A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1684 – A patent was granted for the thimble.
1846 – The Mexican-American War ignited as a result of disputes over claims to Texas boundaries. The outcome of the war fixed Texas’ southern boundary at the Rio Grande River.
1898 – The U.S. declared war on Spain. Spain had declared war on the U.S. the day before.
1901 – The Detroit Tigers played their first game at home as a major league team against the Milwaukee Brewers at Bennett Park.
1901 – New York became the first state to require license plates for cars. The fee was $1.
1928 – A seeing eye dog was used for the first time. Buddy, a German Shepherd, became Morris Frank’s companion.
1940 – W2XBS (now WCBS-TV) in New York, NY, presented the first circus on TV.
1953 – U.S. Senator Wayne Morse ended the longest speech in Senate history. The speech on the Offshore Oil Bill lasted 22 hours and 26 minutes.
1953 – Dr. James D. Watson and Dr. Francis H.C. Crick suggested the double helix structure of DNA.
1954 – The first practical solar cell is publicly demonstrated by Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York, NY.
1959 – St. Lawrence Seaway opened to shipping. The water way connects the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.
1961 – Robert Noyce was granted a patent for the integrated circuit.
1962 – The U.S. spacecraft, Ranger, crashed on the Moon.
1963 – Amway held their first International Sales Convention.
1966 – Jack Valenti, an aide to President Lyndon Johnson, was hired as the head of the Motion Picture Association of America. A position he held for 38 years. While there, he created movie ratings.
1976 – It was rollercoaster spring weather in West Michigan. After four days with temperatures in the 80s from the 15th to the 18th, temperatures dropped back into the 30s with 3″ of heavy wet snow falling in Grand Rapids, MI.
1982 – Jane Fonda released her first workout video.
1983 – The Pioneer 10 spacecraft crossed Pluto’s orbit, speeding on its endless voyage through the Milky Way.
1988 – Sonny Bono was elected mayor of Palm Springs, CA. Six years later, in 1994 he was elected to Congress. He died in a skiing accident in 1997.
1990 – The U.S. Hubble Space Telescope was placed into Earth’s orbit. It was released by the Space Shuttle Discovery.
1992 – The final episodes of TV’s “Growing Pains” and “Who’s the Boss” aired on ABC.
1998 – First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was questioned by Whitewater prosecutors on videotape about her work as a private lawyer for the failed savings and loan at the center of the investigation.
2000 – In a move to preserve public areas, the National Park Service prohibited the recreational use of snowmobiles in nearly all national parks, monuments and recreational areas.
2003 – Southwest Airlines fired two pilots for “inappropriate conduct” after they removed most of their clothes in the cockpit of a Boeing 737. The pilots claimed they spilled coffee on their uniforms. The Federal Aviation Administration said that rules forbid behavior that distracts crew members, but there was no specific ban on flying naked.
2005 – “Runaway Bride” Jennifer Wilbanks turned up in Albuquerque, NM after claiming she had been abducted.
2007 – The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 13,000 for the first time.
2014 – The Flint, MI water crisis began when officials switched the city’s water supply to the Flint River, leading to lead and bacteria contamination.
2018 – Ford Motor Company announced that in the near future they would be condensing their line of U.S. car models to just the Mustang and the forthcoming Focus Active. The company would still manufacture a range of SUVs and trucks, including the Escape, Explorer, Bronco, and F-150.
2019 – Microsoft became the third company in the United States to be listed with a market value of $1 trillion, after Apple and Amazon.
BIRTHDAYS:
Al Pacino – 85 a old (1940) – Actor (“Scent of a Woman”, “Glengarry Glen Ross”, “Dick Tracy”, “And Justice for All”, “Dog Day Afternoon”, “The Godfather”, “The Godfather 2, “Serpico”)
Stu Cook – 80 a old (1945) – Bass guitarist (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Bjorn Ulvaeus – 80 a old (1945) – Musician (ABBA)
Talia Shire – 79 a old (1946) – Actress (“The Godfather”, “Rocky” movies)
Jeffrey DeMunn – 78 a old (1947) – Actor (“The Green Mile”, “The Shawshank Redemption,” TV’s “The Walking Dead”)
Steve Ferrone – 75 a old (1950) – Drummer (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Duran Duran, Average White Band)
Hank Azaria – 61 a old (1964) – Actor (provides numerous voices for TV’s “The Simpsons”, “Mad About You”, movie “Godzilla”)
Andy Bell – 61 a old (1964) – Singer (Erasure)
Eric Avery – 60 a old (1965) – Bass guitarist (Jane’s Addiction)
James Barbour – 59 a old (1966) – Actor, singer (“A Tale of Two Cities”)
Jane Clayson Johnson – 58 a old (1967) – Journalist (TV’s “Good Morning America”, “World News Tonight”)
Joe Buck – 56 a old (1969) – Play-by-play announcer
Renée Zellweger – 56 a old (1969) – Actress (“Bridget Jones’s Diary”, “Chicago”, “Cold Mountain”, “New in Town”, “Down With Love”, “Miss Potter”, “Cinderella Man”, “Me Myself and Irene”, “Nurse Betty”, “One True Thing”, “Jerry Maguire”)
Jason Lee – 55 a old (1970) – Actor (TV’s “My Name is Earl”, “Memphis Beat”, movies “Vanilla Sky”, “Chasing Amy”, “Mallrats”, “Almost Famous”, “Dogma”, “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back”)
Emily Bergl – 50 a old (1975) – Actress (“The Rage: Carrie 2”)
Sara Paxton – 37 a old (1988) – Actress (TV’s “Darcy’s Wild Life”, “Summerland”, movies “Aquamarine”, “Return to Halloweentown”, “Sydney White”, “Superhero Movie”, “The Last House on the Left”, “The Innkeepers”
TODAY IS:
- Independent Bookstore Day: Independent bookstores are struggling more and more with competition like Amazon or big chains like Barnes & Noble, so make a point to support your local shop.
- National Hug a Plumber Day: Give a special thank-you to the unsung heroes that keep our lives flowing—literally. Without plumbers, we would live in a much more disgusting world.
- World Penguin Day: Volunteer to help and educate the world about penguins, the adorable flightless birds of the Southern Hemisphere that face dangers from melting ice caps and more.
- World Malaria Day: Half a million people die of malaria each year. Donate to efforts to stop these deaths by providing mosquito netting and treatment to commonly affected areas.
- International Astronomy Day: Visit a museum or planetarium, chart the stars, or see how many constellations you can find to celebrate the vast and wonderful beauty of space and astronomy.
- National DNA Day: Ever since Watson and Crick’s discovery of the double helix, DNA has aided healthcare, science, even crime. Try a DNA kit, or read about the history of DNA.
- World Veterinary Day: Give a big thanks to the medical professionals who keep our dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, rodents and all other manner of creatures healthy and happy.
- National Lingerie Day: Looking for a confidence boost? Treat yourself to some intimate apparel that makes you feel fabulous and sexy! You deserve it.
- International Marconi Day: This 24-hour amateur radio event honors the legacy of Italian radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi, for whom its named. Join the network to get involved!
- Eeyore’s Birthday:
- National Telephone Day: The invention that revolutionized communication forever, this device brought people closer together and made the world feel smaller.
- National Go Birding Day: Grab some binoculars and visit a local wildlife reserve, or try hanging up a bird feeder to entice them into your own backyard on National Go Birding Day.
- National Prescription Drug Take Back Day: Ensuring safety by responsibly disposing of expired prescription drugs for a healthier and secure community environment.
- National Sense Of Smell Day: Take some time to stop and smell the roses—literally. National Sense of Smell Day is for appreciating the many scents our noses can pick up and enjoy.
- Celebrate Trails Day:
- International Amigurumi Day: Crafting tiny, charming creatures brings joy, unleashing creativity and providing a delightful escape into handmade whimsical worlds.
- National Rebuilding Day:
- National First Ladies Day: Explore the rich stories and contributions of remarkable women who have graced the role of the nation's presidential partner.
- World Healing Day: Explore the essence of well-being, nurturing vitality, resilience, and fulfillment for a harmonious and vibrant life journey.
- National Mani-Pedi Day:
- National Pool Opening Day:
- Red Hat Society Day:
- National Zucchini Bread Day: Vegetables in cake sounds weird, but carrot cake proved it a success. Zucchini cake follows in the same vein, a moist, tasty sweet treat…with a healthy side?
- Undiagnosed Children’s Awareness Day:
- International Financial Independence Awareness Day: With a declining economy, it’s tough to feel financially secure. But listen to experts and take some steps to set your future up for comfort, if not luxury.
- National Hairstylist Appreciation Day:
- International Delegate’s Day:
- License Plate Day:
- National Parental Alienation Awareness Day: Shedding light on the impact of family separation, and fostering understanding for the emotional toll it carries on individuals.
- International Sculpture Day:
- National Kiss of Hope Day:
- National East Meets West Day: Marking an historic moment of unity, troops from different nations joined at the Elbe River, bridging alliances.
- Anzac Day: For Australia and New Zealand, Anzac Day represents the sacrifices made by soldiers from these countries. It stands for “Australian and New Zealand Army Corps”.
- National Crime Victims’ Rights Week:
- National Pediatric Transplant Week:
- National Library Week: Silent realms of knowledge, these havens harbor stories and wisdom, inviting exploration beyond the whispers of time.
- Coin Week: Begin or grow your coin collection, learn about how countries’ mints reflect their history, or join a coin club or even local competition during Coin Week.
- Global Youth Service Days:
- Lesbian Visibility Week:
- National Princess Week:
- National Volunteer Week: Contributing time and effort, volunteering fosters positive change, enriching lives, and creating a ripple of goodwill in communities.
- Feet Week: Happy feet make a happy person. Proper foot care involves regular washing, trimming nails, wearing comfortable shoes, and keeping them dry. Treat your feet well and they will take you places!
- National Park Week:
- Administrative Professionals Week:
- Animal Cruelty / Human Violence Awareness Week:
- Global Days of Action on Military Spending:
- National Sky Awareness Week:
- American Quilters Society Week:
- Seville Fair:
- National Green Week:
- Intergenerational Week:
- Fiddlers Frolics:
- Bob Wills Day:
- Allergy Awareness Week:
- International Wildlife Film Week:
- American Camp Week:
- Gathering of Nations (Pow Wow):
- Texas Sandfest:
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For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.
