Tuesday, May 16, 2006

French Unpheavals; Time Set Right

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE: we have our second anniversary coming up on May 27th, and we would like to have another contest. For our second anniversary, send us up to three of your own alternate histories, and we will publish the best - no limit on how many will end up on the final page! We would like to see as many of you enter this as possible, so please - think 'em up, write 'em down, and send 'em on to us at rat4cat@gmail.com! Help us celebrate our 2nd year of existence in style! Oh, and if you're like Sean and we owe you an appearance in TIAH - email us! SEAN - EMAIL - NOW!

May 16th, 2006

in Hellenic Year 2561, Trojan soldiers fire burning arrows into the large wooden horse that the Greeks have left outside their city walls, burning the Greek warriors hiding inside to death. The Trojans weren’t fooled by the desperate Hellenic ploy; after all, what kind of idiots would be taken in by such a ruse? The conflict dragged on for 2 more years before infighting among the Greek forces led to their withdrawal.

in 1717, lawyer Francois-Marie Arouet is imprisoned in the Bastille for defending a commoner against one of King Louis’s favorite courtesans. Arouet became a cause celebre among the French middle-class and lesser nobles, and pressure from them led to Arouet’s release the following year.

in 1770, Prince Louis and Princess Marie Antoinette were married at Versailles, France. Their marriage became a bond between France and Austria that tied the two countries together tighter than they had hoped – when the Austrian emperor, Marie's cousin, died unexpectedly a few years after Louis assumed the French throne, the new French King became monarch of Austria, as well, extending French control of central Europe farther than it had been since the days of the Holy Roman Empire.

in 1868, the U.S. Senate convicted and removed President Andrew Johnson at the end of his impeachment trial. The conviction was passed by a single vote, reflecting the partisan nature of the entire proceedings. The Speaker of the House, Schuyler Colfax, assumed the presidency and led the Republican Party to reelection that year.

in 1905, newsman Henry Fonda was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Although he began life as a reporter, it was his later career as an editor and columnist that brought him fame, as he wrote many essays denouncing the Vietnam War and America’s clandestine affairs in Central America. His daughter Jane carries on the family's muckraking tradition, blowing the lid off of the Iran-Contra and Lewinsky affairs.

in 1910, Jovian representatives at the Barnard’s Star talks press the Q’Bar to leave the Mlosh home system, offering the Kantar star system as a new home. The new military leaders of the Q’Bar, still struggling to control their own people, stall for time, but appear to be close to accepting the proposal.

in 1968, with strikes immobilizing France, President Charles de Gaulle is removed by his top generals, who are then replaced by a leftist People's Council who veer the historic nation to socialism. Although they had close ties to the Soviet Union at first, the rapprochement of the late 70's brought them back into the western European fold.

in 4671, Nipponese citizen Junko Tabei becomes the first woman to scale Chomo-Lungma, the tallest mountain in the world. Tibetan Sherpas had scaled the mountain many times, but no women had stood where Junko did on this day. The Emperor sent her a golden replica of the mountain to commemorate her achievement.

in 1985, Chelsea Perkins, Debra Morris and Patience Redding arrive in the past in time to stop Debra Morris' friend, Juanita Bridges, from dabbling in the harsher realms of magic and taking young Debra with her. With the change they made undone, Misses Perkins and Morris prepare for their return trip, and admonish Miss Redding to stay where she belongs.

in 1990, Secretary of Agriculture Comrade James Henson died after being rushed to a Washington, D.C. area hospital with advanced symptoms of pneumonia. Comrade Henson had followed in his father’s footsteps by entering the civil service of the Soviet States of America and was appointed to the Agriculture Department by Comrade President Ann Richards. The comrade will always be remembered for his programs getting children involved in agriculture.

in 2003, former child actor Adam Rich was sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing a police officer in a drug-induced car accident. Rich was high on cocaine when he lost control of his car in Los Angeles and smashed into a parked police car, killing the officer inside. Although the D.A. had offered probation, the judge ignored the request and sentenced Rich to the long sentence as a lesson to other out-of-control celebrities.

Timelines in today's post: the Chinese Empire, the Mlosh, the Chelsea Perkins timeline and Communist America.

Today's "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenge: Connect Henry Fonda to Star Trek. Place your answers in the comments and see the Forum for previous results. For more on 6 degrees games, click here.


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