This Day in History - February 9

Yes, Joe Pesci, it's your special day.  We hope we fuckin' amuse you.

1555:  BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER JOHN HOOPER IS BURNED AT THE STAKE.

Hold the onions.  By the way, is this guy any relation to that Gorton's fisherman guy?

1621:  GREGORY XV BECOMES POPE, THE LAST POPE ELECTED BY ACCLAMATION.

These little Vatican factoids always amaze me.  It's only 1621 and there's already been fourteen other Popes named Gregory.

1825:  AFTER NO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE RECEIVES A MAJORITY OF ELECTORAL VOTES IN THE ELECTION OF 1824, THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTS JOHN QUINCY ADAMS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Did they try and throw Florida under the bus for this one, too?

1849:  NEW ROMAN REPUBLIC ESTABLISHED.

This time, they were smart.  Fiddles were made illegal.

1861:  DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, JEFFERSON DAVIS IS ELECTED THE PROVISIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA.

In retrospect, what was the North fighting for?  Who wants that part of the country anyway?  Think of the money saved from reduced FEMA payouts.

1870:  THE US WEATHER BUREAU IS ESTABLISHED.

Prior to this, every day was a complete surprise.

1885:  THE FIRST JAPANESE GOVERNMENT-APPROVED IMMIGRANTS ARRIVE IN HAWAII.

If only they had stopped there...

1900:  THE DAVIS CUP COMPETITION IS ESTABLISHED.

For those three people who pay attention to the Davis Cup....

1928:  NEWSCASTER ROGER MUDD IS BORN.

And his name remains...mudd.

1942:  DURING WORLD WAR II, TOP US MILITARY LEADERS HOLD THEIR FIRST FORMAL MEETING TO DISCUSS AMERICAN MILITARY WAR STRATEGY.

Okay, we get bombed on December 7.  It takes them almost two months to decide about meeting on this.  Hello?  Was everybody's Outlook broken?

1942:  YEAR-ROUND DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME IS REINSTATED IN THE US AS A WARTIME MEASURE TO HELP CONSERVE ENERGY MEASURES.

Spring ahead, fall ahead.

1943:  DURING WORLD WAR II, ALLIED FORCES DECLARE GUADALCANAL SECURE, ENDING THE BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL.

Might have happened sooner if those tools hadn't dragged their feet booking that first strategy meeting.

1943:  ACTOR JOE PESCI IS BORN.

And don't you fuggedabowtit.

1945:  ACTRESS MIA FARROW IS BORN.

She was out at a supper club with Sinatra that very night.

1950:  SENATOR JOSEPH MCCARTHY ACCUSES THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE OF BEING FILLED WITH COMMUNISTS.

Liars and crooks, yes.  Communists, no.

1960:  JOANNE WOODWARD RECEIVES THE FIRST STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME.

It's fascinating what you learn here every Wednesday.

1964:  THE BEATLES MAKE THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE ON THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW.

We love you, yeah, yeah, yeah.

1969:  ACTOR GABBY HAYES DIES.

Now, not so much...

1971:  A 6.4 EARTHQUAKE HITS THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AREA OF CALIFORNIA.

Rocking and rolling is here to stay.

1976:  MUSICIAN PERCY FAITH DIES.

He's found a place for the summer.  And the fall.  And the winter.  And forever.

1981:  BILL HALEY OF THE COMETS DIES.

Falling back to earth in a big ole way.

1995:  SPACE SHUTTLE ASTRONAUT BERNARD HARRIS JR. BECOMES THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO PERFORM A SPACEWALK.

And also marked the first time the outside of the shuttle was spray painted with graffiti.

Dinner last night:  Smoked sausage, rice, and beets.