1170: ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY THOMAS BECKET IS ASSASSINATED BY FOLLOWERS OF KING HENRY II.
A Canterbury Tale not worth telling a second time.
1778: DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR, 3,500 BRITISH SOLDIERS CAPTURE SAVANNAH, GEORGIA WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT.
Who was commanding these troops? Deputy Barney Fife?
1786: DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, THE ASSEMBLY OF NOTABLES IS CONVENED.
What the hell is a notable? Knowing the French, this involved wine.
1813: BRITISH SOLDIERS BURN BUFFALO, NEW YORK, DURING THE WAR OF 1812.
Gee, those Brits are feisty on December 29ths throughout history. And how hard is it to burn Buffalo in the middle of the winter? They must have about 39 feet of snow by now. Meanwhile, what's with the noteworthy War of 1812 event happening in 1813?
1845: THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS IS ADMITTED AS THE 28TH U.S. STATE.
Most of the people there still think Texas is a separate country.
1851: THE FIRST AMERICAN YMCA OPENS IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
And, for the first time ever, husbands have someplace to go after getting kicked out of the house.
1890: UNITED STATES SOLDIERS KILL MORE THAN 200 OGLALA LAKOTA PEOPLE IN THE WOUNDED KNEE MASSACRE.
Burying lots of hearts at Wounded Knee. Now it's probably a gaming casino.
1911: MONGOLIA GAINS INDEPENDENCE FROM THE QING DYNASTY.
But they got to keep the popular Chinese buffet item, Mongolian Beef.
1936: ACTRESS MARY TYLER MOORE IS BORN.
Since the Dick Van Dyke Show started in 1960, this gives you an idea on how young she was when she got that part. And how old she is today.
1938: ACTOR JON VOIGHT IS BORN.
I mention it only because I see in the neighborhood drug store all the time. I've also been on the same plane with him to NY not once, but twice. Jon, please stop stalking me.
1940: DURING WORLD WAR II, THE LUFTWAFFE FIRE-BOMBS LONDON, KILLING ALMOST 200 CIVILIANS.
What is the definition of "almost?" 198? 199? Just curious.
1947: ACTOR TED DANSON IS BORN.
Cheers!
1949: KC2XAK OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, BECOMES THE FIRST UHF TELEVISION STATION TO OPERATE A DAILY SCHEDULE.
Does anybody these days even remember UHF? When I was a kid, it was nothing but Spanish game shows and wrestling.
1975: A BOMB EXPLODES AT LA GUARDIA AIRPORT IN NEW YORK CITY, KILLING ELEVEN PEOPLE.
Okay, at least, it's not listed as "killing almost 12." Those New Yorkers like to get things on the nose.
1973: BOSTON RED SOX GENERAL MANAGER THEO EPSTEIN IS BORN.
So the guy now running the Red Sox was born after the Mets made their second World Series appearance in 1973??? Games that I myself attended. Crap.
1997: HONG KONG BEGINS TO KILL ALL THE NATION'S 1.25 MILLION CHICKENS TO STOP THE SPREAD OF A DEADLY INFLUENZA STRAIN.
Which is why, for three months afterward, you could get Kung Pao Chicken very cheap at your local takeout place.
2009: FORMER PRO WRESTLER AND FOOTBALL PLAYER STEVE "DR. DEATH" WILLIAMS DIES.
Would he still be alive if he called himself "Dr. Birth?"
Dinner last night: Leftover ham and veggies.
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