MILESTONES: August 27, birthdays for Aaron Paul, Alexa Vega, Yolanda Adams

August 27, 2018 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Aaron Paul. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include actress ALEXA VEGA, who was born in 1988; musician DARYL DRAGON, who was born in 1942; professional wrestler THE GREAT KHALI, who was born in 1972; actor PATRICK J. ADAMS, who was born in 1981; former French Open champion tennis player CARLOS MOYA, who was born in 1976; actress SARAH CHALKE, who was born in 1976; singer TOMMY SANDS, who was born in 1937; Emmy-winning actor AARON PAUL, who was born in 1979; Hall of Fame baseball player JIM THOME, who was born in 1970; actor and writer PAUL REUBENS, who was born in 1952; fashion designer TOM FORD, who was born in 1961; Emmy-nominated actress CHANDRA WILSON, who was born in 1969; former professional racecar driver MARK WEBBER, who was born in 1976; and actress TUESDAY WELD, who was born in 1943.

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LYNDON B. JOHNSON WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1908. The 36th president of the US succeeded to the presidency following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. During his time in office, he championed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Johnson was born near Stonewall, Texas, and died in San Antonio in 1973. His birthday is observed as a holiday in Texas.

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MOLDOVA DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE ON THIS DAY IN 1991. The first independent elections for the local parliament were held in February and March of 1990. On June 23 of that year, the parliament adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Soviet Socialist Republic Moldova, which, among other things, stipulated the supremacy of Moldovan laws over those of the Soviet Union. After the failure of the 1991 Soviet coup d’etat attempt on Aug. 27 Moldova officially declared its independence from the USSR.

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MOTHER TERESA WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1910. The Albanian Roman Catholic nun, born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, was born in Skopje, Macedonia. She founded the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, which cares for the destitute people of Calcutta, India, and other places. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and died in Calcutta in 1997.

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THE FIRST COMMERCIAL OIL WELL WAS DISCOVERED ON THIS DAY IN 1859. W.A. “Uncle Billy” Smith discovered oil in a shaft being sunk by Colonel E.L. Drake at Titusville, in western Pennsylvania. Drilling had reached 69 feet 6 inches, when Smith saw a dark film floating on the water below the derrick floor. Soon 20 barrels of crude were being pumped each day. The first oil was refined to make kerosene for lighting, replacing whale oil. Later it was refined to make gasoline for cars. The first gas station opened in 1907.

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SRI CHINMOY WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1931. The Indian spiritual leader taught meditation in New York City, establishing in first meditation center in Queens. His student following grew to 7,000 people across 60 countries. He was an advocate of “self-transcendence” through athletics, and organized marathons and other races. He died in his home in Jamaica, Queens in 2007.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

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“You aren’t learning anything when you’re talking.” — Lyndon B. Johnson, who was born on this day in 1908