On August 12, 1981, IBM revolutionized the world when it offered regular people the power of computing at their fingertips at home or in the office. The introduction of the IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC marked a pivotal development in…
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On August 11, 1942, in the midst of World War II’s escalating technological arms race, Austrian-born actress Hedy Lamarr and American avant-garde composer George Antheil were awarded U.S. Patent No. 2,292,387 for an invention few in the entertainment world—or the military establishment—could have anticipated.…
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It was a joke that put everyone on edge. On August 11, 1984, during a routine sound check before his weekly Saturday radio address, President Ronald Reagan made a remark that would become one of the most infamous gaffes of his presidency. Testing the…
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On August 11, 3114 BC, time began. That is, at least if you were an ancient Mayan. The Mayan Long Count calendar, an intricate and sophisticated timekeeping system, has captivated scholars and historians for centuries. Its origins trace back to the ancient Maya civilization,…
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On Aug. 10, 1962, in Marvel’s Amazing Fantasy #15, an American superhero came to life and changed comic books and, eventually, movies forever. Created by the collaborative team of writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, Spider-Man was an instant sensation with readers. “Spider-Man was a…
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On August 10, 1519, Ferdinand Magellan embarked on one of the most ambitious and historic voyages in the annals of exploration: the first circumnavigation of the globe. This monumental journey, undertaken under the auspices of the Spanish crown, would forever alter the world’s understanding…
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Smokey Bear, commonly known as Smokey the Bear, stands as an enduring symbol of wildfire prevention in the United States. With his iconic slogan, “Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires,” Smokey has become a cultural figure representing the nation’s efforts to protect forests from…
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On a quiet London morning in August 1969, a Scottish photographer named Iain Macmillan climbed a stepladder in the middle of the street while a police officer held up traffic. For just ten minutes, he had the full cooperation of four of the most…
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On the evening of August 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon addressed the nation from the Oval Office, announcing his resignation. This unprecedented event marked the first time a U.S. president resigned from office, a dramatic climax to the Watergate scandal dominating the White House.…
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On August 8, 1945 the United States, England, France and the Soviet Union joined together and signed the London Agreement, a new treaty to impose justice against the Nazis for their crimes. For two months during the summer of 1945, Robert H. Jackson and…
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