A Brief History On September 16, 2007, Americans and Iraqis found out just how dangerous it is when nations hire private “security,” basically mercenaries, during time of armed conflict. Agents of Blackwater Worldwide, a paramilitary “security” firm employed by the US in Iraq gunned down 17 Iraqi citizens, an event called “Nisour Square massacre.” Digging Deeper The incident brought international shame on the US, and only after seven years were the perpetrators tried, one convicted of murder and three of manslaughter. After finally saving some moral high ground with the convictions, in 2020 President Trump pardoned all four mercenaries! The…
Browsing: September
Read More
A Brief History On September 15, 1440, Gilles de Rais, a knight, baron, and lord of France that had been a military leader for the French during the Hundred Years’ War that had fought alongside French saint, Joan of Arc, was arrested by Catholic Church authorities for the suspected crime of being a serial killer of children. Digging Deeper Baron de Rais had earned the criticism of his family by squandering his inheritance on an extravagant lifestyle. He continued to irritate authorities by assaulting a church official and seizing a castle, resulting in his arrest. Charged with heresy and sodomy,…
A Brief History On September 14, 1999, three tiny countries were admitted to the United Nations, Kiribati, Nauru, and Tonga. The UN currently has 193 members. Digging Deeper Of these Pacific Island countries, Kiribati has 121,000 residents, most of whom live on the atoll of Tarawa, an island infamous from its World War II battle. With an area of only 313 square miles, Kiribati ranks 172nd in area of world countries and 192nd in population Nauru is the baby of the trio, with an area of only 8.1 square miles and a population of under 11,000, ranking 193rd and 227th…
A Brief History On September 13, 1899, New Yorker Henry Bliss, age 69, stepped off a trolley car near Central Park and was promptly struck by an electric automobile, a taxicab in fact, leading to the death of Bliss the following day. Bliss became the first pedestrian traffic fatality in the United States, and of course, the first person killed by an electric automobile. Digging Deeper The driver of the cab was acquitted of manslaughter in court. An odd connection to this tragedy is the stepdaughter of Bliss was later tried and acquitted for the murder of Bliss’s ex-wife by…
A Brief History On September 12, 1984, New York Mets pitcher Dwight “Doc” Gooden broke the 30 year old record by Cleveland Indian pitcher Herb Score for strikeouts by a rookie pitcher with 276 whiffs, besting Score by 30. Digging Deeper Of course, the 1984 season was 162 games long, whereas the 1954 season was only 154 games. Controversy over single season records over the longer season hit the front pages in 1961 when Roger Maris topped Babe Ruth’s cherished 60 homers in a season record. Other factors to consider when tabulating individual or team records include the statistics compiled…