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Today in History: October 11
1531
The Catholics defeat the Protestants at Kappel during Switzerland's second civil war.

1795
In graditude for putting down a rebellion in the streets of Paris, France's National Convention appoints Napoleon Bonaparte second in command of the Army of the Interior.

1862
The Confederate Congress in Richmond passes a draft law allowing anyone owning 20 or more slaves to be exempt from military service. This law confirms many southerners opinion that they are in a 'rich man's war and a poor man's fight.'

1877
Outlaw Wild Bill Longley, who killed at least a dozen men, is hanged, but it took two tries; on the first try, the rope slipped and his knees drug the ground.

1899
South African Boers, settler from the Netherlands, declare war on Great Britain.

1906
San Francisco school board orders the segregation of Oriental schoolchildren, inciting Japanese outrage.

1950
The Federal Communications Commission authorizes the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) to begin commercial color TV broadcasts.

1968
Apollo 7, with three men aboard, is successfully launched from Cape Kennedy.

1972
Race riot breaks out aboard carrier USS Kitty Hawk off Vietnam during Operation Linebacker.

1975
Saturday Night Live comedy-variety show premiers on NBC, with guest host comedian George Carlin and special guests Janis Ian, Andy Kaufman and Billy Preston; at this writing (2013) the show is still running.

1984
Astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan, part of the crew of Space Shuttle Challenger, becomes the first American woman to walk in space.

1991
Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas begin.

2000
NASA launches its 100th Space Shuttle mission.

2001
The Polaroid Corporation, which had provided shutterbugs with photo prints in minutes with its "instant cameras" since 1947, files for bankruptcy.

Today in History: Born on October 11
1918
Jerome Robbins, choreographer, won Oscar for West Side Story.

1932
Dottie West, influential female country singer, songwriter; won Grammy for "Here Comes My Baby Back Again" (1965).

1946
Daryl Hall, singer, songwriter, musician, producer; lead vocalist of Hall & Oates ("Rich Girl," "Maneater").


JOTD
Two girls from Thailand asked me if I wanted to sleep with them.
They said that it would be like winning the Lottery.

To my horror they were right, we had six matching balls.