Paracultural Calendar for May 20

[Mark Thibodeau]

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/COUNCIL_OF_NICEA_Fresco_in_the_Sistine_Salon_Vatican_t.jpg>

On this day in *325*, the first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church
is held in the city of *Nicea*, located in modern day Turkey. Today, this
Council is commonly referred to as the *First Council of Nicea*. Among the
many decisions made during this meeting were the settlement of the issue of
the nature of Jesus and his relationship to *God*, settling the date for
*Easter*, and issuing a decree forbidding dudes from cutting off their own
dicks. I shit you *not*
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#Promulgation_of_canon_law>
.

*****

On this day in *1908*, Congress ignores the constitutionally mandated
tradition of keeping church and state separate by enacting legislation
declaring that the motto "in God we trust" should be included on most legal
tender.

*****

On this day in *1875*, the Metre Convention is signed by 17 nations,
leading to the establishment of the "International System of Units". Today,
the only industrialized country that does not use the metric system as its
official system of measurement is the USA, with the UK also lagging in the
adoption of some elements.

*****

On this day in *1980*, the people of the French Canadian province of
*Quebec* head to the ballot box to vote on a proposal to begin the work of
loosening the bonds of unity with the rest of Canada. The referendum
measure receives a 60% NO vote.

*****

On this day in *1983*, the journal *Science* first publishes researcher *Luc
Montagnier*'s theory that the HIV virus causes*AIDS*. Okay, sure, fine, but
what is it, exactly, that caused the HIV virus? That isn't as settled a
question as most people would like to think. And anyway, if it turns out
that HIV wasn't man-made, that doesn't mean the AIDS epidemic wasn't.
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