| Saturday, November 18, 2006 |
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| George H. Gallup |
SpotlightGeorge Horace Gallup was a pioneer in using statistical analysis of polling to measure public opinion. His method first became popular when he correctly predicted the outcome of the 1936 US presidential election between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Alf Landon. Born on this date in 1901, Gallup created the Gallup Poll. His technique was successful in predicting the outcome in most of the elections since then, with a glaring exception of the 1948 pick of Thomas Dewey over incumbent Harry Truman.
Quote"I could prove God statistically. Take the human body alone — the chances that all the functions of an individual would just happen is a statistical monstrosity."
Today's News
- India: will receive civilian nuclear fuel and technology from the United States (story)
- carpal tunnel syndrome: evidence of link to repetititive motion is discovered (story)
- Sarah Ferguson: the Duchess of York is interested in Dancing with the Stars (story)
Today's History
- William Tell: legendary archer shot an arrow through an apple on his son's head, thus saving his own life (1307)
- Mickey Mouse: debuted in Steamboat Willie, an animated Disney film (1928)
- Jonestown: over 900 people died in a murder/suicide pact led by preacher
Jim Jones in Guyana (1978)
Today's Birthdays
- Sir William Gilbert: lyricist, half of the duo Gilbert and Sullivan (1836-1911)
- Alan Shepard: the first American in space (1923-1998)
- Margaret Atwood: author of The Handmaid's Tale (67)
- Owen Wilson: actor, Zoolander, Shanghai Noon (38)
