Wednesday, February 12, 2020

This Date in History - February 12

Happy birthday, Abraham Lincoln.   I'm sorry you now have to share your birthday with George Washington.

41:  BRITANNICUS, ROMAN SON OF CLAUDIUS, IS BORN.

And his sister Encyclopedia.

881:  POPE JOHN VIII CROWNS CHARLES THE FAT HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR.

So if Charles loses a lot of weight, does his title change?

1502:  VASCO DA GAMA SETS SAILS FROM SPAIN ON HIS SECOND VOYAGE TO INDIA.

For me, one voyage to India would be plenty.

1541:  SANTIAGO, CHILE IS FOUNDED BY PEDRA DE VALDIVIA.

I think Valdivia, Chile sounds nicer.

1554:  A YEAR AFTER CLAIMING THE THRONE OF ENGLAND FOR NINE DAYS, LADY JANE GREY IS BEHEADED FOR TREASON.

For her country, she gave...her head.  And you thought that was going to be a dirty joke.

1733: ENGLISHMAN JAMES OLGETHORPE FOUNDS GEORGIA, THE 13TH COLONY OF THE THIRTEEN COLONIES.

So how come it's not the Oglethorpe Braves?

1789:  POLITICIAN ETHAN ALLEN DIES.

But there's a big furniture sale today.

1809:  THEORIST CHARLES DARWIN IS BORN.

Or descended.

1809:  PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS BORN.

On the same day as Darwin.   I love what we learn every Wednesday.

1832:  ECUADOR ANNEXES THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.

Love those turtles.

1855:  MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY IS ESTABLISHED.

When's kick-off?

1907:  ACTOR JOSEPH KEARNS IS BORN.

Hey, Mr. Wilson!

1909:  THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (NAACP) IS FOUNDED.

So how come they haven't changed the name of this organization, eh?

1914:  IN WASHINGTON DC, THE FIRST STONE OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL IS PUT INTO PLACE.

Aw, on his birthday.  How clever.

1915:  ACTOR LORNE GREENE IS BORN.

Bonanza!!

1926:  BASEBALL PERSONALITY JOE GARAGIOLA IS BORN.

My grandmother used to call him Joe Garabaldi.

1934:  BASKETBALL STAR BILL RUSSELL IS BORN.

Score the goal.

1935:  USS MACON, ONE OF THE TWO LARGEST HELIUM-FILLED AIRSHIPS EVER CREATED, CRASHES INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA.

Well, there were two.

1946:  AFRICAN AMERICAN US ARMY VETERAN ISAAC WOODARD IS SEVERELY BEATEN BY A SOUTH CAROLINA POLICE OFFICER TO THE POINT WHERE HE LOSES HIS VISION IS BOTH EYES.  THIS GALVANIZES THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

Okay, back in 1946, he wasn't called an African American.  He was probably called "colored."

1947:  CHRISTIAN DIOR UNVEILS A NEW LOOK, HELPING PARIS REGAIN ITS POSITION AS THE CAPITAL OF THE FASHION WORLD.

As if it was going to be in Prague.

1963:  CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON THE GATEWAY ARCH IN ST. LOUIS.

A landmark that I've never really understood.   I mean...it's nothing but an arch.

1974:  ALEKSANDR SOLZHENITSYN, WINNER OF THE 1970 LITERATURE NOBEL PRIZE, IS EXILED FROM THE SOVIET UNION.

He needs to buy a vowel.

1976:  ACTOR SAL MINEO DIES.

Well, murdered really.   And I drive by the spot frequently.

1994:  FOUR MEN BREAK INTO THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF NORWAY AND STEAL EDVARD MUNCH'S ICONIC PAINTING THE SCREAM.

Now it really has something to scream about.

1999:  PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON IS ACQUITTED BY THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN HIS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

Lincoln never had an intern.

2000:  FOOTBALL COACH TOM LANDRY DIES.

No overtime for him.

2000:  CARTOONIST CHARLES M. SCHULZ DIES.

What are you gonna do now, Charlie Brown?

2004:  THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA BEGINS ISSUING MARRIAGE LICENSES TO SAME-SEX COUPLES.

As if you thought this was going to happen in Omaha.

2001:  ACTRESS BETTY GARRETT DIES.

From On the Town to Under It.

2011:  ACTOR KENNETH MARS DIES.

Loved him in The Producers and Young Frankenstein.

2014:  COMIC SID CAESAR DIES.

He had Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, and Woody Allen on his writing staff.  Not bad.

2015:  ANNOUNCER GARY OWENS DIES.

The true Fickle Finger of Fate.

2017:  SINGER ALL JARREAU DIES.

It ain't "Mornin'" any more.

2019:  POLITICIAN LYNDON LA ROUCHE DIES.

I still plan to give him a write-in vote this year.

Dinner last night:   Japanese BBQ at Gyu Kaku.

No comments: