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A Blast From The Past

By PENNY NELSON BARTHOLOMEW, United Press International
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Today is Jan. 22.


It was on this date in 1771 that Spain signed papers handing Britain control of the Falklands, a collection of islands in the south Atlantic where sheep outnumber people. Argentina has been claiming the Falklands ever since -- and fought a war to reclaim them in 1982. It lost. Argentina's ruling junta was thrown out as a result and today Argentina is a democracy. By the way, Argentinians do not call the islands the Falklands. They call them the Malvinas.

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The Gulf War had one of its bloodiest moments on this date in 1991, when Iraq launched its third and worst Scud missile attack against Israel. 98 people were injured. Three more died of heart attacks.


This is an important anniversary in World War II. American troops invaded Italy to outflank German defensive positions on this date in 1944. That was the landing at Anzio.


This is the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. On this date in 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state laws restricting abortions during the first six months of pregnancy.


A year after being captured in his remote Montana cabin, accused UNAbomber Ted Kaczynski on this date in 1998 pleaded guilty to all counts against him in California and New Jersey. He was sentenced to life in prison on May 4.

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On this date in 1987, 27-year-old Glen Tremml pedaled an ultralight aircraft over California's Edwards Air Force Base to set a world record for human-powered flight -- more than 37 miles.


And Queen Victoria died on this date in 1901. She had reigned for 64 years.


We now return you to the present, already in progress.

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