January 13

1863 - Thomas Crapper invented the one-piece pedestal-flushing toilet.

A seemingly minor event...Hardly!

It's hard to imagine living in the 'pre-sanitation' days, and the advent of this system of eliminating human waste was a huge story in the decline of many of man's most awful diseases in major cities...Namely typhoid, cholera, and other diarrhea causing diseases - diseases which are still a leading cause of death in much of the not-so-civilized world.

"And now you know the rest of the story." - Paul Harvey

1559 - Elizabeth was crowned Queen of England.

The 'Virgin Queen' was not only one of the most important English rulers, she was one of the most important women in history.

1920 - A N.Y. Times Editorial said rockets could never fly.

90-years later and the Times continues to mystify many with its idiotic pronouncements.

1931 - The bridge connecting New York and New Jersey was named the George Washington Memorial Bridge.

This would never fly today...Because Washington was a racist, slave owner. Forget that he was the first President of the United States, and the greatest American.

This bridge would be named after one of the flamers from 'Queer Eye for the Normo Guy' before it could be named after Washington.

1943 - General Leclerc's Free French forces merged with the British under Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery in Libya:  WWII.

I ride the French pretty hard, and constantly refer to how they rolled over for the Germans - and liked it...This group of Free French forces, however, was an excellent force, and a worthy descendant of Charlemagne.

Unfortunately, the rest of the 99.9% of the French give them a bad name.

1943 - Hitler declared 'Total War':  WWII.

I guess prior to this date, the Germans were fighting a ‘partial war’...Psychotic fool!!

1966 - Robert C. Weaver became the first black U.S. cabinet member when he was appointed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Why is it always a big deal when Democrat presidents appoint a minority to a minor cabinet position, but when a Republican president puts one in a major position (State, SCOTUS, etc.) the media whitewashes it or calls the recipient an 'Uncle Tom?'

1988 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled public school officials had broad powers to censor school newspapers, school plays and other "school-sponsored expressive activities."

Amazingly this (along with the mythical “separation of church and state” clause) was taken to mean they could censor any form of religious display...But displays of Jihad Joe taking a leak on the American Flag would surely be allowed. Maybe even encouraged.

1992 - Japan apologized for forcing tens of thousands of Korean women to serve as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II.

Not to make light of this issue, but this was Japan’s big crime in WWII???? I guess the words Pearl Harbor, Unit 731, Nanjing and Bataan were minor incidences.

1996 - President Bill Clinton paid a front-line visit to American forces in Bosnia, praising the troops as "warriors for peace."

Warriors for peace under a Commander-in-Chief who is a (D) = Good; with an (R) = Bad...Riiiiight.

Such is the reality of the American media and lying anti-war Liberals.