Paracultural Calendar for October 12

[Mark Thibodeau]

<http://mcgarnagle.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/khrushchev_shoe1.jpg>


On this day in *1492*, *Christopher Columbus*'s expedition makes landfall
in the Caribbean, specifically in The Bahamas. The explorer believes he has
reached India.


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On this day in *1692*, the *Salem witch trials* are ended by a letter from
Massachusetts Governor *William Phips*.


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Ever wondered about the origins of *Oktoberfest*? You know, that German
beer-and-sausage festival featuring little fat guys in suspenders and short
pants line-dancing to the dulcet tones of a glockenspiel? Well, it turns
out the whole thing started on this day in *1810*, when Bavaria's *Prince
Louis* married *Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen*. The Bavarian
royalty invited the citizens of Munich to attend the festivities, held on
the fields in front of the city gates. On a whim, the royals decided to
invite the good people of Munich to come and participate in the wedding day
festivities. It was such a smashing success, and so fondly remembered by
all who attended, that one year later they decided to celebrate. And so it
went, from year to year, perpetuating itself until the present day. Pretty
fuckin' lame, huh? Seeing as it involves Germans, yer old pal Jerky figured
the original Oktoberfest would have had something to do with blood
sacrifices in sacred pine groves, or maybe - on a less Pagan note - the
burning of witches or something. But nooo...


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On this day in *1892*, the *Pledge of Allegiance* is first recited by
students in many US public schools, as part of a celebration marking the
400th anniversary of Columbus's voyage.


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On this day in *1901*, President *Theodore Roosevelt* officially renames
the "Executive Mansion" to the White House.


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On this day in *1918*, a massive forest fire kills 453 people in Minnesota.


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On this day in *1960*, *Nikita Khrushchev* pounds his shoe on a desk at
United Nations General Assembly meeting to protest a Philippine assertion
of Soviet Union colonial policy being conducted in Eastern Europe


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On this day in *1960*, television viewers in Japan unexpectedly witness the
assassination of *Inejiro Asanuma*, leader of the Japan Socialist Party,
when he is stabbed and killed during a live broadcast.



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On this day in *1997*, 43 are killed at a fake roadblock during the *Sidi
Daoud massacre* in Algeria.


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On this day in *2000*, the *USS Cole* is badly damaged in Aden, Yemen, by
two suicide bombers, killing 17 crew members and wounding at least 39.


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On this day in *2002,* terrorists detonate bombs in the Sari Club in Kuta,
Bali, killing 202 and wounding over 300.
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