Today's Puzzle
What is King Harald Bluetooth famous for?
Bluetooth communication protocol is named after him. Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson (c. 935-c. 985) was King of Norway (c. 970). His nickname is probably derived from the fact that his teeth had a bluish color. The creators of Bluetooth technology choose to identify with him because he unified Norway and Denmark, much like Bluetooth unifies computers, cell phones, and other hardware. The Bluetooth logo consists of the Nordic runes for his initials "HB".
What Happened On
First Black Woman to Win the Nobel Prize in Literature
October 7, 1993
Toni Morrison, author of Beloved (1987, Pulitzer) and Jazz (1992), wins the Nobel Prize in Literature. This also made her the first African-American to win the prize. Her citation reads that she, "in novels characterized by visionary force and poetic import, gives life to an essential aspect of American reality".
Freed American hostages returning to the U.S.
Freed American hostages returning to the U.S.
Achille Lauro Hijacking
October 7, 1985
The Italian cruise ship MS Achille Lauro is hijacked off the coast of Egypt on her way to Israel by four members of the Palestine Liberation Front. They killed sixty-nine-year-old wheelchair-bound Jewish American Leon Klinghoffer and threw his body overboard.
The hijackers' original plan was to open fire on Israeli soldiers in a suicide mission when they reached Ashdod, Israel, the ship's destination. However, a cabin steward delivering complimentary fruit walked in on them as they were cleaning their weapons. With their plans interrupted, they decided to hijack the ship instead. They demanded that the Israeli government release 50 Palestinians held in its jails, or they would begin killing hostages. The following day, when their demands weren't met, they killed Klinghoffer. After negotiations, the ship traveled to Port Said where the hijackers surrendered to Egyptian authorities and freed the hostages in exchange for safe passage to an undisclosed destination. They then boarded a jet for Tunisia, but were intercepted by U.S. jet fighters who forced them to land at a NATO air base in Sicily, where the hijackers were arrested.
First image of the far side of the Moon
First image of the far side of the Moon
First Pictures of the Far Side of the Moon
October 7, 1959
The Soviet Lunik 3 takes the pictures, which are transmitted to Earth 11 days later.
Authorities Destroying Illegal Alcohol
Authorities Destroying Illegal Alcohol
Prohibition Deaths
October 7, 1928
Twenty-one people die in New York City from impure illegal liquor. Estimates say death from alcohol rose 600% during prohibition.
Hitler (seated far right) with his dog Fuchsl and war comrades
Photo Credit: Bundesarchiv
Hitler (seated far right) with his dog Fuchsl and war comradesPhoto Credit: Bundesarchiv
Hitler Wounded by Bomb Blast
October 7, 1916
Corporal Adolf Hitler is wounded in the leg and hospitalized by a shell blast during the Battle of the Somme during World War I.
Having spent the last two years in battle, it was while on convalescent leave from this injury that he observed the apathy of the German people towards the war and began formulating his idea there was a Jewish plot to undermine Germany's war efforts. This belief would form the basis for his policies against the Jews during World War II.
The Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe
October 7, 1849
The 40-year-old American poet and horror writer Edgar Allan Poe dies mysteriously in a Baltimore hospital. His cause of death is still a mystery. He was found delirious wandering the streets of Baltimore, Maryland wearing someone else's clothes and was taken to a hospital where he died four days later on October 7, without having recovered his senses. There has been much speculation as to the cause of death. Some believe he may have been a victim of cooping, the practice of kidnapping people and forcing them to wear disguises in order to vote multiple times. He was found delirious on election day outside a pub that also served as a polling place. It was also the practice of the day to give the voter a drink after voting. Poe and his sister were known to have a very low tolerance to alcohol, with even a single glass of wine leaving them stumbling. This would explain his delirium and the clothes he was wearing.
Other physicians diagnosed his symptoms as typical of rabies. Speculation about his death also includes a brain tumor or even having been beaten delirious by his wealthy fiancé's brothers.
Never Say Never Again
October 7, 1983
Never Say Never Again premieres in the U.S., 14th in the James Bond series, it starred Sean Connery as 007.
Climax!
October 7, 1954
The TV show Climax! debuts on CBS. Their 1954 live broadcast of Casino Royale two weeks later was the first James Bond movie. It starred Barry Nelson as 007.
Manned Flight Attempt
October 7, 1903
Prof. Samuel P. Langley attempts to fly his Aerodrome. It sank in the Potomac River. He had successfully made several unmanned flights with his steam-powered craft. He would try again two months later.
Birthdays
Spuds MacKenzie (Honey Tree Evil Eye)
Born October 7, 1983 d. 1993
American spokes dog. Made her first TV appearance for Bud Light during 1987 Super Bowl. Her appearance generated large sales of Spuds memorabilia. The ads were attacked by temperance-oriented groups and were also attacked by U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond claiming the ads were designed to appeal to children. More legal action resulted from the use of ads featuring Spuds dressed as Santa, which is illegal in states such as Ohio which ban the use of children-oriented images such as Santa Clause to promote alcohol. Budweiser eventually pulled the ads due to all the controversies.
Since Spuds was a female dog portraying a male character, it's surprising the anti-LGBT groups weren't protesting.
Photo Credit: Bundesarchiv
Photo Credit: Bundesarchiv
Heinrich Himmler
Born October 7, 1900 d. 1945
German Nazi official. Himmler was Adolf Hitler's second in command, organized and led the S.S. (1929), headed the Gestapo (1936), and was the German interior minister (1943). He committed suicide by biting down on a cyanide capsule two days after he was captured by the Allies.
33rd U.S. Vice-President
Henry Agard Wallace
Born October 7, 1888 d. 1965
American politician. 33rd U.S. Vice-President (1941-45), Secretary of Agriculture (1933-1940), and Secretary of Commerce (1945-1946). In 1926, he founded the Hi-Bred Corn Company, which made him a wealthy man. The company later became Pioneer Hi-Bred, and was acquired in 1999 by the DuPont Corporation for approximately $10 billion.
Yo-Yo Ma
Born October 7, 1955
French-born Chinese-American Grammy-winning cellist.
Tico Torres
Born October 7, 1953
American drummer, with Bon Jovi. Music: Livin' on a Prayer (1986, #1) and Bad Medicine (1988, #1).
Christopher Norris
Born October 7, 1953
American actress. She made her TV debut as the Ivory Snow baby. TV: Trapper John, M.D. (Nurse Ripples) and Santa Barbara (Laura Asher).
John Cougar Mellencamp
Born October 7, 1951
American singer. Music: Hurts So Good (1982), Jack and Diane (1982, #1), and Scarecrow (1985).
Oliver North
Born October 7, 1943
American marine and National Security Council aide. He was convicted in the Iran-Contra scandal.
Desmond Tutu
Born October 7, 1931 d. 2021
South African Anglican archbishop. Winner of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize. Tutu is known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist and was Bishop of Johannesburg (1985-86) and Archbishop of Cape Town (1986-96), being the first black African to hold both those positions.
Al Martino (Alfred Cini)
Born October 7, 1927 d. 2009
American singer, actor. Music: Here in My Heart (1952, #1 U.S. and was also #1 on the first U.K. Singles Chart), Spanish Eyes (1965), and Volare (1975). Film: The Godfather (1972, singer Johnny Fontane, on whose behalf the Godfather makes someone an offer they can't refuse). He was also wounded at the WWII Battle of Iwo Jima where he witnessed the famous flag raising.
June Allyson (Ella Geisman)
Born October 7, 1917 d. 2006
American actress, typically portraying "the girl next door." Film: Best Foot Forward (1943), Two Girls and a Sailor (1944), and The Glenn Miller Story (1954).
Vaughn Monroe (Wilton Monroe)
Born October 7, 1911 d. 1973
American singer, bandleader. Music: Racing With the Moon and 
(Ghost) Riders in the Sky (1949, #1).
Niels Bohr
Born October 7, 1885 d. 1962
Danish Nobel-winning physicist. "The father of atomic energy," he developed the quantum theory of atomic structure (1913).
James Whitcomb Riley
Born October 7, 1849 d. 1916
American author. The Hoosier Poet. He wrote the poem Little Orphant Annie (1885), upon which the comic strip by Harold Gray was based. Originally published as The Elf Child, Riley decided to rename it Little Orphant Allie for the 3rd edition. However, a printer mistakenly typeset it as Little Orphant Annie and the name stuck.
The poem was based on twelve-year-old orphan Mary Alice "Allie" Smith, whom Riley's family took in as a "bound" servant to help his mother with the housework when Riley was a child.
"Little Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,
An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away
An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep,
An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board-an'-keep;"
Charles Crozat Converse
Born October 7, 1832 d. 1918
American lawyer, composer. He composed the tune and words to God For Us and the tune to What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
Charles XIII
Born October 7, 1748 d. 1818
King of Sweden (1809-18) and Norway (1814-18).
Caesar Rodney
Born October 7, 1728 d. 1784
American patriot, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Deaths
Inventor of Air Conditioning
Willis Haviland Carrier
Died October 7, 1950 b. 1876
American engineer. He invented modern-style air-conditioning (1902).
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Died October 7, 1894 b. 1809
American poet, physician, first dean of Harvard Medical School (1847-53). He discovered that the deadly childbed (puerperal) fever was contagious. He believed it was passed between patients by their doctors, for which he was ridiculed - until it was proved true. He coined the term "anesthesia" (1846, from the Greek "no feeling"). He is also the father of the U.S. Supreme Court judge of the same name. Quote: "Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions."
Edgar Allan Poe
Died October 7, 1849 b. 1809
American poet, horror story writer. He created the literary genre of the detective story with The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841).
His cause of death is still a mystery. He was found delirious wandering the streets of Baltimore wearing someone else's clothes and died four days later in the hospital without having recovered his senses. Some speculate he may have been a victim of cooping, the practice of kidnapping people and forcing them to wear disguises in order to vote multiple times. When he was found, it was election day and he was outside a pub that also served as a polling place. It was also the practice of the day to give the voter a drink after voting. Poe and his sister were known to have a very low tolerance to alcohol, with even a single glass of wine leaving them stumbling. This would explain his delirium and the clothes he was wearing. Other physicians diagnosed his symptoms as typical of rabies. Speculation about his death also includes a brain tumor or even having been beaten delirious by his wealthy fiancé's brothers.
Writings: The Raven (1845).
Cyril Cusack
Died October 7, 1993 b. 1910
Irish actor. Film: The Day of the Jackal, The Taming of the Shrew, and My Left Foot. He was considered Ireland's finest actor.
Agnes De Mille
Died October 7, 1993 b. 1905
American Tony-winning choreographer. Stage: Oklahoma! (1943), Brigadoon (1947, Tony), and Kwamina (1962, Tony).
Ed Blackwell
Died October 7, 1992 b. 1929
American jazz drummer.
Clarence Frank Birdseye
Died October 7, 1956 b. 1886
American inventor. He created a way of deep-freezing foods, and co-founded General Foods Corp.
Daniel Chester French
Died October 7, 1931 b. 1850
American artist. He built the statue of Abraham Lincoln which is in the Lincoln Memorial Building and the famous statue of The Minute Man (1794).
Benjamin William Arnett
Died October 7, 1906 b. 1838
American bishop, politician. He was the first black state legislator to represent white-majority constituency (Ohio 1885-87). He was the first black man to serve as foreman of an otherwise all-white jury (1872).
Heinrich Melchior Muhlenberg
Died October 7, 1787 b. 1711
American religious leader, founder of the U.S. Lutheran Church (1748).
Saint Marcus
Died October 7, 336 b. ????
Italian religious leader, 34th Pope (A.D. 336).