Today's Trivia and What Happened on August 19

Why is milk the fastest liquid?

Why is milk the fastest liquid? Close Large View

It's pasteurized before you see it.

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Quote: I love to walk in the rain, because no one can see me cry. - Charles Chaplin

Quote: I love to walk in the rain, because no one can see me cry. - Charles Chaplin Close Large View

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What Happened On

Strelka, one of the two dogs aboard Strelka, one of the two dogs aboard

Strelka, one of the two dogs aboard Strelka, one of the two dogs aboard
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First Living Organisms to Return from Orbit

August 19, 1960

The Soviet Sputnik 5 is launched. Its payload included two dogs, 40 mice, 2 rats, and various insects and plants which were recovered the following day.
One of the dogs, Strelka, went on to have six puppies and one of the puppies named Pushinka ("Fluffy") was given to President John F. Kennedy by Nikita Khrushchev in 1961.

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Coup supporters celebrate victory in Tehran Coup supporters celebrate victory in Tehran

Coup supporters celebrate victory in Tehran Coup supporters celebrate victory in Tehran
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US and GB Overthrow of Iran's Prime Minister

August 19, 1953

The United States and Great Britain with help from the CIA overthrow Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in favor of strengthening the monarchical rule of the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Mosaddegh had made moves to nationalize Iran's oil fields after the British oil company Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC, now part of BP) refused to cooperate in the auditing of oil payments to Iran. Following the coup, a government formed placing the Shah of Iran to rule as a monarch. The Shah ruled for 26 years until anti Shah sentiment led to the 1979 Iranian Revolution in which he was overthrown.

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Shortest MLB Player Photo Credit: Associated Press

Shortest MLB Player Photo Credit: Associated Press
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Shortest MLB Player

August 19, 1951

3-foot 7-inch (109 cm) tall Eddie Gaedel pinch hits for the St. Louis Browns and is walked after being pitched four straight balls. It was his only time at bat in the major leagues. After his time at bat he said, "Man, I felt like Babe Root."

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Popsicle

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Popsicle

August 19, 1924

The popsicle is patented by lemonade-mix salesman Frank Epperson. He claimed to have discovered the idea when he was eleven years old and accidentally left a glass of lemonade on a windowsill overnight causing it to freeze.
He originally called it the "Epsicle."

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Evaporated Milk

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Evaporated Milk

August 19, 1856

Gail Borden receives a patent for his improved process of making evaporated milk.
Evaporated milk is a shelf-stable canned cow's milk that has had approximately 60% of the water removed. Condensed milk is evaporated milk with sugar added.

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Lincoln demonstrates his deadly advantage to Shields Lincoln demonstrates his deadly advantage to Shields

Lincoln demonstrates his deadly advantage to Shields Lincoln demonstrates his deadly advantage to Shields
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Abraham Lincoln Challenged to a Duel

August 19, 1842

A letter to the editor is published in the local paper calling James Shields a "fool as well as a liar" and describing him, "If I was deaf and blind I could tell him by the smell." Lincoln had written the letter under the pseudonym of a farmer named Rebecca. Lincoln's future wife Mary Todd and a close friend continued writing insulting letters to the paper without Lincoln's knowledge. When Lincoln took responsibility for the letters, Shields challenged him to duel. As the one challenged, Lincoln chose the weapons. Since Shields was an excellent marksman, Lincoln chose a cavalry broadsword which, due to Lincoln's height and long arms, gave him the advantage. They met at a popular dueling site where the two men faced each other with a plank between them that neither was allowed to cross. Lincoln swung his sword cutting a tree branch above Shields' head, demonstrating to Shields that he was at a fatal disadvantage. The two men then called a truce, later becoming good friends.

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Salem Witch Trials

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Salem Witch Trials

August 19, 1692

George Burroughs (Harvard graduate and former minister of Salem), John Proctor, John Willard, George Jacobs, and Martha Carrier are hanged for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts.

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Soviet Coup Attempt

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Soviet Coup Attempt

August 19, 1991

Hard-line communists, including the Soviet vice-president, Soviet Defense Minister, and head of the KGB, attempt to remove Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev from power. They failed, largely due to the efforts of Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

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U.S. Navy Phantom II escorting a Libyan Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 U.S. Navy Phantom II escorting a Libyan Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23

U.S. Navy Phantom II escorting a Libyan Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 U.S. Navy Phantom II escorting a Libyan Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
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U.S. Navy Shoots Down Libyan Jets

August 19, 1981

U.S. Navy F-14 fighters shoot down two Libyan jets off the coast of Libya after being fired upon by them.
In 1973, Libya claimed the Gulf of Sidra as a closed bay and part of its territorial waters, prompting the U.S. to conduct Freedom of Navigation (FON) operations in the area. It was during one of these FON operations that a Libyan jet fired a missile at the U.S. fighters. The U.S. fighters evaded the missile and returned fired, shooting down both Libyan jets. Both Libyan pilots ejected, but only one was safely recovered.

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Hitler Voted President

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Hitler Voted President

August 19, 1934

German Chancellor Adolf Hitler is voted president, giving him full command of the country.

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The Christian Union

August 19, 1886

The Christian Union is founded, by Baptist minister Richard G. Spurling. In 1923 it became the Church of God.

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USS Constitution

August 19, 1812

Called Old Ironsides, it defeats the British ship Guerriere off Nova Scotia during the War of 1812.

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Birthdays

Bill Clinton

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This is a birthday

Bill Clinton (William Jefferson Blythe III)

Born August 19, 1946

American politician. 42nd U.S. President (1993-2001).

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Philo Taylor Farnsworth go to Video for Philo Taylor Farnsworth

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Invented the First All Electronic TV

Philo Taylor Farnsworth

Born August 19, 1906 d. 1971

American inventor. He invented the first all electronic TV, conceiving of his invention when he was 14 years old. He also invented a small nuclear fusion device, known as the Farnsworth-Hirsch fusor, or simply "fusor." Farnsworth held 300 patents, mostly in radio and television.

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Orville piloting, Wilbur on ground. Orville piloting, Wilbur on ground.

Orville piloting, Wilbur on ground. Orville piloting, Wilbur on ground.
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Orville Wright

Born August 19, 1871 d. 1948

American aviator. He and his brother Wilbur Wright are credited with building and flying the first manned heavier-than-air flying machine (1903). However, there is evidence that Gustave Whitehead made a powered, heavier-than-air-flight two years earlier.

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Samuel Prescott

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Paul Revere's Forgotten Sidekick

Samuel Prescott

Born August 19, 1751 d. circa 1777

American soldier. Prescott rode with Paul Revere and William Dawes on their famous ride to warn of the British advancement (1775). Prescott was the only one to complete their mission. The three were riding together when they encountered a British mounted patrol on the road from Lexington to Concord. They split into different directions to evade the British. Revere was captured, but released without his horse. Dawes fell off his horse and had to continue on foot. Both returned to Lexington. Prescott and his horse successfully jumped a wall and were able to escape the British. He was the only one who completed the mission by making it to Concord.
He was later captured by the Royal Navy and died between November 23, 1776 and December 26, 1777 while a prisoner in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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This is a birthday

Tabitha Soren

Born August 19, 1967

American TV news correspondent, host of MTV's The Week in Rock.

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Tipper Gore

Born August 19, 1948

American Second Lady of the U.S. (1993 -2001), wife of 45th U.S. Vice-President Al Gore.

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Gerald McRaney

Born August 19, 1947

American actor. TV: Simon & Simon (Rick Simon) and Major Dad (Major MacGillis).

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Johnny Nash

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Johnny Nash (John Lester Nash Jr.)

Born August 19, 1940 d. 2020

American singer, songwriter. Music: I Can See Clearly Now (1972, #1).

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Jill St. John (Jill Oppenheim)

Born August 19, 1940

American actress. Film: Diamonds Are Forever (1971, Tiffany Case, the first American Bond girl). TV: Batman (The Riddler's moll Molly).

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Renee Richards

Born August 19, 1934

tennis player, transsexual.

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Willie Shoemaker

Born August 19, 1931 d. 2003

American horse jockey. All-time leader in wins (8,833) and four time winner of the Kentucky Derby (also the oldest winner, age 54 in 1986). In 1991, he rolled his Ford Bronco II, leaving him a quadriplegic. He sued Ford and won a $1,000,000 settlement.

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Gene Roddenberry

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Gene Roddenberry

Born August 19, 1921 d. 1991

American television writer, producer. TV: Star Trek (1966-69).

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Malcolm Stevenson Forbes

Born August 19, 1919 d. 1990

American magazine publisher.

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Harry Mills

Born August 19, 1913 d. 1982

American singer, with the Mills Brothers, the most popular vocal group of all time.

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Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel

Born August 19, 1883 d. 1971

French fashion designer, for whom Chanel No. 5 perfume, introduced in 1922, is named.

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Manuel Luis Quezon

Born August 19, 1878 d. 1944

Philippine statesman, first president of the Philippine Commonwealth (1935).

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Bernard Mannes Baruch

Born August 19, 1870 d. 1965

American stock broker. He was an advisor to every president from Woodrow Wilson to John F. Kennedy.

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James M. Black

Born August 19, 1856 d. 1938

American Methodist composer. Music: When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder (wrote the tune).

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Cyrus Ingerson Scofield

Born August 19, 1843 d. 1921

American Bible teacher. Editor of the Scofield Reference Bible (1909) and founded the Central American Mission (1890).

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James Nasmyth

Born August 19, 1808 d. 1890

British engineer, invented the steam hammer (1839).

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Deaths

Top to bottom: Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Groucho, and Zeppo Marx Top to bottom: Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Groucho, and Zeppo Marx

Top to bottom: Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Groucho, and Zeppo Marx Top to bottom: Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Groucho, and Zeppo Marx
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Groucho Marx (Julius Marx)

Died August 19, 1977 b. 1890

American comedian, cigar-smoking Marx Brother and host of TV's You Bet Your Life.
Quote: "I sent the club a wire stating, PLEASE ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION. I DON'T WANT TO BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WILL ACCEPT ME AS A MEMBER."
Quote: "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."

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Blaise Pascal

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Blaise Pascal

Died August 19, 1662 b. 1623

French mathematician, philosopher, physicist, one of the founders of the theory of probability, and designed a mechanical computer, although it was never built. He was one of the first inventors of mechanical calculators (1642), created Pascal's Triangle (1653), and made important contributions to the study of fluids and the concepts of pressure and vacuums.

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Octavian

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Octavian (Gaius Octavius Thurinus)

Died August 19,  14 b. 63 

the first Roman Emperor. Also known as Octavianus, he was the heir of Julius Caesar. His defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium in AD 31 made him ruler of the world, at which time he was granted the name "Augustus." After their defeat, Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide.

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Dick Gregory (Richard Claxton Gregory)

Died August 19, 2017 b. 1932

American comedian, civil rights activist, anti-Vietnam War activist, diet-mix salesman.

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Alberta King Assassin

Marcus Wayne Chenault, Jr.

Died August 19, 1995 b. 1951

American Assassin. He shot and killed Alberta King (1974, mother of Martin Luther King, Jr.) while she was playing The Lord's Player on the organ during a church service. Deacon Edward Boykin also died in the incident.
Chenault said that his mission was to kill Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., but he shot his wife Mrs. King instead because she was close to him and that he had acted out of hatred for Christianity and because his god had told him to.

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Linus Carl Pauling

Died August 19, 1994 b. 1901

American Nobel-winning chemist and vitamin C advocate. He also won a Nobel Peace Prize.

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Baddeley (left) as Mrs. Naugatuck Baddeley (left) as Mrs. Naugatuck

Baddeley (left) as Mrs. Naugatuck Baddeley (left) as Mrs. Naugatuck
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Hermione Baddeley

Died August 19, 1986 b. 1906

British actress. Film: Room at the Top (1959), Mary Poppins (1964, the housekeeper), and The Aristocats (1970, voiced Madame Adelaide Bonfamille). TV: Maude (1974-77, Mrs. Naugatuck).

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Otto Frank

Died August 19, 1980 b. 1889

German businessman, Jewish war victim. His daughter Anne Frank's diary, which chronicled their family and friends hiding from the Nazis in an attic, has been read by millions. He was the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust. He had served in the Imperial German Army during World War I.

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Hugo Gernsback

Died August 19, 1967 b. 1884

American publisher, pioneer science fiction author. He founded Modern Electronics (1908, the first radio magazine) and Amazing Stories (1926).

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Saint Sixtus III

Died August 19, 440 b. ????

Italian religious leader, 44th Pope (432-440).

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