February 22, 2010

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Laura Pereverzoff Ong and Maria Melania Belmar Mora!

1,040 years ago
970

Died on this date
García Sánchez I 50-51 (?). King of Pamplona, 925-970. García Sánchez I acceded to the throne at the age of 6 upon the death of his father Sancho I. He conducted several military campaigns, including an alliance with King Ramiro II of León and Muhammad ibn Hashim, governor of Zaragoza to defeat the forces of Abd-ar-Rahman III, Caliph of Cordova, in 939. King García Sánchez I was succeeded on the throne by his son Sancho II.

130 years ago
1880

Born on this date
Eric Lemming. Swedish athlete. Mr. Lemming won four medals at the Intercalated Games in Athens in 1906: a gold medal in the javelin throw, and bronze medals in shot put, pentathlon, and tug of war. He won gold medals in freestyle javelin and javelin throw at the 1908 Olympic Games in London, and a gold medal in the javelin throw at the Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912. Mr. Lemming died on June 5, 1930 at the age of 50 from leftover effects of the influenza that had struck him in 1918.

120 years ago
1890

Died on this date
John Jacob Astor III, 67. U.S. philanthropist. Mr. Astor was the wealthiest member of his family; he managed the family's real estate holdings, and donated to New York institutions such as the Astor Library, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Trinity Church.

110 years ago
1900

Born on this date
Luis Buñuel. Spanish-born Mexican film director. Mr. Buñuel was the most famous director to be associated with the surrealist movement. His films included Un Chien Andalou (1929); L'Age d'Or (1930); Las Hurdes: Tierra Sin Pan (1933); Los olvidados (1950); Belle de Jour (1967); The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972); and That Obscure Object of Desire (1977). Mr. Buñuel died from cirrhosis of the liver on July 29, 1983 at the age of 83.

75 years ago
1935

Aviation
Airplanes were prohibited from flying over the White House in Washington, D.C.

70 years ago
1940

War
A Soviet official handed proposed terms of a settlement with Finland to the Swedish minister, warning that harsher terms would be imposed if these were rejected. Ivan Maisky, U.S.S.R. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, presented the Soviet peace proposals to the British Foreign Office. Dispatches from the Chinese capital of Chungking claimed the rout of the forces of Wang Ching-wei--leader of the Japanese-sponsored government in central China--on the Fulkien coast.

Politics and government
General Nuri-es Said formed a new Iraqi cabinet, naming himself both Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

French socialists abstained in a vote of confidence in the Chamber of Deputies, leaving the government of Prime Minister Edouard Daladier with a majority of one.

Religion
La-Mu-Ton-Chu, a 6-year-old boy, was installed as the 14th Dalai Lama in ceremonies at Lhasa, Tibet.

Society
The U.S. State Department reported that applications for immigration had doubled in 1939 because of the disturbed conditions in Europe.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a five-month low in the wholesale price index, as farm products and textiles prices continued to decline.

Business
New York attorney Jacob Javits proposed changes in anti-trust laws to permit industries to form trade associations.

60 years ago
1950

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Ben Wright and Eric Snowden, on ABC
Tonight’s episode: The Singular Affair of the Restless Corpse

The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Jackson Beck, on ABC

Movies
A Variety poll named Gone with the Wind (1939) the best picture of the past 50 years, with Charlie Chaplin as best actor; Greta Garbo, best actress; D.W. Griffith, best director; and Irving Thalberg, best producer.

War
The Indonesian government reported the loss of 1,240 soldiers in the defense of Tasikmalaja, West Java against Muslim guerrillas.

French military sources accused Communist China of aiding Ho Chi Minh's Viet Minh guerrillas with weapons and tactical advice.

Terrorism
The Iranian government charged the outlawed pro-Communist Tudeh Party with conducting a campaign of sabotage directed against schools, hospitals, and other buildings.

Scandal
The U.S. Senate voted unanimously for a Senate Foreign Relations Committee investigation into Sen. Joseph McCarthy's (Republican--Wisconsin) charge of an "espionage ring" in the government.

Energy
U.S. President Harry Truman rejected proposals for a Big Three (U.S.A., U.K., U.S.S.R.) conference on atomic energy control.

Medicine
Dr. Hugh Creech of the Institute for Cancer Research in Philadelphia reported the use of polysaccharides (bacterial multiple sugars) to lengthen life in cancer patients.

Disasters
Princeton University's $400,000 cyclotron was destroyed when cooling oil surrounding the electrical coils caught fire and burned.

50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): El Día de los Enamorados--Monna Bell (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): T'aimer follement--Johnny Hallyday (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 The Theme from "A Summer Place"--Percy Faith and his Orchestra
2 Teen Angel--Mark Dinning
3 Handy Man--Jimmy Jones
4 He'll Have to Go--Jim Reeves
5 What in the World's Come Over You--Jack Scott
6 Running Bear--Johnny Preston
7 Let it Be Me--The Everly Brothers
8 Beyond the Sea--Bobby Darin
9 Lonely Blue Boy--Conway Twitty
10 Where or When--Dion and the Belmonts

Singles entering the chart were (Welcome) New Lovers by Pat Boone (#60); String Along by Fabian (#61); Puppy Love by Paul Anka (#62); Mama by Connie Francis (#63); This Magic Moment by the Drifters (#67); O Dio Mio by Annette (#68); Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy by Freddy Cannon (#70); Don't Fence Me In by Tommy Edwards (#86); Lawdy Miss Clawdy by Gary Stites (#88); Anyway the Wind Blows by Doris Day (#91); Angela Jones by Johnny Ferguson (#92); Sleepy Lagoon by the Platters (#93); Greenfields by the Brothers Four (#95); Alvin's Orchestra by David Seville and the Chipmunks (#98); El Matador by the Kingston Trio (#99); and Let Them Talk by Little Willie John (#100). String Along was the other side of About this Thing Called Love, which had yet to chart.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 He'll Have to Go--Jim Reeves (2nd week at #1)
2 Running Bear--Johnny Preston
3 Teen Angel--Mark Dinning
4 Handy Man--Jimmy Jones
5 Down by the Station--The Four Preps
6 What in the World's Come Over You--Jack Scott
7 El Paso--Marty Robbins
8 Lonely Blue Boy--Conway Twitty
9 Lucky Devil/In My Heart--Carl Dobkins, Jr.
10 First Name Initial--Annette with the Afterbeats

Singles entering the chart were Puppy Love by Paul Anka (#37); Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy by Freddy Cannon (#42); I Can't Say Goodbye by the Fireflies (#45); Time After Time by Frankie Ford (#48); About this Thing Called Love by Fabian (#50); Paradise by Sammy Turner (#51); Mama/Teddy by Connie Francis (#53); Bad Boy by Marty Wilde (#55); O Dio Mio by Annette (#56); Up Town by Roy Orbison (#57); Teensville by Chet Atkins (#59); and On the Beach by Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra (#60).

40 years ago
1970

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State William Rogers, in Liberia at the end of a 15-day tour of 10 African nations, said he was impressed with the quality of the African leaders he had met.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Himmel No. 7/Flickorna på TV2--Gyllene Tider

#1 single in France (IFOP): Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd (3rd week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd (2nd week at #1)
2 Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough--Michael Jackson
3 The Part of Me that Needs You Most--Exile
4 Rise--Herb Alpert
5 Babe--Styx
6 Video Killed the Radio Star--The Buggles
7 Great Balls of Fire--Nightmare
8 Do That to Me One More Time--Captain & Tennille
9 Tired of Toein' the Line--Rocky Burnette
10 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen

Singles entering the chart were Please Don't Go by KC and the Sunshine Band (#16); Rapper's Delight by Sugarhill Gang (#18); and Ballad of Lucy Jordan by Marianne Faithfull (#20).

Protest
The U.S.S.R. imposed martial law in Kabul as at least three large street protests were staged in the Afghan capital. Chants of "God is great" and "Death to the Russians" were heard, along with erratic gun shots. The strike spread from merchants to civil servants and labourers, and to the cities of Herat, Kandahar, and Jalabad. At least 300 civilians were reported killed in the first few days of the strike. Soviet MiG fighters and helicopters began buzzing Kabul to discourage the anti-Soviet demonstrations.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the Consumer Price Index increased 1.4% in January, pushed by a 7.4% increase in gasoline prices.

Weather
Nine days of torrential rains and gale-force winds in southern California concluded. At least 13 inches of rain were dumped on the area; 26 people were killed and thousands lost their homes.

Olympics
Men’s hockey @ Lake Placid, New York
Semi-Final
U.S.A. 4 U.S.S.R. 3

This game was referred to as the "Miracle on Ice," but the Soviet team wasn’t as strong as was largely believed. The Canadians had almost beaten the Soviets two days earlier, and probably would have if they’d had anything resembling goaltending. An oddity of the U.S.A.-U.S.S.R. game was that American viewers were unable to watch the game live on their own network--ABC showed the game on tape delay in prime time. The Canadian network CTV, on the other hand, showed the game live in the afternoon.



Hockey
NHL
Colorado 3 @ Edmonton 1

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (5th week at #1)

Edmonton's Top 7 (CFRN)
1 Opposites Atract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair)
2 Back to Life--Soul II Soul
3 Dangerous--Roxette
4 Two to Make it Right--Seduction
5 Let Your Backbone Slide--Maestro Fresh-Wes
6 All or Nothing--Milli Vanilli
7 I Go to Extremes--Billy Joel

Scandal
A transcript of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s videotaped testimony in the trial of former national security adviser John Poindexter, who was on trial for his part in the Iran-Contra scandal, was made public. Mr. Reagan testified that he had authorized, in general, the policy of selling arms to Iran and aiding the Nicaraguan Contras, but he said he had repeatedly told subordinates to obey the law, and he said he had not known that National Security Council staff member Oliver North had been coordinating supply missions for the Contras and otherwise assisting the Contras at a time when the U.S. Congress had banned U.S. support for them. Mr. Reagan often testified that he was unable to remember key meetings or conversations.

Health
For the first time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a low-calorie substitute for fat. Nutrasweet Company had developed the substance, Simplesse, a blend of proteins from egg white and milk. The FDA said Simplesse was safe for use in frozen dessert products, and the company said it could be used in other foods having a high fat content. Other food manufacturers were reported working on fat substitutes in response to concerns about nutrition.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 2 @ Calgary 12

10 years ago
2000

Politics and government
U.S. Senator John McCain won the Republican Party presidential primary in his home state of Arizona with 60% of the vote to 36% for Texas Governor George W. Bush, and also took Michigan 51%-43% despite Michigan Governor John Engler’s support for Mr. Bush. In response to Sen. McCain’s criticism of the Christian right, Christian Coalition founder Rev. Pat Robertson denounced Mr. McCain’s national campaign chairman, former Senator Warren Rudman, who was Jewish, as a "vicious bigot" for criticizing some Christian conservatives.

Moderate political leaders in Iran, whose parties had won a majority in the Majlis in the February 18 elections, said that they would seek better ties with western nations; judicial reforms; and a more open press.

Disasters
A cyclone struck Mozambique, causing deaths and flooding.