GMT

Today in History: February 15

1798 The first serious fist fight occurs in Congress.

1869 Charges of treason against Jefferson Davis are dropped.

1898 The U.S. battleship Maine blows up in Havana Harbor, killing 268 sailors and bringing hordes of Western cowboys and gunfighters rushing to enlist in the Spanish-American War.

1925 The London Zoo announces it will install lights to cheer up fogged-in animals.

1942 British forces in Singapore surrender to Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita.

1944 American bombers attack the Abbey of Monte Cassino in an effort to neutralize it as a German observation post in central Italy.

1965 Canada's maple leaf flag is raised for the first time.

1967 Thirteen U.S. helicopters are shot down in one day in Vietnam

1974 U.S. gas stations threaten to close because of federal fuel policies.


Born on February 15

1820 Susan B. Anthony, suffragette and political activist.

1954 Matt Groening, cartoonist (The Simpsons).

Joke of the Day
A London lawyer runs a stop sign and gets pulled over by an Irish cop.

He thinks that he is smarter than the cop because he is a lawyer from LONDON and is certain that he has a better education than any Irish cop. He decides to prove this to himself and have some fun at the Irish cop's expense. Irish cop says,"License and registration, please." London Lawyer says, "What for?" Irish cop says,"Ye didnae come to a complete stop at the stop sign." London Lawyer says, "I slowed down, and no one was coming." Irish cop says,"Ye still didnae come to a com- plete stop. License and registration, please" London Lawyer says, "What's the difference?" Irish cop says, "The difference is, ye havte come to complete stop, that's the law. License and registration, please!" London Lawyer says, "If you can show me the legal difference between slow down and stop, I'll give you my license and registration and you give me the ticket. If not, you let me go and don't give me the ticket." Irish cop says, "Sounds fair. Exit your vehicle, sir." The London Lawyer exits his vehicle. The Irish cop takes out his baton and starts beating the living shite out of the lawyer and says, "Daeye want me to stop, or just slow down? "