PARACULTURAL CALENDAR FOR JULY 23

[Mark Thibodeau]

<http://www.autolife.umd.umich.edu/Race/R_Casestudy/ID77239_4_riots.gif>

On this day in *1967*, in Detroit, Michigan, one of the worst riots in
United States history begins on 12th Street in the predominantly African
American inner city. It will leave 43 killed, 342 injured and 1,400
buildings burned.

***

On this day in *1968*, in Cleveland, Ohio, a violent shootout between a
Black Militant organization led by *Ahmed Evans*and the Cleveland Police
Department occurs. During the shootout, a riot begins and lasts for five
days.

***

On this day in *1973*, occultist/philosopher *Robert Anton Wilson* either
achieves contact with extraterrestrials from Sirius or starts a long-term
period of having wild hallucinations, depending on which way you want to
look at it.

***

On this day in *1974*, the military dictatorship controlling Greece
collapses. Taziki-dripping chaos ensues.

***

On this day in *1982*, during the filming of the *John Landis* segment of
the *Steven Spielberg* production of *Twilight Zone: The Movie*, actor *Vic
Morrow* and two Vietnamese child actors are torn apart when a crippled
helicopter falls right on top of them. Their grisly (though mercifully
instantaneous) deaths are captured on film, from a half-dozen angles, for
all the world to see, over and over again, on Fox's latest TV special: *When
Helicopters Attack Beloved Character Actors and the Vietnamese Child Actors
They're Holding in Their Arms: Part One!*

***

On this day in *1984*, the first ever Black woman to be crowned Miss
America - the truly gorgeous *Vanessa Williams* - is forced to step down
when *Penthouse* publisher *Bob Guccione* reveals photographs showing her
taking part in a softcore lesbian romp. Because of the resulting press and
exposure, Vanessa went on to have the most lucrative career of any
so-called "winner" in the history of the pageant. That's a fine kind of
justice, all things considered.

***

On this day in *1986*, *Prince Andrew*, Duke of York marries *Sarah
"Fergie" Ferguson* at Westminster Abbey, in London. They eventually
divorce, but it could have been worse. At least *Queen Elizabeth* didn't
have Fergie killed for shaming the Royal Family, like she did with *Lady Di*.
Then again, maybe that's because Fergie was smart enough not to run around
fucking Egyptian billionaires.

***

Speaking of Egypt, it was on this day in *2005* that 88 people were killed
in a terrorist bombing at the Naama Bay tourist area of Sharm el-Sheikh,
Egypt.
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