August 26 is the 239th day of the year. There are 127 days remaining until the end of the year.
580 Chinese invent toilet paper
1498 Michelangelo is commissioned to carve the Pieta. Here’s his carving of the "peter" instead.
1873 1st kindergarten public school opens in St. Louis, and surprisingly succeeds despite a teacher named Susan Blow. With the profound emphasis on history in St. Louis Public Schools, Blow Elementary is now more appropriately named Blow Middle School because everyone knows that middle school blows.
1920 The 19th amendment to United States Constitution takes effect, giving women the right to vote.
1929 1st US roller coaster is built as a piece of performance art depicting the state of the US economy
1937 Pumping to build Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay is finished, but the boys are still rarin’ to go.
1955 1st color telecast (NBC) of a tennis match (Davis Cup). It’s basically a black screen with green dots.
1973 University of Texas (Arlington) is 1st accredited school to offer belly dancing–with Title IX, guys get to take the class too
1978 Ultra-liberal Albino Cardinal Luciani is elected to the Papacy as Pope John Paul I. Stay tuned for further developments.
1987 President Ronald Reagan proclaims September 11, 1987 as 9-1-1 Emergency Number Day.
1819 HRH Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince Consort of the United Kingdom who was known to dress to the left, married his cousin, and became known for something else.
1904 Christopher Isherwood, gay English-born US author "Goodbye to Berlin", part of the basis for "Cabaret"
February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. If the ancient Mayans were correct, there are 299 days remaining until the end of time.
1815 Napoleon and 1,200 guys in tight pants leave Elba to start 100-day re-conquest of France
1891 1st buffalo is purchased for Golden Gate Park and made to feel at home
1933 Golden Gate Bridge ground-breaking ceremony held at Crissy Field. The buffalo are nowhere to be found.
1937 Christopher Isherwood (l) and WH Auden's (r) "Ascent of F6" premieres in London. I suspect they know what each other tastes like
1962 U.S. Supreme Court disallows race separation on public transportation. Of course, Mother Rosa has a car by now. Just take the first available seat, sir.
1980 Egypt and Israel establish full diplomatic – and other – relations.
1983 Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album goes to #1 and stays #1 for 37 weeks. Yes, the black man on the cover is Michael Jackson.
1993 2nd tallest building in world, New York City World Trade Center, bombed, 7 die and we don’t go to war with anybody.
1998 Oprah Winfrey beats Texas cattlemen in beef trial. Don’t Mess With Oprah, Texas!
1969 Steve Agee, US actor/plays one of the few gay characters on TV (Sarah Silverman Show)
1971 Max Martin [Martin Sandberg], Swedish music producer/musician/responsible for Brintey Spears, Backstreet Boys, P!nk, and Kelly Clarkson's biggest hits/sexuality unconfirmed
