Histortweet Week in Review - W/E September 12, 2009

[SFX: CHURCHBELL] Greetings, History Lovers! Welcome to This Tweet in History, the Week In Review, podcasting to you on tape delay from our North American Studios.

Here are your top stories for the week ending September 19, 2009:

[SFX: SOUND827]World: DATELINE Europe, September 18, 1809 – Russians, Swedes Finnish War: http://bit.ly/tKOAm
The Back-Story:
[SFX:Alexander Nevsky] It was called the Finnish War, but it actually had less to do with Finland than with Russsia and Sweden; or, really, France and Great Britain. France’s emperor, Napoleon, ruled Continental Europe, but not the British Isles[SFX: Stand or Fall]. Napoleon closed Europe’s ports to British trade, but the Swedes allowed them access, and they were able to trade throughout Europe through that loophole. Napoleon convinced Russia’s Tsar Alexander I to force Sweden to close its harbors to the British. Russia invaded in February, 1808, and, when all was said and done, they were victorious, and vanquished Sweden lost six of its eastern provinces to Russia. Finland was no longer governed from Stockholm, but became part of Russia. This was the last war that Swedenn fought[SFX: I’m going to lay down my sword and shield]

[SFX: SOUND827]Sports: DATELINE Seoul, September 19, 1988 – Louganis, in temporary stitches from hitting board on first dive, makes 2 more dives and makes finals: http://bit.ly/giguA
The Back-Story:
[SFX: Arc of a Diver] In 1983, Greg Louganis was poolside, hiding his face and covering his ears, fearing the worst, as a young Russian diver prepared to execute a 3 ½ somersault in the tuck position, known as the dance of death. Sadly, that moniker proved accurate for young Sergei Chalibashvili. Five years later, at the Seoul Olympics, Louganis himself would attempt that dive as he sought to qualify for the medal round. On his ninth dive, Louganis failed to clear the springboard, which he hit with his head on the way down. Following an awkward crash into the water, he reappeared, stunned but conscious, and tells the team doctor [SFX: Doctor, Doctor] to stitch it up so that he can complete remaining two dives. With temporary stitches in place, he completes the final dives and qualifies to qualify for the medal round. The next morning, with five fresh stitches, Louganis gives a courageous performance,and captures the gold.[SFX:Do it again; The Right Stuff]

[SFX: SOUND827]: Things that make you go huh? [SFX: Things that Make You Go Hmm]: DATELINE San Francisco, September 17, 1859 – Norton I proclaimed U.S.’s first and only emperor. In California (Where else?): http://www.molossia.org/norton.html:
The Back-Story:
[SFX: I Left my Heart in San Francisco] Joshua Abraham Norton immigrated to the United States in 1849, landing in San Francisco with a small fortune, which he parlayed into a quarter of a million dollars within four years. After an ill-thought-out attempt to corner the rice market left him bankrupt, he lost his sanity and disappeared from the public eye. As an immigrant, he was ineligible to run for president, [SFX: Bicycle Song] but, when he reappeared, it was as the self-proclaimed emperor of the United States. [SFX: Simon Bar Sinister] The city largely indulged and celebrated him, even publishing his proclamations and edicts in the local papers. Although he was bankrupt, he lived as an emperor, with restaurants providing him free meals, and the city providing him a stipend for the rest of his life. When he died, in 1880, he was given an elaborate funeral, courtesy of the wealthier citizens of San Francisco, attended by over 20,000 people. [SFX: If I Ruled the World]

[SFX: SOUND827] This week’s birthdays:[SFX: In the Club]

September 13:Candy king Milton Hershey
September 14:Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev
September 15: US President William H. Taft
September 16: Blues great BB King
September 17: Horror Host Cassandra Peterson
September 18:Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong
And September 19: TV’s Batman, Adam West

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