1777 – Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, is discovered by James Cook. Can anyone tell me why they called it “Christmas Island”? Anyone?

1814 – Treaty of Ghent (end of US-Britain’s War of 1812) signed. The Battle of New Orleans will happen in a month.

1818 – “Silent Night” is composed by Franz Joseph Gruber; It is first sung next day. Muslims riot and several atheists are immediately offended, and the ACLU files suit.

1942 – First powered flight of V-1 buzz bomb, Peenemunde, Germany. This is the grand-daddy of the cruise missile.

1946 – France’s Fourth Republic is founded. This is a good idea since the Germans stomped a hole in the Third Republic as France moved from “fight” to “surrender” and well into “collaborate”. I think France is up to #5 now and the next one will feature sharia law instead of that “Liberte’, Egalite’, Fraternite'” crap… And the quaint custom of beheading will make a resurgence.

1968 – Apollo Program: The AMERICAN crew of Apollo 8 enters into orbit around the Moon, becoming the first humans to do so. They performed 10 lunar orbits and broadcast live TV pictures that became the famous Christmas Eve Broadcast, one of the most watched programs in history.

1973 – District of Columbia Home Rule Act is passed, allowing residents of Washington, D.C. to elect their own local government. This has the same joyous effect on good government as Britain turning Rhodesia into Zimbabwe.