1512 – The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, is exhibited to the public for the first time.

On this day in (approx.) 823 B.C., the most inventive, charming and clever people ever to grace God's green earth came up with yet another ingenious idea. They were, of course, the Irish (at this time A/K/A the Celts). Being bright they did not labor upon the obvious. So they let somebody else invent fire, the wheel, iron, astronomy, writing, calendars, etc. These they figured they could copy - - and boy did they. These clever folks....well.....they tended to save their strength for what was really important.
By this stratagem, even 1000 years earlier, while pagan types were grappling with such mediocrity as pyramids, irrigation and geometry, the Celts had learned to distill grain. This miracle medicinal cure (which would maintain mankind for over 3000 years) they called Usquebah. The amazed and very indebted rest of the world mistranslated the name as "whiskey".
So for a millennia these wise and whiskey-witty folk enjoyed good health and good fellowship. Then as this particular day approached (circa 823 B.C.), gender problems arose. The women began expecting the men to hang out close to the cave as the evening came earlier each fall. If civilization were to progress, this would never do!
So the Celtic elders came up with the second great invention. They called it "Samhain" or end of summer. They explained to the women that as the season changed, ghosts, goblins and evil spirits came forth to threaten all humans. In order to protect the women and children, the men folk selflessly would have to put on old clothes, take some jugs of the magic Usquebah (possible snake bite you know) and go into the hills and light fires.
For nearly 1500 years the tradition held. Then came the good St. Patrick who was wise enough to keep the Usquebah but drove out the snakes.
Conveniently, his Christian teaching did say that November 1st was the Feast of All Saints (or "All Hallows"). So it only seemed logical that if the saints were coming out, the devils would have one last fling. So, snakes or not, we would still need those reliable old clothes, bonfires and protective booze on the eve of "All Hallows" or Hallow's Evening or Halloween.

2011 – The global population of humans reached seven billion. This day is now recognized by the United Nations as Seven Billion Day.

2000 – Soyuz TM-31 launches, carrying the first resident crew to the International Space Station. The ISS has been crewed continuously since then.

 Red_Dragon wrote: 
aliens invasion from outer space?

in comparison that would be reassuring today...

1938 – Orson Welles broadcasts his radio play of H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds, causing anxiety in some of the audience in the United States.

 funkyalfonso wrote: 
12th thread down

 oldfart48 wrote: 

The only reference I've seen so far. So long Lou and thanks.

1886 – In New York Harbor, President Grover Cleveland dedicates the Statue of Liberty.

1636 – A vote of the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony establishes the first college in what would become the United States, today known as Harvard University.

1538 – The first university in the New World, the Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino, is established.

lou reed dead at 71, 10/ 27,/13

 Red_Dragon wrote: 

Just back scrolled and saw this. 

My BIL Eric, who just passed on this exact anniversary (Oct. 18), was given credit during a eulogy by a TI coworker for arguing at many board meetings for the wisdom to reserve the domain name ti.com for this upstart thing called the Internet.

rip, Eric ... 

1904: the first underground New York City Subway line opens; the system becomes the biggest in United States, and one of the biggest in world

1682: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is founded

1921: the Chicago Theatre opens

1825: the Erie Canal opens

 Red_Dragon wrote: 
and 9 volt battery sales sky-rocketed