On December 9, 1979, a commission of scientists declared smallpox
has been eradicated. The disease, which carries around a 30 percent chance of death for those who contract it, is the only infectious
disease afflicting humans that has officially been eradicated.

Three former directors of the Global Smallpox Eradication Program read the news that smallpox had been globally eradicated.

John Lennon, a former member of the Beatles, the rock group that transformed
popular music in the 1960s, was shot and killed by an obsessed fan in New
York City. 

The 40-year-old artist was entering his luxury Manhattan apartment
building when Mark David Chapman (below) shot him four times at
close range with a .38-caliber revolver. Lennon, bleeding profusely,
was rushed to the hospital but died en-route. Chapman had received
an autograph from Lennon earlier in the day (above) and voluntarily
remained at the scene of the shooting until he was arrested by
police.

For a week, hundreds of bereaved fans kept a vigil outside the
Dakota–Lennon’s apartment building–and demonstrations of
mourning were held around the world.

New York City police hold spectators behind barricades the
day after former Beatle John Lennon was shot and killed in
front his residence at the Dakota in New York. (AP)

DON’T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR MASK!

Cabell "Cab" Calloway III
(December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994)

Cab Calloway was an American jazz singer, dancer,
bandleader and actor.

Stonewall Jackson (November 6, 1932 – December 4, 2021)

Country artist Stonewall Jackson, known for his time on the Grand
Ole Opry stage for more than five decades, died on Saturday after a lengthy battle with vascular dementia.