Paracultural Calendar for April 2

[Mark Thibodeau]

On this day in *1513*, Spanish explorer *Juan Ponce de León* first sights
land in what is now Florida. Claims that he discovered the Fountain of
Youth have yet to be confirmed.

***

On this day in *1792*, the Coinage Act is passed establishing the United
States Mint.

***

On this day in *1866*, President *Andrew Johnson* officially ends war in
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. He was a few years
premature, if you ask yer old pal Jerky.

***

On this day in *1902*, "Electric Theatre", the first full-time movie
theater in the United States, opens in Los Angeles, California. Mass
mind-control of the movie going public ensues.

***

On this day in *1912*, the ill-fated *RMS Titanic* begins sea trials.

***

On this day in *1930*, after the mysterious death of *Empress Zewditu*, *Haile
Selassie* is proclaimed emperor of Ethiopia.

***

On this day in *1956*, *As the World Turns* and *The Edge of Night* premiere
on CBS-TV. The two soaps become the first daytime dramas to debut in the
30-minute format.

***

On this day in *1972*, actor *Charlie Chaplin* returns to the United States
for the first time since being labeled a communist during the Red Scare in
the early 1950s.

***

On this day in *1973*, the launch of the *LexisNexis* computerized legal
research service.

***

On this day in *1975*, construction of the *CN Tower* is completed in
Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It reaches 553.33 metres (1,815.4 ft) in height,
becoming the world's tallest free-standing structure. It holds on to this
record for a very long time.

***

On this day in *1982*, seeking to boost national morale, Argentine military
dictator *Leopoldo Galtieri* sends in the troops to invade and capture the
Falklands Islands, a British colony located about 300 miles south of the
southern tip of the South American continent, home to roughly 1,800
English-speaking sheep farmers and not a whole lot else. Although no
British subjects were injured during the invasion, British response was
severe. Prime Minister *Margaret Thatcher* sent out 30 warships, which took
several weeks to arrive. By the time it all was over, Britain had lost five
ships and 256 lives, and Argentina had lost their only cruiser, as well as
750 lives. Within a year, civilian rule was restored in Argentina.
Unfortunately, the same could not be said of England.

***

On this day in *1992*, in New York, Mafia boss *John Gotti* is convicted of
murder and racketeering and is later sentenced to life in prison.
Meanwhile, south of the Mason Dixon line, country singer *Wynonna
Judd* performs
her first concert without her mother.

***

On this day in *2004*, Islamist terrorists involved in the 11 March 2004
Madrid attacks attempt to bomb the Spanish high-speed train AVE near
Madrid; their attack is thwarted.

***

On this day in *2005*, *Pope John Paul II* passes away after a long
illness, thus setting in motion the elaborate sequence of events that would
ultimately culminate with "shock jock" Howard Stern leaving terrestrial
radio for the freedom of satellite broadcasting... or something.
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