History Schmistory: June 27. Ka-ching

1967: The first cash machine/ATM begins service in Britain. Locals celebrate by forming an orderly line!
ATM

‘Waiting in line… what the Brits do best!”
“Cash point” by Mat Hyde / CC BY

History Schmistory, June 27: Halt Your Horses!

1652 – New Amsterdam (now NYC) passed the 1st speed limit law in the U.S.A. Probably to prevent all the horse & carriage races that were taking place.

Woah! Slow it down, speed demon!

Ludicrous Latin:Quomodo cogis comas tuas sic videri?

How do you get your hair to do that?

 

IMAGE:www.apetogentleman.com

 

History Schmistory: June 26. Quite a ride for twenty-five cents!

1927: the Cyclone; arguably the father of the modern roller-coaster, opens at Coney Island to much fanfare and vomit.

"Cyclone in Fog," by Missy S / CC BY

“Cyclone in Fog,” by Missy S / CC BY

History Schmistory, June 26: The Cavity Catastrophe

1498 – The toothbrush was invented. Interestingly, people started to tell more secrets.

Hush if you don’t brush!

History Schmistory: June 24. Dance Fever.

1374: The town of Aachen, Germany experiences a massive outbreak of St. John’s Dance, aka the Dancing Plague, a mass psychogenic illness (MPI) of the 14th – 17th centuries that actually caused large groups of people to dance uncontrollably until they passed out.  Many can still be found at a Phish concert near you.

 

History Schmistory: June 25. Custer Bites the Bighorn.

1876: the ill-fated Battle of Little Bighorn culminates in the death of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer. Gary Larson said it best:

History Schmistory, June 25: There’s Hope for a Magical Pope!

253 – St. Lucius I began his reign as Catholic Pope. This was before he fell in love with the dark arts & started working for Voldem…I mean, You-Know-Who!

What do you mean I can’t bring my wand to church?

 

Would not want an overdue book from here

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History Schmistory, June 24: Dance Dance Revolution!

1374 – A sudden outbreak of St. John’s Dance caused people in the streets of Aachen, Germany, to experience hallucinations and begin to jump and twitch uncontrollably until they collapse from exhaustion.This phenomena, know as “Dancing Mania” spread throughout Europe over the next few decades.

And still continues to effect “victims” all over the world today…

 

 

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