Today’s Motto: ‘Speedily translating learning into action is the hallmark of a good leader’

This is Your Day-TODAY: Take a Determined Step Forward and Make History!

On this day, Aug.12…….

1851 – Isaac M. Singer of New York City was granted a patent for the first sewing machine with a rocking treadle. Although a sewing machine had already been patented, Singer’s sewing machine was revolutionary, having a double treadle. With patent in hand, Isaac set up shop in Boston, Massachusetts and began to manufacture his invention. Even after huge settlements paid to Elias Howe, another sewing machine patent holder, Singer, through business innovations like instalment buying, after-sale servicing and trade-in allowances, had the marketplace all sewn up.

1865 – Dr. Joseph Lister became the first surgeon to perform an antiseptic operation by liberal use of carbolic acid (phenol) as a disinfectant.

1877 – Thomas Edison invents Edisonphone, a sound recording device.

1908 – Henry Ford’s company builds the first Model T car.

1927 – “Wings”, the only silent film to win an Oscar for best picture, opens. (Outstanding Picture 1929).

1946 – Viceroy announces invitation to Congress to form provisional Government in India.

1981 – IBM introduced the PC personal computer for $1,600 base price. It shortly eliminated most other machines suitable for home or small business. The PC was developed in less than a year at IBM’s Florida facility by using existing off-the-shelf components. The IBM-PC established the dominance of the Microsoft operating system.

1996 – Supreme Court of India stays further proceedings against Narasimha Rao in Chandraswami-Lakhubhai Pathak cheating case.

2015 – China cuts its currency the yuan for the 2nd day in a row to boast exports.

2015 – In London archaeologists discover a mass grave of 30 bodies from the 1665 plague.

2016 – Cannes becomes first French resort to ban the burkini.

2021 – US Census reveal country grown more diverse, growth in Hispanic (+23%) and Asian (+36%) populations, 1st ever decline in white population (-2.6%),

Born….

1919 – Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai, the father of Indian space technology and scientist

1924 – Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, ex-President of Pakistan (born in Jullunder, Punjab).

1952 – Sitaram Yechuri, CPI (M) politician (image credit- Deccan Herald)

RIP….

30 BC – Cleopatra, the last ruler of the Egyptian Ptolemaic dynasty, commits suicide allegedly by inducing an asp (Egyptian cobra) to bite her.

Titbits….

1888 – Bertha Benz, wife of inventor Karl Benz, made the first motor tour. Without her husband’s knowledge, she borrowed one of his cars and with their teenage sons travelled 180 km to visit relatives for 5 days.

You may have known….

Goat’s eyes have rectangular pupils.

 

{Compiled by Lt. Gen. (R) Raj Kadyan}