Paracultural Calendar for Oct 18

[Mark Thibodeau]

On this day in *629*, King *Dagobert I* is crowned King of the Franks. He
was the last king of the much feared and loathed *Merovingian* *Dynasty*
<http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/esp_sociopol_blacknobil07.htm>
to
wield any "real" royal power... or so THEY would have you believe.

***

On this day in *1009*, the *Church of the Holy Sepulchre*, a Christian
church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid caliph *Al-Hakim
bi-Amr Allah*, who hacks the Church's foundations down to bedrock.

***

On this day in *1648*, Boston shoemakers form first U.S. labor
organization, otherwise known by that currently dirty word: “union”.

***

On this day in *1851*, American author *Herman Melville*'s novel *Moby-Dick* is
first published as *The Whale,* by publisher *Richard Bentley* in London.

***

On this day in *1867*, the USA takes possession of *Alaska* after
purchasing it from Russia for $7.2 million. Celebrated annually in the
state as *Alaska Day*. Thirty one years later, on this day in *1898*, they
take possession of *Puerto Rico*. Which purchase do you suspect has brought
the American People the most joy over the years?

***

On this day in *1922*, the *British Broadcasting Company* (BBC) is founded
by a consortium, to establish a nationwide network of radio transmitters to
provide a national broadcasting service.

***

On this day in *1945*, Argentine military officer and politician *Juan
Perón* marries actress *Eva Perón*. Don't cry for them, Argentina, even
though they didn't exactly live happily ever after.

***

On this day in *1954*, *Texas Instruments* announces the first Transistor
radio.

***

On this day in *1967*, the Soviet probe *Venera 4* reaches Venus and
becomes the first spacecraft to measure the atmosphere of another planet.

***

On this day in 2002, at the request of FBI Director *Robert Mueller*,
Attorney General *John Ashcroft* files a declaration invoking the *“state
secrets” privilege
<http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a10182002AshcroftStatesSecretFirstSibel#a10182002AshcroftStatesSecretFirstSibel>*
to
block FBI translator *Sibel Edmonds*’ lawsuit against the government from
being heard in court. The Justice Department insists that disclosing her
evidence, even at a closed hearing in court, “could reasonably be expected
to cause serious damage to the foreign policy and national security of the
United States.” Normally, the privilege is used to block the discovery of a
specific piece of evidence that could put the nation’s security at risk.
But Ashcroft’s declaration asserts that the very subject of her lawsuit
constitutes a state secret, thus barring her from even presenting her case
in court. The text of Ashcroft’s declaration is classified.
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