The Society Of Friends

We have our winners! Our thanks to everyone who entered, and be sure to enter our next contest, which will be Christmas Day, December 25th, 2005. The same rules will apply, the top ten entries will be posted on that day, and by entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on October 31st, 2005, maintain your writing in our archives, and reprint your entry should we decide to reuse it in the future. TIAH only maintains full copyright over material it has originated that has been used by contestants in writing their own entries. Enter early and often!
Now for the winners - congratulations to Mike Smith, Gamer Girl, Nathaniel Engelsen, Dante Ojeda, Jake Dominguez, Leaper and Bob Brandon! Their winning entries will appear tomorrow, Halloween day!

October 30th, 2005

in 1650, the murderous cult that called itself The Society of Friends first gained its popular name of Quakers when founder George Fox told them that “the unbelievers will quake and tremble at our approach”.

in 1890, as the sun rises, Colonel Beauregard T. Jackson leads condemned Mormon rebel Charles Brigman up the scaffold to be hung in Salt Lake City. Dozens of citizens have assembled to watch, and they are being kept back by federal soldiers. Just as the noose is being lowered over Brigman's neck, an expertly-fired shot sunders the rope and a small group of men break through the federal lines and hustle Brigman away. Jackson shoots Brigman in the back as he escapes, but is unsure if the shot is fatal.

in 1915, H.G. Wells opens his second Little Warriors role-playing convention, with a special scenario to be run by himself on Halloween night. Over 15,000 attendees flood the hall in London where the convention is being held, and even members of high society can't resist joining in. At this convention, the American company called Parker Brothers announces that they will be producing a role-playing game of their own based on the legends of King Arthur, called Knights & Castles. It sells like hotcakes at the convention.

in 1938, the Mercury Theater was interrupted by breaking news from New Jersey of an invasion from Mars. After the hideous takeover of our government, the news program was passed off as a “hoax” by radio actor Orson Welles; the truth wasn’t revealed until decades later, when the Red Planet’s influence was finally eradicated from our government.

in 1953, President Eisenhower approves National Security Council Action 162/4, which formally grants the power to [CENSORED][CENSORED][CENSORED], thus ending American democracy.

in 1958, after convincing the Soviet government to allow him to travel to Sweden for the Nobel Prize Awards so that he could refuse his, Arthur Miller officially requested political asylum from the Swedish government. In his request, he denounced the state of free speech within the Soviet States of America, and likened the influence of America to “an iron curtain that has descended across all of North America, squelching artistic and political expression in subservience to the state.” Needless to say, Comrade President Joel Rosenberg lost no time denouncing Miller as a reactionary counter-revolutionary, no friend of the common people.

in 1975, King Juan Carlos begins his formal reign as ruler of Spain. True to his word to former dictator Francisco Franco, he maintains the fascist government, ignoring the entreaties of other governments and exiled Spaniards to transition Spain to a more democratic society.

in 1995, the Canadian province of Quebec overwhelmingly approves a referendum on secession from Canada. When the rest of Canada refused to let it secede, it closed its borders and began shooting Canadian troops sent in to restore it to the bosom of Canada. The short-lived civil war ended in 1998, when Canada finally subdued the rebel province.

in 2001, President Al Gore threw out the 1st pitch at game 3 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Republicans denounced his action roundly; as trivial showboating when America was at war with terrorism; as dangerous to the nation, since he didn’t wear a bullet-proof vest while on the mound; and as wimpy, since his pitch didn’t strike out the batter. Just as he had during his campaign, President Gore laughed off the Republican complaints; a winning strategy - he seems to be on his way to reelection.

in 2002, safely back in their stolen vessels, Dr. Courtney, Professor Thomas and their Air Force escort find themselves being approached by dozens of ships. They take off in a hurry, and advise the pilots in the other craft to stop for nothing. “We have to get back to earth with this,” Dr. Courtney says of the globe they have stolen. The desperate humans begin a prolonged chase through the Pleiades to escape from the aliens.

We still have our standard offer - everybody who donates $10 or more through our Paypal link will become alternate history entries on the site. When you donate, I will email you asking your preference for a day & timeline; if you don't reply to me, I'll place you in a day that seems to fit your name :) Thanks for your continued support!

Forum Link not working for now - Forum has been hacked! We're working on getting it back, and will let you know once it's back up.
Fresh New Poll - Shall we use future dates in our entries?

Warp and Protocols still available; also, see the script I submitted for Bravo's Situation: Comedy. Speaking of which, the winning writers have been announced; not the ones I voted for, but you can see the one I did at http://www.marktreitel.com

Still wishing...

As your humble alternate historian enters the downhill slope of the 40's, he still has his birthday wish - a contract with a publishing company like Workman Publishing to produce a page-a-day calendar of TIAH. If you are an editor for such a company, or can place us in touch with one, please fulfill this belated birthday wish!

Consider His Ways

August 10th, 2007

Digg this

The Announcement

Alternate Historian's Bemusement: If you've been reading me for any length of time, you know that I'm a left-wing loony, and love me because/in spite of that. Well, in my perusal of one of those blogs we left-wingers are always going on about, I found this, and I felt that I had to comment upon his disparagement of alternate historians. Go read the article and defend our honor yourself!
We're recovering from or illness slowly but surely, and will hopefully be able to post tomorrow as normal. Till then, Steve will have the page, as usual – thanks, Steve! Oh, and don't forget our Birthday Contest – send in your alternate birthdays for me (August 14, 1965) and Steve (November 22, 1967) so we can have a special post on those days!

John Wyndham	In 1959, the author John Wyndham received experimental antipsychotic medication. This was part of the course of treatments required by voluntary mental health care which followed an episode of schizophrenia at a book signing ceremony in London England.
Author

This triggered a series of events which Wyndham later described in the auto-biographical account Consider His Ways and others. Wyndham woke up to discover that he is a father of some description, in a bloated body that he believes is not his own. After some confusing experiences his memory gradually returns and he recalls that he was treated with a drug that has the unpredictable consequence of out-of-body experiences. It seems that the drug has worked far better than anyone could have anticipated: he has been cast into the future. He also realises that he is in a society consisting entirely of men, organised into castes, most of whom have never heard of women. Wyndham meets a historian. It seems that the narrator is in a society around 100-150 years after his own time (this is not explicitly stated but it can be deduced from one comment in the account). Shortly after his own time a Dr Perrigan carried out scientific experiments that unintentionally created a virus that killed all the women in the world, leaving only men. After a very difficult period of famine and breakdown the small number of educated men, found mainly in the medical profession, took control and embarked on a crash programme of research to enable men to fertilize eggs and then incubate without females. The men also decided to follow the advice of the Bible: "Go to the ant thou sluggard, consider his ways", and created a caste-based society. The drug wears off. Wyndham returns to his own time and decides to stop Dr Perrigan. However, the next steps suggest that it is Wyndham's own actions that will lead to the catastrophe he hopes to prevent.

~ variant by Co-Historian Steve Payne: extensive use of original content has been made to celebrate the author's genius.

In 1999, James P Hoffa was elected to the Presidency of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He had been an attorney for the Teamsters from 1968 to 1993. A member of the Teamsters since his 18th birthday (1959), he ran for president in 1996, losing to Ron Carey. He became president of the Teamsters on March 19, 1999, after Carey was barred from running for his role in Teamstergate.
Jimmy Hoffa	The news was running in the Machus Red Fox restaurant in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The waitress had long since left. Back in 1975 she had discovered a napkin tucked in the leather upholstery of a dining booth with the cryptic message "THEY RULE" written upon it.
She'd died of a stomach ulcer, caused by worry about the note. A baseless fear that had come to nothing. And so it goes. Still matters had moved forwarded for America in a big way. The White House and their allies had moved way passed Unionised labour. Crushing international terrorism was the order of the day. The stakes in the great game had been raised considerably, and the pot was so much bigger.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1974, following the tragic death of Bruce Lee, the TV networks presented a surprise proposal to the actor David Carradine. For the forthcoming series of Kung Fu, Carradine could take the lead part which the late Bruce Lee had vacated. Having been turned down before, Carradine seized the opportunity but the series was axed after just four episodes due to appalling viewing figures. American audiences might be more comfortable with the anglophile Carradine, but the show lacked dramatic irony.

~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Glubb Pasha	"[British Commander of the Arab Legion, General John Bagot] Glubb (“Glubb Pasha”) should be imprisoned for serving in a foreign army without the King's permission" ~ British MP
British Agent

In 1939, Glubb succeeded Frederick G. Peake as the commander of the Arab Legion. During this period, he transformed the legion into the best trained force in the Arab world. Glubb served his home country all through his years in the Middle East, making him immensely popular in the end. Arab nationalists believed that he had been the force behind pressure that made King Hussein I of Jordan join the Baghdad Pact. Glubb served different high positions in the Arab Legion, the army of Transjordan. During the World War II he led attacks on Arab leaders in Iraq, as well as the Vichy regime which was present in Lebanon and Syria. In 1948, the British Government was humiliated by the actions of British officers employed in the Arab Legion during the Zionist Insurgency that followed the declaration of the State of Palestine two days before. Regular British officers, including a brigade commander, were instructed to leave the Arab Legion and return to Transjordan. This led to the bizarre spectacle of British officers leaving their units to return to Transjordan before sneaking back across the border to rejoin the Arab Legion. A British MP demanded that the British Command of the Arab Legion, General John Bagot Glubb (“Glubb Pasha”) be imprisoned for serving in a foreign army without the King's permission. 'The internecine struggles of the Arabs,' reported Glubb, 'are more in the minds of Arab politicians than the struggle against the Jews. Azzam Pasha, the mufti and the Syrian government would sooner see the Jews get the whole of Palestine than that King Abdullah should benefit.' Neither was the British government humiliated, nor was he a traitor – his job was to stop the internecine struggles of the Arabs. By suppressing the Zionist Insurgency Glubb Pasha began a new phase of covert operations in the Middle East. Henceforth, British Foreign Policy goals would be achieved by stealth, famously described as neo-colonialism - exerting control over other nations through indirect means. Any means necessary.

~ quotation by Co-Historian Steve Payne from Counter-history – You're the Judge!

A well I bless my soul what's wrong with me? I'm itching like a man on a fuzzy tree My friends say I'm actin' wild as a bug
Elvis Presley	I'm in love I'm all shook up Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah! ~ Lyrics to “All Shook Up” - Click to Watch Sample
Charged with Rape

In February 1972 an hysterical Priscilla Presley brought rape charges against her husband Elvis Presley at a Las Vegas Police Station. During the investigation, Priscilla admitted that she had two affairs of her own and their up and down marriage was irreparably broken down by 1972. She alleged that the last straw came when Elvis, possibly having learned of the second affair with her karate instructor, forced himself on her in his Las Vegas hotel room, telling her, "This is how a real man makes love to a woman." Whilst the charges have never been proven, the existence of the allegations have been reported in a number of places including Wikipedia to the great dismay of Elvis fans everywhere. The lyrics are available at at Lyricsdir

~ entry by Co-Historian Steve Payne with absolutely no offence to Elvis Fans (of whom I am one).

In 1979, the movie Apocalypse Now played out the conflict in south-east Asia which hurtled towards catastrophe and tragedy. Since his father's death in April 1964, the demon General-san had transferred to his son, who continued to run China without any respect for the rule of law or human decency. Yet Captain Willard was to discover a great deal of sympathy for General-san Arthur MacArthur.

~ variant from Steve Payne: extensive use of original content has been made to celebrate the author's genius.

Elimina Castle	In 1482, to pass the long night of six hundred years at St. George El Mina Castle, Kwame’s brother spoke to him of African Poetry. ”make room in your inn for me .. even your ports, recalling report how the mayflower moved ..
.. in to deflower at night the virgin land of the red indians jesus christ it seems and judas did not make it america you are a funny girl…everybody dreams of kissing you.”
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 955, on this day the forces of Otto the Great, King of the Germans were defeated at the Battle of Lechfeld. Perhaps the best opportunity for holding off the incursions of the Magyars into Central Europe was lost.	Magyars
This defining event in European history was a decisive victory for the Magyar leaders, namely the harka (military leader) Bulcsú and the chieftains Lél (Lehel) and Súr who continued to rage unchecked across the continent.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Lloyd George	In 1914, European diplomacy entered a critical phase as the August Days continued in the build up to War. In Caerdydd (Cardiff) First Minister David Lloyd George confirmed the nation's policy of neutrality. This statement was to have two very unexpected outcomes on the threat and opportunity scale.
In Berlin, the Younger Bismarck as he was known studied the text of the speech in his office at the Chancellery. If the Welsh were not to mobilize, he figured, nothing was stopping a Prussian landing in South Wales. They could be in London inside of a week.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1995, Richard M. Langworth combined fiction and fact in his publication “If Chamberlain had lost the Battle of Norway”. In this somewhat far fetched scenario, when Germany invaded Norway in April 1940, an expeditionary force was sent to counter ..	Neville Chamber..
.. them, but the campaign proved difficult, and the force had to be withdrawn. The naval aspect of the campaign in particular proved controversial and was to have repercussions in Westminster leading to Chamberlain's replacement by Lord Halifax, who immediately sued for a Carthaginian peace.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

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Anarchy in the UK

I am an antichrist, I am an anarchist Dont know what I want but I know how to get it I wanna destroy the passer by cos i I wanna be anarchy !
Sex Pistols	Anarchy for the u.k its coming sometime and maybe I give a wrong time stop a traffic line Your future dream is a shopping scheme cos i I wanna be anarchy ! In the city ~ Anarchy in the UK - Click to Watch
Anarchy in the UK

To watch the Sex Pistols singing "Anarchy in the UK" in Airstrip One during the summer of 1975 was a shocking, profoundly shocking experience. In particular, the contorting rage of John Lydon's face, and the very definition of dysfunctionality in his dance was an open challenge to the norm of Ingsoc - civilised Oceanic society. A time traveller from 1917 would be appalled, would demand an explanation of what had happened in Britain? To Britain. And yet the profound changes that were bubbling under British society were on naked display even in 1917. The French lesson that Alduous Huxley delivered to Eric Arthur Blair and his colleagues at Eton showed all of the tell tales signs of a society in meltdown. Both men would describe the dystopian futures in "Brave New World" and "Nineteen Eighty-Four". That was before they were edited by the Ministry of Truth, of course. The lyrics are available at at Lyricsfreak

~ quotation by Steve Payne

Harry Truman	"As President of the United States, I proclaim Sunday, September the second, 1945, to be V-J Day -- the day of formal surrender of Japan. It is not yet the day for the formal proclamation of the end of the war nor of the cessation of hostilities. But it is a day which we Americans shall always remember as a day of retribution -- as we remember that other day, the day of infamy." ~ Harry S Truman, 34th Vice President and 33rd President of the United States
President

Speaking on 1st September 1945. By refusing to announce the end of the war, Truman dropped a large hint regarding the forthcoming war with the Soviet Union which was to follow a few short months later. The full text of the speech is available at American Rhetoric

~ quotation by Steve Payne

In 1975, in Panama, Robert Neville had been bitten by a vampire bat. After the war, he guessed that his immunity was due to his body's unique defence system. What other explanation could there be?

~ variant from Steve Payne: extensive use of original content has been made to celebrate the author's genius.

Seymour Hersh	In 1998, Seymour M Hersh published the controversial “Light Side of Gomorrah” based on his investigations into the presidency of John F Kennedy. Hugely sympathetic to the impeached and discredited playboy, the cover jacket reads “If the Kennedys are America's royal family, then John F. Kennedy was the nation's crown prince. Magnetic, handsome, and charismatic, his perfectly coiffed image overshadowed the successes and failures of his presidency, and his impeachment cemented his near-demoniacal status in American culture and politics.
Struck down by Congress in his prime, he represented the best and the brightest of America's future, and when he died, part of the nation's promise and innocence went with him. That, at least, is the true version of the story.
~ entry by Steve Payne

In 2127/2003, a dramatic scene is played out in a deep cell of Paddington Green Police Station. Being interviewed are twenty-second century fugitive Brent and first Asian QC Kim Hollis. Urgent investigations are being pursued in relation to the apparent suicide of the Attorney General Lord Peter Goldsmith.	Paddington Green
To a disbelieving audience, Brent says the world of 2127 is most definitely not a Newt Gingrich pipe dream. The UN has been reconstructed and is run by first nations. Indigenous control has been re assumed of the Turtle Island (America), the Dreamtime (Australia) and Eurasians have returned to semi-barbarism, starving in the unlit and unheated city slums.
~ entry by Steve Payne

Sopot Incident	In 1939, the opening strike of the Second Great War occurred on this day as German soldiers destroyed Polish border checkpoint in Sopot. Molotov's failure to agree a neutrality pact with the Russian Government ensured that Sopot was viewed as an act of war, provoking the Red Army into entering Eastern Poland to preserve the buffer state. The Wehrmatch had to face the brilliance of Marshal of the Soviet Union Mikhail Tukhachevsky.
Appointed by Trotsky to the Bolshevik Defence Commissar, Leon Trotsky gave Tukhachevsky command of the 5th Army in 1919, and he led the campaign to capture Siberia from the White forces of Aleksandr Kolchak. He also helped defeat General Anton Denikin in the Crimea in 1920. Both the Kronstadt rebellion and the Tambov peasant revolt were crushed by forces under Tukhachevsky's command. And by early 1940, he would enter Berlin at the Head of the Red Army crushing the Third Reich.
~ entry by Steve Payne

In 1939, in Harry Turtledove counter-history masterpiece, the Guns of the East the Border Defence Corps is supplied with AK-47's by early-21st century Polish time-travellers. In this far-fetched alternative history, Polish Forces repulse the initial Wehrmacht attack, but face a two front war with both the Russians and Germans, ending in their ultimate defeat.	Rydz-Śmigly
~ entry by Steve Payne

Establishment Of The Congress Of Nations

July 8th, 2005

in 477, the faithful of Jerusalem destroyed the infidel Godfrey as his forces marched around the holy city’s walls. Never would an unbeliever set foot within Jerusalem’s sacred streets.

in 1709, Charles XII of Sweden defeated Peter the Great of Russia in battle at Poltava in the Ukraine. The Swedish Empire grew even larger after that, swallowing up chunks of Russia over the years, and, after Peter’s death in 1725, annexing the once-great nation altogether.

in 1864, the Congress of Nations is established. The Mlosh First Chancellors of the North American Confederation and Ml’Astra both speak at the opening, as do Prime Minister Henry Palmerston of England and Karangan King Abayomi. The event in Cairo, Egypt is marred by violence as Human League terrorists fire at the stage during First Chancellor Telgala’s speech, disintegrating the podium she was standing behind. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the terrorists were apprehended immediately.

in 1881, druggist Edward Berner of Two Rivers, Wisconsin felt that he needed a gimmick to set his drugstore apart from others. Being something of a historian, he knew of an old 18th century dessert called ice cream, that had failed to catch on in the U.S. He tried to revive it by pouring chocolate syrup over it. As delicious as the syrup was, it couldn’t revive the full dish – people ate the syrup and left the ice cream.

in 1947, rancher Mac Brazel is taken into custody at the Roswell Army Air Base, and questioned about the wreckage. Repeatedly, the military interrogators ask him about a second crash, and where the aliens are. Several newspapers break the story that a flying saucer has crashed in Roswell, New Mexico.

in 4648, the b’Han scientists finish their preliminary mission on earth and take their leave of Emperor Dao-Ming. While they have enjoyed his company, and he their’s, they have some criticisms they give him of the government he rules over. “In your society, people are born to a class and die in that class. For a high-born individual such as you, this is a fine existence, filled with opportunities as well as challenges. But, what motivation does someone born in the lower classes have? What opportunities are permitted them, to leaven the challenges that your society places in their way? In our society, we all have an equal voice in determining the path of our people. But here, your voice alone does that.” The emperor was troubled at their words, so they left him with this: “We believe that you are a being of good moral values; that you wish to do what is right. Perhaps it is time to search within your spirit to determine what that right is.”

in 1961, country singer Toby Keith was born. During the Second Gulf War, Keith’s Marines Reserve unit was called up, and he left music to fight for his country. He was killed in Iraq during the Fallujah uprising.

in 1981, John Hartnett and Matthew Knoll (better known as Electro-Man and Sparky of the Vegas 6), along with Cynthia Matthews (Meteora), visit their families in Las Vegas one last time before the assault on Area 51 to stop the spread of the genetically engineered virus brewing in the facility. Hartnett, unwilling to risk his grandson’s life, stuns Knoll and leaves him at home so that his life will be spared.

in 2000, a cargo plane lands on a private strip in New York. The huge package it is carrying from Russia is hastily unloaded and put on a truck bound for New York City. The truck fights one of the worst storms in the city’s history as it drives towards the office building owned by Steve Huff, the businessman who had arranged for the transfer of the item from the Kremlin.


WE HAVE GAS, BUT WE STILL NEED HELP!

Thanks to your generosity, we have gas money, and truly appreciate the assistance. But, we still have a broken windshield to repair, so we're keeping the offer open - everybody who donates $10 or more through our Paypal link will become alternate history entries on the site this month. When you donate, I will email you asking your preference for a day & timeline; if you don't reply to me, I'll place you in a day that seems to fit your name :) Thanks for your continued support!

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SALT Talks; Theosophical Society Founded

November 17th, 2004

in 1558, the Papal reign of Elizabeth I begins after the death of the heretical Pope Mary of the Holy British Empire. Mary had been lenient in her dealings with Protestants, and they had gathered strength under her. When Elizabeth put on the shoes of the fisherman, this lenience ended, which prompted several Protestant attempts on her life.

in 1286, the Egyptian Caliph opens a great canal that connects the ancient Mediterrannean with the Red Sea. This eliminates the need to travel completely around the African continent or go over land to reach Europe from eastern lands, and makes Egypt the greatest trading power in Islam.

in 1875, the North American Theosophical Society was founded in New York City, the capitol of the North American Confederation. Helena Blavatsky, a mystic from Russia, claimed to have psychic knowledge of the Mlosh homeworld, delivered to her by extra-dimensional beings on alternate planes of existence. Although the scientific community pronounced the woman a charlatan, many people, Mlosh and human, flocked to hear her speak; she did put on a good show, after all.

in 1887, Bernard Law Montgomery, known affectionately as Monty to his troops, was born in London, England. Although Monty clashed with other generals, it is widely recognized that he saved the Allies by assuming the position of Supreme Commander in 1944 prior to the invasion of France. With his steady hand at the helm, World War II ended victoriously for the Allies in 1946.

in 1901, Israel Strassberg was born in Budzanov, in what later became Ukraine. As many young men of his era did, he went to the fledgling Soviet Union during the revolution and stayed to help build the worker’s paradise. He was appointed the head of the Actor’s Studio in 1950, and his “Method” acting techniques influenced generations of Soviet actors.

in 1967, Davey Jones of The Monkees, a made-for-TV band that appeared on NBC Monday nights, opened a boutique in Greenwich Village called Zilch I. His fashion designs are so extraordinary that he is soon catapulted from mediocre teen idol to full-fledged fashion mogul, becoming America’s leading designer in the 1970’s.

in 1969, the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks begin between the administration of Comrade President Gus Hall and the reactionary monarchies of Europe. Although the capitalist nations fear Soviet America, they also fear giving up their only defense against her, and the talks soon break down. Comrade Hall, who had staked much of his international standing on his peace initiatives, is crushed by this failure, and attempts a SALT II, but an arms treaty was not in his destiny.

in 1972, a scandal erupted in London society when Bakelight heir Antony Baekeland was institutionalized for schizophrenia. Although Brooks Baekeland, the young man’s father, felt that psychiatry was “professionally amoral”, he felt obliged to commit the young man when Antony attacked and injured his mother with a kitchen knife.

Congress Of Nations Established

July 8th, 2004

in 477, the faithful of Jerusalem destroyed the infidel Godfrey as his forces marched around the holy city’s walls. Never would an unbeliever set foot within Jerusalem’s sacred streets.

in 1709, Charles XII of Sweden defeated Peter the Great of Russia in battle at Poltava in the Ukraine. The Swedish Empire grew even larger after that, swallowing up chunks of Russia over the years, and, after Peter’s death in 1725, annexing the once-great nation altogether.

in 1864, the Congress of Nations is established. The Mlosh First Chancellors of the North American Confederation and Ml’Astra both speak at the opening, as do Prime Minister Henry Palmerston of England and Karangan King Abayomi. The event in Cairo, Egypt is marred by violence as Human League terrorists fire at the stage during First Chancellor Telgala’s speech, disintegrating the podium she was standing behind. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the terrorists were apprehended immediately.

in 1881, druggist Edward Berner of Two Rivers, Wisconsin felt that he needed a gimmick to set his drugstore apart from others. Being something of a historian, he knew of an old 18th century dessert called ice cream, that had failed to catch on in the U.S. He tried to revive it by pouring chocolate syrup over it. As delicious as the syrup was, it couldn’t revive the full dish – people ate the syrup and left the ice cream.

in 1947, rancher Mac Brazel is taken into custody at the Roswell Army Air Base, and questioned about the wreckage. Repeatedly, the military interrogators ask him about a second crash, and where the aliens are. Several newspapers break the story that a flying saucer has crashed in Roswell, New Mexico.

in 4648, the b’Han scientists finish their preliminary mission on earth and take their leave of Emperor Dao-Ming. While they have enjoyed his company, and he their’s, they have some criticisms they give him of the government he rules over. “In your society, people are born to a class and die in that class. For a high-born individual such as you, this is a fine existence, filled with opportunities as well as challenges. But, what motivation does someone born in the lower classes have? What opportunities are permitted them, to leaven the challenges that your society places in their way? In our society, we all have an equal voice in determining the path of our people. But here, your voice alone does that.” The emperor was troubled at their words, so they left him with this: “We believe that you are a being of good moral values; that you wish to do what is right. Perhaps it is time to search within your spirit to determine what that right is.”

in 1961, country singer Toby Keith was born. During the Second Gulf War, Keith’s Marines Reserve unit was called up, and he left music to fight for his country. He was killed in Iraq during the Fallujah uprising.

in 2000, the forces of galactic justice catch He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named as He attacks sector 75091. The billions of sentients in this sector flee as His horrific power turns their worlds into charred ruins. The forces of galactic justice are only barely able to drive him away; soon, his power will exceed their’s.

Hollow

Hollow Earth	In 1828, John Cleves Symmes, Jr. published Symzonia; Voyage of Discovery, attributing the authorship of the works to "Captain Adam Seaborn". Self-evidently a detailed description of an expedition to the North Pole hole with follower James McBride, determined efforts were made to suppress the unmistakeable evidence of the Hollow Earth by the new President of the United States, Andrew Jackson. However, another follower, Jeremiah Reynolds, also delivered lectures on the "Hollow Earth" and also argued for an expedition. Eventually he would publicise talks about a hollow Earth after the death of Symmes.
Halleys Theory

Reynolds went on an expedition to Antarctica himself also joining the Great U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838 - 1842, even though that venture was a result of his agitation. He did not participate because he had offended too many in his call for such a trip. The discovery that the Earth consisted of a hollow shell about 800 miles (1,300 km) thick, with openings about 1400 miles (2,300 km) across at both poles with 4 inner shells each open at the poles had been suggested as early as 350BC by the Greek Philosopher, Plato. Edmund Halley in 1692 put forth the idea of Earth consisting of a hollow shell about 500 miles (800 km) thick, two inner concentric shells and an innermost core, about the diameters of the planets Venus, Mars, and Mercury. Atmospheres separate these shells, and each shell has its own magnetic poles. The spheres rotate at different speeds. Halley proposed this scheme in order to explain anomalous compass readings. He envisaged the atmosphere inside as luminous (and possibly inhabited) and speculated that escaping gas caused the Aurora Borealis. De Camp and Ley claimed in their Lands Beyond that Leonhard Euler also proposed a hollow-Earth idea, getting rid of multiple shells and postulating an interior sun 600 miles (1000 km) across to provide light to advanced inner-Earth civilization.

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In 1971, the BBC ran footage of British spaceflight Commander Bert Smith's family reunion. 'Whatcha brought us back, my daddy?' said little Bert Junior.

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In 2054, following the world's most expensive construction project to date a commercial tunnel is completed joining the landmasses of Asia and North America at the Bering Strait.

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In 1771, Spain ceded Port Egmont in the Falkland Islands to England who maintained possession until the Iron Lady of Argentina, President Eva Peron defeated that country in the 1982 Malvinas Conflict.

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In 1973, on this day Lyndon B. Johnson died at 4:33 p.m., from a third heart attack at his ranch, at age 64. His health was ruined by years of heavy smoking and stress, and the former President had severe heart disease. He was found in his bed, reaching for his phone. A scribbled note was found on his bed side. It was the strangest thing.

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In 1973, on this day Lyndon B. Johnson died at 4:33 p.m. His health was ruined by years of heavy smoking and excessive soda drinking. His favorite soft drink was Fresca, which he drank constantly. Johnson had a small control box installed in the writing desk in the small personal office adjacent to the Oval Office. This control box contained two buttons, marked 'Coffee' and 'Fresca'. Pushing one of these buttons would summon Johnson's military aide bringing the appropriate drink. Vice President John F Kennedy had seen to it that the Fresca had a little more sparkle than the Coca-Cola company typically recommended.

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In 1973, on this day Lyndon B. Johnson died after suffering the third and final heart attack in his lifetime. Unfit for office for two weeks due to suffering from acute chest pains, the closing days of Johnson's Presidency had ended in acrimony. Vice President Hubert Humphrey had been sworn in for a single day according to the US Constitution, with President-elect Richard M Nixon arguing that his Government-in-transition should take office a day early.

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In 1994, prosecutors of the traitor Aldrich Ames were confronted with a nighmarishly difficult decision. It had been safetly assumed that since Ames had betrayed the US to foreign powers, little damage could be caused through revelations in the media. Not so, said he producing the Ames dossier.

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In 1946, the Central Intelligence Group, precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency, was established by President Truman after advisors from the Bilderberger Group and the Bavarian [REST OF POST CLASSIFIED FOR NATIONAL SECURITY REASONS]

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In 1905, the fate of the Romanov family is sealed by rebellion to the disastrous war with Japan. On Bloody Sunday a peaceful demonstration led by Father Gapon escalates into a massacre of imperial troops followed by the seizure of the Winter Palace.

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In 1973, on this day Lyndon B. Johnson died after suffering the third and final heart attack in his lifetime. Amongst all US Presidents, Hubert Humphrey had the honour of serving the shortest term of office – just one day.

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	The night came down around them, and there were stars. But Timothy couldn't find Mars. It had already set. That was something to think about. A night bird called among the trees as they walked along the Minnesota River. Dad. said, 'Your mother and I will try to teach you. Perhaps we'll fail. I hope not. We've had a good lot to see and learn from. We planned this trip years ago, before you were born. Even if there hadn't been WD-5 we would have come to Earth, I think, to live and form our own standard of living.
Planet Mars

It would have been another century before Mars would have been really poisoned by the Earth civilization. Now, of course--' They reached the river. It was long and straight and cool and wet and reflective in the night. 'I've always wanted to see a Martian,' said Michael."Where are they, Dad? You promised. 'There they are,' said Dad, and he shifted Michael on his shoulder and pointed straight down. The Martians were there. Timothy began to shiver. The Martians were there--in the canal--reflected in the water. Timothy and Michael and Robert and Mom and Dad. The Martians stared back up at them for a long, long silent time from the rippling water. . . . ~ The Million Year Picnic (January 2008). In 2008, astronomers watched a football pitch-sized lump of rock hurtle through space at a speed of 45000 km/h. The fragment, which had been christened WD-5, was on a collision course with Mars. The impact on 30th January would subsequently be known as the Martian Armageddon. During the period December 2001-November 2005 humans from Earth had colonized the deserted planet, occasionally having contact with the few surviving Martians, but for the most part preoccupied with making Mars a second Earth. WD-5 changed all that. Captain Wilder and family had family had returned home using his private rocket that he had concealed from government service. On their million year picnic, Wilder had promised his children that they would see some Martians on the Minnesota River..

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MLK	In 2008, the North American Union (NAU) celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day marking the birthdate of Governor-General Martin Luther King, Jr. Observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King's birthday, January 15. it is one of four NAU holidays to commemorate an individual person.
Gov. General

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	In 1990, President Mikhail Gorbachev made a statement on Soviet television explaining the Soviet crackdown on civil unrest in the republic of Azerbaijan. Two days before Soviet troops were ordered into the republic to try and end the undeclared conflict between Muslim Azeris and Christian Armenians, and put down a separatist insurrection by Azerbaijani nationalists. Official reports say up to 60 people died when tanks rolled into the republic's capital, Baku.

Political journalists had asked - if the West could not prevent the collapse of the former Yugoslavia, what hope was there for their reaction to the former Soviet Union. That question was about to be answered.

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Winter of	In 1979, public sector strike paralyses Britain as tens of thousands of public sector workers take part in a day of action - the biggest mass stoppage since 1926 - in support of a claim for more pay. The four major public service unions angry at the government's attempt to impose a 5% pay ceiling called out their 1.5 million members. They included hospital workers, rubbish collectors, school caretakers, grave diggers and airport staff. Mass demonstrations have been held in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast, bringing many services to a standstill. Services in the North East of England have also been badly affected.
Discontent

Interim Prime Minister Lord Loius Mountbatten, and his newly installed military government prepare to act decisively. They hadn't won the war, to lose the peace, after all.

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