109: ROMAN EMPEROR TRAJAN INAUGURATES THE AQUA TRAIANA, AN AQUEDUCT THAT CHANNELS WATER FROM LAKE BRACCIANO.
It's an Aqueduct, not a Belmont.
474: JULIUS NEPOS FORCES ROMAN USURPER GLYCERIUS TO ABDICATE THE THRONE AND PROCLAIMS HIMSELF EMPEROR OF THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE.
Glycerious? Isn't that something for a rash?
1230: THE SIEGE OF JAEN STARTED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SPANISH RECONQUISTA.
I suppose there was an earlier Spanish Conquista.
1314: FIRST WAR OF SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE - THE BATTLE OF BANNOCKBURN CONCLUDES WITH A DECISIVE VICTORY BY SCOTTISH FORCES LED BY ROBERT THE BRUCE.
At least, he didn't call himself Robert the Springsteen.
1374: A SUDDEN OUTBREAK OF ST. JOHN'S DANCE CAUSES PEOPLE IN THE STREETS OF AACHEN, GERMANY TO EXPERIENCE HALLUCINATIONS AND BEGIN TO JUMP AND TWITCH UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL THEY COLLAPSE FROM EXHAUSTION.
They shoot Germans, don't they?
1509: HENRY VIII AND CATHERINE OF ARAGON ARE CROWNED KING AND QUEEN OF ENGLAND.
The Mickey Rooney of monarchs. I mean in number of marriages, not height.
1535: THE ANABAPTIST STATE OF MUNSTER IS CONQUERED AND DISBANDED.
Herman or Lily?
1717: THE PREMIER GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND, THE FIRST MASONIC GRAND LODGE IN THE WORLD, IS FOUNDED IN LONDON.
Wives now know where their husbands are two nights a week.
1779: DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THE GREAT SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR BEGINS.
Get a piece of the rock.
1793: THE FIRST REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION IN FRANCE IS ADOPTED.
Not those Republicans, right?
1880: FIRST PERFORMANCE OF O CANADA, WHICH WOULD BECOME THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF CANADA.
Now they have something to play before hockey games.
1902: KING EDWARD VII OF THE UNITED KINGDOM DEVELOPS APPENDICITIS, DELAYING HIS CORONATION.
Back in the day when appendicitis was sometimes a fatal disease.
1904: SINGER/ACTOR PHIL HARRIS IS BORN.
That's what I like about the South. Ah, you thought there was going to be a "bare necessity" joke.
1916: MARY PICKFORD BECOMES THE FIRST FEMALE FILM STAR TO SIGN A MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT.
That's $500,000 per pigtail.
1919: ACTOR AL MOLINARO IS BORN.
Most remember him from Happy Days, but I still prefer him as Murray the cop on the The Odd Couple.
1938: PIECES OF A METEOR, ESTIMATED TO HAVE WEIGHED 450 METRIC TONS WHEN IT HIT THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, LAND NEAR PENNSYLVANIA.
What's that flying above...OUCH!
1942: ACTRESS MICHELE LEE IS BORN.
Met her several times. Nice lady.
1947: KENNETH ARNOLD MAKES THE FIRST WIDELY REPORTED UFO SIGHTING NEAR MOUNT RAINIER, WASHINGTON.
Maybe it was a piece of that meteor.
1948: START OF THE BERLIN BLOCKADE - THE SOVIET UNION MAKES OVERLAND TRAVEL BETWEEN WEST GERMANY AND WEST BERLIN IMPOSSIBLE.
Mr. Stalin, put up that wall.
1949: THE FIRST TELEVISION WESTERN, HOPALONG CASSIDY, IS AIRED ON NBC.
There will be a few others...ahem.
1957: IN ROTH VS. US, THE SUPREME COURT RULES THAT OBSCENITY IS NOT PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
Hell, yeah.
1973: THE UPSTAIRS LOUNGE ARSON ATTACK TAKES PLACE AT A GAY BAR IN NEW ORLEANS. THIRTY-TWO PEOPLE DIE.
They should have gone to the Downstairs Lounge. Probably easier to get out.
1987: ACTOR JACKIE GLEASON DIES.
And away he goes.
1997: ACTOR BRIAN KEITH DIES.
Killed himself. Buried in the Westwood cemetery near my house.
2000: ACTOR DAVID TOMLINSON DIES.
No saving Mr. Banks this time.
2004: IN NEW YORK, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Glad I moved.
2005: VENTRILOQUIST PAUL WINCHELL DIES.
Oddly enough, Jerry Mahoney released a statement.
2013: FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI IS FOUND GUILTY OF ABUSING HIS POWER AND HAVING SEX WITH AN UNDERAGE PROSTITUTE AND IS SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON.
And you thought all the political sleazeballs were in this country.
2014: ACTOR ELI WALLACH DIES.
The Good, the Bad, and the Dead.
Dinner last night: Chef's salad.
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