Paracultural Calendar for June 7

[Mark Thibodeau]

<http://lewisgropp.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/source_4b7ebd592258c_hartmann-schedel-hierosolima-1493_2-bw-1147x965.jpg>

On this day in *1099*, the Siege of Jerusalem begins during the *First
Crusade <http://www.sarahwoodbury.com/the-first-crusade/>*.

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On this day in *1892*, “colored” passenger *Homer Plessy* is arrested for
refusing to leave his seat in the "whites-only" car of a train. He would
lose the resulting court case, Plessy v. Ferguson.

***

On this day in *1893*, the Mahatma, *Mohandas Gandhi*, begins his first act
of civil disobedience. I think it involves collecting salt or some such
thing.

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On this day in *1929*, with the ratification of the Lateran Treaty, the
*Vatican* becomes its own independent nation.

***

On this day in *1955*, President *Dwight Eisenhower* becomes the first
President ever to appear on color television.

***

On this day in the year *1965*, Sony introduces the first video cassette
recorder - the peer-to-peer file-swapping scandal of its day - priced at a
whopping $995. Sales are almost non-existent until the late 70's, when
millions of North American men suddenly realize that this miraculous new
device allows them to masturbate while watching complete strangers fuck,
all in the comfort of their own living room! Technology… HUZZAH!!!

***

In a decision that has a direct influence on yer old pal Jerky’s ability to
report on the item directly above this one, the United States Supreme Court
overturns the conviction of *Paul Cohen* for disturbing the peace, setting
the precedent that *vulgar writing* is *protected* under the First
Amendment… thank Fuck!

***

On this day in *1981*, the Israeli Air Force destroys Iraq's *Osiraq* nuclear
reactor during *Operation Opera*. For those of you still wondering why *Saddam
Hussein* shot SCUD missiles towards Israel during the first *Gulf War*,
wonder no more.

***

On this day in *1982*, *Priscilla Presley* opens *Graceland *to the public.
Sadly, the bathroom where *Elvis* died five years earlier is kept
off-limits.

***

On this day in *1998*, a mentally retarded man named *James Byrd, Jr*. is
killed when white supremacists drag him behind a pickup truck along an
asphalt road until he comes apart at the seams.

***

On this day in *2006*, an alleged Al Qaeda leader in Iraq named *Abu Musab
al-Zarqawi* – they say he was directly responsible for beheading American
hostages *Nick Berg* and *Eugene Armstrong* – is himself killed in an
air-strike... although there are certain discrepancies
<http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Abu_Musab_al_Zarqawi> and doubts.

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/14/Abu_Musab_al-Zarqawi_(1966-2006).jpg>
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