Your weekly history lesson. That Nero was a bust, wasn't he?
66: EMPEROR NERO CREATES THE LEGION I ITALICA.
And, to his credit, there was no designated hitter.
1499: TREATY OF BASEL MAKES SWITZERLAND AN INDEPENDENT STATE.
And they've been sitting on the fence ever since. And also on top of a lot of our hidden money.
1598: BEN JONSON IS INDICTED FOR MANSLAUGHTER.
Incited to murder by somebody who taunted him for not knowing how to correctly spell his last name.
1692: LAST PEOPLE HANGED FOR WITCHCRAFT IN THE UNITED STATES.
At least until Fox News debuted on the air.
1776: NATHAN HALE IS HANGED FOR SPYING DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
He had but one life to give for his country and this was apparently it.
1789: THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES POSTMASTER GENERAL IS ESTABLISHED.
And he probably had four weeks vacation from the get-go. Meanwhile, in 2010, try to find a mailbox on a street corner. It is impossible.
1869: RICHARD WAGNER'S OPERA "DAS RHEINGOLD" PREMIERES IN MUNICH.
Followed a year later by the sequel "DAS PABST'S BLUE RIBBON."
1888: THE FIRST ISSUE OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED.
For the very first time, there is now something to read in a dentist's waiting room.
1893: THE FIRST AMERICAN-MADE AUTOMOBILE, BUILT BY THE DURYEA BROTHERS, IS DISPLAYED.
Who ever heard of the Duryeas? After that, I guess there were no bailout dollars for them.
1908: THE INDEPENDENCE OF BULGARIA IS PROCLAIMED.
So what do Bulgarians shoot off every September 22? Anybody?
1927: DODGER MANAGER TOMMY LASORDA IS BORN.
Still with us, even though he has long since gone off the Slim Fast diet.
1944: DURING WORLD WAR II, THE RED ARMY ENTERS TALLINN.
The Holiday Inn was full.
1956: SINGER DEBBY BOONE IS BORN.
And her life is officially lit.
1961: SCOTT BAIO IS BORN.
What's worse than a sixteen year-old called "Chachi?" A 49 year-old who is called "Chachi."
1975: SARA JANE MOORE TRIES TO ASSASSINATE PRESIDENT GERALD FORD.
A fun month for the President who remembered to duck not once, but twice.
1980: IRAQ INVADES IRAN.
Doesn't this happen like every single day?
1989: SONGWRITER IRVING BERLIN DIES.
At the age of 101. I hope there were no news stories that called his passing tragic.
1991: THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME BY THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY.
A big deal at the time, you can now read them on your Kindle.
1996: ACTRESS DOROTHY LAMOUR DIES.
Goodbye, farewell, sarong.
2007: MIME MARCEL MARCEAU DIES.
I have no words.
Dinner last night: The terrific buffet at the Dodger Stadium Club.
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