flange.
On April 18, 1930, the BBC announced, “There is no news today,” and played piano music instead.
Whoever figured out that a few stalks of wheat, a glass of milk, a tomato, and a ground-up pig could be turned into pepperoni pizza is probably the greatest genius to have ever lived.
“I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” – Howard Beale (Peter Finch) #moviequotes
Happiness is not hard to find. It’s beside you, it’s in front of you, it’s at your back, it’s around you, it’s just a matter of appreciation.
“37!?!” – Dante #moviequotes
Elephants, in their natural habitat, usually sleep for only 2 hours a day.
The highest point on the moon is 6,358 feet higher (1938 meters) than Mount Everest.
Funerals really aren’t “fun” at all. “Saderals” makes more sense.
US President #43 George W. Bush (2001-2007) Continued the legacy of Bushisms. Had the highest and lowest approval ratings with 92% (ABC) and 19% (American Research Group) of any president. “The Decider”
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” – Victor Borge
Kiribati, an island chain in the Pacific Ocean, is the only country in the world that is situated within all four hemispheres of the globe.
Jane Seymour – Real Name: Joyce Frankenberg
There are two US states where the temperature has never surpassed 100 degrees F: Alaska and Hawaii.
Ice cream in pain when a brain-freeze occurs. #haha
1491 – An unnamed comet came within 860,000 miles of Earth, the closest we know of.
1920 – Carl Stoltz, American founder of Little League Baseball (died in 1992)
1962 – While aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth, making three orbits in four hours, 55 minutes.
1986 – The Soviet Union launched the Mir spacecraft.
February 20, 19** Birthday (fictional) Hal Jordan (Green Lantern), DC Comics.
If you were born on February 20th,
You were likely conceived the week of… May 30th (prior year)
February 20th is…
Clean Out Your Bookcase Day
Love Your Pet Day
National Cherry Pie Day
National Muffin Day
Student Volunteer Day
World Pangolin day
February 20th Birthday & Astronaut Quotes
“The most important thing we can do is inspire young minds and to advance the kind of science, math, and technology education that will help youngsters take us to the next phase of space travel.”
– John Glenn
“I am the me I choose to be.”
– Sidney Poitier
“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.”
– Kurt Cobain
“I’m always in love. If it’s not with a man, it’s something else. I love beauty. I love the sky I see outside the window. There’s so much beauty in the world.”
– Gloria Vanderbilt
“The only difference between a good shot and a bad shot is if it goes in or not.”
– Charles Barkley
“I don’t believe in the “supernatural,” I believe in the “supernormal.” To me, there is nothing that goes against nature. If it seems incomprehensible, it’s because we haven’t been able to understand it yet.”
– Richard Matheson
“There is nothing worse than a brilliant image of a fuzzy concept.”
– Ansel Adams
“What can the government do? They can listen to their own people. But I’ll tell you what citizens can do when we elect one of these people – whether we think it’s a good guy or a bozo – you got to stay on the case. You don’t vote and go home and give them the keys to the car, he’ll drive you right off a cliff. You have to help people to stay honest.”
– Buffy Sainte-Marie
February 20th Birthdays
1633 – Jan de Baen, Dutch painter (died in 1702)
1726 – William Prescott, American soldier, coined the term “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes.” (died in 1795)
1897 – Ivan Albright, American painter (died in 1983)
1902 – Ansel Adams, American photographer and environmentalist (died in 1984)
1906 – Gale Gordon, American actor (died in 1995)
1921 – Buddy Rogers, American wrestler (died in 1992)
1924 – Gloria Vanderbilt, American actress, fashion designer, and socialite (died in 2019)
1925 – Robert Altman, American director and screenwriter (died in 2006)
1926 – Richard Burton Matheson, American author (died in 2013)
1927 – Sidney Poitier, Bahamian-American actor
1934 – Bobby Unser, American race car driver
1937 – Roger Penske, American race car driver and businessman
1937 – Nancy Wilson, American singer and actress (died in 2018)
1941 – Buffy Sainte-Marie, Canadian singer-songwriter
1942 – Phil Esposito, Canadian ice hockey player
1943 – Antonio Inoki, Japanese wrestler, mixed martial artist and politician
1946 – Sandy Duncan, American actress, singer and dancer
1946 – J. Geils, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died in 2017)
1948 – Jennifer O’Neill, American model and actress
1949 – Ivana Trump, Czech-American socialite and model
1951 – Edward Albert, American actor (died in 2006)
1954 – Patty Hearst, American actress and author
1960 – Joel Hodgson, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter
1963 – Charles Barkley, American basketball player and sportscaster
1964 – French Stewart, American actor
1966 – Cindy Crawford, American mode
1967 – Kurt Cobain, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died in 1994)
1987 – Miles Teller, American actor
1988 – Rihanna, Barbadian-American singer-songwriter
February 20th History
1792 – The United States Post Office became a cabinet position under President George Washington. In 1971, the Post Office became an independent corporation.
1816 – Rossini’s opera The Barber of Seville premiered at the Teatro Argentina in Rome.
1872 – The Metropolitan Museum of Art opened in New York City.
1872 – Luther Childs Crowell (#123,811) received the patent for a machine for manufacturing square-bottom paper bags. We still use the design today.
1877 – Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake gave its premiere performance at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
1921 – The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, starring Rudolph Valentino was released in theaters.
1931 – San Francisco got approval from the US Congress to build the San Franciso-Oakland Bay Bridge.
1943 – American movie studio executives agreed to allow the Office of War Information to censor movies.
1962 – Launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida, John Hershel Glenn Jr. successfully went into space aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft on the first orbital flight by an American astronaut.
1965 – #1 Hit February 20, 1965 – March 5, 1965: Gary Lewis & The Playboys – This Diamond Ring
February 20, 19** Birthday (fictional) Hal Jordan (Green Lantern), DC Comics
1979 – This Old House premiered on PBS.
1986 – The Soviet Union launched the Mir space station into orbit.
1986 – After about a century of planning and a millennium of wishing, it was announced that the “Chunnel” between the UK and France would be built. Construction began in December 1987 and the “chunnel” was finally completed in 1994.
1988 – #1 Hit February 20, 1988 – February 26, 1988: Expose – Seasons Change
1995- A short called “Changes” which was the pilot for Dexter’s Laboratory aired on Cartoon Network. It was a huge success and is credited with helping launch the animation careers of Butch Hartman, Craig McCracken, and Seth McFarlane.
1996- VH1 Storytellers debuted on VH1
1998 – American figure skater Tara Lipinski became the youngest gold-medal winner at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan
2001 – FBI agent Robert Hanssen was arrested and charged with spying for the Russians for 15 years
2003 – Great White’s pyrotechnics went out of control, burning down Rhode Island’s ‘The Station’ nightclub, and took 100 lives.
2005 – Robot Chicken premiered on Adult Swim.
2013 – The smallest extrasolar planet, Kepler-37b was discovered.
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Slumber Party Barbie came with a book called “How to Lose Weight.” One of the tips was “Don’t eat.” #truestory
Building an averaged size house out of Lego would cost almost 6 times more than building it from real bricks.
“The tribe has spoken” – Jeff Probst (Survivor)
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” was entirely filmed in Saxony, Germany. The interior scenes were shot in a department store.
Always count backward from the number of reps you wish to accomplish when you are exercising. #advice
Peppers taste hot because of a chemical compound called capsaicin.
“It’s a fool looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart.” – Everett (George Clooney) #moviequotes
“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” – Walt Disney
The Janitor from “Scrubs” was meant to be part of JD’s imagination in the first season, as a finale twist if the show was canceled, which is why he does not interact with any other cast members that season.
Dogs can now watch more TV due to higher refresh rates and resolutions, whereas before it was like watching a flickering image.
TV Quotes… “Resistance is futile” (Picard as Borg) on “Star Trek: The Next Generation”
After Haiti defeated France to earn its independence in 1804, France returned 20 years later with warships and demanded 150 million francs in gold to compensate for lost property. Haiti did not pay off this debt until 1947.
John Hurt holds the record by dying in over 40 different movies including Alien, Spaceballs, Elephant Man, Hellboy and V for Vendetta.
The word ‘currently’ is useless. It can always be omitted without affecting understanding of a sentence, at least in how we use English currently.
“People Hearing without listening, people talking without speaking.” #songlyrics
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have found themselves embroiled in a controversy surrounding allegations of workplace harassment tied to their upcoming film It Ends with Us, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. The allegations, raised by individuals involved in the production, claim an environment of inappropriate behavior that has sparked widespread attention. Amid the unfolding drama, Lively and Baldoni’s PR teams have mounted swift and strategic responses to safeguard their reputations.
Lively’s representatives have emphasized her unwavering commitment to women’s rights and safe workplaces, leveraging her history of advocacy to portray her as an ally for accountability and change. Statements from her team reiterated her dedication to fostering equality, highlighting her previous initiatives to create safer spaces for women in various industries. This narrative reframed her involvement, positioning her as a force for positive change rather than a figure implicated in the controversy.
Baldoni’s dual role as a producer and actor on the project has placed him under scrutiny, so the PR strategy has leaned heavily on his track record of promoting healthy masculinity and inclusivity. His team pointed to his past efforts, including his acclaimed TED Talk and work on dismantling toxic gender norms, as evidence of his commitment to fostering respectful and inclusive environments. By emphasizing these accomplishments, Baldoni’s representatives sought to reinforce his brand as a champion of progressive values.
The controversy gained further complexity when Amber Heard, herself no stranger to public scandals following her high-profile legal battle with ex-husband Johnny Depp, weighed in on the situation. Heard’s comments highlighted women’s pervasive challenges in the entertainment industry, drawing parallels to her own experiences of being scrutinized in the public eye. She called for accountability and systemic change, emphasizing the importance of due process and thorough investigations. Heard’s involvement brought additional media attention to the It Ends with Us controversy, further amplifying the stakes for everyone involved.
The film’s production team and other cast members have also been drawn into the discussion, amplifying the stakes for everyone involved. Both stars’ PR teams have worked diligently to control the narrative while internal investigations are reportedly underway, highlighting the role of skilled crisis management in shaping public perception during such high-profile incidents.
Blake Lively’s handling of the recent controversy surrounding It Ends with Us showcases a masterclass in PR strategy. As reports surfaced of her legal action in response to allegations and her co-star Justin Baldoni facing professional repercussions, Lively’s team has emphasized her proactive stance on workplace safety and women’s advocacy. This calculated approach deflects negative attention and positions her as a champion of accountability. According to The Hollywood Reporter, her decisive legal actions and public relations strategy are shifting the narrative, allowing her to potentially emerge victorious in the court of public opinion.
How Crisis PR and Reputation Management Shape Public Perception
When news about public figures or brands surfaces, skilled public relations (PR) teams often carefully curate the stories we read. The recent article from Variety discussing Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni underscores the intricate ways PR firms navigate scandals and challenges, showing both the effectiveness and subtlety of these strategies.
The Anatomy of Crisis PR
Effective crisis PR operates on two fronts: proactive preparation and reactive response. Proactive strategies involve anticipating potential reputational risks, crafting contingency plans, and establishing a strong public image long before any issue arises. Reactive responses kick in when unforeseen crises emerge, requiring swift, calculated action to mitigate damage.
The Variety article’s harassment accusations illustrate how PR teams advise clients to issue statements that address public concerns while carefully avoiding legal pitfalls. Framing the story first—before media outlets or social platforms amplify damaging narratives—is a core tactic. By taking control early, PR teams ensure the story is told on their terms.
Example: When companies face product recalls, the speed and tone of their response—an apology, an explanation, or an offer of reparations—can shape how consumers perceive the brand’s integrity.
Tactics That Define Sneaky PR
PR professionals have a toolkit of tactics to shape public perception, some of which are subtle—even sneaky:
Media Leak Control: Trusted journalists may receive exclusive, favorable information to divert attention from negative press.
Selective Transparency involves sharing enough details to appear genuine without disclosing everything. This was evident in the Variety story, where the framing of statements was carefully tailored to resonate with the audience while avoiding inflammatory language.
Reframing the Narrative: A PR strategy might sometimes involve pivoting the conversation entirely. For instance, highlighting unrelated charitable work or projects can shift attention away from a controversy.
Historically, examples like Tiger Woods’ scandal recovery or the BP oil spill demonstrate how PR teams can redirect public attention with varying degrees of success.
Reputation Management in the Digital Era
In today’s world, where digital impressions often outweigh traditional media coverage, reputation management heavily relies on SEO and online monitoring. SEO techniques have become indispensable for burying unfavorable press and boosting positive narratives.
SEO for Crisis Control:
Create blog posts and articles highlighting positive achievements or initiatives.
Optimize keywords related to the brand to ensure search engines prioritize favorable content over negative stories.
Use link-building strategies to amplify positive mentions from high-authority domains.
Social Media Management:
PR teams carefully craft viral posts or responses that appear authentic and relatable.
Influencers and brand ambassadors may be enlisted to defend or praise the client subtly.
When scandals like those involving Lively or Baldoni emerge, PR professionals often shift their focus online to ensure the top search results paint a favorable picture. Public perception, after all, is often shaped by the first page of Google results.
The Ethics of Crisis Management
The line between effective PR and manipulation can be thin. At its best, crisis PR helps rebuild trust and clarify misunderstandings. At its worst, it can deceive the public by obfuscating facts or shifting blame.
In cases involving harassment, such as the Variety example, ethical concerns come to the forefront. Statements crafted by PR teams must address the seriousness of allegations without trivializing them, all while protecting the client’s legal interests. In an era of cancel culture, the public increasingly demands transparency—but PR firms must balance this with the client’s reputation and livelihood.
How Companies and Individuals Can Protect Their Reputations
Crisis PR isn’t just for celebrities and big brands. Businesses and individuals can adopt strategies to safeguard their reputations:
Build Trust in Advance:
Regularly share positive news, testimonials, and success stories.
Cultivate goodwill through community engagement and philanthropy.
Monitor and Adapt:
Use tools like Google Alerts and social listening platforms to identify potential threats early.
Analyze sentiment in real-time to tailor responses accordingly.
SEO for Damage Control:
Post detailed press releases optimized for search engines.
Ensure positive content is consistently updated to remain competitive in search rankings.
Plan Ahead:
Develop a crisis response team and strategy before issues arise.
Conduct regular risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities.
PR and reputation management, particularly in high-stakes scenarios, combine psychology, strategy, and technology to shape how the public perceives events and individuals. Whether crafting statements for celebrities or optimizing a company’s online presence, PR professionals play a pivotal role in managing crises effectively. Understanding these strategies offers valuable insight into the narratives shaping our news and social feeds.
February 19, 19** Birthday (fictional) Bruce Wayne (Batman), DC Comics
1963 – The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan was published.
1987 – A controversial, anti-smoking public service announcement aired for the first time on television, featuring Yul Brynner shortly before he died of lung cancer.
If you were born on February 19th,
You were likely conceived the week of… May 29th (prior year)
Internment Camps in the United States
1942 – US President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the removal of any or all people from military areas “as deemed necessary or desirable.” This was the basis for the Japanese Internment camps, which held over 100,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans until January 2, 1945. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill to repay every surviving internee with a tax-free payment of $20,000 and an apology from the US government.
February 19th is…
National Chocolate Mint Day
Prevent Plagiarism Day
Tug of War Day
February 19th Birthday Quotes
“I have two hands: one for me, one for other people.”
– Millie Bobby Brown
“Ah, stardom! They put your name on a star in the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard and you walk down and find a pile of dog manure on it. That tells the whole story, baby.”
– Lee Marvin
“I am not so enamored of my own opinions that I disregard what others may think of them. I am aware that a philosopher’s ideas are not subject to the judgment of ordinary persons, because it is his endeavor to seek the truth in all things, to the extent permitted to human reason by God. Yet I hold that completely erroneous views should be shunned.”
– Nicolaus Copernicus
“I don’t see the world completely in black and white. Sometimes I do.”
– Benicio Del Toro
“External success has to do with people who may see me as a model, or an example, or a representative. As much as I may dislike or want to reject that responsibility, this is something that comes with public success. It’s important to give others a sense of hope that it is possible and you can come from really different places in the world and find your own place in the world that’s unique for yourself.”
– Amy Tan
“In a world full of people, only some want to fly, Isn’t that crazy?”
– Seal
“One of the good things about getting older is you find you’re more interesting than most of the people you meet.”
– Lee Marvin
February 19th Birthdays
1473 – Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish mathematician and astronomer (died in 1543)
1717 – David Garrick, English actor and author (died in 1779)
1896 – André Breton, French poet and author (died in 1966)
1911 – Merle Oberon, Indian-American actress (died in 1979)
1917 – Carson McCullers, American author (died in 1967)
1920 – C.Z. Guest, American actress, fashion designer, and author (died in 2003)
1924 – Lee Marvin, American actor (died in 1987)
1940 – Bobby Rogers, American singer-songwriter (died in 2013)
1943 – Lou Christie, American singer-songwriter
1948 – Tony Iommi, English guitarist and songwriter
1949 – William (Bill) Messner-Loebs, American comic book author and illustrator
1952 – Amy Tan, American novelist
1955 – Jeff Daniels, American actor
1957 – Falco, Austrian singer-songwriter, rapper, and musician (died in 1998)
1957 – Dave Stewart, American baseball player
1960 – Prince Andrew, Duke of York
1963 – Seal (Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel), English singer-songwriter
1963 – Jessica Tuck, American actress
1966 – Justine Bateman, American actress
1967 – Benicio del Toro, Puerto Rican-American actor, director, and producer
1968 – Prince Markie Dee, American rapper and actor
1981 – Beth Ditto, American singer
1985 – Haylie Duff, American actress
1986 – Maria Mena, Norwegian singer-songwriter
2004 – Millie Bobby Brown, English actress
February 19th History
1600 (Volcano Eruption) Huaynaputina
1847 – Of the 89 original members of the Donner Party, only 45 reached California. They had been trapped, with no provisions and little survival skills since late October of 1848, about 13 miles northwest of Lake Tahoe.
1864 – The Knights of Pythias was established in Washington, DC.
1884 – More than sixty tornadoes struck the Southern United States in one of the largest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history.
1878 – The patent (#200,521) for Thomas Edison’s phonograph was granted.
1881 – Kansas became the first state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages.
1963 – The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan was published.
1966 – #1 Hit February 19, 1966 – February 25, 1966: Lou Christie – Lightnin’ Strikes
1967 – #1 Hit February 18, 1967 – March 3, 1967: The Buckinghams – Kind of a Drag
1968 – Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, created by Fred Rogers (1928-2003), premiered on NET (later PBS).
1972 – #1 Hit February 19, 1972 – March 17, 1972: Nilsson – Without You
1977 – #1 Hit February 19, 1977 – February 25, 1977: Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – Blinded by the Light
1980 – AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott died from alcohol poisoning.
February 19, 19** Birthday (fictional) Bruce Wayne (Batman), DC Comics
1982 – Rock legend Ozzy Ozbourne was arrested for urinating on the Alamo.
1983 – #1 Hit February 19, 1983 – March 4, 1983: Patti Austin and James Ingram – Baby, Come to Me
1985 – Cherry Coke was introduced by Coca-Cola.
1985 – William J. Schroeder became the first artificial heart patient to leave the hospital alive.
1985 – The Eastenders premiered in the UK.
1986 – The US Senate approved a treaty that outlawed genocide.
1992 – Broadway Show – Crazy for You (Musical) February 19, 1992
1994 – Martin Lawrence made a sexually explicit joke during his opening monologue during his appearance on Saturday Night Live. The joke was in reference to female genitalia and feminine hygiene. He ended up being banned from the NBC network for a year and from SNL for life. During the re-broadcast of the episode the joke is replaced by a title card read off-screen and the joke nearly cost everyone at SNL their jobs.
2000 – #1 Hit February 19, 2000 – March 3, 2000: Mariah Carey featuring Joe and 98 Degrees – Thank God I Found You
2006 – The Rolling Stones performed in front of the largest open show for the public in Copacabana Beach in Brazil,1.3 Million people attended
2010 – Golfer Tiger Woods admitted to having several affairs, which were brought to light after an incident in Windermere, Florida, an Orlando suburb, around 2:30 a.m. on November 27, 2009. His car crashed, reportedly, but several eyewitness accounts said it looked like it was attacked by someone with a golf club. Ironically, his wife, Elin Nordegren, was reportedly informed about his infidelities shortly before the ‘crash.’
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
“It’s very beautiful over there.” – Thomas Edison #LastWords
Five Card Poker Odds, nothing wild: One Pair – One set of the same numbered or “face” cards, 1 in 2 1 balls picked out of 3
Criticism is not nearly as effective as sabotage.
Biggest film of 1978: Grease (Musical) earned ~ $182,000,000
Eye problems caused by computer use fall under the heading computer vision syndrome (CVS).
Before McDonald’s, “Don’t buy cheeseburgers from a clown” was probably a pretty hard and fast rule. #thingsinmyhead
Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette is one of eight people to have been granted “Honorary Citizenship” by the United States.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle only wrote four Sherlock Holmes novels (but 56 short stories).
Isn’t it weird how we don’t collectively care about anything the news doesn’t care about?
When a cat is no longer puzzled by his reflection in the mirror, is it because he’s figured out that it’s only a reflection, or because he thinks that the “other cat” is not interesting anymore?
“Get busy living, or get busy dying.” – Andy Dufresne #moviequotes
Mentioning food on your dating profile gets more matches, and Guacamole is the best food to mention.
Star Wars is my favorite period drama.
Singer Peter Gabriel’s great-great-great-uncle, Thomas Gabriel was the Lord Mayor of London in the 1860s.
“I’m gonna go get the papers, get the papers.” – Jimmy Two Times in Goodfellas #moviequotes
Its weird that I know that any YouTube URL ending in dQw4w9WgXcQ is Never Gonna Give You Up.
New word: anticippointment
“If you don’t eat your meat, you can’t have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat?” #songlyrics
1. 1969 Catchphrase: Who said, “If it weren’t for you meddling kids!”?
2. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1969?
3. Who was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl III?
4. In 1969, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
5. What company used the slogan: “It’s the real thing”?
6. Name the television game show host who used the catchphrase “Makin’ whoopee”?
7. This event was billed as “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music”. What is that event better known as?
8. Can you name the artist who performed the last act at Woodstock on Monday, August 18, 1969?
9. How many people lived in the World in 1969?
10. How many people lived in the United States in 1969?
11. To the nearest quarter, what was the average movie theater ticket price in 1969?
12. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1969?
13. How much was a dozen eggs in 1969?
14. How much was a pound of pork chops in 1969?
15. Who was the President of the United States in 1969?
16. Name both actresses (it was a tie) to win the 1969 Academy Award for Best Actress.
17. Lee Marvin’s Marvin’s Wand’rin Star kept The Beatles at number two in the UK with their single Let It Be. What 1969 film introduced the song?
18. Name the Australian media mogul who purchased the largest-selling British Sunday newspaper, The News of the World, in 1969.
19. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1969?
20. True or False: Before 1969, the United States had $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 in circulation.
21. Rock band Led Zeppelin released two albums in 1969. Name the titles of both albums.
22. This Oscar-winning film was loosely based on the story of Wild West outlaws Robert LeRoy Parker and his partner Harry Longabaugh. Name the film.
23. Hosted by The Rolling Stones, this concert was billed as a “Woodstock West”.
24. This is the only X-rated film (Rated R today) ever to win Best Picture. Name that film.
25. Where did The Beatles give their last public performance?
26. This popular British surreal sketch comedy group ran for 45 episodes between 1969 and 1974 and released a series of popular movies.
27. The United States Air Force studied unidentified flying objects from 1952 until they announced the project’s closing in late 1969. What was the name of that US Government study?
28. What was the Top-Rated TV Show in the 1968/1969 season?
29. The first episode of this daytime television show was possible because of the numbers 2 and 3 and the letters E, S, and W. Name that show.
30. What television game show was NOT produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman: Jeopardy, He Said, She Said, or Match Game?
31. On December 17, 1969, who married “Miss Vicky” on The Tonight Show, hosted by Johnny Carson?
32. Who won the SuperBowl in 1969?
33. Who was Super Bowl 3’s Most Valuable Player?
34. On September 2, 1969, Chemical Bank installed WHAT at its branch in Rockville Centre, New York. It was the first of its kind in the United States.
35. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1969?
36. Who won the 1969 World Series?
37. Can you name Major League Baseball’s first team outside the United States?
38. What was the name of The Beatles’ 10th studio Album?
HINT: It was also the name of an animated feature film.
39. This cartoon showcased shorts starring what character from the opening credits of a series of live-action comedy films about a bungling detective Jacques Clouseau. Name the animated character.
40. Who composed The Pink Panther Theme for the live-action films, and often in the cartoons?
41. Which member of The Beatles was rumored to be replaced, possibly by “William Campbell”?
42. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1969?
43. Name the Apollo 11’s lunar module that landed on the Moon’s surface. on July 20, 1969.
44. What future 1970s Sex Symbol was a bachelorette on The Dating Game in 1969?
45. Who replaced retiring United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren in 1969?
46. Can you name the first professional soccer football player to score 1,000 goals in a career?
47. Founded in 1701, this Ivy League University started admitting women. Name that institution.
48. Who was the only undefeated world heavyweight boxing champion in history?
49. This famous couple married in Gibraltar and had a honeymoon, “Bed-In for Peace,” in Amsterdam. Name that pair.
50. This “jumbo jet” aircraft was first flown in 1969, and it is still in use today.
51. You get one point for each Scooby-Doo character, for which you can give the first and last names…
52. Can you name photographer Iain Macmillan’s most famous photograph, taken in 1969? It is one of the most iconic album covers of all time.
53. Based on a 1964 Broadway show, this film follows the story of Dolly Levi, a strong-willed matchmaker who travels to Yonkers, New York. Name that comedy-musical.
54. Two songs from Hello, Dolly! were featured in the 2008 Disney-Pixar film, WALL-E. Name one of them.
55. Hello, Dolly! was based on a 1958 American film directed by Joseph Anthony. Can you name that comedy?
56. This novel by Mario Puzo went on to become a major film franchise. Name that book.
57. A member of The 27 Club, name the original Rolling Stones member who drowned in his swimming pool at his home in Sussex, England.
58. In 1969, the Saturday morning cartoon The Wacky Races produced two spin-off shows. Name one of them.
59. Alice Nelson, although unrelated, was the 7th member of this television household in California. Who played the role of this housekeeper on the show?
60. Who was the first female prime minister of Israel?
61. What was the highest-grossing film of 1969?
62. This film helped John Wayne earn his first and only Academy Award as Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn. Name it.
63. Name the prime-time variety brother who said, “Mom always liked you best.”?
64. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1969: Dave Grohl, Jamie Foxx, Marilyn Manson, or Jesse L. Martin?
65. Who was the Time Magazine Man and Woman of the Year in 1969?
66. What cartoon mystery show debuted on (CBS) on September 13, 1969?
67. What type of creature was the live-action Saturday morning character H.R. Pufnstuf?
68. What popular syndicated talk show debuted in 1969?
69. Name the Disney film based on the 1961 book Car, Boy, Girl by Gordon Buford.
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. What was the second highest-grossing film 1969, earning over $50 million at the domestic box office?
2. What was the name of Dudley Do-Right’s horse?
3. Name the classic 1969 independent road drama film that featured Karen Black, Toni Basil, and Phil Spector in small roles.
4. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1969?
5. What popular country music/ comedy /variety show debuted on June 15, 1969?
6. Who were the 1969 NBA Champions?
7. Sisters Helen, Betty, and Dot Wiggin of Fremont, New Hampshire, recorded an album named Philosophy of the World, and some people say it was the worst album ever produced. Name the band.
8. Who was the Pope in 1969?
9. Name the television variety show that ended every episode with ” “Good night, Dick!”?
10. Who was the American Vice-President in 1969?
The Answers:
69 Trivia Answers for 1969 History
1. 1969 Catchphrase: Who said, “If it weren’t for you meddling kids!”?
Various villains on Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
2. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1969? Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In by The 5th Dimension
3. Who was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl III?
Joe Namath (The New York Jets beat the Baltimore Colts, 16–7)
4. In 1969, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
Men – 66.8 years, Women – 74.3 years.
5. What company used the slogan: “It’s the real thing”?
Coca-Cola
6. Name the television game show host who used the catchphrase “Makin’ whoopee”?
Bob Eubanks on The Newlywed Game (1966-1974)
7. This event was billed as “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music”. What is that event better known as?
Woodstock music festival
8. Can you name the artist who performed the last act at Woodstock on Monday, August 18, 1969?
Jimi Hendrix
9. How many people lived in the World in 1969?
The estimated world population in 1969 was 3,616,108,749 people.
10. How many people lived in the United States in 1969?
The population was an estimated 202,676,946 people.
11. To the nearest quarter, what was the average movie theater ticket price in 1969?
$1.50
12. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1969?
23 cents
13. How much was a dozen eggs in 1969?
62 cents
14. How much was a pound of pork chops in 1969?
$1.12
15. Who was the President of the United States in 1969?
Lyndon B. Johnson (November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969) and Richard Nixon (January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974)
16. Name both actresses (it was a tie) to win the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn both received 3030 votes.
17. Lee Marvin’s Marvin’s Wand’rin Star kept The Beatles at number two in the UK with their single Let It Be. What 1969 film introduced the song? Paint Your Wagon
18. Name the Australian media mogul who purchased the largest-selling British Sunday newspaper, The News of the World, in 1969.
Rupert Murdoch
19. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1969?
In 1969, The Montreal Canadiens won over the St. Louis Blues (4 games to 0)
20. True or False: Before 1969, the United States had $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 in circulation.
True
21. Rock band Led Zeppelin released two albums in 1969. Name the titles of both albums. Led Zeppelin and Led Zeppelin II
22. This Oscar-winning film was loosely based on the story of Wild West outlaws Robert LeRoy Parker and his partner Harry Longabaugh. Name the film. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
23. Hosted by The Rolling Stones, this concert was billed as a “Woodstock West.”Altamont Speedway Free Festival
24. This is the only X-rated film (Rated R today) ever to win Best Picture. Name that film. Midnight Cowboy
25. Where did The Beatles give their last public performance?
On the roof of Apple Records, London
26. This popular British surreal sketch comedy group ran for 45 episodes between 1969 and 1974 and released a series of popular movies. Monty Python’s Flying Circus
27. The United States Air Force studied unidentified flying objects from 1952 until they announced the project’s closing in late 1969. What was the name of that US Government study?
Project Blue Book
28. What was the Top-Rated TV Show in the 1968/1969 season? Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In (NBC)
29. The first episode of this daytime television show was possible because of the numbers 2 and 3 and the letters E, S, and W. Name that show. Sesame Street
30. What television game show was NOT produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman: Jeopardy, He Said, She Said, or Match Game? Jeopardy! was created by Merv Griffin.
31. On December 17, 1969, who married “Miss Vicky” on The Tonight Show, hosted by Johnny Carson?
Tiny Tim
32. Who won the SuperBowl in 1969?
Super Bowl III | On January 12, 1969 (1968 season), The New York Jets beat the Baltimore Colts (16–7) at Miami Orange Bowl.
33. Who was Super Bowl 3’s Most Valuable Player?
1969 MVP Super Bowl III Joe Namath, New York Jets
34. On September 2, 1969, Chemical Bank installed WHAT at its branch in Rockville Centre, New York. It was the first of its kind in the United States.
The first ATM (called the “Docuteller”)
35. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1969? Portney’s Complaint by Philip Roth
36. Who won the 1969 World Series?
In 1969, The New York Mets won, beating the Baltimore Orioles (4 games to 1)
37. Can you name Major League Baseball’s first team outside the United States?
The Montreal Expos
38. What was the name of The Beatles’ 10th studio Album? Yellow Submarine
39. This cartoon showcased shorts starring what character from the opening credits of a series of live-action comedy films about a bungling detective Jacques Clouseau. Name the animated character. The Pink Panther
40. Who composed The Pink Panther Theme for the live-action films, and often in the cartoons?
Henry Mancini
41. Which member of The Beatles was rumored to be replaced, possibly by “William Campbell”?
Paul McCartney
42. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1969?
$0.35 per gallon
43. Name the Apollo 11’s lunar module that landed on the Moon’s surface. on July 20, 1969.
Eagle
44. What future 1970s Sex Symbol was a bachelorette on The Dating Game in 1969?
Farrah Fawcett
45. Who replaced retiring United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren in 1969?
Warren E. Burger (September 17, 1907 – June 25, 1995)
46. Can you name the first professional soccer football player to score 1,000 goals in a career?
Pelé (Edson Arantes do Nascimento)
47. Founded in 1701, this Ivy League University started admitting women. Name that institution.
Yale University
48. Who was the only undefeated world heavyweight boxing champion in history?
Rocky Marciano (September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969)
49. This famous couple married in Gibraltar and had a honeymoon, “Bed-In for Peace,” in Amsterdam. Name that pair.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono
50. This “jumbo jet” aircraft was first flown in 1969, and it is still in use today.
Boeing 747
51. You get one point for each Scooby-Doo character, for which you can give the first and last names…
Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Norville “Shaggy” Rogers.
52. Can you name photographer Iain Macmillan’s most famous photograph, taken in 1969? It is one of the most iconic album covers of all time. Abbey Road (Beatles’ album cover)
53. Based on a 1964 Broadway show, this film follows the story of Dolly Levi, a strong-willed matchmaker who travels to Yonkers, New York. Name that comedy-musical. Hello, Dolly!
54. Two songs from Hello, Dolly! were featured in the 2008 Disney-Pixar film, WALL-E. Name one of them. Put on Your Sunday Clothes and It Only Takes a Moment
55. Hello, Dolly! was based on a 1958 American film directed by Joseph Anthony. Can you name that comedy? The Matchmaker
56. This novel by Mario Puzo went on to become a major film franchise. Name that book. The Godfather
57. A member of The 27 Club, name the original Rolling Stones member who drowned in his swimming pool at his home in Sussex, England.
Brian Jones
58. In 1969, the Saturday morning cartoon The Wacky Races produced two spin-off shows. Name one of them. (The Perils of) Penelope Pitstop and (Dick) Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines.
59. Alice Nelson, although unrelated, was the 7th member of this television household in California. Who played the role of this housekeeper on the show?
Ann B. Davis, on The Brady Bunch
60. Who was the first female prime minister of Israel?
Golda Meir (May 3, 1898 – December 8, 1978)
61. What was the highest-grossing film of 1969? Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
62. This film helped John Wayne earn his first and only Academy Award as Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn. Name it. True Grit (Wayne reprised his role for the 1975 sequel Rooster Cogburn.)
63. Name the prime-time variety brother who said, “Mom always liked you best.”?
Tommy Smothers on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1969)
64. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1969: Dave Grohl, Jamie Foxx, Marilyn Manson, or Jesse L. Martin?
Jamie Foxx (born December 13, 1967)
65. Who was the Time Magazine Man and Woman of the Year in 1969?
“Middle Americans” (The Silent Majority)
66. What cartoon mystery show debuted on (CBS) on September 13, 1969? Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
67. What type of creature was the live-action Saturday morning character H.R. Pufnstuf?
A Dragon
68. What popular syndicated talk show debuted in 1969? The Phil Donahue Show
69. Name the Disney film based on the 1961 book Car, Boy, Girl by Gordon Buford. The Love Bug
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. What was the second highest-grossing film 1969, earning over $50 million at the domestic box office? The Love Bug
2. What was the name of Dudley Do-Right’s horse?
Horse
3. Name the classic 1969 independent road drama film that featured Karen Black, Toni Basil, and Phil Spector in small roles. Easy Rider
4. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1969?
Majestic Prince
5. What popular country music/ comedy /variety show debuted on June 15, 1969? Hee Haw
6. Who were the 1969 NBA Champions?
For the 1968-69 Season, Champion Boston Celtics won 4 games to 3 over the Los Angeles Lakers
7. Sisters Helen, Betty, and Dot Wiggin of Fremont, New Hampshire, recorded an album named Philosophy of the World, and some people say it was the worst album ever produced. Name the band.
The Shaggs
8. Who was the Pope in 1969?
Pope Paul VI, from June 21, 1963 – August 6, 1978
9. Name the television variety show that ended every episode with ” “Good night, Dick!”? Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In
10. Who was the American Vice-President in 1969?
Hubert Humphrey (January 20, 1965 – January 20, 1969) and Spiro Agnew (January 20, 1969 – October 10, 1973)
1865 – Union forces under Major General William T. Sherman set the South Carolina State House on fire during the burning of Columbia, near the end of the Civil War.
1885 – Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published for the first time.
1929 – The first Academy Awards were announced in 1929 for 1928’s films.
February 18, 1966 Birthday (fictional) Jack Bauer, TV, 24
1977 – The Space Shuttle Enterprise test vehicle had its maiden “test flight” on top of a Boeing 747.
If you were born on February 18th,
You were likely conceived the week of… May 28th (prior year)
February 18th is…
Crab Stuffed Founder Day
National Battery Day
National Drink Wine Day
Thumb Appreciation Day
February 18th Birthday Quotes
At some point in life the world’s beauty becomes enough. You don’t need to photograph, paint or even remember it. It is enough. No record of it needs to be kept and you don’t need someone to share it with or tell it to. When that happens- that letting go- you let go because you can.
– Toni Morrison
A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.
– Yoko Ono
The difference between getting somewhere and nowhere is the courage to make an early start. The fellow who sits still and does just what he is told will never be told to do big things.
– Charles M. Schwab
I have collected all the writings of the Empire and burnt those which were of no use.
– Qin Shi Huang
When I stood up there as a pinch hitter, I honestly believed I was the best hitter in the game. That’s the only attitude to have.
– Manny Mota
Never fail to know that if you are doing all the talking, you are boring somebody.
– Helen Gurley Brown
God has given us our talents, not to copy the talents of others, but rather to use our brains and imagination in order to obtain the revelation of true beauty.
– Louis Comfort Tiffany
February 18th Birthdays
259 BC – Qin Shi Huang, Chinese emperor (died in 210 BC)
1559 – Isaac Casaubon, Swiss scholar (died in 1614)
1795 – George Peabody, American merchant and philanthropist (died in 1869)
1848 – Louis Comfort Tiffany, American stained glass artist (died in 1933)
1862 – Charles M. Schwab, American businessman, co-founded Bethlehem Steel (died in 1939)
1892 – Wendell Willkie, American politician (died in 1944)
1906 – Hans Asperger, Austrian pediatrician and academic (died in 1980)
1919 – Jack Palance, American actor (died in 2006)
1920 – Bill Cullen, American game show panelist and host (died in 1990)
1922 – Helen Gurley Brown, American journalist and author (died in 2012)
1922 – Allan Melvin, American character actor (died in 2008)
1925 – George Kennedy, American actor (died in 2016)
1927 – Luis Arroyo, Puerto Rican-American baseball player (died in 2016)
1931 – Johnny Hart, American cartoonist, co-created The Wizard of Id (died in 2007)
1931 – Toni Morrison, American novelist (died in 2019)
1932 – Miloš Forman, Czech-American actor, director, and screenwriter (died in 2018)
1933 – Yoko Ono, Japanese-American singer-songwriter
1938 – Manny Mota, Dominican baseball player,
1939 – Bobby Hart, American singer-songwriter
1941 – Irma Thomas, American singer
1950 – John Hughes, American director, producer, and screenwriter (died in 2009)
1950 – Cybill Shepherd, American actress
1952 – Juice Newton, American singer-songwriter
1954 – John Travolta, American actor
1957 – Vanna White, American model and game show host
1960 – Greta Scacchi, Italian-Australian actress
1964 – Matt Dillon, American actor
1965 – Dr. Dre (Andre Young), American rapper and producer
1968 – Molly Ringwald, American actress
1974 – Jillian Michaels, American fitness trainer and author
1980 – Regina Spektor, Russian-American singer-songwriter
1986 – Robert DeLong, American singer-songwriter
February 18th History
1856 – The “Know-Nothing Party,” convened in Philadelphia to nominate its first presidential candidate. The Know-Nothing movement began in the 1840s, when an increasing rate of immigration led to the formation of a number of groups to combat “foreign” influences in American society.
1861 – Jefferson Davis became the provisional president of the Confederate States of America. He was ‘provisional’ because he was not elected by the people, but appointed by the Confederate Congress.
1908 – The first US postage stamps in coils were available for the first time in vending machines.
1911 – The first official flight with airmail took place from Allahabad, United Provinces, British India (now India), when Henri Pequet, a 23-year-old pilot, delivered 6,500 letters to Naini, about 6 miles away.
1913 – Pedro Lascuráin becomes President of Mexico for 45 minutes, the shortest term to date of any person as president of any country.
1921 – The Colorado River was not the original name of the river that helped split the Grand Canyon. Before February 18th of this year, it was called the Grand River.
1930 – A cow named Ollie was milked over St. Louis, MO. Her milk was cartoned and parachuted down.
1930 – Ex-planet Pluto was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh.
1948 – Broadway Show – Mister Roberts (Play) February 18, 1948
1950 – #1 Hit February 18, 1950 – March 17, 1950: Red Foley – Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy
1954 – The first Church of Scientology was established in Los Angeles.
1956 – #1 Hit February 18, 1956 – February 24, 1956: Kay Starr – Rock And Roll Waltz
February 18, 1966 Birthday (fictional) Jack Bauer, 24, TV
1978 – The first Ironman Triathlon competition took place on the island of Oahu and was won by Gordon Haller.
2001 – Racecar legend Ralph Dale Earnhardt was killed in a crash in the last lap of the Daytona 500 . Michael Waltrip (who was Earnhardt’s driver) won the race.
2001 – FBI agent Robert Hanssen was arrested for spying for the Soviet Union. He is ultimately convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
2010 – WikiLeaks published the first of hundreds of thousands of classified documents disclosed by the American soldier now known as Chelsea Manning.
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Astronaut John Glenn ate the first meal in space when he ate pureed applesauce squeezed from a tube aboard Friendship 7 in 1962.
Pope John Paul II – Real Name: Carol Wojtila
The ice cream soda was invented in 1874 by Robert Green, in Philadelphia.
“It was beauty killed the beast.” – Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) #moviequotes
The word “mesmerize” comes from the name of a German physician and hypnotist named Franz Mesmer who developed the theory of animal magnetism and used it as a healing practice.
2000 mockingbirds: 2 kilo mockingbirds
Each frame of the CGI scenes in James Cameron’s, “Avatar” (1/24 of a second) took an average of 47 hours to render.
Because of how heavy an average car is, one car is technically a ton, even tons, of traffic.
Daniel Radcliffe went through 160 pairs of prop glasses by the end of the Harry Potter series.
The ‘Hamster Dance’ song is a sped up version of ‘The Walking Song’ from Disney’s 1973 film, Robin Hood.
I’m Pet Sitting for Schrodinger. His cat is currently hiding behind all couches in existence and won’t come out. Do I just have to coax just one of them out or am I in big trouble?
‘The Bride of Frankenstein’ never killed anyone.
“Musicogenic Epilepsy” is a rare disease that makes you have a seizure whenever you hear your favorite music
Garfield the Cat is named after Jim Davis’s grandfather, who in turn was named after US President James A. Garfield.
Autodefenestration is the act of throwing ones self out a window.
Meat Loaf’s album “Bat Out of Hell” has sold more than 43 million copies worldwide and continues to sell an estimated 200,000 copies annually nearly 40 years after it was released.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to age yourself up when asked how old you are? That way people would say “damn you look good for 81, Joe.”
