HistorTweet Week in Review - W/E February 20, 2010

[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 February 20, 2010:

[SFX: SOUND827]World: DATELINE Europe, February 16, 1999 - Kurdish rebels coordinate pan-European attacks on embassies: http://bit.ly/cbARez
The Back-Story: [SFX: Stand or Fall; Burning Down the House; I’m Burning for You] Abdullah Ocalan, in 1978, founded the Turkish Workers Party, or PKK, which pursues an independent Kurdish state within Turkey through armed conflict. Ocalan was operating out of Syria in 1998, when Turkey turned up the heat, causing the Syrian government to expel Ocalan, sending him on the run through several nations. On February 15th of the following year, Ocalan was captured at the Greek embassy in Kenya and flown to Turkey, setting off a wave of coordinated demonstrations all over Europe. Greek and Kenyan embassies were targeted, where demonstrators threw stones, set themselves on fire and took hostages. Other than the immolations, the loss of life was minimal, and most protests ended following negotiations. Ocalan was convicted and sentenced to death, with his sentence commted to life-long aggravated imprisonment after Turkey abolished the death penalty. [SFX: When the Bombs Start Dropping; 99 Luftballons; You Dropped a Bomb on ME]

[SFX: SOUND827]Sports: DATELINE Nagano, February 20, 1998 - Go figure - 15-year-old Lipinski is youngest to skate for Olympic gold.: http://bit.ly/cWYVnW
The Back-Story: [SFX: Will it go 'round in circles;Too Young; The World Loves a Dancer; Because You're Young ] American Tara Lipinski was 9 was nine years old when she was inspired by watching Kristi Yamaguchi win Olympic Gold in Albertville. A short 6 years later, millions watched Lipinski make Olympic history. Lipinskii who was still 15, had been sakting at the senior level for only 2 years, but, by Nagano, was the reigning world champion in figure skating. Although US national champion, Michelle Kwan, entered the competition as the favorite, Lipinski skated her heart out, becoming the youngest gold medalist in any individual Olympic event. Lipinkski was a benefit of good timing: First, the Lillehammer games were held 2 years after Albertville, to stagger them with the Summer Olympics, meaning that the Nagano games took place in ’98 rather than 2000, when Lipinski, if she won, would not have been the youngest. Also, since her victory, eligibility has changed, and, under the new rules, she would not have been old enough to make the squad. [SFX: Can't Touch This]

[SFX: SOUND827]: Things that Make you Go Huh?: DATELINE Missouri, February 18: 1930 - Elm Farm Ollie's first flight is milked for all it's worth (24 quarts) http://bit.ly/bSfis3:
The Back-Story: [SFX:Fly me to the MOO-ing; things Ain't Working Out Down at the Farm; Old McDonald] Elm Farm Ollie, also known as Nellie Jay, prouced so much milk that she had to be milked three times a day. It wasn’t a big surprise, then, she was chosen for an experiment to allow scientists to observe the effect of flying on animals. She didn’t disappoint on the trip, giving the scientists plenty to observe as she gave Elsworth W. Bunce, the first man to milk a cow on an a flying airplane, 24 gallons of milk, which was placed in cartons and parachuted down to the audience below. Folks, I’mnot making this up. [SFX:]

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

February 14: Comedian Jack Benny
February 15: Suffragette Susan B. Anthony
February 16: Tennis great John McEnroe
February 17: Actor Hal Holbrook
February 18: Scientist Alessandro Volta
February 19: Astronomer Nicolas Copernicus
And February 20: Photographer Ansel Adams anseladams.com,.org

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