1795 – Belgium is conquered by France. Little-known fact: in archaic French, “belgium” translates as “doormat”. Even more oddly, over the years it has crept into German language as “gateway to Paris”.

1811 – The first steamboat to sail the Mississippi River arrives in New Orléans, Louisiana.

1880 – John Philip Sousa becomes leader of the United States Marine Band. I love Sousa marches.

1880 – First electric lamp factory opened by Thomas Edison. These are rapidly going the way of buggy whip factories.

1908 – Ford puts the Model T car on the market at a price of US$825. By the 1920’s, the price drops to $260.

1928 – The Soviet Union introduces its First Five-Year Plan. Millions died as Stalin and his central planners broke a few eggs to make the perfect omelet that was the Soviet Union.

1947 – The North American F-86 Sabre flies for the first time. In three years it would be shooting the best of North Korea and the Soviet Union from the skies.

1949 – The People’s Republic of China is declared by Mao Zedong. When you see “People’s Republic” in a country’s name, you can be sure people are getting solidly screwed.

1960 – Nigeria gains independence from the United Kingdom. Freed from the control of the white interlopers, it goes on to become a beacon of fairness and freedom in Africa…

1962 – First broadcast of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. I have fond memories as a teen watching the Johnny Carson monologue with Dad before he left for the graveyard shift at the plant.

1971 – Walt Disney World opens near Orlando, Florida, United States. Centrifugal Bumblepuppy for the masses.

1982 – Sony launches the first consumer compact disc player (model CDP-101).

1985 – The Israeli Air Force bombs Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) headquarters in Tunis.