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August 8th
0117 - Hadrian became emperor of Rome following the death of his father Trajan. 
1471 - Died this day, Thomas Kempis, aged 91, Dutch mystic and devotional author. Though most of his years were outwardly uneventful, his book The Imitation of Christ remains in print today, a guide to cultivating the inner human spirit. 1518 - German reformer Martin Luther wrote in a letter: 'The Lord will provide with the trial a way out'. 1570 - The third Civil War in France ended with the peace of St. Germain-en-Laye. This granted the Huguenots an amnesty and gave them La Rochelle and Cognac as places of refuge. 1576 - The cornerstone was laid for Tycho Brahe's Uraniborg observatory, the first purpose-built observatory ever constructed. Tycho accepted an offer from the King Frederick II to fund an observatory. He was given the little island of Hven in the Sont near Copenhagen, and there he built his observatory, Uraniburg, which became the finest observatory in Europe. Tycho designed and built new instruments, calibrated them, and instituted nightly observations. He also ran his own printing press. The observatory was visited by many scholars, and Tycho trained a generation of young astronomers there in the art of observing. He was born on 14 December 1546 in Skane, then in Denmark, now in Sweden. Died 24 October 1601 in Prague. 1588 - The Spanish Armada, a fleet of 130 huge ships, met defeat at the hands of English sailors and their smaller, more maneuverable vessels. Then a series of wicked Atlantic storms off the coast of Southern England took their toll. Only half of the 130 Spanish ships managed to limp home. The 60 or so English ships had saved England from the Spanish invaders. 1709 - The first known ascent in a hot-air balloon, was made by Father Bartolomeu de Gusmao of Portugal (indoors!). 1763 - Born this day, Charles Bullfinch, in Boston, Massachusetts, the first professional architect in the US (Massachusetts State House). 1786 - The first ascent of Mont Blanc was completed by Dr. Michel-Gabriel Paccard and his porter, Jacques Balmat. 1796 - The Boston African Society was established, with 44 members. 1814 - Born this day, Esther Hobart McQuigg Morris, women's rights. Died in 1902. 1814 - Peace negotiations began in Ghent, Belgium. 1815 - Napoleon Bonaparte set sail for St. Helena to spend the remainder of his days in exile. 1834 - The Poor Law Amendment Act was passed in Britain. The Act dropped the system of outdoor relief whereby parishes cared for their poor by a rate of poor relief. They replaced that system with the workhouse. 1839 - Beta Theta Pi became the first Greek-letter fraternity west of the Alleghenies. The fraternity was a new arrival at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. 1843 - Natal (in South Africa) was made a British colony. 1844 - Brigham Young was chosen Mormon Church head following the death of Joseph Smith. 1845 - Born this day, Thomas Koschat, Austrian sacred composer. One of his scores became the hymn tune POLAND, to which is commonly sung The King of Love My Shepherd Is. 1852 - The roots of the Baptist General Conference were planted when Swedish immigrant pastor Gustaf Palmquist baptised his first three converts in the Mississippi River at Rock Island, Illinois. Today, the denomination numbers about 140,000. 1860 - The Queen of the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) arrived in New York City, the first queen to visit the United States. 1861 - Born this day, William Bateson, in Whitby, England, originator of term 'genetics'. Died in 1926. 1864 - Red Cross Anniversary. 1866 - Born this day, Matthew A. Henson, American black explorer, North Pole expedition [1908-09 with Robert Peary]. Died in 1955. 1868 - An earthquake destroyed Arica, Chile. 1870 - Magic (US) defeated Cambria (England) in second running of the America's Cup. 1876 - Dan O'Leacy completed a 500 mile walk in 139 hours 32 minutes. 1876 - Thomas A. Edison of Menlo Park, New Jersey, patented the mimeograph machine. It was a method of preparing autographic stencils for printing. Mimeograph machines used to be cranked by hand and later models were electric. The mimeograph worked by first creating a spirit master which was placed on a large rotating drum. A strong smelling, purple ink would then print out on paper. 1879 - Born this day, Emiliano Zapata, a leader of peasants and indigenous people during the Mexican revolution, in Anenecuilco, Mexico. Born a peasant, Zapata was forced into the Mexican army in 1908 following his attempt to recover village lands taken over by a rancher. After the revolution began in 1910, he raised an army of peasants in the southern state of Morelos under the slogan "Land and Liberty." Demanding simple agrarian reforms, Zapata and his guerrilla farmers opposed the central Mexican government under Francisco Madero, later under Victoriano Huerta, and finally under Venustiano Carranza. Zapata and his followers never gained control of the central Mexican government, but they redistributed land and aided poor farmers within the territory under their control. On 10 April 1919, Zapata was ambushed and shot to death in Morelos by government forces. Zapata's influence has endured long after his death, and his agrarian reform movement, known as zapatismo, remains important to many Mexicans today. In 1994, a guerrilla group calling itself the Zapata Army of National Liberation launched a peasant uprising in the southern state of Chiapas. 1882 - Snow fell on Lake Michigan. 1884 - Born this day, Sara Teasdale, poet, (first Pulitzer Prize - 1918 - Love Songs). 1887 - Born this day, Henry Fairfield Osborn, in Princeton, New Jersey, American naturalist, paleontologist, author Our Plundered Planet (1948), and The Limits of the Earth (1953). (52 Years of Research). Died in 1968. 1887 - Born this day, Malcolm Keen, in Bristol, England, actor (Uncle Chris-Mama). 1890 - The Daughters of the American Revolution was organised. 1896 - Born this day, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, in Washington DC, short-story writer (The Yearling). Died in 1953. 1897 - Born this day, Fredric March [Bickel], Academy Award-winning actor. Died in 1975. 1899 - Born this day, Russell Markert, choreographer. Died in 1990. 1899 - A.T. Marshall of Brockton, Massachusetts patented the refrigerator. It took quite a few more years for refrigerators to become common in households. 1900 - Born this day, Victor Young, in Chicago, Illinois, orchestra leader, composer, conductor (Milton Berle Show, In Old California). 1900 - Competition began for the International Lawn Tennis Challenge Trophy at the Longwood Cricket Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. Donating the trophy was America's Dwight Filey Davis. He had been the runner-up in the 1898 US Championships. From then on, the event, the men's international team championship, was called the Davis Cup. There has been a Davis Cup match every year since 1900 except for 1901, 1910, and the war years of 1915-1918 and 1940-45. Dwight Davis played on the winning team in 1900 and 1902. The US team were the first winners beating Britain 1901 - Born this day, Dr. Ernest O. Lawrence, in Canton, South Carolina, inventor (Cyclotron-Nobel 1939). 1902 - Born this day, Paul A.M. Dirac, in England, theoretical physicist (Nobel 1933). 1905 - Born this day, Andre Jolivet, in Paris, France, composer (L'Eunuque). 1907 - Born this day, Benny Carter, in New York City, jazz musician, arranger, composer (Easy Money, King Carter). 1908 - Born this day, Arthur J. Goldberg, in Illinois, United Nations (UN) ambassador, US Supreme Court justice (1962-65). 1910 - The Sacred Congregation of the Sacraments in the Vatican issued the decree Quam singulari, which recommended that children be permitted to receive Holy Communion as soon as they reached the 'age of discretion' (ie, about aged 7). 1910 - Born this day, Sylvia Sidney [Kosow], in the Bronx, New York, actress (WKRP, Sabotage, Beetlejuice, Demon). Died in 1999. 1910 - Born this day, Francisco Brochado Da Rocha, Prime Minister of Brazil (1962). 1911 - Membership in the US House of Representatives was established at 435. Every 211,877 residents of the US were represented by one member of Congress. 1911 - The newsreel became a standard feature at American movie screenings when French film company Pathe began releasing weekly black-and-white newspictures to theatres. 1913 - Born this day, Axel Stordahl, in Staten Island, New York, orchestra leader (Frank Sinatra Show). 1913 - Born this day, Robert Stafford (Senator-R-Vermont). 1918 - In World War I (WWI), the Battle of Amiens began. Allied forces advanced on a 10-mile front against 20 German divisions and took 16,000 prisoners in two hours. 1918 - 6 US soldiers were surrounded by Germans in France, Alvin York was given command and shot 20 Germans and captured 132 more. 1919 - A peace conference between Afghanistan and India resulted in the signing of the Treaty of Rawalpindi. The British recognised Afghanistan's independence 1919 - Born this day, Dino DeLaurentis, movie producer (King Kong). 1920 - The Tigers beat the Yanks 1-0 in the shortest AL game, 73 minutes. 1921 - Born this day, William Asher, creator of Bewitched and husband of Elizabeth Montgomery. 1921 - Born this day, Esther Williams, in Inglewood, California, swimmer, actress (Dangerous when Wet, Million Dollar Mermaid). 1922 - Born this day, Rory Calhoun [Francis Durgin], in Los Angeles, California, actor (Capitol, Motel Hell, Bill-Texan). Died in 1999. (another source says born 1918). 1922 - Born this day, Rudi Gernreich, designed first women's topless swimsuit, miniskirt. 1922 - The Pirates set a record of 46 hits in a doubleheader, against the Phillies. 1923 - Born this day, Jimmy Witherspoon, singer. Died in 1997. 1923 - Benny Goodman was 14 years old as he began his professional career as a clarinet player. He took a job in a band on a Chicago-based excursion boat on Lake Michigan. 1926 - Born this day, Richard Anderson, in Long Beach, New Jersey, actor (Oscar Goldman - 6 Million Dollar Man). 1926 - Born this day, Webb Pierce, in West Monroe, Louisiana, country singer (Ozark Jubilee). Died in 1991. 1926 - Born this day, [Urban] Urbie Green, musician, trombonist. 1927 - Born this day, Jim Weaver, Oregon Representative (D). 1927 - Born this day, Carl Switzer, actor (Alfalfa in the Our Gang series). 1929 - Born this day, [Ronald] Ronnie Biggs, Great Train Robber. 1929 - Born this day, Josef Suk, in Prague, Czechoslovakia, violinist (Artist of Merit-1977). 1929 - The first airship flight around the Earth flying eastward, German airship Graf Zeppelin, began. 1929 - Salem, Oregon airport was dedicated. 1930 - The St Louis Cardinals were 12 games back in NL, and went on to win the pennant. 1930 - Born this day, Nita Talbot, in New York City, NY, actress (Supertrain, Here We Go Again). 1930 - Born this day, Joan Mondale [Adams], wife of 42nd US Vice-President Walter 'Fritz' Mondale. 1931 - Former heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey signed a contract for a six-bout tour of the northwestern US He was to be paid $35,000 or 50 percent of the gross receipts, whichever was more. 1931 - Washington Senator Bob Burke no-hit the Boston Red Sox, 5-0. 1932 - Born this day, Mel Tillis, country singer, songwriter (Who's Julie, M-M-Mel). 1933 - Born this day, Joe Tex [Arrington, Jr.], US soul singer, 1965 US No.5 single Hold On To What You’ve Got, 1977 UK No.2 single Ain't Gonna Bump No More, With No Big Fat Woman. Died 12 August 1982 aged 49. 1934 - Born this day, Keith Barron, in Mexborough, England, actor (At the Earth's Core, Duty Free). 1934 - Bing Crosby became the first singer to record for the newly created Decca Records. His songs, Just A-Wearyin' For You and I Love You Truly, were waxed as Decca number D-100. 1935 - Born this day, Jane Dee Hull, Governor of Arizona. 1936 - Born this day, Don Bowden, first American to run a sub 4 min mile. 1936 - Born this day, Frank Howard, baseball player (NL Rookie of the Year 1960). 1937 - Bonneville Dam on Columbia River began producing power. 1937 - Born this day, Dustin Hoffman, in Los Angeles, Academy Award-winning actor. (Rain Man, The Graduate, Tootsie, Kramer vs Kramer). 1938 - Born this day, Connie Stevens [Concetta Ingolia], in Brooklyn, New York, singer, 1960 UK No.9 single Sixteen Reasons. It re-entered in August 1960 making No.45. Also 1960 UK No.27 single Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) from the TV series 77 Sunset Strip (with Ed Byrnes), actress (Hawaiian Eye, Back to Beach). 1939 - Born this day, Philip Balsley, in Virginia, country singer (Statler Brothers-Flowers on the Wall). 1940 - The German Luftwaffe began a series of daylight air raids on Britain and so began The Battle of Britain. 1941 - Les Brown and His Band of Renown paid tribute to baseball's 'Yankee Clipper', Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees, with the recording of Joltin' Joe DiMaggio on Okeh records. From that time on, DiMaggio adopted the nickname, Joltin' Joe. 1942 - In World War II (WWII), six Germans became the first saboteurs to be executed in America. They were electrocuted in a District of Colombia jail having landed on Long Island in June. Two others' lives were spared. 1942 - Born this day, Roberta Cooper Ramo, first woman president of American Bar Association. 1942 - Born this day, John David, Dr Hook, 1972 US No.5 and UK No.2 single Sylvia's Mother, 1976 UK No.2 single A Little Bit More, 1976 UK No.5 single If Not You, 1978 UK No.14 single More Like The Movies, 1979 UK No.1 single When You're in Love With a Beautiful Woman, 1980 UK No.8 single Better Love Next Time, 1980 UK No.4 single Sexy Eyes, plus 5 other UK singles chart entries. 1976 UK No.5 album A Little Bit More, 1980 UK No.2 album Dr Hook Greatest Hits, 1992 UK No.3 album Completely Hook - The Best of Dr Hook, 1999 UK No.8 album Love SOngs. Also had 9 other US Top 40 hits. 1944 - Born this day, Peter Weir, director. 1945 - President Harry S. Truman signed the United Nations (UN) Charter. 1945 - The Soviet Union declared war on Japan during World War II (WWII), two days after the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and seven days before Tokyo surrendered. 1945 - The USSR established a communist government in North Korea. 1946 - Born this day, Edward T. Schafer, Governor of North Dakota. 1947 - Born this day, Jose Cruz, leftfielder (St Louis Cards, Houston Astros). 1947 - Born this day, Larry Wilcox, in San Diego, California, actor (Lassie, CHiPs). 1948 - Born this day, Svetlana Y. Savitskaya, second woman in space (Soyuz T-7, T-12). 1948 - Born this day, [Mary Elizabeth] Tipper Gore, wife of US Vice President Al Gore. 1949 - Born this day, Keith Carradine, in San Mateo, California, actor (Young Guns, Pretty Baby, I'm Easy). 1949 - Born this day, Airrion Love, vocals, The Stylistics, 1975 UK No.1 single Can't Give You Anything But My Love, plus 15 other UK top 40 singles. 1949 - Bhutan, land of the Dragon, became an independent monarchy. 1950 - Born this day, Andy Fairweather-Low, musician, guitarist, singer, songwriter, Amen Corner, 1969 UK No.1 single If Paradise Is, Half As Nice, solo, 1975 UK No.6 single Wide Eyed And Legless. 1950 - Born this day, Jamie O'Hara, country singer. 1950 - Born this day, Sarah Dunnant, broadcaster and thriller writer. 1951 - Born this day, Randy Shilts, journalist, writer. 1951 - Born this day, Martin Brest, Movie director. 1952 - Born this day, Robin Quivers, radio & TV personality (Howard Stern's sidekick), author. 1953 - Born this day, 'Sweet' Lou Dunbar, basketball player (Harlem Globetrotters). 1953 - Born this day, Donny Most, in Brooklyn, New York, actor (Ralph Malph-Happy Days). 1953 - Born this day, Nigel Mansell, racing car driver, Formula 1 and Indycar racing world champion (Portugal Grand Prix-1990). 1953 - The United States and South Korea initialed a mutual security pact. 1955 - A Geneva conference was held to discuss peaceful uses of atomic energy. 1956 - Fire and an explosion killed 263 miners at Marcinelle, Belgium. 1956 - Born this day, Ali Score, A Flock Of Seagulls, 1982 UK No.10 single Wishing, If I Had A Photograph Of You. 1956 - Born this day, David Grant, vocals, Linx, 1981 UK No.7 single Intuition. 1957 - Born this day, Dennis Drew, keyboards, 10,000 Maniacs, 1993 UK No.47 single Candy Everybody Wants. 1958 - Born this day, [Christopher] Chris Foreman, musician, guitar, Madness, 1982 UK No.1 single House Of Fun and over 20 other UK top 40 hits. 1958 - Born this day, [Harry Lillis III] Harry Crosby, in Los Angeles, California, actor (Friday the 13th), singer. 1958 - Born this day, Deborah Norville, US TV hostess (Today). 1960 - Tell Laura I Love Her by Ray Peterson, wasn't a big hit in Great Britain. Decca Records in England said the song was 'too tasteless and vulgar for the English sensibility'. They destroyed 25,000 of the records. 1960 - 16 year old Brian Hyland went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, it made No.8 in the UK. Also a UK No.1 for Bombalurina featuring TV presenter Timmy Mallett in 1990. 1960 - The Searchers had their first UK No.1 single with Sweets For My Sweet. 1960 - England's Decca Records destroyed 250,000 copies of Ray Peterson's Tell Laura I Love Her for being in bad taste. 1960 - A single by The Young World Singers, called Ringo For President was released in the US. 1960 - Died this day, Danton Walker, columnist (Broadway Spotlight), aged 61. 1961 - Ham Tigercats (CFL) beat Buff Bills (NFL) 38-21 in Hamilton, Ontario. 1961 - Died this day, Charlie Gemora, actor, portrayed King Kong, aged 58. 1961 - Born this day, Rikki Rockett (Richard Allan Ream), Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, drummer, Poison, 1988 US No.1 and 1989 UK No.13 single Every Rose Has Its Thorn. 1961 - Born this day, Paul Jackson, bass, T'Pau, 1987 UK No.1 single China In Your Hand, 1987 UK and US No.4 single Heart And Soul, 1988 UK No.9 single Valentine, plus 8 other UK singles chart entries. 1987 UK No.1 album Bridge of Apies, 1988 UK No.4 album Rage. 1961 - Born this day, The Edge [David Evans], guitar, U2, 1984 UK No.3 single Pride In The Name Of Love plus over 25 other UK top 40 singles, 1987 UK and world-wide No.1 album The Joshua Tree. 1962 - Born this day, Suzee Pai, in Toledo, Ohio, actress (Big Trouble in Little China). 1962 - Born this day, Kool Moe Dee, rap singer. 1962 - Born this day, Ralph Rieckermann, rock singer. 1963 - The Kingsmen released Louie, Louie, radio stations labeled it obscene. 1963 - Approximately two million pounds was stolen in Britain's Great Train Robbery by a gang of fifteen thieves. Scotland Yard called the hold-up, 'Britain's biggest robbery ever attempted'. At 3.10am on 8 August 1963, the Glasgow to London mail train was held up in Buckinghamshire, on a straight stretch of line between Leighton Buzzard and Tring, particularly, the three-kilometre stretch between Sears Crossing and the village of Cheddington. All but three of the gang were identified by finger prints. One of those convicted, Ronald Biggs, escaped from the maximum security wing of London's Wandsworth prison in 1965, and was never caught. He later gave himself up and returned to Britain from his 35 year hideaway in Brazil. He was promptly arrested when he landed at Heathrow Airport.  The day of the train robbery happened to be Biggs' 34th birthday. 1963 - The Great Escape, an exciting film about hundreds of Allied POWs planning a mass escape from a German POW camp, opened in US theatres. The film's international cast included Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Donald, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn, and David McCallum. The film was based on a true story, and a TV sequel was produced 25 years later. 1963 - The Searchers had their first UK No.1 single with Sweets For My Sweet. 1963 - A Treaty was signed in Moscow banning nuclear testing in the atmosphere. 1964 - A single by The Young World Singers, called Ringo For President was released in the US. 1964 - Marilyn Monroe made the cover of Life magazine. 1965 - Born this day, Angus Fraser, cricketer. 1966 - Beatle records were banned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), due to John Lennon's previous 'Jesus' comments. 1966 - Born this day, Chris Eubank, ex-boxer. 1967 - In Bangkok, a declaration signed by foreign ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand led to the formation of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). 1967 - Born this day, Lorraine Pearson, 5 star, 1986 UK No.3 single System Addict, plus 15 other UK top 40 singles. 1968 - A race riot occured in Miami, Florida. 1968 - Richard M. Nixon was nominated for president at the Republican national convention in Miami Beach. He was elected in November, defeating Democrat Hubert Humphrey and Independent George Wallace. 1969 - The cover photo for the Beatle Abbey Road album was taken. The Fab Four were striding across the road and Paul was barefoot. Six shots were taken and the photo session was complete in less than ten minutes. 1969 - Handley-Page, Britain's oldest aircraft manufacturer, called in the receivers. 1970 - Blood Sweat & Tears started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Blood, Sweat & Tears 3. 1970 - Janis Joplin bought a headstone for the grave of her greatest influence, Bessie Smith at the Mont Lawn Cemetery in Philadelphia, (Smith died in 1937, after being refused admission to a whites only hospital). 1970 - New York Yankees honoured Casey Stengel, retiring his number 37. 1972 - New York Yankees signed a 30-year lease with New York City. 1973 - Vice President Spiro T. Agnew branded as 'damned lies' reports he had taken kickbacks from government contracts in Maryland, and vowed not to resign, which he eventually did. 1973 - Born this day, Scott Stapp, Creed, 2001 US No.1 and UK No.13 single With Arms Wide Open, 2002 US No.1 album Weathered. 1973 - Born this day, Mark Wills, country singer. 1974 - Born this day, Kohl Sudduth, actor. 1974 - Born this day, Brian Harvey, East 17, 1994 UK No.1 single Stay Another Day, plus over 15 other UK top 40 singles. 1974 - Roberta Flack received a gold record for the single, Feel Like Makin' Love. Flack, born in Asheville, North Carolina and raised in Arlington, Virginia, was awarded a music scholarship to Howard University in Washington, DC at the age of 15. One of her classmates became a singing partner on several hit songs. Donny Hathaway joined Flack on You've Got A Friend, Where Is The Love and The Closer I Get To You. She had 10 hits on the pop charts in the 1970s and '80s. 1974 - Richard Nixon announced on TV he was resigning for his part in the Watergate scandal, effective midday on 9 August. He became the first US president to resign from office. 1975 - Country singer Hank Williams, Jr., aged 26, fell from Ajax, a mountain in Montana. His face was severely damaged, and had to be surgically rebuilt. 1975 - Born this day, Tom Linton, rock musician (Jimmy Eat World). 1975 - Born this day, [Julian] Cannonball Adderley, singer (Mercy Mercy, Mercy), of a stroke. 1976 - Born this day, Drew Lachey, rhythm-and-blues singer (98 Degrees). 1976 - Born this day, Joshua Chasez, 'N SYNC, 2000 US No.1 single It's Gonna Be Me, 1999 UK No.5 single I Want You Back. 1976 - Died this day, John Roselli, hired by CIA to kill Castro, found murdered. 1977 - Born this day, Marsha Ambrosius, rhythm-and-blues singer (Floetry). 1977 - The Texas Rangers turned their first triple play (vs A's). 1978 - Born this day, Odie, cartoon dog pal of Garfield. 1978 - Born this day, Countess Vaughn, actress. 1978 - The US launched the Pioneer Venus probe, with 5 atmospheric probes on board toward Venus. 1980 - Died this day, Jacqueline Cochrane, the first female to fly faster than the speed of sound, age 70. 1980 - The LBV Conference Center & Club Lake Villas opened. 1980 - The Greater London Council banned The Plasmatics from blowing a car up on stage during their UK live debut at London's Hammersmith Odeon. 1981 - Born this day, Bradley McIntosh, vocals, S Club 7, 1999 UK No.1 single Bring It All Back. 1981 - Born this day, Meagan Good, actress. 1982 - Mickey Thomas singer with Starship married Sara Kendrick in San Francisco. 1983 - Harold Melvin and members from The Bluenotes were arrested in Atlantic City on charges of cocaine possession. 1983 - A jury in Kansas City, Missouri, awarded TV anchorwoman Christine Craft $500,000 in a sex discrimination suit against KMBC-TV (it was later overturned). 1983 - Brigadier General Rias Montt of Guatemala was overthrown in a military coup by Defense Minister General Oscar Humberto Mejia Victores who became head of state. 1984 - Carl Lewis won his third gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics. He won the 200-metre sprint. At the same time, Greg Louganis received his first gold medal in diving in the springboard competition. 1984 - Died this day, Richard Deacon, actor (Mel-Dick Van Dyke Show), aged 62. 1985 - Japan launched Planet A, a probe to Halley's comet. 1985 - Died this day, Louise Brooks, actress, of a heart attack aged 78. 1985 - Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome starring Mel Gibson, opened in Australian movie theatres. Tina Turner turned in a powerful performance in her role as Aunty Entity. 1986 - A record 3 grandslams were made in a game - (Harrah-Tex, Sheets and Dwyer-Orioles). 1987 - The Brewers' Rob Deer struck-out 5 times in a game. 1987 - Lynne Cox became the first to swim from US to Russia across Bering Strait. 1987 - The opening ceremonies of the Pan American games were held in Indianapolis, Indiana. A two-hour extravaganza called The Magic that's America was presented at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The big show included some 6,000 volunteer performers and stagehands who joined a 20,000-piece, animated, card section, along with 80 Disney characters and a 1,027-piece band. 1987 - U2 scored their second No.1 single in the US with I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. 1988 - South African Foreign Minister Pik Botha announced agreement had been reached for a cease-fire in the Angolan conflict. 1988 - It was announced by United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar that a cease-fire in the eight-year-old Gulf war between Iran and Iraq was to begin at 0300 GMT on August 20. 1988 - Born this day, Princess Beatrice, daughter of Sarah Ferguson and Duke of York. She weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces at birth. 1988 - The Chicago Cubs started their first home game under lights. It was rained-out. 1988 - The discovery of the most distant galaxy, at 15 * 10 ^ 12 light years away, was announced. 1988 - Goose Gossage registered career save No.300. 1988 - Jennifer Levin's parents file a $25M suit against Dorrian Red Hand Bar. 1988 - Jose Canseco became the 11th to get 30 Home Runs and 30 steals in a season. 1988 - The Minnesota Twins pull a second triple-play of the year and beat Cleveland 6-2. 1988 - A renovated Central Park Zoo reopened after 4 years. 1988 - Russian troops began to pull out of Afghanistan after 9 years of war. 1988 - US Secretary of State Shultz narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Bolivia. 1988 - The temperature hit a high of 88 degrees on this day 8/8/88 in New York City. 1989 - Space shuttle Columbia blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a secret, five-day military mission. 1990 - Iraq announced that it had annexed Kuwait as its 19th province and President Bush sent US troops to Saudi Arabia as part of a multi-national force to defend the kingdom. 1990 - The Baltimore Orioles pulled their 10th triple play (1-6-3 vs Oakland). 1990 - Carlton Fisk tied with Johnny Bench hitting 327 Home Runs as a catcher. 1991 - Billy Preston was charged with exhibiting pornography to a minor. 1991 - Carlos Santana pleaded no contest to a marijuana possession charge. 1991 - Gary Oldman, actor (State of Grace), was arrested for drunk driving. 1991 - The United Nations (UN) Security Council unanimously approved membership applications from North and South Korea. 1991 - The Islamic Jihad, a Shiite Moslem faction, freed Briton John McCarthy after holding him hostage in Lebanon since 17 April 1986 (five years and three months). 1991 - Appearing at The Jericho Tavern, Oxford, England, were On A Friday, (Radiohead). 1992 - Madonna went to No.1 on the US singles chart with This Used To Be My Playground, a No.3 hit in the UK. Taken from the film A League Of Their Own. 1992 - Snap! Started a six week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Rhythm Is A Dancer. 1992 - Eight people were injured when more than 10,000 fans rioted inside a stadium in Montreal after Guns N' Roses canceled its concert in mid-show. It was the second riot linked to the rock group and its lead singer, Axl Rose. 1994 - The leaders of Jordan and Israel opened their countries' first border crossing, cementing an end to 46 years of hostilities. 1995 - The regime of Iraq's Saddam Hussein was shaken when his two eldest daughters, their husbands and other senior army officers defected. 1996 - One person was killed and 69 people were injured when a train collided with a stationary passenger train at Watford South Junction in Hertfordshire. 1997 - Iraq cleared the last obstacle for a resumption of oil sales after a United Nations (UN) Security Council panel approved a formula for setting crude prices under an "oil-for-food" plan. 1997 - The Teamsters and United Parcel Service completed a second day of federally mediated talks, with neither side reporting progress toward ending a strike. 1998 - The Spice Girls had the UK No.1 single with Viva Forever, Brandy and Monica were at No.1 on the US singles chart with The Boy Is Mine. 2000 - Hands-free kits for mobile phones cut exposure to radiation, a government commissioned study found, contradicting a report by the Consumers' Association. 2001 - A police probe was under way into how oxygen pipes became blocked during operations at two hospitals in Essex. 2002 - The UK's biggest undertakers Co-Op funeral services, reported that bereaved families preferred pop songs to hymns at funerals. Top of the list was Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler. Other songs included Angels by Robbie Williams and My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion. They also reported some unusual choices including Another One Bites The Dust by Queen and Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham! 2002 - Police searching for 10-year-old Soham girls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman released CCTV footage of the youngsters before they disappeared. 2002 - Saddam Hussein organised a big military parade and then warned 'the forces of evil' not to attack Iraq as he sought once more to shift the debate away from world demands that he live up to agreements that ended the Gulf War. 2002 - Bankrupt telecommunications firm WorldCom said it had uncovered another $3.3 billion in bogus accounting, adding to the $3.85 billion fraud it had revealed in June. 2003 - Six Britons jailed over a bombing campaign in Saudi Arabia flew home. 2006 - Senator Joe Lieberman lost the Connecticut Democratic primary to political newcomer Ned Lamont. (However, Lieberman ended up winning re-election to the Senate by running as an independent). 2006 - The Federal Reserve left a benchmark interest rate unchanged after 17 consecutive rate hikes over more than two years. 2006 - Roger Goodell was chosen as the NFL's next commissioner. |
Trivia
Trivia - petty details or considerations, matters or things that are very unimportant, inconsequential, or nonessential; trifles; trivialities.
Trivial - of very little importance or value; insignificant: "Don't bother me with trivial matters." Trivially - unimportant, nugatory, slight, immaterial, inconsequential, frivolous, trifling.