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Today in History: September 17

1787 The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia approves the constitution for the United States of America.

1862 The Battle of Antietam in Maryland, the bloodiest day in U.S. history, commences. Fighting in the corn field, Bloody Lane and Burnside's Bridge rages all day as the Union and Confederate armies suffer a combined 26,293 casualties.

1944 British airborne troops parachute into Holland to capture the Arnhem bridge as part of Operation Market-Garden. The plan called for the airborne troops to be relieved by British troops, but they were left stranded and eventually surrendered to the Germans.

1983 Vanessa Williams becomes the first black Miss America; relinquished crown early after scandal over nude photos.

2001 The New York Stock Exchange reopens for the first time since the September 11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers; longest period of closure since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

2006 Alaska's Fourpeaked Mountain erupts for the first time in at least 10,000 years.

2011 Occupy Wall Street movement calling for greater social and economic equality begins in New York City's Zuccotti Park, coining the phrase "We are the 99%."

Born on September 17

1923 Hank Williams, Sr., influential Country singer, songwriter and guitarist ("Lonesome Blues," "Your Cheatin' Heart".)


Joke Of The Day
A woman visited an Amazonian tribe on a research trip...

She spent several days taking notes on the lifestyle and habits of the tribe and interviewing their ruler, King Paolo, via an interpreter. As the tribe's land was near several rich gold mines, the king and his people were extremely wealthy.
During the woman's time with him, the king fell hopelessly in love with her, as she was very beautiful. When it came time for her to leave to return to the United States, the king called her into his palace and spoke passionately to her via the interpreter.
"King Paolo begs you to remain here and be his wife. He will grant you any three requests within his power; whatever you ask will be yours."
Flattered but not desiring to remain in the Amazon forever, the woman decided to ask for impossible favors to avoid having to turn the king down and hurt his feelings. "Tell the king that I accept, but if he cannot fulfill my three requests, I must leave immediately. My first wish is for a 50-carat diamond engagement ring and 25-carat bracelets and necklaces to match."
When the request was relayed to him, the king nodded without hesitation and responded in primitive English: "Okay, okay! I buy, I buy!"
The woman frowned, not expecting the king to be able to fulfill the ask. She decided to make the next request truly impossible: "My second wish is to live in a home exactly like this one." She pulled up her phone and displayed a picture of a nine-figure Beverly Hills mansion with three pools, gatehouses, acres of perfectly landscaped property, indoor basketball courts and theatre rooms, the whole nine yards.
When the interpreter explained the request to the king, he waved his hand and nodded eagerly. "Okay, okay, I build! I build!"
He motioned to his nearby advisors, who immediately contacted the finest architects in Brazil to consult on the project. In exchange for several tons of gold, the architects designed an identical residence and brought in several construction companies to begin work immediately. They brought in solar panels and hydroelectric units to power the buildings. Paying triple the usual rate, the king had land cleared and construction completed within days. It was some real Extreme Makeover: Home Edition shite.
Dumbfounded and a bit concerned, as she still had no desire to remain in the rainforest for the rest of her life, the woman went before the king with her final request, determined to come up with something that no amount of money could provide. "Tell the king that the man I marry must have a penis that's 12 inches long."
Looking horrified, King Paolo arose from his throne and strode around the room muttering to himself, first angrily and then sadly. He seemed to be thinking desperately, searching for options. But finally, he shook his head sadly, and spoke in a tone of resignation: "Okay, okay. I cut. I cut."