HistorTweet Week in Review - W/E February 27, 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 27, 2010:

[SFX: SOUND827]World: DATELINE Manila, February 22, 1986 - People Power Revolution launches in Philippines, demanding Marcos relinquish power to Aquino: http://bit.ly/ap7I8
The Back-Story: [SFX: We’re Not Going to Take It; Get up stand up; Taking it to the streets] Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in 1973, just before his term in office was to expire, remaining in office for over a decade. In 1983, he had his rival, Ninoy Aquino, assassinated, and the people rose in protest, demanding elections. Snap elections were held in February 1986, pitting Marcos against Imelda Aquino, Niony’s widow, with Marcos declared the winner in results that were disputed by independent election monitors. The Filipino people refused to accept the results, and took to the streets with yellow ribbons, thus spawning the name “The Yellow Revolution” that not only brought Aquino to power but also inspired non-violent demonstrations throughout Eastern Europe that ultimately brought about the fall of commmunism theree. [SFX: When the Walls Come Tumbling Down]

[SFX: SOUND827]Sports: DATELINE New York, February 22, 1955 - Little Mo, dominant tennis phenom, retires at 19 following riding accident http://bit.ly/VAGVj
The Back-Story: [SFX: I’m Outsanding; The Ball is in your court; ] Maureen Connolly’s first love was horseback riding. Her parents, though, were unable to afford riding lessons and, instead, she moved to tennis. This was a fortuitous change, as she dominated on the court, winning 56 consecutive matches at the tender age of 14; taking the US championship at 16, and winning the first Grand Slam ever by a woman at 18, losing only one set in the four tournaments. With money no longer an issue, Connolly was able to pursue her first love, horseback riding. On one of the rides, two weeks after she won her 3rd Wimbledon title, she passed a cement mixer; the hourse panicked, and her leg was crushed, with muscle and tendon damage. Although she hoped to return to tennis, in 1955, at the age of 19, she accepted the inevitable and retired from the game. [SFX: Can't Touch This; Cul de Sac]

[SFX: SOUND827]: Things that Make you Go Huh?: DATELINE England: February 23, 1884 - Sign from God? Gallows work fine except when Lee's on them: http://bit.ly/cCKVyc
The Back-Story: [SFX:Freedom Song; Can’t Keep A Good Man Down]John Lee, convicted on circumstantial evidence of murdering his wealthy employer, Emma Ann Keyse, protested his innocence to the end. Or, what he thought was the end. At 8:00 in the morning, Lee was led to a newly constructed scaffold with a trapdoor that had been tested moments before. When the sheriff gave the signal, the trapdoor was released, but failed to open. Lee stepped off; the trapdoor worked; Lee was put back on top, and the door froze. Lee was taken back to his cell, and further tests were run on the trapdoor. With no one on it, it worked. With the hangman on it holding the rope, it worked. Lee was marched back and put in place. The trapdoor froze. The trapdoor was planed down to free it. Lee was placed upon it. The door held firm. Back Lee went to his cell. The sheriff wrote to London, where the House of Commons debated the circumstances. Eventually, his death sentence was commuted to life in prison, and ultimately paroled. [SFX:]

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

February 21: Guitarist Andres Segovia
February 22: Composer Frederic Chopin
February 23: Author W.E.B. Dubois
February 24: Tenor Enrico Caruso
February 25: Painter Pierre Auguste Renoir www.pierre-auguste-renoir.org
February 26: Author Victor Hugo
And February 27: Israeli premier Ariel Sharon

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