January 29 in Pop Culture History

January 29th History, Trivia, and Fun Facts

January 29th History Highlights

  • 1980 – The Rubik’s Cube made its international debut at the Ideal Toy Corp. in Earl’s Court, London.
  • 2002 – In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush described “regimes that sponsor terror” as an Axis of evil- he included Iraq, Iran, and North Korea.
  • 2015 – Malaysia officially declared the disappearance of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 (disappeared on March 8, 2014) an accident, and its passengers and crew were presumed dead.
  • If you were born on January 29th,
    You were likely conceived the week of… May 8th (prior year)

Cleveland School Shooting

On January 29, 1979, Brenda Spencer opened fire on the Cleveland Elementary School in San Diego. She was armed with a Ruger 10/22 rifle as she shot from her house across the street. The school’s principal and custodian were killed, as well as 8 children and one police officer who attempted to stop her. This event is now known as the “Cleveland School Shooting.”

Brenda Spencer would go on to plead guilty to two counts of murder and assault with a deadly weapon before being sentenced to life in prison with a chance of parole after 25 years. After the shooting, she told a reporter, “I don’t like Mondays. This livens up the day.”

In the aftermath of this tragedy, schools have looked for ways to better protect their students from similar incidents. One such measure has been to install metal detectors at entrances; however, this can be costly and time-consuming. Schools have also turned to other measures, such as improved surveillance and tracking systems, to better protect their students from potential threats.

The Cleveland School Shooting remains a shocking memory in the minds of many Americans. While this shooting may have taken place over 30 years ago, it still serves as a reminder that school shootings can happen anytime or anywhere. Parents should be reassured by knowing that precautions are in place to protect kids at school, but they should also make sure that their children feel comfortable and safe when in the classroom.

Schools have made many efforts towards better-protecting students from shootings like this one; however, parents can do a lot by teaching their kids how to be responsible with information about themselves online and encouraging them to speak up if they feel threatened.

January 29th is…

Curmudgeons Day
National Carnation Day
National Corn Chip Day
Puzzle Day
Seeing Eye Dog Day
Thomas Paine (Free Thinkers) Day

January 29th Birthday Quotes

Independence is my happiness, and I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good.
– Thomas Paine

I personally stay away from natural foods. At my age I need all the preservatives I can get.
– W.C. Fields

Each of us is full of too many wheels, screws, and valves to permit us to judge one another on a first impression or by two or three external signs.
– Anton Chekhov

Human beings have an inalienable right to invent themselves; when that right is pre-empted it is called brain-washing.
– Germaine Greer

Anarchism is founded on the observation that since few men are wise enough to rule themselves, even fewer are wise enough to rule others.
– Edward Abbey

I don’t have to attend every argument I’m invited to.
– W.C. Fields

Newlyweds shooting budget: 5k for actors, 2k insurance, 2k food, and drink. 9k in the can. We only shot 12 days. That’s how to make an independent film.
– Edward Burns

January 29th Birthdays

1737 – Thomas Paine, One of the Founding Fathers of the United States (died in 1809)
1843 – William McKinley, American politician, 25th President of the United States (died in 1901)
1860 – Anton Chekhov, Russian playwright and short story writer (died in 1904)
1874 – John D. Rockefeller, Jr., American businessman and philanthropist (died in 1960)
1880 – W.C. Fields (William Claude Dukenfield), American comedic actor (died in 1946)
1913 – Victor Mature, American actor (died in 1999)
1917 – John Raitt, American actor, and singer (died in 2005)
1918 – John Forsythe, American actor (died in 2010)
1927 – Edward Abbey, American writer (died in 1989)
1939 – Germaine Greer, Australian journalist, and author
1940 – Katharine Ross, American actress
1945 – Tom Selleck, American actor
1949 – Tommy Ramone (Thomas Erdelyi), Hungarian-American drummer, The Ramones(died in 2014)
1950 – Ann Jillian, American actress
1954 – Oprah Winfrey, American talk show host, actress, and producer
1960 – Gia Carangi, American supermodel (died in 1986)
1962 – Nicholas Turturro, American actor
1968 – Edward Burns, American actor
1970 – Heather Graham, American actress
1975 – Sara Gilbert, American actress
1993 – Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Japanese singer

January 29th History

1845 – Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven’ was published in the New York Evening Mirror.

1856 – Queen Victoria established the Victoria Cross to recognize acts of valor by British military personnel.

1861 – Kansas became the 34th state.

1886 – Karl Benz patented the first successful gasoline-driven automobile.

1924 – The first US patent (#1481813) for an ice cream cone rolling machine was issued to Carl R. Taylor of Cleveland, Ohio

1959 – Walt Disney’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’ was released. The Beauty, Princess Aurora, only appeared on screen for about 18 minutes as an ‘adult’, but she was actually a sixteen-year-old.

1967 – The Mantra-Rock Dance (the ‘Ultimate High’) took place in San Francisco and features Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Allen Ginsberg, and others.

1977 – #1 Hit January 29, 1977 – February 4, 1977: Rose Royce – Car Wash

January 29, 19** Birthday (fictional) Arthur Curry (Aquaman), DC Comics

2000 – #1 Hit January 29, 2000 – February 18, 2000: Savage Garden – I Knew I Loved You

2009 – Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich was removed from office following his conviction of several corruption charges, including the alleged solicitation of personal benefit in exchange for an appointment to the United States Senate as a replacement for then-U.S. president-elect Barack Obama.

2011 – #1 Hit January 29, 2011 – February 18, 2011: Britney Spears – Hold It Against Me.

Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts

Waldo has been traveling all over the world for years and never chosen a place to call home. Maybe the person trying the hardest to find Waldo is himself.

The Seven Virtues #7- Temperance is moderation of needed things and abstinence from things which are not needed.

Biggest film of 1997: Titanic (Thriller) earned ~ $659,000,000

The boiling point of water on top of Mt Everest is 160f (71c).

I’m not sure if it’s a false memory, but I remember climbing across monkey bars without feeling like my arms were being torn from their sockets.

Offense: When it’s a legal matter, it’s pronounced o-FENCE. When it’s sports, it’s pronounced OFF-ence. Climbing? A fence.

“You talkin’ to me?” – Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) in Taxi Driver, 1976

According to a study, people will believe anything that’s according to a study.

Since 1966 ‘Peaches and Herb’ has had 7 different Peaches, but only one Herb.

“Just one more thing Sofie. Is she aware her daughter is alive?” – Bill #moviequotes

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