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 24th, 2006
in 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus, heretical astronomer, was hunted down by good Christians and burned at the stake. His treatise Six Books Concerning the Revolution of the Heavenly Orbs maintained that the earth was not at the center of the universe, contradicting the Bible and angering the Church fathers of his native Poland.
in 1764, Boston lawyer James Otis decried the British Parliament’s taxation without representation, which he attempted to make a rallying cry for colonial resistance against English rule; the utter lack of support he gathered for this cause demonstrated how little people cared about a few cents in taxes.
in 1775, Bostonian John Hancock was elected president of the Continental Congress by a mere 3 votes, showing how thin support for the rebel cause was. Although Hancock used his time in office to declare the independence of the American colonies, by 1778 he was ousted in favor of the more conciliatory John Jay, who negotiated a peace with the British.
in 1822, the Spanish military defeats revolutionary Simon Bolivar at Pichincha, and captures the legendary Creole himself. While being transported back to Spain, the ship carrying Bolivar is attacked by pirates who swear allegiance to Bolivar. He builds these two ships into a small fleet that liberates many Spanish possessions across the world.
in 1910, the Jovian Mlosh alliance begins negotiating with the Congress of Nations for transport ships to help move the Q’Bar from the Mlosh home system to the Kantar star system. It appears that the Q’Bar will soon be vacating the system that has been their home since the Mlosh created them.
in 1913, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad learned that the U.S. Department of Labor was going to stand firmly on the side of the workers in America as they ended a Railroad Clerks Union strike in favor of the union. Socialist President Woodrow Wilson, in spite of intense lobbying from the owners of several trusts, stands behind his Labor Secretary, and capitalists in America wake up to their new reality.
in 1964, Ed Sullivan played a taped performance of Pete Best on his show “in order to avoid all the screaming girls.” The international superstar played his hit song Love & Money from his upcoming movie All Night Long.
in 1986, the boy band The Monkees finally called it quits on their 20th Anniversary tour. They had lost original members Mike Nesmith in ’74 and Davy Jones in ’79, and Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork were ready to move on to other projects. Their legions of fans were saddened, but after 20 years together, it did seem to be time for them to part.
in 2004, the first Smartnet nodes began operation around the country. Concentrated in college towns and large industrial centers at first, the Smartnet wireless connections to the internet prove so popular that Congress expands the funding for them. President Al Gore basks in the glow of the popular program, and his approval ratings soar.
Timelines in today's post: Canadian Independence, the Mlosh, Communist America, Pete Best and The Smartnet Timeline
Today's "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenge: Connect The Monkees 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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