January 11

532 - The Nika Revolt: A general revolt against Byzantine emperor Justinian.

This event wasn't a revolution - it was a massive riot. One of the largest in history...It almost destroyed Justinian, which would have likely brought on a much quicker downfall of the Byzantine Empire - which was nothing less than a continuation of the Roman Empire in the East.

Luckily, Justinian's wife, Theodora, helped him 'keep his head' and gave him the inner strength to put down the riot...Not only did Justinian survive the riot, ending up the greatest Byzantine emperor, but he rebuilt Constantinople which helped strengthen the empire enough to last another 1000 years.

1879 - The Zulu War began:  South African colonials vs. Britain.

Shaka was dead, but he trained his people well...Unfortunately for the Zulus, the Brits were also trained, and had modern weapons.

1922 - Insulin was first used to treat diabetes. Leonard Thompson, from Canada, was the first patient.

Diabetes is a horrible disease, and it's hard to imagine what it would be like without the genius of such medicines.

1923 - France and Belgium occupied the Ruhr as a way to collect reparations from Germany.

I hope they collected plenty because the Ruhr was quickly reclaimed by Germany when Hitler took power, and the Germans soon returned to France and Belgium...Payback-for-payback is a bitch.

1929 - In the Soviet Union, the Bolsheviks officially reduced the workday to seven hours.

Hahahahaha!!! Those silly communists had such a way with words.

I bet if you asked any person who lived in the Soviet system how long their workday was they’d say much longer than seven hours a day...Maybe they meant seven before lunch and seven after lunch.

Oops.  I forgot, lunch was a myth, too.

1943 - The Soviet Red Army encircled Stalingrad:  WWII.

Hitler's army was enveloped, and his insistence on capturing Stalingrad was about to end in disaster...German Field Marshall von Paulus surrendered shortly after this, and the Soviet rout was on.

1944 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his 'State of the Union,' proposed a National Service Act and a new set of rights, including: a right to a job, a right of decent income to farmers, a right to a decent home, a right to medical care, etc.

Sounds like FDR was proposing the U.S. become Utopia. Unfortunately, for Liberals, America is a place situated in 'REALITY,' and is based on 'LIBERTY,' not 'EQUALITY.'

We have the freedom (Liberty) to make our lot in life. We are not owed anything except opportunity, and Equality isn’t an attainable goal, or even a goal worth wanting, because the only way to make everyone Equal is to make everyone 'MISERABLE.'

Incredibly, President Obama attempted to revive FDR's silly program...Which led to the electoral disasters of 2010-2016 for Democrats - ultimately giving rise to the presidency of Donald Trump.

1989 - 140 nations agreed to ban chemical weapons.

How many have kept this agreement?  Did the U.S. keep it?

2000 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled state employees cannot go into federal court to sue over age bias.

This sounds like a simple ‘states rights’ issue, but some cried because they’d rather have their 'Uncle' (Sam) control everything...Most notably the federal courts, and their Liberal agenda.

2002 - The first al-Qaeda prisoners arrived at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

I'm so glad President Obama is using his last days in office freeing these poor prisoners...I'm sure we'll be much safer for such actions.

November 14

1994 - After many delays, the first trains for the public were run in the Channel Tunnel (Chunnel) under the English Channel.

The Chunnel is an awesome feet of engineering: A 50-km-long, rail tunnel beneath the English Channel at the Straits of Dover, connecting England and France...Here’s hoping the Brits have a kill-switch to blow it up the next time the Germans plow through France.

Ok, the Germans are out of the conquest business...But the Muslims aren't.

565 - Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, 'the Great,' died.

Justinian ruled the Byzantines for 38-years, and was one of the greatest of the Roman emperors, and also its last great emperor.

I hope you understand the Byzantine Empire was nothing less than the continuation of the traditional Roman Empire, but was situated in Constantinople rather than Rome...Rome may have fallen in the 400's, but the Roman Empire lasted at Constantinople well into the 1500's.

1305 - Clement V was crowned the first 'Avignon Pope.'

The Avignon Papacy (1305-1378) was a period of ‘dual Popes,’ with one in Rome (the traditional Pope), and one in France (a French puppet).

This period is also know as the 'Western Schism' or the 'Period of the Anti-Popes'...Sadly, most Americans (even Catholic Americans) have no clue of this event, but it was a major issue in its time.

1863 – Nathan Bedford Forrest was assigned to command the Confederate forces of western Tennessee:  U.S. Civil War.

N.B. Forrest is one of the greatest commanders of the Civil War, and it is lucky for the U.S. he was held in check by his own superiors. When given a chance to lead in the field, the Union forces he faced were amazed at his skill, ingenuity, and bravery, even though he was never formally trained in the military arts - He was a slave-trader, with exceptional instincts and no fear.

Oh by the way, NBF was also the first Grand Wizard of the KKK.

I highly recommend you read this fantastic book about this incredibly interesting (though terribly flawed) man: NB Forrest: A Biography.

1908 - Albert Einstein presented the Quantum Theory of Light.

I’m not going to try to explain this, but I’m sure there are some who’d like to read about it: photoelectric effect.

1935 - The Nazis deprived German Jews of their citizenship.

This is nothing compared to what was to come...It’s one thing to be 'deprived of citizenship,' and another to be ‘deprived of humanity.’

1940 - German planes bombed Coventry, England, destroying or damaging 69,000 buildings:  WWII.

How come Liberals cry about the Allied bombing of Dresden and other German cities, but never mention the ‘rain of Hell’ the Krauts dropped on the Brits and the rest of Europe?? Seems to me every bomb the Germans received was well-earned.

1969 - 'Apollo 12' blasted off for the Moon.

Apollo 12 was the second manned lunar mission, and we must make sure to never forget the greatness of those who have been there. On this trip it was:  Charles Conrad Jr., Richard F. Gordon Jr., and Alan L. Bean.

The membership of those who’ve been to the Moon is very small, hasn’t been increased in four decades, and includes only Americans.

1991 - Michael Jackson's 'Black or White' video premiered on FOX-TV.

Mikey didn't discriminate at all. He likes black little boys or white little boys...Or both at the same time.

1994 - President Clinton held one-on-one meetings with the leaders of China, Japan and South Korea, winning pledges to keep the pressure on North Korea to freeze its nuclear weapons program.

What he should have been doing was persuading China to kill Kim Jong il...There was no reasoning with him (nor his son, or grandson), and the only way to bring North Korea to the table of diplomacy is to rid it of the Kim family of nutty dictators - and yes, it's going to have to be the Chinese who finally get it done.

1998 - Iraq said it would resume cooperating with U.N. weapons inspectors as it appeared to back down in the face of a threatened U.S. attack.

I’m sure Iraqi pharmacy manufacturers were afraid of a U.S. attack, but Saddam knew Bubba didn’t have the spine to come after him.

1999 - The United Nations imposed sanctions on Afghanistan for refusing to hand over suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden.

What were they 'sanctioning?' The Afghanis only have two industries: Opium and Jihad.

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

April 4

1968 - Civil rights leader Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis.

The Reverend wasn’t a perfect man, but he was the perfect Civil Rights leader. His message of peaceful disobedience and cultural assimilation is the only one which would have worked, and had the movement been led by any other type of leader it would have failed...Sadly this has become evident by the clowns who have succeeded MLK and bastardized his efforts.

527 - Justinian I was crowned Byzantine Emperor.

Justinian was one of the greatest ‘Roman’ emperors, and his rule marks the complete demarcation between the ancient Empire and the Byzantine Empire proper...That said, I hope you understand the Byzantine Empire was the Roman Empire.

1581 - Frances Drake completed his second circumnavigation of the world.

Drake was one of the 'astronauts' of his time...And an excellent pirate, too.

1818 - The U.S. Congress decided the Flag of the United States would consist of 13 red and white stripes and 20 stars, with a new star to be added for every new state of the Union.

”I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, One nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”

1896 - Gold was discovered in the Yukon, Alaska.

’Seward’s Folly’ proved to be very profitable...And then came the discovery of oil in Alaska, which made it incredibly profitable.

The Ruskies have to be kicking themselves on this one.

1945 - Hungary was liberated from Nazi occupation:  WWII.

Always be mindful of the word 'liberated' when it comes to the Russian Theatre of WWII...I’m quite certain the Hungarians would doubt they were 'liberated' by their soon-to-be Soviet overlords.

1949 - Representatives of eleven nations gathered in Washington, D.C. to sign the North Atlantic Treaty, creating the NATO alliance.

NATO, a dubious alliance since its inception, had a purpose as an alliance against Soviet aggression...That said, the dissolution of the Soviet Union should have led to the dissolution of NATO. Especially if our European 'friends' refuse to play a much bigger role in the alliance - financially and in personnel.

1973 - The ribbon was cut to open the World Trade Center in New York City.

On 9/11/01 the WTC disappeared...Never Forget. Never Forgive!!

1988 - The Arizona Senate convicted Governor Evan Mecham on two charges of official misconduct and removed him from office. Mecham was the first U.S. governor to be impeached and removed from office in nearly six decades.

I was only 17, but was in Arizona during this time, and Mecham shouldn’t have been impeached...He was a jackass, and an embarrassment to the state, but he committed no criminal acts or impeachable offenses. And if we impeached every political jackass there would be many empty political offices.

1989 - Democrat Richard Daley was elected mayor of Chicago.

Compared to Mecham, Daley should have been an absolute impeachment possibility...There have been few bigger crooks in American politics. Well, I guess his father may have been a bigger crook.

1992 - Bill Clinton's campaign acknowledged Clinton received an induction notice in April 1969 while attending college in Oxford, England; Clinton said the notice arrived after he was due to report, and his local draft board told him he could complete the school term.Considering Bubba’s history of truth-telling (or lack of it), I’m sure you believe this claim.

HOW DID WE ELECT A DRAFT-DODGING COMMANDER-in-CHIEF??? I know some of you did!!!

1995 - Francisco Martin Duran, who raked the White House with semi-automatic rifle fire in October 1994, was convicted in Washington of trying to assassinate President Bill Clinton. Duran was later sentenced to 40-years in prison.

I just don’t get it: Why isn’t an attempt on the President a capital crime? Even an attempt on a POS president like Clinton should lead to the shooter’s death.