Today in History: May 8th: 80th Anniversary of V-E Day

takeahike

May 8, Allies celebrate Nazi surrender in World War II

On May 8, 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced in a radio address that Nazi Germany’s forces had surrendered, stating that “the flags of freedom fly all over Europe” on V-E (Victory in Europe) Day.

In 1886, the first serving of Coca-Cola, which contained cocaine, was sold at a pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia. (The drink became fully cocaine-free in 1929.)

My summation: In 1978, David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam, aka the .44 Caliber Killer, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of murder, attempted murder and assault and was sentenced to six consecutive life terms after terrorizing New Yorkers during the spring and summer of 1977. He was arrested outside his apartment in Yonkers, NY after he was traced as a result of a parking ticket he received on his 1970 Ford Galaxie in Bath Beach, Brooklyn after committing a murder and attempted murder there. I recall that in the final days before his arrest on August 10, 1977 the mob had put out a bounty on his head because he was ruining their nightclub business, with New Yorkers being terrified of venturing out at night for entertainment.

Guy54435

Back in the day when the soda-pop had some oomph.

In 1886, the first serving of Coca-Cola, which contained cocaine, was sold at a pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia. (The drink became fully cocaine-free in 1929.)
Cocaine user in the 1880s

Cocaine user in 1980s

takeahike

Guy54435 Back in the day when the soda-pop had some oomph.

Been replaced by Panera Bread lemonade: Panera Bread settles first death lawsuit over charged lemonade. Sad–beautiful woman.

The family of an Ivy League student who died after drinking a highly caffeinated charged lemonade that was sold by Panera Bread has resolved a case against the U.S. bakery chain.

It was the first of four lawsuits, which referred to charged lemonade as a “dangerous energy drink.” Panera Bread stopped selling the beverage in May 2024.

Sarah Katz had a heart condition known as long QT syndrome type 1

telcodad

62 Years Ago: “Dr. No,” the First James Bond Film, Premieres in the US, Launching a Cinematic Legend
By Luke Bouma, Cord Cutters News - May 8, 2025
https://cordcuttersnews.com/62-years-ago-dr-no-the-first-james-bond-film-premieres-in-the-us-launching-a-cinematic-legend/

On May 8, 1963, American audiences were introduced to a suave British secret agent named James Bond with the U.S. premiere of Dr. No, the first film in what would become one of the most enduring franchises in cinematic history. Starring Sean Connery as the iconic 007, the film marked the debut of a character created by Ian Fleming, blending espionage, charisma, and exotic locales into a formula that captivated audiences and set the stage for over two dozen sequels. Sixty-two years later, Dr. No remains a cultural touchstone, celebrated for its groundbreaking style and influence on the spy genre. ….

Dks01

On this day in 1945, my late aunt, who was a student nurse at the time, missed her 10:00 PM curfew and was dismissed from her School of Nursing at the prestigious Montreal General Hospital. Family stories have her spending the night aboard a Royal Canadian Navy ship in harbour, making her the first woman to spend the night on an RCN ship. She went on to apply for completion of her RN at another hospital in Quebec, which she graduated from in 1946. She went on to spend most of her working life in New York. When I was executor of her estate I came across her date books from that time. She went to dinner with doctors many nights of the week at New York’s finest restaurants. She certainly enjoyed a large social life.