June 30 - His Turn

His Turn

Today is the first day of the Tour de Fleece.

Overheard

[E is working on her laptop, and looks at the lid.]
E: Somebody took a bite out of the apple. Why?

This Day In History

1859

French acrobat Charles Blondin crosses Niagara Falls on a tightrope.

1864

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln grants Yosemite Valley to California for "public use, resort and recreation".

1886

The first transcontinental train trip across Canada departs from Montreal. It arrives in Port Moody, British Columbia on July 4.

1905

Albert Einstein publishes the article On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies, in which he introduces special relativity.

1908

The Tunguska event occurs in remote Siberia.

1921

U.S. President Warren G. Harding appoints former President William Howard Taft Chief Justice of the United States.

1937

The world's first emergency telephone number, 999, is introduced in London.

1987

The Royal Canadian Mint introduces the $1 coin, known as the Loonie.

1997

The United Kingdom transfers sovereignty over Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China.

Famous Birthdays

1588

Giovanni Maria Sabino, Italian composer, organist and teacher (d. 1649)

1803

Thomas Lovell Beddoes, English poet (d. 1849)

1912

Ludwig Bölkow, German aeronautical engineer (d. 2003)

1917

Lena Horne, American singer and actress (d. 2010)

1930

Thomas Sowell, American economist

1934

Harry Blackstone Jr., American stage magician (d. 1997)

1942

Robert Ballard, American oceanographer

1947

Barry Bremen, American sports imposter

1963

Yngwie Malmsteen, Swedish guitarist

1966

Marton Csokas, New Zealand actor

1971

Monica Potter, American actress

1973

Chan-ho Park, South Korean baseball player

1985

Michael Phelps, American swimmer