re: GMT

Today in History August 13

1521 Hernan Cortes captures the city of Tenochtitlan, Mexico, and sets it on fire.

1889 The first coin-operated telephone is patented by William Gray.

1948 During the Berlin Airlift, the weather over Berlin becomes so stormy that American planes have their most difficult day landing supplies. They deem it ‘Black Friday.’

1961 Construction begins on Berlin Wall during the night.

1963 A 17 year-old Buddhist monk burns himself to death in Saigon, South Vietnam.

1993 US Court of Appeals rules Congress must save all emails.

2020 Israel strikes historic deal with the United Arab Emirates to normalize relations, Israel suspends plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank

Born on August 13

1930 Don Ho, Hawaii's best-known musician and singer ("Tiny Bubbles").

Joke of the Day

A guy is late for an important meeting.

But he can't find a place to park. In desperation, he begins to pray. "Please Lord, if you help me find a parking stall right now, I promise to go to church every Sunday and never drink vodka again!" A moment later, he sees a beautiful empty spot right next to the entrance. "Never mind. Found one!"