What is Significant About January 2, 2010? History, Birthdays & Palindromes!

January 2 is an interesting date in history. On January 2, 1982 "Camelot" closed at Winter Garden Theater New York City after 48 performances. In 1974, the 55 MPH speed limit was set by Richard Nixon. On January 2, 1972 Mariner 9 began mapping the surface of Mars, and on the same date in 1839 the first photo of the moon was shot by French photographer Louis Daguerre.

In 1968 Christian Barnard performed his second heart transplant on January 2. Senator John F. Kennedy announced his run for the U.S. Presidency on January 2 1960. On this date in 1942 Japanese troops took control of Manila Philippines, and my father would later be sent in to fight there during World War II along with countless other young American men. Also on January 2, 1776, the first American revolutionary flag was displayed.

Writers will be interested to learn book publisher Simon and Schuster was founded on January 2, 1938, and Isaac Asimov, the writer of such science fiction classics as I Robot, which became a hit movie, was born on this day in 1920.

January 2 is the birthday of some other famous people. Born today were some famous folk like Jim Bakker. Born James Orsen Bakker on January 2, 1940, Jim Bakker married Tammy Faye Bakker and went on to establish The PTL Club and the Heritage U.S.A. theme park.

Actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. was born on January 2, 1968. Gooding has performed in such movies as, A Few Good Men, Jerry Maguire, Lightning Jack, Pearl Harbor, Snow Dogs, The Tuskegee Airmen as well as my personal favorite, Radio. Another actor born today was Taye Diggs who was born on this date in 1972 and has appeared in several television shows. Actress Diane Lane from Streets of Fire, Lady Beware, and Lonesome Dove was also born on January 2, 1965. Dabney Coleman, another television actor from shows like "That Girl," "Mary Hartman," and "Buffalo Bill" was born January 2, 1932.

But one of the most interesting things about today's date, January 2, 2010, is it is also a palindrome. Typed out 01022010, today's date reads the same, backwards as forwards! It is only a palindrome in the U.S. as Europe puts their dates in order with the month and day reversed. This is the second date for the U.S. palindrome pattern (month, date, year) for this century. The first one occurred October 2, 2001 (10022001). Prior to October 2, the last palindrome with the month/date/year pattern was reportedly 621 years ago, on August 31, 1380 (08311380).

However, using the shorter date formula, January 11, 2010 is the next palindrome. 011110.

Happy Palindrome Day!

Sources:

http://www.brainyhistory.com/days/january_2.html
http://www.brainyhistory.com/daysbirth/birth_january_2.html

Also see:

What gospel artists were born in January? Jeremy Camp, Kirk Franklin, Phil Joel, Elvis Presley...
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A toast to J.R.R. Tolkien for his January 3 birthday - author of faith-based Lord of the Rings