Movie Review: The Killing Fields (1984)

This was a movie which fascinated me when younger. Of course, the events were a whole lot closer back then, when I was a teenager. The horrific genocide in Cambodia of the late 1970's did not feel so long ago back then.

Now, of course, things have changed. Cambodia is a modern country, and a tourist mecca of sorts. My girlfriend saw a picture of Angkor Wat and said that we should go there and see it. Indeed, with Cambodia now having been a part of the overall conversion of Southeast Asia to have more modern economies - and again, friendly to tourism - it feels like the dark chapters of history regarding the millions dead from the Vietnam conflict and the millions dead from the Cambodian genocide are far, far away from modern realities. 

Yet, this history did actually happen. In fact, the main actor, Dr. Haing S. Ngor, had no acting experience. But he was uniquely qualified for this role, having himself personally survived the genocide during the days of the Khmer Rouge genocide. Ngor was a Cambodian physician, and again, had really no acting experiences. Still, he wound up winning an Oscar for this role in this movie.

What a story, huh?

For that matter, a lot of the acting extras also were survivors of the genocide. This movie was filmed in Phuket, Thailand, close to the Cambodian border, to lend the movie greater legitimacy and accuracy. It also allowed Cambodians who had escaped the genocide in nearby Thailand to take part in the movie, also lending their expertise. Again, this is not typical for a fictional movie, and gave this particular film greater legitimacy as the standard bearer of these actual historical events. 

Before I go on, of course, there should be the standard warning to stop reading if you intend to read this book, because there will be spoilers ahead.

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

Okay, so by now if you are still reading this, I have to imagine that you either are familiar with this movie already, or perhaps you do not mind the spoilers. Please just don't say that you were not given advanced warning. 

So are we ready to talk in more detail about this movie? 

Okay, so as mentioned earlier, this movie actually portrays real-life people and events. The Killing Fields is about two men - Cambodian Dith Pran (played by Dr. Haing S. Ngor) and American Sydney Schanberg (played by American actor Sam Waterston) - who are in Cambodia in the mid-1970's, just before the takeover by the Khmer Rouge. They are reporters and taking chances trying to cover this story right up to the final moment of victory by the Khmer Rouge. Ultimately, they take too many chances, finding themselves in personal danger. The Cambodian ultimately is not allowed to leave, while the American, along with other Western journalists, do make their escape. So their friendship is torn by real-life events, as they are separated by the volatile situation in Cambodia at the time. 

The American, Sydney Schanberg, comes home and receives praise and journalist prizes for his coverage of what was going on in Cambodia. However, he has a guilty conscience regarding the mysterious fate of his Cambodian colleague, Dith Pran. Pran was, of course, left behind, and had to face the regime of the Khmer Rouge alone, after securing his wife and family safe passage to America.

We learn that Pran has been taken to the farm fields which pretty much everyone in the country now works. He has lost everything, and is trying to make every effort to hide away any part of his past that might give him away as a former elite. In Cambodia at the time, any level of real education or intellectualism was used against you, and made you a target of the ruling Khmer Rouge. Quite literally, it could get you killed. 

Pran sees the horrors unfolding in his country. There is no modern economy or conveniences. Instead, there is propaganda and ideology that is extremist even by comparison to other communist regimes of the time. For Pran, this has turned into more than a mere story. He is literally trapped in what seems almost like a country turned into one big concentration camp.

Of course, Pran knows that this is no game. That any mistake can cost him his life. This is a time of genocide in Cambodia, and that genocide now is generally regarded as one of the very worst in human history, which really is saying something. So Pran knows only too well that everything he does could mean life or death, quite literally. 

There are narrow escapes. Times when he himself seems sure that he will face execution. Yet, he manages to survive until the time comes when he knows he must try to escape. He does escape his immediate compound but then has to venture through this dangerous country to try and escape the horrors and reunite with his family. Almost through sheer luck, he runs into a man who seems suspicious that he is educated, yet who turns out to be on his side and helps him escape. But this man wants Pran to help his own son escape. Unfortunately, the son is killed when the other man trying to escape accidentally steps on a landmine. Remember, Southeast Asia at this time has been a war zone for quite some time. 

Pran does manage to escape, although it has come at quite a cost. He has lost years of his life in de facto slave labor conditions. He has been tortured and literally stumbled on evidence of some of the worst crimes against humanity in recorded history. And he has suffered tremendously by seeing some people he has grown close to killed. Yet, he does manage to escape.

When he finally does manage this, Schanberg receives word. He then travels to Southeast Asia to reunite with his friend Pran, as their personal ordeal regarding the Khmer Rouge is over. This movie not only tells their story, but also provides very realistic glimpses of the horror of life in Cambodia (which was renamed Kampuchea in those days) under the rule of the Khmer Rouge to the entire world. Since the country has been effectively cut off from the whole rest of the world by that point, this is almost the first time, really, that this story reaches massive numbers of people outside of Cambodia regarding the realities of life there in the second half of the seventies.

All in all, this is an excellent movie and I do recommend it. 

That said, this is not a movie for entertainment purposes. You likely will not enjoy it while kicking back with popcorn and a drink. This is a serious movie which documents the horrors of one specific episode in history, while also calling into question the Western response, especially the sense of hypocrisy of relatively wealthy, comfortable white people trying to get their stories (and their credit along with it) while seemingly allowing others to suffer. 

Again, though, a great movie and it comes highly recommended. 

Iconic Abbey Road Album Cover Picture Taken 57 Years Ago Today

 

Yes, it was on this day in 1969, 56 years ago as I write this, when the Fab Four went out to the literal Abbey Road to take a series of pictures.

One of them, of course, was used as the cover for the album which would bear the name of the road, and the studio, where the Beatles had recorded the album. Obviously, it was called Abbey Road, and has become one of the most famous and beloved of all of the Beatles albums. It was, in fact, the last Beatles album ever made, although another Beatles album, Let It Be, that had been made before would technically be released later on. 

Still, Abbey Road was their last stand as a band, so to speak. It is a great album, one of the best ever. The name Abbey Road is now most likely most famous for this great Beatles album. And the picture that was used has become very iconic. Many people, and even some musical acts, have tried to replicate it with their own version of this famous cover.

So, it seemed appropriate to honor that on this, the 53rd anniversary of that photo having been taken. Maybe give the album a listen, as well!

Is there ever even a bad time to listen to a great Beatles album?

August 8th: This Day in History

 

Once again, it should be reiterated, that this does not pretend to be a very extensive history of what happened on this day (nor is it the most original - the links can be found down below). If you know something that I am missing, by all means, shoot me an email or leave a comment, and let me know!

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

Today marks the anniversary of Nixon resigning the presidency. That was the most memorable event in recent memory, a couple of months before I was born. The insurrection of Lyon took place on this date, during the days of the French Revolution.

Here's a more detailed look at events that transpired on this date throughout history:

• On this day in 70, the Tower of Antonia was destroyed by the Romans. In 870 on this day, Kings Charles the Bare & Louis the German divided Lutherans. On this day in 936, Otto I the Great was crowned King of Germany. Sweden was defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula on this day in 1220. On this day in 1322, Emperor Godaigo, made Sojiji monastery. the chief monastery of Soto Sect. On this day in 1356, Edward "the Black Prince" began a raid north from Aquitaine. The Emperor Krishnadeva Raya was crowned, marking the beginning of the regeneration of the Vijayanagara Empire on this day in 1509. France declared war on England on this day in 1549. The Duke of Alva's army entered Brussels, Belgium, on this day in 1567. In 1570 on this day, the Peace of Saint-Germain-and-Laye was signed, providing more freedom for Huguenots. The cornerstone was laid for Tycho Brahe's Uraniborg observatory on this day in 1579. Pope Sixtus excommunicated Hendrik van Navarra (Henri IV) on this day in 1585. In 1585 on this day, John Davis entered Cumberland Sound in search of the Northwest Passage. A sea battle was fought on this day in 1588 at Grevelingen: when the Spanish Armada was defeated by the English fleet ending an invasion attempt. The Spanish fleet, which had prior to this been considered virtually "invincible," never recovered from this defeat. On this day in 1605, the city of Oulu, Finland, was founded by Charles IX of Sweden. The Venetian Senate examined Galileo Galilei's telescope on this day in 1609. Duke Maximilian I & Emperor Ferdinand II signed the Treaty of Munchen on this day in 1619. In 1647 on this day during the Irish Confederate Wars and Wars of the Three Kingdoms, the Battle of Dungans Hill, when English Parliamentary forces defeated Irish forces. On this day in 1673, a Dutch battle fleet of 23 ships demanded the surrender of New York City. In 1700 on this day, Denmark & Sweden signed a peace treaty. On this day in 1709 was the first known ascent in a hot-air balloon designed by Bartolomeu de Gusmao (indoors). British troops occupied & plundered Cherbourg on this day in 1758 during the Seven Year's War, also known as the French & Indian War in North America. In 1786 on this day, Congress adopted the silver dollar & decimal system of money. On this day in 1786, Dr. Michael-Gabriel Paccard and Jacques Balmat became the first to climb to the top of Mont Blanc.  

Picture of a statue of Louis XVI taken at the Basilique cathédrale Saint-Denis, near Paris

Louis XVI 

• On this day in 1788 in the leadup to the French Revolution, King Louis XVI convoked the Estates Generals for the first time in over 150 years. 

   

In 1793, the insurrection of Lyon took place on this date, during the days of the French Revolution. 

On this day in 1794, Joseph Whidbey and George Vancouver led an expedition to search for the Northwest Passage near Juneau, Alaska. In 1796 on this day, the Boston African Society was established with 44 members. On this day in 1809, 70 disciples of Gaon of Vilnus, arrived in Israel (then still known as Palestine). Peace negotiations began in Ghent, Belgium, on this day in 1814. 

French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte

• On this day in 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte set sail for St. Helena, in the South Atlantic. The remainder of his life was spent there in exile. 

Bavaria joined the Saint Alliance on this day in 1816. 

The French government of De Polignac formed on this day in 1829. 

The Battle of Hasselt was fought on this day in 1831, when the Dutch army drove out the Belgian Army. 

On this day in 1843, Natal (in present-day South Africa) was made a British colony. 

In 1844 on this day, Brigham Young was chosen as the head of the Mormon Church following the killing of Joseph Smith. The Russian fleet appeared at Nagasaki Japan, on this day in 1853. Smith & Wesson patented metal bullet cartridges on this day in 1854. On this day in 1860, Queen of Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) arrived in NYC. In 1863 on this day during the American Civil War, Tennessee's "military" Governor Andrew Johnson freed his personal slaves. During the early part of the 20th century, the day was celebrated by blacks in Tennessee as a holiday. Comet C/1864 N1 (Tempel) approached within 0.0964 AUs of Earth on this day in 1864. On this day in 1864, the Red Cross formed in Geneva, Switzerland. Union troops/fleet occupied Fort Gaines, Alabama, on this day in 1864 in the American Civil War. On this day in 1868, an earthquake destroyed Arica, Chile. The Republic of Ploieşti, a failed Radical-Liberal rising against Domnitor Carol of Romania, took place on this day in 1870. 

A monument to Thomas Edison in Menlo Park, New Jersey.

• On this day in 1876, Inventor Thomas Edison received a patent for the mimeograph. The mimeograph was a "method of preparing autographic stencils for printing." 

Snow fell on Lake Michigan on this day in 1882, which was quite unusual. 

The refrigerator was patented by A.T. Marshall on this day in 1899. 

On this day in 1911, the millionth patent was filed in the United States Patent Office by Francis Holton for a tubeless vehicle tire. In 1911 on this day, Public Law 62-5 set the number of representatives in the United States House of Representatives at 435. There was one member of Congress for every 211,877 residents.  The law would come into effect in 1913. World War I was really getting underway on this day in 1914 when French troops under Gen Bonneau occupied Mulhouse at Elzas, and Montenegro declared war on Germany. On this day in 1918, 6 US soldiers are surrounded by Germans in France, Alvin York was given command & shot 20 Germans & captured 132 more. The Treaty of Rawalpindi, where the British recognized the independence of Afghanistan, was signed on this day in 1919. On this day in 1922, an Italian general strike was broken up by fascist terror. In 1924 on this day, a British-Russian trade agreement was signed. The first national march of the Ku Klux Klan (200,000) occurred on this day in 1925 in Washington, D.C.. The first German airship Graf Zeppelin flight around the world while flying eastward began on this day in 1929. Also on this day in 1929, the airport at Salem Oregon, was dedicated.

1937 - The Bonneville Dam on Columbia River began producing power on this day in 1937. On this day in 1940, the Battle of Britain began as Germany launched air attacks. 31 German aircrafts were shot down over English skies. Also on this day in 1940, the "Aufbau Ost" directive was signed by Wilhelm Keitel. In 1941 on this day, 20 divisions of Russian 6th/12th Army surrendered at Oeman. On this day in 1942, General "Monty" Montgomery was appointed Commandant of the British 8th Army at Alamein. Also on this day in 1942, six convicted Nazi saboteurs who landed in the US were executed in Washington DC, and Dianthus sank U-379. Finally on this day in 1942, the Russian anti-offensive of Voronezh began under Marshal Timosjenko. 

On this day in 1943 - Common Chiefs of staff meet in Quebec

1943 - US amphibians land at St Agata on North coast of Sicily

1943 - Vegetables & fruit rationed in Holland

1944 - Canada/Polish troops occupy Cramesnil/Secqueville/Cintheaux/St-Aignan

1944 - US 15th Army corp occupies Le Mans

1945 - England & Aust Services draw 4th Victory Test

Bust of American President Harry Truman

• 1945 - Pres Harry S Truman signs UN Charter

1945 - US, USSR, England & France sign Treaty of London

1945 - USSR declares war against Japan in WW II

1945 - USSR establishes a communist government in North Korea

• 1946 - India agrees to give Bhutan 32 sq miles

1946 - Dreyfuss family, owners of Pittsburgh Pirates since 1900, sells club to Frank McKinney & John Galbreath for $25 million

1946 - First flight of the Convair B-36.

1947 - Pakistan's National Flag is approved.

1948 - "Hold It!" opens at National Theater NYC for 46 performances

1949 - Bhutan, land of Dragon, becomes an independent monarchy

• 1950 - Florence Chadwick swims English Channel (13:23)

1950 - Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA All-American Golf Open

1952 - Syngman Ree re-elected president of South-Korea

1953 - Russia's Georgi Malenkov reports possession of hydrogen bomb

1953 - US & South Korea initial a mutual security pact

1955 - Fidel Castro forms "July 26th Movement"

1955 - Geneva conference held to discuss peaceful uses of atomic energy

1956 - Fire & explosion kill 263 miners at Marcinelle, Belgium

1956 - WDIQ (now KMCT) TV channel 2 in Dozier, AL (PBS) begins

1957 - USSR offers Syria economic/military aid

1960 - "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini" hits #1

1960 - Ivory Coast declares independence

• 1960 - South Kasai secedes from the Congo.

• 1961 - Ham Tigercats (CFL) beat Buff Bills (AFL) 38-21 in Hamilton, Ontario

1961 - Verne Gagne beats Gene Kiniski in Minneapolis, to become NWA champ

1963 - Great Train Robbery in England, £2.6 million ($7.3 million)

1963 - Kingsmen release "Louie, Louie," radio stations label it obscene

1963 - LA Dodgers F Howard & B Skowron are 3rd to hit consecutive pinch HRs

1963 - Verne Gagne beats Fritz Von Erich in Amarillo, to become NWA champ

1964 - "110 in the Shade" closes at Broadhurst Theater NYC after 330 perfs

Dictator Fidel CastroDictator Fidel Castro 1964 - Dutch Opera forms in Amsterdam

1964 - Rolling Stones 1st Dutch concert

1965 - Marlene Hagge wins LPGA Milwaukee Golf Open

1965 - Singapore leaves Malaysian Federation

1966 - South Arican Broadcasting bans Beatles (Lennon's anti-Jesus remark)

1967 - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore & Thailand meet to form Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

1968 - Jarry Park is approved by Mayor Jean Drapeau for interim use by Expos

1968 - Race riot in Miami Florida

1968 - Republican convention in Miami Beach nominates Nixon for pres

• 1969 - The Beatles decided on the album cover for their newest ferng, "Abbey Road", the last album that the band ever got together for.  The now iconic album cover featured the lads crossing Abbey Road on a zebra stripe crossing, with a view of the street in the background. It was the first album cover by the Beatles that did not feature either the group or album name.

1970 - NY Yankees honor Casey Stengel, retiring his number 37 (BTG was there)

1971 - France performs nuclear test at Muruora Island

1971 - Jane Blalock wins LPGA Lady Pepsi Golf Open

1972 - NY Yanks sign 30-year lease to play in remodeled Yankee Stadium

1973 - VP Spiro T Agnew says reports he took kickbacks are "damned lies" from government contracts in Maryland. He vowed not to resign (Right!)

1974 - Pres Richard M Nixon announces he'll resign his office 12PM Aug 9

1976 - Chicago White Sox suit up in shorts

1977 - Maurine Stuart, ordained as Zen priest by Eido Tai Shimano Roshi

1977 - Texas Rangers turn their 1st triple play (vs A's)

1978 - Pioneer-Venus 2 with 5 atmospheric probes launched toward Venus

Iraqi President Saddam HusseinIraqi President Saddam Hussein 1979 - Iraqi president Saddam Hussein executes 22 political opponents

1980 - LBV Conference Center & Club Lake Villas open

1982 - 64th PGA Championship: Ray Floyd shoots a 272 at Southern Hills Tulsa

1982 - Sandra Palmer wins LPGA Boston Five Golf Classic

1983 - Brig Gen Efrain Rios Montt was deposed as president of Guatemela

1983 - Jury in KC, Mo, awards TV anchorwoman Christine Craft $500,000 in sex discrimination suit against KMBC-TV (later overturned)

1983 - Military coup in Guatemala, Pres Rios Montt flees

1984 - "Rink" closes at Martin Beck Theater NYC after 204 performances

1984 - Carl Lewis wins 3rd (200m) of 4 gold medals in Summer

1984 - Milwaukee 10-game losing streak ends

1985 - Baseball's new agreement permits 2 new NL teams in 1993

1985 - Japan launches Planet A, a probe to Halley's comet

1986 - Record 3 grandslams in a game-(Harrah-Tex, Sheets & Dwyer-Orioles)

1986 - Altaf Hussain's address at Nishtar Park Karachi, announcing the establishment of the MQM political movement.

1987 - Brewers' Rob Deer struck-out 5 times in a game

Olympic Sprinter and Long jumper Carl LewisOlympic Sprinter and Long jumper Carl Lewis 1987 - Lynne Cox became 1st to swim from US to Russia across Bering Strait

1987 - Pakistan all out 708 v England at The Oval, Botham 3-217

1988 - -11] Army in Rangoon shoots on students, 5-10,000 killed

1988 - 9th US Seniors Golf Open: Gary Player

1988 - Angola, Cuba & South Africa sign cease fire treaty

1988 - Discovery of most distant galaxy (15 * 10 ^ 12 light yrs) announced

1988 - Duchess of York gives birth to 6 lb 12 oz baby girl

1988 - Goose Gossage registers career save #300

1988 - Jennifer Levin's parents file $25M suit against Dorrian Red Hand Bar

• 1988 - Renovated Central Park Zoo reopens after 4 years

1988 - Russian troops begin pull out of Afghanistan after 9 year war

1988 - Sec of State Shultz narrowly escapes assassin attempt in Bolivia

1988 - South Africa declares cease-fire in Angola

1988 - Temperature hits high of 88 on 8/8/88 in NYC

1988 - Cubs & Phillies attempt to play 1st night game ever at Wrigley Field but are rained out in 4th inning with Chicago leading, 3-1

1988 - The "8888 Uprising" occurs in Burma.

• 1989 - US space shuttle STS-28 launched

1990 - Balt Orioles pull their 10th triple play (1-6-3 vs Oakland)

1990 - Carlton Fisk ties Johnny Bench hitting 327 HRs as a catcher

1990 - Iraq annexes Kuwait as its 19th province

1990 - Pete Rose begins 5-ms prison term at Marion (IL) Federal prison camp

1991 - Billy Preston charged with exhibiting porno to a minor

1991 - Carlos Santana pleads no contest to marijuana possession charge

1991 - Gary Oldman, actor (State of Grace), arrested for drunk driving

1991 - Shite Moslems release British hostage John McCarthy

1991 - With two months left, White Sox set new home attendance (2,150,951)

1991 - The Warsaw radio mast, at one time the tallest construction ever built, collapses.

1992 - Lou Whitaker hits his 200th career HR

1993 - Dana Lofland wins McCall's LPGA Golf Classic Dormann at Stratton Mt

1993 - Tropical storm Bret ravages Venezuela, about 100 killed

1995 - Jeff King of Pirates is 16th NL player to HR twice in one inning

1997 - Mariners Randy Johnson strikes out 19 Chicago White Sox

2000 - Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley is raised to the surface after 136 years on the ocean floor.

2007 - An EF2 tornado touches down in Kings County and Richmond County, New York State, the most powerful tornado in New York to date and the first in Brooklyn since 1889.

2008 - Georgian invasion into South Ossetia. Begin of five-day war between Georgia and Russia.

2012 - China announces that it plans to close 23 rare earth mines and up to 50 smelting companies

2012 - 16 people are killed from flooding from heavy rain in Manilla, Philippines

1940 - The German Luftwaffe began a series of daylight air raids on Great Britain.   1945 - The United Nations Charter was signed by U.S. President Truman.   1945 - During World War II, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan.   1950 - Whataburger opened its restaurant in Corpus Christi, TX.   1953 - The U.S. and South Korea initiated a mutual security pact.   1956 - Japan launched an oil tanker that was 780 feet long and weighed 84,730 tons. It was the largest oil tanker in the world.   1966 - Michael DeBakey became the first surgeon to install an artificial heart pump in a patient.   1974 - U.S. President Nixon announced that he would resign the following day.   1978 - The U.S. launched Pioneer Venus II, which carried scientific probes to study the atmosphere of Venus.   1988 - It was announced that a cease-fire between Iraq and Iran had begun.   1989 - The space shuttle Columbia took off from Cape Canaveral, FL. The trip was said to be a secret five-day military mission.   1990 - American forces began positioning in Saudia Arabia.   1991 - John McCarthy, a British TV producer was released by his Lebanese kidnappers. He had been held captive for more than five years. A rival group abducted Jerome Leyraud in retaliation and threatened to kill him if any more hostages were released.   1991 - The U.N. Security Council approved North and South Korea for membership.   1992 - The "Dream Team" clinched the gold medal at the Barcelona Summer Olympics. The U.S. basketball team beat Croatia 117-85.   1994 - The first road link between Israel and Jordan opened.   1994 - Representatives from China and Taiwan signed a cooperation agreement.   1995 - Saddam Hussein's two eldest daughters, their husbands, and several senior army officers defected.   1999 - Wade Boggs got his 3,000th hit of his major league baseball career.   2000 - The submarine H.L. Hunley was raised from ocean bottom after 136 years. The sub had been lost during an attack on the U.S.S. Housatonic in 1864. The Hunley was the first submarine in history to sink a warship.

1963 In "The Great Train Robbery," some 15 thieves robbed the Glasgow-to-London mail train, making off with more than $6 million in cash. 1969 Sharon Tate, wife of director Roman Polanski, and four others were murdered by members of Charles Manson's "family." 1974 President Nixon announced he would resign the following day as a result of the Watergate scandal. 2008 The Summer Olympic Games opened in Beijing, China.

The following links are to web sites that were used to complete this blog entry:

http://www.historyorb.com/today/events.php

http://on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/alldays/aug08.htm

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory

Marjorie Taylor Greene Just Launched a Major Attack on Trump & MAGA

Now admittedly, I did not watch the entirety of the video.

However, it seemed worth sharing because it illustrates the seriousness of the apparently complete divorce from former prominent members of MAGA, such as  Marjorie Taylor Greene and Tucker Carlson, as well as others, from Trump and active MAGA cult members.

MTG launched some attacks directly linking Trump to the Epstein Files, while also urging that the files be released. Remember, she was one of the very, very few Republicans who actually criticized the president on this issue. And she is still calling for their release.

Also, she blasted Mr. Trump's war with Iran.

Take a look:

Marjorie Greene Just RUINED Trump's Life Youtube Video by Harry Sisson 

https://youtu.be/fJG8abp4-hw?si=cSr5vd2rtTglZN4_

Marjorie Greene Just RUINED Trump's Life - YouTube

Today is My Mom's Birthday

 

 

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my mom’s birthday, and I am posting this here for a couple of reasons.  

The first, of course, is to honor her on her special day. She now lives in Hornell, a town in upstate New York, a couple of hours southeast of Buffalo. My parents moved there from their prior home in West Milford was a small and crowded house with too many bad experiences and memories that they both felt weighed down by. So, this new place was a fresh start, and a welcome respite for their retirement years. I imagine that birthdays are much happier occasions for them in Hornell these days. 

Secondly, my mom has sometimes has problems with her phone. Sometimes, I have not been able to successfully call and reach her. This was more of a problem in the past, as it has been a while since I remember having problems with reaching her. Still, just in case, I am writing this post so that she can see it, and hopefully, appreciate it.

So, just in case I am unable to call, then it seemed fitting to take devote a blog entry here to wish her a very happy birthday!  

Love you!

”˜˜”*°•.¸☆ ★ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆

 ╔╗╔╦══╦═╦═╦╗╔╗ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

           ║╚╝║══║═║═║╚╝║ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆

            ║╔╗║╔╗║╔╣╔╩╗╔╝ ★ BIRTHDAY ★

                        ╚╝╚╩╝╚╩╝╚╝═╚╝ ♥￥☆★☆★☆￥♥ ★☆]
[̲̅̅w̲̅][̲̅̅I̲̅][̲̅̅S̲̅][̲̅̅H̲̅] [̲̅̅Y̲̅][̲̅̅O̲̅][̲̅̅U̲̅] [̲̅̅A̲̅][̲̅̅L̲̅][̲̅̅L̲̅] [̲̅̅T̲̅][̲̅̅H̲̅][̲̅̅E̲̅] [̲̅̅B̲̅][̲̅̅E̲̅][̲̅̅S̲̅][̲̅̅T̲̅]
*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆ ★ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆
☻/
/▌
/ \

Climate Update For August 7, 2026: Recent Record Heat Waves Seen in North America, Europe & Eastern Asia

 

As far as the climate across the globe is concerned, this has been the worst summer that I can ever remember. While it has been relatively cool here in New Jersey for much of the past month or so, that has not been the case for many other regions of the planet. Here in the Garden State, we have certainly had hot days and even some incredible heat waves. Yet we have been relatively fortunate in comparison to other parts of the planet.

Right now, eastern Asia is experiencing a record heatwave. It has produced dangerous conditions. moreover, the situation is being made worse by Mr. Trump's war in Iran, thousands of kilometers away, on the other side of the Asian continent entirely.

How is that possible?

Well, here is a snippet from an article by Biman Mukherji published earlier today (see link below):

On July 31, South Korea recorded its hottest day on record when the mercury level rose to 41.4 degrees Celsius in the southeastern city of Yangsan, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

A record temperature of 41.4 Celsius is bad. So how are outside conditions, including the war in Iran, making matters worse?

Here is a bit from the same article (again, see link below):

Climate scientists said the unprecedented heat spell gripping Japan, South Korea and other parts of Asia had been driven by a combination of climate change and the El Nino weather phenomenon.  

These conditions have been worsened by rising electricity prices due to an energy crisis stemming from the Middle East conflict, according to analysts.  

“Extreme heat in Asia is the result of several factors working together. While El Nino can temporarily raise temperatures by suppressing rainfall, the main driver is long-term human-induced climate change,” said Mariam Zachariah, research associate at Imperial College, London. 

Meanwhile, Europe is surely experiencing the worst summer in history, at least in terms of excessive heat. They have seen multiple heat waves, which has mixed with record droughts to produce true misery across the continent. Here is a picture in words taken from a recent article by Gavin Blackburn of EuroNews (see link below):

Italy placed all of its major cities under the highest heat alert on Thursday as a blistering heatwave gripped Europe, setting a national temperature record in Austria, fuelling wildfires in France and disrupting energy and transport systems across the continent.     

Austria sees a new record for heat while also experiencing record drought. There are also drought concerns in Hungary and Germany, as well. Wildfires continue to rage in France, as well. Every single Italian city is in high heat alert. 

That, on top of all of the earlier headline making heat conditions in Europe dating back to May, well before the summer even officially began. I cannot imagine how this summer season in Europe will not rank as the hottest on record. Possibly by far.

Nor is it just eastern Asia or Europe experiencing unbelievable heat and horrific drought conditions. Here is a snippet from a recent CNN article by Meteorologist Tyler Ory and Andrew Freedman (see link below):

High temperatures will climb between 10 to nearly 20 degrees hotter than they should be — even for the peak of summer — from Southern California to the northern Rockies and Plains from Friday through Tuesday. Death Valley, California, is forecast to see the hottest temperature of this heat wave: a blistering 126 degrees.

This is the latest in a spate of record-breaking heat waves that have affected the US and Europe simultaneously this summer. Human-caused climate change is making heat waves like this one more likely to occur, as well as more intense and longer-lasting, studies show. Particularly strong and slow-moving heat domes are also possibly becoming more common as the world warms, though this is an area of active research.

On top of all of that, serious drought conditions have also contributed to a historic low water level for Lake Mead and Lake Powell combined. And it continues to drop. Remember, this is the water source for millions of people in the western United States. 

So to sum up, record hot temperatures and record heatwaves have been experienced multiple times in both North America and Europe this year. A new record heatwave is currently underway in eastern Asia. And record droughts in North America and Europe are making matters far worse. Plus, Mr. Trump's war is making matters worse, as is his infamous climate change denial.

And tens of millions of Americans are still actually arguing whether climate change is a hoax or not? 

Seriously?

Then we wonder why the rest of the world thinks us stupid and arrogant, right?

It's time to open your eyes to the reality of what's going on around the planet. It's horrible. And it's happening right now. 

Below are the links to the articles I used in writing this blog entry, and from which a lot of the descriptions and specific facts used above were taken:

Record heat wave impacts people and animals in Japan and Korean Peninsula By  HYUNG-JIN KIM and MARI YAMAGUCHI Updated 8:57 AM EDT, August 5, 2026 Leer en español  Comments 2 SEOUL, South Ko

https://apnews.com/article/heat-wave-asia-korea-japan-lions-8ad08f68ed6da7ff30d346323816e1b9

Korean Peninsula and Japan bake under record heat wave | AP News

As record heatwave hits Asia, fears of energy crisis and health risks mount by Biman Mukherji, 7 Aug 2026:

Asia’s power infrastructure may come under pressure due to high demand for air conditioning amid lingering concerns over energy supply  4-MIN READ 2  Listen Google News Preferred Icon Make SCMP preferred on Google   Further Reading 3 lions perish at Tokyo zoo as Japan bakes in ‘cruelly hot’ summer South Korea tightens grip on high-risk ETFs as investor losses mount Heart and Seoul: South Korean nightlife scene reinvents to lure young customers Discover MORE stories on South Korea After Singapore gig, Massive Attack runs into trouble in South Korea too Gold’s price potential still ‘explosive’ amid Beijing hoarding Chinese satellite captures video of SpaceX rocket debris crashing into the moon Before you go  scmp poll Two tourists use a hand fan and an umbrella to seek relief from the extreme heat in Seoul on Thursday.

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3363204/record-heatwave-hits-asia-fears-energy-crisis-and-health-risks-mount

As record heatwave hits Asia, fears of energy crisis and health risks mount | South China Morning Post

Europe heatwave puts all major Italian cities on red alert as Austria sets heat record by Gavin Blackburn Published on 06/08/2026:

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/08/06/europe-heatwave-puts-all-major-italian-cities-on-red-alert-as-austria-sets-heat-record

Europe heatwave puts all major Italian cities on red alert as Austria sets heat record | Euronews

A record-challenging heat dome is about to bake the West with the summer’s hottest temperatures so far By Meteorologist Tyler Ory and Andrew Freedman Andrew Freedman  

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/30/weather/record-summer-heat-wave-west-climate

A record-challenging heat dome is about to bake the West with the summer’s hottest temperatures so far | CNN

August 7th: This Day in History

 

Once again, it should be reiterated, that this does not pretend to be a very extensive history of what happened on this day (nor is it the most original - the links can be found down below). If you know something that I am missing, by all means, shoot me an email or leave a comment, and let me know!

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

On this day in 322 BCE, the Battle of Crannon was fought between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. The Battle of Guinegate was fought on this day in 1479, with Emperor Maximilian I battling against King Louis XI. The first documented performance of Macbeth was performed at the Great Hall at Hampton Court on this day in 1606. Johann Kepler's mother was arrested for witchcraft on this day in 1620. On this day in 1782, George Washington created the Order of Purple Heart. Congress created the U.S. War Department & Lighthouse Service on this day in 1789.  Napoleon ordered the re-instatement of slavery on St Domingue (Haiti) on this day in 1802, even though France had officially outlawed slavery during the Revolution. The Battle of Boyacá was fought on this day in 1819, with Bolívar defeating the Spanish in Colombia. This day in 1882 marked the feud between the Hatfields of southern West Virginia & the McCoys of eastern Kentucky, with 100 wounded or dead. In the early stages of World War I on this day in 1914, Germany invaded France, and occupied the city of Liege, Belgium. Nazis closed the Theological Department at the University of Innsbruck in Austria on this day in 1938. On this day in 1940 during World War II, Nazi Germany officially annexed Alsace Lorraine. In 1940 on this day, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill officially recognized General Charles De Gaulle government in exile. On this day in 1960, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) officially gained independence from France. In 1961 on this day, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev predicted (wrongly) that the Soviet economy would surpass the American economy. On this day in 1964, the American Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which expanded President Lyndon B. Johnson's use of military forces in the Vietnam War. In 1990 on this day, American troops were deployed to Saudi Arabia as Operation Desert Shield commenced in the escalating situation with Saddam Hussein's Iraq military takeover of Kuwait. On this day in 2012, 200,000 people were evacuated from Shanghai in anticipation of Typhoon Haikui.

Here's a more detailed look at events that transpired on this date throughout history:

• On this day in 322 BCE, the Battle of Crannon was fought between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. 

• The Battle at Constantinople was fought on this day in 626, when Slavic/Persians/Avarenvloot defeated. Stephen III [IV] began his reign as the Catholic Pope on this day in 768. 

• In 936 on this day, Otto I the Great became the King of Germany 

• On this day in 1409, the Council of Pisa closed. 

• In 1461 on this day, the Ming Dynasty Chinese military general Cao Qin staged a coup against the Tianshun Emperor. 

• The Battle of Guinegate was fought on this day in 1479, with Emperor Maximilian I battling against King Louis XI. 

• On this day in 1485, Henry (VII)'s Tudor army landed in Milford Harbor, South Wales.

• In 1498 on this day, Columbus arrived in the Caribbean. 

• In 1573 on this day, Francis Drake's fleet returned to Plymouth. 

• On this day in 1575, Spanish troops conquered Oudewater, and almost all inhabitants died. 

• There was an English assault on the Spanish Armada on this day in 1588. 

• The first documented performance of Macbeth was performed at the Great Hall at Hampton Court on this day in 1606. 

Bust of Astronomer Johann Kepler

• Johann Kepler's mother was arrested for witchcraft on this day in 1620. 

Royal France

• The Battle at Ponts-the-Ce, Poitou, took place on this day in 1620, when French King Louis XIII defeated his mother Marie de Medici. 

• On this day in 1710, Earl van Godolphin resigned as English Minister of Finance. 

• The Battle of Gangut was fought on this day in 1714, marking the first important victory for the Russian Navy. 

• There was a slave uprising on Curacao on this day in 1750. 

• Ft Loudon, Tennessee surrendered to the Cherokee tribe on this day in 1760. 

Statue of George Washington in Paramus, NJ (above) and in Morristown, NJ (Below)

• On this day in 1782, George Washington created the Order of Purple Heart. 

• Congress created the U.S. War Department & Lighthouse Service on this day in 1789. 

French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte

• Napoleon ordered the re-instatement of slavery on St Domingue (Haiti) on this day in 1802, even though France had officially outlawed slavery during the Revolution. 

• On this day in 1814, Pope Pius VII reinstated the Jesuits. 

• The Battle of Boyacá was fought on this day in 1819, with Bolívar defeating the Spanish in Colombia. 

In 1820 on this day, the first potatoes were planted in Hawaii. 

• On this day in 1864 during the American Civil War, the Battle of Moorefield, West Virginia, was fought. 

• The opening of the Poor Man's Palace in Manchester took place on this day in 1879. 

• This day in 1882 marked the feud between the Hatfields of southern West Virginia & the McCoys of eastern Kentucky, with 100 wounded or dead. 

• Germany annexed Angra Pequena (Southwest Africa) on this day in 1884. 

• On this day in 1885, 5 German warships anchored at Zanzibar. 

• Theophilus Van Kannel of Philadelphia received a patent for the revolving door on this day in 1888. On this day in 1900, diamond workers in Amsterdam went on strike. 

• In 1904 on this day, a train derailed on bridge in Eden, Colorado, during a flash flood, killing 96. The US issued the first Lincoln penny on this day in 1909. 

• The Progressive (Bull Moose) Party nominated Theodore Roosevelt for President on this day in 1912. 

• In the early stages of World War I on this day in 1914, Germany invaded France, and occupied the city of Liege, Belgium. 

•  Also on this day in 1914, French troops under Gen Bonneau occupied Altkitrch at Elzas. 

• The French government awarded King Albert of Belgium the Great Cross on this day in 1914. Finally on this day in 1914, posters of Lord Kitchner declaring "Your country needs you," went up all over the UK. 

The assault up Russell's Top at Gallipolis was on this day in 1915, with 232 Australians killed.

 1928 - The U.S. Treasure Department issued a new bill that was one third smaller than the previous U.S. bills.   1934 - The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling striking down the government's attempt to ban the controversial James Joyce novel "Ulysses."   1942 - U.S. forces landed at Guadalcanal, marking the start of the first major allied offensive in the Pacific during World War II.   1947 - The balsa wood raft Kon-Tiki, which had carried a six-man crew 4,300 miles across the Pacific Ocean, crashed into a reef in a Polynesian archipelago.   1959 - The U.S. launched Explorer 6, which sent back a picture of the Earth.   1960 - The Cuban Catholic Church condemned the rise of communism in Cuba. Fidel Castro then banned all religious TV and radio broadcasts.   1964 - The U.S. Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, which gave President Johnson broad powers in dealing with reported North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. forces.   1974 - French stuntman Philippe Petit walked a tightrope strung between the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center.   1976 - Scientists in Pasadena, CA, announced that the Viking 1 spacecraft had found strong indications of possible life on Mars.   1981 - After 128 years of publication, "The Washington Star" ceased all operations.   1983 - AT&T employees went on strike.   1987 - The presidents of five Central American nations, met in Guatemala City, and signed an 11-point agreement designed to bring peace to their region.   1990 - U.S. President George H.W. Bush ordered U.S. troops and warplanes to Saudi Arabia to guard against a possible invasion by Iraq.   1999 - Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres got his 3,000th hit of his major league career.   2003 - In California, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that he would run for the office of governor.   2003 - Stephen Geppi bought a 1963 G.I. Joe prototype for $200,000.

 1947 The wooden raft Kon-Tiki, which carried Thor Heyerdahl and five companions more than 4,000 miles, crashed into a reef in the Pacific. 1959 The United States launched Explorer 6, which sent back a picture of Earth. 1964 Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which expanded President Johnson's use of military powers in the Vietnam War. 1987 Lynne Cox becomes the first person to swim from the United States to the Soviet Union, making the 2.7 mile trip through the frigid waters of the Bering Strait. Cox is surprised by the (relatively) warm welcome she receives from the Soviets. 1998 U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed, by terrorists. Some 224 were killed and more than 5,500 injured. 2000 Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Conn., was selected by Al Gore to be the first Jewish vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket. 2007 Barry Bonds passes Hank Aaron on baseball’s all-time homerun list. The record, however, is discredited by many because of Bond’s alleged steroid use.

1915 - St Louis 3rd base coach Miller Huggins, calls for ball Bkln rookie obliges, Huggins steps aside, & Card runner scores

1921 - Cyclist Piet Moeskops becomes world champ sprinter

1925 - League of Nation advises against Turk/Iraqi division of Mosoelgebied

1927 - Peace Bridge between US & Canada dedicated

1927 - US rum smuggler Horace Alderman kills 3

1929 - Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck forms Dutch government

26th US President Theodore Roosevelt26th US President Theodore Roosevelt 1929 - Ruth ties record by hitting grand slams in consecutive games

1929 - Jo Baer (born Josephine Kleinberg), Seattle USA, American artist

1930 - A large mob estimated at 2,000 lynch two young black men, Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith in Marion Indiana

1930 - Richard Bedford Bennet forms Canadian government

1933 - The Iraqi Government slaughters over 3,000 Assyrians in the village of Sumail. The day becomes known as Assyrian Martyrs Day.

1934 - US Court of Appeals upheld lower court ruling striking down government's attempt to ban controversial James Joyce novel "Ulysses"

1935 - 60% of voters agrees to nazism in Danzig (Gdansk)

1938 - Leo Durocher, hits 2,000th Dodger home run

•  Nazis closed the Theological Department at the University of Innsbruck in Austria on this day in 1938.

Statue of soldier, author and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, London

French President Charles De Gaulle

• In 1940 on this day, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill officially recognized General Charles De Gaulle government in exile.

1940 - Largest amount paid for a stamp ($45,000 for 1 1856 British Guiana)

• On this day in 1940 during World War II, Nazi Germany officially annexed Alsace Lorraine.

1941 - 551 Jews are shot in Kishnev ghetto in Romania

1942 - 1st American offensive in Pacific in WW2, Guadalcanal, Solomon Is

1942 - Resistance bombs Rotterdam railway

Baseball Player and Manager Leo DurocherBaseball Player and Manager Leo Durocher 1942 - Transport 16 departs with French Jews to nazi-Germany

1943 - Red Army recaptures Bogodukov

1944 - Anton de Kom arrested by Surinam resistance fighter

1944 - Canada/Polish offensive direction Falaise: Total Cooperation

1944 - German counter attack at Avranches fails

1944 - July 20th Plot trial under Roland Freis in Berlin begins

1944 - US 3rd Army reaches suburbs of Brest Brittany

1944 - IBM dedicates the first program-controlled calculator, the Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator (known best as the Harvard Mark I).

1946 - 1st coin bearing portrait of Negro authorized

1947 - Balsa raft Kon Tiki crashes into a Polynesian archipelago reef

1947 - The Bombay Municipal Corporation formally takes over the Bombay Electric Supply and Transport (BEST).

1948 - 1st Dutch government of Beel resigns

1948 - Delfo Cabrera wins 11th Olympic marathon (2:34:51.6)

1949 - "All after Love" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 121 perfs

1950 - Police bar white players-Lou Chirban, Stan Mierko, & Frank Dyle, from playing in Negro League

1951 - Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket reaches 1,992 kph

1951 - US viking rocket reaches 210 km height (record)

1953 - Eastern Airlines enters jet age, uses Electra prop-jet

1954 - "Golden Apple" closes at Alvin Theater NYC after 125 performances

1954 - Charles Mahoney becomes 1st US black to serve as a full UN delegate

1955 - Bar-Ilan University founded in Israel

1955 - KSTF TV channel 10 in Scottsbluff-Gering, NB (CBS/NBC) begins

1955 - Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering, the precursor to Sony, begins selling its first transistor radios in Japan.

1956 - Boston Red Sox fine Ted Williams $5,000 for spitting at Boston fans

1956 - British government sends 3 aircraft carriers to Egypt

1956 - Dynamite transport explodes in Colombia; about 1200 die

1957 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

1959 - Explorer 6 transmits 1st TV photo of Earth from space

1959 - The Lincoln Memorial design on the U.S. penny goes into circulation. It replaces the "sheaves of wheat" design

The flag of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) 

• On this day in 1960, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) officially gained independence from France.

1960 - Students stage kneel-in demonstrations in Atlanta churches

1960 - Wiffi Smith wins LPGA Waterloo Golf Open

1961 - Cosmonaut Gherman Titov circles Earth for a full day in Vostok 2

The flag of the USSR (Soviet Union)

• In 1961 on this day, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev predicted (wrongly) that the Soviet economy would surpass the American economy. 

1962 - USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR

1963 - Jacqueline Kennedy becomes 1st, First Lady to give birth since Mrs Cleveland

1964 - 31st NFL Chicago All-Star Game: Chicago 28, All-Stars 17 (65,000)

1964 - Turkey begins air attack on Greek-Cypriots

Bust of American President Lyndon B. Johnson

• On this day in 1964, the American Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which expanded President Lyndon B. Johnson's use of military forces in the Vietnam War. 

1966 - Race riot in Lansing Michigan

1970 - 1st computer chess tournament

1970 - Christine Perfect (McVie) joins Fleetwood Mac

1970 - WDHN TV channel 18 in Dothan, AL (ABC) begins broadcasting

1970 - 4, including presiding judge, killed in courthouse shootout in San Rafael, California (Police charge Angela Davis provided weapons)

1971 - Apollo 15 returns to Earth

1972 - Hall of Fame inducts Berra, Sandy Koufax, Lefty Gomez & Early Wynn

1974 - Philippe Petit walks tightrope strung between twin towers

1976 - Chako Higuchi wins LPGA Colgate-European Golf Open

1976 - US Viking 2 goes into Martian orbit after 11-month flight from Earth

1976 - Scientists in Pasadena, California, announce Viking I found strongest indications to date of possible life on Mars

1977 - "Shenandoah" closes at Alvin Theater NYC after 1,050 performances

1978 - Eddie Mathews, Addie Joss, & Larry MacPhail inducted to Hall of Fame

1978 - Thousands of mourners file past body of Pope Paul VI

1980 - Hurricane Allen ravages Caribisch area, about 70 killed

1981 - The Washington Star ceases all operations after 128 years of publication.

1983 - "Merlin" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 199 performances

1985 - Takao Doi, Mamoru Mohri and Chiaki Mukai are chosen to be Japan's first astronauts.

1986 - "Honky Tonk Nights" opens at Biltmore Theater NYC for 4 performances

1986 - Daniel Buettner, Bret Anderson, Martin Engel & Anne Knabe begin cycling journey of 15,266 miles from Prudhoe Bay Alaska to Argentina

1987 - 5 Central American presidents sign peace accord in Guatemala

1987 - Javed Miandad scores 260 v England at The Oval, 28 fours 1 six

1987 - Lynne Cox swims 4.3 km from US to USSR in 39°F (4°C) Bering Sea

1988 - Martha Nause wins Planters Pat Bradley International Golf Tournament

1988 - Writers guild end their 6 months strike

1988 - Rioting in New York City's Tompkins Square Park.

1989 - U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland (D-TX) and 15 others die in a plane crash in Ethiopia.

• In 1990 on this day, American troops were deployed to Saudi Arabia as Operation Desert Shield commenced in the escalating situation with Saddam Hussein's Iraq military takeover of Kuwait.

1991 - Court rules Manuel Noriega, may access some secret US documents

1991 - Darrin Lewis hits his 1st major league HR

1991 - Manhattan Cable final day of amnesty to return illegal cable boxes

1991 - US sets 400m relay record at 37.67 seconds

1993 - Tropical storm Brett ravages Venezuela, 118 killed

1994 - "Hedda Gabler" closes at Criterion Theater NYC after 33 performances

1994 - 1st telephone link between Israel & Jordan

1994 - Carolyn Hill wins McCall's LPGA Golf Classic at Stratton Mountain

1994 - Ernesto Samper sworn in as president of Colombia

1997 - STS 85 (Discovery 23) launches into orbit

1997 - Ung Huot appointed Cambodia's 1st premier

2007 - Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants breaks baseball great Hank Aaron's record by hitting his 756th home run.

2008 - Georgia launches a military offensive to surround and capture the capital of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, from Russian control, starting the South Ossetia War.

2012 - 21 people are killed by a gun attack in a church in Okene, Nigeria

2012 - Heavy rain forces 20,000 people to flee their homes in Manila, Phillipines

The flag of the People's Republic of China

• On this day in 2012, 200,000 people were evacuated from Shanghai in anticipation of Typhoon Haikui.

1789 - The U.S. War Department was established by the U.S. Congress.   1782 - George Washington created the Order of the Purple Heart.   1888 - Theophilus Van Kannel received a patent for the revolving door.   

• 1914 - Germany invaded France.   1928 - The U.S. Treasure Department issued a new bill that was one third smaller than the previous U.S. bills.   1934 - The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling striking down the government's attempt to ban the controversial James Joyce novel "Ulysses."   1942 - U.S. forces landed at Guadalcanal, marking the start of the first major allied offensive in the Pacific during World War II.   1947 - The balsa wood raft Kon-Tiki, which had carried a six-man crew 4,300 miles across the Pacific Ocean, crashed into a reef in a Polynesian archipelago.   1959 - The U.S. launched Explorer 6, which sent back a picture of the Earth.   1960 - The Cuban Catholic Church condemned the rise of communism in Cuba. Fidel Castro then banned all religious TV and radio broadcasts.   1964 - The U.S. Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, which gave President Johnson broad powers in dealing with reported North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. forces.   1974 - French stuntman Philippe Petit walked a tightrope strung between the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center.   1976 - Scientists in Pasadena, CA, announced that the Viking 1 spacecraft had found strong indications of possible life on Mars.   1981 - After 128 years of publication, "The Washington Star" ceased all operations.   1983 - AT&T employees went on strike.   1987 - The presidents of five Central American nations, met in Guatemala City, and signed an 11-point agreement designed to bring peace to their region.   

• 1990 - U.S. President George H.W. Bush ordered U.S. troops and warplanes to Saudi Arabia to guard against a possible invasion by Iraq.   1999 - Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres got his 3,000th hit of his major league career.   2003 - In California, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that he would run for the office of governor.   2003 - Stephen Geppi bought a 1963 G.I. Joe prototype for $200,000.

1789 Congress established the U.S. War Department. 1947 The wooden raft Kon-Tiki, which carried Thor Heyerdahl and five companions more than 4,000 miles, crashed into a reef in the Pacific. 1959 The United States launched Explorer 6, which sent back a picture of Earth. 

• 1964 Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which expanded President Johnson's use of military powers in the Vietnam War. 

1987 Lynne Cox becomes the first person to swim from the United States to the Soviet Union, making the 2.7 mile trip through the frigid waters of the Bering Strait. Cox is surprised by the (relatively) warm welcome she receives from the Soviets. 1998 U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed, by terrorists. Some 224 were killed and more than 5,500 injured. 2000 Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Conn., was selected by Al Gore to be the first Jewish vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket. 2007 Barry Bonds passes Hank Aaron on baseball’s all-time homerun list. The record, however, is discredited by many because of Bond’s alleged steroid use.

The following links are to web sites that were used to complete this blog entry:

http://www.historyorb.com/today/events.php

http://on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/alldays/aug07.htm

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory