June 23, 2013

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Sherry Holden!

330 years ago
1683

Diplomacy
Pennsylvania Governor William Penn signed a friendship treaty with Lenni Lenape Indians.

300 years ago
1713

Canadiana
French residents of Acadia given one year to pledge allegiance to Britain or leave Nova Scotia.

250 years ago
1763

Born on this date
Joséphine de Beauharnais. Empress Consort of the French, 1804-1814; Queen Consort of Italy, 1805-1814. Born Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie, Empress Josephine married Alexandre de Beauharnais, who was guillotined during the Reign of Terror after the French Revolution. She was the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte from 1796-1810, when he divorced her because she was unable to provide him with children. Empress Josephine died of pneumonia on May 29, 1814 at the age of 50.

175 years ago
1838

War
In Pelham, Upper Canada, Niagara militia drove back James Morreau and the Hunter Patriots (Republican exiles and American sympathizers), ending the Short Hills Raid.

125 years ago
1888

Born on this date
Lee Moran. U.S. actor, director and screenwriter. Mr. Moran appeared in 462 films, directed 109, and wrote for 92 from 1912-1935. He was was often paired with actor Eddie Lyons and the two made several comedic films together. Mr. Moran died on April 24, 1961 at the age of 72.

120 years ago
1893

Died on this date
William Fox, 80. Prime Minister of New Zealand, 1856; 1861-1862; 1869-1872; 1873. Sir William, an independent, was born in England and moved to New Zealand in the early 1840s. An independent, he was in and out of Parliament from 1855-1881. Sir William was known for his confiscation of Māori land rights (although he later took a different stand on the issue); his contributions to the education system (such as establishing the University of New Zealand); and his work to increase New Zealand's autonomy from Britain.

Theophilus Shepstone, 76. U.K.-born S.A. politician. Mr. Shepstone moved to Cape Colony with his family at the age of 3. He served as the leading British politician in Natal, and was primarily responsible for the annexation of Transvaal by the United Kingdom in 1877.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
William Rogers. U.S. politician. Mr. Rogers was U.S. Attorney General under President Dwight D. Eisenhower(1957-1961) and Secretary of State under President Richard Nixon (1969-1973). He died on January 2, 2001 at the age of 87.

War
Greek forces defeated Bulgarian forces in the Battle of Dojran in the Second Balkan War, forcing the Bulgarians to retreat further north.

75 years ago
1938

Aviation
The Civil Aeronautics Act was signed into law, forming the Civil Aeronautics Authority in the United States.

70 years ago
1943

War
British destroyers HMS Eclipse and HMS Laforey sank the Italian submarine Ascianghi in the Mediterranean after she torpedoed the cruiser HMS Newfoundland. Nearly 700 U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force bombers struck twice at the Ruhr steel centre of Muelheim for the first time since 1940. Brazilian President Getulio Vargas assured Bolivian President Enrique Penaranda del Castillo that Bolivia may have free use of Santo, a southern Brazilian port.

Defense
The U.S. Ordnance Department disclosed that a 4.7-inch anti-aircraft gun had been invented that could fire 60,000 feet--more than 11 miles--into the air.

Politics and government
The 32 Governors of the U.S. Governors' Conference in Columbus, Ohio adopted two resolutions to oppose further encroachments by the federal government on states' rights.

Protest
Michigan Governor Harry Kelly named a committee to investigate the Detroit race riot, as 119 whites and Negroes were sentenced to 90-day jail terms, and the death toll rose to 31.

Crime
U.S. District Court Judge Bolitha Laws declared a mistrial in the Washington, D.C. trial of George S. Viereck, charged with failing to register as a German agent, because a female juror was seen talking to a U.S. Justice Department attorney.

Transportation
Trans-Canada Air Lines inaugurated transatlantic service, from Montréal.

60 years ago
1953

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Signal Man, starring Boris Karloff and Alan Webb

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): We were All Wounded at Wounded Knee--Redbone (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Rubber Bullets--10cc

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando (4th week at #1)
2 The Twelfth of Never--Donny Osmond
3 Daisy a Day--Jud Strunk
4 Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)--Deodato
5 Get Down--Gilbert O'Sullivan
6 Part of the Union--The Strawbs
7 Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend--Lobo
8 Goondiwindi Grey--Tex Morton
9 Daniel--Elton John
10 Heaven is My Woman's Love--Col Joye

Singles entering the chart were Venus by Jamie Redfern (#27); You Gave Me a Mountain/Steamroller Blues by Elvis Presley (#29); and You are the Sunshine of My Life by Stevie Wonder (#32).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): My Love--Paul McCartney & Wings (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 My Love--Paul McCartney & Wings (4th week at #1)
2 Pillow Talk--Sylvia
3 Give Me Love--(Give Me Peace on Earth)--George Harrison
4 I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby--Barry White
5 Playground in My Mind--Clint Holmes
6 Will it Go Round in Circles--Billy Preston
7 Kodachrome--Paul Simon
8 Shambala--Three Dog Night
9 Daniel--Elton John
10 One of a Kind (Love Affair)--The Spinners

Singles entering the chart were Feelin' Stronger Every Day by Chicago (#71); Get Down by Gilbert O'Sullivan (#74); Delta Dawn by Helen Reddy (#87); I Believe in You (You Believe in Me) by Johnnie Taylor (#88); Are You Man Enough by the Four Tops (#89); If You Want Me to Stay by Sly and the Family Stone (#90); Top of the World by Lynn Anderson (#96); Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) by Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen (#98); Put it Where You Want It by Nino and April (#99); I was Checkin' Out She was Checkin' In by Don Covay (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Playground in My Mind--Clint Holmes
2 My Love--Paul McCartney & Wings
3 Daisy a Day--Jud Strunk
4 Frankenstein--The Edgar Winter Group
5 Pillow Talk--Sylvia
6 I'm a Stranger Here--Five Man Electrical Band
7 Close Your Eyes--Edward Bear
8 The Farmer's Song--Murray McLauchlan
9 Daniel--Elton John
10 Long Train Running--The Doobie Brothers

Singles entering the chart were Get Down by Gilbert O'Sullivan (#82); My Merry-Go-Round by Johnny Nash (#84); Goodbye Mama by Dave Nicol (#95); Whole Lotta Your Love by Lee Hurst (#96); Cowgirl in the Sand by the Byrds (#97); Blue Feeling by Snakeye (#98); Uneasy Rider by the Charlie Daniels Band (#99); and Apalachicola by Keath Barrie (#100).

Calgary’s Top 10
1 Daisy a Day--Jud Strunk
2 My Love--Paul McCartney & Wings
3 Playground in My Mind--Clint Holmes
4 Shambala--Three Dog Night
5 Pillow Talk--Sylvia
6 I'm Doin' Fine Now--New York City
7 I'm a Stranger Here--Five Man Electrical Band
8 Kodachrome--Paul Simon
9 Daniel--Elton John
10 Drift Away--Dobie Gray
Pick hit of the week: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy--Bette Midler

Died on this date
Cliff Aberson, 51. U.S. football and baseball player. Mr. Aberson was a tailback and defensive back with the Green Bay Packers (1946), rushing 48 times for 161 yards (3.4 yards per carry) and completing 14 of 41 passes for 184 yards with no touchdowns and 5 interceptions in 10 games. He played left field with the Chicago Cubs (1947-1949), batting .251 with 5 home runs and 26 runs batted in in 63 games. Mr. Aberson played 7 seasons in the minor leagues (1941-1942, 1947-1950, 1954).

30 years ago
1983

Diplomacy
Pope John Paul II concluded his trip to Poland with a private audience near Zakopane with Solidarity trade union movement leader Lech Walesa.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that a "legislative veto" was unconstitutional. The decision involved a Kenyan student who had overstayed his visa. The U.S. House of Representatives, acting under a provision of the 1952 immigration act, had vetoed a decision by the Immigration and Naturalization Service to allow him to remain in the United States. The court sided with the student. The court's ruling affected 200 laws, including the War Powers Resolution of 1973. The common feature of the affected laws was a provision that permitted one or both houses of Congress to reject actions by the president or an executive agency.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Calgary (2-1) 19 @ British Columbia (3-0) 41

The Lions' win over the Stampeders was the first football game ever played at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Gimme Hope Jo’anna--Eddy Grant (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): I Can't Help Falling in Love (With You)--UB40

Weather
U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientist James Hansen told a U.S. Senate committee that the Earth had been warmer during the first five months of 1988 than at any time since records had been kept. He said that global temperatures had risen by half a Fahrenheit degree in the 100 years before 1880, by another degree from 1880-1950, and by more than half a degree since then. Dr. Hansen said, "It is time to stop waffling so much and say that the evidence that the greenhouse effect is here." He warned that an "increasing tendency" to droughts could be expected in the future.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
All-Star Game @ Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
CFL All-Stars 15 @ Edmonton (0-1) 4

The All-Stars, who wore old Montreal Alouettes uniforms, defeated the defending Grey Cup champion Eskimos, and turned in the game's only exciting play just 3 minutes into the 1st quarter, when Will Lewis of the Ottawa Rough Riders returned Jerry Kauric's punt 100 yards for a touchdown. 27,573 attended the game, which was less than half the capacity of Commonwealth Stadium, but was nonetheless an All-Star game record. It was one of the dullest games that this blogger has ever attended; matters weren't helped when rain started at halftime, and continued through the rest of the game. Matt Dunigan, whose previous Commonwealth Stadium appearances had been as quarterback of the Eskimos, played with the All-Stars, having been traded in the off-season to the British Columbia Lions. Calgary Stampeders' receiver Larry Willis was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Jackie Parker, who had resigned as head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos after the second regular season game in 1987, came out of retirement to serve as head coach of the All-Stars. This remains the last CFL All-Star Game to date.



20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Somebody Dance with Me--DJ Bobo (2nd week at #1)

Crime
Lorena Bobbitt of Prince William County, Virginia sexually mutilated her husband John after he allegedly raped her.

Economics and finance
The Canadian Senate approved the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Max Manning, 84. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Manning played from 1939-1954 in Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, and Canada, but was best known for his years with the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League (1939-1943, 1946-1948) and Houston Eagles of the Negro American League (1949). He was 56-30 in the NNL--32-10 from 1946-1948, after missing almost three full seasons while serving with the U.S. Army in World War II. Mr. Manning helped the Eagles win the Negro World Series in 1946, and pitched in two Negro League All-Star Games. Overwork from playing in winter leagues eventually led to shoulder problems in the late 1940s, but Mr. Manning was still able to play for several more years. He spent many years as a schoolteacher in Pleasantville, New Jersey after his baseball career ended.

World events
Zahra Kazemi, a Montreal-based photojournalist with dual Iranian and Canadian citizenship, was arrested in Iran while taking pictures of protesters.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to uphold an affirmative action policy at the University of Michigan providing preference to minorities for admission to the law school, while ruling 6-3 to strike down an affirmative action program for the University of Michigan's undergraduate college which had provided preference to minorities according to a strict numerical formula. Under the undergraduate program, all Negro, Hispanic, and American Indian applicants were automatically awarded 20 points (on a scale of 150), which meant that almost all qualified minority members were admitted, while many qualified whites were not.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in U.S. v. American Library Association to uphold the Children's Internet Protection Act, which required federally-funded libraries to block obscene Internet computer network material on computers to which minors had access.