Paracultural Calendar for March 30

[Mark Thibodeau]

Jewish scholar *Moses Maimonides* was born on this day in *1135*. He was
one of the foremost thinkers of the Middle Ages. Most famous for his tome,
"Guide to the Perplexed", in which he attempted to reconcile religious
belief and Aristotelian scholasticism. Ah, who am I trying to kid. He's
really most famous for being name-dropped in the Simpsons episode where
*Krusty *reunites with his estranged father, the *Rabbi Krustofski*.

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On this day in *1856*, the *Treaty of Paris* is signed, ending the *Crimean
War*.

***

On this day in *1944*, Allied bombing raid on Nuremberg. Along the English
eastern coast 795 aircraft are dispatched, including 572 Lancasters, 214
Halifaxes and 9 Mosquitos. The bombers meet resistance at the coasts of
Belgium and the Netherlands from German fighters. In total, 95 bombers are
lost, making it the largest RAF Bomber Command loss of World War II.

***

On this day in *1949*, a riot breaks out in Austurvöllur square in
Reykjavík, when *Iceland* joins *NATO*.

***

On this day in *1954*, the Yonge Street subway line opens in Toronto. It is
the first subway in Canada.

***

On this day in *1961*, the *Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs* is signed
in New York City.

***

On this day in *1981*, President *Ronald Reagan* is seriously wounded
when *John
Hinckley Jr.*opens fire on him, in the alleged hopes that his
sure-to-be-publicized exploits will help him win over the object of his
obsession, box-munching thespian Jodie Foster.

*Interesting side-note:* There is one degree of separation between the
*Bush* family and *John Hinckley Junior*. *John Hinckley Senior* was a
Texas petroleum entrepreneur who contributed substantial amounts of cash to
the elder Bush's political campaign coffers, up to and including GHWB's
failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 1980. Furthermore,
Hinckley scion *Scott* was scheduled to dine with Bush scion *Neil* the day
after John's unsuccessful attempt on Reagan's life. The dinner date was
cancelled, which I guess explains why the mainstream press mostly chose to
ignore this incredible jumble of "coincidences."
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