Today is Wednesday, Feb. 19, the 50th day of 2025. There are 315 days left in the year.
Today in history
On Feb. 19, 1942, during World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which paved the way for the internment of 125,000 people of Japanese ancestry, including U.S.-born citizens.
Also on this date
In 1473, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland.
In 1847, the first rescuers reached members of the Donner Party, who had been snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountains near the California-Nevada border for nearly four months.
In 1878, inventor Thomas Edison was issued a patent for the phonograph.
In 1945, Operation Detachment began during World War II as the first wave of U.S. Marines landed at Iwo Jima, where they commenced a successful monthlong battle to seize control of the island from Japanese forces.
In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford, calling the issuing of the 1942 internment order for people of Japanese ancestry “a sad day in American history,” signed a proclamation formally confirming its termination.
In 2003, an Iranian military plane carrying members of the elite Revolutionary Guards crashed in southeastern Iran, killing all 275 people on board.
In 2008, an ailing Fidel Castro resigned the Cuban presidency after nearly a half-century in power; his brother Raúl was later named to succeed him.
Fun facts
Avocados are a fruit, not a vegetable. They’re technically considered a single-seeded berry.
Trypophobia is the fear of closely-packed holes. Or more specifically, “an aversion to the sight of irregular patterns or clusters of small holes or bumps.”
The Ancient Romans used to drop a piece of toast into their wine for good health - hence why we ‘raise a toast’.
The heart of a shrimp is located in its head. They also have an open circulatory system, which means they have no arteries and their organs float directly in blood.
The unicorn is the national animal of Scotland. It was apparently chosen because of its connection with dominance and chivalry as well as purity and innocence in Celtic mythology.
Today’s birthdays
Singer Smokey Robinson is 85. Rock musician Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) is 77. Author Amy Tan is 73. Actor Jeff Daniels is 70. Actor Ray Winstone is 68. Actor Leslie David Baker is 67. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is 66. Tennis Hall of Famer Hana Mandlíková is 63. Singer Seal is 62. Actor Benicio Del Toro is 58. Author-cartoonist Jeff Kinney is 54. NBA center Nikola Joki is 30. Singer-songwriter Chappell Roan is 27. Actor Millie Bobby Brown is 21.
The Edge is compiled by Katie Clohessy. She can be contacted at kclohessy@lmtribune.com.
