Today's Trivia and What Happened on December 24

Can you figure out the phrase?

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Downright offensive.

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Quote: The early bird gets the worm, but it's the early worm that gets got. - Jeff Denson

Quote: The early bird gets the worm, but it's the early worm that gets got. - Jeff Denson Close Large View

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What Happened On

Fell Two Miles From an Airplane - And then it got worse…

Fell Two Miles From an Airplane - And then it got worse… Close Large View

Fell Two Miles From an Airplane - And then it got worse…

December 24, 1971

LANSA Flight 508 is struck by lightning, igniting the right wing fuel tank and causing the plane to plummet into the Amazon rainforest, breaking into pieces as it fell. Juliane Koepcke's mother and another passenger who was riding in their seat row were ejected from their seats, but Koepcke remained strapped into hers as she fell roughly two miles (3.2 km). She sustained a broken collar bone, an eye injury, a torn ACL, a strained neck vertebra, a fractured shin, and a concussion. The loss of her eyeglasses, along with one eye swollen shut, limited her vision. She spent a day looking for her mother, but to no avail. She did find a bag of candy which was her only food for the next 10 days. She came across a river and followed it downstream, during which time her wounds became infested with maggots. She eventually encountered a lumberman's camp and they brought her to safety. Fourteen others, including her mother, had survived the initial crash, but died while waiting to be rescued. Koepcke was the sole survivor of the crash.
The movie Miracles Still Happen (1974) and the documentary Wings of Hope (2000) are based on her story.
Coincidentally, a LANSA crash the previous year also had only one survivor.

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First Earthrise photographed by humans First Earthrise photographed by humans

First Earthrise photographed by humans First Earthrise photographed by humans
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First Men to Orbit the Moon

December 24, 1968

Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders aboard the Apollo 8. They were also the first humans to photograph the Earthrise.

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NORAD's Tracking of Santa Started By a Wrong Number

NORAD's Tracking of Santa Started By a Wrong Number Close Large View

NORAD's Tracking of Santa Started By a Wrong Number

December 24, 1955

A Colorado Springs, Colorado Sears store runs an ad asking children to call Santa. However, a misprint gave the CONAD (forerunner to NORAD) phone number. The CONAD soldiers answered the calls, starting a holiday tradition that is now carried on by NORAD.

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Menotti's opera was inspired by The Adoration of the Magi, by Hieronymus Bosch go to Video for First Opera Written for U.S. Television
Menotti's opera was inspired by The Adoration of the Magi, by Hieronymus Bosch

Menotti's opera was inspired by The Adoration of the Magi, by Hieronymus Bosch Menotti's opera was inspired by The Adoration of the Magi, by Hieronymus Bosch
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First Opera Written for U.S. Television

December 24, 1951

Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti is broadcast live on NBC. The live broadcast was watched by an estimated five million people, the largest audience ever to see a televised opera. It is still one of the most-performed operas of all time.
Fred Rogers, later known as Mister Rogers, was working as floor manager for this show.

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Ku Klux Klan

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Ku Klux Klan

December 24, 1865

The first Ku Klux Klan (KKK) group is organized, in Pulaski, Tennessee by six former members of the Confederate Army. Its initial stated purpose was "ludicrous initiations, the baffling of public curiosity, and the amusement for members." However, it quickly turned into a white supremacist group that used assassinations and violence to achieve its goals. Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest became the first Grand Wizard, the Klan's national leader. However, Bedford's attitude towards blacks changed as he grew older, with him renouncing his involvement with the KKK and advocating for black's rights.
The original KKK disbanded in the early 1870s due to federal legislation targeting hate crime groups, only to reform again in 1915, and regain popularity in the 1950s.

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Silent-Night-Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, where the song was first performed Silent-Night-Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, where the song was first performed
Photo Credit: Gakuro

Silent-Night-Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, where the song was first performed Silent-Night-Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, where the song was first performed
Photo Credit: Gakuro
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Silent Night, Holy Night

December 24, 1818

The famous Christmas carol Silent Night, Holy Night is performed for the first time. The lyrics had been written by Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by organist Franz Xaver Gruber. Mohr asked Gruber to compose the melody and guitar accompaniment for the Christmas Eve Mass since a flood had destroyed their organ.
"Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace."

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Columbus on Santa Maria, painting by Emanuel Leutze Columbus on Santa Maria, painting by Emanuel Leutze

Columbus on Santa Maria, painting by Emanuel Leutze Columbus on Santa Maria, painting by Emanuel Leutze
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Columbus Sinks the Santa Maria

December 24, 1492

While Christopher Columbus was sleeping the steersman decided to take a nap, leaving only a cabin boy to steer the Santa Maria; a practice forbidden by Columbus. The ship struck a sandbank in Haiti sinking the next day.

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Adoration of the Shepherds, by Gerard van Honthorst Adoration of the Shepherds, by Gerard van Honthorst

Adoration of the Shepherds, by Gerard van Honthorst Adoration of the Shepherds, by Gerard van Honthorst
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First Recorded Celebration of Christmas

December 24, 336

Although Christmas celebrations started in the early 300s, the first celebration of Christmas that we have recorded evidence for occurred in Rome on December 24th in A.D. 336.

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Nannygate

December 24, 1992

U.S. President Bill Clinton announces Zoë Baird as his choice for U.S. Attorney General (who is in charge of INS). Later she withdrew her nomination after it was revealed she had hired illegal aliens and not paid their social security taxes.

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First Surface-to-Surface Guided Missile

December 24, 1942

Launched by German engineer Wernher von Braun.

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The Voice of Firestone

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The Voice of Firestone

December 24, 1928

The Voice of Firestone debuts on radio.

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First Long-Range Radio Transmission of Voice

December 24, 1906

Reginald Fessenden transmits from Brant Rock, Massachusetts to ships at sea.

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War of 1812 Ends

December 24, 1814

Treaty of Ghent is signed ending the War of 1812 between the U.S. and Britain. This news did not arrive in time to prevent the Battle of New Orleans.

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Birthdays

Howard Robard Hughes, Jr.

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This is a birthday

Howard Robard Hughes, Jr.

Born December 24, 1905 d. 1976

American billionaire, world-class aviator, motion picture executive. His eccentricity is described in the book I Caught Flies for Howard Hughes and the film The Aviator (2004).

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Johnny Gruelle

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This is a birthday

Creator of Raggedy Ann

Johnny Gruelle (John Barton)

Born December 24, 1880 d. 1938

American children's author. Creator of Raggedy Ann (1915) and Raggedy Andy (1922). Gruelle named the doll after two of James Whitcomb Riley poems, "The Raggedy Man" and "Little Orphant Annie".

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This is a birthday

Ryan Seacrest

Born December 24, 1974

American radio personality, television host, and producer. TV: American Idol (host).

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This is a birthday

Ava Gardner

Born December 24, 1922 d. 1990

American actress, Hollywood's leading lady of the 1940s and '50s.

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This is a birthday

Irvin Charles Mollison

Born December 24, 1898 d. 1962

American judge. He was the first black U.S. Customs Court judge (1945).

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Emanuel Lasker

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Emanuel Lasker

Born December 24, 1868 d. 1941

German chess master, world chess champion (1894-1921).

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This is a birthday

James Prescott Joule

Born December 24, 1818 d. 1889

English physicist, for whom Joule's Law is named.

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This is a birthday

Eliza Cook

Born December 24, 1818 d. 1889

English author. Her poem The Old Armchair made her a household name in England and America.

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Kit Carson (Christopher Carson)

Born December 24, 1809 d. 1868

American frontiersman.

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Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Born December 24, 1491 d. 1556

Spanish ecclesiastic. In 1535 he founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuit order).

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Deaths

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Richard Adams

Died December 24, 2016 b. 1920

English novelist. His book, Watership Down, about a group of rabbits, was turned down by seven publishers. It then went on to sell 50,000,000 copies and win numerous awards. Writings: Watership Down (1972).

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William Guest

Died December 24, 2015 b. 1941

American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer. One of Gladys Knight's Pips. Music: Midnight Train to Georgia (1973, #1).

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Jack Klugman

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Jack Klugman

Died December 24, 2012 b. 1922

American Emmy-winning actor. TV: The Odd Couple (1970-75, Oscar Madison) and Quincy M.E. (1976-83). Film: 12 Angry Men (1957).

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Charles Durning

Died December 24, 2012 b. 1923

American Tony-winning actor. TV: Evening Shade (Dr. Elldrige). He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart for his service during WWII.

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Rossano Brazzi

Died December 24, 1994 b. 1916

Italian actor, specializing in Continental lover roles. Film: The Barefoot Contessa (1954), Summertime (1955), and South Pacific (1958). TV: The Survivors (Riakos).

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Norman Vincent Peale

Died December 24, 1993 b. 1898

American minister, author, and founder of Guideposts magazine (1945). Writings: The Power of Positive Thinking (1952). Radio: The Art of Living. His life was portrayed in the movie One Man's Way (1964).

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Pierre "Peyo" Culliford

Died December 24, 1992 b. 1928

Belgian cartoonist. Creator of the Smurfs (1958).

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Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith

Died December 24, 1985 b. 1904

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's great-grandson, and last of Lincoln's descendants.

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Peter Lawford

Died December 24, 1984 b. 1923

British-born American actor. TV: The Thin Man (Nick Charles).

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Norma Talmadge

Died December 24, 1957 b. 1894

American silent film actress. According to legend, she accidentally stepped into wet cement at Grauman's Chinese Theater (1927), starting a long tradition. She was one of the biggest stars during the silent film era.

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Johns Hopkins

Died December 24, 1873 b. 1795

American businessman, philanthropist, contributed money for the Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Hospital.

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Edwin McMasters Stanton

Died December 24, 1869 b. 1814

American lawyer, politician U.S. Secretary of War (1862-68). After the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln's assassination, he remained Secretary of War under President Andrew Johnson, but opposed Johnson's lenient policies towards the former Confederate States. Johnson's attempts to dismiss him led to Johnson's impeachment.

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This is a death

William Makepeace Thackeray

Died December 24, 1863 b. 1811

English novelist. Writings: Vanity Fair (1847-48) and Pendennis (1850). Quote: "I never knew whether to pity or congratulate a man on coming to his senses."

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