Thanksgiving

In 1766, a simple, good-natured fellow, of the name of Rip Van Winkle lived in a little village of great antiquity, founded by some of the Dutch colonists west of the Hudson River in the Catskill Mountains. The Van Winkles had fought gallantly alongside Peter Stuyvesant at the siege of Fort Christina, but Rip himself inherited little of the martial character of his war-like ancestors. For some time this Appalachian region had been a province of Great Britain. On this glorious fall day, it would seem the reign of King George III was untroubled. Still the first trimester of any pregnancy is a matter best keep private by parents of the unborn child, and the birth of a new nation is much the same. They must pray for God’ mercy, and hope against hope, that that theirs is not a violent birth in blood and tears.

.

I found smog at the end of my rainbow, I found my thoughts shift slowly into phase Declared the constitution of the walkway I realise it's time to plan the day I'm a Market Square hero gathering the storms to troop Cause I'm a Market Square hero speeding the beat of the street pulse Are you following me, are you following me? Well suffer my pretty warriors and follow me
Marillion	I am your Antichrist show me allegiance, Are you following me? I am your Antichrist pledge to me defiance, Are you following me? Suffer my pretty warriors, Suffer my fallen child, Are you following me? The time has come to conquer and I'll provide your end We march ~ Marillion 'Market Square Heroes' - Click to Watch Sample
Market Square Heroes

In 2007, fans of Marillion welcomed a new Fish Era following an emotional reprise performance of Market Square Heroes at Fish's concert at the 'Hobbles On The Cobbles' in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire on 26 August 2007. One individual less than happy was the displaced lead singer Steve 'H' Hogarth, who had stepped into a difficult situation when Fish had left the band in the late 80s. Whilst H might not have had the artistic genius of Fish, he certainly was a more photogenic character and dynamic performer. Allegedly, he described his ex-band as Market Square Losers, a loose and unconfirmed statement widely reported by members of the fan club “the Web”. The lyrics are available at at The Webs Pain

Alexander Litvinenko	In 2006, former KGB spy and Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko died in University College Hospital, London becoming the first known victim of lethal polonium-210-induced acute radiation syndrome. Litvinenko had suddenly fell ill and was hospitalised on November 1st. The unsolved death brought a new low to Anglo-Soviet relations. The use of polonium-210 is an alarmingly new escalation in the biological phase of the Cold War going back almost thirty years to the assassination of Georgi Markov by Bulgarian secret police agent Francesco Giullino by means of a ricin pellet fired from in a specially-designed umbrella.
The use of radiaction poisoning was anticipated by an investigation by the Senate Banking Committee in 1994. The Committee determined that the U.S. Department of Commerce had approved, for the purpose of research, the shipping of dual-use biological agents to Iraq during the mid-1980s, including Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), later identified by the Pentagon as a key component of the Iraqi biological warfare program, as well as Clostridium botulinum, Histoplasma capsulatum, Brucella melitensis, and Clostridium perfringens. The Committee report noted that each of these had been "considered by various nations for use in war." Declassified U.S. government documents indicate that the U.S. government had confirmed that Iraq was using chemical weapons (but not biological weapons that the agents being exported could have been used for) "almost daily" during the Iran-Iraq conflict as early as 1983. The chairman of the Senate committee, Don Riegle, said: “The executive branch of our government approved 771 different export licenses for sale of dual-use technology to Iraq. I think it’s a devastating record. We need to ensure that next generation combined nuclear-bio-weapons will we expect to use radiation poisoning”.
~ variant by Steve Payne: extensive use of Margaret Atwood's original material has been used to celebrate the genius of the author

Zapruder Film	In 1963, fifty-eight year old Abraham Zapruder died in Dallas, Texas of repository failure. A change of management was announced at the diseased's offices in the Dal-Tex Building, off Dealey Plaza and directly across the street east of the Texas School Book Depository. The manufacture of women's clothing would resume in early December, after an appropriate period of mourning for President Kennedy. In the meantime, staff were not required for work, however anyone that had seen Mr Zapruder's Bell & Howell movie camera should contact the new manager, Mr Jacob Rubenstein, as a matter of urgency, as the Zapruders were distressed not to have copies of a recent family event.

In 1963, on this day the KGB made a startling discovery. As planned Soviet double Alek had assassinated President Kennedy before he could win the Cold War for America. Alek was impersonating the former US Marine Lee Harvey Oswald after a switch in Minsk during 1959. Yet the picture emerging from the American south-west was incredible; their discrete plot had been hijacked by the CIA with the planting of faked evidence. Oswald had been switched again by the CIA. The KGB quickly activated deep sleeper agent Jacob Rubenstein. The switched “Oswald” must be eliminated by “Ruby” before he confessed to being a Soviet agent. If he did, America could justify a first strike from their vastly larger nuclear armoury, and win the Cold War without Kennedy!	Alek

Cuba	In 1962, United Airlines Flight 297, a Vickers Viscount 745D, almost crashed on a scheduled flight from Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey to Washington, D.C. with 17 people on board. The passengers and crew were taken to a comfort station and offered hot drinks. At the request of Stewardesses Mary Kay Klein and Kaaren G. Brent, Captain Milton J. Balog switched the television on to watch an announcement of the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis. In response to Nazi Germany agreeing to remove its missiles from Cuba, President Adlai Stevenson had agreed to end the quarantine of the Caribbean nation, permitting the Kriegsmarine to approach the island.
From Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, Winston Churchill said that yet another climbdown for the US Government represented a further step forward on the road to world conquest by Nazidom.

In 1963, at Dallas Police Headquarters officers discover that they have in custody a Soviet double named Alek held under the false name of Lee Harvey Oswald The look-alike was a close match for the murdered US marine, apart from missing a scar that resulted from surgery conducted on Oswald years before.	Alek

May Day Battle

The state of TIAH

May 1st, 2007

Digg this

in 1891, Lt. Colonel Theodore Monteith arrives in Nebraska ahead of his troops to meet with Major Mark Wainwright and review possible locations that command of the Kansas siege could be established. Monteith is subdued, especially in comparison with General Anthony Franklin's arrogance, and Major Wainwright is pleasantly surprised by the contrast. For almost the first time since he traveled west, he is beginning to feel optimistic about the mission. General Franklin, meanwhile, arrives by train in Washington, DC, to see a mob that nearly tears him apart before the local police can rescue him. The remorseful general almost wishes that they had succeeded as he goes to face justice at his court-martial.

in 1999, the great May Day battle begins in France and across western-central Europe. Labor leaders, organized by Sir Lance du Lac, (a former French labor leader), turn their union members into soldiers against the Central European Empire. The enemy within its own borders overwhelms the CE Imperial troops and throws the CEE into confusion, giving the British and Commonwealth soldiers the opportunity they need to stab through France and move towards the CEE capitol in Switzerland. The Illuminati's elite, gathered in Bern, express great concern about this development, but Emperor Pierre again assures them, “This is all still within the parameters of our plan. Do not worry, my brethren.”

In 52503, along with 200,000 other “goats”, the snatched passengers out of a DC-10 and a 747 were held in hibernation on the spaceship. The destination was not to be the stars after all. The humans would be sent 100 millions years into the future, to repopulate a healed Earth. The Big Computer reflected on the success of the Millennium mission led by Louise Baltimore. Maybe he'd get better results third time around. Twice in a row it had come to nothing. First with evolution- which had seemed such a sound concept-then with the two of them in the Garden.

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

In 2000, Christian scientist Patricia Vasquez arrived on the Stone. Her secret mission was to use the museum knowledge of the Thistledowners to prevent the Death. Vasquez discovered the Way - a time/space continuum based on her own future work as a theoretical physicist.

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

Senator Millard..	In 1946, on this day began the uniquely American trauma known as the McCarthy Witch Hunt. The catalyst was the Tydings Committee, a subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that was set up to conduct 'a full and complete study and investigation as to whether persons who are disloyal to the United States ..
.. are, or have been, employed by the US Military.' The chairman of the subcommittee, Maryland Senator Millard Tydings, a Democrat, told Wisconsin Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy at the opening of the hearings: 'You are in the position of being the man who occasioned this hearing, and so far as I am concerned in this committee you are going to get one of the most complete investigations ever given in the history of this Republic, so far as my abilities will permit.' Tydings was really not kidding.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1989, in Great Britain on this day began a Royal Commission to plan the 2003 quad-centennial celebration of Stuart rule. Meanwhile, in the real world revolution was in the air. All across Europe the Western Monarchies were about to fight for their very existence.	James I
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Len Deighton	In 1979, Len Deighton published the counter-factual novel SS-KGB which dealt with life in a Nazi-occupied Soviet Union, about one year after the German Army successfully overran Russia. Stalin had been secretly executed by a German firing squad, and the Communist leadership is imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress ..
.. in St Petersburg under special SS guard. America considered the war to be over. The point of divergence was the decision by Hitler in 1941 to approve Operation Barbarossa. Critics described the novel as an interesting piece of escapism, but ludicrous in concept. Why would Hitler choose a dangerous plan like Barbarossa instead of pulling off Operation Sealion as he did in 1941? Deighton shrugged off criticism, it was just a story he said.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1940, the Summer Olympics were moved to the isolationist United States due to war in Europe. Even though few countries made the journey, US President Charles Lindbergh and the America First Committee welcomed the publicity. Every dog has his day.	Charles Lindber..
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Cool stuff - Let us know where you are on Frappr! and We've been Dugg

We have links again! Yay, us. Check them out on the side of the page, and if you have some suggestions, send them to us!

Visit the Co-Historian's store -

Trials

In 1945, in Germany a day before he was due to return to the United States, General George Smith Patton, Jr. narrowly escaped severely injured in a road accident. He and his chief of staff, Major General Hobart R. 'Hap' Gay, were on a day trip to hunt pheasants in the country outside Mannheim. Their 1939 Cadillac Model 75 was driven by PFC Horace Woodring. Patton sat in the back seat, on the right with General Gay on his left, as per custom. At 11:45 near Neckarstadt, (Käfertal), a 2½ ton truck driven by T/5 Robert L. Thompson appeared out of the haze and made a left-hand turn towards a side road. The Cadillac smashed into the truck. Woodring was thrown forward and his head struck a metal part of the partition between the front and back seats. Patton and Gay were uninjured. Paralyzed from the neck down, Woodring died of an embolism on December 21, 1945 at the military hospital in Heidelberg, Germany with his wife present. In a shadowy series of events that have never been properly explained by the military, Patton was subsequently appointed Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe. His former boss Eisenhower resigned in disgrace over an affair with a British Staff Officer, Kay Summersby. Speculation persists to this day that Eisenhower had orchestrated the road accident as a pre-emptive Draft Ike political assassination. The case remains open and the controversy continues.

In 1976, in record stores across North America, copies of the Eagle's “Hotel California” sold out just twenty-four hours after its release by the Eagles, going on to sell over 16 million copies in the United States alone between late 1976 and early 1977. The title song "Hotel California" reached number #1 on US billboards on May 7, 1977. Obviously vocalist Don Henley would not receive a cent from the sales. He and the rest of the band had been on the missing persons list for two months. Ever since they had departed Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico for the second time.

Snake Eyes	In 1965, the famous UFO incident of Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, USA occurred. A large, brilliant fireball was seen by thousands in at least six states and Ontario, Canada. Amongst the casualties of the alien space ship crash was the strange being known as Snake Eyes. Many of the innermost secrets of the Kennedy assassination were buried with him that day in Pennsylvania.

In 2046, Shortly after midnight the world's first child of dual planetary heritage was born at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The human and newcomer couple who had conceived the child were to face an emotional roller-coast. Vital indicators see-sawed all day as surgeons fought to save the one-day old life of Y'Skakir-R. The surgeons had no text book to prepare for the procedure, and had to rely upon combined best practice in human and newcomer birthing methodologies. They were writing the book on ObstETrics.	Cedars-Sinai

Hitler	In 1946, on this day the "Trials of War Criminals before the Nuremberg Military Tribunals" began with the "Doctors' Trial". Prosecuting doctors were charged with a conspiracy to kill the Fuhrer. Aware of his lycanthropy, they had been increasing a supplement of silver since 1941 causing his arm to shake uncontrollably behind his back. The Fuhrer had been deceived over his physical decline, mistakenly believing he had entered the period of languishing.

In 2005, deep sleeper of the government of (censored) seize Richard S. “Kinky” Friedman. However, he convincingly denies any knowledge of Rat saying “If he ain't a Texan, I ain't got time for him."	Kinky

In 1965, this day is famous for the UFO incident of Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, USA. A large, brilliant fireball was seen by thousands in at least six states and Ontario, Canada. In fact Kecksburg was the second and final attempt to land an exploratory mission in North America by the non-proliferation committee for the Congress of Worlds. Both Kecksburg and the earlier mission to Roswell, New Mexico had of course been betrayed by the very member of the committee who had leaked nuclear technology to the US Government in the first place.

.

In 1994, the UN Weapons Inspectors in south-eastern Iraq plot make a sensational discovery. A large arsenal of Scud missiles containing monsterous arachnid eggs are found at the nuclear reactor site at Osirak.

.

In 795, Pedro the Cruel, last of the Christian rulers of Portugal, was born in Lisbon. His harsh actions against those who committed the slightest infraction against his law, coupled with his disregard of the Christian Pope, led to a popular uprising against him, with the support of the Espanish Caliphs.

In 1835, Texican forces suffered a terrible loss in their war for independence when Benjamin Milam was defeated and captured in a battle for the city of San Antonio de Bexar. Santa Ana, ruler of Mexico, had Milam taken under guard to Mexico City. In a daring raid, Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie attacked the convoy carrying Milam and freed him.

In 1958, the counter-revolutionary John Birch Society is founded in Indianapolis by capitalist Robert Welch. Its dedicated goal of bringing about the fall of Communism in the world brings it to the attention of the Justice Department, which launches a four-year struggle to eradicate its criminal membership. Some conspiracy theorists say that Lee Oswald, assassin of Comrade President Joel Rosenberg, was a member of the Dallas chapter of the Society.

In 1917, British General Edmund Allenby moved upwards from Egypt and captured Jerusalem. As the first Christian conqueror of the Holy City since the Crusades, “Bloody Bull” as he was known ordered his troops to enter the city on horse. By refusing to dismount, Allenby caused the local population to be outraged by this lack of respect. This was no oversight on his part, he was imposing British authority and ripping up the Balfour Declaration as a “dead letter”. With Lawrence translating Allenby informed Jewish leaders that Zionist government would not be recognized and the city was to be handed over to Prince Feisal and the Arabs. Lawrence had previously described the “eternal miracle of Jewry”, and after this fateful meeting Lawrence asked his commander for leave and returned to England a broken man. Allenby was promoted to Field Marshal and later served as Britain's High Commissioner in Egypt from 1919 to 1925.

.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center	Watch the 1983 alien birth scene from V ~ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Click Symbol to Play Clip In 2046, on this day a complex medical procedure was initiated at the world-renowned Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Founded in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center had an enviable reputation for providing the finest healthcare available among California hospitals. More than 1,800 physicians in virtually all medical specialities were affiliated with the hospital, Cedars-joining more than 8,000 employees, 2,000 volunteers and 15,000 fund-raising support group members to form a unique partnership in delivering world-class medicine. But would those resources be enough? Shortly before midnight, surgeons prepared to deliver the world's first child of dual planetary heritage. The surgeons had no text book to prepare for the procedure, and had to rely upon combined best practice in human and newcomer birthing methodologies. The event was sure to be a first for ObstETrics.
Los Angeles

.

In 1965, this day is famous for the UFO incident of Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, USA. A large, brilliant fireball was seen by thousands in at least six states and Ontario, Canada. In fact Kecksburg was the second and final attempt to land an exploratory mission in North America by the non-proliferation committee for the Congress of Worlds. Both Kecksburg and the earlier mission to Roswell, New Mexico had of course been betrayed by the very member of the committee who had leaked nuclear technology to the US Government in the first place.

.

In 795, Pedro the Cruel, last of the Christian rulers of Portugal, was born in Lisbon. His harsh actions against those who committed the slightest infraction against his law, coupled with his disregard of the Christian Pope, led to a popular uprising against him, with the support of the Espanish Caliphs.

In 12-10-9-4-2, Incan forces drive off the Yanomami of the eastern jungles. The Yanomami had been raiding them for years, armed and aided by Oueztecan nobles unhappy at the imperial direction Inca had taken in recent years. Since there was no official action from the Oueztecan emperor, the Incans could not declare war against their larger neighbor.

In 1912, Massachusetts Congressman and Speaker of the House Thomas “Tip” O’Neill was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. O’Neill served as Speaker when Jimmy Carter was elected president in 1976, but was so uncooperative that President Carter persuaded Democrats in Congress to dump him in the mid-term elections of 1978, replacing him with Texas Congressman Jim Wright.

A Nice, Quiet Dinner

The state of TIAH

December 17th, 2006

Digg this

Alternate Historian's Note: Stephen Payne provides the alternate history as we begin the second half of our NaNoWriMo novel. We hope you are enjoying this change in format – let us know how you feel about it in comments or by emailing us. This will be the format of TIAH throughout the holiday season, unless we receive a great outcry about it. Speaking of the Holiday Season, keep in mind those who need help year-round and keep yourselves safe and happy, as well. And, should you feel generous inclinations towards our guest historians, you can visit the sites of those who have separate ones from TIAH; generosity towards us here at the Academy is always appreciated, too, and you can find ways to help us out all over the site. Right now, we'd appreciate a lead on a good day job, but my lovely Co-Historian could also use some more memory on her PC, if anyone feels generously inclined. (It's PC133-style – yes, it's an old machine). Any good wishes you have towards us can be emailed here.

in 1862, during the American Civil War, General Ulysses S. Grant issues General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. It was an event that later inspired another anti-Semite, Charles Lindburgh, to challenge for the Presidency in 1940. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1969, the USAF closes Project Blue Book, its study of UFOs, stating that sightings were generated as a result of 'A mild form of mass hysteria, individuals who fabricate such reports to perpetrate a hoax or seek publicity, psychopathological persons, and misidentification of various conventional objects'. In fact, the US Government was confident that the non-proliferation committee for the Congress of Worlds had abandoned attempts to probe the American nuclear program after landings at Roswell, New Mexico and Kecksburg had been intercepted following tip-offs by a traitor inside the Committee... -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 2004, Swift Boat Veterans confront their former colleague President-elect John Forbes Kerry during his pre-inauguration tour of the nation. They fiercely dispute his account of the 1968 events in Cam Ranh Bay leading to the award of a Purple Heart. Already whispers of impeachment over SwiftBoatGate have started. Democrats start to wonder if they would not be better off with the more charismatic Vice President-elect John Edwards. Edwards could not agree more; in fact, he is the agitator behind the rumours. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

After(cont.)
Joan put out plates for dinner as Steph began turning off the burners on the stove. “Georgie, don't forget to put out the silverware,” she reminded her son, and he grabbed the utensils and started placing them next to the plates. Steph pulled some large bowls out and filled them with corn, mashed potatoes, and the chicken-fried steak she had just made.
She was exhausted. It had been a long time since she had cooked like that. The Thanksgiving just before she and Jake split up; that was it. She had cooked for hours, and he had barely acknowledged anything she'd done...
She put that out of her mind. She counted the place settings at the table and hoped there would be enough. She'd added in herself, the kids, Jake and Specialist Bradley, and a couple more, just in case. She placed the large bowls in the center of the big table and told the kids, “Shouldn't be too much longer. Y'all can go watch TV till they get here, if you want.”
They scurried off and checked the regular cable channels. Steph heard the Emergency Lady for a few brief flips through the channels, then a DVD was started up. She sat down at the table and picked up a roll from the pan she had made. She just nibbled at it; she didn't want to spoil her appetite, but she was a little hungry. As she was about halfway through it, she saw lights pull into her driveway. The kids noticed, too, and they hopped up from the TV and ran outside. She went into the living room and turned off the TV before joining them.
Jake was hugging the kids and introducing them to a nice-looking brunette woman. Steph felt a little twinge of jealousy before reminding herself that was ridiculous. She saw that Specialist Bradley was avoiding the little family tableau on the other side of the jeep and walked up to him. “How did it go, Mr. Bradley?”
“It's Kevin,” he said, a small smile lifting the corner of his lip. “It went... well, I think we're gonna tell you about it inside.” He touched her shoulder and leaned in towards her, saying, “I just want you to know, before we start in on all this, that I didn't want them to come here.”
The expression on his face was so serious that it scared her a little. “I'm sure it'll be OK,” she said, uncertainly. He just shook his head.
“The kids say you got a big dinner ready, Steph,” Jake said, bringing the crowd over to them. “You wanna eat?”
“Sure,” she said, turning away from Kevin and walking back up to the house. As Jake, the kids, and the other woman passed, she looked over at Kevin again. He was looking back in the direction they had come from, towards Waco. “You comin', Kevin?” He turned away from Waco, and the look on his face was so sad that it made her want to give him a great big hug. She restrained herself, but as he walked up to her, she touched his arm and whispered, “Whatever it is, you have the strength to handle it.” She gave him a small smile, and Kevin brushed his hand against hers, smiling back.
“Jake sure was a lucky man. I guess he didn't realize that.”
She chuckled. “No, he didn't.” She looked him in the eye a little longer than she meant to. She didn't usually like white boys, but he did have pretty blue eyes – not to mention 3 million dollars. And she always did like a man in uniform...
She shook herself out of it and said, “Well, we better get to the table before they eat everything up.”

Cool stuff - Let us know where you are on Frappr! and We've been Dugg

We have links again! Yay, us. Check them out on the side of the page, and if you have some suggestions, send them to us!

Visit the Co-Historian's store -

Precedents

Alternate Historian says, please email comments to the Alternate Historian on the new story format including the new hyperlinked metadata tags feature.

Richard Bachman	Here's somethin' that you're never gonna forget. B-, b-, b-, baby, you just ain't seen na-, na-, nothin yet." And now I'm feelin better 'cause I found out for sure. She took me to her doctor and she told me of a cure. He said that the only love is good love,So I took what I could get, Yes, I took what I could get. ~ Randy Bachman, You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Click Question mark for movie clip. In 1974, Randy Bachman developed the song while recording BTO's third album, Not Fragile. It began as an instrumental piece inspired by the rhythm guitar of Dave Mason. Randy says "it was basically just an instrumental and I was fooling around... I wrote the lyrics, out of the blue, and stuttered them through."
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet

But when winding up production for their second album, Charlie Fach of Mercury Records said the eight tracks they had lacked the "magic" that would make a hit. Randy mentioned that he had this ninth song, but didn't intend to have it played. Fach asked to hear it, and they played the recording for him. Fach smiled and said "That's the track. It's got a brightness to it. It kind of floats a foot higher than the other songs when you listen to it." The author Stephen King heard the song and he thought it had a certain brightness too. He created a whole alter ego as a result, Richard Bachman. At the beginning of Stephen King's career, the general view among publishers was such that an author was limited to a book every year at the utmost; any more, it was felt, was not acceptable to the public. King therefore wanted to write under another name in order to double his production. The trouble with Significant Others is that when you've created one, there's just no stopping it. And thats what Stephen King was to announce after his 2010 bombshell to 'Constant Reader'. The lyrics are available at at Lyriczz

In 1978, the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations prepared to issue its final report, concluding that The committee believes, on the basis of the evidence available to it, that President John F. Kennedy was probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy. Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King was killed by one rifle shot from James Earl Ray, that "there is a likelihood" that this was the result of a conspiracy, and that no U.S. government agency was part of this conspiracy. The freak road accident which killed General George Smith Patton Jr. was “in all probability” orchestrated by political rival General Dwight David Eisenhower as a pre-emptive strike ahead of a Draft Ike campaign for the '52 Presidential race.

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine publish a list of the greatest of 50 Moments That Changed Rock and Roll. The first item on the list was completely unplanned. Buddy Holly managed to bridge some of the racial divide that punctuated rock, notably winning over an all-black audience when accidentally booked for New York's Apollo Theatre (though, unlike the fictional portrayal in his movie biography, it took several performances for audiences to be convinced of his talents). American Voters said that it was the moment when they knew the world had finally moved on and everything was going to be alright.

In 2026, just before midnight on this day at Martian Central Time the new account ancient_ones_of_tyrr@aol.com was created. Chosen internet access goal was “to grok the fullness” of AOL.

Vonnegut	In 1968, Kurt Vonnegut a fourth generation German American living in easy circumstances on Cape Cod (and smoking too much) was seized by the alient occupants of a flying saucer from the Planet Tralfamadore. And so it goes.
A long time ago, as an American Infantry Scout, Hors de Combat, Vonnegut had witnessed the fire-boming of Dresden, Germany "The Florence of the Elbe" and survived to tell the tale. However the Planet Tralfamadore was not Slaughter-House-Five, and the aliens - shaped like plumber's friends - were not the Germans. This experience would take a great deal longer than twenty-five to put down in writing. And so it goes.

Rutskoy	In 1993, Russian President Boris Yeltsin suspended parliament and scrapped the then-functioning constitution, thus triggering a Russian constitutional crisis. The Congress rejected the decree and voted to remove Yeltsin from presidency through impeachment. His estranged Vice President, Aleksandr Rutskoy, was sworn in in accordance with the existing constitution as Acting President. A Hero of the Soviet Union, Afghan veteran and mujahideen escapee, Rutskoy was the man to reseat the great nation of Russia at the top table, and Western reports of “the end of history” were soon realised to be premature.

In 1940, on this day Operation Sealion proceeded as planned. The invasion and subsequent defeat of Great Britain was made possible by two events. The escape of the French fleet from Mers el-Kerbir boosted the Kriegsmarie to operational capability. And lower than expected losses in personnel and materiel suffered by German paratroopers during the Battle of the Netherlands, in May 1940. Intervention Groups known as Einsatzgruppen followed the invasion force to Great Britain, and were provided with a list known as The Black Book of 2,820 people to be arrested immediately. Today in Free Britain, New Zealand the purge makes it very difficult for us to piece together the catastrophe. Yet soon we will know for ourselves, he is close, so very close now.	Sealion

Teutoburg Fores..	In 9, three Roman legions led by Publius Quinctilius Varus fought an alliance of Germanic tribes led by Arminius, the son of Segimer of the Cherusci at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. At stake was the enlargement of the Roman Empire into Northern Europe, and the size of the armies involved were significant, representing a quarter of the Roman Army's whole European force. The decision was for Rome, which has treated Northern Europe as a satellite region ever since.

In 1979, two RAF Hawker Siddeley Harrier jump-jets from RAF Wittering collided over the UK. Both pilots ejected safely. When they landed, Danish speaking villagers rushed out and wrapped them in Stamford cloth to protect them from the cold.	Hawker Siddeley..

Annus Horribilis

The state of TIAH

May 18th, 2007

Digg this

Alternate Historian's Note: C'mon people! In 9 days, we'll hit TIAH's third anniversary. As before, that calls for a contest! Please send in your alternate versions of the Academy's beginnings (May 27th, 2004 was the date in this timeline). You can even use the fact that we lost the original day and had to restart on the 28th – whatever you can think of to provide a twist to our start. Send 'em in, and we'll print 'em! Be sure to tell us how you want your credit for the post to appear, as well as any links you want to be connected with your entry. Thanks for reading and get researching those alternate timelines! And, just as an addendum – if we don't get any entries, we're going to consider printing some of our more interesting emails...

in 1891, the Kansans are driven from the fort outside of Concordia. Colonel Theodore Monteith walks into the fort to the wild cheers of the men who had been trapped inside. Major Mark Wainwright, nursing a gunshot wound in his shoulder, nonetheless meets the colonel with a smile on his face and a spring in his step. He gives a smart salute to his superior and says, “Sir, I've never been more happy to see my boss.” Colonel Monteith embraces Wainwright and tells him privately, “I heard that you were about to accept their terms. I'm glad I could prevent that from happening, Major.” Wainwright nodded and laughed. “As am I, sir. As am I.”

in 1999, Sir Lance du Lac arrives in Hungary to join the British troops trying to subdue this former bastion of the Central European Empire. His mind, however, is on events back in Great Britain – his affair with Queen Gwen weighs heavily on his mind. He is so overcome with guilt that he joins a push at the front and gets himself captured by the enemy. The Illuminati's elite, hearing of this interesting development, make sure to take control of the prison camp where du Lac is being held. Queen Gwen also hears of this before it becomes known to the British, and she contacts her Illuminati allies with a plan.

In 2032, Commander Albert Raft departs Melbourne Town to travel to Ayers Rock City with the Security Ombudsman for the Australasian Sector of International Security. The Collapse is only one of the changes that Commander Raft witnesses, 20th-century thought has been expunged as well.

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

In 1972, arguments continued between Marvin Gaye and duet singer Diana Ross over her excessive marijuana smoking which he believed endangered wife Tammy Tyrell's unborn child, Marvin Junior. The problem did not get fixed until 1984 when husband Berry Gordy took extreme action; he shot her dead.

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

Montgomery	In 1947, the Tydings Committee summoned a most unexpected witness as the door to the courts open and in walks a Nazi General. Hans Guderian introduced himself as the commander of the XIX Army Corps in the invasion of of France. He personally led the attack that traversed the Ardennes Forest, crossed the Meuse River and broke ..
.. through the French lines at Sedan. Guderian's panzer group led the "race to the sea" that split the Allied armies in two, depriving the British Expeditionary Force and the French armies in Northern France and Belgium of their fuel, food, spare parts and ammunition. Senator McCarthy asked a seemingly innocuous question. Leaving the Committee front bench and walking up to the witness stood no more than three paces from Guderian : how did you know? Immediately General Sir Bernard Montgomery slammed the desk with his fist in a fury and shouted at McCarthy 'Damn you to hell!'.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1989, the King made a public broadcast on British Television: '1989 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis'. I suspect that I am not alone in thinking it so. Indeed, I suspect that there are ..	Picketing
.. very few people or institutions unaffected by these last months of worldwide turmoil and uncertainty. ' The reaction to the speech was mixed. There was a pause as the British people considered carefully their next step. Their master had spoken, but would they roll over?
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Anon Detective	In 1998, he chased down the trail, weak at first then stronger and stronger. Like the best of private detectives, he worked on gut instinct. And his instinct told him he was close, so very close to the huntress now.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1994, Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley in the Dominican Republic. Her father gave her away in the photo opportunity of the millennia	Lisa as a child
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Cool stuff - Let us know where you are on Frappr! and We've been Dugg

We have links again! Yay, us. Check them out on the side of the page, and if you have some suggestions, send them to us!

Visit the Co-Historian's store -