1 of 4 | A gas station sign tells customers it’s out of gas on January 29, 1974, amid an energy crisis. On October 17, 1973, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries declared an oil embargo on countries supporting Israel in its war with Egypt, Syria and Jordan. File Photo by Warren K. Leffler/U.S. Library of Congress
Today is Thursday, Oct. 17, the 291st day of 2024 with 75 to follow.
The moon is full. Morning stars are Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus. Evening stars are Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus and Venus.
Those born on this day are under the sign of Libra. They include Jupiter Hammon, America’s first published Black poet, in 1711; Pope John Paul I in 1912; writer Arthur Miller in 1915; actor Rita Hayworth in 1918; Football Hall of Fame member Don Coryell in 1924; writer Jimmy Breslin in 1930; astronaut William Anders in 1933; daredevil Robert “Evel” Knievel in 1938; musician Jim Seals (Seals & Crofts) in 1941; musician Gary Puckett (Gary Puckett & the Union Gap/Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band) in 1942 (age 82); Olympic gold medal-winning pole vaulter Bob Seagren in 1946 (age 78); actor Michael McKean in 1947 (age 77); actor Margot Kidder in 1948; actor George Wendt in 1948 (age 76); astronaut Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, in 1956 (age 68); musician Alan Jackson in 1958 (age 66); comedian Norm Macdonald in 1959; actor Grant Shaud in 1961 (age 63); animator/actor Mike Judge in 1962 (age 62); actor/writer Mark Gatiss in 1966 (age 58); musician René Dif (Aqua) in 1967 (age 57); musician Ziggy Marley in 1968 (age 56); Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els in 1969 (age 55); musician Wyclef Jean (Fugees/Soul Assassins) in 1969 (age 55); actor Wood Harris in 1969 (age 55); musician Chris Kirkpatrick (NSYNC) in 1971 (age 53); musician Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, in 1972 (age 52); actor Matthew Macfadyen in 1974 (age 50); MMA fighter Holly Holm in 1981 (age 43); actor Felicity Jones in 1983 (age 41); actor Max Irons in 1985 (age 39); actor Jacob Artist in 1992 (age 32).
On this date in history:
In 1931, gangster Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion. It took jurors four days to decide whether the mobster had cheated the Internal Revenue Service out of $215,000.
In 1933, German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein fled Nazi Germany, settling in the United States and becoming an American citizen in 1940.
In 1945, Juan Peron became dictator of Argentina. He remained in power for 11 years before being overthrown.
In 1949, British steamer Anhui reported taking fire from Communist China’s army as it sailed for Hong Kong with 1,400 passengers aboard. Ship’s officers said the vessel was under fire for 15 minutes, resulting in three dead and 25 injured.
In 1964, reconnaissance flights made by the U-2 played a role in obtaining for the United States advance information on Red China’s first nuclear blast.
In 1965, following a two-year run that saw more than 51 million people walk through its gates, the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair closed its doors. With a theme of “Peace Through Understanding,” the fair was a showcase for science and technology and lives on in the Unisphere, a 12-story high model of the world which dominates Flushing Meadow.
In 1973, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries declared an oil embargo on countries supporting Israel in its war with Egypt, Syria and Jordan. The ensuing energy crisis drove up gasoline prices and created a shortage in the United States, prompting long lines at the pump.
In 1979, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a Roman Catholic nun who cared for the sick and poor, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1986, Congress passed a landmark immigration bill, the first U.S. law authorizing penalties for employers who hire undocumented immigrants.
In 1989, the most powerful California earthquake since the legendary tremblor of 1906 struck the San Francisco Bay area at the evening rush hour. At least 63 people were killed and hundreds of others injured.The quake hit just before the scheduled start of Game 3 of the World Series in San Francisco between the Giants and the Oakland A’s.
In 2001 the U.S. Congress closed for security sweeps after 321 staff members and police officers tested positive for exposure to anthrax.
In 2010, at least 60 people died and 50 others were hurt in violence that preceded special parliamentary elections in Karachi, Pakistan.
In 2017, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said it cleared Raqqa, the Islamic State’s de facto Syrian capital, of all militant fighters. The Second Battle of Raqqa had begun June 6, 2017.
In 2020, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won a landslide victory for a second term.
A thought for the day: “There are but two places where all go after death, white and Black, rich and poor; those places are heaven and hell. — American poet Jupiter Hammon
