Apollo 11 blasts off, first atomic bomb blasts off
Plus a special message from Samuel L. Jackson on World Snake Day
On this day in 1945, the U.S. tested the first atomic bomb near Alamogordo, New Mexico, a major milestone in mankind’s quest for the ability to wipe out every living creature on the face of the earth. Less than a month later: Hiroshima and Nagasaki got free mushroom clouds.
On this day in 1935, the world’s first parking meters were installed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a major milestone in the evolution of local governments to nickel-and-diming their citizens.
On this day in 1969: Three. Two. One. Blast off !! … Apollo 11 lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in a Saturn V rocket to collect a sack of space rocks while becoming the first humans on the moon.
Today is World Snake Day, traditionally celebrated by watching a short clip of Samuel L. Jackson loudly sharing his opinion about the titular serpents in the ridiculous 2006 film “Snakes on a Plane.”
Today’s Birthdays
Roald Amundsen (1872-1928): Norwegian explorer, became first man to discover ice at the South Pole in 1911.
Ginger Rogers (1911-1995): Oscar-winning actress who starred in 10 films with dance partner Fred Astaire and, as the saying goes, “did everything he did, backwards and in high heels.”
Phoebe Cates, 61: actress, starred in the 1982 coming-of-age comedy “Active Shooter Drills at Ridgemont High.”
Will Ferrell, 57: actor-comedian and one of Santa’s little helpers, former world champion snowball fighter … and one of the most patriotic patriots in the history of patriotism. (Video: Ferrell on SNL in 2001 after 9/11 wearing his famous red, white and blue USA thong to the office)