Actor Ralph Fiennes, 63, was born on Dec. 22, 1962 in Suffolk, England. He is best known for his roles in the films Schindler’s List, The English Patient, Maid in Manhattan, and the Harry Potter film series.
1956 - Colo, the first gorilla to be born in captivity, was born at the Columbus, Ohio zoo.
Fact of the Day
The “achoo” sound when sneezing is a learned cultural behavior, not a biological reflex. That explains why people who are born deaf typically don’t vocalize a sneeze, and why sneeze sounds vary by country.
Nature Oddities
During the filming of the 1993 film “Groundhog Day,” Bill Murray was bitten twice by the groundhog playing Punxsutawney Phil. The animal’s teeth even penetrated the glove Murray wore, and he still has the scar on his finger today.
Food and Drink
Black currants were banned in the U.S. from 1911 to 1966 to stop white pine blister, as currants host the fungus. Today, their legality varies from state to state, with Massachusetts and West Virginia continuing the ban.