 Today's highlight in history:
On Feb. 2, 1912, Frederick R. Law parachuted from the torch of the
Statue of Liberty in a stunt filmed by Pathe (PA'-thay) News.
On this date:
In 1536, present-day Buenos Aires, Argentina, was founded by Pedro
de Mendoza of Spain.
In 1653, New Amsterdam -- now New York City -- was incorporated.
In 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the
Mexican-American War, was signed.
In 1882, Irish poet and novelist James Joyce was born near Dublin.
In 1887, Punxsutawney, Pa., held its first Groundhog Day festival.
In 1912, Broadway composer Burton Lane ("Finian's Rainbow") was born
in New York City.
In 1922, the James Joyce novel "Ulysses" was published in Paris by
Sylvia Beach's Shakespeare and Co. on Joyce's 40th birthday
In 1942, a Los Angeles Times column by W.H. Anderson urged security
measures against Japanese-Americans, arguing that a
Japanese-American "almost inevitably ... grows up to be a Japanese,
not an American."
In 1943, the remainder of Nazi forces from the Battle of Stalingrad
surrendered in a major victory for the Soviets in World War II.
In 1961, hijackers of a Portuguese ocean liner, the Santa Maria,
allowed the passengers and crew to disembark in Brazil, 11 days
after seizing the ship. Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong died
in Santa Monica, Calif., at age 56.
In 1971, Idi Amin, having seized power in Uganda, proclaimed himself
president.
In 1992, longtime "Miss America" emcee Bert Parks died in La Jolla
(HOY'-uh), Calif., at age 77.
Ten years ago: Inside the World Economic Forum in New York,
foreign economic leaders criticized the United States for
protectionist policies while outside, thousands of protesters
demonstrated against global capitalism. Jim Kelly of the Buffalo
Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers star John Stallworth were elected to
the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The NHL World All-Stars rallied to
defeat North America 8-5.
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Five years ago: Tornadoes killed 21 people in central
Florida. A grim report from the world's leading climate scientists
and government officials said that global warming was so severe, it
would "continue for centuries" and that humans were to blame. Texas
Gov. Rick Perry issued an order making Texas the first state to
require that schoolgirls get vaccinated against HPV, a sexually
transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.
One year ago: Supporters of President Hosni Mubarak charged
into Cairo's central square on horses and camels brandishing whips
while others rained firebombs from rooftops in what appeared to be
an orchestrated assault against protesters trying to topple Egypt's
leader of 30 years. The red swimsuit that helped make Farrah Fawcett
a 1970s icon was donated to the Smithsonian's collection by her
longtime companion, Ryan O'Neal, on what would have been the late
actress' 64th birthday.
Today's birthdays: Actress Elaine Stritch is 87. Former
French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing (val-eh-REE' ZHEES'-kahr
deh-STANG') is 86. Actor Robert Mandan is 80. Comedian Tom Smothers
is 75. Rock singer-guitarist Graham Nash is 70. Actor Bo Hopkins is
70. Television executive Barry Diller is 70. Country singer Howard
Bellamy (The Bellamy Brothers) is 66. TV chef Ina (EE'-nuh) Garten
is 64. Actor Jack McGee is 63. Actor Brent Spiner (SPY'-nur) is 63.
Rock musician Ross Valory (Journey) is 63. Sen. John Cornyn,
R-Texas, is 60. Model Christie Brinkley is 58. Actor Michael Talbott
is 57. Actress Kim Zimmer is 57. Actor Michael T. Weiss is 50.
Actor-comedian Adam Ferrara is 46. Rock musician Robert DeLeo (Army
of Anyone; Stone Temple Pilots) is 46. Actress Jennifer Westfeldt is
42. Rock musician Ben Mize is 41. Rapper T-Mo is 40. Actress Marissa
Jaret Winokur is 39. Actress Lori Beth Denberg is 36. Singer Shakira
is 35. Country singer Blaine Larsen is 26.
Thought for today: "Mistakes are the portals of discovery."
-- James Joyce (1882-1941)
[Associated Press]
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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