Monday, February 28, 2011
On this Date in 1780...
...an earthquake hits Iran, killing 200,000 people and causing several damages. Thus marking the first understatement reported in history.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
On this Date in 1560...
...the Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation of Scotland. Apparently, even the Scots couldn't stand the smell of the French. And that's saying something.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
On this Date in 1960...
...a New York bound Alitalia airliner crashed into a cemetery at Shannon, Ireland, shortly after takeoff, killing 34 of the 52 persons on board. The question remains, to this day: Where did they bury the survivors?
Friday, February 25, 2011
On this Date in 1921...
...Tbilisi, capital of the Democratic Republic of Georgia, is occupied by Bolshevist Russia. Shortly afterward people in Atlanta were overheard wondering, "Hey, I thought we were the capital of Georgia, and where are all these Russians supposed to be?"
Thursday, February 24, 2011
On this Date in 1809...
...London's Drury Lane Theatre burns to the ground, leaving owner Richard Brinsley Sheridan destitute. If only he knew the Muffin Man, he might not have taken it so badly.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
On this Date in 1861...
...President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrives secretly in Washington, D.C., after the thwarting of an alleged assassination plot in Baltimore, Maryland. But don't tell anyone, it's a secret.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
On this Date in 1937...
...initial flight of the first successful flying car, Waldo Waterman's Arrowbile. Marking the beginning of the age of commercial flying cars, which become even more popular than traditional automobiles....or not.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
On this Date in 1933...
...the Congress of the United States proposes the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution that will end Prohibition in the United States. It would have passed immediately thereafter, however, most of Congress was rather inebriated at the time.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
On this Date in 1978...
...Egyptian forces raid Larnaca International Airport in an attempt to intervene in a hijacking, without authorisation from the Republic of Cyprus authorities. The Cypriot National Guard and Police forces kill 15 Egyptian commandos and destroy the Egyptian C-130 transport plane in open combat. Apparently shouting, "Dude, we're on your side!" had little, to no, impression.
Friday, February 18, 2011
On this Date in 1930...
...Elm Farm Ollie becomes the first cow to fly in a fixed-wing aircraft and also the first cow to be milked in an aircraft. No need to embellish on this one. Just too good by itself.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
On this Date in 1814...
...War of the Sixth Coalition: The Battle of Mormans. That's right, they used special powers granted to them by their special underwear to go back in time to fight Napoleon Bonaparte, prior to the founding of their religion. It was just something they felt they were called to do by the golden plates.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
On this Date in 1968...
...in Haleyville, Alabama, the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone system goes into service. The first call was reportedly from an irate customer in the Burger King® drive thru who, apparently, could not "have it their way".
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
On this Date in 1954...
...Canada and the United States agree to construct the Distant Early Warning Line, a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic regions of Canada and Alaska. Presumably, to ward off any impending nuclear polar bear attacks.
Monday, February 14, 2011
On this Date in 1989...
...a fatwa was issued for the execution of Salman Rushdie (pictured) for authoring The Satanic Verses, a novel Islamic fundamentalists considered blasphemous. Which was surprising because, after all, Muslims are famous for their sense of humor.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
On this Date in 1960...
...with the success of a nuclear test codenamed "Gerboise Bleue", France becomes the fourth country to possess nuclear weapons. They promptly surrender until they realized that is was they that set it off, at which point they simply saunter away whistling nonchalantly.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
On this Date in 1935...
...USS Macon, one of the two largest helium-filled airships ever created, crashes into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California and sinks. Leaving many locals speaking in high pitched voices for weeks.
Friday, February 11, 2011
On this Date in 1937...
...a sit-down strike ends when General Motors recognizes the United Auto Workers Union. The president of the company had been looking for it for a while until he suddenly exclaimed, "Oh there you are!"
Thursday, February 10, 2011
On this Date in 1840...
...Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha married Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom at the Chapel Royal, becoming prince-consort. Rumor has it that Queen Victoria discovered him in a sort of cylindrical metal container.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
On this Date in 1950...
...Second Red Scare: Senator Joseph McCarthy accuses the United States Department of State of being filled with Communists. Marking a rare occurrence where the sequel was better than the original. Also, it marked the last time anyone took Senator McCarthy seriously.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
On this Date in 1865...
...in the United States, Delaware voters reject the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and vote to continue the practice of slavery. Delaware finally ratifies the amendment on February 12, 1901, but by then no-one really cared because, well, it was Delaware.
Monday, February 7, 2011
On this Date in 1935...
...the classic board game Monopoly is invented. Rumor has it that the first game is still being played, though it is possible that one or more of the participants may have died of boredom.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
On this Date in 1820...
...the first 86 African American immigrants sponsored by the American Colonization Society started a settlement in present-day Liberia. One of the settlers, upon realizing the sudden irony of the situation stated, "Wait, aren't we from here originally?"
Saturday, February 5, 2011
On this Date in 1962...
...French President Charles De Gaulle calls for Algeria to be granted independence. The gaulle of some people.
Friday, February 4, 2011
On this Date in 2004...
...Facebook, a mainstream online social network is founded by Mark Zuckerberg, thus creating the biggest waste of time on the internet since MySpace was launched 6 months earlier.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
On this Date in 1870...
...the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, guaranteeing voting rights to citizens regardless of race. Many southerners were reportedly tickled pink upon hearing the news.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
On this Date in 1848...
...the first ship with Chinese immigrants arrives in San Francisco, California. As he watched the new arrivals come ashore, the mayor of San Francisco was overheard saying, "It must be durned dark over there in that there China, lookit 'em all squintin' in the sunlight."
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
On this Date in 1793...
,,,France declares war on the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Because that was the fashionable thing to do that year.
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