1795 the French National Assembly adopted the meter as its standard unit of measure. It’s important to understand that units of measure are political. Since the ninth century all continental measurements were variations of Charlemagne’s system which was just an appropriation of Roman weights and measures. But since measurements are critical to taxation kings are wont to change them. Enter the French Revolution. Radical politicians got a hankering not only to transform the country’s political system but also to revolutionize the way humans lived with each other. Hence the phenomenon for decimalization. The French even adopted 10-hour watches and a 10-day week. As Napoleon conquered the metric system spread in popularity. To date only the United States Liberia and Burma have not adopted the metric system. We’re clearly in good company.
1862 the Battle of Shiloh ended in Union victory in the American Civil War. Surprisingly unrelated to the cute beagle of the same name the Battle of Shiloh was the bloodiest battle in American history up until that point. The casualties at this battle in southwestern Tennessee were greater than those of all other U.S. victories up until this point. The scary part is that there would be eight larger bloodier battles in the war before it was all over. The battle was fought over the communication and railroad center of Corinth in northeastern Mississippi. Generals Grant and Sherman secured victory at Shiloh allowing the Union to eventually move through Mississippi and take Vicksburg. This therefore led to them taking control of the Mississippi River splitting the Confederate forces in twain. Texas would once again be all on its own.
1891 American business man and circus promoter P.T. Barnum died. Barnum was many things before he opened his famous circus. He ran freak shows and museums entertained presidents and royalty and even held public office. Despite his exploitation of the deformed and abnormal Barnum was an ardent proponent of emancipation. And despite his shameless business tactics he was a philanthropist who supported Tufts University. The appreciative school made Jumbo the Elephant their mascot in honor of Barnum. When he finally did found “The Greatest Show on Earth he purchased his own train to transport the acts. Pepperdine junior and convocation intern Michelle Barnum is a descendant of the great entertainer; but, unfortunately, she is not interested in continuing the family business. So, you won’t see trapeze swinging and sword swallowing at Wednesday morning chapel anytime soon.
1954, Hong Kong martial artist Jackie Chan was born. Chan got his start in Hong Kong cinema and was an extra in Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon.” He eventually emerged from Lee’s shadow and out-grossed him with 1980’s “The Young Master.” He broke into Hollywood with 1995’s “Rumble in the Bronx.” Chan performs nearly all of his own stunts; he holds the Guinness World Record for “Most Stunts by a Living Actor.” As such no insurance company will underwrite his productions. He don’t want no trouble but just because his character doesn’t understand English doesn’t mean he can’t beat you senseless. The bar fight in “Rush Hour” confirmed that for me. Also Chris Tucker’s hilarious which is why it’s a shame “Rush Hour 3” was so terrible. You can’t blame that on either of them though.
1963 Joseph Tito was declared president for life of the socialist republic of Yugoslavia. Not to be confused with Tito Jackson of the Jackson 5 Joseph Tito was a unifying if authoritarian figure in Yugoslavia — not a guitarist and older brother of the King of Pop. In 1948 Tito stood up to Stalin and declared Yugoslavia independent from Soviet influence. From then on he forged his country’s own neutral path in the Cold War with Egypt and India. Himself a Croatian Tito held together the six Yugoslav republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia Macedonia Montenegro Serbia and Slovenia. A decade after his death in 1992 all these republics splintered along ethnic and religious lines into their own nations. Two years earlier Michael Marlon Jermaine Randy Jackie and Tito broke up also along ethnic and religious lines.
1999 the United States won the banana war against the European Union. Contrary to popular belief no mankeys [sic] were harmed in this conflict. Evidently the EU was acting like colonial Europe of old by trading preferentially with its former colonies in Africa the Pacific and the Caribbean. Never having been a fan of colonies — unless of course you’re talking about Guam Puerto Rico Cuba the Philippines or Hawaii — the United States wanted Europe to buy bananas from Latin America where it had business interests. The World Trade Organization ruled in favor of the United States allowing the Land of Free Trade to impose sanctions on European imports. Overnight it became twice as expensive to buy French handbags and German coffeemakers in America. Bad news for all the fashionable insomniacs in the States.