Fifty Other Things That Turn 50 This Year

Have you ever wondered what else in this world was as old (or young) as you are?  Well I turned the big 5-0 in March to absolutely no fan fair.  So, I decided to see what may have been more deserving of a 50th birthday celebration.   

We'll start with five books from 1966 that I fully intend to read before I turn 51-
Beautiful Losers by Leonard Cohen
In God We Trust All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd
The Valley Of The Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
The Diary Of Anais Nin by Anais Nin
Where Do We Go From Here - Chaos or Community? by Martin Luther King Jr.  

My top five songs released in 1966 are -
These Boots Are Made For Walking by Nancy Sinatra 
When A Man Loves A Woman by Percy Sledge
Yellow Submarine by The Beatles
I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel
Good Vibration by the Beach Boys
Each of these songs was like an anthem in my mind before I ever found out that they were released in my birth year.  Coincidence?  I think not. 

My top five TV Series from 1966 that I absolutely love -
Bewitched (I know.  You're thinking that explains a lot .... LOL)
The Beverly Hillbillies 
I Dream of Jeannie
The Lucy Show 
Star Trek: The Original Series   

​There are also five 1966 movies that I will Youtube ASAP
Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolfe?
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Fantastic Voyage
Alfie
​Batman
 
Arguably the top five political events of 1966
Fidel Castro announces martial law in Cuba because of a possible US attack.  (Maybe that explains why I am equally at home in Canada, and Cuba.)
The Medical Care Act was passed helping to set up the Medicare System.
The FDA declare The Pill safe for human use..  
The Canadian Pension Plan was created.
Ingredients are required to be listed on food packages.  (That explains my OCD level pre-occupation with everything I eat) 

Speaking of food ... There are some ingestibles that were first released in 1966.  They include -
Doritos
Crunch 'n' Munch
Bugles
Fresco
Clamato juice   

Maybe these two things that happened in 1966 had nothing to do with each other but that seems highly unlikely 
The Vatican abolishes the Index Liborium Prohibitorum (the list of banned books) 
The Church of Satan is formed by Anton Sandor LaVey 
See what I mean?

Honestly you can't get through a discussion about the 60's without mentioning dugs. In 1966 -
Insulin was synthesized in China
LSD was made illegal  

Anyways, back to some fun stuff
Barbie was patented in 1966
The  Cookie Monster was first introduced
Twister was first released
The Camaro (originally the Panther) was introduced
"Chem grass" was rebranded as Astro Turf after it's first well publicized use in the Houston Astrodome

I might even start dating men of my own age if I could snag one with
the sense of humour of Adam Sandler,
the no nonsense attitude of Mike Tyson (Yes, I know they contradict each other.  But, I am hoping for someone who can maintain a balance between the two. ) 
the intensity of Keifer Sutherland, 
the philanthropist streak of Patrick Dempsey, &
the work ethic of John Cusack..

Unfortunately, I would probably have to look like (or as good as) one of these ladies who share my birth year
Cindy Crawford
Robin Wright
Halle Berry
Salma Hayek or 
Martina McBride

The last item on my list, I believe should have won a  1966 Invention of The Year Award in the Convenience Category.  Pampers created the first disposable diaper.   

Hopefully, my list of FIfty Other Things That Turn 50 This Year has you at least a little bit curious about what was happening in the world when you were born.  Cheers!