Paracultural Calendar for Feb 7

[Mark Thibodeau]

On this day in *1497*, the so-called "bonfire of the vanities" occurs in
which supporters of *Girolamo Savonarola* burn thousands of objects like
cosmetics, art, and books in Florence, Italy.

***

This day in *1929* sees the first publication of *Buck Rogers*, the first
ever science-fiction comic strip, as well as *Tarzan*, one of the first
ever adventure comic strips. Both become insanely popular, filling the
heads of kids and adults alike with all sorts of crazy ideas.

***

On this day in *1940*, the second full length animated *Walt Disney* film,
*Pinocchio*, premieres.

***

On this day in *1962*, the United States bans all Cuban imports and
exports, including the world's finest cigars and rums. A quick trip across
the border, either to Canada or Mexico, can get you those products.

***

On this day in *1963*, the price of a first class postage stamp goes from
4¢ to 5¢. Chaos ensues.

***

On this day in *1964*, a plane lands at New York's Kennedy Airport,
carrying four shaggy headed young men infected with a highly contagious,
virulent disease that will spread uncontrollably and ravage our nation for
the better part of a decade. Which reminds me... have you been immunized
against *Beatlemania* yet this year? If not, what are you waiting for?!

***

Also on this day, in the year *1984*, American astronaut *Bruce
McCandless* steps
out of the Challenger Space Shuttle and into the frozen black nothingness
of outer space… without the nerve-calming balm of a tether. He is the first
human being to do so, relying on the completely self-contained Manned
Maneuvering Unit to slowly poke his way through the ultimate vacuum while
performing the most harrowing, spectacular "extravehicular activities" yet
accomplished. Dude flew over three hundred feet away from the shuttle! For
those few, harrowing minutes, he was a frigging living satellite! On the
"whatta trip!" scale, that shit must make LSD seem like Kool-Aid by
comparison.

***

On this day in *1986*, twenty-eight years of one-family rule end in Haiti,
when President *Jean-Claude Duvalier *flees the Caribbean nation. Five
years later, on this day in *1991*, Haiti's first democratically-elected
president, *Jean-Bertrand Aristide*, is sworn in. You can imagine how long
THAT lasted.

***

On this day in *1992*, the Maastricht Treaty is signed, leading to the
creation of the *European Union*.

***

On this day in *1995*, terrorist *Ramzi Yousef*, "mastermind" of the 1993
World Trade Center bombing, is arrested in Islamabad, Pakistan.
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