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.
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.
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.
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.”
Bruce Hornsby and the Range (1986 Best New Artist Grammy Winner, presented in 1987) Paul Simon (Grammy for Album of the Year) Higher Love – Steve Winwood (Grammy for Record of the Year)
New Artists in the Pop Charts Included: LL Cool J, Patty Smyth, Pepsi and Shirlie, New Order, Will ToPower, The Fat Boys, The Beastie Boys, Poison, Samantha Fox, SuzanneVega and Tiffany
1987’s Retro Top 10 Hits
1. Oh Yeah – Yello
2. At This Moment – Billy Vera and the Beaters
3. Shake You Down – Gregory Abbott
4. The Lady In Red – Chris DeBurgh
5. Catch Me (I’m Falling) – Pretty Poison
6. Shake Your Love – Debbie Gibson
7. Lost In Emotion – Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
8. I Want Your Sex – George Michael
9. La Isla Bonita – Madonna
10. Sign ‘O’ The Times – Prince
1987’s ‘One Hit Wonders’
1. Oh Yeah – Yello
2. Heat and Soul – T’Pau
3. Boom Boom Boom (Let’s Go Back to My Room) – Paul Lekakis
4. Serious – Donna Allen
5. The Honeythief – Hipsway
6. Keep Your Hands To Yourself – Georgia Satellites
7. Fascinated – Company B
8. Don’t Leave Me This Way – The Communards
9. Right on Track – The Breakfast Club
10. Montego Bay – Amazulu
1987’s Dance Top 10 Hit List
1. I Wanna Dance With Somebody Who Loves Me – Whitney Houston
2. It’s Tricky – Run-D.M.C.
3. Bad – Michael Jackson
4. Fascinated – Company B
5. Lean On Me – Club Nouveau
6. Come Go With Me – Expose
7. Brass Monkey – Beastie Boys
8. Serious – Donna Allen
9. Looking For A New Love – Jodi Watley
10. Boom Boom Boom (Let’s Go Back To My Room) – Paul Lekakis
More of 1987’s Dance Top Hits
Living In A Box – Living In A Box
Show Me – Cover Girls
1987’s Pop Rock Top 10 Hit List
1. Living On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
2. You Gotta Fight For Your Right (To Party) – Beastie Boys
3. I Still haven’t Found What I Was Looking For – U2
4. Wanted Dead Or Alive – Bon Jovi
5. Keep Our hands To Yourself – Georgia Satellites
1865 – Columbia, South Carolina surrendered to General Sherman’s Union forces. Fort Sumpter was also returned to Union control.
1897 – The National Parent Teacher Association was formed.
1929 – The League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC) was founded.
February 17, 1936 – The Phantom, Comic Strip debuted.
If you were born on February 17th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 27th (prior year)
Now You Know…
Sonicare did a poll about toothbrushes in 2007. They found out that 54% of Americans would use the toothbrush after it fell on the floor.
9% said they would use it after it fell in a toilet.
February 17th is…
Café au Lait Day (Coffee with Milk Day) Human Spirit Day National Cabbage Day Public Science Day Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 17th Birthday Quotes
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan
“If you listen to the fans, you’ll be sitting up there with them.” – Buddy Ryan
“If you’re going to put yourself above everybody else, you might end up alone.” – Joseph Gordon-Levitt
“Whenever you have a tight situation and there’s a close pitch, the umpire gets a squawk no matter how he calls it.” – Walter ‘Red’ Barber
“My fear was not of death itself, but a death without meaning.” – Huey P. Newton
“I think it will be found that experience, the true source and foundation of all knowledge, invariably confirms its truth.” – Thomas Malthus
“The way I see it, you should live every day like it’s your birthday.” – Paris Hilton
“There are always two or three or four sides to every story.” – Denise Richards
February 17th Birthdays
1766 – Thomas Malthus, English demographer (died in 1834) 1843 – Aaron Montgomery Ward, American businessman, founded Montgomery Ward (died in 1913) 1881 – Mary Carson Breckinridge, American nurse-midwife, founded Frontier Nursing Service (died in 1965) 1888 – Otto Stern, German-American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died in 1969) 1908 – Walter ‘Red’ Barber, American sportscaster (died in 1992) 1908 – Buster Crabbe, American Olympian and actor (died in 1983) 1920 – Annie Glenn (Castor), American disability and communication disorder advocate 1920 – Curt Swan, comic book illustrator (died in 1996) 1922 – Tommy Edwards, American R&B singer-songwriter (died in 1969) 1925 – Hal Holbrook, American actor 1931 – (James David) Buddy Ryan, American football coach (died in 2016) 1934 – Barry Humphries (Dame Edna Everage), Australian comedic actor 1937 – Mary Ann Mobley, American model and actress, Miss America 1959 (died in 2014) 1940 – Gene Pitney, American singer-songwriter (died in 2006) 1942 – Huey P. Newton, American activist, co-founded the Black Panther Party (died in 1989) 1957 – Loreena McKennitt, Canadian singer-songwriter 1962 – Lou Diamond Phillips, American actor 1963 – Michael Jordan, American basketball player 1963 – Larry the Cable Guy (Daniel Whitney), American comedian 1965 – Michael Bay, American director and producer 1971 – Denise Richards, American model and actress 1972 – Billie Joe Armstrong, American singer-songwriter 1974 – Jerry O’Connell, American actor 1981 – Joseph Gordon-Levitt, American actor, director, and producer 1981 – Paris Hilton, American model, media personality 1983 – Kevin Rudolf, American singer-songwriter 1991 – Ed Sheeran, English singer-songwriter
February 17th History
1600 – Giordano Bruno, an early ‘Free Thinker‘ born in 1548, was burned at the stake.
1621 – Myles Standish was appointed as the first commander of the English Plymouth Colony in North America.
1859 – Dmitri Mendeleev began creating what we now call The Periodic Table.
1863 – A group of citizens of Geneva, Switzerland, founded an International Committee for Relief to the Wounded, which later became known as the International Committee of the Red Cross.
1904 – Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly premiered at the La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy. It was one of the first worldwide pop culture event ‘hits’.
1933 – The magazine Newsweek was published for the first time. Newsweek ceased print publication with the December 31, 2012 issue.
1933 – Blondie Boopadoop married Dagwood Bumstead in Chic Young’s popular comic strip, Blondie.
February 17, 1936 – The Phantom, Comic Strip
1953 – Bwana Devil, an early 3D movie, was released in theaters.
1958 – Pope Pius XII designated St. Clare of Assisi the patron saint of television.
1959 – Vanguard 2 – The first weather satellite, was launched to measure cloud-cover distribution.
1965 – Joan Rivers made her first guest appearances on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.
1968 – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame opened in Springfield, MA
1972 – With the 15,007,034th Volkswagen Beetle coming off the assembly line, the VW Beetle broke the world car production record held for more than four decades by the Ford Motor Company’s Model T, which was in production from 1908 and 1927.
1979 – A Prairie Home Companion premiered on Minnesota Public Radio.
1995 – Colin Ferguson was convicted of the 1993 Long Island Rail Road shootings and received a 200+ year sentence to jail
1996 – In the final game of a six-game match, world chess champion Garry Kasparov defeated Deep Blue, IBM’s chess-playing computer, and won the match, 4-2. But in 1997, Deep Blue defeated Kasparov in a rematch.
2001 – #1 Hit February 17, 2001 – February 23, 2001: Outkast – Ms. Jackson
2009 – 368 US Television stations permanently shut off their analog transmission signals, becoming digital.
February 17, 2012 – Radio Rebel aired on The Disney Channel
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Tom and Jerry were originally called Jasper And Jinx.
“The rest of you can kiss my ass” – James Allen Red Dog (said after apologizing to his family before lethal injection in Delaware) #LastWords #Delaware
The Capital of Uzbekistan is Tashkent
I just realized Miss Piggy is a plus-sized pig who craves attention. AKA a “huge ham”.
A Bible was printed with a typo in 1631, which told Christians to commit adultery… It was known as the ‘Wicked Bible’.
A group of Dolphins is called a Pod.
101 Dalmatians, Peter Pan, Lady, and the Tramp, and Mulan are among the only Disney cartoons where both parents are present and don’t die throughout the movie.
If you like to take photos for the sake of memorization, take photos of things you see every day once in a while. #SmellTheRoses
Whoopi Goldberg – Real Name: Caryn Johnson
Isaac Newton, who revolutionized mathematics and physics, spent almost as much time writing about and studying alchemy, and firmly believed in its viability as a science.
“Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” – John Keating (Robin Williams) #moviequotes
The lint that collects in the bottom of your pockets has a name, ‘gnurr’.
You’ve probably never heard the number 4,138,352,490 said or used in any way, as well as nearly all other numbers.
“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lena Horne
The Internet is MUCH more powerful than the pen or the sword. AND, it’s irrational.
1923 – In Thebes, Egypt, English archaeologist Howard Carter entered the sealed burial chamber of the ancient Egyptian ruler King Tutankhamen. He had been looking for King Tut’s tomb since his first trip to Egypt in 1891. The outer chambers were discovered in November 1922.
1959 – Fidel Castro became the Premier of Cuba after dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown (on January 1).
February 16, 1967 Birthday (fictional) Phoebe Buffay, Friends, TV
2005 – The Kyoto Protocol came into force.
If you were born on February 16th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 26th (prior year)
February 16th is…
Do a Grouch a Favor Day National Almond Day National Innovation Day
February 16th Birthday Quotes
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” – Henry Adams
“Be authentic to your dreams. Be authentic to your own idea about yourself. Grind away at your own minds and bodies until you become your own invention. Be Mad Scientists.” – Warren Ellis
“There’s a saying among prospectors: ‘Go out looking for one thing, and that’s all you’ll ever find.” – Robert Joseph Flaherty
“It’s not about division. It’s not about politics. My concern is how do we come together?” – LeVar Burton
“We believe a scientist because he can substantiate his remarks, not because he is eloquent and forcible in his enunciation. In fact, we distrust him when he seems to be influencing us by his manner.” – Ivor Armstrong Richards
“Politics, as a practice, whatever its professions, has always been the systematic organization of hatreds.” – Henry Adams
“Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?” – Edgar Bergen
“Heroism is endurance for one moment more.” – George F. Kennan
“It’s a strange world. Let’s keep it that way.” – Warren Ellis
February 16th Birthdays
1838 – Henry Brooks Adams, American historian (died in 1918) 1843 – Henry M. Leland, American engineer and businessman, founded Cadillac and Lincoln (died in 1932) 1866 – ‘Sliding’ Billy Hamilton, American baseball player (died in 1940) 1878 – Pamela Colman Smith, English occultist and illustrator (died in 1951) 1884 – Robert Joseph Flaherty, American ‘Father of the Documentary Film’ (died in 1951) 1893 – Ivor Armstrong Richards, English Author (died in 1979) 1901 – Wayne King, American singer-songwriter and conductor (died in 1985) 1903 – Edgar Bergen, American actor and ventriloquist (died in 1978) 1904 – George Keenan, American diplomat (died in 2005) 1909 – Hugh Beaumont, American actor (died in 1982) 1914 – Jimmy Wakely, American country music singer-songwriter (died in 1982) 1920 – Anna Mae Hays, American general (died in 2018) 1931 – Otis Blackwell, American singer-songwriter and pianist (died in 2002) 1935 – Sonny Bono, American actor, singer, and politician (died in 1998) 1952 – William Katt, American actor 1952 – James Ingram, American singer-songwriter (died in 2019) 1954 – Margaux Hemingway, American model and actress (died in 1996) 1957 – LeVar Burton, German-born American actor, director, and producer 1958 – Ice-T (Tracy Lauren Marrow), American rapper and actor 1961 – Andy Taylor, English singer-songwriter and guitarist 1968 – Warren Ellis, English comic book author 1972 – Jerome Bettis, American football player and sportscaster 1982 – Lupe Fiasco, American rapper
February 16th History
1852 – Studebaker Brothers wagon company was established.
1883 – Ladies Home Journal magazine began publication.
1894 – Gunslinger John Wesley Hardin is pardoned after spending 15 years in a Texas prison for murder. Hardin shot and killed a man just for snoring, by firing through the wall at the sleeping snorer.
1923 – Howard Carter unsealed the burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
1959 – Fidel Castro was sworn in as prime minister of Cuba after leading a Communist guerrilla campaign that forced dictator Fulgencio Batista into exile.
1960 – The U.S.S. Triton began the first circumnavigation of the globe underwater and finished on May 10.
1964 – The Beatles appeared in the Ed Sullivan Show for the second time.
1968 – Haleyville, Alabama was the first town to use the 911 emergency number.
1980 – #1 Hits February 16, 1980 – February 22, 1980: Captain & Tennille – Do That to Me One More Time
1983 – The Ash Wednesday brushfires in Southern Austalia took the lives of 71 people, becoming Australia’s worst fire ever.
1985 – #1 Hit February 16, 1985 – March 8, 1985: Wham! featuring George Michael – Careless Whisper
2005 – The National Hockey League canceled the entire 2004-2005 regular season and playoffs.
2006 – The last Mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) was decommissioned by the United States Army.
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
The first VHS release of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1990 retailed for $89.95.
Progress is made by lazy men looking for an easier way to do things.
If alien life is ever discovered, ‘aliens don’t exist’ will become the new popular conspiracy theory.
The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and Bob Dylan’s Blonde On Blonde were both released on May 16, 1966.
“Say ‘hello’ to my little friend!” – Tony Montana (Al Pacino) #moviequotes
“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” #songlyrics
I have loads of fun doing laundry.
“I am Groot” – Groot (Vin Diesel) #moviequotes
Pedro López, a South American serial killer confirmed to have killed 110 people and confessed to having killed more than 300 between 1969 and 1980, was released in 1998 on good behavior. His whereabouts are currently unknown.
Groucho Marx – Real Name: Julius Marx
A group of Minnows is called a Shoal or Steam or Swarm.
“Well, when I see 5 weirdos dressed in togas stabbing a guy in the middle of the park in full view of 100 people, I shoot the bastards. That’s my policy.” – Frank Drebin #moviequotes
The Capital of the Philippines is Manila
The biggest film of 1979: Kramer vs. Kramer (Drama) earned ~ $106,000,000
A group of Lions is called a Pride or Sault or Troop.
If you are taking your toddler to a crowded place like a market or a theme park, tie a helium balloon to their wrist. If they get lost you will see the balloon from a distance and in a crowd. #LifeProTip
1898 – The American battleship Maine was blown up at Havana Harbor (Cuba), leading to the Spanish-American was on April 25, 1898.
1946 – ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose computer, was formally dedicated at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
2013 – Asteroid 2012 DA14 (150 feet long) passed with 18,000 miles of Earth. In an unrelated event, another meteor (estimated 50 feet in diameter) exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia that same day.
If you were born on February 15th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 25th (prior year)
February 15th is…
Annoy Squidward Day I Want Butterscotch Day Lupercalia National Gumdrop Day National Hippo Day Singles Awareness Day
February 15th is National Gumdrop Day in the United States. It is a day to celebrate the sweet and chewy candy known as gumdrops. The origins of the holiday are not clear. Still, it could have been created by candy manufacturers or gumdrop enthusiasts to promote the candy and encourage people to enjoy it. It’s a day to indulge in different varieties of gumdrops or make your gumdrop recipe; it’s also a way to remind us of the sweet things in life.
Gumdrops are a type of candy that are made from a mixture of sugar, corn syrup, and gelatin, which gives them their chewy texture. The mixture is typically flavored with various fruit flavors and food coloring is added to give them their bright colors. The mixture is then poured into molds in the shape of small, round candies. The candies are then dusted with granulated sugar to prevent sticking and left to dry for several hours or overnight. Sugar-free and natural gumdrops are also made with natural sweeteners and food coloring.
February 15th Birthday Quotes
“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” – Galileo Galilei
“Comics are a gateway drug to literacy.” – Art Spiegelman
“Indomitable perseverance in a business, properly understood, always ensures ultimate success.” – Cyrus McCormick
“I am not a hero. I just did what any decent person would have done.” – Miep Gies
“The religious persecution of the ages has been done under what was claimed to be the command of God. I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do to their fellows because it always coincides with their own desires.” – Susan B. Anthony
“Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It’s what separates us from the animals … except the weasel.” -Matt Groening
“In 1908, you could easily earn $20 to $200 as a cartoonist. What’s amazing is that it’s still true!” – Art Spiegelman
“Funny is when you’re serious.” – Harvey Korman
“I can only speak from my own personal experience, being behind the camera and in front of it, but every magazine cover you see is completely airbrushed.” – Janice Dickinson
February 15th Birthdays
1564 – Galileo Galilei, Italian astronomer, physicist, and mathematician (died in 1642 1797 – Henry E. Steinway, German-American businessman, founded Steinway & Sons (died in 1871) 1803 – John Sutter, owned the property that started The Calfornia Gold Rush (died in 1880) 1809 – Cyrus McCormick, American and businessman, co-founded International Harvester (died in 1884) 1812 – Charles Lewis Tiffany, American jeweler (died in 1902) 1820 – Susan B. Anthony, American suffragist and activist (died in 1906) 1892 – James Forrestal, American politician, 1st United States Secretary of Defense (died in 1949) 1905 – Harold Arlen, American songwriter (died in 1986) 1907 – Cesar Romero, American actor (died in 1994) 1909 – Miep Gies (Hermine Santruschitz), Austrian/Hungarian citizen, protected Anne Frank’s family and held Anne’s diary (died in 2010) 1910 – Irena Sendler, Polish social worker who saved 2,500 Jewish children from Warsaw (died in 2007) 1927 – Harvey Korman, American comedic actor (died in 2008) 1948 – Art Spiegelman, Swedish-American cartoonist 1951 – Jane Seymour, English-American actress 1954 – Matt Groening, American animator, producer, and screenwriter 1955 – Janice Dickinson, American model 1964 – Chris Farley, American comedic actor (died in 1997) 1967 – Jane Child, Canadian singer-songwriter 1971 – Renee O’Connor, American actress 1972 – Jaromír Jágr, Czech ice hockey player
February 15th History
1758 – Mustard was first advertised for sale in America, by Benjamin Jackson, in Philadelphia, PA.
1764 – The city of St. Louis was established in Spanish Louisiana (now in Missouri, USA).
1879 – US President Rutherford B. Hayes signed a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.
1898 – An explosion sank the battleship, USS Maine, in Cuba’s Havana harbor, killing 260 of the fewer than 400 American crew members aboard, sparking the Spanish-American war.
1903 – The first Teddy Bear was introduced in Brooklyn, NY.
1932 – George Burns and Gracie Allen debuted as regulars on The Guy Lombardo Show on CBS radio.
1950 – Disney’s Cinderella cartoon feature opened in theaters. It was one of the biggest films of the year and was theatrically re-released several times- 1957, 1965, 1973, 1981, and 1987.
1953 – The first American to win the women’s world figure skating championship was 17-year-old Tenley Albright.
1958 – #1 Hit February 15, 1958 – March 21, 1958: Elvis Presley – Don’t / I Beg Of You
1961 – The whole 18-member U.S. figure skating team was killed in a plane crash in Berg-Kampenhout, Belgium. The team was on its way to the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
1965 – The flag we know today, the red and white maple leaf was designed as the new flag of Canada. Prior to that, the official flag was Britain’s Union Jack.
1975 – #1 Hit February 15, 1975 – February 21, 1975: Linda Ronstadt – You’re No Good
1986 – #1 Hit February 15, 1986 – February 29, 1986: Whitney Houston – How Will I Know
1992 – Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was sentenced in Milwaukee to life in prison.
2001 – The first draft of the complete human genome was published in Nature.
2003 – It was estimated that between 8,000,000-30,000,000 people in 600 cities worldwide… the protest of the Iraq War was the largest protest in the history of the world.
2005 – YouTube was activated online.
2013 – A meteor exploded in the sky over Russia’s Ural Mountains, near Chelyabinsk, shattering glass and setting off car alarms for miles. Also, asteroid DA14 came with 18,000 miles of Earth.
February 15, 2484 Birthday (fictional) Zoe Alleyne, Firefly, TV
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Useless Pronunciation: E as in Eureka
The biggest film of 1980: Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire Strikes Back (Sci Fi) earned ~ $290,000,000
A group of Leopards is called a Leap.
You would think that the Death Star, of all things, would have had even a basic level of IT security. But no, a common droid resembling a garbage can just be plugged right in and had access to everything on the network.
Behind every successful student, there is a deactivated Facebook account.
“I’ll be back.” – The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) in Terminator, The Terminator, 1984
Janet Leigh – Real Name: Jeanette Morrison
Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn was a baseball pitcher and Hall of Famer became the first person to be captured on camera giving the middle finger, on Opening Day 1886 team photo of Boston Beaneaters.
One TeraKelvin (1,000,000,000,000 K) is the melting temperature of a proton.
The shellfish in the logo used by Royal Dutch Shell is based on a giant scallop and the colors used are thought to relate to the colors of the flag of Spain.
There are no recorded deaths of persons 118, 120, or 121 years old, though there are 23 at 115, 7 at 116, 3 at 117, one at 119, and one at 122.
You are a conglomeration of eleven different elements… a miracle of a being, yet you still spend 99.99% of your time reading stuff like this on online.
“Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” – Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) #moviequotes
Hello Kitty has an identical twin sister named Mimmy.
The biggest film of 1952: The Greatest Show on Earth earned ~ $36,000,000
“Accelerating at 1G toward the center of the earth” sounds a lot more interesting than “laying on the couch doing nothing”
You catch more flies with honey, and more honeys by being fly.
1849 – The first photograph of a US President, James Polk, was taken in Washington, DC.
1920 – The League of Women Voters formed in Chicago, IL.
1929 – Four men came in, dressed as police at Bugsy Moran’s headquarters on North Clark Street in Chicago, killing seven of Bugs’s men in what is called the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Moran was a rival of Al Capone.
1930 – The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett was published.
1946 – The ENIAC Computer was introduced.
If you were born on February 14th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 24th (prior year)
Valentine’s Day
Everybody loves Valentine’s Day. Well, everybody that has a significant other is supposed to love Valentine’s Day. Either way, it is another excuse for people to spend all day eating chocolate, and who could contest that?
Many think Valentine’s Day is just a day commemorating Cupid and his little arrow of love, but there’s a little bit more mystery to it than that. There is more than one Saint Valentine recognized by the Catholic Church, so, which one started the whole day of romance and flowers?
One legend of Valentine is he was a Roman priest who served during the third century. At this time, Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage because he thought single men made better soldiers. Valentine was appalled by this and thought it would be best to keep performing marriages for young couples in love. When the emperor found out about what Valentine was doing behind his back, he had Valentine put to death. Not the greatest end to a story about love.
It is said Valentine sent love letters to a young, blind girl from prison, who visited him while he was there. Supposedly he signed each letter, “From your Valentine.” Sound familiar?
While it is true that February 14th is the day all Valentines were martyred, some say Valentine’s Day is in February because in ancient Rome it is the official beginning of spring, a time of cleansing and purification. The middle of February was also the time of a Christian fertility festival called Lupercalia.
Around 498 AD Pope Gelasius declared February 14th Valentine’s Day. Later, in France and England during the Middle Ages, February 14th was believed to be the first day of bird mating season. (How romantic!) But that also added to the whole notion of a day of love.
According to the History Channel, Valentine’s Day became popular in Great Britain around the 17th century. Exchanging handwritten notes of affection became popular in the 18th century, and by the 19th century printed cards were available to send. Currently, it is approximated by the Greeting Card Association that one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide.
If you ever wondered why everywhere you look on Valentine’s Day there are hearts all around, it’s because it’s a belief in the Christain faith that the heart is the seat of all emotions, especially love. And since love is the dominant feeling of the day, the heart is now a great symbol of the holiday.
SAD – Singles Awareness Day
You may not know it, but there is a different side to Valentine’s Day wonder. It is called Singles Awareness Day, also known as SAD. Although this holiday is usually celebrated on February 15th, it can also be celebrated on the 13th or 14th.
This holiday lets people know that it’s ok to be single, and why not celebrate it?! The tradition is for singles to get together, go to dinner, bars, or even a movie. (It’s usually preferable that you get together with more than one other single.) However, other activities may include: sending yourself flowers/chocolates, planning a party for singles to mix and meet, or possibly sitting home alone eating popcorn and watching The Notebook. The choice is yours.
The holiday was originally created for February 14th, but who wants to celebrate being single on a day that celebrates love, relationships, and matrimony? So for all you singles out there, work up the strength to sit it out for one day, and then CELEBRATE YOUR SINGLENESS!!
Greatest Love Letter of All Time? (To Jane)
I am Tarzan of the Apes. I want you. I am yours. You are mine. We live here together always in my house. I will bring you the best of fruits, the tenderest deer, the finest meats that roam the jungle. I will hunt for you. I am the greatest of the jungle fighters. I will fight for you. I am the mightiest of the jungle fighters. You are Jane Porter, I saw it in your letter. When you see this you will know that it is for you and that Tarzan of the Apes loves you.
February 14th is…
Ferris Wheel Day Cream-filled Chocolate day National (Organ) Donor Day Pet Theft Awareness Day Read To Your Child Day Saint Valentine’s Day
National Organ Donor Day is dedicated to raising awareness and celebrating those who have offered the gift of life by donating their organs. It serves as an important reminder that organ donation can save lives, and it’s an opportunity for us all to make a difference.
Organ donation is one of the most generous gifts we can give — it’s the ultimate act of kindness and generosity. But despite its potential to help so many people, there are still not enough donors in the United States. Only about half of Americans are registered as organ donors. This means more than 100,000 people are waiting for transplants that may never come because there aren’t enough organs available.
February 14th Birthday Quotes
“Everything good that happened to me happened by accident.” – Jack Benny
“I learned that I never really know the true story of my guests’ lives, that I have to content myself with knowing that when I’m interviewing somebody, I’m getting a combination of fact and truth and self-mythology and self-delusion and selective memory and faulty memory.” – Terry Gross
“Some things you don’t need until they leave you; they’re the things that you miss.” – Rob Thomas
“Comedy itself is based upon very old principles of which I can readily name seven. They are, in short: the joke, exaggeration, ridicule, ignorance, surprise, the pun, and finally, the comic situation.” – Jack Benny
“I was in the right place at the right time.” – Mel Allen
“Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.” – John Barrymore
“I used to lie in bed in my flat and imagine what would happen if there was a zombie attack.” – Simon Pegg
February 14th Birthdays
1824 – Winfield Scott Hancock, American general and politician (died in 1886) 1838 – Margaret E. Knight, American inventor (died in 1914) 1859 – George Ferris, American engineer and inventor, created the Ferris Wheel (died in 1896) 1882 – John Barrymore, American actor (died in 1942) 1894 – Jack Benny, American comedic actor (died in 1974) 1913 – Mel Allen, American sportscaster (died in 1996) 1929 – Vic Morrow, American actor (died in 1982) 1941 – Donna Shalala, American politician 1942 – Michael Bloomberg, American businessman and politician 1944 – Carl Bernstein, American journalist and author 1946 – Gregory Hines, American actor, singer, and dancer (died in 2003) 1947 – Tim Buckley, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died in 1975) 1948 – Pat O’Brien, American journalist 1951 – Terry Gross, American radio host 1957 – Alan Hunter, American television host and actor 1960 – Meg Tilly, American actress 1968 – Jules Asner, American model and television host 1970 – Simon Pegg, English actor, director and producer 1972 – Rob Thomas, American singer-songwriter 1977 – Jim Jefferies, Australian comedian 1988 – Katie Boland, Canadian actress 1992 – Freddie Highmore, English actor
February 14th History
278 – Valentine, a priest in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was beheaded for performing (illegal at the time) marriage ceremonies.
1779 – Captain James Cook, the great English explorer, and surveyor in the Royal Navy, was murdered by natives of Hawaii during his third visit to the Pacific island group.
1822 – The patent (#X003456) was issued for the first practical grass mowing machine to Jeremiah Bailey of Chester county, Pennsylvania.
1876 – Both Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray applied for a telephone patent. Alexander’s was later approved.
1903 – The United States Department of Commerce and Labor is established (it was later split into the Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor).
1912 – Arizona was admitted as the 48th state of the United States.
1920 – The League of Women Voters was founded in Chicago.
1921 – Birthday (fictional) Skeezix Wallett, a character in Gasoline Alley comic strip
1929 – Sir Alexander Fleming left a plate of staphylococcus bacteria uncovered, and noticed the mold had killed much of the bacteria. He identified the mold as penicillium notatum, and shortened the name to Penicillin.
1932 – The US team won the first bobsled competition at the Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid, NY.
1938 – Former silent film actress Hedda Hopper began her gossip column in The Los Angeles Times.
1949- The Knesset (parliament of Israel) convened for the first time.
1954 – The TV show Letter to Loretta changed its name to The Loretta Young Show. The show premiered on September 20, 1953.
1961 – Element 103, Lawrencium, was first synthesized at the University of California.
1962 – First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy gave a tour of the White House on CBS television.
1968- Broadway Show – Plaza Suite (Play) February 14, 1968
1970 – Live at Leeds by The Who was recorded.
1970 – #1 Hit February 14, 1970 – February 27, 1970: Sly & the Family Stone – Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) / Everybody Is a Star
1972 – Broadway Show – Grease (Musical) February 14, 1972
1987 – #1 Hit February 14, 1987 – March 13, 1987: Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer
1989 – Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa encouraging Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses. It was rescinded in 1998.
1989 – Union Carbide agreed to pay $470 million to the Indian government for damages it caused in the 1984 Bhopal disaster.
1998 – #1 Hit February 14, 1998 – February 27, 1998: Usher – Nice And Slow
2000 – NEAR Shoemaker became the first spacecraft to orbit around an asteroid, 433 Eros
2002 – The final Family Guy episode aired after Fox announced its cancellation. It came back after DVD sales indicated a huge audience for the show.
2004 – #1 Hit February 14, 2004 – February 20, 2004: Outkast featuring Sleepy Brown – The Way You Move
2005 – Youtube.com was launched.
February 14, 2006 – The Apple MacBook Pro was released.
February 14, 2010 – Starstruck aired on The Disney Channel
February 14, 2016 (fiction) Pris was incepted, Blade Runner, Film
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
To let a fool kiss you is stupid. To let a kiss fool you is worse.
Ben Franklin’s 13 Virtues #4 – Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
Harpo Marx – Real Name: Adolph Marx
Characters having no peripheral vision whatsoever. #actionmoviecliches
Frosty wasn’t a living snowman, he was a sentient hat controlling a snowman.
“I like rich people. I like the way they live. I like the way I live when I’m with them.” – Max, in The Sound of Music #moviequotes
An individual horse has a peak power output of 14.9 horsepower.
“Yeah… that’s the ticket” – Jon Lovitz as the pathological liar, Tommy Flanagan (Saturday Night Live)
Grandma Moses – Real Name: Anna Mary Robertson
Progressive auto insurance’s Flo is actress Stephanie Courtney.
“Just hold me two seconds, then drop me so I can kiss the ground.” – Dale Arden
Lincoln Logs were created by John Lloyd Wright, son of the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Peter Venkman, Egon Spengler, Ray Stantz, and Winston Zedmore were the original Ghostbusters.
Frank Sinatra (1959 Grammy for Album of the Year & Best Male Vocal Performance, presented in 1960) Come Dance With Me was Mr. Sinatra’s best-selling album of his career and stayed on Billboard’s Pop album chart for 140 weeks, peaking at #2.
Mack The Knife – Bobby Darin (1959 Grammy for Record of the Year, presented at the 2nd Grammy Awards, in 1960) Mack the Knife was the biggest hit of 1959 and of Bobby’s career.
New Artists in the Pop Charts Included: The Chiffons, Ben E. King, Charlie Rich, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Ferrante & Teicher, Ike and Tina Turner, Etta James and Bob Crewe.
1741 – American Magazine was first published. It was America’s first magazine.
1861 – Colonel Bernard Erwin earned the first Medal of Honor, America’s highest military honor.
February 13, 1937 – Prince Valiant, Comic Strip debuted
1943 – Dresden, Germany was firebombed, killing an estimated 135,000 people.
1961 – The Coso Artifact was discovered, a 1920s era spark plug, supposedly found in a 500,000-year-old rock.
If you were born on February 13th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 23rd (prior year)
February 13th is…
Dream Your Sweet Day Madly in Love with Me Day National Crab Rangoon Day National Tortellini Day National Wingman’s Day World Whale Day World Radio Day
February 13th is not particularly significant in the history of radio. World Radio Day celebrated on February 13th, is a relatively recent creation, first celebrated in 2012. The day was proclaimed by UNESCO to recognize the importance of radio as a medium for information, education, and entertainment and to celebrate the role of radio in bringing people together and promoting understanding.
February 13th Birthday Quotes
“Life is what it is, and you take what’s handed, and you work as hard as you can, and hopefully you’ll be successful, but I just don’t spend too much time worrying about that.” – Jerry Springer
“Let them think what they think. Nobody doesn’t get stereotyped. Nobody doesn’t get scorned. Everybody’s bad news in somebody’s life.” – Peter Tork
“I think about the meaning of pain. Pain is personal. It really belongs to the one feeling it. Probably the only thing that is your own. I like mine.” – Henry Rollins
“I’ve liked lots of people ’til I went on a picnic jaunt with them.” – Bess Truman
“You don’t concentrate on risks. You concentrate on results. No risk is too great to prevent the necessary job from getting done.” – Chuck Yeager
“In love, there are no penalties and no payments, and what is given is indistinguishable from what is received.” – Eleanor Farjeon
“One thing that really appeals to me is this idea of music being a living thing that has an evolution that, in a way, enables the artist to sell a process rather than a piece of product.” – Peter Gabriel
“Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength, move on.” – Henry Rollins
February 13th Birthdays
1881 – Eleanor Farjeon, English Author (died in 1965) 1883 – Hal Chase, American baseball player and manager (died in 1947) 1885 – Bess Truman, American wife of US President Harry S Truman (died in 1982) 1891 – Grant Wood, American painter (died in 1942) 1892 – Robert Jackson, American lawyer (died in 1954) 1919 – Tennessee Ernie Ford, American singer and actor (died in 1991) 1919 – Eddie Robinson, American college basketball coach (died in 2007) 1923 – Chuck Yeager, American general and pilot, the first pilot to break the sound barrier (died in 2020) 1933 – Kim Novak, American actress 1934 – George Segal, American actor 1941 – Bo Svenson, Swedish-American actor 1942 – Carol Lynley, American model and actress (died in 2019) 1942 – Peter Tork, American singer-songwriter, bass player and actor (died in 2019) 1944 – Stockard Channing, American actress 1944 – Jerry Springer, English-American television host 1946 – Richard Blumenthal, American politician 1950 – Peter Gabriel, English singer-songwriter and musician 1957 – Denise Austin, American fitness trainer 1961 – Henry Rollins, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor 1968 – Kelly Hu, American actress 1974 – Robbie Williams, English singer-songwriter 1979 – Mena Suvari, American actress
February 13th History
1633 – Galileo Galilei arrived in Rome to face charges of heresy by the Catholic Church for advocating Copernican theory, which held that the Earth revolved around the Sun.
1689 – William and Mary were proclaimed co-rulers of England.
1741 – The first magazine was published in America – The American Magazine.
1866 – Jesse James committed the first daylight armed bank robbery in the United States during peacetime, at the Clay County Savings Association in the town of Liberty, Missouri
1895 – Oscar Wilde’s final play, The Importance of Being Earnest, opened at the St. James’ Theatre in London.
1906 -The patent (#812,554) was issued to Alfred Einhorn for his synthesis of procaine, which was given the tradename of Novocain.
1914 -The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP ) was established to protect the copyrighted musical compositions of its members.
February 13, 1937 – Prince Valiant, Comic Strip
1946 – The world’s first electronic digital computer, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator) was first demonstrated at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, by John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert.
1961 – #1 Hit February 13, 1961 – February 26, 1961: Lawrence Welk – Calcutta
1965 – Sixteen-year-old Peggy Fleming won the ladies’ senior figure skating title at Lake Placid, NY.
February 13, 1967 – CBS’s As The World Turns was the first Soap Opera to broadcast in color.
1971 – #1 Hit February 13, 1971 – March 19, 1971: The Osmonds – One Bad Apple
1993 – Double Dare game show ended.
1999 – #1 Hit February 13, 1999 – March 12, 1999: Monica – Angel Of Mine
2000 – Two days after Charles M Schulz died, February 11, the last original Peanuts comic strip was printed in newspapers.
2002 – Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.
2004 – Astronomer Travis Metcalfe of the Harvard – Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics believed he discovered the largest diamond in the known universe at the center of the white dwarf star, BPM 37093. Observations claim that the core of the star is a diamond crystal 4000 km in diameter.
February 13, 2015 – Bad Hair Day aired on The Disney Channel
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
There are two kinds of people who don’t say much: Those who are quiet and those who talk a lot.
Leather armor is the best for stealth because it is made of hide.
“That’s odd…” #famouslastwords
PD James – Real Name: PD White
From my Idea Book: Bring back Nahuatl, Latin, and Aramaic back as languages taught for credit in schools.
“Where’s the beef?” – Wendy’s ad
When someone throws a no-hitter, why is it that we’re excited for them instead of disappointed for all the guys who failed to get a hit?
The Capital of Vanuatu is Port-Vila
Alliumphobia is the fear of garlic. #vampireshaveit
The highest-grossing film never to reach number one on the U.S. charts was “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” (2002) $241,438,208.
Stir-fry cooks come from all woks of life.
“Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.” – Margo Channing (Bette Davis)
If I can make a few people smile or laugh by saying some dumb stuff on the Internet, then that’s good enough for me.
‘Piloerection’ is the medical term for goosebumps.
“I let out a battle cry. Sure, a lot of people might have mistaken it for a sudden yelp of unmanly fear, but trust me. It was a battle cry.” – Jim Butcher
Pascal’s Wager: The Pragmatic Bet on Belief in God
In the 17th century, French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal proposed a curious argument: Even if you can’t prove that God exists, you should still live as if He does—because the potential upside is infinite, and the downside is negligible.
This idea became known as Pascal’s Wager. While it’s not a traditional proof of God’s existence, it remains one of the most famous and debated arguments in the philosophy of religion.
Pascal didn’t claim to know God existed. Instead, he framed belief as a rational bet—a wager with eternal consequences.
The Argument
Here’s the logic in its simplest form:
If you believe in God and God exists → you gain eternal happiness (heaven).
If you believe in God and God does not exist → you lose very little.
If you do not believe and God exists → you suffer eternal loss (hell).
If you do not believe and God does not exist → you gain very little.
So, Pascal asks, why not bet on belief? Given the asymmetry of outcomes, belief is the safer option.
The Payoff Matrix
Let’s put it into a basic grid:
God Exists
God Doesn’t Exist
Believe
Infinite gain
Minor loss (e.g., time, discipline)
Don’t Believe
Infinite loss
Minor gain (e.g., freedom, comfort)
In game theory terms, this is a decision under uncertainty with infinite stakes. Pascal argues that reason alone can’t determine the truth—but reason can still tell us how to bet wisely.
Belief as a Rational Choice
Pascal wasn’t trying to prove God exists. He admitted that faith requires more than logic. But he also understood human psychology and offered this wager as a practical guide for the uncertain.
His approach echoes expected value theory—a concept now central in economics and risk analysis. If the expected value of belief (even with low probability) is infinite, then it outweighs any finite cost.
In short: When the potential reward is infinite, any finite investment is worth it.
Common Critiques of Pascal’s Wager
While clever, the argument has attracted a wide range of criticisms:
1. Can Belief Be a Choice?
Can you simply decide to believe something because it’s advantageous? Critics argue that genuine belief requires conviction—not calculation.
Pascal anticipated this and suggested that habit and practice could lead to sincere belief over time. Go to church, pray, engage with faith—and belief might follow.
Still, this raises ethical concerns: Is belief valid if it starts from self-interest?
2. Which God Are We Betting On?
Pascal’s Wager assumes a specific religious framework (Christianity), but what if another religion is correct? If you bet on the wrong god, could you still lose?
This is sometimes called the Many Gods Objection. It challenges the idea that belief in any god leads to the same infinite reward—or that the “right” god can be known in advance.
3. What If the Cost Is Higher Than He Thinks?
Pascal suggests that the cost of belief is small. But for some, religious belief might involve:
Repression of personal identity
Sacrifice of intellectual freedom
Emotional or cultural tension
The wager’s appeal depends on how you value what belief might cost in your specific life.
Modern Interpretations
Pascal’s Wager has aged surprisingly well. Its logic has been adapted to other fields:
Decision Theory
Pascal’s logic resembles risk management. When consequences are extreme (like death or disaster), even a small chance justifies big precautions. This is why we buy insurance.
Existential Risk
Some philosophers now use a version of Pascal’s Wager to argue for climate action, AI safety, and nuclear disarmament. If the risk of global catastrophe is small but the impact is enormous, shouldn’t we act just in case?
AI and Superintelligence
A twist on the wager has emerged in debates about AI ethics. If future superintelligent AIs might punish non-believers in simulation scenarios (a bizarre hypothetical known as Roko’s Basilisk), does that change how we act now?
Most philosophers reject these fringe versions—but they show how Pascal’s logic still resonates in new domains.
Why the Wager Still Matters
Pascal’s Wager isn’t about proof. It’s about pragmatism. It challenges us to ask:
What do I risk by believing?
What might I gain?
What assumptions shape my decisions?
It also forces us to confront our uncertainty. Most people don’t have perfect knowledge of the divine. Pascal accepts this ambiguity and builds an argument about how to live without knowing for sure.
That humility is part of the wager’s power.
The Man Behind the Bet
Blaise Pascal (1623–1662) was a mathematician, physicist, inventor, and Christian thinker. He helped develop probability theory, made early breakthroughs in fluid mechanics, and even designed one of the first mechanical calculators.
In his later years, Pascal turned to theology and philosophy. He never finished his masterwork Pensées (“Thoughts”), but the fragments remain deeply influential. The Wager appears in one of these notes.
Pascal’s personal struggles with illness, suffering, and spiritual doubt gave his arguments a personal weight. He wasn’t bluffing. He was betting everything.
Related Thought Experiments
Pascal’s Mugging: A twist where someone asks for $5 and promises infinite reward—but gives no reason to believe them. Should you pay up? It explores how the possibility of infinite reward can be abused.
The Experience Machine: Challenges whether pleasure alone is enough to justify life—echoing Pascal’s deeper question about meaning vs. happiness.
The Veil of Ignorance: Like Pascal’s Wager, it guides decision-making under uncertainty—but for social justice, not spirituality.
Glossary of Terms
Expected Value: A weighted average of all possible outcomes, factoring in probability.
Decision Theory: A field of study about how people make choices under uncertainty.
Pragmatism: A philosophical approach that evaluates ideas based on their practical consequences.
Faith: Belief that goes beyond (or sometimes against) reason or empirical evidence.
Discussion Questions
Can belief be a rational strategy, even without evidence?
What are the ethical implications of believing just to avoid punishment or gain reward?
How does Pascal’s Wager compare to modern risk-based decision-making?
1733 – James Oglethorpe founded Georgia, the 13th colony of the Thirteen Colonies, by settling at Savannah.
1870 – Women were granted the right to vote in the Utah Territory.
1909 – The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded by W.E.B. Du Bois and Ida Wells-Barnett and others.
1999 – The US Senate acquitted President Bill Clinton after he was impeached by the US House of Representatives.
If you were born on February 12th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 22nd (prior year)
February 12th is…
Hug Day Lost Penny Day National Plum Pudding Day Oglethorpe Day (in Georgia) Paul Bunyan Day Safety Pup Day
February 12th Birthday Quotes
“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” – Abraham Lincoln
“Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.” – Abraham Lincoln
“History is the story of events, with praise or blame.” – Cotton Mather
“Success depends in a very large measure upon individual initiative and exertion, and cannot be achieved except by a dint of hard work.” – Anna Pavlova
“In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” – Charles Darwin
“Most people think they know the answer. I am willing to admit I don’t even know the question.” – Arsenio Hall
“I’m satisfied and proud of the things I did – even the bumps and the bruises that I’ve had on the way. You fall down, you get up, you brush yourself off and you keep going. And that’s what we’re doing.” – Gucci Mane
“Leadership is intangible, and therefore no weapon ever designed can replace it.” – Omar Nelson Bradley
“The ancient Egyptians used to say: if you say a man’s name, he is alive. I take this opportunity to say, Jim Morrison.” – Ray Manzarek
February 12th Birthdays
1606 – John Winthrop the Younger, English-American colonist lawyer and politician, Governor of Connecticut (died in 1676) 1663 – Cotton Mather, North American Puritan minister (died in 1728) 1809 – Charles Darwin, English geologist and theorist (died in 1882) 1809 – Abraham Lincoln, American politician, 16th President of the United States (assassinated in 1865) 1834 – Paul Bunyan, Giant American lumberjack, fictional: possibly based on Fabian Fournier (1845 – 1875) 1876 – 13th Dalai Lama (died in 1933) 1880 – John L. Lewis, American miner and union leader (died in 1969) 1881 – Anna Pavlova, Russian ballarina (died in 1931) 1893 – Omar Nelson Bradley, American general (died in 1981) 1898 – Roy Harris, American composer (died in 1979) 1904 – Ted Mack, American radio and television host (died in 1976) 1914 – Tex Beneke, American singer, saxophonist, and bandleader (died in 2000) 1915 – Lorne Greene, Canadian-American actor (died in 1987) 1919 – Forrest Tucker, American actor (died in 1986) 1930 – Arlen Specter, American politician (died in 2012) 1938 – Judy Blume, American author 1939 – Ray Manzarek, American singer-songwriter, keyboard player (died in 2013) 1945 – Maud Adams, Swedish model and actress 1950 – Michael Ironside, Canadian actor 1956 – Arsenio Hall, American comedic actor and talk show host 1968 – Josh Brolin, American actor 1968 – Chynna Phillips, American singer 1973 – Tara Strong, Canadian voice actress 1979 – Jesse Spencer, American actress 1980 – Sarah Lancaster, American actress 1980 – Christina Ricci, American actress 1980 – Gucci Mane (Radric Delantic Davis), American rapper 1988 – Mike Posner, American singer-songwriter
February 12th History
Feb 12 is Darwin Day, named after the anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth (Feb 12, 1813)
881 – Charles the Fat was declared the Holy Roman Emperor.
1855 – Michigan State University was established.
1870 – Women were given the right to vote, in Utah.
1879 – The first artificial ice rink opened in Madison Square Garden in NYC.
1898 – The first car crash resulting in a fatality happened to Henry Lindfield, in England.
1914 – The first stone of Washington DC’s Lincoln Memorial is put into place.
1924 – Rhapsody In Blue, by George Gershwin, performed for the first time at the Aeolian Hall in New York City. Paul Whitman conducted the now-classic piece of American music.
1931 – Dracula premiered in theaters.
1935 – The patent (#1,991,236) was issued to Robert Jemison Van de Graaff for his Electrostatic Generator.
1940 – Mutual Radio presented the first broadcast of The Adventures of Superman.
1955 – #1 Hit February 12, 1955 – March 25, 1955: The McGuire Sisters – Sincerely
1963 – Construction began on the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.
1972 – #1 Hit February 12, 1972 – February 18, 1972: Al Green – Let’s Stay Together
1985 – East End Show – Me and My Girl (Musical) February 12, 1985
1999 – President Bill Clinton was acquitted on both articles of impeachment against him: perjury and obstruction of justice.
2004 – The city and county of San Francisco began to issue a marriage license to same-sex couples
2004 – Mattel officially announced the split of Barbie and Ken
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
It’s amazing to think that humans started off bashing rocks together, and now we have superconducting magnets cooled to near-absolute-zero smashing rocks together at close to the speed of light.
The Capital of Poland is Warsaw
Biggest film of 1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark (Action/Adventure) earned ~ $248,000,000
“Airplane!” (1980) is a remake of a serious 1957 TV movie called “Zero Hour”. The producers actually bought the rights to it.
A group of Bananas is called a Bunch.
The most complex object in the known universe is sitting right inside your skull.
Victoria Island, Canada’s 2nd largest island, the world’s 8th largest, and that it contains the world’s largest island within an island within an island.
Biggest film of 1950: Cinderella (Drama) earned ~ $85,000,000
“In a world full of people only some want to fly, isn’t that crazy?” #songlyrics
I don’t recall the last time I clicked “Next Page” on a Google search.
Every single person you meet knows something that you don’t.
George C. Scott refused the 1970 Academy Award for best actor for his portrayal of Patton because he believed every dramatic performance is unique and cannot be compared.
Gene Wilder – Real Name: Jerome Silberman
Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.
“Put that coffee down. Coffee’s for closers only.” – Blake in Glengarry Glen Ross #moviequotes
1790 – The Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, petitioned the US Congress for the abolition of slavery.
1872 – Japan began celebrating National Foundation Day (founded in 660 BC). It was banned after WWII but revived in 1966.
1945 – The Yalta Agreement was signed between Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin.
1990 – Nelson Mandela was released from prison, serving 27 years of a life sentence.
If you were born on February 11th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 21st (prior year)
February 11th is…
Get Out Your Guitar Day International Day of Women and Girls in Science National Make a Friend Day National Pro Sport’s Wives Day National Shut-in Visitation Day Peppermint Patty Day Promise Day White (T) Shirt Day
White T-Shirt Day
Today is White Shirt Day, a day when UAW members honor the workers who participated in the Flint Sit-Down Strike of 1936 and 1937. This was a time of great struggle for labor unions, as they faced constant opposition from business owners and politicians who saw them as a threat to the status quo. In the face of brutal working conditions, low wages, and anti-union sentiment, men and women in Flint came together to orchestrate a historic sit-in that would change the course of labor history.
On February 11th, 1937, the United Autoworkers Union secured a contract with General Motors that gave all GM employees pay raises and lunch breaks. This historic event is celebrated each year on February 11th as Labor Rights Day. Following the sit-in, workers began wearing white shirts every February 11th to show their solidarity and support for labor rights.
The Flint Sit-Down Strike was a turning point for the labor movement, as it showed that workers could successfully fight back against corporate greed and win better working conditions and fair wages. The victory of the Flint strikers inspired other workers across the country to stand up for their rights, and helped pave the way for the passage of important labor legislation like the National Labor Relations Act.
February 11th is Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day, a reminder not to get too upset over small mistakes or problems. It encourages people to move on and not dwell on minor setbacks. The saying “don’t cry over spilled milk” is often used to convey that it is not worth getting upset over something that can’t be changed and that one should focus on moving forward instead.
February 11 Birthday Quotes
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas Edison
“It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got.” – Sheryl Crow
“I was sixteen years old when the first World War broke out, and I lived at that time in Hungary. From reading the newspapers in Hungary, it would have appeared that whatever Austria and Germany did was right and whatever England, France, Russia, or America did was wrong. A good case could be made out for this general thesis, in almost every single instance. It would have been difficult for me to prove, in any single instance, that the newspapers were wrong, but somehow, it seemed to me unlikely that the two nations located in the center of Europe should be invariably right, and that all the other nations should be invariably wrong. History, I reasoned, would hardly operate in such a peculiar fashion, and it didn’t take long until I began to hold views that were diametrically opposed to those held by the majority of my schoolmates.” – Leó Szilárd
“You do not send me to Brooklyn to get a cheesecake and then I come back and you’re gone.” – Brandy
“You can only hold your stomach in for so many years.” – Burt Reynolds
February 11th Birthdays
1802 – Lydia Maria Child, American writer and abolitionist (died in 1880) 1847 – Thomas Edison, American engineer and businessman (died in 1931) 1898 – Leó Szilárd, Hungarian-American physicist (died in 1964) 1909 – Max Baer, American boxer and actor (died in 1959) 1917 – Sidney Shelton, American television producer and novel writer (died in 2007) 1919 – Eva Gabor, Hungarian-American actress and socialite (died in 1995) 1925 – Virginia E. Johnson, American psychologist and academic (died in 2013) 1926 – Leslie Nielsen, Canadian-American actor (died in 2010) 1934 – Tina Louise, American actress 1935 – Gene Vincent, American singer and guitarist (died in 1971) 1936 – Burt Reynolds, American actor (died in 2018) 1941 – Sérgio Mendes, Brazilian pianist and composer 1953 – Jeb Bush, American politician 1956 – Catherine Hickland, American actress 1961 – Carey Lowell, American model and actress 1962 – Sheryl Crow, American singer-songwriter 1964 – Sarah Palin, American politician 1967 – Ty Treadway, American actor and talk show host 1969 – Jennifer Aniston, American actress 1974 – D’Angelo, American singer-songwriter 1979 – Brandy (Norwood), American singer 1981 – Kelly Rowland, American singer-songwriter 1982 – Natalie Dormer, English actress 1984 – Aubrey O’Day, American singer-songwriter 1991 – Georgia May Foote, English actress 1992 – Taylor Lautner, American actor
February 11th History
660 BC – Traditional date for the foundation of Japan by Emperor Jimmu.
1534 – Henry VIII of England was recognized as supreme head of the Church of England.
1752 – The first hospital in the United States, Pennsylvania Hospital, opened.
1808 – As an experiment, anthracite coal was burned as fuel by Judge Jesse Fell in Pennsylvania.
1812 – Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry ‘gerrymandered’ for the first time.
1858 – Marie-Bernarde Soubirous, a 14-year-old French peasant girl, first claimed to see a vision of the Virgin Mary near Lourdes, France. In 1933, she was canonized as St. Bernadette by the Roman Catholic Church.
1928 – The La-Z-Boy reclining chair was invented by Ed Shoemaker.
1929 – The Vatican was officially independent of Italy with the Lateran Treaty.
1939 – Nature published a theoretical paper on nuclear fission by Lise Meitner and Otto Fritsch.
1940 – NBC radio debuted The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street.
1963 – The French Chef, starring Julia Child debuted on WGBH in Boston, MA.
1971 – 87 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union, signed the Seabed Arms Control Treaty, outlawing nuclear weapons on the ocean floor in international waters.
1979 – Broadway Show – They’re Playing Our Song (Musical) February 11, 1979
1989 – Rev. Barbara Harris became the first woman to be consecrated as a bishop in the Episcopal Church.
1989 – #1 Hit February 11, 1989 – March 3, 1989: Paula Abdul – Straight Up
1990 – Nelson Mandela, leader of the movement to end South African apartheid, was released from prison after 27 years
1990 – Buster Douglas (40 to 1 odds against him winning) defeated Mike Tyson, to become the new undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
1994 – #1 Hit February 12, 1994 – March 11, 1994: Celine Dion – The Power Of Love
1994 – The ‘rBGH’ genetically engineered growth hormone for cows goes on sale to dairy farmers under the name Posilac, made by Monsanto. It was the first time altered genes were allowed into live animals.
2006 – Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot his friend Harry Whittington while the two were hunting together.
2012 – Singer Whitney Houston died in a hotel bathtub, the result of accidental drowning. Heart disease and cocaine, which was found in her system, were determined to be contributing factors.
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
The Capital of Vatican City (Holy See) is Vatican City
“There are just two things that can make you famous… being noble or notorious.” – Ram Mohan
“Badges? We ain’t got no badges! We don’t need no badges! I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!” – “Gold Hat” (Alfonso Bedoya) in Treasure of the Sierra Madre, 1948
“Humor is also a way of saying something serious.” – T.S. Eliot
The First Rick Roll: Micheal Jackson’s “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” was taken off of first place on the 1987 British singles chart by Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up”
Someday I’ll refer to synthetic constructs as ‘artificial intelligence’ and my grandchildren will cringe, even though they’ll know it’s just the label I grew up with, and that I’m not being hateful.
Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.
TV Quotes… “This is the city …” (Sgt. Joe Friday) on “Dragnet”
Seal – Real Name: Seal Henry Samuel
The Scary Statistic: Fireworks Discharge severe injury odds: 1-in-615,488 What to do: This one is easy, and just four words: Armored asbestos bodysuit.
“House Music” received its name from its place of origin, The Warehouse club opened in Chicago in 1977.
Star Wars & Wizard of Oz: Each has a protagonist who leaves their home planet and is called to defeat a villain. They make friends (C3PO-The Scarecrow – Chewbacca – The Lion – Han Solo-The Tin Man), get trapped in the enemy base, and disguise themselves as the enemy guard to rescue a damsel in distress.
A cookie you eat while baking cookies is a “Cooking Cookies Cookie.”
On average, there are 178 sesame seeds on each McDonalds BigMac bun.
The Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory, a Toy Chemistry Lab from the 1950s, included radioactive elements such as Polonium-210 and Uranium Ore.
1. Can you name the first Billboard Number One hit by The Doors?
2. . According to the United States Census Bureau, what monumental event occurred in November 1967?
3. How many people lived in the World in 1967?
4. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1967?
5. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1967?
6. Who was the President of the United States in 1967?
7. Ratified in 1967, what amendment to the United States Constitution deals with issues related to presidential succession and disability?
8. This nationwide informal event was centered in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. It was a defining “Hippy Era.”
9. To the nearest quarter, what was the average movie theater ticket price in 1967?
10. Can you name the best-selling album in 1967?
11. What was the highest-grossing film of 1967?
12. Paul McCartney said twice that “if anyone were the fifth Beatle,” it was this guy. Who?
13. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour debuted on CBS from 1967 through April 1969. Can you name the brothers?
14. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1967?
15. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1967?
16. How much did a Gallon of Milk cost in 1967?
17. How much was a pound of bacon in 1967?
18. Bonnie and Clyde was a 1967 American crime film starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the title characters. What were Bonnie and Clyde’s last names?
19. The Beatles released the Strawberry Fields Forever on a 45 rpm record as a “double A-sided” single in the United States. What was the other song on the record?
20. In 1967, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
21. In 1967, this Pontiac brand automobile was produced to compete with the Ford Mustang and Mercury Cougar. Name that car.
22. The Graduate, Mr. Maguire, said, “I want to say one word to you. Just one word” to Benjamin Braddock. What was that word?
23. Although generally not considered part of the James Bond film franchise, Casino Royale was released in 1967. Who played James Bond in the film?
24. Voiced by Mel Blanc, this character was the mascot for Fritos Corn Chips until 1971.
25. On April 19, 1967, Kathy Switzer became the first woman to register and run in what annual event?
26. ‘Ol’ Lonely’ represents what company and household product. At least five actors played the role.
27. This ABC television program starred Sally Field as a woman training to be in a Roman Catholic religious order in Puerto Rico who discovered that she had an unusual power when she wore her Cornette (habit). Name that show.
28. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1967?
29. This syndicated program has been called the first daytime talk show. Name that show.
30. Which celebrity did not appear to Batman and Robin through a window while climbing a wall: Jerry Lewis, Edward G. Robinson, Orson Wells, or Santa Claus?
31. Introduced in 1967, this snack contains about 42% potato. Their slogan is “Once you pop, the fun don’t stop”. Name that snack.
32. What was the Top-Rated TV Show in the 1966/1967 season?
33. The Beatles released two of their most colorful albums in 1967. Name them.
34. Can you name the drama about social issues starring Sidney Poitier as Mr. Mark Thackeray?
35. Name the world-famous monument that was relocated to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in 1967 and completed its new home in 1971.
36. This film was inspired by a real-life WWII unit of behind-the-scenes demolition specialists, the Filthy Thirteen, from the 101st Airborne Division.
37. Counter-culture icons Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, among others, founded the Youth International Party in 1967. What did members of the group call themselves?
38. This 1990s TV and film star was officially Canada’s “Centennial Baby”, having been the first baby born on July 1, 1967, on Canada’s 100th Anniversary as a country.
39. How much did a dozen eggs cost in 1967?
40. What TV Batman star appeared as a bachelorette on The Dating Game in 1967?
41. American astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee are killed when a fire broke in while testing what NASA space program?
42. According to the song Ode to Billie Joe by Bobbie Gentry, on the third of June, a sleepy, dusty delta day, what did Billy Joe MacAllister do?
43. Who won the 1967 World Series?
44. The Who and Jimi Hendrix appeared at this 3-day California music event. Name the event.
45. Can you name the last film where Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn appeared together?
46. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1967: R. Kelly, J. K. Rowling, Kurt Cobain, or Vanilla Ice?
47. Name the American fast-food chain that became an international entity after opening its first restaurant in Canada.
48. Who won the SuperBowl in 1967?
49. Who was Super Bowl 1’s Most Valuable Player?
50. Respect reached number one on the Billboard Charts and is considered Aretha Franklin’s biggest solo hit. Who first released (and wrote) the song in 1965?
51. Although he was introduced as Snoopy’s friend in 1967, this yellow character didn’t get a name until 1970. Who is Snoopy’s little friend?
52. This anime cartoon was originally called Mach GoGoGo (pronounced ‘Mahha GoGoGo’). What was it called when it came to America?
53. Name the team that joined the NFL in 1967 as its sixteenth franchise.
54. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1967?
55. Can you name the interstellar government in which the primary characters in Star Trek lived?
56. The first demonstration of “slow-motion instant replay” on television was shown on what sports show during the “World Series of Skiing” at Vail, Colorado?
57. Held in Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered the most successful World’s Fair of the 20th century. What was it called?
58. With 78 million viewers, this was the most-watched scripted television show until Dallas in 1980. Name that program.
59. What company used the slogan: “Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands”?
60. Can you name the first African American justice of the United States Supreme Court?
61. This attraction opened at Disneyland, California, and was one of the last rides that Walt Disney personally created. It was also a successful Disney big-screen franchise. Name it.
62. Rudyard Kipling wrote an 1894 book that became Walt Disney’s 19th animated feature film. Name it.
63. Although this 1967 cartoon character only had 17 episodes, he was later the star of a live-action 1997 film starring Brendan Fraser. Name that character.
64. Influential rock band released their first album in 1967, The Velvet Underground & Nico, featuring a banana created by a well-known artist. Name the artist.
65. In Batman’s second season on ABC, who replaced Frank Gorshin as the Riddler?
66. What condiment company used the slogan: “Beanz Meanz …”?
67. Can you name the fifth theatrical James Bond film?
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. The You Only Live Twice screenplay was written by a gentleman better known for fantasy and children’s stories. Name him.
2. Who was the American Vice-President in 1967?
3. The Monkees’ third album was the first to be controlled and primarily performed by the band members. Name the album.
4. Who were the 1967 NBA Champions?
5. Name the hospital where John F. Kennedy, Jack Ruby, and Lee Harvey Oswald were all pronounced dead.
6. On October 3, 1967, Air Force Major William “Pete” Knight made the fastest flight of a powered aircraft at a speed of 4,520 miles (7,270 km) per hour. The record still stands. Can you name the aircraft he was flying?
7. 400 million viewers watched the first live, international satellite television production. The Beatles premiered All You Need Is Love at the end of the 2 1/2-hour broadcast. Name that program.
8. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1967?
9. When Dr. James Bedford died in 1967, what did he become?
10. Who was the Pope in 1967?
The Answers:
67 Trivia Answers for 1967 History
1. Can you name the first Billboard Number One hit by The Doors? Light My Fire
2. . According to the United States Census Bureau, what monumental event occurred in November 1967? The US population reached 200,000,000 people.
3. How many people lived in the World in 1967? The estimated world population in 1967 was 3,468,521,724 people.
4. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1967? In 1967, The Toronto Maple Leafs won over the Montreal Canadiens (4 games to 2)
5. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1967? To Sir With Love by Lulu
6. Who was the President of the United States in 1967? Lyndon B. Johnson (November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969)
7. Ratified in 1967, what amendment to the United States Constitution deals with issues related to presidential succession and disability? Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
8. This nationwide informal event was centered in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. It was a defining “Hippy Era.” The Summer of Love
9. To the nearest quarter, what was the average movie theater ticket price in 1967? $1.25
10. Can you name the best-selling album in 1967? More of The Monkees (#2 was Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which eventually outsold The Monkees in the years that followed)
11. What was the highest-grossing film of 1967? The Graduate
12. Paul McCartney said twice that “if anyone were the fifth Beatle,” it was this guy. Who? Their manager, Brian Epstein (September 19, 1934 – August 27, 1967) )
13. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour debuted on CBS from 1967 through April 1969. Can you name the brothers? Tom and Dick Smothers
14. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1967? The Arrangement by Elia Kazan
15. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1967? 22 cents
16. How much did a Gallon of Milk cost in 1967? $1.14
17. How much was a pound of bacon in 1967? 84 cents
18. Bonnie and Clyde was a 1967 American crime film starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the title characters. What were Bonnie and Clyde’s last names? Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker
19. The Beatles released the Strawberry Fields Forever on a 45 rpm record as a “double A-sided” single in the United States. What was the other song on the record? Penny Lane
20. In 1967, what was the average life expectancy in the United States? Men – 67.0 years, Women – 74.2 years.
21. In 1967, this Pontiac brand automobile was produced to compete with the Ford Mustang and Mercury Cougar. Name that car. Pontiac Firebird
22. The Graduate, neighbor Mr Maguire, said, “I want to say one word to you. Just one word” to Benjamin Braddock. What was that word? “Plastics”
23. Although generally not considered part of the James Bond film franchise, Casino Royale was released in 1967. Who played James Bond in the film? David Niven
24. Voiced by Mel Blanc, this character was the mascot for Fritos Corn Chips until 1971. Frito Bandito
25. On April 19, 1967, Kathy Switzer became the first woman to register and run in what annual event? The Boston Marathon
26. ‘Ol’ Lonely’ represents what company and household product. At least five actors played the role. Maytag (for laundry appliances like washer, dryer)
27. This ABC television program starred Sally Field as a woman training to be in a Roman Catholic religious order in Puerto Rico who discovered that she had an unusual power when she wore her Cornette (habit). Name that show. The Flying Nun
28. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1967? $0.33 per gallon
29. This syndicated program has been called the first daytime talk show. Name that show. The Phil Donahue Show
30. Which celebrity did not appear to Batman and Robin through a window while climbing a wall: Jerry Lewis, Edward G. Robinson, Orson Wells, or Santa Claus? Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985)
31. Introduced in 1967, this snack contains about 42% potato. Their slogan is “Once you pop, the fun don’t stop”. Name that snack. Pringles
32. What was the Top-Rated TV Show in the 1966/1967 season? Bonanza (NBC)
33. The Beatles released two of their most colorful albums in 1967. Name them. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour
34. Can you name the drama about social issues starring Sidney Poitier as Mr. Mark Thackeray? To Sir, With Love
35. Name the world-famous monument that was relocated to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in 1967 and completed its new home in 1971. The original London Bridge
36. This film was inspired by a real-life WWII unit of behind-the-scenes demolition specialists, the Filthy Thirteen, from the 101st Airborne Division. The Dirty Dozen
37. Counter-culture icons Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, among others, founded the Youth International Party in 1967. What did members of the group call themselves? Yippies
38. This 1990s TV and film star was officially Canada’s “Centennial Baby”, having been the first baby born on July 1, 1967, on Canada’s 100th Anniversary as a country. Pamela Anderson
39. How much did a dozen eggs cost in 1967? 49 cents
40. What TV Batman star appeared as a bachelorette on The Dating Game in 1967? Yvonne Craig (Batgirl/Barbara Gordon)
41. American astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee are killed when a fire broke in while testing what NASA space program? Apollo (Apollo I)
42. According to the song Ode to Billie Joe by Bobbie Gentry, on the third of June, a sleepy, dusty delta day, what did Billy Joe MacAllister do? Jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge
43. Who won the 1967 World Series? In 1967, The St. Louis Cardinals won, beating the Boston Red Sox (4 games to 3)
44. The Who and Jimi Hendrix appeared at this 3-day California music event. Name the event. Monterey Pop Festival
45. Can you name the last film where Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn appeared together? Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner
46. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1967: R. Kelly, J. K. Rowling, Kurt Cobain, or Vanilla Ice? J. K. Rowling (born July 31, 1965)
47. Name the American fast-food chain that became an international entity after opening its first restaurant in Canada. McDonald’s
48. Who won the SuperBowl in 1967? Super Bowl I | On January 15, 1967 (1966 season), The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs (35–10) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
49. Who was Super Bowl 1’s Most Valuable Player? 1967 MPV Super Bowl I Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers
50. Respect reached number one on the Billboard Charts and is considered Aretha Franklin’s biggest solo hit. Who first released (and wrote) the song in 1965? Otis Redding
51. Although he was introduced as Snoopy’s friend in 1967, this yellow character didn’t get a name until 1970. Who is Snoopy’s little friend? Woodstock (Peanuts)
52. This anime cartoon was originally called Mach GoGoGo (pronounced ‘Mahha GoGoGo’). What was it called when it came to America? Speed Racer
53. Name the team that joined the NFL in 1967 as its sixteenth franchise. New Orleans Saints
54. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1967? Lyndon B. Johnson
55. Can you name the interstellar government in which the primary characters in Star Trek lived? The United Federation of Planets (The Federation)
56. The first demonstration of “slow-motion instant replay” on television was shown on what sports show during the “World Series of Skiing” at Vail, Colorado? ABC’s Wide World of Sports
57. Held in Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered the most successful World’s Fair of the 20th century. What was it called? Expo 67 (1967 International and Universal Exposition)
58. With 78 million viewers, this was the most-watched scripted television show until Dallas in 1980. Name that program. The Fugitive
59. What company used the slogan: “Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands”? M&Ms
60. Can you name the first African American justice of the United States Supreme Court? Thurgood Marshall (serving from October 1967 until October 1991)
61. This attraction opened at Disneyland, California, and was one of the last rides that Walt Disney personally created. It was also a successful Disney big-screen franchise. Name it. Pirates of the Caribbean
62. Rudyard Kipling wrote an 1894 book that became Walt Disney’s 19th animated feature film. Name it. The Jungle Book
63. Although this 1967 cartoon character only had 17 episodes, he was later the star of a live-action 1997 film starring Brendan Fraser. Name that character. George of the Jungle
64. Influential rock band released their first album in 1967, The Velvet Underground & Nico, featuring a banana created by a well-known artist. Name the artist. Andy Warhol
65. In Batman’s second season on ABC, who replaced Frank Gorshin as the Riddler? John Astin
66. What condiment company used the slogan: “Beanz Meanz …”? Heinz
67. Can you name the fifth theatrical James Bond film? You Only Live Twice
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. The You Only Live Twice screenplay was written by a gentleman better known for fantasy and children’s stories. Name him. Roald Dahl (September 13, 1916 – November 23, 1990)
2. Who was the American Vice-President in 1967? Hubert Humphrey (January 20, 1965 – January 20, 1969)
3. The Monkees’ third album was the first to be controlled and primarily performed by the band members. Name the album. Headquarters
4. Who were the 1967 NBA Champions? For the 1966-67 Season, Champion Philadelphia 76ers won 4 games to 2 over the San Francisco Warriors
5. Name the hospital where John F. Kennedy, Jack Ruby, and Lee Harvey Oswald were all pronounced dead. Parkland Memorial Hospital, in Dallas Texas.
6. On October 3, 1967, Air Force Major William “Pete” Knight made the fastest flight of a powered aircraft at a speed of 4,520 miles (7,270 km) per hour. The record still stands. Can you name the aircraft he was flying? X-15 (experimental aircraft)
7. 400 million viewers watched the first live, international satellite television production. The Beatles premiered All You Need Is Love at the end of the 2 1/2-hour broadcast. Name that program. Our World
8. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1967? Proud Clarion
9. When Dr. James Bedford died in 1967, what did he become? The first person whose body was cryopreserved (frozen) after legal death. His remains are preserved at the Alcor Life Extension Foundation.
10. Who was the Pope in 1967? Pope Paul VI, from June 21, 1963 – August 6, 1978
1897 – ‘All The News That’s Fit To Print’ – the phrase appeared permanently on the front page of The New York Times.
1949 – Death of a Salesman by American playwright Arthur Miller, opened at the Morocco Theatre in New York City.
1967 – The 25th Amendment was ratified, regarding US Presidential succession.
2007 – Illinois senator Barack Obama announced his candidacy for president in the 2008 elections.
If you were born on February 10th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 20th (prior year)
Now You Know…
Jimmy Durante’s NOSE was insured for $50,000, a lot of money in the 1940s.
National Umbrella Day
February 10th marks a unique and often overlooked celebration – National Umbrella Day. While many might not associate a specific day with this everyday item, the humble umbrella deserves its spotlight. National Umbrella Day reminds us of the ingenious invention that has shielded us from rain and the sun for centuries.
The origins of National Umbrella Day are shrouded in mystery, much like the protective canopies themselves. However, what is certain is the impact that umbrellas have had on our lives. Historically, the umbrella has evolved from a symbol of nobility to a common accessory used by people worldwide. Its practicality in shielding us from the elements has made it indispensable in our daily lives.
Beyond its utilitarian function, the umbrella has also found its way into popular culture, becoming a symbol of romance in classic movies and literature. Who can forget the iconic “Singin’ in the Rain” scene where Gene Kelly twirls an umbrella while dancing in the rain? This special day is an opportunity to appreciate not only this invention’s functionality but also its artistry and symbolism.
The Teddy Bear (Teddy Day)
The Teddy Bear appeared in a shop window in Brooklyn, New York, on February 15, 1903, but the story of the cuddly toy began a few months before that.
It really started when President Theodore Roosevelt took up an invitation to go bear hunting, in Mississippi with the Governor of the state, Andrew Longino, in November 1902. I can tell you two things about President Teddy Roosevelt – 1. He hated being called Teddy, and 2. he was an avid hunter – he had trophies and hunted for both meat and sport. That first day of his hunting trip, he was really disappointed because he and the governor didn’t find any Bears, but the governor DID NOT want to disappoint the President, so he had the hunting guide go out and find a bear, which he did. He found an old bear and tied it to a tree; they brought the president, but he didn’t want to hunt a trapped bear – it was unsportsmanlike.
Whenever any President does anything, it’s kind of newsworthy, and Clifford Berryman, a cartoonist heard the story, made the old bear a cub, and made a cartoon of Teddy freeing a Bear Cub from a tree. The cartoon made the rounds and inspired Morris Michtom and his wife Rose, to make a little toy bear cub, just to decorate the window of their hand-made toy shop. Most toys were handmade still in the early 1900s. A bunch of people offered to buy it, but he didn’t sell it right away. He actually sent it to the President and asked permission to sell what he called The Teddy Bear. Teddy Roosevelt approved, with no strings attached, so the Mitchums started making them, and put them on sale.
The Teddy Bear really represented the start of more than just the first stuffed non-human toy with arms and legs, it changed the whole toy industry. The earliest toys were usually something with wheels, a ball, a human baby doll, or sports-oriented. In 1892, there was a cat toy, basically the outline of a cat with stuffing, called Ithaca Cat (US patent 483727A). It was more like a shaped pillow, they still make reproductions today. That caused a mini-craze for other stuffed pillow toys like bunnies, kittens, puppies, and the Teddy Bear came out at just about the right time.
The stuffed Bear was the biggest toy of the last century. Change a few things, and give the bear a personality, and the toy becomes Winnie The Pooh, or Paddington Bear, Teddy Ruxpin, The Care Bears, or Corduroy. Teddy Bears introduced the whole idea of anthropomorphic toys- animals having human features and personalities.
The Mitchums went on to found the IDEAL Toy Company, which up until Barbie & GI Joe, was the largest Toy Company in the World. IDEAL is also the company that gave us The Rubik’s Cube in the 1980s. If the Michtoms didn’t start by giving us the Teddy Bear, we’d probably still be rolling hoops (hooping) with a stick like people did for most of the past 2000 years.
February 10th is…
Cream Cheese Brownie Day National Flannel Day Teddy Day
February 10th Birthday Quotes
“Be nice to people on your way up, because you’re going to meet them all on your way down.” – Jimmy Durante
“Our theater must stimulate a desire for understanding, a delight in changing reality. Our audience must experience not only the ways to free Prometheus but be schooled in the very desire to free him. Theater must teach all the pleasures and joys of discovery, all the feelings of triumph associated with liberation.” – Bertolt Brecht
“I believe that cruelty, spite, The powers of darkness will in time Be crushed by the spirit of light.” – Boris Pasternak
“Do you know somethin’, man? Someday I’m gonna be walkin’ up the street one way and you’re gonna be comin’ down the other way, and we’re gonna pass each other and I’m gonna say ‘Hello, best white band in the world’ and you’re gonna say ‘Hello, best colored band in the world.” – Chick Webb (to bandleader Artie Shaw)
“If you fail to prepare, you’re prepared to fail.” – Mark Spitz
“So see every opportunity as golden, and keep your eyes on the prize – yours, not anybody else’s. Remember: Always walk in the light. And if you feel like you’re not walking in it, go find it. Love the light.” – Roberta Flack
“You don’t have to run away from life your whole life. You can really live. You can change. And you can be an agent of change.” – Laura Dern
“Sometimes the hardest part of the journey is believing you’re worthy of the trip.” – Glenn Beck
“What I’ve really learned over time is that optimism is a very, very important part of leadership.” – Robert Iger
February 10th Birthdays
1775 – Charles Lamb, English poet and essayist (died in 1834) 1824 – Samuel Plimsoll, English politician, ‘The Sailor’s Friend’ (died in 1898) 1883 – Edith Clarke, American electrical engineer (died in 1959) 1890 – Boris Pasternak, Russian writer (died in 1890) 1893 – Jimmy Durante, American actor, singer, and pianist (died in 1980) 1898 – Dame Judith Anderson, English actress (died in 1992) 1898 – Bertolt Brecht, German playwright, co-wrote The Threepenny Opera with Kurt Weill (died in 1956) 1905 – Chick Webb, American drummer and bandleader (died in 1939) 1906 – Lon Chaney Jr., American actor (died in 1973) 1929 – Jerry Goldsmith, American composer and conductor (died in 2004) 1930 – Robert Wagner, American actor 1937 – Roberta Flack, American singer-songwriter 1944 – Peter Allen, Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, and actor (died in 1992) 1946 – Donovan Leitch, Scottish singer 1950 – Mark Spitz, American swimmer 1951 – Robert (Bob) Iger, American media executive 1955 – Jim Cramer, American television personality and pundit 1963 – Lenny Dykstra, American baseball player 1964 – Glenn Beck, American journalist, producer, and author 1967 – Vince Gilligan, American director, producer, and screenwriter 1967 – Laura Dern, American actress 1974 – Elizabeth Banks, American actress 1991 – Emma Roberts, American actress 1997 – Chloë Grace Moretz, American actress
February 10th History
1355 – In Oxford, England, a dispute between 2 Oxford students and a Tavern Keeper over the quality of his drinks escalated into the St Scholastica Day riot between Oxford students and locals citizens where 63 students and 30 locals were killed.
1763 – The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War and France ceded Canada to England.
1840 – Queen Victoria and her cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg-Gotha, married. They had 9 children – Victoria, Bertie, Alice, Alfred, Helena, Louise, Arthur, Leopold, and Beatrice.
1863 – General Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren were married in NYC.
1870 – The YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) was formally founded in New York City.
1923 – Texas Tech University is founded as Texas Technological College in Lubbock, Texas
1933 – In Round 13 of an infamous boxing match at Madison Square Garden; Primo Carnera knocked out Ernie Shaaf, killing him.
1933 – The singing telegram was introduced by the Postal Telegraph Company of New York City.
1940 – Cartoon characters Tom and Jerry made their debut with Puss Gets the Boot.
1942 – The first gold record was presented to Glenn Miller for Chattanooga Choo Choo for selling 1.2 million copies. There was no official ruleset at the time to qualify.
1953 – Romper Room premiered, in syndication.
1956 – My Friend Flicka debuted on CBS
1962 – Roy Lichtenstein’s first solo art exhibition opened at the Castelli Gallery in NYC.
1962 – The Soviet Union exchanged captured American U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers for the Soviet spy Rudolph Ivanovich Abe with the US.
1966 – Ralph Nader, the author of Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile, testified before Congress for the first time about unsafe practices in the auto industry.
1968 – #1 Hit February 10, 1968 – March 15, 1968: Paul Mauriat – Love Is Blue
1976 – Sesame Street episode #847 featured Margaret Hamilton reprising her role as the Wicked Witch of the West from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. It scared children so badly that the episode has never been re-aired.
1979 – #1 Hit February 10, 1979 – March 9, 1979: Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I’m Sexy
1990 – #1 Hit February 10, 1990 – March 2, 1990: Paula Abdul & The Wild Pair – Opposites Attract
1992 – Mike Tyson was convicted in Indianapolis of raping Desiree Washington, a Miss Black American contestant.
February 10, 1992 Birthday (fictional) Tyler Lockwood, Vampire Diaries, TV
1993- Oprah Winfrey interviewed Michael Jackson at his home The Neverland Ranch. It was Jackson’s first televised interview since 1979.
1996 – World chess champion Gary Kasparov lost the first game of a six-game match against Deep Blue. He won three and tied twice in the matchup.
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
I’m going for a walk because I want to stay healthy. I’m also taking along a pack of M&M’s because let’s be honest here…
“A friend of mine went to buy some long underwear. The shopkeeper asked him, ‘How long do you want it?’ ” – Uncle Albert #moviequotes
Geronimo – Real Name: Goyathlay
Only about 9 or 10 grandpas ago they were just discovering North America.
In the word queue, the “ueue” is silent.
“Hated it!” – Men on Film’s Damon Wayans and David Alan Grier (In Living Color) #TVQuotes
“No comment” – Edward Abbey (the writer who was asked if he had any last words, the phrase is also engraved on his tombstone) #LastWords
Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan are the only two Doubly Landlocked countries in the world.
Like 90% of what the Dog Whisperer does involves modifying the behavior of the people who own the dogs, not the dogs themselves. He should be called The Human Whisperer.
All bicycles weigh 50 pounds: A 30-pound bicycle needs a 20-pound lock and chain. All bicycles weigh 50 pounds: A 40-pound bicycle needs a 10-pound lock and chain. All bicycles weigh 50 pounds: A 50-pound bicycle needs no lock or chain.
“When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead.” – Barney Stinson
Rock band Journey never had a No. 1 hit single on the U.S. Billboard top 40.
A group of Tigers is called a Streak or Ambush.
The planet Venus is nearly identical in size to Earth, their radius’ differ in size by only 201 miles, with Earth being the larger.
If the force of every step I took for the rest of my life was all combined, it would probably be powerful enough to destroy a mountain. #toomuchtimeonmyhands
1864 – 109 Union Officers escaped from Libby Prison in Virginia.
1943 – The Allies retook Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Island, a major victory in WWII.
1964 – The Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan, with 73,000,000 viewers, a record at that time. There were 728 people in the studio audience.
If you were born on February 9th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 19th (prior year)
Pizza Pie Day
Naples, Italy is often credited as the birthplace of pizza. Though flatbreads with toppings were consumed by ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks, Naples took the simple dish and turned it into an art form. The first pizzas were made in the 1700s and early 1800s by Naples’ working poor, or lazzaroni. These pies were typically very thin-crusted and loaded with fresh ingredients like tomatoes, mozzarella, olives, and anchovies.
Today, pizza is enjoyed all over the world and comes in many different varieties. Whether it’s a classic Margherita or something more adventurous like Pizza Hawaii, there’s a slice for everyone. So the next time you’re feeling hungry, why not grab a pizza? You won’t be disappointed.
Some popular pizzas include:
Pepperoni Pizza
Hawaiian Pizza (heavily debated)
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Meat Lover’s Pizza
Veggie Pizza
Garlic Parmesan Pizza
Chocolate Day
We all know that chocolate is a delicious treat, but did you know that the ancient Mayans were the first to make it into a drink? This sweet but bitter foodstuff was reserved for royalty and consumed with dignity as they could afford only luxuries like this. The Olmecs of Mexico’s south discovered how to make cocoa beans into a beverage around 1500 BC – over 3500 years ago! From there it spread throughout South America before making its way northward towards Peru.
There are many stories about how chocolate made its way around the world. One story says Christopher Columbus discovered cacao beans after intercepting a trade ship on a journey to America and brought the beans back to Spain with him in 1502. Another tale states Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes was introduced to chocolate by the Aztecs of Montezuma’s court. After returning to Spain, cacao beans in tow, he supposedly kept his chocolate knowledge a well-guarded secret. A third story claims that friars who presented Guatemalan Mayans to Philip II of Spain in 1544 also brought cacao beans along as a gift.
Swiss chocolatiers created milk chocolate in 1875. Prior to that, all chocolate was dark chocolate. In Europe chocolate was once considered an aphrodisiac. More chocolate is consumed in the United States than in any other country. Antioxidants in cocoa can improve cardiovascular health. Cocoa also contains flavonoids which can improve cognitive function chocolate has been shown to reduce stress levels and help you feel happier.
Fun Facts about this delicious treat:
The word “chocolate” comes from the Nahuatl word “xocolātl,” meaning “bitter water.”
Chocolate was originally used as a currency by the Aztecs.
Cocoa beans were so valuable that they were used as dowries to pay for brides.
Chocolate is the second most popular food in the world, after rice.
Chocolate contains antioxidants that can improve your cardiovascular health.
Chocolate also contains flavonoids, which can improve your cognitive function.
Chocolate has been shown to reduce stress levels and help you feel happier.
February 9th is…
Chocolate Day National Develop Alternative Voices Day National Toothache Day Pizza (Pie) Day Read in a Bathtub Day
February 9th Birthday Quotes
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. – Thomas Paine
As human beings, why does it take somebody to feel like they’re close to us for us to see their humanity? Why can’t we see the humanity in people that are distant from us? – Michael B. Jordan
You just call out my name And you know wherever I am I’ll come runnin’ to see you again Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, All you have to do is call And I’ll be there You’ve got a friend. – Carole King
He knew he was good but did he know he was the best ever? Did he know he taught millions of artists how to dream? He never repeated a drawing. He always created anew, discovering again and again what it meant to create, to be a true artist that copied no one, not even himself. A world without Frank Frazetta makes no sense. No one like him will ever appear again. Remember him well. – Ralph Bakshi’ on Frank Frazetta.
It’s not what you do. It’s the way you do it-stripping or writing or talking… or just breathing. Do it with air, and never admit you’re scared. – Gypsy Rose Lee
The real danger of writing a great song when you’re on something is that it might get you thinking that the only way to repeat that is by only writing when you’re high. – Barry Mann
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. – Thomas Paine
In this life, to earn your place you have to fight for it. – Shakira
Too many managers manage by what the postgame press conference is going to be. – John Kruk
February 9th Birthdays
1737 – Thomas Paine, English-American philosopher, author, and activist (died in 1809) 1773 – William Henry Harrison, American general and politician, 9th President of the United States (died in 1841) 1800 – Hyrum Smith, American religious leader (died in 1844) 1874 – Amy Lowell, American poet, critic and educator (died in 1925) 1892 – Peggy Wood, American actress (died in 1978) 1914 – Gypsy Rose Lee (Rose Louise Hovick), American burlesque entertainer (died in 1970) 1914 – Ernest Tubb, American singer-songwriter (died in 1984) 1928 – Frank Frazetta, American painter and illustrator (died in 2010) 1939 – Barry Mann, American pianist, songwriter, and producer 1942 – Carole King, American singer-songwriter 1943 – Barbara Lewis, American soul/R&B singer-songwriter 1943 – Joe Pesci, American actor 1945 – Mia Farrow, American actress 1946 – Jim Webb, American politician 1949 – Judith Light, American actress 1954 – Jo Duffy, American comic book writer 1957 – Terry McAuliffe, American politician 1961 – John Kruk, American baseball player and sportscaster 1963 – Travis Tritt, American country singer 1977 – Shakira Ripoll, Columbian singer 1979 – Ziyi Zhang – Chinese actress 1979 – Mema Suvari, American actress 1981 – Tom Hiddleston, English actor 1987 – Michael B. Jordan, American actor 1992 – Avan Jogia, Canadian actor
February 9th History
1825 – The U.S. House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams president since no candidate had received a majority of electoral votes.
1861 – American Civil War: Jefferson Davis was elected the Provisional President of the Confederate States of America by the Confederate convention at Montgomery, Alabama.
1870 – The weather service, now named the National Weather Service (NWS) was authorized by Congress.
1889 – The United States Department of Agriculture was established
1895 – William G. Morgan, a Holyoke, MA, YMCA physical education director, invented the game of volleyball.
1900 – The Davis Cup tennis competition was established.
1902 – Doctor Eugène-Louis Doyen of Paris, performed a successful operation separating Siamese freakshow twins (Radhika and Dodika), from the Barnum and Bailey Circus, apart.
1913 – The 1913 Great Meteor Procession took place over the eastern section of North America.
1942 – ‘War Time’ Daylight-savings went into effect in the US.
1957 – #1 Hit February 9, 1957 – March 1, 1957: Elvis Presley – Too Much
1960 – Adolph Coors was kidnapped and later killed by Joe Corbett while driving to work from his Morrison, Colorado, home.
1961 – The Beatles debuted at Liverpool’s Cavern.
1963 – #1 Hit February 9, 1963 – March 1, 1963: Paul & Paula – Hey Paula
1964 – The Beatles appeared in the Ed Sullivan Show for the first time.
1971 – Satchel Paige became the first Negro League player to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
1974 – #1 Hit February 9, 1974 – March 1, 1974: Love Unlimited Orchestra – Love’s Theme
1986 – Halley’s Comet last appeared in the inner Solar System, next appearing in 2061.
1991 – #1 Hit February 9, 1991 – February 22, 1991: C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams – Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
1997- The Simpsons made television history with their episode “The Itchy, Scratchy and Poochie Show” which they then surpassed the Flintstones as the longest-running prime-time cartoon series in terms of episodes aired.
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Showgirls still holds the record for most Razzie nominations with 13.
One of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World: Hanging Gardens of Babylon, in Iraq?, referred to in the mid 500s BC
1587 – Mary, Queen of Scots was executed by beheading, for plotting the death of Queen Elizabeth I.
1851 – Portland (The City of Roses) was incorporated in Oregon.
1887 – The Dawes Act authorized the President of the United States to survey Native American tribal land and divide it into individual allotments.
1922 – President Warren G. Harding brought the first radio set in the White House.
If you were born on February 8th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 18th (prior year)
February 8: National Boy Scout Day
This day is set aside to honor those who embody the traits of being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. The Boy Scouts of America was founded in 1910 by American William D. Boyce and has helped shape many of our nation’s leaders. These young men have learned to become responsible citizens and are prepared to lead successful lives. We salute all Boy Scouts for their dedication to service and for always living up to the motto: “Be Prepared.”
National Kite-Flying Day
Kite-flying has a rich history, dating back over 2,000 years to ancient China. Legend has it that a Chinese farmer tied a string to his hat to keep it from blowing away in the wind. Inspired by how it floated, he attached a bamboo frame and paper to create the first kite. From this humble beginning, kites evolved into a form of entertainment, recreation, and even military use in various cultures.
February 8 was chosen as National Kite-Flying Day to honor Sir George Cayley, an English engineer and aviation pioneer credited with significantly advancing the design and understanding of kites and gliders in the 19th century. His contributions laid the foundation for modern aviation.
Families and friends gather in parks, open fields, and beaches on this special day, showcasing vibrant kites of all shapes and sizes. The sky transforms into a kaleidoscope of colors as kites of every hue dance and weave through the air. It’s a spectacle that captivates both young and old, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared joy.
Participating in National Kite-Flying Day is not just about the thrill of watching a kite soar high; it’s also an opportunity for creativity and self-expression. Many kite enthusiasts take pride in designing and crafting their kites, turning the day into a showcase of artistic ingenuity.
February 8th is…
Boy Scouts Day Laugh and Get Rich Day National Fly A Kite Day National Molasses Bar Day
February 8th Birthday Quotes
“There are some people who leave impressions not so lasting as the imprint of an oar upon the water.” – Kate Chopin
“There’s a very basic human, non-verbal aspect to our need to make music and use it as part of our human expression. It doesn’t have to do with body movements, it doesn’t have to do with articulation of a language, but with something spiritual.” – John Williams
“Without John Williams, bikes don’t really fly, nor do brooms in Quidditch matches, nor do men in red capes. There is no Force, dinosaurs do not walk the Earth, we do not wonder, we do not weep, we do not believe.” – Steven Spielberg
“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” – Martin Buber
“There’s no greater way to gain an audience’s sympathy than by being unfortunate.” – Seth Green
“Life without industry is guilt, and industry without art is brutality.” – John Ruskin
“Man’s constitution is so peculiar that his health is purely a negative matter. No sooner is the rage of hunger appeased than it becomes difficult to comprehend the meaning of starvation. It is only when you suffer that you really understand.” – Jules Verne
February 8th Birthdays
1591 – Guercino, Italian painter (died in 1666) 1819 – John Ruskin, English writer (died in 1900) 1828 – Jules Verne, French author, poet, and playwright (died in 1905) 1850 – Kate Chopin, American author (died in 1904) 1978 – Martin Buber, Austrian-Jewish philosopher (died in1965) 1899 – Lonnie Johnson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died in 1970) 1914 – Bill Finger, American comic author and illustrator, co-created Batman (died in 1974) 1918 – Freddie Blassie, American wrestler and manager (died in 2003) 1921 – Lana Turner, American actress (died in 1995) 1922 – Audrey Meadows, American actress (died in 1996) 1925 – Jack Lemmon, American actor (died in 2001) 1931 – James Dean, American actor (died in 1955) 1932 – John Williams, American pianist, composer, and conductor 1940 – Ted Koppel, English-American journalist 1941 – Nick Nolte, American actor 1942 – Robert Klein, American comedian and actor 1953 – Mary Steenburgen, American actress 1955 – John Grisham, American lawyer and author 1968 – Gary Coleman, American actor (died in 2010) 1969 – Mary McCormack, American actress 1972 – Big Show (Paul Donald Wight II), American wrestler, actor 1974 – Seth Green, American actor 1980 – William Jackson Harper, American actor 1984 – Cecily Strong, American actress 1994 – Nikki Yanofsky, Canadian singer-songwriter
February 8th History
1587 – Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded.
1692 – A doctor in Salem Village claimed three teenaged girls were possessed by Satan, which then lead to the chaotic Salem Witch Trials.
1693 – The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia was granted a charter by King William III and Queen Mary II.
1735 – The first Opera in the American Colines was performed – Flora: or the Hob in the Well, in Charlestown, South Carolina.
1855 – The Devil’s Footprints mysteriously appeared around the Exe Estuary in East Devon and South Devon, England. After a heavy snowfall, trails of two-legged hoof-like marks appeared overnight in the snow covering a total distance of many miles.
1865 – Delaware voters rejected the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and vote to continue the practice of slavery, although in practice, it did not exist. (Delaware finally ratified the amendment on February 12, 1901.)
1898 – The first envelope folding and gumming machine patent (#598,716) was issued to John Ames Sherman of Worcester, Mass.
1910 – The Boy Scouts of America were founded.
1915 – The Birth of a Nation, D.W. Griffith’s controversial film, premiered. It was originally titled The Clansman.
1924 – The first state execution in the United States by gas chamber took place in Nevada.
1936 – The first National Football League (NFL) draft was held. The Philadelphia Eagles chose Jay Berwanger, the first to be selected.
1946 – The first portion of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible was published.
1950 – The Stasi, the secret police of East Germany, was established.
1952 – Elizabeth II was proclaimed Queen of the United Kingdom.
1960 – #1 Hit February 8, 1960 – February 21, 1960: Mark Dinning – Teen Angel
1960 – Ground-breaking for the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The initial stars were Joanne Woodward, Olive Borden, Ronald Colman, Louise Fazenda, Preston Foster, Burt Lancaster, Edward Sedgwick, and Ernest Torrence.
1969 – Pieces of the large Allende meteorite were recovered in Chihuahua, Mexico. They were estimated to be over 4.6 billion years old.
1969 – The last issue of the Saturday Evening Post was published. It was revived in 1971 as a quarterly publication and eventually 6 times a year.
1971 – The NASDAQ stock market index opened.
1975 – #1 Hit February 8, 1975 – February 14, 1975: Ohio Players – Fire
1992 – #1 Hit February 8, 1992 – February 28, 1992: Right Said Fred – I’m Too Sexy
1998 – The first female hockey game in Olympic history took place. Finland defeated Sweden 6-0.
2003 – # 1 Hot February 8, 2003 – March 7, 2003: Jennifer Lopez featuring LL Cool J – All I Have
2014 – #1 Hit February 8, 2014 – March 7, 2014: Katy Perry featuring Juicy J – Dark Horse
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
To Yoda, backwards everyone else must speak.
Writing has become 1% inspiration, 99% not getting distracted by the internet.
The more cheese you have, the beggir the number of holes. The beggir the number of holes, the less cheese you have. The more cheese you have, the less cheese you have. #conundrum
The original title for The Breakfast Club was ‘Detention’.
Star Wars: A New Hope is all about Darth Vader’s kids getting him in trouble with his boss. First, his daughter steals the Death Star plans, and then his son blows it up.
The Capital of Portugal is Lisbon
The biggest film of 1983: Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi (Sci-Fi) earned ~ $309,000,000
There are two types of people: those who divide people into two types, and those who don’t.
A very important part of staying organized is having a “junk drawer” – without a place to put miscellaneous items, they’ll just end up all over the place. Or, a “junk room”.
“The Dali Lama told me I would reach total consciousness on my death bed, so I’ve got that going for me.” #moviequotes
The fear of long words is Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia.
Having too much sex can cause memory loss. I read that on page 437 in a medical journal on November 2006 at 6:15 pm. It was cloudy.
For every Spiderman, Batman, Ironman, etc there are probably at least ten potential unknown heroes who died in the first few weeks testing their new powers.
Tracy Chapman (1988 Best New Artist Grammy Winner, awarded in 1989)
George Michael (Grammy for Album of the Year)
Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin (Grammy for Record of the Year)
New Artists in the Pop Charts Included: Milli Vanilli, Roxette, Babyface, Jeff Healy band, Enya, Maxi Priest, Bd English, De la Soul, Indigo Girls, Sir Mixx-A-Lot, Melissa Ethridge and Skid Row
1989’s Retro Top 10 Hits
1. The Best – Tina Turner
2. Orinoco Flow (Sail Away) – Enya
3. Electric Youth – Debbie Gibson
4. Veronica – Elvis Costello
5. The Look – Roxette
6. She Wants To Dance With Me – Rick Astley
7. Put a Little Love In Your Heart – Annie Lennox and Al Green
8. She Drives Me Crazy – Fine Young Cannibals
9. Baby Don’t Forget My Number – Milli Vanilli
10. Toy Soldiers – Martika
1989’s ‘One Hit Wonders’
1. Heaven Help Me – Deon Estus (with George Michael)
2. What I Am – Edie Brickell and New Bohemians
3. One Bitten Twice Shy – Great White
4. Me So Horny – 2 Live Crew
5. A Touch of Grey – Grateful Dead
6. Dear God – Midge Ure
7. Angel Eyes – Jeff Healy Band
8. Me Myself and I – De La Soul
9. Pictures of Matchstick Men – Camper Van Beethoven
10. Doctorin’ The Tardis – The Timelords
1989’s Dance Top 10 Hit List
1. Smooth Criminal – Michael Jackson
2. My Prerogative – Bobby Brown
3. My Fantasy – Teddy Riley with Guy
4. Birthday Suit – Johnny Kemp
5. Every Little Step – Bobby Brown
6. Back To Life – Soul II Soul
7. Real Love – Jody Watley
8. Good Life – Inner City
9. The Way You Love Me – Karyn White
10. I Like – Guy
More of 1989’s Dance Top Hits
On Our Own – Bobby Brown
1989’s Pop Dance Top 10 Hit List
1. Love Shake – The B-52s
2. Kiss – Art of Noise with Tom Jones
3. Your Mama Don’t Dance – Poison
4. Like A Prayer – Madonna
5. Get On Your Feet – Gloria Estefan
6. You Got It (The Right Stuff) – New Kids On The Block
7. Express Yourself – Madonna
8. I Wanna Have Some Fun – Samantha Fox
9. Forever Your Girl – Paula Abdul
10. Partyman – Prince
1989’s Hip Hop Top 10 Hit List
1. Bust A Move – Young M.C.
2. Funky Cold Medina – Tone Loc
3. Joy & Pain – Rob Base & D.J. Easy Rock
4. Wild Thing – Tone Loc
5. Me, Myself & I – De La Soul
6. Buffalo Stance – Neneh Cherry
7. I’m That Type Of Guy – LL Cool J
8. Hey Ladies – Beastie Boys
9. Me So Horny – 2 Live Crew
10. We Got Our Own Thang – Heavy and the Boyz
1989’s Pop Rock Top 10 Hit List
1. Patience – Guns N Roses
2. Love In An Elevator – Aerosmith
3. Once Bitten Twice Shy – Great White
4. Cult of Personality – Living Colour
5. Glamour Boys – Living Color
6. We Didn’t Start the Fire – Billy Joel
7. Cuddly Toy – Roachford
8. Heaven – Warrant
9. I’ll Be There For You – Bon Jovi
10. Runnin Down a Dream – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
1989’s Alt Rock Top 10 Hit List
1. Love Song – The Cure
2. A Little Respect – Erasure
3. So Alive – Love and Rockets
4. Fascination Street – The Cure
5. Mayor of Simpleton – XTC
6. Stand – R.E.M.
7. Closer To Fine – Indigo Girls
8. Dear God – Midge Ure
9. Pop Song 89 – R.E.M.
10. Trouble Me – 10,000 Maniacs
More of 1989’s Alternative Rock
Anchorage – Michelle Shocked
1989’s Album Rock Top 10 Hit List
1. Dr. Feelgood – Motley Crue
2. One – Metallica
3. Paradise City – Guns N Roses
4. All I Want Is You – U2
5. Lay Your Hands On Me – Bon Jovi
6. Angel of Harlem – U2
7. The Living Years – Mike + The Mechanics
8. When Love Comes To Town – U2 with BB King
9. Close My Eyes Forever – Lita Ford with Ozzie Osbourne
10. End of the Line – Traveling Wilburys
More of 1989’s Album Rock
Fool For Your Loving – Whitesnake
Wanna Be Loved – House of Lords
I Want It All – Queen
Pretending – Eric Clapton
Got It Made – Crosby Stills and Nash
1989’s Bubblegum Pop Music Top Ten
1. You Got It (The Right Stuff) – New Kids On The Block
2. Every Little Step – Bobby Brown
3. Electric Youth – Debbie Gibson
4. Forever Your Girl – Paula Abdul
5. Baby Don’t Forget My Number – Milli Vanilli
6. I Wanna Have Some Fun – Samantha Fox
7. Walk The Dinosaur – Was (Not Was)
8. Cherish – Madonna
9. Put A Little Love In Your Heart – Anie Lennox and Al Green
The Importance of PIN Security: Is Your 4-Digit Code Safe?
4-Digit PIN Strength Checker
*We do not share or keep this information*
Your 4-digit PIN might be the only thing between your data and cybercriminals. Yet, too many people choose weak, predictable PINs that are easy to guess. If you’re using something like “1234” or “0000,” you might as well be handing over your phone or bank account to a hacker. Let’s break down why PIN security matters and how you can ensure yours is strong enough to withstand brute-force attacks.
Most people don’t realize that hackers don’t randomly guess PINs—they use well-known lists of commonly used codes. Studies have shown that nearly 10% of all PINs are either “1234” or “0000,” making them straightforward targets. Cybercriminals use algorithms that can run through the top 100 most common PINs in seconds, giving them access to everything from your smartphone to your bank account. This is why using a unique and unpredictable PIN is essential for protecting your personal information.
Beyond just standard numbers, hackers exploit patterns and psychology when trying to crack PINs. Many people base their codes on significant dates, such as birthdays or anniversaries, making them easier to guess. Others use mirrored or sequential numbers, assuming they’re clever or hard to crack—when, in reality, they’re some of the first numbers tested in brute-force attacks. If your PIN follows an obvious pattern, it’s time to rethink your security and opt for something random and difficult to predict.
How to Test Your PIN Security
Want to know if your PIN is safe? Try our PIN Security Checker. This free tool instantly evaluates your PIN’s strength and assigns it a security grade (A–F).
✅ No data is stored – your privacy is our priority.
✅ Instant results – see your PIN’s rating in real-time.
✅ Encourages stronger security – adjust your PIN until you get an “A” rating!
Why Are Some PINs Weaker Than Others?
Hackers don’t guess PINs at random—they follow patterns. Weak PINs tend to fall into a few categories:
Common Sequences – “1234,” “4321,” and “5678” are some of the worst choices.
Repeated Digits – PINs like “1111” or “7777” are easily guessed.
Birthdays & Dates – If your PIN is “1990” or “0714” (July 14th), it’s at risk.
Keypad Patterns – Numbers that form straight lines on a keypad (like “2580”) are common and weak.
Mirrored Numbers – Codes like “1221” or “3663” might seem clever but are frequently used.
Bank Default PINs – Some PINs (e.g., “5683,” which spells “LOVE” on a keypad) are default options.
What Makes a Strong PIN?
A secure PIN is random and unpredictable. Here are some best practices:
✔ Use a truly random combination – Something like “8063” or “4927” is much harder to guess.
✔ Change it periodically – If a service allows PIN updates, switch it up every few months.
✔ Don’t reuse PINs – Never use the same PIN for multiple accounts.
Secure Your Accounts Today
Weak PINs are one of the easiest ways hackers can break into your accounts. Please take a moment to check your PIN now and upgrade your security before it’s too late.
???? Test Your PIN Now: Use our PIN Security Checker to ensure you use a safe, hacker-proof code!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is PIN security important?
A weak PIN can be easily guessed by hackers using brute-force methods, leading to unauthorized access to your accounts. Using a strong, random PIN significantly reduces this risk.
What are the most common weak PINs?
The weakest PINs include “1234,” “0000,” “1111,” “5678,” and any birth years (e.g., “1990”). These are commonly used and frequently targeted in cyber attacks.
How can I check if my PIN is strong?
Use our PIN Security Checker to evaluate the strength of your 4-digit PIN instantly. The tool assigns a security grade (A-F) and provides recommendations for improvement, and we do not store or share the data.
Is it safe to enter my PIN into this tool?
Yes! We do not store or track any PIN data. The tool evaluates the entered PIN in real-time and provides a security rating.
What’s the best way to create a secure PIN?
Avoid common patterns, repeated numbers, and birth dates. Use a randomized PIN that does not follow an obvious sequence, such as “8063” or “4927.”
Should I change my PIN regularly?
Yes! If a service allows PIN changes, updating it periodically adds an extra layer of security against potential leaks or breaches.
Can I use the same PIN for multiple accounts?
No. Using the same PIN across different accounts increases your risk—if one account is compromised, hackers can attempt to reuse it elsewhere.
1795 – The 11th Amendment was ratified, reaffirming the sovereignty of the individual United States.
1817 – The first public gas street light was lit in Baltimore, Maryland, the first in the United States.
1914 – The silent film Kid Auto Races at Venice premiered in theaters, featuring Charlie Chaplin in his first screen appearance as The Little Tramp.
If you were born on February 7th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 17th (prior year)
National Periodic Table Day
On February 7, 1863, English chemist John Newlands published one of the first tables of elements. Newlands divided the known 56 elements into 11 groups based on the “Law of Octaves.” His table suggested that anyone element will have similar properties to elements eight places before and behind it on the table. While this theory was eventually disproven, it laid the groundwork for Dmitri Mendeleev’s periodic table, which is still in use today.
The periodic table is one of the most important tools in chemistry. It allows scientists to group and compare elements, making it easier to study their properties. The first version of the table was developed by Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869. Mendeleev’s table was based on the idea that elements are not random, but have a patterned organization. He noticed that certain elements tended to occur together in nature and grouped them accordingly.
Mendeleev’s Periodic Table soon became the standard for chemists all over the world. In fact, it was not until 1911 that another chemist, John Newlands, published his own version of the table. Newlands’ “Law of Octaves” proposed that each element has similar properties to the elements eight places before and behind it on the table. While this theory was eventually disproven, it laid the groundwork for Mendeleev’s periodic table, which is still in use today.
The periodic table has come a long way since its inception over 150 years ago. It has been modified and updated many times, but it still remains one of the most important tools in chemistry. Thanks to Dmitri Mendeleev, John Newlands, and all of the other chemists who have contributed to its development, we now have a tool that makes studying atoms and molecules much easier.
Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbor Day
Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbor Day, celebrated every February 7th, is a whimsical and heartwarming holiday with a charming origin. In the early 1980s, Tom Roy, a Minnesota radio station manager, created this playful occasion as a unique way to foster connections among neighbors and enhance community bonds. What started as a lighthearted concept has since evolved into an annual celebration encouraging people to embrace the simple yet powerful act of waving all five fingers at their neighbors (replacing the not-so-kind one-fingered gesture!)
The essence of this special day lies in its simplicity. Instead of resorting to mundane and sometimes negative gestures, this day encourages individuals to smile and extend a friendly wave or a simple “hello” to their neighbors.
This day is a gentle reminder of the importance of human connections in a world that often feels increasingly disconnected. In our fast-paced lives dominated by technology and virtual interactions, Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbor Day encourages people to step outside their comfort zones and engage in genuine, face-to-face moments with other people.
February 7th is…
Clash Day “e” Day National Fettuccine Alfredo Day National Periodic Table Day Rose Day
February 7th Birthday Quotes
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way- in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.” – Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities
“I grew up in Europe, where the history comes from.” – Eddie Izzard
“It is a source of consolation to me to know that I never willfully wronged any man and that I never put on the market a poorly-made implement.” – John Deere
“I don’t believe that old cliche that good things come to those who wait. I think good things come to those who want something so bad they can’t sit still.” – Ashton Kutcher
“You don’t pay taxes – they take taxes.” – Chris Rock
“A man acts suitably to his nature, when he conquers his enemy in such a way as that no other creature but a man could be capable of, and that is by the strength of his understanding.” – Thomas More
“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life that are the real ones after all.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder
“I don’t get high, but sometimes I wish I did. That way, when I messed up in life I would have an excuse. But right now there’s no rehab for stupidity.” – Chris Rock
“Religion and philosophy, philosophy and religion – they’re two words which are both… different. In spelling.” – Eddie Izzard
“The trouble with organizing a thing is that pretty soon folks get to paying more attention to the organization than to what they’re organized for.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder
February 7th Birthdays
1478 – Sir Thomas More, English Scholar (died in 1535) 1804 – John Deere, American blacksmith and businessman, founded Deere & Company (died in 1886) 1812 – Charles Dickens, English novelist and critic (died in 1870) 1837 – James Augustus Murray, English, 3rd editor for the Oxford English Dictionary (died in 1915) 1864 – Arthur Collins, American baritone singer (died in 1933) 1867 – Laura Ingalls Wilder, American writer (died in 1958) 1885 – Sinclair Lewis, American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright, Nobel Prize laureate (died in 1951) 1908 – Buster Crabbe, American swimmer and actor (died in 1983) 1920 – An Wang, Chinese-American engineer and businessman, founded Wang Laboratories (died in 1990) 1934 – King Curtis, American saxophonist and producer (died in 1971) 1955 – Miguel Ferrer, American actor and director (died in 2017) 1960 – James Spader, American actor 1962 – Garth Brooks, American singer-songwriter 1962 – Eddie Izzard, English comedian 1965 – Chris Rock, American comedic actor 1972 – Robyn Lively, American actress 1978 – Ashton Kutcher, American actor 1985 – Tina Majorino, American actress
February 7th History
1497 – The Bonfire of the Vanities occurred in which supporters of Girolamo Savonarola burned thousands of objects like cosmetics, art, and books in Florence, Italy.
1783 (Earthquake) Calabria, Italy
1827 – Ballet was introduced in America, in New York’s Bowery Theatre, The Deserter.
1904 – 1500 buildings, in an 80 block area of downtown Baltimore was destroyed in a fire. No one was killed.
1932 – The ‘neutron’ was mentioned in an article in the journal Nature by its discoverer, James Chadwick,
1935 – ‘Monopoly’ was first sold by Charles Darrow. In December he sold the patented (#2,026,082) game to Parker Brothers.
1940 – The second full-length animated Walt Disney film, Pinocchio, premiered.
1962 – The United States banned all Cuban imports and exports.
1964 – The Beatles first arrived in the United States.
1964 – Pan Am Yankee Clipper flight 101 from London Heathrow landed at New York’s Kennedy Airport, bring The Beatles to America for the first time.
1970 – #1 Hit February 7, 1970 – February 13, 1970: Shocking Blue – Venus
1976 – #1 Hit February 7, 1976 – February 27, 1976: Paul Simon – 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
1979 – Ex-planet Pluto moved inside real planet Neptune’s orbit for the first time since both planets were known to science.
1981 – February 7, 1981 – February 20, 1981: Kool & the Gang – Celebration
1982 – Superman: The Movie was broadcast on American television for the first time. It was in two parts, continued the following night.
1984 – STS-41-B Challenger Mission: Astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart make the first untethered spacewalk using the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU).
1985 – New York, New York became the official anthem of New York City.
1987 – #1 Hit February 7, 1987 – February 13, 1987: Madonna – Open Your Heart
1988 – America’s Most Wanted premiered on FOX.
1990 – Dissolution of the Soviet Union: The Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party agrees to give up its monopoly on power.
1997 – NeXT merged with Apple Computer, starting the path to Mac OS X.
2009 – #1 Hit February 7, 2009 – February 20, 2009: Kelly Clarkson – My Life Would Suck Without You
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
Useless Pronunciation: Y as in you
The Capital of Qatar is Doha
Janelle “Penny” Commissiong was the first black woman to hold the Miss Universe title. She won the title in 1977 at the Miss Universe pageant, which was held in the Dominican Republic.
Biggest film of 1993: Jurassic Park (Action) earned ~ $396,000,000
I could walk into Kohl’s and buy one pair of socks but my receipt would still say I saved like $40.
Based On A True Story could be shortened to BOATS. #mynewacronym
Just once before I die, I want to know what it feels like to steal a freshly baked pie from someone’s windowsill.
Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob, also narrated The Powerpuff Girls.
Bender from Futurama was named after John Bender from The Breakfast Club.
Wall Street is called Wall Street because the settlers erected an actual wall to defend against Native Americans.
“Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.” – Bill Gates
“Live your epitaph” – Zoe Weil
Potato chips were invented in Saratoga Springs in 1853 by chef George Crum.
Well… it’s a deep subject, isn’t it?
“Just look at the face: it’s vacant, with a hint of sadness. Like a drunk who’s lost a bet.” – Dianne, in Shaun of the Dead
To help you plan a soft romantic playlist, or an unforgettable wedding playlist, we’ve compiled a list of what we believe are the best love songs of this generation. For best results, play on shuffle.
1. Perfect – Ed Sheeran (2017)
2. Lover – Taylor Swift (2019)
3. The Bones – Maren Morris (2019)
4. Fall for You – Secondhand Serenade (2008)
5. Just The Way You Are – Bruno Mars (2010)
6. The Story – Brandi Carlile (2007)
7. If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys (2001)
8. By Your Side – Sade (2000)
9. R.E.M. – Ariana Grande (2018)
10. Ocean Eyes – Billie Elish (2017)
11. If You’re Not the One – Daniel Bedingfield (2002)
12. Untitled (How Does It Feel) – D’Angelo (2000)
13. No One – Alicia Keys (2007)
14. Cover Me Up – Jason Isbell (2013)
15. Make You Feel My Love – Adele (2008)
16. All of Me – John Legend (2014)
17. You Make It Easy – Jason Aldean (2017)
18. When I Look At You – Miley Cyrus (2009)
19. The Reason – Hoobastank (2003)
20. Shallow – Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper (2018)
21. Drops of Jupiter – Train (2001)
22. With You – Mariah Carey (2018)
23. Let Me Love You – Mario (2005)
24. No Air – Jordin Sparks ft. Chris Brown (2008)
25. Butterflies – Kacey Musgraves (2018)
26. Made for You – Alexander Cardinale (2014)
27. Edge of Desire – John Mayer (2009)
28. Fallin’ – Alicia Keys (2001)
29. How Do I Live – Le Ann Rimes (1997)
30. She Will Be Loved – Maroon 5 (2004)
31. Your Body Is A Wonderland – John Mayer (2001)
32. Better – Khalid (2018)
33. Bleeding Love – Leona Lewis (2008)
34. Kiss Me Slowly – Parachute (2011)
35. This Town – Niall Horan (2017)
36. First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes (2005)
37. 10,000 Hours – Dan + Shay ft. Justin Bieber (2019)
38. I Found You – Alabama Shakes(2012)
40. The Luckiest – Ben Folds (2001)
41. Mariners Apartment Complex – Lana Del Rey (2019)
42. The Mystery of Love – Sufjan Stevens (2017)
43. Come What May – Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman (2001)
44. In Another’s Eyes – Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood (2014)
45. LOVE. – Kendrick Lamar ft. Zacari
46. One and Only – Adele (2011)
47. Thinkin’ Bout You – Frank Ocean (2012)
48. Little Things – One Direction (2012)
UpBeat All Time Love Tracks
Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World – Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (1993)
Cuz I Love You – Lizzo (2019)
Adore You – Harry Styles (2019)
Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars (2010)
I’m Yours – Jason Mraz (2008)
Love Song – Sara Bareilles (2008)
Love Story – Taylor Swift (2008)
My Love” by Justin Timberlake (2006)
Such Great Heights – The Postal Service (2003)
Yellow – Coldplay (2000)
I Love You Always Forever – Donna Lewis (1996)
That’s The Way Love Goes – Janet Jackson (1993)
The Best – Tina Turner (1989)
The Way You Make Me Feel – Michael Jackson (1988)
Just Like Heaven – The Cure (1987)
In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel feat. Youssou N’Dour (1986)
Kiss – Prince (1986)
The Power of Love – Huey Lewis & the News (1985)
I Would Die 4 U – Prince (1984)
Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen (1980)
Heroes – David Bowie (1977)
Best Of My Love – The Emotions (1977)
You Make Loving Fun” by Fleetwood Mac (1977)
Three Little Birds – Bob Marley (1977)
Silly Love Songs – Wings (1976)
How Sweet It Is – James Taylor (1975)
Love Will Keep Us Together – Captain and Tennille (1975)
2. Who (or what) was the first giant balloon in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
3. What major Swedish car company debuted in 1927?
4. In 1927, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
5. Who was the President of the United States in 1927?
6. Over 2 1/2 miles long, what passageway between New Jersey and New York opened?
7. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1927?
8. What was the average household income in 1927?
9. Georges Lemaître, a Catholic priest, first proposed what astronomical idea?
10. What tasty powdered drink was invented by Edwin Perkins in Hastings, Nebraska?
11. Directed by Fritz Lang, what German science fiction classic was released?
12. What radio (and later television) network debuted in 1927?
13. Who was issued a pilot’s license from the United States government in 1927? (Hint: He does not use an airplane)
14. How many people lived in the United States in 1927?
15. What world population milestone was reached in 1927?
16. Who gained international fame as the first pilot to fly solo and nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean in a single-engine airplane, from New York to Paris?
17. What was the name of Charles Lindbergh’s airplane?
18. Who won the 1927 World Series?
19. What Yankees player set the Major League Baseball Record with 60 Home Runs?
20. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1927?
21. How much did a dozen eggs cost in 1927?
22. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1927? Martin Luther King Jr., Gina Lollobrigida, Eartha Kitt or Bob Fosse
23. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1927?
24. After Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Soviet Communist Party, who took over?
25. What Ford car replaced the Ford Model T in 1927?
26. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1927?
27. What Hollywood actress made a film called “It”, which later became her nickname: The It Girl?
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. Who was the Pope in 1927?
2. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1927?
3. Hans Nilson Langseth (July 14, 1846 -November 10, 1927) died with the world’s longest WHAT?
4. Who was the American Vice-President in 1927?
5. What was invented by Charles Brannock in 1927?
6. Who said, “I do not choose to run for president in 1928”?
7. What two cities did Charles Lindbergh fly between to make the first trans-Atlantic flight?
8. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1927?
9. What kind of electric clock was an improvement over the standard mechanical clock?
10. What medal did US President Calvin Coolidge present what honor to Lindbergh after his flight?
The Answers:
27 Trivia Answers for 1927 History
1. What was the highest-grossing movie of 1927? The Jazz Singer
2. Who (or what) was the first giant balloon in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Felix the Cat
3. What major Swedish car company debuted in 1927? Volvo
4. In 1927, what was the average life expectancy in the United States? Men – 59 years, Women – 62.1 years.
5. Who was the President of the United States in 1927? Calvin Coolidge (August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929)
6. Over 2 1/2 miles long, what passageway between New Jersey and New York opened? The Holland Tunnel
7. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1927? (tie) My Blue Heaven by Gene Austin OR In A Little Spanish Town by Paul Whiteman
8. What was the average household income in 1927? $5,496.73
9. Georges Lemaître, a Catholic priest, first proposed what astronomical idea? The Big Bang Theory
10. What tasty powdered drink was invented by Edwin Perkins in Hastings, Nebraska? Kool-Aid
11. Directed by Fritz Lang, what German science fiction classic was released? Metropolis
12. What radio (and later television) network debuted in 1927? The Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)
13. Who was issued a pilot’s license from the United States government in 1927? (Hint: He does not use an airplane) Santa Claus
14. How many people lived in the United States in 1927? The population was an estimated 119,035,000 people.
15. What world population milestone was reached in 1927? 2,000,000,000 (2 Billion) people
16. Who gained international fame as the first pilot to fly solo and non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean, flying from New York to Paris in his single-engine airplane? Charles Lindbergh
17. What was the name of Charles Lindbergh’s airplane? The Spirit of St. Louis. The flight took place on May 20/21, 1927.
18. Who won the 1927 World Series? In 1927, The New York Yankees won, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates (4 games to 0)
19. What Yankees player set the Major League Baseball Record with 60 Home Runs? Babe Ruth
20. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1927? In 1927, The Ottawa Senators won over the Boston Bruins (2–0–2)
21. How much did a dozen eggs cost in 1927? 49 cents
22. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1927? Martin Luther King Jr., Gina Lollobrigida, Eartha Kitt or Bob Fosse Martin Luther King Jr.
23. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1927? Charles Lindbergh
24. After Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Soviet Communist Party, who took over? Joseph Stalin
25. What Ford car replaced the Ford Model T in 1927? The Ford Model A.
26. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1927? $0.21 per gallon
27. What Hollywood actress made a film called “It”, which later became her nickname: The It Girl? Clara Bow
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. Who was the Pope in 1927? Pope Pius XI, February 6, 1922 – February 10, 1939
2. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1927? Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis
3. Hans Nilson Langseth (July 14, 1846 -November 10, 1927) died with the world’s longest WHAT? Beard
4. Who was the American Vice-President in 1927? Charles G. Dawes (March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929)
5. What was invented by Charles Brannock in 1927? The foot-measuring tool (“Brannock Device”) used in shoe stores
6. Who said, “I do not choose to run for president in 1928”? Calvin Coolidge
7. What two cities did Charles Lindbergh fly between to make the first trans-Atlantic flight? New York City and Paris
8. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1927? Whiskery
9. What kind of electric clock was an improvement over the standard mechanical clock? The Quartz Clock
10. What medal did US President Calvin Coolidge present what honor to Lindbergh after his flight? Distinguished Flying Cross Medal
1778 – In Paris, the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce were signed by the United States and France signaling thr official recognition of the United States.
1820 – The first 86 African American immigrants departed New York to start a settlement in present-day Liberia.
February 6, 1950 Birthday (fictional) Arthur Weasley, Harry Potter
1952 – Queen Elizabeth II succeeded to the British Throne.
1959 – At Cape Canaveral, Florida, a Titan intercontinental ballistic missile had the first successful test firing.
If you were born on February 6th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 16th (prior year)
Pay a Compliment Day
Do you ever feel like the world is just too negative? It seems that everywhere we turn, someone is complaining or being rude. Well, today is the day to turn all of that around! Today is Pay-a-Compliment Day, a day where we should give genuine and soulful compliments to everyone we encounter.
This holiday was created by Adrienne Koopersmith on February 6th, 1995. She noticed on a cold Chicago day that someone who wasn’t at a bus stop was frantically waving at the bus she was on, hoping that it would stop; the bus driver stopped and let the person on. When Koopersmith exited the bus, she complimented the driver on how nice it was that he had stopped. Koopersmith then went home and decided to make the holiday.
So, what is a genuine and soulful compliment? A genuine compliment is something that comes from the heart; it’s honest and meaningful. A soulful compliment is one that touches the other person’s spirit; it’s heartfelt and compassionate. Today, let’s take the time to give these kinds of compliments to everyone we meet. Let’s make someone’s day a little bit brighter, just by telling them how wonderful they are!
Some ideas for giving great, sincere compliments:
You have beautiful eyes.
I love your smile.
Your hair looks so pretty today.
You’re such a kind person.
I appreciate how you always help others.
You’re one of the most talented people I know.
Thank you for being there for me when I needed someone.
So, what are you waiting for? Spread some love and joy today by giving great compliments to everyone you meet! Happy Pay-a-Compliment Day! :
February 6th is…
Bob Marley Day in Jamaica and Ethiopia Frozen Yogurt Day International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation Lame Duck Day Pay a Compliment Day
February 6th Birthday Quotes
“I swing big, with everything I’ve got. I hit big or I miss big. I like to live as big as I can.” – Babe Ruth
“I’ve married a few people I shouldn’t have, but haven’t we all?” – Mamie Van Doren
“I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing. So, with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope. We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we’re in a time when there are no heroes, they just don’t know where to look.” – Ronald Reagan
“One love, One heart, Let’s get together and feel alright.” – Bob Marley
“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth
“They’re Greaat!” -Thurl Ravenscroft, as Tony The Tiger
“The practical value of history is to throw the film of the past through the material projector of the present on to the screen of the future.” – Henry Liddell
“I’ve never acted my age and I never will. It’s just the way I’ve always been.” – Mamie Van Doren
“I never hated a man enough to give him his diamonds back.” – Zsa Zsa Gabor
February 6th Birthdays
1756 – Aaron Burr, American colonel and politician (died in 1836) 1811 – Henry Liddell, English priest, author, and academic (died in 1898) 1820 – Thomas C. Durant, American railroad tycoon (died in 1885) 1833 – J.E.B. Stuart, USA & CSA American general (died in 1864) 1895 – Babe Ruth, American baseball player and coach (died in 1948) 1911 – Ronald Reagan, American actor and politician, 40th President of the United States (died in 2004) 1912 – Eva Braun, German wife of Adolf Hitler (died in 1945) 1913 – Mary Leaky, English paleoanthropologist (died in 1996) 1914 – Thurl Ravenscroft, American voice actor and singer (died in 2005) 1917 – Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hungarian-American actress and socialite (died in 2016) 1922 – Patrick Macnee, English-American actor (died in 2015) 1931 – Rip Torn, American actor (died in 2019) 1931 – Mamie Van Doren, American actress and model 1939 – Mike Farrell, American actor and activist 1940 – Tom Brokaw, American journalist 1941 – Gigi Perreau, American actress 1942 – Tommy Roberts, English fashion designer (died in 2012) 1943 – Fabian Forte, American actor and singer 1950 – Natalie Cole, American singer-songwriter (died in 2015) 1957 – Kathy Najimy, American comedic actress 1958 – Barry Miller, American actor 1962 – Axl Rose, American singer-songwriter 1966 – Rick Astley, English singer-songwriter 1977 – Josh Stewart, American actor 1982 – Alice Eve, English actress 1985 – Kris Humphries, American basketball player 1993 – Tinashe, American singer-songwriter
February 6th History
60 – The earliest known reference to a single day of the week (Sunday) in Pompeii.
1788 – Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the Constitution.
1819 – Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles founded Singapore.
1820 – The first 86 African American immigrants sponsored by the American Colonization Society left New York to start a settlement in present-day Liberia.
1843 – The first minstrel show in the United States, The Virginia Minstrels, opened at the Bowery Amphitheatre in New York City.
1891 – The Dalton Gang’s first attempt at train robbery failed. Bob, Grat, and Bill Dalton unsuccessfully tried to rob a Southern Pacific train near Alila, California.
1919 – The American Legion was founded.
1926 – The National Football League (NFL) adopted a rule that made players ineligible for competition until their college class graduated.
1928 – A woman calling herself Anastasia Tschaikovsky and claiming to be the youngest daughter of the murdered czar of Russia arrived in New York City. In 1991, DNA evidence indicated she was not the Russian princess.
1933 – The 20th Amendment to the Constitution was declared in effect, making the start of presidential, vice-presidential and congressional terms from March to January.
1937 – John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men was published.
1951 – The Broker, a Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train, derailed near Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, killing 85 people and injured over 500 more.
1952 – Queen Elizabeth II succeeded to the British throne.
1959 – The first patent for an integrated circuit (computer chip) was filed by Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments.
1959 – At Cape Canaveral, the first successful test firing of a Titan intercontinental ballistic missile.
1965 – #1 Hit February 6, 1965 – February 19, 1965: Righteous Brothers – You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
1971 – Astronaut Alan B. Shepard used a six-iron that he had brought inside his spacecraft and swung at three golf balls on the surface of the moon. He said it went for “miles and miles.”
1978 (Blizzard) The Blizzard of 1978 – One of the worst Nor’easters in New England history, hit the region, with sustained winds of 65 mph and snowfall of four inches an hour.
1982 – #1 Hit February 6, 1982 – March 19, 1982: The J. Geils Band – Centerfold
1985 – The French mineral water company, Perrier, debuted its first new product in 123 years. The new items were water with a twist of lemon, lime, or orange.
1988 – #1 Hit February 6, 1988 – February 19, 1988: Tiffany – Could’ve Been
1998 – Washington National Airport was renamed the Ronald Reagan National Airport.
2000 – First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton formally declared that she was a candidate for a U.S. Senate seat from the state of New York.
2005 – American Dad premiered on FOX
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
It is said that Batman can beat anyone with prep time. The same can be said for Kevin from home alone.
Kurt Cobain recorded a theme for The Ren & Stimpy Show, but Nickelodeon rejected it.
If there are an infinite amount of alternate universes, then there must be an alternate universe in which somebody figured out how to destroy all other alternate universes and already did so. And, there must be another guy from another universe who stopped him.
Oxford University is older than the Aztec Empire.
If you had windshield wipers on your glasses you would think you’re the coolest person ever, but everyone else would think you look like an idiot. #neveragain
Biggest film of 1992: Aladdin (Action/Adventure) earned ~ $217,000,000
While prostitution is legal in Queensland Australia, advertising said services by skywriting is not.
TV Quotes… “I’m Rick James, bitch!” (Dave Chappelle as Rick James) on Chappelle’s Show.
Anakin did bring balance to the force. First, there were hundreds of Jedi and a couple of Sith. Afterward, there were a couple of Jedi and a couple of Sith.
“Hasta la vista, baby.” – The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 1991
1852 – The New Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, one of the largest and oldest museums in the world, opened to the public.
1919 – Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and D.W. Griffith founded United Artists.
1924 – The Royal Greenwich Observatory began broadcasting the hourly time signals known as the Greenwich Time Signal.
1985 – The Punic War, which began in 149 BC, ended when the mayors of Rome and Carthage signed a treaty in Tunis, Tunisia.
1993 – President Bill Clinton signed The Family Leave Act (effective Aug 5, 1993).
If you were born on February 5th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 15th (prior year)
National Weatherperson’s Day
February 5th is National Weatherperson’s Day, commemorating the birth of John Jeffries. Jeffries, one of America’s first weather observers, began taking daily weather observations in Boston in 1774 and he took the first balloon observation in 1784.
Weather observation is an important part of weather forecasting. Today, weather observations are taken from satellites and weather balloons. But it all started with John Jeffries in 1774.
Jeffries was born in Boston in 1744. He began taking daily weather observations when he was just 30 years old. In 1784, he took the first balloon observation. A weather balloon is a large rubber or latex balloon filled with hot air or helium gas that is used to measure atmospheric pressure, temperature, and wind speed.
Jeffries’ work helped improve weather forecasting techniques. His observations were used to create some of the first weather maps. He also developed the first storm warning system for ships sailing in the Atlantic Ocean.
John Jeffries was an important pioneer in the field of weather observation. He made significant contributions to the understanding of weather and helped make weather forecasting more accurate.
February 5th is…
California Western Monarch Day Disaster Day National Chocolate Fondue Day Nutella Day Shower With A Friend Day Weatherperson’s Day World Read Aloud Day
February 5th Birthday Quotes
“My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.” – Adlai Stevenson
“I am interested in the notion that people can become so obsessed by their world that they lose sense and awareness of how they appear to other people. They’re so earnest about it. But that’s true of so many things.” – Christopher Guest
“Only temporary success is achieved by taking short cuts.” – Roger Staubach
Spectacular achievements come from unspectacular preparation. – Roger Staubach
“Telling lies is a bit like tiling bathrooms – if you don’t know how to do it properly, it’s best not to try.” – Tom Holt
“My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling bad or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.” – Hank Aaron
“You know, you really do choose your existence in a way.” – Jennifer Jason Leigh
“The Dutch customs once thought my pictures were photos. Where on earth did they think I could have photographed my subjects? In Hell, perhaps?” – H.R. Giger
“Since I was the stupidest kid in my class, it never occurred to me to try and be perfect, so I’ve always been happy as a writer just to entertain myself. That’s an easier place to start.” – Stephen J. Cannell
“What counts now is not just what we are against, but what we are for. Who leads us is less important than what leads us- what convictions, what courage, what faith- win or lose.” – Adlai Stevenson
February 5th Birthdays
Weatherperson’s Day, named after the birthday (Feb 5, 1744) of early US weatherman, John Jeffries.
1723 – John Witherspoon, American patriot, invented the word ‘Americanism’ (died in 1794) 1744 – John Jeffries, American weatherperson (died in 1819) 1788 – Robert Peel, English politician (died in 1850) 1840 – Hiram Maxim, American engineer, invented the Maxim gun (died in 1916) 1900 – Adlai Stevenson II, American soldier, politician and diplomat (died in 1965) 1906 – John Carradine, American actor (died in 1988) 1908 – Daisy and Violet Hilton, English conjoined twins (died in 1969) 1914 – William S. Burroughs, American novelist, short story writer, and essayist (died in 1997) 1919 – Red Buttons, American comedic actor (died in 2006) 1919 – Tom Holt, American actor (died in 1973) 1934 – Hank Aaron, American baseball player 1934 – Don Cherry, Canadian ice hockey player, coach, and sportscaster 1940 – H.R. Giger, Swiss painter, sculptor, and set designer (died in 2014) 1941 – Stephen J. Cannell, American actor, producer, and screenwriter (died in 2010) 1941 – Barrett Strong, American soul singer-songwriter 1942 – Roger Staubach, American football player and sportscaster 1943 – Nolan Bushnell, American engineer and businessman, founded Atari, Inc. 1944 – Al Kooper, American singer-songwriter and producer 1946 – Charlotte Rampling, English actress 1948 – Christopher Guest, American actor and director 1948 – Barbara Hershey, American actress 1961 – Tim Meadows, American actor 1962 – Jennifer Jason Leigh, American actress 1964 – Laura Linney, American actress 1967 – Chris Parnell, American actor and comedian 1969 – Bobby Brown, American singer 1971 – Sara Evans, American country singer 1986 – Reed Sorenson, American race car drive
February 5th History
62 – Pompeii earthquake (not to be confused with the Great Earthquake of 79)
1778 – South Carolina became the second state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
1783 (Earthquake) Calabria, Italy
1824 – Samuel Vaughan Merrick and William H. Keating founded “The Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts” in Philadelphia.
1846 – The Oregon Spectator became the first newspaper published on the Pacific coast, in Oregon City.
1883 – The Southern Pacific Railroad completed its transcontinental “Sunset Route” from New Orleans to California.
1917 – The Congress of the United States passed the Immigration Act of 1917. Also known as the Asiatic Barred Zone Act, and it forbade immigration from nearly all of south and southeast Asia.
1919 – Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and D.W. Griffith launch United Artists.
1929 – A runner’s ‘starting blocks’ (Foot Support) patent (#1,701,026) was issued to George T. Bresnahan of Iowa City, Iowa
1936 – The last silent film of the era, Modern Times, was released by Charlie Chaplin.
1953 – Walt Disney film Peter Pan opened at the Roxy Theatre in New York City.
1955 – #1 Hit February 5, 1955 – February 11, 1955: The Fontane Sisters – Hearts Of Stone
1958 – A hydrogen bomb, known as the Tybee Bomb, was lost by the US Air Force off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, and was never found.
1966 – #1 Hit February 5, 1966 – February 18, 1966: Petula Clark – My Love
1972 – Bob Douglas became the first African-American to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
1977 – #1 Hit February 5, 1977 – February 18, 1977: Mary MacGregor – Torn Between Two Lovers
1983 – #1 Hit February 5, 1983 – February 18, 1983: Toto – Africa
1988 – Manuel Noriega was indicted on drug smuggling and money laundering charges.
February 5, 1992 Birthday (fictional) Bonnie Bennett, Vampire Diaries, TV
1999 – Mike Tyson was sentenced to a year in jail for assaulting two people after a car accident on August 31, 1998. Tyson was also fined $5,000, had to serve 2 years of probation, and had to perform 200 hours of community service upon release.
2000 – Kelly Ripa officially joined Regis Philbin on Live!
2008 – A major tornado outbreak (2008 Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak) struck across the Southern United States killing 57 people.
#1 Hit February 5, 2022 – March 11, 2022: We Don’t Talk About Bruno – Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto cast
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
TV Quotes… “Space, the final frontier …” (Capt. James Tiberius Kirk) on “Star Trek”
Every time in medical movies and shows when the doctor walks in announcing what’s wrong with the patient, they break HIPAA.
Downside Up isn’t the opposite up upside down. Upside up is.
“I’ll be in Hell before you start breakfast” – ‘Black Jack’ Ketchum (famous train robber) #LastWords
A group of Meteorologists is a Shower.
Over 90% of all fish caught are caught in the northern hemisphere.
The oldies station will have come full circle when it starts playing Weezer’s “Buddy Holly.”
A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
The very best place to do a shady transaction or deal is in neon animal costumes outside a mental institution because no one would believe the witnesses.
Jayne Mansfield – Real Name: Vera Jane Palmer
Sammy Hagar’s biggest single “I Can’t Drive 55” spawned from a speeding ticket he got in NY.
Calculus has not changed much over 1000 years, but there is always that new edition of a textbook that comes out.
I forgot my password. Old me has outwitted new me.
“It’s strong enough for both of us.” #famouslastwords
From the beginning of “Empire Strikes Back” to halfway through “Return of the Jedi,” Han Solo was wearing the same pants.
1789 – George Washington is unanimously elected as the first President of the United States by the US Electoral College.
1941 – The USO (United Service Organization) was founded.
1992 – A coup d’état was led by Hugo Chávez against Venezuelan President Carlos Andrés Pérez.
February 4, 2000, The Sims was released, Computer Game
2000 – The World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium, Charter of Paris is signed by the President of France, Jacques Chirac, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura, initiating World Cancer Day on February 4 every year.
2004 – Facebook launched.
If you were born on February 4th, You were likely conceived the week of… May 14th (prior year)
February 4th is…
Create A Vacuum Day Homemade Soup Day Medjool Date Day National Quacker Day Stuffed Mushroom Day Thank A Mailman Day World Cancer Day
The USO (United Service Organization)
United Services Organization (USO) is an American non-profit organization founded in 1941 to support members of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Army Air Corps, and Air National Guard. The USO was founded to provide morale and recreational services to U.S. uniformed military personnel during World War II, and served as a second home for GIs in the United States. By maintaining troops, providing social services, and maintaining the connection between military members and their families, home, and country until all return, we supported America’s military and their families.
During World War II, USO clubs served American G.I.s, and the initiative brought together the help of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Army Air Corps, and Air National Guard.
February 4 is Facebook’s Birthday
February 4th marks a significant milestone in the digital realm as Facebook, the social media giant, celebrates its birthday. Starting in 2004, the platform has evolved into a global phenomenon, fundamentally transforming how we connect, share, and communicate.
As we commemorate Facebook’s special day, it’s worth taking a nostalgic journey back to its humble beginnings. Conceived in a Harvard University dorm room by Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates, the platform was initially known as “The Facebook.” The concept aimed to create an online space where students could connect, share interests, and build virtual communities.
Over the years, Facebook has survived and thrived, adapting to the ever-changing landscape of the internet. From a college-centric platform, it expanded to include users from various demographics, connecting people from around the globe. Today, it boasts more than 2.8 billion monthly active users, making it the largest social media platform in the world.
This day also celebrates Facebook’s resilience and ability to stay relevant in an ever-evolving digital landscape. The platform has undergone numerous transformations, introducing features like the News Feed, the Like button, and, more recently, the introduction of Meta, its parent company, signaling a shift towards the metaverse.
Facebook’s impact on society is undeniable. It has redefined how we communicate, share life moments, and stay connected with friends and family. The platform has become a virtual scrapbook, chronicling the highs and lows of our lives through status updates, photos, and videos. Birthdays, in particular, have taken on a new dimension, with Facebook’s reminder feature ensuring that no special day goes unnoticed.
February 4th Birthday Quotes
“Mistakes are part of the game. It’s how well you recover from them, that’s the mark of a great player.” – Alice Cooper
“Our ideals, laws, and customs should be based on the proposition that each generation, in turn, becomes the custodian rather than the absolute owner of our resources and each generation has the obligation to pass this inheritance on to the future.” – Charles Lindbergh
“When people say I can’t or I mustn’t, I always say I can and I will.” – Oscar De La Hoya
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” – Rosa Parks
“If one took no chances, one would not fly at all. Safety lies in the judgment of the chances one takes. That judgment, in turn, must rest upon one’s outlook on life. Any coward can sit in his home and criticize a pilot for flying into a mountain in fog. But I would rather, by far, die on a mountainside than in bed.” – Charles Lindbergh
“Men are not the enemy, but the fellow victims. The real enemy is women’s denigration of themselves.” – Betty Frieden
“It isn’t how much time you spend somewhere that makes it memorable: it’s how you spend the time.” – David Brenner
“When you get old, everything is hurting. When I get up in the morning, it sounds like I’m making popcorn.” – Lawrence Taylor
“I didn’t see myself as any advance guard, or feminist.” – Ida Lupino
“We cannot attain the presence of God. We’re already totally in the presence of God. What’s missing is awareness.” – David Brenner
“A zombie film is not fun without a bunch of stupid people running around and observing how they fail to handle the situation.” – George A. Romero
February 4th Birthdays
1677 – Johann Ludwig Bach, German violinist and composer (died in 1731) 1818 – Emperor Norton I, San Francisco eccentric (died in 1880) 1895 – Nigel Bruce, English actor (died in 1953) 1902 – Charles Lindbergh, American pilot and explorer (died in 1974) 1912 – Nelson Byron, American golfer (died in 2006) 1913 – Rosa Parks, American civil rights activist (died in 2005) 1918 – Ida Lupino, English-American actress (died in 1995) 1921 – Betty Friedan, American author and feminist (died in 2006) 1936 – David Brenner, American comedian and actor (died in 2014) 1940 – George A. Romero, American director and producer (died in 2017) 1944 – Florence LaRue, American singer and actress 1947 – Dan Quayle, American politician, 44th Vice President of the United States 1948 – Alice Cooper, American singer-songwriter 1959 – Lawrence Taylor, American football player and sportscaster 1965 – Jerome Brown, American football player (died in 1992) 1971 – Rob Corddry, American actor, producer, and screenwriter 1973 – Oscar De La Hoya, American boxer 1977 – Gavin DeGraw, American singer-songwriter
February 4th History
1169 – A strong earthquake struck the Ionian coast of Sicily, causing over 15,000 deaths, especially in Catania, Lentini and Modica.
1703 – In Edo (Japan), 46 of the Forty-seven Ronin committed seppuku (ritual suicide) for avenging their master’s death.
1783 – Britain declared a formal cessation of hostilities with its American colonies, the United States.
1789 – George Washington was elected as the first president of the United States by the Electoral College.
1801 – John Marshall was sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States.
1825 – The Ohio Legislature authorized the construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal and the Miami and Erie Canal
1826 – The Last of the Mohicans by James Fennimore Cooper was published.
1859 – The Codex Sinaiticus was discovered in Egypt.
1922 – Ford Motor Company acquired the failing luxury automaker Lincoln Motor Company for $8 million.
1932 – The Winter Olympics were held in the United States at Lake Placid, NY.
1935 – Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch premiered on CBS radio.
1936 – Radium (Ra) became the first radioactive element to be synthetically made.
1938 – Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs was released by Walt Disney.
1941 – Roy Plunkett received the patent (#2,230,654) for Tetrafluoroethylene Polymers’ (Teflon)
1941 – The USO (United Services Organization) was founded.
1946 – Broadway Show – Born Yesterday (Play) February 4, 1946
1948 – Ceylon (later renamed Sri Lanka) becomes independent within the British Commonwealth.
1957 – Smith-Corona began selling portable electric typewriters.
1961 – The Misfits, starring Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Montgomery Clift, was released by United Artists
1965 (Earthquake) Rat Islands, Alaska
1974 – The Symbionese Liberation Army abducted 19-year-old Patty Hearst.
1978 – #1 Hit February 4, 1978 – March 3, 1978: Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive
1979 (Earthquake) Riobamba, Ecuador
1983 – Singer Karen Carpenter died of anorexia.
1984 – #1 Hit February 4, 1984 – February 24, 1984: Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
1985 – President Ronald Reagan’s defense budget called for a tripling of the expenditure on the “Star Wars” research program.
1989 – #1 Hit February 4, 1989 – February 10, 1989: Sheriff – When I’m with You
1991 – Pete Rose (aka Charlie Hustle) was banned ‘for life’ from the Baseball Hall of Fame due to the fact that he used to illegally gamble on games.
1992 – A coup d’état was led by Hugo Chávez against Venezuelan President Carlos Andrés Pérez.
1997 – A civil jury in California found O.J. Simpson liable in the death of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Goldman’s parents were awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages.
February 4, 2000, The Sims was released, Computer Game
2004 – Facebook launched as “TheFacebook.com”
2006 – #1 Hit February 4, 2006 – March 10, 2006: Beyonce featuring Slim Thug – Check on It
2014 – The last living WWI veteran was British citizen Florence Beatrice Green who passed away on February 4th, 2012. She was 110 years old. She last living WWI veteran was British citizen Florence Beatrice Green who passed away on February 4th, 2012. She was 110 years old.
Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts
The average word length in the English language is 5.1 letters.
Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl got really lucky when they named their son Dash as they had no way of knowing he’d have super speed as a superpower.
The name Scooby-Doo was inspired by Frank Sinatra’s scatting at the end of the song Strangers in the Night.
“I’m funny how, I mean funny like I’m a clown, I amuse you?” – Tommy DeVito #moviequotes
Be kinder to rude people. You may be the change they need to see.
When watching a documentary on lions, I root for the lions. When watching a documentary on antelopes, I root for the antelopes. #goteam
A group of Magpies is called a Tiding or Gulp or Murder or Charm.
To calculate the position of the Voyager 1 spacecraft some 12.5 billion miles away, you only need to use the first 15 digits of the value of Pi to be accurate within 1.5 inches.
A full-size Reeses Cup has 66 ridges around the edge.
“Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.” – Conan the Barbarian #moviequotes
“Denny Crane” – Denny Crane, Boston Legal
“Find a penny, pick it up. All day long you’ll have good luck” sounds like something Big Penny made up to keep the penny relevant.
‘Nipper’ is the name of the dog on the RCA label. ‘Chipper’ is the puppy version of the mascot.
