May 12, 2013

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Gifty Boateng!

1,010 years ago
1003

Died on this date
Sylvester II, 57 (?) . Roman Catholic Pope, 999-1003. Sylvester, born Gerbert d'Aurillac (Gerbert of Aurillac), was the first French pope. He was said to be among the most noted scientists of his time, but was accused by his enemies of studying magical arts and astrology in the Islamic cities of Cordoba, Seville, and Morocco. Sylvester II was preceded as pope by Gregory V and was succeeded by John XVII.

425 years ago
1588

War
In the French Wars of Religion, King Henry III of France fled Paris after Henry of Guise entered the city and a spontaneous uprising occurred.

270 years ago
1743

World events
Maria Theresa of Austria was crowned Queen of Bohemia after defeating her rival, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VII.

125 years ago
1888

Britannica
North Borneo was established as a British protectorate.

Track and field
A crouching start was first used in a race by Charles Sherrill of Yale University.

110 years ago
1903

Born on this date
Wilfrid Hyde-White. U.K. actor. Mr. Hyde-White was a character actor on stage, screen, and television in both the United Kingdom and United States for more than 60 years. He played Colonel Pickering in the movie My Fair Lady (1964). Mr. Hyde-White died on May 6, 1991, six days before his 88th birthday.

Canadiana
Niagara Falls, Ontario was incorporated as a city.

Americana
U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt paid an official visit to San Francisco, where his arrival parade was captured for motion pictures by cinematographer H.J. Miles.

80 years ago
1933

Economics and finance
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration and Agricultural Adjustment Administration were formed to help the needy and farmers in the United States. The Agricultural Adjustment Act was enacted to restrict agricultural production by paying farmers subsidies to not plant on part of their land. The act was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1936.

75 years ago
1938

Medicine
Sandoz Labs in Switzerland first manufactured lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), synthesized by Albert Hoffman.

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
Variety reported the most popular songs in the United States as:
1 As Time Goes By
2 Don't Get Around Much Anymore
3 It Can't Be Wrong

Died on this date
Albert Stoessel, 48. U.S. musician, composer, and conductor. Mr. Stoessel was a concert violinist who wrote numerous pieces for violin, piano, orchestra, and chorus, as well as the opera Garrick (1936). He conducted various ensembles, and died of a heart attack while on stage in New York conducting an orchestra for the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

War
The Third Anglo-American Conference (Trident) opened in Washington with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and their staffs. Mr. Churchill opposed any diversion of strength in the Pacific theatre. With the exception of isolated pockets of resistance, Axis forces in Tunisia surrendered to the Allies. The secret German radio station Gustav Siegfried I reported that Marion Badoglio, son of Italian Marshal Pietro Badoglio, had discussed plans for a separate Italian peace with U.S. represntatives in Tangier and Madrid. British troops withdrew from Maungdaw, Burma without interference from Japanese forces and moved north toward the Indian border. Japanese troops in China established a foothold on the southern end of Lake Tungting, 50 miles north of Changsha, capital of Hunan Province.

Diplomacy
Bolivian President Enrique Penaranda del Castillo arrived in Ottawa to begin a state visit, becoming the first Latin American president to visit Canada.

Uruguay severed relations with the Vichy French government.

U.S. President Roosevelt nominated Anthony J. Drexel Biddle as Ambassador to the Czechoslovakian government-in-exile in London.

World events
Gazette de Lausanne reported that 150 Frenchmen, including many government officials and Admiral Rene Platon, former Secretary of State, had been arrested in Vichy for plotting against Vichy Prime Minister Pierre Laval.

Economics and finance
The U.S. War Production Board announced that ample plant and macine facilities now existed in the United States to defeat the Axis. The U.S. Senate passed and sent to the House of Representatives a bill authoriaing the appropriation of $25 million for the next two years to continue federal works in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after the Works Progress Administration expired on July 31, 1943.

60 years ago
1953

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Death of an Editor, starring Wolfe Barzell, Mario Gallo, Frank Marth, and Anthony Ross

Died on this date
Jean "Skip" Ziegler. U.S. aviator. Mr. Ziegler was a test pilot who was in the cockpit of the Bell X-2 as it was in the bomb bay of the EB-50A mothership over Lake Ontario, preparing to fly the X-2 after it was dropped from the mothership. The X-2 exploded in the bomb bay, killing Mr. Ziegler and EB-50A crew member, observer Frank Wolko.

50 years ago
1963

Religion
The Congress on Prophecy, convened by the American Board of Missions to the Jews (known today as Chosen People Ministries), began at Moody Memorial Church in Chicago. The congress was convened out of a concern that the hope of the premillennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ was being lost. Messages presented at the conference were published in the book Focus on Prophecy (1964).

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Power to All Our Friends--Cliff Richard (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando (4th week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Killing Me Softly with His Song--Roberta Flack (4th week at #1)
2 Funny Face--Donna Fargo
3 Top of the World--Carpenters
4 Dueling Banjos--Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell
5 Last Song--Edward Bear
6 You're So Vain--Carly Simon
7 I'd Love You to Want Me--Lobo
8 Crocodile Rock--Elton John
9 Wedding Song--Petula Clark
10 Everything is Out of Season--Johnny Farnham

Singles entering the chart were Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando (#22); Roll Over Beethoven by Electric Light Orchestra (#33); and You are What I Am by Gordon Lightfoot (#37).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando (3rd week at #1)
2 The Cisco Kid--War
3 You are the Sunshine of My Life--Stevie Wonder
4 Frankenstein--The Edgar Winter Group
5 The Twelfth of Never--Donny Osmond
6 Stuck in the Middle with You--Stealers Wheel
7 The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia--Vicki Lawrence
8 Drift Away--Dobie Gray
9 Reeling in the Years--Steely Dan
10 Little Willy--The Sweet

Singles entering the chart were You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart) by the Stylistics (#73); Give Me Love--(Give Me Peace on Earth) by George Harrison (#78); Satin Sheets by Jeanne Pruett (#79); Fool by Elvis Presley (#86); Swamp Witch by Jim Stafford (#92); Behind Closed Doors by Charlie Rich (#93); I'm Leavin' You by Engelbert Humperdinck (#95); Come Live with Me by Roy Clark (#96); and What it Takes to Get a Good Woman (That’s What It’s Gonna Take To Keep Her) by Denise LaSalle (#99). Fool was the B-side of Steamroller Blues, which charted at #21.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 The First Cut is the Deepest--Keith Hampshire
2 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
3 The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia--Vicki Lawrence
4 The Cisco Kid--War
5 Stuck in the Middle with You--Stealers Wheel
6 Little Willy--The Sweet
7 I'm a Stranger Here--Five Man Electrical Band
8 The Twelfth of Never--Donny Osmond
9 Drift Away--Dobie Gray
10 You Don't Know What Love Is--Susan Jacks

Singles entering the chart were Bit of Both/Underneath the Twilight Canopy by David George (#76); Pillow Talk by Sylvia (#78); Funky Worm by the Ohio Players (#82); What About Me by Anne Murray (#86); Run Along Baby by Pagliaro (#90); Behind Closed Doors by Charlie Rich (#92); And I Love You So by Perry Como (#93); Roll Over Beethoven by Electric Light Orchestra (#94); Lately Love (Laughter Don't Come Easy) by Bob Ruzicka (#95); Working Class Hero by Tommy Roe (#96); Isn't it About Time by Stephen Stills and Manasses (#97); Lady True by A Foot in Coldwater (#98); Bondi Junction by Peter Foldy (#99); and All I Really Need by Rose (#100).

Calgary’s Top 10
1 The Twelfth of Never--Donny Osmond
2 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
3 Drift Away--Dobie Gray
4 Stuck in the Middle with You--Stealers Wheel
5 You are the Sunshine of My Life--Stevie Wonder
6 Out of the Question--Gilbert O'Sullivan
7 Sing--Carpenters
8 Walk on the Wild Side--Lou Reed
9 Peaceful--Helen Reddy
10 The Cisco Kid--War
Pick hit of the week: Lady Run, Lady Hide--April Wine

Died on this date
Art Pollard, 46. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Pollard was killed in a crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway while practicing for the 1973 Indianapolis 500. In 84 races on the United States Auto Club circuit from 1965-1973 Mr. Pollard had 30 top-ten finishes, including wins at Milwaukee and Dover in 1969. His best Indianapolis 500 result came in 1970, when he finished 7th.





30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
Canada’s Top 30
1 Beat It--Michael Jackson
2 Let’s Dance--David Bowie
3 Midnight Blue--Louise Tucker
4 Jeopardy--Greg Kihn Band
5 I Won’t Hold You Back--Toto
6 Even Now--Bob Seger
7 Overkill--Men at Work
8 Some Kind of Friend--Barry Manilow
9 Little Red Corvette--Prince
10 Time (Clock of the Heart)--Culture Club
11 Safety Dance--Men Without Hats
12 She Blinded Me with Science--Thomas Dolby
13 Always Something There to Remind Me--Naked Eyes
14 Affair of the Heart--Rick Springfield
15 Mr. Roboto--Styx
16 Rio--Duran Duran
17 Twistin’ By the Pool--Dire Straits
18 It Might Be You--Stephen Bishop
19 Mornin’--Al Jarreau
20 Solitaire--Laura Branigan
21 Too Shy--Kajagoogoo
22 So Wrong--Patrick Simmons
23 Electric Avenue--Eddy Grant
24 Love Me Today--Corect Spelling
25 Don’t Let it End--Styx
26 Straight From the Heart--Bryan Adams
27 White Wedding--Billy Idol
28 Flashdance (What a Feeling)--Irene Cara
29 My Love--Lionel Richie
30 Lean On Me--Chilliwack

Died on this date
Hank Schenz, 69. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Schenz, an infielder, played 207 major league games with the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Giants from 1946-1951, batting .247 with 2 home runs. His best season was with the Cubs in 1948, when he hit .261 with 1 home run and 14 runs batted in. Despite playing just 8 games for the Giants as a late-season acquisition, Mr. Schenz was on the roster for the World Series, and ended his career by making one appearance in the Series as a pinch runner.

Weather
It was a beautiful, hot day in Edmonton, the nicest day of the year so far.

Politics and government
The United States Senate voted to reject a budget proposal for fiscal 1984 that was backed by the Reagan Administration, as well as another plan supported by moderate Republicans and some Democrats.

Defense
U.S. President Ronald Reagan, in a letter to the U.S. Senate, said that he would seek new approaches to arms talks with the Soviet Union and that he would bring the U.S. negotiating position in line with the recommendations of the Scowcroft commission. The Senate committee voted to release funds for research and development of the MX missile.

Americana
Julie Lynne Hayek of California was crowned Miss USA.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
New York Islanders 6 @ Edmonton 3 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-0)

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Mahtisonni--Aki & Turo

War
A cease-fire between Hezbollah and Amal militia went into effect in Lebanon. At least 172 people had been killed in the previous six days of fighting.

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz and Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze concluded a two-day meeting in Geneva, resolving some questions on the intermediate-range nuclear forces (INF) treaty, prior to the summit between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, scheduled for later in the month. The two sides exchanged notes agreeing that the treaty banned the use of lasers, particle beams, and other futuristic weapons on medium- and short-range missiles. Problems relating to verification were also resolved.

Politics and government
The White House said that it was "mortified" that some people thought that President Ronald Reagan’s endorsement of Vice-President George Bush as the Republican Party presidential candidate was lukewarm, and that President Reagan, in fact, was "enthusiastic" and "fully committed" to Mr. Bush.

Quebec's National Assembly, with the majority composed of members of the Liberal government of Premier Robert Bourassa, passed a law allowing the creation of le Conseil de la famille (Family Council) with a mandate to explore and investigate major issues interest to families, such as developing the child care system and the automatic payment of child support.

Health
Dr. Claude Lenfant, director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, announced that the United States government would cease to finance research on artificial hearts. He said that the human body "just couldn’t seem to tolerate" an artificial heart. All five recipients of permanent implants, which were made between 1982 and 1985, died. William Schroeder, who died in 1986, survived the longest with an artificial heart, 620 days. The HLBI planned to focus its resources on implantable devices that worked with part of the real heart.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference
Finals
Boston 3 @ New Jersey 6 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
Chicago 105 @ Detroit 95 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Western Conference
Semi-Finals
Dallas 112 @ Denver 108 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Informer--Snow (4th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Summer; Independence Day

Although listed as two episodes, they were shown consecutively in one hour as the last episodes of the series.

Died on this date
Omond Solandt, 83. Canadian physician. Dr. Solandt, a native of Winnipeg, served as the founding chairman of the Canadian Defence Research Board from 1947-1956 and was founding chairman of the Science Council of Canada from 1966-1972.

Zeno Colò, 72. Italian skier. Mr. Colò won two gold medals and one silver medal in the 1950 World Championships, and won the gold medal in the men's downhill event at the 1952 Winter Olympic Games in Oslo. He died of lung cancer.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Bill Clinton endorsed a proposal that money raised by tax increases and saved by spending cuts be put into a trust fund used solely to cut the federal deficit.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Pittsburgh 5 @ New York Islanders 7 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference
Semi-Finals
Charlotte 101 @ New York 105 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Western Conference
Semi-Finals
Houston 100 @ Seattle 111 (Seattle led best-of-seven series 2-0)

10 years ago
2003

Terrorism
Explosives detonated from a truck in Znamenskoye, Chechnya killed at least 59 people and destroyed 6 apartment houses and 3 government buildings.

Four bomb attacks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by the al-Qaeda terrorist organization killed 9 of the attackers and 26 others, 9 of them Americans. Three of the targets were residential compounds inhabited by foreigners. The attackers got past guards, rammed their vehicles through gates, and set off explosives. Among the terrorists killed was the mastermind of the attacks, Khalid al-Juhani, 28 (?), a Saudi member of al-Qaeda.

World events
U.S. officials in Iraq said that they had custody of Rihab Rashjid Taha, a microbiologist nicknamed Dr. Germ who had played a major role in Iraq's biological waepons program.

Politics and government
Clare Short, U.K. first secretary for international development and an opponent of Britain's war in Iraq, resigned from the cabinet of Prime Minister Tony Blair. She criticized Mr. Blair's support for what she considered an insufficient role for the United Nations in the reconstruction of Iraq. Mr. Blair named Baroness Valerie Amos to succeed Ms. Short; Baroness Amos became the first Negro woman to serve in a British cabinet.

Health
Taiwanese officials fired the head of a hospital for failing to deal with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic properly.