This Day in History - Sputnik, Janis Joplin, Jim Bakker

Continuing with space posts, from HistoryChannel.com:

1957 - Soviet Union launches Sputnik I

The successful launch of the unmanned satellite Sputnik I by the Soviet Union in October 1957 shocks and frightens many Americans. As the tiny satellite orbited the earth, Americans reacted with dismay that the Soviets could have gotten so far ahead of the supposedly technologically superior United States. There was also fear that with their new invention, the Soviets had gained the upper hand in the arms race.

I saw a model of the thing once. It was only slightly larger than a basketball, and all it did was send out what amounted to be a click or a pop at a regular interval. But it was up there.

Next we have:

1970 - Janis Joplin dies

Singer Janis Joplin dies from a heroin overdose at the Landmark Hotel in Hollywood. Joplin's unrestrained personality and passionate, raspy voice made her a symbol of the intensity and rebellious spirit of the late 1960s.

Uglier than sin, but I do like some of her tunes.


And finally, we have this:

1988 - Jim Bakker is indicted on federal charges

Televangelist Jim Bakker is indicted on federal charges of mail and wire fraud and of conspiring to defraud the public. The case against the founder of Praise the Lord (PTL) Ministries and three of his aides exploded in the press when it was revealed that Bakker had sex with former church secretary Jessica Hahn.

Praise the lord and pass the collection plate. So given a choice, hmmm.

WWJD?

So, where are they now?

Jessica has made an appearence or two on The Howard Stern Show and apparently married the creator of "Married With Children" on which she's done a cameo. She resides in Beverley Hills and owns a condo in West Hollywood. Her main calling in life these days seems to be as search engine keywords in meta tags of online porno sites.

Tammy Faye divorced Jim in 1992 while he was still being used for currency in the prison system and married his close friend Roe Messner. They live in Charlotte, North Carolina with a pair of puppies named Muffin and Tuppins and a cat named Tinkerbell.

She has authored numerous books, most recently I Will Survive... And You Will, Too! and still ministers churches, around the USA.

Mar/28/04: Tammy Faye Messner appears on Larry King Live and announces she has inoperable lung cancer.