October 10

1911 - The Chinese Revolution began with a bomb explosion and the discovery of revolutionary headquarters in Hankow.

Nationalist leader Sun Yat Sen proclaimed a republic, and began the revolution which eventually forced the abdication of the last emperor of the Manchu Dynasty - Henry Pu-Yi, 6 years old.

China had been pathetic for a long time, being a bit player in Asia and a pawn for the major Western Powers...Sun Yat Sen wasn't a communist, but his movement paved the way for the eventual communist takeover of China, and the re-emergence of China as a major player in Asia and the world - a role it has held for most of human history.

1789 - In France, Joseph Guillotine claimed the most humane way of carrying out a death sentence is decapitation by the single blow of a blade.

Guillotine was a man of good intentions, but needless to say his idea didn’t turn out as he planned. The guillotine became the favorite tool of 'The Terror' in the French Revolution, and was used for every reason except in a 'humane way.'

1845 - The U.S. Naval Academy was formally opened at Fort Severn, Annapolis, Maryland.

This great college gave birth to the most awesome navy in the history of the world. One which gives the U.S. "global reach and global power" at a moment's notice.

1935 - The League of Nations denounced the Italian invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia).

And the League did what to bring Italy in line after this denouncement? Hahahaahahaha!

The League of Nations was even more useless than it's offspring - the United Nations...Too bad it didn't die without an heir.

1995 - University of Chicago professor Robert E. Lucas won the Nobel Prize in Economics for demonstrating how people's fears and expectations can frustrate policy-makers' efforts to shape the economy.

This guy got a prize for such an obvious concept? Okie dokie.