Wednesday, September 2, 2020

This Date in History - September 2

Happy birthday to Chuck McCann.  He's the one in the middle.  Yep, the dead guy.

47 BC:  PHARAOH CLEOPATRA VII OF EGYPT DECLARES HER SON CO-RULER AS PTOLEMY XV CAESARION.

The earliest evidence of nepotism in history.

44 BC:  CICERO LAUNCHES THE FIRST OF HIS PHILIPPICS (ORATORICAL ATTACKS) ON MARK ANTONY.

Today Cicero would be hosting a host on MSNBC.

31 BC:  FINAL WAR OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC - THE BATTLE OF ACTIUM - FORCES OF OCTAVIAN DEFEAT TROOPS MARK ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.  

Actium?   Isn't that for constipation?

1666:  THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON BREAKS OUT AND BURNS FOR THREE DAYS, DESTROYING 10,000 BUILDINGS.

What's so great about that??

1752:  GREAT BRITAIN ADOPTS THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR, NEARLY TWO CENTURIES LATER THAN MOST OF WESTERN EUROPE.

So when are the holidays?

1789:  THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY IS FOUNDED.

I'll take tens and twenties, thank you.

1807:  THE ROYAL NAVY BOMBARDS COPENHAGEN WITH FIRE BOMBS AND ROCKETS TO PREVENT DENMARK FROM SURRENDERING ITS FLEET TO NAPOLEON.

Napoleon:  "So I'll take that as a no."

1850:  SPORTING GOODS BUSINESSMAN ALBERT SPALDING IS BORN.

Catch this.

1859:  A SOLAR SUPER STORM AFFECTS ELECTRICAL TELEGRAPH SERVICE.

Not working.  Stop.  

1864:  THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR - UNION FORCES ENTER ATLANTA AFTER THE CONFEDERATE DEFENDERS FLEE THE CITY.

But Scarlett will always have Tara.

1901:  VICE PRESIDENT OF THE US THEODORE ROOSEVELT UTTERS THE FAMOUS PHRASE "SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK."

Later a slogan adopted by the porn industry.

1912:  ARTHUR ROSE ELDRED IS AWARDED THE FIRST EAGLE SCOUT AWARD OF THE BOY SCOUTS.

Must have known a lot of old ladies needed to get to the other side of the street.

1934:  ACTOR CHUCK MCCANN IS BORN.

One of the kiddie TV hosts of my childhood.

1935:  A HUGE LABOR DAY HURRICANE HITS THE FLORIDA KEYS, KILLING 423.  

Yet people still move to Florida.

1937:  BUSINESSMAN PETER UEBERROTH IS BORN.

I wonder if he started the cab company.

1945:  WORLD WAR II - THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN IS SIGNED AND ACCEPTED ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS MISSOURI IN TOKYO BAY.

Sayonara.

1948:  ASTRONAUT CHRISTA MCAULIFFE IS BORN.

An astronaut for...like...a minute and a half.

1951:  ACTOR MARK HARMON IS BORN.

Mr. Pam Dawber.

1963:  CBS EVENING NEWS BECOMES NETWORK TV'S FIRST HALF-HOUR WEEKNIGHT NEW BROADCAST, WHEN THE SHOW IS LENGTHENED FROM 15 MINUTES.

Nowadays, there's 15 minutes of commercials.

1969:  VIETNAMESE POLITICIAN HO CHI MINH DIES.

Happy trails.

1970:  NASA ANNOUNCES THE CANCELLATION OF TWO APOLLO MISSIONS TO THE MOON.

All your fault, Apollo 13.

1973:  POET J.R.R TOLKIEN DIES.

Reminder: I have yet to read or see any of the Lord of the Rings books or movies.

2001:  ACTOR TROY DONAHUE DIES.

Once married to Suzanne Pleshette and obviously no dummy.

2005:  ACTOR BOB DENVER DIES.

Really stuck on that island now.

2013:  THE NEW EASTERN SPAN OF THE SF-OAKLAND BAY BRIDGE OPENS TO TRAFFIC, THE WIDEST BRIDGE IN THE WORLD.

Until the next big one.

Dinner last night:  Leftover barbecue ribs.

No comments: