Friday, July 31 — National Talk in an Elevator Day

Today begins with one of the world’s most dangerous mountains. On July 31, 1954, climbers reached the summit of K2 for the first time, proving that the world’s second-highest mountain was possible to climb, even if it was never going to become forgiving.

Then we meet the USS Nevada, a battleship that survived Pearl Harbor, World War II, and two atomic bomb tests before finally being sunk on purpose in 1948. Finally, we follow the Marquis de Lafayette, a nineteen-year-old French aristocrat who crossed the ocean, joined the American Revolution, and became a major general without pay.

We also celebrate the birthday of J.K. Rowling, whose imagined world became part of real culture for millions of readers.

History is full of moments where people step into something bigger, stranger, harder, or more dangerous than anyone expected.

WaitThatsRandom.com