PARACULTURAL CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER 14

[Mark Thibodeau]

<http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01014/body_worlds_pregna_1014471c.jpg>

On this day in *1741*, *George Frideric Handel* completes his oratorio
*Messiah*. It's magnificent.



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On this day in *1752*, the British Empire adopts the Gregorian calendar,
skipping eleven days (the previous day was September 2).

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On this day in *1763*, Seneca warriors defeat British forces at the Battle
of Devil's Hole during Pontiac's War.

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On this day in *1814*, the poem *Defence of Fort McHenry* is written
by *Francis
Scott Key*. The poem is later used as the lyrics of *The Star-Spangled
Banner*.

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On this day in *1901*, President of the United States *William McKinley* dies
after an assassination attempt on September 6, and is succeeded by *Theodore
Roosevelt*.

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On this day in *1959* the Soviet probe Luna 2 crashes onto the Moon,
becoming the first man-made object to reach it.

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On this day in *1960*, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries -
*OPEC* - is founded.

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On this day in *1984*, the first ever *MTV Music Video Awards* hit the
airwaves. In a bold move, the still-wet-behind-the-ears music video channel
hires two edgy young up-and-comers to host the show: *Bette Midler* and *Dan
Aykroyd*! I shit you not.

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On this day in *1987*, the *Toronto Blue Jays* set a record for the most
home runs in a single game, hitting 10 of them.

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On this day in *1994*, the Major League Baseball season is canceled because
of a strike.

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On this day in *1995*, the half-artistic, half-scientific *Body Worlds* exhibit
opens in Tokyo, Japan, showcasing real corpses in various degrees of
discombobulation and positioning. It’s pretty gross, and hugely popular
during its round-the-world tour.

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On this day, two fabulously wealthy and popular ladies die in two utterly
spectacular automobile accidents. Firstly, in*1927*, dancer *Isadora Duncan*'s
scarf gets caught in her car wheel, breaking her neck and nearly
decapitating her. Second, in *1982*, *Princess Grace Kelly* drives off a
cliff in Monaco. And yet, despite all this carnage, America's love-affair
with the horseless carriage continues unabated.
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