Not Your Mother's Band
February 13, 1970 -Ozzy Osbourne's band Black Sabbath released its first, self-titled album. The album, which includes such hair-raising songs as Black Sabbath, The Wizard and Evil Woman, is generally recognized as the first heavy metal album. Although the album was initially panned by critics, it nevertheless enjoyed commercial success, selling a million copies in just over a year. Due to the dark style of the band's music, Osbourne earned the nickname: "Prince of Darkness." Osbourne's fame outside the heavy metal world increased after his family was featured in a MTV reality series called The Osbournes from 2002-2005. Today he is perhaps better known for his comical antics and bizarre statements than for his music. Osbourne was spoofed as being old and outdated during Superbowl XLV in this commercial for Best Buy.
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Aloha Captain
February 14, 1779 - Captain James Cook, who was the first European to visit Hawaii, was killed in a skirmish with the island's natives. As Captain of HMS Resolution, Cook visited Hawaii during Makahiki, a Hawaiian harvest festival of worship for the Polynesian God Lono. Some historians argue that the natives worshipped Cook, believing him to be an incarnation of Lono. Cook and his crew stayed at the island for a month before resuming their voyage. Shortly after departing Hawaii the foremast of the Resolution broke, and the ships were forced to return to the island to make repairs. Upon his return Cook was not welcomed, perhaps because the season of Lono had ended, and there were frequent quarrels between the crew and the natives. After several Hawaiians stole one of Cook's small boats, Cook and his men attempted to take the King hostage until the boat was returned. The kidnapping attempt failed and the men were driven back to their boats. As Cook turned his back on the islanders to help launch the boats he was clubbed in the back of the head. He was then stabbed to death as he fell to the ground. Despite the fact that they killed him, the Hawaiians seemed to hold Cook in esteem as the funeral rituals they performed for his body were similar to those reserved for the chiefs and elders of the society.
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Turf Warfare

February 14, 1929 - Five members of the North Side Gang, plus two of their associates, were lined up and gunned down inside a garage in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. The North Side Gang was run by Bugs Moran and was a rival to Al Capone's gang. The men were apparently lured to the garage with the promise of a cut-rate deal on bootleg liquor. Shortly after they arrived at the garage a Cadillac sedan pulled up outside and four men, two of whom were dressed as police officers, entered carrying shotguns and Thompson submachine guns. Subsequent investigations revealed that over 70 rounds of ammunition were fired at the victims, who, being taken by surprise, offered no resistance. The four perpetrators then returned to their car and drove off. The hit was allegedly planned by Capone and his cohorts; however, their intended target, Bugs Moran, never went to the garage that morning. Two of Capone's associates were eventually charged with the murders, but one was killed before the trial, and the other was convicted on lesser charges. The St. Valentine's Day massacre has been depicted in multiple movies and television shows, including the 1959 film Some Like it Hot.
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"I had ambition not only to go farther than any man had ever been before, but as far as it was possible for a man to go."
-- Captain James Cook
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Further Reading
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