GMT

February 21

1775 As troubles with Great Britain increase, colonists in Massachusetts vote to buy military equipment for 15,000 men.

1828 The first issue of the Cherokee Phoenix is printed, both in English and in the newly invented Cherokee alphabet.

1862 The Texas Rangers win a Confederate victory in the Battle of Val Verde, New Mexico.

1878 The world's first telephone book is issued by the New Haven Connecticut Telephone Company containing the names of its 50 subscribers.

1885 The Washington Monument is dedicated in Washington, D.C.

1916 The Battle of Verdun begins with an unprecedented German artillery barrage of the French lines.

1940 The Germans begin construction of a concentration camp at Auschwitz.

1974 A report claims that the use of defoliants by the U.S. has scarred Vietnam for a century.


Born on February 21

1927 Erma Bombeck, author and humorist (The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank).


JOTD

A suicide bomber blew himself up and appeared before Allah.
He said, "Oh, Allah, I did your bidding, but I have a request. Since I'm only 18 and spent all my time in terrorist training school, I never was with a woman. So, instead of 72 virgins, who also won't know what to do sexually, can I have 72 prostitutes?"
Allah regarded him for a moment, then replied, "Actually, 72 virgins are here in heaven because bastards like you murdered them before they could experience the pleasure of sex. So you're here to service them. Since they're virgins, they're quite sexually ravenous; and, frankly, you'll be on constant, exhausting duty. And that's your punishment."
The bomber responded, "Well, I guess I can live with that. How hard can it be to keep 72 women satisfied for all eternity?"
And Allah replied, "Who said they were women?"