Today is Wednesday, August 15, the 228th day of 2012. There are 138 days left in the year.
1057 ― Macbeth, King of Scotland, slain by son of King Duncan
1620 ― Mayflower sets sail from Southampton with 102 Pilgrims
1914 ― Panama Canal opens (under cost)
1918 ― U.S. and Russia sever diplomatic ties
1939 ― ``Wizard of Oz" premiers at Grauman's Chinese Theater, Hollywood
1945 ― Korea liberated from Japanese rule
1948 ― Republic of Korea (South Korea) proclaimed (National Day)
1966 ― Radio Free Asia begins radio transmission
1969 ― Woodstock Music & Art Fair opens in N.Y. State (Max Yasgur's Dairy Farm)
1974 ― South Korean President Park Chung-hee escapes assassination