Today in History

[Duchess]

I like the first photo, Duchess. I can see where Ms. Lewinsky had a bit of trouble staying on the business side of the desk.

The guy has got charm in spades. He's one of my fantasy dinner guests.

Haters

[Lady Cop]

This Week in History, Aug 19 - Aug 25

Aug 19, 1812
Old Ironsides earns its name (see new stamp in STAMPS thread)
Aug 19, 1942
Allies raid Dieppe
Aug 19, 1960
Captured U.S. spy pilot sentenced in Russia
Aug 20, 1940
Trotsky assassinated in Mexico
Aug 20, 1968
Soviets Invade Czechoslovakia
Aug 20, 1975
Viking 1 launched to Mars
Aug 20, 1982
U.S. Marines deployed to Lebanon
Aug 21, 1831
Slave revolt erupts in Virginia
Aug 21, 1858
Lincoln-Douglas debates begin
Aug 21, 1961
Kenyatta freed
Aug 22, 1485
Battle of Bosworth Field
Aug 22, 1851
U.S. wins first America's Cup
Aug 22, 1864
International Red Cross founded
Aug 22, 1922
Michael Collins assassinated
Aug 22, 1992
Incident at Ruby Ridge
Aug 23, 1926
Valentino dies
Aug 23, 1927
Sacco and Vanzetti executed
Aug 24, 1572
Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre
Aug 24, 1814
British capture and burn Washington
Aug 24, 1821
Spain accepts Mexican independence
Aug 25, 325
Council of Nicaea concludes
Aug 25, 1875
Englishman swims the Channel
Aug 25, 1944
Paris liberated
Aug 25, 2009
Ted Kennedy, "liberal lion of the Senate," dies at 77

i would add Hurricane Andrew devastates Miami.

[Duchess]

I remember talking about Ted Kennedy's death in here. Hard to believe it's been three years.

[Lady Cop]

I remember talking about Ted Kennedy's death in here. Hard to believe it's been three years.

i did a real-time thread at 24 for his death and funeral. nomatter whether you liked him, it was eerie and heart-wrenching to watch his hearse leave Cape Cod over the Sagamore bridge the last time. many many people lined the roads going off-Cape to say goodbye. it was quite moving. a piper piped him off the bridge for the last time.

[Riotgear]

Aug 18, 1612 – The "Samlesbury witches", three women from the Lancashire village of Samlesbury, England, are put on trial, accused of practicing witchcraft.

[Lady Cop]

Aug 18, 1612 – The "Samlesbury witches", three women from the Lancashire village of Samlesbury, England, are put on trial, accused of practicing witchcraft.

it's being observed today, photos here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...e-set.html

[Lady Cop]

re: post 17 ^

UNDER HER OWN POWER Yesterday~~










The USS Constitution, which was first launched in 1797, was tugged from its berth in Boston Harbor on Sunday to the main deepwater pathway into the harbor. It then set out to open seas for a 10-minute cruise. The short trip marked the day two centuries ago when the Constitution bested the British frigate HMS Guerriere in a fierce battle during the War of 1812.

[Midwest Spy]

Just missed this one by a couple of days (Sept 2, 1998). This is the type of event that plays on the fears of most people...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swissair_Flight_111

[Riotgear]

Today in history I payed my cable bill and ran some errands.

[Duchess]

Oh yeah

[Duchess]

Oops. I was responding to MS.

[Midwest Spy]

Oops. I was responding to MS.

I got it. Who woulda figured Gear would post his drivel in the Today in History thread instead of Trivial Drivel?

[Riotgear]

Oops. I was responding to MS.

I got it. Who woulda figured Gear would post his drivel in the Today in History thread instead of Trivial Drivel?

Flattery will get you everywhere with me.

[Midwest Spy]

Looking good today, Gear!

[Riotgear]

Feeling good MS. Speaking of which - Have you lost weight and gained muscle? Seems like it.

[Lady Cop]

video
Flashback 9/11: As It Happened

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1151859712001/

[Riotgear]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_flag

[HairOfTheDog]

I remember crying with my older sister when Baby Fae died at Loma Linda hospital on 15 November 1984. There was a story on the 8 pm news every night here from the day she had the transplant til the day she died (and lots of religious-oriented debate regarding "Gods Way"). We just got invested and wanted her to make it.

The infant, named Baby Fae by doctors to protect her parents' anonymity, was born with hypoplastic left-heart syndrome. On October 26, Bailey performed the world's first baboon-to-human heart transplant, replacing the 14-day-old infant's defective heart with the healthy, walnut-size heart of a young baboon. Baby Fae survived the dangerous operation, and her subsequent struggle for life received international attention.

After living longer than any other human recipient of an animal heart, Baby Fae's body made a concerted effort to reject the alien transplant. Doctors were forced to increase dosages of an immuno-suppressive drug, which caused kidney failure. Ultimately, doctors were defeated by the swift onset of heart failure, and on November 15 Baby Fae died, after holding on for 20 days.

[HairOfTheDog]

December 7^th is a very interesting day in history.

Today is Friday, Dec. 7, the 342^nd day of 2012. There are 24 days left in the year.


On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii as part of its plan to conquer Southeast Asian territories; the raid, which claimed some 2,400 American lives, prompted the United States to declare war against Japan the next day.

In 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

In 1796, electors chose John Adams to be the second president of the United States.

In 1808, electors chose James Madison to be the fourth president of the United States.

In 1836, Martin Van Buren was elected the eighth president of the United States.

In 1842, the New York Philharmonic performed its first concert.

In 1909, chemist Leo H. Baekeland received a U.S. patent for Bakelite (BAY'-kuh-lyt), the first synthetic plastic.

In 1911, China abolished the requirement that men wear their hair in a queue, or ponytail.

In 1972, America's last moon mission to date was launched as Apollo 17 blasted off from Cape Canaveral. Imelda Marcos, wife of Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos, was seriously wounded by an assailant who was then shot dead by her bodyguards.

In 1982, convicted murderer Charlie Brooks Jr. became the first U.S. prisoner to be executed by injection, at a prison in Huntsville, Texas.

[HairOfTheDog]

On August 14^th 1917, China ended its neutrality and declared war on Germany as its entrance into World War I.



When China declared war on Germany on August 14, 1917, its major aim was to earn itself a place at the post-war bargaining table. Above all, China sought to regain control over the vital Shantung Peninsula and to reassert its strength before Japan, its most important adversary and rival for control in the region.

At the Versailles Peace Conference following the armistice, Japan and China struggled bitterly to convince the Allied Supreme Council—dominated by the United States, France and Britain—of their respective claims on the Shantung Peninsula. A bargain was eventually struck in favor of Japan, who backed down from their demand for a racial-equality clause in the treaty in return for control over Germany’s considerable economic possessions in Shantung, including railways, mines and the port at Tsingtao.
=======================================================

Also on this day, in 1935, FDR signed the Social Security Act into law.

The law has had quite a run; almost 80 years later, the stability of Social Security benefits for future recipients continues to be questioned.