Thursday, April 11, 2013

I guess I wasn't paying attention

Won't somebody please think of the children?!



I do not remember how filthy Rocko's Modern Life was


April 11, 1954
According to a team of Cambridge University scientists, this date in history was the most boring day during the entire 20th Century.



It appears to have been so boring that it had to be named National Cheese Fondue Day just so those people living through it didn't kill themselves.

Everything goes better with fondue.


April 11, 1942 -
A very funny Bob Clampett Merrie Melodies production, Horton Hatches the Egg, was released on this date.



This version of Dr. Seuss's Horton Hatches the Egg was the first cinematic adaptation of a Dr. Seuss book.


April 11, 1947 -
Charlie Chaplin's very dark comedy (and box-office flop upon it's initial release), Monsieur Verdoux, premiered on this date in NYC.



Chaplin's leading lady in his early silent films, Edna Purviance, tested for the role of Madame Grosnay but was deemed unsuitable. She hadn't worked with Chaplin since 1923, but was kept on the payroll throughout this time, such was the esteem Chaplin held her in. She does, however, appear briefly as an extra in the garden party scene, and is glimpsed behind Chaplin when he and Martha Raye bump into each other.


Today in History:
April 11, 1814 -
Able was I ere I saw Elba.

Napoleon tried a forced retirement, for the first time, as Emperor of France, on this date.



He retaining the title of emperor and 400 volunteers to act as his guard. He was granted sovereignty over Elba and a pension from the French government. Retirement on a small island in the Mediterranean off the coast of Italy, doesn't suit him and he comes back for his metric Hundred Day campaign (see March 20).


April 11, 1890 -
Joseph "John" Merrick, the Elephant Man died at the Royal London Hospital at the age of 27 on this date.



If I had a million dollars, would I buy Michael Jackson's skeleton?


April 11, 1905 -
A simple patent clerk, Albert Einstein, known mostly for looking at the town clock or passing trains, produces a not so simple paper discussing the Theory of Relativity which among other things postulates that E=MC² .



This astonished the world because previously E had always equally the fifth letter of the alphabet.


April 11, 1951 -
President Harry S. Truman roused himself from his fourth boiler maker and relieved General Douglas MacArthur of his command on this date. Though MacArthur was a major force in the army in both World War II and Korea, he repeatedly ignored or stretched Truman's orders, suggesting the nuclear option on the peninsula.



He forgot the most important issue, several military men have forgotten when dealing with Washington D.C. - he was not actually president. The conflict between the two became very public, and Truman eventually replaced him.


April 11, 1979 -
Kampala, the capital of Uganda, fell to the Tanzanians and dictator Idi Amin was overthrown on this date (yes, this is on the exam.)  Amin escaped to Libya and settled into exile in Saudi Arabia.



Amin, an occasional cannibal who killed perhaps 300,000 during his reign, had made the mistake of invading Tanzania - a common mistake most occasional cannibals make.



And so it goes

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