August 12 - today in history (Wikipedia)
1099 - The First Crusade concluded with a decisive victory in the Battle of Ascalon over Fatimid forces under Al-Afdal Shahanshah.
1323 - Treaty of Nöteborg - Sweden and Novgorod (Russia) regulates the border for the first time
1332 - Battle of Dupplin Moor - Scots under the Earl of Mar routed by Edward Balliol
1676 - Praying Indian John Alderman shot and killed Metacomet the Wampanoag war chief, ending King Philip's War.
1851 - Isaac Singer granted a patent for his sewing machine
1854 - Count Gaston de Raousset Boulbon is executed by shooting, in regard to the Battle of Guaymas.
1877 - Asaph Hall discovers Deimos
1883 - The last quagga dies at the Artis Magistra zoo in Amsterdam
1898 - Armistice ends the Spanish-American War
1898 - The Hawaiian flag is lowered from Iolani Palace in an elaborate annexation ceremony and replaced with the American flag to signify the transfer of sovereignty from the Republic of Hawaii to the United States.
1908 - First Model T Ford built
1914 - Great War - Britain declares war on Austria-Hungary; British Empire countries automatically included.
- Beginning of the Battle of Cer between Austria-Hungary and Serbia
1953 - Nuclear testing: The Soviet atomic bomb project proceeded with the detonation of Joe 4, the first Soviet thermonuclear weapon.
1960 - Echo I, the first communications satellite, launched
1966 - John Lennon apologized at a Chicago news conference for saying the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus."
1978 - Japan and China sign the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and the People's Republic of China.
1981 - The IBM PC, an early personal computer, is introduced
1985 - Japan Airlines Flight 123, a Boeing 747 jumbo jet, crashes into Mount Ogura in Gunma Prefecture Japan killing 520 in the world's worst single-plane air disaster. Four people miraculously survive.
1990 - Sue, the most complete skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex, was discovered near Faith, South Dakota.
1992 - Canada, Mexico and the United States announce completion of negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement.
1994 - The Woodstock '94 rock concert takes place.
1994 - Major League Baseball players go on strike. The work stoppage will force the cancellation of the World Series.
2000 - The Oscar class submarine K-141 Kursk of the Russian Navy exploded and sank in the Barents Sea during a military exercise.
2004 - Sweden's nine millionth inhabitant is born.
2004 - Lee Hsien Loong is sworn in as Singapore's 3rd Prime Minister.
Black Wind of Death - Reminder
Black Wind of Death - A Bomb planted at Yellowstone Caldera? - reminder #2
Dog tick found worldwide can spread fatal fever
Tractor trailer rig carrying propane collides with train 4 miles from bridge
20,000 pot plants found in National Forest in Chelan County - possible Mexico or California ties