ON THIS DAY
IT’S DAY 248 OF 2015
WOMEN lose £248 worth of cosmetics every year, most of it left behind on public transport, or at restaurants and friends’ homes. FOR every 1,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers held by the Japanese in World War II, a total of 248 would die before the war was over; for every 1,000 held by the Germans, 35 would die. THE Jewish sacred text, the Torah, contains 613 commandments — 365 relate to things you shouldn’t do and 248 to things you should.
THERE ARE 117 DAYS LEFT
AT 117 miles, the M25 was the longest ring road in the world when it was completed in 1986 — a fact not lost on one 84-yearold driver who, in 1998, spent two days trying to find the turn- off for his daughter’s house. THE F-117A was the code number of the world’s first Stealth aircraft, the Night Hawk. Its secretive maiden flight took place in 1981 and it remained secret till 1988. CHEERS, starring Woody Harrelson and Kelsey Grammer, holds the record, at 117, for most Emmy Award nominations for a comedy series. It won 28.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
RAqUEL WELCH, 75 (pictured). Born Jo Raquel Tejadain Chicago, the daughter of a Bolivian aeronautical engineer. Star of One Million Years BC, her son Damon married the daughter of Yorkshire cricket legend Freddie Trueman. ACTOR George Lazenby, 76. Born in New South Wales, he was the only James Bond actor not born in the British Isles. MICHAEL KEATON, 64. Star of the recent Oscar-winning film Birdman, he is also known for his roles as Batman and Beetlejuice. His real name is Michael Douglas, but he changed it to avoid confusion with Kirk’s actor son.
BORN ON THIS DAY
JACK DANIEL (1849-1911). Diminutive (5ft 2in) U.S. distiller of Scots and Welsh ancestry, famed for his eponymous whiskey. He died after kicking his safe in frustration, having been unable to open it. A broken toe led to a fatal infection. FREDDIE MERCURY (1946-1991). Born in Zanzibar as Farrokh Bomi Bulsara, he became the lead singer of queen (pictured). Mercury died, aged 45, from complications related to Aids. At his side when he died was close friend Dave Clark, of The Dave Clark Five fame. JESSE JAMES (1847-1882). The Wild West outlaw was killed by one of his own gang, shot in the back of the head as he adjusted a picture frame.
ON SEPTEMBER 5
IN 1807, the British seized the island of Heligoland, which lies off the coast of Germany and Denmark. Some 83 years later, Britain signed it over to Germany — in return for Zanzibar in Africa. IN 1970, Austrian Formula One driver Jochen Rindt was killed during a practice lap at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Even though there were four races left, he still had enough points to win the world championship posthumously. IN 1174, Canterbury Cathedral was destroyed by fire. It was seen as divine displeasure at Archbishop Thomas Becket’s murder in the Cathedral four years earlier.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
I am in the prime of my senility.
Benjamin Franklin, U.S. founding father
JOKE OF THE DAY
WHAT did the cobbler say when the cat walked into his shop?
Shoe!