July 16th "2024" Daily Prep
Welcome to day 198 of the year! Known as World Snake Day, Fresh Spinach Day, Guinea Pig Appreciation Day. If you were born today you were likely conceived the week of October 23rd in the previous year. Your star sign is Cancer and your birthstone is Ruby.
1945 – The Manhattan Project: The world’s first nuclear explosion occurred, when a plutonium implosion device was tested at a site located 210 miles south of Los Alamos, New Mexico. It was led by the United States with the support of the United Kingdom and Canada.
Todays birthdays
1951 – Lorraine Chase (73), English actress and model (as Steph Stokes – Emmerdale 2002-2006, Lame Ducks, Love & Bullets), born in Deptford, London.
1958 – Michael Flatley (66), Irish-American dancer-choreographer (Riverdance; Lord of Dance), flute player, and filmmaker, born in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
1966 – Johnny Vaughan (58), English television (The Big Breakfast) and radio presenter (Capitol FM) and a film critic, born in Barnet, London.
1971 – Corey Feldman (53), American actor (Goonies, Stand by Me, Lost Boys, The ‘Burbs), born in Reseda, Los Angeles, California, United States.
1989 – Gareth Bale (35), Welsh former professional footballer (Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, Wales), born in Cardiff, Wales.
Famous deaths
2013 – Journalist and broadcaster Alan Whicker (b. 1921), died at the age of 87 after suffering from bronchial pneumonia. His TV career stretched nearly six decades and he was best known for his documentary series, Whicker’s World, which ran from 1959 to 1988 on both the BBC and ITV. He was made a CBE for services to broadcasting in 2005.
The day today
1945 – The leaders of the three Allied nations (Winston Churchill, Harry S Truman and Josef Stalin) gathered in the German city of Potsdam to decide the future of a defeated Germany.
1955 – Stirling Moss won the British Grand Prix at the Aintree track near Liverpool, the first time an Englishman had triumphed in the race. His success in a variety of categories placed him among the world’s elite and he is often called ‘the greatest driver never to win the World Championship’.
1970 – Queen Elizabeth II declared a state of emergency following the start of a national dock strike (a major industrial action that raised fears of food shortages), the first state of emergency issued in Britain since 1926. Dockers went on a national strike over a rejected pay increase which amounted to nearly double the basic pay. Trade links to Britain were severed by 90% after the first two weeks, while the British Army were on standby to protect food imports if necessary.
1987 – The two biggest airlines in the UK (One time rivals British Caledonian and British Airways) merged in order to compete with America’s giant air corporations.
2018 – 12 new moons are discovered orbiting Jupiter bringing the planet’s moon total to 79.
Today in music
1964 – The Rolling Stones had their first UK No.1 single with It’s All Over Now, although their American tour, just a month earlier had been, in Bill Wyman’s words, ‘a disaster’.
2000 – Coldplay went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut release Parachutes. The release spawned the hit singles ‘Shiver’, ‘Yellow’, ‘Trouble’, and ‘Don’t Panic’ and won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2002.
2001 – Robbie Williams started a two week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Eternity / The Road To Mandalay.’ The 4th No.1 for the former Take That singer.
2007 – Three masked men, carrying sledgehammers and crowbars, broke into the home of former Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona and escaped with goods including the singers BMW M5 sports car, two laptops, two gaming machines and two televisions. The robbers held a knife to the neck of the former pop star during the raid on her home in Wilmslow, Cheshire.
2012 – Queen’s 1975 classic Bohemian Rhapsody was voted as the UK’s “Favorite No. 1 Single,” narrowly beating out Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ for the top spot. The poll conducted by the Official Charts Company had The Beatles ‘Hey Jude’ at No.5, with Adele’s hit ‘Someone Like You’ at No.3.
Today in history
622 AD – The journey of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his followers began. This was known as the Hijrah. Muhammed and his followers left Mecca on their journey to Medina. This marks the start of the Muslim calendar.
1377 – The Coronation of Richard II, aged 10. He was king of England until he was deposed in 1399.
1439 – As the Plague spread throughout England and Europe, Henry VI banned kissing as a precaution to prevent its deadly trail. Although the Black Death, or Bubonic Plague was and had spread throughout Europe during 1438 and 1439, it is not believed that this particular outbreak was linked.
1557 – The death, aged 41, of Anne of Cleves, Queen of England and 4th wife of Henry VIII.
1723 – The birth of Sir Joshua Reynolds, an influential English painter, specialising in portraits. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy. King George III appreciated his merits and knighted him in 1769.