January 5, 2014

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Laura-Belle Robinson!

425 years ago
1589

Died on this date
Catherine de' Medici, 69. Queen consort of France, 1547-1559. Catherine, the daughter of Lorenzo II de' Medici and Madeleine de La Tour d'Auvergne, married the future King Henry II of France in 1533, and became queen consort when he acceded to the throne in 1547. She was the mother of kings Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III, serving as regent for Charles IX from 1560-1563. Queen Catherine was perhaps the most powerful woman in Europe in the 16th century.

100 years ago
1914

Born on this date
George Reeves. U.S. actor. Born George Brewer, Mr. Reeves was best known as the star of the television series Adventures of Superman (1952-1958). Typecasting hurt his career, and Mr. Reeves died from a gunshot wound in the upstairs bedroom of his house early on June 16, 1959 at the age of 45. The official verdict was suicide, but there has always been some skepticism about the verdict.

Labour
Ford Motor Company announced an eight-hour workday and a minimum wage of $5 for a day's labour.

Baseball
The New York Giants and Chicago White Sox continued their post-season exhibition tour, with the White Sox defeating the Giants 10-5, and the Giants defeating New South Wales 15-2 in Sydney.

70 years ago
1944

War
The Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Army opened a new offensive and forced a breakthrough on a front 62 miles long to a depth of 25 miles. After five days of fighting, Soviet troops took Berdichev, an important rail centre 100 miles west-southwest of Kiev. U.S. forces in Italy gained approximately one mile along a 10-mile front between Venafro and Rocca d'Evandro and extended their holdings in San Vittore. Chinese troops reportedly advanced on the suburbs of Owchihkow, a Yangtze River port north of Tungting Lake, after capturing all surrounding villages.

Politics and government
U.S. Representative Jessie Sumner (Republican--Illinois) said that she would not be a candidate for re-election in 1944 because "practically all the major questions of policy are now decided in the White House rather than by Congress."

Journalism
Argentina established strict control of the press, and forbade publication of news "contrary to the general interest of the nation."

Economics and finance
The U.S. War Production Board recommended to the Defense Plant Corporation in Washington further cutbacks in the steel production expansion program.

Labour
American Federation of Labor Vice President Matthew Wolf announced the union's refusal to send delegates to the U.K.-sponsored international meeting of trade union representatives in June 1944 because of Soviet participation.

50 years ago
1964

Football
AFL Championship
Boston 10 @ San Diego 51

Keith Lincoln rushed 13 times for 206 yards and a touchdown, caught 7 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, and completed a pass for 20 yards as the Chargers routed the Patriots before 30,127 fans at Balboa Stadium to win their only AFL championship. The Chargers took a 21-7 lead after the 1st quarter on a 2-yard touchdown rush by quarterback Tobin Rote, a 67-yard touchdown rush by Mr. Lincoln, and a 58-yard touchdown rush by Paul Lowe, all converted by George Blair. Between the second and third San Diego touchdowns, the Patriots scored their only touchdown on a 7-yard rush by Larry Garron, converted by Gino Cappelletti. In the 2nd quarter, Mr. Blair and Mr. Cappelletti exchanged short field goals, and Mr. Rote completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Don Norton. Mr. Blair converted to give San Diego a 28-10 halftime lead. The Chargers scored in the 3rd quarter on a 48-yard touchdown pass from Mr. Rote to Lance Alworth, converted by Mr. Blair. John Hadl relieved Mr. Rote in the 4th quarter and connected with Mr. Lincoln for a 25-yard touchdown. Mr. Blair was unsuccessful on his convert attempt, but converted the game's final touchdown, a 1-yard rush by Mr. Hadl. Mr. Lowe complemented Mr. Lincoln by rushing for 94 yards on 12 carries. Mr. Rote completed 10 of 15 passes for 173 yards, while Mr. Hadl was 6 for 10 for 112 yards. The Patriots rushed just 16 times for 75 yards, with Harry Crump leading the team with 7 carries for 18 yards. Boston quarterback Babe Parilli completed 14 of 29 passes for 189 yards and an interception, while backup Tom Yewcic was 3 for 8 for 39 yards and an interception.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): t Is weer voorbij die mooie zomer--Gerard Cox (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Merry X'mas Everybody--Slade (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Australia (Go-Set): Angie--Rolling Stones (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Time in a Bottle--Jim Croce (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)--Helen Reddy
2 Time in a Bottle--Jim Croce
3 The Joker--Steve Miller Band
4 The Most Beautiful Girl--Charlie Rich
5 Show and Tell--Al Wilson
6 Helen Wheels--Paul McCartney and Wings
7 Living for the City--Stevie Wonder
8 You're Sixteen--Ringo Starr
9 Smokin' in the Boy's Room--Brownsville Station
10 Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up--Barry White

Singles entering the chart were It Doesn't Have to Be That Way by Jim Croce (#62); What it Comes Down To by the Isley Brothers (#86); Daddy What If by Bobby Bare (#97); Come and Get Your Love by Redbone (#98); Can't Say Nothin' by Curtis Mayfield (#99); and Sexy Mama by the Moments (#100).

#1 single in Canada (RPM): The Most Beautiful Girl--Charlie Rich (2nd week at #1)

Calgary's Top 10
1 Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks (4th week at #1)
2 The Most Beautiful Girl--Charlie Rich
3 The Joker--Steve Miller Band
4 Top of the World--Carpenters
5 Let Me Be There--Olivia Newton-John
6 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road--Elton John
7 Photograph--Ringo Starr
8 Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)--Helen Reddy
9 Angie--Rolling Stones
10 Big Time Operator--Keith Hampshire
Pick hit of the week: Spiders & Snakes--Jim Stafford

Weather
The warmest reliably measured temperature in Antarctica of +59 °F (+15 °C) was recorded at Vanda Station.

Disasters
At least 100 people were feared dead when a ferry sank in strong winds and high seas in the central Philippines.

An earthquake in Lima, Peru, killed six people and damaged hundreds of houses.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 30 (CHED)
1 Union of the Snake--Duran Duran
2 Karma Chameleon--Culture Club
3 Major Tom (Coming Home)--Peter Schilling
4 Owner of a Lonely Heart--Yes
5 Twist of Fate--Olivia Newton-John
6 That's All--Genesis
7 The Best was Yet to Come--Bryan Adams
8 Talking in Your Sleep--The Romantics
9 Undercover of the Night--Rolling Stones
10 I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues--Elton John
11 Running with the Night--Lionel Richie
12 Gold--Spandau Ballet
13 Break My Stride--Matthew Wilder
14 Ready to Make Up--Toronto
15 Pink Houses--John Cougar Mellencamp
16 Say it Isn't So--Daryl Hall John Oates
17 Crumblin' Down--John Cougar Mellencamp
18 Think of Laura--Christopher Cross
19 An Innocent Man--Billy Joel
20 Red Red Wine--UB40
21 Doesn't Really Matter--Platinum Blonde
22 Read 'Em and Weep--Barry Manilow
23 Synchronicity--The Police
24 Don't Stop--Chilliwack
25 In Dim Light--Darkroom
26 Why Me--Irene Cara
27 P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)--Michael Jackson
28 Rebel Yell--Billy Idol
29 Middle of the Road--The Pretenders
30 I Still Can't Get Over Loving You--Ray Parker, Jr.

Economics and finance
Figures issued showed that all but one of the U.S.A.'s largest retailers had gained 10% or more in sales in December 1983 compared with December 1982. The largest retailer, Sears Roebuck & Co., reported an increase of 17.5%. Sales of automobiles in the United States, including imports, increased by 15.1% over 1982 to a total of 9,155,741, with imports accounting for 26% of the total.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Back to the Stone Age--Stone (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Especially for You--Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan

Scandal
Independent counsel Lawrence Walsh moved to dismiss charges of conspiring to defraud the U.S. government and stealing government property against former National Security Council member Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, who had contended that he needed thousands of pages of documents to defend himself against the charges. Judge Gerhard Gesell had supported Lt. Col. North's right to gain access to at least some of the documents, but the administration of President Ronald Reagan had refused to provide some of the secret documents, citing national security.

Politics and government
U.S. President Ronald Reagan gave his approval to the recommendations of the President's Commission on Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries that salaries of U.S. government leaders be raised by at least 50%. By law, the increases would take effect within a month after the president approved the recommendation, unless rejected by both houses of Congress.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Elmar Lipping, 87. Estonian politician. Mr. Lipping was Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs in exile from 1982-1990.

Thomas "Tip" O'Neill, 81. U.S. politician. Mr. O'Neill, a Democrat, represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives from 1953-1987 and was Speaker of the House from 1977-1987.

Diplomacy
A U.S. State Department official said that the U.S. and North Korea had agreed in principle that the latter would allow inspections of its seven declared nuclear facilities, and that officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency would be allowed to replace film and batteries in surveillance cameras. North Korea also promised to resume a dialogue with South Korea, and the U.S., in return, would cancel its annual military exercise with South Korea.

Politics and government
Juvenal Habyarimana was sworn in as President of Rwanda, to lead an interim government slated to serve for 22 months, with multi-party elections scheduled for October 1995.

10 years ago
2004

Died on this date
Tug McGraw, 59. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. McGraw pitched, primarily in relief, for the New York Mets (1965-1974) and Philadelphia Phillies (1975-1984), posting a record of 96-92 with 180 saves in 824 games. He was a member of World Series championship teams with the Mets (1969) and Phillies (1980), and struck out Willie Wilson of the Kansas City Royals for the final out of the 1980 World Series. Mr. McGraw was known for his colourful quotes, including "Ya gotta believe!," which became the Mets' slogan during their drive to the National League pennant in 1973. He was the father of country singer Tim McGraw.

Diplomacy
At their first meeting in more than two years, Indian Prime Minister Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani Prime Minister Pervez Musharaff agreed to restart peace talks between their countries.

Defense
The United States said that it believed that Pakistani scientists had supplied Libya, and possibly Iran and North Korea with nuclear weapons designs and technology.

A new security system began operating in the United States, requiring many international travellers to the U.S. to be fingerprinted and photographed.

Politics and government
At their loya jirga, Afghan leaders agreed to a constitution that established a strong presidency and a two-chamber parliament, an independent judiciary, and gave equal rights to women.

Scandal
After 14 years of denials, Pete Rose publicly admitted that he'd bet on baseball while manager of the Cincinnati Reds in the late 1980s.