Wil Wheaton, Oscar Nominee

July 29th, 2004

in 1871, Gregory Efimovich, better known as Rasputin, was born. He rose to power as advisor to the reactionary Czar Nicholas II and his wife. When the communists revolted against the Czar, Rasputin advised allowing Prime Minister Kerensky to withdraw from the Great War, and this quelled the rioting, allowing the Czar to stay in power. Some say that Rasputin was protected by magic; but he died, as every man does, in 1954, in service to Czar Pyotr III.

in 1890, Vincent Van Gogh recovered from a self-inflicted blaster wound to the chest. Fortunately, a hospital had been nearby in Auvers, France, when he did it, and his brother Theo took him there. The Mlosh doctor treated Van Gogh, and then counseled his brother to seek psychiatric assistance for the artist. Thanks to that doctor, Van Gogh recovered from his depression, and painted many great works until his death in 1947.

in 1944, the German Underground, an organization that had been entirely armed and supplied by neo-Nazi time travelers, pushes the Greater Zionist resistance completely out of German territory. Figurehead leader of the Underground, Adolf Hitler, proclaims a New Reich for the new world order, and names himself the grandiose title of Reichsfuehrer.

in 1965, the Pete Best movie Mayday! opens in London, with Queen Elizabeth herself in attendance. It’s another smash triumph for Best’s career.

in 1972, actor Wil Wheaton was born in Burbank, California. Oscar nominee for his role in Valmont, Wheaton was also briefly associated with the Star Trek franchise, appearing in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. Wheaton left the series to pursue a movie career, and became one of the few Trek actors to make the transition from the series to more mainstream work. He and Patrick Stewart later reunited in the blockbuster film X-Men when Wheaton was given the part of Cyclops.

in 1974, Cass Elliot of The Mamas & The Papas has a near-death experience after a heart attack in London. Discovered by a friend, she is rushed to a hospital and given immediate treatment. The experience changes Elliot’s life; she gives up alcohol, slims down somewhat, and starts therapy. Her successful solo career begins after this period, in 1976, with the release of the album Gonna Fly Away.

in 2002, Pope Righteous I orders that a statue of him be placed in every city in the Holy British Empire; these statues are robotic, and networked together so that, when Righteous gives a speech, they all speak at the same time.

in 2003, Martian forces push into human territory past the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. The decision is then made to release Dr. Sheridan’s virus over the Martians. The world holds its breath as Australian Air Force pilot Major Bill Sheffield flies his bomber across the Antarctic plain to drop what he hopes will be the last payload of the war.