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Today in History: September 20

0480 Themistocles and his Greek fleet win one of history's first decisive naval victories over Xerxes' Persian force off Salamis.

1519 Ferdinand Magellan embarks from Spain on a voyage to circumnavigate the world.

1806 Explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark pass the French village of La Charette, the first white settlement they have seen in more than two years.

1863 Union troops under George Thomas prevent the Union defeat at Chickamauga from becoming a rout, earning him the nickname "the Rock of Chickamauga."

1952 Scientists confirm that DNA holds hereditary data.

1971 Hurricane Irene becomes the first hurricane known to cross from the Atlantic to Pacific, where it is renamed Hurricane Olivia.

1973 In a pro tennis bout dubbed "The Battle of the Sexes," Billie Jean King beats Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome in Texas.

2001 US Pres. George W. Bush, addressing a joint session of Congress, declares a "war on terror.".

2011 US military ends its "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and allows gay men and women to serve openly.


Born on September 20

1920 Jay Ward, creator and producer of animated TV cartoons (Rocky & His Friends, renamed The Bullwinkle Show; George of the Jungle).

1934 Sofia Loren (Sofia Scicolone), first actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for a performance in a non-English language film (Two Women); received Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievements (1995).

Joke of the Day
My lesbian friend just bought me a Rolex for my birthday.

Very nice of her, but not exactly what I meant when I said "I wanna watch"