july 7

So part of my last post got me thinking and wikipedia-ing, and I ended on this page, where I learned about my birthday. Some of the most interesting facts I thought were interesting enough to share with anyone that takes enough time to read my blog. So.

July 7th. The 188th day of the year, with 177 left. Which I think is cool because my birthday is 7788. is this too much of a stretch?

Some historical events occurring on 7/7:
1534 - first known exchange between European colonists and Native Americans
1898 - Hawaii is annexed as a US territory
1928 - Sliced bread is sold for the first time, in Missouri. It is described as "the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped." So I guess sliced bread was the greatest thing since wrapped bread. Huh. Crazy.
1958 - Alaska becomes a state
1983 - Samantha Smith, a 10yo American girl flies to the Cold War USSR at the invitation of Yuri Andropov. An interesting story. You should read up on her. Good initials, too, besides a good date.
2005 - 56 people killed in the London bus/subway bombings, on the most (in)famous 7/7 in history. Way to ruin my 17th birthday, terrorists.

Some famous births on 7/7:
Gustav Mahler, Austrian composer (1860)
Satchel Paige, American baseball player (1906) - never heard of him, but what a name
Hank Mobley!!! American jazz composer and saxaphonist (1930)
David McCullough, American author/historian (1933)
Ringo Starr, The Beatles (1940)
Michele Kwan, ice skater (1980)
me, 1988

Some deaths on 7/7:
Konstantin Batyushkov, Russian poet (1855)
Johanna Spyri, Swiss author of HEIDI (1901)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes (1930)

What a great day.