Noriega sentenced to 40 years for drug trafficking, later reduced to 30; Mel Blanc, voice of Bugs Bunny, dies; DNA evidence suggests humans originated in East Africa; Coca-Cola ends New Coke after consumer backlash; Scopes Monkey Trial begins in Tennessee; Great Fire of London in 1212 kills thousands; Big Ben clock tower in London chimes for first time; hottest temperature in US history recorded in Death Valley; Meher Baba begins 44 years of silence; Howard Hughes sets world record for around-the-world flight in 91 hours.
Manuel Noriega was sentenced to 40 years in prison. (1992) Noriega was captured by the US Army and returned to the United States as a prisoner of war. He was convicted of drug trafficking, money laundering and racketeering. His 40-year sentence was later reduced to 30 years and he was released in 2007, after serving 17 years, for good behavior.
The man who was the voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig is dead. (1989) Mel Blanc, voice actor and comedian, had a 60-year career as a voice actor for many Warner Brothers characters. Blanc was also the voice of Yosemite Sam, Captain Caveman and Wile E. Coyote.
Evidence of DNA has been found in a Neanderthal skeleton which suggests that modern humans evolved out of Africa between 100,000 and 200,000 years ago. (1997) Charles Darwin hypothesized that humans evolved from a single origin, and modern scientists began to agree with the theory in the 1980s. Based on DNA and fossil evidence, most scientists now agree that humans originated in East Africa.
The Coca-Cola Company bowed to consumer pressure and ended New Coke, reverting to the old formula. (1985) Coca-Cola went back to the old formula, calling the drink “Coca-Cola Classic”, after the “New Coke” formula failed. Sales skyrocketed with the return, and some speculated that the new formula was a marketing ploy.
The Monkey Trial has begun: A high school teacher has been charged with violating Tennessee state law by teaching evolution. (1925) The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes trial began July 21. Scopes, a high school science teacher, was found guilty of teaching evolution and ordered by the judge to pay a $100 US dollar fine, about $1,200 in today’s market. His lawyers appealed to the state Supreme Court and, although they found the sentence constitutional, they overturned the verdict on a technicality: the judge was not allowed to set fines higher than $50 USD; the jury should have settled the fine. The attorney general declined to retry the case. Years later, in 1968, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Epperson v. Arkansas that banning such instruction violated the first amendment’s establishment clause.
London, England, razed to the ground. (1212) The Great Fire of 1212 was the second of the destructive medieval fires that destroyed London. London Bridge has just been rebuilt in stone, so the structure survived, but many people who tried to cross the bridge to help put out the fire were trapped. As many as 3,000 people may have died on the bridge, but some historians believe the number is exaggerated.
The Big Ben clock tower in London, England chimed for the first time. (1859) Big Ben is the third tallest clock tower in the world, measuring 315.9 feet (96.3 meters) in height. The original bell was damaged during testing and had to be recast before being installed. The replacement doorbell was installed and rang for the first time on this day but by September it had also broken. It was repaired and the hammer was repositioned.
The hottest temperature in US history was recorded in Death Valley, California. (1913) Temperatures rose on this day to 134 degrees Fahrenheit (almost 57 degrees Celsius). It is still considered the record temperature for the United States.
Meher Baba has begun his 44 years of silence. (1925) An Indian spiritual master and mystic remained silent from this day until his death on January 31, 1969. He communicated through alphabet boards and hand gestures; he felt that his silence helped him connect with his universal work. His followers celebrate this day, called the Day of Silence, in honor of him.
Howard Hughes set a new world record, going around the world in just 91 hours. (1938) Hughes, one of the richest men in the world, set many aviation records and was known for making controversial films, such as Scarface.
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