August 11

Scott Winters August 11, 2025 0 Comments

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:

1874 – A patent for the sprinkler head was given to Harry S. Parmelee.

1877 – The two moons of Mars were discovered by astronomer Asaph Hall. He named the moons Phobos and Deimos.

1896 – Harvey Hubbell received a patent for the electric light bulb socket with a pull-chain.

1909 – The S.O.S. distress signal was first used by an American ship, the Arapahoe, off Cape Hatteras, NC.

1924 – Newsreel pictures were taken of U.S. Presidential candidates for the first time.

1929 – Babe Ruth became the first baseball player to hit 500 home runs in his career with a home run at League Park in Cleveland, OH. He ended up with a career 714 homers.

1934 – The first Federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz, in San Francisco Bay, CA.

1942 – Actress Hedy Lamarr and composer George Antheil received a patent for a frequency hopping spread spectrum communication system that later became the basis for modern technologies in wireless telephones and wi-fi.

1951 – The first major league baseball game to be televised in color was broadcast. The Brooklyn Dodgers beat the Boston Braves 8-1.

1965 – Race riots (the Watts Riots) begin in the Watts area of Los Angeles, CA.

1965 – The U.S. conducted a second launch of “Surveyor-SD 2” for a landing on the Moon surface test.

1972 – The last United States ground combat unit left South Vietnam.

1984 – President Ronald Reagan was preparing for his weekly radio broadcast when, while testing of the microphone, the President said of the Soviet Union, “My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you that I just signed legislation that would outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”

1988 – Dick Thornburgh was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the next Attorney General. He succeeded Edwin Meese III.

1991 – The Space Shuttle Atlantis ended its nine-day journey by landing safely.

1992 – The Mall of America opened in Bloomington, MN. It was the largest shopping mall in the U.S.

1994 – A U.S. federal jury awarded $286.8 million to about 10,000 commercial fishermen for losses as a result of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.

1995 – All U.S. nuclear tests were banned by President Bill Clinton.

1998 – British Petroleum purchased Amoco for $49 billion. In doing so, BP became No. 3 among oil companies.

1999 – The band KISS received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2002 – US Airways filed for bankruptcy.

2002 – Jason Priestly crashed his car during practice for a race in the Infiniti Pro Series. He suffered a spinal fracture, a moderate concussion, a broken nose, facial lacerations and broken bones in both feet.

2020 – Candidate Joe Biden announced California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate, the first woman of color selected by a major party

BIRTHDAYS:

Mike Hugg – 83 years old (1942) – Drummer, vibraphonist, vocalist, keyboardist (Manfred Mann)

Jim Kale – 82 years old (1943) – Bassist (The Guess Who)

Steve Wozniak – 75 years old (1950) – Apple Computers co-founder.

Bob Mothersbaugh – 73 years old (1952) – Guitarist (Devo)

Hulk Hogan – 72 years old (1953) – Ex-wrestler/reality show star (TV’s “Hogan Knows Best”)

Joe Jackson – 71 years old (1954) – Singer, songwriter (“Is She Really Going Out With Him?”, “Steppin’ Out”)

Richie Ramone – 68 years old (1957) – Drummer (The Ramones)

Viola Davis – 60 years old (1965) – Actress (“The Help”, “Doubt”, TV’s “City of Angels”, “Century City”, “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”)

Anna Gunn – 57 years old (1968) – Actress (TV’s “Gracepoint”, “Breaking Bad”)

Will Friedle – 49 years old (1976) – Actor (Played Eric Matthews on TV’s “Boy Meets World”)

Chris Hemsworth – 42 years old (1983) – Actor (“Thor”, “Rush”, “The Avengers”, “Snow White and the Huntsman”)

TODAY IS:

Mountain Day: Looking for a thrilling adventure? Explore the breathtaking heights, stunning vistas, and diverse wildlife of these majestic landmasses!
Play In The Sand Day: Head to a river, lake, sandbox, or ideally ocean and dig your toes into the sand. Exfoliate your feet, make a sandcastle, and enjoy what sand has to offer.
National Son and Daughter Day: There's nothing quite like seeing a little you running around and causing mischief. Watching them grow up is an adventure!
National No-Code Day: National No-Code Day celebrates the growing movement that empowers people to create digital solutions without needing programming skills. It highlights the impact of no-code tools, which allow anyone to build apps, automate workflows, or streamline business operations. These tools, like Zapier and others, open up tech development to a wider...
National Presidential Joke Day: Leaders revealing wit, Presidents deliver unexpected laughs, unveiling a playful side amid the serious political landscape.
National Raspberry Bombe Day: National Raspberry Bombe Day is a delightful celebration of a dessert that combines frozen raspberries, cream, and other rich ingredients into a visually stunning and refreshing treat. This day highlights a dessert that captures the essence of summer with its fruity flavors and beautiful presentation. A raspberry bombe is often molded...
Ingersoll Day: Dive into the beliefs and influences of 19th century thinker and orator Robert G Ingersoll, who fostered reason, dialogue, and freedom of thought.
Hip Hop Day: Hip hop has taken music, dance, and street art to new heights. It started as an outlet for raw energy and bold voices. Now, it fills concert halls, headphones, and city walls with rhythm and flair. Hip Hop Day celebrates that impact. It brings attention to the creativity that grew...
World Steelpan Day: World Steelpan Day honours a unique instrument born in Trinidad and Tobago. Steelpan drums, made from oil barrels, create bright, sweet tones. They stand as the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century. This day asks people to celebrate how those melodies bring communities together. The United Nations highlights its...
National Fufu Day: Fufu is more than just a soft ball of dough on a plate. It’s the kind of food you feel before you even taste it—stretchy, warm, and pulled from a bowl like a small cloud of comfort. Made by pounding yams, cassava, or plantains until smooth, fufu becomes the perfect...
National Face Mask Day: National Face Mask Day is all about skincare, self-care, and a few quiet minutes to reset. It brings focus to those creamy, cooling, or bubbling masks that give your skin a break. People join in from all over, using their favorite products to refresh dull spots, calm redness, or just...
National Align Your Teeth Day: National Align Your Teeth Day is all about the little things that add up to a big difference. It’s not just about straight teeth—it’s about feeling good when you smile, chew, or speak. Dentists and orthodontists use this day to spread the word that alignment matters more than most people...
Global Kinetic Sand Day: Soft, moldable, and endlessly satisfying, Kinetic Sand feels like magic in your hands. It moves almost like a liquid but never sticks to surfaces, making it a favorite for stress relief and creative fun. This special sand holds its shape when pressed yet crumbles effortlessly when pulled apart. Artists, children...
Crayfish Party: Crayfish Party is a lively and festive occasion celebrated with friends and family. This event marks the end of summer, bringing people together for a joyful feast. Tables are often set with bright decorations, and the air is filled with laughter. The menu features cooked and seasoned crayfish. The atmosphere...
Afternoon Tea Week: Host a British-inspired Afternoon Tea and plug that gap between lunch and dinner with tea, biscuits (cookies), scones, clotted cream, whatever you like.
Bullying No Way Week: Bullying No Way Week unites Australian schools, students, and families in tackling bullying together. This annual event urges young people to recognize bullying, understand its effects, and learn how to act against it. How to Observe Bullying No Way Week Here are some creative ways to join the National Day of Action...
Puck Fair: Puck Fair is a lively festival held in Killorglin, Ireland, where a goat is crowned as "King Puck" and honored by the town. This unique tradition, one of the oldest in Ireland, draws crowds eager to witness the crowning and take part in the festivities. The town comes alive with...
National Science Week: Science lovers have a very special week to look forward to every year—National Science Week. It is an exciting annual event that celebrates the wonders of science and technology. This week-long celebration aims to inspire people of all ages to engage with science through various activities and events. It's a...
Navasard: Navasard is the ancient Armenian New Year, a celebration that once united communities in festivities and tribute to their gods. Marking the start of a new cycle, it was a time when people believed divine forces came down to the Earth. With music, dance, and communal feasts, it reflected a...
National Bargain Hunting Week: Exploring discounts and deals, seekers unearth treasures while navigating the maze of savings, discovering hidden gems.