ON THIS DAY
IT’S DAY 246 OF 2016
the first widely marketed rubber eraser to remove pencil marks was developed 246
years ago by english engineer edward Nairne, and was initially referred to as ‘India gum’. Before this time, wax or squashed bread were used. helIos 2, a venture between Nasa and the West German space agency which was launched in 1976, is the fastest spacecraft, having reached 246,000kph (153,000mph). Nasa’s solar Probe Plus is expected to beat that when it is launched in 2018. helios 2 is no longer functional, but still orbits the sun.
THERE ARE 120 DAYS LEFT
Jack kerouac, american author and pioneer of the Beat Generation, typed his seminal novel on the road on a 120ft long scroll of paper because constantly renewing pages in his typewriter interrupted his flow. he said it took just three weeks. there is so much downforce when a Formula one car is driven at 120mph that, in theory at least, it could be driven upside down in the roof of a tunnel and support its own weight.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MoIra stuart, 67 (pictured). the BBc newsreader started her career on children’s tV show the adventure Game, as a quizsetting dragon who eviscerated celebrities if they failed to solve a mathematical puzzle. after recording a news bulletin, John humphrys told stuart: ‘You’re the most sensationally sexy lady I know. the best thing we can do for the next few hours is to make mad, passionate love in the basement.’ she pointed out they had just recorded a programme for the deaf and the audience could lip-read. salMa haYek, 50. the Mexican-born actress has been nominated for an oscar and is also a powerful movie producer, based in london, but says she faced prejudice when she arrived in hollywood. ‘I had studio heads say to me: “You can never be a leading lady, because we can’t take the risk of you opening your mouth and people thinking of their maids.” ’
BORN ON THIS DAY
VIctor sPINettI (19292012). the Welsh actor (right) became a friend of the Beatles, appearing in three of their five films. George harrison persuaded spinetti to take part by telling him: ‘Me mum will only go to see them if you’re in them.’ sir Paul Mccartney called him: ‘the man who makes clouds disappear.’ BIll shaNklY (1913-1981). the liverpool football manager, who was one of ten children, was famous for quotes, including: ‘If you are first, you are first. If you are second, you are nothing,’ and: ‘the trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they don’t know the game.’
ON SEPTEMBER 2...
IN 1944, anne Frank was sent to auschwitz. the month before she and her family had been arrested after spending more than two years hiding in an amsterdam house, where she wrote her diary. she died, aged 14, of typhoid in auschwitz the following spring. IN 1945, Japan signed the act of unconditional surrender, ending six years of World War. IN 1994, tV presenter roy castle died of lung cancer, two days after his 62nd birthday. he had never smoked but had spent years playing the trumpet in smoke-filled jazz clubs.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
Speak softly and carry a big stick. Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. president (1858-1919)
JOKE OF THE DAY
What did the baby sardine say when he saw a submarine? Look, Mum — tinned people!