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Today in History: July 25
0326
Emperor Constantine refuses to carry out traditional pagan sacrifices.

1394
Charles VI of France issues a decree for the general expulsion of Jews from France.

1564
Maximilian II becomes emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

1587
Hideyoshi bans Christianity in Japan and orders all Christians to leave.

1759
British forces defeat a French army at Fort Niagara in Canada.

1799
On his way back from Syria, Napoleon Bonaparte defeats the Ottomans at Aboukir, Egypt.

1814
British and American forces fight each other to a standoff at Lundy's Lane, Canada.

1845
China grants Belgium equal trading rights with Britain, France and the United States.

1850
Gold is discovered in the Rogue River in Oregon, extending the quest for gold up the Pacific coast.

1861
The Crittenden Resolution, calling for the American Civil War to be fought to preserve the Union and not for slavery, is passed by Congress.

1867
President Andrew Johnson signs an act creating the territory of Wyoming.

1894
Japanese forces sink the British steamer Kowshing which was bringing Chinese reinforcements to Korea.

1909
French aviator Louis Bleriot becomes the first man to fly across the English Channel in an airplane.

1914
Russia declares that it will act to protect Serbian sovereignty.

1924
Greece announces the deportation of 50,000 Armenians.

1934
Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss is shot and killed by Nazis.

1941
The U.S. government freezes Japanese and Chinese assets.

1943
Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini is overthrown in a coup.

1944
Allied forces begin the breakthrough of German lines in Normandy.

1978
The first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, is born in Oldham, England.

1984
Svetlana Savitskaya becomes first woman to perform a space walk.

Today in History: Born on July 25
1844
Thomas Eakins, American painter.

1848
Arthur James Balfour, Prime Minister of England (1902-1905).

1853
David Belasco, actor, playwright and producer.

1880
Morris Raphael Cohen, American philosopher and mathematician.

1902
Eric Hoffer, American longshoreman and philosopher (The True Believer, Before the Sabbath),

1907
Johnny Hodges, jazz musician.

1927
Midge Decter, writer and editor.

1935
Barbara Harris, actress.

JOTD
Several men are sitting in the locker room of their local gym. A cell phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands free speaker function and begins to talk. Everyone in the room stops to listen.

Man: "Hello."

Woman: "It's me. Are you in the club?"

Man: "Yes."

Woman: "I am at the mall and found this beautiful leather coat. It's only $1,000. Is it okay if I buy it?"

Man: "Sure. Go ahead, if you like it that much."

Woman: "I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the new 2006 models. I saw one I really liked."

Man: "How much?"

Woman: "$90,000."

Man: Okay, but for that price I want it with all the options."

Woman: "Really? Great! Oh, and one more thing, the house I wanted last year is back on the market. They're asking $1,350,000."

Man: "Well, then go ahead and give them an offer of $1,300,000. If they don't take it, we can go the extra fifty thousand. It's really a pretty good price."

Woman: "Okay. I'll see you later then. I love you so much!"

Man: "Bye. I love you, too." The man hangs up the phone and the other men in the locker room are staring at him in astonishment, mouths agape. The man smiles and asks, "Anyone knows who this phone belongs to?"