August 9, 2010

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Kavita Duggal!

510 years ago
1500

War
Ottoman forces captured Methoni, Messenia during the Ottoman–Venetian War.

420 years ago
1590

Born on this date
John Webster. English-born American magistrate and politician. Mr. Webster and his family moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1630s, and helped to settle Hartford, Connecticut in 1636. He was magistrate (1639-1655); Deputy Governor (1655); and Governor (1656-1657) of Connecticut. Mr. Webster died on April 5, 1661 at the age of 70. His descendants included lexicographer Noah Webster and U.S. Presidents Rutherford B. Hayes, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush.

400 years ago
1610

War
The First Anglo-Powhatan War began in colonial Virginia.

200 years ago
1810

Franciana
Napoleon annexed Westphalia as part of the First French Empire.

190 years ago
1830

Franciana
The National Assembly proclaimed Louis Philippe as King of the French, nine days after Charles X had abdicated in favour of his 10-year-old grandson Henri V as a result of the July Revolution.

170 years ago
1840

Economics and finance
The British government allowed Canada to sell clergy reserves--public lands formally set aside for the use of the Churches--and give the proceeds to the Churches of England and Scotland.

110 years ago
1900

Tennis
In the first annual Davis Cup competition, Malcolm Whitman, Dwight Davis (for whom the Cup was named) and Holcombe Ward of the United States defeated a British team 3-0 at the Longwood Cricket Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

100 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Glenn Wallichs. U.S. businessman. Mr. Wallichs opened several radio stores and two recording studios in the Los Angeles area before opening Wallichs Music City at the corner of Sunset and Vine in Hollywood in 1940. It became the largest record store in southern California and the world's largest specialty record store. On February 7, 1942, Mr. Wallichs and songwriters Johnny Mercer and Buddy DeSylva founded Capitol Records. Mr. Wallichs left the record store in 1946 in charge of his brother Clyde, and eventually became chairman of Capitol Industries. He died on December 23, 1971 at the age of 61, after a long illness.

90 years ago
1920

Died on this date
Samuel Griffith, 75. Chief Justice of Australia, 1903-1919. Sir Samuel, a native of Wales, moved with his family to Queensland at the age of 8. He was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly (1872-1893), serving as Premier of Queensland (1883-1888, 1890-1893). Sir Samuel was known as a supporter of organized labour in his first term as Prime Minister, but in his second term, his government used the military to suppress a shearers' strike. Sir Samuel resigned from political office in order to serve as Chief Justice of Queenlsand (1893-1903), drafting the state's criminal code. He then became the first Chief Justice of Australia, sitting on about 950 reported cases, and retiring two years after suffering a stroke.

Academia
The Université de Montréal created its faculty of science.

70 years ago
1940

War
The United Kingdom announced that it would consider Algiers, Tunisia, French Morocco, and the unoccupied French continental territory as war zones. British troops stationed in Shanghai and northern China were reassigned for use elsewhere in the British Empire. The "Aufbau Ost" directive, calling for the mobilization of German forces in preparation for the invasion of the U.S.S.R., was signed by Wehrmacht Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel. More than 90 Japanese planes bombed Chungking, causing heavy damage, including the destruction of Nationalist Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek's home.

Defense
As the United States Senate opened debate on the Burke-Wadsworth Selective Service Bill, Sen. Burton K. Wheeler (Democrat--Montana) asked those who feared Germany to propose a declaration of war. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the transfer of land on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands from the Interior Department to the War Department for the construction of a military airfield.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Roosevelt signed a bill increasing to $1.4 billion the amount of obligations the Community Credit Corporation may incur.

60 years ago
1950

Diplomacy
The U.S. Senate ratified a convention on Panamanian corridors through the Canal Zone.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman signed a bill giving the Coast Guard increased powers to search foreign ships and control their activities in U.S. ports.

Crime
The U.S. Senate passed unanimously and without debate a bill authorizing the death penalty for spying in time of peace and 30 years imprisonment for espionage.

Energy
The U.S. Senate ratified a treaty under which the U.S.A. and Canada would share electrical power produced by Niagara River products.

Agriculture
The Allied Far Eastern Commission reported that the Japanese government had bought and resold 5.3 million acres of farmland "at reasonable prices" in a land reform program.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Senate ratified an economic cooperation treaty with Uruguay.

Boxing
Sugar Ray Robinson (111-1-2) retained his world welterweight title with a 15-round decision over Charley Fusari (63-8-1) at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, New Jersey.



50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): He'll Have to Go--Jim Reeves (4th week at #1)

Africana
South Kasai seceded from the Republic of the Congo as the Autonomous State of South Kasai, with Albert Kalonji as President and Joseph Ngalula as Prime Minister.

40 years ago
1970

War
Israeli jets attacked a guerrilla base in Lebanon and fought in the Golan Heights against infiltrators from Syria, but the cease-fire with Egypt remained intact along the Suez Canal.

The 85 Americans killed in Indochina during the week was the highest weekly figure since June.

Disasters
LANSA Flight 502, a Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprop en route to Lima, crashed after takeoff from Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco, Peru, killing 99 of the 100 people on board, as well as two farm workers on the ground. Co-pilot Juan Loo was badly burned, but survived. 49 of the dead were teenage American exchange students.

At least 33 died and 136 were injured in Spain when a Bilboa-bound train ran into an empty train after leaving Plencia.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Luna--Gianni Togni

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Xanadu--Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Upside Down--Diana Ross

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): The Winner Takes it All--ABBA

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Xanadu--Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra (2nd week at #1)
2 Could You Be Loved--Bob Marley & the Wailers
3 Late at Night--Maywood
4 Midnite Dynamos--Matchbox
5 Ik Weet Niet Hoe--Benny Neyman
6 The Winner Takes it All--ABBA
7 Doin' La Bamba--Pussycat
8 Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time--Spinners
9 Peter Gunn--ELP: Emerson, Lake & Palmer
10 Et les Oiseaux Chantaient (...En de Vogels Zongen)--Sweet People

Singles entering the chart were D.I.S.C.O. by Ottawan (#23); Even Aan Mijn Moeder Vragen by Bloem (#27); Late in the Evening by Paul Simon (#32); Babooshka by Kate Bush (#34); and He's So Shy by the Pointer Sisters (#35). Late in the Evening was from the movie One-Trick Pony (1980).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Magic--Olivia Newton-John (2nd week at #1)
2 It's Still Rock and Roll to Me--Billy Joel
3 Little Jeannie--Elton John
4 Take Your Time (Do it Right) Part 1--The S.O.S. Band
5 Sailing--Christopher Cross
6 Shining Star--Manhattans
7 Emotional Rescue--The Rolling Stones
8 Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time--Spinners
9 Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)--Paul McCartney & Wings
10 Upside Down--Diana Ross

Singles entering the chart were Late in the Evening by Paul Simon (#46); Xanadu by Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra (#79); How Do I Survive by Amy Holland (#80); (Sartorial Eloquence) Don't Ya Wanna Play this Game No More? by Elton John (#82); Never Knew Love Like This Before by Stephanie Mills (#83); Over You by Roxy Music (#84); Let Me Be Your Angel by Stacy Lattisaw (#87); and Red Light by Linda Clifford (#89).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Magic--Olivia Newton-John (2nd week at #1)
2 It's Still Rock and Roll to Me--Billy Joel
3 Little Jeannie--Elton John
4 Take Your Time (Do it Right) Part 1--The S.O.S. Band
5 The Rose--Bette Midler
6 Tired of Toein' the Line--Rocky Burnette
7 Shining Star--Manhattans
8 Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time--Spinners
9 Emotional Rescue--The Rolling Stones
10 Sailing--Christopher Cross

Singles entering the chart were Late in the Evening by Paul Simon (#33); How Do I Survive by Amy Holland (#76); Xanadu by Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra (#80); Never Knew Love Like This Before by Stephanie Mills (#86); Red Light by Linda Clifford (#87); Who'll Be the Fool Tonight by the Larsen-Feiten Band (#90); Over You by Roxy Music (#93); and Late at Night by England Dan Seals (#95).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Magic--Olivia Newton-John
2 It's Still Rock and Roll to Me--Billy Joel
3 Funkytown--Lipps, Inc.
4 Shining Star--Manhattans
5 Take Your Time (Do it Right) Part 1--The S.O.S. Band
6 Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time--Spinners
7 Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)--Paul McCartney & Wings
8 Love the World Away--Kenny Rogers
9 Misunderstanding--Genesis
10 Sailing--Christopher Cross

Singles entering the chart were Late in the Evening by Paul Simon (#25); Xanadu by Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra (#76); How Do I Survive by Amy Holland (#78); Never Knew Love Like This Before by Stephanie Mills (#81); Red Light by Linda Clifford (#89); and Late at Night by England Dan Seals (#96).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 It's Still Rock and Roll to Me--Billy Joel (3rd week at #1)
2 Misunderstanding--Genesis
3 The Rose--Bette Midler
4 Funkytown--Lipps, Inc.
5 Echo Beach--Martha & the Muffins
6 Little Jeannie--Elton John
7 Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)--Paul McCartney & Wings
8 Tired of Toein' the Line--Rocky Burnette
9 Magic--Olivia Newton-John
10 Fine State of Affairs--Burton Cummings

Singles entering the chart were My Mistake by the Kingbees (#88); You'll Accomp'ny Me by Bob Seger (#89); Don't Ask Me Why by Billy Joel (#93); Free Me by Roger Daltrey (#95); and Under the Gun by Poco (#100).

Died on this date
Jacqueline Cochran, 74. U.S. aviatrix. Mrs. Cochran, born Bessie Pittman, began flying in the early 1930s, and went on to win more awards than any other aviator in history. She set numerous records, and in 1953 became the first woman to break the sound barrier. Mrs. Cochran led the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) (1943–44), and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in 1945. In addition to flying, she ran a successful cosmetics business, and was named by Associated Press as "Woman of the Year in Business" in 1953 and 1954. Mrs. Cochran was a Republican, and lost a narrow election as the party's candidate for California's 29th District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1956. She testified at Congressional hearings in 1962 against admitting women to the astronaut corps.

Disasters
500 people were reported killed in northern India by floodwaters of the Ganges River.

25 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Rock Me Amadeus--Falco (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): A View to a Kill--Duran Duran

Personal
This blogger wrote his last exam as an undergraduate student at the University of Alberta.

Scandal
A U.S. federal judge in Norfolk, Virginia found retired U.S. Navy officer Arthur J. Walker guilty of seven counts of spying for the Soviet Union.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (3-3) 23 @ Toronto (3-3) 43

The Argonauts took advantage of the inexperience of rookie quarterback Damon Allen while their own rookie quarterbacks, Mark Casale and Mike Hohensee, amassed 519 yards net offense before 29,056 fans at Exhibition Stadium. Eskimos’ starting quarterback Matt Dunigan completed a 74-yard touchdown pass to Chris Woods just 1:27 into the game, but the Argonauts struck back with 21 straight points before the end of the 1st quarter. Mr. Casale completed a touchdown pass to Paul Pearson, and Carl Brazley returned and interception for another score. Mr. Hohensee, who entered the game in the second half, threw touchdown passes to Jan Carinci and Geoff Townsend, and rushed for a touchdown himself. Edmonton native Lance Chomyc kicked 5 converts, 2 field goals, and a single for the Argonauts. Mr. Dunigan rushed for a touchdown and handed off to Neil Lumsden for another Eskimo touchdown early in the 2nd quarter to give the Eskimos a 21-19 halftime lead. However, Mr. Dunigan left the game with a sprained neck before halftime, and the team’s performance suffered as a result. Mr. Allen completed just 8 of 20 passes for 122 yards and an interception. It was the last CFL game for rookie defensive end Brent Murphy, who tore up a knee during the game and was lost for the season.



Baseball
Intercontinental Cup @ Edmonton, Alberta
Chinese Taipei 8 U.S.A. 3
Cuba 17 Nicaragua 3
South Korea 12 Japan 2

20 years ago
1990

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Put 'em Under Pressure--The Republic of Ireland Football Squad (11th week at #1)

Oil
The American Automobile Association reported that the retail price for self-service unleaded gasoline had risen 18c per gallon in the week since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

Sport
Canada's Minister of Fitness and Amateur Sport, Marcel Danis, announced that disgraced Jamaican runner Ben Johnson would be allowed to represent Canada again in international competitions. Mr. Johnson had been stripped of his Olympic gold medal for the men's 100-metre dash in 1988 for testing positive for a banned drug.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (2-3) 31 @ Ottawa (1-4) 30
Toronto (2-3) 17 @ Calgary (4-0-1) 42

26,684 fans at Lansdowne Park went home disappointed when Dean Dorsey missed a 39-yard field goal attempt with 4 seconds left in regulation time that would have won the game if it had been good. Hamilton running back Derrick McAdoo rushed 13 times for 63 yards, caught 6 passes for 65, and completed 1 of 2 passes, with his completion going for an 18-yard touchdown to Earl Winfield. David Conrad scored twice on short runs for the Rough Riders.

The Calgary defense recorded 4 sacks and 3 interceptions before a McMahon Stadium crowd of 22,241. Danny Barrett threw touchdown passes to Brock Smith and Marshall Toner, Andy McVey scored on a short run, and Derrick Crawford returned a punt 72 yards for another Stampeder touchdown. Toronto quarterback John Congemi threw touchdown passes to Mike Clemons and Darrell K. Smith.



Baseball
The San Diego Padres blanked the Atlanta Braves 7-0, with Bruce Hurst pitching a 6-hit shutout, winning the pitchers' duel over Charlie Leibrandt before 8,312 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. San Diego shortstop Garry Templeton made his 2,000th career major league hit, 14 years to the day after getting his first hit.

10 years ago
2000

Died on this date
John Harsanyi, 80. Hungarian-born U.S. economist. Dr. Harsanyi, a native of Budapest, began his career in his native land, and fled with his wife to Austria and then Australia in 1950. He worked in the United States from 1956-1958 and then settled in the U.S. permanently in 1961. Dr. Harsanyi was known for his work in game theory and its applicability to economics. He shared the 1994 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences with John Nash and Reinhard Selten "for their pioneering analysis of equilibria in the theory of non-cooperative games." Dr. Harsanyi died of a heart attack, after a battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Business
Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. announced that it was recalling 6.5 million tires as a result of reports of blowouts and peeling treads. The new recall was of tires used on sport utility vehicles and light trucks.