Blake Eakright

a.k.a. DIABLO

[Science girl @sciencegirl]

This guy built a roller coaster to stop his fish getting bored

[ESPN @espn]

Breaking: Patrick Kane is returning to the Chicago Blackhawks on a two year deal, $8 million average annual value, the team announced.

[DiscussingFilm @DiscussingFilm]

Atari and Universal Pictures have signed a deal to potentially make 10 movies based on the following games:

• Asteroids
• Adventure
• Berzerk
• Breakout
• Centipede
• Crystal Castles
• Millipede
• Missile Command
• Pong
• Yars’ Revenge

(Source: Deadline)

[Film Updates @FilmUpdates]

Sony Pictures Entertainment is set to reopen the Cinerama Dome in early 2028, after the iconic theater was closed for the past six years.

[Hodgepodgery /s 🙃 @TaylorChar83070]

Annals of the Day: Chronicle of July 20 ♋️

July 20 is the 201st day of the Gregorian calendar, with 164 days remaining until year’s end. It falls under the Cancer zodiac sign (♋️), evoking themes of exploration, resilience, and hidden depths—traits that resonate with many events on this date.

Historical and Political Milestones

July 20 has witnessed pivotal moments blending triumph, tragedy, and resilience:

1944: Operation Valkyrie — Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and fellow German officers attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler with a briefcase bomb at his Wolf’s Lair headquarters. Hitler survived with minor injuries; the plotters were swiftly executed. This near-miss highlighted internal resistance to the Nazi regime during World War II.

1969: Apollo 11 Moon Landing — NASA’s Apollo 11 achieved the first crewed lunar landing. The lunar module Eagle, piloted by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (with Michael Collins orbiting in the command module Columbia), touched down in the Sea of Tranquility. Armstrong’s famous words upon stepping onto the surface—“That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind”—captured humanity’s achievement. This fulfilled President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 challenge and marked a Cold War victory in the Space Race. The Saturn V rocket and the era’s relatively primitive computing power (less powerful than a modern smartphone) underscored the feat’s ingenuity.

Other notable political events include Colombia’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1810 and Sitting Bull’s surrender to U.S. forces in 1881.

Scientific and Technological Advances

The Apollo 11 mission remains the crowning achievement, demonstrating human ingenuity in rocket technology, navigation, and life support. Exactly seven years later, on July 20, 1976, NASA’s Viking 1 became the first U.S. spacecraft to successfully land on Mars, continuing the spirit of interplanetary exploration.

International Moon Day, recognized by the United Nations in 2021, commemorates the Apollo 11 anniversary and promotes global space cooperation. There have also been initiatives to designate July 20 as “Lunar Landing Day” in the U.S. to inspire STEM fields.

A bizarre coincidental footnote: In 1807, French brothers Nicéphore and Claude Niépce received a patent for the Pyréolophore, an early internal combustion engine—foreshadowing the propulsion technologies that would one day carry humans to the Moon.

Notable Births

July 20 has produced influential figures across arts, science, and exploration:

Carlos Santana (b. 1947, age ~78–79 in 2026): Legendary rock guitarist known for blending Latin, rock, and blues influences.

Sandra Oh (b. 1971, age ~55): Acclaimed actress (Killing Eve, Grey’s Anatomy).

Others include John Lodge (Moody Blues bassist, ~82), Judy Greer (~51), Josh Holloway (~57), Gisele Bündchen (~46), and Stephen Strasburg (baseball pitcher, ~38). Historical births: Edmund Hillary (1919, Everest conqueror) and Petrarch (1304, Renaissance poet).

Notable Deaths

Bruce Lee (1973): Martial arts icon and actor, died at 32 from cerebral edema.

Guglielmo Marconi (1937): Inventor and Nobel laureate, pioneer of radio transmission.

Pancho Villa (1923): Mexican revolutionary general, assassinated.

Pope Leo XIII (1903): Influential pontiff.

Others include James Doohan (“Scotty” from Star Trek, 2005) and, more recently, various cultural figures.

A trivial yet poignant note: Lee’s death occurred on the anniversary of the Moon landing, linking two icons of human potential and physical mastery.

Sports Highlights

1858: First baseball game with paid admission (50 cents) between New York and Brooklyn teams at Fashion Race Course.

1896: Harold Mahony defeated Wilfred Baddeley to win the Wimbledon Men’s Championship.

Modern echoes include various MLB games and other athletic milestones on this date.

Cultural Highlights

Moon Day and International Chess Day (commemorating FIDE’s 1924 founding).

Colombia Independence Day.

2012: Aurora Theater Shooting: A tragic mass shooting during a The Dark Knight Rises premiere, underscoring ongoing societal challenges.

Obscure reference: On July 20, 1837, Euston railway station opened in London as the city’s first intercity terminus—another “giant leap” in connectivity paralleling space exploration.

Assessment of News Gathering Quality

The provided material is generally accurate on major facts (e.g., Apollo 11, Operation Valkyrie, key births/deaths, and sports events) but shows room for improvement. It contains minor redundancies (e.g., repeated Apollo 11 emphasis), occasional grammatical awkwardness (e.g., inconsistent tense and phrasing), and limited depth on lesser-known events. Fact verification confirms core claims, with strong coverage of space milestones and cultural notes. However, it could benefit from broader context, cross-verification against primary sources, and inclusion of more obscure coincidences for richer narrative texture. Overall, solid foundational reporting with moderate analytical rigor—suitable for a daily chronicle but enhanced by professional polishing for depth and flow.

This chronicle weaves verified history into a cohesive, engaging narrative, highlighting July 20’s blend of human ambition, peril, and serendipity.

[Dexerto @Dexerto]

The Nissan Altima is being discontinued after 2026

The popular sedan will be discontinued after nearly three decades on the market

[Connie Landro @clandro]

#NationalHotDogDay is an annual U.S. food holiday celebrated on the third Wednesday in July. In 2026, it falls on Wednesday, July 15. It’s part of National Hot Dog Month, which is observed throughout July.

A brief history
The holiday was established by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council in 1991 to celebrate one of America’s most recognizable foods. The council also promotes July as National Hot Dog Month.

While the hot dog’s roots trace back to European sausages brought to the U.S. by immigrants in the 19th century, it became closely associated with American culture through:

* Baseball stadiums
* Street vendors
* County fairs
* Backyard cookouts
* Fourth of July celebrations

Fun facts

* Americans eat an estimated 20 billion hot dogs each year.
* About 7 billion are consumed during the summer grilling season.
* July is both National Hot Dog Month and home to National Hot Dog Day.

Popular regional styles

Some famous American hot dog varieties include:

* Chicago dog – topped with mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt.

* New York dog – often served with mustard and onion sauce.

* Coney dog – topped with meat chili, onions, and mustard.

* Sonoran dog – bacon-wrapped and loaded with beans, onions, tomatoes, mayo, mustard, and jalapeño salsa.

[Variety @Variety]

Sam Neill, 'Jurassic Park' Star, Dies at 78 https://t.co/i63oLCYaQN

[Wall Street Apes @WallStreetApes]

7-Eleven celebrated their 6Oth Birthday with these massive Slurpee

The giant Slurpee cups were up to 16.5 inches tall and prices $3.99 to $6.99 depending on size and location

Apparently people were are having issues finding a straw big enough of they run out of the oversized straws

According to AI this could have as much as 250+ grams of sugar. That’s equivalent to about 20 Krispy Kreme donuts

[Variety @Variety]

Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh rock singer behind ’80s hits like “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” died on Wednesday. She was 75.

A statement shared on Tyler’s official website reads: “Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for.” https://t.co/E8e6Lm1TBh

[Calendar Of The Day @calendarofday]

Pixels, controllers, and endless hours 🎮 National Video Game Day. The first video game was "Tennis for Two" (1958). Now it's a $200B industry. Game on.
https://t.co/z8IqaRS4ip
#NationalVideoGameDay

[Spotrac @spotrac]

Happy Bobby Bonilla day to all who celebrate!
The 63-year-old cashes another $1.19M check from the Mets today, plus an additional $500k from the Orioles based on a January 2000 contract deferral.

More payments today:

Max Scherzer
Nats: $15M annual thru 2027
Dodgers: $15M in 2028

Chris Davis (Orioles)
2026-32: $3.5M annual
2033-37: $1.4M annual

Manny Ramirez (Red Sox)
2026: $2.04M (final year)

Ryan Braun (Brewers)
$1.8M annual thru 2031

Liam Hendriks (White Sox)
$1.5M annual thru 2033

Adam Wainwright (Cardinals)
$1M annual thru 2033

Lorenzo Cain (Brewers)
$1M annual thru 2027

Bret Saberhagen (Mets)
$250k annual thru 2028

[DiscussingFilm @DiscussingFilm]

55 years ago today, ‘WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY’ released in theaters.

[DiscussingFilm @DiscussingFilm]

A 5-part documentary series about Cartoon Network is in the works.

The series will explore the network's eras and its artists throughout its history.

[Pop Base @PopBase]

Sonic the Hedgehog made his debut 35 years ago today.

[Stonehenge U.K @ST0NEHENGE]

Stonehenge Summer Solstice Celebration 2026 🙏❤️

[Will Stern @Will__Stern]

We have a new record for the most expensive video game of all time!

This newly-discovered sealed Super Mario Bros. just sold for $3 million at @HeritageAuction, beating the previous record set in 2021 of $2 million.

[Ballislife.com @Ballislife]

35 YEARS AGO TODAY
Michael Jordan celebrated his first NBA Championship with his father.

MJ in the NBA Finals: 6-0

[Bite-Sized Nostalgia @landofthe80s]

"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" starring Matthew Broderick began its ascent to '80s icon status today in 1986 when it was released in theatres.

BITE-SIZED FACT | The film grossed over $70.7 million, making it one of the top ten highest-grossing films of the year.

[Today in History @TodayinHistory]

Antoni Gaudí looking on the completed and blessed Tower of Jesus Christ in approval.

Well done, Barcelona!