Today's Trivia and What Happened on February 10

What is the Daffynition of "Flatulance"?

What is the Daffynition of "Flatulance"? Close Large View

The emergency vehicle that picks you up after being run over by a steamroller.

Thumbs Up
12
Thumbs Down
25

Quote: Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. - Friedrich Nietzsche

Quote: Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. - Friedrich Nietzsche Close Large View

Thumbs Up
1
Thumbs Down
0

What Happened On

Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch with Oscar the Grouch go to Video for Sesame Street Frightens Children
Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch with Oscar the Grouch

Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch with Oscar the Grouch Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch with Oscar the Grouch
Close Large View

Sesame Street Frightens Children

February 10, 1976

Today's episode of the children's educational program Sesame Street frightens the children watching it so much that many refused to watch future episodes, prompting angry letters from parents.
The episode featured Margaret Hamilton reprising her role as the wicked witch from the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. Her witch character accidentally drops her broom over Sesame Street and terrorizes the residents while trying to retrieve it.

Thumbs Up
1
Thumbs Down
0

Jack Paar Censored go to Video for Jack Paar Censored

Jack Paar Censored Close Large View

Jack Paar Censored

February 10, 1960

The Tonight Show host Jack Paar's water closet joke is censored, causing him to walk off the show the following night. Referring to a toilet, even as a water closet, was taboo. He returned a month later.
The Joke: An English lady, while visiting Switzerland, was looking for a room for a more extended stay, and she asked the schoolmaster if he could recommend any to her. He took her to see several rooms, and when everything was settled, the lady returned to her home to make the final preparations to move.
When she arrived home, the thought suddenly occurred to her that she had not seen a "W.C." around the place. So she immediately wrote a note to the schoolmaster asking him if there were a "W.C." near the room.
The schoolmaster was a very poor student of English, so he asked the parish priest if he could help in the matter. Together they tried to discover the meaning of the letters "W.C.", and the only solution they could come up with for the letters was for a Wayside Chapel. The schoolmaster then wrote the following note to the English lady:
Dear Madam:
I take great pleasure in informing you that the W.C. is situated nine miles from the room that you will occupy, in the center of a beautiful grove of pine trees surrounded by lovely grounds. It is capable of holding about 229 people and it is only open on Sunday and Thursday.
As there are a great number of people who are expected during the summer months, I would suggest that you come early; although, as a rule, there is plenty of standing room. You will no doubt be glad to hear that a good number of people bring their lunch and make a day of it. While others who can afford to go by car arrive just in time.
I would especially recommend that your ladyship go on Thursday when there is a musical accompaniment. It may interest you to know that my daughter was married in the W.C. and it was there that she met her husband.
I can remember the rush there was for seats. There were ten people to a seat ordinarily occupied by one. It was wonderful to see the expression on their faces. The newest attraction is a bell donated by a wealthy resident of the district. It rings every time a person enters.
A bazaar is to be held to provide plush seats for all the people, since they feel it is a long felt need. My wife is rather delicate, so she can't attend regularly. I shall be delighted to reserve the best seat for you, if you wish, where you will be seen by everyone.
For the children, there is a special time and place so they will not disturb the elders.
Hoping to have been of service to you, I remain,
Sincerely,
The Schoolmaster.

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
2

Add Trivia to Your Web Page

World War II - Paris Peace Treaties

February 10, 1947

The peace treaties between the Allied powers (United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and France) and Germany's allies (Italy, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Finland) are signed - in Paris, France.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

Join Us on Facebook

Duck Tape Invented

Duck Tape Invented Close Large View

Duck Tape Invented

February 10, 1943

While working at an ordnance plant during World War II, Vesta Stoudt noticed that the way ammunition boxes were sealed made them difficult to open quickly and this could cost soldiers precious time in battle. So, she developed a waterproof, tearable cloth tape to solve the problem. Her bosses at the plant were unimpressed, so on February 10, 1943 she wrote a letter to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt:
"I suggested we use a strong cloth tape to close seams, and make tab of same. It worked fine, I showed it to different government inspectors they said it was all right, but I could never get them to change tape."
Roosevelt liked the idea and sent it to the War Production Board who implemented her tape idea. They made a tape using woven fabric, known as "duck cloth", coated in waterproof plastic with a layer of rubber-based adhesive and could be torn by hand without the need for scissors. The tape worked great on ammo boxes and soon GIs found it was also useful for fixing leaks, repairing equipment, and even closing up wounds on the battlefield.
Stoudt received Chicago Tribune's War Worker Award for her idea.
So yes, it was originally called "Duck Tape", because it was first made from duck cloth. It wasn't used for duct work until many years later.

Thumbs Up
19
Thumbs Down
0

The Original Ouija Board The Original Ouija Board

The Original Ouija Board The Original Ouija Board
Close Large View

Ouija Board

February 10, 1891

The Ouija Board patent is granted to Elijah J. Bond of Baltimore, Maryland. The patent was initially denied, because the chief patent officer wanted proof that it worked. As a test, he asked the board to spell out his name, which it did. He then granted the patent.
The name Ouija had been determined in 1890 when Bond's sister-in-law, a spiritualist and medium, asked the board what its name was, to which the board spelled out "OUIJA". When asked what the word meant, it responded "GOOD LUCK".
The use of similar talking boards is recorded as far back as A.D. 1100 in China. They became popular in the United States in the 1860s after the Civil War when spiritualists used the devices to help people contact relatives lost in the war.
The scientific community generally believes the Ouija board works via unconscious movements, known as the ideomotor effect. This effect was described by Michael Faraday in 1853.
Many religious groups believe Ouija boards are connected to the occult and ban their use. Some believe their use can even result in demonic possession.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

Cause of Michael Jackson's Skin Lightening

Cause of Michael Jackson's Skin Lightening Close Large View

Cause of Michael Jackson's Skin Lightening

February 10, 1993

The pop star Michael Jackson announces that his skin has lightened due to a medical disorder and that he has had very little cosmetic surgery.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
52

Mike Tyson Convicted of Rape

February 10, 1992

Boxer Mike Tyson is convicted of raping beauty contestant Desiree Washington. He was sentenced to six years in prison and fined $30,000, but was released in 1995 after serving less than three years of his sentence. During his incarceration, Tyson converted to Islam and took the Muslim name Malik Abdul Aziz.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

25th Amendment

25th Amendment Close Large View

25th Amendment

February 10, 1967

The Presidential Succession Act is ratified, designating the Speaker of the House and Senate pro tempore next in succession to the U.S. president after the vice-president.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
2

Captured U-2 Pilot Released

February 10, 1962

Captured U-2 pilot Gary Powers is released by the Soviet Union in exchange for the Soviet spy Rudolf Abel. Abel had been convicted of spying in the hollow nickel spy case, in which he transported microfilm inside a hollowed-out nickel.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
1

Civil War

February 10, 1861

Confederate Navy is established.

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

French and Indian War

February 10, 1763

Treaty of Paris of 1763 between England, France, and Spain is signed, ending the war.

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

Birthdays

Mark Spitz

Mark Spitz Close Large View
This is a birthday

Mark Spitz

Born February 10, 1950

American swimmer. He won 2 gold, 1 silver, and a bronze medal in the 1968 Olympics and 7 gold medals in the 1972 Olympics. Seven was the most Olympic gold medals ever won by a single athlete in a single Olympiad up to that time. That record was broken by Michael Phelps in 2008.
Spitz also held the national high school records in every stroke and in every distance.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Lon Chaney, Jr.

Lon Chaney, Jr. Close Large View
This is a birthday

Lon Chaney, Jr. (Creighton Chaney)

Born February 10, 1906 d. 1973

American horror actor. Known for his monster characters, such as the Wolf Man (1941), Frankenstein's monster, and the Mummy (1940).
"Even a man who is pure in heart
And says his prayers by night
May become a wolf when the wolfs bane blooms
And the autumn moon is bright"

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

Jimmy Durante

Jimmy Durante Close Large View
This is a birthday

Jimmy Durante

Born February 10, 1893 d. 1980

American comedian. Known for his Schnozzola (from the Yiddish slang "Schnoz" for big nose), which became his nickname. His trademark lines include "Ink-a-Dink-a-Doo" and "Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are."

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Laura Dern

Born February 10, 1967

American actress. Film: Blue Velvet (1986), Wild at Heart (1990), and Jurassic Park (1993).

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Peter Allen

Born February 10, 1944 d. 1992

Australian Oscar-winning songwriter, actor. Music: Arthur's Theme (Oscar) and I Honestly Love You (hit for Olivia Newton-John).

Thumbs Up
7
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Roberta Flack

Born February 10, 1939

American Grammy-winning singer. Music: Killing Me Softly with His Song (1973, Grammy).

Thumbs Up
7
Thumbs Down
0

Robert Wagner in 1967 and with Natalie Wood in 1960 Robert Wagner in 1967 and with Natalie Wood in 1960

Robert Wagner in 1967 and with Natalie Wood in 1960 Robert Wagner in 1967 and with Natalie Wood in 1960
Close Large View
This is a birthday

Robert Wagner

Born February 10, 1930

American actor. TV: It Takes a Thief (1968-70, thief Al Mundy), Switch (1975-1978, Pete Ryan), and Hart to Hart (1979-84, Jonathan Hart). Film: Austin Powers movies (1997, 1999, 2002, Number 2).
In 1981, his wife, actress Natalie Wood, drowned at the age of 43 off the side of their yacht while it was anchored near shore. She was on board with Wagner, Christopher Walken, and the yacht's captain. How she ended up in the water was not determined, but she had bruises on her body and arms and an abrasion on her left cheek. Her blood alcohol content was 0.14% and there were traces of a motion-sickness pill and a painkiller in her bloodstream, both of which increase the effects of alcohol. According to Wagner, he and Wood had been arguing earlier and Wood went to bed first. When Wagner went to join her, he noticed that both she and the yacht's small inflatable dinghy were missing. A witness in a boat nearby said that around 11 p.m. she heard a woman calling out, "Somebody please help me, I'm drowning." Her body was found about a mile from the yacht with the dinghy beached nearby.
Her sister, Lana Wood, said Wood had a fear of water and would never have tried to enter the dinghy alone, especially only wearing a nightgown.
Wood's fear of water started as a child, when she almost drowned while filming The Green Promise (1949). She had also recently starred in the TV movie The Memory of Eva Ryker (1980), in which a character she played drowned.
Her death was initially ruled accidental, but the case was reopened in 2011 and the cause of death was changed to "drowning and other undetermined factors."

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
2

This is a birthday

Stella Adler

Born February 10, 1901 d. 1992

American acting instructor. Her students included Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Martin Sheen, Harvey Keitel, Melanie Griffith, Peter Bogdanovich, and Warren Beatty.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Dame Judith Anderson (Frances Margaret Anderson)

Born February 10, 1897 d. 1992

Australian-born British Tony-Emmy-winning actress. Film: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958, Big Momma). TV: Santa Barbara (Minx Capwell).

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Boris Leonidovich Pasternak

Born February 10, 1890 d. 1960

Russian author. Writings: Dr. Zhivago (1955). He rejected the 1958 Nobel Prize for literature after his nomination caused criticism from the Communist Party and his expulsion from the Soviet Writers union.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

Deaths

Shirley Temple in Bright Eyes Shirley Temple in Bright Eyes

Shirley Temple in Bright Eyes Shirley Temple in Bright Eyes
Close Large View
This is a death

Shirley Temple Black

Died February 10, 2014 b. 1928

American child actress. Temple was the #1 box-office draw as a child actress from 1934 to 1938 and became youngest person to earn over a $1,000,000. She got her start at age 4 in a series of films called Baby Burlesks, that used preschool children acting in 10-minute satires of recent films and events. She quickly became the star of the series.
As an adult, she served as U.S. Ambassador to Ghana (1974-76) and Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (1989-1992).
Film: Bright Eyes (1934), Stand Up and Cheer (1934), Curly Top (1935), Heidi (1937), and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938).

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Ingalls Wilder Close Large View
This is a death

Little House on the Prairie

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Died February 10, 1957 b. 1867

American author. Her Little House on the Prairie books (1932-43) about her life on the frontier were the basis for the TV series.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Larry Flynt

Died February 10, 2021 b. 1942

American publisher. Creator of Hustler magazine (1974). Flynt was partially paralyzed from the waist down due to injuries sustained in a 1978 assassination attempt by serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin. The shooter confessed, saying he was outraged by an interracial photo shoot in Hustler.
Flynt served in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Jan-Michael Vincent

Died February 10, 2019 b. 1945

American actor. Film: The World's Greatest Athlete (1973, Nanu the Greatest Athlete). TV: Airwolf (1984-86, Hawke). In 2014, Vincent revealed that he had a prosthetic right leg, because it had been amputated just below the knee in 2012 due to complications from peripheral artery disease.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Roy Scheider

Died February 10, 2008 b. 1932

American actor. Film: French Connection (1971), Jaws (1975), and All That Jazz (1979).

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Arthur Miller

Died February 10, 2005 b. 1915

American Pulitzer-winning playwright. Writings: Death of a Salesman (1949, Pulitzer) and View from the Bridge (1955). He was also married to Marilyn Monroe (1956-61).

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Jim Varney (James Albert Varney Jr.)

Died February 10, 2000 b. 1949

American actor, comedian. He played Ernest P. Worrell of the TV commercials and Ernest movies, "know what I mean Vern?" Film: Ernest Goes to Camp (1987, Ernest), The Beverly Hillbillies (1993, Jed Clampett) and Toy Story (1995, Slinky Dog).

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

Alex Haley

Alex Haley Close Large View
This is a death

Alex Haley

Died February 10, 1992 b. 1921

American Pulitzer-winning author. Writings: Roots: The Saga of an American Family (1976, Pulitzer). The 1977 TV miniseries Roots based on the book was watched by an estimated 130,000,000 people.
In 1978, Haley admitted that he copied large passages of Roots from the 1967 novel The African by Harold Courlander and settled out-of-court for $650,000.
Also, Haley's claim that he had traced his own ancestry back through slavery to a very specific individual and village in Africa as a basis for the book has been refuted by researchers.

Thumbs Up
19
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Billy Rose (William Samuel Rosenberg)

Died February 10, 1966 b. 1899

American songwriter. Music: Me and My Shadow and It's Only a Paper Moon.

Thumbs Up
7
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Pius XI

Died February 10, 1939 b. 1857

Italian religious leader, 259th Pope (1922-39). He created the Vatican radio station.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Roentgen's wife's hand Roentgen's wife's hand

Roentgen's wife's hand Roentgen's wife's hand
Close Large View
This is a death

Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen

Died February 10, 1923 b. 1845

German physicist. Discoverer of X-rays (1895). He took the first x-ray of a human of his wife's hand. When she saw her skeleton, she exclaimed "I have seen my death!"
He died of cancer.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Founder of Antiseptic Surgery

Joseph Lister

Died February 10, 1912 b. 1827

English physician, founder of antiseptic surgery. He performed the first operation using antiseptic (1867, mastectomy on his sister).

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Sir David Brewster

Died February 10, 1868 b. 1781

Scottish scientist and inventor. He patented a kaleidoscope (1817), popularizing its use and instituted the use of flat Fresnel lenses in lighthouses, and discovered many important aspects of polarized light.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Leo XII

Died February 10, 1829 b. 1760

Italian religious leader, 252nd Pope (1823-29).

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Saint Scholastica

Died February 10, 543 b. ????

patron saint of scholars.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0