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Yesterday On This Day
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Today's quotation...
"A good society is a means to a good life for those who compose it; not something having a kind of excellence on its own account." -- Bertrand Russell [1949] |
WORLD GOODWILL DAY
This is a special day to work for peace in a world where every day should be devoted to peace. It is the anniversary of the opening of the first Hague Peace Conference, 1899.
I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing
Happy Birthday ......
In 1913, Perry Como, chanteur, who started his career as a singing barber at the tender age of 14. Before starring in his own nightly 15-minute radio show in New York, Como toured with different bands. The success of Como’s radio show helped him to sign a contract with RCA in 1941. Since Como’s first album was recorded during a musician’s strike, his first 8 songs were released without any instrumental accompaniment. Perry’s musical success and popularity resulted in his radio show becoming a TV program called "The Chesterfield Supper Club" in 1948, which was later titled the "Perry Como Show." The "Perry Como Show" ran from 1950-1959. Como won the Best Male Vocal Grammy award in 1958 for "Catch a Falling Star," and was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1987. Perry Como passed away on May 12 of 2001..
In 1921, the late Pope John Paul II, the 264th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
In 1931, Pernell Roberts, actor, who is famous for playing Adam Cartwright on the popular TV series "Bonanza." Roberts joined the Marines as a young man, but soon realized that his fascination for acting could not be ignored. After moving to New York in 1957, Roberts starred in small television roles until he got his big break with "Bonanza" in 1959. Roberts has starred on stage as King Arthur in "Camelot" to rave reviews and also enjoyed the success of another TV series, "Trapper John, M.D." in 1979. Recently, Roberts narrated a program for the History Channel called "Mountain Men" and hosted the television series "FBI: The Untold Stories" from 1991-1993.
In 1932, Robert Morse, actor, "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying."
In 1935, Dwayne Hickman, actor, "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis."
In 1937, Brooks Robinson, baseball player who was given the nickname "Hoover" for his ability to suck every play hit near third base into his glove. A talent scout discovered Robinson while he was playing ball in a church league. Robinson’s debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 1955 was the beginning of a long, successful career with the team. During his 23 seasons as an Oriole, Robinson was a Gold Glove award winner 16 times, the American League’s starting All-Star third baseman for 15 straight seasons and an MVP. Robinson retired in 1977 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983.
In 1947, Reggie Jackson, baseball legend who originally went to college on a football scholarship. Jackson set his sights on the majors in 1966 after having a record-breaking baseball season at Arizona State University. Taking part in 6 World Series games, Jackson was given the title "Mr. October" for his ability to perform late in the season and into the playoffs. Joining the Yankees in 1977, Jackson led the team to their first World Series title in almost 15 years. Throughout his career, Jackson won 2 World Series MVP titles and 5 World Series rings in a 7-year period. Today, Jackson is a businessman, producing a line of sports memorabilia, including the Mr. Octobear!
In 1948, Country music singer Joe Bonsall (The Oak Ridge Boys).
On this day...
In 1152, Henry II marries Eleanor of Aquitaine.
In 1631, the first election in colonial America; John Winthrrop elected Governor of Massachusetts.
In 1642, the Canadian city of Montreal was founded by French colonists. [Mais, oui!]
In 1643, Queen Anne, the widow of Louis XIII, was granted sole and absolute power as regent by the Paris parliament, overriding the late king's will.
In 1652, a law was passed in Rhode Island that banned slavery in the U.S. colonies.
In 1756, Britain declares war on France.
In 1765, about one-fourth of Montreal was destroyed by a fire. [Mais, non!]
In 1792, Russian troops invaded Poland.
In 1798, Benjamin Stoddert of Maryland becomes first Secretary of the Navy.
In 1802, Great Britain declared war on Napoleon's France.
In 1860, At the GOP convention in Chicago, Abraham Lincoln nominated for President.
In 1896, the Supreme court upheld the "separate but equal" policy in the Plessy vs. Ferguson decision. The ruling was overturned 58 years later with Brown vs. Board of Education.
In 1900, Tonga proclaimed a British protectorate.
In 1908, Congress passes legislation making the phrase "In God We Trust" obligatory on certain coins. The motto traces back to the 1860s, when during the Civil War religious sentiments had been stirred throughout the nation. Nearly a half century later the dictum is adopted as the official motto of the United States to accompany the nation's original motto, E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one).
In 1910, Halley's Comet passed by Earth, brushing the planet with its tail.
In 1917, Congress passed the Selective Service Act, which called up sodiers to fight in World War I.
In 1922, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), founded.
In 1926, in Geneva, disarmament talks opened. The U.S.S.R. was not present.
In 1933, Tennessee Valley Authority Act signed by President Roosevelt.
In 1953, Pilot Jacqueline Cochran becomes first woman to fly faster than speed of sound over Edwards AFB, California.
World At War
World War II, which had begun in Europe on September 1, 1939, with the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany, ended six years later to the day, September 1, 1945. The final concluding ceremony came the following day, September 2, 1945, with the signing of surrender papers by representatives of Japan, Nazi Germany's Axis partner in the Far East.
In 1943, an aerial bombing offensive is opened against the island of Pantelleria, off the coast of Italy, to weaken it for invasion. On June 11, its defenders surrender, completely exhausted from weeks of being bombed. This marks the first time a major military objective had been taken because of airpower.
"Sadly, many of our young Americans don't know the first thing about World War II or our proud veterans. But out veterans would tell them - if only someone would give them the chance. That someone is the World War II Veterans Committee." Lt. Colonel Oliver North, USMC [Ret.]
U.N. Food Conference meets in Virginia, calls for equitable resource distribution after war.
In 1944, the independence of Iceland proclaimed.
Italy: German troops evacuate Monte Cassino as Allies surround.
Mediterranean: Allied ship sunk by U-boat in waning sub war.
In 1945, No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time," Les Brown Orchestra/Doris Day.
Captain Joseph C. McConnell Jr., flying an F-86, downs three MiG-15 fighters in two separate engagements. These victories give McConnell a total of 16 victories in just five months of action and make him the leading American ace of the Korean War.
In 1955, No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White," Perez Prado.
In 1969, through the 26th. In a dress rehearsal for the moon landing, Apollo 10 astronauts Col. Thomas P. Stafford, USAF, and Cmdr. Eugene Cernan, USN, fly the lunar module "Snoopy" to within nine miles of the lunar suface. Astronaut Cmdr. John W. Young, USN, remains in orbit aboard "Charlie Brown" the command module.
In 1980, Mount St. Helens blew it's top in Washington State.
In 1983, the Senate revised immigration laws, giving millions of illegal aliens legal status under an amnesty program.
In 1989, Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev concluded his historic visit to China, which officially marked the end of a 30-year Sino-Soviet rift.
In 1990, the two Germanys signed a monetary union treaty, the first step on the road to unification.
In 1991, Bill Holland, Westminster, Md., joined the Colonel's BBS.
In 1994, Israel's three decades of occupation in the Gaza Strip ended as Israeli troops completed their withdrawal and Palestinian authorities took over.
In 1995, Melissa Smith, East Berlin, Pa., joined the Colonel's BBS.
Ballet dance Alexander Godunov was found dead at age 45.
Actress Elizabeth Montgomery of the TV Series "Bewitched" died in Los Angeles, California. She was 62.
In 1996, Gina Young, Glen Rock, Pa., joined the Colonel's BBS.
In 1998, the government filed an antitrust case against Microsoft Corp.
The Supreme Court, in a sweeping endorsement of broadcasters' free-speech rights and journalistic discretion, ruled that even public stations owned and run by states need not invite marginal candidates to political debates they sponsor.
Uriah Emmanuel "Bud" Waltersdorff died. He was 75. Born September 1, 1922, in Blooming Grove, Penn Township, he was the son of the late Roy and Jennie (Miller) Waltersdorff. He was an English teacher for the Philadelphia School District and a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Hanover and a member of the Hanover Elks. Bud was the unofficial historian of Hanover and of its leading families. The Ol'Kunnel will miss his old drinking buddy.
Federal officials arrested more than 130 people and seized $35 million. This was the end to an investigation of money laundering being done by a dozen Mexican banks and two drug-smuggling cartels.
In 1999, Georgette Smith, a Florida woman left paralyzed from the neck down after being shot by her elderly mother, won the right to be take off life support. (She died the next day, shortly after being taken off a ventilator. Smith's mother, Shirley Egan, was later acquitted of attempted murder.
In 2004, Israel launches Gaza offensive as Israeli tanks and bulldozers began moving into part of the Rafah refugee camp against Palestinian militants.
A space-based launch range moves a step closer to reality when USAF and Lockheed Martin successfully use a range instrumentation payload carried on an unmanned aircraft to track a Delta II rocket launched from Vandenberg AFB, California. Lockheed's Range Systems Transformational Laboratory (RSTL) program tracked and recorded several minutes of telemetry data. USAF hopes the RSTL will prove the mobile launch range concept and lead to a space-based range that will eliminate the need for costly fixed range infrastructures.
In 2006, Texas executed a 27-year-old man convicted of killing a mother and her teenaged son during a robbery nine years ago. Jermaine Herron was pronounced dead after a lethal injection in Huntsville at 7:25 p.m., after both the U.S. Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected last-minute petitions. Betsy Nutt, 41, and her son, Cody, 15, were shot and killed by Herron and another man at the family's mobile home on a ranch about 10 miles outside Refugio on June 27, 1997.
In 2010,1031 05/19/2010
Rep. Joe Sestak sent Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter into retirement with a stunning come-from-behind victory in the the Democratic primary.
Tea Party favorite Rand Paul, who defeated Republican establishment candidate Trey Grayson in the GOP Senate primary in Kentucky, warned Washington to "watch out, here we come."
Thought for the day...
[This is the May 18, 2012 bulletin.]
