Football War

On today’s date July 21, 1969, The Football War ended with a cease fire between Honduras and El Salvador. Also known as the 100 Hour War, it coincided with a riot during a qualifying round of the 1970 FIFA World Cup. The war was a result of tensions between the two neighboring countries and a precursor to civil war in El Salvador a decade later.

Holocaust

On today’s date July 22, 1942, the first Jews were deported from the Warsaw Ghetto, beginning the Holocaust. Over six million Jews and an additional five to 11 million Poles, Soviets, political enemies and homosexuals were murdered by the Nazi regime. This dark period in history was as much a crime of omission as it was one of commission.

Ice Cream Cone

On today’s date July 23, 1904, Charles E. Menches invented the ice cream cone. Many other vendors at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair made the same claim. It sure beats eating it out of your hand.

Pine Tar Incident

On today’s date in 1983, at Yankee Stadium, George Brett homered off of Goose Gossage in the top of the ninth. Yankee’s manager Billy Martin protested the amount of pine tar Brett had used on his bat. The umpires nullified the homer which allowed the Yankees to win the game. After the Royals protested, the game was replayed, resulting in a Royals win. Brett later quipped that had it not been for The Pine Tar Incident, he would only be known for hemorrhoids.

On July 30 1975, Union leader Jimmy Hoffa disappeared. Hoffa was last seen in the parking lot of a restaurant in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. Many believe his disappearance was due to his involvement with the Mafia. The mystery has never been solved. Hoffa’s son James Hoffa Jr. currently is President of the Teamsters Union, the same post his father once held.

July 31 is National Parents Day.

(Give 'em a call.)

On today’s date August 3, 1900, The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was founded. Founder Harvey Firestone used his relationship with Henry Ford to grow his business. The two men along with Thomas Edison formed “ The Millionaires Club” and often vacationed together. Represented above is a giant Uniroyal tire along I-94 in southeast Michigan. Although, completely unrelated to Firestone, its a very impressive piece.

Transatlantic Cable

On today’s date August 5, 1858, the first transatlantic telegraph cable was completed by American entrepeneur Cyrus West Field after repeated attempts.

Hiroshima

On today’s date in August 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped “Little Boy,” the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The bomb and the after effects of radiation caused 90,000 to 140,000 casualties. A second bomb “Fat Man,” dropped three days later on Nagasaki, Japan forced the Japanese to surrender and ended World War Two.

On today’s date in 1890, convicted murderer William Kemmler, was the first person executed through the use of an electric chair. The first electrocution failed and Kemmler was given a second jolt. In all the execution lasted eight minutes.

Whiskey Rebellion

On today’s date in 1794, President George Washington declared martial law to quell The Whiskey Rebellion. The rebellion was due to a tax on whiskey that penalized small farmers more than large whiskey producers, which included Washington. A militia of nearly 13,000 men was assembled to march on the rebels. This was the first time that the young nation used military force against its citizens. Perhaps self interest in politics is part of our national heritage.

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence - it is force."

–George Washington