GMT

February 20

1725 New Hampshire militiamen partake in the first recorded scalping of Indians by whites in North America.

1792 The U.S. Postal Service is created.

1864 Confederate troops defeat a Union army sent to bring Florida into the union at the Battle of Olustee, Fla.

1906 Russian troops seize large portions of Mongolia.

1942 Lt. Edward O'Hare downs five out of nine Japanese bombers that are attacking the carrier Lexington.

1943 German troops of the Afrika Korps break through the Kasserine Pass, defeating U.S. forces.

1962 Mercury astronaut John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the Earth.

1968 North Vietnamese army chief in Hue orders all looters to be shot on sight.

1971 Young people protest having to cut their long hair in Athens, Greece.


Born on February 20

1927 Sidney Poitier, American actor, first African American male to win an Oscar (Lillies of the Field).


JOTD

Sex with ghosts

A professor at Wayne State University in Detroit was giving a lecture on Paranormal Studies. To get a feel for his audience, he asks, "How many people here believe in ghosts?"
About 90 students raise their hands.
"Well, that's a good start. Out of those who believe in ghosts, do any of you think you have seen a ghost?"
About 40 students raise their hands.
"That's really good. I'm really glad you take this seriously. Has anyone here ever talked to a ghost?"
About 15 students raise their hand.
"Has anyone here ever touched a ghost?"
Three students raise their hands.
"That's fantastic. Now let me ask you one question further...Have any of you ever made love to a ghost?"
Way in the back, Hamid raises his hand.
The professor takes off his glasses and says, "Son, all the years I've been giving this lecture, no one has ever claimed to have made love to a ghost You've got to come up here and tell us about your experience."
The Middle Eastern student replied with a nod and a grin, and began to make his way up to the podium. When he reached the front of the room, the professor asks, "So, Hamad, tell us what it's like to have sex with a ghost?"
Hamad replied, "shite, from way back there I thought you said Goats."