This Day in History, May 1st

1751 - The first cricket match is played in the United States.

1834 - The British colonies abolish slavery.

1863 - American Civil War: The Battle of Chancellorsville begins.

1884 - Proclamation of the demand for 8-hour workday in the United States.

1898 - Spanish-American War: The Battle of Manilla Bay - The US Navy destroys the Spanish Pacific fleet in the first battle of the war.

1930 - The dwarf planet Pluto is officially named.

1931 - The Empire State Building is dedicated in New York City.

1941 - Orson Welles's Citizen Kane premiers in New York City. Citizen Kane is listed by the American Film Institute as #1 on the Top 100 list.

1956 - The polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk is made available to the public.

1960 - Cold War: U-2 Crisis (not the band) - Francis Gary Powers, in a Lockheed U-2 Spyplane, is shot down over the Soviet Union, sparking off a diplomatic crisis. It has long been speculated that JFK patsy Lee Harvey Oswald, while working as a dual agent for the CIA and the KGB, gave the Russians military secrets, including the location of Powers' spy plane.

1989 - Disney-MGM studios opens in Orlando, FL.

1991 - Rickey Henderson would steal this 939th base, making him the all-time leader in this category. However, his accomplished would be overshadowed later that evening by Nolan Ryan, who would pitch his 7th career No-Hitter (breaking his own record).

2003 - 2003 Invasion of Iraq: In what would become known as the "MISSON ACCOMPLISHED" speech, Pres. George Bush declares "major combat operations in Iraq have ended" on board the USS War Criminal (Abraham Lincoln) off the coast of California.
Little did we know that major combat operations would still be going on 4 years later. Now, Iran looms in the horizon.

This day in History, April 30th

1492 - Spain gives Christopher Columbus his commission of exploration

1789 - On the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City, George Washington takes the oath of office to become the first elected President of the United States.

1803 - Louisiana Purchase: The United States purchases the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 Million, more than doubling -overnight-the size of the young nation.

1900 - Casey Jones dies in a train wreck in Vaughn, Mississippi, while trying to make up time on the Cannonball Express.

1927 - The Federal Industrial Institute for Women, opens in Alderson, WV, as the first women's federal prison in the United States.

1939 - Franklin D. Roosevelt becomes the first President of the United States to appear on television during the World Fair's opening ceremonies broadcast.

1945 - Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun commit suicide after being married for one day.

1973 - Watergate Scandal: Pres. Nixon announces that top White House aids H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and others have resigned.

1993 - During a tennis match between Monica Seles and Magdalena Maleeva, Gunter Parche plunged a steak knife between Seles's shoulderblades. Seles did not return to competitive tennis for over 2 years.

Verse of the Day, Philippians 4:19

"And My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

Today in History, April 28th

1789 - Mutiny on the HMS Bounty. Capt. William Bligh and 18 sailors set adrift and rebel crew returns to Tahiti briefly and then sets sail for Pitcaim Island.

1930 - First night game in organized baseball history takes place in Independence, KS.

1945 - Benito Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci are executed by firing squad consisting of members of the Italian resistance movement.

1952 - Dwight D. Eisenhower resigns as Supreme Commander of NATO.

1970 - Vietnam War: President Richard Nixon formally authorizes American combat troops to fight communist sanctuaries in Cambodia.

1987 - U.S. Engineer Ben Linder is killed in an ambush by U.S. Funded Contras in northern Nicaragua.

1994 - Former CIA official Aldrich Ames pleads guilty to giving U.S. Secrets to Soviet Union and later Russia.

1996 - Whitewater Scandel: President Bill Clinton gives 4 1/2 Hour videotaped testimony for the defense.

2003 - Apple Computer iTunes Music Store launches, selling 1 million songs in its first week.

Verse of the Day, James 1:26

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

James 1:26

Today in History, April 27th

1667 - John Milton, blind and impoverished, sells the copyright of Paradise Lost for 10 pounds.

1773 - British Parliament passes the Tea Act, designed to save British East India Co. by granting it a monopoly on North American tea trade.

1813 - War of 1812: US Troops capture capital of Ontario, York (present day Toronto, Ontario).
I'm glad we gave it back to them. We don't want that.

1861 - War Criminal Abraham Lincoln suspends writ of habeas corpus, allowing for the unlawful imprisonment of congressmen and other people who oppossed His Tyrannical policies.

1911 - Following resignation and death of William P. Frye, a compromise is reached to rotate the office of President pro-tempore of the U.S. Senate.

1974 - 10,000 people march in Washington DC calling for impeachment of President Nixon.

1981 - Xerox introduces the computer mouse.

2006 - Construction begins on Freedom Towers for new WTC in NYC.

Today is the birthday of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Not that anyone cares, but i thought i'd throw it out there.

This Day in History, April 26

1607 - English colonists of the Jamestown Settlement make landfall at Cape Henry, VA.
I've been to the Cape Henry Lighthouse.

1865 - Union cavalry stormtroopers corner and kill Virginia patriot John Wilkes Booth, the alleged assassin of war criminal President Abraham Lincoln, near the Northern Neck of Virginia. I have always believed that nothing good ever happens in the Northern Neck, aka The Land that Time Forgot. I don't believe there was any real proof that Booth killed Lincoln.

1933 - The Gestapo, the official secret police of Nazi Germany is established.

1967 - NASA's Ranger 4 spacecraft crashes into the Moon.

1986 - In the Ukraine, a nuclear reactor accident occurs at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, creating the world's worst nuclear disaster.

2005 - Syria, under intense international pressure, withdraws the last of its 14,000 troop military garrison in Lebanon, ending the 29 year military occupation of that country.

News of the Day

A majority of the Supreme Court appears to be skeptical of the landmark McCain-Feingold campaign finance law's restrictions on pre-election issue ads that mention a candidate by name.
The law prohibits interest groups from running corporate-funded radio and TV ads that mention a candidate's name within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of a general election. With John Roberts and Alito now on the Court, it seems to me that this may tip the scales in favor of repealing provisions of this awful legislation. All the McCain-Feingold act does is to protect incumbents.

As of 11:33pm, Barry Bonds hit HR # 741. He now has 14 HR to go to break the record.

The Dow passed 13,000 today, setting an all time high.

The House of Representatives today passed legislation 218-200 requiring that US troops start pulling out of Iraq by Oct. 1 of this year. This has set up a showdown with the President, who has threatened to veto any legislation that included a troop-withdrawal timetable. I believe we will see President Bush veto this legislation. If he does, the Democrats do not have enough votes to overturn the veto. Even though i have thought this war was a bad idea, we cannot pull out now. That would just embolden the enemy further.

Verse of the Day, Psalms 146: 1-2

I thought I would put a verse of the day. We all need to get more scripture and maybe this speak to someone in whatever way is needed. The verses are brought to you daily by Heartlight.org and I will post them here on this site.

"Praise the Lord, O My Soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live."

Psalms 146:1-2

Barry Bonds is on a roll

I can't wait for Barry Bonds to break the Home Run record. I know A-Rod is on an incredible tear right now, but no one is talking about the fact that Barry is now 15 HR away from tying Hank Aaron's record of 755. Bud Selig needs to be there when its broken and if Aaron is the ambassador of baseball he claims to be, he'll be there to celebrate too. I know lots of people don't like Barry and think he's on steroids. Maybe he did take steroids, but he has never failed a drug test. Everyone is basing all of the theories on accusations from 2 reporters from the San Francisco Chronicle who may very well have their own agenda.

Bonds is the greatest baseball player of my lifetime. He's one many Gold Glove awards and at near 40 or maybe he's 40 now, he is still destroying the baseball. All without steroids. Steroids don't affect bat speed, or the fact that the walks more than any other player in the game. I hope that pitchers will pitch to him as he gets closer to the record.

I'll keep you posted on his progress.

This Day in History, April 25th

1719 - Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe is published.

1792 - Highwayman Nicolas J. Pelletier becomes first person executed by guillotine.

1847 - The last survivors of the Donner Party come out of the wilderness.

1898 - Spanish American War: The U.S. Declares War on Spain.

1944 - The United Negro College Fund is incorporated, because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Harlem Globe Trotter Meadowlark Lemon and Scent of a Woman's Al Pacino were born on this day in different years. Talia Shire was also born on this day in some random year. She's a horrible actress who's been in 2 of the biggest movie sets of all time: The Godfather Trilogy and the Rocky movies.

This Day in History, April 24th

1184 B.C. - The Greeks enter Troy using the Trojan Horse.

1880 - U.S. Library of Congress established when President John Adams signs legislation to appropriate $5,000 to purchase "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress."

1913 - Skyscraper Woolworth Building in NYC is opened.

1953 - Winston Churchill is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II

1979 - Georgia On My Mind adopted as the official state song of the State of Georgia.

1990 - Hubble Space Telescope launched into outer space by space shuttle Discovery.

Today in History, April 23

1564 - William Shakespeare born at Stratford-on-Avon

1616 - William Shakespeare dies at age 52. How ironic. Same day

1974 - Pan Am World Airlways Boeing 707 crashes in Bali, Indonesia, killing 107

1982 - The Conch Republic in Key West Established

1988 - Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, after spending a record 741 consective weeks (over 14 years) on the Billboard 200, left the charts for the first time ever. Dark Side of the Moon is the 20th biggest selling album in history, while The Wall is the 4th biggest selling album in music history in the U.S.

1990 - Namibia becomes 160th member of the United Nations.

This day in History, April 22

1509- Henry VIII ascends the throne of England after death of his father.

1864- US Congress passes Coinage Act which mandates inscription "IN GOD WE TRUST" be placed on all coins minted as US Currency.

1876 - Boston Red Stockings defeat Philadelphia Athletics 6-5 in first National League baseball game.

1912 - Pravda, the "voice" of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, begins publications in St. Petersburg.

1970 - First Earth Day celebrated. "Woo Hoo. Fantastic"

1975- Barbara Walters sings 5 year $5 Million contract with ABC, making her the highest paid TV newsperson.

1993- Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC dedicated.

2000 - Feds seize 6 year old Elian Gonzales from relative's home in Miami and send him back to his father in Cuba, where he belongs.


Charlotte Rae, Mrs. Garrett, was born this day in 1926.

Today in History, April 21

753 BC - Romulus and Remus founded Rome.

1836 - Texas Revolution: Battle of San Jacinto - Sam Houston, leading Republic of Texas forces, defeats the Mexican forces of Santa Anna. During the Charge, the Texans yelled: "Remember the Alamo".

1918 - WWI: German fighter ace, Manfred von Richthofen, otherwise known as "The Red Baron", was shot down and killed in Vaux sur Somme in France. Some speculate he was killed by Snoopy.

1962 - Seattle's World's Fair opens. Its the first World's Fair in US since WWII.

1975 - Siagon falls to the North Vietnamese.

Despite his 11th and 12th HR's, the Red Sox rally for 5 late in the game to beat the Yankees 7-6.
It took the Nats extra innings again, but they won 6-5.

Today in History, April 20

1653 - Oliver Cromwell dissolves Rump Parliament

1861 - Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the U.S. Army in order to command the forces of state of Virginia

1862 - The first pasteurization test completed by Louis Pasteur & Claude Bernard

1912 - Opening Day for Tiger Stadium in Detroit and Fenway Park in Boston

1978 - Korean Air Flight 902 shot down by Soviets

1979 - Jimmy Carter attacked by Swamp Rabbit

1986 - Michael Jordan sets all time record for points in an NBA game with 63 against the Celtics

1999 - Columbine High School Massacre

Notable Birthdays:

Muhammed (Founder of Islam) - 570

Adolf Hitler (Leader of the Third Reich in Germany) - 1889

Bruce Cabot (American Actor) - 1904

George Takei (Sulu) - 1937

John Paul Stevens (U.S. Supreme Court Justice) - 1920

Luther Vandross (no description necessary) - 1951

Don Mattingly (great Yankee of 1980's and 1990's) - 1961

Carmen Electra (actress, sex symbol) - 1972

This Day in History, April 19th

1587 - Sir Francis Drake sinks the Spanish Fleet in Cadiz harbor.

1775- The first battle of the American Revolution starts, the battle of Lexington and Concord.

1933- FDR announces that the US will abandon the Gold Standard. Our money has been worthless ever since.

1961- Bay of Pigs invasion ends in failure because Kennedy refuses to commit enough resources to finish it.

1987- The Simpsons make their TV debut on the Tracey Ullman Show.

1993- Janet Reno orders the Branch Davidian compound in Waco to be stormed. The seige ends.

1995- The OKC bombing. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City is bombed, killing 168 men, women and children. It is the worse act of terrorism on American soil at that time. 12 years later, we still don't know what really happened, but since Timothy McVeigh is dead, we will never truely know.

2005- Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger is elected Pope Benedict XVI.


I will post more on the OKC bombing at a later date.

More VT News and various other thoughts

Today we learn the the killer at VT sent a package to NBC News in NYC that arrived today. He mailed it at 9:04am, which explains the 2 hour gap from the first shooting in the dorm and the second shooting in Norris Hall. I won't go into all the details, but clearly, his manifesto, video files and audio files were included in the package. After viewing the videos, which are availabe on MSNBC.com, you clearly see what a nutjob this guy was. We continue to learn more everyday about this creep. More to come in the days to follow on this...

Sanjaya was finally sent home from American Idol. I was starting to worry that America would let him win it. I think Melinda will win it all. Its clearly between her and Jordin. The guys suck this year.

I thought the Nats might win another game, but they've blown a 4-1 lead and have taken a 4-4 tie into the 11th inning.

This Day in History, April 18

1775 - 2 Lanterns hung in the Old North Church in Boston to signal the British were coming by Sea. Paul Revere made is famous ride this very night.

1923 - Yankee Stadium - "The House that Ruth Built" opens.

1942- WWII - The Doolittle Raid on Tokyo occurs.

1987- Mike Schmidt joins the 500 HR Club

2007- U.S. Supreme Court upholds the Partial Birth Abortion Act on a 5-4 decision. Justices Kennedy, Alito, Roberts, Scalia and Thomas voted in the affirmative.

VT Shooting

I can't believe what happened at Virginia Tech. I never thought anything like that would ever happen there. I didn't go to Tech, but I consider myself a Hokie. When i was younger, the only school I wanted to go was VT. It was only because my grandfather went there and I thought it would make him proud. After community college, I knew i needed to go to a smaller school, so I went to Liberty University. Even though I never went there, most of my life has been linked to that school. I was brought up to despise UVA and the elitists that went there. Tech was the school anyone could go to. It was closer to where i grew up than UVA. I went to many football games. I remember when it was still called VPI. When a friend told me yesterday that there was a shooting on campus, i didn't believe him at first. He went there, so i figured he must know what he's talking about but i also thought that shootings don't happen at Tech. Well...It did happen. I admit i spent most of the day on Monday watching the news coverage. Fortunately, no one I know attends there now, but I still felt for everyone there.

The media has really tried to pin this on the school and the police force. I feel that they probably did the best they could in this situation. Maybe they should have locked down campus and warned some of the students earlier, but I really don't think they could have done it in time. Nothing like this has ever happened before, so there was no precedent. You really can't plan for crazy people, and it is clear now that this dude was nuts. Cho Seung-Hui, a South Korean born student, killed 33 people yesterday, including himself, in 2 buildings at VT. Everyone who knows me knows I'm a little prejudiced and i was really upset when i found out the killer was Asian, but I shouldn't be mad that he's Asian, i should really be mad that he has no regard for life and is a cold-blooded assassin. What he did was clearly an assassination. I am really trying to be less prejudiced, but sometimes its really hard. I know him being South Korean has no real bearing on this.

Now, the liberals have already tried to push for additional gun control laws, but this killer didn't break any laws. He lawfully purchased all of his handguns by legal means. If he wanted to do this and couldn't legally get the guns, he would have gotten them on the black market, where most criminals get their guns anyway. If students and faculty would have been allowed to have concealed weapons on campus grounds, this lunatic may been taken out before he massacred all those innocent people. More will come out in the days to come about this guy, but in simple terms, he's just a nutjob who blamed everyone for his problems and took the cowardly way out of this situation by killing himself.

My prayers go out to the familes who've lost a loved one, to the students who have had to live through this tragedy and to the entire Tech family. We as Hokies will overcome. It has been incredible the last 2 days to once again see the closeness of this university. Hokie fans are really like family. This campus will overcome and come out of this tragedy. I urge everyone to continue praying for everyone involved in this situation. I used to think that the fear I felt on 9/11, being trapped in DC while the Pennsylvania plane was on its way back to DC, was something so enormous that nothing would be worse. I think those students who were trapped in their classes while this madman slaughtered their classmates and professors and tried to slaughter them have experienced more than I ever did.

President Bush did not do a good job in conforting the nation after this tragedy. He didn't seem like he cared, unlike when President Reagan gave us the conforting after the Challenger Space Shuttle explosion. I remember watching the explosion in school and i remember feeling better that night after the inspiring words of the great communicator. If you'd like to see how a real leader comforts in a time of crisis, please take a look at the entire speech right here...http://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan/speeches/challenger.asp. Reading that speech again and hearing his words make me feel better now. I want to thank all the other schools around the state that have rallied around Tech to support them. That's why I love Virginia. We take care of our own.

To the ones who lost their lives and to those injured, i pray they are in Paradise right now with our Lord. To their families, i'd like to say I know its hard and I can't comprehend how you feel, but know that the Lord will watch over you and carry you through this time.

Long Live Virginia Tech.
Hoki, Hoki, Hoki, Hy.
Techs, Techs, V.P.I. Sola-Rex, Sola-Rah.
Polytechs - Vir-gin-ia.
Rae, Ri, V.P.I.

I'll post more in the coming days, but i had to get this off my chest now.

Don Imus firing and Duke exoneration

I don't know how to respond to the Imus firing. Look, he shouldn't have said "Nappy Headed Ho". He's had a long history of saying stupid things and it finally got him fired. I don't think he should have gotten fired. I think the suspension was warrented, but I don't believe he should have been fired.

There is a double-standard when it comes to speech. I know blacks can say things that whites can't say...I don't think its fair but that's the way it is. What really irks me is how the black radio hosts, like Steve Harvey, basically equated free-speech with race. Last time i checked, free speech wasn't exclusive. I think we have opened up Pandora's Box and now everyone will be watched, including Hip Hop. And yes, it is the same to say the "N" word and use "hoes and bitches" in songs and and also for someone to say them in public. Even though the hip-hop community doesn't think its the same, it is.

What i'm really upset about in this whole mess is that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson once again get to use their terrorist tactics on people and there is no one to call them out on it. All they are is money-grubbing terrorists who have not only gone after whites in America with lies and hate, but have also held the black community hostage for a long time. I would like to know why we call them "reverends." I have never seen them act like Pastors. I don't even think Jesse or Al has seen a Bible in a long time, much less opened one up. I'd like for someone to correct me if I'm wrong on this.

I would also like to say "Its About Time" in the exoneration of Reade Seligman, Collin Finnerty and David Evans in the false rape charges at Duke University. It only took 390 days for these guys to finally be cleared of ALL CHARGES. The witchhunt that was leveled on them was incredible. I have always hated Duke and the elitist attitude that accompanied its students and the school, but from Day 1, i believed these boys were innocent. Mike Nifong, who stood amongst the black community in Durham, trying to get reelected, called these boys thugs and rapists and said he would bring them down. He almost succeeded. When evidence didn't go his way, he withheld it. I have never seen such a rouge prosecutor in my life. Now, he has his own problems. For those of you who have not followed this case and would like to get additional info on this case, please read the columns of Dr. William Anderson at www.lewrockwell.com. His current piece is today, which is an open letter to the 3 guys. you should read it and here it is...http://www.lewrockwell.com/anderson/anderson182.html. I'm waiting for Jesse Jackson to publicly apologize to these 3 boys, as he vilified them many times in the last year. Just as he demanded an apology from Imus, i'm demanding one from him. Those boys will never get one, but in the end, who really cares. At least they can now go on with their lives, exonerated from the heinous charges leveled against them.