GMT

Today in History: June 24

1314 Scottish forces, led by Robert the Bruce, win an overwhelming victory against English King Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn.

1340 The English fleet defeats the French fleet at Sluys, off the Flemish coast.

1812 Napoleon crosses the Neman River and invades Russia.

1859 At the Battle of Solferino, also known as the Battle of the Three Sovereigns, the French army, led by Napoleon III, defeats the Austrian army under Franz Joseph I.

1862 U.S. intervention saves the British and French at the Dagu Forts in China.

1896 Booker T. Washington becomes the first African American to receive an honorary MA degree from Harvard University.

1948 The Soviet Union begins the Berlin Blockade, America responds with the Berlin Airlift.

1953 John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier announce their engagement.

1964 The Federal Trade Commission announces that, starting in 1965, cigarette makers must include warning labels about the harmful effects of smoking.

1970 The U.S. Senate votes overwhelmingly to repeal the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution


Born on June 24

1895 Jack Dempsey, American boxer and world heavyweight champion.


JOTD

They come across a river that they have to get over, but it's swarming with crocodiles.
Luckily, a fakir just happened to pass by on his flying carpet. He said: "Ah, you are lucky! As I have found you here, I will grant each of you one wish."
The first blonde wished she was an excellent swimmer. And with a snap of the fakir's fingers, her physique changed. She ran off and tried to cross the river, but the crocodiles ate her quickly.
The second blonde had to rethink, and decided to ask for a rowing boat, as swimming proved to be no option.
Without hesitation a rowing boat appeared before their eyes. She got in, and rowed across. But when she was barely halfway across, the crocodiles broke enough of her boat to let it sink, and she too was eaten.
The third blonde had to think really hard. (Mind you, she took her time.)
After a while, she exclaimed: "You know, I always wanted to try a different hair color." and as soon as she was finished talking, her hair color changed to brown.
"OH!" she then said "Look over there, a bridge."