August 1 (A 5'er)

527 - Justinian I became the sole Byzantine Emperor.

There was only one great 'Roman' emperor after the fall of Rome; his name was Justinian...His most famous work was the creation of the Justinian Code, but he also expanded the Byzantine Empire militarily, and was a proponent of the Church - it hadn't split at this time.

Justinian is also a saint in the Orthodox Christian tradition.

1619 - The first twenty blacks landed in the territory of the modern United States - at Jamestown, Va.

A big day, on many levels...Of course slavery was horrible, and can't be looked at in any other light. But I wonder if some good came of it for blacks?

It sounds insensitive, but I often wonder if American blacks would rather still be in Africa?

Africa is the Hell-pit of the Earth, and its population suffers mightily - especially sub-Saharan Africa...If they could turn back time, would American blacks wish their forefathers to have been left alone in Africa?

I think the instant answer would be YES!! But I wonder if this answer would be the same if thought through.

1834 - The British Empire outlawed slavery.

This was a huge event in the global slave trade, because the Brits controlled the seas, and used its navy to slow the transit of slaves from Africa to Europe and the New World.

The unfortunate aspect of it was slavery in the Americas was such a 'necessary' source of labor, a new system was devised to continue acquiring slaves: Chattel Slavery...They were bred, born and traded as a commodity, and often separated from their family.

1914 - Germany declared war on Russia, France mobilized against Germany, and Italy declared its neutrality:  WWI.

Austria v. Serbia would have been a small matter, but the introduction of Germany, Russia and France into the war made it a huge issue - a World War...Italy declaring neutrality was just its way of saying it was waiting to see which was going to be the winning side.

1992 - Pero married his wonderful wife - Melissa.

A life-changing day, the likes of which I hadn't had since I was eight years old, and didn't have again until my children came along.

I love you, Melissa!

1794 - The Whiskey Rebellion.

This was the second great internal battle in the new nation (after the 1786 Shays Rebellion), and one President Washington attacked head on...Thankfully, because it had the possibility of splitting the country.

Washington looked at this as a chance to test federalism, and along with Alexander Hamilton took the necessary steps to put the rebellion down.

1881 - The U.S. Quarantine Station was authorized at Angel Island, San Francisco Bay.

Oh what most Americans would give to have such an entity re-established at every port of entry.

But this wouldn't be fair to those coming over with HIV, AIDS, TB, Hep A/B/C, WMD, etc...I can already picture the ACLU running amok, defending the right to enter the U.S. with diseases and weapons from Hell.

1936 - Adolph Hitler opened the 11th Olympic Games in Berlin.

Last I checked the Olympic 'Ideal' is everything the Nazi's weren't...But if one takes a closer look, both are/were little more than groups of crooked scumbags.

Thankfully Jesse Owens was there to stick it up Der Fuhrer's ass...Sadly, within three years Hitler was marching on the very neighbors who allowed him to host this pathetic spectacle.

1944 - An uprising broke out in Warsaw, Poland against Nazi occupation, which lasted two months before collapsing:  WWII.

Too little, too late for the Poles, but within a few months they were 'liberated'...A cruel joke, considering their new masters (the Soviets) were little better than their old ones.

1966 - Britain disbanded the Colonial Office, ending the British Empire.

The Empire had been over for a long time, but this marks its legal ending...That said, there are still many members of the 'Commonweatlh', and Britain is still a major player on the world stage - as America's best ally.

1975 - The Helsinki Pact: Guaranteeing boundaries and civil rights in Europe.

Hahahahaha! The only thing guaranteeing anything for the Euros is the might of the United States, and the 'Peace Americana' it has established.

If left to their own, the Euros would continue their centuries old game of never-ending warfare...And to a certain extent the French and Germans are continuing to do so, but through the methods of E.U. politics and euro monetary strangulation instead of war.

Also, the Ruskies are still at the eastern fringe of Europe, and they won't be weak forever - as we've seen in Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, etc...And let's never forget the Muslims to the south and east haven't given up their intentions of conquering - or re-conquering - Europe.  If they're smart, they'll quit with the business of jihad, and simply overtake Europe the process of breeding.

Never forget these two truths:

"War is the continuation of Politics by other means." - Carl von Clauswitz
"Politics is the continuation of War by other means." - Poison Pero