1503 – Disfida di Barletta – famous challenge between 13 Italian and 13 French knights near Barletta. So many good jokes here. The French accused the Italians of cowardice which takes some balls considering the source. The Italians actually won this one leaving France as the only country to lose to Italy in the last millennium. This would prove to be Italy’s last unassisted victory.

1689 – William and Mary are proclaimed co-rulers of England.

1692 – Massacre of Glencoe: About 78 Macdonalds at Glen Coe, Scotland are killed early in the morning for not promptly pledging allegiance to the new king, William of Orange. After he and his wife screw his father-in-law out of the throne? Nice guy that Bill Orange.

1945 – World War II: Royal Air Force bombers are dispatched to Dresden, Germany to attack the city with a massive aerial bombardment. The USAAF (US Army Air Force is what it was called at the time)  picks up the night portion. The military garrisons there are not targeted. Instead, the city center is hit by firebombing. This is largely seen as a payback for Coventry. Estimates vary but credible reports conclude approximately 25,000 (mostly women and children) civilians are killed. American novelist Kurt Vonnegut witnessed the raid as a POW; his novel Slaughterhouse-Five is based on that experience. Not one of our better moments.

1961 – A 500,000-year-old rock is discovered near Olancha, California, US, that appears to anachronistically encase a spark plug. I smell a fraternity prank.

1967 – American researchers discover the Madrid Codices by Leonardo da Vinci in the National Library of Spain. Dan Brown call your agent.

1970 – Black Sabbath, arguably the very first heavy metal album, is released. Thank God!

1981 – A series of sewer explosions destroys more than two miles of streets in Louisville, Kentucky. It seems the Sig Tau brothers were on a road trip.

1990 – German reunification: An agreement is reached on a two-stage plan to reunite Germany. The jury is still out in France, Poland, Holland and Russia on this one.

Happy Birthday:

1950 – Peter Gabriel, English musician (Genesis), composer and humanitarian Big Time!!!

1951 – David Naughton, American actor and singer Werewolf who’s “Makin’ It”

1954 – Donnie Moore, American baseball player who reminds us we are all only one  pitch away from success or failure.

1959 – Gaston Gingras, National Hockey League defenseman, one of the great names in hockey if not great players.

1961 – Henry Rollins, American musician, comedian, and actor

Adios:

2002 – Waylon Jennings, American musician

Holiday:

World Radio Day