This Date in History - January 12

 

Gee, just looking at this picture makes me want to reach for a washcloth and a bar of soap.

1528:  GUSTAV I OF SWEDEN CROWNED KING OF SWEDEN.

How many Gustavs did they go through before they decided that it's a pretty stupid name for a king?

1539:  TREATY OF TOLEDO SIGNED BY KING FRANCIS I OF FRANCE AND HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR CHARLES V.

Why were these two European countries interested in the state of Ohio?

1773:  THE FIRST PUBLIC COLONIAL AMERICAN MUSEUM OPENS IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

And also gave rise to the first overpriced gift shop.

1866:  THE ROYAL AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY IS FORMED IN LONDON.

As if Great Britain has put up a lot of men into space.

1898:  ITO HIROBUMI BEGINS HIS THIRD TERM AS PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN.

Holding onto the job like FDR.  Except that hasn't happened yet.

1899:  FAMED DISTILLER HIRAM WALKER DIES.

Always a bottle with his name on it in my dad's closet.

1908:  A LONG-DISTANCE RADIO MESSAGE IS SENT FROM THE EIFFEL TOWER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Help.  Stop.  I'm.  Stop.  Falling.  Stop.

1910:  ACTRESS LUISE RAINER IS BORN.

She made it to 104.   Good for her.

1915:  THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REJECTS A PROPOSAL TO GIVE WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

Not yet, honey.

1917:  INDIAN SPIRITUALIST MAHARISHI MAHESH YOGI IS BORN.

Just think.  Every January when JC Penney's had their white sale, this guy was able to upgrade his wardrobe.

1932:  HATTIE W. CARAWAY BECOMES THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

I remember her more for her seeds.

1935:  MENTALIST KRESKIN IS BORN.

Oddly enough, he predicted this.

1966:  LYNDON B. JOHNSON STATES THAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD STAY IN SOUTH VIETNAM UNTIL COMMUNIST AGGRESSION THERE IS ENDED.

And they stayed there longer than he hung around the White House.

1967:  DR. JAMES BEDFORD BECOMES THE FIRST PERSON TO BE CRYONICALLY PRESERVED WITH INTENT OF FUTURE RESUSCITATION.

Fifty four years later, what's the expiration date on that ice tray?

1969:  THE NEW YORK JETS WIN SUPER BOWL III OVER THE BALTIMORE COLTS.

This was my football team when I was a kid.  I had the flu that day and was puking constantly.  Vomit never tasted so good.

1971:  ALL IN THE FAMILY PREMIERES ON CBS.

I will never ever forget this.  Watching my grandmother when the word "coon" was uttered on television.  The only way it would have been better for her is if the show was broadcast in German.

1976:  THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL VOTES 11-1 TO ALLOW THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION TO PARTICIPATE IN A SECURITY COUNCIL DEBATE.

Okay, who was the one vote?

1991:  ACTOR KEYE LUKE DIES.

Number One son now minus one.

1998:  NINETEEN EUROPEAN NATIONS AGREE TO FORBID HUMAN CLONING.

Copycats.

2005:  DEEP IMPACT LAUNCHES FROM CAPE CANAVERAL ON A DELTA 2 ROCKET.

The first space mission named after a porno movie.

2010:  THE 2010 HAITI EARTHQUAKE OCCURS KILLING AT LEAST 230,000 AND DESTROYING THE MAJORITY OF THE CAPITAL PORT-AU-PRINCE.

Yeah, yeah, we heard.

2017:  AUTHOR WILLIAM PETER BLATTY DIES.

I hope he didn't go to Hell.  In case the Devil read "The Exorcist."

2018:  SPORTSCASTER KEITH JACKSON DIES.

No overtime.

Dinner last night:  Leftover lasagna.