August 24, 1992. Hurricane Andrew!

Today in 1992, the 150+ mph winds of Hurricane Andrew devastated Homestead, Florida. I remember it well. We were living in West Kendall and our street was blocked and our roof was damaged. Watching the video below and hearing the sound of the winds still puts my stomach into knots.

Hurricane Andrew

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But do not feel bad if you lived thru Andrew. August 24th is a notoriously

bad day in history for disasters:

• Aug. 24th 79 AD, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (up to 20,000 dead).
• Aug. 24th, 410 AD, the sack of Rome by the Visigoths.
• Aug. 24th, 1572, The St. Bartholomew's massacre of French Calvinist Huguenots (30,000 dead estimated).
• Aug. 24th, 1814, The British captured the White House and burned it.

Now, I feel much better about Andrew!

Hurricane Andrew (High Quality) - Miami-Dade County, Florida 

Genghis Khan died on or about this day in 1227

Genghis Khan, warrior, conqueror, and founder of the Mongol Empire, died on or about this day in 1227.

Genghis Khan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The BBC series on Genghis Khan is excellent and quite interesting.

So, what do you think about Genghis Khan? When we hear people list the greatest military geniuses of history, they are almost always Western or European ... Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, Robert E. Lee, George Patton, Rommel.

What about Genghis Khan? In a few years, he conquered an area far greater than the greatest extent of the Roman Empire. The Mongol Empire lasted for several centuries and controlled the Silk Road. Why do we not think of him as the greatest military genius of history? Is it Eurocentric bias? I would love to hear your opinion.

On August 15, 1057, King Macbeth of Scotland was killed ...

On August 15, 1057, King Macbeth of Scotland was killed by Malcolm Canmore whose father Macbeth had slain in 1040.

Macbeth, King of Scotland

On August 15, 1947, India and Pakistan became independent nations after two centuries of British rule.

The New York Times, August 15, 1947 -

Gandhi (6/8) Movie CLIP - "It Is Time You Left"

"Yes,  I expect in the end you will walk out."

Gandhi (8/8) Movie CLIP - "A Way Out of Hell"

"Raise him as a Muslim"

Doc Holiday born on August 14

Doc Holiday vs. Johnny Ringo



Wyatt Earp meets Doc Holiday

Today in 1935, Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law ....

Today in 1935, Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law .... listen to his speech on Youtube.

Social Security (Official Website) photos



Social Security Act (1935)

Today in 1521, Hernán Cortés and his army.conquered Tenochtitalan.

On this day in 1521, the Aztec capital Tenochtitalan fell to Hernán Cortés and his Spanish/Indian army.

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Wikipedia:

Fall of Tenochtitlan

Battle of Pharsalus happened today 2061 years ago ...

Julius Caesar decisively defeated Pompey the Great at the Battle of Pharsalus in central Greece on August 9, 48 BC.

 Battle of Pharsalus

Today in 1929 the Graf Zeppelin left Lakehurst, New Jersey ...

On this day in 1929 the Graf Zeppelin left Lakehurst, New Jersey, on the first round-the-world trip by an airship ..

CRUISE AND AIRSHIP HISTORY

THE GRAF ZEPPLIN IN RIO DE JANEIRO - 1930

Today in 1945 Truman signed the U.N. Charter.

On this day in 1945, the United States joined the new United Nations when President Truman signed the U.N. Charter.
National Archives: Our Presidents

United Nations Charter

The Signing of the U.N. Charter (Youtube)

U.N. Charter

Today in 1945, the Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima

At 8:16 a.m. (local time) on August 6 1945, a B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.

Wikipedia: Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Hiroshima Nuclear (atomic) Bomb - USA attack on Japan (1945)

152 years ago, the widely loathed federal income tax was born

Aug. 5, 1861: Needing cash to finance the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Revenue Act — imposing the first federal income tax. Lincoln and Congress agreed that all incomes over $800 would be taxed at a 3 percent rate. Lincoln knew that taxes would be unpopular. But he recognized that America needed to pay for its wars.

Politico - Aug. 5, 1861

August 2, 1930. Einstein wrote to FDR warning him about Germany and the atomic bomb

On August 2, 1039, Einstein signed a letter to FDR warning him of the possibility of Germany developing an atomic bomb. RIGHT: Roosevelt's letter of response.


Wikipedia:

Einstein–Szilárd letter