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The Aeronautical Society of Great Britan, (Later the Royal Aeronautical Society) was founded on this day in 1866. They presented a great exhibition at the Crystal Palace in London the following year. Not much of it, apparently, was related to Aeronautics. They did give a Gold Medal to Orville & Wilbur Wright in 1909. Didn't seem to have much to do before that. In 1967, Dr. James Beford became the first person to be Cryogenically Preserved at death for intended ressurection. He's still waiting.

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On this date in 630 AD, the Prophet Mohammed leads an army of 10 thousand Muslims to conquer Mecca. On this date in 1879, the terrible Anglo/Zulu war begins. Lots of firsts: in 1879, the very first lottery held on this date. 1878 Milk first delivered in bottles, 1922 first use of Insulin to treat human diabetes, and on 1927, Louis B. Mayer announces his idea of a Motion Picture “Academy.”

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On this date in 49 BC, General Julius Caesar violated a serious Roman Republic Law, bringing his army into Rome's Central territory, a capital offense, and one that inevitably led to the Civil War that brought about the empire. Caesar and his troops Crossed the Rubicon river, and “crossing the Rubicon” remains in our language today. It's Paul Henried's Birthday, he was Victor Laslo, also Donald Fagen of Steely Dan.

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On this date in 1857, the Fort Tejon, California, Earthquake takes place. The earthquake was estimated at a massive 7.9 on the Richter Scale, Comparable to the great San Francisco Earthquake. The temblor, centered near the Fort on now what is known as the Grapevine, causes the roof of the Mission in Ventura to collapse, and is felt as far away as Las Vegas. Only two people were killed. It's Bob Denver's Birthday, better known as Gilligan, but best as Maynard G Krebs.

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Battle Day Saturday: 871 AD Alfred the Great's Saxons repel the invading vikings. 1814, Andrew Jackson wins a decisive victory against the British in New Orleans. Trouble was, the war was already over. The Treaty of Ghent had been signed just before Christmas. Ships carrying this news were still weeks away from the American continent. . 1877, Chief Crazy Horse takes on the Cavalry at Wolf Mountain in Montana.

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On this date in 1904, the Marconi Company announces that the international telegraph distress call will henceforth be the Morse Code for “C-Q-D.” C-Q being the standard call for contact, and adding “D” for distress. Two years later, it's scrapped for the more familiar S-O-S. It's California Dried Plum Digestive Month, and its the end of Diet Resolution Week. Birthdays: Millard Fillmore, Katie Couric and Dustin Diamond who played “Screech” on Saved By The Bell.

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On this date in 1540, King Henry VIII, recently a widower after the death of Jane Seymour, marries Anne of Cleves. It's not a great successful marriage, but the good news is she survives it, unlike most of the others. In 1907, Maria Montessori starts a day care center in Rome for children of the working class. Birthdays: Joan of Arc, John Delorean, Author E.L. Doctorow, Rowan Atkinson,