tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66002519464201042112012-02-16T14:11:44.103-05:00brooklyntodayyour neighbors in the newsbrooklyntodayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911122930406767890noreply@blogger.comBlogger776125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-73658094169876800782012-01-31T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-31T00:01:00.547-05:00January 31stToday is the 31st day of the year. On this day in 1919, Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers star of the 1940s and 1950s, was born. Robinson was the first African-American player in the major leagues, and was voted Rookie of the Year for 1947 and Most Valuable Player for 1949. He retired in 1956 rather than be traded to the Dodgers’ chief rival, the New York Giants. He was elected to the Baseball BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-18193538199733032912012-01-30T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-30T00:01:01.081-05:00January 30thToday is the 30th day of the year. On this day in 1968, the North Vietnamese launched a major offensive throughout South Vietnam, known as the Tet Offensive. Attacks erupted in 36 of the country’s 44 provincial capitals, and the Viet Cong attacked the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. Well-known people who were born today include singer-musician Phil Collins (“In the Air Tonight,” “Abacab”), actress BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-53516676076804212272012-01-29T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-29T00:01:00.401-05:00January 29thToday is the 29th day of the year. It is the birth anniversary (1880) of American vaudeville and movie comedian W.C. Fields. Although he made several silent movies, he became a star with the advent of sound films. Among his best-known films are Never Give a Sucker an Even Break, The Bank Dick, and My Little Chickadee with Mae West. Fields’ onscreen character was somewhat dishonest and fond of BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-5124154117325617312012-01-28T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-28T00:01:00.277-05:00January 28thToday is the 28th day of the year. It is the anniversary of the 1986 Challenger space shuttle explosion. As millions watched on television, the Challenger exploded only about a minute into its flight, killing all seven people aboard. The U.S. space shuttle program was temporarily halted. Well-known people who were born today include actor Alan Alda, actor John Beck, singer Sarah McLachlan, BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-3848585879543810782012-01-27T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-27T00:01:01.162-05:00January 27thToday is the 27th day of the year. On this day in 1973, the U.S. and North Vietnam, along with representatives of South Vietnam and the Viet Cong, signed an agreement to end the Vietnam War. The war was responsible for more than one million combat deaths on all sides. However, within weeks of the departure of American troops, the war resumed. For the Vietnamese, the war didn’t end until April 30,BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-103755789331813382012-01-26T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-26T00:01:00.253-05:00January 26thToday is the 26th day of the year. On this day in 1913, songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen was born in Syracuse. He was best known for his songs for Frank Sinatra, such as “My Kind of Town” and “High Hopes,” but he was also famous for writing “Swingin’ on a Star” for Bing Crosby. He received four Oscars and an Emmy. Well-known people who were born today include Hall of Fame hockey player Wayne BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-45392334346946169732012-01-25T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-25T00:01:01.827-05:00January 25thToday is the 25th day of the year. On this day in 1921, the word “robot” entered the world’s languages when the play R.U.R. by Karel Capek debuted at the National Theater in Prague, Czechoslovakia. R.U.R. stood for “Rossum’s Universal Robots,” and the play concerned artificial human workers who rebelled against their human masters. Well-known people who were born today include singer Alicia BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-61781752066577509642012-01-24T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-24T00:01:01.002-05:00January 24thToday is the 24th day of the year. On this day in 1862, author Edith Wharton (“The Age of Innocence,” “Ethan Frome”) was born in New York. Well-known people who were born today include evangelist Oral Roberts, comedian Yakov Smirnoff, singer-songwriter Aaron Neville and Brooklyn-born singer-songwriter Neil Diamond.BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-84606534133895413862012-01-23T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-23T00:01:00.536-05:00January 23rdToday is the 23rd day of the year. On this day in 1933, the 20th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, fixing the date of the presidential inauguration as Jan. 20 instead of the previous March 4. On the same day in 1964, the 24th Amendment was ratified, eliminating poll taxes as a prerequisite for voting in all federal elections. Well-known people who were born today include Princess BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-64493176115387216912012-01-22T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-22T00:01:01.501-05:00January 22ndToday is the 22nd day of the year. On this day in 1944, a predominantly American Allied force of 36,000 men landed at Anzio on Italy’s west coast. The Allies entered Rome on June 4, 1944. Well-known people who were born today include actress Linda Blair (The Exorcist, Airport), actress Olivia D’Abo (“The Wonder Years”), actor John Hurt (The Elephant Man), actress Piper Laurie (“Twin Peaks”), BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-26771905142347287772012-01-21T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-21T00:01:01.152-05:00January 21stToday is the 21st day of the year. On this day in 1938, Robert Smith, who became famous as disc jockey Wolfman Jack during the 1960s and ’70s, was born in Brooklyn. He became hooked on radio as an assistant to Alan Freed in the late 1950s. During the ’60s, he became influential when he broadcast over several powerful radio stations just over the Mexican border. He played blues, country and other BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-22670217680197039442012-01-20T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-20T00:01:01.672-05:00January 20thToday is the 20th day of the year. On this day in 1982, the camcorder was developed when five companies agreed to operate on the construction of a camera with a built-in videocassette recorder. Well-known people who were born today include comedian Arte Johnson (“Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in”), director David Lynch (“Twin Peaks,” Blue Velvet), comedian Bill Maher (“Politically Incorrect”) and BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-88490673173832907012012-01-19T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-19T00:01:01.314-05:00January 19thToday is the 19th day of the year. It is the birth anniversary (1809) of American poet and short story writer Edgar Allen Poe. He moved around between several states, and several of his residences, including Poe Cottage in the Bronx and the Edgar Allen Poe House in Baltimore, are now museums. Poe is best known for his poetry, such as “Annabel Lee” and “The Raven,” and his tales of suspense and BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-88844936511760549112012-01-18T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-18T00:01:00.122-05:00January 18thToday is the 18th day of the year. It is the birth anniversary of Brooklyn-born entertainer Danny Kaye (see Vernon Parker’s “On This Day in History,” inside). Kaye’s most notable films were “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and “Hans Christian Andersen.” He hosted TV’s “The Danny Kaye Show” in the 1960s. Well-known people who were born today include actor Kevin Costner, actor Jesse Martin (“BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-21796526485075768562012-01-17T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-17T00:01:00.981-05:00January 17thToday is the 17th day of the year. It is the birth anniversary of Benjamin Franklin, the “elder statesman of the American Revolution.” A self-educated printer, he came to fame with his publication of “Poor Richard’s Almanac,” published every year from 1733 to 1858. After the Revolution, he served as U.S. ambassador to France. He is also credited with discovering electricity. Well-known peopleBKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-27782252687989035722012-01-16T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-16T00:01:00.297-05:00January 16thToday is the 16th day of the year. On this day in 1991, the first Gulf War began after Allied forces launched a major air offensive against Iraq. The war was triggered by Iraq’s invasion of, and annexation of, Kuwait. Well-known people who were born today include dancer/choreographer Debbie Allen, opera singer Marilyn Horne, author William Kennedy, country singer Ronnie Milsap and movie BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-30308924735198660022012-01-15T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-15T00:01:00.414-05:00January 15thToday is the 15th day of the year. It is the anniversary of the 1947 Black Dahlia murder in Los Angeles. Starlet Elizabeth Short, known as the “Black Dahlia” for her unusual appearance, was found murdered and mutilated. Although dozens of men and women confessed to the crime, these confessions were discounted. The case remains Los Angeles’ most famous unsolved murder. Well-known people who BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-88097950560945263622012-01-14T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-14T00:01:00.575-05:00January 14thToday is the 14th day of the year. It is the birth anniversary (1863) of Richard Outcault, creator of the first newspaper comic strip, “Hogan’s Alley.” A later comic strip, “Buster Brown,” brought him fame and fortune. Well-known people who were born today include legislator Julian Bond, actress Faye Dunaway, North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue, writer-comedian Andy Rooney, broadcast BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-47366009063402248022012-01-13T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-13T00:01:00.662-05:00January 13thToday is the 13th day of the year. On this day in 1910, radio pioneer and electron tube inventor Lee DeForest arranged the world’s first radio broadcast. He succeeded in broadcasting the voice of Enrico Caruso along with other stars of the Metropolitan Opera to several locations in the city, where a handful of listeners with earphones marveled at the new invention. Commercial radio broadcasting BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-39209891798582581512012-01-12T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-12T00:01:01.375-05:00January 12thToday is the 12th day of the year. It is the birth anniversary (1922) of Ira Hayes, one of six U.S. Marines who raised the American flag on Iwo Jima’s Mount Suribachi. The event was immortalized by Joe Rosenthal’s famous photo and later by a Marine War Memorial monument at Arlington, Va. Hayes, who lived on a Pima Indian Reservation in Arizona, was unable to cope with his new-found fame. He was BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-23700322529362397822012-01-11T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-11T00:01:01.898-05:00January 11thToday is the 11th day of the year. It is the birth anniversary (1755) of Alexander Hamilton, American statesman, one of the authors of the Federalist papers and first secretary of the Treasury. He was killed in a famous duel with Aaron Burr in 1804 in Weehawken, N.J. His house, Hamilton Grange in Harlem, is now a museum. Well-known people who were born today include radio host and author Jim BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-6879283913537162562012-01-10T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-10T00:01:01.562-05:00January 10thToday is the 10th day of the year. In the Muslim calendar, it’s Eid-al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, commemorating Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael in obedience to God. It is celebrated with gifts and general merrymaking, and lasts for several days. Well-known people who were born today include Brooklyn-born singer Pat Benatar, boxer George Foreman, U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-77657239760198090792012-01-09T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-09T00:01:02.708-05:00January 9thToday is the ninth day of the year. On this day in 1793, Frenchman Jean-Pierre Francois Blanchard made the first manned free-balloon flight in America’s history at Philadelphia. The event was witnessed by President George Washington and many other high government officials. The hydrogen-filled balloon rose to a height of about 5,800 feet, traveled some 15 miles and landed 46 minutes later in New BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-27938846700373866122012-01-08T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-08T00:01:03.751-05:00January 8thToday is the eighth day of the year. It is the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans in 1814 between the Americans and the British at the end of the War of 1812. More than 2,000 people were killed during the battle, which ended in a U.S. victory. Neither side knew that the war had ended two weeks previously with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. During the 1960s, the battle became the BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600251946420104211.post-75744669120725322272012-01-07T00:01:00.000-05:002012-01-07T00:01:02.643-05:00January 7thToday is the seventh day of the year. It is the birth anniversary (1912) of Charles Addams, the macabre cartoonist whose ghoulish drawings inspired the TV show “The Addams Family.” He became a full-time staff member of The New Yorker in 1935 and stayed there for his entire career. He was also the author of several best-selling cartoon anthologies. Other well-known people who were born today BKCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05961703202198535497noreply@blogger.com0