Wednesday, October 26, 2011

This Date in History - October 26

Take a vowel, Pat Sajak.  It's your special day.

306:  MARTYRDOM OF SAINT DEMETRIUS OF THESSALONIKI.

He's a martyr for one day.  I know some people who have been pulling that shit for years.

1597:  DURING THE IMJIN WAR, ADMIRAL YI SUN-SIN ROUTS THE JAPANESE NAVY OF 300 SHIPS WITH ONLY 13 SHIPS.

300 vs. 13?  Talk about your Vegas odds.  Meanwhile, Sun-Sin sounds like a cheap casino on the Strip.

1689:  GENERAL PICCOLOMINI OF AUSTRIA BURNED DOWN SKOPJE TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF CHOLERA.  HE DIED OF CHOLERA HIMSELF SOON AFTER.

A tragic waste of lighter fluid.

1774:  THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ADJOINS IN PHILADELPHIA.

They sure must have talked a lot because they didn't come up with anything concrete until two years later.

1775:  KING GEORGE III GOES BEFORE PARLIAMENT TO DECLARE THE AMERICAN COLONIES IN REBELLION, AND AUTHORIZED A MILITARY RESPONSE TO QUELL THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

Too late, because they're already talking this up in Philly.

1776:  BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DEPARTS FROM AMERICA FOR FRANCE ON A MISSION TO SEEK FRENCH SUPPORT FOR THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

Don't count on those scumbags for anything.

1811:  THE ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT DECLARES THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION FOR THE PRESS BY DECREE.

So does that mean no more firing squads???

1825:  THE ERIE CANAL OPENS FOR PASSAGE FROM ALBANY, NEW YORK TO LAKE ERIE.

Neither one is a preferred desitnation for me.

1861:  THE PONY EXPRESS OFFICIALLY CEASES OPERATIONS.

And, in 2012, there may go the Post Office as well.

1881:  THE GUNFIGHT AT THE OK CORRAL TAKES PLACE AT TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA.

Oh?  So this was more than just a movie?

1914:  ACTOR JACKIE COOGAN IS BORN.

Uncle Fester!!!

1936:  THE FIRST ELECTRIC GENERATOR AT HOOVER DAM GOES INTO FULL OPERATION.

That has to be one long extension cord.

1943:  DURING WW II. THERE IS THE FIRST FLIGHT OF "PFEIL."

I have no idea what this is.  Except Bobby Pfeil was a utility infielder for the 1969 New York Mets and the guy who didn't make their post season roster.

1946:  GAME SHOW HOST PAT SAJAK IS BORN.

H_pp_  B_rt__y.

1947:  ACTRESS JACLYN SMITH IS BORN.

The birth of an angel...

1947:  HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IS BORN.

...and a devil.

1948:  KILLER SMOG SETTLES INTO DONORA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Who knew there was that much traffic in Donora, Pennsylvania?

1952:  ACTRESS HATTIE MCDANIEL DIES.

Really, really gone with the wind.

1955:  NGO DINH DIEM DECLARES HIMSELF PREMIER OF SOUTH VIETNAM.

He is paid on a "per diem" basis.

1958:  PAN AM MAKES THE FIRST COMMERCIAL FLIGHT OF THE BOEING 707 FROM NEW YORK TO PARIS.

A now defunct airline and a soon-to-be-defunct television show.

1967:  MOHAMMED REZA PAHLAVI CROWNS HIMSELF EMPEROR OF IRAN.

Sort of like when you're playing checkers and somebody says "king me."

1984:  BABY FAE RECEIVES A HEART TRANSPLANT FROM A BABOON.

And they wonder why the kid is now climbing trees.

1986:  GAME SEVEN OF THE 1986 WORLD SERIES IS RAINED OUT.  I GO WITH THE BIBSTERS TO PIPER'S KILT FOR A BURGER.

If you don't get that reference, no worries.  It's written for an audience of one.

1994:  JORDAN AND ISRAEL SIGN A PEACE TREATY.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Peace in the Mideast.  Ha!

2001:  THE UNITED STATES PASSES THE USA PATRIOT ACT INTO LAW.

It's still not a fence.

Dinner last night:  Beef with broccoli at Q in Boston's Chinatown.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday, Uncle Fester.

Puck said...

Good choice. The Piper's Kilt, which still exists (though the clientele is mostly Hispanic rather than Irish these days), was my favorite hangout for several years. Great people, good food and cold Molson. Plus visits from John McSherry when he was in town on assignment -- he grew up on the area.

Len said...

We talking about the same Piper's Kilt? The one we went to was in Eastchester.