Paracultural Calendar for Feb 1

[Mark Thibodeau]

On this day in *1709*, British sailor *Alexander Selkirk* is rescued after
spending five years marooned on a desert island at his own request. His
adventure - which mostly consists of eating bugs, masturbating and
screaming at the mocking blue sky - becomes the stuff of literary legend
when it's fictionalized by *Daniel DeFoe* in his novel *Robinson Crusoe*.

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On this day in *1790*, in New York City, the *Supreme Court of the United
States* convenes for the first time.

***

On this day in *1884*, the first volume (A to Ant) of the *Oxford English
Dictionary* is published.

***

On this day in *1920*, the *Royal Canadian Mounted Police* begins
operations.

***

On this day in *1929*, one *Charles Rigoulet* successfully "clean and
jerks" 401 lbs, 6 oz. It's the first time that more than 400 lbs is lifted
overhead in a sporting competition. Nowadays, that happens every Thursday
at *Oprah Winfrey*'s house.

***

On this day in *1978*, once-great film director *Roman "the Tweenmaster"
Polanski* skips bail and runs away to France after pleading guilty to
charges that he had sex with a 13-year-old girl in *Jack Nicholson*'s
hot-tub. Mediocre movies ensue.

***

On this day in *2002*, American journalist and South Asia Bureau Chief of
the Wall Street Journal *Daniel Pearl*, kidnapped January 23, 2002, is
beheaded and mutilated by his captors.

***

On this day in *2003*, the Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-107
disintegrates during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven
astronauts aboard.

***

On this day in *2004*, 251 people are trampled to death and 244 injured in
a stampede at the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

***

On this day in *2004*, *Janet Jackson*'s breast is exposed during the
half-time show of Super Bowl XXXVIII, resulting in US broadcasters adopting
a stronger adherence to Federal Communications Commission censorship
guidelines.
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