Wednesday, January 2, 2019

This Date in History - January 2

Happy birthday in heaven, Julius La Rosa.  And the world still asks a collective question.  "Who?"

366:  THE ALAMANNI CROSS THE FROZEN RHINE RIVER IN LARGE NUMBERS, INVADING THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

That ice won't hold up.  Somebody get a Zamboni machine...also Italian.

533:  MERCURIUS BECOMES POPE JOHN II, THE FIRST POPE TO ADOPT A NEW NAME UPON ELEVATION TO THE PAPACY.

By 1963, Pope John XXIII died.  Which means there were 21 others in between these two guys.

1788:  GEORGIA BECOMES THE FOURTH STATE TO RATIFY THE UNITED STATE CONSTITUTION.

The Constitution.  Remember that?  Yeah, I didn't think so.

1860:  THE DISCOVERY OF THE PLANET VULCAN IS ANNOUNCED AT A MEETING OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES IN PARIS, FRANCE.

Leonard Nimoy thanked you.

1871:  AMADEUS I BECOMES KING OF SPAIN.

And later wins an Oscar.

1900:  JOHN HAY ANNOUNCES THE OPEN DOOR POLICY POLICY TO PROMOTE TRADE WITH CHINA.

In 2019, we need to close it.

1909:  POLITICIAN BARRY GOLDWATER IS BORN.

And immediately is accused of starting a war in his crib.

1920:  THE SECOND PALMER RAID TAKES PLACE WITH ANOTHER 6,000 SUSPECTED COMMUNISTS AND ANARCHISTS ARRESTED AND HELD WITHOUT TRIAL.

A movement I can get behind in the new year.

1925:  TV PRODUCER LARRY HARMON IS BORN.

And, in a way, so is Bozo the Clown.

1930:  SINGER JULIUS LA ROSA IS BORN.

Later on, he was fired by Arthur Godfrey.  My grandmother hated both of them.

1935:  BRUNO HAUPTMANN GOES ON TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF INFANT CHARLES LINDBERGH JR. 

Either the jury will be hung or the convict will.

1940:  EVANGELIST JIM BAKKER IS BORN.

When he was married to Tammy Faye, how often did they have to launder their pillow cases?

1942:  MANILA, PHILIPPINES IS CAPTURED BY JAPAN.

One month after Pearl Harbor, these guys are still acting a little cocky, aren't they?

1945:  DURING WORLD WAR II, NUREMBERG, GERMANY IS SEVERELY BOMBED BY ALLIED FORCES.

Pay attention, Japan.  What goes around comes around.

1963:  ACTOR DICK POWELL DIES.

Cigarettes kill.

1974:  PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON SIGNS A BILL LOWERING THE MAXIMUM US SPEED LIMIT TO 55 MPH IN ORDER TO CONSERVE GAS DURING AN OPEC EMBARGO.

As if any driver paid attention.

1974:  COUNTRY SINGER TEX RITTER DIES.

And, about 26 years later, so does his son John.

1986:  BASEBALL EXECUTIVE BILL VEECK DIES.

Veeck as in dead.

1990:  ACTOR ALAN HALE JR. DIES.

And the three hour tour finally comes to an end.

1999:  A BRUTAL SNOWSTORM SMASHES INTO THE MIDWEST.  68 DEATHS ARE REPORTED.

Another 200 deaths went unnoticed.  After all, it is the Midwest.

2011:  ACTRESS ANNE FRANCIS DIES.

Honey goes North.  Or South depending upon your viewpoint.

Dinner last night:  Beef teriyaki stir fry.

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