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UPI Almanac for Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015

The Cubs and the Curse of the Billy Goat, Sadat assassinated ... on this date in history.

By United Press International
Pope John Paul II is seen arriving at Trinity Washington University in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 7, 1979 to the waves and cheers of people waiting to catch a glimpse of the pontiff. He was there for a prayer service and meetings with ecumenical representatives. File Photo by Pergola/UPI
1 of 9 | Pope John Paul II is seen arriving at Trinity Washington University in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 7, 1979 to the waves and cheers of people waiting to catch a glimpse of the pontiff. He was there for a prayer service and meetings with ecumenical representatives. File Photo by Pergola/UPI | License Photo

Today is Tuesday, Oct. 6, the 279th day of 2015 with 86 to follow.

The moon is waxing. Morning stars are Jupiter, Uranus and Venus. Evening stars are Mars, Mercury, Neptune and Saturn.

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Those born on this date are under the sign of Libra. They include singer Jenny Lind, the "Swedish Nightingale," in 1820; inventor and manufacturer George Westinghouse in 1846; French aviator Roland Garros in 1888; tennis champion Helen Wills Moody in 1905; actors Janet Gaynor in 1906 and Carole Lombard in 1908; Norwegian ethnologist, archaeologist and adventurer Thor Heyerdahl in 1914; former "60 Minutes" journalist Shana Alexander in 1925; actor Britt Ekland in 1942 (age 73); Northern Ireland politician Gerry Adams in 1948 (age 67); television executive Leslie Moonves in 1949 (age 66); football coach Tony Dungy in 1955 (age 60); writer David Brin in 1950 (age 65); and actors Elisabeth Shue in 1963 (age 52), Ioan Gruffudd in 1973 (age 42).

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On this date in history:

In 1846, American entrepreneur and engineer George Westinghouse was born in Central Bridge, New York. Westinghouse gained his first patent at the age of 22, inventing a railroad braking system using compressed air.

In 1853, Antioch College opened in Yellow Springs, Ohio, as the first non-sectarian school to offer equal opportunity for both men and women.

In 1889, Thomas Edison debuts his first motion picture.

In 1908, Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina, dual provinces in Europe's Balkan region which were formerly under the control of the Ottoman Empire, sparking a crisis.

In 1927, "The Jazz Singer" starring Al Jolson, Hollywood's legendary "first talkie," premiered in New York, ushering in the era of sound and a subsequent end of the silents.

In 1945, the Curse of the Billy Goat was placed on the Chicago Cubs when Billy Sianis and his pet billy goat were ejected from Wrigley Field during Game 4 of the World Series because his pet goat's strong odor.

In 1973, Egypt and Syria, attempting to win back territory lost during the third Arab-Israeli war, launched a coordinated attack against Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. This conflict, which would last 19 days, would become known as the Yom Kippur War.

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In 1979, Pope John Paul II becomes the first pontiff to visit the White House.

In 1981, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated as he reviewed a military parade in Cairo.

In 1989, Oscar-winning Hollywood legend Bette Davis died of cancer in a suburb of Paris. She was 81.

In 2001, Cal Ripkin Jr. retired after a baseball career with the Baltimore Orioles that included playing in a record 2,632 consecutive games.

In 2004, a U.S. weapons inspector said Iraq began destroying its illicit weapons in 1991 and had none by 1996, seven years before the United States invaded.

In 2007, Pervez Musharraf breezed to re-election to a third term as president of Pakistan. (He resigned under impeachment pressure in 2008.)

In 2012, the cost of a gallon of regular gasoline in California reached a record high of $4.61. Industry analysts said the increase was mainly due to refinery and pipeline problems.

In 2013, the United States won the Presidents Cup in Dublin, Ohio, defeating the International team 18 1/2 to 15 1/2. Tiger Woods defeated Richard Sterne 1-up in the match that clinched the victory for the Americans, their fifth straight.

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A thought for the day: Hubert Humphrey said in 1964, "Freedom is the most contagious virus known to man."

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