View todays celebrity birthdays and find out what happened in history today.
What : day is it
1932 – The BBC World Service began broadcasting, as the BBC Empire Service.
1941 – World War II: Limpet mines placed by Italian divers sank the HMS Valiant (launched 1914) and HMS Queen Elizabeth (launched 1913) in Alexandria harbour.
1972 – Ugandan leader General Idi Amin gave British workers an ultimatum; to accept reduced pay or be expelled.
1972 – Frank O’Farrell lost his job as manger of Manchester United, following a 5–0 defeat to Crystal Palace. George Best, once again, announced his retirement, on the same day. Not a good week for United.
1981 – The 8 man crew of the Penlee Lifeboat all lost their lives attempting to rescue the crew of the coaster Union Star that was wrecked in violent seas off the coast of Cornwall.
1984 – Britain and China signed an agreement in Beijing, in which Britain agreed to transfer full sovereignty of Hong Kong to China in 1997.
1997 – Former Conservative party leader William Hague married his fiancée Ffion Jenkins at a ceremony in Westminster.
2003 – Libyan leader Gaddafi agreed to allow weapons inspectors into Libya ‘immediately and unconditionally’ to oversee the elimination of its arsenal of chemical weapons.
2006 – Steve Wright, was arrested, charged and remanded in custody, accused of murdering five prostitutes over a six week period. The bodies of all five women were found dumped in remote locations around Ipswich in Suffolk, sparking a massive police investigation.
2012 – The verdict of accidental death of the 96 victims who died in the 1989 Hillsborough stadium football disaster was quashed in the High Court, clearing the way for a new inquest into the deaths. New medical evidence commissioned by the attorney general revealed that 58 victims “definitely or probably” had the capacity to survive beyond the 3.15pm cut-off point imposed by the original coroner. In a further 12 cases, the cause of death remained unclear. The Chair of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, Anne Williams (who died of cancer on 18th April 2013) and whose 15-year-old son Kevin died in the tragedy was at the hearing.
2013 – Michael Adebolajo (29) and Michael Adebowale (22) were found guilty of murdering soldier Lee Rigby outside Woolwich barracks in south-east London in May. Fusilier Rigby was struck with a car before hacked to death. Adebolajo had claimed he was a ‘soldier of Allah’ and the killing was an act of war. Adebolajo was given a whole-life term and Adebowale was jailed for a minimum of 45 years.
2013 – Ornate plasterwork at the Apollo Theatre in London fell from the ceiling during a performance and after a flash flood thunderstorm. The collapse brought down a lighting rig and a section of balcony, trapping 2 people and injuring around 88, including 7 with serious injuries.
2014 – The death (aged 70) of Mandy Rice-Davies, famous for her role in the 1960s ‘Profumo affair’ that almost toppled the British government in 1963.
2016 – The Russian ambassador to Turkey is shot dead at an art gallery in Ankara.
2018 – Drones flying over Gatwick airport cause delays and cancellations for 800 flights.
Did you know that on this day in 1843, A Christmas Carol by English author Charles Dickens was published? It proved popular, and the book was sold out by Christmas Eve.
Calamity Jane – Real Name: Martha Jane Canary
If I owned a fast food restaurant I would have an extra button for the teller to push if the person said “Please” or was kind. That way the cooks could know to add extra fries or something small since the person was so nice.
Con Man “Count” Victor Lustig almost sold the Eiffel Tower. Twice.
Strangely nearly all superpowers whether mutant, alien, radiation, etc comes with incredible sewing and costume-making skills.
The third hand on the clock is called the second hand.
The biggest film of 1920: Over the Hill to the Poorhouse earned ~ $3,000,000
“I got my wedding pictures back so fast!”, said no one ever.
Whenever I can’t find something I left, past-me has successfully outsmarted present-me. If present-me continues to look for the item, present-me is forced into playing past-me’s sick twisted game.
There is a type of food fraud where honey is cut with cheaper sugars and syrups and then sold as pure honey. This is called ‘Honey Laundering’.
Maine is the closest US state to Africa.
Birthday : quotes
“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!” – Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol, first published December 18, in 1843.
“When the mind, body, and spirit work together I believe anything is possible.” – Criss Angel
“This is the President of the United States speaking. Through the marvels of scientific advance, my voice is coming to you from a satellite circling in outer space. Through this unique means I convey to you, and to all mankind, America’s wish for peace on Earth and goodwill toward men everywhere.” – President Dwight Eisenhower, in the first voice radio message in space.
“The easiest and simplest thing that anyone can do to make their car safer, more gas efficient, whatever – check the tire pressure.” – Richard Hammond
2018 – Xi’an, China, introduced a pedestrian lane for people who walk while looking at their phones.
1993 – The Holbeck Hall Hotel in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, fell into the sea following a landslide, making news around the world.
1805 – The first Trooping of the Colour took place on Horse Guards Parade. It was Edward VII who moved Trooping the Colour to its June date, because of the vagaries of British weather.