Do just one thing Date Book
MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2024
by Danny Seo
Artificial houseplants may have evolved to look strikingly realistic today, but they should be avoided at all costs. The reason: While they need zero care, they don’t bring any of the benefits to a home environment that a real plant does (for example, purifying the air). Plus, these fake plants will eventually be tossed, which just ends up clogging landfills. If you don’t have a green thumb, look for low-maintenance real plants that need infrequent watering and little to no light to live. Trust me, you won’t kill it.
Today is the 218th day of 2024 and the 47th day of summer.
TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1884, the cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal was installed on Bedloe’s Island in New York Harbor.
In 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her Los Angeles home.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan began to fire 11,345 striking air-traffic controllers for violating his order to return to work.
In 2010, a cave-in at the San Jose Mine near Copiapo, Chile, trapped 33 miners 2,300 feet underground.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893), author/poet; Joseph Merrick aka “The Elephant Man” (1862-1890); John Huston (19061987), actor/director; Neil Armstrong (1930-2012), astronaut; Loni Anderson (1945- ), actress; David Baldacci (1960), novelist; Patrick Ewing (1962- ), basketball player; Adam Yauch (19642012), rapper; James Gunn (1966- ), filmmaker; Travie Mccoy (1981- ), rapper; Lolo Jones (1982- ), Olympic athlete; Anthony Edwards (2001- ), basketball player.
TODAY’S FACT: Norma Jeane Baker began using the name Marilyn Monroe in 1946 but did not change her name legally until 1956.
TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1979, Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies hit his 2,426th career single, breaking Honus Wagner’s National League record. Rose would finish his career with 3,215 singles, a major-league record that still stands.
TODAY’S QUOTE: “Words dazzle and deceive because they are mimed by the face. But black words on a white page are the soul laid bare.” -- Guy de Maupassant
TODAY’S NUMBER: 91 -- minutes legendary magician Harry Houdini spent underwater in a sealed coffin before emerging unharmed on this day in 1926. The event was Houdini’s last public escape.
TODAY’S MOON: Between new moon (Aug. 4) and first quarter moon (Aug. 12).