GMT

Today in History: August 28

1914 Three German cruisers are sunk by ships of the Royal Navy in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, the first major naval battle of World War I.

1938 The first degree given to a ventriloquist's dummy is awarded to Charlie McCarthy--Edgar Bergen's wooden partner. The honorary degree, "Master of Innuendo and Snappy Comeback," is presented on radio by Ralph Dennis, the dean of the School of Speech at Northwestern University.

1963 One of the largest demonstrations in the history of the United States, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, takes place and reaches its climax at the base of the Lincoln Memorial when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I have a dream" speech.

1981 John Hinckley Jr. pleads innocent to attempting to assassinate Pres. Ronald Reagan.

1982 First Gay Games held, in San Francisco.

1986 US Navy officer Jerry A. Whitworth given 365-year prison term for spying for USSR.

2003 Power blackout affects half-million people in southeast England and halts 60% of London's underground trains.

2005 Hurricane Katrina reaches Category 5 strength; Louisiana Superdome opened as a "refuge of last resort" in New Orleans.

2012 US Republican convention nominates Mitt Romney as the party's presidential candidate.

Born on August 28

1965 Shania Twain (Eilleen Regina Edwards), five-time Grammy-winning singer ("You're Still the One"); only female artist to have three consecutive Diamond albums (10 million units sold).

1986 Gilad Shalit, Israeli Defense Forces corporal kidnapped by Hamas and held for five years before being exchanged for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.


JOTD

Three brothers age 92, 94 and 96 live in a house together.

One night the 96 year old draws a bath, puts his foot in and pauses. He yells down the stairs, "Was I getting in or out of the bath?"
The 94 year old yells back, "I don't know, I'll come up and see." He starts up the stairs and pauses, then he yells, "Was I going up the stairs or coming down?"
The 92 year old was sitting at the kitchen table having coffee listening to his brothers. He shakes his head and says, "I sure hope I never get that forgetful." He knocks on wood for good luck. He then yells, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door."