Paracultural Calendar for March 23

[Mark Thibodeau]

On this day in *1775*, American revolutionary *Patrick Henry* delivers his
speech, during which he declares: "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" In
the end, he got both.

***

On this day in *1919*, in Milan, Italy, *Benito Mussolini* founds his
Fascist political movement.

***

On this day in *1933*, the Reichstag passes the Enabling Act, making *Adolf
Hitler* dictator of Germany.

***

On this day in *1972*, in Vegas, the great *Evel Knievel* – the Elvis of
Idiots – successfully jumps over an incredible thirty-five automobiles on
his motorcycle, then breaks an incredible ninety-three bones when his rear
tire clips the thirty-sixth.

***

On this day in *1973*, Japanese "artist" *Yoko Ono* is granted permanent
residence in United States of America. It would take nearly 20 years for
the INS to fuck up that badly again.

***

On this day in *1980*, Archbishop *Óscar Romero* of El Salvador gives his
famous speech appealing to men of the El Salvadoran armed forces to stop
killing the Salvadorans. Two years later, on this day in *1982*,
Guatemala's government, headed by *Fernando Romeo Lucas García *is
overthrown in a military coup by right-wing General *Efraín Ríos Montt*. It
was NOT a good time to be a Central American, thanks in large part to the
feature player in our next calendrical entry...

***

On this day in *1983*, President *Ronald Reagan* makes his initial proposal
to develop technology to intercept enemy missiles, aka Strategic Defense
Initiative, aka SDI, aka Star Wars.

***

On this day in *1989*, *Stanley Pons* and *Martin Fleischmann* announce
their discovery of cold fusion at the University of Utah. It now seems like
their discovery was (ahem) bullshit.

***

On this day, in *1993*, at 10:05 a.m., *Livingstone Fagan* leaves *David
Koresh*'s Branch Davidian compound in Mount Carmel/Elk/Waco, Texas. He is
the last Davidian to willingly leave the compound during the standoff.
Later that same day, the FBI begins to play recordings of their previous
negotiations with Koresh over loudspeakers, to shame him into keeping his
word about coming out. Koresh is not phased by this tactic.

***

*Howard Stern* announces he will run for the New York Governorship on this
day in 1994. He quits, however, upon discovering details of his financial
situation would have to be made public.

***

On this day in *1994*, Aeroflot Flight 593 crashes in Siberia when the
pilot's fifteen-year old son accidentally disengages the autopilot, killing
all 75 people on board.

***

On this day in *2001*, the Russian Mir space station is disposed of,
breaking up in the atmosphere before falling into the southern Pacific
Ocean near Fiji.

***

Some *Very Important People* who kicked the bucket on this day… *Dr Barney
Clark*, the very first artificial heart recipient, dies in *1983* after
surviving 112 days! Also, on this day in *1985*, the *Singing Nun* and her
lesbian lover die after they wash down gorilla-doses of barbiturates with
vodka! And finally, on this day in *1986*, *Dominic Bellissimo* – creator
of the buffalo-style chicken wing – dies at 68! *Happy Deathday *you crazy
kids!
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