November 3: Godzilla, Space Dogs, and a Very Wrong Headline

November 3 is a day that gave us a space dog, a rampaging lizard, and arguably the most embarrassing newspaper headline ever printed. If history had a highlight reel, this date would demand a director's cut.

One Small Paw for Dogkind

In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 carrying Laika, a very good girl who became the first living creature to orbit Earth. That's right — before any human slipped the surly bonds of gravity, a dog beat us to it. Somewhere out there, every cat is still salivating about being snubbed for the gig. Laika remains the ultimate overachiever: most dogs are proud of fetching a stick, and she fetched an entire era of space exploration.

Here Comes a Very Large Lizard

Also worth celebrating: in 1954, Japan released the first film featuring Godzilla, launching a monster franchise that's still stomping cities nearly 70 years later. Not bad for a guy whose entire resume is "knocks over buildings, breathes fire, refuses therapy." Godzilla has outlasted countless human movie stars, which tells you everything about the staying power of giant reptilian charisma.

Dewey Defeats Truman (Narrator: He Did Not)

In 1948, the Chicago Daily Tribune confidently printed "Dewey Defeats Truman" in its early edition — just as Harry S. Truman was pulling off a stunning upset over the heavily favored Thomas Dewey. The resulting photo of a grinning Truman holding the wrong headline is the original "this you?" moment, a cautionary tale about calling the game before the final whistle. Journalism students have been nervously double-checking their work ever since.

Happy Birthday, Kendall Jenner

Born on this day in 1995, Kendall Jenner grew into one of the most recognizable models and socialites on the planet. She shares her birthday with Italian tennis player Martina Trevisan and NFL wide receiver Kenny Golladay, both also born in 1993 — proving November 3 has a real soft spot for people who look great on camera and run very fast.

Raise a Glass to Martin de Porres

Today is also the feast day of Martin de Porres, the beloved patron saint known for humility, charity, and famously caring for animals. Given that this is also Laika's big anniversary, it feels like cosmic good manners that November 3 honors a saint who loved every creature great and small — including, presumably, the bravest dog ever to float among the stars.