Sigh. Yes, I feel like the mosquito being drawn toward the Bug Zapper.

January 6.
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On January 6, 1838, Samuel Morse first successfully tested his new invention, the single wire electric telegraph.
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This feat was a critical step in the “shrinking of the world”, and the first serious improvement in communications systems since someone figured out that carrier pigeons liked to go back to where they had came from.
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The impact of the telegraph was immense. It was particularly noteworthy how valuable it was during the American Civil War when it permitted semi-centralized control over huge military forces over vast distances.
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Morse, a brilliant man, was also full of seeming contradictions. Educated at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Phillips</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Academy</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> and Yale, he was primarily a painter, but his dabbling in science brought him everlasting fame. Although born in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Charlestown</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:State></st1:place> (current home of the USS Constitution), to a preacher, he was also a defender of slavery, considering it to be divinely sanctioned.

Jan 7th

On this day in 1789, America's first presidential election is held. Voters cast ballots to choose state electors; only white men who owned property were allowed to vote. As expected, George Washington won the election and was sworn into office on April 30, 1789.

January 7, 1892
Mine explodes in Oklahoma

A massive mine explosion leaves nearly 100 dead in Krebs, Oklahoma, on this day in 1892. The disaster, the worst mining catastrophe in Oklahoma’s history, was mainly due to the mine owner’s emphasis on profits over safety.

Southeastern Oklahoma was a prime location for mining at the turn of the 19th century. Much of the land belonged to Native Americans and thus was exempt from U.S. federal government laws and regulations. Although the mining company’s indifferent attitude toward safety was well-known, there were more than enough immigrants in the area willing to work in the dangerous conditions at the Krebs mine, where most miners were of Italian and Russian descent.

The Osage Coal & Mining Company’s No. 11 mine was notorious for its poor conditions. This led to a high turnover of workers, and the company routinely hired unskilled labor, providing little in the way of training to get them up to speed. This was true for even the most dangerous jobs, like handling explosives and munitions.

In the early evening of January 7, several hundred workers were mining the No. 11 mine when an inexperienced worker accidentally set off a stash of explosives. Approximately 100 miners were burned or buried in the explosion. Another 150 workers suffered serious injuries. Nearly every household in Krebs was directly affected by the tragedy.

It wasn’t until 2002 that the victims of the Krebs mining disaster were honored by a memorial built at the site of the old mine.

Well done sir. I didn't even see this one among the options. It being as good or better than any that I did see, we'll declare this to be the event of the day. Rep to you.

Merely for interest, the other noteworthy events that were contenders were the January 7, 1999 impeachment of President Clinton, and the January 7, 1558 recapture of Calais by the French. Calais, which had been held by the British for several hundred years (I'm thinking since 1066 but I'll let Donger let us know), was the last bit of French territory to be recovered by them.

Finally, in 1610 Galileo saw four moons of Jupiter, the first non-Moon moons to be observed by a human.

Not quite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porky_Pig

January 8.

Well, one thing I've already learned on this project -- not all days are created equal. On some days I struggle with which item to pick out of a relatively bland list of choices. On other days I have a wealth of truly significant historical events from which to choose.

January 8th is one such day. On this day in 1835, the US debt was zero for the first and last time in American history (I assume the zero debt began today and lasted for sme period of time, and once new debt was incurred we never got back to zero). In 1926 Ibn Saud became King of Hejaz and renames it Saudi Arabia. In 1959 Fidel Castro's revolution is completed in Cuba. And in 1964, President JOhnson announces the "War on Poverty" in America.

But the event of the day occured January 8, 1815. On this date, the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812 took place. A crushing victory for Americans over the British, it was the final major battle of the war (insignificant naval battles occurred for up to 4 months after the technical end of the war). Although this battle took place more than two weeks after the Treaty of Ghent was signed to end the war, it had quite a bit of historical significance.

First, it cemented Andrew Jackson's reputation as a national military hero and launched his political career, which would end with 2 terms in the White House (when among other things he apparently reduced the national debt to zero. :D ). It also helped quell dissent against President Madison, as the war overall was anything but a smashing success. Though the Treaty of Ghent gave the US none of the things it was looking for when it started the war, the victory helped paved the path of Madison's successor, James Monroe, to the White House.

The battle itself was a combination of leadership and brilliance on the part of Andrew Jackson, and true stupidity by the British. The expedition was under the command of the British ADMIRALTY, who chose an absurd route to attack New Orleans, leaving the army in a very bad position. A newly arrived senior British General, who had arrived after service with Wellington in the peninsula campaign and knew his business much better than his predecessor, was absolutely incensed at the British Admiral in charge. Nevertheless, he followed the plan as he thought it too late to change at this point, to his army's undoing and his own death.

The British, with absurd logistical problems and assaulting a well defended position, had over 2,000 casualties (~300 dead) including 3 senior generals. The Americans suffered a mere 71 casualties, with 13 dead.

Nice touch. :thumb:

23:1 kill ratio. That's a disproportionate response. America should be ashamed.

Yes, because as we all know wikipedia is the last word!ROFL I don't know, take it to the history channel.:p

Wikipedia seems to be right a lot more often than it's wrong. On many issues, it's probably at least as accurate as a standard encyclopedia. It's hard for me to imagine that there are many people out there gung ho about spreading misinformation about Porky Pig, but I guess it's possible.

I'd agree with this. I refer to Wiki alot to refresh my memory, and it's rare that they're just flat wrong. Sometimes they have a spin that I disagree with, but usually it's pretty reliable for facts and figures.

I bet it's some Islamic group.

Elvis Presley born on this date. Jan 8th,1935.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley

ah thank you very much /Elvis

On this day in 1835, the United States' national debt was zero (0) for the first, and only, time.

MM
~~:sulk: