This Day in History
Happy Birthday
Two U
Birthday facts and figures
Bizarre Historical Events That Actually Happened
100
1945
The Italian dictator, “Il Duce,” who, after a series of military misadventures was captured while trying to flee Italy was executed on this day.
Who is Benito Mussolini?
100
1937
President of Iraq (1979-2003), born in Al-Awja, Iraq
Who is Saddam Hussein?
100
adjective
habitually or typically occurring or done; customary.
What is USUAL?
100
Since 2015, the song "Happy Birthday to You" is now considered part of "this", meaning anyone can use it without needing a license or paying royalties
What is the public domain?
100
1932
Farmers in this country were growing more wheat to survive the depression. This attracted more than 20,000 migrating emu birds. The Army was called in, starting the War vs. the Emu.
What is Austrailia?
200
2003
This company launched the iTunes Store, which gave users the ability to purchase and download music from the Internet directly to their iTunes library; in 2010 the store sold its 10 billionth song.
What is Apple?
200
1950
Comedian and car collector who replaced Johnny Carson as host of "The Tonight Show."
Who is Jay Leno?
200
noun
a slimy substance secreted by membranes and glands for lubrication, protection, etc.
What is MUCUS?
200
Upwards of two billion dollars are spent in the US on these birthday items every year; save some money and make your own to attach to the gift!
What are birthday cards?
200
In 1989, this country offered Pepsico a trade: billions of dollars worth of Pepsi in exchange for submarines, military ships, and a significant amount of vodka. This made Pepsi the sixth most powerful military in the world for a brief period. Pepsi later sold its fleet to a Swedish company that scrapped it.
What is Russia?
300
1967
At the height of the Vietnam War, this American boxer refused induction into the U.S. Army, citing religious reasons; his subsequent conviction was eventually overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Who is Muhammad Ali?
300
1758
The 5th US President (1817-25), born in Monroe Hall, Virginia
Who is James Monroe?
300
noun
a quick-growing eastern Asian climbing plant with reddish-purple flowers, used as a fodder crop and for erosion control.
What is KUDZU?
300
The first of these birthday party staples were made out of animal intestines filled up with water.
What are balloons?
300
1876
In this bluegrass state, the morning weather was rain of what appeared to be chunks of red meat. Most pieces that appeared to be beef were around 2 inches long, and some were as big as 4 inches.
What is Kentucky?
400
1789
Three weeks into a journey from Tahiti to the West Indies, this ship is seized in a mutiny led by Fletcher Christian, the master’s mate.
What is the HMS Bounty?
400
1908
Austrian businessman and subject of the film by Steven Speilberg about his actions saving thousands of Jews from the Holocaust, born in Zwittau, Austria-Hungary
Who is Oskar Schindler?
400
noun (British)
a line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed.
What is QUEUE?
400
In a room with THIS MANY people, there is a 50/50 chance that someone else in the room will share your birthday. If you increase the number of people to 70, your chances increase to 99%.
What is 23?
400
456 BC
Aeschylus, known as the father of tragedy in ancient Greece, met an extraordinary death: legend has it that a tortoise fell from the sky after being dropped by this type of bird, who mistook Aeschylus’ bald head for a rock and dropped the tortoise intending to crack open its shell.
What is an eagle?
500
2004
American television network CBS broadcast photographs depicting harsh treatment of Iraqi inmates at this prison in U.S.-occupied Iraq, initiating a national debate on torture and the Geneva Conventions.
What is Abu Ghraib?
500
1926
American author (To Kill a Mockingbird), born in Monroeville Alabama
Who is Harper Lee?
500
noun. Anatomy
a fleshy extension at the back of the soft palate which hangs above the throat.
What is UVULA?
500
The 5th of this month is the most common birthday. For those of you backtracking, that’s some New Year’s Eve fun!
What is October?
500
Raised by soldiers of THIS COUNTRY, Wojtek the bear grew to participate in their daily routines. He would carry ammunition, wrestle them and even joined them smoking cigarettes and drinking beer. When a British transport ship refused him to let him get onboard, the army made him an official army member, earning the rank of private.
What is POLAND?