Censorship is cool!

September 22nd
On this day in 1888 the first edition of National Geographic magazine is published. The National Geographic Society was founded nine months earlier by a group of 33 scientists and scholars to discuss geography and world travel. The magazine became a means for its members to put in writing their findings and was free to those who paid their yearly dues. My guess is they had pictures of topless tribeswomen in that first issue as a means to up membership. Eh? EH?

On this day in 1776 Connecticut school teacher Nathan Hale is executed by the British army for spying. Hale was a captain in the Continental Army and had volunteered to go behind enemy lines in New York City and gather intelligence. After observing troop movements Hale was captured while rowing back to American held territory. After being interrogated Hale was charged with spying and sentenced to death. His famous last words were "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country".

On this day in 1862 President Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation freeing thousands of slaves from servitude. Lincoln had proposed the legislature to his cabinet two months prior and they recommended he deliver the news after a Union military victory. Although the battle of Antietam was tactically a draw, the Confederates retreated back into Virginia and Lincoln said "close enough".

Traitor!

September 21st
On this day in 1780 Benedict Arnold meets with British Major General John Andre to discuss the handing over of West Point and his name will become synonymous with treason. Arnold was a general during the American Revolution and served with distinction in the battles of Fort Ticonderoga, Saratoga, and the unsuccessful attack on Fort Quebec. But other men would take credit for his work in each of those campaigns. As the war dragged on, Arnold saw at least 5 men below him get a coveted promotion. He decided his services would be better served elsewhere.

On this day in 1897 the New York Sun published an editorial that began "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus". When Dr. Philip O'hanlon was asked by his 8 year old daughter, Virginia, if Santa Claus was real he suggested she write the newspaper. This gave editor Francis Church the opportunity to explore the philosophical side of the question and became part of Christmas folklore.

On this day in 1980 Bob Marley collapsed while running in New York's Central Park. He was taken to a nearby hospital and diagnosed with cancer. Two nights later he performed live for the last time at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

On this day in 1989 the Bangles confirmed the rumors that the band had broken up. During the 80's they had a few hits, but the legitimacy of an all-girl "punk" rock band was seen as prefabricated by most fans. Just like the Go-Go's, the Bangles ultimately ended their run due to in fighting of who would control the direction of the band. Susana Hoffs got the lions share of the attention even though song writing and lead vocals were evenly distributed amongst all band members.

Why don't they allow dogs in the White House? They'll pee on Bush and chase the Quayle.

September 20th
On this day in 1998 Baltimore Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken Jr. voluntarily sat out a game against the New York Yankees very quietly ending his record for most consecutive games played at 2,632. In the time since no other baseball player has even played in half the amount of consecutive games.

On this day in 2001 president George Dubyah Bush declared a war on "terrah" in front of a joint session of Congress. With the blood lust of the nation at its peak, Bush needed a common enemy for the nation to rally against. My only question is, were we pro-terrorism before 9-11, or were we just meh? I'll say one thing, this guys' public speaking ability got Obama elected.

On this day in 1519 Ferdinand Magellan and his crew of 270 set sail aboard 5 ships for the Spice Islands in the East Indies. The good news is his expedition was the first to circumnavigate the world! The bad news, read it here. He became the first European to sail from the Atlantic to the Pacific. His hopes were to find a passage through South America to present day Indonesia, but he had to sail all the way down to Tierra Del Fuego. 99 days later they arrived in Guam. Just over a week after that while anchored in the Philippines Magellan was killed by natives.

Yay speedos!

September 19th
On this day in 1973 country-rock singer Gram Parsons (he wrote "Love Hurts") dies of a combination of tequila and morphine. His death inspired two of his friends to commit one of the greatest rock and/or roll crimes of all time. Phil Kaufman, Parson's road manager, entered a pact with singer that if one of them died the other would cremate their remains and spread them over Joshua Tree National Park. So Kaufman and a roadie named Michael Martin stole Parson's body at the airport in a borrowed hearse and drove it into the Mojave wasteland. They proceeded to douse the vehicle in gasoline and light it on fire. Because stealing a body wasn't a crime in California, both men were fined $300. They paid off the debt by hiring the band Bobby Picket and the Cryptkeepers to perform a benefit concert. They played their hit "Monster Mash" over and over again.

On this day in 1995 the infamous Unabomber Manifesto is published in many of the nation's more prominent newspapers after the author said the bombings would stop if they would publish his thoughts. The Unabomber was responsible for killing three people and injuring another 23 by sending bombs through the mail over a 15 year period. As it turns out Ted Kaczynski was recognized by his brother for being the author of the crazy rant and was captured by the FBI the following April.

On this day in 1881 President James Garfield dies from his gunshot wound that he received two months prior. The official cause of death was blood poisoning, probably brought on by the wonderful doctors of the day. He was shot in the back by an angry office seeker.

On this day in 1988 American Greg Louganis wins the gold medal in springboard diving. The previous day during qualifying Louganis hit his head on the diving board and received a cut that required stitches. He finished his next two dives that night to qualify for the finals. I remember watching this with my family when it happened. It was a weird feeling to see a dude hit his head so hard and overcome something like that to win.

Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos

September 18th
On this day in 1945 General Douglass MacArthur moved his headquarters into Tokyo and began oversight of the rebuilding of a new Japan. Although his career would end in humiliation after the Korean war, MacArthur had a brilliant military career with the crowning achievement being the birth of Japan as an economic superpower. Because the country had largely been destroyed in the war, MacArthur used the US model to rebuild the government and the economy.

On this day in 1973 future president Jimmy Carter filed a government report on his UFO sighting 4 years prior. Described as "the darndest thing I've ever seen", Carter's UFO was a bright object with changing lights about the size of the moon, 30 degrees above the horizon. 10-12 other people witnessed the object and Carter vowed to release as much government information on UFO's as he could during his presidential campaign.

On this day in 1846 the struggling Donner Party sent two men ahead to California to bring back food after realizing they didn't have enough supplies to finish their journey. The 89 person wagon train had been mislead into believing that if they crossed the Sierra Nevada mountain range they would cut weeks off their trip. Instead they struggled to move across almost impassable terrain. One of the men sent ahead did return with the much needed supplies while the party was still in the mountains, but a snow storm trapped everyone for the remainder of the winter and things would go from bad to worse.

That's not all that's red.

September 17th
On this day in 1862 the bloodiest one day battle in the history of the United States occurred at Antietam Creek in Maryland. General Robert E Lee had chosen to capture Harper's Ferry, where the Union garrison was located and invade the North with his spoils. He ran into General George McClellan and the Union army near the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. An indecisive battle ensued that had both sides on the brink of victory only to have the other side receive reinforcements at the last moment. In the aftermath 23,000 of the combined 100,000 soldiers involved were injured or killed.

On this day in 1916 German pilot Manfred von Richthofen, aka the red baron, shot down his first plane during WWI. He would go on to shoot down 79 more planes through his short, illustrious career. During his last 8 months of combat he painted his tri-plane entirely red in honor of his fighting regiment and garnered his nickname from the English.

On this day in 1967 during a performance of "My Generation" on the Smother's Brothers Comedy Hour, Who drummer Keith Moon blew up his drum set. Unbeknownst to his band mates, Moon wanted to do something that would be talked about the next day. He normally packed his base drum with explosives that would go off during the end of the performance, but for the television audience he packed in three times more than he normally did. His explosion singed the hair of Pete Townsend and contributed to a loss of his hearing. Moon also ended up with shrapnel in his arm, and the broadcast was momentarily sent off-air.

If April showers bring May flowers, what do Mayflowers bring?

September 16th
On this day in 1776 the Battle of Harlem Heights occurs during the American Revolution. The day before the British army captured most of Manhattan island without a fight, but the General George Washington rallied his troops on the highest point of the island. He needed a victory in the worst way. His troops stood fast and repulsed charge after charge from the British. At the same time Washington sent a small force around to the enemy's flank and forced the British to retreat from the battlefield.

On this day in 1620 the Mayflower departs Plymouth, England for Virginia. Seeking religious freedom and opportunity, a group of 102 passengers left their homeland for a fresh start. They would be blown hundreds of miles off course and land in Massachusetts.

On this day in 1893 the Oklahoma land rush occurred when over 100,000 settlers arrived to claim free land on the Cherokee strip. Once thought to be worthless, the land was found to be extremely fertile with new farming techniques and President Benjamin Harrison opened it up to settlers, moving the Native Americans to more worthless lands.