1148: LOUIS VII OF FRANCE LAYS SIEGE TO DAMASCUS DURING THE SECOND CRUSADE.
The French get uppity and it's still early.
141: THE BATTLE OF HARLAW - ONE OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLES IN SCOTLAND, TAKES PLACE.
And blood doesn't wash out of kilts easily.
1487: CITIZENS OF LEEUWARDEN, NETHERLANDS STRIKE A BAN ON FOREIGN BEER.
What does anybody have against Lowenbrau?
1567: MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS, IS FORCED TO ABDICATE AND IS REPLACED BY HER ONE-YEAR-OLD SON.
Leaving a baby in charge...never a good idea.
1701: ANTOINE DE LA MOTHE CADILLAC FOUNDS THE TRADING POST, WHICH LATER BECOMES DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
I guess somebody had to.
1823: SLAVERY IS ABOLISHED IN CHILE.
As if anybody wants to live there...period.
1847: AFTER 17 MONTHS OF TRAVEL, BRIGHAM YOUNG LEADERS 148 MORMONS PIONEERS INTO SALT LAKE VALLEY, RESULTING IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SALT LAKE CITY.
And the Osmonds rejoice. Millions of others don't.
1866: TENNESSEE BECOMES THE FIRST US STATE TO BE READMITTED TO THE UNION FOLLOWING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.
But, please be aware that there will be an added processing fee.
1897: PILOT AMELIA EARHART IS BORN.
On this day, people knew where she was.
1901: o. HENRY IS RELEASED FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS AFTER SERVING THREE YEARS FOR EMBEZZLING FROM A BANK.
Who knew? How's that for a short story twist?
1915: THE PASSENGER SHIP SS EASTLAND CAPSIZES WHILE TIED TO A DOCK IN THE CHICAGO RIVER. A TOTAL OF 844 PASSENGERS AND CREW ARE KILLED.
While tied to a dock?? Gee, how many would have died if they ever made it out of port??
1920: POLITICIAN BELLA ABZUG IS BORN.
The original yenta.
1924: ARCHEOLOGIST THEMISTOKLIS SOFOULIS BECOMES PRIME MINISTER OF GREECE.
With a name that scores 80 points in Scrabble.
1931: A FIRE AT AN ELDERLY HOME IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYVLANIA KILLS 48 PEOPLE.
And melts 48 walkers.
1935: THE DUST BOWL HEAT WAVE REACHES ITS PEAK WITH A TEMPERATURE OF 109 DEGREES IN CHICAGO.
But it's not humid.
1936: ACTRESS RUTH BUZZI IS BORN.
Want a Walnetto?
1937: ALABAMA DROPS RAPE CHARGES AGAINST THE SO-CALLED "SCOTTSBORO BOYS."
A perfect idea for a Broadway musical.
1945: ACTRESS LINDA HARRISON IS BORN.
And, other than being gorgeous, her biggest accomplishment was being married to Richard Zanuck for a while.
1946: COMEDIAN GALLAGHER IS BORN.
No cantaloupe is safe.
1950: CAPE CANAVERAL BEGINS OPERATIONS WITH A LAUNCH OF A BUMPER ROCKET.
And hundred of nearby Florida residents call up their realtors.
1951: ACTRESS LYNDA CARTER IS BORN.
Wonder Woman!!!!
1959: AT THE OPENING OF THE AMERICAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION IN MOSCOW, US VICE PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON AND SOVIET PREMIER NIKITA KHRUSHCHEV HAVE A 'KITCHEN DEBATE."
Coke or Pepsi?
1964: A YOUNG MET FAN STEPS INSIDE SHEA STADIUM ON A RAINY FRIDAY NIGHT WITH SEATS RIGHT BEHIND THE MILWAUKEE BRAVES DUGOUT.
And the third base coach gave me gum.
1966: GOLFER TONY LEMA DIES.
6 feet under par.
1969: APOLLO 11 SPLASHES DOWN SAFELY IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
Moon rocks for sale. Cheap.
1974: THE US SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY RULED THAT PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO WITHHOLD SUBPOENAED WHITE HOUSE TAPES AND THEY ORDER HIM TO SURRENDER THEM TO THE WATERGATE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR.
Wait.....I haven't finished editing them yet.
1980: ACTOR PETER SELLERS DIES.
The Pink Panther Doesn't Return This Time.
1982: HEAVY RAIN CAUSES A MUDSLIDE THAT DESTROYS A BRIDGE IN JAPAN, KILLING 299.
Sorry, that Chicago boat still wins for biggest July 24 calamity.
1983: GEORGE BRETT BATS FOR THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS AGAINST THE NEW YORK YANKEES AND HITS A GAME WINNING HOMER NULLIFIED IN THE PINE TAR INCIDENT.
Pine tar? I don't see any pine tar.
1984: TWENTY YEARS TO THE DAY OF A YOUNG FAN'S FIRST ENTRANCE INTO SHEA STADIUM, ANOTHER GAME IS ATTENDED WITH GOOD FRIEND BIB. A PARTICULARLY EXCITING EXTRA INNING WIN OVER THE CARDINALS.
And so July 24 is essentially my baseball birthday.
1998: RUSSELL EUGENE WATSON JR BURSTS INTO THE US CAPITAL AND OPENS FIRE KILLING TWO POLICE OFFICERS.
So much for the 2PM tour.
2002: DEMOCRAT JAMES TRAFICANT IS EXPELLED FROM THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON A VOTE OF 420 TO 1.
I supposed Mr. Traficant was the 1.
2005: LANCE ARMSTRONG WINS HIS SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE TOUR DE FRANCE.
Yeah, no drugs there.
2012: ACTOR CHAD EVERETT DIES.
He really needed a Medical Center.
2012: ACTOR SHERMAN HEMSLEY DIES.
Really movin' on up.
2016: SINGER MARNI NIXON DIES.
Outliving many of the voices she dubbed.
Dinner last night: Last of the leftover tri-tip plus salads.
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