1256 – Hulagu Khan captures and destroys the Hashshashin stronghold at Alamut in present-day Iran as part of the Mongol offensive on Islamic southwest Asia. That bunch is where we get our word “assassin”.

1791 – The United States Bill of Rights becomes law when ratified by the Virginia legislature. On the same date the first US law school is established at University of Pennsylvania to find loopholes in that Bill of Rights thing.

1891 – James Naismith introduces the first version of basketball, with thirteen rules, a peach basket nailed to either end of his school’s gymnasium, and two teams of nine players.

1939 – Gone with the Wind received its première at Loew’s Grand Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!

1944 – Bandleader, Major Glenn Miller, lost over English Channel. This was back when the entertainment industry actually supported America instead of trying to tear it down.

1945 – Occupation of Japan: General Douglas MacArthur orders that Shinto be abolished as state religion of Japan. Back when the winner made the rules. Today he’d be considered hopelessly intolerant of diversity.

1978 – President Jimmy Carter announces that the United States will recognize the People’s Republic of China and cutoff all relations with Taiwan. Dhimmi Carter never met a dictator he didn’t like…

1979 – World Court in Hague rules Iran should release all US hostages. Iran listens. Doesn’t do anything, though. Why should they? We’re talking the dying days of the administration of a doofus president.