July 23, 2013

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Alla!

220 years ago
1793

Died on this date
Roger Sherman, 72. U.S. politician. Mr. Sherman represented Connecticut in the Continental Congress (1774-1781, 1784), U.S. House of Representatives (1789-1791); and U.S. Senate (1791-1793). He was a Founding Father and the only man to have signed all four great state papers of the United States: the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution.

War
Forces of the Kingdom of Prussia re-conquered Mainz from France.

125 years ago
1888

Born on this date
Raymond Chandler. U.S. author. Mr. Chandler was one of the major figures in the genre of "hard-boiled" detective fiction. He created the private investigator Philip Marlowe, who was the main character in novels such as The Big Sleep (1939); Farewell, My Lovely (1940); and The Long Goodbye (1953), all of which were made into movies. Mr. Chandler also wrote or co-wrote the screenplays for Double Indemnity (1944); The Blue Dahlia (1946); and Strangers on a Train (1951), the first two of which earned him Academy Award nominations. He drank himself to death on March 26, 1959 at the age of 70.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Michael Foot. U.K. politician. Mr. Foot, a journalist by trade and a member of the Labour Party, represented Plymouth Devonport (1945-1955) and Blaenau Gwent Ebbw Vale (1960-1992) in the House of Commons. He was Secretary of State for Employment (1974-1976); Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council (1976-1979); and leader of the Labour Party and leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition (1980-1983). He died on March 3, 2010 at the age of 96.

90 years ago
1923

Died on this date
Charles Dupuy, 71. Prime Minister of France, 1893, 1894-1895, 1898-1899. Mr. Dupuy, a Progressive Republican, was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1885, and was Minister of the Interior and Minister of Worship while he was serving his brief terms as Prime Minister. He achieved some social and economic reforms, but was in office when Captain Alfred Dreyfus was arrested and court-martialed. Mr. Dupuy was an unsuccessful candidate for President of France in 1894, and resigned as Prime Minister in 1899 when a court of cassation ordered a new court martial for Capt. Dreyfus. Mr. Dupuy served three brief terms as acting President during vacancies, and in 1900 was elected Senator for Haute-Loire, sitting until his death.

Politics and government
William Robertson Warren succeeded Richard Squires as Prime Minister of Newfoundland.

70 years ago
1943

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Greek Interpreter

Died on this date
Lewis Trueman, 53. U.S. judge. District Judge Trueman and four other people were shot to death in Ogden, Utah by Austin Cox, 38, whose wife had recently been granted a divorce by Judge Trueman.

Archibald Brown, 47. U.K. crime victim. Mr. Brown, a paraplegic, was blown up by a grenade placed under the seat of his Bath chair in Rayleigh, Essex, England in what became known as the Rayleigh bath chair murder. His 19-year-old son Eric later confessed to the murder and was declared insane.

War
The Italian War Ministry ordered all men aged 21-36 into the Army before August 15 in order to double the country's three-million man force. The Loyal Edmonton Regiment and the Calgary Highlanders joined the Allied forces in Italy. The British destroyers HMS Eclipse and HMS Laforey sank the Italian submarine Ascianghi in the Mediterranean after she torpedoed the cruiser HMS Newfoundland. U.S. forces completed the occupation of western Sicily, capturing the port of Marsala and the naval base of Trapani.

Health
Cuban dispatches reported epidemics of typhoid and malaria in the provinces of Oriente, Santa Clara, and Habana.

50 years ago
1963

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Ottawa (1-0) 31 @ Winnipeg (0-1) 29

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): The Morning After--Maureen McGovern

#1 single in France: J'ai un problème--Johnny Hallyday & Sylvie Vartan (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Eddie Rickenbacker, 82. U.S. flying ace, auto racing driver, and automobile and aviation executive. Mr. Rickenbacker was the top American air ace in World War I, downing 26 enemy planes. He founded the Rickenbacker Motor Company in 1920, and owned and served as chief executive officer of Eastern Air Lines from 1935-1959 and as chairman of the board of directors until 1963. Mr. Rickenbacker drove in the Indianapolis 500 in 1912 and 1914-1916, with a best finish of 10th place in 1914. He bought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1927 and operated it until the U.S.A. entered World War II.

World events
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos lifted the midnight curfew for the period July 24-28 and eased restrictions on free speech and press to give people "the fullest opportunity to discuss freely and publicly the questions to be resolved" in the referendum to be held July 27-28 on affirming him as President.

Scandal
U.S. President Richard Nixon wrote a letter to U.S. Senator Sam Ervin, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Campaign Activities, citing the intertwined doctrines of separation of powers and executive privilege, and refusing to release to the committee tapes of White House conversations related to the June 1972 break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. and the subsequent cover-up. Mr. Nixon also stated that "the tapes are entirely consistent with what I know to be the truth and what I have stated to be the truth." However, he indicated that the tapes were open to different interpretations and "would not finally settle the question." Special prosecutor Archibald Cox's request for tapes was also rejected.

War
U.S. Senator Stuart Symington (Democrat--Missouri), acting chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, charged that the $145 million appropriated by Congress to pay for secret bombing raids in Cambodia that took place from March 1969-April 1970 had been obtained under "false pretenses."

Politics and government
Libyan dictator Muammar el-Gaddafi, who had announced two days earlier that he had resigned on July 11 as head of the Libyan Revolutionary Council, retracted his resignation, saying he would remain in office until union with Egypt was carried out.

Disasters
68 people were killed when a Pan Am jetliner crashed into the ocean shortly after take off from Papeete, Tahiti.

48 people, including 22 children, were killed when a bus crashed off a bridge into a river in northeastern Iran.

Boxing
Oscar Bonavena (48-8-1) scored a technical knockout over Leroy Caldwell (14-17-2) in the 2nd round of their heavyweight bout at Circus Circus Hotel in Las Vegas.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (1-2-1) 13 @ Saskatchewan (2-2) 22

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in France: L'Italiano--Toto Cutugno (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Stars on 45 Proudly Presents The Star Sisters (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)--Paul Young

#1 single in the U.K.: Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)--Paul Young

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Every Breath You Take--The Police (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Every Breath You Take--The Police (2nd week at #1)
2 Electric Avenue--Eddy Grant
3 Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara
4 Never Gonna Let You Go--Sergio Mendes
5 Too Shy--Kajagoogoo
6 Our House--Madness
7 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'--Michael Jackson
8 She Works Hard for the Money--Donna Summer
9 All This Love--DeBarge
10 Is There Something I Should Know--Duran Duran

Singles entering the chart were Human Nature by Michael Jackson (#63); Don't You Get So Mad by Jeffrey Osborne (#83); Tip of My Tongue by the Tubes (#84); Cold Blooded by Rick James (#87); Who's Behind the Door? by Zebra (#88); and Waiting for Your Love by Toto (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'--Michael Jackson
2 Every Breath You Take--The Police
3 Flashdance...What a Feeling--Irene Cara
4 Electric Avenue--Eddy Grant
5 White Wedding--Billy Idol
6 I'm Still Standing--Elton John
7 Puttin' on the Ritz--Taco
8 Come Dancing--The Kinks
9 Hot Girls in Love--Loverboy
10 Is There Something I Should Know--Duran Duran

Singles entering the chart were I'll Tumble 4 Ya by Culture Club (#44); The French Song by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (#45); All Time High by Rita Coolidge (#49); and Worlds Away by Strange Advance (#50). All Time High was from the movie Octopussy.

Died on this date
Georges Auric, 84. French composer. Mr. Auric, a member of Les Six, wrote avant garde classical music in the 1920s and film scores from the 1930s through the 1960s. His best known score is probably that of Moulin Rouge (1952), the title song of which was the biggest-selling single in the United States in 1953 in a version by Percy Faith and his Orchestra.

World events
Lebanese opposition leaders, backed by Syria, announced that they would administer areas of Lebanon controlled by the Syrian army.

War
13 Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed after a deadly ambush by the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Disasters
In what fortunately was only a near-disaster, an Air Canada Boeing 767 jet made an emergency landing in Gimli, Manitoba without loss of life after the crew was forced to glide the aircraft when it completely ran out of fuel. Misunderstanding of the conversion from imperial to metric mesaurement was part of the problem.



Football
CFL
Montreal (1-2) 13 @ Toronto (3-0) 28

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Tell Me--Nick Kamen (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Fast Car--Tracy Chapman

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Push It--Salt-n-Pepa

#1 single in France (SNEP): Nuit de folie--Début de Soirée (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You--Glenn Medeiros (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You--Glenn Medeiros (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Hold On to the Nights--Richard Marx

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Pour Some Sugar on Me--Def Leppard
2 The Flame--Cheap Trick
3 Hold on to the Nights--Richard Marx
4 Roll With It--Steve Winwood
5 New Sensation--INXS
6 Mercedes Boy--Pebbles
7 Dirty Diana--Michael Jackson
8 Hands to Heaven--Breathe
9 Make Me Lose Control--Eric Carmen
10 Sign Your Name--Terence Trent D'Arby

Singles entering the chart were Another Part of Me by Michael Jackson (#67); One Good Woman by Peter Cetera (#79); What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy) by Information Society (#81); Look Out Any Window by Bruce Hornsby and the Range (#83); Inside Outside by Cover Girls (#87); The Right Stuff by Vanessa Williams (#88); Make it Last Forever by Keith Sweat with Jacci McGhee (#89); and Summergirls by Dino (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 New Sensation--INXS
2 The Flame--Cheap Trick
3 Foolish Beat--Debbie Gibson
4 Together Forever--Rick Astley
5 Roll With It--Steve Winwood
6 In Your Soul--Corey Hart
7 Make it Real--The Jets
8 One More Try--George Michael
9 Lost in You--Rod Stewart
10 Dirty Diana--Michael Jackson

Singles entering the chart were Monkey by George Michael (#72); My Secret Place by Joni Mitchell (#76); Ain't Good Lovin' by Diamond in the Rough (#84); Baby Boom Baby by James Taylor (#90); Let it Begin Tonight by Liberty Silver (#92); Just Got Paid by Johnny Kemp (#94); Dancing Under a Latin Moon by Candi (#96); Similar Features by Melissa Etheridge (#97); and (Get Started) Start a Fire by Graham Parker (#99).

Personal
This blogger was in Calgary to attend the 10th anniversary reunion of the 1978 graduating class of Henry Wise Wood High School. The guys who had the most hair in 1978 seemed to have the least in 1988. There had been many pretty girls at Henry Wise Wood when I went there, and they looked even better 10 years later. Even those of average looks in 1978 looked great in 1988; of course, by the time I had the nerve to ask any of them out, they were almost all taken.

Politics and government
General Ne Win, Burma's leader since 1962, announced his resignation as chairman of the country's ruling party. Addressing the party on the opening day of its congress, Ne Win attributed his resignation to a lack of trust in the government following student-led riots in March and June.

Football
CFL
Edmonton (1-1) 15 @ Saskatchewan (2-0) 26

Dave Ridgway tied his own single-game record with 8 field goals, and the Roughriders added a safety touch as they beat the Eskimos at Taylor Field in Regina. Rookie Edmonton defensive back Danny Taylor scored the game's only touchdown on a 41-yard interception return. It was the first regular season game for Jim Sandusky in an Edmonton uniform since being acquired from the British Columbia Lions in a trade for quarterback Matt Dunigan. It was also the first regular season game as an Eskimo for quarterback Greg Vavra, who dressed in place of injured starter Damon Allen, with Tracy Ham now elevated to the starting role. Mr. Vavra had seen pre-season action for the Eskimos in 1983 and then gone to the Calgary Stampeders for 2 years; had dressed for 2 pre-season games for the Eskimos in 1986 and then played 2 seasons with the Lions; and had joined the Eskimos yet again in 1988.



20 years ago
1993

World events
The Azerbaijani town of Agdam was occupied by Armenian separatists.

Politics and government
The U.K. Government of Prime Minister John Major won a vote that insured the British Parliament's final approval of the Treaty on European Union.

Economics and finance
The Russian Duma voted in favour of extraordinary measures that threatened to disrupt the economy and undermine the transfer of public property to private interests. President Boris Yeltsin was expected to veto or ignore the actions.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (1-2) 18 @ Winnipeg (2-1) 21

Matt Dunigan threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Allan Boyko, converted by Troy Westwood, with 4 seconds remaining in regulation time to give the Blue Bombers the win over the Rough Riders before 19,030 fans on a rainy night at Winnipeg Stadium. Ottawa led 11-7 after 3 quarters and increased it to 18-7 early in the 4th quarter on a 26-yard TD pass from Tom Burgess to Wayne Walker, converted by Terry Baker. The Blue Bombers scored their first touchdown of the game with 8:12 remaining on a 34-yard interception return by linebacker Greg Battle.

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
James E. Davis, 41. U.S. politician. Mr. Davis, a New York City Councilman from Brooklyn, was shot dead at a council meeting inside City Hall in lower Manhattan by Othniel Askew, who was planning to challenge him in the next election. The two had entered the building together without having to pass through metal detectors; within minutes after their arrival, Mr. Askew had shot Mr. Davis several times with a pistol. Mr. Askew was then shot dead by a police officer.

Abominations
Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly made public an investigation concluding that at least 789 children had been abused by 250 priests and other Roman Catholic Church personnel in the archdiocese of Boston since 1940. He said an "institutional culture" of secrecy had protected the abusers.

Politics and government
California Governor Gray Davis (Democrat), elected to a second term as Governor eight months earlier, learned that he would face an election on October 7 seeking to remove him from office, with a separate question on the ballot allowing voters to choose a successor should he be recalled. California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley announced that he had cerified the validity of 1.3 million signatures for the recall vote, 400,000 more than required by law. Mr. Davis was facing criticism for the state's $38-billion budget deficit and its belated disclosure, and many faulted his handling of the 2000 energy crisis.

Baseball
Five days after announcing its folding, the eight-team Canadian Baseball League played its all-star game at Burns Field in Calgary as its last act.