November 17th, 2023, here we go:
We've reached the 321st day of the year, nestled in the 46th week. Only 44 more sleeps until New Year's Eve! The astrological sign for this day is none other than the tenacious Scorpio, and here are some name days to celebrate: Elisabeth, Florin, Gertrud, Hilda, and Viktoria.
Strolling down memory lane, let's dive into some historical nuggets:
- 2003: Huzzah for Germany! Not only did the "John the Baptist" Dürer painting reappear after being misplaced since the end of World War 2, but Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in as the Terminator-turned-governor of California.
- 1993: The UN tribunal for Yugoslavia's war crimes started proceedings in The Hague, aiming to address human rights atrocities and war misdeeds.
- 1970: Wow, the Soviet Luna 17 spacecraft touched down on the moon, deploying the first lunar vehicle, Lunochod 1.
- 1963: Austria celebrated the opening of the Europa Bridge, the highest in Europe at the time, which spanned the Sill Valley near Innsbruck.
- 1846: Carl Zeiss, a German mechanical engineer and entrepreneur, set up shop in Jena with a workshop dedicated to precision optical instruments.
- 1558: Elizabeth I ascended the English throne, kicking off a nearly 45-year reign.
Now, let's talk about some extraordinary individuals born on this day:
- Christopher Paolini, an American fantasy author, turned 40 this year. His "Eragon" series made him a household name.
- Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, an American actress, celebrated her 65th birthday. She's known for her roles in movies like "The Tempest."
- Axel Schultes, a renowned German architect, celebrated his 80th birthday. His work includes the Spreebogen, Germany's Federal Chancellery, and the Baumschulenweg crematorium.
- Lauren Hutton, an American actress and influential model, turned 80. She made a splash in the 1970s "American Gigolo."
- Horst Michael Neutze, a German actor, celebrated his somber 80th birthday earlier this year. He's best remembered for his roles in the TV series "Stahlnetz" and "Stalingrad."
Unfortunately, two notable individuals left us on this day:
- Doris Lessing, a British author, died in 2013. She won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007 for works like "The Golden Notebook" and "African Tragedy."
- Peco Bauwens, a German sports official, died in 1963. He was the President of the German Football Association from 1949 to 1962.
Digging deeper into the historical events of November 17, we stumble upon the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia (1989), which marked the beginning of a peaceful movement that eventually dismantled the Communist government. In 1973, Athens, Greece, saw a student uprising at the Polytechnic University, resulting in the lives of twenty students being claimed after the army suppressed protests. This event marked the rise of the Revolutionary Organization 17 November, a radical militant group.
[Sources: dpa.com]
