October 18, 2009

1,380 years ago
629

Franciana
Dagobert I was crowned King of the Franks.

1,000 years ago
1009

World events
Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah demolished the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

410 years ago
1599

War
Forces of Michael the Brave, Prince of Wallachia, defeated the army of Andrew Báthory in the Battle of Șelimbăr, leading to the first recorded unification of the Romanian people.

230 years ago
1779

War
The Franco-American Siege of Savannah was lifted.

150 years ago
1859

Born on this date
Henri Bergson. French philosopher. Professor Bergson was awarded the 1927 Nobel Prize in Literature "in recognition of his rich and vitalizing ideas and the brilliant skill with which they have been presented." He was an evolutionist who promoted the idea that the processes of immediate experience and intuition are more significant than abstract rationalism and science for understanding reality. Prof. Bergson died on January 4, 1941 at the age of 81.

125 years ago
1884

Football
ORFU
Round 2
Toronto 24 @ University of Toronto 0
Strathroy 4 @ Hamilton 6

120 years ago
1889

Baseball
World Series
Brooklyn Bridegrooms 12 @ New York Giants 10 (8 innings) (Brooklyn led best-of-eleven series 1-0)

Oyster Burns batted 4 for 5 with 3 runs batted in‚ including the game-winning double in the bottom of the 8th inning, as the American Association champion Bridegrooms defeated the National League champion Giants before 8,848 fans at the Polo Grounds in a game that was called because of darkness.

90 years ago
1919

Born on this date
Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Prime Minister of Canada, 1968-1979; 1980-1984. Mr. Trudeau, a native of Montreal, was a law professor with a suspiciously Communistic background who entered federal politics in 1965 with the Liberal Party, two years after denouncing the Liberals as a "spineless herd." He represented the Montreal riding of Mount Royal from 1965-1984, and entered the cabinet of Prime Minister Lester Pearson as Minister of Justice in April 1967. His main achievement in that portfolio was to introduce legislation--eventually passed--legalizing homosexual acts, abortion, and lotteries. Mr. Trudeau was elected Liberal Party leader on April 6, 1968, and succeeded Mr. Pearson as Prime Minister two weeks later, beginning a period of foreign occupation of Canada that continues to this day. What Pierre Trudeau did to Canada (not to mention the Liberal Party) is too much to mention here; this blogger recommends Lubor J. Zink's columns from the Toronto Telegram from the first four months of 1968, and his books Trudeaucracy (1968) and Viva Chairman Pierre (1977). Mr. Trudeau took over a great country and destroyed it, leaving behind a socialistic, multicultural monstrosity that's "Canada" in name only. A more accurate name would be that given to it by Mark Steyn: Trudeaupia. Pierre Trudeau died on September 28, 2000 at the age of 81.

Football
CRU
IRFU
Toronto (2-1) 4 @ Montreal (1-2) 3
Hamilton (1-2) 18 @ Ottawa (2-1) 16

Intercollegiate
McGill (1-0) 32 @ Queen's (0-2) 2

ARU
Edmonton (0-2) 6 @ Calgary Tigers (1-1) 8
Calgary Canucks (2-0) 16 @ University of Alberta (1-1) 1

80 years ago
1929

Abominations
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council overruled the Supreme Court of Canada in Edwards v. Canada when it declared that women were considered "Persons" under Canadian law, and were thus eligible to sit in the Canadian Senate.

70 years ago
1939

Football
Canadian university
Saskatchewan (3-0) 6 @ Alberta (0-3) 1

Danny Capraru recovered a fumbled punt for a touchdown early in the 1st quarter, and Skip Hall converted, providing the necessary scoring for the Huskies as they beat the Golden Bears before 2,500 fans at Varsity Stadium in Edmonton. Mr. Wilson punted for the Alberta point in the 3rd quarter. Alberta outrushed Saskatchewan 232 yards to 57, but two lost fumbles proved costly.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
Philo Vance, starring Jackson Beck
Tonight's episode: The Meeker Murder Case, aka The Necktie Murder Case

At the movies
Prejudice, produced by the Protestant Film Commission and the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, directed by Edward L. Cahn, and starring David Bruce, Mary Marshall, Tommy Ivo, Bruce Edwards, and Barbara Billingsley, opened in 100 churches in the United States and Canada.

Diplomacy
The special conciliation commission of United Nations General Assembly's Political and Security Committee reported failure in its efforts to promote a settlement between Greece and neighbouring countries, due to disagreement on the issues of amnesty for Greek guerrillas and Greek territorial claims in southern Albania.

Politics and government
Exiled Belgian King Leopold III agreed to a plebiscite on his return to Belgium, promising to remain in Switzerland if he received less than 55% of the vote.

Religion
The Czechoslovakian government demanded loyalty oaths from all Catholic priests.

Energy
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission announced plans for a major expansion of its uranium and plutonium production facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Hanford, Washington.

Labour
The United Auto Workers of America ended a 128-day strike against Bell Aircraft Corporation in Buffalo after agreeing to arbitration of all disputed issues.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Venus--Gloria Lasso (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Coyote Moon, starring Macdonald Carey, Edgar Buchanan, and Collin Wilcox

Diplomacy
The U.S.A. charged that Leon Maria Guerrero, Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom and United Nations delegate, had made anti-American propaganda broadcasts for Japan during World War II.

Defense
In a shakeup of the United Arab Republic's military command, Admiral Soliman Ezzat and Air Marshal Mahmoud Sidky became commanders-in-chief of the Navy and Air Force under General Ali Amir, new chief of staff of the armed forces.

The U.S.A. and Greece reportedly broke off negotiations for construction of a NATO missile base in Greece.

Football
NFL
Philadelphia (2-2) 7 @ New York (3-1) 24
Cleveland (2-2) 17 @ Chicago Cardinals (1-3) 7
Pittsburgh (2-2) 27 @ Washington (2-2) 6
Baltimore (3-1) 21 @ Chicago Bears (1-3) 7
Los Angeles (2-2) 45 @ Green Bay (3-1) 6
San Francisco (3-1) 34 @ Detroit (0-4) 13

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Part Three Into Paper Walls/The Girl that I Love--Russell Morris (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Welcome Me Love--The Brooklyn Bridge (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Que je t'aime--Johnny Hallyday (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Lo straniero--Georges Moustaki

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)--Zager & Evans (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I'll Never Fall in Love Again--Bobbie Gentry

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): I'll Never Fall in Love Again--Bobbie Gentry

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Part Three Into Paper Walls/The Girl that I Love--Russell Morris
2 Honky Tonk Women/You Can't Always Get What You Want--The Rolling Stones
3 A Boy Named Sue--Johnny Cash
4 Something in the Air--Thunderclap Newman
5 One/Mr. Whippy--Johnny Farnham
6 Sweet Caroline--Neil Diamond
7 Green River/Commotion--Creedence Clearwater Revival
8 Sugar, Sugar--The Archies
9 Listen to the Band/Someday Man--The Monkees
10 Good Morning Starshine--Oliver

Singles entering the chart were Sounds of Goodbye by Kamahl (#32); Natural Born Bugie by Humble Pie (#35); and Clean Up Your Own Back Yard by Elvis Presley (#38).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 My Special Prayer--Percy Sledge
2 Bloody Mary--Tom & Dick
3 Air--Ekseption
4 Pastorale--Liesbeth List met Ramses Shaffy
5 Deep Water--Grapefruit
6 Don't Forget to Remember--The Bee Gees
7 Je T'aime...Moi Non Plus--Jane Birkin avec Serge Gainsbourg
8 Space Oddity--David Bowie
9 Scarlet Ribbons--The Cats
10 Sugar, Sugar--The Archies

Singles entering the chart were Mah-Nà-Mah-Nà by Mahna Mackay (#32); Shangrila by the Kinks (#33); Le Meteque by Georges Moustaki (#36); Magic Fortress by Fat Mattress (#37); and Summertime/Dark Rose by Brainbox (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 I Can't Get Next to You--The Temptations
2 Hot Fun in the Summertime--Sly & the Family Stone
3 Sugar, Sugar--The Archies
4 Jean--Oliver
5 Little Woman--Bobby Sherman
6 Suspicious Minds--Elvis Presley
7 That's the Way Love Is--Marvin Gaye
8 Wedding Bell Blues--The 5th Dimension
9 Easy to Be Hard--Three Dog Night
10 Tracy--The Cuff Links

Singles entering the chart were Something (#20)/Come Together (#23) by the Beatles; Backfield in Motion by Mel and Tim (#48); And When I Die by Blood, Sweat & Tears (#50); Take a Letter Maria by R.B. Greaves (#61); Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye by Steam (#76); Undun by the Guess Who (#78); Turn on a Dream by the Box Tops (#79); Make Your Own Kind of Music by Mama Cass Elliot (#80); Proud Mary by the Checkmates, Ltd. featuring Sonny Charles (#85); It's Hard to Get Along by Joe Simon (#90); Shangri-La by the Lettermen (#92); Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday by Stevie Wonder (#94); Say You Love Me by the Impressions (#96); Crumbs Off the Table by the Glass House (#97); We Must Be in Love by the Five Staristeps and Cubie (#98); and Just a Little Love by B.B. King (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Suspicious Minds--Elvis Presley
2 Sugar, Sugar--The Archies
3 Little Woman--Bobby Sherman
4 Jean--Oliver
5 I Can't Get Next to You--The Temptations
6 This Girl is a Woman Now--Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
7 Everybody's Talkin'--Nilsson
8 I'm Gonna Make You Mine--Lou Christie
9 Hot Fun in the Summertime--Sly & the Family Stone
10 Wedding Bell Blues--The 5th Dimension

Singles entering the chart were Something (#36)/Come Together (#39) by the Beatles; And When I Die by Blood, Sweat & Tears (#59); Make Your Own Kind of Music by Mama Cass Elliot (#62); Eli's Coming by Three Dog Night (#64); Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday by Stevie Wonder (#67); Let a Man Come in and Do the Popcorn (Part 1) by James Brown (#74); Say You Love Me by the Impressions (#86); Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye by Steam (#87); One Cup of Happiness (And One Peace of Mind) by Dean Martin (#89); I'll Bet You by Funkadelic (#91); Proud Mary by the Checkmates, Ltd. featuring Sonny Charles (#93); Julia by Ramsey Lewis (#94); Up on Cripple Creek by the Band (#97); She Belongs to Me by Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band (#98); Just a Little Love by B.B. King (#99); and Roosevelt and Ira Lee (Night of The Mossacin) by Tony Joe White (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Suspicious Minds--Elvis Presley
2 Everybody's Talkin'--Nilsson
3 Little Woman--Bobby Sherman
4 Jean--Oliver
5 I'm Gonna Make You Mine--Lou Christie
6 We Gotta All Get Together--Paul Revere and the Raiders
7 Tracy--The Cuff Links
8 Hot Fun in the Summertime--Sly & the Family Stone
9 Baby it's You--Smith
10 Make Believe--Wind

Singles entering the chart included Something/Come Together by the Beatles (#62); And When I Die by Blood, Sweat & Tears (#71); Eli's Coming by Three Dog Night (#73); Say You Love Me by the Impressions (#74); Proud Mary by the Checkmates, Ltd. featuring Sonny Charles (#76); She's Got Love by Thomas and Richard Frost (#78); Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye by Steam (#82); Up on Cripple Creek by the Band (#83); Julia by Ramsey Lewis (#96); Let a Man Come in and Do the Popcorn (Part 1) by James Brown (#98); She Belongs to Me by Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band (#99); and Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around by the Steve Miller Band (#100).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Which Way You Goin’, Billy?--The Poppy Family
2 Tracy--The Cuff Links
3 Don’t it Make You Want to Go Home--Joe South and The Believers
4 Sugar on Sunday--The Clique
5 Something--The Beatles
6 I’m Gonna Make You Mine--Lou Christie
7 Ruben James--Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
8 Honky Tonk Women--The Rolling Stones
9 Lay Lady Lay--Bob Dylan
10 Sunrise to Sunset--Five Man Electrical Band
Pick hit of the week: One Tin Soldier--The Original Caste

Space
Soyuz 8, the last of three U.S.S.R. spacecraft that had been launched on consecutive days the previous week, returned to earth after five days in space. Speculation during the flights that the Soviets would attempt some spectacular feat such as constructing a space platform was disappointed.



Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. announced that a delegation led by First Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily V. Kuznetsov was flown to Peking for the start of talks with Communist China on border problems.

Health
The U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare banned the use of cyclamates as artificial sweeteners in diet foods as a health risk.

Oil
As troops guarded the offices and installations of the Bolivian Gulf Oil Company, which had been nationalized the previous day by the Bolivian government, General Alfredo Ovando Candia, leader of the country’s military regime, described his dissatisfaction with the "modest share received by the government compared with the large profits Gulf made." The general said that his country was tired of being "cheated" by "international blackmail."

Economics and finance
In his first direct appeal to business and labour leaders, U.S. President Richard Nixon called on them to show a "sense of responsibility" in their price and wage decisions to help combat inflation. Noting that federal monetary policies had helped to slow inflation, he said that wage and price decisions based on the present rate of inflation would be "shortsighted."

Football
CFL
Edmonton (4-10) 14 @ British Columbia (4-10) 17

Jake Scott made a spectacular end-zone catch on a pass by Paul Brothers from the Edmonton 29-yard line with 58 seconds remaining to give the Lions their third straight win and their second in three games against the Eskimos, which would give them the advantage for a playoff position if the teams ended the season tied for the position. B.C.'s first touchdown came on a 40-yard pass from Mr. Brothers to Lach Heron. Ted Gerela converted both scores and added a 46-yard field goal in the first quarter. Larry Plancke--on a 12-yard pass from Corey Colehour--and Thermus Butler scored touchdowns for the Eskimos, both converted by Dave Cutler. 31,947 were in attendance at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, many of whom took to the field in celebration at the end of the game.

CIAU
Alberta (2-2) 24 @ Saskatchewan (1-2) 15
Manitoba (4-0) 42 @ Calgary (1-2) 14

Ludwig Daubner led the Golden Bears with a touchdown and 3 converts. Jim Dallin rushed for another Alberta touchdown, while Terry Lampert, making his first start of the season at quarterback, completed a pass to Bill Manchuk for the other Golden Bears' touchdown at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon. Dave Kates punted for a single, while the Golden Bears added a safety touch. Gord Garvie led the Huskies with a touchdown, convert, and 2 field goals. Saskatchewan also scored a safety touch.

At McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Graham Kinley scored 2 touchdowns for the Bisons, with other Manitoba touchdowns being scored by Dennis Hrycaiko, Mike Shylo, Bob Kraemer, and Ian McLeod. Walt McKee converted all 6. Calgary quarterback Joe Petrone scored a touchdown and 2 converts, while Bob Mandel scored the other Dinosaur touchdown.

NFL
Pittsburgh (1-4) 31 @ Cleveland (4-1) 42

30 years ago
1979

Television
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission began allowing people to have home satellite earth stations without a federal government license.

Politics and government
Frank Lynch-Staunton was installed as Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta, replacing Ralph Steinhauer. Mr. Lynch-Staunton was a southern Alberta rancher whose family had ties to the family of Joe Clark, who was then the Prime Minister of Canada.

Diplomacy
Patriotic Front guerrillas accepted Great Britain’s proposals for a new Zimbabwe Rhodesia constitution; Britain therefore allowed the guerrilla alliance to resume its role in the three-sided negotiations. The impasse over the issue of compensation to whites for their land was broken when Britain and the PF agreed that any new nationalist government in which the guerrillas expected to play a major role would not be responsible for making those payments, estimated to exced $2 billion. The U.K. said that it would help put together a multinational fund with the participation of the U.S.A. and international institutions such as the World Bank and European Economic Community.

The U.S. Justice Department appealed the previous day’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Oliver Gasch that President Jimmy Carter could not end the Mutual Defense Treaty with Taiwan without the consent of Congress.

Crime
It was reported that protests and scattered fighting between Negro and white students had broken out in several Boston high schools. About 150 white high school students rampaged through East Boston, overturning two cars, smashing a window of a police cruiser, and injuring two police officers with thrown objects.

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
Edmonton's top 18 (CHED)
1 I Just Called to Say I Love You--Stevie Wonder
2 On the Dark Side--John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band
3 Blue Jean--David Bowie
4 Strut--Sheena Easton
5 Desert Moon--Dennis DeYoung
6 Purple Rain--Prince
7 Better Be Good to Me--Tina Turner
8 Wake Me Up Before You Go Go--Wham!
9 Let's Go Crazy--Prince and the Revolution
10 Cover Me--Bruce Springsteen
11 Lucky Star--Madonna
12 Hard Habit to Break--Chicago
13 All Through the Night--Cyndi Lauper
14 Who Wears These Shoes?--Elton John
15 Out of Touch--Daryl Hall John Oates
16 Drive--The Cars
17 Had a Dream (Sleeping with the Enemy)--Roger Hodgson
18 I'm So Excited--Pointer Sisters

World events
U.S. President Ronald Reagan ordered the Central Intelligence Agency to investigate a guerrilla manual written in Spanish and circulating among rebels opposed to the Sandanista regime in Nicaragua that was reported to be the work of the CIA, describing how some government officials might be "neutralized"--which may have meant "assassinated." A Reagan administration official said that the manual appeared to be the work of a "low-level contract employee" of the CIA in the region.

War
Civil war resumed in El Salvador as the army opened an offensive against Communist guerrillas.

Oil
Nigeria, a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), slashed the price of its principal grades of oil by $2 per barrel.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Lambada--Kaoma

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Lambada--Kaoma

Space
The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis was launched with a crew of five, commanded by Donald Williams, from Cape Canaveral, Florida to begin mission STS-34. It carried the probe Galileo, which separated from the shuttle on its fifth orbit and began a six-year journey to Jupiter. After arrival in the vicinity of Jupiter in 1995, the craft would explore the planet’s atmosphere and moons.



Politics and government
Erich Honecker, leader of East Germany for 18 years, stepped down as head of the Socialist Unity (Communist) Party, chairman of the National Defense Council, and head of state. The Central Committee of the party had clearly forced him out, though a statement said that he was retiring because of ill health (translation: they were sick of him). Mr. Honecker was succeeded by Egon Krenz, a member of the ruling Politburo.

The Hungarian National Assembly amended the constitution to prepare for multi-party free elections in 1990 when a new constitution would be drafted. The Assembly ended the ruling party’s monopoly on power, removed references to the "leading role" for the Communists, and renamed the country the Republic of Hungary, without reference to a "People’s Republic."

Economics and finance
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the median U.S. family income stood at $32,191 in 1988, a slight decline from the $32,251 in 1987. The figures were adjusted for inflation.

Disasters
A Soviet military transport plane carrying paratroopers crashed into the Caspian Sea, killing all 57 aboard.

10 years ago
1999

Scandal
Kenneth Starr, the independent counsel appointed to investigate U.S. President Bill Clinton’s involvement in the Whitewater land development company and various other scandals, resigned after five years in the job. Mr. Starr pretended to go after Mr. Clinton while actually letting him off the hook and prosecuting Mr. Clinton’s associates instead.

Baseball
American League Championship Series
New York 6 @ Boston 1 (New York won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada hit home runs in support of the pitching of Orlando Hernandez as the Yankees defeated the Red Sox before 33,589 fans at Fenway Park to win their second straight American League pennant.