March 2

1296 - Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the 'Bull of Clericis Laicos.'

Boniface’s decree stated no layperson (including kings) had the right to demand taxation from the clergy without consent from the Pope...A powerful decree, but one destined to failure.

The Dark/Middle Ages were a time of papal supremacy, but the European kings of the 13th-16th Centuries challenged the power of the Church in their attempts to consolidate power within their kingdoms...The power-struggle was eventually won by the kings, who used the Reformation as a tool to crush Catholic domination in their lands. Which is why the Reformation is as much of a political movement as a religious one - as is the Catholic Church.

274 - Mani, prophet and founder of Manichaeism, died in a Persian prison.

Manichaeism was one of the great religions of the ancient world, and was a direct threat to Zoroastrianism (official religion of Persia) and Christianity.

Obviously, Manichaeism was defeated as a religion but has played a huge roll in Christianity, through the teachings of St. Augustine...Prior to accepting Christianity, Augustine was a Manichean and many of his teachings incorporated his previous religious beliefs, which have been passed down to this day.

1877 - Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the winner of the 1876 presidential election over Samuel J. Tilden, even though Tilden won the popular vote and was just one electoral vote shy of victory.

The 2000 Election wasn’t the first contested election, and it wasn’t even the most hotly contested...Had the Democrats not attempted to steal it, the 2000 Election wouldn’t have been a Constitutional issue at all. Especially when compared to America's previous election battles.

1897 - President Grover Cleveland vetoed legislation requiring a literacy test for immigrants.

I'd settle for an English test?  Especially considering the amount of Americans who are illiterate.

1917 - Congress passed the Jones Act, which made Puerto Rico a U.S. territory and its inhabitants U.S. citizens.

Puerto Rico should either become a state or be given complete independence...But the reality is they have the best of both worlds: Semi-independence, with American welfare.

1923 - Benito Mussolini admitted women should have a right to vote, but declared the time was not right.

Only a dictator could get away with spinning such illogical B.S.

1939 - The Massachusetts Legislature voted to ratify the Bill of Rights, 147-years after the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution went into effect.

I didn’t know this. How disgusting...But not unexpected from the Massachusetts Soviet Socialist Republic.

1962 - Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in an NBA game.

100 points in one game, and because it was before the modern era very few people saw it - or will ever see it, because there is no film of the game.

An amazing feat which will never be matched - no other player has ever scored more than 81 in a game (Kobe Bryant).  Even Michael Jordan never got in the 70's...Only four players have ever scored 60+ in a game:  Kobe did it 6 times, Jordan 5 times, and Elgin Baylor did it 4 times.  Wilt did it 32 times!

In fact, in the modern-day NBA some teams average scoring less than 100 points per game.

Wilt was truly a man-among-boys.  The most dominant player ever - even if he's not the greatest.

2004 - NASA scientists reported the Mars rover 'Opportunity' discovered evidence water was once present on the Martian surface.

Can you imagine the excitement there would be if LIFE was found on Mars...It would be amazing.

Surprisingly, LIFE IN THE WOMB isn’t nearly as cherished...Not in Liberalville, that is.

February 23

1954 - The first mass inoculation of children against polio, with the Salk vaccine, began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

DO VACCINES WORK??

Prior to 1954, the U.S. had an annual rate of polio infection between 13,000-20,000 cases per year. 1952 was the highest reported with over 58,000 cases of polio.

IN 2017 THERE WERE ONLY A HANDFUL OF CASES OF POLIO WORLDWIDE...OF COURSE VACCINES WORK!!

Go to the 'Polio History Timeline' for a brief view of the success of this vaccine...A success-story repeated by many other vaccines as well.

303 - Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered the general persecution of Christians.

Constantine couldn’t come quickly enough for the Christians...In an ironic twist, the Roman Church later performed similar persecutions in the various Inquisitions.

1778 - Baron von Steuben joined the Continental Army at Valley Forge:  American Revolutionary War.

Von Steuben was a European mercenary, and his arrival marks a huge improvement in the discipline and order of Colonial forces...The Colonials were never a very reliable group, but von Steuben was an excellent instructor, which gave Washington a semi-professional force to fight with.

1836 - The Battle of the Alamo: The fort was besieged by Mexican President Santa Anna, and the entire garrison was eventually killed.

This was a fantastic victory for Santa Anna, but was purely tactical, and the Texans had the last laugh.

1847 - The Battle of Buena Vista:  Mexican-American War. Forces led by Zachary Taylor defeated the Mexicans, led by Santa Anna.

This battle didn’t end the Mexican-American War, but it signaled the beginning of the end.

Santa Anna attacked Taylor with over 14,000 troops, compared to Taylor’s 5,000. The battle began poorly for the Americans, but ended in a route, propelling General Taylor to the presidency two years later.

1919 - Benito Mussolini created the Italian Fascist Party.

Wooo Hoo! The man who would recreate the Roman Empire!! What a joke...Without the help of Hitler, the 'Paperboy' would have been able to conquer little more than parts of semi-barbaric Africa.

1926 - U.S. President Calvin Coolidge opposed a large air force, believing it would be a menace to world peace.

I love President Coolidge, but this was a terribly, shortsighted comment...No nation can deny the march of technology, unless it is looking to commit national suicide, that is.

1942 - The first shelling of the U.S. mainland during World War II occurred when a Japanese submarine fired 25 shells on an oil refinery in Ellwood, California.

Most Americans don't realized the Japanese hit the mainland. They used these shells, balloon drops, and held portions of Alaska as well...All the more reason to call on the Atom Bombs in 1945.

Hell, if the Japanese had an atom bomb they surely would have used it on a raid such as this one...And they were trying to get one.

1945 - U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima captured Mount Suribachi, and raised the American flag. A larger flag was then brought in to replace the first - the second flag-raising was captured in the famous picture taken by Joe Rosenthal:  WWII.

You must get to D.C./Virgina to see the Iwo Jima Memorial...It is unbelievably powerful.

1991 - President GHW Bush announced the allied ground offensive against Iraqi forces had begun. (Because of the time difference, it was already the early morning of Feb. 24 in the Persian Gulf.)

The first Persian Gulf was was a brilliantly performed mission, but Bush made the mistake of limiting the objective of the mission after being pressured to quit the task prior to finishing off Saddam Hussein.

The job eventually fell to his son, who proved up to the task of not only taking on Saddam, but also taking on world opinion...Papa Bush was a good man, but he didn’t have the nerve and moral clarity of his son.

Unfortunately, W. fell into the trap of thinking he could bring Western Civilization to the Iraqis - in the form of democracy...This mistake cost him, America and the Iraqis terribly.

1997 - Scientists in Scotland announced they succeeded in cloning an adult mammal, producing a lamb named 'Dolly.'

Very nice...Just what the world needs, Dr. Frankenstein’s and Mengele’s playing God.

February 1

1790 - The U.S. Supreme Court convened in New York City for its first session.

This is one of the greatest judicial bodies in the history of the world, and one which will continue to be so as long as it remembers its job is to ensure the constitutionality of items coming from the Executive and Legislative Branches - including at the lower levels in the states.

The problem is when the Supremes determine they need to replace the duties of the President and Congress - acting as 'super legislators'...The other problem is the President and Congress have too often ceded their responsibilities to the Supremes in order to avoid having to make politically difficult decisions.

"Judges and justices are servants of the law, not the other way around. Judges are like umpires. Umpires don't make the rules; they apply them. The role of an umpire and a judge is critical. They make sure everybody plays by the rules. But it is a limited role." - Chief Justice John Roberts

1327 - Edward III was crowned King of England.

Edward was only a teenage boy at the time - the country was effectively ruled by his mother Isabella and her lover Roger - but he proved more than up to the task of ruling the country when he came of age...Edward was one of England's greatest kings, ruling for over 50 years, and establishing the island nation as one of Europe's great powers.

1669 - French king Louis XIV limited freedom of religion.

Of course he did.  That's what tyrants - and Liberals - do...As if there's a difference between the two.

1918 - Russia adopted the Gregorian Calendar.

It was about time...I wonder what the Ruskie people thought about losing 13 days, because out of nowhere it went from being February 1 to February 14.

1923 - Benito Mussolini founded the Fascist Voluntary Militia.

The 'Paperboy' was picking up steam, and out of this rabble of humanity came a bunch of thugs who made Benito a dictator.

1933 - The German Parliament dissolved.

Shocking, just a few days after Hitler became Chancellor.

1943 - One of America's most highly decorated military units of World War II, the 442d Regimental Combat Team, made up almost entirely of Japanese-Americans, was authorized.

This unit was awesome, and proved to America they weren’t Japanese or hyphenated Americans (Japanese-Americans)...They were Americans first.

We should offer the same kind of unit to fight in the War on Terror. I’m not as certain this would end as well, however.

1951 - The U.N. condemned China as an aggressor in the Korean War.

Lotta good that did.  Especially since the only ones who cower over U.N. declarations are the pansies in the West.

1958 - Egypt and Syria announced plans to merge into the United Arab Republic.

Now that would be a power-player in the Middle East.  But it was destined to failure...Either on its own, or at the hands of the Israelis, who could never have allowed it to work out.

2003 - Space Shuttle Columbia and its seven person crew perished upon re-entry from their 16-day mission.

This was a terrible event, but it's amazing it hasn’t happened more often...Man was not made to leave Earth, and every time we jump off this ball we run the risk of such accidents.

That said, we must continue.

January 7 (A Double)

1789 - The first nationwide U.S. presidential election was held. The electors unanimously picked George Washington as President and John Adams as Vice President.

Two better men couldn't have been chosen for the position of President and V.P...It's doubtful anyone will ever surpass Washington in importance in American history, and although Adams was no Washington he was more than up to the task of succeeding Washington eight years later.

Our nation would never have survived without these early leaders, and it's been said a million times: "America has always been blessed with the right man, in the right place, at the right time." - Orignial Author Unknown

Unfortunately, this axiom isn't a guarantee.

1971 - DDT was outlawed by a U.S. Court of Appeals.

It takes a lot for an event to share a day with Washington, but the long term suffering and death caused by this decision puts it right up there in importance.

DDT kills a lot of insects, birds and small animals...But not using it has led to the death of tens of millions of HUMANS.

I'm sure the people of Africa, South America and Asia would rather see animals and bugs die from DDT than their family members from Yellow Fever and other diseases.

I'm also sure it's coincidental (not racist, of course) that Liberals across the planet have chosen to protect the furry little creatures of the world instead of its most destitute people - often 'people of color'...Sure!

49 B.C. - The Roman Senate declared Julius Caesar a public enemy, unless he would disband his army.

Caesar scoffed at this pitiful order...The Republic was on its last legs, and Caesar soon cut them off.

1558 - The Duke de Guise captured Calais for France.

Calais was one of England's last Continental properties, and after hearing the news of the loss Queen Mary I reportedly said: "When I am dead and opened, you shall find 'Calais' lying in my heart."

I'd say getting off the Continent was a blessing for the English, because it forced them to look inward and turn away from the decadence of Europe.

1807 - Responding to Napoleon Bonaparte's attempted blockade of the British Isles, the British blockaded Continental Europe.

Neither the Brit nor French 'blockades' were very successful, and Europe continued to be bled out until Britain was able to put together a strong enough alliance to finally defeat the Emperor.

1934 - Six-thousand pastors in Berlin defied the Nazis insisting they would not be muzzled.

These pastors were brave - they were also out-gunned.

1935 - Fascist Italy and France agreed to protect Austria against Nazi German encroachment.

France has been Germany's whipping-boy since 1870. What made them think they could stop Hitler from taking his homeland?

Italy?  Hahahaha!  Actually, it's pretty sad to think Musso was going be of any help to anyone - other than to Hitler, that is.

1945 - British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery gave a press conference where he all but claimed complete credit for saving the Allied cause in the Battle of the Bulge:  WWII.

Montgomery is a favorite target of ridicule for American historians (myself included), but it is foolish to deny he was a good general...As Churchill rightly noted: "Before Monty the Germans never lost a battle, but after Monty they never won one."

The unstated coincidence is the U.S. entered the war soon after Monty took command in Africa.

For the Field Marshal to make any claim for the success at the Battle of the Bulge was a complete farce, though...If anything, his waste of time at 'Market Garden' made the Battle of the Bulge possible for the Germans, and slowed down the effort in the West so much the Ruskies were able to get to Berlin first.

1951 - Hostile demonstrations welcomed Dwight Eisenhower to Paris during talks on European defense strategy.
Hostile towards Ike?  The man who led the effort to save them from their German overlords?  Par for the course for the Frenchies.

Some have fallen for the Liberal propaganda that France has always been our friend (prior to G.W. Bush, that is)...Think again.

The French have never been our friends:

1. Sure they helped in the Revolutionary War, but they did so to spite Britain, not because they were supporters of liberty or the American colonists.

2. They sold us the Louisiana Territory, but had no choice. France was at war all over Europe and couldn't hold on to its American prize even if they wanted to...Plus, after their defeat in Haiti, Napoleon had to scrap his plans of invading the U.S. But that's not something taught in public school. Hell, it's not even taught in American universities.

3. The French gave us the Statue of Liberty; sort of...A group of French citizens gave it to 'the American people' in France's name, but the French government could have cared less.

4. In WWI, France treated our troops like dogs, and didn't want them there other than as fodder against the Hun.

5. In WWII, France rolled over like a cheap whore for the Germans, and hate the fact the U.S. and Brits saved it from becoming a nation of bars of soap and lampshades.

Etc., etc., etc...They were self-serving bastards then, just as they were in 1951 (not even six years after being liberated), just as they are today.

1953 - President Truman announced in his State of the Union Address, the United States had developed a hydrogen bomb.

This monster has been tested but never used in anger. I wonder who will be the lucky 'first' recipient? Will it be the U.S.?

Who really knows what our enemies have?  Or what our 'friends' will eventually sell to our enemies.

1999 - For only the second time in history, an impeached American president (Bill Clinton) went on trial before the Senate.

The House did its job properly, and so did the Senate...He should have been impeached by the House, and acquitted by the Senate.  I hope you follow this logic.

The threat of impeachment should be held over every public official, and wielded like a hammer...For too long our presidents, representatives, senators, judges, and bureaucrats have acted without fear of repercussion. The Constitution has specific means for protecting the 'people' from these officials and it is Congress' duty to use impeachment as needed to protect the people.

Unfortunately, many government officials have long since ended the promise of working for and protecting the people, and now simply work for and protect themselves and their friends.

January 3

1868 - The Meiji Restoration.

The authority of Japan's emperor was re-established, ending the Shogun period of military rulers. The feudal clan system was also abolished, industrialization started, and Japan opened itself up to the West - thereby obtaining the benefits of Western technology.

The Shogunate was replaced, but their militarist system wasn’t...Instead it was expanded, and ceased to limit itself to the Japanese islands.  In a short period of time (1905 - Russia, 1937 - China, 1941 - U.S. and British Empire, etc.), the world would find out just how much Japan ceases limiting itself.

1521 - Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church.

Excommunication is a terrible sentence for any Catholic - especially in the 1500’s...Luther was condemned to Hell, and more or less evicted from the 'community of man.'

Lucky for Luther, there were plenty who were as disgusted with the Church as he was, and even more important there were enough German princes who were jealous of the power of the Holy Roman Empire and the Church who were willing to provide protection for him...Without the help of these princes, Luther would have died very shortly after this date, and the Protestant Reformation would have likely died with him.

1565 - Ivan the Terrible threatened to abdicate the Russian throne.

'Terrible' he was, but he was also a great Russian leader...At least by the standards of the time. As such, he was begged to stay, which cost the Russian nobility greatly, but saved the Russian nation from its neighbors.

1777 - The Battle of Princeton: American Revolution.  The Continental Army, commanded by General George Washington, defeated the British at Princeton, New Jersey.

The Battle of Princeton had little tactical value, but was a strategic victory because it was a huge moral boost for the Colonial cause.  As a result, recruitment for the revolution increased.

1920 - The New York Yankees purchased Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox for $125,000.

Not only is this the worst trade in the history of American sports, but it is the beginning of the greatest dynasty (Yankees) and one of the worst curses (Red Sox) in American sports.

1925 – Italian Fascist leader Benito Mussolini dissolved the Italian Parliament and announced he was assuming dictatorial powers in Italy.

Italy was ripe for a strongman, and Mussolini was such a man.  Oh, and the 'trains ran on time'...Unfortunately for Italy, ‘Il Duce’ also proved to be a nut, and made a huge mistake joining with the even more nutty lunatics to the north - Nazi Germany.

1930 - The Second Conference on War Reparations began in the Hague.

The French decided they needed to bleed Germany a little more for their actions in WWI...Another in the long line of events leading to the Nazi’s and WWII.

1932:  Martial law was declared in Honduras to stop a revolt of workers fired by United Fruit.

Ever wonder where the term "banana republic" came from?

1938:  The March of Dimes was established to fight polio.

Less than 20 years later a polio vaccine was created...I have no doubt we could cure many of our current diseases just as successfully if the political and regulatory chains were taken off.  And if there wasn't such tremendous fear of lawsuits due to negative reactions to new medications.

1961 - The United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba after Fidel Castro announced he was a Communist.

Eisenhower was a good man, a great general, and an above-average president…Unfortunately, his presidency will always be tainted with the establishment of a Communist country next door.

He was a lame duck president, but he and Kennedy should have worked out a way to eliminate this problem.

1973:  George Steinbrenner bought the New York Yankees for $12 million.

As of 2017, the Yankees estimated worth is over $3 billion...A pretty fair deal for the 'Boss.'

November 24

1922 - The Italian Parliament gave Benito Mussolini dictatorial powers "for one year."

That was one Hell of a long year...21-years to be exact.

Rarely in history (if ever) has any 'dictator' given up such powers peacefully, which must be remembered by anyone granting such powers...No matter what the reasoning for doing so may be.

1859 - Darwin's 'Origin of Species' was published.

A brilliant book and a brilliant mind...I see no reason why the theories of Creation and Evolution have to be mutually exclusive, and have no problem believing the planet (and the entire universe) was created and expanded through both processes.

1942 - Soviet forces encircled the Germans at the Battle of Stalingrad:  WWII.

The German and Axis forces were about the reap what they had sown, with the Soviets forcing them into what the Germans called the 'Kessell' - cauldron...Better know as a hell on earth, where 300,000 Axis forces were about to perish or surrender - in a situation where it may have been better to die than surrender.

1944 - 111 U.S. B-29 Superfortress bombers attacked Tokyo for the first time since Captain Jimmy Doolittle's raid in 1942:  WWII.

To this day, the Japanese, and Liberal-Idiots, complain about this attack, and the 'Fire Raids' the U.S. Air Force executed over the next few months.

TOO BAD! War is Hell...The Japanese brought War to the U.S., so the U.S. brought Hell to the Japanese.

1947 - A group of writers, producers and directors which became known as the 'Hollywood Ten' were cited for contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions about alleged Communist influence in the movie industry.

The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) had every reason to go after these scumbags...It was unproven at the time, but after the fall of the USSR, the Venona Papers proved Senator McCarthy was correct in his charges of Communist influence in Hollywood - and in the U.S. Government.

It’s too bad this committee isn’t around today. There are thousands of Un-American SOB’s running around with their mouths open, giving aid and comfort to our enemies...And again, including in the U.S. Government.

1998 - The U.N. Security Council voted to allow Iraq an additional $5.2 billion in oil sales over the next six months to cover humanitarian aid.

Thank goodness we gave these poor people their 'humanitarian aid'...Uhhhhhhhhh, $5.2 billion for terrorist payoffs and presidential palaces (aka: torture chambers and bomb-making factories) for Saddam Hussein.

How sickening.

November 9 (A Huge Day)

A third Huge Day in a row...As such, I have highlighted the entire day in blue.
---------------------------
1799 - Coup de 18 de Brumaire: Napoleon Bonaparte declared himself Dictator of France.

The French Revolution was about to take a new turn, and it ended with a dictator.  Luckily it slowed down the insanity of the French Revolution and the 'terror'...It's important to understand, Napoleon's elevation didn't end the Revolution - even though many historians claim it did.

Napoleon was a son of the Revolution, and his rule took it a different direction, but it most definitely didn't end the French Revolution...His downfall ended it.

Bonaparte's reign was amazing, however, and proved to be France's finest hour, but it was temporary and came with a tremendous cost for all of Europe.

1918 - Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated and a Council of People's Delegates assumed power in Germany:  WWI.

The Second Reich came to a pathetic end, and the Wiemar Republic followed in it's footsteps...Which ultimately led to the Third Reich and the Nazis.

For those who don't know what these 'Reich's' are: reich = realm/empire.

1st Reich = The Holy Roman Empire (843-1871)...Please remember, the HRE was neither 'holy' nor 'Roman.'

2nd Reich = The Kaiser's Germany (1871-1918).

3rd Reich = Nazi Germany (1933-1945). The "Thousand Year Reich"...Which barely lasted 12 years.

1921 - Mussolini formed the Partito Nazionalista Fascista.

National Fascist Party.

1921 - The 'Unknown Soldier' arrived at Washington aboard the USS Olympia.

It's semantics, but there is no such thing as the 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier'...It is properly called the 'Tomb of the Unknowns.'

I can't give enough praise to Arlington National Cemetery, and also can't state enough that each American should make a point of visiting this awesome memorial.

I spent two days there on my D.C. visit, and could have spent a lifetime...The memorials and symbols are amazing, but it's the simple rows of headstones that make the cemetery so brilliant - Headstones honoring those who who have served our nation, protecting us against foreign and domestic enemies.

If you haven't been, you must go...I must go again.

1925 - The Nazi Party formed the S.S. (Black Shirts) within the S.A (Brown Shirts).

At the time of its founding, the S.S. (Schutzstaffel) was nothing more than a battalion in the S.A. (Sturmabteilung), and the unit had a meager 300 troops, but was an elite corps.

The status of the S.S. remained in this order, until Heinrich Himmler took over in 1929...Amazingly, within three years, Himmler enlarged the S.S. to over 52,000 troops. All of which were personally loyal and bound by oath to Hitler and Himmler

S.S. Motto: "Meine Ehre heißt Treue" = "My honor is called loyalty."

It only took five years for Himmler to turn the tables on the S.A., with the Night of the Long Knives, where the S.S. killed most of the S.A. leadership and either killed or assimilated its masses.

1938 - Kristallnacht: Nazis burned and looted temples and Jewish-owned stores and houses in Germany, Austria and the Sudetenland in a Reich-wide pogrom.

Also called 'The Night of the Broken Glass,' 'Reichskristallnacht,' and 'Pogromnacht' in reference to broken glass on the streets during this Jewish pogrom.

By this time, Himmler's S.S. had consolidated absolute power in the Reich, and used this event to kill and terrorize Germany's Jewish population (not that it hadn't for years)...200 synagogues were destroyed; 7,500 Jewish shops looted; and 30,000 male Jews were sent to concentration camps.

Oh by the way, it's not coincidental this event happened on November 9th. Look above, and you will see this was the S.S.'s birthday.

1953 - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a 1922 ruling that Major League Baseball did not come within the scope of federal antitrust laws.

How is Major League Baseball one of the only interstate businesses in the U.S. with an antitrust exemption?

Make no mistake, the owners handpicked Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis as commissioner with this lawsuit in mind...And his influence in this court ruling was huge.

1989 – The Berlin Wall ‘fell’: East Germans on foot and in cars began arriving in West Germany and West Berlin only hours after the East German government threw open its border to the West.

This is one of the great events of my life...I was 19 years old, and remember watching in amazement as this horrible monument to tyranny was toppled and crossed over.

The Iron Curtain was being shredded and the chains of Soviet Communism were falling apart with each succeeding month...A truly magical moment, and an event which forever helped form my worldview.

1995 - In a pair of telephone interviews, O. J. Simpson told Associated Press reporter Linda Deutsch that people have supported rather than shunned him since his acquittal, and he has learned that fame and wealth are illusions: "The only thing that endures is character."

Only one person could have schooled O.J. so well in the delicate 'Art of Bullshitting': Bill Clinton.

At least Bill hasn't killed his wife...YET!  :)

November 1

1952 - The U.S. exploded the world's first hydrogen bomb, at Eniwetok Atoll, in the Pacific Ocean.

20 tons of TNT, and 1000 times larger than the atomic bombs dropped on Japan...Definitely a huge event in history.

We better all hope testing is as far as it goes, and one of these monsters is never used in anger.

82 B.C. - The Battle of the Porta Collina (Colline Gate).

The Roman Republic was fighting for its life, and after an extended civil war, Sulla emerged from this battle, capturing Rome and assuming the title of dictator...A title which had a much different meaning at that time than during ours.

1755 - An earthquake in Lisbon, Portugal, killed 60,000 people (about 2/3 of the population).

A terrible event for sure, but this isn't what I find interesting about the headline.

In 1755 Lisbon had just under 100,000 people...250 years later this city has over 3,500,000 people. An increase of 3500%!!!

1861 - General George B. McClellan was promoted to General-in-Chief of the Union Armies:  U.S. Civil War.

McClellan was a favorite of the ‘Eastern elite,’ and had a great reputation as a military commander. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the testicular fortitude to put the worlds largest and best equipped army to use...And make no mistake, at this point in history this army was exactly what I stated - huge, equipped, but with poor leadership and green troops.

McClellan spent a great amount of time planning battles instead of fighting them, and didn’t have the instincts it took to crush the Confederates when he had his chances in 1861-62...In other words McClellan was the Civil War's version of post-El Alamein Monty in WWII.

1871 - Gustav Mahler wrote he had become a vegetarian, saying he thought it would regenerate the human race if everybody stopped eating meat.

I wish people like this would stop eating all together.

1918 - The Habsburg monarchy of Austria-Hungary was dissolved.

This kingdom was also known as the Dual Monarchy or the K.U.K. Monarchy = 'Kaiserlich und Königlich.' German for 'Imperial and Royal.'

The dissolution of Austria-Hungary was long overdue, and good for both Austria and Hungary...That said, had it not been for the former strength of the Habsburg, it's likely most of Europe would be praying to Allah.

1922 - Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey became a republic.

The land of modern-day Turkey has always been one of immense importance, and continues to be...It's too bad in its current form it's much closer to its Ottoman than its Byzantine roots.

1936 - In a speech in Milan, Italy, Benito Mussolini described the alliance between his country and Nazi Germany as an "axis" running between Rome and Berlin.

The Paperboy almost had it right...He should have said 'asses' instead of axis.

1990 - President GHW Bush accused Iraqi forces of engaging in "barbarism" and "brutality," adding "I don't believe that Adolf Hitler ever participated in anything of that nature."

GHW Bush is a good man, but this was an absolutely ignorant comment.

There are few people in the history of the world who's actions can be compared to the barbarism and brutality of Hitler...The Iraqis may have been his peers, though not in quantity, but they were in no way his superior when it comes to either barbarism or brutality.

1993 - The Maastricht Treaty was enacted, establishing the European Union.

What a colossal joke!!!

Since the fall of Rome, Europeans have been hoping for a united Europe...And since this same time have failed.

The continent is made up of so many dissimilar people, and the history of warfare among them has been awesome. Brutally awesome.

It will never happen, And proof of the failure is the fact it is 2017 and there is no European constitution, because they can't work one out to everyone's satisfaction...If anything, it's much more likely the EU will collapse, the euro will fail, and traditional European states will splinter.

October 28

312 - The Battle of the Milvian Bridge: Roman civil war.

1. Constantine the Great became the undisputed master of the Roman Empire by defeating Maxentius in this battle, ending the civil war.

2. This battle also marks the beginning of the Christian Era in Europe.

During this battle Constantine's army wore the Christian Cross after Constantine trusted a vision he had seen of the Cross, inscribed with the words "In this sign conquer"...As a result, Constantine converted to Christianity after emerging victorious in the battle, and became the first Roman emperor to embrace the Christian faith.

This act of faith (regardless of his reasoning) is every bit as important as Moses’ at the ‘burning bush’ (in real terms not religious ones), because it changed Rome, which changed the Western World, because Rome was the axis upon which the West revolved and evolved from.

1886 - The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Cleveland.

'Gift from the people of France' my ass…This is one of the great myths in American history, but it is definitely a myth.

The Statue was a gift from a few financiers who graciously gave it to the U.S. in the name of the French people...The French have never been our friends, even though they have often been our 'ally.'

In the 18th-19th Centuries they were often on 'our side,' but only did so to spite the Brits...In the 20th Century they were on 'our side' in WWI and WWII because they needed our help to save them from the Germans.

1919 - The Prohibition Enforcement Act (also known as the Volstead Act) became law. This act enforced the 18th Amendment to the Constitution - the prohibition of alcohol manufacture, sale and consumption.

Someday we’ll face a similar attack on personal freedom when the health-nuts try to ban cigarettes or food...While at the same time they fight to allow people to smoke pot, and kill fetuses. I just don’t get the logic.

1922 - Italian Blackshirt Fascists began a march on Rome which ended two days later with the formation of a government led by Benito Mussolini.

The Italians have always reached out for a strongman, and this they found in the 'Paperboy.'  Unfortunately, they were led down the road to Hell, and it took the destruction of much of Italy to escape the tyranny they so dearly wanted.

But at least Il Duce got the ‘trains to run on time.’

1940 - President Franklin Roosevelt complained "Republicans...after opposing rearmament for years, are now protesting that the United States is too weak":  WWII.

It’s interesting to note at this time in history the Republicans were the Chickens and the Democrats the Hawks...And FDR's comment could perfectly be flipped today.

Which is why people shouldn’t get tied to political parties, but to political ideals...When it comes to national defense, FDR Democrats should be modern-day Republicans, as should JFK Democrats.

1940 - Italy invaded Greece:  WWII.

Per normal, the Italians bungled this invasion, and required German help to get out of the mess.

Hitler was very fond of Mussolini, but he had to regret getting in bed with such incompetence…The Brits (the only ones fighting at this time) were happy, though, because Germany diverted many forces to Greece which could have been used elsewhere.

Most important, Germany having to save the Italians in Greece delayed the invasion of Russia, which pushed the calendar closer to winter...A fact which ultimately cost them the war.

1959 - Turkey and the United States signed an agreement for the deployment of fifteen nuclear-tipped Jupiter missiles in Turkey.

Most Americans don’t realize it, but Turkey is a NATO ally...Most also don’t know it, but the decision to put these missiles in Turkey was the Soviet’s excuse for trying to put theirs in Cuba.

1962 - The Cuban Missile Crisis effectively ended when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev announced its missiles would be dismantled and returned to the U.S.S.R. President Kennedy immediately replied that the U.S. would lift its blockade of Cuba.

The world wondered who would blink first, and it was Nikki...The world was lucky, too, because I’m pretty sure Kennedy was (rightly) going to the wall on this matter.

1988 - In London, the High Court ruled former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was immune from prosecution in British courts. The House of Lords later overturned the decision, saying Pinochet's arrest could stand.

Pinochet was a brutal dictator, and should have been sent back to Chile for a good ol' fashioned hangin.’

October 25 (A Double)

1415 – The Battle of Agincourt.

This is one of the most decisive battles of the Hundred Years War - a complete English route of the French.

The French greatly outnumbered the English (at least 2-1), but the English had the dominant weapon of the time: The longbow...Amazingly, the English suffered around 500 casualties compared to over 5,000 for the French.

From this point till the Battle of Orleans (1428-29) England dominated France, but was unable to force a conclusion to the war...It took a woman (Joan of Arc) to turn the tide in the favor of the French and bring an end to this seemingly endless war.
 
1556 - Charles V abdicated as Holy Roman Emperor.

Charles’ empire was one of the largest in history (Holy Roman Empire, Spain and most of South and Central America, much of Italy, the Netherlands, etc.)...It was also one of the most tumultuous in history, as well, which is why he resigned at such a young age (56).

His abdication saw the split of the Habsburg lands between the Austrian and Spanish branches, and severed the Netherlands from the German lands, giving it to Spain...This was the final reward for Spanish loyalty, and final slap for the troubles the Germans caused him.

But , this switch was bad for both Austria and Spain.

Spain spent the better part of the next century unsuccessfully fighting to keep the Low Countries.

The Austrians and Holy Roman Empire lost the most important part of its economy (trade, banks, ports, etc), and was weakened militarily by not having the Dutch Navy at it's disposal...All of which more or less ruined it's influence in the West, and limited it to Central and Eastern Europe.

As a result the Dutch were the only winners in Charles' decision, because there was no way the Spanish could ultimately control the Netherlands as effectively as the Germans could (not with France between them, and England supporting them), which eventually resulted in Dutch independence.

2137 B.C. - Ho and Hsi, Chinese royal astronomers, were beheaded after failing to accurately predict an eclipse of the sun, which caused panic in the streets of China.

How sad...The Chinese should have known it wasn’t the astronomers fault, and there was no way Bush could have gotten FEMA out fast enough to stop the 'panic in the streets.'

1854 - The 'Charge of the Light Brigade': Crimean War.

Britain's Lord Cardigan led a cavalry attack against the Russians at Balaclava, one of the most heroic episodes in British military history.

'Heroic' and stupid...670 British cavalrymen attacked a heavily fortified Russian position and were wiped out. They met no objective, except death - and mythological status.

1917 (November 7 on the new-style calendar) - In Russia, the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power.

This event will be detailed in November, but is noted here to help explain why this part of the Revolution is often referred to as the 'November Revolution' as well as the 'October Revolution.'

Changes in calendar systems always cause problems with dating, but it is the event, not the date which is important...Anyone who tells you otherwise is a fool.

1923 - The Teapot Dome scandal came to public attention when Senator Thomas J. Walsh of Montana, revealed the findings of the past 18-months of investigation. His case resulted in the conviction of Harry F. Sinclair of Mammoth Oil, and later Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall, the first cabinet member in American history to go to jail. The scandal, named for the Teapot Dome oil reserves in Wyoming, involved Fall secretly leasing naval oil reserve lands to private companies.

This was a terrible scandal in its day, but would be nothing compared to the shenanigans going on in both parties today.

1932 - Mussolini promised to remain dictator of Italy for 30-years.

He didn’t even make it half way...At least he didn’t promise a '1000 year Reich' like his lunatic pal Adolph.

1994 - Susan Smith reported to police that her two young boys had been taken in a carjacking. Nine days later, she confessed she rolled the car into a lake, drowning the children.

This sick bitch committed the ultimate crime: She killed her children!!! And she won’t be executed!! Instead she was given a life sentence, with a shot at parole in 2025.

I guess performing 'post-term abortions' isn’t a crime worthy of the death penalty...Which is only logical since we allow 'pre-term abortions.'

It makes me sick that this woman is still alive, and we should hope 'Shanks' becomes her cell-mate sometime between now and 2025.

September 12

490 B.C. (Exact date is unknown, but it is assumed to be sometime between September 10-12) - The Battle of Marathon.  Athenian and Plataean hoplites commanded by General Miltiades drove back a Persian invasion force under General Datis.

Marathon is one of the most famous battles in history, and one which could have changed history had the Persians won...Instead the Athenians won, keeping the Greeks free from Persian rule, and reaping the glory of defeating the great empire.

The Athenians had approximately 10,000 troops, to the Persians 20,000+...Amazingly, the Athenians lost less than 200 troops, compared to over 6,000 for the Persians.

It must be noted, the Spartans missed out on the battle because they were too slow to understand the dire straits the Greeks were in. This lack of effort to show up in time for the battle was a terribly humiliating fact for the Spartans, and a rare case where the Athenians claimed hegemony in the Greek world...A fact which lead to the Pelopponesian War between Athens and Sparta - where the Spartans reclaimed their traditional role.

1814 - A British fleet under Sir Alexander Cochrane began the bombardment of Fort McHenry, the last American defense before Baltimore. As the sun rose the next day, Lawyer Francis Scott Key was amazed to see the American Flag still flying over the battered fort. This experience inspired Key to write the lyrics to 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' which he adapted to the tune of a well-known British drinking song:  War of 1812.

The Brits weren't necessarily trying to reclaim their former colonies, but they did want to let them know they were still under their thumb...The new nation wasn’t about to allow it to happen, though.

Because of this fact 'The Star-Spangled Banner' is a brilliant song, and one we can easily sing with passion and pride.

1918 - U.S. forces, led by General John J. Pershing, launched an attack on the German-occupied St. Mihiel salient north of Verdun, France:  WWI.

This was the first American battle in World War I, and they showed well..It wasn't long before the Axis surrendered, but had the Americans been in the war in 1914 it would have never lasted this long.

1919 - Adolf Hitler joined the German Worker’s Party.

Soon to become the National Socialist German Workers Party...Better known as the Nazi Party.

Oh, did you catch that 'socialist' thingy?

1938 - Adolf Hitler demanded self-determination for the Sudeten Germans in Czechoslovakia.

Hitler was looking for a fight and used this issue to get one...Instead the French and Brits simply handed him the Sudetenland.

Der Fuhrer was disappointed and disgusted to have this event end in peace, yet elated to see the pansies in the West show their true color: YELLOW!!

1943 - German paratroopers rescued Benito Mussolini from the hotel where he was being held by the Italian government:  WWII.

The Italians had to wait another year-and-a-half to hang Il Duce from a lamp-post.

1944 - U.S. Army troops entered Germany for the first time in World War II.

The route was on, and the only question left was who would get to Berlin first, the U.S. or the Soviets...Sadly it was the Ruskies.

1983 - The Soviet Union vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution deploring the shooting down of a Korean jetliner by a Soviet jet fighter on Sept. 1.

You didn’t read that wrong. The Soviets vetoed the plan to denounce themselves...Such is the ridiculousness of the United Nations.

July 25

1978 - The world's first test-tube baby, Louise Joy Brown, was born in Lancashire, England.

What an awesome display of the power of science...And an arrogant display of the power of science.

In an age of uncountable abortions and fears of overpopulation you would think there’d be no need for such creations...But there are few restrictions on modern-day Mengelians, who care only about playing God in their attempt to disprove God.

325 - The Council of Nicaea ended. Its 300 attending bishops drafted the 'Nicene Creed' and fixed the formula for Easter Sunday.

This was the first 'ecumenical council’ (universal council)...The council was also a strong denunciation of the Arian Christians, and helped pull the various churches together.

On a different subject,  I hope you don't confuse these Arians with Hitler's 'master race' Aryans.

326 - Roman Emperor Constantine refused to carry out the traditional pagan sacrifices.

A truly revolutionary event, and one which could have only been gotten away with by an emperor of such strength and standing...An event which was a display of support for the Council of Nicaea.

1394 - Charles VI of France issued a decree for the general expulsion of Jews from France.

Just another country which threw the Jews out. It’s been happening since the days of the Babylonians, and continues to this day...Which is why the Israelis must be willing to go nukes if need be to keep Israel.

1554 - Mary Tudor, Queen of England, married King Philip of Spain.

It was bad enough for the queen to be a Catholic, but marrying the Spanish monarch was too much...This was a choice she felt she had to make to protect herself from the Protestant lords, but ended up being the beginning of the end of her 3+ year reign.

1570 - Ivan 'the Terrible,' Czar of Russia, attended the public execution of almost all his advisers and ministers.

Imagine how he treated his enemies...I guess Ivan earned his nickname.

It's amazing two of the most revered Russian leaders are also two of it's most brutal: Ivan the Terrible and Joseph Stalin...As such, no one should be surprised the Ruskies continue to support Vladimir Putin - a pretty nice guy by Russian standards.

1805 - Aaron Burr visited New Orleans with plans to establish a new country, with New Orleans as the capital city.

Burr was formerly Vice President of the U.S, and also the man who killed U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in a duel...A truly bizarre character and one I recommend you read about: Aaron Burr.

1866 - David Faragut became the first admiral in the U.S. Navy; Ulysses S. Grant became the first General of the Army.

There would be other admirals, but only John Pershing (Army) attained such a lofty rank as Grant until WWII.

1943 - Benito Mussolini was dismissed as Premier of Italy by King Victor Emmanuel III, and placed under arrest:  WWII.

Amazingly, the useless Italians allowed Mussolini to be ‘rescued’ by the Nazi’s, but his day was coming...Within two years Il Duce's bald ass was swinging from a lamp-post.

1947 - The National Security Act: Established a linkage between the military and national security, establishing the National Security Council, the CIA, Department of Defense, and several other new agencies, including the National Military Establishment with three separate departments (Army, Navy and the new U.S. Air Force), and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

You’d think there would have already been such a 'linkage'...You'd also think the Marines would have opted to separate from the Navy.

1968 - Pope Paul VI published the encyclical 'Humanae Vitae,' restating the Catholic position on the family, and condemning all artificial methods of birth control.

I’m not Catholic, but I respect many of the positions and views of the Church...This is one I wish they’d revisit.

1969 - Senator Ted Kennedy plead guilty to leaving the scene of an accident a week after the Chappaquiddick car accident which killed Mary Jo Kopechne.

How can driving drunk, then driving into a lake, then leaving the passenger to die and not reporting the crash for hours after the fact be anything less than manslaughter?

Only in Kennedyville could this fat POS get away on a charge of 'leaving the scene.'

1986 - Former Navy radioman Jerry Whitworth was convicted of selling U.S. military secrets to the Soviets through the John Walker spy ring.

Sounds like treason to me, and treason should always be met with death...But this POS received a 365-year sentence, and we’ll all be paying for him to live out the rest of his life.

1990 - Roseanne Barr sparked controversy with an off-key rendition of the 'Star-Spangled Banner' during a double-header at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego.

'Off-key' is selling this fat pigs' effort short...Rosie was completely out of line, and if the Color Guard had loaded a couple rounds in the chamber and shot her dumb ass the world would have been much better off.

1990 - U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, April Glaspie, met with Saddam Hussein, assuring him, "...we have no opinion on Arab-Arab conflicts like your border disagreement with Kuwait."

No wonder he felt free to invade Kuwait...The logic of this meeting escapes me.

1991 - Mikhail S. Gorbachev told Communist Party leaders it was no longer a realistic goal of building Communism, and the party must reject "outdated ideological dogmas."

Unfortunately the North Koreans, Cubans, etc., didn’t get the memo...Or simply rejected Gorbi’s rejection of the failure known as Marxist Communism.

Maybe someone should pop this information in the ear of American Liberals as well.

April 28

1932 - The first yellow fever vaccine was announced.

VACCINES WORK!!  Just look at the pre-vaccine era data.

Unless you’d rather see millions of people afflicted with the many diseases currently protecting the 'human world' from the 'germ world'...Sure some people are killed and maimed by vaccines, but nowhere near as many as those who’ve been protected from the debilitating and deadly germs they defend against.

The question of 'vaccinating vs. not vaccinating' isn’t even a logical debate...And the idea they aren't needed anymore because the world has been eradicated of the horrors of vaccine preventable diseases is disproved anywhere vaccines have low rates.

What is a smart argument is: Can we continue to stay ahead of the germs or will they eventually claim their superiority over man and his magic - modern medicine?

I'm betting germs make a huge comeback at some point, because the germ world changes much faster than the human world...And the germ world doesn't have maniacs contesting its change.

585 B.C. - A war between Lydia and Media ended due to a solar eclipse.

Lydia and Media were in present day Turkey and Iran.

Both probably figured their gods were being overpowered by their opponents gods, and decided they better give up before they were destroyed by the same power which put the sun out.

1686 - The first volume of Isaac Newton's 'Principia Mathamatica' ('Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy') was published in Latin. His discovery of differential and integral calculus is presented here. Below are Newton’s Laws of Motion, which obliterated the Aristotelian concept of inertia.

1. Every physical body continues in its state of rest , unless it is compelled to change that state by a force or forces impressed upon it.

2. A change of motion is proportional to the force impressed upon the body and is made in the direction of the straight line in which the force is impressed.

3. To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction.

Book Three of the Principia opens with two pages headed 'Rules of Reasoning in Philosophy.' There are four rules as follows:

1. We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain the appearances. (A restatement of Ockham’s Razor: “What can be done with fewer is done in vain with more.”)

2. Therefore to the same natural effects we must, as far as possible, assign the same causes.

3. The qualities of bodies which are found to belong to all bodies within the reach of our experiments, are to be esteemed the universal qualities of bodies whatsoever.

4. In experimental philosophy we are to look upon propositions inferred by general induction from phenomena as accurately or very nearly true notwithstanding any contrary hypothesis that may be imagined, till such time as other phenomena occur, by which they may either be made more accurate, or liable to exceptions.

It’s a slow day, so why not...There are few things as impressive as the mind of this 'Genius of all Geniuses.'

1902 (at exactly 10:40 AM) - The one billionth second since January 1, Year Zero.

As counted on the Gregorian Calendar.

Just an interesting stat, and a great example of how large a billion of anything is.

1914 - W.H. Carrier patented the air conditioner.

I live in Phoenix (Land of the 120 Degree Summer Day), so in my mind this is by far one of the greatest inventions in the history of mankind.

1939 - Hitler proclaimed the German-Polish non-aggression pact was still in effect:  WWII.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Not in a funny way, but in an absolutely ridiculous and sad way.

1945 - Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and his mistress, Clara Petacci, were executed by Italian partisans as they attempted to flee the country: WWII.

(By the way, many texts list him as killed on April 29, but the real date was the 28th).
 
YES!!! Justice was served, and the Italian people were completely justified in stringing Il Duce up and beating his dead corpse to a pulp.

It’s too bad his buddy, Hitler, escaped the Russian mob, which would have made Mussolini’s departure look like playtime compared to what they would have done to ‘The Madman.'

1952 - The Japanese Peace Treaty was signed, formally ending WWII in the Pacific.

Seven years after the war ended...Such is the case when the victors are decent enough to rebuild a country and a nation.

No country in the history of the world had ever done such a thing, which is one of the many things separating the U.S. from any other country in history.

March 23

1983 - President Ronald Reagan proposed a space-based missile defense system called the Strategic Defense Initiative or 'Star Wars.'

With lunatic nations like North Korea and Iran threatening the U.S. - as well as known nuclear countries with advanced missile technology (Russia, China, Pakistan) I think we should all thank the Democrats for scoffing at this idea...Thank them by voting a 'straight-line' (R) in every election from here on out.

By the way, the Ruskies admit Reagan's 'SDI' plans played a huge role in the fall of the Soviet Union...And President Obama obviously thought highly of 'Star Wars' because he increased 'Ground Based Interceptors' - 'Star Wars' by another name - in Alaska to protect against North Korea.

Unfortunately, it's going to take years to get it up and running, and we haven't devoted nearly enough research and development towards this system to guarantee we are safe from an attack.

Hopefully the bad guys will wait for us to pull out head out...Hopefully we don't figure this out after a successful attack.

1324 - Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV was excommunicated.

This event is pretty insignificant considering how many emperors were excommunicated...What's important is to understand the Holy Roman Empire was neither 'holy' nor 'Roman.' It was a loose confederation of German States, who were blessed (at times) by the Roman Catholic Church.

1534 - The Pope declared Henry VIII of England 'truly married' to Catherine of Aragon.

And Henry 'truly' cared less what the Pope declared.

1775 - In a speech to the Virginia Provincial Convention, Patrick Henry made his famous plea for American independence from Britain, saying, "I know not what course others might take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"

Henry's lucky he wasn't 'given death' for such a speech...It is his passion and testicular fortitude that makes him one of my favorite American revolutionaries, however, and I encourage you to read up on him.

1918 - The giant German gun 'Big Bertha,' shelled Paris from 75 miles away:  WWI.

'Bertha' scared the Frenchies so much they decided to give the Germans a clear path to Paris the next time the Germans came rolling in - WWII.

1919 - Benito Mussolini founded the Fascist political movement in Milan, Italy.

The 'Paperboy' was moving up in the world...Incredibly, Il Duce should be considered a 'moderate dictator' by the standards set by his 20th Century insaniac peers.

1925 - Tennessee made it a crime for a teacher in any state-supported public school or college to teach any theory contradicting the Bible's account of man's creation.

This is ignorant, and it’s equally ignorant to insist on the polar opposite...Both creation and evolution should be taught together, with neither considered absolute or taught as mutually exclusive.

1933 - The German Reichstag adopted the Enabling Act, effectively granting Adolf Hitler dictatorial legislative powers.

Another big day in the history of the 12-Year Reich...A big day for all of mankind for that matter.

Never forget, the Germans voted for this man. It could happen again - and it could happen here.

1942 - Japanese-Americans were forcibly moved from their homes along the Pacific Coast to inland internment camps:  WWII.

This was a terribly unfortunate event, and it is ridiculous to deny the U.S. has had its share of unfortunate incidences; this is one. It is equally ridiculous to believe anything other than the U.S. is the most fair and just country in the history of the world...We live in the greatest country, not a perfect country, and anyone who thinks utopia is possible is nuts.

That said, I don’t blame President Roosevelt for his decision, and am afraid a similar one may be necessary in the future with the American Muslim population.

1998 - President Bill Clinton hailed "the new face of Africa" as he opened a historic six-nation tour in Ghana.

What exactly was the 'new face?' A war-torn, Jihad crazy-train, AIDS ridden, backward land with a Stone Age birth/death rate, populated with people of little hope?

How is this any different from what Africa has always been, what it currently is, and sadly what it may always be?

March 18

1940 - Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini held a meeting at the Brenner Pass during which the Italian dictator agreed to join in Germany's war against France and Britain:  WWII.

Poor bastards...Both of them.

Hitler’s fondness for Il Duce was a huge mistake for the Reich (one of many), and he ended up spending much of the war saving Italian troops, and Mussolini himself, from their own bungling...Mussolini's belief in the inevitability of Germany conquering Europe cost Italy terribly, and Il Duce his life.

37 - The Roman Senate annulled Tiberius’ will and proclaimed Caligula emperor.

Caligula was a truly bizarre character. Unfortunately there is very little legitimate history about him, because he was notorious for creating a personal mythology, and those who wrote about him after he died were incredibly hostile towards him.

What is known is most of his family died while he was a child (under less than kind circumstances), which surely affected his adult life...What is also known is the ancient writers claim he was insane, and he made a mess of the Empire.

Oh, and the fact Tiberius locked him up in what should be considered nothing short of a pedophile playpen when he was a boy may have had something to do with his craziness.

1325 (according to legend) - Tenochtitlan, Aztec capital, was founded.

Within 100-years the Aztecs became the greatest civilization in South/Central America...In less than 200 they were more or less gone.

Such is the brutality of history.

1938 - The Nazi Weapons Law was passed. A new, tough, gun control law, revising several earlier versions, ensuring only Nazis and their friends could own or carry weapons, especially handguns.

Makes you wonder what Liberals are up to with their selective interpretation of the Constitution, specifically choosing to ignore the Second Amendment: “…the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

1963 - Gideon v. Wainwright:  The U.S. Supreme Court ruled indigent defendants must be offered free legal counsel in all criminal prosecutions.

Notice this doesn’t say 'all defendants,' it says 'indigent defendants.'

2004 - A 100-foot in diameter asteroid passed within 26,500 miles of Earth, the closest-ever on record by a space rock.

Those who’ve been to Meteor Crater (Winslow, AZ), have see the destructive force of meteorites, “which hit with a force of 2.5 megatonnes of TNT, or more than 150 Hiroshima atom bombs - but even more energy was dissipated in an atmospheric blast.”

It’s hard to imagine what an asteroid would do, because they are much bigger than meteorites.

March 15

44 B.C. - The 'Ides of March': Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate by a group of conspirators led by Cimber, Casca, Cassius, and Marcus Junius Brutus.

The Roman Republic had been in a steady process of collapse, and Caesar was on the verge of ending it.  The senators who assassinated Caesar thought killing him might save the once mighty republic - at least that was their claim...In reality, they simply wanted a bigger role in the nation's power structure.

Their hopes were crushed, however, because the great man's death simply led to another civil war, and the accession of Augustus.  Which ultimately ended the 'Republic' and created the 'Empire.'

493 - Odoacer the Barbarian, King of Italy, was killed by Theodoric the Ostrogoth (another barbarian).

Odoacer put an end to the succession of Roman emperors, but truth be told he had hopes of claiming the imperial title himself.

Unfortunately for Odoacer, the multitude of Germanic tribes were in no mood to be ruled by anyone and required many years before a semblance of order was re-established in Italy...Theordoric was the ruler who finally got things under control.

1781 - The Battle of Guilford Court House: American Revolution.

The Brits had been pursuing a different strategy of taking the war to the south, in an attempt to pick up colonies believed to be more loyal to the crown than those in the north...And the strategy worked for awhile.

At Guilford Court House, the Brits technically won the battle, but it was 'Pyrrhic':  "Another such victory would ruin the British Army." - Charles James Fox (British Whig Party Leader)

1869 - The Cincinnati Red Stockings became the first professional baseball team.

A great game was in its early years, and this first pro team set the stage for the foundation of the 'major leagues':  The American League and National League, which eventually combined to make Major League Baseball.

1912 - Pitcher Cy Young retired from baseball with 511 wins.

He also retired with 316 losses.

It's unlikely anyone will catch Young's record for wins or losses.  Actually, it's almost an impossibility, because it would require 25-years of 20 wins per year in an era when few pitchers win 20 in any year.  It would also take 20-years of 15 losses per year, which would be impossible because a pitcher who kept losing 15 games per year would never make it 20 years in the league.

The second winningest pitcher ever is Walter Johnson with 417, and the modern-era pitcher with the most is Greg Maddux with 355 - neither got close to Young...So, his marks are probably the safest records in all American sports.

For that matter, it's unlikely anyone will even get to Johnson's 400 wins.

1916 - President Woodrow Wilson sent 12,000 U.S. troops under General Pershing into Mexico to capture revolutionary leader Pancho Villa, who had staged several cross-border raids.

Can you imagine if the modern press was around back then? They would have blasted President Wilson for not doing enough to catch Pancho, who was never captured.

It takes an incredible amount of luck to catch one man on the run in a foreign land (his own land), where the populace will defend and hide him...As we found out with Bin Laden.

1917 – Nicholas II, last Czar of Russia, was forced to abdicate his throne (March 2, Old Style Calendar).

Nikki and his family were lucky three days earlier the Mensheviks abolished the death penalty...The Bolsheviks wouldn't have given him such a break.

Those unfamiliar with the Revolution should know it wasn’t until September 1917 that Lenin and the Bolsheviks began taking control of the Revolution. The Mensheviks were the ones who saved the Czar, but Lenin made sure the ‘Last Czar’ would shortly be dead.

1928 - Benito Mussolini altered the Italian electoral system:  He abolished the right to choose.

That would be funny if it wasn't.

1944 - The German-held Italian town of Monte Cassino was devastated by Allied bombs:  WWII.

War is Hell, and nothing should be off-limits when it comes to victoriously ending a war...Especially if an objective is vital and will save the lives of American troops.

I find it humorous, and completely disingenuous, to hear the same jackasses who cry about the destruction of this monastery complaining about the evils of religion...They don’t care about Monte Cassino, they just want to bitch about the use of force.

1988 - Paul Simon defeated Jesse Jackson in the Illinois Democratic primary.

Hahaha! Jesse couldn’t even beat a ‘pop-singer’ in his own home-state...Alright, he didn’t lose to ‘that’ Paul Simon, but what’s the difference?

1993 - Searchers found the body of the sixth and last missing victim of the World Trade Center bombing in New York.

We often say we will ‘never forget 9/11/01’, but most have long forgotten the first attempt on the WTC...Americans are a people of short memories, and our enemies are counting on our historical negligence.

Have you forgotten??  I'm sure the Jihadis haven't.