July 31st: This Day in History

 

Once again, it should be reiterated, that this does not pretend to be a very extensive history of what happened on this day (nor is it the most original - the links can be found down below). If you know something that I am missing, by all means, shoot me an email or leave a comment, and let me know!

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

Here's a more detailed look at events that transpired on this date throughout history:

On this day in 30 BC, the Battle of Alexandria was fought. Mark Antony managed a minor victory over Octavian's forces, although it came at a price. Most of the army subsequently deserted, which ultimately helped lead to his suicide. On this day in 432 , St Sixtus III began his reign as Catholic Pope. In 768 on this day, [Philip] both began & ended his reign as Catholic Pope. On this day in 781 was the oldest recorded eruption of Mt. Fuji (Traditional Japanese date: July 6, 781). In 1291 on this day, Egyptian Mamelukken occupied Akko, and the Crusaders were driven out of Palestine. On this day in 1423 during the Hundred Years' War, the Battle of Cravant was fought. The French army was defeated at Cravant on the banks of the river Yonne. Jacques Cœur was arrested by order of Charles VII of France on this day in 1451. On this day in 1498, djuring his third voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus arrived at (note, did not discover) the island of Trinidad. On this day in 1588, the English fleet defeated the mighty Spanish Armada. In 1620 on this day, Pilgrim Fathers departed (through England) to America. Fronde-leaders surrendered in Bordeaux on this day in 1653. On this day in 1655 during the Russo-Polish War (1654-1667), the Russian army entered the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vilnius, and then held onto it for six years. Aurangzeb appointed himself as the Mongol Emperor on this day in 1658. On this day in 1664, Pierre Corneille's "Othon," premiered in Paris. In 1667 on this day came the Peace of Breda. The Second English War-Suriname vs New-Netherlands ended. On this day in 1703, Daniel Defoe was placed in a pillory for the crime of seditious libel after publishing a politically satirical pamphlet, but he is pelted with flowers. The Battle at Cape Passaro, when the English fleet destroyed the Spanish fleet, took place on this day in 1718. Prince Frederick of Wales escaped the English court on this day in 1737. On this day in 1741, Charles Albert of Bavaria invaded Upper Austria and Bohemia.  A massive fire in Stockholm, Sweden, destroyed approximately 1,000 homes on this day in 1751. On this day in 1771, Paul Potters "Great ossendrift" sold for Ÿ9050 in Amsterdam. 

Statue of the Marquis de Lafayette at the Greens in Morristown, NJ

In 1777 on this day, the Marquis de Lafayette of France, who was then only 19 years old, accepted the position of Major-General of the Continental Army in the American cause for independence. The first U.S. patent was issued to Samuel Hopkins for his process for making potash and pearl ashes. The substance was used in fertilizer. On this day in 1792,  the cornerstone of the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, PA, was laid. It was the first building to be used only as a U.S. government building. In 1809 on this day, the first practical US railroad track (wooden, for horse-drawn cars) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The British invaded Plattsburgh NY, on this day in 1813. Benjamin Chambers patented breech loading cannon on this day in 1849. On this day in 1856  Christchurch, New Zealand, was chartered as a city. On this day in 1864, Ulysses S. Grant was named General of Volunteers. The first narrow gauge mainline railway in the world opens at Grandchester, Australia, on this day in 1865. The US Coast Guard officers' training school was established on this day in 1876 in New Bedford MA. On this day in 1893, Henry Perky patented shredded wheat. Albert Trott hit Monty Noble over the Pavilion at Lord's on this day in 1899. Boer Generals Prinsloo & Roux surrendered to the British in Brandwater Basin on this day in 1900. On this day in 1901, Abraham Kuyper became the Premier of Netherlands. On this day in 1905 was the Matumbi rebellion at Samanga German East Africa.

 1919 - Germany's Weimar Constitution was adopted.   1928 - MGM’s Leo the lion roared for the first time. He introduced MGM’s first talking picture, "White Shadows on the South Seas."   1932 - Enzo Ferrari retired from racing. In 1950 he launched a series of cars under his name.  

July 31, 1941: Goering orders Heydrich to prepare for the Final Solution

 1945 - Pierre Laval of France surrendered to Americans in Austria.   1948 - U.S. President Truman helped dedicate New York International Airport (later John F. Kennedy International Airport) at Idlewild Field.   1955 - Marilyn Bell of Toronto, Canada, at age 17, became the youngest person to swim the English Channel.   1959 - The Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) was founded. The group is known for being an armed Basque nationalist and separatist organization.   1961 - The first tie in All-Star Game major league baseball history was recorded when it was stopped in the 9th inning due to rain at Boston's Fenway Park.   1964 - The American space probe Ranger 7 transmitted pictures of the moon's surface.   1971 - Men rode in a vehicle on the moon for the first time in a lunar rover vehicle (LRV).   1981 - The seven-week baseball players’ strike came to an end when the players and owners agreed on the issue of free agent compensation.  1982 - Yugoslavia imposed a six-month freeze on prices.   1989 - A pro-Iranian group in Lebanon released a videotape reportedly showing the hanged body of American hostage William R. Higgins.   1991 - U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.   1995 - The Walt Disney Company agreed to acquire Capital Cities/ABC in a $19 billion deal.  Disney movies, music and books   1999 - The spacecraft Lunar Prospect crashed into the moon. It was a mission to detect frozen water on the moon's surface. The craft had been launched on January 6, 1998.   2007 - The iTunes Music Store reached 2 million feature length films sold.

1875 Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, died in Tennessee. 1954 Mount Godwin-Austen (K2), the world's second-highest peak, was climbed for the first time, by an Italian team led by Ardito Desio. 1964 The U.S. space probe Ranger 7 transmitted pictures of the Moon’s surface.

1910 - Clement van Maasdijk gives flying demonstration

1911 - Hungarian education is only taught in German

1912 - RBC soccer team forms in Roosendaal

1912 - US government prohibits movies & photos of prize fights (censorship)

1914 - German Emperor Wilhelm II threatens war, orders Russia to demobilize

1914 - Oil discovered in Lake of Maracaibo

1917 - 3rd battle of Ypres begins

1919 - Germany accepts Weimar Constitution

1922 - Italy's general strike against fascist violence

1923 - Belgian Chamber discusses bilinguality at Ghent University

1925 - Last allied occupying troops leave Ruhrgebied

1925 - Unemployment Insurance Act passed in England

1928 - 1st woman to win a track and field olympic gold medal, Halina Konopacka of Poland

1929 - Aristide Briand becomes premier of France

1932 - George Washington quarter goes into circulation

1932 - German Election (NSDAP gets 37.3%)

1935 - 3rd Dutch government of Colijn sworn in

1936 - Tokyo Japan is awarded the 1940 Olympics (later cancelled)

1937 - Politburo enables Operative Order 00447: execute 193,000 Russians

1938 - Archaeologists discover engraved gold and silver plates from King Darius in Persepolis.

1940 - 38 U boats sinks this month (196,000 ton)

1940 - Riech's commissar Seyss-Inquart bans homosexuals

1941 - U boats sink 21 allied ships this month: 94,000 ton

1942 - German SS gases 1,000 Jews in Minsk, Belorussia

1942 - U boats sank 96 allied ships this month: 476,000 ton

1943 - Transport nr 58 departs with French Jews to nazi Germany

1944 - Last deportation train out Mechelen departs to Auschwitz

1944 - Transport nr 77 departs with French Jews to nazi-Germany

1944 - US troops occupy Sansapor New-Guinea

1945 - Pierre Laval, the fugitive former leader of Vichy France, surrenders to Allied soldiers in Austria.

1948 - "Brigadoon" closes at Ziegfeld Theater NYC after 581 performances

1948 - Pres Harry Truman dedicates Idlewild Field (Kennedy Airport), NY

1949 - Lightning strikes a baseball field in Fla, kills SS & 3rd baseman

1951 - Japan Airlines is established.

1953 - Dept of Health, Education & Welfare created

1954 - First ascent of K2, by an Italian expedition led by Ardito Desio.

1958 - Anti-Chinese uprising in Tibet

1959 - 1st exhibit of bongos at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo opens

1960 - Elijah Muhammad, leader of Nation of Islam, calls for a black state

1961 - Israel welcomes its 1,000,000th immigrant

1962 - Federation of Malaysia forms

1963 - Arturo Illia elected president of Argentina

1964 - Al Parker glides 644 miles without any motor

1964 - Rolling Stone concert in Ireland halts after 12 minutes due to riot

1964 - US Ranger 7 takes 4,316 pictures before crashing on Moon

1965 - Cigarette Ads banned on British TV

1966 - Alabamans burn Beatle products due to John Lennon's anti-Jesus remark

1967 - Rolling Stone Mick Jagger & Keith Richards end 1 month jail sentence

1968 - Beatles close Apple Boutique, giving clothes away for free

1969 - Mariner 6 flies past Mars

1969 - National Guard mobilizes in racial disturbances in Baton Rouge, La

1970 - Black Tot Day: The last day of the officially sanctioned rum ration in the Royal Navy.

1971 - Apollo 15 astronauts take 6½ hour electric car ride on Moon

1972 - Thomas Eagleton withdraws as Democratic VP candidate

1973 - ABA Virginia Squires trade Julius Erving to NY Nets

1973 - Delta Airlines DC-9 crashes in fog at Logan Airport, Boston, killing all but one of 89 aboard. Lone survivor dies 6 months later

1976 - Seychelles Independence (Independence day)

1977 - E Henry Knoche, ends term as deputy director of CIA

1977 - John F Blake promoted from acting to deputy director of CIA

1978 - Gunman shoots his way into Iraqi Embassy in Paris

1980 - Soyuz 37 crew returns to Earth aboard Soyuz 36

1981 - Arnette Hubbard installed as 1st woman president of Natl Bar Association

1982 - 46 kids & 7 adults die as 2 buses & several cars collide in France

1982 - Car/bus collision near Beaune, France, 53 die

1982 - Finland, Italy, Germany, Austria & France form American European Football Federation (AEFF)

1983 - Dutch July avg temp is 20.1°C; warmest July since 1852

1984 - Venz commandos terminate hijacking of an aircraft, 2 killed

1987 - Battle between Iranian pilgrims & Saudi-Arabian troops, 402 killed

1987 - Rockwell International awarded contract to build a 5th shuttle

1987 - A rare, class F-4 tornado rips through Edmonton, Alberta, killing 27 people and causing $330 million in damage.

1988 - 32 people are killed and 1,674 injured when a bridge at the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal collapses in Butterworth, Malaysia.

1990 - Bosnia-Hercegovina declares independence

1991 - Russia & US sign long range nuclear weapons reduction pact

1991 - Senate votes to allow women to fly combat aircraft

1991 - The Medininkai Massacre in Lithuania. Soviet OMON attacks Lithuanian customs post in Medininkai, killing 7 officers and severely wounding one other.

1992 - Thai Airbus crashes into mountain at Kathmandu, 113 die

1

1993 - Inkatha-arm forces killed 49 ANC-followers in Johannesburg

1993 - Prince Ronald "Ronnie" Mutebi crowned king of Uganda

1994 - Stockholms avgs 21.5°C; their warmest July since 1855

1994 - UN votes 12-0 (2 abstentions) to authorize use of force against Haiti

1999 - Discovery Program: Lunar Prospector - NASA intentionally crashes the spacecraft into the Moon, thus ending its mission to detect frozen water on the moon's surface.

2006 - Fidel Castro hands over power temporarily to brother Raúl Castro. This leads to a celebration in Little Havana (La Pequeña Habana in Spanish), Miami, Florida, where many Cuban Americans participated.

2007 - Operation Banner, the presence of the British Army in Northern Ireland, and longest-running British Army operation ever, comes to an end.

2012 - Two car bombs kill 21 people in Baghdad, Iraq

2012 - A second power grid failure in two days leaves 670 million people in India without power

1498 Columbus arrived at the island of Trinidad. 1777 The Marquis de Lafayette became a major-general in the American Continental Army. 1790 The first U.S. patent was issued to Samuel Hopkins of Vermont for a process of making fertilizer. 1875 Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, died in Tennessee. 1954 Mount Godwin-Austen (K2), the world's second-highest peak, was climbed for the first time, by an Italian team led by Ardito Desio. 1964 The U.S. space probe Ranger 7 transmitted pictures of the Moon’s surface.

The following links are to web sites that were used to complete this blog entry:

http://www.historyorb.com/today/events.php

http://on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/alldays/jul31.htm

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory

Old Clip From 1989 With Former President Geral Ford Predicting Unusual Circumstances Surrounding the First Female President Has Gone Viral

There is a video featuring President Gerald Ford which has gone viral very recently.

It is just one of those things, you know? He made a vague prediction that a woman would become president under unorthodox circumstances. And it sounded a bit like how it might happen if Kamala Harris indeed wins the coming election.

Yet, he also predicted this in 1989, and said that it would happen within four to eight years, which is one not insignificant aspect of his prediction which most certainly did not come true.

Still, it seems like this has taken a life of it's own. Take a look, and decide for yourself. I suspect that Ford knew that a woman likely would come to power in the White House through unorthodox means, but that maybe (hopefully, I might add), this would open up the floodgates. Men might have a difficult time convincing people to give them back the power of the presidency after that.

We shall see. First, let's see if Kamala can win this. 

1989 Ford Interview on a Female President | IPTV 50th Anniversary

July 30th - This Day in History

 

Once again, it should be reiterated, that this does not pretend to be a very extensive history of what happened on this day (nor is it the most original - the links can be found down below). If you know something that I am missing, by all means, shoot me an email or leave a comment, and let me know!

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

On this day in 579, Benedict I ended his reign as Catholic Pope. In 657 on this day, St Vitalian began his reign as Catholic Pope, succeeding Eugene I. On this day in 1178, Frederick I (Barbarossa), the Holy Roman Emperor, was crowned King of Burgundy. In 1419 on this day, Anti-Catholic Hussites, followers of the executed reformer Jan Hus, stormed the Prague town hall and threw the judge, mayor and several city council members (either 7 or 13) out the windows. They all either died in the fall or were killed by the crowd outside. On this day in 1502, Christopher Columbus landed at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras during his fourth voyage to the Americas. On this day in 1537, the Ditch and French had a ceasefire during the Resistance of Bomy. A Spanish garrison of Rhine Birch surrendered to Earl Mauritius on this day in 1601. On this day in 1618, Prince Maurits' troops pulled into Utrecht. On this day in 1619, the first legislative assembly in English North America convened in Jamestown, Virginia (known as the House of Burgesses). An earthquake that killed an estimated 10,000 hit Naples, Italy, on this day in 1626. On this day in 1646, the English parliament gives King Charles I of England the Newcastle Propositions. Prince Willem II occupied Amsterdam on this day in 1650. Johan de Witt was sworn in as pension advisor of Holland on this day in 1653. On this day in 1655, Dutch troops occupied Fort Assahudi Seram. English troops landed in Flanders on this day in 1678. On this day in 1715,  a fleet of Spanish ships carrying gold and silver disappeared off the coast of Florida, by St. Lucie. On this day in 1733, the first Freemasons lodge opened in the original thirteen colonies in Boston. Caspar Wistar began glass manufacturing in Allowaystown, New Jersey, on this day in 1739. In 1756 on this day, Bartolomeo Rastrelli presented the newly-built Catherine Palace to Empress Elizabeth and her courtiers. The city of Baltimore was founded in Maryland on this day in 1759. In 1775 on this day, Captain Cook returned to England with Resolution. 

Images of the French Revolution

500 men in Marseilles, France sang "La Marseillaise", the tune which would become France's now long standing national anthem, for the first time on this day in 1792 during the days of the French Revolution. On this day in 1809, a British armed force of 39,000 landed in Walcheren, Netherlands, with the intent of opening up another front in Austria's struggle against Napoleon's France. On this day in 1811, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the leader of the Mexican insurgency, was executed by the Spanish in Chihuahua, Mexico. In 1822 on this day, James Varick became the first bishop of African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. On this day in 1824, Gioacchino Rossini became the manager of Theatre Italian, Paris. Malden Island was discovered on this day in 1825. On this day in 1826, Java prince Dipo Negoro launched a surprise attack on the Dutch colony, with 82 killed. In 1836 on this day, the first English newspaper published in Hawaii. Slaves rebelled and took over the slave ship Amistad on this day in 1839. On this day in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued an "eye-for-eye" order to shoot a rebel prisoner for every black prisoner shot. Also on this day in 1863 farther West, Chief Pocatello of the Shoshone tribe signed the Treaty of Box Elder, promising to stop harassing the emigrant trails in southern Idaho and northern Utah. The Battle of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was fought on this day in 1864, and was burned by Union forces under McCausland. Also on this day in 1864 during the American Civil War, the Battle of the Crater was fought, when General Burnsides failed on his attack of Petersburg. Pope Pius IX visited Suriname on this day in 1865. On this day in 1866, New Orleans's Democratic government ordered police to raid an integrated Republican Party meeting, killing 40 people and injuring 150. In 1870 on this day, Staten Island ferry "Westfield" burned, killing 100. On this day in 1872, Mahlon Loomis patented the wireless telegraphy. German anti-Semitism began during the Reichstag election on this day in 1878. Also on this day in 1878, there was a Russian assault on Plevna in the Ottoman Empire (modern day Turkiye), with 7,300 Russian casualties. This day in 1889 marked the start of Sherlock Holmes adventure "Naval Treaty." On this day in 1898, Will Kellogg invented Corn Flakes. On this day in 1898, "Scientific America" carried the first magazine automobile ad. The ad was for the Winton Motor Car Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Anti-Jewish rioters attacked a funeral procession of Rabbi Joseph in New York City on this day in 1902. The Dutch Covenant of Worker's Union, NVV, formed on this day in 1905. Around the World Automobile Race ended in Paris on this day in 1908. On this day in 1909, the Wright Brothers delivered the first military plane to the army. This day in 1913 marked the conclusion of second Balkan War. Austrian-Hungary & Russia proclaimed a general mobilization on this day in 1914, in the very early days of "The Great War," or World War I. French troops withdrew 10 kilometres from the German border on this day in 1914. John French was appointed as the British supreme commander on this day in 1914. On this day in 1916, despite official American neutrality at the time during the so-called "Great War (World War I), German saboteurs blew up a munitions plant on Black Tom Island, in New Jersey. German saboteurs blow up a munitions plant on Black Tom Island, in Jersey City, New Jersey. On this day in 1917, the Board of Commissioners of Cleveland Metroparks held its first meeting. New Zealand claimed the Ross Dependency in Antarctica on this day in 1923. Albanian boundaries were defined on this day in 1926. George Eastman showed the first color motion pictures in the United States on this day in 1928. 

 

The Championship for the first ever FIFA International World Cup Tournament was decided in the final match between Uruguay and Argentina on this day in 1930.

Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2 on this day in 1930 to win the championship at the first ever football/soccer World Cup  in Montevideo, Uruguay. The X modern Olympic games opened in Los Angeles, California, on this day in 1932. The first Penguin book was published on this day in 1935, starting the paperback revolution. On this day in 1938, General Metaxas named himself Premier of Greece. German occupiers forbid SDAP, VDB, ARP, RKSP, CHU and SGP in Netherlands on this day in 1941.OIn this day in 1942, FDR signed a bill creating Women's Navy Auxiliary Agency (WAVES). Members of WAVES were a part of the U.S. Navy. The German SS killed 25,000 Jews in Minsk, Belorussia, on this day in 1942. Hitler found out that Italy would soon be joining in the war effort against Nazi Germany on this ay in 1943. German occupiers set a night curfew on Jews in Netherlands on this day in 1942. The US 45th Infantry division occupied San Stefano on this day in 1943.There were heavy battles at Tessy-sur-Vire and Villebaudon Normandy, on this day in 1944. Also on this day in 1944, the US 30th Division reached the suburbs of St-Lo, Normandy. On this day in 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk within 15 minutes by a Japanese submarine. The ship had just delivered key components of the Hiroshima atomic bomb to the Pacific island of Tinian. Only 316 out of 1,196 men aboard survived the attack. It marked one of the greatest naval losses of World War II, resulting in the deaths of nearly 900 men. On this day in 1946, the first rocket to attain 100 miles (167 km) altitude, in White Sands, New Mexico. In 1949 on this day, the British warship HMS Amethyst escaped down Yangtze River, having been refused a safe passage by Chinese Communists after a tense 3-month standoff. On this day in 1954, the "King" Elvis Presley joined the Memphis Federation of Musicians, Local 71. On this day in 1960, the first ever AFL (American Football League, which would become the American Football Conference once the league merged with the NFL) was played between the Boston Patriots and the Buffalo Bills in a preseason game. The Patriots beat the Bills, 28-7. In 1963 on this day, British spy Kim Philby was found in Moscow. On this day in 1964, South Vietnamese forces fired on on Hon Ngu/Hon Mo, North Vietnam. On this day in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Act, which established Medicare and Medicaid, and which would become effective the following year. 

 

In 1966 on this day, the Beatles' "Yesterday... & Today," album went to #1 and stayed there for 5 weeks. Also on this day in 1966, England defeated West Germany 4-2 for soccer's 8th World Cup in London. For now, it still marks the one and only time that England won the world title. US airplanes bombed the demilitarized zone in Vietnam on this day in 1966. Race riots erupted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on this day in 1967, killing four. The Beatles' Apple Boutique closed, and the entire inventory was given away on this day in 1968. On this day in 1969, Mariner 6 passed Venus on 3410 km (74 photos). George Harrison released "Bangladesh" on this day in 1971. A Japanese Boeing 727 collided with an F-86 fighter on this day in 1971, killing 162. The US Apollo 15 (Scott & Irwin) landed on Mare Imbrium on the Moon on this day in 1971. On this day in 1974, the House Judiciary Committee voted on the third & last charge of "high crimes & misdemeanors" to impeach President Nixon in the Watergate cover-up. On this day in 1975, Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa disappeared in suburban Detroit. On this day in 1976, Giulio Andreotti was sworn in as Premier of Italy. Vanuatu (formerly known as the New Hebrides) gained independence from Britain and France on this day in 1980. In 1981 on this day, the Belgian Senate accept laws against racism. The Alvenus tanker at Cameron La, spilled 2.8 million gallons of oil on this day in 1984. Also on this day in 1984, Holly Roffey (11 days old) became the youngest person ever to get a heart transplant. Discovery moves to Vandenberg Air Force Base for mating of STS 51-I mission on this day in 1985. On this day in 1987, Indian troops arrived in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, to disarm the Tamil Tigers and enforce a peace pact. Jordanian King Hussein renounced sovereignty over West Bank to the PLO on this day in 1988. King Hussein also dissolved Jordan's House of Representatives on this same day in 1988. Chile amended it's constitution, not long after the bloody days of the Pinochet dictatorship. on this day in 1989. On this day in 1990, soldiers loyal to Liberian President Samuel Doe opened fire on worshippers in Monrovian church, with an estimated 200-600 killed. The first Saturn automobile rolled off the assembly line on this day in 1990. On this day in 1997, there was a terrorist double suicide bombing in Jerusalem, killing 14. In 1997 on this day, eighteen lives are lost in the Thredbo Landslide in New South Wales, Australia. In 2002 on this day, the accounting law referred to as "The Sarbanes Oxley Act" was signed into law by President George W. Bush. In Mexico on this day in 2003, the last 'old style' Volkswagen Beetle rolled off an assembly line. In 2009 on this day, a bomb exploded in Palma Nova, Mallorca, killing 2 police officers. A Basque separatist group ETA is believed to be responsible. A train fire killed 32 and injured 27 people in Andhra Pradesh, India, on this day in 2012. Finally, on this day in 2012, an Indian power grid failure left over 620 million people (a bit less than 10 percent of the world's population at the time) without power.

  

The following links are to web sites that were used to complete this blog entry:

http://www.historyorb.com/today/events.php

http://on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/alldays/jul30.htm

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory

ACLU Provides Some Dire Warnings About What To Expect Under Another Trump Presidency

 

This is a picture of a magnet that was being sold at Strand's Book Store in New York City a few years ago. No, I did not buy it, but I liked it and took a picture, which I am sharing here now. 

Below is a link to an article published by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) warning as to what we could expect if Trump gets another term as president. It is not looking nearly as certain as it was a couple of weeks ago, when Joe Biden still was insisting that he would stay in the race. Even some of his closest advisors and political allies are apparently admitting now that he really had no chance at winning, especially when everything seemed to be falling apart. If nothing else, however, Kamala Harris has seemingly reenergized the Democrats and made this a new race. 

Frankly, I believe that they are accurate. They are expecting an increasing militarization of the police, a spike in incarcerations (particularly by the southern border, presumably), and an expansion of the death penalty.

Take a look at the article and judge for yourself if they are accurate in what we can expect if Trump gets in yet again. 

Trump Promises to Militarize Police, Reincarcerate Thousands, and Expand Death Penalty published by the ACLU, July 19, 2024:

https://www.aclu.org/news/criminal-law-reform/trump-promises-to-militarize-police-reincarcerate-thousands-and-expand-death-penalty?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=pm&utm_campaign=nat-dig-pm-awr-int&utm_content=awr-social_feed-fb-FullList-nat-TrumpCriminalJusticeBlog-civilliberties-trumpcriminaljustice24-electionmemos&utm_term=pm-6578929319795-6580999724195&initms_aff=nat&initms_chan=pm&initms=awr-social_feed-fb-FullList-nat-TrumpCriminalJusticeBlog-civilliberties-trumpcriminaljustice24-electionmemos&ms_aff=nat&ms_chan=pm&ms=awr-social_feed-fb-FullList-nat-TrumpCriminalJusticeBlog-civilliberties-trumpcriminaljustice24-electionmemos&utm_id=6578830022195&fbclid=IwY2xjawEUnlBleHRuA2FlbQEwAAEdzekr8l_VtIWMzdE3RA-4badlq60Cwnz2NEvHBGjapJnLfPQ6O9VlU90y_aem_VeHgDsQBXQuLJX2WjiKq0g

July 29th: This Day in History

Once again, it should be reiterated, that this does not pretend to be a very extensive history of what happened on this day (nor is it the most original - the links can be found down below). If you know something that I am missing, by all means, shoot me an email or leave a comment, and let me know!

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

On this day in 362, Emperor Julianus of Constantinople terminated education laws. In 626 on this day, Avaren/Slaves under Khagan Bajan began a siege of Constantinople. On this day in 904, Thessalonica was sacked by Saracen pirates led by the renegade Leo of Tripoli. The Battle of Strumitsa-Valley was fought on this day in 1014, when Byzantine destroyed Bulgarian armies. The Battle at Stiklestad (Trondheim) was fought on this day in 1030. On this day in 1179, Lando Sittino was proclaimed Antipope Innocent III. On this day in 1560, the Ottoman fleet recaptured Djerba on Spanjaarden. In 1563 on this day, the League of High Nobles routed King Philip II. On this day in 1567, James VI was crowned King of Scots at Stirling. On this day in 1579, Antwerp requested a union with Utrecht. In 1579 on this day, King Philip II arrested plotters Antonio Perez & Princess van Eboli. In 1585 on this day, Friese Academy opened. The English defeated the Spanish Armada in the Battle of Gravelines on this day in 1588. The troops of Duke Farneses were ready the for invasion of England on this day in 1588. A Dutch fleet under Johannes van Walbeeck landed on Curacao on this day in 1634. In 1655 on this day, the biggest town hall in the world opened in Amsterdam. On this day in 1676, Nathaniel Bacon was declared a rebel for assembling frontiersmen to protect settlers from Indians. On this day in 1693, in the War of the Grand Alliance, the Battle of Landen/Neerwinden took place on this day. France's Pyrrhic victory over the Allied forces in the Netherlands. On this day in 1696, French King Louis XIV & Victor Amadeua van Savoye signed a peace treaty. In 1715 on this day, 10 Spanish treasure galleons were sunk off the Florida coast by a hurricane. In 1751 on this day came the first international world title prize fight when Jack Stack of England defeated challenger M Petit of France in 29 mins in England. In 1754 on this day, the first international boxing match was held. The 25-minute match was won when Jack Slack of Britain knocked out Jean Petit from France. On this day in 1773, the first schoolhouse to be located west of the Allegheny Mountains was built in Schoenbrunn, Ohio. On this day in 1783, the Skaptar Volcano in Iceland erupted and killed about 9,000 people. On this day in 1786,  "The Pittsburgh Gazette" became the first newspaper west of the Alleghenies to be published. The paper's name was later changed to "The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette." On this day in 1793, John Graves Simcoe built a fort and settlement on the site of what would later become the city of Toronto, having sailed into the bay there previously. The first sugar plantation in Hawaii began on this day in 1835.

Pictures taken of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris from our 2019 trip there. The Arc de Triomphe was inaugurated on this day in 1836.

On this day in 1836 was the Inauguration of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The Cumberland School of Law was founded on this day in 1847 in Lebanon, Tennessee, USA. By the end of 1847, there were only 15 law schools which existed in the United States. On this day in 1848 during the Irish Potato Famine came the Tipperary Revolt. In Tipperary, there was an unsuccessful nationalist revolt against British rule that was ultimately put down by police. On this day in 1851, Annibale de Gasparis discovered the asteroid 15 Eunomia. On this day in 1858, the Treaty of Amity and Commerce/Harris Treaty was signed between US & Japan, which opened Japanese ports to trade. This day in 1864 was a busy one in the American Civil War. It marked the third & final day of the Battle at Deep Bottom Run, Virginia. Also on this day in 1864, the American Civil War Battle of Macon, GA (Stoneman's Raid). Finally on this day in 1864 on a busy day for the American Civil War, the Confederate spy Belle Boyd was arrested by Union troops and detained at the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, DC. On this day in 1874 , Major Walter Copton Winfield of England received a U.S. patent for the lawn-tennis court. Artist Vincent van Gogh died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on this day in 1890 in Auvers, France.On this day in 1899, the First Hague Convention was signed. In Italy on this day in 1900, King Umberto I of Italy was assassinated by Italian-born anarchist Gaetano Bresci. The Union of Orthodox Rabbis of US & Canada formed on this day in 1902. On this ay in 1907, there was the first helicopter ascent in Douai, France. Sir Robert Baden-Powell formed the Boy Scouts in England on this day in 1907.Albania won it's sovereignty on this day in 1913 under Prince Wilhelm von Wied. On this day in 1914, World War I really started to get underway when Austria-Hungary bombed Belgrade, and Russia mobilized troops along the border it shared with Austria-Hungary. Also on that same day, a British fleet leaving Portland/passed the Straits of Dover. Also on this day in 1914, and separate from Worl War I, the first transcontinental telephone service started when two people held a conversation between New York City, New York, and San Francisco, California. On this day in 1920 came the first transcontinental airmail flight from New York to San Francisco. Mexican rebel leader Pancho Villa surrendered on this day in 1920. Construction of the Link River Dam began on this day in 1920 as part of the Klamath Reclamation Project. Adolf Hitler became the leader of the National Socialist German Worker's Party (Nazi Party) on this day in 1921. Albert Einstein spoke on pacifism in Berlin on this day in 1923. Also on this day in 1923, the KPD held a struggle day against fascism in Germany On this day in 1927, the first iron lung was installed (Bellevue Hospital, NY). On this day in 1932 during the Great Depression in Washington, DC, U.S. troops dispersed the last of the "Bonus Army" of World War I veterans. On this day in 1936, RCA showed the first real TV program (dancing, film on locomotives, Bonwit Teller fashion show & monologue from Tobacco Road & comedy). Japanese troops occupied Peking (present day Beijing) & Tientsin on this day in 1937. Also on this day in China in 1937 occurred the Tongzhou Mutiny, which is also known as the Tongzhou Massacre, which was an orchestrated attack on Japanese civilians and troops by the collaborationist East Hebei Army in Tongzhou, China. Olympic National Park in  the state of Washington formed on this day in 1938. One million residents fled Hamburg, Germany, on this day in 1943 following a massive firebombing. Also on this day in 1943, Nazi's evacuated Hollandsche Theater in Amsterdam. Allied Air Force bombed Germany for six hours on this day in 1944. Also on this day in 1944, the US 4th Armour Division occupied Avranches. After delivering the atomic bomb across the Pacific, the cruiser USS Indianapolis is torpedoed & sunk by a Japanese submarine on this day in 1945. The Berlin Airlift to serve as a lifeline for West Berlin ended on this day in 1948. On this day in 1952, the first nonstop Trans-Pacific flight by a jet. On this day in 1953, US bombers were shot down north of Wladiwostok (Vlodivostok), in what was then the USSR). Jacques Cousteau's Calypso anchored in 7,500 m of water (record) on this day in 1956. On this day in 1957, the International Atomic Energy Agency was established by the UN. On this day in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was authorized by the U.S. Congress, and signed into law by  US President Eisenhower. On this day in 1959, the first United States Congress elections in Hawaii as a new state of the Union were held. In 1961 on this day, Wallis & Futuna Islands became a French Overseas Territory. The Beatles movie "Help" premiered in London on this day in 1965, with Queen Elizabeth in attendance. Gemini 5 returned after 12d 7h 11m 53s on this day in 1965. On this day in 1966, Nigeria's Chief of Staff Jakubu Gowon attempted a coup. A fire aboard the carrier USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin killed 134 on this day in 1967. Gram Parsons refused to play with the Byrds, who were set to play to racially segregated audiences on this day in 1968 in South Africa. He did this in protest against apartheid. Parsons would ultimately leave the band as a result of this. Also on this day in 1968, Mount Arenal in Costa Rica killed 80 people in a Pelee-type eruption. With the In Humanae Vitae (of Human Life), Pope Paul VI reaffirmed the Catholic Church's prohibition on artificial methods of birth control on this day in 1968. Mariner 6 began transmitting far-encounter photos of Mars on this day in 1969. Six days of race rioting broke out on this day in 1970 in Hartford, Connecticut. A Greek plebiscite held on this day in 1973 saw voters choosing a republic over monarchy. On this day in 1974 came the second impeachment vote against Nixon by House Judiciary Committee. Also on this day in 1974, the Episcopal Church ordained female priests. Gerald Ford became the first US president to visit the Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp on this day in 1945. There was a military coup in Nigeria on this day in 1975 by General Mohammed, which removed President Jakubu Gowon from office. The OAS (Organization of American States) members voted to lift collective sanctions against Cuba on this day in 1975. The U.S. government welcomed the action and announced it's intention to open serious discussions with Cuba on normalization. In 1976 on this day in New York City, the "Son of Sam" killed one person and seriously wounded another in the first of a series of attacks. On this day in 1978, Pioneer 11 transmitted images of Saturn & its rings. On this day in 1981, Iran's ex-President Bani Sadr fled to Paris. "Friday Night Videos" had it's premiere broadcast on NBC TV on this day in 1983. The XXIII Summer Olympics opened in Los Angeles on this day in 1984. The 19th Space Shuttle Mission (51-F)-Challenger 8 was launched on this day in 1985. General Motors announced that Spring Hill, TN, would be the home of the Saturn automobile assembly plant on this day in 1985. A bomb attack in West-Beirut on this day in 1986 killed 30. On this day in 1986, a jury in New York ruled against the NFL, finding that it had violated antitrust laws, and infamously awarded the USFL $1 in damages.  The FDIC bailed out First Republic Bank in Dallas with $4 billion on this day in 1988. Also on this day in 1988, Soviet Premiere Mikhail Gorbachev pushed for a plan electing president & parliament in March of 1989. A judge ordered NASA to release an unedited tape from the Challenger cockpit on this day in 1988. Finally on this day in 1988, the white minority apartheid government of South Africa banned the anti-apartheid film "Cry Freedom." On this day in 1990, the South Africa Communist Party began it's first legal conference. The Israeli Supreme Court acquitted retired Ohio autoworker John Demjanjuk of being Nazi death camp guard "Ivan the Terrible" on this day in 1993. As a result, his death sentence was thrown out and he was set free. 200,000 Muslims demanded death to feminist Taslima Nasrin on this day in 1994. Also on this day in 1994, corrupt Italian ex-premier Craxi was given an 8½ year jail sentence. Jan Hendrik Albert "Henny" Eman and his People's Party won the parliamentary election, and he rose to become the Prime Minister of Aruba for a second time on this day in 1994. The Indian army killed 27 Muslim militants on this day in 1994. Jesse Timmedequas raped & murdered Megan Kanka, who was only seven years old, on this day in 1994 in Hamilton, New Jersey. This would lead to Megan's Law, which required law enforcement to disclose the location of registered sex offenders, which was designed to protect local communities. The controversial child protection portion of the Communications Decency Act (1996) was struck down  on this day in 1996, as it was deemed too broad by a U.S. federal court. On this day in 1997, Minamata Bay in Japan was declared free of mercury 40 years after contaminated food fish were blamed for deaths and birth defects. The United Auto Workers union ended a 54-day strike against General Motors on this day in 1998. The strike had caused $2.8 billion of lost revenues. Astronomers announced that they had discovered a new planet (Xena), which was larger than Pluto, orbiting around the sun on this day in 2005. Tropical Storm Khanun killed 88 people and left 60,000 people homeless in North Korea on this day in 2012.

The following links are to web sites that were used to complete this blog entry:

http://www.historyorb.com/today/events.php

http://on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/alldays/jul29.htm

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory

Paris Olympic Games 2024: Equality At the Olympics The Skating Lesson

 

The Olympics have certainly altered since the days when I was a kid. Some ways, it changed for the better. In other ways, it changed for the worse, in my opinion. 

I grew up with the idea - which still was true at the time - that the Olympics were for amateur athletes only. Professionals could not compete in the games. That changed, and in a huge way. I remember the 1992 "Dream Team" representing the United States, and it seemed like everyone realized that from this point onwards, the Olympic Games would never quite be the same. 

Also, the Olympics have gotten ridiculously commercialized. It takes enormous sums of money just to even be considered as a host city for the Olympics these days. Then, it costs a tremendous amount of money to actually host the games. The city of Montréal was still paying for the debts incurred from hosting the 1976 Summer Games three decades later.

Those would be mostly negative ways that I feel the games have changed over time in history. However, they have changed in other, more positive ways.

Here, apparently, is one of them. The ratio of female to male athletes traditionally paled by way of comparison...until now. I am guessing that this is factual information. It seemed worth sharing here:

The Skating Lesson 22 July, 2024:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=903439611827001&set=a.638677861636512

July 28th - Anniversary of the End of the Reign of Terror

 

Forgot to post this yesterday, so this comes a day late:

Today, July 28th, marks the anniversary of the end of the Jacobin "Reign of Terror" era of the French Revolution. It effectively ended on the 9 Thermidor year II (27 July 1794), when the two men most responsible for orchestrating "The Terror," Maximilien Robespierre and Saint-Just, found their roles reversed as they were captured, and then early the next day, were themselves sent to the guillotine to face "le Rasoir National" (national razor). The events leading to his arrest and his being led to the guillotine shortly thereafter continue to be unclear, and will likely remain obscured in history. After all, there were no television cameras or recording devices back then, and Robespierre himself had limited access by the press to a lot of governmental proceedings like this. However, one thing for sure is that Robespierre himself was the final victim of the very "Reign of Terror" that most historians feel that he was most responsible for, being the leader of the "Committee of Public Safety" (Comité de salut public in French).

Kind of gives a new take on that expression "death by committee," now, does it not? Or maybe even that expression originated from the events of the French Revolution, although I cannot say for sure. 

Most of us know that the French Revolution was more or less largely defined by it's excesses, and that is of course especially true of the "Reign of Terror," when an estimated 16,000 plus Parisians were executed by the blade of the guillotine in the Place de la Révolution in Paris (which is now known as the Place de la Concorde). This, of course, included most of the most prominent figures of the Revolution, including, but certainly not limited to, Maximilien Robespierre, George Danton, Camille Desmoulins, Louis XVI, and Marie Antoinette. Even the inventor of the guillotine, physician Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, was himself sent to his creation to meet his end. Those were grim times indeed.

It should be noted here that the guillotine was originally designed as a humane way of sending people to their deaths, and emphasized equality. As surely anyone with a decent grasp of history knows, there were all sorts of grueling and horrifying methods of execution that had existed prior to the French Revolution. Between numerous nations, there were several methods of execution that had been used, including hanging (the most common in France prior to the Revolution), as well as some that automatically make people cringe, such as being sent to burn at the stake, or the use of the Iron Maiden in Britain. Even beheadings had been especially horrifying prior to the guillotine, which was designed to be efficient and, again, to remove as much pain as possible. It was quick and efficient, and often described as feeling like a cool breeze on the back of your neck, before instant death.

With the sheer numbers of citizens who were sent to the Place de la Révolution to be guillotined during "The Reign of Terror," it became clear to everyone that the revolution had spiraled out of control, and that the excesses were glaringly obvious. It was a tragedy, of course, and was the dark period that followed the bright focus earlier on liberating the French people from what had been brutal oppression at the hands of the Ancien Régime in the feudal system of absolute monarchy that had existed prior to the outbreak of the revolution. 

The thing is, the revolution was inevitable. Had it not happened in France specifically at the time that it did, it surely would have happened elsewhere at some point. France was, in retrospect, perhaps the most likely candidate, because of the nature of the Ancien Régime, and because of how much they had needed to borrow to fight wars overseas, particularly in the perennial chess match between Britain and France at the time. France had spent enormous sums of money during the Seven Years War (often known in North America as the French and Indian War) and, ironically, supporting the rebel cause during the American Revolution. Some of the ideas from the American Revolution helped inspire the French Revolution, although the debt that France incurred as a result of these conflicts forced the monarchy to dramatically raise taxes on the people, who were starving. Of course, anyone who has visited France and seen some of the elaborate palaces, Versailles being only the most famous and impressive of these, will at once understand that the Ancien Régime did not want to compromise any of their own luxuries in the process, so they felt that the third estate (the 97 percent of French people who were just trying to make it, and not at all living lives of luxury) could and should pay for it.

Indeed, it cannot be said with any certainty that Marie Antoinette, when told that the masses were starving, actually responded by saying the words, "Let them eat cake." However, there is no doubt that the nobility were largely indifferent to the sufferings of the masses, all while forcing them to pay heavy taxes in order that they themselves, members of the French nobility (and particularly the royal family, of course) should live in grand and opulent lifestyles. Louis XIV had desired the Versailles palace in order to impress foreign heads of state, and felt that only a place like that could reflect the full glory of the King of France. He seemed to feel it was a strategic necessity, although he also invited thousands of members of the French nobility to live there, ultimately so that they could be controlled and kept under watchful eyes. As for the masses, very few of them ever got to enjoy the benefits of such places and, in any case, those who got the chance only did so rarely. Versailles might be an attractive tourist destination these days, but it should be remembered that this was the king's royal estate - one of many - and was not really open to the public at the time.  

So yes, when the royal family who supposedly were divinely chosen to rule over France seemed so indifferent to the suffering of the vast majority of the French people, which they themselves of course created, then it was time for a change. Indeed, the Revolution became bloody and has even come to be defined by it's excesses, as well as how it all ended with a tyrant like Napoleon taking over. However, it should also be remembered that the French Revolution happened because the French kings had for so long ignored the plight of their own people, and just kept adding to their burdens. Also, Napoleon was seen as a tyrant who tried to take over Europe, but let us not forget that it was those other European nations, all still ruled by monarchies themselves, who waged war on revolutionary France, trying to forcibly suppress it from the outside. Napoleon was a brilliant general and military strategist who simply allowed France to enjoy some remarkable successes on the battlefield, and like other opportunists at the time, he simply used his growing status to eventually grab power, quite literally (he grabbed the crown from the Pope). 

All of this I say not to condone the excesses of the French Revolution, such as the "Reign of Terror," but rather as a reminder that it seems that sometimes, people criticize the French Revolution without really seeming to understand the brutality of what had been in it's place beforehand, and the necessity of getting rid of the  Ancien Régime. It most certainly was not sustainable, and needed to go. And, in point of fact, it did go. Perhaps we do not like to think of the image of a literal killing machine prominently displayed in a square of a capital city for public executions of high profile figures. However, the French Revolution ended absolute monarchy. Even when the Bourbon dynasty was restored after the Napoleonic wars, the fact of the matter was that the French people had had enough of it, and when kings tried to grab too much power, the people took it away from them. There were subsequent revolutions in France throughout the 19th century, in 1830, in 1848, and again in 1870-71. Ultimately, the monarchy of France was abolished. And yes, I personally think that this was a good and necessary thing.

We right do well to remember all of this in our own age, when corporations and the very wealthy elites also seem intent on grabbing as much power and money as possible, of hording and then hiding these staggering fortunes in offshore accounts. I cannot say with absolute certainty how or when some kind of uprising will occur, or whether it will shake the world like the French Revolution did. However, that the current system is unsustainable, there is no doubt. Much like the Ancien Régime, elites today simply have gone too far, and lost sight of any sense of limitations.

In any case, I meant to publish this a couple of days ago, but admittedly got a little too busy with things to actually do so. However, I added some movies, all from Youtube, that you can watch, all about the French Revolution.

The one which I am most familiar is "Danton." It is an excellent film about specifically the "Reign of Terror." I have seen it several times in my life now. The first time was either as a kid, or at most, as a teenager, when my understanding of the events was limited at best. The next time was at Rutgers University for a course that focused on the French Revolution, specifically. And now, I just finished watching it again earlier today (one of the reasons that I did not publish this earlier, because I wanted to watch it as a reminder of what happened, because life can sometimes make you forget such things).

I think this film really captures the essence of what it must have been like, and what happened. You can see the power struggles, the very informal and impersonal way that Robespierre calls others "citoyen" (the precursor to the infamous term "comrades" used by the Bolsheviks). There are moments of dark humor, such as when the imprisoned Camille Desmoulins rejects the opportunity to visit with Robespierre, who has come to prison to visit with him, and possibly give him a chance to get out of prison and the inevitable death sentence that comes with it. The response ("Tell him Camille is not home") is morbidly funny. Also, Danton's meeting with Robespierre offers both insight and humor, with Danton condemning Robespierre and strongly suggesting that he does not represent the French people, that Robespierre wants everyone to be like heroes in novels, that he has an unreal quality and is overly powdered and impersonal.

It is a very good, albeit dark and depressing, movie. But if you want to kind of get behind the scenes for the darkest chapter of the French Revolution, it is strongly recommended. The other videos I added also, because they should provide some strong background about the French Revolution and what led up to it, and how it began to spiral out of control. I cannot say that I have seen all of them, although in time, I intend to. However, they were added here in case you, the reader and potential viewer, are interested enough to pursue further exploration on this topic.

Glenn Kirschner Warns That When Donald Trump Says Things Which Threaten American Democracy, We Should Take the Threat At Face Value

This is a video which Glenn Kirschner recently released, and in which he says what I feel is true, as well.

A lot of people do not want to admit that Trump is the threat to democracy that many are warning about. It seems that they do not want to believe that he is as bad as his critics are warning, and that there must be some other explanation when he says things which seem unsettling and alarming. 

That man seems to have the luck of the Devil himself. He has been sued thousands of times, yet was not a convicted felon until only recently. And yet, you can see that he acts like a thug and a criminal and, yes, frankly a dictator. 

As soon as he is convicted, he is regarded as a persecuted hero. His brainwashed cult following likens him to Jesus going through his trials.

Wow.

Meanwhile, this man does not back away or deny when he is accused of dictatorial ambitions, claiming that he will be a dictator, but only on day one of his second presidency. He wanted to delay the election in 2020, and openly talking about things like suspending some parts of the Constitution and serving a third term, even though he still has yet to get a second term in office, which would supposedly be his limit, because we have term limits. Yet, he "jokes" about being "president for life," and praised how China has such a system, musing that the United States might want to look into that. 

Remember, this man seemed to orchestrate nothing short of an attempted coup to retain power.

Now, he is telling his supporters that if they just vote for him this last time in November, they will not have to worry about ever voting again, because it will be "fixed" thereafter.

And still, nobody seems to be raising the alarms about how much of a threat this man poses to our clearly fragile American democracy.

It's sickening.

As Kirschner suggests, the institutions of our American government have failed to meet the test of Donald Trump's threat to democracy, time and time again.

If we get past this - Kirschner seems certain that the election will go against Trump, but I still have my doubts about that - Kirschner is right: we need to do an autopsy on how our institutions have failed us, frankly.

This is infuriating. Tragic to watch. 

Donald Trump Says If He's Elected, The American People Will Never Vote Again. BELIEVE HIM!

July 28th: This Date in History "The Great War" - World War I Begins

Once again, it should be reiterated, that this does not pretend to be a very extensive history of what happened on this day (nor is it the most original - the links can be found down below). If you know something that I am missing, by all means, shoot me an email or leave a comment, and let me know!

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

The Battle at Aquileja was fought on this day in 388, when Emperor Theodosius defeated Emperor Magnus Maximis. On this day in 754, Pope Stephen II, [III] made Pippin de Korte the King of France. Crusaders attacked Damascus on this day in 1148.The Battle at Ancyra/Angora/Ankara was fought on this day in 1402, when: Timur Lenk defeated Sultan Bajezid I. Navigator Gil Eanes left Cape Bojador for Lisbon, Portugal, on this day in 1434. On this day in1540, King Henry VIII of England's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, was executed and Henry married his fifth wife, Catherine Howard. Cardinal Granvelle returned to Madrid on this day in 1579. Sir Thomas Harriot introduced the potato to Britain and Europe from the Americas on this day in 1586. They would arguably become bigger in Europe than in the Americas, being cheap and easy to grow. The Spanish Armada sailed to overthrow England's Queen Elizabeth I on this day in 1588.On this day in 1609, Admiral George Somers settled in Bermuda.Spanish Marshal Piccolomini conquered Schenkenschans on this day in 1635. On this day in 1696, De Croissy succeeded Le Plectia as French Minister of Finance. Monarch Amengkurat II [Sunan Mas] of Mataram gave himself up to VOC on this day in 1708. Prussian King Frederik Willem I gave compulsory education to 5-12 year olds on this day in 1717. Captain Bering found Mount St Elias in Alaska on this day in 1741. In 1742 on this day, Prussia & Austria signed a peace treaty. On this day in 1750, the great baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach died after an unsuccessful eye operation. The Terror chapter of the French Revolution ended on this day in 1794 when Robespierre, one of the leading figures of the French Revolution and the man most credit with being behind "The Terror," was himself sent to the guillotine. There were 22 others who were labelled terrorists who also were executed to thunderous cheers. One of those executed was Louis Antoine Léon de Saint-Just, Robespierre's closest allies and enablers. Mahmud II succeeded Mahmud II succeeds Mustafa IV as sultan of Turkey on this day in 1808. Peru declared independence from Spain on this day in 1821 (National Day). On this day in 1849, the Memmon becomes the first clipper to reach San Francisco, 120 days out of New York. A total solar eclipse was captured on this day in 1851 on a daguerreotype photograph. On this day in 1858, the first use fingerprints as a means of identification was made by Sir William James Herschel of the Indian Civil Service in India. Nadar took the first airborne photo (in a balloon) on this ay in 1858. Confederate forces were defeated at More's Hill, Missouri, on this day in 1862. This day in 1864 marked the second day of battle at Deep Bottom Run, Virginia. On that same day in 1864 was the Battle of Atlanta: GA (Ezra Church) - marking the second sortie US700 CS4642. On this day in 1865, the American Dental Association proposed it's first code of ethics. The metric system was legalized by the United States. Congress for the standardization of weights and measures throughout the United States on this day in 1866. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which established the citizenship of African Americans and guaranteed due process of law, was ratified on this day in 1868. Shocks triggered by volcano Epomeo (Isle of Ischia, Italy) on this day in 1883 destroyed 1,200 houses and killing 2,000  at Casamicciola. English Salisbury government formed on this day in 1886. On this day in 1896, the city of Miami was incorporated. Spanish troops in Ponce, Puerto Rico, surrendered on this day in 1898. This day in 1898 marked the start of Sherlock Holmes "Adventure of Retired Colourman."  The hamburger was created on this day in 1900 by Louis Lassing in Connecticut.

World War I officially began on this date in 1914 when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.. At the time, that was the biggest war in human history, but on that particular date, there were celebrations on the streets from all of the major participants. Everyone expected a quick and decisive victory in their own favor. But they were in for a rude awakening, as the war quickly became a stalemate, with millions of men living under hellish conditions in the trenches on either side of the "No Man's Land" that separated the warring sides. That was surely the biggest event that occurred on this day in history, but it was far from being the only significant event. 

On this day in 1915, 10,000 blacks marched on 5th Ave (NYC) protesting lynchings. US forces invaded Haiti on this day in 1915, and stayed until 1924. On this day in 1917, there was a Silent Parade in NYC to protest murders of blacks in race riots. Vrije Vakbewegings Internationale (VVI) formed in Amsterdam on this day in 1919. On this day in 1926, there was would be a US & Panamanian pact about safeguarding the Panama Canal. This day in 1928 marked the opening of the IXth Olympic Games open in Amsterdam. On this day in 1932, American President Herbert Hoover ordered Douglas MacArthur to evict "Bonus Army" of unemployed World War I veterans who had gathered in Washington. They were demanding money that they were not scheduled to receive until 1945. A battle ensued between the veterans and federal troops, which four ultimately dying. Spain officially recognized the USSR on this day in 1933. Plans for the Pentagon were approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on this day in 1941..Nazis liquidated 10,000 Jews in the Minsk Ghetto in occupied Belorussia on this day in 1942. On that same day in 1942, Zionists partisans ZOB formed in Poland Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini resigned on this day in 1943. President FDR announced am end to coffee rationing in US on this day in 1943. Operation Gomorrah fell on this day in 1943, when the British bombed Hamburg, causing a firestorm that killed 42,000 German civilians. Hitler routed 4 division of South France to Normandy on this day in 1944. The US 8th Army occupied Coutances, France, on this day in 1944. Japanese Premier Suzuki ignored a US ultimatum to surrender on this day in 1945. On this day in 1945, the US Senate ratified the United Nations Charter by a count of 89-2. On this day in 1945, a U.S. Army bomber crashed into the 79th floor of New York City's Empire State Building. 14 people were killed and 26 were injured. Iuliu Maniu's Boer partywas outlawed on this day in 1947 in Romania On this day in 1948, an I G Farben chemical plant exploded in Ludwigshafen, Germany, killing 182. On this day in 1955, the Union Mundial pro Interlingua is founded at the first Interlingua congress in Tours, France. Heavy rains caused a mudslide on this day in 1957 in Isahaya, western Kyūshū, Japan, killing 992. Great-Britain started using postal codes on this day in 1959.  Hawaii's first US election sent the first Asian-Americans to Congress on this day in 1959. On this day in 1962, Mariner I that had been launched to Mars fell into the Atlantic Ocean. On this day in 1964, Ranger 7 launched toward the Moon; and sent back 4308 TV pictures. American President Lyndon Johnson on this day in 1965 announced that he was increasing the number of American troops in South Vietnam from 75,000 to 125,000. On this day in 1973, Skylab 3's astronauts (Bean, Garriott & Lousma) launched. 69 people were killed on this day in 19674 when a packed bus struck a heavy truck in Belem, Brazil. On this day in 1976, 242,000 people died in Tientsin-Tangshan (China) following an 8.2 magnitude earthquake. On this day in 1978, the price of gold topped $200-an-ounce for the first time. Peru adopted a new constitution on tis day in 1980, and, Fernando Belaúnde Terry became President. The city of San Francisco became the first city in the U.S. to ban handguns on this day in 1982..NASA launched the Telstar-3A on this day in 1983. The XXIII modern Olympic games opened in Los Angeles on this day in 1984. On this day in 1985, Alan Garcia was sworn in as president of Peru. There was a bomb attack in East Beirut on this day in 1986, with 25 killed as a result.On this day in 1986, NASA released transcripts from the doomed Challenger, pilot Michael Smith could be heard saying, "Uh-oh!" as spacecraft disintegrated. Israeli diplomats arrived in Moscow for their first visit in 21 years on this day in 1988. Jordan canceled a $1.3 billion development plan in West Bank on this day in 1988. Also on this day in 1988, Winnie Mandella's home in Soweto, South Africa was destroyed by arson. On this dayin 1989, NASA's Lewis Research Center, in Cleveland, Ohio, announced new high-temperature superconductors were able to operate at 33 to 37 Gigahertz. Alberto Fujimoro was installed as President of Peru on this day in 1990. A blackout hit Chicao on this day in 1990. On this day in 1994, the last steel beam was put into place on Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Kennewick Man, the remains of a prehistoric man, was discovered near Kennewick, Washington, on this day in 1996. Bell Atlantic and GTE announced a $52 billion deal that created the second-largest phone company on this day in 1998. Serbian military forces seized the Kosovo town of Malisevo on this day in 1998. Also on this day in 1998, Monica Lewinsky received blanket immunity from prosecution to testify before a grand jury about her relationship with American President Bill Clinton. In 2000 on this day, ana US Federal Appeals court granted a last minute stay of an injunction that ordered Napster, Inc., to shut down. The order to stop operations came on July 26, 2000. On this day in 2002, nine coal miners who had been trapped in the flooded Quecreek Mine in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, are rescued after being trapped for 77 hours underground. The Provisional Irish Republican Army called an end to their thirty year long armed campaign in Northern Ireland on this day in 2005. A tornado touches down in a residential area in south Birmingham, England, on this dday in 2005, and caused £4,000,000 worth of damages, injuring 39 people. On this day in 2006, researchers announced that two ancient reptiles had been found off Australia. The Umoonasaurus and Opallionectes were the first of their kind to be found in the period soon after the Jurassic era. The historic Weston-super-Mare Grand Pier burned down for a second time in 80 years on this day in 2008. 18 people are killed and 11 injured in ethnic clashes in Ethiopia on this day in 2012. And on this day to come in 2061, we will get the 31st recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet, assuming we are still around to see it. 

The following links are to web sites that were used to complete this blog entry:

http://www.historyorb.com/today/events.php

http://on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/alldays/jul28.htm

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory