Beep.... Beep.... Beep....

Google has a tradition of occasionally tweaking its familiar logo to mark special occasions. Today was no exception, as the search engine chose to replace the second "g" with a tiny little Sputnik.

Yes, it was 50 years ago today that the former Soviet Union launched a tiny, beeping satellite into orbit. And that tiny little metal sphere, no bigger than a basketball, grabbed the world's attention in a way that wouldn't be equaled until those photos of Britney without her underwear surfaced on the web.

Still, the launch of a tiny little satellite was hardly the most significant thing to happen on this date fifty years ago. The other big event was, of course, the premier of a TV show called Leave It to Beaver. And if you think about it, which has lasted longer? Sputnik, or the Beav? And if you honestly don't know, when's the last time you watched a rerun of Sputnik on Nick At Night?

I rest my case.

So what is about this show that still appeals to us? It was filmed in black & white and there's no five channel surround sound, for crying out loud. Is it because Leave It to Beaver takes us back to a simpler time? Is it a reminder of the lost innocence of youth? Watching Mrs. Cleaver vacuuming in high heels and a pearl necklace, secretly wishing that the high heels and necklace were all she was wearing?

No, it's none of that. The secret of the show's longevity is in it's title: The word "Beaver." You gotta admit it sounds just a teensy-weensy bit dirty.

Which would explain why Google didn't stick a beaver in its logo for today.