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.
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.
The film was originally meant to be directed by Orson Welles and starring Charles Chaplin, but Chaplin backed out at the last moment, saying that he had never had anyone direct him before and didn't want to start. Instead, he bought the screenplay off Welles and re-wrote parts of it, crediting Welles with only the "idea". Welles said that, despite most of the script being his, he didn't mind as it was one of his lesser works.
Today in History:
April 11, 1034 -
An ancient corollary (lost to the ages) of the phrase 'don't go to bed mad' is 'don't take a bath mad'. After cutting his wife's allowance, in order to balance the Byzantine Empire's budget, Emperor Romanos III Argyros was drowned by the Empress Zoe's eunuch (and lover?) Michael, in his bath on this date.
April 11, 1713 -
Psst (in case it comes up in conversation), Spain ceded Gibraltar in perpetuity to Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht on this date.
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, didn't suit him and he comes back for his metric Hundred Day campaign (see March 20).
April 11, 1865 -
President Abraham Lincoln made his last public speech on this date. His speech centered on promoting the rights of African-Americans.
The speech apparently didn't come off as planned. After hearing it, John Wilkes Booth, who had originally been planning to kidnap Lincoln, become so incensed that he decided to assassinate him instead.
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, I would 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 equated 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.
MacArthur 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
Before you go - enjoy this moment of pure zen; Why Werner Herzog hates chickens.
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