1835 – The Texas Revolution begins with the Battle of Gonzales: Mexican soldiers attempt to disarm the people of Gonzales, Texas, but encounter stiff resistance from a hastily assembled militia. I figure the way things are going, in another ten years it’ll be Mexico again…

1866 – J Osterhoudt patents tin can with key opener.

1924 – The Geneva Protocol is adopted as a means to strengthen the League of Nations. With this one momentous step, peace is spread abroad on the wings of doves. Bloody-handed despots everywhere see the error in their ways and repent, and the world eases into an age of love and harmony. Oh, wait! That DIDN’T happen with the League of Nations. We needed the United Nations to bring worldwide love and harmony. I’m STILL waiting…

1941 – World War II: In Operation Typhoon, Germany begins an all-out offensive against Moscow. These are the same two parties that only two years before had signed a pact NOT to fight each other, meanwhile divying Poland up between them.

1968 – A peaceful student demonstration in Mexico City ends in the Tlatelolco massacre. Dead number in the hundreds. Makes that bunch of smelly hippies singing “Four dead in Ohio” sort of a sad thing…

2002 – The Beltway sniper attacks begin, extending over three weeks. Everybody knows that serial killers are always white guys.