Browsing: June 12

A Brief History On June 12, 2009, incumbent Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was announced the winner of the national election over three challengers, a result hotly disputed by millions of Iranians and protested in many countries around the world. Digging Deeper In the US, the presidential elections of 2000 and 2020 have been hotly debated, but apparently other countries experience the same or similar lack of confidence in election integrity.  In 2024, the Russian presidential election was a romp for incumbent Vladimir Putin, especially after stifling any opposition.  It seems few people in or out of Russia take their elections…

A Brief History This article presents a chronological list of notable events that happened on June 12th.  For each date below, please click on the date to be taken to an article covering that date’s event. Digging Deeper On June 12, 1775, British General Thomas Gage declared martial law in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. On June 12, 1817, Karl Drais of Germany invented a contraption he called the “Laufmaschine,” German for “running machine” as the two wheeled single rider vehicle was powered by the rider scooting his feet along the ground. On June 12, 1939, for the first time production…

A Brief History On June 12, 1981, movie goers were treated to a film of action, adventure, romance, supernatural, and comedy, when Raiders of the Lost Ark was released, the first of the Indiana Jones movie franchise that now includes four complete films and the upcoming The Dial of Destiny, due for release in the US on June 30, 2023. Dr. Jones does not crack the top 20 money making list, but here are a few that do: Digging Deeper The Marvel Cinematic Universe, the most prolific franchise, with 31 films and the highest grossing total yet. Star Wars, boasting…

A Brief History On June 12, 1775, British General Thomas Gage declared martial law in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  Gage offered amnesty and a pardon to all rebels that would lay down their arms, except Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who were deemed traitors that would be hanged if captured.  The American Revolution had already had a de facto beginning by this point, with the Boston Massacre (1770), the burning of the Gaspee in Rhode Island (a British customs schooner, 1772), the Boston Tea Party (1773), and the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.  Fearing an outright…

A Brief History On June 12, 1817, Karl Drais of Germany invented a contraption he called the “Laufmaschine,” German for “running machine” as the two wheeled single rider vehicle was powered by the rider scooting his feet along the ground. Also known as a “draisine” (German) or “draisienne” (French), this earliest form of bicycle later became known broadly as a “velocipede,” a term covering all types of bicycles and other people powered ground vehicles. Drais patented his invention in France in 1818, and the name continued to evolve to become known as “The Dandy Horse.” Digging Deeper The evolution of…