On This Day in Paracultural History Jan 2

[Mark Thibodeau]

On this day in *366*, the Alemanni (an early Germanic tribe) cross the
frozen Rhine River in large numbers, invading the Roman Empire.

***

On this day in *533*, *Mercurius* becomes *Pope John II*, the first pope to
adopt a new name upon elevation to the papacy.

***

On this day in *1492*, the Christian "reconquista" succeeds in conquering
Granada, the final Moorish stronghold in Spain. This brings to an end
nearly eight hundred years of Muslim presence - and four hundred years of
Muslim dominance - in the region. And some people say the Spaniards are
soft on terror!

***

On this day in *1860*, the discovery of the planet *Vulcan* is announced at
a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris, France. Vulcan's
existence (between the Sun and Mercury) has since been mostly disproven.
Mostly. Some still believe it exists, however.

***

On this day in *1920*, in excess of six thousand people are arrested in the
mostly-forgotten*Palmer Raids*
<http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USApalmerR.htm>. They joined nearly
fifteen thousand more who had been previously rounded up in one of the most
shameful episodes in all of American jurisprudence. Social activists, union
members and progressives were arrested without warrant despite committing
no crime, denied access to their families and legal counsel, detained
without trail for prolonged periods, and even deported to the Soviet Union.
The *Bush II* Era's *Ashcroft Raids*
<http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/13/opinion/john-ashcroft-s-palmer-raids.html>
share
a startling number of similarities with this seminal example of 20th
century police-state excess. It was a lucky thing for the then-Witchfinder
General that *his* targets are easier to pick out of a crowd than the
commies ever were, brown shoes or no.

***

On this day in *1955*, Panamanian president *José Antonio Remón Cantera* is
assassinated. His assailants were never apprehended, but American
authorities seem to think American gangster*non pareil* - and *Operation
Underworld <http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/d/denton-power.html>* figurehead
- *Lucky Luciano
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Antonio_Rem%C3%B3n_Cantera>* may
have been behind it!

***

On this day in *1967*, Hollywood actor and cigarette pitchman *Ronald
Reagan* is sworn in as Governor of California.

***

On this day in *1974*, US President *Richard Nixon* signs a bill lowering
the maximum U.S. speed limit to 55 MPH in order to conserve gasoline during
an OPEC embargo.
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