www.whyville.net Feb 6, 2008 Weekly Issue



Eric5675
Times Writer

This Week in History

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Hey all you Whyvillians. A new issue of the Times means it's a new week. And you all know what that means, right? You don't. Well hush because your going to find out. I'm talking about what happened this week in history. You don't get it? Just read the article . . . Oh yeah, I'm sick and too tired to think of any corny jokes, so I included pictures instead . . . post in the BBS whether you like pictures in the articles.

Let's start with:

Wednesday, February 6

1952 - England's King George VI dies, leaving his eldest daughter, Princess Elizabeth, to take the thrown and rule the country. Although the King has died and she is to start ruling immediately, she is not christened Queen Elizabeth until she is 27. She is officially titled queen on June 2, 1953, almost a year and a half later. However, February 6, 1952 is her first day in charge of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Thursday, February 7

1957 - When 11 Arab oil companies put an embargo (stopping trade) on oil sales to the US and Canada, both countries were doing there best to conserve fuel. In 1973, President Richard Nixon lowered the nation all speed limit to 55 MPH to help conserve much needed fuel. Two years later, Canada followed, actually imposing a speed limit of 55 MPH for the first time. It wasn't for gas though, it was to decrease the number of automobile fatalities. And that it did.

Friday, February 8

1924 - Well, this one's about gas . . . just not the same type. On February 8, 1924, in Carson City, Nevada, Tong Lee, a Chinese gang member in prison for murder of a rival gang member, took the walk of death. Lee was the first person to be executed by means of lethal gas, also known as the Gas Chamber. The chamber is filled with a gas of potassium cyanide, hydrogen cyanide, carbon dioxide, or carbon monoxide. The gas chamber was formerly used in Mississippi, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, North Carolina, and New Mexico. Although the last execution by lethal gas occurred in 1993 in Arizona, five states still retain the Gas Chamber as a "secondary method." Those states include California, Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, and Wyoming.

Saturday, February 9

1942 - Daylights Savings Time, then called "War Time" is enacted by Congress during World War II to help conserve energy. Daylights Savings Time added an hour to each timezone for seven months out of the year. Although it was only supposed to last during war time, it is still carried out today.


or is it . . .

Sunday, February 10

1846 - After the leader of the Mormon church, Joseph Smith, was assassinated, Brigham Young took his place. The Mormons were living in Nauvoo, Missouri at the time. On February 10, 1846, Brigham Young made the decision to leave the community of Nauvoo behind and started leading the journey of 1,600 followers out west to practice freely without persecution. Making a temporary stop for the winter at Sugar Grove, Iowa. By this time, the population was now 12,000 Mormons heading out west. Young decided that they should settle in what is now the Great Salt Lake area of Utah. which at that time belonged to Mexico. However, in 1848, due to the Mexican War, America won the territory. For more info on Mormons, check out Ferrari5x's article on Mormonism, So, What is a Morman Anyway.


Salt Lake LDS (Mormon) Temple
Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah

Monday, February 11

1805 - Sacajawea, the Native American guide from the Louis and Clark Expedition, had her famous baby, Pompey, or Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. The baby is believed to be that of her "husbands," Toussaint Charbonneau. The reason Husband is in quotation marks is because she is a teenager and was bought by Toussaint Charbonneau from her kidnappers. She accompanied Louis, Clark, and the rest of the Corps of Discovery's crew throughout the entire journey.

Tuesday, February 12

1999 - President Bill Clinton, husband to Senator Hilary Clinton, who is now currently running for President, was acquitted on impeachment charges which included lying under oath and obstruction of justice. President Clinton was found out to be having an affair inside the White House with an intern named Monica Lewinsky, age 21. President Clinton was impeached, but not removed from office. He is the second President ever to be impeached, the first being Andrew Johnson in 1868.


Monica Lewinsky and President Bill Clinton (Where's Hilary?)

Well, that wraps it up for this week. I feel too sick to write anything else, so have a nice week. See ya later.

Signing Off, This is
Eric5675

Sources:
http://www.history.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_chamber
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Gaschamber.jpg
http://rreu.11net.com/vehicles/images/1920scrash.jpg
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/saltlake/
http://www3.mpls.k12.mn.us/marcy/Difference203/Sacagewea/sacagawea.jpeg
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2004/04/gallery/scandals/bclinton.jpg

 

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