This Day in History: February's Retro Actions

Ah, tax evasion. It's as American as apple pie (just ask Tom Daschle or Wesley Snipes).

But it wasn't actors or politicians that the IRS was going after on this day in 1993. It was hippie country music legend Willie Nelson—this time to the tune of $16 million.

The taxes owed were mostly from returns filed during the 1970s and 1980s, when the IRS disallowed several tax deductions designed to shelter most of the musician’s income.

Despite Nelson's claims he wasn't directly at fault (he was in the process of suing Price Waterhouse for mishandling his account), the IRS immediately began auctioning off the Texas native's most valuable belongings, including the 44-acre ranch where his daughter lived with her four children.

After agreeing to keep $3.6 million worth of assets, the IRS settled with Nelson for $5.4 million of the remaining balance.

Despite the change in lifestyle, the outlaw-country icon remained remarkably positive.

"I had a lot of things I owned, I needed to get rid of," said Nelson. "I had a lot of people around and needed to back off and stop supporting half the world so I could stop and look at my situation. It’s given me time to take inventory."

Tax evasion or not, you gotta respect a man who won't let the Man get him down.

Photo: Reuters Pictures

As any Patriots fan can tell you, a lot can change in seven years.

Take Mark Zuckerberg. One minute you're a Harvard sophomore pranking coeds on the Internet; the next you're TIME's Man of the Year and making awkward cameos on SNL. Oh, and a billionaire.

The insanity all started back in 2004. While Friendster was duking it out with upstart Myspace for the top spot in social networking, "Zuck" launched a little-known website called The Facebook from his Cambridge dorm room.

The rest, as they say, is Oscar-nominated history. Nearly 700 million members later, the 26-year-old has been credited with fundamentally changing the way we communicate with friends and family on the Internet.

"The web is at a really important turning point right now," Zuckerberg said in April. "Up until recently, the default on the web has been that most things aren’t social and most things don’t use your real identity. We’re building toward a web where the default is social."

With an estimated worth of $14 billion, the Harvard dropout has recently been making headlines for his philanthropic efforts. In December, he joined Warren Buffet and Bill Gates in promising to give away half his fortune during his lifetime.

As for Facebook, it's just getting started: a recent $50 billion valuation by Goldman Sachs indicates the networking giant plans to go public within the next year, sending investors scrambling.

Look like it might be time to change those privacy settings.

Photo: Reuters Pictures

He was a singer, songwriter, and occasional actor. But on this day Sonny Bono decided to put all that behind him and try his hand at his next creative endeavor—politician.

Long overshadowed in his musical career by his one-time wife and singing partner, Cher (who rose to fame during their eponymous CBS variety show), Bono spent much of the '80s attempting to revive his career and explore other professional avenues.

After struggling to open a restaurant in Palm Springs amidst rampant red tape and bureaucracy, the frustrated entrepreneur decided to take matters into his own hands and run for office in—where else?—Palm Springs.

A lifetime Republican, Bono won handily. Serving as mayor from 1988-1992, he was credited with bringing businesses to the desert community and launching the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Tragically, after winning the 1994 election to represent California's 44th Congressional District, the upstart politician's career was cut short when he was killed in a skiing accident on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe.

His fourth wife, Mary Bono, was elected to fill in for the remainder of his term. She continues to serve the nearby 45th Congressional District today.

Photo: Reuters Pictures

Ever been in a 400-way? Liam Brennan has.

In case you're wondering, it's skydiving we're talking about (and it's actually called that). The 400 in question? Skydiving enthusaists from 31 countries who gathered together in Thailand on this day for one reason: to break the world record for a skydiving formation.

"If one person fails or doesn't have their best skydive...then it isn't going to work," said Brennan, who is a police officer when he's not jumping out of planes.

After donning special helmets with oxygen tubes, the divers boarded four Hercules military transport planes provided by the Thai government. When they reached 25,000 feet, everyone jumped.

During the two-minute freefall, the skydivers maneuvered into position and grabbed hands. Timing was critical; just a few stragglers and the entire lot would risk not having enough space to safely deploy their parachutes.

Of course, the plan went off without a hitch—not that Brennan was surprised.

"It's safer than driving a car," said the American. "When I'm jumping, I'm living. I feel so comfortable up there."

Photo: Reuters Pictures

Living in a world where both our mutual funds and baseball teams are determined by complex algorithms, it may seem obvious that computers—for better or for worse—are now king.

But for decades, experts questioned whether their programs, even with Rainman-like processing skills, would ever be able to master a game as complex and human as chess.

All those dreams, however, were dashed on this day, when IBM's supercomputer, dubbed "Deep Blue," put grandmaster Garry Kasparov to the test, defeating the reigning world champion after 33 moves.

To Kasparov's credit, he bounced back to win three and draw two of the next five games to win the match. The writing—or should I say coding—was on the wall, however, and the Russian was soundly beaten in their 1997 rematch.

A decade later, Deep Blue programmer Murray Campbell had this to say on the battle of man vs. machine.

"We're past the stage where there's a debate about who's better—machines or grandmasters—and we're just looking for interesting ways to make the competition fairer," said the Canadian.

As for IBM, they're still gunning for the human competition. Their most recent incarnation, "Watson," defeated Jeopardy! winner Ken Jennings in practice and is set to square off against the record-breaking champion this month.

Photo: Reuters Pictures

For all their silly spats over nuclear arms and civilian violence, North and South Korea have shown an ability to set aside their ideological differences for when it matters most.

Case in point? Table Tennis.

That's right. On this day in 1991, delegates from the estranged nations agreed to field a single Korean team for the 41st World Table Tennis Championships in Japan.

In addition, the two sides agreed to join forces for the 6th World Soccer Championship in hopes of fielding a joint team for the Barcelona Olympics.

Kim Hyung Jin, North Korea's chief delegate, called the agreement "epochal."

Despite efforts in the early '90s to thaw North-South relations, current tensions on the peninsula have threatened to escalate military violence to Korean War levels.

Most recently, disarmament talks between the two sides broke down earlier this week.

Photo: Reuters Pictures

With a sound both retro and ahead of its time, the B-52s take the stage at a friend's Valentine's Party, setting in motion a musical career that will span four decades and inspire some of the most irritating karaoke renditions in history.

Started by siblings Cindy and Ricky Wilson, who teamed up with fellow Athens, Georgia, residents Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland and Fred Schneider, the band made their breakthrough with the underwater hit "Rock Lobster." (John Lennon claiming it inspired him to make a comeback didn't hurt.)

After its splashy debut, the new wave group was rocked by the 1985 death of Ricky Wilson, just 32 years old, from AIDS-related causes. The guitarist's untimely passing left sister Cindy bereft, and out of respect the band canceled all promotion for their most recent album.

"[Ricky] did not want anyone to worry about him or fuss about him," said Pierson, the band's organist and vocalist.

After much-needed time off, the group rebounded in a big way in the late '80s. Smash hits "Love Shack" and "Roam" took them to the top of the Billboard charts and cemented their reputation as one of the decade's most enduring bands.

More than 30 years since they first took the stage, the band continues to record and play live.

"It's just so amazing to perform the new songs... And they get such a good reaction," said Pierson after the release of the 2008 album, Funplex. "People posted the shows on YouTube, and people are singing along with the new songs. So it's really gratifying."

Photo: Reuters Pictures

Let's say it together now. Oops, she did it again.

Much to the delight of tabloids worldwide, Britney Spears decides on this day to take a pair of shears to her famous blonde tresses, leaving onlookers and fans in disbelief with each shorn lock.

"Of course I tried to talk her out of it," said stylist Esther Tognozzi. "I said, 'You know maybe you're having a hormonal moment or something, and maybe tomorrow you'll feel differently about it. Let's talk about this.' "

The incident took place after months of increasingly erratic behavior and just 24 hours after Spears skipped out of a rehab facility, leading many to question the mental state of the young mother of two.

"I think the shaving of her hair is a fresh start, is a new beginning, taking matters into her own hands, doing it her own way," said psychoanalyst Bethany Marshall to ABC News.

"I think most importantly, in her own maybe distorted way, it's getting rid of the superficial and getting down to something deeper."

After her very public meltdown, Spears briefly checked into a psychiatric facility and lost custody of her children, who split time between her and ex-husband Kevin Federline.

With help from friends, family, and a new beau (William Morris agent Jason Trawick), the Louisiana native made a turnaround in 2010, debuting a clothing line for Candie's and starring in a Spears-themed episode of Glee. 

Photo: Reuters Pictures

Nothing in life, as the saying goes, is free.

Just don't tell that to The Rolling Stones. Five years ago today, the music legends performed a free, public concert on Rio de Janeiro's most famous beach, Copacabana, in one of the largest gatherings in rock history.

"It's going to be an amazing show," said one 19-year-old student from Sao Paulo, who had been camping on the beach since Thursday to claim a spot. "I've waited for this all my life."

Others made their way to the event for more patriotic reasons.

"I've never heard their music, but I had to come," said a 51-year-old woman to the AFP. "It's going to be boiling, and we won't be able to get very close. But if they love our country, that's good."

The city paid $750,000 for the gig, which took place just a week before its world-famous carnaval. According to estimates, the 20-song set (which opened with "Jumpin' Jack Flash") was seen by nearly 2 million onlookers.

Despite the Philadelphia-sized crowds, the distinction for world's biggest concert still belongs to Rod Stewart, whose 1994 New Year's Eve concert drew a crowd of 3.5 million.

It was held at—where else?—Copacabana Beach.

Photo: Reuters Pictures

Talk about happy hour. On this day, Congress finalizes the amendment to repeal Prohibition so that law- abiding citiens can relax and have a drink for the first time in 13 years.

Of the nations that experimented with banning alcohol shortly after the turn of the century (Russia, Iceland, Norway, Finland), the United States was the last, doing so in 1920.

John D. Rockefeller, Jr., industrialist and one-time Prohibitionist, later commented on the decade that followed:

When Prohibition was introduced, I hoped that it would be widely supported by public opinion and the day would soon come when the evil effects of alcohol would be recognized. I have slowly and reluctantly come to believe that this has not been the result. Instead, drinking has generally increased; the speakeasy has replaced the saloon; a vast army of lawbreakers has appeared; many of our best citizens have openly ignored Prohibition; respect for the law has been greatly lessened; and crime has increased to a level never seen before.

After the 1933 repeal, the drinking age was set at 21 until it was lowered during the protests of the Vietnam era. In 1984, it was raised back to previous levels by the Drinking Age Act (thanks a lot, Reagan).

Photo: Getty Images

Okay, I'll admit it. I don't watch Glee. Or any show where Nick Lachey is a judge.

But as a recovering a capella enthusiast, I can tell you with some confidence that there is only one thing that has ever made it cool.

His name? Bobby McFerrin.

It was on this day at the 1989 Grammys that the long-respected jazz vocalist reluctantly became a pop star overnight when upbeat hit "Don't Worry, Be Happy" took home awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Male Pop Performance.

The song, which featured an overlayed McFerrin on every vocal part, was inspired by the teachings of Meher Baba, an Indian mystic and spiritual leader who chose to stop speaking for the last 44 years of his life.

"Whenever you see a poster of Meher Baba, it usually says 'Don't worry, be happy,' which is a pretty neat philosophy in four words, I think," said McFerrin in a 1988 interview with USA Weekend magazine.

Which is not to say the ten-time Grammy winner is going to let you walk all over him. Upset at the song's unauthorized use during George H.W. Bush's 1988 presidential campaign, the singer announced publically that he would vote against Bush in protest (the campaign later desisted from further use).

Photo: Reuters Pictures

When it comes to gay rights, the Queen of England's track record could be better—her majesty has yet to even utter the words "gay" or "lesbian" since she settled onto the throne in 1952.

But sexual orientation didn't stop her from awarding Sir Elton John his knighthood for "services to music and charitable services," joining actor Sir Ian McKellen as the only openly homosexual knights in England's history.

A close friend of Princess Diana, Elton started an AIDS foundation in 1992 after the death of Queen singer Freddie Mercury and American Ryan White, a teenage hemophiliac who was expelled from school after contracting HIV through a blood transfusion.

The one-time drug addict also had personal reasons for wanting to give back.

"I set up my foundation because I wanted to make amends for the years I was a drug addict," said John to Parade. "People with HIV are still stigmatized. The infection rates are going up. People are dying. The political response is appalling."

Thirteen years after knighthood, John continues his charitable ways. In 2010, he joined Cyndi Lauper for her Give a Damn campaign, which raises awareness for the LGBT community.

Photo: Reuters Pictures

In the end, it was an offer the New York Philharmonic couldn't refuse.

After months of consideration, America's oldest orchestra accepts the inviation to perform in the most reclusive nation in the world, North Korea. Despite decades of icy relations with everyone not named China, the Communist nation welcomed over 300 foreigners into Pyongyang in a stunning act of cultural diplomacy.

The program, conducted by Lorin Maazel, included Wagner, Dvorak, and George Gershwin's "An American in Paris." Prior to the concert, the orchestra performed both the North Korean and American national anthems.

Members of the orchestra weren't lost on the enormity of the event.

"Was that an emotional experience!" said Jon Deak, a bass player, to The New York Times. “It’s an incredible joy and sadness and connection like I’ve never seen. They really opened their hearts to us."

An orchestral rendition of "Arirang," a traditional Korean melody cherished by both North and South, was especially poignant for the eight Korean members of the orchestra.

"It brought tears to my eyes," said Michelle Kim, a violinist whose parents moved from the North to South during the Korean War.

This wasn't the first time classical music helped break down walls. In 1956, the Boston Symphony Orchestra went to the Soviet Union, and in 1973 the Philadelphia Orchestra visited a then-closed China.

Photo: Reuters Pictures

It used to be that buying cigarettes while underage was like sneaking into an rated R movie—up to the discretion and boredom level of the attendant in charge of the transaction.

All of that changed on this day in 1997 when federal officials began their nationwide crackdown on teenage smoking, requiring retailers to get photo-IDs from their most youthful customers.

"It will be the volunteers who will be the major eyes and ears of the FDA," said Matthew Myers, executive vice-president of the National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids, to the Chicago Tribune.

Fines started at $250, and repeat offenders could be charged as much as $15,000. Still, officials acknowledged the uphill battle ahead of them.

"Federal dollars are the key," said Atty. Gen. Jeffrey Modisett. "Too many retailers know it's very rare for an officer to stop in their store, so they aren't scared."

It marked the beginning of a downward spiral for the tobacco industry. California successfully banned smoking in restaurants and bars the next year and was soon followed by 26 other health-conscious states.

All of which means that today nearly 50 percent of Americans can enjoy their food and drink in smoke-free environments. That doesn't include Williamsburg freelancers smoking American Spirits in their home offices, however.

Photo: Reuters Pictures