ON THIS DAY
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE
AUGUST 21, 1941 GERmANy’S invasion plans against Britain will not be revived until the Luftwaffe can concentrate again the huge forces of bombers now transferred east in an effort to finish off the Russian campaign before winter, it was reported in London yesterday. AUGUST 21, 1951 PRINCESS margaret is 21 today. A special birthday portrait of the young royal was commissioned for the occasion. The Princess is pictured in the music room at Buckingham Place.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
JULIE ETCHINGHAm, 48. The Leicesterborn ITV newsreader has hosted the station’s leaders’ debates for the past two general elections. In 2007, listening to a speech by Conservative party leader David Cameron about immigration, she joked that the party’s policy was ‘extermination’, not realising her microphone was on. KENNy ROGERS, 79. The award-winning singer and songwriter is probably most famous for his Islands In The Stream duet with Dolly Parton, but has also had a string of solo hits including Lucille and The Gambler. Kenny, whose wife had twin boys when the singer was 66, has announced that he is retiring from music this year.
BORN ON THIS DAY
FRIz FRELENG (1906-1995). American animator, cartoonist and composer, who won five Oscars. He was born Isadore but was called Friz thanks to his wild hair in his youth. He introduced or developed several of Warner Brothers’ biggest stars, including Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Sylvester the Cat and yosemite Sam (right) — to whom he was said to bear more than a passing resemblance. WILLIAm ‘COUNT’ BASIE (1904-1984). The American jazz pianist and composer was also a bandleader in the Big Band era of the Thirties and Forties. He became ‘Count’ after a radio announcer decided that Bill Basie was ‘rather ordinary’.
ON AUGUST 21…
IN 1770, Captain James Cook claimed eastern Australia for Britain, and named it New South Wales.
IN 1940, exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky died in mexico City, a day after an attack by an assassin with a pick-axe.
IN 1961, U.S. record label motown released what would become its first No 1 hit, Please mr Postman, by The marvelettes.
WORD WIZARDRY
GUESS THE DEFINITION Craner (coined c1860) A) A costermonger’s handkerchief (blue with white or yellow spots). B) One who hesitates at a difficult jump. C) A polite, effeminate man. Answer below
PHRASE EXPLAINED
Dog-days — meaning days of great heat . It refers to the Roman calling of the six or eight hottest weeks of the summer (July 3 to August 11); they believed Sirius the dogstar rose with the sun and added to the heat, so dog- days were a combination of the heat of the dog-star and the sun.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts. Samuel Johnson, English writer, moralist and lexicographer (1709-1784)
JOKE OF THE DAY
WHAT has four wheels and flies? A rubbish truck. Guess The Definition answer: B.