Nerd History

July 11 in nerd history: Celebrating a decade of Sharknado

Happy 7-11 Day! Aka, the day you can go into a 7-11 and get a free Slurpee. That’s what summer is all about.

This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day.

July 11 in Nerd History

Here are 5 things that happened on July 11 for those of us who know the difference between 7-11 and 7-2-11.

I.

Birthdays of honor: Robert the Bruce (1274), Yul Brynner (1920), Stephen Lang (1952), Richie Sambora (1959).

II.

It’s hard to believe it’s already been 10 years, but today we celebrate a decade of the brilliance that is Sharknado.

After years of scientists pondering what would happen if sharks were to fuse with tornados, the Syfy Channel boldly gave us the answer.

And the spirit of Carl Sagan was alive and well when Contact came out in 1997.

III.

In 2001, the file-sharing site Napster shut down after a rocky two-year run — but one that essentially changed the music and media industry forever.

And somehow Sean Parker was played by Justin Timperlake. Probably the biggest win of his career, honestly.

IV.

In 1966 we finally got to see couples awkwardly fight on air when The Newlywed Game premiered on ABC.

It went up against an address from US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and most people chose to go with the gameshow.

V.

The number one song on this day in 1984 was “When Doves Cry” by Prince. Or as my friend thought it said when he was a kid, “When Adults Cry”.

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July 11 in Nerd History

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