Today's Trivia and What Happened on November 17

Today's Puzzle

Today's Puzzle

How do you fit an entire foot into an object only 9 inches long?

Make sure the object is a shoe.

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Quote: If the people don't want to come to the park, nobody's going to stop 'em. - Yogi Berra

Quote: If the people don't want to come to the park, nobody's going to stop 'em. - Yogi Berra Close Large View

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Holidays

Feast Day of St. Hilda of Whitby

Patron saint of business and professional women.

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What Happened On

I Am Not a Crook go to Video for I Am Not a Crook

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I Am Not a Crook

November 17, 1973

With the Watergate scandal looming, U.S. President Richard Nixon gives his famous speech in front of 400 Associated Press editors. "I welcome this kind of examination because people have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got." His remarks were in response to being asked about his role in the Watergate burglary and attempts to cover up the fact that his re-election committee had funded the break-in.

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Computer Mouse go to Video for Computer Mouse

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Computer Mouse

November 17, 1970

Patent issued to Douglas Engelbart for the first computer mouse (patent #3541541).

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Heidi Bowl go to Video for Heidi Bowl

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Heidi Bowl

November 17, 1968

Fans on the East Coast missed the last-minute thrilling comeback by the Oakland Raiders when the final 1:01 of the game was cut off due to the start of the movie Heidi.
The New York Jets were leading the Oakland Raiders 32-29 when airing of the game was cutoff. During this time Oakland scored two touchdowns in nine seconds to come from behind and win 43-32.
This led to changes in how television handled preempting shows when games ran long.

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Buck Rogers' XZ-31 Rocket Pistol

November 17, 1934

The toy version of Buck Rogers' XZ-31 rocket pistol goes on sale. Over 2,000 people lined up outside Macy's in New York City.

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National Rifle Association Founded

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National Rifle Association Founded

November 17, 1871

The NRA is granted a charter by the state of New York. Dismayed by the lack of marksmanship shown by their troops, Union veterans Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate formed the National Rifle Association. Their goal was to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis." Former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant served as president of the NRA (1883-84).

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First Ship to officially pass through the Suez Canal First Ship to officially pass through the Suez Canal

First Ship to officially pass through the Suez Canal First Ship to officially pass through the Suez Canal
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Suez Canal

November 17, 1869

The Suez Canal, a North-South waterway connecting the Mediterranean and the Red seas, opens. It cut the trip from London to Bombay almost in half.

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Clinton-Lewinsky Affair

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Clinton-Lewinsky Affair

November 17, 1995

U.S. President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky have their second sexual encounter, during which he spoke to Rep. Sonny Callahan (R-Ala.) on the phone.

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NBC Fake News go to Video for NBC Fake News

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NBC Fake News

November 17, 1992

NBC's Dateline airs a segment showing a GM truck exploding during a car crash test, not disclosing that they had used an explosive device to ensure the explosion.

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First U.S. Nationally-Televised Condom Ad

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First U.S. Nationally-Televised Condom Ad

November 17, 1991

An ad for Trojan brand condoms becomes the first condom ad broadcast on U.S. network television. It was aired during an episode of Herman's Head. Fox Broadcasting had agreed to allow condom ads that dealt with the control of sexually transmitted diseases, but not ones depicting their use for birth control.
California station KNTV aired the first local broadcast of a condom commercial in 1975.

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First Inductees Into the Jockey Hall of Fame

November 17, 1955

Eddie Arcaro, Earle Sande and George Woolf.

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Washington, D.C.

November 17, 1800

First meeting of the U.S. Congress in the newly formed Capital city.

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Birthdays

Danny DeVito

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Danny DeVito

Born November 17, 1944

American Emmy-winning actor. Film: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Romancing the Stone (1984), Ruthless People (1986), Throw Momma From the Train (1987), Batman Returns (1992, The Penguin), and Mars Attacks! (1996). TV: Taxi (1978-83, Louie) and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2006-, Frank Reynolds).

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Toto with Judy Garland Toto with Judy Garland

Toto with Judy Garland Toto with Judy Garland
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Toto (Terry)

Born November 17, 1933 d. 1945

American female Cairn Terrier, actor. Toto of The Wizard of Oz (1939). Known for doing her own stunts, she broke a foot when she was accidentally stepped on by a Winkie guard during the filming of The Wizard of Oz. She appeared in 16 films, including as Rags in the Shirley Temple movie Bright Eyes (1934). Originally named Terry, she changed her name to Toto after the filming of The Wizard of Oz.

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Rock Hudson

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Rock Hudson (Roy Scherer, Jr.)

Born November 17, 1925 d. 1985

American actor. Film: Giant (1956) and Pillow Talk (1959). TV: McMillan and Wife (1971-77, McMillan). He was one of the first major public figures to announce they had AIDS and was the first major celebrity to die of the disease.
Rock Hudson was born Roy Harold Scherer, Jr., but in 1932, his mother married Wallace Fitzgerald who adopted him and his name became Roy Fitzgerald.

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The Colosseum The Colosseum

The Colosseum The Colosseum
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Vespasian

Born November 17,  9 d.  79

Roman Emperor (69-79 AD). He was responsible for the building of the Roman Colosseum (aka Flavian Amphitheatre).

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Gene Clark

Born November 17, 1944 d. 1991

American singer, with The Byrds. Music: Mr. Tambourine Man (1965, #1).

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Lauren Hutton

Born November 17, 1943

American model, Playboy bunny, actress. Film: American Gigolo (1979).

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Martin Scorsese

Born November 17, 1942

American director. Film: Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988).

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Gordon Lightfoot Photo Credit: Arnielee

Gordon Lightfoot Photo Credit: Arnielee
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Gordon Lightfoot

Born November 17, 1938 d. 2023

Canadian singer, songwriter. Music: If You Could Read My Mind (1970), Sundown (1974, #1), and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (1976).
His song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald was based on a true event.
His song Sundown was about his then mistress Cathy Smith, who in 1982 injected the fatal overdose that killed John Belushi.

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Peter Cook

Born November 17, 1937 d. 1995

English actor, comedian. He is often credited with founding contemporary British satire.

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Soichiro Honda

Born November 17, 1906 d. 1991

Japanese motorcycle and automobile maker.

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Lee Strasberg

Born November 17, 1901 d. 1982

acting teacher, the father of method acting in America. His disciples include Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Robert De Niro, and Al Pacino.

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Louis XVIII (Louis Stanislas Xavier)

Born November 17, 1755 d. 1824

King of France (1814-24).

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The Father of Canning

Nicolas Appert

Born November 17, 1749 d. 1841

French scientist and chef. The Father of Canning. He was the first person to preserve food in jars (1804), opened the first canning factory, and invented the bouillon cube.

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Deaths

Auguste Rodin

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Auguste Rodin

Died November 17, 1917 b. 1840

French sculptor, noted for his famous statue The Thinker (1888). When motion photography proved that horses didn't gallop in the manner often depicted by artists, he responded, "It is the artist who is truthful and it is photography which lies, for in reality time does not stop."

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Ruth Brown go to Video for Ruth Brown

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Ruth Brown

Died November 17, 2006 b. 1928

American Rock & Roll Hall of Fame jazz singer, Tony-winning actress, Queen of R&B. She was Atlantic Records' best-selling artist for the 1950s. Atlantic Records was sometimes referred to as: "The house the Ruth built." Music: Teardrops From My EyesTeardrops From My Eyes (1950, #1) and (Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean (1953, #1).

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Esther Rolle

Died November 17, 1998 b. 1920

American Emmy-winning actress. TV: Maude (1972-74, Florida Evans) and Good Times (1974-77, 1978-79, Florida Evans).

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Detlev Wulf Bronk

Died November 17, 1975 b. 1897

American scientist, educator, "Father of Biophysics." He served as president of Johns Hopkins University (1949-53).

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Mary Tudor

Died November 17, 1558 b. 1516

Queen of England and Ireland (1553-58). Her persecution of Protestants for heresy to the Roman Catholic Church earned her the name "Bloody Mary."

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Saint Hilda of Whitby

Died November 17, 680 b. 614

see Feast Day.

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