Jewish scholar Moses Maimonides was born on this day in 1135. He was one of the foremost thinkers of the Middle Ages. Most famous for his tome, "Guide to the Perplexed", in which he attempted to reconcile religious belief and Aristotelian scholasticism. Ah, who am I trying to kid. He's really most famous for being name-dropped in the Simpsons episode where Krusty reunites with his estranged father, the Rabbi Krustofski.
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On this day in 1856, the Treaty of Paris is signed, ending the Crimean War.
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On this day in 1944, Allied bombing raid on Nuremberg. Along the English eastern coast 795 aircraft are dispatched, including 572 Lancasters, 214 Halifaxes and 9 Mosquitos. The bombers meet resistance at the coasts of Belgium and the Netherlands from German fighters. In total, 95 bombers are lost, making it the largest RAF Bomber Command loss of World War II.
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On this day in 1949, a riot breaks out in Austurvöllur square in Reykjavík, when Iceland joins NATO.
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On this day in 1954, the Yonge Street subway line opens in Toronto. It is the first subway in Canada.
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On this day in 1961, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs is signed in New York City.
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On this day in 1981, President Ronald Reagan is seriously wounded when John Hinckley Jr. opens fire on him, in the alleged hopes that his sure-to-be-publicized exploits will help him win over the object of his obsession, box-munching thespian Jodie Foster.
Interesting side-note: There is one degree of separation between the Bush family and John Hinckley Junior. John Hinckley Senior was a Texas petroleum entrepreneur who contributed substantial amounts of cash to the elder Bush's political campaign coffers, up to and including GHWB's failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 1980. Furthermore, Hinckley scion Scott was scheduled to dine with Bush scion Neil the day after John's unsuccessful attempt on Reagan's life. The dinner date was cancelled, which I guess explains why the mainstream press mostly chose to ignore this incredible jumble of "coincidences."
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