Today's Trivia and What Happened on February 27

Can you figure out the phrase?

Can you figure out the phrase? Close Large View

Do Without.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
3

Quote: Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth. - Mike Tyson

Quote: Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth. - Mike Tyson Close Large View

Thumbs Up
10
Thumbs Down
0

What Happened On

Civilians and coalition forces wave Kuwaiti and Saudi flags as Iraqi forces retreat from Kuwait Civilians and coalition forces wave Kuwaiti and Saudi flags as Iraqi forces retreat from Kuwait

Civilians and coalition forces wave Kuwaiti and Saudi flags as Iraqi forces retreat from Kuwait Civilians and coalition forces wave Kuwaiti and Saudi flags as Iraqi forces retreat from Kuwait
Close Large View

Desert Storm - Kuwait Liberated

February 27, 1991

U.S. President George H. W. Bush declares Kuwait liberated, Iraq defeated, and the suspension of offensive military operations in the Persian Gulf War.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Reichstag Fire and Hitler's Rise to Power

Reichstag Fire and Hitler's Rise to Power Close Large View

Reichstag Fire and Hitler's Rise to Power

February 27, 1933

The Reichstag building, home of the German parliament in Berlin, burns due to arson. Adolf Hitler declares that this is the beginning of a Communist revolution, and uses the event to seize power in Germany.
Marinus van der Lubbe, a Dutch council communist, claimed responsibility for the act, stating he acted alone in protest of the condition of the German working class. Hitler, however, claimed it was the beginning of a Communist revolution and got President Paul von Hindenburg to pass an emergency decree the day after the fire. The decree suppressed civil rights and gave the government the power to institute mass arrests of communists, including all of the Communist Party parliamentary delegates. Using these powers, Hitler's SA arrested thousands of Communist Party members. With this suppression of the Communists, the Nazi Party with their coalition partner the German National People's Party, gained a majority in parliament after the March 5th elections. Hitler then used this majority to pass the Enabling Act which effectively gave him dictatorial powers. Hitler then used those powers to ban other political parties.
Some historians believe the fire was actually started by the Nazi Party as a false flag event in order to attack members of the Communist Party.
Van der Lubbe was executed a year later.

Thumbs Up
1
Thumbs Down
20

Abraham Lincoln On Slavery

Abraham Lincoln On Slavery Close Large View

Abraham Lincoln On Slavery

February 27, 1860

Abraham Lincoln in a speech to Ohio Republicans speaking on the issues of slavery and the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision states, "We must not disturb slavery in the states where it exists, because the Constitution, and the peace of the country both forbid us.
We must not withhold an efficient fugitive slave law, because the constitution demands it.
But we must, by a national policy, prevent the spread of slavery into new territories, or free states, because the constitution does not forbid us, and the general welfare does demand such prevention.
We must prevent the revival of the African slave trade, because the constitution does not forbid us, and the general welfare does require the prevention.
We must prevent these things being done, by either congresses or courts.
The people are the rightful masters of both Congresses, and courts.
Not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it."

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
1

Join Us on Facebook

American Revolution

American Revolution Close Large View

American Revolution

February 27, 1782

The British House of Commons resolves against "the further prosecution of offensive war on the continent of North America," marking the end of the war. The war would officially end with the signing of the Treaty of Paris the following year.

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
1

Vice-President Cheney

Vice-President Cheney Close Large View

Vice-President Cheney

February 27, 2002

The New York Times reveals that the previous year Dick Cheney met with Robert J. Allison Jr., the Chairman of Anadarko Petroleum. Cheney's wife Lynne had been a director and significant stockholder of Union Pacific Resources, an energy company that had merged with Anadarko in 2000, and that she received Anadarko stock worth $250,000 to $500,000 from the merger.

Thumbs Up
1
Thumbs Down
106

Johnny Carson Arrested for DUI

Johnny Carson Arrested for DUI Close Large View

Johnny Carson Arrested for DUI

February 27, 1982

The TV host Johnny Carson is arrested for driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of 0.16 percent (above the legal limit of 0.10 percent). He would plead no contest to misdemeanor drunken driving and be fined $603 and placed on three years probation. He had initially been pulled over for an expired registration tag on his DeLorean.

Thumbs Up
19
Thumbs Down
1

First $1,000,000 Winner of the PBA

First $1,000,000 Winner of the PBA Close Large View

First $1,000,000 Winner of the PBA

February 27, 1982

Earl Anthony after winning a $38,000 prize for the Toledo Trust-PBA (Professional Bowlers Association) National Championship.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Lucky Lady II (bottom) being refueled and its flight map Lucky Lady II (bottom) being refueled and its flight map

Lucky Lady II (bottom) being refueled and its flight map Lucky Lady II (bottom) being refueled and its flight map
Close Large View

First Non-Stop Around-the-World Flight

February 27, 1949

Capt. James Gallagher and crew begin their flight, which was completed March 2. They flew a United States Air Force Boeing B-50 Superfortress named Lucky Lady II. For the flight, in-flight refueling was used along with an extra fuel tank added in the bomb bay. It had a double crew of 14 members, including three pilots who rotated in shifts of four to six hours.
Following the refueling near Luzon, Philippines, the refueling tanker encountered poor weather conditions and crashed on March 1, 1949, killing all nine aboard.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
1

Cherokee Cede Their Land

February 27, 1819

The Cherokee Indians cede their land north of Tennessee to the U.S.

Thumbs Up
1
Thumbs Down
4

Birthdays

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor Close Large View
This is a birthday

Elizabeth Taylor

Born February 27, 1932 d. 2011

British-American Oscar-winning actress. She was the first woman paid $1 million to appear in a film (1963, Cleopatra). Film: Lassie Come Home (1943), A Place in the Sun (1951), Butterfield 8 (1960, Oscar), and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966, Oscar).

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Chi-Rho symbol for Christos Chi-Rho symbol for Christos

Chi-Rho symbol for Christos Chi-Rho symbol for Christos
Close Large View
This is a birthday

First Roman Emperor to Convert to Christianity

Constantine I

Born February 27, circa 272 d. 337

Roman Emperor (312-337). He was the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity (312). He converted after winning the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Some accounts say he received instructions in a dream to paint the Christian monogram on his troops' shields, thus fighting the battle in the name of the Christian God. Other accounts say he converted after seeing a cross in the heaven bearing the expression "In this sign conquer."
Constantine used the Chi-Rho symbol as part of a military standard. It was formed by superimposing the first two capital letters, chi and rho (ΧΡ), of the Greek word ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ for Christos.

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

Add Trivia to Your Web Page

This is a birthday

Chelsea Clinton

Born February 27, 1980

American presidential daughter.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
1

Howard Hesseman

Howard Hesseman Close Large View
This is a birthday

Howard Hesseman

Born February 27, 1940 d. 2022

American actor. TV: WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-82, Dr. Johnny Fever), One Day at a Time (1982-84, Ann Romano's second husband Sam), and Head of the Class (1986-90, Mr. Moore). Film: Billy Jack (1971, Howard Johnson) and This Is Spinal Tap (1984, Terry Ladd).
Hesseman worked as a real DJ in the 1960s under the name Don Sturdy at KMPX in San Francisco. KMPX is best known as the birthplace of the freeform progressive rock format ("Underground radio").

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Barbara Babcock

Born February 27, 1937

actress. TV: Hill Street Blues (1981-87, Grace Gardner).

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Ralph Nader

Born February 27, 1934

American consumer activist who didn't like Corvairs.

Thumbs Up
1
Thumbs Down
103

Joanne Woodward

Joanne Woodward Close Large View
This is a birthday

Joanne Woodward

Born February 27, 1930

American Oscar and Emmy-winning actress. She is often credited as the first person with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1960). However, there was no official first, but she was the first to pose for photographers with her star. Film: The Three Faces of Eve (1957, Oscar), and Rachel, Rachel (1968).

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

John Connally Jr.

Born February 27, 1917 d. 1993

American politician, governor of Texas (1963-68), U.S. President Richard Nixon's treasury secretary (1971-72). He was shot while riding with U.S. President John F. Kennedy during his assassination (1963).
As Treasury Secretary, he removed the U.S. dollar from the gold standard (1971), an event known as the Nixon shock.

Thumbs Up
1
Thumbs Down
104

This is a birthday

Joan Bennett

Born February 27, 1910 d. 1990

American actress. TV: Dark Shadows (Elizabeth/Flora Collins).

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

John Ernst Steinbeck

Born February 27, 1902 d. 1968

American Nobel-winning novelist. Writings: The Grapes of Wrath.

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Charles Herbert Best

Born February 27, 1899 d. 1978

Canadian scientist. While working as an undergraduate student, he assisted F.G. Banting in the discovery of insulin (1921). He also introduced the use of heparin to reduce blood clotting during heart surgery.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson Close Large View
This is a birthday

Marian Anderson

Born February 27, 1897 d. 1993

American opera singer. She was the first black artist to entertain at the White House (1939) and the first black to perform at the New York Metropolitan Opera (1954).
In 1939, while looking for a venue large enough to accommodate her huge audiences, she attempted to book Constitution Hall. However, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) owned the hall and had a "white artists only" policy and refused. First lady Eleanor Roosevelt then sent a letter of resignation and wrote in her weekly column, "They have taken an action which has been widely criticized in the press… To remain as a member implies approval of that action, and therefore I am resigning." When the DAR still wouldn't relent, a concert was arranged to be held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and was broadcast nation wide. Over 75,000 people were in attendance with a desegregated crowd that stretched all the way back to the Washington Monument. The DAR later apologized and allowed Anderson to sing at Constitution Hall on several future occasions.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

David Sarnoff

Born February 27, 1891 d. 1971

Russian-born American radio and TV pioneer, president of RCA (1930-70), and founder of NBC (1926). He started out as a telegraph operator.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Born February 27, 1807 d. 1882

American poet. Writings: The Courtship of Miles Standish (1858).

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

Deaths

Leonard Nimoy go to Video for Leonard Nimoy

Leonard Nimoy Close Large View
This is a death

Leonard Nimoy

Died February 27, 2015 b. 1931

American actor, director. Known chiefly for his role as Mr. Spock in the Star Trek franchise. Nimoy created the Vulcan salute from his childhood memories of the way Kohanim (Jewish priests) hold their hand when giving blessings. He also created the Vulcan nerve pinch, which he saw as a more sophisticated way of rendering someone unconscious. The pinch worked because the character Spock could release energy from his fingertips.
Music: Mr. Spock's Music From Outer SpaceMr. Spock's Music From Outer Space (1967).

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Mister Rogers

Mister Rogers Close Large View
This is a death

Mister Rogers (Fred McFeely Rogers)

Died February 27, 2003 b. 1928

American Emmy-winning TV personality, Presbyterian minister. One of his sweaters, which were knitted by his mother, is on display at the Smithsonian. TV: Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968-2001, creator/producer/host).
"You've made this day a special day, by just your being you. There's no person in the whole world like you; and I like you just the way you are."
Why he announces when he's feeding the fish:
"One girl and her family wrote to tell us there was a special reason why she wanted me to talk about feeding the fish each day.
Dear Mister Rogers,
Please say when you are feeding your fish, because I worry about them. I can't see if you are feeding them, so please say you are feeding them out loud.
Katie, age 5
(Father's note: Katie is blind, and she does cry if you don't say you that you have fed the fish.)"
- from Dear Mister Rogers, Does It Ever Rain in Your Neighborhood?: Letters to Mister Rogers.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Lillian Gish

Lillian Gish Close Large View
This is a death

First Lady of American Cinema

Lillian Gish

Died February 27, 1993 b. 1893

American actress. "First Lady of American Cinema," she is credited with pioneering fundamental film performing techniques. Film: The Birth of a Nation (1915).

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

Frankie Lymon

Frankie Lymon Close Large View
This is a death

Frankie Lymon (Franklin Joseph Lymon)

Died February 27, 1968 b. 1942

American musician. In 1957, at age 14, Lymon was performing on the TV show The Big Beat, when he began dancing with a white teenaged girl. The ensuing scandal caused the cancellation of the show.
Lymon was lead singer and an original member of the integrated teenage group the Teenagers. The Teenagers' first single and their biggest hit was 1956's Why Do Fools Fall in Love.
Lymon died at the age of 25 from a heroin overdose.
Music: Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1956, #1 on the R&B chart). The movie Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998) was based on his life.

Thumbs Up
7
Thumbs Down
0

Langley flies his unmanned steam-powered Aerodrome over the Potomac River Langley flies his unmanned steam-powered Aerodrome over the Potomac River

Langley flies his unmanned steam-powered Aerodrome over the Potomac River Langley flies his unmanned steam-powered Aerodrome over the Potomac River
Close Large View
This is a death

Samuel Pierpont Langley

Died February 27, 1906 b. 1834

American aviation pioneer, built the first successful heavier-than-air flying machine (1896) and for whom Langley Air Force Base in Virginia is named.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

Ricou Browning

Ricou Browning Close Large View
This is a death

Ricou Browning

Died February 27, 2023 b. 1930

American actor, underwater cinematographer. Film: The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954, the creature in the underwater scenes - Ben Chapman played the monster on land). During the filming, Browning held his breath for up to four minutes.
Browning also worked as the underwater sequence director on Island of the Lost (1967), Thunderball (1965), and Never Say Never Again (1983).

Thumbs Up
1
Thumbs Down
0

William F. Buckley Jr.

William F. Buckley Jr. Close Large View
This is a death

William F. Buckley Jr.

Died February 27, 2008 b. 1925

American journalist. Founder of National Review magazine (1955) and host of TV's Firing Line (1966-99).
Quote: "I won't insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said."
Quote: "Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality the cost becomes prohibitive."

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
2

Bill Holman

Bill Holman Close Large View
This is a death

Bill Holman

Died February 27, 1987 b. 1903

American cartoonist. Creator of Smokey Stover (1935).

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Harry Cohn

Died February 27, 1958 b. 1891

American movie executive, founded (1924) Columbia Pictures.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Nicholas Biddle

Died February 27, 1844 b. 1786

American financier. As president (1822-36) of the Second Bank of U.S., he made it the first effective central bank.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0