Wednesday, August 08, 2012

TODAY IN HISTORY


AUGUST 8

1988:The hip-hop group N.W.A., whose members include Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, DJ Yella, MC Ren and Ice Cube, releases Straight Outta Compton, the groundbreaking album that would introduce the unapologetic, explicit and socially critical genre of gangsta rap into the mainstream. The album would reach double platinum, despite (or perhaps as a result of) being banned by radio and MTV and receiving a "parental advisory" label. Perhaps most notably, N.W.A. would receive a warning letter from the FBI about the dangerous nature of their music.


1876: Thomas Edison receives a patent for the mimeograph, an early printing press invented by the "Wizard of Menlo Park" that easily copies documents using ink and stencils.


1988: The "8888 Uprising" is launched in Rangoon, Burma, as hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life take to the streets to protest against the one-party rule of the Burma Socialist Program Party. Also known as the People Power Uprising, the nationwide movement would bring Aung San Suu Kyi to prominence as an internationally recognized, prodemocracy figure. The protests would continue until Sept. 18 when the Burmese military would use extreme violence to regain control of the country.


1929:A round-the-world flight is begun by the German airship Graf Zeppelin, which was designed (and named after) Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin.

1960:Brian Hyland's "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" hits number one

1794:Search for Northwest Passage in Alaska is lead by Whidbey and Vancouver.
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