California Heat Wave 29th July ( 2006 ) The Heat Wave in California which started on July 16th and has reached temperatures of 115 degrees earlier in the week is now believed to have claimed the lives of over 140 people, and caused a massive toll to the state's agricultural industry with damage to peaches, plums, nectarines and walnuts and thousands of livestock lost. An additional burden to California residents has been the loss of power to over a million customers caused through equipment failures.
Southend Pier Destroyed By Fire 29th July ( 1976 ) The end of Southend Pier on Britain's south coast is destroyed by Fire, the pier was the longest pier in the world at close to 1 1/2 miles long. The original pier made of wood dates back to 1830 and in the 1880's the pier was rebuilt of iron.
Son of Sam 29th July ( 1976 ) The so called "Son of Sam" pulls a gun from a paper bag and fires five shots at Donna Lauria and Jody Valenti of the Bronx while they are sitting in a car. Lauria died and Valenti was seriously wounded in the first in a series of shootings by the serial killer, who terrorized New York City over the course of the next year.
USS Indianapolis Sinking 29th July ( 1945 ) I-58 Japanese submarine sinks the American cruiser Indianapolis, killing 883 seamen in the worst loss in the history of the U.S. navy. More than 800 fell into the Pacific many died due to injuries during the sinking but the remaining seamen were left to flounder in the Pacific, fend off sharks, drink sea water it was 84 hours before help arrived and only 318 survived the rest were eaten by sharks or drowned. The USS Indianapolis had just delivered key components of the Hiroshima atomic bomb to the Pacific island of Tinian prior to it's sinking by the submarine.
Charles and Diana Marriage 29th July ( 1981 ) Prince Charles marries Lady Diana at a royal ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral, it is estimated 500 million television viewers in 74 countries tune in to witness the fairytale marriage.
Take a little time to check out old TV shows from the last 50 yrs to bring a smile to your face
Criticized for allowing the Soviet Union to launch the first man-made satellite to orbit Earth (Sputnik 1, on October 4, 1957), U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation this day in 1958 that created NASA.
1913:Albania was formally recognized by the major European powers as an independent principality following the issuance of the Vlorë proclamation.
1890:Vincent van Gogh died in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, two days after shooting himself.
1872: Nathaniel P. Langford and James Stevenson made the first ascent of Grand Teton, the highest peak of the Teton Range in Wyoming.
1858:Townsend Harris persuaded the Japanese to sign the Harris Treaty, an agreement securing commercial and diplomatic privileges for the United States in Japan.
1588: The Spanish Armada, the great fleet sent by King Philip II of Spain to invade England, was first sighted by the English off Lizard Point, Cornwall.
IRA Announces End Of Armed Struggle 28th July ( 2005 ) The IRA has formally ordered an end to its armed campaign and has announced the republican organisation will follow a democratic path ending more than 30 years of violence. The announcement is received on all sides as an important way forward following the Good Friday Agreement signed in 1997
Gold Reaches $200.00 Per Ounce 28th July ( 1978 ) The Price of gold has reached an all time high on the Bullion Market of $200.00 per ounce , investors usually invest in gold during monetary instability and the steady decline in the value of the dollar has sent many US investors into the gold market. Current Price 28th July 2009 $952.00 per ounce.
World War I Begins 28th July ( 1914 ) Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by Gavrilo Princip, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, within one month countries across Europe had formed alliances and declared war on other alliances.
The main alliances in the early period of the war were: Entente Powers or the Allied Powers: consisted of British Empire, France, Russian Empire, Italy, United States. Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.
"Bonus Army" World War I veterans 28th July ( 1932 ) Federal troops under the order of President Hoover forcibly dispersed the "Bonus Army" of ( 17,000 World War I veterans ) who had gathered in Washington, D.C. on June 17th to demand money they weren't scheduled to receive until 1945. The troops under the command of General Douglas MacArthur and Major George S. Patton are ordered to charge into the veterans and were sent to destroy the temporary shacks in the Bonus Army's camps in Hooverville on the Anacostia Flats forcing the marchers out. By the end of the day hundreds of veterans were injured, and several were killed. The World War I Vets like every body else in the country were suffering with no jobs and money during these early years of the great depression and wanted the Service Certificates they had earned while fighting in World War I paid out early.
"From today onwards we are all Italians and nothing but Italians. Now that steel has met steel, one single cry comes from our hearts—Viva l'Italia!"
Benito Mussolini
Born this day in 1883, Benito Mussolini was the first of 20th-century Europe's fascist dictators, assuming absolute power of Italy in 1922, and his harsh rule and involvement in World War II led to his death in 1945.
Impeachment Charges Against Nixon 27th July ( 1974 ) The House of Representatives charges President Richard M. Nixon with the first of three articles of impeachment for obstruction of justice
Nail Bomb Olympics 27th July ( 1996 ) In Atlanta, Georgia, a nail-laden pipe bomb is exploded in Centennial Olympic Park during the XXVI Summer Olympiad leaving 2 dead and many more injured .
WTO World Trade Organization Talks Break Down 27th July ( 2006 ) The ( WTO )World Trade Talks which had been started in 2001 break down with blame shared equally around the world.
The United States blamed because it saw no point in continuing the talks if developing countries would not open markets to US Companies.
European Union blamed for protectionism and of using deliberate delaying tactics during the talks.
The Developing Nations because they want state subsidies and import tariffs slashed in the EU and US so they can sell more of their produce to those countries.
What this means in reality is that the G8 nations will now turn to bilateral and regional free trade agreements, abandoning commitment to help developing nations increase their share of the global market.
De-Havilland Comet First Flight 27th July ( 1949 ) The 500-mile-an-hour jet engined De-Havilland Comet designed as a commercial jet airliner flew for the first time with a test pilot at the controls.
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Cary Stayner Arrested 26th July ( 1999 ) A hotel handyman who worked at the Cedar Lodge guest house in Yosemite National Parkin has been arrested on suspicion of killing four women Carole Sund, Silvina Pelosso, Julie Sund and Joie Armstrong.
He was found guilty for the murders of four women in Yosemite, California, and in 2002 sentenced to death. He is currently on death row at San Quentin Penitentiary in California.
Earthquake Strikes Skopje 26th July ( 1963 ) Skopje, Yugoslavia's 4th largest city was struck by an earthquake which reduced the city to ruins. It is estimated many thousands died as 80% of the city was left in ruins.
Student Indicted For Creating Computer Virus 26th July ( 1989 ) Robert Tappan Morris a graduate student from Cornell University was indicted on a felony charge for releasing a computer virus that disrupted thousands of computers throughout the United States in the fall of 1988.
Suez Crisis Begins 26th July ( 1956 ) The Suez Crisis begins when Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalizes the British and French-owned Suez Canal hoping to charge tolls that would pay for construction of of the Aswan dam on the Nile .
More Mountain Gorillas Killed 25th July ( 2007 ) Four more mountain gorillas have been found shot in the Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo home to 380 mountain gorillas over half the worlds population of this endangered species. Unlike many of the murders of these endangered animals this is not the work of poachers, but something even more sinister ( the latest speculation is that this is the work of rebels who think killing the endangered species is a way of hurting the Congolese authorities ). This brings the total killed this year to seven gorillas including 2 silverbacks earlier this year.
First Test Tube Baby 25th July ( 1978 ) Lesley Brown gave birth to the world's first test tube baby ( in-vitro fertilization ) delivered by caesarean section in Oldham, England. Dr. Patrick Steptoe and Dr. Robert Edwards developed the process to conceive a child in a laboratory and then plant in a uterus to develop normally.
Ocean Liners Collide 25th July ( 1956 ) The Italian ocean liner Andrea Doria and the Swedish ocean liner Stockholm collide in a heavy Atlantic fog off the island of Nantucket on the New England coast. Fifty-one passengers and crew were killed in the collision, which ripped a great hole in the broad side of the Italian vessel Andrea Doria all 1,660 survivors were rescued from the ship before it sunk late the next morning.
Concorde Crash 25th July ( 2000 ) An Air France Concorde jet bound for New York crashes upon takeoff in Paris killing everyone onboard as well as four people on the ground.
Moscow Meeting Nixon / Khrushchev 24th July ( 1959 ) Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev engage in a heated debate about capitalism and communism in the middle of a model kitchen set up for the American National Exhibition in Moscow.
Apollo 11 Safely Returns To Earth 24th July ( 1969 ) Apollo 11, the U.S. spacecraft that had taken the first astronauts to the surface of the moon, safely returns to Earth, this fulfilled the dream of President John F. Kennedy in 1961 when he said "I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth."
Lance Armstrong Wins 7th Tour De France 24th July ( 2005 ) Lance Armstrong wins a record-setting seventh consecutive Tour de France and retires from the sport. He has since decided to make a comeback and is competing in this years Tour de France.
Iraq Troops Mass On Kuwait Border 24th July ( 1967 ) Reports of mass Iraq troops on the Kuwait border raise concerns that Iraq is planning to invade the country which is one of the richest oil nations in the world.
Just over one week later on August 2, 1990 Iraq did invade Kuwait and within two days most of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces and Iraq was in control.
Following a number of UN Security Council resolutions and Arab League including Resolution 678 gave Iraq a withdrawal deadline from Kuwait of January 15,1991. The following day when Iraq forces did not leave January 16th a UN coalition force begins (Operation Desert Storm) joining the regional states of Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states and by February 28, 1991 Iraq forces had been forced to leave Kuwait.
Tiger Woods 23rd July ( 2000 ) Tiger Woods today became the youngest player to win a career Grand Slam after winning the British Open at St. Andrews
Douglas Bader 23rd July ( 1941 ) Douglas Bader the British RAF fighter pilot who had lost his legs in a flying accident, was shot down over France and captured by the Germans. During his time as a POW, Douglas Bader made as much trouble as possible and escaped in August 1942, on his recapture by the Germans he was sent to Colditz Castle which provided a more secure prison. Before he was shot down he had claimed 22 German aircraft shot down which was the fifth highest total in the RAF. In 1956 the movie “Reach for the Sky” was based on The Story of Douglas Bader, Hero of the Battle of Britain.”
First Cases Of Legionnaires Disease 23rd July ( 1976 ) 4,000 delegates from the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Legion met at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia for a four-day gathering. Several days after the event ended, many attendees became sick. By August 2, 22 people were dead and hundreds connected to the gathering were experiencing pneumonia-like symptoms. The cause was traced back to an aquatic microorganism bacteria at the hotel and the disease was later called Legionnaires disease.
Detroit Riots 23rd July ( 1967 ) One of the worst riots in U.S. history breaks out in the heart of Detroit's predominantly African American inner city. By the time it was ended four days later by 7,000 National Guard and U.S. Army troops, 43 people were dead, 342 injured, and nearly 1,400 buildings had been burned.
8 Hilarious Moments From "I Love Lucy"
John Dillenger Shot 22nd July ( 1934 ) John Dillenger Public Enemy number ONE career was finally ended during a shoot out with FBI agents who had been waiting outside a local Cinema following a tip off.
Wiley Post 22nd July ( 1933 ) Wiley Hardeman Post ( Wiley Post ) becomes the first man to fly solo around the world in his plywood monocoque aircraft, the Winnie Mae. He took 7 days, 19 hours -- 21 hours less than his previous record ( Which he had set in 1931 with a navigator, Harold Gatty ). Instead of a navigator he had installed an auto pilot device and a radio compass which were still in development, but which allowed him to make his solo journey.
Save The Buffalo Bison Campaign Launched 22nd July ( 1950 ) The American Buffalo / Bison which roamed the plains and numbered over 50 million are now down to a mere 4000 animals and concerns over extinction means more work and money is to be spent to save this important part of the American Heritage. Although current estimates ( 2009 ) put the number of Bison in the US at over 300,000 It is estimated that there are now only four free roaming and genetically pure herds of American Bison / Buffalo on public lands in North America,
Yellowstone National Park, ( 4,000 Bison ) Henry Mountains in Utah, ( 500 Bison ) Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota ( 1,500 Bison ) Elk Island in Alberta, Canada. ( 500 Bison )
Jeffrey Dahmer 22nd July ( 1991 ) Jeffrey Dahmer is caught and is considered one of the most sadistic serial killers in our time when Dahmer's apartment was searched, the extent of his horrors was revealed, it contained pictures of body parts and the apartment was littered with human remains including human heads in the refrigerator and freezer, there was also evidence to suggest that he had been practicing cannibalism with his victims bodies, he later confessed to 17 murders in all.
Draft Registration 21st July ( 1980 ) All 19 and 20 year old men are required to register for the Draft, this followed Proclamation 4771, Registration Under the Military Selective Service Act signed by President Jimmy Carter re-establishing the Selective Service registration requirement for all 18-26 year old male citizens born on or after January 1, 1960.
France Surrenders North Vietnam in Indo-China War 21st July ( 1954 ) The Indo-China war ends when France surrenders North Vietnam to the Communists, a peace accord signed in Geneva, Switzerland between communist North Vietnam Forces and France agrees Vietnam will be divided between north and south Vietnam along the 17th parallel. In the 60's as North Vietnam begins it's attacks on South Vietnam The United States intervenes to defend the 17th Parallel resulting in the long and bloody Vietnam War which finally ended in 1975 with North Vietnam conquering the South .
No Money For Teachers Pay 21st July ( 1931 ) In the city of Chicago which has one of the most modern Opera Houses in the US, can not pay it's 14,000 teachers their salaries due to running out of money , School payrolls have now not been paid for 2 months and many of the teachers are facing severe hardship including losing their homes. School boards have no money because property owners are behind with their payments due to large numbers being unemployed.
The Monkey Trial 21st July ( 1925 ) John T. Scopes convicted of violating Tennessee state law for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution. in the "Monkey Trial" (The conviction was later overturned.)
Peacetime Military Draft 20th July ( 1948 ) President Harry Truman issued a proclamation today calling for a peacetime military draft because of rising tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union
Suez Crisis 20th July ( 1956 ) The UK and U.S.A. withdraw offers of aid for creation of the Aswan high dam in response to President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt forming closer relationships with the Soviet Union. President Gamal Abdel Nasser announced 5 days later he would nationalize the Suez Canal to provide revenue for the construction of the high Aswan dam leading to the Suez Crisis. The Soviet Union stepped up in 1958 and funded the Aswan high dam project, the project was completed in 1970 and created the man made reservoir Lake Nasser.
Harlem Riots 20th July ( 1964 ) Violence has flared up again in Harlem New York during burial services for those killed during the earlier riots with 14 more hurt, Negro leaders in the community are urging calm but hooligans are continuing to cause damage to property in the area.
Turkey Invades Northern Cyprus 20th July ( 1974 ) Turkish troops invade northern Cyprus following on from the breakdown of talks, Greek warships have now put to sea and Greek and Turkish warships are now exchanging fire near Paphos, a port in south-western Cyprus. Currently ( 2008 )Cyprus is still a very divided country with a Turkish-occupied area in the north and the Republic of Cyprus in the south of the island with a UN green line separating the two.
First Man On The Moon 20th July ( 1969 ) The Apollo 11 astronauts made history when the first man is landed on the moon by the United States and Neil Armstrong and Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the Moon leaving the first human footprints in its dusty soil. They raised their nation's flag and talked to their President on earth 240,000 miles away, and the famous words "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." was seen and heard by people around the globe
President George W. Bush issues his first presidential veto 19th July ( 2006 ) President George W. Bush issued his first presidential veto, rejecting H.R. 810, Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, a bill to ease restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. In 2007 & 2008 President George W. Bush vetoed 10 bills.
To put this in perspective below is a list of earlier presidents number of vetoes
Woodrow Wilson 44 Warren Harding 6 Calvin Coolidge 50 Herbert Hoover 37 Franklin Roosevelt 635 Harry Truman 250 Dwight Eisenhower 181 John Kennedy 21 Lyndon Johnson 30 Richard Nixon 43 Gerald Ford 66 Jimmy Carter 31 Ronald Reagan 78 George H. W. Bush 44 Bill Clinton 37 George W. Bush 10
Dot Com Bubble Continues It's Bust Cycle 19th July ( 2000 ) The Dot Com Bubble based on the new Internet sector and related fields that had started to burst from it's highs on March 10th 2000 ( NASDAQ 5,048.62 double it's value in just one year ) . By March 16th had dropped nearly 10% and in July 19th was continuing it's downward spiral with closing of 4,055.
There are a number of reasons quoted for the DOT.COM boom and bust cycle including: IPO's for companies that had never shown a profit.
Massive spending on advertising campaigns that yielded little in the way of resulting sales.
But the most basic reason was that good business practice went out the window because investors were chasing the next big thing and super high profits.
By 2002 following a number of high profile DOT.COM companies going bust ( eToys.com Boo.com, Freeinternet.com, Webvan.com ) and others, By late 2002 the NASDAQ had dropped to lows below 1,500 and is currently ( July 19th 2008 ) trading at 1,886.61
Apollo 11 19th July ( 1969 ) Apollo 11 prepare for the next days historic event by going into orbit around the moon.
Mike Tyson Accused Of Rape 19th July ( 1991 ) Mike Tyson is accused of the rape of Desiree Washington, a contestant in the Miss Black America pageant, in an Indianapolis, Indiana, hotel room. In February 1992, Tyson was convicted of rape and received a six-year sentence.
Chappaquiddick Affair 18th July ( 1969 ) A car driven by Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy plunged off a narrow wooden bridge into a tidal pond after leaving a party on Chappaquiddick Island , Kennedy escaped the submerged car but his passenger a pretty blonde secretary ( Mary Jo Kopechne )who was riding with him drowned in the accident. Kennedy was later convicted of leaving the scene of an accident.
McDonalds Murders 18th July ( 1984 ) 21 people were shot dead and 19 injured in a San Ysidro, California McDonald's by James Oliver Huberty who had told his wife as he was leaving with 3 guns ( A 9mm Uzi semi-automatic ), ( Winchester pump-action twelve-gauge shotgun ) ,( a 9mm Browning HP ) that he was "hunting humans". The killings only ended when he was fatally shot by a SWAT team sniper.
Mein Kampf 18th July ( 1925 ) Nazi leader Adolf Hitler publishes the first volume of his personal manifesto, Mein Kampf which was a bitter and turgid narrative filled with anti-Semitic outpourings, disdain for morality, worship of power, and the blueprints for his plan of Nazi world domination.
Nadia Comaneci Perfect 10 18th July ( 1976 ) The first perfect 10 ever recorded in Olympic gymnastics was achieved up by Romania's 4-foot-11, 88-pound Nadia Comaneci on the women's uneven parallel bars.
Venice Threatened By Global Warming 17th July ( 1945 ) As Cities and countries around the world face up to increasing water levels. The city most at risk has been battling the rising sea for over 1,000 years and many believe will be the first city to succumb to global warming. Parts of Venice that only flooded on exceptional tides 7 times per year 100 years ago now flood 200 times per year.
Woolworth's 17th July ( 1997 ) F.W. Woolworth's, the original five-and-dime store that started in 1879, announced today that its last 400 stores would close.
Olympics African countries Withdrawal 17th July ( 1976 ) The 21st Olympic Games in Montreal opening ceremony is marred by the withdrawal of 25 African countries over New Zealand's All Black Rugby Union team touring South Africa who were banned from Olympic Competition. Other countries joined the boycott over the next few days including Egypt and eventually 33 countries did not compete.
"Operation Wetback" 17th July ( 1954 ) "Operation Wetback" is launched by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to remove about four million illegal immigrants from the southwestern United States, with a focus on Mexican nationals. The operation began in California and Arizona sweeping northward through agricultural areas with a goal of 1,000 apprehensions a day.
Atomic Bomb 16th July ( 1945 ) The world's first atomic bomb was detonated near Alamogordo, New Mexico
State Of Emergency 16th July ( 1970 ) The British Home Secretary Reginald Maudling declares a state of emergency to deal with dock strikes, this will allow the use of The Army, Navy and Airforce to be on standby to handle cargo from ships affected.
Department of Homeland Security 16th July ( 2002 ) President George W. Bush announces his plan for strengthening homeland security in the wake of the September 11, 2001, ( 911 ) terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., in which nearly 3,000 people had been killed. He created the Department of Homeland Security and the color-coded warning system that identified different levels of threat.
Apollo 11 16th July ( 1969 ) Apollo 11 astronauts were launched into space on a Saturn 5 rocket launched from Cape Kennedy at 9:32 a.m. hoping to be the first men to land on the moon. The crew consisted of Neil Armstrong, Commander Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin, Lunar Module Pilot Michael Collins, Command Module Pilot It's estimated more than a million people watched the launch at Cape Kennedy in Florida. Apollo 11 is scheduled to make it's moon landing in four days time on Sunday 20 July if all goes well.
Some dates in history live in world history , the date of the Apollo 11 launch and the subsequent landing of a man on the moon are one of those times when not only Americans but people in all countries around the world where radio or TV provided access for people to watch and listen to these moments in history that showed the reason why man has achieved and continues so achieve many great leaps forward in technology. I suspect most who are old enough and lucky enough to have lived on this historic week have vivid memories of this special period in our history. Steve Webmaster The People History
School Bus Kidnapped Chowchilla, California 15th July ( 1976 ) An entire school bus of twenty six children and the driver are kidnapped in Chowchilla, California by three gunmen. They are then forced into a moving van which had been buried underground in a quarry in Livermore, California. The bus driver Ed Ray and some of the older children spent the next 16 hours digging their way out and emerge in the middle of the night and walked to a nearby guard shack at the entrance to the quarry. The quarry owner's son, Frederick Woods, and two friends, Richard and James Schoenfeld, are charged and found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
Gianni Versace Murdered 15th July ( 1997 ) The Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace was shot twice in the head on the steps outside his Miami mansion by Andrew Cunanan .
Hormone Replacement Therapy HRT 15th July ( 2002 ) Research by the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) has suggested that women who take HRT ( Prempro --- equine hormones, oestrogen and progestin ) for menopausal symptoms were 26% more likely to develop breast cancer and may be at increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Following the report the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy decreased by 50%, but many women still believe the benefits outweigh the risks.
Oil Increases and Inflation Rates 15th July ( 2008 ) As the increased cost of oil and energy filters through to the market inflation around the world increases causing concerns for governments and consumers.
Inflation Rates
Russia 15.0% Turkey 12.0% India 11.0% South Africa 11.7% China 7.7% Brazil 5.8% Spain 5.0% U.S.A. 4.9% UK 4.6% Germany 3.8% Canada 2.4%
Gas Prices Per Gallon
Germany $9.30 Spain $9.10 England $8.96 Brazil $6.38 Canada $5.50 India $4.81 South Africa $4.41 U.S.A. $4.11 Russia $3.90 China $3.40
These are not exact and vary according to exchange rate and city where the petrol is purchased, all calculations have been done using litres to gallons as most countries now sell by the litre and current US dollar exchange rate as of today 15th July 2008 . The interesting things in this item are 1. The effect of Gas Price increases on inflation 2. The widely differing prices of Gas between Europe and America possibly the biggest driving factor in the size of cars people drive
The Osmonds (cartoon show)
95% of all US Car Sales By Ford, GM and Chrysler 14th July ( 1988 ) The latest figures released show that the big three US auto makers Ford Motor Company, GM Motors and Chrysler between between them account for 95% of the US domestic sales. This is just 21 years ago . This year the percentage of the big three US auto makers is 44.7%
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Bailout 14th July ( 2008 ) Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae who own or guarantee about $5.3 trillion worth of home loans about half of all US mortgages have seen a loss of confidence my the market due to the mortgage forclosure increase and the drop in property values in the United States. Both company Shares have been under increasing pressure and have lost as much as 80% of share value in just 12 months . The Fed has given the green light for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York authority to lend any money needed to allow them to continue providing mortgages at 2.25% and will expand its current line of credit to the two companies and buy shares of the companies if needed to prop up share price in these troubled times. Congress is also to approve a package next week which includes a foreclosure rescue to help strapped homeowners get new, more affordable government-backed mortgages through the Federal Housing Administration.
Karmann Ghia Coupe 14th July ( 1955 ) Following on with it's world wide success of The Beetle Volkswagen introduced the Karmann Ghia coupe as a Volkswagen that could show the world that they could produce great looking cars as well as reliable cars
Richard Speck Murders 14th July ( 1966 ) In one of the worst murder cases to date 8 student nurses are brutally murdered by Richard Speck at their group residence in Chicago, Illinois.
Blackout Hits New York 13th July ( 1977 ) A lightening strike strikes a substation on the Hudson River, tripping two circuit breakers in Westchester County, then a second lightning strike caused the loss of two 345,000 volt transmission lines causing a 25hrs blackout of the New York City area. In some areas of New York Looting and vandalism were widespread with the hardest hit Crown Heights. Subway services, LaGuardia and Kennedy airports are closed and the city struggles for the next 24 hours.
Hostages In Fiji Released By Rebels 13th July ( 2000 ) Rebels led by leader George Speight have released 18 hostages including the former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry after eight weeks from parliament. Within hours, Ratu Josefa Iloilo was appointed president of Fiji.
Code Red Virus 13th July ( 2001 ) The code red ( WORM ) virus is first seen on the Internet. The worm is designed to attack web sites running on Microsoft's IIS web server. The virus is thought to have affected over 250,000 web sites between 13th July and 20th July before a patch provided by Microsoft fixed the vulnerability and became well known for displaying the words "Hacked By Chinese!" on sites it had taken control of ( hence the name )
World War II Tank Battle 13th July ( 1943 ) The biggest tank battle in history The Battle of Kursk, involving 6,000 tanks, two million men, and 5,000 aircraft, ends the German offensive of Russia
Live Aid Concert 13th July ( 1985 ) The Live Aid Concert was a series of rock concerts held to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia around the world in cites including London, Philadelphia, Sydney and Moscow. The concerts attracted close to 200,000 people and using satellite link-ups and television broadcasts around the world attracted an estimated 1.5 viewers in 100 countries watching the concerts performed live. The Concerts were organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure and raised over $250 million .
Below are just some of the artists who provided their time and performances for free and this concert showed like nothing before or after what can be achieved when ego's and a desire to give something back by some of the most popular figures in entertainment put their efforts in.
Born This Day
Newark Race Riots 12th July ( 1967 ) Race Riots began in Newark, New Jersey, after a black cab driver was arrested and beaten by police. At the end of the rampage by rioters there were 24 deaths, 1,100 wounded, 1,300 arrested and property loss of more than $5 million, the problems were believed to be caused a combination of factors including rumor's that the Cab Driver was dead and charges that cops dealing with problems were racist and brutal together with poor leadership by the local mayor.
Round The World Flight 12th July ( 1924 ) The three American Army Planes together with the three crews set off from Constantinople on the next leg of their round the world trip to Bucharest in Rumania.
They had begun their attempt on the world's first round the world flight setting off from departed Seattle, Wash., on April 6, in Four Douglas World Cruiser airplanes. Two of the aircraft completed the full round the world trip on Sept. 28, 1924
New York Land Prices 12th July ( 1987 ) As more and more areas of land are sold for development of new out of town shopping Malls many can not believe how much the price of land has changed in Syracuse New York, just 10 years ago an acre of land was a mere $2,000 per acre and now it commands up to $100,000 per acre . I have tried to find out how much an acre was in Syracuse before the crash in the property market last year but have been unsuccessful , if any body can let me know I would be grateful.
Heat Wave Wisconsin and Illinois kills 1,000 12th July ( 1995 ) A heat wave that effects Illinois and Wisconsin starts when a heat advisory is issued in Chicago, Illinois, warning of an impending record-breaking heat wave. By the time the heat wave ends one week later, nearly 2,000 people are dead in Illinois and Wisconsin with temperatures being recorded in Chicago up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Rolling Stones 12th July ( 1962 ) The Rolling Stones give their first public performance at the Marquee Club in London, the original band included singer Mick Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Brian Jones, bassist Dick Taylor, and drummer Mick Avory.
Very Early Stones "satisfaction"
Born This Day
Operation ( Just Cause ) ( 1989 ) President George Bush launches Operation Just Cause and has sent US forces into the Central American country of Panama in a bid to oust dictator Manuel Noriega
Nuremburg Trials 20th December ( 1945 ) : At Nuremburg, Nazi doctors and soldiers were charged with cruel and bizarre torture of concentration camp prisoners. Experiments such as shooting poison bullets through the prisoners’ legs and oxygen deprivation of prisoners were only a few of the atrocities that were committed. Seven hundred and fifty thousand SS soldiers faced criminal charges for their participation in torturing victims.
Ferry Crash20th December ( 1987 ) The passenger ferry ( Dona Paz )collides with an oil tanker near Manila in the Philippines leaving 4,000 dead. The accident is blamed on overcrowding with the ferry carrying more than twice its stated capacity.
Transit Strike New York 20th December ( 2005 ) : New York City transit workers began a strike that shut down subways and buses for three days affecting millions of commuters . This was the third strike against New York City's Transit Authority in 70 years the first two were in 1966 ( 12 days ) , 1980 ( 11 days ).
