What’s Happening Today?

Thoughtful Thursday. Thoughtful Thursday is a time to be mindful of others—at home, work, and in public—and realize that they may have thoughts, concerns, and needs that we haven't been aware of. It is a day to try to be more aware of their feelings and to be more considerate and thoughtful. The day is part of Be Kind to Humankind Week, which is "a celebration of people and the kind acts that they perform all across the globe." Lorraine Jara created the week in 1988 after reading a story about two young men in her town of Toms River, New Jersey, who had flipped over in a rowboat. Two ladies from another boat pulled them out of the cold water, but their boat was not motorized and they didn't have a radio to call for help. Two boats with radio antennas passed and did not stop to help. A person from one of those boats apparently even said, "We don't want to be bothered." One of the two boaters who had fallen in the water ended up dying. Jara was devastated by what had happened in her town and wanted to honour the memory of the deceased man, so she started Be Kind to Humankind Week.

Tarzan Day. Today we celebrate Tarzan, the popular tree-swinging and ape-raised character, who made his first appearance on today's date in 1912. Tarzan debuted in the novel Tarzan of the Apes, which was originally published in instalments in The All-Story magazine, starting with the October 1912 issue, which came out on August 27. 

What Happened Today?

1. In 1985, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida overthrew Muhammadu Buhari in a military coup in Nigeria. Babangida took over the government after overthrowing  Buhari in a bloodless coup. Buhari is currently the President of Nigeria.

2. In 1991, Moldova gained Independence from the USSR. The Eastern European country was part of the Soviet Union since August 2, 1940, from parts of Romania and parts of the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1991, after the dissolution of the USSR, the country gained its independence.

3. In 2003, the world’s biggest battery was plugged in. The battery, which takes up about 2,000 square metres of space and weighs about 1,300 tonnes was set up to provide emergency electricity to the residents of Fairbanks in Alaska, for about 7 minutes.

Birthdays

1. 1908 - Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th President of the United States of America.

2. 1956 – George Michael Mukula, commonly known as Mike Mukula, a Ugandan politician, professional pilot and businessman. He is also the former MP for Soroti Municipality and the State Minister for Health.

3. 1984 – Olivia Nakitanda, Ugandan Olympic Swimmer.

Sources: Wikipedia, checkiday & bornglorious.com