Paracultural Calendar for July 6

[Mark Thibodeau]

On this day in *1189*, *Richard I* "the Lionheart" accedes to the English
throne. He reigns during the time of the legendary bandit *Robin Hood*.


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On this day in *1483*, a much different Richard - *Richard III* - is
crowned King of England. *Shakespeare* writes a great play about this world
historic asshole.


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On this day in *1785* the dollar is unanimously chosen as the monetary unit
for the United States.


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On this day in *1854*, in Jackson, Michigan, the first convention of the
United States Republican Party was held. Chaos ensues.


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On this day in *1885*, *Louis Pasteur* successfully tests his vaccine
against rabies on *Joseph Meister*, a boy who was bitten by a rabid dog.
The process is notoriously long and painful, and eventually gives The
Powers That Be a “great idea” about how to control the global population.


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On this day in *1947*, the AK-47 goes into production in the Soviet Union.


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On this day in *1957*, *John Lennon* and *Paul McCartney* of the Beatles
are introduced to each other when Lennon's band the Quarrymen performs at
the St. Peter's Church Hall fête in Woolton.


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On this day in *1985*, the National Wrestling Alliance holds their first
ever Pay-Per-View event, The Great American Bash. It's a smashing success,
giving credence to the old addage: "a wrestling fan and his money are soon
parted."


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On this day in *1995*, during the Bosnian War, under the command of
General *Ratko
Mladić*, Serbia begins its attack on the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, and
kills more than 8000 Bosniaks, in what then- UN Secretary-General *Boutros
Boutros-Ghali* calls "the worst crime on European soil since the Second
World War".


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On this day in *2003*, the 70-metre Eupatoria Planetary Radar sent a METI
message (Cosmic Call 2) to 5 stars: Hip 4872, HD 245409, 55 Cancri (HD
75732), HD 10307 and 47 Ursae Majoris (HD 95128). The messages will arrive
to these stars in 2036, 2040, 2044 and 2049 respectively.


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On this day in *2005*, Time Magazine reporter *Matt Cooper* agrees to
testify to a grand jury that *Karl Rove* revealed to him *Valerie Plame*'s
secret CIA identity. An extremely suspicious lack of chaos ensues.
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