Happy National Roller Coaster Day! Kingda Ka, at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, is the tallest roller coaster in the world. It reaches heights of 456 feet (45 stories) and speeds of nearly 130 mph. I love coasters, and I will gladly go ride one today, but eff that.

This is The Reset Button from Classic Nerd, resetting your day.

August 16 in Nerd History

Here are 5 things that happened on August 16th for those of us who flinch whenever we hear the words “Large Marge.”

I.

Birthdays of honor: Madonna (1958), James Cameron (1954), Steve Carell (1962), Angela Bassett (1958), Taika Waititi (1975), Cameron Monaghan (1993), Charles Bukowski (1920), Kathie Lee Gifford (1953).

II.

In 1977, in a refrain that has become all too common for famous musicians, Elvis Presley died way too young — just 42 years old, from a sudden heart attack at his private refuge in Graceland.

He remains one of the most successful artists of all time, selling over 1 billion records and counting.

III.

The first complete sound cartoon also in color was released today in 1930, “Fiddlesticks.” But it wasn’t from Walt Disney’s studio, as one might expect — instead, from disgruntled ex-Disney animator but soon-to-be Disney employee again, Ub Iwerks.

Total ripoff of Cuphead if you ask me.

IV.

Bela Lugosi, who set the bar for every human being’s impression of Dracula, died today in 1956 — four days into shooting Ed Wood’s Plan 9 From Outer Space.

Filming would go on, with the chiropractor for the director’s wife standing in for Lugosi for the rest of the shoot.

V.

In 1969, on the second day of Woodstock, activist Abbie Hoffman interrupted the set from The Who — but his speech was cut short when Pete Townshend hit him with his guitar.

​